Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ran overwhelmed Wendrou and destroyed the Usurper with a barrage of precise attacks. He then unleashed a beam that split across Hades Island and struck every enemy machine.

• The Usurper used duplicates to evade Xiao Ran’s attacks, but Xiao Ran identified its true body and struck it with his sword and beams.
• Xiao Ran used quantumization and his perceptive abilities to attack the damaged Usurper from multiple angles, leaving Wendrou unable to defend himself.
• Xiao Ran fired his machine’s cannon-mode beam at the Usurper, destroying it in an explosion.
• The beam split into more than a thousand shots that targeted enemy machines across Hades Island while sparing allies.

Xiao Ran destroyed Wendrou and the Sacred Spirit XN System, then let the Steel Dragon Squad finish securing Hades Island while he recovered from Quantum Assimilation. After the battle, Daitetsu reported that an unknown force’s infiltration of the Moon Base had been dealt with.

• Xiao Ran used Quantum Assimilation to destroy Wendrou and the Sacred Spirit XN System, wiping out many enemy units on Hades Island.
• Xiao Ran stayed in Quantum Assimilation above the Hagane as the Steel Dragon Squad defeated the remaining enemies and secured the island.
• Sanger’s Bushin Guren split Wodan’s Earth God in two, ending their duel.
• Xiao Ran returned to the bridge, ordered the Steel Dragon Squad to handle Zovok and Lone Wolf, and told Daitetsu to keep other forces in support roles.
• Daitetsu reported that an unknown force had infiltrated the Moon Base but had been completely dealt with.

After the Rebel Army’s defeat, Xiao Ran secured White Star and the Moon, assigned El-Elf and Kane to investigate Earth Defense Force traitors, and prepared to return to Satellite Integration. Before his ship could depart, Zovok formally requested peace negotiations.

• Xiao Ran reassured Captain Daitetsu that safeguards would prevent anyone from launching the strategic weapons on White Star or the Moon.
• The Steel Dragon Squad secured Hades Island, while Xiao Ran returned to White Star to review battle reports and investigate the Moon Base infiltration with Jeffrey.
• Xiao Ran approved Elsam and Rai’s trip to the Moon Base, intending to let them deal with the captured Archibald.
• Xiao Ran assigned El-Elf and Kane to investigate traitors within the Earth Defense Force and ordered the military to cooperate with them.
• After spending two days handling postwar affairs, Xiao Ran boarded a ship bound for Satellite Integration, but Zovok’s request for peace negotiations halted its departure.

Xiao Ran learned that Zovok had requested peace talks and considered whether the offer was genuine. The Earth Defense Force favored peace but wanted compensation and equal standing, leaving Xiao Ran to decide how to respond when Zovok contacted them again.

• A subordinate told Xiao Ran that Zovok had requested peace talks and a video conference, so Xiao Ran went to White Star's Main Command Center.
• Xiao Ran considered Zovok's repeated defeats, its dwindling forces, and the large number of Zovok prisoners held by the Earth Defense Force.
• The generals told Xiao Ran that peace with Zovok could give Earth time to rebuild and prevent a future enemy from becoming an ally's foe.
• One general argued that Zovok should compensate Earth for its losses and share technology and information as part of an agreement between equals.
• Xiao Ran listened to the generals and reflected that the prisoners had been treated well so they could serve as bargaining chips in negotiations.

Xiao Ran spoke with Wendro, commander of the Zovok Overseer force, about ending the war and Earth possibly joining the Zovok Interstellar Alliance. Wendro provided intelligence on the hidden Lone Wolf force, and the peace talks were left for later, after Earth dealt with its enemies.

• Wendro contacted Xiao Ran and proposed peace talks on the orders of Zovok's highest Privy Council.
• Xiao Ran challenged Zovok's right to start and stop the war at will and questioned whether its offer was sincere.
• Wendro apologized for Zovok's attacks, offered compensation, and invited Earth to join the Zovok Interstellar Alliance.
• Wendro offered intelligence on the Lone Wolf force and said Zovok would discuss peace after Earth dealt with its hidden enemies.
• Xiao Ran's staff confirmed they had received the intelligence, and Wendro invited Xiao Ran to contact him again on the same frequency.

Xiao Ran weighed Wendro’s peace offer while ordering his forces to verify the intelligence Wendro had sent about the Lone Wolf unit. The intelligence proved genuine, the Steel Dragon Squad began an operation to eliminate the unit, and Wendro revealed that Zovok had ordered him to make peace while secretly observing Earth.

