Chapter Summaries

The Divine Tree revealed that Iros’s Ark Project was based on information that had polluted his thoughts, and that the world’s crisis was already beyond saving. After Iros attacked and was transformed into a tree, Linden and Puji remained with the Divine Tree and asked what it knew.

• The Divine Tree appeared before Iros, Linden, and Puji, disarmed Iros, and questioned him about the Ark Project.
• Iros explained his plan to use the Dungeon against the mist, but the Divine Tree said the project had failed long ago and his thoughts had been polluted by chaotic information.
• The Divine Tree told Linden that the world was beyond saving, then released him and Puji from the roots.
• Iros attacked the Divine Tree with the Life-Seeking Wood Core, but the artifact failed and the Divine Tree turned him into a small tree.
• Linden asked whether the Divine Tree would kill him, and Puji asked if it knew something.

Linden failed to obtain the Divine Tree’s wood core, but Puji received an SSS-rank quest to find its missing piece. Meanwhile, the Elves learned of Iros’s betrayal and believed Echo dead until Echo returned alive with a Puji on his head, while Salian reunited with Elawen.

• The Divine Tree refused to give Linden the Life-Seeking Wood Core but offered Puji the [Life Essence] skill and a quest to find the core’s missing corner.
• The Divine Tree expelled the two Pujis, and the Fungal Carpet decomposed them after they appeared beside the sapling.
• Galadriel learned that Iros and Echo had fought, the divine artifact had vanished, and Iros had betrayed the Elves.
• A week later, Echo returned to the Royal City alive with white mycelium and a Puji sitting on his head.
• Linden revealed that he had rescued Echo, parasitized him to heal his injuries, and sent a Puji to accompany him.
• Salian reunited with Elawen, who kicked him for letting Xiao Ji’s mushroom cap sit crooked.

Salian and the Elf council dealt with the aftermath of the giant tree’s rampage, including Echo’s mycelium symbiosis and the elves’ policy toward the continent. As the elves began rebuilding and mourning the missing, Little Riel was revealed to be alive in the Dungeon, facing a terrifying Lizardman.

• Salian promised Elawen he would take the crooked-capped Puji to Druid friends for help, while Feifei’s attack on it was stopped by a tentacle.
• Echo attended the council with a Puji on his head, and Galadriel explained that mycelium symbiosis improved recovery at the cost of altered appearance and slight mana consumption.
• Echo offered to focus on border defense, while the council discussed finding Iros, locating the artifact, rebuilding Isildorin, and preparing for another giant-tree rampage.
• The elves rejected Salian’s call to take a more active role in continental affairs and decided to provide material aid to humans and Dwarves.
• The elves began rebuilding and mourned those lost in the unrest, while a female mage grieved for Little Riel, who was alive in the Dungeon and trembling before a Lizardman.

After the Elf King's death, Linden brought Riel to Puji Dungeon to work as a potion brewer, while he investigated an artifact fragment and awaited a chance to test human-recruited Puji Masters in battle. The chapter left the Demon Race invasion stalled, with the human forces winning victories and the Puji Masters still untested.

• Linden brought Riel to Puji Dungeon after Puji saved her, hoping to use her proper potion-brewing skills at the Mushroom Garden's pharmacy.
• Norris frightened Riel, but the Yellow Book calmed her by explaining Norris's kindness, and Norris took responsibility for looking after her.
• Linden sent Eiding and Inanna to learn whether the Diamond-rank Adventurers would trade the Life-Seeking Wood Core fragment or insist on keeping it.
• The Fungal Carpet expanded through human territory, and human-recruited Puji Masters garrisoned a castle near the northwestern front without access to Puji's Underground Network.
• The Demon Race armies remained subdued as human forces won several victories, leaving the Puji Masters eager for battle but without a chance to prove themselves.

Kiro left The Mountains after bidding farewell to Torin Deepforge and Grum, leaving them two Shrink scrolls as a parting gift. A week later, Torin was managing materials in the Molten Dungeon when its Elemental Spirits suddenly turned hostile, and he rushed to sound the alarm with Grum following.

• Kiro refused Torin’s offer to stay and explained that he was leaving to pursue new luck.
• After Kiro departed, Torin discovered that he had left two Shrink scrolls for Torin and Grum.
• Torin’s family assigned him to manage material transport in the Molten Dungeon, where he complained to Grum about his dull life.
• A Stone Giant attacked a miner, and Torin and Grum fought it off before other Elemental Spirits began rampaging.
• Torin ran toward the alarm despite Grum’s objections, and Grum followed him into the stone corridor.

