Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yu recognized that Sampo was actually Sparkle in disguise, but played along as she introduced herself to Firefly and Stelle. Sparkle offered to show them Golden Hour and its adult entertainment, captivating the three youngsters with a world they knew nothing about.

• Jiang Yu sniffed the disguised Sampo and realized she was Sparkle, then let her continue the act.
• Viewers joked about Jiang Yu pinching Sampo's ear while Firefly watched, confused by how familiar the pair seemed.
• Sparkle mistook Firefly for March 7th, and Stelle corrected her before Firefly introduced herself.
• Sparkle introduced herself as Sampo, an old friend of Stelle and Jiang Yu, while Firefly remained curious about Jiang Yu's identity.
• Sparkle offered to tour Golden Hour and show them its adult entertainment, drawing the attention of Jiang Yu, Stelle, and Firefly.

Sparkle led Jiang Yu, Stelle, and Firefly to Pipi Pepeshi’s salon and had Jiang Yu and Stelle play Little Hanu’s Adventure to win an Emotion Prototype. Afterward, she brought them to Dr. Edward’s Dreamscape Goods Store, where she asked him to let her friends experience something interesting.

• Sparkle took Jiang Yu, Stelle, and Firefly to the underground entrance of Pipi Pepeshi’s salon and obtained items for them after they lacked VIP cards.
• Sparkle brought the group to an arcade machine, where Jiang Yu and then Stelle transformed into Hanu Brothers.
• Jiang Yu and Stelle cleared Little Hanu’s Adventure by wrecking obstacles and plundering Boss Stone’s treasures, earning the Emotion Prototype: Moment of Freedom.
• Sparkle praised Jiang Yu and led the group to Dr. Edward’s store, where Cirrus and Dr. Edward traded compliments.
• Sparkle asked Dr. Edward to let her friends experience something interesting.

Dr. Edward created a Dream Bubble from Sparkle’s dream, sending Stelle, Jiang Yu, and Firefly into a dream set in Natasha’s Belobog clinic. They stepped outside and found the area packed with muscular trash cans, leaving Stelle delighted and Firefly bewildered, as a woman called out to them.

• Sparkle gave Dr. Edward her dream materials, and he generated a Dream Bubble for Stelle, Jiang Yu, and Firefly to experience.
• The three awoke in Natasha’s clinic in Belobog, where Jiang Yu explained the setting to the unfamiliar Firefly.
• Stelle found a note reading, “Become the king of trash, even if the trash bags have long since torn,” and Jiang Yu recognized its wording.
• The trio left the clinic and discovered a crowd of tall, muscular trash cans, delighting Stelle and confusing Firefly.
• A woman nearby called out to the three after they arrived.

Shatana recruited Firefly, Stelle, and Jiang Yu to unite the trash cans of Belobog and collect three proofs of trust so they could oppose the false King of Trash. When the trio judged a dispute over the Golden Trash, the golden bin suddenly pledged the treasure and his loyalty to Jiang Yu.

• Shatana told Firefly, Stelle, and Jiang Yu that they needed to unite the trash cans and obtain three proofs of trust.
• Firefly, Stelle, and Jiang Yu left the clinic and found silver, bronze, and golden bins arguing over who deserved the Golden Trash.
• The silver, bronze, and golden bins each offered their advantages to persuade the trio to award them the treasure.
• The golden bin saw Jiang Yu, called him the Aeon of Beauty, and offered him the Golden Trash and his eternal loyalty.

Jiang Yu’s beauty inspired three trash cans to abandon their fight and give the golden trash to Stelle, then they joined the Knights of Little Fish Trash Cans. The group met Trashmedes, who explained that Tatalov had banished him to count all the trash in the city, and Jiang Yu asked whether he had a proof of trust.

