Chapter Summaries

Charles secured a safe return through the cross-planar teleportation gate to Isata and organized the territory’s defenses and work while he was away. Before leaving, he assigned Scorchflame to guard the gate and promised to find him female snakes so he could pass on his bloodline.

• Charles asked the Book of Causal Paths to weave a safe future, and it confirmed the teleportation gate would send him to his residence in Isata.
• Charles reassured Erika and Molly, then told them, Bruce, and Scorchflame that he would return to Isata temporarily while they continued the armored cavalry’s modifications and gathered resources from Ross.
• Charles ordered Bruce to have Yvenjieling and Elias train the army and authorized them to wage war if anyone provoked them.
• Charles tasked Scorchflame with guarding the tower and teleportation gate while he was away.
• Charles asked Erika to have Ross gather female snake-type magic beasts for Scorchflame, who bashfully requested snakes with smooth scales and bright colors.

Charles returned to the Wizard World with the materials needed to build a cross-planar teleportation gate, then sensed an opportunity to advance. He began breaking through to become a third-circle grand wizard.

• Charles carried the Demon-Sealing Box through the teleportation gate and returned to the Wizard World after three days.
• Charles reached Isata's residence and inspected its defenses before unpacking the gate components.
• Charles assembled and activated a new cross-planar teleportation gate in Isata.
• Charles examined valuable materials sent by Ross and the Crimson Caravan Alliance, including young leaves from the Tree of Life.
• Charles felt the Wizard World's magic power welcoming him and recognized that his chance to become a third-circle wizard had arrived.
• Charles meditated as magic power and his accumulated knowledge surged within him, then began his breakthrough to become a third-circle grand wizard.

Charles condensed his magic power into solid form and became a third-circle grand wizard. His advancement triggered a painful transformation as he released and strengthened his demon bloodline, leaving him struggling to control its power.

• Charles compressed his liquid magic power until he formed his first piece of solid magic power and completed his advancement to a third-circle grand wizard.
• Charles transformed into his Succubus form, then released his suppressed demon bloodline and drew more energy into his Balor bloodline.
• Charles endured his body tearing and rebuilding as his bloodline runes changed, while fighting the urge to slaughter.
• Charles declared that he would remain a wizard rather than be blinded by demonic power, and vowed to master his bloodline.

Charles controlled his bloodline as he advanced into a Greater Demon with a form increasingly resembling a Balor. He consumed a Storm Giant’s heart chamber and the Tree of Life leaves, and his second heart and Demon Heart Core began to become physical.

• Charles resisted the memories and emotions assaulting him and guided his bloodline toward becoming a Balor.
• Charles felt his bloodline crave further change and chose to consume the giant’s heart chamber and the Tree of Life leaves rather than preserve them for trade.
• Charles swallowed the heart chamber of an adult Storm Giant and absorbed its power, accelerating his advancement into the Greater Demon stage.
• Charles developed a second heart beside his original one, and a Demon Heart Core formed at its center.
• Charles ate all ten Tree of Life leaves, helping his second heart and heart core solidify as their beats sent more scorching blood through his body.

Charles completed his advancement into a Greater Demon and became a Balor, gaining immense physical power and a range of formidable abilities. He concluded that his fused Succubus bloodline had made him stronger than an ordinary Balor and wondered whether he had forged a new demonic path.

• Charles rose as a four-meter-tall Greater Demon, with powerful wings, horns, scales, and bone spurs.
• Charles formed a Flame Whip and Flame Execution Sword, tested their power, and considered forging permanent versions from materials.
• Charles sensed that his fused Succubus and Balor bloodlines had made him stronger than a pure Balor.
• Charles awakened Balor abilities including Fear Aura, Flame Radiance, Blasphemous Words, Firestorm, and Teleportation.
• Charles recognized that his magic resistance and Teleportation would give him major advantages in battle and a way to escape danger.

Charles became a Greater Balor and assessed his new strength, but found that gaining third-circle spells would require more money and service to Isata. He sold his remaining materials and went to register as a third-circle Grand Wizard, where his overwhelming aura stunned the wizards around him.

