Chapter Summaries

Li Lin witnessed Angela’s memories of her childhood, from her sheltered life before her sister’s wedding to the isolation and rejection she endured after an epidemic struck her family. The memory left her alone in her room, injuring herself as she practiced etiquette in hopes of winning back her parents’ affection.

• Angela’s mother found her tending the garden, warned her about the danger outside, and led her back to the castle.
• Angela’s father scolded her for leaving her room and insisted that her sister’s wedding go ahead despite the God of Death Curse spreading nearby.
• Angela practiced etiquette for her sister’s wedding and went to bed looking forward to the celebration.
• At the wedding, Angela’s sister collapsed, the crowd blamed the God of Death Curse, and Angela’s father accused her of causing what happened.
• Angela was confined to her room, while her parents and servants avoided her and the replacement maid recoiled from her as if she were a devil.
• Believing her poor etiquette had angered her father, Angela practiced her curtsy, twisted her ankle, and continued despite the pain.

Angela's mother hid her from her father, who believed she had caused a curse, and was fatally wounded while helping her escape. Trapped inside the plague-ravaged castle and driven to starvation, Angela was left on the verge of eating a corpse to survive.

• Angela's mother, Christie, hid her in a trunk and refused to reveal her whereabouts when Angela's father accused her of spreading a curse.
• Angela's father attacked Christie, who urged Angela to flee and promise to stay alive before sending her out of the room.
• Angela found the castle sealed off and its guards, servants, and maid Betty dead, then discovered her father hanging in his study.
• Angela stayed in the castle for months, surviving on dwindling rotten food and stagnant water until winter left her starving and cold.
• Angela approached a preserved maid's corpse and began to raise its arm to her mouth as Li Lin gently stroked her hair.

Li Lin witnessed Angela’s fragmented memories as she deteriorated in isolation, was captured and condemned as a plague messenger, and endured a brutal public execution. Just as an axe fell to end her life, the memory shattered and a familiar voice asked Li Lin how he had come to be there.

• Angela survived on rotten human flesh and snowmelt as illness and confusion steadily weakened her.
• Armed soldiers found Angela in the castle, captured her, and branded her in a dungeon.
• A tribunal condemned Angela to be beaten, exposed for three days, and beheaded for allegedly serving the devil and spreading plague.
• A crowd watched as an executioner struck Angela thirteen times, but she remained alive on the cross for three days.
• On the third day, Angela tasted her own blood before the executioner’s axe fell and her memories shattered.
• A familiar voice asked Li Lin how he had come to be there.

Li Lin spoke with the human Angela within her soul, then completed his plan to destroy his old body and reconstruct a new one entirely from magic. Just as his reshaped body was finished, Angela’s scarlet soul imprint erupted with light and washed over it.

• Li Lin questioned the human Angela about the scar on her chest, and she explained that she had removed the branded flesh and let it regenerate.
• As his body dissolved in dragon blood, Li Lin left Angela’s soul and prepared to build a body capable of fusing with magic.
• Li Lin arranged spells as the framework for his new body, checked them repeatedly, and released the power of his Magic Tattoo to activate them.
• Li Lin’s bones, organs, muscles, and skin formed around his heart, and he regained consciousness in a fully reshaped body.
• A violent tremor struck Li Lin, and Angela’s scarlet star blazed like a sun and flooded his new body with power.

After completing his new body, Li Lin investigated a mysterious surge of power and heard Angela’s belief that absolute strength was necessary to rule. He then turned to political plans, agreeing to help Catherine preserve her authority in Dideyasi in exchange for her accepting a dangerous new task.

• Li Lin examined his completed body after a strange surge of power, found no apparent changes or harm, and learned from Angela that he had spent three days in the crystal tube.
• Angela explained that her humiliating past had taught her to value absolute power, warned Li Lin she would not obey him if he became too weak, and tested his new strength with him.
• Li Lin decided to approach the Chromatic Dragons first and learned from Catherine that Grand Knight Commander Henderson seemed to be plotting against him.
• Catherine told Li Lin that losing her divine spells could expose her to the Temple and undermine her position as Dideyasi’s saintess.
• Li Lin offered Catherine a way to maintain her authority in exchange for accepting a task that might cost her parents their lives, then said he would visit Dideyasi’s royal capital in a few days as the man who saved her.

Li Lin traveled in disguise to Dideyasi to learn how the citizens viewed Catherine, then intervened when a thug attacked a dancer. After meeting Geligao Li and his companions, Li Lin left as dusk approached, hoping to meet them again.