• Xiao Ran ordered El-Elf to verify Wendro’s dossier on the Lone Wolf unit and then give it to the Steel Dragon Squad to eliminate them.
• Xiao Ran told his chief of staff he would meet Wendro and judge his intentions, while remaining cautious about Zovok’s peace offer.
• Wendro told his last remaining commander that Zovok’s Privy Council had ordered peace talks and compensation, but that they should observe Earth, investigate Satellite Integration’s hidden strength, and wait for an opportunity.
• Carolan confirmed the Lone Wolf intelligence was genuine, and the Steel Dragon Squad departed on a mission to wipe out the unit.
• Xiao Ran returned to Satellite Integration by ship without incident.

After recovering from the exhaustion caused by Quantum Assimilation, Xiao Ran learned that the Steel Dragon Squad had defeated Lone Wolf, but the battle brought the Native Species back and left Exeline missing and Kyosuke Nanbu seriously injured. He planned to investigate the incident and asked Sheryl and Shanamia if they wanted to visit Earth.

• Xiao Ran woke after sleeping nearly a day and asked Mwu for news about the Steel Dragon Squad.
• Mwu reported that Lone Wolf had been wiped out, the Native Species had appeared during the battle, Exeline was missing, and Kyosuke Nanbu was seriously injured.
• Xiao Ran ordered the Steel Dragon Squad to return to the Far East Base and told the Intelligence Department to maintain close surveillance of Earth.
• Xiao Ran considered how Exeline and both Kyosuke Nanbus were connected to the Native Species, then asked Sheryl and Shanamia if they wanted to go to Earth.

Xiao Ran visited the Far East Base with Shanamia and met with Tetsuya to hear why the Steel Dragon Squad’s battle against Lone Wolf had ended so badly. Tetsuya revealed that Lone Wolf had been altered by the Native Species and that several other forces had joined the fight, leaving the battle’s outcome unclear.

• Xiao Ran traveled to Earth with Shanamia and a large entourage, turning the trip into a series of state visits and an inspection of Frie’s nearly completed territory.
• Xiao Ran arrived at the Far East Base, where Bargyll, Shinn Asuka, Mu, and the others welcomed him with a day off and a seaside barbecue.
• Tetsuya told Xiao Ran that Lone Wolf’s machines had all been transformed by the Native Species and were far stronger than expected.
• Tetsuya explained that Lone Wolf and the Native Species both tried to capture Kyosuke Nanbu’s Gutsy and Exeline’s White Knight, triggering a three-way battle after Exeline attacked the Native Species.
• The Dragon King Machine and Tiger King Machine arrived, followed by the Demon Robots, splitting the battlefield into two separate combat zones.

Daitetsu told Xiao Ran how a chaotic five-way battle ended with the Native Species capturing Exeline and assimilating most of Lone Wolf, while the Dragon-Tiger King helped defeat a giant Native Species. He warned that Steel Dragon Squad members might also be vulnerable to assimilation, and Xiao Ran decided to recruit Sanger’s teacher as an advisor.

• Daitetsu recounted how the ATX Squad rescued Kyosuke Nanbu while Exeline stayed behind and was captured by the Native Species.
• Daitetsu explained that a Red Mecha took the White Knight, after which a giant Native Species swallowed most of Lone Wolf and attacked the forces on the battlefield.
• Bullet and Kusunoha’s machines combined with the Dragon King Machine and Tiger King Machine to form the Dragon-Tiger King, which suppressed the black mist and helped destroy the Native Species.
• Daitetsu revealed that many dead Lone Wolf pilots had counterparts in the Steel Dragon Squad, raising fears that those members could be assimilated or controlled.
• Xiao Ran told Daitetsu not to confuse the Other Side World with their own and ordered Sanger to contact his teacher and recruit him as a Steel Dragon Squad advisor at the Far East Base.

Xiao Ran made the Steel Dragon Squad Earth's main force against new threats while the Earth Defense Force recovered, and authorized reinforcements, recruitment, upgrades, and leave. He also ordered the Far East Base to hunt down infiltrators, including a suspected Yuzes.

• Xiao Ran warned Daitetsu that Earth could not withstand more chaos and designated the Steel Dragon Squad as its only freely deployable force with full combat capability.
• Xiao Ran promised support, reinforcements, new recruitment authority, and machine upgrades, while telling Daitetsu to arrange rotational leave for the squad.
• Daitetsu left to prepare the leave schedule, and Saki Maski entered Xiao Ran's office.
• Xiao Ran ordered other forces to remain on standby and assist the Steel Dragon Squad only when needed, while providing it with unlimited logistical support.
• Xiao Ran told Bargyll and Mu to monitor the Super Robots and Demon Robots and to root out spies at the Far East Base, including a suspected Yuzes using another identity.

