Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Soul Armor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The four Water Element Saints of the Deep Sea Folk unleash a combined Forbidden Technique, using soul-infused water to attack William and Karl even while they are in gaseous or illusory forms.
• The technique forces both men out of their transformed states and severely damages their souls. Karl purges the Soul-Eating Water with black deathly mist, while William recovers through the power of his Thunder Heart.
• William uses three Saint-level Icebound Thousand Miles scrolls, freezing a hundred-mile area of ocean and trapping both allies and enemies in ice. The spell devastates the surrounding marine life and disrupts the Deep Sea Folk’s territory.
• The Deep Sea Folk Saints break through the ice and continue their pursuit, but William escapes using Thunder Light while Karl carries the frozen El Yunze away.
• William reveals that the Deep Sea Folk are pursuing them mainly because he robbed their treasury and emptied their Otherworld Space Treasury, not merely because Karl killed one of their Saints.
• Fumushuangwang returns to the Abyssal Trench and discovers that the treasury—including two Holy Relics and a valuable soul treasure—is completely empty. Enraged, he vows revenge against the Sunset Empire.
• Back in Dawn City, William examines the stolen treasures. He identifies two Elven Holy Relics—a Moonlight longsword and a Skyfire Battle Blade—and, most importantly, the Soul Saint Armor.
• William attempts to use the Soul Armor immediately but forgets that it requires Saint Realm strength. He is unable to activate it yet, though he looks forward to using it once he advances.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates exceptional resilience and resourcefulness. Despite suffering serious soul damage, he rapidly recovers and uses his extensive supply of powerful magic scrolls to escape.
• His theft from the Deep Sea Folk’s treasury establishes him as the true cause of the crisis and highlights his increasingly bold and opportunistic behavior.
• William’s future Saint Realm combat potential grows substantially with the Soul Saint Armor, which complements his Soul Branch Grand Archmage abilities and Mental Branch talent.
• Karl, the God of Death, proves capable of purging the Soul-Eating Water and moving through the ice in mist form. He accepts that he must take responsibility for the conflict, while concealing his personal connection to William through his sister, the Goddess of Death.
• El Yunze remains slow and anxious during the escape, but he becomes increasingly impressed—and resentful—when he learns that William, rather than Karl, looted the Deep Sea Folk treasury.
• Fumushuangwang shifts from confident pursuit to furious desperation after discovering the treasury’s contents have been stolen. His anger intensifies the coming conflict between the Deep Sea Folk and the surface factions.

Significant Themes

• Soul power and defense: The chapter emphasizes that soul attacks can bypass physical defenses and threaten even powerful transformed beings. The Soul Armor represents a major solution to this vulnerability.
• Resourcefulness versus overwhelming force: William survives not by overpowering the Deep Sea Folk directly, but through preparation, magic scrolls, mobility, and clever use of the environment.
• Consequences of greed and theft: William’s successful robbery creates a blood feud and leaves others—especially Karl and the Sunset Empire—to bear much of the political blame.
• Power progression: The Soul Armor foreshadows William’s imminent advancement into the Saint Realm and expands the possibilities of soul-body combat.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter balances deadly battles with comedic exchanges, such as William abandoning Karl, El Yunze’s complaints, and William comparing an armored soul to an adorable armored Nascent Soul.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Karl cooperate to escape the Deep Sea Folk, but William immediately distances himself from Karl once they reach safety, insisting that Karl’s Sunset Empire deal with the consequences.
• El Yunze questions Karl about the Deep Sea Folk’s extreme reaction. Karl admits that he killed only one Low-Class Saint and injured an Abyssal Monster, revealing that William’s treasury robbery caused the real crisis.
• El Yunze privately wishes William had shared some of the stolen treasures, reinforcing the chapter’s comedic treatment of greed and betrayal.
• Karl suspects that William’s control over his sister, the Goddess of Death, may be voluntary, suggesting growing respect—or at least fascination—with William.
• William plans to give the Moonlight longsword to the Little Princess and temporarily lend the Skyfire Battle Blade to Burning Ash, while jokingly insisting that even friends must pay for borrowed treasures.

Chapter Summary: “Become a Saint, Slay Gods!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After three years of accumulating experience through quests in the Dark World and the Deep Sea Folk’s territory, William finally reaches the experience cap.
• He raises his character level to 269 and becomes the first Player to meet the requirements for advancement into the Saint Realm.
• William chooses the Saint advancement path. Because he is the first Player to reach this stage—and his accomplishments already prove his strength—he is exempted from a class advancement quest.
• His breakthrough releases an overwhelming pressure across the Southern Region, alerting Saints throughout the Legendary Continent. Dawn City immediately gains the status and deterrence of a regional superpower.
• William’s uncontrolled aura destroys the City Lord’s Manor, forcing him to fly into the sky while lightning pours from his body.
• A massive thundercloud forms over Dawn City. Moxis explains that this is not a traditional lightning tribulation, but the manifestation of Thunder laws that will transform William into a powerful elemental life-form.
• The Thunder painfully refines William’s body, soul, and Life Origin, transforming him into a High-Class Thunder Elemental Body. His soul eventually breaks free from the River of Time, granting him immortality and true Saint status.
• William gains extraordinary perception through his Eye of Thunder, allowing him to see Mana, fate-like connections, and the life trajectories of weaker individuals.
• After absorbing the remaining Thunder for half an hour, William completes his transformation and tests his new strength by slashing the distant East Sea Snow Mountain in half.
• This devastating Saint-level blade technique, capable of crossing hundreds of miles and striking instantly, is named Godslayer.

Character Development

• William completes his transition from Near-Saint to true Saint, becoming immortal and no longer bound by the River of Time. His confidence rises dramatically as he experiences the overwhelming power of the Saint Realm.
• His physical body and soul undergo a fundamental evolution, giving him a Thunder-based elemental constitution and vastly enhanced perception.
• William’s rapid advancement reinforces his image as an extraordinary genius favored by immense Fortune. His power now places him on equal footing with major empires and powerful races.
• Moxis continues to serve as William’s knowledgeable guide. She explains the nature of his breakthrough and helps him safely absorb the Thunder laws.
• Karl, the God of Death, becomes conflicted and astonished by William’s sudden advancement, having only recently traveled with him.
• Doglitt, Captain Jack, Little Black, and the other residents of Dawn City react with shock and awe upon witnessing William become a Saint.
• Lotner humorously misinterprets William and Moxis’s relationship, believing that William’s advancement may be connected to a “dual-cultivation” technique.

Character Interactions

• William jokes with the silent System after being told he does not need an advancement quest, suspecting that someone has prevented it from assigning him one.
• Moxis corrects William’s mistaken belief that the thunderclouds represent a conventional lightning tribulation, explaining their true purpose.
• Moxis urges William to absorb as much Thunder law as possible before the clouds disappear.
• The people of Dawn City gather to witness the breakthrough. Their reactions range from disbelief to drunken amazement and comic speculation.
• Lotner’s observations about William and Moxis’s private relationship provide comic relief and reveal that he has noticed their romantic involvement.
• Momo responds visibly to William’s final display of power, emphasizing the impact of his new Saint-level strength.

Significant Themes

• Ascension and transformation: William’s breakthrough is both a power increase and a complete evolution of body, soul, and existence.
• Immortality and transcendence: Leaving the River of Time symbolizes freedom from mortality and the laws governing ordinary life.
• Power and political deterrence: Becoming a Saint changes Dawn City’s position in the world, forcing major factions to respect or court William.
• Destiny and Fortune: Other Saints speculate that William’s success is the result of extraordinary Fortune, suggesting that he may be a central figure in the changing Fourth Era.
• The limits of power: William’s destructive test of Godslayer demonstrates that he has entered a realm where even gods and nations may become potential targets.
• Humor amid epic advancement: The chapter balances grand cosmic evolution with jokes about romance, brothels, “dual cultivation,” and lightning emerging from every part of William’s body.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• William successfully advances from the Near-Saint realm to the Saint realm, becoming a Thunder Punisher and Holy Spirit Adept.
• His transformation grants him permanent, intuitive control over thunder abilities. Unlike his former Near-Saint state—where he relied on overwhelming power and quickly exhausted himself—he now possesses precise, sustainable mastery over thunder laws.
• Several class and body upgrades occur:

Mid-Class Elemental Body → High-Class Elemental Body

Legendary Flight → Saint-Realm Flight

Mutated Thunder Golden Body + High-Class Elemental Body → True Thunder Saint Body

Indestructible Diamond Body → Unbeatable Golden Body

• His Life Origin separates from the River of Time, granting him eternal life.
• William receives major Saint-level stat increases, including +1,000 to all basic attributes, increased bloodline potential, expanded level caps for his manuals, and substantial increases to HP, charm, and overall combat strength.
• Although he initially complains about not receiving a new Talent, he realizes that the Thunder Laws were absorbed into and upgraded his existing abilities instead.
• His True Thunder Saint Body grants immense thunder damage, elemental resistance, movement speed, healing, defensive power, and access to a powerful True Thunder Domain.
• His Saint-level Battle Aura and Holy Spirit Magic are also strengthened, providing powerful shields, thunder retaliation, soul damage, healing, life transfer, and protection against mental attacks.
• William’s HP rises to over 1.4 million, and he gains additional emergency defenses, including temporary invincibility and the ability to briefly assume a Perfect Thunder Elemental Body comparable to that of a Transcendent Saint.

Character Development

• William undergoes a fundamental transformation from a powerful but reckless “dumb brute” into a fully mastered Saint.
• As a Near-Saint, he fought through force and exhaustion, often burning through his strength until he could barely see. As a Saint, his abilities become instinctive, precise, and permanently integrated into his Life Origin.
• He gains a new understanding of power: Saint-level strength is not merely greater energy, but complete control over laws, elements, and abilities.
• William begins to recognize that the status panel and formal “skills” are becoming less important. His powers now feel like natural parts of his existence rather than separate techniques.
• His confidence increases dramatically as he realizes that very few beings can now threaten him, especially because of his overwhelming defense, healing, domain suppression, and invincibility abilities.

Significant Themes

• Mastery versus raw power: The chapter contrasts William’s former brute-force combat style with the refined control and efficiency of a true Saint.
• Transcendence and evolution: Becoming a Saint represents a qualitative transformation, not merely a numerical increase in strength.
• Breaking limitations: William’s abilities no longer feel restricted by conventional skills or system mechanics; he has broken through a metaphorical shackle.
• Immortality and permanence: His Life Origin’s separation from the River of Time symbolizes his emergence beyond ordinary mortality.
• The fusion of science and fantasy: The narration describes Saint-level control through comparisons to atomic precision, suggesting that magical advancement ultimately resembles mastery of fundamental physical laws.
• Power and invulnerability: William’s massive HP, defenses, healing, elemental resistance, and emergency abilities emphasize how drastically the Saint realm surpasses the Legendary Tier.

