Recaps

The Doctor and Shuns struggled to find test subjects and decided to recall retired Prison Wardens while investigating the sedative in the Dreamscape World. A wheelchair-bound veteran faced the heartbreaking prospect of leaving his severely disabled brother, but Prison Warden Special Operations Soldiers arrived to bring them both home.

• The Prison Doctor gave the Doctor a sedative and warned that it could cause addiction, while the Doctor refused Shuns's suggestion to modify the patient without Shadow's approval.
• The Doctor and Shuns discussed their shortage of consumables and agreed to recall retired Prison Wardens, replicate the sedative, and test it in the Dreamscape World.
• A wheelchair-bound former Prison Warden received the recall message and told his four-limb amputee brother that he had answered it and might not be able to care for him anymore.
• The wheelchair-bound man explained that he had sent his brother's discharge compensation to his wife and concealed his condition, then took a kitchen knife as his brother silently accepted his fate.
• Prison Warden Special Operations Soldiers broke into the apartment, took the knife, and announced, "I've come to bring our heroes home."

The Director recalled retired Prison Wardens to C04 Containment Facility and asked them to become clinical test subjects for a breakthrough in prosthetic combat technology. He showed them a modified Sacrificial One fighting mutated marine creatures, but warned that results would vary and depend especially on the brain.

• The Director thanked the recalled Prison Wardens and Researchers, revealing that more than four thousand of the 4,367 people summoned had returned.
• The Director revealed his metal prosthetic hand and explained that Researchers had advanced the technology enough to begin broader clinical trials.
• A retired Prison Warden asked whether the veterans had been recalled to serve as test subjects, and the Director confirmed they would be the second batch after one Sacrificial One.
• The Director showed a Light Curtain recording of the Sacrificial One using her metal body, missiles, and firearms to destroy mutated marine creatures.
• The Director told the veterans that their modifications could make them similarly powerful in theory, but outcomes would vary according to individual data, especially the brain.

The Director explained that biomechanical modifications required enduring extreme pain, then announced that he would join the second batch of clinical trial participants. Every retired Prison Warden present signed up, and an active-duty soldier tried to volunteer by offering to remove his own leg.

• The Director told the crowd that modifications would be painful, and the attendees joked about the procedure and the Sacrificial One's combat abilities.
• The Director said he would join the second batch of clinical trial participants and detached his outdated right arm.
• The researchers praised the technology and learned that the Director had led the team that designed the ring-shaped aircraft.
• The Director invited volunteers to sign consent documents, then signed one himself without reading it.
• Every retired Prison Warden present signed or left a fingerprint on the documents, while some active-duty soldiers tried to join them.
• The Director kicked away a Special Operations Soldier and told him to return when he was missing a limb, and the soldier replied that he would take his leg off immediately.

The Warden grew weary of Lu Xiao pestering him to modify his body like Yao Ling, so he arranged for the sleeping Sea Turtle to be awakened. After seeing its extensive weapons and mechanical upgrades, Lu Xiao named it Little Goodie.

• Lu Xiao begged the Warden to modify him like Yao Ling, but the Warden refused and worried that Lu Xiao might take her apart to use her parts.
• The Warden contacted the Doctor and prepared a missile bombardment to wake the Sea Turtle, but it woke before the missiles launched.
• Lu Xiao hurried to see the Sea Turtle, and the Warden followed him to the clearing.
• The Sea Turtle sped toward them on its retractable tracks, revealing its weapons and upgrades that had turned it into a mobile fortress.
• The Warden suggested giving the Sea Turtle a proper name, and Lu Xiao named it Little Goodie.

Lu Xiao named the giant sea turtle Little Well-Behaved, then returned with him and the Warden to camp, where the soldiers gathered to see him. Far from Magic City, Ding Dan oversaw construction in Paradise Lost and considered how to keep the Hell Creatures obedient, remembering Feis.

• Lu Xiao proposed several names for the sea turtle, and the turtle accepted Little Well-Behaved to stop him from thinking of more.
• Lu Xiao, the Warden, and Little Well-Behaved returned to camp, where soldiers gathered around the turtle and felt the ground shake whenever he trembled.
• Ding Dan fed a Hell Worm as the Assistant reported that construction in Paradise Lost was progressing quickly.
• Ding Dan ordered the Hell Creatures to line up for their water ration after one of them approached him with a ritual of devotion.
• Ding Dan told the Assistant that correcting the Hell Creatures’ codes of conduct was troublesome and remembered his lackey Feis.

