Chapter Summaries

After killing a wizard, Ronan feared being found and stayed away from home, but eventually concluded the bodies and evidence had vanished without a trace. He advanced to Level Four Wizard Apprentice and, more at ease, set out to buy a new wizard robe.

• Ronan searched the dead wizard and found magic stones, a potion, and a badge bearing a green owl, then hurried away, worried the wizard’s organization might pursue him.
• Ronan avoided his tree house for three days, then returned and found his stored runes and magic stones untouched.
• Over the next moon cycle, Ronan remained anxious until he drank a low-grade Spirit Concentration Potion and advanced to Level Four Wizard Apprentice.
• Ronan revisited the forest and found the dead wizard’s body and signs of battle gone, then reviewed the wizard’s strength and the magic rings he had taken.
• Ronan counted his savings, decided to buy a wizard robe, and headed toward the forest.

Ronan continued advancing as a wizard apprentice and Rune Master while training and buying supplies in Dwarf Market. He discovered a bloodied corpse at the town entrance and learned that Black Wizard Land had invaded, plunging Hoddam toward chaos.

• Ronan found that his Spiritual Power continued growing after taking Spirit Concentration Potions and suspected his advanced meditation and body-forging training helped him avoid the usual plateau.
• Ronan kept training Energy Missile, rune inscription, meditation, and Ascetic Body Forging, while deciding to focus on mastering Energy Missile rather than learning new offensive spells.
• Ronan noticed autumn had arrived and bought a new Gray Magic Robe enchanted with Cleaning and Constant Temperature runes.
• Ronan saw unusually large numbers of Academy Wizards and high-level apprentices at Dwarf Market, then followed a crowd gathered near the town entrance.
• Ronan saw a blood-soaked black-robed corpse nailed to a stake and heard that Black Wizard Land had invaded Hoddam.

Ronan attended Old Wells’s gathering of wizard residents to discuss the Black Wizard Land’s impending invasion. Old Wells urged them to stay in the forest for now and organize a patrol, but the Nose Ring Wizard mocked him until Ronan stepped in and revealed he was a Level Four Wizard Apprentice.

• Old Wells gathered the nearby wizard residents to discuss how they should prepare for the Black Wizard Land’s invasion.
• The Nose Ring Wizard interrupted Old Wells and dismissed the idea that the residents could resist the Black Wizards together.
• Old Wells recalled surviving an earlier invasion and said the attack might be one or two years away, advising the residents not to move into town too soon.
• Old Wells proposed forming a patrol team to watch for danger, but the Nose Ring Wizard insulted him and called the plan stupid.
• Ronan told the Nose Ring Wizard to shut up, and the man was shocked to learn Ronan was also a Level Four Wizard Apprentice.

After confronting Eugene, Ronan learned from Old Wells that the looming war with the Black Wizard Land could leave even wizard apprentices powerless to escape. As Hoddam grew tense and prices soared, Ronan trained relentlessly and began consuming magical beast meat to strengthen himself.

• Ronan drove off Eugene at the gathering, then heard Old Wells warn that Eugene might retaliate and promise to try to reconcile with him.
• Old Wells told Ronan that the war could be brutally deadly and that Hoddam Academy had stopped arranging ships out of wizard territory, while escape through the Monster Forest was too dangerous.
• Ronan returned to the town and found that tension had spread through Hoddam and prices, especially rent, had surged.
• Ronan cut his sleep to less than two hours a day and devoted nearly all his time to training.
• Ronan ate a tough magical beast steak and felt its warmth spread through his body.

Ronan discovered that magical beast meat greatly boosted his Ascetic Body Forging and took advantage of its low price to accelerate his training. As war preparations intensified in Hoddam, he stockpiled supplies, struggled to learn Protection runes, and drank his last Spirit Concentration Potion while attempting to advance beyond Level Four Wizard Apprentice.

