Chapter Summaries

After receiving an anonymous email with an address, the 01 Guerrilla Team debated whether it was a trap before deciding to investigate in Toulouse. Zhang Heng and Leah approached the location while the little boy reported that the area showed no signs of surveillance tampering, leaving Zhang Heng uncertain about Edward’s plans.

• The 01 Guerrilla Team received an anonymous email containing an address, and Zhang Heng said another friend had received the same one.
• The little boy warned that Black Nest might be using the address as a trap, but Ponytail Man decided the team should investigate while staying alert.
• The team traveled to Toulouse by way of Grenade, and Leah disguised herself to avoid recognition.
• The little boy conducted a preliminary reconnaissance and found no suspicious people near the target location.
• Zhang Heng and Leah headed to the address while the little boy noted that nearby cameras had not been hacked, which seemed unusual if Edward had arranged the meeting.

Zhang Heng and Leah searched Jacobin Monastery for Edward but found no sign of him. Leah decoded a clue on a flyer as “garden,” and after they ate at a restaurant named Garden, two possible locations remained.

• Zhang Heng and Leah searched Jacobin Monastery while disguised as a couple but found no trace of Edward.
• Zhang Heng reasoned that Edward’s clue must refer to something that stayed in the monastery, and Leah suggested it might point outside instead.
• Leah decoded Hebrew text on a flyer using a childhood cipher and discovered the word “garden.”
• The little boy found a restaurant, a boxing gym, and an elementary school called Garden in Toulouse, and Zhang Heng chose the restaurant.
• Zhang Heng and Leah ate at the restaurant, then prepared to choose between the boxing gym and the elementary school.

Zhang Heng and Leah searched the Garden boxing gym for Leah’s brother, but the coach said he was absent. After Sandbag Man challenged Zhang Heng, Zhang Heng easily outpaced and evaded him, leaving the match unresolved as he prepared to take his turn.

• Zhang Heng and Leah arrived at Garden looking for Leah’s brother, and the gray-haired coach told them he was not there.
• Zhang Heng showed the coach a flyer, but the coach said he was not religious and offered no help.
• Sandbag Man challenged Zhang Heng, who wrapped a borrowed steak knife with tape and entered the ring.
• Zhang Heng moved so quickly that his knife nearly reached Sandbag Man’s eye before anyone could react.
• Sandbag Man attacked with a barrage of punches, but Zhang Heng dodged every one.
• Zhang Heng asked if Sandbag Man was finished and said it was his turn.

Zhang Heng defeated Iron Fist and learned that Edward had been hiding in Toulouse while trying to expose Black Nest. When the group reached Edward’s hideout, Iron Fist was shot by a sniper, leaving Edward’s whereabouts unknown.

• Zhang Heng forced Sandbag Man to surrender, and the player introduced himself as Iron Fist.
• Iron Fist told Zhang Heng that he had been caring for Edward and that Black Nest had recently pursued them in Toulouse.
• Iron Fist explained how Mr. Guillaume came to oppose Black Nest after his family died in a car accident involving its autonomous driving system.
• Zhang Heng led 01 and Leah to the hardware store and realized Edward should already have noticed Leah but had not come down.
• Iron Fist went upstairs to check on Edward, but a sniper shot him as he opened the attic door.
• Zhang Heng warned the others to find cover and searched the empty room, where Edward was nowhere to be seen.

Black Nest ambushed Zhang Heng and the 01 team at the hardware store, trapping them under a sniper’s watch while they searched for Edward. Zhang Heng killed the first attackers and used the Wall of Malice to open an escape route, leaving the group gone before Black Nest’s next wave entered.

• A sniper killed Iron Fist as Zhang Heng and the others took cover, and Leah asked whether her brother Edward was safe.
• Zhang Heng concluded that Edward had likely escaped and warned that Black Nest’s forces would soon surround the hardware store.
• Five masked Black Nest gunmen rushed into the shop, and Zhang Heng shot all of them before they could harm the group.
• Zhang Heng rejected a plan to drive through the sniper’s line of sight and told the 01 team to follow his instructions without asking how.
• Zhang Heng used the Wall of Malice to make a door in the back wall, and the group slipped through before Black Nest’s second wave arrived.

