Chapter Summaries

As the Three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association battled for influence in the Interstellar Black Market, Han Xiao sent Black Star Army players to take over local channels. After monitoring their progress, he learned that Lothaire had come to visit him.

• The Three Universal Civilizations’ sanctions drove Beyond Grade A forces to relocate and sparked a struggle for control of the Interstellar Black Market.
• Crispy Chicken Wings rescued a group of black market operators from armed pursuers and showed them his authorization to take over their business.
• Crispy Chicken Wings explained that the Black Star Army had sent players to integrate local black market channels under orders from the black market organization.
• Han Xiao watched the players’ progress and noted that the Black Star Army was advancing more smoothly than other forces.
• An administrator told Han Xiao that Lothaire had arrived to visit him without an appointment.

Lothaire returned to the Black Star Army after abandoning the stalled Silver Revolution and asked Han Xiao to take her back. Han Xiao agreed on the condition that she cut ties with the Silver Revolution, while Lothaire teased Reynold about wanting Black Star as a brother-in-law.

• Han Xiao summoned Reynold to meet Lothaire, who had returned after decades away from the army.
• Lothaire told Han Xiao that she had quit the Silver Revolution because its cause had stalled and she no longer believed it could oppose the Three Universal Civilizations.
• Lothaire asked Han Xiao to let her rejoin the Black Star Army, explaining that she now saw the Association as a more promising way to oppose the Three Universal Civilizations.
• Han Xiao agreed to take Lothaire back, provided she had no further contact with the Silver Revolution and did not leave the army again.
• After Han Xiao left, Reynold warned Lothaire to behave as a subordinate, and she teased him by saying Black Star would make a good match for her.

Han Xiao advanced his plans to connect the Interstellar Black Market, pressure the Three Universal Civilizations with more revived Beyond Grade As, and negotiate Sanctuary Revival slots with the Super Star Cluster Alliance. The chapter ended with Aurora and Fording trapped in a starless domain beside a gigantic, damaged being that Aurora sensed was still alive.

• Han Xiao monitored the players taking over black markets and saw how their shared mission could connect local black market powers.
• Han Xiao asked Oathkeeper to prepare reliable members of the second batch of revived for public appearances that would pressure the Three Universal Civilizations.
• Han Xiao accepted three of the Super Star Cluster Alliance's offers for revival slots, rejected the rest, and demanded payment before delivery.
• Aurora and Fording found themselves trapped in a pitch-black domain where their spaceship could not escape.
• Aurora sensed a faint pulse of life from a gigantic, damaged body of intertwined flesh and machinery floating nearby.

Han Xiao investigated a colossal living body fused from flesh and machinery, which trapped the group and began dissolving them. A vision revealed that it had been formed from many Mechanics during the World Tree invasion, then damaged and lost in space.

• Han Xiao joined Aurora and Fording, examined the enormous body, and led the ship closer after finding that the surrounding space only allowed them to move forward.
• The group entered a cavity in the body's finger, where Fording developed the [Dissolution] status and Han Xiao discovered that the body was corroding both living beings and the ship.
• Han Xiao identified the body as [Unknown Aggregate] and found that its flesh contained Esper Genes belonging to Mechanics.
• Han Xiao used [Bold Explorer] on a piece of flesh and saw a vision of the World Tree Civilization invading an unknown civilization.
• Han Xiao witnessed Mechanics combine their bodies and mechanical armies into the colossal body, which was later battered, swallowed by a black hole, and left drifting through space.

Han Xiao learned that the damaged mecha had been built by a civilization destroyed by the World Tree, and saw its remains as a valuable source of technology. He disabled its domain and sent it to Black Star Army territory for study, while Aurora and Fording continued their exploration.

