Chapter Summaries

Zhao Xu disguised himself as a scholar and traveled to Mystra's Civilian Academy to investigate its secrets while preparing to teach. After learning how players were discussing the lone person who had logged in the previous night, he met Dean Mueller, who assigned him a class of thirty students.

• Zhao Xu concealed his identity and defenses as he watched newly logged-in players discuss the lone player who had been online the night before.
• Zhao Xu hired a rickshaw to the Civilian Academy and gave the driver extra money after the driver noticed Zhao Xu treated him like a colleague rather than a servant.
• Zhao Xu registered at the Civilian Academy and learned that its dean, Mueller, was a Third-ring Mage, deepening his suspicion that the academy held secrets.
• Dean Mueller gave Zhao Xu documents for a troublesome class of thirty students, including twenty-five Arthurian World natives and five players from Earth.

Zhao Xu learned that his class was full of unruly Apprentice Sorcerers and Mentors, including Mage Family heirs and Earth players who had driven the previous Class Advisor to the Medical Center. As he approached the class, he dismissed the secretary's advice to bribe the players and declared he would face them directly.

• Zhao Xu followed the dean's secretary to his new class and learned that all five players on the roster were Apprentice Sorcerers.
• The secretary explained that the class had thirty students: eight Sorcerers and twenty-two Mentors, whose training needs had led Mystra to form a specialized class.
• Zhao Xu learned that the previous Class Advisor was recuperating at the Medical Center after students pranked him for forcing chronic truants to return to class.
• The secretary revealed that Mage Family heirs made up many of the Mentors, and Earth players had encouraged the class to make trouble for the previous advisor.
• The secretary advised Zhao Xu to bribe the Sorcerer players, but he struck his cane against the pavement and said he would test whose backing was harder.

Midsummer began his work as Class Seven’s tutoring advisor by facing a series of pranks from the students. After they soaked him and stained his hand with ink, he retaliated with an Ice Storm, leaving the class drenched and frightened as one student admitted fault.

• Midsummer discovered a bucket trap outside Class Seven’s classroom and let its water splash over him.
• He entered the classroom, identified himself as the new tutoring advisor, and used Prestidigitation to clean away the water and ink from another prank.
• Midsummer warned the students that he would make them experience any traps that caught him.
• He cast Ice Storm over the classroom for two rounds, soaking and chilling the students.
• A student admitted that he had been wrong.

Zhao Xu investigated Eliton, a student who had taken the blame for his classmates, and uncovered his desire to avenge his murdered family. After Eliton offered his life in exchange for help, Zhao Xu asked what he would do if he could make him a Wizard.

• Zhao Xu noticed Eliton had calmly accepted blame for the class and took him aside to question him.
• Eliton denied being bullied, and Zhao Xu revealed that he knew about the massacre that had killed Eliton's family.
• Zhao Xu argued that the murder had been properly investigated and warned Eliton that he could not overturn the proven case.
• Eliton confirmed that the identified killer was guilty and explained that failing the Wizard assessment had left him without a path to revenge.
• Eliton recognized Zhao Xu as a Third-ring Mage and asked him for help, offering to sell his life in return.
• Zhao Xu refused to take revenge for Eliton but asked whether he would act if Zhao Xu could make him a Wizard.

Zhao Xu recruited Eliton as a subsidized tutoring assistant and brought him along to assess another potential subordinate, Peter. Eliton’s uneasy instincts made Zhao Xu wary of Peter, and when no one answered the door despite sounds inside, Zhao Xu grew suspicious.

• Zhao Xu offered Eliton a tutoring assistant position and arranged for him to receive an allowance.
• Zhao Xu used the paperwork and Eliton’s schedule to distance him from his former classmates and bring him into Zhao Xu’s circle.
• Zhao Xu learned that Peter had once been a promising Mage Apprentice but had abandoned becoming a Wizard and transferred to the Civilian Academy.
• Eliton told Zhao Xu that spending time near Peter brought up sorrowful memories, so Zhao Xu became wary of him.
• Zhao Xu and Eliton reached Peter’s house, but no one answered the visitor’s bell despite sounds coming from inside.

Zhao Xu and Eliton entered Peter’s home and found that Peter had become a Half-Infernal Creature after a bloody massacre. As Peter charged at Zhao Xu, he revealed his starlit cloak and faced the attack.

