Recaps

Velin celebrated Star Prayer Day in Qixing Territory with Xuemiyya and Trisa before traveling to Blue Gauze City, where he encountered Adink. Adink revealed that he had stopped competing to lead the Budbol Family and was leaving for the Xilovit Subcontinent with Sally, and he and Velin agreed to share a drink before his departure.

• Velin told Byron he would consider the Kaidas Tribe's invitation and give him an answer within half a month.
• Velin, Xuemiyya, and Trisa enjoyed Star Prayer Day in Star Prayer City, then decided to visit Blue Gauze City.
• At dawn, Velin met Adink by Blue Gauze Lake and learned that Adink had reached Soul Intent rank and had quit the contest to lead the Budbol Family.
• Adink told Velin he planned to take Sally to the Xilovit Subcontinent and might never return to the Sinapsis Subcontinent.
• Velin invited Adink to have a drink that evening, and they agreed to meet before Adink left.

Velin and Xuemiyya discussed whether they would ever leave Qixing Territory while Trisa was stopped by constables for skating on Blue Gauze Lake. After learning she was Velin’s apprentice, the constables brought her to him, and Velin paid her fine and arranged a permit for her to play on the lake.

• Velin reassured Xuemiyya that he would stay in Qixing Territory as long as she and their companions were there, and she returned his affection.
• Constables stopped Trisa for playing on the surface of Blue Gauze Lake and asked her to lead them to her companions.
• Trisa led the constables to Velin, who greeted them after they knelt and paid their respects.
• Velin paid Trisa’s fine, instructed the constables to issue her a lake permit, and gave them wine for their Star Prayer Day duty.
• Velin let Trisa go play after she admitted her mistake, and she headed back onto the lake to catch fish.

Velin shared a farewell dinner with Adink, who planned to travel to the Xilovit Subcontinent, and the two parted on friendly terms. Velin then left for West Wind County with Kyle, Xuemiyya, and the sleeping Trisa; five days later, he returned to Star Moon Fort to train and await his uncle-in-law.

• Velin, Xuemiyya, and Kyle returned to the viewing platform and found Trisa still swimming in the lake.
• Adink arrived with his wife, shared food and wine with Velin, and described his upcoming journey through several kingdoms to the Xilovit Subcontinent.
• Velin and Adink reminisced about their first meeting, exchanged farewells, and parted after midnight.
• Velin, Kyle, and Xuemiyya found Trisa asleep beneath the viewing platform, and Kyle carried her as they flew toward West Wind County.
• After Star Prayer Day ended five days later, Velin returned to Star Moon Fort, where he trained, taught Trisa, and waited for his uncle-in-law.

Velin visited O'dor to ask about spaces between illusion and reality, and O'dor gave him a memory containing his classification of them. The chapter ended with Velin studying the three types of spaces before deciding he would return home after reading.

• Velin visited O'dor and challenged him about taking two years to repair the War Beast Puppet.
• O'dor told Velin that he had helped Flora reclaim her former strength and become a High-Gold Knight, but refused to use the method on Velin.
• Velin asked O'dor about spaces between illusion and reality, and O'dor passed him the information in a ball of memory light.
• Velin learned that the spaces were classified as the dreams of the Terrifying Ones, the pasts of the Great Ones, and the futures of the Lost Ones.
• Velin began reviewing O'dor's information and resolved to return home after he finished reading.

Velin spent time with Xuemiyya, resumed his cultivation, and traveled with his companions to Windsor Castle for a family meeting. There, Earl Hurricane asked Velin to remain neutral at an upcoming meeting about his father’s wrongdoing, and Velin agreed.

• Velin measured Star Moon Fort’s circumference, then returned to Xuemiyya and spent the next day with her instead of measuring Qixing Territory’s borders.
• Xuemiyya prepared for Camelia’s test, while Velin told Kyle he would visit the Kaidas Tribe in the first half of the next year and then returned to cultivation.
• On December 15, 9765, Velin traveled to Windsor Castle with Xuemiyya, Kyle, and the Lord's Guard Team, where several counts arrived over the next three days.
• Earl Hurricane questioned Velin about Auvilia’s departure with the Duke of Moravia, and Velin withheld the truth.
• Earl Hurricane asked Velin to remain neutral at the meeting three days later and said Velin’s father would have to pay a price for his mistakes; Velin agreed.

At the thirty-ninth Family Meeting, Angus confessed that his decision to protect Olseya had endangered the Ex Family and resigned as family head and Earl Eagle. Ilisis succeeded him as the seventh-generation head and second Eagle Marquis, with Velin and the other four Earls approving the motion.

