Chapter Summaries

Ruger discovered a mushroom-like gem in a pouch and confronted its owner while two Wizards pursued the hooded man to Mahama’s island. After binding the man and asking whether he knew Barry Danton, Ruger was struck by a numbing loss of sensation as the pursuers attacked.

• Ruger inspected the pouch he had taken and recognized a fist-sized gem as resembling a mushroom product he had encountered before.
• Ruger flew to Mahama’s island, where two pursuing Wizards were fighting a weakened lone Wizard and had damaged the house.
• Ruger blamed all three Wizards for the destruction and demanded answers from the lone man along with compensation for the house.
• When Ruger displayed the pouch, the lone man tried to flee, but Ruger bound him with a chain and drew him closer.
• Ruger asked the man whether he knew of Barry Danton, and the man showed surprise at hearing the name.
• Ruger was overwhelmed by a numbing loss of sensation as the two pursuing Wizards made their move.

Ruger stopped two Wizards from pursuing a masked man carrying a gem-shaped mushroom tied to Barry Danton’s plan. After the mushroom vanished, the masked man revealed that it was a growing anchor point intended to anchor the Cavern World.

• Ruger immobilized the masked man and his two pursuers, then questioned the masked man about the object Barry Danton had sent him to release.
• The masked man explained that Barry Danton had arranged for him to release the object at a calculated location and that their contract protected them from harm.
• Ruger's Storage Pocket tore open, and the gem-shaped mushroom transformed and disappeared onto the island, revealing that Barry Danton had anticipated the delivery might go wrong.
• Ruger released the two pursuers, who abandoned the fight and departed, while he kept the masked man to question him.
• The masked man said Barry Danton had found a growing seed that was an anchor point someone wanted to use to anchor the Cavern World.

Ruger questioned a masked man about Barry Danton’s plan to locate the Cavern World and learned that several people had been sent to help it succeed. He released the man, who treated his injured flying pet beast and departed, while Ruger stayed among the ruins.

• Ruger questioned the masked man about whether others had joined Barry Danton’s undertaking.
• The masked man said Barry Danton had told them they could abandon the mission, and that more than half had to succeed for the plan to have a good chance.
• Ruger released the masked man from the Boundless Cage.
• The masked man treated his injured flying pet beast, then asked to leave; Ruger let him go.
• The masked man fed the beast magic stones and flew away, while Ruger watched and examined a little mushroom.

Ruger studied Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent while reflecting on Barry Danton's poor talent, resolve, and influence over his allies. As Ruger developed a deeper sense of how spells connected him to the world, he made smooth progress constructing the spell model, while the island remained still.

• Ruger settled into Mahama's damaged chair and began studying Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent while watching for changes on the island.
• Ruger reflected on Barry Danton's poor aptitude and how his willingness to risk everything, combined with cunning and contracts, inspired others to trust him.
• Ruger practiced constructing the spell model and recognized a deeper form of communication between his mental power, spells, and the world.
• Ruger connected this experience to the greater independence of four-ring wizards and the choices surrounding world runes and the Reclusive Faction.
• Ruger made smooth progress on Flame Torrent, but the island showed no movement.

Ruger returned to his island and finished constructing Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent, reflecting on spell communication and his reluctance to learn the Four-Language Spell. He tested the new spell alongside Scorching Wings and found that combining them required him to pause his flight.

• Ruger collected the magic stones and a tea set from the ruins, then flew back to his island.
• Ruger considered how mastering Word of Flame had let him experience special communication through spells, and recalled that Mahama's rebellious senior had left him the Four-Language Spell.
• Ruger rested on the Old Recliner and completed the construction of Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent.
• Ruger tested Scorching Wings with Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent and realized he had to stop controlling his flight before casting the latter spell.
• Ruger fired a stream of flame toward the sea, then looked toward the distance.

Ruger tested combining Scorching Wings with Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent, refining his control and speed on a long flight back across the Endless Sea. He landed near Kurt's lair, brought his friend gifts, and learned Kurt had been thinking about Mahama's departure.

