Chapter Summaries

At the Royal Auction House, Roland’s clash with Duan escalated into a challenge to a Death Duel between Saint Domain experts. Roland hesitated to accept because O’Neal volunteered to fight and his death could destabilize Roland’s military leadership.

• Duan provoked Roland, and O’Neal attacked him, sending a Miles Family expert crashing through nearby buildings.
• O’Neal moved to strike Duan again, but Roland called him back before the Flame Kingdom guards could intervene.
• Lawson urged Roland and Duan to stop escalating the dispute, warning Duan not to jeopardize the Human Alliance conference and incur Seraphim’s anger.
• After whispering with the brown-haired young man, Duan challenged Roland’s side to a Death Duel, with each side sending a Saint Domain expert of the same level.
• O’Neal volunteered to fight, but Roland hesitated because losing him would disrupt the military balance in Roland’s territory.

Roland agreed to a death duel between O'Neal and the Miles Family’s champion, then learned that Phillips and the Terra Kingdom were likely behind Duan’s provocation. He planned to have Cassius support O'Neal in the fight the following day.

• Duan demanded that Roland apologize and agree to a death duel, and O'Neal vowed to defeat his opponent.
• Roland accepted a duel at the Land of Warriors and warned Duan that O'Neal had held back when he struck him.
• Roland and his companions entered the Royal Auction House, where Reff questioned whether O'Neal should fight and proposed raiding the Miles Family residence.
• Leslie identified Duan’s brown-haired companion as a member of the Terra Royal Family, leading Roland to suspect that Phillips had backed the Miles Family’s provocation.
• Roland said Cassius would attach himself to O'Neal and serve as his mount if the fight turned against him.

Roland and Leslie attended the Human Alliance auction, where the kingdoms used their attendance to display their strength and prestige. The auction opened with Lillian’s Legendary Dawn of the Other Shore magic pattern, tempting Roland even though no one in his territory could safely use it yet.

• Roland questioned why the weakened kingdoms were attending the auction, and Leslie explained they wanted to display their financial power and preserve their prestige.
• Roland considered how public recognition would help him establish his own kingdom and avoid opposition from the Human Alliance and neighboring powers.
• Alvis Jenkin opened the auction, stated its rules, and introduced the first item provided by Lillian Purple Thistle.
• Alvis revealed the Dawn of the Other Shore magic pattern, which could restore a Legendary powerhouse from nearly any injury and be used once a year.
• Roland told Leslie they could bid for the pattern if the price was not too high, since Dylan Fikernando was unlikely to withstand its engraving and no one else in Roland’s territory was Legendary.

At the auction, Storm Kingdom’s Matthias won the Legendary Dawn of the Other Shore magic pattern for forty-five million gold coins, while Roland considered Storm Kingdom’s influence and Leslie bluntly assessed Roland’s own. The next auction began with Dew of the Gods, a potion that could rapidly grant anyone Saint Domain strength and extend their life.

• Roland gave up bidding on Dawn of the Other Shore as its price climbed beyond his budget.
• Matthias, King of Storm Kingdom, competed with the Kingdom of Gild and won Dawn of the Other Shore for forty-five million gold coins.
• Matthias invited the nobles to a banquet, and Roland observed that few accepted; Leslie said Storm Kingdom had limited continental influence.
• Roland asked Leslie how many nobles would accept an invitation from him, and Leslie estimated only twenty percent, prompting Roland to glare at him.
• Alvis introduced Dew of the Gods, a Legendary potion provided by Holy Apothecary Lucifigus, and explained that it could grant Saint Domain strength and extend lifespan.

Roland and Phillips competed for the Dew of the Gods at auction, with Phillips believing Roland wanted it for his mother and driving the price far beyond its value. Roland ultimately withdrew at thirty million gold coins, leaving him to seek another way to protect Old Nob.

• Roland raised the Dew of the Gods bid to fifteen million gold coins, and Phillips responded with sixteen million.
• Phillips considered stopping at twenty-five million, but a black-armored advisor argued that Roland wanted the potion for his mother, Gweniel, and Phillips resumed bidding.
• Phillips raised the price to twenty-six million gold coins, and Roland cautiously answered with another bid.
• Phillips unexpectedly pushed the price to thirty million gold coins, astonishing the auction hall.
• Roland gave up on the potion, revealing that he had wanted it to reverse-engineer its formula and help Old Nob become a Saint Domain expert.

