Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “A Gigantic Magical Creature”

Key plot points and events

• Leo allows the Singel brothers to demonstrate their abilities. Singel uses enormous tree roots to restrain the Gemfish, while Singler burns them with flames, turning them into grilled fish.
• Leo evaluates their performance as roughly middle-tier among the Wizards he has encountered. The brothers accept his judgment with surprising humility.
• Leo uses Multi-Stage Cutting to dispose of the enormous fish carcasses, demonstrating impressive mastery of the difficult spell. The Singel brothers are astonished because they had struggled to learn it themselves.
• Sige reminds Leo that, as the operation’s organizer, he should be consulted before taking action. Leo accepts the reminder without argument.
• As the ship enters the Crimson Sea, Fried shares Wizard Nova’s theory that the red seawater may actually be the blood of a single gigantic magical creature.

Character developments

• Leo continues to display calm authority and exceptional spellcasting ability. Although he does not boast, his effortless use of Multi-Stage Cutting reinforces his superiority over many Second-Rank Wizard Apprentices.
• The Singel brothers reveal great respect for Leo, setting aside their usual pride and arrogance. Their admiration suggests that Leo’s reputation as a Prossian carries particular weight among Combat Wizards.
• Sige becomes increasingly insecure and jealous as the group’s attention centers on Leo. He worries that Leo’s prominence will hurt his Comprehensive Assessment score, which depends on organizational leadership.
• Fried once again speaks highly of Wizard Nova, showing his strong loyalty and reverence toward the Nova Assembly’s leader.

Significant themes

• Power and recognition: Leo’s skill earns respect naturally, while Sige’s concern with status and assessment reveals the tension between genuine ability and formal authority.
• Humility versus pride: The normally arrogant Singel brothers readily accept Leo’s judgment, suggesting that true strength can inspire humility.
• The unknown scale of nature: The possibility that the Crimson Sea is the blood of one immense creature introduces a mystery on a continental or even greater scale.
• Faith and objectivity: Fried’s belief in Nova’s theory is partly supported by evidence, but his praise also shows how devotion can influence judgment.

Character interactions

• Leo evaluates the Singel brothers after their joint attack, and they respond with admiration rather than offense.
• The brothers praise Leo’s mastery of Multi-Stage Cutting, contrasting their own failed attempts with his effortless casting.
• Sige politely but firmly reasserts his leadership role, creating subtle friction with Leo.
• Fried explains the Crimson Sea’s mystery to Leo, who considers the theory seriously while remaining skeptical of Fried’s excessive praise of Wizard Nova.

Chapter Summary: An Unknown First-Rank Wizard Apprentice

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo and the exploration team arrive at a massive island covered in ancient ruins. Their wizard ship will return after a day and a half, giving them limited time to explore.
• Leo detects three other Wizard Apprentices already inside the ruins, including someone likely to be a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice—an extremely powerful figure comparable to a teaching assistant, mentor, or envoy.
• The team suspects these strangers may be wandering Wizards from Blackwind Isle, known for advanced Necromancy research and potentially interested in the ruins.
• Despite the danger, Sige decides to continue the expedition, ordering the group to proceed carefully and cooperate according to their respective strengths.
• Leo takes the lead because of his exceptional sensory abilities. He detects a large group of over a hundred magical creatures and guides the team around them.
• The group encounters four weaker creatures. The Singel brothers attack them and return carrying what appear to be three Gem Rabbits.
• Leo realizes the rabbits are not corpses but clones, created through the creatures’ Bloodline Ability. The real Gem Rabbits remain nearby.
• Leo advises leaving the creatures alone since they have not attacked and killing them could provoke other magical beasts. Sige disagrees, arguing that the team has entered their territory and may be attacked later when weakened.
• The chapter ends with Sige and the Singel brothers debating whether the Gem Rabbits should be eliminated to prevent a future ambush.

Character Developments

• Leo demonstrates exceptional perception and strategic caution. His ability to detect magical creatures and distinguish real beings from clones establishes him as the team’s most valuable scout and possibly its strongest source of situational awareness.
• Sige emerges as a pragmatic leader. Although he respects Leo’s abilities, he prioritizes eliminating potential threats and maintaining the team’s safety during the dangerous exploration.
• The Singel brothers show confidence in their physical combat abilities, easily defeating the apparent Gem Rabbits. However, they are also forced to recognize the limits of their judgment when Leo exposes the creatures as clones.
• The entire group becomes more cautious and tense after learning that a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice may be present.

Significant Themes

• Danger hidden beneath appearances: The Gem Rabbits appear defeated, but they are merely clones, emphasizing that appearances cannot be trusted in magical environments.
• Caution versus aggression: Leo favors avoiding unnecessary conflict, while Sige believes potential threats must be destroyed before they become dangerous.
• Teamwork and specialization: Sige stresses that the expedition depends on each member using their strengths—fighters for combat, scouts for detection, and Magitech specialists for examining the ruins.
• Power and uncertainty: The possible presence of a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice creates an atmosphere of vulnerability, reminding the team that they may be outmatched by forces they cannot identify.
• Exploration under time pressure: The limited return schedule of the wizard ship adds urgency and raises the stakes of every decision.

Character Interactions

• Leo informs Sige and the Singel brothers about the unknown apprentices, immediately changing the group’s relaxed mood into one of concern.
• Sige accepts Leo’s proposal to lead the team and relies on his sensory abilities.
• The Singel brothers volunteer to handle the magical creatures so Leo can conserve his energy.
• After discovering the creatures are clones, Leo recommends restraint, but Sige argues that territorial creatures could become future enemies.
• The disagreement reveals a developing tension between Leo’s analytical, non-aggressive approach and Sige’s defensive, risk-averse leadership style.

Chapter Summary: “Sige Putting on Airs”

Key plot points and events

• The group encounters Gem Rabbits and debates whether to attack or avoid them. Leo explains that their cloning ability evolved for survival and that they are naturally nonaggressive, so provoking them would be unwise.
• Sige dismisses Leo’s expertise because Leo is not a professional Bloodline Mage and insists that the team follow his judgment as leader.
• Fried supports Leo, citing their mentor Nova’s teachings about Gem Rabbits. Outnumbered, Sige reluctantly agrees but warns Leo that he will bear responsibility if anything goes wrong.
• Sige then reasserts his authority by taking over scouting duties. Leo accepts but secretly maintains his own sensory ability, remaining vigilant.
• The team reaches the ruins without encountering further creatures. Sige boasts that his professional scouting kept them safe, while Singel defends Leo’s superior combat abilities.
• Near the ruins, Leo detects the spiritual energy of the previously encountered First-Rank Wizard Apprentice. Although the signal now appears as the weak Magical Pressure of a Third-Level Apprentice, Leo recognizes the same distinctive fluctuations.
• The group attempts to avoid the suspected wizard but discovers that the ruins have only one entrance. Singel suggests breaking through the walls, but Sige refuses to damage the site.
• Sige ultimately decides they should use the entrance, rationalizing that the similar spiritual signatures may belong to different people.

Character developments

• Leo demonstrates strong knowledge of bloodline abilities, sound judgment, and cautious sensory awareness. He remains calm and uninterested in competing for leadership, though he continues monitoring the area despite yielding scouting authority to Sige.
• Sige is revealed as prideful and highly concerned with maintaining control. He repeatedly emphasizes his authority and professional status, even when the group disagrees. His confidence also leads him to rationalize entering through a potentially dangerous route.
• Fried becomes more assertive by backing Leo and invoking Mentor Nova’s authority, showing loyalty and confidence in his own knowledge.
• Singel and his brother openly defend Leo against Sige’s rudeness and challenge Sige’s attempts to shift responsibility.
• The team maintains cooperation despite internal friction because their alliance is temporary and necessary for exploring the ruins.

Significant themes

• Knowledge versus authority: Leo’s practical expertise is initially dismissed because he lacks the formal profession Sige considers legitimate.
• Leadership and ego: Sige’s behavior reflects insecurity and a desire to prove that he is in charge.
• Caution in the unknown: Leo’s refusal to lower his guard contrasts with Sige’s eagerness to claim success and proceed despite uncertainty.
• Teamwork and responsibility: The group must balance disagreement, shared risks, and individual authority while working toward a common goal.

