Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Octopus Monster”

Key Plot Points and Events

• NIP celebrates its clean 3–0 victory over BLG. The team stays at the venue to bow to fans and sign autographs, with doinb handling most of the requests.
• Takuya is surprised when several fans ask for his autograph, showing that his strong performance has begun earning him recognition and support.
• After returning to the hotel, NIP enjoys a celebratory feast. The players then relax in different ways, while doinb begins a livestream to celebrate the win.
• Takuya checks Weibo and sees fans praising him as an exceptional jungler and approving NIP’s decision to replace aki. This implies that aki has effectively become a substitute unless Takuya performs poorly.
• Takuya gains 300 Anime Points from the three victories. He spends some on extending his Ultraman-world access and uses the rest on experience cards to improve his frequently played heroes, though the gains are limited.
• Thinking ahead to NIP’s official match against JDG and a possible final against AL, Takuya decides to enter the Ultraman world to strengthen his abilities further. He temporarily freezes his League of Legends progress.
• In the Ultraman world, the Octopus Monster devastates a city, destroying buildings and killing or injuring many civilians.
• Dark Diga arrives and attacks the monster with Dark Palm Slashes, but the Octopus Monster blocks them with its tentacles.
• Takuya catches the monster off guard with Dark Zeperion Ray, though the beam fails to penetrate its tough body completely.
• He follows with a Dark Flying Kick that sends the Octopus Monster flying. While it is airborne and unable to defend itself, Takuya fires another Dark Zeperion Ray.
• The beam accidentally strikes the monster from behind, penetrates its body, and causes a violent internal explosion.

Character Developments

• Takuya: Gains confidence and popularity after his impressive performances for NIP. He becomes more proactive, planning his training carefully before facing JDG and AL. In battle, he demonstrates tactical awareness by combining surprise attacks, physical strikes, and ranged abilities.
• Aki: His position as NIP’s starting jungler appears increasingly threatened. Takuya’s success has effectively pushed him into a substitute role, creating an implied source of tension.
• Doinb: Continues acting as the team’s most publicly engaged player, handling fan interactions and livestreaming the team’s celebration.
• Dark Diga/Takuya in battle: Takuya fights decisively and without hesitation, immediately using his strongest techniques rather than wasting time taunting or negotiating.
• Octopus Monster: Initially appears extremely destructive and resilient, capable of blocking powerful attacks and demolishing buildings, but it is ultimately vulnerable to a well-timed combination of attacks.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and changing status: Takuya’s autograph requests and online praise reflect his rapid rise from newcomer or replacement player to a valued member of NIP.
• Competition and insecurity: His success threatens aki’s starting position, emphasizing the harsh, performance-based nature of professional esports.
• Preparation and ambition: Takuya refuses to rely solely on past victories, recognizing that scrims do not guarantee official-match success and preparing for increasingly difficult opponents.
• Power and destruction: The Ultraman sequence contrasts spectacular combat with the devastating human cost of monster attacks, showing the danger surrounding Takuya’s battles.
• Strategy over brute force: The Octopus Monster withstands direct attacks, but Takuya defeats it through timing, surprise, and chaining multiple abilities together.

Character Interactions

• NIP interacts warmly with fans, bowing and signing autographs before leaving the venue.
• Takuya’s growing popularity is highlighted through his interactions with fans and online supporters.
• The team celebrates together at the hotel, though the contrast between Takuya’s success and aki’s likely disappointment creates an underlying competitive tension.
• In the battle, Dark Diga and the Octopus Monster exchange attacks defensively before Takuya gains the upper hand through a surprise beam and flying kick combination.

Chapter Summary: “Losers’ Bracket Final”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Takuya defeats another monster in the parallel Ultraman-like world. Its remains rain down over an amusement park, destroying the Ferris wheel and killing trapped civilians. After eliminating the threat, Takuya leaves the cleanup to Victory Team and the Earth Defense Force.
• Over the next half month, Takuya kills ten monsters and earns 1,000 Anime Points.
• Returning to the esports hotel, he spends the points upgrading Lee Sin, Kindred, and Nidalee to SSS rank. These champions become especially important for his upcoming match.
• NIP prepares to face JDG in the Losers’ Bracket Final. The team follows its usual routine before arriving early at the venue.
• Takuya confidently predicts that NIP will defeat JDG. His confidence encourages doinb and Leave, while ppgod and Shanji remain quieter.
• The match begins after the players take the stage. Takuya plays Lee Sin, Kindred, and Nidalee across the three games, while doinb uses Pantheon and Kled King in mid.
• Takuya dominates JDG jungler Xun, who feels pressured and believes Takuya has completely read his play.
• NIP wins all three games decisively, earning a place in the final against AL. Their next match will determine whether they qualify for the international Global First Stand event.

Character Developments

• Takuya/Relife: Continues balancing his secret monster-slaying missions with his esports career. His upgrades to three jungle champions greatly increase his competitive strength, and he displays complete confidence and dominance against JDG.
• Doinb: Acts as an energetic motivator and remains supportive of Takuya, openly encouraging the team before the match. He also performs well with aggressive mid-lane picks.
• Leave: Shows faith in Takuya and expresses willingness to let him carry the team, reflecting growing trust in the new jungler.
• Shanji and ppgod: Remain conflicted because their former teammate and friend, aki, was replaced by Takuya. However, Takuya’s excellent performances make it increasingly impossible for them to argue for aki’s return.
• Aki: Although absent, his position on the team becomes increasingly uncertain. His inconsistent performances against AL contrast sharply with Takuya’s two consecutive victories.
• Xun: Feels overwhelmed by Takuya’s jungle control and struggles to respond to his apparent ability to predict JDG’s moves.

Significant Themes

• Power and mastery: Takuya’s supernatural abilities and champion upgrades reinforce his rapid rise to overwhelming strength in both worlds.
• Duty versus detachment: Takuya treats monster extermination as a job and leaves the tragic consequences to others, emphasizing his emotionally detached approach to his secret mission.
• Competition and redemption: NIP’s victory sets up a rematch with AL, giving the team a chance to avenge its earlier defeat.
• Team loyalty versus performance: Shanji and ppgod’s concern for aki clashes with the practical reality that Takuya is currently the far stronger jungler.
• Confidence and momentum: Takuya’s certainty spreads through NIP and contributes to their decisive sweep of JDG.

Character Interactions

• Doinb asks Takuya whether he is confident against JDG, and Takuya’s firm promise to win inspires doinb and Leave.
• Leave jokingly says he is ready to be carried by Takuya, showing the team’s growing belief in him.
• Shanji and ppgod privately struggle with their loyalty to aki while observing Takuya’s superior performance.
• Takuya briefly acknowledges host Xiao Yu before focusing on the match.
• Takuya’s play directly pressures Xun throughout the series, creating the central competitive clash of the chapter.