• Ronan ate cheap White Fang Arrow Boar meat and found that his Ascetic Body Forging gained 11 proficiency points after one practice session.
• As tension and prices rose in Hoddam, Ronan stockpiled food, preserved fruit and game, and profited from higher rune prices.
• Ronan researched Protection runes and tried to learn enchanting, but made little progress despite using his enchanted ring as a reference.
• With his Level Four Wizard Apprentice progress at 94%, Ronan drank his last Low-Level Spirit Concentration Potion and began meditating to attempt a breakthrough.

Ronan reached Level Five and decided to save money while consolidating his Spiritual Power. Old Wells then brought him to a gathering of apprentices concerned about the Black Wizard Land's invasion, where Ronan met another Level Five Apprentice, Linas.

• Ronan advanced to Level Five and realized Low-Level Spirit Concentration Potions would no longer be useful to him.
• Ronan heard Old Wells calling for him, concealed his sword beneath his robe, and followed him through the forest.
• Ronan and Old Wells encountered a frightened Level Two Apprentice fleeing the Treehouse Area at night.
• Old Wells introduced Ronan to a small group of apprentices gathered around a bonfire.
• Ronan noticed that Linas, a tall young man with braided gray hair, was a Level Five Apprentice.

Old Wells organized a patrol network for the apprentices planning to shelter in the Treehouse Area during the looming Black Wizard Land invasion. Linas’s wealth and status set him apart from the group as they prepared to watch over one another.

• Old Wells confirmed the invasion threat and explained his plan for the group to stay in the forest until the crisis grew more serious.
• Old Wells distributed detailed maps of patrol routes, safe and dangerous areas, water sources, and places to find food or store supplies.
• Linas refused to patrol with a partner, so Old Wells assigned the remaining apprentices into pairs, including Ronan and Jacob.
• Old Wells gave everyone a Signal Box for emergencies, and Linas questioned why they did not use Communication Stones instead.
• Ronan realized Linas’s suggestion showed that he likely owned a Communication Stone and came from a wealthy family.

After the mutual-aid Patrol Team formed, Ronan learned about the Black Robes and planned to strengthen his combat abilities before the looming invasion. The team began its patrols the next day, with Old Wells and Venecia assigned first.

• Ronan asked Old Wells about Linas and the patrol team's plans, and learned Linas had joined on his own while Old Wells intended to recruit more members.
• Ronan asked Old Wells about the Black Robes, who warned him of their cruel methods, unusual bodily modifications, and aura of negative energy particles.
• Back at his treehouse, Ronan decided to prioritize improving Energy Missile, learning more spells, training his body and swordsmanship, and relying on his two magical rings.
• The patrol team's routine began the next day, with Old Wells and Venecia taking the first shift and greeting Ronan near his residence.

Ronan began his first patrol with Jacob, checking homes and supply points while learning gossip about the wizards in the Treehouse Area. Jacob revealed that Linas had inherited a High-Level Wizard Apprentice’s legacy, and Ronan ended the patrol by inspecting a stocked emergency cache.

• Ronan prepared his gear and set out on patrol with Jacob, planning to cover the route several times a day.
• Ronan and Jacob visited Qiao Lin and his wife's home, where the couple welcomed them and Jacob ate a plate of raspberry pies.
• Jacob told Ronan that Linas had inherited everything from his deceased teacher, a High-Level Wizard Apprentice, and shared gossip about the area's residents.
• Jacob explained that Old Wells treated Venecia like a daughter because his own daughter had died young.
• Ronan inspected a tree hollow and found food, medical supplies, antidote, and an unused Signal Box.

Over two months, Ronan continued patrols and trained Energy Missile, but struggled to advance beyond Expert Level. As Hoddam grew increasingly dangerous, he found and burned a murdered woman’s corpse in the forest, while his group prepared to move into town.

• Ronan finished his patrol after Jacob became exhausted, but a Half-Elf sibling drove him away with a warning and an arrow, and Linas ignored him at his residence.
• Two months later, Ronan’s Energy Missile still could not break through from Expert Level despite extensive practice.
• Ronan found a woman’s abused corpse beneath leaves in the forest, burned it, and froze the ashes after offering a prayer.
• Ronan reflected that robberies and killings had increased in Hoddam, though his group’s reputation and Linas’s strength had helped deter attackers.
• Old Wells and the others discussed moving into town because the forest area had become increasingly deserted and dangerous.

