Chapter Summaries

After Hila defeated Tolain and became a Beyond Grade A, the Shattered Star Ring’s major forces worried about how her advancement would affect the Black Star Army. Hila returned to headquarters and reunited with Aurora and Han Xiao, who asked whether she intended to become independent.

• News spread across the universe that Hila had defeated Tolain and become the Shattered Star Ring’s sixth Beyond Grade A, prompting rival forces to assess the change.
• Fosters, Heber, Sorokin, and Sisko reacted with alarm and frustration as they considered how Hila’s advancement strengthened Black Star’s position.
• Hila traveled from Dragon Calm to Black Star Army headquarters, where officers congratulated her and Hadavy eagerly denied ever criticizing her.
• Hila reunited with Aurora and checked on her before going to Han Xiao’s office.
• Han Xiao offered to support Hila if she chose to establish her own Beyond Grade A force, and Hila hesitated over her plans.

Hila chose to remain in the Black Star Army and was appointed deputy commander, making the army a force with two Beyond Grade As. Han Xiao rejected the empire’s offer to trade for the Evolution Cube and proposed gathering the universe’s Beyond Grade As, then invited every Arcane Church Beyond Grade A.

• Hila told Han Xiao she would stay with the Black Star Army for now, and Han Xiao appointed her deputy commander with authority over major army operations.
• Urranrell asked Han Xiao to persuade Hila to join the empire, and Han Xiao agreed to try while proposing a gathering of Beyond Grade As to maintain order in the Shattered Star Ring.
• Han Xiao told Urranrell he would keep the Evolution Cube, and he assessed that the army was strong enough to hold on to its share of the Evolutionary Totem business.
• The Black Star Army announced Hila’s appointment, and forces across the Shattered Star Ring reacted to the army having two Beyond Grade As under one roof.
• Tolain reported to the Arcane Church’s Beyond Grade A allies that Hila had badly wounded him, while Sun Hunter revealed that Han Xiao had invited every Arcane Church Beyond Grade A to visit.

Han Xiao invited the universe’s Beyond Grade As to a gathering in the Shattered Star Ring, aiming to strengthen his standing and secure benefits for the Black Star Army. As most factions prepared to attend, Hila asked Han Xiao to begin their long-awaited spar.

• Kasuyi, the Federation of Light, and Glory discussed whether to accept Han Xiao’s invitation, while Hedis argued that supporting him could keep the Evolution Cube from falling into the dynasty’s hands.
• Manison agreed to attend, hoping the gathering would raise the standing of all Beyond Grade As and benefit mechanics, while the Crimson Dynasty’s Beyond Grade As supported Han Xiao’s plan.
• Sorokin advised Heber to attend rather than oppose the dynasty’s support for Han Xiao, and Heber reluctantly faced the prospect of watching Han secure his position as the Shattered Star Ring’s leading figure.
• Sisko feared that refusing the invitation would give Han Xiao grounds to attack, and resolved that the Star Pupil Protoss had to move.
• News of the gathering leaked to the media, and Han Xiao let reporters build publicity while he prepared the event and anticipated earning Legend Points and recording the attendees’ attributes.
• Hila told Han Xiao she had rested enough after five days, and he agreed to spar with her in space rather than risk damaging headquarters.

Hila and Han Xiao fought a private spar on a barren planet, where Han Xiao’s army and Apostle Weapons overwhelmed her before he killed her with a powerful attack. Hila revived, accepted her defeat, and grew closer to Han Xiao, while the chapter ended with more Beyond Grade As openly arriving at Black Star Army headquarters.

• Han Xiao and Hila secretly traveled to a barren planet, where he deployed his mechanical army and used a Dominion avatar for their spar.
• Hila attacked with her death energy, but Han Xiao’s mechanical army and Apostle Weapons steadily wore her down as he charged his Endless Accumulation attack.
• Hila detonated Death Erosion on the Apostle Weapons and broke through their encirclement, only for Han Xiao to strike her with a blow that appeared to kill her.
• Hila revived through her Instant Death Immunity, recovered enough to speak, and told Han Xiao the fight had been worth it despite his nearly killing her.
• Han Xiao helped Hila back to the spaceship, and their relationship grew closer after the fight.
• More Beyond Grade As openly led fleets toward Black Star Army headquarters, drawing attention across the Shattered Star Ring.

