Chapter Summaries

After Augut XXXVI’s death, Farn returned to the Royal Magic Academy while Roland considered Sinvira’s uncertain future and the risks of expanding his school there. Roland and his colleagues agreed to pursue cultural relics and archaeological knowledge in Sinvira, potentially with help from the Katria School.

• Farn received an urgent recall from the academy, and Roland urged him to return and remain cautious.
• Augut XXXVI emerged from Hell’s reincarnation pool as Shank’s slave, and Shank ordered him burned for seven days as punishment for ruining their plans in Sinvira.
• Shank considered how to salvage his plans and agreed to meet Aixipu, who offered a war loan in exchange for the right to collect souls in the Xinweila World.
• Roland accompanied Farn back to the Royal Magic Academy, then discussed establishing a Seris School branch in Sinvira with Lie Yi and Blaise.
• Lie Yi cautioned against excessive investment if Sinvira fell and proposed recovering cultural relics and historical records during the war.
• Roland agreed to support archaeological expeditions and considered cooperating with the Katria School, whose specialty was studying ancient ruins.

Roland arranged a joint project to rescue Xinweila’s cultural heritage, drawing mages from Catria and mercenary forces from several regions. As the first Catria recruits entered occupied territory, Grand Mage Dorin uncovered Augut XXXVI’s treason and Xinweila prepared for the coming war.

• Roland agreed with Grand Mage Malsin to collaborate on archaeological methods and proposed a heritage-protection project in Xinweila.
• Carola and Aurelio learned that Catria mages were being recruited for dangerous excavations in occupied territory and decided to join the project.
• Roland selected mercenary escorts and arranged for the Jonis Mercenary Corps and other groups, including the northern Tribal Alliance, to travel to Xinweila.
• Jonis accepted Roland’s mission and urged the other mercenary leaders to cooperate abroad.
• Grand Mage Dorin confirmed Augut XXXVI had colluded with devils, and Farn helped defeat the resisting traitors while advancing to the eighth rank.
• Carola and Aurelio arrived in Xinweila with the first Catria recruits and entered occupied territory, while Roland investigated the world’s historical records and legends.

Roland led Trina, Professor Anglando, and their party into an ancient desert tomb in search of the Great Court King’s treasure. After they uncovered a used Soul Gem, a hidden mural awakened and a mysterious dragon began to emerge.

• Roland and Professor Anglando’s party found the ancient ruins and surveyed an underground city, learning that the Great Court King had sacrificed tens of thousands of craftsmen to hide his wealth.
• The party entered through a pit, fought undead guardians, and reached the burial chamber, where murals depicted the Bird-Headed God being killed and replaced by devils.
• Trina found a chamber full of gold and gemstones while Roland had Tatali open the main coffin, where Tatali destroyed a Hollow Corpse Monster.
• Roland discovered that the king had tried to resurrect himself with a Soul Gem, and Professor Anglando proposed examining the gem for the king’s memories.
• A hidden stone slab appeared among the murals, and its image of a dragon rippled before the dragon began to come alive.

Roland and his companions awakened Phinedites, a Time Dragon who shared the history of the Black Sun Incident and revealed that Roland and Farn had changed Xinweila World's timeline. She prophesied that Farn would die fighting demons, leaving Roland to question whether fate could be changed.

• Phinedites emerged from a picture on the burial chamber wall and identified herself as a Time Dragon.
• Anglando traded a Millennium Pearl for Phinedites's account of the Black Sun Incident, learning that she had recorded the Mountain Stone Book.
• Phinedites revealed that Roland and Farn had caused a drastic change in the world's historical timeline.
• At Anglando's urging, Roland asked whether Farn could become Sinvira's savior, and Phinedites foresaw Farn dying on the battlefield against demons.
• Roland argued that fate's probabilities might be changed, but Phinedites asked whether any altered outcome would simply become another destiny.

Roland’s meeting with Phinedites led Professor Anglando to propose researching the Greater Prophecy Spell as a way to change Sinvira’s future and fight the demons. The chapter ends with Roland beginning a collaboration with Sinvira’s mages, studying their materials on Wish, the True Word Spell, and prophecy.

• Phinedites vanished into the mountain wall after telling Roland that they would meet again, and Anglando’s group sealed the Soul Gem for study.
• Anglando shared reports of relics associated with Phinedites and proposed that the Greater Prophecy Spell could anchor the future and help save Sinvira.
• Sinvira’s High Mages backed research into legendary spells and protecting Farn, while Roland questioned whether relying on a spell was wiser than practical preparations for war.
• Antonia told Roland that Atrelin would support the research but would not commit troops or stake too much on an uncertain plan.
• Anglando gave Roland Sinvira’s materials on the Greater Prophecy Spell, Wish, and the True Word Spell, and Roland began comparing their magic with his own knowledge.

