Chapter Summaries

An Outer Deity who called himself the Monarch of Decay explained how he entered Earth by inhabiting a fabricated human identity, Edward Vaughan. He had survived the gods’ purges and reached Sequence Two, and the chapter ended with him still despising Earth despite its flourishing.

• The Monarch of Decay lost half his sefirah in the ancient battle and could not enter Earth without risking death at the Sun’s hands.
• He used knowledge stolen from a soul to create a soulless device, sent it into Earth, and awakened inside it as a human.
• He ate a Devil, took the human’s name and identity as Edward Vaughan, and secretly became a Sequence 3 Blatherer.
• He founded the Devil Faction to disguise his nature, then survived its destruction and advanced to Sequence Two after taking Farbauti’s characteristics.
• Edward Vaughan introduced himself as an Outer Deity seeking to devour gods and pathways and spread decay, then admitted that he still hated Earth long after it flourished.

Edward Vaughan, an Abyss Angel living as a writer in Backlund, met Fors Wall to discuss her commissioned play and later answered the True Creator’s summons. After reporting on the planted seed and distorted fate, Edward offered the True Creator his cooking and was thrown out of the divine kingdom.

• Edward explained that he worked as a writer and had sponsored a plantation to help his impoverished cult.
• Fors Wall arrived late with her manuscript, and Edward advised her to make the heroine personally pursue revenge to strengthen the play’s plot.
• Fors accepted Edward’s suggestions and left, pleased that the collaboration might fund a New Year’s trip with Xio.
• Mr. A delivered the True Creator’s invitation, and Edward traveled to the True Creator’s sanctuary.
• Edward reported that the seed had been planted, the mother’s emotions were stable, and the Assistant was not behaving as expected.
• Edward offered the True Creator cake, was thrown back to the café, and heard the True Creator reject it.

Ademisaul’s visions warned that Tingen would be drowned in a sea of blood, while the director asked him to help investigate the threat. An Outer Deity then described its role in a planned divine descent and recalled its first meeting with Roselle.

• Ademisaul visited the Iron Cross Street poorhouse, where the children asked him for a story about his visions.
• Ademisaul told the director that everyone in Tingen would die, and she asked him to help investigate the matter.
• Ademisaul sensed a strange river in his consciousness and murmured that they were almost there.
• The Outer Deity explained that it was helping an ally prepare a divine descent but feared interference from Adam.
• The Outer Deity watched actors rehearse The Return of the Earl and reflected on Roselle’s writing and the Light Cocoons in the Sefirah.
• The Outer Deity recalled meeting Roselle, who reacted with surprise when it identified itself as a Sequence Two Angel of the Devil Pathway.

Klein read Roselle’s diary at the Tarot Club and learned that Roselle had met another transmigrator, while Alger reported that Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilingus had entered Backlund on a mission. Elsewhere, an ancient narrator considered advancing to Sequence One but lacked the necessary characteristic, and Pallez questioned Leonard about the Ernst Charity Foundation.

• Old Neil celebrated Klein’s mastery of the Seer potion by sharing Mrs. Sally’s baked treats with the Nighthawks, while Pallez asked Leonard about the poorhouse and its sponsoring foundation.
• The ancient narrator reviewed editorial feedback, considered a cooperation proposal from the Demoness Sect, and weighed the obstacles to advancing to Sequence One.
• At the Tarot Club, Klein read Roselle’s diary entries about High-Sequence Beyonders, the dangers of the Industrial Revolution, and a fellow transmigrator.
• Alger told the Fool, Justice, and the Sun that Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilingus had infiltrated Backlund for a long-term mission.

Edward managed the Aurora Order’s preparations for his annual blood sacrifice and discussed his planned advancement to Sequence One with the True Creator. He learned that the missing Sequence One characteristic was with followers of the Primordial Moon and left the schools and hospitals in Loen in the True Creator’s followers’ care.

• Mr. A played cards with two Shepherds, who lost body parts and money, and admitted that he cared for the children at the Charity School.
• Edward kept Mr. A assigned to volunteer work, and Kisma ordered the Shepherds to leave and return to their duties.
• Edward and Kisma discussed the annual sacrifice, its offerings, and who would preside over it, since Richard was in Intis and the Saint of Darkness was away on pilgrimage.
• Edward prayed to the True Creator and asked about the missing Sequence One Devil characteristic; the True Creator said it was with followers of the Primordial Moon.
• Edward described his progress toward the advancement ritual and asked the True Creator to help conceal his advancement and oversee the schools and hospitals in Loen afterward.

The Aurora Order learned that its team in Tingen had vanished, and Edward Vaughn traveled there to investigate. He rescued Fors and Xio from Qilingus, defeated the pirate admiral with a single command, and invited the women to explain what had happened over tea.

