Chapter Summaries

Grant revived as an undead using his Spirit Realm talent and tried to claim the empowered skeletons and Fran and Anna as his attendants. As he began casting Frost Sweep, Fran unleashed an overwhelming surge of magic against him.

• Grant revived five minutes after his death and revealed that he could return from the dead, though he had lost some of his senses.
• Grant saw that Fran and Anna had defeated the Necro-Skeleton Mage and assumed they were weakened by the fight.
• Grant realized the azure-blue chest empowered undead creatures and decided to turn Fran and Anna into his attendants.
• Grant began casting Frost Sweep, confident that the chest would protect his concentration.
• Fran had already begun casting a spell, and a terrifying surge of magical power appeared around Grant.

Fran crushed Grant by fusing him with the earth and confirmed that he could no longer revive. She then asked Anna about the box and learned that it contained a young dragon intended for the lord of White Dragon Port.

• Grant begged for his life as Fran's magic crushed him and [Earth Uplift] sealed him inside a sphere of earth.
• Fran checked the sphere for signs of life and confirmed that Grant had no spirit and would not revive.
• Anna watched Fran examine the sphere and praised her powerful spell.
• Fran asked Anna what was inside the box and weighed the risks of keeping it or returning it to the Northern Lands Society.
• Anna explained that Grant had concluded the box held a young dragon sought by the lord of White Dragon Port.

Fran learned why White Dragon Port and the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents wanted the creature in the box: it might be a Deep Sea Golden Dragon capable of becoming a powerful Third Order dragon. Its ability to empower undead remained unexplained, and Fran decided to leave the battlefield before contacting the Northern Lands Society.

• Fran recalled how her Spirit Realm Talent let her gain dragon abilities, though most dragons on the continent had diluted bloodlines.
• Anna explained that White Dragon Port’s lord and the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents wanted the suspected Deep Sea Golden Dragon for its strength at sea and potential to reach Third Order.
• Fran decided against raising the dragon herself because it would require too many resources.
• Anna noted that the creature could empower undead, leaving its identity and connection to dragons uncertain.
• Fran lifted the box with Telekinetic Hand and told Anna they would find a safe place before contacting the Northern Lands Society.

Fran decided the captive young dragon was too dangerous and inconvenient to keep, so she killed it inside its sealed box to claim one of its abilities. The box survived, but Fran found no undead-related ability among the choices.

• Fran sent Anna outside and used Telekinetic Hand to lift the box while deciding to kill the young dragon inside.
• Fran heated the box with Dragon Flame-enhanced Fireball as the young dragon struggled and gathered Water Elements to resist.
• The young dragon’s efforts failed, and Fran heard it wail as the box’s bottom glowed bright red.
• Fran’s Dragon Bone Embodiment detected the young dragon’s death and offered her a choice of abilities, but none were undead-related.
• Fran set down the box, which cooled intact apart from scorch marks.

Fran chose Aether Manipulation from the Deep Sea Golden Dragon’s abilities, driven by her curiosity about the source of magic. After requesting support from the Northern Lands Society, she received a Battle Mage Corps recruitment mission that offered the prospect of extra rewards.

• Fran dismissed the dragon’s basic abilities and narrowed her choices to Draconic Instinct, Ocean Overlord, and Aether Manipulation.
• Fran set aside Draconic Instinct and Ocean Overlord because they did not suit her current needs.
• Fran selected Aether Manipulation and added it to her Panel.
• Fran prepared to contact the Northern Lands Society for support and to have the dragon collected.
• Fran received a Battle Mage Corps recruitment mission to find a cobalt-blue box and saw a chance for extra rewards.

Blake struggled to manage Snow Bear City as mercenaries, followers of the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents, and nearly a thousand orcs gathered in his territory. When Fran returned, Blake told her about the crisis, and she offered to help in exchange for a favor to be named later.

