Chapter Summaries

As Magneto launched an attack on the summit, Mystique helped the X-Men evacuate President Matthew Ellis from the venue. Magneto’s forces intercepted the president’s armored car, and Mystique warned Li Chen that the pursuit had begun.

• Li Chen spent time with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane before Jean Grey called him to join the X-Men.
• At the summit, Professor X and the X-Men watched from a hidden location while Mystique, disguised as someone in the president’s entourage, prepared to protect Matthew Ellis.
• After an alarm triggered chaos at the venue, Professor X told Mystique to get the president to safety.
• Mystique escorted Matthew Ellis from the summit, and agents cleared reporters from the scene and took control of the venue.
• As Mystique and the president left in an armored car, a piece of steel struck near them, and she ordered the driver to speed away.
• Mystique called Li Chen to say Magneto’s forces had arrived, while Matthew Ellis remained unaware that the attackers were Mutants.

Mystique struggled to protect Matthew Ellis as Sabretooth’s group attacked their convoy, until a yellow Chevrolet Camaro identified as Bumblebee joined the chase. Bumblebee disabled one of the attackers’ cars, and the live broadcast turned the collision into a major publicity win for Chevrolet and a blow to General Motors.

• Mystique learned that the NYPD could not help and fired at Sabretooth as he taunted her, but he dodged her shots.
• Sabretooth’s vehicle and another car smashed into the bulletproof car carrying Mystique and Matthew Ellis from both sides.
• A yellow Chevrolet Camaro raced out of an alley, and a reporter identified it as Bumblebee while broadcasting the chase live.
• Bumblebee caught up with the convoy and used a PIT maneuver to force a black car off the road and disable it.
• The live footage thrilled Chevrolet executives, while viewers identified the black car as belonging to a General Motors sub-brand, hurting the company’s stock.

Bumblebee protected Mystique and President Matthew Ellis from Sabretooth’s attack, then escaped the helicopter following him. At S.H.I.E.L.D., Maria Hill took over the mission involving Li Chen, leaving Natasha anxious about revealing her identity and losing his affection.

• Bumblebee drove himself to Mystique’s aid, dodged gunfire, and disabled Sabretooth’s car with machine guns, helping President Matthew Ellis escape danger.
• Bumblebee drove onto railway tracks and into a tunnel to lose the helicopter that was following him.
• Maria Hill questioned Black Widow Natasha about Bumblebee and said she would take over the mission involving Li Chen.
• Natasha agreed to return to New York and worried that revealing her identity would make Li Chen think she had deceived him.

Li Chen exposed Magneto’s staged attempt to seize the president, revealing that Matthew Ellis was secretly a Mutant and Magneto’s real targets were world leaders. He urged Ellis to support a Mutant kingdom, leaving Magneto furious.

• Magneto confronted the X-Men after stopping President Matthew Ellis’s car, while Mystique said she had chosen Li Chen over him.
• Li Chen saw through the deception and revealed that Magneto had never trusted Mystique with his full plan.
• Li Chen exposed Matthew Ellis as a Mutant, shocking the X-Men and Magneto’s people.
• Professor X realized that Magneto’s apparent plan to control the president was staged, and Li Chen explained that Magneto meant to target leaders of major powers.
• Li Chen told Matthew Ellis that Mutants should establish a kingdom of their own, and Magneto finally lost his temper.

Li Chen defeated Magneto in a brief fight and learned that Magneto had been delaying him while his daughter led another team. The disguised agents at the summit venue had been mind-controlled, leaving the attendees in danger.

• Magneto challenged Li Chen, and Matthew Ellis asked Li Chen to prove his strength.
• Magneto attacked with magnetic fields, but Li Chen cut through his obstacles with Heat Vision and seized him despite his invisibility.
• Li Chen defeated Magneto and declared that his own kingdom would be a greater undertaking than Magneto's plan.
• Li Chen asked why Magneto had not mentioned his beautiful daughter sooner, and Magneto realized his plan had been discovered.
• A team in agent uniforms entered the summit venue, led by Magneto's green-haired daughter, while the agents there were revealed to have been mind-controlled.

