Chapter Summaries

Keosius confronted Talin.Akmonde over Klein’s offense and demanded compensation before sparing the legendary mage. After receiving powerful time artifacts and a promise of 600,000 Gold Coins, Keosius considered his uncertain future and returned to his kingdom.

• Keosius threatened to kill Klein, and Talin.Akmonde apologized and offered compensation on behalf of the Tower of Time.
• Talin.Akmonde gave Keosius a Ninth Circle Time Stop scroll, a Tower of Time emblem, and Klein’s legendary Time Pocketwatch.
• Keosius demanded more compensation, so Talin.Akmonde promised 600,000 Gold Coins within ten days in exchange for temporarily lifting the Magic Restriction Domain around Keosius’s palace.
• Talin.Akmonde hurriedly teleported away with Klein, and Keosius reflected on whether the future could change before opening a portal and returning to his kingdom.

Keosius forced Ingrid Garcés to choose between death and serving his realm for thirty years, and she accepted his terms. As the defeated Northern army mourned the ruin of its kingdom, dawn suddenly broke over the battlefield.

• Keosius confronted Ingrid Garcés and told her that the Fadlan Empire had shattered and could not protect her.
• Keosius offered Ingrid her life in exchange for serving the Embers of the Burned Kingdom for thirty years, and she agreed to serve him as King.
• Keosius ordered Ingrid to use Control Weather to brighten the sky after the battle.
• The Northern Nobles surveyed the devastation and feared the Northern United Kingdom was about to perish.
• Viscount Luton and the other grieving nobles looked up in astonishment as dawn came.

Keosius appeared over the battlefield, declared the North dead and Ember enduring, and the Northern coalition collapsed without resistance. The Embers of the Burned Kingdom advanced to claim the Anzeta Great Wasteland as the old order fell.

• Keosius emerged beneath the priestess’s Sacred Sunburn Technique, and Viscount Luton recognized him as far more terrifying than before.
• Keosius declared, “The North is dead” and “Ember endures,” leaving the Northern Nobles and soldiers despairing while the Embers of the Burned Kingdom celebrated.
• Marshal Dolo ordered the kingdom’s army to advance, and the coalition offered no resistance.
• A Northern Noble charged the advancing army and was shot dead amid a burst of gunfire.
• Keosius thought the war was over and the Anzeta Great Wasteland was his, earning the trophy “Nation Ender.”

After the coalition surrendered, Keosius ordered Dolo to unify the North within three months while sparing it from devastation. In private, Keosius gained strength from his victory, used Bahamut's gem to calm the Heart of Kareks, and began considering players as another way to gain experience.

• The coalition army surrendered to the Embers of the Burned Kingdom, which captured tens of thousands of soldiers and continued south toward Strasbourg.
• Dolo reported the battle's casualties and prisoners, and Keosius ordered him to unify the North within three months without laying waste to it.
• Keosius gained the Nation Ender trait, and his body and spellcasting transformed as his Charisma surpassed thirty.
• Keosius used Damaged Bahamut's Wind to calm the Heart of Kareks, leaving its absorption progress paused at 4.57%.
• After receiving experience for defeating members of the legendary party but failing to level up, Keosius considered gaining experience through players.

Strasbourg’s defenders awaited news of the war, but the Bosk army returned as captives beneath the forces of the Embers of the Burned Kingdom. The Red Dragon declared the North fallen, and Strasbourg surrendered to the kingdom.

• Count Garrod Pont watched for the allied army’s return while Strasbourg remained under martial law.
• A returning force in Bosk uniforms approached the city, but Wyverns and Chimeras filled the sky above captive soldiers and the kingdom’s troops.
• The Red Dragon appeared and declared that the North had fallen as Ogres, Tieflings, and players shouted in response.
• Count Garrod despaired and slit his own throat atop the gate tower.
• Hobgoblins and Tieflings took control of Strasbourg’s walls as the City Defense Army surrendered, and the kingdom conquered the city.

After the Embers of the Burned Kingdom conquered Strasbourg, Keosius announced a public trial for the city’s residents. Mezhuolash presented the bound Marquis Horace Bosk and called on the crowd to judge his crimes, while Viscount Luton realized the trial was meant to dismantle the Northern Nobles’ power and legacy.

