Chapter Summaries

Locke joined Witch Sophia and her companions at a harbor to begin their disguised mission into the Blood Curse Court's territory. After drinking a Thousand-Faced Potion to help conceal his identity, he met the other participants as they prepared to infiltrate enemy lands and kill a Formal Wizard.

• Locke spent two thousand Magic Stones on twenty-eight bottles of potions and secretly traveled to the agreed harbor that evening.
• Locke met Witch Sophia, Witch Bena Gabriel, and two First-Class Wizard Apprentices, all disguised as ordinary nobles for the infiltration mission.
• Witch Sophia gave Locke a Thousand-Faced Potion, explaining that the group needed it to evade the Blood Curse Court's curse inspectors.
• Locke drank the potion and gained a month of powerful transformation abilities without spending his own mana.
• Witch Sophia introduced Bena Gabriel, Albert, and Captain Andy Layton to Locke as the group prepared to infiltrate enemy territory.

Locke, Albert, and Andy endured the filthy cabin of a mortal smuggling ship while undercover on a mission to obtain Tartarus Cave Worm Spinal Fluid and help Sophia. Locke used Ibog Pepper Water and drank a Giant Tree's Heart Potion, while Andy insisted on enduring the conditions unaided.

• Locke drank Ibog Pepper Water to make the ship's dirty cabin seem clean and pleasant.
• Albert asked Locke for a bottle, drank it, and invited Locke to treat him as a friend in private.
• Andy refused the potion and urged Locke and Albert to set a disciplined example, while Albert privately mocked Andy's needless self-denial.
• Locke reflected that he, Albert, and Andy sought Tartarus Cave Worm Spinal Fluid to strengthen their magic power and improve their chances of becoming Formal Wizards.
• Locke drank the Giant Tree's Heart Potion, and Albert and Andy noticed his unfamiliar potion.

Sophia and Gabriel briefed Locke, Albert, and Andy on the Blood Curse Court’s defenses and equipped them with rings linked to the Nibelungen Astrology System. The group evaded detection aboard their ship while a diversion drew the Blood Curse Court’s forces away from their route.

• Sophia warned Locke, Albert, and Andy that the Blood Curse Court’s curse inspectors and five Walls of the Faithless made it essential to avoid using magic.
• Gabriel gave the three men Astrological Rings that connected them to the Nibelungen Astrology System, where Lady Morgana and astrology students supported the mission.
• Lady Morgana warned that a divination search and the Wall of the Faithless were approaching, and Locke spotted crystal skull projections inspecting the ship.
• Locke and Albert pretended to gamble until the crystal skulls passed them by, and Gabriel signaled everyone to keep acting naturally while a Black Wizard ship remained nearby.
• The Blood Curse Court’s wizards discovered that a Formal Wizard from Lilith’s Cottage had attacked elsewhere with a Giant Whale Demon Flower, prompting them to summon Advanced Curse Wizards.
• The Black Wizard ship abandoned its plan to stop the mundane vessel and sailed away to support the defense against the Giant Whale Demon Flower.

Massimo Vasquez’s coordinated attacks distracted the Blood Curse Court and created an opening for Sophia’s covert mission. After landing in the Blood Crow Wasteland, Sophia and Locke’s group disguised themselves as merchants and headed toward their target through the hostile, curse-altered landscape.

• Massimo Vasquez used a Giant Whale Demon Flower and other prepared attacks to draw the Blood Curse Court’s forces away from Sophia’s route.
• Lady Morgana warned Massimo that three First-Ring Wizards were nearby, and he escaped before a Blood Curse spell struck his former position.
• Blood Curse Court wizards struggled to stop the flower without triggering a devastating explosion, while arguing over their lack of ecological research expertise.
• Half a day later, Sophia, Locke, and their group landed at the port and set out disguised as an ordinary merchant caravan.
• Locke noticed that the Blood Crow Wasteland’s cold, curse-filled air and clouded skies harmed humans, strengthened Curse Magic, and suppressed White Magic.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The convoy encounters a hill filled with natural Undead Creatures.
• A cursed object, a piece of black wood with a human face, is found wedged in their carriage wheel.
• Locke and Albert take a Bear Spirit Emerald Gallbladder Potion to increase their magic resistance and curse resistance.
• Lady Morgana assigns Locke to write an article about the potion's application in the Blood Crow Wasteland and tasks two First-Class Wizard Apprentices to assist him.
• Andy requests a bottle of the potion, and Witch Sophia and Witch Gabriel express interest in trying it.

