Chapter Summaries

Chapter 552 Summary: “What? Difficulties Along the Path of Cultivation?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William disguises himself while visiting the city, but his striking appearance and legendary reputation quickly expose him as the Dawn City Lord. Crowds gather because of his beauty, status, and famous achievements, including the Dragon-Slaying War, the Dark Invasion, the Elf-Orc War, and his battle against the Magic Sanctum.
• He visits the Pacification Empire’s Battle Aura Academy with the Four King Kong and Little Angel Xiyan. The students are immediately captivated by William’s appearance, while Xiyan attracts equal attention from the male students.
• William meets Hones, the academy’s dean, and proposes exchanges between the Dawn City and Imperial academies. They agree to exchange one hundred outstanding students, giving William an opportunity to recruit talented youths—especially those with powerful legendary bloodlines—for Dawn City.
• Hones introduces William to Thor the Thunder God, another lightning-element Legendary professional. Their interaction is brief and awkward because Thor remains hostile and jealous of William.
• William gives a speech to thousands of students about cultivation. He challenges their limited ambitions after most students name goals such as becoming Domain experts or Legends, while one student, Lawrence, boldly declares that he wants to become a Saint.
• William defends Lawrence and urges the students to set ambitious goals, arguing that mocking someone’s dream reflects a lack of courage. He explains that his own cultivation has no ultimate endpoint: every new realm should become the next goal.
• When Hones asks him to describe the hardships of his cultivation, William humorously admits that he has experienced almost none. Because of his extraordinary talent, he claims that cultivation is as easy as eating or drinking, leaving the students stunned and emotionally devastated.

Character Developments

• William displays his usual combination of charisma, manipulation, confidence, and humor. He uses his public image to strengthen ties between Dawn City and the empire, while secretly planning to influence talented exchange students to remain in Dawn City.
• He also reveals his philosophy of endless advancement: cultivators should not place artificial limits on their potential and should continuously pursue the next realm.
• Hones appears as a practical but enthusiastic dean. He is impressed by William’s courtesy and readily accepts the exchange-student proposal, unaware of William’s recruitment intentions. He also tries to force William into giving the speech he promised.
• Lawrence is singled out as an unusually ambitious student because he dares to aim for the Saint Realm despite being mocked by his peers. William’s support gives legitimacy to his dream.
• Thor remains jealous and antagonistic toward William, particularly because of William’s relationship with powerful women and his possession of the arms Thor covets.
• The academy students shift from excitement and admiration to shock and despair after hearing that William’s path was virtually free of difficulty.

Significant Themes

• Ambition versus self-imposed limitations: William argues that cultivators should not restrict themselves to supposedly realistic goals. A lofty goal is valuable even if success is uncertain.
• Perseverance and continual growth: Cultivation is portrayed as an endless journey in which each attained realm becomes the foundation for pursuing a higher one.
• Talent and inequality: The chapter humorously exposes the gap between William’s effortless progress and the struggles of ordinary cultivators. His inspiring speech is undercut by the fact that his advice is difficult for others to apply because of differences in talent and bloodline.
• Public image and influence: William’s appearance, reputation, and achievements give him enormous social power, allowing him to inspire students, negotiate alliances, and attract potential recruits.
• Humor through contrast: William sincerely promotes perseverance, then casually reveals that he has never experienced meaningful cultivation difficulties, creating a comedic reversal.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Hones: Their polite mutual praise develops into a successful diplomatic and educational partnership.
• William and the students: William first entertains them, then challenges their narrow ambitions and inspires them to aim higher.
• William and Lawrence: William publicly protects Lawrence from ridicule and uses him as an example of courage.
• William and Thor: They exchange formal greetings but avoid meaningful conversation due to Thor’s resentment and William’s unwillingness to engage with him.
• William and Xiyan: Their combined beauty draws attention throughout the academy, reinforcing their extraordinary presence among ordinary students.

Chapter Summary: “One Cannon Blast Wiped Out Their Fortune”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William’s boasts about Dawn Academy’s exceptional students deeply motivate the Imperial Battle Aura Academy’s elite students. Many compete to become exchange students, hoping to prove themselves at Dawn Academy and the upcoming Academy Exchange Tournament.
• William sees several promising future Legendary professionals among them and considers the exchange program a profitable opportunity for Dawn City, even though he finds no obvious future Saint.
• Over two weeks, William visits the Winged Folk, Pacification Empire, Frost Empire, and finally the Sunset Empire. He negotiates trade, academy exchanges, magical-beast sales, and broader cooperation, while refusing to accept contracts targeting major factions.
• William is secretly preparing Dawn City for the future Version 5.0 naval wars, when the Seven Continents will draw closer together.
• Upon entering the Sunset Empire’s imperial city, William is suddenly struck by a Saint-level beam containing the power of a Misfortune Divine Artifact. He is blasted into a wall and loses almost all of his fortune.
• His Luck Value plunges from 6 to roughly 1–2, apparently destroying the extraordinary fortune inherited from his father and potentially cutting off his path to sainthood.
• William angrily refuses to leave and demands an explanation from the Sunset Empire, exaggerating the catastrophe and implying that the attack has created an irreconcilable grievance.
• He is brought before Emperor Di Yu, who summons Fallen Sun, a Peak Saint, to examine William’s remaining fortune.
• Fallen Sun confirms that William’s fortune is nearly gone: while Di Yu’s fortune resembles countless bright stars, William has only two faint stars remaining.
• Fallen Sun admits he cannot restore William’s fortune and suggests that only Rogers, William’s father and an expert in the fortune path, might help.
• Di Yu orders a full investigation into the attack while the empire’s leaders anxiously consider how to compensate William and avoid retaliation from Rogers.

Character Developments

• William: Demonstrates his talent for manipulation and political theater. Although genuinely shocked by the loss of his fortune, he immediately uses the incident to pressure the Sunset Empire and strengthen his bargaining position. His confidence remains intact despite the apparent damage to his future.
• Hones and the Imperial Academy students: Their pride is wounded by William’s praise of Dawn Academy, pushing them into competitive action and making them eager exchange candidates.
• Diablo and the Dawn City group: Diablo reacts aggressively to the attack, openly blaming the Sunset Empire and defending William.
• Di Yu: Initially maintains imperial composure and mild irritation at William’s attitude, but becomes alarmed when the severity of the fortune loss is confirmed. He recognizes the political danger of offending William and Rogers.
• Fallen Sun: Acts as the fortune examiner. His awkward, sympathetic reaction emphasizes how devastating William’s condition appears.
• Rogers: Though absent in the Dream Continent, his reputation as a Peak Saint and authority over fortune looms over the entire incident. The Sunset Empire fears that harming his son could provoke revenge.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and diplomacy: William uses both cooperation and intimidation to advance Dawn City’s interests.
• The power and vulnerability of fortune: The Misfortune Divine Artifact reveals that even a powerful Legendary professional can be crippled by attacks that bypass conventional defenses.
• Preparation for future conflict: William’s diplomacy and academy exchanges are part of a larger strategy to prepare Dawn City for the coming continental and naval wars.
• Reputation and deterrence: Rogers’s strength protects William politically, forcing the Sunset Empire to treat the attack as a major international crisis.
• Manipulation through exaggeration: William’s dramatic claims about losing his path to sainthood amplify the pressure on the Sunset Empire, whether or not the damage is truly permanent.

Character Interactions

• William’s earlier boasts indirectly provoke the Imperial Academy students into competing for exchange positions.
• William and Diablo confront the Sunset Empire’s diplomat after the attack, demanding accountability.
• William adopts a hostile stance toward the empire while the diplomat tries to placate him and escort him to the palace.
• William and Di Yu exchange tense, guarded remarks, with Di Yu attempting to preserve imperial dignity while acknowledging the empire’s responsibility.
• Fallen Sun examines William’s fortune and confirms the severity of the damage, creating an awkward and sympathetic atmosphere.
• Di Yu and the empire’s Legendary figures begin considering investigations, compensation, and appeasement to prevent retaliation from Rogers.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dilo and Kailun are revealed to be responsible for firing the cannon loaded with a Misfortune Divine Artifact at William. They attacked him to retaliate against Rogers, whom they blamed for draining their fortune and ruining their chances of becoming saints.
• Di Yu, the current Sunset Emperor, learns through the supreme pontiff Fallen Sun that his younger brother Dilo and Kailun were the culprits. Although he condemns their recklessness, he refuses to expose them because of family loyalty, political considerations, and the Violet Moon Clan’s relationship with the empire.
• William remains in the imperial palace, refusing to leave until the Sunset Empire addresses both compensation and responsibility for the attack. He silently pressures Di Yu through an extended, tense negotiation.
• Di Yu falsely claims that the assassin was an old enemy of William’s rather than someone connected to the Sunset Empire. William openly dismisses the explanation, insisting that his enemies are already dead and implying that the emperor’s excuse is absurd.
• William repeatedly emphasizes that his path to sainthood has been destroyed. He uses this point to reject offers of cultivation resources, even when Di Yu offers treasures worth more than a hundred billion.
• Realizing that William will not accept ordinary compensation, Di Yu offers him one divine artifact from the imperial Treasury, provided William ends the matter and prevents hostile rumors about the Sunset Empire from spreading.
• William accompanies Di Yu into the heavily protected Treasury. He surveys numerous priceless treasures and eighteen genuine divine artifacts before selecting a concealed weapon: the Heaven-Subduing Blade.
• The blade has never been publicly revealed and possesses killing power ranked among the top three divine artifacts. William’s selection appears to surprise and pain Di Yu, suggesting that he has chosen an exceptionally valuable treasure.

Character Developments

• William transforms his despair and rage over losing his path to sainthood into a carefully controlled performance. He acts calm, wounded, and somewhat resigned while secretly using negotiation, emotional pressure, and intimidation to secure the best possible compensation.
• William demonstrates his characteristic cunning and opportunism. Though he appears devastated, he remains alert to the rare opportunity to enter the imperial Treasury and acquire a powerful artifact.
• Di Yu becomes increasingly frustrated by William’s stubbornness but also develops genuine respect for him. He recognizes that William is maintaining composure despite a devastating setback and compares his restraint favorably with Dilo and Kailun’s reckless behavior.
• Di Yu is shown as a conflicted ruler. He knows his brother is guilty and considers him a disgrace, yet he prioritizes family, political stability, and the empire’s reputation over justice.
• Dilo and Kailun are portrayed as resentful and shortsighted. Their desire for revenge leads them to endanger the Sunset Empire, while they assume that hiding the Misfortune Divine Artifact will protect them.
• William’s calculated performance increases Di Yu’s favorability toward him, despite the emperor realizing that William probably knows the attacker was connected to the empire.

