In the beginning, I had started out wanting to write a story about China. After discovering that there are already uncountable uninspiring books on the subject and the world does not need another one, I decided to write about socioeconomics instead, despite the fact that it’s a subject I know less than nothing about. Then I came across a quote from a prominent economist of the north, John Kenneth Galbraith, who said, “The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” I straight away gave up on the mundane and went for the stars.
Experts and well-meaning friends advised me to stick to one genre and one subject. I could not make up my mind whether I should listen to them or to my own guts, if guts can talk. After wasting a few precious minutes on fruitless philosophical contemplation, I decided to go where my guts took me, which was the kitchen. As I unsealed the portal of the refrigeration unit and an avalanche of photons from the fridge light flooded my face, I had an epiphany. It was similar to the one that hit René Descartes: “I think; therefore, I’ll have a beer.” An idea was born, and the Schrödinger Wave Function of my fuzzy logic collapsed. I would write an oxymoronic fact-based science fiction with everything in it, including the organic craft beer and the kitchen sink.
I had great fun and learned a great deal in the course of creating this pièce de résistance. I must, however, warn treasure seekers that they may not find a mother lode; they may hit a leaky pipe and find something odious instead. On the other hand, prospectors with a discerning eye will discover new ideas, new knowledge, new interpretations of history, new ways to understand oneself and the world, new insight in the origin of human civilization, new questions about the mysteries of our universe and a new theory for establishing a perpetually peaceful utopian society, a lofty aspiration previously thought to be unattainable.
To convince myself that my socioeconomic theory was not totally frivolous, I wrote a concise thesis and sent it to the estimable Professor Yifu Lin, renowned professor of economics at Peking University, previous senior VP and chief economist of the World Bank and the deputy director of a national committee that provides consultation on economic matters to the Chinese government. The kind professor read my thesis and concluded that my thought process was “logical and convincing.” Amen!
For the sake of our readers, who will likely be of all shades and persuasions, this tale is presented in the form of a fanciful fable devoted to the ephemeral epicurean pleasures of the consummate consumer. Still, it will not please everyone, but it promises to be something completely different. Carpe Liber—seize the book!
Book 2 of the Series: Bellatrix: The Female Warrior
The sequel delves into the background stories of the one-eyed man, the warrior queen from Orion and a robo-scorpion. Readers will learn about women rebelling against their oppressors. Victoria tries to find her way back to the future by visiting the author of Dream of the Red Chamber. By chance, she witnesses one of the greatest battles ever fought by an invincible general who may have been a Canadian. Victoria learns the secret of his success.
Book 3 of the Series: Augenblick: The Blink of an Eye
Readers will uncover the identity of DIOS and explore the concept of establishing perpetual peace. Join Victoria on her other-worldly adventures through a realm oft visited by heroes, lovers, demigods, epic poets and young girls in a daydream. Her odyssey culminates with a supreme test that demands a heart-wrenching sacrifice. To give the universe another chance, Victoria must rely on the weird science of quantum mechanics, not magic. Nothing more may be divulged here. All the answers are waiting for those who persist to the grand finale, on the mythical Island of Avalon.
Experts and well-meaning friends advised me to stick to one genre and one subject. I could not make up my mind whether I should listen to them or to my own guts, if guts can talk. After wasting a few precious minutes on fruitless philosophical contemplation, I decided to go where my guts took me, which was the kitchen. As I unsealed the portal of the refrigeration unit and an avalanche of photons from the fridge light flooded my face, I had an epiphany. It was similar to the one that hit René Descartes: “I think; therefore, I’ll have a beer.” An idea was born, and the Schrödinger Wave Function of my fuzzy logic collapsed. I would write an oxymoronic fact-based science fiction with everything in it, including the organic craft beer and the kitchen sink.
I had great fun and learned a great deal in the course of creating this pièce de résistance. I must, however, warn treasure seekers that they may not find a mother lode; they may hit a leaky pipe and find something odious instead. On the other hand, prospectors with a discerning eye will discover new ideas, new knowledge, new interpretations of history, new ways to understand oneself and the world, new insight in the origin of human civilization, new questions about the mysteries of our universe and a new theory for establishing a perpetually peaceful utopian society, a lofty aspiration previously thought to be unattainable.