First Stage Grand Final — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• NIP has become dramatically stronger since replacing aki with the jungler Relife, winning three consecutive series and nine straight games without losing.
• Before the final, NIP celebrates with a hotpot dinner organized by Luo Bing. aki remains behind at the hotel, claiming stomach trouble; only Shanji and ppgod show concern for him.
• Since the final is held in the same venue, NIP avoids travel-related disruption and has two days to prepare.
• NIP faces AL in the LPL First Stage Grand Final, with Guan Zeyuan, Yu Shuang, and Miller handling commentary and Shi Yue serving as interactive host.
• AL wins the coin toss and chooses blue side, traditionally considered highly advantageous because of its superior win rate.
• During the draft:
  • AL bans Ryze, Galio, and Pantheon to limit doinb’s champion pool.
  • NIP bans Skarner, Rumble, and Kalista.
  • AL first-picks Yone, potentially aiming for the powerful Yone-Sejuani combination.
  • Instead of taking Sejuani, NIP selects Sion and Akali, with Akali offering a strong matchup into Yone.
  • AL chooses Nidalee and Leona rather than completing the Yone-Sejuani combo.
  • NIP responds with Relife’s Kindred, showing confidence against Tarzan’s undefeated Nidalee.
  • AL bans Lucian and Titan to weaken NIP’s bot-lane options and disrupt strong combinations.
  • NIP bans Corki and Varus, preparing to select Kai’Sa for themselves.

Character Developments

• Relife is established as the key reason behind NIP’s transformation into an apparently unbeatable team. His Kindred pick demonstrates his confidence and aggressive identity, especially after his dominant performance against JDG.
• aki is increasingly isolated within NIP. His absence from the celebration and the team’s general lack of concern suggest that his relationship with the squad has deteriorated.
• Shanji and ppgod remain aki’s only apparent allies, showing personal loyalty despite the rest of the team moving on.
• Takuya remains completely confident, believing that side selection and other external factors cannot affect his performance.
• doinb continues to be a major strategic threat, forcing AL to spend two bans on his signature champions.
• Luo Bing demonstrates confidence in the draft, prioritizing strong lane matchups and planning around Kai’Sa rather than reacting defensively.
• Tarzan is highlighted as a strong Nidalee player, though Relife’s Kindred is presented as a deliberate challenge to him.

Significant Themes

• Team transformation and momentum: Relife’s arrival has turned NIP from a competitive team into an undefeated powerhouse.
• Isolation and shifting loyalties: aki’s exclusion contrasts with NIP’s celebrations and hints at internal tensions or his declining status.
• Confidence versus reputation: Despite blue side’s supposed advantage and AL’s strong combinations, Takuya and Relife show no fear of conventional expectations.
• Strategic adaptation: Both teams target specific champions and player strengths through bans, emphasizing preparation and counterplay.
• Individual skill versus established formulas: NIP refuses to break up AL’s expected Yone-Sejuani combo, instead trusting Akali, Sion, and Kindred to challenge AL’s strategy directly.

Character Interactions

• Luo Bing and NIP’s players: Luo Bing organizes the team celebration and works closely with them during the draft.
• aki, Shanji, and ppgod: Shanji and ppgod are the only teammates who appear to care about aki’s absence, reinforcing their friendship.
• Takuya and the broader team: Takuya’s confidence reflects NIP’s overall belief that their current strength makes side selection irrelevant.
• The commentators: Guan Zeyuan and Miller analyze the draft, correctly predicting AL’s bans of Lucian and Titan while emphasizing the tactical significance of the Kindred-Nidalee matchup.
• NIP and AL: Their draft becomes a direct contest of confidence—AL relies on Yone and strong jungle pressure, while NIP answers with lane counters and Relife’s signature-level Kindred.

Plot points and events

• NIP and Anyone’s Legend (AL) finish draft: AL builds a poke-heavy team around Nidalee, Ezreal, and Jayce, while NIP counters with Kai’Sa and Alistar for strong bot-lane engage.
• Both teams begin cautiously, using mid-lane wards to track the opposing jungler. Kindred and Nidalee take similar routes without early ganks.
• Takuya breaks the stalemate by counterganking bot. Alistar sets up Leona for Kindred and Kai’Sa; Takuya gets first blood while Leona burns Flash.
• Takuya then punishes Jayce’s aggressive move top, coordinating with Sion to secure a second kill. He reaches 2/0 without losing any jungle camps.
• With AL’s mid and bot lanes under pressure, Tarzan avoids invading or contesting the first dragon. Takuya secures it and continues farming and looking for opportunities.
• By twelve minutes, Takuya has four Kindred marks, a strong item lead, and control of the early game. The commentators describe him as unstoppable and question how AL can contain him.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuya plays patiently, then decisively: he chooses effective counterganks, capitalizes on an enemy mistake, and turns his lead into secure objectives and marks.
• Tarzan recognizes the danger of contesting Takuya while his lanes are losing and avoids a risky invasion.
• NIP’s bot lane works together effectively: Alistar’s knock-ups and stun create the opening for Kai’Sa and Kindred to kill Leona.
• Sion and Takuya coordinate the top-lane gank, trapping Jayce after he jumps forward.
• AL’s lanes struggle to create openings: Akali pressures Yone, while AL’s bot lane retreats under turret.

Significant themes

• Patience and calculated risk: Both teams start cautiously, but Takuya gains an advantage by striking when the enemy overcommits.
• Team coordination: NIP’s successful ganks depend on layered crowd control and timely follow-up.
• Snowballing and map control: Early kills and winning lanes let Takuya take dragon, farm safely, and accumulate Kindred marks.
• Composition versus execution: AL’s poke composition could be dangerous if played accurately, but NIP’s early pressure prevents it from freely setting up.

Plot and key events

• Takuya’s Kindred dominates Tarzan’s Nidalee in the jungle, taking camps and objectives while Nidalee’s teammates cannot safely help. NIP secures the second dragon, Voidgrubs, and Rift Herald.
• AL must contest the third dragon, since losing it would put NIP on Infernal Soul point. But NIP’s strong frontline—especially Shanji’s tanky Sion—blocks AL’s poke from Jayce and Ezreal.
• Sion interrupts AL’s approach and buys enough time for Kindred to secure the dragon. He then re-engages with his ultimate, setting up Alistar’s follow-up crowd control.
• Leona and Nidalee are caught and killed. Jayce and Yone escape, while Akali tries to cut off Ezreal. Kai’Sa instead dives Ezreal with her ultimate and badly wounds him; Hope flashes toward the Red Buff camp as she pursues.

Character developments

• Takuya/Kindred grows increasingly powerful by exploiting Tarzan’s isolation and controlling objectives.
• Tarzan/Nidalee falls far behind and becomes ineffective, reflecting how thoroughly NIP has taken control.
• Shanji/Sion uses his durability and positioning to shield the dragon and create the opening for NIP’s engage.
• Flandre/Jayce is weakened early after Sion and Kindred kill him, costing him a wave and Flash.
• Hope/Ezreal avoids the initial engage but is surprised by Kai’Sa’s direct dive.
• Yone shows quick reactions, evading key crowd control and using his tornado to escape with Jayce.

