Chapter Summaries

Ian bound his uncle Osena to a fish-processing table and killed him after explaining the traps and preparations he had made to prevent his escape. The chapter left Ian beginning to cut Osena apart, while Osena's secrets about Harrison Port remained undiscovered.

• Osena awoke tied and gagged on the fish-processing table and realized Ian had incapacitated him with sleeping powder and lime.
• Osena tried to loosen his ropes and planned to trick Ian, escape, and kill him, but Ian nailed Osena's hands to the table.
• Ian described the traps he had prepared, including a wooden-board trap, a tripwire, a pitchfork, and a plan to burn down the house.
• Osena understood that Ian intended to kill him and struggled to offer information about the natives, Harrison Port, and the storm eight years earlier.
• Ian approached Osena with a knife and began cutting into him.

Awakening from the Light Calamity, people across Terra gained minds and memories like Inaga II’s as Axel used the transformation to strengthen himself and challenge Ian and Mikael. Mikael resolved to fight his father with the conviction to die and revealed Frost Prison Calamity Ash as his weapon.

• People across Terra awoke with heightened intelligence, new memories, and the ability to analyze the Light Calamity and its dangers.
• On New Moon, Ian and Mikael confronted Axel, who explained that he had given everyone an Inaga II-like mind so they could experience genius and awaken their desire to change.
• Axel’s Lightforged Realm hatched into the Heavenly Blazing Godbird, and he invited Ian and Mikael to defeat him and end the mass brainwashing.
• Mikael concluded that Axel’s transformation could not solve the threat of the Heavenly Prison and the End, and decided his father could only be defeated with the resolve to die.
• Mikael took out a small bottle of Frost Prison Calamity Ash, the poison that had once grievously wounded Hilliard.

Ian killed six mountainfolk knights and considered Scott’s future as an Ascender, settling on an Aurora Titan inheritance with added defensive abilities. The chapter ended with an argument escalating between an envoy from the Blazing Flame Lands and the rebel mountainfolk leader.

• Ian killed the six mountainfolk knights who had come to Layan Territory and ordered Scott to dispose of their bodies.
• Ian promised Scott a Magic Potion and asked what inheritance he wanted for his future.
• Scott said he wanted to become fast enough to help Ian while gaining enough defense to survive battle.
• Ian decided that an Aurora Titan inheritance suited Scott and considered granting him defensive power through Psychic Empowerment.
• Ian and Scott returned to work as an argument escalated between an envoy from the Blazing Flame Lands and the rebel mountainfolk leader.

Ian warned Viscount Grant that Isengard faced danger from a force beyond his family’s internal struggle, and Grant connected the threat to both the Ellen Family and Blazing Flame Lands agents. The chapter left Ian suspecting that the exploration team would face danger from assassins, the natives, and the forces supporting them.

• Ian described his premonition of danger surrounding Isengard, and Viscount Grant accepted the warning.
• Grant concluded that the Ellen Family might resort to a direct attack on Isengard after its attempt to sabotage him with the Blue Flame Bracelet was exposed.
• Grant examined the bloodstained alchemical hand cannon and recognized it as a new Blazing Flame Lands model, prompting him to suspect foreign agents were arming and training the natives.
• Grant said he could not intervene directly in the Ellen Family’s affairs and revealed that Patrick had brought a separate body of Aether Armor to protect Isengard.
• Ian reported that Surging Wave Tribe merchants had stopped appearing, and he and Grant considered whether the natives’ changed behavior was connected to the Deepsea Crystal Dragon mission and Blazing Flame Lands spies.

Ian agreed to help Mo Feng and Hua An investigate the Void Realm anomaly by traveling to the Avak Region in the Western Border, where he sensed a world-changing event was taking shape. As he prepared to go under the Inspecting Knights Order, Mikael warned him that the region had become a deadly wasteland.

• Ian suggested investigating the anomaly in reality, where its effects would be weaker, and decided to travel to the Avak Region.
• Ian concluded that the Avak Region was a point of choice tied to his future and wondered what connection Grand Duke Solin had to him.
• Ian registered Frost Butterfly, Hua An, and Mo Feng as team members so they could travel under the Inspecting Knights Order.
• Mikael appeared as a Soul Light Body and warned Ian that the Avak Region's million inhabitants and all its animals had died, scouting teams had vanished, and powerful Void Realm Demonic Beasts roamed there.

