Recaps

Lee Stein used the Hope Cannon to blast Ivan Vanko out of the sky, then welcomed Max, who had arrived in an electrical humanoid form. The chapter left Tony Stark and Max introduced to each other, while Rhodey remained confused about being overlooked.

• Lee Stein offered Ivan Vanko a place in the Stein Group, but refused his demand to kill Tony Stark.
• Lee Stein fired the Hope Cannon at Ivan Vanko, shattering his armor and sending him falling from the sky.
• Tony Stark admired the cannon, and Lee Stein explained why he had named it the Hope Cannon.
• Lee Stein freed Rhodey and told him the fight was already over.
• Max emerged from Pandora's Box as a naked electrical figure, and Lee Stein introduced him to Tony Stark as someone eager to kick Stark's ass.

The Flushing robot riot sparked national outrage, while Lee Stein and Tony Stark faced Nick Fury at a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. Fury invited them to join the Superhuman Alliance, and Tony agreed to consider it in exchange for a favor involving Senator Stern.

• News coverage of the Flushing riot blamed Spider-Man for arriving too late, prompting debate about vigilantes and the police.
• Reporters could not find Lee Stein or Tony Stark after the two flew away from the scene.
• Nick Fury questioned Lee Stein about Vanko's death, but Lee claimed he had blasted Vanko into orbit.
• Lee rejected the Superhuman Alliance proposal and said he had no interest in working under S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Tony Stark reviewed the proposal and asked Nick Fury to arrange for Senator Stern to present their medals.
• Nick Fury agreed to try to arrange Tony's request.

After receiving honorary medals with Tony Stark and Rhodey, Lee Stein told reporters that his and Tony’s superpower was being rich, then mocked Tony’s ability to sleep deeply. Players watching the ceremony’s livestream complained about Lee’s scams but still wanted to buy his new robot.

• Senator Stern presented honorary medals to Rhodey, Lee Stein, and Tony Stark, then posed for a photo with them.
• Lee told reporters that he and Tony had superpowers and revealed that their power was being rich.
• Lee claimed Tony had another superpower, Deep Sleep, and said Tony could be operated on without anesthesia while asleep.
• Tony jokingly claimed his own superpower was having rich friends.
• Players watching the ceremony on the forum complained about Lee’s money-making schemes, but some still hoped to buy his new robot.

Lee Stein defeated Lizard, secretly injected him with an antidote, and completed three faction missions for Spider-Man’s side. The victory ended the Players’ quest, while Lee was mobbed by reporters before he could inspect the Faction Store.

• Lee Stein used Shadow Follow Mode to distract the crowd while Bumblebee injected Lizard with an antidote made from Richard Parker’s research.
• The system declared the battle won by Spider-Man’s faction and awarded Lee Stein high contribution ratings, faction points, and a Lizard Hunter achievement.
• Players across New York erupted when they learned the faction mission had ended, and Li Ritian blamed an unknown Player for stealing the kill.
• Li Ritian led Ye Lin, Wang Ze, and the others to find Spider-Man and demand an explanation.
• Reporters surrounded Lee Stein, who agreed to answer selected questions after realizing he needed an assistant.

Li Si weighed buying Primitive T-Virus research data against a Pacific Rim privateering license, then chose the license to secure resources for his long-term plans. He suspected someone had manipulated the faction store to force his choice, and the possibility that multiple parties could interfere with the game system gave him hope.

• Li Si found Primitive T-Virus data in the faction store for 100,000 points and considered its potential research and military value.
• Li Si used Research and Development mode to compare the T-Virus data with the privateering license, despite sensing that the two items had been placed there to make him choose.
• Li Si bought the Pacific Rim privateering license, prioritizing resources that could help him build strength and confront the pursuit squad in reality.
• Li Si considered that the game system might have multiple parties capable of interfering with it, and saw that possibility as good news.
• Li Si resolved to keep studying so he could bring his knowledge into reality without relying on the game system.

Li Si spent his remaining faction points on instance credentials and returned home to find Ivan Vanko unconscious in his basement. As he headed underground with Max, Li Si said he could get Vanko to work for him without Vanko knowing who he was working for.

