Chapter Summaries

The Great Wizard Sura forced the Mage Plane’s World Power to manifest as the World Hall, then released his control over the Mage Saints and prepared to seize the World Stone. After Alicia expressed her affection for him despite learning he was an outsider, Sura protected her while insisting she was only a native pet, then entered the World Hall under crushing pressure.

• The World Hall descended, and Locke studied the recorded scene, reasoning that Sura had made the World Will favor him by spreading his wizard system and civilization.
• Sura found that his magic could not open the World Hall, released his control over the Mage Saints, and declared that their choices were insignificant to him.
• Alicia asked whether Sura was truly from the outside world and said that his past kindness mattered more to her than his origins.
• Sura called Alicia a native pet resembling his granddaughter, but cast a Bloodline Shield on her and claimed he only needed to vent his excess mana.
• Sura entered the World Hall and continued up its stairs despite the immense World Power nearly forcing him to his knees.

Great Wizard Sura reached the World Hall and prepared to fuse the World Stone with his embryonic Great Magic so he could become a Second-Ring Wizard. Locke watched the recording and inferred that Great Magic was a wizard’s second soul, but he paused the image before seeing what happened next.

• Great Wizard Sura climbed to the Mage Saint Hall and declared that Uriel and the Child of Prophecy could not defeat him.
• Great Wizard Sura forced open the World Hall’s gate, shaking every living being in the Mage Plane.
• Great Wizard Sura found the World Stone and explained that he would contaminate part of it with his soul to create the Source of Magic.
• Locke realized that Great Magic functioned as a second soul and could let a wizard exceed the 9,999 Magic Pressure limit.
• Locke paused the True Sight Crystal’s image and wondered what had happened after Sura began his attempt.

Great Wizard Sura’s attempt to advance to the Second Ring contaminated the World Stone with negative emotions, unleashing destructive black lightning across the Mage Plane. He realized the Dark Cave Scorpion Woman bloodline was amplifying those emotions, and wondered whether Uriel had foreseen the danger.

• Great Wizard Sura fed emotional fragments into the World Stone, causing disasters across the Mage Plane and creating strange, headless shadow beings.
• A Memory Fragment of Sura’s jealousy and humiliation entered the World Stone, and his attempts to suppress his negative emotions only intensified them.
• Black lightning struck the Mage Plane, turning whatever it touched into black liquid, while Locke observed the destruction through the True Sight Crystal.
• Sura realized the Dark Cave Scorpion Woman bloodline was stimulating his negative thoughts and worsening the contamination during his Second Ring advancement.
• A memory of Sura and Uriel discussing the bloodline’s design entered the World Stone, leaving Sura to wonder whether Uriel had anticipated what would happen.

Uriel used Jell Fisher to merge the demonkin and Mage systems and seize the World Stone, but his teacher stole part of the stone, and Sura detonated the Dark Void. After reviewing the failed Second-Ring advancement, Locke planned his own preparations and considered the opportunities his Cloud Marsh Cup victory might bring.

• Uriel completed Jell Fisher's transformation into the Ultimate Demonkin, giving him the powers of both demonkin and wizards.
• Jell Fisher drove Sura away from the World Stone while Uriel began marking it with his memories and positive emotions.
• Sura threatened to detonate the Dark Void, but Uriel summoned his teacher, a skeletal giant who tore away one-third of the World Stone and left.
• Sura detonated the Dark Void, ending both wizards' attempts to advance to the Second Ring.
• Locke studied the True Sight Crystal recording, assessed what he had learned about Second-Ring advancement, and planned to seek resources and teaching invitations after winning the Cloud Marsh Cup.

At the Cloud Marsh Cup awards ceremony, Locke’s team received the championship after defeating Witch Diana’s and Wizard Edgar’s teams. As the contestants discussed their plans to become Second-Ring Wizards, Boniface University representatives considered recruiting Locke and speculated about the Starfield Sea becoming a high-magic region.

