Chapter Summaries

Zhao Si, Godrick, and Helena crossed the ruined underground city and reached Night's Sacred Domain, where a mysterious voice asked for help. The chapter ended with Zhao Si and Godrick preparing for danger among the Silver Tears and slave soldiers.

• Zhao Si woke Godrick from a nightmare in which Zhao Si and the underground world transformed into water.
• The three climbed a ruined wall, spotted an underground forest and a distant city, and discussed the Nox and their conflict with the Greater Will.
• Godrick reasoned that the Golden Dynasty could suffer the same fate as the Nox if it defied the Greater Will.
• Zhao Si, Godrick, and Helena crossed the Terrace and arrived at Night's Sacred Domain, where Silver Tears and slave soldiers filled the square beneath a giant seated corpse.
• A voice asked Zhao Si to free it, and Zhao Si drew his weapons while warning Godrick that something was wrong.

Zhao Si and Godrick fought their way through the Silver Tears and Reverse Eagle Legion soldiers before facing the Dragonkin Soldier guarding the Chair Temple. With Helena’s lightning protection, they coordinated their attacks and killed the artificial dragonkin, leaving the way forward open.

• Zhao Si and Godrick cut through the Silver Tears and sluggish Reverse Eagle Legion soldiers.
• A Dragonkin Soldier fell from the sky, and Zhao Si explained that it was an artificial life form created from the essence of Ancient Dragons.
• Helena cast Golden Lightning Fortification on Zhao Si and Godrick before the Dragonkin Soldier unleashed Frost Lightning.
• Zhao Si deflected the Dragonkin Soldier’s halberd attacks while Godrick slashed its ankle and legs, bringing it to its knees.
• The Dragonkin Soldier avoided decapitation by hovering away and attacked with a Frost Lightning Spear, scorching Godrick with lightning.
• Zhao Si drew his blade in midair and struck the Dragonkin Soldier’s head three times, killing it.

Zhao Si found the Fingerslayer Blade in the Chair Temple and worried that removing it might alert the Two Fingers or the Greater Will. He put the chest and blade into his Inventory and left the threat of detection unresolved.

• Zhao Si heard a strange voice while Godrick examined the Dragonkin Soldier, whose body crumbled after liquid metal seeped away.
• Zhao Si sent Godrick and Helena to investigate a nearby temple while he climbed toward the Chair Temple.
• Zhao Si opened a chest in the Chair Temple and found the Fingerslayer Blade, a weapon made from a corpse and capable of harming the Two Fingers.
• Zhao Si hesitated to touch the blade, fearing its removal might alert the Two Fingers or the Greater Will.
• Zhao Si decided to avoid removing the blade by itself and stored the entire chest in his Inventory.

Zhao Si encountered Alecto, a Black Knife Assassin who urged him to become the Lord of Night by swallowing the silver tear Asimi. He refused, and Alecto began considering another way to make Asimi work with him.

• Alecto appeared behind Zhao Si, and he attacked her before learning she was a Black Knife Assassin named Alecto.
• Alecto said she had come after hearing a summons and asked Zhao Si to become the lord for the Empyrean she served.
• Alecto offered Zhao Si Asimi, a silver tear that spoke to him and asked for his help.
• Zhao Si refused to swallow Asimi and suggested a golden-blooded Demigod as an alternative, but Alecto rejected gold.
• Asimi fell to the floor and began changing shape as Alecto proposed trying another way.

Zhao Si rejected Alecto’s offer to merge with Asimi and challenged her vision of absolute freedom, arguing it would empower the strong and leave the weak unprotected. Alecto ordered Asimi to kill him, and Zhao Si was trapped between Asimi’s copied strength and Alecto’s invisible attack.

• Zhao Si watched Asimi transform into an exact copy of him, equipment and all, while Alecto urged them to join forces and become a lord.
• Zhao Si questioned what would happen after their ascension and rejected Alecto’s promise of absolute freedom, arguing that freedom without restraints meant rule by the strong.
• Zhao Si suggested Alecto intended to control the Goddess, prompting Alecto to vanish and command Asimi to kill him and take over his body.
• Asimi fired a copied Glintstone Firearm, and Zhao Si deflected the attack with his own while guarding against Alecto’s invisibility.
• Zhao Si blocked Alecto’s strike with his Iron Meteorite Blade, but Asimi then struck with superior strength and pressed a Glintstone Firearm to Zhao Si’s forehead as Alecto attacked his waist.

