Chapter Summaries

After waking on Blue Star on the day Zero Game began, Lin Yi realized he had returned from his previous life and entered the game again, determined to seize opportunities he had missed. In Novice Village No. 4396, he discovered a ZZZZ talent that made his combat power increase by an order of magnitude with every level, leaving him convinced he could become invincible.

• Lin Yi woke on August 8, 2088, recognized the date Zero Game began, and realized he had been reborn.
• Game guide Xiao Ling announced Zero Game’s rules, including that players traded lifespan and lost half their remaining lifespan each time they died.
• Lin Yi recalled his previous life, when he had received the S-rank Eye of Illusion Breaking talent, become an information broker, and found a ZZZ Treasury Teleportation Scroll that returned him to the past.
• Lin Yi chose the nickname Return to Zero and the warrior class, then arrived in Novice Village No. 4396.
• Lin Yi checked his character panel and discovered the ZZZZ talent Zero's Charm, which increased his combat power by an order of magnitude per level and awarded experience for killing class holders.

Lin Yi recognized his four-star talent, Zero's Charm, and realized it could make him overwhelmingly powerful as he leveled up. After being knocked down by Wu Renxin, he advised him to hide his combat power and talent, then left determined to ruthlessly humiliate the weak.

• Lin Yi recalled the talent ranking system and discovered that his Zero's Charm was a top-tier four-star talent that multiplied his combat power with each level.
• Wu Renxin accidentally knocked Lin Yi to the ground, and nearby players mocked Lin Yi for being so weak.
• Lin Yi got up and asked Wu Renxin about his name and combat power, learning that Wu Renxin had one million combat power.
• Lin Yi told Wu Renxin to get stronger and keep his combat power and talent effects secret, then walked away.

Lin Yi recognized Wu Renxin as a ruthless future rival and headed for an opportunity at the novice village’s ant nest. Instead, he began testing his sword on harmless blue slimes, the weakest creatures he could find.

• The newcomers compared their wildly different combat powers and talents, and Wu Renxin denied having a million combat power.
• Wu Renxin watched Lin Yi leave, then revealed a crazed smile and followed his path.
• Lin Yi recognized Wu Renxin as the second-strongest human from his previous life, whose Transcendent Evil talent gained combat power for every creature killed.
• Lin Yi recalled that player killers stole lifespan from their victims and considered claiming Wu Renxin’s future opportunity at the ant nest.
• Lin Yi examined his basic A-grade equipment and reached a clearing filled with harmless blue slimes.
• Lin Yi used Eye of Illusion Breaking to inspect a blue slime, then slashed it despite its lack of aggression.

Lin Yi concealed his anger after Ma Ke stole the final hit on a slime, presenting himself to the village as a skilled and magnanimous swordsman. He left the village wary of Ma Ke’s overwhelming strength and resolved to repay the insult.

• Ma Ke interrupted Lin Yi’s prolonged attack on a blue slime and killed it, taking half the rewards and helping Lin Yi reach level 1.
• Lin Yi retrieved his A-rank longsword from a distance, impressed the onlookers with sword moves, and shook Ma Ke’s hand while claiming he had been practicing strength control.
• Lin Yi walked away, and the villagers praised his apparent swordsmanship and composure before trying to imitate his monster-training technique.
• Ma Ke realized Lin Yi had made him uneasy, then killed a slime with one axe swing.
• Lin Yi left Novice Village No. 4396, reasoned that Ma Ke’s combat power exceeded ten thousand, and vowed to repay the grudge.

Lin Yi leveled up while hunting Green Caterpillars, raising his combat power and HP, then ventured deeper into the forest to seek stronger monsters. He killed a Rampaging Wild Boar but found its EXP reward too small, so he left to search for better prey.

• Lin Yi hunted Green Caterpillars, dodging their charged attacks until one struck him from behind.
• Lin Yi reached level 2, raising his combat power and HP from 10 to 100, and continued killing caterpillars until he leveled up again.
• Lin Yi went deeper into the forest, spotted a level 3 Rampaging Wild Boar, and checked its stats with [Eye of Illusion Breaking].
• Lin Yi killed the Rampaging Wild Boar with a sword thrust and took 10 true damage from its death-triggered skill.
• Lin Yi dismissed the boar's reward of 2 EXP and continued into the forest to find monsters that gave more EXP.

