Chapter Summaries

Cain and his companions reached the chamber where Zenith was sealed and faced the Magic Stone Nine-Headed Dragon guarding her. Cain killed the dragon with two strikes and approached Zenith’s crystal prison.

• Paul rushed toward Zenith, but Cain threw him back and ordered him not to act alone.
• Cain walked ahead to fight the Nine-Headed Dragon while Rujierd and Roxy kept the others from following.
• Cain cut off eight of the dragon’s heads, survived its magical breath, and then split its body in half with a second strike.
• Cain healed his smoking hand and walked toward Zenith sealed inside the crystal as the others marveled at his victory.
• Keith privately wondered how he could defeat Cain and considered leading him into a dangerous labyrinth, but feared Cain would discover his identity.

Cain and the others rescued Zenith from the demon crystal, and professional healers restored her mind before the labyrinth could assimilate her completely. Two weeks later, she reunited with Paul and Rudeus, while Cain and Roxy reflected on how quickly he had planned the rescue.

• Cain warned Rudeus that Zenith's mind might have been damaged, and stopped Paul from trying to break the crystal himself.
• Cain and the Adventurer Group freed Zenith and had priests from the Holy Kingdom of Saint Millis treat her with Mental Healing Magic.
• After two weeks of recovery, Zenith thanked Cain at a celebration and embraced Paul and Rudeus.
• Cain told Rudeus to join his family, and Rudeus tearfully hugged Zenith and Paul.
• Roxy guessed Cain had rushed through the labyrinth because he suspected Zenith was trapped in the Labyrinth Core Crystal, and Cain confirmed it.

After reuniting with Paul and Zenith’s family, Cain learned that Gino had become Sword God and decided to travel to the Sword Sanctum to check on Gall and determine whether Gino served the Human God. Rudeus and Sylphiette joined the mission, alongside Cain, Eris, Roxy, and Alexander.

• Eris told Cain and Roxy that Keith had left after saying they would settle things next time, and reported that Gino had defeated Gal Farion and taken the Sword God title.
• The Black Wolf's Fang disbanded, and Cain’s group returned to the Magic University with Paul, Zenith, and the others; Rujierd set off to search for his people.
• Paul and Zenith reunited with Aisha, Norn, and Lilia, while Rudeus arrived with Sylphiette to meet his family.
• Ghislaine told Cain that Orsted had gone to the Land of Conflict and shared news about the Sword Sanctum and Gino’s victory over Gall.
• Cain chose to investigate whether Gino was an apostle of the Human God and assigned Rudeus to persuade him; Sylphiette insisted on joining, and Cain agreed.

Aisha asked to stay with Cain’s family, and Cain, Eris, and Roxy supported her choice against Lilia’s wishes. Paul agreed to leave Aisha with them as his family prepared to move out.

• Aisha pleaded with Lilia to let her stay with Cain’s family, and Eris objected to Lilia treating her as someone who had to repay a debt.
• Cain and Roxy backed Eris, saying Aisha’s wishes should decide where she lived and that they considered her family.
• Lilia asked Aisha directly whether she wanted to stay, and Aisha confirmed that she did.
• Paul agreed to leave Aisha with Cain’s family, while Norn was not allowed to stay.
• Paul asked Cain to look after Aisha, and Cain agreed, though he wanted Paul not to dwell on his debts of gratitude.

Cain helped Rudeus understand how to rebuild his relationship with Aisha, then prepared to leave her in Ghislaine’s care while he and the others went to warn Ariel about the Human God’s apostles. He reminded Ariel to stay cautious and left their relationship on friendly terms, though he insisted his protection came from his agreement with Orsted.

• After Paul’s family departed, Cain encouraged Rudeus to support Aisha and told him how to make amends with her.
• Cain learned that Sylphiette had returned home to prepare for the trip to the Sword Sanctum, then decided to visit Ariel before leaving.
• Cain asked Ghislaine to stay with Aisha and protect her while he and the others went to the Magic University.
• At the university, Ariel teased Cain, and Eris moved to intervene before Cain stopped her.
• Cain warned Ariel to guard against the Human God’s apostles while Orsted and Cain were away, and Ariel thanked him for protecting her.

Cain and Ariel discussed her plans to seek Perugius's approval, then Cain's group said goodbye to Rujierd and traveled to the Sword Sanctum. There, Nina revealed that she had married Gino, who had become the new Sword God, and insisted that Gino had not driven her father away.

• Ariel asked Cain for help preparing for the Dragon God's trial, but he declined and said Perugius would be as good as dead in a fight with him.
• Cain, Eris, and Roxy bid farewell to Rujierd at the Magic University's entrance, and Cain resolved to clear the Superd Tribe's name.
• Cain's group met up with Alexander, Rudeus, and Sylphiette, then set off for the Sword Sanctum without Rujierd.
• Half a month later, Nina greeted Cain and his companions at the Sword Sanctum and revealed that she was married to Gino, the new Sword God.
• Nina insisted that Gino had not driven her father away and said her father had entrusted his dream and remaining magic swords to Gino before leaving of his own accord.

