Chapter Summaries

Summary

This short author’s note announces that three bonus chapters were completed and posted late at night. The author explains that, despite expecting to finish before six because Fututu woke early, writing continued until after eight.
With the end of the month approaching, the author asks readers to vote using their monthly tickets. In exchange, Fututu plans to continue releasing bonus chapters the following day and for some time afterward. The author also notes having recovered lost sleep over the past few days and humorously claims that Fututu’s “combat strength” is fully restored, signaling renewed energy for frequent updates.

Key Points

• Three late-night bonus chapters were completed.
• Writing took longer than expected despite Fututu waking early.
• Readers are asked to cast their monthly tickets before month’s end.
• More bonus chapters will be posted tomorrow and likely continue for a while.
• The author has caught up on sleep and is feeling energized.
• “Fututu’s combat strength is maxed out” is a playful metaphor for the author’s restored productivity.

Chapter Summary: “Rugged Mountain Road”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At dawn, Princess Anna wakes after sleeping on Soren’s lap. She removes restrictive ornaments, ties up her hair, and adjusts her clothing for travel, showing a more practical and determined side.
• Soren gives her a longsword, recognizing that although she lacks real combat experience, her aristocratic training has provided her with a foundation in swordsmanship.
• The pair continue through a steep, snowy mountain valley. Anna struggles badly with the rugged terrain because her pampered upbringing has left her physically unprepared.
• Anna injures her knee and nearly falls down the mountainside. Soren catches her, treats her wound, and notices that her delicate skin is covered in bruises and abrasions.
• Concerned that she will slow them down or endanger herself, Soren suggests leaving her in a safe location with supplies. Anna panics at the thought of being abandoned and insists that she can continue.
• After resting briefly, Anna resumes walking despite her injury. She later falls again, becomes overwhelmed by pain and fear, and breaks down crying in the snow while lamenting her uselessness and worrying about her sister.
• Soren realizes that despite her status and age, Anna is emotionally still very young. He picks her up, places her on his back, and carries her through the storm.
• Their progress slows considerably, but Anna clings to him for warmth and security, ending the chapter in a vulnerable yet comforted state.

Character Development

• Princess Anna: Begins demonstrating adaptability by discarding impractical clothing and preparing herself for hardship. However, her lack of physical conditioning and wilderness experience quickly becomes apparent. Her repeated injuries, fear of abandonment, and emotional collapse reveal her sheltered upbringing and deep dependence on others, particularly her concern for her sister. Even while crying, she shows determination by trying to continue rather than immediately giving up.
• Soren: Shows increasing patience and compassion toward Anna. Though initially focused on efficiency and survival, he treats her wounds, reassures her, and ultimately carries her when she can no longer continue. His actions reveal a protective side beneath his hardened adventurer’s exterior. He also recognizes that Anna needs emotional support as much as physical assistance.

Significant Themes

• Shelter versus hardship: Anna’s fragile condition contrasts sharply with the brutal mountain environment, emphasizing how protected her former life was.
• Strength and resilience: The chapter challenges assumptions about strength, particularly through its discussion of women’s power and capability in the wider world. Anna’s physical weakness does not entirely erase her determination to endure.
• Dependence and trust: Anna’s fear of being left behind leads her to trust Soren more openly. Being carried symbolizes her reliance on him, while his willingness to help marks the growth of mutual trust.
• Maturity through suffering: Anna’s journey forces her to confront pain, fear, and helplessness, beginning a process of adapting to the harsher realities outside her sheltered life.
• Compassion beneath pragmatism: Soren’s practical survival mindset is softened by empathy, showing that protecting others can become part of his responsibilities even when it makes the journey more difficult.

Character Interactions

• Anna accepts Soren’s sword and follows his guidance, establishing him as the more experienced leader.
• Soren treats Anna’s injuries and considers separating from her for safety, but Anna emotionally resists, afraid he will abandon her.
• After Anna’s second fall, Soren responds to her distress by physically carrying her rather than criticizing her failure.
• Anna initially hesitates but ultimately wraps her arms around Soren’s neck, demonstrating growing trust and dependence. Their closeness in the freezing mountain reflects both her need for protection and Soren’s reluctant but genuine care.

Chapter Summary: “Frost Wyvern”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren carries Princess Anna up a snowy mountain toward the hunting grounds of frost pteranodons, carefully managing his stamina so he will remain combat-ready.
• Anna rides on Soren’s back and becomes increasingly shy and flustered by their close physical proximity, while Soren remains focused on the surrounding dangers.
• As they approach the pteranodons’ territory, Soren hears movement and orders Anna to hide in a rocky recess. He warns her not to interfere once the battle begins because he cannot protect her and fight at the same time.
• Soren prepares specialized equipment for hunting draconic creatures, including reinforced steel javelins, a heavy crossbow, and a weighted iron-chain trap designed to restrict a flying creature’s movement.
• He locates a nest containing one male frost pteranodon, two females, and dragon eggs. The eggs work to Soren’s advantage because the creatures are unlikely to attack all at once while defending them.
• The male pteranodon spots Soren and launches an aerial attack. It circles above him before diving down and releasing its Frost Breath.
• Soren partially dodges the icy breath, suffering severe frostbite to his left arm and part of his body, but successfully throws the chain around the pteranodon’s neck and wing.
• The restraint disrupts the creature’s flight, causing it to tumble from the sky and crash heavily onto the mountain rocks, injuring it more severely than a normal weapon strike would have.

Character Developments

• Soren: Demonstrates discipline, stamina management, tactical preparation, and deep knowledge of draconic creatures. Rather than confronting the pteranodon directly, he exploits its low agility and dependence on flight. His willingness to endure Frost Breath in order to ground the creature emphasizes his calculated bravery and combat experience.
• Princess Anna: Shows growing trust and concern for Soren. Although excited and nervous about the hunt, she obeys his orders and hides instead of recklessly joining the battle. Her prayer for his safety reveals genuine emotional attachment and dependence on him.
• Soren and Anna’s relationship: Their physical closeness creates an atmosphere of youthful embarrassment and developing intimacy, though Soren remains emotionally restrained and focused on survival.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus brute force: Soren understands that fighting a large draconic creature head-on would be suicidal, so victory depends on planning, equipment, and exploiting weaknesses.
• The dangers of wilderness survival: The chapter emphasizes stamina conservation, environmental hazards, unpredictable attacks, and the importance of staying prepared for sudden combat.
• Trust and vulnerability: Anna must entrust her safety entirely to Soren, while Soren accepts the burden of protecting her despite being unable to watch over her during the battle.
• The contrast between appearance and danger: Frost pteranodons resemble primitive flying reptiles but possess immense strength, deadly breath, and devastating diving attacks.
• Emotional restraint: Anna’s shy reactions contrast with Soren’s hardened self-control, shaped by his past experiences in the Underdark.

