Chapter Summaries

Kraun sparred with Tula to improve his swordsmanship while the Church's airship fleet prepared to depart. After Lisa returned to Rhine City, she told Feli and Fekat about the Golden Light Potions, prompting Feli to call an emergency meeting of the Brotherhood's leaders.

• Kraun trained with Tula, using their sparring matches to raise his Cross Sword proficiency while Tula tested himself against a stronger opponent.
• Nick and Fanny watched the sparring and discussed Kraun's exceptional strength and potential.
• Kraun continued practicing after Tula left with the Church's airship fleet three days later, having increased his Cross Sword proficiency to 6,236.
• Lisa decided to report the Golden Light Potions' effects to the Brotherhood and returned to Rhine City by airship.
• Lisa told Feli and Fekat what she had discovered, and Feli called an emergency meeting of the Brotherhood's leaders.

Lisa revealed that Kraun’s Golden Light Potions had purified her Spirit Familiar and completely cleared the Spiritual Pollution in her will space, prompting the Brotherhood to plan further tests and stockpile the potion. Meanwhile, Kraun continued impact training to advance his Rock Breathing Technique.

• Lisa told the Brotherhood that daily Golden Light Potions had purified her will space and greatly cleansed her Spirit Familiar.
• Karl Fan tested Lisa with a Purification Array, and the Spirit Detection Compass showed no impurity in her will space.
• Yennefer proposed testing the potion on two Tier 1 Spirit Controllers before the Brotherhood considered any action to control its supply.
• Feli advised reporting the findings to headquarters after further testing, and Yennefer proposed increasing trade and stockpiling potions.
• Kraun endured Del’s blows during Rock Breathing Technique training and noticed air currents forming invisible armor over the parts of his body that had been struck.

Kraun completed the Rock Breathing Technique, strengthened his plans for the Hamus settlement, and learned that the materials for a Soul-Infused Weapon were worth a fortune. Nick returned from Lorent with news that an evil god’s influence was spreading through nightmares, and he recommended that Fanny use Kraun’s Golden Light Potions.

• Kraun perfected his Rock Breathing Technique after sparring with Del, gaining passive protection against physical and elemental damage.
• Kraun watched Melissa train fifty private guards and decided to have Butler William expand into making ordinary healing potions.
• Kraun reviewed Fanny’s appraisal of the Heart of Emerald and Leshy Spirit Soul, received his share of 320 Gold Spirit Coins, and calculated that a failed Soul-Infused Weapon would cost at least 1,200 coins.
• Nick returned to Hamus City and told Kraun and Fanny that firearms and explosives were helping defend Lorent against the seemingly endless Fishmen.
• Nick described a terrifying Full Moon dream of a vast sea monster and said the dream left foul contamination in his bed; Kraun’s Golden Light Potion had helped, so Nick suggested buying more for Fanny.

Kraun discovered that Life Qi from the Golden Light Incantation could merge with the Life Source Stream from his Breathing Techniques, easing their strain and increasing his strength. Meanwhile, the Warlock Brotherhood confirmed that Golden Light Potion had purified Spirit Controllers and their Spirit Familiars without Spiritual Pollution returning, and prepared to report the results.

• Nick agreed to buy twenty-five vials each of two kinds of Talisman Water from Fanny and planned to use them to help Nilie become a Spirit Controller.
• Kraun trained with Flame Breath and found that Life Qi from the Golden Light Incantation merged with its Life Source Stream, soothing the strain and repairing damage to his organs.
• Kraun practiced Giant Bear Breathing Technique and found that merged Life Qi restored his numb arms and increased his strength.
• Kraun decided to practice merging Life Qi with his Life Source Stream daily and to improve his Forging skill before attempting to forge a Soul-Infused Weapon.
• Witch Feli told four other Tier 3 Warlocks that two Tier 1 Spirit Controllers remained free of Spiritual Pollution after taking Golden Light Potion and undergoing repeated Purification Rituals, and the Brotherhood prepared to report the findings.