Li Chen confronted Polaris and the Stepford Cuckoos, claiming Magneto had lost and placed them under his rule. After overpowering the sisters, he ordered them to use their telepathy to support his plan for a mutant kingdom and free trade.

• Lorna Dane and the Stepford Cuckoos used their linked telepathy to control those present and prepare to carry out Magneto's plan.
• Li Chen arrived, announced that Magneto had lost and sold Lorna to him, then ordered her not to interfere with his plan.
• The Cuckoo sisters tried to control Li Chen, but their combined telepathy failed, and they changed into diamond form.
• Li Chen cracked Celeste's diamond neck and threatened the sisters until they agreed to submit.
• Li Chen ordered the Cuckoo sisters to plant suggestions that people support a mutant kingdom and free trade, and they began doing so.

Li Chen forced world leaders to accept a Mutant nation by demonstrating that he could destroy the United Nations Building, then recruited Lorna and the other Mutants into the Hellfire Club. After the group escaped, the destruction fueled worldwide speculation about an alien attack, while the Mutants planned to present themselves as humanity’s allies against a greater threat.

• A man demanded that the Mutants be wiped out, but Li Chen stopped Lorna from attacking him and used the Stepford Cuckoos' suggestion to bring everyone out of the building.
• Li Chen fired a Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon at the United Nations Building, reducing it to rubble and convincing those present to accept a Mutant nation.
• Li Chen and the others left under the Stepford Cuckoos' Mind Stone sensing, which kept people from noticing them or remembering their appearances.
• Li Chen asked Lorna whether she had joined the Hellfire Club, then declared that she and the other Mutants were his first subjects and took them to the club in New York.
• News spread that the United Nations headquarters had been destroyed, and people speculated that aliens had attacked Earth as the Mutants prepared to position themselves as humanity's defenders.
• Information linking the New York events to Mutants traveled through secret channels and reached the moon.

On the moon, Medusa and Black Bolt learned that the Mutants planned to establish a kingdom and sent Crystal to Earth to prepare. Meanwhile, Li Chen met Natasha and Maria Hill, where Natasha revealed that she was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, leaving him to face a formal conversation with the agency.

• Medusa and Black Bolt decided to oppose the Mutants' plan to establish a kingdom.
• Medusa sent Crystal to Earth to make preparations.
• Li Chen drove Bumblebee to meet Natasha at a private café after she told him someone wanted to see him.
• Natasha introduced herself to Li Chen as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent known as Black Widow.
• Maria Hill revealed that she was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s deputy director and said they needed to talk.

Maria Hill met Li Chen to discuss S.H.I.E.L.D.'s offer of protection and the Avengers Initiative, but he refused to join and said Saitama would only act if the world was in danger. After Li Chen insisted Natasha honor her Lucy contract, Hill agreed, and she left curious about Bumblebee.

• Maria Hill introduced herself and explained that S.H.I.E.L.D. had approached Li Chen because of Saitama and wanted to ensure he could protect Natasha.
• Maria Hill warned that Natasha's past could put Li Chen at risk and offered S.H.I.E.L.D.'s protection, but Li Chen refused.
• Maria Hill described the Avengers Initiative, and Li Chen said Saitama would not join but would help if the world faced danger.
• Li Chen refused to discuss his own abilities and told Maria Hill he no longer trusted women.
• Li Chen stopped Natasha and demanded that she honor her Lucy contract, and Maria Hill agreed on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s behalf.
• Maria Hill examined Bumblebee outside and called to him, but he did not respond.

At the Hellfire Club, Li Chen pursued Blink while Lorna grew jealous and drank herself unconscious. When Lorna woke, Li Chen had Blink help bring her into their encounter, leaving both women under his control.

• Li Chen met Clarice Ferguson, also known as Blink, and led her onto the dance floor while telling her she was his woman.
• Lorna watched Li Chen dance with Blink, confronted her, and then refused Li Chen’s offer to dance while continuing to drink.
• Li Chen brought Blink and the drunk Lorna to a room, where he left Lorna on a sofa and turned his attention to Blink.
• Lorna woke and found Li Chen with Blink; when Li Chen told her to join them, Blink covered Lorna’s mouth at his command.

