Recaps

Xia Nan helped Green Blood Squad survive a Gnoll attack, killing the hidden archer and rescuing Abi before joining Adeline against the Gnoll Flesh Eater. After defeating it with a newly strengthened [Tooth Hunt], he gained one point of Agility and raised the skill to Level 3.

• Berg shot a Gnoll pursuing Xia Nan, giving him the chance to locate and kill a hidden Gnoll archer with Whirlwind Slash.
• Xia Nan assessed the scattered fight as Adeline held off the Gnoll Flesh Eater, Berg kited two Gnolls, and Abi struggled against another.
• When Abi fell and faced a killing blow, Xia Nan rushed in and killed the pursuing Gnoll, then sent Abi to wait at the side.
• Xia Nan saw Adeline tiring as the Gnoll Flesh Eater and another Gnoll pressed her, so he used [Tooth Hunt] to kill the assisting Gnoll.
• Xia Nan's [Tooth Hunt] advanced to Level 3 and formed a roaring Wolf Head that battered the Gnoll Flesh Eater to death, while the blast knocked Adeline down.
• Xia Nan received Agility +1.

Xia Nan and the Green Blood Squad defeated the Gnolls, and he discovered that raising [Tooth Hunt] to level 3 had greatly enhanced his abilities. While the squad prepared to move to a safer campsite, Adeline began to suspect Xia Nan was stronger than his lack of a Profession Level suggested.

• Xia Nan supported his teammates and helped the Green Blood Squad defeat the Gnolls, killing the remaining enemies alongside Adeline and Berg.
• Xia Nan realized that [Tooth Hunt] reaching level 3 had granted him an Agility Attribute Point and significantly improved his movement and combat ability.
• The squad checked for injuries and searched the battlefield, finding little valuable equipment but recovering the Gnoll Flesh Eater's head, worth a 120 Gold Coin bounty.
• Abi noticed that the Gnolls had old burn wounds, and Xia Nan suspected they had been injured in a fight with the Iron Hand squad.
• Adeline urged everyone to move to a backup campsite before the Gnolls' blood and stench attracted nocturnal Monsters.
• After seeing Xia Nan's beheading-focused fighting and the Phantom Wolf Shadow of [Tooth Hunt], Adeline questioned whether he truly lacked a Profession Level.

A high-level party led by Cornell advanced through Thin Mist Forest while discussing the Adventurers Association’s Hunting Day. In a Goblin Nest, a black-robed Bear Goblin demanded a completed blood sacrifice and sent another Bear Goblin out to gather victims, threatening punishment if it failed.

• Cornell maintained a moving warning barrier as Volga caught a wild rabbit and the party continued deeper into Thin Mist Forest.
• The Elf questioned why the Association raised goblin bounties instead of hiring powerful adventurers to resolve the threat, and Cornell said he would explain after the mission.
• A black-robed Bear Goblin watched a bloodlit altar as its sacrifice array nearly formed an oval phantom but fell just short.
• The Bear Goblin warned that the Lord’s grace could not be profaned and threatened punishment if the sacrifice failed.
• A powerful Bear Goblin promised to leave the forest and make up the shortfall with the blood of their own kind, then departed with a group of Goblins.

The Green Blood Squad returned from Thin Mist Forest to River Valley Town, where Xia Nan witnessed a group of adventurers extorting the villagers of Emerald Creek Village. As the villagers argued over what they could surrender, one of the adventurers spotted a blonde girl in the crowd.

• The Green Blood Squad headed back to River Valley Town, and Abi and Berg discussed their expected earnings and whether Abi should buy new armor.
• Adeline advised Abi to save his money as Hunting Day ended, while Xia Nan considered leaving the squad to hunt alone again.
• The squad came upon Scarface and his adventurers demanding 100 gold from Emerald Creek Village for a Goblin-clearing mission, despite the villagers having already paid the Association's bounty.
• Abi condemned the adventurers for demanding extra payment, while Berg said such extortion was common and predicted they would bargain for goods instead.
• Scarface demanded wine, livestock, and cloth from the villagers, and his sharp-faced companion spotted a blonde girl in the crowd.

Xia Nan and Adeline’s party arrived in Emerald Creek Village as Scarface’s Adventurers threatened Polly and extorted the villagers, then their reputation drove Scarface’s group away. As the party prepared to leave, Scarface returned wounded and fleeing from Goblinoids, only to be killed by a bone club.