Character Developments

• Locke demonstrates his calmness and resourcefulness in dealing with the cursed object.
• Albert shows his knowledge of new potions and his willingness to accept Locke's help.
• Lady Morgana exhibits her strict and authoritative nature, assigning tasks and expecting results.
• Locke's teacher, Witch Sophia, shows approval of Locke's usefulness in the operation.

Significant Themes

• The dense negative energy and curse magic in the Blood Crow Wasteland, which affects both mortals and wizards.
• The importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in facing unknown or dangerous situations.
• The value of magic and its potential to accomplish unimaginable things.

Character Interactions

• Locke and Albert work together, with Albert acknowledging Locke's expertise in potions.
• Locke communicates with Lady Morgana through the Nibelungen Sub-Ring, showing his connection to her.
• Witch Sophia and Witch Gabriel discuss Locke's usefulness and the potential benefits of the Bear Spirit Emerald Gallbladder Potion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group encounters a cursed wooden carving that speaks and summons shadow monsters, marking the beginning of a curse.
• They witness numerous Cursed Lifeforms, undead creatures formed from the land's curse energy and deathly resentment.
• Locke and the others decide to avoid a nearby mortal village at night due to Gabriel's Arcane Prophecy sensing danger.
• They instead obtain firewood from the village to build their own bonfire in the wilderness for protection.
• Locke discovers that the village has low-level Vampires, created by the Vampire Transformation Curse system.

Character Developments

• Locke demonstrates his keen observation skills by identifying the Vampires in the village.
• Albert shows his negotiation skills in obtaining firewood from the villagers.
• Gabriel's Arcane Prophecy ability is highlighted as she senses danger in the village.
• Locke expresses his dislike for the land of Black Wizards, hinting at his growing disapproval of the Blood Curse Court's practices.

Significant Themes

• Curse and Corruption: The land is filled with curse energy, leading to the creation of Cursed Lifeforms and the corruption of mortals into Vampires.
• Power and Responsibility: Locke and Albert discuss the possibility of eliminating things they dislike once they become more powerful, implying the theme of power and its responsibilities.
• Trust and Intuition: Gabriel's intuition is trusted by the group, leading to a change in their plans to avoid danger.

Character Interactions

• Locke and Albert discuss their observations and thoughts about the land and its inhabitants.
• Sophia coordinates the group's actions and distributes Energy Potions to help them stay vigilant during the nights.
• Gabriel's warning leads to a change in plans, showing the group's trust in her Arcane Prophecy ability.
• Locke, Albert, and Sophia communicate through the Nibelungen Astrology System, highlighting their teamwork and coordination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group travels through the wilderness, reaching the city-state of Corinth under the cover of night.
• They meet with the local Black Wizard lord, who reveals the presence of a Special-Class research project in Corinth, led by Rashid Tariel.
• The lord expresses his desire to leave the Blood Curse Court and join Lilith's Cottage Academy.

Character Developments

• Locke learns about Sophia's influence in enemy territory.
• Niels, the Black Wizard Apprentice, reveals his desire to leave the Blood Curse Court and join Lilith's Cottage.
• Andy displays his prejudice against Black Wizards, while Gabriel advises caution and calm.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between wizards and mortals, and between different factions of wizards.
• The moral ambiguity of Black Wizards and the possibility of redemption.
• The importance of caution and careful planning in magical operations.

