diff --git a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
index 1572815..a62dff3 100644
--- a/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
+++ b/scripts/hv-unified.user.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // ==UserScript==
 // @name         HV Unified
 // @namespace    hvunified
-// @version      0.17.2
+// @version      0.17.3
 // @description  HV Unified — Bridge & Strategy/Gear Advisor for HentaiVerse (complements Monsterbation & HVUtils)
 // @author       GaboGG + Hermes
 // @match        *://*.hentaiverse.org/*
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 // CONFIG — default settings
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-const VERSION = '0.17.2';
+const VERSION = '0.17.3';
 
 const CFG = {
     // — Battle strategy advisory
@@ -1562,6 +1562,7 @@ let jpxChainRounds = 0;         // rounds chained this battle
 let jpxChainTimer = null;
 let jpxLastActive = null;       // last known isActiveBattle from jpx
 let jpxChainCooldown = 0;       // timestamp guard to avoid double-trigger
+let jpxChainRetryCount = 0;     // lazy-start retry counter
 
 function jpxPresent() {
     return !!(document.getElementById('ctrl-widget') ||
@@ -1575,7 +1576,6 @@ function jpxChainStart() {
     if (jpxChainEnabled) return;
     if (!jpxPresent()) {
         // Retry a few times over ~6s before giving up
-        if (!jpxChainRetryCount) jpxChainRetryCount = 0;
         if (jpxChainRetryCount < 10) {
             jpxChainRetryCount++;
             setTimeout(jpxChainStart, 600);
@@ -1666,6 +1666,7 @@ function jpxChainOnState(detail) {
 function jpxChainStop(reason) {
     if (!jpxChainEnabled) return;
     jpxChainEnabled = false;
+    jpxChainRetryCount = 0;
     console.log('%c[HV] ⛓ jpx auto-chain stopped: ' + reason, 'color:#f80');
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/latest.user.js b/scripts/latest.user.js
index 1572815..a62dff3 100644
--- a/scripts/latest.user.js
+++ b/scripts/latest.user.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // ==UserScript==
 // @name         HV Unified
 // @namespace    hvunified
-// @version      0.17.2
+// @version      0.17.3
 // @description  HV Unified — Bridge & Strategy/Gear Advisor for HentaiVerse (complements Monsterbation & HVUtils)
 // @author       GaboGG + Hermes
 // @match        *://*.hentaiverse.org/*
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 // CONFIG — default settings
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-const VERSION = '0.17.2';
+const VERSION = '0.17.3';
 
 const CFG = {
     // — Battle strategy advisory
@@ -1562,6 +1562,7 @@ let jpxChainRounds = 0;         // rounds chained this battle
 let jpxChainTimer = null;
 let jpxLastActive = null;       // last known isActiveBattle from jpx
 let jpxChainCooldown = 0;       // timestamp guard to avoid double-trigger
+let jpxChainRetryCount = 0;     // lazy-start retry counter
 
 function jpxPresent() {
     return !!(document.getElementById('ctrl-widget') ||
@@ -1575,7 +1576,6 @@ function jpxChainStart() {
     if (jpxChainEnabled) return;
     if (!jpxPresent()) {
         // Retry a few times over ~6s before giving up
-        if (!jpxChainRetryCount) jpxChainRetryCount = 0;
         if (jpxChainRetryCount < 10) {
             jpxChainRetryCount++;
             setTimeout(jpxChainStart, 600);
@@ -1666,6 +1666,7 @@ function jpxChainOnState(detail) {
 function jpxChainStop(reason) {
     if (!jpxChainEnabled) return;
     jpxChainEnabled = false;
+    jpxChainRetryCount = 0;
     console.log('%c[HV] ⛓ jpx auto-chain stopped: ' + reason, 'color:#f80');
 }
 
diff --git a/src/config.js b/src/config.js
index f40e4f4..8755d24 100644
--- a/src/config.js
+++ b/src/config.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // CONFIG — default settings
 // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 
-const VERSION = '0.17.2';
+const VERSION = '0.17.3';
 
 const CFG = {
     // — Battle strategy advisory
diff --git a/src/header.user.js b/src/header.user.js
index 012741e..f00d29e 100644
--- a/src/header.user.js
+++ b/src/header.user.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // ==UserScript==
 // @name         HV Unified
 // @namespace    hvunified
-// @version      0.17.2
+// @version      0.17.3
 // @description  HV Unified — Bridge & Strategy/Gear Advisor for HentaiVerse (complements Monsterbation & HVUtils)
 // @author       GaboGG + Hermes
 // @match        *://*.hentaiverse.org/*
diff --git a/src/jpx-bridge.js b/src/jpx-bridge.js
index 88c6ad5..f0dcb66 100644
--- a/src/jpx-bridge.js
+++ b/src/jpx-bridge.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ let jpxChainRounds = 0;         // rounds chained this battle
 let jpxChainTimer = null;
 let jpxLastActive = null;       // last known isActiveBattle from jpx
 let jpxChainCooldown = 0;       // timestamp guard to avoid double-trigger
+let jpxChainRetryCount = 0;     // lazy-start retry counter
 
 function jpxPresent() {
     return !!(document.getElementById('ctrl-widget') ||
@@ -28,7 +29,6 @@ function jpxChainStart() {
     if (jpxChainEnabled) return;
     if (!jpxPresent()) {
         // Retry a few times over ~6s before giving up
-        if (!jpxChainRetryCount) jpxChainRetryCount = 0;
         if (jpxChainRetryCount < 10) {
             jpxChainRetryCount++;
             setTimeout(jpxChainStart, 600);
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ function jpxChainOnState(detail) {
 function jpxChainStop(reason) {
     if (!jpxChainEnabled) return;
     jpxChainEnabled = false;
+    jpxChainRetryCount = 0;
     console.log('%c[HV] ⛓ jpx auto-chain stopped: ' + reason, 'color:#f80');
 }