Chapter Summaries

Roland and the Hidden Valley Clan used three thousand Ice Elf Priests to cross the burning forest and freeze half the lava lake, then launched an overwhelming assault on Hestral’s Flame Demon Legion. The battle turned in their favor, while Hestral retreated with three Saint Domain Flame Demons toward the lava lake’s depths and waited for Azmo’s reinforcements.

• Ella and three thousand Ice Elf Priests carved a passage through the inferno and froze part of the lava lake after Roland promised them food supplies.
• Roland ordered the attack, and thousands of mages and priests killed more than a hundred Flame Demons in the opening barrage.
• Hestral rejected Kao’s suggestion to retreat and said Azmo would arrive with reinforcements within half a day.
• Cassius and the other Saint Domain experts devastated the demon forces, so Hestral led Kao, Skul, and Loki toward the center of the lava lake.
• Roland ordered Felicia, Salite, and the other Saint Domain experts to pursue the four Flame Demon leaders while his troops protected the spellcasters.
• Roland’s forces kept bombarding the Flame Demons, and the balance of the battle gradually shifted in their favor.

Roland took command of the Saint Domain battle after learning another Flame Demon Legion was approaching, and organized a plan to draw one of the Flame Demons out of the lava. The main battle remained in the allied forces’ favor as the Flame Demons struggled against their mages and warriors.

• The Hidden Valley Clan’s priests stabilized their line against the elite demons, while Ella and the Ice Elf priests repeatedly restored the ice shattered by the Flame Demons.
• Roland learned that reinforcements were at least half a day away and ordered O’Neal to finish the battle within two hours, prioritizing the deaths of all eight thousand Flame Demons.
• At the lava lake, Roland found that the Saint Domain fighters had failed to coordinate against the four Flame Demons hiding underwater.
• Salit agreed to let Roland command the Saint Domain battle after he warned that another Flame Demon Legion was approaching.
• Felicia and Natalie shielded Cassius, Kailon, Dylan, and Salit, who then plunged into the lava to bring out the weakest Flame Demon.

Cassius and the others used Salite’s mental spells to capture Flame Demons from the magma lake, while Hestral and Skul abandoned Kao and tried to escape. Kao surrendered to Roland in exchange for his core being taken and Hestral and Skul being killed, as the battle against them continued.

• Salite incapacitated Hestral and the other Saint Domain Flame Demons, allowing Cassius, Kailon, and Dylan Fikernando to drag one out of the magma lake, where the allies killed it.
• Cassius led a second dive and, with Salite’s help, the group captured Kao while Hestral and Skul fled westward.
• Kao, overwhelmed by the allies’ attacks, surrendered and demanded that Roland kill Hestral and Skul in exchange for his core.
• Roland’s reinforcements surrounded Hestral and Skul, and Hestral fought them while the foxfolk priests slowed him with spells.
• Roland agreed to Kao’s terms, promising to take his core and kill Hestral and Skul.

Roland and the Hidden Valley Clan defeated Hestral’s Flame Demons, then withdrew before Azmo’s reinforcements arrived. Conrad blamed Borkan for Roland’s interference in the Beastkin Empire and agreed to help Borkan hold off his enemies when he invaded Saint Nor Continent within two years.

• Kao surrendered his Flame Demon Heart to Roland, and Roland’s allies stopped Hestral from escaping into the lava lake and killed him and Skul.
• Roland declined Reff’s proposal to attack Azmo’s legion because his forces were exhausted, then ordered the army to withdraw after defeating the Flame Demons.
• Azmo arrived too late, learned from the battlefield that Hestral and the Fourth Legion’s Flame Demons had been lost, and reported the defeat to Conrad.
• Conrad blamed Roland’s actions on Borkan’s failure to control the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands and demanded compensation.
• Borkan refused to compensate Conrad but offered him half the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands and Roland in exchange for help against opposing Legendary experts during Borkan’s invasion within two years.

