Chapter Summaries

Rayne reviewed the Nesser Supervisory Group and learned that Otiluk could challenge his future bid for governor. He planned to use an audit to weaken the Nesser Elder Council’s ties to Duke Redstone, and Gneus agreed to cooperate.

• Gneus gave Rayne the Supervisory Group roster, and Rayne counted Andro, Sidney, and Alamanther among his allies while noting Winslow and Kailana opposed him.
• Rayne questioned Otiluk’s loyalties, and Gneus explained that Otiluk was politically ambitious and might seek the governorship.
• Aishilei explained that Otiluk’s advanced age made a Soul Saint breakthrough unlikely, so Rayne recognized him as a serious political rival.
• Rayne proposed auditing Nesser’s accounts, rejecting fraudulent ledgers, and stripping the Elder Council of its authority if it failed to correct the problems.
• Rayne said his real aim was to distance Nesser from Duke Redstone and divide the Elder Council; Gneus agreed to support his plan.

After receiving Viola’s letter, Rayne traveled to her Northril residence and reunited with her after nearly three years apart. He discovered that she had become a Legendary Intermediate Tier Myriad Spirits Wizard and that her Soul Gathering Tower now held eight Legendary-rank angel Demon Souls.

• Rayne received an unsigned letter from Viola and used a Portal to travel to the address she had written.
• Rayne watched Viola’s guarded villa from nearby and saw her waiting anxiously in her bedroom.
• Viola summoned Divine Armor, golden wings, and Demon Souls when Rayne appeared through an Any Door, then recognized him.
• Selma and Colin rushed into the bedroom after detecting the magical disturbance, but Viola dismissed them and reunited privately with Rayne.
• Rayne asked Viola about her angel form and discovered that she had reached Level 14, Legendary Intermediate Tier, with eight Legendary-rank angel Demon Souls.

Rayne learned how Viola had become a Level 14 Legendary Wizard through Lady of Long Hair’s blessings and examined the powerful Apostles she could summon. At dawn, Viola gave him a mutated Lightning Apostle soul that she had named the Mithril Angel.

• Rayne assessed Viola’s eight Apostle Demon Souls and judged her strength comparable to Elder Harava of Nesser.
• Viola explained that the Phonograph and camera had increased the Church’s believers and Divine Power, allowing Lady of Long Hair to bless her with angel souls and nourish her advancement.
• Viola told Rayne that the Lady had erased the revived angels’ memories and returned their Spirit Quality to the Celestial Realm before giving Viola their restored elemental shells.
• Rayne and Viola teased each other about their relationship and Rayne’s other women as they remained together until dawn.
• Viola gave Rayne a Soul Stone containing a mutated Okra Lightning Apostle and named it the Mithril Angel.

Rayne examined Viola’s Mithril Angel and fused with its Demon Soul, gaining Mithril Body, Mithril Feathers, Lightning Flame, and other abilities. After testing his new powers, he asked Viola about the Transcendents gathered around her manor.

• Rayne studied the Mithril Angel’s elements and realized its abilities suited him, though Mithril Body would also help Viola overcome her fragile true body.
• Viola explained that she had chosen the Holy Helmet Angel as her Primary Soul because it suited her Wizard style and that she wanted Rayne to have the Mithril Angel.
• Rayne fused with the Mithril Angel in minutes while Viola guarded him with her six angels.
• Rayne tested his Mithril form, silver wings, flight, Lightning Flame, and Mithril Holy Sword, showing Viola his increased speed and strength.
• Rayne recalled the Legendary figures from the previous night and asked Viola about the Transcendents around her.

Rayne learned that Viola was being monitored by followers loyal to Madam Iliesa, the Church’s powerful Pontiff, and arranged to investigate Iliesa’s ties to a Legendary Demon Hunter while preparing to replace the guards at Viola’s manor. Later, he met with three Legendary Wizards to coordinate their supervisory group’s effort to stop Duke Redstone from taking Nesser.

• Viola explained that Madam Iliesa, a century-long Pontiff and Saint Tier Destruction Sorcerer, had placed her under house arrest because Viola’s growing influence threatened her position.
• Rayne learned that Iliesa’s husband, Marquis Sinnadalo, was a Legendary Demon Hunter of the Wolf School, and secretly sent Tyrien and two Extreme Warriors to investigate him through Roger.
• Rayne promised Viola a company of Extreme Warriors to replace the Church’s monitors, arranged for a Teleportation Array at her manor, and urged her to ask the Lady to withdraw the Church’s guards.
• Rayne returned to Fesinpafen Hotel, met important guests, and summoned Andro, Alamanther, and Sidney Rickman for a private discussion.
• Rayne told the three Legendary Wizards that their supervisory group would be established the next day and that they had to prevent Nesser from falling into Duke Redstone’s hands.

