Chapter Summaries

Feng Chen joined Theresa, Himeko, and the Valkyries on a mission to find Nine Nether in Divine Land, where earlier Valkyries had disappeared. In Guangzhou, he took Bronya to try gourmet food, and she tasted ice cream for the first time.

• Feng Chen agreed to eat lunch with Yae and the others after Bronya pleaded with him to stay.
• Theresa and Himeko announced a mission to search for Nine Nether after Schicksal detected Honkai Energy and Natural Stigmata there.
• Fu Hua explained that the previous Valkyrie squad sent to Nine Nether had vanished, and Headquarters had only found its approximate location in southeastern Divine Land.
• Feng Chen and Fu Hua agreed to join the mission, and the group traveled to Guangzhou.
• Feng Chen found Bronya on the Hyperion and took her to a food street, where she tried ice cream and felt happy.

Feng Chen and Bronya headed for the Nine Nether beneath the sea after Fu Hua located it, while Fu Hua stayed behind to fight Anti-Entropy’s Titan Mechs. On the submarine, Feng Chen told Bronya about Xuanyuan as she fell asleep, and Fu Hua questioned Xing Ma’er about Anti-Entropy’s purpose.

• Fu Hua located the Nine Nether beneath the deep sea and said Schicksal believed it contained the Xuanyuan Stigmata and possibly a Divine Key.
• Anti-Entropy surrounded the Hyperion, and Xing Ma’er recognized Bronya from their time at the orphanage.
• Fu Hua stayed behind to hold off the Titan Mechs while Feng Chen and Bronya took a submarine toward the Nine Nether.
• Feng Chen shared legends about Ji Xuanyuan, Jingwei, and the Xuanyuan Sword with Bronya, who fell asleep during the descent.
• Fu Hua defeated the Titan Mechs and asked Xing Ma’er what Anti-Entropy wanted.

Feng Chen and Bronya discovered that the corpses in Nine Nether were releasing Honkai Energy, and they suspected Chiyou was awakening beneath the ruins. Feng Chen entered Nine Nether alone to find the keys while Fu Hua’s group hurried toward him, and he ended up fighting a swift Ruin Guard.

• Fu Hua sent Theresa to remain aboard Hyperion while she and the others prepared to enter Nine Nether.
• Feng Chen and Bronya found dead soldiers and Honkai Beasts whose corpses were releasing Honkai Energy, then watched the bodies rise and walk deeper into the ruins.
• Feng Chen and Bronya concluded that Chiyou was absorbing the energy and might have broken through most of its seal.
• Feng Chen ignored Fu Hua and Bronya’s warnings, entered Nine Nether alone, and sent Bella and Higanbana to search for the three keys.
• Feng Chen encountered a Ruin Guard and fought it with his Wind Barrier and Wind of Serenity as it dodged his attacks.

Feng Chen and his companions gathered the three elemental keys in Nine Nether and opened the way to the Xuanyuan Sword, but the sword tried to dominate Feng Chen before Ji Xuanyuan offered it to him. Feng Chen refused the sword and said that a friend needed it and Ji Xuanyuan’s Stigmata, just as their surroundings suddenly changed.

• Feng Chen defeated soldiers, Honkai Beasts, and an ancient mech, then used Jizou Mitama to corrupt the mech and make it give him the Fire key.
• Bella and Higanbana returned to the main gate with the Water and Lightning keys, and the three keys opened the door to the Xuanyuan Sword.
• Feng Chen reached for the sword, but its power of Domination tried to take over his body, and an unknown figure intervened to save him and Ji Xuanyuan.
• Ji Xuanyuan woke and offered Feng Chen the Xuanyuan Sword, but Feng Chen refused and said a friend needed the sword and her Stigmata.
• Ji Xuanyuan protested that only Feng Chen could wield the sword properly, but the scene around them changed before she could finish.

Feng Chen realized the Xuanyuan Sword had taken control of his body, though his consciousness remained free, and used Jizou Mitama to attack its influence. Outside, the sword-controlled Feng Chen attacked Bella and Higanbana, while Fu Hua, Himeko, and the others searched for a way past the blocked entrance to Nine Nether.

• Feng Chen received a side mission to defeat an Emperor-class or stronger enemy in Nine Nether, with Ji Xuanyuan's Stigmata as its reward.
• Feng Chen deduced that the Xuanyuan Sword had dominated his consciousness space and taken control of his body, then used Jizou Mitama to erode its influence from within.
• The sword-controlled Feng Chen attacked Bella and Higanbana, and a violent tremor blocked the exit to Nine Nether with boulders.
• Fu Hua and Himeko found the entrance blocked, and Bronya warned that blasting through the rocks could collapse Nine Nether.
• Bella prayed to [God] for help, while Higanbana transformed and pinned Feng Chen down to give Bella time.
• Higanbana was stabbed by the Xuanyuan Sword, but she connected her consciousness to Feng Chen's with Honkai Energy.