• A Listener reported that the Aurora Order's ritual team in Tingen had gone silent, and Edward Vaughn suspected Adam was behind the strange events there.
• Edward Vaughn used a Traveler Sequence ring to reach the East Borough, where he encountered Fors Wall and Xio fleeing Qilingus.
• Fors urged Edward Vaughn to come with them, and Xio pushed Fors through a portal as Qilingus approached.
• Edward Vaughn seized Fors and Xio and threw them through the portal, then turned to face Qilingus.
• Edward Vaughn immobilized Qilingus and blasted him through a clock tower with the words "Get lost," then joined Fors and Xio in the tunnel.
• Edward Vaughn reassured Fors and Xio that they were safe and invited them to his home to explain the danger.

Vaughn hosted Miss Fors and Xio Derecha for afternoon tea, learned about their escape from Qilingus, and recognized Xio’s connection to the Dere family. After finally reaching Tingen, Vaughn encountered a fleeing Demoness, while Klein learned that Madam Sharon had been murdered and was assigned to investigate.

• Vaughn helped Miss Fors and Xio report a murder, then invited them to his villa for afternoon tea.
• Miss Fors told Vaughn that Qilingus had hunted them and described her Apprentice abilities; Xio revealed her family’s fallen-noble status and Derecha name.
• Vaughn recognized Xio as a member of the Dere family and hoped to trade information for her identity and soul, but she withheld her questions and left with Miss Fors.
• Vaughn forgot to go to Tingen until night, traveled there through the Spirit World, and met a Demoness who asked him to escort her home.
• Klein reported that Hood Eugen had gone mad, and Dunn assigned him to investigate the brutal murder of Madam Sharon, Mr. Maynard’s former mistress.

Klein discovered that Madam Sharon was a powerful Beyonder connected to the Demoness Sect, while Dunn investigated the asylum and stumbled upon Roselle’s Notes in a dream. His discovery drew the attention of a terrifying being, leaving him trapped in a deadly hidden realm.

• Dunn and Klein planned to visit Hood Eugen at the asylum after midnight while Klein investigated Madam Sharon’s murder scene.
• Klein found that supernatural forces had influenced John Maynard’s death and Madam Sharon’s fate, then discovered ritual objects and a broken statue hidden in her safe.
• Dunn and Klein visited Hood Eugen at the asylum and dealt with the nearly uncontrollable Psychiatrist.
• While wandering through a hotel guest’s dream, Dunn found Roselle’s Notes and read translations describing potion digestion through acting and the possibility of switching pathways.
• The dream host confronted Dunn, who fled the dream only to find himself trapped in a dark realm surrounded by monstrous corpses and black fog.

The Angel of the Abyss described his bargain with Roselle and his encounter with Mr. Nightmare, while Dunn realized he had fully mastered his Nightmare potion. Edward watched the Nighthawks and considered visiting the human who had defied him, as Ince Zangwill recorded the Angel’s influence on Dunn in his notebook.

• The Angel of the Abyss explained that he had made Roselle promise not to spread dangerous parts of his diary and had agreed to guard against its misuse.
• The Angel recalled teasing Roselle about their language skills and hearing that Matilda was pregnant with their third child.
• The Angel suspected that someone was manipulating Mr. Nightmare and reflected that Roselle remained partly awake in his mausoleum, sustained by the Angel’s charitable organizations.
• Dunn realized he had fully mastered his Nightmare potion, then joined the Nighthawks to celebrate with treats from Mrs. Celeste.
• Edward Vaughan watched the Nighthawks’ base, listened to Dunn’s celebration, and considered visiting the human who had defied him.
• Ince Zangwill wrote that Dunn had encountered the Angel of the Abyss in his dream and been subtly controlled, then felt a sudden chill.

The narrator read Ince Zangwill’s notebook, praised his role in keeping a host alive, and granted him blessings without promising protection. Meanwhile, Qilingus attended a ball disguised as Baron Gramir, where Audrey noticed clues that suggested his identity was false.

• The narrator punished Ince Zangwill, read his notebook, and praised him for helping keep a host alive despite his schemes.
• The narrator visited the lower streets and reflected on Richard Ernst’s costly charitable work and the damage it had caused to the narrator’s businesses.
• Qilingus recovered from his injuries after killing Baron Gramir and taking his appearance, then planned to attend Duke Negan’s ball and leave Backlund afterward.
• Qilingus, disguised as Baron Gramir, exchanged pleasantries with Audrey at the ball.
• Audrey noticed that Baron Gramir’s behavior and perfume had changed and detected a faint trace of blood, leading her to suspect something was wrong.

