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Ch 85 as of 13/03/22 - Rumble High School: ruled by the top martial arts fighting clubs. - 9 major clubs: Sambo, Judo, Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo, Sanda, Muay Thai, Kendo, Ko-ryu. - “No.1 at Rumble High means No.1 in the world” - New MMA club formed by Sunny Yan, huge fan of Troy Qi - Troy Qi 20yo, professional MMA fighter - He promised his mother to become strong, heroic, and manly. “A real man,” “the greatest man in the world,” and the world’s best fighter. - Tori He, 2nd yr high school student. - She was quiet, weak, and hated violence and pain. - She was an honours student. - Tori as Troy has amnesia (retains none of Tori’s memories) and her breasts got bigger for some reason. Tori’s family: - Frank He, a wealthy and caring stepfather - Kane He, older stepbrother (CEO of his own company) - Her mother died Tori’s posse: - Julia, karate club - Winnie, boxing club - Alice, going home club Cast of characters: - Ox, vice captain of the judo club - Bear, Captain of the Judo club (childhood friends w/ Rain) - Jun Kim, Captain of the Taekwondo club - Rain Murong, 1st female Captain of the Ko-ryu (Traditional Martial Arts) club. Helps Tori out when she has her 1st period (after being possessed by Troy). Teaches Tori about Qi. - Yves Liu, Captain of the Boxing club - Jonas Gui, Captain of the Karate club - Dragon Yi, Captain of the Sanda club - Theo Pah, Captain of the Muay Thai club - Mariko Yagyu, Captain of the Kendo club (female) - Flynn Duan, Captain of the Sambo club - Tori and Troy switched bodies when he saved her after she fell from a building rooftop. Troy’s body (with Tori’s soul) died. Tori become infamous as the girl who killed a world fighting champion. - Tori first met Sunny when he was getting beaten up by Ox. - Jun Kim left a love letter in Tori’s desk but she ignored it. - Sunny, Tori and her posse go to the judo club to face off against Ox. He made the match 5 vs 5. Winnie defeated 3. Sunny won against the 4th with direction from Tori (who he’s now calling Master’s wife). Sunny loses against Ox but Tori steps in as the new captain of the MMA club. She knocks Ox out with a spin kick to his chin. It’s caught on video and goes viral. - Kane saw Tori fight Ox and takes her to see a psychiatrist after she tells him Troy Qi possessed her body. - At the airport to see Kane off as he heads back to the US for business, Tori goes into the lift and becomes panic stricken with claustrophia. In the lift with her is Bear, the disciple of Joseph Nakano the judo expert that Troy Qi defeated in his last fight. - Tori sees a vision of herself as Troy watching a small scared girl in a dark, wet and cramped space before large closed doors and a monstrous bear emerges. Troy defends the girl and lashes out but hits Bear in real life. He continues to fight this ‘judo bear’ until he wakes up as Tori again when an incoming car shines its headlights. - Troy as Tori starts getting flashbacks to traumatic memories of hers. She has claustrophobia due to child abuse and sexual assault by Kane’s friends (and possibly her birth father?) in the past. - Kane signed a business deal with Mr Tracy that was pushed by his partner Peter and the board of Kane’s company (who were intimidated and bribed). Mr Tracy heads a group of ruthless gangsters and wants to take over Kane’s company, so he uses Peter to betray Kane. Tori is invited over to the US by Michelle, Kane’s secretary to attend an event. Tori is drugged and kidnapped by Peter to use against Kane. - While drugged, Tori remembers more of her past. During a video call to show she’s alive, Tori confirms with Kane that her mother died when she was hit by a car while running after the bikers who’d taken Tori, then in junior high. Her mum had just been at Kane’s school for complaints about his delinquency, including hanging around those bikers. Kane had made an offer to Tori’s mum to leave his father in exchange for his good behaviour. - Kane was contacted by the bikers, recognised Tori’s voice and rescued her. Kane took Tori to the hospital where he saw his distraught father by the bedside of Tori’s mum. The last words Tori’s mum mouthed to Kane were “I left him. Don’t forget.” Kane went to prison for a year after beating up the biker gang that held Tori captive. He studied finance and became successful. - Filled with guilt and remorse, Kane vowed to protect Tori. - Tori beats up the room full of thugs with Peter. She finds herself in an undergound fight ring owned by Mr Tracy. She recognises Neo Torres, an ex-MMA fighter who lost to Troy before and now works as hired muscle for Mr Tracy. Neo threw the match with Troy, was banned for life and his wife left him with their son. This rematch fight is a close call, but Tori still wins in the end after mastering her Qi. Tori suddenly has another past memory resurface of a young, terrified Tori facing her monstrous birth father. - Kane and Michelle saw Tori fighting Neo. They try to fend off Mr Tracy and his men who have guns. In the end, an overpowered Tori surging with energy takes out the bad guys before fainting. The police later arrive at the hospital to arrest and charge those involved with illegal gambling, fighting, kidnapping, etc. - Tori visits the Legends Sports Club where Troy used to train under his master. She’s shocked to learn all of the members actually hated Troy and believed he rigged the world championship fight. - Zed Zhao, the “eldest brother” who was Troy’s training partner, interrupts Tori fighting the members for badmouthing Troy. He gives her an old photo of Troy as a boy with his mother. - Michelle takes Tori back home while Kane remains in the US to sort out the company. Rumble Apex Competition: - Fight to determine who is the strongest at Rumble High and then go on to the national tournament. - Group A is made up of the top 8 club captains (exclude Ko-ryu). - Group B is made up of all the remaining invitees. - The start of the competition for Group B quickly devolves into an all-out brawl in the gymnasium. - Tori covers her entire body with Qi that acts as protective armour to absorb the attacks from the intense fighting. - Towards the end, Tori loses her will to fight. She’s not sure who she is or what she’s fighting for anymore. - Mary, student council president. She’s the rumble events coordinator and was the MC for the Rumble Apex competition. - Mary loves chaos and has turned the female student body against FL who think she’s seduced all the boys. She gets bullied and her uniform is ruined, including her underwear. She only has a karate uniform to wear and she’s chased around the school so they can forcefully take lewd photos of her. - FL’s friends Sunny, Julia and Winnie rush to her aid. Over 40+ students (male and female) are fighting against FL and her 3 friends. - FL’s subconscious takes over and the attackers look like monsters. She fights back as Troy Qi with superhuman abilities. Only when Zed Zhao shows up does FL regain her senses then faints. Rain protects FL and takes her to a safe place. - FL sees her stepfather demonstrate what a real man is during the parents conference over the brawl. He shows guts and wits, stating FL as the true victim who acted in self defense against mob mentality bullying. - Zed Zhao has been hired to monitor full time the students’ behaviour at Rumble High. Mr Talon Gu the guidance counselor secretly wants to use Zed to get rid of the fighting clubs and Principal Dante Wang. - Tori makes lunch for Zed and they have lunch together each day until Zed is reported to the Principal and told to stop. Tori is confused by her feelings for Zed. - Mary arranged a fake gang hold-up. Tori comes to Mary’s rescue and beats up the leader and former boxing club captain Hyena. When someone uses a knife, it triggers mental trauma for Tori and she blanks out. - Zed Zhao goes to check on the fighting clubs and is challenged by Yves at the boxing club. Zed defeats Yves after seeing him as Troy. - Zed is then challenged by Jonas Gui and they agree to meet off school grounds for their fight. Zed again shows his true fighting colours by picturing Troy to defeat Jonas. - Mary keeps testing Tori by having herself appear kidnapped by her own staff so Tori will give chase. Tori realises it’s all fake. - Kane returns and wants to take Tori to Japan to see a scientist called Professor Tim Saito about returning her consciousness. - Tori secretly meets Zed one night before she leaves. They spar and Zed finally realises that she’s Troy. - In Japan, after some initial tests Tori undergoes hypnosis and relives a memory of her abusive father. - Kane listens to the recording and confirms he heard Tori’s