Chapter Summaries

Kraun prepared his people and resources for the coming war, then advanced his Spirit Control Art while devouring Refined Iron. The chapter ended with him discovering that the Fire Seed Cube had grown and changed into a sphere, suggesting one of his Spirit Familiars had advanced.

• Kraun praised Del's blacksmith shop for earning a 470 Gold Spirit Coin profit and confirmed it had about 50,000 pounds of Iron in storage.
• Lorraine explained that her Tier 2 Spirit Familiar could influence the emotions of nearby allies and enemies, so Kraun offered her an interest-free loan of 100 Gold Spirit Coins per month to develop it.
• Melissa reported that forty-two of her first fifty guards had reached Transcendence, and Kraun ordered her to lead them fearlessly in the coming war.
• Kraun revealed that he had reached Silver Rank, and William offered to arrange a small celebratory banquet.
• Kraun planned to improve his abilities, strengthen his pets, and produce more High Explosive as he continued training through the winter.
• After a week of forging and consuming Refined Iron, Kraun advanced Spirit Control Art to Tier 4 and saw that the Fire Seed Cube had grown and changed from a cube into a sphere.

Kraun tested the upgraded Fire Seed Cube’s metal-devouring and metal-control abilities while Rhine City’s Warlock Brotherhood prepared for a forced war against Cultists. After learning that Kraun had reached Silver Rank, Lannister decided to resume trade talks with him, and Kraun returned home to meet the merchant Rivigaz Sparrow.

• Kraun tested the Tier 4 Fire Seed Cube, stored large quantities of metal, and found that it could control infused metal around him.
• Lannister told the Warlock Brotherhood that Rhine City faced a large Cultist attack and that they had been conscripted to stay and fight.
• Lannister announced that Kraun had advanced to Silver Rank, prompting Yennefer to decide she should strengthen her connection with him.
• Kraun tested his new metal-control ability by firing javelins and shredding a Tier 2 wild boar with a swarm of blades.
• Kraun returned to Hamus City and met Rivigaz Sparrow, who had arrived to discuss opening another shipping route.

Kraun arranged trade with the Good Luck Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce and agreed to supply the Brotherhood with Golden Light Potions. As Hinterland's coastal defenses fell to the Fishmen, Osman received news from the Shadow Guards in Rubia.

• Kraun asked Rivigaz to look for Bright Yellow Stones and Flame Heart Grass, while William negotiated a business arrangement with the Good Luck Gold Coin Chamber of Commerce.
• Kraun made High-Explosive Gunpowder and practiced the Golden Light Incantation, whose effects had begun to alter the room around him.
• Lannister and Feli asked Kraun to resume large-scale Golden Light Potion trades, and Kraun agreed to supply two hundred doses a month in exchange for Gold Spirit Coins.
• Osman learned that Fishmen had overrun Hinterland's coastal defenses and were advancing inland along the rivers.
• Sako told Osman that the Shadow Guards sent to the Rubia Kingdom had sent word.

Osman decided to travel secretly to Rubia to investigate the Yellow-Robed Stranger, while Kraun prepared with Fland and the other fighters to attack the Cultists’ camp in the Andes Mountains. As the expedition set out, Geralt told Kraun how he and Yennefer had defeated a Two-Headed Chimera and described the creature’s defenses.

• Osman prayed over the reports about the Yellow-Robed Stranger, then chose to travel to Rubia in secret and told Sako to arrange the journey.
• Kraun returned to Rhine City, where Fland told him the reconnaissance airship was ready and the group would fly to the Andes Mountains to attack the Cultists’ camp.
• Kraun rested by visualizing the Golden Light Incantation, and his Golden Light Incantation and Flame Breath proficiency increased.
• Fland led four Silver Rank fighters and six Tier 3 Transcendentalists aboard the airship for the Andes Mountains, with Yennefer and Geralt representing the Brotherhood.
• Geralt spoke with Kraun about his feelings on Kraun’s progress and explained that he and Yennefer had killed a Two-Headed Chimera after it exhausted most of its magic chasing their airship.

