Chapter Summaries

Jose planned the Gloomy Forest trade route and prepared to counter opposition from Sun Sail Port, the Northern Witch Council, and the Dragon Worship Cult. As Norn’s new ruler Belden worked with Jose while a witch infiltrated the palace, construction of the route advanced under heavy guard.

• Jose rewarded Grem for clearing the Gloomy Forest and ordered Blood Lion to train at the Magic Tower.
• Ergou advised Jose to secure Sun Sail Port’s cooperation by offering Gemas Eternal Blaze the rights to manage southbound trade, while Jose relied on the contract to deter the Dragon Worship Cult.
• Belden spread support for the trade route in Norn and received Jose’s counsel to strengthen his rule against the Northern Witch Council.
• A witch infiltrated Norn’s palace and planned to expose Belden’s dealings with Jose, unaware that Red Dagger agents were monitoring the palace.
• Gago and other Ogres cut a highway through the Gloomy Forest as veterans, Land Dragons, Claw Dance Dragons, Wyverns, and Blood Lion guarded the workers.

Jose explained why repeated missions to the Duchy of Norn would build acceptance of Sussex Kingdom citizens, and the trade route gradually gained support despite sabotage and prejudice. As the route neared success, Kandar and Eldo confronted Jose in Red Fort, where Kandar realized Jose’s power had grown and withdrew from a direct clash.

• Jose told Ergou that repeated visits would help the people of Norn become accustomed to outsiders, then sent him off with Claw Dance Dragon mounts.
• Ergou’s envoys survived Northern Witches’ sabotage, argued with Belden, and returned for further negotiations until the Sussex Kingdom and the Duchy of Norn reached an agreement.
• The Trade City-States pressured the Northern Witch Council into accepting the trade route, while the Sub-dragon Legion and Blood Lions protected its construction.
• Kandar and Eldo confronted Jose, accusing him of helping the Four Northern Kingdoms against the Dragon Worship Cult, but Jose argued that the Sussex Kingdom sold goods to anyone who paid.
• Jose’s Dragon Might overwhelmed Eldo and slightly surpassed Kandar’s, so Kandar avoided a fight inside Red Fort and said they would settle things later.

Jose countered the Dragon Worship Cult’s attacks on Sussex’s diplomacy by persuading its gnolls to defect, gaining several hundred fighters without violating the contract. Enraged by the defections, Kandar killed a dragonborn guard, while Eldo urged him to request reinforcements.

• Jose warned Grem that the Dragon Worship Cult could not attack Sussex directly but might use sabotage, and he prepared to protect the trade route.
• Ergou reported that gnolls had massacred a village in the Duchy of Norn, threatening Sussex’s negotiations and reputation.
• Jose failed to secure an agreement with Gemas, then ordered VanCleef to persuade the Dragon Worship Cult’s gnolls to defect to Sussex.
• VanCleef reported that several hundred gnolls had joined Sussex, including twenty-three high-level fighters and two Master-level fighters, after killing their dragonkin leader.
• Kandar flew into a rage over the defections, burned a dragonborn guard to death, and heard Eldo recommend requesting reinforcements from headquarters.

Kandar recruited the battle-loving Red Dragon Christie to challenge Jose, but Jose turned the confrontation into a wager and led Christie away from the Sussex Kingdom. Kandar and Eldo watched them head toward the Moduo Peak Forest and realized the Magic Tower was in danger.

• Kandar decided to summon Christie, a powerful Red Dragon who challenged opponents for the sake of battle, to fight Jose.
• Jose sensed Christie approaching and flew out to meet him, where Christie explained that Kandar had told him about Jose’s strength.
• Jose warned Christie that Kandar was using him, but Christie insisted on fighting and refused Jose’s offer to face Extraordinary Beasts instead.
• Jose and Christie agreed by contract that Christie would receive one hundred thousand gold coins if he won, while he would fight for Jose ten times if he lost.
• Jose persuaded Christie to move their fight away from the Sussex Kingdom, claiming that Kandar was watching, and led him toward the Moduo Peak Forest.
• Kandar and Eldo watched the dragons fly toward the Moduo Peak Forest and suddenly realized that the Magic Tower was at risk.