Beyond Grade As from across the universe gathered at the Black Star Army headquarters, where Han Xiao used the waiting period to encourage them to build ties before the formal talks. Watching the gathering, Bader concluded that the growing number of Beyond Grade As could eventually threaten universal order and that the three Universal Civilizations might one day need to purge them.

• Reporters watched fleets bring nearly thirty Beyond Grade As to the Black Star Army headquarters and speculated about the purpose of the gathering.
• Manison and Kasuyi discussed using the united Beyond Grade A class to demand more influence, while Kasuyi rejected Manison’s attempt to recruit him.
• Han Xiao welcomed Manison, Kasuyi, Sorokin, and the other arrivals, then considered how the gathering could strengthen relationships among Beyond Grade As.
• Bader heard that seventy to eighty Beyond Grade As were expected to attend and argued that their numbers would eventually grow beyond control.
• Bader told the chief council elder that a purge of Beyond Grade As would eventually be necessary, though he would not initiate one during his term.

Han Xiao opened the talks by urging the gathered Beyond Grade A Supers to keep the Shattered Star Ring peaceful, with local Supers backing his leadership. Manison then raised the possibility of Beyond Grade As acting beyond their factional divisions, while Han Xiao said there were still too few of them.

• Han Xiao began the talks after more than seventy Beyond Grade A Supers gathered at Black Star Army headquarters.
• Seraon challenged Han Xiao's right to speak for the Shattered Star Ring and questioned whether he was truly its strongest; Austin affirmed Han Xiao's position.
• Han Xiao asked the visitors not to cause trouble in the Shattered Star Ring and warned that he would respond to anyone who did.
• Austin, Heber, Ames, Hila, and Sisko supported Han Xiao, and he offered to help the visitors in the Shattered World in return for keeping the peace.
• Manison argued that Beyond Grade As should look beyond factional divisions and develop a tacit understanding; after the group debated, Han Xiao said there were still too few Beyond Grade A Supers.

Han Xiao used a gathering of more than seventy Beyond Grade As to establish himself as their communication hub in the Shattered World and boost his standing in the Shattered Star Ring. Months later, the Dynasty opened the Shattered World, and the players returned as the new version began.

• Han Xiao agreed to serve as a bridge between Beyond Grade As in the Shattered World, and they reached a consensus to answer a future call to action when the time was right.
• Manison and Kasuyi discussed the risks of the Beyond Grade As' growing power and Sorokin's death as the meeting ended.
• Han Xiao leaked that the meeting had been held to protect the Shattered Star Ring, winning public acclaim and two Universe Legend Points.
• Han Xiao completed the Dynasty's stability mission, and Urranrell commended him without addressing the Beyond Grade As' plotting.
• The Dynasty activated the stargates to the Shattered World, and the players came online as the new version began.

Han Xiao opened the Shattered World to the universe as Galaxy version 4.0 began, and the Black Star Army’s returning players learned that their faction had spent twenty years building a major advantage there. As the players celebrated the Shattered World becoming a global meeting ground, Frenzied Saber discovered that Han Xiao had become a god.

• The Crimson Dynasty opened the Shattered World, and Han Xiao received the notification that version 4.0 had begun.
• Sylvia reported that the army’s Immortals had reappeared, and Han Xiao ordered her to bring them to him.
• Players returned to the Black Star Army headquarters and learned that twenty years had passed and the army controlled ten star systems in the Shattered World.
• Frenzied Saber and the other players discovered that the Shattered World had opened to outsiders, making it a global server where players from different star fields could meet.
• The Black Star Army players celebrated their head start in the Shattered World and searched for news of the army’s achievements.
• Frenzied Saber read the army’s history and was stunned to learn that Han Xiao had become a god.

