Chapter Summaries

Chen Fan left town alone to avoid the crowded hunting grounds and headed toward a higher-level area to level more efficiently. As a Gray Wild Wolf spawned and charged at him, nearby players watched, convinced he was about to die.

• Chen Fan rested at an inn and set out early the next morning for the outskirts of town.
• Players crowded around monster spawn points, killing each monster together and splitting its experience.
• Chen Fan refused invitations to join parties and left town alone, heading toward another town and its higher-level monster areas.
• Chen Fan reached the Level 2 area, where parties struggled to fight Gray Wild Wolves and regarded him as reckless for traveling alone.
• A Gray Wild Wolf spawned, noticed Chen Fan, and charged toward him.

Chen Fan reached the level-three Poison Bee area, killed monsters until he advanced to level four, and headed toward a higher-level hunting ground. He then heard a girl calling for help and found a five-person party fleeing from a level-five Poison Bee King.

• Chen Fan killed a Gray Wild Wolf with one sword strike and continued on his way.
• Chen Fan chose the level-three Poison Bee area and killed three bees by cutting off their wings before finishing them off.
• Chen Fan grinded until he reached level three, then level four, as he cleared the nearby Poison Bees.
• Chen Fan heard a girl's cry for help and ran toward its source.
• Chen Fan found four boys and one girl fleeing from a level-five Poison Bee King.

Chen Fan rescued Xing and defeated the level-five Poison Bee King, earning experience and a powerful short sword. After equipping the weapon, he heard a timid girl speak behind him.

• Xing fell while fleeing, and the Poison Bee King fired three stingers at her.
• Chen Fan blocked the stingers and told Xing to move away while he fought the Poison Bee King.
• Chen Fan dodged the Poison Bee King's attacks and steadily cut down its HP without taking damage.
• Chen Fan deflected two of the Poison Bee King's black stingers, dodged the third, and killed it with a strike to its neck.
• Chen Fan gained experience, collected a short sword with a paralysis effect, and equipped it.
• A timid girl's voice spoke from behind Chen Fan.

Chen Fan rescued a group of low-level players from a Poison Bee King and agreed to escort them to the second town. The group introduced themselves, including the shy girl Xing, as they prepared to travel with him.

• Chen Fan reassured the girl he had saved and warned the group that they had been fleeing toward a Poison Bee spawning point.
• The group learned Chen Fan was nearly level five and questioned him about his skill and how he had leveled so quickly.
• Chen Fan warned them that death in the game was permanent, and the level-two captain explained that large groups had taken over the low-level grinding areas.
• Chen Fan offered to lead the group to the second town, where he planned to rest before heading to a higher-level monster area.
• The captain introduced himself as Qi Tai and Tie Xiong, while Maru, Dejia, and the shy girl Xing gave their names.

Chen Fan led Xing and the other students safely to the second town and agreed to teach them how to fight so they could survive. The chapter ended with him watching the group attack a black wild boar and judging their combat skills.

• Chen Fan praised Xing, then led the group toward the second town while defeating monsters along the way.
• Qi Tai and Wan admired Chen Fan's swordsmanship and asked if he could teach the inexperienced students to fight.
• Chen Fan said he was new to the game and agreed to teach them once they reached an area with low-level monsters.
• Chen Fan brought the group to the second town, where players gathered to level up in a comparatively safer area.
• Chen Fan had the students attack a black wild boar and watched Qi Tai take the front with his shield while the others attacked clumsily.

Chen Fan taught the group how to use their weapons properly, then demonstrated basic spear techniques for Xing. He encouraged her to stay in town if she feared the danger, but she chose to help and struggled to follow his fast demonstration.

• Chen Fan explained weapon techniques to Tie Xiong, Dejia, and the others, helping them learn to fight the black wild boars more effectively.
• The group practiced against the black wild boars, and several boys became confident enough to fight one on one.
• Chen Fan offered Xing the choice to remain in town while he cleared the game, but she refused and insisted on helping.
• Chen Fan took Xing's spear and demonstrated lifting, sweeping, and thrusting attacks on three black wild boars, killing each one.
• Xing admitted she had not seen the techniques clearly because Chen Fan had performed them too quickly.

Chen Fan taught Xing how to fight a black wild boar by guiding her through spear attacks and blocks. Xing grew braver, and Chen Fan urged her to kick the monster as it struggled against her defense.

• Chen Fan placed his hands over Xing's and guided her through a spear thrust that took nearly a third of the black wild boar's HP.
• Xing gained confidence from her successful attack and began to stand on her own.
• When the boar charged again, Chen Fan stopped Xing from moving the spear and guided her into a blocking stance.
• Xing blocked the boar's attack, and Chen Fan explained that a proper spear stance could negate most of its damage.
• Chen Fan told Xing to kick the struggling boar in the jaw, but she hesitated to touch it.