Significant Themes

• Political negotiation and controlled deception: Both William and Di Yu conceal their true positions. Di Yu denies the empire’s involvement, while William pretends to be more broken and powerless than he really is.
• Revenge and its consequences: Dilo and Kailun’s desire to retaliate against Rogers leads them to attack William instead, creating a diplomatic crisis and threatening the empire’s reputation.
• Power, status, and sainthood: Losing the chance to become a saint is treated as a devastating blow, revealing how strongly advancement and power shape the characters’ ambitions.
• Family loyalty versus justice: Di Yu knows his brother is guilty but refuses to sacrifice him, showing the tension between imperial responsibility and personal allegiance.
• Emotional resilience and adaptability: William converts grief into strategy, using his apparent despair to maintain leverage and obtain compensation far beyond ordinary treasures.
• Hidden strength and political restraint: Neither side wants to escalate the conflict into open war. The agreement over a divine artifact allows both parties to preserve face while avoiding a direct confrontation.

Important Character Interactions

• Dilo and Kailun: They reassure one another that the attack will remain untraceable and justify their revenge against Rogers, revealing their shared bitterness and lack of accountability.
• Di Yu and Fallen Sun: Through secret communication, Di Yu confirms the attackers’ identities and discusses whether to conceal the truth. Fallen Sun emphasizes the seriousness of attacking a legendary figure with a Misfortune Divine Artifact inside the imperial capital.
• Di Yu and William: Their negotiation forms the chapter’s central interaction. Di Yu attempts excuses, promises of resources, and increasingly valuable compensation, while William repeatedly counters by invoking his ruined path to sainthood.
• William and the Treasury: William’s outwardly casual selection of the Heaven-Subduing Blade conceals his keen judgment and opportunism. Di Yu’s reaction suggests that William has chosen one of the empire’s most valuable hidden treasures.

Chapter Summary: “One Heaven-Suppressing Slash”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William receives the Heaven-Subduing Blade, a divine artifact forged by saints of the Sunset Empire. The weapon possesses immense attack power, armor- and magic-breaking abilities, and a powerful “Heaven-Suppressing” stacking debuff.
• Its active skill, Heaven-Suppressing Strike, can potentially kill an enemy instantly after 100 debuff stacks; if it fails, it still removes half their HP and weakens their attributes.
• The blade was originally created for Di Yu, the Sunset Emperor, to use after reaching the saint realm. He is devastated and regretful after giving it to William but cannot openly reclaim it without losing face.
• To compensate for losing the weapon, Di Yu decides to seize the misfortune divine artifacts belonging to Dilo and Kailun, treating them as strategic weapons for the imperial treasury.
• William remains in the Sunset Empire for several days to preserve his public image, cultivate goodwill among the people, and negotiate the Empire Academy’s martial arts meet before returning to Dawn City.
• News spreads across the continent that William was attacked by a misfortune divine artifact, supposedly losing his fortune and having his path to sainthood damaged or severed.
• Dawn City’s players remain largely confident in William and the faction’s stability. Other factions do not move against Dawn City because William’s father and the city’s broader power base remain formidable.
• Back in Dawn City, William admires the blade and evaluates its ability to elevate him to roughly the level of a peak Legendary professional, though he admits he would still struggle against beings such as reincarnated main gods, Acaro, or the Chaos City Lord.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates his usual opportunism and theatricality. He successfully turns a disastrous political situation into a major gain by obtaining the Heaven-Subduing Blade, then maintains a humble and injured persona to prevent Di Yu from reconsidering the deal.
• He gains greater confidence in his combat potential but remains realistic about the overwhelming strength of higher-level figures.
• Di Yu becomes more cautious and disillusioned. Losing the weapon makes him abandon his dream of displaying overwhelming personal strength after becoming a saint, deciding instead to focus on ruling as a human emperor.
• Annie shows increasing romantic affection toward William. She is easily embarrassed by his teasing, reacts possessively to the idea that he may have touched other women, and becomes flustered when he swears his devotion to her.
• The players of Dawn City reinforce their faith in William as a “protagonist-like” figure who survives setbacks and eventually rises again.

Significant Themes

• Political performance and manipulation: William’s success depends not only on strength but also on acting, emotional manipulation, and understanding how to preserve another ruler’s dignity.
• Power and lost destiny: Di Yu’s regret reflects the danger of basing one’s ambitions on a single artifact or future breakthrough. William’s supposed loss of fortune and saintly potential also raises questions about whether destiny can truly be taken away.
• Reputation and factional stability: Despite rumors that William’s future has been ruined, Dawn City remains powerful because of its allies, leadership, and institutional strength.
• Weapons versus personal cultivation: The blade dramatically increases William’s combat ability, but the chapter emphasizes that even a divine artifact cannot fully close the gap between Legendary figures, saints, and beings at the pinnacle of power.
• Romantic teasing and emotional intimacy: William and Annie’s playful argument reveals growing affection beneath their banter, with innocence and flirtation carefully balanced.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Di Yu: Their interaction centers on the blade’s compensation. William acts pitiful and grateful, while Di Yu silently regrets surrendering the weapon but maintains his dignity as emperor.
• Di Yu, Dilo, and Kailun: After giving away the blade, Di Yu plans to reclaim the treasury’s losses by confiscating Dilo and Kailun’s misfortune divine artifacts.
• William and the Dawn City players: Although mostly indirect, the players’ reactions show strong loyalty and confidence in William despite the apparent destruction of his saintly path.
• William and Annie: They flirt and bicker over physical contact, fidelity, and William’s suggestive jokes. Annie’s embarrassment and concern reveal her romantic feelings, while William deliberately keeps the exchange playful and innocent.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• By version 4.0, roughly one-fifth of the players have reached the high-class professional ranks. Dawn City’s player army now outnumbers its NPC forces, though NPCs remain stronger individually because of superior bloodlines and quality.
• As advancement becomes more difficult, guilds and teams emerge to help players complete solo rank-up quests, mainly by lending powerful equipment.
• William enjoys a period of leisure in Eastsea City, relying on his subordinates to handle most affairs while he rebuilds his reputation across his territory.
• A volcano in the Beast Forest erupts, and a massive phoenix emerges, becoming a saint and dramatically increasing the region’s mana concentration. Magical beasts and fire-element professionals flock to the area.
• The newly ascended phoenix gathers the fire essences that would normally be left behind and gives them to Burning Ash, who is attempting to break through to the legendary rank.
• The phoenix offers Burning Ash a choice between pure essence blood and phoenix bloodline essence blood. Burning Ash chooses the phoenix bloodline blood, despite already possessing a fire dragon bloodline.
• The two ancient bloodlines clash violently inside Burning Ash’s body. He nearly loses his humanity and dies, but the phoenix teaches him the Phoenix Nirvana Art, allowing him to survive and undergo a mysterious rebirth.
• Burning Ash retains a human form, becomes younger, and develops unusual flame tattoos and runes. His legendary aura surges, suggesting that he may have gained an unprecedented dual dragon-phoenix constitution.
• William learns of the phoenix’s ascension and hopes Burning Ash will obtain enough phoenix essence blood to become one of his legendary generals.
• While William is fishing, Lancelot sends a distress transmission. He appears bloodied, nailed to a cross, and being tortured by the Dark Child, who taunts William to come rescue him. The transmission cuts off before revealing a location, though the Dark Child later sends the information in crude writing.

Character Developments

• Burning Ash: Demonstrates extraordinary determination by choosing the dangerous phoenix bloodline despite the risk of conflict with his fire dragon bloodline. He survives the transformation and appears to gain a unique, potentially world-shaking power.
• The Phoenix: Becomes a saint after recovering from its injuries. It proves grateful toward Burning Ash, remembering that he sacrificed all his Water of Life to save it. Their friendship deepens as the phoenix breaks clan rules to teach him the Phoenix Nirvana Art.
• William: Continues transitioning into a relaxed, delegating lord who benefits from his followers’ efforts. He remains ambitious, already considering Burning Ash as a future legendary commander, but is abruptly forced back into action by Lancelot’s capture.
• Lancelot: Despite being a legendary light-element professional, he is captured and brutally tortured, revealing that even powerful figures remain vulnerable to the Dark Child.
• The Dark Child: Appears obsessive and sadistic. His taunt implies that Lancelot has repeatedly mentioned William in his dreams, suggesting jealousy or a possessive fixation.

Significant Themes

• Power and advancement: The chapter emphasizes the widening gap between ordinary players, NPCs, and high-level beings, while showing how rare opportunities can accelerate advancement.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: Burning Ash’s past sacrifice of the Water of Life earns the phoenix’s gratitude, showing that genuine friendship can yield extraordinary rewards.
• Transformation and identity: Burning Ash’s body becomes the battleground between dragon and phoenix bloodlines. His survival suggests the creation of a new form of power beyond established racial systems.
• Risk and ambition: Burning Ash knowingly risks death for greater strength, reflecting the dangerous choices required to reach the legendary realm.
• Humor amid danger: William’s casual fishing and thoughts about cooking his catch contrast sharply with Lancelot’s torture, maintaining the chapter’s comedic tone even during serious events.

