Chapter Summaries

Summary: “The Cooperation of Two Elemental Lords”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hill contracts Korenden, the Legendary Earth Elemental Lord, becoming the first Lord Hill has formally contracted. Although Hill warns that Korenden can only manifest as a phantom in the lower realm, Korenden eagerly agrees.
• Korenden’s arrival places enormous strain on Hill, who is already sustaining another Legendary phantom—the Water Elemental Lord. Korenden immediately exercises control over the surrounding earth:
  • Soil within Hill’s forest remains fertile and becomes even better for the trees.
  • Ground outside the forest hardens into marble-like stone.
  • Earth Elementals in the area acknowledge Korenden’s authority.
• Hill decides to conserve his mana, relying on restorative juice, cakes, and potions while maintaining the two Legendary elementals. He leaves most defensive and offensive work to the players and the elemental Lords.
• When flying Demons attack, the players coordinate a large-scale defense:
  • Knight lances are fired into the sky.
  • Water Lance and freezing spells create a massive ice net.
  • The Water Elemental Lord reinforces the net, preventing the Demons from breaking through.
  • Priests cast Purification spells over the ice, while Fire Law Mages create fireproof barriers against the Demons’ flames.
• Hill gives Powder and Ink, Heartless a Fireproof Magic Formation, allowing the players to stabilize and strengthen the ice net. Rainfall on the Mortal Realm successfully positions the initially disorganized formation despite considerable difficulty.
• Enemy spies continue infiltrating the forest to locate and assassinate Hill. Since they are unaffiliated players, Hill can only ban hostile individuals from his territory rather than exclude entire guilds. He remains neutral, distrusting all player factions.
• Korenden travels deep underground, eventually reaching approximately ten thousand meters below the surface. The Water Elemental Lord moves in coordination with him.
• Together, the two Lords create a massive ring of erupting water around the territory. The water is frozen into towering ice walls, forming a second defensive barrier around the cavern.
• Over one hundred thousand Knights use their summoned shields to support the rising ice walls and prevent the water from collapsing. Hill suspects the players are preparing to block the Demons while awaiting reinforcements.

Character Developments

• Hill becomes increasingly overwhelmed by the cost of sustaining two Legendary phantoms. He adopts a passive, resource-conserving role, consuming huge amounts of restorative food and potions while allowing the players and elemental Lords to fight.
• Despite his desire to remain neutral and uninvolved, Hill grows increasingly irritated by enemy spies, player incompetence, and the constant pressure of the battle. He repeatedly restrains himself from personally attacking intruders.
• Hill’s relationship with the Elemental Lords becomes more cooperative. His contract with Korenden demonstrates that the Lords trust and respect him, while the Water Lord and Korenden successfully coordinate without direct supervision.
• Korenden is established as powerful, enthusiastic, domineering, and loyal. He eagerly contracts with Hill partly to outdo the Water Elemental Lord, whom he views as a rival.
• Powder and Ink, Heartless acts as a bait target for enemy spies but remains confident because of her exceptional defensive equipment.
• Rainfall on the Mortal Realm demonstrates strong tactical and magical control, salvaging the poorly organized Fireproof Formation.
• Xue Yunfeng continues commanding the defense with relentless determination, though Hill views his lack of preparation and improvisational style with exasperation.
• The players are shown as adaptable but chaotic, frequently learning through dangerous trial and error.

Significant Themes

• Cooperation between elemental powers: Earth and Water combine to reshape the battlefield, producing layered defenses that neither element could create alone.
• Power and cost: Hill can summon Legendary beings more easily than ordinary Mages, but maintaining them places severe demands on his mana and forces him into a defensive, dependent role.
• Neutrality and mistrust: Hill refuses to take sides in the players’ conflict because he recognizes that every faction is capable of deception and manipulation.
• Improvisation versus preparation: The players repeatedly solve crises through rapid adaptation, but Hill criticizes them for failing to study known anti-Demon measures beforehand.
• The clash of fantasy and science-fiction logic: Hill is baffled by the Knights’ shield formation and its apparent spatial properties, reflecting his ongoing confusion at seeing futuristic concepts operate within a magical world.
• Humor amid danger: Hill’s exhaustion, gluttonous recovery routine, sarcastic observations, and comparisons to chaotic online gaming provide comic relief during a large-scale siege.

Character Interactions

• Hill and Korenden form an equal, friendly contract, despite Hill’s reluctance and Korenden’s competitive desire to surpass the Water Elemental Lord.
• Hill introduces Korenden to Powder and Ink, Heartless, allowing her and the players to use his power as part of their defenses.
• Korenden speaks privately with Xue Yunfeng before disappearing underground, apparently coordinating the subterranean portion of the defensive strategy.
• Hill instructs Powder and Ink to have the Fire Law Mages use the Fireproof Formation, leading to Rainfall’s difficult but successful implementation.
• Hill exchanges sarcastic remarks with a Swordsman who questions how Hill detects enemies and fails to understand the importance of the forest surrounding them.
• Korenden and the Water Elemental Lord work in synchronized movements beneath and above the territory, ultimately producing the towering water-and-ice barrier.
• Xue Yunfeng commands the Knights and coordinates the freezing operation, while the Knights physically reinforce the rising ice walls with summoned shields.

Chapter Summary: “Tactics Gone Horribly Wrong”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xue Yunfeng and the players complete a massive defensive operation around Hill’s location. Swordmasters launch their swords at the rising Ice Wall, and Sky Knights follow by throwing enormous shields, pushing the wall to the ceiling.
• Water Law Mages freeze the incoming underground river again, connecting two sections of Ice Wall into a sealed oval fortress. Priests add purification spells, while players carve defensive, purification, and fireproof formations into the ice.
• The players maintain the defenses through an organized but chaotic system: Knights rest or patrol, Mages replenish their mana and reinforce the wall, and Brush with Heart delivers food to them. More than ten thousand Water Law Mages summon over one hundred thousand Water Elementals to strengthen the barrier.
• Xue Yunfeng orders the Mages to freeze several layers of ice over the ceiling. Hill realizes this will block his view of the outside and tells the players that he will automatically attack anyone hostile who enters his area.
• Because Hill’s location may have been exposed, Brush with Heart evacuates the nearby players and asks whether Hill can relocate. Hill agrees to move once they leave.
• Beech transfers Hill into his underground root system and gives him his Treeheart. Beech does not want to become permanently rooted in the Demon-infested underground realm, so Hill promises to take him back to his territory before leaving. Wood Elemental Spirits begin communicating with and comforting the Treeheart.
• Sray reports news from the outside world: Adrian is worried about Hill, Falan is seeking the king, five hundred thousand reinforcements are approaching, the Undead are investigating dangerous areas, and several temples are politically distancing themselves from Rose after Rose’s fall from influence.
• The players’ reinforcements arrive by jumping from an enormous height. They misunderstand Xue Yunfeng’s instructions and leap together, causing catastrophic impacts that threaten to destroy the newly built ceiling and defenses. The players panic, shouting contradictory orders while trying to repair the roof.
• Hill finds the disaster hilarious until Beech senses a powerful intruder. A High-Rank Demon has apparently slipped through the Ice Wall during the confusion. Hill suspects it may be capable of invisibility and fears that it could be as powerful as a Magus—or possibly even a Legendary Demon.

Character Developments

• Hill: Becomes increasingly amused and exasperated by the players’ reckless behavior, especially their poor communication and chaotic construction work. Despite laughing at their disastrous landing, he remains alert and protective, hiding underground and preparing to respond to the Demon threat.
• Xue Yunfeng: Demonstrates strong battlefield leadership while coordinating the defenses, but his authority is undermined by the players’ tendency to interpret orders literally or act independently. His frustration peaks when the reinforcements jump down all at once.
• Brush with Heart: Shows organizational competence by delivering supplies and evacuating Hill’s area. She also tries to preserve a charming, harmless image in front of Hill, though her forceful personality is obvious to him.
• Beech: Reveals his desire to leave the underground battlefield with Hill rather than become permanently rooted there. His Treeheart symbolizes both his vulnerability and his trust in Hill. He later becomes the first to detect the hidden Demon.
• The Water Elemental Lord: Enthusiastically assists with the massive Ice Wall but becomes confused when the players begin attacking or crushing one another through their failed landing.
• Adrian and the outside factions: Adrian’s concern for Hill emphasizes their relationship, while the political reports show that Rose’s defeat has caused major changes among the temples and powers of Salar.

Significant Themes

• Organization versus chaos: The players can execute an enormous and technically impressive defensive operation, but their communication problems repeatedly turn good strategies into disasters.
• The absurdity of player behavior: Hill views the players as reckless, game-minded outsiders who treat deadly situations like missions, livestream events, or opportunities to gain kills.
• Trust and companionship: Hill’s promise to rescue Beech shows his growing bond with the tree and his willingness to protect a nonhuman ally.
• Political consequences: Rose’s actions and apparent defeat have destabilized religious and political relationships across Salar, with temples condemning Rose and withdrawing support.
• The unpredictability of warfare: Even a seemingly impenetrable defense can be compromised by a single unseen enemy, especially when confusion creates an opening.
• Perspective and misunderstanding: Hill understands the players’ behavior better than they realize, but he still cannot fully predict them. Meanwhile, the players misinterpret orders, creating the chapter’s central “tactics gone horribly wrong.”

Character Interactions

• Xue Yunfeng directs the Swordmasters, Sky Knights, and Water Law Mages in constructing and reinforcing the Ice Wall.
• Hill interacts with a Swordsman who wants to remain near his tree to obtain kills, forcing Hill to explain that hostile behavior will trigger an automatic attack.
• Brush with Heart politely negotiates with Hill about relocating and protecting him, while Hill internally mocks her attempts to appear innocent.
• Hill and Beech communicate through the Treeheart, with Hill promising to bring Beech back to his territory.
• Hill receives Sray’s report about Adrian, Falan, the Undead, Rose, and the temples, revealing the wider consequences of the conflict.
• The players’ chaotic arrival leads to furious exchanges with Xue Yunfeng, who blames them for nearly destroying their own defenses.
• Beech warns Hill of the hidden Demon, shifting the chapter from comic chaos to a serious and immediate threat.

Chapter Summary: “Kill That Demon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hill merges with a beech tree through his Mental Sea to observe a rapidly moving, nearly invisible demon attacking the hillside.
• He reflects on the mysterious nature of demons, the incomplete laws of the world, and the danger that powerful Abyssal rulers—especially Graz’zt—might eventually notice the realm.
• The players attempt to contain the demons using Ice Walls, Blizzards, and chaotic mass tactics. Many players repeatedly jump from above, die, revive at the church, and return to battle.
• The falling player corpses confuse the demons, which initially try to consume their souls. However, because players are Soul Projections who revive immediately and leave no usable souls behind, the demons gain nothing from killing them.
• Hill gradually spreads enchanted leaves throughout the nearby trees while the demon is distracted. When it approaches the grove, he activates his spell array, trapping it in countless razor-like leaves.
• The demon’s body is destroyed, and its Soulfire—attempting to flee back to the Abyss—is also annihilated. Hill accidentally uses excessive force, causing the surrounding Wood Law to revive the dead roses and seeds in the grove.
• The players discover the dead demon and begin repairing the Ice Wall while relocating their forces into defensive positions. They prepare for a larger counterattack against the remaining demons.

Character Developments

• Hill shows both growing confidence and lingering innocence. He is capable of killing a powerful demon but is emotionally shaken because it is the first intelligent being he has personally killed. His excessive attack reflects nervousness and inexperience.
• Hill also demonstrates increasing mastery of his Wood-based powers, combining surveillance, environmental manipulation, and precise spell activation.
• Xue Yunfeng remains an irritable but effective leader. Despite his constant shouting and sarcasm, he organizes the players, manages the defenses, and is concerned about Hill’s safety.
• Perfect Baldhead acts mischievously and avoids danger when possible, but he and his guild have already positioned themselves for the coming battle.
• Adrian’s protectiveness toward Hill is emphasized; he behaves like a “mother hen” and worries about Hill entering combat.
• The players’ attitudes reveal that many are deeply invested in Hill’s survival, with wealthy female players even threatening retaliation against guild leaders if Hill dies.
• Hill learns more about the players’ world and the Space-Time Temple, realizing that William’s game has given the God of Space-Time access to tens of millions of potential believers.