Character Interactions

• Locke is surprised by Sophia's influence and Niels' respect for her.
• Andy expresses his distrust and hostility towards Niels, while Gabriel advises against rash actions.
• Niels pleads his case to Sophia and Gabriel, seeking their help to leave the Blood Curse Court.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Locke captures Quintus, a First-Class Wizard Apprentice who had been following Niels.
• Quintus reveals under truth serum that he had been secretly investigating Niels for transmitting information from the Blood Curse Court.
• Locke's Magic Vines, which can turn invisible and sense hostility, play a crucial role in detecting and capturing Quintus.
• Quintus is put into a coma using a Sleep Bug Potion to prevent him from sending information back.

Character Developments

• Locke demonstrates his strategic thinking and resourcefulness in upgrading his Magic Vines' versions for profit.
• Albert reveals his business tactics of deliberately weakening potions for initial sales and gradually improving them.
• Niels shows fear when facing Andy, highlighting the tension between Black Wizards and Incinerators.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Betrayal: Quintus's secret investigation of Niels highlights the lack of trust among Black Wizards.
• Resourcefulness and Strategic Thinking: Locke and Albert's business tactics emphasize their resourcefulness and long-term planning.
• Fear and Power Dynamics: Niels's fear of Andy reflects the power dynamics between Black Wizards and Incinerators.

Character Interactions

• Locke and Albert bond over their similar business tactics.
• Niels seeks protection from Witch Sophia, showing his fear of Andy.
• Witch Morgana, Witch Sophia, and Witch Gabriel discuss the mission's timeline and strategy, showcasing their teamwork.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group searches for the entrance to the Curse Spell Research Institute within Corinth Castle.
• Locke uses Tomb Spirit Summoning to aid in the search.
• Locke encounters and eliminates a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice.
• Andy finds the entrance to the institute, hidden within a mirror.
• Gabriel uses Digo's Feather and the Nibelungen Astrology System to bypass the institute's defenses.
• Upon entering, they are attacked by an automatic defense mechanism, a river of blood filled with curses.
• Locke, protected by the Bear Spirit Emerald Gallbladder Potion, survives the attack but is separated from the group.

Character Developments

• Locke demonstrates increased proficiency with Tomb Spirit Summoning and uses it strategically.
• Locke shows improved combat skills and spell control, killing the Second-Class Wizard Apprentice effortlessly.
• Andy proves his knowledge of the Blood Curse Court's spells and strategies, leading the group to the entrance.
• Gabriel showcases her skill in using high-level magic items and the Nibelungen Astrology System to bypass security measures.

Significant Themes

• The power of curses and the need for protection against them.
• The importance of strategic thinking and adaptability in combat.
• The dangers of infiltration and the need for careful planning and execution.

Character Interactions

• Locke and Sophia maintain their mentor-mentee relationship, with Sophia guiding Locke's actions.
• Locke, Andy, and Albert work together to protect Sophia and Gabriel as they navigate the institute's defenses.
• Niels is left outside to stand guard, showing a level of trust from the group.
• Locke, separated from the group, expresses concern for their safety and a desire to reunite.

Chapter 232 Summary

Key Plot Points

• Inside the Black Wizards' Curse Spell Research Institute, Rashid Tariel successfully completes the groundwork for a special-grade Blood Curse (targeting Wizard Apprentices), still bitter over Seflin's loss and envious of Hassan's talent.
• Locke is randomly teleported into a remote, low-traffic area of the institute. He restores his mana with a Spirit Spring Soul Surge Potion and uses a Magic Painting Map to locate himself near a small Black Wizard resource vault.
• Finding the vault door open (three staff apprentices moving items), Locke swiftly kills two Second-Class apprentices with Omen Mandrake Vines, then disables a First-Class apprentice (roughly 200 mana) by severing his limbs and sealing his senses—mirroring Hassan's earlier one-vs-many fight.
• Locke enters the vault, drinks Curse-Tumor Wine (a Blood Curse Court specialty that permanently increases Mental Power), gaining unexpected mana growth since he had never consumed it before.
• He strips the entire vault bare—cursed items and materials—planning to sell them later at Chimera Market.

