Chapter Summaries

After betraying Grant Ward and taking command of Hydra's North American region, Lena fled the hospital as Old God cells spread through Hydra's forces. Ross battled the transformed Kirsten Bartlein while Allen kept the conflict contained and watched media helicopters broadcast the fight, leaving the public and the White House to face the crisis.

• Lena claimed John Schmidt had appointed her Hydra's North American leader, killed Grant Ward's loyalists who challenged her, and ordered the others to withdraw.
• A severed tentacle entered a Hydra soldier and spawned fast, wormlike creatures that infected and attacked the convoy, so Lena shot the driver and escaped alone.
• Ross, transformed into the Red Giant, fought Kirsten Bartlein, whose Old God cells let him regenerate and assimilate after being destroyed.
• Kirsten's mental influence caused three US fighter jets to crash, and Allen told Tony Stark that a nuclear weapon could kill Kirsten and that the battle remained contained.
• Two media helicopters filmed Ross and Kirsten fighting among the hospital ruins as Allen watched, anticipating the public reaction.

Reporter Diana recorded Ross admitting that the military had authorized his experiments, and the footage went live worldwide. After Kirsten Bartlein captured her, Ross tried to kill her, but a familiar voice interrupted him.

• Diana's helicopter was struck by debris during the battle, crashed, and killed the pilot and the Fat Photographer.
• Ross proposed a truce to Kirsten Bartlein, but Kirsten mocked him and prepared to attack, insisting that he wanted revenge.
• Diana secretly recorded Ross admitting that the military had approved his experiments, and TV station staff broadcast the footage live.
• Diana accidentally triggered an alarm while trying to escape, and Kirsten Bartlein caught her with a tentacle.
• Ross swung at the trapped Diana to silence her, but a familiar voice condemned his attempt to kill her.

Allen stopped Ross and contained Kirsten Bartlein’s Shadow Energy after Ross’s crimes were exposed to the public. He sent Tony Stark away with the reporter, then trapped Ross and Kirsten in a spatial lock and forced them to fight before the approaching Starlight could destroy them.

• Allen caught Ross’s fist and explained that he had made Ross reveal his crimes, while Tony showed him the footage spreading across social media.
• Kirsten Bartlein attacked with Shadow Energy, but Allen gathered it into a sphere and mocked Kirsten’s claim to godhood.
• Allen altered Diana’s memories and sent Tony to take her to safety, while the photographer died of a heart attack.
• Allen told Ross and Kirsten that the Starlight warship would arrive in about half an hour and that they had to kill each other to escape.
• Allen cast Spatial Lock over the area, and Ross and Kirsten launched simultaneous attacks.

As Ross and Kirsten Bartlein fought amid the hospital ruins, Allen explained to Tony Stark that the approaching crisis would force the US Government to negotiate with the Avengers. Tony secured the Avengers Alliance’s independence and sweeping law-enforcement authority in exchange for their help, and the Avengers reassembled as Steve and his companions remained unaware of events.

• Ross and Kirsten Bartlein traded blows in the hospital ruins as Kirsten used Shadow Energy and Old God corruption against him.
• Allen told Tony that the government planned to kill Ross with its space battleship, Starlight, and outlined how the crisis could pressure the government into concessions.
• The US President ordered Starlight to accelerate and, after Tony refused to help at first, asked him to name his terms.
• Tony negotiated the Avengers Alliance’s return, independence, and law-enforcement authority in the United States, with a promise to seek worldwide authority.
• Tony summoned the Avengers, and Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Spider-Man arrived in Washington, while Steve and his companions continued searching the frozen north for Bucky’s control codebook.

The Avengers reunited in Washington as Allen prepared them for future threats and gave Black Widow a sphere of Shadow Energy. Ross defeated Kirsten Bartlein, then escaped the Avengers and the US super battleship by using civilians as cover, while other nations revealed their own battleships.

• The Avengers assembled in Washington, and Tony Stark explained that their mission was to protect civilians and signal their reconciliation with the government.
• Black Panther rejected Tony's political plans and teleported back to Wakanda after arguing with him about the Ultron incident.
• Ross killed Kirsten Bartlein, and Allen destroyed the Old God cells before giving Natasha the resulting Shadow Energy sphere.
• Allen told Natasha he would soon seal off his universe and take Wanda with him; Wanda eagerly agreed to help him.
• Tony, Peter, and Quicksilver fought Ross before the US super battleship arrived, and Ross fled toward civilians to prevent it from firing.
• Other nations on the International Security Council revealed their secretly built battleships within twenty-four hours.

Allen confronted the dying Ross and offered him a new Red Giant serum in exchange for eliminating the interest groups that had betrayed him, while warning that Betty was in danger. Allen also restored Lena’s appearance and entrusted her with Ross and the serum, leaving her to secure Ross’s agreement.

