Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Survival Environment Is Harsh”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William is the first intelligent being in tens of thousands of years to set foot on Storm Island, earning a large amount of experience and establishing his claim to the island.
• The island initially appears beautiful and untouched, but its dangerous nature becomes clear almost immediately. Even the sea turtles on the beach are level-30-plus Magical Beasts, while the island contains almost no ordinary animals.
• William leads more than two thousand people—including the Wavebreaker Legion, Players, Lotner, and the resurrected Burning Ash—into the island’s dense primitive rainforest.
• The group advances in formations of ten, with William personally cutting through trees and vines using his Thunderblades. Lotner remains near the center, while Burning Ash guards the rear.
• The rainforest proves extremely difficult to cross because of oppressive heat, dehydration, poisonous insects and snakes, hostile monkeys, Minor Dragon Beasts, and other Magical Beasts. Numerous people are attacked, though no one is killed.
• After traveling several kilometers, the exhausted group reaches a clear river. William orders everyone to boil the water despite its apparent safety, fearing parasites and recognizing that most of the expedition members are still only Novice-Class Professionals.
• William decides to establish camp and rest rather than continue immediately. He realizes that he has underestimated Storm Island’s danger and that the expedition may have begun prematurely.
• The group’s destination remains farther south, where William expects to encounter Silverback Giant Apes and eventually obtain Thunder God’s Ring, Thunder Warhorses, and other valuable resources.
• William has reached level 69 but must complete a Class Advancement Quest to reach High-Class. Unfortunately, the quest is another solo challenge requiring him to defeat a High-Tier Magical Beast.
• He hopes to advance soon, believing that reaching High-Class will make the island’s ordinary threats much less dangerous, though he still intends to select a powerful opponent to prove himself.

Character Development

• William: Initially confident and eager to claim Storm Island, William gradually recognizes that he has been reckless. The harsh environment forces him to prioritize water, rest, formation discipline, and the survival of the entire group over speed. Nevertheless, his ambition remains strong: he is still determined to obtain Thunder God’s Ring and complete his advancement quest.
• Lotner: Displays growing awareness of the island’s danger and supports the decision to rest. His habit of drinking continues, even in the dangerous expedition environment.
• Burning Ash: Acts as a capable rear guard and demonstrates his strength by effortlessly killing and roasting a Minor Dinosaur for food. His presence as a resurrected Legend reinforces the seriousness of the expedition.
• The Legion and Players: Their exhaustion and vulnerability reveal that most of them are not yet powerful enough to withstand Storm Island easily. Even Professionals still suffer from heat, dehydration, and environmental hazards like ordinary humans.

Significant Themes

• Nature as an overwhelming enemy: Storm Island’s danger comes not only from powerful creatures but also from heat, terrain, poisonous wildlife, and lack of resources.
• The limits of preparation and strength: Even a large force containing powerful individuals can be endangered by an unfamiliar environment. Numbers and combat ability do not automatically solve survival problems.
• Leadership and responsibility: William must balance personal goals with the well-being of thousands of people, learning that reckless advancement could cause unnecessary losses.
• Ambition versus caution: William understands that the expedition is premature but continues because the rewards—especially Thunder God’s Ring and High-Class advancement—are too valuable to abandon.
• Progress through adversity: Reaching level 69 places William on the verge of a major breakthrough, but his advancement requires an even more dangerous personal challenge.

Character Interactions

• William and Chu Liuqiu: Chu Liuqiu jokes that ordinary people would starve because they could not even catch the island’s extraordinarily fast turtles. William’s expedition instead reveals that survival itself is the first challenge.
• William and Eternal Solitude: Eternal Solitude reacts with alarm to the abundance of Magical Beasts, emphasizing how abnormal and dangerous the island is.
• William and the expedition force: William organizes the group into disciplined formations and personally clears the path, showing his direct involvement as a commander.
• Lotner and Burning Ash: Lotner comments on the island’s ominous nature, while Burning Ash recommends resting and supports reorganizing the exhausted force. Their observations reinforce William’s growing doubts.
• William and his own ambitions: Much of the chapter centers on William’s internal conflict between pushing deeper toward his objectives and acknowledging that the island may exceed his group’s current capabilities.

Chapter Summary: “Magical Beast War”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the second day after arriving on Storm Island, William’s army pauses its advance to establish a secure base. They clear trees, dig stake-filled pits, construct defensive walls, and light bonfires to deter nearby Magical Beasts.
• Food supplies are secure for roughly three months, thanks to stored provisions and the abundance of Sea Beasts around the island. The main concern is finding a safe route forward toward the Thunder Warhorses.
• William sends Lotner and Burning Ash to scout with him, but their preparations are interrupted when a Player is killed by a level 65 Cloud-Swallowing Python that suddenly appears in the camp.
• The Players’ attacks cannot penetrate the Python’s scales. William intervenes, enduring its devastating sonic attack before striking its heart with his twin Thunderblades. His precise attack kills the advanced boss almost instantly.
• The appearance of the Cloud-Swallowing Python in territory believed to belong to the Silverback Giant Apes alarms William. Suspecting the beast’s territory may lie farther ahead—or that something unusual is happening—he decides to scout personally.
• William takes Chu Liuqiu, Eternal Solitude, Changli Jiugu, Angry Little Fatty, and Little Ayin with him, while Burning Ash and Lotner remain behind to protect the camp.
• Following trails made by the pythons, the group discovers a massive battlefield where Silverback Giant Apes and Giant Pythons are engaged in a brutal territorial war.
• A gigantic Silverback Giant Ape effortlessly slaughters and throws Giant Pythons, demonstrating overwhelming strength. The Players immediately look toward William as if expecting him to deal with the terrifying creature, much to his silent frustration.

Character Developments

• William remains cautious and analytical. Rather than blindly advancing, he studies the unexpected appearance of the Cloud-Swallowing Python and personally investigates the situation.
• He demonstrates exceptional combat skill by deliberately—or at least strategically—surviving the Python’s sonic attack and landing a perfectly timed strike on its heart. His effortless victory reinforces his status as an overwhelmingly powerful leader.
• Lotner and Burning Ash continue serving as capable commanders. They help defend against the Python and are entrusted with guarding the camp while William scouts ahead.
• Chu Liuqiu and the other Players show enthusiasm but also recklessness. Some attack the Python despite orders to retreat, forcing the leaders to control their behavior. Chu Liuqiu later assures William that the offenders have been reprimanded.
• The Players increasingly depend on William to handle extremely powerful enemies, treating him as the obvious solution whenever danger appears.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus recklessness: The army carefully fortifies its camp, while some Players’ impulsive behavior nearly creates a disaster.
• The dangers of unfamiliar territory: Storm Island is far more complex than expected, with overlapping beast territories and signs of a major conflict.
• Power and precision: William’s victory is not based solely on strength; his ability to identify and strike the Python’s heart reveals exceptional technical mastery.
• Player mentality and comedy: The Players are motivated by experience, loot, and spectacle, often treating dangerous situations like opportunities in a game. Their casual attitude contrasts with William’s responsibility as commander.
• Territorial conflict in nature: The discovery of the Giant Ape–Python war suggests that the island’s Magical Beasts are engaged in a larger struggle that may affect the army’s plans.

Character Interactions

• Nock reports to William about the camp’s supplies and construction efforts, emphasizing the army’s logistical stability.
• William summons Lotner and Burning Ash to scout, though both first take a break by drinking and eating. Burning Ash’s attempt to offer William roasted meat creates a brief humorous moment.
• When the Python attacks, Lotner orders the Players to retreat, while Burning Ash and Lotner work together to damage the beast and give William an opening.
• After William’s victory, Eternal Solitude and the other Players marvel at the precision and power of his attack.
• William warns the scouting party, especially Angry Little Fatty, not to attack carelessly.
• Upon seeing the enormous Silverback Giant Ape, Angry Little Fatty voices the group’s fear. The Players then silently look to William, implying that they expect him to confront it despite its overwhelming strength.

Chapter Summary: Instant Kill Legendary Magical Beast

Plot and key events

William observes a territorial war between the island’s giant magical-beast races, particularly the Silverback Giant Apes and Cloud-Swallowing Pythons. He realizes the undiscovered leader of the pythons may be an opportunity to advance his class quest and earn greater rewards. Guided by a compass, he leads five nervous players away from the main battlefield and discovers a massive sinkhole containing the sleeping leader of the Cloud-Swallowing Pythons—a level 86 legendary magical beast.

William’s attack and victory

Rather than retreat, William impulsively jumps into the sinkhole with his Thunderblades, intending to deliver a lethal head strike. The python opens its enormous mouth and swallows him whole. However, William adapts mid-fall, stabbing both blades into the creature’s sides as he slides through its throat and body. His abilities—particularly Wrath of Thunder, Light of Dawn, and Battle Aura Slash—activate successfully, producing devastating internal critical hits. The python dies within seconds, allowing William to emerge bloodied but alive from its mouth.

Character development

William continues to display his reckless confidence, but this battle also demonstrates genuine tactical courage and adaptability. Despite miscalculating the python’s enormous mouth and nearly becoming prey, he turns the situation to his advantage. His successful defeat of a legendary beast marks a major achievement and may significantly advance his class quest. The players’ perception of him improves as they witness his extraordinary combat ability.

