Chapter Summaries

Ruslan swallowed Greed's Eye, regained his youth, and gained immense power, then challenged Yoru Machi to prove his strength. Yoru Machi sent him flying again, leaving Ruslan stunned by how badly their clash had gone.

• Ruslan's body regained its youth as Greed's Eye greatly increased his magic power and physical strength.
• Ruslan taunted Yoru Machi and attacked him at high speed using only his physical prowess.
• Yoru Machi blocked Ruslan's sword strike, surprising him and prompting Ruslan to recognize Yoru Machi as at least Alice Midgar's equal.
• Yoru Machi increased the force of their clash and sent Ruslan crashing through a thick stone pillar and across the cathedral floor.
• Ruslan stood up with numb hands and wondered why Yoru Machi had defeated him even more decisively than before.

Ruslan regained confidence after unleashing the immense magic power he had absorbed through Greed's Eye, but Yoru Machi removed his hair tie and revealed a vastly greater power. Yoru Machi's magic power pierced the academy's barrier, leaving Ruslan terrified and unable to believe what he was seeing.

• Ruslan accused Yoru Machi of using magic power and unleashed the dark crimson magic power he had absorbed through Greed's Eye.
• Ruslan convinced himself that his magic power and swordsmanship surpassed Yoru Machi's, while Yoru Machi remarked that the royal capital had disappointed his expectations.
• Yoru Machi explained that he carried an Ancient Artifact and removed his hair tie, which Ruslan initially dismissed as insignificant.
• Yoru Machi released an enormous pillar of blue magic power that pierced through Greed's Eye's barrier around the academy.
• Ruslan stared at Yoru Machi's overwhelming magic power in terror and insisted that an Ancient Artifact like the hair tie was impossible.

Yoru Machi revealed that his hair-binding Ancient Artifact sealed his magic power, then agreed to fight Ruslan with their magic power matched so they could settle the difference in their swordsmanship and decide who lived. Their duel began in the cathedral, where Yoru Machi praised Ruslan’s skill but said his sword had developed a flaw.

• Yoru Machi explained that removing his hair-binding Ancient Artifact had released his own sealed magic power rather than increased it.
• Ruslan accepted that he could not defeat Yoru Machi with their full strength and asked to see his sword before dying.
• Yoru Machi agreed to suppress his magic power to Ruslan’s level and make their duel a fight to the death.
• Yoru Machi and Ruslan clashed swords in the cathedral, and Ruslan attacked from changing angles instead of meeting him head-on.
• Yoru Machi praised Ruslan’s refined swordsmanship but said reclaiming his peak through external means had left his sword lacking conviction.

Yoru Machi defeated Ruslan by showing him the conviction behind his sword, and Ruslan realized he had lost the dreams that once drove him. After Ruslan died, Sherry Barnett mourned him while Shadow Lord arrived too late to find a fight.

• Ruslan rejected Yoru Machi’s claim that conviction made a sword stronger, so Yoru Machi demonstrated the difference in their blades.
• Yoru Machi’s relentless attacks made Ruslan recognize the conviction to grow stronger and protect, and recall the dreams he had forgotten.
• Yoru Machi used Yoru God Style Third Form—Beyond the Shore, breaking Ruslan’s sword and killing him after Ruslan acknowledged Yoru Machi’s strength.
• Shadow Lord crashed through the cathedral roof carrying Sherry Barnett, but found the battle over.
• Sherry Barnett ran to Ruslan’s body and wept as Yoru Machi explained why he had not left Ruslan alive.

Sherry learned that Ruslan had killed her mother and used her for his research, while Yoru Machi explained why he had killed him. Shadow offered Sherry the power of vengeance, then escaped the cathedral with Shadow Garden after Alice and the Kingdom Knights tried to arrest him.

• Sherry accused Yoru Machi of killing her adoptive father, and he argued that Ruslan deserved death for the people he had killed.
• Shadow offered Sherry the power of vengeance, but Roz arrived and revealed that Ruslan had killed Sherry's mother and adopted her to exploit her talent.
• Sherry realized Yoru Machi had kept the truth from her so she could remember Ruslan more kindly, while accepting the blame himself.
• Alice and the Kingdom Knights confronted Shadow, who declared Shadow Garden's purpose before driving them back with a surge of magic.
• Shadow and Shadow Garden escaped, leaving Alice furious that they had once again defeated the Diablos Cult and vanished before the Kingdom Knights could act.

