Chapter Summaries

Ten Borei Type 955 submarines repeatedly struck Daiwa and South Korea’s forces while staying beyond their weapons’ reach, exposing the allies’ technological disadvantage. After an hour of stalemate, Park Seong-man considered redirecting the aircraft to attack Vladivostok instead.

• Yamamoto Sanjūhachi ordered bombardments and torpedo attacks, but Daiwa’s weapons could not reach the deep-diving submarines.
• The ten submarines surfaced far from the fleet, launched missiles that hit Daiwa warships and South Korean fighter jets, then submerged again.
• Yamamoto Sanjūhachi berated the fleet, while its commanders said they could not react to the submarines’ speed and range.
• The submarines continued their hit-and-run attacks for an hour, and one submarine’s hull was grazed but not seriously damaged.
• Park Seong-man judged the stalemate a waste of time and considered sending the aircraft to attack Vladivostok’s harbor or the city.

Park Seong-man and Yamamoto Sanjūhachi bombed Vladivostok to provoke Bear Country, then tried to retreat as Russian forces arrived. Ten Borei submarines launched nuclear missiles at the Goryeo air formation and Daiwa fleet, devastating both forces.

• Park Seong-man realized the Borei submarines were stalling for time and persuaded Yamamoto Sanjūhachi to attack Vladivostok.
• Park Seong-man sent Goryeo aircraft to bomb the city as Yamamoto Sanjūhachi's Daiwa warships shelled its port, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure.
• Firmament announced that the attack had doubled the Russian Bear's Wrath buff and made Eastern Ocean Island and Stick Country its ultimate enemies.
• Yamamoto Sanjūhachi and Park Seong-man ordered their forces to retreat, but Russian air and naval forces arrived at the battlefield.
• The ten Borei submarines fired ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads at the Daiwa fleet and Goryeo air formation, destroying aircraft and sinking warships in the nuclear blasts.

Bear Country’s nuclear submarines devastated the challengers’ forces near Vladivostok, leaving Park Seong-man and Yamamoto Sanjūhachi to face the Russian Bear army’s approaching fleet. Park ordered Goryeo’s forces to retreat while Yamamoto, trapped and abandoned, rallied the surviving Daiwa challengers for a final stand.

• Bear Country’s submarines launched nuclear missiles, killing 500,000 challengers and crippling Daiwa’s warships near Vladivostok.
• Park Seong-man survived the explosions but suffered radiation sickness and lost sight in one eye as he saw the instance’s population plummet.
• Seeing Bear Country’s fleet approaching, Park ordered Goryeo’s forces to retreat south, and its aircraft escaped before enemy forces arrived.
• Yamamoto Sanjūhachi was pinned by wreckage aboard his damaged flagship and pleaded with Park to cover Daiwa’s retreat, but Park did not respond.
• Yamamoto ordered the surviving Daiwa challengers to make a final stand against Bear Country, and they shouted their support for Daiwa.

Yamamoto Sanjūhachi’s fleet was destroyed by Bear Country’s carrier and air forces, while Park Seong-man’s radiation-stricken fighters were caught by Su-57s after fleeing. Park Seong-man abandoned retreat and considered luring the pursuing fighters into Dragon Country.

• Bear Country’s three aircraft carriers and their aircraft overwhelmed Yamamoto Sanjūhachi’s fleet, and he was killed as his Instance mission failed.
• Park Seong-man escaped Bear Country’s airspace and saw that Eastern Ocean Island’s participant count had fallen to 700,000 and Yamamoto Sanjūhachi’s name had disappeared.
• Bear Country’s Su-57 fighters caught Park Seong-man’s formation, and he ordered his fighters to attack despite their numerical advantage.
• Park Seong-man realized the suicide attacks were costing his side far more fighters than they destroyed and checked his position over North Stick Country.
• Park Seong-man considered leading the pursuing Su-57s into Dragon Country.

Park Seong-man tried to lure Russian Bear aircraft into Dragon Country so its defenses would destroy them, but the treaty between Dragon Country and Bear Country stopped his plan. After Goryeo’s aircraft withdrew, a Dragon Country attack alarm sounded.

• Park Seong-man ordered Goryeo’s aircraft to cross into Dragon Country’s airspace and draw the Russian Bear fleet after them.
• The Firmament warned that Dragon Country would launch an air defense strike, so Park Seong-man ordered his aircraft to withdraw within thirty seconds.
• Russian Bear’s Su-57s stopped at the border because a treaty prohibited them from entering Dragon Country, and the Firmament declared Dragon Country’s territory forbidden to all nations.
• Russian Bear’s aircraft turned north instead of pursuing the Goryeo aircraft, and Park Seong-man’s forces escaped into North Stick Country.
• An alarm warned Park Seong-man that an enemy attack had been fired from Dragon Country’s direction.

