Chapter Summaries

Josh reflected on what made someone a god and learned Imhotep’s methods for locating souls. After Imhotep asked him to resurrect Anck-su-namun, Alexios suggested that Imhotep could serve Josh’s church, leaving Josh to consider the unexpected opportunity.

• Josh concluded that gods were beings whose power surpassed their world’s limits and recognized that he qualified as a god in this world.
• Imhotep taught Josh and Akathosh about locating souls and explained that resurrected souls were normally watched by the god of death.
• Josh told Imhotep that no one was watching him, and Imhotep realized Josh’s intervention had freed him from Anubis’s attention.
• Imhotep knelt and begged Josh to resurrect Anck-su-namun, offering everything in return.
• Alexios suggested that Imhotep could join Josh’s church as a high priest, and Josh saw the possibility of gaining a valuable recruit.

Josh revived Anck-su-namun and left the world with Imhotep and his companions, while O'Connor, Evelyn, and Jonathan stayed behind to claim the burial chamber’s treasures. Jonathan soon discovered that Josh had tricked him about the treasure.

• Josh decided to keep Alexios as a teacher for now and consider giving him greater responsibilities after he adjusted to the Muya Continent.
• Josh revived Anck-su-namun, and she reunited with Imhotep.
• Josh opened a Void Gate, thanked O'Connor and his companions, and told them they could keep the burial chamber’s treasures.
• Josh explained that he came from another Earth in a different star region, then left with Imhotep and the others.
• Jonathan rushed into the burial chamber and cried out when he realized Josh had tricked him about the treasures.

Josh returned to Assassin World with Imhotep and Anck-su-namun, arranged possible resurrections for Alexios’s and the church brothers’ loved ones, and put Imhotep in charge of gathering faith. He told Natasha he planned to explore several other worlds, including Marvel and DC, before they discussed their future together.

• Josh introduced Imhotep and Anck-su-namun to Giovanni and Mario, then explained that he could create new bodies for resurrected souls using their relatives’ remains.
• Alexios said he had buried his friends and family near Atlantis, so Josh sent him and Garen to collect DNA samples.
• Josh offered Giovanni and Mario a top-level church reward that could grant a request to resurrect someone, and they agreed to prepare the necessary materials.
• Imhotep and Anck-su-namun chose to remain undead, and Josh tasked Imhotep with learning about the world and gathering faith for him.
• Josh told Natasha he planned to visit Watch Dogs, Mutant World, Middle-earth, Marvel Universe, and DC Universe while developing his territory.

Josh returned to the Muya Continent with Alexios and encountered Howard and Maria, who had come there after Howard faked his assassination. Howard explained that his harsh teaching and frequent absences had damaged his relationship with Tony, while Josh learned that Howard had left Obadiah Stane in place as a test for his son.

• Josh returned to his palace with Alexios and gave him a Memory Magic Crystal containing basic information about the world.
• Josh ran into Howard and Maria, and Howard confirmed that he had faked his assassination.
• Howard told Josh that Tony resented him because he constantly criticized the boy’s achievements and was often away from home.
• Howard explained that he had left Obadiah Stane with considerable authority as a test for Tony.
• Howard asked Josh for Memory Magic Crystals so he and Maria could live in the palace, and Josh agreed and urged him to teach Maria magic.

Josh returned to Rivendell, arranged for a new school and Magic Cinema, and gave Frank money to manage upcoming projects. Meanwhile, Avila sneaked into the palace to claim Josh’s reward, and Ilka allowed her to travel to Josh’s territory with a Gale Family youth.

• Josh told Frank that the newly arrived students and teachers should prepare to begin classes in Rivendell later that month.
• Josh gave Frank money from selling Magic Cinema to King Carl and left him to manage screenings and cooperation with performance troupes.
• Frank asked about acquiring more Magic Brains, and Josh told him to consult Red Queen and Howard because the magic network was not ready.
• Avila entered the palace to take the reward she had promised Josh, but found Ilka waiting for her.
• Ilka told Avila to travel to Josh’s territory with a youth from the Gale Family and urged her to return home if Josh mistreated her.