Character Interactions

• Anna rides on Soren’s back, becoming embarrassed by their closeness and curious about his slightly pointed ears.
• Soren repeatedly gives Anna strict instructions to remain hidden and avoid endangering herself.
• Anna reassures him that she will not cause trouble, then prays anxiously for his safe return after he leaves to confront the nest.
• During the battle, Soren’s interaction with the male pteranodon is tactical rather than conversational: he allows the creature to attack, withstands part of its Frost Breath, and uses its dive to trap and ground it.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren battles three Frost Pteranodons guarding a dragon egg.
• After being hit by frost breath, he uses his Lesser Cold Resistance to recover and immediately targets the creatures’ wings rather than their heads or vital organs.
• He pins the male Frost Pteranodon’s wing to the ground with a javelin, then cripples both wings with his scimitar, preventing it from flying.
• The male attacks with its nearly unavoidable neck bite, but Soren narrowly deflects and evades it, then counters by smashing its jaw and breaking several fangs.
• When the creature uses Wing Buffet, Soren dodges at the last instant and cuts deeply along the gaps between its bones, inflicting severe damage.
• Two female Frost Pteranodons join the attack. Soren uses javelins, a heavy crossbow, Stoneskin, and evasive movement to injure and ground one of them while avoiding the other’s diving attacks.
• Using Shadow Assassination and Sword Momentum—Heavy Chop, Soren strikes the vulnerable gap in the male’s cervical vertebrae. His Decapitation Attack activates, instantly killing the pteranodon despite its enormous remaining vitality.
• The remaining Frost Pteranodons immediately retaliate. Unable to dodge after his powerful attack, Soren rolls into the shadow of the corpse and escapes through Shadow Plane Travel.
• He reappears at a distance, fires Magic Missiles, and attempts Cause Fear, but the spell fails because the draconic creatures are resistant to fear.
• Soren then attacks the wounded female with Vampiric Touch, draining its life force and restoring himself from serious injuries.

Character Developments

• Soren demonstrates extensive knowledge of draconic anatomy and combat tactics, recognizing that ordinary attacks against dragonkind’s skulls and organs are ineffective.
• He fights strategically, prioritizing mobility control by damaging the pteranodons’ wings rather than pursuing immediate lethal strikes.
• His Shadow Dancer abilities, superhuman dexterity, Weakness Insight, and combat techniques allow him to survive attacks that would otherwise be fatal.
• Soren shows quick thinking under extreme pressure, shifting between javelins, swordplay, magic, evasive maneuvers, and shadow travel.
• Despite his formidable martial abilities, his limited spellcasting is exposed when Cause Fear fails completely.
• His use of Vampiric Touch reveals a practical willingness to drain an enemy’s vitality to recover and continue the fight.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over brute force: Soren wins advantages by grounding and exhausting the pteranodons instead of trying to overpower their immense durability.
• Exploiting weaknesses: The battle emphasizes anatomical knowledge, precision strikes, and recognizing structural vulnerabilities in creatures with no obvious weak points.
• The danger of overconfidence and timing: Even after decapitating one enemy, Soren is left vulnerable during his recovery period and nearly killed by the remaining attackers.
• Resourcefulness and adaptability: Soren combines physical combat, feats, weapons, defensive magic, stealth, and life-draining abilities to survive.
• The limits of power: His physical abilities are highly developed, but his weaker magic has little effect against powerful draconic opponents.
• Survival through calculated risk: Nearly every successful maneuver—especially the decapitation and shadow escape—depends on acting within a fraction of a second.

Character Interactions

• Soren directly clashes with the male Frost Pteranodon, baiting and countering its bite and Wing Buffet before killing it.
• The two female pteranodons respond aggressively when the male is threatened, abandoning their defensive posture around the egg to attack Soren.
• Soren uses the injured female’s reduced mobility to prioritize it as a target, while evading the other female’s aerial assaults.
• After the male’s death, the surviving pteranodons become more aggressive and attempt to overwhelm Soren together.
• Soren’s Vampiric Touch places him in direct contact with the wounded female, reversing the momentum by weakening it while healing himself.

Chapter Summary: “Sword Intent [Decapitation]!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren uses Vampiric Touch to restore more than thirty points of health, largely healing his injuries and eliminating the frostbite in his arm.
• He attacks the first Frost Pteranodon with repeated Shadow Assassination strikes. The shadow energy bypasses defenses and causes biological erosion, weakening the creature.
• During the battle, Soren relies on practical combat techniques rather than appearance, using a “rotten donkey roll” to evade attacks and hiding in the shadows with Hide Sight.
• He boosts his physical performance through controlled breathing, increased oxygen intake, and accelerated adrenaline production. His high Constitution allows him to use this explosive combat technique without suffering severe bodily damage.
• Soren leaps onto the first Frost Pteranodon’s back and performs [Sword Momentum – Heavy Strike] with a Decapitation Attack. The strike critically wounds the creature’s neck but fails to kill it immediately, causing massive bleeding.
• After being thrown off and struck by a wing, Soren suffers broken ribs, though his Stoneskin protects him from worse damage.
• He turns his attention to the second Frost Pteranodon, repeatedly slashing at its neck while using stealth and mobility to avoid its claws.
• Once the creature is weakened and its movements slow, Soren mounts its neck, forces its head downward, and executes another Decapitation Attack. This time, the attack succeeds, instantly killing the beast.
• The battle grants Soren insight into a new combat technique: [Sword Momentum – Decapitation].
• After resetting his broken rib, Soren skins the pteranodons and harvests their meat, organs, blood, and dragon skin. The materials are valuable for leatherworking, alchemy, and scroll production, potentially earning him around 10,000 Gold Daler.

2. Character Development

• Soren is portrayed as a highly practical and experienced fighter. He willingly uses unattractive but effective movements, valuing survival over style or reputation.
• His combat abilities continue to evolve as he combines rogue techniques, necromancy, shadow energy, sword skills, and physical conditioning.
• His investment in Constitution proves important, allowing him to withstand explosive exertion, broken ribs, and the dangers of fighting draconic creatures.
• Soren demonstrates increasing mastery of battlefield timing. Rather than relying on a single powerful blow, he weakens his opponents through bleeding, erosion, and repeated attacks before delivering the fatal strike.
• He also shows extensive knowledge of monster anatomy, combat effects, medicine, and valuable materials, emphasizing his resourcefulness beyond direct fighting.

3. Significant Themes

• Practicality over appearance: Combat is depicted as a serious life-or-death matter where effective survival techniques matter more than looking impressive.
• Preparation and physical foundations: Soren’s Constitution, training, and knowledge allow him to use dangerous abilities without immediately destroying his body.
• Accumulation of skill through battle: Soren gains a new sword technique directly from his experience, showing how combat serves as a path of advancement.
• Risk and bodily cost: Even a victorious fighter can suffer broken bones and serious injuries. Power always carries physical consequences.
• Resourcefulness and survival: The battle is not only about killing the monsters; Soren also transforms the corpses into useful materials, turning danger into financial and technological resources.
• Knowledge as power: Understanding anatomy, magic, alchemy, medicine, and monster properties gives Soren advantages that pure strength alone cannot provide.

4. Character Interactions

• Soren’s primary interactions are with the two Frost Pteranodons, engaging them through stealth, evasion, shadow attacks, sword strikes, and tactical positioning.
• The first pteranodon is severely wounded by Soren’s neck attack and bleeding effects but survives long enough to continue fighting.
• The second pteranodon repeatedly attempts to kill Soren with its claws and wings, forcing him to rely on stealth and close-range maneuvering.
• Soren exploits the creatures’ weakened condition and limited neck movement, eventually restraining the second pteranodon and delivering the successful decapitating blow.
• The chapter also briefly references a legendary healer and “foodie” from Soren’s past knowledge, whose dangerous eating habits illustrate the risks of treating monster flesh as medicine or food.

