Chapter Summaries

The Shadow Tree surged toward the surface as Soea and Tirya merged with it, while events across the world hinted that the crisis was unfolding on several fronts. In New Silver City, Jenna questioned whether Earth's Gift counted as a mother, and a man revealed the Blasphemy Card of the Mother.

• Angoulême and his colleagues removed the final paper seals from 0-15, whose light purified the Fog of War and Montsouris Ghosts; Jack Walton urged them to use 0-59, Uninhabited Heaven.
• Soea and Tirya merged into the Shadow Tree, which pushed through the ground and attacked key locations in Trier while spreading desire-filled dreams elsewhere.
• Saint Viève resisted the Shadow Tree at her church and worried that something might also have gone wrong inside Fourth Epoch Trier, then saw a top-hatted figure descend before the crimson moon.
• Madam Justice recognized a dream as a possible message from the ancient dragon Odfana and prayed to Mr. Fool for help.
• Aulmer told Emlyn that Alexis had disappeared, prompting Emlyn to question how the Duke had learned of it so quickly.
• In New Silver City, Jenna wondered whether Earth's Gift counted as a mother, while a man took out the Blasphemy Card of the Mother.

Lumian and his team were trapped in the Otherworld before Ombella’s immense oak after a disrupted teleport, while the Shadow Tree stirred in Trier and Mr. Fool moved to contain it. Elsewhere, Madam Magician discovered that Odfana had drawn her into Audrey’s dream, and Roselle’s transformed body staggered toward the Sunless.

• The Mother card revealed Sequence 1 as Grain God or Tree God, then its roots drained the scarlet-eyed man as Ombella’s tree trunk revived and vanished from New Silver City.
• After seeing the Shadow Tree rise, Lumian took his team toward the Church of Tranquility, but interference tied to Giddas diverted their teleportation into an Otherworld wilderness before Ombella’s enormous oak.
• Lumian warned his companions not to enter the Mirror World and chose to fight rather than seek another escape.
• Madam Magician found Audrey trapped in a dream woven by Odfana, who appeared overhead as an ancient grayish-white dragon.
• Mr. Fool attacked the Shadow Tree in Trier and covered its trunk with Historical Fog as its bark and branches revealed layers of the city’s history and desires.
• In Fourth Epoch Trier, Angoulême and the other Sunless heard babies crying and saw a Roselle-like figure approach, swollen with bird-clawed babies emerging from his body.

Lumian and his team fought the Giant Oak Tree while secretly maneuvering toward the edge of the Otherworld so Lumian could cut a way out. After they escaped, Zaratul pulled them into the Mirror World, while Renette Tinicol found the Mother card in New Silver City.

• Lumian and the others combined their Weather Manipulation and fire attacks against the Giant Oak Tree, which repeatedly escaped by burrowing through the earth.
• The team used the Fog of War and other abilities to keep fighting the relocating tree as their lives drained away.
• When the tree rebirthed the lightning it had swallowed, the resulting blast shattered Anthony, Ludwig, Franca, and Jenna's Mirror Substitutes, while Lumian's true body remained safe.
• Lumian revealed his plan, tore open the edge of the Otherworld with his Sword of Destruction, and used his Black Mark to bring the team through the rift.
• Zaratul wished Lumian and the others into the Mirror World, while Renette Tinicol arrived in New Silver City and found the faintly bloody Mother card.

Lumian and his companions were scattered across the Mirror World after Judith triggered a catastrophic collapse, while disasters erupted across both continents. Lumian encountered Judith again and launched an attack as Franca, Jenna, Ludwig, and Anthony each searched for a way forward.

• Judith caused the Mirror World to collapse into Space-Time Turbulence, and Lumian used Teleportation to scatter his team to safety.
• Franca encountered Clarisse beside a statue of the Primordial Witch and attacked her after pretending to ask what she was doing.
• Jenna, Ludwig, and Anthony each traveled through separate Mirror World tunnels, with Ludwig choosing the route toward his godfather and Anthony reporting to Mr. Fool before continuing.
• A messenger told Moon Emlin that the Rose School had captured Masaru City, and Moon Emlin saw a mountain of the city's dead as he arrived.
• Lumian encountered Judith again, transformed into his mythical creature form, and struck at her with a gigantic sword of black flame.

