Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “I Think Highly of You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William continues the troop-reward ceremony by announcing extensive benefits:
  • Families of fallen soldiers receive three Gold Coins.
  • Elderly citizens can exchange difficult labor for lighter civic jobs and will be cared for in retirement.
  • Wounded and unwounded warriors alike receive rewards.
• The ceremony ends at dusk, followed by a citywide banquet where soldiers’ relatives, friends, and ordinary citizens celebrate alongside William and his subordinates.
• William spends roughly 5,000 Gold Coins, viewing the expense as an investment in loyalty, morale, and military courage. His treasury remains wealthy after profits from the Steel Duchy.
• His actions impress even foreign spies stationed in Dawn City. Some begin considering defection because of the city’s generous treatment of its people.
• In the Moon Tree’s Sky Garden, Princess Annie watches the celebrations with Old Bander. She admires William’s treatment of his soldiers and citizens.
• Old Bander reflects on William’s unusual qualities: ambition, kindness, patience, intelligence, courage, and strong leadership. He begins considering William as a possible future partner for Annie and a figure who might one day return to the Black Leaf Elven royal family.
• The Moonlight Elf King has died and returned to the World Tree. The throne has gone to Annie’s dangerous First Prince, who is associated with darkness, Dark Battle Aura, Dark Magic, and a past sacrifice to a demon.
• Annie has lost her greatest political protector and may gradually be marginalized in Moonlight Forest.
• Impressed by Dawn City and William, Annie authorizes the Moonlight Elves in Moonlight Town to choose whether to enlist and fight for him, rather than ordering them to remain uninvolved.

Character Developments

• William: Demonstrates that his leadership combines generosity with calculated political strategy. He uses rewards, public recognition, and social welfare to secure the soldiers’ loyalty and strengthen Dawn City’s unity.
• Annie: Becomes more openly supportive of William. She recognizes his potential and decides to test how far he can go by allowing her people to serve under him.
• Old Bander: His opinion of William changes substantially. Though initially skeptical because of William’s Half-Elf heritage and uncertain royal status, he now sees William as a capable, principled, and potentially powerful leader.
• The First Prince: Though absent, he is established as a major looming threat due to his connection with darkness and demonic power.
• The Moonlight Elf King: His death creates a major political shift, leaving Annie vulnerable and weakening her position within Moonlight Forest.

Significant Themes

• Glory and material reward: William understands that most people are motivated by fame and profit. By honoring soldiers publicly and rewarding them materially, he turns military service into a respected and desirable path.
• Leadership through loyalty: William’s rewards are not empty generosity; they create emotional investment and encourage soldiers to serve him willingly and even die for Dawn City.
• The value of ordinary people: Unlike many rulers who treat soldiers as disposable tools, William remembers the dead, supports their families, and cares for the elderly and wounded.
• Political legitimacy and ambition: William’s growing influence may allow him to overcome the stigma of his Half-Elf identity and potentially reenter the Black Leaf royal family.
• Instability and succession: The Moonlight Elf King’s death and the First Prince’s dangerous nature create uncertainty, while Annie’s future becomes increasingly precarious.
• Marriage and alliance: Annie’s possible relationship with William is viewed not only romantically but also as a potential political alliance between major elven factions.

Character Interactions

• William and the people of Dawn City: Through the ceremony and banquet, William publicly strengthens his bond with soldiers, families, and commoners.
• Annie and Old Bander: They discuss William’s character and achievements. Old Bander offers a cautious but increasingly favorable assessment, while Annie openly admits that she thinks highly of William.
• Annie and her Moonlight Elves: Annie grants them the freedom to enlist under William, signaling her trust in Dawn City and her willingness to align herself more closely with him.
• Old Bander and William: Though William is unaware of it, Old Bander is reassessing him as a possible future partner for Annie and as a potential force in elven politics.

Chapter Summary:

William’s Ambition

Key Plot Points and Events

• After more than six months of difficult work, William successfully guides Dawn City into a prosperous period.
• Annie formally relinquishes her former authority over Blue Moon Town’s Elves, allowing the more than 45,000 Elves who relocated to Dawn City to fully integrate into their new home.
• William launches a large-scale recruitment drive:
  • Soldiers for the Regular Army
  • Members for the Magic Guild
  • Civilian officials and workers
  • Recruits for the more relaxed Dawn Mercenary Group
• Although Dawn City welcomes its new residents, William personally controls the selection process and maintains strict standards.
• The recruitment campaign attracts attention from neighboring powers. Spies report Dawn City’s expansion to both the Steel Duchy and the Blackrock Duchy.
• Blackrock Duchy bans the sale of slaves to Dawn City. Kuri informs William that the slave trade can no longer continue because the Duchy’s soldiers control the major transportation routes and his patron, Marquis Chris, cannot risk being accused of aiding an enemy.
• Blackrock Duchy is politically unstable after the death of its king. The First Prince acts as ruler but is opposed by Tianduo and is wary of Marquis Chris, who supports the Third Prince and commands a powerful military force.
• Marquis Chris and other Blackrock nobles suspect that Dawn City may be allied with the Steel Duchy, especially after William allowed the Steel Duchy to build a military fortress near Cliff’s Edge.
• All three powers—Dawn City, the Steel Duchy, and the Blackrock Duchy—face internal conflicts and external threats. As a result, they avoid open war, conceal their military strength, build defenses, stockpile resources, and prepare for future conflict.
• William recognizes that this tense stalemate gives Dawn City time to grow. Since the two Duchies have reached the limits of their financial and logistical capacity, he plans to strengthen Dawn City by turning former slaves into citizens, laborers, and soldiers.
• With the slave supply dwindling and spies infiltrating those sent from the Steel Duchy, William focuses on one remaining opportunity: the Fire Dragon living in the East Sea Snow Mountain.
• He plans not merely to obtain the dragon’s treasure, but to exploit its blood, flesh, bones, and scales—especially the blood, which could potentially be used to create a powerful Dragonblood force.

Character Developments

• William becomes increasingly ambitious and strategic. He thinks beyond defending Dawn City and openly considers eventually seizing the wealth, food, and population of the two Human Duchies when war begins.
• He demonstrates a pragmatic willingness to use former slaves as the foundation for Dawn City’s economy and military.
• His interest in the Fire Dragon reveals that he is willing to challenge forces far greater than ordinary human states in order to gain a decisive advantage.
• Annie takes an important step back from political authority. By giving up her former lordship, she enables the Elves to identify more completely with Dawn City rather than remaining loyal to Blue Moon Town.
• Kuri has risen to the rank of Count and commands over a thousand elite soldiers, but his influence is limited by the Duchy’s tightened security and political tensions.
• Marquis Chris is portrayed as a powerful but cautious noble. He supports the Third Prince but avoids directly provoking the First Prince while the Steel Duchy and Dawn City remain potential threats.
• The rulers and nobles of all three powers are shown as suspicious, fearful, and politically constrained, with none willing to act recklessly.

Significant Themes

• Political integration and loyalty: Annie’s abdication allows the Elves to become true citizens of Dawn City, showing that shared identity can be more important than formal leadership.
• Ambition and expansion: William’s goals extend far beyond survival. He intends to build enough strength to exploit future wars and dominate regional resources.
• Power through population and resources: The chapter emphasizes that soldiers, laborers, slaves, food, wealth, and magical materials are all essential to building a strong state.
• Political stalemate: Internal rivalries and external threats force all three powers to prepare quietly rather than attack, creating a tense balance in which Dawn City can develop.
• The danger of hidden power: Dragons represent a force beyond ordinary human politics. The chapter highlights the risks of challenging them, particularly because Legendary Dragons protect their kind and limit humanity’s ability to exploit dragon remains.
• Pragmatism versus morality: William views former slaves primarily as potential citizens, workers, and soldiers, while the surrounding powers continue to treat slavery as an economic and political tool.

Character Interactions

• Annie’s decision directly benefits William by transferring the Elves’ loyalty from their former town to Dawn City.
• William’s recruitment policies give both Elves and human Commoners a chance to serve him through different military and civilian paths.
• Kuri communicates with William through voice transmission to explain the end of the slave trade, showing that their working relationship remains active despite Blackrock’s restrictions.
• Kuri’s patron, Marquis Chris, is caught between supporting the Third Prince and avoiding conflict with the First Prince.
• The Steel Duchy, Blackrock Duchy, and Dawn City influence one another through military preparations, espionage, trade restrictions, and mutual suspicion.
• William’s future plans depend on exploiting the Fire Dragon while remaining hidden from the larger powers and the Legendary Dragons that protect the species.

