Recaps

After the Fallen Ark withdrew, Sagman ordered the Arcane Church forces to retreat, leaving Dilun captured by Han Xiao. The Dynasty repelled the attack, and Urranrell ordered a pursuit while requesting a direct conversation with Black Star.

• Sorokin withdrew the Fallen Ark fleet, leaving the Arcane Church without its powerful support and forcing Sagman to reassess the battle.
• Sagman ordered the Arcane Church forces to retreat and abandon Dilun, whom Han Xiao held captive.
• Han Xiao and the other defenders declined to pursue the retreating fleet, while Tarrokov sent scouts after it and kept the main force guarding the stargate construction.
• Tarrokov reported the victory to the Dynasty’s military leaders, who learned that Black Star had secured Austin’s help, countered the Scepter of All Gods, and captured Dilun.
• Urranrell ordered Dynasty fleets to pursue the enemy and told her staff to arrange a direct conversation with Black Star.

The Arcane Church and Federation of Light received reports of their failed attack on Lighthouse Star, while Han Xiao reunited with his surviving officers and secured Dilun in Space-Time Amber. Han Xiao then prepared to review the battle’s losses and gains.

• The Arcane Church fleet commander reported that the mission had failed, the Scepter of All Gods was sealed, and Dilun had been captured after Sorokin defected and Austin intervened.
• The Church Leader ordered reinforcements to protect the retreating fleet and the Church’s territory, while Bader ordered the Federation of Light to help the Dynasty intercept the Arcane Church fleet.
• Han Xiao returned to his battleship, reunited with Aurora and the surviving guards, and learned that the guards had all survived their injuries.
• Han Xiao brought in the captured Dilun and froze him inside a Space-Time Amber sphere after Dilun threatened the guards.
• Han Xiao opened his interface to tally the battle’s losses and gains.

After repelling the Arcane Church’s attack and capturing one of its Beyond Grade As, Han Xiao reviewed his losses, rewards, and new Mechanic Dominator abilities. He then received word that Head of State Urranrell wanted to speak with him about the aftermath and the hunt for Sagman’s group.

• Han Xiao assessed the Arcane Church’s damage to his resources and considered how the Empire and the Black Star Army would pursue the fleeing attackers.
• Han Xiao collected his mission rewards, including three Character Summon Cards, EXP, and the Universal Legend title “Enemy of the Arcane.”
• Han Xiao reviewed his level 260 attributes and the new abilities granted by his Mechanic Dominator class.
• Tarrokov told Han Xiao that Urranrell wanted to speak with him about the incident and the coming hunt for Sagman and the others.
• Han Xiao agreed to wait for Urranrell’s call and considered asking her for new Imperial knowledge.

After repelling the Arcane Church at Lighthouse Star, Han Xiao met with Urranrell, who rewarded him, drew him closer to her faction, and discussed the dynasty’s counterattack. Reinforcements arrived, and Han Xiao joined the pursuit of the fleeing Arcane Church and Sorokin fleets.

• Han Xiao told Urranrell how he had sealed the Scepter of All Gods, and she praised his contribution and assured him the dynasty would not hold his deal with Sorokin against him.
• Han Xiao agreed to hand Dilun over to the dynasty and requested more Ultimate Knowledge in exchange for his service.
• Urranrell discussed recalling some forces from the Shattered World and asked Han Xiao for advice; he suggested targeting Sorokin and the Fallen Ark, while she ordered the pursuit of the enemy fleets.
• Han Xiao received a Political Asset point and 15,000 Crimson Dynasty contribution points, leaving him with enough to exchange for Ultimate Knowledge while retaining the required balance.
• Heber, Ravenlaude, and Maxiler arrived at Lighthouse Star, and Tarrokov organized the assembled forces to intercept Sagman's and Sorokin's fleeing fleets.
• Heber volunteered to face Motes, Ravenlaude took Ninja as his target, and Han Xiao led the group into the counterattack.

After the Arcane Church and Fallen Ark fled Lighthouse Star, the Dynasty launched a pursuit while Harkison secretly maneuvered to cooperate with it. The Army players learned the attackers’ identities and joined the chase, and Han Xiao was asked which Ultimate Knowledge he wanted as his reward.