• Suoxiate reported Li Lin's dangerous actions to Nia, while Nia continued training Nisi to use her Magic Tattoo instead of relying on advanced spell techniques.
• Li Lin listened to tavern patrons praise Catherine and considered how her influence might help his plans in Dideyasi.
• Li Lin stopped Mad Hand from assaulting a dancer and defeated Mad Hand's accomplices, forcing them to pay her and apologize.
• Geligao Li and his companions helped subdue the attackers, and Li Lin invited them to share a drink.
• Li Lin learned that Geligao Li was vice commander of the Snow Fox Mercenary Corps and that the priest in his party came from the Holy Autonomous Territory.
• As dusk neared, Geligao Li and his companions left to attend to important business, and Li Lin said he hoped they would meet again.

Li Lin arrived in Dideyasi and met Catherine, who was facing questions from Temple envoys. After learning that Geligao Li had been named a Temple hero, Li Lin gave Catherine a potion that could transform her into an angel and told her to grow closer to the Temple.

• Li Lin entered the royal city, where a guard escorted him to Catherine and explained that she had prepared for his arrival.
• Catherine privately welcomed Li Lin as her master, and he promised to help her evade the Temple’s detection.
• Catherine received Geligao Li and two other Temple envoys, then invited Li Lin to join their discussion as the wandering swordsman who had rescued her.
• After the envoys departed, Catherine explained that Geligao Li’s rare hero title and holy power could help the Temple build influence against Dideyasi.
• Li Lin gave Catherine a Seed of Holiness potion that would permanently turn her into an angel, and she accepted it and said she understood what to do during the Holy Light Feast.

Catherine publicly appeared at the Holy Light Festival after the scandal and drank holy water laced with Li Lin’s potion. She transformed before the crowd into a radiant, winged figure, leaving the people convinced that she remained the Holy Maiden.

• A priestess and Geligao Li worried that the Temple had lost the people’s trust, and Geligao Li voiced doubts about Catherine’s sacred aura.
• In her private prayer room, Catherine submitted to Li Lin and promised to carry out his task without betraying him.
• Catherine left with the potion Li Lin had given her and joined the king and queen at the festival.
• Catherine addressed the crowd, speaking of the continent’s suffering and saying her own ordeal would strengthen her faith.
• Catherine secretly poured the potion into the holy water and drank it before the assembled crowd.
• A sacred light surrounded Catherine, and white wings appeared behind her as the crowd praised the miracle.

As Catherine became an angel and the Temple accepted her, Li Lin planned to use Geligao Li against it and sent Angela to attack Dideyasi’s border. Angela transformed a pack of wolves and led a massacre in Telu Small Town, then withdrew when a priest and reinforcements arrived.

• The Temple congratulated Catherine and erased the paladins who had attacked her from its records, denying them prayers, blessings, and graves.
• Li Lin told Catherine to make Geligao Li oppose the Temple and ordered Suoxiate to tell Angela it was playtime.
• Angela turned hundreds of wolves into blood-eyed undead beasts and sent them to attack Telu Small Town.
• Telu’s defenders lit fires and sent up a green distress signal, but the wolves killed townspeople and overwhelmed the remaining soldiers.
• Angela appeared before the surviving defenders, and one wolf killed a warrior before a priest drove her into the darkness with holy light.
• As reinforcements approached, Angela withdrew with the wolves and promised to return.

Catherine used reports of an undead attack to persuade Dideyasi’s king and queen that a divine mission required them to prepare for war, while secretly advancing Li Lin’s plan. After agreeing that the Metallic Dragons would remain neutral in the coming war, Li Lin joined a meeting where Catherine asked Geligao Li to lead an investigation team and recommended that Li Lin accompany them.

• Catherine questioned an officer about the delayed report of an undead attack and learned that a little girl had led the attackers.
• Catherine privately linked the attack to a threat against Dideyasi and claimed the God of Justice had charged her with stopping an evil invasion; the king and queen agreed to support her.
• Catherine secretly visited Li Lin’s room, where he confirmed his agreement with the Chromatic Dragon Kind to a Silver Dragon and signed a contract for the Metallic Dragons to remain observers in the coming war.
• Catherine gathered Li Lin, Geligao Li, and the young priestess and described the undead attack as a crisis requiring investigation.
• Catherine asked Geligao Li to lead an elite team to uncover the truth and recommended that Li Lin accompany them.

Li Lin, Geligao Li, and the priestess confirmed that undead had attacked the town and followed their trail into the mountains. After Geligao Li revealed his suspicions about Li Lin, Li Lin and Angela decided to test the pair by setting the mission to the hardest difficulty.

