Chapter Summaries

Shen Yu used the Grimm Hatchling to subdue and feed on [Data Deleted], completing Repression work without casualties. The company detained Shen Yu for investigation, but management denied a request to vivisect him and ordered his release while demoting Ted.

• The Grimm Hatchling’s scarlet flames frightened [Data Deleted], and he ate parts of the creature as they regenerated.
• Ron considered destroying the containment room door, but the loudspeaker announced that Shen Yu had completed Repression work on [Data Deleted].
• Shen Yu sent the Grimm Hatchling back to the Nightmare World and emerged from the containment room, where frightened employees aimed their E.G.O. weapons at him.
• The company detained Shen Yu and questioned how he stayed lucid and completed Repression work on [Data Deleted].
• Ted requested permission to vivisect Shen Yu, but the manager denied the request, ordered Shen Yu released, and demoted Ted to manage Bald Ball with Wu Ke.

Angela confirmed that Shen Yu and his employee record were authentic, while Shen Yu returned to the Control Department and unsettled the clerks. Vic ordered him to clean instead of eating, but the manager’s orders forced Vic to clean the entire company alone, and Shen Yu left with Wu Ke for lunch.

• Angela found that her clearance could not access Shen Yu’s classified records and confirmed that the script was operating normally.
• The clerks whispered about Shen Yu’s survival and accomplishments until he appeared, startling them into leaving the break room.
• Wu Ke asked Shen Yu for help after admitting he had pried the lock off a shelter and could not replace it.
• Vic ordered Shen Yu to cover the observation shift and clean the break room, but the manager ordered Vic to clean the entire company alone and accept no help.
• Shen Yu and Wu Ke went to the cafeteria, where Wu Ke complained that their potato stew contained only half a rotten cabbage leaf.

Shen Yu learned about the company’s harsh cafeteria rules and heard that Little Red Riding Hood’s psychological counseling had been restarted specifically for her. When Manager X reached Hod, she reported that Little Red was craving blood and banging on her door.

• Wu Ke explained that low-level employees had to spend mealtimes in the cafeteria and subsist on foul nutrient solution while senior employees received proper food.
• Shen Yu joined Harvey and Wu Ke in the senior dining area, where he discovered Harvey was secretly reading a martial-arts-style book called The Employee's Self-Cultivation.
• Harvey told Shen Yu and Wu Ke that the Manager had approved restarting psychological counseling for an employee called Little Red, and he described the company’s brutal methods for treating psychological problems.
• Shen Yu focused on X, who left the office to visit Hod in the Training Team after spotting an Amber Trial’s worm corpses along the way.
• Hod told Manager X that Little Red Riding Hood had said she was tired of enduring her situation and craved the fragrance of blood, then began banging on her door.

Shen Yu dealt with Hod’s failed attempt to treat Little Red Riding Hood and joined Hod to confront Malkuth over her harsh employee policies. Quincy then entered an Abnormality’s containment unit to escape, triggering a WAW-level Trial.

• X promised Little Red Riding Hood that Shen Yu would help her find the distant place tomorrow, stopping her from breaking down the door.
• Hod showed Shen Yu an Audio File in which her relaxation and empathy exercises inspired Little Red Riding Hood to invent more ways to kill her prey.
• Hod warned Shen Yu that repeated work was pushing the Qliphoth Meltdown Meter toward level six, then reported that Malkuth was emotionally unstable.
• Yesod warned Malkuth that her Control Department employees could not safely suppress a Trial, but Malkuth defended her Action Guidelines and proposed taking Shen Yu for punishment.
• Quincy told Vic that bad-result soda could transport an employee to a Sailing Ship, then entered the containment unit to escape the company.
• A warning announced that a Qliphoth energy meltdown had activated a maximum-threat-level WAW Trial.

The Manager’s clone fought off the Fresh Food worms and discovered that Lobotomy Corporation’s interior resembled a vast nervous system, while Shen Yu learned that the Control Department’s suppressor had failed. Malkuth sent her employees to suppress the Trial anyway, and Shen Yu’s group was surrounded by amber portals.