After driving off the Flame Demon Legion, Roland counted the spoils and casualties from the battle and arranged rewards and improvements for his forces. He returned to the Dawn’s captain’s cabin, where High Priestess Ella was waiting for him.

• A Griffin Knight reported that Azmo’s Flame Demon Legion had withdrawn from the Valde Great Forest and was marching north, so Roland ordered his forces recalled.
• Reff reported the captured Flame Demons, equipment, magic crystals, and other spoils, which Roland estimated were worth at least eighty million gold coins.
• Sanita asked to exchange the Hidden Valley Clan’s twenty-percent share of the spoils for weapons, armor, and grain, and Roland agreed.
• After Sanita and the foxkin elders departed, Reff reported the battle’s casualties, and Roland ordered Flame Demon equipment prioritized for the fortress and guard legions.
• Roland criticized his forces’ defenses, ordered the army back to the territory, and met with High Priestess Ella in the captain’s cabin.

Roland discussed the Ice Elf clan’s alliance with High Priestess Ella, including their move to the Azure Sea Region and the changes they wanted to make to its climate. He accepted their request and promised to protect the clan, which numbered only eleven thousand.

• Roland recalled that, after months of secret negotiations, the Ice Elves had pledged loyalty in exchange for an autonomous habitat in the Azure Sea Region.
• Ella told Roland that the Ice Elves planned to relocate within two months and asked permission to freeze the northern waters, lowering the region’s temperature and shortening its summers.
• Roland agreed to the climate changes, confident his territory’s grain supply could withstand the loss of a harvest.
• Ella revealed that the Ice Elf clan had only eleven thousand members, though their long lifespans had allowed them to accumulate many powerful priests.
• Roland promised to protect the Ice Elves, easing Ella’s fears about the risks of leaving the Frozen Realm.

Roland returned to Azure Tide City and urged his officials to consider voluntary marriages with Sea God Race women to strengthen unity among the territory’s different races. After learning that the Ice Elves had agreed to join, he asked Leslie how to break down lingering distrust, and Leslie proposed a high-profile marriage alliance.

• Roland returned to Double Gate Island, where Caesar ran past him to greet Dylan Fikernando instead, and Roland reunited with Elizabeth.
• At the Administrative Department headquarters, Roland called for voluntary intermarriage between humans and the Sea God Race to reduce racial distrust, but the officials and Felicia reacted with hesitation.
• Roland ordered the territory to register the battle spoils, tally Military Merit, recruit people in need, and prepare for the Ice Elves’ arrival.
• Roland announced that the Ice Elves had chosen to join the territory, prompting excitement from Reff and concern from Felicia and Natalie about their standing.
• After the meeting, Leslie warned Roland not to force intermarriage and proposed arranging a grand marriage between a high-ranking human and a high-ranking sea demon.
• When Roland suggested that Leslie marry another woman, Leslie cursed at him and told him to get lost.

Over two years, Roland’s territory grew into a kingdom-level power, with formidable armies, many Saint Domain experts, and booming agriculture and trade. As the chapter ended, the Human Alliance ignored the Three Great Kingdoms’ accusations and rewarded Roland with the title of Human Marquis.

• Roland’s potion investments helped his experts grow stronger, and his territory’s Saint Domain ranks reached twenty-five.
• Roland expanded and equipped his legions and Mage Regiments, making them powerful forces while keeping the Black Knight Brigade capped at three thousand until Borkan was dealt with.
• Reff’s efforts brought nearly ten million slaves to the territory, which developed farmland, mines, and trade across the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands.
• Alice helped more than a thousand elves return to the Elf Empire, enabling James to open a profitable grain trade route through it.
• The Three Great Kingdoms accused Roland of twelve offenses, but the Human Alliance ignored their complaint and granted Roland the title of Human Marquis.

