Chapter Summaries

Josh learned that Garen had reached the Fifth Tier, named his new ice-and-fire magic, and discovered that Gandalf had sent Elrond a distress message. He realized his battle and magic might have distracted Rivendell’s elves and caused Gandalf and his companions to run into trouble.

• Josh congratulated Garen on reaching the Fifth Tier and reflected on his exceptional Battle Qi talent.
• Josh discussed the new magic’s power and consumption with Akathosh, then settled on the name A Song of Ice and Fire, with Glacial Storm and Blazing Storm as its forms.
• Josh considered leaving Rivendell to find meat when he sensed a faint message carrying demigod-level power.
• Josh intercepted the message and found that it was a distress letter from Gandalf, signed with his Elven name, Misland, and addressed to Elrond.
• Akathosh suggested Josh had caused the trouble, and Josh realized his battle may have distracted the elves while his magic interfered with their senses.

Gandalf and Thorin's company became trapped outside Rivendell by an altered magical barrier while Orcs closed in around them. Josh rescued them with Spatial magic and prepared to face the Orcs, leaving Gandalf and the dwarves stunned by his power.

• Gandalf led the dwarves toward Rivendell, but its changed barrier sent them running in circles and blocked their way inside.
• Gandalf sent a magical distress signal as the Orcs surrounded the company, while Thorin distrusted the elves and Bilbo accepted that they might die.
• Josh appeared and used Spatial magic to move Gandalf and the dwarves away from the Orcs' attack.
• Josh's companions caught up with him, and he called the Orcs small fry before turning to deal with them.
• Gandalf and Thorin rose to warn Josh, then reacted in disbelief.

Josh tested a powerful spell by annihilating an Orc hunting party, leaving Gandalf and Thorin’s Dwarves terrified by his strength. After Akathosh revealed himself as a dragon, Josh explained that he had answered Gandalf’s message and left for Rivendell, where Bilbo wondered if Josh was a great god.

• Josh unleashed a vast magical rune that destroyed more than a hundred Orcs, shocking Gandalf, Thorin, and the Dwarves.
• Josh and Garen discussed the spell’s results and wished they had more Orcs to test it on.
• Akathosh appeared in his small dragon form, making Gandalf and the Dwarves wary and prompting Gandalf to recognize Josh’s faint Elven aura.
• Josh told Gandalf that he had received his message while in Rivendell and had come out looking for meat, then said Elrond was on his way.
• Josh teleported away as the flames faded, and Bilbo wondered aloud whether Josh was a great god.

Elrond reunited with Gandalf and the dwarves after Josh left, then confronted Thorin when the dwarf accused the elves of serving darkness. The group continued toward Rivendell, where Elrond demonstrated his power and Hosdena arrived looking for Josh.

• Elrond arrived and reunited with Gandalf, who learned that Josh Augustus was regarded as a king of great standing.
• Elrond explained that Josh and Kael’s magical contest had destroyed Rivendell’s old barrier, and the group headed toward the palace.
• A dragon’s roar alarmed Thorin and the dwarves, who drew weapons and accused Elrond and the elves of falling into darkness.
• Thorin attacked Elrond, but green energy protected Elrond and sent Thorin and the other dwarves flying.
• Elrond rebuked Thorin for blaming others without considering the dwarves’ own actions, then called Hosdena down from the sky.
• Hosdena asked where Josh had gone, and Elrond told him Josh and his companions had left to find food.

Josh advised Elrond to trust Gandalf with the plans for a unified Elf Empire, then decided to return to his own world after spending nearly a year in Middle-earth. He expected to come back soon, while Elrond prepared to move ahead with the empire’s formation.

• Elrond told Josh that organizing the Elf Empire raised difficult questions about territory and that Gandalf might need to mediate.
• Josh encouraged Elrond to tell Gandalf everything, arguing that Gandalf was trustworthy and could help them gain support.
• Elrond invited Josh to a banquet for the dwarves, but Josh declined because he feared losing his temper.
• Josh told Elrond he planned to leave Middle-earth for a while and said he would return soon because Akatosh was still watching Smaug.
• Josh returned to his room, reflected on his time in Rivendell, and prepared to go back to his own world.