• Angus told Ilisis he would step down, take responsibility for Olseya’s actions, and leave the family’s future decisions to his son.
• Angus admitted to the four Earls that he had put familial affection above the family’s interests by arranging for Olseya to be taken away.
• Angus resigned as family head and Earl Eagle, named Ilisis as his successor, and promised to repay the family’s losses with his personal resources.
• Oster, Earl Hurricane, the Blood Moon Count, Count Misis, and Velin all approved the succession.
• Ilisis formally declared Angus’s resignation and his own succession as the seventh-generation head of the Ex Family and second Eagle Marquis.

At the family meeting, Velin learned how the Ex Family’s income and Transcendent Resources were divided, then chose to establish the Qixing Legion with the family’s support. As Angus began assigning Velin’s branch its duties, Velin interrupted him.

• Velin proposed guarding the family’s secret vault, but Angus, Miyali, and Io Lixis opposed the idea while Andusi and Misis abstained.
• Ilisis described the Ex Family’s five financial sources and explained how its Transcendent Resources were allocated.
• Angus asked Velin to choose between commanding a Knight Order, Magic Unit, or warrior legion, and Velin chose to establish the Qixing Legion.
• Angus promised the Qixing Legion ten thousand warriors within two years, along with regular Cultivation Resources and military pay, while retaining the family’s right to deploy it.
• Angus began proposing duties for Velin’s branch, but Velin stopped him before he could continue.

At the Family Meeting, Velin proposed jointly developing the Karabi Gloomy World with his family and Duke Moravia, then secured responsibility for the family's affairs across four regions. After the meeting, Miyali handed him the Eagle Emblem token for those territories, and Ilisis led him away at their father's request.

• Velin reported that Karabi was a vast Gloomy World with at least two confirmed Legendary Experts and proposed that his father contact Duke Moravia to arrange joint development.
• Angus agreed to take charge of contacting Duke Moravia after the Family Meeting.
• Velin and the other counts unanimously approved transferring the family's businesses and forces in the Holy Third Dawn Kingdom, Dawnlight Duchy, Kingdom of Belfas, and Holy Shia Beastman Kingdom to Qixing Count's branch.
• Miyali told Velin about the value and returns of the businesses in the four regions and handed him the Eagle Emblem token for them.
• Velin left Secondary Castle No. 3 and ran into Ilisis, who said their father had sent for him and led him away.

Velin met with Angus, who assigned him the Ode Organization and warned him about an approaching Monster Clan attack, then learned from Ilisis that Angus had secretly kept records of his children and watched over them. The brothers left Velin with a new understanding of their father’s quiet concern.

• Angus declined Velin’s invitation to move to Qixing Territory and gave him responsibility for the Ode Organization, founded by Ogden Ex and led by Vickas Ex.
• Angus warned Velin that Monster Clans in the Graylight Wasteland were gathering and expected to attack the border in six months.
• Angus advised Velin to keep some matters from Ilisis, prioritize his safety, and slack off less before Velin left the study.
• Velin invited Ilisis for a walk, and they discussed Ilisis’s coming role as head of the Ex Family and Angus’s decision to step down.
• Ilisis told Velin that Angus kept a book recording his children’s growth and had quietly watched over them.

Velin reflected on his family and his childhood at Windsor Castle, then spent the evening listening to Elder Miller recount the family’s history. After Miller left, Velin went with Xuemiyya to Training Ground No. 7, leaving his plan to test Haixiden for later.

• Velin discussed Haixiden’s competitiveness with Isis and said he would meet the boy before deciding whether to cultivate him.
• Isis invited Velin and Xuemiyya to Training Ground No. 7 and agreed to bring their father’s treasured wine.
• Velin revisited Windsor Castle and saw Haixiden training with a Knight Sword while his mother watched over him.
• Velin sat with Elder Miller, who shared memories of the family as Xuemiyya joined them.
• After Elder Miller departed, Velin and Xuemiyya headed to Training Ground No. 7, where Isis and his wife were waiting.

Isis and Alyssia hosted Velin and Xuemiyya for a bonfire gathering, where they discussed Adink giving up his claim to lead the Budbol Family. The next morning, Velin and Xuemiyya watched Haixiden train, and Xuemiyya drew him and his mother into an illusion to test his character.