Character Interactions

• There are no significant direct interactions with other characters in this chapter.
• William’s thoughts recall Prince, who had previously reached the Near-Saint realm, using Prince as a comparison for the difference between Near-Saint and Saint.
• The primary interaction is internal: William examines his notifications and status panel, evaluates his new powers, and reacts with surprise, excitement, and growing confidence.

Chapter Summary: “Version Update Ended”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William examines his newly acquired Saint Realm abilities, especially the powerful Godslayer skill. It requires a three-second charge, guarantees a hit by tearing through space, deals massive thunder-based damage and true damage, and is effectively a causality skill. Its major drawback is a three-hour cooldown.
• William calculates that, by combining Heaven-Suppressing Strike, Thunder Dawn, and Godslayer, he could potentially kill a Saint in one sequence. Although he is only a Low-Class Saint, he believes he is nearly invincible beneath the Peak Saint level when using Divine Descent, apart from exceptional figures such as the Radiant Pope.
• He also gains Holy Soul, allowing his soul to separate from his body, change between tangible and intangible forms, and fight as an avatar. The Holy Soul can use William’s skills, possesses his attributes when tangible, and gains stronger soul attacks and defenses when intangible.
• After returning above Dawn City, William is publicly celebrated by the city’s inhabitants for becoming a Saint. He announces a three-day feast across his territories.
• William then orders disabled veterans to travel to Stormwind, promising to “grant them new life” by using the World Tree’s abundant Water of Life to regenerate their lost limbs.
• Dawn City’s strength and William’s family connections make it difficult for other factions to interfere. The city already possesses several Saints, a Peak Saint-level powerhouse, and William’s mother is the reincarnation of the Goddess of Life.
• William jokes and flirts with Moxis, who reminds him that many Saints have arrived near Dawn City to congratulate him. Their playful exchange highlights their close but argumentative relationship.
• Over the following six years, major changes reshape the Gods Continent:
  • William kills the Spirit Saint in three moves, proving his overwhelming combat strength.
  • Twenty-three Deities descend into the mortal world, though no Main God appears.
  • Sixteen Legendary Professionals enter the Saint Realm, including ten reincarnated Deities.
  • Seventy-eight Forward Outposts establish themselves in the Dark World, gathering resources and intelligence about the coming Third Dark Invasion.
• Dawn City develops into a massive neutral faction with twenty-eight million residents, thirty-one Legendary Professionals, 180 Epic Professionals, a 3.3-million-member Dawn Legion, and a 1.7-million-member Dawn Mercenary Group.
• Its five Dragon Blood Legions greatly increase its military power, with Albert’s legion capable of killing two Legendary Professionals through its formations and buffs.
• William recognizes that the resources gathered from the Deep Sea Folk are nearly exhausted, but the coming Version 5.0 will bring far greater dangers: the Third Dark Invasion, the convergence of the Seven Continents, and the arrival of the Gods.
• Three minutes remain until the version update ends.

Character Developments

• William reaches the Saint Realm and gains extraordinary offensive and defensive abilities. His confidence rises sharply, though he remains aware that older Saints may possess hidden survival techniques.
• His new Holy Soul resolves the danger of leaving his body vulnerable while allowing him to attack simultaneously with both body and soul.
• William becomes increasingly capable as a ruler. He celebrates publicly, supports disabled veterans, and uses the World Tree’s resources to improve his people’s lives.
• His leadership has transformed Dawn City into one of the continent’s strongest factions.
• Moxis continues to act as a practical and sharp-tongued companion, balancing William’s arrogance and extravagance with criticism and logistical concerns.
• The city’s population, military, and high-level professionals grow dramatically, reflecting William’s success in building a powerful organization.

Significant Themes

• Power and transcendence: William’s entry into sainthood marks a major evolution from mortal hero to world-shaping powerhouse.
• Preparation for catastrophe: The six-year development period emphasizes the need to prepare for the Third Dark Invasion and the Gods’ arrival.
• Leadership and responsibility: William’s celebrations and promise to restore disabled veterans show that his power is tied to improving the lives of his followers.
• Escalating world conflict: The appearance of Deities, the rise of new Saints, the Seven Continents’ convergence, and the Dark World outposts all foreshadow an approaching global crisis.
• Military and political influence: Dawn City evolves from a city into a major neutral power whose strength affects the balance of the entire continent.
• Humor amid danger: William’s teasing relationship with Moxis provides comic relief and reveals the personal relationships behind his public image.

Important Character Interactions

• William addresses the people of Dawn City after his breakthrough, receiving their enthusiastic congratulations and announcing the three-day celebration.
• He promises disabled Professionals a chance to regain their missing limbs, generating admiration and likely increasing their loyalty.
• Moxis criticizes William for the expense of the feast, while William responds with teasing flirtation. She redirects him toward the visiting Saints, reminding him of his responsibilities.
• William reflects on past and present enemies, including the God of Death and the Radiant Pope, acknowledging that even his immense new power has limits.

Chapter Summary: “Looking for Cards Again?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Version 5.0 officially begins after a ten-hour update. Its opening cutscene depicts major developments, including the Radiant Pope gathering Saints, the Descent of the Gods, Legends entering the Saint Realm, and William defeating two Dark Lords.
• Players notice that William appears in several scenes, leading them to speculate that he may have reached the Saint Realm.
• Players respawn across the expanded Dawn City, enthusiastically exploring the new map, commenting on rising property values, possible future games, and the lack of beginner players to harass.
• Guild leaders gather at the Conference Hall to bid for City Lord positions. Existing City Lords receive discounts, while powerful guilds unable to control major cities increasingly establish their own towns.
• William receives a new quest, “Dawn City’s Tenth Year,” asking players to locate Character Cards hidden throughout the city and learn how Dawn City and the Gods Continent have changed over the past decade.
• The new Character Cards are more valuable than those from the previous version. Cards of Grandmaster rank and above also function as Magic Scrolls:
  • Epic cards equal Grand Mage Scrolls.
  • Legendary cards equal Archmage Forbidden Spell Scrolls.
  • Saint-Seat cards equal rare Grand Archmage Forbidden Spell Scrolls.
• Collectors can also receive exclusive quests from the NPC represented by a card without surrendering the card.
• Players search everywhere in Dawn City, including streets, rooftops, walls, treetops, toilets, and even military barracks. Guards deny that cards are hidden inside the barracks, unintentionally revealing that soldiers may know where cards were placed.
• Candy in My Pocket discovers an Epic Character Card depicting Deputy City Lord Lotner and immediately tries to sell access to it for 10,000 Gold Coins.
• The discovery causes players to speculate about the value of cards depicting Saints, especially William and his father.
• More than eighty Epic cards are found. Wealthy players begin buying them at extremely high prices: 10,000 real-world currency for Epic cards, 100,000 for Legendary cards, and 1,000,000 for Saint-Seat cards, despite none having yet been discovered.

Character Developments

• William is shown to have become even more powerful and influential, potentially reaching the Saint Realm. His increased charisma is represented by a Golden Legendary title, “God of Charm,” which causes players to admire him obsessively.
• William continues strengthening Dawn City’s importance by turning its history and inhabitants into collectible content, encouraging players to develop an emotional connection to the city.
• Lotner’s status is emphasized through his Epic-tier Character Card, confirming him as an Epic-Class Professional and making him highly valuable to players.
• Candy in My Pocket acts opportunistically, trying to profit from the Lotner card rather than simply sharing it.
• Chu Liuqiu and Eternal Solitude, now retired professional gamers, form a team with other former professionals and join the hunt for cards to support themselves after rejecting coaching careers.
• Wealthy players such as Emperor of Luck’s Dream, Earth Is Bigger Than the Moon, and Mars Mighty demonstrate their willingness to spend enormous amounts of real-world money on rare in-game items.
• William’s female admirers aggressively defend him, threatening to repeatedly kill a male player who jokes about fantasizing over William.

Significant Themes

• Player-driven economy: The quest transforms Character Cards into highly valuable commodities, creating a speculative market based on rarity and utility.
• Collecting and scarcity: Limited quantities, especially of high-rank cards, make them both magical resources and status symbols.
• World-building through gameplay: The quest teaches players Dawn City’s history while encouraging them to interact with its NPCs and locations.
• The blending of game and reality: Players discuss property prices, careers, retirement, and real-world currency as if Dawn City were a functioning society.
• Power and celebrity: William has become both a political and cultural icon, with his appearance, strength, and possible ascension attracting intense player fascination.
• Comedy and player chaos: The chapter satirizes obsessive gamers, guild competition, shameless profiteering, harassment of NPCs, and extreme fan behavior.

Character Interactions

• Players tease and compete with one another while searching for cards, with some attempting to steal or monetize discoveries.
• Candy in My Pocket refuses to let No Candy in My Pocket inspect Lotner’s card without payment, creating a humorous rivalry.
• Players pester barracks guards and female city patrol members for clues, while the guards firmly drive intruders away.
• William silently observes the players and triggers the citywide quest without directly engaging with their antics.
• William’s female fanbase collectively targets and threatens a player who claims he should also be allowed to admire William, highlighting the extreme loyalty of his followers.

Chapter Summary: “The Beginning of the National War”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William continues using quests and character cards to reveal Dawn City’s history over the previous decade. As players collect more cards, they learn that Dawn City has become a major power on the Gods Continent and that William has reached the Saint Realm.
• Players discover cards depicting Dawn City’s Legion Commanders, military vessels, Mana Weapons, Magic Towers, and important landmarks. These reveal the enormous scale and technological advancement of Dawn City.
• The player community becomes increasingly fascinated with William, praising his appearance, strength, and personality. His overwhelming combat achievements—especially defeating Spirit Saint with three strikes—cause players to boast about Dawn City across the Forums.
• Four Golden Legendary cards are found: Rogers Divine Fortune, Moxis Saint Vein, William Blackleaf, and the “Mysterious Man,” who is actually William’s avatar, Odin. The associated quests can be accepted by finding William rather than the individuals depicted.
• Players learn that the long-awaited National War has begun. The continents are drawing closer, making naval conflict possible between players from different regions, especially the Huaxia players of Legendary Continent and the players of Rune Continent.
• Verbal disputes between continental player communities escalate into threats of an actual naval war. Major guilds—including Glory, Prosperous Era, Misty Rain Pavilion, and Blade—rush to purchase warships from Dawn City.
• Grandmaster-grade warships sell rapidly, while seven major guilds purchase expensive Epic Warships equipped with artillery, Magic Cannons, and Mana Gatlings. Dawn City also offers maintenance, docking, and refitting services.
• William knowingly supports the players’ desire for war rather than restricting them. He recognizes that refusing to sell ships would only drive them to other factions and risk losing them. He also understands that naval warfare will generate profits through exploration, mining, and trade.
• As the continents converge, seabed formations rise into new islands and expose valuable mineral deposits. Dawn City has already seized several islands and forced Greater Fishmen to perform underwater mining.
• The approaching continents usher in a new maritime age. Coastal factions and players begin competing for territory, resources, and trade routes despite the looming threat of the Third Dark Invasion.