• Allen told Ross that the government had placed a ten-billion-dollar bounty on him and that the scandals had put Betty at risk.
• Allen offered Ross a new serum and protection for Betty in exchange for killing the interest groups behind the government, and explained that Ross would spend the rest of his life being hunted.
• Lena emerged from hiding, admitted she had foreseen Allen’s arrival, and presented him with a plan devised with magic apprentices at the International Security Council.
• Allen accepted Lena’s plan and used a permanent Shape Transformation spell to restore her original appearance.
• Allen gave Lena the serum and left, while Lena refused to let Ross take it until he agreed to her terms.
• Ross, desperate to survive and protect Betty, agreed to Lena’s demands.

Tony Stark examined Allen’s extraordinary body and discovered that it contained vast numbers of fused genes, extreme durability, and abilities far beyond ordinary humans. The tests also revealed why Allen lacked sexual impulses, while Stark began considering what Allen’s biology might mean for humanity.

• Tony Stark prepared advanced medical equipment and began a full-body scan of Allen, who explained the gene-devouring Chimera Ants.
• The scan showed that Allen’s tissues and brain contained immense energy and substances tougher than Vibranium and Uru metal, with almost no physical weak points.
• Allen explained that his body was disposable and that he could create another one in seconds, then helped Stark draw a blood sample by lowering his protective energy fields.
• After analyzing Allen’s blood and monitoring his hormones, Tony Stark concluded that Allen’s immortality and bodily control suppressed his sexual responses.
• Tony Stark reported that Allen had tens of thousands of chromosomes, genes from countless species, and abilities including surviving in a vacuum and manipulating electric charge.

Allen and Tony Stark discovered that stimulating energies might restore Allen’s lost sexual desire, but they stopped experimenting when Allen revealed Dormammu’s coming invasion and took Wanda to Sky City to prepare for the hunt. The chapter ended with Allen and Wanda arriving there just as Sakura returned.

• After hours of testing, Allen and Tony Stark found that different energies could trigger emotional impulses in Allen, and a distorted energy gave him a fleeting sensation.
• Allen told Tony Stark that Dormammu would invade after Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One died, and that he would wait for her successor to face the trial before intervening.
• Allen met Wanda at her apartment and explained that energy had replaced hormones in his body, so he needed further experiments to awaken his desires.
• Wanda offered to try her Chaos Magic, but Allen refused because it was too dangerous and unpredictable.
• Allen took Wanda through a portal to Sky City, promising to prepare what she needed there; Sakura returned at the same time.

Wanda met Sakura in Sky City and learned how complicated Sakura’s bond with Allen was, while preparing to help him confront Dormammu. At Kamar-Taj, Ancient One showed Stephen Strange Earth’s new living Source of Magic Power before Kasilas attacked, forcing her to send Stephen away as the lake began to awaken.

• Sakura ignored Wanda’s greeting and openly showed jealousy over her closeness to Allen, but Allen calmed Sakura and reminded her that they were family.
• Sakura left with Allen through Sky City as residents celebrated her return, while Artoria explained to Wanda why Sakura was protective of Allen and took her to the Central Tower.
• Ancient One showed Stephen Strange the Source of Magic Power Allen had created as a safeguard for Earth’s sorcerers and warned him that powerful forces surpassed them.
• Kasilas killed a fleeing sorcerer outside Kamar-Taj after binding himself and his followers to Dormammu in exchange for power and promised immortality.
• Ancient One sent Stephen through a portal and left the hidden chamber, where the lake rippled and formed a female figure created with the Soul Stone.

Allen sealed every connection between Earth and the outside dimensions while preparing Wanda for Dormammu’s arrival. On Earth, Stephen Strange nearly died fighting Kasilas until Mordo intervened, but Kasilas recovered and prepared to fight him.

• Allen ordered the universe’s connection points to be severed so Dormammu would not discover Sky City, and said he expected Ancient One to signal him through her death.
• Allen began training Wanda in Chaos Magic while Artoria warned Sakura that her New Empire might collapse after Sakura left.
• Stephen Strange struggled to survive Kasilas’s attacks in the Mirror Dimension, and Kasilas claimed that serving Dormammu could grant humanity eternal life.
• Stephen recognized that Ancient One had also drawn on Dark Dimension energy but argued that she had retained her humanity, unlike Kasilas and his followers.
• Kasilas overwhelmed Strange with a storm of arrows and nearly stabbed him, but Mordo appeared and struck Kasilas with Tier Magic.
• Mordo stepped forward to face Kasilas, who recovered from his burns with Dark Dimension energy and rose with glowing red eyes.

Mordo used Holy Energy magic to defeat Kasilas’s followers and force Kasilas to abandon his human body, but Dormammu intervened and nearly killed Mordo and Stephen Strange before Ancient One arrived. Mordo declared that he would defend Earth alongside Lord Allen and opposed leaving humanity’s fate to dimensional Demon Gods.

