Chapter Summaries

Punk and Kane learned that Sosend was likely preparing a plan to hunt them, and Zuola proposed joining forces against the Nightmare Cult. Punk agreed to cooperate and considered using a spell to gain more information before their next move.

• Zuola warned Punk and Kane that Sosend would pursue them even if they tried to avoid the Nightmare Cult.
• Kane declared that he would hunt Sosend, while Punk recognized that avoiding the mage was no longer practical.
• Zuola explained that Sosend had corrupted her family and asked Punk and Kane to help oppose him.
• Zuola proposed that Punk go to Sandstone City and receive intelligence through Count Jeff while she investigated Sosend's Hunting Plan.
• Zuola offered Sosend's magical materials and knowledge as a reward, and Punk agreed to cooperate after recalling a spell that might help him gather information.

Tandak-Breeze, a once-powerful warrior weakened by a magical curse, watched his kingdom collapse as cultists and rebels spread. When Ovakain arrived at the palace with Aisha, Tandak attacked in anger but found himself facing a stronger Master Level visitor.

• Tandak-Breeze reflected on how his lost strength had left him unable to control the kingdom’s Nightmare Cult followers, rebellious lords, and raiding Ram-headed people.
• Tandak-Breeze hurled a silver goblet at the captain of the guards and the two figures with him after they interrupted his solitude.
• Ovakain caught the goblet with his black-scaled hand, protecting the captain of the guards.
• Ovakain rebuked Tandak-Breeze for taking his anger out on his subordinates and identified himself as a traveler.
• Tandak-Breeze sensed Ovakain’s Master Level aura, recognized that he was no match for the youth, and slumped back onto his throne.

Ovakain sought Tandak’s cooperation against the Nightmare Cult and a new Disaster Maker, but discovered that Abyssal Energy had irreversibly infected the king’s soul. As Ovakain prepared to leave, a young man arrived at the hall announcing good news.

• Tandak angrily rebuked Aisha for bringing Ovakain to him and revealed his despair over his weakened condition.
• Ovakain warned Tandak that the Nightmare Cult was growing rampant and that a dangerous Disaster Maker had arrived in the Raging Waves Desert.
• Tandak exposed the Abyssal Energy Infection spreading through his right arm and insisted he could no longer protect his kingdom.
• Ovakain realized his Legendary Equipment could not cure Tandak’s soul-bound infection and departed without securing his cooperation.
• As Ovakain neared the hall’s doors, a young man in luxurious robes arrived and announced that he had good news for Tandak.

Prince Dick reported his political and economic accomplishments to King Tandak, then criticized Aisha for her conduct and lack of royal training. Tandak dismissed Dick’s efforts and praised Aisha’s professional strength, leaving Dick humiliated and Ovakain troubled by the king’s belief that power was all that mattered.

• Dick entered the hall and proudly told King Tandak how he had secured a stake in the salt trade, gained control of much of Modifen Territory’s economy, and won nobles’ support.
• Aisha tried to stop Dick from continuing his report, but he turned on her and condemned her for disguising herself as a mercenary and neglecting her royal duties.
• Tandak interrupted Dick and berated him for pursuing politics and trade instead of becoming a professional, while praising Aisha’s rogue abilities.
• Dick reminded Tandak that he had promised to reconsider him if he completed the political tasks, but Tandak called him useless and ordered him out.
• Dick lowered his head in silence as Tandak dismissed him, and Ovakain silently disapproved of the king’s outlook.

King Tandak asked Ovakain to become Waibien’s Protector expert, but Ovakain refused because he was injured and pursued by enemies. As Dick lamented his exclusion from the throne, a sinister voice spoke to him from the carriage.

• Tandak used his rebuke of Dick to invite Ovakain to serve as Waibien’s Protector expert.
• Ovakain refused, explaining that his injuries and approaching enemies would put the kingdom in danger.
• Tandak ended the audience and told Aisha to care for Ovakain, then sat exhausted on his throne.
• Dick rode through Rock Sand City, blaming Tandak’s rule and Aisha for his loss of the throne.
• An aged, sinister voice agreed with Dick’s complaints and suggested that he alone could save the kingdom as its king.