To convince myself that my socioeconomic theory was not totally frivolous, I wrote a concise thesis and sent it to the estimable Professor Yifu Lin, renowned professor of economics at Peking University, previous senior VP and chief economist of the World Bank and the deputy director of a national committee that provides consultation on economic matters to the Chinese government. The kind professor read my thesis and concluded that my thought process was “logical and convincing.” Amen!
For the sake of our readers, who will likely be of all shades and persuasions, this tale is presented in the form of a fanciful fable devoted to the ephemeral epicurean pleasures of the consummate consumer. Still, it will not please everyone, but it promises to be something completely different. Carpe Liber—seize the book!
Book 2 of the Series: Bellatrix: The Female Warrior
The sequel delves into the background stories of the one-eyed man, the warrior queen from Orion and a robo-scorpion. Readers will learn about women rebelling against their oppressors. Victoria tries to find her way back to the future by visiting the author of Dream of the Red Chamber. By chance, she witnesses one of the greatest battles ever fought by an invincible general who may have been a Canadian. Victoria learns the secret of his success.
Book 3 of the Series: Augenblick: The Blink of an Eye
Readers will uncover the identity of DIOS and explore the concept of establishing perpetual peace. Join Victoria on her other-worldly adventures through a realm oft visited by heroes, lovers, demigods, epic poets and young girls in a daydream. Her odyssey culminates with a supreme test that demands a heart-wrenching sacrifice. To give the universe another chance, Victoria must rely on the weird science of quantum mechanics, not magic. Nothing more may be divulged here. All the answers are waiting for those who persist to the grand finale, on the mythical Island of Avalon.
The following excerpts are provided for reference only, all of which are protected by copyright laws, and may not be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information retrieval system, and any other operation covered by copyright laws, in whole or in part without the author's expressed written consent, except in the case of brief quotations, embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All of the character, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
This is a work of fiction. All of the character, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
Book One
Unconquered
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Before the Fall
Victoria realizes that she is in the presence of a mythical creature of truth, the unicorn.
Chapter 2: There Are No Accidents
An accident changes everything for Victoria.
Chapter 3: Unbreakable China Doll
It is not pure luck that Victoria is not hurt in the accident.
Chapter 4: Riddle me This
Victoria must solve a riddle to discover a secret.
Chapter 5: Sub Rosa
Victoria finds a jade piece and a jade ring with strange glyphs.
Chapter 6: Weird Sisters
Victoria bids farewell to her best friends Jackie and Emma.
Chapter 7: War of the Wolves
In the year 209 BCE, a huge battle takes place between the Eastern Wolves and the proto-Huns.
Chapter 8: The Onslaught
The Eastern Wolves are slaughtered in the Homeric battle.
Chapter 9: The Warrior Queen
The first known warrior queen of China during the Shang dynasty pursues a northern barbarian tribe. She owes her military prowess to her handmaid.
Chapter 10: The Unicorn Rings
A one-eyed trader from the west gives the Shang warrior queen a pair of jade archer rings.
Chapter 11: Room 929
Victoria finds her guardian David Huang in Toronto.
Chapter 12: Flight of Fancy
Victoria, disguised as Victor, flies to China in a private jet.
Chapter 13: Freefall
Victoria jumps out of the plane mid-flight without a parachute.
Chapter 14: Running on Empty
It is not about Jackson Browne’s song or Sidney Lumet’s film starring the late River Phoenix.
Chapter 15: Sign of the Scorpion
A mysterious young man with a scorpion tattoo becomes the chief of the decimated Eastern Wolf tribe.
Chapter 16: Heart of the Dragon
The new chief worships Antares of Scorpius, known in China as the "‘Heart star of the Dragon constellation."
Chapter 17: Rising from the Ashes
The Eastern Wolf survivors of the great battle thrive under the leadership of the young chief.