Jose defeated Christie by drawing on the Inverted Magic Tower, then used the resulting peace and trade-route opening to oversee five years of Sussex Kingdom growth. With the kingdom prosperous but short of advanced magical knowledge, Jose prepared to take its wealth and goods to the Astral Plane to trade.

• Jose drew energy from the Inverted Magic Tower, transformed into a blazing golden form, and beat Christie until he surrendered.
• Jose welcomed Christie as his new enforcer, after which Christie flew off and beat Kandar for drawing him into the fight.
• The Dragon Worship Cult and Northern Witch Council abandoned their efforts to block the trade route, and negotiations among the Sussex Kingdom, Sun Sail Port, and the Northern Witch Council secured an agreement.
• Ogres completed the trade route, allowing Sussex Kingdom trade and magical industry to flourish over the next five years.
• Jose gathered gemstones and Dimensional Bags containing the kingdom's wealth, then prepared to enter the Astral Plane to acquire advanced magical knowledge and sell magical goods.

Jose visited Shadowfire City to buy a large collection of systematic magical knowledge and learned that its once-in-a-decade auction would feature a quasi-Divine Artifact. After meeting the Red Dragon Flenderlin at the hotel restaurant, he discovered Flenderlin had heard the same auction secret from a goblin.

• Jose arrived in Shadowfire City and purchased magical knowledge worth 120 million gold coins from Pick, receiving a VIP card.
• Pick told Jose that the grand auction in two days would feature a quasi-Divine Artifact, and Jose decided to stay and attend.
• Jose wandered around Shadowfire City, then met the Red Dragon Flenderlin in the hotel restaurant.
• Jose and Flenderlin shared a meal, became friendly, and talked about their experiences and Dragon Heritage.
• Flenderlin told Jose that the auction's final lot would be a quasi-Divine Artifact, and Jose realized a goblin had told them both.

Jose attended Shadowfire City’s grand auction, using the wait to question a Mermaid named Avril about her people and their language. The auction began with a powerful Fire Elemental Core, and Jose immediately bid on it.

• Jose entered the auction house’s private room after Pick explained its bidding system and confidentiality rules.
• Jose asked for a Mermaid to help him study her language, and Avril arrived and described how Plane Hunters destroyed her home and sold her into slavery.
• Jose questioned Avril about Mermaid society and pronunciation until the auction began, where he recognized the lich auctioneer, Clark Audrey.
• Clark Audrey opened the auction by presenting a Fire Elemental Core from a Fire Elemental Viscount who had failed to become a demigod.
• Jose pressed the yellow button to bid on the Fire Elemental Core.

Jose outmaneuvered Guest No. 14 during Shadowfire City's auction and won several treasures, including the Flame Blessing Badge, which proved more valuable than he expected. The auction continued toward its final lots, with a Divine Artifact next to be presented.

• Jose drove up the price of a Fire Elemental Noble core while battling Guest No. 14, who ultimately bought it for 3.71 million gold coins.
• Jose won an improved Legendary Magic spell scroll and a Legendary potion formula, paying extra after Guest No. 14 bid against him; Jose then retaliated with a trap, deepening their grudge.
• The lich presented the Flame Blessing Badge and described its three enchantments, prompting Jose to decide it was worth up to five million gold coins.
• Jose won the Flame Blessing Badge for 4.4 million gold coins after Guest No. 14 declined to bid again, then inspected it and realized its value was around five million.
• Jose watched the next two lots pass without bidding, and the lich announced that the second-to-last item was a Divine Artifact.

Jose watched Trunoy's Heart sell for thirty-two million gold coins, then recognized the Mordenkainen Bloodline Purification Magic Platform as the final auction item and reunited with Azure Fang and Emerald of Venom after the auction. As the group caught up in a private club, Flenderlin proposed joining a risky Githyanki raid on a powerful plane.