Roland outmaneuvered Phillips during the auction, then bought the second bottle of Dew of the Gods after Archmage Seraphim intervened to demand unity among humanity. The auction resumed peacefully, leaving Roland with the potion for sixteen million gold coins and Phillips furious.

• Phillips bought the first bottle of Dew of the Gods for twenty-nine million gold coins after Roland refused to raise his bid.
• Alvis revealed that Lucifigus had supplied three bottles, and Roland taunted Phillips as the second bottle’s price rose.
• Phillips resisted competing with Roland after Cameron warned him that Roland was baiting him.
• Archmage Seraphim’s overwhelming aura silenced the hall, and his warning against conflict among humans made the nobles submit.
• Roland won the second bottle of Dew of the Gods for sixteen million gold coins as the auction continued without further bidding.

Roland attended an auction where Garfield’s custom Bloodline Potion opportunity and a set of Level 18 wood-element equipment were sold. Roland won the equipment for Alice, while he left the auction still interested in finding a way to recruit Garfield.

• Alvis auctioned Garfield’s custom Bloodline Potion opportunity, and the Char Family won it for five million gold coins.
• Roland recalled Junot’s past arrangement for him to study under Garfield and told Leslie to contact Garfield about joining Roland’s territory.
• Alvis presented a four-piece set of Level 18 wood-element Saint Domain equipment, and nobles began bidding enthusiastically.
• Roland bid twelve million gold coins and won the equipment, intending to give it to Alice.

Roland and Duane competed over a set of earth-element Saint Domain equipment, with Duane winning after spending far beyond his limits to keep it from Roland. Roland then bid aggressively on other high-level equipment, acquiring nearly half of the next twenty lots and spending over twenty million gold coins.

• Roland offered to buy the earth-element equipment for O'Neal, with the cost to be deducted from O'Neal's future salary.
• Roland and Duane raised their bids for the four-item set until Duane won it for fifteen million one hundred thousand gold coins.
• Duane realized he had drained the Miles Family's available funds and would have to sell accumulated assets, while Roland reassured O'Neal and said he could find similar equipment elsewhere.
• An old marquis family bought the Wind Spirit Scepter for two million three hundred fifty thousand gold coins, and Roland did not bid because he had no wind-element Saint Domain Mage.
• Roland bid on the following high-level Saint Domain items and acquired nearly half of more than twenty lots, spending over twenty million gold coins.

At the Human Alliance auction, Roland observed prices falling as the nations recovered from the Demon Disaster and considered shifting his territory’s focus toward internal development. The Level 19 divine artifact Sword of the Hell Abyss sold for 18.5 million gold coins, while Roland declined to bid and saved his remaining funds for later lots.

• Phillips told Cameron that the Terra Kingdom should avoid direct conflict with Roland, rebuild its strength, and seek renewed cooperation with the kingdoms of Autran and Storm.
• Roland learned that Level 18 Spirit Agility Potions had fallen to about 600,000 gold coins each, and he discussed the changing market and his territory’s future development with Leslie.
• The Cardina and Ribela Kingdoms auctioned more than thirty territories, earning nearly 30 million gold coins as nobles from other countries bought the lands.
• Alvis presented the Level 19 divine artifact Sword of the Hell Abyss, and Reff suggested buying it to resell to hell through Herman.
• Roland rejected Reff’s suggestion to preserve his funds and avoid attracting attention, and the Sword of the Hell Abyss sold for 18.5 million gold coins.

Roland won the Level 20 Pluto Armor for twenty-one million gold coins after Phillips stopped bidding, then bought several more treasures as the auction continued. As the day-long event neared its end, Alvis revealed an almost-hatched black dragon egg, sending the nobles into a frenzy.

• Roland and Phillips bid against each other for the Pluto Armor until Roland won it for twenty-one million gold coins.
• Leslie told Roland that the territory still had enough funds for further purchases, and Roland declined to bid on a Dark Element divine artifact staff.
• Roland bought several more treasures while Phillips and Duan held back, and the auction's total value reached one billion gold coins.
• Alvis presented a three-meter black dragon egg that was close to hatching, and the nobles became eager to bid on it.