Chen Fan helped Xing overcome her fear of fighting monsters, and she grew increasingly attached to him. By evening, the group had reached level two and celebrated their survival together at a tavern.

• Xing kicked and speared a black wild boar, killing it and celebrating her first monster victory with Chen Fan.
• Chen Fan praised Xing and continued guiding her through monster fights, while she gained confidence with him at her side.
• As Xing practiced, she realized she had fallen for Chen Fan and leaned against him.
• Chen Fan spent the afternoon training Xing, while the rest of the group occasionally asked him for advice.
• By evening, everyone had reached level two, and Xing could defeat a black wild boar on her own.
• The group celebrated at a tavern, raising their glasses and sharing stories about the outside world.

Chen Fan reassured Xing that they could survive the game by growing stronger and defeating its monsters, promising to bring her back to reality. After Xing kissed his cheek, she fell asleep beside him, comforted by his presence.

• Chen Fan decided to guide Xing and the others for two more days before continuing onward.
• Unable to sleep, Xing went to Chen Fan's room, and he invited her in.
• Xing asked whether Chen Fan was afraid, and he urged her to keep improving and fight for a way home.
• Chen Fan told Xing she could rely on him, and Xing kissed his cheek.
• Chen Fan let Xing rest beside him, and she soon fell asleep.

Chen Fan trained Xing, Qi Tai, and the others for half a month, helping them grow stronger as they advanced through the towns. After hearing that a failed attempt to defeat the floor's guardian boss had killed several players, Chen Fan considered confronting it, and Xing anxiously asked whether he would fight it too.

• Chen Fan taught the group attack techniques and helped them level up while fighting monsters, and Xing grew more confident with a spear.
• The group improved their skills and reached level four, while Chen Fan stayed to protect Xing and continued training them.
• Over half a month, the group reached the sixth town and level twelve as Chen Fan coached them and Qi Tai recorded his advice.
• Chen Fan learned that a group had failed to defeat the floor's guardian boss and that several players had died.
• Xing grabbed Chen Fan's hand and asked whether he planned to fight the guardian boss, as Qi Tai and the others watched.

Chen Fan reassured Xing and the others that he would face the first-floor boss, then attended Diabel’s strategy meeting to prepare for the raid. As players formed teams, a delicate-looking boy approached Chen Fan, who said he had not joined one.

• Chen Fan refused to let Xing join the boss fight, telling her and the others to keep leveling and promising they could participate next time.
• Chen Fan went to the amphitheater for the raid meeting and noted that the group needed enough players to clear the monsters on the route to the boss.
• Diabel introduced himself as a knight and urged the players to press forward despite the deaths during the previous scouting attempt.
• Diabel told the players to form six-person teams, while Chen Fan waited without joining one.
• A delicate-looking boy asked Chen Fan if he was alone, and Chen Fan replied that he simply had not formed a team.

Chen Fan joined a party with Kirito and Asuna at the strategy meeting for the first-floor boss. After Agil defused Kibaou’s accusations against former beta testers, the meeting turned to the boss’s known abilities and final phase.

• Kirito and Asuna accepted Chen Fan’s party invitations, and he saw that they were level fourteen and thirteen.
• Kibaou accused former beta testers of abandoning other players and demanded apologies and compensation.
• Chen Fan rejected Kibaou’s accusations, arguing that players were responsible for their own survival and should not resent others.
• Agil explained that beta testers had compiled the free guidebook and urged everyone to focus on escaping the game rather than assigning blame.
• The meeting resumed, and the group heard that Gild Tesouros used an axe and greatshield before changing its attacks and wielding a massive cleaver in its final phase.

Chen Fan, Kirito, Asuna, and the other players entered the first-floor labyrinth and began their raid on its guardian BOSS. As the battle intensified, Chen Fan’s team cleared the spawned minor monsters while Asuna warned him of an attack from behind.

• Chen Fan told Kirito and Asuna that the trapped players had to rely on themselves and that he was confident he could clear the game.
• Diabel led the players through the labyrinth, and five hours later they reached the first-floor BOSS room.
• The BOSS appeared with three minor monsters, and Diabel organized the players into teams to attack the BOSS and clear its reinforcements.
• Chen Fan and his teammates killed the minor monsters, then four more spawned as the BOSS paused its attacks.
• A newly spawned minor monster struck toward Chen Fan from behind, and Asuna shouted a warning.

Chen Fan helped the raid group clear the BOSS’s minions while Diabel commanded the battle, but Diabel’s attempt to claim the final blow went wrong when the BOSS revealed its speed and nearly killed him. Chen Fan stopped the BOSS’s next strike, leaving Diabel critically wounded.

