Chapter Summaries

Melina treated Zhao Si at Miquella's castle, using golden mist and Sikatiya's aid to restore and strengthen his body. Meanwhile, Radagon led Leyndell's army toward Caria and sent Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni a provocative declaration of war.

• Malenia and Helena agreed to let Melina try to heal Zhao Si, then escorted him back to Miquella's castle.
• Melina persuaded Sikatiya to help restore Zhao Si's body, though Sikatiya refused to restore his eyes.
• Melina enveloped Zhao Si in golden mist while Sikatiya secretly added death energy, balancing life and death as his body recovered and grew stronger.
• Radagon assembled Leyndell's Golden Army and set out for Caria after deciding that Godwyn and Miquella would not make major moves.
• Radagon sent word to Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni that the Elden Lord was coming to visit, and Leyndell's army marched out beneath the Erdtree.

Radahn, Rykard, Ranni, and Blaidd learned that Radagon had launched an attack and discussed how to defend against his army. The siblings prepared to hold the route into Liurnia, but Ranni had no military advice to offer.

• Radahn, Rykard, and Blaidd received word that Radagon had personally led the Leyndell Army to war.
• Radahn questioned how Radagon compared in strength to Godwyn and Godfrey, while Rykard proposed preparing an escape route.
• Blaidd sent someone to inform Ranni, who emerged from a pile of books and followed a Caria Knight to Radahn's tent.
• Ranni said Radagon did not deserve to be her father, and Rykard redirected the discussion toward stopping his attack.
• Radahn and Rykard explained that their army was forming a defensive line between Altus Plateau and Liurnia Lake, but Ranni offered no advice on warfare.

As Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni prepared Caria for Radagon’s approaching Golden Army, they discussed how to use their forces and the power they would need to survive. Ranni went to seek the Dark Moon’s aid, while Rykard pointed Radahn toward the Giant’s Forge and suggested he might answer a calling there.

• Ranni proposed gathering the Flying Dragons, Trolls, and Demi-Humans and making magic central to their defenses, while Blaidd described their puppets, magical items, and traps.
• Radahn and Rykard learned from their scouts that Radagon was marching directly toward Caria, and they discussed how the siblings could fight him together.
• Rykard urged Ranni to contact the Dark Moon, and she agreed to try before retreating to a secluded tent.
• Ranni gave Blaidd a key and told him to retrieve a treasure from the Castle’s Secret Chamber, explaining that she would lend it to him through a formal bestowal.
• Rykard asked whether Radahn had felt a calling and pointed to the Giant’s Forge, suggesting that Radahn resembled the Fire Giant.

Radagon’s Golden Army faced the Caria Allied Army as the family prepared to fight. Ranni armed Blaidd with Caria’s treasured swords and named him Dark Moon Knight before the armies began their attack.

• Radahn and Rykard discussed preparing an escape route in case the allied army lost, and Radahn agreed to let Rykard arrange it.
• Blaidd opened Caria Manor’s Secret Chamber and brought Ranni the Sword of Night and Flame and the Full Moon Greatsword.
• Ranni transformed the Full Moon Greatsword into the Dark Moon Greatsword, named Blaidd Dark Moon Knight, and lent him the sword while giving him the Sword of Night and Flame.
• Radagon greeted Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni before the armies, asked after Rennala, and was refused permission to see her.
• Radahn and Radagon ordered their forces to advance and attack.

Radagon’s golden army battled the Caria Allied Army, overcoming its spells, weapons, and machines with disciplined fighters and powerful counters. As Rykard and Radahn grew wary of Radagon’s strength, Radagon asked his children to stop resisting, but they answered with an attack.

• The golden army and the Caria Allied Army clashed, with soldiers, sorcerers, dragons, puppets, and siege weapons fighting across the battlefield.
• A Tree Sentinel used Golden Retaliation to absorb incoming magic and devastate the Caria forces, alarming a Caria Knight and unsettling Rykard.
• Rykard considered fleeing, while Radahn watched Radagon warily and Blaidd grew nervous beside the impassive Ranni.
• Radagon began telling his children that they did not need to fight and that he only wanted them to stop making a fuss.
• A Fire Prelate attacked Radagon with a hammer, but Radagon sent him crashing into the cliffs, where he died.
• Radagon repeated that he wanted his children to behave, and they answered him with the Starscourge Greatsword.

