Chapter Summaries

Ace brought the Harbor District’s survivors and supplies to Nightglow City, where he reorganized the residents and prepared the territory for the demonic tide expected on the night of the moon’s waning. As night fell, he activated a citywide magic array designed to protect people from mental influence.

• Ace’s badge activated Mechanical Mind and his mimicked Heart Power shielded him from the frenzy affecting the Demonic Beasts, after which he cleared the Harbor District and learned from his mirror image that the demonic tide would peak on the moon’s waning.
• Ancesta arrived with two hundred musketeer soldiers and three hundred militiamen, and Ace led the Harbor District’s people and supplies safely to Nightglow City despite scattered attacks.
• Ace declared his former manor slaves free citizens, promoted former Manor Affairs Department staff to Reserve Citizens, and appointed Kelson Deputy Chief Official and Leon Chief Official.
• Ace and Bayern organized weapons production and planned to use Knights’ Heart Power to protect people from the tide’s savage whispers, while Ancesta sent musketeers and militia to sweep away nearby Demonic Beasts.
• Caro drilled his militia squad and led them in a battle against attacking Demonic Beasts as the territory manufactured and distributed numbered muskets and cannons.
• Apprentices completed a vast magic array with Secondary Mechanized Mind and Mental Sealing effects; Ace, Ancesta, and Arno supplied Heart Power seeds, and Ace activated the array as night fell.

Nightglow City repelled an initial demon tide with cannon fire and muskets, then faced a second attack from flying Demonic Beasts. Ace used a new infrasound spell to bring down many of the attackers, but heavy footsteps from the western Lar Mountains heralded another threat.

• Caro ordered the militiamen to hold their fire until the Demonic Beasts reached the marked range, while Ace collected samples of the black mist.
• Forty wizard apprentices illuminated the horde, and Nightglow City's cannons and muskets devastated the charging Demonic Beasts.
• Ace detected more enemies approaching from the sky, and Bayern, Daina, Betty, and the others ordered the defenders to prepare for an aerial assault.
• Betty, Lou Xilu, and the other wizard apprentices attacked the flying Demonic Beasts as some slipped through and caused casualties on the walls.
• Ace flew above the horde and used Biological Infrasound Resonance to injure and kill flying Demonic Beasts, drawing cheers from the defenders.
• Heavy footsteps sounded from the western Lar Mountains.

Ace defeated the Abyss-corrupted Demonic Beast threatening Nightglow City by binding it and destroying it from within. Three months later, a ship returned from Tsimari, prompting a harbor alert before wizard apprentices identified it as friendly.

• Ace resisted the Demonic Beast’s influence and found that his Flameburst Bombs could not seriously injure it.
• Ace and the Rational Mirror Clone bound the beast with Crystal Chains, then the clone entered its body and destroyed its heart with Magic Glycerin.
• Caro told young people an exaggerated account of the battle that had earned him a promotion to company commander and the role of militia captain.
• Caro ordered a level-one alert when a ship bearing a strange fish-head emblem approached Harbor District.
• Wizard apprentices announced that the ship returning from Tsimari should not be fired upon, and Daina and Borg sailed it into the harbor.

Ace approved Daina’s proposal to research a spell that could conceal the harbor, and a year later Nightglow City honored Sharp as a hero who had sacrificed himself to stop the Demonic Tide. At the Magic School, third-year Eddy eagerly studied Familiar contracts until he learned that forming a Lesser Familiar Mark could only be attempted once at his level.

• Borg reported that the group had obtained permission to disguise themselves as a Tsimari fleet and trade with the Northern states, while Daina described the new Pontos City-State and its Merfolk followers.
• Daina proposed researching a spell to conceal the harbor district, and Ace approved adding it to the research plan.
• A year later, passersby honored Sharp’s statue in Fountain Square, and Eddy taught children about Sharp’s sacrifice and Ace’s role in establishing the High Tower Territory.
• Eddy returned to the Magic School and eagerly read about Familiar contracts, imagining himself commanding an army of Demonic Beasts.
• Eddy discovered that apprentices at his level could form only one Lesser Familiar Mark, since attempting a second could cause madness or death.

Polina created a Stone Golem, awakened its intelligence, and made it her contracted familiar. Meanwhile, Ace began an experiment using a composite magic array and slain Low-level Demonic Beasts.

