Chapter Summaries

Kees, driven by desperation and hatred of Mushroom, launched a furious counterattack against the Demon Race fleet, but a newly arrived ship turned the battle against them. The Vampire Viscount was killed by silver arrows, while Hess fought the rampaging tentacles with an arrow embedded in his arm.

• The Demon Race fleet struggled against Kees's tentacles, Petrification Rays, and six-clawed Kees until Hess emerged from the Sealing Chamber and froze a tentacle, using it to destroy an Evil Eye.
• Kees considered abandoning its revenge on Mushroom, then renewed its resolve and sent tentacles, its remaining Evil Eye, and surviving Six-Claws into a desperate assault on the fleet.
• The Vampire Viscount and Demon Race elites formed a defense while a Diamond Rank Shadow Mage and the ships' attack arrays targeted the charging Evil Eye.
• Hess was unexpectedly knocked into the air by a tentacle, and a silver arrow from a distant Skeleton Class ship pierced the Vampire Viscount's chest.
• A second silver arrow struck the Vampire Viscount in the brow and killed him, while Hess fought the tentacles with an identical arrow embedded in his right arm.

Sophia and the Church’s ships were caught in a spreading wall of supernatural mist while they watched a battle between the Kees and the Demon Race. Separated from her companions, Sophia emerged in a familiar room and recognized the streets of Saint Petersburg, wondering if she had returned home.

• Sophia sniped Demon Race officers and spellcasters from the Church’s ship while Samuel explained the Kees and their past outbreaks to Bella.
• Hess killed the last Evil Eye and pinned the Tentacle Beast, but Sophia’s attacks left the Demon Race’s resistance collapsing.
• Samuel realized fog was spreading across the sea and ordered the ship east, but the dense white wall swallowed the battle and separated Sophia from her companions.
• Samuel used his magic to bless Sophia and warned her about the mist before it engulfed them.
• Sophia waited cautiously in the whiteout, then found herself in a small room overlooking familiar streets and recognized Saint Petersburg.

Sophia fought through the mist’s illusion, where she encountered Bella and a figure resembling her dead younger brother, Alexei. After Bella destroyed the apparition, Sophia and Bella returned to the ship, where Sophia saw that several guards were missing; meanwhile, Dylan woke from a dream about Bella in the Mushroom Capital.

• Sophia realized the familiar world surrounding her was an illusion and stayed inside despite hearing fighting in the mist.
• Sophia shot Aberrants pursuing Bella and called her into the building for safety.
• Alexei appeared and asked Sophia to trust him, but Bella stabbed him, revealing him as a gray, lifeless illusion.
• Sophia took Bella by the wrist, and they emerged from the mist onto the ship, where Samuel and the others welcomed them back.
• Sophia noticed that some guards had not returned, while Dylan woke from a dream about his daughter in the Mushroom Capital.

Little Black hunted the Delicious Puji while Number One Puji tried to keep its kin hidden, and Cave Four Ji’s self-destruction left Little Black with only a broken leg to eat. After rebirth, Cave Four Ji and Number Ten appeared beside Inanna and received the Fungal Lord’s order to protect Pink Puji.

• Little Black struggled to find Delicious Puji through the mana fog while the Puji hid in Mushroom Houses and Number One Puji rallied them to treat the chase as training.
• Number One Puji’s group was discovered when Little Black returned to a Mushroom House, and Cave Four Ji self-destructed, destroying the Puji and Norris’s Mushroom House.
• Little Black ate Number One Puji’s broken leg and left to search for more Puji.
• Cave Four Ji and Number Ten emerged from Mycelium Cocoons, and Number Ten recalled how Cave Thirteen had betrayed it and become Little Black’s guide.
• The Fungal Lord ordered Cave Four Ji and Number Ten to protect Pink Puji, and Cave Four Ji asked Inanna whether she was a puji too.

Inanna’s father, Alama, caught her transformed into a pink Puji with Number Ten and Number Four, leaving him devastated and her mortified. Number Four decided to explain the Pujis’ status to the non-mushrooms and led Inanna out, with Number Ten following to prevent trouble.

• Number Four learned that Inanna’s transformation into a pink Puji was magic, while Number Ten explained the difference between independent Mushroom Race beings and ordinary Pujis.
• Lorenzo entered to bring Alama a recovery potion and assumed Alama was upset about Inanna’s romantic life.
• Alama told Lorenzo that he had found Inanna transformed into a pink Puji and huddled with two other Pujis, leaving Lorenzo speechless.
• Inanna worried over being caught in Puji form, while Number Ten blamed itself for failing to notice Alama’s approach sooner.
• Number Four insisted they explain the Mushroom Race’s status and led Inanna outside, followed by Number Ten.