Park Seong-man’s fighter formation was destroyed by Dragon Country’s air defenses, killing him and forcing Kim Geun-seok to take command of Stick Country. Kim blamed Daiwa for the disaster, but Xiaochuan accused Goryeo of abandoning Yamamoto and betraying their alliance.

• Dragon Country’s missiles annihilated Park Seong-man’s aircraft formation, and the Instance population fell sharply.
• Park Seong-man died, named Kim Geun-seok as Stick Country’s new commander, and realized Dragon Country’s defenses had made escape impossible.
• Kim Geun-seok discovered that Stick Country had lost half its forces and that the Instance population had dropped by 1.3 million.
• Kim Geun-seok accused Xiaochuan of failing to support Goryeo’s attack, and Xiaochuan retorted that Goryeo had abandoned Yamamoto in Vladivostok.

After the failed Vladivostok expedition, Xi'er took command of Stick Country's air force and Eastern Ocean Island's navy and ordered Kim Geun-seok to lure Bear Country's army into Malaysia. Kim accepted command of Stick Country and appointed Lee Jae-yong as Malaysia's commander, but Lee abandoned the existing strategy and ordered his forces toward a direct battle with the Russian Bear.

• Xiaochuan and Kim Geun-seok argued over the disastrous Vladivostok campaign until Xi'er silenced them and took command of Stick Country's air force and Eastern Ocean Island's navy.
• Xi'er ordered Kim Geun-seok to draw Bear Country's army into Malaysia so Tank Country could attack, then left the channel with the three generals.
• Kim Geun-seok accepted the position of Stick Country's Instance commander and transferred Malaysia's command to Lee Jae-yong.
• Kim Geun-seok explained the plan to lure Russian forces into Malaysia and trap them, then teleported to Stick Country as Lee became Malaysia's commander.
• Lee Jae-yong ordered Choi Tae-won to halt at Bear Country's border and wait for the main army, then told Park Jeong-yong to march the armored forces there for a direct battle.

Lee Jae-yong rejected a direct assault on the Russian Bears and led Malaysia’s forces north, while Dragon Country’s leaders discussed Lin Ye’s danger in the Winter Is Coming Instance. Long Yuan decided to spend ten million points on a card to protect Lin Ye from being wiped out.

• Lee Jae-yong told Park Jeong-yong that he would use a retreating battle to damage the Russian Bears and restore Goryeo’s prestige rather than help Tank Country win.
• Lee Jae-yong ordered the troops to move north toward Bear Country’s border.
• Li Yunlong briefed Long Yuan and the Dragon Country researchers on South Korea, Daiwa, and Nirmaner joining forces against Lin Ye.
• Ding Chang warned Long Yuan that Lin Ye faced Nirmaner’s powerful generals and could be lost if the alliance prevailed.
• Long Yuan said he would spend ten million points to obtain a card that granted Lin Ye immunity from being wiped out.

Long Yuan spent ten million points on an Immunity from Annihilation Privilege Card to protect Lin Ye, despite being downgraded from Level 4 to Level 3. The Great Xia Settlement weakened after the Firmament reduced its resources, and Long Yuan left its future resting on his gamble that Lin Ye would succeed.

• Long Yuan decided that saving Lin Ye was worth ten million points, even though the purchase would lower his level and hurt Great Xia.
• Long Yuan redeemed the card, fell to Level 3, and activated its protection for Lin Ye and his Winter Is Coming Instance.
• The Firmament’s reduced resource allocation caused the Great Xia Settlement’s land, plants, and infrastructure to deteriorate.
• Long Yuan reassured the shocked crowd and said he was betting Lin Ye would lead Great Xia forward without losing any points.

After Long Yuan spent ten million points to protect Lin Ye from annihilation, Lin Ye learned the privilege would be refunded if he incurred no point deductions within 24 hours. Grateful to Long Yuan, Lin Ye resolved to keep Winter Is Coming unconquered so the points would return.

• Long Yuan used an Immunity from Annihilation Privilege Card, dropping from LV4 to Level 3 and falling to 35th place in the Hero Ranking.
• People across Azure Star speculated that Long Yuan had used the card to protect Lin Ye, and Great Xia’s rivals celebrated his loss of power.
• Lin Ye noticed the city around Cliffside Villa deteriorating and received the Firmament’s explanation that Long Yuan had protected him for 24 hours.
• Lin Ye learned the card’s cost would be refunded to Long Yuan if Lin Ye suffered no point deductions during the protection period.
• Lin Ye thanked Long Yuan but vowed not to let Winter Is Coming be conquered, so the ten million points would be returned.

Lee Jae-yong defied the Challenger Alliance’s orders and rejected Kim Geun-seok’s command, insisting that South Korea would fight Bear Country on its own terms. He planned to lure Bear Country’s forces along the route from Ulaanbaatar to Darkhan and ambush them, leaving the attack yet to begin.