• Blake faced growing unrest as mercenaries and followers of the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents flocked to Snow Bear City and clashed with one another.
• Nearly a thousand orcs arrived outside the city and sought negotiations with the mercenaries and the Church, while Blake appealed to the Alliance for help.
• Fran returned through the secret passage, and Blake eagerly told her about the factions gathering in his territory.
• Fran offered to help Blake resolve the crisis if he agreed to do one unspecified favor for her later, and Blake accepted.

Benedict, Bishop Gillian, and five mercenary representatives argued over how to search Snow Bear Territory for the azure-blue box, but their competing plans led nowhere. Benedict proposed dealing with the lord of Snow Bear Territory first, since he could interfere with their search by sending people after the monsters.

• Benedict represented the orcs, Gillian represented the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents, and five mercenary representatives attended the meeting in Snow Bear City.
• Benedict and Gillian regarded the mercenaries as weakly organized rivals, though both knew winning them over could help secure the box.
• The three factions argued over how to guard roads and divide Snow Bear Territory for their search.
• The mercenary representatives backed different proposals, making the meeting more chaotic.
• Benedict suggested setting the search plans aside and dealing with the lord of Snow Bear Territory before he could send people to hunt the monsters.

Benedict convinced the mercenaries and the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents that Fran was a hired mage rather than an Alliance representative, and the groups agreed to move against Blake. Fran sent an urgent message reporting that she had found the Azure Box, just as she learned the enemy forces were approaching the castle.

• Benedict dismissed the mercenary representative's insult and challenged the group for failing to deal with the lord.
• Patrick explained that they had hesitated because Fran might represent the Alliance, and Benedict questioned him about her.
• Benedict concluded that Fran was a mage hired by the lord and argued that the Alliance would have sent a Battle Mage Corps if it wanted the Azure Box.
• Patrick and Gillian realized their caution had allowed the lord to remain in power, and the representatives agreed to send forces to Blake's castle and capture Fran without killing her.
• Fran sent a message saying she had found the Azure Box and was surrounded by enemies.
• A messenger warned Fran that the enemy was gathering and closing in on the castle.

The allied factions besieged Blake’s castle in Snow Bear Territory while he tried to delay them by claiming the Northern Lands Society was coming. Fran revealed herself at the gate as the Church Warriors advanced toward the boundary she had marked, leaving everyone waiting to see what she would do.

• The orcs and mercenaries argued over who should lead the assault while Gillian waited for her main force to arrive.
• Blake confronted the crowd from a window, trading insults with them to buy time as Fran had instructed.
• Blake claimed the Northern Lands Society was on its way, but Gillian ordered the Church Warriors to advance anyway.
• Blake lowered the drawbridge, revealing Fran standing inside the gate, and she declared the castle an Alliance sanctuary.
• Fran warned that anyone crossing the scratch on the ground would die, and the Church Warriors prepared to cross it as the onlookers watched.

Fran used [Forced Fusion] to kill three Church Warriors who crossed the boundary, despite Gillian’s attempt to rescue them with [Tidal Push]. The survivors froze in fear as Fran warned that anyone who crossed the boundary would die.

• The Church Warriors cast damage-reduction spells and crossed the boundary together, and Fran trapped them with [Forced Fusion].
• Fran used Aether to offset the spell’s cost and strengthen its effects, then reflected on the trait’s limitations.
• Gillian recognized [Forced Fusion] and cast [Tidal Push] to save the Church Warriors, but the spell could not push them out of its range in time.
• The three Church Warriors fused with their armor, weapons, and part of Gillian’s wave into a grotesque mass.
• Blake retched as Fran warned the crowd that anyone who crossed the boundary would die, leaving everyone too afraid to move.

After Fran defeated the Church Warriors and Bishop Gillian, Orc chieftain Stanley stepped forward to confront her. He dismissed her warning about the prepared boundary and crossed it as a strange red light and spell energy appeared around him.