• Charles realized his Balor form granted him a deadly Body-Burning Explosion and the power to command many demons.
• Charles lamented that the resources left in his Demon-Sealing Box would not buy many third-circle spells, which also required service to Isata.
• Charles sold his remaining materials for 1.1 million Magic Stones.
• Charles entered Isata's tower to register as a third-circle Grand Wizard, and the wizards there bowed to him under the pressure of his aura.
• A second-circle wizard identified Charles as a newly advanced Grand Wizard, while a first-circle wizard admired his strength.

Charles went to register as a third-ring Grand Wizard and learned that a Sage had to witness the ceremony. His former teacher, Sage Webster, recognized him and came down to conduct the registration, congratulating Charles as the ceremony began.

• Charles arrived at the registration desk, where the attendants bowed and directed him to wait for a Sage to witness his registration.
• Sage Webster received a messenger’s letter, recognized Charles as his former student, and decided to go see him.
• Webster appeared in the lounge, greeted Charles, and asked about his recent return from another plane.
• Webster’s attendants brought Charles the robes of a third-ring Grand Wizard, and Webster congratulated him and wished him success on his path of seeking truth.

After becoming a Third-Ring Grand Wizard, Charles discussed his plane and future plans with Sage Webster. Webster advised him to balance cultivation and profit as he developed his unusually valuable plane.

• Charles became an officially registered Third-Ring Grand Wizard of Isata and considered taking students after his territory stabilized.
• Sage Webster summoned Charles to the top-floor lounge and asked how he had obtained and developed a plane before reaching the Third Ring.
• Charles explained that demon-like abilities had let him answer Yvenjieling's summons and reach the Osela plane through the Abyss.
• Webster offered support, but Charles declined for now and accepted a scroll directing him to sell elven and Giant materials through Webster's merchant guilds.
• Charles described his plans to develop the plane, study wizardry, and later take students, and Webster urged him not to let profits distract him from cultivation.

Charles learned that obtaining third-ring witchcraft required joining a Wizard Sage’s faction and paying through plane profits or service. He agreed to serve Webster in exchange for knowledge in advance and chose two spells, leaving him indebted to Webster for future work.

• Webster told Charles that high-level witchcraft was controlled by Wizard Sages and that he needed to join a faction to obtain it.
• Charles agreed to join Webster’s faction after Webster explained that he could pay with plane profits or future service.
• Webster offered Charles assignments such as making demonic bloodline potions or commanding armies in plane campaigns, and Charles chose service in exchange for witchcraft knowledge.
• Webster agreed to provide the knowledge in advance but warned Charles that he would require him to work if he failed to repay it soon.
• Charles selected third-ring Witchcraft Shield and third-ring Autumn Leaf Blade.

Charles learned from Webster that an ancient Wizard King’s ritual increased the number of humans with spellcaster aptitude but made advancement to first circle harder, leading wizards to concentrate magic power on the Wizard Continent and devise methods such as Isata’s Trial Plane. Webster explained that the ancient system remained in place despite later plane conquests and increased resources.

• Charles explained that he chose elven spells because revealing his demon bloodline in the secondary plane would be dangerous, and Webster urged him to gather its humans under his command.
• Charles asked why secondary-plane races had fewer spellcasters, and Webster said an ancient eighth-circle Wizard King had performed a ritual that greatly increased human spellcaster aptitude.
• Webster explained that the ritual also made advancement from apprentice to first-circle wizard much harder and caused many apprentices to consume magic power and resources without becoming wizards.
• Webster said the wizards responded by moving to another continental cluster and using spell arrays to channel excess magic there, leaving other regions with low or no magic.
• Webster explained that Isata used the Trial Plane and the souls of apprentices who died in battle to make potions for promising apprentices, while other academies used different methods toward the same end.
• Webster said the Wizard World’s ancient system had persisted and been optimized, including the path from third-circle grand wizard to fourth-circle sage.