Over two months, Ronan improved his spells, rune crafting, and swordsmanship while assessing his slow wizardly progress and the coming invasion. After demonstrating the power of his enchanted sword, he considered becoming a Magic Swordsman but realized his sword was too fragile for battle.

• Ronan reviewed his character panel, noting that he had learned Detection Spell and successfully researched the Protection Rune while his Spiritual Power had barely increased.
• Ronan decided to save his stock of Protection Runes until the invasion by Black Wizard Land drove prices higher.
• Ronan paused Ascetic Body Forging because its pain had become unbearable and further progress depended on stronger Spiritual Power and willpower.
• Ronan practiced swordsmanship with Charged Weapon and unleashed a powerful strike that tore up the clearing and toppled trees.
• Ronan concluded that his sword could threaten apprentice wizards at close range, but its poor material would likely fail after a few real battles.

Ronan witnessed signs of a battle spreading through the forest and realized the Black Robes had arrived. He rushed toward the nearest signal and found Gray Robe wizards struggling against a powerful Black Robe Wizard and his Flesh Monster.

• Ronan heard fleeing animals and climbed a tree to see smoke, explosions, and signals across the forest.
• Ronan recognized the danger of the Black Robes and hurried toward the nearest signal with his One-Handed Sword in hand.
• A Black Robe Wizard and his Flesh Monster attacked a group of Gray Robe wizards, killing Burney with a corrosive spell.
• A Half-Elf knight confronted the Flesh Monster while Linas prepared a spell against the Level Six Apprentice Black Robe Wizard.

A battle between the gray-robed wizards and the Black Robe Wizard turned disastrous when his weakening spell left them helpless. Just as the Flesh Monster attacked Linas, a blue-black Energy Light Sphere destroyed it, leaving the Black Robe Wizard facing a new threat.

• The Half-Elf wizard and Nicole attacked the Black Robe Wizard alongside Linas, but his barrier stopped their spells and left him unharmed.
• The Black Robe Wizard weakened the gray-robed wizards and ordered the Flesh Monster to attack Linas.
• Linas kicked his witch companion into the Flesh Monster's path, and it crushed her head before tearing off Linas's arm.
• A blue-black Energy Light Sphere raced into the clearing, and the Flesh Monster shielded the Black Robe Wizard before the blast blew it apart.

Ronan arrived at the battle and killed the Black Robe Wizard with his perfected Energy Missile, surprising the surviving gray-robed apprentices. He found a Storage Waist Pouch among the wreckage and learned that two members of the group had died and two were injured.

• The Black Robe Wizard mistook Ronan’s Energy Missiles for attacks from two advanced apprentices and was badly wounded.
• Ronan emerged from the forest and finished off the Black Robe Wizard with a powerful Energy Missile.
• Ronan found a damaged Storage Waist Pouch in the crater and hid it in his robe.
• Ronan learned that Bu Nier and Barbara had died and that Mr. Qiao Lin and Linas had each lost an arm.
• The surviving apprentices reacted with shock and respect as Ronan faced Linas, whose conduct during the battle had changed Ronan’s opinion of him.

Ronan assigned Andre and Nicole to lead the survivors to town, then continued searching the forest for his missing companions. He found a hidden caster struggling through a spell and struck at them with his sword, but the clash’s outcome remained unclear.

• Ronan learned that the Half-Elf he had mistaken for Nicole was Andre, and that his sister Nicole was the tall, muscular one.
• Ronan ran deeper into the forest to search for Old Wells, Venecia, and Jacob, passing wizards fleeing the Black Robes.
• Ronan approached the thickest column of signal smoke while using Detection Spell to watch for danger.
• Ronan heard someone repeatedly fumbling through a spell chant behind bushes and decided to approach with his sword instead of wasting Spiritual Power.
• Ronan slashed through the bushes as the hidden caster finally shouted a spell, and his blade struck something with a thunderous bang.

