Chapter Summaries

Li Lin launched a war of destruction against Casablanca, sending Angela, Anna, and the Scourge Legion to slaughter its people and turn them into undead. As the city fell, Anna infiltrated the city lord’s quarters and killed him and his family.

• Angela and Anna arrived above Casablanca in the Garden of Silence as Li Lin announced the attack.
• Li Lin began the assault, and a luminous projectile smashed through Casablanca’s gates and walls, setting the city ablaze.
• Angela summoned the Scourge Legion, and thirty thousand Ghouls descended to kill residents and raise them as undead.
• Angela left the massacre after sensing a sacred presence in the darkness.
• A soldier told the city lord to flee as Ghouls breached the city’s defenses, but Anna appeared behind his wife and daughter and killed them.
• Anna killed the city lord with her dagger and vanished into the darkness.

A priest led survivors and two paladins toward the church, but Angela trapped them inside and forced the congregation to submit through torture. After the crowd killed the priest, Angela summoned Ghouls to devour everyone in the church.

• The priest blessed the survivors and led them across the street toward the church while two paladins held back the Ghouls.
• Angela entered the church ahead of them, shut its doors on the retreating paladins, and revealed herself by playing the organ among the corpses.
• Angela shattered the statue of the God of Justice and tortured a young woman until the congregation knelt and barked like dogs.
• The priest refused to submit, and the frightened congregation beat and stabbed him to death.
• Angela spared the kneeling survivors briefly, then opened the church doors and let the Ghouls pour inside to attack them.

After Casablanca City was destroyed, the Vila Federation Council concluded that the returned Magic Empire sought revenge rather than conquest, while the Xialuo Kingdom mobilized its army against the floating city. Li Lin honored the dead Arcane Mages and prepared to confront the advancing Xialuo forces.

• The Vila Federation Council debated the Magic Empire's strength, and a general argued that its attack on Casablanca City was revenge for the city's betrayal a thousand years earlier.
• The council decided to keep watching the floating city and seek help from the Temple, despite the Temple's conflict with the Mages' Association.
• A messenger informed the Vila Federation Council that the Xialuo Kingdom had mobilized its army and was advancing on Casablanca City.
• Li Lin praised Angela for destroying Casablanca City, and she showed him a tower built from fifty-three thousand human heads.
• Li Lin burned the tower as a tribute to Aotenade and vowed revenge for the Arcane Mages.
• Nia reported that one hundred thousand Xialuo soldiers, with siege vehicles and catapults, were nearing Casablanca City, and Li Lin prepared to show them the Magic Empire's power.

Kane led the Xialuo Kingdom’s army toward the ruined Casablanca City, unaware that Li Lin and Angela had prepared a trap beneath the concealed city. After Kane ordered his troops inside to investigate, tiny mounds began appearing silently behind them.

• Kane marched his army of a hundred thousand toward Casablanca, bringing priests, paladins, and weapons prepared to fight the undead.
• Li Lin watched the approaching forces from the ruined city and activated the Temporary Mythal while Angela and Anna stayed beside him.
• Scouts reported that Casablanca appeared empty, so Kane ordered the army’s catapults to break through the city walls.
• Kane’s vanguard searched the city and found bloodstains and signs of fighting but no living people or corpses.
• Kane ordered the entire army into Casablanca to search the city and establish defenses, while tiny mounds appeared in the ground behind them.

Li Lin lured Kane’s hundred-thousand-strong army into a trap outside Casablanca City, using lightning to shatter its ranks while Angela’s buried undead attacked the fleeing soldiers. Kane sought to gather survivors and retreat, but Angela blocked his path and demanded they pay for trespassing.

• Kane ordered the allied army to camp outside Casablanca City, but the other commanders challenged his cautious approach.
• Lightning struck one defiant commander dead, and Li Lin appeared to demand the army leave the Magic Empire’s territory.
• Li Lin unleashed waves of lightning that devastated the army, and Kane ordered the soldiers to retreat into Casablanca City for cover.
• The Ghouls Angela had buried around the plain rose and attacked the fleeing soldiers, completing the encirclement.
• Kane hid in the city, then decided to gather the remaining forces and retreat to report their defeat.
• Angela confronted Kane and his guards, declaring that they could not leave without paying for trespassing.

Li Lin returned after the destruction of the Xialuo army, learned that the Five-Nation Alliance had acted without a formal meeting, and prepared to withdraw with his forces. In Ringwraith City, he rallied the mages around a war to destroy the Five-Nation Alliance.