At an auction, Alvis explained that the Black Dragon Egg came from a traitorous black dragon killed by the Arcane Empire, and bidding quickly climbed into the tens of millions. King Amalfi Simons of the Northern Kingdom ultimately won it for sixty million gold coins, leaving Roland’s group to speculate that it was for Amalfi’s newly adult grandson.

• Alvis assured the nobles that the dragon race had authorized the sale of the Black Dragon Egg after the Arcane Empire killed its traitorous parent.
• Bidding for the egg surged, while Roland refused O'Neal’s request to buy it and promised him an adult dragon after he reached Legendary.
• Roland also promised Reff an adult dragon, and Leslie guessed King Amalfi wanted the egg for his grandson.
• Amalfi bid sixty million gold coins, ending the contest, and Alvis announced him as the egg’s buyer.

Amalfi revealed to Edmund that the Northern Kingdom planned to become an empire by allying with the Black Dragon clan, and sent him to approach its lord after the Human Alliance conference. Meanwhile, Roland considered how the alliance could weaken the dragons, and the auction cleared out the major noble houses before its final item was revealed.

• Amalfi told Edmund that the Northern Kingdom would use the demons’ new Spatial Rifts to pursue its long-standing ambition of becoming an empire.
• Amalfi explained that he had spent thirty years cultivating ties with the Black Dragon clan and planned to bind the alliance through Lann, then ordered Edmund to visit the Mysterious Sea after the conference.
• Roland considered the benefits of the Black Dragon clan leaving the dragon race and joining the Northern Kingdom, since that would weaken a potential threat to his territory.
• Alvis announced that only kingdom-level factions could bid on the auction’s final item and asked the major noble houses to leave.
• Archmage Seraphim supported the seller’s restriction, and the nobles reluctantly left the auction hall.

Roland watched the auction unveil the Earth-Element Perfect Breathing Technique, a treasure that could greatly improve an earth-element Saint Domain Warrior’s chance of reaching Legendary. Its seller, Ruin Mills, accused the Iron Shield Kingdom of helping exterminate his royal family, leaving the other kingdoms suspicious as Seraphim stopped an apparent attack on him.

• Alvis revealed that the pale-blue book was the Lance Kingdom’s Earth-Element Perfect Breathing Technique, which could raise the chance of a breakthrough to Legendary by at least thirty percent.
• Ruin Mills introduced himself as a surviving legitimate descendant of the Lance royal family.
• Marcus Benny challenged Ruin’s claim, and Ruin accused the Iron Shield Kingdom of ambushing Lance Kingdom refuge sites and killing his family.
• Faen unleashed a lethal aura at Ruin, but Seraphim blocked it and said the Human Alliance’s Inspection Department would investigate the accusation.
• The other kingdoms turned wary and hostile toward the Iron Shield Kingdom, while Roland suspected it had exterminated the Lance royal bloodline to seize its territory.

Ruilin auctioned the Perfect Breathing Technique to the Sacred Alliance Empire, choosing its help to restore the Lance Kingdom. Roland returned to his estate with his auction purchases and gave Dylan Fikernando the Pluto Armor, whose power thrilled the assembled experts and prompted them to discuss challenging the Terra Kingdom’s Guardian Dragon.

• Ruilin asked the kingdoms to offer terms in writing in exchange for the Perfect Breathing Technique and help restoring the Lance Kingdom and protecting him from the Iron Shield Kingdom.
• Roland submitted an offer of slaves, soldiers, protection, supplies, and Saint Domain Potions, but Ruilin chose the Sacred Alliance Empire.
• Roland returned to his estate with his auction winnings, including the Pluto Armor, and told his experts that the equipment would be exchanged for Military Merit.
• Roland gave the Level 20 Pluto Armor to Dylan Fikernando, who donned it and released a powerful aura.
• Reff and the other experts suggested using Dylan to lure out and kill the Terra Kingdom’s Guardian Dragon, and Dylan rebuked them because the dragon was stronger than he was.

Roland distributed Saint Domain equipment to his subordinates and noticed Vio feeling excluded. After hearing Vio’s concerns about the demons’ power in the territory, Roland proposed strengthening the Church of Dawn to balance them.