Lin Yi recognized You Duoduo as the person who had infected him with a deadly virus in his previous life and concealed his identity while gaining her trust. After demonstrating the rabbits’ ferocity, he killed You Duoduo with his sword, leaving her to realize his “lesson” as her soul rose from her body.

• Lin Yi used [Eye of Illusion Breaking] to identify the dangerous Hypocritical Big White Rabbits and discover You Duoduo’s talent, which had infected him in his previous life.
• You Duoduo tried to stop Lin Yi from attacking a rabbit, but he wounded it and killed it after it turned ferocious.
• Lin Yi warned You Duoduo not to trust appearances, gave her the false name Ma Ke, and pretended to invite her to close her eyes for a gift.
• Lin Yi stepped away and struck You Duoduo with his novice longsword, killing her as he called it a lesson.

Lin Yi leveled up by slaughtering Ferocious Big White Rabbits, raising his combat power to 10,000. After finding a wristguard and a skill book, he equipped them, learned Berserk Charge, and headed south to seek stronger foes.

• Lin Yi killed You Duoduo and gained 25 years of lifespan, then turned to the Ferocious Big White Rabbits for experience.
• Lin Yi killed several hundred rabbits and leveled from 3 to 4, increasing his combat power from 1,000 to 10,000.
• Lin Yi found a Green Grass Wristguard (Left) and a Berserk Charge Skill Book among the rabbits' drops.
• Lin Yi equipped the wristguard, learned Berserk Charge, and used it to knock back and kill rabbits along his path.
• Lin Yi decided the rabbits gave too little experience and continued south.

Lin Yi cleared the wild bulls and Ruins Vicious Dogs as he traveled south, then encountered the S-rank boss Spectral Vicious Wolf in the ruins. He prepared to fight the powerful boss, hoping to claim its treasure.

• Lin Yi killed two hundred Wild Savage Bulls on the plains and crossed into the ruins.
• Lin Yi used his sword to kill the Ruins Vicious Dogs that attacked him in packs.
• After finding himself 1,000 EXP short of leveling up, Lin Yi heard a roar and saw the Spectral Vicious Wolf emerge from the darkness.
• Lin Yi examined the boss's stats and declared that its treasures would soon belong to him.

Lin Yi defeated the Spectral Vicious Wolf by dodging its ambushes with [Eye of Illusion Breaking] and [Berserk Charge], then rose to level 5 and gained 100,000 combat power. After collecting five S-rank drops, he camped in the ruins and planned to travel south toward an opportunity he had missed in his previous life.

• Lin Yi used [Eye of Illusion Breaking] and [Berserk Charge] to evade the Spectral Vicious Wolf's attacks and strike during its recovery windows.
• Lin Yi killed the Spectral Vicious Wolf, gained 24 hours of lifespan and 1,000 EXP, and leveled up from 4 to 5.
• Lin Yi checked his new stats and saw his combat power had risen to 100,300.
• Lin Yi collected five S-rank items from the wolf, including Spectral Fangs, Shadow Cloak, Frenzied Wolf's Wrath, Dire Wolf's Eye, and Spectral Stone.
• Lin Yi roasted and ate Vicious Wolf Meat at the ruins, then planned to head south the next day to seek an opportunity from his previous life.

Lin Yi tested his new area-of-effect skill against the Ruins Vicious Dogs, then fought his way south through several monster-infested regions. At the southern boundary, he found the level 8 S-rank Ironclad Battle Bear and prepared to claim its valuable drops.

• Lin Yi used [Frenzied Wolf's Wrath] to kill the Ruins Vicious Dogs around him, then chased down the rest of the pack.
• Lin Yi continued south, killing Shadowthorn Leopards, Water Demon Fish, and Rock Golems while honing his combat skills.
• Lin Yi reached a deep cave at the southern boundary of the beginner village as night approached.
• The level 8 S-rank Ironclad Battle Bear emerged from the cave, and Lin Yi excitedly anticipated the valuable items it might drop.