• Angela presented Kane to Li Lin after Anna and Nia had helped wipe out the invading soldiers, and Li Lin searched Kane’s mind for information.
• Li Lin learned that Xialuo had sent its army before the Five-Nation Alliance reached an official decision, while Nia warned that Dideyasi and the Temple remained a concern.
• Li Lin ordered his group to leave the city, and Angela dragged Kane away to be devoured by the undead soldiers.
• Li Lin revealed the Garden of Silence and returned with Angela, Anna, and Nia to Ringwraith City, where the mages greeted him solemnly.
• Li Lin vowed to restore the Magic Empire and destroy the Five-Nation Alliance, and the mages answered by shouting that they would kill every enemy on sight.

Li Lin responded to the mages’ demand to be reborn in human bodies by tightening security and promising to consider a compromise, then prepared to negotiate with the dragons aboard the magic ship. He chose Yi Aier and Suoxiate to accompany him, leaving Angela and Yi Aier arguing over the trip as they prepared to depart.

• Li Lin ordered Nia to raise the Barrier of Undeath’s alert level, monitor the academy, and tell the mages he would seek a way to meet their demands while protecting the empire.
• Li Lin decided to negotiate with the dragons and take Yi Aier and Suoxiate aboard the magic ship, whose propulsion system was ready despite other technical problems.
• Angela and Yi Aier objected to traveling together and exchanged insults while Li Lin watched.
• Suoxiate told Li Lin that Angela’s antagonism was her way of trying to get closer to people, and Li Lin agreed that the two might actually get along.

Li Lin set out aboard the restored magic ship Moon Princess to negotiate an alliance with the dragons, assigning Angela and Yi Aier to demonstrate strength when dealing with evil dragons. As the ship crossed the sea of clouds, he explained his plan and the need to approach the proud dragons as equals.

• Angela and Yi Aier admired the Moon Princess and argued over its design and the state of technology in Angela's world.
• Li Lin ordered Yi Aier to operate the ship, and Moon Princess began its voyage across the sea of clouds.
• Angela admitted she avoided airplanes because they seemed like narrow tin coffins, while Suoxiate served tea and explained that her power was the Infinite Corridor rather than combat ability.
• Li Lin reassured Suoxiate that she was valuable and explained that he had brought her along to attend to the group.
• Li Lin told Angela that she and Yi Aier would need to show the evil dragons their strength without frightening them, while he negotiated with the good dragons.
• Angela agreed to the plan but warned that she might retaliate if the dragons insulted her or Li Lin.

Li Lin sent Yi Aier to investigate a distress signal from a battle near Dideyasi’s border, where Temple paladins were fighting black-armored troops. Yi Aier annihilated the paladins, then brought the surviving troops to meet Li Lin aboard the magic ship.

• Yi Aier detected an incomplete Magic Empire distress signal from a nearby battle, and Li Lin ordered her to investigate.
• Li Lin identified the Temple’s Paladin Order fighting black-armored troops near the border of Dideyasi, and sent Yi Aier down to help.
• Yi Aier asked the black-armored warriors to retreat, then destroyed dozens of paladins after one of them cut her maid’s robe.
• The surviving black-armored warriors thanked Yi Aier and tried to leave, but she told them Li Lin wanted to question them.
• Yi Aier pointed the black-armored warriors toward Li Lin’s magic ship in the sky.

Li Lin questioned the black-armored warriors about their country's magic beacon, then met the Red Armament commander and identified the commander's spear as an ancient augmented armament. After learning the beacon's technology had been passed down through generations, Li Lin asked the commander to invite his country's ruler to meet him in two days.

• Li Lin asked the black-armored captain where his country had obtained the magic beacon, but the captain said he was not authorized to know.
• The Red Armament Forces attacked Li Lin's magic ship, then stopped when the black-armored warriors emerged and identified themselves as allies.
• The Red Armament commander, called Red Lions, met Li Lin and demanded to know who he was and what he wanted.
• Li Lin pulled the commander's spear from his grasp and recognized it as an ancient augmented armament.
• The commander said the magic beacon's technology had been passed down in his country from generation to generation.
• Li Lin asked the commander to tell his country's ruler that he would visit the palace in two days for talks.

Li Lin decided to approach the small country with diplomacy and continued toward its royal capital, while Suoxiate disciplined Yi Aier for speaking out of turn. The country’s queen learned of the Magic Empire’s possible war with the Five-Nation Alliance and faced a decision about how her nation should respond.

