Chapter Summaries

Ronan tried to hold off a High-Level Apprentice in a black robe so the others could escape, but the enemy’s spells and Sword and Shield Skeletons overwhelmed him. After narrowly surviving several attacks, Ronan gave up on fighting and focused on staying alive.

• Ronan recognized the tattooed black-robed man as a High-Level Apprentice and urged the gray-robed wizards to flee.
• Ronan sent Old Wells and the others away, then charged the black-robed man with his sword and protective and fireball rings.
• The black-robed man blocked Ronan’s fireball and attacked him with a Sword and Shield Skeleton, corrosive acid, and exploding corpses.
• Ronan endured the explosions and resisted the skeleton’s sword, then shattered his own blade and blasted the skeleton with an Energy Light Sphere.
• Ronan retreated from the fight, admitting that he no longer wanted to challenge the High-Level Apprentice and only wanted to survive.

Ronan struggled to stop the black-robed man from completing a Bone Spear spell, but his attacks failed against the Sword and Shield Skeleton. His Spiritual Power then awakened a mysterious force that stunned the black-robed man and left Ronan exhausted as others hurried to him.

• Ronan launched an Energy Missile at the black-robed man, but the Sword and Shield Skeleton blocked it and was damaged without being destroyed.
• Ronan drank two Sleepy Potions and stabbed his thigh to restore his Spiritual Power, then cast another Energy Missile.
• Ronan's Spiritual Power drained away as a strange resonance formed, and a black point appeared amid a terrifying force field.
• The black-robed man stopped chanting and muttered, "Transcendent... Domain?!" as he stared at Ronan in shock.
• Ronan sent the black point toward the black-robed man, then collapsed to one knee as the arena fell silent.
• Several figures rushed toward Ronan after he struggled to his feet.

After surviving the forest battle and reaching town, Ronan reflected on killing the powerful Black Robe Wizard with his newly mastered Energy Missile. The chapter ended with Ronan recalling the name “Transcendent Spell Domain” and wondering about the nature of his transformed spell.

• Ronan accepted magic stones and the wizards’ gratitude after leading them safely into the town square.
• Wizard Barry explained that he and his son Sean would seek refuge with his uncle, then left after thanking Ronan.
• Ronan decided to find lodging with Old Wells, Venecia, and Sheryl and contact Andre and the others the next day.
• At the inn, Ronan checked his body for injuries and reviewed the battle against the advanced apprentice Black Robe Wizard.
• Ronan examined his Character Panel and realized Energy Missile had reached Master Level, transforming into Particle Torrent.
• Ronan recalled the dying wizard’s words and identified the term as “Transcendent Spell Domain.”

After surviving a battle with Black Robe Wizards, Ronan assessed his loot and planned to earn more money, enter an academy, and strengthen his spells. As he stood at his inn window, he saw a gigantic black ship rise from Hoddam Wizard Academy and sail into the night.

• Ronan speculated that his Master-Level Energy Missile might represent the Master-Level Spell realm and resolved to join an academy as an auditor.
• Ronan discovered that the three Storage Waist Pouches he had taken from the Black Robe Wizards were locked by their owners’ Spiritual Power imprints.
• Ronan counted forty-eight Low-Level Magic Stones in protection fees and estimated that he had fifty-five in total, which was not enough to fund his plans.
• Ronan considered returning to the Treehouse Area, continuing Rune Inscription, and training Charged Weapon to Master Level.
• Ronan heard a mournful cry and watched a gigantic black ship rise from the direction of Hoddam Wizard Academy and sail into the night.

Ronan searched for a way to settle in Hoddam, but learned that the academy had stopped accepting outside students and became enraged during a house hunt. The chapter left him asking Sheryl why Venecia thought he was angry with her.

• Ronan agreed to help Old Wells search for people and brought Venecia and Sheryl to look for housing while Old Wells went elsewhere.
• Ronan found the road to Hoddam Wizard Academy blocked by a Rune Array and learned from a student that the academy had stopped accepting outside students months earlier.
• At a housing agency, Ronan slammed an impatient agent against a wall, then smashed the agency's door when the agent threatened to summon the Academy Enforcement Team.
• Sheryl timidly asked Ronan whether he was angry because Venecia was too useless to handle the housing search.

After the academy stopped accepting students, Ronan set aside his frustration, reunited with Old Wells and Jacob, and chose to keep their group together in town. They found Qiao Lin recovering from his injury and decided to settle in nearby houses.

