Chapter Summaries

Zhao Si entertained Helena and Malenia with drawings and stories about dragons and the vanished Man-Serpents while Miquella prepared to treat Rennala. The chapter left Ranni facing the painful memories at the heart of Rennala’s nightmare, which Miquella believed they would have to confront to help her.

• Zhao Si taught Helena and Malenia about Ancient Dragons, Flying Dragons, and their skeletons using his drawings.
• Zhao Si showed Helena and Malenia drawings of the God-Devouring Serpent and Man-Serpents, and explained that his actions had prevented them from returning.
• Miquella shared his findings on replicating Silver Tears with Sellen as he worked toward creating a normal body for himself.
• Miquella asked Ranni to help treat Rennala by sharing what she knew about her mother’s past and her relationship with Radagon.
• Miquella explained that Rennala’s peaceful dream concealed a nightmare tied to painful memories that both she and Ranni feared facing.

Zhao Si agreed to enter Rennala's dream with Ranni and help Miquella treat her. They reached Rennala's happy memory of the Church of Vows, where Zhao Si recognized that the dream might conceal the pain of Radagon leaving.

• Zhao Si agreed to help after Miquella asked him to enter Rennala's dream, and Helena and Malenia went to find Melina.
• Miquella explained that Zhao Si, Ranni, and Rennala needed to sleep together while touching the Amber Egg to connect their dreams.
• Ranni agreed to let Zhao Si see her secrets, and Miquella used Trina to guide the trio into the connected dream.
• Zhao Si woke on a lawn beside the Church of Vows and playfully startled Ranni awake.
• Ranni identified the church as the setting of her mother's wedding to Radagon, and Zhao Si noted that Radagon's departure could have made the memory painful.

Zhao Si and Ranni entered Rennala’s dream to understand her suffering, only to find themselves caught in a repeating vision of Radagon and Rennala’s wedding. After Ranni’s attempt to change the scene had no effect, Zhao Si proposed disrupting Rennala’s pleasant dream by confronting Radagon.

• Zhao Si persuaded Ranni to enter the Church of Vows and watch Radagon and Rennala’s wedding.
• Ranni said she would stop the wedding if she could truly return to the past, and Zhao Si warned her that changing history could have unknown consequences.
• Zhao Si suggested that Ranni shove Radagon to test whether they could affect the dream, and she did so, but Radagon only stumbled and continued the ceremony.
• Zhao Si and Ranni left the church, but the bell rang three times and the wedding scene began again around them.
• Zhao Si suggested beating up the dream’s Radagon to try to ruin Rennala’s pleasant dream.

Zhao Si attacked Radagon and then Rennala in her dream, breaking through the wedding scene and revealing memories of her family at the Academy of Magic. The dream left Zhao Si and Ranni watching Radagon celebrate baby Ranni’s future as an Empyrean, while Rennala insisted her daughter would inherit Caria.

• Zhao Si kicked Radagon through the Effigy and beat him while Rennala attacked Zhao Si with magic.
• Ranni used Ranni's Dark Moon to intercept Rennala's spells as Zhao Si realized Rennala controlled the dream.
• Zhao Si asked Ranni for permission to attack Rennala, then tackled her and struck the barrier protecting her.
• The Church of Vows collapsed into a black hole, carrying Zhao Si, Ranni, and Rennala into a deeper dream.
• Zhao Si and Ranni arrived at the Academy of Magic and watched Radagon hold baby Ranni and speak of her becoming an Empyrean.
• Rennala told Radagon that Ranni was Caria's princess and would inherit Caria, while Ranni recoiled from the memory.

Zhao Si watched a dream of Ranni’s childhood, where Radagon pushed her to study Golden Order Fundamentalism despite her protests and Rennala’s attempts to defend her wishes. Ranni identified the dream as showing her mother’s vulnerability after childbirth, then acknowledged that Radagon had cared well for the family even as he mishandled her education.

• Radagon repeatedly urged young Ranni to study the Golden Order, while she preferred magic and admired Rennala.
• After the Two Fingers chose Ranni as an Empyrean, Radagon intensified his lessons despite Rennala asking him not to pressure their daughter.
• Ranni shouted that she disliked the Golden Order and did not want to be an Empyrean, but Radagon only agreed to stop in words.
• Ranni cried as Zhao Si watched the memories, and he tried to comfort her and persuade her to finish the dream.
• Ranni explained that Rennala had been exhausted after giving birth and hoped Radagon would protect her, then said he had cared well for the family despite making a mess of Ranni’s education.