After relaxing at the Far East Base and reviewing the Steel Dragon Squad’s recovery, Xiao Ran inspected the nearly completed Frie Grand Duchy and helped Shanamia decide to resettle her people there. He then set out for Paris to visit Federal Headquarters, where officials prepared an elaborate welcome.

• Xiao Ran spent three days at the Far East Base while Home’s technical team began maintaining and upgrading the Steel Dragon Squad’s units.
• Inatomi Richiu joined the Steel Dragon Squad as a consultant, and Xiao Ran asked him to teach Graham Shigen-ryu swordsmanship.
• Xiao Ran visited the Frie Grand Duchy and inspected its completed palace, capital, and infrastructure as Shanamia recalled her homeland.
• Shanamia decided to awaken the sleeping Frie in batches and resettle them in the new duchy, while Frie strategists began organizing the relocation.
• Xiao Ran and his companions departed for Paris to visit Federal Headquarters, where Revil and Federation officials arranged a grand reception.

During his visit to Paris, Xiao Ran met the Federation President and learned that his aide Autel Shutenbeck was actually Yuzes, a dangerous figure from his past. He left the meeting aware that Yuzes had gained influence by hiding within the Federation.

• Xiao Ran ended the welcome ceremony early and followed his itinerary to visit the Federation government and meet its president.
• During a formal meeting, Xiao Ran noticed the silver-haired Federal Army officer standing behind the Federation President and sensed his hostility.
• Xiao Ran asked the president about the officer, who identified him as Autel Shutenbeck, his aide and head of security for the Federation Headquarters Defense Force.
• Xiao Ran hinted that Autel should join the Earth Defense Force, while the president praised him and asked Xiao Ran not to poach him.
• Xiao Ran recognized Autel as Yuzes, the figure who had controlled Ingram and caused the Void Envoys to appear on Earth.
• Xiao Ran realized Yuzes had chosen to hide within the Federation, where the president’s trust gave him authority, resources, and room to act.

After discovering that Yuzes was a major threat and a target of the Burning Legion’s mission, Xiao Ran summoned Luo, Basak, Kane, and El-Elf to plan his elimination. They decided to watch for a chance to poison or kill Yuzes during Xiao Ran’s next day in the Federation.

• Xiao Ran realized Yuzes’s psychic abilities and influence made him a serious threat, but he could not be certain they could kill him before he escaped or retaliated.
• Xiao Ran contacted Luo, Basak, Kane, and El-Elf, and all four arrived in Paris that night.
• Xiao Ran and the others discussed Yuzes’s unknown abilities and concluded they had no safe way to gather intelligence from Ingram or Veretta.
• El-Elf proposed poisoning Yuzes before attempting a one-strike kill, while Basak argued they should rely on their strength.
• Xiao Ran arranged for the four men to disguise themselves as his security detail and observe Yuzes during his Federation itinerary the next day.

Xiao Ran and his allies planned to kill Yuzes by luring him aboard their warship and limiting his ability to teleport. When Yuzes unexpectedly arrived to escort Xiao Ran, the plan began as the warship departed with its shields activated and Xiao Ran secretly prepared to act from the hangar.

• Kane proposed poisoning Yuzes, using Magi to seize his body, or luring him aboard a ship and trapping him during a forced jump.
• Xiao Ran decided to combine their methods, inviting Federation officials aboard his warship during an inspection and assigning Basak and Luo to deliver the killing blow.
• The next day, Yuzes personally arrived to escort Xiao Ran to the military base and accepted an invitation to tour the warship.
• Xiao Ran sent Kane to guide Yuzes, then left for the bridge as the warship departed and activated all its shields.
• Xiao Ran appeared in the hangar, entered Innovator mode, and activated his unit.

Xiao Ran trapped Yuzes in the warship’s hangar and used his light-based psychokinesis to counter every attempt to teleport away. With escape and resistance impossible, Yuzes surrendered.

• Xiao Ran revealed that his avatar was in the Quantum Field and warned Yuzes that the warship’s Space Jump prevented him from escaping by Teleportation.
• Xiao Ran said he could overpower Yuzes and protect the four people surrounding them, even if Yuzes tried to take everyone down with him.
• Xiao Ran sent light spears after Yuzes, predicting each teleport and forcing him to keep moving as his strength waned.
• Yuzes called for Xiao Ran to wait, and Xiao Ran halted the spears just before they struck him.
• Yuzes surrendered, accepting that he had no way to escape or resist.

