Chapter Summaries

Rayne sold the Lightning Blade Leopard’s pelt and fangs before traveling to Burke Castle, where he discovered Phyllis and Gallowayna were plotting against him and Viola. He disguised himself in heavy armor and charged the castle gate, beginning his assault.

• Rayne returned to the farm, sold the Lightning Blade Leopard’s pelt and fangs to Harding for three hundred Gold Shields, and left that night.
• Rayne traveled to Burke Town and used the Voice of All Things to overhear Phyllis and Gallowayna discussing their plan to capture him and kill Viola.
• Phyllis gave Gallowayna five days to find Rayne before she killed Viola herself, while Gallowayna said Rayne would appear at the God-birth Festival.
• Rayne entered a weapons shop, took black armor and a giant sword, and buried the items that could reveal his identity.
• Rayne waited outside Burke Castle until the guests departed, then charged through the guards and slammed into the gate.

Rayne stormed Burke Castle to reach Gallowayna, cutting through the guards and defeating the Wizard and Enoch. He killed Gallowayna after exposing his hiding place, but left his identity unanswered.

• Rayne smashed through Burke Castle's gates and killed the guards who tried to stop him.
• Rayne entered the main building, killed the butler, and fought his way upstairs toward Gallowayna.
• Rayne broke through the Wizard's defenses and killed him before confronting Enoch in Gallowayna's study.
• Gallowayna stabbed Rayne with a dagger before retreating into the shadows, and Enoch attacked to protect him.
• Rayne activated Thorn Armor, electrocuted Enoch during their clash, and beheaded him.
• Rayne found Gallowayna hiding in the study and killed him without answering his final question about Rayne's identity.

Rayne slaughtered Gallowayna’s guards, escaped Burke Castle, and went to Eagle Marsh Town to make sure his family was safe from Enoch’s men. After keeping watch for three days, he returned to Longshande, where Phonographs had transformed the city during his absence.

• Rayne killed the guards who confronted him in Burke Castle, spared Gallowayna’s children, and escaped without taking the valuables hidden in the study.
• Rayne traveled to Eagle Marsh Town, confirmed that Bard, Malinda, and the rest of his family were safe, and found three suspicious Transcendents at the inn.
• Rayne watched an armed carriage leave town and decided not to pursue its occupants, then used his accumulated charge to strengthen Swiftness and Rapid Sprint.
• Rayne guarded his family’s home from hiding for three days, then left for Pond City without reuniting with his family.
• Rayne returned to Longshande by steamship and found Phonographs playing throughout the city.

Rayne reunited with Viola, celebrated the success of the Phonograph business, and learned that Gallowayna had been killed, leaving Viola closer to becoming Count Winterthunder. He then visited Crayden Supernatural Academy, found his younger brother Briset, and took him to a villa in Silver Star District.

• Rayne returned to Vigo Manor and reunited with Viola, who told him that Silver Star Record Company's Phonographs had sold out rapidly and earned the Lady of Long Hair's approval.
• Rayne and Viola discussed Gallowayna's murder, and Viola explained that she had proposed taking over his river transport company to distribute Phonographs across the Empire.
• Viola reminded Rayne to prepare for his upcoming ennoblement and asked whether he had chosen a family surname; Rayne began considering the matter.
• Rayne visited Crayden Supernatural Academy and watched Briset demonstrate his talent for swordsmanship before revealing himself to his younger brother.
• Briset eagerly left the academy with Rayne, and the two rode to a villa in Silver Star District.

Rayne brought his younger brother Briset to his newly purchased villa in Longshande and sent him to fetch their family, telling him that he was about to become a Baron. After investigating Phyllis’s departure, Rayne welcomed his parents, Calody, and Kacy to the villa, where they struggled to recognize how much he had changed.

• Rayne showed Briset his villa on Perfume Street and told him that he had bought it and no longer worked for the Security Bureau.
• Rayne asked Briset to bring their family to Longshande and revealed that he would be ennobled as a Baron during the God-birth Festival.
• Briset returned to Eagle Marsh Town while Rayne went to Silver Star Academy and learned that Phyllis had left Longshande with her mentor and the Pallas Floating City delegation.
• Rayne wondered whether Duke Redstone had completed his mission and felt relieved that Viola might be safe.
• Briset brought Bard, Malinda, Calody, and Kacy to the villa, where Rayne greeted them and they stared at him in astonishment.