Zhao Si and Ranni fought through Rennala’s hostile dream and faced a dream version of Radagon. Zhao Si held his own in their clash, leaving Ranni hopeful as the battle continued.

• Rennala’s dream turned hostile, trapping Zhao Si and Ranni in shifting rooms and attacking them with obstacles and illusions.
• Ranni directed Zhao Si through the Academy of Magic, and he smashed through its walls and enemies until they reached the Debate Parlor.
• Radagon appeared with the Full Moon Greatsword, and Zhao Si said their goal was to break through the dream rather than defeat him.
• Zhao Si and Radagon exchanged attacks, and Radagon’s concealed sword strike damaged Zhao Si’s armor and sent him into a wall.
• Zhao Si charged back and pressed Radagon with a rapid spear assault, knocking aside his greatsword and piercing his hair.
• Ranni rejoiced as she realized the dream Radagon seemed weaker than the original.

Zhao Si and Ranni fought Rennala’s dream version of Radagon in the Debate Parlor, but Zhao Si suspected that defeating him would not break through the dream. He tried having Ranni show affection toward Radagon to soften Rennala’s defenses, but the attempt failed and the fight reset.

• Zhao Si and Ranni battled the dream Radagon, who showed no signs of tiring and whose damaged body revealed black material beneath its surface.
• Zhao Si suspected Radagon was Rennala’s defensive mechanism and suggested that Ranni try to soften it through their family bond.
• Ranni agreed to approach Radagon, and Zhao Si threw her toward him; she hugged him, briefly stopping his advance.
• Zhao Si pierced Radagon’s head while Ranni clung to him, but the Debate Parlor shook and the dream reset.
• Ranni returned to Zhao Si’s back, and Zhao Si urged her to keep trying to show Radagon genuine affection.

Zhao Si helped Ranni weaken Rennala’s dream of Radagon by urging her to accept herself and speak to her mother, and the dream shattered after Ranni promised their family could be reunited. They fell into a maze of Rennala’s memories and dreams, where Zhao Si hoped Miquella or Melina would notice they were trapped.

• Zhao Si and Ranni repeatedly confronted Rennala’s dream of Radagon, and Zhao Si urged Ranni to stop hating herself and her red hair.
• Ranni embraced the dream Radagon and spoke to Rennala about their strained family, her dead brothers, and her wish to live with her mother.
• Ranni said Zhao Si could bring Radagon back and reunite their family, causing the dream Radagon to turn to stone and shatter.
• A black hole swallowed Ranni and Zhao Si, carrying them into a maze formed from Rennala’s memories and dreams.
• Zhao Si and Ranni could not find Rennala among the countless dream fragments, so Zhao Si hoped Miquella would realize they needed help as Melina entered the room.

Zhao Si and Ranni continued exploring Rennala’s dreams, where they witnessed her idyllic romance with Radagon collapse into a vision of his apparent death. As they entered another dream, a Twinbird that had followed Melina appeared on Zhao Si’s shoulders.

• Ranni and Zhao Si rested in a pastoral dream while watching Rennala and Radagon’s happy life together.
• Zhao Si urged Ranni not to give up and leave the dreams, and she laughed at his joking explanation of how he handled betrayal.
• The idyllic dream turned into a storm of destruction as Rennala cried for Radagon not to leave, and Zhao Si carried Ranni toward the voice.
• They entered a battlefield dream where Rennala, heavily pregnant, cradled the bloodied Radagon as he appeared dead.
• A pair of Twinbirds that had followed Melina circled Zhao Si and landed on his shoulders.

Zhao Si and Ranni entered Rennala’s deepest dream, where they saw her relive Radagon’s departure, and tried to help her accept that he had no choice but to leave. They woke to find Rennala crying and recognizing Ranni, leaving hope that she could recover.

• Melina and Sikatiya sent the Twinbird into Zhao Si’s dream, where its bell and red flame guided Zhao Si and Ranni through Rennala’s memories.
• Zhao Si and Ranni discovered Rennala repeatedly relived Radagon leaving her and losing their child, and Ranni rejected Zhao Si’s belief that Rennala still loved Radagon.
• Zhao Si held Radagon in place while Ranni persuaded Rennala that the Golden Order and Marika had forced him to leave.
• Rennala and Ranni wept in the dream, and Zhao Si woke beside Ranni as she awoke from it.
• Rennala began crying while holding the Amber Egg, then looked at Ranni and struggled to say her name.