Character Developments

• William is increasingly established as a Saint-level powerhouse and the central figure in Dawn City’s rise. His past achievements demonstrate that his strength is far beyond ordinary Legendary or Saint-level figures.
• William is also portrayed as pragmatic and politically flexible. Although he knows the Third Dark Invasion is approaching, he allows National War to develop because the players are eager for it and because it benefits Dawn City economically and militarily.
• The players become more emotionally attached to Dawn City and William. Their admiration is strengthened by Dawn City’s fair treatment of Chosen Ones and its refusal to conduct cruel experiments on them.
• Major guilds evolve from ordinary player organizations into powerful military and economic forces capable of purchasing and operating Epic Warships.
• Players from different continents become openly hostile toward one another, transforming Forum arguments into preparation for real military conflict.

Significant Themes

• Nationalism and factional identity: Quests, history, and character cards cultivate players’ loyalty to Dawn City and encourage rivalry between continental communities.
• Technological advancement through cooperation: Player-submitted blueprints are adapted by Dawn City’s Mages into advanced Mana Weapons, demonstrating how player knowledge and native magic complement one another.
• Trust versus exploitation: Dawn City protects players, while other factions use them as experimental subjects. This contrast explains why players overwhelmingly favor William’s faction.
• War as both entertainment and commerce: National War is driven by player excitement, but it also creates opportunities for shipbuilding, trade, resource extraction, and territorial expansion.
• The selfishness of intelligent races: Even the threat of the Third Dark Invasion cannot eliminate competition for wealth and power. Conflict and profit continue despite the larger existential danger.
• The transition into a maritime era: The continents’ movement reshapes geography and creates a “Great Age of Sail,” with naval warfare and oceanic expansion becoming central to the world’s future.

Character Interactions

• Players interact primarily through the Forums, where they discuss William’s appearance, strength, history, and character cards.
• Players who contributed blueprints proudly reveal their role in the development of Dawn City’s Mana Gatlings, pistols, bicycles, and other weapons, though some regret accepting too little compensation.
• Dawn City’s relationship with the players is contrasted with the abusive treatment they receive from foreign Mages and Warlocks, reinforcing their loyalty to William.
• Players from Legendary Continent and other continents exchange insults and threats, creating the social and political foundation for the coming naval war.
• William indirectly interacts with the player community by providing quests, protecting them legally, and supplying warships and logistical services. His decision to support their ambitions turns National War into a mutually beneficial partnership between Dawn City and the players.

Summary: “Sea Battle Shop”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William supports the upcoming Great Age of Sail and National War by issuing multiple quests focused on:
  • Occupying resource islands near Eastsea City and Dawn City.
  • Preventing foreign fleets from approaching Dawn City.
  • Destroying enemy fleets.
  • Helping Players mine resource islands in exchange for 40% of the mining rights.
  • Searching for underwater resources.
• These quests surprise Players, who had expected the National War to be mainly about fighting and sacrificing resources for national pride. They realize that victory could also produce enormous economic benefits.
• William opens a Naval Battle Shop near Dawn City’s harbor. It sells:
  • Warships, weapons, maps, repair materials, diving potions, and other supplies.
  • Professional personnel such as captains, navigators, engineers, scouts, and crew members.
• Several highly qualified NPC captains become available for hire, including Grandmaster and Epic-tier sailors. Their personalities, experience, salaries, and professional instincts are listed in detail.
• The Players quickly hire the captains and crew, since most of them lack the knowledge and experience required to operate Mana Warships effectively in combat.
• William’s support gives Huaxia Players a major advantage over other continents, whose Players must acquire captains through difficult quests or pay high prices for ships and services.
• Three days later, major Huaxia guilds begin sailing out to claim resource islands, choosing to target locations up to 1,000 nautical miles away before harvesting closer territories.
• Dawn City has already established a powerful forward base on Storm Island, approximately 500 nautical miles southeast of the city. The island contains huge military forces, Epic and Legendary experts, supplies, mining operations, and defensive facilities.
• Storm Island serves as a protected retreat and transit station for Player fleets. As long as Players avoid provoking overwhelmingly powerful NPC fleets, they can retreat there and remain extremely difficult to defeat.

Character Developments

• William is portrayed as a generous but strategically minded ruler. He wants Players to gain experience and avoid losing levels during the National War, while also protecting Dawn City’s image and preserving their usefulness during the future Dark Invasion.
• He deliberately provides extensive institutional support through quests, ships, supplies, trained personnel, and military bases. His actions reveal both his affection for the Huaxia Players and his confidence in their eventual success.
• Huaxia Players and guilds shift from seeking glory through battle to pursuing organized economic and territorial expansion. They become more ambitious, aiming directly for distant resource islands.
• Major guild leaders, including Glory and his companions, are shocked by the quality of the available captains and recognize how dependent their fleets are on NPC expertise.
• NPC captains are characterized as experienced but individualistic professionals. They have personal demands, varying degrees of courage, and authority to prioritize crew safety over resources during crises.

Significant Themes

• War as both conflict and opportunity: Unlike traditional online-game National Wars, this war offers real profits through resource islands, underwater resources, and mining rights.
• Unequal faction support: Dawn City’s Players receive exceptional advantages, highlighting the political and economic superiority of William’s faction.
• Preparation versus reckless enthusiasm: Players possess fighting spirit but lack naval expertise, making trained captains and professional crews essential.
• Game-like generosity and player enjoyment: William treats the National War as an opportunity for Players to have fun, gain experience, and enjoy large-scale battles rather than suffer unavoidable losses.
• Strategic logistics: Bases, retreat points, supplies, maps, and personnel are shown to be just as important as weapons and courage in naval warfare.
• National pride and rivalry: Players are motivated by both genuine profit and the desire to defend Huaxia’s honor, especially after heated disputes on the Gods Forum.

Character Interactions

• William indirectly supports the Players through quests and the Naval Battle Shop, while privately expressing confidence that they should win with such advantages.
• Huaxia Players enthusiastically praise William and the Dawn Fleet, believing their presence will make naval warfare far safer.
• Players from other continents react with shock and resentment after learning that Dawn City provides a dedicated Naval Battle Shop while they must acquire captains through lengthy quests or expensive negotiations.
• Major guild leaders interact with the hiring system by recruiting elite captains and crews, recognizing that their fleets cannot safely function without professional guidance.
• Players benefit from Dawn City’s military forces on Storm Island, which provides protection, supplies, and a safe retreat during their resource expeditions.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The National War begins as Huaxia prepares to face a combined force of players from Rune Continent and Central Archipelago Continent.
• The enemy alliance fields roughly five to six million troops and 1,500–2,000 warships, while Huaxia has about 4.3 million willing participants and 1,400 warships.
• In the players’ Conference Hall, retired commander Chu Liuqiu analyzes the strategic situation. He identifies Huaxia’s major advantages:
  • Cheaper and more powerful Dawn City Mana Weapons, especially Mana Gatlings.
  • Higher average player levels and better equipment.
  • Experienced NPC captains operating Huaxia’s Grandmaster and Epic Warships.
  • Disunity among the island nations of Central Archipelago Continent.
• Chu Liuqiu develops a two-front strategy:
  • A force of 1.5 million players and 500 warships will sail east and delay the American fleet without engaging in a decisive battle.
  • The remaining 2.5 million players and three Epic Warships will sail south to attack the island nations, deliberately inflicting heavier losses on some factions to provoke mistrust and internal conflict.
• Huaxia’s fleets depart from Dawn City, dividing into eastern and southern routes. Their campaign centers on several Dawn Resource Islands and Storm Island.
• The American and Archipelago fleets suffer serious losses during their voyage because of sea beasts, dangerous waves, poor navigation, and a lack of nautical maps. Huaxia avoids many of these problems because of its Naval Battle Shop and experienced NPC crews.
• Meanwhile, William, disguised as a High-End Player and Gunner in a full Legendary Suit, secretly joins an American guild’s warship. Rather than participating in the easier southern campaign, he intends to observe and interact with the American players.
• William is approached by Meichuan Neiku, who mistakes him for an independent player and tries to recruit him. William responds arrogantly and ignores the offer, enjoying the opportunity to show off among players.

Character Developments

• Chu Liuqiu demonstrates his skill as a military strategist. Though retired, he confidently commands the National War and exploits the enemy’s weaknesses rather than relying on brute force.
• William reveals a playful and vain side. Despite being a Saint and powerful NPC, he joins the war simply because he misses his former life as a player and wants to experience the excitement and admiration of being a mysterious, overpowered figure.
• William’s ability to control his Favorability and Hatred values allows him to disguise himself perfectly as a player, something ordinary NPCs cannot do.
• Meichuan Neiku appears as a sociable but opportunistic guild leader. He tries to recruit William by appealing to his wealth and offering access to a guild with many female members, but is frustrated by William’s arrogance.
• The various guild leaders accept Chu Liuqiu’s plan and quickly organize their members, showing Huaxia’s ability to mobilize efficiently despite having fewer troops.

Significant Themes

• Strategy versus numbers: Huaxia is outnumbered but compensates through superior weapons, equipment, experience, and planning.
• Unity and internal division: The chapter emphasizes that alliances built on convenience and old rivalries are fragile. Chu Liuqiu plans to exploit resentment among the island nations and turn their coalition against itself.
• Technological and logistical superiority: Mana Weapons, naval supplies, maps, and experienced captains prove as important as troop numbers.
• The player-NPC boundary: William’s disguise challenges the assumptions players have about NPCs, allowing him to infiltrate their community unnoticed.
• Power and spectacle: William’s decision to join the war mainly to show off adds humor and highlights his lingering player mentality despite his status as a Saint.
• National competition and old rivalries: The National War reflects conflicts between different continents and nations, with alliances shaped by history, resentment, and self-interest.

Character Interactions

• Chu Liuqiu discusses the war plan with leaders including War Song, Leng Qinghan, Dream Jiangnan, Eternal Solitude, and Emperor of Luck’s Dream.
• He explains Huaxia’s advantages and convinces the guild leaders that the enemy alliance can be defeated despite its numerical superiority.
• Adorable Little Fairy praises Chu Liuqiu’s tactics but humorously comments on his baldness, prompting him to glance at her exaggerated figure.
• Chu assigns different guilds and fleets to the eastern and southern fronts, giving each force a specific objective.
• Meichuan Neiku attempts to befriend and recruit the disguised William, but William deliberately acts aloof and insults him, reinforcing his mysterious and arrogant persona.