• Yi Aier criticized the Red Armament commander, and Li Lin explained why their fallen empire had to treat outsiders with restraint.
• Li Lin ordered the magic ship to remain hidden and proceed toward the royal capital, then went to rest as Suoxiate punished Yi Aier.
• The next morning, Li Lin rejected Angela’s suggestion to enslave the king and said he would follow diplomatic principles with the small country.
• The Red Armament commander reported to his queen that Li Lin had controlled their weapons and planned to meet her the evening after tomorrow.
• A Black Mist official told the court about turmoil in the Five-Nation Alliance, the destruction of Casablanca City, and a declaration of war by an envoy of the Magic Empire.
• The queen ordered the information shared with her allies, then told her son that their country faced a crossroads and would have to choose a course.

Nisi awakened after the evocation test and learned from Nia what it meant to become an Arcane Mage, including their dependence on magic and their duty to prevent the God of Magic from forming. Nia began Nisi’s training in Magic Tattoos, while Kalin persuaded Anna to sneak away and explore.

• Nisi woke after the test, and Nia told her that the Core of Evocation had acknowledged her but that she was not yet a true Arcane Mage.
• Nia revealed her alias as the Eternal Library and showed Nisi the records of previous Arcane Mages, then explained how Arcane Mages drew power from magic and why they had to protect their lives.
• Nia explained that an Arcane Mage’s death could return their fused rule to the source of magic and help bring the God of Magic into being.
• Nia began Nisi’s practical training in Magic Tattoos and prepared to fight her, as Kalin and Anna watched nearby.
• Kalin invited Anna to sneak away and explore before Li Lin destroyed the Five-Nation Alliance, and Anna agreed.

Li Lin and Angela arrived at the North Ailanke State to meet Queen Xitalisi and investigate how the country acquired technology from the vanished Magic Empire. Xitalisi examined Li Lin’s offer of a complete magic beacon, and the chapter ended with her preparing to answer him as their future relationship remained uncertain.

• Li Lin and Angela played a cautious chess match while Suoxiate reported that Nisi had awakened and Nia was training her as an Arcane Mage.
• Li Lin’s airship arrived over the royal city, alarming its residents, and he introduced himself to Queen Xitalisi as an Arcane Mage of the Magic Empire.
• Angela reacted with interest to Xitalisi, but Li Lin stopped her from revealing what she had noticed as the queen led them into the palace.
• Li Lin declined the banquet and asked Xitalisi how her country had obtained Magic Empire technology, offering a complete magic beacon in exchange for a satisfactory answer.
• Xitalisi verified the beacon scroll and asked what Li Lin truly wanted, and he said their relationship would depend on her attitude.

Li Lin confronted the queen after confirming that she was a demon disguised as a human, and demanded to know how she had obtained the magic beacon. The queen revealed that she had come to the Prime Material Plane as a refugee because war had begun between the Lower Realms and the Upper Realm.

• Li Lin concluded that the queen's magic beacon could be linked to a suspicious source and left Angela behind to investigate.
• Li Lin entered the queen's bedroom and attacked her, then exposed her use of Abyss Language and Hellish magic.
• The queen dropped her disguise and revealed herself as a demon, while Li Lin recognized her as a notorious traveler between planes.
• Angela appeared to help Li Lin confront the queen, who remained calm despite his threats.
• The queen admitted that she had come to the Prime Material Plane seeking refuge from the war between the Lower Realms and the Upper Realm.

Li Lin heard a demon queen claim that angels and the King of the Nine Levels of Hell had allied against demons and were using a magic beacon, then summoned an angel to investigate. He found evidence that the God of Justice had granted the beacon to high-ranking angels and left Angela to deal with the captive messenger.

• The demon queen told Li Lin that the Upper Realm had begun encroaching on the Lower Realms and claimed angels had allied with the King of the Nine Levels of Hell.
• Li Lin dismissed the queen's story but reconsidered it after learning that the magic beacon had belonged to angels, then decided not to pursue his suspicions about the God of Justice through speculation.
• The next morning, Li Lin left the royal capital aboard his magic ship and prepared a Holy Summoning spell to question an angel.
• Li Lin transformed himself into a good-aligned being and summoned a divine messenger, whom Angela immediately captured.
• Li Lin searched the angel's memories and found that the God of Justice had awarded the magic beacon, called the Call of Justice, to high-ranking angels.
• Li Lin left Angela with the captive angel, and Angela began tormenting her.

