Chapter Summaries

Ron arrived at the Lance Festival aboard Eve’s exclusive Silver Feather aircraft and prepared to compete in the Rainbow Ring bloodline-modulation contest. As the contestants gathered, other mentors debated his abilities, and the chapter left him at workstation seven before the competition began.

• Eve explained the Lance Festival and the Rainbow Ring contest to Ron, while Dail and Ailan admired the Seven-Colored Crystal Grove from the aircraft.
• Eve gave Ron information about the other contestants, including Muller, Sophia, and Ahmed, and Ron said Elliott had already sent him intelligence.
• The Silver Feather aircraft drew attention as it landed, and Ron walked to the contestants’ area while spectators recognized him as a Treasure Grade genius and Eve’s mentor.
• Arnold Weiss welcomed Ron and directed him to workstation seven, where Ron inspected the equipment and materials.
• Mentors from Crystal Spire discussed Ron’s bloodline-modulation ability; Elliott and William West defended his talent, while Valen advised them to wait for the results.

Ron competed in the Rainbow Ring bloodline-modulation contest, using careful experiments to develop a balanced enhancement for a Crystal Lizard. He completed the transformation with a pale-gold slime result, while the competition neared its end and Muller attempted a final risky fusion.

• Morris Wendell opened the Rainbow Ring competition and explained that contestants would modulate Crystal Lizards, with Autophagic Slime colors judging their results.
• Ron tested several material combinations on divided groups of slime, while Muller and Ahmed pursued aggressive approaches and Jenny chose a conservative one.
• Several contestants' experiments failed, and Ahmed's Crystal Lizard exploded, throwing him from his workbench.
• Ron used his test results to modulate a Crystal Lizard, enhancing its perception and stress response while preserving its original traits; his slime reached pale gold.
• As the contest approached its end, Muller attempted to fuse lightning essence with scorching essence in a final gamble.

Muller’s unstable attempt to fuse lightning and fire essence nearly caused a catastrophe, but Ron contained the energy and saved the competition. Ron won the Rainbow Ring competition, and Muller later apologized to the contestants and thanked him.

• Muller’s unstable essence mixture sent the Autophagic Slime into a dangerous eruption, and Ron used Sonic Oscillation to neutralize it.
• Morris disqualified Muller and warned that the organizing committee could impose further penalties, including a lifetime ban.
• The contestants demonstrated their modulated Crystal Lizards, and Ron’s lizard impressed the judges with its abilities and exceptional stability.
• Morris announced Ron as the gold medal winner, with Jenny taking silver and Andrews taking bronze.
• After the ceremony, Muller returned and apologized to the contestants, especially thanking Ron for preventing disaster.

After winning recognition at the competition, Ron joined Eve and his students at the Lance Festival, where the Elemental Dance inspired new ideas for his research. The chapter left him considering whether following energy’s natural tendencies could reduce the dangers of Abyssal energy and aid the Furnace Conception.

• Muller apologized to the affected contestants and compensated them, while Ron exchanged contact Emblems with the assembled Modulators.
• Ron received praise from spectators and congratulations from William and Elliott, then learned that Eve was protected by a powerful Void Shell force field despite Franka’s absence.
• Herman, Lucia, Liz, Albert, and the other students gave Ron an Autophagic Slime cake they had made, and he invited them and Eve to explore the festival.
• Ron and the group watched the Elemental Song and Dance Troupe guide earth, water, fire, and wind through an efficient technique rooted in dialogue with the elements.
• Ron connected the dancers’ approach to his students’ potion studies and considered applying the principle of following energy’s nature to Abyssal energy control and the Furnace Conception.

Ron and his companions enjoyed the Lance Festival, where Eve experienced a vision of freedom in the Illusory Garden and they watched the Feast of Light. After learning that his paper had passed its second review and earned 1,200 contribution points, Ron agreed to meet the Academic Review Office about publication and possible School Alliance investment.