• The lich auctioneer sold Trunoy's Heart for thirty-two million gold coins despite its demonic corruption and dangerous side effect.
• The Mordenkainen Bloodline Purification Magic Platform was auctioned for over one hundred million gold coins, and Jose suspected Azure Fang, Emerald of Venom, and O'Neal had sold it.
• Jose signaled for the three dragons, met Flenderlin instead, and then reunited with Azure Fang and Emerald of Venom in Shadowfire City.
• Jose and the dragons caught up in a private club, where Jose discussed Tydanore and Azure Fang and Emerald of Venom shared their experiences in the Astral Plane.
• Flenderlin revealed that three Githyanki Queens planned to attack a subordinate plane and asked the dragons to join the dangerous, potentially lucrative raid.

Jose and the other dragons agreed to join a Githyanki plundering operation, then spent two years preparing while the Sussex Kingdom benefited from magical knowledge Jose brought home. The Githyanki finally summoned the reinforcements aboard the Dark Disciple and revealed their target: Sarando World, an alchemy-rich subsidiary plane whose defenses were temporarily weakened.

• Jose, Azure Fang, and Emerald of Venom investigated reports about two warring Material Planes, judged their rear defenses vulnerable, and signed a contract to join the Githyanki raid independently.
• Jose returned to Tydanore and gave Ergou Memory Crystals, which Ergou’s mages compiled into books that helped advance the Sussex Kingdom’s agriculture, alchemy, and magical research.
• After receiving the Githyanki message to assemble, Jose teleported aboard the Dark Disciple, where he reunited with Azure Fang and Emerald of Venom among the outside reinforcements.
• Ivelyn Eda introduced herself as the operation’s organizer and announced that the Githyanki would raid Sarando World, an important alchemy base of Assad World.
• Ivelyn Eda explained that the Dark Disciple, the Fearless, and the Wanderer would blockade Sarando World while the raiders plundered for five hours; Jose recognized the Wanderer as an old friend.

Jose, Azure Fang, and Emerald of Venom chose Mob City in the Sarando World’s Enchantment District as their raid target and coordinated an assault on its defenses. They broke the city’s shield and damaged its Magic Tower, leaving its three Legendary defenders exposed to the dragons’ attack.

• Jose chose the Enchantment District and agreed with Azure Fang and Emerald of Venom to target a city producing spatial equipment.
• The three dragons selected Mob City, and the Githyanki fleet began its five-hour raid after disrupting communications between the Sarando World and the outside.
• Jose, Azure Fang, and Emerald of Venom crossed the plane barrier and flew toward Mob City, whose Magic Tower had already activated the city’s protective shield.
• Jose’s World-Ending Fire Stream drained the Magic Tower’s energy and obscured its guardian mage’s vision, allowing Azure Fang to shatter the shield and damage the tower.
• Emerald of Venom spread poison through the city as the three dragons confronted its Legendary Mage, armored knight, and axe-wielding warrior.

Jose, Emerald of Venom, and Azure Fang defeated and looted Balser’s forces before teleporting to support the Githyanki assault on the Enchantment Main City. Jose joined the battle, saved Gigil from a volley of ballista bolts, and prepared to test his enhanced power against the city’s defenses.

• Jose, Emerald of Venom, and Azure Fang defeated Balser and his two guards, then Jose prevented Azure Fang from triggering a possible death curse before Balser was killed.
• The three dragons stripped Balser’s Magic Tower of its valuables and books, then chose to support the Githyanki assault on the Enchantment Main City.
• Jose and the other dragons teleported to the battlefield, where they saw the Githyanki and their allies attacking the city’s powerful defenses.
• Jose activated Phoenix Heart and the Flame Blessing Badge’s Flame Form, increasing his combat strength as he flew toward the city.
• Jose intercepted the defenders’ ballista volley aimed at Gigil, pulled the Githyanki clear of the explosion, and reunited with him on the battlefield.

Jose joined the Githyanki siege of the main city and helped protect the eight Psionic Warships as they charged a combined attack to break the Nine-Tower Defense System. The five dragons survived the Magic Towers’ escalating blasts, and the warships’ attack was nearly ready.