• Logo led the Arcane Church fleet toward the Desolate Universe Belt while Sagman and the other Beyond Grade As considered abandoning the fleet to escape alone.
• Harkison proposed contacting the Dynasty to help target the Arcane Church, but Sorokin’s avatar took over the negotiations and left Harkison’s intentions unclear.
• Tarrokov issued a mobilization mission for players to track and attack the fleeing Arcane Church and Fallen Ark fleets, setting off excited speculation across the forums.
• Army players joined the pursuit as news of the Lighthouse Star battle spread among players despite the Shattered World information blackout.
• Tarrokov’s main force pursued the Arcane Church with Han Xiao, Milizaus, Beoni, Heber, and Ravenlaude, while a Dynasty official asked Han Xiao which Ultimate Knowledge he wanted.

Han Xiao made Dark Emperor his first Apostle Weapon and learned two pieces of Ultimate Knowledge from the Crimson Dynasty. After Tarrokov reported that Sorokin had offered to help intercept the Arcane Church, Han Xiao agreed to meet him while revealing that he could track the Church's fleet through a hidden intrusion.

• Han Xiao transformed Dark Emperor into an Apostle Weapon, greatly increasing his power and giving him the Dark Emperor War Spear.
• The Crimson Dynasty sent Han Xiao [Endless Material Science] and [Virtual Creator], which he learned along with their associated talents and skills.
• Tarrokov told Han Xiao that Sorokin had surrendered an avatar and offered to help the Dynasty intercept the Arcane Church.
• Han Xiao agreed to Tarrokov's plan and arranged to meet Sorokin's avatar under guard.
• Han Xiao revealed that he had left an intrusion in the Arcane Church's battleships and could use his new virtual abilities to track their fleet.

Han Xiao used his new virtual technology to track the fleeing Arcane Church fleets, while Sorokin’s doppelganger fought Dark Emperor and offered to help the dynasty intercept them. As the Church’s commander sacrificed most of his forces to protect its Beyond Grade As, Ames learned about the battle and decided to act in the Shattered Star Ring.

• Han Xiao located over a hundred Arcane Church fleet groups through his infiltration program, and Tarrokov shared their positions with Sorokin while deciding not to risk exposing the program further.
• Dark Emperor took over guarding Sorokin’s doppelganger and fought him to a standstill, after which Han Xiao showed Sorokin the dynasty’s intelligence and questioned his motives for cooperating.
• Logo learned that the dynasty and the Fallen Ark were striking the Church’s scattered squads, then ordered the fleet to split into a million groups and disconnect half of them from the quantum network to improve the Beyond Grade As’ chances of escape.
• Ames heard Austin’s account of the battle at Lighthouse Star and rejected Iso’s view that Han Xiao had kept her out of danger for her own good.
• Ames asked Iso to contact Suy and prepared to act against the Arcane Church’s garrison and stargate stations in the Shattered Star Ring.

The Dynasty cornered Logo’s Arcane Church forces at their secret stargate, where Han Xiao’s side captured Logo and left Motes behind while Sagman and three others escaped. Han Xiao traced the stargate’s exit coordinates, and the battered survivors fled with the Scepter of All Gods as the Dynasty prepared to pursue them.

• Tarrokov and Han Xiao discussed Logo’s scattered, disconnected forces, while Ravenlaude’s divination failed and Fording marked escape directions based on his luck.
• Logo’s small group was discovered by an imperial patrol, and after defeating it, they were forced through repeated blockades toward the secret stargate.
• Han Xiao, Tarrokov, and the other Beyond Grade As reached the stargate battle and pursued Logo and Sagman’s group, while their attacks damaged the gate’s shield.
• Sagman, the two Mages, and Sisko escaped through the stargate, but Heber caught Motes; the four survivors destroyed the passage from the other side and stranded him.
• Tarrokov reported that Logo had been captured, and Han Xiao revealed he had obtained the coordinates of the stargate’s exit.
• Sagman, Ninja, and the other two escapees lamented Motes’s loss, then left the ruined stargate to take the Scepter of All Gods back.

