Chapter Summaries

Zhang Yi and Wang Han explored the lore included in Warcraft’s collector’s edition as the game’s launch became a streaming sensation. Players were captivated by the campaign’s cinematic stories, which left them debating its characters and choices.

• Zhang Yi brought home Warcraft’s oversized collector’s edition iron case, and Wang Han urged him to stop hiding it and read its lore with her.
• Zhang Yi and Wang Han learned about the origins of the Orcs, Medivh’s role in opening the Dark Portal, and other background details from the setting guide.
• Warcraft launched to huge attention as streamers played it and players flocked to its cinematics, story, and gameplay.
• Thrall and Grom Hellscream defeated Mannoroth, and Grom’s sacrifice freed the Orcs from the demon curse.
• Arthas defeated Illidan, shattered Ner’zhul’s frozen prison, and took the Lich King’s helmet, becoming one with him.
• Players embraced characters including Grom Hellscream, Arthas, and Illidan while arguing over Jaina, Garithos, and Maiev Shadowsong.

After "Warcraft" became a hit, its polish and gameplay made "Human Warfare's" remaster look poor by comparison, and players flocked to the new game. Zhou Qi argued that "Human Warfare" could still recover by capitalizing on its strong balance as players uncovered problems in "Warcraft."

• "Warcraft" recouped its costs in its first week and drew glowing reviews from players and media at home and abroad.
• Hero Entertainment released the "Human Warfare" remaster, but players compared its visuals unfavorably with "Warcraft's" polished presentation.
• Yang Hong admitted that "Human Warfare" seemed to have lost, while Zhou Qi argued the company still had a chance.
• Zhou Qi told Yang Hong that "Human Warfare" could regain ground by stressing competitive fairness while players explored "Warcraft" and discovered balance issues.

Chen Xu agreed to discuss Shark TV’s proposal for a Warcraft tournament and began building Nebula Games’ esports expertise. He then presented the team with plans for Warcraft’s new version, leaving them puzzled by a list of unfamiliar game modes.

• Lin Rou told Chen Xu that Shark TV wanted authorization to run a monthly Warcraft tournament for its signed streamers.
• Chen Xu agreed to discuss the event and asked HR to recruit or transfer employees for a department focused on esports.
• Chen Xu explained to the project team that Shark TV would organize the tournament while Nebula Games learned how to operate competitive games.
• Qin Yi noted that Warcraft had attracted top players and clubs from other RTS games.
• Chen Xu handed the team new-version plans titled 'Guardians of the Sword,' 'Pyramid Escape,' 'Demon Subjugation Chronicle,' 'Lord of Wealth,' and 'Calamity of the Western World,' confusing everyone.

Chen Xu guided Qin Yi and his team as they developed casual Warcraft maps, then reviewed plans for the Golden Monthly Competition. The chapter ended with Chen Xu recognizing how professional the Parallel World's esports scene was.

• Chen Xu gave Qin Yi and his team concepts for mini-games, defense maps, and RPG adventure maps, and said he would supervise their development.
• Qin Yi and his team used Warcraft's map editor to create heroes and stages, while Chen Xu offered occasional guidance.
• Lin Rou reported that Shark TV and other streaming platforms had organized the monthly Golden Monthly Competition, with team and singles tournaments.
• Chen Xu learned that the tournament would include established RTS clubs, foreign players competing for domestic clubs, and players who qualified through the ladder.
• Chen Xu saw that Parallel World tournaments used commentators, broadcast tools, and analysts, and concluded that this professionalism helped sustain its RTS scene.

Chen Xu investigated complaints that Orc was overpowered in Warcraft and concluded that players’ inexperience, the ladder’s top Orc player, and evolving strategies had created the impression of imbalance. He planned an exhibition match against professional players to demonstrate the game’s balance, and prepared to use a special card for his own participation.

• Chen Xu found Qin Yi, Ruan Ningxue, Yang Xin, Lin Tao, and others watching the Golden Monthly Competition and discussing the strength of Orc players Guadi and Matongge.
• The group told Chen Xu that players online were complaining Orc was too strong and calling for balance changes.
• Chen Xu reviewed the forums and match recordings, then concluded that inexperienced players struggled against Orc while top players had not yet developed effective counters.
• Chen Xu told the team not to change the game’s numbers and asked them to manage public opinion and arrange an exhibition match with Shark TV.
• Chen Xu revealed he planned to play each race against professional players to demonstrate Warcraft’s balance, then checked his Keyboard Spitting Milk Card.