• Li Si bought credentials for the Avatar Operation Guide and Eden Citizen Credential, then exchanged his remaining points for general experience.
• Li Si returned to his detached house, where Max told him Ivan Vanko was still unconscious and being kept sedated with electric shocks.
• Li Si and Max took the elevator to the underground facility, where Vanko was being held on the third level.
• Max doubted Vanko would ever work for Li Si because of their conflict and Li Si's connection to Tony Stark.
• Li Si explained that he would conceal his identity from Vanko, while Max worried the deception could eventually be exposed.

Li Si explained his plan to use a virtual world to make Ivan Vanko develop technology for him while believing he was pursuing revenge against Tony Stark. After placing Vanko in the Virtual Game Pod, Li Si reassured Max that their own lives were real to them regardless of whether their world was genuine.

• Li Si questioned Max about whether he would believe the world was fake and said he needed Max to do nothing for the plan.
• Li Si found the battered Ivan Vanko on the third underground level and had Engineering Robots carry him to the eighth level.
• Li Si placed Vanko inside the Virtual Game Pod and explained that neural signals could make its simulated world indistinguishable from reality.
• Li Si planned to let Vanko develop technology in the virtual world, with Pandora simulating the results and Li Si receiving the completed data and procedures.
• Max worried that he and Li Si might also be inside a virtual world, and Li Si told him their lived experience made their world real to them.

Ivan Vanko believed a hooded man had recruited him into Hydra and began developing weapons at a remote base, while Lee watched him work inside a virtual pod. Ivan was convinced he had ample time to prepare his revenge, unaware that his perception was accelerated eightfold.

• Ivan Vanko survived the ion cannon blast and was approached by a hooded man who offered him money and resources to help him take revenge on Tony Stark and Lee Stein.
• Ivan Vanko recognized the recruiter's words as a sign of Hydra and followed him to a remote mountain base.
• The hooded man gave Ivan Vanko access to research files, a laboratory, two assistants, and the option to request materials.
• Ivan Vanko reviewed Hydra's weapon and machine concepts, requested palladium and Secondary Adamantium Alloy, and vowed to take revenge on Tony Stark and Lee Stein.
• Pandora told Lee that Ivan Vanko had started working, and Lee watched him labor in a virtual pod where his perception of time was accelerated eightfold.

Li Si tried to organize a company trip for Doctor Otto, Curt Connors, Samuel Sterns, and Max, but they refused until he revealed the destination was an uncharted island with dinosaurs and giant gorillas. The group eagerly agreed to go, and Samuel Sterns ended the meeting by lunging at Max after discovering everyone had been teasing him.

• Li Si gathered Doctor Otto, Curt Connors, Samuel Sterns, and Max at Stein Tower and announced a mandatory group trip, but they all showed little interest.
• Li Si mentioned a newly discovered island with dinosaurs and giant gorillas, prompting the researchers to demand to go.
• Li Si warned that the island's primitive ecosystem and unknown bacteria and viruses made it dangerous, but Curt Connors, Otto Gunther, and Max each claimed they could protect themselves.
• Samuel Sterns insisted that his Hulk-like skin made him strong enough to fight, and the others laughed at his skinny appearance.
• Samuel Sterns realized the group had been teasing him and lunged at Max while Li Si sighed about having to trick them into taking a trip.

Lee Stein searched for Skull Island, but it appeared only after Max announced its arrival. Meanwhile, a hostile metal giant landed in New Mexico and attacked S.H.I.E.L.D., leaving Phil Coulson to call for Tony Stark’s help.

• Lee Stein’s group searched the sea near the Sumatra Archipelago but found no sign of Skull Island, and Otto Gunther and Samuel Sterns could not detect it.
• Lee proposed that Skull Island might exist in an independent pocket dimension and decided to wait before leaving monitoring devices behind.
• Max appeared aboard the ship and announced that Skull Island had appeared.
• A silver-white metal giant landed in New Mexico, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Jasper Sitwell and Phil Coulson approached it.
• The metal giant attacked the Agents with fire, and Coulson ordered civilians evacuated and headquarters to contact Tony Stark.