A warm, mucus-like snow spread across Harrison Port, carrying parasitic organisms that infected a woman and turned her into a monster. As Bishop White Mist declared a first-class biohazard and called for the city to be purified, Elan let the snow merge into his hand and realized that someone familiar had returned.

• A strange snowfall swept over Harrison Port and spread toward Three Rivers City and Nauman City.
• Bishop White Mist examined the snow and discovered that it contained mycelium-like organisms and tiny ciliated worms.
• A Red Folk woman became infected, transformed into a monster, and attacked a man and child before Bishop White Mist struck her down.
• The infected woman collapsed into mucus filled with wriggling worms, and Bishop White Mist declared a first-class biohazard and called for Archbishop Heavenly Flame.
• Viscount Grant piloted the Aether Armor to clear the clouds and thin the snowfall.
• Elan let the snow seep into his palm, smiled, and recognized the return of someone familiar.

Hilliard and Weges fought a desperate duel, with both knights sustaining severe injuries. Hilliard withdrew before either could claim victory, leaving Weges furious and still demanding answers from his former mentor.

• Hilliard reflected on how Frost Prison Calamity Ash had destroyed his Origin Matter organs and left him growing weaker with every battle.
• Weges confronted Hilliard over abandoning the Inspecting Knights Order and the comrades and disciples who had died believing he would return.
• Weges consumed powerful medicines and attacked Hilliard with a sword technique that exploited the shifting center of gravity of an Enamel Scorpion Spider.
• Hilliard countered Weges's attacks repeatedly, then struck him down and shattered his shoulder, but Weges embedded a bone blade in Hilliard's abdomen as he was injured.
• Hilliard snapped off the bone blade and left without finishing Weges, who shouted after him in fury before his injuries made him collapse and lose sight of his mentor.

Ian experienced a Tree Sea Spirit simulation in which he inherited Viscount Grant’s dream, became lord of Harrison Port, and faced a future of widespread upheaval. Back in reality, he planned to help the Tree Sea Spirit expand and prepare to leave Harrison Port, but learned that Kemit had been born.

• In the simulation, Ian defeated Viscount Grant and inherited his dream of preserving Harrison Port and the Grant family’s name.
• The simulated Ian developed Harrison Port as turmoil spread across the Empire and beyond, then the simulation ended with him leading an army against the Blazing Flame Lands.
• Ian woke in Harrison Port and considered which simulated future events might still happen in reality.
• The Tree Sea Spirit told Ian that his simulation had used up a century’s accumulated energy, and Ian offered to help it expand.
• Ian reviewed his accomplishments in Harrison Port and planned to register Elan as a psychic energy user before returning to Xiahui Territory.
• Viscount Grant’s child, Kemit, was born.

Ian learned how floating cities isolated themselves from gravity and recognized that the Empire’s new fortress could be copied through the Star God's Gift. As the Empire prepared to build floating fortresses across noble territories, Ian realized their shields could extend the Imperial Capital’s planetary defense across the Empire.

• The Gale Dragon King explained floating-city technology and said Ian could eventually develop warp travel using Blazing Star’s divine marrow and his Aether Furnace Core.
• Korizen Seeking invited Ian, as Mahdi, and Isengard to the City of Knowledge, and Ian and Isengard discussed the invitation and its possible motives.
• Isengard said he could control his fused bloodline inheritance, while Ian remained on Dragon Island awaiting the Abyssal Dragon’s review.
• At a strategic conference on the Western Frontier Plains, Imperial technicians demonstrated the floating city and announced plans to build floating fortresses in noble territories.
• Ian copied the floating city’s complete design with the Star God's Gift and realized its shield systems could relay the Imperial Capital’s planetary shield across the Empire.

The Nearlight came under bombardment from pirate gunboats as it sailed toward the storm’s origin, and Gose protected it while the crew tried to escape. A large Canaanmore pirate vessel then appeared to intercept them, leaving Gose to defend the ship without exhausting himself before stronger enemies arrived.

• Pirate gunboats began firing on the Nearlight, and Gose deflected their shells while the crew returned fire with Alchemical Cannons.
• The gunboats stayed beyond the Nearlight’s range and harassed it while a larger pirate fleet advanced behind them.
• The captain steered the Nearlight around the storm’s most dangerous waves and toward the weaker edge of the anomalous region.
• The lookout spotted an unflagged large ship approaching from the northeast, and Gose identified it as a modified Canaanmore escort vessel.
• Gose warned Ian to alert the captain, then summoned two powerful tornadoes that caught and crushed incoming shells.