Zhao Si fought Alecto and the shape-shifting Asimi, who could copy his weapons and abilities. He used gravity and the Godskin Stitcher to turn their ambush against them, leaving Asimi pierced and both opponents caught in his trap.

• Zhao Si dodged Alecto's Glintstone Firearm and fought Asimi, whose liquid body absorbed his shots and copied his powers.
• Zhao Si recognized Asimi as a T-1000 and traded ghostflame and Black Flame attacks with him while Alecto attacked from hiding.
• Alecto revealed that Ranni had obtained Zhao Si's blueprints and that she had taken a Glintstone Firearm for herself.
• Zhao Si activated Gravity Wave, slipped free of Asimi's blade with Force Nullification, and drew Alecto into Asimi's attack.
• Zhao Si used Ghostflame: Ohega's Dancing Blade to send the Godskin Stitcher through Asimi.

Asimi and Alecto struggled against Zhao Si, who unveiled a vast arsenal of ghostflame weapons from his Inventory. The chapter ended with Zhao Si launching a devastating barrage at them inside the Chair Temple.

• Asimi escaped the Godskin Stitcher’s ghostflame by controlling it with Giant’s Flame, sealing it inside metal, and cutting away the affected part of himself.
• Zhao Si pinned the Godskin Stitcher and challenged the invisible Alecto and Asimi to use whatever tricks they had left.
• Alecto proposed that Asimi attach himself to her so they could fight Zhao Si together, and Asimi liquefied himself to reach her.
• Zhao Si revealed his Gate of Babylon, summoning countless ghostflame weapons from his Inventory while explaining that the technique strained his mind.
• Asimi paused to say he wanted to learn Zhao Si’s technique, and Zhao Si ordered the weapons to bombard the wall where Asimi and Alecto were.

Zhao Si drove Alecto and Asimi from the Chair Temple with a barrage of weapons, but they escaped through a tunnel Alecto drilled with Asimi. Alecto fled to the Ancestor Spirit Forest with the weakened Asimi, while Zhao Si collected a piece of its liquid metal and considered making a copy of Godwyn.

• Zhao Si's saturation attack forced Asimi to shield Alecto while she used it as a drill to escape through the Chair Temple's wall.
• Zhao Si found active liquid metal left behind by Asimi, collected it in a bottle, and considered fusing it with the liquid in the Great Rune to create a Godwyn double.
• Exhausted by the fight, Zhao Si collapsed after Alecto and Asimi escaped.
• Alecto carried the weakened Asimi through Night's Sacred Domain and into the Ancestor Spirit Forest, where they discussed how it could replenish its liquid metal.
• Asimi told Alecto it had sensed a Small Great Rune at the Chair Temple, but Alecto said they could not return and urged it to share such information sooner.

Godrick and Helena infiltrated a building in the Eternal City and found Nox worshippers praying before a large black sphere. Godrick chose to attack the sphere with Golden Lightning Spear, while the worshippers remained unresponsive.

• Godrick and Helena entered the building and hid behind a pillar as Nox Monks, Nox Swordstresses, and Night Witches gathered around a black sphere.
• Helena and Godrick wondered why the worshippers ignored the noise outside and discussed their faith in the absent Lord of Night.
• Godrick decided to attack the room rather than wait for Zhao Si, and readied the Bolt of Gransax.
• Godrick unleashed Golden Lightning Spear at the large black sphere.

Godrick ambushed the Night Witch and Nox Swordstress, then defeated the Nox Monks who came to investigate. He and Helena retrieved a Great Rune and returned to Zhao Si, who took the Rune and revealed a living fragment of Asimi named Ash before leading them toward an exit.

• Godrick struck the Night Witch, the Nox Swordstress, and the great sphere with a barrage of Dragonbolt lightning, defeating them.
• Godrick fought the arriving Nox Monks and used conjured golden arms to wield an axe, cleaving one Monk and his Flowing Hammer in half.
• Godrick and Helena examined the Great Rune and carried it from the temple to the Chair Temple.
• Zhao Si received the Great Rune and hid it in his Inventory, then showed Godrick and Helena a wriggling fragment of Asimi that he had named Ash.
• After Zhao Si rested, he set off with Godrick and Helena toward the Ancestor Spirit Forest to find a way out of the Eternal City.