After Heber defeated Motes, Tarrokov outlined the Dynasty’s plans to publicize its victory and pursue the fleeing Arcane Church forces in the Shattered Star Ring. Han Xiao learned that Ames had volunteered to help the Dynasty there, and the chapter ended with Urranrell announcing the conflict to the universe.

• Heber defeated the exhausted Motes and brought him aboard the fleet, where the Dynasty’s leaders discussed their victory and plans to announce it.
• Tarrokov asked the Beyond Grade As to hold the fort in the Shattered Star Ring, and Milizaus, Beoni, and Maxiler accepted Han Xiao’s invitation to visit the Black Star Army.
• Tarrokov revealed that Ames had volunteered to support the Dynasty’s attack on the Arcane Church’s stargate stations, and Han Xiao urged Suy to keep her out of the most dangerous assault.
• Han Xiao and the others sealed Motes in the Space-Time Amber, then set off for the Shattered Star Ring while Han Xiao considered how to persuade the Dynasty to counterattack.
• Urranrell addressed the universe, announcing the Arcane Church’s attack, the battle among eleven Beyond Grade As, and the resulting conflict between the Dynasty and the Church.

The Crimson Dynasty publicized Black Star’s capture of Dilun and launched a military counterattack against the Arcane Church in the Shattered Star Ring. As the Dynasty disrupted the Church’s stargate network, hidden Arcane Church agents began carrying out a plan to help Sagman and the other Beyond Grade As escape.

• Head of State Urranrell and the Dynasty News Network revealed the Shattered World battle, condemning the Arcane Church and emphasizing Black Star’s capture of Dilun.
• Galactic factions raised Black Star’s threat level after learning he was suspected of possessing two Universal Treasures.
• The Dynasty ambushed Arcane Church stargate stations in the Shattered Star Ring, where Ames helped break through the defenses and destroy the gates.
• Night Bat met a freighter captain at the Old Medal Bar and secretly switched places with one of the captain’s workers.
• Night Bat killed the freighter captain and joined his surviving operatives, revealing that they had smuggled stargate equipment aboard the freighter to help Sagman and the other Beyond Grade As escape.

Han Xiao returned to Black Star Army headquarters, where he discovered Nero had gained Intermediate Mechanical Sense while Reynold’s punishing lessons continued. He then discussed the hunt for Sagman’s group with Tarrokov and the threat of a renewed Beyond Grade A conflict, concluding that Sisko could not escape the Dynasty’s reach in the Shattered Star Ring.

• Han Xiao arrived at headquarters with Milizaus, Beoni, and Maxiler and was greeted by a formal display arranged by Sylvia and the officers.
• Han Xiao learned the army was prospering, then checked on Nero and discovered that Nero had acquired Intermediate Mechanical Sense.
• Han Xiao told Reynold to use Milizaus’s blood to make a potion that would help Nero endure his studies, leaving Nero devastated that his lessons would continue.
• Han Xiao replenished Reynold’s Perfect Mechanical Sense with a Blank Character Card and later discussed the search for Sagman and the Arcane Church’s spy network with Tarrokov.
• Tarrokov and the others recalled the Tragedy of the Pinnacle and feared that further Beyond Grade A deaths could trigger another assassination campaign.
• Han Xiao and Tarrokov identified Sisko as a target who could not flee the Shattered Star Ring, and Han Xiao thought Sisko should move house.

Han Xiao strengthened the Black Star Army while the Crimson Dynasty and Arcane Church negotiated over the captured Beyond Grade As. Sagman and Taylor continued hiding in the Shattered Star Ring, but Black Star Army members noticed suspicious red names near their port.

• The Crimson Dynasty’s search for Sagman and the others failed, while the Arcane Church privately sought negotiations to ransom Dilun and Motes.
• Han Xiao replenished his mechanical army, assigned Apostle Weapons to Silver Flash, Giant King Kong, and Heavenly Wild Hunt, and sold dungeon crystals based on the Battle of Lighthouse Star.
• Lagi suggested that Han Xiao stop searching for the hidden Beyond Grade As and leave the hunt to the Crimson Dynasty, but Han Xiao dismissed him.
• Sagman and Taylor reached a neutral spaceport in disguises and prepared to leave using a newly purchased spaceship.
• Black Star Army members noticed Sagman and Taylor as apparent red names and decided to follow them.

