Chapter Summaries

Valerice used the Abyss Beast’s shadow to overwhelm Louisa’s Puji army, forcing the survivors to retreat by air. As Azra and the Black Dragon fought over the city, Valerice’s shadow swept toward them too.

• Valerice’s Abyss Beast spread shadow across the ground, swallowing the charging Puji and forcing Louisa to order a retreat.
• Norris warned Louisa that the shadow stayed on the ground, so she ordered Flying Puji to carry soldiers into the air.
• The Abyss Beast struck down several fleeing fliers with its scorpion tail and an Abyss Cannon, while Louisa ordered the remaining troops to scatter and regroup.
• Azra and the Black Dragon clashed in the sky before crashing into the city, where they resumed their fight.
• Valerice spread her shadow toward the battling dragons and shouted that they should stay and share her love.

The Blue Dragon Azra fought Valerice’s Abyss Beast and was dragged into its shadow, but the Great Dragon rescued him. Azra then challenged the Great Dragon, who killed him and gained his power before flying north toward the last contender of the Ancient Dragon Path.

• Azra battered Valerice and her Abyss Beast with lightning, but Valerice pulled him into a vast shadow that resisted his Dragon Breath.
• Azra plunged into the shadow and killed Valerice with Electric Arcs, then the Great Dragon dragged him out as the shadow vanished.
• Azra demanded that the Great Dragon finish their battle, and the Great Dragon struck him down with a dive from the sky.
• Azra recognized a polyhedron the Great Dragon had kept hidden and died after speaking about Sylvia; his power transferred to the Great Dragon.
• The Great Dragon took the polyhedron, killed Scout Puji, and flew north toward the final contender of the Ancient Dragon Path.

Linden failed to retrieve the spatial divine artifact, but gained Valerice’s Shadow Dissolve skill and learned that the Black Dragon was heading for the Fungal Fortress to target Little Black. He sent Little Black to join Cave Four so they could weaken the Black Dragon and give her a chance to claim the final victory.

• Linden gained the Shadow Dissolve skill from Valerice’s discarded wing and saw the Black Dragon flying toward the Fungal Fortress.
• Linden persuaded Little Black to leave by showing her a glittering statue and promising it after she dealt with the last shiny thief.
• Linden directed Little Black toward Cave Four, deciding its size and strength made it the best place to confront the Black Dragon.
• Cave Four eagerly agreed to fight the Black Dragon and asked Linden to record its heroic battle for Pink Puji and Number One.

Little Black fled the Great Dragon after it attacked her for refusing to fight, while Linden and the Puji tried to protect her and guide her toward a trap. The Great Dragon pursued her into a ravine, where Cave Four revealed itself as a giant Leviathan Puji and grabbed the dragon; elsewhere, Boss had Norris pose pitifully for an unknown plan.

• Little Black froze in fear when the Great Dragon confronted her, and it attacked her to force her to fight.
• Little Black struck back with Corrosive Dragon Breath, but the Great Dragon countered and nearly crushed her before Puji sacrificed themselves to help her escape.
• Linden guided Little Black south with Puji covering her flight, and she clutched one Puji while believing it was Norris whom she needed to protect.
• The Great Dragon detected something unusual about a mountain but continued pursuing Little Black into a ravine.
• Cave Four disguised as the mountain transformed into a Leviathan Puji and closed its tentacles around the Great Dragon.
• Piggy and the soldiers watched Norris act out a pitiful pose at Boss's request.

The Great Dragon fought Cave Four while trying to reach Little Black, but the Ultimate Taste Mushroom trapped it in an illusion of its mother, Sylvia. Sylvia revealed the Void Realm divine artifact and urged the Great Dragon to claim the power of the Ancient Dragon before she vanished, leaving it to face Little Black alone.

• Cave Four bound the Great Dragon with mycelium and electricity, but the dragon broke free and continued fighting it.
• The Great Dragon struck Cave Four's legs and rushed toward Little Black, but stopped when Little Black called it Mommy.
• Cave Four hit the Great Dragon and sent the Ultimate Taste Mushroom into its mouth, triggering an illusion of the Great Dragon's mother.
• The Void Realm automatically redirected Cave Four's attack, and Sylvia appeared to comfort the Great Dragon and give it the divine artifact.
• Sylvia vanished after telling the Great Dragon to seize the Ancient Dragon's power, and the Great Dragon used Void Realm to trap itself and Little Black apart from Cave Four.