mother left her father who was a gambling addict that was often violent with them. - Saito thinks Tori might have dissociative identity disorder but emphasises that’s not for certain. It’s the closest scientific explanation at this point. - Tori as Troy starts to question his own existence. - Tori undergoes hypnotherapy again. Troy sees what really happened on the rooftop the day Tori committed suicide. She was meeting her birth father to give him money. He pretended to apologise for everything then left. Tori had sawn through the barrier and intended to push him off but couldn’t do it. In the end she saw the only way out was to jump herself. - Tori’s spirit tells Troy that as a girl, she’s been nothing but a burden to everyone around her, even to him. It’s because she was born a girl that her mother was treated badly by her grandmother and aunt, and why her father turned to gambling. Troy rejects her body but would’ve had no issues if she was a boy. She says sorry to Troy and disappears. - Tori as Troy is now convinced he’s real and will continue living through Tori’s body. He wants Kane to give up on bringing Tori back and to stay out of his way. - Tori as Troy, Kane and Michelle return home. - Bear challenged Zed to a match. While Zed also defeats him, Zed is impressed with Bear’s skills. - The next phase of the Rumble Apex begins with a series of elimination matches. The top 8 clubs and the Bokh (Mongolian wrestling), Koppojutsu, Sumo, and MMA clubs already qualify for the 3rd final round. - Zed, Rain and Mr Gu are the match judges. - In a shock win, Muay Thai defeats Boxing. - To motivate Jun Kim, Tori makes a bet that she’ll go out with him if he wins. After over 13mins of Tori dodging Jun’s intentionally missed kicks, words from Zed motivate Tori to unconsciously activate her Qi at last. They fight properly and Jun concedes before Tori can land the final blow. - Tori tests herself to confirm Troy has completely taken control over her body. She stays inside a closed locker and has no reaction. - Zed sees Tori and Jun at the school rooftop. After Tori rejects Jun’s confession, Zed interrupts to say she’s already got him. - The match between Kendo and Koppojutsu ends in a tie. Both are badly injured and can’t proceed to the next round. - Bokh vs Karate match also ended with a double defeat. - Bear won after he threw the Sumo Captain out of the ring. - Mr Gu announced the Sanda captain left school to fight professionally. He proposes Zed step in the ring instead against the Sambo Captain. - Later it’s reported a brawl started after outside fighters entered the school. They were called in by the Sambo Captain after he lost to Zed. He accused Mr Gu of sabotaging his chances to win. The Principal resigned because of this incident. - Tori goes with Zed to a ring where they spar. She agrees to accept his offer to be with him if he can beat her, and she activates her Qi. (Needs an epilogue: what about the asshole gambling father? What about Kane and Michelle? What about Alice’s back story?)

Ch 51 as of 12/12/21 ‘Aire’ is the quest / journey to find the Treasure of God that will unify the continent: A national event that is held in one kingdom every year. A member of the royal family is chosen to undertake the journey. The other royals are not permitted to assist the chosen Aire participant in any way during their journey. - FL is the intelligent and righteous Princess Elda de Springer. She surprises all by raising her hand 1st to volunteer for Aire, instead of the youngest Prince Ellock. This way she can also avoid the arranged political marriage expected of her since birth. She has been secretly training hard in swordplay for this moment. - ML is Vera, a gladiator slave and the current King of Gladiators. His main weapons are heavy chains that he controls and enchants with magic stones in his armour. He is chosen to be FL’s attendant for Aire. He has a deep hatred of FL (why?) - ML signs a contract with FL but she doesn’t tell him that it’ll be bound with magic. She can inflict pain on him through a spell and their lives are connected so if she dies he’ll die too. - Upon departure there are many bandits gathered to try and steal any valuables and kidnap the Princess to sell. Decoys are sent first but eventually the bandits find ML and FL. They fight their way through but are met by a group of skilled mercenaries, hired by an unknown sponsor for a large sum to steal the Aire shield and sword and capture the Princess alive. - A masked man kills some of the other bandits closing in and saves FL before the mercenary leader can chop off her limbs for her weapons. The mercenaries make their escape. The masked man is a close aide sent by the 2nd Prince to save FL and kill ML. - A horde of bandits descend towards FL and ML but are held back by the 1st Prince Ellion. He asks ML to take care of FL and lends them his horse til the city gates. - At the Holy City gates they are met by Ellock. He also asks ML to take care of FL. They receive supplies and a change of clothes for the journey. FL is also healed. - FL stops at a statue of Verato for ML’s benefit. Verato was the previous, long reigning King of Gladiators and a traitor’s son. He fought in the arena against ML’s mother and other war prisoners from the North. The King commanded her death despite the crowd calling for mercy. She fought with ML clutched to her breast and told Verato ML’s name before she died. - 10yo ML was sold back into the gladiator training centre and was defeated by Verato in the arena but ML’s life was spared and Verato became ML’s instructor and mentor. - Verato and ML became famous as a dynamic fighting duo. They tried to escape together but were recaptured and had to face their final match where one of them would die. FL was a witness to this duel as it was the 1st gladiator match she’d attended. - FL gains experience and skill as they progress. While stopping some bandits, ML returns to FL who has gone to rescue their supplies from goblins. FL is trapped in the goblin cave and faces a goblin horde, mage, giant and king. ML arrives after she’s already fought off many using the sacred shield and explosion abilities. She uses sacred sword to kill the giant and ML killed the king. FL used up her magic for the sacred abilities so ML took care of the last horde. - FL had to rest to recuperate her magic. ML took advantage of this and tied her up in her sleep. He demanded she break the spell on him so he could leave and join his friends. She told him the faults of his escape plan and she could still inflict pain using the prayer spell with her mind. He unties her and FL is disappointed they haven’t bonded yet after all they’ve been through. - A pair of buff adventurers Santore and Boa ask to join their camp and teaches them many tips about what they need on their journey. ML is embarrassed by the couple’s intimate relations at night. - They part ways with the adventurers, promising to meet again at the next village. FL and ML stop at a ruined temple with a statue of the Queen Aire. FL tells ML the start of her legend. - They’re found by the security team for the nearby village while sleeping undercover from the rain. They accept a job to guard the mage who is coming to put up a protective barrier against monsters around the village. - The mage uses the magic stone to avenge his sister and father who were killed by the village elders. He breaks the seal and summons demons to destroy the village. ML, FL and the other guards don’t know this and are fighting a dark elf and Odera the orc who are trying to prevent the demon invasion. FL realises something is wrong and convinces the security team leader to check on the mage. It’s too late as they smash open the door to see a horde of demonic beasts. Before they can smash the red magic stone, a gigantic demon monster appears. - The tower collapses and ML uses FL’s sacred sword to eventually defeat it in an epic battle. Odera goes to retrieve the mana stone while still fighting the smaller beasts. He’s thrown backwards as the true leader of the demon horde appears. The mage sacrificed himself and made a contract for hell to be made on earth. - Odera, FL and ML take the drug of orcs that allows a temporary awakening. They battle with an advanced resurrected version of the demon leader. ML was knocked out but later transforms into a huge demonic werebeast. FL and Odera drink the last of the drug and FL deals the final blows to defeat the demon leader. - 4 mysterious cloaked figures approach FL and ML at the end, the woman destroying the remnants of the demon. They give them some medicine then disappear by magic. - Everyone else go their separate ways once mostly recovered from the battle.