Roland completed Felicia’s Mage Tower with help from Valentine, whose magic arrays gave the tower powerful defenses and battlefield spells. The new tower strengthened Double Gate Island, while Roland hinted that another Mage Tower would soon be built for Alice.

• Roland thanked Valentine for inscribing the magic arrays and paid him with six Saint Domain Potions, after already providing a generous deposit.
• Valentine learned Roland planned another Mage Tower and agreed to help again whenever Roland needed him.
• Felicia thanked Roland for completing her Mage Tower, then became irritated when he dismissed her gratitude as overexcitement.
• Felicia explained that her twenty-eight-floor tower could support thousands of mages and apprentices and withstand attacks from Legendary powerhouses.
• Felicia revealed that her tower could cast a battlefield Forbidden Spell, strengthening Double Gate Island against large invading armies.

Roland learned that Felicia’s Mage Tower could drain enemies’ lifespans, then ordered a campaign to clear the ox demons from the Boya Sea Region. He also reviewed the territory’s trade and suspended business with the Flame Kingdom after the Miles Family seized a shipment.

• Felicia explained that her Waterwood Years domain could drain lifespan and trap enemies, prompting Roland to leave her Mage Tower rather than enter.
• Roland ordered Reff’s Military Affairs Department to eliminate the demons in the Boya Sea Region within half a month and bring newly advanced Saint Domain personnel for experience.
• James reported September trade profits and expenses, then told Roland that the Miles Family had seized goods bound for the Flame Kingdom.
• James explained that House Lancelot had protested but the Flame Kingdom’s Noble Council had taken no action, and House Lancelot wanted future transactions completed only upon delivery.
• Leslie warned that the Demon Disaster could cause continent-wide food shortages within a year, and Roland ordered trade with the Flame Kingdom suspended while vowing to recover his losses from the Miles Family.

Roland considered the Malfoy Family’s request for help against a Demon Disaster and demanded a long-term contract that would bring Zorn Malfoy to Double Gate Island. He also discussed the imprisoned demons and the Hidden Valley Clan’s growing dependence on him, leaving his allies determined to keep strengthening their position.

• Fili told Roland that the Malfoy Family had requested help because the Autran royal family was pressuring Zorn Malfoy to sign a lifetime representation contract.
• Roland rejected the family’s offer of a three-year contract and demanded ten years of representation rights and for Zorn to reside permanently on Double Gate Island.
• Roland told Fili to contact Commander Dylan, noting that few forces dared defy the Autran royal family and that the Malfoy Family’s crisis could be made more serious.
• Roland and Leslie discussed Luisa and Kao’s refusal to submit, and Roland said Salite could restrain them if they chose loyalty.
• Leslie recognized that the Hidden Valley Clan might eventually need Roland’s protection from other clans, and Roland urged him not to worry about the consequences of growing stronger.

Borkan descended to Saint Nor Continent and agreed to join forces with Mikhail against Roland after learning how strong Roland had become. Meanwhile, the Malfo Family sought to keep Zorn Malfoy’s contract, unaware that both the Autran Royal Family and Roland saw their wealth as an opportunity to seize.

• Borkan emerged from the spatial rift and met Mikhail, who offered to help him attack Roland in exchange for a share of the humans’ souls.
• Mikhail explained that the Terra Royal Family had asked him to kill Roland, but he had waited because he wanted Borkan’s army to help gather souls.
• Borkan read Mikhail’s intelligence about Roland’s two Mage Towers, more than twenty Saint Domain experts, and alliance with Salite, then agreed to cooperate.
• Borkan and Mikhail argued over how to divide the souls, with neither demon conceding much ground.
• The chapter described how Zorn Malfoy’s alchemy achievements had restored the Malfo Family’s fortunes, and how the family hoped to retain his agency contract.
• The Malfo Family remained unaware that the Autran Royal Family and Roland were preparing to take advantage of its wealth.