Linden planned to use intelligent Pujis to encourage humans and other races to rely on the Mushroom Race, helping spread the Fungal Carpet and strengthen him before an approaching catastrophe. Inanna brought Cave Four Ji and Number Ten Ji to Lorenzo and Alama, where a mage enabled their first mental conversation with the Pujis.

• Linden decided to present intelligent Pujis to the continent's factions so they would seek Puji assistance and help expand the Fungal Carpet.
• Linden envisioned spreading the Fungal Carpet across the world, uniting the continent's forces against a coming crisis, and relying on Puji Dungeon as a fallback.
• Inanna led Cave Four Ji and Number Ten Ji to Lorenzo and Alama at the temporary command post.
• Cave Four Ji tried to explain the Mushroom Race's greatness, but Lorenzo and Alama could not understand its thoughts and movements.
• Lorenzo had an army mage create a strained mental link, allowing him and Alama to hear Cave Four Ji address them as old non-mushrooms.

Lorenzo and Alama questioned Cave Four Ji about the Puji and learned that it could help clear a passage through the collapsed canyon. Outside Three Mountains City, Vesalius grew increasingly frustrated by his setbacks and decided to launch a full assault if Hess remained missing.

• Lorenzo and Alama questioned Cave Four Ji about the mushroom race, its relationship with Puji Masters, and the restrictions on what it could reveal.
• An army mage sensed that Cave Four Ji was open and apparently truthful, while Alama and Lorenzo agreed to treat its account cautiously and investigate the Fungal Carpet and Puji Dungeon.
• Inanna returned with Cave Four Ji, which offered to help dig a passage, and a Drilling Puji broke through the rock wall with ease.
• Vesalius learned that Hess was still missing and heard reports of expanding sea mist, adding to his frustration over the failed assault and the loss of the Troll unit.
• Vesalius decided to wait a few more days for news of Hess before launching a full assault on Three Mountains City.

Fifteen, Sword Saint Elwin’s disciple, crossed Scarecrow Abyss and reached the Elf Royal Court despite falling victim to a fake Puji and fighting off Forest Ranger Guards. He asked Galadriel Twilight Song to lend him Longyue for his master’s urgent mission.

• Refugees and travelers discussed Scarecrow Abyss, where fake Puji had caused another group to disappear and left Fifteen stranded in the Deep Zone.
• Fifteen escaped the Abyss by carving his way out with his longsword, rested at a tavern, and set off for the Elf Forest to obtain an item for Elwin.
• Forest Ranger Guards confronted Fifteen at the forest’s edge, but he subdued their patrol before Echo recognized him and offered to escort him to the royal city.
• Fifteen noticed Puji throughout Isildorin and then asked Galadriel Twilight Song to lend him Longyue.

Fifteen persuaded Galadriel and the elves to lend him Longyue so he could save the wounded Sword Saint from a Blood Clan Prince’s poison. He left Elf Forest with the sword and a persistent Puji, then killed the scammer who had sold him fake Pujis.

• Fifteen argued that only Longyue could purge the Sword Saint’s Blood Poison and warned that the Demon Race would threaten the elves if the humans fell.
• Galadriel asked Echo and Salian for their views, then decided to lend Longyue to Fifteen.
• Salian handed Longyue to Fifteen, who declined to rest and hurried out of Elf Forest with Echo.
• A wild Puji followed Fifteen, climbed onto his head, and helped him cross Scarecrow Abyss safely.
• Fifteen encountered the fake Puji seller in a human settlement, and the scammer tried to flee.
• Fifteen caught and killed the scammer before he could escape.

Fifteen rode toward Three Mountains City with a persistent Puji, whose strange behavior made Puji Masters wary of him. He discovered the Puji could communicate and called itself Number Nine Puji, then reached the city as the Demon Race’s attack began.

• Fifteen let the unusually fast Puji follow him after it repeatedly caught up with his horse.
• Puji Masters on the road reacted fearfully to Fifteen, and one caravan blocked his path before fleeing after he cut down a tree with a single sword strike.
• Fifteen used a patterned stone to communicate with the Puji and learned it had been sizing up people for possible attacks.
• The Puji introduced itself as Number Nine Puji, part of the Mushroom Race, and said it wanted to join Fifteen on the battlefield.
• Fifteen reached Three Mountains City and saw that the Demon Race’s attack had begun.

