Chapter Summaries

After visiting DC and the Grand Duchy of Rixson, Xiao Ran returned to Satellite Integration with Yuzes and arranged a specially reinforced prison to contain him. Yuzes woke inside the cell and questioned whether he could escape without wearing the helmet designed to suppress his powers.

• Xiao Ran visited DC, where Bian Zoldak said Shirakawa Shuu had returned during the Zovok Rebellion before departing again to investigate the newly emerged robots.
• Xiao Ran told Bian about Yuzes, prompting Bian to launch a thorough investigation of DC for possible collaborators.
• Xiao Ran stayed briefly in the Grand Duchy of Rixson, then returned to Satellite Integration with Yuzes, Kane, Basak, and El-Elf.
• Luo modified Yuzes's cell with reverse T-LINK technology and made a helmet from White Star Core material to suppress his telekinesis and Mental Power.
• Yuzes woke in the reinforced cell, refused to put on the helmet, and asked Xiao Ran whether the cell alone would keep him trapped.

Xiao Ran secured Yuzes’s cooperation by imposing restrictions and offering him an anti-aging drug, then took him on a tour of the technical research department. He showed Yuzes the λ-DRIVER, a system capable of turning a user’s will into physical effects, and explained its potential as a Causality Weapon.

• Xiao Ran told Yuzes that he had entered the cell willingly and that Xiao Ran’s people had taken over his Federation laboratory and research.
• Yuzes put on Luo’s helmet, accepted Xiao Ran’s anti-aging drug, and swallowed it.
• Xiao Ran led Yuzes out of the cell and toured the technical research department with him under Renard’s guidance.
• Renard piloted a machine equipped with the λ-DRIVER, demonstrating that it could move through the air, destroy a target, and lift and crush a massive steel block.
• Xiao Ran explained that the λ-DRIVER turned impulses and will into reality and could make attacks hit their intended targets regardless of how they were fired.

Xiao Ran warned Yuzes that the λ-DRIVER and his other resources could destroy any enemy, then gave him three tasks in exchange for his release and one reasonable request. Yuzes accepted the arrangement and asked to contact his fleet.

• Xiao Ran explained the λ-DRIVER’s power and told Yuzes that he had other ways to defeat his enemies.
• Renard activated a device that destroyed two nearby mechs, and Xiao Ran said no λ-DRIVERs or related records remained on Earth.
• Xiao Ran tasked Yuzes with taking control of the Seventh Fleet, providing Quantum Fluctuation Engine and Zifield Crystal technology, and helping research abilities for ordinary people.
• Yuzes said he lacked the engine’s technical data and proposed completing the human research before handing over the data after taking control of the fleet.
• Xiao Ran let Yuzes choose the task order and promised to release him and grant one reasonable request if he succeeded.
• Yuzes asked to contact his fleet.

Xiao Ran placed Yuzes under Renard’s supervision and directed him to provide the Quantum Fluctuation Engine technology. With Yuzes controlled and the engine research underway, Xiao Ran believed his goals in this world were nearly achieved and hoped to complete the remaining mission phases without further trouble.

• Xiao Ran told Yuzes to stay with Renard and postpone human modification research, making clear that the Quantum Fluctuation Engine was the priority.
• Yuzes called Xiao Ran more terrifying than himself, and Xiao Ran admitted he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals but still had a bottom line.
• Renard rejected Yuzes’s provocation, argued that Xiao Ran sought to save and change while others sought destruction, and took Yuzes to contact his fleet and obtain the engine’s technical documentation.
• Yuzes realized that Xiao Ran, Renard, and their associates were far more formidable than he had understood, while Xiao Ran had placed him under constant surveillance and made him a tool.
• After returning to Satellite Integration, Xiao Ran learned from Shanamia that Frie were transferring to Earth and from Renard that Yuzes had obtained the engine technology and research had been approved.
• Xiao Ran felt that his purpose in the world was nearly fulfilled and hoped to complete the remaining mission phases and leave soon.