• Scarface threatened Polly and demanded a hundred gold from the village chief, while the chief stood between him and the girl.
• Scarface recognized Adeline and Xia Nan as members of the Green Blood Squad and abandoned his attempt to intimidate the villagers.
• Adeline greeted the village chief, and Scarface led his Adventurers away rather than confront the party.
• The village chief thanked Adeline’s group, and they declined his offer to stay before preparing to leave.
• Scarface rushed back alone, bloodied and calling for help from Goblinoids, but a bone club flew from the woods and smashed his skull.

Cornell and his party reached a Hobgoblin lair in Thin Mist Forest and discovered that a blood sacrifice had summoned a strange silver-white sphere from another world. As the sphere hovered over the altar, its energy weighed heavily on Cornell, leaving the party facing an unknown threat.

• Cornell led the Elf, Volga, and the human Warrior into the cave, where they defeated thirty-six Goblins and two Hobgoblins with ease.
• The party followed Cornell's compass deeper into the lair and found a cavern filled with shadowy figures that stayed within their cave openings.
• The blond Elf spotted a blood-red glow around an oval phantom on a pale-stone altar, while the narration revealed that the Red-Maned Hobgoblin's blood sacrifice had brought down a divine gift from Maglubiyet.
• Cornell recognized the floating silver-white sphere as something that seemed to come from another world and struggled as its energy ripples made his body feel unbearably heavy.

Cornell and his companions fought the Black-Robed Goblin, whose Silver-White Device crushed them with gravity and devoured Cornell’s Cloudkill. The Goblin summoned an empowered Goblin horde, then killed Volga as Cornell teleported the Half-Orc into striking range.

• Cornell realized the Silver-White Device was suppressing the party with gravity while leaving the Black-Robed Goblin untouched.
• Cornell cast Cloudkill toward the altar as Volga, the armored Warrior, and the Elf forced themselves upright and prepared to attack.
• The Black-Robed Goblin summoned Goblins from the nest and used pus-green magic to enlarge them, while the Silver-White Device began consuming Cornell’s Cloudkill.
• Cornell completed a modified Teleportation Circle and sent Volga into the Cloudkill beside the Black-Robed Goblin.
• The Black-Robed Goblin stopped Volga’s charge and tore out his heart.

Xia Nan and the Green Blood Squad faced Red Mane, an unusually powerful bear goblin, but Adeline refused to retreat. Red Mane unleashed a blood-charged roar that forced everyone but Xia Nan to turn back and fight, and Adeline identified the attack as Mass Taunt.

• Red Mane killed Scarface with a bone club, and Xia Nan recognized him as an elite bear goblin.
• Berg urged the squad and villagers to retreat, but Adeline stayed behind to confront Red Mane.
• Red Mane crushed a pendant and unleashed a blood-colored roar that invaded the minds and bodies of those nearby.
• Berg and the villagers, including Abi, returned to face Red Mane, while Xia Nan discovered he could move freely except when trying to retreat.
• Adeline shouted that Red Mane had used Mass Taunt and called for everyone to prepare for battle.

Xia Nan resisted the Bear Goblin’s taunt enough to understand its hold over him, but he could not retreat, so he joined Adeline to face it. As they prepared to fight, a horde of more than a hundred Greenskin Goblins surged out of Thin Mist Forest toward the village.

• Xia Nan realized the Bear Goblin’s taunt had trapped his thoughts and prevented him from retreating, though he managed one step back while thinking about flanking it.
• Xia Nan joined Adeline, who explained that she would hold the Bear Goblin while he stood ready to take over if she faltered.
• Xia Nan warned that Abi and the villagers were also affected by the taunt and could not stay out of the fight.
• A vast horde of Greenskin Goblins rushed from Thin Mist Forest toward the village.

Xia Nan and the villagers of Emerald Creek Village fought off a Goblin siege until the palisade collapsed, leaving Xia Nan to hold the breach against the invading horde. As he slaughtered the Goblins, the Red-Maned Hobgoblin still watched from afar, and the village’s survival remained uncertain.

• Adeline, the village chief, Xia Nan, and the villagers organized a defense behind the palisade while the Red-Maned Hobgoblin watched without joining the attack.
• Xia Nan, Adeline, Abi, Berg, and the villagers held off more than a hundred Goblins, but the defenders grew exhausted and the fence began to fail.
• Jim watched Uncle Evan collapse, and the palisade broke, allowing Goblins to rush into the village.
• Xia Nan killed the Goblins threatening Jim and charged toward the breach as Adeline urged the defenders to hold.
• Xia Nan used [Tooth Hunt] and [Whirlwind Slash] to cut through the Goblins pouring into the village.