Ch 102 as of 28/11/21

Ch 110 as of 13/11/22 - Denji’s mother died from a heart condition (after he was born?) - When Denji was a boy, his father killed himself and left a massive debt that Denji has been trying to repay ever since. He sold some organs when he was older and works as a tree cutter. - Denji 16yo never went to school and lives in poverty in a rundown shack in Tokyo. He has simple dreams of living a normal life. - Pochita is a chainsaw dog demon that Denji made a contract with just after his father died. Denji let Pochita take his blood to heal from a severe wound. In exchange Pochita helps Denji hunt other demons. Pochita is Denji’s only friend and companion. - NB: demons recover by drinking blood. - Denji works hard as a demon hunter for the yakuza loan sharks. - One day the yakuza turn into zombies after being tricked into making a contract with a zombie demon. Denji and Pochita are chopped to pieces by the yakuza zombies. In a promise Denji made to Pochita earlier, Denji’s body is taken over by Pochita. - Denji’s and Pochita’s bodies merge. Pochita becomes Denji’s heart. Denji’s body fully recovers (including the missing organs) but he now has a cable pull in his chest. He turns into Chainsaw Man after he pulls the cable and slaughters the zombie demon and the yakuza zombies. - Public Safety Demon Extermination Special Division 4. - Makima, a senior public safety demon hunter. - She can smell demon scents. - She’s actually the powerful control demon. - Makima takes in Denji instead of killing him. She recognises he isn’t possessed by a demon. Pochita is still alive inside Denji. - If Denji ever quits or disobeys orders, he’ll be killed. - Aki Hayakawa, a public safety demon hunter. - Aki is contracted with the fox demon head (it’s body is in Kyoto). - Denji is assigned to Aki’s special squad and also lives with Aki. - 13yrs ago Aki’s family was killed by the gun demon before his eyes. Makima saved him. He hates and wants to destroy all demons. - Aki is also contracted to a curse demon. - When Aki uses the curse demon’s sword, it shortens Aki’s life. - Power, a fiend (a human possessed by a demon) taken in by Makima. Power is possessed by a blood demon. - She is egotistical and a pathological liar. - Meowy is a cat raised by Power and her only friend. - Denji is paired to patrol with Power. She betrays him to save Meowy who was held hostage by an injured bat demon in exchange for a human meal. The bat demon recovers from drinking Denji’s blood. It swallows Meowy and Power whole. - Denji turns into Chainsaw Man and slices the bat demon into pieces to retrieve Power and Meowy. A leech demon (the bat demon’s partner) attacks Denji who has lost too much blood for his body to recover. Aki destroys the leech demon with his fox demon and Ali’s squad saves Denji, Power and Meowy. - Denji refuses to confirm Power’s betrayal. - Power and Meowy are sent to live with Aki and Denji. - Makima promises to grant one wish to Denji if he destroys the gun demon who wiped out over 1 million people across several different countries 13yrs ago. They are still trying to locate the gun demon. - Small pieces of the gun demon’s body are slowly being collected. The pieces are attracted to each other and react when other pieces are nearby. Demons have enhanced powers after eating these pieces. - Himeno has a contract with a ghost demon. - Aki was paired with Himeno when he first joined Public Safety. - Arai Hirokazu 22yo, contracted with the fox demon. - Kobeni Higashiyama 20yo was forced by her parents to become a demon hunter to help pay for her older brother’s college tuition. She has 9 sisters. - Eternity demon: it has a piece of the gun demon. It offers a contract to let the squads of Himeno and Aki escape the eternal 8th floor of a hotel. In exchange for their freedom, it wants to eat Denji. - In the end Denji agrees to be eaten and turns into Chainsaw Man. He battles the eternity demon for days and recovers by drinking the demon’s blood. - Division 4 welcome party for the newbies: - Denji’s 1st kiss is a barf kiss from drunk Himeno. - The gun demon wants Denji’s heart … - Makima and Special Divisions 1 to 4 are simultaneously ambushed and attacked by a group who are targeting Denji. - Makima survives and uses her contract demon to kill many of the attackers. The other survivors are Denji, Power, Aki, and Kobeni. - Samurai Swordman is the grandson of the yakuza leader that Denji used to work for and then killed. - Akane Sawatari, an ex-civilian demon hunter contracted with a snake demon. - Himeno sacrificed herself and died to save Aki. - The fox demon head was injured and won’t be called by Aki. - The curse demon’s sword was used and Aki has 2yrs left. - Kurose and Tendo are from the Kyoto branch. Among the demons imprisoned by Public Safety, they introduce Aki to the future demon. Aki makes a contract in exchange for letting the future demon live in Aki’s right eye. Aki can now see the future but just a few seconds ahead. - Makima introduces Denji and Power to their new master, Kishibe the strongest demon hunter. He taught Himeno before. He once said that demons only fear demon hunters who are insane. - His plan to train Denji and Power is to hunt them like demons. Their training is complete when they can defeat him. - Makima most likely knew about the ambush and let it happen. - She obtains the names of the yakuza who made a contract with the gun demon to target Denji. - The non-human demon hunters of Division 4: - Princi is a spider demon. - Beam is a shark fiend who idolises Denji as Chainsaw Man. - Violence fiend: forced to wear a poison mask to restrain him. - Angel demon: anyone who touches him directly has their lifespan siphoned off. - Reze is Bomb Girl and an ally of the gun demon. - She was one of many orphan children used in secret experiments by the Russian military. She’s sent to assssinate Denji. - Reze befriends Denji. When he rejects her offer to run away with her, she attacks him. Beam saves Denji and alerts Aki at the Division 2 training facility. Reze arrives and blows up everything. - A typhoon demon arrives to help Reze but gets sliced up by Denji. Reze falls into the ocean with Denji when he wraps his chains around them and jumps into the water. In the end Denji lets Reze go but she is found and killed by Makima and the angel fiend. - The media broadcasts footage of Denji as Chainsaw Man from this latest incident. Makima warns Denji that assassins from all over the world will be targeting him now. 3 bodyguards are assigned to Denji as he patrols with Power. Denji is bait to draw out the assassins. - Demons never truly die. They go through an endless cycle of reincarnation. When they die on Earth, they revive in hell. When they die in hell, they revive on Earth. The last sound they hear when they die in hell is a chainsaw starting up … - Quanxi the 1st demon hunter. She’s from China and has 4 female fiends. Quanxi and Kishibe used to be partners in Public Safety. - 3 brothers from USA, contracted to a skin demon. - Santa Claus from Germany, contracted to a doll demon. - Tolka and his Master who is actually Santa Claus. She is also contracted to a curse demon and a hell demon. - Santa Claus sent everyone to hell and made a contract with the darkness demon to have the power to kill Makima. - Makima appears in hell and makes the darkness demon return everyone to Earth. Denji and Quanxi fight Santa Claus, ultimately winning. Quanxi surrenders but is killed by Makima. - Beam, Princi and the violence fiend are dead. - Aki lost an arm and the angel fiend lost both arms. - Power has nightmares and is afraid of the dark. - Aki takes Denji and Power to Hokkaido to visit his family’s gravesite. They distract him from his usual depressing thoughts. - Aki asks Kishibe for his squad to be excluded from the expedition to eliminate the gun demon. He’s traumatised from his time in hell and doesn’t want to see anyone else die who are close to him. - Makima informs Aki that Denji and Power will still go on the expedition. Aki changes his mind and will be the guardian for Denji and Power. Makima reveals the gun demon has already been defeated and confined. The gun demon’s body not consumed by other demons is being kept by different countries. - The gun demon is being used as a deterrent to prevent global warfare. Makima’s goal for the expedition is to recover the gun demon’s body from other countries. USA