The Nether Supervisory Group began operating in Nesser, with Gneus leading the group and Aishilei organizing an audit of the city’s accounts. At its first meeting, Rayne openly antagonized Winslow over Duke Redstone, revealing that he had already insulted Kailstone Kalser to his face.

• Gneus formally established the Nether Supervisory Group at a ceremony attended by Northril’s officials and prominent figures.
• Fahrun handed Aishilei a bracelet containing Nesser’s account books, and Aishilei distributed them to her audit team.
• Rayne assessed Winslow, Kailana, and Otiluk in the conference room and sensed that Otiluk might become his future opponent.
• Winslow challenged Gneus’s claim that the Supervisory Group would last, and Rayne declared that it must sever Kailstone Kalser’s black hand from Nesser.
• Winslow demanded that Rayne apologize for insulting his teacher, but Rayne said he had already called Kailstone a smug little opportunist to his face twice.

Rayne exposed widespread falsification in Nesser’s account books and led the Supervisory Group to summon the Nether Elder Council for an inquiry. The inquiry’s announcement spread across Northril, leaving the city braced for upheaval.

• Rayne unsettled Winslow by claiming he had insulted Duke Redstone, then watched Winslow covet Gneus’s two votes as the Supervisory Group finalized its rules.
• Rayne used Benford’s Law to identify suspicious account books and noticed that several accountants showed abnormal emotions.
• Rayne told Aishilei to replace the suspicious accountants, and she uncovered more than a million Gold Shields in falsified accounts after the audit team was purged.
• Gneus proposed an immediate inquiry into the missing funds, and Rayne and three other members voted with him to approve it over Winslow’s objection.
• Gneus ordered Aishilei to summon the Nether Elder Council within an hour, while Nesser Wizards carried news of the inquiry to the Council and Northril.

At the inquiry into the Nesser Floating City, Rayne suppressed the Nesser Wizards’ attempt to intimidate the hall and confronted Elder Buoyangsi’s accusation that he was conspiring against them. The chapter ended with Rayne transformed and warning that anyone who attacked in the Temple of Truth would be killed without exception.

• The Nesser Council of Elders arrived at the final second, followed by more than a hundred Nesser Wizards whose magical auras threatened the witnesses.
• Rayne used a powerful Thunder Spell to disrupt the Nesser Wizards and force their intimidation display to end.
• Rayne ordered the Nesser Wizards to sit down and warned them not to tarnish Master Ogulvi’s reputation.
• Elder Buoyangsi accused Rayne of plotting to suppress the Nether School and seize control of the Nether Floating City, drawing support from several Nesser Wizards.
• Rayne called the Nesser Wizards trash, transformed into a towering, armored form, and threatened to kill anyone who attacked in the Temple of Truth.

Rayne cleared himself of accusations against the Nether Floating City by swearing the Blood Oath of the Three Gods, then the Archon began questioning Nether Wizards over missing funds. The inquiry exposed major financial irregularities and left Rayne confident that pressure would fracture the Nether Elder Council and implicate Duke Redstone.

• Rayne swore before the Three Gods that he had no selfish motives toward the Nether Floating City, and the deities witnessed his oath, undermining Buoyangsi's accusations.
• Chronomancer persuaded Nether to accept oversight, while Buoyangsi objected but ultimately fell silent.
• Gneus began the audit questioning and confronted Ksnide and several other Nether Wizards about large sums of missing money and materials.
• Desad denied knowledge of more than four hundred thousand Gold Shields that had passed through his hands, while Rayne noticed his panic and hostility.
• Rayne identified the factions within the Nether Elder Council and concluded that the missing funds were likely connected to Duke Redstone and the attack on Pallas Floating City.

The inquiry into the Nether’s false accounts exposed more than fourteen million Gold Shields in losses, and Gneus threatened to bring in the Church of Justice before proposing that the High Council strip the Nether Elder Council of its authority. Rayne returned to Viola’s manor, where she received an invitation from Madam Iliesa to attend a musical salon with him.

• Newspapers across the Empire publicized the inquiry, and Aishilei’s review found more than fourteen million Gold Shields and supplies missing, with nearly half the Nether Legendary Wizards implicated.
• As the Nether wizards stayed silent, Gneus threatened to request magical interrogation by the Church of Justice, while protesters outside the temple called for arrests and trials.
• The Nether wizards looked toward Buoyangsi, but he denied having anything to say when Gneus questioned him.
• Gneus announced that he would ask the High Council to strip the Nether Elder Council of its authority, then adjourned the inquiry despite objections from Elder Chronomancer and Harava.
• Rayne returned to Viola’s manor, and Viola told him that Madam Iliesa had invited them to a musical salon.