Fifteen broke through the demon army’s siege of Three Mountains City while carrying the blood-fainting Puji, whose spores gave him a burst of strength. After his escape, Vesalius heard Ern’s suspicions that the city might be able to cure the Sword Saint’s Blood Poison, but said he had already made other arrangements.

• Fifteen found Puji unable to face the battlefield’s blood and carried it on his head as he searched for a way into Three Mountains City.
• Fifteen disguised himself as a Lizardman and fought through the demon lines after an officer spotted him.
• Xenophon pursued Fifteen, but Puji sprayed strengthening spores that helped Fifteen evade the Duke’s attack and slip into the city.
• Ern warned Vesalius that Fifteen’s return might mean the defenders had found a way to detoxify the Sword Saint’s Blood Poison.
• Vesalius dismissed Ern’s concern and said he had already made other arrangements.

Tanaka and Kiro traveled to Twilight City under the protection of a Blood Clan Count’s carriage, discussing the Demon Race, a buried treasure, and the blood-colored Sky Veil. After arriving, Kiro rejected the Count’s offered resources, and Tanaka asked what they had come to the capital to do.

• A slave convoy cleared the road for a black carriage bearing a Blood Clan crest, and its commander whipped the convoy leader for failing to make way quickly enough.
• Inside the carriage, Tanaka worried that a Blood Clan Count might obtain legendary equipment, but Kiro said it was buried in the frozen Northern Territory and explained that he sought only to save the world.
• Tanaka recognized the Sky Veil above Twilight City as the artifact Blood Calamity.
• Tanaka and Kiro entered Twilight City, where the guards later received an order to impose martial law and strictly inspect everyone entering or leaving.
• A knight gave Kiro the Count’s list of properties and a ring for their use, but Kiro threw both away after the knights departed.
• Tanaka asked Kiro what he had brought him to Twilight City to do.

Kiro revealed that their mission was to break the Demon King's seal inside Twilight Castle, and explained how Latir's Abyss Magic could teleport Tanaka's clone into the chamber. The three prepared to wait until the Emperor was farther away before acting.

• Kiro led Tanaka through Twilight City for two days, avoiding the increased patrols.
• The city's blood curtain withdrew, and Kiro took Tanaka to a cellar to meet the Demon Descendant Latir.
• Kiro revealed that a part of the Demon King was sealed inside Twilight Castle, and that only he, Tanaka, and Latir would take part in the operation.
• Kiro explained that Latir could use Abyss Magic to teleport Tanaka's clone directly into the sealing chamber, where it could destroy the seal.
• Latir vowed to kill himself with Abyss Magic afterward to conceal their involvement, and Kiro said they would wait until the Emperor was farther away before proceeding.

After the soldiers and Pujis opened a tunnel through Dragon Roar Valley in three days, Alama prepared to reinforce Three Mountains City. Inanna chose to go with him despite the danger, and Linden agreed to help her.

• Warren and the soldiers pushed the Drilling Puji through Dragon Roar Valley, completing the tunnel after three days.
• Alama, Warren, Lorenzo, and Inanna organized the troops and Pujis to pass through the tunnel and prepare for the march to Three Mountains City.
• Alama hesitated to let Inanna join the dangerous mission, while Linden considered the risks and urged her to stay back.
• Inanna insisted on accompanying Alama, and Linden agreed after she asked for his help.

Disguised as a soldier, Faya infiltrated Three Mountains City and used Charm to control a patrolman, but her attempt to Charm Number Nine Puji trapped her in a vast mental ocean. Linden sensed a faint disturbance to his soul and decided to seek ways to defend it.

• A patrolling soldier spotted Faya, but she broke through his Mental Protection, learned about nearby patrol routes, and ordered him to forget their encounter.
• Faya considered how to avoid detection and targeted the passing Number Nine Puji with Charm.
• Faya found herself trapped in a boundless mental space above a fathomless ocean, where a massive wave crashed over her.
• Linden briefly sensed something brushing against his soul, found no lasting trace, and resolved to study soul-defense methods after finishing his preparations for Pink Puji.

Number Nine Puji fled after a Succubus spy died while touching its tentacle, while Sword Saint Elwin and Archbishop Ditas discussed Three Mountains City's dire position and a way to face Vesalius. Ditas revealed that the God of Light had not spoken for a century and vowed to clear obstacles for Elwin to fight Vesalius alone.

