Chapter Summaries

Kronos followed Flora from Hazel’s excavation site and captured her in a sewer grocery store while disguised as Horamick. He searched Flora’s memories and learned how she found Jacob’s Treasure and why she had been forced to parasitize a rat.

• Hazel told Flora that Horamick and Anthony had noticed her at Earl Hall’s banquet, and Flora concluded Horamick had likely recognized her as a Beyonder rather than detected Flora’s presence.
• Flora encouraged Hazel to keep digging toward Jacob’s Treasure and taught her about her Sequence, while Kronos secretly listened and inspected the rock wall.
• Flora left the cavern for a homeless settlement in the sewers, and Kronos followed her into its grocery store and caught her in rat form.
• Kronos brought Flora aboveground disguised as Horamick, then used the Manipulation Gloves to enter her Mind Stone Island and search her memories.
• Kronos learned that Flora had found Jacob’s Treasure through a family notebook promising a path to Angel, but its defenses had badly injured her and forced her to parasitize a rat.

Kronos altered Flora's memories and then sought Pallez Zoroast's help to empty a Jacob treasure that might contain an avatar of Amon. Pallez initially refused, but agreed after Kronos offered the Trojan Horse of Destiny characteristic and protection from the Evernight Goddess.

• Kronos found the Jacob treasure's location in Flora's memories, altered her memories and planted suggestions, then left her unconscious.
• Flora woke, blamed her condition for her confused behavior, and returned to the sewers and the tramp's general store.
• Kronos briefed Old Fan at Saint Hilleran Cathedral, then went to Saint Samuel Cathedral to find Leonard Mitchell and speak with Pallez.
• Kronos told Pallez that the treasure might contain an Amon avatar and offered to cooperate; Pallez refused because he did not want to provoke Amon.
• Kronos revealed that the treasure contained a Trojan Horse of Destiny Beyonder characteristic and offered methods to conceal their actions and call on the Evernight Goddess for help.
• Pallez reconsidered the risks and agreed to cooperate with Kronos.

Kronos consulted Pallez about the Jacob Family’s Treasure and gave Flora a Worm of Time to restore her strength, steering her toward the excavation and a possible advancement. At the Tarot Club, Klein’s trade exposed Mr. World as Gehrman Sparrow, while Cattleya paid Fors for what little she knew about Mr. Door.

• Pallez warned Kronos that the Treasure’s angel-reinforced defenses would be dangerous, but agreed that the sewer route was the best way to reach it.
• Pallez told Kronos that a Worm of Time could help Flora recover, though it could disrupt her powers and increase the risk of losing control if she advanced.
• Kronos made Flora swallow a Worm of Time; after digesting it, she recovered strength and went to help Hazel excavate the cave.
• At the Tarot Club, Kronos identified Mr. Door as a central figure in Roselle’s diary and explained Fors’s connection to him.
• Klein traded the Lucky Balance and other items, admitted Señior was dead, and thereby revealed Mr. World’s identity as Gehrman Sparrow.
• Kronos gave Alger information about the Naga’s Obninsk Sea Monsters, and Cattleya paid Fors five hundred pounds for what she knew about Mr. Door.

Fors shared what she knew about Mr. Door and the Abraham Family, while Kronos warned Cattleya against investigating Emperor Roselle before Bernadette became an Angel. After Flora finished digging the passage to the treasure, Kronos and Leonard arrived to stop her from entering, and Pallez discovered that Kronos could wield the Power of Time.

• Fors told the Tarot Club that Mr. Door's ravings had reached her through a Mystical Item, and recounted what Kronos had told her about Mr. Door and the Abraham Family.
• Kronos warned Cattleya that knowledge about Emperor Roselle was dangerous for Mystery Pryers who had not become Angels, and told her to advise Bernadette to wait.
• Kronos fed Flora foreign Worms of Time and used Psychological Suggestions to hasten her recovery and keep her from parasitizing Hazel before the treasure was found.
• Flora nearly broke through the final layer of rock, but Kronos arrived with Leonard and put her under his control before she could enter the passage.
• Kronos placed Flora in his pocket and set up Time Barriers around the group and the surrounding area, while Pallez recognized Kronos's direct command of the Power of Time and felt covetous.