Linden and the Pujis fought to save Little Black from the Great Dragon, whose challenge forced her to overcome her fear and fight back. The Great Dragon removed the mycelium from Little Black with Void Realm, then returned to Dragon Cliff and fell asleep beside Sylvia's remains; Little Black later woke and was reunited with the Pujis.

• Linden ordered Cave Four to self-destruct, and its blast destabilized Void Realm's spatial cage, letting Pujis enter and attack the Great Dragon.
• The Great Dragon killed most of the Pujis and nearly defeated Little Black, but Linden sent Norris to heal her, and Little Black began fighting to protect him.
• The Great Dragon repeatedly provoked Little Black into battle, and she grew braver until she pierced its shattered claw and struck it with a falling meteor attack.
• The Great Dragon stabbed Little Black's chest and used Void Realm to remove the mycelium inside her, then escaped as a Giant Puji self-destructed outside the cage.
• The Great Dragon returned to Dragon Cliff, spoke to Sylvia's remains, and fell asleep; Little Black woke among the Pujis, rejoined the Mycelium Network, and learned her companions were being treated.

After Cave Four recovered from its Self-Destruct, Linden told it that a recording of its battle with the giant dragon had survived. Little Black completed the Ancient Dragon Path and transformed into a heavily guarded egg of long scales, while the Puji army paused to recover before marching toward Twilight Castle.

• Cave Four emerged from a Mycelium Cocoon and asked Linden whether its Self-Destruct had been recorded, but Linden showed it the devastated terrain and explained that the recording crystal had been destroyed.
• Linden reassured Cave Four that a separate recording of its battle with the giant dragon had survived, and Cave Four eagerly awaited seeing it.
• Linden realized he could not remove the void realm embedded in Little Black without risking her life, and she had no time to learn to control it.
• Little Black completed the Ancient Dragon Path and became an egg enclosed in long, interlocking Dragon Scales, which Linden judged extremely hard and guarded with Puji.
• The Puji army halted while the nearby Mycelium replenished its strength, then a week later the First Mycelium joined the Second Mycelium and marched toward Twilight Castle, uncertain whether the Slime was there.

As the Puji army surrounded Twilight Castle, Tanaka prepared to flee and questioned the dying Kiro about their fates and the coming apocalypse. Kiro revealed that the true catastrophe would come with the Spore Bloom, which would return all things to Fungal Soil and leave no living beings.

• Voice Puji taunted the Demon King outside Twilight Castle while Linden used Scout Puji to search for him.
• Tanaka saw a Lizardman maid fleeing with stolen valuables and noted that the leaderless castle was falling into panic.
• Tanaka urged Kiro to escape, but Kiro said they were keys tied to [Sloth] and [Temperance] and that Tanaka's fate was already decided.
• Kiro said the expected apocalypse had changed and admitted he would not live to see what happened.
• Kiro told Tanaka that when the Spore Bloom came, all things would return to Fungal Soil and no living beings would remain.

Bella and the defenders reclaimed part of Oath City, but the Empire had already destroyed two key Magic Towers and a Demon Descendant named Gray ambushed her and Samuel. Just as Bella prepared to risk her life attacking Gray’s weak point, Fifteen and Number Nine arrived to help.

• Bella led human soldiers and Puji in driving the Empire’s Demons back from a collapsed Magic Tower.
• Priest Samuel discovered that the tower’s key runes had been destroyed, and Bella realized the city could lose its connection to the New Defense Line if two more Magic Towers fell.
• Gray ambushed Bella and Samuel with flames from his inherited Flame Dragon Breath, leaving Samuel gravely injured and forcing Bella to fight alone.
• Bella used Vision of Truth to find a second Magic Core beneath Gray’s right chest and prepared to strike its weakness at the cost of her life.
• Fifteen arrived and wounded Gray with twin sword strikes, while Number Nine greeted Bella from Fifteen’s backpack.

Fifteen, Number Nine, and Bella killed Gray before he could destroy their Node Tower. As they celebrated, a distant Blood Blade cut down two Magic Towers, including another Node Tower.

• Fifteen and Bella fought Gray as he advanced toward a Node Tower, while Number Nine hurried away to call for help through the mycelium.
• Gray unleashed his Blue Flame against the tower, melting its spire and forcing Bella to intercept him.
• Number Nine returned with Frost Dragon Breath and blocked Gray's flames, while Bella revealed the location of his weak point.
• Fifteen and Number Nine struck Gray's exposed weakness, and Bella recovered his two Magic Cores after confirming his death.
• A Blood Blade swept across the city and cut down two Magic Towers, including a Node Tower.

