Chapter Summaries

After giving Chen Lun a glove, Fuluoyin prayed over a vision of a new chapter beginning. Nearly half a year later, as the red dance disease ravaged the region, Chen Lun returned from training with Bayers and entered Wonderland two days before the game’s open beta.

• Fuluoyin thanked Chen Lun for saving her and said she would follow his wishes, while Chen Lun asked her not to bow her head to him.
• Fuluoyin prayed toward the Purple Moon and said she had seen a light streak past and a new chapter would begin after that night.
• Over the following months, the red dance disease spread through the city and surrounding settlements, prompting martial law and a military response.
• Chen Lun built his relationship with Bayers and learned the supernatural sword techniques Bayers Swift Sword and Bayers Moonlight Sword.
• Chen Lun returned to Jack Manor, noted that the open beta would begin in two days, and used the Awakening of Insects bookmark to enter Wonderland.

Chen Lun explored Wonderland while heading toward another cabin, where he fought a corrupted creature and discovered that the realm could amplify his abilities. He deliberately drew the attention of a gigantic hand and charged his Moonlight Sword Ray, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Chen Lun traveled from Forest One toward an unexplored cabin and encountered a Bone-Faced Monkey riding a giant boar.
• Chen Lun killed the monkey, and the boar devoured its corpse and fruit before transforming into the Bone-Plate Rat and Its Food.
• Chen Lun defeated the transformed creature with increasingly powerful sword energy and gained experience and materials.
• Chen Lun drank the Stamina Potion Maggie had developed and realized Wonderland’s strange phenomena could amplify his extraordinary power.
• Chen Lun provoked the gigantic hand by knocking down a tree, then charged Moonlight Sword Ray while avoiding its direct gaze.

Chen Lun wounded the Barren Giant, escaped its retaliation, and reached the Wooden Hut while evading its guardians. Inside, Philip’s spring-loaded message revealed the second part of the Mystical Domain Transcendent Law.

• Chen Lun used Bayers Moonlight Sword to sever the Barren Giant’s hand and obtained Barren Berries, but fled when the giant struck back.
• Chen Lun outran the giant and continued toward the Wooden Hut, checking that Maggie’s statue still held more than 1,100 Sanity.
• Chen Lun used Hallucinogenic Poison, a Black-Patterned Cufflink, and Resting Perfume to slip past Bone-Plated Rats and Bone-Faced Monkeys guarding the hut.
• Chen Lun entered the Wooden Hut and opened a box that released a spring-mounted pair of talking lips.
• Philip’s message presented the second part of the Mystical Domain Transcendent Law, which stated that transcendent characteristics could only be transferred and increased, not destroyed or decreased.

Polaris entered the Open Beta of "Age of Mysteries" and watched the game's opening cinematic, which showed its world, notable characters, and violent conflicts. The cinematic ended by replaying the Closed Beta scene of Polaris and others watching Jack fight Bishop Newman.

• Polaris entered his Sleep Pod, hoping to earn enough through the game to pay for his grandmother's treatment and a Mechanical Prosthesis.
• Polaris loaded his Closed Beta save and followed a kerosene lamp through a strange, dark space before arriving above Trisur.
• Polaris watched the opening cinematic introduce the world and show the Red Apple Church, Gan Ziwen, and the orange-braided girl from the bakery.
• Polaris recalled his encounter with Mr. Jack and believed he could become a Transcendent and rise above the other players.
• The cinematic showed scenes of bloodshed and Transcendent battles, then revealed Polaris, Su Keying, Ma Ren, and the others watching Jack fight Bishop Newman.

Polaris watched a cinematic that revealed Jack Spade as a figure guided by fate, then entered the open beta and collected a Silver Snake Ring identifying him as a full member of the Circus. He met Ma Ren and Su Keying at Jack Manor, where they reacted strangely when he asked about the faction’s name change.

• Polaris watched the cinematic introduce powerful figures and identify Jack Spade as the one guided by fate.
• At the open beta’s launch, Polaris appeared in an alley near Jack Manor and collected the Silver Snake Ring from his panel.
• Polaris saw that the ring belonged to the supernatural organization Circus and worried that Jack’s faction had been destroyed.
• After Ma Ren suggested they meet at Jack Manor, Polaris replied and headed there.
• Polaris met Ma Ren and Su Keying outside the manor and asked about the missing Doghead Gold and Wangwuji and the faction’s changed name; Ma Ren pointed to the servants at the entrance.

