Chapter Summaries

Saine and his companions marched into the Thunder Mountain Range, where millions of weak Thunderfall World creatures had fled war and famine. Saine ordered his forces to restrain their slave creatures and focus on subduing the Thunder Lizards and clearing out threatening Gass, and he judged the mission to pose little danger.

• Saine observed that many pale, weak Mountain Gas had gathered in the Thunder Mountain Range after war and famine devastated Thunderfall World.
• Good warned Saine that the region held far more creatures than expected, and Saine estimated at least five million, possibly over seven million.
• Saine explained that the Wizard World forces were ordered to subdue the Thunder Lizards and clear out threatening Gass, not massacre the local population.
• Saine checked that Good had ordered the slave creatures not to kill wantonly, and Good confirmed the order was in force.
• Saine reassured Good that he did not expect the Thunder Mountain Range mission to be dangerous.

Saine negotiated with the Thunder Lizard clan at Ji Lei Mountain, offering protection in exchange for their aid against the Gass. The talks erupted into battle, while the aged Level-3 Thunder Lizard Old Patriarch watched Saine and the conflict without giving his warriors a command.

• Saine and his group found more than a hundred powerful Thunder Lizards at Ji Lei Mountain, including a Level-3 clan leader and nine Level-2 warriors.
• Saine offered the Thunder Lizards protection and survival rights in exchange for sending warriors to fight the Gass and killing all Level-1-and-above Gass in the Thunder Mountain Range.
• A Level-1 Gass denounced the Wizard World, and Good killed him before he could finish speaking.
• Gass and other indigenous creatures attacked Saine's forces, triggering large-scale fighting below Ji Lei Mountain.
• Saine, Lunna, and Nataya stayed out of the battle as the Thunder Lizard Old Patriarch watched them and the increasingly restless warriors around him.

Saine described the Wizard Alliance and its ranks to the Thunder Lizard Old Patriarch while the rebellion below Ji Lei Mountain was crushed. The chapter left the Old Patriarch weighing the Thunder Lizard clan’s future, stunned by the scale of Titan World’s power.

• Saine and his companions watched as Wizard forces defeated the two or three thousand Gass who had risen in resistance.
• The Thunder Lizard Old Patriarch and other powerful natives stayed out of the battle, though Saine sensed their anger.
• Saine explained that Wizard World intended to offer Thunderfall World a place in the Wizard Alliance after taking its wartime gains.
• Saine described the Alliance’s five ranks and said Thunderfall World would likely enter at the lowest rank because of its resistance and the losses it caused.
• Saine told the Thunder Lizard clan that Titan World ruled more than two thousand planes, a fact that astonished the Old Patriarch.

Saine negotiated with the Thunder Lizard Old Patriarch, who agreed to reconcile with the Wizard World Legion and join the Wizard Alliance Legion. A younger Thunder Lizard rejected the agreement, and Lunna swung her hammer at it.

• The Thunder Lizard Old Patriarch told Saine about two worlds it had encountered through the Thunder Well and recognized the Wizard World's power.
• The Old Patriarch declared that the Thunder Lizard race would reconcile with the Wizard World Legion and join the Wizard Alliance Legion.
• A Level-2 Thunder Lizard protested the surrender, citing the deaths of nearly two thousand clansmen, including its brother and the Old Patriarch's fallen son.
• The angry Level-2 Thunder Lizard stirred the surrounding Thunder Lizards, and Lunna stepped in before Good could act.
• Lunna swung her Eight-Sided Heavy Hammer into the Level-2 Thunder Lizard's face.

Saine’s group secured the Thunder Lizards’ cooperation after Lunna defeated their strongest Level-2 fighter and Saine stopped her from killing him. They returned to the Fortress Main Base with the forces required by the contract, and their successful mission drew attention from the Knights’ Hall.

• Lunna beat the Level-2 Thunder Lizard into submission, and Saine stopped her before she could deliver a fatal blow.
• Lunna sat on the injured Thunder Lizard and ate while the Level-3 Thunder Lizard Old Clan Leader signed Saine’s temporary Magic Contract.
• Saine and his companions returned to the Fortress Main Base with fifty Thunder Lizards above Level 1, over four hundred adult giant lizards, and more than three thousand other Thunderfall World creatures.
• The Knights’ Hall took notice of Saine’s group’s unusually successful mission and rewarded them, while their approach became a model for future occupation efforts.