Feis returned to Ding Dan with Yi Hao, and Ding Dan assigned Feis to oversee Hell’s water supply while Yi Hao chose to live in a kennel. In Northern Europe, Shadow confronted Gambler about siding with Lust, and Gambler admitted he had been tricked by the dealer.

• Feis returned with Yi Hao in tow, and explained that Yi Hao had wanted to find Ding Dan.
• Ding Dan put Feis in charge of watching the faucets and rationing water to Hell Creatures.
• Yi Hao agreed to live in a kennel near Ding Dan and asked him to arrange two Succubi for him to study.
• In Northern Europe, Shadow asked Gambler why he had changed his mind and intervened on Lust’s side.
• Gambler blamed the sexy dealer for tricking him, while Shadow recalled Bai Suoyi’s report that Gambler had helped Lust defeat them.

Shadow questioned why Gambler had sided with Lust, while Gambler claimed love was the reason and offered Shadow his Greed Trait. Shadow suspected Gambler was stalling the fusion of the Sin Traits, which would advance Shadow's plan to provoke a war among the major factions.

• Shadow confronted Gambler about protecting Lust, and Gambler claimed he was pursuing love.
• Gambler tore out and gave Shadow his gray, motionless heart, identifying it as the Greed Trait.
• Gambler praised Bai Suoyi and Lucilla as a good match, frustrating Shadow further.
• Shadow questioned whether Gambler worshipped Cthulhu, recalling that Gambler had accepted a gift from him and claimed to receive Fate and Greed Traits.
• Gambler privately asked Shadow for time to study Lust's Trait and promised to give it to him afterward.
• Shadow recognized Gambler was delaying the Sin Traits' fusion and considered how he would use the completed Trait to provoke conflict among Paradise Lost, Great Brahma, Eden, the Saints, and a faction in the Dark Prison.

Shadow concluded that Gambler wanted control over the Saints until he attained Godhood, then brought Bai Suoyi and Lucilla to the Dark Prison. He planned to move the C03 Containment Facility there, leaving Bai Suoyi wondering whether Shadow expected him to guard it.

• Shadow sent Lucilla to fuse with Greed, and her body returned to a more normal shape as she vomited.
• Shadow told Bai Suoyi that Gambler might want control over the Saints, then invited him to join them, and Bai Suoyi agreed.
• Shadow opened a passage to the Dark Prison, and Bai Suoyi threw Lucilla through it before following Shadow inside.
• Shadow flew with Bai Suoyi and Lucilla through a wormhole, explaining that the Dark Prison had changed and they would stay there.
• Shadow said he planned to move the C03 Containment Facility into the Dark Prison, then asked Bai Suoyi whether he wanted to return to his original appearance.

Bai Suoyi admitted that his conscience troubled him after seeing too much, then accidentally injured Zhang Chu and watched Shadow revive him with a clockwork key. Shadow’s plan sent C03’s staff dancing into the Dark Prison while C04’s Director rushed to build prosthetics for the Prison Wardens.

• Bai Suoyi told Shadow he could not get past his conscience and said he had seen too much.
• After Shadow, Bai Suoyi, and Lucilla arrived at the gate, Bai Suoyi struck Zhang Chu and cracked his body; Shadow used the clockwork key to heal him.
• Shadow and the others returned to C03, where Doctor agreed to Shadow’s plan and staff began dancing as they moved into the Dark Prison.
• Lu Qian asked where her daddy was, and Shadow told her he would return in a few days and asked her to protect everyone.
• At C04, the Director and the Researchers worked under pressure to modify prosthetics for thousands of Prison Wardens.

The Director and Researchers worked to assemble prosthetics while construction at Paradise Lost consumed enormous amounts of water, drawing scrutiny from the waterworks. Ding Dan found Yi Hao enjoying himself in Succubus Village and learned that Morati had instructed a Succubus to care for him, leaving Ding Dan to reconsider his plans for them.

• The Director assembled a prosthetic and immediately began another after a Special Operations Soldier brought him more components, while retired Prison Wardens supervised the Researchers.
• Feis counted the Hell Creatures collecting water and realized Paradise Lost needed over nine thousand liters each day, then continued trying to cut costs.
• The Assistant drove off a waterworks administrator who demanded to inspect the confidential construction project, and Ding Dan told him to hurry the work before the manager came in person.
• Ding Dan visited Yi Hao in Succubus Village and found him being served water by a Succubus while he lounged on a waterbed.
• The Succubus told Ding Dan that Morati had instructed her to take good care of Yi Hao, and Ding Dan left after hearing her explanation.