Frenzied Saber and the other players learned how the Black Star Army had grown during the twenty-year update, then rushed to the Shattered World as the new world server opened. Han Xiao prepared to profit from the player influx and began planning retaliation against the Modo Civilization while pursuing Chaos Mysterious Energy.

• Frenzied Saber read the Black Star Army’s history, including Black Star becoming a Mechanical Deity, Hila reaching Beyond Grade A, and the Meeting of the Gods.
• Meat Bun planned history videos and posted a compilation on the forum, where players praised Black Star and discussed Hila and the army’s origins.
• Maple Moon led Frenzied Saber and the army players toward the docks, while foreign clubs worried about the Huaxia players’ faction advantage and considered alliances.
• Han Xiao recognized the Shattered World’s opening as a chance to profit from players and planned to support army players against rival clubs.
• Han Xiao prepared to retaliate against the Modo Civilization and sent forces after Chaos Mysterious Energy, then asked Phillip to locate the Modo fleet so he could send it a gift.

The Modo Civilization's Expeditionary Fleet entered the Shattered World and was ambushed before reaching the third-phase territories. Han Xiao stopped the hired Beyond Grade A Garoze from helping the Modo forces, and the chapter ended with a Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic taking control of their logistics ships.

• Roddick and Lagos discussed the fleet's route, the threat from the Dynasty, and the allies Modo had hired, including Garoze.
• The three Modo kings contacted Roddick, who assured them the fleet was safe just before unidentified ships ambushed it and forced it out of a jump.
• Roddick organized the fleet's defense and called for Garoze to join the battle, but Han Xiao contacted Garoze and ordered him to stay out of it.
• Garoze obeyed Han Xiao and held his fleet back, leaving the Modo forces fighting without their Beyond Grade A reinforcement.
• As Roddick prepared to charge the enemy, Modo's logistics ships went out of control after their operating AIs were breached, and he recognized a Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic was responsible.

Han Xiao’s forces ambushed the Modo Civilization’s expedition fleet, inflicting heavy losses and capturing logistics ships and crew. The attack left Roddick furious and weakened the Modo Civilization’s plans, while Han Xiao prepared to continue his retaliation.

• Han Xiao’s virtual invasion turned Modo logistics ships against their escort fleet, forcing Roddick to destroy some vessels as the expedition suffered heavy losses.
• Roddick accepted the Three Kings of Modo’s reprimand, then blamed Garoze for refusing to join the battle; Garoze ended the call and decided to terminate his employment.
• The Imperial patrol fleet arrived and promised to pursue the attackers, while Roddick and Lagos expected the search to find nothing.
• Nero confronted the captured Modo crew, who chose to work for the Black Star Army rather than die; he identified the technical experts for future service.
• Han Xiao learned that the ambush had succeeded and decided to keep pressuring the Modo Civilization in the Shattered World.

Han Xiao arranged compensation from the Crimson Dynasty for the Black Star Army’s attack on the Modo Civilization and created a system to let player guilds become recognized organizations within the army. He delivered selected Modo prisoners to the Kunde Race, renewing their hope that he would secure justice for them.

• Tarrokov praised Han Xiao for attacking the Modo Civilization, reminded him to cut off the prisoners’ outside communications, and urged him to continue the campaign.
• Han Xiao designed the Immortal Troops system, which would let high-ranking player teams earn merit, gain resources, and become affiliated organizations under the Black Star Army.
• Other Super Star Cluster civilizations discussed the attack and agreed to help the Modo Civilization if they had the opportunity.
• The Black Star fleet returned through a secret route and delivered selected Modo prisoners to Kunde Race colony planets.
• Kunde Race members pelted the prisoners with stones until Black Star Army soldiers intervened and explained the prisoners’ role in the destruction of the Kunde civilization.
• Kunde Race members recognized that Han Xiao had kept his promise and came to regard him as their benefactor and hope for justice.