• Isis reassured Alyssia that they did not need to rush to have an heir despite the difficulty of conceiving at their level of strength.
• Velin asked why Adink had given up his inheritance rights, and Isis guessed that Adink might have gained additional memories.
• Xuemiyya took the drunken Velin back to their room, and the two woke up together the next morning.
• Velin and Xuemiyya observed Haixiden and his mother training beneath a large tree.
• At Velin's request, Xuemiyya cast an illusion that drew Velin, Haixiden, and his mother inside.

Velin and Xuemiyya tested Haixiden through an illusion that showed his devotion to Harriet and how he responded to her death. Haixiden awoke reunited with his mother, and Velin introduced himself by name.

• Velin and Xuemiyya watched an illusion in which Haixiden cared for Harriet, whom he believed was his Master's Wife.
• Xuemiyya accelerated the illusion, and Haixiden stayed by Harriet despite her rejection until she died by suicide and he eventually died as well.
• Velin and Xuemiyya discussed Haixiden's stubbornness and kindness before the illusion ended.
• Haixiden woke in the real world and embraced Harriet, who asked whether he had lived well after her death.
• Velin appeared and told Haixiden his name was Velin Ex, and Haixiden bowed to him.

Velin offered Haixiden a choice between training with him and remaining at Windsor Castle, and Haixiden chose to go with him. After bringing Haixiden and Harriet to Qixing Territory, Velin asked Devonshire to train the boy and build a solid foundation for him.

• Velin gave Haixiden two choices, and Haixiden decided to leave with him.
• Harriet supported Haixiden’s choice, admitted she had been wrong before, and promised to accompany him to Qixing Territory.
• The next morning, Velin brought Harriet, Haixiden, and his guards through a Demiplane passage toward Qixing Territory.
• Two days after returning to Star Moon Fort, Velin asked Devonshire to take Haixiden as a student.
• Devonshire tested Haixiden’s endurance, found hidden injuries in his body, and agreed to train him after he recovered.

Velin organized Cadro Province’s forces for the kingdom’s coming war and learned of a vast secret military buildup against the Monster Clans. After inviting Madmonk to a banquet at Luoyun Slope, Velin remembered his promise concerning Madmonk’s grandchildren and left when Kyle guessed his intentions.

• Velin reviewed the nobles’ troop contributions and found that Cadro Province could field more than seventy thousand soldiers beyond his own planned forces.
• Velin accepted Kyle’s recommendations for the units to deploy and decided to leave the newly formed Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Battalions out of the war.
• Velin and Kyle divided the noble coalition into three armies, assigning minor nobles and volunteer Pioneer Knights to logistics.
• Camus Rorick delivered Madmonk’s letter, which reported that the kingdom had gathered major forces in secret and was redeploying the Sixteenth Silver Knight Order to Cadro Province.
• Velin invited Madmonk to a banquet at Luoyun Slope and recalled his promise about Madmonk’s grandchildren, prompting Kyle to warn him not to make him raise the children.
• Velin denied Kyle’s accusation, then teleported away under Kyle’s suspicious stare.

At Blackrock Peak, Zarka was ordered to send five thousand Furious Warriors to the Kobold and Goblin mixed settlement, and he reluctantly chose Tien to lead them under Archibald's command. The settlement's Monster Clan forces continued enslaving and slaughtering Goblins and Kobolds as the spreading war drove the Centaur clans north.

• Banuko watched Minotaur warriors kill a Ferocious Tiger, drank its elemental blood, and carried its roasted corpse to Zarka's tent.
• Shabas demanded that Zarka send five thousand Furious Warriors to the Kobold and Goblin mixed settlement within a month or face Lord Amros's wrath.
• Zarka asked the Banukos for advice, then ordered Tien to take five thousand Furious Warriors and obey Archibald's commands.
• Zarka told Tien to bring the human and, if necessary, use the human woman to pressure him into giving advice.
• Gnolls slaughtered Goblins for food and fed their remains to Goblin slaves, while the Centaur clans stopped trading with Qixing Territory and migrated north.

At Luoyun Slope, Velin reorganized the gathered Cadro Province forces and announced the strength of the twenty thousand troops he had brought. The nobles began taking command of their new assignments, while Velin left to prepare for Sir Madmonk’s arrival.