The Warlock Brotherhood debated whether to seize Kraun for the Golden Light Potion, while Lisa received word that the decision had been sent to headquarters and continued securing potions. Geralt arrived at Hamus City seeking Kraun, but Fugin recognized him by circling overhead and dropping bird droppings on his horse.

• Yennefer argued that the Brotherhood should build a trading relationship with Kraun, while Fekat favored controlling him to obtain the potion formula.
• Roger Selchi and Feli urged caution, and the group agreed that Fekat would take the matter to the Council on Sendeni Island for approval.
• Lisa decoded a message saying a senior warlock had been sent to Sendeni Island to seek instructions, then burned the papers and planned to keep buying Golden Light Potion through Rhine City.
• Geralt rode to Hamus City after a week in the wilderness, hoping to buy potions from Kraun and prepare to become a Tier 3 Witcher.
• When the city guard questioned Geralt, he said he knew Kraun and Nick; Fugin recognized him, circled above him with Bastet, and dropped bird droppings on his horse.

Geralt visited Kraun to obtain Heart-Clearing Talisman Water for his third mutation, leaving money and letters to be delivered if he died. Kraun began a plan to mass-produce ordinary medicines and advanced his Golden Light Incantation, gaining Golden Light Illumination and the Solar Thunder Seal formula, though its rare Warm Jade remained a barrier.

• Geralt traded with Kraun for two vials of Heart-Clearing Talisman Water and left Gold Spirit Coins and letters with instructions in case his third mutation killed him.
• Kraun considered recruiting high-level Witchers as their monster-hunting income declined under the Church's expanded role.
• Kraun gave William ordinary medicine formulas and explained how assembly-line production could reduce costs and reliance on Holy Water.
• Kraun Visualized the Golden Light Incantation and gained the Golden Light Illumination skill as Fugin and Bastet watched.
• Kraun reached 50,008 proficiency, strengthening his existing skills and unlocking the Solar Thunder Seal formula, which required exceptionally pure Warm Jade.

After a celestial event scattered strange meteors across the world, Kraun and Nick searched for the one that landed southwest of Hamus City. They found a contaminating meteorite, but its influence seized the airship’s pilots and forced the vessel to crash-land in the crystalline wasteland.

• Guards in Hamus City and witnesses around the world saw a brilliant light explode into falling fragments, while Kraun and Fland sensed an ominous warning.
• Kraun read the Cardinal’s sealed order, then joined Nick in an airship search for the meteorite that fell near Hamus City.
• Kraun spotted a purple meteorite in a crater surrounded by crystallized, mutated plants and marked its location on a map.
• Kraun sensed danger and ordered the airship to turn back, but the pilots ignored the order and appeared to be possessed.
• Kraun used the Moon Spirit Shield to briefly rouse the main pilot, but the airship shuddered and crashed into the crystalline wasteland.

Kraun and Nick escaped a crashed airship, only to discover that an invisible influence had trapped them in a mutated zone and led them back to a deadly meteorite. After Kraun used Golden Light Illumination to free them from its control, the two fled the area.

• Kraun led Nick and two priests away from the burning airship, then realized the survivors had been mentally manipulated into standing still.
• Kraun restored the priests with Heart-Clearing Talisman Water, and Nick warned that more searchers could strengthen the unknown threat.
• Kraun and his companions followed an altered sense of direction back to the meteor crater, where the two priests entered it and disintegrated into dust.
• Kraun broke free of the meteorite's influence with Time Stop and Golden Light Illumination, while Nick helped him regain his footing.
• The meteorite gathered overwhelming power, so Kraun and Nick fled, using Golden Light Illumination to correct their direction until they escaped the warped zone.

Kraun and Nick escaped the polluted area around the meteorite, then discovered that Kraun’s Golden Light Incantation could gradually purify its lingering contamination. As Kraun considered using the danger to strengthen himself, Cardinal Fland arrived in Hamus City to investigate the missing airship and confront the threat.