Kraun joined Lannister and Geralt aboard an airship to lure the Cultists’ flying creatures away from their base. After Kraun killed a Beholder with a specially prepared arrow and drew eight Two-Headed Chimeras into pursuit, he shot one down with two rifle rounds.

• Fland landed the three airships in a snowy valley and sent Kraun and Lannister aboard a bait airship with Geralt.
• Kraun spotted a Beholder watching the airship and killed it with a Golden Light-sealed arrow filled with Sunfire Liquid.
• Two-Headed Chimeras and Large Falcons launched from the Cultist base and pursued the airship as Lannister ordered it to flee at full speed.
• Kraun borrowed a Rifle, aimed at the eyes of the nearest Two-Headed Chimera, and knocked it out of the sky with two shots.

Kraun helped the hunting party defeat a force of Two-Headed Chimeras and their Cultist riders, revealing how powerful he had become. After the battle, the survivors gathered alchemical materials and discussed the threat posed by the enemy camp.

• Kraun shot down a Two-Headed Chimera from the airship, then joined the ground battle against the remaining pursuers.
• Kraun used Magic Crows to switch places in midair and split a Chimera open with Thunder Wrath.
• Kraun rescued a bishop from a Chimera and killed the beast, prompting the other Silver Rank fighters to finish off their opponents.
• The surviving Chimeras fled, and Kraun knocked out a giant Cultist while the remaining Cultists fought on in desperation.
• Kraun collected Chimera blood and marrow while Lannister gathered alchemical materials, then warned that two Chimeras had escaped and that the enemy camp held at least twenty nests.

After the battle, Kraun learned that Silver Rank Cultists had joined the enemy forces and claimed the Chimera materials, then returned to Hamus City to investigate the Alienated Zone and refine Silver Marrow. He successfully purified the Chimera blood and bone marrow, leaving him with the Silver Marrow he had sought.

• The soldiers cleared the battlefield, while a Silver Rank Cultist rode a Two-Headed Chimera overhead and then flew away.
• Fland, Cavendi, Lannister, and Kraun debriefed aboard the airship, and Kraun revealed he had shot a Beholder with a special arrow.
• Kraun took the Chimera blood and bone marrow after the others declined their shares, promising to let them try any Silver Marrow he produced.
• Kraun returned to Hamus City and found that Golden Light Illumination had driven pollution from part of the Alienated Zone and was dissolving nearby crystallized plants.
• Kraun tested two methods to purify Chimera blood and found that Heart-Clearing Talisman Water preserved its spirituality.
• Kraun purified the blood and bone marrow, followed the Alchemy Formula, and successfully refined Silver Marrow after one failed attempt.

Kraun refined Silver Marrow and used it to rapidly improve his Flame Breath and Golden Light Incantation, then decided to bring some to the Holy Fire Cathedral and ask about the Cultists. Meanwhile, Pope Osman accepted the Yellow-Robed Stranger’s gift and used a secret technique to suppress its effects, leaving Sako to watch over him.

• Kraun discovered that Silver Marrow boosted his Flame Breath and Golden Light Incantation, then spent two days refining a full bottle from the Chimera’s blood and bone marrow.
• Kraun divided some Silver Marrow among the Cardinal and others, used the rest to train for a month, and decided to visit the Holy Fire Cathedral about the Cultists.
• Osman explained to Sako that he had learned the Yellow-Robed Stranger appeared once every thousand years and chose to accept its gift before his chance passed.
• Osman returned from meeting the Yellow-Robed Stranger and told Sako to kill him if he had not awakened within three days; two days later, Osman still appeared to be asleep, his face shifting through many expressions.

Osman Deluke survived the flood of knowledge from the summoning ritual and planned to return to St. Peter's Cathedral. Meanwhile, Kraun developed wings from tin essence, learned to fly, and began planning to improve his flight and draw out the Two-Headed Chimera.