As war engulfed the world, troops held their coastlines while the South Asian Collective and Northern Europe Collective became the last remaining centers of civilization. Shadow told the Director to lead the Spark Plan, leaving him with the warning that civilization without humans would be meaningless.

• Hairy Bear rallied his troops on Russia's northern coastline after learning the rear evacuation was nearly complete.
• A Southeast Asian Commander ordered a final meal for his troops and prepared to lead them into battle.
• Refugees enlisted in growing numbers as the authorities revealed the devastating casualty rates from the front lines.
• As communications failed, the South Asian Collective and Northern Europe Collective became the world's last two islands of civilization.
• Shadow told the Director he should lead the Spark Plan and explain that his ability to imitate people could make him humanity's spiritual pillar.
• Shadow warned the Director that a civilization without humans would become meaningless.

Shadow prepared to launch the Spark Plan using the modified Prison Wardens, then entered the containment room to confront 009-Polluted Creator. He offered the Creator a choice between freedom and continued suffering as the Evil Gods’ arrival drew near.

• Shadow moved the system's main body into the C04 Public Containment Facility and brought an important Contained Anomaly from C03.
• Shadow and the Warden discussed Chief Bai Xuedong's faith in Shadow while Lu Xiao eagerly rushed off to join the battle with Little Well-Behaved.
• Shadow and the Warden went to the guarded basement room holding 009-Polluted Creator, and the Warden warned Shadow that someone else could lead the Spark Plan.
• Shadow entered alone and met the Creator's gaze, enduring its maddening whispers and bodily corruption.
• Shadow warned the Creator that the Evil Gods were about to descend and demanded that it choose between freedom and continued suffering.

Shadow confronted the Creator about humanity’s betrayal and the Creator’s resentment, then explained why Doctor Li had created Angel to restrain him. After hearing Doctor Li had called the Creator and his companions innocent children and hoped they would have a good ending, the Creator became confused and murmured, “Father...”

• The Creator accused humanity of treating his companions as food and driving them mad, while Shadow acknowledged his grievances and argued that their sacrifices had helped civilization.
• The Creator transformed into a compassionate old man, then into a chained figure burning on an inverted cross, and asked Shadow whether he liked the appearances.
• Shadow questioned why Doctor Li had created Angel to keep the Creator in check, and said the Creator lacked humanity and could not sacrifice himself for his kind.
• Shadow told the Creator that Doctor Li had hoped his creations would have a good ending, and suggested their choices would determine which future Doctor Li had planned for them.
• The Creator transformed into a child seated on a Divine Throne, asked whether Doctor Li had truly said those words, then murmured, “Father...”

The Creator explained to Shadow that their world was a confined circle nested inside a larger one, and that escaping it required surrendering his Authority. He then revealed that the strange boy was their true father.

• The Creator told Shadow that Doctor Li had divided their Authority, leaving the Creator unable to become invincible in his own world.
• The Creator explained that he needed a Pioneer to consume him whole and take his Authority so he could escape, though doing so would kill him.
• The Creator revealed that the Present World and the New World were circles contained within a larger world, and that Shadow's takeover would create yet another circle.
• The Creator conjured a sun, moon, stars, and a nebula inside the warehouse to show Shadow that the world’s apparent universe was not real.
• The Creator told Shadow that the strange boy was their true father and that Doctor Li’s ability to create them had itself been a miracle.

The Creator told Shadow that a being close to him was the miracle itself, then revealed that Gambler's true name was Nick Lade and that the person Shadow had killed was only a Cthulhu-corrupted victim. Shadow realized Gambler had manipulated him, collapsed into despair, and was reminded by the Creator that humanity had survived through many miracles.

• The Creator told Shadow that a miracle was beside him and explained that he had failed to steal one from that being.
• Shadow asked how the Creator knew so much, and the Creator said he knew every identity that appeared in his territory but could not see the future.
• Shadow begged the Creator to reveal Gambler's true identity, and the Creator said Shadow was about to descend into madness and could not change Gambler's plans.
• The Creator revealed that Gambler's true name was Nick Lade and that the person Shadow had killed was merely a Cthulhu-corrupted victim who had not originally owned that name.
• Shadow connected the clues, realized Gambler had manipulated his heart, and broke down in remorse as his madness returned.
• The Creator comforted Shadow by recalling past miracles and declaring that the being beside him was the greatest miracle of all.

