Recaps

Han Xiao reached Big Horn Mountain and used the players’ hunger for quests and equipment to turn himself into a mysterious quest-giver and merchant. He left the players eager to buy his weapons and learn skills from him, while he planned to keep profiting from their needs.

• Han Xiao arrived at Big Horn Mountain, spotted the crowded player settlement, and offered a snake venom grass quest to nearby players.
• The players completed the quest for a generous experience reward, and Han Xiao opened a shop selling weapons, ammunition, and a Light Power Arm.
• Players crowded around to buy his firearms, and Chop into Eighteen Pieces discovered Han Xiao’s guns were far better than the settlement’s weapons.
• Han Xiao sold out his prepared goods for over 300,000 Aquamarine Dollars and planned to make more guns and ammunition in his truck.
• When players struggled to use their new guns, Han Xiao offered skill training that required five favorability points, which players could earn by spending money on him.

Han Xiao attracted players to Big Horn Mountain by selling equipment and teaching basic knowledge, then used favorability rewards to recruit them to prepare traps for Germinal's approaching force. Frenzied Sword recognized the Light Power Arm in a forum post and decided to find Han Xiao, while Han Xiao prepared to confront Germinal in a few days.

• Maple Moon learned Basic Assembly from Han Xiao, and over a hundred players followed by raising their favorability and learning skills or basic knowledge.
• Han Xiao saw players discussing his combat strength on the forum and planned to demonstrate his power to draw more players into the Mechanic Class.
• Frenzied Sword spotted the Light Power Arm in a post and suspected that Black Phantom was Han Xiao, so he decided to find him.
• Azure Sky and his Sky Domain guild bought the Light Power Arm and accepted Han Xiao's mission to set traps in the forest for Germinal's approaching force.
• Han Xiao watched the players lay numerous animal traps and relied on his own hidden traps to threaten Germinal's evacuation force.

Li Ge and other esports players announced that they were entering Galaxy, setting off a surge of interest as the game released its first promotional video. Han Xiao continued attracting new players and earning money at Big Horn Mountain, where he met Maple Moon and began considering how to use her interest in hidden storylines.

• Li Ge announced that he was joining Galaxy and vowed to lead Huaxia's players against foreign rivals.
• Long Sky, Frenzied Sword Fried Rice, Jiang Yuluo, and other professionals held press conferences as esports clubs entered the game.
• Galaxy's official team released a promotional video showcasing beginner planets and announced an upcoming video about class combat.
• Han Xiao earned over 500,000 Aquamarine Dollars and nearly a million experience points as new players came to buy from him and change classes.
• Maple Moon asked Han Xiao why he opposed the Germinal Organization, and he recognized her as a future prominent Mechanic and considered using her talent for uncovering hidden storylines.

Han Xiao recruited Maple Moon as a future ally by turning her against Germinal, then issued a prize-pool mission to draw players into attacking the organization. The Kill the World Guild tried to monopolize the mission by blocking access to Han Xiao, provoking a standoff with Sky Domain that ended with Han Xiao’s favorability toward the guild collapsing.

• Han Xiao told Maple Moon about Germinal’s crimes, and she agreed to become its enemy, earning his favor and a mission to reach level 20 and contact him.
• Han Xiao issued a prize-pool mission with 35,000 experience points for intercepting a Germinal unit alongside him.
• Chop into Eighteen Pieces convinced the Kill the World Guild to keep other players away from Han Xiao so its members could control the mission’s rewards.
• Han Xiao realized the guild was obstructing his plan to recruit players as fighters and grew angry.
• Azure Sky confronted Chop into Eighteen Pieces, and Kill the World and Sky Domain prepared to fight.
• The Kill the World Guild received a notification that Han Xiao’s favorability toward its members had fallen by 10 points to -5, making their relationship cold.

Han Xiao set up an ambush against a Germinal evacuation force and recruited the players into a prize pool mission, giving Maple Moon a sniper rifle and teaching her Sniping. The players’ first reckless attack ended in a devastating volley from the Germinal soldiers.