Character interactions

Changli Jiugu and Little Ayin jokingly warn that William might be eaten, reflecting the players’ mixture of loyalty, fear, and profit-driven attachment to him. The group follows him despite their reservations, then watches in horror when he leaps into the sinkhole. After his victory, Eternal Solitude and the others praise his boldness and skill, while the livestream audience reacts with stunned silence before flooding the chat with admiration.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes survival of the fittest, competition for limited resources, and the brutal territorial logic governing magical beasts. It also highlights risk-taking, improvisation, and the contrast between apparent recklessness and effective strategy. William’s “instant kill” of a legendary creature reinforces his growing reputation and the comedic gap between the players’ fear for his life and his own audacious behavior.

Chapter Summary: “High-Class!!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating the High Legendary Rank Cloud-Swallowing Giant Python, William chooses to advance immediately rather than focus on the battle’s rewards.
• He successfully advances to High-Class Professional and reaches Level 70.
• The advancement grants major stat increases, upgraded Talents, expanded skill and cultivation level caps, and three new Skills:
  • Dawn Impact, a high-speed straight-line charge.
  • Soul Blast, an instant soul-damaging attack.
  • Power of Holy Soul, a temporary ability that boosts all attributes, attack, defense, and movement speed.
• His Intermediate Life Talent upgrades to High-Class Life, making each point of Stamina worth 60 HP and greatly increasing his durability.
• William examines his updated Status Panel and realizes that his Legendary bloodline, Elf bloodline, Battle Aura, and Holy Spirit Magic have combined to give him enormous health, defenses, attack power, and overall combat strength.
• His HP surpasses 30,000, prompting him to proudly declare that he has become a “Tank,” though he acknowledges that true Legendary Shield Warriors possess far greater durability.
• William is especially impressed by Power of Holy Soul, believing its potential may eventually rival Dragonblood Transformation.
• Despite possessing Holy Spirit Empowerment, a passive ability that can automatically block and counterattack melee strikes, it has never activated. William jokingly suspects that the Holy Spirit—or his Luck—has abandoned him.

Character Development

• William undergoes a major power evolution, transitioning from a strong mid-level combatant into an exceptionally powerful High-Class Professional.
• His identity shifts increasingly toward that of a durable frontline fighter: his HP, Battle Aura Shield, defensive abilities, and regeneration make him capable of surviving tremendous damage.
• At the same time, he retains strong offensive capabilities through Thunder attacks, Soul damage, magic, and high movement speed.
• William’s confidence and pride grow as he reviews his new abilities, though he remains aware of the gap between himself and truly elite Legendary Tanks.
• His humor remains intact, particularly in his comments about being a Tank and his frustration with the seemingly useless Holy Spirit Empowerment.
• The five Players observing him are intimidated by his transformation, emphasizing the widening gap between William and ordinary Players.

Significant Themes

• Power progression and evolution: William’s advancement demonstrates how Class, bloodline, Talents, and high-level equipment or techniques combine to create exponential growth.
• NPCs versus Players: The chapter stresses that NPCs with bloodlines and Talents can vastly outscale Players, especially at higher levels.
• Relative strength: William is overwhelmingly powerful compared with Players, yet still considers himself inferior to specialized Legendary Shield Warriors, highlighting the vast hierarchy within the world’s power system.
• Adaptability and hybrid strength: William is not limited to one role; he combines tank-like durability with melee offense, magic, soul attacks, speed, and defensive countermeasures.
• Luck and uncertainty: Even with powerful abilities, some effects depend on chance. William’s unused Holy Spirit Empowerment illustrates that power does not always guarantee reliable results.

Character Interactions

• William’s transformation is witnessed by five Players, whose fear and trembling reveal how intimidating his newly increased strength has become.
• His relationship with the Holy Spirit is presented humorously: William believes its failure to activate may mean it has “forgotten its master.”
• The slain Giant Python remains central to the scene, with William recovering while standing on its head and covered in its blood, visually reinforcing his victory and overwhelming strength.

Chapter 183: “A Bloody Profit” — Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• William kills the Level 86 Legendary Cloud-Swallowing Python, which is 17 levels above him. He earns 330,000 experience, obtains the intact corpse, and unlocks the Legendary Hunter quest after killing his third Legendary creature.
• He extracts and stores the Python’s Legendary, High-Class Wind-element Magic Crystal, recognizing its immense value and many potential uses.
• William also stores the enormous corpse in a large Space Ring obtained from Moxis. The intact body contains valuable materials—scales, tendons, teeth, and other parts—that could equip dozens of Legion warriors.
• During the battle, William breaks through to the High-Class realm and discovers that he can now fly using his Battle Aura.
• He returns to the Players and his followers, shocking them with both his victory and his seemingly casual attitude toward such a tremendous breakthrough.
• Back at camp, Lotner and Burning Ash notice William’s vastly stronger aura. Lotner is amazed that William defeated a High-Class Magical Beast, while Burning Ash resolves to train harder and avoid falling behind.
• William and his forces approach the territory contested by the Cloud-Swallowing Pythons and Silverback Giant Apes. Rather than fight the powerful apes directly, William uses the Python Boss’s corpse as proof of his victory.
• He provokes the Silverback Giant Ape Leader into attacking the dead Python. The ape destroys the Python’s head, then accepts William’s dominance and withdraws with its clan.
• With the battlefield abandoned and filled with Magical Beast corpses, William realizes they have gained enormous wealth without needing to fight another battle.

Character Developments

• William advances to High-Class in the middle of a life-and-death battle, demonstrating extraordinary combat potential and reinforcing his reputation as an exceptional, almost “protagonist-like” figure.
• His ability to fly marks a major improvement in mobility and combat strength.
• William shows increasing strategic maturity: instead of recklessly challenging a group of powerful Silverback Giant Apes, he uses the dead Python to manipulate the situation and secure the territory safely.
• Lotner becomes even more impressed by William but also feels frustrated by his own stalled progress toward High-Class.
• Burning Ash silently commits himself to improving, motivated by William’s breakthrough.
• The Players, including Chu Liuqiu, Little Ayin, and Eternal Solitude’s group, become more convinced that William is an extraordinary leader destined for greatness.

Significant Themes

• Strength and advancement: William’s breakthrough illustrates the rapid growth of powerful individuals and the importance of surviving extreme battles.
• Resourcefulness and profit: The chapter emphasizes that victory is not only about defeating enemies but also about preserving and exploiting valuable materials. William’s large Space Ring allows him to benefit from the entire corpse rather than collecting only a few parts.
• Waste versus efficiency: William repeatedly stresses that valuable resources should not be discarded. The Python’s body represents enormous economic and military gains for his Legion.
• Strategic thinking over brute force: William avoids a dangerous battle with the Silverback Giant Apes by using intimidation, symbolism, and the remains of their former enemy.
• Reputation and leadership: William’s effortless demeanor, spectacular victory, and growing power deepen the awe and loyalty of those around him.

Character Interactions

• William casually informs the Players of his breakthrough, prompting astonishment and humorous reactions from Chu Liuqiu, Little Ayin, and the live-stream audience.
• Lotner questions William about reaching High-Class and is both relieved and worried by the danger he faced.
• Burning Ash responds not with words but with renewed determination while meditating with his Dragon-Slaying Saber.
• William confronts the Silverback Giant Ape Leader indirectly. By displaying the Python’s corpse and allowing the ape to destroy it, he establishes mutual recognition without open combat.
• The ape clan ultimately accepts the situation, retrieves its dead, and withdraws, leaving William’s group to claim the remaining corpses and resources.

Chapter Summary: “The Coming Prosperous Era”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After three days on Storm Island, humans and the local Silverback Giant Apes establish a cautious friendship. The apes leave behind thirty-three Cloud-Swallowing Python corpses after their battle, giving Dawn City a valuable windfall.
• William estimates that the corpses—one High-Class, thirteen mid-class, and the remainder Low-Class—could produce nearly two hundred sets of high-quality equipment. Their hides, scales, teeth, claws, blood, and other materials will be processed by Dawn City’s craftsmen and Dwarf blacksmiths.
• The discovery tempts William to exploit Storm Island by provoking conflicts between magical beast tribes and collecting the resulting corpses and resources. He ultimately rejects this plan, realizing that destroying the island’s ecological balance would trigger widespread wars, population collapse, and long-term resource shortages.
• William decides that sustainable development is more important than short-term profit. He intends to gradually transform Storm Island into a strategic resource base or “back garden” for Dawn City.
• The recovered materials will be shipped back to Dawn City aboard the Dawnship, while more troops are transported to Storm Island. William recognizes that three thousand soldiers are insufficient and that at least two Legions are needed to secure the island.
• Spatial Grand Mage Old Bander will construct a Portal linking Storm Island and Dawn City. However, the project costs around five hundred thousand Gold Coins, placing considerable financial pressure on William.
• William reflects on the coming Fourth Era, when Mana will grow denser after the Dark Invasion, powerful nations will expand their armies, and empires and races will compete to control the continent.