Roland oversaw a modified ascension ritual that used Farn’s sincere vow to defeat the demons and save Sinvira, helping Farn reach the ninth rank through resonance with the world. After the successful experiment, Roland named the method the Great Vow Spell and began considering how to adapt it for his own ascension.

• Roland explained to Farn how the ritual would use his true convictions and the crisis facing Sinvira to create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Farn entered the Academy’s prepared magic array, where Roland and the Grand Mages monitored the ascension ritual.
• Farn declared that he was a mage of Sinvira who would defeat the demons and save the world, and the world’s power resonated with his vow.
• Farn’s legendary destiny awakened, binding his fate to Sinvira, and he emerged with his mental power, magic power, and soul at the ninth-rank standard.
• Roland named the method the Great Vow Spell and decided to develop it into a series of ascension rituals.

Roland advanced research into extending spell progression to lower-tier mages and backed a new effort to adapt demon domination through Leilide’s Naming Art. He recruited Carola and Aurelio to lead research teams at his East Lainer Mage Tower, where the project would seek to turn Sinvira’s ancient Demon Domination spells into a weapon against demons.

• Roland proposed using grand aspirations and artificial destiny to help lower-tier mages advance, including through missions to kill demons.
• Carola and Aurelio discussed Sinvira’s ancient demon warlocks and a failed Demon Domination branch of Dominate Monster that corrupted its users and may have been manipulated by devils.
• After Carola and Aurelio published papers on arcane history and demon domination, Leilide used their findings to develop a theory for controlling lower-tier demons with fabricated true names and rune spells.
• Roland ordered further research into the True Name Pact and Naming Art as possible tools for a new Demon Domination weapon.
• Roland invited Carola and Aurelio to transfer to his East Lainer Mage Tower and lead project teams under Leilide.
• Carola and Aurelio reviewed classified research materials and accepted the promise of a well-funded project to improve Demon Domination using Seris and the Runes School’s methods.

Carola, Aurelio, Leilide, Roland, and their collaborators tested a Seris overhaul of Demon Domination, transferring its costs to the pact spirit Chiyou, Lord of War. The experiment produced uncertain but promising results, and after the team published its findings, opponents in Sinvira began pushing to halt the project.

• Carola and Aurelio helped capture fresh demons from the Abyss for the experiment, and Aurelio explained why battlefield specimens were unsuitable.
• Leilide presented Roland with a plan to use Naming Art and True Name Pact to transfer Demon Domination's costs to Chiyou, Lord of War.
• Leilide tested the modified Demon Domination spell, controlling the demons successfully before the final resonance produced ambiguous results that Roland called an “As-If Success.”
• Grand Mage Dorin reviewed the preliminary reports and reached a similar uncertain conclusion as the project team published its research and members submitted achievement claims.
• Opponents in Sinvira criticized the project's resource use and risks, spread accusations of secrecy, and tried to sabotage its continuation.

Carola and Aurelio were caught inside the Experimental Park after a fire brought Flame Demons and Quasits under the control of traitorous guard captain Haigwen. Trapped in their office, Carola successfully cast the untested Demon Domination spell on a Quasit and ordered it to leave them alone.

• Carola and Aurelio learned that their Demon Domination research had come under review, while news outlets and Grand Mages in Atrelin publicly supported Roland and the project.
• Sinvira's conservative Grand Mages decided to ease their opposition, but a messenger reported that a fire had broken out in the Experimental Park.
• Carola, Aurelio, and their colleagues encountered Flame Demons and Quasits inside the burning building, and saw Haigwen directing the demons as they attacked staff.
• Carola decided to try the theoretical Demon Domination spell, and Aurelio gave him potions, a Lucky Amulet, and a Blessing Scroll to help him cast it.
• Carola successfully dominated a Quasit and ordered it to return to the demon army and act as if no one was in the office.

Roland returned to the Magic Academy after demons attacked the Experimental Park and learned that the incident had caused heavy losses and political fallout. Carola revealed that she had successfully used Demon Domination during the attack, giving Roland a breakthrough he planned to use to build a special anti-demon force.

• Roland learned that Haigwen had helped the devils activate an Interdimensional Gate, and returned to the Magic Academy by Mass Teleportation.
• Grand Mage Dorin reported that the demons had been eliminated, but Haigwen remained at large; Professor Anglando reported eighty-three personnel losses and severe damage to the Experimental Park.
• Roland heard that rumors and political pressure threatened the project, then visited the injured, including Carola and Aurelio.
• Carola told Roland that she had used Demon Domination to evade the demons and handed him the incantation and spell model; Aurelio explained that he had advised her to keep the spell secret.
• Roland confirmed the experiment had succeeded in practice, sent the material to Atrelin, and proposed to Antonia that they secretly establish a special force equipped with Demon Domination.