The Malfo Family faced defeat as demons besieged their castle, and Merrick agreed to Roland’s terms when a force of Dark Angels appeared to threaten them. Zorn was sent to Double Gate Island, and Dylan Ficando’s Dark Angels then crushed the besieging army before leaving the Malfo Family stunned.

• The demons besieged the Malfo Family castle, while the defenders’ dwindling supplies and heavy losses left them unable to hold out for long.
• Merrick received Roland’s offer, which demanded a ten-year agency contract and that Zorn reside permanently in the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands.
• The Malfo Family learned that over a thousand Dark Angels were approaching and suspected Roland had sent them to force the family’s submission.
• Merrick accepted Roland’s terms, and Zorn agreed to go with Chopper’s escort to Double Gate Island.
• Two days later, Dylan Ficando led a thousand Dark Angels in destroying the besieging Demon Army and killing six Demon Commanders before departing.

Roland welcomed the Malfo Family’s submission, then learned the demons had withdrawn from the Boya Sea Region and ordered greater vigilance. As powerful figures emerged from a Spatial Rift over Double Gate Island and demon legions invaded several seas, Gustav chose to sacrifice himself so Ulysses and the Storm Pirates could escape and pledge themselves to Roland.

• Roland instructed Fili to give Zorn Malfoy the finest reception and arrange a meeting after he settled in.
• Reff reported that the Minotaur Legion had retreated into the Mysterious Sea, so Roland paused development in the Boya Sea Region and ordered surveillance around Double Gate Island.
• A Spatial Rift opened over Double Gate Island, and two terrifying figures emerged; Roland and more than a dozen Saint Domain experts flew up to confront them.
• The Balrog Legion attacked the Mystic Tide Sea Region as demons poured through Spatial Rifts, including a million-strong force and a Dark Angel Legion that struck the Cloudy Waves Sea Region.
• Gustav ordered Ulysses to lead the Storm Pirates to the Azure Sea Region and pledge themselves to Roland, while he stayed behind to cover their retreat.

Roland faced Borkan and Mikhail, two Legendary Great Demons threatening Double Gate Island, and summoned Fire Dragon King Zarick’s power. Zarick’s phantom River of Flame trapped the demons, leaving their fate dependent on Lord Theodore’s response.

• Borkan demanded that Roland hand over Michael, Minos, Luisa, and Kao, while Mikhail revealed he wanted the souls of Roland’s subjects.
• Roland offered Mikhail a reward to leave, but Mikhail demanded the souls of everyone under Roland’s rule, and Roland refused.
• Roland activated a dark crimson Dragon Scale, prompting Mikhail to recognize Fire Dragon King Zarick’s aura and attempt to flee.
• A vast phantom River of Flame descended over Double Gate Island, forcing Roland and the other Saint Domain experts to the ground and trapping Borkan and Mikhail.
• Mikhail explained that escaping would send them into Zarick’s dragon kingdom, and said their only hope was for Lord Theodore to act quickly.

Dragon King Zarick used the phantom River of Flame to trap the Legendary Great Demons Mikhail and Borkan, and Cassius revealed that Zarick had established an earthly divine kingdom. Zarick appeared and agreed to kill Borkan for Roland, then engulfed both demons in a battle that left him firmly in control.

• Borkan attacked Roland with his divine artifact longsword, but Zarick’s River of Flame erased the strike and confined Borkan and Mikhail within a hundred-meter radius.
• Cassius revealed that Zarick had established an earthly divine kingdom, explaining how he could summon the River of Flame without Igniting Divine Fire.
• Zarick appeared as a colossal fire dragon and greeted Roland, who shamelessly tried to make him an adoptive father before asking him to kill Borkan.
• Zarick enveloped Mikhail and Borkan in the River of Flame, dismissed their threats about the Demon Lord, and joined the battle.
• Zarick’s flames overwhelmed the demons’ energy as the battle tore long Spatial Rifts through the sky.