Significant Themes

• Inexperience and maturity: Hill’s first killing forces him to confront the reality of violence and responsibility.
• The contrast between danger and absurdity: A demonic invasion becomes chaotic and comedic because of players’ reckless jumping, repeated deaths, livestreaming, and guild rivalries.
• The limits of conventional warfare: The demons expect to feed on human souls, but the players’ revival mechanics make them ineffective prey.
• Protection and community: Although the players often insult and sabotage one another, they unite to defend Hill and the settlement.
• Power and cosmic politics: The chapter expands the mystery of the Abyss, absent gods, incomplete world laws, and the Space-Time God’s extraordinary influence through the players.
• Nature as a weapon: Hill’s Wood Law is not merely defensive; it allows the environment itself to become an instrument of destruction and renewal.

Character Interactions

• Xue Yunfeng and Perfect Baldhead constantly trade insults while coordinating—or avoiding—the defense.
• Xue Yunfeng questions Hill about the demon and his powerful spell, while Hill disguises his uncertainty and claims he simply used too much strength.
• The players discuss Hill’s age, his sheltered upbringing, and Adrian’s protectiveness, highlighting how unusually important Hill has become to them.
• Guild leaders debate the dangers of the game’s unpredictable quests and the consequences of allowing a quest-giver like Hill to die.
• Through their conversations, Hill gains insight into the players’ society, the game’s popularity, and the enormous religious significance of the Space-Time Temple.

Chapter Summary: “A Small Interlude Before the Official Battle”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with background on the God of Space-Time, an innate god of rules who formed his divine soul in the Space-Time River before creating a divine body. Unlike faith-based gods, he needs little worship and mainly seeks to establish authority over his rules and eventually build a Divine Kingdom.
• Gods of rules are wary of pseudogods attempting to compete with them. The God of Space-Time is especially influential because the same Space-Time River runs through the Elven and Dwarven worlds, forcing both races to recognize him.
• Hill reflects on the uncertain status of the Goddess of Springwater, who has been unable to dominate water-related faith outside the human world and now survives under the influence of the God of Nobility and Sovereignty. Hill remains cautious about investigating powerful gods before reaching the Legendary realm.
• The players ask to open the gate so they can launch what appears to be a surprise attack against the demons. They have brought hundreds of thousands of reinforcements and have also ordered the Earth Elemental Lord to dig a tunnel toward the demons’ side.
• Hill agrees to open the gate and continues strengthening the Forest Formation, replenishing its attack power and preparing defensive and restorative magic.
• During the brief lull, several players gather in Hill’s grove to eat, rest, flirt, and recover before the coming battle. Their relaxed behavior contrasts sharply with the surrounding battlefield.
• The players receive orders to assemble at the Ice Wall in an hour. Hill realizes that a large-scale counterattack is likely imminent.
• The Water Elemental Lord reveals that Hill’s healing and purification abilities resemble rare divine arts that most newly born water spirits can no longer learn, apparently because of the betrayal of Milina, the former water deity. Hill avoids discussing the subject and gives the lord restorative spells before sending him to prepare for battle.

Character Developments

• Hill remains cautious, practical, and somewhat bewildered by player behavior. He is powerful enough to support the battlefield but admits he cannot understand the players’ preference for shortcuts, surprise attacks, and unconventional tactics. His observations about romance also reveal his naïve and comically fearful view of women.
• The God of Space-Time is established as an unusually respectable god in the eyes of mages, largely because he does not appear manipulative or unpleasant and does not demand intense faith.
• The players demonstrate their ability to switch rapidly between leisure and combat. They eat, joke, flirt, discuss relationships, and then immediately return to military preparations.
• Old School Striking King is portrayed as an intensely competitive player who grinds for extremely long periods to protect her guild’s ranking, despite pretending that life is boring.
• Cunlü is heavily pregnant and preparing to pause her gaming after childbirth. Her determination to continue playing until then highlights her dedication and the group’s extreme gaming habits.
• Midnight presents herself as confident, flirtatious, and emotionally detached. She warns against mistaking temporary attraction for a lasting relationship and criticizes the idea of sacrificing independence for romance.
• Powder and Ink, Heartless appears gentle but is emotionally forceful and prepared either to pursue love aggressively or abandon it completely if she cannot obtain it.
• Mo Bi Chenxin openly flirts with Midnight, while Brush with Heart hurriedly removes him when the situation becomes awkward. Their interaction suggests a complicated and possibly dangerous romantic dynamic.
• Perfect Baldhead and Xiao Liuliu reveal a more established, affectionate relationship. Xiao Liuliu is possessive and protective, while Perfect Baldhead acts playful and secretive to avoid being caught socializing with others.
• The Water Elemental Lord shows Hill greater respect by asking for his restorative magic and confirms that Hill’s abilities are closer to divine power than ordinary spellcraft.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between divine authority and mortal faith: The chapter distinguishes gods of rules, who are tied to cosmic laws, from faith-based gods who depend heavily on worship and political influence.
• The limits of knowledge and power: Hill understands that investigating higher gods prematurely would be fatal, emphasizing the dangers of challenging beings far above one’s current level.
• War and ordinary life existing side by side: The players casually dine, flirt, and joke in a grove surrounded by corpses and an approaching battle, showing their unusual ability to normalize danger.
• Player creativity versus conventional strategy: Hill favors straightforward dungeon-clearing and defense, while the players seek tunnels, shortcuts, and direct attacks on major objectives.
• Love, independence, and emotional self-protection: The women discuss romance with humor but also skepticism, presenting relationships as potentially restrictive or painful. The chapter contrasts casual flirtation, possessiveness, marriage, and deliberate emotional detachment.
• The rarity and inheritance of divine power: The Water Elemental Lord’s comments imply that important divine abilities have been lost or restricted following the betrayal of an earlier deity.

Character Interactions

• Hill listens as the players tease Romantic Drunk on the Red Dust for staring at Midnight. Midnight deliberately flirts back, embarrassing him before he retreats.
• The Black Rose players joke about pregnancy, marriage, rankings, and the guild’s dependence on Old School Striking King’s relentless leveling.
• Mo Bi Chenxin compliments Midnight’s appearance and lip color, prompting a flirtatious exchange that makes the other women uncomfortable. Brush with Heart interrupts and drags him away to answer Xue Yunfeng’s summons.
• Midnight and Powder and Ink, Heartless discuss the dangers of romantic attachment, with Midnight offering cynical advice while still treating Heartless affectionately.
• Perfect Baldhead and Xiao Liuliu secretly meet in the grove and reveal a playful but possessive marriage-like relationship before hurrying away.
• The Water Elemental Lord and Hill discuss the divine nature of healing and purification, after which Hill supports him with restorative spells.
• The chapter ends with everyone returning to their positions as Hill prepares himself and the elemental lord for the approaching counterattack.

Summary: “Setting Off for the Abyss”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Water Elemental Lord obtains the divine spell he wanted and leaves cheerfully, while Hill tries not to pry into his conversations.
• Most players gather near the Abyssal Gate and begin repairing the ice barrier above them. Hill takes up a high vantage point in a tree.
• Xue Yunfeng secretly approaches Hill and asks about Iceburst Bombs, which can freeze a large area. Hill reveals that he brought several water-element bombs made from Adrian’s formula and gives the entire supply to the players for free.
• Hill learns from the Earth Elemental Lord, Korenden, that the players have created a narrow tunnel leading directly beneath the Abyssal Gate. The Earth Elemental Lord is impressed by the way the Undead use water pressure and plans to imitate the technique.
• The players organize their forces under Xue Yunfeng’s command. They construct a massive earth wall and multiple gates to prevent the Demons from flooding the territory if the ice melts.
• The hastily built wall is extremely ugly, irritating Hill’s Earth Elementals. The players then set parts of it on fire, frightening the Demons but also creating additional chaos.
• Hill realizes that Water Law Mages can convert ice back into water. He informs Xue Yunfeng, who orders the Mages to use the ability. However, many players become distracted by experimenting with the transformation instead of using it tactically.
• Demons break through the defenses, killing several Mages. Xue Yunfeng angrily orders the Knights to hold the line while Earth-Element users construct a bridge.
• After sacrificing hundreds of players, the army completes the bridge and begins advancing toward the Abyss. The Sky Knights protect the front while Mages clear flying Demons.
• Hill notices that Xue Yunfeng’s carriage stops near the entrance and that Swordsmen secretly disappear into the Abyss in small groups, sacrificing themselves to create a safe passage and conceal the infiltration.
• The main army eventually disappears into a broad tunnel. Xue Yunfeng leaves behind several thousand Swordsmen, hundreds of Mages, and Priests to continue the advance, while Powder and Ink, Heartless remains in the territory to oversee its defense.
• Heartless seals the city gates and organizes the repair and reinforcement of the walls with the help of Hill’s Earth Elementals. Hill then turns his attention to players sneaking into his woods and begins preparing precise attacks against them.

Character Developments

• Hill: Becomes increasingly curious about the Abyss and the players’ plans, despite repeatedly insisting that he will remain safely behind. He contributes crucial resources and advice while observing the players’ chaotic but effective tactics. By the end, he embraces a more active role in defending his woods, shifting from large-scale attacks to carefully targeted “point-killing.”
• Xue Yunfeng: Demonstrates strong battlefield leadership and strategic planning. He uses the open-top carriage as a command vehicle, secretly sends Swordsmen into the Abyss, and coordinates the army’s advance, though he is frequently frustrated by players’ reckless experimentation and confusion.
• The Water Elemental Lord: Leaves with the players and appears eager to fight the Demons, reflecting the longstanding hostility between the Elemental Realm and the Abyss.
• The Earth Elemental Lord, Korenden: Shows admiration for the players’ engineering methods and considers applying their tunnel-building technique against the Fire Elemental Lord.
• Powder and Ink, Heartless: Takes responsibility for defending the territory after the main army departs. She quickly understands how to work with the Earth Elementals and earns their cooperation.
• The players: Act as a large, disorganized but highly adaptable army. They willingly sacrifice themselves, experiment with abilities, and improvise construction and combat strategies.

Significant Themes

• Curiosity versus self-preservation: Hill repeatedly tells himself not to investigate the Abyss, yet his fascination grows as the players prepare to enter it.
• Chaotic teamwork and improvisation: The players’ methods are messy and often reckless, but their numbers, adaptability, and willingness to sacrifice allow them to accomplish difficult objectives.
• The contrast between expertise and experimentation: Hill and the Elemental Lords understand the technical applications of magic, while the players often discover abilities through trial and error—even during battle.
• Engineering as warfare: Walls, tunnels, bridges, water pressure, and elemental manipulation are used as strategically important weapons and defenses.
• Different perspectives on value: Hill sees the Iceburst Bombs as impractical, while the players view them as useful resources in a desperate campaign. Likewise, the players regard death as temporary and expendable, unlike Hill, who has only one life.

Character Interactions

• Hill and Xue Yunfeng cooperate closely, with Hill providing Iceburst Bombs and tactical advice.
• Hill communicates with the Earth Elemental Lord about the tunnel and the planned assault, while the Water Elemental Lord joins the discussion and jokes about using similar tactics against the Fire Elemental Lord.
• Hill’s conversation with Sray reveals that Sray distrusts Hill’s claims that he will stay safe and recognizes his tendency to seek danger.
• Xue Yunfeng commands the players harshly, especially when Mages misuse their abilities or when defensive walls collapse.
• Powder and Ink, Heartless works respectfully with Hill’s Earth Elementals, using human Mages to prepare the walls and relying on the Elementals to complete and inspect the work.
• Hill privately directs the trees and Earth Elementals, ending the chapter by targeting players who have infiltrated his woods.