After players debated Warcraft’s balance, Chen Xu announced that he would livestream matches against professional players to demonstrate that the game was balanced. He prepared for the stream despite players questioning his skill, confident that his tactics and a special item could help him compete.

• Chen Xu posted that Warcraft had no balance problems and announced a Sunday livestream against Golden Competition pros on Shark TV.
• Zhou Qi and players across the internet reacted with surprise, arguing over whether Chen Xu could prove the game was balanced.
• At Nebula Games, Qin Yi said Chen Xu could beat the employees, while Lin Rou clarified that their ranking points were combined.
• The employees showed Chen Xu the trending hashtag “Chen Xu Just Makes Games—What Does He Know About Warcraft!” and asked whether he could beat the pros.
• Chen Xu said he could handle average players but would need tactics and quick thinking against Guadi, and he trusted his special item and skill.

Chen Xu livestreamed a Warcraft exhibition match to demonstrate the game’s races and answer concerns about balance. His first opponent, pro Orc player Shu Ben, decided to play at full strength as the match began.

• Nebula Games’ staff stayed after work to watch Chen Xu’s livestream, and he set up in the Project Room with his camera showing his keyboard and mouse.
• Chen Xu told viewers he would demonstrate each race’s tactics against high-level players and secretly used the Keyboard Spitting Milk Card.
• Commentators Huang Donglai and Sun Yixie discussed Chen Xu’s odds, with Huang warning that his first opponent, Shu Ben, was a formidable Orc player.
• Shu Ben worried that beating Chen Xu might lead to Orcs being nerfed, but decided against holding back or throwing the match.
• Chen Xu and Shu Ben exchanged a greeting and entered the game, while Chen Xu felt unusually clear-headed and noticed the card’s strong milk fragrance.

Chen Xu used a Beastmaster-led Night Elf strategy and expanding economy to defeat the pro player Shu Ben. Shu Ben conceded after Chen Xu’s level-six Beastmaster overwhelmed his base.

• Chen Xu chose Night Elf on Twisted Meadows, scouted the map, and recruited the neutral hero Beastmaster while Shu Ben opened with an Orc Blademaster.
• Chen Xu harassed Shu Ben’s base with the Beastmaster and Quillbeasts, then mass-produced Huntresses while establishing additional bases.
• Shu Ben’s Wolf Riders repeatedly destroyed Chen Xu’s buildings and Huntresses, but Chen Xu’s expanding economy kept replenishing his army.
• Chen Xu reached Beastmaster level six and led a huge Huntress force into Shu Ben’s base, where the Beastmaster’s ultimate devastated it.
• Shu Ben typed GG, and Huang Donglai reacted in disbelief as viewers celebrated Chen Xu’s victory.

Chen Xu defeated Shu Ben with a Night Elf Expansion Rush Strategy and explained how it used the race’s strengths. The strategy drew attention from players and pros, while the main broadcast’s commentator struggled to contain his reaction.

• Shark TV viewers debated Chen Xu’s victory over Shu Ben and tried to understand how the match had turned around.
• Jiaozhu, Satellite, Guadi, and other pro players discussed the Expansion Rush Strategy’s strengths, risks, and possible counters.
• Chen Xu told his viewers that each Warcraft race had distinct strategies and briefly explained how Night Elf Treants supported early expansion and harassment.
• Chen Xu described the Expansion Rush Strategy as a way to establish economic dominance by avoiding decisive fights and dragging the game into the late stages.
• The commentator at the main broadcast stage felt he could barely take the match anymore.

Chen Xu faced Satellite on Northrend Isles and launched an unexpected Human tower rush with a Fire Demon, Footmen, and Militia. He built towers inside Satellite’s base, leaving the players and commentators stunned by the strategy.

• Huang Donglai argued that Chen Xu’s weaker mechanics would cost him against the prepared pro Satellite, while Sun Yixie teased him about his prediction.
• Satellite chose a standard Orc opening on Northrend Isles, placing his Burrow far behind his base and sending a Peon to scout.
• Chen Xu opened with a Barracks, summoned a Fire Demon at the tavern, and marched toward Satellite’s base with two Footmen and six Militia.
• Satellite attacked the Fire Demon with his Blademaster, but Chen Xu kept advancing despite the damage.
• Chen Xu’s Peasants built a Sentry Tower outside the Burrow’s range, upgraded it into a Magic Tower, and began constructing more towers inside Satellite’s base.