• Ron and his companions entered the Illusory Garden, where Ron saw conscious stars and Eve imagined herself running freely through a Crystal Forest.
• Ron, Eve, and the others watched the Feast of Light, which honored Lance and displayed his theories and life before the crowd.
• Eve thanked Ron for giving her the happiest day of her life, then departed with her nanny golems aboard the Silver Feather.
• Ron received a notice that his paper had passed its second review, earned 1,200 contribution points, and would appear in New Talent Academic Monthly.
• Ron studied the wizard journal hierarchy and learned that the Academic Review Office wanted to discuss publication, improvements to his mobile Simulation Battle Device, and School Alliance investment.
• Ron replied that he would visit the Academic Review Office on Wednesday, after his first class following the holiday.

Ron studied Lance Hewitt’s notes on Abyssal experiments, learning about the Abyss’s time distortions and Lance’s unfinished research into bloodline harmonization, soul resonance, and preserving consciousness. He connected Lance’s Soul Resonance theory to his own Furnace Conception, then asked Ailan to find materials and purchasing channels for cultivating Autophagic Slimes.

• Ron read Lance Hewitt’s research logs, including the effects of Abyssal time flow and the development of the Autophagic Slime and Key of Harmonization.
• Ron learned that Lance had also conceived Soul Resonance and the Consciousness Archive, and that his final instructions directed future researchers to seek the King of Illusions in Fairy Land for a Void Shell Remnant Structure.
• Ron decided to study the Key of Harmonization and Autophagic Slime cultivation while postponing Soul Resonance and the Consciousness Archive until he became an Ancient Alchemist.
• Ron studied Lance’s Soul Resonance theory the next morning and recognized similarities between it and his own Furnace Conception.
• At breakfast, Ron asked Ailan to organize ways to obtain Autophagic Slime materials and check whether they could be purchased through the Crystal Spire’s mentor channels.

Ron tested the completed Simulation Battle Device with Axar and, after demonstrating how much his combat abilities had improved, told the Weapon Master he wanted to pursue the Weapon Master path. Axar began explaining its requirements in the Beastkin sacred land, where Ron already showed a keen combat instinct.

• Ailan gave Ron a list of expensive Autophagic Slime materials and suggested he wait for the Abyss Observatory's exchange to seek cheaper supplies through Wizard Reynolds.
• Ron activated the Simulation Battle Device, entered its arena, and met Axar, whose Soul Fragment had become more lifelike and complete.
• Ron fought Axar and repeatedly evaded and countered his attacks, convincing Axar that Ron's abilities had greatly improved since becoming an official Wizard.
• Ron explained that he wanted to pursue the Weapon Master path alongside wizardry, and Axar agreed to teach him.
• Axar brought Ron to the Beastkin sacred land's Inheritance Circle and explained the physical, weapon-proficiency, and combat-instinct requirements for becoming a Weapon Master.
• Axar threw a short blade at Ron, and Ron dodged it before it could hit him, prompting Axar to praise his combat instinct.

Ron learned about Weapon Master Resonance and the Gap-Seeking Art from Axar, then chose to pursue the career path and planned training with him. Back in the real world, Ron studied Frederick’s rune lessons and practiced runes and enchantment, making initial progress in both skills.

• Axar explained Resonance, the Weapon Master career, and how mastering the Gap-Seeking Art could lead to becoming a monarch.
• Ron’s Career Panel revealed advancement requirements, and he decided to pursue Weapon Master training alongside his other paths.
• Axar assessed Ron’s swordsmanship and recommended spears and throwing daggers, helping him form a training schedule.
• Ron returned from the simulation, checked that the Simulation Battle Device was stable, and considered seeking more support at the School Alliance review meeting.
• Ron used Frederick’s Rune Memory Bead to study Runic Studies and enchantment, then practiced basic runes and successfully activated a Glimmer array.

The Hanged discussed Ron Ralph’s unusual freedom and possible ability to ease Eve Saint-Manzhi’s Magic Devour, while speculating about his connection to The Traveler and his coming trip to the Abyss Observatory. Ron then presented the Crystal Spire review committee with a plan to expand his simulation device into a shared virtual world, leaving the reviewers impressed by its ambition.

