Chapter Summaries

Roy used his Luck's Favor talent and Equivalent Exchange to develop a new gem-synthesis method, then tested his calculations through large-scale alchemy. He successfully created a Level 1 Elemental Gemstone and confirmed that the results roughly matched his predicted costs.

• Roy calculated the expected material costs for synthesizing higher-level gemstones and decided to test the process with Level 1 gems.
• Roy worked late into the night to devise a sorcery array and recipe for Gemstone Alchemy.
• Roy had his magical alchemy tools prepare and process large quantities of gemstone dust, crumbs, and fragments through the new array.
• Roy continued refining materials until three Cracked Gemstones fused into a fiery red Complete Gemstone.
• Roy checked the costs and results, found they roughly matched his calculations, and planned to pursue higher-level gemstone synthesis.

Roy learned that the Bloodhoof Tribe’s Totem Stone was missing and organized a search for it among Kaiser’s surviving heirs. He sent Yanila and Sailen after Yannis’s tribe, promised Yanila Kaiser’s former territory, and contacted his teacher for help improving his mobility.

• Autoly reported that the Totem Stone was missing and suspected one of Kaiser’s surviving sons had taken it.
• Roy recalled the youngest-son inheritance custom, prompting Autoly to discover that Kaiser’s youngest son, Yannis, was also a possible heir.
• Roy assigned the search for the Totem Stone as a Hard Apprentice-level mission and sent his companions out with Wisp Messengers.
• Yanila asked to raid the Bloodhoof Tribe, and Roy told her to secure Kaiser’s territory and pursue Yannis’s tribe with Sailen.
• Roy returned to the Alchemy Room and asked his teacher about flying mounts, Magical Creatures, or Alchemy Puppet blueprints.

Roy decided to make Pegasus Wings, a flying graft, instead of buying and maintaining an expensive magical mount. After learning the principles behind its witchcraft and preparing the materials, he began crafting a pair of metallic wings using Pegasus Blood.

• Frosv told Roy that Wizard Rank magical mounts and their upkeep were prohibitively expensive, so Roy asked for a blueprint for a flying graft.
• Frosv directed Roy to copy Tinas's Pegasus Wings blueprint, and Tinas gave him the materials after warning him that the graft required advanced alchemy.
• Frosv explained how Symbolic Objects used similarity and contact to channel spiritual power and connect with laws, helping Roy understand the craft's principles.
• Roy used Pegasus Blood he had kept from the Bloodhoof Tribe and a Formation Array to prepare the materials.
• Roy studied the blueprint and spent half a day crafting a pair of metallic Pegasus Wings.

Roy completed and tested magical wings that gave Athedia and then himself the ability to fly. After testing his new Flying Equipment above the former Bloodhoof Tribe, he received a message from Sailen that they had found Yannis but encountered unfamiliar powerhouses.

• Roy tested his prototype metal-and-flesh wings on Athedia, who learned to fly while the guards and Apprentices watched in amazement.
• Roy designed and forged a more advanced pair of detachable, concealed wings to fit his Silver Battle Armor.
• Several days later, Roy tested the completed Flying Equipment above the former Bloodhoof Tribe and made final adjustments.
• Sailen messaged Roy that they had found Yannis but encountered unfamiliar powerhouses before confirming anything about the Totem Stone.

Roy hurried to reunite with Sailen after she spotted unfamiliar orcs tracking Yannis, then learned that the orcs were escorting the fugitive centaur heir toward their empire. As Roy’s party closed in, the orcs and centaurs split up, leaving a rear guard to delay the pursuit while Yannis continued toward safety.

• Roy flew with Athedia to reunite with Sailen and asked about the unfamiliar powerhouses she had found.
• Sailen reported that thirty to fifty well-trained, brown-skinned orcs had shot down her tracking Bird Puppet with enchanted arrows.
• Yannis and his centaur followers discussed fleeing toward the marshes and the Southern Border Icefield with help from the Osis Empire.
• The orc leader learned that Roy was pursuing them and decided to divide their forces so a rear guard could cover Yannis’s escape.
• The middle-aged centaur, wounded warriors, and elderly centaurs stayed behind as the rear guard while the orcs set traps and escorted Yannis onward.