Torin and Grum were trapped in the Molten Dungeon as waves of Elemental creatures overwhelmed them, but Torin used a Spatial Rift to escape into Linden’s territory. Linden captured the two Dwarves and guarded the growing Rift, where the first Fire Spirit emerged and abruptly went out.

• Vimark hurried to the Molten Dungeon after its alarm sounded and saw Dwarf forces struggling against Elemental creatures pouring from the passage.
• Torin and Grum fought to defend the communications room as their supplies ran out and a powerful voice shook the dungeon.
• Torin shrank himself and Grum, then led them through a Spatial Rift to escape the Elemental creatures.
• Linden captured the two Dwarves and sent Lizardmen and Pujis to guard the Rift as it expanded.
• A Fire Spirit crossed through the Rift, but its flames dwindled until it went out without being attacked.

Sigismund learned that the Dwarves’ Goldflame Fortress had fallen after the Elemental Lord escaped, while Linden prepared defenses around the Rift in Stone Fort Dungeon. The chapter left Linden hoping the collapsed passage would hide the Rift from the Elemental Lord.

• Sigismund scouted near High Keep Fortress and flew back to the Scarlet Spire, where he resolved to stop adding sugar to his wine after realizing he was gaining weight.
• Sigismund reflected that Linden’s soul would take about two years to dissipate and learned that Duke Valerice was bringing reinforcements to the Scarlet Spire.
• Sigismund read that the Elemental Lord had broken free, destroyed Goldflame Fortress, and forced the Dwarves to focus their strength on the Molten Dungeon.
• Sigismund explained to Linden that the Elemental Lord controlled other Elemental Spirits and that the Dwarves had once sealed it through a cheated bet.
• Linden stationed defenders around the Rift in Stone Fort Dungeon, collapsed the passage leading to it, and decided to withhold Delicious Pujis from Little Black for a few days.

Torin and Grum escaped captivity in the Demon Race’s territory with Little Black’s help, paying her in precious gems. After Little Black abandoned them, the Dwarves continued south but froze in the wilderness and were brought back to the Mushroom Garden.

• Little Black blocked the Demon Race members from approaching Torin and Grum, who had fled into the Demon Race’s territory using Kiro’s Shrink scrolls.
• Torin and Grum used Torin’s Pendant to persuade Little Black to open their cage, but the commotion drew the others to them.
• Norris tried to lure Little Black away with silver scales, but Torin offered more gems, and Little Black took them and led the Dwarves out.
• The boss declared that Norris had failed to guard the prisoners and lifted the restriction on Kallen’s sneak attacks.
• Little Black abandoned Torin and Grum after they ran for most of the day, and the two Dwarves continued south without her.
• Two days later, several Puji dragged Torin and Grum, frozen stiff, back to the Mushroom Garden.

Torin and Grum were sentenced to labor reform at the Mushroom Garden and assigned to work on the unfinished Far North fortress. They learned that mycelium Symbiosis could protect them from the cold and help them control Puji, but new captives now had to pay for it, and their meager earnings soon made them reconsider.

• Norris judged Torin and Grum to have no useful specialty and sentenced them to five thousand Contribution Points of labor reform for their offenses.
• Jeff showed Torin and Grum around the Far North worksite and explained how Demon Descendants, humans, and Puji worked together.
• Jeff told the two Dwarves that mycelium Symbiosis provided cold resistance and allowed them to command Puji, but a new notice required captives to pay one thousand Contribution Points for it.
• Torin and Grum learned that Jeff had received Symbiosis for free before the policy changed, while they shivered in the cold.
• After three days, Grum protested that he had earned only five Contribution Points, and Jeff explained that his own Puji increased his productivity and urged the Dwarves to pay for Symbiosis.

Grum and Torin adjusted to life in the Mushroom Garden, accepting mycelium symbiosis and learning how captives could earn their freedom. After they witnessed a slave exchange, Jeff explained that the newcomers had a chance at freedom and protection, leaving the Dwarves to reconsider the Garden’s rules.

• Grum earned Contribution Points directing Pujis, while he and Torin learned that symbiosis offered communication abilities and that Torin had received a B-rank rating for his talent with Jida.
• Grum and Torin watched Spark trade mushrooms with a tribe and take the traders’ human and Half-Demon slaves into the Mushroom Garden.
• Grum looked down on the slave trade, but Jeff explained that the new arrivals could gain freedom and protection after two years of work.
• Jeff praised Boss and returned to work, while the two Dwarves stood silently considering his explanation.