Character Developments

• Locke: Demonstrates ruthless efficiency and greed, but reminds himself he is a White Wizard. Uses his knowledge from Black Wizard slaves to recognize valuable resources. Shows confidence, comparing himself favorably to Hassan.
• Rashid Tariel: Continues his cruel research, obsessed with restoring his reputation and obsessed with acquiring a talent like Hassan.

Significant Themes

• Contrast between White and Black wizard ideologies (Locke loots but self-identifies as White; Black wizards perform horrific experiments).
• Survival and resource acquisition as core drivers for wizard advancement.
• Brutality and casual lethality in the wizard world.

Character Interactions

• Rashid Tariel: Monologue about his Blood Curse, his frustration with incompetent subordinates, and his hatred of Lilith's Cottage White Wizards.
• Locke: Encounters three unknown Black Wizard apprentices—killing two, incapacitating one without killing him (a rare, deliberate act preserving a potential source of information).

Summary of "The Missing Witch Sophia"

Key Plot Points & Events

• Locke, infiltrating a Black Wizard research institute, uses summoned Tomb Spirits and a Magic Painting Map to navigate safely.
• Through a Tomb Spirit bound to his undercover agent Leonie Murphy, Locke witnesses Senior Andy killing all Black Wizard apprentices in the Curse Hall. Andy nearly kills Leonie, but Locke stops him in time.
• Andy explains that he and Gabriel were teleported together; Sophia and Albert are separated. Gabriel uses the Divination item "Dreamcatcher" — it locates Albert but cannot find Sophia, implying her disappearance is deliberate.
• The group splits: Andy and Gabriel will continue toward the target (Formal Wizard Rashid Tariel), trusting Sophia to act on her own; Locke is tasked with rescuing Albert, who is trapped in an isolated section with no flying spells.
• Locke guides them via the Tomb Spirit, identifying a safe but long route. The only obstacle is a cursed corridor requiring flight; Locke has the means (Flying Magic Plant) to cross it.
• Leonie Murphy proposes a cover story: fake a lab curse-object leak to explain the mass death of the Black Wizards. He reports this to the Central Control Room.
• In the Central Control Room, a First-Class Apprentice believes the leak is Pandora's Box. He decides to handle it himself rather than report to his teacher, waiting for Leonie to arrive.

Character Developments

• Locke: Shows growing competence as an archaeologist and tactical leader; uses invisible scouts, an undercover agent, and a magic map to coordinate the team.
• Andy: Displays formidable combat power (fire magic) and sharp distrust of Black Wizards due to a past betrayal; he nevertheless respects Locke’s abilities.
• Gabriel: Reveals strong confidence in Sophia’s capabilities; acts as the group’s diviner and strategist, assigning roles based on intuition.
• Leonie Murphy: Demonstrates resourcefulness and loyalty to Locke, his "master," while also being fearful for his life.
• Central Control Apprentice: Portrayed as cowardly and ambitious, trying to fix the problem alone to avoid his teacher’s wrath.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Deception: Locke’s reliance on a Black Wizard spy; Andy’s deep mistrust of Black Wizards; the use of lies to cover up the team’s actions.
• Teamwork Under Pressure: Dividing tasks based on strengths (fighting, divination, infiltration) in a dangerous environment.
• The Missing Witch: Sophia’s absence is not treated as a crisis but as a deliberate, trusted plan — emphasizing faith in capable allies.
• Magic as Problem-Solving: Archaeologist spells, divination nets, curse-based communication, and flight magic all serve practical roles.