Chapter Summary: “Demons Ahead, Attacks from Behind”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hill continues defending his grove with the Forest Formation, killing hostile players in groups. He becomes increasingly comfortable fighting players because their instant revival makes their deaths feel less like killing living beings.
• Seven assassins secretly gather after reviving and discuss finding reinforcements and burning the grove, unaware—or seemingly unconcerned—that Hill can observe them. Other players identify and kill them at the revival point.
• Hostile guilds continue sending coordinated assassination teams. Although one group is wiped out by over a hundred defenders, the attacks escalate.
• Good Bro and Sweetie arrive. Good Bro reveals that he is actually Old Man, having changed both his name and appearance to match Sweetie’s preferences. They warn Hill that clever enemies such as Eunuch Lu and Zhu Meili may still be plotting.
• Before the conversation can continue, thousands of attackers break through the roof and launch a massive assault. Good Bro and Sweetie flee while warning Hill to hide.
• Beech lowers Hill into a heavily reinforced underground chamber and protects him with its roots. The attackers’ true apparent target is the Lord’s Manor, not Hill directly, allowing them to avoid the political consequences of intentionally killing an NPC under the Alliance’s protection.
• Tens of thousands of players from several guilds participate, even though doing so costs their guilds contribution points. The Lord’s Manor’s defenders retreat through hidden underground tunnels and revive in groups to reinforce the defense.
• Powder and Ink, Heartless commands the battle. The attackers destroy nearly every surrounding building except Adrian’s general store, but they struggle to breach the Lord’s Manor.
• Hill strengthens the Forest Formation and records the names of players whose attacks endanger him, intending to have them banned from his territory. He is frustrated by the limited penalties available for players who claim their destructive actions were accidental.
• Water- and Earth-affinity players combine Ice Ring spells and earthen barriers to divide the attackers into smaller groups. Swordsmen repeatedly charge into enemy formations and use their strongest attacks, often sacrificing themselves.
• The battle eventually grows even larger, with additional forces descending from the sky. Many attackers are accidentally crushed by their own allies. Black Rose appears to have mobilized its entire membership, and its leaders begin taunting the opposing forces.

Character Developments

• Hill becomes more confident and efficient with the Forest Formation, but also grows increasingly wary of the players’ chaotic behavior. He remains cautious, choosing to stay hidden rather than expose himself during the siege.
• Hill shows a stronger understanding of player society, recognizing name changes, appearance customization, guild politics, PvP habits, and the loopholes players exploit to avoid punishment.
• Good Bro/Old Man demonstrates his willingness to adapt for Sweetie, changing his name and appearance. His obedient attitude emphasizes their affectionate but comically unequal relationship.
• Sweetie is shown as decisive and possessive in a humorous way. She insists that Good Bro improve his appearance and openly discusses the romantic conflict involving Ink Pen, Paintbrush, and Powdered Ink.
• Powder and Ink, Heartless proves herself a capable battlefield commander, organizing a much smaller force against a vastly larger enemy.
• Hill’s Earth Elementals remain focused on repairing the walls rather than participating in the player conflict, emphasizing their practical, limited priorities.
• The attackers become increasingly desperate and reckless as repeated assaults fail.

Significant Themes

• The absurdity of player behavior: Players repeatedly act irrationally despite knowing Hill can observe them, treat death as routine, and even kill their own allies through careless tactics.
• The clash between game mechanics and reality: Revival, name-changing, appearance customization, guild contributions, health bars, and punishment systems shape real political and military conflicts in the world.
• Indirect warfare and plausible deniability: The attackers avoid killing Hill directly, aiming at the Lord’s Manor so any accidental death can be blamed on the chaos of battle.
• Loyalty versus factional rivalry: Several guilds sacrifice their contribution rankings to attack Black-and-White Road, showing how deeply factional disputes influence player decisions.
• Protection and territorial control: Hill, Beech, the Earth Elemental Lord, hidden tunnels, and entry bans all reflect the growing importance of defending territory and controlling access.
• Romance and social relationships among players: Good Bro and Sweetie’s relationship, along with the discussion of Ink Pen’s complicated romantic situation, provides comic relief amid the siege.

Character Interactions

• Hill observes the assassins’ failed planning and later warns Good Bro and Sweetie about possible attacks involving fire.
• Good Bro and Sweetie explain their identity changes to Hill and discuss the romantic tensions among Ink Pen, Paintbrush, and Powdered Ink.
• Good Bro attempts to return the conversation to the military threat when Sweetie’s gossip becomes too extensive.
• Good Bro warns Sweetie and Hill to escape or hide when the roof is breached.
• Hill coordinates with Beech and the Earth Elemental Lord for protection, while instructing the Earth Elementals on how to respond if attacked.
• Hill mentally criticizes Powder and Ink, Heartless’s difficult defensive battle but recognizes the effectiveness of her command.
• Black Rose’s forces taunt the attackers, with mocking exchanges directed at enemies such as Nie Xingchen, Myriad-Heaven Net, and Romantic Drunk on the Red Dust.

Chapter Summary: “Intense Battle, Player Commentary”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Black Rose swordsmen launch a suicidal assault, reviving after using their ultimate skill. Their attack is revealed to be a diversion, as more than ten thousand defenders pour out of the Lord’s Manor through the main gates while another group emerges from tunnels.
• Both sides trade insults during the cooldown period between attacks. Meanwhile, attacking Knights circle around the manor to destroy its walls, while Mages bombard the building from behind the swordsmen.
• The defenders rely heavily on the manor’s powerful defensive formation. Mage-generated shields repeatedly break and are restored, while the formation itself is repaired whenever its health drops significantly.
• Hill observes that swordsmen have become the primary force in this player war because their attacks are powerful, direct, and do not risk damaging allies. Mages possess greater destructive power but struggle with friendly-fire limitations and poor accuracy.
• Players from several guilds gather around the battlefield. Some hide in Hill’s Forest Formation, treating it as a safe viewing area while filming and livestreaming the fight.
• The livestream commentators estimate that Doomsday’s alliance has roughly eighty thousand combatants at the manor, with more than one hundred thousand additional players guarding against reinforcements. The attackers include approximately ten thousand swordsmen and twenty thousand Mages.
• The commentators explain that Black-and-White Road’s manor is one of Hill’s expensive Alchemy Huts, built by Master Falan, accounting for its exceptional defensive strength.
• A second battle develops aboveground as the Demon Cult attempts to stop reinforcements from reaching the manor. Doomsday responds by sending Mages down from above, while Knights and Priests remain behind to delay the Demon Cult.
• Hill questions why Mage players repeatedly jump to their deaths instead of flying down. The commentators realize that many players either never considered flying, feared being singled out by other classes, or were simply ignorant. Later Mage reinforcements finally begin flying.
• The battle becomes a public spectacle. The commentators open a poll asking whether Doomsday will destroy Black-and-White Road’s territory core before Xue Yunfeng’s expedition returns. The votes are nearly evenly divided.
• Doomsday ultimately sends another large wave of reinforcements. The Demon Cult is overwhelmed, and Doomsday’s remaining forces jump down to join the siege.
• Just as the manor appears close to being overrun, urgent news arrives: both Black Rose and Asking Sword have begun moving. The chapter ends with Hill learning that Asking Sword’s players have been hiding at his house.

Character Developments

• Hill remains detached and curious, treating the battle as an opportunity to study player behavior and game mechanics. He permits neutral livestreamers to remain in his Forest Formation and supports them with wooden shields, demonstrating his tolerant and protective attitude.
• Hill’s understanding of players expands. He recognizes their disregard for death, their class-based tactics, their obsession with spectacle, and their tendency to conceal useful ideas to avoid conflict with one another.
• The player commentators develop from simple observers into active battlefield reporters. They analyze troop movements, estimate numbers, conduct polls, solicit donations, and provide comic commentary while relying on Hill’s protection.
• The attacking and defending players demonstrate strong factional loyalty and willingness to repeatedly die for strategic objectives, despite heavy losses and the possibility of losing levels because of their red names.
• Black Rose, Asking Sword, the Demon Cult, and Doomsday are shown to be participating in a much larger strategic conflict, with guilds dividing their forces between the siege, reinforcement defense, and other territorial objectives.

Significant Themes

• The difference between game mechanics and reality: Players expect dungeon-like immunity from friendly fire, but Hill emphasizes that the real world cannot simply ignore physical limitations.
• Player irrationality and collective madness: The natives, gods, and Hill struggle to understand why players repeatedly die, fight over territory that cannot permanently change hands, and sacrifice huge resources merely to hurt rival factions.
• Spectacle and warfare as entertainment: The battle becomes both a military operation and a livestreamed event, with viewers voting, commenting, and treating the siege as a show.
• Class roles and tactical limitations: Swordsmen dominate close combat, Knights attack structures, and Mages possess tremendous power but are hindered by friendly fire, poor aim, and limited coordination.
• Resources and preparation: Black-and-White Road’s wealth and investment in the Alchemy Hut and defensive formation give its side a major advantage, showing the importance of preparation over raw numbers.
• Factional rivalry over practical goals: Although capturing the territory cannot change ownership, the opposing guilds continue fighting because damaging their longtime enemies is considered worthwhile in itself.

Character Interactions

• The Black Rose swordsmen and defenders exchange constant taunts, with Good Girl, Good Bro, Myriad-Heaven Net, and Little Scoundrel mocking one another over their deaths, hidden troops, and apparent cowardice.
• Hill interacts with the livestreamers, reassuring them that they may remain in his Forest Formation because they show no hostile intent.
• The commentators respectfully address Hill, fearing that careless questions or criticism could cause him to remove their protection.
• Hill’s question about why Mages do not fly exposes a major tactical oversight and becomes a humorous topic for the commentators and their audience.
• The streamers interact with viewers through polls, donations, and requests, turning the battle into a communal entertainment event.
• The final revelation—that Asking Sword’s forces have been hiding at Hill’s house—creates confusion for Hill and hints that his residence has become an important strategic staging point.

Chapter Summary: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liszt watches thousands of players board Adrian’s enormous golden airship from the entrance to Hill’s valley. The gathering makes him uneasy, especially because Hill’s territory is normally quiet and secluded.
• The players from Asking Sword, Young Wanderer Under Heaven openly discuss taking revenge on Doomsday Alliance. Adrian overhears them and becomes furious that they are treating Hill’s safety as irrelevant, since their planned movements could draw enemies directly to Hill’s home.
• Liszt prevents Adrian from bringing the players to Falan’s territory, fearing that the reckless players might damage it. Instead, he suggests Hill’s valley as a safer gathering place.
• Adrian nevertheless uses his vast, newly enhanced ship to transport more than thirty thousand players toward Qingcheng’s Alluring City Inn territory, where Doomsday Alliance and its allies are vulnerable.
• Hill, already aware of the situation, hides inside a tree while listening to reporters livestreaming the attack. The reporters reveal that Adrian’s assault is partly revenge for Doomsday’s earlier ambush of Black-and-White Road, which endangered Hill.
• Asking Sword’s forces storm Alluring City, while Black Rose and the Demon Cult attack Doomsday’s remaining forces from another direction. Qingcheng’s members attempt to flee, but the city’s defenses and their lack of guild affiliation leave them unable to help effectively.
• The City Lord’s Manor is destroyed, followed by the territory’s formation core. This prevents revival within the territory and makes Alluring City the first player territory to have its core completely destroyed.
• After victory, Asking Sword’s players reboard Adrian’s ship to support Black-and-White Road. Meanwhile, Black Rose and the Demon Cult battle Doomsday’s forces through repeated deaths and revivals.
• Doomsday’s unapproved assault gives its members Red Names and exposes them to severe faction-alignment penalties. If they die repeatedly, they may be forced to weaken themselves or log off.
• The chapter ends with both sides fighting desperately near a collapsing cave. Hill realizes the attackers may be destroying their own escape route, suggesting that the battle could become a decisive, all-or-nothing confrontation.

