Chapter Seventy-Seven Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Mikail questions Royo’s plan to drown him until his heart stops and then revive him, comparing it to what Royo did earlier with Aeri. Aeri confirms the method works. Mikail briefly suggests that Aeri undergo the drowning so he can take her relics and become the Dragon Lord instead, but Aeri refuses, arguing that the Immortal Crown might kill him and that she is the only one who can safely bear the burden. Royo is visibly hopeful but accepts her decision. Mikail sheathes his knife.
Royo explains that only a few inches of water are needed, so Duval fetches a large ceramic bowl used for washing blood. Mikail kneels, says “En Gaya,” lowers his face into the water, and Royo holds him down. Mikail experiences intense pain as he inhales water, then loses consciousness. He wakes on the Road of Souls—a path of ash and bone beneath a red sky, lined with bare black trees. Shuffling translucent souls pass by, mostly Weians he killed. A figure moves against the crowd with purpose, and Mikail fears it might be the Soul Reaper. Instead, it is Euyn.
Euyn confirms his identity. He explains that because he died bonded to a god relic, he was able to resist the Soul Reaper’s pull and linger on the road. He says he waited in hopes of seeing Mikail but regrets that Mikail is now dead. Mikail wants to stay with Euyn, but Euyn insists Mikail is not meant to die yet. Mikail feels a pull from Royo trying to revive him but fights it. Euyn tells him to go, that there is more for him to do in life. Mikail protests, fearing they will not find each other in future lives, but Euyn reassures him that they are destined for each other. Euyn kisses him and says, “Do this for me.” Mikail finally relents, lets go, and opens his eyes on green grass, vomiting water with Royo close by.
Key Events
- Mikail questions the drowning plan; Royo explains he can revive him as he did with Aeri.
- Aeri refuses to let Mikail take the crown, insisting only she can become the Dragon Lord.
- Duval brings a ceramic bowl; Mikail kneels and is drowned.
- Mikail experiences excruciating pain, then dies and arrives on the Road of Souls.
- He sees a figure walking toward him; it is Euyn, not the Soul Reaper.
- Euyn explains he lingered because he was bonded to a god relic at death.
- Mikail wants to stay with Euyn; Euyn urges him to return to life.
- After a tense argument, Mikail agrees and lets the revival pull take him.
- Mikail wakes up vomiting water, with Royo nearby.
Character Development
Mikail: His willingness to die for Aeri and his kingdom shows deep self-sacrifice. The encounter with Euyn provides emotional closure for his grief. He learns to let go of guilt over Euyn’s death and accepts that his own life is not yet finished.
Euyn: Appears wise and at peace. He has accepted his death and reframes it as his time, contradicting Mikail’s belief that Quilimar murdered him unfairly. He demonstrates selfless love by sending Mikail back despite his own loneliness.
Royo: Desperate to help Aeri, he carries out the drowning with hope and faith in his own healing magic. His insistence—pulling Mikail’s soul back—shows loyalty.
Aeri: Firmly takes responsibility for becoming the Dragon Lord, protecting Mikail from the unknown dangers of the Immortal Crown.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Sacrifice and Duty: Mikail submits to drowning for the greater good, putting his kingdom and Aeri’s destiny above his own life.
- Love Beyond Death: The reunion on the Road of Souls affirms that souls remain connected; Mikail’s love for Euyn transcends the boundary between life and death.
- The Road of Souls: A liminal space between the mortal world and the Kingdom of Hells, symbolizing judgment, transition, and the lingering ties that bind souls.
- Water as Threshold: The bowl of water acts as a portal between realms, echoing baptism, purification, or a death-by-water motif.
- Choice and Fate: Euyn’s ability to stay on the road due to the relic bond suggests that objects can disrupt the natural order, giving souls limited agency.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter provides essential emotional resolution for Mikail’s arc, which has been haunted by Euyn’s death since the banquet. It confirms that Euyn’s spirit is at peace and that his love for Mikail endures. On a plot level, Mikail’s temporary death likely breaks his relic bonds, allowing Aeri to become the Dragon Lord and turn the tide of war. The chapter deepens the world’s mythology of the afterlife, the Soul Reaper, and the role of god relics. It also sets up Mikail’s renewed commitment to life, giving him a clearer purpose in the final chapters.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Mikail initially suggest that Aeri undergo the drowning instead?
Answer: He hopes that if Aeri dies temporarily, he can take the amulet, crown, and ring from her and become the Dragon Lord himself, sparing her the burden and danger. -
How does Euyn explain his continued presence on the Road of Souls?
Answer: He says that because he died while bonded to a god relic, the Soul Reaper’s pull was weakened, allowing him to linger on the road in hopes of seeing Mikail. -
What convinces Mikail to finally return to life?
Answer: Euyn insists that Mikail’s time has not come, that he has more to do in life, and begs him to go. Euyn promises they will find each other again in a future life, and Mikail relents when Euyn says “Do this for me.”