Xiao Ran consolidated his control of Satellite Integration while the Steel Dragon Squad investigated the Demon Robots, Baral, and Steel Eden. After more than a month of relative stability and the resettlement of Frie's people, an alarm at Satellite Integration prompted Xiao Ran to hurry aboard the Burning Legion.

• Xiao Ran continued building support for his leadership of Satellite Integration as Native Species activity dwindled and Yuzes cooperated with Renard on the Quantum Fluctuation Engine.
• The Steel Dragon Squad fought Native Species and Demon Robots while investigating Exeline, and Shirakawa Shuu appeared briefly before vanishing with Masaki.
• The Steel Dragon Squad uncovered information about Baral and Steel Eden, then faced stronger Demon Robots while tracking them to the Arabian Peninsula.
• Frie's awakened residents were settled on Earth, and the Frie fortress joined the Earth Defense Force's space defenses under its command.
• Shanamia mourned the Frie who had died in their long sleep, while Xiao Ran arranged for Moses and Billy to protect her.
• Mwu sent a notification as Satellite Integration's alarm sounded, and Xiao Ran hurried aboard the Burning Legion.

Xiao Ran met Alphimi, who proposed a game to test whether the Steel Dragon Squad could help Exeline regain her self-awareness. If they succeeded, the Native Species would stop trying to restore Earth to its original state and might even assist humanity; Xiao Ran was forbidden from interfering.

• Xiao Ran deployed in Dawn and led several hundred MS to face Alphimi and the Native Species outside Satellite Integration.
• Alphimi told Xiao Ran that she had repeatedly pursued the Steel Dragon Squad because she was curious about Kyosuke and wanted to see whether the squad qualified for her game.
• Xiao Ran considered the danger of fighting the Native Species and asked Alphimi what game she wanted to play.
• Alphimi proposed that Kyosuke and the Steel Dragon Squad help Exeline recover her self-awareness, while Xiao Ran stayed out of it.
• Alphimi said the Native Species would follow the Steel Dragon Squad and avoid other parts of Earth; humanity would lose if Xiao Ran interfered, while the Native Species would lose if Exeline recovered.

Xiao Ran accepted Alphimi’s game, which tasked the Steel Dragon Squad with restoring Exeline and giving Alphimi the ability to feel emotions. He warned Daitetsu that the Native Species would focus on the squad, leaving it to carry the burden of securing Earth’s future.

• Alphimi proposed a game in which the Steel Dragon Squad would try to restore Exeline, and Xiao Ran agreed while accepting that he would be excluded.
• After Alphimi left, Xiao Ran told Mwu about the game and discussed how its outcome might end the Native Species’ threat to Earth.
• Xiao Ran and Mwu reviewed the many dangers Earth still faced, then Xiao Ran asked to speak privately with Daitetsu.
• Xiao Ran explained the game to Daitetsu and said he could not directly reinforce the Steel Dragon Squad, though he could arrange support from other forces.
• Xiao Ran told Daitetsu that the Native Species would focus on the squad and urged it to restore Exeline for Earth’s sake.

Xiao Ran arranged Earth’s response to the Zovok delegation’s arrival and prepared for peace talks in Satellite Integration’s territory. The two sides exchanged preliminary demands, setting the stage for negotiations.

• Daniel told Xiao Ran that a Zovok delegation fleet had arrived near the Earth Sphere and requested permission to enter Earth for talks.
• Xiao Ran approved Satellite Integration’s territory as the meeting site, ordered Cruze’s fleet to receive the delegation, and raised security alerts across Earth.
• Gaspar and Bian organized teams to attend the talks, while Cruze traveled to Jupiter to make contact with the Zovok fleet.
• Revil, Mwu, Char, and Jeffrey sent forces to guard the negotiations, and Earth’s preparations were largely complete within a day.
• Xiao Ran’s side sought technical data, resources, information, and an end to Zovok’s military action against Earth; Zovok demanded the release of its captured soldiers and proposed an embassy and Earth’s membership in its Interstellar Alliance.