After Iron Fist was killed, Zhang Heng explained that Black Nest had used the unfinished CTOS system, called Zero, to track Edward. He revealed that he could hack into this early version, giving the group a possible way to fight back as they searched for Edward.

• Zhang Heng drove the group to safety through streets lined with buildings, while Ponytail Man and Semi-prime warned that Black Nest was targeting Edward.
• Philip questioned how Black Nest had found Edward, and Zhang Heng identified CTOS as the means of surveillance.
• Zhang Heng explained that Black Nest had secretly launched an unfinished version of CTOS in Toulouse without the city council's proper authorization.
• Waldo said hacking CTOS could take weeks or months and expose him to tracking, but Zhang Heng said he could break into the incomplete system.

Zhang Heng planned to use CTOS to locate Edward after removing his group’s devices from its surveillance network. At Black Nest’s Toulouse branch, a senior operative seized command from Vincent through intimidation, leaving the search for Edward under new leadership.

• Zhang Heng told the 01 group he could use CTOS to search for Edward, but first needed to remove their devices from its surveillance network.
• A man at Black Nest’s Toulouse branch criticized Vincent and Abu for repeatedly failing to capture Edward.
• When Abu asked for coffee, the man attacked him and ordered a woman in red to hold Vincent at gunpoint.
• Vincent agreed to hand over command authority, and he and Abu left after the man released Abu.
• The woman in red questioned the man’s forceful takeover, and he said Black Nest needed to move faster before the opposing players could react.

Black Nest tracked Edward to a swimming pool facility, where Zhang Heng reached him first and warned that Black Nest would arrive within minutes. Edward agreed to escape with Zhang Heng after retrieving his backpack, and Zhang Heng urged him to take the sandwiches the receptionist had made.

• Coffee Man and Scarlet led 01 toward Edward's hideout while Abu complained that Vincent had stopped him from killing Coffee Man.
• Zero located Edward at the swimming pool facility through the receptionist's online diary, despite Edward avoiding electronic devices and cameras.
• The receptionist invited Edward to the break room, where he found Zhang Heng waiting with coffee.
• Zhang Heng warned Edward that Black Nest would arrive in four minutes and told him to meet the group in the parking lot.
• Edward went to retrieve his backpack, and Zhang Heng handed him the receptionist's sandwiches to eat on the way.

After Scarlet pursued Edward on a Dodge Tomahawk, Zhang Heng helped Edward escape with Leah and the 01 Guerrilla Team. Scarlet caught up with them in a parking garage, where Zhang Heng attacked her with a bow and prepared Arrow of Paris.

• Scarlet blamed Coffee Man for Edward's escape, then pursued him alone after Zero identified his getaway car.
• Coffee Man ordered the technicians to investigate the leak and took Abu with him to the swimming pool.
• Edward questioned Zhang Heng, then spoke with Leah, who said Lu and the 01 Guerrilla Team had rescued her from Black Nest.
• Zhang Heng drove Edward to a parking garage to meet Semi-prime and switch cars.
• Scarlet arrived on her Dodge Tomahawk and fired at the Dacia Sandero, but Zhang Heng took cover and shot arrows at her.
• Scarlet dodged Zhang Heng's arrows and knocked aside one with her Katana, so Zhang Heng readied Arrow of Paris.

Zhang Heng fought Scarlet in a parking garage while Edward and Semi-prime escaped, then used the time behind a car to assemble an RPG launcher. The chapter left Scarlet aiming at his hiding place as Zhang Heng fired at the ceiling above her.

• Zhang Heng used the Arrow of Paris to wound Scarlet, but she deflected it with her Katana and caught its return shot.
• Zhang Heng and Scarlet fought across the garage, with his superior Blade Technique nearly overwhelming her until his dagger began to break.
• Zhang Heng sent Edward and Semi-prime away, while Scarlet called for backup and prepared to stall him until help arrived.
• Zhang Heng took cover behind the Dacia Sandero, assembled an RPG launcher with Infinite Blocks, and fired at the ceiling above Scarlet.