Bendek Satolla praised Saine’s successful negotiations with the Thunder Mountain Range, while reflecting on the Knights’ Halls’ growing strain in the prolonged war. After returning from the mission, Saine gained greater recognition and forged closer ties with the Steel Wall Fist Knights’ Hall before receiving another assignment with Nataya, Good, and Lunna.

• Bendek Satolla reviewed Saine’s gains in the Thunder Mountain Range and praised his judgment in securing the Thunder Lizards’ cooperation.
• Bendek considered the war’s mounting costs and planned to speak with Lei Ming about the Azure Source Holy Tower at the Thunder Domain Battlefield.
• Combat Command rewarded Saine and his companions with a month of rest after their successful mission.
• Saine used the month to review his gains and make minor adjustments to Yuli’s Constructed Magic Puppet.
• Combat Command assigned Saine to another mission with Nataya, Good, Lunna, and their companions.
• Saine’s battlefield work, potion-making, and equipment repairs strengthened his reputation and relationships among the Steel Wall Fist Knights’ Hall.

Seven years after the Thunder Mountain Range mission, Saine and his companions camped in the Thunder Domain as they prepared for a major offensive. Saine reflected on the war’s progress and the pressure facing the Thunderfall World creatures who had joined his unit.

• Good and the other Knights drank Saine’s special rum around the campfire while Saine and Lunna remained mostly sober.
• Saine reflected on the ten years he had spent on the Plane Battlefield and the wealth and influence he had gained through his work for the Steel Wall Fist Knights’ Hall.
• Saine considered the general offensive into the Thunder Domain, scheduled for half a month later, where Wizard World’s forces would confront Gas King.
• Saine heard bleak roars from Thunderfall World creatures who had joined his unit and recognized their distress at fighting their former god.
• Saine looked over at Lunna as she ate by the campfire, then turned his gaze toward the starless, thundercloud-covered sky.

As dawn broke in Thunder Prison, Saine prepared his unit for the coming war while reflecting on his team’s resources and the Knights’ Hall’s mounting exhaustion. Two knights from Combat Command then arrived to tell him the Darkness Sword Knights' Hall had sent Enforcement Knights to arrest him for allegedly colluding with Black Magicians.

• Saine woke his drunken knights and began preparing the unit for its upcoming advance into Thunder Prison.
• Saine considered the team’s command structure, dwindling slave-creature forces, and his efforts to maintain ties with neighboring units by sharing potions.
• Saine used an amplification spell to sober the knights, while Lunna and Nataya finally returned to readiness.
• Two Combat Command knights arrived and told Saine that Enforcement Knights from the Darkness Sword Knights' Hall were coming to arrest him.
• The knights told Saine that Lord Talman wanted to see him.

Saine learned that the Darkness Sword Knights' Hall had accused him of colluding with Black Magicians and sent Enforcement Knights to arrest him. The Steel Wall Fist Knights' Hall protected him, and Saine went to its Combat Command while Nataya sought more information.

• Talman summoned Saine to the Combat Command after the Darkness Sword Knights' Hall declared him wanted as a suspected Black Magician.
• Good and the surrounding knights angrily vowed to defend Saine, while Lunna readied her Eight-Sided Heavy Hammer.
• Saine suspected the accusation stemmed from a past encounter in the Western Islands, then agreed to go with the two knights who had summoned him.
• One knight told Saine that the Darkness Sword Knights' Enforcement Knights had been sent on a wild goose chase to the Thunderfall Pool battlefield.
• Nataya left to investigate through her parents, while Good offered to help and Lunna trusted Saine's judgment.

Saine met Talman, who arranged for him to return to the Wizard World with a letter from the Steel Wall Fist Knights' Hall Master for Luluenman. The chapter ended with Saine preparing to travel through the Space Channel after learning Luluenman had defended him against the Darkness Sword Knights' Hall.

• Talman reassured Saine that the Steel Wall Fist Knights' Hall would protect him despite the wanted order.
• Talman told Saine that the Hall would end his employment contract early and keep the Darkness Sword Enforcement Knights occupied in Thunderfall World while Saine returned to the Wizard World.
• Talman asked Saine to deliver the Hall Master's letter to Luluenman, and Saine agreed.
• Saine asked whether Luluenman knew about the accusations, and Talman said she had defended Saine and rebuked the Enforcement Knights.
• Talman gave Saine the letter and told him the Space Channel to the Wizard World was ready.

