Recaps

After the encirclement campaign ended, Velin considered what to do with the captured Black Asia Orcs before visiting Cecilia's Demiplane. There, Cecilia identified a fish hidden in Velin's Sea of Consciousness as a Fish of Destiny and began cooking it.

• The Tenth Battalion annihilated the remaining Black Asia Orc soldiers at Mu Rock Town, ending the encirclement campaign, and Velin approved the final battle merit documents.
• Velin considered ways to deal with the tens of thousands of captured Black Asia Orcs but decided to keep them locked up for now.
• Velin entered Cecilia's Demiplane, where Cecilia searched him for tasty food after saying he smelled delicious.
• Velin recalled a patterned fish he had received from Kahe, and Cecilia identified it as a Fish of Destiny that lived in a Sea of Consciousness or soul.
• Velin found the enlarged Fish of Destiny in his Sea of Consciousness and brought it out, and Cecilia bound it over a Silver Pot to cook.

Cecilia cooked the Fish of Destiny and shared the soup with Velin and the griffins, while Xing got drunk stealing wine and was punished. Cecilia later remembered that eating the fish would attract a Destiny Star Being, as Lede Province settled and Velin called a military conference.

• Cecilia cooked the Fish of Destiny in the Silver Pot as griffins gathered to wait for the soup.
• Xing sneaked into a tent at Kixilin Main Camp and drank from a wine barrel.
• Cecilia shared the soup among Velin, Xing's two mates, and the other griffins, then fell asleep beneath the Tree of Life sapling.
• Velin returned to camp, had the drunk Xing hung from a flagpole for half a month, and set aside Kyle's portion of the soup.
• Cecilia remembered that eating the Fish of Destiny could draw a Destiny Star Being to its eater within two to six months.
• After Lede Province returned to peace, Velin summoned his commanders and invited Mafarna and the Twelfth Legion's senior commanders to a conference in seven days.

Kyle inspected damaged Twelfth Legion equipment and planned how to conceal some of it, while Velin opened a joint conference to plan the conquest of the Kamo Tribe Territory. The generals debated the campaign, and Mitchell apologized for Fulna’s outburst.

• Kyle inspected twenty-three damaged pieces of magic equipment and planned to repair some while reporting others as destroyed.
• Velin opened the first joint conference of the Ninth Army Corps and Twelfth Legion at Kixilin Main Camp.
• Kahe briefed the generals on the Black Asia Orc forces in the Kamo Tribe Territory.
• Velin proposed capturing Giant Stone Mountain Fortress and other strategic locations within half a year, with the Ninth Army Corps leading the campaign.
• The generals debated whether to advance directly or proceed more cautiously, and Fulna loudly argued for an immediate attack.
• Mitchell apologized to Velin for Fulna’s rude conduct.

Velin ended the conquest council and summoned Fulna for a private conversation, asking about his background and military service. Fulna explained his origins and career in the White Maple Legion, leaving Velin with his history still unfolding.

• Velin ended the debate and ordered each legion to assess whether an attack on Boulder Fortress was feasible, giving Mafarna three days to report the Twelfth Legion’s plans.
• Mitchell reprimanded Fulna outside the tent and ordered him to copy the Sival Military Code three hundred times before leaving him to await Velin’s summons.
• Velin told Kyle to list the Twelfth Legion’s destroyed magical equipment for compensation and offered the trained Black Asia Orcs for transfer if needed.
• Velin summoned Fulna and learned that he came from White Maple Province and was Darian’s granduncle.
• Fulna described his years at Tieyuan Training Camp and his twenty-year rise through the White Maple Legion from cleric to commander of the Second Brigade of the Third Camp.

Fulna told Velin how Leonas had mentored him before arranging his transfer to the Wings of Dawn Legion, and revealed that Leonas was the only son of the Left Canon. Meanwhile, Gamongri gathered Black Asia Orc legion commanders at Giant Stone Mountain Fortress and hinted that he had a plan to counter the Human Ninth Legion and its Floating Fleet.

