Chapter Summaries

Caroso advanced from the sixth tier to the eighth in three steps, then confronted Gaitan with an eighth-tier sword. Gaitan regained his nerve after Andre encouraged him, but Caroso sealed one of Gaitan’s armor pieces and disrupted his equipment set.

• Caroso broke through to the seventh tier and quickly filled the magical power needed to reach the eighth.
• Caroso used the Dream Card, the BOSS card, and his accumulated power to comprehend the eighth-tier laws and stabilize his breakthrough.
• Caroso summoned Guanshi Zhengzong and challenged Gaitan, whose confidence faltered at Caroso’s sudden advancement.
• Andre reminded Gaitan that Caroso had only just entered the eighth tier, and Gaitan summoned his battle axe and five cards.
• Caroso used Light Seal Armor Sword to seal one of Gaitan’s equipment pieces, removing his armor set bonus.

Caroso fought Prince Gaitan, using his mastery of several Laws and a succession of cards to overcome Gaitan’s superior attributes and equipment. After defeating him, Caroso ordered Gaitan to leave his supplies behind and return to Perus.

• Gaitan initially overpowered Caroso physically, but Caroso used Space, Gravity, and Time Laws to match him and gain the advantage.
• Caroso withdrew his death energy, allowing Gaitan to shatter the spatial barrier and send him crashing into the sea.
• Caroso emerged riding Blue-Eyes White Dragon and summoned the King of Fire Demons, while Gaitan called forth two Nagas to fight it.
• Caroso used Mind Control to turn Gaitan’s Nagas against him, then Gaitan summoned mithril golems and stacked armor and boosts as he charged Caroso.
• Caroso sealed Gaitan’s breastplate, matched his Slaughter Charge, and shot through his armor with the Ancient Relic Revolver.
• Caroso held his longsword to Gaitan’s neck and ordered him to leave his supplies behind and return to Perus.

Caroso confronted Gaitan and the Perus Kingdom fleet, using his superior forces and a powerful new card to pressure them into surrender. After Gaitan was knocked unconscious, Caroso challenged Andre’s loyalty and left the fleet questioning whether he would risk their lives.

• Gaitan warned Caroso that attacking the Pander Empire would sever the Perus Kingdom’s ties with Azure Wolf Province, but Caroso refused to back down.
• Caroso ordered his fleet to aim its cannons at the Perus Kingdom warships, while Isis Pre and Tyborus joined him in the air against Andre.
• Caroso summoned Card God's Follower, raising his magic power to the middle stage of the eighth tier, and demanded that the fleet surrender.
• Caroso knocked Gaitan unconscious and told Andre that he would kill the prince if the Perus Kingdom began a battle.
• After learning that communications had been cut, Andre faced Caroso’s accusations, and the soldiers began to distrust their commander.

Andre ordered the Perus Kingdom’s forces to release Caroso and retreat, handing over weapons, a ship, and a regiment of prisoners under threat from Caroso’s bombers. Meanwhile, the Pander Empire prepared a much larger fleet to intercept Caroso, whose approach went unnoticed by its relaxed sailors.

• Andre chose to preserve Gaitan’s life and ordered his forces to retreat rather than fight Caroso.
• Caroso threatened Andre with his First Flight Squadron and demanded weapons, a ship, and supplies for a regiment.
• Andre surrendered the requested equipment and prisoners, which Caroso integrated into his forces overnight.
• The Pander Empire prepared a fleet nearly five times larger than Caroso’s to intercept him, believing his arrival might be another test by the Presia Empire.
• Three Pander sailors joked about their numerical advantage and confidence in their magic cannons and professionals as their ship swayed in a strengthening current.

The Pander Empire’s fleet dismissed signs of danger beneath the sea as a storm battered its ships. A black pirate ship surfaced without warning, attacked the vessels, and its female captain declared the raid was against a decaying empire.

• Rudy Aidin dismissed a sailor’s report of an abnormal fluctuation beneath the fleet and trusted the ships’ defenses.
• Navy A, Navy B, and Navy C grew uneasy as a storm struck and the sea seemed to hide something beneath the waves.
• A black pirate ship burst out of the sea and aimed its magic cannons at the ships around it.
• The pirate ship fired, breaking through the vessels’ defensive arrays and setting sailors ablaze with blue ghostfire.
• The female captain steered the black ship and announced that her crew was robbing a decaying empire.