After the academy’s early summer break, Yoru Machi set out by train for Holy Land Lindblum to see the Trial of the Goddess, accompanied by his mother Medis and Cleya. On the train, he ran into student council president Roz Olliana, who mistakenly thought Medis was his older sister before learning she was his mother.

• Midgar Academy began its summer break early after the Diablos Cult attack, and Sherry Barnett decided to study abroad in Lavagas.
• Princess Alice granted Yoru Machi leave from knight training, and he planned to visit Holy Land Lindblum for the Sanctuary Gate opening and Trial of the Goddess.
• Medis came to the royal capital to check on Yoru Machi, then decided to travel with him to the Holy Land; Cleya joined them.
• Yoru Machi complained that traveling with Medis and Cleya would ruin his vacation, then stood up to get some air.
• Yoru Machi bumped into Roz Olliana, who praised him to Medis and mistook her for his older sister.
• Medis told Roz that she was Yoru Machi’s mother, leaving Roz flustered as she corrected her greeting.

Medis met Roz and Alexia and concluded that her son Yoru Machi had no trouble attracting friends and admirers. Alexia revealed that Roz was also a princess, leaving Medis facing two princesses connected to her son.

• Medis saw Roz introduce herself and was delighted that Yoru Machi seemed to be making friends, while Cleya glared at Roz after hearing her call Medis “Mother.”
• Yoru Machi lamented that his mother, Cleya, and Roz were gathered together, then Alexia appeared and joined them.
• Medis warmly invited Alexia to sit and wondered whether Yoru Machi could marry the beautiful girls connected to him.
• Alexia introduced herself as a Midgar princess, Yoru Machi’s classmate, and his private swordsmanship student, startling Medis.
• Alexia reassured Medis about her status, then revealed that Roz was a princess of the Olliana Kingdom.

Medis learned that Alexia and Roz were princesses, while Alexia tried to ally with Roz against Cleya in the competition for Yoru Machi. Yoru Machi escaped the tense gathering and confronted Sid, discovering that Sid had arranged the encounter by selling Alexia and Roz information.

• Alexia revealed that Roz was the sole heir to the throne of the Olliana Kingdom, startling Medis.
• Roz said she had no intention of inheriting the throne, while Alexia quietly urged her to join forces against Cleya.
• Yoru Machi slipped away from the gathering, overwhelmed by the romantic rivalries surrounding him.
• Yoru Machi tracked Sid to a luxurious private compartment and questioned him about the unlikely encounter.
• Sid admitted that Alexia and Roz had paid for the compartment in exchange for information, and Yoru Machi threatened to make him suffer through a love triangle.

Yoru Machi and Sid fought over Sid’s repeated betrayals before Sid revealed that Alpha had sent him to Holy Land Lindblum, where he expected trouble around the Trial of the Goddess. Yoru Machi worried that his mother Medis would be caught in danger, but Sid said Alpha’s people would protect her and explained how the trial worked.

• Yoru Machi and Sid brawled in Sid’s train compartment, arguing over Sid selling information about Yoru Machi’s plans to Roz and Alexia.
• Yoru Machi stayed in Sid’s compartment instead of returning to the love triangle, and Sid explained that Alpha had sent him to Holy Land Lindblum to investigate the Trial of the Goddess.
• Yoru Machi learned the Diablos Cult might cause trouble in Holy Land Lindblum and decided to take Medis back to the royal capital.
• Sid pointed out that Yoru Machi could not turn the train around or easily persuade Medis to leave, and assured him that Alpha’s people would protect Medis, Cleya, and the others.
• Sid explained that the Trial of the Goddess summoned an ancient heroic spirit to test a challenger’s strength, and that very few challengers had defeated one.

Yoru Machi and his companions explored Holy Land Lindblum before the Trial of the Goddess, where Medis and Roz met their favorite author, Teacher Natsume. Yoru Machi recognized Natsume as Beta of Shadow Garden, and she joined the group despite Cleya and Alexia’s growing hostility.

• Yoru Machi noticed that Medis, Roz, Cleya, and Alexia were getting along unusually well after arriving in Holy Land Lindblum.
• Medis and Roz found a book signing for Teacher Natsume and eagerly joined the queue for autographs.
• Yoru Machi recognized Teacher Natsume as Beta, the second of Shadow Garden’s Seven Shadows, and wondered why she and Sid had both come to the city.
• Cleya and Alexia grew jealous of Beta’s figure and misread Yoru Machi’s wary attention as lechery.
• Beta asked to travel with the group, and Medis happily welcomed her despite Cleya and Alexia’s objections.