• Karent, Mora, and Varian debated why Cassandra had allowed Ron to remain free and whether his connection to Eve could affect Magic Devour.
• Mora suggested Ron might be connected to The Traveler, while the three Hanged discussed his Abyss Observatory expedition and wondered why the Abnormality Catchers had not intervened.
• Drake silently judged that Ron’s soul did not belong in this world and sensed traces of crossing a boundary and a deeper connection.
• Ron arrived at the review office, where Herman congratulated him on his paper’s praise from the committee.
• Ron told Minerva Wiseman and the other reviewers that he wanted to expand his Mobile Simulation Battle Device into a shared mental network for communication, research, and virtual exploration.
• Chester Pele acknowledged that Ron’s proposal was astonishingly ambitious.

Ron’s proposal for a consciousness network alarmed the School Alliance reviewers, who funded only his mobile Simulation Battle Device and warned him to set the larger project aside. He arranged to buy materials from Reynolds and prepared to pursue an Autophagic Slime and charge his Surrogate Puppet, then finished his potion orders before planning a trip to meet Reynolds.

• Ron explained that Lance’s notes and the King of Illusions had inspired his consciousness-network conception, prompting the reviewers to become wary and question how he obtained the information.
• The School Alliance granted Ron 50 Magic Stones and a simulation-target database for his mobile Simulation Battle Device, while Chester warned him against theories connected to The Great Ones.
• Ron contacted Reynolds and arranged to look for Autophagic Slime materials, including Void Mucus, Mutant Catalyst, and high-energy Abyss materials, at the exchange in three days.
• Ron calculated that his available funds could cover the cultivation project and recorded a plan to use Abyss Crystals to charge his Surrogate Puppet for independent exploration.
• Ron completed his potion orders, gave the final batch to Liz, and told her he would be away for a few days before preparing to meet Reynolds.

Ron traveled with Reynolds to Outpost No. 137, where he explored the trading district and bought materials for cultivating an Autophagic Slime. He also asked Kaso for rare, high-energy Abyss materials, and Kaso began explaining how difficult they were to obtain.

• Reynolds warned Ron that unstable teleportation near the Abyss could cause deadly coordinate shifts, so they traveled aboard the airship Flying Lightning.
• As they approached the Mouth of the Abyss, Ron sensed its periodic breathing and Reynolds described theories about its attraction and the Abyssal tides.
• Ron and Reynolds arrived at Outpost No. 137, where Ron registered for a temporary pass and saw how long-term Abyss exposure mutated explorers.
• Reynolds introduced Ron to Kaso, an official Wizard and materials dealer, who showed Ron high-purity Void Mucus and other supplies.
• Ron bought a complete set of materials for cultivating an Autophagic Slime, then asked Kaso for high-energy crystalline products from below the fourth layer.
• Kaso said such materials were difficult to find because fourth-layer samples were rare and recent Abyss activity had made exploration harder.

Ron visited the elemental collector Aize with Kaso and Reynolds to find high-purity Energy Crystals. He traded a controlled memory of his link with the Hermit Star for a rare Breath of Chaos crystal, then left with Reynolds to visit the Observation Station.

• Kaso led Ron and Reynolds through the outpost and described how Abyss mutations had given explorers unusual traits and abilities.
• The three entered Aize’s Ripple Dome, where Aize scanned Ron and offered fourth-layer Energy Crystals in exchange for equivalent value.
• Ron chose the Breath of Chaos crystal and negotiated a contract limiting Aize’s access to a memory he selected.
• Ron shared his memory of establishing a link with the Hermit Star and received the crystal without apparent harm.
• Aize invited Ron to return, and Reynolds led him toward the Observation Station to show him things that might aid his research.

Ron toured the Observation Station’s Memory Crystal containment center with Reynolds, where Professor Uter invited him to join a beginner analysis project. After discovering that his skills could help detect Thought Viruses, Ron decided to buy practice crystals at Wise Thought Collection, though he left with the nagging feeling that he had forgotten something.