• Kraun and Nick fled the meteorite’s influence after recognizing that it caused hidden Spiritual Pollution and Psychological Suggestions.
• The two bishops warned Watt that a powerful source of pollution lay southwest of the Mining Area, then rode to Hamus City.
• Kraun returned to the Central Church and found that the Golden Light Incantation was purifying the contamination in his Sea of Consciousness.
• Kraun gained unusually high proficiency from Visualization and considered advancing to Silver Rank before challenging the Evil Creature.
• Fland ordered an emergency meeting in Rhine City, left for Hamus City, and arrived by airship at sunset.
• Nick and Kraun headed to the landing field to meet Fland and learn what kind of monster lurked by the meteorite.

Fland and Kraun entered the expanding Alienated Zone to investigate the creature inside the meteorite, while Fland explained the Silver Rank advancement process and offered Kraun Mithril. Fland pushed toward the center alone as Kraun stayed near the edge, using the malice to improve his Golden Light Incantation.

• Fland heard Nick and Kraun's account of the attack and decided to investigate the Alienated Zone, with Kraun accompanying him.
• Kraun described the creature's attacks, and Fland explained that Silver Rank advancement required a completed Breathing Technique transformation and an Ascension Magic Array; he offered to lend Kraun six pounds of Mithril.
• Kraun and Fland reached the Twisted Crystallized Region and saw that the Alienated Zone had expanded two or three meters in two days.
• After preparing with potions and defensive abilities, Fland entered the zone and Kraun sensed that the unknown creature had grown stronger.
• Fland told Kraun to wait near the edge while he headed toward the center, and Kraun repeatedly entered and left the zone to gather malice and use Golden Light Illumination.

Kraun avoided hunting the intelligent creature in the Alienated Zone alone, then negotiated for more mithril to prepare an Ascension Magic Array and accelerated his Flame Breath training with Sun Essence. Fekat traveled to the Warlock Brotherhood’s holy land with Golden Light Potions, hoping to persuade its councilors to seize the potion-maker, and learned that a councilor had recently reached Silver Rank.

• Fland searched the Alienated Zone twice but could not find the wounded light-like creature, and Kraun decided not to enter alone.
• The Alienated Zone stopped expanding and was designated a Forbidden Zone, while Kraun raised his Golden Light Incantation proficiency to 61,753 points.
• Kraun offered Lisa lower Golden Light Potion prices in exchange for larger monthly mithril deliveries.
• Kraun asked Nick to lend him mithril for an Ascension Magic Array, revealing that he was preparing to reach Silver Rank.
• Kraun used Sun Essence to boost his Flame Breath proficiency after Molten Potions became less effective.
• Fekat traveled toward Sendeni Island carrying Golden Light Potions and heard that a Warlock Brotherhood councilor had reached Silver Rank.

Kraun reached a critical point in his Breathing Technique but remained short of the Mithril needed for the Ascension Ritual. After returning to Hamus Mine, he tested a safer way to use the Alienated Zone for Golden Light Incantation practice and discovered that its Starry Creature could reach toward him, though his protections slowed it.

• Kraun’s body continued transforming as Flame Breath reached his bones, and he planned to gather Mithril before attempting the Ascension Ritual.
• Kraun failed to secure enough Mithril in Rhine City, while Fland reassured him that the Starry Creature could not leave the Alienated Zone under the Material Plane’s laws.
• Kraun returned to Hamus Mine with a purified Fire Element Spirit Familiar for Nilie and arranged to help with Nilie’s Spirit Awakening Ceremony.
• Kraun and Nick tested whether Golden Light Illumination could safely increase his proficiency by pulling deformed animals out of the Alienated Zone, and the goat produced greater gains than the rooster.
• When the Starry Creature’s phosphorescence reached Kraun through the rope, Golden Light Talisman Water slowed it and Golden Light Illumination drove the surrounding malice away.

Kraun drove the Starry Creature from the Alienated Zone with the Lunar Thunder Seal, purified an Evil Spirit for Nilie to use as a Spirit Familiar, and advanced his Alchemy to Tier 3 so he could make high-performance gunpowder. He brought artillery shells to the Alienated Zone and opened fire on the Starry Creature.

