SURFACE METAVERSE Label

START: CHUNITHM PARADISE (2021)
CURRENTLY ONGOING (2025)

J-Core/EDM ~ Sci-Fi ~ Long reading length (300k+ words)

People move forward, believing in the Metaverse, the peace that will come beyond the evolution of humankind.

All sacrifices were supposed to be the cornerstone of hope.
However, the Earth that the new human beings have seen is full of death.
Man's life leaves God's hand and is reshaped by man's hand.
The girl who bears the dreams of cruel people dreamed of the end of everything.
Wait for the time of choice, whether it is salvation extinction or chaotic prosperity.

- Text on several Surface Metaverse song jackets

- ABOUT THIS LABEL -

Laid out as a sprawling Sci-Fi epic, the Surface Metaverse is a tale about war, surviving against impossible odds, camaraderie, and the human condition—even from those who aren't human. It's overall very dark in tone, but maintains a message of hope throughout, unlike the Sibyl Spirit Chronicles Label.

We recommend reading the Surface Metaverse Label if you like dense (somewhat multiverse) Sci-Fi stories with complex themes. Also, if you like stories with a lot of attached lore; including world-building lore, species, and even non-story related things like etymology.

The Surface Metaverse is the most popular Label according to devout CHUNITHM story fans. It's also the translation team's favorite Label.

- (META) INFORMATION -

This Label is a novel format story. Meaning, if you read a character's episodes from later in the story chronologically, it probably won't make much sense. We highly advise that you do not read characters' stories as a one-shot.

It's best to read in order when possible, but since the translations in this Label's arcs are incomplete, this is unavoidable. If you want to read a character's episodes that are currently untranslated, we have left the JP wikiwiki links on each character's page, where you can machine translate them for the time being.

Since each arc has different characters and settings, we've condensed information for potential readers under an "about each arc/reading information" drop-down below to streamline the reading process!

Characters with [TBA] next to their name do not currently have full translations and will be added with future updates.
Characters are listed in chronological order to the updates they were added in-game. This is the recommended reading order.

- ABOUT EACH ARC / READING INFORMATION -

The Surface Metaverse storyline encompasses several different "arcs".
General timelines, characters, and world-building change per arc; sometimes slightly, sometimes majorly. It has direct crossover with the Digital Metaverse Label, in varying degrees per arc. To a lesser degree, it also has influence and elements from the Seelisch Tact Label.

Below is a list of each arc with information about any required reading and how each arc relates to each other.

The Moderate Faction Arc (PARADISE ~ LOST)

The first Surface Metaverse arc. It's directly splintered off from the events of the Digital Metaverse, but reading Digital is not required. Reading this arc is highly recommended to fully understand the Bathsheba War Arc, as it sets up world-building exposition.

Estimated word count: 50k.

The Bathsheba War Arc (NEW!! ~ LUMINOUS PLUS)

The second Surface Metaverse arc, set after the events of the Moderate Faction Arc. The ties to the Digital Metaverse are lessened in comparison to the Moderate Faction, and only come into play at the very end.

Estimated word count: 160k.

The Farthest End Arc (LUMINOUS PLUS)

A short arc set within the Metaverse in the distant future, in a world not yet impacted by the events of the Digital Metaverse. Since it's disconnected from any narratives and any mention of preexisting Labels are minor, no other reading is necessary.By all means this arc should be labeled as Digital Metaverse, but the game categorizes it as Surface. Any connections this arc has to the Surface Metaverse is currently unclear.

Estimated word count: 25k.

The MultiVERSE Arc (VERSE ~)

The newest Surface Metaverse arc, which is completely disconnected from the other arcs. It has its own new universe and world-building, so it should be considered a "reset" in comparison to the Moderate Faction and Bathsheba War Arcs. No additional back-reading is necessary.

This arc is currently ongoing.

Estimated word count: 76k and beyond.

⚠️General disclaimer:

The Surface Metaverse is a Label with extremely heavy subject matter, and thus has content warnings before character episodes where needed. The Moderate Faction and Bathsheba War arcs in particular have strong overarching themes of abuse, sexual abuse, discrimination, and generational trauma. Please read the content warnings and proceed with caution if you're sensitive to those themes.

Quick Links:

> The Moderate Faction Arc <

> The Bathsheba War Arc <

> The Farthest End Arc <

> The MultiVERSE Arc <

> Variants <

> Map & visuals of the Surface Metaverse <

> Glossary <

- The Moderate Faction Arc -

Long after humanity's retreat into the electronic paradise of the Metaverse, a new race of synthetic humans—Paragons—restore the polluted surface in preparation for the old humanity's return.