Themes

• Snowballing advantage: Kindred’s early jungle control compounds into overwhelming strength and objective dominance.
• Coordination versus confusion: NIP commits to a clear engage, while AL’s comms become chaotic once the fight turns against them.
• The importance of positioning and frontline: Sion’s presence shuts down AL’s poke and gives NIP time to take the dragon.
• Forced choices under pressure: AL knows it must fight for the objective, but its disadvantage makes the contest dangerous from the start.

Character interactions

• Kindred repeatedly pressures Nidalee, while lane priority prevents AL from supporting her.
• Sion’s frontline frustrates Jayce and Ezreal’s attempts to soften NIP before the fight.
• Leona initiates on Sion to stop his charged Q, but Sion later turns the engagement around and combines with Alistar to catch Leona and Nidalee.
• NIP’s follow-up collapses on AL’s trapped players; meanwhile, Kai’Sa breaks from the chase to target Ezreal, catching him off guard.

Key plot points and events

• Kai’Sa kills Ezreal with a Void Seeker through the Red Buff wall, then races to mid and helps finish Yone, completing an early five-for-zero ace for NIP.
• AL’s poke composition is badly behind: it cannot meaningfully damage Sion or reach NIP’s backline. Despite their poor odds, AL keeps fighting because professional players cannot surrender.
• When the fourth Elemental Dragon appears, NIP starts Baron to force AL to respond. AL abandons the dragon and approaches Baron, where Alistar intercepts them.
• Alistar Flashes into AL’s formation, and Sion and the rest of NIP chain their crowd control and damage. Jayce and Leona fall first; NIP then hunts down the fleeing AL players. Nidalee, Yone, and Ezreal are killed, giving NIP another five-for-zero ace.
• NIP takes Baron, then the Elemental Dragon for Dragon Soul. After recalling, they push mid and win another fight four kills to none. Yone hides in the fountain, but NIP destroys AL’s Nexus and wins the first game of the series.

Character developments and interactions

• Kai’Sa is decisive throughout: he secures Ezreal, joins the mid-lane cleanup, and helps NIP convert its lead into repeated kills.
• Alistar creates the decisive Baron-pit engagement, drawing AL into range and knocking several players up with his Flash-assisted combo.
• Sion follows Alistar’s initiation with more crowd control, repeatedly disrupting Jayce and protecting NIP’s advantage.
• Akali pursues Ezreal through his escape attempts and secures the kill, while Kindred helps eliminate Jayce and Leona before chasing down Nidalee.
• AL’s players continue resisting despite their grim position, but their attempts to escape are defeated by NIP’s coordinated pursuit. Yone’s final retreat to the fountain saves him briefly, not his team.

Significant themes

• Coordination versus desperation: NIP’s layered engages and follow-up turn AL’s attempted contest into an overwhelming defeat.
• A lead becoming inevitable: NIP’s gold and dragon advantage prevents AL from reaching its backline or contesting objectives effectively.
• Professional perseverance: AL keeps playing despite having little chance, because the match must be played to its conclusion.
• Objective control as a path to victory: NIP uses Baron to force a fight, then takes Dragon Soul and ends the game in one coordinated push.

Plot and events

• NIP’s jungler relife is praised for his performance in the previous game, while the broadcast recaps the highlights.
• Anyone’s Legend return to the stage in good spirits, confident they can recover after losing only one game.
• In draft, AL ban Ryze, Sylas, and Wolf Mother, while NIP again ban Skarner, Kalista, and Rumble. AL pick Varus; NIP answer with Lee Sin and Galio. The completed lineups are:
  • AL: Gragas, Xin Zhao, Azir, Varus, Rell.
  • NIP: Ornn, Lee Sin, Galio, Miss Fortune, Rakan.
• Both teams open cautiously. Their junglers start on Raptors and initially mirror one another’s routes. Takuya’s Lee Sin, however, makes a concealed detour after clearing Wolves, waiting near the upper jungle.
• In mid, Azir and Galio have traded heavily and are both low. When Shanks steps forward to last-hit, Galio engages—and Lee Sin appears from behind the wall, using a ward hop and Flash to reach him.

Character developments and interactions

• AL’s players remain relaxed after their loss, showing confidence rather than discouragement.
• Takuya demonstrates patience and adaptability, abandoning his expected jungle route to exploit an unseen opportunity.
• Shanks underestimates the threat because Galio appears nearly out of mana; the sudden arrival of Lee Sin catches him off guard.
• The casters highlight the strategic choices in the draft and notice Lee Sin’s unusual route, building tension as his gank develops.

Significant themes

• Resilience: AL believe they can still turn the series around.
• Adaptation and deception: Takuya’s route change lets him approach without being spotted.
• Risk and awareness: Shanks’s attempt to secure a minion leaves him vulnerable, while the mid-lane health trades create an opening for the gank.

Key events

• NIP’s Lee Sin catches Shanks’s Azir in mid, using Galio’s taunt to secure three early kills. Azir loses waves and falls far behind, leaving AL at a severe disadvantage.
• NIP takes the first two Elemental Dragons. AL concedes the next dragon rather than risk a fight, giving NIP Infernal Soul point.
• At 25 minutes, NIP starts Baron to force AL into a fight. AL must respond: surrendering Baron could cost them turrets or an inhibitor.
• As AL approaches through fog of war, NIP springs an ambush. Rell flashes in and pulls four opponents together; Ornn follows with his ultimate, knocking up Varus and Xin Zhao. Galio then lands nearby, but both targets Flash away just after landing from Ornn’s knockup.

Character developments

• Shanks recognizes that another death could effectively end his game, but repeated ganks have already made Azir nearly irrelevant.
• Takuya shows initiative by proposing the Baron start as a way to break AL’s cautious farming and force a decisive fight.
• Hope and Tarzan initially hold their Flashes, judging Rell’s engage to be the only immediate threat; they use them at the last moment to escape Galio’s follow-up.

Character interactions

• Lee Sin and Galio repeatedly coordinate to punish Shanks, with Galio’s taunt enabling Lee Sin’s kills.
• NIP’s Baron ambush depends on layered teamwork: Rell engages, Ornn’s ultimate extends the crowd control, and Galio follows with his own ultimate.
• AL moves cautiously together through unwarded terrain, but still walks into NIP’s setup and must react under pressure.

Themes

• Punishing mistakes: Shanks’s overextension turns into a disastrous early-game deficit.
• Objectives create forced choices: AL must approach Baron despite suspecting a trap.
• Team coordination and timing: NIP’s layered engage demonstrates how coordinated abilities can threaten an entire team, while split-second reactions let Varus and Xin Zhao escape the final knockup.

