Chapter Summaries

He-El arranged a fallback plan to evacuate New Krypton into his He-El Universe if the beings who had replaced Trigon or inhabited Zeus attacked. He set evacuation priorities and ordered Space Bridge devices prepared, then continued monitoring for threats.

• He-El ordered Zero to establish an emergency protocol requiring New Kryptonians to assemble in the Solar System and enter the Traversal Vortex within one minute.
• Zero warned that equipping everyone with individual Space Bridge devices would take trillions of years, so He-El prioritized New Krypton's original citizens, leading scientists, Guardians of the Universe, and powerful fighters.
• He-El assigned recently conquered civilizations to a fourth evacuation sequence using collective planetary Space Bridges, which would take three million years to equip.
• Zero reported that the first sequence's devices would be installed by July next year and the second and third sequences within five years; He-El approved the plan.
• He-El reviewed New Krypton's affairs and found no trace of the being who had replaced Trigon or of anyone like Zeus, then continued monitoring and went to meditate on cosmic operating logic.

He-El ordered Lucy to investigate the Lucy Universe’s operating principles so he could connect it to the He-El Universe, promising that New Krypton would develop and occupy her homeland. After Lucy entered the Lucy Universe, He-El decided to open a thousand Traversal Vortices to accelerate his search for more cosmic principles.

• He-El summoned Lucy in the He-El Universe and ordered her to study the Lucy Universe’s operating principles and connect the two universes.
• Lucy asked He-El what would happen to her homeland, and he explained that New Krypton would occupy it, end its wars, and develop its resources and brain-potential research.
• Lucy accepted He-El’s plan and entered a Traversal Vortex to investigate the Lucy Universe, confident that she could be reborn in the He-El Universe if she died.
• He-El worried about the beings inside Zeus and the man who had replaced Trigon, and resolved to open a thousand Traversal Vortices.

He-El sent a thousand clones through Traversal Vortices to study other universes, but one clone encountered a Creator God opening heaven and was destroyed by his cry. After learning the giant was glad to discover life beyond his universe, He-El watched another glimmer of information arrive.

• He-El created a thousand clones with his own power and sent them through a thousand Traversal Vortices to observe the universes beyond.
• A clone entering the thousandth Traversal Vortex died instantly, and the powerful being on the other side nearly prevented He-El from closing the vortex.
• He-El absorbed the clone’s residual information and saw a giant Creator God standing in chaos during the creation of a world.
• The giant said he was glad to find life in another universe, apologized for startling He-El, and offered him a gift if he returned.
• He-El realized the giant’s cry had accidentally shattered his clone, then noticed another glimmer of information arriving through a Traversal Vortex.

He-El examined information from his dead clones and discovered that more than half of the thousand dispatched across Traversal Vortices had died within seconds. The last message from Universe No. 555’s controller pleaded with Lin Lei to stop a clone from dispersing, leaving He-El without knowing what the controller wanted.

• He-El learned that his clone in the universe beyond Traversal Vortex No. 888 had been suppressed, attacked by a red-furred freak, and killed by a jade-white palm.
• He-El noticed that information from more than 153 dead clones kept arriving, rising to 488 in less than five seconds.
• He-El watched a clone in Universe No. 346 self-destruct to escape an evil Heavenly Path attempting to possess him.
• He-El learned that a clone in Universe No. 555 had dispersed rather than communicate with its friendly controller.
• The controller of Universe No. 555 called to Lin Lei, pleading, “Don't let him die!!”

He-El investigated why his stellar-level clones kept dying as soon as they entered other universes. Their information sparks revealed that each had encountered a universe’s lethal forces or powerful inhabitants, leading He-El to suspect that the universes were defending themselves against the abnormal intrusions.