Rayne welcomed his parents and siblings to his Longshande villa, explained his success through the phonograph and his powerful Soul Element, and arranged a new life and opportunities for them. After Viola and several influential acquaintances visited, Bard and Malinda accepted that Rayne had truly risen in the city, and Bard prepared to manage his new ranch after the ennoblement ceremony.

• Malinda asked Rayne how he had changed, and Rayne claimed he had fused with the powerful Body of Steel element, which Briset recognized as a Superb Element.
• Rayne played the phonograph and told his family that his invention, Viola's support, and Duke Silverstar's patronage had brought him wealth and an upcoming barony.
• Rayne treated the family to expensive clothes and a restaurant meal, then persuaded Bard and Malinda to move to Longshande by explaining that he could support them and had bought Bard a ranch and hired tutors for Calody and Kacy.
• Viola visited Rayne's family, exchanged polite greetings with Bard and Malinda, and left after a brief conversation.
• Kainegi, Driss, Pollock, and Frida visited Rayne over the next two days, and their standing convinced Bard and Malinda that Rayne had become an influential figure.
• Bard gave up his remaining doubts and planned to begin managing the ranch after Rayne's ennoblement ceremony.

On the God-birth Festival, Rayne and his family attended the enfeoffment ceremony at City Hall, where Viola became Count Winterstorm. Rayne was called last and unexpectedly granted the title Count of Glamorgan, leaving the auditorium in shock.

• Rayne's family traveled to City Hall for Rayne's enfeoffment ceremony and Bard's grant of a surname.
• Rayne saw Viola, who had already won the competition to become the new Count Winterstorm.
• Duke Silverstar led the Prayer Ritual, after which Pollock and two other men received Baron titles and another man received a Viscount title.
• Viola was enfeoffed as Count Winterstorm and granted a territory.
• Yalas called Rayne forward last, and Duke Silverstar granted him the title Count of Glamorgan.

Rayne was unexpectedly ennobled as Count of Glamorgan, a hereditary title tied to a valuable territory in the Demon Capital. Viola explained the title’s bloody history and Duke Silverstar’s likely financial motives, leaving Rayne to face the prospect of being sent into conflict with the city’s powerful nobles.

• Duke Silverstar pressured Rayne into accepting the hereditary title of Count of Glamorgan, and Rayne swore allegiance before receiving his formal attire, title document, and family crest.
• Rayne searched the Mobile Library and discovered that Glamorgan covered much of the Demon Capital’s eastern coast, including two major ports and extensive industrial areas.
• Viola explained that the Ducagen Family had once held Glamorgan, but after its destruction, Duke Silverstar’s successive appointees were killed or driven out amid resistance from the city’s nobles.
• Rayne and Viola concluded that Duke Silverstar had appointed Rayne to renew the conflict and secure more money from the Demon Capital’s noble families.
• At the Wizard Tower, a wizard addressed Rayne as Count Winter Thunder and Count of Glamorgan and asked him to follow.

Duke Silverstar explained that Rayne’s appointment as Count of Glamorgan was at Master Ansiwodoss’s request, and revealed that she knew Rayne had killed Gallowayna. Rayne was ordered to travel to the Demon Capital after the New Year on a secret mission, with the promise of becoming Ansiwodoss’s student if he succeeded.

• Duke Silverstar told Rayne and Viola that Glamorgan’s nobles paid her five hundred thousand gold each year, but money was not the reason she had made Rayne its count.
• Duke Silverstar revealed that Rayne’s ability to kill twenty-four Transcendents in five minutes made him the best candidate for Glamorgan, and Viola realized that Rayne had killed Gallowayna.
• Duke Silverstar sent Viola away and told Rayne that Ansiwodoss had proposed appointing a new count and that she had chosen Rayne.
• Duke Silverstar instructed Rayne to enter Wezelan Wizard Academy after the New Year, keep his connection to Ansiwodoss secret, and complete the mission for a chance to become Ansiwodoss’s student.
• Duke Silverstar promised to send Secret Fire Guard and Silver Armor Knights to protect Rayne outside the academy and assured him that his family would be safe in Longshande.

Rayne left Longshande with Viola as she traveled to take over Count Winterthunder’s fief, while he continued toward Demon Capital. A Silver Armor Knight escort joined their caravan, with Sir Badmon leading the expedition and preparing to accompany Rayne onward.

