Chapter Summaries

Ian defeated Sachi, Barton, and Sela after they ambushed him, then learned that they served Blood Leech, a First-Level Wizard in the Rotting Swamp. Blood Leech discovered Sachi’s death and sent leeches toward the Whispering Forest as Ian left the scene.

• Sachi, Barton, and Sela attacked Ian, but he froze Barton’s arm, killed Sela with a Scorching Ray, and countered Sachi’s blood magic.
• Ian combined Ice and Fire rays to kill Sachi, then questioned the dying Barton about Blood Leech and the Rotting Swamp.
• Ian killed Barton, searched the bodies, and found Sachi’s Dimensional Bag and a token bearing a bloodsucking leech.
• Ian erased the evidence and departed after confirming there were no other watchers nearby.
• Blood Leech saw Sachi’s life token shatter and sent several bloodsucking leeches toward the Whispering Forest.

Ian examined Sachi’s spoils and discovered a fragment describing an unorthodox method for forming a familiar pact, though he did not yet meet its requirements. After returning to camp, he prepared to brew Concentration Potions with the ingredients he had gathered.

• Ian found the Spirit Pact Primer (Fragment) among Sachi’s possessions and learned it described a shortcut for Advanced Apprentices to form an Equal Contract with a familiar.
• Ian inspected Sachi’s belongings, including 327 Standard Magic Stones, two High-grade Magic Stones, Blood-Burning Potions, and a badge identifying Sachi as a second-class servant under the Blood Leech.
• Ian learned that the pact ritual required at least 50% mental Vaporization, specific materials, and a willing creature with strong spirituality, and he realized he did not yet qualify.
• Ian returned to the gathering point, noticed Talia watching him, and went back to his tent without confronting her.
• Ian confirmed he had gathered all the ingredients for Concentration Potions and began processing them late into the night.

After Sachi and the others disappeared, Ian focused on brewing potions and cultivating, steadily advancing his wizardry and mental power. Seven months later, he had reached 90.6% of the Advanced Wizard Apprentice realm, while Amos hinted at a potential supply of first-rank Magic Beast hearts.

• Rumors spread that Sachi and two other Advanced Apprentices had vanished near the Whispering Forest, and Talia grew more suspicious of Ian after recalling his return and a strange medicinal scent.
• Ian successfully brewed five standard-quality [Concentration Potions] and began using them to accelerate his Deep Meditation.
• Ian followed a strict routine of meditation, wizardry practice, potion brewing, and Blood Essence refining, while Mila supplied Magic Beast corpses and Amos traded for his goods.
• Amos offered Ian Star Sand and asked whether he could process fresh hearts from first-rank Magic Beasts, but Ian kept his doubts hidden and Amos left without elaborating.
• After seven months of uninterrupted cultivation and seven visits from Amos, Ian checked his Status Panel and saw that he had reached 90.6% of the Advanced Wizard Apprentice realm, with several skills and potions improved.

After seven months of cultivation, Ian had refined First Order Shadow Crow Blood Essence and strengthened his mental power and core sorceries through multiple Second Limit Breaks. He had only two points of proficiency left before mastering the Star-Moon Intermediate Meditation Method, and he entered deep meditation to gain them.

• Ian examined his Dimensional Ring and the purified Shadow Crow Blood Essence he had refined after the Bloodline Purification Art’s Second Limit Break.
• Ian reviewed his Status Panel and found his mental power fully vaporized, with seventy-five Will Runes formed but their array still incomplete.
• Ian assessed the new Awakening, Solar Flame, and Floating Crystal Guard effects, along with the power of his Lesser Frost Ray.
• Ian resolved to keep strengthening himself amid the tense atmosphere in Gloomlight Forest and noted that his meditation method needed only two more proficiency points.
• Ian drank a Concentration Potion, entered deep meditation, and gained one proficiency point in the Star-Moon Intermediate Meditation Method.

Ian broke through the limit of his Star-Moon Intermediate Meditation Method and sensed a hidden malice permeating the world’s Magic Power. At Shadowmoon Tower, Malena celebrated her advancement to First-Level Wizard as Alivia explained that the coming Demon-Hunting War would soon bring them back into contact with Ian.

