Recaps

Adele discovered that Splitclaw messengers were heading to the Plague Clan and ordered an ambush before they could trigger a wider conflict. Murphy approved her decision as he traveled with Meat-Ripper toward a Twilight Walker, but the chapter left the confrontation still ahead.

• Adele watched Andrei and his assassins enter Plague Valley while Bonnie warned her not to interfere with Archduchess Triss's recovery.
• Adele spotted Splitclaw messengers approaching under Plague Clan guidance and decided to kill them before they reached the valley.
• Adele persuaded Bonnie to lead the clan leader's guards in an ambush, then reported the situation to Murphy and gathered Dana and Dorothy.
• Murphy told Adele that Palanno was on his way and ordered her not to let the messengers enter Plague Valley.
• Murphy avoided a voodoo trap with Meat-Ripper's help and argued that Hogg's alliance with him was a noble mission before asking to meet a Twilight Walker.

Adele and Bonnie’s ambush against the Splitclaw emissary succeeded, and Palanno arrived to finish the battle and take the emissary’s head to Plague Valley. Murphy attacked a Twilight hideout with a white-phosphorus shell, then used Time Exile to turn one of the undead into a living Nord Sword Saint, who revealed the location of the legendary sword Wolfblood.

• Adele and Bonnie’s forces killed the Splitclaw Silver Voodoo Priest, but Frostfang Claw and five Shadow Intelligence Bureau subordinates died, while Adele and other vampires were wounded.
• Palanno charged through the remaining gnolls, gave E-Sis a crystal vial, and ordered the vampires to bring the emissary’s head and battle standard to Plague Valley.
• Murphy fired a white-phosphorus shell into the Twilight servants’ house, burning Assistant Barista Damon Jude Law Deathfang and provoking him to summon five Silver undead.
• Murphy used Time Exile on a female undead, restoring her to life as Irina Mishinbayeva, who identified herself as a Winterwolf Legion scout and revealed that Hugson held the legendary sword Wolfblood.
• Irina attacked Jude Law and destroyed his wings while Murphy sent the other four undead through astral rifts to Mannis, intending to give them to Nefertari as an honor guard.

Murphy defeated Jude Law after Jude transformed with Warp power, freed Irina from the Netherworld curse, and absorbed Jude’s purified vampire heart. The new Blood Essence granted Murphy three powers but also left him with Jude’s memories and weakened mental resistance.

• Irina broke her own limbs before returning to her undead body, while Murphy shattered Jude Law’s ice coffin with repeated strikes.
• Jude summoned the Warp’s shadows and transformed, but Murphy used Omega purification energy to destroy the Warp filth and kill him.
• Murphy purified Jude’s remains, recovered the barista’s heart, and learned that Jude’s death had freed Irina from the Netherworld curse.
• Murphy absorbed Jude’s Blood Essence and gained Undead Command, Hand of the Netherworld, and Army of the Dead, along with a harmful Memory Resonance status.
• Murphy tested his new control over the undead by making four of them dance, then accepted the Blood Essence as a gift from Luna.

Murphy gained Crimson Storm, helped Hogg take control of the Plaguebane Clan, and learned how Plaguebane Valley became a haven for the undead. Hogg then revealed that the Broken Fang Clan guarded the gnolls’ civilization hall and that he and Murphy would have to go there.

• Murphy unlocked Crimson Storm and reached Proficient compatibility with Crimson Arcana after using the powers repeatedly.
• Adele and Palanno brought back the Rending Claw emissary’s head and battle flag, helping Hogg’s followers seize the Plaguebane Clan and secure its surrender to Nefertari.
• Murphy checked on Adele, shared intelligence about the Deadfang Clan, and gave Andre a rare coffee grinder as a gift.
• Flesh Ripper explained that Crippled Claw’s experiment had drawn the Underworld’s attention and transformed Plaguebane Valley into a breeding ground for undead.
• Murphy proposed opening the valley to his warriors and renaming it Soulstealer Valley.
• Hogg told Murphy that the Broken Fang Clan guarded the gnolls’ civilization hall and that they would both have to go there.

Murphy and Hogg planned a search for the Gnoll Civilization Hall and a campaign to win over the Blackeye Clan, while arranging for foreign warriors to join them. Hogg then warned Murphy that Brass Fortress had an unsettling influence, and Murphy left for Blackflame Pass.