• Roland gave Kailon the Storm Hammer and distributed the remaining Saint Domain equipment among his subordinates.
• Roland noticed Vio standing apart from the others and invited him to walk beside the manor’s artificial lake.
• Vio told Roland that the demons’ strength, especially Dylan Fikernando’s influence and the Dark Hell Mage Regiment, could threaten the territory.
• Roland suggested supporting Vio’s Church of Dawn so it could grow strong enough to balance the demons.

Roland recruited Vio to keep the Church of Dawn under watch and prepared O'Neal for the coming battle. Duke Alix delivered powerful equipment from the Medici Family and asked Roland to treat his mother well if he rescued her, leaving O'Neal outfitted and confident for the fight against the Miles Family.

• Roland recruited Vio as a vanguard against the demons and gave him the Holy Spirit Sword, intending to keep him close and learn about Cecilia's movements.
• Roland told Cassius to protect O'Neal in the battle the next day, while Cassius dismissed O'Neal's request to practice their tactics.
• Alix returned with the Level 18 Heavy Earth Blade and Rock Vein boots, promising a full set of Top Saint Domain equipment in three days and a borrowed earth-attribute divine artifact in seven.
• Alix explained that the Medici Family wanted to help Roland win and asked him to treat his mother better if he rescued her; Roland promised she would reunite with him soon.
• Roland gave the new equipment to O'Neal, who put it on and declared he could defeat the Miles Family's fighter even without Cassius's help.

Roland and the Miles Family signed a death contract for their duel, but Roland became wary of their fighter, Bolso, after sensing a strange force of death within him. Alix arrived with a warning that Bolso was a Death Cultist.

• Roland taunted Duan before Ailan Whitney arrived to oversee the death duel.
• O'Neal and Bolso signed the death contract, which required the battle to end in one side's death.
• Roland sensed a hidden force of death within Bolso and ordered Reff and Leslie to investigate him.
• Alix arrived at Roland's resting room and warned him that Bolso was a Death Cultist.

Roland learned that Bolso, the Death Church’s pope, could draw on the Goddess of Death’s power and pose a threat beyond O’Neal’s ability to overcome. Alix urged Roland to seek Seraphim’s help, and Roland used a teleportation scroll to travel to him.

• Alix revealed that Bolso was the Death Church’s pope and could borrow the Goddess of Death’s power.
• Roland realized O’Neal could not safely face Bolso, but withdrawing would violate the death contract and damage Roland’s standing.
• Alix proposed that Seraphim lend O’Neal power to counter the Goddess of Death, while warning that calling on Zarick would risk human opposition.
• Alix explained his connection to Seraphim and described him as a scholar who valued truth over power.
• Roland accepted Alix’s Spatial Teleportation Scroll and vanished from the lounge to meet Seraphim.

Roland was teleported to a hall containing an active Star Gate and met Archmage Seraphim, who explained that he used it to search nearby demiplanes for valuable resources. Seraphim then hinted that his own Star Gate experiments might have caused disasters, leaving Roland unsure how to respond.

• Roland arrived in a hall and recognized the mysterious doorway as a Star Gate.
• Seraphim appeared and assured Roland that the Star Gate was searching only for demiplanes near the Saint Nor Continent.
• Roland greeted Seraphim, who examined him and joked that he had once been more handsome.
• Roland asked why Seraphim searched for barren demiplanes, and Seraphim described their rare void metals and potential as foundations for divine kingdoms.
• Roland praised Seraphim's experiments, but Seraphim asked how Roland knew they had never caused disasters in his hands.

Roland negotiated with Seraphim over joining the Arcane Empire, securing its neutrality in his conflict with the Terra Kingdom and help with his mother and O'Neal. Seraphim’s sole condition was that Roland eventually join an assault to destroy the Elf Empire, a demand Roland doubted he could fulfill.

• Seraphim explained his belief in fair exchange and asked Roland to choose whether to join the Arcane Empire.
• Roland asked how the Arcane Empire would respond if he went to war with the Terra Kingdom, and Seraphim agreed to remain neutral between them.
• Roland asked Seraphim to help with his mother and O'Neal; Seraphim promised an answer about his mother within three days and said he would secretly sever Bolso’s connection to the Goddess of Death before the Death Duel.
• Seraphim asked Roland to launch an all-out attack on the Elf Empire alongside the Arcane Empire, and Roland questioned whether they could defeat it.
• Seraphim described the Elf Empire’s strength and proposed destroying its small population rather than fighting its strongest defenders.