• Ronan reassured Sheryl and decided to teach her meditation because she had wizard talent.
• Ronan, Sheryl, and Venecia met Old Wells and Jacob, who explained that he had escaped the Treehouse Area attack by being away shopping.
• Old Wells told Ronan that Andre and his sister were staying outside town and gave him directions to Qiao Lin and his wife's lodging.
• Ronan led the group to visit Qiao Lin, who was recovering from losing an arm, and Qiao Lin's Wife welcomed them tearfully.
• Ronan and the others decided to rent several cheap houses nearby so they could stay together and leave town more easily for food.

Ronan settled into his new home and reconsidered his frustration at being unable to enroll in Hoddam Wizard Academy, deciding instead to prepare for the Black Wizard Invasion. He identified gaps in his combat abilities and resolved to find ways to earn magic stones, then began opening three Storage Waist Pouches.

• Ronan inspected his rented house on Water Drop Street and reflected on his desire to enroll in Hoddam Wizard Academy.
• Ronan decided that surviving the Black Wizard Invasion mattered more than entering the academy immediately and reviewed the weaknesses revealed by his recent battles.
• Ronan planned to seek control spells, defensive magical items, useful potions, and other ways to improve his fighting ability.
• Ronan realized these plans all depended on acquiring magic stones and took out three Storage Waist Pouches to open them.
• After staying awake all night, Ronan left his house, activated the Cleaning Rune on his worn wizard robe, and tossed an Ice Ball onto the ground.

Ronan opened a Storage Waist Pouch taken from one of the black-robed men he had killed and discovered valuable magic items, including a ring that contained a ghost. The badge identified the men’s force as Whispering Forest, and Ronan prepared to leave the city as his frightened neighbor fled too.

• Ronan used ice magic to wash up, then accepted Vinnie’s invitation to breakfast and left Magic Stones as payment.
• After three sleepless days, Ronan opened the Storage Waist Pouch and found Magic Stones, books, potions, a magic-tool ring, and a black badge.
• Ronan activated the ring, releasing a ghostly woman who cursed someone named Valensuna before he pulled her back inside.
• Ronan recognized the badge’s inscription as Whispering Forest and connected the group to the Undead Arts used by the black-robed men.
• Ronan prepared to leave the city and saw his frightened neighbor rushing toward the outskirts with bags.

Ronan examined the black-robed wizard’s belongings, set aside the Undead Magic spells, and burned the unknown materials before the war between Hoddam Wizard Land and the Whispering Forest Black Wizard Land intensified. As the town settled into a strained calm and Wandering Wizards returned to the forest, Ronan retrieved his belongings from his old treehouse and added words to its bedframe.

• Ronan studied the wizard books, considered learning Soul Howl, and decided to avoid Undead Magic for now because it might make Academy Wizards suspect him of being a spy.
• Ronan left the unfamiliar potion untouched and burned the unknown materials and trash in the wilderness.
• The war between Hoddam Wizard Land and the Whispering Forest Black Wizard Land erupted, and Magic Airships and teams of wizards increasingly departed the Academy.
• Ronan traveled through the snowy forest to retrieve his savings and other belongings from his former treehouse.
• Ronan gathered books, blank Rune Stones, a Rune Inscription knife, and miscellaneous items, then added words beneath the bedframe inscription before leaving.

Ronan retrieved his hidden belongings and encountered two wizard bandits, including the Level Nine Apprentice Francois. After a Two-Headed Magic Lizard attacked, Ronan demonstrated overwhelming power, and Francois’s companion nervously offered Ronan his greetings.

• Ronan carved the first half of Ascetic Body Forging into his former treehouse’s bedboard before retrieving his hidden runes and Low-Level Magic Stones.
• A thin Level Three Wizard Apprentice and the High-Level Wizard Apprentice Francois confronted Ronan and demanded his belongings and Storage Waist Pouch.
• The Two-Headed Magic Lizard appeared, startling the bandits as Ronan prepared to fight.
• Ronan attacked the lizard with three black points of light, badly injuring it and forcing it to flee.
• Ronan drank a potion to restore his Spiritual Power, then turned toward Francois and the thin wizard.
• The thin wizard stammered that Francois offered Ronan his sincere greetings and wished him good morning.

Ronan exposed two bandit wizards’ use of a damaged mirror fragment to disguise their strength and took the magical item for himself. He tracked down and killed the Two-Headed Magic Lizard, then checked his Character Panel, which showed his strength at Level Seven Wizard Apprentice.