attempt to kill Makima by making a contract with the gun demon. - Makina activates the abilities of those under her control to face the gun demon. Aki is possessed by the gun demon to become the gun fiend and goes on a rampage against Denji. Aki is killed by Denji. - Denji is in despair and asks for help from Makima. - For his wish after killing the gun fiend, Denji asks to be Makima’s dog so he doesn’t have to think for himself anymore. - Makima kills Power and gets Denji to turn into Chainsaw Man. - She wants Chainsaw Man for herself and under her control. - Makima wanted to make Denji give up his heart by improving his life so he’d feel it was too painful to keep living if he lost it all. - Makima set up Denji the Chainsaw Man to be seen as a hero. Demons gain strength from people’s fear of them. Chainsaw Man weakens as more people aren’t afraid of him. - Chainsaw Man has the ability to make the names of devils he consumes get wiped from existence. - Earlier Power got Denji to drink her blood when she was scared. Pochita lets Power who is present in the blood Denji swallowed to eat him and recover. Power emerges from Denji and fights Makima then hides with Denji in a dumpster. - Power gives her blood to Denji and dies. - Denji recovers and Kishibe offers to help free him from Makima. - They hide in a bunker for now. Denji wants to live as Chainsaw Man and hatches a plan to defeat Makima. - Using the last of Power’s blood inside him and part of his heart, Denji creates a clone of himself. After Makima thinks she’s defeated Chainsaw Man, Denji as himself uses a chainsaw to cut her into pieces. He makes meals from her body and consumes her completely. Makima is finally gone. - Denji realised Makima only recognised others by their scent and didn't really see individual faces unless she was interested in them. She never saw him as Denji so she didn’t know what he looked like and he was able to surprise her. - Kishibe found a girl in China called Nayuta and brought her back to Japan. She’s the reincarnated control devil, with no memories of her past life. In Denji’s dreams, Pochita says Denji can fulfill the control demon’s wish by being a family to her. - Asa Mitaka. Her parents were killed by demons. - She’s possessed by a war demon called Yoru. - She goes to the same high school as Denji. - Yoshida, contracted with an octopus demon (?) - He’s assigned to keep an eye on Denji to make sure his identity as Chainsaw Man remains a secret. - Public Safety are gone. Denji continues to fight demons for free because he enjoys the fame and popularity that comes with being a hero. He plans to expose his true identity one day to attract women. - Yuko, contracted with the justice demon - Her parents were killed by demons. - She was bullied in middle school and decides to get rid of the bullies in high school. Asa tries to stop her. - ML turns into Chainsaw Man and slices up Yuko but she manages to escape. Later she visits Asa …

Ch 278.6 as of 10/03/23

Ch 105 as of 14/04/22 - also on Tapas - ML is 26yo Seol Jihoo who was born with the ability to sense danger and safe outcomes in his surroundings (“Nine Eyes”). - ML lost that ability after overusing it while gambling. - His addiction led him to lose his girlfriend, and his family turned their backs on him. All he did was smoke, drink and gamble. - His ability returns after he suddenly awakens with the feelings and regrets from the last spear hero, “Phantom Spear” (tbc: Sung Shihyun from 2yrs ago?). Those past memories appear as dreams. - Hanna Kim (Miss Foxy) of Shinyoung Pharmaceutical - ML signs a contract with Hanna and negotiates a gold invitation to the tutorial event. He must pass several deadly missions. - A portal sent ML to an alternate reality. He’s instructed to go to the Paradise High School. There he meets a gathering of diverse strangers. Everyone can only view their own status window. - Han the guide tells everyone to activate their marking grade. - ML is the only one with a gold marking. Those with bronze, silver and gold markings receive a bag with random bonus boxes. Those with bags were all invited. - ML’s bonuses help to evolve his Nine Eyes ability. - ML also has “Future Vision / Foresight” as his other innate ability. Nine Eyes: Green - General observation (incl. other status windows) Yellow - Attention required Orange - Do not approach Red - Immediate retreat recommended Black - Escape immediately. (used potion) Gold - Golden commandment. (used potion) 1st mission: Escape the auditorium (Phantom monster) 2nd mission: (Make it through all of the traps) 3rd mission: Scavenger hunt (coins), “Time of the Dead” - ML has the highest survival point tally in history (21,500) as he enters the neutral zone. He’s awarded a golden key embossed with “no.1” to signify his top ranking. - The goal of this place is to increase one’s chances of survival. It’s a place that’s optimised for training and growth. - Survival points are the currency used in the neutral zone. - There’s a 3mth deadline (initially a fake 1mth deadline was given). - Points may also be lent or transferred. - The VIP store is managed by a god. The minimum price for an item starts from 30k points. - NB: for ML the restaurants and general stores are all free. Those with a gold marking get 30% off, and those with 1st place get 70% off, which makes it a total of 100% off. - Mission: Underground maze - Mission: Army of skeletons. (returns again w/ spear) - ML visits the VIP store. He was given a note from the guide that mentioned using “competence” to raise his physical abilities faster. The special “competence” from the VIP store is a super rare limited edition item that’s released when the neutral zone opens. One vial can increase the effectiveness of training. Once taken, one day of training will yield the results from 8 days of training. ML buys all 60 vials and spends his time initially on basic physical training. - Maria Yerial, a money hungry, high level priest and healer. She was the “fake mute” assistant of the guide during the tutorial. - Clare Agnes, the demonic instructor who offered to assist ML with his training in the neutral zone. - The Awakening: when a class is assigned by the 7 gods. There are 4 basic classes (warrior - most common, archer - less common, priest - rare, mage - most rare). ML was deemed suitable to be a mage but he preferred to be a warrior. - The Golden Commandment: Do unto others as you would have done unto you. - After a month of enduring training, ML is permitted by Clare Agnes to undertake missions again. He collects enough points to buy some potions from the VIP store. A couple of these potions help to further evolve “Nine Eyes”. New class abilities: - Mana application - Basic spearmanship: thrust - Yun Seora, silver marking. Her class is warrior. Her arm was badly injured during the tutorial. If she doesn’t get her arm healed soon, it’ll have to be amputated. - Hanna Kim visited ML and asked him to save Yun Seora as a favour. She mentions the Golden Commandment. - ML uses his new “gold eyes” and finds an unconscious Yun Seora. He asks Maria Yerial to heal Seora. Maria asks for 82k to cover the cost of the ceremony and materials. - Maria conducts the ceremony which successfully heals Seora, but at a great physical toll on Maria. She tells ML that he owes her. - ML borrowed the points from a team of top foreign players. - He was able to pay them back by completing difficult missions with them over 2 days. - To repay ML, Seora, Sungjin and Seolah undergo training with Clare Agnes. - Lee Sungjin, bronze marking. His class is warrior. - Lee Seolah, bronze marking. Her class is archer. She died while saving her brother Sungjin from the Phantom during the tutorial. She came back to life from the combined efforts of Sungjin and ML with a potion of revival from Seora. - Mission: Seige. Impossible level of difficulty. - The last mission on the board, ML undertakes this by himself. - ML manages to clear the mission with a random spell generated that caused a massive earthquake. - The end of the trial in the neutral zone is declared. - All of the players exit and go their separate ways. - ML returns home and has himself banned from the casino. He tries to make amends with his family and ex-girlfriend, but no one believes him. ML finds Hanna Kim and asks to return. - Paradise (Arthia): a medieval fantasy world with monsters and magic. Earthlings are recruited to join