• Ian’s meditation breakthrough formed a Star-Moon Phantom in his Mental Sea, improving his spiritual power and affinity for starlight and moonlight sorcery.
• Ian detected hidden malice throughout the world’s Magic Power and planned to ask Mila or Amos what was happening.
• Ian reviewed the requirements for forming a spirit pact, then chose to consolidate his meditation method while nearing the end of his Advanced Apprentice progress.
• Alivia congratulated Malena on becoming a First-Level Wizard, and Malena credited Alivia’s guidance and Ian’s help.
• Alivia told Malena that the Demon-Hunting War would begin in three months, explaining that the Silver Circle had called the Wizard Alliance factions to arms under Endless Holy Light.

Alivia explained to Malena that the Underground World was an Abyss-tainted ancient battlefield requiring a demon-hunting purge every fifty years, and that Ian would be conscripted. Ian investigated the strange Magic Power fluctuations and learned from Mila that a mandatory continental conscription would begin in about three months.

• Alivia described the Underground World's monsters, the danger of Abyssal Aura, and the need for regular demon-hunting operations to prevent a monster tide.
• Alivia told Malena that Ian would be conscripted because he was an Advanced Apprentice, and Malena silently hoped he would survive.
• Ian sensed unnatural changes in the Magic Power around Gloomlight Forest and decided he needed more information.
• The next morning, Ian visited Mila at Dreamweaver's Cottage, where she confirmed that the fluctuations occurred once every fifty years.
• Mila warned Ian that the Silver Circle would issue a mandatory conscription order in about three months, and that Advanced Apprentices, including wandering wizards, had to participate.

Mila explained the Demon-Hunting War’s rules, rewards, dangers, and approaching deadline to Ian. Ian planned his preparations, decided to search the Silent Mountains for a familiar, and began meditating before the war.

• Mila told Ian that the war would last three to six months, outlined the Seventh War Zone’s duties and merit rewards, and warned him to prepare before Amos delivered the final supplies in about a month.
• Ian returned to his tent and planned to expand production of [Rock Bear Potion], purify Rock Bear Blood Essence, and use the [Dream Potion] to strengthen his body and mind.
• Ian decided to search the Silent Mountains for a familiar for up to seven days, then return to Mist Creek to await Amos and prepare for the summons.
• Ian asked Mila to have Amos gather Rock-armored Demon Bear Essence Blood and began meditating with the [Star-Moon Intermediate Meditation Method].

Gaga ate a strange red berry that gave it extraordinary intelligence and powers, then quietly lived apart from its flock. When the patriarch ordered Gaga to risk its life guarding a cliff, Gaga refused, and the enraged patriarch attacked.

• Gaga ate a bright red berry and endured agonizing pain before discovering its senses and ability to think had greatly improved.
• Gaga tested its new abilities, finding it could fly at tremendous speed, cut through rock, change size, and freeze beasts with gray light from its eyes.
• Gaga returned to its flock but hunted alone, roasted its food, and kept its powers hidden.
• The patriarch ordered Gaga to guard a distant cliff where rock eagles roamed, but Gaga refused and told the patriarch to go itself.
• The patriarch called Gaga a rebel and lunged at its eyes as the other Ravens watched.

After being rejected by its flock and fleeing a terrifying black-robed man, Caw Caw lived alone in the Silent Mountains until a battle left it badly injured. Ian treated the raven and invited it to become his familiar, and Caw Caw accepted their soul bond, though it objected to the nickname Mynah.

• Caw Caw struck the chief, was condemned by the flock, and left to live alone in the Silent Mountains.
• Caw Caw explored human settlements until a black-robed man pursued it, driving it back into the mountains.
• Caw Caw fought a giant, fire-spewing bird, wounded it with a Wind Blade, and fell from the sky with severe injuries.
• Ian found Caw Caw, treated its wounds, and asked it to become his familiar.
• Caw Caw accepted the soul bond with Ian, who named it Mynah.

Ian treated and bonded with the clever raven Gāgā, then encountered Blood Leech at the edge of a swamp. Blood Leech attacked Ian with hundreds of blood tentacles, and the chapter ended as their battle began.

• Ian inspected Gāgā's status and learned about its powers, ancient bloodline, and transformation ability.
• Gāgā told Ian that a Red Fruit had awakened its bloodline, but the remaining fruit and its tree had disappeared.
• Ian and Gāgā traveled toward the outskirts of the Silent Mountains while Gāgā shared stories about its past.
• At a swamp, Ian and Gāgā sensed a powerful presence and found Blood Leech waiting for them.
• Blood Leech accused Ian of killing his servants and taking their belongings, then attacked with tentacles from the swamp.
• Ian used Floating Crystal Guard to deflect the first tentacles, but Blood Leech unleashed hundreds more with Blood Mire: Thousand Coils.