Roy and his companions tracked hidden enemies through the mountains and discovered that they were Orc Warriors from the Osiris Plane. After Roy fought off their ambush, the berserk orc leader’s life energy surged as Roy struck him with a chain spear and injected Blackening Potion.

• Sailen carried Yanila up the steep slope while Athedia climbed using her levitating horseshoes.
• Roy and Athedia found broken vegetation and signs of concealed traps, so Roy used Animate and his Spiritual Power to expose hidden enemies.
• Roy identified the attackers as Osiris Orcs, who revealed themselves and fought with the strength of Advanced Knights and Elite Warriors.
• Roy and Athedia killed most of the Orc Warriors, but their leader became berserk and raised his life energy above fifteen degrees.
• The leader’s axe struck Roy’s Aegis Stone shield, and Roy bound him with the chain spear before piercing him and injecting Blackening Potion.

Roy discovered that the dead orc chieftain's soul was marked by a god, forcing him to be cautious about extracting souls, while the orc warriors' spirits departed beyond reach. After failing to catch Yannis's party, Roy learned from Frosv that Kailon's children had been sent to several foreign powers and that Yannis's return could let an invading force enter Netherland.

• Roy's Formation Array revealed a divine mark on the orc chieftain's soul, and he realized that extracting the souls of devout believers could attract a god's attention.
• Roy secured the chieftain's soul and gathered blood and tissue samples, while the other orc warriors' souls departed beyond reach.
• Roy and his companions pursued Yannis's retreating party for several hours but lost the trail and returned to the grasslands.
• Roy contacted Frosv and reported that Osiris orcs had come to take Kailon's youngest son, Yannis.
• Frosv told Roy that Kailon's other children had contacted Abyssal Demons, Hell Devils, and Arcane Empire mages, and recalled the Orc Empire's role in the Netherland War.
• Roy understood that Yannis's return could allow his followers and other hostile forces to enter Netherland.

After Frosv warned that a major Plane war could engulf the region, Roy accelerated preparations to strengthen himself and those under his command. He began extracting bloodline essence and was alerted that one sample contained Behemoth Bloodline Factors.

• Frosv told Roy that the coming conflict could turn the region into a Plane wars front, and Roy worried that the alliance might leave local forces to fend for themselves.
• Roy returned to the quarry and learned that Yanila had taken over the eastern territory while Finniel was being prepared to oversee the west.
• Roy convened a meeting, announced that he would loosen restrictions on Alchemical Products and share knowledge, then tasked Ivent with surveying the Southern Border Icefield and its ruins.
• Roy considered ways to accelerate his growth, including developing Formation Array and Animation, and resolved to study the vital essence and souls he had obtained from orcs.
• Roy began processing bloodline materials, and a Magical Alchemical Item reported Behemoth Bloodline Factors in a blood sample.

Roy extracted and refined a Behemoth Bloodline Potion, producing a Great Knight-level Bloodline Seed worth nearly 25,000 magic stones. He offered it to Athedia in exchange for her voluntary, complete service, and she swore loyalty to him.

• Roy discovered that the orc blood contained rare, active Behemoth Bloodline Factors that could be preserved for replication.
• Roy extracted a crude Behemoth potion, estimated it at 3,000 magic stones, and continued working to improve its quality.
• Roy studied and experimented with the Bloodline Refinement Formation Array while using up his materials.
• Roy used the Formation Array to refine a Behemoth Bloodline Seed containing a Great Knight-level Creature Template.
• Roy summoned Athedia and offered her the potion if she pledged herself completely to him, and Athedia knelt and swore to follow him unto death.

Roy bound Athedia to him with a master-servant contract and used a Bloodline Potion to awaken her Behemoth bloodline, raising her strength to the Great Knight stage. When Yanila challenged Athedia, the newly empowered warrior defeated her in a martial arts match.

• Roy placed the Ehwaz Soul Imprint on Athedia, then instructed her to inject the Bloodline Potion and left her to recover.
• Athedia stabilized by the next morning, and over the following days her Behemoth bloodline raised her Life Energy to the Great Knight stage.
• Roy decided against blood mercury enhancement for Athedia and planned Silver Battle Armor and star-iron weapons to improve her combat power.
• Yanila arrived with trade goods, received a voucher from Roy, and was surprised to see Athedia's changed appearance and Great Knight strength.
• Athedia revealed her power at Roy's request, defeated Yanila in a martial arts match, and left Yanila shocked and confused.

