Chapter Summaries

Brando learned that Valhalla had produced a growing force of Wind Archers and prepared to leave as the undead gathered in Yusong. Before departing for the Frost-dyed Forest, he arranged for Freya to command Flada’s army and persuaded Princess Griffine to let Prince Haruze accompany him.

• Monica explained that Valhalla needed more magic power and supplies, so Brando increased its share of magic crystals and promised to prioritize its supply deliveries.
• Brando learned that Valhalla’s Wind Archers were mostly female and could use invisibility, flight, and gliding, though they were still a simplified version of the Silver Elf Princess’s guard.
• Flada reported that the undead army was gathering in Yusong, and Princess Griffine told Brando she would leave for Flada before traveling to Valdenburg.
• Brando declined to travel with Griffine, saying he would go to the Frost-dyed Forest with Laurenna, her fiancé, and Veronica to help Magdal.
• Brando asked Griffine to let Freya command Flada’s army and allow Prince Haruze to join him; Griffine agreed to both requests.
• Brando ordered Flada to tell Freya to prepare, and announced that they were setting out.

Brando’s party traveled toward Shallow Water Town through the unnaturally wintry forests of northern Viero, where they prepared for the journey to the Frost-dyed Forest. Along the way, Brando reflected on the stone tablet he had given Freya and its connection to her future Valkyrie power.

• The party rode through the cold forest, and Firas asked about the Frost-dyed Forest’s reach and the dangers awaiting them there.
• Brando told Firas to treat the expedition as a hunting trip and assigned him to clear battlefields and sort the spoils, pleasing Firas and Laurenna.
• Brando noticed Freya studying the stone tablet he had given her and explained that he believed it was connected to her Valkyrie Mark.
• Freya said she trusted Brando and promised to keep the tablet safe, and the two exchanged fond remarks about how they had changed.

Brando’s caravan reached Shallow Water Town, where his familiarity with the inn and local customs surprised his companions. Nemesis asked about his travels at sea, then described a view from the Sea of Flashes that struck Brando with a powerful memory, leaving him shaken.

• Brando led the caravan into Shallow Water Town and chose the quiet Carriage House inn to avoid familiar lodgings and painful memories.
• Brando ordered rooms and food from the innkeeper, and his detailed knowledge of the town made his companions wonder about his past.
• Brando explained that he had studied abroad, traveled with adventurers, and gone to sea, though several companions remained doubtful.
• Nemesis asked Brando where he had sailed from, and he described a journey from the Karasu Plateau to Saint Osore and places farther east.
• Nemesis spoke of sailing from Gris Port and seeing the Kalanga Mountains across the Sea of Flashes, and Brando froze as the words stirred a vivid memory.

Brando wondered whether Nemesis was Senior Bai Jia, someone from his past who had changed his life, but she gave no sign of recognizing him. After lunch arrived, he paid the innkeeper generously and asked for information about hunters and the local hunting season.

• Nemesis mentioned hearing about the scenery beyond the Sea of Flashes, stirring Brando’s memories of his first voyage and Senior Bai Jia.
• Brando called Nemesis “Senior,” but she looked confused, and he passed off “Jia” as the name of a city in the Kingdom of Rubik.
• Laurenna and Medisa redirected the conversation after noticing Brando’s low spirits, while Freya asked if he was all right and Firas continued chatting with him.
• After the delayed meal arrived, Brando gave the innkeeper more than a thousand Tor and asked about local hunters.
• The innkeeper said he knew most of the people and visitors in Shallow Water Town and explained that the northern forest offered about two months of hunting before winter arrived.

Brando gathered information in Shallow Water Town and suspected Anlek had hired hunters as guides into the mountains. As the group ate, a noble little girl arrived and sat beside Haruze, who was immediately captivated by her.

• Brando persuaded the innkeeper to share records about recent caravans, ships, and local reports.
• Brando studied the records and marked recent beast sightings on a map, dismissing rumors as unreliable.
• Brando suspected Anlek might have hired hunters as guides into the mountains.
• A well-dressed girl asked to sit with the group while she waited for someone, and Freya welcomed her.
• Brando agreed to let the girl sit beside Haruze, who blushed and accepted.

Brando learned that Anlek had hired local hunters to guide his group into the forest, so he used his Royal Knight identity to rally the hunters’ families and prepare to pursue the Cultists. As the group readied to act, Brando recognized Mikaya as the future Queen of Witches.