Chapter 18: The One-eyed Apothecary
The chief's wife gives birth to a daughter with the help of an itinerant one-eyed doctor.
Chapter 19: Oblique Order
In the battle between the Shang queen's troops and the barbarian raiders, the handmaid introduces innovation and guile.
Chapter 20: Twilight of the Gotts
The handmaid defeats the barbarians.
Chapter 21: The Tuman's Banner
The handmaid makes peace with the barbarians.
Chapter 22: What's in a Name?
David explains his unconventional background.
Chapter 23: Empire of Lies
David proves to Victoria that the things we have always believed to be the truth are mostly fabrications.
Chapter 24: No. 1 Corn Gas
Two men in black known as Watchers interrogate the nonplussed gas station attendant.
Chapter 25: Wealth of a Nation
Making use of advanced virtual reality multiverse technology, David takes Victoria to the South China Sea.
Chapter 26: Fall of an Empire
Victoria witnesses the last battle of the Second Opium War.
Chapter 27: Yellow Stone
In the evening of the Winter Festival in 1975, David's father gets an important phone call.
Chapter 28: Year of the Dragon
1976 is a year of epochal change for China and David.
Chapter 29: The Collector
Continuing with their VR experience, David takes Victoria to his first auction.
Chapter 30: Field of Dreams
David and Victoria decide to stop for dinner at Field in the Rockies.
Chapter 31: Sudden Death
David takes Victoria to the VR battlefield where the last king of Shang faces the rebel's army.
Chapter 32: Birth of Confucius
David takes Victoria to a small hut where Confucius was born.
Chapter 33: Wormwood
At the restaurant in Field, Victoria learns the true story of her adoptive parents.
Chapter 34: Hill of Beans
In 1974, Wenlong, a young man hiking alone in the remote mountains of western China, is captured by a reclusive matriarchal clan.
Chapter 35: Paradise Lost
The captive, Wenlong, and his captor, Xinfeng, fall in love with each other.
Chapter 36: Lovers' Leap
Xinfeng decides to run away with Wenlong.
Chapter 37: Rise of the Peasant
Continuing through Chinese history in the VR metaverse, David takes Victoria to the last days of the Qin Empire.
Chapter 38: Alchemist's Cauldron
China is overrun by neighbouring barbaric tribes after the fall of Han.
Chapter 39: Girl Power
David takes Victoria to visit Chang'an, the capital of Tang dynasty.
Chapter 40: Stone Man with One Eye
After the fall of Tang, a Shang descendant becomes the founding emperor of the Song dynasty. The Mongols takes over China, but a beggar monk kicks out the emperor and establishes the Ming dynasty.
Chapter 41: The Fablemonger
The runaway couple from the mountains of west China arrives at Anyang, the site of Shang's ancient capital.
Chapter 42: The Dragon’s Dream
Wenlong dreams of a wonderful future.
Chapter 43: Betrayal
David takes Victoria to the Palace of Versailles where the Western powers are holding the Paris Peace Conference at the conclusion of World War I.
Chapter 44: The Long March
A huge Chinese Nationalist army encircles the peasant militia of the Chinese Communists.
Chapter 45: Turning Red
An unsung--and almost unknown--Communist peasant general fights a brilliant campaign that brings a swift end to the Chinese Civil War.
Chapter 46: Brobdingnagian China
David and Victoria arrive at China and head for Shanghai.
Chapter 47: Doing a Hudsucker
David and Victoria are trapped by the Watchers at the top floor of the Shanghai Tower.
Chapter 48: Next Stop, Gaffer's
Victoria goes to her next destination at a touristy place in Shanghai.
Chapter 49: Dangal with Tiger
Victoria learns about the background of Gaffer’s Café.
Chapter 50: The Pianist from Gamma Crucis
Victoria learns about extraordinary women from China.
Chapter 51: The Awakening
Victoria arrives at the suburbs of Anyang where she finds David's comatose father.
Chapter 52: Invictus
David's father recalls events before his coma.
Chapter 53: Quantum Leap
Victoria finds her biological father.