Josh returned to Middle-earth with Natasha and the others to continue settling unfinished business, and found Legolas waiting in Rivendell. He reunited with Elrond, Galadriel, and Thranduil, who had begun establishing the Elf Empire and welcomed him back.

• Josh met Lupin, Draco, Harry, Neville, Ron, and Hermione among the newly arrived teachers, then left when their reactions made him uncomfortable.
• After waiting seven days, Josh told Frank to handle the newcomers and traveled through the Void Gate to Middle-earth with Natasha and the others.
• Josh arrived in Rivendell and recognized Legolas, who greeted him as the chosen Elf King and explained that the Elf Empire was being organized under three Speakers.
• Legolas described how he had begun studying Battle Qi after seeing Rivendell's elves outperform him, and said he looked forward to attending Josh's academy.
• Elrond, Galadriel, and Thranduil arrived and welcomed Josh back, while Josh joked that he had returned before Smaug became a meal for Akathosh.

Josh learned that Rivendell’s Elves were embracing new powers and the proposed Elf Empire, then decided to pursue the Dwarves and deal with Smaug. Thranduil asked Josh to take Legolas with him, and Josh agreed.

• Josh learned that Elven cultivation was advancing and that the Elves supported an empire led by three Speakers and chosen through voting.
• Josh heard that Thranduil planned to send Legolas after the Dwarves to reclaim his gem, and Josh resolved to catch up with them and confront Smaug.
• Josh and Natasha spent the night together while Garen endured Akathosh’s singing from the neighboring room.
• At breakfast, Josh explained that Elves developing Battle Qi had begun craving meat, and the former Elf Kings had accepted the change.
• Thranduil asked Josh to bring Legolas along as a tracker, and Josh agreed.

Josh, Legolas, Natasha, and Garen traveled through the mountains in pursuit of the dwarves and encountered a Stone Giant. After learning that goblins lived beneath the giants’ home and might know where the dwarves went, Josh decided to investigate.

• Legolas warned Josh and the others that the mountain route was dangerous, but Josh dismissed the threat and continued onward with Natasha and Garen.
• Legolas found signs of Stone Giants nearby, and Josh used magic to locate one and communicate with it through Mental Link.
• The Stone Giant stood up beneath Josh and said it had not noticed the dwarves, though someone had passed by while the giants were playing.
• The Stone Giant told Josh that goblins lived beneath them and might know about the travelers he sought.
• Josh decided to go investigate the goblins and find out whether the dwarves had passed through.

Josh and his companions found the filthy goblins’ underground nest, where Garen unleashed his Battle Qi to cut through the horde and collapse the cavern. The cavern shook around them, and Josh berated Garen for nearly burying the group alive.

• Josh explained to Legolas that he had used magic to communicate with the Stone Giants.
• Legolas led Josh, Natasha, and Garen to the filthy goblins’ excavated mountain hideout.
• Natasha used Battle Qi to smash open the ground and expose the underground cavern.
• Garen charged into the goblins and cut down their attackers with powerful sword strikes.
• Garen plunged his broadsword into the ground, killing groups of goblins and shaking the cavern until Josh shouted at him for risking burying them alive.

Garen’s first use of his improved Demacian Justice collapsed the goblin tunnels, and Josh’s group flew onward until they reached Bion’s home. As Josh prepared to question the wary Skin-changer, he sensed Orcs approaching and brought sudden snow and cold down upon the area.

• Garen explained that his improved Demacian Justice had caused the mountain to collapse, while Josh and the others searched the ruins and found no survivors.
• Josh’s group flew across a forest-surrounded plain, where Natasha spotted a wooden house and Legolas identified it as Bion’s home.
• Legolas explained that Bion was the last Skin-changer and disliked dwarves, but Josh decided to ask him about them anyway.
• Josh claimed he sensed Orcs hunting the dwarves, and Hosdena carried the group down to Bion’s house.
• Bion backed away from Josh as he approached, but Josh sensed Orcs surrounding them and transformed the clear sky into dark clouds, making snow fall around the group.