Josh returned from Middle-earth to his territory on the Muya Continent and learned that construction and his film projects had progressed well. He planned to divide the new academy into magic and warrior schools, then found a promising teacher for its assassin program.

• Josh returned through the Void Gate with his companions and found his room warmed by a magical tool Howard had made.
• Red Queen reported that the education district was nearly complete, and Josh ordered the academy divided into a Mage Academy and a Warrior Academy, each with four specialized schools.
• Garen and Akatosh teased Josh over his proposed Infantry and Cavalry Academies, so he added schools for rangers and assassins and changed the subject.
• Red Queen reported that The Flash was finished and The Guardian was nearing the end of filming.
• Josh struggled to find teachers for the ranger and assassin schools until Akatosh reminded him of the bones they had found in Atlantis, prompting Josh to recognize a suitable candidate.

Josh considered recruiting Alexios or Kassandra and their possible reasons to keep living, then set aside the idea of visiting Mummy World while he prepared for the Four Nations Invitation and his territory. He watched Howard’s new Magic Cinema video, learned the nobles had embraced the performers and instruments, and sent Frank to the Imperial Capital to deliver a copy and recruit teachers for the nearly completed academy.

• Josh discussed with Akathosh how to recruit Alexios or Kassandra and considered whether he could help them resurrect their deceased friends.
• Frank brought Josh a crystal ball made by Howard that stored moving images, and Josh played a seven-minute Magic Cinema video in a darkened room.
• Frank praised the video and reported that nobles had eagerly invited the performers before learning Josh had hired them, then bought many instruments instead.
• Josh asked Frank to take a copy of the video to his father, visit the Mage Guild, consult Black, and recruit teachers for the academy.
• Josh specified that the academy needed mages representing all four elements and at least four warrior teachers: a knight, infantryman, ranger, and assassin.

Black welcomed Frank, Josh’s assistant, who brought a Magic Crystal and said Josh wanted him to see a Magic Cinema. Black mistook the crystal’s contents for his own earlier performance and gathered the State Council, where the projection revealed a city and a bald man holding a huge instrument.

• Black discussed the Rivendell Daily with Nicholas and learned that Frank had come to see him.
• Frank gave Black a Magic Crystal and explained that Josh had sent it as a short Magic Cinema.
• Black summoned Nicholas, List, and William to the State Council to watch the projection.
• Frank tried to warn List that they had misunderstood what the crystal contained, but the room went dark before he could explain.
• Black projected the Magic Crystal, and the gathered nobles saw moving scenes of a city and a bald man holding a huge instrument.

Black and the State Council nobles watched a Magic Cinema projection of a street performance in Rivendell, where an orchestra and crowd performed an adapted “Ode to Joy.” The performance moved the spectators to sing and applaud, leaving Black convinced that Josh’s city of art had a purpose.

• Black watched the Magic Cinema projection and recognized the footage as a processed record rather than a live scrying spell.
• A little girl gave a copper coin to a bald musician, who began playing his cello as passersby gathered around.
• A viola player and then more musicians joined, building the performance into a large orchestra led by a conductor.
• The performers sang adapted lyrics, and Frank led the spectators in the square as commoners joined the chorus.
• William, List, and other State Council nobles sang along, while Black silently embraced the joy of the performance.
• The performance ended with applause, and the camera showed the little girl beside the text “Ode to Joy?”

After a Magic Cinema screening delighted the nobles at the State Council, Frank explained that Josh had created it to promote a new art form and the performers in Rivendell. Frank then pointed out that Magic Cinema crystals could store more content and encourage visitors to travel to Rivendell.

• The nobles applauded the Magic Cinema screening and condemned Josh for supposedly mistreating the musicians whose performance they had watched.
• A noble recognized Frank from the screening, and Black explained that Frank worked for Josh and came from the Anderson family.
• Black asked whether the Magic Crystal could be replayed, and Frank said it could be played many times, though its capacity was unknown.
• Frank explained that Josh called the image-and-sound storytelling format Magic Cinema and had staged the performance to promote the artists and the new art form.
• Frank described how more Magic Cinema crystals could store music and other content, while also advertising Rivendell to potential visitors.