Character Development

• William displays both ambition and restraint. He eagerly imagines using Storm Island’s resources to equip an elite Legion and dominate the Southeastern Corner, but he rejects methods that would permanently damage the island’s magical beast populations.
• His perspective develops from that of an opportunistic ruler seeking immediate wealth into that of a responsible lord concerned with sustainability, military logistics, and long-term survival.
• William also acknowledges his own limitations. Although he has reached the High-Class, he is not yet powerful enough to challenge many High-Class magical beasts directly and may still need to flee from them.
• His humor and self-awareness remain prominent: despite being a prince and lord, he complains that he is effectively a “dead prince” because Dawn City lacks sufficient capital.
• The magical beasts are portrayed as intelligent enough to understand the consequences of conflict. The Cloud-Swallowing Python Boss, in particular, is powerful enough that its species cannot easily be exterminated.

Significant Themes

• Sustainable development versus short-term gain: William recognizes that exploiting Storm Island too aggressively could destroy the very resources he hopes to use.
• The importance of balance: Magical beast populations maintain an ecological and strategic equilibrium. Disrupting one tribe could lead to chain reactions, territorial wars, and mass extinction.
• Preparation for a coming age of conflict: The approaching Fourth Era will bring stronger Mana, rapidly expanding armies, and competition among empires, races, and Players for dominance.
• Resources and power: Equipment, magical beast materials, mineral veins, food, potions, and bloodlines all determine military strength and the ability of Professionals to advance.
• The limits of individual strength: Even a powerful High-Class Professional cannot casually defeat large magical beasts, whose immense bodies and high vitality make them extremely dangerous.
• The changing balance between Players and native Professionals: As Mana recovers and native talents improve, powerful Professionals may eventually rival or surpass Players, making the later stages of the world increasingly dangerous for them.

Character Interactions

• Humans and the Silverback Giant Apes begin cooperating after the apes’ conflict with the Cloud-Swallowing Pythons, creating the foundation for a possible alliance.
• William’s plans are shaped by the behavior of the Cloud-Swallowing Python Boss, whose strength prevents either side from attempting total extermination.
• William coordinates with Dawn City’s Rangers, Mages, Dwarf blacksmiths, soldiers, and Old Bander to convert Storm Island’s resources into military and economic advantages.
• His dealings with the Elves of New Blue Moon Town remain commercially useful but expensive, especially when purchasing the rare materials required to construct the Portal.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• On the fourth day at Storm Island, William and his companions watch the Dawn Warship enter the Storm Circle while awaiting reinforcements.
• William reflects on Captain Jack’s loyalty and drinking habits, then considers how his subordinates’ strength depends on access to quality Magic Potions and valuable herbs.
• Lotner asks to hunt Magical Beasts and gather resources. William initially mocks his enthusiasm but realizes that the undeveloped Storm Island may contain powerful Magic Plants capable of helping his subordinates advance.
• William decides to explore the island with Lotner and Burning Ash, deliberately leaving the Players behind.
• After traveling southeast, they discover a gorge filled with High-Class Magic Potions and grotesque creatures descended from the Mythic Era.
• William orders Lotner to descend and attract the monsters while he gathers the potions. Lotner accepts, determined to prove his usefulness and earn William’s approval.
• Lotner successfully battles the smaller creatures, but William then pushes Burning Ash into the gorge as well, making both men serve as bait.
• The gorge’s true danger is revealed when a gigantic Swamp Octopus emerges from the swamp. Its aura identifies it as a High-Class creature from the Mythic Era, causing Lotner and Burning Ash to retreat in alarm.

2. Character Developments

• William: Demonstrates increasing confidence after reaching the High-Class realm. He remains calculating and opportunistic, using his subordinates to obtain resources while also recognizing his responsibility to strengthen them. He is concerned about rumors regarding his relationships and begins thinking about changing the Elves’ complacent attitude toward time and cultivation.
• Lotner: Becomes more ambitious and eager to improve after seeing how quickly his strength has grown in Dawn City. He recognizes that loyalty and closeness to William bring opportunities, though his attempts to gain favor are comical and somewhat self-serving. His willingness to face danger for High-Class Magic Potions shows genuine determination.
• Burning Ash: Continues to display absolute obedience and disciplined dedication. Unlike Lotner, he cultivates diligently and wastes no time, reflecting his harsh past and strong awareness of the value of time. He remains quiet and observant, though William eventually forces him into the battle as bait.
• William’s Elven subordinates: Their slow cultivation and relaxed view of time become a concern for William, who believes they must develop greater urgency before the coming Dark Invasion.

3. Significant Themes

• Strength through resources: Advancement depends not only on talent and effort but also on access to high-quality Magic Potions, herbs, and other treasures.
• Leadership and responsibility: William’s growing power gives him greater responsibility for improving his followers, even when he uses humorous or ruthless methods to do so.
• Hard work versus complacency: Burning Ash’s disciplined nature contrasts sharply with the Elves’ leisurely attitude and Lotner’s more opportunistic personality.
• Risk and reward: The promise of rare High-Class Magic Potions drives the characters into a dangerous environment filled with unknown monsters.
• The surviving Mythic Era: The strange creatures on Storm Island suggest that ancient lifeforms and hidden dangers remain in the world, foreshadowing greater threats.

4. Character Interactions

• Lotner tries to impress William by proposing that they hunt Magical Beasts, while William teases him for becoming overconfident.
• William invites both Lotner and Burning Ash on the expedition, comparing Lotner’s playful ambition with Burning Ash’s obedient diligence.
• Lotner becomes jealous and insecure when he thinks William favors the resurrected “Augustine,” even humorously questioning whether William prefers handsome men.
• Burning Ash overhears Lotner’s comments but chooses not to interfere, quietly assessing his new surroundings and his relationship with William.
• William exploits both companions as bait: first sending Lotner into the gorge, then pushing Burning Ash in after him.
• The two men realize together that they were not merely drawing away ordinary monsters but had triggered the appearance of a massive Mythic-era Swamp Octopus.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A gigantic Level 89 Giant Swamp Octopus emerges from the swamp beneath a dark canyon. Its enormous size, High-Class aura, and Mythic Era origins shock Lotner and Burning Ash, who have never seen the creature recorded in the Monster Codex.
• The octopus attacks the two Intermediate-Class fighters, treating them as easy meals. Lotner and Burning Ash unleash their strongest attacks, wounding its tentacles while avoiding its devastating strikes.
• The creature uses a powerful black beam resembling a Magic Cannon, blasting through the canyon wall. Although the two fighters manage to evade it, they gradually tire as the octopus continues attacking from the safety of the swamp.
• William watches from above, deliberately using Lotner and Burning Ash as bait. He explains that the octopus’s great size and limited intelligence make it vulnerable to a carefully planned ambush.
• When the fighters are finally overwhelmed and smashed into the ground, William attacks with lightning and a Thunder Spear, severely injuring the octopus but failing to kill it.
• Rather than continue fighting directly, William throws an explosive Mana device into the monster’s wound. Lotner and Burning Ash hide underground while the device detonates, destroying the octopus and much of the canyon.
• William admits that he used three extremely valuable Mana Crystals—worth roughly 10,000 Gold Coins—to kill the creature. He considers the expense worthwhile because the battle was necessary to safely harvest the Swampflowers.
• The explosion destroys most of the flowers, leaving only around a dozen. William collects the survivors and discovers that Swampflowers are High-Class treasures capable of permanently increasing attributes, granting experience, doubling experience gain for ten hours, and assisting professional breakthroughs.
• As the group searches for the blasted Mana Crystals, Lotner discovers that the explosion has exposed a hidden man-made wall inside the cliff, suggesting the canyon conceals an important structure or secret.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates his characteristic confidence, strategic thinking, and extreme wealth. He avoids unnecessary personal risk, exploits the octopus’s predictable behavior, and uses expensive magical resources as disposable weapons.
• He also reveals his priorities: the Swampflowers matter more to him than the monster’s loot, since their permanent stat increases and experience benefits are exceptionally valuable.
• Lotner and Burning Ash prove themselves capable fighters by resisting a High-Class monster despite being only Intermediate-Class. They work together effectively, but their exhaustion and near-defeat emphasize the gap between them and a true High-Class boss.
• Both retain strong loyalty to William, even while privately feeling that he has unfairly used them as bait. Their irritation is redirected toward the octopus rather than toward their lord.
• The discovery of the hidden wall shifts the group’s objective from simple monster hunting and herb collection toward investigating the canyon’s possible ruins.

Significant Themes

• Resourcefulness versus brute strength: William defeats a vastly powerful creature through planning, bait, timing, and explosives rather than a direct contest of strength.
• The advantages and limitations of Magical Beasts: The octopus possesses immense health, power, and physical size, but its poor intelligence and lack of agility make it predictable.
• Wealth as power: William’s financial resources allow him to use priceless Mana Crystals as explosives, highlighting the extraordinary advantages of being rich in this world.
• Risk and sacrifice for valuable rewards: The group accepts severe danger and major material losses to obtain rare Swampflowers with permanent benefits.
• Loyalty and exploitation: Lotner and Burning Ash are placed in extreme danger as bait, but their loyalty to William remains intact.
• Hidden history: The Mythic Era creature and the newly exposed artificial wall hint at ancient secrets buried beneath Storm Island.

