Chapter Summaries

Kang De and A Xing fought the God of the Star Palace, whose terror at seeing Kang De’s home world revealed that Kang De was not a Fire Thief. With support from the allied forces, they drove him into Star Worship Square, where Kang De had planted bombs, but the god rejected his offer to surrender and faced the deep well.

• A Xing ambushed the God of the Star Palace while Kang De questioned him, and the god reacted with shock when he recognized her and the Fire Thief.
• Kang De invoked Li Manyue’s name to distract the god, letting A Xing knock him toward a Phase Gate; when he saw the city on the other side, he panicked and accused Kang De of coming from that world.
• Halsey and the allied forces supported Kang De and A Xing with spells, ballista fire, and drones, helping them trap the god in the square as he tried to escape.
• The God of the Star Palace fled underground toward Star Worship Square, while Kang De and A Xing pursued him and A Xing warned that a powerful monster was nearby.
• Kang De revealed that he had planted bombs around the square, but the god crushed the terror robot delivering the warning, declared that fate could not be changed, and spread his arms before the deep well.

Kang De detonated the bombs beneath Star Worship Square, but he feared the God of the Star Palace had used the deep-sea behemoth to survive or trigger its awakening. The island lord revealed the Star Palace’s plans to destroy maritime trade, and Kang De ordered preparations for a major evacuation.

• Kang De detonated the bombs in Star Worship Square, and the blast shook the mountain while the Great Platform’s mages defended the base.
• Kang De returned with A Xing and questioned the captured island lord, who revealed that the Star Palace had backed the Broken Isles and planned to unleash a deep-sea behemoth against maritime trade.
• The island lord said the behemoth might be awakened by feeding it the living beings of the Broken Isles, and he begged Kang De to spare him in exchange for his wealth and intelligence.
• Kang De suspected the God of the Star Palace had let the behemoth devour him and ordered Horus to guard the island lord in iron armor.
• Kang De warned that the behemoth might still have eaten the god’s body and ordered the officers to prepare a major evacuation.

Kang De announced a massive aerial evacuation of the Broken Isles and ordered Distant Harbor to prepare for refugees while warning the commanders about the Star Palace. He then traveled to Zhuerban to arrange an urgent arms purchase, leaving the rescue operation and Distant Harbor in the hands of his allies.

• Kang De declared that Distant Harbor would build an aerial bridge to evacuate survivors from the Broken Isles, and he ordered Geoffrey to construct an emergency runway.
• Kang De ordered Distant Harbor’s officials to prepare supplies, shelter, medical care, registration, and security for incoming refugees, while Hong San recognized the operation’s broader purpose.
• Kang De showed the three naval commanders the island lord’s confession and instructed them to secretly warn their sovereigns about the Star Palace and the threat to maritime trade.
• Kang De left Hong San in charge of Distant Harbor, and Lily agreed to inform the Dragon Emperor before he began directing the evacuation.
• Kang De traveled to Zhuerban and asked Kirov to arrange an urgent arms purchase from the world’s five largest arms dealers.

Kang De sought large quantities of explosives and naval mines to prepare for a coming deep-sea threat, prompting the Chinese authorities to propose a supervised testing arrangement. He negotiated to preserve his pride by owning the testing ground, then received unexplained reports of anti-submarine exercises in China and Russia.

• Kirov advised Kang De that China had a strong tradition of naval mines, so Kang De contacted Qin Mengjin to ask about buying explosives and mines.
• Qin Mengjin grew nervous at Kang De’s request, and Wang Yongzhi later warned him that the authorities feared his power and would not readily sell him explosives in bulk.
• Kang De proposed that officials manage and monitor the explosives, but the authorities offered him an unlimited supply at a Chinese testing ground instead.
• Kang De negotiated for the state to grant him the land and build the testing ground while allowing researchers to cooperate with him, and the authorities accepted his terms.
• Wang Yongzhi sent Kang De news reports about recent Chinese anti-submarine exercises in the South China Sea and Russian exercises in Arctic waters, but gave no explanation.