Character interactions

• Leo and Sige clash over how to handle the Gem Rabbits and who has the right to make decisions.
• Fried sides with Leo, reinforcing the validity of Leo’s knowledge.
• Singel repeatedly defends Leo and criticizes Sige’s dismissive attitude.
• Sige apologizes after being challenged but continues subtly asserting dominance.
• The chapter ends with the group divided between Leo’s suspicion and Sige’s more convenient interpretation as they prepare to enter the ruins.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sige asserts his authority over the ruin expedition, irritating the Singel brothers. Leo remains cooperative and stays near Fried to protect him as repayment for Wizard Nova’s favor.
• At the ruins’ entrance, the group encounters a severed finger suspended by mysterious threads. Leo sends Flesh Puppets to investigate, but the finger breaks free, evades his attack, and fuses with Sige’s head.
• A chrysanthemum-shaped mark appears on Sige’s forehead. Unsure what spell or Bloodline Ability caused it, Leo advises abandoning the expedition and returning to the Tower of Dawn for help. Sige reluctantly agrees because the curse threatens both his life and his hopes of earning Level 1 Flesh Wizard certification.
• Before the group can leave, Virdan and Kyle emerge from the ruins. They reveal that the ruins contain a Central Region filled with ancient Wizard spell tomes, but entering it requires four practitioners of Necromancy.
• Their original plan failed because the Tower of Dawn sent only Fried, but Leo’s arrival provides another Necromancy user. Kyle explains that the “First-Rank Wizard Apprentice” accompanying them is only one finger of that individual.
• Sige then speaks in an altered, ethereal voice. Leo realizes that he is no longer himself and identifies the presence as Antos, a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice and one of Instructor’s eight students.
• Leo gathers the Singel brothers and Fried beside him and respectfully asks Antos whether he can return his companion’s body.

Character Developments

• Leo: Demonstrates caution, combat ability, and leadership under pressure. He protects Fried, recognizes the danger posed by Sige’s transformation, and refuses to blindly trust Virdan and Kyle.
• Sige: Begins as an arrogant but ambitious leader determined to complete the expedition and earn certification. After the finger possesses him, he loses control of his body, becoming the vessel for Antos.
• Fried: Remains passive and cooperative but benefits from Leo’s protection. His Necromancy abilities are important to the expedition’s larger plan.
• The Singel brothers: Show distrust toward Sige and instinctively distance themselves from him after the finger’s fusion, later seeking safety beside Leo.
• Virdan and Kyle: Arrive with a secret agenda involving the ruins’ Central Region. Kyle is visibly afraid of Leo, suggesting Leo’s reputation and power have grown.
• Antos: Revealed as the consciousness inhabiting Sige. As a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice and student of Instructor, he represents a major escalation in power and importance.

Significant Themes

• Hidden danger and mistrust: The mysterious finger, the altered Sige, and Virdan and Kyle’s concealed plans emphasize that appearances cannot be trusted.
• Power and hierarchy: Sige’s temporary authority is insignificant beside Antos’s true status as a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice, reinforcing the rigid hierarchy among Wizards.
• Caution versus ambition: Sige’s desire for certification conflicts with Leo’s pragmatic decision to retreat when faced with an unknown spell.
• Debts and loyalty: Leo’s protection of Fried stems from his obligation to Wizard Nova, showing how personal debts influence alliances.
• Ancient knowledge and opportunity: The spell tomes in the ruins motivate the characters to risk confronting powerful and uncertain forces.

Character Interactions

• Sige clashes verbally with the Singel brothers over his leadership.
• Leo protects Fried and keeps him close during the dangerous exploration.
• Sige orders Leo to investigate the finger, but the attack instead leads to Sige’s possession.
• Leo advises Sige and the others to retreat, forcing Sige to abandon his ambitions temporarily.
• Virdan and Kyle attempt to recruit Leo by explaining the ruins’ treasures and the need for Necromancy specialists.
• Leo distrusts their motives and confronts the possibility that the expedition is a trap.
• After identifying Antos within Sige, Leo shields the others and directly addresses Antos, asking for his companion’s body to be returned.

Chapter Summary: Overcoming His Fear of Leo

Key Plot Points and Events

• Antos, controlling Sige’s body, declares his desire to seize Leo’s body and mocks Leo’s supposed weakness.
• Leo responds by transforming his Arcane Hand into a bow and firing an arrow directly at Sige’s head, demonstrating his ruthlessness and treating Antos as an enemy.
• Kyle deflects the arrow with a bone spell, preventing Sige’s destruction. Antos questions Leo’s attack, but Leo calmly explains that Antos’s threat justifies his retaliation.
• Antos proposes cooperation to explore the ruin, offering Leo the original spellbooks and all non-spellbooks while keeping copied spellbooks for himself and his allies.
• Leo refuses to cooperate immediately, citing the danger of trusting a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice whose true strength he cannot restrain. He asks for half a day to consider, though Antos correctly suspects Leo intends to use the time to escape.
• Leo leaves with Fried and the others, while Sige remains under Antos’s control.
• Afterward, Antos reveals that the negotiation was only a mutual test. He explains that Leo already knows Sige is dead, understands that Antos’s true body is trapped in the ruin, and possesses extraordinary physical abilities.
• Antos identifies Leo’s physical power as dangerous because its limits and applications are unknown, making it comparable to the unpredictable advantage of a Combination Spell.
• Antos and his allies decide not to confront Leo immediately. Their main objective is a mysterious book in the ruin that could reveal the identity of an important figure and threaten that figure’s plans within the Tower of Dawn.
• Antos refuses to mobilize outside forces, fearing that doing so would alert the Tower of Dawn to the ruin’s importance.

Character Developments

• Leo is shown to be cold, decisive, and fearless. He immediately attacks when threatened and refuses to rely on cooperation with someone stronger or more powerful than he can control. His mysterious physical abilities are established as a major source of combat strength.
• Antos proves highly perceptive and strategically cautious. Although he initially attempts to manipulate Leo through negotiation, he recognizes Leo as a genuine threat and carefully conceals the extent of his own strength.
• Kyle demonstrates quick reflexes and loyalty by saving Sige from Leo’s arrow. He also begins to understand the true level of Leo’s danger.
• Virdan and Kyle are both unsettled by Antos’s analysis, realizing that Leo may rival First-Rank Wizard Apprentices despite his apparent status.
• Sige remains a tool controlled by Antos, emphasizing Antos’s ability to use others as shields or instruments.

Significant Themes

• Mutual suspicion and strategic testing: The conversation between Leo and Antos is less a genuine negotiation than an attempt to measure one another’s abilities and intentions.
• The danger of the unknown: Antos emphasizes that uncertainty can be as powerful as a Combination Spell. Leo’s unexplained physical abilities make him difficult to analyze and therefore especially dangerous.
• Power and deterrence: Leo’s strength allows him to resist Antos despite their apparent difference in rank, while Antos recognizes that even unconfirmed power can prevent an opponent from acting freely.
• Caution versus ambition: Antos prioritizes secrecy and careful planning over overwhelming force, refusing to expose the ruin’s importance by mobilizing more allies.
• Control and vulnerability: Antos’s true body is trapped inside the ruin, leaving him dependent on Sige’s body and vulnerable to Leo’s attacks.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Antos: Their exchange is marked by veiled threats, sarcasm, and calculated respect. Leo openly rejects Antos’s authority, while Antos acknowledges Leo as an unusually dangerous opponent.
• Leo and Kyle: Kyle directly intervenes to protect Antos’s controlled body, creating a brief confrontation between Leo’s aggression and Kyle’s defensive reaction.
• Antos, Virdan, and Kyle: Antos explains his deductions and strategic plans to them, educating them about the implications of Leo’s abilities and reinforcing his leadership.
• Leo and his companions: Leo confidently leads Fried and the others away, maintaining control of the situation despite Antos’s offer and the danger surrounding them.

Chapter Summary: “A Sudden Return Strike”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kyle realizes that Antos had correctly analyzed why Leo retreated. Antos criticizes Kyle for allowing his fear of Leo to interfere with his strategic thinking.
• Antos reveals that Leo’s main reason for leaving was his suspicion that Antos coveted his physical body for research. Leo did not know Antos’s true strength, while Antos also lacked complete information about Leo’s abilities, creating mutual caution.
• Leo, the Singel brothers, and Fried flee Blackwind Isle. Leo explains that fighting would have jeopardized their ruin exploration, even if they might eventually have won.
• Leo reveals that Sige is already dead. The spell controlling or affecting Sige was a Necromancy spell usable only on corpses, not a spell holding him hostage.
• The group returns to the Tower of Dawn and undergoes inspection. Wizard Saffi confirms that none of them bears suspicious spell traces.
• Saffi concludes that the rogue Wizards exploited weaknesses in the Tower’s inspection system. Sige had escaped thorough Formal Wizard examination because he was not among the Wizards directly connected to Uriel.
• Leo deduces that the enemy First-Rank Wizard Apprentice may still be trapped within the ruins. Saffi immediately takes him back to the island to investigate.
• Saffi locates four figures near the island—Antos, Kyle, Virdan, and likely another companion—and attacks them with the spell “Explode!”, setting up a sudden counterattack.