• Hogg revealed that Fierce had hidden the Gnoll Civilization Hall near Skeleton Canyon and misdirected seekers toward Mossy Valley.
• Hogg planned to travel to the Civilization Hall, while Murphy suggested making contact with the Blackeye Clan and recruiting Popok and other young gnolls.
• Murphy and Hogg decided to establish a birthplace in Blackeye territory for foreign warriors, with Hogg proposing a new clan called the Bonechewer Descendants.
• Murphy gave Hogg a blood crystal to contact Lady Shani for assassins, then prepared to return to Blackflame Pass.
• Hogg warned Murphy that Brass Fortress seemed unnaturally loud and chaotic, and advised him to stay away from it.

Murphy left the Blight Valley as players discovered that dying in a mass battle could earn enough honor to outfit new recruits. After Unfallen Pride proved the exploit worked, Uncle Qin and Happy Bro prepared to turn the swelling ranks of eager newbies into a huge assault force at Blackflame Pass.

• Murphy returned toward Blackflame Pass with Adele, Bonnie, and their subordinates while Count White Mountain stayed behind to mediate talks between Hogg and Lady Shani.
• YouKnowMyHeart posted a theory that groups of new players could earn large amounts of honor by fighting and dying together, then Unfallen Pride tested it with fifty-five recruits in Tunnel Seventeen.
• Chenlong and the other recruits were wiped out after killing more than four hundred gnolls and kobold vanguards, and three days later they retrieved their battle results.
• Chenlong discovered he had earned 490 honor, and even the lowest-scoring recruits had gained at least 400 points, confirming YouKnowMyHeart's theory.
• Newbies rushed to Shadow Valley to exploit the honor rewards, and Uncle Qin and Happy Bro decided to form a super-army and attack the largest gnoll position outside Blackflame Pass.

Old Qin secured Lady Heather’s approval and artillery support for a Transian assault on the gnoll vanguard, then Old Soldier of the Qing Dynasty persuaded the Plantagenet officers to join the operation. As the rookie force prepared to march, Mekel decided to fight alongside the Transians.

• Lady Heather objected to Old Qin’s plan to attack the gnoll vanguard with only 2,200 soldiers, but approved it and promised heavy weapons and ammunition if the Transians supplied 300 trained artillerymen.
• Old Soldier of the Qing Dynasty presented the plan to Colonel Fraser and Major Ron, taunted them for hesitating, and left them to decide whether to send support.
• Fraser ordered Ron to summon at least 3,500 men from the Cato camp to the front through the Filthy Swamp, and resolved to lead them himself.
• Players and Transian soldiers gathered in Shadow Valley, where more than 1,600 rookies received explosives, ammunition, Molotov cocktails, curses, and Victory Liquor for the assault.
• Lisa questioned the rookies’ excitement about a dangerous mission, while Mekel praised their resolve and decided to fight like a Transian.

Commander Qin led the players and Goldenbough forces in an attack on a gnoll forward position, using artillery suppression to cover a suicidal assault by new players. Jade Wheat breached the defenses and detonated his explosives among the gnolls, leaving the attack underway.

• Commander Qin organized the players into coordinated units, while Happy Rod, Taipal, and the other commanders assigned roles for the assault.
• Master Broken Blade delivered brass bugles, and Commander Qin sounded the charge call as the army prepared to depart.
• The players defeated a thousand gnoll ambushers, then continued their forced march toward the gnoll forward position.
• Colonel Fraser’s Goldenbough artillery began a suppressive barrage, allowing Chenlong and the first wave of new players to charge uphill.
• Jade Wheat took Chenlong’s dropped explosives, reached the gnoll defenses, and detonated his contract curse amid the enemy.

Transian players broke through the Rending Claw Clan’s outer position with explosive suicide attacks, while Qin organized the next stage of the assault. Stick was ordered to hold the battlefield against incoming reinforcements and prepared to charge with Taipal’s knights.