Character Interactions

• Lotner and Burning Ash coordinate their attacks and defenses while attempting to survive the octopus’s assault.
• William observes and evaluates their performance from above, treating their battle as part of his larger plan.
• After rescuing them indirectly through his ambush, he orders them to search for the scattered Mana Crystals rather than allowing them to rest.
• Lotner and Burning Ash comply despite being covered in mud and blood, reinforcing their obedience and loyalty.
• The chapter ends with Lotner showing William the hidden man-made wall, creating a cliffhanger about what lies beyond it.

Chapter 187 Summary: “Mythic Ruin?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William, Lotner, and Burning Ash uncover an enormous ancient wall in Storm Island’s southern canyon after clearing away vegetation, mud, and Demon Crabs.
• The discovery shocks William because Storm Island is believed to date back to the Mythic Era, a time associated with the rule of the Gods and the existence of powerful ancient races.
• William reflects on the history and decline of races such as Behemoths, Titans, Cyclopes, High Lion-Scorpions, Dragons, Elves, Dwarves, and Winged Folk.
• After three hours of work, the group reveals well-preserved, vividly colored murals on the wall. Their condition suggests they may be tens of thousands—or even over a hundred thousand—years old.
• The mural depicts a gigantic black hole in the sky and an enormous hand emerging from it, apparently threatening the world. Titans, Behemoths, Dragons, and mysterious humanoid beings rise up to oppose it.
• The group speculates about the identity of the giant hand, considering Dark Creatures, demons, or another unknown cosmic force.
• William wonders whether conventional history is wrong—particularly the origins of Gods and demons—and considers whether demons may have invaded from another world while leaving forces behind in the Underground World.
• Despite discovering the murals, the group cannot find or open the actual entrance to the ruins.

Character Developments

• William becomes increasingly intrigued and cautious. He recognizes that the ruins may contain treasures or knowledge even more important than the Thunder God Ring he originally sought.
• His historical assumptions are challenged, causing him to question the accepted relationship between Gods, demons, the Mythic Era, and Otherworld Space.
• Lotner and Burning Ash display excitement and curiosity. Their reactions shift the discovery from a simple archaeological find into a potentially world-changing mystery.
• William’s confidence in his previous-life knowledge weakens, as he realizes that important historical events may have been misunderstood or omitted.

Significant Themes

• Lost history and unreliable records: The ruins reveal evidence from an era poorly documented by modern civilizations.
• The decline of ancient races: Once-mighty beings such as Behemoths, Titans, and ancient Dragons have been weakened, reduced in number, or nearly forgotten.
• Cosmic conflict: The mural suggests a war involving forces far beyond ordinary Gods, demons, or mortal races.
• Mystery versus established knowledge: William’s assumptions about the origins of Gods and demons are challenged by visual evidence he cannot explain.
• Discovery and hidden power: The ruins may contain tremendous treasures or secrets, but their age and defenses make them difficult to access.

Character Interactions

• William leads the investigation and directs the clearing of the wall.
• Lotner and Burning Ash actively assist him by using Battle Aura to remove mud and kill the Demon Crabs hiding in the ruins.
• After seeing the mural, Lotner asks what it depicts, while Burning Ash offers historical context about the Mythic Era.
• The two debate whether the giant hand belongs to Dark Creatures or demons, with William silently developing a more radical theory about the true origins of the ancient war.
• The chapter ends with the three characters united by curiosity and frustration as they stand before the sealed, unexplained ruins.

Chapter Summary: “Temple”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William discovers enormous, seemingly indestructible ruins dating back to the Mythic Era. He orders the camp to keep the discovery secret and plans to declare the area restricted once the army arrives.
• William, Lotner, and Burning Ash spend three days digging through the western side of the canyon. They find that the ruin walls are made from exceptionally durable metal infused with lingering Mana.
• Burning Ash suggests removing the metal walls to forge weapons from them, prompting William to consider the importance of forging techniques and enchantments rather than materials alone.
• The group uncovers a massive circular metal gate containing more than a hundred openings. William realizes it requires 180 Mana Crystals to activate—an expense of roughly 540,000 gold coins.
• Despite the cost, William orders the gate opened. The Mana Crystals are consumed, but the gate initially does nothing until Burning Ash kicks away a stone blocking it.
• The gate opens into a dark corridor. Lotner is reluctant to enter, so Burning Ash volunteers to scout ahead while Lotner guards the entrance with another set of Mana Crystals.
• Using a Fireball for illumination, William and Burning Ash travel deep into the corridor. They find Mythic Era murals, writing, and symbols associated with divinity.
• A golden symbol confirms William’s suspicion that the structure is not merely a ruin but an intact temple. The recurring imagery of clouds, lightning, and blue radiance leads him to identify it as a possible Temple of the Thunder God.
• William decides to enter despite the danger, determined to recover treasures worth more than the enormous cost of opening the gate.
• When William and Burning Ash push open the inner gate, the temple suddenly fills with light. William glimpses a gigantic lightning-wreathed figure, and violent storms erupt across Storm Island, accompanied by thunder, torrential rain, and roaring Magical Beasts.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates his greed, curiosity, and willingness to take calculated risks. He is eager to claim the ruins’ treasures for himself and refuses to abandon the site after spending so many Mana Crystals.
• He also shows practical knowledge, understanding that the value and strength of weapons depend heavily on forging methods and enchantments, not merely the raw materials.
• Burning Ash becomes increasingly devoted to William. He eagerly volunteers to scout the temple and repeatedly acts as a loyal subordinate, even when the danger is unknown. His interest in salvaging the metal walls also reveals his materialistic, practical nature.
• Lotner remains cautious and fearful, especially about entering unknown ruins. He worries about being outperformed or replaced by Burning Ash and begins plotting to protect his standing as an executive officer.
• William’s leadership is reinforced: both companions defer to his decisions, even when they are dangerous or financially reckless.

Significant Themes

• Greed and treasure hunting: William’s decision to spend an immense fortune reflects his belief that ancient ruins may contain rewards far exceeding the risks.
• The mystery of the Mythic Era: The ancient writing, murals, advanced metalwork, and temple architecture emphasize how little the modern world understands about the past.
• Power, technology, and craftsmanship: The chapter highlights that superior weapons depend not only on rare materials but also on sophisticated forging techniques and enchantments.
• Risk versus ambition: William knowingly enters a potentially deadly temple because he refuses to accept a loss and believes his experience will keep him alive.
• Divine presence and catastrophe: The temple’s connection to the Thunder God and the storm that follows its opening suggest that ancient divine powers remain active and capable of affecting the modern world.

Character Interactions

• William instructs Lotner and Burning Ash to excavate while emphasizing secrecy and control over the discovery.
• Burning Ash proposes salvaging the ruin’s metal walls, and William quickly recognizes the potential value of the idea.
• William, Lotner, and Burning Ash work together to place the Mana Crystals into the gate, with William reluctantly bearing the financial burden.
• After the gate fails to open, Burning Ash accidentally activates it by kicking away a blocking stone. William praises him, while Lotner privately resents missing the opportunity to appear useful.
• William orders Lotner to guard the entrance and sends Burning Ash ahead, leading Lotner to suspect that Burning Ash may be competing for his position.
• Burning Ash’s absolute loyalty contrasts with Lotner’s caution and political maneuvering as both follow William into the temple.

Chapter Summary: “What a Windfall (Please Vote)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A sudden, unnatural storm covers Storm Island, alarming the camp’s Professionals, Players, and Magical Beasts. Nock and Norton mobilize defenses while Lotner guards the Temple entrance despite being terrified.
• Inside the Temple, William and Burning Ash are overwhelmed by a powerful aura. Their insufficient Intelligence causes severe mental intimidation and temporarily robs them of control of their bodies.
• William examines the enormous Thunder God statue. Its divine aura drastically weakens his attributes as he approaches, while its lightning-filled eyes appear to be valuable treasures.
• A phantom suddenly attacks William from behind. Burning Ash warns him but is struck and thrown into a wall. William dispels the phantom with a Thunder Sword attack.
• William identifies the attacker as a Divine Betrayer—an imprisoned soul cursed by a deity with eternal life, forced to guard the statue and suffer endless torment. Because the statue remains intact, the phantom is nearly impossible to destroy.
• William decides not to approach the statue further and considers bringing Moxis to destroy the Temple if necessary.
• William and Burning Ash discuss the forgotten Gods Era. William explains that many deities—including the Thunder God—may once have been Main Gods before being lost in an ancient divine war.
• They inspect four side-hall doors. William recognizes one as the entrance to an Offering Hall and orders Burning Ash to open it first.
• Inside, they discover a huge supply of top-tier Mana Gemstones, each capable of doubling experience gain for twenty-four hours or supporting NPC cultivation. William stores tens of thousands of them.
• They also find multiple full bottles of Water of Life, an extremely rare and valuable resource. The discovery leads William to wonder whether unexplored Temples could make him extraordinarily wealthy.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates caution beneath his greed and curiosity. Although tempted by the Thunder God’s eyes, he retreats after recognizing the statue and phantom as serious threats. He also relies pragmatically on Burning Ash to scout dangerous areas.
• William’s knowledge of ancient deities and Temple structures expands his authority in Burning Ash’s eyes. He deliberately withholds some information so he can continue impressing his subordinate later.
• Burning Ash proves loyal and courageous despite his fear. He warns William of the phantom, survives its attack, and obeys the dangerous order to open the side-hall door.
• Burning Ash becomes increasingly impressed by William’s apparent knowledge of divine history, treating him with greater admiration.
• The Divine Betrayer is portrayed as a tragic but dangerous figure: centuries of torture have preserved its intelligence and hatred while twisting its powers into mental attacks.