• Rayne said goodbye to his family and went to Vigo Manor to meet Viola.
• Viola and Rayne set out from Longshande with her large retinue, heading north toward Winterthunder City.
• A force of Silver Armor Knights caught up with the caravan and formed a protective escort.
• Sir Badmon introduced himself to Viola and Rayne, then explained that two squads would stay in Winterthunder City while one squad would accompany Rayne to Demon Capital.

Viola arrived in Winterstorm City as its new Countess and began laying out plans to move her music company and build a Wizard Tower there. At a banquet, Rayne encountered Pagit, an impostor and level-seven Shapeshifting Wizard, who warned him not to go to the Demon Capital.

• Viola and Rayne arrived at Winterstorm Castle, where Mayor Mickson and Winterstorm City's officials welcomed her as Countess.
• Viola told Rayne she planned to move Silver Star Record Company to Winterstorm City and build a Wizard Tower on the unused half of the castle grounds.
• Viola asked Rayne to consider Winterstorm Castle his home, and he promised to return even though they would be apart for a time.
• At the castle banquet, Rayne observed Viola winning over the city's upper society, then went alone to the terrace.
• A nobleman identifying himself as Pagit approached Rayne, who recognized him as an impostor and a level-seven Shapeshifting Wizard.
• Pagit told Rayne that someone wanted him to stay away from the Demon Capital.

Rayne rejected Pagit’s threats and fought the Shapeshifting Wizard on the terrace, revealing formidable spellcasting and combat abilities. Pagit tried to flee in several transformed forms, but Rayne killed him before he could escape into Winter Thunder Lake.

• Pagit offered Rayne higher taxes and a payment to persuade Duke Silverstar, then threatened him when Rayne refused.
• Rayne attacked Pagit with Rainbow Ray and cut the Great Earth Bear’s paw with Song of the Azure Sky.
• Rayne countered Pagit’s earth spell and struck the Great Earth Bear in the head, forcing Pagit to dispel his transformation.
• Pagit transformed into a Shadow Leopard and fled toward the cliff, but Rayne’s Rainbow Ray wounded him and drove him out of the shadows.
• Pagit transformed into a Thunderbird to escape, but Rayne raised Rainbow Ray to the Third Circle and killed him with a shot through the chest.

Rayne killed a High Tier Shapeshifting Wizard who had infiltrated Winterthunder Castle, then used his charge to strengthen Rainbow Ray and learned to cast it as a Fourth Circle spell. After spending a week with Viola, he left Winterthunder Castle by steamship for the Demon Capital at Duke Silverstar’s command.

• Rayne caught the Shapeshifting Wizard’s corpse, confirmed the intruder was a High Tier Wizard, and ordered Badmon to dispose of it.
• Viola restored order at the banquet and learned that the real Pagit had been found alive after the Shapeshifting Wizard impersonated him.
• Rayne spent his charge raising Rainbow Ray to the Third Circle, which let him cast a Fourth Circle version with greater power and a new Freeze effect.
• Viola took control of Winterthunder City and its surrounding territory while Rayne spent a week at the castle with her.
• After the Secret Fire Guard delivered Duke Silverstar’s letter urging him to depart, Rayne boarded Viola’s steamship and headed down the Naqumer River toward the Demon Capital.

Rayne arrived in Isleik and discussed the mysterious Duke of Purple Flame with Pansir. Their conversation was interrupted when a powerful witch boarded the steamship, and Rayne recognized her as a legendary Rainbow Dragon.

• Rayne's steamship reached Isleik, where he admired the prosperous city from the deck.
• Pansir discussed the Duke of Purple Flame's decision to relinquish her title and give up her claim to Isleik.
• Rayne spoke with Pansir to build a closer relationship before their journey to the Demon Capital.
• A tall, black-haired witch boarded the steamship without the Silver Armor Knight noticing her.
• Rayne recognized the witch as a legendary Rainbow Dragon, while Pansir sensed a powerful threat.

Rayne met Osiria, a half-dragon Legendary Mage sent by Master Anxi, and learned that he was being sent to Demon Capital amid a prophecy that the Wezelan Floating City might fall. He realized he was being used to draw out the nobles’ hidden schemes, but Osiria said she would protect him.

• Rayne recognized Osiria as a Rainbow Dragon with traces of humanity and confirmed her identity as Master Anxi’s student.
• Osiria told Rayne that Master Anxi’s only instruction was to stay alive as long as possible.
• Osiria revealed that Master Medivh had prophesied the Wezelan Floating City could face a threat and crash, possibly from within Demon Capital.
• Rayne deduced that Master Anxi was using his arrival to provoke Demon Capital’s nobles and expose their plans.
• Rayne accepted that he had to proceed, and Osiria said she would remain in Demon Capital to protect him.