Chen Xu used a Human tower rush to defeat Satellite’s Orcs, prompting pro players to debate how to counter and adapt the strategy. The players then chose their next opponent for Chen Xu by rolling dice.

• Satellite struggled to defend his base as Chen Xu’s Peons built towers beyond the Burrows’ range and the Infernal pressured his units.
• Unable to hold out until he could produce Catapults, Satellite destroyed the Infernal and typed GG in all chat.
• Viewers praised Chen Xu’s win, and pro players discussed the tower rush and possible counters.
• Guadi suggested scouting and using summons to stall for Catapults, while Human players proposed other tower rush variations.
• The pro players decided to roll dice to choose who would play Chen Xu next.

Chen Xu used an unconventional Undead composition to defeat Jiedong’s Orc army, turning a seemingly favorable fight into a rout. The pro players recognized the strategy’s potential while noting Orc could counter it with Kodo Beasts and Wind Riders.

• Jiedong scouted Chen Xu’s standard Undead opening on the TR map, while both players developed peacefully.
• Chen Xu leveled his Death Knight, produced Crypt Fiends, and chose Frost Armor for his second hero instead of the usual Frost Nova.
• Jiedong attacked near the center of the map, expecting his Wolf Riders and Blademaster to overwhelm Chen Xu’s army.
• Chen Xu used Frost Armor, Unholy Aura, Death Coil, and focused Crypt Fiend volleys to slow and defeat Jiedong’s forces.
• Jiedong, unable to escape without a Town Portal Scroll, typed GG after Chen Xu chased his army back to its base.
• Watching pro players praised the Crypt Fiend strategy and suggested Kodo Beasts and Wind Riders as Orc counters.

After Chen Xu defeated three pro players, the group chat and commentators focused on his final match against Guadi, the strongest Orc player. Chen Xu chose Night Elves on Hidden Valley, while Guadi began with a standard Orc build and headed for the Neutral Shop.

• Jiedong, Satellite, and Shu Ben discussed their losses and urged Guadi to defend the Orc players’ honor.
• Huang Donglai insisted Guadi would beat Chen Xu, and Sun Yixie joined him in betting that Chen Xu would lose; both promised to shave their heads if Chen Xu won.
• Chen Xu reflected on his close third victory and felt he was in unusually good form, despite the commentators still favoring Guadi.
• Chen Xu picked Night Elves on Hidden Valley, using a Demon Hunter and a defensive building arrangement that surprised viewers.
• Guadi opened with a standard Orc build, cleared Bai Pangzi, found a Noble Ring, and then headed toward the Neutral Shop.

Chen Xu used persistent harassment to delay Guadi while rushing to Tier 3 and assembling a 50-food Night Elf force built around Druids of the Talon. His Cyclone strategy overwhelmed Guadi’s 60-food Orc army, leaving the match tied as the players reacted to Chen Xu’s victory.

• Chen Xu harassed Guadi’s Orc base with his Demon Hunter, then used a Beastmaster and Quillbeast to destroy a Barracks and a Burrow before Guadi’s forces killed the Beastmaster.
• Chen Xu revived the Beastmaster, continued harassing Guadi, and reached Tier 3 while staying at 50 food to train Master-level Druids of the Talon.
• Chen Xu gathered a 50-food army with his heroes, summons, and Druids of the Talon, then marched on Guadi’s larger Orc force.
• Chen Xu’s Druids repeatedly Cycloned Guadi’s Blademaster and Wolf Riders while Faerie Fire weakened Orc units, and Guadi’s army collapsed.
• Guadi typed GG, and Chen Xu explained that his strategy had exploited the strength of Cyclone Tactics at the 50-food stage.

After Chen Xu defeated an Orc pro with Cyclone Tactics, players and designers reconsidered Warcraft’s balance and began copying his strategies. He ended his stream by teasing a special update, leaving players eager to learn what it would contain.

• RTS experts discussed how Guadi might have countered Chen Xu’s Cyclone Tactics, while Hero Entertainment’s Zhou Qi worried about competing with Chen Xu’s demonstrations of Warcraft.
• Chen Xu ended his stream after announcing a special Warcraft update, prompting viewers to speculate about new content.
• The next day, players copied Chen Xu’s Night Elf, Undead, and Human strategies, but ordinary players often failed to execute them successfully.
• RTS experts studied overlooked units and recognized that Chen Xu’s strategies depended on maps and circumstances, rather than proving any race was invincible.
• Players began discussing the teased update, while one player posted about testing Chen Xu’s strategies and getting beaten before their builds came together.