Charles learned that advancing to the fourth ring required a plane’s recognition, then discovered from the Book of Causal Paths that powerful beings might control the Wizard World’s plane will. After buying materials for Osela and strengthening his tower’s defenses, he prepared to return and conquer the secondary planar world to earn fourth-ring certification.

• Webster told Charles that fourth-ring advancement required recognition from the plane and explained that many Grand Wizards struggled to gain it.
• The Book of Causal Paths explained that planes recognized those who benefited them, such as by bringing back resources or improving the world.
• The Book warned Charles that powerful beings might already control the Wizard World’s plane will, making their approval another obstacle.
• Charles bought materials for Osela and for his tower’s defensive arrays, then declared that he would conquer the secondary planar world and return with fourth-ring plane-will certification.

Charles returned to the Osela World and used his advancement, a sorcery array, and adult Red Dragon heartblood to help Scorchflame begin a major breakthrough. Scorchflame developed new hind limbs as his dragon bloodline strengthened, and Molly arrived to greet Charles while Scorchflame remained asleep.

• Charles returned to the Osela World, where Scorchflame greeted him and sensed that Charles had become a Third Circle Grand Wizard.
• Charles placed the drowsy Scorchflame in a rune array and prepared materials to support his advancement.
• Charles poured adult Red Dragon heartblood into Scorchflame, combining its power with the effects of Charles's advancement and the array.
• Scorchflame's body grew hotter, shed old scales, and developed new hind limbs as his dragon bloodline strengthened.
• Molly arrived after guards reported Scorchflame's surging aura, leaped onto Charles, and asked why Scorchflame was asleep again.

Charles returned to his territory after becoming a Third-Ring Wizard and left Scorchflame to advance. He reviewed the territory’s administration and military preparations with his subordinates, then questioned why the Howling Children of the Wasteland had received no support from the Shatterskull Clan.

• Charles told Molly that he had become a Third-Ring Wizard and left Scorchflame to advance without them.
• Charles summoned Bruce, Molly, Erika, Charlotte, Yvenjieling, and Elias to review the territory’s affairs.
• Charlotte reported progress on infrastructure, local administration, tax revenue, and workshops, and Charles ordered further artisan recruitment and training.
• Yvenjieling reported that the territory had three thousand elite cavalrymen, while Bruce reported five thousand infantry, including fifteen hundred orc heavy infantry.
• Bruce reported that the Howling Children of the Wasteland had not received support from the Shatterskull Clan, prompting Charles to wonder whether the clan had encountered problems.

Charles ordered his army to prepare a swift attack on Kurto Shatterskull, while Kurto learned of the approaching force and ordered his officers to prepare for war. The chapter left both armies mobilizing for their coming battle.

• Charles studied the map, ordered his forces to attack the Howling Children of the Wasteland, and began preparing supplies and laborers for the campaign.
• Kurto Shatterskull learned that the Shatterskull Clan would send no reinforcements, while his army dwindled to around four thousand men and morale remained poor.
• Charles's army set out before Kurto received word of the attack, revealing the gap between their intelligence networks.
• Kurto heard the news while drinking, steadied himself, and ordered the messenger to summon his officers and prepare for war.
• Kurto appeared in armor before his officers and ordered them to return in battle gear, threatening to behead anyone who arrived late.

Kurto Shatterskull rallied the Howling Children of the Wasteland to prepare for the Sun Elf’s approaching army, planning to lure the enemy into an ambush. When far fewer soldiers gathered than he expected, he roused them by promising the wealth and spoils of the Sun Elf’s territory.

• Kurto Shatterskull restored discipline among his officers and ordered preparations for battle against the approaching Sun Elf.
• Kurto Shatterskull rejected defending the former Scorched-Earth Warcry Tribe lair and planned to retreat and ambush the enemy.
• The Howling Children of the Wasteland gathered, but fewer than four thousand soldiers remained as many orcs fled.
• Kurto Shatterskull raged at the officers over the missing troops, then urged the gathered soldiers to fight.
• Kurto Shatterskull promised the orcs wealth, land, and captives if they defeated the Sun Elf’s army, stirring their appetite for battle and plunder.