• Fulna explained that he had met Leonas while serving as a guard commander in the Sword Guard Legion's Archive Room and had become his student.
• Fulna said Leonas had arranged his transfer to Lord Mitchell's Guard Team after three more years of study, beginning his long service in the Wings of Dawn Legion.
• Fulna revealed to Velin that Leonas was the only son of the Left Canon, leaving Velin to wonder why Leonas had served as his deputy.
• Velin ended his conversation with Fulna, whose story made Velin's effort to recruit him to Qixing Territory seem unlikely to succeed.
• On December 3rd, 9773, Gamongri summoned the Black Asia Orc legion commanders to Giant Stone Mountain Fortress to discuss the Human Ninth Legion's offensive.
• Gamongri told Manus that he had devised a way to counter the Human Ninth Legion, especially its Floating Fleet, but postponed discussing it until the next day.

Velin learned from the Guidance of Fate that a Gray Orc possessed by a being from another plane was in the Kamo Tribe Territory of the United Kingdom of Kols. He asked Leonas to find a stealth and reconnaissance expert and began planning to delay the campaign while locating the hidden Gray Orc force.

• The Seventh Legion and Eleventh Legion sent armies to Kixilin Main Camp as the Ninth and Twelfth Legions prepared for war.
• The Guidance of Fate told Velin that a possessed Gray Orc was in a valley southwest of Giant Stone Mountain Fortress, and he suspected a hidden Gray Orc force in the Kamo Tribe Territory.
• Velin asked Leonas to find a Soul Intent rank Transcendent skilled in stealth and reconnaissance, and Leonas agreed to search for a candidate.
• Velin told Leonas about the Gray Orc traces and then listed the Ninth Legion's exposed forces, concluding that the enemy would likely target the Floating Fleet.
• Velin decided the campaign might need to be delayed for several months so the Gray Orc force could be located and drawn out.

Twelve days after returning to Kixilin Main Camp, Leonas brought Deborah from Blackstone Prison to meet Velin, who assigned her a dangerous reconnaissance mission. Deborah set out to investigate five marked locations and report back within five days.

• Leonas warned Deborah to behave or face Judgment Prison as he escorted her to the Ninth Legion Command Department.
• Leonas reported to Velin that he had brought Deborah back, and Velin approved her for reconnaissance.
• Velin gave Deborah a map with five locations to investigate and ordered her to return within five days.
• Deborah asked to claim a reward later if she found the information Velin wanted, and Velin agreed as long as it followed the rules.
• After Leonas warned Deborah not to expose herself, she vanished from his sight while remaining undetectable to his senses.

Deborah infiltrated an illusion-hidden camp by concealing herself inside a Black Asia Orc assassin's soul and discovered a heavily guarded force of elite Black Asia Orcs. Lord Ides detected an intruder and ordered General Olom to search the camp, putting Deborah at risk of discovery.

• Deborah used a White Feather Bird to scout the illusion, but a Black Asia Orc assassin killed it and burned its remains.
• Deborah watched the assassin for seven days, then hid inside his soul when he left his post and entered the illusion.
• Deborah passed through the camp's defenses and saw elite Black Asia Orcs gathered beneath a skull banner.
• Xi warned Lord Ides that an outsider had entered the valley camp, though she could not locate the intruder.
• Lord Ides ordered General Olom to coordinate with the Black Asia Orcs and arrest everyone who had entered the area within the past three hours.

Deborah escaped detection as Gray Orc General Olom investigated Black Asia Orc soldiers under Lord Edes's orders, worsening tensions with General Dades. Edes suspected the enemy had uncovered their presence, while Deborah decided to flee the valley camp and seek a new host.