Ian and Gaga battled Blood Leech in the swamp, using ice, fire, curses, and concealment to overcome his superior strength. Ian killed Blood Leech and left his corpse to sink into the mire.

• Ian used Solar Flame and Freeze to destroy Blood Leech's tentacles, but his barrier and Floating Crystal Guards began to fail under the assault.
• Gaga used Eye of Omen to disrupt Blood Leech, giving Ian time to strike with Icefire Spiral and wound him despite his Molting substitution technique.
• Ian recognized that Blood Leech had only forcibly reached the threshold of a First-Level Wizard and ordered Gaga to distract him.
• Blood Leech's Corroding Heart curse failed when Ian used Soul Devouring to intercept most of its energy.
• Ian concealed himself with Invisibility, struck Blood Leech at close range with Icefire Spiral, and pierced his heart.
• Ian tore off Blood Leech's head, and the headless corpse fell into the swamp and sank into the mire.

After killing the Formal Wizard Blood Leech, Ian returned to Mist Creek and focused on recovering and strengthening his body before the Demon-Hunting War. Amos delivered Rock-armored Demon Bear Essence Blood and other supplies, allowing Ian to begin his Rock Bear Potion limit-break plan as conscription approached.

• Ian recovered from the battle, collected Blood Leech’s dimensional bag, token, and blood crystals, then cleaned the battlefield and left with Gaga.
• Ian returned to his tent and refused to let injured Gaga consume the Windshadow Crow blood essence until it had healed, offering it other blood essence instead.
• Ian examined Blood Leech’s spoils and found a notebook about advancement, an Eastern Seventh War Zone token, and a vial of Corrupting Heart Curse stock solution.
• Amos arrived seven days later with Rock-armored Demon Bear Essence Blood, Starlight Sand, and potion materials, which Ian purchased with blood essence and magic stones.
• Amos warned Ian that a conscription order for the Demon-Hunting War would arrive, and Ian prepared to begin his Rock Bear Potion limit break.

Ian developed a new way to harmonize the Rock Bear Potion’s heaviness and hardness with resilience, using Lunar Soul Essence to mediate the ingredients’ energies. He processed the auxiliary materials and prepared a buffered carrier for the Earth Vein Crystal Powder, leaving the new potion system ready for its final step.

• Ian studied the energies and properties of Rock Lizard Shedding, Earth Vein Crystal Powder, Steel-Bristled Wild Boar Bristles, and Lunar Soul Essence to devise a new formula.
• Ian activated the Rock Lizard Shedding’s deformation property with Scorching Ray, softened it with Lunar Soul Essence, and cut and ground it into powder.
• Ian soaked the Steel-Bristled Wild Boar Bristles in Lunar Soul Essence, blunted their sharp energy, and turned them into resilient fiber fluff.
• Ian fused the fluff with Earth Vein Crystal Powder and Rock Lizard Shedding powder, creating a layered structure that could release and buffer the crystal energy.

Ian refined a Limit Break version of the Rock Bear Potion, advancing his Potion Studies beyond his current realm. He then helped Gaga begin consuming Windshadow Crow Blood Essence, and Gaga’s body underwent a violent transformation as Ian urged it to break through its bloodline shackles.

• Ian adjusted the Rock Bear Potion formula with Rock Lizard Shedding powder and Earth Vein Crystal Powder, creating a potion with the Earth Vein Resonance limit-break effect.
• Ian recognized the potion as a true First Order potion and prepared to sell his remaining bottles as war approached.
• Ian apologized to Gaga for neglecting its advancement, fed it Blood Essence, and took it to a cave in the Silent Mountains.
• Ian set up isolation barriers and prepared potions and elixirs before Gaga swallowed the Windshadow Crow Blood Essence.
• Gaga swelled and suffered as its bones and flesh changed, while Ian used his mental power to steady it and urged it to guide the energy toward its bloodline shackles.

Ian helped Gaga fuse its bloodlines and break through to First Order, awakening its Shadow Nightjar traits. After inspecting Gaga’s new abilities, Ian took it to a stream to catch and grill fish, leaving them sharing a meal by the fire.

• Gaga endured the clash between its Windshadow Crow and Shadow Night bloodlines as Ian used their soul contract to stabilize it.
• Gaga fused the bloodlines, reached First Order Extraordinary Creature, and awakened [Shadow Jump] and other enhanced talents.
• Ian inspected Gaga’s Status Panel and recognized that its new strength would help in the coming Demon-Hunting War.
• Ian took Gaga fishing at a stream near the Silent Mountains and grilled the catch over a campfire.
• Gaga enjoyed Ian’s grilled fish and asked if it was his best partner, and Ian promised to keep grilling fish for it.

