Chapter Summaries

At the Tarot Club, Klein sought information about the ingredients needed to advance to Sequence 4, then learned that Ince Zangwill was working with Medici to hunt an Evernight saint. Klein considered using the opportunity to kill Ince for his advancement ritual, but delayed his decision while weighing the danger and the cost of Bernadette’s help.

• Klein asked about Trickster Evils, and Derrick offered to search the City of Silver’s records for information.
• Leonard requested an offensive mystical item, and Alger agreed to look for one after discussing a price.
• Priscilla revealed that Medici had agreed to work with Ince Zangwill and help him hunt a saint of the Church of Evernight.
• Priscilla proposed that the Tarot Club ambush Ince, while several members said they could not join and Bernadette offered help for ten thousand pounds.
• Klein learned the hunt was expected within a week or two and considered killing Ince as part of his Sequence 4 advancement ritual.
• Leonard realized that Medici was an angel-level evil spirit housed inside Priscilla and was working with Ince.

The Tarot Club learned that the True Creator had suddenly lost his reason and that George III was pursuing godhood amid the war between Loen and Feysac. Bernadette declared that she would oppose George III, while Lilith revealed that a greater force was driving the war and Priscilla said Mr. The Tower was preparing to advance to Sequence 1.

• Derrick told the Tarot Club that Sveti had warned him the True Creator had gone mad and that the Giant King's Court was empty except for him.
• Audrey explained that George III's plans to become the Black Emperor were tied to the war and revealed that he had repeatedly replaced himself with chosen successors, including Edessak.
• Bernadette said she would do everything she could to stop George III from advancing, and Klein stated that her actions represented his stance.
• Priscilla asked whether stopping George III would end the war, and Lilith said a greater force was driving the conflict and George III might be its pawn.
• Priscilla revealed that Mr. The Tower was preparing to advance to Sequence 1.

At the Tarot Club, Emlyn revealed that he was helping the Southern Continent resist colonization, prompting Audrey and other members to offer money, supplies, and support. After the meeting, Leonard asked to speak privately with the World and Miss Magician, then mistakenly identified Fors as Klein and the World as Edward.

• Alger asked Emlyn about his efforts to organize resistance, and Emlyn explained that the Temperance Faction was building a movement on the Southern Continent.
• Audrey offered Emlyn twenty thousand pounds, then learned he needed food and weapons and was working in the Southern Continent rather than the Rorsted Archipelago.
• Klein, Bernadette, Priscilla, Derrick, Alger, and Fors each offered support or assistance for Emlyn's cause.
• Klein asked Priscilla whether she had news of Azik, and she said she had none but expected him to return soon.
• After the meeting ended, Leonard asked to speak privately with the World and Miss Magician, then asked Fors whether she was Klein and the World whether he was Edward.

Emlyn secured food and weapons from a friend and met Danitz’s new reinforcements, a squad of elves led by Shatas. In a mausoleum, Azik recovered the truth about his soul and faced the Feathered Serpent tied to Salinger’s resurrection plan, but Phoenix and a mysterious lady helped him resist its summons.

• Akasha and Rallard tested Emlyn’s authority, and he told them he had obtained supplies worth thirty to forty thousand pounds.
• Emlyn traveled through a suitcase and Broken Stone to meet Danitz, who complained that the promised reinforcements had not arrived.
• Danitz and Emlyn met Shatas, Groselle, Mobet, Longzel, Snoman, and a squad of elves sent to help fight the colonizers and churches.
• Azik reached the bottom of a mausoleum and realized that the enormous Feathered Serpent held the missing part of his soul, which Salinger had preserved as a contingency for resurrection.
• Phoenix blocked the Feathered Serpent’s summons, and Azik agreed with a mysterious lady to give everything up and continue as before.

Azik recovered the Grim Reaper’s authority and saved Priscilla with Phoenix’s help, then learned that Feysac had gone to war with Loen. In Backlund, Klein pursued the materials for his potion and received a Trickster Evil’s main eye and blood, leaving only a Spirit World Plunderer to find.