Chapter 54: Grand Unification
Victoria and her father reunite with her mother.
Chapter 55: Revelation
Victoria's parents decipher the glyphs of the oracle and learn its true meaning.
Chapter 56: AlphaOmega
Victoria is challenged by AlphaOmega, a powerful AI, to a deadly duel of wits.
Chapter 57: Apocalypse
Victoria is a ball girl for the Toronto Blue Jays at Roger’s Centre for the seventh and deciding game of the New World Series.
Unconquered
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Before the Fall
Victoria realizes that she is in the presence of a mythical creature of truth, the unicorn.
Chapter 2: There Are No Accidents
An accident changes everything for Victoria.
Chapter 3: Unbreakable China Doll
It is not pure luck that Victoria is not hurt in the accident.
Chapter 4: Riddle me This
Victoria must solve a riddle to discover a secret.
Chapter 5: Sub Rosa
Victoria finds a jade piece and a jade ring with strange glyphs.
Chapter 6: Weird Sisters
Victoria bids farewell to her best friends Jackie and Emma.
Chapter 7: War of the Wolves
In the year 209 BCE, a huge battle takes place between the Eastern Wolves and the proto-Huns.
Chapter 8: The Onslaught
The Eastern Wolves are slaughtered in the Homeric battle.
Chapter 9: The Warrior Queen
The first known warrior queen of China during the Shang dynasty pursues a northern barbarian tribe. She owes her military prowess to her handmaid.
Chapter 10: The Unicorn Rings
A one-eyed trader from the west gives the Shang warrior queen a pair of jade archer rings.
Chapter 11: Room 929
Victoria finds her guardian David Huang in Toronto.
Chapter 12: Flight of Fancy
Victoria, disguised as Victor, flies to China in a private jet.
Chapter 13: Freefall
Victoria jumps out of the plane mid-flight without a parachute.
Chapter 14: Running on Empty
It is not about Jackson Browne’s song or Sidney Lumet’s film starring the late River Phoenix.
Chapter 15: Sign of the Scorpion
A mysterious young man with a scorpion tattoo becomes the chief of the decimated Eastern Wolf tribe.
Chapter 16: Heart of the Dragon
The new chief worships Antares of Scorpius, known in China as the "‘Heart star of the Dragon constellation."
Chapter 17: Rising from the Ashes
The Eastern Wolf survivors of the great battle thrive under the leadership of the young chief.
Chapter 18: The One-eyed Apothecary
The chief's wife gives birth to a daughter with the help of an itinerant one-eyed doctor.
Chapter 19: Oblique Order
In the battle between the Shang queen's troops and the barbarian raiders, the handmaid introduces innovation and guile.
Chapter 20: Twilight of the Gotts
The handmaid defeats the barbarians.
Chapter 21: The Tuman's Banner
The handmaid makes peace with the barbarians.
Chapter 22: What's in a Name?
David explains his unconventional background.
Chapter 23: Empire of Lies
David proves to Victoria that the things we have always believed to be the truth are mostly fabrications.
Chapter 24: No. 1 Corn Gas
Two men in black known as Watchers interrogate the nonplussed gas station attendant.
Chapter 25: Wealth of a Nation
Making use of advanced virtual reality multiverse technology, David takes Victoria to the South China Sea.
Chapter 26: Fall of an Empire
Victoria witnesses the last battle of the Second Opium War.
Chapter 27: Yellow Stone
In the evening of the Winter Festival in 1975, David's father gets an important phone call.
Chapter 28: Year of the Dragon
1976 is a year of epochal change for China and David.
Chapter 29: The Collector
Continuing with their VR experience, David takes Victoria to his first auction.
Chapter 30: Field of Dreams
David and Victoria decide to stop for dinner at Field in the Rockies.
Chapter 31: Sudden Death
David takes Victoria to the VR battlefield where the last king of Shang faces the rebel's army.
Chapter 32: Birth of Confucius
David takes Victoria to a small hut where Confucius was born.
Chapter 33: Wormwood
At the restaurant in Field, Victoria learns the true story of her adoptive parents.