• The Manager’s clone used a coffee table and a table leg to drive back three Fresh Food worms, then escaped with Yesod, Hod, and Malkuth.
• The worms used amber portals to reach the Control Department corridors, while Yesod led the others to a safe passage protected by an operating core suppressor.
• Hod showed the Manager a passage to his office, and the Manager asked the department heads not to tell Angela about his fighting.
• Shen Yu warned Wu Ke that the worms might be different because the Control Department’s suppressor had failed; Vic revealed that Quincy was dead.
• The Manager’s clone told Malkuth to keep her employees out of the suppression effort, but Malkuth ended the call and ordered them to leave through Corridor 1.
• Shen Yu’s group headed to suppress the Trial, but a worm dropped in front of them and amber portals appeared all around them.

Shen Yu and the employees faced newly intelligent worms, and he fought back using the Ice Crystal Spear and Red Eyes. As the worms surrounded him, Shen Yu prepared to unleash another attack.

• The worms ambushed the employees, and Pigu lost an arm and a leg before Shen Yu restored his sanity with the Ice Crystal Spear.
• Vic tried to shoot Pigu, but Shen Yu stopped him and argued that Pigu could still be useful.
• Shen Yu charged the worms, freezing one and using Red Eyes with Needle Throw to strike others.
• The Godtuner raised Snow Queen’s tuning rate, and Shen Yu noticed its resonance followed his use of Hornet’s combat skills.
• Vic and Wu Ke tried to help Shen Yu as the worms closed in, but Shen Yu released two strands of silk thread.

Shen Yu fought off the worms and mounted the Giant Worm Food Chain, using his E.G.O. and newly awakened Pain Toxin to battle it. After Food Chain burrowed through the floor, Shen Yu emerged in another corridor among the senior employees who had just defeated a different giant worm.

• Shen Yu used Thread Dance to shred the attacking worms, then warned Vic about the approaching Giant Worm and pulled him out of its path.
• Shen Yu learned that the failed Suppressors had restored the Amber Trials' full power and freed their behavior, then attacked Food Chain as smaller worms swarmed him.
• Shen Yu awakened Pain Toxin in Red Eyes and repeatedly stabbed Food Chain while dodging its bucking and cutting down worms with Thread Dance.
• Food Chain gnawed through the floor and carried Shen Yu into another corridor, where Sam and Ron had just defeated a different Giant Worm.
• Shen Yu greeted the bewildered senior employees as he rode Food Chain into the corridor.

Shen Yu helped the employees suppress all five Food Chains without any deaths, then drew attention from his coworkers and Yesod. In Yesod’s office, Yesod confronted him about altered surveillance footage and addressed him as “Manager” or “employee S1111-Shen Yu.”

• Shen Yu used [Pain Toxin] and his blade to help the employees defeat the final Food Chain, and all five Food Chains were suppressed with no deaths.
• Vic apologized for misjudging Shen Yu and offered to transfer [Hypocrisy] to him, but Shen Yu declined.
• Employees crowded Shen Yu with questions about [Data Deleted], his techniques, and traveling through space with Food Chain.
• Yesod sent the employees back to work and summoned Shen Yu to his office.
• Yesod complained about altering surveillance footage involving Shen Yu and asked whether to call him Manager or employee S1111-Shen Yu.

Shen Yu persuaded Yesod to conceal his abilities and help hide footage of his visit to Little Red Riding Hood’s Containment Unit. After returning to the Control Department, he was summoned to a meeting with the employees.

• Yesod revealed that he had altered the footage to hide Shen Yu’s identity and questioned him about his combat techniques and Doppelganger.
• Shen Yu explained that Cogito had produced Little Knight, demonstrated how Little Knight’s Dream Nail created his Doppelganger, and disclosed that Little Knight could devour Abnormalities.
• Yesod agreed to conceal the footage of Shen Yu entering [F-01-57]’s Containment Unit, asking only that Shen Yu straighten his attire.
• Shen Yu returned to the Control Department Rest Room and refused to tell Wu Ke what had happened in Yesod’s office.
• Angela summoned all Control Department employees to the Conference Room and asked Shen Yu’s Doppelganger to accompany them.

Shen Yu attended a meeting where Angela condemned Malkuth and exposed the deadly truth behind Soda Machine, then worked overtime and prepared to return to Godhome. He entered the Master Shrine, where the Godseeker welcomed him back to shed his mortal form.

• Angela convened an emergency meeting, listed Malkuth's failures, and announced that the Control Department might need a new head.
• Angela revealed Quincy's dehydrated body and explained that the Soda Machine trapped employees in a dream instead of helping them escape.
• Shen Yu returned Malkuth's fallen Memo, warned Wu Ke that Malkuth would not be replaced, and told him to prepare to train a new junior employee.
• The Manager ordered overtime despite the completed energy quota, and Shen Yu's stats rose after the 21st Time Cycle's work ended.
• Yesod arranged an unmonitored dormitory for Shen Yu, who changed into Crimson Scar and checked that the Snow Queen attunement rate had reached 20%.
• Shen Yu and the Little Knight entered Godhome, where the Godseeker directed him to the Master Shrine.