• The first wave of newbie suicide squads blasted open the gnolls’ outer defenses, and veteran players secured the breach.
• Yuan led a second wave of newbies into battle, where Chief Says I'm Handsome and the others used explosives, fire, and detonation curses to devastate the gnolls.
• The gnoll commander arrived by wyvern, but stacked corrosive storms killed two elite guards before Biki confronted the commander.
• Qin learned that reinforcements were coming from five nearby outposts and appointed Happy Stick acting commander of the outer battlefield.
• Stick ordered the winged cavalry to charge the approaching reinforcements, and Taipal agreed to lead his knights alongside them.

Old Qin and the Transian players fought to break through the gnolls’ second defensive line so Maxim and the People’s Army could attack the Cleaverclaw Overwarlord. The line finally fell, and Maxim and Lainnia charged toward the command tent as the battle shifted into the gnoll stronghold.

• The Cleaverclaw Overwarlord ordered the gnolls’ second line to charge, halting the players’ attack despite Colonel Fraser’s artillery fire.
• Old Qin ordered successive waves of rookies to use staggered suicide charges while Maxim prepared the People’s Army to strike the enemy commander.
• Maxim told Lainnia they might die in the assault and asked her to destroy the battle standard and take the Overwarlord’s head.
• The rookies’ coordinated explosions broke through the second line, while Knight Liwen summoned the Star Realm Dragon’s power to protect allies and burn the gnolls.
• Maxim descended into the breach and drove back the gnolls as Lainnia raced toward the Cleaverclaw Overwarlord’s command tent.
• The People’s Army charged into the gnoll position, and Old Qin led the players into the melee as Colonel Fraser’s artillerymen joined the fight on foot.

The players and Plantagenet soldiers fought to hold their position while Maxim and Lainia led the decapitation strike against the Clawsplitter Warlord. After the warlord died and his banner fell, the enemy broke, leaving Colonel Fraser to reflect on a victory worthy of his family history.

• Great Shark led the surviving newbies in a frenzied charge, while Qin Ye rallied players to rescue Colonel Fraser's trapped artillerymen.
• Peachy saved Fraser from gnoll assassins, reconciled with him, and led his soldiers toward the Transians.
• Qin Ye and Fraser joined forces and prepared for a final stand while Maxim and Lainia attacked the warlord's tent.
• The Clawsplitter Warlord died, and the fall of his banner sent the kobolds and gnolls fleeing.
• Fraser ordered a counterattack, then collapsed from his leg wound and said the battle deserved a place in his family's history.

After the Transian players and Maxim dealt the gnolls a costly defeat, Peachy faced Count Leon’s anger over Fraser’s injuries while Kuderel defended her and promised to pass on his old knightly heirlooms. Fraser awoke and refused to leave the army, warning his father that the gnolls could bypass the Maginot Line through Cato and that betraying Transia would make the Capet family a target.

• Maxim and Leonia defeated the Rending Claw Warlord, while the players’ victory destroyed a gnoll vanguard position at the cost of heavy casualties.
• Peachy worried over the wounded Fraser as Count Leon arrived and accused her of failing to keep his son safe.
• Kuderel confronted Hugues, demanded the return of his hidden heirlooms, and promised to teach Peachy to find her own Holy Grail after the Silver Trial and Black Calamity.
• Fraser awoke and rejected Count Leon’s plan to remove him from the army, warning that the gnolls could circle through Cato and threaten the Capet family’s roots and interests.
• Fraser stopped Count Leon from considering letting the gnolls through the Maginot Line, warning that Transia’s warriors would retaliate against the Capet family.

Fraser and Count Leon prepared to reinforce the Cato region against the Black Calamity, while A-Feng’s field hospital treated wounded Plantagenet soldiers with surgery and mechanical prosthetics. Major Ron hurried toward the front, determined to repay Fraser by fighting at Blackflame Pass.

• Count Leon accepted Fraser’s warning and decided to coordinate with the Wolfsbane Clan to strengthen the Cato region’s defenses.
• A-Feng amputated a wounded artillery captain’s corrupted leg, and Loyal Bro fitted him with a mechanical prosthesis under the soldiers’ war insurance.
• Loyal Bro demonstrated a steam-powered mantis blade prosthesis, persuading a young soldier to buy an upgrade package and drawing interest from other wounded soldiers.
• The Chief Multi-Turret Acolyte summoned Loyal Bro to watch Old Flywheel perform a steam-heart replacement, while Loyal Bro planned to ask him about developing heavier weapons.
• Major Ron rushed through the Filthy Swamp toward Shadow Valley and told Captain Robinson that he would serve at Blackflame Pass and win a battle to honor Fraser’s sacrifice.