• Karu created the Two-Headed Chimera but learned from the King in Yellow that its flawed Life Essence prevented it from reproducing, then died from the strain of receiving limitless knowledge.
• Osman Deluke woke after locking away the dangerous memories, reassured Sako, and said he would return to St. Peter's Cathedral the next day.
• Kraun forged ten Transcendent weapons, then used metal essence to create Alloy Battle Armor with several layers of defense.
• Kraun formed rose-gold wings from tin essence and practiced rising, hovering, and turning until he gained the Flight Thaumaturgy skill.
• Kraun decided to spar with the Cardinal and others before pursuing the Two-Headed Chimera, and ordered Del to obtain as much tin as possible for stronger wings.

Kraun prepared the diocese for war, consumed a shipment of tin to strengthen his armor and wings, and agreed to take Del’s daughter Janice into his service. He practiced Flight Thaumaturgy beyond the Gray Fog and planned to prepare for a long expedition to the Cultists’ base.

• Del reported that the mine’s tin shipment had arrived and asked Kraun to take Janice on as a guard; Kraun agreed after learning she had become a Transcendentalist.
• Kraun forged equipment, devoured the tin ingots, and discovered that the added metal essence had made his Alloy Battle Armor and wings larger.
• Kraun flew into the Gray Fog with Fugin and found that the golden light from both of them drove the fog away.
• Kraun rose above the Gray Fog, practiced Flight Thaumaturgy beneath the moon, and calculated that the Fire Seed Cube could sustain six hours and twelve minutes of flight at full charge.
• Kraun returned home, gained 2,000 mastery points in Flight Thaumaturgy, and planned to prepare supplies for a long stay in the wilderness near the Cultists’ base.

Kraun returned to Rhine City, demonstrated that his new Spirit Controller ability let him fly, and prepared to hunt the Cultists' aerial forces in the Andes Mountains. He departed with a large force from the diocese, then flew ahead into the snow while the others watched.

• Kraun delivered Silver Marrow to Fland and learned that the Cultists' Andes base had nearly thirty Two-Headed Chimeras and formidable defenses.
• Kraun revealed his Rose Gold Wings to Fland and explained that he could fly faster than the Chimeras and stay airborne for six hours.
• Fland promised rewards for killing Chimeras and lent Kraun two Spatial Rings from the Secret Vault for his supplies.
• Kraun departed for the Andes with Fland, Lannister, Yennefer, Geralt, and other Rhine City forces aboard two airships.
• After the airships landed at the previous battlefield, Kraun donned his armor, spread his wings, and flew into the snow toward the Cultists' territory.

Kraun attacked the Cultists’ camp, wounded a Beholder, and drew the Two-Headed Chimeras into a long pursuit. After exhausting their mounts, he turned to fight three Silver Rank riders and began the battle by beheading a Chimera.

• Kraun bombarded the Beholder with shells and shot down the falcons and Eagle Griffins sent after him.
• Six Two-Headed Chimeras pursued Kraun, who led them away from his temporary base and used his speed to tire them out.
• Robert Lionheart ordered the exhausted riders to keep chasing, and three Chimeras took Blood Burning Pills to regain their speed.
• When the pursuers began descending, Kraun strengthened his defenses and dove toward them, resisting their Mental Roar.
• Kraun beheaded one Chimera, knocked its rider flying, dodged two elemental attacks, and summoned a Magic Crow.

Kraun defeated the Silver Warriors pursuing him, killing their mounts and riders before facing Robert in a prolonged battle. After outlasting Robert’s strength and blood-burning enhancement, Kraun beheaded him and prepared to collect his Silver Blood.