• Ronan confronted the Black-Haired Man and the thin male wizard, who fought over whether to reveal their secret.
• The Black-Haired Man handed Ronan a damaged Tier 1 Mirror Magical Item Fragment that copied a target’s aura, and Ronan stored it away.
• Ronan followed the Two-Headed Magic Lizard’s blood trail and weakened it with spells.
• A white-clad female ghost emerged and attacked the Two-Headed Magic Lizard with a terrifying howl.
• Ronan destroyed the Two-Headed Magic Lizard with an Energy Light Sphere and returned the ghost to his ring.
• Ronan reviewed his Character Panel, which listed his strength as Level Seven Wizard Apprentice at 69%.

Over three months, Ronan strengthened his cultivation, spells, and physical skills, then commissioned a rune-enchanted sword concealed inside a staff. After testing it on a Two-Headed Magic Lizard, he was satisfied with his new melee weapon and his growing ability to fight at close range.

• Ronan raised his cultivation to Level Seven Apprentice and increased his income through improved rune-inscription skills.
• Ronan learned the control spells [Electric Spark], [Weakness Curse], and Soul Howl, while continuing to refine his other magic.
• Ronan advanced Ascetic Body Forging and Basic Swordsmanship to Expert Level and gained the strength to make close combat practical.
• Ronan drew the concealed sword from his staff and cut off one head of a Two-Headed Magic Lizard with little effort.
• Ronan concluded that the enchanted melee spell sword had been worth its cost.

Ronan returned from the forest with supplies after killing a Two-Headed Magic Lizard and discovering its eggs, then learned that his friends were preparing to leave town and return to the Treehouse Area. The chapter ended with Venecia finishing his haircut as Ronan faced the prospect of their group breaking apart.

• Ronan dissected the Two-Headed Magic Lizard, found its eggs instead of a crystal core, and collected eggs, meat, blood, and hide.
• Ronan returned safely to town, stored his magic beast materials, and brought mushrooms and rabbits to his neighbors.
• At Venecia's home, Sheryl told Ronan that Barry and Sean were hosting dinner and that Jacob had gone looking for him.
• Venecia told Ronan that Qiao Lin and his wife had given up their house and that she was also preparing to return to the Treehouse Area.
• Ronan offered to send magic stones, then let Venecia cut his hair and thanked her for the result.

At a feast, Barry celebrated Sean’s sudden success as a potion apprentice and their chance to leave town, but the celebration was interrupted when Hoddam Wizard Academy conscripted all Wandering Gray Robe wizards. As the town filled with signs of impending conflict, Old Wells stopped Ronan and begged him for help.

• Barry boasted that a Chief Potion Master had taken Sean as a disciple after being impressed by his potions, and said they would soon leave town.
• Jacob announced that Hoddam Wizard Academy was conscripting all Wandering Gray Robe wizards.
• Sean spoke with Venecia and walked away disappointed, while Barry insulted her and Ronan confronted him.
• Ronan and Old Wells saw the town filling with hurried wizards and concluded that Hoddam’s conflict with Whispering Forest was worsening.
• Old Wells stopped Ronan and asked him for help.

Old Wells asked Ronan for help buying a ship ticket for Venecia and gave him two books in return, including an ancient notebook about Holy Shrine Power. The next day, the academy’s recruitment missions drew eager Wandering Gray Robes, while Ronan chose to stay home and focus on rune inscription.

• Old Wells told Ronan that a ship ticket for Venecia cost eight Mid-Level Magic Stones, but said he would ask for them when he truly needed them.
• Old Wells gave Ronan an annotated copy of Basic Magic Potion Studies and an ancient notebook about replicating Holy Shrine Power.
• Ronan read the notebook, found its research obscure and seemingly unsuccessful, and stored it in his Storage Waist Pouch.
• Ronan inspected the academy’s Wandering Gray Robe missions, then left without accepting one because he could earn a stable income through Rune Inscription.
• Wandering Gray Robes flocked to the academy’s high-paying missions, excited by the chance to earn Magic Stones.

Ronan checked that Old Wells was avoiding dangerous missions, then opened the last Storage Waist Pouch he had taken from an advanced apprentice Black Robe Wizard. The wizard’s journal and an unknown potion revealed a possible path to advancement, leaving Ronan thrilled to discover that the potion was a Soul Ignition Potion.