Murphy and the Transians cashed in enormous war honors for Blackflame Pass’s best equipment after defeating the Cleaver Claw vanguard, forcing Lord Heather to revise the rewards. As the Cleaver Claw army prepared to attack, Potana revealed a secret plan with Yuan involving the dead buried beneath the pass.

• Transian veterans spent their honor points on Blackflame Pass’s military supplies, and Shark sold dwarf-crafted plate armor through the Transia Tavern app.
• Murphy told Lord Heather that the honor system had been adjusted, while she cursed the cost of equipping his warriors and warned that the Cleaver Claw army would attack within five days.
• Mannis warned Murphy that Lord Heather possessed a dangerous third power that surfaced when she became angry.
• Murphy promised to return to Blackflame Pass within three days, and Lord Heather asked him to keep his warriors ready for the coming siege.
• Potana prepared to attack Blackflame Pass despite losing provisions and allies, while Yuan revealed that her agents had concealed the danger beneath the pass and urged Potana to use their formula.

Happy Stick led 120 professional players through the Hunting Guard's tomb to complete the first stage of the Sage Wolf epic quest. After they defeated the dire wolf king Benny and found the Bonechewer King's artifact shield, they discovered that Phantom Thief Frostfang and Phantom Thief Blackhand had already stolen the two weapons they sought.

• More than 1,400 newbies logged in, exchanged their honor for equipment, and left Blackflame Pass for safer work at Wolf Fort or the Maginot Line.
• Happy Stick gathered the 120 players with the first-stage quest and led them from Wolf Fort toward the Hunting Guard's tomb, where players discussed their Ancestral Powers and plans for the Silver Trial.
• The group reached the tomb and fought through its undead, with Dog Egg using Nefertari's Calm Undead spell to give them a short rest.
• The players resumed their advance and defeated Benny, the dire wolf king, freeing its soul and revealing the Bonechewer King's legacy.
• Happy Stick found the artifact shield but discovered a note saying Phantom Thief Frostfang and Phantom Thief Blackhand had already taken the combat dagger and hunting shortsword.

The players divided Bonechewer King’s Miracle Creations and Sovereign-grade loot, learning that the gear belonged to an ancient high-tech Security Chief series. After distributing the treasure, they realized the fallen Hunting Guards might be turned into undead servants and called for Miss Nefertari.

• Sanwudou explained that Yaya and Little Hand used the Spider Lady’s blessings and flash powder to steal two items, though Little Hand died helping Yaya escape.
• Happy Stick appraised Bonechewer King’s loot, and Brother Bang distributed Soul Ripper and Trampler to the shield tanks while promising the group a share of future treasure.
• Madam Shui explained her guild’s theory that gnolls were created during the Golden Age, then secured the Hunting Crown for the Silvermoon Group in exchange for crafting offers.
• Little Rich won the Cognitive Calibrator and Life Support System, Carriage won the Personal Teleporter, and Cat Brother bought the Sunfire Radiance greatsword.
• Dogdan claimed Benny, King of the Direwolves, to make an undead servant, prompting Meow Brother to summon Miss Nefertari to inspect the Hunting Guards’ bodies.

Nefertari agreed to turn the Hunting Guards’ remains into undead servants for the players, but the Rending Claw Clan launched an early assault on Blackflame Pass before the preparations were complete. As the Transians rushed to defend the pass, Major Ron and Major Dunn witnessed their inventive weapons and fearless suicide attacks.

• Nefertari examined the Hunting Guard corpses and offered to make Silver-rank undead servants for the players in exchange for the elite Black Iron undead and help transporting them to Xike City.
• The players began moving the corpses, but the Transia Main Quest announced that more than fifty thousand gnolls, kobolds, and bandits were advancing on Blackflame Pass.
• Nefertari sent the players off to battle and prayed to the Death Moon for their victory as they flew toward the front.
• The Rending Claw Clan bombarded Blackflame Pass with meteors, while Major Ron directed artillery support and urged Major Dunn to seek shelter at the Transians’ Third Position.
• Major Dunn watched the Transians use Loyal Bro’s Iron Fist rocket launcher and saw Zi Shu and other players charge the gnolls with explosives strapped to themselves.