Li Si’s group reached the suddenly reappearing Skull Island, hoping to study its apparent dimensional properties. Before they went ashore, Samuel Sterns revealed a prototype biological armor that was green, but said he would wear it himself.

• Li Si chose to skip Thor’s storyline and brought his team of researchers to Skull Island instead.
• Max reported that the island had appeared at its marked coordinates, and Li Si ordered the ship to hurry there.
• Li Si stopped the researchers from rushing ashore and had them prepare their gear.
• Samuel Sterns declined Li Si’s offer of armor, saying his own protection was ready.
• Curt Connors explained that he and Samuel had grown a biological armor specimen, which Li found floating in a life-support chamber with green skin.
• Samuel said he would wear the prototype and promised the finished version would not be green.

Lee and the others examined the unfinished Bio-Colonial Armor, which used Abomination's cells but could not remain strong without a steady supply of gamma energy. Samuel Sterns climbed inside and successfully connected to it, though the armor was grotesque, unstable, and still difficult to control.

• Samuel Sterns explained that the Bio-Colonial Armor was made from Blonsky's cells and that its limited Blood Worm circulation could not sustain its strength without constant gamma energy.
• Otto Gunther suggested adding a miniaturized gamma-ray generator and an Arc Reactor to the armor.
• Lee told Samuel Sterns to put on the armor, and Samuel drained the life-support chamber before climbing into its open chest cavity.
• Lee warned Curt Connors to improve the armor's disturbing connectors and prioritize safety, while Curt said it was only a cost-saving test model.
• The armor sealed around Samuel and stood up, knocking over equipment and striking the ceiling, as Samuel reported that the neural connection worked and he needed time to adjust.

Li Si and his companions crossed Skull Island’s jungle and found a small native tribe tending to a badly wounded King Kong. The modern-weapon injuries and recently built shelters led Li Si to suspect that an outside military force had arrived on the island.

• Li Si led the group into Skull Island’s jungle, where Project Armor and the others’ abilities helped them fend off venomous creatures.
• Max scouted ahead after the group noticed the jungle growing strangely quiet.
• Max returned and reported a primitive native tribe and a giant gorilla nearby.
• Li Si and the others found around twenty or thirty wounded natives tending to a badly injured King Kong.
• Li Si observed the tribe’s newly built shelters and King Kong’s apparent shell wounds, then suspected an outside military force had entered the island.

Li Si located Kratos and the Anti-Pay-to-Win Alliance captured by natives on Skull Island. After the Players begged him to help, Kratos offered information about a rare treasure in exchange for being freed.

• Pandora detected the third-generation Thunder King Battle Suit and other signals near the native tribe, and Li Si flew up to investigate.
• Li Si found Kratos and four companions stripped and tied to stakes while two native guards watched them.
• The captive Players argued over whether to buy help from Merchant, reaffirming their Anti-Pay-to-Win Alliance oath against spending real money.
• Lee Stein knocked out the guards and approached the captives, who begged him to rescue them.
• Lee Stein offered to make a deal, and Kratos promised information about a rare treasure contested by two guilds.

Lee freed Kratos and the other players, then learned that two guilds had fought over a treasure in a mine shaft on Skull Island. He agreed to have Kratos lead him there and offered to make Kratos a Lizard Transformation Serum if their expedition went well.

• Lee cut the group down and threatened them into leaving the native tribe with him.
• Lee led Kratos and the others to a cave, where Kratos explained how he had arrived on Skull Island and escaped Kong and the natives.
• Kratos revealed that the guilds had fought over something in a mine shaft where they had captured natives to dig.
• Lee ordered Kratos to take him to the mine, and Kratos agreed after realizing how powerful Lee was.
• Kratos asked to buy a Lizard Transformation Serum, and Lee said he might custom-make one if they found decent gains.