• Kill the World lost its favorability with Han Xiao after trying to monopolize resources, and the guild members withdrew as other players discovered the prize pool mission.
• Players flocked to the mission, which offered rewards to the five highest damage contributors from a pool worth over five hundred thousand.
• Han Xiao lent Maple Moon a modified sniper rifle and taught her the Sniping skill for 2,000 experience.
• Han Xiao and the players prepared an ambush in Big Horn Mountain for the Germinal evacuation force led by Frail and Cerberus.
• The Germinal force detected traps and signs of an ambush, but impatient players opened fire first and were torn apart by the soldiers’ return barrage.

Han Xiao ambushed a Germinal force, demonstrating his firepower to the players before interrogating Frail and completing the hunting mission. The prize pool was distributed according to damage rankings, with Maple Moon placing first on her own.

• The players charged the Germinal troops despite heavy casualties, and Cerberus joined the slaughter until Han Xiao killed him with a sniper shot.
• Frail recognized Han Xiao as Black Phantom and ordered a retreat, but Han Xiao disabled nearby vehicles with an EMP and attacked the troops with hidden automated turrets.
• Han Xiao and the players defeated the Germinal force, while Han Xiao captured Frail and tortured information out of him.
• Han Xiao completed the mission and announced the 520,000-experience prize pool, with Maple Moon ranked first, Azure Sky second, and Chop into Eighteen Pieces third.

Han Xiao’s battle with Cerberus and the recording of it convinced many Big Horn Mountain players to learn the Mechanic Class, earning him a large amount of experience. He left to pursue Germinal’s retreating forces, while the recording spread widely and earned Mu Chen a place in the version 1.0 promotional video.

• Maple Moon gained a large amount of experience from the battle and returned Han Xiao’s sniper rifle, while the players realized she had a special interaction with him.
• After a recording of Han Xiao’s battle went viral, many players changed to the Mechanic Class and learned basic skills from him, bringing him close to two or three million experience.
• Azure Sky tried to copy Maple Moon’s conversation to trigger Han Xiao’s hidden storyline, but Han Xiao refused to engage with him.
• Han Xiao left Big Horn Mountain to pursue Germinal’s retreating main forces, and Maple Moon decided to contact him again at level twenty.
• Frenzied Sword arrived half an hour later and learned that Han Xiao had already left, while Mu Chen received notice that his recording had been selected for the version 1.0 promotional video.

Jupiter discovered that Germinal’s Southern Continent evacuation was already underway, while Frenzied Sword finally reunited with Han Xiao and joined him on the way to the Taidamila River. There, Germinal’s last major Southern Continent fleet prepared to break through a Stardragon and Hesla blockade, and Hila focused on surviving so she could save her sister Aurora.

• Jupiter identified Germinal insignia in a battle video, then learned the destroyed force had been part of Germinal’s evacuation and feared his A-rank mission could not continue.
• Frenzied Sword found Han Xiao in the woods outside Big Horn Mountain, recognized him as Black Phantom, and climbed into his truck.
• Han Xiao told Frenzied Sword they were going to do something bad, marked the Taidamila River on a map, and drove toward it.
• Lin Yu rallied Germinal’s final major Southern Continent evacuation fleet for a deadly attempt to break through the expected Stardragon and Hesla blockade near the river mouth.
• Hila hid her doubts about the breakout and resolved to stay alive so she could reduce the suffering Aurora endured.

Stardragon and Hesla prepared to trap Germinal’s retreating forces at the Tedramila River while Zhang Wei’s squad and several players waited nearby. Han Xiao arrived with Farrian’s help, gathered intelligence and transport for the operation, and left Frenzied Sword with a humiliating mission.

