Chapter Summaries

During Newburg’s annual fair, Annie Pombo searched the ore market for a particular kind of ore. She found a common Copper Ore in a consigned Lead Box that emitted the familiar corrosive energy she had been seeking.

• Annie Pombo cautiously crossed Newburg, checking that no enemies were following her.
• Annie searched the ore shops along the market street but found nothing she wanted.
• Annie entered a shabby shop and noticed a silver-gray Lead Box on a wooden rack.
• Annie opened the Lead Box and found ordinary Copper Ore emitting the corrosive energy she sought.

Annie and another young woman witnessed an explosion outside Newburg as fighting began between the Soma Alliance and the Sika Kingdom. After a Sika wizard attacked Soma Alliance outposts, the wounded Wizard Chester sent two apprentices to seek help and challenged the enemy wizard, leaving a wider battle imminent.

• Annie questioned the White-haired Old Man about the ore, but an explosion outside Newburg interrupted them as a young woman entered the shop.
• The White-haired Old Man ran outside and shouted that wizards were casting spells, while Annie and the young woman sensed each other's mana and turned toward the fighting.
• A Sika Kingdom wizard attacked Soma Alliance reconnaissance outposts after ambushing and severely injuring Wizard Chester.
• Chester ordered his two Wizard Apprentices to split up and report the attack to the military, then sent a warning through a Crystal Ball.
• Chester charged the Sika wizard as the apprentices fled, and the two wizards began fighting while cavalry approached and the garrison's soldiers fired crossbows.

Lord Oscar learned that the Sika Kingdom’s surprise attack near Newburg had been contained, and he ordered the people in the south to accelerate their work without disrupting the original plan. In a remote village in the Southern Free Federation, a group of figures sealed the underground area with crystal spellcasting tools and then signaled into the forest.

• A middle-aged man told Lord Oscar that the Sika Kingdom had attacked a border garrison near Newburg, but reinforcements stopped the fighting from escalating into a large-scale battle.
• Lord Oscar concluded that the Soma Alliance could endure a prolonged conflict better than the Sika Kingdom and agreed with the Emperor’s plan to avoid escalation.
• Lord Oscar ordered his people in the south to speed up their progress while keeping the original plan intact.
• Dozens of figures approached a remote village in the Southern Free Federation and planted enchanted crystal cones to seal the underground space.
• One of the figures glanced into the forest and gave a sharp cry.

Black Armor Warriors surrounded and demolished an abandoned village to expose an underground passage, then killed a black shadow that burst from the well. Their armored leader entered the passage alone, where a hidden battle began underground.

• Black Armor Warriors encircled the empty village and knocked down its buildings until they reached the well in the central square.
• A black shadow blasted the well cover apart, struck a Black Armor Warrior, and tried to flee before the warriors’ rune-engraved javelins and Energy Missiles killed it.
• The injured Black Armor Warrior prepared to enter the underground passage, but a Brawny Man ordered him to rest and took his place.
• The Brawny Man’s armor illuminated the village as he stepped into the passage with a Magic Rune Greatsword on his back.
• The ground shook as an unseen battle raged below, punctuated by cries and roars that ended with spurts of blood.

The Brawny Man’s forces wiped out a village and performed a ritual to destroy the enemies’ souls, preventing any chance of resurrection or escape. After receiving orders to accelerate the operation, he directed the unit to move immediately toward Fa Luo.

• The Black Armor Soldiers and Wizards confirmed that every target in the village was dead and that no one had escaped.
• The Brawny Man ordered the Wizards to perform a cleansing ritual, and they used Twilight Requiem and Soul Detonation to destroy the trapped souls.
• A Wizard reported that the enemies could no longer be resurrected or send information out.
• A communications soldier told the Brawny Man to speed up the schedule without changing the plan.
• The Brawny Man ordered the unit to depart for Fa Luo, and the soldiers set out under cover of night.

Sherlock and Lucia arrived near Faro, where Sherlock resolved to stay rather than risk being captured by his family. Elsewhere in the city, a hooded visitor urgently sought Wizard Circe in the middle of the night.