Character Developments

• Kyle recognizes his strategic failure and promises to overcome his fear of Leo, though Antos’s warning about the worthlessness of incompetent Wizards deeply frightens him.
• Antos is shown to be calculating and intellectually superior. He deliberately used Leo’s interest in the ruins and his uncertainty about Antos’s strength to discourage a direct battle.
• Leo demonstrates caution and sound judgment. Rather than pursue a dangerous victory, he prioritizes survival and the broader ruin expedition. He also shows strong deductive ability by inferring that an enemy remains trapped on the island.
• Singel and Singler become more emotionally invested in opposing rogue Wizards after learning of Sige’s death.
• Fried reinforces Leo’s importance by recalling how easily the rogue Wizards overwhelmed their forces during the Great Summons.
• Saffi acts decisively and confidently, responding to Leo’s report by personally investigating and launching an immediate attack.

Significant Themes

• Fear undermining judgment: Kyle’s fear of Leo prevents him from thinking strategically, emphasizing the danger of emotional paralysis among powerful Wizards.
• Mutual uncertainty and psychological warfare: Neither Leo nor Antos fully understands the other’s abilities, so both rely on caution, deception, and inference rather than direct confrontation.
• The value of survival over pride: Leo chooses retreat because a technically possible victory would still destroy the purpose of the expedition.
• Institutional weakness and vigilance: The Tower of Dawn’s incomplete inspection procedures allow Sige and the enemy’s plans to evade detection, revealing the danger of rigid or insufficient security systems.
• Research ethics and dehumanization: Antos’s interest in Leo’s body as a research specimen creates an unsettling contrast with the characters’ political and personal loyalties.
• Retaliation and justice: Sige’s death strengthens the group’s hostility toward rogue Wizards and motivates the pursuit that ends the chapter.

Character Interactions

• Antos reprimands Kyle and reminds him that incompetence has severe consequences on Blackwind Isle.
• Virdan reacts with discomfort to Antos’s clinical interest in Leo’s body, though he does not openly defend Leo.
• Singel questions Leo about the retreat, leading Leo to explain the strategic reasons behind it.
• The brothers mourn Sige and vow to take revenge on rogue Wizards.
• Leo reports the incident first to the Tower’s inspector and then directly to Saffi.
• Saffi recognizes Leo’s deduction, takes him back to the island, finds the enemy group, and initiates the surprise attack.

Chapter Summary: “Magical Pressure 823”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Saffi rapidly defeats and captures the four surviving members of the Blackwind Isle group—Sige, Virdan, Kyle, and Antos—using repeated explosions and an enormous Arcane Hand. Sige dies, while the others are taken prisoner.
• Leo is surprised by how effortlessly Saffi, a Formal Wizard, overwhelms the Wizard Apprentices. Saffi warns him that escaping a Formal Wizard is essentially impossible and that, if captured, he should end his own life rather than be taken alive.
• Saffi leaves Leo behind on the island for a day to ensure there are no additional enemies or reinforcements. After confirming there is no trap, she returns and takes Leo back to the Tower of Dawn.
• The captured wandering Wizards are imprisoned and interrogated. Their actions have forced the Tower of Dawn to pay closer attention to the previously neglected Wizards of Blackwind Isle.
• Upon returning, Leo is examined for hidden spells or magical contamination. Once cleared, he resumes his quiet routine and concentrates on increasing his mental energy.
• After a month of meditation, Leo’s mental energy reaches 823. He estimates that he will surpass 1,000—the threshold for becoming a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice—in roughly another half month.
• The Tower of Dawn ends its month-long inspections after determining that there are no further victims of the wandering Wizard’s spells. However, the Tower Master’s prophecy suggests that the wandering Wizards may cause trouble again the following year.
• Leo continues preparing for the Flying Pumpkin research commission, intending to use one of his five available research slots.
• Pella becomes suspicious of Leo’s unusually rapid mental-energy growth, wondering whether he possesses an exceptionally powerful mental talent.
• At the end of the chapter, Leo learns that Wizard Huangtu contacted him and begins preparing to respond.

Character Developments

• Leo: Becomes increasingly aware of the overwhelming gap between Wizard Apprentices and Formal Wizards. Despite Saffi’s grim warning, he maintains a respectful and cooperative attitude. His mental energy continues to rise at an abnormal rate, bringing him close to First-Rank Wizard Apprentice status.
• Saffi: Demonstrates overwhelming combat strength and a ruthless, practical attitude. She prioritizes eliminating threats completely and treats self-destruction as preferable to capture by an enemy.
• Pella: Begins to question the source of Leo’s rapid advancement. Her suspicions introduce the possibility that Leo’s hidden abilities may eventually attract attention.
• Antos and the other wandering Wizards: Are decisively defeated and captured, shifting them from active threats to prisoners under interrogation.

Significant Themes

• The overwhelming power hierarchy among Wizards: The ease with which Saffi defeats several apprentices emphasizes the vast difference between Formal Wizards and lower-ranked spellcasters.
• Caution and survival: Saffi’s warning highlights the brutal realities of the magical world, where capture can be worse than death.
• Growing suspicion surrounding Leo: His extraordinary progress is beginning to stand out, suggesting that his secret talents may not remain hidden forever.
• Temporary peace amid looming danger: The Tower of Dawn returns to normal after the crisis, but the prophecy concerning future disturbances ensures that this calm is fragile.
• Progress through cultivation and preparation: Leo’s steady meditation, potion management, and research planning show his methodical approach to strengthening himself.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Saffi: Leo expresses surprise at Saffi’s strength, while she corrects his underestimation of Formal Wizards and gives him a grim survival warning.
• Leo and Pella: They discuss the end of the Tower’s inspections and the Flying Pumpkin commission. Pella outwardly encourages Leo but privately analyzes his suspiciously rapid growth.
• Leo and the Lizardman servant: The servant informs Leo that Wizard Huangtu sent a communication, setting up the next development.
• Leo and the imprisoned wandering Wizards: Though Leo does not directly interrogate them, their capture and questioning become a major consequence of the island battle.

Chapter Summary: “Contending for the Right to Explore the Ruins”

Plot and key events

• Huangtu contacts Leo on behalf of Formal Wizard Saffi to invite him to participate in a three-on-three wager against Formal Wizard Jindeli’s faction.
• The prize is the right to explore the ancient ruins Leo previously visited. The competition will consist of one-on-one matches, and the first side to win two battles will claim victory. Only Necromancy spells may be used.
• Although Leo is only a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice and worries that he is underqualified, Saffi specifically wants him because of his knowledge of Necromancy.
• Saffi offers Leo access to all spell books found in the ruins if he agrees to participate. This greatly interests him because he needs rare or obscure spells to create unique Combination Spells and eventually construct a Spell Pyramid.
• Huangtu reveals that Jindeli’s Permanent Defensive Stance was sealed after a battle with a wandering Wizard, causing his position in the Central Region to decline. Jindeli may want the ruins’ Necromancy texts to find a way to undo the seal.
• Leo also learns that Jindeli is second only to the Golden Eagle Faction’s leader. Remembering Jindeli’s previous hostility toward Prossians, Leo accepts the challenge, partly because opposing Jindeli serves his own interests.
• Afterward, Leo continues studying spell courses and searches for failed spell-development cases that might contain material for original Combination Spells. He discovers that the Tower of Dawn hides valuable failed spells in the Central Spell Library.
• Sally explains that only apprentices recognized by Formal Wizards may enter the Central Spell Library. Since Instructor Esmond is missing, Leo must likely become a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice or receive another formal recommendation before gaining access.
• Later, Leo meets Huangtu at a Wizard restaurant to confirm the competition’s rules and asks for information about the opposing Wizard Apprentices. Huangtu is about to reveal the finalized opponents when the chapter ends.