• Geligao Li, the priestess, and Li Lin inspected the devastated town and debated how the attackers had struck.
• The three exhumed victims and identified beast-like wounds marked by dark power, confirming that undead were responsible.
• Li Lin, Geligao Li, and the priestess set out into the snowy mountains to track the undead.
• At camp, Geligao Li told the priestess he distrusted Li Lin, while she warned him not to question Catherine's transformation into a Holy Maiden.
• Angela and Li Lin revealed they had overheard the conversation, and Li Lin ordered Angela to make the mission as difficult as possible so they could assess Geligao Li and the priestess.

Li Lin, the priestess, and Geligao Li fought through repeated ambushes by undead wolves, and Li Lin studied his companions’ abilities while concealing his own strength. After Angela sent a more cunning pack against them, a huge black figure bounded out of the forest, leaving the group facing a new threat.

• Li Lin, the priestess, and Geligao Li fought off successive undead wolf attacks with holy magic and coordinated swordplay.
• Li Lin observed the priestess’s combat skill and Geligao Li’s greatsword technique while reflecting on his own unfamiliar iron sword and powerful weapons.
• The three rested and concluded that their enemy was likely not a necromancer, while Geligao Li noted that the hidden opponent had already discovered them.
• Angela summoned another attack, and Li Lin and Geligao Li fought off wolves that showed cunning and coordinated tactics.
• The remaining undead wolves retreated as the ground trembled, and a huge black figure bounded out of the forest.

Nia pushed Nisi’s Magic Tattoo training into a new stage while Li Lin, Geligao Li, and the priestess fought a pack of undead wolves and a black bear. The group retreated to a cave to recover, where Li Lin learned the priestess’s teacher was Walast and noticed old scars on her wrist.

• Nia repaired her defenses after Nisi damaged them and announced that their lessons would advance to the next stage.
• Geligao Li killed the undead black bear while the priestess’s holy light disrupted the wolves and Li Lin protected the group.
• When the wolves focused on the exhausted priestess, Li Lin held her in place and cut down dozens of wolves with one sword swing.
• Li Lin, Geligao Li, and the priestess escaped to a defensible cave, where they assessed their injuries and discussed the unfamiliar undead creatures.
• The priestess told Li Lin that her teacher was Walast, a traveling paladin responsible for the southern diocese.
• Li Lin seized the priestess’s wrist and saw old scars before she pulled away and refused to discuss her past.

After a nightmare, the priestess confided her feelings for Geligao Li, and Li Lin used a letter from Catherine to influence her. Li Lin planned to turn Geligao Li against the Temple, then left the cave to meet Angela and discuss the uncertain course ahead.

• The priestess woke from a disturbing dream, spoke with Li Lin about Geligao Li, and admitted she feared confessing her feelings to him.
• Angela and Yi Aier argued over Li Lin’s restraint until Suoxiate revealed that he had made his next move.
• Li Lin gave the priestess a letter from Catherine, while privately planning to make Geligao Li a leader against the Temple by turning his love into a source of hatred.
• The next morning, Geligao Li noticed the priestess acting more distant, while his injuries remained too serious for him to fight at full strength.
• Li Lin left the cave to scout, met Angela in the woods, and discussed how trust and its price could shape what happened next.

Li Lin led the priestess to a cave that she sensed was saturated with powerful evil, but she and Geligao Li argued over whether to withdraw or continue their mission. Geligao Li’s suspicions and jealousy boiled over after Li Lin provoked him, leaving him ready to attack.

• Li Lin revealed that he had found a suspicious cave, and the priestess chose to inspect it while Geligao Li stayed behind.
• Li Lin carried the priestess across the snow without leaving tracks, and she sensed overwhelming evil inside the cave before asking him to take her back.
• The priestess urged the group to seek help, but Geligao Li argued that they should continue investigating and gather information for Lady Catherine.
• Geligao Li questioned Li Lin’s background and motives, then argued with the priestess about Lady Catherine and the priestess’s duty to confront evil.
• The priestess rejected Geligao Li’s feelings and insisted she would continue alone if necessary, while Li Lin pulled her to his side and demanded that Geligao Li apologize.
• Geligao Li recognized the priestess’s scent on Li Lin, grew furious, and raised his fist toward him.

Li Lin persuaded the female priest and Geligao Li to continue toward the cave while preparing to manipulate their loyalties. That night, a demon used Geligao Li’s jealousy and painful memories to undermine his trust in the priest and the gods, leaving him confused about what he truly wanted.