Significant Themes

• Greed versus caution: William is fascinated by the statue’s treasures but recognizes that recklessness could lead to possession or death.
• The forgotten past: The Temple reveals that the current world has lost much of its knowledge about the Gods Era and the deities who once ruled it.
• Divine punishment and immortality: The Divine Betrayer’s eternal existence is shown not as a reward but as endless imprisonment and suffering.
• Power and hierarchy: Divine auras can suppress even powerful mortals, emphasizing the overwhelming gap between ordinary beings and true deities.
• Fortune and opportunity: The discovery of Mana Gemstones and Water of Life transforms the expedition into a major financial and strategic victory.

Character Interactions

• William physically rouses Burning Ash after the mental attack, then protects him when the phantom strikes.
• Burning Ash warns William of the danger and later questions him about the phantom and the Gods Era.
• William gives Burning Ash partial explanations while maintaining an air of mystery and superiority.
• William orders Burning Ash to open the Offering Hall, using him as a scout but trusting his loyalty.
• Their relationship combines loyalty, admiration, humor, and William’s opportunistic willingness to let his subordinate face danger first.

Chapter Summary: “Beast Stampede”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William and Burning Ash finish looting the Thunder God Palace’s Offering Hall. They obtain:
  • Ten bottles of Legendary-quality Water of Life.
  • Five bottles of Epic-quality Thunder Water, totaling 500 drops.
  • Mana Gemstones and other minor supplies.
• William deduces that the Water of Life likely originated from the World Tree and may have been offered to the Thunder God by Elves during the Mythic Era.
• Thunder Water can awaken or strengthen Thunder Talents and Thunder Attributes, making it especially valuable to William.
• The pair investigates another side hall despite sensing danger. William’s Soul Magic probing causes backlash, so he makes Burning Ash open the doors instead.
• Inside, they discover a vast supply of treasures, including:
  • Legendary-quality Thunder Essence capable of upgrading Thunder equipment.
  • Hundreds of high-grade attribute gems.
  • Dragonblood Whetstones.
  • Large quantities of Mithril, Orichalcum, Gold Essence, Thunder Crystal, and Purple Gold.
• William plans to use the Thunder Essence and rare metals to strengthen Dawn City’s equipment, especially by having Annie handle the equipment upgrades due to her better luck and crafting potential.
• A Mana Scroll warns William that the surrounding beast swarm has gone berserk and is attacking the camp.
• William rushes outside and finds thousands of Magical Beasts flooding the canyon and charging toward the Temple.
• William, Lotner, and Burning Ash struggle to close the Temple doors. Lotner’s earlier decision to wedge rocks beneath them makes this difficult.
• Once the doors close, the Temple’s Mana barrier activates, and the beasts suddenly regain their senses. Most attempt to flee, though many remain trapped in the canyon.
• William and the others climb to safety, observing the remaining beasts fight and waiting to collect their corpses.
• William concludes that opening the Temple triggered the stampede and vows to use a protective barrier in the future. However, the exact force or treasure inside the Temple that attracted the beasts remains unknown.

Character Developments

• William displays increasing confidence as a treasure hunter and leader. He is especially excited by items that permanently improve attributes, talents, or equipment quality.
• His Thunder Attribute and related abilities become more important through his discovery of Thunder Water and Thunder Essence.
• William demonstrates practical leadership by assigning dangerous tasks to Burning Ash, whose unusually high Luck makes him the safest person to send ahead.
• Burning Ash remains cautious and somewhat cowardly, frequently worrying about traps and monsters. However, his high Luck continues to make him valuable to William.
• Burning Ash is also amazed by the Temple’s treasures but shows limited ambition, thinking mainly of forging Silver Gear rather than higher-quality equipment.
• Lotner is shown fighting fiercely against the beast swarm. He is strong and dedicated but makes a careless mistake by leaving rocks under the Temple doors, complicating the escape.
• William begins considering Annie as the ideal person to use the Thunder Essence, relying on her luck to maximize the chance of producing Legendary equipment.

Significant Themes

• Greed and treasure hunting: The characters eagerly strip the Temple of its resources, emphasizing the enormous wealth hidden in ancient ruins.
• Luck and probability: Many treasures work through chance, and William relies on Annie and Burning Ash’s unusually high Luck to avoid failure or death.
• Preparation versus recklessness: The beast stampede teaches William that opening ancient Temples without protective measures can cause unforeseen disasters.
• Ancient civilizations and lost power: The offerings and equipment materials reveal the immense wealth and technological or magical sophistication of the Mythic Era.
• Power through resources: Rather than relying only on personal strength, William seeks to improve his forces through rare materials, upgraded equipment, and permanent attribute enhancements.
• Mystery of the Temple: The chapter introduces an unresolved question about what within the Temple attracted thousands of Magical Beasts and caused them to lose control.

Character Interactions

• William repeatedly teases or scolds Burning Ash for being overly cautious and “full of nonsense.”
• Burning Ash resents William’s habit of striking him on the head but still obeys his orders because of William’s authority and his own fear of danger.
• William and Burning Ash cooperate closely while looting the Temple, with William identifying treasures and Burning Ash assisting with doors and exploration.
• Lotner and Burning Ash work together to close the Temple doors, but their exchange becomes tense when Burning Ash realizes Lotner’s carelessness caused the obstruction.
• William, Lotner, and Burning Ash ultimately survive by retreating into the Temple, then watch the trapped beasts battle outside while planning to profit from the resulting corpses.

Chapter Summary: Thunder Pool Forbidden Ground

Key Plot Points and Events

• William defeats the final Magical Beast in Abyss Canyon, leaving more than four hundred corpses behind. The beast horde had been drawn into the canyon and largely destroyed itself, while William killed the last survivors.
• Because his Space Ring cannot hold all the corpses, William orders two subordinates to return to camp and bring help. He also commands them to keep the Temple ruins secret from the Chosen Ones—presumably the players.
• William examines the treasures recovered from the Temple:
  • Fifteen Swampflowers, worth an enormous sum and capable of helping NPCs break through to High-Class.
  • Thirty-five thousand Mana Gemstones, valuable for both player experience and NPC cultivation.
  • Legendary Water of Life, Epic Thunder Water, and Legendary Thunder Essence.
  • Various metals, gemstones, and other resources.
• He estimates that the treasures and Magical Beast corpses are worth tens of millions of Gold Coins. Rather than sell them, he plans to use them to strengthen his six Legions.
• William reflects on the future Dark Invasion, which is only half a year away. He expects it to trigger a massive revival of Mana, the emergence of new geniuses and hidden races, and the appearance of Divine Advent Ruins.
• He considers whether the resources gathered on Storm Island might allow him to retain Blackrock Duchy and establish a route into the interior of Legendary Continent.
• William turns his attention to the Thunder Pool Forbidden Ground, a ten-thousand-meter mountain covered in perpetual dark clouds, thunder, and lightning. He suspects it contains Thunder God’s Severed Finger as well as Thunder God’s Ring, though he believes the ring or finger may have been removed in the past.
• Fifteen hundred people later arrive at Abyss Canyon under Lotner’s leadership. They recover the Magical Beast corpses, killing several additional beasts along the way.
• William personally transports the corpses to the top of the canyon, making repeated trips until his Mana is nearly exhausted. He then sends one hundred elite squads to guard the area.
• Back at camp, the players are astonished by the amount of food and resources provided by the corpses. Ice Mages freeze the bodies in pits to preserve their Mana, since Magical Beast meat can provide experience if properly maintained.
• Burning Ash worries that the limited number of Ice Mages cannot preserve the corpses for long. Lotner explains that Captain Jack is returning with reinforcements and that a Portal will soon allow the bodies to be transported elsewhere.
• Burning Ash and Lotner prepare to consume Swampflowers and attempt breakthroughs to High-Class. Their rivalry remains tense, but neither is willing to fight; instead, they cultivate with Mana Gemstones.
• Three days later, the Dawnship returns through the Storm Circle with Captain Jack, three thousand people, and the exhausted Old Bander.
• Meanwhile, William has already reached the base of the Thunder Pool Forbidden Ground, seventy kilometers south of camp. He begins climbing the mountain wearing Thunder Armor.
• A lightning bolt strikes near him as a warning, demonstrating the area’s hostility. William responds by consuming all five hundred drops of Thunder Water, preparing himself to resist the lightning and enter the forbidden region.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates greater strategic awareness and leadership. He prioritizes secrecy around the Temple ruins, intends to invest the recovered resources into his Legions, and thinks ahead to the Dark Invasion.
• His ambitions expand beyond immediate survival: he hopes to strengthen his forces enough to preserve Blackrock Duchy and establish influence across Legendary Continent.
• William also shows increased interest in the mysteries surrounding Thunder God, especially the relationship between the severed finger and Thunder God’s Ring.
• Lotner proves dependable and capable, having protected the canyon entrance and organized the recovery operation. He also asserts his authority in the camp.
• Burning Ash remains competitive and proud. He resents Lotner’s seniority but is unwilling to openly challenge him. Both men believe they can reach High-Class through their own talent.
• The players continue treating the expedition as a source of quests and experience, while also showing their practical interest in the Magical Beast meat.
• Captain Jack returns with reinforcements, signaling that the camp is becoming a more permanent and organized base.