Frank pitched Rivendell’s products to Black and discussed Josh’s requests, while Black confirmed Josh would enter the Four Nations Invitation despite the nobles’ objections. Josh then decided to visit the Marvel Universe with Natasha, intending to check on Professor Dumbledore’s alliance and investigate the Space Stone.

• Frank explained how advertising had helped Howard’s Rivendell products sell and proposed promoting them to the great nobles, who agreed to consider visiting Rivendell.
• Black announced that Josh would participate in the Four Nations Invitation, rejecting the nobles’ warnings that the prince would be endangered.
• Frank began discussing Josh’s requests with Black while Josh fed magic power to Fengyue and rested with Natasha.
• Josh considered secretly visiting the Marvel Universe to study the Space Stone and check on Professor Dumbledore and the Secret Ones Alliance.
• Josh asked Natasha to travel with him, then told her that this time it would be just the two of them.

Josh and Natasha arrived in the Wizard World, where he learned that decades had passed and World War II was already over. Crouch led them to meet Dumbledore and the Sorcerer Supreme, and Josh discovered Crouch had married and named his son Kenway Edward.

• Josh realized he had accelerated the Wizard World until it was 1967, missing the chance to witness World War II and its aftermath.
• Crouch recognized Josh and introduced himself, then told Josh that he and Natasha were in a church used as a hidden headquarters.
• Crouch praised Natasha and joked that Hermione might have once been expected to end up with Josh, while Natasha teased him about the possibility.
• Crouch told Josh how he had met and married a local woman after accidentally injuring her father, and that their son was studying at Hogwarts.
• Crouch escorted Josh and Natasha to the conference room, and Josh suggested that Crouch's son Kenway Edward's name sounded better reversed.

Josh reunited with Dumbledore and Master Ancient One, learned how the Secret Ones Alliance had grown and established ties with Odin, and heard that Odin wanted help with concerns about his children and what would follow his death. Josh thanked Odin but chose to spend time with Natasha for now, leaving a future meeting for another day.

• Josh met Dumbledore and Master Ancient One, and congratulated Dumbledore on reaching the Fifth Tier.
• Dumbledore told Josh that the Secret Ones Alliance had recruited many people with supernatural abilities and had developed steadily.
• Dumbledore explained that the Alliance exchanged knowledge and trade with Odin's people, while Howard had taken an interest in Asgardian technology.
• Master Ancient One said Odin wanted the Alliance's help with concerns about what would happen after his death and about his children.
• Josh asked Master Ancient One to convey his thanks to Odin, then took Natasha's hand and chose to spend time with her instead of visiting the God King.

Josh took Natasha shopping in 1960s–70s New York, where her appearance in stockings left him flustered and prompted him to question his reluctance to pursue their relationship. After admitting he was a coward and an idiot for still seeing himself as an ordinary person, he felt the Void power in his soul solidify and his magic power surge.

• Josh took Natasha to a mall and suggested she buy stockings after she teased him for looking at women wearing them.
• Natasha changed into black stockings and a black suit, and Josh struggled to contain his attraction to her.
• Natasha kissed Josh and teased him, while he stayed behind to consider why he kept holding back despite believing she liked him.
• Josh recalled his past behavior with a college girlfriend and concluded that he was afraid to act on his feelings for Natasha.
• Josh recognized that he still thought of himself as an ordinary college graduate despite being a prince with a Void inheritance, and his Void power solidified as his magic power surged.

Josh confronted his lack of confidence, triggering a sudden breakthrough from the Fifth Tier to the Sixth Tier that shook the mall. As Josh and Natasha prepared to leave, the Secret Ones Alliance arrived to question him, and Howard recognized Josh with shock.

• Josh realized his cowardice and lack of confidence had held him back, especially in his relationship with Natasha.
• Josh's mana surged uncontrollably, shaking the mall and frightening the people inside as Natasha hurried back to him.
• After about three minutes, Josh advanced from the Fifth Tier to the Sixth Tier and explained to Natasha that understanding himself had caused the breakthrough.
• Josh took Natasha's hand and prepared to leave, but a spell froze the customers and black-robed mages from the Secret Ones Alliance appeared.
• Howard confronted Josh about the disturbance, then recognized him and reacted with shock.