Yoru Machi traveled with Medis and Cleya while Beta secretly protected them, then met Sid and Alpha at a hot spring where Alpha revealed the Diablos Cult was plotting to obtain the sealed left hand of Demon Lord Diablos. The group learned the cult intended to exploit the Trial of the Goddess, which was about to begin.

• Yoru Machi carried the group's shopping bags as Medis, Cleya, and Natsume traveled to a hot spring inn.
• Yoru Machi found Sid at the inn, and Alpha and Epsilon joined them in the men's hot spring to discuss their operation.
• Alpha explained that the inn was reserved for their group and that she had placed a soundproof barrier around the bath.
• Alpha reported that the Lindblum Church bishop had been murdered and that a Diablos Cult member had taken his place.
• Alpha revealed that the Trial of the Goddess could open the Sanctuary, where Demon Lord Diablos's severed left hand was sealed.

At the Trial of the Goddess in Holy Land Lindblum, Alexia watched challengers struggle against summoned warrior spirits while Medis learned about the trial and the famed swordswoman Annelotte. After Annelotte became the first challenger to defeat an ancient warrior, Yoru City Omega was announced as the next challenger.

• Alexia attended the Trial of the Goddess with Natsume, Medis, Roz, and Cleya while the acting bishop refused to cooperate with her investigation into the murdered bishop.
• Several challengers failed to summon warrior spirits or lost to the spirits they summoned, and Roz explained that the ancient heroes' combat skill gave them an advantage despite equal strength.
• The host announced Annelotte from Vegaltia, and Olliana explained that she was a former member of the kingdom's Seven Swords and a renowned young genius.
• Annelotte summoned a named ancient hero and defeated the warrior spirit, becoming the first challenger to win during the trial.
• Medis remembered her son Yoru City's swordsmanship achievements, and the host announced him as the next challenger.

Yoru Machi reluctantly entered the Trial of the Goddess to summon the strongest ancient warrior needed to open the Sanctuary Gate. After the gate initially ignored him, it erupted with magic power and formed an enormous golden summoning array.

• Medis, Roz, and Alexia were surprised when Yoru Machi was announced as a challenger, while Beta prepared to record his performance.
• Yoru Machi entered the arena, having agreed to Alpha's request to face the Sanctuary Gate's strongest gatekeeper.
• The Sanctuary Gate showed no response at first, prompting spectators and Annelotte to doubt Yoru Machi's abilities.
• The venue shook as magic power surged from the Sanctuary Gate and a gigantic golden summoning array appeared.

Yoru Machi summoned Olivier, one of the legendary Three Heroes, during the Trial of the Goddess, shocking the spectators and the Bald Bishop. Annelotte recognized that the summon proved Yoru Machi was stronger than her, while Shadow Lord envied his chance to impress everyone.

• A golden Ancient Summoning Array summoned an Elf Maiden who looked exactly like Alpha and carried a blue holy sword.
• Shadow, Shadow Garden, and the Bald Bishop recognized the Elf Maiden as Olivier, one of the Three Heroes who defeated Diablos.
• The Bald Bishop realized the Sanctuary Gate had summoned one of its strongest ancient warriors, while Shadow Lord imagined what legendary figure he might summon.
• The spectators learned Olivier was real, and Yoru Machi's summoning made him the center of attention at the Trial of the Goddess.
• Annelotte concluded that Yoru Machi surpassed her in strength and Magic Power because the array summoned warriors according to the challenger's strength.

Yoru Machi fought Olivier in the Trial of the Goddess, revealing far more of his strength than Annelotte had expected. Their powerful attacks shook the arena, and the chapter ended with the battlefield hidden by dust as Medis and the others waited to learn who had won.

• Olivier vanished from sight and struck at Yoru Machi, who parried her attack and made Annelotte realize she could not defeat him.
• Olivier poured her Magic Power into her holy sword, creating a massive magical greatsword, while Yoru Machi removed his hair tie and unleashed his power.
• Olivier swung her greatsword down as Yoru Machi countered with a blue crescent slash he called Getsuga Tensho.
• Their attacks collided, sending a shockwave across the arena that shook the stands and blew away spectators in the front rows.
• Medis asked Cleya, Roz, and Alexia who had won, and Cleya said Yoru Machi should be unharmed while they waited for the dust to clear.

