Chapter Summaries

Han Xiao completed his trade with Oathkeeper, receiving two Primordial Esper Ability Entities and two golden blueprints in exchange for Holy Light Particle. Their conversation revealed clues about the Child of Destiny and the Spirit Emperor, then Han Xiao shocked Oathkeeper by mentioning Sanctum’s secret plan to revive The First Ones.

• Fording exchanged the goods with the Sanctum envoy, and Han Xiao confirmed the entities and blueprints were genuine.
• Han Xiao questioned Oathkeeper about the Child of Destiny, learning how its information-state particles created progeny and enabled it to foresee the future.
• Oathkeeper admitted he hosted Soul Flame and said the Spirit Emperor had survived his final battle as a disembodied mind that later disappeared.
• Han Xiao told Oathkeeper to give his regards to The First Ones after their revival, and Oathkeeper realized he had never checked himself as a possible mole.

Han Xiao learned why the Sanctum Organization sought to revive historical Beyond Grade As and negotiated an alliance with Oathkeeper, agreeing to help the Awakening Plan in exchange for the Sanctuary’s revival method and other benefits. He accepted a hidden mission tied to the plan, while Oathkeeper returned to his base and told Luo and Fei that Black Star was their ally for now.

• Oathkeeper realized Han Xiao had known Sanctum’s intentions and asked why he had exposed them.
• Han Xiao explained that he wanted to increase the number of Beyond Grade As and demanded that the revived historical powerhouses stand with him.
• Oathkeeper revealed that Sanctum was founded by some of The First Ones to revive those who died in the Exploration Era, and confirmed that their method involved the Sanctuary.
• Han Xiao and Oathkeeper agreed to cooperate, with Han Xiao promising to protect Sanctum’s secret in exchange for its revival method, technology, intelligence, and ties to the revived individuals.
• Han Xiao accepted the hidden mission “Return to the Historical Stage,” which required helping Sanctum complete the Awakening Plan.
• Oathkeeper returned to the Sanctum Organization’s base and told Luo and Fei that Black Star was their ally for the time being.

Han Xiao reviewed two Primal Esper Abilities and four golden blueprints, then began preparing to build the devices before the public commendation ceremony. Meanwhile, Gaud trained toward Beyond Grade A, Carrot was assigned to a harsh training class, and Black Star’s warning led the Dynasty to suspend wormhole traversal tests.

• Han Xiao examined Natural Spiritual Energy and Frost Authority, considered possible hosts, and decided to look for compatible legion officers before giving either ability to Evans.
• Han Xiao studied the Psionic Obelisk and Getter Wave Fist blueprints, planned to build them alongside two other devices, and set to work during the two months before the ceremony.
• The Crimson Dynasty base director and chief instructor praised Gaud’s rapid progress, then assigned Carrot to an elite class with difficult opponents despite the chief instructor’s doubts about him.
• The Dynasty rejected a research group’s application to test wormholes after Black Star warned that conflict with the Super Star Cluster Alliance could leave the civilizations unable to manage unexpected risks.
• The research group leader canceled the traversal tests and ordered a researcher to calculate additional wormhole data instead.

The Sanctum Organization synthesized the final key and opened the Third Sanctum, but Manison’s last act destabilized the gateway before Oathkeeper entered and vanished. More than a month later, Han Xiao sparred with Hila, discussed growing tensions in the Free Competition Zone, and arrived at a commendation ceremony where the leaders of all three Universal Civilizations planned to honor him in person.

• Oathkeeper ordered the Sanctum Organization to synthesize the final key before the appointed day, and the fleet transformed the pitch-black planet into a white ring.
• The Sanctum Organization inserted its gathered keys and opened the Third Sanctum, but Manison’s remaining consciousness disrupted the gateway before Oathkeeper destroyed him and entered.
• Oathkeeper left Luo and Fei in charge, and the passage collapsed as the keys disintegrated and his locators stopped working.
• Han Xiao sparred with Hila, discussed his new weapons and the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s expansion, then traveled to the commendation ceremony.
• Tarrokov told Han Xiao that the leaders of all three Universal Civilizations would attend and present his medal in person.