Character Developments

• Liszt acts as the practical mediator. He anticipates the danger of allowing the players into Falan’s territory and successfully redirects them toward Hill’s valley.
• Adrian becomes openly protective of Hill and enraged at Doomsday for endangering him. His anger motivates the massive retaliatory operation, and his ship demonstrates how much he has advanced through Hill’s teachings.
• Hill is increasingly treated as a powerful but vulnerable figure whose safety matters to others. He remains hidden and cautious, but he also shows curiosity and amusement while observing the players and elemental spirits.
• Falan is indirectly involved: Adrian’s anger and the players’ possible recklessness could have affected Falan’s territory, though Falan himself is elsewhere.
• Asking Sword, Young Wanderer Under Heaven proves that its supposedly immature players can coordinate silently and persistently when motivated by revenge.
• The reporters Witness and Recorder provide comic relief while also shaping public interpretation of events. Witness exaggerates the moral drama, portraying Adrian as Hill’s furious protector.
• Doomsday Alliance is placed in a precarious position. Its members lose their territory, suffer heavy casualties, and risk serious penalties because they began an unauthorized siege.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and retaliation: Doomsday’s attack on Black-and-White Road leads to a much larger counterattack, showing how violence rapidly escalates between player factions.
• Hidden strength and miscalculation: Doomsday assumes Hill’s territory and Adrian’s forces are irrelevant, but Adrian’s intervention turns that assumption against them.
• Protection and loyalty: Adrian’s fury stems from his belief that Hill was treated as expendable. The attack becomes both strategic retaliation and a defense of Hill.
• The unpredictability of players: Their childish reputation contrasts with their ability to organize, remain quiet, and execute a large-scale military operation.
• Public spectacle: The war is simultaneously a serious conflict and entertainment for livestream audiences, whose commentary turns the destruction into a dramatic revenge narrative.
• Observation and misunderstanding: The title’s imagery is reflected in the competing factions’ lack of awareness. Doomsday focuses on its immediate targets while overlooking Adrian and the larger forces preparing to strike from behind.

Character Interactions

• Liszt repeatedly negotiates between Adrian’s anger and the practical need to protect Hill’s territory.
• Adrian’s overheard conversation with the players intensifies his resentment toward Doomsday and leads to his decision to personally transport them.
• Hill silently observes the reporters and players, while the reporters unknowingly comment on him and his surroundings. His hidden communication with them through the tree creates a humorous contrast between his invisibility and their fascination with his territory.
• Witness and Recorder interact playfully as Recorder restrains Witness’s reckless commentary and helps him photograph Hill’s elemental spirits.
• A young player and a Wood Elemental share a moment of mutual curiosity, giving Hill a rare peaceful image amid the surrounding chaos.
• Black Rose and the Demon Cult coordinate against Doomsday’s Knights, while Asking Sword’s forces destroy Alluring City and then prepare to join the larger battle.

Chapter Summary: “Snow Fills the Bow and Blade, War Has Already Begun”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Asking Sword and Young Wanderer Under Heaven arrive aboard Adrian’s enormous, supersonic ship, joining the battle between the allied forces of Black Rose, the Demon Cult, and their enemies.
• Hill warns Adrian not to fly down because the area is sealed by the spells of over one hundred thousand players. Adrian reluctantly agrees to remain aboard the ship, where he can monitor Hill through livestream footage.
• The battle intensifies, but the situation begins turning against Doomsday. Players revived from Black-and-White Road’s territory surge out of the City Lord’s Manor and join the fight, including many independent “Red Name” players.
• Black-and-White Road’s forces, supported by hundreds of thousands of independent players, overwhelm Doomsday’s smaller army. Qingcheng’s forces are largely absent, and Young Master remains below as bait or because he died with the destroyed territory.
• Hill repairs the damaged underground hall and prepares defensive structures when the fighting unexpectedly approaches his location. He combines his power with the Earth Elemental Lord and Beech to raise wooden and earthen fortifications.
• Hill casts the Wood Law forbidden spell Stars of the Deep Forest, creating a powerful defensive and illuminating structure. He clarifies that the spell can force even a Legendary to defend, but cannot kill one outright.
• Concerned about Adrian’s safety, Hill creates hidden observation points so the reporters can see the battlefield while he remains difficult to target. He also arranges for Beech to move him randomly, reflecting his distrust of the players and fear that someone might kill him for a reward.
• After the Demons retreat, the Earth Elemental Lord returns. Witness proudly displays its Legendary-level strength to the reporters.
• Black-and-White Road launches a devastating counterattack. Mo Bi Chenxin and numerous Space-Time Sorcerers unleash Space Dragon formations that pierce Doomsday’s defenses, while Swordsmen cut through their healers.
• Doomsday struggles to rebuild its defensive formation after the Sorcerers’ powerful attack. The Abyssal Gate remains quiet, suggesting that Xue Yunfeng and the forces below are returning, potentially bringing the battle to its decisive stage.

Character Developments

• Adrian: Shows deep concern for Hill and initially wants to descend to protect him, but accepts Hill’s warning and remains aboard the ship. His restraint demonstrates both his trust in Hill and his willingness to prioritize Hill’s safety over his own impulse to intervene.
• Hill: Becomes increasingly cautious and strategic. He protects the reporters, repairs the battlefield defenses, and deliberately avoids staying in one location. His long experience with players makes him distrustful even of allies, though he still hopes Adrian will distance himself from the Undead for his own protection.
• Witness and Recorder: Continue providing humorous battlefield commentary. Witness exaggerates events and mocks Xue Yunfeng, while Recorder offers more measured analysis and corrects him. Their banter provides comic relief amid the large-scale war.
• Xue Yunfeng: Although mostly offscreen, he is portrayed as a ruthless and highly effective strategist. His decision to use revived independent players and exploit their combat instincts helps turn the battle against Doomsday.
• The players: Their behavior demonstrates both tactical coordination and unpredictability. They readily join the battle after revival, but Hill remains wary of their willingness to betray NPCs if sufficiently rewarded.

Significant Themes

• War as strategy and attrition: Numbers, revival mechanics, defensive formations, cooldowns, and battlefield positioning are as important as individual strength.
• Trust and distrust: Hill appreciates the players’ assistance but never fully trusts them, recognizing that their goals and morality differ from those of living inhabitants of his world.
• Sacrifice and restraint: Adrian’s decision not to descend prevents Hill from having to expose himself, while players willingly risk repeated deaths to gain a strategic advantage.
• The power of preparation: Black-and-White Road’s Frost Guard spells, alchemical investments, coordinated Sorcerer attacks, and prepared defenses show that obscure abilities and long-term planning can determine the outcome of war.
• The divide between player and NPC perspectives: Players treat the conflict like a game and joke about deaths, rewards, and tactics, while Hill understands that death is permanent for him and the other NPCs.

Character Interactions

• Hill communicates with Adrian through an Asking Sword player and reassures him that he is safe, while warning him not to descend.
• Witness and Recorder continually argue over commentary, especially regarding Xue Yunfeng, Young Master, and the reporters’ role in the conflict.
• Hill works mentally with Beech and the Earth Elemental Lord to construct defenses and later instructs Beech to move him unpredictably.
• Adrian watches Hill’s situation remotely, creating an emotional connection despite their physical separation.
• The reporters interact directly with Hill, asking about his magic and comparing his abilities with Legendary figures such as Falan.

Chapter Summary: “Victory Like a Bamboo Splitter, Hill’s Helpless Return Home”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle between Doomsday and Black-and-White Road ends decisively in Black-and-White Road’s favor. Doomsday’s players stop reviving and begin logging off rather than continue fighting.
• The players’ success depends heavily on Black-and-White Road’s defensive formation, especially their Knights, Swordsmen, and large number of Space-Time Sorcerers. The Sorcerers’ powerful shield-piercing ultimate devastates the enemy.
• As Doomsday collapses, Qingcheng leads over ten thousand Mages in a final bombardment aimed at killing Hill. Their Meteorfalls carpet-bomb the area, even though Hill is hidden underground.
• Hill survives by retreating into the Chamber of Secrets, dismissing or withdrawing his summoned creatures, concealing the Beech Tree Heart, and relying on the Earth Elemental Lord for protection.
• After the attack, Doomsday players who had pretended to be dead rise and log off, apparently covering Qingcheng’s assault. Hill’s allies confirm that he is alive.
• Adrian arrives aboard the golden airship, furious and worried. Hill safely boards the ship, and the two prepare to leave the battlefield.
• Xue Yunfeng reports that the victory severely damaged the Demons. Black-and-White Road has gained enormous merits, William plans to help them build a city, and the site will become a historical dungeon with a branch temple and restored Teleportation Array.
• Hill agrees to examine the recovered Demon-script stone tablets and mysterious parchments once the teleportation network is restored.
• Because Hill and Adrian have repeatedly been targeted, both Hill’s territory and Falan now restrict entry to players with Friendly reputation or higher. Hostile players will be struck by lightning, while persistent neutral players may also be punished.
• Hill leaves with Adrian, promising to keep his territory open to trusted guilds and to buy the materials they recovered. Black-and-White Road plans a victory celebration after the Teleportation Array is rebuilt.

2. Character Developments

• Hill survives another assassination attempt but becomes more conscious of the danger of associating with players. He accepts that his curiosity led him to the battlefield, yet realizes he may need to remain within his own territory for safety.
• Adrian reveals deep concern beneath his anger. He does not condemn Hill’s decision to face danger, but believes that, as Hill’s elder, he failed by allowing him to remain near a Demon army. His distrust of the Undead players intensifies.
• Xue Yunfeng demonstrates political skill and gratitude. He reassures Hill that Black-and-White Road will continue defending the battlefield and successfully preserves a cooperative relationship with him.
• Young Master remains boastful and comedic, celebrating his rise to the top of the level rankings while simultaneously being overwhelmed by the returning players and buried beneath his allies.
• Qingcheng shows that her hatred of Hill remains strong enough to risk indiscriminate attacks, even after the battle is effectively won.
• Witness and the Recorder continue providing excited commentary, but their tone shifts from detached amusement to concern over the consequences of the players’ actions.
• The Earth Elemental Lord acts loyally as Hill’s protector, shielding him from the bombardment and helping him reach Adrian.

3. Significant Themes

• The cost of player violence: Although the players treat the conflict as a game, their attacks have real consequences for NPCs. Hill’s repeated brushes with death force him and Adrian to reconsider their relationship with the Undead.
• Trust and factionalism: Neutrality becomes increasingly impossible. Hill’s territories now distinguish sharply between Friendly, neutral, and hostile players, showing how war transforms social relationships into formal political alliances.
• The divide between worlds: Hill recognizes that players may not value the survival of his world as deeply as its inhabitants do. To them, the conflict is entertainment, competition, or a game; to Hill, it is life and death.
• Family protection and responsibility: Adrian’s anger comes from affection and a sense of duty. His reaction emphasizes the emotional bond between him and Hill.
• Curiosity versus safety: Hill’s desire to investigate the Beast Tide, the earth deity, and the Demons repeatedly draws him into danger. He acknowledges that understanding the truth may require risks, but he may now have to limit his freedom.
• Victory amid lingering danger: Black-and-White Road wins overwhelmingly, yet the battlefield remains threatened by hidden Demons, damaged infrastructure, and unresolved mysteries.

4. Character Interactions

• Witness and the Recorder excitedly analyze the battle, debate the strength and rarity of Space-Time Sorcerers, and discuss the strategic importance of targeting them.
• Young Master and his allies joke about his ranking while coordinating defenses against Qingcheng’s bombardment.
• Hill and the Earth Elemental Lord cooperate closely as Hill hides underground and the Lord shields the Chamber of Secrets.
• Adrian and Hill reunite aboard the airship. Adrian scolds Hill for remaining in danger, while Hill tries to reassure him that the decision was reasonable.
• Hill and Xue Yunfeng maintain a diplomatic alliance. Hill offers continued trade and access to his territory, while Xue Yunfeng expresses gratitude and shares the rewards and future plans resulting from the victory.
• Hill and the players retain a complicated relationship: Hill does not sever ties entirely, but now limits access to those who have demonstrated loyalty or Friendly reputation.