• Ronan worried Old Wells might risk dangerous notice-board missions, but Old Wells explained that he had accepted only simple gathering and processing jobs.
• On the fifth day after the conscription order, Barry and his father left Hoddam by ship with a formal wizard and potion master.
• Ronan opened the advanced apprentice Black Robe Wizard’s Storage Waist Pouch and found Magic Stones, potions, spellbooks, a journal, and preserved bones.
• Ronan examined the Black Robe Wizard’s powerful Undead Arts spells but decided his existing Energy Missile was enough for offense.
• Ronan read the journal’s notes on reaching level nine, taking a Soul Ignition Potion, and choosing a Soul Rune after advancement.
• Ronan recognized the fiery red potion as a Soul Ignition Potion and reacted with intense excitement.

Ronan found a Soul Ignition Potion among the dead black-robed wizard’s belongings and learned that Jacob had left with Barry and his father. As the academy’s tasks grew more dangerous, Ronan received a parting gift from Andre and his sister, who had set out for the Northern Highlands.

• Ronan found and stored a Soul Ignition Potion, then read notes that mentioned Soul Runes and formal wizards’ spell schools.
• Old Wells told Ronan that Jacob had secretly boarded the ship with Barry and his father, while Qiao Lin’s grief and anger over Jacob’s departure had grown worse.
• Old Wells warned Ronan that the academy’s recruitment tasks were becoming harder and said the wizard arranging ship tickets had disappeared.
• Old Wells gave Ronan an Oak Box from Andre and his sister, who had left that morning to cross the forest on foot.
• Ronan found a black seed in the box and learned that Andre and his sister were heading for the Northern Highlands, a place said to be home to elves and barbarians.

Ronan trained his body and spells, studied a mysterious seed and a rune-covered Magical Item Fragment, and made progress toward mastering the swift rune. A series of blasts interrupted his evening, and he went outside to investigate an incident nearby in town.

• Ronan reviewed his skills and noted that his Spiritual Power had begun increasing, allowing him to resume using Spiritual Power-enhancing potions.
• Ronan tested his Expert-level Charged Weapon spell on his longsword and saw that its power had greatly improved.
• Ronan examined the seed Andre and his sister had sent and studied the Magical Item Fragment, bringing him close to mastering the advanced zero-tier swift rune.
• Ronan heard a distant bang, then a powerful blast shook his cottage.
• Ronan put on his wizard's robe and headed outside after realizing the blasts had come from somewhere nearby in town.

Ronan fought off two Black Robe Wizards attacking Water Drop Street, killing one before a formal wizard drove away the other. Jerome rewarded Ronan and invited him to join a hunting squad, while revealing that the attackers had caused chaos to exploit a weakness in the Rune Array and pursue the Nefa Key.

• Ronan and Old Wells learned that Black Robe Wizards from Whispering Forest had attacked Hoddam Academy and the town, so Ronan climbed onto a rooftop to survey the chaos.
• A Black Robe Wizard and a Bald Man cornered Ronan, and he charged them to protect the Wandering Wizards behind him.
• Ronan killed the Bald Man by breaking his energy shield and slashing his throat, then dodged the surviving Black Robe Wizard's deadly shadow attacks.
• A formal wizard's fireball struck the Black Robe Wizard, and Jerome and a beautiful witch arrived in the sky above Ronan.
• Jerome rewarded Ronan with two High-Level Magic Stones and invited him to join a hunting squad, while explaining that the Whispering Forest attackers had created chaos to open a gap in the Rune Array and pursue the Nefa Key.

After the Black Robes’ attack killed Qiao Lin and his wife, Ronan exchanged three Whispering Forest badges for ship tickets so Old Wells, Venecia, and Sheryl could leave Hoddam safely. He stayed behind, seeing the escalating conflict as a chance to gather resources for becoming an official wizard.

• Ronan and Old Wells found poisoned victims in the street, and Ronan led the group away from the lingering spell.
• They discovered a one-armed man grieving over Elsa’s corpse outside Qiao Lin and his wife’s home.
• The Academy posted missions to hunt Black Robes, and Ronan exchanged three Whispering Forest badges for three tickets aboard the fastest ship leaving Hoddam.
• The Academy hunters recognized a Bone Rune mark on one badge and realized Ronan had killed a High-Level Wizard Apprentice Black Robe.
• Old Wells, Venecia, and Sheryl boarded the ship, and Ronan watched them depart before deciding to remain in Hoddam.