Han Xiao attended the Intelligence Plague awards ceremony, where the three Universal Civilizations honored him with the Galaxy Medal. The celebration turned tense when a reporter challenged him over Manison's lack of recognition.

• Han Xiao speculated that the three Universal Civilizations might stage an assassination attempt, then joined Kasuyi, Kant, and other Beyond Grade As at the ceremony.
• Urranrell, Bader, and the Arcane pope arrived with their guards, and Urranrell praised the civilizations' unity while criticizing those who threatened interstellar order.
• The leaders awarded Han Xiao the Galaxy Medal for containing and ending the Intelligence Plague, and he gave a brief speech before inviting questions.
• A reporter accused Han Xiao of accepting honors for contributions Manison had helped make, and the hall fell silent as everyone looked toward Manison.

At the Galaxy Medal ceremony, Han Xiao rebuffed a reporter planted by the Super Star Cluster Alliance and later arranged to expose and donate the reporter’s payment. After receiving the medal, he was summoned by the Three Universal Civilizations’ leaders, while the Super Star Cluster Alliance prepared proxy forces to seize territory in the Free Competition Zone.

• Botas challenged Han Xiao over Manison’s contribution, and Han Xiao explained why Manison did not deserve the Galaxy Medal before ordering Botas to sit down.
• After the ceremony, Han Xiao told Sylvia not to kill Botas and instead to monitor his accounts and donate the money deposited by the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
• Han Xiao inspected the Galaxy Medal and discovered it granted a Universe Legend Point and improved his standing with the Three Universal Civilizations and their subordinate factions.
• Two Empire officers told Han Xiao that the three leaders wanted to meet with him, and he agreed to follow them.
• In a secret meeting, the Super Star Cluster Alliance envoys planned to use proxy forces and infiltrators to occupy territory in the Free Competition Zone before the Three Universal Civilizations intervened.

Han Xiao discussed the reporter incident with the Dynasty secretary-general before meeting the three leaders, who demanded that the Black Star Army and the Beyond Grade A Development Federation assist in the coming conflict with the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Han Xiao rejected their proposed justifications and the leaders’ pressure, leaving the dispute unresolved.

• Han Xiao and the secretary-general discussed why the reporter had cooperated with the plot and agreed to play down the incident without threatening his life.
• The secretary-general told Han Xiao that Urranrell’s term was nearing its end and that he expected to be transferred to govern a region afterward.
• Han Xiao met Urranrell, Bader, Dark Emperor Clottey, Oulu, and Urnos, and traded remarks with the leaders before Bader raised the coming dispute with the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
• Bader and Urranrell asked Han Xiao to use his influence over the Beyond Grade A Development Federation to help the Three Universal Civilizations, but Han Xiao refused to compromise the association’s neutrality.
• The leaders proposed using Han Xiao’s personal grudge against Modo Civilization as a pretext, then narrowed their request to having the Federation respond if Super Star Cluster Alliance Beyond Grade A experts intervened.
• Han Xiao challenged Bader’s demand as favoritism and told him to revoke every Beyond Grade A alliance agreement if he dared, leaving Bader silent.

Han Xiao refused the Three Universal Civilizations’ request to let the Development Federation favor them, and their negotiations ended without agreement. Days later, the Super Star Cluster Alliance launched coordinated invasions across the Shattered World, beginning the conflict known as the Eve Incident.

• Han Xiao rejected the Three Universal Civilizations’ request for the Development Federation to oppose the Super Star Cluster Alliance and explained the association’s demands for greater equality.
• The Three Universal Civilizations refused to remove Beyond Grade As’ restrictions without conditions, and the meeting ended without a consensus.
• The Three Universal Civilizations broadcast Han Xiao’s Galaxy Medal ceremony, prompting debate across the galaxy.
• The Northern Front attacked a resource planet in the Free Competition Zone on behalf of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, routing its defenders.
• Player guild alliances and other armed groups joined coordinated attacks on about 2,400 strategic planets, expanding the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s territory and triggering the Eve Incident.

