Chapter Summaries

Rudeus and Magia traveled into the corrupted region of the Great Forest to investigate its abnormal magic, and Rudeus promised he could deal with the contamination. After easily killing three mutated Greenleaf Tigers, he found that a cave had become a labyrinth and entered it with Magia, declaring he would clear it in ten minutes.

• Rudeus used perception magic to discover that abnormal magic had contaminated the desolate land, and Magia explained that mutated monsters had killed many of her people there.
• Rudeus told Magia he could deal with the contamination and led her farther upstream through the corrupted forest.
• Three mutated Greenleaf Tigers attacked, and Rudeus stopped them in midair and burst their heads with a gesture.
• Rudeus and Magia reached a cave filled with an even stronger abnormal aura, and Rudeus sensed that it had become a labyrinth.
• Rudeus placed a defensive barrier around Magia and entered the labyrinth, saying he would clear it in ten minutes.

Rudeus and Magia explored an ancient dungeon, where Rudeus effortlessly defeated its monsters while Magia collected corpses and treasure. At the dungeon’s deepest point, Rudeus struck down a giant demonic flower with an icy blade.

• Rudeus used the Arrogant Water Dragon King to kill hundreds of bats with precise ice attacks and gave Magia a spatial pouch to collect their corpses.
• Rudeus carried Magia deeper into the dungeon, protected her from a giant worm, and roasted and carved up the monster for its materials.
• Rudeus and Magia gathered magic stones and other resources as Rudeus defeated the dungeon’s monsters in a single strike.
• Rudeus blasted through a heavy stone door and confronted the giant demonic flower at the dungeon’s deepest point.
• Rudeus used an icy blade to slice through the demonic flower, filling the labyrinth with a brilliant pillar of light.

Rudeus destroyed the demon flower, discovered that Moonlight Lake had been contaminated as it neared God Rank quality, and blamed the False Man-God. He purified the lake, restoring it for the Long-Ear Clan, and found a valuable Moon God Stone floating in its waters.

• Rudeus blasted the enormous demon flower into debris, leaving no intact materials to sell.
• Magia showed Rudeus the pit containing contaminated Moonlight Lake, and Rudeus concluded the False Man-God had contaminated it ten thousand years earlier.
• Rudeus drank an Emperor Rank Magic Capacity Expansion Potion and used Emperor Rank Purification Magic to cleanse the lake.
• Moonlight Lake returned to life, and Magia realized Rudeus had given the Long-Ear Clan a new future.
• Magia identified a stone in the lake as the Moon God Stone, and Rudeus recognized it as a top-tier drop.

Rudeus discovered that the Moon God Stone needed about two hundred years to become a legendary treasure, so he summoned Nahida to protect Moonlight Lake with a life-powered barrier. After returning to the Long-Ear Race village, he and Magia found Elinalise already getting along with the villagers.

• Rudeus examined the Moon God Stone and realized it was still developing, so he decided the lake needed protection.
• Rudeus summoned Nahida, who deployed [Flourishing Age of Blossoms] to monitor the area and strengthen its plants.
• Rudeus and Magia returned to the Long-Ear Race village so Magia could discuss migration with her people.
• Rudeus asked Magia about Elinalise's unresolved past with the villagers, and Magia said a sincere apology and explanation could settle the matter.
• Rudeus and Magia entered the reception hall and saw Elinalise chatting and making arrows with several Long-Ear Race women.

Rudeus reunited with his companions in the Long-Ear village after cleansing Moonlight Lake and explained that a hidden enemy had deliberately caused its pollution. He decided to leave for the south the next morning, and Kailitia offered to hold a farewell banquet.

• Rudeus entered the room and reunited with Leona, Eris, Roxy, and the others.
• Rudeus told the Long-Ear women that Moonlight Lake was clean and Elinalise’s homeland was recovering.
• Rudeus explained to Kailitia that someone had deliberately polluted the lake and was the enemy he truly needed to face.
• Rudeus said he would leave for the south the next morning, and Kailitia proposed a farewell banquet.

Rudeus and his companions left the Long-Ear Race village after agreeing to help each other in the future, then continued south toward a Mine Race settlement. Talhand hesitated at the thought of visiting it and began to tell the group about his troubled past.

