Arc 9The Fall of Lionheart

Dunn entered the Duchy of Lionheart as its aging Sword Saint neared death and gathered the Lion Knight Order, the Jackals, and the Wizard Order to his side. After the Sword Saint fell, Dunn seized the treasury and evacuated his allies to Reef Island as a powerful pursuer approached and ships appeared offshore.

  • The Eye of the Firmament summoned Dunn and assigned him a mission, sending him to the Old World with Annie to find the dagger he recognized as Rule Breaker.
  • Dunn and Annie entered Lionheart City despite martial law, met Annie’s Uncle Galen, and learned that the Lionheart Sword Saint was dying and rival factions were gathering to claim the duchy.
  • Dunn recruited Eileen and Krigon, securing Eileen’s intelligence network and Krigon’s promise to bring roughly a third of the Lion Knight Order over to him.
  • After the Sword Saint died, Krigon seized control of the Lion Knight Order and moved it to defend the national treasury while Dunn retrieved the Ten Thousand Laws-Breaking Talisman from Yara Moore and Arthur Moore.
  • Dunn consumed the Limit-Breaking Golden Elixir, then agreed to take Valentin and the Wizard Order into his service in exchange for a place in the Wizard Tower and access to Legendary advancement knowledge.
  • Dunn’s Conqueror’s Color Haki incapacitated most of Yamol’s coalition, and Dunn broke Yamol’s sword arm when he attacked with Lionheart Swordsmanship-Raging Lion’s Roar.
  • Dunn ordered the evacuation to Reef Island as a Legendary approached, then divided the treasury spoils among Krigon, Eileen, Valentin, and Galen, who gave half his share to Annie.
  • Valentin teleported the group and their families to Reef Island, where Dunn arranged care for the exhausted arrivals before a scout reported dozens of ships offshore.
Chapters 201–225 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 201The mission

Dunn received an urgent message from the Eye of the Firmament and joined the others in the Consciousness Space. The Eye assigned a dangerous, mandatory mission to some members, including Dunn, then ended the meeting by congratulating His Eminence Zi Rat.

  • The Silver Mirror vibrated continuously, and Dunn saw the Eye of the Firmament's message ordering him to find a safe, secluded place in ten minutes.
  • Dunn left Annie and Kane, returned to his residence, and waited for the summons.
  • The Eye of the Firmament brought the group to the Consciousness Space and warned that their situation required them to take risks.
  • The Eye of the Firmament assigned missions to only some of those present, including Dunn, and then concluded the meeting.
  • The Eye of the Firmament congratulated His Eminence Zi Rat.

Ch. 202Heading to the Old World

Dunn and Annie traveled from Campbell Island toward the Old World so Dunn could find a secret treasure called Rule Breaker, a Noble Phantasm resembling a dagger. As they crossed the Storm Sea, Dunn explained that Annie’s travels could also help her fulfill the advancement ritual for her Fourth Tier class, Traveler.

  • Dunn and Annie boarded a merchant ship bound for the Old World, and Annie asked why they had to make the risky journey.
  • Dunn disguised himself to delay recognition by the United Navy and told Annie he was seeking a Noble Phantasm.
  • Dunn recalled that the Eye of the Firmament had sent him an image of a dagger he recognized from his previous life as Rule Breaker.
  • As the merchant ship crossed the Storm Sea, Annie complained about being confined in the cabin and wished she had kept transporting slaves.
  • Dunn reminded Annie that her Traveler advancement ritual required visiting many places and recording their local customs, explaining why he had brought her along.

Ch. 203Marvin Harbor

Dunn and Annie traveled incognito through Marvin Harbor and boarded a train for the Duchy of Lionheart to find an item for their mission. They left Pearl behind to guard Campbell Island, and their journey began under the threat of Dunn’s bounty and possible pursuit.

  • Dunn told Annie they were traveling to the Duchy of Lionheart rather than entering the Kingdom of Wesley, where their identities could be exposed and Dunn’s bounty could attract assassins.
  • Dunn explained that Pearl had to remain on Campbell Island because it was his most important holding, while Annie questioned whether the minotaurs could protect it without him.
  • Dunn and Annie reached Marvin Harbor’s train station and bought private-compartment tickets to conceal their identities.
  • Dunn and Annie boarded the train, which began its journey to the Duchy of Lionheart.

