Chapter Summaries

Ismir and the Nature Guardians tried to hold off an Armored Earth Dragon so the civilians could escape, but discovered it had Dragon Flame and faced them as a true dragon. Meanwhile, Roland received a system notice about the Last Senate Guard and eagerly anticipated claiming it.

• Ismir ordered Haro to lead the civilians away while he and the Nature Guardians stayed behind to delay the pursuing dragon.
• An Armored Earth Dragon charged out of the forest, and Ismir attacked it with Earth Magic before binding it in vines.
• The Armored Earth Dragon burned through the vines with Dragon Flame, revealing its inherited ability and terrifying Ismir's group.
• Roland received a notice that he had encountered the Last Senate Guard and recognized it from his past experience in the game.
• Roland excused himself to use the bathroom and became eager at the thought of having the Senate Guard on his side.

As the Dark Alliance advanced toward Lagrange City, Seth Lagrange confronted the Senate’s feuding nobles, then was reported killed defending Swift River Fortress. With the Empire out of troops, the elderly nobles vowed to form an army and fight the invaders themselves.

• A battle report said the Dark Alliance had reached the Empire’s core region, and the nobles of the Upper House began brawling as they argued over responsibility.
• Seth Lagrange burst into the Senate, condemned the nobles for squabbling, and revealed that the Orcs had overrun his Southern Romanian principality.
• A messenger reported that the Orc army had reached Swift River Fortress, Prince Seth had been killed, and the fortress needed reinforcements.
• The nobles realized the Empire had no troops available because its armies were committed in the Northern Territory.
• An elderly noble rallied the five hundred Upper House members, who summoned their retainers and pledged to defend the Empire at Swift River Fortress.

The Orcs overran most of Swift River Fortress, but a Senate Guard Half-giant held the passage to the main keep alone. The chapter explained how the Blood Mist Incident led the Senate to recruit Half-giants, while the fortress’s remaining defenders faced the Orc advance.

• The elderly noble reinforcements held Swift River Fortress for two days before the last knight fell, leaving only the main keep defended.
• The Orcs celebrated their victory and rushed toward the passage leading to the main keep and teleportation array.
• A Senate Guard Half-giant cut down the first Orcs to charge through the passage and made the rest hesitate.
• The narration recounted how the Bloodblade Family massacred the Senate’s Lower House, prompting the Upper House and commoners to resist.
• Northern Territory Half-giants helped hold off the Bloodblade Family’s deathsworn until city guards arrived, and the Empire later destroyed the family for treason.

The Senate Guard’s Half-giants held Swift River Fortress against the Orcs, but nearly all its defenders died before Reno’s army reclaimed it. Roland recognized the surviving captain from a game storyline and sent Yun Feng to watch for Half-giants who might inherit the guard’s legacy.

• The border barons and nearby Imperial garrisons destroyed the Bloodblade Family after it massacred civilians.
• The Senate funded a guard of fifty Half-giants, whose armor and strength made them devastating against the Orcs inside Swift River Fortress.
• A Senate Guard Half-giant gave his life to wound an Orc Overlord, dying before more than a thousand Orc corpses.
• Reno’s army reclaimed Swift River Fortress, and the sole Imperial soldier to emerge was the Sixth Tier Senate Guard captain.
• The Human Emperor named the captain Guardian of Swift River Fortress and made him an Imperial Count, but the captain accepted only the title and some Gold Coins before retiring.
• Roland recalled the Senate Guard from the Ring System Game and told Yun Feng to watch for Half-giants approaching the Kingdom.

Ismir and his Nature Guardians were saved from an Armored Earth Dragon by Ymir, a descendant of the Lagrange Empire’s Senate Guard who defeated the beast barehanded. Ymir learned from Ismir that the Empire had fallen and the Lagrange Kingdom now ruled, leaving him stunned by the news.

• Ismir used vines and a pitfall to protect his soldiers from the charging Armored Earth Dragon, but the beast kept pursuing them.
• A towering armored figure struck the dragon back and battered it with his fists, shield, and Serpent Sword.
• The figure asked whether Ismir and the others were Imperial soldiers, then threatened Ismir after recognizing his noble crest.
• Ismir explained that he was a newly appointed sir of the Lagrange Kingdom and that the Empire had been destroyed.
• The armored warrior identified himself as Ymir, a descendant of the Imperial Senate Guard, and lowered his sword in disappointment before knocking the dragon unconscious again.