Polaris, Ma Ren, and Su Keying returned to Jack Manor and learned from Jack’s letter that the Circus had expanded into a Beyonder organization with new commissions, officers, weapons, and potions. They met the manor’s dangerous guards and officers, then found Fuluoyin, who warned Polaris against inspecting her.

• Polaris tried to enter Jack Manor but the gatekeepers stopped him until he showed his Silver Snake Ring.
• Polaris read Jack’s letter, which described the Circus’s new ties to the Silver Dragon Trade Association, its expanded workshop and potion services, and its newly appointed officers.
• Ma Ren asked Polaris for the letter, but Polaris kept it before the three players entered the manor.
• Golov welcomed the players, introduced the renovated manor, and led them to the villa’s hall.
• Polaris inspected Fuluoyin, and she gently warned him that prying into other people’s privacy was rude and dangerous.

Polaris, Ma Ren, and Su Keying explored the Circus’s commissions and shop, learning that Transcendent Knowledge was available only from Jack at an enormous cost. Chen Lun flew to plague-stricken Jadeite Town, where soldiers mistook newly arrived players for plague victims and shot them as he entered the town.

• Fuluoyin detected Polaris’s Inspect attempt, and his favorability with her fell from friendly to neutral.
• Polaris, Ma Ren, and Su Keying accepted a three-day bodyguard commission and examined the Circus’s shop catalog, but Fuluoyin said Transcendent Knowledge and special items required an exchange with Jack.
• Ma Ren asked about Circus Contribution and learned that one Gold Pound could be exchanged for one point, while Polaris and Su Keying planned to earn more Contribution and possibly sell extra to guilds.
• Chen Lun flew from Amber City toward Jadeite Town, considering how to use players to strengthen himself, undermine the Red Apple Church, and prepare for the Mutual Aid Society.
• At Jadeite Town, soldiers mistook the excited new players for plague victims and shot them; Chen Lun flew over the defenses and entered the town.

Chen Lun investigated the plague zone in Jadeite Town and watched players and soldiers fight the infected residents, whose strength overwhelmed the newcomers. The players retreated, but Rotten Persimmon demonstrated his Red Apple Church gear and defeated one infected resident.

• Chen Lun followed groups of refugee players to the fenced-off plague zone and learned from a soldier captain that they had been sent to purge the infected.
• The fence collapsed, and plague-crazed residents killed the first group of players before attacking the soldiers.
• More players charged into the fight, but their weak attacks failed to bring down the infected, forcing the survivors and soldiers to retreat.
• Rotten Persimmon stepped forward in Red Apple Church guard equipment and killed an infected resident with his spear.
• Rotten Persimmon recalled that he had joined the Red Apple Church by using Jack's wanted poster and information from Doghead Gold and Wangwuji.

Rotten Persimmon led players against a powerful Red-Clad Dancer, only to be killed in one blow. A mysterious man named Black Messenger defeated the dancer with blazing flames and revealed himself to the players.

• Rotten Persimmon killed a Plague Resident, leveled up, and was appointed team leader by Shiren.
• Rotten Persimmon rallied players to attack the Red-Clad Dancer, but she killed him with a single slash and drove the group into chaos.
• Rotten Persimmon respawned and despaired as the players struggled against the dancer and the Plague Madmen.
• Black Messenger caught the Red-Clad Dancer's knife, melted it with flames, and killed her with a flaming executioner's sword.
• The players inspected Black Messenger and saw his name and an extremely lethal danger rating.

Chen Lun used the alias Black Messenger to sell weapons and offer quests to players entering Jadeite Town’s Plague District. After the players armed themselves and began hunting plague victims, Rotten Persimmon reached level ten and returned with his guild party to find Chen Lun still waiting.

• Chen Lun used the Starlight Veil to appear as Black Messenger and opened Exchange and Quests options for the players.
• Rotten Persimmon bought a Fury Blunderbuss, ammunition, and Anti-Plague Candy after collecting gold from players for the God's Love Guild.
• Rotten Persimmon and other armed players entered the Plague District, where he killed plague victims and gained experience alongside his party.
• The next day, Rotten Persimmon reached level ten while farming with four God's Love teammates and completed his quest.
• Rotten Persimmon led his companions out of the Plague District and saw Chen Lun still standing at the western street corner.

