Chapter Summaries

Ed and Seraphina discussed the possible fate of the Amber Dragon and the blue dragon’s death before negotiating another loan. After Seraphina collected an outstanding payment, Ed learned that the blue dragon’s death might have caused unusual auroras in the real world, raising questions about the worlds’ connection.

• Seraphina suggested the Twin Kings might have subdued the Amber Dragon to protect the stability of their rule, and Ed wondered if they had tried to capture the blue dragon as well.
• Ed asked whether any red dragons besides Seraphina remained, and she said she did not know and would rather die than be enslaved.
• Ed asked Seraphina for another loan, and she agreed to lend more at a higher interest rate while keeping the hundred-year term.
• Seraphina remembered an outstanding payment, and Ed paid her using money that had come from Duma’s wages.
• Ed saw reports of unusual auroras in the real world and suspected they were connected to the blue dragon’s death and a deepening link between the worlds.

After the last blue dragon's death, Duma warned Ed that the extinction of the blue dragons could weaken the world's original Psionic Energy rules and eventually strengthen the Demonic Tide. In the real world, Li Yu reported that the game's auroras had coincided with those in reality, while researchers investigated the game website's update and concluded that the worlds' disease-like effects were tied to Psionic Energy.

• Duma contacted Ed and explained that the blue dragons' extinction could dissipate original Psionic Energy rules and strengthen the Demonic Tide in the coming years.
• Ed ended the call and edited the official World of Disorder game website.
• Li Yu told the researchers that auroras had appeared in the game at the same time as in reality, and suggested both events might be the same phenomenon.
• A staff member reported that the official game website had briefly reloaded, and the researchers began comparing its updated version with the old one.
• The researchers reported that Sheep No. 1's infection had stabilized at a lower level than the original host's, and prepared to introduce Sheep No. 2.
• The professor explained that the two worlds differed below the cellular level and suggested that Psionic Energy caused both the World of Disorder's disease-like effects and its poison.

A research team discovered a hidden file-upload page on the World of Disorder website and debated what to send as their first message to the civilization behind it. They uploaded a cat picture and received a casual meme-like reply, leaving the team stunned and the young man in black triumphant.

• The professor hypothesized that the spreading toxin required Psionic Energy to reproduce, which explained why it was weakening in their world.
• A technician found a hidden upload page inside the World Tree on the World of Disorder website.
• The middle-aged man in black decided to send a file before another group could make first contact.
• After debating what to upload, Lü Yang suggested a cat because World of Disorder had none.
• The team uploaded a picture of a staff member's cat and received the reply, "Bro, nice cat. Pat, pat."
• The young man in black celebrated and told the minister he had been right that "Brother Tree is watching you" was a meme.

Ed opened a file-upload webpage for official organizations to share firsthand reports of disorder in the real world, but first received a cat photo. After officials sent him footage of a sheep’s mutation, Ed identified Blood Poison as its cause and wondered how the disorder had reached their world.

• Ed restricted access to his new webpage to official organizations and received a photo of a cat, which he answered with an internet meme.
• A team in the real world debated how to communicate with Ed and decided to send unedited surveillance footage of Sheep No. 2’s mutation.
• Lü Yang and the professor predicted that any guidance from Ed would arrive in the game rather than through the webpage.
• The team sent the sheep’s mutation footage, and Ed watched it without replying because the video provided the evidence he wanted.
• Ed recognized the sheep’s condition as Blood Poison from a Blood Corpse, then ruled out a full connection between the worlds because Little Green had found no reports of zombies.

Ed concluded that Blood Poison could spread in the real world only where Psionic Energy allowed it, and prepared for a more dangerous spring Corpse Tide. Xilǐ'er recalled receiving a Blue Dragon’s blessing and, after advancing to the Middle Tier, accepted a new mission from the Twin Kings.

• Ed reasoned that the Blue Dragon’s death in the Demon Realm may have carried Blood Poison into the real world, where Psionic Energy scarcity limited its spread.
• Ed anticipated the return of Blood Corpses as spring arrived and took confidence from his control of Aduolin Province.
• Xilǐ'er fought a Blue Dragon in the Demon Realm and struggled to explain why the Twin Kings had ordered its death.
• The Blue Dragon praised Xilǐ'er's will and bestowed a blessing so he could see the road ahead and find his true self.
• Xilǐ'er awoke before the Immortal King, learned he had advanced to the Middle Tier, and received orders to lead his private troops against reviving beasts in the Wilderness of Chaos.