Character development

• Leo becomes more willing to involve himself in factional conflicts when the rewards align with his ambitions and personal grievances. His desire for rare spell knowledge ultimately outweighs his fear of being caught in a battle between Formal Wizards.
• He also demonstrates growing awareness of the requirements for advancing toward the Formal Wizard realm, particularly the importance of creating unique Combination Spells.
• Saffi is shown to be strategic and politically motivated. By appealing to Leo’s interest in spell books and his hostility toward Jindeli’s faction, she successfully recruits him.
• Jindeli appears vulnerable despite his high status. The sealing of his defensive stance has weakened his authority and given him a strong incentive to pursue the ruins.
• Sally acts as Leo’s mentor, clarifying the Tower of Dawn’s hidden rules and the obstacles blocking his access to higher-level spell resources.

Significant themes

• Knowledge as power: Ancient spell books and obscure failed spells may determine a Wizard’s future advancement and combat strength.
• Political factionalism: The wager is not merely an exploration dispute; it reflects the hostility between the Prossians and the Golden Eagle Faction.
• Strategic self-interest: Leo weighs danger against opportunity and chooses to participate because the contest can advance both his magical development and his personal objectives.
• Hidden institutional barriers: Valuable knowledge is restricted by rank, recognition, and factional access, forcing Leo to navigate the Tower of Dawn’s hierarchy.
• Failure as a source of discovery: Leo searches failed spells for overlooked potential, suggesting that discarded or incomplete magic may provide the originality needed for Combination Spells.

Important character interactions

• Leo and Huangtu: Huangtu presents Saffi’s offer, explains Jindeli’s motives and status, and persuades Leo to join the competition.
• Leo and Saffi: Although they do not speak directly, Saffi manipulates the situation through Huangtu, offering access to the ruins’ spell books and framing Jindeli as a threat.
• Leo and Sally: Leo consults Sally about valuable failed spells and learns about the Central Spell Library and the conditions for entering it.
• Leo and Jindeli: They do not meet in the chapter, but Leo’s memories of Jindeli’s earlier contempt and hostility strongly influence his decision to compete against him.

Chapter Summary: Anthony Wizard, Stress-Relief Tea

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huangtu briefs Leo about the upcoming three-versus-three competition between Wizard Saffi’s and Formal Wizard Jindeli’s factions.
• Jindeli’s representatives are Meys, Duvila, and Nova, a highly regarded “star of tomorrow.” Saffi’s team includes Huangtu, Leo, and another Wizard named Anthony.
• Huangtu admits that he has less than a ten percent chance of defeating Nova but remains determined to fight seriously rather than surrender.
• Leo learns that his opponent will be Duvila, a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice with Level 6 Mental Power Talent and several years of experience.
• The arena permits only Necromancy spells, but physical attacks are unrestricted. This gives Leo a major advantage because of his exceptional physical abilities.
• Huangtu warns Leo not to underestimate Duvila, since she can still amplify her spells through the Spell Pyramid.
• The competition will take place at the Tower-Base Arena, where Formal Wizards from across the Central Region will observe. A strong performance could earn Leo the attention and resources of a powerful Wizard.
• Leo asks whether Wizard Aikesi will attend, hoping perhaps to advance his stalled letter-delivery mission, but Huangtu is uncertain.
• Anthony, Saffi’s apparent trump card, arrives. Despite his importance, he appears gentle, nervous, and extremely clumsy.
• Anthony offers Leo and Huangtu specially refined tea bags that supposedly nourish mental energy and relieve stress. After several mishaps while sitting down and serving the tea, Leo tastes it and finds it soothing and mentally refreshing.

Character Developments

• Leo remains cautious and realistic about his abilities. He recognizes that his physical strength gives him an advantage, but he also understands that fighting a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice without Battle Mage spells will be difficult.
• Huangtu is portrayed as calm, determined, and pragmatic. Though he considers himself a sacrificial or discarded piece against Nova, he refuses to give up and hopes to exceed his previous performance.
• Anthony is introduced as Saffi’s hidden trump card. His mild personality, nervousness, and clumsiness contrast sharply with his likely importance and combat ability, suggesting that he may be more formidable than he appears.
• Duvila is established as Leo’s serious opponent: inexperienced compared with stronger apprentices but still dangerous because of her rank, talent, and access to spell amplification.
• Nova is characterized as an exceptionally versatile Wizard Apprentice capable of using many disciplines and developing effective combat methods under nearly any ruleset.

Significant Themes

• Determination despite overwhelming odds: Huangtu accepts that defeat is likely but insists on resisting and improving.
• Hidden strength beneath appearances: Anthony’s awkward, harmless demeanor hints that outward behavior may not reflect true power.
• Strategic preparation: The competitors’ strengths, weaknesses, spell restrictions, and use of physical combat are carefully analyzed before the match.
• Recognition and opportunity: The tournament could allow Leo to gain the attention of powerful Formal Wizards and secure valuable support.
• Stress relief and mental endurance: Anthony’s tea introduces the idea that maintaining mental clarity and emotional stability is important before a major battle.

Character Interactions

• Huangtu explains the competition and evaluates the opposing team for Leo.
• Leo questions Huangtu’s chances against Nova and identifies the tactical reason he was recruited.
• Huangtu cautions Leo against arrogance while also expressing confidence in Leo’s physical advantage.
• Leo asks about Wizard Aikesi, linking the competition to his unresolved mission.
• Anthony greets Leo warmly, offers tea to both men, and unintentionally creates several comedic moments through his nervous clumsiness.
• Leo compliments Anthony’s tea, describing it as soothing and capable of clearing away pressure.

Chapter Summary: “Flawed Mental Trait”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Anthony meets with Leo and Huangtu after demonstrating the calming effects of tea leaves he developed to counteract stress. He offers Leo several tea bags, though he awkwardly drops them before replacing them.
• Anthony requests to be the final participant in the upcoming competition. Huangtu agrees, explaining that Anthony’s mental trait makes it difficult for him to perform under pressure, so placing him earlier could weaken his performance.
• The team’s strategy is established: Huangtu will likely lose his match against Nova, while Leo’s match is considered decisive. Anthony’s victory is also important, but Leo must win for their side to secure the competition.
• Huangtu reveals that Anthony, when in peak condition, is comparable to Nova, one of the strongest First-Rank Wizard Apprentices.
• Wizard Saffi has authorized the Wyvern Club to sell Leo spell materials at their base price during the preparation period. Leo decides to use this opportunity to acquire materials for supplementary potions.
• Leo focuses on the powerful Necromancy spell Dark Archmage, which he believes could become a trump card if successfully developed into a Combination Spell.
• While studying the potion formula for Dark Archmage, Leo discovers that it requires a rare material monopolized by the Wyvern Club. This leads him to suspect that the scarcity of powerful-spell ingredients is often deliberately created or maintained by organizations.

Character Developments

• Anthony is revealed to possess an exceptionally powerful mental trait that accelerates his growth in multiple areas, exceeding the effect of a Level 6 Mental Power Talent. However, the trait has a major flaw: pressure prevents him from fully accessing his abilities.
• Anthony appears mild, awkward, and self-effacing, contrasting sharply with his actual strength. He dismisses his abilities as merely the troublesome side effect of his trait, despite Huangtu’s high regard for him.
• Leo becomes increasingly aware of the pressure placed on him. His match will determine the outcome of the competition, but he also sees Saffi’s material offer as a valuable opportunity to strengthen his arsenal.
• Leo demonstrates growing strategic awareness by prioritizing Dark Archmage as a potential trump card and questioning the economic forces behind rare spell materials.
• Huangtu acts as the planner and strategist, explaining the team’s arrangements and emphasizing Leo’s critical role.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus psychological weakness: Anthony’s immense potential is undermined by his inability to function fully under pressure, showing that power alone does not guarantee victory.
• The hidden cost of talent: Anthony’s mental trait provides extraordinary advantages but also carries a debilitating flaw.
• Pressure and responsibility: Leo must cope with knowing that his performance may decide the entire competition.
• Resource monopolization and manipulation: Leo realizes that powerful spells often require rare materials whose scarcity may be artificially maintained by organizations such as the Wyvern Club.
• Preparation and strategic advancement: Rather than relying solely on his existing abilities, Leo seeks to prepare a decisive new spell before the competition.

Character Interactions

• Anthony and Leo interact politely, with Anthony offering Leo stress-relieving tea and Leo accepting it without ceremony.
• Anthony and Huangtu discuss the competition strategy. Anthony agrees to participate seriously but reminds Huangtu that Leo and Huangtu must secure at least one victory between them.
• Huangtu reassures Leo about Anthony’s strength and attempts to reduce Leo’s anxiety about the decisive match.
• Huangtu informs Leo that Saffi is taking the competition seriously and has arranged discounted access to Wyvern Club materials.
• Leo responds by mentally planning how to exploit this opportunity, focusing on the Dark Archmage spell and investigating the larger pattern of material monopolies.