Ian fought through the Hive Mind’s defenses and was caught by its psychic tentacles. The Hive Mind showed him memories of his childhood and the natural world he longed to see.

• The Hive Mind used microcurrents to injure Ian and attacked him with psychic tentacles, so Ian fired a corrosive water bullet at its brain cocoon.
• Flesh humanoids emerged to protect the Hive Mind, and Ian destroyed two with sword strikes.
• Ian killed the last flesh humanoid after it took on the faces of people he knew.
• The Hive Mind touched Ian’s spirit and flooded him with illusions of his past.
• Ian saw a childhood gathering where the Redwood Tribe sang about the world beyond their sealed home, and he longed to see its skies, seas, and stars.

Magnetic Light Knight used his soul and magnetic power to command metal and fire a devastating electromagnetic projectile at Ian. Ian learned how to resonate his Origin Matter with the natural psionic field, survived the attack unharmed, and crushed the projectile, while Magnetic Light Knight vowed the fight had only begun.

• Magnetic Light Knight formed a storm of magnetic sand and lightning, drawing metal from the surrounding ground and trying to pull Ian's weapons away.
• Ian launched a hypervelocity ice spike, but Magnetic Light Knight blocked it with a metal projectile and took to the air amid the magnetic storm.
• Magnetic Light Knight fired an electromagnetic shell at Ian as Ian observed his use of soul, Origin Matter, and the natural psionic field.
• Ian understood how to resonate with the external psionic field and let the shell strike his chest without moving or suffering harm.
• Ian crushed the projectile in his hand and taunted Magnetic Light Knight, who declared that the battle was only beginning.

Ian used Precognitive Vision to examine Ila’s past and learned how abuse and psychic powers had shaped him. As Ian and Sister Reflected Light investigated Mo Qiu’s room, they suspected a cult had deliberately driven Ila to despair, while Morda continued recounting the children’s histories.

• Ian’s Precognitive Vision revealed Ila’s abuse by his adoptive family and the grotesque deaths in their courtyard before Baron Ryan arrived.
• Morda explained that Ila’s psychic abilities altered memories and perceptions, and admitted he had accepted the false harmony Ila created.
• Morda insisted on helping Ian and Sister Reflected Light investigate why Baron Ryan and the children had changed.
• Ian and Sister Reflected Light suspected cultists had manipulated Ila’s adoptive parents to provoke his psychic awakening, and feared others had died in similar experiments.
• Morda described Mo Qiu’s origins among refugees fleeing the Western Frontier Plains, where famine and displacement had led people to exchange children and eat them.

Ian and the Light's Embrace rescue team freed Sheo and began a conversion ritual to make the gravely wounded Lubek a priest. The ritual succeeded, and Lubek awoke as a new member of Light's Embrace.

• Ian freed Sheo from the Dragon-Binding Pillar and learned she had been imprisoned without suffering the torture he had expected.
• Radiant Sword used a Universal Authority Seal to free Lubek, while Ian removed Sheo's soul container.
• Radiant Sword and Reflected Light carved inscription circuits into Lubek and used Radiant Sword's crystalline blood to activate them.
• Radiant Sword declared Lubek worthy, and a white light appeared in the center of Lubek's chest as the rescue team celebrated.
• Lubek opened his eyes with white psychic radiance and was declared one of Light's Embrace.

As the Empire and the Blazing Flame Lands became distracted by political disputes, Harrison Port prospered through trade and war-preparation supplies. After Osena died, Ian opened the White Room General Store, secretly an Imperial-certified wonder appraisal shop backed by Viscount Grant.

• Viscount Grant’s recording crystal ended the imperial capital’s planned punishment over inspector knight Weges’s disappearance, while the Empire and Grand Duke Solin blamed each other for his death.
• The Nemasas Alliance and Absalom Alliance clashed over control of a fortress cluster, keeping the Blazing Flame Lands divided.
• Caravans, subsidies, and trade with the Surging Wave Tribe brought new wealth and valuable goods to Harrison Port.
• Osena died from aberration, and Elder Pude nominally adopted Ian and Elan until Ian turned fourteen.
• Ian opened the White Room General Store in the new western district, which secretly operated as an Imperial-certified wonder appraisal shop backed by Viscount Grant.