• Kraun tested the Lunar Thunder Seal on the Starry Creature, forcing it to retreat, then gained nearly four thousand Golden Light Incantation proficiency by purifying pollution in the Alienated Zone.
• Kraun purified an Evil Spirit with Golden Light Talisman Water, and Nilie successfully fused with it and awakened as a Spirit Controller.
• Kraun reached Tier 3 Alchemy after three days of work and produced high-performance gunpowder for artillery shells.
• Kraun had William arrange delivery of the explosives to the Arsenal and ordered Melissa to ensure the loaded shells were returned under guard.
• Kraun stored 390 artillery shells in the Fire Seed Cube and went with Del to the Alienated Zone to attack the Starry Creature.
• Kraun formed the Metal Avatar, aimed its shoulder cannons, and fired two shots at the creature.

Kraun developed a powerful explosive by combining Sunfire Liquid and Moon Dew, then used it to attack the Alienated Zone and cleanse corruption. After a Mithril shortage threatened his trade with the Brotherhood, he prepared to make Mithril himself and learned that two people in his training group had become Transcendentalists.

• Kraun tested a shell filled with Sunfire Liquid and Moon Dew, producing an explosion powerful enough to threaten even a Tier 3 Transcendentalist caught in its path.
• Kraun explained to Del that increasing his Transcendence rank would help him resist corruption, then entered the Alienated Zone to practice Golden Light Illumination and raised his Golden Light Incantation proficiency.
• Kraun exchanged 1,260 bottles of Golden Light Talisman Water with Lisa, but Lisa said the Brotherhood would reduce its next Mithril purchase to the minimum quota.
• Lorraine and Lia realized Lisa’s potion had likely cleared Evil Thoughts from her Spirit Familiar, and they decided to ask Kraun to sell them some because their auditory hallucinations were worsening.
• Kraun arranged for materials to be bought in Rhine City so he could make Mithril in Lorrent Town, and William told him that two members of the training group had become Transcendentalists.

Kraun advanced the potion business, prepared for his mission to Lorrent Town, and watched Fugin complete its transformation while Bastet remained asleep. After learning that the Brotherhood had suspended its Mithril trade, he secured a backup supply and set out for Lorrent Town, where dangerous nights awaited.

• Kraun told William to expand the potion business across Rhine City and praised Melissa's training progress while urging her to keep improving.
• Lorraine and Lia bought four Golden Light Potions from Kraun, then tested them and found that the potions reduced the Evil Thoughts affecting their Spirit Familiars.
• Kraun found Fugin transformed into a Tier 2 creature and arranged for Billy to accompany him and care for Fugin and Bastet during his month-long mission.
• Fland told Kraun he had secured six pounds of Mithril, and Kraun revealed that the Brotherhood had suspended its Mithril trade and that he could produce Mithril himself.
• Fland arranged for Kraun to travel to Lorrent Town with Bishop Savachi, Lord Griffin, and Yennefer, and warned him that Fishmen attacks and the evil god's whispers made the nights dangerous.

Kraun and his allies began defending Lorent Town from the Fishmen, and Kraun proved the power of his Metal Avatar while resisting the evil god’s whispers. After three days of watch duty, he continued extracting Mithril and learned that Bastet had awakened.

• Griffin, Savachi, and Yennefer agreed to divide the night watch into groups that would switch every five days, and Kraun volunteered to take the first watch.
• Kraun endured the evil god’s whispers while visualizing the Golden Light Incantation and gained more than twice his usual proficiency.
• Kraun used his Metal Avatar to bombard the Fishmen, killing their dark purple leaders and forcing the horde to retreat; Savachi praised him as a one-man army.
• Kraun discovered that the evil god’s whispers accelerated his Golden Light Incantation progress, then continued visualizing through the night.
• Three days later, Kraun extracted Mithril in the laboratory and calculated that he could gather enough for the Ascension Magic Array within a month.
• Del reported that Bastet had awakened in good condition, and Kraun decided to finish his extraction before checking on the Black Cat.