the Confederation to fight against the Parasite Queen who has invaded Paradise. - The 7 gods summoned Earthlings and bestowed them with powers. The gods overlooked the selfish and greedy nature of humans. Note: - It’s possible to return to Earth and come back to Paradise. - If an Earthling dies in Paradise, they are revived on Earth but all memories of Paradise are wiped. Many can’t cope and go insane then commit suicide. Carpe Diem team: - Dylan, L5 ark shooter and team leader - Hugo, L4 barbarian warrior - Cho Hong, L4 holy warrior - (Boomer aka Jang Maldong, retired, creator of Carpe Diem, greatest trainer in Paradise history. Also trained Claire Agnes.) Tomb of the Saintess: - ML is already famous as the top ranked, gold mark irregular. - ML joins the Carpe Diem team as part of a larger group for his 1st expedition as a L1 warrior. They head for the Forest of Negativity / Denial (emotions trigger the spell of denial). - Prof. Ian, L4 alchemist, mage of the Haramag royal family. - They are attacked by a group of lioner monsters that probably killed another party before them. After ML saves Ian, he’s accepted as an expedition party member and not just a porter mule. - The goal of the expedition was to raid the tomb of its artifacts. ML used the “quill pen of conscious flow” (obtained during the tutorial) to learn that the consciousness in the tomb had deadly killing intent. He warns the party with Cho Hong before they open the doors. - Ian explains a young woman chose to be buried alive with her dead husband and became known as a Saintess. She is most likely a ghost protecting the tomb. ML conducts a simple offering ritual to appease the ghost. Using his Nine Eyes and the quill pen, it seems they have permission to approach as long as they don’t disturb her eternal slumber. - Despite the other riches in the tomb room, some other members succumb to their greed and secretly take the artifacts from the tomb of the Saintess. The ghost is enraged and kills those responsible. ML gathers the stolen artifacts and tries to take them back. - ML meets the Saintess in a vision and he apologises. He had tried to stop the others earlier and protected her tomb with his life. She said that’s the 1st time anyone has done that. - The vision ends and the Saintess has gifted him with artifacts from her tomb, the “Proof of Chastity” (casts holy spells, gives the owner the authority of a L6 mage) and her earrings. - The earrings greatly increase the speed of the user when imbued with mana. ML wears them and practices how to control his speed. - Later Dylan invites ML to join Carpe Diem. ML accepts. Fort Arden: - The royal court issued an Earthling conscription. Contact has been lost with Fort Arden that borders parasite territory, indicating a parasite invasion. Princess Teresa Hussey arrived 1st with her personal army. - The Princess has a strategy meeting with the Earthlings on how to defeat the medusa, which is spawning and controlling the parasites. - After using his Foresight, ML presents an alternate plan. - As the Princess led the cavalry, Ian cast spells to trap the parasites in the valley. ML used his speed to locate the medusa. Dylan and ML take down the medusa, which stops the control over the parasites. Carpe Diem, the other Earthlings and soldiers destroy the remaining parasites. The invasion is defeated and the Fort is saved. - As a reward, Princess Teresa gives a special spear to ML. - While visiting the temple, ML hears the voice of the goddess Gula. She says he’ll know everything when the stars (of destiny) shine brightly once again. She grants the unique and exclusive class of mana-lancer (L2) to ML. - (NB: The Princess with her royal oath and Gula were the ones who sent the last spear hero’s memories to ML) Ramman Village: - Dylan wants ML to lead a team with Cho Hong as a member. - ML invites Maria Yerial (at a high cost) and Cho Hong invited 3 others (Mihael, Veronica, Gearschall) to complete the party. - The mission is a periodic mutant subjugation at the village. Mutants appear every 4mths in the night fog region. - The team patrol the region that night and are attacked by large grey mutants. Magic / holy power is needed to destroy them and stop them from regenerating. - ML discovers an artificial hill and they find a door that was covered with dirt. The team descend into the hill and find a small study space, then a magic circle further in. The village mayor appears behind them and tries to get them to return to the village. The team decides to explore further. - Suddenly a tentacle grabs Gearschall and drags him away. - The rest follow and find a huge mutant nest with deadly tentacles. They save Gearschall but are struggling in their fight against the nest. Veronica and Mihael are knocked out while Gearschall flees. - Cho Hong activates “Valkyrie Skirt”, a L4 top level holy spell. While incredibly powerful, it only lasts 30-40sec. - ML protected Maria as she cast a spell. Cho Hong protected them both but the tentacles pierced her body and she collapsed. - Gearschall was recaptured by the nest and consumed to heal itself. - ML was possessed by a killing aura and he activated a skill accessible only to Unique Rank Warriors, L7 Highlander’s Secret Art: Sword Qi Wave. ML literally shreds the nest into oblivion with his spear. He collapses and can’t remember what happened. - Maria is able to heal Cho Hong. - The village mayor is a former mage of the Empire (that has since fallen to the Parasite Queen). He specialised in magical engineering and he created the mutant nest for the protection of the village. Parasites wouldn’t invade a village where Earthlings were often seen while subjugating mutants. - ML decides to leave the mayor alone and just accepts the rewards for the mission. Rescue mission: - As Maria returns to her temple, she sees Ian and Clare Agnes both badly injured and being carried in on stretchers. - ML finds out about Ian and Clare being the only survivors of a failed mission. Dylan, Hugo and the Princess were captured. - The Parasite Queen is planning to mass produce mutant orcs, that are faster and less costly than ogres. They’ve built a production research facility and use captives to impregnate them. - ML learns the facility is in the lab that the village mayor used to work in as a mage. ML returns to see the mayor and obtains a detailed map of the lab, including a secret passage. - After ML returns and shares this, a rescue starts to seem possible. ML, Cho Hong and Ian are included in the rescue team. - Ian creates a magic circle and teleports the team to the facility. Ian stays with the circle which will remain open for 30mins. The team of 5 proceed to search for survivors. - ML was given the piece of radium by the mayor and uses it to command the lesser monsters not to attack. The team pass orcs that are at a standstill. ML enters a room and sees Hugo suspended above by a large hook piercing his back. - ML uses the radium on the orcs in the room to bring Hugo down. Hugo is healed and goes back with Cho Hong. The rest of the team continue. In a torture chamber, the brother of a team member lies on a table. His body is mutilated with monster parts attached. - On another table lies what remains of Dylan’s torso. They summon back his consciousness and bring him peace in death, while holding ML back. They rescue a female knight who was immersed in a liquid aphrodisiac. A team member takes her back. - Ayase Kazuki the team leader and an Earthling finds his sister but it’s too late and he kills her. Kazuki and ML separate to look for Princess Teresa. ML finds the Princess in a separate torture chamber. ML escapes with the Princess but they missed the portal by mere seconds because ML was shot by a sniper. They hid and recovered in the mayor’s disguised hideout. - When ML and the Princess emerged, they had to trek for days across a barren and harsh landscape infested by parasites and monsters. They are rescued by Michael the fallen angel who confirms he and his team bombed the research facility. - Michael and his team carry the Princess and ML as they fly over the Forest of Denial. Some of the team are hit by snipers, including the one carrying ML. - On the ground ML is surrounded by sniper monsters. - ML calls out desperately for help and the Saintess hears him. She kills the monsters and asks ML to come back and see her again soon. ML gets to the Luxuria temple where he is fully healed. - The