Thunder Horn’s commanders waited for the Three Universal Civilizations to respond to the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s expansion, then received an order encouraging forces to attack the alliance. Han Xiao gave Black Star Army players a counterfeit main-storyline mission targeting Modo, while considering the Development Federation’s standoff with the Three Universal Civilizations and preparing to contact Sorokin.

• Thunder Horn’s commander-in-chief chose to wait for the Three Universal Civilizations’ response before committing the exploration army to the conflict.
• The Three Universal Civilizations announced sanctions against the Super Star Cluster Alliance and promised support and territory to forces that attacked it, prompting Thunder Horn to mobilize for the middle ring.
• Black Star Army players received Han Xiao’s war order and a faction-war mission targeting the Modo Civilization, which they mistook for the main storyline mission.
• Han Xiao reflected that the counterfeit mission would keep players in the army and focus their efforts against Modo, while the Development Federation’s demand to end the knowledge monopoly remained unlikely to succeed.
• Han Xiao considered secretly cooperating with Sorokin against Modo and decided the conflict offered a chance to test his suspicions about Sorokin’s identity.

Han Xiao pressured Sorokin into funding the war against Modo and opening the Infinite Financial Group’s channels to the Germinal Financial Group by hinting that he had uncovered Sorokin’s past as Spirit Emperor. After the call, Sorokin realized Han Xiao might discover his other identities and considered killing him to eliminate the threat.

• Han Xiao asked Sorokin to fund military supplies for the campaign against Modo, and Sorokin agreed despite his reluctance.
• Han Xiao explained the business opportunity created by economic sanctions against the super star cluster civilizations and asked to use Sorokin’s channels for the Germinal Financial Group.
• Han Xiao brought up Rovel Sisok, Spirit Emperor, and suggested that the historical figure might have survived as Soul Flame’s former host.
• Sorokin agreed to cooperate after realizing Han Xiao was probing his identity, then crushed his communicator once the call ended.
• Sorokin feared that an investigation could expose his involvement in the Tragedy of the Pinnacle and concluded that killing Han Xiao might be the only way to end the danger.

The Black Star Army attacked the Modo Civilization’s territory in the Emerald Star Cluster, using its Immortal troops to overwhelm a stronghold and drive off Modo’s reinforcements. Modo’s leaders debated how to resist the army, and Lagos hinted that he might have a plan to trouble Black Star.

• The Free Competition Zone erupted into war after the Three Universal Civilizations issued anti-monopoly regulations, and the Black Star Army began attacking the Modo-controlled Ferdinand Star System war zone.
• The Black Star Army’s fleet shattered a stronghold planet’s shield and deployed more than one hundred thousand Immortals, who overwhelmed the defenders and caused their lines to collapse.
• A Modo reinforcement fleet arrived too late to save the stronghold and retreated after seeing the Immortals overrun it.
• Roddick and Modo’s leaders discussed the Black Star Army’s advance, their lack of allied support, and the need to recruit Immortal organizations to fight back.
• Roddick said Modo would have to make Black Star withdraw, and Lagos suggested he might have an idea for causing Black Star trouble.

Lagos proposed using the Soul-Switching Twins or the Dragon Emperor to distract Black Star, while Han Xiao advanced a wider plan to trap the Modo Civilization. The chapter ended with Han Xiao secretly recruiting players as spies and bringing Lothaire into the operation.

• Lagos told Roddick that the Soul-Switching Twins could target Black Star or the Dragon Emperor, and suggested exploiting the Dragon Emperor’s weakness to draw Black Star away.
• The Black Star Army’s advance through the Ferdinand Star System opened a breach in the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s defenses and intensified fighting in the Emerald Star Cluster.
• Enterprise signed a cooperation agreement with the Infinite Financial Group and prepared to help identify the Super Star Cluster civilizations’ supply lines.
• Han Xiao summoned veteran players and assigned them secret missions to infiltrate enemy guilds and investigate Modo’s logistics.
• Han Xiao arranged a broader plan to encircle Modo and secretly contacted Lothaire to help carry it out.