Lumian defeated Judith in the Mirror World, but Cheek, the Primordial Witch, ambushed him and dragged him into the Special Mirror World. Mr. Fool reached the barrier but stopped when a huge, distorted phantom appeared within, while Medici observed that Cheek was even stronger than expected.

• Lumian used Conquest to overwhelm Judith and burn her real-world self, leaving only hidden mirrors that could eventually allow her resurrection.
• After defeating Judith, Lumian tried to leave the Mirror World but was petrified and bound by Cheek's snake-like hair, then dragged into the Special Mirror World.
• Mr. Fool arrived and tried to intervene, but Cheek's charm briefly affected him as the surrounding region collapsed into darkness.
• Mr. Fool restored the region and used a starry key to locate Lumian, but halted when a huge, distorted phantom appeared behind the Special Mirror World's barrier.
• Medici watched from a nearby Mirror-Behind Region and remarked that Cheek had appeared and seemed stronger than expected.

Jenna reached the Special Mirror World and saw a phantom that stirred destructive desires in her. Meanwhile, Franca fought Clarisse as the Primordial Witch Cheek prepared Alista Tudor’s resurrection through Lumian, and Clarisse revealed more lines of the Primordial Witch’s Honorific Name.

• Jenna reached the Special Mirror World, saw Mr. Fool and an enormous distorted phantom, and struggled to suppress a sudden desire for destruction.
• Franca used a boast about digesting her Unaging potion to unsettle Clarisse, then attacked her with Fascination while their mirror selves fought in the Mirror-Behind Region.
• Clarisse revealed that the Primordial Witch’s fourth Honorific Name line was “Female Body of the Primordial Witch God,” briefly distracting Franca.
• In the Forsaken Land, darkness expanded above the mountains and revealed a cross bearing two figures as chaotic water pulled it downward.
• Cheek told the nearly mindless Lumian that she had cursed Tudor’s other descendants and intended to use his body to resurrect Tudor, while explaining the Witch and Hunter pathways as the Original Creator’s feminine and masculine sides.
• Clarisse announced the fifth Honorific Name line: “Original Creator in the Mirror!”

Cheek explained how she and Alista Tudor created the Original Creator in the Mirror and why she wanted Lumian to become its vessel. She began forcing the Red Priest Uniqueness into Lumian, leaving him unable to resist as she prepared him to take on Tudor’s role.

• Cheek explained that the Primordial Witch God’s resurrection plan combined with the Special Mirror World Bethel created, producing the weak-consciousness Original Creator in the Mirror.
• Cheek and Alista Tudor tried to merge with the Original Creator in the Mirror and take control of the City of Calamity, but their plan was disrupted by the War of the Four Emperors.
• Cheek said she had critically wounded Alista Tudor, while Salinger harvested his life and sent his soul into the River of Eternal Darkness.
• Cheek described how Salinger’s forced accommodation of the Red Priest Uniqueness mutated the Original Creator in the Mirror and created a self-aware female counterpart called Black Me.
• Cheek told Lumian that he would become equivalent to Tudor and pressed a bloodstained, rusted crown into his head without an advancement ritual.

Lumian was caught in a forced fusion involving the Conqueror characteristic and Alista Tudor, while the Primordial Witch Cheek arranged her own fusion around him. Their combined transformation erupted in a brilliant light that blocked Mr. Fool from reaching the depths of the Special Mirror World, leaving Medici to wonder what Tudor had done.