• Deborah sensed danger in the tent, moved the sleeping Black Asia Orc assassin's soul, and hid before Black Asia Orc Warriors seized him.
• Olom ordered three Gray Orc Shaman Wizards to brutally search the memories of thirty-one Black Asia Orcs, but they found no infiltrators.
• Dades refused to let Olom harm his injured soldiers and ordered them taken away for treatment.
• Olom reported Dades's resistance to Lord Edes, who told him to inform Gamongri and discussed the Human Ninth Legion marshal and the Yagtilina Civilization with Xi.
• Deborah concluded the enemy knew she was present but could not locate her, so she began seeking a new host to leave the valley camp.

Deborah returned from her reconnaissance and reported a hidden Gray Orc camp marked “Blood Wing,” prompting Velin to seek intelligence on the unit. After learning it was a mysterious Magic Energy Mechanical Legion possibly designed to counter aerial forces, Velin delayed the offensive and prepared his troops, while Gamongri rearranged his forces for an ambush.

• Deborah escaped the valley camp and reported to Velin that she had found a hidden camp with a Blood Wing flag and Gray Orcs, but her presence may have been detected.
• Velin sent a magical Memory Crystal Orb to the Human Allied Forces Command Department to identify the Blood Wing unit.
• Gamongri ordered the allied forces to relocate to Gardnan Underground Fortress, reassigned Dades to logistics, and appointed Motana commander of the Second Army.
• Velin received intelligence identifying the hidden force as the Blood Wing—Magic Energy Mechanical Legion, whose capabilities and location were unknown and which might counter aerial targets.
• Velin postponed the offensive until more improved Magic Energy Cannons arrived and ordered the Floating Fleet to prepare for the Legion; frontline units increased their readiness.
• Velin and Gamongri recognized that both sides were making thorough preparations and that a war, if begun, might be beyond their control.

Velin accepted fate’s trial and chose to build a Ten-Thousand-Meter Floating Battleship within one hundred years, then began planning how to accomplish it. Months later, Lede Province entered a state of war, and the Ninth Legion prepared to attack the Black Asia Orc Northern Army at Celes Fortress.

• A Destiny Star Being told Velin that eating the Fish of Life had bound him to one of three trials, and assured him that fate would ensure his success.
• Velin chose the trial to construct a Ten-Thousand-Meter Floating Battleship within one hundred years and decided he would need his uncle’s help.
• Velin woke beneath the night sky and began planning how to learn, design, and gather materials for the battleship.
• In early May, Griffin Knights delivered orders across the region, and Lede Province entered the highest State of War as supplies were issued to its armies.
• Black Asia Orc assassins tried to carry news through the Shadow World, where the Ninth Legion’s Shadow Assassins hunted them and delayed their reports.
• At Celes Fortress, Ignis convened a pre-war meeting after more than eight thousand spellcasters arrived, preparing the garrison to lead the campaign against the Black Asia Orc Northern Army’s Third Legion.

The Seventeenth Legion and its allies launched a coordinated assault on the Black Asia Orc Polia Main Camp, while the Orcs intercepted the opening meteor barrage and prepared to meet the advancing Human Army. Harold’s Fourth Battalion weathered the Orc archers’ attack behind a magical shield, and the Orc General ordered his troops to charge.

• More than eight thousand mages sent meteors toward the Polia Main Camp as the Seventeenth Legion, Griffin Knights, and Dragon Rider Order advanced from several directions.
• Black Asia Orc elites intercepted the meteors aimed at the camp, but dozens struck the auxiliary camps and killed more than ten thousand Tribal Army soldiers.
• A wooden sphere carrying shamanic poison broke apart above the Second Army, and its white-haired commander swallowed the resulting energy beams with Battle Qi.
• A human legend and a Black Asia Orc legend watched from the Shadow World without engaging, as both recognized the larger war had not yet begun.
• Harold halted the Fourth Battalion before the Orc formations, raised a defensive Magic Shield, and ordered his soldiers to attack.
• The Orc archers’ arrows failed to penetrate the shield, so the Orc General withdrew them and ordered his warriors to charge for the Ithra Tribe and their god.

