Chapter Summaries

Brando and his companions explored the ruins of an ancient settlement beneath the World Tree and discovered Andessa waiting in its marketplace. Brando realized she was watching the only exit through the city walls, leaving him to find a way to cross the open ground without being seen.

• Brando led Faina and Funiya through the forest toward the World Tree and discussed the lost Silver People and Eluin’s history with Faina.
• The companions reached the ancient ruins, where Funiya sensed danger and warned Brando that bad people were nearby.
• Brando spotted Andessa concealed on the roof of a temple in the ruined marketplace.
• Brando surveyed the walls and realized Andessa was watching the marketplace’s only exit, blocking their route forward.
• Brando considered how to cross the marketplace and reach the inner city without alerting Andessa.

Brando devised a risky route through the ruins to evade Andessa, and Faina insisted on joining him with Funiya. When a guard blocked their way across the plaza, Faina recognized that she might be able to analyze William’s cloak and activate it.

• Brando recalled The Amber Sword’s philosophy of forging a path and chose to sneak through the ruins toward the plaza.
• Faina refused to stay behind, so Brando carried her and Funiya through the ruins to their final cover.
• Brando saw a red-robed figure guarding the far end of the plaza, leaving them no clear route across.
• Faina urged Brando to use William’s cloak and revealed that, as a Magic Swordsman, she specialized in analyzing spells.
• Faina studied the cloak’s magic array and told Brando she recognized it.

Faina identified King Punius's Cloak of Concealment, and Brando used it to hide himself, Faina, and Funiya as they crossed the ruins. They spotted a man who might be Amman, whom Brando believed he had killed, before Andessa detected them and called for them to come out.

• Faina identified the cloak’s activation spell, and Brando recognized its ability to make its wearer vanish from the world for a short time.
• Brando activated the cloak over himself, Faina, and Funiya, then led them unseen across the square.
• Faina recognized the red-robed man as possibly Amman, a priest she had known through her father.
• Brando realized the man might be the Amman he had watched die and suspected dark sorcery or a secret connection to the Tree Shepherds.
• Andessa sensed the hidden group and ordered them to come out.

Mephisto appeared at the ruins and attacked Andessa, giving Brando and Faina a chance to escape. As Brando and Faina fled, Mephisto killed Andessa’s summoned beast, and Andessa unleashed Giant Flora against him.

• Andessa sensed someone hiding nearby and blasted apart trees, revealing Mephisto, who used his Grey Domain to slow her attacks.
• Mephisto announced that he had come to kill Andessa and faced her Lightning Strike by directing the lightning into his sword.
• Brando urged Faina to leave while Mephisto advanced, but Andessa summoned a Dark Ally and armored herself in living vines.
• Mephisto stopped the charging Dark Ally with one hand and killed it with the impact.
• Andessa summoned Giant Flora, sending enormous vines crashing toward Mephisto as Brando and Faina continued fleeing.

Andessa’s attack failed against Mephisto, leaving him exhausted just as the undead Anman and Veronica entered the confrontation. Brando and Faina watched from hiding, and the chapter ended with them debating whether to join Veronica.

• Andessa used Giant Flora to trap Mephisto, but he cut through the enormous vines with a single powerful sword strike.
• The backlash shattered Andessa’s spell and cost her left hand, while Mephisto was left too exhausted to gather the Elements.
• Andessa called for Hamir, and the undead Anman appeared, prompting Brando to recognize him as a Circle of Unity cultist.
• Veronica emerged from the fog and used her sword aura to drive Anman back, while Brando noticed she carried Mephisto’s spare sword.
• Brando stopped Faina from leaving their hiding place, and they argued about whether waiting to ambush their enemies was dishonorable.

Veronica and Mephisto confronted Andessa and Aman, and Mephisto used the Grey World to suppress Andessa’s Erosion. Andessa transformed into the dragon of chaos, while Brando prepared to protect Funiya and look for a chance to attack.