Ch. 204The Duchy of Lionheart

Dunn and Annie arrived in Lionheart City and found the station under heavy guard, with officials forcing travelers to reveal their identities. Dunn suspected the inspection was aimed at him, but the announcement offered concealed passengers the option to leave by train, leaving his next move uncertain.

  • Dunn and Annie arrived at Lionheart City Station and discussed how they would travel after finding what Dunn sought.
  • Guards inspecting passengers demanded that hooded travelers reveal their faces, and Solen attacked after fearing his identity had been discovered.
  • The guards killed Solen within moments, and Dunn sensed that dozens of powerful Classholders were prepared for the fight.
  • Annie pointed out that the guards' continuing inspections meant Solen had not been their only target.
  • Dunn suspected the guards were looking for him, and an announcement declared martial law while allowing those who would not reveal their identities to leave by train.

Ch. 205Lionheart City under martial law

Dunn doubted Lionheart Duchy’s claim that visitors could leave freely, but decided to enter Lionheart City rather than abandon the Eye of the Firmament’s mission. After Dunn and Annie passed through the station without trouble, watchers on a nearby tower recognized Dunn as exceptionally dangerous and worried about the calamity facing the duchy.

  • Dunn weighed whether the military presence in Lionheart City was a trap aimed at him, while considering the mission reward and the risks of retreating.
  • Annie prompted Dunn to make a decision, and he chose to enter the city, believing he would be in danger even if he tried to withdraw.
  • Dunn and Annie lowered their hoods at the station exit, and the guards let them into Lionheart City without closely inspecting them.
  • After entering the city, Dunn glanced at a tower where several figures were watching him, then pulled his hood back up.
  • One watcher sensed that Dunn was as dangerous as an adult dragon, but their leader said His Eminence could handle him and wondered whether the duchy could survive the coming calamity.

Ch. 206The End Drew Near

Dunn and Annie found Annie’s uncle Galen in Lionheart City and learned that the Lionheart Sword Saint was nearing the end of his lifespan. The news explained the city’s unusual concentration of High-Tier Classholders and threatened the Duchy of Lionheart’s stability.

  • Dunn told Annie that Lionheart City held at least a hundred High-Tier Classholders, though they were unlikely to be there for the two of them.
  • Annie recognized an elder in the crowd, and Dunn followed him with her until they confirmed he was her Uncle Galen.
  • Galen brought Dunn and Annie to his residence in the inner city, where they lowered their hoods and discussed why they had come.
  • Galen revealed that the Lionheart Sword Saint, the Duchy of Lionheart’s only Legendary, was nearing the end of his lifespan.

Ch. 207No, We Came at Just the Right Time!

Dunn learned that the dying Lionheart Sword Saint had left the Duchy of Lionheart without a Legendary protector, drawing rival factions to Lionheart City to prepare for its division. While Annie and Galen urged Dunn to flee, he saw the crisis as a chance to secure Wizards and knights for his future empire.

  • Annie warned Dunn and Galen that the Lionheart Sword Saint was dying and urged them to leave the Duchy of Lionheart.
  • Galen explained that the duchy lacked another Legendary and that factions had sent High-Tier Classholders to Lionheart City to claim its interests after the Sword Saint's death.
  • Annie warned that the Sword Saint might destroy the duchy before dying, making Lionheart City dangerous even before the factions moved in.
  • Galen and Annie urged Dunn to leave, but Dunn declared that they had arrived at just the right time.
  • Dunn saw the duchy's impending collapse as an opportunity to obtain the Wizard corps and Knight order his future empire lacked.

Ch. 208The Knight Orders

Dunn explained the power and hereditary structure of the Duchy of Lionheart’s Knight Orders, then proposed that he and Galen cooperate to profit from the turmoil in Lionheart City. Galen warned Dunn and Annie against the danger, but Dunn remained determined, and Annie agreed to accompany him.