• The Tiefling army occupied Strasbourg and escorted its frightened citizens to the city’s squares without widespread violence.
• Keosius declared that the North had fallen and announced a public trial for the people of Strasbourg.
• Mezhuolash addressed the crowd and revealed Marquis Horace Bosk bound to a wooden frame.
• Mezhuolash accused Horace of war crimes and asked the citizens to judge him, but the crowd hesitated to challenge a noble.
• Viscount Luton recognized the trial as an effort to destroy the Northern Nobles’ physical, spiritual, and cultural roots.

Mezhuolash turned Holleren Bosque’s public trial into a popular reckoning by promising protection and a share of his property to truthful accusers. After the people of Strasbourg denounced Holleren’s crimes, he was sentenced to death and executed by guillotine.

• Mezhuolash promised that accusers who testified truthfully would face no consequences and could receive part of Holleren Bosque’s property.
• Lulun Pierce accused Holleren and his knights of robbing his shop and abducting and torturing his wife and daughter to death.
• Inspired by Lulun’s testimony, the people of Strasbourg publicly recounted the abuses committed during the Great Conscription and hurled mud, branches, and stones at Holleren.
• Mezhuolash declared Holleren guilty of numerous crimes and sentenced him to death after the crowd demanded the penalty.
• Tiefling Guards dragged Holleren to the guillotine and executed him as the crowd cheered.

The Tieflings oversaw the public execution of twenty-seven Northern nobles, while Viscount Luton watched in terror until he fainted. The kingdom’s open scheme bound the commoners who took part to the Embers of the Burned Kingdom, and Luton later recorded the day as a massacre.

• The Tieflings read out the charges and executed nobles including Earl Askin, while Viscount Luton watched among the prisoners.
• Luton fainted after Earl Askin’s beheading, and Tiefling Guards mocked his fear.
• After the public trial, commoners discussed receiving compensation and avenging their families.
• The trial ended with twenty-seven nobles beheaded, and part of their seized wealth was distributed among their victims.
• Lower-ranking nobles, including Luton, were imprisoned to await trial, while Luton later described the executions as a massacre in Seager's Handbook.

Viscount Luton escaped Strasbourg’s dungeon with help from an agent of the Holy Fadlan Empire, who promised to make him the nominal Northern Grand Duke. At North Wind Fortress, Keosius praised Lang Pu’s political strategy and reviewed a five-year development plan for Anzeta.

• Viscount Luton awoke in Strasbourg’s dungeon, feared being sent to public trial, and resolved to escape.
• A black-robed agent of the Holy Fadlan Empire offered to help Luton escape and promised that Wilhelm would make him the nominal Northern Grand Duke.
• Keosius explained to Lang Pu how separating the Northern Nobles from commoners and staging a fair-seeming trial would strengthen the kingdom’s rule.
• Tinia rubbed against Keosius’s tail and was knocked flying when he swatted her away.
• Lang Pu presented Keosius with a detailed Northern Lands Five-Year Development Plan, which Keosius approved.

The Embers of the Burned Kingdom sent its armies and tens of thousands of Starfallers to finish conquering the North, while civilians in Vichy City feared the advance. Earl Okote rejected surrender and prepared to flee if the city came under attack.

• Count Ake and Count Gold Tooth captured the capitals of eight duchies, and Dolo ordered Starfallers to hunt down the remaining Northern Nobles.
• The Conquer the Northern Lands quest promised rewards and a special title, prompting players to invade the North and loot noble treasuries.
• In Vichy City, Old White urged citizens to open the gates, but soldiers arrested him for suspected collusion with the enemy.
• Earl Okote struck his guard captain for suggesting surrender and condemned the public trials of nobles.
• Earl Okote decided to defend Vichy City but ordered Alyosha to pack his treasures so he could flee if the enemy attacked.

Lang Li Bai Tiao led a group of Vampire players in an attempt to infiltrate a city, but their cover was repeatedly threatened and they killed every soldier who noticed them. After wiping out the guards on the wall, they faced another squad climbing up to investigate.

