Chapter Summaries

Xing En and Uchiha Madara discussed the Magic Stone’s corrupting influence, and Xing En asked to borrow one so he could study it. As Xing En opened Madara’s scroll containing four Magic Stones, their combined temptation began to overwhelm Madara, who urged him to choose quickly.

• Xing En and Uchiha Madara discussed whether the Monkey King would eventually lose his sanity to the Magic Stone’s influence.
• Xing En asked Uchiha Madara for a Magic Stone so he could study it, and Madara agreed to lend him one from a scroll holding four.
• Uchiha Madara explained that the third Magic Stone had been sealed by a great mage and was slowly seeping through the seal.
• Xing En opened the scroll, and the four Magic Stones’ combined pull began making Uchiha Madara lose control.
• Uchiha Madara urged Xing En to choose a Magic Stone quickly.

Xing En sealed away the Magic Stones and told Uchiha Madara that the four stones he carried had different, apparently carved shapes. After Xing En’s crude drawings failed to show the differences, the two continued riding toward their destination at dawn.

• Xing En took the third Magic Stone and sealed the remaining stones while Uchiha Madara explained that the stones tempted him even without looking at them.
• Xing En pointed out that Uchiha Madara had never seen a Magic Stone and that his four stones had different appearances.
• Uchiha Madara asked Xing En to describe the stones, and Xing En said they looked individually made rather than split from a single stone.
• Xing En drew four nearly identical circles on the ground, leaving Uchiha Madara unable to tell how the stones differed.
• Xing En mounted his Chocobo and rode ahead, and Uchiha Madara followed as they set off at dawn.

Uchiha Madara and Xing En returned after resolving the danger threatening the village, and the shop owner greeted them by fussing over his Chocobos. The owner announced the village was safe but tried to share the credit among himself, the travelers, and the birds, leaving Xing En protesting.

• Uchiha Madara reflected that Xing En’s discovery showed the Magic Stones might have different forms and secrets, and he let Xing En study one.
• Uchiha Madara and Xing En reached the owner’s shop, where the owner rushed over and embraced his Chocobos instead of greeting them.
• Xing En argued with the owner over how poorly the Chocobos had fared during the journey and defended their efforts to protect them.
• Uchiha Madara told the owner that the village was peaceful and its people no longer needed to move away.
• The owner celebrated the news and credited the Chocobos as village heroes, then proposed that all five share the achievement equally.
• Xing En objected that he had done the fighting and retrieved the Magic Stone, while the owner had not joined them.

Xing En and Uchiha Madara discussed their next route as they prepared to part ways, with Xing En giving Madara his map for the trip to Stone Valley. They disagreed over the likelihood of finding a Magic Stone and the importance of working toward peace on the Elzeran Continent.

• The owner invited Xing En and Uchiha Madara back to his home to thank them for helping his village.
• Uchiha Madara decided to travel directly toward Stone Valley and asked Xing En for a map.
• Xing En gave Madara his map and said he planned to bypass Red Rock City on the way to Maple Leaf City.
• Xing En warned Madara that the chance of finding a Magic Stone in Stone Valley was nearly zero because Ci Enyiwu had sent no one to assist him.
• Uchiha Madara said he would investigate possible locations himself and wondered how Xing En's elder sister was doing in the Royal City.
• Uchiha Madara and Xing En debated racial conflicts and whether young people should take responsibility for bringing peace to the continent.

Xing En and Uchiha Madara debated whether eternal peace was possible and whether Madara should interfere in the Elzeran Continent. After discussing Madara’s destruction of Turtle Longevity Island, they agreed he should avoid meddling except when Magic Stones were involved, and Xing En gave him a map as he continued his search for the stones.

• Xing En argued that eternal peace did not exist, while Uchiha Madara claimed he could show him a peaceful world.
• Uchiha Madara defended sinking the living monkey island, saying its life force had been draining away and its monkeys were becoming humanlike.
• Xing En identified the island as Turtle Longevity Island and called it a blessed place, while Madara warned that it threatened the natural order.
• Xing En told Madara not to interfere in the Elzeran Continent, and Madara said he would avoid doing so unless Magic Stones were involved.
• After they finished eating, Xing En gave Madara a map so he could find the Magic Stones and leave the continent sooner.

