Chapter Summaries

Josh led the Dwarves into Erebor and found Smaug beneath the royal palace. After freezing the dragon, Josh told him that his target was to capture him and give him to a friend.

• Josh sensed Smaug's Sixth Tier aura beneath Erebor's palace and led Thorin and the others toward him.
• Josh, Natasha, and Garen found a vast hoard of gold and jewels, while Garen held the Dwarves back as Josh entered the hall.
• Josh released his magical power, waking Smaug, who tried to attack but was frozen by Josh's frost.
• Smaug saw Josh and asked whether he planned to help the Dwarves reclaim their homeland.
• Josh told Smaug that he had been paid to complete the job and intended to capture him for a friend.

Josh fought Smaug in the dwarves’ underground palace, using frost and Void Magic to withstand the dragon and wound him. Smaug fled through a broken wall toward Lake-town, leaving Bard alarmed about the town’s danger.

• Smaug breathed concentrated fire at Josh, but Josh countered it with Frost Magic and froze the underground palace.
• Smaug broke free of the ice and struck at Josh with his tail, but Josh’s Void Shield nearly swallowed it, while ice spikes pierced Smaug.
• Josh identified himself as the Elf King of the newly established Elf Empire, and Smaug realized he was facing a powerful magic user.
• As Smaug attacked at full strength, he smashed through a nearby stone wall and flew out into the moonlight.
• The dwarves, Bilbo, Bard, Garen, and Natasha watched Smaug flee, and Bard realized the dragon was heading toward Lake-town.

Smaug fled after realizing Josh was stronger than him, then flew toward Lake-town to take revenge. Josh teleported there with Bard and the others, reunited Bard with his children, and flew after Smaug while Bilbo began telling the townspeople about Josh.

• Smaug fled Josh and headed for Lake-town, hoping to punish Josh by attacking people who could not fly.
• Bard worried about his children, but Josh teleported himself, Bard, and the dwarves straight to Lake-town.
• Bard reunited with his children as the frightened townspeople watched Josh sprout wings of light and fly after Smaug.
• Bard told the townspeople that Smaug had fled Josh and targeted Lake-town, while Thorin and the other dwarves confirmed his account.
• At Bard’s son’s request, Bilbo began telling the townspeople how Josh had saved them twice, starting with the Orc army near the Mountain of Dale.

Josh confronted Smaug above Lake-town and wounded the dragon with wind and ice magic, exploiting Smaug’s poor resistance to magic. After Smaug fell into the lake, Josh froze him and revealed that he came from another world.

• Josh flew in front of Smaug and attacked him with a Void-infused wind phoenix and ice spikes.
• The phoenix tore into Smaug’s back, and an ice spike pierced his chest as Lake-town residents watched.
• Josh realized Smaug’s defenses against physical attacks were formidable but his resistance to magic was weak.
• Smaug fell into Lake-town’s lake, and Josh prepared to capture him for his dragon friend to devour.
• Josh froze the lake around Smaug and told him that he was not from this world.

Josh froze Smaug in Lake-town, then learned that Akathosh had finished deciphering the world's information. Akathosh transformed into a giant dragon and prepared to devour the still-living Smaug.

• Josh froze Smaug and the lake, leaving the dragon trapped as an ice sculpture.
• Josh discussed whether to enter Lonely Mountain or wait for Azog's downfall, but decided to stay until Akathosh could devour Smaug.
• Akathosh emerged from Josh's tattoo, argued with him, and revealed that he had finished deciphering the information.
• Akathosh flew toward Smaug, grew into a dragon over fifty meters long, and opened his mouth as the shadow of a larger silver dragon appeared behind him.

Josh and Akatosh joined Thranduil’s Elven army after Akatosh’s transformation and accidental destruction of Lake-town, then discussed the world’s rules. Akatosh explained that the rules had deliberately created dark forces to reduce the burden on the world, leaving Josh to consider the grim implications.