Angela reflected that fate could not be resisted, though its uncertain path still resembled freedom, and wondered whether Li Lin could truly control his destiny. Aboard the ship, Li Lin spoke with Yi Aier about her doubts and jealousy, before Angela teased her into another outburst.

• Angela considered how fate and free will had shaped her bond with Li Lin and hoped he would not fail or become like the humans she despised.
• Yi Aier complained to Li Lin that she felt useless beside the other Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, despite her destructive power, and admitted she had been glad to see him again.
• Li Lin and Yi Aier discussed Angela’s cruel treatment of the angel whose corpse had been made into the ship’s figurehead.
• Yi Aier questioned Li Lin about his interest in other women and hinted that he might have a relationship with Nia, but Li Lin left the matter unanswered.
• Li Lin told Yi Aier he had seen her sniffing the sheets, and Angela then mocked her as sexually frustrated and provoked her until a pillar of white light appeared.

Li Lin arrived at Outer Sea Dragon Island and sought the Chromatic Dragons’ help in his war against those who destroyed the Magic Empire. After demonstrating his power and raising doubts about the missing Chromatic Dragon God, he challenged the dragons to a duel, with Angela stepping forward to fight.

• Li Lin reached Outer Sea Dragon Island, where Paris flew out to confront his airship.
• Paris recognized Suoxiate and then identified Li Lin as an Arcane Mage after his magical runes blocked the dragon’s probe.
• Li Lin asked the Chromatic Dragons to join his war, offering them half the wealth from every city destroyed, but Paris rejected the deal.
• Li Lin had Yi Aier unleash a devastating beam, then proposed that the dragons’ strongest fighter duel his familiar to decide whether they would assist him.
• Li Lin asked how long the dragons had gone without hearing from the Chromatic Dragon God, unsettling Paris, and promised not to send Yi Aier into the duel.
• Angela stepped forward and offered to fight the dragons, boasting that she could tame their disobedient fighters.

Angela fought the dragons sent to challenge her while Li Lin watched from the airship, confident in her strength. After the dragons’ coordinated attacks damaged her skirt, Angela unleashed her hidden power and prepared to take the fight seriously.

• The dragons challenged Angela together, and she accepted their attack despite Li Lin’s lack of concern.
• The red dragon attacked with fire and a tail strike, but Angela endured the flames and stopped the tail with her folding fan.
• The black dragon joined the red dragon, and Angela dodged its earth magic before the dragons coordinated further attacks.
• The green dragon’s corrosive venom damaged Angela’s skirt while the white dragon’s ice magic hindered her escape.
• Angela grew furious, released a blood-scented whirlwind, revealed black wings, and unsealed the power of death as she threatened the dragons.

Angela overwhelmed the five dragons with her soul magic, allowing Li Lin to secure their blood and make the black dragon Paris sign a contract. Li Lin then began a dangerous Flesh Reshaping experiment using the dragon blood and Spring of Life water, leaving Angela uneasy about what he was attempting.

• Angela unleashed a wave of souls that shattered the dragons’ protections and left them unable to move.
• Angela drained blood from the five dragons, and Li Lin stored it in an extradimensional space.
• Paris agreed to sign Li Lin’s contract on behalf of the dragons, while warning that Li Lin’s body seemed different.
• Li Lin returned to the airship with the dragon blood and asked Suoxiate whether the preparations were ready.
• Li Lin mixed the dragon blood with Spring of Life water and began the Flesh Reshaping experiment as Angela watched uneasily.

Li Lin began using Flesh Reshaping to replace his body with one more receptive to magic, enduring the dragon blood’s destruction while his magical runes protected his soul. As he examined his soul during the procedure, he discovered Angela’s scarlet Familiar Contract imprint, which suddenly erupted in light and swallowed his consciousness.

• Li Lin explained the dangers of Flesh Reshaping to Angela and Suoxiate, then entered the crystal tube filled with dragon blood.
• Suoxiate watched over the procedure as Angela insisted that her master could never fail.
• Dragon blood corroded Li Lin’s body, while magical runes activated to reduce his pain and stabilize his soul.
• Li Lin found a scarlet point in his soul and recognized it as Angela’s Familiar Contract imprint.
• As Li Lin approached the imprint, it flared with crimson light and engulfed his consciousness.