Ian discovered that the Silver Chip could imprint Origin Matter structures without requiring energy to sustain them, and he used the ability to restore his control over water-aspect Origin Matter. He decided to pursue the Wave-Singer's True Form soon, beginning his plan to change the world after Osena died.

• Ian cut the water-aspect Origin Matter structure from his Reef-Eating Sea Otter crystal bone and had the Silver Chip imprint it.
• Ian regained the ability to control water-aspect Origin Matter and made a small jet leap from a bucket.
• Ian realized the Silver Chip could store Origin Matter structures without draining his body and might let him possess additional bloodlines or True Forms.
• Ian decided to stop pretending and master the Wave-Singer's True Form after his nominal uncle Osena died in a few months.
• Ian looked toward Elan, reaffirmed his mission, and decided to eat first.

Ian escaped with Isengard after Patrick attacked Gose, while Patrick remained behind to confront Viscount Grant. Ian found the gravely wounded Gose and an intact suit of sea combat armor as a great battle loomed above the sea.

• Ian fled underwater with Isengard on Sha Sha and asked why Patrick had risked his life to kill him.
• Isengard explained that the Ellen Family inherited the Light-Eater Dragon bloodline and that Dark Radiance could split into implanted armor offshoots.
• Patrick stopped pursuing Ian and faced Viscount Grant, who challenged his longtime friend to a fight.
• Ian found Gose gravely wounded on the seafloor beside a suit of sea combat armor that had not fully gone cold.
• The Light-Eater Dragon and the ruler of the sea abyss prepared to clash as the storm and surrounding threats converged.

Ian and the fairies traveled toward the imperial capital as Ian considered how to approach the powerful people waiting for him there. He chose to report to the knight order and settle Marquis Barton's matter before seeking Ethan, then entered Gal Town and found its residents frightened by his arrival.

• Ian marveled at Lone Mountain's enormous ancient structure and the imperial capital's advanced systems as he rode with Hua An and Frost Butterfly.
• Ian decided to report to the knight order and settle Marquis Barton's matter before going to find Ethan.
• Ian observed mechanized farming and the unexpectedly large population as he approached Gal Town.
• Children fled when they spotted Ian's armor, and the town quickly stirred in response to his arrival.
• The mayor of Gal Town greeted Ian as an inspection knight, but Ian said he was only passing through and asked where he could eat.

Ian arrived at the New Continent in his upgraded Glazed Dragon body and followed two Magic Beasts to their nest, where he killed their abusive Wing General. He left Crackle and Big Iron alive and ordered them to answer his questions, beginning his effort to learn about the continent’s beast kingdoms and resources.

• Ian finished installing gravity-control organs throughout the Glazed Dragon’s spine and planned to seek levitating stone and Magnetic Light materials on the New Continent.
• Ian spotted Crackle and Big Iron, used his near-invisibility and gravity control to follow them to a stronghold of the Illusory Sun Beast Kingdom, and learned about the continent’s three major beast kingdoms.
• The Wing General threatened to devour Crackle and Big Iron for returning with incomplete intelligence about the human fleet.
• Ian appeared and killed the Wing General before it could alert other Winged Beetles, then swallowed its fleeing soul.
• Crackle and Big Iron surrendered to Ian, who told them to get up and answer his questions.

Ian prepared Silverpeak Domain for the coming decisive battle with the King of Embers, strengthening his command of Terra’s Heart and outlining a contingency plan in case he and Adalbert fell. He then assessed potential allies and identified the four orthodox churches as a major obstacle, prompting Machine Soul Priest Master Vannar to answer him.

• Scott asked Ian why the Blazing Flame Lands had stopped mounting effective counterattacks, and Ian explained that he was easing the public-opinion offensive to let the King of Embers feel secure enough to challenge him.
• Ian demonstrated how the Central Throne connected him to Terra’s Heart and the Spirit-Veneration Armament, then told Scott to flee with Terra’s Heart if both he and Adalbert were incapacitated.
• Ian revealed that the last-resort plan was to take Terra’s Heart to the sun and, if necessary, trigger a stellar reaction that would create a Dragon of Light.
• Ian considered how to gain the support of the fairies, Elves, Dwarves, Magic Beasts, and Farshore Island, while recognizing that the four orthodox churches could disrupt his plans.
• Ian addressed Machine Soul Priest Master Vannar, who acknowledged that Ian was planning to become the ruler of the world.