Peter Stark recounted his life as a soldier and sailor before the Black Pearl attacked his fleet, threatening the battle he hoped would be his last. Elizabeth led the pirates in breaking through the fleet’s defenses and confronted Rudy Aidin, whom she declared kidnapped.

• Peter Stark described growing up poor, joining the army at sixteen, and taking part in three wars before becoming a sailor.
• During a storm, Peter saw the Black Pearl emerge from beneath the sea and fire on his ship, so he jumped overboard to escape its blue flames.
• Elizabeth ordered the Black Pearl to bombard the fleet, sinking ships and scattering its formation while her crew fought with cannons and firearms.
• Rudy Aidin appeared in the sky and realized the Black Pearl had breached Master Kasim’s magic array without warning.
• Elizabeth called Rudy a Blue-skinned Sea Dog and declared that he had been kidnapped.

Elizabeth led the Black Pearl into battle against Rudy Aidin’s fleet, but Rudy unleashed Blizzard Swordfall and shattered the ship’s defenses. Aircraft then bombed the fleet as a new force arrived, led by a young man and an old man riding a mutated griffin.

• Rudy Aidin ordered his fleet to fire on Elizabeth’s Black Pearl, but Elizabeth intercepted and returned many of the shells.
• Elizabeth steered the Black Pearl between two warships, drawing their fire and blasting both ships apart.
• Rudy Aidin used Blizzard Swordfall, a ninth-rank transcendent item, to destroy the Black Pearl’s magic array and injure Elizabeth.
• Dozens of aircraft appeared and bombed the fleet, whose ships had lost their defensive arrays.
• Rudy Aidin saw a fleet approaching, led by a young man and an old man atop a massive mutated griffin.

Elizabeth's attack crippled the Pander Empire's fleets and let Caroso launch a devastating counterattack. Caroso confronted Rudy and unleashed Blade Storm against his Dragon Knights.

• Elizabeth used Tyborus to carry Caroso and Isis Pre above the Black Pearl, then led the ship underwater as Caroso's fleet bombarded the enemy fleets.
• Caroso struck Rudy with Guanshi Zhengzong and used the Light Seal Armor Sword to shatter Rudy's set effect.
• Rudy restored his agility with King's Blessing Enhanced Edition and summoned two squads of Dragon Knights.
• Caroso used Blade Storm to create a hurricane that swept the Dragon Knights into its violent winds and closed in on Rudy.

Caroso’s forces devastated the enemy fleets while Quinn Sigmund and Norman Icht struggled to impose order on their chaotic counterattack. Caroso killed Rudy and Lucia, leaving the battle raging and the enemy leadership in disarray.

• Quinn Sigmund ordered the Second Fleet to attack the aircraft, while aerial bombardment and Caroso’s assault continued to destroy enemy ships.
• Isis Pre engaged Quinn Sigmund, and Norman Icht took command of the Third Fleet and ordered it to attack the enemy fleet.
• Submarines struck the fleets, and Norman Icht charged toward the enemy ships despite Quinn Sigmund urging him to organize the formation.
• Caroso overwhelmed Rudy, took control of his murlocs, shattered his shield, and severed his left arm as Rudy escaped toward Lucia.
• Caroso used Teleport to behead Rudy as Lucia approached, then stabbed Lucia while she was stunned by Rudy’s death.

Caroso killed Rudy and Lucia, then fought his way back to confront Norman Icht and forced him to consider retreating. He left Norman alive to carry news of Caroso Kolia’s arrival to the Pander Empire.

• Caroso’s God of War’s Mark awakened after he killed Rudy and Lucia, and he charged back toward his fleet.
• Norman Icht destroyed two ironclad warships but found Caroso’s soldiers still fighting under fire rather than concentrating on him.
• Caroso blocked Norman’s attack, revealed that Rudy and Lucia were dead, and shot Norman with the Ancient Dust Revolver.
• Caroso challenged Norman to retreat and spread word of his arrival, arguing that continuing the battle would only cost more lives.
• Norman weighed bringing back his remaining troops and began considering excuses for his defeat.