Chapter Summary: “Seeing Olivia Off”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Adrian urges Hill to return to his teacher’s Mage Tower for safety, but Hill refuses because he must remain in his own territory. He believes his contract with the Earth Elemental Lord Korenden, another emerging lord, and his Legendary Puppet will allow him to survive a Demon attack.
• Hill explains that he can restrict access to his territory’s Teleportation Array, allowing only trusted individuals to enter. The array will still be useful to the King’s officials for governing the newly unified nation.
• The Asking Sword girl chooses to remain in Hill’s territory rather than return to Black-and-White Road. She plans to inspect Qingcheng’s city and help establish a new city elsewhere, since Black-and-White Road’s territory has gone underground.
• Adrian leaves for his Mage Tower to handle its defenses, Alchemists, and material supplies. Hill invites him to attend the upcoming victory celebration, but Adrian declines.
• Hill returns home and is warmly welcomed by Liszt, Alice, Merkel, and Cohen. He releases Sray’s shop and the visiting Elements, who return to their clans to recount their adventures.
• Hill plants Beech’s Treeheart in the square and uses his magic and the Wood Elements’ Nature magic to help the injured Beech recover. Alice promises to visit and aid him.
• Merkel has advanced to the high tier while Alice has not, largely because Alice spent her time playing and worrying about Hill instead of cultivating. Merkel is now fluent enough to scold her and takes responsibility for keeping her disciplined.
• Hill naturally advances another step within the Magus rank after resting at home. He attributes his increased natural aura to Nature’s reward for fighting Demons.
• Liszt informs Hill that several male servants want to leave for Salar after hearing about its prosperity, but they intend to abandon their wives or fiancées. Hill allows them to leave, protects the women’s property and rights, and offers financial support if couples choose to separate or leave together.
• Hill writes Olivia a recommendation letter to the archbishop of the Space-Time Temple. He effectively releases her from his service, allowing her to pursue her own future within the church. He then prepares to meet the Earth Elemental clan chief, who has been demanding his attention through Hill’s Mental Sea.

Character Developments

• Hill demonstrates growing confidence and independence. He refuses unnecessary protection, accepts responsibility for his territory, and makes measured decisions about servants and Olivia rather than trying to control their choices.
• Adrian remains protective of Hill but respects his independence. He is also visibly irritated by the Asking Sword girl and eager to return to his own responsibilities.
• The Asking Sword girl is revealed to be ambitious and practical, helping plan the creation of a new city while remaining carefree and provocative.
• Alice remains playful, impulsive, and prone to avoiding cultivation, but her concern for Hill is genuine. Her blessings may help Beech recover.
• Merkel has matured significantly after advancing to the high tier. He speaks fluently and takes on a protective, supervisory role toward Alice.
• Olivia reaches a turning point. Her preaching about Salar’s prosperity unintentionally encourages servants to abandon their families, and Hill decides she should leave his household and pursue a church career independently.
• Beech begins recovering from his dormant Treeheart, establishing the possibility that he will eventually awaken as a Treant.

Significant Themes

• Home and belonging: Hill’s return evokes deep peace and happiness, emphasizing how strongly he identifies with his territory and companions.
• Independence versus protection: Hill chooses to remain in his own territory despite danger, showing that leadership requires accepting risk rather than relying on others.
• Freedom and responsibility: Hill allows servants and Olivia to choose their own paths while ensuring that those choices do not leave the women without protection or resources.
• Growth and cultivation: Physical advancement, emotional maturity, and political development are shown as gradual processes. Even small improvements, such as Hill’s advancement or Beech’s growing roots, are meaningful.
• The consequences of words: Olivia’s preaching produces unexpected social consequences, demonstrating that good intentions can still cause harm when messages are misunderstood.
• Nature’s reward: Hill’s battle against Demons strengthens his connection with Nature, reinforcing the chapter’s link between protecting the world and receiving its blessings.

Character Interactions

• Adrian and Hill discuss security, territorial governance, and the Teleportation Array, balancing Adrian’s concern with Hill’s self-assurance.
• Adrian and the Asking Sword girl have clear tension, with Adrian barely suppressing his anger at her remarks about cities and William.
• Hill reunites affectionately with Liszt, Alice, Merkel, and Cohen, highlighting the emotional comfort of his household.
• Hill and Alice share a tender exchange over Beech’s recovery, while Merkel humorously exposes Alice’s lack of discipline.
• Hill and Liszt discuss the servants’ departure and Olivia’s future, showing their practical cooperation in managing the territory.
• Hill’s final decision regarding Olivia is restrained but significant: he gives her a recommendation and freedom rather than punishment, marking her departure from his direct authority.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hill is expelled from the Earth Elemental domain after arriving during a heated argument between Korenden and the clan chief. He wisely avoids getting involved.
• Liszt reports that Priest Olivia has accepted Hill’s recommendation and will leave the territory within three days. The Gods have approved Hill’s request to control the local church through the Lord’s Manor core.
• The women who chose to remain in Hill’s territory have divorced their husbands, surrendered the men’s property that Hill had provided, and been given the reclaimed assets. The men are permanently banned and confined to the church square.
• Hill learns that Count Perast was taken away by Manton, while the countess stayed with a marquis and Edgar disappeared. Prince Edward died when the Demons attacked his camp, and his son failed to protect him.
• Manton suspects Edgar is not the count’s biological son, likely because Edgar’s hair is unusually dark and he may fail the noble bloodline oath at age eight. Hill orders the Undead to search for Edgar and sends supplies to the count, partly to reveal that he knows the truth.
• Bourne visits after hearing about Hill’s circumstances, but Adrian sends him away. Hill is pleased to hear that Bourne’s magical abilities are improving.
• Hill discovers that the territory’s giant screen can broadcast events because the church and Lord’s Manor share one control core. He decides to use it for the upcoming celebration.
• Hill appoints the highly loyal player Old Cat as deputy mayor, responsible for Undead-related matters and control of the giant screen. Old Cat agrees to strict conditions, including remaining neutral good, staying in the territory, and obeying William’s laws.
• Old Cat prepares the broadcast, prioritizing guild channels and eventually playing entertainment livestreams. Other players gather food, drinks, and seating beneath the screen.
• The villagers watch the event with interest rather than sadness. Liszt explains that some newly empowered villagers became arrogant and mistreated their wives, prompting the Undead women to beat them up.
• As night falls, the celebration begins with a player-produced film titled Battle of the Abyss, apparently documenting the Undead’s victory against the Demons.

Character Developments

• Hill remains practical, detached, and increasingly confident in managing political and supernatural affairs. He shows both amusement and vindictiveness toward the Perast family scandal, while also recognizing the limits of his responsibility.
• Liszt continues to serve as Hill’s efficient administrator, handling church authority, property redistribution, settlement, and communications with calm precision.
• Olivia is portrayed as idealistic but naïve. She encourages people to pursue spiritual or noble ideals without recognizing the importance of financial security and practical survival.
• Manton demonstrates decisiveness by rescuing the count and investigating Edgar’s parentage, even at the cost of violating noble expectations.
• Old Cat is revealed to be unusually loyal to Hill’s territory. His appointment as deputy mayor marks the first formal political role given to a player.
• Adrian appears to take great satisfaction in the count’s misfortune, while Bourne is shown to be hardworking and steadily improving.
• The villagers’ newly acquired power exposes their arrogance and social immaturity, especially in their treatment of their wives.

Significant Themes

• Practical survival versus idealism: Hill argues that spiritual aspirations come only after people have food, shelter, and financial stability.
• Power and responsibility: The chapter explores the consequences of sudden social advancement, as villagers and players gain authority without necessarily possessing the maturity to use it responsibly.
• Institutional control and cooperation: The Space-Time Temple, the Temple of Knowledge, the Lord’s Manor, and the churches are gradually dividing responsibilities and forming a broader administrative system.
• Technology and entertainment as social tools: The giant screen and player-produced films turn public celebrations into shared spectacles and strengthen connections between natives and Undead.
• Family, legitimacy, and noble tradition: Edgar’s uncertain parentage and the count’s possible disgrace expose the rigidity and hypocrisy of noble bloodline customs.
• Humor amid crisis: Despite deaths, demonic attacks, and political turmoil, Hill and Adrian respond with sarcasm, food, gossip, and entertainment.

Character Interactions

• Hill avoids Korenden’s argument but later discusses territory affairs extensively with Liszt.
• Hill and Liszt examine the consequences of Olivia’s departure and the villagers’ divorces, with Hill criticizing Olivia’s lack of practical judgment.
• Hill reacts with disbelief and amusement as Liszt explains the countess’s possible affair and Edgar’s uncertain parentage.
• Hill and Liszt coordinate the search for Edgar and the delivery of supplies to the count.
• Hill relies on Old Cat to operate the giant screen, granting him authority under carefully defined restrictions.
• Old Cat gathers Xiao Chenhuan, Yue Xiaoluo, and other players, who create a communal viewing area with sofas, food, and alcohol.
• Liszt explains the villagers’ changed behavior and the Undead women’s response, reinforcing the contrast between the territory’s different communities.
• The chapter ends with the players’ broadcast beginning, as Xue Yunfeng introduces Battle of the Abyss to the assembled audience.

Chapter Summary: The Battle to Capture the Abyssal Gate

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hill welcomes his grandfather Falan and uncle Adrian to the Lord’s Manor. Falan examines Hill’s improved strength and warns him to avoid unnecessary risks during future travels.
• They gather to watch a recorded account of the Battle of the Abyss, hoping to learn the truth behind the legendary conflict.
• The footage shows the Undead army charging into battle against enormous Demon forces. Knights form shield walls while Swordsmen, Mages, and Priests advance behind them in carefully coordinated formations.
• The army splits into two groups:
  • The main force fights through the cavern toward the Abyssal Gate.
  • A smaller team travels through an underground tunnel to attack the gate directly.
• Falan is fascinated by the Abyssal Gate’s design and asks Hill to preserve its structure. Hill explains that the Undead can reproduce images and magical patterns through their Transcription Technique.
• Xue Yunfeng commands the battle from a central vehicle, directing guilds through timed defensive rotations. Groups repeatedly replace one another at the front so their protective skills can recover before being used again.
• At the gate, the Earth Elemental Lord Korenden and a Water Elemental Lord assist the smaller team. Korenden enlarges himself with stone and earth, while the Water Lord launches the Swordsmen toward the gate.
• The Swordsmen scatter Ice Law bombs, hold off the Demons, and create space for the Priests and Mages. Holy Rain and Blizzard combine to freeze the Abyssal Gate and temporarily prevent further Demon reinforcements from emerging.
• Meanwhile, the main army deliberately attracts and destroys the flying Demons. The Space-Time Sorcerers unleash their stored abilities in a coordinated attack, while the rest of the army reorganizes into a Triangle Formation.
• The Earth Elemental Lord destabilizes the cavern, while the Water Elemental Lord maintains the ice sealing the gate. The main army eventually defeats most of the Demons inside the cavern.
• When the gate is partially opened, the Demons attempt to attack, but the players counter by firing and physically throwing huge numbers of Ice Spears through the opening.
• The battle concludes with the Undead unable to break the gate itself. Xue Yunfeng begins looking for another solution and approaches Perfect Baldhead, apparently planning to use his single carriage for the next stage of the operation.

Character Developments

• Hill has become stronger and more experienced after his travels. His calm explanations and familiarity with the battle reveal his close understanding of the Undead and their tactics. He is also amused by the heavily edited, heroic presentation of events, remembering how chaotic and profane the real battle was.
• Falan remains strict but clearly relieved and pleased by Hill’s safe return. His teasing shows his affection, while his comments reveal his deep interest in the Abyssal Gate and the Undead’s unusual methods.
• Adrian is impressed by the players’ courage and coordination, especially when he realizes that his Ice Law bombs are being used in the battle. He also recognizes Young Master and praises the effectiveness of the Undead’s large-scale tactics.
• Xue Yunfeng is established as an exceptionally capable battlefield commander. His rapid orders, timed rotations, formation changes, and willingness to exploit every available resource keep the army functioning under extreme pressure.
• Perfect Baldhead and Young Master appear as prominent frontline figures. Their blood-covered avatars and steadfast behavior earn Hill’s and the observers’ respect.
• The Elemental Lords demonstrate their value as allies. Korenden supports the army by manipulating the cavern’s structure, while the Water Elemental Lord transports troops, protects the spellcasters, and helps seal the gate.
• Falan and Adrian’s view of the Undead shifts toward admiration. Though their methods are strange and reckless, their discipline, resilience, and strategic creativity are recognized as extraordinary.