Chapter Summary: “Breaking the High Ground”

Key Plot Points and Events

• AL initiates a team fight with Galio’s Flash taunt, catching Varus and Xin Zhao while Miss Fortune’s ultimate heavily damages them.
• Gragas disrupts the attack with his ultimate, but NIP quickly turns the fight around. Lee Sin uses a ward hop and R-Flash to kick Varus into Galio and Rell, while Ornn chains further knockups with his pillar and charge.
• Miss Fortune finishes Varus and then Xin Zhao. Gragas is also killed after being taunted and focused by NIP. Azir and Rakan escape.
• With AL’s jungler dead, NIP secures Baron Nashor. AL gains only a small consolation by taking NIP’s mid outer turret during the Baron attempt.
• Baron-empowered NIP splits their push, destroying AL’s mid inner turret and top inner turret before breaking the top inhibitor turret. They retreat rather than risk overextending.
• After resetting, NIP groups mid and destroys AL’s mid inhibitor turret and inhibitor, then rotates top to destroy the remaining top inhibitor.
• NIP contests the fourth elemental dragon. AL attempts to engage and steal it, but Gragas’s ultimate fails, Xin Zhao loses the Smite contest, and NIP secures the dragon.
• After the failed steal, NIP again catches Varus with Lee Sin’s kick and kills him, while Miss Fortune finishes Xin Zhao. Azir, Gragas, and Rakan try to kill Lee Sin but fail to overcome his durability and retreat.
• NIP cannot immediately end the game, so they push bot lane and destroy the inner turret, inhibitor turret, and inhibitor in one advance.
• NIP returns to base to heal and upgrade items. Xin Zhao and Varus later revive to defend, but Varus’s lethality poke build has left him extremely vulnerable whenever NIP engages on him.

Character Developments

• Lee Sin emerges as the decisive playmaker, repeatedly using ward hops and Flash kicks to isolate Varus and disrupt AL’s formation.
• Miss Fortune becomes NIP’s primary damage source, shredding clustered enemies with her ultimate and finishing weakened targets with critical attacks.
• Ornn demonstrates excellent follow-up crowd control, chaining his pillar, charge, and summoned ram with Lee Sin’s initiation.
• Gragas attempts several defensive and offensive interventions, but his ultimates fail to significantly disrupt NIP.
• Varus is revealed as AL’s major weakness: his poke-focused build provides little protection once Lee Sin reaches him.
• Xin Zhao repeatedly tries to contest objectives but loses the crucial Dragon Smite fight and dies shortly afterward.
• Azir and Rakan prioritize survival and wave-clearing, but their cautious play leaves AL unable to contest NIP’s pushes effectively.

Significant Themes

• Layered crowd control and coordinated execution: NIP wins fights by chaining Lee Sin, Ornn, Galio, and Miss Fortune’s abilities with precise timing.
• Objective control: Baron Nashor and the elemental dragon allow NIP to convert a team-fight victory into multiple turrets, inhibitors, and overwhelming map pressure.
• Punishing immobility and poor positioning: Varus’s lack of mobility makes him an easy target once Lee Sin reaches him.
• Relentless pressure versus defensive resistance: AL can delay some pushes, but NIP’s Baron-enhanced minions and superior coordination eventually break the high ground.
• Calculated retreats: NIP repeatedly withdraws after securing major advantages rather than taking unnecessary risks, preserving their lead.

Character Interactions

• Lee Sin and Varus: Lee Sin repeatedly targets Varus, kicking him into his teammates and enabling easy kills.
• Lee Sin and Ornn: Their knockup chains repeatedly prevent AL from responding during team fights.
• Miss Fortune and the clustered AL lineup: Her ultimate and bouncing critical shot punish AL for grouping together.
• Galio and Gragas: Galio taunts Gragas during the initial fight, helping NIP finish him after the other AL frontliners fall.
• Xin Zhao and Takuya’s objective contest: Xin Zhao attempts to steal the elemental dragon but loses the Smite duel.
• NIP versus AL’s backline: Varus, Azir, and Rakan struggle to survive or defend once NIP reaches the inhibitors, allowing NIP to dismantle AL’s base in stages.

Chapter Summary: “Game Three Begins”

Key Plot Points and Events

• NIP finishes Game Two by overwhelming AL at their Nexus. Rell initiates under the Nexus turrets, while Galio and Ornn provide follow-up crowd control. Lee Sin kicks Xin Zhao into AL’s formation, allowing NIP to knock up nearly the entire team.
• Although AL briefly retreats and attempts to defend after healing, NIP continues its relentless push. Ornn and Gragas engage near the turrets, and NIP kills Gragas and Xin Zhao before destroying the Nexus.
• NIP takes a 2–0 lead and reaches match point, needing only one more victory to win the stage championship and qualify for the Global First Stand. AL must now win three games in a row to recover.
• In Game Three’s draft, AL remains on blue side and first-picks Ryze after leaving him unbanned. NIP responds with K’Sante and Pantheon, forming a composition built around strong frontline presence and early aggression.
• Final compositions:
  • AL: Shen, Jax, Ryze, Corki, Blitzcrank
  • NIP: K’Sante, Zyra, Pantheon, Lucian, Nami
• NIP immediately invades AL’s jungle at level one. Despite Blitzcrank’s potential hook, AL chooses not to fight and instead tries to contest or trade jungle camps.
• NIP successfully takes AL’s Red Buff while maintaining vision and avoiding Blitzcrank’s disruption. Meanwhile, both teams begin rotating top- and mid-laners toward the jungle, creating tension around the early camp contest.
• After clearing Red Buff and Raptors, Takuya notices an intense fight in bot lane. He abandons the Krugs and moves toward the lane, preparing an aggressive level-two gank.

Character Developments

• NIP as a team: Their dominant lead gives them extreme confidence. They willingly dive Nexus turrets and repeatedly force fights, showing that they trust their coordination and their superior strength.
• Takuya: Emerges as NIP’s clear strategic leader. His teammates instinctively follow his calls because of his recent dominant performances. He prioritizes denying Tarzan’s jungle comfort and quickly adapts when he sees an opportunity for a bot-lane gank.
• Shanji: Displays awareness by spotting Jax near the Red Buff and immediately warns the team. He also offers to pressure Jax in the jungle alongside Pantheon.
• Tarzan: Plays cautiously, refusing to take an unfavorable level-one fight and trying to prevent Jax from being trapped by the enemy’s jungle invasion.
• AL: The team is placed under enormous pressure after falling behind 0–2. Their cautious opening reflects the need to avoid an early collapse, while their coordinated movement toward the jungle shows an attempt to contest NIP’s aggression.
• keal’s Blitzcrank: Wants to force an early hook but is restrained by Tarzan’s safer approach. His failed hook leaves AL unable to disrupt NIP’s Red Buff take.