Caroso defeated the Pander Empire’s forces, then reunited with Elizabeth and learned how much she had changed during their time apart. As Azure Wolf Province prepared for a wider war, Osiris expected Caroso’s victory to reshape the international situation, while Kazan worried for his brother.

• Caroso’s forces celebrated the Pander Empire’s retreat, and he ordered the wounded treated, the fallen recorded, and the battle report sent to his father.
• Elizabeth rescued drowning sailors aboard the Black Pearl, welcomed Caroso with a hug and a kiss, and celebrated their reunion with him over rum.
• Caroso and Elizabeth discussed their growth and the battle’s casualties before Caroso left; afterward, Elizabeth secretly spat frost-laced blood onto the deck.
• Norman faced the bodies of two dead warriors and told Quinn he would handle the report on the defeat.
• Osiris praised Caroso’s victory and told Kazan that Azure Wolf Province would no longer need to supply him, while preparing to attend an international conference.

After Caroso’s fleet defeated Pander’s forces, the Pander Empire faced a crisis over its military failure and corruption. At Mal Magic Academy, Elena and Rayne reacted to Caroso’s rise while Bai recalled helping him create the Card God’s Follower and learning of his plans for war.

• News spread that Caroso had helped Azure Wolf Province defeat five Pander fleets, and that he had killed two eighth-rank knights.
• King Emmanuelle questioned his officials about the defeat, ordered Norman to report the truth, and prepared to attend an international conference.
• Elena and Rayne were stunned that Caroso had reached the eighth rank and defeated Pander’s fleet.
• Bai ordered her students to begin class and recalled how she and Alita had worked with Caroso to create the Card God’s Follower.
• Bai remembered that Caroso intended to use an impending war to weaken the nobles’ power and secure benefits for commoners.

Merlin, Russell, and Emperor Orsay reacted to Caroso’s attack on the Imperial fleet and his war against the Pander Empire. Orsay sent Teresa to aid Ailin under the guise of a personal venture and gave her the necklace Supreme Majesty.

• Merlin urged his students to wait before returning to Presia to challenge the Empire, warning they would not reach the palace gates.
• Russell learned that Caroso had ordered Elizabeth to attack the Imperial fleet and prepared for war, expecting the Empire to target him through his connection to her.
• Emperor Orsay explained to Isli and Teresa how Caroso’s victory had intensified pressure on the Pander Empire and ordered Isli to profit by selling weapons.
• Orsay told Teresa to take a division and help Ailin while Presia disavowed her actions, and he gave her Supreme Majesty to take into battle.

At the international conference, Osiris declared Azure Wolf Province independent as the Delos Kingdom and defended its decision to investigate reports of a Death Knight in the Pander Empire. Emmanuelle formally declared war, and the conference ended with other powers watching as the conflict escalated.

• Finn Roland stripped Osiris of his ducal title and declared that Azure Wolf Province had no ties to the Perus Kingdom.
• Donald Trump offered Osiris a ducal title in the Ig Empire, then called for a vote on Azure Wolf Province's independence; Orsay supported it, but the motion fell short.
• Osiris declared Azure Wolf Province independent as the Delos Kingdom and said it would investigate the suspected Death Knight in Lion City.
• Emmanuelle accused Osiris of using the investigation as a pretext for war, and the Pander Empire formally declared war on Azure Wolf Province as several smaller nations joined in.
• Emmanuelle asked Finn Roland for passage through Perus, but Finn refused, while Donald argued that the conflict should be left for the two sides to settle.

After landing near Laria, Caroso prepared to hold his position and wait for foreign mercenaries to reinforce him. Aiman learned that Caroso's troops had arrived and considered attacking, while Caroso planned to buy time by muddying the waters.

• Aiman learned that troops from Azure Wolf Province had landed near Laria and discussed attacking them with his military adviser.
• Caroso chose to land near Laria rather than risk another interception while trying to join Ailin.
• Isis warned Caroso that Laria Fortress was close enough to threaten their camp.
• Caroso explained that he intended to make the Pander Empire take his force seriously and wait for irregular troops from other countries to arrive as mercenaries.
• Caroso said he would buy time by muddying the waters.