Character Interactions

• Locke ↔ Andy/Gabriel: Communication through the Tomb Spirit; they exchange information and coordinate rescue plans. Andy shows respect while maintaining caution.
• Locke ↔ Leonie: A master-servant dynamic; Locke coldly orders Leonie, who responds with eager loyalty and a useful suggestion.
• Andy ↔ Leonie: Andy threatens Leonie with his flaming sword, showing his hostility, while Locke tacitly allows it as a precaution.
• Gabriel ↔ Group: She provides important intel (Albert’s location) and asserts confidence in Sophia, directing the team’s next moves.
  (Note: The chapter ends with the Control Room apprentice awaiting Leonie, setting up a potential confrontation or further deception.)

Summary: The True Nature of the Special Project

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Locke traverses a dangerous area of the Curse Spell Research Institute using his Great Green Owl Plantain (Flight Mimicry: Raptor) and a Wind Orb, burning over half his Mana to sprint past a corridor filled with hidden beast-head Curse Magic traps.
• He reaches an area of advanced isolation chambers revealing the "Special Project": the Blood Curse Court is experimenting on captured Wizard Apprentices (Black and White, including Lilith's Cottage students) by modifying microscopic organisms from the Blood Crow Wasteland (Plague Cores, Curse-Eroding Bugs) into tiny cursed organisms.
• The goal is to fuse Curse Magic's conceptual chain transmission with microorganisms' rapid replication and adaptability, potentially changing the course of the Wizard War.
• Locke considers using these tiny cursed organisms to evolve his Emerald Iris Lichen, but discovers Rashid Tariel deliberately stripped them of their ability to infect plants—this area is only a recycling station for failed specimens.
• Locke finds a captured Female Formal Wizard from Crow Roost Company (Kode's organization), petrified below the neck by a Petrifying Blood Curse. She reveals Rashid Tariel is a First-Ring Wizard in the Vaporization Stage and warns Locke to flee.
• She tells Locke that Kode was likely killed or captured; his fate is unknown.
• Locke chooses not to free infected prisoners (including Lilith's Cottage students), focusing on his primary mission: finding Albert before anything else.

2. Character Developments

• Locke: Demonstrates strategic preparation (calculating flight times, preparing cheap magical items), pragmatic survival instincts, and a cold prioritization of the mission over rescuing strangers. His entrepreneurial drive resurfaces (mass-producing rare plants to fund his breakthrough), as does his scientific curiosity about evolutionary adaptability.
• The Crow Roost Formal Wizard: Introduced as a tragic figure undone by greed (tried to steal Rashid Tariel's treasure), now resigned to suffering. She serves as a warning about the hidden dangers of the wizard world.

3. Significant Themes

• Ethical depravity of Black Wizardry: Human experimentation and mass suffering as routine research methods.
• Survival over morality: Locke's refusal to free prisoners reflects the harsh pragmatism required in the wizard world.
• Adaptation & evolution: Microscopic organisms, magical plants, and curses all center on the theme of evolutionary adaptability.
• Power is precarious: Even Formal Wizards can be captured, petrified, and reduced to experimental subjects.

4. Character Interactions

• Locke interacts minimally with the two Tomb Spirits (using them for scouting).
• Locke speaks briefly with the Crow Roost Formal Wizard: she questions his authenticity, warns him about Rashid Tariel, he asks about Kode (learning only that Kode's fate is uncertain), and then he departs to continue his search.
• Locke's internal thoughts heavily reference his teacher, Witch Sophia, whose successful assassination of Rashid Tariel is implied to be the key that will destroy the Special Project and potentially free its victims.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Locke finds Albert battling Ghouls, which have been modified by a high-ranking Curse Master, Rashid Tariel.
• Albert rescues a First-Class Wizard Apprentice, Sisyphus, who was experimented on by Black Wizards.
• Albert and Locke fight the Ghouls together, using potions and spells. They escape using Locke's flight ability.