• Li Lin withdrew his spell-amplified provocation and convinced the female priest and Geligao Li to enter the cave, search for clues, and retreat if the danger proved too great.
• The female priest told Li Lin she understood Catherine had sent him to protect her, and Li Lin urged her to follow Catherine’s wishes and keep her faith from wavering.
• A demon entered Geligao Li’s dream and taunted him about the female priest growing close to Li Lin.
• The demon showed Geligao Li an illusion of Li Lin and the female priest kissing, then revived the memory of the woman who had left Geligao Li for a priest.
• Geligao Li woke bewildered and questioned what he truly wanted.

Kalin and Anna forced the Mages' Association president to help them recover Magic Empire artifacts while Li Lin, Catherine, and Geligao Li entered Angela's cave. After Angela revealed herself and Li Lin used a holy-light device to weaken her aura, undead surrounded the cave entrance, and Li Lin ran out alone to draw them away.

• Kalin and Anna compelled the Mages' Association president to surrender his Magic Empire collection and help them search for artifacts across the continent.
• Kalin and Anna attended a curiosities auction in a southern city, where they hoped to find more Magic Empire items.
• Li Lin, Catherine, and Geligao Li reached a cavern containing a staged ritual altar and letters bearing a symbol associated with the northern countries.
• Angela emerged from the shadows, swallowed Catherine's holy-light spell, and threatened the three intruders.
• Li Lin threw a holy-light device that weakened the evil aura, then led the group toward the cave entrance as undead pursued them.
• Finding the entrance surrounded by undead, Li Lin handed the letters to Catherine and ran outside alone to draw the creatures away.

Li Lin returned to Ringwraith City after arranging events that could weaken the Temple, while Catherine drew the priestess into her influence with holy water and promises of religious purpose. After Geligao Li left the capital, Catherine brought the priestess to a sexual rite and used the holy water to make her accept it.

• Li Lin left the pursuit of Geligao Li and the priestess to Catherine, then returned east aboard his floating ship after hearing that Ringwraith City was operating normally.
• Catherine decided to win Li Lin's favor by guiding the priestess, and the priestess agreed to become her personal attendant and devote herself to the god.
• Catherine gave the priestess holy water that filled her with intense pleasure, then promised to give her a bottle each day.
• Geligao Li confronted the priestess about her changed behavior, but she rejected his concerns and urged him to follow his own path.
• Geligao Li left the royal capital the next day, unaware that Catherine's plan was only beginning.
• Catherine took the priestess to a secluded room, described sex with paladins as a rite of faith, and gave her holy water before the priestess was sexually exploited.

Li Lin returned to Ringwraith City, where Nisi had become an Arcane Mage, and organized the empire’s preparations for war with the Five-Nation Alliance. After setting the full-scale assault for one month later, he reassured Nia about the risks he had taken and prepared Angela for the coming battle.

• Li Lin returned to Ringwraith City and praised Nisi’s progress as an Arcane Mage, while Nia reported that Nisi had taken over Kalin’s Garden of Verdure and diplomatic affairs with the elves.
• Li Lin learned that the elves had assembled three thousand fighters and the Dark Elves five thousand, and he confirmed that the Chromatic Dragons would fight alongside his forces.
• Nia told Li Lin that Anna had found the Water Elemental Plane key and that Kalin and Anna had leads on the Wind and Fire Elemental Planes.
• Li Lin ordered a full-scale assault in one month, assigning the elves, Dark Elves, Angela, the dragons, Yi Aier, and Suoxiate their preparations and roles.
• Nia confronted Li Lin about risking his life with a dangerous spell, and he promised not to take such a risk again.
• Li Lin reflected on his bond with Nia and warned Angela to prepare carefully for the attack; Angela promised to destroy their enemies.

Li Lin launched a devastating magical missile assault on the Five-Nation Alliance’s front lines, then sent Angela and the Ghouls to invade the Vila Federation. As the Federation Council prepared to resist at its capital, the general proposed using an ancestral weapon.

• Li Lin’s Slow, Cloudkill, and Chain Fireball missiles devastated twelve front-line areas, killing nearly everyone there.
• Li Lin ordered Angela to advance into the Vila Federation, and she sent the fire-scorched Ghouls to attack every living enemy.
• The Five-Nation Alliance received reports that its front-line cities and fortresses had been destroyed, while a strange army appeared near Kasel Fortress.
• The Vila Federation Council debated evacuation, but the old speaker chose to stay and resist the Magic Empire’s invasion.
• A third of the councilors remained with the old speaker, and the general called for Kasel Fortress to hold and proposed using what their ancestors had left them.