Chapter 34: Hill of Beans
In 1974, Wenlong, a young man hiking alone in the remote mountains of western China, is captured by a reclusive matriarchal clan.
Chapter 35: Paradise Lost
The captive, Wenlong, and his captor, Xinfeng, fall in love with each other.
Chapter 36: Lovers' Leap
Xinfeng decides to run away with Wenlong.
Chapter 37: Rise of the Peasant
Continuing through Chinese history in the VR metaverse, David takes Victoria to the last days of the Qin Empire.
Chapter 38: Alchemist's Cauldron
China is overrun by neighbouring barbaric tribes after the fall of Han.
Chapter 39: Girl Power
David takes Victoria to visit Chang'an, the capital of Tang dynasty.
Chapter 40: Stone Man with One Eye
After the fall of Tang, a Shang descendant becomes the founding emperor of the Song dynasty. The Mongols takes over China, but a beggar monk kicks out the emperor and establishes the Ming dynasty.
Chapter 41: The Fablemonger
The runaway couple from the mountains of west China arrives at Anyang, the site of Shang's ancient capital.
Chapter 42: The Dragon’s Dream
Wenlong dreams of a wonderful future.
Chapter 43: Betrayal
David takes Victoria to the Palace of Versailles where the Western powers are holding the Paris Peace Conference at the conclusion of World War I.
Chapter 44: The Long March
A huge Chinese Nationalist army encircles the peasant militia of the Chinese Communists.
Chapter 45: Turning Red
An unsung--and almost unknown--Communist peasant general fights a brilliant campaign that brings a swift end to the Chinese Civil War.
Chapter 46: Brobdingnagian China
David and Victoria arrive at China and head for Shanghai.
Chapter 47: Doing a Hudsucker
David and Victoria are trapped by the Watchers at the top floor of the Shanghai Tower.
Chapter 48: Next Stop, Gaffer's
Victoria goes to her next destination at a touristy place in Shanghai.
Chapter 49: Dangal with Tiger
Victoria learns about the background of Gaffer’s Café.
Chapter 50: The Pianist from Gamma Crucis
Victoria learns about extraordinary women from China.
Chapter 51: The Awakening
Victoria arrives at the suburbs of Anyang where she finds David's comatose father.
Chapter 52: Invictus
David's father recalls events before his coma.
Chapter 53: Quantum Leap
Victoria finds her biological father.
Chapter 54: Grand Unification
Victoria and her father reunite with her mother.
Chapter 55: Revelation
Victoria's parents decipher the glyphs of the oracle and learn its true meaning.
Chapter 56: AlphaOmega
Victoria is challenged by AlphaOmega, a powerful AI, to a deadly duel of wits.
Chapter 57: Apocalypse
Victoria is a ball girl for the Toronto Blue Jays at Roger’s Centre for the seventh and deciding game of the New World Series.
Book Two
Bellatrix: The Girl Warrior
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Ultima Thule
Victoria confronts an alien warrior queen.
Chapter 2: Long Ago and Far Away
Introduction to a paradise planet named Shangria.
Chapter 3: Antebellum
An old bard laments about the peaceful paradise before the Endless War.
Chapter 4: The Mahashangria
Serah, the orphan girl, utters mysterious verses.
Chapter 5: The Day the Music Died
Strange music emanates from underground.
Chapter 6: Brave New World
Victoria's Chinese parents adapts to living in Toronto.
Chapter 7: Beer is a Beer is a Beer is a Beer
Charlie, now a Princetonian, visits Victoria for the weekend.
Chapter 8: We'll Always Have Dundas
Charlie and the Weird Sisters discuss how the world would end.
Chapter 9: Scorpius
Victoria meets Sting, an intelligent robotic scorpion.
Chapter 10: Foxy Lady
Charlie gets lost on his way back to Princeton.
Chapter 11: The Twirligig
Kiku's parents have been secretly building a divine musical instrument.
Chapter 12: Goodbye, Mr. Stane
Professor Stane divulges a dangerous secret.
Chapter 11: Massacre at Sabrus Valley
An army arrives at night and bombs Petra.