Norris visited Puji House while Solalin investigated a series of disappearances in Mushroom Capital. After repeatedly seeing a mysterious rainbow-lit Puji, Solalin finally gained a clue that one missing resident had planned to visit the Northern Ruins.

• Norris visited Puji House, where Dylan offered him a room and Bianka wondered about his appearance.
• Vera and her party bought Wind-Whisperer Brew from Dylan before leaving the tavern.
• Solalin and government officials showed Dylan portraits of missing residents, but he did not recognize anyone.
• Solalin investigated the disappearances with Fahr and learned that most of the missing people had been villains, while she continued seeing a mysterious Puji that vanished each time.
• A blacksmith shop owner told Solalin that one missing man had said he planned to go to the Northern Ruins to find some fun.

Norris spent his vacation in the Mushroom Capital, where he realized he had little interest in its usual entertainments, before meeting Eiding and joining his investigation of a suspicious Mushroom Farm. As they prepared to investigate, Vera’s group arrived at the farm ahead of them.

• Norris woke at Puji House, enjoyed the sunlight, and reminded himself to set aside his worries during his vacation.
• Norris ate Honey Glazed Snake Meat at Rotten Willow Tavern, found it unimpressive, and wandered the Mushroom Capital without finding anything he wanted to do.
• A female adventurer invited Norris for a drink, and he realized his mimicry appearance was pleasant before reflecting on his real Lizardman form.
• Norris met Eiding, learned about the suspicious people and kidnappings at a Mushroom Farm, and agreed to support Eiding’s investigation from the perimeter.
• As Norris and Eiding prepared to act, Vera’s group of four arrived at the farm, and Norris watched them from the trees.

Solalin discovered signs of a Hand of Passing ritual in an abandoned village and requested reinforcements. At the farmstead, Vera’s team exposed Gavin’s suspicious operation and was surrounded by armed fighters, while Norris and Eiding waited for permission to intervene.

• Solalin used [Vision of Truth] to find chaotic footprints and a faded ritual array in a cellar, then identified the cult as Hand of Passing and called for support.
• Barton hired Vera’s team to question Gavin about why his friend had sold the farmstead and disappeared.
• Sirian sensed that the farmstead’s mushroom farmers had unusual vitality, and Gavin’s mention of the Archipelago prompted Barton to reveal his friend could not tolerate the sea.
• Gavin ordered the mushroom farmers to surround Vera’s team and attacked Barton with hooked claws.
• Vera pulled Barton out of danger and ordered Feiyin, Feiling, and Sirian to help her break out.
• Norris waited for the boss’s permission through the Mycelium Network, then charged toward the battle with Eiding.

Norris intervened when Vera’s squad was surrounded while protecting Barton, turning the battle with help from Linden’s poisonous Puji illusions and Eiding. Gavin recognized Eiding and ordered his surviving men to retreat into the basement.

• Vera’s four-person squad escaped the collapsing building but became trapped by nearly thirty enemies surrounding Barton.
• Vera was struck by a poisoned bolt, and Norris rushed in to stop Gavin from attacking Feiling.
• Norris warned Vera about Gavin’s strength while a hidden crossbowman was dragged into a house and silenced.
• Linden’s poisonous Puji illusions overwhelmed Gavin’s forces, and Eiding burned Gavin during the confusion.
• Gavin recognized Eiding as Fahr’s right-hand man and withdrew with his surviving subordinates into the basement.
• Vera’s exhausted squad held their position, and Vera thanked Norris and asked his name.

Eiding and Solalin’s forces raided Gavin’s farm, where they found the cultists dead in a sacrificial ritual and Gavin dead by suicide. The survivor’s interrogation revealed little, and many people on the missing persons list remained unaccounted for as the search for the Hand of Passing continued.

• Solalin led more than forty knights to the farm, and they broke through the defensive barrier to enter the basement.
• Eiding and the knights found the cultists dead in a sacrificial array, while Gavin prayed and then stabbed himself in the skull.
• Vera and her party saw the victims, and Barton recognized his friend among the decomposed corpses.
• Solalin interrogated the sole captive, who said Gavin had sought a “high-grade vessel” and that the cult had previously used an abandoned village.
• Solalin found that the basement held fewer than half the people on the missing persons list, so the Mushroom Capital increased patrols and The Church joined the search.

Vera's team celebrated surviving the cult mission at Puji House, where they discussed their unknown rescuer and the scarcity of Elven Ice Wine. Back in Puji Dungeon, Norris returned from vacation, reflected on his changing appearance, and wondered whether he could someday walk through Mushroom Capital without Mimicry.