Character Developments

• Albert demonstrates his skills as a potion maker and a fighter, using various potions and spells to combat the Ghouls.
• Sisyphus shows remorse for dragging Albert into danger and reveals information about the Black Wizards' experiments.
• Locke shows strategic thinking, creating a diversion to mislead the Black Wizards about the cause of the Ghouls' escape.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unethical experimentation and the dangers of playing god with life.
• The importance of friendship and loyalty, as seen in Albert's determination to save Sisyphus.

Character Interactions

• Albert and Locke work together to fight the Ghouls and escape, showcasing their trust and teamwork.
• Albert and Sisyphus share a bond as fellow potion makers and friends, with Sisyphus feeling guilty for endangering Albert.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Locke escapes with Albert and Sisyphus from the Curse-Eroding Bug ghoul army.
• Sisyphus is severely injured and coughs up blood containing Curse-Eroding Bugs.
• Locke and Albert realize that Senior Curse Master Rashid Tariel's research on Curse-Eroding Bugs is more advanced than on Plague Cores.
• Locke and Albert discuss how to escape the institute's sealed section, but Locke can only carry one person at a time.
• A grotesque, powerful monster attacks them, revealing itself to be a failed experiment modified from a First-Class Wizard Apprentice by Rashid Tariel.

Character Developments

• Locke demonstrates his flying magic skills and quick reflexes in evading the monster's attacks.
• Albert shows his knowledge of magic creatures and concern for Sisyphus' well-being.
• Sisyphus' condition worsens due to the Curse-Eroding Bugs, highlighting the severity of his injury.

Significant Themes

• The dangers and consequences of unchecked research and experimentation, as seen in the failed experiments and the Curse-Eroding Bugs.
• The importance of teamwork and mutual aid, as Locke and Albert work together to protect Sisyphus and escape.

Character Interactions

• Locke and Albert discuss potions and magic, revealing their respective expertise and reliance on each other.
• Locke shows concern for Sisyphus' well-being, indicating a growing bond between them.
• Albert praises Locke's flying Magic Plant, expressing interest in acquiring one for himself.

Locke used his Perseus's Eye Lichen Shield to repel a curse-enhanced Ghoul and escape with Albert and Sisyphus. Afterward, he offered them shields in exchange for endorsing his competition entry.

• Albert cut the Ghoul into pieces with Blade Bamboo Sword Dance, but it continued attacking Locke and Albert.
• Locke raised the Perseus's Eye Lichen Shield with Moss Shield, and its Magic Rebound made the Ghoul's body collapse and slowed it down.
• Locke, Albert, and Sisyphus escaped the Ghoul as Locke's Raptor transformation outpaced its tentacled form.
• Albert and Sisyphus praised the shield, and Locke explained that he had cultivated it himself and planned to sell it through the Golden Secret shop.
• Locke offered Albert and Sisyphus each a Perseus's Eye Lichen Shield in exchange for endorsing his Custom Magic Plant Competition entry.

Locke gave Albert and Sisyphus Perseus's Eye Lichens, and Albert demonstrated their strength before grafting his Blackchain Sword Bamboo onto Locke to help him escape the sealed area. As they prepared to find Locke's teacher, Rashid Tariel announced a severe test subject leak and Ghoul riot across the research institute.

• Locke handed the Perseus's Eye Lichens to Albert and Sisyphus, and Albert used one to destroy a modified Ghoul with magical backlash.
• Albert offered Locke the Blackchain Sword Bamboo and transferred it to him, storing some of his Magic Pressure inside it to strengthen Locke's flight and combat ability.
• Albert revealed that he still had a juvenile Space-Rending Curved-Leaf Fern and urged Locke to leave with him to find Locke's teacher and the others.
• A powerful Magic Pressure filled the research institute, and Rashid Tariel announced that test subjects had escaped across Districts D, C, and B and ordered everyone to investigate and suppress the outbreak.

Locke escaped the sealed research institute with Albert and Sisyphus, using Rashid Tariel’s traps to destroy a pursuing cursed creature. He then confronted the Black Wizards gathered outside the tunnel and opened fire, leaving the apprentices under a deadly barrage.