Xia Nan fought through the Goblin horde, but Red Mane joined the battle and shattered the village’s defensive line. After Red Mane knocked Adeline unconscious, Xia Nan tried to coordinate with Berg, but the Bear Goblin charged toward him before Berg responded.

• Xia Nan used [Tooth Hunt] and [Whirlwind Slash] to slaughter Goblins across the open plain, easing pressure on the villagers.
• Red Mane hurled its Pale Hollow Bone Club at Xia Nan, then charged through Goblins and smashed the village’s defensive line.
• Adeline attacked Red Mane with Fire Oil Bombs, but it burst from the burning ruins and knocked her unconscious.
• Xia Nan prepared to face Red Mane and signaled Berg to shoot while he held the Bear Goblin’s attention.
• Red Mane charged toward Berg, targeting the backline before Berg could answer Xia Nan’s signal.

Xia Nan tried to keep Red Mane from reaching Berg, but Berg’s fear cost the squad its last other fighter, leaving Xia Nan alone against the Bear Goblin. Elsewhere, Cornell and two high-level Professionals fought through a Goblin horde, but the creatures quickly overwhelmed the opening created by his Plague Swarm.

• Xia Nan used [Tooth Hunt] to intercept Red Mane, then wounded it with [Whirlwind Slash] and forced it to stop charging toward Berg.
• Xia Nan realized Berg was still retreating instead of attacking, and shouted for him to fight.
• Berg finally shot an arrow, but Red Mane dodged it and struck Xia Nan, triggering the [Dead Line] ring’s Deflection Force Field and exhausting its cooldown.
• Red Mane grabbed Berg by the head and crushed his skull, leaving Xia Nan as the last Adventurer on the battlefield.
• Cornell cast [Plague Swarm] while a Heavy Armor-clad Warrior and a blond Elf cut through the Goblins, but the horde rushed into the swarm and filled the gap again.

Cornell and his party battled the Black-Robed Goblin after its powers overwhelmed their attempt to retreat. They killed it, but the Silver-White Device vanished from the altar, leaving its fate unknown.

• Cornell recognized that the Goblins and the Black-Robed Goblin were more dangerous than expected, and he tried to teleport his party out before the enemy sealed the spell.
• Cornell used stored spells to summon a Fire Elemental and a Bagura Demon and divide the Goblins with a Wall of Fire, while the Elf and the human Warrior attacked the Black-Robed Goblin.
• The Black-Robed Goblin transformed into a giant Bear Goblin and lured the Elf close, severing his arm and crushing him as the Warrior stabbed it through the chest.
• Cornell tore a scroll to lock down the lair and stop the Black-Robed Goblin from escaping with the Silver-White Device.
• The human Warrior cut down the wounded Black-Robed Goblin, but the Silver-White Device disappeared from the altar.

Xia Nan faced the Red-maned Bear Goblin alone after Berg died and Adeline was badly injured, searching for a way to survive the fight. Abi arrived with a Healing Potion for Adeline, and while Xia Nan kept the Bear Goblin occupied, Abi returned to defend the village.

• The Red-maned Bear Goblin killed Berg and knocked Adeline out of the fight, leaving Xia Nan to battle it alone.
• Xia Nan dodged the Bear Goblin's attacks and considered how to exploit its limited agility and lack of armor while watching for its explosive state.
• Abi reached the battlefield and used an empty Healing Potion vial to help Adeline recover.
• Xia Nan charged the Bear Goblin again to buy Adeline time to heal.
• After checking that Adeline could move and did not need his Wooden Shield, Abi headed back toward the village to fight the Goblins.

Xia Nan and Adeline fought Red Mane until the Bear Goblin’s dark-red aura and Bone Club left Adeline gravely wounded and Xia Nan facing it alone. Xia Nan used the Fate Coin to trigger a miracle, and his sword struck a mysterious Gravity Core, leaving Red Mane collapsed as power surged through him.

• Xia Nan and Adeline alternated attacks on Red Mane, steadily wounding it while covering each other.
• Red Mane unleashed a burst of dark-red aura, retrieved its Pale Bone Club, and used its eerie sound to disorient Xia Nan and Adeline.
• Xia Nan threw his Fire Oil Bombs to clear Adeline’s senses, but Red Mane struck her with the Bone Club and knocked her out of the fight.
• Xia Nan used the Fate Coin and [Whirlwind Slash], triggering a miracle that brought a silver-white Gravity Core into the battlefield.
• Xia Nan’s sword struck the Gravity Core, gravity surged across the field, Red Mane collapsed, and unfamiliar power began flowing through Xia Nan.