Chen Xu reviewed the custom maps and added a save feature as Nebula Games prepared Warcraft’s new version. He explained that the Map editor, rather than the maps themselves, was meant to keep casual players engaged as ladder frustration drove some away.

• Players speculated about Warcraft’s upcoming version, guessing that it might add the Naga race or continue the campaign.
• Chen Xu reviewed Qin Yi, Ruan Ningxue, and the others’ RPG maps, which included varied modes and heroes from Nebula Games titles.
• Chen Xu tested and approved a save mechanism so players could resume long custom-map games, subject to a time limit.
• Yang Xin questioned whether the maps were enough for the update, and Qin Yi pointed out that the Map editor was the real core.
• Chen Xu said Warcraft’s player count had begun to decline, especially among players rated 500 to 1000 who struggled with the RTS gameplay.
• Chen Xu planned to use the Map editor and RPG maps to attract players with more than RTS content.

Chen Xu released a new Warcraft update featuring custom maps, a map editor, and two CG animations, leaving players unsure what to expect. Zhang Yi tried the Three Kingdoms defense map Guardians of the Sword, found it novel despite losing, and called his friends to join him.

• Zhou Qi saw Human Warfare regain activity among players who found Warcraft too demanding and considered reforming the game for casual players.
• Chen Xu announced a Warcraft update with two CG animations, five unusual maps, and a map editor, confusing Zhou Qi and the player community.
• Zhang Yi updated Warcraft and entered a multiplayer match of Guardians of the Sword, where players controlled heroes and tried to protect Zhuge Liang.
• The inexperienced players failed to defeat the tenth wave's boss, and Zhuge Liang died, but Zhang Yi found the new mode exciting.
• Zhang Yi called Song Ren and urged him to stop grinding Monster Hunter: World and try Warcraft's new game mode.

Players embraced Warcraft’s RPG maps and discovered the creative possibilities of its Map editor. Their enthusiasm revived interest in Warcraft, leaving game designers stunned by how an RTS could host so many other kinds of games.

• Players praised Warcraft’s varied RPG maps, enjoyed their hero-focused gameplay, and invited friends to play with them.
• Some players explored the Map editor and released crude custom maps that modified RTS battles for fast, chaotic matches.
• Chen Xu planned official editor tutorials and continued supporting the game’s communities to encourage map creation.
• Warcraft’s growing RPG-map popularity brought back former players, increased sales, and pushed its online player count to a new high.
• Game designers, especially RTS developers, were shocked that Warcraft’s editor enabled RPG, tower defense, and casual gameplay within an RTS.

Chen Xu learned that the Game Department had announced a VR game development competition for military training and met with Meng Zuo to discuss a possible collaboration with NetDragon. After agreeing to a meeting, Chen Xu began considering ideas for the VR game.

• Chen Xu assessed Warcraft’s growing community, including its custom RPG maps, and decided to give Nebula Games employees staggered vacations.
• Meng Zuo called Chen Xu about the Game Department’s VR Game Development Competition, and Chen Xu read the announcement while riding back to the company.
• Chen Xu learned the competition would support VR training games for military forces and offer access to advanced technology, with developers expected to also make a version for players.
• Meng Zuo proposed that NetDragon and Nebula Games collaborate on a VR game and discuss a strategic partnership with the Nebula Game Platform.
• Chen Xu scheduled a meeting with Meng Zuo for the afternoon after next and began considering ideas for the competition.

Chen Xu discussed a strategic partnership with NetDragon and outlined a tactical VR counterterrorism game for the two companies to develop. He proposed an international special forces unit called Rainbow, leaving the new game's concept and direction established.

• Chen Xu and Meng Zuo discussed NetDragon's proposal to jointly fund a game and share revenue, with copyright belonging to Nebula Games.
• Chen Xu said a first-person shooter was a suitable direction for the VR competition but argued that its counterterrorism gameplay should differ from traditional bomb-defusal games.
• Chen Xu described close-quarters battle tactics, specialized team roles, reconnaissance tools, breaching equipment, and other methods used in modern counterterrorism operations.
• Chen Xu said the game should focus on tactics, intelligence gathering, and psychological conflict rather than marksmanship.
• Chen Xu proposed that the game feature Rainbow, an international anti-terrorist special forces unit, with Operators from different countries and unique abilities.