• Akatosh grew to over one hundred and fifty meters, and his magic-infused roar destroyed Lake-town and killed its mayor and Alfrid.
• Josh arranged compensation for Lake-town’s residents from the money they would receive from Lonely Mountain, then encountered Thranduil’s Elven army.
• Thranduil learned that Josh had defeated Sauron and killed Smaug, and he arranged quarters for Josh and his companions.
• Josh questioned Akatosh about his silver phantom, which Akatosh described as a talent he had developed by imitation.
• Akatosh explained that the world’s rules resembled Sargeras’s treatment of infected worlds and had brought forth dark beings such as Morgoth, Sauron, and dragons to reduce the number of living beings.

Josh reflected on the world’s ruthless rules, decided to avoid worlds with active world consciousness, and prepared to leave Middle-earth after securing what he needed. The next morning, Gandalf and Thrain arrived with a warning that Azog’s army was approaching the Elven camp.

• Josh thanked Akathosh for forcing Muya Continent’s world consciousness into permanent sleep, then decided to avoid worlds with awakened consciousnesses.
• Josh remembered being attacked in The Desecration and resolved to return for revenge only after reaching the ninth tier.
• Josh planned to return home and check on the skeleton in his territory, while noting that Elrond and the others had prepared the student list for departure.
• After a restful night, Josh declined Garen’s invitation to run and watched the dawn from the Elven camp.
• Gandalf and Thrain reached the Elven camp and warned Josh and Thranduil that Azog’s army would arrive that day.

Josh, Thranduil, Gandalf, and Thrain learned that the Orc army was approaching the Lonely Mountain, where Thorin had entered after Smaug’s death. Josh prepared to go meet the Orcs and challenge their leader, Azog, the self-proclaimed Destroyer.

• Thranduil told Gandalf and Thrain that he had come to reclaim the White Gem from the Dwarves.
• Thranduil revealed that Smaug was dead and Thorin had entered the Lonely Mountain.
• Josh explained that he had killed Smaug at Lake-town, destroying buildings but leaving everyone alive except the mayor and one of his men.
• Gandalf and Thrain were relieved to learn that Thorin was safe and Lake-town had suffered few casualties.
• Josh and Thranduil set off to face the approaching Orcs and their pale-skinned leader.

Josh and Thranduil led the rested Gandalf and Thrain toward Lonely Mountain, where they met Azog’s Orc army. Thranduil’s elven archers unleashed Battle Qi-infused arrows that pierced the Orcs’ shields and killed many in the first volley.

• Josh and Thranduil made Gandalf and Thrain rest before traveling on, and Thranduil explained that he, Elrond, and Celebrían chaired the Elf Empire.
• After Gandalf and Thrain woke, Thranduil told them Josh’s returning friend had arrived, and the group advanced toward Lonely Mountain with the elven army.
• Josh and the others encountered Azog’s army at the foot of Lonely Mountain, and Josh told Thranduil to attack and demonstrate the elves’ Battle Qi.
• Thranduil ordered the elven archers to fire, and their Battle Qi-infused arrows pierced the Orcs’ shields and killed a great many of them.
• Gandalf and Thrain watched the devastating volley, and Thrain stared at the Orc corpses in disbelief.

Josh's Elven army annihilated Azog's Orc force, leaving Gandalf, Thrain, and the defenders of Lonely Mountain stunned. Josh said the mission was finished and planned to collect payment and bring the students and a natural-born Druid home.

• The Elves used Josh's method to devastate the Orcs with their first volley, and Garen urged them to keep fighting as the Warg riders charged.
• Garen and the Elven soldiers cut through the Orcs with Battle Qi, while Josh killed the fleeing Azog with a Wind Slash.
• Natasha put away her weapon after the battle, and Josh told her that the mission was complete apart from collecting payment and bringing the students and Druid home.
• At Lonely Mountain, Thorin stopped Bilbo from trying to warn the Elves, and the defenders prepared for the Orc attack.
• The people on Lonely Mountain watched the Elves destroy Azog's force and stared in shock as Josh killed Azog.

After settling affairs in Middle-earth and collecting his reward from Thorin, Josh brought hundreds of elf students to Rivendell to become residents and study under him. While preparing to welcome them, he extracted golden life force from Alexios’s sphere and considered whether using it to bargain with people would make him seem like a devil.