Chapter Summary: “Dragon-Slaying Imminent”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Five months pass, bringing winter to Dawn City. Despite continued rain, the city completes its second harvest.
• Thanks to public toilets and increased manure fertilizer, crop yields rise by roughly 20%. Dawn City’s stored grain, fruit, and forest resources can now support up to 200,000 people for a year.
• The New District is completed. Its walls are larger and stronger than those of the Old District, standing fifteen meters high and reinforced with molten iron and copper. Additional gates improve movement between the two districts.
• A Half-Elf settlement seventy kilometers east of Dawn City seeks refuge from repeated Orc attacks and the growing threat of the Steel Duchy. Because of William’s Half-Elf royal bloodline, the settlement’s lord brings all 23,000 Half-Elves to Dawn City.
• Dawn City’s population nearly reaches 200,000, more than doubling in six months. Its army expands from 4,000 to 15,000 soldiers across five legions, supported by 2,800 mercenaries.
• William formally organizes and names the five legions:
  • Glory Legion: Human Professionals and William’s elite veterans.
  • Guardian Legion: Primarily young female Human and Elf soldiers assigned to city defense and public order.
  • Night Legion and Moonlight Legion: Powerful Pure-Blood Elf forces.
  • Fearless Legion: The new Half-Elf army, commanded by its former lord, an Epic-bloodline level-61 Warrior.
• William remains frustrated by his slow progress at level 55. Having eliminated most nearby threats, he lacks safe opportunities to gain experience and plans to rely on the players’ upcoming Open Beta and Dungeon Crystals.
• His stagnation ends when Lotner reports that the Steel Duchy has sent two legions east under diplomat Augustine, accompanied by numerous experts. William immediately orders his commanders to prepare elite Rangers, Warriors, and Assassins.
• The chapter ends with William realizing that the long-awaited Dragon-Slaying War is about to begin.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates continued growth as a ruler and military organizer. He oversees Dawn City’s expansion, population integration, agricultural development, and army restructuring.
• His royal Half-Elf heritage becomes a major source of political influence, attracting displaced Half-Elves who view him as a potential leader capable of founding a Half-Elf kingdom.
• William shows ambition and impatience regarding his own leveling. Although he has built a powerful city, he worries that other high-bloodline NPCs may soon surpass him.
• The Half-Elf lord proves his loyalty by bringing his people to Dawn City and is rewarded with command of the Fearless Legion.
• Lotner acts as the bearer of critical military intelligence, alerting William to the Steel Duchy’s movements.
• Alec continues to contribute through reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, identifying the approaching Steel Duchy forces.

Significant Themes

• Nation-building and preparation: Dawn City evolves from a settlement into a large, fortified, multi-racial city with food security and an organized military.
• Leadership and legitimacy: William’s royal bloodline gives him authority and attracts followers, suggesting the possibility of a future Half-Elf kingdom.
• Military modernization: The creation and specialization of the five legions reflect William’s increasingly systematic approach to governance and warfare.
• Growth versus stagnation: Despite the city’s rapid development, William personally feels stuck because his level has barely increased.
• Imminent conflict: The chapter shifts from expansion and preparation toward open confrontation with the Steel Duchy, setting up the Dragon-Slaying War.

Character Interactions

• The Half-Elf lord approaches William for protection and pledges his entire settlement to Dawn City, leading William to accept him and appoint him as a legion commander.
• William organizes the legions and gives each commander a distinct role, balancing military strength, city security, and racial representation.
• Lotner reports the Steel Duchy’s advance directly to William. William responds decisively by ordering preparations and mobilizing elite troops.
• William also instructs the city’s Assassins, led through Alec’s intelligence network, to eliminate hostile infiltrators and “vermin” within Dawn City.

Chapter Summary: “The Best Actor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Night settles over Dawn City, whose lively taverns, brothels, casinos, and brightly lit streets conceal a massive military operation.
• Dawn City’s forces secretly assemble at several military camps to eliminate enemy spies before they can transmit information.
• More than 500 spies embedded within the Glory Legion are captured, bound, gagged, and brought before their former comrades. In total, approximately 3,500 spies across the city are scheduled to be executed simultaneously at midnight.
• Many soldiers struggle to believe that the accused men are traitors, since they had trained and fought beside them. The spies themselves are also deeply conflicted, having grown attached to Dawn City and the Glory Legion despite their original allegiance to the Steel Duchy.
• William personally confronts the captured spies and demands that they admit their betrayal. His emotional outburst makes it clear that he regarded them as brothers.
• He declares that he will cut off his traditionally uncut elven hair as a substitute for killing them, symbolizing the destruction of their bond.
• William cuts his hair, causing the spies and the surrounding soldiers immense emotional distress. The spies beg to be executed, believing they deserve death.
• Instead, William orders them to leave and crawl back to where they belong. At the same moment, the city bells announce midnight, and the larger execution of spies takes place elsewhere.
• The chapter concludes with Dawn City’s greatest hidden threat apparently eliminated.

Character Developments

• William presents himself as a devastated but merciful lord. His performance combines anger, grief, and theatrical symbolism, reinforcing his image as a leader who values loyalty deeply.
• The captured spies are shown to have undergone a major emotional transformation. Though they originally served the Steel Duchy, many now identify with Dawn City and feel genuine remorse for betraying William and their fellow soldiers.
• Julio, commander of the Glory Legion, firmly enforces William’s authority and suppresses the soldiers’ doubts, demonstrating his loyalty and discipline.
• The Glory Legion’s soldiers shift from disbelief and suspicion to painful acceptance once they recognize that the accusations are genuine.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus original allegiance: The spies’ emotional attachment to Dawn City conflicts with their duty to the Steel Duchy.
• Betrayal and belonging: The chapter explores how living among people who treat them well causes the spies to see Dawn City as their true home.
• Leadership and emotional manipulation: William uses a carefully staged display of grief to influence both the spies and his soldiers, earning their devotion while resolving the crisis.
• Justice versus mercy: Although thousands of spies are executed, the spies closest to William are spared, suggesting that remorse and emotional loyalty may earn forgiveness.
• Theatricality and symbolism: William’s cutting of his elven hair acts as a dramatic substitute for execution and symbolizes the severing of brotherhood.

Character Interactions

• Julio confronts the soldiers who question the arrests and orders them to obey until William provides an explanation.
• William challenges the captured spies directly, demanding that they acknowledge whether they were always enemy agents or whether he wronged them.
• The spies respond with tears, remorse, and pleas for death, insisting that they deserve punishment.
• William’s symbolic act of cutting his hair deeply affects both the spies and the legion, convincing them of the sincerity of his supposed grief.
• The chapter emphasizes the powerful emotional bond between William and the soldiers he considers his brothers—even those who betrayed him.

Chapter Summary: “Iron-Head Kid”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• William completes a nighttime purge of Dawn City, killing more than 2,000 infiltrators and traitors without harming civilians. His Fiery Eyes identify enemies, while his favorability-based Talent had already converted some spies into potential allies.
• The dead spies’ heads are displayed on the East City Wall, shocking the city’s population. Notices explain the purge and reveal that Dawn City’s forces have mobilized.
• Three of Dawn City’s five Legions, together with William’s Personal Guard, leave the city before dawn. Only the Glory Legion and Guardian Legion remain behind.
• The Glory Legion’s 500 suspected spies are secretly sent to guard the mines, allowing William to conceal their fate from the Steel Duchy and potentially protect their families.
• Nearly 9,500 soldiers march toward the Steel Duchy’s partially completed Military Fortress, located thirty li away. William intends to capture it before the enemy realizes that its spies in Dawn City have disappeared.
• Alec explains that the fortress has formidable twenty-meter-high, seven-meter-thick walls, making a direct assault costly. William instead focuses on the fortress gate, which is thick but still unenchant­ed.
• William unveils a brutal solution: a giant level-55 Troll, equipped with a massive Epic-quality helmet shaped like an “A,” will act as a living battering ram. The Troll, nicknamed Iron-Head Kid, is expendable and has been enslaved through Soul Magic.
• The Steel Duchy’s scouts detect Dawn City’s army, and the fortress prepares for battle. Commander Brant has only 3,000 soldiers and expects reinforcements to take eight hours to arrive.
• Brant orders the defense to kill the invaders, while William leads the attack personally. William charges the gate and cracks it with a Thunder Battle Aura-enhanced sword strike.
• As William rests against the gate, a huge armored figure begins charging toward it. Brant realizes with alarm that William’s true siege weapon is about to arrive.

2. Character Developments

• William demonstrates his ruthlessness, strategic foresight, and confidence. He accepts enormous costs—including sacrificing a Troll with Grandmaster Bloodline and damaging an Epic helmet—to seize the fortress quickly.
• His favorability Talent is shown to be powerful but imperfect. Loyalty can decline, and William recognizes that numerical favorability cannot fully capture human feelings or guarantee permanent allegiance.
• William becomes increasingly willing to abandon caution. He no longer worries about provoking Augustine or revealing his plans, believing speed is more important than secrecy.
• Alec functions as a practical intelligence adviser, outlining the fortress’s defensive advantages and helping establish the risks of the assault.
• Brant, commander of the Thirteenth Legion, is portrayed as competent but frustrated. He recognizes that the missing intelligence from Dawn City is suspicious, yet he is forced to defend the fortress without immediate support.
• Iron-Head Kid is introduced as a disposable but powerful siege weapon: a massive Troll whose physical strength may be enough to break the fortress gate, even at the cost of severe injury or death.
• Bloody Bonecrusher appears alongside the new Troll, reinforcing William’s use of exceptionally powerful enslaved combatants.

