Chapter Summaries

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.

Han Xiao slaughtered a beast pack in close combat, drawing players’ attention back to the Mechanic Class, while Frenzied Sword arrived and accepted routine missions. The chapter ended as Daojianxiao pressured Frenzied Sword into a PK match, hoping to gain fame and attract Black Phantom’s attention.

• Han Xiao used his armor, roller shoes, and saber to kill the attacking wolves and pythons, impressing the watching players and inspiring Frenzied Sword.
• After the beasts retreated, Han Xiao collected experience and posted his fight’s recording on the forum, where Luosimen argued that the Mechanic Class was still useless.
• Frenzied Sword approached Han Xiao, accepted several gathering missions, and complained that he would rather dance.
• Daojianxiao confronted Frenzied Sword, bragged about his own reputation, and challenged him to a PK match.
• Frenzied Sword hesitated over fighting as a Mechanic, but Daojianxiao pressured him to agree while hoping to catch Black Phantom’s attention.

Han Xiao lent Frenzied Sword an Electrothermal Cutting Glove, which let him defeat Daojianxiao in a brief spar, then rejected Daojianxiao’s request to join him. As Han Xiao prepared to leave Green Valley Town after the players finished changing classes, the story shifted to Luosimen, a frustrated Mechanic who began warning the forums that the class was weak.

• Han Xiao remembered punishing a studio that had withheld his pay and lent Frenzied Sword an Electrothermal Cutting Glove for his duel with Daojianxiao.
• Frenzied Sword killed Daojianxiao with one strike, stunning the spectators and prompting him to ask Han Xiao whether he could buy the glove.
• Han Xiao added the Electrothermal Cutting Gloves to his shop for eighty thousand and fifteen favorability points, then rejected Daojianxiao’s request to join him.
• Han Xiao planned to leave Green Valley Town the next day, while a player posted a video of the spar on the forums.
• Luosimen, a closed-beta player who had chosen the Mechanic Class and learned Basic Weaponry, lost several PK fights and began spamming forum posts calling the class garbage.

Luosimen was banned from the forum after arguing about the Mechanic Class, while Han Xiao noticed the arrival of an Ofmera Family search party in Green Valley Town. He learned that Xiao Rui was searching for Zero and that the family had also heard about Black Phantom, leaving Han Xiao considering how the Ofmera Family might connect to an upcoming storyline.

• Luosimen argued with players defending the Mechanic Class and received a three-day forum ban for insulting language.
• Han Xiao read the forum exchange, then saw Overmela-emblazoned vehicles arrive at Green Valley Town as Bashas welcomed them.
• Xiao Rui, searching for Zero on behalf of Xiao Jin, rested in Green Valley Town and learned about the refugees and Black Phantom.
• Liu Cheng assured Xiao Rui that he could protect him even from Black Phantom.
• Han Xiao noticed the town's lookouts watching him and recalled that the Ofmera Family was tied to a wanderer warlords side storyline.

Han Xiao received the Green Valley Town Invasion Battle quest and used the approaching conflict to seek contact with Lü Cheng, who could lead him to four rare blueprints. He stopped Lü Cheng and Bashas from fighting, leaving the players astonished by his influence over both warlords.

• Han Xiao spent experience to max out three combat skills, gained three potential points, and obtained a portable Sunworm flamethrower blueprint.
• A player reported Lü Cheng's approaching army, and Han Xiao accepted the invasion quest while deciding to look for Lü Cheng.
• Bashas ordered the players to defend Green Valley Town, while Lü Cheng brought an armored force to take the town.
• Lü Cheng hesitated to attack the vagrants defending the town, and Bashas prepared to order a counterattack.
• Han Xiao walked between the two sides and told them to postpone the fight, prompting both Bashas and Lü Cheng to lower their troops' guns.

Han Xiao offered to help Lü Cheng resolve the refugee crisis and used Frenzied Sword to spread news that he had joined Lü Cheng’s faction. The announcement drew players to the faction, and Han Xiao recruited Meat Bun Hits Dog as an assistant and potential channel for influencing players.

• Han Xiao told Lü Cheng he would help persuade the refugees, and Lü Cheng agreed to leave the problem to him.
• Han Xiao gave Frenzied Sword the mission [Spread the Word], prompting players to hear that Black Phantom had joined Lü Cheng’s faction.
• Players reconsidered their choices and rushed to Lü Cheng’s camp, while Meat Bun Hits Dog joined first to film Han Xiao.
• Han Xiao invited Meat Bun Hits Dog to become his assistant, gave him a follow mission and a phone, and planned to use his videos to communicate with players.
• Han Xiao considered Frenzied Saber, Maple Moon, and Meat Bun part of his backup team and planned to recruit more elite players.