Significant Themes

• Power gained through preparation: William treats the Temple’s treasures not as personal wealth but as resources for strengthening his armies before the coming Dark Invasion.
• Secrecy and strategic advantage: The Temple ruins and their treasures must remain hidden from the players and other factions.
• The coming transformation of the world: The Dark Invasion represents a major turning point that will revive Mana, awaken hidden powers, and reshape the balance of the Nine Continents.
• Ambition versus danger: William is excited by the opportunities on Storm Island but remains aware that the island contains forces far beyond his current power.
• Resource exploitation and survival: The chapter emphasizes collecting, preserving, and converting Magical Beast corpses and rare materials into military and cultivation advantages.
• The mystery of divine power: Thunder God’s relics suggest that the Storm Island expedition may involve the remains or lingering influence of a True God, making the Thunder Pool Forbidden Ground far more dangerous than an ordinary treasure site.

Character Interactions

• William gives direct orders to his subordinates, emphasizing the importance of keeping the Temple secret.
• Lotner leads the retrieval team and later discusses the storage problem with Burning Ash.
• Burning Ash and Lotner exchange silent hostility and compete over status, but their rivalry remains restrained. Instead of fighting, they cultivate side by side in preparation for their breakthroughs.
• The players speculate about the origin of the Magical Beast corpses, though they are unaware of the Temple’s existence.
• William’s thoughts about the players’ previous struggles with the giant octopus contrast his current ability to exploit the same location on a much larger scale.
• The chapter ends with William confronting the Thunder Pool Forbidden Ground alone, setting up his next encounter with the mountain’s divine lightning and Thunder God’s relics.

Chapter Summary: “Raising a Middle Finger at the Sky”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William consumes five bottles of Thunder Water at once to strengthen his Lightning-related abilities. The decision causes extreme internal pain, continuous health loss, and uncontrolled lightning to erupt around his body.
• His Inner Armor restores much of his health, while his supply of Water of Life keeps him alive as the Thunder Water violently transforms his body.
• The gamble succeeds:
  • His Power of Thunder Talent is upgraded.
  • Thunder resistance, attack power, and immunity improve.
  • His Dawn Sacred Battle Aura gains stronger offensive, defensive, reflection, and Thunder-based effects.
  • Consuming ten drops of Water of Life extends his lifespan by 1,000 years, increases his four basic attributes, and raises his maximum HP.
• William begins climbing the 10,000-meter Thunder Mountain, relying on his new resistances and Water of Life to survive repeated lightning strikes.
• The mountain’s lightning grows stronger with altitude. William is struck dozens of times and consumes roughly 150 drops of Water of Life before reaching the summit.
• At the summit, he discovers the Thunder God Ring embedded in a severed hand belonging to the Thunder God. The hand’s middle finger is raised toward the sky, creating the chapter’s central image.
• William tries flattering and bargaining with the Thunder God, offering worship and even “Thunder God Happy Water,” before finally deciding to take the risk.
• He drinks an entire bottle containing 300 drops of Water of Life, then grabs the severed hand. Instead of simply removing the Ring, the hand begins merging into William’s palm amid a massive surge of lightning.
• The chapter ends with William collapsing in agony, accepting that since he cannot avoid the pain, he can only endure—or “enjoy”—it.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates extreme recklessness, determination, and confidence in his preparations. He knowingly risks death by consuming excessive Thunder Water and later touching a divine relic.
• His success reinforces his willingness to exploit powerful items and rely on his enormous stockpile of Water of Life.
• Despite his usual pride, William abandons dignity and openly begs the Thunder God for mercy, revealing his practical and shameless side.
• His physical and magical abilities improve substantially, especially his Thunder resistance, Thunder damage, Battle Aura effects, lifespan, attributes, and survivability.

Significant Themes

• Risk versus reward: William repeatedly accepts potentially fatal danger for overwhelming power gains.
• Preparation and resources: His Water of Life allows him to attempt feats that would otherwise be impossible, emphasizing the value of planning and accumulated advantages.
• Persistence and absurd resilience: Even after being repeatedly blasted by lightning and nearly dying, William continues climbing.
• Divine power and human ambition: The Thunder God’s severed hand and Ring represent immense divine force, while William’s attempt to claim them shows his refusal to accept ordinary limits.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter contrasts life-threatening events with comedic imagery, including William writhing like an earthworm, bargaining with the Thunder God, and the divine severed hand permanently raising a middle finger at the sky.

Character Interactions

• William has no direct conversation with another person in the chapter.
• A distant Magical Beast observes him while he is being transformed by Thunder Water but is frightened rather than hostile, mistaking his bizarre, lightning-covered movements for those of an unfamiliar Thunder creature.
• William’s main “interaction” is with the Thunder God’s relic: he pleads with the deity, attempts to bargain, and ultimately grabs the severed hand, triggering its mysterious fusion with his own body.

Chapter Summary: “Thunder Ring: God’s Left Hand!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William experiences a strange, recurring sensation that he is losing something, despite finding nothing physically missing. His paranoia even leads him to check that his “little bird” is still intact.
• Before returning to Battle Aura Academy, William angrily insults the heavens and raises his middle finger at the sky. Lightning immediately strikes him twice, prompting him to develop “serpentine footwork.” Afterward, the lightning stops, and William awakens.
• William discovers that the Thunder Ring · Thunder God’s Ring has appeared on his left middle finger and cannot be removed. The ring is a damaged High-Class Legendary item created by the Thunder God.
• The ring grants major attribute increases and powerful abilities:
  • Thunder God’s Blessing: Raises Thunder power and resistance.
  • Thunder God’s Finger: Fires an extremely destructive piercing beam with splash and penetration effects.
  • Thunder God’s Hand: Summons thirty lightning bolts with area damage and possible chain lightning.
• William learns that the Thunder God’s Left Hand is merging with his own left hand. Once the process is complete, the hand can transform into a transparent, lightning-like weapon when infused with Battle Aura.
• His transformed hand easily pierces the solid mountaintop and remains undamaged when struck by his Thunderblades, even damaging the blades instead. William concludes that it may be comparable to a Divine Artifact.
• The transformed hand consumes Battle Aura at an unsustainable rate, but William discovers he can consciously stop supplying it. This reinforces his realization that, as an NPC, he can manipulate his energy more flexibly than Players.
• After searching the mountain, William travels toward Storm Lake. He chooses to run through the forest rather than fly because his Low-Class flight speed is poor and the sky contains dangerous Magical Beasts.
• William reaches Storm Lake and discovers thousands of Thunder Warhorses grazing around it. Recognizing their Thunder Dragon bloodline and combat potential, he becomes interested in taming them.
• The chapter ends with William spotting the Horse King, a Level 85 Epic Boss, and considering it the key to controlling the entire herd.

Character Development

• William becomes more confident and ambitious after gaining the Thunder Ring and Thunder God’s Left Hand. Rather than fearing the mysterious fusion, he decides to exploit its power and grow stronger.
• He demonstrates increasing awareness of the difference between himself and Players, especially his ability to sense and regulate Battle Aura and Magic energy directly rather than relying only on numerical system displays.
• William also becomes more cautious about concealing his new power. He worries that powerful figures could discover the nature of his left hand and attempt to remove it, leading him to consider obtaining a glove as a disguise.
• His strategic thinking develops as he immediately begins considering practical applications: using the left hand as a trump card, managing its energy cost, and taming the Thunder Warhorse herd through its leader.

Significant Themes

• Power and transformation: William’s body is literally altered by the Thunder God’s power, giving him extraordinary strength while raising questions about the consequences of becoming something beyond human.
• Fear versus opportunity: Although the fusion is mysterious and potentially dangerous, William chooses to treat it as an opportunity rather than dwell on risks.
• Individuality and identity: The contrast between William and Players emphasizes that NPCs possess capabilities and forms of perception that Players lack.
• Concealed strength: William’s concern about hiding his hand reflects the dangers of possessing rare power in a world where powerful enemies may exploit or steal it.
• Growth through resources and status: The chapter recalls William’s earlier frustration as a commoner lacking cultivation resources, contrasting that past with his sudden access to legendary equipment and overwhelming abilities.

Character Interactions

• William has no major direct conversations with other characters in the chapter. His interactions are primarily with:
  • The heavens/lightning, which humorously responds to his provocation.
  • The Thunder Ring and Thunder God’s Left Hand, whose system messages reveal their nature and capabilities.
  • Prince, who observes William from above and evaluates the potential strength of the transformed hand.
  • The Thunder Warhorses, particularly the Horse King, whom William views as a potential future ally or mount.
• William also mentally references Momo, trusting that she may possess methods to deal with any danger associated with the Thunder God’s power.

