Chapter Summaries

pew and Captain Price’s squad fought their way across a storm-lashed cargo ship, using helicopter support to clear the watchtower. Qiezi took the lead inside the cargo hold, where an unseen enemy repeatedly outshot him, leaving his fate unresolved.

• pew shot a drunken crewman in the passageway, and Captain Price’s squad silently cleared the lounge.
• The squad crossed the stormy deck, where a loose safe nearly struck pew, then exchanged fire with enemies in the watchtower.
• Captain Price called in Hammer 2-4, and a Black Hawk’s autocannon devastated the tower’s defenders.
• The squad cleared the ship’s interior with close-quarters tactics, and Qiezi volunteered to breach the cargo hold.
• An enemy headshot Qiezi twice as he peeked; Qiezi charged while firing, spotted the enemy behind an electrical box, and was shot again when the enemy returned fire.

pew lowered the Call of Duty demo to Recruit difficulty and fought through a cargo hold to find a radioactive package. After MiG fighters attacked the freighter, Soap escaped the sinking ship with Captain Price and the others as the demo ended.

• pew switched the difficulty from Veteran to Recruit and defeated the enemies in the cargo hold.
• Captain Price and pew found a radiation-marked case and recovered its manifest after receiving a warning about approaching MiG fighters.
• A MiG missile struck the freighter, flooding the ship and forcing Soap and Captain Price to flee through the burning, tilting corridors.
• Soap and Captain Price raced across the storm-lashed deck and jumped toward the waiting Black Hawk.
• Captain Price caught Soap as he slipped from the helicopter hatch, and the crew escaped while the freighter sank.

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare demo stunned viewers and festival visitors with its immersive action and a grim execution that raised questions about a wider conspiracy. As the game dominated headlines, Ito Suke decided Komeila should prioritize its long-term survival over protecting Nightfall Island.

• Pew and viewers around the world reacted with amazement as the demo’s helicopter escape sequence showcased Call of Duty’s cinematic immersion.
• The demo shifted to a Middle Eastern city, where soldiers captured the viewpoint character and a warlord shot him before a cheering crowd.
• Visitors were left wondering about the warlord, the one-armed bald man, the dirty bomb, and the conflict Captain Price and Soap would face.
• Call of Duty drew huge crowds, glowing reviews, and headlines, while other developers reportedly delayed their FPS games.
• Ito Suke judged Nightfall Island a poor rival to Call of Duty and decided Komeila should sacrifice the costly game rather than risk the company’s future.

Komeila’s Nightfall Island demo suffered a major bug at the Dongjin Game Festival, triggering widespread criticism and leaving President Jouetsu Kagemasa desperate to save the project. Unable to reach Gu Sheng, Jouetsu asked Moriya Tetsuya to persuade Golden Wind to stop using Xunteng to attack the game’s reputation.

• Komeila’s Nightfall Island demo crashed during an SNG reporter’s test after its auto-aim malfunctioned and the VR controls lost synchronization.
• The demo’s bug intensified existing criticism of its repetitive levels, enemies, and awkward gunplay, while media and players blamed Jouetsu Kagemasa for rushing the unfinished game to the exhibition.
• Facing public condemnation and pressure from Komeila’s board, Jouetsu concluded that Gu Sheng was the only person who could rescue Nightfall Island by joining its development.
• Jouetsu called Gu Sheng, but Moriya Tetsuya answered and offered to hear him out.
• Jouetsu asked Moriya to have Golden Wind stop using Xunteng to launch a public-opinion offensive against Nightfall Island.

Jouetsu Kagemasa realized Nakamura Masakazu had sabotaged Nightfall Island and pleaded for Gu Sheng’s help, but Moriya refused to involve Golden Wind in Komeila’s internal power struggle. Meanwhile, Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao negotiated with Sanshang Shinji to acquire the Resident Evil rights, and Shen asked him to raise his offer above one dollar.

• Jouetsu Kagemasa asked Moriya Tetsuya for help, then suspected Nakamura Masakazu had deliberately damaged Nightfall Island to frame him.
• Moriya refused Jouetsu’s request on Golden Wind’s behalf, saying Gu Sheng would not be drawn into Komeila’s shareholder conflict.
• Gu Sheng met Sanshang Shinji in Tokyo to discuss acquiring the Resident Evil IP, which Sanshang offered to sell for one dollar.
• Shen Miaomiao joined the negotiation by video and explained that Golden Wind could not accept the IP for such a low price without inviting trouble.
• Shen asked Sanshang Shinji to raise the price so Golden Wind could accept the deal with peace of mind.