Chapter Summary: The Queen’s Heir

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating three enormous Frost Pteranodons, Soren salvages their most valuable parts, though his limited storage capacity prevents him from taking everything.
• He climbs the creatures’ ice-covered nesting cliff using a dagger and discovers three Dragon Eggs, gold, crystals, amber, agates, and other treasures worth several thousand Gold Dalers.
• Soren takes two Dragon Eggs, leaving one behind, and returns after hearing possible signs of an approaching Troll. He warns himself that Ice Trolls are even more dangerous than the Pteranodons.
• Princess Anna is relieved when Soren returns. He cooks one Dragon Egg with flour and salt, explaining that it can restore strength and temporarily improve resistance to the cold.
• After eating, Anna’s bruises improve and her mobility returns. Soren plans to avoid the Torment Cultists by crossing the mountain range and traveling toward the sea before circling back to Arendelle.
• Soren reveals that he must learn a spell to make the crossing possible, surprising Anna, who realizes he is also a Wizard.
• The pair travel through the mountains and take shelter in an abandoned Northland Bear den. Soren sets traps and warning mechanisms while Anna cleans herself and prepares the bedding.
• As night falls, Soren studies a spell scroll by candlelight. Anna patiently watches him for several hours.
• The chapter closes by emphasizing Anna’s education and political importance: despite her youth, she is being trained as a future ruler of Arendelle and may eventually inherit the throne—or even ascend to godhood.

Character Developments

• Soren demonstrates his resourcefulness, survival skills, and practical knowledge. He efficiently gathers valuable loot, uses basic magic to clean himself, climbs the dangerous cliff, hunts for food, creates traps, and studies magic to protect Anna.
• He also shows responsibility and integrity. Despite the dangers, he remains committed to escorting Anna home because he gave his word.
• Princess Anna becomes increasingly capable in the wilderness. She adapts to dirt, discomfort, travel, and tedious camp life, helping arrange their shelter rather than relying on royal privilege.
• Anna’s patience and intelligence are highlighted as she quietly observes Soren’s spell study. Her bruises and weakness improve after eating the Dragon Egg, allowing her to regain some independence.
• The chapter presents Anna as more than a sheltered princess: she is a politically trained heir with the potential to rule millions and possibly become a deity.

Significant Themes

• Survival and practicality: Soren’s actions reflect the harsh realities of adventuring, where food, storage, shelter, traps, and equipment are constant concerns.
• Adaptation: Both Soren and Anna adjust to the wilderness, while Anna gradually sheds the outward signs of royal refinement.
• Duty and loyalty: Soren’s continued protection of Anna is driven by his promise, even when the journey becomes increasingly dangerous.
• Royal responsibility: Anna’s future is defined by governance, study, and leadership rather than luxury. Her position carries enormous expectations.
• Potential and destiny: Anna’s bloodline, political role, and possible path toward godhood suggest that she may become Arendelle’s future Queen and a figure of great supernatural power.
• The limitations of power: Even experienced adventurers and powerful spellcasters must contend with limited storage, difficult terrain, dangerous creatures, and the need to prepare carefully.

Character Interactions

• Anna anxiously waits for Soren and admits she nearly went looking for him after hearing strange sounds, showing her concern for him despite his warnings.
• Soren responds by offering her Dragon Egg as food, combining practical care with his characteristically blunt manner.
• Anna warns Soren about movement to the north, contributing useful information to their travel decisions.
• Soren carries Anna when she is still weak, and she later climbs onto his back without much hesitation, indicating growing trust and dependence.
• At the cave, Anna assists with camp preparations while Soren handles security and spellwork.
• Their quiet companionship during Soren’s study shows a developing bond: Anna is comfortable observing him, while Soren accepts her presence and continues to protect her without openly discussing his feelings.

Summary

On Christmas, the author, Fututu, posts a statement in response to readers’ direct messages and ongoing accusations of plagiarism. He insists that he has no interest in falsely accusing others and recounts earlier experiences with similar controversies. When he wrote Summoning Total War, other Total War-themed novels appeared, but he supported and recommended several of them. Later, while serializing Final Redemption, he was accused of copying Final Evolution. The controversy eventually subsided after the author Juantu publicly commented.
Fututu expresses strong admiration and gratitude toward Juantu, describing him as friendly and easygoing. He also highlights the commercial success of Final Redemption, citing its large number of collections and subscriptions and calling it one of the most successful “Infinity”-genre novels. He explains that he has generally supported other writers, even allowing them to use his novel’s general framework provided they were not writing direct fanfiction.
He then discusses his current novel, Lord of the Abyss, whose strong early subscription numbers suggest that it may become one of the most successful Dungeons & Dragons-themed novels. Fututu says he deliberately wrote it to continue the momentum of the “Infinity” genre and is pleased that retro fantasy and D&D fiction can succeed alongside more common xuanhuan and urban genres.
The author dismisses both his detractors and those who provoke hostility on his behalf, suggesting that he does not want to participate in unnecessary conflict. Instead, he uses the post as a Christmas gift to recommend a new D&D novel, Mithral Scepter, by what he believes is a dedicated author. He closes by wishing readers a Merry Christmas.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Fututu presents himself as confident, tolerant, and supportive of fellow writers, while defending his reputation against plagiarism accusations.
• Juantu is portrayed as a respected friend and admired fellow author whose intervention helped end criticism of Final Redemption.
• Mithral Scepter’s author is introduced positively as a hardworking writer whom Fututu hopes readers will support.
• Fututu directly addresses readers, responds to critics, praises fellow authors, and recommends another writer’s work.

Significant Themes

• Plagiarism accusations and the pressures faced by authors.
• Mutual support and goodwill within the writing community.
• The commercial and cultural revival of niche genres, especially Infinity fiction and D&D-inspired fantasy.
• Resistance to online conflict, rumor-spreading, and manufactured hostility.
• Gratitude toward readers and generosity toward fellow creators.

Chapter Summary: The Road to Legend

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren spends the night in a mountain cave studying a Spell Scroll and analyzing the Spell Formula for Feather Fall.
• Princess Anna sits beside him and keeps watch, refusing to sleep because she does not want to interrupt his concentration.
• Soren explains that he is studying Spells through their prerequisite formulas. Mastering simpler Spells such as Feather Fall will make it easier to learn advanced versions like Levitate and Fly.
• By morning, Anna is exhausted from staying awake all night. Soren encourages her to sleep and covers her with a blanket.
• Soren resists the temptation to take advantage of Anna’s affection and reminds himself that reaching Legend requires discipline, loneliness, and control over desire.
• He leaves the cave and practices Spells in the snow, attempting to master the Spell Control Feat.
• The chapter ends with Soren reaffirming his determination to grow stronger, endure pain, and continue toward Legendary power despite the threat of enemies and Deities.

Character Developments

• Soren demonstrates increasing mastery of Spell Formulas and develops a systematic method for learning advanced magic through prerequisite Spells. His actions also reveal his exceptional discipline and emotional restraint. Although he is attracted to Anna and cares for her, he refuses to let affection or comfort distract him from his path.
• Princess Anna is portrayed as obedient, considerate, and deeply attentive to Soren. She sacrifices her own rest to guard him while he studies, showing both loyalty and growing affection. Her exhaustion emphasizes her unfamiliarity with hardship compared with Soren’s adventuring life.
• Soren’s reflections reveal his broader philosophy: true strength comes not only from power, but from resisting wealth, pleasure, corruption, and complacency.

Significant Themes

• Discipline and self-control: Soren believes that resisting temptation is essential to becoming Legendary.
• The cost of greatness: The road to Legend requires endless study, suffering, danger, and isolation rather than comfort or pleasure.
• Power and corruption: Lesser professionals may abandon their potential for wealth, status, luxury, and sensual pleasures, gradually losing the will to advance.
• Conviction as a guiding path: Different great individuals follow their own inner principles or “Dao,” whether through martial arts, swordsmanship, or magical study.
• Mortality and transcendence: Legendary power represents long life and the ability to challenge Deities, making the pursuit of strength a struggle against death and the limits of mortal existence.
• Pain and perseverance: Soren acknowledges that wounds and fear remain genuinely painful, but insists that enduring them without breaking is what makes him strong.

