Chapter Summaries

Arro subdued Finn and forced him to renounce the Griffin Alliance, but Knan Nabbi ordered an attack anyway. When a noisy group approached, Knan Nabbi called for his apprentices to retreat, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Arro used the dust and forest terrain to evade spells, injured Finn, and pinned him down with a sword at his neck.
• Arro threatened Finn to make the Griffin Alliance apprentices stand down, and Dilia limped over to his side.
• Finn shouted that he quit the Griffin Alliance, but Knan Nabbi accused him of betrayal and ordered the others to attack.
• Arro shoved Finn toward Knan Nabbi and dodged aside as a large group approached, prompting Knan Nabbi to order a retreat.

After drawing a crowd to protect Dilia from Knan Nabbi and his allies, Arro explained how common curiosity and empathy had made the plan work. Concerned that Knan Nabbi might try again, Arro headed to Battle Corner Street to buy spellcasting materials and improve his combat power.

• Arro showed Kaitain and Dilia how he had used rumors about Junior Apprentices facing a knight to draw a crowd, explaining that curiosity and empathy had brought them over.
• Arro explained that Knan Nabbi and his allies would hesitate to act ruthlessly with witnesses present, especially with former victims among the apprentices.
• Arro learned that Dilia had twisted her ankle after being hit by Control Spells, then decided to buy spellcasting auxiliary items while she and Kaitain returned to the academy.
• Arro arrived at Battle Corner Street as a crowd gathered around the Mysterious Great Hall after someone emerged from Anomaly Space No. 5, but he went to a Spellcasting Materials Stall.

Arro bought Flash Powder to defend against Knan Nabbi’s Shadow Element spells, while Knan Nabbi reported his failures to Senior Sister Amy and was affected by her mist. After Dilia and Kaitain explained the danger from Wizard Apprentices, Dilia promised to protect Arro, who regretted spending five Gold Coins on the powder.

• Arro bought ten grams of Flash Powder for five Gold Coins as a precaution against Knan Nabbi.
• Knan Nabbi told Senior Sister Amy that his attempts to lure Arro had failed.
• Amy sent mist into Knan Nabbi, causing him to struggle against conflicting expressions before becoming submissive again.
• Amy warned Knan Nabbi not to implicate her mother and told him to consider other methods instead of directly assassinating Arro.
• Dilia and Kaitain explained the restrictions on Intermediate Wizard Apprentices and advised Arro to avoid isolated places.
• Dilia offered to protect Arro, and Arro accepted while lamenting the cost of the Flash Powder.

Arro prepared to defend himself against a possible ambush by Knan Nabbi, designing ways to cast Light Spell while dodging Shadow Element attacks. After naming his notes “Solar Fist,” he discovered the System recognized it as a martial skill.

• Arro rested after lunch, then used his established study habits and a piece of candy to enter a learning state.
• Arro focused his studies on Light Spell as a counter to Knan Nabbi’s Shadow Element magic and imagined possible attacks.
• Arro planned evasive movements and ways to cast Light Spell over his body, with Flash Powder as a backup.
• Arro copied his plans into a notebook and titled them “Solar Fist.”
• Arro saw the System announce that the martial skill “Solar Fist” had been discovered and ask whether he wanted to learn it.

Arro tested why the Martial Arts System recognized Solar Fist but not Light Spell, discovering that close-range spell techniques counted as martial skills. He confirmed that Solar Fist still qualified without Flash Powder and prepared a three-level version to learn.

• Arro considered how martial arts could imitate creatures’ abilities and reaffirmed his plan to use martial arts for defense and elemental wizardry for his path forward.
• Arro tested whether Chinese names or full-body movements made spells count as martial skills, and both theories failed.
• Arro copied several ranged counterattacks into a book and found that neither Energy Ball nor Light Ball triggered the system.
• Arro altered a copied Solar Fist to cast farther from his body and found that the system recognized it only when the spell was cast close up.
• Arro removed Flash Powder from Solar Fist and triggered the system prompt, then combined three Light Spells into a three-level Solar Fist and received an offer to learn its first level.

Arro used his remaining Skill Points to learn new martial skills based on Water and Earth tricks, then left his cabin to practice while Kaitain resumed writing and drawing. He ended the chapter pleased with his new abilities, despite having spent all his points.