As the Shattered World opened to outside forces, Han Xiao welcomed the Army players to Black Star Palace, recognized the Immortal Troops’ importance, and offered guilds rewards for joining the Army’s phase four exploration. He sent Hila to command the fleet while planning to keep his avatar with it, then spotted the new episode of Galaxy Times on the forums.

• Army players led by Frenzied Saber and Maple Moon arrived at Black Gate Star and traveled on to Black Star Palace.
• Han Xiao and Hila met the players, and Han Xiao told them the Army valued the Immortal Troops and would support them as fellow countrymen.
• Han Xiao offered registered guilds team contribution points, protected bases in Army territory, and a seventy percent quartermaster discount for joining the phase four exploration.
• Hila volunteered for the front-line operations, and Han Xiao appointed her fleet commander while promising to keep his avatar with the fleet.
• Han Xiao browsed the player forums and found the first new episode of Galaxy Times pinned at the top.

Han Xiao watched Galaxy Times analyze the world server and the Black Star Army’s advantages, then used the Army’s new systems to organize its players and accelerate their growth. Army players began building guild bases and joining the fourth-phase exploration, while Hila’s fleet headed toward a chaotic competition among outside forces.

• A Wei and Cuihua explained how the world server favored Shattered Star Ring players and highlighted the Black Star Army’s guild system as a major advantage.
• Han Xiao watched the hosts discuss foreign factions and players, noting that Sorokin and the Extinguished Legion could compete with the Army for recruits.
• The Dynasty, Temple, Long Sky, and other guilds registered as official Black Star Army organizations, and their members joined exploration missions and bought discounted equipment.
• Han Xiao expanded the Army’s experience-based purchasing system, drawing millions of Army players to the Black Star Palace.
• The Army divided its players between Hila’s fleet and guild development, with guilds establishing bases and acquiring resources as Hila led her fleet to the fourth-phase exploration area.

The Black Star Army entered the Emerald Star Cluster to establish a bridgehead, while Sorokin persuaded Gorutan to seize its intended base and test Hila. Hila refused to retreat and continued toward Planet Ferry, and Han Xiao prepared to answer the provocation.

• The Black Star Army arrived at the Emerald Star Cluster, and Hila chose Planet Ferry as the fleet’s bridgehead while some player guilds split off to explore independently.
• Sorokin asked Gorutan to seize Planet Ferry and obstruct the Black Star Army’s exploration, offering to double Gorutan’s next payout.
• Sorokin told Gorutan that Glory and Arcane intended to kill Hila and argued that fewer Beyond Grade As would benefit those who remained.
• Gorutan agreed to confront the Black Star Army and ordered his descendants to prepare their spaceships.
• Hila learned Gorutan had claimed Planet Ferry, rejected the adjutant’s suggestion to choose another base, and ordered the fleet to continue at full speed.
• Han Xiao received word of Gorutan’s move and decided he had no reason to back down.

Hila met Gorutan on Planet Ferry after he challenged the Black Star Army and tried to recruit her as an Interstellar Black Market protector. Their confrontation became a fight, and Hila shifted from a losing duel to attacking Gorutan’s fleet to restore her strength, leaving Gorutan enraged at the destruction of his descendants.

• Gorutan invited Hila to Planet Ferry alone, and Hila ordered her fleet to stand by while she went to hear him out.
• Gorutan urged Hila to leave the Black Star Army and join the Interstellar Black Market, but she rejected his offer and refused to abandon Planet Ferry.
• Hila attacked Gorutan, but his superior speed and strength overwhelmed her in close combat, despite her death energy troubling him.
• Han Xiao offered to intervene, but Hila refused and tried to keep Gorutan at a distance while continuing the fight.
• Hila used [Abyss of the Dead] to freeze Gorutan, then attacked his fleet and absorbed life force from his descendants to recover.
• Gorutan broke free of Hila’s mental control, saw his descendants being slaughtered, and flew into a rage.

Hila fought Gorutan by using his fleet to strengthen herself and lure him into a trap, but he struck her down with a devastating attack before she revived. Han Xiao then confronted Gorutan over the casualties and refused his demand for compensation, openly challenging him to continue the conflict.