Lin Yi killed the Ironclad Battle Bear with a rapid sequence of attacks, collected its drops, and entered the cavern beyond. He reached a magnificent ZERO GAME gate beside a mysterious teleportation array and asked his game guide Xiao Ling to show him the treasure.

• Lin Yi used [Spectral Fangs] to frighten the Ironclad Battle Bear, then chained skills and sword strikes to kill it in seconds.
• Lin Yi collected the bear's S-grade drops, including materials, armor, and a skill book, along with a pair of Z-grade paws.
• Lin Yi entered the empty cavern and walked to a magnificent gate marked ZERO GAME, where a mysterious teleportation array stood nearby.
• Lin Yi addressed Xiao Ling and asked her to show him the treasure.

Lin Yi entered the southern treasury in Novice Village and searched past piles of powerful equipment for the rarest rewards. He chose a unique ZZZ-grade Bronze Key over two AA-grade weapons, hoping it would open another lock and lead to an unpredictable opportunity.

• Lin Yi used the passphrase he had learned in his previous life to enter Novice Village's Z Treasury (South), where he had five minutes to choose one item.
• He recalled how Xiao Ling had revealed the passphrases for the novice treasuries and decided to explore the eastern, southern, and northern treasuries before the western one.
• Lin Yi passed up the equipment piled along the treasury path and hurried to its end, where he found three treasures.
• He chose the ZZZ-grade Bronze Key over the AA-grade Star Survey staff and Earthsplitter longsword.

Lin Yi was expelled from the southern treasury with a bronze key and unlocked the South Pole teleportation array, revealing his identity to the village. After planning his next steps, he prepared to head toward the North Pole treasury and wondered whether he could use a secret passphrase he knew.

• The system teleported Lin Yi out of the southern treasury before he could act on the bronze key, and he kept the key in his backpack.
• Lin Yi returned to Novice Village No. 4396 and chose not to hide his name when the system asked about announcing the South Pole teleportation array's unlocker.
• The system announced that Return to Zero had unlocked the South Pole teleportation array and that traveling there cost one year of lifespan.
• Players in the village discussed the lifespan costs of teleportation, food, and lodging as Lin Yi paid for a meal and an inn room.
• Lin Yi planned to shop the next day before traveling to the North Pole treasury, where he intended to rush to the end and investigate the bronze key.
• Lin Yi recalled knowing the treasury's secret passphrase and wondered whether the system would punish him for using it.

Lin Yi visited the starter village's general store, where ordinary goods reminded him how little he could afford in his previous life. He persuaded the old shopkeeper to show him the hidden second-floor treasures and planned to buy them all.

• Lin Yi heard players discussing Return to Zero, Wu Renxin, and the early days in the starter village as he left the inn.
• Lin Yi entered the general store and browsed its ordinary goods, which cost lifespan and included food, potions, weapons, and skill books.
• Lin Yi criticized the store's selection and started to leave after taking a bite of an apple.
• The shopkeeper challenged Lin Yi to follow him upstairs and see the goods he kept hidden from customers who could not afford them.
• Lin Yi followed, recalling that the second-floor treasures had sold out quickly in his previous life, and decided to take them all.

Lin Yi inspected the general store’s second-floor treasures and learned how destiny bracelets worked while looking for a way to acquire the items cheaply. The old man offered him the Mysterious Q Divine Crystal for free.

• Lin Yi admired the Energy Bracelet, Death-Exemption Scarecrow, Agility Pill, Stardust Triangle Chain, and Mysterious Q Divine Crystal in the cabinet.
• Lin Yi tried to negotiate for the treasures, but the old man said they were only for display and pulled him toward the first floor.
• Lin Yi asked about destiny bracelets, and the old man explained that more sockets and higher grades allowed bracelets to hold better gems.
• Lin Yi recalled his past possession of the Chain of Moonlight and his long-standing grudge against the strongest human expert, who had the Chain of Illusion.
• Lin Yi asked about the Mysterious Q Divine Crystal, and the old man declared him fated to own it and offered it for free.