Significant Themes

• Coordination and discipline: The battle succeeds because countless individuals follow precise orders and maintain formations despite chaos and heavy casualties.
• Sacrifice and persistence: The Undead repeatedly die, endure overwhelming attacks, and continue advancing without fear, making death a tactical cost rather than an absolute defeat.
• The contrast between heroism and reality: The polished recording presents the battle as noble and cinematic, while Hill remembers the disorder, mistakes, and furious shouting that were edited out.
• Innovation through repetition: The players’ successful tactics are portrayed as the result of countless past failures and accumulated experience.
• Cooperation across groups: Players, guilds, Elemental Lords, Mages, Priests, and Swordsmen combine their different abilities to accomplish what none could achieve alone.
• The limits of conventional power: Even after defeating huge numbers of Demons, the army cannot simply destroy the Abyssal Gate, suggesting that the gate is protected by forces beyond ordinary magic.

Character Interactions

• Falan and Adrian warmly greet Hill, with Falan inspecting him and warning him while Adrian praises his progress.
• Falan and Adrian watch the battle with growing amazement, repeatedly commenting on the Undead’s endurance and tactics.
• Hill explains the Undead’s bodies, copied techniques, and combat methods to his family, acting as a bridge between their world and the players’ world.
• Falan teases Hill about his possible future as a Legendary figure, prompting a silent, amused exchange between Hill and Adrian.
• The observers recognize Korenden’s connection to Xue Yunfeng, leading to further teasing about Hill’s relationships and future prospects.
• Xue Yunfeng commands the guild leaders harshly but effectively, especially Perfect Baldhead and Young Master, revealing the practical and often abusive style behind the battle’s impressive public image.
• At the end, Xue Yunfeng approaches Perfect Baldhead about borrowing his carriage, creating a humorous contrast with the seriousness of the battle and hinting at another unconventional plan.

Chapter Summary: “Battle of the Abyss”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xue Yunfeng obtains the vehicle needed for the assault after Xiao Liuliu breaks up his confrontation with Perfect Baldhead. The footage of their argument is expected to become a source of jokes among the players.
• He organizes a massive player expedition to the Abyss. An ice bridge created by the Water Elemental Lord allows tens of thousands of players to reach the Abyssal Gate, while two carriages loaded with alchemical explosives lead the charge.
• The players pass through the gate and unleash their attacks on the Demons. The explosive carriages are destroyed, killing many players and Demons, but the rest of the force successfully enters the Abyss.
• After the entire army crosses, the Water Elemental Lord destroys the bridge, and the Earth Elemental Lord collapses the surrounding terrain to prevent pursuit. However, the Abyssal Gate remains completely unaffected, demonstrating its immense power.
• The players arrive in the first layer of the Abyss, the Ten-Thousand Abyss Plains, an enormous volcanic region filled with poisonous mist, foul air, extreme heat, and dangerous terrain. An Iron Fortress looms above them, apparently ruled by at least a Legendary Demon.
• Xue Yunfeng reorganizes the survivors into a layered circular defensive formation, combining Knights, Priests, Mages, and Swordsmen. The players endure violent winds, sparks, toxic conditions, and attacks from the Demon army.
• Blizzard combined with Holy Rain severely weakens the Demons, allowing the players to hold their ground. The battle also reveals that the Abyss itself disrupts the world’s natural laws and is extremely dangerous to anyone below Legendary rank.
• The commander of the Iron Fortress eventually attacks: a gigantic female Six-Armed Serpent Fiend accompanied by several powerful guards. The players suffer heavy casualties but gradually isolate and defeat her escorts.
• When the Serpent Fiend attempts to flee, the players use improvised fishing nets—made from materials originally provided by Hill—to restrain her. Xue Yunfeng orders everyone to use their ultimate skills and finish her before reinforcements arrive.
• Just as the players bring her down, a gigantic claw descends from the sky and crushes both the Serpent Fiend and many players. Hill recognizes it as possibly belonging to Pazuzu, the Abyss Sky Lord, an entity even more powerful than a god.

Character Developments

• Xue Yunfeng demonstrates exceptional battlefield leadership and tactical adaptability. He coordinates the mass assault, manages the defensive formation, adjusts to the Abyss’s hazards, and prioritizes keeping the Priests alive.
• Perfect Baldhead remains a comic target during the opening sequence but later participates in the battle as one of the fighters assisting against the Serpent Fiend.
• Xiao Liuliu displays foresight and practical judgment by stopping Xue Yunfeng and Perfect Baldhead before their conflict produces even more embarrassing footage.
• Hill continues to serve as an observer and supporter. His sturdy rope, originally intended for fishing, becomes an unexpectedly crucial tool in trapping the Serpent Fiend. He also repeatedly casts Purification on Falan.
• Falan gains a deeper understanding of the Abyss’s nature. He recognizes its chaotic laws and realizes that even Legendary beings cannot remain there indefinitely. The appearance of the massive claw leaves him visibly terrified.
• Adrian remains thoughtful and socially aware. He sees how Blizzard-and-Holy-Rain tactics could become standard military practice and how producing Blizzard scrolls could provide employment for lower-ranking Mages.
• The players as a whole evolve from a chaotic invading force into a disciplined army capable of coordinating complex formations, sacrificing themselves strategically, and holding against overwhelming Demon numbers.

Significant Themes

• Human ingenuity against overwhelming power: The players compensate for their relative weakness through organization, explosives, elemental magic, improvised equipment, and coordinated sacrifice.
• The limits of mortal strength: The unchanged Abyssal Gate and the appearance of Pazuzu’s claw emphasize that the Abyss contains forces far beyond ordinary heroes or armies.
• Teamwork and military discipline: Survival depends on each class fulfilling a specific role—Knights forming the shield wall, Priests sustaining the group, Mages controlling the battlefield, and Swordsmen protecting vulnerable units.
• The danger of knowledge and exploration: The expedition is partly a test of how far the players can advance, but the Abyss proves unpredictable and hostile even before they reach its deeper regions.
• Humor amid catastrophe: Embarrassing footage, jokes about Baldhead, complaints about the Abyss’s smell, and the use of fishing nets relieve the grimness of the mass battle.
• Social responsibility and opportunity: Adrian’s discussion of Blizzard scrolls highlights how military needs can create livelihoods for ordinary Mages outside royal or religious service.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Liuliu separates Xue Yunfeng and Perfect Baldhead, preventing their argument from escalating.
• Xue Yunfeng teases Young Master about being an ineffective guild leader, while Young Master angrily protests.
• Xue Yunfeng gives direct, often exasperated orders to every class, especially the Priests and Knights, maintaining control during the storm and Demon assault.
• Adrian and Hill discuss the Abyss, the purpose of Demon invasions, and the economic opportunities created by large-scale Mage recruitment.
• Falan explains the Abyss’s chaotic nature to Hill and Adrian, while Hill protects him with repeated Purification spells.
• Old Cat and Yue Xiaoluo provide humorous commentary during the appearance of the Six-Armed Serpent Fiend.
• July, Perfect Baldhead, and Young Master are ordered to help hold the Demon commander while the rest of the players divide and destroy her forces.
• Hill’s old fishing equipment becomes essential to the players’ strategy, linking his earlier preparations to the climactic battle.
• The chapter ends with Hill protecting Falan after Pazuzu’s claw appears, underscoring the growing trust and concern between them.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins with the aftermath of the battle in the Abyss. Although Old Cat complains about not participating, the players celebrate their victory, proclaiming that they defeated the boss.
• Adrian and Hill escape aboard a golden ship, symbolizing the successful completion of the mission to protect Hill. Their survival means the players fulfilled King William’s orders.
• The rewards for the battle are revealed:
  • Black-and-White Road rises to fourth place in military merits, surpassing Doomsday.
  • Young Master becomes the number-one player on the level rankings, an extraordinary achievement for someone from a PvP-focused guild.
  • The Abyssal Gate is severely damaged, preventing the Legendary Demon from passing through for three hundred years.
• Hill explains that the gate’s destruction is especially significant because it blocks Pazuzu, an immensely powerful Abyssal Lord. Falan is troubled by the revelation of how powerful such beings are, while Hill reflects that the Abyss threatens worlds through the corruption of their inhabitants’ hearts.
• The story shifts to a grand New Year celebration held in Black-and-White Road’s renovated underground territory. The cavern is decorated with crystal lamps, fountains, stands, food, alcohol, fireworks, and a large stage.
• Xue Yunfeng hands hosting duties to Brush with Heart, joking that everyone is tired of his constant scolding.
• Brush with Heart announces the birth of Cunlü and Mr. Nanfeng’s daughter, described as a precious little princess. The announcement is met with cheers, blessings, fireworks, and celebration.
• An orchestra performs a festive piece, “Celebrating Spring Festival.” Young Master unexpectedly appears as the conductor, revealing that he studies conducting at the National Conservatory.

2. Character Developments

• Hill remains observant and analytical, quickly understanding the significance of the battle rewards and the damaged Abyssal Gate. He also becomes increasingly fascinated by the players’ culture, music, festivals, and emotional openness.
• Adrian learns that his and Hill’s escape represented the players’ successful completion of their mission. He is impressed by the players’ fireworks, instruments, and complicated personalities.
• Falan recognizes the frightening scale of the Abyssal threat but is reassured by the fact that the Legendary Demon cannot cross the damaged gate.
• Old Cat regrets missing the battle after realizing how valuable the experience rewards were. He also remains cynical and outspoken during the celebration.
• Xue Yunfeng shows his familiar humorous and domineering leadership style but willingly gives the stage to Brush with Heart for the New Year festivities.
• Brush with Heart appears joyful, confident, and radiant as the celebration’s host. Her happiness suggests that she may have gained hope regarding her complicated relationship with Ink Pen Chenxin.
• Ink Pen Chenxin is discussed as a wealthy former playboy caught in an exhausting romantic situation involving Brush with Heart and Powder and Ink, Heartless. His future within the guild appears uncertain.
• Young Master surprises everyone by revealing his serious musical training and conducting ability, contrasting sharply with his image as a prominent PvP player.

3. Significant Themes

• Victory and communal celebration: The players transform a dangerous battlefield into a place of fellowship, showing how shared hardship strengthens community.
• The contrast between destruction and beauty: The Abyss, demons, and ruined territory are contrasted with music, fireworks, food, art, and festive decorations.
• Cultural exchange: Hill, Adrian, and Falan encounter New Year customs, fireworks, orchestral music, and instruments unfamiliar to them, emphasizing the differences between their world and the players’ world.
• Hope amid overwhelming danger: Even though the Abyss contains beings more powerful than deities, the damaged gate offers a period of safety. The celebration allows everyone to enjoy peace without forgetting the larger threat.
• The complexity of people: The characters repeatedly note that the Undead players possess contradictory, sophisticated personalities. Their playful behavior coexists with courage, artistry, affection, and emotional problems.
• Achievement beyond appearances: Young Master’s role as a conductor challenges everyone’s assumptions about him and demonstrates that identity cannot be reduced to his reputation as a fighter or guild member.