Josh froze the Orcs around Bion’s home, then learned that Bion had helped a group of dwarves traveling toward the Lonely Mountain. After discovering that Skin-changers were natural-born Druids, Josh realized the Orcs might have nearly wiped them out and vowed to destroy their stronghold.

• Josh ended the unnatural blizzard and told Bion and Legolas that he had frozen every Orc within his range of perception.
• Legolas announced Josh’s elaborate title, but Josh rejected the name and asked Bion about a group of dwarves.
• Bion explained that he had helped thirteen or fourteen dwarves escape Azog the Defiler by giving them horses and food and directing them toward Mirkwood and the Lonely Mountain.
• Josh examined Bion’s magic and discovered that Skin-changers naturally possessed humanoid and animal forms, making them like Druids.
• Josh remembered that the Orcs might have reduced the Skin-changers to Bion alone and vowed to burn down their stronghold.

Josh recognized Bion as a natural-born Druid whose magic caused him to transform into a beast, and offered to teach him to control it rather than remove it. Bion agreed to follow Josh and bring any Skin-changers he found under Josh’s protection, leaving Josh with a chance to study their transformation and gain benefits from the Star Empire.

• Josh restrained Bion and identified him as a natural-born Druid, a rare kind of Skin-changer with greater potential than Druids created through rituals.
• Josh explained that removing Bion’s magic could leave him unable to transform or turn him into a beast permanently, so Bion hesitated.
• Josh proposed teaching Bion Battle Qi to control the magic in his body and potentially keep his sanity while transformed.
• Bion asked what Josh wanted in return, and Josh required him and any Skin-changers he found to follow him.
• Bion accepted Josh’s terms, hoping he could help his people control their transformations.

Josh traveled to Mirkwood to find the dwarves, cleared out spiders with Legolas, and discovered that Orcs were closing in on the group. He located the Orcs with magic and prepared to reach the dwarves before they were captured.

• Josh sent Bion toward Rivendell to meet Elrond and learn Battle Qi, then rode toward Mirkwood with Akathosh.
• Josh had Legolas clear the corrupted spiders and learned that the dwarves had fought their way through the forest.
• Legolas found the dwarves’ trail, and Josh used teleportation magic to take the group out of Mirkwood.
• Natasha examined Orc corpses and concluded that the dwarves had killed them about two days earlier.
• Josh sensed a gathering of Orcs with Dark Magic and told the group to move, believing the dwarves were in danger.

Thorin’s wounded company faced certain death at the hands of the Orcs until Josh teleported them to safety and attacked the pursuing army. As Josh unleashed his overwhelming power, Bard learned that he was an Elf King named Josh and a Dragon Knight.

• Kili, Thorin, Bard, Bilbo, and the other battered travelers found themselves surrounded by Orcs, with no hope of escape.
• Thorin ordered the dwarves to charge, but they passed through the Orcs as Josh teleported them away, leaving the Orcs dead.
• Josh told the dwarves that he had come looking for them, then turned to deal with the Orcs still searching nearby.
• Josh summoned a giant made of Silver Mana and annihilated the Orcs with its power and a sweeping sword strike.
• Bard asked what Josh was, and Thorin described him as an Elf King, a mage, and a Dragon Knight.

Josh explained that he had come to offer Thorin a chance to prove himself as a king and to claim the White Gem and enough gold from Lonely Mountain. He warned that Smaug would destroy Lake-town if the dwarves challenged him alone, and offered to deal with the dragon in exchange.

• Josh used Seraph and Void Blade to slaughter the orcs, then rejoined Garen, Natasha, and the others.
• Josh explained that Seraph raised his strength by a tier and that he had used it to make the dwarves understand his power.
• Thorin asked why Josh had sought out the dwarves, and Josh said one of his two matters concerned Bilbo.
• Josh warned Thorin and Bard that Smaug could destroy Lake-town and that the dwarves could not defeat the dragon themselves.
• Josh told Thorin he wanted to give him an opportunity to become a qualified king and requested the White Gem and enough gold in exchange for dealing with Smaug.

