Chapter Summaries

Moss questioned Wind Ash Dragon—Windfellcia after defeating the dragons that had attacked the city, and he explained the difference between King-Rank monsters and Demon Kings. He revealed that Demon Kings were monsters who had broken through their racial limits and begun to grasp the laws governing their power, leaving Moss with a new lead about the mysterious aura.

• Moss questioned Wind, who explained that he had come to investigate the Dragon Realm aura after his World Gate was destroyed and his soul was left incomplete.
• Moss suspected Dragon Abuse Realm used resurrected Dragon Kings as expendable scouts to open worlds for invasion, though she could not confirm the theory.
• Wind told Moss that he had sensed a complicated aura combining the Dragon Realm with other magic power, including a feeling like a Demon King's.
• Wind explained that King-Rank monsters were not the same as Demon Kings, describing how monsters who surpassed their racial limits became Demonfolk and gained the ability to create and empower blood kin.
• Wind said Demonfolk who advanced further began to understand the laws governing their power, and monsters called such beings Demon Kings.

Moss learned that the threat Wind sensed was not a true Demon King, but a group seeking to become one, and forced Wind to sign a contract before he departed. With the organization behind the fused monsters still unidentified and her lead dead, Moss sent Umeilu and Storage Ring to Ponsgal to confront the First Prince.

• Wind explained that only five beings in the Dragon Realm had ever been called Demon Kings, and said the western presence was likely a group of monsters aspiring to become one.
• Moss stopped Wind from leaving and made him reveal his next destination and sign a contract under threat of death.
• Moss watched Wind and the dragons depart, then reflected that the organization’s members, plans, and motives remained unknown and that the suspected slave trader was dead.
• Umeilu reported that her team had found the suspected city lord, but he was dead and headless; Moss dismissed the chances of finding traces.
• Moss ordered Umeilu to take the Shadow Mouse troops and Storage Ring to Ponsgal, where they would wait for the organization and make the First Prince repay his debt.

Falan and his teammates discovered that they had all advanced in rank overnight, while Moss reflected on how Magic Power affected living creatures and wondered about her own limits. The group ate breakfast and prepared to continue their reconnaissance mission, with Moss adding questions about her level cap to her growing list of concerns.

• Falan woke feeling refreshed, discovered he had reached Diamond Rank, and was knocked into a rock wall by Bella's water sphere when he emerged from the cave.
• Falan learned that Shalina, Lizbea, Enrique, and Bella had also advanced, with Bella reaching Diamond Rank 9 and gaining a much larger Magic Power reserve.
• Moss observed the team's different improvements and considered how Magic Power could raise a creature's level and level cap.
• Moss concluded that humans likely reached their level cap at Orichalcum Rank and wondered whether her own rat body had begun at its limit.
• Moss's teammates called her to breakfast and urged her to prepare for the next leg of their reconnaissance mission.

The group raced through Bogal Valley while Bella taught Moss Silent Chant and Preparation Chant, helping Moss improve her magic and prepare a stronger combat technique. Their journey stopped when a Thorny Earth Dragon charged at them, and Falan halted it head-on with Heavy Shield Charge.

• The group sped through the forest as Bella and Moss practiced magical techniques while traveling.
• Bella taught Moss Preparation Chant, and Moss's Incantation Chant talent advanced from V to VI.
• Bella sensed a threat ahead, and Shalina returned from scouting to identify an approaching Thorny Earth Dragon.
• Falan recalled the monster's strengths and weaknesses, then charged forward instead of evading it.
• Falan's Heavy Shield Charge stopped the Thorny Earth Dragon and drove its head into the ground.

Moss and the team defeated a Thorny Earth Dragon with a coordinated barrage of magic and attacks, then realized their recent battle against the goblins had helped them break through in strength. They claimed the rare magic core and prepared to continue onward and confirm the situation.