Prince Dick met a mysterious old man inside his carriage, who manipulated his thoughts and urged him to seize the throne. Dick accepted a dark scroll and embraced the plan, believing he would become the kingdom’s savior.

• An old man appeared inside Prince Dick’s soundproof carriage, and Dick called for guards before drawing his dagger.
• The old man used a pale flame and silver-white sparks to calm and influence Dick, then encouraged his resentment toward King Tandak and Princess Aisha.
• Dick lamented that he lacked the power to save the kingdom or keep the Master Level expert from leaving.
• The old man proposed that Aisha marry the expert and that Dick exploit an impending attack by the Ram-headed people to claim the throne.
• The old man gave Dick a black scroll and told him King Tandak would die during the attack, while the expert would be forced to stay and protect the kingdom.
• Dick accepted the old man’s plan and declared that he would become the country’s savior.

News spread across the Kingdom of Waibien that King Tandak was dying, Ovakain would become its new Protector, and Princess Aisha would marry him. In a hidden corner of a tavern, Aisha confessed her love and asked Ovakain to stay, but he warned that his enemies would bring disaster and told her he knew she was lying.

• News spread that King Tandak was about to die and that Ovakain would become Waibien's new Protector.
• The kingdom announced that Princess Aisha would marry Ovakain, prompting commoners to celebrate and hope for a better future.
• Ovakain and Aisha secretly shared a meal and drinks in a Rock Sand City tavern under a spell that kept them unnoticed.
• Aisha professed her love for Ovakain and asked him to stay with her.
• Ovakain warned Aisha that his enemies were coming and said he could sense that she did not truly love him.

Aisha begged Ovakain to remain in Waibien, and he agreed to stay for three more days despite fearing his enemy would bring disaster. Meanwhile, Sosend prepared the Ram-headed forces to gather near Sandstone City and assured Gangwo that he had arrangements for any trouble.

• Ovakain told Aisha he recognized that much of her affection was calculated to keep him in Waibien and said he still intended to leave.
• Aisha broke down and pleaded with Ovakain to stay, warning that Waibien would fall to the Ram-headed people without him.
• Ovakain considered the people of Waibien and agreed to remain for no more than three days to help stabilize the kingdom.
• Beneath a lake outside Rock Sand City, Gangwo reported to Sosend that the Ram-headed tribes were gathering near Sandstone City.
• Sosend praised Gangwo and said he had arrangements for any trouble as the Nightmare Cult prepared to attack its opponents.

Sosend revealed that he planned to use the Nightmare Cult and its Ram-headed followers to lure victims for his research and advance to Legendary. After Vector subdued Sosend’s magical frenzy, Sosend prepared to sacrifice the captured Ranger Zuola and trap three arriving Master Level experts.

• Vector complained about the Ram-headed people, while Sosend explained that the Nightmare Cult helped him attract adventurers and test subjects.
• Sosend declared that he would advance to Legendary and erupted into a magical frenzy.
• Vector injected Sosend with Magic Potion Number Seven, stopping his laughter and leaving him coughing on the floor.
• Sosend said he needed Abyssal Energy containing Law Power and Master Level souls, and resolved to kill the three experts approaching the Raging Waves Desert.
• Sosend revealed that he had captured Zuola and bound her at the center of a spell array as a sacrifice.

Punk and Cain slaughtered Moye City’s inhabitants to prepare Punk’s Filthy Foresight divination spell, which could reveal information about the powerful Archmage Sosend. After completing the sacrifice, Punk activated the spell to learn what kind of creature Sosend was.

