Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yu protected the Astral Express Crew from Primordial Creation in the Dream of Taiyi, but the attack shattered his body and awakened the Observer’s Eye. Aha watched the eye appear, then fled with Little Taiyi, leaving the crisis for someone else to handle.

• Jiang Yu enclosed the Astral Express Crew in the Xunfeng Sword Formation and took the brunt of Primordial Creation, which shattered the formation and severely damaged his body.
• March 7th turned Jiang Yu around, saw his ruined face and missing arm, and recoiled in shock.
• Aha watched the dream rewind around Jiang Yu as purple starlight rebuilt his right arm and a flame ignited in place of his left eye.
• The Observer’s Eye opened in the sky, shaking the Dreamscape and filling it with dusky purple light.
• Aha contacted the Aeons through Nous’s Communication Network, saw Idrila chatting with Fuli, then scooped up Little Taiyi and ran off carrying the Cat Cake.

Jiang Yu and March 7th watched Fuli’s vision reveal how Jiang Yu’s sword strike ended the disastrous rollback in the Dreamscape. Jiang Yu planned to address Penacony’s crisis while March 7th prepared to enter the Dream of Taiyi and persuade Big Sis Mei and the others to cooperate.

• The Dreamscape rolled back until Jiang Yu’s ruined body stood alone, then a sword strike from below destroyed it and triggered another rollback.
• Jiang Yu explained to March 7th that they had already seen the vision in the space between dream layers and realized his misplaced sword strike had hit himself.
• Fuli offered to help and agreed to keep an eye on Aha while Jiang Yu handled Penacony’s problem.
• Jiang Yu assigned March 7th to enter the Dream of Taiyi and persuade Big Sis Mei and the others to work with them from reality.
• March 7th asked how to enter the dream, and Jiang Yu said he would find a way that let her communicate without getting trapped again.
• When March 7th asked him to call her big sis again, Jiang Yu changed the subject and took her to find Pom-Pom.

Jiang Yu took the Astral Express into the Philosophical Fetus to break the Dream of Taiyi, while March 7th was left to handle the controls. The Express entered the dream safely, where Argenti and his companions crash-landed near the group.

• Jiang Yu explained his plan to shake the foundations of the Dream of Taiyi and asked March 7th to persuade Mei and the others.
• Jiang Yu set the Astral Express moving toward the Philosophical Fetus, then leapt out with Black Cleave as March 7th panicked in the Driver's Cabin.
• The Express passed into the Philosophical Fetus without crashing, and Black Cleave followed to help stop it if needed.
• In Dreamscape Depth, Dawn, Black Swan questioned whether people could overcome their weaknesses, and Acheron said the plan depended on them choosing to save themselves.
• The Uncanny Valley crash-landed beside the Dream Hotel, and Yaoyorozu Kami complained about Argenti's landing.
• Argenti explained that an unknown force had struck the ship, while Tir Anders realized they had returned to the first dream layer and found Acheron nearby.

Argenti, Yaoyorozu Kami, and Tir Anders joined the Astral Express crew in Penacony’s Dawn layer, where Tir explained that the Dream of Taiyi consisted of four parallel dreams. He proposed waking dreamers in all four layers at once, but Acheron questioned whether the Knights and their plan were genuine or merely part of the dream.

• Argenti, Yaoyorozu Kami, and Tir Anders arrived after The Uncanny Valley crashed into the Dawn layer, and the Astral Express crew greeted them.
• Robin praised the Knights for waking from the Dream of Taiyi, and Argenti asked the group to explain their plan to awaken the dreamers.
• Tir Anders revealed a model of Penacony’s four parallel dream layers—Dawn, Sky, Fall, and Abyss—and explained that awakening one layer alone would not break the Dream of Taiyi.
• Tir Anders showed the Fragment of Beauty that allowed the Knights to travel between layers, and Jiang Yu confirmed that it was genuine.
• Acheron challenged whether the Knights and the present events could be creations of the Dream of Taiyi, leaving Tir Anders lost in thought.

March 7th drove the Astral Express into the Dreamscape and joined Jiang Yu, Acheron, and the others. Jiang Yu deduced that she had come from reality to deliver a message, and March 7th explained their situation and plans.

• The Astral Express crashed through the Dreamscape roof, and Black Cleave brought it to a stop while March 7th panicked in the cab.
• March 7th gathered Cat Cakes and Little Qlipoth, Little Xipe, and Little Fuli for protection, then searched the train for Acheron.
• March 7th stepped off the Express and met the Dreamscape group, where her dream counterpart reacted in alarm to seeing another version of herself.
• Jiang Yu deduced that March 7th was the real one and had brought a message from his original self, who had arranged for her to drive the Express into the Dreamscape.
• March 7th praised Jiang Yu for understanding his own thinking and told the group what she and Jiang Yu had experienced and decided.