Uchiha Madara and Xing En said goodbye, each setting off alone as Madara planned his search for a blacksmith capable of handling the Magic Stones. In a forest near the Royal City, Belaque confronted the Holy Knight Ta Fengminglie and revealed that she knew details about him and his weapon, leaving him suspicious of who she really was.

• Xing En and Uchiha Madara said farewell, with Madara reminding Xing En to keep his Magic Stone and promising they would meet again.
• Uchiha Madara reflected on the dangers of combining Magic Stones and began planning to find a skilled blacksmith.
• Ta Fengminglie confronted Belaque in a forest behind the main city and ordered her to return to the Royal City with what she had stolen.
• Belaque identified Ta Fengminglie as one of the Six Knights and questioned what the Royal City had told him about Kaguolet.
• Belaque recognized Ta Fengminglie as a Wind Knight and named his weapon the Fuma Clan, prompting him to demand to know who she was.

Belaque revealed that she had deliberately lured Ta Fengminglie to her and stolen Thunderbolt for Kaguolet. She refused to disclose Kaguolet’s location but said he was doing well, leaving Ta Fengminglie wanting to learn more about his former ally.

• Ta Fengminglie doubted Belaque’s story and demanded that she return with him and hand over what she had stolen.
• Belaque revealed that she had deliberately led Ta Fengminglie to the meeting and hinted that her theft was connected to Kaguolet.
• Ta Fengminglie attacked Belaque with his wind-enhanced sword and cut her neck, but she refused to surrender.
• Belaque said her wound matched Kaguolet’s and told Ta Fengminglie that she knew him.
• Belaque revealed that she had stolen Thunderbolt, Kaguolet’s former weapon, to give him a weapon he needed.
• Belaque refused to reveal Kaguolet’s location but assured Ta Fengminglie that he was doing well.

Belaque told Ta Fengminglie that Kaguolet had killed the eldest prince to stop him from assaulting a young woman, rather than through collusion with Xing En. She left Ta Fengminglie to judge Kaguolet’s betrayal for himself and went to take Kaguolet’s Thunderbolt, while keeping Kaguolet’s location secret.

• Belaque and Ta Fengminglie argued over whether Kaguolet wanted freedom and whether he had betrayed the Royal City.
• Ta Fengminglie explained that he had been told Kaguolet colluded with Xing En and murdered the eldest prince.
• Belaque said Kaguolet killed the prince after witnessing him assaulting a young woman, then urged Ta Fengminglie to judge the paladin for himself.
• Belaque revealed that she was the dwarf Belaque, the Shadowless Thief, and said she had heard her account from Xing En.
• Belaque refused to disclose Kaguolet’s location and said she would take his Thunderbolt.

Belaque gave Ta Fengminglie the Heart-Protecting Mirror and told him to report that he had stolen Kaguolet's Thunderbolt. Uchiha Madara traveled toward Stone Valley using Xing En's map, while Xing En regretted giving it away and refused to ask for it back.

• Belaque handed Ta Fengminglie the Heart-Protecting Mirror and advised him to tell the city lord that Belaque had stolen Kaguolet's Thunderbolt.
• Ta Fengminglie returned to the Royal City, where the city lord ordered a search for Ghost Sword and learned that his whereabouts were unknown.
• Uchiha Madara rode a giant scorpion through the wilderness toward Stone Valley while studying Xing En's detailed map.
• Uchiha Madara continued practicing Belaque's Absolute Perception but made no progress and worried about the Magic Stone.
• Xing En told Kaguolet he regretted giving Uchiha Madara his lifetime's work, but refused to ask for the map back.

Xing En urged Kaguolet to go to Winterfort and reassured him that its people would welcome him. Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara reached a city near Stone Valley, where guards questioned him because the city was at war with Red Rock City.