• At a farewell feast, Rudeus told Kailitia that his familiar had searched the Great Forest but found none of the people transported from his homeland alive.
• Rudeus offered to help the Long-Ear Race through Nahida and asked them to support him if Demon God Laplace revived and gathered the Demon King Army.
• The next morning, Rudeus and his companions departed on his flying sword, and Rudeus caught a bird to make soup despite Roxy's protests.
• Rudeus said they would continue south and visit a Mine Race settlement, but Talhand asked to postpone the visit because he was not ready to face them.
• After the others pressed him about his past, Talhand agreed to tell them his story.

Talhand recalled growing up among the Mine Race and devoting himself to supporting his gifted younger brother, Gottwald, whom he loved. After Gottwald rejected him as a helper in the Mining God trial, Talhand failed a smithing test, left the tribe, and became a solitary adventurer.

• Talhand described how the Mine Race raised children of the same generation as brothers and how he dreamed of becoming a smith and builder.
• Gottwald’s extraordinary smithing and earth magic talent led the tribe to consider him a candidate for the next Mining God.
• Talhand studied wind and water magic so he could support Gottwald, despite criticism from the tribe’s elders.
• When Gottwald began the trial to inherit the Mining God title, he chose other helpers and challenged Talhand to prove his smithing skill against an old man.
• Talhand failed to forge a decent sword, and Gottwald questioned whether he could understand and help him.
• Talhand left the tribe without attending Gottwald’s succession ceremony and became an adventurer who rarely trusted others.

Talhand told Rudeus how the Mine Race had rejected his forging methods, and Rudeus promised to help him earn another chance while building ties with the tribe. After Talhand praised Rudeus’s liquor as a way to win over the Mine Race, the group gathered around the soup Rudeus had cooked.

• Talhand said he planned to forge a peerless weapon and return to the Mine Race to prove himself.
• Rudeus argued that the elders’ refusal to accept new methods had held back Talhand’s forging, and promised to help him prove his skill and connect with the tribe.
• Talhand jokingly offered to repay Rudeus by being his bottom, prompting Rudeus to threaten to withdraw his offer.
• Rudeus gave Talhand a jar of liquor, and Talhand praised its flavor and said the Mine Race would be eager to cooperate if they had enough of it.
• Eris urged Rudeus to check the soup, and Elinalise teased Roxy about winning Rudeus over for his cooking.

Rudeus visited the Mine Race to seek an alliance against the eventual return of Demon God Laplace. He won over Mine God Gautbard and the elders with a gift of wheat juice, then left them to consider his proposal.

• Rudeus and his companions arrived at the Mine Race settlement and were escorted to meet Mine God Gautbard and three elders.
• Hazeruni and Aruderuba mocked Talhand for returning, but Gautbard stopped them and welcomed Rudeus.
• Rudeus used magic to serve the dwarves wheat juice, and they enthusiastically accepted his gift of three thousand jars stored in a spatial bracelet.
• Rudeus introduced his companions, and Gautbard, Hazeruni, Aruderuba, and Jekuroseku gave their names and positions.
• Rudeus warned that Demon God Laplace would return and urged the Mine Race to join forces with other peoples; Gautbard fell silent in thought.

Rudeus demonstrated a magic circle that produced large quantities of pure iron ore, convincing Gottwald that the Mine Tribe should partner with him despite Aruderuba’s objections. After agreeing to cooperate, Gottwald discovered his drink lacked ice, and Rudeus pointed out that Talhand could use water magic.

• Gottwald said the Mine Tribe would join Rudeus if he could prove his strength and offer a worthwhile partnership.
• Rudeus analyzed an iron ore sample and used a magic circle to produce a flood of high-quality iron ore.
• Jeklosek praised the magic circle, while Aruderuba condemned it and argued with Talhand over the Mine Tribe’s traditions.
• Gottwald rejected Aruderuba’s objections, had him removed, and agreed to cooperate fully with Rudeus.
• Gottwald noticed his drink lacked its refreshing icy texture, and Rudeus pointed out that Talhand knew water magic.