After waking from her first night with Li Chen, Lorna learned he had left, while Li Chen took Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, and Nami shopping and then set out to find them authentic Chinese food. The group headed off to eat, with Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane curious about Li Chen’s idea of the real thing.

• Lorna woke up sore, asked Blink where Li Chen was, and learned he had left after preparing breakfast for her.
• Blink told Lorna that Li Chen had instructed her to help, and Lorna admitted she had responded before angrily eating her breakfast.
• Li Chen took Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, and Nami on an outing, where Nami talked about life at sea and enjoyed shopping for skincare products.
• The four shopped at a Dior store, with Nami haggling over purchases while Li Chen indulged her.
• Mary Jane suggested Chinese food, and Li Chen objected when Gwen Stacy asked for General Tso's Chicken because it was American Chinese food.
• Li Chen offered to take them somewhere that served authentic Chinese food, and Nami looked forward to the meal.

Li Chen returned to Los Angeles with Natasha and the Mutants, then caught up on his company’s projects as films, games, and music prepared for major releases. He looked ahead to a busy July, while Taylor Swift’s rising popularity promised a hit album and more prestige points.

• Li Chen returned from New York to Los Angeles with Lorna Dane, the other Mutants, and Natasha, whom S.H.I.E.L.D. had made honor her movie contract.
• Li Chen told Natasha that the crew was ready for her, and she left to begin filming while Li Qianhuan arranged accommodations for the others.
• Li Chen visited his company and reviewed the ongoing manga, completed animated adaptations, and plans to negotiate with television stations.
• Li Chen confirmed that Bayonetta was set to release on Microsoft’s platform and PC in July, alongside the premiere of Batman.
• Starlight Music promoted Dazzler’s debut album, while Taylor Swift gained attention through television appearances and prepared to release an album with hit potential.

Li Chen was formally installed as the Hellfire Club’s new White King, succeeding Magneto, and basked in the attention his new power brought. Emma Frost kissed him while Selene watched, frustrated that Emma had beaten her to him again.

• The Stepford Cuckoos called Emma Frost their mother, embarrassing her because they were her clones.
• Selene and Emma traded barbs while each tried to claim Li Chen’s attention.
• Li Chen attended the Hellfire Club ceremony with Emma and Selene linking arms with him.
• Selene announced that Li Chen, formerly the White Rook, would become the new White King, and the gathered members cheered.
• After greeting the members, Li Chen told Emma that his new status felt like owning the world, and she reminded him of their goal to establish a Mutant kingdom.
• Li Chen kissed Emma, and Selene watched, thinking Emma had beaten her to him again.

Li Chen left the Hellfire Club after spending the night with Emma Frost and attended the premiere of Batman: The Dark Knight with Li Qianhuan. The film began with young Bruce Wayne witnessing his parents’ murder in Gotham.

• Li Chen and Emma Frost went to her room, where Emma suggested that the Black Queen could join Li Chen if he became king of the Mutants.
• Emma turned into her diamond form at Li Chen’s request, and they continued their encounter until the following afternoon.
• Li Qianhuan called Li Chen to remind him that Batman’s premiere was that day, and he left the Hellfire Club with her.
• Li Chen and Li Qianhuan arrived at the grand theater, where Ben Affleck appeared in Batman’s suit and stars and directors greeted Li Chen.
• Li Chen spoke with Natasha, who said she would leave once filming was over, then took his seat for the premiere.
• Batman: The Dark Knight opened with young Bruce Wayne leaving a theater with his parents before a hooded thug shot them dead in a dark alley.

Batman’s film introduced his rise in Gotham and ended with an Easter egg showing him witness Superman and Zod’s battle in Metropolis, confirming the heroes shared a world. Zack Snyder revealed Starlight Pictures’ plans for a DC cinematic universe, while Li Chen left wondering who should play Wonder Woman.

• Batman grew from a new crime fighter into a seasoned hero, taking on the Falcone Family and later Deathstroke as Gotham’s threats escalated.
• The film’s Easter egg showed Bruce Wayne witnessing Superman and Zod’s battle devastate Metropolis, exciting fans with the prospect of Batman and Superman sharing a universe.
• Zack Snyder told reporters that future DC films would feature Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Wonder Woman, and might unite them against Darkseid.
• Li Chen left with Li Qianhuan and considered who should play Wonder Woman, deciding she needed long legs.