Character Interactions

• Anna quietly watches over Soren while he studies, and he gently reassures her that she may sleep if she becomes tired.
• Soren shows tenderness toward Anna by preparing a blanket, touching her forehead, brushing dust from her hair, and encouraging her to rest.
• Though tempted to kiss or become more intimate with the sleeping Anna, Soren deliberately maintains boundaries, distinguishing his feelings for her from his past familiarity with Vivian.
• Their interaction establishes a relationship built on mutual concern: Anna offers loyalty and protection, while Soren protects her physically and emotionally.

Chapter Summary: “Going Home”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Time passes as Anna and Soren continue living together in a mountain cave.
• Anna adapts to survival in the wilderness, learning to clean, do laundry, cook, sew, mend clothes, cut meat, and manage a fire.
• Soren focuses obsessively on studying and practicing magic, barely resting despite his growing exhaustion.
• He rapidly learns three spells—likely including levitate and fly—in only a few days, far faster than a normal wizard.
• By mastering spell control, Soren fulfills the requirements to advance to Wizard level 6. He gains additional attributes, skill points, and a feat point.
• He chooses the metamagic feat Empower Spell, increasing spell power by 50%, rather than Spell Penetration, which would strengthen the difficulty of resisting his spells.
• With fly mastered, Soren and Anna are finally able to leave the mountain and begin their journey back to Arendelle.
• Before departing, Anna looks back fondly at the cave, while Soren notices evidence that ice trolls have scavenged the frost pteranodon corpses he left behind.

Character Developments

• Anna becomes more mature, practical, and self-reliant. Although she remains a princess, she grows accustomed to hardship and takes pride in contributing to their survival.
• Her hands become rough and frostbitten from her work, revealing the physical cost of her new life. She hides her injuries because she remains self-conscious about her appearance.
• Anna’s feelings toward Soren deepen. She trusts him completely, feels safe beside him, and begins to experience romantic or marriage-related fantasies, though she is embarrassed by them.
• She also becomes emotionally dependent on Soren, similar to how she once depended on her older sister. The thought of him collapsing from exhaustion frightens her.
• Soren displays extraordinary discipline and magical talent, but his relentless training borders on obsession. His exhaustion is visible, yet he continues pushing himself because of his responsibility to return Anna home.
• His advancement to Wizard level 6 and acquisition of Empower Spell significantly increase his combat potential.

Significant Themes

• Maturity through hardship: Anna’s transformation from sheltered princess to capable survivor demonstrates how difficult circumstances force her to grow up.
• Duty and sacrifice: Both characters endure discomfort for the sake of returning Anna to Arendelle, with Soren especially sacrificing sleep and rest.
• Changing identity: Anna remains a princess, but her patched clothing, rough hands, and practical skills show that nobility is not defined by appearance or luxury.
• Emotional dependence and emerging affection: Anna’s growing attachment to Soren develops alongside her increasing independence, creating a complicated mixture of gratitude, trust, comfort, and romantic feelings.
• Power and preparation: Soren’s intense magical training reflects his belief that strength and preparation are necessary to protect Anna and complete their journey.

Character Interactions

• Anna quietly supports Soren by managing the cave and household tasks, while Soren protects her and works toward enabling their return.
• She sometimes sleeps curled beside him because his presence makes her feel safe, though he remains too focused on training to rest properly.
• Anna worries about Soren’s health and tries not to burden him with her own anxiety.
• Their relationship becomes increasingly intimate and companion-like, even though neither openly acknowledges the romantic implications.
• As they leave the cave together, Anna watches Soren closely, suggesting that returning home may not erase the bond they formed during their time in the mountains.

Chapter Summary:

Saren Being Extorted

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren flies Princess Anna over a dangerous mountain range using the Fly spell. The journey is physically uncomfortable and risky, especially because losing the spell at high altitude could result in a fatal fall.
• Soren avoids a Frost Pteranodon by lowering his altitude and quietly flying past it, eventually reaching a dense, snow-covered forest beyond the mountains.
• After landing, Soren and Anna continue on foot through the forest and into Arendelle territory. To avoid detection by Torment Cultists or other enemies, Soren gives Anna a cloak and orders her to remain silent and disguised.
• After camping overnight and traveling several dozen kilometers, they reach Talado Town, a settlement near the sea.
• The town is heavily guarded, and crosses stained with frozen blood stand outside it. These signs suggest that severe punishments—possibly executions of Fallen individuals or suspected evil-god cultists—have recently occurred.
• A powerful-looking priestess of the Goddess of Misfortune enters the town. The guards and townspeople immediately show fear and deference toward her.
• The priestess stops Soren and demands an offering on behalf of her goddess. Recognizing the danger of offending her, Soren gives her more than ten gold dalers and respectfully frames the payment as a prayer that the goddess will target his enemies.

Character Developments

• Soren demonstrates caution, practical knowledge, and responsibility. He understands both the limitations and dangers of magical flight and prioritizes avoiding unnecessary combat.
• He becomes increasingly protective of Princess Anna, carrying her through the mountains, disguising her, and carefully guiding her through potentially hostile territory.
• Soren’s awareness of political and religious dangers grows as he assesses Arendelle’s security, the possible spread of the Torment Cult, and the influence of divine agents.
• Princess Anna remains cooperative and disciplined. Although initially excited by flight, she follows Soren’s instructions, stays quiet, wears the cloak, and helps identify Talado Town.
• The priestess of the Goddess of Misfortune is introduced as an intimidating and unpredictable figure whose authority is powerful enough to silence an entire town and compel Soren to pay tribute.

Significant Themes

• The danger and limits of power: Magical flight offers freedom but carries severe risks, including hostile creatures, dispelling, exhaustion, and fatal falls.
• Caution and survival: Soren repeatedly chooses stealth, disguise, and avoidance over confrontation.
• Religious fear and divine influence: The priestess’s arrival shows how much ordinary people fear the gods and their servants, particularly a deity capable of inflicting prolonged bad luck.
• Political instability and persecution: The guarded town, frozen blood, and crosses indicate that Arendelle may be experiencing unrest, religious persecution, or a crackdown on suspected cultists and the Fallen.
• Power expressed through ritual and coercion: The priestess’s “offering” functions as extortion, yet Soren must treat it as a sacred religious exchange because refusing could bring supernatural consequences.

Character Interactions

• Soren physically carries Anna during the flight and signals her to remain silent when danger approaches.
• After reaching Arendelle, he instructs her to conceal herself and avoid speaking, emphasizing his protective and strategic role.
• Anna identifies Talado Town from memory, contributing useful local knowledge.
• When the priestess appears, Soren and Anna observe the crowd’s fear. Soren bows respectfully and attempts to pass unnoticed.
• The priestess deliberately singles Soren out and demands tribute. Anna subtly alerts him by tugging his sleeve, while Soren responds by paying the gold and diplomatically invoking the goddess against his enemies.