  • The chapter described how Knight Orders required members to share a Breathing Technique, subdue a tiered horse, and provide costly equipment, and named the Duchy’s three orders.
  • Dunn recognized that he could not poach the powerful Lionheart Knight Order directly, but believed he had a trump card others lacked.
  • Dunn asked Galen to work with him, and Galen said his group included around a dozen people, three of them at the third tier or above.
  • Galen urged Dunn not to risk entering Lionheart City, citing his importance to the Boll Family and the danger of their limited forces.
  • Dunn argued that the potential rewards justified the risk, while Annie told Galen that Dunn could not be persuaded and chose to go with him.

Ch. 209The Lion

Dunn asked Galen to help him recruit people in Lionheart City, rather than claim its treasures, and sought a private meeting with the commander of the Lion Knight Order. Galen agreed to try, while the Wizard Order remained out of reach until the Legendaries negotiated with it.

  • Dunn told Galen that he wanted the people of Lionheart City and would let Galen's group keep any resources or treasures they found.
  • Annie understood Dunn's confidence but kept his reasons from Galen because she and the Boll Family had competing interests in who might become Legendary.
  • Dunn asked Galen to arrange a secret meeting with the commander of the Lion Knight Order, while Annie suggested Lion's Roar might be easier to approach.
  • Galen agreed to try to contact the Lion's commander and explained that the Wizard Order was inaccessible until the Legendaries negotiated with it.
  • Dunn accepted the difficulty and told Galen to approach Lion's Roar if meeting the Lion's commander did not work out.

Ch. 210Jackals

Dunn received a secret message and met Irene, the leader of the Duchy of Lionheart's Jackals. Irene hinted that the duchy's worsening situation had driven the organization to seek a new alliance.

  • Dunn walked through Lionheart City while considering the commoners' danger and chose not to warn them to leave.
  • A child bumped into Dunn and slipped a note with an address into his clothes.
  • Dunn memorized the address, destroyed the note, and went to meet whoever had recognized him.
  • A low-tier Classholder led Dunn to a room, where Irene introduced herself as the leader of the duchy's Jackals.
  • Irene told Dunn that the ship they were aboard was about to sink and that they needed to switch to a bigger one.

Ch. 211Intelligence Network

Eileen explained how intelligence about Pearl and the United Navy led her to suspect Dunn could grant people the power to become Legendary, then offered her allegiance. Dunn considered taking over the Duchy of Lionheart's intelligence network but worried its upkeep would bankrupt him.

  • Dunn questioned whether Eileen wanted to join him, and she said she had investigated his history since his arrival in the city.
  • Eileen pointed to Pearl remaining at Dunn's side as evidence that Pearl might have pledged himself to Dunn in hopes of becoming Legendary.
  • Eileen said the United Navy's Heaven's Favored might gain Enfeoffment upon reaching Legendary, and she guessed Dunn's Pirate-aligned class could grant the same ability.
  • Dunn realized Eileen had inferred his possible Enfeoffment power and suspected she had approached him because her intelligence network was in trouble.
  • Dunn considered using an Enfeoffment slot to take over the Duchy of Lionheart's intelligence network but feared he could not afford its costs.

Ch. 212Intelligence

Dunn questioned Eileen about the Wizard Order, the knight commanders, and the Ten Thousand Laws-Breaking Talisman as he considered whether to take her into his service. He showed Eileen the Legendary advancement ritual on his Career Card, reassuring her and signaling that he had decided to accept her.

  • Dunn asked Eileen whether she could contact the head of the Wizard Order, and she explained that Lionheart forbade department heads from contacting one another privately.
  • Eileen gave Dunn intelligence about Valentin and the knight order commanders, identifying the Lion Knight Order commander as a possible recruit.
  • Dunn described the Ten Thousand Laws-Breaking Talisman, and Eileen said it was likely in Lionheart's private treasury if it was in the duchy at all.
  • Eileen gave Dunn a symbol to draw on his residence wall if he needed to contact her.
  • Eileen asked to see the Legendary Class on Dunn's Career Card, and Dunn showed her the Legendary advancement ritual.