• Mordo rejected Kasilas’s claims about Ancient One and revealed his ambition to become a dimensional Demon God by combining two magical systems.
• Mordo’s Holy Energy spell destroyed Kasilas’s fanatics, healed Stephen Strange, and left Kasilas transformed into a giant being of Dark Energy.
• Mordo severed Kasilas’s arm through a portal, but Dormammu attacked through the Dark Dimension and overwhelmed Mordo and Stephen Strange.
• Ancient One appeared and extinguished Dormammu’s Magic Flame, then challenged Mordo for using the souls of the dead.
• Mordo defended his necromancy and affirmed his loyalty to Lord Allen, insisting that Earth’s fate should be decided by humanity.

Ancient One freed Mordo from Kamar-Taj and confronted Dormammu in the Dark Dimension, where Stephen Strange joined her and received the Eye of Agamotto. Ancient One was killed and Dormammu seized her soul, but she insisted Strange and Earth’s defenses would stop him.

• Ancient One released Mordo from Kamar-Taj after he promised not to seek its destruction, and Mordo planned to establish his own magical school.
• Ancient One warned Dormammu to leave Earth, but he dragged her into the Dark Dimension and attacked her.
• Mordo and Stephen Strange watched the battle, and Strange leaped into the Dark Dimension to help Ancient One despite Mordo’s warning.
• Ancient One gave Stephen the Eye of Agamotto and declared him Kamar-Taj’s new Sorcerer Supreme.
• Dormammu killed Ancient One, seized her soul, and vowed to devour Earth, but Ancient One calmly predicted that Strange and Earth’s defenses would stop him.

Stephen Strange used the Eye of Agamotto to trap Dormammu in a time loop and force him to leave Earth and release Ancient One's soul. As Allen and his allies invaded the Dark Dimension, Ancient One revealed that she had planned her death and entrusted Earth’s future to Strange.

• Stephen Strange set a time loop with the Eye of Agamotto, and Dormammu killed him repeatedly until he accepted Strange’s demands to leave Earth, release Ancient One’s soul, and never return.
• Stephen Strange ended the loop, but Allen appeared and launched an assault on Dormammu with Artoria and Sakura, using Holy Light to erode the Dark Dimension.
• Allen declared war on Dormammu and fired a golden arrow, triggering an explosion that Stephen Strange contained with the Time Stone to protect Earth.
• Ancient One told Stephen Strange that she had chosen her death after foreseeing the events with the Time Stone.
• Ancient One named Stephen Strange as Earth’s future protector and warned him never to make an enemy of Allen.

Allen overwhelmed Dormammu as the Azerath Universe devoured the Dark Dimension, proving that a dimensional Demon God could be killed. He revealed that Dormammu was only a test for his plan to make the sources of Dark and White Magic collide, leaving Allen poised to pursue Hisoka and the Vishanti.

• Stephen Strange learned that Allen had supplied Mordo with magic for controlling the souls of the dead, but the soul beside him disappeared as the Dark Dimension passage grew more dangerous.
• Tony Stark and the Avengers investigated the energy surge above Earth, unaware that the Time Stone had trapped their actions in repetition.
• Allen directed the Azerath Universe’s forces against Dormammu and severed a tenth of the Dark Dimension with a sword strike.
• Dormammu’s attacks destroyed Allen’s hand, but Allen regenerated it and used space and time to prevent Dormammu from fully restoring a severed arm.
• Allen mastered Dormammu’s Dark Energy, scattered his gathered power, and told him he intended to make Hisoka and the Vishanti’s sources of Dark and White Magic collide.

Wanda found and marked Dormammu’s hidden vessel in the Dark Dimension, allowing Allen’s plan to enter its final stage. As Sakura’s forces continued eroding the dimension, Vilnalasath joined the battle and disrupted Dormammu’s war of attrition.

• Wanda searched the Dark Dimension’s core under Artoria’s protection while Artoria explained the dimension’s timeless nature and described Allen’s former teacher, Hisoka.
• Wanda spotted Dormammu’s blackish-purple vessel and marked it with Chaos Magic, then Artoria took her to notify Allen.
• Sakura’s army and Sky City forces attacked Dormammu’s territory, while Edna Bevin reported that they had eroded about one-fifth of the Dark Dimension, including the area Allen had cut away.
• Vilnalasath told Sakura that devouring the Dark Dimension had intensified Allen’s desires and that the battle could last years without progress from Wanda and Artoria.
• Vilnalasath unleashed a breath attack that annihilated Dormammu’s advancing forces and undermined his plan to drag the war into a prolonged attrition campaign.

Allen defeated Dormammu by exploiting his energy-based body and extracting the object sustaining him, then compressed the Dark Dimension into a Singularity. With Earth safe, Ancient One declined the chance to become a dimensional Demon God and departed into a sea of silver light.