Chapter Summary: “Brother, Are You Selling Your Cheat?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Rune Continent is home to several races and is ultimately dominated by the powerful Rune Holy Land and its Rune Mages. Human Empires are influential, but the Rune Holy Land possesses even greater strength.
• American and Canadian Players have purchased 1,000 Mana Warships from the Song Empire to explore toward the Rune Holy Land. The Song Empire deliberately allows them to test the waters against the Pacification Empire and Dawn City, rather than confronting those powers directly.
• The various factions of the Seven Continents remain divided and hope the Chosen Ones will weaken one another instead of uniting.
• The American-Canadian fleet sails in a triangular formation, led by four Epic Warships. Their leaders plan to destroy Legendary Continent’s Epic Warships and seize valuable resource islands.
• After losing more than seventy Warships while navigating unmapped waters, the fleet encounters two resource islands and a small group of fleeing enemy ships. War God Nicholas correctly suspects a trap and orders the fleet to split around the islands.
• American scouts flying over the islands are ambushed by hidden Huaxia forces, particularly Gunners equipped with Mana Annihilation Rifles. More than one hundred scouts are shot down.
• Nicholas discovers that Legendary Continent’s 500 Warships are positioned behind one of the islands and orders the American fleet to attack them. He also sends forces to eliminate the hidden defenders and any Magic Cannons on the islands.
• A major naval battle begins. Magic Cannons devastate High-Class and Grandmaster Warships, forcing Players to transfer between ships or flee to the islands.
• Legendary Continent’s forces reveal their real strategy: they lure the enemy toward a reef-filled area beside the second island. The Canadian fleet, advancing at full speed, crashes into the reefs. Dozens of Warships are damaged, including the Canadian Epic Warship Wanderer, which becomes stuck.
• Huaxia Players fire on the stranded ships from the resource islands, while the Americans and Canadians retaliate, reducing the islands and their defenders to chaos.
• The battle degenerates into a massive close-range melee involving naval bombardment, boarding actions, and aerial combat. William fights from Meichuan Neiku’s Warship, using his Mana Annihilation Rifle to kill enemy Players with extraordinary accuracy.
• William eventually fires directly into the open Magic Cannon of an enemy Epic Warship, causing its bow to explode and disabling its attack. Meichuan Neiku and his Guild members are stunned and jokingly ask whether William is “selling his cheat.”

2. Character Developments

• War God Nicholas is shown as an aggressive and strategically minded commander. He prioritizes destroying Legendary Continent’s Epic Warships over merely capturing resource islands, though his confidence contributes to the fleet entering the trap.
• The Wanderer Guild president resents being ordered to use Canada’s lone Epic Warship as bait but is forced to comply because the American Guilds possess greater strength.
• Meichuan Neiku becomes increasingly anxious as his Warship is pursued by more than thirty enemy ships, including an Epic Warship. His fear turns into astonishment and admiration after William saves them with an impossible precision shot.
• William remains calm and highly effective amid the chaotic battle. He casually farms experience with his rifle, demonstrating exceptional marksmanship and suggesting that his abilities far exceed what others expect from an ordinary Player.
• Husky Among Wolves enthusiastically embraces the battle, reacting with excitement to the enemy fleet’s approach.
• The American and Canadian commanders initially believe they possess the advantage, but their confidence is undermined by Huaxia’s superior map knowledge and prepared ambush.

3. Significant Themes

• Strategy versus preparation: Huaxia’s knowledge of the waters and the hidden reefs allows a smaller force to inflict serious damage on a larger fleet.
• Overconfidence and misdirection: The Americans correctly identify that the resource islands may be a trap, but they fail to recognize the deeper deception involving the reefs.
• The chaos of war: Once the fleets become entangled, careful strategy gives way to scattered skirmishes, collisions, boarding battles, and individual survival.
• Technological and individual power: Epic Warships and Magic Cannons are important, but William’s personal skill proves capable of neutralizing even powerful naval weapons.
• Factional division: The Seven Continents’ Players are not united, and their rivalry allows outside powers to manipulate them and benefit from their conflicts.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter balances large-scale destruction with comic reactions, especially the Guild members’ disbelief at William’s seemingly impossible shot.

4. Character Interactions

• Nicholas discusses the naval campaign with the Wanderer Guild president and other Guild leaders, pressuring them to prioritize Epic Warships and volunteering the Canadian Epic Warship as bait.
• Nicholas gives coordinated orders to the American fleet after identifying the supposed position of Legendary Continent’s forces.
• Huaxia’s hidden Gunners interact indirectly with the invading fleet by ambushing its aerial scouts and supporting the reef trap.
• William fights alongside Meichuan Neiku’s forces, repeatedly protecting them through his accurate rifle fire while remaining largely silent and detached.
• Meichuan Neiku watches William destroy the enemy Epic Warship’s Magic Cannon and, overwhelmed by the feat, asks whether William can sell him the “cheat” behind his abilities.

Chapter Summary: “Artistic Gunner”

Key Plot Points and Events

• DJ Jackson, leader of the Fierce Dragon Guild, is enraged when William destroys the magic cannon on his ship from over 3,000 meters away. The shot demonstrates extraordinary accuracy and immediately establishes the masked Gunner as an overwhelming threat.
• DJ Jackson orders his Epic Warship, the Dragonship, to pursue the enemy vessel. However, neither he nor his players dare expose themselves because William can kill targets instantly with headshots.
• Meichuan Neiku and Captain Lint attempt to flee, but their warship is slower and cannot escape. Lint criticizes the reckless strategy of pursuing the stronger ship, while Meichuan desperately urges him to accelerate.
• Once the Dragonship closes to within 100 meters, William puts away his rifle, uses Thunder to leap onto the enemy deck, and begins a devastating close-range assault.
• He first uses twin Hand Cannons to kill groups of players, then switches to Mana Pistols, breaking shields and landing precise headshots. His shots strike enemies’ faces almost unfailingly.
• DJ Jackson transforms into a Fire Dragonblood Warrior and attacks William directly. Although his Dragon Scales protect him from most of the damage, William outmaneuvers him, steps on his face, and finally destroys him with a powerful Legendary Hand Cannon. William takes Jackson’s dropped Legendary Helmet.
• William continues slaughtering the enemy forces. He uses bullets to destroy incoming bullets, arrows, spells, and other attacks, making it appear as though he has complete awareness of the battlefield.
• He effortlessly counters a Mana Gatling gun, destroys attackers emerging from below deck, and kills enemies attempting to intercept him through cannon ports or from the air.
• After roughly five minutes, the enemy players are too frightened to revive on the deck. They hide below deck or retreat to other ships.
• Meichuan Neiku’s forces take advantage of the chaos and board the crippled Epic Warship. A larger boarding battle follows when the rest of Fierce Dragon Guild’s fleet arrives.
• William continues moving from ship to ship, fighting like an artist and leaving behind discarded weapons and equipment. After more than thirty minutes, Meichuan’s side captures the Epic Warship, securing victory for the Huaxia players in that section of the National War.
• The battle is recorded and broadcast by players and Streamers. The mysterious Gunner’s performance becomes a major sensation across the game’s forums.

Character Developments

• William/Prince: He reveals an astonishing mastery of Gun-Fighting Arts. Although he restricts himself to High-Class-level attributes and equipment, he uses his Saint Realm Microcosm ability to calculate trajectories, identify threats, conserve movement, and land perfectly timed attacks. His immense stockpile of Legendary weapons also reveals his wealth.
• DJ Jackson: His arrogance and confidence collapse when he realizes that William can defeat him despite his transformation and strong defensive abilities. His death symbolizes the complete reversal of control on the battlefield.
• Meichuan Neiku: Initially terrified and desperate to escape, he quickly recognizes the opportunity William has created. He shifts from fleeing to leading a boarding assault and ultimately captures the enemy warship.
• Captain Lint: He remains practical and skeptical, understanding the tactical disadvantage of their ship and questioning the irrational strategies of the Chosen Ones. His professional judgment contrasts with Meichuan’s emotional desperation.
• The players and Streamers: They go from disbelief to fear, awe, and worship. Even experienced players cannot understand how William’s ordinary-looking speed and movements produce such overwhelming results.
• Eternal Solitude and other famous players: Their reactions show that William’s performance challenges the reputation of even the best-known Gunners. Professional clubs and organizations immediately attempt to recruit him.

Significant Themes

• Skill versus raw attributes: William proves that extraordinary technique and perception can overcome numerical limitations. His Microcosm-level calculations make a relatively low-level character terrifyingly effective.
• Combat as art: The chapter repeatedly portrays gunplay as a form of artistic expression. William’s movements are graceful, controlled, and beautiful despite the violence, earning him the image of an “artistic” or “mysterious” Gunner.
• Fear and psychological warfare: Once the enemy realizes that William cannot be hit and that every exposed player risks instant death, they lose the will to fight. His reputation becomes as powerful as his attacks.
• Wealth and resources: William’s ability to discard Legendary pistols and cannons without hesitation shocks everyone. His vast equipment reserves become part of his legend and provoke both admiration and envy.
• The spectacle of war: Because the battle is streamed and discussed online, victory is not limited to the battlefield. William’s actions become a public performance that influences the opinions, rivalries, and recruitment efforts of players across the continents.
• Suspicion of cheating: His abilities seem so far beyond normal expectations that many foreign players accuse him of using hacks. The controversy emphasizes how extraordinary his performance appears even in a world where cheating is supposedly impossible.

Important Character Interactions

• DJ Jackson angrily commands his fleet to pursue William but later becomes William’s direct target and is killed during their brief confrontation.
• Meichuan Neiku repeatedly pressures Captain Lint to escape, while Lint calmly explains that their ship cannot outrun the Dragonship.
• William humiliates DJ Jackson in close combat by dodging his attack, stepping on his face, and killing him with a Hand Cannon.
• William’s actions indirectly allow Meichuan’s forces to board and capture the enemy Epic Warship.
• After the battle, Huaxia players return William’s discarded Legendary weapons to him with admiration and reverence.
• On the forums, players mock those who call themselves “Gun Gods,” compare William to Eternal Solitude, and invite him to join famous organizations. Foreign players accuse him of cheating, while others reluctantly praise his gunplay as genuine art.
• The chapter ends with the mysterious Gunner’s identity still unknown, while the National War continues and players eagerly await his next display of power.