Saintess gave ML a special arm brace called Blessing of Ter Circum that activates a temporary shield. It’s protection is based on the 3 orders of matter, magic and method. - Luxuria’s daughter? (Seo Yuhui?) - Yun Seohui, Director of Shinyoung Pharmaceutical - Cho Hong and Hugo are going back to Earth for a rest. - ML is told to do the same by Hanna Kim. - Hanna tells ML that it’s his parents’ wedding anniversary. ML goes to their place with a gift but his father and sister Jinhee tell him to get lost. His gift was knocked over and trampled on as the rest of the family go inside. ML goes home and is comforted by Hanna. - Suddenly a car arrives from Shinyoung to take ML to meet Yun Seora. ML finds out Seora is Yun Seohui’s sister. ML agrees to be a fake employee under the division Seora manages. - ML spends 10 days in total back on Earth. His family doesn’t even contact him once after he visited them. - ML returns to Paradise and is invited to dinner by Princess Teresa. He meets King Prihi Hussey, her father. - King Prihi gives bars of gold as ML’s reward. ML asks for this to be spent on relocating the Ramman villagers to the city instead. The King will also partially contribute to appeasing the Saintess. - The King lets ML choose items from his equipment storage as part of his reward. ML chooses a special mace called Thorn of Steel for Cho Hong and for himself, a magic permanent pocket that can hold much more than it appears. L2 … L3 mana-lancer abilities: - Magic throwing spear - mana throw - aura - Qi circulation arts - ML is training at Carpe Diem and is struggling to make headway. He meets Jang Maldong who has come to visit. - Maldong gives ML tips to correct his technique. - Maldong was going to return soon back to Earth. He meets the Ramman village mayor who stopped by to say thank you to ML. Later Ian asked Maldong to reconsider and stay to train ML. - Maldong asked ML’s reason for coming to Paradise. ML replied it’s a place he feels like he belongs and where he could make a new life for himself. ML confirmed he would be sad if Paradise disappeared. - Maldong advises that he’ll stay in Paradise. - Cho Hong is now L5 Templar, a high ranker. - Umi Tsubame, one of the best teams in the area. Led by Ayase Kazuki. Carpe Diem are invited by Kazuki to form an alliance with his team for the Banquet. - Maldong takes ML, Hugo, Kazuki and Agnes to the mountains to train. They locate the mayor’s hideout and Maldong tests ML by having him fight a group of cave etins by himself. - The training for ML is brutal, intense and relentless. - After a month, Cho Hong arrived to pick them up. Agnes and Kazuki already left earlier. - The Banquet party consists of ML, Cho Hong, Hugo, Maria, Kazuki, Sakamoto Jun (L4 Shiv Striker), and a L5 female priest with a secret identity. - The Banquet occurs every 2yrs and has 3 stages. - The location of Stage 3 is set within a ghost ship. - After stage 2, you can obtain the Displaced Wish reward. - After stage 3, you can obtain the Matching Wish reward. - ML’s team travel to the entrance to the Banquet. - There are 5 entrances which means up to 50 people may enter. ML’s team enter but only ML and Maria are together from the same team. The others with them are from different teams. - ML is in a room with Maria and 5 other women. - A door appears when the 8th person arrives but he dies from his wounds. They proceed through the door and are faced by more doors in the next room. They go through 40 doors, facing monsters in each room. The cold knight led the way with ML supporting her and the sharp eyed ranger giving intel on the monsters she sensed through each door. - After the 40th door, a trap was triggered and the walls revealed arrows that shot out from both sides. Maria created a barrier that protected those in the middle. ML used his arm brace to protect the knight and the ranger with him. - The cold knight gets angry at the ones who are just following behind without doing anything. She challenges them to get through the next 20 doors on their own. The archer and the swordwoman slowly get through 8 doors then the swordswoman is injured. - The priestess observed that opposing pairs of clashing personalities made up the group. Only ML might be able to make the difference between confrontation and reconciliation as “one who leads.” ML takes control and assigns roles while offering to take the lead. He agrees to clear 40 doors to reassure the cold knight. - They work out that it’s a rectangular structure. They take turns clearing the rooms until they reach the centre. - The floor elevates the group and flies them to the top of a mountain. They saw other people fighting monsters on the way up. - Oh Rahee, the cold knight. - As more people arrive, those from ML’s group rejoin their original teams. Almost everyone from ML’s team made it. Jun is missing. - With Stage 1 complete, portals open that go to Stage 2. - There are 3 options: - The Plaza of Sacrifice: min. 6 people must enter to activate. Level of difficulty varies. Exit opens when either all enemies or all challengers are eliminated. - The Plaza of the Dissonant Wish: It activates every time the Plaza of Sacrifice activates. Only max. of 6 people may enter. The Dissonant Wish can be obtained. The red portal goes to either Paradise or Stage 3. The exit returns to Stage 2. - Miscellaneous: Only 10 people may enter Stage 3. Defeating the Plaza of Sacrifice 20 times will disable the entry limit for the Plaza of the Dissonant Wish (all may enter). - ML brings the stronger and weaker players together to cooperate. They divide into teams for each doorway of the Plaza of Sacrifice. They choose 6 people to get their rewards from the Plaza of the Dissonant Wish and return.

Ch 4 as of 04/09/21

Ch 33 as of 21/03/22 - Gi Suk, works for the Joo Un group? or the Joowoon family? - Gi Jun, older brother of Gi Suk. He’s a natural born fighter that was considered the best over 15yrs ago. - Gi Jun used to work for the Bongsan group under Suk Dong Gu’s father. (tbc) He feels responsible for dragging Gi Suk into the gangster life? (tbc) Suk Dong Gu’s father cut the tendons in one leg when Gi Ju left the Bongsan group? Gi Ju now walks with a permanent limp. - Yong Jun Lee 64yo, head of the Joo Un group - Hae Bum Cheon, subordinate of Gi Suk? Director of the Joowoon family? - Suk Dong Gu 64yo, head of the Bongsan group - Jun Gu 26yo, 1st son of Suk Dong Gu - Chun Sik Kim 40yo, a director of Bongsan - Byung Chul, a friend of Gi Jun from the same hometown. - Suk Dong Gu asked Yong Jun Lee to send Gi Suk to help manage a restaurant called The Boss owned by Jun Gu. After Gi Suk assesses the food and the venue, he suggests improvements to Jun Gu. After Jun Gu blows smoke in Gi Suk’s face, Gi Suk slaps Jun Gu. Jun Gu’s men attack Gi Suk who fights them off. Chun Sik Kim arrives and interrupts the fight. Chun Sik Kim mentions that Gi Jun is the delivery man to this restaurant. Gi Suk orders Jun Gu to make changes to the restaurant then leaves. - Jun Gu hires a group of high school thugs to kill Gi Suk. Unarmed and alone, Gi Suk is attacked in a car park and dies after he’s stabbed. Gi Jun confirms Gi Suk’s body at the morgue of the police station. The one who stabbed Gi Suk was arrested and charged. - Suk Dong Gu and Jun Gu attend Gi Suk’s funeral. They meet Yong Jun Lee there. Suk Dong Gu throws hot food in Jun Gu’s face for his disrespectful words about Gi Jun. - Gi Jun starts hunting down those responsible for Gi Suk’s murder. - Gi Jun finds 2 of the high school thugs that attacked Gi Suk and even took a video of the attack. Gi Jun beats them up and takes the mobile with the video. Gi Jun visits the gangsters who met with the high schoolers. After beating them up, he’s told by their leader that they received orders from N-Clean, a company known for its cleaning products and services. - Sung Won Sim, head of N-Clean - Gi Jun goes to the N-Clean office and insists on seeing Sung Won Sim. Gi Jun beats up the N-Clean men and smacks around Sung Won Sim until he obtains the list of 12 people hired to attack Gi Suk. He doesn’t ask for the name of the one who commissioned the hit. Instead Sung Won Sim passes on the message from Gi Suk to Jun Gu: “Did you think I wouldn’t find you.” - Gi Jun gives the list to the gangsters he beat up before. He wants them to find out everything about those on the list. Included on the list is the younger brother of the one