• Sherlock told Lucia that Faro was a better hiding place than the larger city of Xia Ya because his family might search there for him.
• Sherlock vowed to stay in Faro and not return to help his family, even if he starved.
• A hooded visitor knocked urgently at Circe's courtyard gate and asked Nellide to let them see Wizard Circe.
• The visitor pushed past Nellide and entered the courtyard, but apologized when Nellide stopped them and asked to wait.
• Circe came out with Hai Di, sent Nellide and Hai Di back to bed, and prepared to handle the visitor.

Circe agreed to urgently translate a stranger’s Ancient Ruins parchment, which revealed the third method for opening a sealed passage. A group of four men sent the Gray-Eyed Boy ahead to scout the passage, where an Anti-Air Spell sent him crashing to his death.

• A hooded visitor persuaded Circe to translate an unknown Ancient Ruins script immediately, offering triple her usual fee.
• The brown-haired man received a message confirming that the parchment described the third method the group had considered.
• The green-haired man opened a hidden door in the stone wall, revealing a shaft that descended into the mountain.
• The Blue Robe Man prompted the green-haired man to send the Gray-Eyed Boy down first as a scout.
• The Gray-Eyed Boy cast defensive spells and a Feather Fall Spell, but an Anti-Air Spell caused him to plunge to the bottom and die.
• The brown-haired and green-haired men discussed the boy’s death and prepared to use another captive to test the next trap.

Three intruders reached Legendary Wizard Ross’s tomb and took a Blood-Red Jade Seal, awakening a monster that pursued them. As the survivors turned on each other, Merlin escaped with the seal while Dom was left behind.

• The green-haired man led his companions past the tomb’s defenses and into a chamber containing a Blood-Red Jade Seal.
• The green-haired man ignored the Blue Robe Man’s warning and took the seal, awakening a monster in the tomb.
• The blue-green-haired man fled ahead, while Fulen died as the green-haired man and the Blue Robe Man ran from the monster.
• The green-haired man stabbed the Blue Robe Man, whom he called Merlin, and tried to escape with the seal.
• Merlin revealed that the apparent victim was his double, who took the seal and blasted Dom into the monster’s path before escaping.

Tang Ke tried to kill the Blue Robe Man after taking the seal, but the Gray-Eyed Boy survived the tomb and stole it from him. The Gray-Eyed Boy was then killed by an unseen assailant, who took the seal and vanished.

• The Blue Robe Man escaped the passage with Tang Ke's help and handed him the seal to inspect.
• Tang Ke declared the seal fake, cut the vine, and dropped a rune-covered metal ball that exploded and collapsed the passage.
• The Blue Robe Man accused Tang Ke of lying, but the explosion buried him in the passage.
• A hidden attacker wounded Tang Ke, and the Gray-Eyed Boy revealed he had survived and taken the seal from him.
• The Gray-Eyed Boy killed Tang Ke, lectured him, and fled with the seal.
• An unseen attacker beheaded the Gray-Eyed Boy in midair and caught the falling seal.

Six months later, Gelo, Annie Pombo, and Nancy met in a forest clearing to exchange goods. They opened their boxes together, revealing corrosive gray powder and glittering crystals, while a restless Gray Wolf waited nearby.

• Gelo, Annie Pombo, and Nancy arrived at a forest clearing carrying boxes for a trade.
• Annie and Nancy argued over who should open her box first and mocked Gelo when he tried to settle the dispute.
• Annie and Nancy competed over how many of Gelo they could each defeat, leaving him confused and isolated.
• A Gray Wolf emerged from the forest and urged them to hurry.
• Annie and Nancy opened their boxes simultaneously, revealing corrosive gray powder and glittering crystals.

Annie and Nancy delivered Trash Ore to a mysterious presence in the forest, while Richard’s experiments in Eden Garden ended in the collapse of a giant Magic Puppet. The Lich Old Man was left dumbstruck after the puppet broke apart.