Important Character Interactions

• The phoenix warns Burning Ash that the phoenix essence blood may conflict with his fire dragon bloodline, but Burning Ash insists on taking the risk.
• The phoenix recalls Burning Ash’s earlier kindness and chooses to save him with the Phoenix Nirvana Art, strengthening their bond.
• William reacts to news of Burning Ash’s breakthrough with strategic excitement, viewing him as a potential legendary subordinate.
• The Dark Child tortures Lancelot specifically to provoke William, taunting him through the transmission and implying jealousy over Lancelot’s thoughts about William.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Dark Child captures Lancelot and sends William strict conditions: William must come alone and cannot alert the Temple of Light.
• Although William is powerful, his naturally cautious personality leads him to spend seven days preparing instead of rushing into the trap. He restores favorability in several cities, gathers dark-creature-restraining scrolls, and acquires tons of Holy Water.
• Frustrated by William’s delay, the Dark Child threatens to kill Lancelot. William responds coldly, pretending not to care, which deeply irritates the Dark Child.
• The Dark Child tries to create a rift between the two brothers by asking whether Lancelot would rescue William if he were captured. Lancelot firmly states that he would, even at the cost of his own life, prompting the Dark Child to slap him and order further torture.
• The apparent “mouse” near the torture chamber is revealed to be part of William’s infiltration. William’s forces kill the guarding demons, revive Lancelot with the Water of Life, and break his seal.
• William launches a surprise attack on the Dark Child, severely damaging the city and overpowering him in direct combat.
• The Dark Child activates a massive blood-sacrifice formation, sacrificing more than one hundred thousand indoctrinated citizens to strengthen himself. However, William destroys the formation by flooding it with vast quantities of Holy Water.
• With the ritual broken, the Dark Child loses his advantage. William warns him never to harm another Dawn City professional, threatening to sever his Holy Path in retaliation.
• Intimidated by William’s strength, preparations, and willingness to use unpredictable tactics, the Dark Child retreats into the Dark World.

Character Developments

• William is portrayed as extremely cautious, strategic, and well-prepared. Rather than recklessly accepting the Dark Child’s conditions, he uses his resources to eliminate every possible disadvantage. His massive supply of Holy Water demonstrates Dawn City’s wealth and his tendency to overwhelm enemies through preparation and sheer quantity.
• Lancelot proves his loyalty to William, declaring that he would risk his life to rescue him. Even while tortured, he understands William’s apparent indifference and recognizes that the Dark Child’s hostage schemes have repeatedly ended in death.
• The Dark Child becomes increasingly frustrated and emotionally destabilized. His attempts to manipulate William and Lancelot fail, and his supposedly unbeatable blood-sacrifice formation is effortlessly neutralized. His anger and surprise reveal that he underestimated William’s resources and mentality.
• William and Lancelot’s bond is reinforced. William’s harsh words are a calculated deception rather than genuine indifference, while Lancelot correctly understands his brother’s reasoning.

Significant Themes

• Caution versus recklessness: William’s careful preparation contrasts with the Dark Child’s impulsive confidence. His patience ultimately turns the enemy’s trap against him.
• Overwhelming preparation and resourcefulness: Even a powerful formation can be defeated through the massive use of an apparently ordinary item. The chapter emphasizes that quantity and planning can create a decisive advantage.
• Brotherhood and loyalty: Lancelot’s willingness to die for William demonstrates the strength of their relationship, while William’s rescue confirms that his apparent cruelty was strategic.
• Evil confronting a greater evil: The Dark Child’s cruel schemes are countered by William’s own ruthless and unpredictable methods. Their conflict is framed as “evil meeting its match.”
• Power backed by wealth and organization: Dawn City’s resources allow William to obtain supplies and deploy tactics far beyond what the Dark Child expects.

Character Interactions

• The Dark Child attempts to pressure William through threats against Lancelot, but William responds with deliberate indifference, frustrating him.
• Lancelot defends William’s actions and rejects the Dark Child’s attempt to undermine their relationship.
• William rescues Lancelot through a coordinated ambush, then directly overwhelms the Dark Child.
• The Dark Child’s blood sacrifice briefly shifts the battle in his favor, but William’s Holy Water destroys the ritual and leaves him exposed.
• William issues a final warning while displaying his dice, frightening the Dark Child into immediate retreat.

Chapter 558: “Despair and Hope” — Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter reveals Dark Child’s tragic origins. He was once an ordinary eight-year-old human who became trapped in the Dark World. A demon rescued and raised him, modifying his body so he could survive and teaching him dark battle aura.
• For five years, Dark Child believed his foster father loved him. On his thirteenth birthday, the demon took him to the Gods Continent to see the sunlight he longed for—but used the occasion to betray and imprison him.
• Dark Child endured more than a decade of torture before finally killing his foster father and consuming his flesh. This experience transformed him into a violent, unstable person who hated light, the sun, and the people of the Gods Continent for never saving him.
• He later fought through millions of dark creatures and became the true Dark Child, receiving the blessings of the God of Darkness and the Goddess of Misfortune. He gained the ability to teleport back to the dark altar, making him extremely difficult to capture.
• After returning to the Dark World, Dark Child reflects on his repeated failures to break Lancelot’s will. He considers tormenting Lancelot even further but decides to leave William, the Dawn City Lord, alive for now because of William’s powerful father.
• Dark Child’s instability is demonstrated when he casually kills an innocent demon who happens to look at him.
• Meanwhile, William and Lancelot sit on a ruined city wall after William rescues him. The city has been secretly conquered by the dark forces, with civilians and many official representatives brainwashed into becoming dark believers.
• William realizes the betrayal may be useful. Since he can detect loyalty through favorability values, he chooses not to expose the infiltrators immediately, allowing them to continue acting as informants while Lancelot gathers intelligence.
• Lancelot explains that he was captured while trying to rescue civilians, particularly children who were about to be used as food by demons. He recognized the danger but entered the trap because there was no time to save the victims.
• William and Lancelot bond over Dawn Beer. Lancelot enjoys it enough to suggest that the Temple of Light make it an official drink, further strengthening their friendship.
• William urges Lancelot to compromise and avoid sacrificing himself, arguing that a living legend could save more people in the future. Lancelot refuses, insisting that abandoning helpless victims would betray the meaning of his identity as Light Child.
• Reinforcements from the Lion Kingdom and Temple of Light arrive. Lancelot goes to explain the situation and deliberately prepares to accept blame, knowing the Lion Kingdom will likely accuse the Temple of Light and demand compensation.

Character Developments

• Dark Child: His cruelty is shown to originate from prolonged abuse, betrayal, and abandonment rather than simple devotion to darkness. His hatred of light comes from associating it with the people who failed to save him. Despite his immense power, he remains psychologically damaged and obsessed with breaking Lancelot’s ideals.
• Lancelot / Light Child: His moral resolve becomes clearer. He accepts that his idealism may lead to death, but he refuses to abandon people simply to preserve himself. He believes his role requires him to embody the absolute standard of light and justice.
• William: He becomes more protective of Lancelot and increasingly worried about his willingness to sacrifice himself. William also demonstrates strategic flexibility by exploiting enemy infiltrators instead of immediately eliminating them.
• Lancelot and William: Their friendship deepens significantly, with their favorability reaching an exceptionally high level. Their relationship combines mutual trust, humor, and opposing views about sacrifice and pragmatism.

Significant Themes

• Despair and hope: Dark Child was shaped by despair after being abandoned, while Lancelot is driven by the belief that even people facing certain death should be allowed to see hope.
• Trauma and moral identity: Dark Child responds to suffering by embracing hatred and cruelty; Lancelot responds by making a vow never to abandon others.
• Idealism versus pragmatism: William argues that survival and long-term strategy may require sacrificing some people, while Lancelot insists that such compromises destroy the very principles he represents.
• The consequences of abandonment: The chapter suggests that someone who has experienced absolute despair understands the value of rescue more deeply than anyone else.
• The meaning of goodness: William concludes that a truly good person steps forward personally in danger, whereas a hypocrite demands that others take the risk.

Important Character Interactions

• Dark Child and his foster father: Their relationship changes from apparent paternal love to horrifying betrayal, forming the emotional foundation of Dark Child’s hatred.
• Dark Child and Lancelot: Dark Child wants to destroy Lancelot’s belief in justice, but Lancelot’s resilience only frustrates him further.
• William and Lancelot: Their conversation highlights their contrasting philosophies. William prioritizes calculated survival, while Lancelot prioritizes immediate rescue and moral consistency.
• William and Lancelot over Dawn Beer: Their lighthearted exchange provides a brief moment of camaraderie amid the aftermath of tragedy.
• Lancelot and the arriving reinforcements: Lancelot takes responsibility for the crisis, protecting broader relations even though he was acting to save civilians.

Chapter Summary: “Legendary Mercenary Group”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William visits the Rainbow Lake Forbidden Grounds in Dawn City and observes the extraordinary growth of the World Tree, which has surpassed 1,800 meters in height.
• The area around the World Tree possesses extremely dense mana and life energy, making it a powerful cultivation sanctuary. Its internal space grants benefits such as health regeneration, mana recovery, and enhanced healing.
• William collects the accumulated Water of Life and Mana Source, noting that the World Tree can now produce roughly 100 drops of each per day, with storage capacity reaching 3,000 drops.
• William and the World Tree communicate directly. He learns that the World Tree can create 10,000 adult elves every month, though doing so consumes some of its Origin Power and slows its growth.
• William orders the World Tree to begin producing elves and house them within its newly formed small world, which contains ancient plants, animals, and magical beasts from the Mythic Era.
• William realizes that these elves will likely possess powerful bloodlines, grow quickly in the World Tree’s environment, and remain absolutely loyal to him.
• He decides to keep the World Tree and its resources secret until he reaches the Saint Realm, recognizing that premature exposure could attract enemies.
• Burning Ash returns to Dawn City after successfully becoming a Legendary professional. His transformation through fire has made him appear much younger and granted him a powerful mixture of dragon, phoenix, and human bloodlines.
• Burning Ash explains his unusual advancement, revealing that he now possesses strong transformation abilities and may have the potential to reach sainthood.
• The chapter ends with William receiving news that the Eastern Region Mercenary Alliance, Far North Mercenary Group, and Sunset Mercenary Group are merging to form the Legendary Mercenary Group.

Character Developments

• William gains greater confidence in his long-term plans. The World Tree, its resources, and the future elven population provide him with a powerful foundation for secretly building an army and eventually challenging the strongest forces of the Fourth Era.
• William also shows caution and strategic restraint. Although he recognizes the value of the Water of Life and the elves, he refuses to reveal or exploit these resources too openly before becoming strong enough to protect them.
• The World Tree develops from a seemingly passive artifact into an intelligent, affectionate, and obedient entity capable of speech, creating life, and governing its own small world. It considers the previous World Tree its parent and possesses inherited memories.
• Burning Ash completes his transformation into a Legendary expert. His rebirth through fire has altered his appearance and physiology, giving him powerful mixed bloodlines and the potential to contend with incarnations of powerful deities.