• Lee Jae-yong brought 500,000 South Korean troops to the Bear Country border but delayed the attack and began drawing up his own battle plan.
• Xi'er demanded to know why Malaysia had not carried out the border harassment, and Lee introduced himself before declaring he would not serve as cannon fodder.
• Kim Geun-seok confronted Lee for disregarding Commander Park’s orders, but Lee argued that the situation had changed and that he no longer had to obey Kim.
• Xiaochuan mocked the Koreans for fighting among themselves, and Lee left the commander channel after facing the others’ accusations.
• Lee told Park Jeong-yong and Choi Tae-won that they would lure Bear Country’s forces toward Ulaanbaatar, retreat toward Darkhan, and ambush them along the 300-kilometer route.

Lee Jae-yong persuaded the Goryeo leaders to prepare an ambush for Russian Bear, then Choi Tae-won provoked Bear Country by attacking civilians across the border. Russian Bear responded by announcing a massive assault on Malaysia, and Choi began to suspect their plan had gone wrong.

• Lee Jae-yong convinced Choi Tae-won and Park Jeong-yong to use the terrain between Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan to ambush Russian Bear's forces.
• Park Jeong-yong, Lee Jae-yong, and Choi Tae-won set up 1,000 hidden strategic points with weapons, mines, and bombs, while Choi prepared to lure Russian Bear's troops.
• Choi Tae-won led fewer than 2,000 motorcycle cavalry across the border and ordered them to shoot Russian Bear civilians.
• The Firmament increased Russian Bear's Wrath for Malaysia's Challengers and announced that Russian Bear would launch a large-scale attack from multiple military districts.
• Choi Tae-won retreated into Malaysia and grew uneasy as the warnings listed incoming tank, artillery, aerospace, and naval forces.

Choi Tae-won realized Russian Bear was attacking Malaysia on every front and that Lee Jae-yong’s fixed-position strategy had left their forces exposed. Lee insisted on destroying the first Russian Bear wave, and his forces ambushed its tanks at a mined strategic point, leaving several disabled.

• Choi Tae-won recognized that Russian Bear’s all-front offensive made Malaysia’s forces vulnerable and ordered his motorcycle corps to retreat south toward Ulaanbaatar while drawing enemy fire.
• Choi Tae-won warned Lee Jae-yong that Russian Bear’s air force would soon arrive and urged him to use mobile guerrilla warfare, but Lee ordered him to lead the enemy to strategic point one and destroy the invading troops.
• Lee Jae-yong and Park Jeong-yong watched the live feeds from the command yurt in Ulaanbaatar as Russian Bear’s First Tank Division advanced toward the first strategic point.
• Russian Bear’s leading Armata T-14 tanks triggered Lee Jae-yong’s mines, and the explosions overturned several tanks.
• Goryeo forces concealed on elevated ground opened fire on the tank formation and disabled several more Armata T-14 tanks.

Lee Jae-yong celebrated his ambush against the Armata T-14 tanks until Bear Country deployed reconnaissance and support vehicles that neutralized his hidden weapons. The BMPT-72s repaired the damaged advance’s momentum and destroyed the Goryeo positions, leaving Lee stunned.

• Lee Jae-yong and Park Jeong-yong celebrated the ambush’s destruction of several Armata T-14 tanks, and Lee boasted that he had surpassed Kim Geun-seok.
• Unfamiliar BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicles and BMPT-72 fire support vehicles emerged from the smoke and moved to the front of Bear Country’s formation.
• The BRDM-2s pursued Choi Tae-won’s motorcycle unit while locating the weapons hidden at Malaysia’s strategic points.
• The BMPT-72s charged through the Goryeo bombardment and fired missiles at the elevated positions, destroying the tanks, cannons, and howitzer vehicles there.
• T-16 Armoured Recovery Vehicles repaired the damaged Armatas, and Lee Jae-yong stared in disbelief at the BMPT-72s’ ability to fire at steep angles.

Lee Jae-yong’s forces struggled against Bear Country’s tank division, and Choi Tae-won and his motorcycle unit were wiped out. Lee rejected calls to change strategy, killed Park Jeong-yong, and was marked by the Firmament for violating Instance law.

• Bear Country’s tank division destroyed Lee Jae-yong’s first strategic point, and he ordered his forces to keep fighting despite Choi Tae-won’s advice to retreat and take a roundabout route.
• A BRDM-2 ambushed Choi Tae-won’s motorcycle unit, killing him and the Challengers with him.
• Park Jeong-yong urged Lee Jae-yong to scatter the troops and follow Kim Geun-seok’s plan, but Lee refused to change course.
• Lee Jae-yong shot Park Jeong-yong, accusing him of being a Bear Country spy.
• The Firmament warned Lee Jae-yong that he had violated Instance law and marked him for severe punishment when the Instance ended.