• Annie questioned the amount of Trash Ore Nancy brought, and Nancy explained that production was limited by strict requirements and secrecy.
• Annie led Nancy and Gelo through the forest, where aggressive beasts watched them before vines seized their boxes and disappeared into the fog.
• Nancy asked what Richard had put in the forest, but Annie refused to tell her, and the two argued until Gelo urged them to leave.
• In Eden Garden, Pandora and the Lich Old Man tested a giant Magic Puppet by merging it with the two hundred and forty-third puppet.
• The giant puppet briefly stood taller, then its legs snapped and it collapsed into scattered bones, leaving the Lich Old Man dumbstruck.

Pandora and the Lich Old Man’s Collective Magic Puppet test failed again, while Richard asked Pandora to measure how well his Restoration Elixir had countered void energy erosion. The results showed modest improvement, so Richard decided to keep the dose steady while studying Blood Energy Extraordinary Factors and refining the elixir.

• Pandora concluded that the Collective Magic Puppet still could not safely fuse many individuals, and the Lich Old Man chased Eight-Armed Skeleton A Nan over missing bones.
• Richard drank his daily Restoration Elixir and asked Pandora to take a blood sample after a month of treatment.
• Pandora tested Richard’s blood and found that his recovery from void energy erosion had increased from nine percent to eleven percent.
• Richard estimated that his current intake would take about five years to restore his health and explained that a higher dose would worsen the elixir’s side effects.
• Pandora suggested adding fruit juice for flavor, and Richard reminded her that she had secretly tried that before and made the potion taste even worse.

Richard attended the weekly Antiquities Exchange Meeting at Faro City's Sidon Opera House after Pandora asked him to find a sturdy weapon to replace Tinwood. The meeting began after an unusual theatrical performance, leaving Richard among the participants as the exchange officially opened.

• Pandora asked Richard to find her a sturdy weapon, preferably a Long-Lived Species, and Richard warned her that a suitable one would be difficult to find.
• Richard traveled to the Sidon Opera House in Faro City and entered the Golden City Theater on its upper floor.
• Richard watched a tragic play in which the princess, prince, King, Queen, and royal guard all met grim fates during an earthquake.
• An elderly gentleman praised the performance, checked that the attendees had arrived, and called the weekly meeting to order.
• The elderly gentleman turned his sofa toward the gathering and officially began the Antiquities Exchange Meeting.

At the Antiquities Exchange Meeting, Richard sought Unpopular Blood Spells and a heavy, sturdy weapon. Reiss offered him an unusually large Staff Vine and an incomplete planting guide, and Richard agreed to buy them.

• Abel called on Richard to begin the Exchange Meeting’s customary exchanges.
• Richard asked the wizards for Unpopular Blood Spells and a heavy, sturdy weapon shaped like a wooden stick.
• Reiss revealed a strange, oversized Staff Vine and explained how the Planting Method could grow staffs to suit their wielders.
• Reiss offered to sell Richard the Staff Vine for five hundred Low-grade Crystal Coins and include an incomplete Som Staff Planting Guide.
• Richard agreed to Reiss’s offer.

Richard agreed to buy Reiss's Staff Vine for five hundred Low-grade Crystal Coins and learned that Reiss also had a Blood Spell-related artifact. When the blood-red seal eased Richard's void-energy ailments, he agreed to buy it for fifteen thousand Low-grade Crystal Coins.

• Richard told Reiss he would buy the Staff Vine and asked about the Unpopular Blood Spell.
• Reiss presented a small box, claiming its blood-red seal came from Legendary Wizard Ross and might contain his research findings.
• The Exchange Meeting attendees doubted the seal's authenticity and value, leaving Reiss uncertain about selling it.
• Richard felt his void-energy discomfort ease when the box opened and decided the seal was connected to the Blood Energy Extraordinary Factor.
• Reiss lowered his asking price from twenty thousand to fifteen thousand Low-grade Crystal Coins, and Richard accepted the deal.