3. Significant Themes

• Control versus genuine loyalty: William’s Talent can influence favorability, but the chapter emphasizes that loyalty is unstable and cannot be reduced entirely to numbers.
• War as calculation and sacrifice: William treats soldiers, equipment, and even powerful allies as resources to be spent for strategic objectives.
• Speed and initiative: Because Augustine and the Steel Duchy are preparing to slay a dragon, William must attack before they can consolidate their plans or reinforce the fortress.
• Information warfare and deception: The purge removes enemy spies, hides the fate of the Glory Legion’s infiltrators, and prevents the Steel Duchy from receiving accurate reports.
• Power disparity: Dawn City’s soldiers are personally recruited and cultivated by William, while the Steel Duchy relies heavily on poorly informed spies, slaves, and conventional defenses.
• Audacity overcoming fortifications: Rather than slowly besieging the fortress, William uses an unexpected living battering ram and personally leads the assault.

4. Character Interactions

• William and Alec discuss the fortress’s defenses, with Alec warning that a direct assault will cause heavy losses. William counters by asking about the gate’s construction.
• William orders Bloody Bonecrusher and the newly enslaved Troll to join the army, then presents Iron-Head Kid’s planned attack to the assembled commanders and soldiers.
• Brant surveys the battlefield and debates the fortress’s lack of intelligence, realizing that the absence of messages from the spies is deeply suspicious.
• Brant’s troops shout threats from the walls, while William’s army advances in disciplined formation.
• William attacks the gate first, demonstrating his strength and creating a crack. Brant mocks the limited number of strikes William can make, only to see the enormous Iron-Head Kid begin its charge.

Chapter Summary: “City Pull”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The assault on the Steel Duchy’s Military Fortress begins with William’s forces attacking the fortified gate.
• The fortress’s archers and Heavy Crossbow Bolts initially attempt to stop the berserk Troll, Iron-Head Kid. Several of William’s commanders—Lotner, Alec, Eric, and Christian—shield the Troll from the bolts, suffering serious injuries.
• Iron-Head Kid smashes through the reinforced gate, though he collapses afterward from the exertion.
• William immediately enters the fortress and begins cutting through the defenders. He kills several soldiers with his fists, Thunder Longsword, and Soul Shockwave, terrifying the Steel Duchy’s troops.
• Three thousand heavily armored Elven and Half-Elven Shield Warriors advance with siege ladders, while another Troll continues widening the breach with a massive spiked club.
• High-level Elf captains scale the walls and massacre the defenders, making the fortress’s defeat inevitable.
• Brant, the fortress commander, considers retreat and burning the warehouses. However, he kills the subordinate who suggests escape, publicly denounces the Steel Duchy, and attempts to surrender to William.
• William rejects Brant’s betrayal, kills him brutally with Sword Qi and his Venomous Shortsword, and orders the remaining soldiers to identify the Heavy Crossbow operators.
• William executes those operators but spares the other soldiers, ordering them to mine ore. The Steel Duchy’s fortress officially falls under Dawn City’s control.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates overwhelming personal strength and ruthless battlefield leadership. He fights directly rather than from a distance, behaving more like a berserker than a conventional Ranger.
• Iron-Head Kid proves capable of destroying the fortress gate, though the effort leaves him unconscious or severely exhausted.
• Lotner, Alec, Eric, and Christian show exceptional loyalty by using their bodies and shields to protect the Troll from the crossbow barrage. Lotner is badly injured but remains focused on the assault.
• Brant reveals himself to be cowardly and opportunistic. He abandons the Steel Duchy only after realizing defeat is unavoidable, but his attempted surrender fails because William distrusts traitors.
• The Elven and Half-Elven soldiers are portrayed as elite, heavily equipped troops whose superior armor, bloodlines, and combat abilities overwhelm the human defenders.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming military superiority: Dawn City’s elite Elven and Half-Elven forces make the fortress’s defenses nearly irrelevant.
• The danger of underestimating old powers: The Steel Duchy has forgotten how formidable Elves once were, leading to catastrophic miscalculation.
• Loyalty versus betrayal: William rewards surrendering soldiers but executes Brant because Brant betrayed his own side only when defeat became certain.
• Ruthless pragmatism: William combines mercy, intimidation, and execution to secure control of the fortress quickly.
• Appearance versus protection: William mocks soldiers who neglect helmets and neck guards for style, emphasizing the importance of practical battlefield equipment.
• The collapse of human dominance: The human defenders are shocked by the Elves’ strength, suggesting that the old balance of power is returning.

Character Interactions

• Brant commands his archers and crossbowmen but becomes increasingly helpless as William’s forces breach the fortress.
• William fights directly against the fortress soldiers, causing panic among them through his brutal close-combat techniques.
• Brant publicly kneels before William and offers his allegiance, but William responds by killing him rather than accepting his submission.
• The surviving soldiers surrender after seeing Brant’s death and are forced into labor rather than executed.
• William’s commanders and soldiers cooperate closely during the assault, protecting the Trolls and enabling the rapid capture of the fortress.

Chapter Summary: “Marching Out Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William successfully captures the Steel Duchy’s military fortress with overwhelming momentum and minimal losses. The battle is classified as an A-Plus mission, earning him 95,000 EXP and a Military Fortress Battle Instance Crystal.
• William realizes the crystal can create a popular war-style player instance, likely more profitable and attractive than Mist Valley because of its high equipment drop rate.
• He uses the experience reward to advance to Level 56.
• The supposedly defeated Troll, “Iron-Head Kid,” survives despite severe injuries and a crushed Epic-Class helmet. William orders Nock to have him rescued and treated, intending to use him again rather than waste a potentially valuable asset.
• Lotner reports the fortress’s enormous stockpile: over 60,000 slaves, 600,000 pounds of grain, thousands of armor sets, 100,000 arrows, huge quantities of refined metal and stone, and numerous heavy siege weapons, including thirty unassembled trebuchets.
• William realizes the Steel Duchy had prepared not only to defend the fortress but also to launch an offensive against Dawn City. He credits his Insight ability, which exposed and eliminated enemy spies, with preventing a much worse outcome.
• The army’s casualties are remarkably low: 117 dead and 389 lightly wounded, all deaths caused by heavy ballista bolts. William acknowledges that without their advantages and the protection of their elite fighters, losses could have been several times greater.
• William gathers 1,500 elite officers and high-level combatants from the three legions to form a decapitation force.
• He divides his forces for multiple strategic objectives:
  • Legolas and Albert lead 1,500 elites and William’s personal guards toward East Sea Snow Mountain.
  • Eric and Alec accompany William on the same mission.
  • Lotner leads 4,000 troops toward the Southern Sea port to launch a surprise coastal attack.
  • Christian and the Fearless Legion remain behind to defend the captured fortress.
• The chapter ends with the army preparing to move immediately, while William humorously wonders whether the name “Legolas” was borrowed from someone else’s copyright.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates growing strategic confidence, balancing conquest, resource management, defense, and future offensives. He remains cautious about casualties because his elven forces are difficult to replace.
• He also shows practical ruthlessness and foresight by preserving Iron-Head Kid for future use rather than killing him.
• Iron-Head Kid proves unexpectedly durable, surviving an attack that destroyed his Epic-Class helmet and left him heavily debuffed.
• Lotner acts as an efficient logistical officer, reporting both the army’s losses and the fortress’s valuable resources. He is entrusted with a major independent operation.
• Legolas, Albert, Eric, Alec, and Christian are elevated into important command roles as William relies increasingly on elite subordinates and specialized forces.

Significant Themes

• The cost and economics of war: Victory is measured not only by conquest but also by casualties, captured supplies, equipment, slaves, and strategic resources.
• Strategic mobility and surprise: William divides his forces to attack multiple locations, using the fortress as a base while threatening the Steel Duchy from several directions.
• The value of elite forces: Because William’s troops are few but powerful, protecting high-level soldiers is essential; every casualty represents a major loss.
• War as a game system: The chapter blends military conflict with game mechanics, including mission ratings, EXP, instance crystals, loot drops, NPCs, and player participation.
• Foreshadowing and escalation: The captured siege weapons reveal that the Steel Duchy had greater ambitions, while the planned expedition to East Sea Snow Mountain hints at clashes with elite legions and possibly dragons.

Character Interactions

• William and Nock discuss Iron-Head Kid’s survival, leading William to order his rescue and treatment.
• Lotner reports the fortress’s resources and casualties to William, prompting William to assess the cost of victory and issue new commands.
• William addresses the senior officers directly, assigning each commander a role in the next phase of the campaign.
• The commanders respond in unison, demonstrating their loyalty and military discipline.
• William’s internal jokes about game mechanics and the name “Legolas” provide comic relief amid the serious military planning.