Shadow’s madness erupted before he could report the Creator’s plan, while Lu Xiao returned to camp and learned that Shadow was away. At C04, the Director ordered the Prison Wardens to obey while they awaited instructions, then saw an enormous aqua-blue planet looming in the sky.

• Shadow tried to contact someone about the Creator’s plan but lost control and transformed, forcing the Creator to feed him his own body parts.
• After a day-long battle, Lu Xiao returned to camp and found that Shadow was missing; the Warden said Shadow had gone to the Dark Prison.
• Lu Xiao settled into Shadow’s office while Little Well-Behaved returned to his workshop to rest and have his equipment serviced.
• The Director told C04’s staff that they had to await further orders and commanded the modified Prison Wardens to obey.
• The Director followed his assistant to the surface and saw a vast aqua-blue planet filling the sky above him.

The Director learned that the Spark Plan had entered its second phase and that humanity had endured for 211 years before the handoff. He watched footage of the first Pioneers, where Dan Guofeng declared he would venture into space to seek a way to save humanity.

• The Director and the Assistant discovered they had been transported with the C04 Public Containment Facility to a plain on the moon, where a message named Bai Ning as the new project leader.
• The Director read the Spark Plan records and learned he had the highest system privileges, then broke down as Lu Xi comforted him.
• Lu Xi showed the Director footage of the first Pioneers, including his father Bai Suoyi, Shadow, Antie, and Dan Guofeng.
• Antie proposed dispersing the Seeds and rebuilding civilization through competition, and Shadow entrusted the arrangements to him.
• Shadow warned Dan Guofeng that space might be where the Outsiders gathered and that humanity would lose its last godlike defender if he left.
• Dan Guofeng resolved to venture into space, saying he would contend with heaven itself for a chance at survival.

After a meteorite devastated the Present World and struck the site of the C04 Containment Facility, Lu Xiao and the Warden investigated the crater. They were surrounded by monstrous eyeballs that drove the helicopter pilot mad, and Lu Xiao stepped in front of the Warden as the helicopter plunged toward them.

• The Director watched Dan Guofeng’s recording and resolved to trust those fighting outside.
• A flaming meteorite struck near the Campsite, destroying the barracks and injuring Lu Xiao.
• Lu Xiao joined the Warden aboard a helicopter bound for the meteorite’s impact site.
• The Warden identified the crater as the site of the C04 Containment Facility, where a mountain had been obliterated.
• A swarm of giant eyeballs emerged from the smoke and appeared to immobilize the Warden while driving the pilot mad.
• Lu Xiao stepped in front of the Warden and raised his arm toward the diving helicopter.

Lu Xiao and the Warden fought the Big Eyeballs, whose corruption and purple beams threatened to overwhelm them, before escaping with Lu Xiao’s body transformed. The Warden recognized the creatures as Outsiders they had encountered before and said Doctor Li had suspected they were Kin of an Evil God.

• Lu Xiao stopped a diving helicopter, but it caught fire and exploded, injuring him with shrapnel.
• The Warden fought the Big Eyeballs after their corruption drove him into a frenzy, and Lu Xiao joined him using the Eye of Truth to resist their influence.
• The Big Eyeballs fired purple beams that riddled Lu Xiao with holes, but his body regenerated and formed protective armor from blood vessels.
• Lu Xiao urged the Warden to flee, and they escaped the Eyeballs’ encirclement before collapsing from exhaustion.
• After recovering, Lu Xiao could not remove the emerald-green, scab-like layer that had become his new skin.
• The Warden told Lu Xiao the creatures were Outsiders called Big Eyeballs, and that Doctor Li had suspected they were Kin of an Evil God.

As disasters spread across the world, the Warden and Lu Xiao returned to camp while He Shang and Antie acted against catastrophe in Northern Europe and Washington. In Greater Los Angeles, the military launched a counterattack against the monstrous creatures overwhelming the city.

• The Warden told Lu Xiao that C04 Containment Facility had been moved and that there could be no survivors, then said he would bombard the site with missiles.
• Acid rain struck Northern Europe as He Shang and four beings formed a black-and-gold barrier that expanded to cover the landmass.
• Antie learned that extreme rainfall would submerge Greater Washington and used his power to make the floodwater flow backward while the city evacuated.
• Malformed creatures attacked cities across the United States, and winged monsters filled the skies above Greater Los Angeles.
• A missile destroyed a creature about to attack a man in Greater Los Angeles as fighter jets, tanks, and armored vehicles arrived to fight the monsters.