• Veronica emerged from the fog and confronted Aman as Andessa mocked Mephisto for joining forces with the Cruzian.
• Mephisto refused Andessa’s offer to spare him and declared that he had come to take her life.
• Andessa unleashed Erosion, but Mephisto’s Grey World stopped its advance and protected Veronica.
• Veronica assigned Mephisto to fight Andessa and said she would deal with Aman, while Qian was told to step back.
• Andessa invoked Ankalam and transformed into the dragon of chaos, Twilight.
• Brando told Faina to take Funiya to safety, then waited for Veronica and Aman to engage so he could attack Aman from behind.

Brando helped Veronica defeat the undead priest Anman, then explained how he planned to exploit Andessa’s weakness as a druid. The three prepared to confront Andessa, with Brando intending to use the Golden Demon Tree to sever her connection to nature.

• Brando asked Faina to identify Anman’s protective spells while he prepared to ambush the priest during Veronica’s fight.
• Brando broke through Anman’s defenses and struck him, and Veronica stabbed him before he tried to escape.
• Anman teleported away, but Brando shot him with an arrow and brought him down a hundred meters away.
• Brando told Veronica to deal with Andessa and claimed he had a way to kill her.
• Brando explained that the Golden Demon Tree could sever Andessa’s connection to nature and leave her powerless.

Brando used God’s Blood to grow black thorns that disrupted Andessa’s control of natural power, allowing Mephisto and Veronica to hold her off. As Andessa tried to flee, Brando heard Qian warn him of danger.

• Qian pulled Faina and Funiya away from the battlefield as Brando began growing black thorns with his blood.
• Andessa attacked Brando, but Mephisto intercepted her while Veronica fought off the corrupted vines surrounding them.
• Brando freed Veronica with a sword strike and a surge of rock, allowing her to wound Andessa and help him escape her dive.
• Mephisto protected the spreading thorns with his Grey World, and Andessa’s spells weakened as the plants expanded.
• Andessa turned to flee when she realized defeat was imminent, but Qian shouted a warning to Brando.

Brando and Veronica confronted the supposedly dead Amman, who revealed his plan to use Valhalla’s destruction to destabilize the empires and wielded the Book of Mavikart to defend himself. Brando exposed the limits and danger of the book’s powers, helping Veronica survive Amman’s attacks, but Amman still had strength to counterattack.

• Amman emerged from the rubble after Brando evaded his surprise attack, and Brando realized his injuries and blood loss were weakening him.
• Amman revealed his plan to destroy Valhalla and opened the Book of Mavikart, using its black barrier to repel Veronica’s attack and force her to one knee.
• Brando identified the barrier as the Wall of Chaos and warned Veronica that it had only three chances to provide absolute defense.
• Veronica attacked again as Brando shattered Amman’s barrier with an arrow, but Brando warned her to retreat before the book’s mana-collapse attack pulverized the ground in front of her.
• Brando raised the Sword of Earth through the settling smoke and warned that Amman could still counterattack.

Hamir revealed the Book of Mavikart and unleashed the eleventh-circle Dark Shockwave across the battlefield. Brando and Veronica tried to survive by letting the weakened Andessa absorb the spell’s first assault, then prepared to counterattack.

• Brando and Veronica recognized the Book of Mavikart as the source of the growing magical power behind the mist.
• Hamir released successive rings of black light, and the Dark Shockwave grounded Andessa and Mephisto with its Sky-Forbidden Curse.
• Brando inferred that the book’s spells had an interval and told Veronica their best chance was to counterattack.
• Brando maneuvered behind Andessa as Hamir’s black pillar struck her, and Andessa’s barrier shattered under the Dark Shockwave.
• Andessa was hurled into the forest, and Brando urged Veronica to act as she raised a defensive barrier and he took out the Shale Longbow.

Brando pierced the Book of Mavikart’s projection, disrupting Anman’s spell and revealing that the relic lacked the original’s defenses. Anman unleashed an uncontrollable Annihilation Black Hole that devoured him, destroyed Veronica’s Azure Sky, and pulled Brando toward it; Brando thrust the Sword of Earth into the black hole, which then began to shatter.

