This chapter opens with a soliloquy by Dr. Rivers, in which he laments the loss of his law of death. He compares the vine to a black spring, and wonders how it can be that the vine can absorb his law. He thanks Rivers for pushing him to the death penalty, and thanks him for saving his life. He wonders how he can control two different kinds of law energy, one of which is the law of energy of death, and the other of which he controls through his own soul. Rivers is outraged at the idea that Rivers is trying to take away his spiritual power. He calls him a "stomach of the spiritual god" and says that if he were to attempt to break down the power of law, he would have to face the consequences of his actions.