Summary: “Jindeli’s Trump Card”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo considers the possible connection between Wizard Saffi, the Wyvern Club, and her research, but decides not to dwell on matters beyond his concern. He resolves to exploit any opportunity that benefits him.
• Jindeli meets with his student Duvila to discuss the upcoming three-on-three match between their faction and the Wyvern Club. Jindeli stresses that victory is essential because it may allow him to restore his Permanent Defensive Stance.
• Duvila reveals that, despite only recently becoming a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice, he has secretly specialized in Necromancy and mastered two Necromancy Combination Spells. He confidently claims he can defeat any First-Rank apprentice, including Wizard Nova, under the match’s Necromancy-only restriction.
• Jindeli explains that Nova agreed to participate after being promised ancient spellbooks from the ruins. Duvila accepts this arrangement, though he is disappointed that Jindeli intends to interfere to guarantee victory.
• Jindeli reveals that Saffi’s team includes Wizard Anthony, who is comparable to Nova in strength. Because of this, Jindeli decides to use a weak Prophecy Studies spell to worsen the opposing team’s luck during their preparations.
• Leo senses that someone has cast a Prophecy Studies spell on him through the warning transmitted by the Prismatic Dragon Scale. Unable to identify the caster, he continues brewing potions and training, aiming to raise his spiritual energy above 900 before the match.
• Huangtu also experiences intense unease and realizes that a Formal Wizard may be interfering with him. Saffi appears and confirms that Jindeli likely cast the spell.
• Huangtu angrily condemns Jindeli’s tactics and worries that Anthony and Leo may also have been targeted. Saffi agrees to help remove the spell from anyone affected.
• Anthony confirms that he has suffered repeated setbacks and difficulty concentrating, indicating that he too has been cursed by Jindeli’s prophecy spell. Huangtu then contacts Leo to ask whether he has noticed anything unusual.

Character Developments

• Leo remains pragmatic and strategically focused. Rather than investigating Saffi’s motives, he chooses to benefit from her possible plans while concentrating on increasing his strength and preparing for the match.
• Jindeli is revealed as calculating and willing to use underhanded methods to secure victory. His desperation stems from the importance of recovering his Permanent Defensive Stance.
• Duvila displays strong confidence in his hidden Necromancy abilities. Though not considered Jindeli’s most exceptional student, he sees the match as a chance to prove himself.
• Huangtu demonstrates sensitivity to magical interference and a strong sense of fairness. His anger at Jindeli’s actions strengthens his loyalty to Saffi and his teammates.
• Saffi acts decisively to protect her chosen contestants. Her ability to identify Jindeli’s spell also highlights her superior magical insight and authority.
• Anthony is shown to be affected by the curse, with his research suffering unexplained failures, reinforcing that Jindeli’s interference is already having practical consequences.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus manipulation: While Leo and the others train honestly, Jindeli attempts to control the outcome through prophecy magic.
• Desperation and ambition: Jindeli’s willingness to violate conventional fairness reflects how important restoring his defensive stance is to him.
• Hidden strength: Duvila’s secret Necromancy training and Leo’s continued spiritual-energy development emphasize that outward reputations may conceal powerful abilities.
• Trust and cooperation: Saffi’s protection of Huangtu, Anthony, and potentially Leo contrasts with Jindeli’s secretive interference and reinforces the opposing teams’ reliance on one another.
• The limits of control: Jindeli tries to influence probability, but Saffi detects his spell, suggesting that magical schemes can be countered by stronger awareness and cooperation.

Character Interactions

• Jindeli and Duvila: Their conversation establishes Duvila’s confidence, Jindeli’s expectations, and the stakes of the match. Jindeli praises Duvila while making clear that he will intervene if necessary.
• Jindeli and Nova: Though Nova is difficult for Formal Wizards to command, Jindeli recruits him by promising ancient spellbooks from the ruins.
• Jindeli and Saffi’s team: Jindeli secretly casts a prophecy spell to hinder Huangtu, Anthony, and possibly Leo before the match.
• Huangtu and Saffi: Saffi identifies the source of Huangtu’s unease and offers to remove the spell, while Huangtu alerts her to the possibility that the other contestants were targeted.
• Huangtu and Anthony: Huangtu contacts Anthony, who confirms that his recent failures resulted from the same magical interference.
• Huangtu and Leo: The chapter ends with Huangtu asking Leo whether he has also sensed anything unusual, leaving Leo’s response—and the full extent of Jindeli’s interference—as an unresolved point.

Chapter Summary: “Undead Flying Pumpkin”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo is asked whether he was affected by Wizard Jindeli’s Prophecy Studies spell. He denies it, concealing that his Prismatic Dragon Scale can resist even Formal Wizard-level prophecy magic.
• Huangtu speculates that Jindeli may have ignored Leo because he is only a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice. He promises to contact Wizard Saffi if Leo experiences similar problems.
• While waiting for the upcoming competition, Leo’s spiritual energy increases to 900 points, after which he begins work on his research assignments.
• Leo focuses first on improving the Flying Pumpkin. He studies numerous failed experiments and records existing varieties in a Codex, eventually discovering that Flying Pumpkins evolve in response to dangers present during their growth.
• He exposes the pumpkins to undead in order to create a new variety. After repeated adjustments, he successfully develops the Undead Flying Pumpkin.
• The Undead Flying Pumpkin produces gray undead auras that linger along Leo’s flight path. These spirits can perceive and recount events that occurred in the area, even several years in the past.
• Leo realizes the pumpkins provide excellent reconnaissance and battlefield tracking, fulfilling Formal Wizard Plaisey’s commission. He plans to mass-produce them.
• However, Leo considers the variety of limited personal value because his own senses already provide better and more covert detection. He decides to continue developing new Flying Pumpkin varieties rather than transform the idea into a Wing Spell.
• Leo also prepares to test his completed spells, particularly the Dark Archmage, but needs a large open area. He contacts Huangtu, who offers access to a Wyvern Club institution and arranges for Alice to guide him there.

Character Developments

• Leo continues to act cautiously and strategically, hiding the full extent of his magical defenses from others.
• His research ability develops as he identifies the environmental principles behind Flying Pumpkin evolution and applies necromantic forces creatively.
• Leo demonstrates practical judgment by completing Plaisey’s commission while recognizing that the result does not significantly benefit him personally.
• He also becomes increasingly wary of relying on widely known spells, rejecting the Wing Spell because it was developed by Wizard Nova and could become a liability in a future confrontation.
• Huangtu remains supportive and helpful, offering protection through Wizard Saffi and providing Leo with access to a suitable spell-testing location.
• Alice is established as Huangtu’s assistant or representative and is assigned to escort Leo.

Significant Themes

• Concealed strength and strategic caution: Leo deliberately hides his resistance to prophecy magic and avoids revealing his true capabilities.
• Innovation through adaptation: The Undead Flying Pumpkin is created by exposing magical plants to environmental danger, emphasizing experimentation and evolution.
• Utility versus personal advantage: Leo distinguishes between completing a commission successfully and developing something genuinely useful to himself.
• Political and personal risk: Working for Formal Wizards offers substantial rewards but risks severe consequences if Leo fails.
• Preparation for future conflict: Leo’s decisions about spell selection, reconnaissance, and testing reflect his anticipation of the upcoming ruins expedition and possible future enemies.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Huangtu: Leo answers Huangtu’s question about the prophecy spell while concealing the truth. Later, he asks Huangtu for a place to test spells, and Huangtu promptly offers assistance.
• Leo and Plaisey: Although Plaisey does not appear directly, Leo completes the Flying Pumpkin research commissioned by him.
• Leo and the undead: Leo uses a copper bell to gather undead, whose presence catalyzes the pumpkins’ evolution and later grants them the ability to reveal past events and monitor nearby movements.
• Leo and Alice: Their direct interaction has not yet occurred, but Alice is assigned to lead him to the Wyvern Club’s testing facility.