• Han Xiao pieced together the mecha’s history and concluded that its creators had tried to create a being beyond Beyond Grade A to resist the World Tree.
• Han Xiao recognized the mecha’s fusion technology as valuable but declined Aurora’s offer to heal it after a hidden mission appeared, choosing to study it while it remained dormant.
• Han Xiao sent mechanical soldiers into the mecha to disable its domain-generating device and arranged to transport it to the Mechanical Life Civilization in Black Star Army territory.
• Han Xiao thanked Aurora for finding the mecha and promised to grant her a request, then teleported home to study it.
• Aurora insisted that Fording continue exploring with her, and Fording regretted being stuck traveling with her for over a year.

Han Xiao studied the unknown mechanical wreck SWY-001 while the Black Star Army’s mechanical and Black Spirit civilizations continued to grow. Elsewhere, a Calamity Grade fighter destroyed Army Commander’s Big Dick’s black market base, prompting him to recruit players for revenge.

• Han Xiao brought SWY-001 to Planet Apostle, ordered Dark Emperor to establish a secret research institute, and began analyzing the machine’s damaged memories and control system.
• Han Xiao gained 16.4% progress in his exclusive talent research, bringing the total to 61.1%.
• Han Xiao continued studying SWY-001 and persuaded several Sanctum members to wait before returning, while players struggled to integrate black market operations amid growing conflict.
• Dafis destroyed Army Commander’s Big Dick’s black market base and killed him after he exhausted his revivals.
• Army Commander’s Big Dick called on the players in the Army channel to help him take revenge on Dafis, and they eagerly volunteered.

Jupiter led the Gods Guild in an assault on the Heavy Armored Iron Guard’s headquarters to kill its Calamity Grade leader, Dafis. After the players broke into the base, Dafis confronted them and charged into their waiting forces.

• Jupiter persuaded the Gods Guild’s core members to attempt a guild-only Calamity Grade kill and led their fleet to the Didora Star System.
• Dafis and a Feni Civilization envoy discussed suppressing the Beyond Grade A Association’s black-market agents in exchange for a share of the profits.
• The Gods Guild bombarded the Heavy Armored Iron Guard’s headquarters and sent players inside in assault pods.
• Dafis learned that the base was under attack and left the office to confront the invaders.
• Army Commander's Big Dick recognized Dafis, called the players to attack him, and the main tank group rushed forward as Dafis charged.

The Gods Guild attacked Dafis’s base, but he escaped after the guild fleet’s fire support forced him to flee. He took refuge on Planet Birger, where Jupiter ordered the fleet to attack despite the colony’s warnings, and the chapter ended as the bombardment struck the city around Dafis.

• Dafis fought off the Gods Guild’s players until Jupiter ordered the fleet to bombard him, forcing Dafis to escape while his subordinates suffered heavy losses.
• The Feni Civilization security patrol arrived, and the envoy directed Dafis to flee to Planet Birger, but Army Commander's Big Dick detonated a dark energy annihilation bomb that destroyed the base and killed the envoy.
• Jupiter ordered the Gods Guild fleet to break through the patrol’s blockade and pursue Dafis, who fled toward Planet Birger.
• Planet Birger’s governor denied the guild permission to enter, but Jupiter ordered the fleet to fire on the colony anyway.
• Dafis evaded the first shots in the city and realized that the Gods Guild had attacked a colony planet without regard for civilian casualties.

Gods Guild attacked Planet Birger to kill Dafis, drawing the Feni Civilization’s forces into the battle. Han Xiao intervened to limit the damage to the Black Star Army’s reputation, while the reinforcements ultimately crippled Dafis and left him for the players to kill; Jupiter then faced the problem of escaping the planet.

• Gods Guild bombarded Planet Birger, captured defense ships, and sent players after Dafis as the governor called the Feni Civilization for help.
• Han Xiao learned that Army Immortals were attacking a colony planet and used Phillip to connect to the guild fleet, intending to erase evidence and clean up after them.
• Dafis kept fighting the players while awaiting reinforcements, but his injuries and exhaustion worsened as four cities were destroyed.
• The Feni Civilization’s nearly two thousand warships arrived and initially stood by, prompting Dafis to suspect betrayal and attempt to flee.
• The reinforcements opened fire on Dafis as he escaped, wrecking his mech and leaving him badly wounded; Gods Guild players then killed him and celebrated their first kill.
• Jupiter was relieved that the guild had killed Dafis but worried that the Feni fleet would prevent them from escaping Planet Birger.