A helicopter crew sacrificed themselves after delivering Adam to their hometown, where the resulting creatures slaughtered the residents and declared the town Eden. As the catastrophe spread across Australia, the Pope received orders from a monstrous Lord, while Ding Dan led a vast Hell army north to confront the deities.

• A helicopter dropped Adam into a small American town, where its mass of rotten flesh released eggs that hatched into creatures which killed the remaining residents.
• The pilot and copilot revealed the town was their hometown, declared their aircraft unable to return, and deliberately crashed it as the other helicopters flew on.
• The largest creature in the town spoke the word “Eden,” and the monsters agreed to move toward a neighboring town.
• Mutated marine creatures overran Australia, while the Pope met a gigantic being in the former president’s office and departed after receiving its commands.
• Ding Dan led Morati, Feis, and his summoned Hell Creatures north to spread fear among the deities.

Ding Dan led the Hell army toward Moscow District, where he discovered civilians and members of R01 Containment Facility resisting mutated ocean creatures. Watching the Prison Keeper Organization and researchers inject themselves with serum, he wept and declared that he still liked humans better.

• Ding Dan warned Morati that he would make the prophecy come true if Morati obeyed his orders, and said he would give Morati what was rightfully his.
• Morati told Ding Dan that Yi Hao had taken sole charge of the Holy City, and Ding Dan complained that Feis cared only about controlling the water supply.
• Ding Dan and the Hell army crossed the deserted Moscow District and heard explosions coming from the northern coast.
• Ding Dan flew ahead and found civilians, soldiers, and members of the Prison Keeper Organization holding a defensive line against mutated ocean creatures.
• The Prison Keeper Organization members and researchers injected serum into their hearts as a gigantic sludge-like creature stood behind the ocean creatures.
• Ding Dan shed tears and said he still liked humans better.

Ding Dan ordered the Hell army to conquer the world after humanity’s forces were nearly destroyed, while the rising scarlet moon triggered widespread mutations and chaos. As Lu Xiao and Deputy Commander Zhang faced the upheaval, an unknown creature beneath the ruins began forming a strange staircase.

• Ding Dan refused to aid the humans until Morati urged him to act, then declared war on the world and sent the Hell army into battle.
• Morati killed Hairy Bear as sludge threatened to assimilate him, and Hairy Bear died hearing Morati call him a warrior.
• Lu Xiao saw Ding Dan’s crimson beam and heard further declarations from distant powers as wormholes appeared, the sea surged, and a scarlet moon rose.
• More than half the soldiers in Lu Xiao’s camp mutated, and Deputy Commander Zhang ran toward Lu Xiao for safety.
• Beneath the rubble, a tentacled creature formed a staircase of flesh and flowers, and the flowers wrapped barbed blood vessels around its limb.

Shadow struggled up a supernatural stairway where flowers and flesh fought to claim his body, choosing to keep climbing despite the pain and exhaustion. After a blond child thanked him and ran ahead, the stairway transformed into a sunlit road lined with people from Shadow’s life, including Bai Xuedong, Doctor Li, and Chen Fei.

• Vines and living flesh fought over Shadow’s body as a voice tried to tempt him to abandon humanity, but he continued climbing and affirmed his resolve.
• As half his body rotted and exhaustion stopped him, Shadow realized he had never retreated before and found the strength to take another step.
• A blond child called Shadow “Creator,” thanked him for showing him the flowers, and said he would like to try being human in another life before running up the stairs.
• The stairway changed into a broad, sunny road lined with people Shadow had met, where Bai Xuedong saluted him, Doctor Li watched, and Chen Fei cheered, “Liu Guang! You're fucking incredible!”

Liu Guang reached the end of a memory-filled road and reunited with Lu Xiao, who explained that the Outer Gods sought humanity because human nature could lessen their madness. Lu Xiao vanished before finishing his story, warning Liu Guang that altered history meant he was not the Lu Xiao from Liu Guang’s memories.

• Liu Guang passed through memories of people he had known and found Lu Xiao waiting at the end of the road.
• Liu Guang apologized for forgetting Lu Xiao, and Lu Xiao reassured him before offering to explain what had happened.
• Lu Xiao showed Liu Guang the day he ascended the Sequence Stairway and said the Outer Gods corrupted Earth because they wanted humans as Kin to offset their madness.
• Lu Xiao described exploring the Universe, experimenting on Kin, eating a Deity, and discovering that he was stronger than most Outer Gods.
• Lu Xiao said enemies were tracking him and he had to leave, then explained that altered history meant he had not existed in Liu Guang’s past before vanishing.