Chapter Summary: “Spell Practice”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo and Alice visit the Wyvern Spell Training Center, a heavily fortified practice ground recommended by Huangtu. Leo intends to test a powerful new spell and reveals that several other spells are also in development.
• At the reception desk, Alice uses Huangtu’s card to secure a training room for them.
• On the way, they encounter Hain and his mother, Keli. Hain has recently been released after more than two months of isolation and inspection related to the Uriel Gathering and is worried that the incident may damage his reputation among Formal Wizards.
• Keli and Hain express strong hatred toward the Prossians and blame them for the growing arrogance of the Wizards of Blackwind Isle.
• Keli approaches Leo and offers to watch his spell practice or act as his opponent. Leo distrusts her motives and politely refuses, saying he only needs a target.
• After Leo and Alice leave, Keli reveals that her offer was deceptive. A three-versus-three Wizard Apprentice competition is approaching, with the winners gaining access to explore a ruin. Keli wants to gather information about Leo’s abilities and pass it to Formal Wizard Jindeli, thereby currying favor with her.
• Keli uses her skill as a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice to break through the training room’s concealment spells. She and Hain secretly observe Leo and Alice from outside.

Character Developments

• Leo: Continues to demonstrate exceptional magical talent, developing multiple powerful spells while remaining modest about his abilities. He also shows growing caution and discernment, immediately recognizing that Keli’s offer is likely motivated by ulterior motives.
• Alice: Supports Leo during his visit and handles the practical arrangements for securing the training room. She is openly impressed by Leo’s extraordinary learning speed.
• Keli: Reveals herself to be manipulative and opportunistic. Rather than genuinely helping Leo, she intends to spy on him and use information about his spells to gain influence with Formal Wizard Jindeli.
• Hain: Remains resentful of Leo and anxious about protecting his own reputation as a “genius.” His hostility is partly driven by jealousy, as Leo’s kindness and willingness to help others undermine Hain’s ability to profit from his own supposed superiority.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus attitude: Leo’s humility and generosity contrast with Hain’s pride and elitism, suggesting that true ability is not necessarily accompanied by arrogance.
• Political maneuvering and betrayal: Keli treats Leo’s spell practice as an opportunity for espionage, highlighting the competitive and politically calculating nature of the Wizard world.
• Reputation and self-interest: Hain fears that both the Uriel incident and Leo’s behavior could affect his standing and the value of his identity as a genius.
• Knowledge as power: Information about Leo’s spells is valuable because it could influence the upcoming competition and determine alliances among Formal Wizards.

Character Interactions

• Alice admires Leo’s abilities, while Leo downplays his talent.
• Leo and Keli exchange polite but guarded words, with Leo rejecting her apparent offer of assistance.
• Keli and Hain privately discuss their plan to spy on Leo and use what they learn to gain favor with Formal Wizard Jindeli.
• Their interaction exposes Hain’s jealousy and Keli’s willingness to manipulate both Leo and the broader Wizard hierarchy.

Chapter Summary: “Hundreds of Spells”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo begins demonstrating his spellcasting abilities in the training center while Alice observes. Although Wizards usually conceal their spell knowledge, Leo is comfortable showing her his abilities.
• He first casts Multi-Stage Cutting, rapidly slicing apart a moving combat target. Alice recognizes the spell and is impressed by Leo’s speed and proficiency, while Keli acknowledges that his mastery rivals her own specialty.
• Keli initially dismisses the achievement, explaining to Hain that proficiency in one spell does not make someone a true genius. She contrasts Leo with Wizard Nova, who has mastered a vast number of spells with high proficiency.
• Leo then casts Electric Light Lion, a Fleshcraft spell that resembles Elementalism’s Thunder Lion. He explains that its true purpose is visual interference rather than direct damage, revealing that Alice’s perception had already been disrupted.
• Leo proceeds to demonstrate spell after spell, including Muscle Reinforcement, eventually revealing that he has mastered an astonishing 523 spells.
• Alice is stunned, comparing Leo’s accomplishment to that of her father, an accomplished First-Rank Wizard Apprentice who mastered only several hundred spells over decades.
• Leo prepares to test one final spell, warning Alice to move back because he is not yet fully proficient with it.

Character Developments

• Leo displays extraordinary learning ability, versatility, and confidence. His mastery of hundreds of spells in only a few months establishes him as an exceptional and potentially frightening talent. He also shows strategic thinking by learning spells that compensate for his weaknesses and support future Combination Spells.
• Alice progresses from respectful curiosity to complete shock. Her admiration for Leo deepens as she realizes the scale of his abilities.
• Hain initially feels intimidated and begins doubting her own talent after seeing Leo’s Multi-Stage Cutting. Keli’s criticism helps restore her composure, though Leo’s later demonstration makes his superiority even more apparent.
• Keli remains outwardly dismissive and analytical, emphasizing that one impressive spell is not enough to define a genius. However, her acknowledgment of Leo’s skill reveals that she takes him seriously.
• Hain’s mother, Keli, also reinforces a broader standard of genius: not merely spell proficiency, but mastery of a vast and diverse spell repertoire.

Significant Themes

• True genius versus diligent mastery: The chapter questions whether talent lies in perfecting individual spells or in mastering a wide range of abilities.
• The value of versatility: Leo’s strength comes from possessing hundreds of spells suited to different situations, allowing him to cover weaknesses and prepare for Combination Spells.
• Hidden power and revelation: Since Wizards normally conceal their spells, Leo’s open demonstration reveals both his confidence and the extraordinary nature of his abilities.
• Comparison and self-worth: Hain’s shaken confidence reflects the danger of judging oneself against an exceptional rival, while Keli encourages her to recognize her limitations without abandoning growth.
• Accumulated effort and accelerated growth: Leo attributes his skill to practice, but the sheer speed of his progress suggests that his learning ability is far beyond ordinary Wizards.

Character Interactions

• Leo reassures Alice that she may remain and watch, showing trust and a relaxed attitude toward his secrets.
• Alice identifies and analyzes Leo’s spells, allowing him to explain the differences between similar techniques and demonstrate his tactical sophistication.
• Keli observes Leo’s performance with Hain and uses the demonstration to teach her daughter about genuine genius and the need for self-awareness.
• Hain’s admiration and insecurity contrast with Keli’s controlled skepticism, while Leo’s calm continuation of the demonstration increasingly undermines their attempts to minimize his talent.

Chapter Summary: “Necromancy Spell, Trump Card”

Key plot points and events

• Keli and Hain secretly observe Leo’s spellcasting from outside the training ground. They are stunned by how many spells he can use and begin comparing his talent to that of Wizard Nova, one of the Tower of Dawn’s greatest geniuses.
• Although Hain urges Keli to stop antagonizing Leo, Keli remains confident that Leo’s Prossian identity will prevent him from achieving a respected position in the Tower of Dawn. She decides to stay and witness his final spell.
• Leo casts Dark Archmage, a powerful Necromancy spell. Its black radiance causes everything in its path to decay and crumble into dust, nearly striking Keli and Hain.
• The spell’s second-stage effect summons enormous skeletons wielding skeletal staffs. They launch coordinated green magical attacks against the barrier, demonstrating that the spell possesses both destructive and summoning capabilities.
• Keli recognizes Dark Archmage as Leo’s “trump card” and leaves with Hain after obtaining the spell information.
• Leo reveals that he noticed them watching him from the beginning. He deliberately displayed only part of his true arsenal—he actually knows more than a thousand spells—and intentionally slowed the casting of Dark Archmage to mislead them about its casting speed and capabilities.
• Afterward, Alice questions whether Dark Archmage is a Combination Spell. Leo explains that it requires two mediums and is close to a Combination Spell, though its exact classification is ambiguous.

Character developments

• Leo is shown to be far more talented and strategically minded than others realize. His mastery of over a thousand spells after only a few months demonstrates exceptional ability. He also proves capable of deception, deliberately feeding his observers incomplete and misleading information.
• Keli shifts from confidence to alarm when Dark Archmage nearly hits her. Although she acknowledges Leo’s extraordinary talent, her prejudice against Prossians prevents her from recognizing the danger he may pose.
• Hain becomes increasingly frightened of provoking Leo and urges his mother to withdraw. His fear is justified when Leo’s spell nearly exposes or kills them.
• Alice remains puzzled by the unusual nature of Dark Archmage and its unclear status as a Combination Spell.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and underestimation: Leo conceals the true extent of his abilities, allowing others to underestimate him.
• Talent versus prejudice: Keli recognizes Leo’s immense genius but still believes his Prossian background determines his fate.
• Information as power: Spell knowledge is treated as a strategic weapon. Leo manipulates what his enemies learn about him.
• Classification and innovation: Dark Archmage challenges accepted magical categories because it uses two mediums while functioning differently from a conventional Combination Spell.
• Deception and strategic planning: Leo turns the observers’ attempt to gather intelligence into an opportunity to mislead them.