Chapter Summary: “The Horse King and Its Snacks”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William plans to capture a Thunder Horse King near Storm Lake. Unlike ordinary Thunder Warhorses, the Horse King is an Epic, High-Class creature with powerful defenses, Dragon Scale protection, lightning abilities, and strong resistance to both physical and magical attacks.
• He explains that Dragonblood warhorses are valuable military assets because elite warriors are generally expected to fight opponents of comparable rank rather than massacre weaker soldiers.
• To lure the Horse King, William spends an entire night gathering Magic Potions and Herbs—the warhorses’ favorite food—and scatters them into several piles leading toward a concealed pit.
• The Horse King becomes enraged after discovering that its usual feeding grounds have been stripped of their best food. However, it follows the bait, greedily eating each pile until it reaches the final one near the trap.
• When the Horse King falls into the pit, William attacks it repeatedly before it can retaliate. He restrains its mouth to prevent it from unleashing Thunder Breath and begins using Soul Control.
• William struggles for several days to dominate the Horse King’s exceptionally strong will. He repeatedly uses Soul Control, replenishing his Mana with Magic Potions.
• After three days, the Horse King finally submits and becomes William’s servant. Upon returning to the herd, it brutally attacks the horses attempting to claim its throne, restoring its dominance.
• William orders the Horse King to watch over the herd and then leaves to determine his next route and inspect the Portal being constructed at the camp.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates patience, preparation, resourcefulness, and a willingness to use unconventional methods. Rather than relying solely on force, he exploits the Horse King’s greed and feeding habits.
• His growing power is emphasized by his expanded Soul Control capacity and his ability to endure a prolonged battle of wills against an Epic creature.
• The Horse King is portrayed as proud, territorial, greedy, and fiercely independent. Its appetite makes it vulnerable to William’s trap, but its powerful will allows it to resist Soul Control for three days.
• After being tamed, the Horse King remains aggressive and dominant, immediately reasserting control over the herd.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and strategy over brute force: William succeeds by studying the creature’s habits and creating an elaborate baiting scheme.
• Power and submission: The chapter explores William’s ability to dominate powerful beings, while showing that victory requires persistence rather than a single overwhelming attack.
• Military value and hierarchy: Dragonblood warhorses are presented as strategic assets in conflicts where powerful individuals are expected to respect battlefield limitations.
• Instinct and greed: The Horse King’s hunger and possessiveness override its caution, leading it directly into the trap.
• Control versus loyalty: Soul Control forces obedience, but the Horse King retains its personality, pride, and violent temperament.

Character Interactions

• William observes the Horse King from hiding and analyzes its abilities before acting.
• He manipulates the Horse King by placing food in increasingly tempting locations.
• During the capture, William physically restrains it and repeatedly attempts to impose Soul Control, creating a prolonged struggle between his determination and the Horse King’s willpower.
• After submission, William instructs the Horse King to protect and manage the herd. The Horse King responds by attacking rival horses and reestablishing its authority before obeying William’s command.

Chapter Summary: The Devious Prince

Key Plot Points and Events

• William returns to the expanded camp on Storm Island after exploring the area. The players eagerly surround him for quests, so he assigns them the dangerous but useful task of mapping the island. The quest can reward up to 120,000 experience depending on the map’s accuracy and coverage.
• Old Bander is nearly finished constructing a Spatial Portal connecting Storm Island to Dawn City. William explains that Storm Island contains a rich Mana Crystal vein, making the expensive Portal worthwhile.
• William establishes strict transportation rules:
  • Portal passage costs three Gold Coins one way.
  • Only 500 players may use it per day.
  • Players must remain on Storm Island for seven days before returning.
  • The Dawnship will eventually make weekly trips for one Gold Coin per voyage.
• The Portal is completed using eighty-eight Mana Crystals to maintain the connection and additional Crystals to power individual transfers. The connection is protected by barriers and can recharge itself over time.
• Changli Jiugu volunteers to test the Portal. He survives the journey but suffers severe dizziness, nausea, and negative status effects because the newly formed Spatial Tunnel is unstable.
• William later uses the Portal to transport Magical Beasts and discovers that he also experiences strong aftereffects, confirming that new Portals are dangerous and uncomfortable until they stabilize.
• Back in Dawn City, William gives Odom a rare Swampflower to help him break through to the High Class. Odom reports that the Blackrock Duchy is rapidly rebuilding its military and that the Second Prince is punishing nobles who previously opposed him.
• Odom also warns that Altai has been repeatedly attacking neighboring powers, possibly using the conflicts to train his troops. William responds by preparing his own forces with resources brought from Storm Island, while secretly deciding that Altai may be useful as a controlled enemy.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates his strategic and commercial thinking. He turns Storm Island into a restricted resource zone, uses the players for exploration, and sets transportation fees designed to recover the cost of the Portal.
• He also reveals his manipulative nature by maintaining apparent conflicts between factions while secretly controlling both sides. Rather than immediately eliminating Altai, William considers strengthening him to create quests for the players and pressure the Winged Folk.
• Old Bander proves his expertise as a Grand Mage of the Spatial Element by constructing and stabilizing the Portal, though he is startled by the players’ recklessness.
• Changli Jiugu acts as the Portal’s first test subject. His humorous suffering shows both the danger of the new technology and the players’ willingness to take risks for rewards.
• Odom remains a loyal subordinate and is close to a High-Class breakthrough. His report confirms that William’s influence is reshaping Blackrock’s politics and military.
• The players are treated less as soldiers and more as useful, expendable tools. Their enthusiasm for quests allows William to delegate dangerous exploration and testing tasks to them.

Significant Themes

• Power through infrastructure: The Spatial Portal represents technological and economic power. William understands that controlling transportation and rare resources gives him a major advantage.
• Profit and resource management: William refuses to offer free travel and carefully prices Portal and ship passage. The chapter emphasizes that wealth comes from investing in rare services before charging for them.
• Manipulation and political theater: William deliberately maintains the appearance of conflict between factions while secretly directing events. War and rivalry are used as tools rather than pursued for their own sake.
• Calculated risk: The Portal’s unstable condition, Storm Island’s monsters, and Altai’s military activity all present dangers that William manages rather than avoids.
• Players as instruments of power: The players’ game-like behavior—seeking quests, rewards, and adventure—is incorporated into William’s political and military plans.

Character Interactions

• The players crowd around William seeking quests, leading him to assign them the Storm Island mapping mission.
• William and Old Bander discuss the Portal’s construction, energy costs, safety, and long-term operation. Their exchange highlights William’s confidence and Old Bander’s technical caution.
• Changli Jiugu tests the Portal and later humorously describes the experience to Chu Liuqiu and Little Ayin, who react with curiosity and impatience.
• William gives Odom the Swampflower and questions him about political and military developments. Odom reports on Blackrock’s nobles, the Second Prince’s consolidation of power, and Altai’s campaigns.
• William reassures Odom that their forces will continue strengthening, while privately recognizing that Altai’s aggression may serve his broader plans.

Chapter Summary: “Silk Thread Gloves”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William returns to the city and stores the Mana Gemstones in the warehouse for his Professionals to use in cultivation. The Swampflower is reserved as a reward for whichever subordinate reaches level 69 first.
• He repeatedly uses the Portal to transport more than four hundred frozen Magical Beasts into the warehouse, providing his forces with a massive supply of food and Mana.
• Odom informs William that Diviner Moxis wants to see him. William reveals that Moxis is an Archmage nearing the Grand Archmage realm and was appointed by William’s father as his guardian.
• William deliberately presents this information as a secret to increase Odom’s trust and loyalty. Odom’s favorability and loyalty both reach their maximum values.
• William visits Moxis’s Divination Shop and enters his enormous hidden Laboratory, a separate magical space filled with more than thirteen thousand magic books and valuable materials.
• Moxis recognizes that William possesses the dangerous Thunder God’s Left Hand, whose divine aura could attract powerful enemies.
• To protect William, Moxis gives him the Silk Thread Gloves, an Epic-grade pair of gloves that conceals the aura of the divine hand.
• William complains that the gloves provide no additional abilities, but accepts them because their protective function is extremely valuable. Moxis warns him to keep the God’s Left Hand secret.

Character Developments

• William continues to combine generosity, manipulation, and caution. He rewards his subordinates while using strategically framed “secrets” to strengthen their loyalty. Despite his joking and shameless behavior, he recognizes the danger surrounding the God’s Left Hand and intends to hide it.
• Odom gains complete loyalty to William after learning that Moxis is an immensely powerful guardian. His admiration replaces his earlier curiosity and irritation.
• Moxis is shown to be vastly wealthy, highly knowledgeable, and powerful enough to detect the divine aura immediately. Although he acts annoyed by William, he genuinely worries about the trouble William may attract and takes practical steps to protect him.
• William’s relationship with Moxis remains humorous and antagonistic: William tries to obtain more gifts, while Moxis repeatedly threatens to drive him away.