Shen Miaomiao and Gu Sheng negotiated with Sanshang Shinji and agreed to acquire the Resident Evil IP for 188.88 million dollars. Gu Sheng then explained that Golden Wind was collaborating with Ragefire on an unusual game to help the company resist Cloudway’s hostile takeover, leaving Sanshang curious about the project.

• Shen Miaomiao proposed paying 500 million dollars for Resident Evil, while Gu Sheng argued that they should accept Sanshang Shinji’s one-dollar offer.
• After a heated debate, Gu Sheng and Shen Miaomiao agreed to acquire the Resident Evil IP for 188.88 million dollars, and Sanshang entrusted it to Golden Wind.
• Gu Sheng told Sanshang that Golden Wind would delay a sequel to Resident Evil 7 because Steel Chain Fingers was occupied with another project.
• Gu Sheng explained that Cloudway was attempting a hostile takeover of Ragefire and that Golden Wind planned to help through a collaborative game and public support.
• Gu Sheng described the collaboration as a special project born from racing but not quite a racing game, and Sanshang asked to hear more.

Raging Flame Games and Golden Wind planned Euro Truck Simulator for Europa Expo, but Raging Flame’s staff were stunned by Golden Wind’s lack of budgeting and costly plans. The chapter ended by announcing Golden Wind’s $300 million Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launch in mid-November.

• Li Xiaofeng introduced Euro Truck Simulator, a truck-driving game focused on hauling cargo and enjoying European scenery, and Zhang Ling questioned whether it belonged at a racing expo.
• Sato encouraged Raging Flame’s staff to trust Golden Wind’s unconventional ideas and recalled the company’s past successes against Yunwei.
• When Li Xiaofeng asked about the budget, Sato explained that Golden Wind generally spent as much as its funds allowed instead of setting a budget.
• Yuki suggested finalizing the project plan before settling costs and proposed a European trip for on-site reference gathering, alarming Li Xiaofeng.
• The chapter announced that Golden Wind’s $300 million shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare would arrive in mid-November.

The long-awaited Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launched worldwide, and pew began streaming Soap’s SAS training while marveling at the game’s realistic weapons and physical feedback. After the training, Octane reached the combined course and met Captain Price, who assigned him a close-quarters combat assessment.

• Publishers across the world held back game releases as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launched with overwhelming attention.
• pew started a livestream and played as Soap through the opening SAS briefing and beginner weapons training with Gaz.
• pew explored the military camp, tested weapons and detonated C4, experiencing the blast’s enhanced physical feedback.
• Octane reached the combined training course and met Captain Price, who mocked Soap’s name and assigned him a CQB assessment.
• Captain Price told Octane that Gaz held the team’s best course record and challenged him to finish within sixty seconds.

Octane set a first-run world record in the training course, while Eiki played Soap in the mission to rescue informant Nikolai. After Eiki helped Kamarov’s forces destroy an artillery position, Gaz forced Kamarov to reveal Nikolai’s location and ordered the squad to move on.

• Octane completed the training course in 16.55 seconds, setting a new world record on his first attempt.
• Eiki followed Captain Price and Gaz through the forest, helping them silently eliminate guards on the way to meet Kamarov.
• Eiki provided sniper support as the squad helped Kamarov’s forces destroy the rebel artillery position MB21.
• When Kamarov asked them to keep fighting so he could retake the village, Gaz demanded Nikolai’s location instead.
• Kamarov revealed that Nikolai was in a house at the village’s northeast corner, and Gaz ordered Eiki to move out.

Qiezi began the Marine Corps assault on Al-Asad’s forces and experienced the brutality of close-quarters urban combat. After surviving a knife attack, he paused the game and decided to turn off realistic dismemberment.

• Nikolai warned Captain Price that the Americans would never capture Al-Asad alive, while the extraction helicopter carried the S.A.S. team away.
• The U.S. Marine Corps launched its operation, and Qiezi played Sergeant Paul Jackson as his squad fast-roped into the city.
• Qiezi survived a dangerous doorway breach, then witnessed a teammate get shot dead at close range.
• As the Marines advanced toward the city center, Qiezi saw soldiers killed or mutilated by sniper fire, grenades, and gunfire.
• An enemy blinded by a flashbang rushed Qiezi with a knife, but Qiezi shot him with his M9 and paused the game, deciding to disable realistic dismemberment.