Zarick killed Borkan, then drove off the newly arrived Hell Dragon Theodore after their battle threatened Double Gate Island. With Mikhail gravely wounded and surrounded, Roland learned who had allowed the demons to attack and bargained to let Mikhail go in exchange for his Demon Mage Trans-species Books.

• Borkan died in the River of Flame, and Theodore arrived to attack Zarick, sending their battle’s devastation toward Double Gate Island.
• Roland and the Saint Domain experts protected the island while Olivia and Felicia shielded its residents beneath the Mage Towers.
• Cassius relayed Roland’s plea to Zarick, who drew Theodore into a Spatial Rift and ended the battle near the island.
• Roland surrounded the weakened Mikhail and learned that Phillips had let him go, while an Arcane Empire expert had diverted Borkan to the Beastkin Empire.
• Roland refused Mikhail’s offer to help kill Phillips, then revealed that the surrounding experts would not let Mikhail leave without a price.
• Mikhail agreed to hand over every Demon Mage Trans-species Book he carried in exchange for safe passage.

After defeating the demon threat over Double Gate Island, Roland learned that more demon legions were attacking his territories and dispatched forces to meet them. Enraged by Phillips’s attempt to have him killed, he tasked Leslie with winning the Terra Kingdom’s seven eastern provinces by backing a royal prince and offering nobles a share in founding a nation.

• Mikhail gave Felicia three Demon Mage Trans-species Books before Roland let him leave Double Gate Island.
• A Griffin Knight reported that Balrogs and Dark Angels were attacking Roland’s territories, so Roland sent Reff and O'Neal with troops to reinforce the threatened sea regions.
• Leslie reported that the fighting had caused limited damage, and Roland ordered cleanup and supplies sent to the front.
• After learning Phillips had been restraining Mikhail, Roland rejected Leslie’s plan to appeal to the Human Alliance and demanded action against Phillips.
• Roland ordered Leslie to seek the seven eastern provinces of the Terra Kingdom by supporting a royal prince and promising the cooperating nobles a share in founding a nation.
• Leslie warned that the plan faced serious obstacles but agreed to do his utmost.

As Roland led the campaign to defeat Borkan’s demon legions, he struggled to supply the army and keep trade moving while Leslie pursued their covert plan against Phillips. Dragon King Zarick arrived in a weak avatar, and Roland welcomed him with lavish praise and gifts while confirming the promised payment for his intervention.

• Roland ordered supplies sent to the front, asked Zorn Malfoy to produce more Magic Cannonballs, and directed James to negotiate for merchant ships to transport grain.
• James reported that the war had crippled shipping and threatened trade revenue, and Roland warned him to record any nobles who demanded outrageous prices.
• Alice told Roland that his godfather had arrived, and he hurried to the main hall to meet Zarick.
• Zarick explained that he was a Sky Warrior-strength avatar while his true body remained in the Mysterious Sea.
• Roland ordered a banquet and gifts for Zarick, who insisted that his intervention fee remain unchanged, and Roland confirmed that thirty million gold coins were ready.

Roland gave Zarick thirty million gold coins and tried to hire him as a guardian, but the two bargained over the price and forged a family bond while eyeing each other’s resources. Zarick revealed the continent’s known God Kingdom level experts and left Roland’s questions about their powers unanswered.

• Roland presented Zarick with treasures worth thirty million gold coins and offered him an annual share to guard the territory, but Zarick demanded payment for each intervention and pushed for a higher price.
• Zarick admitted that perfecting his God Kingdom had left him nearly penniless, and Roland promised to supply rare metals; Zarick then declared Roland his second child.
• Zarick named the human experts with God Kingdoms and the Pope of the Church of Dawn, whose divine incarnation surpassed them, and Roland was relieved that none were on the North Continent.
• Zarick listed the known God Kingdom level experts among the beastkin, giants, elves, dwarves, and barbarians, but kept the dragon race’s numbers secret.
• Roland asked about God Kingdom powers and Divine Fire, but Zarick refused to answer, even when Roland offered another generous gift.