Significant Themes

• Momentum and psychological pressure: NIP’s two-game lead allows them to play fearlessly, while AL must fight against the mounting pressure of possible elimination.
• Strength earning authority: Takuya’s recent success has established him as the team’s trusted shot-caller. His decisions are followed because his performance has earned the team’s confidence.
• Aggression versus caution: NIP constantly seeks proactive plays and invades early, whereas AL prioritizes safety and avoids risky engagements, illustrating the contrasting approaches of the two teams.
• Adaptability and tempo: Takuya’s decision to abandon the jungle clear and pursue a level-two gank demonstrates the importance of reacting quickly to changing opportunities rather than rigidly following a plan.

Character Interactions

• Tarzan instructs keal and the rest of AL not to fight the level-one invasion, emphasizing defensive play.
• Takuya directs NIP to steal Red Buff and establish vision so Jax cannot farm comfortably.
• Shanji alerts Takuya to Jax’s position and asks Pantheon to help pressure him, prompting doinb to rotate into the jungle.
• Both teams’ top and mid laners move toward the Red Buff area, creating a potential jungle skirmish, though neither side fully commits.
• The chapter ends with Takuya moving toward bot lane, setting up the next major confrontation of Game Three.

Chapter Summary: “Level-Two Bot Lane Gank!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Takuya’s Zyra makes an unexpected level-two gank on bot lane before clearing Krugs. NIP’s bot lane, Hope’s Corki and keal’s Blitzcrank, are caught off guard.
• Hope orders keal to escape while he sacrifices himself. Zyra ignores Blitzcrank and kills Corki, giving Takuya First Blood.
• Rather than recalling immediately, Takuya clears his jungle and takes Scuttle Crab before shopping.
• At level five, Zyra solo-secures the first Elemental Dragon, enabled by Lucian and Nami’s strong bot-lane priority. AL cannot contest without risking a disastrous teamfight.
• Takuya continues snowballing, killing Ryze with Pantheon’s assistance and later finding successful ganks against both top and mid lanes.
• Zyra becomes overwhelmingly strong, already possessing Liandry’s Torment while Jax has only a basic hammer and Shen has merely a Chain Vest. Opponents begin avoiding her in the jungle.
• At fourteen minutes, Takuya is 4/0/1 and leads NIP to the Voidgrubs. AL groups as five to contest, with Shen teleporting in and NIP responding with K’Sante’s teleport.
• Before the teamfight begins, Leave’s Lucian aggressively pokes Blitzcrank and Ryze. With Nami’s buffs, he dodges Blitzcrank’s hook and uses his ultimate to reduce Ryze to half health.
• Realizing they have already lost too much health, AL retreats. NIP safely secures the remaining Voidgrubs.
• At seventeen minutes, NIP begins another Elemental Dragon. AL attempts to contest with Jax, Ryze, Corki, and Blitzcrank.
• Pantheon prepares to join with his ultimate. Nami launches a tidal wave as Pantheon lands beneath Ryze, disrupting AL’s formation and preventing Blitzcrank from immediately silencing Pantheon. The chapter ends as the dragon-side engagement is about to escalate.

Character Developments

• Takuya: Demonstrates exceptional aggression and map awareness. His level-two gank, efficient jungle pathing, early dragon, and repeated successful ganks establish him as the game’s dominant player. Despite his enormous lead, he remains disciplined and coordinates objectives instead of becoming reckless.
• Leave: Shows confidence and mechanical skill on Lucian. He aggressively steps forward, combines with Nami’s buffs, dodges Blitzcrank’s hook, and heavily damages both Blitzcrank and Ryze before the teamfight even begins.
• ppgod: Nami’s buffs and ultimate are crucial to Lucian’s aggression and to disrupting AL’s attempted dragon engage.
• doinb: Pantheon provides reliable crowd control and map pressure, helping secure the mid-lane kill and preparing a well-timed ultimate into the dragon fight.
• Hope and keal: Their bot lane is overwhelmed by the surprise gank and NIP’s stronger early matchup. Hope sacrifices himself so Blitzcrank can survive, while keal later struggles to find effective hooks.
• AL’s team: Jax, Ryze, Shen, Corki, and Blitzcrank are repeatedly forced into defensive play. Their inability to contest bot-side priority leaves them unable to support Jax or challenge early objectives.

Significant Themes

• Early-game initiative: Takuya’s level-two gank completely disrupts AL’s expected lane plans and gives NIP control from the beginning.
• The importance of lane priority: Lucian and Nami’s winning lane allows NIP to secure dragons and Voidgrubs safely while AL’s jungle is isolated.
• Snowballing advantages: First Blood leads to faster farming, stronger items, successful ganks, and uncontested objectives.
• Mechanical execution and coordination: Leave’s dodging and aggressive positioning, Nami’s buffs and ultimate, and Pantheon’s timed arrival show how individual skill combines with team communication.
• Objective control over unnecessary fighting: NIP repeatedly forces AL to choose between conceding objectives and risking a losing fight, then avoids reckless chases after securing their advantages.

Character Interactions

• Takuya prioritizes Hope’s Corki over keal’s Blitzcrank during the level-two gank, correctly identifying Corki as the more valuable target.
• Leave and ppgod coordinate closely, with Nami enabling Lucian to pressure the front line.
• Lucian’s aggression forces Blitzcrank to attempt a hook, but Leave dodges it and punishes AL’s positioning.
• NIP communicates effectively around the Voidgrubs and dragon, with Shanji matching Shen’s teleport and doinb preparing to support the dragon fight.
• Nami’s tidal wave and Pantheon’s ultimate combine to disrupt Ryze and Blitzcrank just as AL attempts to engage, setting up another likely favorable fight for NIP.

Key events

• NIP turned a team fight around with Pantheon drawing attention, Nami setting up the engage, and Zyra and Lucian dealing heavy damage. Lucian killed Blitzcrank, forcing Anyone’s Legend to retreat and giving NIP the second Elemental Dragon.
• NIP continued building its lead with a four-player bot-lane dive, taking two kills and the outer turret. At the third dragon, Anyone’s Legend fought but lost four players for two; NIP’s main damage dealers, Zyra and Lucian, kept their shutdown bounties.
• NIP secured Rift Herald and Voracious Atakhan, then used its advantages to take mid’s outer turret, second turret, Inhibitor Turret, and Inhibitor.
• In the final push, NIP fought beneath the Nexus turrets. The battle ended with four NIP players and all five Anyone’s Legend players dead—but Zyra survived, destroyed both Nexus turrets, cleared the minions, and finished the Nexus.
• NIP won the First Split and qualified for the Global First Stand. The players celebrated, fist-bumped their opponents, and bowed to the crowd. When a host approached, Takuya declined an interview and suggested Leave instead; the host quickly prepared questions for him.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuya’s Zyra was central to NIP’s success, contributing to the decisive engagements and ultimately winning the game alone after the final fight.
• Doinb and his teammates erupted in celebration, sharing high-fives. Takuya also made sure they remembered to acknowledge Anyone’s Legend and thank the fans.
• Leave was eager to be interviewed, and Takuya’s suggestion gave him the opportunity.