• Lumian realized the Conqueror characteristic was being forced into him and that the Circle of Fate's prophecy targeted Alista Tudor's attempted resurrection through his body.
• The mirror Alista Tudor approached Lumian to claim his body, and a second Tudor—the product of an earlier fusion with the Original Creator in the Mirror—appeared and fused with him.
• The Blood Emperors entered Lumian, broke through the Underworld Daoist's seal, and began destroying his consciousness as Cheek split off another version of herself and resumed fusing with him.
• Cheek's second self and the Primordial Witch wearing a Black Bone Skirt joined the fusion, which erupted in world-creating light.
• The light formed a barrier that stopped Mr. Fool from entering the depths of the Special Mirror World, and Medici wondered what Tudor had done.

Franca realized the Black Witch had been preparing the altar for a purpose beyond their fight, while Amon revealed that Jenna could save Lumian by sacrificing her life. Jenna accepted the choice, even as Mr. Fool prepared to break or seal the barrier around the Special Mirror World.

• Franca noticed that the Black Witch was protecting the altar and inferred that the Primordial Witch’s statue had drawn her there for a larger purpose.
• Anthony reached Jenna and Ludwig as a burst of light formed an invisible barrier around the Special Mirror World, signaling that a dangerous mutation had begun.
• Amon told Jenna that she could use her three Special Mirror World Fragments and advance prematurely to Witch of Unaging to draw the great terror onto herself, giving Mr. Fool a chance to save Lumian.
• Amon explained that the plan was uncertain and would kill Jenna whether it succeeded or failed, then asked her to choose between Lumian’s life and her own.
• Mr. Fool told Jenna she could refuse or choose otherwise while he tried to destroy the barrier or seal the area.
• Jenna understood that her path had been manipulated toward becoming a sacrifice, then accepted the proposed choice, saying she was willing.

Jenna drank the Witch of Unaging potion and joined with her mirror self as Franca destroyed the Primordial Witch statues. As Jenna surrendered to the transformation, the Primordial Witch’s attempt to reach her was redirected to Mr. Fool, disrupting Lumian’s fusion and collapsing the barrier around the Special Mirror World.

• Jenna accepted Amon’s help, drank the Witch of Unaging potion, and told Anthony to ask Franca to live well for her.
• Jenna began petrifying and floated toward her mirror self, urging the hostile reflection to keep fighting its transformation.
• Franca revealed that her apparent escape had been a mirror double, then destroyed both Primordial Witch statues with hazy light and Certain-Hit Gun shots.
• The Primordial Witch tried to target Jenna through the surviving ritual links, but Mr. Fool grafted her gaze onto an empty black trench coat.
• A witch figure broke free from Lumian and moved toward Jenna, destabilizing his fusion and causing the Special Mirror World’s barrier to vanish.
• Jenna embraced her mirror self and sank into a peaceful, dreamlike darkness.

Amon used a supernova explosion to destroy Jenna’s body before the Creator in the Mirror could take control, but her and Jenna’s Soul Fragments survived. Mr. Fool grafted those fragments onto Lumian’s collapsing body, leaving their fusion and Odfana’s motives unresolved.

• As Lumian’s body collapsed, Ombella’s Bloodline and Giddas’s Soul Fragments sparked a weak rebirth, creating alternating faces of Alista Tudor and Giddas, then Cheek and Ombella.
• The Primordial Witch Cheek stopped trying to fuse with Lumian when she saw Ombella’s face, while Mr. Fool sent most of his figures to hold her back.
• Amon invoked the power of a dual-pathway True God and unleashed a supernova explosion that dissolved Jenna’s body and damaged the surrounding Mirror Worlds.
• Jenna’s and the Creator in the Mirror’s Soul Fragments survived the blast and began to reassemble, so Mr. Fool grafted them onto Lumian’s body and strengthened Jenna’s fragments with starlight.
• Justice questioned why Odfana could overpower her and Fors, and Odfana said he had survived since the First Epoch and invited them to wonder how.

Madam Justice learned that Odfana had been sent to delay them while a primordial God drew back his power to focus on two chances to resurrect. In the Special Mirror World, Lumian’s attempt to merge Jenna’s Soul Fragments triggered another resurrection, which Mr. Fool halted with a Dark-Gold Mask, while Medici prepared to seize Lumian and the light figure descended upon The Fool.