Chapter 108 Summary — “Seeing Makulide Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William’s forces continue marching toward the East Sea Snow Mountain, a massive dormant volcano believed to be the destination of the Steel Duchy’s army.
• William deduces that Augustine’s real objective is to slay the Fire Dragon living in the mountain. His army’s mission is therefore to disrupt the Dragon-Slaying War rather than immediately pursue a conventional battle.
• William travels with several powerful subordinates, including:
  • Albert, the level 53 Deputy Commander of the Moonlight Legion, a Flame Warrior and Blacksmith.
  • Legolas, the level 55 Deputy Commander of the Night Legion and a powerful Dark Ranger.
  • Bloody Bonecrusher, a Grandmaster-level Troll.
  • Two thousand elite soldiers, with Alec scouting ahead.
• William jokingly compares his group to The Lord of the Rings Fellowship because it includes an Elven Prince, a Dwarf Prince-like figure, and himself, while also noting that their mission concerns dragon slaying rather than destroying the One Ring.
• Meanwhile, Augustine’s army has been traveling for three days without properly resting. He refuses to turn back because doing so would force his weakened troops into a direct confrontation with the advancing Dawn Legion.
• Augustine hopes that the exhausting journey will reduce the Dawn Legion’s momentum. If he succeeds in killing the dragon, he intends to use the dragon’s corpse and the Steel Duchy’s reinforcements to retake the Military Fortress and eventually threaten Dawn City.
• Augustine deliberately chooses difficult mountain paths to avoid the dragon’s clans and conserve his soldiers for the main objective.
• During a nighttime rest, Augustine secretly meets Makulide, the Black Warlock responsible for the Demon Cavern. The two renew their old alliance and discuss their plan to slay the Fire Dragon.
• Their agreement is that Makulide will receive the dragon’s soul, while Augustine and the Steel Duchy will claim its corpse. The chapter ends with the pair disappearing into the forest to discuss their sinister plans further.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates strategic insight by correctly identifying the Steel Duchy’s goal from limited information. He remains confident because of the strength of his forces.
• Albert is portrayed as a comically muscular Elf whose passion for blacksmithing and physical training borders on obsession. He misunderstands William’s teasing as a suggestion that he abandon blacksmithing and immediately resumes exercising with Bloody Bonecrusher’s weapon.
• Legolas is established as an exceptionally powerful archer who relies primarily on ranged attacks rather than his Wind Element Mage abilities. His Dark Ranger class gives him numerous devastating archery techniques.
• Augustine shows caution and strategic patience. Rather than risk a premature battle, he accepts the strain of forced marching in order to preserve his army’s fighting strength and complete the dragon-slaying mission.
• Makulide reappears as a dangerous and calculating former ally. His interest in the dragon’s soul reveals the value he places on magical power and suggests that he may have ulterior motives beyond the agreed arrangement.

Significant Themes

• Strategic warfare and endurance: Both sides are racing toward the same objective, while exhaustion, terrain, and momentum may determine the outcome.
• Unstable alliances: Augustine and Makulide cooperate because their goals temporarily align, but the unequal value of a dragon’s soul and corpse creates room for betrayal.
• Power and ambition: The dragon’s remains represent enormous military and magical value, motivating multiple factions to risk a major conflict.
• Humor amid danger: William’s Lord of the Rings comparisons and Albert’s exaggerated physique provide comic relief against the serious backdrop of war and conspiracy.
• Preparation before confrontation: The chapter focuses on positioning, scouting, secret agreements, and strategic movement rather than open battle.

Character Interactions

• William teases Albert about relying more on intelligence than muscle, while Albert responds by reaffirming his devotion to blacksmithing and physical strength.
• William explains his theory about the Steel Duchy’s dragon-slaying objective to Legolas and Albert, reinforcing his role as their strategic leader.
• Albert casually takes Bloody Bonecrusher’s spiked club for exercise, forcing the Troll to tolerate the inconvenience because of their hierarchy.
• William and Legolas share a brief exchange about the likely purpose of the Steel Duchy’s expedition.
• Augustine and Makulide reunite after five years and confirm their long-standing agreement: Makulide claims the Fire Dragon’s soul, while Augustine’s side takes its body. Their secretive conversation hints at further schemes.

Chapter Summary: Invincible

Key Plot Points and Events

• Augustine leaves his meeting with the Black Warlock Makulide troubled after learning that the Dragon-Slaying Magic Formation requires living sacrifices. He refuses to casually sacrifice his own soldiers, whom he considers his responsibility.
• Augustine decides that Dragon Slaying can wait if necessary. His main priority is preserving his forces and taking advantage of the Blackrock Duchy’s current disorder to occupy Dawn City.
• As an alternative to sacrificing his soldiers, Augustine plans to lure members of the Fire Dragon Clan into the formation and use them as sacrifices. Makulide’s soundproofing formation around the dragon cave should prevent the sleeping dragon from awakening unless the mountain is severely disturbed.
• Augustine believes he has roughly one more day to prepare.
• William and an elite force of 2,000 catch up to the Steel Duchy’s trail. They find abundant signs of the army’s passage but no scouts or deliberate traps, suggesting that Augustine is not taking William seriously.
• William reflects that Augustine is still a proud young ruler who has not yet experienced a devastating defeat. Unlike the more calculating version of Augustine from William’s previous life, he has not yet developed the same strategic caution.
• William also recognizes that Augustine has never fought the Elf Legion and, like many human rulers, likely underestimates the Elves’ true military strength because human historians have minimized their achievements.
• Meanwhile, Lotner leads 4,500 troops on thirteen ships toward the East Sea Snow Mountain. The fleet is not hiding because the vessels are still inferior fishing-ship designs and cannot safely travel far into the sea.
• Lotner realizes that William’s expensive Epic Warship is being built specifically with Dragon Slaying in mind. The ship is nearly complete, but it lacks a genuine Dragon Bone.
• William has invested enormous resources into the vessel, spending nearly 80,000 Gold Coins and using large quantities of rare materials. If fitted with an actual Dragon Bone, the ship could become virtually invincible in the surrounding waters.

Character Developments

• Augustine: Demonstrates responsibility toward his troops by rejecting unnecessary human sacrifice, but remains arrogant and overconfident. His strategic priorities are practical—preserving his army and seizing Dawn City—but his confidence causes him to neglect basic precautions such as scouting.
• William: Shows patience and caution while tracking Augustine. He understands that Augustine’s current personality and abilities differ from the wiser, more experienced version remembered from the future. William also continues preparing for a major Dragon-Slaying opportunity.
• Lotner: Gains a deeper appreciation of William’s long-term planning and ambition. His excitement grows as he realizes the Epic Warship could become a legendary weapon if completed with Dragon Bone.
• Makulide: Is portrayed as manipulative and willing to accept heavy casualties. His plan appears to involve sacrificing soldiers or dragons to activate the lethal formation.

Significant Themes

• The cost of ambition: Dragon Slaying promises immense glory and power, but requires morally troubling sacrifices and enormous material resources.
• Leadership and responsibility: Augustine distinguishes between necessary military objectives and reckless losses, showing that a commander must protect the people under his authority.
• Pride versus experience: Augustine’s confidence comes from past success, but his lack of serious setbacks has prevented him from developing the caution and wisdom he will eventually possess.
• Historical misunderstanding: Humanity’s dominance in the current era has caused many nations to underestimate the Elves, whose former military power remains formidable.
• Long-term preparation: William’s expensive warship and carefully planned movements reveal that his current actions are part of a much larger strategy.

Character Interactions

• Augustine and Makulide: Their unseen conversation leaves Augustine distrustful and uncomfortable. Augustine objects to Makulide’s willingness to sacrifice soldiers, while still considering a plan that uses dragons as sacrifices.
• William and Augustine: They do not meet directly, but William is pursuing Augustine and evaluating his weaknesses. William recognizes that Augustine’s current arrogance may give him a strategic advantage.
• William and Lotner: Through Lotner’s understanding of the warship’s construction, the chapter emphasizes William’s ambitious Dragon-Slaying plan and the trust placed in Lotner as his executive officer.
• Augustine and his soldiers: Augustine views the troops under his command as his responsibility rather than disposable assets, revealing a protective side beneath his arrogance.

Summary of “A Note on Going Premium”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author announces that the novel will enter its paid phase after noon the following day, following 260,000 free words.
• He explains the risks of “going premium”: many authors lose readers and become commercial failures once their work requires subscriptions.
• After nearly five years of writing, roughly twelve books, and work across four websites, he considers himself a long-standing “flop,” averaging around 1,000 subscriptions.
• The author describes his practical deadline: if this book does not succeed, he will stop writing and concentrate on preparing for the civil service examination later that month.
• He outlines his publishing plan: five chapters on the first premium day, more than thirty chapters during the following week, and at least two stable updates per day afterward.
• He promises to finish the book but admits uncertainty about whether it will be his final novel or the beginning of a successful new phase.
• The chapter ends with a direct appeal for readers to subscribe.

Character Development

• The narrator presents himself as an aging, struggling online novelist nearing thirty, burdened by financial uncertainty and family expectations.
• He remains determined and somewhat optimistic despite repeated failures, health problems such as cervical spondylosis, and years without major progress.
• His attitude shifts between confidence in his writing dream and resignation that he may need to abandon it for a stable career.
• He shows self-awareness, accepting responsibility for his lack of success rather than blaming readers, platforms, or circumstances.
• He continues to value his readers and treats their support as important to whether he can continue writing.

Significant Themes

• Dreams versus reality: Writing allows the narrator and his protagonists to live imagined lives, but the author himself must confront work, money, marriage, insurance, and retirement.
• Persistence and endurance: The narrator emphasizes surviving years of failure and continuing to improve through practice.
• Financial and social insecurity: Online writing provides no standard employment benefits, pension, or insurance, making it difficult to meet family and societal expectations.
• Family pressure and adulthood: As he approaches thirty, he feels obligated to establish a career and support a future family.
• The uncertain value of creative work: The chapter questions whether passion can provide a sustainable life, while still defending the importance of pursuing it.
• Reader-author dependence: The author’s ability to continue is closely tied to subscriptions and reader support.