Ch. 213Krigon the Lion

Dunn met Krigon in secret to recruit him, but Krigon initially dismissed him as sea scum. Dunn’s questions about Krigon’s hopes of becoming Legendary struck a nerve, leaving the recruitment unresolved.

  • Annie told Dunn that the Lion had agreed to meet him privately, adding to Dunn’s good news from meeting Eileen.
  • Galen led Dunn to a hidden underground room in the outer city, where Dunn met Krigon alone.
  • Krigon mocked Dunn’s origins and assumed he was recruiting him on behalf of a Legendary Wizard, but Dunn said he was making the offer for himself.
  • Krigon erupted in anger at Dunn’s invitation, but Dunn stopped him by asking why he had not chosen whom to serve.
  • Dunn pointed out that events in the Lyon Empire had stirred Krigon’s hope of becoming Legendary, recalling his indecision over buying a Will Potion and the danger facing the Lion Knight Order.

Ch. 214One-third

Dunn convinced Krigon that he could eventually make him a Legendary through Enfeoffment, then asked what support Krigon could bring from the Lion Knight Order. Krigon could control about a third of its knights and provide an additional thousand old equipment sets.

  • Krigon flew into a rage when Dunn exposed his desire to become a Legendary, but Dunn offered him a chance to reach that rank.
  • Dunn told Krigon that Eileen had verbally pledged allegiance to him and showed him the Career Card advancement information.
  • Krigon eagerly offered to do whatever Dunn required, and Dunn asked if he could bring the entire Lion Knight Order over after the Lionheart Sword Saint was gone.
  • Krigon admitted he could not control the whole order, but estimated he could bring about a third of its men, roughly fifteen hundred knights.
  • Krigon said he could also obtain a thousand additional equipment sets, each at least a hundred years old, and Dunn was pleased.

Ch. 215A sigh

Dunn and Krigon arranged to seize stored Knight equipment and secure Krigon’s loyalty, but an overwhelming presence swept through Lionheart City before Krigon realized the Lionheart Sword Saint had fallen.

  • Dunn asked Krigon whether the Duchy of Lionheart’s treasury held any Knight equipment, and Krigon said it had a few hundred sets.
  • Krigon offered to obtain the equipment by applying to strengthen the Knight Order and using it to arm loyal squires.
  • Dunn warned Krigon to prioritize his safety and promised him a Will Potion before he advanced.
  • An immense pressure enveloped Lionheart City, then receded, leaving only a sigh.
  • Krigon realized that His Eminence, the Lionheart Sword Saint, had fallen.

Ch. 216The Beginning

After confirming the Lionheart Sword Saint was dead, Krigon seized control of the Lion Knight Order and led it into Lionheart City under orders from Dunn. Dunn reunited with Annie and the others, then sent them to the Sword Saint’s private treasury as Krigon’s knights arrived to take over its defense.

  • Krigon ordered the Lion Knight Order’s officers to muster and march into Lionheart City, claiming he had His Eminence’s verbal command.
  • Cameron challenged the order and accused Krigon of treason, so Krigon beheaded him and cowed the other officers into obeying.
  • Krigon concluded that the Lionheart Sword Saint was truly dead because no one intervened after he killed Cameron.
  • Dunn returned to the residence and told Annie that the Sword Saint was gone and that the Knight Order was mostly settled.
  • Dunn explained that Krigon could bring only a third of the Order to swear allegiance and that the knights had another task, then directed the group to the Sword Saint’s private treasury.
  • Krigon led the Lion Knight Order to the duchy’s treasury and announced that they had orders to take over its defense.

Ch. 217An unexpected windfall

As Lionheart City descended into chaos after the Lionheart Sword Saint’s death, Dunn hurried toward the private vault and national treasury while arranging for Krigon’s Knight Order to retreat safely. He spotted the Ten Thousand Laws-Breaking Talisman in the hands of a girl from the fallen Moore Family, revealing an unexpected chance to claim his main objective.