• Xing En told Kaguolet that Winterfort was his best refuge and said Ci Enyiwu must have had good reasons for arranging the route.
• Xing En said Kaguolet should wait a few days for Big Sister to return so he could take his weapon to Winterfort without the City Lord learning where he had gone.
• Uchiha Madara arrived near Stone Valley after several days without food or water and found the city gates shut.
• A guard let Uchiha Madara approach the gate but refused to admit his giant scorpion, so Uchiha Madara sent it away.
• The guards questioned Uchiha Madara's identity and asked why he had come from Red Rock City as the two cities were at war.

Uchiha Madara entered a small city while trying to reach Stone Valley and find Kaguolet, but wartime restrictions prevented him from leaving for the valley. He stopped at an empty tavern to eat before continuing his journey to find the Magic Stone.

• Uchiha Madara told the guards he had come from Eternal Sun Royal City to investigate Kaguolet’s alleged defection, and they let him enter after hearing his defense of the Holy Knight.
• Uchiha Madara tried to persuade the guards to let him travel to Stone Valley, but they refused because the two countries were at war.
• Uchiha Madara decided to wait until darkness and then sneak out of the city.
• Uchiha Madara entered an empty tavern, ordered food from the owner, and planned to continue his journey toward the Magic Stone.

Uchiha Madara ate alone at a tavern in a city at war while continuing his search for the Magic Stone. Nicovia joined him and questioned why he had come to the city, but he kept his mission secret.

• The tavern owner warned Uchiha Madara that the city was unsafe and questioned his reason for staying, and Uchiha Madara explained that he had a mission to complete.
• Uchiha Madara ate alone and worried that he had made no progress mastering the Absolute Perception Belaque taught him.
• Nicovia entered the tavern, sat across from Uchiha Madara, and began sharing his food and liquor without asking.
• Nicovia introduced herself, learned Uchiha Madara's name, and pressed him to explain why he had come to the city during wartime.
• Uchiha Madara said his purpose was confidential, and Nicovia asked why he had chosen to come to the country while it was at war.

Uchiha Madara questioned Nicovia about strange occurrences in Stone Valley and learned that animals returning from its cliffs turned black. When he planned to leave that night, Nicovia warned him that a wartime barrier blocked the city walls, leaving him unsure how long he would be trapped in the city.

• Uchiha Madara asked Nicovia about legends and strange events in Stone Valley, offering to pay for her information with a meal.
• Nicovia told Uchiha Madara that people and animals disappeared at the valley and that animals returning from below changed color; she confirmed they turned black.
• Nicovia realized Uchiha Madara was searching for something other than a person, and he asked her to keep his purpose secret.
• Uchiha Madara said he planned to leave that night, but Nicovia explained that a protective barrier covered the city walls and the guards would not open the main gate during the war.
• Uchiha Madara lamented his bad luck and asked when the war would end, then remarked that a large imbalance between countries could reduce casualties.

Nicovia questioned Uchiha Madara about whether one person’s sacrifice could end a war, then revealed she had approached him hoping he might help her city. Madara said he would sacrifice himself for lasting peace, while Nicovia concluded that the city could only wait for war.

• Nicovia and Uchiha Madara debated whether sacrificing one person to save a country would be worthwhile and whether that person had to choose freely.
• Nicovia told Uchiha Madara that leaving the city was possible if the guards opened the gates, and explained she had approached him because he was an outsider.
• Nicovia revealed that she had hoped Uchiha Madara might find Kaguolet, whom she believed could end the war, but learned he was not the hero she expected.
• Uchiha Madara judged that Nicovia's city was at a disadvantage, and Nicovia said she did not want its soldiers to die.
• Nicovia asked whether Uchiha Madara would sacrifice himself to stop a war, and he said he would give his life for eternal peace.

Uchiha Madara learned that Nicovia was the princess after she gave him her personal token, which allowed him to leave the city. As he passed through the gates, the guards asked him to tell the princess they would fight for her.

• Nicovia questioned Uchiha Madara about his purpose in Stone Valley, and he said he was seeking something for world peace and had no connection to the war.
• Nicovia gave Uchiha Madara a token that she said would let him leave, and he set out for the city gates.
• A guard initially failed to recognize the token and refused to let Uchiha Madara pass.
• The other guard recognized the token as the princess's personal token, and the guards opened the gates.
• The guards asked Uchiha Madara to tell Nicovia they would fight for her, and he questioned whether the war had anything to do with her.