The Human forces defeated the Black Asia Orc Army at Polia Main Camp, forcing Manus to order a retreat while Ignis moved to exploit the rout and seize territory. As Manus reviewed the devastating losses, he warned his generals that the Ninth Legion and Ignis had formidable reserves.

• Manus ordered the Third Army to cover the retreat and the other troops to withdraw, destroying supplies they could not carry.
• A wounded High-Silver Warrior mourned his fallen comrades as the Black Asia Orcs began retreating.
• Ignis ordered pursuit of the retreating army and an advance into the border region while the other forces rested, treated the wounded, and recovered the dead.
• Manus reviewed the casualties in a southern city and learned that several units had suffered losses of around forty percent or worse, while the Third Army remained out of contact.
• Manus burned the casualty report and told his generals that the Human Ninth Legion and Ignis likely had powerful resources still in reserve.

After the defeat, Bartholomew warned a city lord to evacuate as war approached, while Manus remained under suspicion. At Kixilin Main Camp, Velin and Leonas questioned the enemy’s intentions and planned a cautious advance toward the Kamo Tribe Territory.

• Manus dismissed his officers and told them to inform their hidden allies to prepare more troops against the Human Ninth Legion.
• Bartholomew advised Manus not to remain trapped in defeat, then warned the city lord to evacuate residents and prepare food and wine.
• Velin reviewed Celes Fortress’s victory report, which listed heavy casualties for the Twenty-seventh Legion despite the Black Asia Orcs’ losses.
• Leonas argued that Manus may have used the battle as bait, and Velin proposed testing the enemy with the Twenty-fifth Legion.
• Velin planned to request an elite legion as backup and move the Legion Command Department forward, leaving Kixilin Main Camp as a defended logistics camp.

Gamongri visited the disgraced Dades, who was drinking after being removed from his post, and learned that Dades wanted to leave the Second Legion. Dades understood why Gamongri had placated the Gray Orcs, but said he could not accept dying because of a scheme.

• Gamongri read a letter from the Third Legion and decided not to stir up trouble because he feared drawing the attention of Manus's mother, the Black Moon Sword Saint.
• Gamongri learned that Dades had been drinking and went to speak with him at the Logistics Camp.
• Dades formally offered to give his Deputy Head of Logistics position to his sworn enemy, Mantis Zimmerman, and admitted he was dissatisfied with Gamongri's decision.
• Gamongri took Dades into his Demiplane and asked when he had first wanted to leave the Second Legion.
• Dades said he understood why Gamongri had appeased the Gray Orcs but could not accept dying because of a scheme.

Gamongri sent Dades to command a newly recruited Tribal Army and hinted at why he trusted him, while Archbishop Gerard considered how to reinforce Velin’s Ninth Legion. Gerard summoned Cyrus and shared the information from a Memory Crystal Orb with him.

• Gamongri gave Dades a Mithril Command Token and assigned him twenty thousand newly recruited tribal warriors in Dutaragas City to train until the war began.
• Gamongri told Dades that Motana had once served Manus as a black glove, and explained that Motana was a blade meant to be used only once against Manus.
• Gamongri promised to transfer Dades back to the Second Army before the war and told him to keep their conversation secret.
• A squad of Griffin Knights arrived at a Floating City near Yason City, where Archbishop Gerard read a Memory Crystal Orb and weighed which legion could reinforce Velin’s Ninth Legion.
• Gerard summoned Cyrus and sent him the information he had read from the Memory Crystal Orb.

Cyrus secured the Pope’s order to send four legions to the northern front, including the Holy Shield Legion and Star Oath Legion under Velin’s command. Velin’s forces then moved their supplies and troops into Leonas’s Demiplane and prepared to leave Kixilin Main Camp.