Sigismund destroyed a Node Tower and overwhelmed Alama, revealing that he had gained powerful new abilities through mysterious dreams. Number Two and Cave Seven rescued Alama and Eric, while Oath City’s defenses dwindled to four Node towers and the battle’s fate rested with Sophia and Number Ten Magic Mushroom.

• Sigismund used blood weapons, lightning, and enhanced speed to defeat Alama and sever Eric’s arms after foiling Eric’s surprise attack.
• Sigismund explained that his new skills came from repeatedly dreaming of unknown beings demonstrating abilities, though he did not know the source of the dreams.
• Sigismund pinned Alama down and threatened Eric, but a shadow swallowed Alama and carried him and Eric away.
• Number Two and Cave Seven emerged from the shadow, gave the wounded men Healing Potions, and Number Two planned to use the rescue to recruit Pink Puji.
• With only four of Oath City’s seven Node towers remaining, Sophia and Number Ten Magic Mushroom faced the responsibility of turning the battle around.

Salian and Echo led the Forest Ranger Guards toward Oath City, but the Slime Demon King trapped them in a Blood Prison. Number Ten learned the elves would not arrive and warned that the Demon King was coming as Twilight Castle fell.

• Salian rescued a town from an Empire force, refused its supplies, and joined Echo's march toward Oath City.
• The Forest Ranger Guards crossed a wasteland stripped bare by Slimes and Puji's underground battle.
• Number One recognized the white-clad figure as the Slime Demon King, who revealed he could enter the Mycelium Network.
• The Demon King activated the Blood Calamity and trapped Echo's force in a vast Blood Prison, while Number One tried to escape by self-destructing.
• Number Ten told Sophia and Lorenzo that the elf reinforcements would not arrive and the Demon King was coming, then reported that Twilight Castle had fallen.

As Oath City’s defenders struggled against Darean’s assault, Marshal Puji arrived and revealed that Twilight Castle had fallen and the Empire’s families and allies were under threat. The battlefield fell silent after Louisa urged the Empire to surrender, leaving its forces to face the collapse of their campaign.

• Pujis retrieved Recording Crystals, a red cloak, and a fresh vocal cord, then sent one through the Underground Network toward Oath City.
• Darean’s Abyss Beast pushed past Oath City’s outer wall while Number Ten and the wounded defenders struggled to hold it back.
• Sophia prepared to ambush Darean with a golden arrow, but Marshal Puji appeared in a red cloak and used Mushroom Might to weaken ordinary soldiers on both sides.
• Marshal Puji projected footage showing Fungal forces occupying Twilight Castle and escorting captured imperial soldiers.
• Louisa displayed images of the Empire’s other advancing enemies and warned that the captives’ families were in her hands, urging the Empire to surrender.
• The projection ended, and Oath City’s battlefield fell silent.

Marshal Puji’s pleas weakened the Empire’s soldiers, but Sigismund rallied many of them to keep fighting. The Demon King arrived at Oath City, survived Sophia’s surprise attack, and destroyed the fourth Node Tower, isolating the city from the New Defense Line.

• Marshal Puji’s pleas made many Imperial soldiers waver, while Sigismund restored some of their resolve by urging them to fight for victory and their freedom.
• A Blood Clan member recognized Belian’s voice in Marshal Puji and flew toward him, but Number Ten blasted him out of the sky.
• Fifteen encountered Sophia’s group, where Sophia mourned the fallen Church Warriors and worried over the unconscious Samuel.
• Sigismund’s speech rallied more Imperial soldiers, and Linden formed a Giant Puji as both sides prepared to resume battle.
• The Demon King arrived, survived Sophia’s arrow with [Undying], and triggered an explosion beside Number Nine that destroyed the fourth Node Tower.
• The Demon King thanked Gray as Oath City lost its connection to the New Defense Line and became isolated.

Sophia and Bella mourned the Captain of the Guard and the other Church Warriors killed in the explosion as the battle for Oath City intensified. Number Ten awakened to the essence of magic and helped stop the Demon King’s thunderball, but their duel left the city under threat, while a secret ritual began beneath the Relic Association.