• Allen explained that his virtual world preserved six different types of energy, then used conflicting energies to disrupt Dormammu’s control over his body.
• Artoria destroyed Dormammu’s sluggish arm with Excalibur while Wanda announced that she had found and marked the object Allen needed.
• Wanda used Chaos Magic to pull the object out of the Dark Dimension, and Allen crushed it, leaving Dormammu and the dimension motionless.
• Allen compressed the Dark Dimension into a Singularity, sending the Azerath army home and closing the passage above Earth; Stephen Strange collapsed unconscious after holding the Time Stone.
• Ancient One appeared and declined Allen’s offer to become a dimensional Demon God, then bid him farewell and departed through silver light.

Allen defeated Dormammu, took control of the Dark Dimension, and explained the Creator Gods to Sakura after Ancient One's soul departed. He left the Avengers with a singularity containing most of the Dark Dimension and exposed Dormammu's life, while Tony Stark revealed the US Government's Ark plan.

• Stephen Strange fell unconscious after Ancient One's soul departed, ending the time loop that had trapped the Avengers.
• Tony Stark explained that Allen had won a war against Dormammu, and Allen told Sakura about the five Creator Gods before she returned to the Azerath Universe.
• Tony Stark told Allen that the US Government was secretly building the Ark and invited wealthy elites to escape Earth; Allen said John Schmidt could investigate the passenger list.
• Tony Stark's energy detector exploded as it approached the singularity Allen held, and Allen confirmed it was the Dark Dimension compressed to its limit.
• Allen told Tony Stark that he had destroyed Dormammu's memories and soul, taken his dimension, and shown the group Dormammu's entire life.

Allen told the Avengers that Dormammu had been killed and that Stephen Strange had become the new Sorcerer Supreme, while Tony Stark warned that time reversal had likely saved Earth from destruction. The president exploited fear of dimensional Demon Gods to stay in power as Lena and Ross began a planned massacre at a wealthy manor.

• Allen confirmed that Stephen Strange had used time reversal to help kill Dormammu and said Ancient One had chosen to die and passed on the Sorcerer Supreme title.
• Rhodes reported Ancient One's death to the government, but Allen refused to contact Strange and left; Tony explained that Allen did not trust the new Sorcerer Supreme.
• Tony warned Rhodes that time reversal meant Earth might have been destroyed repeatedly, then sent the Avengers away as officials resumed dealing with the aftermath of the riots.
• The president and his aide planned to exaggerate the dimensional Demon God threat, and media coverage turned public attention from government failures toward fears of Doomsday.
• The president declared a national emergency and made himself wartime president while Lena and Ross entered a wealthy manor, intending to kill everyone inside.

Lena lured Holmes into confronting Ross at a manor gathering, where Ross took revenge on the powerful men who had betrayed him. Hydra seized the estate and gathered intelligence on the guests before leaving the blood-soaked scene behind, setting the stage for a worldwide shock and the weakening of entrenched capital.

• Lena entered the manor, recognized its gathering of wealthy power brokers, and approached Caleda Foundation chairman Holmes to question him about betraying Ross and targeting his daughter.
• Ross arrived as the Red Giant, confronted Holmes, and brought Holmes’s restrained children before him as part of his revenge.
• Ross killed two of Holmes’s sons while forcing Holmes to watch, and Holmes pleaded for his family’s lives.
• The Hydra Special Operations Team disarmed the manor, killed its hired guards, sealed its exits, and took control of the guests.
• Lena interrogated the guests and used their information to map a global network of capital connections for Hydra to infiltrate or eliminate.
• After the manor became a slaughterhouse, Ross left surveillance footage behind, and Lena departed with her team in a cloaked aircraft.

Allen considered the fate of the Dark Dimension’s Singularity and discussed the aftermath of Ross and Lena’s massacre, Hydra’s future, and his relationships with Sakura and Wanda. Wanda then told Allen she had dreamed of a figure in a crimson space calling her toward him, and that her Chaos Magic had grown stronger whenever he spoke her name.

• Allen saw sensational news reports about Ross and Lena’s massacre and told Sakura to relay his defense of the purge to Tony Stark.
• Allen instructed Sakura to arrange a position for Red Skull in her empire, treating Hydra’s rule as an experiment, while Sakura warned the empire could fracture without her strength.
• Sakura urged Allen to consider his attachments and desires before absorbing the Dark Dimension’s Singularity, and he agreed to leave it untouched for now.
• Wanda entered after Sakura left, and Allen showed her a photograph of Sakura as a frightened child, easing Wanda’s concern about Sakura’s feelings for him.
• Wanda told Allen she had dreamed of a blurry figure in a crimson space calling her name, and that her Chaos Magic had become stronger and harder to control as it called to her.