Earth and Zovok reached a ceasefire agreement after three days of cooperative negotiations, with Zovok eager to settle matters and avoid further entanglement with Earth. Xiao Ran reviewed the finalized terms and concluded that Earth had secured useful concessions, though Zovok’s most valuable technology remained beyond the agreement.

• Zovok accepted Earth's restrictions on its fleet and agreed that no more than three warships could land on Earth.
• The Zovok delegation landed under heavy security, and Xiao Ran briefly greeted its members before Gaspar and Bian led the negotiations.
• After three days, both sides drafted an agreement that satisfied their demands and established a path toward peace.
• Xiao Ran reviewed the agreement and noted that Zovok had offered strategic cooperation because it feared Earth might align with the Balmar Empire.
• Xiao Ran said the technology concessions were limited, but Earth had already gained what it needed by resolving the backdoor in Black Hole Technology.

Xiao Ran reached an agreement with Zovok, securing advanced technologies and resources for Earth in exchange for sharing the Black Hole Engine and giving Zovok twenty GN-T Solar Furnaces. The agreement was signed, and Zovok left an envoy and embassy staff on Earth before its delegation departed.

• Xiao Ran obtained Zovok's spatial technologies, energy weapon technology, drone technology, Black Hole Engine backdoor information, and other useful technologies through compensation and exchange.
• Xiao Ran gave Zovok twenty locked-down GN-T Solar Furnaces for use against the Balmar Empire, and Zovok supplied Earth with resources in return.
• Xiao Ran agreed to Zovok establishing a representative office and embassy on Earth and designated the captured Grey Antelope pilot as its special envoy.
• Xiao Ran signed the agreement at a ceremony, after which the Zovok delegation left its envoy and embassy staff and departed Earth.

After resolving the agreement with Zovok, Xiao Ran reviewed its technology and turned the most useful findings over to Earth. He rushed to the Arabian Peninsula after a development involving the Steel Dragon Squad, where he found a massive light screen covering the region.

• Zovok signed the agreement, submitted key technology documents, and promised to deliver the remaining materials within three months.
• Xiao Ran arranged for Mao Heavy Industries to research Zovok's technology, while Luo and Renard identified Space Transfer, Space Deployment, and Space Jump as promising areas.
• Masaki returned to the Steel Dragon Squad but refused to explain where he had been, as the squad focused on locating Baral.
• White Star alerted Xiao Ran to a new development with the Steel Dragon Squad, and the Revil and Cruze Fleets assembled over the Arabian Peninsula.
• Xiao Ran reached the Arabian Peninsula ahead of the fleets and spotted a vast, opaque light screen covering nearly the entire region.

Xiao Ran learned that a Spatial Fault had sealed the Arabian Peninsula, cutting off the Steel Dragon Squad as they fought Steel Eden inside. With no way to reach them, he ordered Cruze and Revil's fleets to guard the barrier and waited for news.

• Xiao Ran returned to Cruze's flagship and worried that the Steel Dragon Squad had disappeared beyond the Light Barrier.
• Cruze explained that the barrier was a Spatial Fault that prevented anyone from entering, leaving them no choice but to wait.
• The Soul Throne piloted by Alphimi and the White Knight piloted by Exeline crashed into the barrier but could not enter.
• Xiao Ran told Revil and Cruze that Steel Eden was an Artificial God and ordered their fleets to set up defenses around the barrier.
• After half a day passed without any change, Xiao Ran remained on Cruze's bridge, silently watching the barrier.

Xiao Ran and Cruze waited for the barrier over the Arabian Peninsula to collapse, then confirmed that the Steel Dragon Squad had defeated Baral without losing anyone. Revil escorted the exhausted squad to the Far East Base for treatment and rest, while Xiao Ran kept Cruze’s fleet behind in case Baral had not truly been destroyed.