Lin Yi bartered boss drops and a hundred years of lifespan with the old shopkeeper for several useful treasures and a Mysterious Q Divine Crystal. He left the general store delighted with the deal, while the old man wondered whether an ancient prophecy was true.

• Lin Yi rejected the old man's Divine Crystal offer and proposed bartering his boss drops for the second-floor treasures.
• The old man offered Lin Yi one of three Z-grade treasures and the Divine Crystal, but Lin Yi pretended to walk away when the deal fell short.
• Lin Yi showed the old man the Ironclad War Bear's Paws, and the old man agreed to trade all the treasures for the paws and a hundred years of lifespan.
• Lin Yi traded away his materials, equipment, skill book, bear paws, and a hundred years of lifespan for three Energy Bracelets, three Death-Exemption Scarecrows, three Agility Pills, a Stardust Triangle Chain, and a Mysterious Q Divine Crystal.
• Lin Yi left the store pleased with his bargain, while the old man watched him go and questioned whether an ancient prophecy could be true.

Lin Yi used an Agility Pill and equipped gems in his bracelet before traveling north, where he found Ma Ke and You Duoduo facing a Shadow Blade Leopard. He killed the boss, reached level 6, and saw his combat power rise to one million.

• Lin Yi swallowed an Agility Pill to increase his movement speed and fitted the Spectral Stone and Berserk Core into his Stardust Triangle Chain.
• Lin Yi headed north, testing monsters for experience as he traveled toward level 6.
• Lin Yi found Ma Ke and You Duoduo confronting a Shadow Blade Leopard in a forest clearing.
• The Shadow Blade Leopard attacked You Duoduo, but Lin Yi used Berserk Charge and killed it with two sword strikes.
• Lin Yi gained 500 EXP, leveled up to level 6, and reached one million combat power; the boss dropped Shadowblade Claws and a Leopard's Swiftness Skill Book.

Lin Yi confronted You Duoduo and Ma Ke after defeating the Shadow Blade Leopard, then demonstrated his strength and manipulated Ma Ke into killing You Duoduo. After Ma Ke celebrated gaining lifespan and called Lin Yi his boss, Lin Yi killed him and walked away.

• You Duoduo and Ma Ke recognized Lin Yi as Return to Zero and questioned him about their past encounter.
• Ma Ke insulted Lin Yi and dismissed his strength, so Lin Yi demonstrated his power with a sword strike that carved a furrow through the forest.
• You Duoduo apologized, but Lin Yi said he had saved her only to protect the boss and urged Ma Ke to give her a reality check.
• Ma Ke killed You Duoduo and learned that killing another player granted him half of her remaining lifespan.
• Ma Ke called Lin Yi his boss, and Lin Yi cut him down before walking away.

Lin Yi reached the northern edge of the beginner village and found a battered group of players fighting a Mountain Giant. As the boss hurled a boulder at their powerful but fragile mage, Lin Yi rushed in to help.

• Lin Yi traveled north, avoiding other players and clearing monsters along the way.
• Lin Yi reached the beginner village’s northernmost point before seven that evening.
• Lin Yi found about a dozen players struggling against a Mountain Giant with 745,200 HP and formidable defenses.
• The Mountain Giant threw a boulder toward the group’s mage, and Lin Yi charged toward the impact site using Leopard’s Swiftness and Berserk Charge.

Lin Yi killed the Mountain Giant in two attacks, collected its valuable loot, and met Lu Renjia and the surviving team who believed he had come to save them. After revealing that he was [Return to Zero], Lin Yi equipped the drops and warned them that they were about to be wiped out.

• Lin Yi saved the mage from a boulder, then knocked the Mountain Giant down and destroyed it with a punch after his longsword broke.
• The Mountain Giant dropped five valuable items, including the Mountain Heart, Mountain Armor, and Mountain Greatsword, and Lin Yi received lifespan and experience for the kill.
• Lu Renjia and the survivors thanked Lin Yi for saving them and offered him first choice of the loot and a role in Lu Renjia's planned guild.
• Lin Yi identified himself as [Return to Zero], picked up all five items, equipped several of them, and told the survivors they were about to be wiped out.