Sagman and Taylor killed the Black Star Army players who followed them and escaped Hearth Neutral Port, but the players’ report gave Han Xiao a lead on the Arcane Church Beyond Grade As. Han Xiao launched a player search mission and began hacking the port’s records to track the fugitives.

• Sagman and Taylor realized Black Star Army players were following them and silently killed them before leaving the neutral port in a small spacecraft.
• The players saw that their attackers had inflicted over 80,000 damage and suspected they had encountered the Beyond Grade A targets in the Army’s manhunt.
• Han Xiao completed the Mammoth, a custom mechanical body designed to carry [Dominator's Descent].
• After receiving the players’ report, Han Xiao concluded that Sagman and Taylor were likely among the Arcane Church fugitives and shared the intelligence with Tarrokov.
• Han Xiao posted a prize-pool mission asking Army players to search the area for clues about the disguised targets.
• Han Xiao ordered Phillip to hack Hearth Neutral Port’s database so he could trace the fugitives through their identities and spaceship records.

Han Xiao traced Sagman and Taylor through their cover identities and secret account, helping the Crimson Dynasty narrow its hunt for the Arcane Church spies. The dynasty's forces cornered Sagman and Taylor in the Shattered Star Ring, and the two charged into battle rather than surrender.

• Han Xiao hacked the neutral port's databases and traced Sagman and Taylor's spaceship purchase to a secret account, uncovering leads to Arcane Church spies.
• Millions of Black Star Army players accepted the regional manhunt, while the Crimson Dynasty interrogated captured spies and identified likely contacts for Sagman and Taylor.
• Sagman and Taylor abandoned their ship and changed identities, but the dynasty quietly tracked them and prepared an ambush.
• Sorokin led the Fallen Ark fleet into the Shattered Star Ring's unstable wormholes despite Harkison's warnings.
• Han Xiao, Milizaus, and the dynasty's other Beyond Grade As trapped Sagman and Taylor's ship, but the two refused to surrender and charged into the surrounding forces.

The Crimson Dynasty captured Sagman and Taylor, strengthening its position against the Arcane Church and ending the Church’s attempt to seize the Evolution Cube. After sealing the prisoners, Han Xiao received a new mission: lead a fleet with Heber to pressure the Star Pupil Protoss rather than capture Sisko.

• A Dynasty official canceled the Arcane Church’s ransom negotiations after Sagman and Taylor were captured, forcing the Church to negotiate new terms.
• The Dynasty announced it held four Arcane Church Beyond Grade As, while players celebrated their role in helping capture Sagman and his companion.
• Ninja escaped with the Scepter of All Gods, and the Arcane Church’s leaders accepted that their operation had failed and put plans to target Black Star on hold.
• Han Xiao sealed Sagman and Taylor in Space-Time Amber aboard the returning Dynasty fleet and received 4,500 Dynasty contribution points.
• Tarrokov assigned Han Xiao and Heber to lead part of the fleet to the Star Pupil Protoss’ territory and apply pressure, while the Dynasty canceled its plan to capture Sisko.

Han Xiao and Heber led an Imperial fleet to the Star Pupil Protoss homeworld to force Sisko to meet them. Han Xiao publicized their arrival, intimidated the Protoss officials, and used the Evolution Cube to challenge their claim to it while pressuring Sisko to return.

• Han Xiao summoned Ames to join the mission, but she refused after learning Heber would be there.
• The Star Pupil Protoss Council learned that the Imperial fleet had reached its border, and Sisko ordered them to receive Han Xiao and Heber before returning himself.
• Han Xiao and Heber arrived at a colonial planet, where Heber gave the Protoss three days to produce Sisko.
• Han Xiao bypassed the Protoss information blockade and spread sensational stories about Sisko and the Dynasty’s visit across their network.
• Fosters slammed envoy Jade’s head against a table after Jade threatened Han Xiao, while Han Xiao handed the Evolution Cube to guard Lalaime and challenged him to take it away.
• Han Xiao reclaimed the Evolution Cube and explained that he had come to pressure Sisko into severing his psychic link to it.