• Ruger combined Scorching Wings with Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent and flew across the Endless Sea, discovering that the spell was powerful but difficult to steer.
• Ruger repeated the flight using his Nightmare Wings and a Light Body Spell, gaining more speed and control as he tried to land precisely on his Small Island.
• Ruger missed his Small Island but canceled his spells above Kurt's lair and landed there safely.
• Ruger found Kurt alone on a cliffside and joined him at the table, presenting Three Different-Colored Cups and a feast of insect meat.
• Kurt asked whether His Excellency Mahama had already left, and Ruger answered that he had.

Ruger gave Kurt three magical cups that could stimulate mental power, then spoke with him about Tali’s death and the regret Kurt felt over never helping his old friend become a wizard. Kurt explained that Tali may have continued pursuing his unusual path of faith until the end, leaving him feeling that Tali’s presence had not vanished completely.

• Ruger gave Kurt three Inverted Cups of different wizard ranks and explained their effects and safe use.
• Kurt asked whether Ruger was planning a long journey, and Ruger said he had no definite plans.
• Ruger asked whether Shopkeeper Tali had died, and Kurt said he had closed his shop after Tali passed away.
• Ruger and Kurt raised their cups to Tali and drank Mahama’s Fine Wine.
• Kurt explained that he regretted never helping Tali become a wizard but believed Tali had kept pursuing his Natural Faith-Stealer path until his death.

Ruger and Kurt discussed Brother Tali’s death, the world’s endless turning, and Kurt’s plans to advance to a Two-Ring Wizard. They connected an unusual number of powerful Wizards at a low-level trading island with Barry Danton and a chase Ruger had witnessed, but Ruger remained reluctant to investigate.

• Kurt reflected on Brother Tali’s death and compared it with the world’s unceasing cycle, and Ruger shared wine with him in silence.
• Kurt said he expected to begin preparing for his Two-Ring Wizard advancement within a few days.
• Kurt told Ruger that people at Trade Island were selling information about Barry Danton and that the Silver Hand Viscount had visited the island.
• Kurt said the low-level island held an unusually large number of powerful Formal Wizards, and Ruger realized they might be connected to a chase he had witnessed.
• Ruger told Kurt about the chase and the waters once controlled by the Three-Flame Divine Palace, while Kurt felt reassured by the distance from his home and Ruger remained tempted but lazy.

Ruger and Kurt discussed the territories lost to Light-Loss and Kurt’s plans to expand his island kingdom in the darkness. After trying the apprentice-level Inverted Cup, Kurt entered meditation, and Ruger left him to continue.

• Kurt told Ruger that territories had fallen to Light-Loss and described two Level-Five Wizard Apprentices who had relocated with their people and bought protection from the Silver Hand Viscount.
• Kurt explained that the darkness gave him a chance to claim islands, and that his Deity Shaping could ease his believers’ grief and unrest.
• Kurt said he had claimed two islands three years earlier, trained God-Gifted, and planned to expand after advancing to Two-Ring Wizard.
• Kurt drank Sour Mushroom Wine from the Inverted Cup, toppled from his chair, and chose to meditate on the ground.
• Kurt entered meditation as his active mental power began to obey him, while Ruger finished the wine and left.

Ruger returned to his Small Island and reflected on his long progress as a Two-Ring Wizard before beginning sleep meditation. After waking, he read Lord Benson's Reverie for ideas about using Scorching Wings and expected Aisijin and the others to have prepared a meal.

• Ruger returned to his Small Island, checked the Bedroom Space, and headed to his private room in the Inn.
• Ruger encountered Tuzel sulking with Rabbit but continued to his room and fell asleep after reflecting on his years as a Two-Ring Wizard.
• Ruger realized that steady meditation and accumulated effort were necessary for mental power to grow, so he chose to sleep only after completing his meditation.
• Ruger woke, read Lord Benson's Reverie for ideas about attaching spells to scales, and heard someone keeping watch outside his door.
• Ruger expected Aisijin and the others to have prepared a meal for him.

Ruger joined the Furry Friends for a meal and discovered that Immanuel had made a delicious insect stew, prompting him to reflect on his teacher’s unusual changes and forgotten memories. After dinner, Ruger thanked Tuzel for his help with a playful series of spells.