Character Interactions

• The narrator describes conversations with his family, repeatedly promising that his writing will eventually allow him to become financially independent.
• His family encourages him to prepare for the civil service exam, reflecting concern about his unstable career.
• He speaks directly to his readers, asking them to bookmark, subscribe, and support the book through its transition to paid content.
• He also addresses fellow or aspiring authors, advising them to endure years of practice before giving up.

Chapter Summary: “Guaranteed Profit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At dawn, the prelude to the Dragon-Slaying War begins beneath East Sea Snow Mountain.
• Makulide deceives over 8,000 Orc and Gnoll warriors by claiming that their master, the Fire Dragon Kleostras, has awakened and summoned their chiefs. Because the clans fear disobeying their dragon master, they arrive fully armed but unprepared for battle.
• Augustine’s two elite human legions ambush the clans. Despite their equipment, the Orcs and Gnolls are overwhelmed and suffer a one-sided massacre. Survivors flee into the forest while corpses and wounded warriors are taken to the dragon’s lair.
• Augustine’s forces climb to the dragon’s cave, a massive lava cavern heated by Kleostras’s absorption of the mountain’s fire energy. The Fire Dragon’s presence has kept the extinct volcano dormant.
• Makulide explains that his barrier blocks sound but not the smell of blood, so the bodies must be placed on an altar quickly. He intends to use their flesh, blood, and souls to activate a dark magic array.
• Dragon Clans begin gathering at the mountain’s base, threatening to reinforce the battle. Augustine orders his soldiers to prepare to defend the cave entrance and hold back Kleostras if the ritual awakens him.
• Makulide activates the altar with his staff. Black tentacles emerge and consume the sacrifices, immediately causing a tremendous disturbance within the cave as the Fire Dragon begins to awaken.
• Augustine organizes shield warriors, archers, and heavy crossbow users. He negotiates with a group of elite Bounty Hunters, led by Adolf and a scarred Half-Elf, who refuse to act as expendable troops.
• To reassure and pressure them, Augustine reveals his own strength and agrees to send his Decapitation Squad into battle alongside them. His Dragon-Slaying Saber and aura reveal that he is already a High-Class Professional.
• Meanwhile, William and 129 highly skilled Elves secretly climb the mountain and position themselves above the dragon’s lair. William intends to steal the killing blow from the human forces, seeking the Dragon Slayer title, legendary reputation, and possible talent rewards.

Character Developments

• Augustine demonstrates strategic ruthlessness by sacrificing enemy clans to awaken Kleostras and using their remains to power the ritual. Though cautious about the dragon, he remains commanding and decisive. His reveal as a High-Class Professional establishes him as a far more formidable warrior than previously assumed.
• Makulide is shown to be calculating, fearless, and deeply committed to the ritual. He manipulates Augustine while recognizing that both of them depend on the other’s success. His dark magic confirms his dangerous role in the conspiracy.
• William continues to act opportunistically and strategically. Rather than commit his entire force to the main battle, he places himself in a hidden position where he can attempt to claim the dragon’s final blow with minimal risk.
• Adolf and the Bounty Hunters are portrayed as independent and self-interested. They agree to participate only if they are not treated as cannon fodder, emphasizing their experience and survival instincts.
• Kleostras, though not yet fully seen, is established as an immensely powerful Fire Dragon whose mere awakening terrifies the assembled forces.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and obedience: The Orcs and Gnolls follow Makulide’s false summons because fear of their dragon master overrides their suspicion.
• Sacrifice for power: The ritual uses the bodies and souls of the clans as fuel, highlighting the brutality of the plan and the willingness of the conspirators to treat lives as resources.
• Strategic opportunism: Augustine, the Bounty Hunters, and William all seek to maximize their rewards while minimizing personal risk.
• Power concealed and revealed: Augustine’s true strength is exposed only when necessary, while William’s hidden Elven force remains undetected.
• Guaranteed profit and calculated risk: William views the situation as advantageous even if he fails; attempting to steal the kill costs him little but could grant major rewards.

Character Interactions

• Makulide deceives the Orc and Gnoll leaders, exploiting their fear and loyalty to Kleostras.
• Augustine and Makulide exchange threats while recognizing that their survival depends on cooperating during the ritual.
• Augustine confronts the Bounty Hunters’ refusal to serve as expendable troops but ultimately persuades them by committing his Decapitation Squad as support.
• William does not directly interact with the other forces, instead observing from concealment and waiting for the ideal moment to intervene.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The awakening of Kleostras, the Fire Dragon, coincides with a massive assault by the Dragon’s clans—Orcs, Gnolls, Goblins, Demons, and other creatures—against the Steel Duchy’s Third Legion.
• The Third Legion, commanded by Aaron, forms a defensive position at the Dragon cave entrance. Its Shield Warriors, swordsmen, Rangers, ballistae, and archers use the mountain’s terrain and disciplined formations to repel the initial attacks.
• Heavy ballista bolts and volleys of arrows inflict casualties and, more importantly, slow the clans’ momentum. Battle Aura attacks send charging enemies tumbling down the mountain, turning the snow and rocks red with blood.
• Three powerful Trolls break through two layers of the legion’s defenses, creating dangerous openings for the clan army. Aaron orders the breaches sealed, and more than a hundred elite swordsmen counterattack, cutting down the invading forces and restoring the line.
• The legion faces a greater threat when powerful Leader-Class enemies and three Dragon Speakers enter the formation. The Dragon Speakers possess Dragonkind bloodlines, hidden scales, immense durability, and the ability to breathe devastating magical fire.
• Their fire attacks burn or kill dozens of soldiers and destabilize the Third Legion’s defensive formation. Aaron considers entering the battle but remains at his post to preserve morale and command the army.
• The cave entrance suddenly begins collapsing as Kleostras crashes through it. The wounded Fire Dragon rolls toward the legion, crushing hundreds of soldiers who cannot escape.
• At this critical moment, William leaps into the battlefield from above, dramatically revealing himself as the Dragon Slayer.

Character Developments

• Aaron is established as a highly disciplined and capable commander. He remains calm under extreme pressure, directs the legion’s counterattacks effectively, and demonstrates genuine concern for his soldiers, treating them like sons. His willingness to sacrifice himself conflicts with his responsibility to maintain command.
• The Third Legion is shown to be exceptionally well-trained and coordinated. Its strength comes from discipline, formation tactics, specialized troop roles, powerful equipment, and effective leadership rather than individual strength alone.
• The Dragon Speakers emerge as terrifying opponents. Their Dragonkind bloodlines grant them immense physical resistance, magical power, and flame-based attacks, making them capable of tearing through the legion’s defenses.
• William continues to act cautiously from concealment until the decisive moment. After observing the battle and recognizing the legion’s crisis, he finally enters openly as the Dragon Slayer.
• Kleostras is revealed to be severely injured but still powerful enough to devastate the battlefield simply by breaking out of the cave.

Significant Themes

• Discipline versus overwhelming force: The Third Legion repeatedly holds back a vastly larger army through training, formation tactics, and coordinated weapons.
• The cost of war: Even elite soldiers suffer horrifying losses when faced with Trolls, Dragon Speakers, and the wounded Dragon.
• Leadership and responsibility: Aaron must choose between personally fighting and remaining in command, highlighting the burden of leadership.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Aaron’s concern for his men emphasizes the bond between soldiers and commander amid a battle shaped by political and military objectives.
• Heroic timing: William’s entrance at the moment of greatest danger presents him as a potential turning point in the conflict.

Character Interactions

• Aaron commands the Shield Warriors and swordsmen, personally directing the defense and ordering breaches to be sealed.
• His personal guard attempts to stop him from entering the fight, reminding him that his role as commander-in-chief is essential to maintaining morale.
• The Dragon Speakers directly challenge the legion’s formation, using their flames to inflict severe casualties and expose the limits of conventional defenses.
• William observes the Third Legion from concealment before making his dramatic appearance, positioning himself as the likely counter to both the Dragon and the Dragon Speakers.

Chapter Summary: “Dragon Slaying (3, Please Subscribe)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William delivers the final blow against the severely wounded Fire Dragon Kleostras. Using Battle Aura Slash, Light of Dawn, and his Epic Thunder Sword’s Thunderstorm effect, he destroys the dragon’s skull in a single devastating strike.
• The attack combines thunder, critical-hit, and headshot damage, dealing 27,340 damage and killing Kleostras before thousands of witnesses.
• William immediately claims credit for the kill, declaring, “This Dragon is mine.” He then uses a spatial treasure to store the dragon’s corpse, enraging the Dragon Clan and the Dragon-Slaying Legion.
• With Kleostras dead, the Dragon Clan abandons the battlefield, leaving behind their fallen comrades. The remaining Dragon-Slaying Legion and Steel Duchy forces surround William, believing he is trapped.
• William reveals that the supposedly small force pursuing him is actually part of a larger encirclement. Reinforcements attack from the east and south, while over a hundred elite Elves emerge from the cave to join him.
• Despite being surrounded, Augustine orders an attack on William, unwilling to let another faction benefit from killing him. William clashes directly with Augustine but tries to limit casualties among his own forces.
• William tricks the attackers by claiming to possess a Magic Cannon Scroll. Makulide and Augustine panic and retreat, only to discover that the threat was a bluff.
• The chapter ends with a terrifying witch appearing behind Augustine and licking his face with a maggot-covered tongue, causing him to scream in horror.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates overwhelming combat power, tactical confidence, and shameless opportunism. He steals the glory for the dragon kill and takes the corpse for himself, reinforcing his reputation as a boss-stealing “solo Player.”
• He also shows strategic skill by arranging a counter-encirclement and using psychological warfare rather than relying solely on brute strength.
• Augustine becomes increasingly furious and desperate. Although he recognizes the danger of fighting William, his pride and unwillingness to surrender the opportunity drive him to attack.
• Makulide is portrayed as highly cautious and perceptive; he immediately flees when he hears about the supposed Magic Cannon Scroll.
• The Dragon Clan loses its resolve after Kleostras dies. Without their master, even the Dragon Speakers retreat rather than continue fighting.
• The wounded members of the Dragon-Slaying Legion resent William deeply because his final strike erases their contribution from public memory.