Significant themes

• Momentum and objective control: NIP steadily converted its advantage into dragons, structures, and major objectives, leaving Anyone’s Legend little room to recover.
• Persistence and revenge: After losing to Anyone’s Legend previously, NIP fought through the lower bracket to claim the title.
• Teamwork and sportsmanship: NIP’s coordinated play drove the victory, and the team showed respect to its opponents and supporters afterward.

Chapter Summary: “Vacation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• NIP completes its first-stage championship and returns to the stage for the official trophy presentation. Doinb initially forgets about the ceremony, but Yu Shuang stops the team before they leave.
• The team receives a week-long break before preparing for the Global First Stand. Their schedule is set: return to the base on March 8, hold the departure ceremony, travel abroad on March 9, and face Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) on March 10.
• NIP has replaced Top Esports in the tournament lineup. Takuya is determined to prevent the LPL from repeating Top Esports’ historical 2–0 defeat against HLE and aims to win the entire tournament.
• To strengthen himself before facing the LCK, Takuya spends six months in the Ultraman world fighting monsters and earns 5,000 Anime Points. Combined with his existing points, he reaches 7,000.
• He raises all of his abilities to their maximum and upgrades Wukong and Vi to SSS rank. His champion pool now includes five SSS-rank junglers: Wukong, Vi, Lee Sin, Kindred, and Nidalee.
• During the break, several teammates leave the base to return home. Takuya stays behind, refusing to visit the original owner’s family. He watches a film, while Doinb streams and Leave plays Soul Fighter Arena.
• The next morning, Takuya discovers that ppgod, Shanji, and aki have already gone home. After breakfast, he goes to the training room intending to play Steam games rather than League of Legends, but finds Leave already there.

Character Developments

• Takuya becomes even more confident and powerful. His preparation for HLE shows his ambition, strategic thinking, and determination to restore the LPL’s reputation. His five SSS-ranked champions give him exceptional flexibility and reinforce his belief that he can carry against any opponent.
• Doinb remains energetic, loud, and highly engaged with fans through streaming. His forgetfulness about the trophy ceremony highlights his casual personality.
• Leave is portrayed as intensely devoted to gaming. He chooses to remain at the base because he lacks a computer at home and prefers the convenience of the team facility.
• ppgod, Shanji, and aki quietly leave for home during the vacation. Aki is described as increasingly overlooked within the team, almost a “transparent figure.”
• Takuya’s emotional distance from the original owner’s family is emphasized. He has no desire to return home or pretend to have a familial relationship with them.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and ambition: Takuya refuses to be satisfied with domestic success and prepares aggressively for international competition.
• Redemption and changing history: NIP’s participation creates a chance to overturn the humiliating results associated with Top Esports in the original timeline.
• Isolation and belonging: While most teammates return home, Takuya remains at the base, separating himself from both his former family and, to some extent, his teammates.
• Gaming as lifestyle: The players’ break still revolves around games, streaming, and computer access, showing how thoroughly gaming dominates their daily lives.
• Confidence versus uncertainty: Takuya is nearly unbeatable in the LPL, but he recognizes that the LCK presents a greater challenge and therefore continues improving rather than relying solely on his current strength.

Character Interactions

• Yu Shuang prevents Doinb and the team from missing their trophy presentation and guides them through the interview and ceremony.
• Takuya listens to Doinb’s loud streaming while watching a movie, humorously speculating that Doinb’s constant noise may have annoyed teammates and contributed to past tensions.
• The cafeteria cook questions Takuya about not going home, prompting his internal rejection of the original owner’s family.
• Takuya and Leave exchange friendly greetings in the training room. Leave explains that he stayed at the base because it offers free computers, internet, and air conditioning, establishing a casual and comfortable interaction between the two teammates.

Key events

• During the seven-day break, Takuya spends time with Leave, learns why Leave usually stays at the team base during holidays—the computer at home is broken—and plays the original Stardew Valley, comparing it with the version his colleagues created.
• The NIP players return, complete visa arrangements, and prepare to fly to Seoul for an international match.
• In Seoul, Coach Luo Bing organizes seven practice games: five against Anyone’s Legend and two against DWG KIA. NIP wins all of them, with Takuya’s jungle play repeatedly controlling the pace and impressing his teammates.
• On match day, the team reaches the venue early for filming and watches Team Liquid defeat Karmine Corp 2–1. Takuya pays little attention, confident the match is not relevant to their immediate preparation.
• After the opening match, staff summon NIP to the player entrance for their own match against Hanwha Life Esports (HLE).

Character developments and interactions

• Leave opens up to Takuya about his family circumstances, showing the trust between them. Takuya recalls that this explains Leave’s past choice to remain at the team base during a break.
• Luo Bing takes charge of the team’s preparations, arranging practice games and advising the players to rest.
• NIP’s teammates grow increasingly confident in and dependent on Takuya. His timely rotations and strong performances make them feel that he can reliably steer games.
• Shanji complains about the cramped hotel, while ppgod jokes about South Korea’s size, establishing the team’s casual camaraderie. The players also tease the idea that venue snacks might be poisoned, so they stick mostly to their own food.

Significant themes

• Trust and friendship: Takuya’s conversation with Leave reveals a personal hardship that explains his behavior and deepens their connection.
• Preparation and confidence: NIP’s practice wins build momentum before a high-stakes international match.
• Talent and team reliance: Takuya’s impact shifts his teammates’ view of him; they increasingly count on his jungle leadership.
• Different perspectives: While the team studies a potentially useful international matchup, Takuya treats it as familiar and focuses elsewhere.

Plot and match events

• NIP and HLE meet in the tunnel before NIP’s first Global First Stand match. Doinb greets Peanut and Viper, whom he knows, and translates the Korean stage instructions for his teammates.
• NIP are introduced first, exchange fist bumps with HLE, set up their equipment, and enter the game lobby.
• The draft gives NIP Sion, Vi, Rabbit, Lucian, and Braum; HLE answer with Jax, Skarner, Azir, Ezreal, and Alistar. Takuya regrets that NIP’s early Rabbit pick prevented Doinb from taking Sylas into Alistar, but trusts his own improved Vi skills.
• Both teams begin cautiously, avoiding an invade. The mid laners place mirrored wards near the opposing Raptors camps.
• Relife clears his top-side jungle, then waits in a mid-lane brush instead of continuing through his jungle. When Azir steps forward to poke Rabbit, NIP’s mid-jungle duo move to punish the opening. The chapter ends as Zeka notices Rabbit’s unusual advance.