Bashas prepared Green Valley Town to fight Lü Cheng despite the defection of most of the drifters and Black Phantom’s support for Lü Cheng. During the assault, Liu Cheng intercepted Han Xiao and revealed an Esper ability that countered firearms, leaving Han Xiao badly struck as their fight began.

• Bashas learned that Black Phantom was helping Lü Cheng, but Xiao Rui persuaded him to order Green Valley Town’s forces to fight while arranging a possible retreat.
• Lü Cheng thanked Han Xiao for persuading most of the drifters to join him, and Han Xiao said they would fight without being ordered to.
• Lü Cheng’s troops and players launched a nighttime assault on Green Valley Town while Han Xiao watched from the sidelines.
• Liu Cheng charged Han Xiao and absorbed his bullets’ kinetic energy, causing them to deal no damage.
• Han Xiao used poison gas and electromagnetic skates to evade Liu Cheng, but Liu Cheng charged through the gas and knocked him into several players.

Han Xiao battled Liu Cheng, whose kinetic-energy ability turned the soldiers’ gunfire into a powerful weapon against him. Han Xiao exploited Liu Cheng’s need to defend Green Valley Town and blinded and badly burned him, then pursued him into the woods.

• Han Xiao struggled against Liu Cheng’s kinetic-energy-enhanced attacks and tried to damage him with poison gas and heated gloves.
• Liu Cheng absorbed gunfire from the combat vehicles and used the accumulated energy to send Han Xiao crashing into a vehicle.
• Han Xiao attacked the guards at Green Valley Town to draw Liu Cheng away from the soldiers, but Liu Cheng feigned exhaustion and struck at him.
• Han Xiao evaded Liu Cheng’s knee with his electromagnetic roller skates and fired a Light-Shaking Bullet into Liu Cheng’s eye.
• Han Xiao used [Overload] and [Willpower Burning] to burn Liu Cheng’s face, then chased the injured bodyguard into the woods.

Han Xiao killed Liu Cheng, pursued the fleeing Xiao Rui and Bashas, and learned that his original body had belonged to the Ofmera Family. He rejected the family connection, killed Xiao Rui, and left after burning the bodies.

• Han Xiao killed Liu Cheng and returned to Green Valley Town, where he found that Bashas and Xiao Rui had fled.
• Han Xiao caught up with their vehicle after it crashed, killed the four armed guards, and shot Bashas when Bashas asked to die.
• Xiao Rui showed Han Xiao evidence that his original body was Xiao Han, the son of Xiao Jin of the Ofmera Family.
• Han Xiao let Xiao Rui go, then shot him from behind and decided he would not inherit his original body's family ties.
• Han Xiao burned the corpses and left, thinking that his family was not in this world.

Xiao Jin learned that Black Phantom had helped Lü Cheng take Green Valley Town and warned Delo against provoking the assassin. After the battle, Han Xiao encouraged Lü Cheng to recruit the reviving wanderers to rebuild the town, while Meat Bun Hits Dog began planning a video about Black Phantom.

• Xiao Jin reported that Lü Cheng and Black Phantom had attacked Green Valley Town, and Delo ordered him to investigate Black Phantom without provoking him.
• Delo told Xiao Jin to deal with his son and cut ties to Germinal before war began.
• Lü Cheng occupied Green Valley Town, reassured its residents, and Han Xiao collected mission experience alongside Frenzied Sword and Meat Bun Hits Dog.
• Meat Bun Hits Dog learned from Frenzied Sword that Han Xiao had served in Stardragon and invited him to help make a video about Black Phantom.
• Han Xiao told Lü Cheng he had killed Bashas, then advised him to treat the reviving wanderers as mercenaries and use them to rebuild Green Valley Town.

Han Xiao traveled with Lü Cheng toward Black Pine and learned how superhumans had imposed a rough moral code on the wilderness after the Laopote Massacre. He recalled a repeatable boss and dungeon mechanics before the convoy reached Lü Cheng’s settlement.

• Han Xiao agreed to visit Black Pine with Lü Cheng, while players in Green Valley Town kept their missions and watched him depart.
• On the drive, Han Xiao asked why Lü Cheng had given Bashas time to prepare, and Lü Cheng explained that he would not slaughter defenseless refugees.
• Lü Cheng recounted the Laopote Massacre and how a superhuman later killed the warlord responsible and hundreds of mercenaries, deterring future massacres.
• Han Xiao explained that powerful self-styled heroes enforced a crude moral code, then remembered the mutated beast-king boss that could appear at Laopote’s ruins.
• Han Xiao considered the risks and uses of Dungeon Crystals and decided not to try one.
• After several hours, the convoy reached the enormous Black Pine settlement, and Lü Cheng welcomed Han Xiao.