• Zhang Wei warned Hou Yue to be careful, while Hou Yue’s questions about Han Xiao angered Li Yalin and sent him running.
• Long Sky, Frenzied Sword Fried Rice, and Jiang Yuluo complained that the Battle of Tedramira River mission chain was far beyond their abilities.
• Han Xiao and Frenzied Sword arrived by helicopter, and Farrian’s personnel unloaded Han Xiao’s equipment and reassembled his truck.
• Antonov asked whether Han Xiao planned to help Germinal, but Han Xiao avoided answering and contacted the Blood Pact Union for troop movements and a standby helicopter.
• Han Xiao gave Frenzied Sword the Get Hyped mission, requiring him to dance to liven up the atmosphere.

Han Xiao prepared to intercept Germinal’s evacuation convoy at Cloud Gorge Valley while Stardragon set an ambush along the convoy’s route. As the convoy arrived, his spider detector reported its approach and survived being driven over.

• Han Xiao reached Cloud Gorge Valley, received his equipment from Farrian personnel, and told Bennett he planned to join the fight against Germinal.
• Stardragon commander Huang Qiuming prepared a layered ambush with minefields, helicopters, and missiles, while Germinal commander Ugar led a convoy carrying experimental weapons and Super Soldier test subjects.
• Han Xiao parked away from the valley and deployed upgraded spider detectors to scout for the approaching convoy; Frenzied Sword accompanied him and suffered motion sickness.
• Han Xiao waited through the next day, gave Frenzied Sword small missions, and monitored player forums while considering how his actions might affect a coming player-related event.
• At night, Unit-01 Spider detected Germinal’s convoy, transmitted an alert, and remained undamaged after the vehicles rolled over it.

Han Xiao drove to a sniping position overlooking Cloud Gorge Valley as Stardragon and Germinal forces clashed, preparing traps and boosting his combat abilities. Germinal’s convoy emerged from the woods, and Han Xiao took aim while the larger battle continued along the Taidamila River.

• Han Xiao and Frenzied Sword headed for Cloud Gorge Valley, while Stardragon detected their truck before Germinal’s electromagnetic attack disabled the radar and cluster missiles struck the position.
• Ugar’s convoy advanced through minefields and helicopter fire, using graphite bombs to disrupt the aircraft; he ordered Mihawks to lead an assault on Stardragon’s command.
• Huang Qiuming prepared Stardragon’s defenses, while Jiang Yuluo persuaded Long Sky and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice to accompany her toward the fighting.
• Han Xiao reached the hillside and watched Germinal’s convoy approach as its fleet fought under attack on the Taidamila River.
• Han Xiao assigned Frenzied Sword to set traps, used an Electromagnetic Pulse Conditioner to enhance his attributes, and aimed his sniping rifles as Germinal’s convoy broke out of the woods.

Han Xiao intervened in the Battle of Tedramira River, seriously wounding Mihawks and helping Stardragon repel Germinal’s assault. As Germinal sent more forces toward his position, Han Xiao’s turrets stopped their convoy, but three heavily modified test subjects charged toward the defenses.

• Jiang Yuluo brought Long Sky and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice to Stardragon’s front lines as Germinal’s convoy attacked through missile fire.
• Han Xiao shot Mihawks, prompting Huang Qiuming to recognize Black Phantom and order his troops to focus on stopping Germinal.
• Ugar mistook Han Xiao for outside help hired by Stardragon and sent a squad with test subjects to attack the sniper.
• Han Xiao accepted a mission to disrupt Germinal’s evacuation, continued firing at Mihawks, and watched him die in the rocket bombardment.
• Han Xiao used folding turrets to destroy or halt much of Germinal’s vehicle convoy, but three mechanically enhanced test subjects charged toward the turrets.

Han Xiao defeated Germinal’s three super soldier test subjects during the battle, using his Rangers and Frenzied Sword’s bomb before killing their leader with a powerful shot. He then took Frenzied Sword toward the Taidamila River, while Long Sky and the others recognized Frenzied Sword fighting alongside Black Phantom.