• Locke carried Albert and Sisyphus through corridors filled with curse spirit threads and raced back toward the magic trap tunnel.
• A failed First Ring cursed creature pursued them, and Locke realized the curse rays were overwhelming the Curse-Eroding Bugs inside it.
• Locke lured the creature into Rashid Tariel’s magic traps, where it collapsed and exploded; he collected and sealed the black-purple crystals it scattered.
• Locke found a large group of Black Wizards waiting outside the tunnel and set Albert and Sisyphus down before attacking with the Three-Headed Shooter Pea.
• With the Blackchain Sword Bamboo boosting his Magic Pressure, Locke fired repeatedly and blasted through the Black Wizard apprentices as Sisyphus and Albert watched in shock.

Locke and his allies helped destroy the research institute’s Curse Energy Core, crippling its defenses and exposing the White Wizard infiltration. As the Black Wizards closed in, Seflin demanded the chance to kill Locke, while Hassan quietly hinted at a private purpose.

• Locke killed more than thirty Second-Class Wizard Apprentices and three First-Class Wizard Apprentices, then realized enemies remained nearby.
• A huge explosion destroyed the Curse Energy Core, and Rashid Tariel ordered the Black Wizards to show no mercy to the infiltrators.
• Locke sensed Hassan and Seflin approaching in the Zone D Quarantine Zone, accompanied by Morris, who had replaced Seflin as Sequence Two.
• Seflin demanded to fight Locke, while Hassan assigned Morris to face Albert and claimed the remaining White Wizard for himself.
• Locke told Albert and Sisyphus that they had to control their own fate, while Hassan privately said he was happy to have seen two of his own kind.

Locke Augustine fled from Seflin through the unstable laboratory while resisting an unexplained urge to head for the Grand Resource Vault. Witch Gabriel manipulated the battle with divination magic but found she could not clearly influence Rashid Tariel’s fate, leaving his confrontation with Sophia uncertain.

• Seflin transformed into a Half-Body super Vampire and pursued Locke, who used enhanced flight to stay out of her reach.
• Locke studied the Magic Painting Map, resisted a foreign impulse directing him toward the Grand Resource Vault, and decided to follow it while observing Seflin.
• Seflin’s anger prevented her from seeking help, and she attacked Locke with venom carrying the [Incapacitation Curse], but he evaded it.
• Witch Gabriel used [Stellar Fate Usurpation] to manipulate the laboratory battle and discovered that Rashid Tariel’s tangled fate resisted her divination.
• Witch Gabriel questioned whether Sophia could defeat Rashid Tariel.

Incinerator Andy fought Rashid Tariel but was overwhelmed by the First-Ring Wizard’s Fear Blood Curse and Corrupting Blood Curse. Elsewhere, Locke battled Seflin until a powerful Wizard’s Magic Pressure revealed that the real target was Rashid, and Locke killed Seflin while Rashid withdrew his power to defend himself.

• Andy’s Incinerator’s Ritual Inscription trapped Rashid in pillars of flame, but Rashid seized the spell’s energy and absorbed Andy’s later fireball attacks.
• Rashid explained that his Fear Blood Curse made victims spread the curse by repeatedly thinking of others, and he let Andy flee so he would recall his companions.
• Seflin pursued Locke into the institute’s hall, where Locke used ranged attacks and the Hypothermia Curse traps to keep her at bay as Rashid’s curse weakened him.
• A tremendous Magic Pressure erupted in the institute, causing Rashid’s Curse Spirit Threads and blood mist to vanish as he withdrew his power to his true body.
• Seflin realized the Academy’s plan targeted Rashid rather than his research project, but Locke’s attacks and the hall’s traps left her unable to escape.
• Locke exhausted Seflin with repeated barrages from the Three-Headed Shooter Pea, then paralyzed her with Thunderbolt Potatoes and blasted her into fragments.