Radahn, Rykard, Blaidd, and Ranni launched a combined assault on Radagon, but the Elden Lord effortlessly countered their attacks and endured Ranni’s starfall. Radahn unleashed a vast Gravity Wave across Liurnia, yet Radagon remained untouched as he asked why they refused to give up.

• Radahn attacked Radagon with his full strength while Asimi boosted him, and Rykard, Blaidd, and Ranni joined the assault.
• Radagon blocked Radahn’s strike, shattered Rykard’s magma attack, and knocked Blaidd away.
• Ranni summoned the Dark Moon and rained stars on Radagon, but he endured the spell and destroyed its nebula with golden light.
• Radahn raised a Gravity Wave that lifted soldiers, cliffs, buildings, and other surroundings into the air, while Radagon and the ground beneath him remained unmoved.
• Radagon looked at his attackers and asked why they refused to give up.

Radagon fought his children without holding back after they attacked him together. He defeated Radahn, Blaidd, Ranni, and Rykard, leaving them incapacitated and lamenting that it was difficult not to kill them.

• Radahn used gravity to form a huge sphere with Ranni’s help, while Blaidd returned with the Dark Moon Greatsword to support him.
• Radagon shattered the sphere with a burst of gold and descended along a Golden Road on his Warhorse.
• Radahn and Asimi unleashed weapons, gravity attacks, and flames, but Radagon struck Radahn in the chest with his warhammer and crushed him into the ground.
• Radagon drew the Golden Order Greatsword, defeated Blaidd, and took the Dark Moon Greatsword from him.
• Radagon struck Ranni with the flat of the Dark Moon Greatsword, knocking her into Liurnia Lake.
• Radagon’s Warhorse stamped on Rykard’s back and shattered his spine as Radagon said it was difficult to avoid killing him.

Radagon defeated Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni, then spared them for Rennala’s sake and marched through the defeated Caria Allied Army. Radahn watched him leave in humiliation and turned his gaze toward the Mountaintops of the Giants.

• Radagon crushed the three demigods and left Radahn alive while Rykard and Ranni lay unconscious.
• The Caria Allied Army stopped fighting as its soldiers and officers watched Radagon’s victory destroy their morale.
• Radagon told Radahn that he would spare him because Rennala loved her children, intensifying Radahn’s shame and grief.
• Radagon offered the defeated army another chance to fight, then rode onward as its soldiers lowered their weapons and let him pass.
• Radahn reflected that he had never understood his father and looked again toward the Mountaintops of the Giants.

After defeating the Caria Allied Army, Radagon entered the Academy of Magic and reunited with Rennala in the Grand Library. He promised to find a way to end their predicament, while Rennala remained unable to speak.

• The defeated Caria Allied Army suffered losses and desertions, and Radahn and others doubted that the Haligtree demigods could defeat Radagon.
• Radagon passed through Gatefront Town and bypassed the Academy of Magic’s seal to teleport directly to the Grand Library.
• Red Wolf greeted Radagon and indicated that Rennala was not well.
• Radagon entered the dark Grand Library, caught Rennala as she floated down, and held her in his arms.
• Radagon spoke about Ranni, Blaidd, and the Amber Egg, then told Rennala he would find a way to end their predicament.

Radagon took Rennala from the Academy of Magic to Leyndell and arranged a comfortable home for her beneath the Erdtree. He settled her there and asked Leyndell’s Perfumers whether they could cure her madness.

• Radagon carried Rennala out of the Grand Library and decided to bring her back to Leyndell, with the Red Wolf following.
• Radagon took Rennala with him on horseback as his army returned from the campaign.
• The people of Leyndell celebrated Radagon’s victory and were surprised that he had brought his former wife home.
• Radagon settled Rennala in a courtyard beneath the Erdtree, outfitted it with glintstone, and arranged for maids to care for her.
• Radagon summoned Leyndell’s Perfumers and asked whether they could cure someone who had gone mad.

Godwyn and Morgott learned that Radagon and Marika shared one body and that Radagon was a genuine God, explaining his overwhelming strength. Zhao Si recovered and joined the meeting, warning them that they would have to face another God.