• The golden can declared Jiang Yu the Aeon of Beauty, and the silver and bronze cans joined him in offering Jiang Yu the golden trash.
• Jiang Yu gave the golden trash to Stelle, who accepted it eagerly, and the three cans became Knights of Little Fish Trash Cans.
• The three Knights handed over their proofs of trust and led Jiang Yu, Stelle, and Firefly to Trashmedes.
• Trashmedes explained that Tatalov had banished him for predicting that even the most stable rule would decline and ordered him to count all the trash in the city.
• Jiang Yu asked Trashmedes whether he had a proof of trust and could give it to them.

Jiang Yu and his companions gathered the final Proof of Trust, then followed Shatana into a snowy battlefield where a giant Sampo bombarded the trash cans. Jiang Yu summoned Black Cleave, which turned the bombs into bomb men that charged the giant Sampo alongside Stelle.

• Trashmedes retrieved a Proof of Trust from a trash can after killing two True Stings, then led the group to the trash treasury.
• Stelle kicked open the treasury doors, and the cans rushed inside while Jiang Yu and his companions obtained the final Proof of Trust.
• The group returned to Shatana with the proofs, and she led them to the Pillars of Creation in a snowy battlefield.
• A giant Sampo caught Stelle after a bomb blast, then tossed her back toward the ground as explosions ravaged the trash-can army.
• Jiang Yu summoned Black Cleave, which halted the giant Sampo's bombs and transformed them into bomb men that charged alongside Stelle.

Stelle, Jiang Yu, and the trash-can army overwhelmed Sampo in Sparkle’s Memory Bubble, but Sparkle stopped the dream and warned Stelle that Penacony was full of hidden motives. When Stelle realized Firefly had vanished, she rushed after her.

• Jiang Yu turned Sampo’s bombs into bomb people, who swarmed and exploded against the giant Sampo as Stelle transformed into a trash-can person and fought him.
• Cirrus told Jiang Yu to rally the trash cans, and his call enlarged them into a crowd that knocked Sampo down and beat him.
• Sparkle halted the Memory Bubble, then confronted Jiang Yu about how his strange powers had taken over the dream.
• Sparkle asked Stelle what she thought of the dream, then warned her that its resemblance to Penacony concealed people with ulterior motives.
• Sparkle pointed out that Firefly was gone and urged Stelle to question her, so Stelle immediately chased after her.

Sparkle revealed her true appearance after Jiang Yu recognized her Sampo disguise, then chatted with him about how he had seen through it. Their conversation ended with Jiang Yu offering to send her pictures of Aha.

• Sparkle changed from her Sampo disguise into her true appearance and asked Jiang Yu how he had recognized her.
• Jiang Yu claimed he had noticed a difference in their scents, and Sparkle confirmed that his natural fragrance was distinct from hers.
• Sparkle asked whether Jiang Yu was close to Aha and had pictures of the Elation God.
• Jiang Yu said Aha was his good buddy and offered to send Sparkle pictures, leaving her surprised.

Sparkle received photos of Aha getting a spa treatment and learned from Jiang Yu’s phone that he really did have a close connection with Aha and other Aeons. Jiang Yu left to pursue someone he recognized, while Firefly apologized to Stelle after Stelle caught up with her.

• Sparkle exchanged contact information with Jiang Yu, who sent her photos of Aha receiving a spa treatment.
• Aha, watching through Little Aha aboard the Astral Express, was appalled that Jiang Yu had shared the private photos, while Little Fuli found the situation amusing.
• Jiang Yu showed Sparkle his chat history with Aha, convincing her that his connection to the Aeon was genuine.
• Jiang Yu spotted someone in the crowd and left Sparkle to pursue them; Sparkle regained her composure and walked in the opposite direction.
• Stelle caught up with Firefly, who turned toward her and softly apologized.

Stelle reassured Firefly and agreed to visit her secret hideout, but she stopped when she spotted Clockie, whom Firefly could not see. Clockie asked Stelle to help save Misha, and Stelle teased Firefly with his claim that only straightforward, innocent, and childlike people could see him.