Kronos and Pallez negotiated safer terms for their plan to enter Jacob’s Treasure after Pallez noticed Kronos’s Time Barrier and considered taking his newly emerged authority. Kronos entered the tomb alone, where its murals revealed that it belonged to a son of Jacob who had fled after suspecting Amon had replaced his father.

• Kronos realized Pallez could see his Time Barrier and exposed the Evernight Goddess’s mark to deter him from acting against him.
• Pallez agreed to stay outside while Kronos entered Jacob’s Treasure, offering charms in exchange for any Sequence Two Beyonder characteristic and asking Kronos to share knowledge about charms.
• Kronos checked Pallez’s charms for hidden contingencies, then broke through the remaining rock wall and entered the ruins alone.
• Kronos explored the tomb’s passage and found a ruined book chamber and another chamber decorated with murals.
• Kronos learned from the murals that the tomb belonged to one of Jacob’s sons, who had fled with his younger brother after suspecting Amon had replaced Jacob.

Kronos cautiously entered the Jacob tomb, avoided Amon’s sleeping avatar, and retrieved the Trojan Horse of Destiny Beyonder characteristic. He returned to Saint Samuel Cathedral and asked Lady Arianna to negotiate with Pallez, proposing terms for handing the characteristic over to the Church of Evernight.

• Kronos concluded that the Jacob tomb contained an angel’s Beyonder characteristic and collected the mid- and low-sequence Beyonder items from an outer chamber.
• Kronos traveled back in time to observe the tomb’s preparation and confirmed that Amon had hidden a Worm of Time in the Main Burial Chamber’s coffin lid.
• Kronos used Pallez’s deception charm to keep the Worm of Time unaware, then took the Trojan Horse of Destiny Beyonder characteristic from the coffin.
• Kronos left the tomb without alerting Pallez and returned to Saint Samuel Cathedral.
• Kronos told Lady Arianna about the characteristic and Pallez, and proposed that the Church receive the characteristic in exchange for lower-sequence characteristics and Pallez’s knowledge of high-grade charms.

After trading with the Evernight Church, Pallez received the Trojan Horse of Destiny characteristic and permission to stay at Saint Samuel Cathedral. Kronos then forced Flora to attempt advancement to Sequence 3, and although the potion strengthened her unstable foundation, signs of losing control appeared as the process passed its halfway point.

• Arianna arranged Amanises's transaction with Pallez, who handed over his knowledge of High-Grade Charms and received the Sequence Two characteristic in return.
• Arianna told Pallez and Leonard they could remain at Saint Samuel Cathedral, indirectly sheltering them from Amon.
• Kronos prepared Flora's Sequence 3 advancement with Archbishop Anthony's help, using the cathedral's Intimidation Ritual as a possible safeguard.
• Kronos controlled Flora as she drank the Mentor of Deceit potion, then used the Control Gloves to ease her pain while her rat body adapted.
• Kronos used the Fate Medallion to bestow good luck on Flora, stabilizing her during the soul's transformation.
• As Flora's advancement passed its halfway point, Kronos and Anthony saw mutations that warned she might lose control.

Kronos and Anthony used an Intimidation Ritual and Holy Light to contain Flora’s loss of control, but the purification erased her consciousness and left her vulnerable to the potion’s chaotic wills. Flora completed her advancement and went mad, and Kronos began hunting her inside his expanding Fallen Domain.

• As worms replaced Flora’s limbs and spread across her body, Kronos waited until the first worm appeared on her heart before telling Anthony to activate the Intimidation Ritual.
• Anthony contained Flora’s loss of control while Kronos used the Sun Card and a Lightseeker’s purification to remove the worms, but the Holy Light also erased Flora’s consciousness.
• Kronos told Anthony that Flora would likely complete the advancement but go mad, and Flora’s loss of control resumed as the ritual’s effects faded.
• Flora completed her advancement and opened her blood-red eyes, behaving like a maddened rat as Kronos prepared to make her a Fallen Servant.
• Flora vanished from Kronos’s sight, so Kronos expanded his Fallen Domain throughout the room to expose and weaken her.