• Morgott reported Radagon's battle against the three siblings, and Godwyn admitted he would more likely lose to Radagon.
• Miquella revealed to Godwyn and Morgott that Radagon and Marika were one person with two souls, and explained their children and Miquella's other self, Trina.
• Morgott asked how Zhao Si had learned the secret, and Zhao Si claimed the Two Fingers had told him because they trusted him to guide the Lands Between's succession.
• Zhao Si arrived recovered and stronger, then explained that Radagon was powerful because he was both Elden Lord and a genuine God.
• Godwyn said Radagon felt stronger than the Death Goddess, and Zhao Si agreed.

Godwyn believed Zhao Si’s knowledge and connection to the Two Fingers gave their side the best chance of prevailing, though Radagon remained a formidable obstacle. After recovering, Zhao Si used Ash to make new clothes and proposed creating eyes that could see.

• Godwyn reflected that the Two Fingers had guided changes between ages and believed Zhao Si’s favor with them made Godwyn the likeliest victor.
• Godwyn recognized Radagon as their next major obstacle and considered his power overwhelming.
• Malenia sensed Zhao Si’s abundant vitality and contrasted it with her own life force weakened by scarlet rot.
• Zhao Si recovered, used Ash to form a close-fitting blue outfit, and said the powers of the Lands Between were both opposed and united.
• Zhao Si suggested that Ash might be used to make eyes that could see, while Melina and Sikatiya discussed whether he would grow warmer toward Melina.

Zhao Si recovered and brought Melina to the Haligtree, where he proposed developing eyes that could see by combining lost technologies. After learning about Radagon’s movements, he joined Miquella’s meeting, while Malenia, Helena, and Melina watched from the doorway.

• Zhao Si invited Melina to stay at the Haligtree and showed her around after she had helped him.
• Irina and Helena sensed that Zhao Si had recovered, while Melina and Sikatiya discussed the danger he posed to anyone who threatened those close to him.
• Zhao Si told Sellen his plan to combine Albinauric and Eternal City technology with Miquella’s work to make eyes that could see, and Sellen agreed to discuss it with Miquella.
• Sellen explained that Radagon had been moving, so Zhao Si decided to join Miquella’s meeting.
• Zhao Si entered the meeting, while Malenia, Helena, and Melina peeked through the open doorway as Godwyn and the others continued discussing Radagon.

Godwyn, Miquella, and Zhao Si compared their powers and considered how they might stand against Radagon, concluding that his connection to the Elden Ring made him difficult to challenge. Godwyn expected to face Radahn and Radagon again as the protector of his family, but the group found no safe strategy before turning to lunch.

• Godwyn showed Miquella Eclipse Death, explaining that his encounter with Sikatiya's death had merged with his Golden Bloodline and changed its power.
• Miquella demonstrated his vitality-filled golden flames, while Melina explained that Sikatiya's death had become a new kind of gold-colored death in Godwyn.
• Miquella warned that their shared roots with Radagon and his possession of the Elden Ring made matching his strength difficult.
• Zhao Si displayed his Ghostflame and said that powers once defeated by the Golden Dynasty might not help them defeat Radagon.
• Godwyn, Miquella, Morgott, and Zhao Si discussed the Giant's Forge, the stars, and Eternal City technology, but found no promising plan.
• Godwyn ended the discussion by asking what was for lunch.

After Zhao Si recovered, Miquella held a grand ceremony to invest him as the Haligtree’s knight. Zhao Si accepted Miquella’s Knight Sword and pledged to bring glory to the Haligtree, leaving with an even higher standing there.

• At lunch, Miquella thanked Melina for curing Zhao Si and asked her to treat Maliketh; Melina agreed and asked to live at the Haligtree and accompany Zhao Si.
• Miquella and Malenia prepared a ceremony in the Haligtree Sanctuary, where residents gathered to witness Zhao Si’s investiture.
• Zhao Si knelt before Miquella and Malenia as they declared him Miquella’s Knight and laid the Abundance and Rot Twinblade on his shoulder.
• Miquella bestowed Miquella’s Knight Sword on Zhao Si, who drew it and pledged to bring glory back to the Haligtree.

After receiving Godwyn’s letter, Godrick learned that his father was alive and that Zhao Si had become Miquella’s Knight and would soon be Godwyn’s sworn brother. Meanwhile, Mohg built a hidden blood-worshiping faction beneath Caelid, but his plan to wait for the surface powers to destroy one another rested on a weak following and uncertain strength.