• Stelle told Firefly she trusted her, and Firefly invited her to a secret hideout where she promised to share what she knew.
• Stelle stopped in the night market to speak with Clockie, who was calling for help and asking whether she could see him.
• Clockie said Misha could be saved, and Stelle agreed to help him.
• Firefly could not see Clockie, who claimed that only straightforward, innocent, and childlike people could see him.
• Stelle told Firefly that Clockie had called her insufficiently straightforward, innocent, and childlike, and Firefly protested.

Stelle and Firefly encountered Misha and Acheron surrounded by thugs, but Argenti arrived and swiftly dispersed the gang. After greeting Stelle and mentioning Little Fish, Argenti fled from approaching Hounds, leaving Stelle to wonder how he had become a wanted criminal.

• Stelle decided to help Misha and Acheron, and Firefly agreed to support her despite not seeing Clockie.
• Stelle prepared to use Clockie's Clockwork Trick against the gang, but Argenti rushed in and sent the thugs flying.
• Argenti caught the gang members, helped them back up, apologized to the boss, and greeted Acheron and Stelle.
• Argenti told Stelle he had been mistaken for a wanted criminal and was being pursued by Hounds, then hurried away.
• Firefly wondered whether Argenti's remark about Little Fish confirmed a connection to the mysterious child, while Stelle silently hoped Argenti would be safe.

Argenti evaded the Hounds until he met Jiang Yu, then greeted him with his customary reverence in the middle of a crowded street. The exhausted Hounds caught up, but Argenti’s sincerity and the pair’s striking presence left them confused about whether he was really a criminal.

• Argenti fled the Hounds without using force, occasionally using tricks to keep them at a distance.
• Jiang Yu spotted Argenti, hurried ahead of him, and waited for him to arrive.
• Argenti knelt and greeted Jiang Yu, drawing a crowd whose comments made Jiang Yu blush.
• The Hounds caught up and surrounded Argenti and Jiang Yu, exhausted from the chase.
• Argenti asked the panting Hounds if they were all right, and their admiration for him and Jiang Yu made them question their arrest target.

Jiang Yu was recognized by the Penacony Hounds as a child with powerful connections, while Stelle and Firefly resolved a street disturbance and continued exploring the dream. Acheron told them about a Memokeeper she had danced with, and Firefly led Stelle to a secret base beneath a manhole cover.

• A Hound captain recognized Jiang Yu and cautiously confirmed his identity after learning of his ties to several powerful factions.
• Stelle used the Clockwork Trick on a gang boss, changing his mood and ending the confrontation.
• Acheron explained that a disturbance involving Masked Fools had led to misunderstandings, then described dancing with a veiled Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection.
• Acheron thanked Stelle and Firefly, teased them about being on a date, and left.
• Firefly led Stelle to a café and revealed that their secret base was inside a manhole cover.
• Stelle confidently followed Firefly underground, drawing on her past experience crawling through hidden passages.

Aventurine confronted Sparkle in Golden Hour and tried to learn what the Masked Fools wanted from the grand event. Sparkle refused to join his plans, offered cryptic advice, and left Aventurine deciding to visit the Family again.

• Sparkle noticed Aventurine following her and confronted him, then recognized his Tsygonian origins.
• Aventurine considered Jiang Yu’s ties to powerful factions and concluded the child was well protected, though he still wanted to watch over him.
• Aventurine urged Sparkle to choose a side in the grand event, but Sparkle accused him of treating people like chips and asked what the Elation God wanted.
• Sparkle advised Aventurine to make friends with a mute and departed, leaving him to decide to visit the Family again.

Jiang Yu and Argenti ran into Yanqing and Huohuo in Golden Hour, where they found shop manager Cocona trembling and acting strangely. A note suggested the Family had taken something from her, and Cocona soon seemed to forget the people she had just met.

• Jiang Yu and Argenti continued shopping together after Stelle and Sparkle had left.
• Jiang Yu and Argenti met Yanqing and Huohuo outside Cocona’s shop in Golden Hour.
• Yanqing and Huohuo explained that Cocona had suddenly started trembling after showing them clothes.
• Jiang Yu picked up Cocona’s note, which described her forgetfulness, exhaustion, and suspicion that the Family had taken something from her.
• Cocona recovered, but she barely recognized Yanqing and Huohuo, and Tail worried over her strange behavior.