Chapter Summary: “Lady of Calamity”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren encounters a mysterious and highly alluring priestess of the Goddess of Misfortune, a deity born from the divided corpse of an ancient Goddess of Luck. The other half became the Goddess of Fortune.
• The chapter explains the terrifying reputation of the Goddess of Misfortune, also known as the Lady of Calamity. Though she cannot grant good luck, she can inflict misfortune, causing people to worship her out of fear.
• Soren recognizes the danger of the priestess and immediately offers a sacrifice. When she claims that he can receive the Goddess’s blessing with a greater offering, he reluctantly gives her valuable Gems and Gold Coins.
• The priestess blesses Soren by pressing the goddess’s crest to his forehead and kissing him. She announces that the Goddess of Misfortune has noticed his enemies.
• The priestess disappears into the crowd, and everyone nearby avoids Soren out of fear of angering the Lady of Calamity or becoming targets of her vengeance.
• Princess Anna reveals that she was blessed by a priest of the Goddess of Fortune when she was young. This alarms Soren because priests of the rival Fate Twins would normally not appear at the same ceremony.
• Soren and Anna realize that the priestess likely noticed Anna’s connection to the Goddess of Fortune and may have deliberately chosen Soren as part of some larger plan.
• Soren checks his status and discovers that he has gained the special feat Blessing of the Goddess of Misfortune.

Character Developments

• Soren: Demonstrates his deep respect for luck and his willingness to make costly sacrifices to avoid misfortune. Although suspicious and reluctant, he accepts the blessing, gaining powerful protection and an advantage against his enemies. He becomes concerned that the blessing may be connected to Anna and the ancient conflict between the Fate Twins.
• Princess Anna: Reveals an important connection to the Goddess of Fortune. Her childhood blessing suggests that she possesses unusual luck-related significance, though she does not initially recognize the potential danger. She remains calm and optimistic, treating the encounter as possibly coincidental.
• The Priestess of Misfortune: Is portrayed as powerful, enigmatic, and possibly manipulative. Her ability to grant a divine blessing implies that she is a high-ranking cleric, despite not appearing obviously legendary. Her meaningful glance at Anna hints that she knows more about Anna’s history than she reveals.

Significant Themes

• Luck versus misfortune: Luck is treated as a tangible supernatural force capable of determining survival, combat outcomes, and destiny.
• Fear-based worship: The Goddess of Misfortune is worshipped not because she is benevolent, but because people fear attracting her attention or becoming the targets of her power.
• Divine rivalry: The conflict between the Goddess of Fortune and Goddess of Misfortune continues through their priests and followers, suggesting that Soren and Anna may have been drawn into their ancient struggle.
• Power through sacrifice: Soren’s offering demonstrates that divine favor comes at a cost, and sincerity—or at least a sufficiently valuable sacrifice—is necessary to obtain supernatural protection.
• Hidden motives and coincidence: The priestess’s sudden appearance, her interest in Anna, and the unusual circumstances of the blessing create uncertainty about whether the encounter was chance or deliberate intervention.

Character Interactions

• The priestess initially pressures Soren by implying that his first sacrifice is insufficient, prompting him to offer additional Gems and coins.
• She blesses him physically and symbolically, then warns that his enemies have attracted the Goddess of Misfortune’s attention.
• Afterward, Anna reassures Soren and explains her own blessing from the Goddess of Fortune.
• Soren questions Anna closely and recognizes the potential contradiction between her Fortune blessing and his Misfortune blessing, leading both of them to suspect that the encounter carries deeper significance.

Result of the Blessing

Soren’s new feat ensures that:

• His luck cannot fall below normal levels.
• He is immune to spells causing disaster, calamity, doom, and similar misfortune.
• His enemies suffer a one-point penalty on attacks, hits, Dodge checks, saving throws, and other rolls.
• The Goddess of Misfortune has effectively placed Soren under her watch.

Chapter Summary: “Telepathy?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren realizes that an unknown woman has granted him a Divine Blessing Feat after kissing his forehead and cheek and speaking a few words.
• He compares this blessing with those of other deities, noting that divine blessings usually require elaborate rituals, sacrifices, money, or profane ceremonies. His new blessing grants immunity to misfortune, suggesting a connection to the Goddess of Misfortune.
• Soren suspects the woman may have been the goddess’s Avatar, Chosen, or Favored Soul, though he cannot determine why she blessed him or why she appeared in the Land of Ice and Snow.
• He reflects on the danger of Chaotic deities, especially the Goddess of Misfortune, whose powers can cause devastating and unpredictable disasters.
• Soren also recalls major future events involving a powerful Shadow Lich and the Spider Queen’s secret descent into the mortal world during the Time of Troubles. He considers the Spider Queen his most frightening potential enemy.
• Soren and Princess Anna continue toward Arendelle, a prosperous coastal trade city. Along the way, they observe ships and discuss how merchants worship sea-related deities for protection from storms and monsters.
• As they approach the city, Soren becomes suspicious that the Goddess of Torment’s Chosen may be waiting there to ambush Anna, since her enemies would expect her to return home eventually.
• Worried that they could not survive an encounter with a Legendary Professional or divine agent, Soren urges Anna to find a way to contact her elder sister, Princess.
• Anna claims that, when they were children, her sister could sometimes sense her distress from a distance. She attempts to call her sister through what she believes is telepathy.
• Her repeated pleas gradually become solemn and devotional, leading Soren to realize that she may actually be praying to a deity, rather than using ordinary telepathy.

Character Developments

• Soren remains cautious, analytical, and increasingly aware of the immense dangers surrounding him. He carefully evaluates the nature of the blessing and anticipates possible ambushes rather than relying on luck.
• His knowledge of divine politics and future events reinforces his role as a highly informed but still vulnerable strategist.
• Princess Anna shows excitement at the prospect of returning home, but becomes frightened when Soren explains the danger near Arendelle. She then demonstrates determination and emotional dependence on her sister by trying to summon her for help.
• Anna’s actions suggest that her connection with her sister may be supernatural, possibly involving divine power rather than simple sibling intuition.

Significant Themes

• Divine power and hidden identities: The mysterious blessing raises questions about whether gods can move among mortals and conceal their identities.
• The unpredictability of chaos: Chaotic deities, particularly the Goddess of Misfortune, are portrayed as terrifying because their actions cannot be predicted through ordinary logic.
• Caution versus desperation: Soren favors careful planning and worst-case preparation, while Anna relies on hope, emotional bonds, and faith.
• The vulnerability of mortals: Even a powerful adventurer like Soren recognizes that Legendary Professionals and divine agents could kill him instantly.
• Faith and prayer: Anna’s supposed telepathy gradually appears to be an act of prayer, blurring the boundary between personal emotion, divine communication, and supernatural intervention.
• The Time of Troubles: The chapter emphasizes that the unusual presence of gods, Avatars, Chosen, and Legendary figures is becoming increasingly common as divine order breaks down.

Character Interactions

• Soren and Anna travel together toward Arendelle, with Soren acting as the cautious protector and strategist.
• Soren warns Anna that her enemies may anticipate her return and lie in wait near the safest apparent destination.
• Anna responds by proposing contact with her elder sister, revealing both her trust in that relationship and her willingness to act quickly under pressure.
• Soren initially finds Anna’s attempt amusing, but his attitude changes as the moment becomes solemn and seemingly divine, suggesting that her connection to her sister may be far more powerful than ordinary telepathy.

Chapter Summary: Arendelle

Key Plot Points and Events

• A snow-and-ice manifestation of Princess Anna’s Elder Sister appears before Anna and Soren. The apparition is revealed to be an extraordinary Snow and Ice Avatar, far beyond ordinary magical projections such as Project Image or Simulacrum.
• The Elder Sister creates an ice Portal and orders Anna to return to Arendelle. Anna brings Soren with her, allowing him to witness the Elder Sister’s astonishing abilities.
• Upon arrival at the palace, Soren encounters the Elder Sister’s true body. Her presence and overwhelming Charisma nearly force him to worship her, though he resists the mental influence.
• The Elder Sister separates Soren from Anna, sending him to rest while she speaks privately with her sister. A court lady informs him that the Queen will reward him for rescuing Anna.
• Anna enthusiastically tells her Elder Sister that Soren saved her from capture and should be rewarded generously. Exhausted from her ordeal, Anna is taken to bathe and sleep.
• The Elder Sister questions the Captain of the Guard about Soren and orders that he be sent away after receiving a generous reward, preferably one or two pieces of Legendary Equipment.
• From the balcony, the Elder Sister reflects on the ominous changes in the world: deities are appearing, the Winter Maiden has descended personally, the gods have lost contact, and Soren seems connected to Fear, Calamity, bloodshed, and an increasingly confusing Destiny.
• The Elder Sister later goes to Anna’s bathing chamber, where Anna relaxes in Arendelle’s luxurious natural hot spring.