Significant Themes

• Accumulation of hidden strength: William emphasizes building his foundation quietly rather than seeking immediate fame or conflict.
• Creation and loyalty: The World Tree’s ability to produce elves gives William access to an entire race of naturally loyal followers, reinforcing the connection between divine creation and political power.
• Power and responsibility: The World Tree’s resources could heal disabled veterans and greatly benefit society, but William delays using them because of the danger of exposure and resource depletion.
• Transformation and rebirth: Burning Ash’s advancement illustrates how entering the Legendary Realm can fundamentally change a person’s body, appearance, bloodline, and potential.
• Faith and hierarchy: The World Tree is the faith of the elves, while William is effectively the World Tree’s central figure of devotion, creating a layered chain of loyalty between William, the World Tree, and the future elves.

Character Interactions

• William affectionately but impatiently rebuffs the World Tree’s branches when it tries to embrace him, while still treating it as a valuable and trusted companion.
• He questions the World Tree about elves, sprites, its origins, and the cost of creating life. Their conversation reveals both the tree’s personality and its willingness to obey him.
• William and Burning Ash exchange playful remarks about Burning Ash’s youthful appearance after becoming Legendary. William then recognizes the enormous power of his new bloodlines.
• Burning Ash expresses complete loyalty to William, while William acknowledges that Burning Ash can now fight independently against powerful divine incarnations.
• The chapter closes with William’s private plans being interrupted by news of the mercenary-group merger, setting up a major political and military development.

Chapter Summary: “The 560th: Holy Armor Three”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The three most powerful mercenary organizations outside Dawn City—the Far North Mercenary Group, Eastern Region Mercenary Alliance, and Sunset Mercenary Group—merge into the newly named Legendary Mercenary Group.
• Their union shocks the continent and diverges sharply from the original historical timeline, confirming that William’s actions have radically altered future events.
• William convenes Dawn City’s major experts to assess the threat. The group estimates that the merged mercenary organization may possess several Legendary-level professionals:
  • Alfred, a Legendary Berserker from the Far North.
  • Paul Bain, a powerful thunder-and-fire Legendary warrior.
  • Sicorat, who is close to reaching the Legendary Realm.
  • The Sunset group’s female half-elf spatial Grand Archmage.
• Some members advocate destroying the new organization immediately, but Lotner warns that Dawn City has only recently seized territory from the Magic Sanctum and is not prepared for another major war.
• The group also fears that the three human empires—or an even stronger hidden faction—may be supporting the merger. A direct conflict could provoke intervention from Saint Realm experts.
• William orders Dawn City to avoid competing for minor mercenary contracts, relying instead on its existing large-scale agreements with the three empires. He assigns Burning Ash to oversee the Western Region and Solimans to the Northern Region, while the Eastern Region remains protected by the Gold Dragon Geralt.
• He urges the other experts to cultivate harder, since their current strength may be insufficient in a future war.
• After the meeting, William disguises himself and travels to the Pacification Empire to meet Caesar.
• Caesar reveals that the Legendary Mercenary Group is not backed by the human empires. Instead, it was created under the influence of Godslayer Hall, a dangerous external organization.
• Their representative is Saint Armor Three, an exceptionally powerful Saint Realm expert who killed a divine reincarnation and inherited its Divine Origin.
• William realizes that the mercenary group effectively has a godlike power supporting it, making a direct attack extremely risky.
• Caesar explains that the human empires are willing to support William if he chooses to fight, but they will not act unless he takes the initiative.
• William decides to summon diplomatic officials and negotiate, joking that he is prepared to confront the three empires politically if necessary.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates increased caution and strategic maturity. Although irritated by the mercenary merger, he refuses to rush into a war without understanding its backing.
• He also recognizes the limits of his subordinates and pushes them to improve, showing both concern for their growth and awareness of the widening gap between Legendary experts.
• Diablo and Legolas provide valuable intelligence about the strength and organization of the Far North, Eastern, and Sunset mercenaries.
• Lotner acts as the voice of reason, preventing the more aggressive members from provoking an unwinnable conflict.
• Tyrannosaur and Meng Lu remain impulsive and confrontational, immediately calling for violence.
• Burning Ash and Solimans, having recently reached the Legendary Realm, unintentionally increase the pressure on their former comrades, who now feel anxious about falling behind.
• Caesar is shown to be politically shrewd and increasingly secure in his position as heir. He uses the situation to gauge William’s intentions while helping arrange diplomatic talks.
• William’s appearance continues to be both an asset and a source of comedic inconvenience, even causing Caesar difficulty maintaining his composure.

Significant Themes

• Unintended consequences and altered destiny: William’s influence has changed the timeline so dramatically that major events now occur earlier or in completely different forms.
• Power and deterrence: The existence of Saint Realm experts makes even powerful factions hesitant to act, emphasizing that strength alone is not enough without reliable intelligence and strategic support.
• Political maneuvering over open warfare: Dawn City must balance military ambition with diplomacy, territorial consolidation, and the possible involvement of the three empires.
• Growth and inequality among allies: The rise of Legendary experts creates emotional and social distance among former companions, highlighting how advancement can strain relationships.
• Freedom versus political control: The mercenaries’ desire to remain independent from imperial authority makes them vulnerable to manipulation by Godslayer Hall.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter contrasts serious geopolitical threats with banter, crude jokes, and William’s exaggerated beauty, preserving the series’ comedic tone.

Important Character Interactions

• William leads a strategic council with Diablo, Legolas, Burning Ash, Solimans, Tyrannosaur, Lotner, and others, balancing their conflicting opinions.
• Burning Ash and Solimans tease one another, while William mocks Burning Ash’s appearance and memory.
• Tyrannosaur and Meng Lu demand immediate violence, but Lotner restrains them with a realistic assessment of Dawn City’s vulnerable position.
• William and Caesar discuss the true force behind the Legendary Mercenary Group. Their conversation shifts from casual teasing to serious political planning once Godslayer Hall and Saint Armor Three are mentioned.
• Caesar offers the support of the human empires, but William recognizes that their assistance comes with political expectations and refuses to blindly start a war.

Summary of “Taking Leave”

• Plot/events: The narrator announces that they have caught a cold and are feeling physically weak and uncomfortable despite taking medicine. Because of their condition, they must remain in bed and are unable to continue their usual activities. They explain that if their health improves by evening, they will post an update then.
• Character development: The narrator is shown as responsible and considerate toward their audience, informing them directly about the delay rather than leaving them without explanation. Their illness temporarily limits their ability to work.
• Themes: Illness, physical vulnerability, rest, responsibility, and communication with others.
• Character interactions: No direct dialogue or interaction occurs. The narrator’s message is addressed to readers or followers, reassuring them that an update may still come later if their condition improves.

Chapter 561 Summary: War of the Mercenaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• William concludes three hours of negotiations with the Sunset, Pacification, and Frost Empires. Through his exceptional persuasion, he gets them to sign a highly favorable contract supporting Dawn City’s war against the Legendary Mercenary Group.
• The contract requires the empires to:
  • Pay daily wages to mercenaries participating in the war.
  • Protect Dawn City from ambushes by the Magic Sanctum.
  • Prevent Godslayer Hall’s saints from delivering a fatal attack against Dawn City.
  • Support Dawn City’s goal of defeating the Legendary Mercenary Group within three years.
• William plans to formally declare war within a month. Before doing so, he intends to expose the Legendary Mercenary Group’s alleged crimes and build public support for Dawn City.
• Dawn City’s Bards begin spreading numerous scandals about the Legendary Mercenary Group. Most of the accusations are fabricated or heavily embellished, but the constant repetition makes them seem credible to the public.
• The propaganda campaign damages the reputations of Paul Bain and Alfred, while Wendis becomes the subject of romantic rumors involving William.
• At the Legendary Mercenary Group’s headquarters, Paul Bain calls for a counterattack and explains that the group is backed by a saint. He claims that defeating Dawn City is necessary for the Legendary Mercenary Group to become one of the continent’s limited Top Factions.
• The group’s members enthusiastically agree to target William and Dawn City, though Wendis interprets the phrase “taking down William” in a much more personal and romantic way.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates his political and rhetorical skill, manipulating the three empires into accepting a contract that heavily benefits Dawn City. He also reveals his willingness to use propaganda, misinformation, and psychological warfare.
• Caesar recognizes that the empires have been outmaneuvered but accepts that the signed contract cannot be reversed.
• Paul Bain attempts to establish authority over the newly merged mercenary organization. However, the group remains divided among the factions of its former leaders, making his leadership fragile.
• Alfred is angered by the false accusations damaging his reputation.
• Wendis is amused and secretly pleased by the romantic rumors linking her to William. Her infatuation distracts her during the strategy meeting and undermines the seriousness of the discussion.
• The Epic-ranked members of the Legendary Mercenary Group become motivated by the promise of joining a Top Faction, even though many remain uncertain about the group’s mysterious backing.

Significant Themes

• Political manipulation and exploitation: William turns the human empires’ tendency to avoid direct conflict into an opportunity to gain money, protection, and resources.
• Propaganda as a weapon: Dawn City attacks the Legendary Mercenary Group’s reputation before attacking it militarily, showing that public opinion can weaken an enemy before battle begins.
• Power and factional competition: The continent can support only a limited number of Top Factions, making Dawn City and the Legendary Mercenary Group natural rivals.
• Internal division: Although the mercenary groups have merged, their former leaders and subordinates still retain separate loyalties, threatening the organization’s unity.
• Comedy amid serious conflict: False scandals, romantic rumors, and Wendis’s inappropriate enthusiasm create humorous contrasts with the impending war.