Kang De returned to Danfeng Lucerne to ask Grand Duke Reknos for help evacuating tens of thousands of people from the Broken Isles and preparing to face the Star Palace. Reknos agreed to provide Goth’s resources, but warned Kang De that there would be a charge.

• Kang De returned from Earth and confirmed that his military preparations and negotiations were underway.
• Kang De and Tina visited Reknos, and Kang De explained his plans to rescue the Broken Isles’ survivors, confront the deep-sea threat, and unite the world against the Star Palace.
• Reknos questioned Kang De’s motives and condemned his killings of nobles, while Kang De defended his actions against those who abused commoners.
• Kang De and Tina declared that they would not lose, and Reknos agreed to provide Goth’s magic devices, mages, and supplies.
• Reknos tightened his grip on Kang De’s hand and said that there would be a charge.

Kang De accepted Grand Duke Reknos’s demand that Goth charge him for personnel and supplies, then reassured Tina that he would prove his plans could improve life across Goth and earn her father’s approval. He gathered medical aid from the elves and the Church of the Sun before Tina teased him about his promise to show her father their future together.

• Grand Duke Reknos agreed to provide construction personnel and supplies for Kang De at market rates but refused to spare Goth’s medical staff and supplies.
• Tina grew upset that her father had begun charging Kang De, and Kang De comforted her by praising Grand Duke Reknos and promising to show him the benefits of his plans.
• Tina agreed to seek medical help from the Church of the Sun while Kang De went to the Elf Expeditionary Force and obtained resources for the Broken Isles evacuation.
• The elven officers issued orders for supplies and medicines, then complained that Kang De had arranged to deduct the expenses from the prisoners’ ransom.
• Tina gave Kang De an official order from the Church of the Sun authorizing him to mobilize medical resources in Azure Waves Province.
• Tina thanked Kang De for reassuring her, then teased him by rejecting his suggestion that they work together to show her father.

Hong San broadcast Kang De’s plan for an airborne evacuation of the Broken Isles, calling on Distant Harbor’s citizens to help rescue trapped soldiers and civilians. The broadcast ended with listeners rushing to volunteer, eager for the rescue and the promised portable radios.

• Kang De used Distant Harbor’s radios and loudspeakers to broadcast Hong San’s announcement to the city.
• Hong San reported that sea monsters had devastated the Broken Isles and that the joint fleet’s soldiers were trapped on the central island after Astolfo destroyed the island defenses.
• Hong San announced that Kang De had ordered an emergency rescue and would send a large magitech aircraft to Distant Harbor within hours.
• Hong San asked citizens with medical, magical, and other useful skills to volunteer, explaining that the rescue would include innocent civilians as well as soldiers.
• Hong San promised volunteers pay, food, citizen-file benefits, and access to goods including portable radios, prompting Tex and the tavern patrons to rush out and sign up.

Kang De and Hong San organized Distant Harbor’s volunteer effort to evacuate civilians from the Broken Isles, while Hong San planned to use the rescue to spread their ideals through the media. When sea monsters began emerging in stronger adult forms and threatening the survivors on other islands, Kang De proposed using sea mines.

• Kang De inspected the crowded volunteer registration points, and Hong San reported that workers and supplies were being sent to build a temporary airfield and resettlement site.
• Hong San described plans to house privileged refugees separately, protect volunteers from mistreatment, and charge the wealthy for special arrangements.
• Hong San proposed using reporters, newspapers, radio, and video to publicize the rescue and build support at home and abroad.
• Kang De told Hong San about practical lessons from his homeland’s history, then left through a Phase Gate after reassuring him that earlier generations had shown the way forward.
• Horus informed Kang De that adult sea monsters were emerging from the deep and making evacuations from the other islands more dangerous.
• Kang De said he would use early green-painted sea mines against the monsters.