Jiang Yu and the others realized Cocona’s condition was abnormal and asked Cirrus and Tail to investigate. The two Heliobi entered Cocona and found an empty, barren inner world containing a single withering rose.

• Cocona apologized for seeming tired, but did not agree to rest despite everyone’s urging.
• Cirrus told the group that Cocona’s heart felt empty and that persuasion alone would not help.
• Jiang Yu asked Cirrus and Tail to examine Cocona, and both Heliobi agreed.
• Cirrus and Tail entered Cocona and found themselves in a dark cave surrounded by rushing waterfalls.
• Cirrus and Tail discovered a neglected, withering rose hidden among the rocks.

Tail and Cirrus broke the barrier sealing Cocona’s sorrow, leaving her overwhelmed by grief as the group went to find a caregiver. Meanwhile, Firefly led Stelle toward her secret hideout, but a Hound stopped them at a construction entrance, so Stelle tried the Clockwork Trick.

• Tail and Cirrus discovered that a hard barrier had sealed Cocona’s emotions and burned through it, releasing a rush of sorrow.
• Cocona began sobbing and murmuring to herself, and Yanqing suggested finding a caregiver before the four left to seek help.
• Firefly led Stelle across a rooftop and into a small park near the edge of Golden Hour, where she revealed her secret hideout was ahead.
• A Hound guard refused to let Firefly and Stelle enter the construction area despite their pleas.
• Stelle pulled Firefly aside, approached the Hound, and used the Clockwork Trick.

Stelle used the Clockwork Trick to provoke the Hound into a fight, and she and Firefly defeated him. They passed the guard and continued farther inside, leaving the Hound in tears.

• The Hound confronted Stelle and Firefly, and Stelle challenged him while mimicking Little Fish's disdainful attitude.
• The Hound summoned the Dreamweaver Troupe, and Stelle fought them with her Bat as Firefly joined in with punches and kicks.
• Stelle and Firefly defeated the Hound, who lamented that his strength had not saved Mia in the past.
• Firefly took Stelle's hand and led her past the Hound, praising the Clockwork Trick as they hurried farther inside.
• After the girls left, the Hound knelt and cried, complaining that he was only a gate guard following orders.

Stelle listened as Firefly revealed her illness and her pursuit of the Clockmaker’s Legacy, then offered to find doctors to help her. Firefly wondered why people chose to sleep, and Stelle answered with an extended debate about biological needs and daydreaming.

• Stelle and Firefly reached a rooftop in Dream’s Edge, where Firefly described the scenery and admitted she was a stowaway.
• Firefly explained that she was an interstellar refugee suffering from Entropy Loss Syndrome, which caused her body and perception of the world to gradually fade.
• Firefly said she sought the Clockmaker’s Legacy but did not want to become Stelle’s enemy, and Stelle offered to introduce her to two doctors.
• Firefly asked why life slumbered and shared her belief that people feared waking from their dreams.
• Stelle declared Firefly’s answer wrong and launched into a lengthy explanation of sleep as a biological need, leaving Firefly bewildered.

Stelle and Firefly spent time together in the Dreamscape, but their quiet rooftop moment turned into a practical discussion before they took a photo at dawn. Messages from the Astral Express group revealed that the others had found troubling clues and were gathering to return to reality, while Jiang Yu investigated the Family’s treatment of its workers.

• Stelle’s lengthy, practical speech frustrated Firefly, who changed the subject and asked what Stelle did with her friends on the Astral Express.
• Stelle suggested taking a photo, and she and Firefly posed together with the dawn and meteor shower behind them.
• Stelle read the group chat, where March 7th described a suspicious man at the auction and Welt and Himeko said they had made unpleasant discoveries.
• Jiang Yu told the group he was with Argenti, Huohuo, and Yanqing, and said he had uncovered the Family’s exploitation of its employees.
• Stelle told Firefly about the gathering, and they agreed to return to Golden Hour together before leaving the Dreamscape.