Character Interactions

• William and the imperial diplomats negotiate aggressively, with William overwhelming them until they unknowingly accept costly conditions.
• William and Caesar discuss the planned war, including the importance of public opinion and the limited military support the empires are willing to provide.
• Paul Bain clashes with skeptical Epic commanders who demand clarity about the group’s backing and strategic intentions.
• Paul reveals the saint’s support, persuading the mercenaries that defeating Dawn City could elevate them into a Top Faction.
• Wendis’s romantic reaction to the idea of “taking down” William clashes with Paul, Alfred, and the other commanders’ military intentions, creating an ironic and comedic moment.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The newly merged Legendary Mercenary Group, supported by the powerful Godslayer Hall, rapidly becomes a major force. Its millions of mercenaries receive upgraded equipment, allowing the group to seize roughly 40% of the continent’s employment commissions within half a month—nearly matching Dawn City.
• Dawn City and the Legendary Mercenary Group remain in a tense standoff, with frequent minor clashes but no conventional large-scale battle.
• The Mercenary Guild stays officially neutral, though its longstanding relationship with the Legendary Mercenary Group makes its sympathies appear somewhat unfavorable toward Dawn City.
• Public opinion increasingly favors the Legendary Mercenary Group because it possesses three famous Legendary-Tier leaders—Paul Bain, Alfred, and Wendis—while rumors suggest that William’s path to sainthood has been damaged by a powerful enemy from the Sunset Empire.
• William remains silent about these rumors because outsiders do not know that Burning Ash has also reached the Legendary Tier. He believes Dawn City could defeat the Legendary Mercenary Group if the conflict remains limited to its three leaders.
• William’s true concern is the Godslayer Hall, an ancient super-organization with an unknown number of Legendary and Saint-level members. He fears that if they discover Moxis is the reincarnation of the Goddess of Magic, they may directly target her.
• Unable to compete financially by endlessly upgrading Dawn City’s military equipment, William chooses a different strategy: using Dawn City’s enormous player population and their ability to revive.
• Dawn City deploys 1.5 million regular troops across its strongholds and officially declares war through a high-level player quest, offering experience, equipment, Dragon Blood, contribution points, and daily monetary subsidies.
• Players enthusiastically accept the war quest. Different guilds receive different objectives, including destroying enemy strongholds or defending Dawn City’s positions.
• Within hours, players begin attacking the Legendary Mercenary Group. In the first 24 hours, they kill more than 13,000 mercenaries and destroy 28 strongholds.
• Over the next three days, players repeatedly use suicidal tactics involving Magic cannons, mana-crystal explosions, artillery, and improvised explosives. Their attacks cause severe material and psychological damage.
• Unable to cope with opponents who refuse conventional battles and can freely sacrifice themselves, the Legendary Mercenary Group begins withdrawing and greatly contracting its defensive lines.

Character Developments

• William proves himself pragmatic and strategically flexible. Rather than imitate the Legendary Mercenary Group’s expensive equipment upgrades, he exploits the unique strengths of Dawn City’s players.
• His confidence in Dawn City increases because Burning Ash’s advancement gives him an additional powerful Legendary combatant.
• William also becomes more cautious regarding the Godslayer Hall, recognizing it as a threat far greater than the Legendary Mercenary Group itself.
• Paul Bain and the other Legendary Mercenary Group leaders initially act confidently, believing their resources and backing from the Godslayer Hall make them superior. Their confidence erodes as their forces suffer relentless player assaults.
• Paul ultimately admits that the group is not incapable of fighting; rather, Dawn City’s players simply refuse to offer the conventional team battles the mercenaries expect.
• The ordinary mercenaries become frightened and demoralized, viewing the players as demons because of their seemingly reckless, repeated suicide attacks.

Significant Themes

• Asymmetric warfare: Superior funding and equipment cannot guarantee victory against an enemy using fundamentally different tactics.
• Resourcefulness versus wealth: Dawn City cannot win an equipment-spending contest, so William turns the players’ expendability and revival ability into a strategic advantage.
• The absurdity of conventional honor in war: The mercenaries want a straightforward battle, while the players prioritize objectives, explosives, and efficiency over pride or survival.
• Fear of hidden powers: The Godslayer Hall’s uncertain strength and hostility toward deities create a larger threat behind the immediate conflict.
• Public perception and misinformation: Rumors about William’s damaged holy path make Dawn City appear weaker than it truly is.
• Players as an unpredictable force: Their behavior resembles game mechanics rather than ordinary military logic, making them nearly impossible for traditional armies to counter.

Character Interactions

• William reviews intelligence reports with his advisors and reacts to the Legendary Mercenary Group’s provocations by deciding to mobilize Dawn City rather than continue waiting.
• The player community discusses the war enthusiastically, sharing information about guild objectives, enemy strongholds, and attack strategies.
• The players’ interaction with the Legendary Mercenary Group is entirely hostile and unconventional: they repeatedly sacrifice themselves to destroy fortifications and equipment.
• Terrified mercenaries curse the players as “devils” and “demons,” while demanding that they fight normally.
• Paul Bain recognizes the central problem: the Legendary Mercenary Group expects a conventional team fight, but Dawn City’s players deliberately deny them that opportunity and exploit their inability to revive.

Chapter Summary: “If We Don’t Fight a Group Battle Now, We’ll Lose”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The war between Dawn City and the Legendary Mercenary Group enters its seventh day. Dawn City avoids direct team battles, relying on players to conduct suicide attacks, split pushes, and repeated raids against enemy strongpoints.
• Because players can revive, they are willing to use reckless tactics involving magic cannonballs, scrolls, and mana gemstones. Their attacks gradually destroy hundreds of mercenary strongpoints and cause many mercenaries to lose morale or even abandon the group.
• The Legendary Mercenary Group is forced to concede an entire tier of continental tasks, humiliating its leader, Paul Bain.
• Paul convenes another strategy meeting to find a way to counter Dawn City’s “Chosen Ones,” but the meeting quickly descends into internal conflict.
• Alfred refuses to sacrifice his ordinary berserker troops against enemies who can revive. He clashes with Sicorat, while Wendis sarcastically mocks the group’s lack of unity and willingness to fight among themselves.
• A powerful Saint Stage figure, Saint Armor Three of Godslayer Hall, suddenly appears. He reprimands the mercenary leaders for failing to repay the resources and power Godslayer Hall has provided.
• Saint Armor Three orders the group to accelerate the war. Godslayer Hall fears that the Fourth Era is progressing too quickly and that reincarnated gods are interfering by joining various factions. The Legendary Mercenary Group is expected to become the strongest faction on the Legendary Continent and gather intelligence about the gods.
• He threatens them with consequences if they continue to fail, while promising that Godslayer Hall will provide reinforcements for a direct assault on Dawn City.
• After Saint Armor Three leaves, Paul develops a new strategy: abandon scattered attacks and launch a concentrated assault on one area.
• Rather than attack Dawn City or Beast-Taming City directly, Paul chooses the Five Cities of Sandsea. He plans to seize them quickly, cut off Dawn City’s one-way teleportation routes, evacuate the civilians, and deny William any meaningful targets or resources.
• Meanwhile, Moxis detects the developing plan through divination. She recognizes that Saint Armor Three is powerful but appears to be a reckless, straightforward fighter rather than a careful strategist.

Character Developments

• Paul Bain becomes increasingly pressured by the failures of the merged mercenary forces. He struggles to control leaders who were once independent powers and resents the burden of maintaining their alliance.
• Despite his embarrassment, Paul shows strategic awareness. He recognizes that scattered battles favor Dawn City and devises a focused offensive intended to exploit the limitations of player reinforcements and teleportation.
• Alfred is shown to be fiercely protective of his troops. He is willing to argue with Paul and the other commanders rather than allow his men to be used as disposable soldiers.
• Wendis remains calm and sarcastic, exposing the mercenary group’s disunity. Her apparent sympathy toward William causes others to question her loyalty.
• Saint Armor Three is revealed as an intimidating representative of Godslayer Hall. He exercises authority through both superior power and political pressure, making it clear that the mercenary group is merely a tool of the organization.
• Moxis is reinforced as an exceptional diviner. Her ability to foresee the enemy’s plans suggests that Dawn City may be prepared for the coming assault.
• William does not appear directly, but his leadership is contrasted with Paul’s. Rumors claim that William’s charisma and appearance allow him to command powerful figures effortlessly, increasing Paul’s frustration.

Significant Themes

• Asymmetric warfare: Dawn City wins not through superior direct combat, but through mobility, revivals, split pushing, and relentless attrition.
• The power of immortality: The players’ ability to revive makes conventional military logic ineffective and terrifies ordinary soldiers.
• Unity versus internal division: The Legendary Mercenary Group’s merger has created a powerful but unstable alliance. Its leaders cooperate only while victory and profits seem certain.
• Political manipulation and dependency: Godslayer Hall supplies resources and demands results, revealing that the mercenary group’s independence is largely an illusion.
• Strategy versus brute force: Dawn City’s careful avoidance of team fights contrasts with Godslayer Hall’s demand for a decisive, all-out attack.
• Fear of the unknown: Godslayer Hall’s name alone terrifies the commanders, emphasizing its enormous influence and mysterious strength.
• The changing world order: The progress of the Fourth Era and the involvement of reincarnated gods are accelerating the conflict beyond what the major factions expected.

Important Character Interactions

• Paul and Alfred: Paul attempts to lead the meeting, but Alfred immediately rejects any plan that would sacrifice his troops. Their exchange highlights Paul’s weak authority and Alfred’s blunt independence.
• Alfred and Sicorat: Sicorat defends Paul’s authority, provoking Alfred into a near-physical confrontation and exposing the fragile hierarchy within the mercenary group.
• Alfred and Wendis: Alfred accuses Wendis of secretly favoring William and planning to defect. Wendis responds with sarcasm and prepares to fight, demonstrating the group’s inability to remain united.
• Paul and Saint Armor Three: Saint Armor Three dominates the interaction, reminding Paul that Godslayer Hall created much of the mercenary group’s current strength and can just as easily destroy it.
• Paul and the other commanders: After the saint’s warning, the commanders submit and promise to complete the mission, though their fear reveals that their loyalty is forced.
• Moxis and the unfolding conflict: Though she does not interact directly with the mercenaries, Moxis’s divination gives Dawn City an important informational advantage and foreshadows a response to the planned attack.