4. Character Interactions

• Old Cat and Xiao Chenhuan bicker over Old Cat’s laziness and his regret at missing the battle.
• Hill quietly explains to Adrian why their escape was included among the battle’s rewards, helping Adrian understand the players’ mission.
• Hill informs Falan and Adrian about the damaged Abyssal Gate, easing their concerns while also revealing the terrifying power of Pazuzu.
• Xue Yunfeng humorously criticizes the players before inviting Brush with Heart to host the celebration.
• Yeyu Qingyu and Yue Xiaoluo gossip about the romantic conflict between Brush with Heart, Powder and Ink, Heartless, and Ink Pen Chenxin. The others listen with varying degrees of amusement and concern.
• Yeyu Qingyu expresses sympathy for Brush with Heart, while Xiao Chenhuan worries that Ink Pen Chenxin may eventually leave the guild or abandon the game.
• Brush with Heart warmly announces the birth of Cunlü and Mr. Nanfeng’s daughter, bringing the entire crowd together in celebration.
• Adrian and Falan admire the music and instruments, while Hill recognizes similarities between the performance and music from his own world.
• Young Master’s unexpected appearance as conductor shocks the spectators and creates a humorous contrast between his artistic talent and his established image as a competitive player.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Spring Festival Overture, Young Master leads the orchestra in the “Triumphal March,” prompting discussion of war, victory, and the fact that peace is often reclaimed through violence.
• The Undead continue their musical celebration with lighter performances. During the festivities, Falan privately tells Hill that the King apologizes for the dangers Hill faced during the recent mission. The King offers Hill a consolation gift, acknowledging that the Undead’s game-like attitude created an unforeseen loophole.
• Falan explains that he considered bringing Hill back to the Mage Tower for safety but believes Hill must remain in his own territory to grow. He warns Hill not to leave secretly and emphasizes the importance of continuing to advance in strength.
• Hill discusses his inherited languages, including Elvish, Dwarven, temple common, and divine script. Falan realizes that Hill’s inherited Elven bloodline may come from an exceptionally powerful and possibly ancient Elf.
• Because Demon materials and scripts may be dangerous, Hill proposes converting the Lord’s Manor into a secure research facility rather than using his environmentally unsuitable Mage Tower. Falan agrees to have scholars study the materials there.
• The orchestra concludes with “Ode to Joy.” During the performance, the divine phantom of Queen Spencer appears with Little William. The Undead alter the lyrics to honor them, causing Spencer to become the recognized Goddess of Art and Education, while Little William becomes the god of art and entertainment.
• Spencer and William are elevated from subordinate deities to independent members of the Space-Time Pantheon, gaining the ability to establish their own Divine Kingdoms. Spencer’s appearance also produces Holy Water, greatly benefiting Black-and-White Road.
• Young Master angrily insists on continuing to call Spencer the Goddess of Joy, refusing to admit that the Undead helped create a goddess associated with education. His outburst causes widespread laughter.
• After the celebration, Hill assigns Old Cat responsibility for managing the Undead connected to the church and instructs Liszt to begin expanding and remodeling the Lord’s Manor.
• The chapter ends with Hill learning that William plans to station troops along Kortez’s southern border and has called upon the players for assistance.

Character Developments

• Hill becomes more openly spoiled, playful, and emotionally expressive after realizing how deeply Falan and Adrian care for him. He jokes about still being a “minor” because of his Elven and Earth Bear lifespans.
• Hill also demonstrates growing responsibility. He accepts the need to remain in his territory, organizes a secure research center, manages the Undead, and prepares to host visiting Mages.
• Falan shows both regret and affection toward Hill. He worries that his lack of power forced Hill to take risks, but he ultimately encourages Hill to keep progressing rather than retreating into safety.
• Adrian continues to tease and support Hill, helping lighten the mood while remaining concerned about his well-being.
• Queen Spencer completes her transformation into a true goddess of art and education, joining the Space-Time Pantheon.
• Little William also rises to divine status, becoming associated with art and entertainment.
• Young Master is humorously characterized by his intense dislike of education, despite having unintentionally helped create the Goddess of Education.
• Liszt takes on a more important administrative role, coordinating the massive renovation and practical arrangements for the visiting scholars and Undead.

Significant Themes

• Peace and violence: The Triumphal March raises the idea that peace is often achieved only after conflict and sacrifice.
• Growth versus protection: Falan’s decision not to remove Hill from danger reflects the theme that excessive safety can prevent personal growth.
• The power of collective belief and culture: The Undead’s performance and altered lyrics directly influence divine identities and portfolios, showing how shared worship, emotion, and artistic expression can shape the gods.
• Education versus entertainment: Spencer’s ascension creates a comic contrast between the lofty importance of education and the players’ reluctance to acknowledge it.
• Formation of a human pantheon: Spencer and William joining the Space-Time Pantheon marks a major shift, as humanity begins forming a divine alliance comparable to the ancient Elven and Dwarven pantheons.
• Cultural exchange between worlds: Music from Hill’s former world carries universal ideals of joy, freedom, equality, victory, and hope into the new world.
• Preparation for future conflict: The planned study of Demon materials and William’s military mobilization suggest that the celebrations are followed by serious preparations for the ongoing demonic invasion and political tensions.

Character Interactions

• Hill and Falan discuss the King’s apology, Hill’s safety, and the importance of becoming stronger.
• Adrian teases Hill about his childish complaints, while Falan and Adrian both recognize that Hill is becoming more uninhibited.
• Hill, Falan, and Adrian discuss Hill’s bloodline languages and the possible identity of the ancient Elf within his inheritance.
• Hill negotiates with Falan over where Demon research should take place, ultimately persuading him to use the Lord’s Manor.
• Young Master’s rejection of the title “Goddess of Education” becomes the comic centerpiece of the celebration, amusing Hill and the other players.
• Hill gives Old Cat and Liszt authority over the Undead and the renovation project, establishing a clearer administrative structure in his territory.
• Hill warns the players to behave around the visiting Mages, while Old Cat cautions that scholarly ability does not guarantee good character.

Chapter Summary: “All Prepared, Awaiting Visitors”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hill oversees the completion of extensive renovations to his territory in preparation for the Undead delivering Demonic research materials.
• Falan has arranged for the Demon research center to be established in Hill Territory. This ensures Hill receives the research results while avoiding the political backlash that would come from keeping all Demon-related matters under his sole control.
• Hill constructs defenses and purification measures throughout the territory:
  • Natural Elemental Law Purification Formations beneath the central square.
  • Forest Formations along roads leading to the villagers’ and players’ residences.
  • Treants serve as the cores of these formations, with different species assigned to different areas.
  • Thorn Treants guard the players’ residential road, while flower Treants decorate the area around the giant screen.
• More than twenty Treants volunteer to leave their usual home and participate, motivated by curiosity about the many mages expected to visit. Hill accepts them but warns that becoming a formation core will temporarily prevent them from moving.
• Hill establishes further safeguards, including patrolling puppets and arrangements designed to protect the territory’s residents and prevent unauthorized experimentation or attacks.
• Falan and Adrian arrive to observe Hill’s work. They praise the strength of his purification abilities, though Falan warns that Hill must not become dependent on luck or Nature’s favor.
• Adrian brings a portable communicator that can contact the Salarian king directly. The king has ordered hundreds of similar devices, creating a profitable new industry for Hill and Falan.
• Adrian also gives Hill a high-tier Tower Spirit for the Lord’s Manor. It is configured as a female assistant who will receive visitors and obey Liszt’s commands.
• Adrian explains that high-tier Tower Spirits are essential income sources for Archmage-level alchemists, so Hill must not undercut their price or sell inferior products cheaply.
• Old Cat arrives and questions the excessive defenses. Hill assigns him responsibility for managing the Undead, instructing him to work with Liszt and help interpret the players’ behavior and thinking.
• Xue Yunfeng teleports into the territory with a large group of players and allies, bringing the items connected to the Demons. Hill welcomes them and leads them to Falan and Adrian, who are waiting in the Lord’s Manor with the isolation containers already opened.

Character Developments

• Hill demonstrates growing confidence and decisiveness. Having defeated a Demon, he is now far less hesitant about using lethal force against anyone who threatens his territory. He also shows increasing skill as a territorial lord, balancing hospitality, security, commerce, and political concerns.
• Falan continues to act protectively toward Hill. He does not want Hill exposed to the dangers of Demon Script, but he also ensures Hill benefits from the research by placing the project within Hill Territory.
• Adrian remains practical, playful, and commercially minded. He helps Hill manage the territory’s magical infrastructure while warning him not to damage the alchemical economy by selling high-tier Tower Spirits too cheaply.
• Liszt is shown as Hill’s reliable administrator, responsible for coordinating construction, managing the Treants, handling visitors, and operating the new Tower Spirit.
• Old Cat embraces his new position as deputy mayor, though his impulsive curiosity and dismissive attitude toward the Undead suggest he may cause trouble. Nevertheless, Hill recognizes that Old Cat is uniquely suited to mediate between the Undead and the territory’s residents.
• Xue Yunfeng acts as the organized representative of the players, bringing a large delegation while attempting to reassure Hill that they will behave.
• The Treants and Wood Elementals reveal their strong curiosity about human mages and the wider world. Their eagerness leads Hill to accommodate them despite his concerns for their safety.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and controlled openness: Hill prepares extensively for the arrival of dangerous Demon-related materials while still allowing outsiders into his territory.
• Trust and political compromise: Falan’s decision to host the research in Hill Territory reflects the need to balance public transparency, personal safety, and Hill’s interests.
• Protection versus curiosity: The Treants willingly accept restrictions because they value the chance to observe mages, while Hill must protect them from exploitation.
• Responsibility and leadership: Hill is increasingly forced to make difficult decisions as a lord, including how to regulate visitors, defend civilians, and manage the Undead.
• Luck versus personal ability: Falan acknowledges Hill’s extraordinary natural affinity and good fortune but warns that relying too heavily on luck could undermine his growth.
• Economic fairness: Adrian emphasizes that Hill’s wealth and influence should not destabilize the livelihoods of other alchemists.
• Cultural misunderstanding: Old Cat’s role highlights the gap between the Undead players’ mentality and that of the living inhabitants of Hill Territory.

Important Character Interactions

• Hill and the Treants negotiate the conditions for using them as Forest Formation cores, with Hill carefully explaining the long-term restrictions.
• Falan and Adrian discuss Hill’s extraordinary purification abilities and his reliance on Nature’s favor, though Hill does not hear their conversation.
• Adrian advises Hill on the economics of Tower Spirits and prevents him from accidentally undermining other alchemists.
• Adrian playfully arranges for Hill’s new Tower Spirit to have a female form so she will appear less threatening while receiving guests.
• Hill instructs Old Cat to cooperate with Liszt in handling the Undead, while Old Cat jokes about ejecting unreasonable visitors.
• Hill and Xue Yunfeng exchange overly formal greetings before Hill leads the arriving players to the Lord’s Manor, signaling the beginning of the Demon-related research operation.

Chapter Summary: “The Cause of the Beast Tide”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xue Yunfeng delivers spoils from the Abyss to Hill, Adrian, and Falan’s laboratory. Hill discovers that several steles are written in Divine Script and identifies dozens of items containing both demonic and divine auras.
• The Divine Script steles are isolated, copied, and removed from public access. Hill realizes that their contents may reveal the truth behind the Beast Tide and orders the materials to be preserved for King William.
• Liszt unveils the Lord’s Manor’s new Tower Spirit, a beautiful woman named Martha. Hill is deeply embarrassed because her appearance resembles an idealized “dream goddess” he created during his teenage years. He names her quickly and retreats to his room.
• Hill translates the Divine Script and uncovers the historical cause of the Beast Tide:
  • The Goddess of Springwater and the Goddess of Lakewater were sisters who had once been close.
  • Springwater became jealous because Lakewater was more widely worshipped and intended to help awaken the Sea God.
  • Lakewater fell in love with the Wolf God, a powerful beast Demigod preparing to ascend and unify the Wilds.
  • Springwater manipulated beast Demigods into rebelling against the Wolf God, then collaborated with a Demon Lord to open Abyssal Gates through the earth veins.
  • The Abyssal invasion spread far beyond the Wilds, forcing the Elves, Dwarves, and their Gods into the war.
  • When the situation became disastrous, Springwater withdrew into her Divine Kingdom and abandoned the consequences of her actions.
  • The Wolf God and Lakewater ultimately shattered their Divine Fires together to seal the earth and purify the Water Law, sacrificing themselves to protect the world.
  • The Gale Wolf, a loyal follower, entered the Abyss to continue fighting and left the steles so future generations would remember the true deeds of his Gods.
• Hill concludes that the hatred of the surviving beast Demigods toward humanity arose from this ancient betrayal and the deaths of their Gods. This hatred eventually became the foundation of the Beast Tide.
• Hill prepares a carefully copied account of the translation and sends it to King William through Xue Yunfeng. He also orders the other divine and demonic artifacts to be sealed and delivered to the king.
• William is currently inspecting Kortez’s southern border before returning to the capital. An announcement warns that Demons may appear on a large scale in three months.
• In response, Hill halts other alchemical work and orders the production of Frost Bombs. He also plans to buy Holy Water to give the bombs a sacred attribute, preparing for the coming demonic threat.

