Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ran rescued Mu and Naluo from Cruze’s Destiny Gundam, then confronted Cruze about his role in escalating the war. Cruze dismissed Xiao Ran’s explanation and insisted that Xiao Ran did not understand his plan, leaving their clash unresolved.

• Xiao Ran detected Destiny Gundam attacking the damaged Strike Gundam and the Mk-II Gundam, then rushed to their aid.
• Xiao Ran drove Destiny Gundam back with Lightning Aegis’s fire, and Naluo withdrew with Mu to the Archangel.
• Xiao Ran and Cruze exchanged remote-weapon attacks, with both pilots evading the other’s barrage.
• Cruze contacted Xiao Ran and taunted him about Genesis and the coming destruction of the world.
• Xiao Ran said he had deliberately allowed the Earth Force and ZAFT to weaken each other, and accused Cruze of leaking intelligence to both sides.
• Cruze rejected Xiao Ran’s interpretation of his plan and said Xiao Ran knew nothing.

Xiao Ran fought Cruze’s Destiny Gundam while Genesis’s next attack approached, trading attacks and trying to destroy each other’s floating weapons. The Lightning Aegis’s arm joints failed during a final saber clash, and an explosion engulfed it.

• Cruze admitted that he had leaked the N-Jammer Canceller and the location of Xiao Ran’s group, then challenged Xiao Ran to kill him before Genesis’s third attack.
• Xiao Ran and Cruze maneuvered their mecha against each other’s Dragon Fangs and GN-BITs, destroying several of the floating weapons over five minutes of combat.
• With both sides’ floating weapons temporarily docked, Xiao Ran charged the Destiny Gundam and clashed with Cruze using their Beam Sabers.
• Cruze forced the Lightning Aegis’s saber back with the Destiny Gundam’s superior power, but Xiao Ran used its mobility and GN-BITs to destroy more Dragon Fangs and damage the Destiny Gundam’s shield and backpack.
• As the mecha clashed again amid crossing beam fire, the Lightning Aegis’s arm joints warped completely and an explosion erupted.

Xiao Ran defeated Cruze’s Destiny Gundam but was trapped with him as Cruze activated its self-destruct system. Xiao Ran used his Scrap Dealer skill to stop the explosion, rescued Cruze, and agreed to save him in exchange for instructions on destroying Genesis.

• The Lightning Aegis and Destiny Gundam crippled each other in a close-range clash, leaving both machines badly damaged.
• Cruze activated Destiny’s self-destruct system and told Xiao Ran that Genesis was about to fire.
• Xiao Ran claimed he could save Cruze, causing Cruze to cancel the countdown, then used Scrap Dealer to recover Destiny’s components and halt its self-destruction.
• The Black Hawk severed Destiny’s arm, and Xiao Ran pulled Cruze from the cockpit before the Gundam broke apart.
• Cruze offered to reveal how to destroy Genesis if Xiao Ran found a way to save him, and Xiao Ran accepted.

Xiao Ran used Cruze’s hidden Genesis shutdown mechanism to end the battle, then recovered Genesis before it exploded. After Genesis’s destruction, Earth Force and ZAFT formally agreed to a ceasefire and began rescue operations.

• Xiao Ran told Cruze he could save him and Ray, then learned that a concealed safety hatch could trigger Genesis’s self-destruction.
• Xiao Ran warned both armies to leave Genesis and cease fire, while ZAFT Headquarters ordered a withdrawal and requested a ceasefire from Earth Force.
• Xiao Ran pulled the hatch, then used Scrap Dealer to recover Genesis and escaped before it exploded.
• Xiao Ran helped the three Astrays destroy Rebirth Gundam with a coordinated attack.
• Genesis exploded, ending the battle, and Elin Canaria and Harborton announced a ceasefire and ordered battlefield rescue operations.

After the ceasefire, Xiao Ran assessed Lightning Aegis’s weaknesses and celebrated the rewards for completing his Ultimate Mission, including the chance to recruit several people from the world. He brought the unconscious Cruze aboard the Archangel and began planning repairs and negotiations before the ship could return to Earth.

