Chapter Summaries

Josh attended a screening in Kalens City, where Black had gathered humans, elves, and dwarves to watch Josh’s unconventional new performance. As the audience questioned the screen in place of a stage, Josh reunited with his childhood friends Ian and Dennis and urged them to watch before judging it.

• Black invited Dwarf King Borot and Elf King Ilka to bring their people to the theater for a performance.
• The kings and their audiences took seats before a large white screen, and Borot and Ilka questioned Black about the unfamiliar setup.
• Josh recognized Ian and Dennis, reunited with his childhood friends, and told them his problem had been resolved.
• Dennis and Ian doubted that Josh’s screen-based work counted as a performance, but Josh asked them to watch it before deciding.
• As the audience continued waiting, someone walked out in front of the screen.

Kasar introduced the theater rules before the audience watched a magical moving-image performance about Black Augustus and his sons. Black began telling his children the true story of the soldiers who had secured Augustus’s peace, ending with the film’s title, The Guardian.

• Kasar explained the theater rules, and the audience fell silent as the lights went out and moving images appeared.
• The audience saw Black Augustus on screen with his sons and recognized the Emperor sitting among them in the theater.
• Black apologized to his children for having little time with them, earning applause from the audience.
• Black described Augustus’s soldiers as nameless people worthy of respect for safeguarding peace, moving the soldiers in the theater.
• Black announced that the story he would tell his sons was called The Guardian.

As Black's praise of ordinary soldiers changed the theater's view of him, Josh's film shifted from a story about the Guardian to the life of Bertilia and the starving orcs under Valdina's command. Valdina chose to lead his soldiers and War Slaves into battle against Augustus to survive.

• Black's speeches impressed soldiers from all three nations, and Ilka and Borot praised him for his performance.
• Josh's film showed an eagle soaring over a town as Bertilia, an ordinary frontier soldier, relaxed among his comrades.
• Valdina and Calojol revealed that the fortress had almost no food and could not expect help from the Imperial Capital.
• After a young orc soldier starved to death, Valdina ordered the soldiers to bury him and asked how many troops and War Slaves remained.
• Valdina gathered three hundred healthy soldiers and nearly a thousand War Slaves, then declared that they would fight Augustus to survive.

During the premiere, Bertilia’s patrol found a village full of burned civilians, shocking the audience and enraging the Augustus soldiers. The film left Bertilia and his men confronting the aftermath of an orc attack.

• Josh’s portrayal of a witty lord entertained the audience, while the recreated Rivendell scenery captivated the elves and prompted Ian to ask where it was.
• Bertilia’s squad handled a magical wild boar during their patrol before the film shifted to a smoke-filled village under attack.
• Digas found traces of a large group, and Bertilia decided to investigate the nearest village despite the soldiers in the theater urging the squad not to follow.
• Black’s memories of the journey briefly interrupted the patrol’s story, easing the audience’s tension before Bertilia’s squad reached the village.
• Bertilia’s men entered the silent village and discovered charred civilian corpses, prompting the Augustus soldiers to curse the orcs and vow to defeat them in the competition.

The Magic Cinema audience watched Bertilia’s border patrol hunt the orcs who had massacred a village, becoming absorbed in the squad’s bloody battles and growing losses. Valdina’s explanation that the orcs were raiding to survive led Dwarf King Borot and Elf King Ilka to recognize the meaning behind the film, and Ilka praised Black’s Magic Cinema.

• Bertilia’s squad found the orc force, fought off an investigating unit, and sent the wounded Digas back with the surviving villager to report the threat.
• Bertilia led his squad in setting traps and ambushing a hundred slave soldiers, then burned the corpses to block the orc army’s advance.
• Bertilia’s squad continued delaying the orcs over the following days and suffered casualties, while Valdina’s deputy Calojol was killed.
• Bertilia and Valdina separately reflected on war, civilian suffering, and the orcs’ struggle to survive, prompting the audience to consider the causes of the conflict.
• Dwarf King Borot and Elf King Ilka recognized the message in the exchange, and Ilka told Black that Magic Cinema was interesting.