• Han Xiao identified the test subjects’ crude mechanical implants and used two Second-Generation Rangers to attack them.
• Han Xiao sniped subject 042, then ordered the Rangers to self-destruct and destroy several Germinal vehicles.
• Frenzied Sword sacrificed himself with a bomb, killing subject 043, and Han Xiao shot subject 044 as he charged.
• Han Xiao gained one step toward his second advancement, and Frenzied Sword respawned to collect his mission reward and experience.
• Han Xiao took Frenzied Sword around the main battlefield toward the Taidamila River.
• Long Sky, Jiang Yuluo, and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice recognized Frenzied Sword and suspected he had been fighting alongside Black Phantom.

Hesla’s naval blockade and Stardragon’s forces battled Germinal’s fleet as Hila and Rennit disrupted the defenders. Germinal submarines unexpectedly struck Hesla’s ships, letting Ugar’s troops board the fleet and forcing Stardragon’s assault force to charge without the planned missile support.

• Hesla’s commander ordered the fleet to bombard Germinal’s ships and prepare torpedoes while Stardragon let Germinal’s ground forces approach the boarding point.
• Rennit teleported into a fighter and killed its pilot, while Hila used her ability to destroy the attacking fighter squadron with a scream.
• Lin Yu watched as Germinal’s ground forces broke through toward the fleet, expecting Hesla’s missiles to cripple the ships before Stardragon’s assault force boarded.
• Germinal submarines launched torpedoes that devastated Hesla’s naval task force, disrupting its plan and allowing the fleet to change formation and lower gangplanks.
• Ugar hurried his remaining troops onto the barges and joined the fleet as the Stardragon Thirteenth Bureau’s assault force received orders to attack without waiting for the missiles.
• Stardragon’s assault boats charged through Germinal’s concentrated fire, suffering heavy casualties as they advanced.

Han Xiao intervened in Stardragon’s assault on Germinal’s fleet, helping Zhang Wei’s squad hold off Hila while a powerful Stardragon agent joined the fight. Hila remained dangerous and hard to injure, and the battle continued as Germinal’s leaders responded to the new threats.

• Zhang Wei’s squad clashed with Germinal’s soldiers aboard a barge until Hila struck them with the Power of the Dead, badly injuring Hou Yue and forcing Li Yalin to charge her.
• Han Xiao drove along the riverbank and shot Hila, interrupting her attack and giving Li Yalin, Zhang Wei, and the others a chance to press her.
• Han Xiao examined Hila’s abilities and recognized her as a formidable opponent, while his covering fire coordinated with the squad and kept her from counterattacking.
• Lin Yu recognized Han Xiao as Black Phantom and ordered Ugar to deal with him, but Ugar sensed an equally powerful martial artist arriving on a nearby barge.
• A middle-aged Stardragon agent struck a parked vehicle with an energy-wreathed punch, sending it and Germinal soldiers flying off the barge.

Han Xiao killed Rennit after the teleporter ambushed him, then escaped a surrounding force with his Repulsion Field Driver and fought his way toward Li Yalin and the others. Hila stunned him with a mental attack, but Han Xiao countered with a Sonic Boom Grenade and stunned her as well.

• Ugar confronted the Thirteenth Bureau's ace while Lin Yu ordered Rennit to attack Han Xiao.
• Rennit teleported into the truck and tried to stab Han Xiao, but Frenzied Sword took the hit and died; Han Xiao grabbed Rennit during his next teleport and killed him.
• Germinal soldiers surrounded Han Xiao on the barge and opened fire, but Han Xiao activated his Repulsion Field Driver and hurled them and their vehicles into the river.
• Han Xiao used his Wild Eagles and electromagnetic hover shoes to fight across the barges toward Li Yalin and the others.
• Hila struck Han Xiao with a mental attack that stunned him, but he threw a Sonic Boom Grenade that stunned her in return.

Han Xiao fought alongside his former Stardragon teammates, helped them kill a Germinal executive, and escaped as the battle ended. He completed the requirements for his second advancement and prepared to advance.