• Wizard Trix awarded Witch Diana third place and Wizard Edgar second place, and both warned Locke that a future contest could end differently.
• Wizard Trix awarded Locke and the Land of Six Towers team first place, while the remaining rankings included Alaric in fifth place.
• Alaric invited Locke to visit the Golden Dynasty, and Witch Diana, Wizard Edgar, and Locke spoke about pursuing Second-Ring Wizard status.
• Locke gave a brief championship speech about his team’s hardships and unity, then invited his teammates to speak.
• Two Second-Ring Wizards from Boniface University discussed recruiting Locke and wondered whether the Starfield Sea would become a high-magic region.

After winning the Cloud Marsh Cup, Locke received competing recruitment offers from wizard organizations eager to benefit from his prestige and research. He boarded an airship before more recruiters could reach him, then prepared his students for the ascent into the Second Sky.

• Wizard Tacks offered Locke a faculty position at Arrowflow Harbor, promising housing, a magic-creature carriage, access to a First-Ring Wizard Secret Realm, and a mentor position.
• Witch Diana warned Locke that Arrowflow Harbor’s promises did not amount to a legitimate wizard mentor position and advised him to consider only top universities or the Advanced Truth Institute.
• Locke accepted Arrowflow Harbor’s contract and invitation letter for consideration, while Wizard Tacks warned him that other organizations were making even more outrageous offers and that his whereabouts were being sold.
• Recruiters from the Thousand-Faced Water Serpent called out to Locke as he boarded the airship, and Montgomery asked the Central Control Room to take off quickly.
• Locke told Montgomery to have the students enter the pressurized chamber before the airship entered the Second Sky, where their Magic Pressure and Mana could become unstable.

Great Wizard Sura revealed that he had survived by transferring his soul into a magical painting, then learned that Locke’s team had won the Cloud Marsh Cup. He urged Alicia to use the victory to strengthen her standing, but warned her that Locke would eventually leave and encouraged her to pursue the Second Ring through her bloodline talent.

• Great Wizard Sura emerged from a magical painting and explained to Alicia that he had saved his soul with the Dragon-Scorpion Bloodline’s substitute-death ability, though he could no longer become a Second-Ring Wizard.
• Sura told Alicia that he retained 9999 Magic Pressure and could use her to activate the White Dragon Tower’s defenses while he watched for a possible attack by Uriel.
• A family wizard brought news that Locke Augustine’s team had won the Cloud Marsh Cup, and Alicia celebrated while Sura ordered the result publicized and planned a commendation ceremony and family meeting.
• Sura warned Alicia that Cloud Marsh Cup champions could become Second-Ring Wizards and that the Land of Six Towers would not be able to keep Locke.
• Alicia said she had a path to the Second Ring through the Scorpion Woman Bloodline, and Sura explained that the Mage Plane’s remaining World Stone could support one wizard’s advancement and that her body held a Superior Meditation Method.

After Locke won the Cloud Marsh Cup, the Plutarch Family’s rivals abandoned their plans against it, and Locke received congratulations from his fellow wizards. Back at the White Dragon Tower, Alicia rewarded Locke with the Scorpion Woman Ring and Primordial Fire, and offered to replace two of his True Blood drops.

• Eric canceled the Basil Family witch’s plan to seize power and accepted Alicia’s growing influence after Locke’s victory.
• The families in the Land of Six Towers dropped their hostile plans against the Plutarch Family, while Harlan Vela announced Locke’s championship at a student gathering.
• Wizard Anthony told Harlan Vela that Locke’s victory had strengthened his position in the Plutarch Family and invited fellow students to visit the Land of Six Towers.
• Locke returned to the White Dragon Tower, where Great Wizard Sura explained how he had preserved his soul and announced the family’s reward for Locke.
• Alicia permanently gave Locke the Scorpion Woman Ring and Primordial Fire, and Great Wizard Sura removed the ring’s restrictions to reveal its six Bloodline School spells.
• After learning the ring’s abilities, Locke noted that two of his True Blood drops duplicated its spells, and Alicia offered to replace them.