Roy expanded his golem-making operation, trained Stowson to carve centaur statues, and worked on a lifelike jade puppet while gathering materials and planning ways to strengthen himself. After more than a year, a majestic centaur statue modeled on Great Chieftain Kailon was completed.

• Stowson showed Roy his rough centaur statues, and Roy explained how to make simpler golems efficiently before animating several statues and sending them to the quarry's open ground.
• Roy carved a lifelike pair of jade legs as the basis for a puppet golem, hoping to give it intelligence and use it as a personal guard.
• Roy decided to clothe the jade creation, and Old Crow visited to collect the Lord's Taxes and deliver magic array blueprints and magic crystal ore.
• Roy paid Old Crow with gemstone shards he had made through Gemstone Alchemy and planned to synthesize higher-level gems and replace his Star Iron Chain Spear.
• More than a year later, Stowson's work in the Sculpting Room had produced a majestic centaur statue modeled on Great Chieftain Kailon.

Roy completed and animated his first Level 1 golem, Bloodhoof Kailon, using an Animate spell and elemental enchantments. The golem displayed Wizard Rank Combat Power, and Roy took it outside to test it.

• Roy refined Kailon's marble statue and planned to enhance its armor with Flowing Light Silver and a Fire Elemental Gem.
• Roy arranged for Sailen to sell resources to fund the golem's equipment, while discussing the risks of soul-binding magic with Stowson.
• Roy installed the Fire Elemental Gem as the golem's eyes and chanted Animate to bring it to life.
• Bloodhoof Kailon awakened, walked under Roy's control, and emanated the power of a high-grade Level 1 golem.
• Roy led Bloodhoof Kailon outside to test it, startling the apprentices and artisans.

Roy tested the completed Bloodhoof Kailon golem and confirmed that its physical attacks, combat skills, and fire magic gave it Hero-level combat power. He ordered Gord to display it at the quarry entrance, leaving the golem poised to stomp on a boulder.

• Curious workers and overseers gathered to watch Roy test Bloodhoof Kailon in the woodland behind the quarry.
• Bloodhoof Kailon cut down a tree with its halberd and smashed a stone cliff, demonstrating power that exceeded Roy’s current level.
• Roy commanded the golem to use War Stomp, which shook the ground and scattered soil, stones, and wooden stakes.
• Bloodhoof Kailon demonstrated Flame Arrow and Flame Cloak, scorching trees and creating a dangerous area of fire around itself.
• Roy concluded that Bloodhoof Kailon had Level 1 Hero-level combat power, then ordered Gord to place it in a dramatic pose at the quarry entrance.

Roy celebrated completing his first Level 1 Golem and began practicing a Golem Warlord commission from Frosv. He then tested an improved Blackening Potion and planned to use it to create artificial stone materials, with Frosv linking his idea to the Petrification Spell and Flesh Sculpture.

• Stowson, Damo, and the others congratulated Roy on creating a Level 1 Golem, and Frosv offered him Wizard Rank commissions for practice.
• Frosv sent Roy materials and mana stones to make a Golem Warlord, which Roy planned to work on each afternoon.
• Roy returned to his residence, where Sailen prepared alchemical solvents while he inspected his Blackening Potion experiments.
• Roy measured the potion's corrosion effects and found that it could corrode stone materials, suggesting it might help produce artificial stone.
• Roy contacted Frosv for guidance, and Frosv said Roy's work touched on the essence of the Petrification Spell and Flesh Sculpture.

Roy learned the principles behind Flesh Fossil from Frosv and began developing it as an alchemical material for making golems. After a month of experiments, he successfully petrified a sheep leg, but it crumbled under pressure, leaving him with its strength and magic conductivity to improve.

• Frosv explained how the Petrification Technique related to the Activation Technique and described advanced defensive spells such as Diamond Skin.
• Roy applied his understanding of activation and petrification to plan a technique that turned flesh into stone, drawing on his alchemy talent and experience making Artificial Meat.
• Roy gathered animal materials with Athedia and spent more than a month experimenting with Flesh Fossil.
• Roy successfully petrified a sheep leg, but crushed it into powder when he squeezed it.
• Roy decided to adjust the formula to improve the material's strength and magic conductivity for use in golems and enchanted concrete.