Ismir recruited Ymir, a powerful descendant of the legendary Senate Guard commander, by promising to uphold a noble’s oath. Roland learned that Ismir had poached his prized recruit, then received word that Ismir had gone missing.

• Ismir invited Ymir to join his Pioneer Team, and Ymir agreed after Ismir swore to protect the people and remain loyal to the nation.
• Ymir formally pledged his loyalty to Ismir, completing the encounter event.
• Roland discovered through the system that Ismir had recruited Ymir and angrily realized he had lost the Senate Guard he wanted.
• Ismir asked whether the captured Armored Earth Dragon could be tamed, and Ymir dragged it into the forest to beat it into submission.
• Roland received a message from Lulong Fortress reporting that Ismir had gone missing and blamed the system.

Reno entered Mirkwood to search for Ismir while Ismir and Ymir brought their recovered group to a village Ymir had long protected. Ismir accepted the villagers’ loyalty, gaining his first subjects as the old man rushed to summon everyone.

• Reno read Roland’s urgent letter, ordered the Wyvern Knights to patrol from the air, and rode into the forest to search for Ismir.
• Ymir told Ismir to arrange an equal contract with the Armored Earth Dragon and suggested returning to the kingdom to seek help with the contract.
• Ymir reunited Ismir’s group with the pioneering convoy and led them to the human village he had protected since his father’s death.
• Ymir introduced Ismir as the village’s future lord, and Ismir promised to protect the villagers if they swore loyalty to him.
• Old Man Ade accepted Ismir’s offer, then ran off to call the villagers out to pay their respects.

Ismir found a settlement of ninety-seven people in Mirkwood and planned to move them to a more suitable territory. When he and Ymir set out to meet Reno, Reno mistook them for enemies and attacked before recognizing Ismir.

• Ismir learned from Elder Ad that the settlement held ninety-seven people and that its hunting party would return that night.
• Ymir explained that he protected the settlement while the men hunted, and Ismir said he would relocate everyone to his chosen territory.
• Ismir realized the Wyvern Knights had lost sight of him and decided to return with Ymir to the end of Old Forest Road before crossing the river to Lulong Fortress.
• Reno searched Mirkwood for Ismir, while Ismir and Ymir heard his approaching hoofbeats and went to meet him.
• Reno attacked the pair with Holy Lance, but stopped when Ismir called out; he then recognized Ismir and noticed Ymir's Senate Guard armor and half-giant stature.

Reno recognized Ymir as a descendant of the Senate Guard captain Sifus and revealed his own imperial heritage. After learning how Ymir had rescued Ismir, Reno asked about Ismir’s plans, and Ismir said he would move the villagers and build a town at the previous campsite.

• Reno identified Ymir’s Blood Mist Set and explained that he was descended from Sifus, the Senate Guard captain.
• Reno introduced himself as a descendant of the Royal Sacred Knights, and Ymir said he served under Ismir.
• Ismir explained that Ymir had saved him from an Armored Earth Dragon and persuaded the dragon to stop pursuing them.
• Ismir told Reno that he had left the others in Ymir’s village and planned to report to Lulong Fortress.
• Reno asked whether Ismir intended to settle in the jungle, and Ismir said he would relocate the villagers and build a town at the previous campsite.

Reno accompanied Ismir into Mirkwood and helped escort more than a hundred settlers back toward safety. After returning to Lulong Fortress, Reno learned that Queen Nyx had been anxiously waiting for news of Ismir.

• Reno agreed to help Ismir and saw the miserable conditions of the humans living in Mirkwood, while Ymir explained how northern people had been driven into the forests and mountains.
• Reno grew angry that the group had waited all afternoon for a small hunting party, then made everyone leave early the next morning.
• A Wyvern Knight spotted Reno, Ismir, and the settlers on Old Forest Road, and Reno told him to abandon the territory and cross the river if danger arose.
• Lafitte Antony welcomed Reno back and laughed when Reno explained that Ismir had tricked him into helping with the evacuation.
• Lafitte Antony said he would report Reno's safe return to Queen Nyx, who had been worried about Ismir's disappearance and its effect on Roland's reputation.