Kurto Shatterskull marched toward Charles' city, keeping his orcs moving with promises of plunder as Charles deployed six thousand troops to meet them. With many factions watching and Selena anxiously awaiting news, the chapter left the armies approaching a battle expected to take several days to resolve.

• Kurto Shatterskull led his army onward, raiding settlements and struggling to maintain the orcs' morale as reports from outside grew scarce.
• Charles deployed six thousand cavalry and mounted infantry, relying on his trained force and the intelligence brought by summoned birds.
• Merchants, settlement rulers, half-elves, and former members of the Howling Children of the Wasteland watched the impending conflict and hoped Kurto Shatterskull would lose.
• Selena asked Elendil for news about Imril, and he reassured her that Imril was likely to win but warned that defeating Kurto Shatterskull would take several days.

Charles's army reached Kurto Shatterskull's forces before the orcs expected, using its speed and scouts to seize the initiative. As Charles's troops formed a disciplined battle line, Kurto struggled to rally his disorderly, loot-laden army, leaving the two sides on the verge of battle.

• Charles's cavalry and aerial scouts located Kurto Shatterskull's army and cut down its patrols, leaving Kurto nearly blind to the battlefield.
• Bruce ordered three thousand mounted infantry to dismount and form square units, with orc heavy infantry in front and crossbowmen behind.
• Charles deployed his cavalry on both sides of the infantry as Kurto sensed the approaching enemy and ordered his officers to prepare for battle.
• Kurto's troops delayed reforming because many orcs refused to abandon their plunder, so Kurto whipped his officers and ordered the soldiers to throw their goods away.
• Charles told his officers to learn from the orcs' disorder and warned that spoils meant nothing if they died before bringing them home.

Charles used the disordered orc army as a lesson in discipline for his officers, then ordered his forces to advance under Bruce’s command. The first volley of arrows tore into the gaps in the orcs’ formation, and Bruce called for the infantry to press forward.

• Charles pointed out the orcs’ disorder and ordered his officers to write reports on building and maintaining a disciplined army.
• Charles sent the officers back to their positions and ordered the infantry to advance under Bruce’s command.
• Bruce led the infantry and crossbowmen forward in orderly ranks while Yvenjieling’s cavalry guarded their flanks.
• Kurto Shatterskull ordered the orcs to prepare for battle and raise their shields.
• The human army’s arrows struck the gaps in the orc formation, and Bruce roared for his troops to advance.

Charles’s Blood Pact Warband fought the Howling Children of the Wasteland as Charles used witchcraft to weaken the enemy before sending in his Armored Knights. The knights charged toward the orc formation, and Yvenjieling ordered them to crash through it.

• Charles supported his infantry by targeting the enemy’s first- and second-tier fighters with witchcraft.
• Kurto Shatterskull demanded that his shaman deal with Charles, but the shaman’s spell revealed his position to Charles.
• Charles cast Thunderbird Dive, killing the shaman and nearby elite guards while injuring Kurto Shatterskull.
• Charles ordered the Armored Knights into battle after his spells and infantry attacks weakened the orcs’ morale.
• Yvenjieling led the Armored Knights in a charge and ordered them to crash the enemy formation.

Charles's forces routed the Howling Children of the Wasteland, and Charles killed their leader, Kurto Shatterskull. He ordered one in every three surrendered orcs killed before preparing to take over the newly conquered territory.

• Charles's Armored Knights and cavalry broke through the orc flank, and Kurto Shatterskull fled as the orc formation collapsed.
• Charles pursued Kurto with Thunderbird Dive and killed him, preserving his head as a sacrifice.
• Charles returned to find nearly seventeen or eighteen hundred orcs surrendering after the battle.
• Yvenjieling asked what should be done with the prisoners, and Charles ordered one in every three killed, with the other two carrying out the executions.
• Charles ignored the prisoners' screams, studied a map, and announced that his army would take over the new territory.