• Josh secured Thranduil’s White Gem with help from Thrain, and Thorin gave Josh a large store of gold as his reward.
• Josh explained the Elf Empire’s council structure to Thrain and said he would soon leave Middle-earth.
• Josh arranged for Garen to bring three hundred and fifty elf students to his territory, then asked Frank to welcome them properly.
• Josh learned that Jonas and his brother had not arrived, though several song and dance troupes had reached the territory.
• Josh extracted golden life force from Alexios’s sphere and wondered whether offering it through contracts would make him seem like a devil.

Avila and Jonas arrived at Rivendell, where Jonas learned more about his role teaching elves at Rhine University. Meanwhile, Josh rewarded the directors by restoring their youth and proposed a fantasy version of This Killer Is Not Too Cold as their next film.

• Avila and Jonas reached Rivendell and discussed Jonas's decision to teach at Rhine University.
• Avila and Jonas encountered Garen leading a formation of weak but disciplined elves toward Josh's territory.
• Jonas told Avila that Josh had invited him to teach the elves at the Warrior Academy's ranger program.
• Josh used the bronze sphere to rejuvenate Stephen and the other directors as a reward for making their film.
• Spielberg asked Josh what film he wanted to make next, and Josh proposed a fantasy version of This Killer Is Not Too Cold.

Josh assigned Spielberg and the other directors to adapt This Killer Is Not Too Cold into a fantasy film, then planned his next tasks in Rivendell. He decided to use the orchestra and Magic Cinema to attract wealthy nobles and make money.

• Josh explained how the directors should adapt This Killer Is Not Too Cold, recasting its protagonist as a principled mercenary who killed only bad people.
• The directors accepted the adaptation task, and Josh agreed to travel with them to check on the human-cloning project after he settled matters with the elves.
• Josh reviewed unfinished work in his territory, including bringing back pterosaurs and wyverns and arranging performances by the orchestra.
• Josh planned a theater schedule with Magic Cinema screenings during the day and orchestra performances after nine to draw money from the nobles staying in Rivendell.
• As Natasha sat on his lap, Josh wondered whether working together with a woman helped him think clearly.

Josh welcomed Avila and Jonas to Rivendell and showed them how magic supported daily life in his castle. Their inquiries about the city’s residents revealed that Josh’s fair wages, affordable goods, and comfortable homes had made Rivendell a thriving, welcoming place.

• Aina told Josh that two hooded rangers were waiting at the castle, and he went to meet them after Natasha declined to join him.
• Josh recognized the visitors as Avila and Jonas and welcomed them into Rivendell.
• Josh showed Avila and Jonas the castle’s magical conveniences, impressing them with how he considered both comfort and the servants’ welfare.
• Jonas questioned Rivendell’s residents and learned that they valued the fair pay, inexpensive meat, renovated homes, and lively artistic culture.
• Avila told Josh that Rivendell was amazing, and Josh thanked her.

Josh toured Rivendell with Spielberg and the elves, then traded vitality from the bronze sphere to restore Simon’s youth. He took cloned bodies to his Renaissance-era world to resurrect the people whose ancient DNA had been used, leaving the scientists to keep the equipment running and prepare clothes.

• Frank accepted Josh’s gold payment and left his room, while privately resolving to investigate the elf he had seen.
• Josh spent the day showing Spielberg and the elves around Rivendell, then returned with them to the Jurassic world and inspected the newly bred pterosaurs.
• Josh offered Simon gold or vitality as payment, and Simon chose fifty years of vitality, which restored his youthful appearance and strength.
• Simon took Josh to Dr. Wu’s laboratory, where Josh inspected the successfully bred clones and judged their defects repairable.
• Josh opened a Void Gate and told Simon, government officials, and scientists that he would take the cloned bodies to his Renaissance-era world to resurrect the people they came from.
• A scientist asked to watch, and Josh agreed on the condition that they maintain the equipment and bring clothes for the resurrected people.