Lee Jae-yong’s scattered defenses collapsed as Bear Country overran Malaysia and killed the last Malaysian Challenger with a three-pronged nuclear strike. The Firmament punished Lee for killing a teammate, declared Malaysia annihilated, and gave Bear Country its territory as a base for attacks on Eastern Ocean Island and Stick Country.

• Lee Jae-yong ordered the Challengers to ambush Bear Country, but Malaysian Strategic Points fell one after another until he was the only Challenger left.
• Lee Jae-yong realized that scattering his forces had cost Malaysia its chance to resist and caused the deaths of five hundred thousand Challengers.
• Bear Country breached every region of Malaysia and launched three nuclear attacks on Ulaanbaatar, killing Lee Jae-yong.
• The Firmament docked Lee Jae-yong 3.2 million points, disabled his personal Instance for thirty days, and demoted him to Level 2.
• The Firmament declared Malaysia’s forces annihilated, transferred its resources and territory to Bear Country, and announced that Bear Country would attack Eastern Ocean Island and Stick Country.

After Malaysia fell in under two hours, Xi'er blamed Lee Jae-yong for ruining Nirmaner's chance to strike the Russian Bear and demanded control of the remaining forces. Kim Geun-seok and Xiaochuan agreed to put their troops and fleets under Xi'er, leaving him responsible for the fight ahead.

• Spectators jeered at Lee Jae-yong's tactics after Malaysia disappeared from the Instance livestream.
• Xi'er condemned Lee Jae-yong in the commander channel for letting the Russian Bear wipe out Malaysia and wasting Nirmaner's chance to attack.
• Kim Geun-seok apologized on South Korea's behalf and asked Xi'er to take charge of the remaining forces.
• Xi'er ordered Kim Geun-seok and Xiaochuan to follow his commands and hand over every last soldier and horse.
• Kim Geun-seok offered Goryeo's fighter aircraft to Xi'er, and Xiaochuan agreed to place the Daiwa fleet under his command.

Xi'er took command of the remaining Challenger forces and prepared a three-pronged assault on Bear Country while its forces were occupied elsewhere. He ordered his generals to attack Volgograd, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg, with Daiwa's navy and Goryeo's air force supporting Rommel.

• Xi'er became the Instance's supreme commander after Xiaochuan and the other commanders placed their Challengers under his command.
• Xi'er reviewed the positions of Mansh, Guderian, and Rommel, whose armies were stationed near Bear Country's western and northwestern borders.
• The three generals reported that Bear Country had sparse defenses around Volgograd, Moscow, and Saint Petersburg because its forces were tied up elsewhere.
• Xi'er ordered Mansh to attack Volgograd and withdraw to join Guderian, who would advance on Moscow and attack it with Mansh.
• Xi'er directed Rommel to strike Saint Petersburg when its forces moved to support Moscow, with Daiwa's navy and Goryeo's air force assisting him.

Xi'er chose Saint Petersburg as the Challenger Alliance’s main target and ordered coordinated attacks to distract Bear Country and avoid its mobile forces. He began the war by sending Mansh and 700,000 troops toward Volgograd, while the Dahe and Korean forces headed covertly for Saint Petersburg.

• Xi'er chose Saint Petersburg as the final target because its location offered a safer route for a combined assault and reduced the risk of Bear Country surrounding the attackers.
• Xi'er ordered the Dahe ships and Stick Country fighter planes to proceed covertly toward Saint Petersburg, while Xiaochuan and Kim Geun-seok watched from their Command Rooms.
• Xi'er ordered Mansh to lead an attack on Volgograd and officially began the war.
• Mansh set out from White Bear Country with 700,000 troops to cross Bear Country’s border and strike Volgograd.

Xi'er declared war on Bear Country and coordinated a three-front invasion, sending Mansh toward Volgograd while Guderian and Rommel advanced on other routes. Mansh's cold-adapted army reached Volgograd and began its assault with Nirmaner's secret heavy weapons, leaving the surprise attack underway.

• Mansh asked Xi'er to declare war before the army crossed into Bear Country, and Xi'er issued the declaration before ordering an immediate invasion.
• Xi'er directed Mansh toward Volgograd, Guderian toward Moscow, and Rommel across the Manselke Hills as part of a plan to converge south of Moscow.
• Mansh's army crossed the border equipped for the extreme cold, using improved vehicles, anti-slip chains, padded coats, and liquor.
• Mansh reached Volgograd and ordered 700,000 armored vehicles to attack the city.
• Mansh deployed Nirmaner's secret weapons, including the Super-heavy Maus Tank and Gustav Heavy Cannon, in the assault.