At Laria Fortress, Aiman refused Erich Lewin’s call for an immediate attack, prioritizing political safety over a fleeting military opportunity. Caroso arrived alone to intimidate the defenders and opened the barrage’s new Support feature, leaving him to choose a character to empower him.

• Erich Lewin urged Aiman to attack while the enemy landing force was vulnerable, but Aiman refused because failure or success could both damage his political standing.
• Aiman explained that he feared offending the Prince and insisted that Laria Fortress’s orders were to defend, not attack; he reported Erich’s assessment to his superiors.
• Aiman and Erich learned that a single enemy was approaching, and Erich believed the visitor was bluffing rather than bringing an army.
• Caroso assessed Laria Fortress’s formidable defenses and revealed that he had come to deter the Empire from attacking, not to capture the fortress.
• When Aiman asked if he had come to surrender, Caroso said he wanted to test the defenders and activated the barrage’s Support feature.
• Caroso examined the available characters, including Merlin, Teresa, Ailin, Minette, Russell, and Nimel, and prepared to choose one.

Caroso summoned Flame Queen Pinoche Roland, a powerful mage from the previous generation, and used her Infinite Fireball Mage deck to attack the enemy fortress. Pinoche continued raining fireballs on the fortress as the chapter ended.

• Caroso ignored the Netizens' suggested heroes and summoned Pinoche Roland, whose identity Erich recognized from her national treasures.
• Erich ordered the fortress to bombard Pinoche and Caroso while Pinoche began summoning minions.
• Pinoche summoned Emperor Tyrison, two Five Fireball Cult Followers, and Archmage Antonidas.
• Pinoche equipped gear that reduced Fireball's mana cost and unleashed a barrage of fireballs on the fortress.

Erich's forces repelled Pinoxiu and Caroso's devastating attack, and the footage prompted Emmanuelle to declare war on Perus. Finn denied that the woman in the recording was his mother, claiming Pander had faked the footage, leaving the international powers uncertain whom to believe.

• Pinoxiu and Caroso bombarded Erich's fortress, but Caroso shielded Pinoxiu as they retreated under concentrated fire.
• Pander's leaders watched the battlefield recording and recognized Pinoxiu, while Emmanuelle accused Finn and Perus of secretly aiding Caroso.
• Emmanuelle convened an international conference, showed the recording, and declared that Pander would send three hundred thousand troops to attack Perus.
• Finn insisted that he knew nothing about the attack and argued that the recording was fabricated, saying Perus's national treasure was still in his possession.
• Other nations discussed joining the conflict, while Emperor Orsay and Donald watched in confusion as Finn's accusation made the footage's authenticity uncertain.

Finn accepted Pander's declaration of war, then showed his mother Pinoxiu the projection that had been used to accuse her of attacking Pander. Caroso returned to his defensive position, where Isis reported that its fortifications were still being built and communications with Ailin remained unavailable.

• At an international conference, Finn accepted Pander's declaration of war, while Donald, Emperor Orsay, and the other observers wondered whether the confrontation was genuine.
• Finn visited Pinoxiu in the magical basement beneath the royal palace and showed her the projection of a lookalike attacking Pander.
• Pinoxiu recognized that the projected woman resembled her and agreed that Perus should fight back.
• Caroso returned to his defensive position and told Isis Pre that the summoned expert could act only once a month.
• Isis said the defensive magic array needed more time and materials, and Caroso decided that his arrival would serve as the signal to Ailin despite the failed communications.

Caroso welcomed Teresa and showed her the fortress he had built to prepare for war with Pander. As Teresa’s forces arrived and outside supporters brought supplies, Caroso arranged to keep the newcomers’ camp separate, while noting that the aid was limited.

• Teresa arrived with her fleet, embraced Caroso, and asked him about the strange Pinoxiu incident, which he kept secret.
• Teresa inspected Caroso’s newly built fortress and learned that its defenses, equipment, and logistics had been prepared in only three days.
• A group of war-displaced supporters arrived with battered vehicles and supplies, declaring their support for Ailin against Pander.
• Caroso accepted the supporters’ aid but directed them to camp outside his fortress, explaining that his soldiers needed a much colder environment.
• Teresa’s soldiers disembarked, and Caroso remarked that the supporters had given little despite opposing Pander’s continued power.