Character Developments

• Soren: Demonstrates strong mental resistance by surviving the Elder Sister’s unnatural Charisma without submitting to her influence. He becomes increasingly suspicious of her true nature and recognizes that she may possess power comparable to a deity. His mysterious connection to Fear, Slaughter, and the Lady of Calamity is also emphasized.
• Princess Anna: Shows deep affection and trust toward her Elder Sister, while also openly defending Soren and insisting that he be rewarded. Her exhaustion and playful frustration over Soren treating her like an ordinary girl reveal both her vulnerability and her desire to be acknowledged as a princess.
• The Elder Sister/Queen: Appears cold, authoritative, and immensely powerful, yet displays genuine concern for Anna. She is protective and cautious, especially regarding Soren, whom she views as a possible source of disaster. Her reflections reveal uncertainty about Destiny and anxiety over the supernatural changes affecting the world.
• Captain of the Guard: Acts as a loyal and efficient subordinate, reporting Soren’s behavior and carrying out the Queen’s orders.

Significant Themes

• Power beyond human magic: The Elder Sister’s Avatar, Portal, and natural influence over Soren suggest powers governed by divine or cosmic laws rather than conventional spellcasting.
• Charisma and domination: Her beauty and authority exert a nearly supernatural effect, blurring the boundary between admiration, worship, and mental control.
• Destiny and uncertainty: The Elder Sister’s ability to perceive Destiny is becoming less reliable, raising questions about whether fate exists as a fixed force or changes constantly.
• Fear and calamity: Soren’s association with Fear, Slaughter, and the Lady of Calamity suggests that his presence may bring danger despite his heroic actions.
• Protection versus isolation: Although Soren saved Anna, the Queen intends to reward him and remove him from Arendelle, prioritizing Anna’s safety over forming an alliance with him.
• Luxury and authority: Arendelle’s palace and hot springs emphasize the kingdom’s ancient wealth, grandeur, and the Queen’s elevated status.

Character Interactions

• Anna eagerly attempts to embrace her Elder Sister, but the Avatar’s hand briefly dissolves into snow, revealing its unnatural nature.
• Anna physically brings Soren through the Portal, reinforcing their growing connection and mutual dependence.
• The Elder Sister treats Soren with formal distance, while Anna warmly praises him and advocates for him.
• The Queen privately instructs the Captain of the Guard to reward Soren but then remove him, expressing suspicion of his ominous aura.
• The Elder Sister’s affectionate treatment of Anna contrasts sharply with her cold, guarded attitude toward Soren, highlighting her priorities and mistrust.

Summary

This chapter is an author’s note rather than a plot-driven chapter.

Key events

• The author, Fututu, asks readers not to spend money buying annual votes for the book. Free annual votes and recommendation votes are sufficient.
• Readers are told that monthly votes can be saved because the double monthly-vote period begins in two days.
• The author announces bonus chapters for New Year’s Day and explains that promised bonus chapters are being recorded and will be released gradually.
• Fututu reveals an agreement with a respected patron named Bamao and promises to explain its contents in a few days.

Character and author development

• Fututu expresses gratitude and humility toward supportive readers, especially those willing to spend money to help the book.
• The author reflects on personal maturity, admitting that although they once considered themselves mature, they only truly began learning maturity at age twenty-four.
• Fututu emphasizes a serious, careful approach to writing, revising every chapter before publication rather than uploading rushed drafts.

Significant themes

• Gratitude and reader support: The author is deeply moved by readers’ enthusiasm but does not want them to overspend.
• Dedication to craft: The lengthy revision process and concern for polished phrasing demonstrate commitment to improving the work.
• Patience and long-term effort: The book is expected to be Fututu’s longest and will be written over an extended period, with rankings and bonus content handled gradually.
• Personal growth: The author reflects on developing maturity later than expected and continuing to improve both personally and creatively.

Character interactions

• Fututu directly addresses readers, reassuring them that free votes are enough and thanking them for their support.
• The author mentions a respectful agreement with patron Bamao, though the details remain unrevealed.
• The interaction between author and audience is characterized by mutual support: readers promote the book, while Fututu promises to continue writing carefully and fulfill bonus-chapter commitments.

Summary

This is an author’s note rather than a story chapter, so it contains no plot events, character development, or in-story interactions.

• Key announcements: The author clarifies that the “double-vote” period has not begun yet and apologizes for previously misremembering the dates. They explain that readers had submitted a large number of votes the previous day, which could have resulted in an even larger total under the double-vote system.
• Release information: Three chapters will be released that day.
• Upcoming developments: The author promises a major plot twist and describes the forthcoming storyline as the most melodramatic and exciting arc so far.
• Reader engagement: Readers are encouraged to cast their monthly votes, which the author jokingly says will help “Fututu” generate emotional energy.
• Themes and tone: The note is playful, self-deprecating, and highly energetic, emphasizing anticipation, dramatic emotion, and excitement for the upcoming chapters.
• Character interactions: None occur, since the passage is directed from the author to the readers rather than depicting the characters.

Chapter Summary: “Princess Anna!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren enjoys an exceptionally luxurious bath and professional massage in Arendelle’s palace after rescuing Princess Anna. The comfort makes him relax enough to fall asleep.
• The princess orders the captain of the guard to prepare a generous reward and send Soren away. She fears Anna is becoming emotionally attached to him and believes an adventurer surrounded by violence and bloodshed is unsuitable for the future queen.
• As an additional reward, she gives Soren two legendary items:
  • Icetail, a frost-infused legendary scimitar capable of freezing or killing weaker enemies and severing lesser weapons.
  • Battle Master’s Gloves, legendary gloves containing dimensional storage that allow Soren to switch weapons instantly.
• Soren immediately understands that the gifts are also a polite dismissal. He changes back into his travel clothes and agrees to leave without resentment.
• Before departing, Soren sees the princess on the balcony and bows respectfully. He reflects that her overprotectiveness toward Anna resembles his own concern for Vivian, whom he wishes could one day live in comfort rather than endure his harsh, dangerous life.
• Anna awakens and realizes Soren has left. Distraught, she rushes barefoot through the palace, mounts a horse, and reaches the palace walls just in time to see him disappearing into the snow.
• Anna tearfully declares that she likes Soren and challenges him to marry her once she turns sixteen. Soren stops, turns, and responds with a respectful knightly salute before continuing on.
• Anna returns to the palace in tears, while the princess and the guards remain stunned by her unexpected declaration.

2. Character Developments

• Soren: Demonstrates restraint, emotional maturity, and empathy. Although hurt by being dismissed, he does not blame the princess and recognizes the reasoning behind her actions. His thoughts also reveal his devotion to Vivian and his desire to provide her with a better life.
• The princess: Her coldness toward Soren is shown to be rooted in fierce protectiveness of Anna rather than simple hostility. She views Soren as dangerous and unsuitable for Anna, but still rewards him generously and watches his departure with clear emotional conflict.
• Anna: Shows impulsiveness, courage, emotional sincerity, and a strong sense of personal pride. Though she does not fully understand love, she interprets her feelings as serious enough to connect with marriage and boldly voices them despite the public and political implications.
• The captain and palace servants: Act as intermediaries between the princess and Soren, recognizing the awkwardness of dismissing someone who saved Anna. Their surprise emphasizes how powerful and unexpected Anna’s confession is.

