Chapter Summaries

Mirabelle approved He Xi’s leave to join the Spring Hunt in the Heather Wasteland and arranged for Lidona to take over his teaching assistant duties. Lidona welcomed the chance but, after seeing He Xi leave without seeming concerned about the interruption to his training, vowed to surpass him in [Lightning Bolt].

• Mirabelle warned Lidona that her late-night practice was draining her mental power and could undermine her performance in the upcoming Alser’s Steps.
• Lidona explained that He Xi’s use of the first-floor practice rooms had forced her to practice late at night.
• He Xi asked Mirabelle for two to three weeks’ leave to join his teammates for the Spring Hunt in the Heather Wasteland, and she approved it.
• He Xi suggested that Lidona take over his teaching assistant duties, and Lidona eagerly accepted the position.
• Mirabelle encouraged Lidona to exchange ideas with He Xi when he returned, while Lidona resolved to improve her [Lightning Bolt] before then.

Zoya and Kazmir shopped in Sunset Plaza before He Xi joined them, and Zoya helped him replace his worn armor. After He Xi entered Annis's shop, Zoya sent her a pendant and a message through Bruce, then left with He Xi as the plaza closed.

• Kazmir and Zoya browsed Sunset Plaza, where Zoya bought new leather armor and selected protective gear for He Xi.
• Zoya noticed Annis working at the shop Mint and Frost and reflected on her feelings for He Xi and her willingness to accept Annis staying close to him.
• He Xi met Zoya at the plaza, took a break from Mentor Mirabelle, and bought the improved cloth armor she had chosen for him.
• He Xi stopped outside Mint and Frost to look inside, then entered the shop while Zoya waited outside with Bruce.
• Zoya gave a velvet pouch containing a compass pendant to a clerk for Annis and sent the message, “I like milky little cookies. We all like them.”
• He Xi left the shop looking more at ease, and he and Zoya walked out of Sunset Plaza as the vendors packed up and the fountain lit.

Ryan, Edlin, and their companions traveled toward Dart for spring monster-hunting commissions, where they discovered a merchant carriage destroyed by a two-headed ogre. Elsewhere, He Xi’s group baited Goblins with a fish-tied Bruce and killed them for their bounty ears.

• Ryan calculated how many Goblins he needed to kill to cover the party’s travel expenses as Fenn found fresh Goblin signs along the road.
• Edlin explained that the party was heading to Dart to take extermination commissions, and Hector openly scorned the prospect of fighting Goblins.
• Fenn led the party to the wreckage of a merchant carriage and identified the unusually smooth tracks as belonging to a two-headed ogre.
• Edlin ordered the party to hurry toward safety as they realized the fresh tracks pointed southwest, toward a location marked on Prissy’s map.
• Ulag drove He Xi’s carriage while Bruce ran with a dead fish tied to him, drawing a pack of Goblins into He Xi’s Earthstone Eruption spell.
• Zoya collected the Goblins’ left ears for their bounty, while Kazmir swallowed his complaint about He Xi’s spell after seeing the bag of rewards.

He Xi and his companions reached Dalt Town, registered as the Sterilization Squad, and chose a commission to clear two ogres east of town. As they planned to leave the next day, a local adventurer approached and asked whether they were looking for signs of ogres.

• Ulag drove the carriage through Dalt Town’s north gate, where the group saw a warning about ogre activity east of town.
• He Xi examined commissions at the Adventurer Guild and noticed reports of coordinated Goblin attacks, missing livestock, a missing merchant, and an overdue militia patrol.
• Kazmir registered the party as the Sterilization Squad, and Zoya turned in forty-seven Goblin ears for a reward.
• Kazmir accepted an ogre-clearing commission for two targets near an abandoned mine thirty kilometers east of town.
• He Xi agreed that the group would head out the next day and clear any Goblins or other Demonic Beasts they encountered.
• A sun-tanned man carrying a shortbow approached He Xi and asked whether the group was looking for signs of ogres.

Kazmir's group met Ralph, who offered to track ogres, then rested at Dart's tavern, where a sorceress's magic sparked a brawl. Meanwhile, Lidona prepared to assist with He Xi's Magic Missile class, and Monday's lesson began with Aislin recognizing her.

• Ralph told Kazmir's group that ogres had become scarce and offered to report their movements; Kazmir arranged to meet him at the Broken Antler Deer.
• Ulag ordered food and ale for the group, and Kazmir warned the waiter that Oakfather would not forgive the tavern owner for serving Oakfather's Seed.
• A sorceress at the tavern magically caused a bearded adventurer to attack his companion, and He Xi noticed her before the group left to rest.
• Lidona finished preparing lesson plans and resolved to show the freshmen what efficient guidance looked like.
• Lidona arrived as a teaching assistant for Monday's Magic Missile class, and Aislin recognized her.