Radagon learned that Rennala had begun to recover, while Ranni cared for her and asked Zhao Si to help by telling her stories. Zhao Si agreed and began a strange, poignant love story as Rennala continued her gradual treatment.

• Radagon read Miquella's letter describing Rennala's improvement and wept with relief that she could say Ranni's name again.
• Miquella explained that Rennala's mind had recovered somewhat but remained childlike, so Ranni kept her calm and fed her fruit.
• Ranni asked Zhao Si to visit and tell Rennala stories, and she thanked him for helping her mother.
• Zhao Si explained that Rennala's recovery would take time, while Miquella recommended medicine and cautioned against further dream therapy.
• At Ranni's request, Zhao Si began a love story about a snake and a human who had a child together.

Zhao Si continued telling the Legend of the White Snake, leaving his listeners emotional and curious about how the snake woman and herder’s story would end. Ranni tried to get the next installment from him, but Zhao Si refused and left.

• Zhao Si told the story of the snake woman being imprisoned in a Sorcery Tower, prompting Helena and Rennala to cry and Ranni to wonder who the tale was about.
• Sellen argued that the herder was unlikely to rescue the snake woman, while Malenia said she could fight her way out and Sikatiya suggested the herder seek a god’s power.
• After the others left, Ranni asked Zhao Si to reveal what happened next, claiming she wanted to tell Rennala.
• Zhao Si caught Ranni in her lie, tapped her nose, and ran off without spoiling the story.

Zhao Si told a story about a moon princess who set impossible trials for her suitors before returning to the moon, prompting Ranni to reflect on her own past. Afterward, Ranni asked whether Zhao Si and their companions might someday travel to the moon together, and he said they could go for a trip.

• After the previous story ended, Ranni asked Zhao Si to tell another, and he began a tale about a princess who fell from the moon.
• Zhao Si described the princess's birth and the impossible trials she set for her suitors, including obtaining a branch from the Erdtree and a scale from the Dragonlord.
• Ranni regretted that she had never used impossible trials to discourage her own suitors.
• When Ranni asked whether Zhao Si could complete such trials, he boasted that he could do so with enough time, and everyone believed him.
• After the others left, Zhao Si told Ranni that the princess returned to the moon.
• Ranni asked whether Zhao Si and their companions might travel to the moon someday, and he said they could go there for a trip.

Ranni and Zhao Si helped the Haligtree take control of Caria, then visited Ranni’s Sorcery Tower, where she asked Zhao Si how he had uncovered her plans. Zhao Si claimed he was a prophet from another world, but Ranni preferred to believe the Two Fingers had informed him.

• Ranni and Zhao Si led a Haligtree party to Caria, where the handover proceeded smoothly with Ranni’s support and the Academy of Magic’s cooperation.
• Miquella replaced Caria’s officials with people from the Haligtree while leaving the old nobility with their existing status but no power.
• Zhao Si accompanied Ranni to her Sorcery Tower, where she told him Blaidd had returned from their duel close to death.
• Ranni showed Zhao Si the doll she had prepared as a new body and asked how he had discovered her plan.
• Zhao Si said he had learned the truth from the Two Fingers, then claimed he was a prophet from another world who wanted to change Ranni’s future; Ranni said she would sooner believe the Two Fingers.

Godwyn prepared to wage war on Radagon while Miquella planned soul-separation experiments that would require freedom from the Elden Lord and the Golden Order. As the armies marched toward Leyndell, Zhao Si agreed to break into the city while Godwyn kept Radagon occupied.

• Ranni showed Zhao Si the Gravity Cannons developed from Radahn's designs, and they were sent to the Haligtree.
• Sellen advised Miquella that separating his two souls and growing a new Demigod body would be difficult and could take an unknown amount of time.
• Godwyn assigned Miquella to conduct his experiments, Morgott to manage the Haligtree, Malenia to protect Miquella, and Miquella's Knight to accompany him against Leyndell.
• Godwyn sent Radagon a declaration of war, and Zhao Si arranged for Malenia and Ranni to return to the Haligtree while Godrick prepared to join the campaign.
• Radagon assembled his army and marched out of Leyndell to confront Godwyn's forces.
• Zhao Si told Godwyn he would break into Leyndell while Godwyn kept Radagon occupied, and he sensed an ominous presence among the troops behind them.