• Jose struck the city’s barrier but could not break through, then learned the Githyanki needed powerful defenders to protect eight warships during a combined attack.
• Jose recruited four Legendary Dragons and tested his Fire Elemental Barrier against a Magic Tower’s energy cannon, confirming he could withstand one blast at a time.
• The eight Psionic Warships assembled to charge their combined attack while Jose and the four dragons prepared to defend against fire from two Magic Towers.
• Jose and the other dragons blocked successive energy blasts as the Magic Towers gathered power and the warships’ combined attack neared completion.
• The five dragons endured a much stronger blast, leaving the enemy too little time for another attack before the warships were ready.

Jose protected the Psionic Warships from a surprise attack, helped break the city’s barrier, and killed the fleeing Legendary Mage, claiming Trunoy’s Heart. After the raid’s spoils were distributed, Yugglace invited Jose to stay aboard the Wanderer, signaling that she intended to recruit him.

• Five Legends emerged from a hidden tunnel and attacked the charging Psionic Warships, but Jose shielded the ships from their assault.
• The eight Psionic Warships shattered the main city’s barrier, and Jose chased down and killed the Legendary Mage, recovering Trunoy’s Heart from his corpse.
• The raiders looted the city and returned to the Wanderer, where the three Githyanki Queens took shares and the remaining spoils were divided by merit.
• Jose received the largest share after the queens, kept Trunoy’s Heart, and gained recognition from the Githyanki Queens.
• Yugglace invited Jose to stay aboard the Wanderer, and Jose accepted.

Jose toured the Wanderer with Gigil, saw its military strength, prisoners, treasures, and plundered magical library, then agreed to become the Githyanki warship’s long-term ally. After signing a contract with Queen Yugglace, he was invited to choose three treasures.

• Gigil showed Jose the Wanderer’s residential and military districts, where Jose saw its strict hierarchy and more than one hundred and fifty Legendary Experts.
• Gigil led Jose through the prison, where Jose considered taking a captured Marilith and discovered that Queen Yugglace held a Mind Flayer captive.
• Jose inspected the Wanderer’s treasure collection and magical books, learning that many of the books had been looted from a Floating Tower.
• Queen Yugglace offered Jose three treasures and access to the Wanderer’s library in exchange for sharing the warship’s fortunes and answering its calls for battle aid.
• Jose read and signed the Devil Contract, and Queen Yugglace signed it as well, formally linking him to the Wanderer.
• Queen Yugglace asked Jose which three treasures he wanted.

Jose returned from the Wanderer with the imprisoned Marilith, a defensive ring, and a Tower Spirit Core that upgraded his Magic Tower. After three years of preparing and managing his kingdom, he entered the Elemental Pool to sleep through his coming-of-age transformation.

• Jose chose the imprisoned Marilith and the Ring of Anna Davy from the Wanderer's collection, then discovered and took a Tower Spirit Core.
• Jose brought the Marilith to his Inverted Magic Tower, installed the Tower Spirit Core, and used its inspections to identify problems throughout the tower.
• Jose reviewed his plunder and knowledge, heard Ergou's report, and promised the Sussex Kingdom would support the Gloomy Forest's pressure on the Bula Kingdom without taking the lead.
• Jose told Ergou that his coming of age in three years would give his bloodline-connected followers a chance to advance, and he spent the time studying magic and managing the kingdom.
• When his body signaled that it was time to sleep, Jose prepared for the transformation, ordered the tower spirit to secure the lower floors, and settled into the Elemental Pool.

Jose awakened after four years of slumber as an adult Legendary Red Dragon, gained the Taotie's Maw ability, and learned that the southern powers were increasingly wary of the Sussex Kingdom. Luna Bloodfeather then brought him evidence that the Harpy Clan’s inability to transform might stem from remnants of divine power, and Jose began investigating a sample.

