Chapter Summaries

Senku sent two teams to prepare a telephone link and disrupt the Tsukasa Faction: Li Xiang's team dosed the enemy's water supply while Kohaku, Chrome, and Gen Asagiri infiltrated its territory. Chrome's sneeze exposed their position, and a white-haired lookout heard the sound.

• Senku assigned Kohaku, Chrome, and Gen Asagiri to infiltrate the Tsukasa Faction's territory and deliver a telephone, while Li Xiang, Ginro, and Maguma were tasked with disrupting the enemy upstream.
• The teams set out together, exchanged a brief greeting, and then separated to carry out their missions.
• Li Xiang calculated the dose, and Ginro scattered the medicinal powder into the river supplying the Tsukasa Faction.
• Gen Asagiri led Kohaku and Chrome through the forest, warning them to stay quiet and hidden.
• Chrome sneezed, and Kohaku covered his mouth as the three froze and listened.
• A white-haired Tsukasa Faction lookout heard the sneeze from a distant hilltop.

Ukyo Saionji discovered Chrome, Kohaku, and Gen Asagiri after they planted a communications phone near Tsukasa's camp, forcing them to flee as the camp's sentries gave chase. Li Xiang, Ginro, and Maguma waited upstream, planning to regroup with the fugitives and withdraw rather than fight.

• Ukyo Saionji heard Chrome sneeze, but Chrome, Kohaku, and Gen Asagiri hid among the rocks before he could locate them.
• Yuzuriha glimpsed a signal in the forest while praying with Taiju, but Nikki soon escorted them away from the clearing.
• After the clearing emptied, Chrome, Kohaku, and Gen Asagiri buried the communications phone beside the cross and started back toward their rendezvous.
• Ukyo Saionji shot an arrow near Gen Asagiri, revealing the trio, who fled as Tsukasa's sentries rushed toward them.
• Chrome, Kohaku, and Gen Asagiri evaded the first pursuers but became surrounded near their emergency hiding place.
• Li Xiang stopped Maguma from attempting a breakout and told Ginro and Maguma to wait for the trio before withdrawing.

Maguma drew Tsukasa's soldiers away from his companions, helping them escape the encirclement and hurling Chrome to safety across a cliff. Ukyo Saionji wounded Maguma with an arrow but stopped his forces from pursuing the retreating group.

• Ukyo Saionji pursued Kohaku, Gen Asagiri, and Chrome through the forest as Tsukasa's soldiers surrounded the rendezvous point where Li Xiang and Ginro waited.
• Maguma told Li Xiang and Ginro to escape, then drew the pursuers away by throwing stones and distracting them.
• Kohaku carried the injured Gen through the perimeter and reunited with Li Xiang and Ginro, then realized Chrome was still trapped.
• Maguma seized Chrome and threw him across the cliff, where Kohaku caught him, but Ukyo Saionji shot Maguma in the forearm as he fled.
• Kohaku led Chrome, Gen, Li Xiang, and Ginro into the forest, while Ukyo Saionji ordered his soldiers not to pursue them.

Li Xiang and the others returned safely to Ishigami Village after completing their mission, and Senku welcomed them at the entrance. Li Xiang treated Maguma’s arrow wound and Gen Asagiri’s sprained ankle, leaving both to recover.

• Maguma caught up with Li Xiang and the others, and Li Xiang checked his injuries before leading everyone back toward the village.
• Li Xiang praised Maguma and Gen Asagiri, while Kohaku teased Gen about causing his own ankle injury.
• Senku welcomed the group as they arrived at Ishigami Village.
• Li Xiang cleaned and bandaged Maguma’s arrow wound, then praised him for saving everyone.
• Li Xiang made a herbal poultice for Gen’s swollen ankle and gave him a bottle of chilled cola as a reward.

While recovering in Ishigami Village, Li Xiang watched Senku and Chrome’s sulfuric-acid expedition unfold, then joined the group on their trip to collect the acid. Cornered by Hyoga’s men and trapped above poisonous fumes, Li Xiang gave Ginro her gas mask and leaped across the deadly gap, where Kohaku caught her; Li Xiang remained shaken but safe.