Kraun tested Bastet and Fugin’s new soul-based and elemental attacks during a Fishman assault, then returned to Rhine City and completed the Ascension Ritual. He emerged with Silver Blood and a lit Silver Soul, leaving Fland waiting anxiously for him to come out.

• Kraun discovered fragments of Lunar Thunder Seals in Bastet’s bones and Solar Thunder Seals in Fugin’s, then sent both pets to join him on the city wall.
• Kraun and Savachi faced a Fishman assault, where Fugin burned a Tier 2 Fishman with golden flames and Bastet pulled another Fishman’s phantom from its body and swallowed it.
• After a month in Lorent, Kraun returned to Rhine City with Tier 4 Alchemy and nearly five pounds of Mithril, then arranged with Fland to stay until his Ascension Ritual.
• Half a month later, Kraun underwent the Ascension Ritual, separated his spirit from his body, and returned to it after drawing in his spirituality.
• Kraun’s Flame Breath advanced to Tier 4, producing Silver Blood and lighting his Silver Soul, which improved his strength, constitution, will resistance, and ability to purify Spiritual Pollution.
• After the sixteen-hour ritual, Kraun emerged hungry while Fland waited anxiously outside, fearing he might have failed to come out.

After returning to Hamus City as a Silver Rank Transcendentalist, Kraun checked on the diocese and his businesses, then prepared to supply the troops with equipment and strengthen his private force. He planned to resume work in the smithy and regularly visit the Alienated Zone, while his Beast Taming approached the Extreme Realm.

• Kraun returned to Hamus City, where Fanny and Nick confirmed that Nilie remained well and the Alienated Zone had not expanded, though its plants and animals had grown stranger.
• Kraun promised to forge more Transcendental Equipment for the diocese and headed to the smithy with Del to prepare for mass production.
• William reported that Kraun's four manufacturing businesses and rental properties earned about fifty-three Gold Spirit Coins in monthly profit, while Melissa said eight more Acolytes had advanced to Transcendentalists.
• Kraun ordered Melissa to keep training his growing private force and add firearms practice, then asked William to arrange a lavish dinner and double-sized meals for him.
• Kraun visualized the Golden Light Incantation with his pets and sensed that his Beast Taming was close to reaching the Extreme Realm.

Kraun reached the Limit in Forging, began preparing to train senior blacksmiths, and tested his abilities against a Starry Creature in the Alienated Zone to improve his Golden Light Incantation. Meanwhile, Lannister Leonard set out for Rhine City on a secret Brotherhood mission to control a target.

• Kraun completed a week of forging, advanced Forging to its Limit, and told Del to gather the smithy’s best blacksmiths for training.
• Kraun ordered Rubat to focus on smelting high-quality metal ingots, then took Del to the Alienated Zone and entered alone.
• Kraun fought off the Starry Creature with Golden Light Illumination and his flame-infused sword, then retreated after raising his Golden Light Incantation proficiency to 96,714.
• Fekat briefed Lannister Leonard on the Brotherhood’s mission in Rhine City, and Lannister instructed him to keep their contact discreet while gathering intelligence.

Kraun advanced the Golden Light Incantation in the Alienated Zone, gaining powerful passive abilities and four new skills. After testing several of them, he drew the Starry Creature out of hiding and faced its charge with a stronger Golden Light Illumination.

• Kraun practiced Golden Light Illumination until the Golden Light Incantation advanced and replenished his Life Qi.
• Kraun examined his improved attributes and new skills, including Palm Thunder, Golden Light Projection, Golden Light Seal, and Golden Light Domain.
• Kraun tested Golden Light Projection by coating a stone and bullets with Golden Light, shaping it into a spear and shields, and forming defensive portals.
• Kraun activated Golden Light Domain in the Alienated Zone and discovered it repelled pollution without increasing the incantation's proficiency.
• The Starry Creature sensed the domain's area, rushed toward it, and charged Kraun as he stepped outside and released a stronger Golden Light Illumination.