• Madam Magician and Madam Justice confronted Odfana, who revealed that a primordial God had controlled him and was concentrating his will for two chances to resurrect that night.
• Aurora helped Lumian merge Jenna’s Soul Fragments with himself, and Mr. Fool’s Fooling allowed them to break free from the Creator in the Mirror.
• Lumian’s merging flesh began forming a head as Cheek and Alista Tudor’s characteristics converged, and Mr. Fool used Amon’s Dark-Gold Mask to halt the emerging face and the primordial resurrection.
• A head bearing Aurora’s face and Jenna’s face grew from Lumian’s right shoulder, both women unconscious and bloodied.
• Medici saw an opportunity and assembled his Red of War legion to pursue his objectives of stopping the resurrection and claiming Lumian.
• A blazing figure of light descended into the Special Mirror World and enveloped every figure of The Fool.

The Eternal Blazing Sun staked everything on helping its ally become the Calamity of the Root and the Doomsday Calamity, while Lumian fought the Red Angel Medici amid the chaos. Lumian collapsed part of the Special Mirror World and fell through space-time turbulence to Fourth Epoch Trier.

• The Eternal Blazing Sun resolved to risk everything to avert the apocalypse, while Lumian received a wish that let him remain lucid for part of each day.
• Lumian and the Red Angel Medici fought as Medici’s Red of War soldier puppets attacked Lumian with shared abilities.
• Lumian summoned aid from the City of Calamity and struck Medici with the Sword of Destruction, badly wounding them both and damaging the Special Mirror World.
• Lumian collapsed the region beneath them, and the space-time storm scattered him, Medici, and the Red of War legion.
• Lumian landed before a half-collapsed palace burning with invisible flames in the depths of the Special Mirror World, which led to Fourth Epoch Trier.

Lumian met Madame Pualis, who revealed that Ombella had been born and explained the Great Mother’s plan and Ombella’s origins. The chapter ended with Odfana identifying the primordial God as Ombella’s father.

• Lumian reached Alista Tudor’s Palace and found four Decaying Monarch’s Gifted displayed as corpse statues.
• Madame Pualis appeared with the real, newly born infant Ombella and stopped Lumian from attacking.
• Madame Pualis explained that the Great Mother had wanted The Fool to win in the Dream City, delaying the Celestial Worthy’s return and advancing her own plan.
• Madame Pualis revealed that Ombella had been born after Lumian entered the Special Mirror World and that she and Giddas were conceived by the Brood Hive in the middle of the First Epoch.
• In Lady Justice Audrey’s dream, Odfana told Lady Magician and Lady Justice that the primordial God was Ombella’s father.

Madame Pualis revealed that Ombella’s true birth would destabilize the Eternal Blazing Sun and strengthen the Great Mother through the Brood Hive’s symbolism. As the Eternal Blazing Sun fell and the barrier weakened, the gods acted to hold it together, but the crimson moon descended across the world, leaving the apocalypse’s threat newly intensified.

• Madame Pualis explained that the Primordial Witch God’s revived consciousness had influenced the Eternal Blazing Sun and that Ombella’s birth would strengthen their mystical connection.
• The Goddess of Evernight confronted the corrupted Eternal Blazing Sun, and Oseicus asked Her to kill Him; She struck Him down as the golden sun broke apart.
• The Earth Mother, Lilith, asked Amanises to put Her to sleep so Her authorities could support the barrier, while eight stars pressed against it and caused cracks.
• Mr. Fool stabilized the barrier, and Adam and the True Creator Grisha entered the Chaos Sea after hearing the ancient voice call to them.
• Madame Pualis explained that Ombella’s birth would alter the relationship between the Brood Hive and the Great Mother, and the crimson moon descended over the world.

Leon expanded the Disease Church and visited Saint Robles Church, where he met Archbishop Lugano, who said he had suffered recurring nightmares. That night, Lugano dreamed again of a ruined, deserted Trier beneath the crimson moon.