• Cyrus reported the Shia Beastmen’s rebellion and Velin Ex’s request for reinforcements to the Dawn Pontiff Emicilia, who assigned the Holy Shield Legion and Star Oath Legion to Velin and placed the Sword Guard Legion and Prayer Legion under Cyrus.
• Velin received the order assigning the Holy Shield Legion and Star Contract Legion to the Ninth Legion and rejoiced at gaining two elite legions for the northern campaign.
• Leonas arranged to use his Demiplane as a temporary camp and transfer base, and Auxiliary Soldiers moved the Kixilin Main Camp’s supplies into it.
• After the supplies and most of the forces had entered the Demiplane, Velin stood aboard a Floating Battleship and reflected on leaving Kixilin Main Camp.
• Xuemiyya teased Velin about supposedly slacking off, and Leonas arrived but quietly withdrew rather than interrupt the couple.

Velin reviewed two proposed sites for a City of War in the Kamo Tribe Territory and chose Kanapakka City, ordering it leveled as the Ninth Legion prepared for battle. After dismissing the commanders, he discussed Kyle’s army serving as bait and learned that allied legions and three Legendary experts would arrive within two days.

• Ignis presented two candidate sites for the City of War: Wamur Town and Kanapakka City, after scouts identified thirty-one suitable locations.
• Leonas supported Kanapakka City, Mafarna favored Wamur Town, and Selena and Pragorn declined to advise on the military decision.
• Velin chose Kanapakka City and ordered Ignis to level it within three days, then placed all units on the highest combat readiness.
• Velin asked Kyle about serving as bait, and Kyle said the Twenty-Fifth Army was eager for battle; Velin promised its soldiers first choice of mineral spoils.
• Leonas told Velin that the Shield of Holy Light Legion and the Star Contract Legion would arrive within two days with three Legendary experts.

Velin met with Leonas and three Legendary Experts who had arrived to support the Ninth Legion’s campaign against the Black Asia Orcs. He asked Caesar, April, and Simons Caswell to conceal themselves until the enemy revealed their full strength, and all three agreed.

• Velin welcomed Caesar, April Agnes Antoinette, and Simons Caswell when they arrived at Celes Fortress with Leonas.
• Leonas introduced the three Legends and revealed that April was his niece, though he called her sister.
• Velin brought the Legends into a tent, where he accepted Caesar’s offer to address him as an uncle.
• Velin asked Caesar, April, and Simons Caswell to hide their presence during the attack on Giant Stone Mountain Fortress until the Black Asia Orcs revealed their trump cards.
• Caesar, April, and Simons Caswell agreed to follow Velin’s orders.

Velin explained his plan to use himself as bait to lure out a Black Asia Orc Legendary Expert and break the deadlock on the northern battlefield. He agreed to let Leonas stay by his side, then joined Caesar in a Demiplane, where World Elf Shira Rely met Cecilia.

• Velin told Caesar, Leonas, and the others that he intended to risk himself to draw out a Black Asia Orc Legendary Expert, and Leonas offered to act as his double.
• Velin refused Leonas's offer, but agreed to let him remain by his side after Leonas threatened to tell Xuemiyya or Kyle about the plan.
• Velin made Leonas promise three times not to tell Kyle about the plan.
• At two in the morning, Caesar opened a Flowing Light Passage and took Velin to the Demiplane to see his troops.
• World Elf Shira Rely sensed another World Elf on Velin, and Velin opened a passage to Cecilia's Demiplane so the two elves could meet.

Shira Rely shared World Origin Qi fruit with Cecilia before Caesar showed Velin how the Holy Shield Legion appeared from silver cubes. Velin welcomed the legion into his Ninth Legion command and, after inspecting it, traveled with Caesar toward the Star Contract Legion.

• Shira Rely offered Cecilia World Origin Qi fruit, and Cecilia accepted a second fruit after Shira Rely insisted she had plenty.
• Velin and Caesar arrived at the Holy Shield Legion camp, where Caesar revealed the legion from hundreds of floating silver cubes.
• Namos Sainsbury introduced himself as commander of the Holy Shield Legion and confirmed that the Pope had placed the legion under Velin's command.
• Velin welcomed the Holy Shield Legion into the Ninth Legion and ordered Namos to keep the troops resting at the camp until further orders.
• The Shield Warriors vanished back into the silver cubes, and Caesar led Velin and the others toward the Star Contract Legion.