• Polina designed a Stone Golem based on Ace’s description and built it from Caroso White-Gray Magic Mud.
• Polina transformed the clay figure into stone, inscribed rune arrays on it, and tested its weapons, wings, and ability to repair itself.
• Polina cast the Lesser Enlightenment Spell, awakening the Stone Golem’s intelligence.
• Polina formed a lesser familiar mark by intertwining her mental power with the Stone Golem’s, officially making it her contracted familiar.
• Ace activated a composite magic array with several Low-level Demonic Beast sacrifices, which vanished as the experiment began.

Ace tested his new summoning array, discovering and recording coordinates to unusual spaces before a later experiment connected him to a powerful Divine Noble. The noble’s morning-light authority struck Ace’s mental tendrils as he tried to flee.

• Ace completed a summoning ritual that let him glimpse a strange grassland where time flowed rapidly, but he found only an old human corpse and the connection failed.
• Ace celebrated the discovery, planned a Book of Coordinates, and recorded seven more locations that held only ordinary animals and plants.
• Ace began an eighth experiment and saw several people gathered in a resplendent hall, including a crimson-glowing Great Hero-level Divine Noble.
• Ace tried to sever the connection and retreat, but the Divine Noble sent out morning-light authority that burned along Ace’s mental tendrils.

Ace discovered a Shadow Crow in a mirror-like Reflection World and brought it back to the Magic School. He taught apprentices how to write academic papers and announced the free journal Spells, prompting Eddy to protest sharing research without payment.

• Ace added an interrupt-ritual magic array and summoned into a gray Reflection World resembling the valley of the High Tower Territory.
• Ace used Charm Demonic Beast to contract a Shadow Crow, then transported it from the Reflection World to the West Tower castle.
• Ace taught eleven Intermediate Wizard Apprentices about academic papers, citations, journals, and the rewards offered for publishing and citations.
• Two months later, the apprentices learned that Spells would launch the following month and that everyone could read its articles for free.
• Eddy told the apprentices at a table in the great hall that he would not share his research for free, even if it meant he could not graduate.

Two weeks after magic stones became a currency among apprentices, Eddy and his friends earned enough to buy ordinary Shadow Crows and then discovered the new magic journal Spells. Eddy was captivated by Polina’s article on Animated Stone Golems as contract familiars, and apprentices across the castle began reading the inaugural issue.

• Eddy and his two friends worked together to convert Giant-Mouthed Man-Eating Flower materials into three magic stones, bringing each of them to ten.
• Eddy said the three of them could afford ordinary Shadow Crows from Ace's Magical Pet Shop, though he also admired the Nightglow 001 Flying Carpet at Ace's Magic Item Shop.
• Eddy overheard apprentices discussing the inaugural issue of Spells and became fascinated by Polina’s article on Animated Stone Golems and contract familiars.
• Eddy persuaded his friends to collect free copies of Spells at the West Tower, where Bayern handed them the journal.
• Eddy turned to Polina’s article and read as apprentices throughout the castle began picking up Spells.

Five years later, Caro prepared to retire from the Harbor District militia and pursue a Lesser Mental Blessing as a ship brought new slaves to Hope Port. Among them, Luther woke after Eddy used magic to revive him, and the arrivals were sent by train to Nightglow City, leaving Luther to wonder about High Tower Territory and its strange wonders.

• Caro told the young militiamen he had earned the chance to exchange his work points for a Lesser Mental Blessing and was retiring.
• Eddy brought a shipload of newly purchased slaves to Hope Port, where Caro and the militia helped bring them ashore.
• Luther collapsed from exhaustion, and Eddy used Magic Trick to revive him before ordering food and water for the boy.
• Port workers bathed and clothed Luther and the other slaves, then sent them to Nightglow City by train under Caro's escort.
• The guardian wizard apprentice wished Caro success in achieving Mental Overclocking as Luther watched the train pass through High Tower Territory, wondering what magic and his new home were like.

Luther arrived in Nightglow City with a group of prospective free citizens and learned that they would earn freedom through three years of assigned labor. Meanwhile, Eddy considered a dangerous mission but went to Ace’s Magic Item Shop, where something suddenly made him turn pale.

• Caro explained how Lord Betty’s coal-powered magic heat-drive train worked as it carried Luther and other prospective free citizens to Nightglow City.
• After dinner, Luther and the others underwent hostility detection, signed confidentiality and loyalty contracts, and were told they could earn full citizenship through three years of approved labor.
• Eddy noticed a task to clear a Demonic Beast swarm in the Northern Mining Area but decided against joining and headed to Ace’s Magic Item Shop to buy an Advanced Golem.
• Caro exchanged work points and a Lesser Magic Stone for a Lesser Permanent Mental Blessing, then reflected that even Lord Ace could not help Romon achieve Mental Overclocking.
• Eddy chatted with the shopkeeper at Ace’s Magic Item Shop and suddenly turned pale.