• Hila slaughtered Gorutan's subordinates to replenish her strength, then baited him into attacking while Han Xiao's Dominion avatar guarded the Black Star Army fleet.
• Hila used [Dead Sea Stealth] and [Extradition of the Dead] to apply fifteen stacks of [Death Erosion] to Gorutan and detonate them with [Death God's Harvest], seriously injuring him.
• Gorutan struck Hila with Beast Ancestor Style · Piercing Annihilation Light, destroying Planet Ferry, but Hila reformed from her spirit body and recovered with an Aurora Potion.
• Han Xiao had Hila board a ship, then invited Gorutan to a floating base to discuss the clash; Gorutan demanded compensation and an apology from Hila.
• Han Xiao rejected Gorutan's demands, accused him of provoking and bullying his people, and declared that he would fight Gorutan to the end if necessary.

Han Xiao and Hila drove Gorutan to retreat after their clash, but Hila’s attack had secretly weakened his cellular vitality and shortened his lifespan. Gorutan revealed the danger of her ability to Sorokin, setting the stage for Glory and Arcane to target her.

• Gorutan withdrew after Han Xiao refused to yield, and Han Xiao reassured Hila that he supported her actions.
• Han Xiao explained that Gorutan had retreated because he was injured and faced both him and Hila, then warned Hila that Gorutan might target her again.
• Gorutan reviewed his casualties and discovered that Hila’s ability had weakened his cellular vitality, shortening his lifespan and potentially reducing his fertility.
• Gorutan told Sorokin about Hila’s ability and demanded that he pass the information to Glory and Arcane honestly.
• Gorutan concluded that Glory and Arcane would likely become even more determined to kill Hila because her lifespan-draining power threatened their fighters.

The Arcane Church considered recruiting Hila or eliminating her, while the Federation of Light explored capturing her as leverage to bargain with Black Star over the Scepter of All Gods. As conflict spread through the free competition zone, Black Star Army guilds arrived at Planet Hake to negotiate with local organizations and establish a resource base.

• Sorokin's intelligence about Hila's lifespan-draining ability prompted the Arcane Church to discuss recruiting her or eliminating her, while Kasuyi advised waiting to see what the Federation of Light would do.
• Hedis proposed that the Federation of Light capture Hila and trade her to Black Star for the unsealing of the Scepter of All Gods, but Manison declined to pursue her himself.
• News of the Black Star Army and Gorutan's clash spread, armed conflicts increased across the free competition zone, and Army player guilds began operating independently.
• Azure Sky and Frenzied Sword Fried Rice briefed the guild leaders on their plan to establish a presence on Planet Hake and negotiate with its financial groups.
• The fleet reached Planet Hake, its defenses approached warily, and Maple Moon prepared to negotiate on the guilds' behalf.

Maple Moon and the player guilds used their affiliation with the Black Star Army to secure a resource-sharing partnership with the Crescent Financial Group on Planet Hake. They launched a surprise assault on an Ursa Minor Civilization base, where the players’ overwhelming numbers of Grade B Supers shocked the defenders.

• Maple Moon told Facoman that the joint player force had 7,000 Super soldiers, including 5,800 Grade B members, and that its guilds were affiliated with the Black Star Army and the Immortal Troops.
• Facoman verified their credentials, invited the players to meet Crescent Financial Group officials, and the players triggered the faction mission [Planet Hark Power Struggle].
• Maple Moon and Smodick agreed to jointly develop Planet Hake, signed a cooperation agreement, and chose to raid several rival resource bases before their identities became known.
• Maple Moon, Hao Tian, and their allies led Crescent Financial Group troops in an attack on an Ursa Minor Civilization base; a hundred players transformed into biochemical aberrations and broke through its defenses.
• Handgabu sent the base’s Super troops against the attackers, but more than a thousand players displayed Grade B combat strength and overwhelmed the larger Ursa Minor force.