• Ruger joined his companions at the inn’s dining table and eagerly began eating.
• Tuzel told Ruger that Immanuel had made the insect stew, and Ruger praised its layered spices and flavor.
• Ruger considered how cooking the stew reflected Immanuel’s strange changes and recalled his teacher’s missing memories of the Demon Wizard.
• After the meal, Ruger cast Spirit Fur Nourishment on Tuzel several times to thank him, making the rabbit shudder and curse.

Ruger read Lord Benson’s account of creating the Shatter Dragon, whose scales formed the substance of its body and could gather to restore it. After sensing a disturbance on the neighboring island, Ruger awakened the little Mushroom Man and greeted Barry Danton through it.

• Ruger resumed reading Benson’s book and learned how Benson fused his bloodlines into the Shatter Dragon, a dragon that could regrow its body from its scales.
• Ruger noticed a faint disturbance among the neighboring island’s ruins but waited instead of investigating.
• Ruger took out the little mushroom and watched it awaken as Barry Danton spoke through the Mushroom Man.
• Ruger and Barry Danton exchanged greetings.

Ruger learned from Barry Danton that an invading civilization had planted a seed in the Cavern World to create a passage between worlds, while rival factions sought control of it. Barry explained his decade-long effort to expose the invasion and draw Wizards together, leaving Ruger aware that the threat and struggle over the seed would soon involve many more people.

• Barry Danton explained that fifty-four people were flying toward positions centered on the seed, and that each arrival improved his chance of success.
• Barry told Ruger that the seed came from an invading civilization that had helped destroy a previous world and was growing into a passage to the Cavern World.
• Barry explained that several factions sought the seed, including Faith Wizards connected to the God of Judgment and Justice.
• Ruger recognized Barry’s personal connection to the powerful Wizard behind that god and asked what gift Barry had prepared for him.
• Barry revealed that he had spent ten years pursuing the invasion and exposing its traces so Wizards would unite to defend the Cavern World.

Barry Danton explained how his lack of talent had forced him to pursue advancement through persistence and risk, and invited Ruger to explore the growing space connecting two worlds. Ruger chose to wait and watch while continuing his plan to reach the third ring, but Barry promised to tempt him with news of valuable discoveries.

• Ruger teased Barry Danton about disrupting the plans of wizard factions, and Barry explained that lower-ranking wizards would benefit from the Seed before powerful wizards became involved.
• Barry Danton described the profound helplessness of lacking talent and the failures and dangers he endured to become a Two-Ring Wizard.
• Ruger told Barry Danton he had expected him to reach two rings, and the Mushroom Man showed Barry's happiness.
• Barry Danton invited Ruger to explore the expanding space and described its Otherworldly Beings, objects, and possible dangers.
• Ruger asked whether the invasion would take a long time, then decided to wait and watch while Barry promised to notify him of valuable discoveries.
• The Mushroom Man abruptly changed back after something happened on Barry Danton's end.

Ruger considered the hidden invasion seed and waited for events to unfold while studying Master Benson’s book. Inspired by a passage, he took Aisijin to sleep so he could test an idea, leaving her to arrange for Serious Mouse to wake her.

• Ruger concluded that the object Barry Danton had found was probably genuine and speculated about how the seed might be concealed.
• Ruger decided not to rush toward the unknown seed and returned to reading Master Benson’s Shattered-Scale Dragon book.
• A passage about an invisible pocket helped Ruger untangle an idea and decide he needed to try something.
• Ruger found Aisijin in the Cultivation Area and told her to sleep, though she had plans to judge a woodcarving contest between Tuzel and Mr. Immanuel.
• Ruger reassured Aisijin that Serious Mouse could wake her when needed, and they approached Serious Mouse’s Little Inn.

Ruger used Aisijin and Little Regna’s sleep to gather the Nightmare World’s aura and locate the dream manifestation of his nightmare organ beneath his twin dream trees. He began experimenting with altering it by repeatedly constructing the Scorching Wings spell model, hoping to use his perception of its contact with the world.