Cardinal Sailesi worried about the Stained Ones’ worsening position as rebel scouts fought Holy Crusaders near Fitz Province and his political struggle with Luxiusi intensified. He considered using the coming Corpse Tide to retake Aduolin Province, then tried to calm himself through meditation.

• On the Holy City’s annual celebration marking winter’s end, Sailesi read a military report describing clashes between rebel scouts and Holy Crusaders along the Aduolin–Fitz border.
• Sailesi judged that the enemy was growing stronger and knew the Stained Ones could not surrender after their crimes and his role in founding the movement.
• He recognized that his struggle with Luxiusi had become a physical contest between their roots beneath the Holy City, while Geliwusi’s allegiance could decide the balance.
• Sailesi planned to send more knight orders to Fitz Province and considered attacking Aduolin Province alongside the approaching Corpse Tide.
• He closed his eyes and began adjusting his breathing and emotions through meditation.

Sailesi met a ratman envoy from the Empire, who demanded repayment and offered troops before attacking him. Sailesi trapped the envoy in a dream, learned what he knew, and arranged for him to wake believing he had completed his mission.

• Sailesi met the black-robed envoy and argued over the Empire’s demands and its offer to send troops into the theocracy.
• The envoy revealed himself as a ratman assassin and attacked Sailesi in the study.
• Sailesi’s attendant heard the fight, then followed Sailesi’s instruction to leave the envoy alone and bolt the guest-room door from outside.
• Sailesi used a dream to learn about recent events in the Empire while the ratman imagined he was beating Sailesi.
• The ratman passed out, and Sailesi planted a suggestion that he would wake believing he had completed his mission and set off home.

Sailesi discovered that rebels had seized a crude serialized story depicting him and Antiya, and flew into a rage after reading its title. Meanwhile, Soul Returners in southern Aduolin discussed their army’s reward-and-punishment system and expected their next major campaign to target the Blood Corpses.

• Sailesi instructed his personal attendant about deployments in Fitz Province and found a folded sheet enclosed with the archbishop’s dispatch.
• Sailesi read the title of a blasphemous-looking story featuring himself and Antiya, then tossed it aside in fury.
• Soul Returners joked about the serialized story, The Secret History of Sailesi, while riding back from patrol in southern Aduolin Province.
• The chapter explained that Duma used individual rewards and quest notes warning of villagers’ potential losses to motivate the Soul Returner army.
• Two Soul Returners wondered why no new campaign had begun and concluded that the Blood Corpses were their greatest enemy.

Ed announced a new event that let players choose between defending against Blood Corpses in the Wilderness of Chaos or disrupting Fitz Province’s operations. As players prepared for both fronts, Seraphina left the Obsidian Bank headquarters to stroll through Valhalla.

• Ed published the [Where the Army Points] announcement, offering players a choice between eastern and southern fronts.
• Ed planned to let players choose their missions and said he could adjust rewards if the player numbers on either front became unbalanced.
• Players gathered in Valhalla to form parties and buy supplies for the event.
• Players heading to Fir City had supplies prepared by Duma, while those bound for the Wilderness of Chaos had to bring their own provisions.
• Seraphina created an illusion of herself behind the counter, put on an outer robe, and left the Obsidian Bank headquarters for a walk through Valhalla.

Seraphina visited Gray and Nora’s sold-out stall and examined custom mechanical arms, considering the business opportunities in selling them. She identified the dragon-scale arm Gray was presenting as fake.

• Soul Returners rushed around after receiving exciting news, while Seraphina made her way to Gray and Nora’s mobile fortress stall.
• Seraphina asked whether Gray had brought mithril ore or any mechanical arms, and Gray explained that his goods had sold out but he still had several custom arms.
• Gray laid out the custom mechanical arms, and Seraphina chose to inspect a distinctive combat model.
• Gray claimed the arm’s fist contained rare Amber Dragon scales, and Seraphina called it fake.

Seraphina exposed the supposed Amber Dragon scale on Gray's mechanical arm as ordinary ore with a Psionic Energy circuit, then identified a genuine dragon scale on [Lion Hidden in the Eyes]'s mechanical arm. She removed the translucent green scale to show it to the others.