who stabbed Gi Suk. - Gi Jun starts going through the list and severely injures each of them, making them disabled for life. - Lee Geumson 36yo, a lawyer at the Gichang law firm. Oldest grandson of the Joowoon family. His firm is defending the one who stabbed Gi Suk. They make a deal to have the other high schoolers protect his younger brother from Gi Suk, and in exchange he’ll take out 1 more person for Lee Geumson after he gets out from prison. - All of those left on the list surround Gi Jun after he followed the younger brother into an internet cafe. Gi Jun quickly defeats all of them. He leaves the younger brother intact. - Gi Jun takes everyone’s mobiles and gives them to the gangsters (he beat up before) to help connect the high schoolers to Gi Suk’s murder case. He gives the apartment he inherited from Gi Suk to the gangsters as a reward. - 16-17yrs ago in Busan, a hotel under the Namgyeon group approached the newly independent Bongsan group for help. - It’s a trap and Suk Dong Gu with his men that are staying at the hotel are beaten up and taken to an empty warehouse. Gi Jun is the only one to subdue his attackers. He arrives at the warehouse and single handedly defeats the Namgyeon group. - Gi Jun meets Suk Dong Gu and Yong Jun Lee. - They try to stop Gi Jun from taking this matter any further. Gi Jun intends to see it through to the end, even if that means having to face the Bongsan group and anyone else involved. - Jun Gu makes Chun Sik Kim contact 3 strong fighters that Gi Jun defeated in the past. Jun Gu hopes they hold a grudge and want to teach Gi Jun a lesson. - From one of the high schoolers’ mobiles, the location of a pay phone was found. The booth is located near the Gichang law firm. Gi Suk was working on a case for them before he died. - Gi Jun goes to Gi Suk’s apartment and is attacked by the 3 fighters called by Chun Sik Kim. Gi Jun badly beats up the fighters and uses one of their mobiles to call Chun Sik Kim. While Gi Jun has Sung Won Sim come with his men to clean up, Gi Jun gets Chun Sik Kim to pass the phone to Jun Gu. Gi Jun wants to meet Jun Gu within a week and lets Jun Gu determine the date, time and place. - Hae Bum Cheon met with Lee Geumson … - Gi Jun goes to Byung Chul’s sporting goods store and orders a customised bat. Gi Jun takes the bat with him to meet Jun Gu at The Boss restaurant. A group of 11 men are waiting outside. Gi Jun takes them all down. Gi Jun goes to Jun Gu’s office. Jun Gu is waiting with Incheol, a professional fighter.

Ch 57 as of 13/12/22 - art is ok, story is interesting - ML was Baek Joong Hyuk, the all powerful leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect in a wuxia world of murim / cultivation. - He is reborn as Roman Dimitry 25yo, a trashy and useless oldest son who committed suicide after being conscripted to go to war. - ML’s father is Romero, a famous blacksmith who was made a Baron in the Kyro / Cairo kingdom on the Salamander continent. The Dimitry family are now one of the wealthiest and most powerful in the NE region. - Roman was the only child that experienced the hard life of a commoner before his father became a Baron. He has 2 siblings. - Romero’s warmth and unconditional support of his son is completely different to the cold and ruthless treatment from ML’s father in his past life. ML had to prove he was the strongest in a world of survival of the fittest. - Rodwell Dimitry, 2nd son and heir. - Rihanna Dimitry, ML’s mother - Hans, ML’s personal servant - Sir Jonathan, Captain of the Dimitry Knights, 3* aura - Sir Chris, Vice Captain of the Dimitry Knights, 2* aura - ML publicly punished members of Blood Fang, a gang of violent and ruthless loan sharks, after they insulted him. They were beating up Kevin, a young commoner. Kevin’s family borrowed money to buy land for farming. Blood Fang destroyed their crops which made it impossible to pay back the loan. Blood Fang were really after Kevin’s younger sister. - Lady Flora Lawrence wants to cancel the arranged engagement with ML. He agrees and tells his father who is furious. Romero tells ML to solve the problem with Blood Fang himself. - ML defeats Blood Fang members at a bar using his martial arts. He learns their HQ is on Lawrence territory. ML defeats the rest of Blood Fang then publicly executes their leader Ben Miles at the local square. - ML is questioned by Viscount Lawrence for executing someone on Lawrence territory without permission. ML says he didn’t trust the Lawrence family to do anything about Blood Fang so he took care of it himself. Viscount Lawrence lets it go as he still thinks ML is his daughter’s fiancé. - ML says he’s been secretly training in swordsmanship when Romero asks how ML defeated Blood Fang. ML has a duel with Chris to prove his skills to Romero. ML’s speed and skills in defence, dodging and attacking are impressive. He wins when he counter attacks after dodging a sudden aura attack from Chris. - ML is hailed as a genius swordsman. - Abundant mana exists in nature. - Knights store mana throughout their body. - This stored mana can strengthen one’s physical body. - Aura: a subset of mana usage. Aura is manifested by focusing and erupting the stored mana in one’s body outwards, into a single point. - The minimum requirement for aura knights is to be able to sense mana. You’re a 1* aura knight when you can manifest aura. - To become a 2* aura knight, you must be able to cut steel using aura. The intensity and strength of your aura determines your rank. - ML learns about aura and mana from Chris. - Seeing the similarities with Qi, ML can already sense mana and he manifests his aura immediately (rather than in years). - Chris is shocked and begs ML to teach him how to be stronger. - ML says Chris needs to question the training methods he’s been using and to not take them for granted. Chris can follow ML and learn from what ML does to find the answers for himself. - ML is willing to still go to the battlefield in 6mths and Romero allows ML to select his own men. Chris is the first to volunteer, followed by Kevin who pledges his life and loyalty to ML. - ML reads about mana and magic. He wants to gain experience and ensure he lives a life he can be satisfied with. - The 12 Blades of the Continent: - 12 people who have reached the 6* rank. - ML meditates alone for a week to train his body. - In ML’s past life, Qi was used to remove all waste and impurities from the body to be able to store Qi in the body. He uses mana in the same way. ML emerges transformed and purified. Mana is circulating throughout his body, a rare feat for this world. - Mana circulation: mana from nature circulates within the body to improve physical capabilities, ie recover from fatigue, maintain an optimum state, etc. - Viscount Lawrence arrives with Flora to see ML. - The Viscount wanted the marriage to strengthen the Lawrence family against the threat of the Barco family. - ML refuses to proceed with the engagement as Flora had already made up her mind from the nasty rumours about ML, without judging for herself what ML was really like. - Anthony Barco, oldest son of a Viscount. - The Barcos’ power comes from their connection with the central government. The Barcos recently took out large bank loans which means they’re preparing for war against the Lawrences. - Rumours about ML taking drugs after he attended a Barco party has ML suspicious about the real cause behind his death. - ML didn’t detect any drugs in his body while he was meditating. - The Barcos most likely wanted to get rid of Roman to prevent the Dimitrys from being an obstacle to their conquest of the Lawrence territory. ML accepts an invitation to another Barco party in 2wks. - Kevin has the will and determination to grow stronger. - For Kevin to become ML’s sword, ML starts teaching Kevin the mana enhancement technique based on the Mad Demon from ML’s past life. It’s a dangerous technique that allows the user to display power under extreme pain. ML promises that if Kevin masters this technique, he’ll have the strength to protect everything around him. - In frustration, Chris asks to be taught as well. ML has Chris spar with Kevin. Unknown to Chris, ML guides Kevin through sound conduction by connecting their mana. Chris wins which means ML will teach Chris personally. Chris knows that he actually lost to the same moves made by ML when they sparred. - Instead of having ML instruct him, Chris decides to