Luoshan Island’s survivors gathered at Chimera Sky Academy for evacuation to the central main island, where Titus enforced the rescue line and rebuked Viscount Ron for demanding privileged treatment. As the crowd regained confidence in Kang De’s rescue effort, Xuelier devised a plan to claim she was Kang De’s secret mistress so she could protect herself and her research.

• Survivors crowded into the evacuation point at Chimera Sky Academy as hot air balloons carried people from Luoshan Island to the central main island.
• Viscount Ron demanded priority boarding for himself and his attendants, then tried to persuade Professors Xuelier and Laisalin to leave with him.
• Kang De rejected Ron’s demand, and Titus ordered the viscount to the back of the line while recounting his service under Kang De and warning him not to cause trouble.
• Titus reassured the survivors that Kang De’s allies would save them and asked them to consider settling in Distant Harbor; the crowd applauded.
• Horus praised Titus and revealed his speech had been recorded for a documentary and radio program.
• Xuelier told Laisalin she would claim to be Kang De’s secret mistress and chief research officer if she needed protection, then outlined how she would turn the lie into a meeting with him.

Kang De’s evacuation operation moved refugees from the Broken Isles toward the central main island, where Xuelier and Laisalin boarded a balloon and saw him protecting the rescue effort. The chapter ended as Kang De used meat to lure sea monsters together and began dropping naval mines into the water.

• Hot air balloons carried refugees toward the central main island as Kang De used the Broken Isles’ wealth and supplies to fund the rescue operation and arrange free basic transport.
• Xuelier argued with a Doom Warrior over bringing her research case, then left it behind to be transported separately to Distant Harbor.
• Xuelier and Laisalin boarded a balloon, reassured a frightened maid, and watched the evacuation and the central island’s defenses from above.
• Kang De flew alongside the balloon in his armor and assured the passengers that they would reach the west coast safely.
• Kang De opened a Phase Gate and dropped meat into the sea to gather sea monsters, then mixed heavy naval mines in with the bait.

Kang De used naval mines to devastate the sea monsters around the Broken Isles and organized an increasingly automated bombing and rescue effort. With dragon mercenaries and helicopters joining the operation and more than four thousand people evacuated, Horus told Kang De that they could begin the evacuation plan.

• Kang De dropped a Chen-1 mine among the sea monsters, killing many, while Xuelier and Laisalin watched the blast from a hot-air balloon; Laisalin decided to work for Kang De and study alchemy.
• Kang De noticed the surviving monsters returning to feed on the dead and ordered Horus to set up seven bombing positions, then arranged for balloons to carry spatial beacons and dragons to drop mines.
• Kang De collected six Z-8 helicopters from Earth and used beacon-equipped balloons and Phase Gates to lure sea monsters with meat and bomb them repeatedly.
• Kang De and Horus discussed developing weapons that would let ordinary soldiers send explosives through Phase Gates, and Horus urged Kang De to put researchers from the Broken Isles to work.
• Bulaikesita greeted Stiegel and the arriving dragons, who agreed to help evacuate survivors and take turns bombing sea monsters.
• Horus reported that helicopters, dragon mercenaries, and the bombing sites had improved rescue operations, more than four thousand people had reached the Grand Platform base, and the evacuation plan could begin.

Kang De began evacuating survivors from the monster-threatened Broken Isles aboard an Airbus bound for Distant Harbor. The first flight took off successfully, and the rescue effort continued as Kang De coordinated the next departures and reception.

• Laisalin and Xuelier discussed leaving the Broken Isles and considered working for Kang De before reaching the transport aircraft.
• Kang De briefed an elven mage on escorting the passengers and secretly returning to the fight, then arranged the boarding of roughly eight hundred survivors.
• Xuelier and Laisalin secured business-class seats by pledging to work for Kang De, while Horus prepared to pilot the aircraft.
• Kang De ordered the runway cleared, and Horus piloted the Airbus into the air as passengers and people across the Broken Isles watched it fly toward Distant Harbor.
• Quilion praised Kang De and expressed hope that he and the Empress would prevent another war, while Kang De assigned him to oversee boarding for the next flight.
• Kang De continued coordinating the rescue, flight safety, supplies, and preparations in Distant Harbor, and ordered its officials to get ready for the incoming plane.