Ilka and the theater audience watched Josh’s film portray Bertilia’s squad holding off the orcs and the lord’s later retaliation. The film ended with Kane declaring he would join the army, and Ilka asked Black to bring it to his empire, so Black directed him to Josh.

• Ilka watched the film in awe as the lord sent Commander Andre and Digas to respond to the orc invasion.
• Bertilia and his squad fought for seven days to delay the orcs, and the audience cheered as they made their last stand.
• Valdina defeated Bertilia and beheaded him, but Andre’s arrow struck Valdina as the lord arrived with an army.
• Black told Josh and the other children that the lord had captured and killed the remaining orcs and buried Bertilia’s squad with their fallen comrades.
• Kane declared that he would join the army, and the audience applauded as the emperors praised the film.
• Ilka asked Black to bring the film to his empire, and Black told him to negotiate with Josh.

Connis and Isabella went to the theater expecting to investigate a rival troupe favored by the Prince of the Augustus Empire, but they were captivated by an unprecedented film about Black, war, and peace. They left shaken and convinced the performance was so exceptional that the other troupes would have a headache competing with it.

• The King of Kars told Connis that the Prince of the Augustus Empire had rented the theater, forcing the Tulip Song and Dance Troupe to reconsider its plans.
• Connis decided to visit the theater discreetly with Isabella to learn about the woman she suspected had attracted the prince's interest.
• Connis and Isabella bought tickets and entered the crowded theater, where soldiers from three races maintained order.
• Connis and Isabella watched the film about Black and the royal family, becoming engrossed in its scenes of violence and its message opposing war.
• Connis and Isabella left the theater in tears, praised the performance, and agreed they had misunderstood the prince.

Magic Cinema’s success brought Josh wealth, fame, and headaches as the Four Nations Invitation began. During the opening performance, Josh noticed a young orc glaring at him from the Orc Empire’s seats.

• Magic Cinema and The Guardian became hugely popular, while visiting theater troupe leaders feared their performances could not compete.
• Josh earned about 350 gold coins a day from sold-out screenings and struggled with the attention his role brought him.
• The Four Nations Invitation opened, and crowds cheered and cursed Josh and Natasha over their characters in The Guardian.
• Josh sat with his brothers as the Tulip Song and Dance Troupe performed, and they teased William about his role in the film.
• Josh noticed the Dwarf King Borot and the Elf King Ilka watching him, then sensed hostility from a young orc in the Orc Empire’s seats.

At the Four Nations Invitation, Josh endured the Orcs’ hostility and agreed to let List learn territory management in Rivendell. As the tournament was about to begin, Kane revealed that Ian’s older sister Avila Sunstrider was the Elf Empire’s other royal contestant.

• The Orcs glared at Josh because of the Guardian's Magic Cinema, and Kane warned him that the Orc Prince was an old rival.
• List asked Josh about governing a territory, and Josh invited him to study under Frank in Rivendell before overseeing a new area.
• The Tulip Song and Dance Troupe finished its opening performance, and the audience prepared for the Four Nations Invitation’s individual and team competitions.
• Josh wondered why he had only seen Ian among the Elf Empire’s two royal contestants, and Kane explained that the other was Princess Avila Sunstrider.
• Josh learned that Viesen Silvermoon, the previous champion, had entered the tournament to pursue Avila and concluded that Ian was another younger brother.

Kane worried about Josh’s new strength and the formidable opponents in the Four Nations Invitation, while Josh watched the matches and planned a squad-based competition for Rhine University. He then considered Akathosh’s proposal for resurrecting people in cloned bodies and decided to sound out the legendary mercenary first.

• Kane reflected on Josh’s relaxed attitude, his Sixth Tier breakthrough, and the competition’s powerful contenders, and resolved to aim for the top four and talk to him.
• Josh took Natasha to watch the tournament and discussed creating a school competition with Akathosh, who was disguised as an eagle.
• Josh proposed squad-based matches in three-versus-three and five-versus-five formats, with league play, a grand final, and rewards for teams.
• Josh and Akathosh discussed finding a mercenary instructor and ways to resurrect people using cloned bodies and summoned souls.
• Josh accepted Akathosh’s idea and decided to sound out the legendary mercenary first.