Xia Nan killed the Bear Goblin and became a Level 1 Meteor Blade Hunt after gaining control over gravity. He found the badly injured Adeline alive and offered her a Healing Potion, while she reacted with astonishment to the Bear Goblin’s death.

• Xia Nan absorbed the Gravity Core’s ripples, advanced Gravity Solidification into Gravity Control, and unlocked the Meteor Blade Hunt profession.
• Xia Nan’s new profession strengthened his attributes and granted him the Tidal Shaping and Heart’s Sight feats and the Gravity Etching combat skill.
• Xia Nan confirmed the Bear Goblin was dead and ran to check on Adeline, who had survived its blow but was badly injured.
• Xia Nan gave Adeline a Healing Potion and told her the Bear Goblin was dead, leaving her staring at its corpse in astonishment.

Abi struggled through the Goblin attack, but Xia Nan rescued him after killing three Goblins with his newly mastered Gravity Control. Xia Nan continued clearing the village and demonstrated his power while protecting villagers, as a new Feat, Tidal Shaping, was introduced.

• Abi killed a Goblin but collapsed from exhaustion after fighting to protect the villagers.
• Three Goblins found Abi and were pinned to the ground by Xia Nan's Gravity Control before Xia Nan beheaded them.
• Xia Nan pulled Abi to safety and told him that Adeline and other villagers were in a cleared area.
• Xia Nan used Gravity Control to move quickly and lightly while clearing Goblins from nearly half the village.
• Xia Nan leaped into a ruined house, killed the Goblins threatening a family, and climbed onto the roof to search for more targets.
• The chapter introduced Xia Nan's Tidal Shaping Feat, which reduced falling damage, improved balance on unstable surfaces, and let him adjust push and pull effects.

Xia Nan arrived at Emerald Creek Village and used his new Professional abilities to destroy the Goblin horde and save the villagers. With the village cleared and the storm easing, he considered his new powers and the strange Gravity Core device that had appeared during the battle.

• The village chief rallied the villagers to hold back the Goblins until help arrived, but their line broke when a villager was injured.
• Xia Nan descended into the Goblin horde, crushed several enemies, and used [Heart's Sight], [Gravity Control], and his new Combat Skills to fight them.
• Xia Nan chose not to test combining his Combat Skills while villagers were nearby and instead focused on wiping out the remaining Goblins.
• Xia Nan and the others searched Emerald Creek Village and confirmed that no Goblins remained.
• Abi and Adeline were astonished by Xia Nan's strength, while Xia Nan recalled the strange Gravity Core and its unfamiliar technological details.

After the Goblins were defeated at Emerald Creek Village, Xia Nan reflected on the casualties and the loss of Berg while Adeline stood over the Bear Goblin’s body. Elsewhere, Cornell’s party finished clearing the Goblin lair, and Cornell explained to the Warrior why the Association sent inexperienced Adventurers to fight Goblins.

• Xia Nan returned with the last Goblin’s head as the villagers mourned their dead and tended to the wounded.
• Xia Nan watched Abi prepare Berg’s body for transport and saw Adeline standing silently before the Bear Goblin’s corpse.
• The Bagura Demon finished crushing Goblins before the spatial pull returned it to the Abyss, and Cornell’s party completed the battle.
• Cornell collected the Black-Robed Goblin, the altar, and the Elf’s body, but chose not to pay to resurrect Volga.
• The Warrior asked why the Association sent inexperienced Adventurers after Goblins, and Cornell said it was Hunting Day and there were plenty of Adventurers.

After Hunting Day, River Valley Town’s veteran adventurers stayed busy at the White Tit Tavern while newcomers arrived hoping to make their fortunes. Jimmy’s cousin brought him to the tavern and began teaching him which powerful adventurers to recognize, starting with the man known as the “Grey Sword.”

• River Valley Town quieted after Hunting Day as many adventurers headed for Thin Mist Forest and new recruits appeared around town.
• Jimmy’s cousin took him to the White Tit Tavern, boasting about his experience while worrying over the cost of their meal.
• Jimmy admired the tavern and imagined the adventuring life he was about to begin.
• Jimmy’s cousin froze when Jimmy looked toward a black-haired adventurer seated with two companions, then hurried him away from the table.
• Jimmy’s cousin warned him not to stare or speak carelessly and began explaining how to recognize important people, identifying the “Grey Sword” by his grey longsword.

Five days after returning to River Valley Town, Xia Nan reflected on his growing fame, the rewards from the Goblin battle, and his new Profession Level. He planned to repair and sell equipment, visit the Adventurers Association, and train his new abilities, especially [Gravity Control], whose difficulty left him wondering whether his Intelligence of 5 was holding him back.