• Dark Night Wolf questioned whether the small group could take the city, and Lang Li Bai Tiao explained that they were supposed to infiltrate and assassinate nobles.
• When a sentry spotted the Vampires, Lang Li Bai Tiao shot him with a Hand Crossbow and ordered the group to climb the wall.
• A patrol soldier discovered the sentry's body, so a Vampire player slit his throat; nearby soldiers heard the commotion and approached.
• Lang Li Bai Tiao ordered the Vampires to kill all witnesses, and they attacked the soldiers on the wall; Dark Night Wolf stabbed one soldier in the wrong place before Lang Li Bai Tiao finished him.
• The Vampires killed more than a hundred soldiers and declared the infiltration complete, but another squad began climbing up, prompting Lang Li Bai Tiao to order them killed too.

Lang Li Bai Tiao led Nocturne’s vampire players into Vichy City to assassinate Earl Okote Sul before sunrise. They reached the Earl’s Mansion, where Okote was preparing to flee south with his wealth.

• Lang Li Bai Tiao and the vampire players entered Vichy City at night, racing against the sunlight that could burn them to ashes.
• Lang Li Bai Tiao ordered the group to infiltrate the Earl’s Mansion and assassinate Earl Okote Sul.
• The vampires killed guards as they searched the mansion, but spared a maid because their quest did not permit killing civilians.
• Earl Okote Sul shouted at his servants as they packed his treasures for a planned escape to the Fadlan Empire with a teleportation mage.

Nocturne’s Vampire players massacred Earl Okote’s guards and killed him in Vichy City, then claimed his treasure for their organization. Outside the city, Charlotte and Magic Coin waited for the earl’s promised convoy, unaware that the killings had prevented it from arriving.

• Lang Li Bai Tiao led the Vampires in breaking into Earl Okote’s estate, killing his guards and captain Alyosha before cornering the earl.
• Earl Okote’s protective talisman blocked Lang Li Bai Tiao’s first attacks, but the players overwhelmed him with poisoned weapons and killed him.
• The Vampires found the earl’s hoard, and Head Mezhuolash announced that seventy percent of the spoils belonged to Nocturne.
• Vichy City’s residents discovered the massacre and notes claiming Nocturne had assassinated Grand Duke Oliver and warning them to await the kingdom’s surrender.
• Outside Vichy City, Charlotte and Magic Coin waited for the absent earl and decided to move on to other jobs.

Viscount Horace Lott learned that Vichy City had fallen to the Embers of the Burned Kingdom and tried to keep Belon Castle unnoticed, but Red Scale Conquerors appeared overhead. The feared scouts were players gathering to besiege and loot the castle, and they launched their attack.

• Viscount Horace Lott heard that Earl Hokot was dead and Vichy City had fallen, then ordered his people to keep Belon Castle unnoticed.
• Viscount Horace considered escaping Anzeta with a teleportation mage's help, unaware that the route was sealed with traps.
• Mitra Knight identified the wyvern riders as Red Scale Conquerors and warned Viscount Horace that they had likely marked the castle.
• Steamed Bun and Singo landed behind a hill and joined over a hundred players, including Born Battle Maniac and Xia Ye Qiuyu, who had gathered to attack Belon Castle.
• The players took to the sky and charged toward Belon Castle with siege engines, shouting as they went.

The players of the Embers of the Burned Kingdom attacked Belon Castle, and their cannon and powerful abilities overwhelmed its defenders. As Mitra Knight watched them slaughter the soldiers, he realized the attackers were treating the siege like a game.

• Viscount Horace and Mitra Knight watched the approaching players and feared the legendary Evil Dragon Legion, but the defenders were confused when a ragged group of just over a hundred appeared.
• Gustav fired a cannon at the battlements, killing dozens of soldiers and wounding Mitra, who realized the players' appearance had deceived him.
• The players charged Belon Castle as the defenders fired arrows and dropped boulders, but the attacks failed to stop the veteran players.
• Dawei Tianlong climbed over the wall and killed a group of elite soldiers with Resonance Qi: Thrust Punch and Resonance Qi: Explosion.
• Mitra watched the players fight and realized they were not treating the siege as a battle, but as a game.