3. Significant Themes

• Protection versus freedom: The princess tries to protect Anna by controlling whom she can approach, while Anna asserts her own emotions and choices.
• Duty and personal feeling: Anna is both a young girl with genuine emotions and the future queen of Arendelle, making her declaration carry political and social weight.
• The danger of the adventurer’s life: Soren’s violent past and uncertain future contrast sharply with the safety and luxury of royal life.
• Empathy and mutual understanding: Soren does not resent the princess because he understands her protective instincts through his own relationship with Vivian.
• Courage and sincerity: Anna’s willingness to publicly confess her feelings, despite fear and embarrassment, establishes her as brave and emotionally honest.
• Departure and separation: Soren’s forced departure creates emotional tension and establishes a promise—or possible future connection—between him and Anna.

4. Character Interactions

• The princess indirectly rejects Soren while arranging valuable rewards for him, revealing both distrust and gratitude.
• Soren and the captain interact briefly; he recognizes the princess’s intentions before she can formally explain them, sparing the captain an uncomfortable conversation.
• Soren’s silent farewell with the princess—a bow from him and her continued watch from the balcony—communicates unresolved respect and emotion.
• Anna’s desperate pursuit of Soren culminates in her public proposal-like confession. Soren does not verbally accept or reject her, but his knightly salute acknowledges her words respectfully.
• Anna’s declaration shocks the princess, servants, and guards, marking a dramatic shift in the relationship between Anna and Soren.

Chapter Summary: “Beyond the Mountains!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren leaves Arendelle during a fierce snowstorm after silently looking back at the imperial palace.
• He departs because marrying Vivian, the future queen, would be nearly impossible due to her identity as the Godsbane of Fear and her possible future transformation into the Demon Lord of Fear.
• Despite understanding that Vivian’s destiny may place her against the entire world, Soren vows to support her. He performs an ancient knight’s salute, promising to stand behind her whenever she needs him.
• Soren contemplates the two possible futures ahead: Vivian becoming a beloved queen, or descending into darkness while he follows her into an abyss of blood and conflict. He is prepared to sacrifice his life—and even transform into a Shadow Lich—for her sake.
• Disguised as a traveling Wizard, Soren journeys north through forests, frozen rivers, and dangerous mountains. He uses magic such as Levitate, Fly, and Invisibility to cross the terrain and fend off or avoid monsters, including Frost Pteranodons, Ice Golems, Landwyrms, Bugbears, and Ice Trolls.
• After three days of snow, he crosses the Snow Mountains and reaches the North, a region ruled by the Northern Witches.
• In the territory of River Valley City, local people treat him with fear and respect because of the high status and dangerous reputation of Wizards.
• Soren crosses a river by ferry, passes through impoverished farmland and villages, and enters a declining city plagued by weak trade, disrepair, and corrupt guards.
• He visits the Mercenary Guild and then an underground information network operated by rogues, seeking intelligence related to his journey to Goria’s Tower.
• Upon leaving the rogue hideout, Soren detects a familiar fragrance and notices a mysterious woman in black leaving the alley. He suspects she may be someone he knows but does not immediately pursue her, choosing first to find lodging.

Character Developments

• Soren: Becomes more emotionally conflicted but also more resolute. Though leaving Vivian weighs heavily on him, his love and loyalty strengthen his determination to protect her regardless of the consequences. His disguise as a Wizard shows his caution and adaptability, while his willingness to become a Shadow Lich reveals how far he is prepared to go.
• Vivian: She does not appear directly, but her tearful farewell and dangerous destiny dominate Soren’s thoughts. Her possible transformation into the Demon Lord of Fear establishes her as both someone Soren loves and a potential threat to the world.
• The Northern inhabitants: Their fear and reverence toward Soren highlight the social power Wizards possess in the North. The hunter, ferryman, guards, and townspeople all react cautiously to his presence.

Significant Themes

• Love versus destiny: Soren’s affection for Vivian conflicts with the political and supernatural forces surrounding her future.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: Soren accepts that protecting Vivian may require abandoning a normal life, opposing the world, or sacrificing his humanity.
• The burden of choice: The two paths Soren imagines—Vivian as queen or as a demonic figure—emphasize the uncertainty of their future and the consequences of choosing to remain at her side.
• Social inequality and corruption: The North is portrayed as poor but somewhat freer for ordinary people, contrasting with the heavily taxed and corrupt southern nobility.
• The danger and isolation of power: Wizards are respected because they are powerful, but this respect is mixed with fear and suspicion, leaving them socially isolated.

Character Interactions

• Soren’s silent farewell to Vivian is the chapter’s most emotionally important interaction, even though she is not physically present.
• He briefly interacts with a hunter, who apologizes after mistaking Soren for a threat and immediately submits to his authority.
• A ferryman nervously transports Soren across the river, accepting a Silver Daler as payment.
• City guards avoid questioning Soren because they fear provoking a Wizard.
• Soren obtains information from a hidden rogue organization, though the details of the intelligence are not revealed.
• The chapter ends with a potential encounter: Soren notices a black-clad woman carrying a familiar scent, suggesting that someone connected to his past or mission may be nearby.

Chapter Summary: “Invaders!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soren encounters a black-dressed woman whom he recognizes as Goria’s mother, a dangerous fugitive being pursued by the Silver Moon Stalker and a powerful druid.
• Believing Soren can help distract her pursuers, the woman uses Rage and Charm to manipulate him. Soren briefly pretends to fall under her control, then resists the spell and attacks her with his powerful, frost-infused scimitar.
• Soren’s strike destroys her protective Mage Armor and tears open her clothing, revealing that his strength and equipment have improved dramatically since their previous encounter. The woman realizes that his weapon may be legendary and that he now poses a serious threat.
• Soren uses stealth to disappear rather than continue the fight. His attack draws the Silver Moon Stalker and druid to the woman, forcing her to expend her last Teleportation Beacon.
• The woman teleports several kilometers away but remains under pursuit. She curses Soren for causing her to waste her escape item and considers seeking protection from her daughter, Goria.
• Soren realizes that the Silver Moon Stalker was tracking Goria’s mother, not him. He leaves the area, bypasses River Valley City, and travels toward Glacier City to find Goria and Vivian.
• At Goria’s North Tower, an invisible intruder appears. Even Goria’s True Seeing spell cannot reveal the figure, leading her to identify the invader as a possible legendary assassin.
• Goria immediately orders Vivian into the laboratory and activates the tower’s defenses: Steel Golems, magical barriers, dimensional anchors, portal seals, shadow and spirit-based detection, a necromantic field, and the tower’s energy core. The chapter ends as the wizard tower enters a heightened state of alert.

Character Developments

• Soren demonstrates major growth in combat ability. He resists a powerful charm spell, destroys a protective barrier with one blow, and wields a weapon capable of producing legendary-level frost damage.
• He also shows greater tactical maturity, choosing deception and escape over a prolonged confrontation. His suspicions about the woman’s triggered defenses allow him to anticipate her reactions.
• Goria’s mother is revealed to be desperate, exhausted, and increasingly vulnerable. Much of her equipment has been consumed during her flight, and she is forced to consider relying on Goria despite their likely strained relationship.
• Her manipulative and ruthless nature is emphasized when she immediately attempts to use Soren as a disposable distraction.
• Goria is shown to be highly alert and protective of Vivian. She responds to the invasion decisively, revealing the extensive defensive capabilities of her wizard tower.
• Vivian remains under Goria’s protection and is ordered to retreat to safety rather than participate in the defense.
• The Silver Moon Stalker and the druid are established as relentless hunters capable of tracking Goria’s mother across great distances.