Significant Themes

• Power and secrecy: The divine hand is a dangerous secret, and concealment becomes essential for William’s survival.
• Protection and responsibility: Moxis’s gift demonstrates his role as William’s guardian, even though he disguises his concern behind irritation.
• Loyalty through manipulation: William’s habit of sharing “exclusive” secrets strengthens the loyalty of his followers, showing his skill at managing people through trust and calculated intimacy.
• Humor amid danger: Serious threats involving deities and powerful enemies are balanced by comic moments, including William’s nausea at the sight of Moxis’s books and his complaints about the gloves’ appearance.
• Knowledge and wealth: Moxis’s Laboratory emphasizes the value of magical learning and resources, contrasting with William’s humorous aversion to overwhelming amounts of study.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Odom: William teases Odom and secretly reveals Moxis’s identity, causing Odom’s loyalty to reach its maximum.
• William and the Black Cat: William mistakenly addresses the cat as Moxis’s “watchcat,” leading to a brief comedic misunderstanding.
• William and Moxis: Their conversation shifts from playful mockery to serious discussion when Moxis reveals he knows about the God’s Left Hand. Moxis gives William the Silk Thread Gloves and warns him about the consequences of exposing the hand’s aura.
• William and the Gloves: Although disappointed that the gloves offer no offensive or attribute-enhancing effects, William accepts that concealing the divine aura is more important than gaining extra power.

Chapter Summary: “A New Spatial Tunnel”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William visits Dawn City’s underground Blacksmith Workshop and defensive passages. His high-class equipment is still being forged and will take nearly a week to complete.
• He inspects three major defensive projects:
  1. Two enormous chained Magic Gates built into tunnels beneath the cliffs, designed to resist enemy attacks and be destroyed if necessary to bury invaders.
  2. Defensive firing positions carved into the eighty-meter cliff wall, including enchanted arrow slits, spear ports, and cannon ports.
  3. Mass cultivation of Demon Vines, with fifty thousand plants spread across ten thousand meters of wall. The vines can pierce and drain attackers but remain dormant without the scent of blood.
• William has spent more than 1.2 million Gold Coins on the gates and Demon Vines, intending to use his vast resources to prepare Dawn City for the Dark Invasion.
• Old Bander returns with news that he has discovered a naturally formed, two-way Spatial Vortex connected to Storm Island. Unlike ordinary unstable spatial anomalies, the vortex can now transport creatures safely because it has resonated with a Spatial Gate.
• The unknown region beyond the tunnel may contain abundant Mana, powerful Magical Beasts, and valuable resource veins. William decides to investigate rather than abandon it.
• Old Bander persuades William to fund materials for a Portal, claiming it will ensure William’s safe return. William provides over 200,000 Gold Coins, while Old Bander secretly hopes to study the vortex and advance toward becoming a Spatial Archmage.
• William visits Annie beneath the Moon Tree, exhausted from his constant responsibilities. He falls asleep in her hammock, prompting Annie to recognize that they are both lonely figures unable to return to their original homes.

Character Developments

• William appears increasingly burdened by leadership, war preparations, and exploration. Despite his fatigue, he remains decisive and willing to invest heavily in Dawn City’s survival.
• His attitude toward resources reflects both pragmatism and ambition: he is prepared to spend millions to protect his people and strengthen his territory.
• Legolas acts as a loyal and disciplined supervisor, organizing the underground defenses without questioning William’s authority.
• Old Bander reveals himself as opportunistic and highly curious. His concern for William’s safety is largely an excuse to gain access to the Spatial Vortex, which he views as an invaluable chance to study advanced spatial magic.
• Annie shows emotional growth and empathy. Although initially annoyed that William ignores her, she becomes concerned when she sees how exhausted and troubled he is.
• Arthur becomes comically jealous and distressed when William enters Annie’s bedroom without needing permission, highlighting William and Annie’s increasing closeness.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and sacrifice: William accepts enormous financial costs and extensive labor to prepare for the Dark Creatures, emphasizing that survival requires long-term planning and sacrifice.
• Power and authority: The chapter presents the strict hierarchy of the Neutral Lords, where subordinates obey the Lord’s commands and dissent is controlled through strength and authority.
• Opportunity versus danger: The Spatial Vortex represents both a potentially priceless new territory and a serious threat due to its instability and unknown destination.
• Ambition and exploitation: Old Bander’s manipulation shows how personal ambition can hide behind claims of duty or safety.
• Loneliness and belonging: William and Annie are portrayed as abandoned outsiders who cannot return home. Annie’s reflection compares their struggle to an insect needing to emerge from its cocoon and become powerful enough to be recognized.
• The cost of leadership: William’s exhaustion and troubled sleep suggest that responsibility is taking a personal emotional toll despite his confidence and authority.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Legolas: William inspects the defensive works while Legolas reports indirectly through his work, demonstrating their commander-and-subordinate relationship.
• William and Old Bander: Their conversation centers on the Spatial Vortex. William recognizes the danger but chooses exploration, while Old Bander cleverly secures funding and an opportunity to pursue his own magical ambitions.
• William and Annie: Their quiet interaction reveals growing familiarity. William feels comfortable enough to sleep in Annie’s garden, while Annie moves from irritation to sympathy and identifies with his loneliness.
• William and Arthur: Arthur’s silent jealousy provides comic relief and suggests that William’s relationship with Annie has become significantly more intimate and informal.

Chapter Summary: “Investors Appear, Solimans~”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William spends the night in Princess Annie’s bedroom, leaving behind the Thunder Essence for her to place the newly forged High-Class weapon inside. Arthur sees them together and becomes deeply jealous and heartbroken, though nothing romantic actually occurs.
• Inspired by William’s recent breakthrough to High-Class, Arthur resolves to become stronger and dedicate himself to being an outstanding guardian knight so that Annie might eventually notice him.
• Old Bander returns to Dawn City with Solimans, a Black Leaf Elf and powerful Archdruid. Solimans is also a Grandmaster Herbalist and Grandmaster Pharmacist.
• Solimans asks to join Dawn City, intending to spread Druid teachings and research stronger Magic Potions using Dawn City’s resources. William accepts him and appoints him chief Grandmaster Pharmacist.
• William immediately suspects that Solimans’s arrival is part of a larger political scheme. He believes someone may be secretly investing in him because of his royal Black Leaf Elf heritage and his role in the coming Dark Invasion.
• William theorizes that additional Black Leaf Elves or other powerful figures may soon join Dawn City under similar pretexts. Their actions could reveal who is attempting to influence the Black Leaf Elven Clan and prepare William for the approaching catastrophe.
• William and Old Bander travel back to Storm Island. William orders that Burning Ash and Lotner, once they leave seclusion, open the southern route toward Storm Lake while avoiding unnecessary conflict with Magical Beast tribes.
• As they prepare to enter the Spatial Vortex, Old Bander ominously worries that it may disperse, prompting William to question his luck and fear that the remark has “raised a flag.”

Character Developments

• Arthur: His jealousy over Annie and William transforms into motivation. Rather than giving up, he decides to train harder, become powerful, and establish himself as Annie’s dependable guardian.
• William: He demonstrates political caution and strategic intelligence. Although he welcomes Solimans’s expertise, he does not trust the elf’s stated motives and begins analyzing the hidden forces arranging events around him.
• Solimans: He is introduced as a highly skilled Archdruid with exceptional knowledge of Herbalism and Pharmacology. He appears open, direct, and focused on both advancing his research and spreading the Druid tradition.
• Old Bander: He acts as Solimans’s sponsor and friend, vouching for him despite being somewhat embarrassed by Solimans’s bluntness. He remains largely unconcerned about the political implications of Solimans’s allegiance.
• Annie: Though she has limited direct involvement, her relationship with Arthur and William continues to shape Arthur’s emotions and ambitions.

Significant Themes

• Hidden political manipulation: Powerful figures are secretly placing people and resources on the board, treating William as a potential chess piece in a larger struggle.
• Preparation for catastrophe: The coming Dark Invasion is already influencing alliances, recruitment, and military development, even though most characters do not yet understand its true source.
• Trust and suspicion: William recognizes that apparent support may conceal ulterior motives, forcing him to accept help while remaining vigilant.
• Growth through rivalry and longing: Arthur’s unrequited feelings become a source of determination and self-improvement.
• The limits of agency: William understands that he is caught in forces far stronger than himself, yet he continues building Dawn City and preparing for the future rather than surrendering to his role as a “chess piece.”
• Resource and talent development: Solimans’s arrival emphasizes the importance of Secondary Classes, specialized knowledge, and the material resources needed to advance alchemy and potion-making.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Annie quietly arrange the storage of the Thunder Essence, while Arthur misinterprets their shared night and suffers emotionally.
• Old Bander introduces Solimans to William and asks permission for him to join Dawn City.
• William negotiates with Solimans, offering resources in exchange for his long-term loyalty and contributions to Dawn City.
• William gives Storm Island’s administrators strategic orders and delegates responsibility instead of managing every matter personally.
• William and Old Bander’s final exchange about the Spatial Vortex provides comic tension, as William worries that Old Bander’s pessimistic comment may bring bad luck.