Chapter Summary: “Gun God?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• A massive naval battle erupts in the southern seas between Huaxia players and the allied forces of the Archipelago Continent.
• Huaxia exploits its superior player levels, cheaper warships, and the Archipelago alliance’s poor coordination. It focuses fire on the Old Japanese and Old Indian fleets, destroying their Epic Warships despite suffering heavy losses.
• Old Japanese, Korean, and Indian players lose nearly three-fifths of their forces and experience significant level drops. Their resentment toward one another reignites into another civil war.
• Malaysia and Thailand refuse to rescue their supposed allies, reasoning that Huaxia’s attacks will allow them to seize resources from the weakened nations later.
• The Old Aussies raid the enemy rear and capture the bases of six major guilds, gaining even more than Huaxia.
• In the eastern seas, Huaxia’s fleet suffers severe losses while fighting the Americans and Canadians. Misty Rain Pavilion is eliminated after recklessly pursuing a Grandmaster Warship, and Huaxia’s remaining naval forces are forced to retreat and return for repairs.
• Six hundred Huaxia warships are dispatched as reinforcements, while the exhausted three hundred surviving ships withdraw to Dawn Harbor. The remaining players gather on a resource island to prepare for a land battle.
• Huaxia commanders decide to use their roughly 800,000 remaining players as bait. They hope the American commander, War God Nicholas, will attack before reinforcements arrive, allowing Huaxia to delay him or force a retreat.
• Despite the danger, most guild leaders approve the plan. Nicholas accepts the bait and orders 1.6 million American and Canadian players to assault the island, while leaving 200,000 behind to guard the fleet.
• The battle begins across the open resource island. Huaxia’s defensive lines quickly come under pressure because of the enemy’s numerical advantage and the island’s poor terrain.
• William/Prince enters the battle and demonstrates overwhelming skill with firearms. He uses a Gatling gun, Mana Annihilation Rifle, hand cannon, and pistols to slaughter surrounding enemies while evading attacks with extraordinary precision.
• He kills professional players, including the Assassin Codename 47, and effortlessly escapes encirclement. His performance leaves both allies and enemies stunned, prompting the chapter’s central question: is he effectively a “Gun God”?

2. Character Developments

• Changli Jiugu: Acts as one of the main strategists, recognizing that the Americans may be tempted to gamble on wiping out the island force. Though confident outwardly, he becomes increasingly worried as Huaxia’s front line collapses. He also humorously tries to recruit William as a professional player and calls him “Master.”
• War God Nicholas: Presented as a decisive but aggressive commander. He understands the strategic risks but chooses to attack after calculating that reinforcements will not arrive for several hours. His confidence is reinforced by his numerical superiority.
• William/Prince: Becomes the chapter’s dominant figure. He remains mysterious, refuses to reveal his identity, dismisses professional players as weak, and displays almost superhuman combat awareness. His fighting style transforms the Gunner class into a close-quarters, highly mobile combat art.
• Little Ayin, the Glory Captain, and other professional players: Initially treat William’s abilities with surprise and admiration. Their reactions emphasize how far beyond ordinary professional standards his combat skills are.
• Codename 47: A feared Hellfire professional player and old rival of Changli Jiugu, but he is easily defeated by William, showing the gap between William and elite conventional players.

3. Significant Themes

• Disunity and internal rivalry: The Archipelago alliance’s failure stems less from military weakness than from old grudges and mutual distrust. Formerly allied nations prefer to see one another destroyed rather than cooperate.
• Strategy versus brute force: Both sides weigh naval strength, reinforcements, terrain, timing, and public opinion. Huaxia relies on a risky baiting strategy, while Nicholas relies on overwhelming numbers.
• The cost of war: The battle causes massive casualties, level losses, destroyed fleets, guild collapses, and renewed civil conflict. Victory comes with serious long-term consequences.
• Reputation and public pressure: Nicholas must consider how the battle will look if his superior fleet gains little after chasing a weaker force. Political and online opinion influence military decisions.
• Individual power in mass warfare: Although the battle involves millions of players, William’s individual skill can dramatically affect the battlefield. His performance suggests that an exceptional player can disrupt an entire army.
• The Gunner class elevated beyond its limits: William’s mobility, precision, and ability to combine firearms with martial techniques make him appear almost divine, leading others to regard him as a “Gun God.”

4. Character Interactions

• Huaxia’s commanders debate whether to stand and act as bait or retreat until reinforcements arrive. Changli Jiugu argues that Nicholas may risk an attack, while Meichuan Neiku warns that their fleet could be destroyed if the plan fails.
• Changli Jiugu jokingly asks William to join the professional circuit, but William bluntly rejects the offer, saying the professionals are too weak. His remark irritates and amazes the players present.
• War God Nicholas dismisses concerns about William, arguing that one player cannot defeat 1.8 million soldiers. His decision reflects his confidence in numerical superiority.
• Changli Jiugu recognizes Codename 47 and reacts with alarm because the Assassin had killed him in previous competitions. William, however, avoids the attack and kills Codename 47 with ease.
• The professional players and surrounding soldiers watch in disbelief as William dodges, counterattacks, and eliminates enemies from every direction without being touched.
• By the end of the chapter, even allies and enemies are forced to acknowledge William’s extraordinary mastery of firearms and movement.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• On an isolated island, 800,000 Huaxia players are surrounded by approximately 1.45 million Rune Continent players during the National War.
• William, fighting as the mysterious “Artistic Gunner,” single-handedly changes the battle’s outcome through extraordinary movement, precise shooting, and mastery of several mana weapons:
  • The Mana Pistol for close-range counters
  • The Mana Hand Cannon for reversing desperate situations
  • The Mana Annihilation Rifle for long-range kills
  • The Mana Gatling for overwhelming groups
• Rather than simply dealing area damage, William deliberately attracts the strongest enemy players, repeatedly baiting and killing them. His actions draw the enemy’s top experts away from the main force and significantly reduce pressure on the Huaxia army.
• After four hours of fighting, the Huaxia side still has roughly 400,000 players, while the Rune Continent forces are forced to retreat to their warships despite retaining numerical superiority. A battle that should have ended in a Huaxia defeat is effectively turned into a draw because of William’s intervention.
• Prince withdraws from the battlefield after reinforcements arrive, refusing to let the domestic players become overly dependent on him. Before leaving, he advises them that standing above everyone else leads to loneliness and that true growth requires personal training.
• The Artistic Gunner’s livestream makes him famous across both factions. Huaxia players admire him, while Rune Continent players argue, insult their own commanders, and accuse William of being an artificial or genetically enhanced human.
• Outside the game, government officials and scientists discuss the nature of the World of Gods. They confirm that the virtual world can accelerate learning but cannot directly implant martial arts or combat knowledge because its rules differ from reality.
• The researchers reveal that the game may be more than a normal virtual reality: players enter it through consciousness and possibly souls, making their locations impossible to trace. The officials hope to use the technology to create virtual immortality for the powerful and wealthy.
• A scientist worries about the selfishness of pursuing eternal life in a virtual world instead of advancing humanity as a whole. He refers to the mysterious force behind the game as a possible “Higher-Dimensional Cube.”
• William returns secretly to Dawn City. Meanwhile, the National War begins to settle into smaller conflicts, resource development, maritime trade, and preparations for future naval wars.
• Back in the Magic Tower, William reunites playfully with Moxis. She reveals that she is calculating the arrival of the God of Light and the Dark God, who may descend several years earlier than expected, though not during the upcoming Dark Invasion.

Character Developments

• William / Prince / the Artistic Gunner: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, tactical intelligence, and exceptional footwork. He is not merely strong; he deliberately manipulates enemy emotions and battlefield positioning to protect his allies. He also remains confident, playful, and secretive after the battle.
• Prince’s public persona: His departure shows restraint and foresight. He does not want Huaxia players to rely entirely on him, and his words emphasize self-improvement and the loneliness of absolute strength.
• Huaxia players: Their despair turns into admiration and renewed confidence. They recognize that William’s unique skill cannot simply be copied by using the same weapons.
• Rune Continent experts: Their reputations suffer badly. Several high-level players and commanders are humiliated or killed by William, leading to anger and ridicule from their own supporters.
• Moxis: She remains focused on major magical and divine events rather than William’s flirtation. Her calculations reveal that the gods’ descent may occur sooner than expected, adding urgency to future preparations.
• The scientist in white: Emerges as morally reflective and concerned about humanity’s future. He questions whether virtual immortality is worth abandoning the development of the real world.
• The suited official: Represents the interests of powerful elites. He prioritizes creating a safe eternal-life environment for the wealthy and dismisses broader ethical concerns.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming individual power versus collective strength: William’s abilities can change an entire war, but the chapter also stresses that no ordinary player can imitate him successfully.
• Strategy over brute force: William wins not by destroying the enemy army outright, but by manipulating its strongest fighters and drawing them away from the main battlefield.
• The loneliness of supremacy: Prince’s farewell highlights the emotional cost of standing above all others and the isolation that accompanies invincibility.
• The importance of self-reliance: His advice suggests that players must train and improve themselves rather than depend permanently on a single powerful figure.
• Virtual reality and the nature of existence: The World of Gods is portrayed as increasingly similar to a parallel universe, raising questions about consciousness, souls, and whether virtual experiences can become genuinely real.
• Immortality and moral selfishness: The elite seek eternal life in a virtual world, while the scientist questions the ethics of preserving the privileged rather than improving humanity’s shared future.
• Humanity confronting forces beyond its understanding: The mysterious “Higher-Dimensional Cube” may be advancing technology beyond human limits, but its true nature and purpose remain unknown.
• The approaching divine crisis: The potential early descent of the God of Light and Dark God foreshadows escalating supernatural conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• William’s constant harassment of the Rune Continent’s elite turns the battlefield into a psychological battle as well as a physical one.
• Huaxia leaders such as Chu Liuqiu, Changli Jiugu, Eternal Solitude, and Meichuan Neiku attempt to persuade Prince to remain, but he politely refuses.
• The suited official and the scientist debate whether the virtual world should be used for martial advancement, technological progress, or eternal life for the wealthy.
• William flirts with Moxis after returning to the Magic Tower, but she throws him to the floor and redirects the conversation toward the Main Gods’ impending descent.
• Moxis’s warning reassures William that the gods will not interfere with the Dark Invasion in six months, though their eventual arrival may occur several years earlier than expected.

Chapter Summary: “Dawn Elf King!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dawn City profits enormously from the Players’ preparations for National War. The Players purchase vast quantities of supplies, equipment, potions, and Warships, stimulating the economies of every faction.
• Within one month of Version 5.0, William earns over seven billion experience points and two billion Gold Coins. Three months into the update, naval warfare has spread throughout the continent, involving NPCs and Players fighting one another in various combinations.
• Legendary and Epic Professionals return from the tenth Dark Outpost and are replaced by newer Legendary experts such as Meng Lu, King Kong, and Wells. Dawn City now possesses more than thirty Legendary Professionals.
• William personally welcomes Annie, Burning Ash, Limans, Diablo, Wendis, and the returning experts. He brings them to the Rainbow Lake Forbidden Land, where they finally see the enormous World Tree.
• The World Tree has grown from a small sapling into a colossal tree over 7,000 meters tall, with an extremely high concentration of Mana. William has prepared treehouses for his loyal subordinates so they can cultivate within its powerful domains.
• Around 70,000–80,000 Professionals now live within the World Tree’s canopy. Only those with exceptional loyalty or favorability toward William are told the World Tree’s secret and allowed to reside there.
• Moxis has strengthened the Rainbow Lake Barrier after becoming a Law Saint. Except for Main God-level beings, almost no one can break into the Forbidden Land.
• The World Tree’s internal Small World has expanded to roughly two-thirds the size of the Human Empire. It contains 1.06 million Pure-Blood Elves and 340,000 soul-reborn Elves.
• These 1.4 million Elves recognize William as their king, creating a new Elven race known as the Dawn Elves. William achieves his long-held goal of becoming an Elven King, albeit over a newly created Elven people rather than one of the established Elven tribes.
• William reaches level 290 but remains seventy levels away from the Transcendent Saint realm.
• At the chapter’s end, William learns that the Dark Invasion will begin earlier than expected—one month from now rather than three months later. Dawn City will help defend the Southern Region alongside the Black Leaf Elves, the Temple of Light, the Dark Hall, and the Mercenary Guild.