Significant Themes

• Power progression: Soren’s transformation from a vulnerable target into someone capable of threatening high-level spellcasters is central to the chapter.
• Deception and survival: Both Soren and Goria’s mother rely on disguises, charm, stealth, teleportation, and misdirection. The chapter repeatedly emphasizes that survival depends on anticipating an enemy’s tactics.
• Consequences of past actions: Goria’s mother’s earlier crimes and conflicts with druids continue to haunt her, forcing her into a desperate flight.
• Trust and exploitation: The woman treats Soren as a tool, while Soren refuses to be controlled and exploits her expectations against her.
• Protection and danger: Goria’s defense of Vivian contrasts with her mother’s willingness to endanger others. The wizard tower becomes both a sanctuary and a potential battlefield.
• Escalating threats: The chapter shifts from a pursuit through city streets to the possible invasion of a heavily defended wizard tower by a legendary assassin, raising the stakes for the next chapter.

Character Interactions

• Soren and Goria’s mother: Their encounter begins with mutual recognition and attempted manipulation, then turns into a brief but dangerous battle. Soren resists her charm, wounds her, and escapes, leaving her furious and fearful.
• Goria’s mother and her pursuers: The Silver Moon Stalker and druid relentlessly track her, forcing her to teleport and continue fleeing. Their pursuit has depleted her resources.
• Goria and Vivian: Goria acts protectively, shielding Vivian and ordering her to hide in the laboratory during the invasion.
• Goria and the intruder: Although she cannot see the invisible attacker, Goria immediately treats the presence as a lethal threat and mobilizes every major defense of the tower.
  The chapter concludes on a cliffhanger, with Soren heading toward Glacier City while Goria prepares North Tower to repel a potentially legendary assassin.

Summary

This chapter is an author’s note rather than a narrative installment. The author explains that he woke at six after dreaming that his monthly votes had been overtaken, motivating him to write intensively. Despite having no banked chapters, he completed three chapters totaling approximately 11,000 words.
He is especially pleased with a roughly 5,000-word chapter, saying that finishing it left him relaxed because he finally portrayed Princess Anna as intended. He jokingly mentions that readers had made a bet involving that chapter and an embarrassing personal stake.
The author also reports that Lord of the Abyss has received more than 2,800 subscriptions within twenty-four hours and asks readers who have forgotten to vote to cast their monthly votes. He promises another three chapters the following day and reminds readers to attend the livestream.
Finally, he announces a New Year’s Day bonus system: the appearance of a Grandmaster will earn two extra chapters, while a Gate Leader will earn one. He promises to spend the holiday writing rather than pursuing leisure activities, while humorously threatening readers who withhold votes with an exaggerated “pounce and kiss” from Tongban.

Character Development and Interactions

• Princess Anna: The author feels he has finally captured her character properly in the completed chapter.
• Tongban: Appears only in the author’s joking threat to kiss readers who refuse to vote.
• Author/Futuzi: Presents himself as exhausted, anxious about rankings, proud of his work, and determined to produce more chapters.
• Readers: Directly addressed through requests for monthly votes, livestream attendance, and participation in the bonus-chapter system.

Significant Themes

• The pressures of serialized writing and competition for reader votes.
• The author’s creative satisfaction after completing a difficult climax.
• Playful, exaggerated interaction between author and audience.
• Reader support, subscriptions, and reward-based incentives for continued writing.

Chapter Summary: “Hand of Despair!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• An invisible intruder infiltrates Goria’s Wizard Tower and reaches its underground levels, bypassing locks and traps.
• The intruder appears to be caught by a Steel Golem and a deadly Disintegrate beam, but Goria realizes something is wrong when the supposed Stalker fails to use defensive abilities.
• Goria activates an Energy Laser Beam, cutting the infiltrator in half and revealing that he is only a decoy or projected image. His clothing bears the symbol of the Hand of Despair, a legendary Assassin.
• The Assassin’s true body has remained hundreds of meters away. Using cross-planar movement and shadow techniques, he bypasses the tower’s defenses and attacks Goria directly.
• Goria activates multiple defensive spells, including Protection from Energy, Blink, and several contingencies, but the Assassin repeatedly tracks her through his Shadow Domain.
• His dagger pierces her defenses and severely wounds her. Poison prevents her from casting spells, leaving her nearly helpless.
• Goria recognizes that the attacker is the legendary Hand of Despair, an Assassin of roughly level 25 who has killed Legendary Wizards before.
• Just as the Assassin prepares to deliver the killing blow, Vivian arrives—but her personality and appearance have changed dramatically.
• The entity controlling Vivian reveals herself as Lillian, the Witch of Fear, an independent personality who has existed within Vivian for years.
• Lillian explains that Vivian released her because Goria was in danger. She mocks Vivian as weak and useless, but honors their agreement by preparing to kill the Hand of Despair.
• Lillian unleashes divine power and activates her Fear Domain, followed by Time Stop, freezing the surrounding space.

Character Developments

• Goria: Her confidence in the Wizard Tower’s defenses is shattered. She is outmaneuvered, poisoned, and critically wounded, realizing that ordinary magical defenses cannot stop a high-level Legendary Assassin.
• Hand of Despair: Revealed as an exceptionally experienced and dangerous Assassin. He uses decoys, cross-planar movement, shadow abilities, poison, and precise attacks rather than attempting a straightforward infiltration.
• Vivian/Lillian: Vivian’s hidden alter ego is fully revealed. Lillian is cruel, arrogant, mischievous, and far more ruthless than Vivian, possessing demonic traits and a significant portion of divine power. She claims to have watched Vivian for eight years and views her as weak.
• Lillian and Vivian: Their relationship is shown to be based on an agreement: Vivian can call upon Lillian in an emergency, and Lillian is permitted to emerge under certain conditions. Lillian’s criticism suggests an internal conflict over Vivian’s inability to protect those important to her.

Significant Themes

• Deception and misdirection: The apparent infiltrator is only a decoy, allowing the Assassin to locate Goria and bypass her defenses.
• The limits of power and preparation: Even a heavily fortified Wizard Tower and numerous defensive spells cannot protect Goria from a sufficiently skilled Legendary Assassin.
• Hidden identities and inner selves: Vivian’s transformation reveals that her innocent exterior conceals a darker, powerful personality.
• Despair versus fear: Goria is reduced to despair by the Assassin’s overwhelming attack, but Lillian—who embodies fear—emerges as a new and potentially greater threat.
• Power beyond mortality: Both the Hand of Despair and Lillian possess abilities approaching the realm of Deities, raising the stakes far beyond ordinary magical conflict.

Character Interactions

• Goria and the Hand of Despair: Their confrontation is almost entirely one-sided. He manipulates her defenses, interrupts her spellcasting, poisons her, and nearly kills her.
• Goria and Lillian: Goria is shocked and disturbed by Vivian’s transformation, while Lillian mocks her and casually discusses reshaping her soul after death.
• Lillian and Vivian: Lillian insults Vivian as a useless burden but acknowledges that Vivian’s danger was what finally allowed her to emerge.
• Lillian and the Hand of Despair: Lillian treats the Assassin as an “annoying fly” and confidently declares that she will kill him, beginning with the activation of her Fear Domain and Time Stop.