  • Factions rushed toward the private vault and national treasury as disorder spread through Lionheart City, and Dunn collected the souls and blood of attackers who targeted his group.
  • Eileen told Dunn that factions were gathering at the private vault while Krigon had occupied the national treasury with the entire Knight Order.
  • Dunn ordered Eileen to arrange safety for the Knight Order’s families and prepare for their retreat.
  • Dunn stopped when he saw thugs surrounding two youngsters at the Moore Family residence and recognized the girl’s Z-shaped dagger as the Ten Thousand Laws-Breaking Talisman.

Ch. 218The Lionheart Knight Order

Dunn defeated the Dagger Gang, took its heirloom dagger, and agreed to train Yara Moore and Arthur Moore as classholders. After Eileen reported that the treasury was under threat, Dunn headed there and found the Lion Knight Order facing off against the much larger Lionheart Knight Order.

  • Dunn ignored the Dagger Gang leader’s warning and killed several dozen thugs with his Fear Aura.
  • Dunn accepted the dagger from Yara Moore and offered her and Arthur Moore one wish in return.
  • Yara Moore and Arthur Moore asked to study transcendent knowledge under Dunn and pledged their loyalty to him.
  • Eileen told Dunn that the treasury was in danger because the Lionheart Knight Order had arrived.
  • Dunn sent Galen to escort Yara Moore and Arthur Moore, then went to the treasury.
  • Outside the treasury, Yamol demanded that Krigon’s forces stand aside, but Krigon refused, citing his four thousand men against Yamol’s little over a thousand.

Ch. 219Reward

Yamol burned with rage when Krigon mocked him, but could not attack the nearly intact Lion Knight Order. Meanwhile, Dunn swallowed a Legendary Limit-Breaking Golden Elixir and gained a major boost to his attributes and Career Energy, bringing his strength closer to Pearl's.

  • Yamol seethed at Krigon's mockery but abandoned his plan to attack after seeing how few members the Lion Knight Order had lost.
  • Dunn used a silver mirror to retrieve the azure pill offered by the Eye of the Firmament in exchange for the Talisman of the Broken Ten Thousand Laws.
  • Eileen witnessed the mirror's teleportation magic and felt her life force and lifespan increase from the pill's fragrance.
  • Dunn swallowed the Limit-Breaking Golden Elixir, raising every attribute by one and gaining a feat that doubled his Career Energy's intensity.
  • Dunn's boosted strength brought him closer to Pearl's level.

Ch. 220Valentin

Dunn found Krigon locked in a tense standoff with the growing forces supporting Yamol, while Eileen warned that a fight could devastate Krigon’s troops. Valentin then offered the Wizard Order’s allegiance in exchange for a place in Dunn’s Wizard Tower and future access to Legendary advancement knowledge, and Dunn agreed to take in all 193 Wizards within ten years.

  • Dunn arrived at the treasury and saw Krigon’s Lion Knight Order holding the entrance as more factions gathered around Yamol’s side.
  • Eileen urged Dunn to leave before fighting began, but Dunn believed the opposing forces could not yet cause much trouble.
  • Valentin appeared and asked whether Dunn could speak for the Eminent Legendary Wizard backing him, then requested the Wizard Order’s admission to Dunn’s side.
  • Dunn agreed to provide Valentin a place in the Wizard Tower and access to Legendary advancement knowledge within ten years.
  • Valentin pledged the Wizard Order’s 193 Wizards to Dunn and asked him to provide teleportation coordinates before the Legendaries entered the fray within an hour.

Ch. 221At this point, I was the one to challenge

Dunn arranged for his followers to withdraw from Lionheart City, sending the families toward Greenleaf Island while he stayed behind with Annie and others. As the treasury evacuation continued, Dunn asserted his dominance over the city and unleashed black fog against the rival factions.