Yoru Machi and Olivier survived their powerful clash, but Yoru Machi’s sword shattered, prompting him to charge at Olivier unarmed. Shadow abruptly appeared between them, and Yoru Machi blasted him away with Shunkō.

• The dust cleared to reveal Yoru Machi and Olivier unharmed amid the ruined arena.
• Yoru Machi’s longsword crumbled, and Cleya explained that his weapon had failed under the strain of his magic power.
• Yoru Machi announced he would fight under another identity and rushed toward Olivier without a sword.
• Shadow descended between Yoru Machi and Olivier, introducing himself with a grand speech as Beta recorded his words.
• Yoru Machi angrily attacked Shadow with Shunkō, sending him nearly a hundred meters away.

Shadow entered the Trial of the Goddess arena seeking a powerful opponent, and the Sanctuary Gate summoned Aurora, the Witch of Calamity, in response. Yoru Machi realized Aurora's aura matched Olivier's, leaving him unsure whether she represented only part of Diablos's power or was limited by the Sanctuary Gate.

• Shadow recovered from Yoru Machi's punch and recognized that Yoru Machi was skilled in unarmed combat as well as swordsmanship.
• Shadow told Yoru Machi that he had come to the feast seeking a strong opponent and a chance to fight.
• Yoru Machi asked Alpha whether he could withdraw now that Shadow had entered the battle, but the Sanctuary Gate began another summoning.
• The Sanctuary Gate summoned a blood-red array comparable in size to the one that had called Olivier.
• Aurora, the Witch of Calamity, appeared, and the Bald Bishop identified her as Demon Lord Diablos.
• Yoru Machi sensed that Aurora's aura matched Olivier's and considered whether she was only as strong as one of Diablos's left arms or had been limited by the Sanctuary Gate.

Shadow and Yoru Machi faced Aurora and Olivier together in the Sanctuary Gate trial, where the two summoned legends attacked them as a team. Shadow broke through Aurora’s assault but was knocked back when Olivier intervened, and he blamed Yoru Machi for failing to keep Olivier occupied.

• Alpha told Shadow that Aurora had once been Demon Lord Diablos, prompting Shadow to eagerly change his target to her.
• Aurora attacked both Shadow and Yoru Machi with scarlet chains while Olivier charged Yoru Machi with her Holy Sword.
• Yoru Machi blocked Olivier’s strike with a Sword of Light but was sent flying by its force.
• Shadow broke free of Aurora’s scarlet cage and shattered her blood javelins with a slash.
• Olivier protected Aurora with a magic-powered greatsword and blasted Shadow across the ground.
• Shadow complained to Yoru Machi that he had failed to hold Olivier’s attention.

Yoru Machi and Shadow struggled against the coordinated attacks of Olivier and Aurora while arguing instead of working together. After Yoru Machi was driven into a wall, he removed an ancient bracer and unleashed a massive surge of magic power.

• Yoru Machi and Shadow blamed each other for the battle’s worsening situation and began fighting among themselves.
• Olivier created afterimages to attack both men while Aurora summoned blood spikes from the ground.
• Aurora trapped Shadow in a sphere of blood, and Olivier shattered Yoru Machi’s Sword of Light and hurled him into a wall.
• Roz and Alexia blamed Shadow for ruining Yoru Machi’s chance to defeat Olivier, while Alpha told Shadow Garden’s members not to intervene.
• Yoru Machi tore off his ancient left bracer, causing the venue to shake as an enormous tide of magic power erupted from him.

Yoru Machi unleashed his sealed magic and intervened before Shadow could use Atomic Slash against Aurora and Olivier, then fought both summoned opponents. Shadow interrupted Yoru Machi’s attack, and the two began arguing and fighting over who would face them.

• Yoru Machi removed his second Ancient Artifact, while Shadow broke free of Aurora’s blood sphere and formed a barrier across the arena.
• Yoru Machi kicked Shadow away before he could use Atomic Slash, warning him that the attack could endanger the spectators and destroy the Sanctuary.
• Yoru Machi countered Aurora’s blood-red chains with blue chains and trapped Olivier with Six Rods of Light Restraint.
• Shadow charged Yoru Machi, clashed with his Sword of Light, and accused him of stealing the chance to defeat Aurora and Olivier.
• Yoru Machi knocked Shadow aside as Olivier began to break free and declared that they would settle their own fight first.