• Number Nine Puji mistakenly believed it had killed a disguised Succubus spy and hurried back to Fifteen, leaving soldiers to discover the corpse.
• Fifteen welcomed Number Nine Puji back and reflected on how their battle together had earned the mushroom creature his acceptance.
• Elwin told Ditas that he had a six-in-ten chance of defeating Vesalius in a duel, but both men worried that the city's military disadvantage and Duke Brennus's uncertain loyalty made victory unlikely.
• Ditas offered a dark potion and revealed that the God of Light had sent no oracle for a hundred years, even when the Hero was summoned.
• Ditas put the potion away and pledged to remove every obstacle and create a chance for Elwin to face Vesalius alone.

Ern strengthened the Blood Clan camp’s defenses after discovering hidden passages beneath it, but his scouts found a corpse-filled cavern inhabited by Puji. Linden responded by producing more Combat Pujis and spreading the Fungal Carpet through the Underground Network as both armies grew more vigilant.

• Ern ordered denser Shadow Bat patrols and layered Blood Thorn traps around the camp.
• Ern noticed the corpse piles near Three Mountains City seemed lower, then learned of a suspicious reinforced tunnel near the camp.
• Ern sent Goblins and a Blood Clan scout into the underground maze, where they found a cavern packed with human and Demon corpses and encountered Puji.
• Countless Puji sealed the scouts’ escape routes, and the Blood Clan scout failed to return.
• Ern sent more troops to investigate and discovered three additional hidden passages nearby.
• Linden began producing more Combat Pujis and spreading the Fungal Carpet through the Underground Network, while the humans reinforced their vigilance.

Ern’s forces struggled to clear the Puji from the underground tunnels, suffering heavy losses before switching to defensive measures that temporarily pushed the mushrooms away from their camp. As the Demon Race continued attacking Three Mountains City, the Sword Saint and the archbishop waited for an opening to lure Vesalius, and Pink Puji’s squad brought that opportunity earlier than planned.

• Vesalius gave Ern Sigismund’s report on the Puji and ordered him to test their strength without underestimating them.
• Ern’s assault on the underground network ended in heavy casualties as poisonous spores, the Puji’s attacks, and collapsing tunnels trapped most of the Goblins and many Blood Clan elites.
• Ern’s fire-oil attack failed to destroy the tunnels, so he used magic and sensing arrays to collapse or guard routes near the Demon Race camp.
• Linden brought Fatty Drilling Pujis and numbered Pujis underground to observe the battle, while Number One Puji and Number Two Puji eagerly prepared to fight for the Fungal Lord.
• As the Demon Race attacked Three Mountains City’s second wall, the Sword Saint and the archbishop waited to lure Vesalius, and Pink Puji’s squad moved their opportunity ahead of schedule.

Alama’s force battled the Demon Race interception while the Pujis struck the enemy camp’s supplies. Cave Four Ji was killed by Xenophon but returned in a new body, and Vesalius turned his attention toward the approaching Elwin and Three Mountains City.

• Cave Four Ji broke through the Demon Race line with its attacks, but Xenophon wounded and split apart its body with his great axe.
• Number Four emerged from a burrow in an ordinary Cannon Fodder Puji body, revealing to Inanna that the Will of Great Puji protected them from death.
• Alama and Lorenzo struggled against Xenophon and the other Blood Clan Duke while Linden weighed whether to use [Familiar Creator].
• Number One and Number Two led Pujis through tunnels to set fires and attack supplies in the undermanned Demon Race camp, forcing Ern to race between threats.
• Vesalius watched the disorder in his rear camp without sending reinforcements, then saw Elwin lead Three Mountains City’s garrison out with Longyue.

Three Mountains City’s defenders confronted the Demon Race as Duke Brennus betrayed humanity and Elwin fought Vesalius. The Church Knights transformed into werewolves to turn the battle, while dwarf reinforcements and other forces began moving across the continent.

• Ditas trapped Brennus in a Light Prison and accused him of betraying humanity, while Brennus and Vesalius urged Elwin to surrender to the Empire.
• Elwin rejected their offers and fought Vesalius, trading powerful attacks as the Sword Saint’s strength surprised the Blood Clan prince.
• The Church Knights transformed into werewolves, and their desperate charge tore through the Demon Race’s battle line despite the deadly cost of their potions.
• The Dwarf King retook Golden Flame City, sealed the Dungeon, and led his army west toward the Demon Race border.
• A blood-colored Sky Veil traveled south past High Keep Fortress toward Three Mountains City, while gray-white mist spread inland from the kingdom’s western coast.