• Reynolds brought Ron into the Special Containment Center and explained how Memory Crystals stored experiences, emotions, and sometimes knowledge.
• Professor Uter showed Ron high-grade crystals and described the dangers of analyzing them, including the loss of two Historians who studied a crystal containing a Supreme Apostle’s consciousness.
• Uter told Ron that the School Alliance had approved him for a three-month beginner Memory Crystal Analysis Project, and Ron accepted the invitation.
• Uter recommended Wise Thought Collection as a supplier of low-risk practice crystals, while Ron’s Extraordinary Identification improved during the tour.
• Ron noticed that some crystals contained Thought Viruses, and a synergy between Extraordinary Identification and Hunt Evil let him perceive evil energy more clearly.
• Ron chose to buy two Memory Crystals at Wise Thought Collection, then left the containment center feeling that he had forgotten something.

Ron returned from the Abyss outpost with research materials and planned to earn enough contribution points to join the Abyss Observatory as research staff. In his laboratory, he began cultivating an Autophagic Slime and left it to stabilize, while preparing to prioritize work on his Surrogate Puppet.

• Ron bought two beginner-friendly memory crystals from Morgan at Wise Thought Collection and ate an unusual meal with Reynolds at Embers.
• On the airship, Ron planned to reach 5,000 contribution points within six months and decided that research-oriented work at the Abyss Observatory suited him best.
• Ron began shaping a Membranous Phagomass, using Abyssal materials and Energy Anchors to give the developing Autophagic Slime bloodline analysis, energy conversion, and morphological plasticity.
• Ron finished the first cultivation stage and placed the slime in an incubator to stabilize for three days before mark implantation.
• Ron discussed Herman's research with Ailan, received updates about his duties and Dail's itchy scales, and decided to prioritize extracting energy from the Surrogate Puppet.

Ron carefully guided energy from the Abyss Crystal into the Surrogate Puppet while pursuing a breakthrough in meditation under the Hermit's Eye. He completed the Morning Star Rank first-stage breakthrough, gained Hermit's Insight, and discovered a tiny passage in his consciousness through which a cold, predatory time-related energy was seeping.

• Ron engraved runes on the Abyss Crystal and guided its energy through a filtering device into the Surrogate Puppet, confirming that the process was stable but would require repeated, closely monitored cycles.
• Ron maintained a demanding routine of teaching, experiments, cultivation, and training as the puppet's charge rose to 85%.
• Ron used the rare Hermit's Eye phenomenon to deepen his connection with Hermit Star during meditation.
• Hermit Star sent Ron an ancient vision of the Hermit's flight and defeat by the Devourer, and the Hermit's surviving consciousness formed the star.
• Ron completed his Morning Star Rank first-stage breakthrough, increased his spiritual power and mana, and gained Hermit's Insight, which enhanced his thinking, spiritual attacks, and danger sense.
• Ron sensed a threat in his consciousness and used Hermit's Insight to find a tiny foreign crack connected to an unknown dimension, where cold, predatory energy related to time was seeping through.

Ron was ambushed in his consciousness space by a Time Hound that fed on his mental energy, and he fought back with layered defenses, spells, and a dangerous high-dimensional Babble. The Hound tried to flee into its rift as the Babble began corroding it, while Ron’s own consciousness continued to collapse.

• Ron recognized the crack in his consciousness space as a Time Hound’s trap, but its mouthpart pierced his Flowing Barrier and tore a hole in his consciousness.
• Ron slowed the Hound’s second attack with layered defenses, struck it with Mind Blast, and used his Pocket Watch to recover before attacking with Sonic Oscillation Corrosion State.
• The Time Hound instantly reset its damaged form, so Ron used Ring of Radiance to drive away shadows and restrict its movement.
• Ron played the recorded high-dimensional Babble, risking severe contamination as the Hound showed fear and its existence began to corrode.
• The Time Hound struggled through the remaining shadows and tried to escape back through the dimensional rift.

Ron survived his encounter with the Time Hound, cleansed the resulting Contamination, and gained new insight into the mysteries of Whispers of the Star Eater. During a memory-crystal analysis with Professor Uter, he accessed an explorer’s memory of a strange ecosystem in the Fourth Layer of the Abyss and saw a vast, blurry presence watching from deeper within.