• Haruze blushed as Mikaya sat beside him, and Mikaya quietly told Laurenna her name.
• Brando questioned Mikaya about her full name, but she fled when he tried to learn more.
• The innkeeper reported that hunters had entered the forest a week earlier without supplies, and Laurenna deduced that Anlek had provided them.
• Brando showed the innkeeper his Royal Knight credentials and told him to gather the hunters’ families so they could identify the hunters’ usual routes.
• Brando connected the names Aruther and Mikaya and realized Mikaya was the future Queen of Witches.

Brando led the convoy into the North Anlaser Forest while thinking about recruiting the young Mikaya Everre, who had left him an inn bill. As the group entered the forest, Nemesis revealed that she knew where to find the Crystal Deer and ordered Brando to follow her with his three attendants.

• Brando obtained a map of the hunters’ secret forest routes and led the convoy out of Shallow Water Town before dusk.
• Charles told Brando that Mikaya Everre had charged supplies to their inn bill, and Brando was secretly pleased by her cleverness and potential.
• Brando reflected on Mikaya’s future as the Queen of Witches and hoped to recruit her among the talented people gathering around him.
• Brando kept the convoy moving into the cold North Anlaser Forest and checked the loaded wagon before the first night’s journey.
• Nemesis met Brando on horseback, told him to bring his three attendants, and said she knew where to find the Crystal Deer.

Brando followed Nemesis into Anlase Forest, where she revealed that she knew he was Su Fei and had dreamed of the history they had both experienced. After learning that Nemesis wanted to help him prevent Eluin’s destruction, Brando agreed to work with her.

• Brando rode alone with Nemesis toward Holy Silver Valley and questioned how she knew about the Crystal Deer and its Crystallized Blood.
• Nemesis asked Brando a racing riddle, recognized him as Su Fei, and denied being Bai Jia while admitting that she knew her.
• Nemesis told Brando that her dreams showed Eluin’s fall and that she had known his senior in the history she dreamed about.
• Nemesis said events began changing after Grudin died and that she believed Brando could prevent Eluin’s destruction.
• Brando accepted Nemesis’s offer of help, and they agreed to work together.

Brando and Nemesis crossed Holy Seal Valley to search for the Crystal Stag, but a Frost Sprite swarm ambushed them after Brando’s cloak lost its magic. Nemesis found a rare Heart of Frost, gave it to Brando, and he discovered it increased his Wind and Water Elemental pool capacity.

• Brando and Nemesis descended into Holy Seal Valley, where Nemesis said she could find the River of Magic and lead him to the Crystal Stag.
• Brando used the Veil of All Things Cloak to cross the Frost Sprites’ territory, but the cloak failed near the lake and a swarm surrounded them.
• Brando and Nemesis fought the Frost Sprites, with Brando quickly defeating most of them and Nemesis helping to finish the battle.
• A Frost Sprite Nemesis killed dropped a rare Heart of Frost, which she gave to Brando despite his saying it was extremely useful to him.
• Brando examined the Heart of Frost and saw that it increased his Wind and Water Elemental pool capacity by five percent.

Brando used Heart of Frost to expand his Wind and Water Elemental Pools and increase his deck capacity, then transformed Holy Archangel into a powerful Avenging Angel card. When Brando and Nemesis approached the Rime Forest to find the Crystal Stag, the Ice Fae attacked them with a vast army of Water Elementals, forcing Brando to retreat.

• Brando used Heart of Frost, increasing both Elemental Pools and his deck capacity.
• Brando transformed Holy Archangel in Pashmira's Faith deck into Avenging Angel, a powerful card with an attack and a graveyard-recovery effect.
• Brando and Nemesis discussed the Ice Fae near the lake and prepared to cross toward the Rime Forest in search of the Crystal Stag.
• Brando stepped into the shallow lake and was attacked by a giant Water Elemental that hurled a massive water ball at him.
• More than a hundred Water Elementals rose from the lake, and Brando shouted for Nemesis to run.

Brando and Nemesis used honey to lure the Ice Faeries away from the Rime Forest and crossed the lake safely. Nemesis also struggled with her fragmented memories and reacted fearfully when Brando asked whether she hated Madara.