Roy advanced his studies while sculpting and animating lifelike jade body parts, then received rare materials from Sailen, including a Dream Magnolia. He began brewing a Clarity Potion that could help him perceive his soul and engrave a Talent Witchcraft.

• Roy sculpted a jade hand, animated it with an Intelligent Body, and stored it among his lifelike puppet-golem components.
• Roy practiced petrification and studied the Shrinking Technique while continuing to work toward engraving a Talent Witchcraft.
• Athedia told Roy that Sailen had returned, and Sailen reported that her trades had gone smoothly and brought back assorted materials.
• Sailen gave Roy a Dream Magnolia he had requested, which he identified as the key ingredient for a Clarity Potion.
• Roy had Lady Gumoze's Magical Alchemical Items prepare the potion, and the gathered liquids were poured into a beaker.

After drinking the Clarity Potion, Roy examined his inner Talent Fate Disk and discovered that he could inscribe only Alchemy Talents, a limitation he recognized as a trait of Alchemical Life. He then saw a shadowy second entity behind his soul and suspected the change was connected to the Forbidden Experiment in the Chalk Country.

• Sailen removed the tape from the beaker, and Roy drank the potion it held despite the beaker's suggestive outburst.
• Roy meditated and perceived a starry Talent Fate Disk that displayed his talents and the abilities derived from them.
• Roy tried to inscribe Animation into the disk but failed, realizing that his soul accepted only Alchemy Talents.
• Roy concluded that his soul had traits of an Alchemical Life and was a Chimera Soul.
• Roy perceived a gray-black shadow behind his soul and connected the abnormal transformation to the Forbidden Experiment in the Chalk Country.

Roy reflected on how the brain, soul, and body were connected, then consulted Frosv about Soulology. Frosv’s explanation led Roy to conclude that his fleshly body and brain limited his soul, and he considered changing brains to let his soul grow fully.

• Roy wondered whether his friends would recognize him in his altered body, and Sailen explained how Sophia had replaced her brain while disguising herself.
• Roy realized he might transfer himself into a new brain, a feat he believed he had already accomplished once.
• Roy consulted Frosv about the relationship between souls and brains while researching golems.
• Frosv connected consciousness to the brain and described how souls, worlds, and divinity could emerge from consciousness.
• Roy concluded that his body and brain restricted his spirituality and talents, and considered changing brains to break free of those limits.

Roy decided to replace his body to overcome the limits of his current aptitude, beginning with a brain transplant, and arranged to acquire the costly materials. Frosv also assigned him to supervise a group of wizard apprentices, who arrived at Roy’s quarry camp several days later.

• Roy asked Sailen how Senior Student Sophia had created her body, and Sailen explained that Sophia had used a magic puppet method combining bloodline techniques and flesh cultivation.
• Roy concluded that his current body would limit his future growth and planned to begin with a brain transplant, postponing a complete body replacement until he reached Level 3 or 4.
• Roy ordered a cultivation pod, nutrient solution, bloodline factors, and an artificial embryo through his teacher’s channels, agreeing to pay about 100,000 magic stones.
• Frosv asked Roy to serve as an Assistant Teacher and supervise young apprentices, explaining that the program could help expand wizard recruitment.
• On November 20, several carriages brought boys and girls in gray apprentice robes to Roy’s quarry camp.

Thirty new apprentices arrived at Roy’s quarry and encountered its animated statues, enchanted objects, and explosive Pipits. Roy welcomed them, assigned them to five Advanced Apprentices for training, and the boys left with their new instructors.

• Olinda led the thirty apprentices into the quarry and told them to pay their respects to Lord Roy.
• Norwich and the other boys encountered talking stone slabs and wandering animated objects in the plaza and corridor.
• Olinda warned the apprentices that the cute Pipits carried enchanted explosives, while Peri and Winter reassured them and ushered them onward.
• The apprentices met Roy in the stone hall, where Olinda introduced them as literate descendants of immigrant families with confirmed human bloodlines.
• Roy assigned six apprentices each to Winter, Autoly, Grete, Olinda, and Peri, and the boys followed their instructors away.