• Zhao Xu used Keen Ear Spell to listen inside Peter’s home and heard dripping water and heavy breathing.
• Zhao Xu summoned his Soul Prisoner Demon and used his inspector badge and Knock spell to open the locked gate.
• Eliton chose to enter with Zhao Xu despite his fear and memories of an earlier nightmare.
• Zhao Xu and Eliton found corpses hanging in the hall and blood pooling beneath them.
• Zhao Xu identified Peter as a Half-Infernal Creature and dispelled his illusion as Peter charged at him.

Zhao Xu used the Soul Prisoner Demon and Slow Spell to trap the Half-Infernal Peter, then sent Eliton to alert the authorities while he investigated why Peter had transformed. Elsewhere, Zheng Xinyun received a gaming helmet and decided to enter Arthur as a Cleric.

• Peter tried to escape through a window, but Zhao Xu hit him with Slow Spell and the Soul Prisoner Demon attacked him.
• Peter tried to flee and then targeted Eliton, but the Soul Prisoner Demon pinned him down and his Darkness Spell failed in the daylight.
• Zhao Xu explained that Peter's Spell-like Abilities could not harm the Undead, gave Eliton his inspector's badge, and told him to contact patrol officers and the Rose Cross personnel.
• Zhao Xu considered Peter's attempted escape and why he had become a Half-Infernal Creature in the house.
• Qi Qi gave Zheng Xinyun her gaming helmet, and Zheng Xinyun said she had decided to play Arthur as a Cleric.

Zhao Xu helped the Rose Cross subdue Peter, a Half-Infernal Creature, and prepared to investigate the bloody building. As he approached the scene, his first potential believer changed history and came online.

• Zhao Xu waited outside the building, suspecting Peter had tried to escape through Mystra’s sewers.
• Eliton used Zhao Xu’s Senior Inspector badge to summon a Rose Cross squad and security personnel.
• Zhao Xu ordered the squad to bind Peter, and a Biluo Immortal Binding Rope restrained him after the Soul Prisoner Demon released its hold.
• Zhao Xu instructed the Cleric captain to investigate the building cautiously while the squad brought Peter inside to identify the scene.
• When the Rogue opened the door and the smell of blood reached them, Zhao Xu felt a surge and noticed his Legendary Necromancy Staff trembling as his first potential believer came online.

Zhao Xu and the Rose Cross squad investigated the massacre at Peter’s home and questioned the Half-Infernal Creature responsible. After realizing Half-Infernal Creatures were immortal, Zhao Xu ordered the corpses moved immediately.

• Goda offered to guide Zhao Xu’s old acquaintance, Zheng Xinyun, in religious doctrine, and Zhao Xu thanked him.
• The squad entered the hall, where Eliton recounted what had happened and the coroner examined the victims.
• The coroner found that the victims had been hanged before their wounds were inflicted, while Peter refused to answer questions.
• Zhao Xu questioned Peter about becoming a Half-Infernal Creature and reasoned that someone he met during his year on the island may have influenced him.
• Eliton asked what traits Half-Infernal Creatures possessed, and Zhao Xu realized they were immortal and ordered the corpses moved at once.

Zhao Xu uncovered Peter’s plan to turn his family into Half-Infernal Creatures and escalated the response to Red, bringing Deputy Commander Rayne and powerful reinforcements to the scene. After Peter was taken for interrogation and the ritual was stopped, Zhao Xu explained that the family’s choices carried consequences and that anyone who wanted them revived should bear that responsibility themselves.

• Zhao Xu realized Peter had likely planned to transform his parents and family into Half-Infernal Creatures, and he ordered the Void Chasing Squad to move the bodies outside.
• Peter revealed his connection to a lord of the Abyss, prompting Zhao Xu to order a Red-level response in his own name.
• Rayne arrived with a team of Spellcasters, confirmed Zhao Xu’s standing by inviting him to his Legendary advancement ceremony, and ordered Peter taken for interrogation and the scene purified.
• A black-robed Cleric confirmed Peter had intended to transform his parents and butler, while Rayne rushed to stop the remaining victims from becoming Half-Infernal Creatures.
• Zhao Xu told Rayne that the family had chosen to handle the danger themselves and that he would personally revive them if he could not accept their deaths.

Zhao Xu and Rayne learned that a powerful succubus Cleric had taught Peter a dangerous transformation ritual and was hiding near Sacred Heart Cathedral. They set out to join the hunt, while Zhao Xu hoped to encounter her Abyssal divine power.