Josh resurrected Kassandra and Alexios's family and companions, reuniting them with Alexios and considering how to use their abilities. The next day, he took Avila and Jonas to experience Rivendell's civilian magic and arts, while pondering future bodyguards for his travels.

• Josh resurrected Kassandra, her family, and Alexios's former companions, astonishing the United States government personnel, scientists, and Simon who witnessed it.
• Josh brought the resurrected group to Alexios, who reunited with his family and friends, while Josh considered training them as subordinates.
• Josh thought about recruiting experienced modern-world fighters as bodyguards and decided to wait until he entered the Marvel Universe.
• The next day, Josh invited Natasha and Hermione to visit the two elves from the Star Empire, but Hermione declined and helped Natasha decline as well.
• Josh accompanied Avila and Jonas toward the theater to introduce them to Rivendell's art and civilian magic civilization.

After spending a week in Rivendell, Josh agreed to let Avila stay as castle secretary and secured the sleeping skeleton before taking Natasha, Garen, and Howard to the Marvel Universe. There, he found the magical alliance thriving and reunited with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, who welcomed his return.

• Avila decided to remain in Rivendell, and Josh appointed her castle secretary after Frank urged him to accept her presence.
• Josh found the skeleton still unresponsive beneath a growing silver crystal layer, gave her more Void Origin, and sealed her in a room.
• Josh left the wyverns in Assassin World and asked Frank to choose trustworthy knights to handle them.
• Josh brought Natasha, Garen, and Howard through the Void Gate to the Marvel Universe, where they discovered the alliance's bustling church headquarters.
• Josh and his companions visited Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, who greeted them warmly and thanked Josh for helping establish the alliance.

Josh found Tony Stark in Afghanistan at the moment of his attack and decided to visit with Howard to witness Iron Man's birth. He left Natasha, Garen, and Maria behind and planned to ask Master Ancient One to help them travel there.

• Josh met with Dumbledore and Master Ancient One, learned the alliance was stable, and accepted an ordinary judge's badge.
• Josh and his companions left the church in downtown New York, where he used Red Queen to locate Tony Stark in Afghanistan.
• Josh decided to visit Tony during the attack, both to witness the start of Iron Man's story and to check Tony's magical ability.
• Garen and Natasha declined to go, choosing to stay with the Secret Ones Alliance and let Maria show Natasha around.
• Josh and Howard headed back into the church to ask Master Ancient One for help reaching Afghanistan.

Josh and Howard traveled to Afghanistan to observe Tony during the ambush that would lead to his capture. After the attackers destroyed the convoy and knocked Tony unconscious, Josh persuaded Howard to wait and see how Tony would handle what came next.

• Josh asked Master Ancient One to teleport him and Howard to Afghanistan, where he said he would stop hiding the Secret Ones Alliance.
• Josh and Howard entered the Mirror Dimension above Tony's military convoy and watched him boast about his sexual exploits.
• When missiles attacked the convoy, Josh and Howard chose not to save the soldiers, and Josh moved them away from the blast.
• The attackers wiped out the American soldiers, and one of Stark Industries' missiles knocked Tony unconscious.
• Josh urged Howard not to intervene and to see how Tony would grow, and Howard agreed to wait.

Tony Stark survived a missile attack with an electromagnet keeping shrapnel from his heart, while Josh and Howard watched him fail to use magic and build an iron suit in captivity. Josh and Howard rescued Tony and Yinsen, destroyed the terrorist camp with magic, and Howard ended the chapter by telling Tony he was disappointed in him.

• Tony woke in captivity and learned from Yinsen that an electromagnet in his chest was keeping shrapnel away from his heart.
• Josh and Howard watched Tony refuse to use magic, even as terrorists forced him to build weapons, and Howard criticized his choices.
• Tony and Yinsen spent seven days building an iron suit, while Howard was moved by Tony's claim that he had no family.
• When Yinsen prepared to distract the terrorists so Tony could escape, Josh and Howard appeared and teleported them to a nearby mountain.
• Josh used magic to engulf the terrorist camp in flames and contain the resulting explosion, leaving a deep crater.
• Howard told Tony that he was very disappointed in him.