Rayne and Viola attended Madam Iliesa’s hastily arranged salon, which Rayne suspected was tied to the Nether Elders’ efforts to counter their growing advantage. They arrived together at Maringer Manor, where Madam Iliesa personally welcomed them.

• Viola explained that Madam Iliesa’s popular salons mixed discussions of art with opportunities for romantic affairs, and Rayne agreed to attend with her.
• Viola assured Rayne that she had remained faithful to him, and they prepared to appear together at the salon.
• Rayne and Viola traveled with Sikarius and the Extreme Warriors through a Portal to Madam Iliesa’s Maringer Manor.
• The guests recognized Rayne and Viola as lovers when they arrived, and Madam Iliesa welcomed them at the entrance.

Rayne and Viola attended Madam Iliesa’s music salon, where the guests admired Viola and welcomed Rayne as a powerful, influential count. After the public performances ended, Rayne and Viola shared a private moment in the garden before Madam Iliesa summoned them to the third floor.

• Rayne greeted Madam Iliesa and entered her salon with Viola, drawing the attention of the guests.
• Madam Iliesa performed a new song, and Viola held Rayne’s hand as they listened.
• Rayne spoke with Imperial senators while Viola joined the musical discussions and other guests performed.
• Madam Iliesa ended the public salon and opened the mansion for private conversations and leisure.
• Rayne and Viola walked through the garden, embraced beneath a flower arbor, and were invited by Madam Iliesa to the third floor.

Rayne confronted Iliesa with evidence that her salon had become entangled with believers of the Lord of Chaos, then used a mysterious letter to pressure her. The chapter ended with Rayne demanding that Iliesa abdicate as pope and resign as president of the Imperial Art Association.

• Rayne told Viola to stay silent during their meeting with Iliesa, then challenged Iliesa’s authority and dismissed her attempted apology as an act.
• Rayne threatened to have the Holy Swordsmen investigate Maringer Manor for believers of the Lord of Chaos, exposing Iliesa’s fear that her salon had become their gathering place.
• Rayne warned that he would report Iliesa to Lord Luspel, but she pretended not to be concerned and invited him to proceed.
• Rayne left Iliesa a letter, and she panicked after reading its first lines and called him back before he could leave.
• Rayne demanded that Iliesa surrender the papal throne and her position as president of the Imperial Art Association.

Rayne explained to Viola how he used the Sinnadalo Family’s enormous debt to force Madam Iliesa to consider abdicating. On the drive, Elder Chronomancer revealed that he wanted Nether Floating City, and Rayne offered to help him gain control in exchange for three promises.

• Rayne told Viola that the Mechanics Guild’s payment demand exposed Marquis Sinnadalo and Iliesa’s debt of more than ten million Gold Shields and threatened their mines and status.
• Viola praised Rayne for bringing Madam Iliesa to heel, and Rayne reassured her that she was his weakness before noticing the disguised Chronomancer driving their car.
• Chronomancer admitted that he wanted Nether Floating City, and Rayne said he would welcome Chronomancer taking control if he advanced to the Soul Saint realm.
• Rayne advised Chronomancer to seek the support of Elders Harava and Innora, then offered to use the Supervisory Group against elders who backed Duke Redstone.
• Rayne asked Chronomancer to owe him three promises after advancing to the Soul Saint realm.

Rayne and his allies prepared for an expected attack on the manor, but their enemies opened a large Abyssal Gate at dawn and trapped the estate inside a barrier. Rayne faced an advancing Demon Army and several powerful attackers as the chapter ended with the ambush underway.

• Chronomancer used Void Projection to possess the manor’s driver, then Rayne told Viola that Chronomancer might become a Soul Saint Wizard within twenty years.
• Rayne revealed that Reslin was his clone and explained how Chronomancer’s future allegiance could help secure the High Council for the Modu School.
• Rayne and Viola waited through the night while Extreme Warriors guarded the manor, but a Portal opened outside at dawn and dropped an Abyss Crystal onto the grass.
• Spatial Lock and Greater Sound and Light Barrier sealed off the manor as the crystal opened a large Abyssal Gate, prompting Rayne to send Viola to evacuate the servants and prepare for battle.
• Sikarius rallied the Extreme Warriors as Rayne spotted three Legendary High Tier attackers and a concealed Level 19 Combat Wizard approaching the manor.

Rayne faced a team of elite fighters assembled to kill him and chose to fight rather than retreat, but Nasul’s Antimagic Field let Kitorolov and Nasul strike him and bury him beneath the villa’s wreckage. As demons poured through the Abyssal Gate, the Extreme Warriors turned their guns on the invasion while Rayne’s attackers remained in the manor.