Character interactions

• Keli and Hain debate whether continuing to oppose Leo is safe, with Hain advocating caution and Keli relying on Leo’s disadvantaged social status.
• Their relationship reflects Keli’s confidence and prejudice against Hain’s more realistic fear.
• Leo later interacts with Alice, giving a deliberately vague explanation of Dark Archmage’s nature.
• Leo’s silent awareness of Keli and Hain creates an unseen contest: they believe they are spying on him, but he is actually controlling the information they receive.

Chapter Summary: Spell Magical Pressure, 1500

• Leo’s Dark Archmage: The chapter explains that most Failed Combination Spells merely mix the effects of two mediums, but Leo’s Dark Archmage is different: two mediums cooperate to produce one unified spell effect. Through the Compendium Manual, Leo has completed what was previously considered an impossible, incomplete spell. Its research value is immense, and its power may rival a true Combination Spell.
• Leo’s concern about the Instructor: Leo remembers the Instructor’s interest in him while possessing Uriel’s body. He worries that the Instructor, a powerful and calculating Formal Wizard, may have begun targeting him. Leo recognizes that he is currently too weak to oppose such an enemy.
• Keli reports Leo’s strength: In a special bone-filled training ground prepared by Jindeli for Duvila’s Necromancy practice, Keli tells Formal Wizard Jindeli that Leo can cast a powerful Necromancy-based Failed Combination Spell. She estimates its Spell Magical Pressure at roughly 1,500—well above the 1,000 threshold separating ordinary spells from Combination Spells, though below the 10,000 threshold for First-Circle spells.
• Jindeli verifies the information: Jindeli intimidates Keli by releasing his own immense Magical Pressure and demands every detail. Keli uses the Mirror Blossom Spell to replay her memories of Leo’s demonstration. Jindeli watches Leo cast over a hundred spells and becomes especially interested—and wary—when he sees Dark Archmage. After replaying the memory ten times, Jindeli concludes that the spell may genuinely threaten Duvila’s chances of winning the upcoming competition.
• Jindeli seeks a countermeasure: Jindeli realizes he must stop Leo but cannot repeat his previous interference, since Saffi already exposed that tactic. Keli proposes using Leo’s past contact with Uriel as grounds for an official inspection. The inspection would disrupt Leo’s mental energy and prevent him from preparing before the competition.
• Keli’s ambition and disappointment: Keli expects praise and suggests that helping Jindeli secure victory should earn her a place as his student. Jindeli instead dismisses her proposal as foolish, offering only to consider transferring her under his command as an envoy if they win. After she leaves, he regards her plan as so absurd that it is barely worth considering.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Leo is shown to possess unusually advanced spellcraft and demonstrates caution regarding stronger political and magical enemies.
• Jindeli shifts from confidence to concern after witnessing Leo’s abilities. His protective investment in Duvila’s victory reveals both his strategic thinking and willingness to manipulate events.
• Keli proves observant and ambitious but overestimates the quality of her scheme and her standing with Jindeli.
• Jindeli and Keli’s relationship is clearly hierarchical: Keli seeks recognition and advancement, while Jindeli views her mainly as a useful subordinate.

Significant Themes

• Innovation versus established classifications: Leo’s spell challenges the conventional distinction between Failed Combination Spells and genuine Combination Spells.
• Power and vulnerability: Even a powerful spellcaster like Leo remains vulnerable to political interference and stronger Formal Wizards.
• Manipulation and competition: The upcoming contest is not merely a test of magical ability; rival factions are already considering surveillance, obstruction, and other indirect tactics.
• Ambition and hierarchy: Keli’s desire to become Jindeli’s student contrasts with the limited status of ordinary envoys, emphasizing the rigid power structure among Wizards.

Plot points and events

• Jindeli abandons the idea of interfering with Saffi’s chosen contestants, judging it too risky. Instead, he plans to equip his necromancy competitors with enchanted items or magitech devices, which the contest rules allow.
• Having lost his Permanent Defensive Force Field, Jindeli has fallen sharply in status and needs to win to improve his chances of restoring it. He believes Saffi’s reluctance to use underhanded tactics will give him an opening.
• Saffi learns of Jindeli’s preparations but chooses not to stop him. She wants capable contestants who can win on their own merits.
• Wizards Plaisey and Stofen discuss magiplant and dragon-blood research. Plaisey says he rejected other Flying Pumpkin projects because he believes a talented apprentice can complete the work. Stofen laments that his dragon-blood research has stagnated and that no one has developed his desired purification potion.
• As the competition approaches, the wizards consider its uncertain outcome. Saffi is stronger, but Jindeli’s desperation, the necromancy-only rules, and Nova’s help may favor him.
• The leader of the Golden Eagle Faction, Sajia, warns Jindeli that the faction cannot afford another loss. Jindeli promises to win and restore his defensive force field.

Character developments

• Jindeli is revealed as desperate to recover his standing, yet willing to exploit every legal advantage. He remains deferential to Sajia despite their relatively modest difference in rank.
• Saffi shows confidence and a merit-based outlook: she accepts that her contestants may lose rather than sheltering them from a fair challenge.
• Stofen appears frustrated by the slow progress of his dragon-blood research, while Plaisey is optimistic about a promising apprentice’s abilities.
• Sajia is focused on the Golden Eagle Faction’s dwindling strength and treats Jindeli’s recovery as strategically important.

Significant themes

• Power and status: Jindeli’s lost defensive force field threatens not just his abilities but his place in wizard society.
• Competition and ambition: The contest matters to Jindeli’s future and to the faction’s survival, making the stakes personal and political.
• Merit versus protection: Saffi values contestants who can succeed without her intervention.
• Research and scarcity: Stofen’s stalled work highlights the difficulty of magical innovation when rare materials—especially dragon blood—are hard to obtain.

Character interactions

• Saffi’s informant reports Jindeli’s plans, and Saffi responds with deliberate restraint rather than trying to block him.
• Plaisey and Stofen exchange views on their research and then discuss the likely contest winner, with Stofen leaning toward Jindeli.
• Sajia addresses Jindeli directly, emphasizing the faction’s need for victory; Jindeli answers with a firm promise.

Chapter Summary: “Necromantic Defense Wall, Necromancy’s Innate Flaw”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jindeli behaves cautiously because he has lost his Permanent Defensive Force Field and is now at a disadvantage compared with other Formal Wizards. Sajia, meanwhile, is a One-Ring Crystallized Wizard.
• Saffi warns Huangtu, Anthony, and Leo that they must perform at the level expected of them. Her threat makes it clear that failure could have future consequences.
• The necromancy-only match begins between Huangtu and Wizard Nova, with Jindeli’s team hoping Nova will secure a victory for them.
• Nova immediately reveals an unusual advantage by using a Necromancy flight spell, a rare ability among Tower of Dawn Wizards. His aerial mobility places Huangtu at a serious disadvantage.
• Huangtu casts the Yellow Springs Netherworld Spell, summoning undead hands from a black vortex to drag Nova down. Though the spell catches Nova’s clothing and affects him slightly, it fails to force him from the air.
• Nova identifies the spell and explains its weakness: Necromancy spells are ineffective against undead targets because undead beings can form a barrier against other undead-based spells.
• Nova casts a Necromantic Defense Wall, a protective layer of gray gas that blocks Huangtu’s attack.
• Saffi explains to Leo that this defensive spell reveals Necromancy’s fundamental flaw: most Necromancy spells can be easily neutralized by another Necromancy spell. She advises Leo to rely on physical attacks rather than Necromancy when facing such a defense.

Character Developments

• Nova demonstrates exceptional versatility, technical knowledge, and confidence. His mastery of a rare flight spell and his immediate understanding of Huangtu’s technique reinforce his reputation as the Tower of Dawn’s foremost spell-learning Wizard Apprentice.
• Huangtu shows determination and confidence by openly declaring that he will win. However, Nova’s flight and defensive knowledge expose the limits of Huangtu’s strategy.
• Saffi establishes herself as a demanding and intimidating superior. Despite not caring who wins, she expects a high standard and provides Leo with valuable strategic instruction.
• Leo continues developing his awareness of advanced Wizard abilities. His growing spiritual energy allows him to recognize Nova’s unusual strength, and Saffi begins directly teaching him how to exploit Necromancy’s weaknesses.
• Jindeli remains heavily invested in Nova’s success, hoping the match will compensate for his own weakened position.