Kronos and Anthony fought Flora, whose madness had transformed her into a rat-like Sequence 3 Paranormal Creature. After Kronos captured and turned her into a Fallen Servant, he began showing the same worm-like symptoms Flora had displayed after advancing.

• Flora instinctively fled Kronos's Fallen Domain, evaded his lightning, and stole his Mystical Reenactment ability, but Kronos bound her with invisible threads.
• The Dark Angel's Wings unleashed accumulated corruption after Kronos had used the Fate Medallion to bestow good fortune on Flora, and the corruption forced him to the ground.
• Anthony restrained and knocked Flora unconscious while Kronos used the phantom Time Stone and the Word 'Forward' Formula to clear the corruption from his will.
• Kronos explained that his misfortune had erupted because he used too much good luck, then thanked Anthony for keeping Flora alive.
• Kronos confirmed the Wings' corruption was manifesting normally, then used the Fallen Domain to turn Flora into a Fallen Servant.
• Kronos noticed writhing worms appearing on his body, the same symptom Flora had shown after her advancement.

Kronos recovered from a brief loss-of-control effect and received Pallez's charm knowledge and a powerful sealed artifact as rewards from Amanises. Arianna then told him that Pallez wanted to meet him.

• Kronos examined the worms appearing on his body, confirmed they were not useful for making charms, and purified the effect with his own light.
• Arianna met Kronos and Anthony outside Flora's room, then took Kronos aside under concealment to report that Pallez had agreed to cooperate and had provided a booklet of charm-making knowledge.
• Kronos reviewed Pallez's booklet, which contained many high-grade charms, especially for the Error Pathway.
• Arianna gave Kronos Amanises's reward, the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact 0-71, the Never-Extinguishing Sun, and explained its effects and risks.
• Arianna told Kronos that Pallez had asked to meet him and asked whether he agreed.

Kronos learned that Adam might arm Boli Delau for their Betting Duel, accepted the Never-Extinguishing Sun, and committed to digesting his potion at Saint Hilleran Cathedral. After declining Alger and Klein’s invitation to explore the Primitive Island, Kronos learned that Klein had found the Tyrant Card of Blasphemy—the card that had been promised to Mr. Fate.

• Kronos refused Pallez’s request to meet and learned that Adam might give Boli Delau an item made from an Archduke of Blood Beyonder Characteristic for the Betting Duel.
• Arianna explained that the Evernight Goddess had given Kronos the Never-Extinguishing Sun to help counter Boli Delau’s potential item, and Kronos agreed to focus on digesting his potion.
• At the Tarot Club, Kronos told Cattleya that Emperor Roselle might resurrect if one of his nine tombs remained intact and no new Black Emperor had been born.
• Kronos refused Alger’s invitation to join him and Klein on the Primitive Island, and the two proceeded without him.
• On the Primitive Island, Klein and Alger fought their way through demigods and monsters, found revealing murals in a ruined church, and Klein obtained the Tyrant Card of Blasphemy.
• Klein remembered that Mr. Fate had agreed to help against the Rose School in exchange for a forthcoming Blasphemy Card, and realized the Tyrant Card might be the one he had promised.

Klein and Alger escaped Primitive Island after it vanished, then divided their spoils, with Klein keeping the Tyrant Card and promising it to Kronos. At the Tarot Club, Klein presented the card as a reward for helping his Blessed, leaving Kronos to recognize the move as a way to honor their deal while impressing the other members.

• Klein and Alger fled Primitive Island when it disappeared, then divided the Beyonder characteristics, relics, and Tyrant Card between them.
• Alger chose the Cataclysmic Interrer formula and a Six-Winged Gargoyle's core, while Klein kept the Tyrant Card and the other spoils.
• Klein tested the Tyrant Card Above the Gray Fog and concluded that it offered little benefit beyond his Black Emperor Card, so he accepted handing it to Kronos.
• Kronos focused on digesting his potion and developing his decomposition power while Old Fan managed the Church of Steam and Machinery's affairs.
• At the Tarot Club gathering, Klein showed the Tyrant Card and said he would give it to a member in thanks for helping his Blessed.
• Kronos realized Klein was honoring their private deal while presenting the gift as a generous reward to the Tarot Club.