Chapter Summary: The Origin of the Godslayer Hall

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moxis warns William through Divination Art that the Legendary Mercenary Group may attack the Five Cities of Sandsea using a suicide teleportation strategy.
• William decides to prepare defenses immediately, despite divination only showing a possible future. He understands that an attack on the cities could seriously damage the players’ trust in Dawn City and potentially drive them to change factions.
• William completes his preparations while Moxis reflects on the Godslayer Hall. She recalls a horrifying method from the Mythic Era called the Divine Origin Replacement Method.
• Moxis explains that, during the late Mythic Era, deities suffering from a crisis of faith had two choices: abandon the Gods Continent and gradually shed their faith, or reincarnate into the Fourth Era through the Saint Path.
• The Divine Origin Replacement Method offered a third, immoral alternative: capture another deity and use them as a vessel to absorb faith and provide divine power. The victim would become a mindless puppet, potentially driven insane and condemned to serve eternally.
• The spread of this method led to deities mysteriously disappearing. Fearing capture, the gods began forming groups and factions, but their growing herd mentality and factional divisions contributed to the conflict between the Saint Path and Divine Path and eventually caused the Gods’ War.
• Moxis concludes that the Godslayer Hall’s ability to detect and steal the divine origins of reincarnated deities likely comes from this ancient method. She suspects its founder is an immortal survivor of the Mythic Era or a saint who inherited the technique.
• William becomes deeply alarmed and insists that Moxis stay out of the coming conflict. He claims he can handle even a saint’s arrival with his avatar and remaining essence blood, but would be devastated if anything happened to her.
• Moved by his concern, Moxis kisses William and runs away, leaving him stunned and delighted.

Character Developments

• William is shown to be strategically cautious and politically perceptive. He recognizes that protecting the Five Cities is not merely a military issue but also a matter of maintaining player loyalty to Dawn City. His concern for Moxis reveals increasingly strong romantic feelings and a willingness to sacrifice even Dawn City if she is harmed.
• Moxis shifts from an adviser assisting with preparations to a key source of historical knowledge about the Mythic Era. Her memories reveal a darker understanding of the Godslayer Hall and strengthen the sense that its founder remains an active, dangerous figure.
• William and Moxis’s relationship becomes more openly romantic. Their teasing, kisses, and mutual concern show growing intimacy, though both remain somewhat awkward and playful about it.

Significant Themes

• Trust and political legitimacy: Dawn City’s authority depends heavily on its ability to protect its player population. A successful attack on the players’ home cities could create an irreversible loss of faith.
• The corruption of power: The Divine Origin Replacement Method represents an extreme willingness to exploit others for personal survival and strength.
• Collective mentality and conflict: Moxis argues that even gods can lose independent judgment when they gather into factions, helping transform disagreements into a devastating civil war.
• Hidden history and conspiracy: The Godslayer Hall appears connected to an ancient, unresolved plot involving reincarnated deities and stolen divine origins.
• Love amid danger: William and Moxis’s developing affection provides warmth and humor while also raising the emotional stakes of the coming conflicts.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Moxis discuss the predicted attack and the broader threat of the Godslayer Hall.
• Moxis reveals the history behind the Divine Origin Replacement Method and explains its connection to the Gods’ War.
• William impulsively kisses Moxis, who initially scolds him playfully but later returns the kiss.
• William orders Moxis to avoid the upcoming battle for her safety, while Moxis responds with an affectionate kiss that confirms their mutual feelings.

Chapter Summary: “The Group Battle Begins”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The conflict between Dawn City and the Legendary Mercenary Group escalates into open war, though city guards protect civilians by sealing off both factions’ strongholds. Some residents even treat the battles as entertainment.
• Because the Legendary Mercenary Group plans to attack the Five Cities of Sandsea, William moves the Dawn Legion to intercept them in the Endless Sandsea rather than risk the cities being destroyed by magic artillery.
• Both sides mobilize massive forces:
  • Dawn City fields 80,000 regular soldiers and 1.2 million high-level players.
  • The Legendary Mercenary Group brings roughly two million mercenaries.
• The armies establish opposing camps only 30,000 meters apart. The first engagement begins when 3,000 mercenaries attempt a nighttime raid on Dawn’s camp.
• Dawn’s regular soldiers prove vastly superior in disciplined combat, while the players suffer heavy losses on the flanks. However, player resurrection allows the fallen to immediately return to battle.
• Players exploit cosmetic weapon skins and deliberately cheap equipment to trick mercenaries into targeting them for valuable-looking loot. This turns the battlefield into a chaotic cycle of players and NPCs ambushing and looting one another.
• Dawn City ultimately defeats the raiding force, killing approximately 13,000 enemy troops while losing only around 600 regular soldiers. Most of Dawn’s casualties are resurrecting players, whose losses are compensated through guild and wartime subsidies.
• Paul Bain receives the battered survivors but remains confident that reinforcements, including Saint Armor Three’s forces, will allow the Legendary Mercenary Group to launch a decisive attack in three days.

2. Character Developments

• William demonstrates careful strategic planning. He chooses to fight in the desert, uses carefully selected soldiers with superior bloodlines, and organizes players alongside regular troops to maximize their effectiveness.
• The Dawn Regular Army is shown to be exceptionally disciplined and powerful, easily overpowering ordinary mercenaries in shield-wall combat.
• The players continue to display unconventional, game-like tactics. They accept death because of resurrection, use cheap gear disguised by cosmetic skins, and profit from recovering corpses and equipment.
• Paul Bain remains proud and determined despite the failed raid. He believes Dawn City’s reputation for never suffering defeat can be broken once the Legendary Mercenary Group’s superior legendary forces arrive.
• Alfred provides blunt, teasing commentary, irritating Paul even while discussing the coming battle.
• William’s hidden resources are hinted at: he has secretly acquired considerable dragon blood during the Dragonkind Rebellion, suggesting he possesses power or preparations that Paul’s side has not anticipated.

3. Significant Themes

• Conventional warfare versus unconventional warfare: The mercenaries rely on professional combat ability, equipment, and elite leaders, while Dawn combines disciplined troops with players’ resurrection and game-based tactics.
• The value of organization and selection: William’s carefully chosen soldiers, supported by coordinated player formations, demonstrate how superior organization can overcome numerical disadvantages.
• The transformation of war into an economic system: Equipment drops, corpse recovery, guild subsidies, and contribution points make battle profitable for the players. Dawn City has effectively built a war economy that prevents it from suffering financial losses.
• The uncertainty of appearances: Cosmetic skins make weak weapons look legendary, allowing players to manipulate enemy expectations and turn greed into a battlefield weakness.
• Confidence and underestimation: Paul believes Dawn’s success is merely a myth that can be shattered, but he underestimates William’s preparations and the resilience of the players.
• The different meanings of death: For ordinary mercenaries, death ends a battle; for players, it is temporary and often economically compensated, fundamentally changing military tactics.

4. Character Interactions

• William commands the battle from the front line and silently observes the contrast between Dawn’s disciplined soldiers and the mercenaries’ aggressive fighting style.
• Mercenaries mock and overwhelm the player frontline, but their confidence collapses when the supposedly defeated players resurrect in large numbers.
• Players use deceptive equipment appearances to lure mercenaries into ambushes, creating a humorous reversal in which both sides attempt to loot one another.
• Paul Bain and Alfred discuss the arrival of reinforcements and the possibility of defeating Dawn’s legendary figures. Alfred’s blunt remarks frustrate Paul, who still tries to maintain his authority and dignity.
• William and Paul exchange a silent gesture across the battlefield, symbolizing their mutual hostility and confidence.
• Paul plans to eliminate Dawn’s high-level combatants, but the chapter’s ending reveals that he is unaware of William’s hidden dragon-blood preparations and may be seriously underestimating Dawn City.

Chapter Summary: “Before the General Offensive”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Legendary Mercenary Group discovers that Dawn City has placed more than a hundred powerful magic barriers along its defensive line. Each barrier could conceal multiple legions, making Dawn City’s true military strength impossible to determine.
• Paul Bain concludes that the barriers are likely intended to exaggerate Dawn City’s forces. He plans to probe its weaker areas during a general offensive in three days, using battlefield engagements to determine the city’s actual strength.
• William gives Dawn Legion the opposite order: confront every enemy directly and display overwhelming confidence, regardless of the number of attackers.
• Small-scale battles and reconnaissance clashes erupt across the front. Both sides score mixed victories while constantly rearranging their forces to match comparable opponents.
• Huaxia professional players return from battle with valuable loot, including epic equipment taken from enemy grandmaster commanders. The conflict is also giving Dawn City’s players significant experience and equipment advantages.
• The players discuss the possibility of a future National War and note that Huaxia players are already several levels ahead of players from other continents.
• Chu Liuqiu confirms that he plans to retire from professional competition after attempting to win a fourth consecutive world championship. However, he intends to keep playing Gods with other retired experts and fight in future national wars.
• Before the coming offensive, William secretly visits one of Dawn City’s barriers. It is revealed that the hidden forces include two Dragon Blood Legions and a World Serpent Legion—not merely the well-known Dragon Blood Legion.
• These three elite legions consist entirely of grandmaster-level soldiers, possess epic-class commanders and dark-gold equipment, and have accumulated powerful legion buffs by fighting through demon caverns.
• William believes the three legions together can rival an army of roughly three hundred thousand comparable soldiers. He eagerly anticipates the Legendary Mercenary Group’s reaction when the true strength of Dawn City is revealed.
• If the enemy attempts to use epic-class professionals to eliminate his elite legions, William is prepared to summon Odin and counter them with divine-level power.

Character Developments

• Paul Bain demonstrates strategic caution and intelligence. Rather than blindly attacking, he intends to use the general offensive to expose Dawn City’s hidden military strength.
• William displays confidence and calculated deception. He deliberately allows the enemy to underestimate Dawn City while preparing a devastating surprise behind the barriers.
• Chu Liuqiu reveals that he is nearing retirement from professional esports after three consecutive championships. Although he wants a quieter life, he remains enthusiastic about future wars and leadership.
• Changli Jiugu shows both admiration for Chu Liuqiu and ambition to succeed him as captain. Despite joking about the position, he respects Chu’s achievements and leadership.
• Little Ayin expresses reluctance at the thought of Chu retiring, showing how important he is to the team.
• The Dragon Blood Warriors’ emotional devotion to William is emphasized when one warrior treats a simple handshake and gifted magic fruit as a deeply meaningful honor.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and strategic deception: Dawn City’s barriers conceal an army far more powerful than the enemy expects.
• Preparation before decisive conflict: Both sides use minor skirmishes to gather information and arrange their forces before the general offensive.
• Growth through war: Players gain levels, equipment, and experience from the fighting, strengthening Huaxia’s position for a possible future National War.
• Leadership and succession: Chu Liuqiu’s planned retirement raises questions about who will lead his team, while also showing the lasting influence of a successful captain.
• Loyalty and admiration: The soldiers’ reverence for William and the team’s respect for Chu Liuqiu highlight the bonds created by strong leadership.
• Confidence versus underestimation: The Legendary Mercenary Group believes Dawn City may be bluffing, while William knows its concealed forces can dramatically change the balance of power.