The Silver Revolution’s leaders struggled to expand their movement, while Lothaire accepted Black Star’s request to stir up conflict in the Modo Civilization. Black Star’s agents and the Soul-Switching Twins were dispatched toward Modo, and Iso sensed a veiled threat there but could not foresee its details.

• Edmund learned that the Intelligence Plague had strengthened public support for the Three Universal Civilizations, leaving the Silver Revolution’s growth far below expectations.
• Lothaire told the Silver Revolution’s leaders that Black Star had asked her to intensify Modo’s social conflicts, then left to plan how to exploit its divisions.
• Rotel ordered the Assassins Mutual Aid Society to assemble and prepare for a mission to Modo.
• Modo’s officers assigned the Soul-Switching Twins to deal with Black Star and gave them a magic orb to obscure them from precognitive abilities.
• Iso sensed a warning connected to Modo but found that a masking device prevented him from seeing the specific future possibilities.

Han Xiao coordinated military and economic pressure against the Modo Civilization while preparing to monitor the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s supply lines. Three months into the conflict, a covert fleet carrying the Soul-Switching Twins arrived in the Shattered Star Ring.

• Han Xiao arranged for allies and financial groups to encircle the Modo Civilization and exploit its wartime economic crisis.
• Han Xiao decided Nero should monitor the Shattered Star Ring’s fleets, with Iso serving as his adviser, and Iso warned him that Modo might target him.
• Han Xiao estimated he could reach level 340 before Version 4.0 ended and planned to use his advancement to gain an advantage over the Mechanic Emperor.
• The Three Universal Civilizations’ sanctions and widespread unrest plunged the Modo Civilization into worsening economic and social turmoil.
• The Super Star Cluster Alliance gained advantages in most Free Competition Zone battles, but its forces struggled in the Modo war zone.
• A covert fleet carrying the Soul-Switching Twins arrived in the Shattered Star Ring through a cross-star-field stargate.

The Modo Civilization planned to use the Soul-Switching Twins to kill Iso Hariken and provoke Ames into a conflict that would draw Han Xiao away from the Shattered World Battle. As Han Xiao strengthened his precautions, Iso revealed he intended to leave after the battle, while Han Xiao agreed to accompany Ames to the Secondary Dimension World.

• Lagos briefed the Soul-Switching Twins on a plan to lure Iso Hariken out, manipulate him into getting killed, and frame a protected civilization to provoke Ames.
• The Soul-Switching Twins agreed to the assignment while privately planning to use the Soul-Switching Device to escape their imprisonment.
• Han Xiao praised Nero and Iso for uncovering Super Star Cluster Alliance supply routes and ordered Nero to intensify intelligence gathering.
• Iso told Han Xiao he planned to leave after the Shattered World Battle and wanted Han Xiao to pass the message to Ames without stopping him.
• Han Xiao contacted Ames, discussed the battle's likely duration, and agreed to join her on a trip to the Secondary Dimension World.

A Modo Civilization force used the Soul-Switching Device to replace the souls of Black Star Army tracking-team members, letting an agent impersonate the surviving captain and continue pursuing the fleet. As Nero sent Iso to investigate the ambush, Manison learned that the Soul-Switching Device had been deployed and considered exploiting the situation.

• A Black Star Army tracking team found a suspicious transport fleet, but the fleet attacked, destroying two shuttles and capturing the captain of the remaining ship.
• The Soul-Switching Twins used the Soul-Switching Device to replace the souls of the fleeing ship's crew with prepared agents, and the Modo commander sent them to infiltrate the Black Star Army.
• Nero questioned the supposed surviving captain, who reported the ambush and asked to keep pursuing the enemy; Nero approved his request.
• Tomar advised Nero to follow the second plan, so Nero dispatched Iso and an escort force to investigate the ambush site through prophecy.
• Manison received word that the Soul-Switching Twins and the Soul-Switching Device had left the Modo base, and he considered how he could take advantage of it.