At the Tarot Club, Mr. Fool rewarded Kronos for helping Mr. World in Bayam, and the members learned about the clash with the Rose School. Klein then asked Kronos to help prepare for his planned infiltration of Chanis Gate, while the gathering ended with news of an ancient dragon’s influence and a doomed archaeological team.

• Mr. Fool gave Kronos a Tyrant Card, and Mr. World promised him a favor for saving his life in Bayam.
• Kronos explained that Suah’s power had descended on Bayam and that Aarn had intervened against the Lord of Storms.
• Cattleya offered to find an Artisan for Mr. World, then bought the Druid Beyonder characteristic he offered.
• Klein privately asked Kronos to make a marionette appear eroded by a Darkness Pathway sealing core, and Kronos agreed to send him a charm.
• Audrey described a place where residents worshipped a Mind Dragon, and Kronos recognized the situation as tied to Ankewelt’s resurrection plans.
• The archaeological team investigating the region went mad one by one, and none of its members survived.

At a Tarot Club gathering, Kronos revealed the truth about the Ancient Sun God’s death and warned Derrick that the True Creator could not save the City of Silver. He then made Klein a Darkness Erosion Charm, and later went to Saint Samuel Cathedral after receiving an alert that its Chanis Gate had been breached.

• Alger shared the mural of the Kings of Angels feasting on the Ancient Sun God, and Kronos confirmed that the scene was true.
• Kronos explained how the Ancient Sun God fell, how three Kings of Angels became True Gods, and how the True Creator came into being.
• Kronos told Derrick not to expect the True Creator to save the City of Silver, but promised that time would bring a better future.
• Kronos crafted a Darkness Erosion Charm and sent it to Klein, who tested it on Señor and found that it worked as intended.
• After three days of uninterrupted cultivation, Kronos received an alert that someone had breached Saint Samuel Cathedral’s Chanis Gate and went there to investigate.
• Kronos reached the Chanis Gate and saw Archbishop Anthony.

Anthony and Kronos dealt with the aftermath of an intruder entering the Chanis Gate, where Amanises had intervened through the Angel of Concealment. The Church began searching for the intruder, while Kronos advised Anthony to limit the effort and returned to Saint Hilleran Cathedral, confident Klein could stay hidden.

• Kronos found Anthony unable to enter the Chanis Gate, and Anthony explained that an unknown force had taken control of it.
• A High-ranking Deacon arrived, tested the sealed gate, then left after Anthony explained that an angel was interfering.
• The Angel of Concealment emerged and told Anthony that she had intercepted the intruder but he had escaped, then ordered a search for his identity and whereabouts.
• Anthony sealed the Angel of Concealment and asked Kronos how far the Church should pursue the intruder; Kronos advised him to search for clues and seek orders before taking action.
• Anthony mobilized the Nighthawks and Red Gloves to search Backlund, while Kronos returned to Saint Hilleran Cathedral and trusted Klein to evade discovery.

Leonard confirmed that Klein was alive and hurried to Backlund to find him, while Dunn Smith remained in Tingen and began a relationship with Daly. Kronos helped Laurien arrange an arms deal, buying the shipment and sending it to Nosk’s fleet as turmoil threatened the Southern Continent.

• Leonard confirmed that Klein had survived, and Dunn Smith was delighted to learn the truth and urged Leonard to find him.
• Dunn advanced to Sequence 6, began dating Daly, and transferred with her to the Winter Diocese after his application to join the Red Gloves was rejected.
• Leonard set out for Backlund, hoping to reunite with Klein and Dunn and take revenge on Ince Zangwill.
• Laurien asked Kronos for help transporting arms he had obtained through a New Party channel backed by Earl Hall.
• Kronos judged that smuggling the arms to Southern Continent tribes was too risky amid coming turmoil, so he arranged for the Church of Steam and Machinery to buy the shipment.
• Old Fan delivered the arms as Mr. Jacques to Nosk’s fleet, giving it weapons that had been difficult to obtain.