Uchiha Madara searched Stone Valley for the Magic Stone after learning why the war in West City had begun, but he found only a black lake and an uncorrupted animal. He left the Magic Stone’s location unresolved.

• Uchiha Madara learned that the war had begun because the enemy demanded that Nicovia marry their city lord, and he realized she intended to sacrifice herself to prevent further bloodshed.
• Uchiha Madara decided not to interfere in the affairs of the Ezerlan Continent and followed the map to Stone Valley.
• Uchiha Madara descended into the valley and searched among the rocks for the Magic Stone.
• Uchiha Madara found black footprints and followed them to a vast, dark lake.
• Uchiha Madara touched the lake and saw a black animal emerge, but he sensed no corruption or sign of the Magic Stone.

Uchiha Madara discovered that the black lake held no Magic Stone and continued searching. On the way back, he encountered a bridal procession carrying Nicovia, where soldiers tried to stop her from being handed over for peace, and the story left off as an opposing commander put a sword to her neck.

• Uchiha Madara realized the lake's black water had only dyed the animals and that no Magic Stone was there.
• Uchiha Madara set out again, then encountered a noisy bridal procession led by a giant beast carrying a small red house.
• Soldiers blocked the procession and demanded that the princess be handed over, while her general vowed not to surrender her for peace.
• The procession's soldiers brought Nicovia out, and Uchiha Madara recognized her as the woman who had served him food and drinks.
• Nicovia urged her soldiers to return, but the man in azure armor drew his sword and held it to her neck.

Uchiha Madara watched Korfu challenge Gilwort to protect Princess Nicovia, but Gilwort quickly defeated him and prepared to kill him. Madara intervened with a thrown stone, giving Korfu a chance to escape, and then faced Gilwort.

• The azure-armored Gilwort declared that no warrior could withstand three moves from his sword and invited Nicovia's people to challenge him.
• Korfu defied Princess Nicovia's order to retreat and fought Gilwort while Uchiha Madara watched.
• Gilwort knocked Korfu down and pinned him, while Nicovia offered to go with Gilwort and threatened to kill herself to save Korfu.
• Gilwort refused to release Korfu and thrust his sword toward him.
• Madara threw a stone that Gilwort cut apart, allowing Korfu to escape, then approached and said his hand had slipped.

Uchiha Madara intervened when Gilwort threatened Nicovia, arguing that her sacrifice would only bring temporary peace and encouraging her people to resist. He gave Gilwort the name Xing En, startling him, while keeping his real identity hidden because he did not want to use his power to change the Ezerlan Continent’s course.

• Uchiha Madara returned Nicovia’s token and took her dagger, insisting she still owed him a meal and should not die before repaying it.
• Uchiha Madara challenged Gilwort’s ambitions and told Nicovia that sacrificing herself would not bring lasting peace.
• Nicovia defended her decision as a princess, while Uchiha Madara urged her to raise her people’s morale and resist the invaders.
• Uchiha Madara told the young king to leave and offered to face Gilwort on behalf of the people.
• When Gilwort demanded his name, Uchiha Madara called himself Xing En, and Gilwort was startled by the name.

Uchiha Madara claimed to be the legendary Dark Ranger Xing En, but Gilwort accused him of lying and challenged him to a fight. After Madara snapped Gilwort’s sword with his bare hands, Nicovia began to believe him, and Madara asked her to take him back for a meal.

• Gilwort questioned whether Uchiha Madara was the legendary Dark Ranger Xing En, and Madara claimed that Xing En and the Shadowless Thief Belaque were elderly.
• Nicovia warned Madara that his claims were unbelievable, but he told Gilwort to stop targeting the princess and leave.
• Gilwort refused to go and challenged Madara to withstand two sword moves in exchange for letting everyone go.
• Gilwort attacked, and Madara caught his longsword and snapped it with his bare hands.
• Nicovia asked if Madara was really the Dark Ranger, and Madara told her to choose what made her happy.
• Madara said he had important matters to attend to and asked Nicovia to take him back for a meal, then warned Gilwort that he had already taken one of his lives.