• Han Xiao stunned Hila with a concussion grenade, shot her, and kicked her into the river before Li Yalin recognized him as Black Phantom.
• Han Xiao and Zhang Wei's squad joined forces to kill a giant white wolf executive, and Han Xiao landed a powerful shot that blinded it.
• Zhang Wei and his teammates withdrew by speedboat, while Han Xiao returned to shore and drove away; Hila climbed back aboard and vowed to remember him.
• The Germinal convoy broke through the blockade and escaped to sea, but Stardragon and Hesla inflicted far greater losses.
• Han Xiao rewarded Frenzied Sword for taking a blow for him and saw that his second advancement requirements had reached 3/3.

Han Xiao withdrew from the battlefield after earning rewards and meeting the minimum requirement for his mission, while Germinal’s leader considered the organization’s worsening position. A mysterious outbreak among Gene Improvement Plan subjects gave Germinal new hope, and Zhang Wei’s squad discussed Han Xiao’s identity as Black Phantom on their return flight.

• Han Xiao reviewed his battle rewards, kept [The Seed Sleeps in the Dust] active to pursue a higher rating, and escaped by helicopter after destroying his truck.
• Lin Yu reported Germinal’s losses to the leader, who worried that the Six Nations might attack the Andia Continent and resolved to eliminate Zero.
• An assistant gave the leader reports of a spreading phenomenon among successful Gene Improvement Plan test subjects, and the leader believed it could distract the Six Nations.
• Hila removed her combat suit, examined a healing bullet wound, and watched the dark sea as she waited for the next battle.
• Li Yalin asked how Han Xiao had become Black Phantom, and Zhang Wei explained what had happened during the battle.
• Di Susu teased Li Yalin and asked the squad about Black Phantom after hearing that he had fought alongside them.

Li Yalin’s team learned of Black Phantom’s reputation and guessed that he was Han Xiao, while the Thirteenth Bureau and Stardragon’s leaders dismissed the theory and approved aid for the Dark Net’s sanctuary plan. After the Battle of Tedramira River, Frenzied Sword’s performance intrigued Long Sky, and Han Xiao used the experience he had gained to complete his Second Advancement.

• Di Susu told Li Yalin’s team alarming stories about Black Phantom, and Zhang Wei reported their suspicion to the department head, who denied that Black Phantom was Han Xiao.
• The Seven Seats Committee agreed to provide material aid for the Dark Net’s sanctuary plan, while Gu Hui and Old Man Gao noted that Han Xiao had been missing for over two months.
• Bennett realized Stardragon had mistaken Black Phantom’s actions for help from the Dark Net and decided to accept the aid without correcting the misunderstanding.
• Long Sky questioned Frenzied Sword about his battlefield performance and hidden storyline, then proposed that they try to find Black Phantom themselves.
• Han Xiao reached a wilderness hill after flying away from the Taidamila River and spent 6.1 million experience to complete his Second Advancement.

After his Second Advancement, Han Xiao spent experience to raise his levels, skills, and intelligence, greatly increasing his combat strength. He planned to visit beginner villages across the planet to teach players the Vigor Tempering Method and began considering a second combat style.

• Han Xiao felt his body and senses grow stronger after his Second Advancement, which allowed him to raise his level to sixty.
• Han Xiao raised Night Stalker to its maximum level, advanced Apprentice Mechanic to level ten, and strengthened several skills and blueprints.
• Han Xiao invested all thirty-eight free attribute points into intelligence, reaching level fifty and an energy level of 1,213 onas.
• Han Xiao planned to build his fame by visiting beginner villages and teaching players the Vigor Tempering Method before they reached level twenty.
• Han Xiao concluded that war might still break out between the Six Nations and Germinal, then decided to develop a second combat style alongside sniping.

Han Xiao chose to develop support-type light mech armor and traveled to Green Valley Town to find more players and gain class-change experience. He arrived to an excited crowd of players while Bashas watched warily from inside the settlement.