Important Character Interactions

• Paul Bain, Alfred, and Wendis discuss the impracticality of reproducing Dawn City’s many barriers and agree to test the city through combat.
• Chu Liuqiu, Changli Jiugu, and Little Ayin discuss retirement, future national wars, and Chu’s continuing role as a leader even after leaving professional competition.
• Chu Liuqiu abruptly ends the conversation by leading the Glory players into another charge.
• William exchanges a brief but emotionally significant interaction with a Dragon Blood Warrior, rewarding him with a magic fruit and reinforcing the soldiers’ devotion.
• William internally contrasts the enemy’s possible epic-level tactics with his own ability to summon Odin and invoke divine power.

Chapter 567 Summary: War Begins, Ace Against Ace

Key Plot Points and Events

• After three days of more than a hundred skirmishes, Dawn City has decisively outperformed the Legendary Mercenary Group, killing or capturing over 90,000 enemies while suffering only 18,300 casualties.
• The repeated player suicide charges have exhausted both armies, but the players themselves remain capable of reviving and fighting. Their revival limit of six times per day becomes central to the enemy’s strategy.
• The Legendary Mercenary Group ends its exploratory attacks and prepares for a decisive offensive. Paul Bain receives reinforcements consisting of eight Legend-class and twenty Epic-class experts.
• William detects the reinforcements and worries that, while his strongest subordinates can hold off several enemy Legends, the remaining experts might attack Dawn City’s armies while their powerful Avatars are occupied.
• Paul Bain personally confronts William and offers him a chance to surrender, promising to let Dawn City continue operating at a reduced level. William rejects the offer with contempt, declaring that even the intervention of Sacred Armor holders would not frighten him.
• Paul orders the Legendary Mercenary Group’s two-million-strong army to launch its main assault. William responds by mobilizing Dawn City’s forces across the entire front.
• Both armies arrange their formations, with shield warriors at the front, followed by melee fighters, gunners, rangers, mages, and heavy artillery. Dawn City’s superior stock of Magic cannons, artillery, and equipment immediately intimidates Paul’s forces.
• Paul challenges William to a personal duel, and the high-level experts from both sides rise above the battlefield to fight separately from the main armies.
• The players are ordered to stay near the regular forces and protect the flanks rather than overextend themselves.
• Dawn City then reveals its elite formations: two Dragon Blood Legions, the World Serpent Legion, and several veteran legions equipped with dark-gold armor and Epic weapons. Their overwhelming aura causes many enemy soldiers to panic.
• The Legendary Mercenary Group counters with Beastblood Berserkers, a powerful battle-aura-and-magic dual-cultivation legion, a dragon-blood warrior unit from the Eastern Region Mercenary Alliance, and other elite Grandmaster formations.
• As the armies close in, thousands of cannons and artillery pieces fire simultaneously. Dawn City’s Dragon Blood Legions and World Serpent Legion immediately charge through the enemy formation and break into its center.
• Dawn City’s elite troops prove decisively stronger, benefiting from William’s Legendary Lord buffs and accumulated advantages.

Character Developments

• William remains confident, provocative, and unwilling to compromise. He openly mocks Paul and trusts in Dawn City’s superior military strength, equipment, elite legions, and his own battlefield buffs.
• Paul Bain shifts from indirect probing to an all-or-nothing offensive. He attempts to appear magnanimous by offering William limited autonomy, but his true goal is to crush Dawn City before William’s father can intervene.
• Burning Ash and Limans display their competitive hostility toward one another while both volunteer to fight multiple enemy Legends. Their rivalry highlights their ambition and pride.
• The players and guild leaders demonstrate greater discipline than before, with commanders ordering them to hold formation and avoid reckless charges.

Significant Themes

• Attrition versus decisive battle: The prolonged skirmishes have weakened both sides, but Paul believes only a massive, coordinated assault can exhaust the players’ revivals and defeat Dawn City.
• Military superiority and preparation: Dawn City’s organization, artillery, elite legions, equipment, and magical support give it a major advantage over the less heavily fortified mercenary army.
• Ace versus ace: The battle is framed as a clash between elite forces, powerful commanders, and legendary experts rather than merely a confrontation between ordinary soldiers.
• Confidence and intimidation: The appearance and aura of Dawn City’s Dragon Blood Legions psychologically weaken the enemy before the main battle even begins.
• Power of leadership: William’s Legendary Lord talent and buffs significantly enhance the forces under his command, demonstrating how a powerful leader can transform an army’s effectiveness.

Character Interactions

• Burning Ash and Limans argue over who can defeat more of the enemy’s Legendary experts, revealing their mutual rivalry.
• William and Paul exchange hostile taunts over Kanier’s death and the legitimacy of Paul’s campaign. Paul attempts to force surrender, but William responds with defiance.
• William and Paul agree to settle their conflict in the skies while their armies fight below.
• The guild leaders coordinate with Dawn City’s commanders, instructing players to support the regular army rather than repeat uncontrolled suicide attacks.
• The two armies’ elite units directly clash, with Dawn City’s Dragon Blood and World Serpent Legions breaking through the enemy’s center and establishing the chapter’s first major advantage in the decisive battle.

Chapter Summary: “Super Battle”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• A massive battle begins between Dawn City and the Legendary Mercenary Group, involving nearly four million soldiers across a front stretching dozens of miles.
• Artillery, magic cannons, and enchanted heavy crossbows inflict heavy casualties, though magic weapons and specialized bolts prove especially devastating against high-class professionals.
• Dawn City’s elite legions become the battlefield’s most important forces:
  • The Dragon Blood Legion, Dawn City’s strongest army, clashes with the enemy’s 3,000-member Dragon Blood Legion.
  • Dawn’s legion activates its legion skill first, summoning a gigantic warrior that destroys the enemy’s skill and devastates their formation.
  • Through Dragon Transformation, the Dragon-Slaying Divine General buff, and Life Chain, Dawn’s soldiers gain overwhelming offensive and defensive power while becoming extremely difficult to kill.
  • Coordinated fire-based Dragon Tongue Magic allows them to annihilate large groups of enemies.
• Within twenty minutes, the enemy Dragon Blood Legion is reduced from 3,000 soldiers to fewer than 1,000 survivors. Dawn’s legion loses no soldiers, only some mounts.
• After an hour, Dawn’s Dragon Blood Legion controls a huge area of the battlefield. Enemy forces retreat whenever they encounter it, and even players are unable to keep pace with its advance.
• Dawn City’s other elite formations, including the World Serpent Legion, also force enemy armies into retreat, though they remain less overwhelmingly powerful than the Dragon Blood Legion.
• The aerial battle is equally intense. Dawn’s powerful figures—including Diablo, the Tyrannosaur, Legolas, Lotner, and Xiyan—fight several opponents at once.
• William receives 36 additional epic-tier heroic spirits from the Magic Sanctum, giving Dawn City an unexpected numerical advantage among epic-level combatants.
• Three legendary professionals formerly associated with the Magic Sanctum—Wendis, Erin, and a fire-element Grand Archmage—join Dawn’s side, preventing the enemy from overwhelming Dawn through superior numbers.
• Solimans, transformed into a massive Time Dragon, battles the spatial mage Wendis and a lightning-element warrior. His time-manipulation abilities make him nearly impossible to defeat.
• Burning Ash fights Alfred and another fire-element warrior. He withstands their combined attacks and taunts Alfred with crude jokes.
• Burning Ash then transforms, gaining magma-colored eyes, flame wings, white-flame runes, and an aura that rises to the peak of the legendary realm, setting up the next stage of the duel.

2. Character Developments

• Albert acts as the overall commander rather than personally charging into battle, demonstrating strategic discipline and confidence in Dawn City’s elite troops.
• The Dragon Blood Legion is established as an almost invincible force. Its members combine powerful buffs, regeneration, coordinated attacks, and fearless tactics, making them seem more like supernatural killing machines than ordinary soldiers.
• Solimans reveals the terrifying strength of the Time Dragon form and the advantages of his Beast God inheritance. His ability to manipulate time allows him to dominate two legendary opponents simultaneously.
• Burning Ash displays overwhelming durability and confidence. His sarcastic, provocative personality remains evident even during a life-or-death battle, but his transformation shows that he has not yet revealed his full strength.
• Alfred is portrayed as physically powerful but easily provoked, becoming enraged by Burning Ash’s mocking comments.
• William’s forces grow substantially stronger through the addition of heroic spirits and legendary reinforcements from the Magic Sanctum.

3. Significant Themes

• Overwhelming military power: The chapter emphasizes the importance of elite legions, powerful buffs, and coordinated abilities in determining the outcome of large-scale warfare.
• Quality versus quantity: Although the enemy possesses vast numbers, Dawn City’s superior elite forces can destroy entire formations with minimal losses.
• The transformation of individuals and armies: Dragon transformation, Time Dragon abilities, and Burning Ash’s final metamorphosis show characters and troops unlocking higher levels of power.
• The brutality of war: Exploding bodies, amputations, barbed bolts, and soldiers fighting despite horrific injuries highlight war’s cruelty and dehumanizing violence.
• Teamwork and synergy: Dawn’s forces become especially powerful when soldiers share elemental affinities or combine legion buffs and group magic.
• Humor amid violence: Burning Ash’s vulgar banter with Alfred provides comic relief while also emphasizing his confidence and psychological dominance.

4. Character Interactions

• Dawn’s Dragon Blood Legion vs. the enemy Dragon Blood Legion: Their direct clash becomes a one-sided massacre, proving Dawn’s overwhelming superiority.
• Players and the Dragon Blood Legion: Players are stunned by the legion’s speed and destructive power, admitting they cannot even keep up with it or properly guard its flanks.
• Solimans vs. Wendis and the lightning warrior: Solimans uses time acceleration, deceleration, and time-based dragon breath to neutralize both opponents, preventing them from defeating him.
• Burning Ash vs. Alfred and the fire-element warrior: Burning Ash blocks and absorbs attacks, mocks Alfred’s boasts, and forces both opponents to fight seriously.
• Burning Ash and Alfred: Their confrontation mixes genuine hostility with sarcastic verbal exchanges. Alfred is provoked into rage, while Burning Ash remains amused and self-assured.
• The chapter ends with Burning Ash unveiling a powerful new form, dramatically shifting the balance of his battle.