Chapter 14: The Vision
Kiku's heart stops in the hospital.
Chapter 15: The Gathering Storm
Victoria watches the morning news.
Chapter 16: Through a Glass Darkly
Victoria finds the Magic Mirror.
Chapter 17: The Female Warriors
Victoria learns the history of the alien warrior queen.
Chapter 18: Battle of Regna Rock
Victoria learns how a young girl starts a revolution.
Chapter 19: Metamorphosis
The Amazons refuse to die after being trapped.
Chapter 20: Vincero
Madonna Lilith and the Amazons overturn the patriarchal kingdom.
Chapter 21: The Prince and the Pauper
Kiku becomes best friends with the Yarjun crown prince Cambi.
Chapter 22: The One-eyed Warrior
The Yarjun Supremo Lord Killem adopts Kiku.
Chapter 23: Stranger in Paradise
David wakes up in a black boat moored at an emerald island.
Chapter 24: Peregrination of the Half-Keys
David overhears the conversation between the one-eyed king and his physician.
Chapter 25: Convergence
David learns how the Half-Keys reunite to form the Complete Key.
Chapter 26: Immortal Zugzwang
Victoria challenges AlphaOmega to a high-stakes chess match.
Chapter 27: The Hellian March
Kiku takes possession of the Hellian March.
Chapter 28: Enter the Nine Dragons
Kiku steals into the rebel stronghold.
Chapter 29: Portal of Truth
Kiku learns the surprising background of Cambi.
Chapter 30: From Petra to Black Rock
Kiku learns about the aftermath of the bombing of Petra.
Chapter 31: The Animorta
Kiku makes war against the Yarjuns.
Chapter 32: Banquet of the Wild Goose Gate
Sting convinces Victoria to confront Madonna Lilith.
Chapter 33: The Amortal Foe
Sting coaches Victoria on war.
Chapter 34: Enter the Qaanaaq
Victoria tries to convince Queen Lilith that humans deserve a second chance.
Chapter 35: Project Gomorrah
For every reason Victoria puts forth for why humans should be spared, Madonna Lilith has a better reason for the opposite.
Chapter 36: Plan B
As Victoria contemplates Plan B, the queen's vigilant bodyguard takes drastic action.
Chapter 37: Dungeon of the Heart
Kiku has a deep and painful secret he dares not share with Serah.
Chapter 38: Dies Irae
Kiku faces Killem and Cambi in the final showdown.
Chapter 39: Story of the Stone
Victoria is trapped in the eighteenth century during the Qing dynasty.
Chapter 40: The Grand Canal Cruise
Victoria goes to Beijing.
Chapter 41: The Nun's Story
Victoria meets the author of Dream of the Red Chamber.
Chapter 42: Dream of the Red Chamber
Victoria learns the answers to many secrets and mysteries of the book and its author.
Chapter 43: Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
Victoria makes her way back to the future.
Chapter 44: The Unsinkable Freemans
Along the way, Victoria witnesses a great battle fought by the greatest general in history.
Chapter 45: Battle of the Blind
The battle is fought at and around a village named "Home of the Blind."
Chapter 46: Death by the Danube
Victoria watches the invincible Canadian general inflict a crushing defeat on his previously invincible foe.
Chapter 47: Omnia Vincit Amor
Victoria discovers the general's secret of success.
Chapter 48: In Extremis
Victoria returns to Queen Lilith's flagship only to face an impossible dilemma.
Bellatrix: The Girl Warrior
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Ultima Thule
Victoria confronts an alien warrior queen.
Chapter 2: Long Ago and Far Away
Introduction to a paradise planet named Shangria.
Chapter 3: Antebellum
An old bard laments about the peaceful paradise before the Endless War.
Chapter 4: The Mahashangria
Serah, the orphan girl, utters mysterious verses.
Chapter 5: The Day the Music Died
Strange music emanates from underground.
Chapter 6: Brave New World
Victoria's Chinese parents adapts to living in Toronto.
Chapter 7: Beer is a Beer is a Beer is a Beer
Charlie, now a Princetonian, visits Victoria for the weekend.