Richard bought the Blood-colored Seal from Reiss and studied it to advance his analysis of the Blood Energy Extraordinary Factor. After a week of experiments and a dangerous mishap, he had clarified a key property and held a tube of improved Restoration Elixir.

• Richard paid Reiss one hundred and fifty-one High-grade Crystal Coins for the Staff Vine, the incomplete Som Staff Planting Guide, and the Blood-colored Seal.
• Richard found that the Blood-colored Seal greatly reduced the discomfort caused by void energy and began studying it in Eden Garden.
• Richard’s diary recorded experiments that eventually activated more Blood Energy Extraordinary Factors and revealed a property that could help improve the Restoration Elixir.
• A risky experiment damaged the Main Laboratory, and Richard suspected Pandora’s bad mood had come from sensing the accident with her Prophecy Spell.
• Pandora cared for the Staff Vine and asked Richard for the planting guide, while Richard warned himself to conduct future risky experiments in the dangerous items sector.
• Richard examined a tube of pink liquid in the damaged Main Laboratory after a week of research.

Richard tested his improved Restoration Elixir, then attended the Antiquities Exchange Meeting, where Abel revealed that Wizard Reiss had died. Abel warned Richard that the Blood-colored Seal he bought from Reiss was an Ominous Object carrying a terrifying curse.

• Richard drank his improved Restoration Elixir and found it boosted recovery efficiency by more than forty percent, though its taste was unbearable.
• Pandora went to water her staff vine, while Richard left Eden Garden for the Antiquities Exchange Meeting.
• Richard watched an ordinary play about Elizabeth III before Abel began the meeting with a grave announcement.
• Abel pointed out that Wizard Reiss had missed the meeting again, and Richard learned that Reiss was dead.
• Abel warned Richard that Reiss's death confirmed the Blood-colored Seal was a cursed Ominous Object.

Abel warned Richard that the Blood-colored Seal brought unnatural deaths to everyone who handled it and urged him to dispose of it. Richard considered the possible danger on his ride home but decided he could protect himself and would continue his research.

• Abel told Richard that Reiss was missing and that people who handled the Blood-colored Seal had died under suspicious circumstances, then urged him to stay alert and get rid of it.
• Abel began the Exchange Meeting, and Harrison shared a report that Soma Alliance troops were secretly moving toward the Southern Free Federation border.
• After the meeting ended, Abel reminded Richard once more to be careful as they parted.
• In his carriage, Richard examined the Blood-colored Seal and reasoned that any threat might come from the object itself or from an outside enemy.
• Richard decided to focus on his research and rest as the carriage carried him home.

Richard and Pandora thwarted an attack by a Magic Puppet, and Richard used Gaze of the Eye to locate the Wizard controlling it. He landed in the Wizard’s courtyard, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Richard returned to the courtyard and found Pandora following a book’s instructions to water the Staff Vine with several buckets.
• A shadow transformed into a Magic Puppet and threatened Pandora with a dagger unless Richard handed over Legendary Wizard Ross’s seal.
• Pandora pulled up the Staff Vine and struck the Magic Puppet, killing it with a single blow.
• Richard discovered the attacker was an energy-body Magic Puppet and inferred that a Wizard was controlling it nearby.
• Pandora pointed out the controller’s direction, and Richard used Gaze of the Eye to locate the target.
• Richard destroyed two intercepting Magic Puppets and landed in the target’s courtyard.

Richard captured a Level 2 Wizard who tried to escape, and Pandora helped subdue him. After waking in an unfamiliar room, the wizard found Lich Old Man A Fu and insulted him, not realizing who he was.

• The male wizard tried to flee when Richard entered his house, but Richard's presence overwhelmed him.
• Pandora knocked the wizard unconscious with Staff Vine as he attempted to escape through a window.
• Richard and Pandora took the unconscious wizard away, with Pandora planning to wake and interrogate him before beating him to death.
• The wizard woke in an unlocked, empty room and cautiously went outside.
• The wizard saw Lich Old Man A Fu muttering about A Nan stealing his limbs, mistook him for an ordinary old man, and called him an old madman.