Chapter Summary: “Legendary-Peak, Purple Armor One”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle between Dawn City and Godslayer Hall escalates as both sides deploy their strongest fighters.
• Burning Ash of Dawn City enters the Legendary Realm but retains Legendary-Peak combat power after transforming, forcing Alfred and a Fire-Type expert into a difficult struggle.
• Prince/William confronts Paul Bain and four Legendary Godslayer Hall experts: a Mental Archmage, Water Element Warrior, Wind Ranger, and Earth Brawler.
• William’s Heaven-Subduing Blade proves overwhelmingly powerful, bypassing Battle Aura Shields and magic barriers while ignoring 30% of defense. Combined with his true-damage abilities, it gives him exceptional killing power.
• The enemy launches a coordinated assault. The Mental Archmage stuns William, while Paul Bain and the others bombard him with attacks.
• William’s Undying talent activates after his HP falls below 50%, dramatically increasing his regeneration and durability. He also uses the Water of Life to restore himself to full health.
• The Wind Ranger fires his ultimate Sun-Slaying Arrow, piercing William’s chest and blasting a crater into the desert, but it only removes 21% of William’s HP.
• William counterattacks using Thunder Domain and Lightning Flash, instantly closing the distance to the Wind Ranger. With his twin blades, he destroys the Ranger’s bow and nearly cleaves him in half.
• A reflexive punch from the Brawler accidentally sends William toward the Wind Ranger, allowing William to deliver the finishing blow. The Ranger is split in two and killed.
• William stores the corpse, discovering that victims of the Heaven-Subduing Blade cannot be turned into Heroic Spirit Puppets.
• The remaining Godslayer Hall experts become cautious after realizing they severely underestimated William.
• The Water Element Warrior attempts to attack William but loses an arm to the Heaven-Subduing Blade. Although he regenerates it, the replacement is weaker.
• The Heaven-Subduing Blade’s origins are revealed: Di Yu and the Sunset Empire traded for it through immense resources, making it one of the empire’s strongest Divine Artifacts. Di Yu regrets that William is now using it.
• Observers across the Three Major Empires and the Elf Kingdoms witness William killing the Wind Ranger, Water Warrior, and Mental Archmage, causing them to believe Dawn City has gained the upper hand.
• The situation changes dramatically when a Spatial Gate opens and Purple Armor One appears.

Character Developments

• William/Prince: Demonstrates an enormous increase in combat ability. His regeneration, defensive talents, true damage, and mastery of the Heaven-Subduing Blade allow him to dominate a carefully constructed raid team. He becomes increasingly confident and openly mocks his opponents after surviving their strongest attacks.
• Paul Bain: Despite being a dual Thunder-and-Fire Professional pursuing godhood, he is unable to suppress William even with four allies. His confidence is shaken as he realizes how much stronger William has become.
• Wind Ranger: Initially confident in his ultimate attack, he becomes stunned by William’s survivability and is ultimately killed by the Heaven-Subduing Blade.
• Earth Brawler: His reflexive attack unintentionally helps William reach the Wind Ranger. He recognizes the danger of the Heaven-Subduing Blade but is mocked by the others for appearing cowardly.
• Water Element Warrior: Overconfident in his defensive shield, he ignores the Brawler’s warning and loses an arm to William’s blade.
• Mental Archmage: Successfully stuns William but cannot capitalize on the opportunity, later blaming the Brawler for failing to contain him.
• Di Yu: Feels frustrated and embarrassed that the immensely expensive Divine Artifact he helped obtain now empowers William instead of its intended users.
• Purple Armor One: Introduced as Godslayer Hall’s strongest Legendary-Realm combatant, a Legendary-Peak expert who has acquired a Divine Origin. His arrival represents a major escalation.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and preparation: Godslayer Hall assembles a balanced, raid-style team specifically designed to counter William, but the Heaven-Subduing Blade and William’s abilities render their preparations insufficient.
• Regeneration and immortality: William’s Undying talent and Water of Life make conventional damage nearly meaningless, emphasizing the difficulty of defeating him.
• The danger of Divine Artifacts: The Heaven-Subduing Blade can bypass shields, defenses, and even prevent resurrection as a Heroic Spirit Puppet, making it a decisive weapon.
• Overconfidence versus adaptability: The Water Warrior and Ranger underestimate William, while the Brawler’s caution proves justified. The enemy suffers because it fails to reassess William’s actual strength quickly enough.
• Escalation of conflict: Just as William appears to secure victory, Purple Armor One arrives, signaling that the battle is far from over.
• Political consequences: The fight is being observed by major powers, and William’s performance reshapes their understanding of Dawn City’s strength and the significance of the Sunset Empire’s artifact.

Important Character Interactions

• William battles Paul Bain and the four Godslayer Hall experts simultaneously, repeatedly surviving their coordinated attacks.
• The Mental Archmage’s stun enables Paul Bain and the others to attack William, but William’s defenses and regeneration negate their advantage.
• The Brawler accidentally knocks William toward the Wind Ranger, allowing William to kill the Ranger.
• The Mental Archmage angrily blames the Brawler, while the Brawler defends himself by emphasizing his instinctive melee reaction.
• The Water Warrior dismisses the Brawler’s warning and attacks William, immediately losing an arm.
• Di Yu and the Sunset Sanctum’s Fallen Sun discuss the costly Heaven-Subduing Blade, revealing the political and financial consequences of placing it in William’s hands.
• The arrival of Purple Armor One interrupts the apparent Dawn City victory and sets up the next phase of the battle.

Chapter Summary: Stripping Equipment Makes You Stronger

Key Plot Points and Events

• William faces Purple Armor One, the Godslayer Hall’s legendary forbidden-arts master, after defeating most of the surrounding enemies.
• Purple Armor One uses “Origin Forbidden Art: Disarm”, sealing the divine properties of William’s equipment and weapon. Even the Heaven-Subduing Blade loses much of its power.
• Rather than struggle against the sealing technique, William removes and stores all his equipment, then relies on his innate strength and the Power of Holy Soul.
• Purple Armor One attempts to threaten William into retreating and surrendering the divine artifact, but William provokes him by suggesting that Burning Ash’s equipment should be sealed instead.
• Before Purple Armor One can act, William attacks with a lightning battle-aura arrow, severely damaging him and reducing both his current and maximum HP.
• William then activates the Power of Holy Soul, boosting his attributes by 45%, and overwhelms Purple Armor One with a single punch.
• Paul Bain attacks William, but William destroys his legendary saber. The remaining brawler also attacks and has his gauntlets and hands shattered by William’s superior physical strength.
• The spectators conclude that William may actually be stronger without equipment, mistaking his stripped-down state for a deliberate “seal” that has now been removed.
• Purple Armor One questions whether William’s gear was suppressing his true power. William encourages the misunderstanding while revealing the intimidating aura of the ten drops of peak-saint essence blood given to him by his father, Rogers.
• Godslayer Hall realizes it has badly underestimated both Dawn City and William. Continuing the battle would require sending many more legendary professionals and risk provoking the continent’s other factions.
• Saint Armor Three appears and orders Godslayer Hall to withdraw from the Legendary Continent, claiming that William’s survival is valuable to the Gods Continent.
• Before leaving, Godslayer Hall indirectly offers William cooperation while hypocritically describing itself as a peacekeeping organization. William privately dismisses the claim as propaganda.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates that he is not dependent on divine artifacts or equipment. Even after his gear is sealed and discarded, he becomes more intimidating through the Power of Holy Soul and his overwhelming physical combat ability.
• He also shows increased confidence and theatrical cleverness, deliberately allowing others to believe that his equipment had been restraining his true strength.
• Purple Armor One is established as a powerful specialist capable of neutralizing opponents who rely on equipment. However, his confidence collapses after William defeats him with physical attacks.
• Paul Bain and the remaining brawler are exposed as completely outmatched. Their weapons and gauntlets are destroyed, leaving them terrified and humiliated.
• Burning Ash remains wary of fighting without equipment and is annoyed that William casually uses him as bait in his taunting.
• Saint Armor Three reveals that Godslayer Hall is pragmatic rather than reckless, withdrawing once the cost of victory becomes too high.
• Godslayer Hall shifts from threats to possible cooperation after recognizing William’s value and the danger of continuing the conflict.

Significant Themes

• True strength versus external power: The chapter challenges the assumption that William’s strength comes mainly from his weapons and divine artifacts. Once stripped of them, he proves even more formidable.
• Misdirection and reputation: William exploits the misunderstanding that his equipment was suppressing his abilities, using fear and exaggeration as psychological weapons.
• Overconfidence and underestimation: Godslayer Hall misjudges both William and Dawn City, leading to a disastrous confrontation.
• Power politics and pragmatism: The organization withdraws not out of mercy, but because further escalation could attract the intervention of powerful local factions.
• Hypocrisy and propaganda: Godslayer Hall presents itself as a peacekeeping force despite its threatening and violent behavior, which William recognizes as dishonest.
• Comic inversion of genre conventions: Purple Armor One’s dramatic entrance suggests a final boss, but he is quickly beaten once William abandons conventional reliance on equipment.

Important Character Interactions

• Purple Armor One criticizes professionals who depend on equipment, while William immediately turns that principle against him.
• William taunts Purple Armor One by offering Burning Ash as another target, irritating both the forbidden-arts master and Burning Ash.
• William’s attacks on Purple Armor One, Paul Bain, and the brawler transform the battlefield’s view of him from a powerful artifact-user into a terrifying close-combat powerhouse.
• Purple Armor One and William exchange threats and sarcasm, with William using his father’s peak-saint essence blood to reinforce his confidence and intimidate Godslayer Hall.
• Saint Armor Three rebukes Paul Bain and the others for their incompetence, then orders Purple Armor One to withdraw.
• Godslayer Hall’s final offer of cooperation is met with William’s internal contempt, highlighting the gulf between its public claims and its true nature.