Roland recruited Carola and Aurelio for Battle Mage training after they accepted his offer, and their assessments revealed complementary talents. As the research park dispute and war continued, Roland launched their covert training plan while the outside world remained locked in political conflict.

• Roland offered Carola and Aurelio funded Battle Mage training, and both sought advice before deciding to accept.
• Roland outlined a three-stage training program and reassured Sinvira’s academy staff that he would handle the criticism delaying their projects.
• Farn took command of the Eastern Front as Lainer World’s armed organizations earned profits carrying out missions in Sinvira, prompting Roland to consider forming the Leiner Group.
• Roland learned that Carola excelled at spellcasting under pressure and that Aurelio had strong spatial and mechanical aptitude.
• Roland arranged specialized training for both men and sent them to a secluded site as the covert plan began.

Roland helped establish a secret unit trained in demon-control and legion spells, then returned to Atrelin to visit the dying Pollas and receive his final advice on seeking immortality. After Pollas’s death, Roland supported his son Rowan at the funeral and learned that his teacher Ovesto was also arranging the succession to his Mage Tower.

• Anglando told Roland that the secret unit had begun learning Demon Domination and would train in other war spells to strengthen frontline forces.
• Roland rushed to Atrelin after hearing that Pollas was critically ill, and Pollas shared combat-sequence knowledge and urged him to pursue the legendary path to immortality.
• Roland told Pollas about Phinedites and his discoveries, and Pollas explained the difference between long-lived beings and immortals.
• Pollas died of old age two days later, and Roland reflected that spellcasting alone could not grant longevity.
• At Pollas’s funeral, Roland introduced Rowan to influential guests, while Ovesto arrived with Swein and announced that Swein would soon inherit the Mage Tower.

After returning to Xinweila World, Roland backed a battlefield test of Demon Domination while preparing an expedition to investigate possible traces of Phinedites. The test succeeded, and the Magic Association and Royal Magic Academy agreed to make the spell widely available.

• Roland met with Ovesto and Swein, who discussed the Orvisto Wizard Tower’s appointment of Swein as tower master and showed Roland their translated spells for merging their school’s knowledge into the Seris School.
• Roland returned to Xinweila World, reviewed progress on the familiar legion, and agreed with Professor Anglando to investigate suspected traces of Phinedites in Malebar Valley.
• The Magic Association blamed the earlier accident on a devil conspiracy, while Roland decided to keep Demon Domination under wraps until its battlefield use had been proven.
• At Nightmist Fortress, Farn assigned Carola, Aurelio, and the other trainees to test Demon Domination against an attacking demon army, and the test met its tactical objectives.
• Farn ordered the tactic introduced on a small scale, and Carola, Aurelio, and the others began training troops in its use.
• After opponents protested, Grand Mage Dorin and other supporters helped secure agreement from the Magic Association and Royal Magic Academy to make Demon Domination widely available.

Carola and Aurelio received improved wands and discussed the promise and risks of using Demon Domination to control summoned demons. In Malaibar Valley, Roland found Phinedites’s bone-tile puzzle, which pointed him toward a future connection to his own path to legendary status.

• Carola complained about the old experimental wands, and the quartermaster provided new models for him and Aurelio.
• Aurelio considered permanently binding demons into objects, but Carola warned that demonic pollution and the costs could make the idea impractical.
• Roland used Shockwave to defeat skeleton soldiers and snake demon-type monsters in Malaibar Valley.
• Roland and Professor Anglando found an iron box left by Phinedites, containing oracle-character bone tiles and a word puzzle.
• Roland arranged the tiles into a prophetic line about borrowing Heaven’s secrets from the future, then concealed its meaning from Professor Anglando.
• Roland concluded that his future self might be behind Phinedites’s guidance and gained ideas for improving the bone tiles.

Roland deciphered the bone tiles as a Chinese-style Draconic phonetic system and used it to create Dragon Shout, a method that strengthened spells by invoking laws. As Roland began applying the system to his Greater Prophecy Spell research, the Lainer Legion was forced to retreat from Skyrealm Floating Island under a demonic assault.

• Roland rearranged the forty-two bone tiles and suspected that his future self had made them to pass information back through time.
• Professor Anglando explained that time dragons guarded the timeline but faced limits on what they could transmit between eras.
• Trina identified the tiles as Chinese-style Draconic phonetics, and Roland realized they could represent a system for imitating Draconic.
• Roland developed Dragon Shout and demonstrated that it doubled the power of his Burning Hands spell.
• Roland planned to use Dragon Shout's law effects to help develop the Greater Prophecy Spell.
• Nalanerduo ordered the Lainer Legion to retreat as demons overwhelmed Skyrealm Floating Island.