• Vera's team toasted their survival and accepted extra rewards from Barton and the City Lord's Mansion.
• Sirian explained that Elven Ice Wine had become scarce and described the royal family's Silver Dew Flower wine.
• Feiling asked Vera about the identity of their rescuer, and Vera promised to ask Eiding when she next saw him.
• Norris returned to Puji Dungeon, let Little Black inspect him, and used Silver Scales to keep her from scraping his scales.
• Norris changed his face with Mimicry and spoke with Riel about his original appearance and the strength of his scales.
• Norris wondered if he could grow strong enough to walk through Mushroom Capital without Mimicry, and the boss asked how he had figured it out so quickly.

Linden tested the Familiar Creator achievement, discovering it could rapidly create powerful Pujis at the cost of mana and had a five-day cooldown. As Mycelium Puji Fortress neared completion, Spark warned that nearby tribes might be preparing to unite against Linden, who remained more concerned about developments elsewhere on the continent.

• Linden drained the Fungal Carpets in five caves while trying to create a Knight Puji, but produced only half of one before it toppled over.
• Linden determined that Familiar Creator could rapidly produce an Elite Puji or, with preparation, a Scout or Heavy Armor Puji, but not a Knight Puji, and that the ability could be used only once every five days.
• The city in the Far North neared completion, and Linden named it Mycelium Puji Fortress at Shou's request.
• Spark told Linden that nearby tribes had begun trading away weak captives and stockpiling ordinary mushrooms, suggesting they might be preparing for war.
• Linden considered Spark's theory plausible but remained confident he could defeat the tribes, and he focused more on changes in the continental situation.

Sigismund prepared for Duke Valerice’s arrival while Linden observed his unusual Multiple Wills skill and learned how the Blood Knights were trained. Valerice’s troops reached the Scarlet Tower, where her greeting left her uncertain whether the rounded figure before her was Sigismund.

• Sigismund learned that Valerice’s troops had entered the Sky Veil and confirmed that the information blockade had cost 187 Blood Knights their lives.
• Sigismund ordered his adjutant and two Half-Vampires to welcome Valerice, then briefly lost his composure while counting them before correcting his order.
• Linden recorded Sigismund’s Multiple Wills skill and asked why he valued the Blood Knights; Sigismund explained their indoctrination, training, and repeated selection contests.
• Valerice’s troops camped behind the Scarlet Tower, where several clashes between Trolls and Demon Race soldiers were quickly quelled.
• Sigismund went to meet Valerice, and the Half-Demon girl hesitated when she saw his rounded figure and asked whether he was really Sigismund.

Sigismund met Valerice, survived her shadow-spike attack, and learned that her Abyss Beast had been borrowed by Vesalius. On the northwestern front, Brennus and Sword Saint Elwin faced the colossal beast as it approached the United Kingdom’s army.

• Valerice mocked Sigismund’s appearance and attacked him with Shadow Spikes after using her Charm Voice, but Sigismund blocked the strike and withdrew.
• Valerice told Sigismund that Vesalius had borrowed her Abyss Beast, and Sigismund ordered her and her troops to stay put before returning to the Scarlet Tower.
• Sigismund warned Linden to avoid Valerice and explained that she was a Troll, Succubus, and Shadow Demon brought from a Demon King’s laboratory.
• Linden learned that most, but not all, of Sigismund’s two Half-Vampire underlings had returned.
• On the northwestern front, the Abyss Beast’s arrival crushed the United Kingdom army’s morale, and Brennus asked Elwin what to do.
• Elwin told Brennus that they had to cut down the beast and guessed that the purple glow in its chest was its core; he then prepared to fight it.

Alama learned that the dwarves were overwhelmed by an elemental riot and that Brennus’s northwestern army had been routed after Elwin was gravely wounded. With reinforcements on the way, Alama prepared High Keep Fortress for another assault and ordered his troops to meet the enemy.

• Alama recalled how Valerice and Sigismund ambushed him, leaving him wounded before Sigismund withdrew for reasons he did not understand.
• An intelligence guard reported that an elemental riot had engulfed a quarter of the Dwarf Kingdom and that communication delays had concealed the news.
• Alama realized the Empire might be shifting its forces elsewhere and rushed to warn Brennus, but a messenger reported that Vesalius had gravely wounded Elwin and the northwestern army had retreated to Three Mountains City.
• Alama read Lorenzo’s message ordering High Keep Fortress to hold until reinforcements arrived from Oath City, while The Church was assigned to support Brennus’s remnants.
• When the Demon Race attacked again, Alama faced Sigismund on the wall, drew his sword, and ordered his troops to meet the enemy.