The gnolls’ all-out assault overwhelmed Blackflame Pass’s first and second defenses while Murphy and the players made a desperate last stand to buy time. Triss activated a Nocturne barrier behind Murphy, leaving the exhausted defenders temporarily protected and the gnolls facing a promised reckoning three days later.

• Newbies flocked to Blackflame Pass, where they used explosives and suicide attacks against the advancing gnolls, but the first defense fell and the second line began to collapse.
• Maxim ordered the Blood Oath Clan to reinforce the artillery position, forced Lisa and the Shadow Rangers to remain on the line, and sent Dorothy’s group to plant mines.
• Gnoll elites broke through the underground tunnels and attacked the third line, while Murphy’s players fought the main force on Hill Two.
• Great Shark and Lord Qin drank victory liquor, said they would return in three days, and charged into separate groups of gnolls.
• Murphy asked Triss for support, and she transferred Nocturne cores to Blackflame Pass while reserving one for Fort Valor.
• Triss activated the Nocturne barrier behind Murphy, who recovered Little Ashina’s dropped gear and warned the gnolls they would die in three days.

Murphy prepared Transia to defend Blackflame Pass without the players, then led the Blood Eagle Clan and Plantagenet soldiers on a nighttime assault to retake Position Two. The chapter ended as Murphy and his forces plunged toward the gnolls and kobolds, ready to strike.

• Murphy warned Maxim that the Serenade Barrier might not withstand Clawcleaver Matriarch, ordered preparations for retreat, and sought a way to counter the kobolds.
• Murphy recruited Major Ron to seize the Brass Dwarves’ artillery position when the time was right, then invited the Plantagenet soldiers to join a nighttime hunt.
• Murphy urged Maxim to accept sourceblood and promised that their loyalty would endure without the blood pact.
• Murphy led two thousand Blood Eagle fighters into the sky, joined by Major Ron’s soldiers, and dived toward the gnolls and kobolds at Position Two.

Murphy and the allied forces retook ground at Blackflame Pass and reinforced it with trenches, barbed wire, and heavy crossbows, turning the positions into a formidable defense. As the Transians prepared another assault, kobolds broke into Tunnel 219 and surrounded its soldiers, prompting Murphy to fly in with his upgraded, newly named chainsword.

• The four vampire clans attacked the gnolls at night, and Major Ron’s soldiers helped retake Position Two before falling back at dawn under the gnolls’ counterattack.
• The gnolls lost squads to mines and mortars, while Transian troops reinforced Position Three with barbed wire and trenches and installed more defenses across the pass.
• Lord Heather armed Position Three with over a hundred and fifty Automatic Hunter Crossbows and ordered the rear positions upgraded as Murphy called the pass a coming Verdun.
• Murphy asked President Natalie and her Witch Hunters to hold off the gnolls while engineers fortified Shell Crater 217, and Natalie ordered Mr. Crow to stay in the trench.
• Doris delivered Murphy’s repaired chainsword, which he named Crimson Witch after examining its upgrades and Triss’s enchantment.
• A vampire reported that kobolds had breached Tunnel 219 and surrounded its soldiers, so Murphy flew off with Crimson Witch to rescue them and test the weapon.

While veteran players planned how to reinforce Transia’s defenses, the gnolls launched a major assault on Position Two before the veterans could respawn. Old Huo led the administrators, manufacturers, and other support players through a crimson gate to join the battle as Murphy and Maxim struggled to hold the line.

• Veteran players discussed recruiting serfs, modifying Steam Walkers, using aerial bombs, retaking Position Two, holding Courage Fort, and pressing the Winter Wolf General to yield Krim Fortress.
• At Position Two, Maxim spotted the gnolls gathering for an attack, but a meteor destroyed Hill 215 and killed more than one hundred Blood Pact retainers before the gnoll main force charged.
• Maxim and the Transians counterattacked, while Murphy returned to the fight and Triss discovered a Gold-rank Hunting Priest from the Bloodscar Clan disrupting her magic.
• Battlefield observers streamed the assault, and Old Huo gathered Cat-Rabbit, casino guards, craftsmen, stonemasons, and other support players to reinforce Position Two and rescue Samoyed at Courage Fort.
• Old Huo raised the Transian banner and led the Manufacturing and Administration Corps through the crimson gate toward the battlefield.