• Ruger explained to Little Regna that her and Aisijin’s sleep could help him gather the Nightmare World’s aura, and he told her to sleep normally.
• Ruger fell asleep and sensed his way through his dream, gathering dense aura that drifted from Aisijin’s sleep.
• Following the aura’s guidance, Ruger found a pulsing lump of twisted flesh beneath his dream trees and recognized it as the manifestation of his nightmare organ.
• Ruger concluded that changing the dream manifestation could affect the nightmare organ fused with him.
• Ruger began repeatedly constructing the Scorching Wings spell model and used his perception of its contact with the world to experiment on the organ.

Ruger reflected on his failed attempt to find a nightmare organ and planned to keep studying Scorching Wings so he could combine it with Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent. He gathered materials for Tuzel's stone-sculpting contest while Lord Kurt prepared to advance to Two-Ring Wizard.

• Ruger realized Little Regna had caused the unusually strong Nightmare World aura and agreed with her that she would not use her abilities without his permission except in emergencies.
• Ruger decided to study Scorching Wings outside his dream and fit spell practice, sleep meditation, and other training into his daily routine.
• Immanuel narrowly defeated Tuzel in the woodcarving contest, and Tuzel challenged him to a stone-sculpting contest after Serious Mouse cast the deciding vote.
• Ruger flew to Lord Mahama's Ruined Island and collected stones and timber for Tuzel, blasting apart the ruins when he needed materials of different sizes.
• Kurt told Ruger he would stop visiting Trade Island unless necessary, and Ruger learned that Kurt was preparing to advance and helped patrol his Domain.

Ruger tested his evolving Nightmare Wings and planned to combine them with Scorching Wings and Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent for faster travel. After sensing a brief, unusual disturbance in the distance, he returned to his Bedroom Space for Sleep Meditation.

• Ruger flew around Small Island, testing the second version of his Nightmare Wings as he cultivated his nightmare organs with properties of Scorching Wings.
• Ruger decided to keep Scorching Wings and Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent unchanged, planning to combine both spells with his evolved Nightmare Wings.
• Ruger practiced Flaming Centipede and Word of Flame, which helped him advance his nightmare organs and seemed close to becoming a constant state.
• Ruger tested his Nightmare Wings with Zan Zemanla's Flame Torrent and found the result weaker than he had hoped, though he remained satisfied with his approach.
• Ruger sensed brief, unusual fluctuations in the distance, watched until they stopped, and entered his Bedroom Space for Sleep Meditation.

Ruger learned that the God of Judgment and Justice’s Well Keeper had opened a growing small world with entry fees and the right to claim one item from each visitor. Barry Danton offered Ruger secret access through another entrance, leaving him a way to enter without using the well’s official terms.

• Ruger heard that the Silver Hand Viscount had built a large well on a small island under the emblem of the God of Judgment and Justice.
• Ruger continued his slow work on the Nightmare Wings and believed his meditation progress helped him understand spell models.
• Ruger spoke with Barry Danton through Mushroom Man and said the Well Keeper’s terms seemed reasonable.
• Barry warned Ruger that the Well Keeper could claim more than visitors expected, then offered him access to a secret entrance as thanks for their past cooperation.

Ruger discussed the Small World’s origin points and the promise they held for Barry Danton’s advancement, then reflected on his own impending breakthrough. After resting, Ruger planned one more Sleep Meditation before attempting to advance to Three-Ring Wizard.

• Barry Danton explained that the growing Small World had multiple origin points that could help him become a Three-Ring Wizard.
• Ruger told Barry that condensing an origin point after reaching Three-Ring Wizard could help him advance to Four-Ring Wizard, but Barry said he still intended to overcome his weaknesses and go further.
• Barry described the Invaders as “Life entwined with death,” prompting the Mushroom Man to bow and return to mushroom form.
• Ruger considered how many people could be protagonists in their own stories, then declared himself the protagonist of his own story as he prepared to advance.
• Ruger used Word of Flame to reignite the Crystal Stove and decided to rest before performing another Sleep Meditation to confirm he had reached his limit as a Two-Ring Wizard.