Sisko arrived to face Han Xiao, Heber, and the Crimson Dynasty envoy, who forced him to accept reparations and publicly apologize for the attack on Lighthouse Star. Han Xiao also made Sisko sever his link to the Evolution Cube and announce that he had given it to Black Star, leaving Sisko to prepare for a press conference and the backlash.

• Sisko arrived, and Han Xiao struck him into a wall before allowing the tense meeting to proceed.
• The dynasty envoy presented terms demanding reparations and a public apology, and Sisko accepted them.
• Heber urged Sisko to leave the Shattered Star Ring, but Sisko refused to abandon his home.
• Han Xiao demanded that Sisko sever his link to the Evolution Cube and publicly give it to him, and the dynasty envoy backed the demand.
• Sisko severed the link, and Han Xiao left with the Evolution Cube after warning Sisko that failure had a price.
• Sisko ordered a government press conference and told Jade that he would make the announcement himself.

Han Xiao returned toward headquarters after Sisko agreed to reparations and surrendered the Evolution Cube, while the Star Pupil Protoss erupted in anger over Sisko’s public apology. The Arcane Church regrouped around its surviving assets, but Ninja was ambushed in the Desolate Universe Belt by Mechanic Emperor.

• Han Xiao, Heber, and the Dynasty envoy parted ways after the Star Pupil Protoss agreed to reparations, and Han Xiao headed back to Black Star Army headquarters.
• Sisko publicly apologized, accepted responsibility, agreed to reparations, and relinquished the Evolution Cube to Black Star, provoking widespread anger among the Star Pupil Protoss.
• Sisko’s aides urged him to control the backlash, but he chose to let the people vent and wait for public opinion to shift.
• Arcane Church bishops discussed ransom negotiations for Motes and Dilun and learned that Ninja had escaped with the Scepter of All Gods.
• Ninja’s ship was crushed near a stargate station in the Desolate Universe Belt, and Mechanic Emperor appeared with a force of machines and demanded the Scepter of All Gods.

The Mechanic Emperor captured Ninja and took the Scepter of All Gods for the Federation of Light, which had secretly arranged the attack. The Arcane Church suspected the Federation but lacked proof, while Bader celebrated the theft and planned to study the Scepter's seal.

• The Mechanic Emperor restrained Ninja, took the Scepter of All Gods, and imprisoned him for the Federation of Light.
• The Arcane Church learned Ninja had vanished and debated whether Black Star, the Crimson Dynasty, or another power had attacked him.
• The Arcane Church's bishops concluded the Federation of Light was the likeliest culprit and received the Church Leader's order to placate the Crimson Dynasty before dealing with the Federation.
• Bader told the Federation of Light's council elders that the Mechanic Emperor had secured the Scepter of All Gods for them.
• Bader said the Federation would use the Scepter as a limited-use weapon and have its research institute break the Space-Time Amber seal.

Han Xiao used the Evolution Cube to gather elites from civilizations across the Shattered Star Ring, strengthen the Black Star Army’s network, and oversee their evolution. As he considered the players’ approaching mid-version transformation, Heber learned that Han Xiao was competing with the Tyrant’s Gathering and grew furious over Han Xiao’s public joke at his expense.

• Elites selected by civilizations across the Shattered Star Ring arrived at Black Star Army headquarters for their Evolution Cube slots, where they mingled and made connections.
• Han Xiao returned to headquarters, addressed the gathered elites, joked that Heber was hiding among them, and used the Evolution Cube to begin their evolution.
• Han Xiao reflected on the players’ progress toward Version 3.0’s middle stage and the coming Professional League, expecting mechanics and the Black Star Army to benefit.
• Heber learned that Han Xiao was using the Evolution Cube gathering to compete with the Tyrant’s Gathering and vowed to beat him after hearing about the public joke.

After the Evolution Cube transformed the gathered elites, Han Xiao hosted a banquet to welcome them and build connections. As the celebration continued, Cecilin of the Gular Civilization privately approached Han Xiao with a request.