• During the group’s trip to collect sulfuric acid, Hyoga and the Tsukasa Faction blocked their path, and Senku led everyone into the trees to escape.
• Senku warned that toxic fumes from the Natural Sulfuric Acid Pool made the ground below deadly, forcing Hyoga and his men to retreat.
• As the others crossed the gap or prepared to do so, Li Xiang gave her only gas mask to Ginro and told him to help the group complete the task.
• Despite Kohaku and Senku’s warnings, Li Xiang ran along a branch and jumped across the 7.8-meter gap above the poisonous mist.
• Kohaku caught Li Xiang safely on the other side and comforted her as she trembled from fear.

Ginro overcame his cowardice by saving Senku, and Senku and Chrome developed antibiotics that restored Ruri’s health. As the village prepared to build a telephone network to oppose the Tsukasa Faction, Ruri told Li Xiang the One Hundred Tales and revealed Ishigami Village’s origins, leaving Li Xiang with a sudden ache.

• Watching Li Xiang risk herself inspired Ginro to resolve to become someone his companions could rely on.
• Ginro pulled Senku back from the sulfuric acid pit, and the three collected enough acid before returning to the village.
• Senku and Chrome developed antibiotics, and Li Xiang’s skin test showed Ruri had no allergic reaction; Ruri’s health steadily improved after treatment.
• Gen identified telephone communication as essential against the Tsukasa Faction, and Chrome revealed high-purity copper ore he had found at the Deep Mountain Mine.
• Li Xiang found Ruri standing in the evening wind, and Ruri thanked her and Senku for saving her.
• Ruri explained the One Hundred Tales and revealed how Byakuya Ishigami founded Ishigami Village, stirring an ache in Li Xiang.

Senku, Chrome, and Kohaku returned from a difficult mountain expedition with the high-purity copper ore needed for the communication network. Li Xiang comforted Senku by recognizing his grief over Byakuya, and he ended the night wondering whether he had made his father proud.

• Senku, Chrome, and Kohaku gathered high-purity ore in the mountains and returned to Ishigami Village exhausted.
• Li Xiang noticed Senku's subdued mood and took him aside, where she asked whether Byakuya Ishigami had been his father.
• Senku confirmed Byakuya had been his adoptive father, and Li Xiang comforted him and thanked him for everything he had done.
• Senku reflected that he had friends beside him, including Li Xiang, and wondered whether he was his father's pride and joy.
• Li Xiang answered for Byakuya, telling Senku that she believed in him.

Li Xiang browsed the Anime Forum and found viewers interpreting her reassurance to Senku as proof that she was lonely, though she felt they were reading too much into it. The system confirmed her popularity, and she ended the evening laughing at a fan edit that mocked the Science Kingdom cast.

• Li Xiang opened the Anime Forum and read a popular post claiming her line to Senku revealed her own loneliness and hidden pain.
• Li Xiang dismissed the viewers' interpretation as overthinking, while privately enjoying their affection and concern for her.
• The system told Li Xiang that she ranked among the most popular characters in online discussions and approval.
• Li Xiang watched a fan edit that featured her defiant smile and middle finger, then complained about its mocking caption.
• Li Xiang felt better when she saw that the edit had assigned villain personas to the rest of the Science Kingdom cast too, and she closed the screen.

Yuzuriha and Taiju discovered the Communication Telephone, but Nikki caught them using it until Gen Asagiri impersonated Lilian and persuaded Nikki to join the Science Kingdom. Li Xiang confirmed that Yuzuriha and Taiju were safe and warned them not to drink from the stream she had poisoned.

• Yuzuriha told Taiju she suspected something was happening, and they secretly approached the Communication Telephone while Nikki watched them.
• Nikki caught Taiju and Yuzuriha at the telephone, so Senku urged Gen Asagiri to impersonate Lilian.
• Gen imitated Lilian's voice, and Kohaku played one of Lilian's songs when Nikki demanded proof; Nikki recognized the imitation but agreed to join them.
• Taiju shouted that he was Senku, prompting Senku and Li Xiang to take over the conversation.
• Li Xiang checked that Yuzuriha and Taiju were safe, warned them not to drink from the stream, and apologized to Nikki.

Li Xiang asked Nikki to gauge the Tsukasa Faction’s willingness to fight, while Senku decided the Science Kingdom would build a tank for the coming battle. As preparations continued through autumn and into winter, Ruri waited anxiously for news from the front.