• Chen Fan dodged the minions’ attacks and swiftly defeated them, rescuing one player who had fallen.
• After the minions were cleared, Diabel stepped forward to face the BOSS alone, apparently hoping to obtain its equipment.
• Kirito warned Diabel to get away as the BOSS leaped through the hall and knocked him aside with its tail.
• The BOSS pursued Diabel and slashed him with its Nodachi, reducing his HP to a critical level.
• Chen Fan rushed in and blocked the BOSS’s follow-up strike with his glowing blue sword.

Chen Fan took over the fight against the first-floor BOSS after Diabel was badly wounded and defeated it, unlocking the second floor of Aincrad. Xing and the others learned of the victory while waiting outside the raid.

• Players recognized Chen Fan, and several guarded the wounded Diabel while he refused a recovery potion.
• Chen Fan challenged the BOSS and used superior swordsmanship to damage it despite being weaker in strength.
• Chen Fan triggered his sword's paralysis effect, then leaped from the ceiling and drove his sword into the BOSS's forehead.
• The BOSS's HP was emptied, and it shattered as the system announced that players could enter Aincrad's second floor.
• Xing, Qi Tai, and the others heard the victory notification while waiting near the final town on the first floor.

The first-floor BOSS was defeated, unlocking new functions and giving everyone hope of escaping the game. Chen Fan survived the fight and saved Diabel, while players celebrated the cleared floor and prepared to explore the second.

• The system announced that the first floor had been cleared, and players across the floor celebrated as teleportation and other features unlocked.
• Xing saw that Chen Fan was still alive in her friends list and left with Qi Tai and the others to return to town.
• The players in the BOSS hall celebrated after witnessing Chen Fan defeat the BOSS alone and prevent Diabel from dying.
• Chen Fan approached recovering Diabel, who thanked him for saving his life.
• Chen Fan opened the menu and offered to trade the BOSS equipment to Diabel for leading the raid.

After defeating the first-floor Boss, Chen Fan received a special reward and reached the second floor with the other survivors. At a celebration with his companions, Qi Tai suggested forming a guild, and Chen Fan considered the belonging and protection one could provide.

• Diabel gave Chen Fan the guaranteed drop for defeating the first-floor Boss without using recovery items, and the survivors thanked Chen Fan before heading to the second floor.
• Agil asked Kirito about being a beta tester, and Kirito admitted it; Chen Fan said he was not one.
• Chen Fan, Agil, Kirito, and Asuna arrived on the second floor, where Agil added Chen Fan as a friend before the others departed.
• Iron Head and the others found Chen Fan, and they celebrated the Boss's defeat together at a crowded restaurant.
• Qi Tai teased Xing about worrying over Chen Fan, and she blushed and turned away.
• Qi Tai suggested that Chen Fan's group establish a guild after the system added guild features.

Chen Fan agreed to help establish a guild with his companions and accepted that he would lead it. They named it the Star Guild and began its founding quest, leaving off as they hunted Gale Wolves for the Guild Token.

• Qi Tai and the others told Chen Fan they wanted to establish a guild to help with future Boss raids, and Chen Fan agreed.
• The group urged Chen Fan to become guild leader, and he eventually accepted after considering the benefits of working together.
• Chen Fan and his companions chose the name Star Guild after seeing the stars in the night sky.
• The group applied to establish the guild, accepted a quest to defeat Gale Wolves, and set out to obtain a Guild Token from the Gale Wolf King.
• The companions fought the wolves in pairs while Chen Fan slaughtered them far faster than the rest of the group.

Chen Fan and his companions fought the Gale Wolf King after it appeared as the guild-creation quest BOSS. They brought its HP close to zero, but Chen Fan ordered everyone to retreat when its fur stood on end.

• Chen Fan reached level sixteen after killing the monsters on the floor.
• The Gale Wolf King appeared and summoned five Gale Wolves.
• Chen Fan charged the BOSS while Qi Tai and the others fought the minions.
• Chen Fan dodged the BOSS's attacks and cut away more than half its HP before Xing and the others finished their minions and joined him.
• The group surrounded the BOSS and rapidly depleted its HP until its fur bristled, prompting Chen Fan to order everyone to retreat.

Chen Fan's group defeated the second-floor Wolf King BOSS and obtained a Guild Token. They returned to town and established Star Guild as the game's first guild, leaving the crowded application hall stunned.

• Chen Fan killed the Wolf King BOSS with Slash Style after the group had weakened it.
• Maru and Dejia praised Chen Fan, while Tie Xiong asked whether the group could fight the first floor's guardian BOSS.
• Chen Fan revealed the Guild Token, and the group chose to return to town and create their guild before leveling up further.
• Chen Fan's group used Teleportation Crystals to reach town and submitted the Guild Token at the guild application office.
• The system announced that Star Guild had become the first guild, and the gathered players turned in astonishment toward Chen Fan's group.