After escaping S.H.I.E.L.D., Steve Rogers entered a theater to watch a Batman movie and found that both the modern world and the heroes he remembered had changed. He left the screening stunned by Superman’s powers and even more aware of how unfamiliar the present had become.

• Steve Rogers escaped S.H.I.E.L.D. and wandered through a changed New York, struggling to accept that decades had passed.
• Steve spotted a Batman movie poster, remembered how the comic had encouraged him in the 1940s, and went into the theater.
• Nick Fury ordered agents to follow Steve after they reported that he had entered the theater.
• Steve bought a ticket under a hat and watched the film, discovering that Batman was now a billionaire rather than the poor detective he remembered.
• Steve stayed for the post-credits scene and watched Superman fly and fight, leaving him astonished by how much the world had changed.

Meili surveyed moviegoers after Batman: Dark Knight, while Steve Rogers bought and watched Starlight Pictures films, beginning with Man of Steel. He became captivated by the movies and spent the rest of the day watching them at home.

• Meili asked Batman: Dark Knight viewers to rate the movie, and they praised it and looked forward to Batman fighting Superman.
• Meili told moviegoers that the filmmakers were holding a nearby promotional event, but Steve Rogers skipped it and went to Blockbuster.
• Steve bought Man of Steel and a collection of Starlight Pictures movies after the clerk recommended them.
• Steve watched Man of Steel, admired Henry Cavill's Superman, and then watched Transformers and Obsession.
• Sharon reported that Steve stayed in his room watching movies, and Nick Fury heard that he had been watching action-heavy films.

Li Chen oversaw strong early results for “Batman” and “Bayonetta” while pursuing Lorna Dane and planning to win Natasha’s heart. After Natasha struggled with her feelings during the filming of “Lucy,” Li Chen found her alone in her trailer and confessed his love, and she embraced him.

• Harry Sloan reported that “Batman” was projected to earn about $45 million on Friday and had strong audience scores, and Li Chen told him to increase marketing.
• Li Chen reviewed “Bayonetta” preorder figures and found that his reputation points had reached 318,201 before the game’s launch.
• Li Chen called Lorna Dane into his office and pressed her down onto the desk.
• During “Lucy” filming, Ridley Scott praised Natasha’s acting, while Natasha felt exhausted and tried to avoid Li Chen.
• Natasha found her assistant missing from her trailer, and Li Chen embraced her from behind and told her he could not forget her.
• Natasha admitted she could not hold back and embraced Li Chen, telling him to take her.

After Natasha woke from a night with Li Chen, she promised to retire as soon as she could. Meanwhile, the success of Batman’s opening weekend inspired Li Chen to secure a TV outlet for his animated shows, and he agreed to launch a premium cable channel with Paramount and Lionsgate.

• Natasha woke late, worried about her scenes, and Li Chen urged her to take care of herself; she said she would retire as soon as she could.
• Batman’s opening-weekend success drew intense media attention and prompted Hollywood studios to announce comic-book adaptations.
• Li Chen worried that major TV channels offered too little for his animated shows and wanted to buy a station to air them himself.
• Harry Sloan told Li Chen that Paramount and Lionsgate had proposed a premium cable channel for their movies and original series.
• Li Chen agreed to the joint channel, insisting that Pirate King and Rick and Morty be the first shows aired.

Li Chen celebrated Bayonetta’s strong launch by taking Lorna Dane and Blink out, while Crystal discovered the game at a Los Angeles arcade. The chapter ended with Crystal taking a child’s controller so she could play herself.

• Bayonetta passed 250,000 sales on launch day, and Li Chen predicted it might sell 500,000 copies in its first week.
• Li Chen took Lorna Dane away from work and told her to call Blink, who had been given a supporting role in the Lucy production.
• Crystal arrived on Earth from the moon and went to a Los Angeles arcade to try its games.
• Crystal watched children play Bayonetta and admired its character design and combat.
• Crystal criticized the children’s playing, took a controller from one of them, and began playing Bayonetta herself.