Character Developments

• William continues consolidating Dawn City’s power through commerce, military organization, loyalty, and the development of the World Tree. He becomes the king of the Dawn Elves and gains a large, devoted population under his rule.
• Annie returns from the Dark World and reacts with wonder to the World Tree. She remains possessive and jealous of William, especially toward Moxis, while also showing her childish determination to claim a beautiful treehouse near him.
• Moxis has grown into a Law Saint and is now one of the strongest protectors of Rainbow Lake. She lives beside William and focuses on magical research.
• Burning Ash, Limans, Wendis, Diablo, and the other returning experts are amazed by the World Tree and receive access to its powerful cultivation environment.
• Dawn City’s newer experts, including Meng Lu, King Kong, and Wells, demonstrate the faction’s growing depth by taking over the Dark Outpost’s defensive duties.

Significant Themes

• Economic power and war: The Players’ warfare turns conflict into a source of economic growth, while William skillfully profits from their consumption without weakening Dawn City.
• Power through loyalty: Access to the World Tree is restricted to those deeply loyal to William, emphasizing trust as a foundation of political and military strength.
• Growth and legacy: The World Tree’s expansion mirrors William’s rise from ruler of Dawn City to founder of a new Elven civilization.
• Cultivation and natural advantage: The World Tree’s Mana and Life Domains explain the extraordinary strength of the Elves and give Dawn City a powerful long-term advantage.
• Faith and exploitation during crisis: William anticipates that hidden Deities will emerge during the Dark Invasion to gain Faith from people driven by fear, death, and desperation.
• Political expansion: Rather than becoming king of an existing Elven nation, William creates and rules a completely new race—the Dawn Elves.

Important Character Interactions

• William welcomes the returning Dark Outpost experts and leads them to the World Tree, proudly revealing the secret he has cultivated for years.
• The experts react with astonishment to the World Tree’s size and Mana density, while William offers them treehouses and faster cultivation.
• Annie becomes jealous when she notices Moxis’s treehouse beside William’s. William teases her about living with him, prompting an embarrassed and angry response.
• Moxis briefly observes the newcomers before returning to her magical research, reinforcing the quiet rivalry between her and Annie.
• William reflects on the coming Dark Invasion and recognizes that the crisis will likely draw hidden Deities into the open as they seek to harvest Faith from the suffering population.

Chapter Summary: “Southern Region Big Shots”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter explains three methods the Gods developed to deal with the poisonous effects of faith:
  1. Reincarnation.
  2. Refining other Born Deities into vessels to contain faith.
  3. Purifying the body and soul by gradually removing accumulated faith.
• The second method is condemned as excessively cruel, while the third requires enormous effort and can severely weaken a Deity. Many Gods have spent the period from the Mythic Era to the Fourth Era in seclusion, constantly cleansing faith from their Divine Cores.
• Prince deduces that the God of Light and the Dark God may have descended early to question Odin. Odin’s Faith Purification Method apparently caused him to lose far more strength than other Deities, reducing him to the Legendary Realm.
• With less than half a month before the Third Dark Invasion, the National War has cooled. Players now focus mainly on capturing resource islands rather than engaging in wasteful naval battles.
• Dawn City and Huaxia Players have become the dominant force in the southeastern seas, controlling 65% of the resource islands. Japan, South Korea, India, and other factions on the Central Archipelago Continent have suffered major losses.
• Old Odin’s surprise attack nearly destroyed the Archipelago Continent’s Players, forcing NPC factions to intervene.
• William hosts a meeting of the major Southern Region factions to coordinate against the coming Dark Invasion. He warns that the invasion will be larger and possibly permanent, with Dark Lords targeting kingdom-level factions while descending Gods exploit the resulting chaos.
• The Red Fire Kingdom and Lion Kingdom offer large territories, cities, populations, and resources in exchange for Dawn City’s protection.
• The Black Leaf Elves and Winged Folk are considered capable of defending themselves, but Prince orders them to assist vulnerable human territories.
• The Dark Hall, Temple of Light, and Mercenary Guild are instructed to deploy forces to defend the Red Fire and Lion Kingdoms, while Dawn City agrees to support the entire Southern Region.

2. Character Developments

• William has risen from a minor figure who once depended on powerful allies to the most influential authority in the Southern Region. Major factions now flatter him and seek his protection.
• His former connections and political investments pay off: people he supported within the Mercenary Guild and other organizations now openly back him.
• William remains opportunistic and pragmatic, initially intending to charge a modest protection fee but accepting vast territorial concessions when the kingdoms offer them.
• Prince demonstrates his role as the strategic commander of the Southern Region. He evaluates each faction’s defensive ability and organizes the regional response.
• Roland Fick, once someone William depended on during the first Dark Invasion, now finds himself politically subordinate to William despite having grown stronger.
• Roderick and Acaro openly act as William’s supporters, praising Dawn City and reinforcing its dominance.
• Brian Chiyan, once William’s childhood follower, has become a Legendary professional and uses their past relationship to request protection for the Red Fire Kingdom.
• Odin is portrayed as an exceptional but suspiciously ineffective creator of the Faith Purification Method, having apparently suffered a far greater loss of strength than other Gods.

3. Significant Themes

• Power reversal and political ascent: William’s former dependence on stronger figures has been replaced by overwhelming influence and authority.
• Faith as both power and poison: Faith sustains Deities but corrupts or burdens them, forcing them to sacrifice strength, isolate themselves, or seek drastic solutions.
• Pragmatic politics: Protection is treated as a transaction. Kingdoms are willing to surrender land, cities, resources, and population rather than face destruction by Dark Lords.
• Preparation against overwhelming catastrophe: The coming invasion is presented as a long-term crisis rather than a single battle, requiring cooperation among rival factions.
• Influence built through long-term investment: William’s earlier alliances, bribes, and recruitment of loyal figures have matured into political control.
• Unity versus self-interest: Although factions cooperate against the Dark Invasion, most initially prioritize their own survival and negotiate for the best possible protection.

4. Character Interactions

• William’s supporters, including Roderick and Acaro, publicly praise him, embarrassing the representatives of older major factions.
• Roland silently reflects on how dramatically his relationship with William has changed: William once begged for his assistance, but now Roland must curry favor with William.
• Brian appeals to their childhood relationship to secure Dawn City’s help, but William pretends to remain firm until Brian offers substantial compensation.
• The Lion Kingdom follows the Red Fire Kingdom’s example and offers even more territory and resources, unwilling to be left without protection.
• Prince mediates the meeting and assigns responsibilities, requiring the stronger Black Leaf Elves and Winged Folk to defend human territories and ordering neutral organizations to reinforce the threatened kingdoms.
• The representatives of the various factions recognize that Dawn City has effectively become the leading power of the Southern Region, even if some resent how openly others support William.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dawn City has grown into a major power with over 40 million residents, a 3.3-million-strong Dawn Legion, 1.8 million NPC mercenaries, and 5.4 million Players. However, its expansion has reached practical limits because of restricted territory, resources, and population growth.
• The impending Third Dark Invasion creates an opportunity for Dawn City to seize territory and absorb displaced populations from weaker factions. William begins preparing by strengthening defenses across Dawn City, Eastsea City, Beast-Taming City, Greenlight City, the Five Cities of Sandsea, and thirteen newly acquired cities.
• Player guilds purchase control rights over the thirteen cities, while Players and Dawn City agree to defend jointly controlled settlements. The Players, initially tired from the National War, become excited by the coming invasion and the chance to earn rewards.
• Demon Caverns begin appearing across the Legendary Continent, while intelligent races flee dangerous wilderness regions into forests controlled by powerful factions. Dark believers summon Demons inside cities, and Temple forces conduct cleansing operations.
• Black Warlocks and Dark Mages begin raising undead from mass graves, burial grounds, and ancient battlefields. The Seven Continents descend into widespread disorder as the God of Darkness, Dark Lords, invading Gods, and other forces drive the conflict.
• Several Deities—including the River God, Wildfire God, and God of Hunting—rapidly spread their Faith by promising protection from Dark Creatures. Their believers receive real power and immunity-like protection, making the Gods’ influence difficult to suppress. William recognizes that his Odin Avatar is using a similar strategy.
• A group of retired Professional Players investigates the Slaughter Plains to estimate how many Demon Caverns will appear there. They conclude that surrounding powers, including Dawn City, the Winged Folk Kingdom, Greenlight City, and the Dragons, should prevent the area from becoming an overwhelming threat.
• In a small town, Lancelot kills a Divine Envoy who has been abusing and sacrificing girls to protect the town from the Dark Invasion. The townspeople attack Lancelot, defending the practice because they believe sacrificing a few victims protects thousands.
• Dark Child appears and tests the townspeople’s selfishness by suggesting that one young Professional sacrifice himself instead. When the man attempts to stab Lancelot from behind, Lancelot effortlessly stops him. Dark Child argues that selfishness and malice are the true nature of intelligent races and predicts that Lancelot will eventually fall into darkness.
• Lancelot refuses to abandon the surviving victims. He removes the bodies, rescues the living girls, and orders Priests and Temple Knights to restore order and educate the townspeople.

Character Developments

• William becomes increasingly strategic and opportunistic. He views the invasion not only as a catastrophe but also as a chance to expand Dawn City’s territory, population, and influence. He also recognizes the uncomfortable similarity between divine Faith-based protection and Odin’s own methods.
• Lancelot is shown as compassionate but increasingly exhausted and disillusioned. Despite public hatred, he remains committed to protecting innocent victims and challenging immoral religious practices. His restraint and continued efforts demonstrate his moral resolve.
• Dark Child acts as a cynical ideological opponent to Lancelot. Rather than merely causing violence, he manipulates people’s fear and selfishness to argue that goodness is weakness and darkness is inevitable.
• Ordinary townspeople and believers become examples of mass fear and moral compromise. Their terror of the invasion leads them to justify murder, exploitation, and human sacrifice.
• The retired Players demonstrate a more pragmatic, mission-oriented response to the crisis, gathering intelligence to help determine future danger levels.