• He-El absorbed the information sparks of the clone that entered Universe No. 555, while more than two hundred other clones returned after collapsing and dying.
• He-El reviewed the deaths of clones in Universe No. 72, where alchemy refined one into a Philosopher’s Stone, and Universe No. 134, where Daoist Creator captured another.
• He-El learned that a clone in Universe No. 167 was erased by a sphere of light and another in Universe No. 199 died in a universe-destroying war involving Hua Tianjun.
• He-El examined the clone’s death in Universe No. 234, where whispers caused its body to distort, and wondered why every clone met immediate danger.
• He-El concluded that the universes might instinctively eliminate his clones because their abnormal power collided with each universe’s operating logic.

After all thousand Traversal Vortices wiped out his clones, He-El worked out why they had failed and redesigned them to better survive alien universes. He concluded they needed a system to help them adapt and grow, and prepared to create one.

• All thousand of He-El's clones died within two minutes of entering the Traversal Vortices, including those who encountered the terrifying world of Universe No. 1000.
• He-El reasoned that the clones' powerful and unfamiliar operational logic had triggered the alien universes' defenses, and decided they could not have stellar-level power or Kryptonian bloodlines.
• He-El compiled nine hundred and ninety-nine drops of blood into mortal clones with exceptional adaptability and removed their memories from after entering the DC universe.
• He-El decided the clones also needed guidance to integrate into their new universes, set goals, and grow stronger.
• He-El gathered his spiritual power and called out, "System!"

Chen Hai awoke naked in a Seattle alley with a Universal System that displayed his attributes and energy points. As he tried to make sense of his situation, a gang member dropped a gun at his feet, leaving the two sides facing a sudden standoff.

• Chen Hai woke in a filthy Seattle alley, naked and half-kneeling, after finishing an overnight shift at a mold factory.
• The Universal System bound itself to Chen Hai and showed his Essence, Ki, Spirit, Energy Points, and lack of skills.
• Three members of the Bloodthirsty Gang and a dancer mocked Chen Hai, who did not understand their English.
• One gang member reached for his Colt M1911 to threaten Chen Hai but accidentally dropped it in front of Chen Hai's fist.

Chen Hai appeared in an unfamiliar alley and used his only energy point to improve his firearms skill after spotting a Colt M1911. The system trained him through repeated combat simulations, and he ended the chapter aiming the now-familiar pistol at the three men and the dancer.

• Chen Hai reached for the Colt M1911 after the Black man discarded it, and the system offered to spend energy points on his firearms skill.
• Chen Hai used his point, entering a mental training space where a voice explained the pistol’s parts and operation.
• The system made Chen Hai face the three hip-hop Black men and the dancer in repeated simulations, where he was shot twice before learning to assemble and fire the pistol effectively.
• The system completed the allocation, erased Chen Hai’s memories of the training space, and transferred his knowledge of the Colt M1911 to his brain.
• Chen Hai gained Beginner-level firearms skill and aimed the pistol at the three men and the dancer.

Chen Hai picked up a Colt M1911 and, driven by panic and newly gained familiarity with the gun, killed three attackers and chased the last one down the alley. The chapter ended with Chen Hai losing control and tearing out the fleeing man's windpipe and carotid artery.

• Chen Hai picked up the dropped Colt M1911 and instinctively switched off its safety.
• Chen Hai fired repeatedly, killing the Black man who dropped the gun, another Black man, and a dancer.
• The remaining Black man hid behind a wall and fired blindly, wounding Chen Hai and He-El before running out of ammunition.
• Chen Hai chased the last Black man through the alley as the man fled in terror.
• Chen Hai caught the man and ripped out his windpipe and carotid artery.

After killing four men, Chen Hai felt the rush of taking lives before pain from two bullet wounds brought him back to his predicament. With no energy points to heal himself, he searched a corpse for money and limped toward the distant lights to find food.

• Chen Hai realized he had killed four men and felt a savage exhilaration at controlling whether others lived or died.
• As his adrenaline faded, Chen Hai discovered bullets had struck beneath his left collarbone and in his right thigh.
• Chen Hai asked the system to heal him, but it said he had no energy points and explained that he could obtain them by eating or absorbing energy from outside.
• Hungry and losing blood, Chen Hai searched the Black man's corpse, found U.S. dollars, and limped toward the distant lights in search of a meal.