Audrey warned Earl Hall that Baron Gramir might be the pirate admiral Qilingus, prompting the nobles to alert the duke’s security and recruit Richard Ernst. Qilingus was exposed and attacked while fleeing the estate, and Richard cornered him beside a water channel.

• Audrey noticed Baron Gramir’s suspicious behavior and told Earl Hall she suspected he was Qilingus in disguise.
• Earl Hall informed the duke’s men, then asked Richard Ernst to investigate and stop Qilingus if the suspicion proved true.
• Qilingus obtained permission to leave the banquet and relaxed in the duke’s carriage, believing he would soon escape into Backlund.
• A Rose School Beyonder’s attacks exposed Qilingus, whose Creeping Hunger glove turned on him as he fought his way out of the carriage.
• Qilingus fled toward a water channel but was struck by a flying carriage wheel and injured.
• Richard Ernst caught up with Qilingus and crushed his right hand and wrist beneath his boot.

Richard Ernst avenged the children and Wilhelmina by killing Qilingus, then sold Creeping Hunger to Azik. The next morning, Klein read a misleading report of Qilingus’s death and saw Ademisaul collapse with blood streaming from his eyes.

• Richard confronted Qilingus over the massacre aboard the Marigold and told him he would suffer in the abyss for his crimes.
• Azik asked Richard for Creeping Hunger, and Richard agreed to sell it for twenty thousand pounds.
• Qilingus crawled toward the canal, but Richard used Wilhelmina’s blood-marked handkerchief to transform it into a fish that tore out Qilingus’s gills and killed him.
• Richard recorded his expected earnings and planned charitable spending, while Duke Negan and Ashigood learned that Qilingus had been hired to assassinate the duke.
• Klein read a newspaper report claiming Qilingus had been shot by the duke’s bodyguards, then saw Ademisaul collapse with blood streaming from his eyes.

The Monarch of Decay agreed with his Earth self to wait for an opportunity to enter the Forsaken Land of the Gods while the Earth self helped prepare the True Creator’s descent. In Tingen, the Earth self watched the Nighthawks prepare to confront Megose and the child in her belly, and Dunn led the team into battle.

• The Monarch of Decay considered ways for his Earth self to reach the Forsaken Land of the Gods, and they agreed to wait for a suitable opportunity.
• Lanevus reported to the Earth self about the Nighthawks’ investigations and the clues he had left behind in Tingen.
• The Earth self observed the Nighthawks and recognized Megose as carrying the True Creator’s child, then let Lanevus leave after reminding him of their deal.
• Megose began tearing at her hair and face while Leonard struggled to conceal his alarm.
• Dunn briefly felt compelled to obstruct the True Creator’s descent, but returned to normal and told the team to attack Megose and the child after he went in first with Saint Selena’s Ashes.

Dunn resisted Edward Vaughan’s control but was killed when he broke their bargain, while Klein and Leonard’s attack on Megose failed to stop the Evil God’s Offspring. Edward plunged Tingen into chaos and began separating it from reality, but Klein’s prayer brought the Evernight Goddess’s attention to the city.

• Dunn’s charm was deflected, and Edward Vaughan’s control forced him to aim at Klein before the urn’s chill restored his memories.
• Dunn resisted the Devil’s command rather than harm his companions, and Edward claimed his soul for breaking their bargain.
• Leonard knocked Klein aside to save him from Megose, and Klein’s second Flaring Sun Charm struck her with golden fire.
• Edward took control of Dunn’s body, unleashed chaos across Tingen, and used a prototype Divine Kingdom to separate the city from reality.
• Pallez slowed Megose and Edward long enough for Klein to recite the Evernight Goddess’s honorific name, drawing her crimson light over Tingen.

Richard Ernst arrived at Mr. Vaughn’s empty villa and learned that its residents had fled after encountering Qilingus. In Tingen, Edward used the Evernight Goddess’s dream to complete his ritual and attempt to corrupt the True Creator, but Ouroboros’s Reboot reversed the city’s fate; meanwhile, Ince Zangwill stole the Urn, and Ouroboros sacrificed his body to protect the True Creator from further corruption.

• Richard Ernst learned from two women that Mr. Vaughn had fled after encountering Qilingus, then left a message before heading to East Borough.
• Edward transformed into a Devil in the dream city and used the Language of Foulness and whispers to drive vulnerable people to suicide.
• Edward crushed Megose, took the evil god’s offspring, and attempted to conceal his corruption of the True Creator as the effects of calamity.
• Ouroboros activated Reboot, restoring Tingen to its earlier state except for those who had already died, and Edward escaped into the Spirit World with a pitch-black object.
• Ince Zangwill entered the ruins of the Blackthorn Security Company, killed an awakened Nighthawk, and took the Urn.
• Ouroboros spent his accumulated good fortune and let his body die to protect the True Creator from Edward’s corruption.