• Kraun killed two Chimeras by attacking their exposed bellies, then used Time Stasis to break through Herbert Rice’s defenses and behead him.
• Kraun killed Herbert Rice’s remaining Chimera and defeated another pursuing enemy before turning to Robert, the last warrior.
• Robert charged Kraun on a mountain ridge, relying on his exceptional strength, hardened body, and qi-and-blood phantom to resist Kraun’s secret art.
• Kraun and Robert fought for an hour, with Kraun using Sun Essence to restore his stamina while Robert grew increasingly fatigued.
• Robert took a Blood Burning Pill and activated Blood Battle Eight Directions, but Kraun matched his increased size with Fire Spirit Transformation and replenished his stamina with Sun Essence.
• Kraun outlasted Robert, cut off his head, and took out his Runic Crystal Bottle to collect the Silver Blood.

Kraun returned from the Cultists’ territory with valuable Silver Rank materials and reported his kills to Fland, then spent weeks refining the materials and advancing Flame Breath. He reached the edge of the Alienated Land to train his Golden Light Incantation, while Flame Breath remained one point short of Tier 5.

• Fland led an airship search for Kraun, but the Cultists sent a large force of Chimeras after it, forcing the group to retreat and leave Kraun to find his own way back.
• Kraun escaped the Andes Mountains carrying materials from six Chimeras and three Silver Rank enemies, then returned to the waiting airship and warned his companions that the Cultists might retaliate.
• Kraun showed Fland a Silver Heart and reported killing one Silver Rank enemy, while claiming rewards for six Chimeras and nine Tier 3 Transcendentalists.
• Kraun returned home and spent a week refining Silver Marrow and Silver Soul Paste, then learned the Savage Bone Breathing Technique from a Cultist’s hide.
• Kraun used the Silver Marrow and Silver Soul Paste to train Flame Breath, but it stalled at 49,999 of 50,000 proficiency despite nearing Tier 5.
• Kraun flew to the Alienated Land with Fugin and Bastet and released Golden Light Illumination to train his Golden Light Incantation.

Kraun advanced Flame Breath to Tier 5 in the Alienated Zone and headed toward Hamus City to secretly improve his combat techniques. Meanwhile, Osman devised a way to restore his Life Essence using Silver Rank creatures and received a Silver Rank Cultist’s heart from the Rhine City Diocese, while a mysterious visitor arrived at Victor Nye’s manor.

• Kraun’s Golden Light Illumination advanced Flame Breath to Tier 5, granting him greater physical strength, fire damage, and resistance to Spiritual Pollution.
• Kraun left the Alienated Zone after increasing his Golden Light Incantation proficiency and decided to train his secret techniques in the Cultists’ territory without revealing his advancement.
• Osman concluded that he could replenish his Life Essence by extracting it from Silver Rank creatures, and identified the Rhine City Diocese and other conflict zones as potential sources.
• Theo informed Osman that Archbishop Fland had sent the heart of a Silver Rank Cultist, and Osman decided to reward the Rhine City Diocese while keeping the heart for himself.
• A cloaked visitor bearing the Nye Family’s token met Victor Nye at Tulip Manor and revealed a corner of a Signet Ring.

Pope Osman secretly tasked Victor with testing a sinister life-essence ritual, while Kraun refined his combat skills and joined Church leaders preparing a massive air raid on a Cultist base. The chapter ended with Kraun aboard the airship fleet, resting and training before the planned attack.

• Osman gave Victor an ancient-looking book containing a ritual that extracted the soul and fleshly essence of an equal-rank being, and ordered him to conduct the experiment in secret.
• Victor realized the ritual was dangerous and could expose the Pope, but decided to perform it in hopes of gaining enough power to protect himself.
• Kraun tested his training, planned to develop his own Breathing Technique, and considered using thunder techniques and Spirit Familiar abilities in combat.
• A week later, Kraun met Cardinal Fland and the others in Rhine City, where they prepared an air raid on a Cultist base with airships carrying eight hundred thousand pounds of bombs.
• Kraun reviewed his progress in the Golden Light Incantation and Savage Bone Breathing Technique, then practiced aboard the airship while awaiting the nighttime attack.