• After nearly eleven hours, Xiao Ran and Cruze ordered their fleets to retreat and prepare weapons when the barrier began to change.
• The barrier shattered, revealing mech wreckage across the Arabian Peninsula, and the bridge crew found no signs of Steel Dragon Squad casualties.
• Daitetsu told Xiao Ran that the Steel Dragon Squad had eliminated Baral’s threat, suffered severe mech losses, and needed medical care, but had no deaths.
• Xiao Ran ordered Revil to escort the squad to the Far East Base and treat the injured, while Cruze kept his fleet stationed near the peninsula.
• Luo arrived on the bridge, described how close the battle had come to killing him, and joked with Xiao Ran after the Steel Dragon Squad had departed.

Luo told Xiao Ran and Cruze that he had recovered valuable parts from several powerful mechas, especially the cores of the Yinglong King, Sparrow King Machine, and Warrior King Machine. Xiao Ran assigned Luo to oversee their cultivation and research at the home base, and Luo went to rest after his exhausting battle.

• Luo described Steel Eden as a powerful enemy and revealed that he had used his Scrap Dealer skill on it and three other mechas.
• Luo explained that he recovered only Steel Eden's shell, but preserved the cores of the Yinglong King, Sparrow King Machine, and Warrior King Machine.
• Xiao Ran examined the mechas' condition and celebrated the valuable cores, noting that the Yinglong King would be especially difficult to repair.
• Xiao Ran asked Luo to handle cultivating the mechas at the home base and suggested involving the Tesla Institute in Super Robot research.
• Luo agreed to work with the Tesla Institute but went to find somewhere to rest first.

After the battle with Baral, Xiao Ran and Luo returned to Satellite Integration with the recovered Steel Eden wreckage and three Super Robot cores, which they began investigating with Durandal, Yuzes, and the Tesla Institute. Xiao Ran then read Captain Daitetsu’s report, learning that Steel Eden had lured the Steel Dragon Squad to Baral, where Sun Guanglong invited them to join and proposed President Corpse Dissolution.

• Luo rested aboard Cruze’s warship, while Saki Maski and Graham, Basak, and Nalu planned to stay with the Steel Dragon Squad for their own reasons.
• Xiao Ran and Luo returned home and brought out Steel Eden’s scattered remains and the cores of the Yinglong King, Sparrow King Machine, and Warrior King Machine.
• Xiao Ran assigned the Super Robot cores to Luo, Durandal, Yuzes, and the Tesla Institute for study, while a new team took charge of the Steel Eden fragments and its intact wings.
• Yuzes recognized Steel Eden and was shocked that Earth’s forces had destroyed it and recovered its wreckage.
• Xiao Ran received Captain Daitetsu’s report, which said Steel Eden had influenced the Dragon-Tiger King and drawn the Steel Dragon Squad toward Baral.
• Daitetsu’s report described Sun Guanglong inviting the Steel Dragon Squad to join Baral and proposing President Corpse Dissolution.

Xiao Ran reviewed the aftermath of the war over Sun Guanglong’s forced corpse-dissolution plan and approved the Steel Dragon Squad’s recovery. When Bian brought him Shirakawa Shuu’s proposed deal, Xiao Ran agreed to help Masaki in La Gias in exchange for Relative Annihilation Engine technology and access to the Underground World.

• Xiao Ran learned that Sun Guanglong’s corpse-dissolution plan had sparked war, and the Steel Dragon Squad had defeated the Yinglong King while Baral and Iruy disappeared.
• Da Tie reported that Steel Eden’s core, Iruy, remained alive and that Baral had preserved part of itself before vanishing again.
• Xiao Ran approved Da Tie’s report and ordered the Steel Dragon Squad to recuperate after the remaining major threats had been eliminated.
• Bian told Xiao Ran that Shirakawa Shuu had returned to the Underground World and wanted Masaki to learn of his return and receive help from a few reliable people.
• Bian offered the Relative Annihilation Engine technology and other potential rewards in exchange for Xiao Ran’s help, and Xiao Ran accepted the deal.