continue to learn through his own observations and to think for himself in order to reach his own understanding and enlightenment. - Before the Barco party, ML memorised everything about all of the NE noble families. Chris and Kevin are ML’s knight escorts for the party. ML shocks the party guests with his new appearance and demeanour. His wit and charm impress everyone. - Anthony Barco meets ML in a private room. Anthony thinks he manipulated ML into breaking the engagement with Flora. - Roman was set up to believe he’d slept with Anthony’s cousin Emily at the previous party. - ML suddenly recalls Roman’s memory of what happened. Anthony threatened Roman to marry into the Barco family or risk having the honour and reputation of his family ruined. - ML ignores Anthony’s threat and refuses to marry into the Barco family. ML knows the Dimitry family is more powerful than the Barcos. He threatens Anthony with the Dimitrys joining hands with the Lawrences instead. - As ML leaves the party, he sees a Barco knight hitting Kevin. ML repeatedly slaps the face of the Barco knight until Anthony comes out. ML repeats his warning and Anthony agrees with ML’s punishment of the Barco knight. - NB: The Salamander continent consists of 2 empires and 6 kingdoms. The Kyro / Cairo kingdom is small and weak. - ML receives info on the Barco family that he commissioned from Black Moon, the info guild. The loan taken out by the Barcos was used to hire the Berge mercenary company that has around 100 mercenaries. The Barcos are also conscripting their people. - Lucas, B-rank mercenary. He is yet to awaken his mana. - He’s returned to the Dimitry territory after 2yrs away. - There’s a recruitment notice for 30 private soldiers under ML only (not the Dimitry family). There are over 500 applicants. - After Kevin’s family were moved from the slums and given a house and land of their own, rumours spread about ML caring for his people. If you earn ML’s trust, he could change your life. - ML aspires to be the most powerful on the continent. - ML is a predator who must live a life of domination. - The private soldier trials: the 1st trial is to stand still as 3 arrows are shot at you. ML hired 4 men to be non-fatally struck by arrows. - ML wanted to show the applicants that they’d be putting their lives on the line. ML wants to recruit those with a strong mentality and the heart of a beast that has the courage to suppress their fears. The first person struck by an arrow filters out 100 people who leave. - 2nd trial: a duel with ML. 120 applicants remain. - The purpose of this trial is to show ML’s incredible skills to those who’ll be following him. - Using any means necessary, Lucas throws sand into ML’s eyes. - In ML’s past life, he was taught to keep his eyes open no matter the situation. A blink could cost your life. - In the end, none of the applicants passed the 2nd trial. - 30 applicants were still selected. Lucas is included. - The Barco family declare that the Lawrence family have within a week to either pay their debts or hand over their land that was set as collateral. After a week, the Barcos have permission from the central government to start a territorial war against the Lawrences. - ML tells Romero that he’ll be intervening in the war between the Barcos and the Lawrences. He has just cause to fight the Barcos and will do so under his name only. Romero offers his support and gets ML to visit the Dmitry blacksmiths for armour and weapons. - Master Hendrick, oversees the Dmitry blacksmiths. - A few years ago, Roman was desperate for money and stole a sword that was Hendrick’s masterpiece. Roman sold it for a price far below it's worth. - Master Hendrick apologises to ML for using a personal grudge to provide substandard weapons that would endanger the lives of ML’s men. He promises to produce armour and weapons of the highest quality for ML. - ML uses his training space (which is an unused forge) to create his own sword which he calls Salamander. In ML’s past life, he taught himself to be a blacksmith so he could forge his own sword. - The Barcos and the Lawrences engage in siege warfare. - The Barcos have a magic catapult that can destroy the castle walls. - ML and his men will target the catapult. - Berge, leader of the Berge Mercenary Company. - He’s an A-rank mercenary and a 2* aura knight. - ML kills Berge within seconds. Then ML uses a sword technique to destroy the catapult. The Barco army retreat. - Single combat / warrior battle: 1-on-1 duel - Chris wins against a 3* aura knight. ML uses one strike to kill Homeros the wandering knight, 4* aura knight and no. 49 ranker. - Kevin fights Benson, the knight who insulted him before. Kevin awakens the Mad Demon within himself and kills Benson. - After winning all 3 matches, Lawrence claims victory over Barco. - The Barco family have mounting debts and interest from their loans. They also have to pay compensation to the guild for Homeros’ death and for the catapult. Viscount Barco wants to hold ML accountable. He accuses ML of interfering in the dispute between Barco and Lawrence without just cause. - ML reveals his cause against Barco was because of Anthony. - ML demands a duel with Anthony if the Barcos want to avoid a war with the Dimitrys. Anthony begs for his life and asks for forgiveness. ML shows no mercy and kills Anthony. - Viscount Barco tries to run away from his debts late at night. ML secretly kills the Viscount. The Dimitrys are now the central, most powerful family in the NE. - Master Jacob, oversees the Dimitry iron mines. - The blacksmiths and the iron ore miners are the backbone of the Dimitry territory. ML voluntarily works in the mines to fully understand, empathise and coexist with the Dimitry residents. - ML believes those who carry the Dimitry name have a responsibility to fulfill. ML also wants to find what he can do for the Dimitry family and demand his share of the wealth. - Sylvia Lawrence, Flora’s cousin - The NE noble families are invited to a ball hosted by the Dimitrys. ML is now seen as a potential husband for many of the young women, including Sylvia. - Flora is inspired by ML and decides to leave her home for the first time and travel to the capital to learn more about the world. - ML saves a miner buried in a collapsed mine shaft. - ML convinces his father to invest in expensive magic artifacts that will guarantee the safety of the miners. This will increase output from the mines and save on injury costs that will repay the investment many times over. - ML sent equipment to Hendrick for repair. He included his sword Salamander and Hendrick is astounded by the workmanship of the sword. When asked about the sword by Hendrick, ML says he made it. To prove it ML demonstrates by working on a new sword. ML gives Salamander to Hendrick to replace the sword ML sold. - ML’s private soldiers are training in martial art techniques to help their mana cultivation and awaken as aura swordsmen. - ML teaches a new technique to Chris: the Lightning Flash sword. - ML assigns Lucas as the head of a new info guild. ML wants to create an ignoble sect of working class informants in this world, starting with the Dimitry miners then the Dimitry merchants. - Willas, a priest from the Valhalla temple and a ranking judge. - After ML killed the ranker Homeros, Willas visits the Dimitry estate to assess ML with an aura gauge. ML infuses the gauge with his mana and it is green before it breaks. This proves that ML is at least a 4* aura swordsman. ML officially becomes no.100 ranker. Willas wants to recruit ML to the Valhalla Empire. - ML is approached by the Cairo imperial and noble factions, and the Cronos and Valhalla Empires. He refuses all offers for now. - All young noblemen in Cairo must complete their national defence duty (a form of conscription). Rodwell is undertaking his at the western front. ML is sent to the southern front. - The southern training camp is nicknamed “The Resort” because only weak and useless noblemen are sent there. They don’t have to participate in training and just spend their time lazing about. - ML and his private soldiers are committed to the 3wk training. - ML suspects the nearby Hektor kingdom will launch a surprise attack. ML and his men are ready when Hektor declares war. They defeat the initial enemy charge then search for the Hektor camp. They find a wounded soldier from the training camp and head back there. - Prince Edwin Hektor