• Pamela and the other elites completed their evolution, and the Black Star Army invited them to a banquet.
• Han Xiao and his officers dressed for the banquet, where he welcomed the guests and exchanged contact information with them, including Pamela.
• Han Xiao and Hila reminisced about their years together and toasted their friendship.
• Cecilin of the Gular Civilization asked to speak with Han Xiao privately about a request, and Han Xiao led him toward a private room.

Cecilin asked Han Xiao to help the Pioneer Party overthrow the Ancient Emperor Party and defeat the Descent Party, arguing that it offered Gular a better future. Han Xiao declined to commit, planned to hear the other parties’ offers, and considered turning the resulting Grade S conflict into a mission for the players.

• Cecilin explained Gular’s division among the Ancient Emperor Party, the Pioneer Party, and the Descent Party, then asked Han Xiao to help the Pioneer Party take power.
• Cecilin described his disillusionment with the Ancient Emperor Party and revealed that it had sent him to seek Black Star Army support against the other parties.
• Han Xiao refused Cecilin’s request because Cecilin had no agreement or concrete payment to offer, even after Cecilin prostrated himself and pleaded for help.
• A Grade S mission appeared, requiring the Pioneer Party to rule Gular, but Han Xiao left without accepting and decided to seek the other parties’ proposals first.
• Han Xiao considered handing the civil-war mission to the players, then examined Phillip’s intelligence confirming that all three parties had serious flaws and that the Ancient Emperor Party was deeply unpopular.

After the Evolution Banquet, Han Xiao accepted the Pioneer Party’s offer to hire the Black Star Army in the Gular Civilization’s conflict, then issued a faction mission for the Army’s players. He withdrew to his mechanical factory to prepare for confronting Sorokin once his experience penalty ended.

• Han Xiao contacted the Ancient Emperor Party, learned its Grade S mission, then called the Pioneer Party leader and agreed to help the Pioneer Party overthrow the Ancient Emperor Party’s rule.
• Cecilin learned that the Pioneer Party had secured an employment agreement with the Black Star Army and realized his earlier warning had helped change Han Xiao’s decision.
• Han Xiao published a faction mission for the players, who eagerly signed up to fight in the Gular Civilization’s conflict.
• Han Xiao decided to remain in seclusion and build his mechanical army while preparing to kill the evolved Sorokin.

Bader arranged for the Scepter of All Gods to be studied, while Manison secretly concluded that the Space-Time Amber protecting it was a Cosmic Wonder. The Federation of Light’s research team failed to analyze or crack the amber, leaving the president’s plan in doubt.

• Manison told Bader that the Scepter of All Gods had been delivered and asked to accompany him when he approached Black Star.
• After ending the call, Bader checked with a Federation of Light Virtual Mechanic and confirmed that no unusual quantum-network activity had been detected.
• Manison studied the Space-Time Amber and decided it was a Cosmic Wonder that would be difficult for anyone but Black Star to crack.
• Researchers at a Federation of Light military base tried to analyze the Scepter of All Gods but found that their equipment could not penetrate or identify the amber.
• The research director exhausted conventional analysis methods and realized the team might not be able to meet Bader’s demand to crack the seal.

Bader learned that neither the Federation of Light nor the Arcane Church could break Space-Time Amber, leaving both unable to use their seized Universal Treasures. As tensions eased, the Black Star Army arrived to support the Pioneer Party in the Gular Civilization’s civil war, where players prepared for ground-combat missions.

• Bader reviewed a classified file on Frogo, the Space-Time Freezer, and suspected a connection between Frogo’s ability and Space-Time Amber before sending the file to the research department.
• The Arcane Church failed to break the seal on Dilun and took comfort in believing the Federation of Light was equally unable to use the Scepter of All Gods.
• The Federation of Light and the Arcane Church monitored each other’s research as their forces withdrew from the border and the interstellar situation settled.
• The Black Star Army fleet arrived in Gular space after the Pioneer Party allied with it, prompting the Ancient Emperor Party and Descent Party to attack the Pioneer Party.
• The Pioneer Party provided star maps and battlefield missions, and players eagerly selected ground-combat assignments across the enemy-held planets and bases.