Feng Chen and Higanbana eroded the Xuanyuan Sword’s Domination consciousness and continued deeper into Nine Nether as Chiyou’s roar drew near. Outside, Kiana found another entrance, and Anti-Entropy’s forces followed the Valkyries into the ruins while Feng Chen glimpsed a scene from tens of thousands of years ago.

• Higanbana and Bella realized that Higanbana’s Erosion and Jizou Mitama’s power were weakening the Xuanyuan Sword’s Domination consciousness, and Higanbana pulled the blade from her abdomen.
• Feng Chen regained consciousness, returned Higanbana to Jizou Mitama to recover, and continued into Nine Nether with Bella.
• Feng Chen heard Chiyou roar nearby and told Bella to hide inside Sakura Cycle while he prepared to face the Judgment-class Honkai Beast alone.
• Kiana accidentally punched through a false wall and found a second entrance, leading Mei, Major Himeko, Bronya, and Fu Hua into the ruins.
• Cocolia sent Apricot and Anti-Entropy’s hidden mecha force into Nine Nether, and Feng Chen glimpsed a scene from tens of thousands of years earlier.

Feng Chen learned from the Xuanyuan Sword that Ji Xuanyuan had sealed Chiyou and been devoured, while Shennong had later searched for her. As Anti-Entropy’s mechs attacked the Valkyries, Fu Hua stayed behind to fight them, and the chapter ended with Godfather activating its frontal shield against her swords.

• Feng Chen read the translated inscriptions and learned how Ji Xuanyuan sealed Chiyou and left the Xuanyuan Sword to reinforce the seal.
• Feng Chen found Shennong’s writing and wondered about his connection to Ji Xuanyuan before an explosion drew him back toward the others.
• Himeko, Fu Hua, Kiana, Yae, and Bronya confronted Anti-Entropy’s mech forces, and Bronya summoned Godfather, the Flame Soul Titan, and the Ice Soul Titan.
• Himeko sent Kiana, Yae, and Bronya inside to find Feng Chen while Fu Hua stayed behind to hold off the mechs.
• Fu Hua used her martial arts to defeat the Ice Soul Titan and send Godfather and the Flame Soul Titan flying.
• Fu Hua launched three swords at Godfather, which charged toward her and activated its frontal shield.

Fu Hua defeated Xing Ma’er and the Anti-Entropy mechs while Feng Chen reunited with the Valkyries carrying the Xuanyuan Sword. Himeko was possessed by the sword’s Dominion, transformed into Crimson Rose, and emerged as a One-Core Herrscher-level threat as the group prepared to face her.

• Fu Hua used Time Lock to stop the Godfather, then incapacitated Xing Ma’er and dismantled the remaining mechs.
• Feng Chen met the Valkyries at the stone steps and showed them the Xuanyuan Sword he had found.
• Feng Chen handed the Xuanyuan Sword to Himeko, but its Dominion took control of her and made her attack the group.
• Himeko entered a crystal and produced three elemental versions of herself, which Feng Chen and Fu Hua fought and defeated.
• Himeko emerged in her S-rank Crimson Rose armor, whose power Feng Chen assessed as comparable to a One-Core Herrscher.

Feng Chen and the Valkyries discovered that the Xuanyuan Sword’s power had awakened Chiyou, a gigantic Judgment-class Honkai Beast, and they were swallowed along with Nine Nether. Trapped inside Chiyou, Feng Chen found several possible hearts, but before the group could plan their next move, an enemy called for the Valkyries to come out.

• Feng Chen and Fu Hua subdued Himeko, took the Xuanyuan Sword, and found an inscription revealing that Nine Nether was where Chiyou had been sealed.
• Feng Chen warned the Valkyries that Chiyou was likely larger than Guangzhou and nearly as powerful as a Herrscher, then contacted Theresa for Hyperion support.
• Chiyou awakened, swallowed Nine Nether, and carried Feng Chen, Himeko, Fu Hua, and the others inside its body.
• Feng Chen learned from the System that Chiyou’s weakness was its heart and found several spots with unusually strong Honkai Energy.
• Theresa told Feng Chen that the Hyperion’s main cannon could not identify the hearts from outside, and an unknown voice challenged the Valkyries to come out and fight.

Feng Chen and the Valkyries agreed to cooperate with Xing and discovered that Chiyou had three hearts, with its third heart guarded by a powerful enemy. At the third heart, Feng Chen found Ji Xuanyuan under Honkai's control and fought her.