• Brando’s arrow pierced Anman and put a hole in the Book of Mavikart’s cover, breaking the black shockwaves across the square.
• Brando realized the book was a projection, and Veronica attacked Anman before he could cast another spell.
• Anman activated the Annihilation Black Hole, which tore him apart and destroyed Veronica’s Azure Sky.
• Andessa fired green Elemental Power into the black hole, only for it to consume her power and grow stronger.
• The black hole pulled Brando into the air, and he thrust the Sword of Earth into its center.
• The Annihilation Black Hole shattered under everyone’s astonished gaze.

Brando shattered Andessa’s Annihilation Black Hole with the Sword of Earth, forcing her to surrender and clearing the way to Valhalla. As the group prepared to explore the World Tree, Brando learned that Veronica had promised to help Mephisto restore his kingdom, a plan he could scarcely believe.

• Brando used the Sword of Earth to break the Annihilation Black Hole and realized his Elements had reached a power comparable to the Four Elements.
• Andessa surrendered, and Veronica agreed to watch over her and send her to the Imperial Prison where Roclaire was held.
• Faina, Qian, and Funiya joined the group, while Brando noticed Qian’s frustration at having been unable to help in the battle.
• Veronica proposed that they explore the World Tree, whose secrets included a legendary Primal Ember and a seed of order.
• Brando questioned why Veronica and Mephisto had fought together, and Veronica explained that she had promised to help him restore his kingdom.

Brando negotiated with Veronica over using part of the territory to help Mephisto restore his kingdom, securing her promise of secret imperial support and a supply of settlers. After agreeing to inspect the newly won land, Brando prepared to go alone and examine his spoils.

• Brando warned Veronica that restoring Mephisto's kingdom would face opposition from the Empire's nobles and asked why she expected him to help.
• Veronica explained that Brando needed allies to protect the territory containing the primordial Spark from Eluin's nobles, and proposed restoring Mephisto's kingdom there.
• Brando objected to giving up a large share of his territory, then secured Veronica's promise that she would secretly support him and arrange for Mephisto's people to settle there.
• Veronica confirmed that she would help bring former subjects of Mephisto's kingdom from their lands in Cruz.
• Brando questioned whether Veronica was willing to face political consequences for her plan, and she insisted that she acted freely for the Empire.
• Brando proposed that they split up to inspect the territory, then said he would go alone to examine his spoils.

After Veronica left, Brando recovered a fragment of the Book of Mavikart from Amann’s crater and discovered he could convert its power into enormous amounts of Experience Points. Otales then returned and revealed that Brando could now learn some of her sword techniques.

• Veronica left the square with the Little Princess of Flower Leaf Territory, while Andessa was taken away and Brando stayed with Funiya and Qian.
• Brando found a fragment of the Book of Mavikart in the crater where the Annihilation Black Hole had vanished.
• Brando discovered that the fragment’s chaotic laws could be converted into Experience Points and estimated it contained tens of millions.
• Brando decided to borrow a dimensional bag from Mephisto so he could store the fragment.
• Otales spoke to Brando, confirmed she had sensed Odin and knew Brando had accepted his inheritance, and explained that she respected the Dark Dragon as a worthy opponent.
• Otales told Brando that Odin had awakened an ancient bloodline within him, allowing him to learn some of her sword techniques.

Brando learned that Otales could teach him the Wind Empress Nine Luminaries, then discovered a Dimensional Pouch that survived the Annihilation Black Hole. He found it belonged to Amann and contained a vast fortune of rare weapons, potions, equipment, and other valuables.

• Otales offered to teach Brando the Wind Empress Nine Luminaries, the Moon Inheritance's legendary sword art, after he finished handling the urgent matters at hand.
• Otales recognized the black light Brando held as a fragment of a divine artifact and discussed storing it in an item with dimensional Attributes.
• Otales spotted a faint silver thread in the dust, and Brando opened it to reveal a surviving Dimensional Pouch.
• Brando found seven Godslayer Demon-Breaking Cones, more than a hundred bottles of holy water, and two bottles of Number One Holy Water inside the pouch.
• Brando discovered that the pouch also held piles of gold and silver, magical materials, and Temple equipment, and concluded that it was Amann's legacy.