Xiao Ran accepted Shirakawa Shuu’s proposal to help Masaki reach La Gias, seeking its magic and alchemy to help Saki Maski upgrade her mecha. He planned to send Saki, capable pilots, and Kane to coordinate with Shirakawa Shuu while preparing to protect everyone involved.

• Shirakawa Shuu offered Xiao Ran the Relative Annihilation Engine and La Gias’s magic in exchange for subtly informing Masaki that he had gone there and sending people to accompany him.
• Xiao Ran judged that La Gias’s magic and alchemy could help Saki Maski overcome the limits of her mecha, even though the Relative Annihilation Engine had become less valuable to him.
• Xiao Ran told Bian that Saki would go to La Gias and asked for details about Shirakawa Shuu’s intentions so he could prepare for the danger.
• Bian agreed to relay Xiao Ran’s offer of assistance to Shirakawa Shuu and arrange direct coordination between their people.
• Xiao Ran decided that Saki would go with capable pilots and that Kane would contact and coordinate with Shirakawa Shuu.

Xiao Ran arranged a secret investigation of La Gias that would also support Shirakawa Shuu’s operation. As the Hagane departed with a large team, Kane met Shirakawa Shuu to establish the terms of their cooperation.

• Bian left to contact Shirakawa Shuu, who sought Xiao Ran’s cooperation so his plans in La Gias would not be obstructed.
• After Bian departed, Xiao Ran told Kane to prepare an elite mage squad and ordered Daitetsu to organize a concealed mission to La Gias.
• Daitetsu assembled a team of more than thirty people, including Masaki, Zengar, Elsam, Kyosuke, Exeline, Alphimi, Basak, Saki Maski, and Axel.
• Daitetsu led the team aboard the Hagane and set out for La Gias as Kane met Shirakawa Shuu near the Far East Base.
• Kane told Shirakawa Shuu that Xiao Ran’s side would assist his plan, leave operational leadership to him, and pay an equivalent price for anything they obtained.

Kane negotiated with Shirakawa Shuu for access to La Gias in exchange for its magical and alchemical knowledge, while offering support and protection for the Steel Dragon Squad. Shirakawa Shuu agreed to cooperate but warned Kane not to interfere with his plans, and both groups entered La Gias by separate routes.

• Kane told Shirakawa Shuu that his group wanted La Gias's magical and alchemical knowledge and hoped to obtain Cyborgs and other special technologies.
• Kane offered unconditional assistance as long as Shirakawa Shuu's actions did not threaten Earth, and proposed coordinating with the Steel Dragon Squad to help him carry out his plans.
• Shirakawa Shuu accepted the collaboration but insisted that Kane's people must not disrupt his plans, then ordered them to prepare to depart.
• The Steel Dragon Squad set off while Shirakawa Shuu led Kane and fewer than ten transforming, Mirage System-equipped units toward an undiscovered passage into La Gias.
• Xiao Ran received reports from Daitetsu and Kane and worried about Basak and Saki, but trusted their companions, their ejection systems, and their ability to face danger.

Xiao Ran tracked Kane’s work in La Gias as Shirakawa Shuu’s schemes plunged the Holy Raglan Kingdom into chaos. After learning that Shirakawa Shuu had died in a fight with Masaki, Xiao Ran set out for Earth in his new machine.

• Kane reported every three days on the Iron’s progress, its infiltration, and the Steel Dragon Squad’s conflicts in La Gias.
• Kane said Shirakawa Shuu had led the Steel Dragon Squad against the Holy Raglan Kingdom while targeting the Destruction God’s followers and figures within the kingdom.
• Xiao Ran warned Kane to investigate the Destruction God and prepared his forces to support the Iron in La Gias.
• Kane reported that the Holy Raglan Kingdom had gathered a large army to drive out the Iron amid the growing unrest.
• The Steel Dragon Squad departed the Far East Base aboard three warships to rendezvous with the Iron.
• Kane told Xiao Ran that Masaki had killed Shirakawa Shuu in battle, and Xiao Ran told Kane to keep watch over the Iron and continue gathering information before heading toward Earth.