Cain returned to the Dojo with his companions, overpowered its swordsmen, and waited for Gino to arrive. Gino confronted him, prepared to fight to protect Nina and keep his Sword God title.

• Cain reassured Nina that he had come to visit, then entered the Dojo and knocked out a Sword King who tried to stop him.
• Cain announced himself as Kain Brand Reiback and demanded that the Dojo's swordsmen prepare rooms and food; when they attacked together, he defeated them and ordered them to comply.
• Cain told Nina he would not blame her for Master Gall's choices, while Eris, Roxy, and Sylphiette joined her in conversation.
• Cain told Rudeus and Alexander to wait patiently as he sat at the Dojo entrance with his companions.
• Gino arrived, found Cain waiting, and said he would fight to protect Nina and remain Sword God.

Cain and Gino fought over Nina and the Sword God position, with Cain overwhelming Gino despite his powerful sword techniques. Gino was left gravely wounded and unable to fight, while Cain asked whether he could keep going.

• Cain and Gino faced each other, and Gino asked Cain to spare his life if he lost.
• Cain struck Gino with a ranged Blade of Light, which Gino narrowly deflected, then challenged him with close-range attacks.
• Gino countered Cain's Blade of Light and landed attacks, but Cain reversed his grip, dodged a knife-hand strike, and sent Gino flying with four Blades of Light.
• Gino replaced his cracked Tachi with an Iron Sword and declared that he would fight for Nina and the Sword God position.
• Gino unleashed three Blades of Light at once, but Cain deflected them and cut Gino with countless slashes, breaking all four of his limbs.
• Gino fell to one knee, bleeding and losing consciousness, as Cain asked whether he could keep fighting.

Cain defeated Gino but let him keep the Sword God title, then secured Gino and Nina's promise to remain neutral and never ally with the Human God. Gino declined to join the Dragon God Faction, choosing instead to devote his life to Nina.

• Cain healed Gino after their duel, and Gino acknowledged Cain's superior strength and offered to surrender the Sword God title.
• Cain revealed he had not come for the title or revenge, and Gino explained that he had trained to win Nina's hand in marriage.
• Cain allowed Gino to remain Sword God after learning nobody had witnessed their duel.
• Cain told Gino and Nina about the Human God, and they promised not to join him while remaining neutral.
• Cain watched Gino defeat Alexander in a sparring match and noted Alexander's poor tactics.
• At the hot spring, Gino refused to join the Dragon God Faction, and Cain warned him not to trust the Human God if he appeared in his dreams.

Cain negotiated an alliance with Gino, who agreed to protect their loved ones from the rear while Cain's group helped him secure the Sword Sanctum. After a week there, Cain and the others prepared to return home, but Cain remained troubled by his missing master, Gall.

• Gino asked Cain for help against the old Sword God faction, but Cain instead proposed working together without asking Gino to join the Dragon God Faction.
• Gino agreed to help protect Cain's loved ones during the fight against the Human God Apostles, as long as he and Nina stayed out of the front lines.
• Roxy taught Sylphiette fire magic while Alexander sparred with the Sword Sanctum students and insisted he would defeat Gino head-on.
• Cain and his companions helped Gino defeat the old Sword God faction, and Gino secured his position as Sword God.
• Cain and the others prepared to leave after enjoying their stay, but Cain worried because his master, Gall, had disappeared.

Cain and his companions left the Sword Sanctum after a week of sightseeing, and Keith set out toward the Biegoya Kingdom to pursue a recruitment plan. Half a month later, Cain paid Rudeus generously for helping complete their mission, leaving Rudeus relieved about his finances.

• Cain explained to Roxy that people became truly strong by understanding their desires and humbly building themselves up, then spent the night with her and Eris.
• Cain, Roxy, Eris, Alexander, Rudeus, and Sylphiette departed the Sword Sanctum after Cain told Gino and Nina to invite Gall to open a dojo in the Three Magic Nations.
• Keith watched Cain's group leave and headed toward the Biegoya Kingdom after receiving directions and advice from an unseen companion.
• Half a month later, Cain gave Rudeus over a hundred Asura Gold Coins for helping secure the agreement with Gino.
• Rudeus accepted the payment uneasily but felt relieved because he and Sylphiette had little money after Paul took most of their savings to support his search for Zenith.

Cain learned from Orsted that Philip and Hilda were safe and would soon return to see Eris, then agreed to accompany Ariel on her trial. Nanahoshi showed Cain a magic circle like the one seen during the Teleportation Incident and asked for his help.

• Cain gave Rudeus and Sylphiette another bag of gold coins before they left.
• Ghislaine told Cain that Orsted had returned and was speaking with Nanahoshi.
• Orsted told Cain that Philip, Hilda, and the others were safe and had founded a kingdom in the Land of Conflict; Eris cried with relief.
• Cain agreed to accompany Ariel on her trial after Orsted offered to write Perugius a letter.
• Nanahoshi showed Cain a magic circle resembling the one from the Teleportation Incident and asked him for help.