Locke chose two Bloodline Spells and received rewards from Alicia and the Plutarch Family for his contributions to the Land of Six Towers. The Great Wizard Sura tried to persuade him to remain and inherit the six towers, but Locke chose to pursue becoming a Second-Ring Wizard elsewhere.

• Locke chose [Bloodline Harmonization] and [Bloodflame Enchantment], prioritizing bloodline control over further strengthening his physique.
• Alicia promised to make the two True Bloods and arrange Locke’s entry to the Toxic Valley through a temporary advisor position.
• Alicia told Locke that his improved Powder of Mammon and One-Horned Rhino formulas had been approved, and proposed that the Plutarch Family run a Potion Specialty Shop with him.
• The Great Wizard Sura learned that Locke and Alicia had developed a Potion-based advancement method and urged Alicia to pursue Potion research.
• The Great Wizard Sura offered Locke the Land of Six Towers and its six signal towers after his soul dissipated in thirty years, but Locke refused because he wanted to become a Second-Ring Wizard.

Locke spoke with Harlan Vela about combining three defensive force fields to recreate Madam Mister’s legendary Nature Force Field, and agreed to pursue the spells needed to test it. Harlan sent him the spell materials, leaving Locke ready to expand his Forest Sanctuary and investigate Lilith’s Cottage’s ancient magic.

• Harlan Vela recommended that Locke learn Harvest Force Field and Withering Force Field, which could combine with Life Force Field to form Nature Force Field.
• Harlan Vela explained that Mistralin Road was protected by Nature Force Field and that Locke’s Nine-Headed Snake might help him recreate Mister’s Power.
• Harlan Vela offered Locke spellbooks for Harvest Force Field and Withering Force Field, and recommended Oak Belt and Oak Crown to combine with Oak Magic Armor into Life Heavy Armor.
• Locke agreed to try the spells and said his 870,000 Magic Stones would fund the magic plants needed to advance his Forest Sanctuary.
• Harlan Vela sent Locke the materials and said he was eager to learn whether Madam Mister and her legendary powers had truly existed.

Locke received and transplanted a large shipment of Magic Plants, completing the mature forest in his Druid's Ring. With the Forest Sanctuary ready for its next stage, he prepared to test whether the Harvest and Withering Force Fields could complete Mister's Power.

• Locke spent 860,000 Magic Stones on First-Ring and Apprentice-Level Magic Plants from the Root Crown Court, prioritizing the forest's safety and growth.
• A Root Crown Court Wizard delivered the plants, and Wizard Apprentices from the Plutarch Family transported them to Locke's Special Laboratory.
• Locke prepared the soil in his Druid's Ring and, a week later, transplanted the sixty-two First-Ring Magic Plants along with shrubs, herbs, and vines.
• Locke's forest grew to 671 trees and seventy-one First-Ring Magic Plants, forming a mature woodland covering one hundred mu.
• Locke learned the Harvest Force Field and Withering Force Field and prepared to test whether he could use the Triple Force Field to complete Mister's Power.

Locke tested whether the Life, Harvest, and Withering Force Fields could combine to create Mister's Power, but repeated attempts failed until he changed their order. He discovered that the three forces formed a four-seasons cycle and left wondering who Ms. Mistralin really was.

• Locke used the Nine-Headed Snake Magic Plant to test combining his three Permanent Defense Fields, but the Withering Force Field disrupted the Life and Harvest Force Fields.
• After five failed tests, Locke suspected the theory from Lilith's Cottage might be wrong, then decided to try once more with a different order.
• Locke cast the Harvest Force Field, then the Withering Force Field, and finally the Life Force Field, forming a cycle that produced Four Seasons Cycle Power.
• Locke's Nature Force Field absorbed Bloodflame Arrow attacks and grew stronger, then returned an attack as a flaming arrow.
• Locke recorded that the three force fields had fused into the Nature Force Field and wondered who Ms. Mistralin really was.