Lidona replaced He Xi as the practical instructor, while Aislin interpreted the arrangement as a calculated display by He Xi and prepared a gift to give him when he returned. In the Heather Wasteland, He Xi helped Ulag fight ogres and continued honing his Lightning Bolt.

• Instructor Mirabelle announced that Lidona would fill in for He Xi, and Lidona taught the freshmen curved missile trajectories and rapid follow-up casting.
• Lidona repeatedly coached Lionel until he managed to hit the final dummy, then ordered him to meet her for extra training that afternoon.
• Lidona corrected Aislin's casting, told her He Xi had gone to the Heather Wasteland, and denied that she was substituting because of a special relationship with him.
• Aislin told Ston that He Xi had been showing her his capabilities and instructed him to set a prepared gift in motion so she could deliver it personally when He Xi returned.
• Lidona practiced alone in the Tower of Strength, while He Xi killed an ogre with three Lightning Bolts and told Ulag he had barely used any mana.

He Xi and his companions defeated two ogres, then were ambushed by a swarm of wasteland spiders and a wyvern on their return journey. The wyvern attacked Zoya and wounded Kazmir before turning on He Xi, who vanished beneath its strike as electricity crackled behind it.

• He Xi and Ulag killed two ogres, and the party harvested their teeth and stomach sacs for the Adventurer Guild.
• On the way back, the party encountered a swarm of wasteland spiders and fought them off with magic, weapons, and fire.
• A wyvern dove at Zoya, but Kazmir drew its attention with his music and was struck, leaving him wounded and his lute broken.
• He Xi used repeated Magic Missiles and Lightning Bolts to harry the wyvern, then vanished when it plunged toward him.
• The wyvern searched beneath its claws for He Xi, then heard electricity crackling behind it.

He Xi and his party drove off a Wyvern, recovered from the fight, and received a map marking ogre activity near Dart Town. Over the following days, they hunted ogres and goblin nests, steadily improving their combat coordination and He Xi’s spell proficiency.

• He Xi emerged from the mud and struck the Wyvern with [Lightning Bolt], forcing it to flee south, while Grot treated Kazmir’s cracked rib.
• The party cleared the remaining spiders, recovered thirty-six venom sacs, and found their frightened packhorse before returning to the Broken Antler Tavern.
• Ulag boasted about defeating the Wyvern, and He Xi received Ralph’s note and map marking three ogres south of town and signs of activity near an old outpost.
• He Xi told Kazmir to rest and promised his reward would not be reduced; a gray-robed stranger then paid two Silver Scales to ask where the Wyvern had been seen.
• The next morning, He Xi’s party killed three ogres, then cleared a goblin nest that afternoon using coordinated spells and attacks.
• Over the next two days, the party cleared two more goblin nests, while He Xi gained spell proficiency and looked forward to finding more ogres.

Kazmir recovered and had his broken lute repaired while He Xi’s group prepared to search southwest for ogres and the missing hunter Ralph. Hidden near a concealed valley, Ralph discovered a huge ogre gathering that seemed to be planning an attack on Dart, but the ogres spotted him as he tried to flee.

• Kazmir retrieved his lute from Claus Carpentry, found it repaired well enough to use, and paid the carpenter three Silver Scales.
• He Xi and Zoya turned in Goblin ears and ogre teeth at the Adventurer Guild, where Nora revealed that Ralph had been hunting ogres since his parents disappeared and He Xi promised to look for him.
• He Xi and his group prepared to head southwest to complete a search-and-rescue commission and watch for signs of Ralph.
• Ralph discovered a hidden valley filled with ogres and human remains, and he realized he could understand the ogres’ strange speech.
• Ralph heard an ogre say that humans were behind the stone wall, feared Dart was their target, and tried to escape.
• Ralph kicked loose gravel down the rock face, alerting the ogres, who spotted him and roared that he was behind the stone.

Priscilla and Hector found Ralph fleeing a valley full of Ogres, and Priscilla learned its location before knocking him unconscious. Back at camp, Ralph warned Edlin and the others about the Ogres but could not remember how Priscilla had found him.

• Ryan, Feyn, Edlin, Priscilla, and Hector camped in the Heather Wasteland and discussed following Ogre tracks to a nearby nest.
• Ralph escaped a valley full of Ogres, was struck in the shoulder, and was saved from his pursuers by a strange wind that did not touch him.
• Ralph told Priscilla where the valley was and said he had suddenly understood the Ogres’ language, but could no longer speak it.
• Priscilla knocked Ralph unconscious, told Hector to carry him back to camp, and said she needed him to report the Ogres’ location.
• Edlin treated Ralph’s fractured shoulder, and Feyn and the others waited for him to wake.
• Ralph woke and warned Edlin that dozens of Ogres occupied a hidden valley, but he could not remember Priscilla bringing him to camp.