Matt Simon played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as Sergeant Paul Jackson and was struck by its immersive portrayal of urban warfare. After his squad was ambushed and ordered to destroy four enemy tanks, he found a Javelin launcher and fired at the advancing armor.

• Simon reflected on the game's anti-war depiction and worried that Alasrad had lured the Marines into a trap with a prerecorded speech.
• As Paul Jackson, Simon advanced through the battered city with his squad to reach a broken-down Porcupine tank.
• An ambush killed a teammate, and Paul led three men into a nearby building to clear out the enemy.
• Paul learned that four tanks were approaching and discovered a Javelin anti-tank missile in an ammunition crate.
• Paul locked onto a tank and destroyed it with the Javelin, then prepared to fire at another as Captain Price shouted, "R--P--G--!!!"

After their helicopter crashed in Western Warsaw, A Yin, Captain Price, and Nikolai fought through a search party and fled an armed helicopter. Surrounded by enemy armor, they learned that AC-130 support had arrived.

• An RPG hit the helicopter’s tail rotor, forcing it to crash; Captain Price dragged A Yin to safety, and Nikolai survived.
• Captain Price requested air support and learned an AC-130 was airborne, while the group escaped the crash site and killed two guards at a post.
• An armed helicopter spotted the group and chased them with machine-gun fire, forcing them to take shelter in a cellar and fight through a farmstead.
• A Yin used two Stinger missiles to bring down the pursuing helicopter at the barn.
• Two tanks, an armored vehicle, and enemy troops advanced on the group, but Gun Seat reported that the AC-130 had reached the area and would provide fire support.

A Yin took command of an AC-130 Gunship and devastated enemy forces while supporting Captain Price’s squad, then Eiki advanced with US Marines and a repaired Porcupine tank toward the final assault on Alasrad. Eiki boarded the extraction helicopter, with the operation poised to continue toward Alasrad’s capture.

• An AC-130’s cannons wiped out an enemy armored company, and A Yin was given control of the Gunship.
• A Yin played “Swamp Thing” and used the Gunship’s three weapons to clear enemies, armored vehicles, and a tank for Captain Price’s squad.
• Captain Price’s squad reached the designated area and boarded an extraction helicopter as A Yin finished the level.
• Eiki joined the US Marines’ final advance through the city with the repaired Porcupine tank, using infantry-tank coordination to move toward Alasrad’s capital.
• Eiki and the squad reached the extraction helicopter and boarded it, preparing for the final assault to capture Alasrad.

Eiki and the 1st Reconnaissance Company advanced through the city to rescue trapped Marines, then diverted to save a downed Cobra crew after learning a nuclear device had been found. As their helicopter escaped, a blinding flash appeared on the horizon, leaving the nuclear threat unresolved.

• Eiki and his squad pushed into the city under overwhelming U.S. air and ground support, clearing buildings and rescuing three advance team members.
• Command ordered Rogue 2-5 to withdraw after Navy SEAL Team Six found a suspected nuclear device near Alasrad's palace.
• An RPG struck the accompanying Cobra helicopter, and Lieutenant Vasquez led Eiki's squad to rescue its trapped female pilot within one minute.
• As Rogue 2-5 flew away, Command confirmed the nuclear threat, and a blinding flash appeared beyond the open aircraft door.

Eiki and the American forces were caught in Alasrad’s nuclear blast, and the livestream revealed that the entire army had been wiped out. With Alasrad still at large, Captain Price’s S.A.S. team followed Nikolai’s lead and headed for his hideout in Azerbaijan.

• Alasrad detonated a nuclear bomb, and the shockwave destroyed the aircraft carrying Eiki and the rescued Cobra pilot.
• Eiki crawled through the devastated city, saw the mushroom cloud, and collapsed as the blast overcame him.
• The livestream and casualty records revealed that between thirty thousand and fifty thousand American combat personnel had died, with no survivors.
• Viewers and streamers reacted in shock to the nuclear strike and its depiction of war’s destruction.
• Nikolai told Captain Price that Alasrad would likely flee to his hideout in Azerbaijan and sent the coordinates.
• Captain Price ordered Gaz to assemble the S.A.S. team and set out for Azerbaijan.