• Punk arranged the remains of the Ram-headed Shaman and Moye City’s dead into a magical sacrifice while Cain complained and polished his lance.
• Cain questioned whether Punk’s method was reliable, but Punk told him to find Sosend himself or stay quiet.
• Punk prepared Filthy Foresight, a divination spell that contacted the Filth Bird but left a dangerous mark on the caster’s soul.
• Punk judged that using the spell was necessary to gather information about Sosend, a level 19 Archmage who had killed five Master Level experts.
• After the final living soul burned to ashes within his spell gem, Punk poured mana into the completed spell and began the divination.

Punk summoned the Filth Bird with Filthy Foresight and asked for information about Sosend-Jess, a peak 19th-level spellcaster in the Raging Waves Desert. The Filth Bird provided detailed information before departing, and Punk began reviewing it while keeping Kane in the dark.

• Punk used Filthy Foresight to summon a projection of the Filth Bird over the ruins of Moye City.
• Kane marveled at the Filth Bird's overwhelming chaotic aura as Punk maintained the spell.
• Punk asked the Filth Bird for information about Sosend-Jess and received the requested details along with additional information for Chaos Faction professionals.
• The Filth Bird urged Punk and Kane to embrace chaos before Punk ended the spell and its projection disappeared.
• Kane praised Punk's spell and tried to draw him into conversation, but Punk ignored him.
• Punk examined the Filth Bird's detailed information and planned to conceal most of it from Kane.

Punk learned Sosend’s strength and trap through Filthy Foresight, then decided to exploit the information against Sosend and Ovakain. He left Moye City and told Cain only that Zuola had been captured.

• Punk used Filthy Foresight to learn that Sosend was a level 19 mage with powerful equipment, a magical crow, and a plan to trap and sacrifice several Master Level experts.
• Punk judged Sosend’s planned summoning of an Abyssal Demon Lesser Lord projection to be dangerous, but believed Sosend’s exposed secrets gave him the advantage.
• Punk decided Sosend could provide valuable resources and create an opportunity to kill Ovakain and possibly Cain.
• Punk flew away from the mountain of corpses in Moye City while Cain called after him, demanding to know what he had learned.
• Punk reconsidered sharing the information with Cain and told him only that Zuola had been captured.

Ovakain tried to leave Rock Sand City because he feared the approaching Nightmare Cult and believed he could not protect the kingdom. When Ram-headed attackers swept into the city and King Tandak failed to appear, Ovakain chose to fight and flew toward the southern district with Aisha.

• Aisha pleaded with Ovakain to stay, but he said the danger near the kingdom made him leave and urged her to tell King Tandak to care for his grandson.
• Ovakain prepared to fly away, then heard cries of battle and discovered Ram-headed attackers setting fire to Rock Sand City.
• Ovakain expected King Tandak to repel the attackers, but Tandak and the city's commanders never appeared as the invaders advanced toward the palace.
• After hearing that people he knew had been slaughtered, Ovakain decided he could not stand by and turned toward the southern district.
• Ovakain grabbed the dazed Aisha and flew toward the battle, telling her that the refugees would need the Queen's comfort.

Prince Dick killed King Tandak with a cursed scroll and claimed the throne, but a shaman’s spell destroyed the palace before he could rule. Meanwhile, Ovakain and Aisha fought to protect Rock Sand City’s civilians from the Ram-headed army.

• Prince Dick secretly killed King Tandak by tearing open a deadly magical scroll while the king berated him.
• Dick shoved Tandak’s body from the throne, crowned himself, and proclaimed himself king of the Kingdom of Waibien.
• A Formal Level Ram-headed Shaman’s witchcraft spell shattered much of the palace, destroying Dick’s throne and ambitions.
• Ovakain blasted Ram-headed soldiers attacking civilians as Aisha followed him and urged him to defend refugees.
• Ovakain pushed through soul-deep pain and accelerated his spellcasting as he hurried to save more people from the fires and attacks.

Ovakain tried to rescue a little girl named Yano from a Ram-headed attacker by blasting the attacker away and catching her in midair. His Rapid Teleportation spell collapsed because of his injured soul, and Yano fell to her death, leaving Ovakain devastated by guilt.