• Xiao Ran identified Lightning Aegis’s weak output, fragile transforming frame, underused engines, and limited GN-BIT firepower, then concluded he could address those flaws using Destiny Gundam’s B-class frame and Dragon Fang.
• Xiao Ran received 20,000 Merit Points, two Golden Treasure Chests, and an unrestricted extraction slot for completing his Ultimate Mission, while Mwu Lamias became his follower and Kira Yamato, Nataru Bargyll, Lacus Klein, and Rau Le Creuset qualified for extraction missions.
• Xiao Ran considered recruiting Cruze because of his maxed-out favorability, then discovered that Cruze had fainted from injuries and summoned the medical team to take him away.
• Xiao Ran went to the Archangel’s bridge, where Mwu was astonished to see Cruze aboard, and asked about the ship’s condition and its ability to return to Earth.
• Mwu said the Archangel needed at least a week of repairs, and Xiao Ran ordered contact with Orb personnel and the Earth Force to investigate Orb’s situation and discuss compensation.

Xiao Ran secured Earth Force’s agreement to return Orb’s occupied homeland and discussed taking Cruze away for treatment, with Cruze agreeing after learning about Prometheus. Orb rebuilt after the war, and Xiao Ran brought the Archangel and his allies back as the country recovered.

• Xiao Ran signed Earth Force’s terms for returning Orb’s homeland and compensation, then visited Mu and Cruze in the sickroom.
• Xiao Ran offered to take Cruze to an extraterrestrial civilization for treatment; Cruze agreed and asked him to arrange treatment for Ray as well.
• Prometheus made Cruze Xiao Ran’s follower, and Xiao Ran explained that they would travel to other worlds and undertake missions.
• Earth Force and PLANT helped Orb rebuild, while Orb’s strength deterred its former enemies from challenging it.
• Xiao Ran returned to Orb aboard the repaired Archangel, sent Nicol and Dearka back to PLANT as prisoners, and left the Kusanagi in space.
• Nicol retired, Dearka joined Yzak’s squad, and Orb’s residents returned as Akatsuki Works and the damaged city were rebuilt.

Xiao Ran oversaw Orb’s reconstruction and consolidated its military and political power while training Cagalli to take over leadership before his departure. After Cagalli finally fled the office under the pressure, Xiao Ran arranged for her to rest and prepared a meeting to end her engagement to Yuna.

• Xiao Ran directed Orb’s reconstruction, salvaged weapons, and consolidated control over the military while two of the great families gradually cooperated with him and the Ceran Family secretly obstructed him.
• Xiao Ran spent a month teaching Cagalli how to lead Orb, urging her to act decisively and maintain control of the military and Akatsuki Works.
• Cagalli lost her temper, threw down her pen, and rushed out of the office after Xiao Ran continued lecturing her.
• Xiao Ran told Mwu to have Kira, Lacus, and Athrun help Cagalli relax for a day, then ordered a gathering of senior officers and a televised address.
• A bodyguard told Cagalli that Xiao Ran had planned to meet the head of the Ceran Family that afternoon to discuss ending her engagement to Yuna.

Xiao Ran settled Cagalli’s engagement with the Ceran Family, then announced that he would relinquish Orb’s political and military authority to Cagalli while remaining its supreme commander. He left the venue promising to return to lead Orb if war threatened it again.

• Cagalli rejected her engagement to Yuna, and Mwu encouraged her to visit Kira, Athrun, and Lacus after Athrun returned to Orb.
• Xiao Ran met with the Ceran Family and resolved Cagalli’s marriage arrangement while his agents kept the family under surveillance.
• Cagalli returned to work with a more attentive attitude, and Athrun officially became her bodyguard.
• Xiao Ran addressed Orb’s officers and a worldwide audience, calling for peace and reaffirming Orb’s commitment to neutrality and self-defense.
• Xiao Ran announced that he would return all political and military authority to Cagalli, while retaining the title of supreme commander and pledging to defend Orb if war returned.