• A Water Elemental flooded the lakeshore, forcing Brando and Nemesis to flee as the deluge uprooted trees and swept away Frost Sprites.
• Brando decided not to fight the Ice Faeries and set out honey as a lure, then hid with Nemesis behind a tree.
• A scout faerie tested the honey for poison and began eating it, prompting Brando and Nemesis to discuss her fragmented dreams and the faeries.
• When Brando asked whether Nemesis hated Madara, she trembled and angrily told him not to ask.
• Hundreds of Ice Faeries swarmed out to fight over the honey, allowing Brando and Nemesis to cross the lake and enter the forest.
• Nemesis told Brando that she liked honey too, then walked ahead into the forest.

Brando and Nemesis explored the silent Crystal Forest, where Nemesis sensed that its magic had dried up and Brando suspected an artificial cause. They encountered an Ice Fae guarding a forbidden area, and the chapter ended with the battered fae stubbornly blocking their way again.

• Brando learned that Nemesis could perceive Dark Magic, but she rebuked him for comparing her to someone else and revealed her sword was wreathed in Dark Magic.
• Nemesis sensed only dried-up traces of magic in the forest, leading Brando to suspect something at its center had caused the unnatural silence.
• An Ice Fae named herself a guardian of the forbidden grounds and refused to let Brando and Nemesis pass.
• The fae summoned a powerful ice storm, but Nemesis endured its assault and struck the fae down with a punch.
• As Brando and Nemesis started onward, the crying, bruised fae stood up and insisted that they still could not pass.

Brando and Nemesis discovered that the Rime Forest’s magic had fallen silent and that its guardian, Malocha, had been corrupted by Dark Magic. After Malocha attacked Brando with overwhelming speed and strength, Brando lost his sword and unleashed Raging Dragon Alfus’s Frenzy.

• Brando stopped Nemesis from attacking the fairy girl, questioned her about the forest’s silent magic, and dismantled her seven-ring ice spell with his bare hand.
• A corrupted Malocha burst through the trees and attacked Brando, while Nemesis held the fairy girl back from approaching the monster.
• Brando recognized that Malocha was demonized and wielded powerful Chaos, including abilities that let it strike with extraordinary speed and force.
• Malocha demanded that Brando release the fairy girl and leave, but Brando continued asking what had happened to the forest.
• Malocha knocked the Sword of Earth from Brando’s hand, and Brando unleashed Raging Dragon Alfus’s Frenzy.

Brando fought the Demonized Crystal Stag Malocha, whose unpredictable skills and Chaos Shield made it difficult to defeat. After learning that Malocha’s Demonization was draining its life force, Brando wounded it with a carefully planned counterattack, leaving the stag unable to stand.

• Malocha charged Brando, but he stopped its charge, threw it to the ground, and dodged its Scythe Horn and Earthshaker attacks.
• Malocha repeatedly struck Brando with air blades and shock waves, while Nemesis realized that its Demonization was consuming its life force.
• Brando blocked Malocha’s Scythe Horn with Resonance of the Earth, then attacked its forehead, but Chaos Shield repelled his sword and its water-element healing began closing the wound.
• Brando urged Malocha to stop fighting and warned that it would become a mindless monster, while the fairy girl begged Malocha to leave the forest with the fairies.
• Malocha charged again, but Brando anticipated its attacks and struck its neck with the Sword of Earth, leaving it wounded and unable to stand.

Brando fought the Demonized Crystal Stag, Malocha, and realized it had absorbed the forest’s missing magic power. After subduing Malocha, he exposed its Core of Magic Power, leaving its fate unresolved.

• Brando approached the wounded Malocha to investigate its strange behavior, but the stag ambushed him with the Reaping Horn and cut his cheek.
• Malocha rose despite its injuries and prepared another attack, while Brando hesitated to kill it after sensing that it was struggling against the Dark Magic.
• Nemesis warned Brando that the forest’s vanished magic power had gathered inside Malocha, and the stag’s attack left Brando badly wounded.
• Brando used Flash to reach Malocha and struck it unconscious with the flat of his sword, while Nemesis restrained the pleading Fae Lady.
• Brando questioned Malocha about draining the forest’s magic, then pierced the skin over the stag’s Core of Magic Power, causing it to struggle fiercely.

Brando learned that Malocha had drawn the Dark Magic into itself to protect the Holy Seal Forest, intending to die and let the elemental cycle renew the forest. He sealed Malocha and the Dark Magic with a Fate Card, and a young Crystal Stag was reborn as the forest began to grow again.