Significant Themes

• Glory and recognition: The chapter emphasizes that history remembers the person who lands the final blow, not those who did the difficult work beforehand.
• Opportunism and “kill stealing”: William openly embraces his reputation for taking bosses from weakened enemies, treating the battlefield as a contest of timing and audacity.
• Psychological warfare: William’s confidence, bluffing, and control of the battlefield cause stronger forces to panic and hesitate.
• Power and reputation: Killing Kleostras publicly transforms William into the acknowledged Dragon Slayer, while also making him the target of nearly every surviving faction.
• Humor amid danger: Despite the deadly battle, William’s provocative remarks, Augustine’s confusion, and the witch’s grotesque prank create a strong comedic tone.

Character Interactions

• William provokes Augustine and the Dragon-Slaying Legion by claiming the dragon as his own and removing its corpse.
• Augustine confronts William, accusing him of believing he can escape, while William reverses the threat by declaring that Augustine’s forces are the ones surrounded.
• William and Augustine exchange blows in a direct duel, each injuring the other.
• Makulide’s immediate retreat after hearing about the Magic Cannon Scroll influences Augustine to withdraw as well.
• The final interaction is between the terrifying witch and Augustine, whose shocked scream provides the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Made a Fortune (4, Please Subscribe)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Augustine is incapacitated and humiliated when a rotting witch clings to his back, licking his face and crawling with maggots. His Battle Aura cannot affect her, and her curse suppresses his abilities.
• With the Dragon gone and the bounty hunters realizing that continued fighting is dangerous and no longer profitable, they begin fleeing. Nightmare Warrior Adolf escapes first, demonstrating his usual survival instinct and lack of greed.
• The Bounty Hunters’ retreat causes the Steel Legion’s morale to collapse. Augustine orders a retreat west and tells Aaron and the Third Legion to remain behind as a rear guard.
• Aaron attempts to obey, but William loudly urges the Third Legion to flee, accusing Augustine of sacrificing them. The soldiers follow William’s lead, abandoning the defensive line and turning the retreat into a rout.
• Augustine and the Black Warlock Makulide escape, while William’s forces capture several slower Steel Legion soldiers. One battalion commander surrenders immediately, and his troops discard their equipment rather than resist.
• After Lotner confirms that William is unharmed, William orders more than five thousand troops to pursue the defeated Steel Legion for one hour. He then leaves his guards to protect the cave entrance and enters the Fire Dragon’s lair.
• William races through the increasingly dangerous cave, crossing a boiling magma river by jumping across temporary rocks. His previous experience with similar dragon dungeons allows him to navigate the hazards efficiently.
• He reaches the Fire Dragon’s treasure vault and is stunned by the enormous mountain of gold, gems, treasure chests, and other valuables.

Character Developments

• Augustine shifts from a powerful commander to a terrified, humiliated fugitive. His inability to remove the witch’s curse leaves him desperate and vulnerable.
• William demonstrates strong battlefield control and psychological tactics. By encouraging the Third Legion to abandon its position, he accelerates the enemy’s collapse. He also shows his opportunistic nature by pursuing the retreating army while personally rushing to seize the Dragon’s treasure.
• Aaron is placed in an impossible position. Although he understands that someone must stay behind to cover the retreat, he is ultimately forced to flee when the soldiers refuse to sacrifice themselves for Augustine.
• Adolf reinforces his reputation as a cautious survivor. He avoids unnecessary danger and escapes before the battle becomes hopeless.
• Lotner acts as a loyal subordinate, prioritizing William’s safety and expressing relief when he sees that William survived.
• Makulide’s escape frustrates William, emphasizing that the Black Warlock remains a recurring enemy.

Significant Themes

• Collapse of loyalty and morale: Once the bounty hunters abandon the fight, the Steel Legion’s soldiers lose confidence and quickly turn against their commanders.
• Self-preservation versus duty: Adolf survives because he is not greedy, while Aaron and the Third Legion reject Augustine’s attempt to use them as expendable rear guards.
• Psychological warfare: William wins not only through force but through manipulation, using public accusations to encourage the enemy’s disobedience and accelerate their retreat.
• Fortune and opportunism: William treats the battlefield and the Dragon’s lair as opportunities for profit, pursuing both enemy prisoners and treasure.
• Experience from the past: William’s knowledge of dragon dungeons and magma hazards gives him a major advantage, allowing him to move through dangers that would overwhelm others.
• The reversal of power: Augustine, once dominant, ends the chapter fleeing in fear, while William stands poised to claim the Dragon’s immense wealth.

Character Interactions

• Augustine’s soldiers react with fear and disgust to the cursed witch on his back, while Augustine desperately questions what has happened to him.
• Augustine orders Aaron to sacrifice the Third Legion so the rest of the army can retreat, creating resentment and revealing the commanders’ willingness to abandon their troops.
• William openly urges the Third Legion to run, directly undermining Augustine and turning the soldiers against him.
• Aaron recognizes William as the source of the rebellion and curses him, but cannot restore order.
• William and Lotner briefly reunite, with Lotner relieved by William’s survival before William gives new orders.
• William’s troops capture a group of exhausted Steel Legion soldiers, who surrender rather than face death.
• William reflects on Makulide’s escape but chooses treasure hunting and securing the cave over pursuing him.

Chapter 115: “Harvest (5, Please Subscribe)” — Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• William finishes looting the defeated Legendary Fire Dragon Kleostras’s treasure hoard, taking every coin and valuable item with his Space Ring.
• He quickly leaves the Dragon’s Nest before the Dragon Clan can return and reunites with more than a dozen ships waiting along the coast.
• The system confirms that William dealt 27,340 damage and contributed 9% of the total damage in the Dragon’s defeat. He receives:
  • 78,300 experience points
  • The Novice Dragon Slayer title
  • One point of Legendary Renown in the Southeastern Region
  • The talent

Wrath of the Thunder God

• His Dragon Slayer achievement is recorded as having been witnessed by tens of thousands, ensuring that his fame will spread throughout the region.
• William’s Dawn Legion returns from the surrounding forest with numerous captives. He orders them aboard the ships, intending to send them to the mines.
• To celebrate the victory, William announces a grand Dragon-Slaying banquet.
• At the chapter’s end, William produces the Dragon’s Nest Dungeon Crystal, suggesting he has gained control of or access to the dungeon.

Character Developments

• William displays his usual greed and efficiency, stripping the Dragon’s hoard completely while remaining cautious about the Dragon Clan’s possible return.
• His confidence and ambition grow as he recognizes the value of his new title and regional renown. He expects future Players to admire or worship him once the game enters Open Beta.
• Despite gaining a powerful new talent, William remains skeptical of abilities based on chance. He prefers reliable techniques such as guaranteed critical strikes and lethal headshots.
• He considers using Wrath of the Thunder God only in desperate situations against enemies whose defenses he cannot penetrate, even contemplating whether it could help him kill the Little Princess’s Unicorn.
• William’s authority over the Dawn Legion is reinforced when the soldiers enthusiastically respond to his orders and celebrate his status as a Dragon Slayer.

Significant Themes

• Power and reputation: Slaying a Legendary Dragon greatly increases William’s fame, influence, and potential to attract powerful allies.
• Wealth and exploitation: The Dragon’s hoard and captured enemies are treated as resources, highlighting William’s pragmatic and ruthless approach to conquest.
• Reliability versus risk: William’s dislike of the talent’s low activation chance reflects his preference for dependable strength over gambling on a powerful but uncertain attack.
• The game-world’s evolving reality: System notifications, titles, renown, and future Player reactions continue to blur the line between game mechanics and real political influence.
• Victory and spectacle: The planned banquet transforms a military success into a public celebration that strengthens morale and William’s legend.

Character Interactions

• William commands the Dawn Legion to board the ships with their captives and prepare for the Dragon-Slaying banquet.
• The soldiers respond with excitement and loyalty, viewing William’s Dragon Slayer title as a major honor for Dawn City.
• William mentally contrasts himself with future Players, imagining their awe when they discover his title.
• He also considers a possible future confrontation with the Little Princess’s Unicorn, though no direct interaction occurs in the chapter.