• Han Xiao decided to build support-type light armor to enhance his physical abilities, since his other machinery was impractical to carry or deploy.
• After his strength increased, Han Xiao flew by helicopter to Green Valley Town, a Southern Continent settlement controlled by the Ofmera Family.
• Han Xiao left Frenzied Sword aboard the helicopter and walked through the forest toward the town.
• Bashas recognized Han Xiao as Black Phantom and sent an assistant to meet him while he watched from behind the fence.
• Green Valley Town's players surrounded Han Xiao excitedly, eager for the class-change opportunity players at Big Horn Mountain had received.

Han Xiao drew players’ attention in Green Valley Town while Bashas ordered him watched, and Meat Bun Hits Dog began recording the encounter. Meanwhile, the Six Nations decided to launch a joint invasion of Andia to destroy Germinal, leaving war imminent.

• Meat Bun Hits Dog filmed Han Xiao after deciding Black Phantom would make a compelling subject for his first Galaxy video.
• Han Xiao displayed his skills for the players, who realized they could pay 2,500 Aquamarine Dollars for a chance to change to the Mechanic Class.
• Han Xiao declined Bashas’s invitation to enter Green Valley Town, and Bashas ordered his people to watch him and question the refugees.
• Meat Bun Hits Dog recorded the exchange and grew curious about Black Phantom’s origins on Planet Aquamarine.
• The Six Nations leaders voted on military action against Germinal, with three in favor, two opposed, and Ordifenna abstaining.
• The Six Nations agreed to coordinate an expedition to Andia, planning to attack Germinal from six directions.

Han Xiao watched players speculate about Black Phantom and saw Galaxy Times discuss his role and the mixed reactions to the Mechanic Class. The episode ended with Han Xiao noticing a pinned reply by Luosimen about the class.

• Players in Green Valley Town posted about Black Phantom, and Han Xiao reviewed their theories about his identity and role.
• Han Xiao rejected players seeking hidden quests, refused to be swayed by charm, and repeatedly killed players who attacked him.
• Han Xiao found the newly pinned Galaxy Times post and watched its hosts review the open beta and the settings of several newbie planets.
• Galaxy Times discussed Black Phantom's appearance on Planet Aquamarine, describing him as a mysterious figure hostile to Germinal and an easy route to Mechanic advancement.
• The hosts reported that some players regretted advancing to the Mechanic Class, and Han Xiao noticed a pinned reply from Luosimen.

Han Xiao watched a Galaxy Times program that featured complaints about the Mechanic Class, a combat-focused trailer starring him, and news about professional players. His growing exposure attracted more players to switch to the Mechanic Class, and he expected its share on Planet Aquamarine to exceed its former numbers.

• Han Xiao read Luosimen's repeated complaints that the Mechanic Class was weak in combat and costly to play, and considered how to reassure players without relying only on his own strength.
• Galaxy Times aired a rough cut of the next version's trailer, featuring Han Xiao's combat footage alongside scenes of the other main classes.
• The program reported that overseas clubs had bought accounts for first-string players, while Maple Moon and Frenzied Sword had gained attention in Huaxia.
• Han Xiao realized he had appeared throughout the program and that the exposure had already brought more players to switch to the Mechanic Class, earning him experience.

Wild beasts attacked Green Valley Town, and Han Xiao joined the defense to test his strength against the herd. He beat the pack’s leader nearly to death, but the wolves swarmed over and buried him beneath them.

• Bashas realized the drifters could resurrect and planned to recruit them as expendable fighters before Black Phantom’s arrival made him cautious.
• A herd of Gray Nightmare Wolves and Purple-scaled Pythons attacked Green Valley Town, and Bashas ordered the town sealed while soldiers fired from the walls.
• The players received an emergency mission to defend the town, and Han Xiao watched their battle before deciding to intervene.
• Han Xiao charged into the herd, blocked a wolf’s attack, and fought off the surrounding beasts with his Magnetically Controlled Armor and Repulsion Field Driver.
• Han Xiao reached the wolf king, pinned it down, and struck its head until it was near death, prompting the pack to pile on top of him.