Rudeus encouraged Gottwald to reconsider Talhand’s path, and the brothers reunited after forging a sword together with Talhand’s magic. Talhand regained his place in the Mine Race, whose members began accepting that magic could improve their craft.

• Rudeus urged Gottwald to consider Talhand’s approach, and Gottwald asked to speak with Talhand alone.
• The next morning, Gottwald offered Talhand a chance to prove himself and restore him as his deputy if he passed a forging test.
• Talhand controlled the forge’s flames and water while Gottwald hammered a sword, and Hazeluni and Jekuroseku praised the finished blade.
• Gottwald told the Mine Race that Talhand had not betrayed them and that magic could strengthen their forging.
• Gottwald invited Talhand to return with him, and the brothers walked away together as Rudeus and his companions watched.

Rudeus left the Great Forest with his companions and reached Milis, where his identity as the Primordial God caused a stir. After learning Paul and the others were unlikely to arrive soon, he prepared to travel toward the Central Continent while assigning Yanli to find refugees and secretly protect Therese Latreia.

• Rudeus thanked Talhand and departed the village with his companions aboard a giant flying sword.
• Rudeus accelerated the sword across the Great Forest, and Rujierd recognized the Blue Dragon Mountains as the group entered the Holy Country of Millis.
• In a Milishion tavern, Rudeus revealed his identity while registering a request, startling the adventurers who had been discussing him.
• Rudeus decided not to wait for Paul and the others and planned to head to the Central Continent.
• Rudeus ordered Yanli to locate surviving refugees and leave stronger clones to secretly protect Therese Latreia.

Rudeus and his companions flew to the King Dragon Kingdom to seek King Leonardo King Dragon’s help finding refugees from the Fittoa Region Teleport Incident. After landing in East Port, Rudeus led them to a rundown restaurant to meet the Death God Randolph, the fifth of the Seven Great Powers.

• Rudeus conjured a giant flying sword, and the group traveled by air toward the King Dragon Kingdom.
• Rudeus explained that he wanted Leonardo King Dragon to mobilize the kingdom to search the Begaritt Continent for stranded refugees.
• Rudeus told Roxy that if Leonardo refused, the King Dragon Kingdom would eventually get a new king.
• The group landed in East Port, and Rudeus led them to a dilapidated building after Leona became hungry.
• Rudeus identified the fighter inside as the Death God Randolph, and the group entered the building to meet him.

Rudeus tried Randolph’s cooking and used the meal to persuade the Death God to pursue fine dining and train in the King Dragon Kingdom. After Randolph recognized Rudeus as the Primordial God, he agreed to spar with Eris.

• Eris challenged Randolph to a Ranked Blood Battle, but Rudeus persuaded her to eat first and ordered six portions of Nanahoshi-style dragon meat.
• Rudeus secretly swallowed his food with a Magic Pocket, while his companions forced down the foul-tasting meal and pretended to enjoy it.
• Randolph was delighted by their praise and offered the meal for free, giving Rudeus a chance to advise him to serve wealthy customers and learn cooking in the royal kitchen.
• Rudeus offered to introduce Randolph to the king of the King Dragon Kingdom, and Randolph recognized Rudeus as the Primordial God.
• Rudeus asked Randolph to spar with Eris, and Randolph agreed to take her to the back of the shop.

Eris challenged Randolph, the Death God, to a duel in the restaurant’s backyard and learned how his Bewitching Sword misled her senses. After Randolph provoked her with another feint, Eris unleashed a surge of magic, forcing him to take the fight seriously.

• Randolph led Eris and the others to the backyard, where Eris drew the Tyrannical Dragon King's Frenzied Roar and began their duel.
• Randolph struck Eris in the shoulder with a deceptive sword thrust, and Rudeus explained that Randolph used the Bewitching Sword to mislead opponents.
• Eris healed her wound with voiceless healing magic and attacked Randolph with a series of powerful blows.
• Eris pinned Randolph’s sword and transformed her greatsword into two longswords, but she retreated after mistaking his leg movement for a hidden blade trick.
• Randolph claimed he was only being cautious, angering Eris, who unleashed powerful magic and made him prepare to fight her seriously.

Eris unleashed powerful sword techniques against Randolph, but his magic-absorbing stone and hidden eye turned the fight against her. Rudeus stopped Eris from pushing past her limits after Randolph defeated her, leaving the battle decided in Randolph’s favor.