Iso used his prophetic ability to help the Black Star Army track down a disguised Super Star Cluster Alliance transport ship, but Modo's Soul-Switching Twins secretly implanted suicide soldiers' souls into him to manipulate his report. The twins then revealed their hidden Grade B strength, stole the Soul-Switching Device, and escaped, leaving Modo's scheme against Iso in motion.

• Iso examined the landing site and foresaw the faction emblems the fleeing Super Star Cluster Alliance ships had adopted as disguises.
• The Black Star Army tracked a suspicious transport ship to a Light Rune Civilization planet and killed its crew during the capture, leaving no prisoners.
• Iso touched the captured ship and used his ability, allowing the Soul-Switching Twins to implant Modo suicide soldiers' souls in him and make him report false coordinates for the Alliance fleet's destination.
• The Soul-Switching Twins drew the souls from the soldiers guarding them and revealed that they could combine their energy to reach Grade B.
• The twins threatened Modo's commander, stored the Soul-Switching Device inside themselves, and escaped into the shadows while the commander ordered the higher-ups to be informed.

Lagos learned that the Modo Civilization had secretly implanted loyal personalities in the Soul-Switching Twins, while Iso vanished after helping Black Star Army attack Modo outposts. Han Xiao used Lodi’s prophetic ability to locate Iso’s likely fate and learned that Iso would die beside him in a war, leaving Han Xiao suspicious of a hidden plot.

• A military envoy told Lagos that hidden personalities implanted in the Soul-Switching Twins would make them return, and ordered him to continue the plan against Black Star.
• Iso refused Nero’s request to return to headquarters and demanded that his guards stop following him closely.
• More than half a month later, Nero told Han Xiao that Iso had disappeared and left a message reminding Han Xiao of their agreement.
• Han Xiao ordered a search for Iso and woke Lodi to use his prophetic ability to find him.
• Lodi prophesied that Han Xiao and a woman in a black dress would fight in a war with Iso’s corpse at their feet, prompting Han Xiao to suspect someone was plotting behind the scenes.

The Modo Civilization secretly partnered with Manison, who planned to use their operation against Black Star to locate the Soul-Switching Device. Meanwhile, Han Xiao and Ames prepared to search for the missing Iso, whom Han Xiao suspected had been controlled by an unknown method.

• The Three Kings of Modo agreed to cooperate with Manison, unaware that he mainly wanted information about the Soul-Switching Device.
• Jill Emerson and Warren Emerson used the Soul-Switching Device to escape in borrowed bodies and planned to wear away the mental trap implanted in their souls.
• Han Xiao visited Ames on Floating Dragon Island and told her that Iso had gone missing.
• Han Xiao suspected Iso had been controlled through an unknown method because the guards' detection devices had found no traces.
• Ames lent Han Xiao Dragon Calm's forces, and she, Han Xiao, and Fording prepared to leave and search for Iso.

Han Xiao’s army searched the Shattered Star Ring for Iso, but Manison’s affiliated force picked him up and destroyed his escape pod. Han Xiao found the wreckage and traced the pickup to the Mild Armed Transport Group, leaving him to secretly monitor Manison’s suspected forces.

• Han Xiao mobilized the Black Star Army, Ames’s forces, and a public bounty to search the Shattered Star Ring for Iso.
• Iso boarded a ship sent by the Mild Armed Transport Group, which destroyed his space pod before departing.
• Manison learned that his organization had picked up Iso and planned to use the opportunity to locate the Soul-Switching Device.
• Han Xiao’s fleet found the pod’s radioactive wreckage, and he used [Bold Explorer] to witness Iso’s escape and pickup.
• Han Xiao ordered Phillip to identify matching high-speed shuttles and found the Mild Armed Transport Group among the results.
• Han Xiao recognized the group as one of Manison’s affiliated forces and ordered his allies to secretly monitor it and the other suspected organizations.