  • Dunn ordered Eileen to coordinate the families' journey to the teleportation array and asked Rabbit to arrange official passage through the Aigle Passage to Greenleaf Island.
  • Dunn told Valentin and Eileen to lead the main group to Reef Island while he and Annie traveled separately, then set off toward the treasury.
  • Yamol recognized Valentin and Eileen with Dunn and questioned whether a Pirate King had taken control of the duchy's intelligence organization, wizard corps, and knight order.
  • Krigon reported that half the treasury had been moved, and Dunn ordered him to speed up the evacuation and dismiss unreliable followers.
  • Annie and Eileen warned that disbanding much of the Lion Knight Order would invite an attack, but Dunn declared himself the biggest boss in the city.
  • Dunn released a pillar of black smoke and black-and-red lightning, causing many coalition members to faint or fall to their knees before black fog engulfed the area.

Ch. 222Yamol

Dunn’s black fog and enhanced Conqueror’s Color Haki incapacitated most of Yamol’s forces, leaving Yamol unable to form his Knight Order into ranks. Dunn realized that the Limit-Breaking Golden Elixir and his Surging specialty had greatly strengthened his Haki.

  • Dunn’s black fog cut Yamol off from most of his subordinates, and the adjutant confirmed Dunn was a Pirate King with a bounty of a hundred thousand gold coins.
  • Yamol, enraged that a pirate had surpassed him, ordered his troops to form ranks and charge Krigon’s forces.
  • The adjutant told Yamol that most of the knights and nearly all their mounts had passed out, making it impossible to assemble the Knight Order.
  • Dunn realized that the Limit-Breaking Golden Elixir had increased his Will and that Surging had further strengthened his Conqueror’s Color Haki, rendering classholders below the third tier unable to stand before him.

Ch. 223All Show

Dunn revealed that he had defeated more than a hundred High-Tier Classholders in the black fog, then offered the Lion Knight Order's knights a chance to leave rather than force them to join him. Yamol charged Dunn in fury, but Dunn stopped his attack with one hand and broke Yamol's sword arm.

  • The black fog cleared to reveal Yamol's subordinates and allies unconscious, while Yamol and his Dragonblood Horse remained standing.
  • Dunn told the knights behind Krigon that they could leave, explaining that he did not want to force knights with divided loyalties to follow him.
  • Yamol charged Dunn with Lionheart Swordsmanship-Raging Lion's Roar, forming a giant golden lion from his battle qi.
  • Krigon identified Yamol's attack as a supreme sword art created for the royal family of the Duchy of Lionheart.
  • Dunn stopped the giant lion with his Armament Haki-Ryuo-coated palm, and the collision broke Yamol's sword arm.

Ch. 224Limit Breakers

Dunn defeated Yamol without killing him, then helped evacuate the treasury while the remaining Knights assisted. As Dunn sensed a Legendary approaching, he ordered everyone to abandon the remaining treasure and leave immediately.

  • Dunn effortlessly defeated Yamol and sent him and his mount flying, then urged the Lion Knight Order to hurry.
  • After some Knights left without being stopped, around two thousand regular Knights remained to help move the treasury.
  • Krigon reported that more than half the treasury had been moved, and Dunn ordered the work to speed up.
  • Valentin realized Dunn had deliberately humiliated Yamol to damage his chances of reaching Legendary, while Eileen explained Valentin's inexperience to Dunn.
  • Dunn sensed a Legendary approaching and shouted for everyone to form up and leave the remaining treasure behind.

Ch. 225Distribution

Dunn evacuated his people from Lionheart City before a Legendary arrived and used Valentin’s Teleportation Array to reach Reef Island. After dividing the treasury’s nearly ten million gold coins among four allies, Dunn learned that dozens of ships had arrived offshore.

  • Dunn ordered the Lion Knight Order and their families to evacuate, and Valentin teleported the group to Reef Island just as a powerful being entered Dunn’s Observation Haki range.
  • Dunn had Krigon arrange care for the exhausted arrivals, then gathered Krigon, Eileen, Valentin, Galen, and Annie to divide the treasury spoils.
  • Dunn split valuables worth nearly ten million gold coins into four shares for Krigon, Eileen, Valentin, and Galen, giving up his own share to honor his agreement with Galen.
  • Galen gave half his share to Annie, effectively returning it to Dunn through her.
  • A scout reported that dozens of ships had anchored offshore.
Arc 9 of 20