Cheche and Sir Sain joined the fighting at Blackflame Pass, where Wam granted divine power after receiving 999 enemy heads and Gaia unleashed a devastating earthquake. Triss told Lord Heather that Gaia had declared the pass sacred ground and that the Brass Dwarves faced one last chance to hold it.

• Cheche and Sir Sain were accidentally sent into the Star Realm, where Mannis returned them to the battlefield and Cheche saved Sain from a deadly fall.
• Sir Sain filmed the battle from the air as Murphy, Triss, Lady Water, Varland, and the players fought the gnolls and kobolds.
• Mad Shark asked Wam for divine aid, and the players gathered 999 heads to earn the Berserker's powerful blessings.
• A fanatic earth priest channeled Gaia's power, triggering an earthquake that destroyed Position Two and killed thousands of gnolls and countless kobolds.
• Triss explained to Lord Heather that Gaia had declared Blackflame Pass sacred ground and urged him to speak with the High Lord of the Brass Dwarves.

After Gaia destroyed Position Two, Lord Heather and the players pushed into gnoll-held territory, recovered some lost gear, and hunted down the Bladeknuckle Grand Commander. The chapter ended with Meow Brother rallying the players to kill the surrounded commander.

• Gaia wiped out Position Two, and Lord Heather led an assault on Position One while the players followed and looted the battlefield.
• Lucky Rich Bro found a kobold burrow containing much of the players' dropped gear, and Taipal and other Riptide Knights searched the spoils for their armor.
• Lucky Rich Bro joined the fight with his griffin after Meow Brother called for help distracting the wyverns covering the gnoll commander's retreat.
• Meow Brother's squads and other players ambushed the commander; Old Qu and Little Ashina killed two priests before protective totems blocked further ranged attacks.
• Lord Qin, Great Shark, and hundreds of players surrounded the Bladeknuckle Grand Commander, who vowed to fight to the death.
• Meow Brother called on the players to charge and kill the commander.

Botana planned another assault on Blackflame Pass with help from Dusk, while Origin and the Explorer discussed Murphy’s growing threat. Little Sharon delivered Murphy’s gift to Manager Luna, and it exploded in the Witch’s Café.

• Botana dismissed the gnolls’ losses at Blackflame Pass and prepared to advance, while her warlord carried the Wolfblood Holy Sword as it was corrupted by the Hunting Lord’s power.
• Botana contacted Origin through a pearl bracelet and asked Dusk to restrict the gods at Blackflame Pass; she revealed her plans to exploit the battlefield’s corpses and attack beneath the defenders’ positions.
• Botana offered to arrange Murphy’s assassination, but Origin refused and ended the call after learning Murphy was at Blackflame Pass.
• The Explorer told Manager Luna that Jude Law had been killed and that Dusk’s operations kept failing because of Murphy; Luna ordered him to find someone capable of killing Murphy.
• Little Sharon arrived at the Witch’s Café with a mechanical squirrel from Murphy and detonated it, calling it payment from Xico City’s vengeful souls.

Lord Paine’s raid in Chardo Port destroyed the Source’s double and uncovered a psychic plague, while Murphy prepared halfling walkers as a new tactical force in Shadow Valley. The chapter left Murphy sensing that something major was approaching and ordering the remaining walkers prepared within ten days.

• Lord Paine destroyed the Source’s disposable double with Evernight, recovered its energy signature, and ordered Grand Duchess Shani to use it to track the Source’s strongholds.
• Lord Paine told Professor Malcolm that Sharon’s explosive had carried an unusual power that disrupted the Source’s portal, and he allowed Sharon to continue as an engineer.
• Old Flywheel delivered a modified halfling walker to Shadow Valley, where Hell Tiger, Mouse Superheavy, and Steel Leopard began learning to drive it.
• Old Flywheel explained to Murphy that the walkers were designed as agile mobile artillery platforms and described their six-legged systems.
• Murphy proposed using psychic powers to arm the remaining walkers, told Old Flywheel to finish them within ten days, and asked him to build a one-handed chainsword.