• Aisha urged Ovakain to save Yano, whom a Ram-headed person was holding above a street.
• Ovakain blasted the attacker with Incinerating Flame Burst, killing him and sending Yano flying while he instructed her to stay still.
• Ovakain tried to cast Rapid Teleportation to catch Yano, but his spell model collapsed amid pain from his damaged soul.
• Yano trusted Ovakain to catch her, but she struck the ground and died before he could reach her.

After Yano died, Ovakain decided to pursue the Nightmare Cult despite Aisha's warning that their trap was dangerous. He set out to end the hunt and settle his grudges, expecting Punk Sai'an to follow him.

• Ovakain stood over Yano's bloodied remains and blamed the Nightmare Cult for her death.
• Aisha told Ovakain that the tragedy was an accident and urged him not to act rashly.
• Ovakain said he would interrogate the Ram-headed people's leaders to find the Nightmare Cult's lair.
• Aisha warned Ovakain that the cult was laying a trap, but he insisted the invasion would continue until it was destroyed.
• Ovakain said Punk Sai'an would follow him and that he intended to settle every grudge at once.
• Ovakain strode toward the Ram-headed army, determined to begin his revenge immediately.

Punk and Kane waited outside the Nightmare Cult’s lair beneath an oasis while Punk secretly awaited the arrival of Ovakain, an old enemy. When Punk sensed the dragon approaching, he prepared defensive spells and told Kane they could move out.

• Kane recited boastful, terrible poetry while he and Punk waited in the desert for a day.
• Kane questioned why Punk was delaying their attack, and Punk said they were waiting for a useful helper.
• Kane suspected Punk planned to play both sides but stayed because he could not face Sosend alone.
• At night, Punk sensed Ovakain approaching the Nightmare Cult’s lair and recognized the chance for a melee.
• Punk prepared defensive spells and told Kane they no longer needed to wait.

Punk and Kane entered the oasis believed to be Sosend's lair and discovered that its strange mutations were linked to Abyssal Energy and an apparent means of suppressing its infection. Punk concluded they had found the right place, but suspected the Filth Bird had concealed important information about Sosend.

• Punk and Kane entered the silent oasis without trying to hide, intending to force their way into Sosend's lair.
• Punk sensed that the oasis had almost no elemental fluctuations despite its lush, thriving plants.
• Kane uprooted a tree and revealed that its roots had mutated into writhing pale red tentacles.
• Punk examined the slime from the tree and concluded it contained a substance that suppressed Abyssal Energy Infection, likely produced through complex alchemical modification.
• Punk told Kane the oasis was Sosend's lair and suspected the Filth Bird had withheld important information.

Punk traced the mutated plants’ Abyssal Energy to a lake at the oasis’s center and discovered that its water was controlled by Sosend’s improved spell. As Punk and Kane watched bubbles rise around a vast dark-green shadow beneath the lake, they realized Sosend had prepared a “little pet” for them.

• Punk concluded that the oasis’s lake was the source of the mutated plants’ Abyssal Energy and led Kane toward it.
• Punk and Kane reached the lake and found it saturated with Abyssal Energy, which sealing runes kept contained.
• Punk recognized the runes as part of an improved spell and resolved to stop postponing his own spell research.
• Kane praised the oasis’s artistic design until Punk pointed out bubbles and a vast dark-green shadow rising from the lake.

Punk and Kane confronted a stitched monster Sosend sent to test their abilities, while Punk withheld his understanding of Sosend’s plan. Kane began the fight by drilling a hole through the monster’s hand with his lance.

• Kane spotted a gigantic, tentacle-haired monster emerging from the lake, and Punk identified it as a stitched creature made from the corpses of five dead Master Level experts.
• Kane questioned Punk about Sosend’s intentions, but Punk claimed he knew nothing and prepared his spells.
• Punk reasoned that Sosend had sent the stitched monster as a disposable pawn and retreated with Super Speed as the battle began.
• Kane leaped clear of the monster’s slap and thrust his lance into its palm, drilling a massive hole through its hand.