Shen Yu entered Godhome’s first shrine after testing his E.G.O. weapons and fought through the Vengefly King and Gruz Mother. He faced a towering armored knight next, while Godseeker’s tribe cheered for the newcomer.

• Shen Yu tested the blood-red flintlock, then transformed his Ice Crystal Spear into the Frost Shard pistol.
• Shen Yu entered the first shrine and defeated the Vengefly King with his Meat Cleaver and Frost Shard, gaining skills and increasing his E.G.O. attunement.
• Shen Yu defeated Gruz Mother by slowing her with gunfire and evading her attacks.
• Shen Yu climbed high on a wall as an armored knight crashed into the arena, and the insects cheered for the knight.

Shen Yu defeated the False Knight and Giant Mossball in the Godseeker’s dream trials, learning about the maggot’s wish to protect his kin. He then met Hornet, who agreed they had no reason to fight but insisted he master her techniques before leaving.

• Shen Yu overcame the False Knight’s hammer attacks and defeated him, while the audience mocked the maggot inside Hegemol’s armor.
• The False Knight explained that he had sought strength to protect his kin, and Shen Yu acknowledged him as the only knight among his kind who had taken up a weapon for them.
• Shen Yu defeated Giant Mossball, declined to learn its charge technique, and watched the bugs inside flee underground.
• Hornet appeared in the dream arena, recognized Shen Yu’s ability to learn techniques through battle, and agreed they had no reason to fight.
• Hornet refused to let Shen Yu leave until he mastered her techniques.

Hornet trained Shen Yu in her combat techniques, and their resonance increased his mastery and attunement. After Hornet conceded, Godseeker sent Shen Yu to the Master Shrine, where he recovered in a soul Hot Spring and prepared to challenge the master with a manifested rifle.

• Hornet made Shen Yu repeatedly practice Thrust and corrected his posture and attack habits.
• Shen Yu gave Hornet his E.G.O. [Frost Shard], whose resonance reminded her of a palace, bonds, and a lonely imprisonment.
• After prolonged training, Shen Yu improved several of Hornet's techniques and raised Hornet's attunement to 50%, then Hornet conceded.
• Godseeker pushed the exhausted Shen Yu into a soul Hot Spring, restoring his strength and clearing his mind.
• Shen Yu asked about the Master Shrine's weapon requirements and manifested the rifle [Crimson Scar], increasing Little Red Riding Hooded Mercenary's attunement to 20%.

Shen Yu tested Frost Shard and Crimson Scar before entering the Godseekers’ arena, where Laxi commentated as he defeated Ascended Gorb. A new opponent, Fandango, emerged from a sea of dung as Shen Yu prepared to face him with Frost Shard.

• Shen Yu reflected on the Snow Queen and Hornet’s shared stories, then tested Crimson Scar on a massive blue heart and gained a protective membrane from its blood.
• Shen Yu asked Godseeker to appoint a commentator, and Godseeker assigned Laxi to the role.
• Laxi introduced Ascended Gorb, and Shen Yu dodged his attacks and shot him until his Dream Essence shattered.
• Fandango burst out of the dung-filled arena and paralyzed the crowd with his battle cry.
• Shen Yu recovered, formed ice along Frost Shard, and prepared to fight Fandango.

Shen Yu defeated Fandango, received the Defender’s Crest, and gained Ogrim’s attunement before rapidly defeating the next Pantheon opponents. The Godseeker explained that the bosses were weakened because their strength had been gathered to empower the Pantheon’s ruler, whom Shen Yu was now being urged to face.

• Shen Yu fought Fandango with Frost Shard and [Crimson Scar], then evaded a methane blast and the Super Dung Beetle’s crashing impact.
• The Fool King used Battle Cry to shield the Little Knight and the Godseeker, while the arena’s spectators were engulfed in dung.
• Fandango revealed his sacred armor, spoke with Shen Yu, gave him the Defender’s Crest, and warned that something restricted him and made him resonate with two others.
• Shen Yu gained 30% Ogrim attunement and [Shape of the Knight], then quickly defeated the Soul Warrior and Mawlek.
• The Godseeker explained that the Pantheon gathered the bosses’ strength to empower its ruler, whose mortal frame limited the power he could display, and urged Shen Yu onward.