Eddy entered the High Tower Magic Network, a dream world created by Ace where wizards could gather, trade, and read publications. After exploring Magic Gensokyo, Eddy picked up the latest journals and noticed an article about controlling multiple familiars, while his need to buy an Advanced Golem remained unresolved.

• Eddy learned that the Advanced Golems were sold out and returned home disappointed.
• Eddy connected to the High Tower Magic Network and entered his dream villa and the floating city of Magic Gensokyo.
• Eddy met his friend in the dream network and discussed trying a new restaurant called Hotfire.
• Eddy bought the latest Daily High Tower, Magic, and Spells using Magic Stone Points.
• Eddy became interested in a Magic article titled "Plural Telepathy and Combat Methods."

Eddy learned how Stone Golems could enable plural telepathy, while Caro became a prospective wizard apprentice. Ace gathered the apprentices of the High Tower Territory for a formal-wizard promotion ritual, and their collective meditation pushed his soul toward breakthrough as his physical body began to wither.

• Eddy read Polina’s paper explaining that wizard-made Stone Golems could be animated to enable telepathic control of multiple creatures in combat.
• Caro achieved Mental Overclocking, received a Magic Book, and was summoned with the other wizard apprentices to the castle hall.
• Bayern, Daina, and Betty reported that the promotion ritual was ready and that more than a thousand apprentices had been notified.
• Ace connected the apprentices’ Spiritual Marks through the crystal sphere, forming a vast consciousness network under his Root Consciousness.
• The apprentices began meditating, and gathered magic power surged through the network, loosening the barrier blocking Ace’s mental strength.
• As Ace felt his soul approaching transformation, his body withered and the chain connecting his body and soul grew faint.

Ace advanced his soul to the Heroic level but refused to merge with the nascent wizard Subconscious Sea, instead appointing his dream avatar to preside over it. He returned to his weakened body with greatly improved magical aptitude and began considering a way to restore his physical strength.

• Ace's soul reached twenty-one marks and became Heroic level as the nascent Subconscious Sea tried to draw him in.
• Ace refused to merge with the Subconscious Sea and used his dream avatar to take over its operations, receiving a blessing that raised his Magic Affinity and Magic Adaptation.
• Ace returned to his body, made arrangements for the apprentices, and staggered back to the West Tower.
• Eddy entered his dream space but found that he could no longer reach the shared dream space through the sun.
• Ace found that potions, a spell, and food only briefly relieved his body's worsening weakness, and he decided to try another method.

Ace used the Equivalent Summoning Ritual Magic Array to contact the powerful crystal-clear being he had traded with before, hoping to save his failing body. The being rejected Ace’s offering of a Demonic Beast’s head and heart, leaving his request for a blessing unresolved.

• Ace activated the Equivalent Summoning Ritual Magic Array using the Bubble of Joyful Dream as a token.
• The crystal-clear being, hungry and stranded in the Sea of Reality and Illusion, sensed Ace’s call and answered it.
• Ace offered the fresh head and heart of an intermediate Demonic Beast in exchange for a blessing to restore his body and raise him to the Hero level.
• The crystal-clear being recognized that Ace’s body could not support his advanced soul, but said it had no interest in his offering.

Ace discovered that the crystalline being wanted delicious food rather than Demonic Beast parts, so he organized a magical cooking team to prepare a dish for it. The magical minced meat tofu steamed egg was finished, and Ace tested Logan’s new Tooth Tongue Flower seasoning on a spoonful before taking the food back to the sealed chamber.

• The crystalline being told Ace that it wanted lots of delicious food, and Ace offered to prepare minced meat tofu steamed egg.
• Ace returned the Demonic Beast parts to their original place, sealed the chamber, and went to the castle kitchen to gather skilled wizard apprentices.
• Ace summoned Logan and the other apprentices, promising each a soul magic stone if their dish satisfied him.
• The apprentices prepared flamingo eggs, Tusked Hog tenderloin, and Flavor Tofu while Logan reported that burned Tooth Tongue Flower ash made an excellent savory seasoning.
• The team finished the magical minced meat tofu steamed egg, and Ace sprinkled a spoonful with Logan’s White Fire Tooth Tongue Flower Ash.