• The beautiful lady removed the bird-shaped gold ornament from Azik and explained that Priscilla would die unless Phoenix gave up its River of Eternal Darkness power.
• Phoenix agreed to surrender that power, and the beautiful lady transferred it to Azik to replace what Priscilla would lose and partly heal Azik’s damaged soul.
• Azik and Phoenix returned to Bayam, where Azik learned from letters that Feysac had launched a war against Loen.
• Klein, disguised as Qonas Kolgo, played cards with Backlund’s elite and heard Earl Hall warn that the city could face food shortages as prices rose during the war.
• Emlyn told Klein that the Sanguine had a Trickster Evil’s preserved main eye and blood, and Klein agreed to provide supplies in exchange.
• Azik’s Skeleton Messenger delivered a letter to Klein, who replied and asked Azik about Spirit World Plunderers.

Klein reunited with Azik and set off with him, Priscilla, and Phoenix for Calderón City to find a Spirit World Plunderer. Audrey tried to persuade Earl Hall to supply her Southern Continent campaign, and a telegram confirming the colonies had been seized gave her claim unexpected credibility.

• Klein met Azik, who explained that Spirit World Plunderers could be found in Calderón City, and Phoenix offered to lead them there.
• Phoenix said he had stayed with Azik after being injured and could not reveal everything he remembered because of secrecy.
• Azik, Klein, Priscilla, and Phoenix entered the Spirit World and headed for Calderón City.
• Earl Hall warned Audrey that war threatened food supplies and refused to risk the family’s reserves for her undisclosed cause.
• Audrey claimed she and Edward had backed a Southern Continent force and offered Earl Hall five times the value of any supplies he procured.
• Alfred brought news that an emerging force had seized most of Loen’s Southern Continent colonies and was fighting West Balam, startling Earl Hall and supporting Audrey’s claims.

Audrey persuaded Earl Hall to finance a risky supply deal, then struggled with how to balance helping Mr. Moon against helping Loen’s people as war threatened. Meanwhile, Lilith entered the Forsaken Land of the Gods with Ouroboros, while Colin Iliya prepared the City of Silver’s team to continue toward the Giant King’s Court.

• Audrey claimed the supply deal would bring a fivefold return, and Earl Hall agreed to support her after Alfred endorsed the risk.
• Alfred told Earl Hall that Feynapotter had declared war on Loen, and Audrey worried about whether to help Mr. Moon or the people of Backlund.
• Lilith and Susie encouraged Audrey to study books about reform, and Audrey agreed to read them with Susie.
• Lilith reached the gate to the Giant King’s Court, called for Ouroboros, and entered after he opened the gate for her.
• Colin Iliya told Derrick that the City of Silver’s team would continue toward the Giant King’s Court because they were close to the final exit.

Lilith and Ouroboros investigated the True Creator’s madness at the Giant King’s Court and discovered a powerful being resembling Sasrir in his place. Lilith concluded that the True Creator’s other parts, including Adam, had likely left the Forsaken Land of the Gods.

• Colin told Derrick that the City of Silver’s future would be in his hands, then Lilith and Ouroboros arrived and asked to see Sveti.
• Sveti said the True Creator had become impossible to communicate with after a terrifying disturbance came from the Giant King’s Court, and Lilith left with Ouroboros to investigate.
• Lilith and Ouroboros found the Giant King’s Court filled with dead guards, marionettes, and believers before Sasrir attacked them.
• Lilith wounded Sasrir, collected a drop of his black blood, and escaped with Ouroboros after realizing he was connected to the True Creator’s madness.
• Lilith explained that the being they had fought was a consciousness formed from Sasrir’s evil spirit and the True Creator’s madness, and said Adam and the True Creator’s other parts were probably outside the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
• Ouroboros asked whether the Lord had left the Forsaken Land of the Gods.