Zhao Si, Helena, and Godrick descended into the Faith Forest and crossed its pool, where they were attacked by a curving emerald arrow. Zhao Si recognized the Ancestor Spirit’s People as their attackers and realized the Ancestral Spirit’s power might be preserving them through cycles of life and death.

• Zhao Si identified the upper and lower forests as connected territories of the Ancestor Spirit’s People and found the old ladder the Reverse Eagle Legion had used.
• Godrick tested the rotten ladder, then conjured golden magic to repair it after a rung broke beneath him; Zhao Si and Helena climbed down after him.
• Zhao Si used gravity to help the group swim across the pool, then dried himself and Helena with the Giant’s Flame while Godrick wrung out his clothes.
• An emerald arrow struck Godrick’s shoulder, and Helena healed him while the group took cover from the hidden attackers.
• Zhao Si recognized the arrows as the kind used by the Ancestor Spirit’s People and inferred that the Ancestral Spirit sustained them through cycles of life and death.

Zhao Si used Godrick as bait to draw the Ancestor Spirit archers’ fire while he attacked them with his Glintstone Thompson. After Godrick endured several volleys and Helena healed him, the group reached a Lift that could take them to the surface.

• Zhao Si persuaded the pain-fearing Godrick to run through the forest as bait while he and Helena stayed behind cover.
• Godrick charged out, dodged and deflected some homing arrows, then took multiple wounds from the hidden archers.
• Helena healed Godrick as Zhao Si fired at the archers, reducing their volleys until their arrows stopped.
• Godrick rejoined Zhao Si and Helena, and Zhao Si comforted him before pointing out the Lift.
• Helena remarked that Zhao Si seemed like Godrick’s father, and Zhao Si explained that he wanted to protect Godrick from psychological harm.

Radagon dreamed of his emergence as a hero, then Marika sent him to lead the Golden Army against Rennala’s newly established Caria. The chapter ended as Rennala rejected the surrender demand and launched a night raid on Radagon’s unprepared forces.

• Radagon dreamed of his early reputation as a hero while resting on the throne in Leyndell.
• Rennala unified Caria, took control of the Academy of Magic, and declared herself the Full Moon Queen while Godfrey campaigned in Limgrave.
• Marika appointed Radagon commander and ordered him to lead the Golden Army against Caria, despite the soldiers’ resentment of his lack of military experience.
• Radagon marched to Caria with a portion of the army as Rennala assembled mages, Magic Knights, Trolls, Flying Dragons, and Demi-Humans to defend the Academy.
• Rennala tore up the Golden Army’s demand for surrender and ordered a night raid while Radagon’s troops were still preparing their camp.

Caria and the Golden Army fought a drawn-out war until Radagon feigned retreat to lure Rennala into pursuit. Rennala and Radagon met in battle, and the chapter ended as they faced each other amid magic, dragons, and bloodshed.

• Rennala’s forces attacked Radagon’s camp at night, but Caria retreated after a fierce clash with the Golden Army.
• Rennala used Liurnia’s terrain, puppets, traps, and magic to slow Radagon’s advance, while the war remained deadlocked over supply lines.
• Radagon announced a retreat and persuaded his protesting knights that it would draw Rennala out and prevent her from joining forces against him.
• After reading Radagon’s letter, Rennala pursued him with her army, and Radagon surrounded her forces and charged into their ranks.
• Radagon fought through Rennala’s magic and the aid of Flying Dragons until his mask was knocked off, revealing his face as he met Rennala’s gaze.

Radagon and Rennala’s negotiations over the war between the Golden Dynasty and Caria eventually led to marriage, with Radagon cleansing his sins in a ritual at Rennala’s request. Their wedding and family life brought them happiness, but the chapter ended by recalling that those days could never return.

• Radagon and Rennala held tense peace talks after his forces surrounded her, but Radagon rejected Caria’s demand for a ceasefire and warned her about the Fire Giants’ extermination.
• Radagon pressured Rennala by advancing his army to Academy Gatefront Town, then proposed marriage as a way to end the war while allowing Caria to retain its independence.
• Rennala agreed to a ritual of atonement, and Radagon bathed with Stars Tears, cleansing the blood-red water that represented his sins against Caria and the Fire Giants.
• Radagon and Rennala married in the church, where Rennala chose a little white turtle as a witness to their love and Radagon brought in a red-furred wolf pup.
• Radagon and Rennala raised Rykard, Radahn, and Ranni alongside the turtle and four Red Wolves, while Radagon sewed clothes for the children during his absences.
• The chapter recalled their happy family life and noted that those days could never return.