• Eris overwhelmed Randolph with her boosted speed and launched a storm of scarlet sword energy, but he dispelled it with his magic-absorbing stone.
• Randolph claimed ranged attacks were useless against him, and Rudeus chose not to reveal the stone’s mana cost to Eris.
• Eris used Blood Blade Funeral Song to attack Randolph with increasingly fast afterimages, eventually bringing her sword close to his throat.
• Randolph removed his eyepatch and raised a scarlet barrier that blasted Eris away and left her badly injured.
• Eris tried to rise and continue fighting, but Rudeus stopped her as Randolph placed his sword tip against her forehead.

After losing to Randolph, Eris accepted that she needed to rethink how she fought. Rudeus changed the group’s destination to the King Dragon Kingdom to ask its king for help searching for people missing since the Fittoa Region Teleport Incident, and they arrived at the palace in Vebon.

• Eris admitted defeat after Randolph nearly killed her, and Rudeus urged her to learn to observe, wait, and control her power.
• Rudeus explained that Randolph’s Magic Absorption Stone consumed magic power to cancel attacks, then announced that the group would travel to the King Dragon Kingdom to seek the king’s help finding the missing.
• Rudeus and his companions joined a merchant caravan bound for Vebon, which offered them free passage after recognizing him as the Primordial God.
• At Vebon’s gate, guards recognized Rudeus and sent word to the palace, where the king dispatched an envoy to escort him and his companions.
• The group rode to the royal palace, and Rudeus wondered how much help the king would agree to provide.

Rudeus negotiated with Leonardo, king of the King Dragon Kingdom, agreeing to teach the eighteenth princess magic in exchange for relief supplies and a search force for the missing people on the Begaritt Continent. He also arranged a position for Randolph and asked Leonardo to send a message to Shirone, while both sides recognized that their confrontation was only beginning.

• Rudeus and his companions met Leonardo in the royal audience hall, where the two exchanged courteous but wary greetings.
• Leonardo asked Rudeus to become a royal duke and protector, but Rudeus refused to participate in war and agreed instead to teach the eighteenth princess magic.
• Rudeus offered to train the princess to King Rank within a year and negotiated relief supplies for Fittoa and 5,500 troops to search the Begaritt Continent.
• Rudeus introduced Randolph, the Death God, and Leonardo assigned him to the Black Dragon Knights as an ace knight.
• Rudeus asked Leonardo to send the Shirone king his thanks and promise of a future visit, then left the hall with his companions.

Roxy and Elinalise left with the King Dragon Kingdom’s search party to find Zenith and the other missing people on the Begaritt Continent. Rudeus began teaching Benedict Kingdragon, the neglected eighteenth princess, and flew with her toward the clouds after she accepted his hand.

• Roxy and Elinalise told Rudeus they would join the search party for Zenith, and he agreed to let them go.
• Roxy and Elinalise departed for the Begaritt Continent with the King Dragon Kingdom’s search party.
• Rujierd and Eris joined the Black Dragon Knights, while Rudeus was assigned to teach Princess Benedict magic.
• Rudeus found Benedict alone in the neglected courtyard of her detached palace and introduced himself as her new magic teacher.
• Rudeus floated into the air to catch Benedict’s attention and invited her to choose whether to reach for the future.
• Benedict took Rudeus’s hand, and he flew with her above the palace toward the clouds.

Benedict, the King Dragon Kingdom’s eighteenth princess, recalled how rejection and isolation had made her feel worthless until a young man in white offered her his hand and invited her to fly into the sky. She chose to pursue freedom and shape her own future, beginning a new chapter in her life.

• Benedict described how her demon mother’s status led the royal family to call her a bastard and abandon her in a remote annex without education or companionship.
• Benedict endured years of loneliness and found comfort in watching the sky and imagining a life free from restrictions.
• A young man in white approached Benedict without contempt and invited her to fly into the sky with him.
• Benedict took the young man’s hand and resolved to prove that her birth and bloodline would not determine her worth or future.
• Benedict declared that she would pursue her dream of flying into the sky and seeing the world beyond the palace.