After finding four dead gang members, Yoton questioned neighborhood residents about the killer. Richard revealed that a wounded, naked Easterner had fled along a trail of blood, and the Bloody Chariot Gang pursued him as police sirens approached.

• A Bloody Chariot Gang member found four corpses in the alley and reported them to Yoton.
• Yoton ordered his men to find the killer and threatened residents until Richard offered information for two hundred dollars.
• Richard told Yoton that a naked Easterner had killed the gang members and fled after being shot.
• Yoton and his gang followed Chen Hai's bloody handprints and rode after him as police sirens neared.

Wounded and barely conscious, Chen Hai wandered into the road and was hit by Matt's Ford. Matt, Steve, and Andrew discovered his bullet wounds and carried him away with their telekinetic powers as the Bloody Chariot Gang approached.

• Chen Hai staggered toward a light and was struck by Matt's Ford, which nearly flipped before an unexplained force steadied it.
• Matt, Steve, and Andrew got out to check on Chen Hai, and Matt touched him, triggering a system prompt about learning an abnormal ability.
• Chen Hai murmured that he needed food and water, while Steve and Andrew noticed his bullet wounds and worried he was involved in a gang vendetta.
• As motorcycles approached, Matt decided to take Chen Hai with them, and the three friends carried him into the night sky using telekinesis.
• The Bloody Chariot Gang arrived at the road and found no one there.

Matt, Steve, and Andrew found Chen Hai badly injured after Matt hit him with his car and decided to save him despite fearing the people who had shot him. Steve and Andrew flew off to fetch food and medical supplies, while Matt began examining Chen Hai’s bullet wound with telekinesis.

• Matt, Steve, and Andrew carried Chen Hai to a grove where they practiced using their telekinetic powers.
• Steve and Andrew worried about the danger of helping Chen Hai, but Matt insisted they could not leave him to die, and Steve agreed to help.
• Matt decided to pull the bullets from Chen Hai and asked Steve to buy food and Andrew to bring medical supplies.
• Matt gave Andrew thirty dollars, and Andrew flew off to get disinfectant, gauze, and medicine.
• Matt crouched beside Chen Hai and cautiously sent telekinesis into the bullet wound beneath his left collarbone.

Matt, Steve, and Andrew treated Chen Hai’s gunshot wound, then discovered that he could instinctively swallow enormous amounts of food and water while rapidly regaining color. After they fed him everything they had gathered, Chen Hai was still dazed and calling for more food.

• Steve returned with food, and Andrew came back with medicine while Matt prepared to treat Chen Hai.
• Matt used telekinesis to pull a bullet from Chen Hai’s chest, and Steve and Andrew disinfected and bandaged the wound.
• Steve fed Chen Hai jelly, and Matt, Steve, and Andrew were astonished when he swallowed it and seemed more alert.
• Steve and Andrew fed Chen Hai chips, instant noodles, water, and other food as his complexion improved without his stomach swelling.
• Matt, Steve, and Andrew used up all the food, but Chen Hai remained dazed and continued asking for more.

Matt, Steve, and Andrew saved the wounded Chen Hai and hid him in a nearby cave rather than risk bringing him home. Chen Hai woke the next morning, grateful for his rescuers and puzzled by his increased Energy Points, and decided to eat more to recover.

• Matt used telekinesis to remove the bullet from Chen Hai’s thigh, and Steve and Andrew treated the wound.
• Steve, Matt, and Andrew decided not to take Chen Hai home and instead settled him in a cave with blankets and plenty of food.
• Chen Hai woke in the cave, found his wounds bandaged, and realized his Energy Points had risen to 0.73.
• Chen Hai reasoned that eating might raise his Energy Points to 1 and help him recover, then reached for the food.