• Baiya struck the Thorny Earth Dragon with a powerful Shocking Shot, but it cocooned itself in roots and began recovering while unleashing waves of earth.
• Bella countered its earth and plant magic with Flowing Water Magic, Vortex Gale, and Flame Magic, forcing it out of the burning cocoon.
• Moss blinded the Thorny Earth Dragon with a Magic Item Bomb, and Enrique charged in and severed its neck with a finishing sword strike.
• Falan and Baiya realized the team had grown far stronger after fighting the goblins and agreed they had broken through.
• Shalina found a rare deep-green magic core and tossed it to Moss, who accepted it under the mission contract and stored the dragon's body with a Slime.
• Falan told the team to continue onward and confirm the situation.

Falan's team investigated the Thorny Earth Dragon territory and discovered that humans had massacred the dragons and taken their magic cores. They found human and monster tracks leading toward the Boga Mountains and set off in pursuit.

• Shalina and Moss reported that the Thorny Earth Dragons had been killed, and Falan's team found dozens of corpses at the devastated territory.
• Falan and Shalina determined that the battle had occurred several days earlier and that powerful magic had destroyed most of the evidence.
• Moss found that a Thorny Earth Dragon's magic core had been removed and that its wound had been made with a sharp metal weapon, leading Falan to conclude humans were responsible.
• Enrique found scattered monster tracks and human footprints beneath fallen trees, and Shalina identified the tracks as heading toward the Boga Mountains.
• Falan ordered the team to pursue the tracks and report the incident if they went beyond the search area, and the group set off toward the Boga Mountains.

Falan and the others pursued the monster’s tracks for two and a half days without catching up, while Bella’s magic power ran out and forced them to rest near the edge of the search area. During the break, Moss continued developing her understanding of advanced chanting techniques and recognized a possible link between Linked Chant and habitual association.

• Falan explained that the party was five days behind the monsters and nearing the mission’s search-area limit, so they stopped to rest.
• Enrique complained that he wanted a fight, and Falan smacked him with a branch and warned him against acting recklessly.
• Lizbea and Shalina relaxed in a hot pool while Moss and Bella debated how to shorten and transform spell incantations.
• Moss mastered several chanting techniques from Bella, including Spell Condensation and Linked Chant, and reduced Scorching Heat Up’s chanting time from 4.35 seconds to 2.1 seconds at the cost of some power.
• Moss realized that habitual association might offer a way to use Linked Chant without a fixed spellcasting sequence, and a familiar melody came to mind.

Falan’s party reached the mission boundary and discovered a vast pit packed with silent Diamond-grade and stronger monsters. Moss found an inscribed black stone embedded in the Mimic Demon Vine, and Bella realized its writing described a ritual that was about to begin at dawn.

• After bathing and eating, Falan’s party set out again once Bella had recovered her Magic Power.
• Near the Boga Mountains, Falan and the others found countless powerful monsters crammed into a huge pit without fighting.
• Moss spotted a black stone embedded in the Mimic Demon Vine and copied its writing onto the ground.
• Bella deciphered parts of the inscription and identified it as a ritual with an activation phrase tied to dawn.
• As Bella warned that the ritual was about to begin, black light rose and a heavy pressure descended while the Magic Power ran wild.

Moss and the others tried to disrupt the ritual, but the Black Stone absorbed their magic and the ritual completed. A Black Robe ambushed Moss, then awakened the Son of the Demon King from the purple-black Magic Power.

• Moss's scorching attack failed to stop the Black Stone from absorbing Magic Power and draining the monsters in the pit.
• Moss used a Gravity Wave to protect the group from the growing suction, and Bella urged her to counter the ritual with water.
• Moss attacked the Black Stone with a stream of water, but Lizbea spotted a Black Robe rushing in to strike her.
• Shalina stopped the Black Robe's attack, but Moss's interrupted assault allowed the ritual to finish.
• The Black Robe declared that none of them would leave alive and awakened the Son of the Demon King.

Falan and the others fought the Black Robe as the collapsing pit separated Moss and Bella from the group. The ritual ended, and a Phantom Giant Python emerged from the smoke.