• Rayne recognized Eliton as a member of the Cole Family and asked whether he still wanted revenge for what had happened to them.
• The Wizard interrogating Peter reported that a succubus had taught him the transformation ritual and supplied its key items.
• The Wizard identified the succubus as a near-legendary Cleric who might be a Chosen favored by a Demon Lord.
• The group learned that the succubus was likely near Sacred Heart Cathedral, targeting the Goddess's apprentice Clerics.
• Rayne agreed to bring Goda's team along to help on the perimeter, and Zhao Xu explained to Eliton that legendary figures were guarding the cathedral.
• Zhao Xu joined the trip hoping that contact with the succubus's Abyssal divine power would affect his attributes in reality.

Rayne and the church investigated a succubus disguised as a Cleric in Sacred Heart Cathedral and devised a way to expose it. Zhao Xu joined Rayne’s plan, and Rayne revealed that the operation could help him earn a promotion to Vice President of a Mage Association branch.

• Rayne told Zhao Xu that the succubus had retained Abyssal divine power and might flee once it realized Peter’s ritual had failed.
• Rayne revealed that the succubus was likely hiding among the cathedral’s Clerics and planning to act before sunset.
• The church identified the succubus as a follower of Graz'zt and planned to use people who had encountered his divine power to expose it.
• Zhao Xu said he had encountered Graz'zt’s will, so Rayne invited him to join the investigation disguised as routine interviews with mid-level Clerics.
• Rayne advised Zhao Xu to cast spells during the coming battle and explained that the experience could help him advance to level six.
• Rayne said Zhao Xu might earn a position as Vice President of a Mage Association branch if he advanced and gained merit from the operation.

Rayne’s team screened church clergy for a suspected succubus while Zhao Xu used his sensitivity to Abyssal divine power to help rule out targets. At the next interview, Zhao Xu recognized Zheng Xinyun among the acolytes and stayed behind to test how distance affected his ability to sense her.

• Rayne’s team interviewed Hai Ruoer, a Level 5 Cleric, and ruled her out after Zhao Xu, Matthew, and Blanche sensed nothing unusual.
• The team continued screening acolyte instructors, rejecting target after target based mainly on Zhao Xu’s ability to detect Abyssal divine power.
• Zhao Xu spotted Zheng Xinyun in a classroom of acolyte Faction Clerics, where she listened to an elderly Cleric’s lesson.
• After the elderly Cleric came out for the interview, Zhao Xu asked Rayne’s team to question him while he stayed near Zheng Xinyun to study how distance affected his sensing.

Zhao Xu discovered that a succubus had entered the Sacred Heart Cathedral, and narrowly escaped its surprise attack using Lesser Haste and his Teleportation Boots. The succubus split into two, but Matthew discovered that the creature attacking the apprentice priests was real as it unleashed Unholy Word.

• Zhao Xu sensed a surge of Abyssal divine power and recognized the danger as the succubus appeared behind him with a deadly attack.
• Zhao Xu cast Lesser Haste, teleported behind Rayne's table, and avoided the succubus's strike; Blanche healed him and removed his stunned state.
• Rayne's spell failed against the succubus's Spell Resistance, and the creature split into two as Rayne pursued one while Zhao Xu and the others rushed to the classroom.
• Matthew charged the succubus flying above the apprentice priests, while Blanche cast Death Ward on Zhao Xu in case the creature targeted him again.
• Matthew's morningstar struck the succubus's natural armor, revealing that it was real, and the succubus cast Unholy Word.

A succubus Cleric unleashed Unholy Word in a classroom, killing the apprentice Clerics and leaving Zhao Xu alive only because Death Ward protected him. Zhao Xu rewound the room by six seconds, but the succubus attacked again, and he answered with Finger of Death boosted by Potential Points Burst.

• The succubus cast Unholy Word, killing the apprentice Clerics and elderly Cleric while stunning Blanche, paralyzing Matthew, and weakening Zhao Xu.
• Zhao Xu survived the spell’s death effect because Blanche had cast Death Ward on him, then activated his Time Rewind Amulet to reverse six seconds and restore everyone in the classroom.
• The succubus and the others realized time had apparently flowed backward, and Zhao Xu warned Blanche that the danger was not over.
• The succubus charged at Zhao Xu again while Blanche continued casting a protective spell for the apprentices and Matthew tried to intercept it.
• Zhao Xu raised his Legendary Necromancy Staff and cast Finger of Death with Potential Points Burst.