Character developments and interactions

• Doinb acts as a bridge between teams and helps NIP navigate the Korean-language stage instructions. His friendly greetings with Peanut and Viper show that personal relationships remain cordial despite the coming match.
• Shanji is nervous but excited about playing on the international stage; Doinb’s reassurance helps him walk out confidently.
• Takuya is self-assured about his Vi, even though the draft did not unfold as he would have preferred. He also notes Peanut’s striking appearance during their fist bump.
• The players follow the formal pre-match routine and interact respectfully with their opponents.

Significant themes

• International pressure and pride: NIP’s opening match against an LCK team is treated as a test of both the team and the LPL.
• Camaraderie amid competition: Friendly greetings and fist bumps coexist with the teams’ determination to win.
• Preparation and confidence: NIP must adapt to an imperfect draft, while the early mid-lane setup hints at the importance of patience and coordination.
• Rising expectations: NIP’s strong domestic comeback and recent title have brought them new fans—and heightened scrutiny—before their international campaign begins.

Key plot points and events

• Zeka’s Azir escapes Takuya’s first mid-lane gank by using Flash early, but is killed soon afterward when Takuya returns with Braum. Rabbit blocks Azir’s attempted dash.
• Takuya claims first blood and continues farming efficiently. After clearing camps and securing Scuttle Crab, he and doinb catch Azir again when he steps forward to last-hit. Doinb gives Takuya the kill, and NIP pushes the wave before securing the first Elemental Dragon.
• NIP’s bot lane also gains an advantage: Leave plays aggressively and builds a CS lead over Viper. During a later skirmish, NIP catches Alistar, and Takuya leaves the kill for Leave.
• At the second dragon, HLE contests. Leave damages Ezreal and dodges Peanut’s Skarner ultimate; Takuya secures the dragon with Smite.
• Rabbit engages, and Shanji’s Sion arrives from top, slamming into Skarner and separating him from HLE’s retreating teammates. NIP chain their crowd control and kill Peanut. HLE withdraws, and NIP returns to farming rather than pursuing.

Character developments

• Takuya establishes himself as NIP’s central carry, taking early kills, controlling objectives, and recognizing gank opportunities. He is also willing to leave a kill for Leave.
• Leave shows confidence against a top-tier opponent, outplaying Viper in lane and making a bold, effective play during the dragon fight.
• Zeka is cautious after his first escape, but his repeated attempts to last-hit leave him vulnerable to Takuya and doinb.
• Shanji demonstrates good timing and team awareness by leaving top lane early to support the dragon fight.
• Peanut is isolated after his ultimate misses and is quickly overwhelmed; HLE’s retreat shows the team is prepared to abandon a lost fight.

Significant themes and character interactions

• Risk, positioning, and punishment: Zeka’s forward steps and Peanut’s failed engage give NIP openings to punish.
• Team coordination: Takuya and doinb combine to kill Azir, while NIP’s layered crowd control shuts down Skarner.
• Resource and kill distribution: Takuya takes the mid-lane kills but gives Leave the kill on Alistar, reflecting NIP’s developing carry priorities.
• Momentum: NIP’s early kills, lane pressure, and dragon control build confidence among teammates and viewers, suggesting they have a real chance to win the game.

Key plot points

• Takuya completes his second item and secures the second set of Voidgrubs, giving NIP the full six-Voidgrub buff and making their siege threat even stronger.
• NIP’s control of the map puts HLE’s side laners under constant pressure. With Vi able to punish isolated targets and Sion able to absorb turret fire, even defensive positioning becomes dangerous.
• Before the third Elemental Dragon, Takuya catches Alistar while he is placing wards. HLE cannot contest the dragon four-versus-five and reluctantly gives it up, leaving NIP one dragon away from Infernal Soul.
• HLE groups to contest the fourth dragon, but NIP starts a decisive teamfight. NIP overwhelms HLE, winning four kills to none; Lucian and Rabbit deal heavy damage, while Vi draws HLE’s focus and activates Guardian Angel.
• NIP secures Infernal Dragon Soul and immediately takes Baron. Ezreal attempts a blind ultimate steal, but fires too early and does not threaten the objective.
• With Baron buffs, NIP destroys HLE’s top and mid inner turrets, then takes both Inhibitors. HLE braces for NIP to push again with the next super-minion wave.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuya continues to drive NIP’s advantage through item progression, objective control, and the pick on Alistar.
• HLE stays composed despite falling behind, but its cautious macro gives way to a desperate decision to contest the fourth dragon.
• Vi is a central threat in the dragon fight: she locks onto Ezreal, survives HLE’s attempt to focus her through Guardian Angel, and returns to the fight afterward.
• Lucian turns the fight with aggressive damage, finishing Azir and then escaping Jax’s pursuit. Jax’s Flash cannot close the gap before Lucian kills him.
• Skarner eventually catches NIP’s two carries with his ultimate, but HLE cannot capitalize: Azir is already dead, and Ezreal is screened off by Sion.
• Ezreal survives as HLE’s last champion, but his blind Baron attempt fails. NIP’s ensuing siege leaves HLE with two Inhibitors down and under severe pressure.

Significant themes

• Objective control compounds an early lead: NIP’s dragons, Voidgrubs, and Baron success steadily narrow HLE’s options.
• A single pick can decide a contest: Alistar’s death before the third dragon forces HLE to concede it.
• Strong macro has limits when behind: HLE remains disciplined, but NIP’s gold advantage and superior fighting power eventually overwhelm its defensive approach.
• Team coordination versus isolated heroics: NIP’s coordinated engage and follow-up damage defeat HLE’s attempt to rely on Skarner’s catch or Ezreal’s long-range steal.

Chapter Summary: “Crushing HLE”

Key Plot Points and Events

• NIP decisively wins the first game against HLE. Sion engages successfully, while Lucian and Rabbit’s ultimate quickly eliminate Alistar. Vi and the rest of NIP then chain their crowd control to kill Skarner.
• Azir barely escapes after using his ultimate, mobility combo, and Flash, but Jax dies under the turret. With only Ezreal and Azir left in the fountain, NIP destroys HLE’s Nexus.
• NIP also dominates the second game, with Relife’s lethality Lee Sin repeatedly securing kills. NIP wins the opening BO3 2–0, prompting widespread excitement among LPL fans.
• At the Global First Stand finals, NIP faces HLE again. Takuya selects Nidalee despite HLE banning three junglers, then completely controls Peanut’s jungle and deprives him of farm.
• Takuya’s consistently accurate warnings allow NIP’s laners to avoid danger. HLE becomes increasingly frustrated and loses the first two finals games.
• Under immense pressure, Peanut enters Game 3 with trembling hands, but NIP quickly overwhelms HLE in a 25-minute fast-push victory.
• NIP defeats HLE 3–0 to win the Global First Stand championship without dropping a single game throughout the tournament.
• After celebrating at a hotpot restaurant, the team returns to Shenzhen and receives a five-day break. Most players, including Doinb, leave immediately to visit family, leaving only Takuya and Leave at the training room.