• Falan ordered the group to finish the fight and retreat as Magic Power gathered in the pit.
• Shalina and Enrique teamed up to badly wound the Black Robe, but he retaliated with wind blades and injured them both.
• Falan protected Shalina and Enrique with Guardian Shield while arrows and his attacks forced the Black Robe back into battle.
• The pit collapsed, sending Moss and Bella down to its floor as the ritual's Magic Power settled.
• A massive creature emerged from the smoke, and Bella recognized it as the Phantom Giant Python.

Moss and Bella faced an enormous Phantom Giant Python created by the ritual, and Bella explained its splitting ability and ancient history. Moss sent Bella to safety and froze one snake, which then burst free as four shadows and charged at her.

• The Giant Snake split into two attackers, and Bella warned Moss that Phantom Giant Pythons could divide into independent creatures of equal strength.
• Bella identified the creature as an ancient monster once known as the Demon King's servant, while Moss recognized that the ritual had evolved it into a Demon Person-level monster.
• Moss told Bella to take Falan and the others away while she handled the battle, and Bella flew toward the cliff.
• One Giant Snake chased Bella as the other sprayed poison at Moss, who unleashed gravity and ice magic to freeze it.
• Moss taunted the frozen snake and watched as four black shadows broke free and charged at her.

Falan, Enrique, Shalina, and their allies defeated a Black Robe who turned out to be a tiger beastman, but he revealed that monsters were about to attack the count's territory and that the First Prince was a target. Bella reported that Molly was fighting monsters in the pit, and Falan took the corpse and ordered everyone to leave so he could report the intelligence to Asiala.

• Falan defended himself and the injured siblings against the Black Robe's relentless attacks until a burst of cold from the pit briefly stopped the attacker.
• Enrique struck the Black Robe with his Blazing Sword, and Falan blocked the beastman's counterattack while arrows pierced his hands.
• Shalina stabbed the Black Robe through the heart with a short sword and shattered it inside his body, bringing him down.
• Falan questioned the dying Black Robe, who revealed that a monster attack on the count's territory had begun and that the First Prince was in danger.
• A roar from the pit drowned out the Black Robe's final words, and Falan realized the attack targeted the imperial family.
• Bella told Falan that Molly was fighting monsters below, and Falan lifted the Black Robe's corpse and ordered everyone to leave.

Moss battled the Phantom Giant Python in a frozen ravine, using her immense strength and Demon Artifact Manifestation: Sky Opener to destroy its many copies. Though the snake swarm weakened after splitting into hundreds, several dozen survived, and Moss approached them, eager to continue the fight.

• Moss smashed the giant serpents and unleashed crimson flames, but the Phantom Giant Python survived by splitting into six bodies and attacking with deadly poison.
• Moss revealed her Black Crystal Mist armor and transformed her bracelet into a gilded great axe, crushing the six serpents against the rock wall.
• The Phantom Giant Python split into several hundred snakes and erupted from the poisonous lake, but Moss annihilated the swarm with Heavy Domain: Burst.
• After the attack left only several dozen snakes alive, Moss advanced as they retreated, then raised her great axe and demanded that they amuse her further.

After Moss defeated the Phantom Giant Python, Falan’s party treated their wounded and learned that their enemy had named the First Prince as a target. They set out for Asiala, but monsters fleeing the forest attacked them on the way, and Moss fought the powerful Fanged King Tiger.

• Moss finished healing Shalina and the other injured party member, then joined the others around the campfire.
• Falan reported that the dying enemy had named the First Prince as a target, while Bella examined the strange drug in a copper syringe and Moss secretly saved a drop of it.
• Falan decided the party should report what they knew and head back to Asiala as quickly as possible.
• On the journey, monsters fleeing the forest attacked the party, and Moss faced the City Breaker-level Fanged King Tiger.
• Moss defeated the Fanged King Tiger with Herculean Strength and Divine Chaos, then praised the fallen beast.

Falan’s party rested by the swamp as they neared the main road back to Asiala, while Moss stayed up to study magic cores and acquire new talents. She tested several abilities and began considering how Plant Control might connect to the Mimic Demon Vine.