After the Gods Guild killed Dafis and escaped Planet Birger, the Feni Civilization covered up its role in the incident and used the massacre to fuel public condemnation of the Black Star Army and the Beyond Grade A Association. Han Xiao confronted Jupiter over the guild’s actions but ultimately announced that the army would take responsibility without punishing them.

• The Gods Guild retrieved its players and fled Planet Birger while the Feni Civilization’s fleet stood by, then pursued them only after they had escaped.
• The Feni Civilization’s executives agreed to portray Dafis as a rogue who caused the disaster and to claim the army had let the other attackers leave to protect civilians.
• The Feni Civilization publicly condemned the Planet Bilge Massacre and reported suspected Black Star Army involvement, prompting the Three Universal Civilizations to intensify their propaganda against the army and the Beyond Grade A Association.
• The Gods Guild celebrated its first Calamity Grade kill, while Jupiter worried that the incident had brought trouble to the Black Star Army.
• Han Xiao appeared before the guild, criticized Jupiter for acting without reporting to the army, and then said the army would not punish the guild because he would shoulder responsibility for the incident.

Han Xiao defended Jupiter and the Gods Guild after their attack on Dafis, while privately deciding that the incident could help make the Black Star Army seem more dangerous and ease its efforts to consolidate the black market. He left the guild with a warning to avoid unnecessary collateral damage and let Jupiter share their conversation with players on the forums.

• Han Xiao told Jupiter that the army would not punish the Gods Guild for killing Dafis, though he urged them to avoid involving civilians and to report future operations.
• Han Xiao reasoned that the Three Universal Civilizations had used the army’s good reputation to constrain it, and decided that a more threatening image could discourage opposition to the association’s black-market work.
• Han Xiao chose not to reward or punish the guild, believing that protecting the players’ freedom to fight would preserve their loyalty and support the army’s growth.
• Han Xiao ended the call after telling Jupiter to keep working to take control of the region’s black market.
• Poseidon asked whether to post his recording of the conversation, and Jupiter told him to share it on the forums in the guild’s name.

After the Gods Guild killed Dafis, Han Xiao backed the guild and signaled that the Black Star Army would support retaliation against hostile Calamity Grade targets. The Three Universal Civilizations’ pressure failed to restrain the army, leaving civilizations wary and the leaders concerned that Black Star’s control over the Immortals would determine the galaxy’s future.

• The Gods Guild released its conversation with Han Xiao, and players learned that the army would support guilds fighting hostile Calamity Grade targets as long as they avoided excessive collateral damage.
• The Three Universal Civilizations fueled public condemnation of the Black Star Army, but the army refused to accept accusations without evidence and remained unmoved.
• Several civilizations began easing their opposition to the association’s efforts to consolidate black markets, while Holmes ended his cooperation with his local civilization and fled to hide.
• Louis, Mabrus, and the Arcane Pope discussed using their own Immortals to fight players, but worried about controlling them and losing them to other factions.
• Mabrus raised the question of whether Black Star could use Sanctuary Revival again, and the leaders recognized that the galaxy’s future might depend on him.

After a month of fighting over black markets, Han Xiao completed a breakthrough in reverse engineering SWY-001 and learned about the destroyed Kama Republic Alliance. He used Awakening Points to finish his first exclusive talent, which strengthened his Mechanical Force and mechanical creations.