Xiao Ran assembled his growing team and prepared to leave Orb, while choosing rewards for completing the mission to rebuild it. After selecting Justice Gundam and the complete Gundam Astray blueprints, he and his companions returned to Prometheus, where several newcomers were still suspended in beams of light.

• Xiao Ran spent his final days in the world with Sheryl, while Luo agreed to leave with him and entrusted the Scrap Dealer to Murrue Ramius's care.
• Xiao Ran gathered his team on a remote Orb island and designated Luo Jur as his follower.
• Xiao Ran chose Justice Gundam and the complete Gundam Astray series blueprints as his two rewards for rebuilding Orb.
• The system began the return to Prometheus, and Xiao Ran and his companions vanished from the mansion.
• Xiao Ran regained consciousness at the familiar operating platform, where Sheryl, Naluo, and Graham landed beside him while three others floated in beams of light.

Xiao Ran examined the skills and attributes of Cruze and Mwu after they were brought to Prometheus, while reassuring Luo that little time would pass in their world. Cruze’s genetic disease remained unresolved, but Xiao Ran promised to seek treatment, and he began considering a powerful Mecha for him.

• Mwu, Luo, and Cruze recovered from the light, and Luo reacted with amazement to Prometheus while worrying about being away from Juri.
• Xiao Ran explained that time passed differently between worlds, and Cruze reported that datafication had eased his illness without curing it.
• Xiao Ran and Nalu reassured Cruze that Prometheus could treat his genetic disease, though treatment would depend on the cost.
• Xiao Ran inspected Cruze’s attributes and skills, noting his strength against groups and his Constitution loss from Genetic Disease, then considered finding him a B-class Mecha with GN-BITs.
• Xiao Ran examined Mwu’s attributes and warship-command skills, including her title and ability to negate a fatal strike against her ship.

Xiao Ran reviewed Mwu and Luo Juer's abilities, recognizing Mwu as a defensive support commander and Luo as an exceptionally gifted mechanic and recycler. He then took the newcomers on a tour of Prometheus, ending at Old Luo's shop in the Factory Zone.

• Xiao Ran examined Mwu's title and skills and decided her defensive support abilities suited his need for a safe rear base.
• Xiao Ran read Luo Juer's attributes and was struck by his mechanical talent, Luck, and Scrap Dealer abilities.
• Xiao Ran invited Graham and Naluo to tour Prometheus, while Sheryl stayed behind to rest and prepare for dinner.
• Xiao Ran explained Sheryl's true personality to Mwu, then led the newcomers through the crowded Leisure Zone.
• Cruze commented on participants relaxing in Prometheus, and Luo Juer recoiled when Cruze joked about enjoying their degeneration.
• Xiao Ran showed the group the Trading Zone and then brought them to Old Luo's shop in the Factory Zone.

Xiao Ran brought his new followers to Luo’s shop and discussed the value of their skills and the items recovered from the Ultimate Mission. Luo advised him to seek trustworthy participant teammates and recommended selling the Genesis fortress cannon, leaving Xiao Ran ready to accept an offer of four and a half million Merit Points.

• Xiao Ran introduced Cruze, Mwu, and Luo Jule to Luo, who gave each newcomer a briefcase of welcome gifts.
• Luo recognized the valuable haul from Xiao Ran’s Ultimate Mission and warned him that too many followers could strain Merit Points and available units.
• Xiao Ran explained that he preferred trusted friends as followers and that his and Luo Jule’s Luck and Scrap Dealer skills helped fund the team.
• Luo explained how Scrap Dealer and Luck could bring valuable items back from Mission Worlds, while advising Xiao Ran to look for suitable participant teammates.
• Luo recommended selling the Genesis fortress cannon to a corps for a base price of eight million, yielding four and a half million Merit Points, and Xiao Ran agreed.

Xiao Ran and Luo discussed selling recovered ships and modifying the B-class Skeleton into a new Destiny Gundam for Cruze. The chapter ended with Xiao Ran arranging for Luo to apprentice under Luo for 10,000 Merit Points per day.