Zhang Heng escaped a parking-garage battle by causing an explosion and rejoined the others from 01. Edward refused to flee and planned to expose Black Nest in person, asking the group to protect him while he met three journalists in two days.

• Zhang Heng survived the explosion that buried the woman in red, then retrieved a damaged, unidentified katana from the rubble.
• Zhang Heng rode away on the Dodge Tomahawk and evaded Zero’s camera surveillance by changing vehicles and routes.
• Zhang Heng reunited with the others from 01 aboard a garbage collection boat on the Garonne River, where they discussed the explosion and Black Nest’s pursuit.
• Edward refused to leave Toulouse, insisting that he personally deliver his evidence to three trusted media representatives arriving in two days.
• Edward estimated that his interviews would take two and a half to three days, and asked the group to help protect him from Black Nest.

Coffee Man arrived at the parking garage and learned that Scarlet had survived but was badly injured after losing to a skilled swordsman. He tried to recruit her for the coming Proxy War, while Scarlet considered forfeiting the instance and using a Mission Failure Immunity Card.

• Coffee Man convinced a young policewoman to let him into the crime scene after Vincent and the police chief intervened.
• Coffee Man learned that Scarlet was seriously injured but alive, and went to see her in the ambulance.
• Scarlet described her opponent as a highly skilled swordsman whose Blade Technique was likely Level 3, and said he had defeated her even though she wielded Mikazuki Munechika.
• A worker found the broken blade, and Scarlet took it carefully despite her injuries.
• Coffee Man said he was excited to face Scarlet’s opponent, while Scarlet said she would forfeit the instance and use a Mission Failure Immunity Card.
• Coffee Man urged Scarlet to stay and said she might enjoy being carried by him.

Zhang Heng and the little boy discussed their plans after Edward’s interview, while Coffee Man’s team investigated how Zero had been compromised and prepared to intercept Edward’s supporters. The little boy wondered if he and Zhang Heng would meet again, as Black Nest began hunting for the people Edward planned to meet.

• Zhang Heng told the little boy he planned to return to his country after the coming operation, and encouraged him to make more friends.
• The little boy asked whether they would meet again, and Zhang Heng said he wanted to try the cookies he baked before returning his Tetris console with a score of 999999.
• Coffee Man questioned his technician about Zero’s vulnerability and learned that the attack did not match Edward’s usual methods.
• Vincent suggested a capable technical team from Grenoble might have attacked Zero, and explained that Edward planned to publicize information about CTOS.
• Coffee Man ordered his team to watch Toulouse’s airports, train stations, and highways for journalists and other influential visitors, then kill them when they met Edward.

Zhang Heng and Coffee Man recognized that the altered passenger list was a deliberate challenge, and both sides prepared for an early confrontation. Coffee Man led a team, including Abu, to engage the opposing side while Vincent stayed behind to oversee the operation.

• Black Nest's technical team reported three suspicious passengers to Coffee Man, who agreed with Vincent that the list was likely a trap.
• Zhang Heng told the little boy that Black Nest would take the bait and explained that the meeting was meant to draw its forces, especially the sniper, away.
• Coffee Man interpreted the list as a declaration of war and decided to pursue the opposing side before the remaining five days ran out.
• Vincent warned Coffee Man that the list might be a diversion, but Coffee Man promised to return before dark and left Vincent in charge.
• Coffee Man selected Abu to join his team, ordered the technical team to track the three listed targets, and set out with his people.

Coffee Man led Black Nest in pursuit of the three people on its list, only for them to create a public disturbance at Toulouse City Hall while another target escaped onto a bus and into the subway. With Zero tracking the fugitive through the city’s devices, Black Nest continued the chase beyond the city center.

• Coffee Man let Abu act independently and gave him a car, trusting that Abu would choose to stand with the winner.
• Black Nest searched Toulouse City Hall Square and found three people who pretended to cause a scandal inside City Hall.
• Reporters swarmed the scene, and Black Nest identified the three as newspaper interns.
• Black Nest’s technical team spotted the suspected Asian man from the bar aboard a bus, so Coffee Man ordered the team to pursue him instead of arresting the interns.
• The target slipped from the bus into the subway, but Zero tracked the train and Black Nest continued the chase beyond the city center.