• Arro used the Nine Yang Divine Fist—Solar Fist to master Light Spell and gained an understanding of Spark Spell.
• Arro chose to broaden his elemental skills rather than focus on Fire tricks, and devised a Mist Body Technique using Mist Spell and a Body Flicker Technique using Trip Spell.
• Arro spent his remaining Skill Points to learn Silent Killing Technique—Mist Body Technique and Nine Revolving Consecutive Steps—Body Flicker Technique, leaving him with no points.
• Arro left the Wooden Cabin and found Dilia practicing the rhythm he had taught her while Kaitain wrote and drew in his notebook.
• Arro told Dilia and Kaitain that his condition was not bad, then practiced his new skills as Kaitain returned to his strenuous writing and drawing.

Arro decided to seek Desi’s advice about entering a newly opened Anomaly Space, hoping to gain combat experience and advance his skills. After finally meeting him, Arro learned that safe Anomaly Spaces were scarce, and Desi began to share some good news.

• Arro decided to find Desi rather than risk an Anomaly Space alone, and Dilia urged him to wait until after her Mental Strength Detection Class.
• Arro reached the academy Cafeteria without encountering the Griffin Alliance, but Desi did not appear that day.
• Arro spent several days reading Alchemy books in the Library and waiting at the Cafeteria before Desi finally arrived.
• Arro asked Desi about the newly opened Anomaly Space, and Desi explained that low-danger spaces were restricted or fiercely contested, leaving desperate apprentices to risk dangerous spaces.
• Desi asked whether Arro was learning Alchemy because he lacked Magic Stones, and Arro said he had already learned the Basic Elemental Tricks.
• Desi told Arro he had good news, leaving Arro curious about what it was.

Arro refused to enter the Academy competition, wary of exposing his abilities, and studied alchemy instead. Desi led him away and asked which Elemental System Meditation Technique he had chosen.

• Desi told Arro that the Academy would reward the top ten Junior Apprentices in a competition with access to a low-risk Anomaly Space, but Arro decided not to participate.
• Arro explained that he did not want to be a performing monkey in the arena and preferred to keep his strength hidden.
• Desi angrily told Arro he would feed his steak to a dog before giving it to him, then awkwardly continued eating after Arro teased him about it.
• Arro studied alchemy and took notes on items he wanted to make, while Desi grew irritated by the sound of his turning pages.
• Desi led Arro away and explained that his poor Energy Affinity would slow his magic growth before asking which Elemental System Meditation Technique he had chosen.

Arro discussed the tradeoffs of pursuing a Three Elements meditation technique with Desi, who realized Arro was already proficient at casting his Basic Elemental Tricks and advised him to use Magic Stones to build his Magic Power. In Intermediate Apprentice City, Desi introduced Arro to Morgan, who found a team entering a Beginner Anomaly Space that afternoon.

• Desi warned Arro that dividing his Magic Power among three elements would make spellcasting and advancement more difficult, but Arro chose to follow the path he thought most likely to lead to becoming a Formal Wizard.
• After learning Arro could cast all three Basic Elemental Tricks with Hand Seals, Desi suggested he use Magic Stones to raise his Magic Power before advancing his meditation technique.
• Arro realized his mother had given him Magic Stones so he could strengthen his Magic Power, and he traveled with Desi to Intermediate Apprentice City.
• Desi introduced Arro to Morgan and asked him to find a team entering a Beginner Anomaly Space.
• Morgan said Narcissus was entering that afternoon and Norberto the next day, and Arro agreed to join Narcissus's team.

Desi took Arro to meet Narcissus, a professional guide for the Academy’s Anomaly Space, and helped him prepare for a chance to advance as a Wizard Apprentice. After assessing Arro’s Tricks, Narcissus offered two arrangements and named the Bloody Forest as the three-day option.

• Desi explained that Arro needed to enter the Academy’s Anomaly Space and offered to cover the fee for Narcissus’s services, but Arro refused and asked about Desi’s new job with Mentor Alice.
• Desi brought Arro to meet Narcissus, who inspected him and asked about his Knight training and magical abilities.
• Arro told Narcissus he could cast six basic Tricks from the water, fire, and earth elements using Hand Seals.
• Narcissus offered Arro a three-hour expedition for seven Gold Coins, with her keeping any gains, or a three-day expedition with no fee and gains split forty-sixty in Arro’s favor.
• Arro asked what Anomaly Space they would enter, and Narcissus said he could choose the destination for the shorter trip or go to the Bloody Forest for three days.

Arro entered the Bloody Forest with Narcissus to assess its dangers and learn about the anomaly space before deciding whether to help her collect Scarlet Snake Stones. As they left the ruins, Narcissus warned him that something was watching them, and the pair prepared for an attack.