Edlin’s party decided to investigate the ogres gathering in the valley, while He Xi’s group joined them after healing Ralph and arranging a warning for Dalt Town. Priscilla planned to exploit the expedition to search for hidden treasure, and Ryan became fixated on stealing He Xi’s powerful magic items.

• Edlin agreed to investigate the valley despite Ryan’s objections, and the group decided to escort Ralph to an old outpost before continuing southwest.
• Feyn mistook Bruce for a demonic beast, then recognized Ralph and met He Xi’s arriving group.
• He Xi agreed to cooperate with Edlin, and Grot healed Ralph’s injured shoulder enough for him to travel.
• He Xi sent Beilu through a portal with the adventurers’ badges to warn Nora and the town about the ogres gathering to the southwest.
• Priscilla approached He Xi flirtatiously while plotting to use the expedition to draw out the ogres and search the valley.
• Ryan watched He Xi’s magic equipment and resolved to find a chance to take it for himself.

Edlin’s group reached the valley and coordinated their abilities before ambushing three ogres patrolling the rock wall. He Xi mastered Lightning Bolt during the fight, and a roar from deeper in the valley suggested that more ogres were coming.

• Edlin left the carriages with Right Hand and led the group on foot toward the valley, while He Xi secretly gave Zoya a Teleportation Scroll for an emergency escape.
• The group introduced their combat roles, and Ryan learned that He Xi could cast Earthstone Eruption five times while privately planning to wait until He Xi ran out of mana.
• Ralph showed the group the valley entrance and returned to town after warning them to retreat if necessary.
• Three ogres patrolling the rock wall fought after the group’s ambush began, and He Xi, Feyn, Edlin, and the others killed them.
• He Xi mastered Lightning Bolt and gained seven Wisdom, while Feyn warned that the fallen ogres’ impact would attract others; a roar then sounded from deeper in the valley.

He Xi’s party fought through the narrow valley as the noise drew more ogres, while an owl watched from above. The ogres charged toward the entrance, and the owl sensed Velsadorn awakening deeper in the valley and flew toward the aura.

• He Xi’s party killed ogres along the hidden descent, and Feyn warned that the canyon’s echoes would attract more.
• Ogres hurled Goblins from above as enemies approached from both forks; Hector killed an Ogre Chain Fighter, and Priscilla’s [Thunder Wave] scattered the falling Goblins and stunned nearby ogres.
• Deep in the valley, Mor tried to teach Grang a spell, but the noise disrupted their casting and Mor ordered the ogres to attack the intruders.
• The owl saw the ogres advancing toward the entrance and sensed Velsadorn’s powerful aura rising from underground.
• The owl abandoned its plan to rest and flew along the rock wall toward Velsadorn.

Edlin’s party fought through an endless horde of ogres in the valley while He Xi tested a way to amplify his Lightning Bolt spells. After the group opened a path to retreat, a two-headed ogre hurled a fireball at them, and Edlin moved to shield her companions.

• Edlin urged the party to regroup as ogres kept pressing in, while Ryan prepared to use his Teleportation Scroll.
• He Xi had Grot soak the charging ogres with Create Water, then used Lightning Bolt to kill three at once.
• Ryan cast Enlarge on Ulag, who grew over two meters tall and held back the ogres as Edlin regained her footing.
• Edlin directed Feyn to mark weak spots in the rock walls, and He Xi and Ryan used Earthstone Eruption to collapse rubble across both sides of the passage.
• Edlin ordered the party to retreat, but a two-headed ogre sent a fireball toward them, and she advanced behind her shield as the flames swallowed her.

He Xi and the party fought a Two-Headed Ogre and a chain-wielding Ogre as more enemies surrounded them, then fled up the slope. He Xi unleashed an enhanced Earthstone Eruption that collapsed the valley floor into a cavern, and Ulag fell into the abyss with the crumbling rocks.

• The Two-Headed Ogre teleported above He Xi and attacked him under a Silence Spell, knocking Pig Knuckle Peggy from his staff as the party engaged it.
• Hector and Priscilla disappeared, while Bruce burned the chain Ogre and Kazmir provoked Grang into fighting with Mor; He Xi then killed the chain Ogre with lightning.
• He Xi called for a retreat, and Edlin, Feyn, Grot, Kazmir, and Ulag withdrew toward the slope as more Ogres closed in.
• Ulag interrupted Mor's fire spell with a Battle Axe strike, and He Xi slowed the pursuing Ogres with Earth Spikes.
• He Xi cast enhanced Earthstone Eruption, shattering the valley floor and sending the Ogres tumbling into a vast underground cavern.
• The collapse spread beneath the slope, and Ulag fell into the darkness with the rocks.