Tex worked to earn a Listener-brand portable radio while Distant Harbor prepared to receive evacuees from the Broken Isles. The first airbus landed safely, and Kang De announced that they had built the Bridge of the Starry Sky.

• Tex swung a mallet to earn work points toward a radio and considered risking five points on the Europa Great Roulette.
• Ailinnuo reported that the battle in the Broken Isles was under control and that the first airbus carrying eight hundred survivors was approaching Distant Harbor.
• The first airbus passed over Distant Harbor as its people cheered, then headed toward the newly prepared airport.
• Kang De and Hong San oversaw the landing preparations and confirmed emergency plans for possible runway problems.
• Horus requested landing permission, and Kang De authorized the airbus to land.
• The airbus stopped safely on the runway, and Kang De announced that the Bridge of the Starry Sky had been built.

After the airliner Homecoming landed safely at Distant Harbor, the passengers from the Broken Isles disembarked and were welcomed by volunteers. Xuelier challenged Kang De’s hope for a kinder world, but Airuina’s faith in his accomplishments persuaded Xuelier to stay and see what he would do.

• Kang De announced that the Bridge of the Starry Sky Project had succeeded, and the passengers realized they had reached the mainland safely.
• The wounded and battle heroes disembarked first as the people gathered outside Homecoming cheered the successful rescue.
• Airuina introduced herself to Laisalin and Xuelier and explained that volunteers were equals who offered help freely.
• Xuelier argued that greed and unequal control of resources made Kang De’s vision impossible and would lead powerful people to destroy him.
• Airuina reminded Xuelier of Kang De’s seemingly impossible achievements and said she believed he could accomplish whatever he decided to do.
• Xuelier smiled and decided to stay so she could see Kang De’s plans unfold.

Kang De sent volunteers back to the Broken Isles as the evacuation gained speed and Distant Harbor welcomed the first survivors. As night fell, he prepared to accelerate the rescue while sensing that a powerful sea predator was about to awaken.

• Kang De promised the 216 volunteers he would prioritize their safety and reward their contributions before they boarded the Homeward for the Broken Isles.
• Hong San directed Distant Harbor's reception of survivors, while Airuina showed Professors Xuelier and Laisalin the comfortable residence Kang De had prepared for them.
• A radio broadcast reported the volunteers' departure, and Kang De ordered powerful lights, observation balloons, and aerial life-detection systems deployed across the islands.
• Kang De told Quilion to open a second boarding gate and increase flights to Distant Harbor to one every fifteen minutes, so residents could be evacuated faster.
• Quilion sensed a terrifying presence stirring beneath the sea, and Kang De said they were taking food from it as Quilion eagerly declared he wanted to taste it.

Kang De and his forces faced sea monsters that had abandoned their predictable feeding behavior and begun using coordinated tactics, prompting him to suspect an intelligent commander. After realizing the enemy could attack the central island through the underground ruins of Sea Suppression Castle, Kang De and A Xing rushed below and were ambushed by a swarm that recognized him as the Fire Thief.

• Kang De ordered the magic observation platforms to track the sea monsters after they stopped gathering around bait and began heading for land.
• The sea monsters launched coordinated attacks across the islands, probing defenses and adapting to Kang De's firepower as Horus reported the growing threat.
• Kang De reasoned that the enemy wanted the large concentration of people on the central main island and considered how it could strike from an unexpected direction.
• Kang De summoned A Xing and opened a Phase Gate to the ruined Sea Suppression Castle, then went underground with Horus to search the blasted passages.
• A Xing sensed movement in the underground passage, where tentacles burst through a wall and a swarm of sea monsters charged at Kang De and A Xing while shouting, “Fire Thief!”