Ian prepared for the Demon-Hunting War when the Silver Circle's Morningstar Wizard announced that it had begun and ordered combatants to report to their assembly points. Ian and Gaga traveled to Mist Creek, where Ian received his credential as a member of the Sixth Sweep Team.

• Ian reviewed his status and planned to use the Limit Break Rock Bear Potion, but a supernatural presence swept across the world and alarmed him and Gaga.
• Endless Holy Light resonated with the Silver Circle's Wizard Tower and announced that the Demon-Hunting War had begun, ordering combatants to report to their assigned assembly points.
• Ian learned that Gloomlight Forest's assembly point was Mist Creek, packed his supplies, and told Gaga that they were heading there.
• Hawk joined Ian on the way, while Talia and Dora wished them both safety.
• At Mist Creek, Mila directed Ian to collect his credential and explained that the Demon-Hunting Jade Token would record his kills.
• Ian left his Arcane Mark on the Jade Tablet and received his assignment as an Advanced Apprentice on the Eastern Seventh War Zone's Sixth Sweep Team.

Ian and the other participants traveled by airship to Angrala Crater for the Demon-Hunting War. He arrived at a basin crowded with nearly one hundred thousand wizards and beings from many races, where the gathering left him and Gaga facing the scale of the coming conflict.

• Ian saw Advanced Apprentices and concealed Formal Wizards gathering at Mist Creek, then gave Hawk a box of war potions before they boarded the airship.
• The Silver Circle signaled that assembly was complete, and Ian joined the participants aboard a rune-covered airship.
• After a day of travel, the airship reached Angrala Crater, whose vast mountain ring was covered in magical defenses.
• Ian entered the basin and saw formations from four major organizations, numerous foreign races, and many strange wizards and animated creatures.
• Ian estimated that nearly one hundred thousand participants had gathered, and Gaga solemnly recognized the event as the Demon-Hunting War.

Ian joined the Sixth Sweep Team and followed its captain, Kellem, through Teleportation Array No. 2 into the Underground World. The team arrived in a hostile subterranean realm and prepared to begin its mission west of Ironspine Gorge.

• Ian received orders to assemble at Teleportation Array No. 2 and headed there with Gaga.
• Ian joined the sixty-eight members of the Sixth Sweep Team, led by Kellem and vice-captains Rod and Kelly.
• Kellem warned the team about the Underground World, required them to obey orders, and explained how kills and spoils would be recorded and distributed.
• Ian and the other apprentices entered the teleportation array and arrived in the Underground World.
• Ian surveyed the oppressive cavern realm and sensed that its space and elemental energy were distorted and contaminated.

Kellem led the apprentices in their first battle against Rotclaw Imps at Demon Nest Number Twelve, while Ian concealed how easily he could fight. After the first wave, Ian extracted an Abyss Crystal and noticed the jade tablet in his pocket drawing something from the monsters.

• Kellem assigned defensive positions and warned the apprentices to study the underground creatures’ attacks before advancing.
• Rotclaw Imps charged from the cave, and the apprentices fought them with spells as some wounded imps exploded and sprayed venom.
• Ian used Scorching Ray while pretending to cast at an ordinary pace, carefully keeping his performance only slightly above average.
• After Kelly killed the last imp, Kellem ordered the apprentices to rest, treat wounds, and collect Abyss Crystals.
• Ian extracted an Abyss Crystal from an imp and noticed its frenzied aura fade as the jade tablet drew something from it.
• An argument broke out nearby as Ian prepared to extract another crystal.

Ian defended his claim to an imp crystal from a burly apprentice, and Kellem stopped the dispute before the next wave arrived. Five First Order monsters then attacked the defensive line, which began to collapse under their assault.

• A burly apprentice demanded a share of the imp Ian had killed, but Ian refused to yield.
• Kellem ended the confrontation and warned that the next defensive wave would begin in three minutes.
• Five First Order monsters charged from the cave, and Kellem, Rod, and Kelly attacked them.
• The Lava-scaled Beast shattered Kellem’s shields while the Stitch Abomination broke through the left flank and killed one apprentice.
• The Stitch Abomination severed a female apprentice’s arm, opening a gap in the left flank as cries of alarm came from the right.