• Benedict realized Fran’s strength had upended his plans and warned Stanley to be careful and not kill her.
• Stanley assured Benedict he would only break Fran’s legs, then removed the coverings from his arm and approached her.
• Fran warned Stanley that stepping into a mage’s prepared area could overturn his assumptions, but he refused to believe her.
• Stanley crossed the boundary without guarding against Fran’s First Order spell, just as red light flashed beneath her robe and spell energy surged around him.

Fran’s defense melted Stanley and the stone tiles, and Gillian ordered the Church to capture her for ransom. As Gillian prepared a Collective Prayer, the Battle Mage Corps arrived in flying vehicles.

• Fran restored the melted tiles and Stanley’s body, and Benedict ordered the orcs to retrieve the corpse.
• Benedict decided to side with Parkerick’s mercenaries, find the Azure Box, and fulfill the tribe’s contract so they could return home.
• Gillian recognized Fran’s powerful Spell Ring and ordered the Church’s forces to capture her for ransom.
• Gillian prepared to use the Church’s Collective Prayer, but flying vehicles appeared in the sky.
• Fran recognized the approaching vehicles as the Battle Mage Corps arriving from The Alliance.

A Battle Mage Corps flying unit attacked the crowd around the castle with a powerful [Blizzard], while Gillian’s followers raised a shield to protect themselves. The mages ended the spell and landed at the castle entrance, where Zane saw that Fran was safe and prepared to search for the azure box.

• Gillian ordered the Goddess of Ocean Currents' followers to raise their shields as the approaching flying unit drew near, while Parkerick fled and Benedict gathered the orcs by the shield.
• Zane ordered the Battle Mage Corps flying unit to cast a collective [Blizzard] on the people surrounding the castle.
• The blizzard froze people outside the shield and battered the orcs, while Gillian struggled to maintain protection for her followers.
• Zane ended the blizzard when it reached its planned duration and ordered the flying unit to gather at the castle entrance.
• The Battle Mages landed and activated their magical devices; Zane saw Fran unharmed inside the partly damaged castle and concluded the azure box might still be there.

Fran and the arriving mages secured the deep-blue box and prepared to return to the Northern Lands Society. Before leaving, Fran invited Anna to come with her and had Blake lead her to the monsters she had requested.

• Anna brought the deep-blue box to Zane’s mages, who inspected it and confirmed it matched their target.
• Zane asked Fran to return with the mages, and Fran requested an hour to handle something before leaving.
• Fran invited Anna to join her at the Northern Lands Society, and Anna accepted.
• Fran asked Blake to take her to the monsters he had found.
• An hour later, Blake watched the mages fly away and wondered why Fran had asked him to catch monsters that she then killed.

After the Snow Bear City conflict, Gillian led the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents back toward White Dragon Port while the surviving beastmen and mercenaries left the city. Fran returned to the Northern Lands Society, where Iris was reading a booklet explaining Fran’s paper on mathematical analysis.

• Gillian decided not to challenge The Alliance over the box and led her believers back to White Dragon Port as the beastmen and mercenaries withdrew from Snow Bear City.
• Fran and Anna rode back in a flying vehicle, and Anna became violently airsick while Fran avoided getting sick.
• Fran arranged for Zane to help Anna find lodging and gain permission to enter the city, then returned to the Northern Lands Society.
• Dylan told Fran that Iris wanted to see her, so Fran went to the Society President’s room.
• Fran found Iris reading a booklet titled <Cornerstone of the Great Cause—An Explanation of Mathematical Analysis of Fireball>.

Iris questioned Fran about her mathematical approach to spell research and warned her that the head of the Transmutation School had taken an interest in her paper. Fran realized Iris doubted the method’s usefulness, but Iris left her free to continue and advised her to protect her identity.

• Iris asked Fran whether her mathematical method could refine Aether, then argued that mathematics was impractical for analyzing complex spells.
• Fran understood that Iris disapproved of her research and was urging her to pursue a different field.
• Iris recalled that Vernon had recommended Fran’s paper and had joined forces with Iris and Harbos, possibly because the research touched on the Alchemy School’s obscure mathematical studies.
• Iris realized Fran knew nothing about Aether, the substance theorized by a long-dead Fifth Order mage and pursued by some Alchemy School mathematicians.
• Iris warned Fran that Vernon, the head of the Transmutation School, had taken an interest in her paper and advised her to spend the account’s Contribution Points and open a new account.