Josh sent Hosdena to Assassin World to help Ezio and the others search for Alexios and Kassandra, then watched the Four Nations Invitation and found Magic Cinema drawing a crowd of princes. He agreed to discuss cooperation with the Tulip Song and Dance Troupe after the competition, inviting Connis and Isabella to meet him in Rivendell.

• Josh decided that Hosdena would travel to Assassin World and ask Ezio and the others to search for the legendary mercenary.
• Josh watched the competition and noticed a skilled Fifth Tier elf defeat a rival during the qualifying rounds.
• Josh found the Magic Cinema packed with viewers, including princes who bought tickets for multiple screenings.
• Connis and Isabella introduced themselves as members of the Tulip Song and Dance Troupe and proposed working with Josh.
• Josh welcomed the possibility of cooperation but told Connis and Isabella to visit Rivendell after the Four Nations Invitation to discuss it.

Josh delayed talks with song-and-dance troupes until after the Four Nations Invitation and prepared to compete in its individual elimination rounds. He drew the first match against the Prince of the Kingdom of Kars, whose rulers expected an easy victory over him.

• Josh told visiting troupes to go to Rivendell after the Four Nations Invitation to discuss joining or cooperating with his Magic Cinema plans.
• After half a month, Josh arrived at the individual elimination rounds with Kane, List, William, and other Assassin Brotherhood members.
• The host explained the tournament schedule, which required contestants to fight through several rounds with limited recovery time.
• The drawing placed Josh in the first match of the first day against the Prince of the Kingdom of Kars.
• The rulers of small nations, including the ruler of the Kingdom of Kars, viewed Josh as a weak contestant and expected their fighters to advance against him.

Josh entered the Four Nations Invitation knockout stage against Kverilia, who had arranged the matchup expecting an easy win, unaware that Josh had recovered his magic. Josh exposed Kverilia’s mistake with an ice wall, and Kverilia resolved to keep fighting.

• Kane, List, and William discussed Kverilia’s attempt to use Josh as a stepping stone and expected Josh to punish him.
• Josh and Kverilia entered the arena for the opening match, and the referee warned them to stop if either surrendered.
• Kverilia charged at Josh with Battle Qi, hoping to win quickly and avenge his earlier defeat by Kane.
• Josh conjured an ice wall, causing Kverilia to crash into it and revealing that Josh could use Water magic.
• Black told the watching royals that Josh had recovered long ago, angering the King of Kels.
• Kverilia recognized that he had been misled about Josh but decided he still had a chance to win.

Josh dominated Kverilia in their match, revealing that he was a high-level Fifth Tier mage and freezing his opponent with a newly created Ring of Frost spell. After Josh threatened to kill him, the King of Kars conceded, making Josh the first match’s victor.

• Kverilia attacked Josh, but Josh’s Magic Shield absorbed his sword strike without a ripple.
• Black confirmed to the nobles that Josh was a high-level Fifth Tier mage, and Josh effortlessly defended against Kverilia’s continued attacks.
• Josh froze Kverilia in midair, testing his newly created Ring of Frost spell.
• Kverilia accused the Augustus Empire of lying, and Josh confronted him about trying to use him as a stepping stone before threatening to kill him if he did not surrender.
• The King of Kars conceded, and the announcer declared Josh the victor of the first match.

After Josh defeated Kverilia, rulers across the continent feared the rise of the Augustus Empire and treated Josh as a dangerous opponent. In the stands, Josh discussed expanding Rivendell’s network and, with Garen’s suggestion, identified Charles Francis Xavier as a potential collaborator.

• The kings judged Josh to be at least a Fifth Tier mage and worried that the Augustus Empire’s young talents would threaten smaller nations.
• Josh returned to the stands beside Natasha and worried that Rivendell’s network development was too slow without more technical experts.
• Garen suggested that Howard’s son Tony could help, and Josh considered sending Tony to Hogwarts to study magic.
• Natasha proposed Aiden Pearce as a network expert, while Garen suggested using magic and spiritual power to create a wireless network.
• Garen told Josh that Charles Francis Xavier was the person he had in mind to help build the network.