Coffee Man and Black Nest stormed the abandoned manor, where an unseen opponent ambushed them from underground. Abu killed a target in the warehouse from a distance, but the man rose again and opened fire, leaving Coffee Man wounded.

• Coffee Man led Black Nest in a heavy assault on the abandoned manor, but the search revealed no sign of their target aboveground.
• The team found a trapped cellar entrance, where a hidden attacker killed and wounded several men before disappearing.
• Coffee Man led a group toward a nearby warehouse while Abu circled around to find a sniper position.
• Abu shot the target inside the warehouse and reported that the job was done.
• The supposed corpse stood up and fired at Black Nest, hitting at least three men and wounding Coffee Man in the leg.

Abu and Zhang Heng fought a sniper duel outside the warehouse as Abu tried to locate his opponent and join the battle below. Zhang Heng revealed that he had arranged for the rain and used a Filter Lens to keep the storm from impairing his own vision.

• Abu realized the warehouse glass had refracted his earlier shot and adjusted his aim, but Zhang Heng's bullet forced him to roll to safety.
• Abu took cover behind a tree and listened for Zhang Heng, reasoning that the warehouse fighter would soon be in danger from Black Nest and approaching reinforcements.
• After Zhang Heng moved, Abu fired toward him without using his scope but missed and withdrew behind a rock.
• Rain began to fall, and Abu believed the downpour would hinder both snipers equally.
• Zhang Heng revealed that he had summoned the rain with the Weather Marble and took out a Filter Lens to preserve his vision.

Zhang Heng used the Filter Lens to kill Abu in their sniper duel, then turned his rifle on Black Nest’s attackers and helped Earring Man win the warehouse battle. Afterward, Zhang Heng and Earring Man found no sign that any opposing players had taken part in the fight.

• Zhang Heng used the Filter Lens to see clearly through the rain and shot Abu, who fell with a fatal spinal injury.
• Zhang Heng showed Abu the Filter Lens, and Abu accepted that Zhang Heng had won even though he had not lost; Zhang Heng earned 20 Game Points.
• As Black Nest’s forces overwhelmed the warehouse defenders, Earring Man called for Zhang Heng to arrive.
• Zhang Heng shot six of the attackers, including Coffee Man, and then brought down the two fleeing drones.
• Earring Man checked the fallen attackers while Zhang Heng confirmed that he had received no system notification for defeating an opposing player.

Coffee Man fought Earring Man, whose weapons and martial arts could not overcome Coffee Man’s extraordinary strength and durability. Just as Coffee Man prepared to kill him, Earring Man’s body became water and reformed as a Water Giant.

• Earring Man shot Coffee Man repeatedly, but the bullets only marked his skin and tore his clothes.
• Coffee Man said he had come looking for the sniper who defeated Scarlet and admitted he had already killed three players from his own faction.
• Earring Man attacked Coffee Man with a rifle and his fists, then tried to restrain him with a Kimura lock, but Coffee Man broke free and beat him unconscious.
• Coffee Man began to strike Earring Man’s windpipe, but his fist passed through Earring Man’s body as it turned into water and reformed two meters away as a Water Giant.

Coffee Man nearly killed Earring Man, but Zhang Heng arrived and shot him, only for Coffee Man to rise again and reveal he was Styx's agent, protected by the River Styx. Zhang Heng identified the source of his invulnerability and drew the Arrow of Paris, leaving their confrontation poised to begin.

• Coffee Man overwhelmed Earring Man after his water transformation expired and his pearl lost its power.
• Just as Coffee Man reached for Earring Man, Zhang Heng shot him in the eye with a sniper round.
• Coffee Man recovered from the shot, recognized Zhang Heng as the one who defeated Scarlet, and challenged him to fight.
• Zhang Heng identified Coffee Man's connection to Styx and explained that a weakness remained despite his invulnerability.
• Coffee Man admitted that Styx had bathed him in the River Styx, and Zhang Heng drew the Arrow of Paris.