• Jose emerged from the Elemental Pool, reached thirty meters in length, awakened extensive Dragon Heritage, and gained the Taotie's Maw ability.
• Jose tested Taotie's Maw by absorbing elemental energy and firing it at a target, then joined Ergou for a meal and learned Ergou had become a Legendary Dragon Vein Warlock.
• Ergou reported that the Sussex Kingdom had grown to over twenty-six million citizens but faced expanding trade restrictions from six southern countries, and Jose concluded that the powers were guarding against the kingdom’s rise.
• Luna Bloodfeather told Jose that she had discovered an energy concentrated in Harpies’ wings and legs that interfered with transformation, and that Anna’s family history suggested Harpy ancestors had successfully seized divine power.
• Jose examined Cezar's Diary and theorized that the Harpies’ transformation problem came from corrupted remnants of the Storm Crow’s divine power rather than a curse.
• Jose detected and extracted a sample of the strange energy in Luna Bloodfeather’s body, then sent her away while he studied it in the laboratory.

Jose tested Taotie's Maw and discovered a way to transform Harpies by spreading their divine power, then prepared Luna Bloodfeather for a dangerous attempt to regain her elven form. After beginning Luna’s experiment, he left to visit the Gloomy Forest and negotiate with the Elf King as tensions with the southern powers grew.

• Jose found that Taotie's Maw could devour and convert matter into energy, strengthen him, and extend his Dragon Breath to five hundred meters.
• Jose showed Luna Bloodfeather a transformed Harpy experiment and explained that stronger subjects retained more reason, then proposed a dangerous procedure for her.
• Luna Bloodfeather studied druid transformation and a monk’s Iron Will specialty, prepared for six months, and agreed to undergo Jose’s experiment.
• Jose used Soul Absorption Technique to weaken Luna and redistribute the divine power curse; she transformed into a raven but retained consciousness and control of her body.
• Jose learned that the southern powers had become wary of the Sussex Kingdom and decided to visit the Gloomy Forest to negotiate with the Elf King.
• Jose traveled to Red Fort, looked over Oka City, and flew toward his next destination.

Jose inspected the prosperity of his territories before visiting the Moon Elf King in Gloomy Forest to negotiate cooperation and learn about the enemies threatening the Moon Elf Clan. After hearing that the Eternal Night Monarch Silverson was already his enemy, Jose decided the alliance was worth pursuing.

• Jose surveyed Moduo Peak Forest and the Northern Great Plains, noting the settlements, trade routes, and industries that supported the Sussex Kingdom.
• Jose traveled to Andunar, where the Moon Elf Prince escorted him to meet the Moon Elf King.
• Jose proposed closer cooperation, arguing that a stronger Sussex Kingdom would improve Gloomy Forest's security and asking the Elf King to disclose all relevant threats.
• The Moon Elf King revealed that Silverson, the Eternal Night Monarch, and Murphysack, a Balor Flame Demon Lord, sought to destroy his branch of the Elf Clan.
• The Moon Elf King explained Silverson's history and the destruction of the Star Elf Clan, and Jose concluded that he and Silverson were already destined to clash.

Jose and the Elf King finalized an alliance, arranging for elves to settle in Moduo Peak Forest and for Jose to teach the King’s hidden third child. After spending forty-five days absorbing the Moon Elf library’s knowledge, Jose discovered his new student was Tilly and learned the Elf King had been watching him for years.

• Jose and the Elf King agreed that Jose would defend Gloomy Forest in exchange for access to the Moon Elf Clan’s knowledge, and they signed a Devil Contract.
• The Elf King required a settlement for Moon Elf migrants, kept the library’s collection in Andunar, and asked Jose to teach his secretly hidden third daughter; Jose accepted.
• The Elf Prince guided Jose through Andunar’s library, where Jose used Mage Hands to read dozens of books at once and continued for forty-five days and nights.
• The Elf King arranged for eight thousand elves to migrate to Moduo Peak Forest in four batches, and Jose approved their choice of settlement location.
• The Elf King introduced his daughter Tilly as Jose’s prospective disciple, and Jose and Tilly recognized each other.
• The Elf King told Jose that he was not the only one who had been observing him.