• Velin and Kyle spent three days reorganizing the nobles’ tens of thousands of troops into three armies according to their elite strength.
• Kyle read out the new army sizes and commanders, and Velin ordered the nobles to assume command quickly and prevent disorder.
• Velin praised the nobles’ service, recognized twenty-five volunteer Pioneer Knights, and revealed that his forces included three Soul Intent professionals and thirteen Gold professionals.
• Velin ended the meeting and asked Alick, Cowell, and Brian to stay behind, then spoke with his cousins about their uncles’ retirement lives.
• After Kyle reminded Velin that Sir Madmonk was arriving, Velin left with Kyle, and Alick, Cowell, and Brian discussed their own prospects for retirement.

Velin welcomed Madmonk and the 16th Silver Knight Order to Luoyun Slope, where they discussed Cadro Province’s coming military changes and Velin hinted that a new Legend would replace Lord Templar Silvis. Half a month later, Velin’s forces marched west as five Monster Clan armies assembled on the Madera Plain to prepare for war.

• Velin and Kyle waited for Madmonk and the 16th Silver Knight Order, then greeted Madmonk when his knights arrived at the hill.
• Madmonk told Velin that the royal family planned to recall Lord Templar Silvis and transfer Cadro Province’s border defense duties to local nobles; Velin hinted that a new Legend would take Silvis’s place.
• Velin drank with Madmonk at the camp banquet, then inspected his troops the next morning.
• Half a month later, scouts reported that Monster Clan armies were nearing Cadro Province, and tens of thousands of troops marched west from Luoyun Slope.
• Commander Archibald questioned leaders of the first two Monster Clan armies about their warriors and slave supplies as the five armies gathered on the Madera Plain.

Archibald organized his forces to invade Cadro Province, while Tien followed a human adviser’s warning to keep the Furious Minotaur Clan out of trouble. Seven days later, Velin arrived at the Madera Plain and planned how to deploy his Magic Energy Cannons for the coming battle.

• Archibald ordered Scat to prepare one hundred thousand Goblin and Kobold cannon fodder and told Bradlik to enforce his commands among the tribes.
• Archibald announced that the army would march against Cadro Province in half a month, and Tien consulted a gaunt human about the meeting.
• The human warned Tien that Archibald might force the Furious Minotaur Clan to serve as the vanguard if its warriors caused trouble, so Tien sealed their camp after counting them.
• Velin reached the eastern edge of the Madera Plain, established camp, and sent scouts to survey the terrain.
• Velin discussed the Magic Energy Cannons with Kyle and studied the map to decide where to deploy them.

Velin and Archibald prepared their armies for a decisive battle on the Madera Plain, each readying hidden weapons and forces. In mid-September, both armies assembled in the Strandlar Region, and Velin ordered the war drums beaten as he faced Archibald across the battlefield.

• Velin reviewed the human army’s casualties and ordered his forces to gather in the Strandlar Region for a decisive battle, with strict orders against retreating without permission.
• Velin learned that O'dor would finish repairing the War Beast Puppet within three days.
• Archibald ordered Tien to provide one thousand Furious Warriors, intending to use them as material for Dark War Beasts, and ordered his army to eat well before setting out.
• Archibald’s forces distributed dried Goblin meat to their soldiers and cannon fodder before marching toward the battlefield.
• In mid-September, the human and Monster Clan armies assembled in the Strandlar Region, where Velin faced Archibald and ordered the war drums beaten.

Archibald and Velin’s armies clashed on the Madera Plain as cannon fire and dark beasts gave way to a bloody ground battle. The conflict escalated when eight Soul Intent powerhouses from Archibald’s side met Velin’s five champions and two summoned knights in the sky.

• Archibald ordered the Goblins and Kobolds transformed into dark beasts, then sent them charging toward Velin’s army while his troops followed behind.
• Velin’s cannons and Greg’s archers struck the advancing dark beasts, but Cassius ordered the front line to hold as the creatures crashed into their shields.
• Cassius fought among the dead and wounded while more than two hundred thousand soldiers from both sides battled across the plain.
• Archibald sent eight Soul Intent powerhouses to draw out Velin’s strongest fighters, and Velin dispatched Kyle, Fiona, three others, and the Life Knight and Death Knight to face them.
• Kyle summoned Kolkrath to attack a Half-Dragon, then warned the Half-Dragon Mage and Lizardman to reveal their full abilities.

Kyle unleashed the War Beast Puppet against the Monster Clan army, turning the battle into a rout while O'dor engaged Archibald in the sky. The enemy forces began retreating, leaving Archibald to fight on in defense of Amros's glory.