After He Xi caused the canyon to collapse, he dove into the abyss to search for Ulag while the party stayed behind to face the remaining danger. Earlier, Priscilla found a hidden treasure chamber and uncovered an ancient ring, but a colossal eye appeared in the darkness before she could take it.

• Ryan woke on Edlin's shoulder, asked He Xi whether he still had mana, and promptly passed out again.
• He Xi refused Grot and Kazmir's offers to join him, used his earth magic to enter the abyss, and promised Zoya and Bruce he would return safely.
• Priscilla and Hector followed a locating branch through the underground passages until they reached a cavern filled with gold ingots and gemstones.
• Priscilla found a stone recess marked with part of the name Mary and uncovered an ancient ring set with a dark crystal.
• After a sudden tremor, Priscilla collapsed and saw a wagon-wheel-sized eye watching her from the darkness.

Priscilla encountered Velsadorn while reaching for a stone slab in the dragon’s hoard, while Harvey retrieved a glowing sphere and was buried by a collapsing passage. He Xi found the sphere and reunited with Ulag and Morgal in Velsadorn’s grasp, where the dragon stopped short after noticing the sphere.

• Priscilla froze before Velsadorn, who teased her and offered a deal for the stone slab before a cave collapse interrupted them.
• Velsadorn held up the falling ceiling and burst through the rock to confront whoever had collapsed it.
• Harvey retrieved a brass-colored sphere, was startled by a biting hag’s head, and was buried when an ogre and mudslide broke through his vine barrier.
• He Xi searched the underground passages for Ulag, killed an injured ogre, and found a glowing sphere that resisted being stored in his Dimensional Bag.
• Velsadorn burst through the passage wall carrying Morgal in one claw and Ulag in the other, then stopped when he saw the sphere in He Xi’s arms.

He Xi returned a responsive dragon egg to Velsadorn, who claimed it as a reward and let He Xi ride back to the lair with Ulag. There, Velsadorn questioned its captives about the collapse, while Priscilla watched He Xi arrive.

• Velsadorn found He Xi holding the dragon egg and realized it was responding to him.
• He Xi resisted the dragon’s might, then tried to return the egg, but Velsadorn insisted he keep it as a reward.
• After learning Harvey was alive beneath the rubble, Velsadorn took Ulag back to its lair; He Xi asked to go with them because Ulag was his friend.
• Priscilla saw He Xi arrive in the lair on Velsadorn’s claw, carrying the glowing egg.
• Mor blamed He Xi for the collapse, but Velsadorn rejected the accusation and asked He Xi to confirm its judgment.

Velsadorn made Ulag entertain it with stories about dwarf-related humiliations, then rewarded him and gave He Xi a crystal ball. As they left, He Xi wondered why Velsadorn valued the dark gold sphere, while Ulag asked him to keep the dwarf jokes secret from Kazmir.

• Velsadorn demanded that Mor and Ulag guess what would please it, and it knocked Grang aside when Grang offered to kill He Xi.
• Ulag guessed that Velsadorn wanted dwarf jokes and told stories about being mistaken for a stool and nearly drowning in a river.
• Velsadorn laughed, rewarded Ulag with gemstones, and urged him to buy a drink.
• Velsadorn gave He Xi a standard alteration-school crystal ball, which He Xi recognized as a worthless enchanted trinket.
• He Xi offered Velsadorn the dark gold sphere as a return gift, but Velsadorn refused and gained favorability with him.
• Ulag asked He Xi not to repeat his stories, especially to Kazmir, and He Xi agreed.

Velsadorn frightened Priscilla, then revealed that he had mistaken a story about Sean's Partial Transformation for a mating ritual. Priscilla taught him what the ritual actually meant, but after their encounter he gave her red obsidian instead of the ring she wanted, and she left with Hector while considering another trip to Dalt Town.

• Velsadorn ate the two-headed ogre, then grabbed Priscilla and frightened her before releasing her.
• Priscilla confronted Velsadorn, who explained that Sean's story about Partial Transformation had led him to believe scaring someone was a mating ritual.
• Priscilla corrected Velsadorn's misunderstanding, and he offered her a trade: help him become a true dragon in exchange for a gift.
• Velsadorn changed into human form, and Priscilla agreed to teach him, hoping to get the spell-storing ring.
• Velsadorn gave Priscilla a small piece of red obsidian instead of the ring, and she left with Hector, wondering whether to return to Dalt Town.