Josh arrived at Lonely Mountain with Garen and Akathosh, intending to capture Smaug alive and give him to Akathosh, but decided to wait for the dwarves rather than risk alerting the dragon. While waiting, he examined The One Ring and discovered that wearing it let him see wandering souls and sense the other Rings of Power.

• Josh summoned Hosdena and flew with Garen and Akathosh to Lonely Mountain, while the dwarves, Bard, and Bilbo made their own way there.
• Akathosh warned Josh that breaking the concealed gate could alert Smaug, who might destroy the treasure if he could not escape, so Josh chose to wait for the dwarves.
• Josh took The One Ring from Bilbo after using magic to block its influence on him, then examined it with Garen.
• Josh put on The One Ring and saw a gray world filled with wandering souls, including Orcs, dwarves, elves, and humans.
• Josh sensed the power of other Rings of Power and joked that Sauron would need fingers and toes to wear them all.

While trapped between life and death, Josh used The One Ring to witness Gandalf rescuing Thrain at Dol Guldur and intervened when Sauron attacked them. Josh drove Sauron away with a single Void Blade strike, then told Gandalf to meet him at Lonely Mountain.

• Josh severed another source of control over The One Ring and discovered he could use Spiritual Sense to perceive distant places.
• Josh watched Gandalf free Thrain from a strange influence and take him toward safety at Dol Guldur.
• Azog the Defiler ambushed Gandalf and Thrain, but Gandalf seized control of him.
• Sauron appeared and attacked Thrain, so Josh revealed himself and cut apart Sauron's black mist with a silver Light Sword.
• Josh stabbed Sauron's manifested eye with the Void Blade, causing him to flee, then told Gandalf to meet him at Lonely Mountain.

Josh explained how The One Ring had let his soul travel to Sauron, Gandalf, and Thrain, then discovered it contained the operating laws of the world. As Akathosh began deciphering those laws, Josh made camp and reflected on the frightening power of his Void spells, hoping he had not killed Sauron.

• Josh told Natasha and the others how he used The One Ring to leave his body, confront Sauron, and rescue Gandalf and Thrain before returning by removing the ring.
• Josh showed Akathosh the magical rule-lines he had intercepted from The One Ring, and Akathosh identified them as the operating law of the world.
• Akathosh began studying the world’s laws while Josh wondered why they had entered the ring and whether learning them might be dangerous.
• Josh used magic to build a shelter and campfire for the night, then joked with Garen about his soul leaving his body resembling Sword Twenty-Three.
• Josh realized his Void Blade had badly damaged Sauron’s soul and hoped Sauron would survive so the future Fellowship of the Ring could still form.

Josh studied The One Ring and returned it to Bilbo after sealing it against its influence. When Thorin’s company arrived, Josh revealed that Thrain and Gandalf were coming after he had saved them from Sauron, then asked the dwarves for payment in gold and jewels.

• Josh spent the day examining The One Ring but learned little about its strange spatial effects.
• Josh sensed Thorin’s company approaching and saw Thorin, the injured Kili, Bard, and Bilbo arrive.
• Josh returned the sealed ring to Bilbo and advised him to use it as little as possible.
• Josh told Thorin that Thrain and Gandalf were on their way, and that he had saved them from Sauron.
• Thorin thanked Josh on behalf of the dwarves, and Josh said he wanted gold and jewels as payment.

Thorin and the dwarves struggled to find the hidden entrance to the Lonely Mountain until Josh explained the riddle and removed its magical concealment. Josh opened the gates, and the group prepared to face the dragon inside.

• Thorin was overjoyed to learn that his father, Thrain, was alive and coming to meet them.
• The dwarves searched the Lonely Mountain’s stone gates but could not find the keyhole before sunset.
• Josh explained that the riddle pointed to moonlight on Durin’s Day and revealed that magic concealed the keyhole.
• Josh said he had delayed opening the gates because a dragon might destroy the treasure, which he wanted as payment.
• Josh dispelled the mountain’s magic, used Thorin’s key to open the gates, and announced that they would face the dragon.