Shen Yu fought Oro in the arena, where the Nailmaster’s extraordinary Sword Aura overwhelmed his defenses and pushed his E.G.O. weapons to resonate. Shen Yu combined frost, Spiderlings, and other abilities to counter Oro, and [Crimson Scar] manifested new powers as the battle continued.

• Oro introduced himself, spoke of his student and his own resolve, then challenged Shen Yu to prove his conviction.
• Oro’s Dragon Rising Slash broke through Shen Yu’s defenses, stripping away two points of Blue Lifeblood and raising [Crimson Scar]’s attunement to 30%.
• Shen Yu activated coordinated combat with [Frost] and [Spiderling], slowing Oro with icy weather and using Spider Silk to evade his attacks.
• Shen Yu used [Lonesome Dust] to control Oro long enough to slash his neck while the Spiderlings attacked.
• [Crimson Scar]’s attunement rose to 40%, manifesting [Scar] and strengthening the Meat Cleaver and Flintlock; Shen Yu questioned the belligerent state listed as their cost.

Shen Yu fought Oro until Mato arrived and the brothers overwhelmed him, leaving him near death. His Crimson Scar E.G.O. manifested as Revenge, and he used Lonesome to heal enough to prepare for another assault.

• Shen Yu activated Crimson Scar and used its weapons, Spiderlings, and attacks to battle Oro.
• Mato joined Oro, turning the fight into a two-on-one battle as Shen Yu's Crimson Scar attunement rose and unlocked Revenge.
• Mato's storm of Nails and Oro's attacks destroyed Shen Yu's defenses, broke his arm, and nearly sliced his body in half.
• Shen Yu triggered Revenge at 9 Health, then spent Sanity on Lonesome's Sleepless Night to restore enough Health to move.
• Shen Yu retrieved his Meat Cleaver, covered it in bloodflames, and prepared to hunt the brothers.

Shen Yu defeated Oro and Mato in the Pantheon Arena, earning the rise from Fool to Master and awakening new powers. As he prepared to leave the Eternal Realm, a mysterious voice offered to link the fire.

• Shen Yu imprisoned Mato in the Empty Nest Cabin and defeated Oro with a combination of ice, thread, and gunfire.
• After the cabin collapsed, Shen Yu fought Mato with his Spiderlings and combat skills until both Masters conceded defeat.
• Godseeker named Shen Yu the winner, and the Fools and Godseekers celebrated his victory.
• Shen Yu ascended from Fool to Master, gained new abilities and resistances, and reached an incomplete Radiance Sephiah.
• An unseen presence froze the Eternal Realm in scarlet flames and asked Shen Yu whether he wanted to link the fire.

After awakening a new power and receiving the Nightmare Flame from the Nightmare's Heart, Shen Yu used Godhome to enter Oro's dream and improve his swordsmanship. He returned to Godhome and asked Godseeker to send him into Grimm's dream next.

• The Nightmare's Heart gave Shen Yu the Nightmare Flame and warned him about the divinity pursuing Nothingness.
• Shen Yu woke at Godhome's first gate and discovered that his body and Crimson Scar had grown stronger after shedding the form of a Fool.
• Godseeker sent Shen Yu into Oro's dream and gave him Geo to deliver to Oro's home in the real world.
• Shen Yu sparred with Oro and improved Dash Slash from beginner to proficient.
• After returning to Godhome, Shen Yu asked Godseeker to send him into the Nightmare King's dream.

Shen Yu and Little Knight met Troupe Master Grimm so Grimm could see his grown Grimm Hatchling and explain how the Nightmare's flame could awaken Shen Yu's E.G.O. weapon. Grimm revealed a possible route for beings in Godhome to reach Shen Yu's second world.

• Shen Yu insisted that Little Knight accompany him to meet Grimm, and the Godseeker sent them to the troupe's theater.
• Grimm reunited with the Grimm Hatchling, which revealed a shadowy form that showed it had grown.
• Shen Yu explained E.G.O. and Abnormalities to Grimm, who said he was only a vessel and could not truly speak for the Nightmare's Heart.
• Grimm burned away part of the Ice Spear's reality shell, awakening its power and returning it to Shen Yu with cracks that would take time to mend.
• Grimm suggested that if a passage existed, beings from Godhome might be able to reach Shen Yu's second world.