Jiang Yu and the others shattered the Dream of Taiyi, defeating Sunday’s plan to keep Penacony’s people asleep and beginning to restore reality. As Sunday fell, Robin helped him awaken, and Jiang Yu returned to the Astral Express with Little Dragon.

• Acheron, Black Swan, March 7th, Boothill, Robin, and the Knights of Beauty agreed to use the Astral Express and their powers to awaken the dreamers across four dream layers.
• Jiang Yu summoned Little Dragon in space as Robin’s song stirred the Philosophical Fetus and awakened Sunday in reality and across the dream layers.
• The allies confronted Sunday in Dawn, Sky, Fall, and Spiral Abyss, with Huohuo standing her ground and the Knights of Beauty challenging him to a duel.
• Sunday admitted defeat, and Jiang Yu unleashed Skyfall, destroying the Dream of Taiyi and the Philosophical Fetus as Robin helped her brother wake.
• A crystal fragment briefly appeared on Jiang Yu’s fingertip before vanishing, and he asked Little Dragon to take him back to the Express.

After the Dream of Taiyi ended, Aventurine spoke with Jade and then faced Boothill, who had come looking for Oswaldo Schneider. Jiang Yu and the Knights of Beauty arrived, and Jiang Yu lamented that the Dream Master might have died before he could recruit him as a worker.

• Jade congratulated Aventurine over a call, and Aventurine said he could finally enjoy his vacation while she and Topaz handled matters.
• Boothill confronted Aventurine and demanded to know where Oswaldo Schneider was.
• Jiang Yu and the Knights of Beauty entered Aventurine’s room, and Argenti restrained Boothill and admonished him for pointing his gun.
• Jiang Yu realized the Dream Master might have been killed by Skyfall and complained that he had lost a potential worker.
• Aventurine suggested turning Boothill in for a bounty, but Jiang Yu instead considered sending him to work in a factory.

Stelle woke after several days of sleeping through the end of the Dream of Taiyi and learned the Stellaron had been sealed and the crisis concealed from ordinary people. Meanwhile, Firefly met Silver Wolf in the Dreamscape, planned to enjoy her freedom on Penacony, and watched Silver Wolf confidently prepare to challenge Jiang Yu in a new game.

• March 7th woke Stelle and explained that the Dream of Taiyi had ended, the Stellaron was sealed, and the Family was managing the aftermath.
• March 7th told Stelle the Astral Express Crew had been invited to an important meeting aboard the Radiant Feldspar, so Stelle got ready to join the others at the Dreamjolt Bar.
• Firefly met Silver Wolf in Golden Hour, and Silver Wolf said she had hacked the system so Firefly could move around Penacony freely without drawing attention.
• Firefly said her physical condition seemed greatly improved and planned to explore Penacony, buy Oak Cake Rolls, and bring treats to Kafka and Blade.
• Silver Wolf relayed Kafka's request for a souvenir and Blade's warning about temptation, then declared she would win back her losses in a new game against Jiang Yu.

Topaz and Jade met with Oti Alfalfa to discuss the Corporation’s role in Penacony, while Dan Heng and Old Yang considered the consequences of the Family and Corporation competing for control. Jiang Yu proposed giving the factory a share of authority so he could install an anti-addiction system in the Dreamscape.

• Topaz toured the Radiant Feldspar and learned that Oti Alfalfa had offered it as the venue for the postponed Charmony Festival.
• Topaz encountered Sparkle disguised as a Family Guard, who explained that the Hound Family had collected strange buttons distributed by a prankster.
• Jade joined Topaz and explained that Oti’s preliminary meeting revealed divisions among the Five Families and could help the Corporation gain a foothold in Penacony.
• Jade and Topaz met Oti, who decided to open Penacony and offer its shares to the universe.
• Dan Heng and Old Yang discussed why the Family sought cooperation with the Corporation and worried that either side might take complete control of Penacony.
• Jiang Yu proposed giving the factory a share of authority so he could add an anti-addiction system to the Dreamscape.

After the Dream of Taiyi ended, Jiang Yu planned to send the surviving conspirators to a new branch factory and sought out Misha to give him a gift. The group reunited with Gallagher, who had unexpectedly survived, while the Astral Express prepared to leave Penacony after staying a little longer.

• Old Yang and Dan Heng told Jiang Yu that the Dream Master, Gopher Wood, had been found dead after the Dream of Taiyi shattered.
• Jiang Yu and Aventurine decided the surviving workers could staff a branch factory on a Stellaron-affected planet, with Duke Inferno supplying its energy.
• Dan Heng said Sunday would face a trial, and March 7th explained that ordinary people knew only of an attack on the Charmony Festival.
• Mr. Soda asked when the Astral Express would leave Penacony, and Gallagher appeared to prepare a farewell cocktail for the slumbering Nameless.
• Gallagher told Jiang Yu that Misha was at Dreamflux Reef keeping Slumber company, and Jiang Yu prepared to give him a Pocket Watch and the Watchmaker's Ticket.