Significant Themes

• Faith versus morality: The chapter questions whether protection granted by the Gods can justify cruel sacrifices and abuse.
• Fear and manipulation: The approaching invasion allows Deities and Divine Envoys to gain followers by exploiting desperation.
• The selfishness of crowds: Individuals who might reject cruelty alone become willing participants when protected by collective belief and fear.
• Order amid chaos: Factions prepare militarily while religious, political, and social structures begin collapsing.
• Moral resistance: Lancelot’s actions emphasize that protecting the vulnerable remains necessary even when society rejects or attacks those who help them.
• The ambiguity of divine power: The Gods’ promises are not entirely false; their protection genuinely works, making their influence especially dangerous and difficult to oppose.

Important Character Interactions

• William and the Gods: William understands that the Deities’ Faith campaigns resemble his Odin Avatar’s activities, creating a morally ambiguous parallel between them.
• Players investigating the Slaughter Plains: Chu Liuqiu, Eternal Solitude, Ling Tai Wuji, Fengyu Ru Pan, Jiyi Hanxing, and others cooperate to assess the region’s Demon Caverns and prepare for the invasion.
• Lancelot and the townspeople: Lancelot confronts citizens who defend the sacrifice of girls, challenging their belief that the deaths of a few are acceptable for collective survival.
• Lancelot and Dark Child: Dark Child attempts to prove that all intelligent beings are fundamentally selfish. Lancelot rejects his philosophy by protecting even those who have turned against him.
• Lancelot and the Temple forces: After the confrontation, Lancelot directs the Temple Knights and Priests to rescue victims, maintain order, and counter the town’s distorted Faith.

Chapter Summary: “Southern Region, I Have the Final Say!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Third Dark Invasion, known as the Black Tide, begins across the Seven Continents. Nearly thirty billion Dark Creatures emerge from countless Demon Caverns, including roughly one hundred Dark Lords.
• Dawn City is surrounded by more than a thousand Demon Caverns, but William remains confident because the city possesses overwhelming defenses.
• When Dark Creatures attack Dawn City, Moxis, the Law Saint, unleashes a massive spell from the Magic Tower. Its expanding ripple annihilates more than eighteen million Dark Creatures and destroys the surrounding Demon Caverns in seconds.
• Players realize why William did not require them to defend Dawn City. Many rush through the Portal Hall to aid Redfire Kingdom and the Lion Kingdom, while others remain shocked by the city’s overwhelming power.
• William uses Moxis’s Water Mirror Technique to observe the Golden Plains, where a gigantic Black Volcano has erupted and become the central source of the invasion.
• Redfire Royal City comes under immense pressure. Millions of soldiers, mercenaries, NPCs, and players defend the city against an apparently endless army emerging from the volcano.
• Redfire’s artillery, Magic Cannons, catapults, and Heavy Mana Gatlings kill large numbers of enemies, but the sheer size of the Dark Army makes victory seem impossible.
• A Dark Lord attempts to destroy Redfire Royal City with a colossal hand. William arrives at the critical moment, using a Thunder Dawn to shatter the attack and defeating the Dark Lord.
• William publicly declares that he controls the Southern Region. He establishes a rule forbidding Dark Lords from acting recklessly against forces that possess no Saints, threatening to kill anyone who violates it.
• William then confronts eleven Dark Lords at the Black Volcano. After speaking with them, he reiterates his rules and warns them not to interfere.
• He also threatens the three Wild Gods, declaring that he will destroy their Divine Cores if they spread faith before the Main God descends. His declaration leaves the entire Southern Region stunned.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates that he has reached an extraordinary level of power, apparently comparable to a Saint Rank Peak. His confidence evolves into open dominance as he imposes his own rules on both the invading Dark Lords and the gods behind them.
• Moxis confirms her status as one of Dawn City’s greatest weapons by erasing millions of powerful Dark Creatures with a single spell.
• Redfire King Vekru and his father-in-law are shown struggling under the invasion’s pressure. Their relief at the arrival of Dawn City’s Dragon Blood Legion highlights how dependent Redfire has become on William’s support.
• The players finally understand William’s strategic planning. Those who initially waited to defend Dawn City realize they had underestimated its defenses and hurry to support the more vulnerable kingdoms.
• The Dark Lords are revealed to be powerful but cautious. Although several resent William’s restrictions, they hesitate to challenge him directly after witnessing him kill one of their own.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and authority: William’s strength allows him to create and enforce rules independently, even against Dark Lords and divine beings.
• Order amid chaos: While the Black Tide represents destruction and panic, William attempts to impose a new order by regulating how the Dark Lords may participate in the war.
• Strategic preparation: Dawn City’s defenses and Moxis’s devastating spell show the importance of planning rather than relying solely on manpower.
• Fear versus confidence: Ordinary defenders are nearly crushed by despair when confronted with the invasion, while William’s arrival completely reverses the atmosphere.
• The changing balance of power: William’s growth into a Saint-level powerhouse challenges the authority of the Dark Lords, the Wild Gods, and even the Main God’s influence.
• Sacrifice and cooperation: The invasion forces players, kingdoms, guilds, mercenaries, and religious orders to cooperate against a common enemy.

Important Character Interactions

• William and Moxis: William relies on Moxis to monitor the battlefield and unleash Dawn City’s ultimate defensive spell.
• Players and one another: Players such as Cangshan Has a Well Named Empty and North Sea Has an Island Called Lan urge others to abandon Dawn City’s unnecessary defense and aid Redfire and the Lion Kingdom.
• Vekru and his father-in-law: They discuss the desperate defense of Redfire Royal City and anxiously await William’s arrival.
• William and the attacking Dark Lord: William intercepts the Dark Lord’s assault, destroys his giant hand, and kills him beneath his foot.
• William and the eleven Dark Lords: William confronts them directly at the Black Volcano and forces them to accept restrictions on their conduct.
• William and the Wild Gods: He openly threatens them, making clear that he will challenge their efforts to spread faith before the Main God’s arrival.
• The wider Southern Region: William’s proclamation turns him from a powerful ally into the acknowledged authority of the region, with even his enemies forced to reconsider challenging him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• William publicly declares that the Main Gods can come find him, using the statement as a calculated bluff to intimidate the Dark Lords and the three Wild Gods. The Main Gods cannot easily descend, while William’s connection to Odin remains largely misunderstood.
• Because of William’s threat—and the protection implied by the Radiant Pope—the Dark Lords withdraw into the Black Volcanoes or disguise themselves across the Gods Continent. They avoid taking action in the Southern Region.
• William’s declaration causes a major uproar on the player Forum. Huaxia players boast about Dawn City’s strength, while foreign players grow jealous and begin considering joining or visiting Dawn City.
• The Dark Invasion continues across the Seven Continents. Player-controlled cities, especially those with personal property and NPC communities, are defended fiercely because players can resurrect without fearing permanent losses.
• Thirteen Grand Duchies fall within three days, causing over fifty million deaths. Spatial Mages and Dawn City experts evacuate survivors, while Dawn City absorbs more than eight million refugees, greatly expanding its population and influence.
• After lasting a month, the Black Tide finally subsides. Fourteen Human Kingdoms have fallen, and the major races suffer catastrophic casualties. Numerous Saints and Legendary-Class Professionals die in battles across the Gods Continent and Dark World.
• Redfire and the Lion Kingdom survive only through extensive support from Dawn City, the Winged Folk, and the Elves. The Southern Region avoids a major Saint-level war, aside from William’s effortless killing of one Dark Lord.
• The invasion’s true purpose is revealed: the Dark Lords never intended to conquer the Gods Continent outright. They wanted to spread fear and disorder, creating favorable conditions for the Gods to descend and spread their Faith.
• William recognizes that Version 5.0 has begun a new age of conflict among players, NPCs, Dark Creatures, deities, and rival factions. He resolves to reach the Transcendent Saint Stage within ten years.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates increasing political and military authority. His threat is mostly theatrical, but his reputation and backing are strong enough to frighten the Dark Lords into retreating.
• He becomes more openly confident in Dawn City’s status as a power equal to a Human Empire, especially in the Southern Region.
• The Radiant Pope is established as a major deterrent against the Main Gods, though most people do not understand the full extent of his power or his connection to William.
• Moxis continues supporting Dawn City through intelligence, spatial positioning scrolls, and logistical preparations. He is one of the few who understands the deeper relationship involving William and Odin.
• Wendis and Old Bander use their spatial abilities to evacuate large populations, helping Dawn City grow while rescuing civilians.
• Players become more emotionally invested in the world. Owning cities, property, and relationships with NPCs gives them a genuine sense of responsibility and motivates them to fight and die repeatedly in defense of their homes.
• Foreign players increasingly view Dawn City as a desirable political and economic center, even considering abandoning old rivalries to join it.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: William’s bluff succeeds because reputation and perceived strength can be as influential as actual force.
• The rise of Dawn City: The city evolves from a powerful faction into an independent superpower capable of setting its own rules and absorbing entire populations.
• Players versus NPCs: Player immortality changes warfare. Their willingness to resurrect and fight repeatedly gives defending cities a decisive advantage.
• War’s human cost: Despite strategic victories, the invasion causes horrifying losses among civilians, Saints, and Legendary Professionals.
• Religion and manipulation: The Dark Invasion is a tool for destabilization, allowing the Gods to exploit fear and chaos to spread their Faith.
• The beginning of a new era: Version 5.0 is presented as a turning point in which the Gods Continent becomes a battleground between opposing ideologies—light and darkness, justice and evil, and freedom and control.

Character Interactions

• William’s public challenge affects the Dark Lords directly, forcing them to retreat or disguise themselves.
• His hidden relationship with Odin is observed by Moxis but misunderstood by others, including the Radiant Pope.
• Players on the Forum argue over whether William is the central protagonist, secretly allied with the Radiant Pope, or preparing to fight the Main Gods.
• Huaxia and foreign players engage in nationalist rivalry, with insults and threats of future naval war temporarily interrupted by moderation.
• Dawn City cooperates with the Winged Folk, Elves, Redfire, and the Lion Kingdom to defend against the Black Tide.
• Dawn City’s evacuation efforts bring millions of refugees under William’s rule, further changing its relationship with neighboring Human Kingdoms.
• William ends the chapter by framing the coming conflicts as the true beginning of the Great Era and committing himself to reaching the Transcendent Saint Stage.