• Xia Nan’s fame as the “Grey Sword” spread through River Valley Town after word got around that he had advanced during battle and killed a Bear Goblin alone.
• Chapton gifted Xia Nan a bottle of Rock Heart Stout, and Xia Nan secretly used [Gravity Control] to keep a slipping waitress from falling.
• Xia Nan reviewed his earnings of 756 Gold Coins, 3 Silver Coins, and 9 coppers, his new level 1 [Meteor Blade Hunt] Profession, and the possible uses of Alton’s [Fate Coin].
• Adeline asked Xia Nan what he planned to do next, and he said he would decide as he went while she reminded him to visit the Adventurers Association.
• Xia Nan planned to repair his damaged armor, ask “Rock Hammer” about the Hollow Bone Club, sell leftover stones, and train before taking another mission.
• Xia Nan noted that his [Gravity Control] proficiency had remained at 1 despite five days of practice and wondered if his Intelligence of 5 explained the difficulty.

Xia Nan visited Rock Hammer, where Barn chased off an adventurer trying to extort him with a false complaint and discovered that Xia Nan had become a Professional. Barn inspected Xia Nan’s battle-damaged armor and the Pale Bone Club taken from the Red-Maned Hobgoblin, then announced he had an idea for it.

• Xia Nan entered Rock Hammer and found a middle-aged adventurer demanding 100 gold from Barn over armor the shop had never sold.
• Barn recognized the complaint as a scam and scared the adventurer away with a deliberately halted punch; the fleeing man collided with Xia Nan and then ran off.
• Barn realized Xia Nan had become a Professional and inspected his damaged Chainmail Shirt, finding that an unknown force had corroded its links.
• Xia Nan replaced the Chainmail Shirt, while Barn repaired the mostly unaffected Studded Leather Armor lining and suggested using the Snake Scale as material for enchanted equipment.
• Xia Nan asked Barn to appraise the Pale Bone Club from the Red-Maned Hobgoblin, and Barn judged it likely came from an uncommon creature before declaring he had an idea.

Xia Nan discussed using a Bone Rod to upgrade his Snake Scale Arm Shield or make enchanted armor with Barn, then sold gemstones at Fairy Wind. He discovered a strange wooden figurine that revealed an ominous description on his Attribute Panel.

• Barn offered to test whether the Bone Rod was compatible with the Snake Scale and outlined options for using or selling it if they were incompatible.
• Xia Nan left the Snake Scale Arm Shield with Barn for testing and bought a Chainmail Shirt for fifty gold.
• At Fairy Wind, Xia Nan sold gemstones to Falilo for 115 gold and noticed a middle-aged Adventurer who had previously tried to extort Barn.
• Xia Nan was drawn to a crudely carved wooden figurine and inspected it closely.
• Xia Nan's Attribute Panel identified it as a Ram Deer Figurine and displayed a cryptic remark.

Xia Nan nearly succumbed to the strange influence of a Ram Deer Figurine in Fairy Wind, but the Attribute Panel helped him break free and he left without buying it. After reaching the Adventurers Association in River Valley Town, he asked Molly how to register for the Second Floor, prompting her to spring into action.

• Xia Nan studied the Ram Deer Figurine in Fairy Wind and nearly lost himself in its disturbing vision before the Attribute Panel brought him back to his senses.
• Xia Nan asked Falilo about the figurine, refused to buy it, and left the General Store while a middle-aged adventurer bought it instead.
• Xia Nan silently recited part of the figurine's mysterious note outside the shop, briefly felt an unseen gaze upon him, and stopped before the influence faded.
• Xia Nan reached the Adventurers Association and asked Molly whether he needed to register before going up to the Second Floor.
• Molly straightened eagerly when Xia Nan's question made her realize business had arrived.

Xia Nan learned that the Adventurers Association required a mission before he could access its second floor as a Professional, and Molly said the assignment would likely take him to Newm. On his way back to the tavern, he witnessed a desperate man impale himself on an adventurer’s sword, and noticed the man’s bundle had disappeared.

• Molly explained that the Association offered Professionals access to advancement resources without requiring ordinary members to sign contracts, but Xia Nan needed to complete a mission before visiting the second floor.
• Xia Nan agreed to return in five days, and Molly quietly told him that the mission would likely be in Newm.
• Xia Nan saw Lady Edwina confronting the middle-aged man who had tried to extort local shops, and a square-faced adventurer stepped forward to threaten him.
• The middle-aged man walked into the square-faced adventurer’s sword and died, causing the onlookers to scatter.
• Xia Nan left the scene and noticed that the dead man’s bundle had vanished.