Locke tested and analyzed Mister's Power, concluding that it might be an alternative path to the Second Ring, and planned two journal articles about it. Montgomery and Witch Barbara visited to say goodbye before leaving for teaching positions at Crawler Garden in Rain-Marsh.

• Locke spent ten thousand Magic Stones testing the Nature Force Field and found that it offered powerful defense, absorbed and returned attacks, and could be compressed into a scythe that shattered his Oak Magic Armor.
• Locke wrote that Mister's Power might be an early, alternative method of advancing to the Second Ring, and decided to submit separate articles to journals in the Southeastern Corner Region and Cloud Marsh.
• Locke's Magic Pressure rose to 7,200 as the Nature Force Field and Sophia's Compression Method accelerated his progress toward the Crystallization Stage.
• Locke reasoned that his rapid growth depended on several hard-to-replicate conditions and considered moving to a better-resourced Wizard Land to mass-produce Nine-Headed Snake Magic Plants.
• Montgomery and Witch Barbara thanked Locke for leading them to victory in the Cloud Marsh Cup and told him they had accepted teaching positions at Crawler Garden in Rain-Marsh.

After winning the Cloud Marsh Cup, Locke reviewed invitations from wizard academies across seventeen Wizard Lands while Montgomery and Barbara prepared to join Crawler Garden. Locke rejected the poor terms offered by Tower of Dawn and considered which academy to choose.

• Locke congratulated Montgomery and Barbara on their invitations to Crawler Garden, a top academy known for cultivating crawling creatures.
• Montgomery and Barbara thanked Locke for giving commoner wizards the chance to compete in the Cloud Marsh Cup, which had helped them avoid becoming Black Wizards and earn invitations.
• Montgomery and Barbara said their farewells and left that day for Crawler Garden.
• After they left, Locke considered his own future and examined invitations from academies in seventeen Wizard Lands.
• Locke read Tower of Dawn's offer to recruit him as a junior mentor to help a Third-Ring Wizard create an illuminating Magic Plant, and judged its terms inadequate.
• Locke decided to weigh invitations from other major academies, recognizing that winning the Cloud Marsh Cup had given him the right to choose.

Locke weighed invitations from wizard organizations across several Wizard Lands and decided that the Advanced Truth Institutes of the Land of Three Marshes offered the strongest path to his ambitions. He compared their demanding graduation requirements with ordinary academic promotions and was left considering whether the credentials and opportunities justified the added difficulty.

• Locke compared invitations from the Sunshadow Peninsula, the Golden Dynasty, and the Land of Three Marshes, then set aside the regular academy offers and prioritized the Starfield Sea.
• Locke examined invitations to Advanced Truth Institutes from Boniface University, the Rose Council, and the Golden Crown Mountain Dragonblood Society.
• Locke found that all three institutes required three high-ranking papers, a First-Ring Fund project, a key research project, and training two Formal Wizards.
• Locke learned that an Advanced Truth Institute certificate could open doors to the Starfield Sea and let him bypass the lecture mage position at top organizations.
• Locke compared Boniface University's institute requirements with its regular promotion track and found the institute's graduation path slightly harder.

Locke weighed the Advanced Truth Institutes available to him and asked Director Morrison to negotiate on his behalf as Cloud Marsh Cup champion. Morrison recommended prioritizing research funding, autonomy, and staffing over easier exit requirements, and said Boniface University might suit Locke better than Golden Crown Mountain.

• Locke compared the Rose Council, Boniface University, and Golden Crown Mountain, then narrowed his choices to Boniface University and Golden Crown Mountain.
• Locke contacted Director Morrison, who explained that Advanced Truth Institutes offered First-Ring Wizards access to Superior Meditation Methods but imposed demanding exit requirements.
• Director Morrison advised Locke to negotiate for funding, control over projects and research direction, and the ability to recruit wizard personnel rather than seek easier exit requirements.
• Director Morrison said Boniface University’s balanced Breeding Science and Botany might suit Locke better than Golden Crown Mountain’s agriculture-focused research, though both institutions offered suitable projects.