• Rayne identified the attackers as Duke Redstone’s forces and decided to stay, protect Viola, and use the battle to demonstrate his strength.
• Rayne transformed and clashed with Krogrul Ironhand, wounding the Behemoth Priest and driving him back.
• Nasul Dawnblade countered Rayne’s spells with an Antimagic Field, allowing Kitorolov to slash Rayne and Nasul to strike his back before Rayne crashed into the villa.
• Kitorolov and Nasul moved to pursue Rayne, but the Extreme Warriors opened fire and forced them to retreat under a barrage of explosive bullets.
• Destroyer Demons poured through the Abyssal Gate, and Sikarius redirected the Extreme Warriors to fire on the demon horde.

The Extreme Warriors and Borchi held back the Demon Army while Rayne attacked the three foreign powerhouses inside the manor. Rayne killed Krogrul with Thunder Slash, leaving Nasul and Kitorolov facing him.

• The Greater Demons used ordinary demons as shields, but twenty-four Extreme Warriors and Borchi drove the Demon Army back toward the Abyssal Gate.
• Nasul, Krogrul, and Kitorolov tried to exploit the battle to reach the Extreme Warriors, but Rayne and eight Mirror Images descended on them.
• Nasul and Kitorolov sheltered inside Nasul’s Antimagic Field as Rayne’s enlarged strike shook the manor and separated Krogrul from them.
• Rayne’s Mirror Images hit Krogrul with Lightning Burst Orbs, while Rayne pulled him into range and cut through his defense with Thunder Slash.
• Rayne smashed Krogrul’s head with his battle hammer, killing him as Nasul retreated and Kitorolov remained nearby.

Rayne fought the Spellbreaker, the Heroic Spirit Fighter, and Krogrul while his Mirror Images and Viola held back demons at the Abyssal Gate. As Demon Lord Shakrales approached the gate and prepared to enter the Material Plane, Rayne used the electricity he had gathered to prepare an upgrade to Thunder God's Spear.

• Rayne transformed into a Titan Giant and used War Stomp to paralyze the Spellbreaker and the Heroic Spirit Fighter, but a Combat Wizard dragged the Spellbreaker into the Shadow Plane before Rayne could kill him.
• The Combat Wizard rescued the Spellbreaker and repeatedly interfered in the melee, while Krogrul revived through Natural Resurrection and rejoined the fight.
• Rayne told Viola to guard the Abyssal Gate, and his Mirror Images helped her and the angels kill demons as the main battle continued.
• Krogrul linked his soul with Nasul and the Heroic Spirit Fighter, and Nasul silenced Rayne with Arcane Disturbance before restoring the Antimagic Field.
• Demon Lord Shakrales appeared beyond the Abyssal Gate, and Rayne decided to eliminate his opponents before she could enter the Material Plane.
• Rayne opened his phone interface, saw that he had gathered 1,200 units of electricity, and selected Thunder God's Spear for improvement.

Rayne upgraded several Elements with the electricity in his Soul Power Pool, then used his Mirror Images and Thunder God's Spear to defeat the three fighters surrounding him and kill a hidden Combat Wizard. After absorbing the four Legendary High Tiers’ souls, he opened an Any Door to confront the two remaining enemies.

• Rayne raised Thunder God's Spear to Level 5, Wind Thunder Wings to the Seventh Circle, and several other spells to the Seventh Circle by spending electricity from the Soul Power Pool.
• Rayne sent eight Mirror Images beyond the Spatial Lock, where they shaped Fine Gold into spears and charged them with lightning.
• Tim Kenan's Disintegration broke the Spatial Lock and Greater Sound and Light Barrier, preventing the Spellbreaker's allies from escaping by teleportation.
• Rayne blasted the three fighters apart with Light Burst, and his Mirror Images struck them with eight Thunder God's Spears, killing Nasul, Krogrul, and the Heroic Spirit Fighter.
• Rayne revealed himself and killed the wounded Combat Wizard who had been hiding in the Void, then absorbed the souls of all four Legendary High Tiers.
• Rayne called back the Thunderbolt Hammer, opened an Any Door, and stepped through to face the two remaining enemies.

Rayne attacked the Nesser elders hiding in a villa, killed Fahrun, and captured Desad for interrogation. He returned to Viola's estate as the ongoing demon assault drew the attention of Northril's Legendary powerhouses and the Nesser Floating City.

• Rayne found the hidden room in a villa and identified the concealed Wizards as Nesser elders Fahrun and Desad.
• Desad tried to escape by teleporting while Fahrun attacked Rayne with a stored Disintegration spell, but Rayne interrupted them with a Temporal Shockwave and destroyed their escape array.
• Rayne shattered Fahrun's defenses and killed her with his Mithril Feathers.
• Rayne battered Desad's Prismatic Shield, stopped his attempt to teleport away, and captured him alive after choking him nearly unconscious.
• Rayne returned to Viola's estate with Desad as the demon army continued pouring through the Abyssal Gate and powerful figures began teleporting in.