Rayne arrived in Demon Capital with Pansir and Osiria, awed by Wezelan Floating City and wary of the hostile reception awaiting him. As his escort advanced through the city toward an airship field, an Advanced-Tier Gunner ambushed him, and Rayne vanished into a shop while Pansir searched for him.

• Rayne saw Wezelan Floating City and examined its towers, protective force field, and smaller orbiting city as his steamship approached Demon Capital.
• Rayne disembarked with Osiria, Badmon, twenty Silver Armor Knights, and five Secret Fire Guard wizards, while the city’s residents recognized him and reacted with hostility.
• Rayne’s Will of Truth sensed danger, and Osiria cast Protection from Arrows just before a Soul Gun bullet shattered the car’s windshield and struck his forehead.
• Rayne survived the shot, identified the attacker as an Advanced-Tier Gunner, and rushed into a nearby shop as the gunner fired again and missed.
• Badmon ordered the Silver Armor Knights to take cover, while Pansir used Blink to search the shop and could not find Rayne.

Rayne pursued and killed a Level 9 gunner who had tried to assassinate him, while Osiria fought the attacker inside the building. After Griffon Knights led by Rosa Logos ordered Rayne to leave Stoind Territory, Rayne agreed and headed for the airship landing field in Glamorgan Territory.

• Rayne tracked the gunner to a building and prepared to attack, but Osiria teleported into the room and battled him first.
• The wounded gunner leaped from the window and tried to escape with Shadow Step, but Rayne struck him with Rainbow Ray and killed him.
• Rayne absorbed the gunner's soul and examined his powerful Soul Gun and enchanted ammunition.
• Pansir and the guards arrived as Griffon Knights descended, led by the Legendary Great Swordsman Rosa Logos.
• Rosa Logos ordered Rayne to leave Stoind Territory, and Rayne led his party toward the airship landing field in Glamorgan Territory.

Rayne returned from his meeting with Rosa*Logos and considered how to win control of Glamorgan Territory without recklessly provoking the Demon Capital's nobles. He redirected his procession toward Clearwater High Fort to inspect the steward's seat of power.

• Osiria criticized Rayne for backing down from Rosa*Logos, but Rayne kept his reasons to himself and considered whether Viscount Stoind might be won over.
• Rayne reflected that the Demon Capital's seven great lords had competing interests and planned to use his Soul Eye to distinguish potential allies from enemies.
• Rayne reviewed Glamorgan's history and recognized that taking the territory would require removing its steward and surviving the nobles' retaliation.
• Rayne ordered the procession to take Clearwater Street, and after Osiria objected, he explained that he only wanted to look at Clearwater High Fort.

Rayne inspected Clearwater High Fort but left after discovering it was defended by a Legendary Wizard, then traveled to the Floating City and settled into the Magic Hotel. He planned to report to the Wizard Academy and begin acting on his plan the next day.

• Rayne's procession stopped outside Clearwater High Fort, where he saw its strong defenses and learned that the Legendary Wizard Maitir Durin guarded it.
• Rayne learned from Osiria that Maitir was tied to Speaker Modra and Count Atlante, and he said he intended to follow the previous count's approach.
• Rayne traveled through the Glamorgan Territory to the airship terminal and took an airship to the Floating City.
• Rayne rented a floor at the Magic Hotel and worried that his remaining funds would last less than six months.
• Rayne told Osiria he was heading to the Wizard Academy before returning to refine his plan.

Rayne entered Wezelan Wizard Academy but could not secure admission to the High Tower District or access to its Grand Library. On his way back, a red-haired Eighth-Tier Wizard ambushed him with powerful spells, then vanished before he could retaliate.

• Osiria sent Rayne through an Any Door to the entrance of Wezelan Wizard Academy.
• Rayne learned that entering the High Tower District required a Legendary Wizard to accept him as a student, and he doubted the admissions official would forward his information properly.
• Rayne waited for Osiria to escort him back, then started walking toward the Magic Hotel alone.
• A red-haired witch attacked Rayne with a True Word immobilization spell and a Disintegration ray, but his Will of Truth resisted the first spell and he dodged the second.
• The witch cast a spell on herself and disappeared before Rayne could counterattack.