Velin watched Caesar awaken the Star Contract Legion and learned from its commander, Zephvia, about the legion’s human and Nightkin warriors and their origins. Zephvia offered to take Velin to the Galukaraia World after the war if the Pope approved.

• Caesar awakened the Star Contract Legion, revealing its human warriors in pale blue armor and Nightkin warriors in white armor.
• Caesar introduced Zephvia, the legion’s commander, to Velin as the legion’s immediate superior.
• Zephvia explained that the Nightkin Kalean Tribe came from the Astral Realm and settled in Galukaraia World with the God of Dawn’s help.
• Zephvia described the legion’s 7,859 Star Contracters and detailed their strength tiers and the Kalean Tribe’s homeland.
• Zephvia offered to take Velin to Galukaraia World after the war if the Pope approved, and Velin gladly accepted.

Velin watched the Seventh Camp of the Star Contract Legion arm and learned that its Star Runes produced Star Guards controlled by the Star Contracters. After returning to the main city, he resumed his duties unaware that Leonas had decided to hide the valuable military supplies in a demiplane.

• Caesar asked Zephvia to demonstrate the Star Contract Legion’s combat style, and she revealed her human appearance before ordering the Seventh Camp to arm.
• Three hundred Star Contracters summoned 2,480 Star Guards, whose ranks matched the Star Contracters’ pre-arming strength.
• Zephvia explained what the Star Guards were, and Velin ordered the Seventh Camp to disarm before leaving Caesar’s demiplane.
• Velin and Leonas returned to the main city, and Velin reminded Leonas of his promise before heading to the Command Department.
• Leonas decided to store the Holy Shield Legion and Star Contract Legion’s valuable military supplies in a demiplane, while Velin wondered why he felt he had lost something.

Gamongri learned that Velin would deploy the City of War at Kanapakka City and planned reinforcements while considering assassination as a last resort. Velin oversaw the City of War's activation and met its Central Spirit, while O'dor briefly suspected Velin was thinking of him.

• Gamongri read a spy's report that Velin planned to deploy the City of War at Kanapakka City and decided to await reinforcements, keeping assassination as a last resort.
• On July 18, Velin and the Ninth Legion's three vice marshals watched Leonas unfold the City of War at Kanapakka City.
• Leonas supplied the City of War core with High-Grade Magic Crystals and activated the city's dormant modular structures.
• Velin admired the completed City of War and considered whether O'dor could build one for Qixing Territory.
• O'dor felt that Velin might be thinking about him, then dismissed the suspicion and put off work on the Floating Battleship.
• The Letaya City of War Central Spirit appeared before Velin and offered to follow his instructions.

Manus learned that Gamongri had used him as bait to draw the Human Army toward Tase City, but chose to defend the city rather than retreat. The Twenty-fifth Legion assembled nearby as Tase City raised a barrier, and Kyle revealed that his legion’s real mission was to lure out a Gray Orc legion.

• Across several fronts, Human Allied Forces units advanced or staged operations to pressure Black Asia Orc forces and draw attention away from Tase City.
• Manus tore up Gamongri’s letter in a rage, then summoned Bartholomew and ordered him to prepare the Third Legion to defend Tase City.
• Bartholomew read the letter and asked whether Manus would inform his mother, but Manus refused and vowed to punish Gamongri after the battle.
• The Fifteenth Legion’s Third Camp captured a Black Asia Orc outpost north of Tase City, then received orders to halt and establish a camp for the approaching main force.
• More than fifty thousand soldiers of the Twenty-fifth Legion reached their temporary camp as the Black Asia Orc Third Legion withdrew its outpost troops around Tase City.
• At midnight, a barrier covered Tase City, and Kyle observed it, knowing the Twenty-fifth Legion’s mission was to lure out a Gray Orc legion.