Newfound egos have splintered the Paragons into a moderate faction wishing for coexistence, and the hardline "Innovators" who rebel against their Machine creators and wish to eradicate the returning humans.

Lena Ishmael, the only survivor in the first wave of Returnees, quickly learns that the surface is not what she dreamed it would be—but she must carry on the light of hope for humanity nonetheless.

This arc is referred to as the "Paradise Incident Arc" (楽園事変) in Japanese.

Released: January 21, 2021

PARADISE ep. I

CHUNITHM PARADISE

Isabelle Yagrush

Released: March 18, 2021

KING OF PERFORMAI 2020

Mene Tercera

Released: May 13, 2021

PARADISE ep. III

Yonah Reise

Released: September 16, 2021

PARADISE ep. VI

CHUNITHM PARADISE LOST

Lena Ishmael

Gideon Reise

Miriam Bemidbar

Saul Caim
[NEW ADDITION!]

Blue Stein [TBA]

Released: November 4, 2021

NEW!! ep. I

CHUNITHM NEW!!

Megiddo Gog [TBA]

Ahav [TBA]

- The Bathsheba War Arc -

After the death of Saint Bathsheba, Paragon leadership is fractured. The tides of war recede—but the conflict between Machines, Returnees, and Paragons continues to smolder.

As the Machines welcome more Returnees back to the surface, the Paragons continue their march towards a bright future of liberation under Saint Rhea and Prime Minister Void. In secret, a new heir to the Ahithophel name is born…

But, as war looms ever closer, the Returnee Mithra Tercera sets out on a journey to create a peaceful new world. When the new dawn breaks, will it welcome destruction? Or the peaceful world she dreams of?

Released: November 4, 2021

NEW!! ep. I

CHUNITHM NEW!!

Sargon Fernes

Bathsheba Ahithophel [TBA]

Released: February 17, 2022

NEW!! ep. III

Zephyr Nialde

Solo Monia

Joachim Iyamur

Mithra Tercera

Nia Judith

Released: March 3, 2022

KING OF PERFORMAI THE 3RD

Isaac Dominance VIII

Released: April 14, 2022

NEW!! ep. IV

CHUNITHM NEW PLUS!!

Mika Dominance III [NEW ADDITION!]

Released: August 4, 2022

NEW!! ep. VI

Dandy
(Dan Dominance V) [NEW ADDITION!]

Lotto Twelve

Marduk Animato [TBA]

Cainan Melvias

Released: September 1, 2022

NEW!! ep. CHAOS

Awakened Bashian

The Goddess Malkuth [TBA]

Released: February 22, 2023

SUN ep. III

CHUNITHM SUN

Elisha Murcia [TBA]

Nadine Nathanael

Dvergr [TBA]

Anshar Audacia [TBA]

Released: March 2, 2023

KING OF PERFORMAI THE 4th

Eva Dominance XII [TBA]

Released: May 11, 2023

SUN ep. IV

CHUNITHM SUN PLUS

Esther Yagrush [TBA]

Released: August 3, 2023

SUN ep. V

Rhea Ephrata [TBA]

Void

Thero Dawid

Nia Bathsheba [TBA]

Released: December 14, 2023

LUMINOUS ep. I

CHUNITHM LUMINOUS

Solo Monia / Metaverse Adaptation [TBA]

Released: April 25, 2024

LUMINOUS ep. III

Mithra Tercera / RE Metaverse [TBA]

Elle Liberte [TBA]

Released: April 25, 2024

1UM1N0U5 ep. 111

Bathsheba / Metaverse Variant [TBA]

- The Farthest End Arc -

A short arc set within the Metaverse in the distant future, in a world not yet impacted by the events of the Digital Metaverse.These characters are marked as Surface, but it is currently unclear how.

Released: October 17, 2024

LUMINOUS ep. VI

CHUNITHM LUMINOUS PLUS

Puele Babiste [TBA]

Lizlisvel [TBA]

Rafin Benelem [TBA]

Conductor [TBA]

Released: November 14, 2024

LUMINOUS ep. Ascension

Varmasia's Ghost [TBA]

- The MultiVERSE Arc -

The newest, currently ongoing arc starting in CHUNITHM VERSE.The name "MultiVERSE Arc" (マルチVERSE) is derived from the multiverse setting, and the version of the game where in which it started. This name was coined by the site owners.

Released: December 12, 2024