After the Skyrealm Floating Island fell, Roland urged Atrelin to aid Sinvira and helped spread Demon Domination across the mainland while the Lainer Legion regrouped. Demons massed at Nightmist Fortress, prompting Grand Mage Dorin and Roland to mobilize reinforcements, as Professor Anglando reported progress on the Greater Prophecy Spell.

• Roland urged Antonia to support Sinvira with troops, and Antonia agreed to renew the proposal and consider private forces or equipment if an official deployment failed.
• After Marshal Andrew reported that the front could hold for only a fortnight, Grand Mage Dorin ordered Demon Domination taught throughout the mainland, and mages quickly developed refinements to the spell.
• Nalanerduo and the Lainer Legion retreated safely to Sinvira's mainland and began resting and learning Demon Domination at the Eastern Front.
• At Nightmist Fortress, Farn killed a balor as a demon army of up to five hundred thousand charged the battlements.
• Grand Mage Dorin ordered all available mobile forces to reinforce Nightmist Fortress, Roland dispatched the Lainer Legion, and Professor Anglando reported progress on the Greater Prophecy Spell.

Roland reviewed Professor Anglando’s breakthrough in the Greater Prophecy Spell research and confirmed that the theory behind the time and space runes was sound, though it represented only a tiny fraction of the work required. He urged the researchers to focus on practical applications, then decided to explore the runes himself using a Draconic approach while attending to Nightmist Fortress’s urgent situation.

• Roland visited Professor Anglando and reviewed the researchers’ findings on Seris runes that could transcend space and time.
• Roland verified the calculations and confirmed the theory was possible, but estimated the research had made no more than one or two percent of the progress needed for the Greater Prophecy Spell.
• Professor Anglando explained that the breakthrough had consumed years of accumulated Arcana resources, and Roland advised the researchers to make use of their results rather than reach too far.
• Roland wrote to Farn and the Lainer Legion, instructing them to hold firm at Nightmist Fortress.
• Roland decided to seek practical uses for the time and space runes with the Chinese-Style Draconic Phonetic System.

Roland developed the Level 9 divination spell Infallible Calculation by combining pseudo-draconic chanting with his understanding of spacetime laws. The spell revealed a nearby demon nest preparing an enormous assault on Nightmist Fortress, giving Sinvira a chance to strike before the Eastern Front fell.

• Roland tested his Chinese-Style Draconic incantations with Trina and found that transforming into a gold dragon improved his pronunciation but did not solve the need for soul resonance.
• Farn and the other commanders won battles at Nightmist Fortress, but mounting casualties strained their forces until Demon Domination helped turn the fighting into a stalemate.
• Roland used Sinvira’s secret records and the Prophecy Dominoes to refine his chanting and incorporate the true meaning of spacetime into the Book of Wisdom.
• Roland cast Infallible Calculation and saw a demon nest hundreds of miles from Nightmist Fortress where millions of demons were preparing to attack.
• Roland realized that the spell had revealed an opportunity for Sinvira to concentrate its forces and destroy the demon nest before the Eastern Front fell.

Roland warned Sinvira that a Demon Nest threatened Nightmist Fortress, and Farn led a successful expedition to destroy it. In Hell, Thirty-Sixth Generation reported the failure to Bloodthirsty Tyrant Shank, who turned his attention to breaking through the Western Front.

• Roland passed on the Demon Nest warning as intelligence from mercenaries, and Grand Mage Dorin and the other academy leaders agreed to act on it.
• Farn assembled a team under secret orders and led the mission against the Demon Nest near Nightmist Fortress.
• Three days later, news arrived that Farn's team had destroyed the Demon Nest and lifted the siege of Nightmist Fortress.
• The academy leaders celebrated the victory and discussed using their freed forces to counterattack the demons.
• Thirty-Sixth Generation reported the failed invasion plan to Bloodthirsty Tyrant Shank, who decided to seek a breakthrough on the Western Front guarded by the Magic Association.

Roland decoded Aixipu’s warning that devil collaborators were preparing an attack on the western front and discreetly alerted Sinvira’s leaders. Their investigation uncovered a secret summoning plot linked to Grand Mage Dorin’s nephew, and the ensuing scandal erupted across Sinvira’s Magic World.

• Professor Anglando told Roland that their research had optimized the Greater Prophecy Spell by using Pseudo-Draconic sounded through Seris.
• Roland decoded Aixipu’s secret message and learned that devil collaborators were preparing an internal and external attack on the western front.
• Roland arranged for mercenary organizations to report increasing pressure and stronger Abyss demons on the western front, then urged Grand Mage Dorin and other leaders to investigate.
• Sinvira’s leaders discovered secret summoning magic arrays and punished those implicated in the western-front plot.
• Investigators learned that the negligent senior official was Grand Mage Dorin’s nephew, and a leak sparked public accusations and uproar across Sinvira’s Magic World.