Josh reunited with Howard in New York, teased him about his future family, and spent the day sightseeing with Natasha after gaining a personal breakthrough. Their romantic moment atop the Statue of Liberty was interrupted when Natasha’s period began.

• Josh met Howard, who identified him as the Secret Ones Alliance’s Supreme Judge and sent the other mages to restore the mall and erase witnesses’ memories.
• Josh teased Howard about having a son and suggested that a woman named Maria might become his wife, leaving Howard thinking about her.
• Josh and Natasha explored New York and Hollywood together, then teleported to the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
• Josh kissed Natasha and began caressing her, but she pointed out that her period had started.

A year after arriving in Rivendell, Josh reflected on his rapid growth and the territory’s prosperity as he completed preparations for Rhine University and The Guardian. With the Four Nations Invitation approaching, he looked forward to competing and fulfilling his agreement with Natasha.

• Josh noted that a year had passed since his arrival and that he had become a Sixth Tier mage with four elements and a Sixth Tier Void Mage while Rivendell prospered.
• Burbis and the construction teams completed Rivendell’s buildings, including the education district, and Josh rewarded them with wealth and magical knowledge.
• Josh and Akathosh settled on the name Rhine University, while Frank recruited nearly fifty teachers for its magic and warrior departments.
• Josh gave Spielberg guidance on post-production for The Guardian and left the film’s runtime and editing decisions to him.
• Josh discussed the approaching Four Nations Invitation with Natasha and reaffirmed his intention to reach the top eight to fulfill their agreement.

Josh traveled with a small party to Kalens Kingdom for the Four Nations Invitation while discussing his recent advancement and experiments with his Seraph. He planned to develop a way to combine Rune Imprisonment with the Seraph’s powerful close-combat attacks.

• Josh set out for Kalens Kingdom with fewer than twenty companions, leaving Frank to manage his territory and avoiding travel with his father and the nobles.
• Josh complained about the Four Nations Invitation’s violent contests and lamented that the hosting rights—and their potential profits—had gone to Kalens Kingdom.
• Akathosh asked how Josh had reached the Sixth Tier so quickly, and Josh kept the reason secret between himself and Natasha.
• Josh explained that he had evolved his Seraph into a slow but heavily defended fighter with close-combat strength approaching the Sixth Tier.
• After Akathosh suggested using Rune Imprisonment to hold opponents in place, Josh decided to adapt the spell for the Seraph’s future use.

Josh arrived in Kars City for the Four Nations Invitation and planned a premiere for his Magic Cinema. Black discovered that Josh had reached the Sixth Tier and dragged him away to explain his recent progress.

• Josh toured Kars City with his group and asked Oberon to find a grand theater for a Magic Cinema screening.
• Josh returned to the Augustus camp and ran into Black, who demanded to see the completed movie.
• Josh proposed a free premiere for Augustus contestants and nobles, followed by paid screenings for visitors from other nations.
• Black asked about Oberon and then realized that Josh had reached the Sixth Tier during Nightstar Month.
• Black dragged Josh and the others into the rooms to question him, while Josh traded insults with Black.

Josh reunited with his family after advancing to the Sixth Tier, then arranged to rent a theater for two days to screen his new film. Black offered to invite the Elf King and Dwarf King to the premiere, giving Josh a chance to fill the theater with other rulers and their entourages.

• Black recognized Josh’s advanced magical control and stopped him from explaining his personal realization, which left Kane and his brothers impressed by Josh’s progress.
• Oberon reported that he had found the city’s largest theater, and Josh paid to rent it for two days and told Oberon to prepare it with Kasar and the others.
• Josh explained that if the film failed to attract local viewers, he could promote it to nobles in the Augustus Empire by featuring Black and his brothers in it.
• Black asked Josh whether he planned to screen the film that night, then offered to invite the Elf King and Dwarf King so their entourages would fill the theater.
• Josh welcomed Black’s plan and promised to make sure the screening was properly prepared.