• Godwyn sent Godrick a letter describing his resurrection and recent events, and Godrick wept with joy when he read it.
• Godrick learned that Zhao Si would become Godwyn’s sworn brother and had become Miquella’s Knight, and he worried that he would have to call his good partner Uncle.
• Zhao Si declined command of Miquella’s troops because he lacked experience, leaving military leadership to Malenia and Miquella.
• Mohg abducted deserters and others to his secret kingdom beneath Caelid, where he used the Formless Mother’s blood to turn them into servants.
• Mohg formed Blood Nobles and armed his followers with weapons designed to inflict wounds and harvest blood, naming his hidden realm the Mohgwyn Blood Dynasty.
• Mohg planned to build strength underground and seize power after the surface factions weakened, but his followers were too weak to challenge the major powers.

Zhao Si took Malenia, Helena, and Melina out into the snow, where he and Malenia turned a playful snowball fight into a test of their Flowing Sword techniques. The others joined in as the contest became a chaotic barrage of snowballs.

• Zhao Si set out from Ordina with Malenia, Helena, and Melina, intending to explore the snowy Mountaintops and visit Thops.
• Zhao Si threw a snowball at Malenia, and the two used the Flowing Sword to redirect and preserve their snowballs as they threw them back and forth.
• Malenia enlarged a melting snowball by gathering fresh snow during a somersault, while Zhao Si surprised her with a second snowball hidden behind the first.
• Malenia accused Zhao Si of cheating and retaliated with a rapid barrage that filled his mouth with snow.
• Helena explained that Zhao Si and Malenia were testing their sword technique, then invited Melina to join the snowball fight.

After a snowball fight gave Malenia a rare chance to enjoy carefree play, Zhao Si rode with his companions to the fortified new Astrologer's Ruins. He reunited with Thops, discussed his blindness and the observatory's work, and learned that Thops had made no progress studying the stars.

• Zhao Si, Malenia, Melina, and Helena finished their snowball fight, and Malenia enjoyed a taste of the childhood she had missed.
• Zhao Si led the group across the Consecrated Snowfield, where patrolling Albinaurics saluted him and Malenia.
• Zhao Si arrived at the expanding, trap-filled Astrologer's Ruins, where automated puppets and Magic Balloons guarded the observatory.
• Zhao Si reunited with Thops, who noticed his blindness, and Zhao Si explained that Sellen planned to make him new eyes.
• Zhao Si asked Thops about his stargazing, and Thops admitted that he had discovered nothing beyond the stars being stars.

Zhao Si visited Sellen’s underground magic factory, where Thops showed him the tools being produced for the coming wars. After leaving, Zhao Si and his companions continued their journey, unaware that Irina and Nepheli had already met the Kulala Sisters.

• Zhao Si complained about Sikatiya’s refusal to heal his eyes, while Melina silently listened and Sikatiya defended her decision.
• Thops showed Zhao Si the factory and explained that Sellen had left him authority over its resources.
• Zhao Si decided Miquella and Malenia could later use the factory’s Magic Tools to strengthen the Haligtree’s forces.
• Zhao Si asked Thops to welcome two young sisters who might come to see the stars, and Thops agreed to adjust the security measures.
• Zhao Si, Malenia, Helena, and Melina said goodbye to Thops and continued on their way.
• Irina and Nepheli had already encountered the Kulala Sisters before the war, when the sisters had come with their family to fulfill a birthday wish.

Avril, a frail young woman living in the Consecrated Snowfield, helped the townspeople clear snow after Radahn’s invasion despite the deathly illness consuming her. While scouting beyond town, she found blood and footprints that led to armed marauders searching the woods, and the group retreated without knowing what had happened to the injured person.

• Avril recalled how death had begun consuming her after she survived the Spirit World with Zhao Si’s help and escaped her father’s marriage arrangement.
• Avril joined the townspeople in clearing snow and scouting icy roads so trade between settlements could resume.
• Avril spotted a streak of blood and scattered footprints beyond the town wall and called others over.
• Avril followed the group’s investigation into the woods, where they found armed marauders searching among the trees.
• The townspeople began retreating, and Avril asked what would happen to the injured person.