Kronos met with Lady Arianna, Will Auceptin, and Boli Delau to set the time and place for their deadly betting duel. After agreeing to fight on a deserted island two nights later, Kronos learned that the Evernight Goddess had advised him to use his unique ability if he could not win, with Adam ensuring he survived.

• Nosk asked Old Fan to tell Kronos he wanted to leave the sea, but Kronos dismissed the request and kept him there for the sake of Horamick's reputation.
• After the arms deal strengthened Laurien's position, Kronos entered a dream summoned by Lady Arianna and met Will Auceptin and Boli Delau.
• Will said his preparations were complete and he could be born at any time, surprising Kronos because Will's birth was expected about a month later.
• Arianna let the Church of Evernight choose the duel's time, while Boli chose a random deserted island after Kronos ruled out the Twilight Hermit Order's territory.
• Kronos, Will, and Boli agreed to hold the deadly betting duel at ten at night two days later, giving Kronos time to attend the Church of Steam and Machinery's council.
• After Will and Boli left, Arianna told Kronos that the Goddess wanted him to use his unique ability if necessary, and that Adam would not let him die.

Kronos prepared for his Betting Duel with Boli Delau while Arianna and the Evernight Goddess made arrangements concerning the secrets Kronos had revealed. The duel began on a deserted island under the eyes of Adam and Amanises, and Boli was stunned when Kronos revealed powers from a different pathway.

• Kronos asked Arianna to find someone to take over his position, and Arianna said she would report the matter to the Evernight Goddess.
• Kronos attended the Church of Steam and Machinery's quarterly Council of the Gods, where Pope Ivan praised his work in Backlund and the God of Steam and Machinery reconsidered His position.
• Kronos sensed Will Auceptin's birth, traveled to the deserted island, and asked Arianna about her response; she told him everything had been arranged.
• Boli Delau arrived, and Arianna sealed the island with a barrier before the Betting Duel began as Will, Amanises, and Adam watched.
• Boli struck Kronos with Mind Stone Storm and attacked with a Demoness Doll, but Kronos recovered quickly and made the net, viruses, and bacteria vanish.
• Will realized Kronos had switched pathways, explaining why Will had been unable to block his advancement.

Kronos tested Baoli’s Bloodlight Protection with a tsunami and a concentrated Lightning Storm, but the barrier withstood both attacks. As Kronos prepared to use his Blasphemy Cards, Baoli’s long-planted Mental Plague began to overwhelm his reason.

• Kronos used a tsunami and Lightning Storm against Baoli, who relied on Bloodlight Protection to block both attacks.
• Kronos examined Bloodlight Protection and learned that its barrier provided all-around defense.
• Adam and Amanises discussed the armor and Kronos’s hesitation to use an Angel-level Beyonder Item while Will listened.
• Kronos saw that his lightning strike had barely affected Baoli’s barrier and prepared his Blasphemy Cards for another attack.
• Baoli’s covert Mental Plague erupted, suppressing Kronos’s reason with contagious madness.

Kronos resisted Baoli’s attacks by using the Never-Extinguishing Sun to purge the madness infecting him, but the Sun Pathway’s power transformed him into a glowing little golden man. He survived Baoli’s assault, though he was left bleeding and filled with dangerous power he could not use.

• Baoli’s Mental Plague aggravated Kronos’s suppressed mental problems, and Kronos used the Nine Secrets to delay losing control.
• Baoli seized Kronos with Bloodlight Protection and tried to drain his blood, but Kronos secretly turned the captured part of his body silver with the Twilight Silver Coin.
• Baoli discovered the silver transformation and used the Hand of Judgment to remove it, then attacked Kronos with Blood Theft and the Power of Execution.
• With the attacks closing in, Kronos summoned the Never-Extinguishing Sun and used its purification power to force the madness back while blocking part of Baoli’s strike with Decomposition Power.
• Kronos fully purified his negative conditions, but the Sun Pathway’s power turned his eyes, hair, and skin gold and filled him with power he could not absorb.
• Baoli adjusted to the Sun’s blinding light and saw Kronos as a glowing little golden man with a bleeding wound on his chest.