• Luo valued the Izumo-class and Archangel-class Warships for sale and offered to take the wrecked Calamity, while Xiao Ran decided to sell the Archangel and keep the Merit Points for a future Small Macross-class Battleship.
• Xiao Ran chose the B-class Mecha for himself and gave the Dragon Fangs and B-class Skeleton to Cruze, who requested a Destiny Gundam with additional Dragon Fangs and GN-BITs.
• Luo modified the Skeleton into a Destiny Gundam equipped with a Solar Furnace, two Thermonuclear Energy Engines, Dragon Fangs, and eight GN-BITs, and Xiao Ran agreed to pay 300,000 Merit Points for it.
• Luo chose to keep piloting his Red Astray, and Xiao Ran arranged for Luo to study Prometheus technology under Luo for 10,000 Merit Points per day.

Xiao Ran arranged a major overhaul of the Justice Gundam and learned how to address Cruze’s genetic condition and investigate Special Missions. The chapter ended with the mecha repairs funded and Xiao Ran ready to seek more mission intelligence.

• Xiao Ran gave Luo the Astray blueprints and assigned Luo to study Prometheus’s technology under Luo.
• Luo proposed a dual Solar Furnace system, and Xiao Ran and Luo praised his engineering talent.
• Xiao Ran and Luo designed a black Justice Gundam upgrade with GN-BITs, new weapons, and twin Solar Furnaces for 150,000 Merit Points.
• Xiao Ran paid for the Justice Gundam work, repairs, supplies, and Luo’s apprenticeship, spending 550,000 Merit Points in total.
• Xiao Ran asked Luo about treating Cruze’s genetic condition, and Luo explained that a compatible Gene Serum could change Cruze’s body and counter the skill’s negative effect.
• Luo advised Xiao Ran to seek Special Mission intelligence in the Trading Zone and Leisure Zone.

After returning to the Living Zone, Xiao Ran realized his Micro Missile production line and VF-27 blueprints made a MACROSS-class Battleship a better fit for his plans than the Second Archangel, though he decided to keep the latter as a spare. Meanwhile, Luo began studying at Old Luo’s factory and was overwhelmed by the mechas and warships there.

• Xiao Ran left Luo with Old Luo to study while Old Luo handled the sale of the Dawn and the Genesis Fortress Cannon and estimated one week for the team’s mecha repairs.
• Xiao Ran reviewed the group’s limited Merit Points and valuable SEED World rewards, which included the Second Archangel, the Dawn, the Genesis Fortress Cannon, two B-class Mechas, and complete Astray Series blueprints.
• Back in the Living Zone, Xiao Ran noticed the Micro Missile production line and realized it could make reusable packs for MS and drones as well as VF fighters.
• Xiao Ran concluded that a MACROSS-class Battleship suited his missile production line, VF-27 blueprints, and Sheryl’s performances, but chose to retain the Second Archangel as a spare.
• Mwu asked Xiao Ran what he was thinking, and he invited the group back to eat while Luo stayed behind at Old Luo’s factory.
• Luo saw the factory’s many mechas, the Dawn, and the Second Archangel, and stepped in and out in disbelief at the enormous collection.

During Luo’s week of apprenticeship, Old Luo trained him in advanced mechanical work while Xiao Ran received valuable treasure chest rewards and sold Genesis and the Dawn for nearly five million Merit Points. Xiao Ran decided to keep the Archangel-class Warship, and Old Luo recommended that Luo continue training at his factory whenever they returned.

• Old Luo explained hyperspace architecture to Luo and introduced him to the factory’s advanced tools, which helped Luo rapidly absorb mechanical knowledge.
• Luo spent a week learning from Old Luo, repairing Xiao Ran’s team’s mecha and observing the modifications to Justice Gundam and the construction of Destiny Gundam.
• Xiao Ran opened two Golden Treasure Chests and received a Large-scale Mirage System, a Nuclear Energy Booster blueprint, Berserker, and other rewards.
• Old Luo sold the Dawn for 400,000 Merit Points and Genesis for 4.5 million, while Xiao Ran rejected a proposed goods-for-goods trade.
• Cruze and Mwu grew more accustomed to Prometheus, while Cruze spent his free time watching participants indulge themselves in the Leisure Zone.
• Xiao Ran chose to keep the Archangel-class Warship, and Old Luo urged him to let Luo apprentice at the factory whenever they returned.