Godwyn’s army reached Leyndell to face Radagon, while Maliketh challenged Radagon over Marika and clashed with him on the battlefield. As the duel began, Godwyn signaled Zhao Si to attack Leyndell.

• Godrick reunited with Godwyn and told Zhao Si that Ogha had refused to join him but remained in Caelid.
• Zhao Si warned Helena to stay out of the fighting and asked Melina to watch over her, while Melina asked him to keep Godwyn alive.
• Godwyn and Radagon faced each other across their armies, and Maliketh appeared to demand that Radagon release Marika.
• Maliketh accused Radagon of imprisoning Marika, and the two fought as their golden powers shielded their respective soldiers from Destined Death’s fear.
• Maliketh and Radagon exchanged blows, and Godwyn signaled Zhao Si to attack Leyndell while the duel continued.

Zhao Si charged into Leyndell's Golden Army while Godwyn's forces supported him. After defeating several Tree Sentinels, he broke through the enemy formation and showed Leyndell's defenders the strength that had defeated Radahn.

• Godwyn ordered his forces to cover Zhao Si as cavalry and ranged units advanced against the Golden Army.
• Zhao Si shattered a Tree Sentinel's golden arrow and drove back the sentinel's halberd strike, startling the defenders.
• Zhao Si used the Serpent Spear to slip past the Tree Sentinel's shield and evade a second sentinel's ambush.
• Zhao Si killed the shieldless Tree Sentinel, crushed the second sentinel's breastplate, and charged into the enemy formation.
• Zhao Si cut through Golden Army soldiers, then wheeled around and pierced the pursuing Tree Sentinel with the Serpent Spear.

Zhao Si and the Banished Knights broke through the Golden Army while Maliketh fought Radagon to keep him isolated from reinforcements. Radagon regained control of their duel, leaving Godwyn ready to intervene as the battle continued.

• Zhao Si led the Banished Knights through the Golden Army’s lines, and Aureg and Ingweir fought the other Tree Sentinels.
• Radagon tried to aid his ruptured forces but remained occupied by Maliketh’s attacks with the Black Blade and beast incantations.
• Godwyn urged Maliketh to wear Radagon down so the Golden Army could not reinforce him and Leyndell could be reclaimed for Godwyn.
• Maliketh destroyed Radagon’s warhorse with Gurranq’s Beast Claw and pressed him with Gurranq’s Stone and Destined Death sword energy.
• Radagon blocked Maliketh’s assault and counterattacked with Golden Spears and Golden Order Fundamentalism, forcing Maliketh to defend.
• Godwyn prepared to take over the fight as golden lightning gathered around him.

Maliketh and Radagon fought to a standstill, leaving both badly injured before Godwyn intervened and carried Maliketh from the battlefield. Godwyn then faced Radagon as fighting continued near Leyndell, and the two prepared to settle their conflict.

• Maliketh pierced Radagon’s shield and struck his chest with Beast Claw, while Radagon broke Maliketh’s leg with his warhammer.
• Radagon shed his damaged armor and moved to finish the injured Maliketh, but Godwyn arrived in a flash of lightning and pulled Maliketh away.
• Godwyn confronted Radagon, who defended his role as Elden Lord and the Golden Order despite Godwyn’s accusations.
• Radagon prepared to fight Godwyn while Miquella's Knight continued advancing toward Leyndell’s walls.

Zhao Si fought his way toward Leyndell as Godwyn and Fortissax battled Radagon to keep him from the city. Godwyn pinned Radagon beneath him inside a cage of Golden Dragonbolt, though Radagon had suffered only minor damage.

• Zhao Si cut through the Leyndell soldiers with help from the allied troops and the Storm King's Wings, advancing toward the city's outer walls.
• Lansseax watched the battle with Vyke as Fortissax joined Godwyn in fighting Radagon.
• Fortissax attacked with Ancient Dragon Dragonbolt while Godwyn struck Radagon with Golden Spears, Dragonbolt, and close-range blows.
• Radagon countered Godwyn's attacks with the Law of Causality and his Warhammer, eventually shattering Godwyn's breastplate and sending him flying.
• Godwyn used Golden Chains to restrain Radagon, pinned him to the ground, and summoned pillars of Golden Dragonbolt around them.