Chen Hai left the cave where he had awakened and discovered he was in an unfamiliar American city, still injured and short on Energy Points. A Chinese homeless man took him to a relief distribution, where they received food and supplies.

• Chen Hai checked his system and realized he needed 0.4 more Energy Points to heal his injuries.
• Chen Hai left the cave to search for food and followed a path to a road lined with homeless encampments.
• Chen Hai heard a Chinese homeless man speaking Mandarin, and the man offered to take him to collect relief supplies.
• The Chinese homeless man explained local rules and led Chen Hai to a relief distribution.
• Chen Hai and the man received a tent, toiletries, lunch, and soup, then prepared to eat together.

Chen Hai gathered enough Energy Points from food to raise his Essence, transforming his injured body into a stronger, handsome physique. After waking from the painful change, he realized he had become as physically capable as the world’s top athletes and could grow stronger by eating more.

• Chen Hai ate unwanted bread and cakes from the Chinese homeless man and nearby homeless people until he gained one Energy Point.
• Chen Hai spent the point on Essence, raising it from 0.8 to 1.8 and passing out from the painful transformation.
• Chen Hai’s body grew taller and muscular, his wounds healed, and his appearance changed dramatically.
• The Chinese homeless man panicked when Chen Hai collapsed, then marveled at his new appearance when he woke.
• Chen Hai tested his increased strength and concluded that another point could push him beyond ordinary human limits.

Matt was confronted by Babulo and the Bloody Chariot Gang over his car, which had been found at the scene where the Asian man escaped. Andrew wanted to use telekinesis to kill the gang members and save Matt, while Steve urged caution; Babulo ordered Matt into the car to make him reveal where the Asian man was.

• Matt, Steve, and Andrew left school together, but Matt stayed behind when Babulo and another gang member arrived in his sedan.
• Steve told Andrew that the Bloody Chariot Gang had tracked Matt through his car, and Andrew insisted they should save Matt if the gang threatened him.
• Steve persuaded Andrew to follow Matt and see what happened before using their telekinetic powers.
• Matt confronted Babulo about taking his car, but Babulo accused him of helping the Asian man and demanded that he reveal where the man had gone.
• Babulo noticed Matt's nervous expression and ordered him to get into the car.

Matt got into Babulo’s Ford sedan to explain himself to the Bloody Chariot Gang, but Andrew and Steve intervened with their telekinetic powers. After Andrew overturned the car and Steve rescued Matt, the three flew away with the gang members, leaving them to face the consequences of opposing the gang.

• Matt got into Babulo’s Ford sedan and went with him toward the Bloody Chariot Gang headquarters.
• Andrew urged Steve to stop the gang from taking Matt, but Steve hesitated to confront them.
• Andrew used telekinesis to flip the Ford sedan onto its side, and Steve pulled Matt from the wreck.
• Matt scolded Andrew for acting recklessly, while Andrew argued that the gang would have tortured him.
• Steve stopped their argument, and Matt helped remove the unconscious gang members from the sedan.
• Matt, Steve, and Andrew flew with the gang members toward the Eastern man's cave.

Andrew, Steve, and Matt argued over what to do with two Bloody Chariot Gang members after the Easterner they rescued disappeared, and Matt persuaded them to wait for the men to wake up. Meanwhile, Chen Hai used his system to transform his appearance and decided to seek power through violence, heading back toward the woods to find his rescuers.

• Steve found that the Easterner had left the cave, and Andrew feared the three of them had become enemies of the Bloody Chariot Gang.
• Andrew considered killing the two unconscious gang members, but Matt stopped him and urged him to wait until they woke up.
• Chen Hai spent an energy point to improve his body and appearance, then asked the Chinese homeless man how to obtain documents and live in the United States.
• After hearing how difficult it was to get a green card, Chen Hai rejected the idea of remaining homeless and decided to build strength outside the rules.
• Chen Hai planned to get a Colt M1911 and returned toward the woods to find the people who had rescued him.