Chapter Summary: “Chosen Ones (6)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• William returns to Dawn City after successfully slaying a dragon, bringing back a massive hoard of gold, jewelry, gemstones, and rare metals.
• The treasure restores Dawn City’s depleted finances, leaving nearly 180,000 Gold Coins in the treasury.
• William orders Lotner and Odom to strengthen relations with nearby Winged Folk, half-elves, and New Blue Moon Town, while expanding trade and merchant-caravan activity.
• Dawn City’s population celebrates William’s victory with a huge banquet and widespread street festivities lasting through the night.
• His status changes dramatically: people who once merely feared or respected him now revere him, with some even worshipping him as a heroic or divine figure.
• With the game’s Version 1.0 Open Beta only twelve days away, William prepares for the return of the “Chosen Ones”—the Players who can revive after death.
• He orders the forging of 30,000 sets of ordinary armor and weapons and 20,000 sets of high-quality equipment to supply the incoming Players.
• William secretly explains the truth about the Chosen Ones to Odom, though he admits he does not know where they come from or exactly what they are.
• Odom is initially shocked and confused but accepts William’s warning that the immortal Chosen Ones should be used strategically rather than treated as an immediate threat.
• William travels south through the forest on Big Bear, receiving enthusiastic praise from the Commoners along the way.
• The chapter ends with William reaching the southern edge of the continent and arriving at the vast Fantasy Ocean, where he heads toward the enormous Shipyard.

Character Developments

• William: Gains enormous wealth and increased political and religious influence after becoming a Dragon Slayer. He demonstrates long-term planning by preparing Dawn City for the Players’ arrival and begins treating them as a resource that can be strategically controlled.
• Odom: Becomes increasingly loyal to William. Learning that William knew about the Chosen Ones in advance convinces him that William may be an emissary of heaven, causing his favorability to rise above 980. He also takes on the practical responsibility of producing equipment for the Players.
• Lotner: Continues functioning as a trusted administrator and helps oversee Dawn City’s finances and future development.
• Dawn City’s Commoners: Their feelings shift from fear and curiosity to intense loyalty, reverence, and even worship. William’s success inspires many young people to seek Talent, become Professionals, join the army, or pursue dangerous work at sea.
• Big Bear and the other Frenzied Giant Bears: The bears remain difficult for others to control but obey William completely. Big Bear has grown into a powerful level 31 Low-Class Magical Beast and serves as William’s mount.

Significant Themes

• Power and Reputation: William’s dragon-slaying feat transforms his public image, showing how heroic achievements can create political authority and even religious devotion.
• Leadership and Resource Management: The chapter emphasizes rebuilding Dawn City’s finances, expanding trade, and investing in military and economic infrastructure.
• Preparation for Change: The imminent return of the Players introduces a major coming upheaval. William’s advance knowledge gives him an advantage, but he must prepare society and resources before they arrive.
• Faith and Mythmaking: Odom and the Commoners begin interpreting William’s knowledge and accomplishments as evidence of divine favor, blurring the line between political leadership and religious worship.
• Human Ambition: Ordinary people, especially the younger generation, are inspired to improve their status by becoming Professionals and serving William.

Important Character Interactions

• William consults with Lotner and Odom about the newly acquired treasure and Dawn City’s economic future.
• He privately reveals the truth about the Chosen Ones to Odom, creating a mixture of disbelief, shock, and renewed devotion.
• Odom’s reaction shows how William’s secrets strengthen personal loyalty while also encouraging quasi-religious beliefs about him.
• A young fisherman tells his father that he wants to become a Professional and serve William. Their exchange reflects how deeply William’s reputation has influenced ordinary families.
• William’s interactions with Big Bear highlight the unusual loyalty and power of his magical beasts.

Chapter Summary: “Dragon Bone”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• William visits Dawn City’s enormous Shipyard, which is protected by 2,000 soldiers and supported by nearby garrisons.
• He inspects the nearly completed Dawnship, a massive three-deck, three-masted warship measuring 121 meters long and 32 meters wide.
• The Dawnship is constructed primarily from magically enhanced Black Ironwood and Mithril. It has:
  • Space for an entire Legion on short voyages or 1,200 people on long voyages
  • Ninety-nine Mana Crystals as an additional power source
  • An estimated speed of 180–260 nautical miles per hour
  • 108 gunports on each side, though they currently function only as arrow slits because Dawn City lacks artillery and Gunners
• William reflects on the threat posed by artillery in the wider world and is relieved that Dawn City is still developing during the game’s early stage.
• Shipyard master Andrew, a Grandmaster shipbuilder and level 56 Wood Element Mage, explains that the Dawnship’s exceptionally strong hull has exceeded what ordinary Dragon Bones can support. A stronger keel is needed.
• William reveals the corpse of a Fire Dragon he killed at East Sea Snow Mountain.
• The shipbuilders are shocked and worshipful, celebrating William as a Dragon Slayer.
• Andrew proposes using the Dragon’s Bones to create a superior keel and transforming its wings into magical sails. William grants him the bones and wings but keeps the rest of the corpse’s valuable materials.
• Inspired and excited, Andrew immediately begins organizing the Dragon’s dissection and orders everyone to work.

2. Character Developments

• William is shown as a powerful and resourceful lord who has secured a major strategic asset for Dawn City. His casual revelation that he killed a Dragon highlights both his strength and his tendency to understate his achievements.
• He also demonstrates practical leadership by protecting the Dragon’s most valuable materials while trusting Andrew with the bones and wings.
• Andrew develops from a respected but concerned shipbuilder into an intensely enthusiastic researcher. The Dragon corpse reignites his passion and gives him the chance to create an unprecedented warship.
• The shipbuilders’ attitude toward William shifts from ordinary loyalty to open awe and reverence after learning that he slew a Dragon.

3. Significant Themes

• Technological and strategic advancement: The Dawnship represents Dawn City’s ambition to compete with stronger powers through innovation, even while lacking artillery and specialized classes such as Gunners.
• Resourcefulness and adaptation: William and Andrew use rare magical materials to overcome engineering limitations, turning Dragon remains into structural and navigational components.
• Power and prestige: A Dragon’s corpse is not merely a trophy; it symbolizes William’s growing authority and provides resources capable of transforming Dawn City’s military strength.
• Trust and cooperation: William’s confidence in Andrew allows the shipbuilder to pursue an ambitious design, while Andrew’s expertise is essential to realizing the Dawnship’s full potential.
• Wonder and ambition: The discovery of the Dragon excites the shipbuilders and inspires Andrew to push beyond conventional craftsmanship.

4. Character Interactions

• William meets Andrew inside the Shipyard and asks about the Dawnship’s progress.
• Andrew explains the ship’s structural problem and the need for a superior Dragon Bone keel.
• William dramatically reveals the Fire Dragon’s corpse, stunning Andrew and the other workers.
• Andrew examines the corpse and suggests multiple uses for its parts, including bones for the keel and wings for enchanted sails.
• William refuses to surrender the Dragon’s blood, crystal, and other valuable materials, but gives Andrew permission to use the bones and wings.
• William’s encouraging words—especially his declaration of trust—motivate Andrew, who immediately takes command of the workers and begins preparing the Dragon for disassembly.

Chapter Summary: “Dragon Crystal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Dawnship, whose keel was made from the sacrificed bones of the Little Fire Dragon, is revealed to have limitless potential and is already comparable to an Epic-Class warship. However, it lacks offensive power because it has no Magic Cannons or artillery.
• William hopes to use the ship to explore the southern sea and eventually develop maritime travel and trade. He recognizes the Ocean of the Gods as a vast region filled with islands, magical creatures, underwater civilizations, merfolk, Sea Dragons, and other valuable resources.
• While the Dawnship is being processed, William waits two days as Hunters skin the seventeen-meter Fire Dragon and remove its tendons and bones. He brings the preserved corpse back to Dawn City for later use.
• William returns Moxis’s enormous Space Ring, reluctantly giving up the ten-thousand-cubic-meter storage item. Moxis agrees to lend it again, but demands the Fire Dragon’s precious Dragon Crystal as payment.
• Though initially unwilling, William realizes he currently has no practical way to use the crystal and gives it to Moxis. The crystal’s immense heat, Mana, and radiance demonstrate its extraordinary value.
• In exchange, William asks Moxis to help him create a large-scale Dragon Blood bathing ritual for selected people. Moxis claims that, with the Dragon Crystal powering the Magic Formation, the success rate will be dramatically increased, potentially allowing participants to become Dragonbloods or even Dragon Speakers.
• William also commissions ten one-year Illusion Scrolls and three hundred ten-day Illusion Scrolls. He considers these scrolls strategically important for future conflicts.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates practical ambition and long-term planning. He is focused not only on improving Dawn City’s military power through the Dawnship, but also on developing the Ocean and strengthening his forces through Dragonblood transformations.
• He shows a willingness to sacrifice an immensely valuable treasure when it will produce greater strategic benefits, although he remains deeply reluctant to part with the Dragon Crystal.
• William becomes more aware of Moxis’s importance and decides that maintaining a strong relationship with him is essential, especially because Moxis possesses rare knowledge and magical abilities.
• Moxis is portrayed as eccentric, lazy, and seemingly obsessed with his cat, yet he is also highly capable and confident in his magical expertise. He knows how to use the Dragon Crystal to greatly improve Dragonblood rituals and bargains effectively with William.
• Andrew contributes pragmatically by organizing Hunters to process the Fire Dragon rather than attempting the difficult task alone.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and transformation: The Little Fire Dragon’s death gives the Dawnship enormous potential, while the adult Fire Dragon’s remains and crystal can be converted into ships, powers, weapons, and magical advantages.
• Strategic resource management: William must decide how best to use rare treasures. Although the Dragon Crystal is priceless, trading it for Moxis’s assistance may yield greater benefits than keeping it unused.
• Ambition and expansion: William’s interest in the southern ocean reflects Dawn City’s growing aspirations beyond its current territory.
• Knowledge as power: Moxis’s understanding of Dragon Crystals and Magic Formations is nearly as valuable as the crystal itself. William recognizes that hidden magical knowledge can determine future victories.
• Preparation for future conflict: The Dragonblood ritual and Illusion Scrolls are part of William’s broader effort to strengthen Dawn City before major battles.