Players from the Embers of the Burned Kingdom attacked Belon Castle with reckless, bizarre tactics, overwhelming its defenders. Mitra Knight condemned them from the walls as Born Battle Maniac targeted him as a mini-boss.

• Players launched the naked Holy Light Bro from a catapult, and he transformed into an owlbear before crashing into Belon Castle’s Arrow Tower.
• Holy Light Bro rampaged across the walls as Dawei Tianlong and dozens of players destroyed towers and threw the castle’s defenses into chaos.
• Wyverns burned soldiers on the battlements, while a player killed Jia En with an iron hammer.
• Mitra Knight watched his soldiers struggle against the players’ unpredictable attacks and raged at their disregard for knightly honor.
• Mitra Knight cursed the attackers, and Born Battle Maniac set his sights on him for his equipment and Reputation Points.

The players overwhelmed the castle defenders, and Steamed Bun infiltrated the stronghold and killed Viscount Horace. The castle was left in ruins and its defenders were nearly wiped out.

• Born Battle Maniac killed Mitra Knight with a single axe blow, then charged into the soldiers.
• Xia Ye Qiuyu killed soldiers with a fireball, while Dragon Vein Sorcerer players bombarded the defenders with more fireballs.
• The players battered the castle until it was riddled with holes and the defenders had almost completely lost their will to fight.
• Steamed Bun dropped from the Wyvern, bypassed the castle defenses, and found Viscount Horace hiding in a room.
• Steamed Bun used Spell Breaking Oil to pierce Horace's protective barrier and stabbed him through the chest.
• The players looted the castle as the siege reached its final stage.

Royal Authority conquered Cyril City and captured its fleeing lord, Earl Jules Reginald, whom Overlord killed to gain Reputation Points. The guild set its sights on attacking the next city as Overlord pursued enough reputation to become a Dragon Blood Noble.

• Overlord halted the artillery barrage on Feng Yun's advice so Royal Authority could capture more prisoners for labor.
• Feng Yun led Royal Authority's forces in an assault that overwhelmed Cyril City's defenders and secured the city.
• Wyvern Knights caught Earl Jules Reginald and brought him to Overlord, who killed him before he could plead for cooperation.
• Overlord gained 120 Reputation Points for killing Earl Jules and announced that Royal Authority would attack the next city.

Kindling captured Dena City and executed Earl Dalton Reyna, but Spark worried that the Embers of the Burned Kingdom would soon turn against the rebels. A large kingdom force arrived, led by Marchioness Darena, leaving Spark to face the power behind Kindling’s victory.

• Charlotte learned that Royal Authority had captured Cyril City and that Earl Jules had been taken, then set out to reach Dena City before Royal Authority.
• Kindling used weapons supplied by the Embers of the Burned Kingdom to seize Dena City, defeat its soldiers, and execute Earl Dalton Reyna.
• Spark and Nick discussed Kindling’s inability to govern the city and feared the kingdom would eliminate them once the Northern United Kingdom fell.
• Chai Gun reported that a large group claiming to be kingdom envoys had arrived outside the city.
• Spark identified the Hobgoblin infantry as the kingdom’s force, allowed them through the gates, and met Darena, who introduced herself as a marchioness.

Marquis Darena persuaded the serfs of Kindling to accept Kingdom citizenship and factory work, ending their resistance and allowing the hobgoblin army to take Dena City. Spark chose to take Kindling south, unaware that Darena had secretly encouraged its remaining core members to go to the Fadlan region.

• Darena promised the serfs food, clothing, shelter, protection under Kingdom law, and stable factory work, then showed them an image of a worker on an assembly line.
• The serfs praised Darena and said they wanted to become Kingdom workers, while Spark worried that they were exchanging old chains for new ones.
• The serfs accepted the Kingdom's arrangements, and Darena's forces took control of Dena City as Kindling's resistance dissolved.
• Nick urged Spark to seek oppressed people in the south, and Spark agreed to take Kindling there.
• Darena had secretly encouraged Kindling's core members to head to the Fadlan region, where they could continue their ambitions.