• Arro followed Narcissus into the Bloody Forest, planning to leave after three hours if it proved too dangerous.
• Narcissus killed a Bone-Eating Rat and warned Arro about the rats’ viruses and the Carrion Vines’ blood-draining danger.
• Narcissus explained that other apprentices could be more dangerous than the forest’s creatures because the Academy’s detection power could not enter.
• Narcissus told Arro that rat teeth and intact Carrion Vines could be exchanged for Gold Coins, though only in small amounts.
• As they entered the denser forest, Narcissus warned Arro that something was watching him, and he tightened his grip on his Knight's Longsword.

Arro and Narcissus fought a swarm of evil spirits in the dark, and Arro discovered that defeating them earned substantial experience. Narcissus unleashed her power against the encroaching horde, leaving the battle underway.

• Narcissus identified the approaching monsters as evil spirits and said they left only Anomaly Powder when defeated.
• Arro cast a Light Spell to illuminate the area, while Narcissus cut down several evil spirits with her sword.
• Arro used his Cat Style Fist—Dash and swordsmanship to kill five evil spirits and gained 725 Personal Experience.
• Narcissus became distracted watching Arro, allowing evil spirits to swarm over her until his shouts brought her back to her senses.
• Narcissus crushed an evil spirit's head with one hand, then released a violent gale that flung the spirits away and caved in the ground.

Knan Nabbi learned Arro had not entered the gathering and ordered Ferry to find out where Arro was, threatening him with the dangerous item meant for Arro. In the Bloody Forest, Arro fought Evil Spirits for experience before Narcissus explained why teams needed a wizard who knew the Water Fetching Spell.

• Knan Nabbi erupted when he learned Arro had avoided the Junior Apprentice Gathering Place for two months, while the apprentices admitted they had been afraid to attack him at Dilia's residence.
• Ferry urged Knan Nabbi to abandon the plan, but Knan Nabbi told him to locate Arro immediately or the dangerous item would be used on him.
• Narcissus cleared a path through the Evil Spirits, and Arro rushed forward to defeat them and gain experience before stopping his pursuit at Narcissus's warning.
• Narcissus lit a fire with a Fire Crystal, and Arro singed a streak of his hair while dodging the flames.
• Narcissus explained that the Bloody Forest's water was toxic and that teams needed a wizard with the Water Fetching Spell to supply safe water.

Arro refused Narcissus’s offer to venture deep into Bloody Forest for Scarlet Snake Stone, and she agreed to take him back to the Ruins. On the way, Narcissus explained that the monster-clearing friends he reminded her of belonged to the academy’s Guard Army, revealing that she had once been one of them after failing the Death Test.

• Arro decided he would not join Narcissus on a deep expedition, saying he was not prepared to venture far into Anomaly Space.
• Narcissus accepted Arro’s decision and offered to take him back; as they traveled, Arro hunted scattered Evil Spirits and Demonic Beasts for Experience Points.
• Narcissus told Arro that some former friends had also cleared every Evil Creature they encountered, but they were dead.
• Narcissus explained that those friends had called themselves the Last Line of Defense for Humanity and had served in the academy’s Guard Army.
• Narcissus revealed that Guard Army members owed the academy Magic Stones, lived outside Arro’s alternate space, and were barred from the Academy Level.
• Narcissus told Arro that she had failed the Death Test, refused a later task to serve as bait, and was sent to the academy by Airship.

Arro and Narcissus returned from the Anomaly Space, where the Academy inspected their harvest and kept a share of it. After realizing how the Academy’s fees and rules burden apprentices, Arro accepted that it offered real power but felt little loyalty toward it.

• Narcissus told Arro that joining the Guard Army and fighting Evil Creatures had cost her friends their lives, while apprentices also had to borrow from the Academy for training and Meditation Techniques.
• Arro and Narcissus reached the Academy’s inspection station, where apprentices showed their Personal Name Tags and submitted their harvest for inspection.
• Arro passed through a vine archway that checked for unknown curses and received his inspected items along with ten Contribution Points for his first Anomaly Space trip.
• An apprentice explained that the Academy kept four-tenths of the harvest to maintain the Anomaly Spaces, and Arro reflected on how its fees kept apprentices in debt.
• Narcissus took seven Gold Coins from Arro and left, while he pressed his empty Money Bag and shook his head.

Arro prepared to enter an Anomaly Space with Big Brother Desi, while secretly suspecting that the people who had followed him were planning something. He left Senior Sister Dilia with reassurance and grilled fish, determined to stay alert.