Roland received Reno’s report that Ismir had found Sifus’s descendant and instructed the expedition to stay safe. Ismir and Ymir began settling their people on the riverbank, where they received military tents and prepared to catch fish for dinner.

• Nyx warned Roland to be careful about how he spoke of nobles, then read Reno’s letter reporting Ismir’s alliance with Sifus’s descendant, the commander of the imperial Senate Guard.
• Ismir told Ymir that the empty riverbank plain would become their home, though Ymir worried they had nowhere to sleep.
• Wyvern Knights delivered military tents to Ismir on Reno’s orders and quickly departed after warning one another to be wary of him.
• Ymir agreed to organize the people to set up the tents, while Ismir planned to have others catch fish for a proper meal.

Ismir and Ymir established a camp by the Swift River, gathered food and building materials, and began laying out a village. Ismir named the new settlement Windhelm Town as the group planned to build a stone fort.

• Ismir sent Haro and the Nature Guardians to fish in the Swift River while Ymir organized the camp and cleared the ground.
• Ismir rushed back after seeing smoke, then discovered Ymir had been burning weeds to clear the settlement site and the children were happily playing.
• Ismir returned with a net full of whitefish, while Ymir left with his teams to gather wood and stone.
• Ymir returned with logs he had cut using his greatsword, and the settlers cooked fish soup and bread before resting.
• Ismir and Ymir worked with the men to set logs for the village, agreed to build a stone fort, and named the settlement Windhelm Town.

Duke Apophis Breo learned that Roland had sent newly appointed Baron Ismir to pioneer new lands and worried about the danger, while Olaf reported that Lion Territory’s population had grown beyond six thousand. Apophis rushed back to recruit Radu, a Fourth Tier Wood Mage, who pledged himself to the Junlin Family and learned he would help guard a fortress against infiltrators.

• Apophis criticized Roland’s decision to send Ismir to pioneer new territory and told Olaf to remind the king of the risks.
• Olaf reported that Lion Territory’s population had surpassed six thousand and said he was overseeing the distribution of land.
• Olaf told Apophis that Radu, a Fourth Tier Wandering Mage, was staying at Lionheart Castle, and Apophis hurried back to meet him.
• Apophis offered Radu a position as chief mage with a salary and suitable equipment, and Radu accepted the Junlin Family’s patronage.
• Apophis explained that he needed Radu to use magical detection to guard a fortress west of Junlin Fortress from frequent infiltrators.

Roland signed in and received a Sixth Tier Creed Assassin, while Radu prepared to protect Junlin Fortress’s laborers from Orc attacks. The new assassin fought pursuing Orcs near Gundabad Mountain, and Ymir and Ismir continued work on Windhelm Town’s defenses.

• Apophis Breo told Radu that Goblins had infiltrated Junlin Fortress and injured laborers, and Radu agreed to set up a magical barrier.
• Roland discovered that Apophis Breo had recruited a Fourth Tier Wood Element Mage, then signed in and received a Sixth Tier Creed Assassin.
• A young assassin evaded Orcs near Gundabad Mountain, taunted them, and prepared to fight as Warg Riders arrived.
• Ymir finished driving most of Windhelm Town’s perimeter wall into the ground, while Ismir looked ahead to building a castle and Ymir worried about finding stone.

A young man unleashed Garuda’s Draconic Forbidden Spell, Great Thousand Worlds, against Gundabad’s forces and fled as the fortress defenses activated and two Nazgûl pursued him. Meanwhile, Roland waited for the newly arrived Creed Assassin, unaware that the assassin was the same young man now fighting for his life.

• The young man cut down Orc Warg Riders outside Gundabad until a troll Warlord confronted him and demanded his surrender.
• He cast Great Thousand Worlds, destroying the surrounding troops and killing the troll Warlord as Gundabad’s defensive formation rose.
• The young man fled from the fortress, drawing out War Bats and sensing that the Witch-king of Angmar and other powerful pursuers had noticed the attack.
• Roland questioned the system when the newly arrived Creed Assassin failed to appear, and the system said the reward had been issued for him to claim automatically.
• Two Nazgûl chased the young man with dark spears, and he dodged their attacks while warning them that he would fight back.

Darian Nightblade ambushed the Nazgûl Amoras and Holmras, using his Light Assassin abilities to kill Holmras. He escaped toward the east to warn the Kingdom about the Orcs’ plans at Fortress of Gundabad.

