Chapter Summaries

He Xi entered Zander’s memory with Zoya and saw the party being lured into a Red-Spotted Spider nest and ambushed by black-robed figures. When Zander tried to flee, He Xi’s viewpoint was thrown back to the ground, leaving him inside the memory.

• Flora guided He Xi, Zoya, and Zander into the magic array while Fivik stayed outside with Rodney.
• He Xi awoke in Zander’s memory among Goblin corpses and recognized the companions, including Lily and the dwarf.
• Merchant Olders persuaded Captain Ralph’s party to follow him toward the Red-Spotted Spider nest’s core.
• Lily warned the party that Olders was suspicious, and five black-robed figures emerged from the mist to ambush them.
• The black-robed figures defeated Ralph, the dwarf, and Lily, while Zander fought on against them.
• He Xi felt Zander’s viewpoint turn as he tried to escape, then hit the cold ground and realized he had not escaped the memory.

He Xi relived the memory of the black-robed cultists capturing Zander and the others, erasing their memories, and taking Lily away. After helping Zander resolve to find her, He Xi entered another memory that began with Zander’s party riding toward the cave.

• He Xi watched the Oracle use the black Giant Stone to erase the captives’ memories and send them back to the forest, while Lily and Zander were taken away.
• In the altered memory, Zander realized Lily was missing and tried to return to the cave, but Zoya stopped him and He Xi urged him to restock first.
• He Xi relived Zander buying the Battle Axe Skullcrusher at Four Seas General Goods, then returned to the Dungeon with Zander and the others.
• Fivik searched the dungeon entrance and found only a rusty broken sword, while Zander feared Lily might have forgotten him.
• Zoya argued that Lily’s memories were part of who she was and that her calling for Zander showed he mattered to her; He Xi urged Zander to find Lily and ask her himself.
• Flora activated the magic formation, and He Xi entered another memory of Zander’s party racing toward the cave on Land Birds.

He Xi relived the memories of a Black Robe People mole who betrayed Annis and Zander, then saw Lily sacrifice her memories to the Giant Stone to send Zander away. He returned to the present as Zoya watched Lily, and Lily began offering all her memories to save Zander.

• He Xi recognized Annis as the warrior carrying Zoya’s consciousness and saw the mole’s symbol on his own wrist.
• The mole led Annis and her teammates to a cave, where the Black Robe People captured them and the Oracle ordered them drained into Empty Shells.
• The Oracle’s followers said Lily had willingly accepted the Lord’s gift and was adapting to its power.
• At the Giant Stone, Lily emerged with her face partly covered in black material and offered her memories to open an exit for Zander.
• Lily also offered He Xi’s memories, causing him to return to the present beside Teacher Fivik while Zoya watched Lily cry.
• Lily offered all her memories to save Zander, and the Giant Stone shone as he vanished.

He Xi learned from Fivik and Flora that Lily may have been forced into a pact and chosen as a vessel for a possible Divine Descent. Flora reassured him that the Dungeon was safe for now, but He Xi was left thinking about how he would protect himself and Zoya.

• He Xi recounted Lily's transformation, and Fivik explained that Pact Masters borrowed power from powerful beings at a cost.
• Fivik warned He Xi not to look for loopholes in a pact and suggested Lily had been forced into one by the Black Robe People's patron.
• Flora said Lily might be a candidate to become a Chosen of God and explained that the being could want a suitable body for a Divine Descent.
• Flora reassured He Xi that Divine Descent was difficult and that she and Mao Mao Jiao could protect the group while he practiced in the Dungeon.
• He Xi looked at the unconscious Zander and troubled Zoya and wondered how he would save Zoya if she were taken as a vessel.

Zoya told Zander that Lily had sacrificed her memories to save him and was now under the Black Robe Person’s control. Zander chose to return to Rose Town to seek guidance and prepare to rescue Lily, while Fivik agreed to help him after they investigated the dungeon.

• Zoya explained how Lily gave up her memories to send Zander away and was taken under the Black Robe Person’s control.
• After considering the risks, Zoya decided to tell Zander the truth herself.
• Zander thanked Zoya and said he would return to Rose Town to ask Pastor Ms. Castien for advice before attempting to rescue Lily.
• He Xi stopped Zander from setting out alone, and Fivik offered to take him back to Rose Town after they searched for more clues.
• Fivik noted that the Oracle and Annis were absent and proposed waiting in the dungeon in case anyone arrived.