Saine returned to the Wizard World after ten years of war in Thunderfall World and traveled back toward Azure Source Holy Tower. He arrived at the Jewel Sea after decades away, reflecting on how much the region had changed.

• Saine left the Steel Wall Fist Knights' Hall for the Wizard World after sending Nataya and the others a brief message.
• The Steel Wall Fist Knights' Hall arranged for Saine to travel aboard a floating ship bound for Azure Source Holy Tower, where he carried a letter from a Level-4 Knight to a Level-4 Holy Tower Master.
• Saine learned that Azure Source Holy Tower had prospered through trade and resources gained after the Poison Fire Green Flame World War.
• Saine traveled across the Wizard World for decades, fought for ten years in Thunderfall World, and advanced to Level 2.
• Saine reached the Jewel Sea and saw that Azure Source Holy Tower's coastline had grown more prosperous, with a huge new canal running south.

Saine learned that the Azure Ripple Canal had fueled Gem Bay’s growth before a colossal Dragon Turtle named Tourmaline surfaced and greeted him as an old friend. Saine rode with Tourmaline toward Azure Source Holy Tower, catching up after Tourmaline had spent seven years there.

• Harry told Saine that the Azure Ripple Canal linked the Jewel Sea to the Endless South Sea and had been built in three years by the Bairen Empire, the Dawn Conclave, and the Sea Race.
• Harry predicted that Gem Bay and Azure Source Holy Tower would continue to prosper as the canal attracted commercial families.
• A massive shadow appeared beneath the floating ship, startling Harry and the other passengers as an enormous creature rose from the sea.
• Saine recognized the Giant Turtle as Tourmaline, greeted it, and climbed onto its head.
• Tourmaline told Saine that it had lived in the area for seven years and had asked its older sister to join it before carrying him toward Azure Source Holy Tower.

Saine returned to Azure Source Holy Tower on Tourmaline, whose journey through the Azure Ripple Canal had helped transform the Jewel Sea. Luluenman and the tower’s magicians welcomed him with an unprecedented reception.

• Bai Xing had arranged the Azure Ripple Canal so Tourmaline could travel between the Western Islands, the South Coast, and Azure Source Holy Tower, while warning her about dangers beyond the Wizard World.
• Tourmaline carried Saine through the expanding Jewel Sea, where he saw new marine creatures and noticed that the sea was growing into an oval shape.
• Saine arrived at Azure Source Holy Tower atop Tourmaline as a large crowd gathered to welcome him.
• Luluenman greeted Saine, and he respectfully returned her greeting.

Saine returned to the Azure Source Holy Tower and reunited with his mentor, Luluenman, who praised his achievements and welcomed the Dragon Turtle Tourmaline. Saine asked Luluenman to defend him against false accusations of colluding with Black Magicians, and she promised to demand an explanation.

• Tourmaline swam away to play after bringing Saine to the Azure Source Holy Tower.
• Luluenman welcomed Saine at the tower and teased him about reaching Level Two and bringing Tourmaline back.
• Saine learned that Sylph had told Luluenman about his participation in the Knight Continent Trial.
• Saine told Luluenman that members of the Eli Knights Alliance had slandered him by accusing him of colluding with Black Magicians.
• Luluenman promised to seek justice for Saine and demand an explanation.

Saine returned to Azure Source Holy Tower, reunited with Serena, and settled back into his home after decades abroad. He ended the chapter sharing a lavish dinner with Serena and Irene, who celebrated his return and marveled at his advancement to Second-Level Magician.

• Saine returned to his residence and embraced Serena, who had advanced to Level One during his absence.
• Serena interrupted her experiment to prepare a lavish dinner, while Saine invited Yuli, the Mermaid, and the Little Fox Girl to help.
• Saine organized his accumulated resources and specimens in the Holy Tower’s laboratories and storage rooms.
• Serena called Saine downstairs, and he invited Irene to join the dinner.
• Saine, Serena, and Irene shared the feast, where Irene toasted Saine’s return and remarked on his advancement to Second-Level Magician.

After returning to the Azure Source Holy Tower, Saine spent a few carefree days before Luluenman summoned him and decided to take the tower’s magicians to Thunderfall World as foreign aid. Luluenman prepared to negotiate the expedition’s terms, while Saine’s thoughts briefly turned to Nataya and the future beyond his mentor’s support.