Kang De trapped the God of the Star Palace, joined with a deep-sea leviathan, and used lightning and the Power of the Fire Thief to extract part of the god’s essence. After driving the enemy back into the deep well, Kang De prepared to study the recovered tentacles and crystal and question a prisoner.

• Kang De opened a Phase Gate into the White Mist World, trapping the attacking sea monsters and tentacles while Horus helped him hold the enemy in place.
• Kang De mocked the God of the Star Palace to distract it while Horus prepared a lightning strike, then shocked the tentacles and extracted part of the god’s essence.
• The God of the Star Palace tore free and withdrew into the deep well, and Kang De swept through the passage to Star Worship Square with A Xing and Horus.
• Kang De refused to enter the well, tossed Chen-1 mines inside, and had Horus confirm that the blast caused a cave-in that sealed it.
• Kang De ordered stronger defenses and faster construction of secondary airfields, planned to take the tentacle samples to scholars in Distant Harbor, and asked for the old coffin dodger to be brought in for questioning.

Kang De questioned the island lord about the God of the Star Palace and discovered that a mist crystal taken from the god could create forms from magic power. He returned to Distant Harbor and ordered research into the deep-sea behemoth beneath the Broken Isles, warning the Empire, Twilight Moon, and the Arcane Council that it was nearing awakening.

• Kang De learned from the island lord that the God of the Star Palace had appeared through illusions and had contacted him without being summoned.
• Kang De had a prisoner mage infuse magic power into the mist crystal, revealing that it could conjure shapes from mist.
• Kang De began sculpting a woman from the mist, but Horus warned him that the crystal might contain part of the god's soul, and Kang De dispersed the form.
• Kang De returned to Distant Harbor and ordered Hong San to establish a high-security biological research institute and summon druids, scholars, and historians.
• Kang De dictated a warning to the Emperor, the Speaker, and the Phoenix King that the deep-sea behemoth beneath the Broken Isles was close to awakening, and requested scholars and security forces to study it.

The Arcane Council debated Kang De’s aircraft, forbidden spells, and the deep-sea monster threatening the Broken Isles, then decided to answer his request while preparing a military force. The three great powers began making their own plans to investigate and potentially control the monster.

• Councilor Aokexindun urged the Arcane Council to restrict Kang De and revealed that an alchemist’s divine revelation had advanced research on an anti-forbidden-spell device.
• The Grand Speaker ordered the alchemist placed under the highest surveillance while allowing his research to continue pending verification.
• The Grand Speaker read Kang De’s letter about the deep-sea monster and said the Arcane Council would respond despite uncertainty about his claims.
• The Arcane Council formed a Biological Crisis Response Team to travel to Distant Harbor and study the monster’s severed limbs.
• The Grand Speaker ordered the Azure Fleet and several combat units to assemble and sent an operative team to obtain a living specimen from the Broken Isles.
• The Arcane Council and the other great powers began preparing to investigate the monster and consider how to control it.

Kang De and Horus coordinated the Broken Isles evacuation while preventing the God of the Star Palace and the deep-sea monster from recovering. After returning to Distant Harbor to answer Hong San's urgent message, Kang De learned that the Phoenix King had arrived and asked which one.

• Kang De continued evacuating the Broken Isles and prepared explosives in case the deep-sea monster awakened.
• Horus reported that their war network was overwhelming the enemy and that the God of the Star Palace had likely failed to hunt any sapient beings in the past two hours.
• Kang De speculated that the deep-sea monster was restricted and planned to find it with an enchanted submarine if it stayed underwater.
• Kang De received an urgent message from Hong San and returned to Distant Harbor.
• Hong San told Kang De that the Phoenix King had arrived, and Kang De asked which Phoenix King it was.