Character Developments

• Relife establishes himself as an extraordinarily dominant jungler. His Lee Sin performance and later comparison to Oner emphasize his exceptional mechanics, instincts, and near-errorless play.
• Takuya earns the team’s complete trust through his unmatched jungle awareness. His Nidalee performance demonstrates both strategic control and superior game sense.
• Peanut suffers a major psychological setback. Unable to find camps or successful ganks, he becomes overwhelmed by Relife and enters the third game under severe pressure.
• Doinb shows warmth and leadership by organizing the team’s celebratory meal, while also revealing his strong attachment to his son when he rushes home during the break.
• NIP’s players grow more confident and unified, trusting Takuya’s calls without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming dominance: NIP’s victories demonstrate a decisive gap in preparation, execution, and map control.
• Trust and teamwork: Takuya’s perfect information and the team’s willingness to follow him completely become central to NIP’s success.
• Psychological pressure: HLE’s confidence collapses as repeated failures make them feel unable to respond, particularly affecting Peanut.
• Regional pride: NIP’s victory excites LPL audiences and becomes a source of collective pride.
• Success and family: After achieving the championship, the players shift from competition to celebration and reconnecting with their families.

Character Interactions

• Lucian, Vi, Braum, and the rest of NIP coordinate their crowd control and damage to dismantle HLE’s frontline.
• Takuya communicates constant warnings to NIP’s laners, who retreat immediately because they trust his judgment completely.
• HLE’s coach attempts to encourage a reverse sweep, but the team’s fear of Relife and NIP’s dominance undermines that reassurance.
• Doinb leads the team’s post-championship celebration, while the players later say goodbye and depart for their homes, leaving Takuya and Leave together at the base.

Key plot points and events

• During the five-day break, Takuya and Leave both remain at the team base. Takuya brings Leave a bottle of water when he goes to collect his own food.
• As the team reunites before the Second Split, Takuya’s First Split and international success have made him the clear star of NIP. Shanji and ppgod, once distant, now greet him warmly.
• NIP announces that aki is leaving. Takuya’s strength has made him the team’s main carry, while Relife’s play leaves aki unlikely to reclaim a starting spot. His departure makes doinb and Leave nostalgic and leaves Shanji and ppgod uneasy, though they accept the team’s decision.
• With NIP’s first match scheduled for the twenty-fifth, coach Luo Bing tells the players to rest and prepare for scrims. Takuya decides to start a new world to earn Anime Points and move on from the Ultraman world.
• In that new world, Takuya awakens in the body of a teenager who attempted suicide after disappointing college-exam results. The system has restored his body, but his clothes remain bloodstained. He plans to use his savings—over seven million yen—to obtain a helmet for the upcoming full release of Sword Art Online, and first tries to retrieve his phone from the rooftop without being seen.

Character developments and interactions

• Takuya remains modest in response to his teammates’ praise, while his performance has clearly changed his standing within NIP.
• Leave and Takuya share an easy, considerate moment during the break.
• aki’s exit shows how the team’s lineup has shifted around Takuya’s success. Shanji and ppgod accept that strength may determine their own futures too.
• In the new world, Takuya must manage the consequences of his predecessor’s troubled past, including an inattentive father and the aftermath of the suicide attempt.

Significant themes

• Success and team hierarchy: Takuya’s dominance brings titles and recognition, but also reshapes the roster and unsettles teammates.
• Loneliness and support: The predecessor’s despair is linked partly to pressure and his father’s lack of attention, contrasting with the camaraderie Takuya experiences at the team base.
• Second chances and adaptation: Takuya enters a new life with a restored body and a chance to pursue Sword Art Online, but must first navigate its immediate dangers.

Chapter Summary: Aincrad

Key Plot Points and Events

• Takuya enters the locked building beside the rooftop where the body’s former owner had apparently jumped. Using a password retrieved from the former owner’s memories, he gains access and returns to the rooftop.
• He finds the former owner’s wallet and phone, then uses the phone to purchase a Sword Art Online game slot. Although all official slots have already sold out, he obtains one through a reseller for five million yen.
• Takuya returns home, showers, changes clothes, and prepares for the game’s launch.
• Knowing that players will be unable to log out and could die if their helmets are removed, he buys a nutrient pod and has it delivered. He then secures the house with locks, blocks the bedroom door with furniture, and posts a “Do Not Disturb” notice.
• He messages the former owner’s father, claiming that he plans to travel after receiving poor exam results. The father does not even read the message, confirming Takuya’s impression that he is neglectful.
• At 9:51 a.m., Takuya enters the nutrient pod and puts on the game helmet. He creates the character name Fugaku, leaving his appearance unchanged because he expects players’ appearances to revert to reality later.
• When the game opens at 10 a.m., Takuya appears in Aincrad’s starting plaza. He briefly observes the beautiful virtual world and the growing number of players before leaving the city to explore.
• He finds a quiet grassy area and sleeps while waiting for the events he knows will soon occur, particularly Kayaba Akihiko’s announcement.
• Takuya is later forcibly teleported back to the crowded plaza, where thousands of players are gathered. Nearby players stare at him in disbelief because he had apparently been sleeping outdoors.

Character Development

• Takuya demonstrates calmness, resourcefulness, and extensive knowledge of the Sword Art Online timeline. Rather than panicking over the limited game slots, he spends a large sum to secure one.
• He is highly cautious about surviving the upcoming death game, taking elaborate precautions to prevent anyone from disturbing or removing his helmet.
• Takuya remains emotionally detached from the former owner’s family situation. He views the father’s neglect as unfortunate for the former owner but convenient for himself.
• His choice of the name Fugaku marks his first clear step toward establishing a new identity within Aincrad.
• His decision to sleep while waiting for the main plot to begin emphasizes his confidence and familiarity with what is about to happen.

Significant Themes

• Survival and preparation: Takuya carefully anticipates the dangers of the game and prepares both physically and mentally.
• Identity and rebirth: He inhabits another person’s body and memories while creating a new identity as Fugaku.
• Emotional neglect: The former owner’s father’s indifference suggests the loneliness and despair that contributed to the original owner’s suicide.
• Knowledge as power: Takuya’s foreknowledge of the game’s rules gives him an advantage over ordinary players.
• Reality versus virtual existence: The chapter introduces Aincrad as a beautiful world while emphasizing that its dangers will have deadly consequences in reality.

Character Interactions

• Takuya has no direct interaction with the former owner’s father; instead, he sends him a message that goes unread.
• He deals briefly with the game-equipment shop owner, purchasing a nutrient pod and paying extra for immediate delivery.
• In Aincrad, Takuya largely ignores the other players and avoids social interaction. The first players he noticeably affects are those who stare at him after discovering him asleep in the grass.