Rotten Persimmon and four members of God's Love Guild ambushed Chen Lun, hoping to kill the Black Messenger and steal his items, but Chen Lun easily killed them and pursued them through repeated respawns. The chapter ended with the group facing him again and pleading for forgiveness.

• Rotten Persimmon persuaded his four companions to attack the Black Messenger, believing the risk was worth the chance to take his items.
• Chen Lun advised the players to travel to Amber City, then rewarded Rotten Persimmon for completing a quest.
• Rotten Persimmon and his companions attacked Chen Lun, who killed the four attackers with flames and set Rotten Persimmon ablaze.
• Chen Lun flew to the respawn point and repeatedly killed the five players as they reappeared.
• Rotten Persimmon and his companions respawned once more and begged the Black Messenger to forgive them.

Chen Lun punished Rotten Persimmon for challenging him, then stayed in Jadeite Town long enough to become a famous guide and mysterious merchant among players. After leaving town, he left players elsewhere hoping he might visit their regions next.

• Chen Lun killed Rotten Persimmon and his companions, leaving them unable to log in until their resurrection cooldowns ended.
• Rotten Persimmon told Shiren what had happened, and Doghead Gold and Wangwuji identified the Black Messenger as Jack and advised him to avoid Jadeite Town.
• Chen Lun stayed in Jadeite Town for another week as stories about the Black Messenger spread among players and on the forum.
• When Rotten Persimmon logged in again, Chen Lun killed him at the respawn point, prompting Rotten Persimmon to post a plea for help online.
• Chen Lun flew away from Jadeite Town, and players across the game speculated that he might visit their regions next.

Rotten Persimmon returned to Jadeite Town and planned to level up, while Gan Ziwen and Honey-Trap Fool traveled toward Amber City to seek Jack. Their journey took an unexpected turn when Chen Lun, disguised as the Black Messenger, found them on the train.

• Rotten Persimmon logged into Jadeite Town, regretted falling behind in levels, and decided to grind monsters after God's Love players asked to follow his lead.
• Gan Ziwen met Honey-Trap Fool at Apatite City station, and they boarded a train together to search for Jack in Amber City.
• Honey-Trap Fool told Gan Ziwen about Jack's quests, rewards, and the Circus, and they discussed their pathways and theories about Jack's identity.
• Chen Lun approached them on the train, and Gan Ziwen and Honey-Trap Fool used Inspect to identify him as the extremely lethal Black Messenger.
• Gan Ziwen and Honey-Trap Fool realized the Black Messenger was likely Jack, while Chen Lun considered recruiting them into his organization.

Chen Lun offered Gan Ziwen and Honey-Trap Fool rare goods and a quest to join the Circus, then vanished from their sight. In Jadeite Town, Rotten Persimmon reached level 10 and decided to lead his group away.

• Chen Lun warned Gan Ziwen and Honey-Trap Fool against inspecting him and praised them for becoming Beyonders.
• He opened a special exchange list, prompting both players to share screenshots with their guilds and gather money.
• Gan Ziwen bought a [Fury] Flintlock, ammunition, and two Red and Yellow Potions, while Honey-Trap Fool bought a Flintlock and ammunition.
• Chen Lun gave them the quest to find the Circus in Amber City and complete a commission without drawing the attention of the Containment Bureau or the Church.
• Chen Lun vanished, and Rotten Persimmon reached level 10 after his group killed a Plague Madman.
• Rotten Persimmon announced that his group would leave Jadeite Town that day.

Rotten Persimmon and his party traveled toward the train station and rescued Alexis from a Plague Madman, only to kill Alexis when he challenged them to a duel. The group left him dead with only 10 EXP gained and an ordinary harmonica as loot.

• Rotten Persimmon led his party from Jadeite Town toward the train station, and they stopped beneath a tree to escape the heat.
• Rotten Persimmon and his companions found Alexis fleeing a Plague Madman, shot the pursuer, and killed him.
• Alexis introduced himself as a great bard, claimed he had been playing with the Plague Madman, and challenged the party to a duel after a player mocked him.
• A member of God's Love accepted Alexis's challenge and killed him with a sickle after knocking his hatchet aside.
• The player gained 10 EXP and found an ordinary harmonica, while Rotten Persimmon's party received only 1 EXP each.

Rotten Persimmon’s group encountered Alexis repeatedly dying and reappearing, then fled to the Train Station and rode a train to Amber City. During the journey, Rotten Persimmon discovered that everyone’s level and Resurrection Count had decreased, though none of them remembered dying.