• The Super Star Cluster Alliance released information about the Feni Civilization's sheltering of the alliance, shifting public opinion and prompting civilizations to reduce covert interference.
• The Three Universal Civilizations sent Immortals to challenge the Black Star Army, while the two sides and their players fought over black markets and the army's guilds defeated several hostile Calamity Grade Supers.
• Han Xiao decoded SWY-001's memory files and learned that the Kama Republic Alliance had been destroyed by the World Tree Civilization after its Fusion Mechanical Ascension technology failed to save it.
• Han Xiao reached level 344, invested Awakening Points to raise his exclusive talent progress to 100%, and selected main class enhancement and mechanical combat as its focuses.
• Han Xiao replaced the talent's long-range artillery effect with a main class attribute bonus and gained [(Unnamed) · Han Xiao], which increased his Intelligence, Mechanical Force strength, and mechanical efficiency.

Han Xiao awakened and named a powerful combat talent, secured the Kingdom of the Four Gods’ agreement to join the Beyond Grade A Association, and learned that the second Sanctuary key was nearly complete. As he weighed how to handle the Three Universal Civilizations’ possible reckoning, Mornisa and several Mechanics began an operation to infiltrate Manison’s database.

• Han Xiao awakened a coefficient-based exclusive talent, named it [Great Emperor of War Han Xiao], and received a ten percent intelligence boost along with stronger Mechanical Force and mechanical efficiency.
• Joy told Han Xiao that the Kingdom of the Four Gods would join the association while retaining its freedom and keeping its Secondary Dimension coordinates secret, and Han Xiao agreed to their terms.
• Oathkeeper told Han Xiao that the First Sanctum key had reached 92 percent completion and shared the progress of the other Sanctuary keys.
• Han Xiao considered using Sanctuary Revival to deter the Three Universal Civilizations if they initiated a reckoning, but resolved to limit damage to the Explored Universe’s military forces and preserve the status quo if possible.
• Mornisa and several direct-member Beyond Grade A Mechanics completed preparations with the Three Universal Civilizations’ equipment and AI support, then began their operation to infiltrate Manison’s database.

Manison faced an assault on his secret database by Mornisa, several Beyond Grade A Mechanics, and the Three Universal Civilizations’ main intelligences. As his defenses faltered, he trapped Mornisa in Supreme Virtual and began beating her, while the larger invasion remained underway.

• Manison detected an intrusion into his database and confronted Mornisa, his former student, outside the firewall.
• Mornisa revealed that she had brought several Beyond Grade A Mechanics and support from the Three Universal Civilizations’ main intelligences to seize Manison’s secrets and accumulated technology.
• Manison and Finit led the defense with AI guards, reinforced firewalls, and data traps, but the attackers broke through the outer defenses.
• Mornisa taunted Manison as the invaders pressed deeper toward his confidential databases, while Manison steadily contracted his defensive line.
• Manison used Supreme Virtual to drag Mornisa’s Virtual Soul into a virtual world and smashed her flat with a blow.

Mornisa and the Three Universal Civilizations' main AIs raided Manison's database, stealing vast intelligence and technical data before escaping. Han Xiao arrived afterward and began weighing the Association's response, then asked whether the stolen data included Manison's secretly copied Virtual Mutiny Virus technology.

• Manison repeatedly attacked Mornisa's virtual soul with Supreme Virtual while resisting the invasion and trying to send a request for help.
• Mornisa's team breached a classified database, stole important data, and escaped in their teleported virtual brainwave amplifier before reinforcements arrived.
• Manison learned that the invaders had stolen much of his faction intelligence and many technological blueprints, though his core technologies remained safe.
• Han Xiao arrived and discussed how the Beyond Grade A Association should respond to the Three Universal Civilizations' attack on Manison.
• Han Xiao asked whether Manison's secretly copied Virtual Mutiny Virus technology was among the stolen data, leaving Manison stunned that he knew the secret.

Han Xiao confronted Manison about his secret research into the Virtual Mutiny Virus and warned that its discovery could destroy the balance between the association and the Three Universal Civilizations. After the stolen research records revealed Manison’s progress, the three leaders ordered preparations for war.