Character Interactions

• William and Andrew discuss the Dawnship’s potential, with Andrew warning that a Legendary Warship is currently beyond Dawn City’s capabilities.
• William interacts with Moxis in a humorous but tense bargaining exchange over the Space Ring. Moxis teases him about the borrowing fee, while William objects strongly to paying with the Dragon Crystal.
• Moxis challenges William’s attachment to the crystal by pointing out that William currently lacks the means to use it effectively.
• After receiving the crystal, Moxis agrees to help William create the Dragon Blood Formation and produce the Illusion Scrolls. William leaves convinced that Moxis’s assistance—and preserving their relationship—will be crucial to Dawn City’s future.

Chapter Summary: “Dragonblood Ritual”

Key Plot Points and Events

• News spreads across Dawn City that William plans to create Dragonblood Warriors on a large scale. Humans and Half-Elves respond enthusiastically, while most elves show little interest because Dragonblood Transformation may cause visible scales and damage their appearance.
• William selects 300 candidates: 200 humans and 100 Half-Elves. They are young, loyal Warriors with weaker bloodlines, courage, and—most importantly—the fire attribute, which allows them to maximize the power of the Dragon Blood.
• The chapter explains that Dragonbloods and Dragon Speakers gain tremendous combat strength during Transformation, potentially allowing them to fight opponents several levels above them. However, they suffer a dangerous period of weakness afterward.
• Dawn City continues its dispute with the Steel Duchy over the captured Military Fortress. Neither side is willing to start a war yet due to the Steel Duchy’s weakened position and the hostility of the Blackrock Duchy.
• William renames the fortress Radiant Fortress, assigns Christian and the Fearless Legion to guard it, frees the 60,000 slaves who built it, and begins forming a new human Legion of 3,000 recruits.
• William assigns 100 of his Elven Royal Guards to train the new human soldiers. Their goal is to pass on the elves’ superior discipline, combat methods, equipment standards, and loyalty to William.
• Odom promotes the slogan “Learn from the Lord, Become a Hero,” encouraging commoners to imitate William’s courage, justice, and refusal to submit to the powerful or mistreat the weak.
• The Dragonblood Ritual is held publicly in Central Square before a huge crowd. Moxis reveals his extraordinary magical ability by creating a giant blue Magic Formation and merging six barrels of Dragon Blood with a Dragon Crystal.
• The blood forms a massive Fire Dragon, which then dives into the 300 selected Warriors. They are left covered in Dragon Blood, signaling the completion of the ritual.
• Old Bander, secretly observing the ritual, is stunned by Moxis’s power and retreats to report to Annie that William has somehow gained the support of an Archmage.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates strategic judgment by choosing candidates whose weaker bloodlines make Dragon Blood more transformative. He also expands Dawn City’s military power and uses the ritual as both a military project and a public spectacle.
• Moxis makes his first major public appearance, revealing that he is far more powerful and capable than most citizens believed. His magical control over Dragon Blood impresses even the Spatial Grand Mage, Old Bander.
• Old Bander becomes surprised and somewhat jealous that William sought Moxis’s assistance instead of his own. His reaction establishes Moxis as a potential rival or mystery in magical power.
• Christian is entrusted with command of Radiant Fortress, showing William’s continued confidence in him.
• Odom gains William’s approval through his effective propaganda and public praise of the Lord.
• The selected Warriors accept the danger of the ritual, showing loyalty, courage, and willingness to risk death for greater strength.

Significant Themes

• Power versus appearance: Elves prioritize beauty over strength, while William values practical military power and willingness to sacrifice.
• Sacrifice and transformation: Becoming a Dragonblood requires danger and possible physical mutation, emphasizing that great strength comes at a cost.
• Military modernization: William seeks to improve human Legions by combining disciplined elven training with better weapons, armor, manuals, and leadership.
• Leadership and propaganda: William’s image as a heroic, just, and fearless ruler is deliberately cultivated to strengthen loyalty and morale.
• Political tension: Dawn City’s occupation of Radiant Fortress increases friction with the Steel Duchy, though broader political weakness prevents immediate conflict.
• Hidden power and revelation: Moxis’s ritual exposes a previously concealed level of magical ability, altering how others view him and William’s connections.

Character Interactions

• William and Odom: William approves of Odom’s flattering but politically useful campaign portraying him as a heroic moral example.
• William and the military leadership: William places Christian in charge of Radiant Fortress and uses his Royal Guards as instructors for the new human Legion.
• William and Moxis: William relies on Moxis rather than Old Bander to perform the ritual, suggesting trust in Moxis and access to a powerful hidden ally.
• Moxis and the 300 Warriors: Moxis performs the ritual that infuses them with Dragon Blood and a Dragon Crystal, transforming their potential.
• Old Bander and Moxis: Old Bander witnesses Moxis’s immense magical skill, reacts with disbelief and resentment, then reports the discovery to Annie.
• Dawn City and the Steel Duchy: Their mutual protests over the Military Fortress reflect an unresolved political confrontation that may eventually become military.

Chapter Summary: “300 Dragonblood Warriors”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moxis performs a Dragonblood Ritual on 300 carefully selected warriors using a Dragon Crystal and a specialized magic formation.
• Dragon Blood invades and alters the warriors’ bodies and genes, creating the risk that their human traits, Battle Aura, and magic could be overwhelmed by draconic power.
• Moxis’s formation greatly reduces the pain and danger. Blue Ghostlight eases the warriors’ suffering while the Dragon Crystal stabilizes the ritual.
• After nearly an hour, all 300 warriors survive and successfully become Dragonblood Warriors. Many endure the process through sheer willpower, with some continuing to cultivate their Battle Aura even while suffering.
• The newly transformed warriors kneel before William and swear their loyalty, while tens of thousands of civilians celebrate the birth of the Dragonblood force.
• William publicly declares that his Glory belongs to his followers as well, strengthening the bond between ruler and subjects.
• The results exceed expectations: nine warriors become Dragon Speakers, including three with Epic Bloodlines. The remaining Dragonblood Warriors possess exceptional potential, including two additional Epic Bloodlines and 188 Grandmaster Bloodlines.
• William’s commanders recognize that the 300 warriors could become a devastating surprise unit capable of breaking enemy defensive formations after Transformation.
• William then offers the remaining Legendary-quality Dragonheart Essence to his trusted commanders. Fiu Lesse, Christian, Julio, and Albert volunteer to undergo the transformation.
• Lotner, Odom, Eric, Legolas, and others decline for personal or strategic reasons, preferring their existing bloodlines, abilities, or specializations.
• William chooses not to undergo the ritual himself. His Legendary Bloodline would gain little, and he prefers to specialize in thunder rather than add the Fire Dragon’s elemental affinity.
• The decision is finalized for the four volunteers, while six remaining uses of the Dragonheart Essence are reserved for later consideration.

Character Developments

• William demonstrates strategic judgment and generosity. He values the warriors’ loyalty and potential but avoids transforming himself because it would conflict with his thunder-based specialization.
• Moxis proves the effectiveness and sophistication of his Dragonblood Ritual, achieving a perfect survival rate and producing far more powerful results than expected.
• The 300 warriors are established as elite, loyal soldiers. The warriors who continue cultivating during the ritual are singled out as especially ambitious and strong-willed.
• Fiu Lesse eagerly embraces the opportunity to become the first Minotaur Dragon Warrior, revealing his enthusiasm for power and distinction.
• Christian and Julio seek greater strength for their legions, while Albert is particularly attracted to the possibility of enhancing his fire-based abilities.
• Lotner, Odom, Eric, and Legolas show confidence in their existing talents and refuse to abandon their unique bloodlines or specialties.

Significant Themes

• Power and transformation: Dragon Blood offers immense strength but risks destroying the recipient’s original identity and abilities.
• Loyalty and glory: The warriors view their transformation as a gift from William, and William frames their glory as an extension of his own.
• Individual identity versus enhancement: Several powerful characters reject Dragon Blood because they value their unique origins, appearances, elemental affinities, or combat styles.
• Strategic cultivation of talent: William carefully selects warriors based not only on bloodline potential but also on loyalty, ambition, and willpower.
• Abundance and calculated resource use: The Fire Dragon’s remains are portrayed as extraordinarily valuable, requiring William to decide carefully who should receive its limited essence.

Important Character Interactions

• William observes the warriors throughout the ritual and identifies those with exceptional determination.
• The transformed warriors collectively kneel before William and proclaim their gratitude and loyalty.
• Lotner and Odom celebrate the military potential of the new Dragonblood unit while discussing its political consequences for the Steel Duchy.
• William consults his commanders about the Dragonheart Essence, prompting each to reveal whether they are willing to sacrifice their existing abilities for greater power.
• The final decision establishes Fiu Lesse, Christian, Julio, and Albert as the next candidates for transformation, while William retains control over the six remaining opportunities.