Lilith warned the City of Silver that the Giant King's Court was dangerous and promised Mr. Fool would eventually take them from the Forsaken Land of the Gods. Above the Gray Fog, Klein, Azik, and Medici confronted their conflicting plans concerning Ince Zangwill, while war spread across the Northern and Southern Continents.

• Lilith told Sveti that a fragment of the Lord’s emotional consciousness had gone mad in the Giant King's Court and that the Lord’s departure might not have been voluntary.
• Lilith identified herself to Derrick as Strength and warned Colin and the City of Silver not to enter the Giant King's Court because Mr. Fool would soon be able to take them away.
• Colin asked whether the Lord they had worshipped had fallen, and Lilith told him that he had fallen but returned to life.
• Klein told Azik he wanted revenge on Ince Zangwill, and Azik agreed to help; Medici objected because he had promised to cooperate with Ince.
• Feynapotter’s declaration of war weakened Loen and its allies, while shortages and rising prices struck Backlund.
• Audrey apologized to Emlyn for delaying promised provisions, and Alger reported that Resistance Army forces were driving colonial powers from the Southern Continent and the Rorsted Archipelago.

Audrey struggled with the scale of poverty and saw Klein at the charity hall before learning that George III would speak the next morning. As the characters prepared for George III’s Black Emperor advancement, Trissy summoned Mr. Door, whose voice emerged from the ritual flames.

• Audrey oversaw the distribution of bread and broth and wondered how revolution could succeed in a world where Beyonders supported the powerful.
• Audrey and Lilith discussed Klein and the planned hunt for Ince Zangwill, then saw an MI9 poster announcing George III’s speech at Anniversary Square.
• Klein met Leonard outside Daly and the captain’s house, and Leonard admitted he had not yet visited the captain.
• Lilith told Bernadette that George III would begin his Black Emperor advancement after his speech and that other people were involved in the plan.
• Krismona ordered Trissy to perform a ritual and ask Mr. Door how to enter the secret mausoleums built by Tudor.
• Trissy completed the ritual, and a voice from the flames spoke a single word that caused pain in her head.

Lilith obtained a Key of Stars Beyonder Characteristic from Mr. Door after risking an encounter with the Mother Goddess of Depravity, then returned to Earth and gave Trissy news of Edessak. Fors and Xio headed toward Anniversary Square, while Trissy faced a choice about seeing Edessak again.

• Krismona and Trissy asked Mr. Door about entering Tudor’s secret mausoleums, and Lilith approached him to request a Key of Stars Beyonder Characteristic.
• Mr. Door agreed to provide the characteristic, but the Mother Goddess of Depravity captured Lilith’s soul-fragment avatar as he delivered it.
• Mr. Door sent the characteristic through a Flesh Door to Trissy’s home, where Krismona secured it before the door vanished.
• Lilith returned to Earth, collected the characteristic, and told Trissy that Edessak had returned and that this might be her last chance to see him.
• Fors and Xio walked toward Anniversary Square as citizens gathered there.

Klein set out to hunt Ince Zangwill while George III delivered a speech in Anniversary Square. Ince attacked Saint Samuel Cathedral, revealed his Sequence 3 strength, and fought the Church forces as Klein intervened; Medici arrived to block Archbishop Anthony.

• Fors and Xio discussed how profiteers and the authorities had spread fear in Backlund before George III's speech.
• Klein watched George III address the crowd, then left to hunt Ince Zangwill.
• Ince Zangwill denounced the churches at Saint Samuel Cathedral and attacked Archbishop Anthony, while his dreamlike assault killed the Red Gloves before Pallez awakened Leonard.
• Ince shattered the dream and fought the Church forces, while Klein used Qonas as a marionette to attack him and then escaped his mercury form.
• Ince recognized Klein, and Medici appeared in purple flames to stop Anthony as Priscilla urged him to leave.