Fivik led He Xi, Zoya, Bruce, and Rodney through the misty cave while teaching He Xi about Alarm Spells. They found a recently used Teleportation Magic Array, which Fivik began altering into a trap as Rodney prepared to leave with his group.

• He Xi and Zoya joined Fivik as she set an Alarm Spell, and Rodney paid twenty Gold Shields to have his group follow them.
• Fivik explained how Alarm Spells worked while they passed through the cave exit and reached a crossroads.
• He Xi sensed magic from the direction Zander and the others had gone, and he and Zoya followed it with Fivik and the rest.
• The group found a crude Teleportation Magic Array that Fivik said had been used a few hours earlier, around the time they projected their consciousness into the stone.
• Fivik decided to drain the magic of anyone using the array and redirect them into a stone wall, while Rodney declined to use it and asked Ailande for the survey report.

He Xi and Rodney agreed to share information about Annis and the Kareen Cult while Rodney kept the Tidal Trade Union commission. As Rodney’s team rested and ate, Ailande felt the cave was familiar, but Rodney cut him off before he could say more.

• Rodney gave He Xi the preliminary survey report to submit to the guild and asked how to respond to the employer about Annis.
• He Xi declined to take over Rodney’s commission and proposed that they exchange any leads they found about Annis or the Kareen Cult.
• Rodney gave He Xi the team’s contact details and left with his companions.
• After the group stopped to eat, Ailande said the cave felt familiar, and Rodney reminded him that he had collected Red-Spotted Spider venom there before.
• Ailande spoke about returning to Lingang City and taking a long rest, but Rodney covered his mouth and ordered him to eat and get ready to leave.

He Xi sealed the passage to the Dungeon with an immense Earth Spike Technique, causing a cave-in before Fivik could stop him. Fivik became intrigued by his unusually powerful, instant-cast spell and sent him to search the unconscious Black Robe People, where he found an unopened scroll and some money.

• He Xi offered to seal the passage, then raised massive stone pillars that blocked it and triggered a collapse.
• He Xi, Fivik, Zoya, and Bruce hurried back into the Dungeon as rocks fell around them.
• Fivik asked He Xi to cast the Earth Spike Technique again and examined the pillar, puzzled by its power and instant casting.
• Fivik brought He Xi to Flora and had him demonstrate the spell again before sending him to search the unconscious Black Robe People.
• He Xi found an unopened scroll and a pouch containing three Gold Shields and a handful of Silver Scales on the Black Robe leader.

After Fivik and Flora finished their discussion, Flora gave He Xi a teleportation scroll and three Gold Shields as a welcome gift. He Xi extracted two possible entries from Zander and asked Fivik what sensing natural elements would do for a spellcaster.

• Flora explained that the third-circle Teleportation Scroll could instantly transport its user up to around two hundred meters, then gave it to He Xi along with three Gold Shields.
• He Xi decided to spend 25 of his Parsing Points on extracting an entry from Zander while saving the points he had gained from his teacher.
• He Xi obtained the entries [Survival Instinct] and [Shaman's First Encounter] and weighed their practical and magical benefits.
• He Xi asked Fivik how sensing differences in natural elements would affect spellcasting, and Fivik asked whether he had heard their earlier discussion.

Fivik decided to send He Xi to Fernandez to study magic while she prepared to advance to the next stage. He Xi agreed to consider going alone, and Fivik began explaining how powerful mages were assessed.

• Fivik told He Xi she would send him to Fernandez to study magic systematically.
• Bruce excitedly celebrated going to Fernandez, and He Xi recalled the city's magical conveniences and high cost of living.
• Fivik said she would not accompany He Xi because she needed to prepare for her next stage and visit dangerous places.
• He Xi asked what it took to become a Legendary Mage, and Fivik said mastering Nine-Ring Magic was only the baseline.
• Fivik reassured He Xi that Flora would be returning to Fernandez and that she could teleport over if anyone bullied him.
• Fivik began explaining that powerful mages were judged by their mastery of spells rather than just their attributes.