Stelle asked her companions about their dreams in the Dream of Taiyi, while Jiang Yu said he had woken from the Dreamscape and rescued March. March then revealed that someone had given her a button threatening to blow up Penacony, and the group headed toward the Radiant Feldspar after Himeko summoned them.

• Dan Heng described dreaming of an endless journey with the Astral Express crew, and Welt recalled returning to his homeland and thinking of Acheron.
• Jiang Yu told Stelle that he had crashed through the Dreamscape into reality and fished March out along the way.
• March said a stranger had handed her a button threatening to blow up Penacony, and she had given it to the nearby Hounds.
• Jiang Yu joked that he might use fireworks for such a prank, then denied making the button when March questioned him.
• Himeko messaged the Astral Express family to meet her at the Aft Swimming Pool aboard the Radiant Feldspar, where she was preparing a secret for the opening ceremony.

Jade confronted Old Oti over his plan to take Penacony public and used the Company’s influence, funding, and Beauty’s reputation to force a compromise. Old Oti accepted the Company’s purchase of a thirty-percent stake in Penacony.

• Jade and Topaz discussed their countermeasures and arranged for an honored guest to arrive.
• Jade met Robin, who said she hoped the deal would let both sides get what they needed and expressed faith in the Dreamscape’s renewal.
• Jade told Old Oti that Penacony could not go public without the Company and threatened to damage Clover Coins and public confidence if he proceeded.
• Jade offered Company financing and a thirty-percent stake, along with possible publicity connected to Beauty.
• Old Oti conceded to the thirty-percent stake, though he questioned whether the Company’s appetite would keep growing.

Jade persuaded Old Oti to accept the Corporation’s Penacony financing plan and introduced Himeko as the Astral Express’s representative and a future shareholder. Himeko agreed to help Penacony rebuild and promote its Dreamscape, while revealing that Aha’s Fragmentum Factory would provide resources controlled solely by Robin.

• Jade told Old Oti that the Corporation sought to spread Qlipoth’s credit system and establish eternal Preservation, and Old Oti accepted her proposal.
• Jade introduced Himeko as a future Penacony shareholder, with the Astral Express set to receive five percent of the planet’s shares and nominate her as an independent director.
• Himeko agreed that the Astral Express would assist Penacony’s reconstruction and promote its Dreamscape, on the condition that Penacony’s Harmony would not be distorted again.
• Himeko told Old Oti that Aha’s Fragmentum Factory would support reconstruction, but only Robin could deploy its resources.
• Old Oti realized the factory’s Fragmentum creatures could amount to a stationed army and began hoping Robin would refuse its aid.

Jade left the Radiant Feldspar deal and handover to Topaz while preparing to open a Jade Pawnshop aboard the ship. Firefly boarded the airship and watched Jiang Yu approach a newly victorious gambler, ending with him asking to play.

• Jade told Topaz to arrange the formal meeting and handle the handover, then revealed that a girl concerned about Harmony had given her information about the poison.
• Jade said she was waiting for an honored guest, unaware that Firefly had stopped being drawn in by Lady Ciyu's name after her treatment on the Xianzhou.
• Firefly boarded the Radiant Feldspar, spotted Stelle, and overheard Robin say she would give the Astral Express a gift on behalf of the Family.
• Firefly watched Stelle challenge an Intellitron to a wager, while Jiang Yu took the Intellitron's treasure chest to an arcade machine where two gamblers played Origami Bird Clash.
• Stacey won the match and credited Lady Ciyu, and Jiang Yu asked her, "Miss, can I play now?"

Jiang Yu crushed Stacey at Origami Bird Match, then faced off against Aventurine in an astonishingly lucky showdown. Firefly later found Stelle fooling around atop the bow sculpture on the Radiant Feldspar and prepared to catch her if she fell.

• Jiang Yu challenged Stacey to Origami Bird Match and won so decisively that she lost her entire fortune and ran off sobbing.
• Aventurine joined Jiang Yu for a new match, and Firefly watched their improbable scores soar as they competed.
• Firefly noticed Stelle had disappeared while a male Intellitron searched for his missing treasure chest.
• Firefly found Stelle perched on the bow sculpture, teasing an Origami Bird and declaring herself king of the world.
• March 7th urged Stelle to climb down, while Firefly positioned herself nearby in case Stelle fell.