Ace discovered that Flame Minced Meat Tofu Steamed Egg was transcendent magic cuisine that could nourish and restore his damaged body, and he sent a bowl through the summoning formation to the crystalline creature. The creature eagerly tasted it, while Ace’s recovery and their exchange remained ongoing.

• Ace added White Fire Tooth Tongue Flower ashes to the Magic Minced Meat Tofu Steamed Egg, awakening runes and turning it into Flame Minced Meat Tofu Steamed Egg.
• Ace found that eating the dish restored much of his damaged foundation, and he invited Logan and the apprentices to write a paper on magic cuisine.
• Ace brought a bowl of the dish to the secret chamber, where the crystalline creature threatened him for making it wait.
• Ace sacrificed the Flame Minced Meat Tofu Steamed Egg through the formation, and the crystalline creature summoned it across the spatial barrier.
• The crystalline creature tasted the dish and savored its fiery spice and smooth texture.

Ace traded Flame Minced Meat Tofu Steamed Egg to a crystalline creature, which restored his damaged foundation and raised his body to the Hero level. After completing his transformation, Ace was urged to prepare ten times as much food for the creature.

• The crystalline creature devoured Ace’s offering and promised to restore his body in exchange for ten times as much food and another request.
• Ace summoned the creature and asked it to restore his foundation and raise his body to the Hero level.
• The crystalline creature sent life-rich saliva through the summoning array, enveloping Ace in a cocoon that nourished his body and soul.
• The creature gathered powder from void creatures it had destroyed and condensed it into Void Solute for Ace.
• Ace’s body, inherent magic power, soul, and Soul Secret Treasury Space transformed as he reached the Hero level.
• Ace tore open the cocoon, cleaned himself, and sensed he could form a three-dimensional spell model; the crystalline creature demanded its next serving.

Ace offered the crystalline creature ten portions of Flame Minced Meat Tofu Steamed Egg and Extreme Cold Magic Ice Cream in exchange for knowledge, while recording the reverse summoning process. The creature granted him Supernatural Common Sense below the Level 2 life tier, then discovered that a contract rule barred beings above demigod level from entering the Inner World.

• Ace delivered ten bowls of Flame Minced Meat Tofu Steamed Egg to the crystalline creature and recorded the reverse summoning magic.
• The crystalline creature enjoyed the spicy food, and Ace asked for guidance on advancing beyond the Hero level and escaping Abyss whispers.
• Ace offered Extreme Cold Magic Ice Cream, and the crystalline creature agreed to provide additional knowledge.
• The crystalline creature sent Ace a Dream Bubble containing Supernatural Common Sense below the Level 2 life tier.
• After the summoning ended, the crystalline creature examined the Contract Scale and found a rule forbidding beings above demigod level from entering the Inner World.

Ace received an explanation of the paths of transcendence, the nature of the Mindscape, and the balance required to advance between life levels. He recognized that his Soul Secret Treasury Space might be a quasi-Mindscape nascent form and left with a hypothesis about how runes related to rules.

• Ace approached the dream bubble in the West Tower’s secret chamber, and it burst into information that sent him to sleep.
• A hazy existence explained that Level 1 life marked true transcendence and described the contrasting paths of the body and the mind.
• Ace connected the body path to knights and reasoned that knights who found their creed could become an important source of high-end combat power.
• The hazy existence described the quasi-Mindscape nascent form, and Ace realized that his Soul Secret Treasury Space might be one and proposed the Rune Rule Degradation Hypothesis.
• The hazy existence explained that Level 2 advancement required restoring balance between spirit and flesh to prepare for the birth of a Mindscape.
• The hazy existence said Ace would no longer be affected by Abyss whispers because his soul and body had advanced.

After waking from a three-day sleep, Ace told Bayern that the magic network would be restored within a month and heard his secret report about three unawakened Divine Nobles. Bayern’s experiments suggested that their unusual heart and bone marrow cells might explain their inherited potential, and he considered using them to draw Divine Nobles into the wizards’ camp.

• Ace woke after three days in the secret chamber and told Bayern that the magic network would be repaired within a month.
• Bayern privately told Ace that he had captured three unawakened descendants of Hercules among a group of criminal slaves.
• Bayern used an enchanted magic microscope to compare the cells of the Divine Nobles with those of mortals, apprentices, and Demonic Beasts.
• Bayern concluded that Divine Noble heart and bone marrow cells contained faint Magic Reactions and wondered whether their inherited traits could help them become wizards.
• Bayern considered turning the three Divine Noble test subjects into wizards and using them to divide the Divine Nobles from within.