Fivik explained why He Xi should study at the Magic Academy in Fernandez, where he could explore different schools of magic and buy specialized Skill Scrolls. She offered to pay his first year’s tuition if he became a professional, and He Xi chose the trait Shaman's First Encounter.

• Fivik said her converted level was about 94 and explained that her specialty was Conjuration, while Flora had mastered Nine-Ring Magic.
• Fivik told He Xi that her limited spell proficiency made Skill Scrolls a better way for him to learn advanced magic, and she urged him to explore different schools before choosing a specialty.
• Flora revealed that Fivik had blown up the school, and Fivik warned He Xi not to mention their teacher-student relationship in Fernandez until she returned for revenge.
• Fivik promised to cover He Xi’s first year of tuition if he became a professional before the school term began, while Zoya and Bruce offered to help him earn money.
• Fivik explained that Fernandez had a vast Adventurer Guild commission network and an extensive teleportation system, and He Xi selected the trait Shaman's First Encounter.

He Xi and his companions rested in the Dungeon, where Flora explained the elves’ coming-of-age Deep Remembrance. He Xi learned that Zoya’s seal might endanger her when her magic awakens, but Fivik and Flora offered ways to investigate it before they settled in for the night.

• Fivik and He Xi agreed to stop exploring and rest after Flora pointed out that it was already late at night.
• Flora explained that elves undergo Deep Remembrance when they come of age, and told Zoya that her own coming of age was approaching.
• He Xi asked Fivik and Flora about Zoya’s seal, and Flora warned that it might interfere with Zoya’s magic awakening while Fivik offered to find a Protection School mage to examine it.
• He Xi squeezed Zoya’s hand and resolved to find a way to remove the seal, while Zander volunteered to keep watch and Fivik relied on protective spells.
• Bruce squeezed between He Xi and Zoya’s beds, so He Xi used Mage Hand to move him beside Zander.

He Xi practiced Magic Missile in the Dungeon, defeating Mist Demons and Empty Shells while improving his proficiency. When Fivik offered to return to Rose Town, He Xi arranged for teleportation arrays so he could travel back to the Dungeon whenever he wanted.

• Flora told He Xi that the Giant Stone's magic array no longer eroded his memory, though the lingering mist still required caution, and Fivik gave him an Air Elemental to keep the mist away.
• He Xi, Zoya, and Bruce explored the Dungeon, where He Xi blasted Mist Demons and an Empty Shell with Magic Missiles.
• He Xi spent hours fighting Dungeon enemies and raised his Magic Missile proficiency to Lv.3 (35/40).
• Fivik said the Dungeon was safe for practice and offered to take Big Guy and the others back to Rose Town.
• He Xi asked to return to the Dungeon whenever he wanted, and Fivik agreed to set up teleportation arrays near the Kobold cave if He Xi paid about 120 Gold Shields for the materials.

Trist found inspiration for a new gourmet-themed novel after befriending Galen, though he hid his deadly familiar, Little Black, from him. When He Xi and the others returned to the Magic Staff Shop, Trist emerged from the basement, and He Xi reminded Zoya of the unfinished novel she had been waiting to read.

• Trist read the Dungeon Ingredient Handling Guide and wrote a new novel, The Picky Gourmet, drawing on his friendship with Galen and his new interest in food.
• In Trist's story, Galen wanted to eat grilled Loss Beast, while Trist secretly let Little Black drain the beast's blood and warned it not to attack Galen.
• Hungry and out of sauce, Trist decided to explore town again in search of Slimes, hoping to try Gelatinous Stew.
• He Xi, Madam Fivik, Zander, Zoya, and Bruce teleported back to the Magic Staff Shop, where Zander crashed into a shelf and was told to clean up the mess.
• Trist emerged from the basement, and He Xi asked Zoya if she remembered The Skin Peeler in the Woods.

He Xi took Trist shopping for ingredients and magic materials, finding a black opal for the teleportation array and sharing a meal invitation that pleased Trist. As they headed outside Rose Town, a black liquid suddenly swallowed Bruce.

• Zoya learned that Trist was the author of the unfinished book she and Fivik liked, and Fivik threatened to cut his rations if he failed to write a new chapter.
• He Xi took Trist to Four Seas General Goods, where Trist bought Dragon's Breath Chili Powder and Mushroom Cheese while He Xi purchased supplies for the teleportation array.
• He Xi found a suitable black opal at Rocknor's stone shop and bought it for 100 Gold Shields.
• He Xi invited Trist outside Rose Town, where Trist enjoyed the cold wind and accepted an offer to eat at the tavern.
• Bruce ran excitedly through the snow toward the tavern, but a black void opened beneath him and a monstrous mouth emerged from it and swallowed him.