Josh watched the Four Nations Invitation matches, then went to a bar with Natasha and Garen, where he overheard patrons praising his Magic Cinema, The Guardian. The conversation angered an Orc Prince, who confronted the patrons and demanded to know who had said orcs deserved to die.

• Josh considered bringing Charles and mutants into his world, and thought he could recruit Aiden Pearce by reviving Pearce's niece and protecting his family.
• Josh watched the afternoon matches end, then went with Natasha and Garen to a bar and ordered food and drinks.
• Bar patrons discussed Josh's easy victory over Kverilia and praised The Guardian for depicting realistic fights.
• Several patrons said orcs deserved to die, prompting the Orc Prince and two companions to emerge from a private room.
• The Orc Prince demanded to know which patrons had called orcs pieces of trash and said they deserved to die.

Josh intervened when an Orc Prince tried to punish people in a bar for criticizing the orcs and their raids. He froze and shattered two of the prince’s guards, then faced the prince down and left the bar’s witnesses to back his account.

• The Orc Prince confronted bar patrons who had spoken against orcs and ordered his guards to attack them.
• Josh froze the two guards before they could kill anyone, then revealed himself as Prince Josh of Augustus.
• Josh warned the Orc Prince not to start a fight and told him they could face each other in the elimination rounds.
• The Orc Prince prepared to leave, but Josh froze the guards solid and shattered them, explaining that they had provoked him and threatened the bar’s patrons.
• The patrons supported Josh’s account as witnesses, and the Orc Prince called the humans cunning villains before leaving.

Josh stopped the Orc Prince from killing tavern patrons, killed two of the prince’s subordinates, and forced the prince to leave after agreeing to watch Magic Cinema. Afterward, Josh and Natasha teased each other while Garen discussed finding his soldiers and claiming the title Power of Demacia, leaving Josh puzzled about Garen’s memories and the mysteries of Valoran.

• Josh used the Silver Protocol and the witnesses’ support to keep the Orc Prince from retaliating after Josh killed two orc contestants who had attacked the tavern patrons.
• The Orc Prince left after Josh challenged him to watch Magic Cinema and reminded him to pay his bill.
• The patrons praised Josh and Natasha, and Josh returned to his table and held Natasha’s hand while Garen complained about their affection.
• Josh asked Garen about his plans, and Garen said he would search for his missing soldiers and reclaim the title Power of Demacia.
• Josh asked whether Garen would pursue Katarina, but Garen said he wanted to avoid her attempts to kill him.
• Josh wondered why Garen remembered traveling from The Academy of War to Icathia and decided the answers would come when they reached Valoran.

Josh’s fame grew as his Magic Cinema drew crowds, including the Orc royal family, who accepted its honest portrayal of their empire. At the Four Nations Invitation, Josh faced his childhood friend Dennis in an elimination match, and their fierce contest began before a captivated audience.

• Josh raised Magic Cinema’s ticket price and increased its daily screenings as his reputation brought in more visitors.
• Boomred and the Orc Emperor watched The Guardian, and the Orc Emperor thanked Josh for its truthful depiction of the Orc Empire.
• Josh learned that Dennis was his opponent in the elimination round, and the childhood friends exchanged jokes before agreeing to fight seriously.
• Dennis attacked first, but Josh blocked his axe with a Magic Shield and countered with ice spikes as the crowd cheered.

Josh fought Dennis in the Four Nations Invitation arena and won by unleashing Glacial Storm, a powerful area-control spell that froze Dennis in place. Ilka recognized Josh’s spell as a sign of genius, while Black kept Josh’s full abilities secret.

• Dennis launched a relentless Battle Qi assault, and Josh defended himself with Ice magic while struggling to hit the small, nimble dwarf.
• Josh used an ice bird and a barrage of ice cones, but Dennis dodged or endured them and pressed close enough to force Josh to cast Ring of Frost.
• Ilka questioned Josh’s limited use of basic spells, and Black explained that Josh had requested to compete.
• Josh controlled the ice scattered across the arena and unleashed Glacial Storm, freezing Dennis and chilling the spectators.
• Josh stopped the spell and pointed an ice cone at Dennis’s throat, and Dennis admitted defeat before trading insults with Josh.