• Darian appeared behind Amoras and Holmras, introduced himself, and attacked them with Backstab and Gouge, badly wounding Holmras.
• Amoras stopped the enraged Holmras and dispersed the black clouds, exposing Darian to sunlight and weakening both sides.
• Darian used Blinding Glare to blind the Nazgûl, then struck Holmras with a series of attacks that killed him.
• Amoras unleashed a storm of black mist beyond Fortress of Gundabad as Darian escaped beneath the sunlight.
• Darian reflected on being a Light Assassin and decided to report the Orcs’ activity to the Kingdom.

Darian Nightblade arrived to serve Roland, revealing that he was a Sixth Tier assassin with the Light Attribute and a blinding form of Stealth Skill. He also told Roland that he had struck down the Sixth Ringwraith Holmras, leaving everyone stunned.

• The people in Fortress of Gundabad learned that Holmras had been cut down outside his home, and Amoras took him to seek help from the Witch-king of Angmar.
• Darian Nightblade requested an audience with Roland, startling Yun Feng and Adolf Heinrich because they could not sense the Sixth Tier assassin.
• Roland asked Darian to demonstrate his Stealth Skill, and Darian's radiant Battle Qi blinded Roland, Yun Feng, and Adolf Heinrich.
• Darian disappeared into the sunlight, and Yun Feng identified his ability as an adaptive mutation of Stealth Skill.
• Darian told Roland that he had stabbed Holmras through with one strike, and Roland and the others reacted with disbelief.

Darian Nightblade recounted infiltrating Fortress of Gundabad, killing Holmras, and sensing that the Witch-king of Angmar was badly injured. Roland and Apophis Breo prepared for possible Orc retaliation by warning the north and readying Lion Territory for refuge.

• Darian Nightblade explained that he had wandered into Gundabad, entered the Orc fortress, and killed more than a thousand Warg Riders while escaping the Nazgûl.
• Darian Nightblade said he had stabbed Holmras to death and reported that the Witch-king of Angmar seemed seriously injured.
• Roland concluded that Fortress of Gundabad was unlikely to make major moves while its strongest leaders were incapacitated, and Yun Feng urged him to warn Duke Junlin.
• Apophis Breo received the warning and ordered people to limit outings, prepare refuge in Junlin Fortress, and move supplies toward Lionheart Castle.
• Apophis Breo told Olaf to notify the Beornings so Karlok City would not be caught unprepared.

Roland learned that the Witch-king of Angmar had returned and was leading Gundabad’s Orcs south against Lion Territory. After Apophis Breo called for aid, Roland ordered his forbidden spell corps to strike back.

• Roland worried that the Orcs were planning something, and Yun Feng confirmed that Duke Junlin had received the warning and was arranging a retreat route.
• The Witch-king of Angmar purged the Light Power from Holmras, declared revenge on the allied forces, and ordered Gundabad’s armies to march south.
• Mufadula warned Apophis Breo that at least twenty thousand elite Orcs, Warg Riders, and War Bats were advancing on Junlin Fortress.
• Apophis Breo learned that the Beornings had withdrawn to Fort Rosga and asked Roland’s kingdom for aid.
• Yun Feng and Adolf Heinrich brought the appeal to Roland, who ordered the forbidden spell corps to attack the Orcs.

Roland reacted furiously to the Orcs attacking Lion Territory, but Yun Feng and Omsk arranged for a smaller force to support Duke Junlin while the main army remained behind. The Dragon Knights, Wyvern Knights, Sage Adolf Heinrich, and Lord Valfay were ordered to prepare, though they would need three to four days to gather and reach Junlin.

• Roland vowed to make the Gundabad Orcs pay, while Nyx and Yun Feng urged him to learn what had happened before acting.
• Apophis Breo received Flowing City's reply and told Dula and Olaf that Roland was determined to help Lion Territory.
• Yun Feng reported that Duke Junlin had evacuated civilians, mobilized militia, and stationed his elite troops at the eastern pass.
• Omsk and Yun Feng explained that a large army could not reach Lion Territory without a teleportation array, so Roland approved sending Adolf Heinrich, the Dragon Knights, Wyvern Knights, and Valfay.
• Yun Feng warned that the Dragon Knights and Wyvern Knights were clearing Orcs in the wilderness and would need three to four days to regroup and fly to Junlin, and Roland approved the delay.