• Li Xiang thanked Nikki and asked her to quietly win over pacifists in the Tsukasa Faction.
• Senku rejected an immediate attack and announced that the Science Kingdom would build a tank.
• Li Xiang explained that her slow-acting drug would weaken the Tsukasa Faction within a month, giving them a narrow window to win.
• Senku said one month was enough, and the Science Kingdom began preparations for battle.
• Autumn passed into winter as Ruri watched the snow and worried about everyone at the front.

Senku and the Science Kingdom built a tank in time for the war, while Nikki persuaded people in Tsukasa's camp to switch sides. After Grandpa Fossil solved the final assembly problems, the others put Li Xiang in the driver's seat, where she panicked that she could not drive a tank.

• Senku explained how the group would build a tank using substitute materials and focus on armor and firepower.
• Nikki discreetly persuaded people in Tsukasa's empire to join the Science Kingdom, and their numbers grew.
• As the twenty-day deadline approached, the group struggled to finish assembling the tank.
• Grandpa Fossil took charge of assembly and used his craftsmanship to solve the remaining problems.
• The group completed the tank, then put Li Xiang in the driver's seat, and she shouted that she could not drive it.

Tsukasa discovered the hidden microphone beneath the Cross Prayer Ground and confronted Senku over the communication line. After they agreed to settle their conflict when spring came, Tsukasa destroyed the equipment and began preparing his forces for war.

• Tsukasa found and pulled a buried microphone and copper wire from the ground near the cross.
• Chrome noticed the communication line filling with static and went to find Senku.
• Tsukasa and Senku spoke through the receiver, acknowledged that they would settle their conflict when spring came, and ended the call.
• Tsukasa crushed the microphone, rejected Hyoga's suggestion to imprison Taiju and Yuzuriha, and ordered the camp to prepare for war.
• Tsukasa told Nikki to watch Taiju and Yuzuriha closely and report any unusual behavior.

For Senku’s seventeenth birthday, Li Xiang, Gen Asagiri, and the villagers secretly prepared a celebration to surprise him. The chapter ended with Li Xiang giving Senku a handmade red scarf and a birthday wish.

• Li Xiang, Watermelon, and Gen Asagiri secretly prepared a birthday celebration while Senku worked in the workshop.
• Gen Asagiri covered Senku’s eyes and led him to an empty house, where the villagers surprised him with birthday wishes.
• Li Xiang presented Senku with a handmade fruit cake marked “Happy 17th,” and Senku cut and shared it with everyone.
• The villagers gave Senku their handmade gifts, including rare minerals from Chrome.
• Li Xiang gave Senku a red scarf she had sewn and wished him a happy birthday.

Ukyo discovered Nikki, Taiju, and Yuzuriha discussing their ties to Senku’s group, but promised not to report them. In Ishigami Village, Li Xiang prepared for Tsukasa’s possible retaliation and agreed to let Homura observe the coming battle if she promised not to fight or let Hyoga be hurt.

• Nikki found Taiju and Yuzuriha and warned them to be careful while watching them for Tsukasa.
• Ukyo emerged from the woods, heard their plans, and promised not to tell anyone.
• Yuzuriha worried they had not warned Ukyo about the stream water, while Nikki said the cut phone line left them unable to send information.
• Li Xiang, Chrome, and Kohaku discussed preparing for Tsukasa’s possible traps and rescue of Taiju and Yuzuriha.
• Li Xiang told Homura she could not fight in the coming battle, then agreed to bring her as an observer after Homura promised not to intervene and asked that Hyoga be spared.

Nan noticed the Tsukasa Empire camp was acting strangely but accepted Ukyo’s explanation, while Li Xiang’s drug weakened most of the camp ahead of the spring showdown. Li Xiang believed her plan had already secured victory, as Taiju, Yuzuriha, and the others who avoided the camp’s food and water remained unaffected.

• Nan observed that many soldiers were using the toilet more often and working less, but Ukyo discouraged her from investigating further.
• Taiju, Yuzuriha, and the others who knew about the drug avoided the camp’s food and water, and Taiju promised to find them food and clean water.
• Over two weeks, most of the Tsukasa Empire camp developed abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, and fatigue, while Taiju and Yuzuriha’s group stayed healthy.
• Li Xiang predicted that the drug would leave the enemy too weak to fight before the spring showdown.
• Gen teased Li Xiang about her villainous laugh, while Ruri praised her and Chrome called her cunning.