• Rotten Persimmon’s group found Alexis being killed by a Plague-Infected Mad Dog, confirmed his identity, and took his Harmonica before hurrying toward the Train Station.
• The group later saw Alexis hanging upside down from a tree, playing a Harmonica; Rotten Persimmon realized the one in his pocket had vanished and led everyone running away.
• Rotten Persimmon and his exhausted teammates reached the Train Station, bought tickets, and boarded a train bound for Amber City.
• Rotten Persimmon woke during the train ride and found that his level had dropped to 9 and his Resurrection Count had decreased by one.
• Rotten Persimmon woke his teammates, who discovered that their levels and Resurrection Counts had also dropped despite having no memory of dying.

Rotten Persimmon reached Amber City after enduring repeated deaths at the hands of the bard Alexis on the train, then entered the Inner District and sought work at the Red Apple Church. He learned the church was losing its influence in the region and received temporary guard duties and wanted posters before being told not to return after next Monday.

• Rotten Persimmon checked his notification logs and found that Alexis had killed him in his sleep.
• Rotten Persimmon and his team arrived in Amber City after surviving three deaths each during the train journey.
• Rotten Persimmon entered the Inner District using his Red Apple Church identification, while his teammates were turned away and directed to seek official work for passes.
• Rotten Persimmon found newspapers accusing the Red Apple Church of wrongdoing and praising Jack as a champion of justice.
• Rotten Persimmon asked the cathedral monk for work and learned the church planned to withdraw from Amber City and nearby areas.
• The monk assigned Rotten Persimmon temporary patrol or guard duty and gave him wanted posters, telling him not to return after next Monday.

Rotten Persimmon accepted a church quest to strike at Jack’s forces and later joined Shadow Speaker players in a street robbery, helping them kill two patrol guards. After Mrs. Caroline condemned the robbers, Mr. Taut took a cleaver meant for her and collapsed, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Rotten Persimmon accepted a quest from the Red Apple Church while Sun Church Monk Lai Te discussed the church handover with a Red Apple Church Monk.
• Rotten Persimmon gathered his God's Love Guild companions and planned to join a gang so he could fight Jack’s Iron Fist Gang while completing the church quest.
• Rotten Persimmon encountered Shadow Speaker players robbing shops on Danton Street and negotiated a share of their loot in exchange for helping them.
• Rotten Persimmon shot one patrol guard and helped his companions kill the other after the guards confronted the robbers.
• Mrs. Caroline denounced the players, and a Shadow Speaker player threw a cleaver at her.
• Mr. Taut stepped in front of Mrs. Caroline, took the cleaver in his back, and collapsed after lamenting that he had never shared dinner with her.

Chen Lun received an official request from Mona for the Circus to help control the resurrecting Undead in Amber City. Babu arrived injured after saving Mrs. Caroline and killing the players who attacked her, then told Chen Lun what had happened.

• Babu killed most of the Shadow Speaker Guild players who had attacked Mrs. Caroline, but Rotten Persimmon and a few others escaped.
• Babu left Mrs. Caroline and headed toward the Inner District despite his injured leg.
• Chen Lun sent Doghead Gold and Wangwuji away with Mechanical Gloves and learned that Ma Ren, Polaris, and Su Keying were working on another commission.
• Chen Lun read Mona's letter describing the Undead and asking the Circus to restrain and suppress them in Amber City.
• Babu arrived at Jack Manor wounded, and Chen Lun healed his leg before listening to his report.

Chen Lun ordered Doghead Gold and Wangwuji to hunt Rotten Persimmon and the Shadow Speaker guild after issuing a Circus kill order. Doghead Gold and Wangwuji ambushed the group, and Doghead Gold revealed they were carrying out a mission to suppress destructive players.

• Chen Lun recruited Doghead Gold and Wangwuji and issued a D-Rank kill order against Rotten Persimmon, his companions, and the Shadow Speaker guild.
• Rotten Persimmon argued with Shadow Speaker leader Jini Taimei over their failed looting deal and demanded compensation.
• Doghead Gold shot Rotten Persimmon as he opened the door, then Wangwuji set the room ablaze and Circus servants cut down several Shadow Speaker players.
• Jini Taimei ordered the survivors to counterattack, but Doghead Gold explained that he and Wangwuji were Circus members hunting players who violated the Sun Codex and Containment Regulations.