Kraun joined the Rhine City Diocese’s air raid against the Kurud Tribe, where the Gray Fog revealed a sinister presence that his Life Qi repelled. The attack devastated the tribe’s Chimera force, and Kraun protected the airships by hunting the attackers from the sky.

• Kraun sensed malice in the Gray Fog, but his Life Qi and golden Soul Light drove it away as Fland and Lannister noticed a strange flash.
• Fland ordered the airships to search for the Cultist camp, and the force bombed it with explosives and incendiary bombs.
• Somla Kent ordered the Kurud Tribe’s Silver Warriors and flying mounts to attack the airships after the bombing began.
• Kraun flew into battle and killed Chimeras with Thunder Wrath until Somla ordered the survivors to retreat.
• Kraun used a Metal Longbow to shoot down flying mounts carrying oil toward the airships.

Kraun's nighttime air raid suffered heavy losses to magical arrays and Evil Spirits, though he earned a reward and returned to Hamus City. In Blei City, Victor tested a Life Essence extraction array and gave its liquid to Grey as a supposed miracle drug, restoring Grey's youthful appearance.

• Kraun used Golden Light Illumination to protect the airships from spirits, discovered a high-level Evil Spirit had killed the crews of two airships, and signaled the squadron to retreat.
• Kraun helped destroy two damaged airships, then reported the raid's losses to Fland and received six thousand Gold Spirit Coins after returning to Rhine City.
• Kraun commissioned a small airship, practiced the Golden Light Incantation, and flew to Hamus City, improving his Flight Thaumaturgy proficiency along the way.
• Victor used a magical array to extract Life Essence from a Black Bear and collected the resulting silvery liquid in a Runic Crystal Bottle.
• Victor persuaded Grey to drink the liquid as a miracle drug, and Grey's wrinkles faded as his hair began turning brown.

Kraun advanced the Golden Light Incantation to Tier 4, gaining stronger abilities and discovering that he could create Golden Light Dao Seeds to let others cultivate it. The chapter ended with him manifesting a Silver Dragon Phantom through the Savage Bone Breathing Technique and wondering what it could do.

• Fland and the Tier 3 Transcendentalists settled on attacking the Cultists while they were on the march, while Hamus City’s factions prepared weapons and trained more Transcendentalists.
• After nearly ten days of training, Kraun advanced the Golden Light Incantation to Tier 4 and discovered that his Life Qi had fused with his Life Source Stream.
• Kraun examined his strengthened skills and discovered the Mind-Clearing Pendant and Golden Light Dao Seed, which could help others gain passive benefits from visualizing the incantation.
• Kraun realized that Golden Light markings had formed on his bones and speculated that they might eventually let his marrow produce Silver Blood.
• Kraun found that the Golden Light Incantation had greatly increased his Flame Breath and Savage Bone Breathing Technique proficiency, then used the latter to manifest a Silver Dragon Phantom.
• Kraun sensed familiarity with the Silver Dragon Phantom but could not determine what practical benefit it provided.

Kraun tested the Savage Bone Breathing Technique’s Blood-Qi Phantom and found that its Dragon Shadow frightened weaker beings and suppressed powerful opponents. After testing it on Nick and Fanny, he concluded that only exceptionally strong Silver Rank warriors could form such a phantom.

• Kraun’s silver dragon phantom frightened Fugin and Bastet, then disappeared when he stopped circulating the Savage Bone Breathing Technique.
• Kraun summoned Melissa and Lia to test the phantom, and Melissa felt paralyzing fear while Lia sensed pressure disrupting her magic power.
• Kraun tested the phantom on Nick, who felt it suppress his Holy Power and agreed to continue the test at the Training Ground with Fanny.
• Kraun used his Golden Light Domain and defended against Nick and Fanny until they exhausted themselves without breaking through.
• Nick estimated that the Dragon Shadow reduced his strength by nearly twenty percent, and Kraun explained that only one of the Silver Rank Cultists he had fought could form a Blood-Qi Phantom.