• Leon led the Church Order in worship and communion, then visited Saint Robles Church to study its practices.
• Leon learned that Bishop Christopher had been replaced by Bishop Evelyn and noticed the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun had changed its symbols and rituals.
• Lugano joined Leon at the church and revealed that he had long suffered nightmares and had been advised not to worry about them or approach them.
• Lugano stayed at the church until evening, then returned to his apartment and went to sleep despite fearing the recurring nightmare.
• Lugano dreamed of Trier reduced to silent ruins, overgrown with plants and lit only by the crimson moon.

Lugano saw a group carrying what appeared to be his corpse through ruined Trier, while Angoulême’s team recalled the city’s collapse and encountered a witch beside Lumian’s destructive three-headed form. After Lumian regained lucidity and mastered the powers of Conqueror and Witch of the Apocalypse, he said he would decide his own next move.

• Lugano watched a deer give birth to fawns in the nightmare ruins, then saw five figures carrying a corpse with his own face.
• Oruul An complained that Lugano’s wandering body had to be retrieved, and Angoulême explained that the Disease Church’s Archbishop was still useful.
• Angoulême remembered the crimson moon descending and destroying Fourth Epoch Trier, forcing his team to survive within the Protected Zone.
• Oruul An saw a woman sitting by a three-headed monster amid violent destruction, but Angoulême ordered his team not to interfere in the Ruined World.
• Franca watched Lumian’s destructive form settle, and Lumian said he had mastered the powers of Conqueror and Witch of the Apocalypse and would no longer let others arrange his fate.

Lumian told Franca he intended to save the world by exploiting traces left by the Great Mother's plans, then returned with her to Trier to ask Madam Justice for help with the first step of his plan.

• Lumian assured Franca that his merged state made him difficult to manipulate and explained that the Great Mother's failed or unused arrangements had left useful traces, including Lugano and an egg in the Underworld.
• Lumian said Franca would complete her Calamity Witch ritual during the early stages of the coming calamity, after which Madam Magician would help move her somewhere safe; Franca agreed to decide whether to leave based on circumstances.
• Lumian reflected that, without the trauma and manipulation of his past, he might have become a true guardian, then told Franca it was time to begin his plan.
• Lumian and Franca returned to the luxury villa in Trier, where Madam Justice asked why he had summoned her.
• Lumian told Madam Justice that he needed her help.

Justice Audrey returned to Backlund and reunited with her younger self, who welcomed her home and merged with her. That night, Lumian Lee sent a dream message to Red Angel Medici asking to meet, and Medici said he had been waiting nearly a year.

• Justice Audrey and Susie went to Backlund so Audrey could return to her family before the final battle.
• As they walked through the city, a man and woman began mutating, then exploded; the Nighthawks cleaned up while the passersby returned to their routines.
• Justice Audrey emerged in her old bedroom and told the other Audrey about becoming an angel and the places she had lived.
• Justice Audrey said humanity needed to unite to gain power against the gods, then merged with Audrey after welcoming her home.
• Audrey watched her family and guests at a ballroom gathering without joining them.
• A dream message reached people in Backlund and quickly spread elsewhere, telling Medici that Lumian Lee wanted to meet; Medici said he had waited almost a year.

Lumian negotiated with Red Angel Medici to obtain his two Conqueror Beyonder Characteristics so he could pursue becoming the Calamity of the Root before the apocalypse. Medici agreed to help under three conditions, and Lumian began invoking his godfather to separate the Characteristics.

• Lumian explained that the peace holding the world together might last only months or a year, and urged Medici to hand over his two Conqueror Beyonder Characteristics.
• Medici rejected Lumian’s offer to inherit his body and identity, while Lumian argued that their unusual nature was essential to stopping the apocalypse.
• Medici agreed to consider surrendering the Characteristics if Lumian begged him, and Lumian earnestly appealed to him to save the world.
• Medici demanded that Lumian protect the Einhorn and Sauron families and his descendants, return two Characteristics after becoming the Calamity of the Root, and punch Adam while repeating a pointed message.
• Medici said Lumian’s godfather would have to separate the Characteristics, and Lumian began reciting his honorific name.