• Sophia used Mercy to heal Bella, Fifteen, and herself, but the Captain of the Guard and two Church Warriors had died protecting them.
• Bella tried to pursue the Demon King, but Sophia held her back, while Fifteen honored the Captain of the Guard and ran to the front line.
• Linden sent Number Nine and First Mycelium into the fighting as the Demon King gathered a thunderball powerful enough to destroy Oath City.
• The Sword Saint used sword lights to hold back the thunderball, and Number Ten realized the essence of magic, gained Ultimate Magic Guidance, and redirected the blast into the sky.
• Number Ten, the Sword Saint, and Sophia fought alongside one another against the Demon King, but his attacks gradually overwhelmed them.
• Vice President Saren and the Relic Association's President began a ritual involving an exquisite coffin, and Linden and the Demon King sensed strange soul fluctuations beneath the city.

At High Keep Fortress, Simon investigated a Stone Stele Coffin that had activated without any visible effects, while Linden was drawn into a strange blank space through the Seat of Guidance. Linden discovered a corridor of doors and found an Information Cube revealing details of the Transcendentalist project and a selected individual named Link.

• A soldier alerted Simon that the Stone Stele Coffin at High Keep Fortress had activated, and Simon found its runes glowing despite no detectable disturbance.
• Linden noticed his Spirit of Virtue title flickering and was pulled into a blank room after it triggered.
• Linden discovered he could summon and dismiss a door back to his body, then entered a corridor lined with countless doors.
• Linden opened a door and found an Information Cube describing the Transcendentalist project, which had been intended to support the Ark system after the Base World collapsed.
• Linden read that the project had selected an individual, entered basic memories, and named them Link.

Linden explored the Ark’s records, discovered that the Seat of Navigation contained the Ark’s soul-powered core, and met the Demon King, who claimed they were rivals for control of the world. Back in Oath City, Link was resurrected, but he awoke confused and unable to remember who he was.

• Linden examined records about ether compression, learning that souls overwhelmed by ether sank into the Abyss, and reviewed projects connected to him.
• Linden found the deactivated Shared Dream project, then sensed the Demon King and entered the Seat of Navigation to meet him.
• The Demon King showed Linden the route toward the Ark’s core and said opening it was the first step to controlling the world, but left before explaining his remarks about fate.
• Linden returned to Oath City and sensed a powerful soul fluctuation from the Relic Association, where time had barely passed during his exploration.
• The resurrection ritual brought Link back to life in a coffin, and he asked where he was before growing confused about his own identity.

Link emerged from a locked secret chamber with no memory and learned that the Demon Race had attacked Oath City. After he slaughtered the soldiers threatening a Puji Master’s family, he turned toward the battle cries to save more people.

• Saren died after asking Link to defeat the Demon King and save humanity, and Link tore the rune-locked chamber door off its wall.
• Link escaped the Relic Association carrying a wooden staff, struck an invisible Monster out of the sky, and drew Linden’s attention as Linden saw the [Hero] title on Link’s panel.
• A wounded Puji Master and his Cannon Fodder Puji failed to stop a Gold Rank Lizardman and his soldiers from defeating him and threatening his family.
• Link killed the Lizardman and six other Demon Race soldiers with the staff, then headed toward the nearby battle cries.
• Mycelium spread over the Puji Master’s corpse and began decomposing it for a new Mushroom Transformer.

Link charged through Oath City, crushing Sigismund with a single strike before continuing toward the Imperial army. He emerged outside the city wall and faced the Demon King and Prince Darean, where the Demon King greeted him.

• Fifteen retreated toward the Inner City's remaining Magic Towers as Sigismund ordered the Demon Race to advance without sparing anyone.
• Link burst through the advancing forces and struck Sigismund with his battered staff, sending him crashing through buildings.
• Sigismund struggled to move through the ruins, but mycelium spread around him and the Voice Puji called him Feixi.
• Link broke through the outer city wall and stood alone before the Imperial army, holding a Demon’s head and his staff.
• The Demon King looked at Link and said, “Long time no see, Link.”

The amnesiac Link rejected the Demon King's plan to kill every living being and attacked him instead. As their battle continued, Sophia fired a Golden Arrow at the Demon King while Linden coordinated the Puji's attack.

• Darean recognized Link and attacked him with waves of blood, but Link tore off the Demon King's arm and blasted his body apart.
• Link defeated Darean, then refused to trust the Demon King's offer to show him a recording and declared that he would stop the deaths and learn about the past later.
• Link and the weakened Demon King fought from the ground into the sky, while Darean's attempts to help only worsened his injuries.
• The Demon King exposed an opening, enveloped Link in his Slime form, and activated a temporary teleportation array beneath them.
• Sophia fired her final Golden Arrow across Oath City at the Demon King, while Linden coordinated a Puji's attack toward him.