Jiang Yu and Aventurine wandered the Airship, catching up with Dr. Ratio and Topaz before meeting Argenti and Stelle. The chapter ended with Jiang Yu teasing Argenti, prompting Firefly to react strangely.

• Jiang Yu and Aventurine met Dr. Ratio, who described Aventurine as a gifted but unfulfilled student and urged Jiang Yu to enjoy the Charmony Festival.
• Numby rushed into Jiang Yu's arms, and Jiang Yu chatted with Topaz about pets and her Cornerstone abilities.
• Jiang Yu demonstrated Aventurine's Cornerstone phrase, and Topaz warned him that other Stonehearts could read thoughts and desires.
• Jiang Yu and Aventurine found Argenti speaking with Stelle, who wondered how to gain the power of Beauty.
• Jiang Yu teased Argenti about being mistaken for a wanted criminal in silver armor, and Firefly reacted peculiarly.

At the Charmony Festival’s opening ceremony, Robin honored the Watchmaker and the Trailblaze before gifting the Radiant Feldspar to the Astral Express. As the celebration began, Sparkle secretly warned Stelle that bombs were aboard the airship and gave her a map to find them within ten minutes.

• Robin welcomed the festival guests and explained that the ceremony celebrated the Dreamscape’s recovery and the Watchmaker, Ragwalk Charlier Mikhail, a legendary Nameless.
• March 7th and Stelle cheered Robin’s praise of the Trailblaze while Jiang Yu considered attending Jing Yuan’s Wardance to defend an arena.
• Robin announced that the Family was transferring ownership of the Radiant Feldspar to the Astral Express, and the crowd cheered the Nameless.
• Sparkle appeared behind Stelle, pressed a button, and told her that bombs were aboard the ship and she had ten minutes to find them.
• Sparkle vanished after leaving Stelle a map marked with bomb locations, and Stelle decided to alert everyone in a group chat.

Sparkle revealed that she had started the Imaginary Neutron Bomb countdown by pressing the buttons collected by the Hounds, and that the bombs were hidden in 999 dolls aboard the Radiant Feldspar. As the others began searching and preparing an evacuation, Jiang Yu teased Sparkle and sent Sampo an ominous promise of a gift.

• Stelle warned the group chat about the bomb, and Sparkle joined uninvited to explain how the countdown had begun.
• Sparkle said the bombs were hidden in 999 dolls, while Jiang Yu showed the group a Sparkle Fufu doll and joked that he would eat it.
• Robin arranged for Family members to prepare an evacuation as the group agreed to search the Radiant Feldspar and report any discoveries.
• Stelle began searching using Sparkle's map, while Sparkle rushed to stop Jiang Yu from eating her doll.
• Jiang Yu told Sparkle he had come to help with her surprise for Firefly, then messaged Sampo that he was preparing a gift that would make him famous.
• Jiang Yu ignored Sampo's worried follow-up messages, and Sparkle grew uneasy at his smile.

Stelle and the others searched the Radiant Feldspar for a bomb, tearing open hundreds of Sparkle dolls before discovering the real bomb at the swimming pool. Firefly carried it into the Dreamscape, where the blast became fireworks, while Jiang Yu revealed he had redirected Sparkle’s prank and stolen her show for Sampo Koski; Acheron visited the graves of the three old Nameless.

• Stelle found and destroyed several Sparkle dolls, while Black Swan and the search teams reported finding hundreds of decoys and no bombs.
• Sparkle announced that the final bomb was aboard the Radiant Feldspar and sent the group its coordinates.
• Stelle found Firefly examining the bomb at the swimming pool, and Firefly transformed into Sam and carried it into the Dreamscape to protect everyone.
• The bomb's countdown accelerated, but its explosion became fireworks, and Sparkle knocked Stelle off the ship before Firefly caught her.
• Jiang Yu revealed that he had tipped everyone off and swapped the fireworks so Sampo Koski's image and message appeared in the sky, provoking Sparkle.
• Acheron stood before the tombstones of the three old Nameless with a bouquet on each grave.

The Astral Express Crew honored Penacony’s departed Nameless and the people who guarded Dreamflux Reef before preparing to leave. Jiang Yu arrived late and introduced Misha, who asked to join them on their adventures.

• Acheron told Tiernan that Penacony had reached a new dawn and that the Nameless were ready to move on.
• The Astral Express Crew saluted Boreklyn Tiernan and Lazarina Jane Estella at their memorials.
• Mikai told Old Yang that Dreamflux Reef’s residents would remain to watch over the primordial memory zone, and the Crew toasted them.
• Himeko led the Crew in honoring Lagwork Charlier Mikhail, the Watchmaker, at his resting place.
• Jiang Yu arrived after the tributes, revealed that Sparkle would be bedridden for three days, and introduced Misha as a possible new member of the Crew.