Zhao Xu used his Legendary Necromancy Staff to destroy the succubus’s apparent body, then learned how its artifact let it create duplicates and evade pursuit. The chapter ended with Rayne recognizing the staff as worth over a million gold coins, astonishing the apprentice Clerics.

• Zhao Xu cast an empowered Finger of Death that pierced the succubus’s defenses and made it vanish, but he concluded that it had been an illusion because it left no remains.
• Matthew and the elderly Cleric questioned whether the succubus had truly died, and Rayne arrived with three other spellcasters to inspect the hall.
• Rayne explained that the succubus used an artifact to create duplicates and move between them by reverse summoning, and he worked out how it had switched bodies during the fight.
• Rayne joked that the succubus might still be hiding among the apprentice Clerics, but Zhao Xu told him to stop frightening them.
• Blanche praised Zhao Xu for recognizing the illusion and nearly killing the succubus, while Rayne commended him as a Senior Inspector.
• Rayne recognized Zhao Xu’s Legendary Necromancy Staff and complained that it was worth more than a million gold coins, shocking the apprentice Clerics.

Zhao Xu learned that the succubus had shifted its target to him after its original plan was thwarted, and Rayne took him away as bait to protect the apprentice Clerics. Rayne hinted that the Church had a deeper reason for avoiding a divine miracle, but had not yet revealed it.

• The players discussed the Legendary Necromancy Staff’s immense value and the cost of using its limited charges.
• Rayne said the Church would pray for a divine miracle if it could not find the succubus within an hour, while Zhao Xu realized they had blocked its original objective.
• Rayne left Blanche and Matthew to guard the apprentice Clerics and took Zhao Xu with him, explaining that the succubus was now focused on Zhao Xu.
• Rayne privately told Zhao Xu that the Church would compensate him for serving as bait, granting him an extra life at a small cost.
• Zhao Xu asked why the Church still refused to pray for a miracle, and Rayne asked him to keep the answer secret.

Zhao Xu and Rayne discussed the succubus’s plans and the church’s cautious use of miracles as the hunt shifted to a new location. As they descended toward a Rose Cross base, Rayne suddenly asked Zhao Xu whether he looked like Rayne.

• Zhao Xu learned from Rayne that the Goddess had restricted miracles and that the church would use one only as a last resort against the succubus.
• Rayne explained that the succubus used First-level Mage Half-Infernal Creatures like Peter as fuel to teleport to a duplicate.
• Zhao Xu deduced that the succubus might be waiting for an unknown target to appear at an apprentice Cleric’s lectern, though he suspected she had not identified him.
• Rayne learned the succubus had been spotted in the cathedral’s northwest corner and said Legendary Mages were assembling a spell to trap her.
• Rayne led Zhao Xu into an Alchemical Elevator descending to a Rose Cross base, then asked if he looked like Rayne.

Zhao Xu was trapped in a distorted elevator with Graz'zt, who revealed himself after isolating Zhao from Rayne. Rather than taking revenge for Frank's wife's soul, the Demon Lord offered Zhao Xu power and a path to become Legend.

• Zhao Xu tried to contact Rayne through Mind Link but received no reply as the elevator stopped between floors.
• Graz'zt revealed that he had sacrificed his succubus Cleric to draw attention away and create a chance to approach Zhao Xu.
• Zhao Xu realized the elevator space was distorting and that he might have been taken beyond Mystra.
• Graz'zt explained that he did not intend to kill Zhao Xu, then tempted him with wealth, territory, and influence in Arthur.
• Zhao Xu refused the offer by identifying himself as a Cleric of the Goddess, and Graz'zt promised to grant him Legend if he abandoned that identity.

Zhao Xu realized Graz'zt was trying to secure a binding promise from him inside the Sacred Heart Cathedral, potentially giving the demon a claim to Zhao Xu or the Godhead Fragment of Death. Lux warned him not to agree to anything, but could offer no clear escape, and suggested he try using a token from the Goddess.

• Zhao Xu recognized that Graz'zt had deliberately arranged this meeting at a critical moment and questioned what the demon wanted in return for promising him Legendary Cleric rank.
• Graz'zt said he only needed Zhao Xu to make a promise sometime in the future, and Zhao Xu understood that it had to be made in the cathedral before he left.
• Lux revealed that Graz'zt's oath of the Abyss's will could make Zhao Xu's words binding and force him to surrender the Godhead Fragment of Death.
• Zhao Xu refused to keep speaking with Graz'zt, while Lux admitted it could not help him challenge a god and suggested using a token from the Goddess.