• Archibald ordered Bradrick to release eight hundred Dark War Beasts, which tore through both armies as Velin watched Kyle battle above.
• Kyle summoned the War Beast Puppet, took control of it, and sent Small Beast Puppets to destroy the Dark War Beasts.
• Archibald charged Kyle with the Kaelos Spear, but O'dor carried him high into the sky and confronted him with Magic Shields and Sky Warriors.
• Kyle's magical arrays vaporized tens of thousands of Monster Clan Elite Warriors, and the North Plains Gnoll Warriors collapsed.
• Tien withdrew with his clansmen as Black Blood Ratman Soldiers and Gnoll Warriors fled, and Bradrick ordered the Half-Dragon Guards to retreat without Archibald.

The allied army defeated the Monster Clan at the Battle of the Madera Plain, but Qixing Territory and Star Prayer Camp suffered devastating losses. Velin honored the fallen and ordered the spoils distributed by military merit as the troops returned to their camps.

• Monster Clan warriors fled as Cassius mourned his fallen soldiers and ordered his adjutant to recover their Silver and bronze plaques.
• O'dor's eight Sky Warriors trapped Archibald, who hurled the Kaelos Spear away; O'dor caught a fragment, and the Sky Warriors killed Archibald.
• On the third day, Kyle reported the battle's casualties and the names of the fallen nobles at a meeting led by Velin.
• Velin and the gathered officers observed three minutes of silence for the dead, including the many Star Prayer Camp soldiers lost in the battle.
• Velin claimed twenty percent of the spoils, assigned the remainder according to military merit, and ordered the commanders to comfort their troops and patrol the border.

After the war ended, Velin spoke with Madmonk about the War Beast Puppet and met Madmonk’s grandson, Paloto, who struggled to understand why Velin said he could call him “brother.” Three days later, Velin returned to Qixing Territory while Madmonk stayed behind with the 16th Silver Knight Order.

• Amros saw Archibald’s death, appointed a Half-Dragon Mage to replace him as a Guardian General, and stored the Spear of Kailoxi before going back to sleep.
• The Ilia Kingdom routed a million Monster Clan Elite troops, and the war ended by late December after both sides suffered heavy losses and no longer wanted to continue fighting.
• At a banquet, Velin told Madmonk that he had obtained the War Beast Puppet during the expedition campaign.
• Velin met Paloto, Madmonk’s grandson, and told him that he could call Velin “brother” by seniority, confusing the boy.
• Madmonk declined to ask Velin to fulfill his promise because he was reluctant to part with Paloto.
• Three days later, Velin led the army back to Qixing Territory, while Madmonk remained with the 16th Silver Knight Order and sent Kadqi and Layla with Paloto to visit Flora.

Velin ordered compensation for the 4,183 soldiers who died in the war and prepared to travel with Kyle to answer the Kaidas Tribe’s invitation. While waiting in the Duchy of Nitz for a teleportation slot, Velin was caught up in a constable search and learned that the officer recognized Anansi’s Sword from a portrait he had seen decades earlier.

• Velin gave Belder the casualty list and ordered generous compensation, support for soldiers’ families, and continuation of fallen soldiers’ family lines.
• Kyle told Velin that Gray creatures were threatening the spring garrison in the Gray Fog Space and said he would go there to handle the situation.
• Velin asked Xuemiyya to visit the fallen soldiers’ families on his behalf, then left Qixing Territory with Kyle at the beginning of March, 9767.
• Velin and Kyle reached the Duchy of Nitz’s capital and had to wait five days for a teleportation slot to the Holy Third Dawn Kingdom.
• Constables searching the inn for political suspects recognized Anansi’s Sword, and a flashback revealed the officer had once seen the same weapon in a portrait at Minister Dusseldorf’s youngest son’s residence.

Kyle captured Macy, a surviving spy of the Haixili Organization, and made her his dependent under the codename Soldier, planning to guide her onto the Soul Painter Professional Path. After exploring the Nitz Duchy Kingdom, Kyle and Velin traveled toward the capital of the Holy Shia Beastman Kingdom.

• Kyle teleported Macy to his room, learned that the Grand Duke had destroyed the Haixili Organization, and made her choose to become his dependent.
• Kyle told Macy to sleep on the floor, and she rested after half a month of hiding and fleeing.
• The next morning, Kyle brought Macy to Velin and explained that she needed to abandon her assassin Professional Path for the Soul Painter's special path.
• Kyle named her Soldier, and Velin sent her through a Demiplane passage to the Celestia Demiplane.
• Kyle and Velin left the inn to explore, then four days later traveled through Yulali City toward the capital of the Holy Shia Beastman Kingdom.