Ronan spared Eugene and learned that magical beasts were rampaging through the forest as he continued searching for Old Wells and the others. He found Old Wells, Venecia, and Sheryl fleeing a powerful Black Robe Wizard, and Old Wells warned Ronan to run.

• Ronan recognized Eugene, spared him, and asked whether he had seen Old Wells and what he knew about the Black Robe Wizard.
• Eugene revealed that he was fleeing from reports of magical beasts attacking people, then ran off and dropped bundles containing alchemical supplies.
• Wounded Old Wells urged Venecia and Sheryl to leave him behind, but they refused and continued fleeing together.
• The Black Robe Wizard caught up with Old Wells, Venecia, and Sheryl and pursued them at a leisurely pace.
• Ronan burst from the thicket toward the fleeing group, and Old Wells warned him to run because the Black Robe Wizard was too powerful for him.

Ronan rescued Old Wells, Venecia, and Sheryl by killing the Black Robe Wizard who was pursuing them, then led the injured group through the dangerous forest. They treated their wounds and continued toward safety, while Jacob remained missing.

• Old Wells pushed Venecia and Sheryl toward Ronan and faced the pursuing Black Robe Wizard alone.
• Ronan killed the Black Robe Wizard with a deep blue Energy Light Sphere, searched the wreckage, and asked where Jacob was.
• Ronan decided not to search for Jacob and carried the wounded Old Wells and Sheryl away from the danger.
• Ronan noticed Venecia had sprained her ankle and carried her as well.
• The group found medicinal powder and walking sticks at a supply cache, then continued through the chaotic Treehouse Area.

Ronan led a growing group of wizards through the ruined forest toward town, accepting Barry Fania and then more frightened travelers in exchange for protection fees. He gave up on retrieving his hidden belongings for now and worried that his nearly depleted Spiritual Power might not suffice if Energy Missile advanced.

• Ronan spotted the ruined treehouse and considered detouring home to retrieve the magic stones and Rune Stones he had hidden.
• Old Wells reunited with Barry Fania, who asked to join Ronan’s group with his son, and Ronan agreed.
• Ronan realized frightened wizards were trailing the group, and Barry negotiated for them to join in return for paying Ronan four Low-Level Magic Stones each upon reaching town.
• Ronan led the expanded group toward town, abandoning his plan to go home first.
• Ronan assessed his depleted Spiritual Power and suspected Energy Missile was close to leveling up.

Ronan tested Sean’s homemade Sleepy Potion and found it restored Spiritual Power with only a brief spell of drowsiness for him. As the group neared the town, some travelers began considering slipping away to avoid paying Ronan’s protection fee, but an unusual beast roared ahead.

• Ronan asked the travelers for a potion to restore Spiritual Power, and Sean revealed that he had made a Sleepy Potion.
• Ronan drank Sean’s potion, briefly fell asleep, then woke after about half a minute with nearly restored Spiritual Power.
• Ronan offered Sean two Low-Level Magic Stones for his potions, but Barry returned them, and Sean gained confidence from helping Ronan.
• Ronan led the group smoothly through the forest as some travelers grew resentful about the four-Magic-Stone protection fee and began edging toward the woods.
• An unusual beast roared from ahead just as the group neared the forest’s edge.

Ronan defeated a Two-Headed Magic Lizard with a cleverly aimed Energy Missile, but a surprise attack immediately followed. He narrowly escaped a black blade that killed a Wizard Apprentice, then faced a skeletal warrior and a mysterious tattooed man.

• Two fleeing wizards warned Ronan's group that a Two-Headed Magic Lizard was pursuing them.
• Ronan's first Energy Missile missed the fast lizard, but his Detection Spell revealed where it was hiding.
• Ronan struck the lizard with a second Energy Missile, forcing it to flee and leaving behind part of its tail.
• A powerful sense of danger warned Ronan just in time to evade a black blade that cut a Wizard Apprentice in half.
• Ronan saw a towering skeleton wielding a sword and shield, then a black-robed man emerged and expressed surprise that Ronan had survived.