Fran thanked Iris for warning her that the Transmutation School head was targeting her research, then went to the mage tower to buy a paper explaining advancement to a Second Order profession. She learned the general traits of Second Order professionals and the requirements for becoming an Elite Mage, while wondering whether her Panel's Sunflame Knight profession followed rules unlike those of the continent.

• Iris warned Fran that the head of the Transmutation School had recognized the value of her paper and advised her to stay discreet, then offered to find materials about Aether.
• Fran asked Iris about Aether and said she had learned mathematics from a book; Iris dismissed her and told her to return if she needed help.
• Fran checked her Mana Communication System account, saw 313 Contribution Points, and spent fifty points to read a paper about promotion to Second Order professions.
• Fran read that Third Order professionals could survive without their bodies and realized Blood of the Furnace's shaping ability might be capable of killing them, though she could not yet use it that way.
• Fran read the Elite Mage promotion requirements: proficiency in three school specialties, enough mental power to construct a spell structure, and genuine understanding of the school's spells.

Fran reviewed her options for advancing her mage Professions and decided to pursue the Elemental School route while working toward the Alchemist Profession. She planned to finish a paper on thermodynamics in alchemy, then seek Elemental spells from the Battle Mage Corps.

• Fran discovered the Arcane Mage Profession and realized she needed to create a First Order spell to qualify for it.
• Fran determined that Elemental School advancement was closest, while Forge School advancement also required her to create another First Order spell.
• Fran weighed pursuing an Alchemy School mage Profession and concluded that its benefits were less important than gaining other Professions and skills.
• Fran noted that the Northern Lands Society’s Mana Communication System gave her access to knowledge from schools she had previously been unable to study.
• Fran checked her Panel, chose to obtain the Alchemist Profession first, and planned to finish her paper on thermodynamics from an alchemical perspective.

Fran produced a profitable batch of Life Replenishment Potions using an efficient modular method and examined her new Alchemy Aura trait. After reading Iris’s paper, she learned that Miracle Alchemy could create unpredictable Wonder Items and wondered how her trait’s guaranteed success effect might apply.

• Fran made about 850 milliliters of Life Replenishment Potion, drank the excess, and calculated that the batch could be profitable.
• Fran reviewed her Alchemy proficiency and concluded that the Panel had rewarded her paper on energy conservation but not her work on the other laws of thermodynamics.
• Fran checked her Alchemist Profession’s new Alchemy Aura trait and considered why its production-focused benefits suited her better than becoming an Alchemy School mage.
• Fran searched her papers for an explanation of the trait’s guaranteed-success effect and found Iris’s paper on Miracle Alchemy.
• Fran learned that Miracle Alchemy randomly fused materials into Wonder Items, with even identical materials producing different results every time.

Fran studied Miracle Alchemy, then made a Wonder Item after thirty-five attempts and discovered it could produce Life Replenishment Potion endlessly. She named it the Infinite Blood Bottle, though the potion it produced lost its potency after ten seconds.

• Fran learned Miracle Alchemy and tested it by combining Life Replenishment Potion with a small bottle, but her first thirty-four attempts failed.
• On her thirty-fifth attempt, Fran felt her Alchemy Aura activate and produced a decorated bottle with energy like that of the Azure Box.
• Fran discovered that the attempt had consumed nearly half her mental energy and raised Miracle Alchemy to the mastered level.
• Fran realized that mastering Miracle Alchemy gave her an instinct for judging which materials were more likely to produce a Wonder Item.
• Fran inspected her Wonder Item and found it generated Life Replenishment Potion, which lost its potency ten seconds after leaving the bottle.
• Fran named the Wonder Item the Infinite Blood Bottle.