• Ron escaped the Time Hound and returned to his body, carrying fragments of the Hermit’s memories and severe mental Contamination.
• Ron used the Pocket Watch to erase the Contamination, and it absorbed Time Hound energy that increased its energy quota.
• Ron wondered whether Whispers of the Star Eater was guiding practitioners to become backup rations for the Devourer, then resolved to investigate cautiously and ask Professor Uter about the Time Hounds.
• Ron analyzed a memory crystal from the Fourth Layer of the Abyss under Professor Uter’s supervision, using Hermit’s Insight to establish a safe information channel.
• Ron experienced the crystal’s memory of an explorer studying interconnected plants and violet energy vents before a massive, blurry outline appeared at the edge of the explorer’s vision.

Ron analyzed a memory crystal and identified its supposed Apostle as a fear-projecting Peiluo-Peiluo Grass, then questioned Professor Uter about Time Hounds. Uter explained how to kill them and recounted how Erika, the Clock King, hunted a Hound King and incorporated its main structure into her Soul Anchor, leaving Ron pondering the connection to his own pocket watch.

• Ron determined that the Apostle in the memory crystal was a fake, and Professor Uter identified it as a Peiluo-Peiluo Grass that used fear illusions for defense.
• Professor Uter explained that the Peiluo-Peiluo Grass produced valuable Illusion Crystals and could contribute to the construction of a Void Shell.
• Ron described his encounter with Time Hounds, including their shadow-angle attacks and ability to reset injuries, and Uter confirmed his observations.
• Professor Uter outlined the requirements for killing a Time Hound: mental strength above Monday-Level, a time-solidifying spell, and the Three-Phase Mind Blast.
• Professor Uter described Hound Kings and told Ron that Erika, the Clock King, killed one and incorporated its main structure into her Soul Anchor.
• Ron considered the possible connection between Erika’s title, her time abilities, and his own pocket watch.

After Professor Uter told Ron about the Clock King Erika’s fate and the Abyss’s hunger for powerful wizards, Ron investigated his silver pocket watch through Historical Research. He witnessed Erika forge the watch and fight Time Hounds, gaining new insight before her memory addressed him directly.

• Professor Uter explained that Erika had vanished during a siege by Apostles, then warned Ron that the Abyss turned devoured wizards’ knowledge and abilities into strengths for its creatures.
• Ron reviewed his research progress and noticed that Professor Uter, Eve, and several lecturers seemed troubled by events at the Crystal Spire.
• Ron used Historical Research on his silver pocket watch and saw Erika forging it in her clock tower.
• Ron watched Erika defeat Time Hounds with Time Leap, Three-Phase Mind Blast, and Time Anchor, then use the completed pocket watch against the Hound King.
• Erika sensed Ron observing her memory, called him an interesting little one, and urged him to use the watch well; Ron returned to the present with increased Historical Research experience and an upgrade prompt for Mind Blast.

Ron recorded Erika’s Time Leap technique and tested its accelerated movement, then trained with Axar and the Surrogate Puppet in a high-intensity simulated battle. After the puppet fused with his arm in Incarnation Stance, Ron defeated Axar with one spear strike, but the form severely strained his body and left him planning further training.

• Ron recorded Time Leap with the Phantom of Thousand Changes and confirmed that he could move and cast spells during its time-accelerated effect.
• Ron activated a high-intensity simulation against Axar and coordinated spear attacks with the Surrogate Puppet’s throwing knives.
• Axar countered Ron and the puppet with weapon changes, precise attacks, and Gap-Seeking Art, forcing Ron onto the defensive.
• Ron commanded the Surrogate Puppet to fuse with his right arm in Incarnation Stance, greatly increasing his speed, strength, and combat instincts.
• Ron used his enhanced speed to pierce Axar’s throat with a spear strike, ending the simulated battle in a complete victory.
• Ron assessed Incarnation Stance’s severe physical damage and decided to continue training to control its power and side effects.