• Feng Chen cut through the Titan Mechs and spared Xing, who agreed to cooperate with the Valkyries to escape Chiyou.
• Bronya revealed the location of one heart, and Feng Chen explained that Chiyou had three hearts, with the third activating after the first two were destroyed.
• Feng Chen refused to let Bronya or the others accompany him, borrowed the Xuanyuan Sword from Himeko, and went to the third heart with Bella.
• Bella warned Feng Chen that a powerful enemy guarded the third heart, and two tremors signaled that the other hearts had been destroyed.
• Feng Chen found Ji Xuanyuan at the third heart and clashed with her after she demanded that he turn back.

Feng Chen and Ji Xuanyuan fought while Bronya intervened and was knocked out of combat. After Feng Chen destroyed Ji Xuanyuan’s warhorse with [Zero Void Three Flashes], Ji Xuanyuan prepared a lightning strike, and Feng Chen equipped Blood Knight: Moonbeam.

• Ji Xuanyuan introduced herself as the guardian of the third [Heart] and used the metal parts from Xi’s mecha units to assemble a warhorse.
• Ji Xuanyuan shattered Feng Chen’s Xuanyuan Sword, but Bronya arrived with Heavy-duty Rabbit and trapped Ji Xuanyuan in [Time Fracture].
• Ji Xuanyuan used her warhorse to knock Bronya and Heavy-duty Rabbit away, leaving Bronya unable to fight, and Feng Chen laid her down before injecting a Honkai Energy Amplifier.
• Feng Chen used [Zero Void Three Flashes] to destroy Ji Xuanyuan’s warhorse, then explained that the move had consumed most of his Honkai Energy.
• Ji Xuanyuan raised the Black Xuanyuan Sword and brought down a lightning attack as Feng Chen equipped Blood Knight: Moonbeam.

Feng Chen fought Ji Xuanyuan with Bella and Higanbana’s help, then used Shadow Knight: Moonblade and a barrage of enhanced attacks to defeat her. Ji Xuanyuan acknowledged his victory as she lay exhausted on the ground.

• Feng Chen summoned Bella to attack Ji Xuanyuan, but Ji Xuanyuan wounded her and interrupted her lightning strike, so Feng Chen ordered Bella back to the Stigmata Space.
• Feng Chen summoned Higanbana’s Jizou Mitama body and ate a special rice ball while she held Ji Xuanyuan off.
• Ji Xuanyuan severed Higanbana’s katanas and attacked her, but Feng Chen interrupted the strike and used Shadow Knight: Moonblade.
• Feng Chen combined a Time Fracture with enhanced speed and power to pummel Ji Xuanyuan and send her flying.
• Ji Xuanyuan admitted Feng Chen had won as she lay on the ground, exhausted.

Feng Chen damaged Chiyou’s third heart with the Black Xuanyuan Sword, allowing the Hyperion’s main cannon to destroy it. As Chiyou began devouring its surroundings, Feng Chen sent the others to safety and stayed behind, separating himself from the mech forces.

• As Ji Xuanyuan died, she asked Feng Chen about his power, gave him the Black Xuanyuan Sword, and saw Jingwei before her final breath.
• Feng Chen used Time Slash to damage Chiyou’s third heart, which began rapidly absorbing Honkai Energy.
• Theresa tried to reach Nine Nether, but Ai-chan locked her in the captain’s quarters; after spotting Chiyou’s vibrating skin, Theresa fired the Hyperion’s main cannon and destroyed its heart.
• Feng Chen and Fu Hua warned that Chiyou might not be dead, and the group escaped through the hole above its heart with help from Haxxor’s mechs.
• Feng Chen threw Haxxor to safety, then used Time Slash to move away from the mech forces as they fell into Chiyou’s stomach.

Feng Chen destroyed Chiyou by releasing the Herrscher Core’s power, then prepared to leave for Sword Art Online to gain strength. Before departing for two or three months, he sent Theresa data that could help Himeko.

• Feng Chen bought Stigmata [Destruction], which merged with his Herrscher Core and made whatever he touched vanish.
• Feng Chen released the core’s power and destroyed Chiyou, while Theresa saw it disappear from the Hyperion and told Ai-chan to keep it secret.
• Feng Chen chose an open-ended world for leveling up, and the system selected Sword Art Online; it also said he had to bring his companions.
• Feng Chen received [Stigmata—Black Xuanyuan] and the [Black Xuanyuan Sword] as quest rewards, then contacted Theresa and explained he would be gone for two or three months.
• Feng Chen sent Theresa data from [Stigmata—Xuanyuan] to help Himeko, and Theresa reluctantly let him go after someone told him to come back soon.

Feng Chen entered SAO as a real player, chose his skills, and used Time Fracture to fight monsters while searching for another Beast Tamer. The chapter ended when a girl approached him and asked whether he was a Beast Tamer.