Brando looted Amman's equipment and discovered the powerful Lich's Tear before Mephisto led him and the others to a hidden passage beneath the ruins. The passage appeared to lead to Valhalla's underground control hub and the Fire Seed.

• Brando found the Lich's Tear in Amman's Dimensional Pouch and recognized it as the amulet that had let Amman cast protective spells instantly.
• Brando bound the Dimensional Pouch to his mental power and climbed out of the pit when Mephisto arrived.
• Mephisto told Brando that he had found something beneath the ruins, and Brando trusted him enough to follow.
• Brando joined Qian and Funiya beside a concealed passage exposed by Andessa's battle and identified it as the entrance to an underground city.
• Brando recognized the passage's magical-energy conduits and concluded that Valhalla's control hub and the Fire Seed lay below.

Brando led the group through the Silver civilization ruins toward the Flame Seed, recognizing the underground city and its traps from his experience as a player. They reached the palace and discovered a vast pyramid crowned by a glowing crystal that looked like a lighthouse.

• Otales questioned whether Brando was descended from the Silver People because he seemed familiar with their ruins, but Brando denied it.
• Brando guided Qian, Funiya, Mephisto, and Otales through the underground defenses until they reached a flooded ceremonial plaza.
• Brando found the route to the palace and hurried toward it, but Mephisto stopped him when a scythe trap struck from the ceiling.
• Brando led the group past the palace traps by recognizing their mechanisms from his past dungeon experience.
• The group entered the palace's central hall and saw a massive pyramid topped by a luminous shuttle-shaped crystal.

Brando reached the Primal Ember and discovered that Martha still watched over her children, though she was no longer truly present. After she tested his faith and devotion, Martha granted him the Chosen One Destiny Talent and ignited the Ember, leaving the Ring of Trade Winds flooded with white light.

• Brando approached the Primal Ember while Mephisto, Qian, and Funiya watched, and Martha's Will answered him from within the crystal.
• Martha asked Brando about his faith, the meaning of a crown, and what he considered devotion; Brando thought of Eluin and his desire to change its fate.
• Martha praised Brando's answers and activated his Chosen One Destiny Talent, promising that she would name him king when he had wings made of light.
• Martha ignited the Ember, suppressing the monster tide and sending streaks of white light through the clouds above the Ring of Trade Winds.

Dawn destroyed the black wolves attacking the Elven Hall, while the Primal Ember began establishing a stable Guardian Land by suppressing power throughout the Ring of Trade Winds. Andessa tried to seize the ember, but Qian unexpectedly struck her with Gold Rank power and revealed herself as Dragonkin.

• At dawn, the black wolves caught in the light ignited and crumbled to ash, ending their assault on the defenders.
• William and Tulamann discussed the revival of the homeland, while Nodas and the centaurs mourned the elves who had died.
• Brando activated the Primal Ember, which severed nearby connections to magic and other sources of power as it began forming a Guardian Land.
• Veronica, Farina, and Andessa arrived, and Andessa recognized the ember and prepared to attack Brando and the others.
• Qian struck Andessa through a pillar with Gold Rank power, and Andessa identified her as Dragonkin, leaving Brando stunned.

Roman used her position as Fir Territory’s merchant to support its recovery and secretly gathered intelligence about unexplained changes in the forest. Medisa realized that Roman suspected Madaran forces were moving nearby, while Brando remained unreachable inside the Ring of Trade Winds.

• Roman negotiated with hunters for deerskins and made sure part of their payment would go toward Hato’s frostbite medicine.
• Medisa arrived with a report from Charles, and Roman asked whether Brando had returned; Medisa said her connection to him had been cut off since he entered the Ring of Trade Winds.
• Medisa relayed Charles’s question about Roman’s spending on unusual adventurer missions.
• Roman asked why deer herds had vanished from the forest, prompting Medisa to suspect an enemy move.
• Roman said adventurers had reported increased undead activity and suggested that Buchi’s forces had arrived nearby.