Chapter Summary:

Demon-Slaying City, Savage Main God

Key Plot Points and Events

• Two months after the establishment of Demon-Slaying City, the city has become a busy Heavy City filled entirely with Professionals from many races. It serves as part of a defensive line against the Dark Army at Black Volcano.
• The city’s streets are full of dubious Players and merchants selling goods, including demon materials, supposed pets, and black-market invitations. These scenes highlight the city’s chaotic, opportunistic atmosphere:
  • Xingfeng Xiaoye is tricked into buying a Fire Demon disguised as a Flame Demon, only to discover that the demon escapes using a Magic Chain.
  • I Love Lolitas buys a likely fake invitation to an underground Black Market auction after being tempted by the promise of Succubi.
• William meets Alec, the Legendary Tier Shadow Assassin who leads Dawn’s intelligence network. Alec reports that the three Wild Gods—despite William’s warning—are secretly spreading their Faith through Divine Envoys.
• Intelligence suggests that the Lion Kingdom’s king is either a Divine Envoy or a follower who has accepted power from one of the Deities. Since the Lion Kingdom has the greatest concentration of their followers, William suspects that the three Wild Gods may be hiding there.
• William decides to investigate Lion King’s City personally. He travels through the Thunder Domain and Elemental Space, disguising himself as an Artistic Gunner to avoid alerting the Wild Gods.
• Upon entering the city, William encounters Changli Jiugu, who recognizes him despite his disguise and invites him to participate in a mission involving followers of the Wildfire God. William accepts.

Character Developments

• William: Becomes increasingly cautious and strategic as he investigates the hidden Deities. Rather than acting openly, he uses intelligence gathering, disguises, and Elemental Space to infiltrate Lion King’s City. He is also aware of the danger posed by the Savage Main God and recognizes that directly confronting Divine Descent could exceed his current abilities.
• Alec: Demonstrates his effectiveness as Dawn’s intelligence chief by uncovering clues about the Wild Gods’ hidden activities. However, he remains humorously literal and socially oblivious, misunderstanding William’s joking comments about him having a son in three years.
• Xingfeng Xiaoye: Is portrayed as impulsive and greedy but also comically unlucky, attempting to exploit a cheap deal and being scammed by a crooked merchant.
• I Love Lolitas: Shows similar impulsiveness, allowing curiosity about Succubi to override caution and leading him to purchase a potentially worthless Black Market invitation.
• Changli Jiugu: Shows sharp observational skills by immediately recognizing William’s equipment and identifying him despite his disguise. He becomes William’s potential guide or partner in investigating the Wildfire God’s followers.
• The three Wild Gods: Although they remain unseen, they are revealed to be actively rebuilding their influence through secret worship and hidden Divine Envoys.

Significant Themes

• Deception and opportunism: Demon-Slaying City’s markets are built around scams, misidentification, and exploiting people’s greed. The same pattern exists on a larger scale in the religious plot, where Deities hide their identities and manipulate mortal followers.
• Information versus strength: William cannot yet confront the Savage Main God directly, so he relies on intelligence, infiltration, and careful investigation rather than brute force.
• The return of hidden powers: The Wild Gods and other Deities are quietly regaining influence in human lands, suggesting that the War of Light and Darkness is becoming increasingly complicated.
• Limits of power: William recognizes that, despite his current Saint-level strength, he is not yet capable of safely facing the Savage God or enduring Divine Descent.
• Chaos within wartime society: Demon-Slaying City is both a military stronghold and a lawless marketplace, showing how war creates opportunities for both heroes and criminals.

Important Character Interactions

• Xingfeng Xiaoye and the crooked merchant: Their exchange demonstrates the city’s scam-filled commerce and Xingfeng’s tendency to rush into bargains without verifying them.
• William and Alec: Alec gives William intelligence about the Wild Gods. William’s teasing comment about Alec’s future son produces a comic misunderstanding.
• William and the Wild Gods: Though they do not meet directly, William’s investigation reveals an ongoing conflict between his efforts to suppress their Faith and their attempts to establish secret worship.
• William and Changli Jiugu: Changli recognizes William’s disguise and offers him a mission targeting followers of the Wildfire God, creating the chapter’s transition into the next stage of the investigation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• William abandons Changli Jiugu’s attempt to recruit him, recognizing that the Wildfire God, River God, and God of Hunting have hidden themselves too thoroughly for Players to complete related follower quests.
• Changli Jiugu’s group instead accepts a quest involving a “Lost Temple of Light,” possibly connected to the Radiant Main God, and travels through increasingly dangerous regions overrun by Dark Creatures.
• William infiltrates the Lion Royal Palace disguised first as a sparrow and later as an ant. He spends more than ten days observing the aging Lion King, hoping to prove that the King is secretly allied with a deity.
• William discovers that the Lion King receives divine power each night. The energy strengthens him, extends his lifespan, and restores his sexual vitality, confirming a close relationship with a deity.
• The Lion King eventually opens a Spatial Gate beneath the palace and travels to an underground temple. William secretly follows him.
• In the temple, the Lion King meets his eldest son, the First Prince, who has become a Divine Envoy. William learns that many nobles are also deity followers and that the Savage God System is gradually infiltrating the Lion Kingdom.
• The First Prince and the Wild Gods are using the King’s dependence on divine power to manipulate the transfer of military authority and royal secrets. Their ultimate plan appears to be allowing the King to die after he has handed control to the First Prince.
• William reveals himself after the three deities detect his magical disguise. The Wildfire God immediately launches a deadly attack using the Savage Main God’s power through “Divine Descent.”

Character Developments

• William: Becomes increasingly calculating and politically pragmatic. Rather than immediately confronting the Lion Kingdom, he gathers evidence and plans to use the presence of deity followers as justification for Dawn City to intervene and potentially annex the kingdom. His infiltration also demonstrates his confidence and versatility.
• Changli Jiugu: Accepts that Players cannot easily establish contact with hidden deities and redirects his party toward another religious mystery.
• The Lion King: Revealed as an elderly, desperate ruler whose fear of death has driven him into dependence on divine power. Although cautious and unwilling to surrender everything at once, he is being gradually controlled through promises of renewed life and vigor.
• The First Prince: Has become a Divine Envoy and is cooperating with the deities. He appears outwardly respectful toward his father but is primarily focused on inheriting the kingdom and its hidden resources.
• The Wild Gods: Shown to be patient infiltrators who use vulnerable nobles and royal figures to gain political control rather than relying only on open force.

Significant Themes

• Faith as dependence and control: Divine blessings provide power, youth, and longevity, but they also create addiction and make followers vulnerable to manipulation.
• Political opportunism: William views the crisis not only as a religious threat but also as an opportunity for Dawn City to expand its influence.
• The selfishness of the powerful: William reflects that both mortals and deities pursue their own interests, even during a world-threatening catastrophe.
• Death and the fear of mortality: The Lion King’s refusal to accept death makes him willing to compromise his kingdom and submit to a deity.
• Conflict between Main Gods and Saints: The Wildfire God’s attack demonstrates that the Main Gods intend to enforce their authority and kill anyone who challenges the dignity of their divine systems.

Character Interactions

• William rejects Changli Jiugu’s implied attempt to recruit him into the Glory Club.
• Changli Jiugu and his companions discuss the difficulty of becoming followers of hidden deities and choose to investigate the Temple of Light instead.
• The First Prince reassures the Lion King that their god has summoned him and urges him to show proper submission. He promises that the deity can restore the King’s vigor.
• William secretly observes the King and follows him through the Spatial Gate.
• The Lion King kneels before the three deities, while William exposes himself and confronts them.
• The Wildfire God declares that he is confident in his ability to kill William and invokes the Savage Main God’s power, ending the chapter on a major cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Divine War!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William continues hunting the three Wild Gods to prevent them from spreading Faith throughout the Southern Region, provoking the Savage Main God.
• The Savage Main God appears through Divine Descent and destroys the golden Palaces and their occupants with a single attack.
• Their clash devastates the Lion King’s City. Buildings, walls, landscapes, and civilians are destroyed by the shockwaves, while Legendary and Epic experts recognize that the combatants possess power beyond ordinary Saint-level strength.
• The Savage Main God gathers all nearby metal—including Players’ equipment—and forges it into a Divine Artifact-grade armor set and war saber, demonstrating the overwhelming abilities of a true Main God.
• William battles him using Divine Descent, the Heaven-Subduing Blade, his Main God Skeleton, Holy Soul, and defensive abilities such as the Unbeatable Golden Body.
• After suffering severe injuries, William activates Unrivaled and the True Thunder Saint Body, transforming his entire body, including his brain, into thunder. This grants him a temporary Perfect Elemental Body and dramatically accelerates his thoughts and reactions.
• The fight escalates into a brutal exchange of sword strikes, shockwaves, elemental attacks, and soul techniques. William’s Holy Soul damages the Savage Main God’s skull, while his thunder body neutralizes metal particles planted inside him.
• To avoid further destruction, the two combatants move into the sky and eventually beyond the atmosphere, attracting the attention of Saints, Players, and major factions across the continent.
• Observers believe William is only surviving through temporary abilities and clever techniques, and that he will lose once his nineteen-minute transformation ends.
• The chapter reveals that the battle is largely staged. William and the Savage Main God secretly communicate and deliberately limit their strength so that outsiders will believe they are genuinely fighting. William plans to escape with a Spatial Scroll after maintaining the performance.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates that he can temporarily confront a Main God. His thunder transformation gives him a body and perception comparable to a Transcendent Saint, while his Holy Soul and defensive abilities allow him to withstand otherwise fatal attacks.
• He remains strategic rather than simply overpowering his opponent, using his elemental body, soul, endurance, and timing to counter the Savage Main God.
• The Savage Main God is established as a terrifyingly powerful deity capable of manipulating metal on a massive scale and using even tiny particles inside an enemy’s body as weapons.
• Despite his savage image, he is revealed to be cooperating with William and is likely an old ally connected to Odin and the miscellaneous god faction.
• Moxis considers rescuing William if necessary, while the Radiant Pope watches confidently and appears eager for William to call for help.
• Saints across the Legendary Continent reassess William, realizing that his arrogance is supported by a genuine ability to withstand Main God-level power.

Significant Themes

• Power versus limitation: William can challenge a Main God, but only temporarily; the nineteen-minute limit creates urgency and foreshadows the danger of his transformation ending.
• Appearance versus reality: The spectacular battle is intentionally deceptive. What seems like a deadly divine conflict is actually a carefully coordinated performance.
• The scale of divine power: The Savage Main God’s control over metal and elemental matter emphasizes the vast difference between Main Gods, Saints, and ordinary Professionals.
• Strategy and deception: Survival depends not only on strength but also on misdirection, allies, hidden cooperation, and manipulating the perceptions of observers.
• Destruction caused by divine conflict: Even when the combatants avoid directly targeting civilians, their power devastates cities and landscapes, showing the catastrophic consequences of battles between high-level beings.

Character Interactions

• William and the Savage Main God exchange relentless attacks publicly while secretly communicating during the fight.
• William criticizes the Savage Main God for appearing too genuinely murderous, while the Savage Main God explains that they must make the performance convincing to observers.
• Their private conversation reveals mutual trust and an established history, including the Savage Main God’s gratitude toward William for helping him become a Main God.
• Moxis and the Radiant Pope observe the battle from afar, each considering when William may need assistance.
• The wider community—Players, Saints, Legendary experts, and Epic experts—reacts with shock and speculation, debating whether William can survive the confrontation.