• Han Xiao revealed that he knew Manison was developing the Virtual Mutiny Virus, and Manison admitted his research had advanced and that the intruders had stolen experiment records.
• Han Xiao warned Manison that the virus could turn the association into a threat to all interstellar society, but Manison defended it as a deterrent and left the decision to Han Xiao.
• Han Xiao returned to Black Star Palace and concluded that the stolen records could accelerate the coming conflict, so he began preparing for the changed situation.
• Louis received a report showing that Manison’s records documented progress on the Virtual Mutiny Virus, and Mabrus and the Arcane leader reacted with anger.
• Louis ordered Mabrus and the Arcane leader to begin mobilizing for war.

Han Xiao welcomed new members to the Beyond Grade A Association and called for a forceful response after the Three Universal Civilizations infiltrated Manison's database. As both sides mobilized toward war, the Three Universal Civilizations revealed that Manison had been developing the Virtual Mutiny Virus, triggering widespread panic and outrage.

• Han Xiao introduced Joy, other recluses, and revived Sanctum members as new members of the association.
• The association agreed to condemn the Three Universal Civilizations, mobilize its forces, and gather true bodies in the Shattered World after the database infiltration.
• Ames relayed Iso's prophecy of a universe-shaping confrontation, and Han Xiao told Kasuyi to prepare the Void Lords to monitor the Three Universal Civilizations' dimension armies.
• The association and the Three Universal Civilizations publicly condemned one another and began massive military mobilizations, alarming interstellar society and prompting the Super Star Cluster Alliance to guard its borders.
• The Three Universal Civilizations sent a joint fleet toward Machine Race territory and announced that Manison had secretly developed the Virtual Mutiny Virus, demanding that he surrender the technology and destroy its backups.

After Manison’s Virtual Mutiny Virus research was exposed, Han Xiao chose to protect him and refuse to hand over the technology, despite the risk of war with the Three Universal Civilizations. Their fleets faced off at the Association’s defensive perimeter, and Han Xiao prepared to meet the Three Universal Civilizations in person.

• Han Xiao explained that the Association would protect Manison and keep the virus technology, while its members deployed forces from the Ancient Star Desert to block the Three Universal Civilizations’ fleet.
• The Association announced that it would investigate Manison, restrain him, and seal away the technology, while condemning the Three Universal Civilizations’ military action and rejecting their interference.
• The Association’s forces formed a defensive perimeter around Machine Race territory as interstellar society reacted to the escalating crisis.
• Simon Tagema ordered the joint fleet to advance, but operations command halted it at the perimeter and instructed it to surround the Association’s forces while negotiations proceeded.
• Han Xiao and Manison watched the standoff and discussed the Three Universal Civilizations’ hesitation to attack, then Han Xiao prepared to meet them in person.

Han Xiao rejected the Three Universal Civilizations’ demand to surrender the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology and declared himself the boundary between their fleets. With a ten-day ultimatum in place, the Three Universal Civilizations prepared to bring in all their direct-line Beyond Grade As while the Association waited anxiously for the next move.

• Han Xiao and the Three Universal Civilizations’ leaders argued publicly over the technology, but neither side yielded, and Louis issued a ten-day ultimatum.
• Han Xiao announced that the Three Universal Civilizations would have to get past him to force the Association to surrender the technology, then accepted the prospect of a coming battle.
• Mabrus, Louis, and the Arcane Church’s leader privately offered to withdraw and support the Association in exchange for the technology and Sanctuary Revival information, but Han Xiao ended the call.
• Simon ordered the fleet to assemble a High-Dimensional Apocalypse Teleporter and prepare to receive all the Three Universal Civilizations’ direct-line Beyond Grade As.
• At Black Star Palace, Milizaus, Sun Hunter, Kant, Kasuyi, and Hila discussed the looming conflict and the dangers facing the Association.