Character Developments

• Hill: Becomes increasingly serious and burdened by the revelation of the past. He moves from curiosity to responsibility, recognizing that the information concerns Gods and may affect the entire world. His embarrassment over Martha also reveals his sensitivity and lingering discomfort with his youthful past. He decides to act cautiously by involving William rather than allowing mages or players to access dangerous divine secrets.
• Xue Yunfeng: Demonstrates reliability by continuing to assist with the investigation and immediately accepting the mission to deliver Hill’s letter to William.
• Liszt: Successfully configures Martha but unknowingly exposes Hill’s embarrassing personal history. After noticing Hill’s discomfort, he checks whether he has made a mistake and respectfully withdraws.
• Falan and Adrian: Help organize and secure the Abyssal spoils. Falan recognizes Hill’s incompatibility with demonic artifacts and ensures that he leaves the dangerous laboratory.
• William: Although he does not appear directly, his role becomes more important. Hill trusts him to handle the divine revelations and prepare the kingdom for the anticipated demonic invasion.
• The Wolf God, Goddess of Lakewater, and Gale Wolf: Their historical roles are reinterpreted. They are revealed as protectors and victims rather than causes of the Beast Tide.
• The Goddess of Springwater: Is exposed as the primary instigator of the ancient catastrophe, driven by jealousy and fear of losing influence.
• The God of Nobles: Is shown to have encouraged conflict indirectly by sowing discord, though Springwater was the one who took the decisive and destructive action.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and divine corruption: Springwater’s envy transforms a close sisterly relationship into betrayal and catastrophe.
• Historical truth versus official memory: The steles preserve a version of history that may have been erased or distorted by surviving Gods and political powers.
• The consequences of unchecked ambition: Efforts to awaken powerful Gods and unify the Wilds provoke opposition and ultimately create a war that devastates multiple races.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: The Wolf God, Lakewater, and Gale Wolf give everything to defend the land, contrasting sharply with Springwater’s cowardly retreat.
• The origins of racial hatred: The Beast Tide is presented not as mindless aggression but as the result of ancient grief, manipulation, and resentment toward humanity and other races.
• Power, faith, and political influence: Divine strength depends heavily on worship, and the struggle over faith shapes the actions of Gods and the development of human institutions.
• Preparation against catastrophe: Hill responds to the coming demonic threat through practical planning, cooperation with William, and the development of sacred weapons.

Character Interactions

• Hill, Adrian, Falan, and the players cooperate in cataloguing and securing the Abyssal spoils.
• Perfect Baldhead shows interest in the Divine Script and offers to copy it, while Hill and Falan ensure that the dangerous inscriptions remain restricted.
• Liszt presents Martha to Hill and the players, creating an unintentionally humiliating but humorous scene.
• Hill reassures Liszt that Martha’s appearance was not his fault, then privately confronts his own embarrassment.
• Hill communicates with William indirectly through Xue Yunfeng, entrusting the king with the translated history and divine artifacts.
• Hill and Liszt coordinate the kingdom’s preparations, shifting the focus of the Mage Tower toward producing Frost Bombs and acquiring Holy Water before the predicted demon invasion.

Chapter Summary: “Three Gods, Each with Their Own Fate”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Falan visits Hill after receiving the truth about the Beast Tide and the Goddess of Springwater’s betrayal. Hill explains that he copied the official report and had Xue Yunfeng deliver it directly to William, King of the Three Kingdoms.
• After reading the report, Falan loses his composure, realizing how serious the situation is. He orders Hill and Adrian to remain cautious and announces that he will stop taking custom commissions so he can focus on pursuing the Legendary realm. Adrian will manage the Mage Tower in his absence.
• Xue Yunfeng and several Sorcerers teleport the evidence directly away, presumably to the Divine Kingdom of Space-Time. In exchange for keeping silent, Xue Yunfeng is ordered to receive three days of baptism at the Space-Time Temple.
• Hill spends the waiting period working on an alchemical pendant that can carry elements with him. He experiments with soil, vines, and Wood Elementals inside it.
• William unexpectedly announces that an important revelation will be broadcast through the giant screens across the world. Hill gathers the people, mages, Elementals, Treants, and Magical Beasts in his territory to watch.
• Before the statue of the God of Space-Time, William invokes several Gods as witnesses and reads a Divine Script document exposing the Goddess of Springwater’s collusion with Demons.
• The World Consciousness amplifies the broadcast throughout the world. As the Goddess’s followers abandon their faith, her Divine Kingdom collapses. She attempts to defend herself, claiming that a Demon deceived her and that she never intended to betray the world.
• The God of Space-Time freezes and destroys the Goddess of Springwater and her Divine Kingdom. William declares that the God of Space-Time despises traitors.
• The God of Nobility and Sovereignty, Arturas, abandons the Love Goddess, Medea, after the plan fails. He rejects love as useless to nobles and cuts her Divine Kingdom down.
• Medea admits that she once misunderstood love by restricting it to the nobility, but declares that she never truly abandoned it. She breaks free from Arturas’s influence, returns to neutral alignment, and begins advocating love as mutual support rather than dependence or social privilege.

Character Developments

• Hill remains cautious and perceptive. He understands the emotional weight of the revelation and hopes the Goddess of Springwater will be destroyed rather than corrupted into an Evil God. He also acts as a responsible lord by organizing his territory to witness William’s announcement.
• Falan is deeply shaken and enraged by the Goddess’s betrayal. His reaction reveals how personally he feels the threat to the world he was born in. He also formally prepares to advance toward the Legendary realm and entrusts his Mage Tower to Adrian.
• Adrian is anxious but more composed because he knows when the truth will be revealed. He helps copy the secret documents and prepares to assume responsibility for Falan’s tower.
• William takes decisive public action, using divine witnesses, Divine Script, and the World Consciousness to expose the betrayal and ensure that the truth cannot be concealed.
• Xue Yunfeng proves reliable and discreet, carrying out the dangerous delivery and accepting the secrecy imposed through his baptism.
• The Goddess of Springwater is revealed as selfish, jealous, and dangerously short-sighted. Although she claims she was deceived, her dependence on faith leaves her powerless once her followers turn against her.
• Medea, the Love Goddess undergoes the most positive transformation. She recognizes her mistaken ideology, rejects Arturas’s manipulation, and redefines love as mutual achievement rather than dependence or aristocratic privilege.
• Arturas, the God of Nobility and Sovereignty, becomes openly aligned with evil. His rejection of love exposes his belief that relationships exist only for political benefit.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and accountability: The Goddess of Springwater’s betrayal is treated as an unforgivable crime because she endangered the entire world for selfish reasons.
• Faith as both power and vulnerability: The Goddess’s power depends almost entirely on belief. Once her followers reject her, her Divine Kingdom collapses.
• Truth and divine judgment: William’s use of Divine Script and multiple divine witnesses ensures that the accusation is objectively verifiable. The World Consciousness itself helps spread the truth.
• Redemption through self-recognition: Medea demonstrates that a god can recover from a mistaken path by acknowledging failure and changing course.
• Love versus political dependence: The chapter contrasts Medea’s new understanding of love with Arturas’s cynical belief that all relationships are based on advantage.
• The consequences of selfishness: Both the Goddess of Springwater and Arturas prioritize personal or political interests, but their choices lead to destruction, isolation, or moral corruption.

Important Character Interactions

• Hill and Falan: Falan seeks Hill’s confirmation of the crisis, while Hill reassures him and accepts his instructions to remain hidden and cautious.
• Falan and Adrian: Falan transfers responsibility for the Mage Tower to Adrian, signaling both trust and his intention to pursue a higher realm of power.
• Hill and Liszt: Liszt keeps Hill informed about the evidence’s removal and the upcoming broadcast, while Hill directs him to prepare the territory.
• Hill and the Elementals/Magical Beasts: Hill organizes them as witnesses but also humorously disciplines the two pig Magical Beasts to prevent them from damaging the Treants’ forest.
• William and the Gods: William calls upon the Knowledge God, God of Commerce and Contracts, Goddess of Agriculture, and God of Smithing and Craftsmen to witness his declaration.
• Arturas and Medea: Arturas abandons and diminishes Medea after their plan fails, prompting her to sever herself from his influence and reclaim her own beliefs.
• The Goddess of Springwater and the world: Her desperate defense is overwhelmed by the rejection of her followers, demonstrating that her public image of gentleness cannot survive the revelation of her betrayal.

Chapter Summary: “Love Is the Eternal Topic”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A funeral is held for the gods who sacrificed themselves to protect the land tens of thousands of years ago. Merkel leads the Magical Beasts in a mournful howl, while the Water Elementals create a towering column of water and Hill performs a mage’s salute.
• Merkel’s aura suddenly strengthens, approaching the Legendary level. Hill suspects that Merkel may possess the bloodline or inheritance of a fallen Demigod. His growing power is connected to the dissipation of his resentment and bloodlust.
• The Love Goddess’s declaration profoundly affects several women in Hill’s territory. They realize that ordinary people, especially women, have the right to pursue love without depending on powerful men for survival.
• Inspired by this realization, several female villagers advance to become Knights. Hill has the constructs and Treants protect them while they meditate and break through.
• Falan and Adrian arrive with visiting mages, though formal introductions are postponed until the reception banquet.
• The players interpret the recent divine events as game lore, but Yue Xiaoluo reflects seriously on the Love Goddess’s message. She acknowledges that love should be free and equal rather than a privilege controlled by the strong.
• Merkel decides to remain in Hill’s territory. He explains that the territory’s safety and freedom suit him, and that Alice helps suppress his violent instincts. He then takes Alice away for training.
• As elemental power weakens throughout the world and the winds begin to change, Hill decides to study Wind Law in hopes of reaching the Legendary level and gaining the World Consciousness’s favor.
• Many Magical Beasts prepare to hibernate because of the changing environment. To help them, Hill creates a purified fountain decorated with symbols representing the Wolf God and the Goddess of Lakewater.
• Hill worries that another Great Beast Tide may soon occur, possibly alongside the coming Demon invasion. He suspects the gods are allowing nations to request aid only when they can no longer survive on their own.
• After resting, Hill meets Cohen, who has nearly reached the Magus stage. Cohen’s cultivation was interrupted by the previous day’s commotion, prompting him to check on Hill.

Character Developments

• Merkel: His grief and resentment lessen, allowing his strength to surge toward the Legendary level. He chooses to stay with Hill and acknowledges that Alice keeps his destructive instincts under control.
• Alice: Her playful, affectionate behavior contrasts with Merkel’s intimidating power. Despite being teased for her former weakness, she proudly accepts Merkel’s praise and is taken away for training.
• Hill: He becomes increasingly protective of both the villagers and Magical Beasts. He supports the female villagers’ breakthroughs, prepares defenses for the territory, plans to study Wind Law, and creates a healing fountain for hibernating beasts.
• Female villagers: They overcome emotional despair and internalized beliefs that love is something only the strong deserve. Their newfound resolve directly leads to their advancement as Knights.
• Yue Xiaoluo: She revises her earlier criticism of the Love Goddess and recognizes the message as a defense of equal, sincere love.
• Cohen: He resumes awareness of the outside world after secluded cultivation and approaches the Magus stage.

Significant Themes

• Love as an equal right: The chapter argues that love is not a privilege reserved for the powerful and should not require submission or dependence.
• Emotional liberation and strength: The women’s emotional awakening enables their physical advancement, linking personal conviction with power.
• Healing from inherited hatred: Merkel’s development and the fountain symbolize the possibility of easing ancestral resentment, though some hatreds—such as that of the Wolf Clan—remain deeply ingrained.
• Sacrifice and remembrance: The funeral honors ancient gods and reflects on the lasting consequences of their sacrifices.
• Protection and coexistence: Hill’s territory becomes a refuge where humans, Magical Beasts, Elementals, and Undead can coexist under rules that prioritize safety without unnecessary oppression.
• Impending instability: Weakening elemental power, shifting winds, the Beast Tide, and the Demon invasion suggest that the world is entering a major period of upheaval.

Character Interactions

• Merkel and the Magical Beasts mourn together, while the Water Elementals honor the fallen gods in their own way.
• Hill silently supports the grieving villagers and later encourages their advancement by protecting them during meditation.
• Yue Xiaoluo discusses the meaning of the Love Goddess’s declaration while Yun Che and Yeyu Qingyu display their affection, reinforcing her point about love.
• Hill and Merkel discuss Merkel’s future, Alice’s influence over his instincts, and Merkel’s decision to remain in the territory.
• Hill humorously watches Merkel carry Alice away for training.
• Hill welcomes Cohen back from seclusion and praises his near-breakthrough to the Magus stage.