Li Si traveled with Kratos and the Anti-Pay-to-Win Alliance, learning about the team and watching them fight a pack of monitor lizards. He discovered Murong Qingqing was an unlicensed veterinarian whose supposed healing skill was bloodletting therapy.

• Li Si set out with the Anti-Pay-to-Win Alliance after warning Max and the others to return to the ship.
• Kratos, Jerry, Murong Qingqing, Charlie, and Chappie introduced themselves, and Li Si learned the four muscleheads had recruited Murong Qingqing for his intelligence.
• Li Si arranged everyday clothes for the team after the members fought over a hide skirt and leaves.
• A pack of four monitor lizards surrounded the group, and Kratos led the Anti-Pay-to-Win Alliance into battle.
• Li Si appraised the group’s combat templates and recognized Murong Qingqing’s Dragon Fist Style.
• Li Si discovered Murong Qingqing had the Unlicensed Veterinarian template and the Bloodletting Therapy skill.

After the fight with the giant lizards, Murong Qingqing treated Kratos and the others and cooked the lizards, while Lee Stein watched and then fed the hungry group. The chapter ended with the men too full of lizard meat to eat the steaks Lee Stein offered, but delighted by his cold drinks.

• Kratos and the others defeated the giant lizards, though all five fighters were injured.
• Murong Qingqing treated their wounds with bloodletting and used his Cooking skill to make grilled lizard meat.
• Lee Stein refused the meat after seeing its warning about germs, and the hungry fighters ate their fill.
• Lee Stein began eating steak and pasta, prompting the stuffed men to accept steaks they could barely manage.
• Lee Stein offered coffee, beer, and cola, and the group happily grabbed the chilled drinks.

Lee Stein reached the Hound Organization’s fortified wall on Skull Island and recognized its three branches guarding the mine beneath the cliff. He chose to retreat to his ship to prepare for an infiltration, leaving the treasure hunt for later.

• Lee Stein led Kratos, Murong Qingqing, and the others across Skull Island, blasting dinosaurs with his pulse cannon along the way.
• Kratos pointed out the wall guarding the mine, and Lee Stein spotted patrols in the Hound Organization’s black, white, and gray combat suits.
• Lee Stein learned the mine lay beneath the cliff and decided to withdraw rather than charge the fortified wall, intending to return with preparations to infiltrate the Hound Organization.
• Kratos worried that Lee Stein would abandon the treasure, but Lee Stein assured him he would still receive his promised share.
• The Anti-Pay-to-Win Alliance members speculated that Lee Stein could not defeat the guilds, and Lee Stein knocked them down and said he would return with a nuke.

Li Si returned to find Max and the others had captured King Kong after knocking him out with anesthetic. He eased Max’s guilt over the cannibals by urging him to be more thorough next time, then led him away for another task as the Anti-Whale Five watched nervously.

• Li Si returned to the shore and found King Kong unconscious while Otto Gunther, Curt Connors, Samuel Sterns, and Max climbed over him.
• Max explained that Samuel Sterns had led them in retreating and secretly tracking the fleeing cannibals before they drugged the water and captured King Kong.
• Max admitted that he had thrown the cannibals into the sea, and Li Si told him that enemies should be completely destroyed to prevent revenge.
• Li Si recognized Max’s guilt and took him aside for another task, while the Anti-Whale Five whispered about Li Si and his harsh lesson.

Li Si prepared disguises with Otto Gunther and Samuel Sterns so he and Max could infiltrate the Hound Organization on Skull Island. By dawn, they had their equipment and were ready to try to uncover the organization’s secrets despite the risks of being exposed.

• Li Si asked Otto Gunther and Samuel Sterns to build disguises based on his designs for infiltrating the Hound Organization.
• Li Si gave Max an infiltration mission and put him through a night of special training.
• Otto Gunther and Samuel Sterns finished a combat suit for Li Si and hollow metal armor for Max, along with equipment designed to imitate Angus Hunters.
• Li Si chose to pose as real-world Angus Hunters, reasoning that Max’s electrical abilities and their disguises could help them pass unnoticed.
• Li Si reflected that Skull Island’s isolation had disabled Pandora’s network access and Max’s ability to travel through power networks, then called Max over to put on the equipment.