Locke entered the Toxic Valley secret realm to collect its resources and discovered that its Second-Ring bloodline toxin could penetrate his defenses but was suppressed by strengthening his physique. As he began exploring, a human-faced wolf spider attacked him and vowed to offer him to Wizard Basil.

• Locke submitted two articles to southeast and Cloud Marsh, then applied to Alicia and Great Wizard Sura for permission to enter the Toxic Valley.
• A Plutarch Family wizard warned Locke that the valley's poisonous miasma could damage his soul, that he could not leave until he placed five Poison Pearls in the toxic blood pool, and that wizards inside were forbidden to attack one another.
• Locke crossed the stone gate, entered the secret realm, and realized the Second-Ring Wizard's Echo had changed the world's principles and suppressed his mana.
• The airborne toxin began invading Locke's Permanent Defense Field, but potions and Bloodline School spells strengthened his body enough to suppress it.
• Locke passed a venom-filled well, where a human-faced wolf spider emerged and spat poisonous silk at him, declaring it would offer him as blood food to Wizard Basil.

Nidhogg Basil entered Toxic Valley intending to cripple Locke Augustine, while his wizards trapped Kandel outside and blocked his escape. Inside the valley, Locke discovered that killing the Basil wizard’s affiliated species granted Memory Fragments containing the Second-Ring wizard’s experience.

• Nidhogg asked Kandel whether Locke had entered Toxic Valley, then went in alone to hunt him.
• Nidhogg absorbed venom from a poison well to strengthen his bloodline, while five Basil wizards surrounded Kandel outside.
• Kandel crushed a warning letter and hoped Alicia or Sura would intervene, but feared they could not stop Nidhogg.
• Locke killed a human-faced spider with his Execution Mushroom Hammer and collected the Memory Fragment it left behind.
• Locke realized that the valley’s living affiliated species held Memory Fragments of the deceased Second-Ring Basil wizard and acted as tomb guardians.

Locke explored the Wizard Secret Realm, learned more about Wizard Basil from Memory Fragments, and killed Babar, the poisonous snake guarding the Ringed Mountain, with Mister's Power. Nearby spider women debated whether to seek Locke's help to escape the cage, while one of them favored waiting for Babar to revive and trying to claim its Poison Pearl.

• Locke absorbed a Memory Fragment and learned that Wizard Basil had mastered Bloodline Poison and transformed the Basil Family's fighting style.
• Locke killed vassal creatures hiding in poison wells and collected Memory Fragments that deepened his understanding of Second-Ring Wizards.
• Locke found a Poison Lake near the Ringed Mountain, where Babar emerged and attacked him with the Poison of the Eight-Legged Death God.
• Locke used the Nine-Headed Snake Magic Plant to form a Nature Force Field and a powerful axe, then killed Babar and took its Memory Fragment and Poison Pearl.
• Spider women watching from a distance discussed asking Locke for help escaping their cage, but one warned that wizards might kill them and suggested waiting for Babar to revive.

Locke entered Wizard Basil’s Poison Lake and endured its deadly toxins to temper and strengthen his bloodlines. As Nidhogg hunted him, Locke’s Ancient Creature Bloodlines rapidly evolved inside the lake.

• Locke learned that Basil’s Poison Lake could strengthen bloodlines through cycles of poisoning and detoxification, then entered it with the Poison Pearl beneath his tongue.
• The lake’s toxins stripped away Locke’s flesh and suppressed his mana, but the Poison Pearl detoxified him and allowed his bloodlines to recover and grow.
• Nidhogg sensed activity near the poison well and decided to attack Locke while his body was weakened, transforming into a giant spider-man and using Spider Intuition to find him.
• Nidhogg mistook a second vibration source for activity from the Spiderwoman Race, then headed toward the source he believed was Locke.
• Inside the Poison Lake, Locke’s Orkney Giant Bear Chief, Three-Eyed Tiger-Eyed Cat, and True Dragon Bloodlines rapidly advanced, and a golden dragon scale briefly appeared on his hand.