Bruce was trapped by a maw formed from his reflection as Trist detected a hidden threat and attacked a figure from his past. Trist recognized the apparent Quillendra, his wife, but pierced the shadow beneath her disguise and revealed that he had resisted her command to kneel.

• Bruce was swallowed by the black hole in his reflection and could not make his cries for help reach He Xi.
• He Xi found Bruce trembling, while Trist sensed a familiar, hated presence in the shadows near a distant grove.
• Trist used West Wind Strike to reach the grove and attacked the moving shadow with a Cross Slash.
• The figure revealed herself as Quillendra and ordered Trist to kneel, weakening his legs with invisible webs.
• Trist resisted, drove his blade into the figure, and discovered that her body was made of writhing black shadow.

He Xi and Trist fought off Kareen Cult Pact Masters who had ambushed them in the snow. After defeating their attackers, He Xi turned to find a massive, many-eyed creature hovering before Trist.

• Trist warned He Xi through [Telepathic Communication] that his opponent was preparing [Mana Burst], and He Xi disrupted the spell with repeated [Earth Spike Technique] casts.
• A second Black Robe Person struck He Xi with dark purple magic, but He Xi called on Bruce and killed one attacker with [Enhanced Earth Spike Technique].
• Bruce and He Xi coordinated their attacks to bring down the Black Robe Person Bruce was fighting.
• He Xi sensed a powerful aura from Trist's direction, finished off his opponent, and saw a huge floating creature with a central scarlet eye and four eye-tipped stalks.

He Xi learned that the creature confronting Trist was a summoned Observer Beholder and tried to stop the Black Robe Person sustaining it. Bruce’s attack failed against the man’s shield, but He Xi disrupted his aim and saved Bruce from a Mana Burst.

• He Xi identified the floating creature as an Observer Beholder, and Trist warned him to escape while explaining that the Black Robe Person had summoned it.
• He Xi recalled that disrupting a summoner could make a summoned creature disappear or lose control, so he sent Bruce to find the Black Robe Person in the Withered Wood Forest.
• Bruce found the Black Robe Person and attacked, but an icy spherical shield blocked his burning paw and froze his foreleg.
• The Black Robe Person gathered dark-purple magic to strike Bruce, but He Xi raised an Earth Spike and used Mage Hand to shove Bruce aside.
• The Earth Spike tilted the Black Robe Person enough to spoil his aim, and his Mana Burst missed Bruce and blasted a crater in the snow.

He Xi pretended to be Galen Demacia when a Black Robe Person identified him by his Real Name and tried to capture him. With Bruce's help, He Xi broke the man's shield and used a powerful earth spell to launch him into the air, then fled.

• The Black Robe Person targeted He Xi, and He Xi questioned him while keeping watch over the distant battle between Trist and their attackers.
• When the Black Robe Person called him He Xi Atmesia, He Xi denied it and claimed to be Galen Demacia while resisting the man's [Detect Thoughts].
• The Black Robe Person dismissed He Xi's claim and began casting [Mana Burst], but Bruce's flames broke through his ice-blue barrier.
• He Xi struck the exposed Black Robe Person with three Magic Missiles, but the man quickly restored his shield.
• The Black Robe Person resumed casting, but He Xi raised the ground beneath him into a pillar, launching him upward as He Xi fled.

He Xi fled the Black Robe Person but was captured by the darkness and its chilling magic. Trist unleashed a terrifying shadow power to seize their enemy, then accepted the ancient force’s demand to open the door so he could save He Xi.

• He Xi tried to escape toward Rose Town, but a dark spell enveloped him and stopped him from using his Teleportation Scroll.
• The Black Robe Person incapacitated He Xi and turned to attack Trist with a slimy tentacle.
• Trist’s shadow swallowed the tentacle and bound the Black Robe Person with tendrils of darkness.
• An ancient voice spoke through Trist’s shadow and demanded that he open the door for its feast.
• Trist stopped resisting the power so he could save He Xi.