• Gray defended the craftsman's reputation, but Seraphina pried the scale from his mechanical arm and said it was ordinary ore with a Psionic Energy circuit.
• Seraphina broke the circuit and demonstrated that the arm no longer slowed Gray when it struck him.
• Gray speculated that the craftsman might have been deceived or could be a spy for the Eternal Domain.
• Seraphina pointed out that [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] had a real dragon scale on his mechanical arm and called him over.
• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] held out his mechanical arm, and Seraphina removed its slightly translucent green dragon scale, which left a green trail when she moved it.

After confirming that one dragon scale was genuine and another was counterfeit, Gray and Nora prepared a report that could expose a major scandal in the Graycast Corridor. Seraphina headed toward Dragonborn Village to visit her followers, but a tree she touched dissolved into poisonous matter.

• Seraphina demonstrated that her Green Dragon scale was genuine, warned Lion Hidden in the Eyes not to touch its toxin, and returned it to his mechanical arm.
• Gray and Nora realized that the Amber Dragon scale was counterfeit and discussed how the fakes could become a major scandal.
• Gray drafted a report to the Great Labyrinth City's leadership, and Nora polished it with his description of Seraphina's authentication.
• Seraphina left Valhalla's district and set out through the forest toward Dragonborn Village, which she had never visited.
• Seraphina touched a tree blocking the path, and it dissolved into viscous matter amid green poisonous smoke.

After Seraphina lost some of the green dragon abilities she had gained from touching a scale, she went to Ed to ask what had happened. Ed proposed that they compare what they knew about dragons, leaving Seraphina ready to answer his questions.

• Seraphina tested her poisonous touch on several trees and confirmed that its corrosive effect was weakening.
• Seraphina flew back to Ed with her wings unfolded and asked him to explain the change.
• Seraphina told Ed she had never met her parents or received a proper dragon education, and that she had taught herself the kingdom's language using hostages.
• Ed suggested they share their knowledge and reason through the dragon-related mystery together.
• Seraphina reached toward Ed, who dodged and protested that she had just poisoned a woodland; she then invited him to ask questions.

Ed learned that Seraphina could temporarily gain another dragon’s power, and planned to seek more dragon-scale items for her to use. Meanwhile, [A Huan] trained local forces in Valhalla until Seraphina spotted him and [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] said she wanted to speak with him.

• Seraphina told Ed she had never known she could briefly gain other dragons’ power, and said the experience seemed beneficial despite being new to her.
• Ed planned to ask Gray to bring dragon-scale items so he could help Seraphina make equipment that granted temporary powers.
• After leaving the castle, Seraphina noticed a large, unusually orderly group of Soul Returners and recognized the Dragonborn [A Huan].
• [A Huan] finished training his group and reflected on how his military experience helped him train Gungnir and Motley’s Wild Hunt, while earning money and building a house in Valhalla.
• [A Huan] accepted a private training job from [Good Times Don't Last] for the Adrian Imperial Guard.
• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] approached [A Huan] and pointed toward the Obsidian Bank, explaining that Seraphina was looking for him.

A Huan agreed to train Seraphina’s Dragonborn in military formations for a fee, hoping to earn enough to build an extension to his house. Seraphina paid for a trial session that afternoon, and Lion Hidden in the Eyes was assigned to notify eligible Dragonborn.

• A Huan approached Seraphina at the Obsidian Bank and learned she wanted her Dragonborn to practice the orderly formations he had taught the Adrian Imperial Guard.
• Needing money for his house, A Huan agreed to train about a hundred Dragonborn and charged one gold coin for each four-hour session.
• Seraphina paid one gold coin and scheduled the first training session for that afternoon.
• Seraphina paid Lion Hidden in the Eyes to notify the Dragonborn and specified that participants had to be at least fifteen and not bedridden, with no restrictions on gender or occupation.

Seraphina arranged for [A Huan] to train the Dragonborn and asked him to create loyalty slogans for them. As the first military posture session began, [A Huan] enlisted [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] to handle the slogans.

• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] ran to Dragonborn Village to deliver the training arrangements to the village chief.
• Seraphina asked [A Huan] what the Soul Returners' loyalty slogans meant, and he explained that they strengthened cohesion.
• Seraphina paid [A Huan] to come up with rousing slogans for her Dragonborn.
• [A Huan] gathered one hundred Dragonborn in a clearing outside Valhalla and began their first military posture training.
• [Lion Hidden in the Eyes] urged [A Huan] to prioritize clowning around, so [A Huan] asked him to take charge of creating the slogans.

A Huan and Lion Hidden in the Eyes planned how to make Seraphina pleased with the Dragonborn’s training by borrowing ideas from real-world political pageantry. Lion Hidden in the Eyes proposed an elaborate cult of portraits, statues, badges, embellished stories, and a song, leaving A Huan wondering how they could manage it alone.

• After the first day of training, A Huan asked Lion Hidden in the Eyes for ideas, and Lion said Seraphina resembled certain real-world leaders.
• A Huan and Lion Hidden in the Eyes agreed to outfit the Dragonborn, standardize their movements, and give them a determined look so Seraphina would approve of their training.
• Lion Hidden in the Eyes proposed hanging portraits of Seraphina in every home, then suggested building a statue and giving Dragonborn metal badges bearing her likeness.
• Lion Hidden in the Eyes proposed embellishing stories about Seraphina repelling the Demonic Tide and publishing lavish articles about her activities.
• Lion Hidden in the Eyes shared a classic old song, and A Huan began dancing through tears as he felt swept up in admiration for Seraphina.
• A Huan asked if the two of them could carry out the plan, and Lion Hidden in the Eyes questioned why he thought only two people were involved.

Lion Hidden in the Eyes organized players to create stories and merchandise celebrating Seraphina, while Gray was approached by Soul Returners who wanted to rent Bennett to help them capture a vampire count alive. The chapter ended with Gray weighing their risky proposal.

• Lion Hidden in the Eyes assigned players to make portraits, stories, news, and badge designs about Seraphina.
• A group of players gathered beside Not Bad Tasting’s stall to discuss the project’s details.
• A Soul Returner and his followers asked Gray to rent them Bennett, whose Psionic Energy could attract wild Blood Corpses.
• Gray asked for a deposit, and the Soul Returner agreed, explaining that they planned to use Bennett to locate and capture a vampire count alive.
• Gray was astonished by the Soul Returners’ dangerous plan and contrasted their recklessness with the Graycast Corridor’s concern for civilian safety.

Gray rented Bennett to [Soaring Clouds] and his Soaring Sky Studio crew for three days so they could capture a vampire count, after warning them about the dangers and requiring everyone to sign the contract. The group headed east of Valhalla, where [Soaring Clouds] revealed that the Soldier Bee waiting for them was meant to carry Bennett, not the rest of the crew.

• Gray warned [Soaring Clouds] that controlling intelligent Blood Corpses was risky and cautioned him to keep Bennett safe.
• Gray drafted a three-day rental contract for one gold coin per day with a five-gold-coin deposit, and [Soaring Clouds] and his followers signed it.
• [Soaring Clouds] and the Soaring Sky Studio players wheeled the weakened Bennett out of Gray's fortress and headed east of Valhalla.
• [Soaring Clouds] 2828 asked how they would catch a Blood Corpse, and [Soaring Clouds] assured him he had planned everything.
• The group found a giant Soldier Bee piloted by [Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows], and [Soaring Clouds] explained that the ride was only for Bennett, leaving everyone else to walk.

Soaring Clouds led his studio into Blood Corpse territory to capture the creatures alive and prepare to hunt a vampire count. The group began luring nearby Blood Corpses while the studio built a pit and used mutant plants to support the operation.

• Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows warned the group that scattered Blood Corpses lay ahead, and Soaring Clouds's studio equipped itself with light armor and tools for capturing them alive.
• Soaring Clouds explained that they would clear and capture nearby Blood Corpses before seeking the vampire count, then call in reinforcements once they found its location.
• Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows asked Bennett to use a gathering spell to draw Blood Corpses toward the group in small numbers.
• Bennett spread vampiric psionic energy while Autumn Light and Osmanthus Shadows guided Soldier Bee Pro across the wilderness to scout and lure the creatures.
• Soaring Clouds directed stronger studio members to dig a holding pit, while others used mutant plant plug-ins to accelerate plant growth with their health bars.