As the decisive battle against the Tsukasa Empire approached, Senku led the fighters out of Ishigami Village, leaving Ruri and others to protect their home. Li Xiang’s group reached a concealed forest camp near the enemy and paused to observe the encampment before fighting.

• Senku and Li Xiang recreated Instant Noodles as convenient provisions for the coming campaign.
• Senku gathered the village and announced that the fighters would march while the elderly, children, and other volunteers stayed behind to guard Ishigami Village.
• Ruri gave Li Xiang a hand-sewn blue amulet containing a rare sapphire and asked her to return safely.
• Li Xiang drove the group and their supplies away from the village as Ruri and the others watched them depart.
• Gen Asagiri scouted ahead, and the group reached a concealed forest near the Tsukasa Empire's encampment.
• Li Xiang ordered everyone to make camp and observe the enemy, and the group ate Instant Noodles while watching the distant camp.

Li Xiang and the Science Kingdom captured a third of the Tsukasa Empire’s camp by targeting soldiers weakened by diarrhea, then persuaded them to join with medicine and promises of a better future. The recruits met Li Xiang and Senku, leaving the Tsukasa Empire’s fighting strength cut in half.

• Kohaku and Chrome captured Nakahara Daisuke as he left the camp, then took him to the pit where the Science Kingdom had gathered other sick soldiers.
• Li Xiang offered the captives freedom and a place in the Science Kingdom if they joined, threatening to bury them alive if they refused.
• Nakahara Daisuke agreed first, and the rest of the captives followed; Li Xiang then distributed Montmorillonite Powder for their stomach trouble.
• Li Xiang urged the recruits to help rebuild civilization with the Science Kingdom, and they responded with applause and resolve.
• Li Xiang and Senku met with the recruits and promised to provide for them, while the Tsukasa Empire lost half its fighting strength.

Li Xiang’s team completed their reconnaissance and launched a two-pronged attack on the Tsukasa Faction, using a tank to demand surrender while Senku’s group trapped Hyoga’s squad in a concealed mud pit. The enemy camp was left facing the tank as Hyoga’s men struggled to escape the swamp trap.

• Uei Yo discovered that more than half the Tsukasa Faction’s workers had vanished and ordered the remaining camp members back to work.
• Little Watermelon scouted the Tsukasa Faction’s defenses, while Li Xiang and Kohaku met with Yuzuriha, Nikki, and the others inside the camp.
• Li Xiang planned a frontal tank assault and a rear approach through the woods, directing her team to separate Tsukasa and Hyoga.
• Li Xiang brought the tank to the front of the camp and demanded the Tsukasa Faction surrender, but Uei Yo ordered an attack and no one moved.
• Hyoga led his squad into the woods after Chrome, then watched his men sink into Senku’s concealed mud-pit trap.

Senku confronted Tsukasa as the Science Kingdom’s forces gathered, but Tsukasa seized Gen and fled toward the Bat Cave. Elsewhere, Li Xiang stopped Hyoga’s attack by threatening Homura, and Hyoga surrendered, burdened by guilt over having left Homura captive.

• Senku told Tsukasa that his empire was about to disappear as former followers gathered and rejected Tsukasa’s ideals.
• Tsukasa grabbed Gen and fled toward the Bat Cave, prompting Senku to urge everyone to stop him.
• Hyoga wounded Kinro and drove Kohaku back in their fight.
• Li Xiang held Homura at knifepoint, forcing Hyoga to lower his spear and surrender to Ginro.
• Homura reassured the bound Hyoga, who regretted not trying to rescue her when she was captured.

Li Xiang persuaded Tsukasa to release Gen by promising to treat his sister, Mirai, and used the Revival Fluid to bring her back from petrification. Tsukasa reunited with Mirai, apologized to Senku, and pledged to protect the Science Kingdom.

• Tsukasa held Gen hostage at the Bat Cave entrance while Senku and the others surrounded him.
• Li Xiang offered to save Mirai, and Tsukasa released Gen and led the group to her statue.
• Senku prepared the Revival Fluid, and Li Xiang revived Mirai.
• Mirai recognized Tsukasa, and the siblings embraced and wept with joy.
• Tsukasa apologized to Senku and promised to protect him and the Science Kingdom.