• Saine spent the night with Irene and Serena, then left them resting while he went to the laboratory to resume his research.
• Saine remembered Nataya’s support during the wars in Thunderfall World as he stood lost in thought before the laboratory table.
• Luluenman summoned Saine to the top floor of the Holy Tower and sent messages about the Thunderfall World expedition to the three academy deans.
• Luluenman told Saine she would negotiate the detailed terms with the three knights on the battlefield, judging their offer and the potential payment worthwhile.
• Luluenman reflected on her debts and resolved that she ultimately had to make her own way, just as Saine would one day need to leave her support behind.

Luluenman told Saine she possessed coordinates to two unconquered Plant Attribute Planes and asked for his advice on future plans for the Azure Source Holy Tower. Saine recommended using the Thunderfall World War as training before choosing a target, and the chapter ended with discussion of the debts and financial risks faced by Wizard World powers.

• Luluenman revealed that she held coordinates to a Micro Plane and a Low-Level Plane, both with Plant Attributes, and explained how she had learned of them.
• Luluenman shared the information with Saine to involve him in high-level planning and hear his advice.
• Saine advised Luluenman to treat the later stages of the Thunderfall World War as training for the Holy Tower's next Plane War.
• Saine noted that the three Knights' Halls needed the Azure Source Holy Tower's long-range magic support to limit losses in their final offensive.
• Luluenman and Saine discussed how Magic Coin debt and high-interest loans could ruin Holy Towers and Knights' Halls.

Saine and Luluenman discussed Azure Source Holy Tower’s preparations for the Thunderfall World war and how future campaigns should combine magicians and knights. Luluenman then reprimanded Saine for taking on business and personal entanglements instead of focusing on magic, ending by warning him about Luna.

• Saine told Luluenman that Azure Source Holy Tower could mobilize many magicians for the Thunderfall World war and that the battle would train them for future campaigns.
• Saine recommended that Luluenman partner with one or two Knights' Halls in future Plane Wars, and Luluenman agreed that cooperation could reduce losses.
• Saine and Luluenman discussed how the Thunder Knights' Hall had begun the Thunderfall World war alone before bringing in the Steel Wall Fist Knights' Hall and Azure Wind Knights' Hall.
• Luluenman scolded Saine for expanding her business through the Jobs Family and reminded him that his priority was exploring Truth and magic.
• Saine asked whether he should send Tourmaline back, and Luluenman angrily refused.
• Luluenman asked Saine about Luna, a Level-2 centaur from Centaur World, and warned him not to take his conduct too far; Saine denied having any involvement with her.

Saine met Luna, a centaur representative whose tribe sought cooperation with the Azure Source Holy Tower by offering favorable prices on slave creatures. The chapter explained the commercial motives behind the alliance and ended with Luna recognizing Saine in the tower’s Trading District.

• Saine received notice that Azure Source Holy Tower magicians could join the Thunderfall World War as Foreign Aid Magicians, and many headed to the academy hall to register.
• Saine learned that Luna had returned to negotiate for her centaur tribe, which hoped to build ties with the Holy Tower through a major slave-creature trade.
• The chapter revealed that the Jobs Family and other Wizard World merchants were investing in the newly established Holy Tower because they expected future profits.
• Saine found Luna shopping in the Trading District with two female centaurs and saw that her tribe traded slave creatures to earn money for food and supplies.
• Luna spotted Saine arriving and greeted him with delight.

Saine discussed a large slave-creature purchase with Luna and proposed that her centaur tribe cooperate with Azure Source Holy Tower in future plane conquests. Luna said she needed her mother and the tribal elders to consider the offer, leaving further cooperation for after the Thunderfall World campaign.

• Saine met Luna in the Holy Tower's Trading District to discuss Azure Source Holy Tower purchasing slave creatures from her tribe.
• Luna said her tribe had two million direct clansmen and could gather a force of twenty million with its dependent tribes.
• Saine could not offer Luna a deposit and suggested the tribe prepare to supply hundreds of thousands of slaves on credit and advance guarantees.
• Saine proposed that Luna's tribe provide manpower and slave creatures for Azure Source Holy Tower's plane conquests in exchange for a share of the spoils.
• Luna said she needed to consult her mother and the tribal elders, and Saine named the upcoming conquest of Thunderfall World as a starting point for future talks.