Kornik decided to pressure Dream into restricting Golden Wind’s access to its engine after Call of Duty became a major success. Meanwhile, Soap and Captain Price captured Alasrad, but Price killed him after receiving a call from Imran Zakhaev, and the story shifted to Chernobyl fifteen years earlier.

• Kornik read the acclaim for Call of Duty and decided that Golden Wind’s success threatened his plans to acquire its valuable IPs.
• Kornik concluded that restricting Golden Wind’s access to Dream 5 Engine could slow its future games and called Dream to negotiate.
• Soap, Captain Price, Gaz, and their teammates fought through a village in northern Azerbaijan where Alasrad’s militants were slaughtering civilians.
• The team found Alasrad, and Captain Price prepared to interrogate him about the people behind the assassination plot and nuclear crisis.
• An unknown caller contacted Alasrad’s phone, and Captain Price shot Alasrad after identifying the caller as Imran Zakhaev.
• The story moved back fifteen years to Chernobyl.

Eiki played as a young Captain Price on a stealth mission with Captain Macmillan to assassinate Imran Zakhaev at Chernobyl, while streamer APLUS tackled the same mission. The chapter left APLUS and Macmillan moving on after killing an attacker in the container maze.

• Captain Price explained that he and Captain Macmillan had been assigned to assassinate Imran Zakhaev over his trade in nuclear fuel.
• Eiki discovered he was playing as Lieutenant Captain Price and followed Macmillan through the Chernobyl exclusion zone in a ghillie suit.
• Eiki and Macmillan sniped guards and hid as a patrol and an armored vehicle passed directly over them.
• APLUS joined the mission and explained how ghillie suits concealed soldiers in tall grass.
• APLUS killed an attacker who ambushed Macmillan in a shipping-container maze, and Macmillan praised his quick reactions and shooting.

Big Bro, playing Lieutenant Price, and Captain Macmillan assassinated Zakhaev in Chernobyl but came under attack and raced toward an extraction point. After Price and Macmillan shot down a pursuing helicopter, Macmillan was injured and asked Price to carry him.

• Big Bro and Captain Macmillan hid beneath Zakhaev’s convoy, then waited for hours in an abandoned hotel for the target to enter firing range.
• Big Bro fired a Barrett M82A1 at Zakhaev, blowing off his left arm, while an enemy helicopter spotted their position.
• Macmillan and Price rappelled from the hotel as a missile struck the floor, then fled through enemy fire toward the Fourth Extraction Point.
• Macmillan and Price used a narrow alley to shoot the pilot of a pursuing helicopter, which crashed toward them.
• Macmillan shoved Price clear of the falling helicopter, then told him he was unable to move and needed to be carried to the extraction point.

Price and Captain Macmillan fought their way through Chernobyl to the Ferris wheel extraction point, then defended their position against successive enemy waves. Big Bird’s team arrived by Osprey, and Price prepared to carry Macmillan aboard.

• pew carried Captain Macmillan through enemy fire, and they fought back-to-back through the apartment building until Macmillan shot an enemy and helped save Brother Qie from an attack dog.
• Price and Captain Macmillan reached the Ferris wheel with ten minutes until extraction and set traps before taking separate positions to defend themselves.
• The two snipers fought off successive enemy waves, using Claymores and C4 as explosions engulfed the abandoned amusement park.
• After running low on ammunition and supplies, Price and Captain Macmillan heard Big Bird order Team A to board the aircraft.
• An Osprey arrived with an extraction team, and Price found Captain Macmillan and offered to carry him aboard.

After Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s “All Ghillied Up” level earned widespread praise, Yunwei President Barber Kornik proposed that Dream CEO Carter Walker raise engine licensing fees. Kornik offered Dream exclusive backing from Yunwei and Komeila in exchange for preferential treatment and pressure on China Game.

• Reviewers and media praised Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s “All Ghillied Up” shortly after its release.
• Barber Kornik told Carter Walker that the expanding game market gave Dream an opportunity to raise engine prices.
• Walker asked what additional benefits Dream would receive from raising its fees.
• Kornik offered Dream exclusive support from Yunwei and Komeila as part of a plan to make Dream 5 the companies’ exclusive engine.
• Kornik’s proposal would give Dream preferential treatment to major manufacturers while also targeting China Game’s growing market.