Klein and his allies battled Ince Zangwill, whose Mythical Creature Form survived their attacks, while the church’s underground remained sealed. As Bernadette entered a mausoleum and made a wish to the Genie to help Klein complete his advancement ritual, Reinette joined the fight and tried to curse Ince, who unleashed a devastating attack.

• Klein used a Fate Stealer charm to redirect Ince’s sword rays, while Leonard and the Traveler marionette struck Ince with a fate-transfer charm and the Sea God Scepter’s lightning.
• Ince transformed into a one-eyed giant, resisted the attack, and unleashed a Storm of Light; Klein found the church’s underground sealed and summoned Miss Messenger.
• In the Spirit World, Azik encountered Sia Palenque Eggers as he prepared to help Klein.
• Bernadette questioned Lilith about Klein’s advancement, then entered a secret mausoleum and wished for Klein to lead the killing of Ince and complete his ritual.
• Reinette accepted Klein’s offer of ten thousand gold coins and attacked Ince, but he broke free of her curse and unleashed a sweeping hurricane of sharp light.

Klein killed Ince Zangwill, advanced to Sequence 4, and discovered mysterious cocoons containing transmigrators Above the Gray Fog, including one that vanished as it broke open. Meanwhile, Bernadette attacked Weiliam Augustus I at a secret mausoleum, while Krismona’s attempt to trigger a catastrophe was stopped by an elegant woman.

• Klein, Anthony, Medici, Reinette, and Qonas worked together to defeat Ince Zangwill, while Leonard and Daly joined the final attack; Leonard stole the vitality from Ince’s remains, ensuring his death.
• Klein completed his Advancement Ritual, drank the Bizarro Sorcerer potion, and successfully advanced to Sequence 4.
• Klein climbed the Stairway of Light and saw a Light Gate with cocoons containing people who appeared to be transmigrators; one more cocoon broke open, but its occupant disappeared.
• Bernadette thanked the Genie for fulfilling her wish, equipped her Sealed Artifacts and Ravenclaw’s Diadem, then attacked Weiliam Augustus I as he descended at the East Chester County mausoleum.
• Krismona entered a secret mausoleum near Awwa County and began triggering a catastrophe, but a woman in a gray gown appeared and stopped her.

Edessak used the Quill of Alzuhod to manipulate events around George III’s mausoleums, while Klein confronted Zaratul and unexpectedly gained temporary Sequence 3 strength. As Edessak’s plans spiraled beyond his control, Alday arrived and questioned his motives for involving her.

• Trissy entered Ruins No. 1, where Prince Grove revealed her and confronted her.
• Edessak rewrote events to save Trissy, who became a Sequence 4 Demoness of Despair and set out to destroy the mausoleum.
• Klein encountered Zaratul, but the Traveler marionette used an unknown ability to grant him Sequence 3 strength, allowing him to escape the church and fight back.
• Edessak tried to make Trissy flee, but the Quill of Alzuhod warned that a powerful entity was closing in and urged him to leave Backlund.
• Edessak refused to leave before George III’s advancement failed and wrote that Alday and Spirit World Creatures would help protect him.
• Alday arrived and asked Edessak what he expected from her, while he promised to give her the quill after taking revenge on George III.

Amon, Adam, and Lilith clashed over the Quill of Alzuhod as Edessak used it to try to stop George III’s apotheosis. Elsewhere, Klein summoned a mysterious woman who drove Zaratul away, while Trissy’s transformation left her questioning why she was helping Edessak.

• Amon admitted that he wanted to create chaos and obtain Sefirah Castle, while Adam arrived and demanded that Lilith put down the Quill of Alzuhod.
• Edessak continued writing with the quill despite Adam’s warning, explaining that he wanted revenge on George III and believed his life had been built on lies.
• Lilith tried to seize the quill, but Adam stopped her and took it from her after trapping her inside the inn again.
• Weiliam Augustus I kept pursuing Bernadette after she failed to destroy the secret mausoleum and tried to escape.
• Klein summoned a mysterious woman from a gap in history, and her appearance caused Zaratul to vanish.
• Trissy advanced to Sequence 4 and started toward the secret mausoleum, but her memories made her question why she was willing to sacrifice herself for Edessak.