• Arro spent his remaining gold and, unable to enter another Anomaly Space until the next day, noticed an apprentice watching him near the Mysterious Great Hall.
• After Arro left, the apprentice reported that he had seen Arro come out of the Mysterious Great Hall and buy a whetstone and Rust Prevention Oil; someone ordered him to watch the place again.
• Arro cleaned and sharpened his scarred Knight's Longsword, and the next morning carefully prepared his armor, supplies, and weapons.
• Dilia noticed Arro was armed and learned he planned to enter an Anomaly Space with Big Brother Desi; she gave him grilled fish and urged him to be cautious.
• Arro left after reassuring Dilia, then reflected that someone had followed him and wondered whether the group was targeting him to get at her.

Arro discovered that Knan Nabbi’s men were waiting to attack him in the Anomaly Space, so he avoided rushing into an ambush and chose to let the terrain and Evil Spirits work to his advantage. Knan Nabbi sent seven apprentices with a Puppet Master's Tree Seed to capture Arro for Senior Sister Amy, while Amy’s mother appeared in the mist.

• Arro recognized Knan Nabbi’s man at the Mysterious Great Hall and entered Corner Path No. 13 while pretending not to know he was being watched.
• Arro climbed to high ground in the ruins, decided not to wait by a corner path, and chose to wear down his pursuers while hunting Evil Spirits.
• A Junior Apprentice reported that Arro had entered Bloody Forest No. 13, and Knan Nabbi ordered seven apprentices to capture him alive or preserve his head.
• Knan Nabbi told his apprentices to equip themselves and take a Puppet Master's Tree Seed into the Anomaly Space, then left to update Senior Sister Amy.
• Knan Nabbi confirmed to Senior Sister Amy that the apprentices were waiting for Arro, and Amy’s mother emerged from the mist.

Amy told mentor Alice she planned to give her Arro’s head, while Alice warned her to protect her fragile revival and rebuked Knan Nabbi for acting beyond his role. Meanwhile, Arro hunted Evil Spirits to gain experience, and the Griffin Alliance apprentices pursuing him gave up and decided to wait for him at the Ruins.

• Amy told mentor Alice that Arro’s head would be her gift and that she wanted to repay Alice for delaying her own advancement to help with Amy’s revival.
• Alice warned Amy to be cautious during the critical two years of her revival and ordered Knan Nabbi to keep making fake maps and luring apprentices into the Ruins.
• Arro hunted Evil Spirits around the Ruins, gained over six thousand Experience Points, and reached Level 17 while waiting for the Corner Path to open.
• Finn and the other Griffin Alliance apprentices complained that they had lost Arro’s trail in the jungle.
• Willough defended Knan Nabbi, then persuaded the group to stop pursuing Arro and return to stake out the Ruins.

Arro recovered after fighting evil spirits and avoided the Ruins because he suspected the Griffin Alliance was waiting there. Meanwhile, the Alliance apprentices watched for him as the Crystal Ball lit up, signaling that someone was approaching.

• Arro checked his skills and skill points, then decided to rest and regain his strength before entering the Ruins.
• A young man outside the Mysterious Great Hall muttered conflicting commands to catch Arro and avoid unrelated matters.
• Lyon, Willough, Finn, and the other apprentices waiting in the Ruins noticed the abundance of Evil Spirit Shards and speculated about who had cleared the spirits.
• The apprentices discussed Arro’s disappearance and Knan Nabbi’s demand for his head, while Willough warned them not to speak carelessly.
• Finn saw the Crystal Ball in Willough’s hand light up, and the apprentices warned that someone was approaching.

Arro discovered the Griffin Alliance apprentices waiting in the Ruins and launched a surprise attack. Though he wounded Grala, the Mind Element Apprentice, the group’s spells and Grala’s escape prevented Arro from reaching him.

• Arro watched the Ruins with a monocular telescope and confirmed that the Griffin Alliance apprentices were lying in wait for him.
• When the apprentices detected Arro approaching, he charged and struck Lyon’s Small Fireball with his sword, causing it to explode.
• Arro used the Trip Spell and Body Flickering Technique to attack Grala, but Grala interrupted him with a Fear Spell and escaped with a wounded leg.
• Willough and the other apprentices attacked Arro with spells as he fell, but Arro crawled on all fours and dodged their tricks.
• Finn and Willough cast more spells, slowing Arro and allowing Grala to get away.