Yuzes, disguised as Autel, toured Kane’s battleship before Kane and his allies trapped him in the hangar and attacked. Yuzes escaped their first coordinated assault, then learned that the green-light figure had recognized him by his distinct mental fluctuations.

• Yuzes asked Kane whether the battleship could transform, and Kane explained that it could adjust its posture before leading him to the hangar.
• The hangar door shut behind Yuzes, and El-Elf, Basak, and Luo attacked him while Kane joined the fight.
• Yuzes blocked the attacks with a psychic barrier, but Basak and Luo shattered it with their combined strikes.
• Yuzes teleported behind Kane and blocked Kane’s counterattack before retreating from the four attackers’ encirclement.
• Yuzes questioned how Kane and the others had discovered his identity, and a humanoid figure of green light claimed it recognized his mental fluctuations.

Xiao Ran weighed Yuzes's offer to surrender against the danger of trusting the Balmar Seventh Fleet's ruthless leader. Yuzes promised valuable memories, technology, and a fleet, leaving Xiao Ran to reconsider the side mission and the potential worth of keeping him alive.

• Xiao Ran doubted that Yuzes genuinely intended to surrender and accused him of stalling for time.
• Xiao Ran asked Kane to assess Yuzes's body, and Kane confirmed that it was suitable for a Demon Envoy to possess.
• Xiao Ran explained that Kane could devour Yuzes's soul and occupy his body, prompting Yuzes to fear becoming a puppet more than dying.
• Yuzes offered to reveal the Balmar Empire's secrets, Zifield Crystal technology, and access to a fleet, while warning that Kane would not obtain his memories.
• Xiao Ran considered Yuzes's value and his own lack of knowledge about the Quantum Fluctuation Engine, then reread his side mission as his eyes glowed gold.

Xiao Ran decided to capture Yuzes rather than kill him, planning to restrain his psychokinesis and control him as a potential asset for the Burning Legion. The chapter ended with Xiao Ran knocking Yuzes unconscious and ordering someone to take over his body until safeguards were ready.

• Xiao Ran considered whether capturing Yuzes could be more useful than killing him, since the Seventh Fleet’s whereabouts remained unknown.
• Luo proposed adapting T-LINK technology to block psychokinesis, and Xiao Ran ordered him to prepare a White Star Core mask, a neck bomb, and nanorobots to restrain Yuzes.
• Xiao Ran warned Yuzes that he would remain under strict safeguards, while promising greater power if he earned the Legion’s trust.
• Xiao Ran decided to have the Demon Envoy control Yuzes temporarily, then vanished behind him and knocked him unconscious.
• Xiao Ran ordered someone to take over Yuzes’s body.

Xiao Ran warned Gaspar that his aide Autel was actually Yuzes, the mastermind behind several attacks on Earth, and revealed that the Demon Envoy had already taken control of him. Gaspar investigated Yuzes’s covert activities and discovered a suspicious research institute, prompting Revil’s fleet to inspect it.

• Xiao Ran told Gaspar that Autel was Yuzes, who had infiltrated the Federation and posed a threat to Earth.
• Xiao Ran revealed that the Demon Envoy had taken control of Yuzes and that he planned to extract information about the Balmar Empire and seize Yuzes’s fleet.
• Gaspar recalled Yuzes’s proposal for a Federation security force and agreed to investigate the proposal’s personnel and Yuzes’s actions.
• Gaspar’s investigation uncovered that Yuzes had secretly taken control of a life sciences research institute and transferred Federation personnel there.
• Gaspar reported the discovery to Xiao Ran, and Revil’s fleet set out to inspect the institute.

Xiao Ran inspected Yuzes's underground research facility and discovered a vast clone center, a hangar of mobile weapons, and a laboratory conducting human and Native Species fusion experiments. He ordered the facility secured and its personnel and materials turned over to Durandal, while warning Gaspar that other bases might exist.

• Revil's fleet overcame the institute's resistance and found that the research facility had become a military base.
• Xiao Ran and Gaspar descended to the first underground level and found 3,976 Incubation Tanks containing cultivated individuals.
• Xiao Ran recognized clones of important figures and ordered the familiar faces destroyed and the remaining tanks handled by a Photocopy Person unit sent by Durandal.
• The Landing Force commander reported that the second level held completed and unfinished MS units, while the third contained Native Species specimens and evidence of human-Native Species fusion experiments.
• Xiao Ran ordered the institute sealed, its captured personnel held for Durandal, and all materials organized and reported to him.
• Xiao Ran left without inspecting the other levels and told Gaspar to continue investigating whether Yuzes had established other bases.