Xiao Ran bought intermediate and basic Mechanist Equipment and an Archangel-class Warship, then discovered that his hangar had expanded into a Spaceport. He had Luo analyze the Haros so the team could begin making more of them.

• Luo explained the costs and capabilities of the Mechanist Equipment, and Xiao Ran bought intermediate and basic sets along with the warship.
• Xiao Ran returned to find his hangar transformed into a Spaceport, with the warship and new equipment installed.
• Xiao Ran read Prometheus's message explaining that acquiring the warship had upgraded his hangar and allowed space training.
• Xiao Ran handed the two Haros to Luo and asked him to study their technology and prioritize making more.
• Luo scanned the Haros and identified their components, then asked Little 8 to lend him its AI database.

Luo used the Intermediate Mechanist Equipment to build ten Haros, and Xiao Ran planned how to use the team’s remaining time and resources to prepare for their next mission. Xiao Ran decided to strengthen the team before heading to Super Dimension Fortress Frontier, then told Sheryl they would return to her world.

• Luo redesigned and manufactured compact Quantum Computers, circuitry, and ten Haros, then upgraded the AI of the original two Haros as well.
• Sheryl delighted in Little Pink’s exaggerated praise, while Nalu chose Little Blue and Graham named a black Haro Hamtaro to operate the GN-BIT.
• Luo estimated how long it would take to manufacture drones, VF-27s, GN-X units, and Astrays, and Xiao Ran calculated what the team could build before its next mission.
• Xiao Ran decided to strengthen himself and find suitable skills for Graham, Cruze, and Luo before heading to Super Dimension Fortress Frontier.
• Xiao Ran asked Graham to find Cruze and told Sheryl to get ready to return to her world, exciting her.

Xiao Ran spent 750,000 Merit Points enhancing his companions’ skills, attributes, and abilities in the team Enhancement Room. The group finished their upgrades, while Xiao Ran realized that supporting so many followers would require him to earn even more Merit Points.

• Xiao Ran brought the group to the team Enhancement Room and upgraded Sheryl’s Belief Song to level seven and Fortification to level five.
• Xiao Ran raised Graham’s Intimidation to level five, then advised Naluo to look for suitable upgradeable skills as he raised her specialization to its current maximum.
• Xiao Ran enhanced Mwu’s command skills and Mental Support, then distributed her 100 attribute points among constitution, reflexes, Mental Power, and Accuracy Rate.
• Xiao Ran focused on Luo’s survivability by raising his reflexes, constitution, and Mental Power.
• Xiao Ran used the Coordinator Serum on Cruze, completing the group’s enhancements and lamenting the 750,000 Merit Points spent.

Xiao Ran spent Merit Points on his own enhancements, then used much more than expected to cure Cruze’s genetic disease and strengthen his abilities. With just over 300,000 Merit Points remaining, Xiao Ran took Cruze, Mwu, and Luo to the Trading Zone, where he spotted a skill that caught his attention.

• Xiao Ran confirmed his own enhancements, and Sheryl took 20,000 Merit Points to plan a renovation with Naluo while Graham accompanied them.
• Cruze finished his bloodline enhancement, lost his Genetic Disease, gained a new bloodline and Potential Burst skill, and thanked Xiao Ran.
• Xiao Ran raised Cruze’s Agility and Constitution to sixty and upgraded his skills and specializations, spending over 440,000 Merit Points.
• Xiao Ran reflected on the rising cost of personal enhancements and the value of Merit Points, then brought Cruze, Mwu, and Luo to the Trading Zone.
• Xiao Ran inspected the skills and MS units while Luo examined components, then stopped when he spotted a skill.