• Feng Chen arrived in SAO on launch day and entered the Town of Beginnings before his sister came into his room.
• The system assured Feng Chen that it had disguised him as an ordinary player and given him the Beast Tamer identity.
• Feng Chen chose Time Fracture and Death Force: Sky Ripper, then went to the first floor of the Labyrinth Area to train.
• Feng Chen used Time Fracture to slow nearby players and monsters, then defeated a Level 1 Lizardman with ordinary attacks.
• A twin-tailed girl approached Feng Chen and asked if he was a Beast Tamer.

Feng Chen befriended a girl in the Labyrinth Area, rescued her from a stealthy elite Lizardman, and then searched for the first-floor boss with Higanbana and Bella. He challenged the Horned Dragon but was thrown back by its unexpectedly powerful attack, leaving his Familiars to face the level 5 monster.

• Feng Chen told the girl that Familiars were companions, not weapons, and accepted her friend request.
• Feng Chen killed a stealthy elite Lizardman before it could attack the girl, then pointed out that she had been too careless to notice it.
• The girl left, and Feng Chen discovered her identity on his friend list before returning to leveling up.
• Feng Chen sent Higanbana and Bella to search for the first-floor elite monster and found the Horned Dragon.
• Feng Chen slowed the Horned Dragon with Time Fracture, but its attack sent him flying; Higanbana and Bella then grew to its size and attacked, only to be crushed.

Feng Chen fought through the Labyrinth Area, nearly died battling a Red Lizard Leader, and was saved by Kirito. After they shared the treasure chest’s contents, Kayaba Akihiko announced that players could no longer log out of SAO.

• Feng Chen continued into the Labyrinth Area, recalled Higanbana and Bella, and then found a Red Lizard Leader guarding a treasure chest.
• Feng Chen wounded the Red Lizard Leader but was nearly killed when it kicked him into the red zone and grabbed him by the neck.
• Kirito defeated the Red Lizard Leader and saved Feng Chen, and the two recovered and divided the treasure chest’s contents.
• Feng Chen and Kirito were teleported to the Town of Beginnings, where Kayaba Akihiko announced that the Log Out button had disappeared.
• Kirito asked Feng Chen whether he had known about the announcement, and Feng Chen said he had only guessed Kayaba Akihiko’s purpose.

Feng Chen defied Kayaba Akihiko’s death-game announcement, drew the developer’s attention, and persuaded Silica to join him. After the game began and players’ appearances changed to their real faces, Feng Chen teleported with Silica to the second floor of the Labyrinth Area and gave her a short sword.

• Feng Chen tried to use a Teleport Crystal after Kayaba Akihiko’s announcement, then challenged Kayaba to watch him clear all 100 floors.
• Kayaba Akihiko revealed Feng Chen’s achievements and called him the [Beta Tester among Beta Testers], then gave every player a mirror that restored their real-life appearance.
• Feng Chen invited Silica to form a party, persuaded her to accept, and teleported with her to the deepest part of the first floor’s Labyrinth Area.
• Feng Chen and Silica reached the second floor, where he gave her a short sword made from materials they had found.

Feng Chen and Silica fought monsters on Floor 2 while he showed off his Familiars and unlocked a new skill. After Silica struggled to level, Feng Chen helped her defeat a Horned Dragon and let her take the final hit for the experience and drops.

• Feng Chen showed Silica that he had two Familiars, Higanbana and Bella, and explained that Silica's Pina was a Support-type Familiar.
• Feng Chen reached Level 6, unlocked a skill slot, and equipped the Black Xuanyuan Sword's Time Slash.
• Feng Chen and Silica returned to leveling; Silica reached Level 5 but struggled to kill monsters quickly and lacked weapon proficiency.
• Feng Chen rushed to Silica when he heard her cry and found her facing a Horned Dragon.
• Feng Chen weakened the Horned Dragon with repeated attacks, then let Silica deliver the final blow so she could gain experience and collect drops.

After a month of clearing Aincrad’s first Floor with Silica, Feng Chen attended the first Floor Strategy Meeting, where Yao Wang accused him and the Beta Testers of hoarding resources. Kirito and Silica defended Feng Chen and explained why beta-test knowledge could not guarantee an easy boss fight.

• Silica landed the final blow on a Treasure Monster, reached Level 6, and received its unusually powerful armor drops from Feng Chen.
• Feng Chen and Silica spent the next month exploring the first Floor, with Silica struggling to keep up with Feng Chen’s relentless leveling.
• At the Strategy Meeting, Yao Wang accused the Beta Testers of selfishness and demanded that Feng Chen surrender his supposed hoard of Labyrinth Area treasures.
• Feng Chen challenged Yao Wang’s assumption that the game had stayed unchanged since the beta test and warned that beta knowledge might get players killed.
• Kirito revealed that the Labyrinth Area’s monsters and difficulty had changed since the beta test, while Silica said Feng Chen shared equipment with lower-level players.