George III's Black Emperor ascension failed when Roselle resurrected and reclaimed the Uniqueness and Beyonder Characteristics, then killed George III. Bernadette was badly wounded by William Augustus I, and Amon emerged from the Box of the Great Old Ones, leaving her facing danger from both men.

• Trissy abandoned her attempt at George III's mausoleum, and Prince Grove confirmed that she had left.
• George III began his Black Emperor ascension, but Roselle's resurrection reclaimed the Uniqueness and Sequence 1 characteristics, causing George III to lose control.
• Roselle killed the mutated George III, took his Sequence 2 Beyonder Characteristic, and announced his return to Intis.
• William Augustus I stripped Bernadette of The Emperor's New Clothes and wounded her with an execution strike.
• Bernadette opened the Box of the Great Old Ones, releasing Amon, who returned William Augustus I's attacks and claimed he had a grudge against Bernadette.

Bernadette nearly died fighting William Augustus I, but Roselle returned as the Black Emperor and killed him before reuniting with his daughter. After Bernadette asked about Mr. Sparrow, Roselle proposed finding him together, but their departure was interrupted by a sign that Bernadette’s Sequence 2 advancement ritual was complete.

• Bernadette resisted the Hidden Sage’s attempt to descend into her and put on [Pale Death] to avoid becoming his vessel.
• Roselle appeared, healed Bernadette, and killed William Augustus I by distorting his body and crushing his Sequence 1 Beyonder Characteristic.
• Bernadette embraced Roselle and asked where Mr. Sparrow had gone and what he and Roselle had planned.
• Roselle suggested finding Mr. Sparrow together, then learned Bernadette had studied Chinese and angrily decided to confront Edward.
• Bernadette stopped as her spirituality indicated that her Sequence 2 advancement ritual was complete.

George III’s attempt to become the Black Emperor ended in his assassination, while Roselle returned and successfully advanced to Black Emperor. Adam then brought Amon and Lilith to the former Dragon palace, the Hall of Truth.

• Adam told Lilith he opposed Edward because Edward’s advancement had blocked the Lord of the Mysteries and God Almighty pathways from becoming pillars, and admitted he had meant to make Edward accompany him rather than truly harm him.
• Amon sensed that an imprisoned avatar had been released, and the surrounding area around Backlund began to distort as a new Black Emperor was born.
• George III exploded during his speech at Anniversary Square, and Audrey, Fors, Xio, and Leonard learned that he had been assassinated; Will Auceptin told Audrey that Klein Sparrow had asked him to watch over her and identified him as Edward.
• Amon announced that George III had failed his advancement and Emperor Roselle had been resurrected; Edessak died peacefully after hearing the news.
• Adam raised the Corpse Cathedral and transported himself, Amon, and Lilith to the Hall of Truth, where rows of black benches and a gigantic cross stood.

Edward fought Adam and Amon in the Hall of Truth while Lilith backed him up, but Adam ultimately seized control of Edward after his avatar stabbed him. Adam said he would leave Edward alive at Sequence 4 and use him to replace That Person, and Lilith charged at him in fury.

• Edward returned to the Hall of Truth and fought Amon and Adam, using recorded powers and abilities taken from the Black Emperor and Fool Cards.
• Lilith attacked Amon with her powers, while Edward summoned the Ancient Sun God's projection to confront him.
• Adam briefly wielded the Ancient Sun God's power and overwhelmed Edward's Mind World, but Edward threatened to kill himself rather than let Adam alter his mind.
• Amon and Lilith fought in the Mirror World, and Lilith shattered it to injure them both.
• Edward's avatar stabbed him with an ancient cross-shaped stake, saying Adam had given him humanity.
• Adam took over Edward's body, soul, and consciousness, then told Lilith he would keep Edward at Sequence 4 and use him to replace That Person.