Chapter 8: We'll Always Have Dundas
Charlie and the Weird Sisters discuss how the world would end.
Chapter 9: Scorpius
Victoria meets Sting, an intelligent robotic scorpion.
Chapter 10: Foxy Lady
Charlie gets lost on his way back to Princeton.
Chapter 11: The Twirligig
Kiku's parents have been secretly building a divine musical instrument.
Chapter 12: Goodbye, Mr. Stane
Professor Stane divulges a dangerous secret.
Chapter 11: Massacre at Sabrus Valley
An army arrives at night and bombs Petra.
Chapter 14: The Vision
Kiku's heart stops in the hospital.
Chapter 15: The Gathering Storm
Victoria watches the morning news.
Chapter 16: Through a Glass Darkly
Victoria finds the Magic Mirror.
Chapter 17: The Female Warriors
Victoria learns the history of the alien warrior queen.
Chapter 18: Battle of Regna Rock
Victoria learns how a young girl starts a revolution.
Chapter 19: Metamorphosis
The Amazons refuse to die after being trapped.
Chapter 20: Vincero
Madonna Lilith and the Amazons overturn the patriarchal kingdom.
Chapter 21: The Prince and the Pauper
Kiku becomes best friends with the Yarjun crown prince Cambi.
Chapter 22: The One-eyed Warrior
The Yarjun Supremo Lord Killem adopts Kiku.
Chapter 23: Stranger in Paradise
David wakes up in a black boat moored at an emerald island.
Chapter 24: Peregrination of the Half-Keys
David overhears the conversation between the one-eyed king and his physician.
Chapter 25: Convergence
David learns how the Half-Keys reunite to form the Complete Key.
Chapter 26: Immortal Zugzwang
Victoria challenges AlphaOmega to a high-stakes chess match.
Chapter 27: The Hellian March
Kiku takes possession of the Hellian March.
Chapter 28: Enter the Nine Dragons
Kiku steals into the rebel stronghold.
Chapter 29: Portal of Truth
Kiku learns the surprising background of Cambi.
Chapter 30: From Petra to Black Rock
Kiku learns about the aftermath of the bombing of Petra.
Chapter 31: The Animorta
Kiku makes war against the Yarjuns.
Chapter 32: Banquet of the Wild Goose Gate
Sting convinces Victoria to confront Madonna Lilith.
Chapter 33: The Amortal Foe
Sting coaches Victoria on war.
Chapter 34: Enter the Qaanaaq
Victoria tries to convince Queen Lilith that humans deserve a second chance.
Chapter 35: Project Gomorrah
For every reason Victoria puts forth for why humans should be spared, Madonna Lilith has a better reason for the opposite.
Chapter 36: Plan B
As Victoria contemplates Plan B, the queen's vigilant bodyguard takes drastic action.
Chapter 37: Dungeon of the Heart
Kiku has a deep and painful secret he dares not share with Serah.
Chapter 38: Dies Irae
Kiku faces Killem and Cambi in the final showdown.
Chapter 39: Story of the Stone
Victoria is trapped in the eighteenth century during the Qing dynasty.
Chapter 40: The Grand Canal Cruise
Victoria goes to Beijing.
Chapter 41: The Nun's Story
Victoria meets the author of Dream of the Red Chamber.
Chapter 42: Dream of the Red Chamber
Victoria learns the answers to many secrets and mysteries of the book and its author.
Chapter 43: Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
Victoria makes her way back to the future.
Chapter 44: The Unsinkable Freemans
Along the way, Victoria witnesses a great battle fought by the greatest general in history.
Chapter 45: Battle of the Blind
The battle is fought at and around a village named "Home of the Blind."
Chapter 46: Death by the Danube
Victoria watches the invincible Canadian general inflict a crushing defeat on his previously invincible foe.
Chapter 47: Omnia Vincit Amor
Victoria discovers the general's secret of success.
Chapter 48: In Extremis
Victoria returns to Queen Lilith's flagship only to face an impossible dilemma.