Li Si and Max prepared disguises with optical camouflage masks so they could infiltrate the Angus Hunters. After setting out, they encountered Players who reacted to Li Si’s handsome disguise, leaving him struggling to keep his temper.

• Li Si used Pandora to adjust his face with an optical camouflage mask, while Max put on a mask that made him look like Angus.
• Li Si checked Max’s disguise with Appraisal and explained how disguise checks and appraisal resistance worked.
• Li Si told Max to stay silent unless instructed, then led him onto the road in disguise as Jack Kirby Angus.
• Nearby Players gawked at Li Si’s altered appearance and made crude plans, while Li Si tried to calm himself and avoid lashing out.

Li Si and Max disguised themselves as an Angus Hunter and approached the Hound Organization’s city wall, where their bluff divided the guards. The standoff ended with Cyril and the black-clad leader opposing the scarred Angus Hound’s order to open the gate.

• Li Si and Max reached the city wall and demanded that the Hound Organization lower the drawbridge.
• The guards recognized Max’s Angus Hunter disguise, and the scarred Angus Hound addressed him as his lord while the others reacted with disbelief.
• Li Si used a neural signal link to tell Max to order the gate opened, and Max repeated the command without showing emotion.
• Cyril and the short, fat Black man refused to open the gate, and the scarred man challenged Cyril as the groups on the wall prepared to confront one another.

Li Si and Max infiltrated the Hound Organization’s settlement on Skull Island by posing as Sen Angus and the Pursuer. After entering the native city, Li Si discovered the Hound Organization was using captured natives and NPC scientists.

• Sen Angus ordered the drawbridge lowered so he could verify the group’s identities, while Cyril and the short, fat Black man accompanied him.
• Max, posing as the Pursuer, refused to answer Sen Angus’s question and floated past the leaders, convincing Sen Angus to follow him.
• Li Si crossed the drawbridge and noticed a mine dug into the ravine, but saw no natives working there.
• The group passed through the gate tunnel into the crude stone city, where Hound Organization members had herded the natives into the center to carry materials.
• Li Si used Appraisal to identify several unarmored figures as NPC Scientists and realized the Hound Organization was using them to produce its equipment.

Li Si used Max’s stern persona to test Sen Angus and infer that Angus’s Hound group was disadvantaged in a dispute over a valuable discovery. After Sen Angus brought them to a cave, Li Si called himself Angus’s replacement, leaving Sen Angus worried that the organization planned to replace its current members.

• Li Si had Max tell Sen Angus that the discovery was important and that nothing could go wrong, prompting Sen Angus to apologize and pledge Angus’s commitment.
• Li Si inferred that the three Hound groups were cooperating uneasily and that Angus’s group had accepted an unfavorable arena contest over how to divide the loot.
• Sen Angus led Max and Li Si to a damp cave, where Max sat silently on a stone bed and Li Si refused to leave his post.
• When Sen Angus asked which base Li Si came from, Li Si called himself his replacement, making Sen Angus suspect the organization might replace its current members.
• Sen Angus concealed his concern, ended the conversation, and left the cave to handle other matters.

After Sen Angus left, Li Si assessed why he and Max had passed as an Angus Hunter and what the Hound Organizations’ power struggle meant for them. He then questioned what the Hunters and the Earth OL game really were, ending with more unanswered questions than conclusions.

• Li Si silently reviewed the clues and concluded that Hunters held high status, the three Hound Organizations were separate factions, and the Angus Hounds were at a disadvantage.
• Li Si reasoned that the Angus Hunters’ shared consciousness made it risky for Sen Angus or the other organizations to test Max’s identity.
• Li Si concluded that Sen Angus might welcome a supposed Hunter as an ally because the Angus Hounds needed leverage against Cross and Modal.
• Li Si reconsidered whether the Hunters were biological weapons and speculated that they might be aliens, modified humans, or a military force.
• Li Si questioned the origins and purpose of the Earth OL game, the relationship between its worlds and Earth, and the motives of the three Hound groups.