• Malocha recalled how Lolo had become its companion and helped build the lake, then described the elemental cycle and its choice to absorb the Dark Magic threatening the forest.
• Brando recognized that Malocha planned to purify the forest through its death, but realized the corrupted Core of Magic Power would make the newborn Crystal Stag a monster.
• Brando proposed sealing Malocha and the Dark Magic together with a Fate Card, and Charles calculated that the attempt required 2,720 wealth.
• Brando tried to seal Malocha, but the card lacked enough power until new magic surged into it and transformed it into the Eternal Song card.
• Brando summoned White Deer Malocha as the forest renewed itself, a young Crystal Stag appeared, and the quests Enlightenment Element and Song of the Shallow Sea were completed.

Brando awakened his Time-Space Concept Element and discovered its extraordinary powers, enhanced Talents, and unexpected boost to his Constitution. He was prompted to choose a skill to enhance and weighed specializing in offense through Mercenary or defense through Templar Knight.

• Brando awakened his Element and saw the Law Lines that bound matter and energy.
• Brando examined his new Time-Space abilities, including Guaranteed Hit, Stabilization, Dissipation, and Gap, and found that his Power of Order had risen to 400.
• Brando saw the Time-Space Element enhance his Talents and discovered that it had increased his Constitution instead of his Strength.
• Brando confirmed the system prompt to enhance a skill and had to choose between his Mercenary and Templar Knight class skills.
• Brando considered whether to focus on offense or defense as he weighed which class to enhance.

Brando awakened his Time-Space Element, chose the Templar Knight path, and gained powerful skill enhancements and the Demonization skill. After Malocha left him three rewards, Brando discovered a second Stone Fragment matching one from Borg Nesson and a Skill Scroll for the Transcendent, Ancient skill Newborn Annihilation.

• Brando chose the Templar Knight path and saw the Time-Space Element enhance Blood of the Sun, Crown of Thorns, and Conflict Aura.
• Brando discovered that his Elite Template had unlocked Demonization and resolved to use it against Grand Duke Anlek in the Frost-dyed Forest.
• Brando spoke with Nemesis about their shared dream, then collected two Power Stones and a Portable Ring from Malocha's ashes.
• Brando gave one Power Stone to Nemesis, who said she wanted to become stronger.
• Brando found a Stone Fragment inside the Portable Ring that matched the fragment from Borg Nesson's belongings.
• Brando took a Skill Scroll from the ring and saw that it recorded Newborn Annihilation, a Transcendent, Ancient skill.

Brando returned from the forest having enlightened an Element, then prepared the caravan to depart as he resolved to change Eluin’s fate. Meanwhile, Grand Duke Anlek learned that Brando was following his forces and ordered Xyvia to find someone to lead the way through the Frost-dyed Forest.

• Brando and Nemesis returned to camp, where Freya had waited anxiously for them.
• Brando revealed the Silver Flame of Law to Freya and told her he had enlightened an Element; she worried she could not keep up with him, but he encouraged her to hold to her convictions.
• Brando reflected on Eluin’s coming dangers and decided his mission was to change history; he told Freya to wake the others and prepare to set out.
• Laurenna asked Brando about conviction and heroism, and he said he would rather become the Demon King when forced to stand against the world.
• News spread through the caravan that Brando had become a Sword Saint, and Nemesis reminded him that he was already known as Wolf Shepherd Brando.
• Grand Duke Anlek realized Brando was following his forces and ordered Xyvia to get one person to lead them through the Frost-dyed Forest.

Yalta watched the nobles launch a sudden massacre against the hunters’ camp and was gravely wounded while searching for his sister. Five days into Anlase Forest, Brando’s group approached the Nuga River and found another corpse.

• Yalta saw Noble Private Soldiers surround the hunters’ camp and watched a longbowman kill a hunter who warned them to flee.
• The noble forces shot down the hunters, and a knight beheaded the hunters’ leader as Yalta was wounded and fell to the ground.
• Yalta called for his sister and glimpsed a ghostly blue figure turning away before his vision blurred.
• Nearly five days into Anlase Forest, Brando surveyed the Nuga River and considered entering the Milose’s Final Breath dungeon.
• Freya called Brando to the caravan, where he found a crowd gathered around another corpse.