Radagon dreamed of abandoning Rennala and their unborn child, then woke to govern as Elden Lord and confront resistance to canceling the Combat Festival. Feeling overshadowed by Godfrey and dismissed by the people, he considered strengthening his identity through the Golden Order.

• Radagon dreamed that he left pregnant Rennala, who lost their child as he returned to Leyndell, and woke when someone entered the Elden Throne hall.
• A minister reported that people opposed canceling the Combat Festival, and Radagon ordered him to promote plays and holiday festivities instead.
• Radagon reflected that Rykard’s house arrest left him burdened with government work and that people still admired Godfrey more than him.
• Radagon recognized his jealousy of Godfrey and his insecurity about being seen as Marika’s chosen spouse rather than a capable ruler.
• Radagon decided that leading Golden Order Fundamentalism might give him a stronger sense of identity, then pondered how to win the people’s acceptance.

Radagon reflected on his children’s growing power and the political dangers surrounding the Lands Between. He worried that family rivalries could threaten the realm, especially as Godrick began training under Malenia and Godwyn remained out of reach.

• Radagon felt reassured that Rykard, Radahn, and Ranni were succeeding in their respective roles, and he read an intelligence report about Ranni crushing the Academy of Magic’s rebellion.
• Radagon considered Ranni’s chances of becoming a god and weighed her position against Radahn’s army and the uncertain loyalties of Miquella and Malenia.
• Radagon found no intelligence about Godwyn and worried that Godrick’s new teacher and Malenia’s sword instruction were turning the once-unremarkable boy into a threat.
• Radagon admitted that he could not plant informants in Godrick’s household or stop his training without damaging his reputation.
• Radagon worried that the tangled ties between his family and the state could turn his children’s conflicts into crises for the Lands Between.

Sellen and Thops expanded the Astrologer's Ruins into a secret workshop that produced magical devices and weapons for Zhao Si. Thops tested the new Glintstone Enfield, whose powerful shot was too conspicuous, leaving them with another improvement to pursue.

• Sellen continued studying the stars through a telescope while Thops used his talent for everyday spells and built marionettes to help run the ruins.
• Thops went below the Astrologer's Ruins, where Sellen's marionettes had expanded and reinforced the basement into a production workshop.
• The marionettes tested a Glintstone Land Mine, which exploded and killed a rat with a blast of Glintstone magic and tiny Glintstone Pebbles.
• Thops inspected the Glintstone Enfield, a sniper rifle designed by Sellen to fire Comet Series bullets.
• A marionette fired the Glintstone Enfield at a human-shaped target, and Thops said its loud, visible shot was not discreet enough.

Nepheli and Irina explored the Consecrated Snowfield during a break in the storm while Miquella reassured Malenia that they would be safe. The girls played a snowball fight, and Irina began using the Flowing Sword’s footwork by sensing Nepheli’s movements.

• Miquella stopped Malenia from following Nepheli and Irina, assuring her that he had arranged for others to protect them.
• Miquella encouraged Malenia to grow independent and accept that the two of them might be separated in a future war.
• Nepheli and Irina left Ordina for the Consecrated Snowfield, where Irina touched snow for the first time.
• Nepheli taught Irina how to play a snowball fight and framed it as practice in locating things by sound.
• Irina dodged Nepheli’s snowball and threw one back, unknowingly using the Flowing Sword’s footwork.

Irina and Nepheli came across a family besieged by dire wolves in the Mountaintops of the Giants and helped fight them off. After Albinauric patrols arrived, the girls met Klaris and Klara, who planned to visit the Astrologer's Ruins to see the stars when they turned fourteen.

• Irina and Nepheli played in the snow before turning back toward Ordina as night fell.
• Irina and Nepheli heard cries for help and found a family and its guards surrounded by dire wolves.
• Nepheli and Irina attacked the wolves, and Irina killed one with her Estoc when it lunged at her.
• Albinauric patrols drove away the remaining wolves and rescued the family.
• Nepheli and Irina met the sisters Klaris and Klara, who hoped to visit the Astrologer's Ruins on their fourteenth birthday.
• An Albinauric offered to escort Irina and Nepheli back, and the four girls parted ways.