Edward discovered that the True Creator had descended into an infant body with his consciousness intact but only Sequence 8 strength, and the two arranged for the Aurora Order to learn of his arrival. The True Creator broadcast a message to his followers worldwide, revealing himself in both the form of a black cross and the golden cross of the Sun God.

• Lovia survived the True Creator's descent and prayed in the City of Silver as she watched the stormy sky.
• Edward escaped the Eternal Blazing Sun's pursuit and realized the True Creator was speaking from the infant he carried.
• The True Creator told Edward he was weak and lucid, while Edward concluded that Ouroboros had influenced the descent's outcome.
• Edward and the True Creator decided to notify the Aurora Order without drawing the other gods' attention, and the True Creator asked for lighting.
• The True Creator broadcast his message across the world, prompting Aurora Order believers, saints, and angels to kneel and praise him.

Edward worked on an opera while keeping the True Creator in a cradle, and Richard visited the Poorhouse to learn about Tingen’s losses and provide aid. Richard then confronted Edward, who admitted that he had killed 4,351 people in the ritual that brought the True Creator to earth.

• Edward rigged the cradle to rock from his piano pedal and discussed the Aurora Order’s turmoil and his unpaid commissions with the True Creator.
• Ademisaul watched over the Poorhouse as Richard arrived and asked the director about the catastrophe and the Churches’ investigation.
• Richard provided fifty pounds for the Poorhouse and learned that six residents had died, including a sick little girl whose parents had buried her.
• Richard prayed to Edward and asked why he had descended upon Tingen and taken people’s souls.
• Edward explained that the deaths had enabled the True Creator’s descent, admitted responsibility for all 4,351 deaths, and ended the brief conversation.

After Klein's funeral, Leonard struggled with grief and learned from Pallez that the Devil behind Tingen's massacre was a Grounded Angel whose identity Pallez would not reveal. Klein resurrected and left for Backlund, but first watched Benson and Melissa from afar and offered Melissa flowers as he prepared to disappear from their lives.

• Leonard grieved Klein's death and vowed to become strong enough to kill Ince Zangwill.
• Pallez told Leonard that the culprit behind the massacre was a Grounded Angel called a Devil, but withheld the Angel's name and appearance because he had severe face blindness.
• Klein resurrected in the cemetery and decided to go to Backlund after a frightening attempt to divine the murderer who killed Dunn Smith.
• Klein learned from a police officer that a fire had destroyed much of Lower Street and that the deaths of its homeless residents were treated as a welcome improvement to public safety.
• Klein withdrew money, bought travel supplies and a train ticket, then secretly followed Benson and Melissa and gave Melissa Sevia Chrysanthemums before leaving.

At the Tarot Club, Klein read Roselle’s diary and learned more about Mr. Door, the War of the Four Emperors, and the laws governing Beyonder characteristics. Meanwhile, the True Creator planned a new outreach effort with Edward and asked him to search for the missing War Angel Medici.

• Mr. Hanged Man gave Mr. Fool nineteen pages of Roselle’s Diary as payment for help against Qilingus.
• Klein read Roselle’s entries about Mr. Door, the madness and death of Death, Roselle’s angelic predecessor, and the laws of Beyonder characteristics.
• The True Creator told Edward he would issue an oracle and cooperate with Edward’s charitable organization, beginning in Backlund’s East Borough.
• Edward told the True Creator that the swindler who had served as a backup vessel had become a Blessed and was now in Aurora Order custody.
• The True Creator asked Edward to help find Medici, the War Angel whose whereabouts had been unknown since the end of the Fourth Epoch.

Ademisaul joined the Aurora Order, where Mr. Z assigned him to work with the Pilgrimage Church in the East Borough after learning his skills and hearing his unexpected declaration of faith. Meanwhile, Xio prepared to attend a Beyonder gathering as Fors put off writing her manuscript.

• Ademisaul followed a contact from Backlund Station to an Aurora Order base and gave Mr. Z his letter of recommendation.
• Mr. Z explained that the Pilgrimage Church had transferred Ademisaul because it could not train his Wheel of Fortune Pathway, and that the Aurora Order would provide his Sequence 9 potion.
• Ademisaul listed his practical skills and answered that he believed in the Evernight Goddess, startling the assembled cultists before he explained the headmistress had told him to say that to outsiders.
• Mr. Z sent Ademisaul with the black-haired man to find Miss Maria in the East Borough, while Lanevus refused Mr. Z's proposed volunteer work and was escorted away.
• Xio woke Fors and discussed her afternoon Beyonder gathering, while Fors delayed writing her manuscript and went with Xio to the gathering.