• Falan’s party stopped in a canyon to rest, and Falan and Enrique roasted meat while discussing their return to Asiala.
• Moss took over the night watch after Bella went to sleep and summoned her three little companions.
• Moss consumed a Jet Dragon Turtle magic core and gained Air Compression - Construct, then used a Gale Wyvern core to gain Storm Breath - Construct.
• Moss gained Plant Control - Construct from a Thorny Earth Dragon core, causing nearby flowers to grow and drawing Amber’s interest.
• Moss reflected on the relationship between earth, plants, and the Mimic Demon Vine before Tian Lan brought her another magic core.

After gaining the Vibration talent from Fanged King Tiger, Moss discovered that it dramatically increased her control over earth and gravity and raised her battle power to Nation Destroyer level. She reunited with the three little ones, agreed to teach Shuilian the Flow technique, and spoke with Molly, her Consciousness Copy.

• Amber showed Tian Lan and Shuilian the flower she had grown with a new variant of Magic Power as the three little ones played beneath the moon.
• Moss awakened to the Vibration talent and realized Fanged King Tiger had used Mana Control and physical force to create powerful vibrations.
• Moss judged that Vibration greatly strengthened her control over earth and gravity, and her battle power rose from City Breaker-level to Nation Destroyer level.
• Moss caught the three little ones and agreed to teach Shuilian the Flow technique.
• Moss spoke inwardly with Molly and saw the Split Consciousness talent on her panel.

Moss discovered that Split Consciousness created independent copies with their own memories and personalities, and named her newly created copy Molly. After Umeilu reported that Ponsgal was under attack, Molly took a temporary body and led the Shadow Mice to investigate the battle and locate the First Prince.

• Moss and Molly discussed whether a Consciousness Copy could count as the same person, and Molly insisted she was her own person rather than Moss.
• Moss named the copy Molly, and Molly asked to call her Moss; Umeilu then contacted them to report that the situation at Ponsgal was serious.
• Molly took control of a temporary body beside Umeilu, surprising Storage Ring and the other familiars before Moss shared memories explaining who Molly was.
• Molly ordered some Shadow Mice to search for whoever was directing the battle and led the rest to find the First Prince.

Fatro prepared the city to resist the monster assault while expecting the fighting to pause that night. As Fenrir threatened to slaughter the defenders, a three-headed hound appeared, leaving Fatro astonished.

• Fatro refused to evacuate, ordered Urudius to mobilize civilians and adventurers, and learned that reinforcements from Asiala were expected in two days.
• The city wall fell, forcing the defenders to retreat as monsters overran the defenses.
• Fenrir appeared at the fallen wall and terrified the soldiers and monsters, while Urudius hurried toward the battlefield.
• Three wolf howls rang out, blazing light swept across the battlefield, and a three-headed hound appeared before Fatro.

Cerberus fought Fenrir while Ponsgal’s defenses buckled under the monster siege. Fenrir summoned two more high-tier monsters, leaving Criolla and Urudius facing the fiercest battle yet.

• Cerberus attacked Fenrir and used its rapid regeneration to keep fighting despite severe wounds.
• As monsters broke through Ponsgal’s walls, Criolla and Urudius helped organize the retreat and defenses.
• Criolla recognized another explosion as evidence of a high-tier monster near the first wall.
• Fenrir howled, stopping the attacking monsters and summoning reinforcements.
• Explosion Bear Enisberula and the Undead Bird Dibogo entered through the breach, and Criolla realized three high-tier monsters now threatened the city.

Criolla fought Explosion Bear while Dibogo broke toward the rear defensive line and Fenrir attacked him. Cerberus saved Criolla, and Urudius arrived to block Dibogo and rally the soldiers, ending with Dibogo facing him.

• Criolla attacked Explosion Bear, but its explosive hide and thick defenses blunted his spear strikes.
• Dibogo struck Criolla from above and flew toward the rear, while Fenrir lunged at Criolla.
• Cerberus intercepted Fenrir and protected Criolla from its bite.
• Dibogo charged the defensive line, but Urudius blocked it with a curtain of Sword Qi.
• Urudius ordered the soldiers to reform the defensive line and retreat, then challenged Dibogo to fight him.