Significant Themes

• The limitations of specialized power: Necromancy may bypass ordinary material defenses, but its effectiveness collapses when confronted by undead-based barriers.
• Knowledge as a weapon: Nova’s understanding of the Yellow Springs Netherworld Spell is as important as his ability to cast defensive magic.
• Adaptability and preparation: Mastering rare abilities such as flight can determine the outcome of a duel, especially when opponents are restricted to one discipline.
• The decline of Necromancy: Saffi explains that Necromancy is undervalued not merely because of its complexity, but because its spells can be cheaply countered by the Necromantic Defense Wall.
• Strategic flexibility: Wizards must avoid relying on a single magical discipline and should be prepared to use physical strength or other methods when their spells are countered.

Character Interactions

• Saffi threatens Huangtu, Anthony, and Leo while also judging their performance from the sidelines.
• Nova and Leo exchange a brief but meaningful acknowledgment, suggesting mutual recognition between powerful or perceptive Wizards.
• Huangtu challenges Nova verbally, accusing him of confidence and demanding that he fight seriously.
• Nova responds politely but firmly, explaining that he promised Jindeli victory and therefore cannot hold back.
• Nova’s explanation of Necromancy’s flaw turns the duel into an instructional moment, while Saffi expands on the lesson by advising Leo how to fight opponents using the Necromantic Defense Wall.

Chapter Summary:

Huangtu, Treated as a Sacrificial Pawn

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo learns that Nova has used Necromantic Defense Wall, a spell that exploits a major weakness in Necromancy.
• While pretending to stop studying and focus on the match, Leo secretly records and masters the spell through his Codex.
• Nova’s defense completely neutralizes Huangtu’s Necromancy spells. Unable to overcome the barrier, Huangtu concedes.
• Saffi explains that Huangtu was disadvantaged from the start because he lacked both the necessary spells and a deep understanding of Necromancy’s fundamental weaknesses.
• Saffi criticizes Leo’s superficial approach to magic, emphasizing that advanced Wizards must study the principles and disciplines behind spells rather than merely collecting techniques.
• Huangtu returns and apologizes for losing, but Saffi remains composed and immediately turns her attention to Leo’s upcoming match.
• Huangtu privately realizes that everyone views him as the expendable member of the team. Nevertheless, he accepts his limitations and remains determined to pursue his own steady path toward becoming a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice.
• Duvila enters the next match against Leo, confident that an enchanted item provided by Jindeli can block all Necromancy spells.
• The chapter ends with Duvila provocatively declaring that Leo’s defeat is already certain and that he—not Leo—will be the match’s protagonist.

Character Developments

• Leo: Demonstrates his resourcefulness by secretly learning Necromantic Defense Wall while observing the battle. Saffi’s criticism forces him to recognize that his understanding of magic is too focused on individual spells and not enough on broader magical disciplines.
• Huangtu: Suffers a decisive defeat but displays humility and emotional resilience. He understands that he is considered the team’s sacrificial pawn, yet maintains a realistic and persistent attitude toward his future.
• Nova: Establishes overwhelming dominance over Huangtu by using Necromantic Defense Wall defensively and exploiting Necromancy’s inherent weakness.
• Saffi: Reveals a more thoughtful and instructive side by giving Leo deeper guidance about magical theory and intellectual maturity. She also appears to regard Huangtu as a likely loser from the outset.
• Jindeli: Recognizes the danger posed by Nova’s knowledge and feels relieved that Leo apparently has not mastered the countering spell—unaware that Leo has just learned it.
• Duvila: Displays confidence bordering on arrogance before facing Leo, relying heavily on his enchanted defensive item.
• Anthony: Becomes more interested in Leo after noticing Saffi’s unusual personal investment in him, suspecting that hidden interests may connect them.

Significant Themes

• Theory versus technique: True magical advancement requires understanding the principles behind a discipline, not simply memorizing more spells.
• Maturity and perspective: Saffi argues that a Wizard’s growth depends on seeing the larger structure of magic rather than focusing only on practical spell use.
• Sacrifice and unequal expectations: Huangtu is treated as expendable, reflecting how teams and mentors may value members according to their perceived usefulness.
• Resilience and self-knowledge: Huangtu accepts his limitations without abandoning his ambitions, choosing a steady and realistic path.
• Hidden preparation and underestimated ability: Leo’s secret mastery of Necromantic Defense Wall gives him an advantage while his opponents continue to underestimate him.

Character Interactions

• Leo and Saffi: Saffi rebukes Leo for his shallow study habits but offers unusually profound mentorship, urging him to understand magical disciplines at a deeper level.
• Saffi and Huangtu: After his defeat, Saffi gives Huangtu little consolation and quickly assigns Leo to the next battle, reinforcing Huangtu’s belief that he was never expected to win.
• Jindeli and Duvila: Jindeli criticizes Duvila’s ignorance of Necromancy’s weakness but equips him with an enchanted item designed to counter Leo.
• Leo and Duvila: Their confrontation begins with Duvila’s confident provocation, setting up a battle between Leo’s hidden preparation and Duvila’s reliance on external protection.
• Anthony and Leo: Anthony observes Leo’s connection with Saffi and begins considering whether Leo may be useful to his own research.

Chapter Summary: “Speedrun”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leo immediately attacks Duvila without discussion, relying on speed and physical strength rather than Necromancy.
• He lands two decisive punches: one to Duvila’s cheek and another that drives him into the ground. Duvila is unable to recover, resulting in Leo’s instant victory.
• The spectators, including the Formal Wizards, are shocked by how quickly a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice defeats a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice without casting a spell.
• Duvila protests, claiming the duel was meant to involve Necromancy spells and demands a rematch.
• Tower Lord Augusta rejects Duvila’s complaint, explaining that the rules prohibited the use of other spells but did not require contestants to use Necromancy. Since Duvila failed to force Leo to cast a spell, the victory stands.
• After the match, Saffi praises Leo. He explains that he followed her advice: because he had not fully mastered Necromancy and physical attacks were faster and more reliable, he chose to strike first.
• Jindeli angrily disowns Duvila, takes back the enchanted white-bone sword he had given him, and dismisses him as a disgrace.
• Attention shifts to the third match between Anthony and Meys. Jindeli initially assumes Anthony will win easily, but Meys realizes Leo’s overwhelming victory may have made Anthony nervous and created an opportunity.
• Anthony admits that Leo’s flawless performance has shaken his confidence. Saffi encourages him to relax and do his best regardless of the result.

Character Developments

• Leo: Demonstrates decisiveness, tactical intelligence, and impressive physical ability. He adapts Saffi’s advice into an unconventional but highly effective strategy, winning without magic.
• Duvila: Suffers a humiliating defeat that damages both his reputation and his future. His refusal to accept the result reveals his desperation, but Augusta’s ruling leaves him powerless.
• Saffi: Shows confidence in Leo and recognizes his quick thinking. She also acts as a source of reassurance for the nervous Anthony.
• Jindeli: Loses faith in Duvila immediately after the defeat, revealing his harsh, results-oriented mentorship. He later regains optimism when Meys points out Anthony’s nervousness.
• Meys: Displays strategic awareness by identifying Anthony’s shaken state and recognizing that Leo’s victory could benefit her side.
• Anthony: Becomes anxious after witnessing Leo’s effortless win but accepts Saffi’s encouragement.
• Augusta: Reinforces his authority as Tower Lord and ensures the rules are applied fairly and decisively.

Significant Themes

• Speed and decisive action: Leo’s willingness to act immediately gives him the advantage over a more conventional spellcaster.
• Adaptability and practical intelligence: Leo succeeds by abandoning the expected method and using the strategy most suited to his abilities.
• Reputation and failure: Duvila’s defeat publicly damages his standing and causes him to lose both his mentor’s support and his prospects.
• Authority and rules: Augusta’s ruling emphasizes that the competition is governed by the actual wording of its rules rather than contestants’ expectations.
• Psychological impact in competition: Leo’s effortless victory affects not only Duvila but also Anthony, showing how one match can influence the confidence and strategies of later contestants.

Important Character Interactions

• Leo and Duvila’s brief confrontation is entirely physical, contrasting Leo’s calm efficiency with Duvila’s inability to respond.
• Augusta firmly rebukes Duvila and validates Leo’s victory.
• Saffi praises Leo and learns that her earlier advice directly shaped his winning strategy.
• Jindeli harshly condemns and disowns Duvila, while Duvila responds submissively.
• Meys and Jindeli reassess the upcoming match after noticing Anthony’s nervousness.
• Saffi comforts Anthony, urging him to focus on giving his best rather than being intimidated by Leo’s performance.