Chapter Summaries

Xi Nian intercepted Deadshot’s Kryptonite bullet, but another team fired a second one at Kara, which had no effect on her. As Kara pursued the attackers, Xi Nian wondered whether her Steel Body had become immune to Kryptonite.

• Xi Nian caught Deadshot’s Kryptonite bullet and learned that June Moone had killed her team before appearing at an excavation site in Colorado.
• Can Luo warned Xi Nian that the second team also had a Kryptonite bullet, while Superwoman handed the bank robbers over to Commissioner Gordon’s police.
• Captain Boomerang fired the second Kryptonite bullet at Kara after a jellyfish split body slashed his throat.
• Kara’s shoulder remained unharmed as the bullet released green mist, and she flew to the alley to confront Captain Boomerang and his team.
• Xi Nian learned that Kara had resisted the Kryptonite and suspected her Steel Body had gained a special enhancement.

Xi Nian investigated who had supplied the Kryptonite and tracked Deadshot while deciding to keep an eye on June Moone. After evading Batman’s call, he encountered a mysterious woman in a darkened park and realized she had found him through the wine he had drunk.

• Kara defeated the criminals’ plan, took the Kryptonite bullet, and delivered the surviving attackers to the police.
• Xi Nian ordered Alice to monitor June Moone and Can Luo to follow Deadshot for clues about his employer.
• Harley Quinn and Nanawe searched for Xi Nian, while he watched them from a nearby rooftop and chose not to intervene.
• Xi Nian changed back into his usual appearance, received a call from Bruce Wayne’s office, then switched off his phone when the park’s lights and cameras were covered by vines.
• A mysterious woman confronted Xi Nian in the dark and teased him about his age; he realized she had tracked him through the glass of wine.

Xi Nian confronted Poison Ivy in a dark Gotham park, where she used vines and hormone toxins to restrain and control him. After escaping with his spatial pendant, he counterattacked by grabbing Poison Ivy and lunging at her.

• Poison Ivy revealed that the wine Xi Nian drank was diluted plant juice and said it made him prey to her plants.
• Xi Nian tried to flee, but Poison Ivy's vines trapped and suspended him.
• Poison Ivy discovered that her thorns could not pierce Xi Nian's skin and that her poison did not affect him, though she could control his hormones.
• Xi Nian used a blue-mist teleportation pendant to escape the vines and reappear behind Poison Ivy.
• Xi Nian knocked Poison Ivy down, then grabbed her as she attacked him with vines and hormone toxins.

Xi Nian and Poison Ivy’s encounter ended with him gaining her plant-based abilities, while Can Luo and Alice covered for him as Kara fought Gotham’s criminals. After Xi Nian identified Lex Luthor as the mastermind behind the attack on Kara, he and Kara accepted Bruce Wayne’s invitation to lunch and met Batman at the Wayne manor.

• Xi Nian kissed Poison Ivy, absorbed her toxins, and activated Lord of Kin, gaining her abilities before their encounter continued inside a vine cage.
• Can Luo persuaded Alice to call Kara and send her a list of fugitives, and Kara spent the night arresting criminals across Gotham.
• Xi Nian met Kara the next morning and told her that his investigation had traced the assassination attempt to Lex Luthor, though Luthor’s whereabouts remained unknown.
• Bruce Wayne called Kara and invited her and Xi Nian to lunch, and Butler Alfred drove them to the Wayne manor.
• Xi Nian and Kara entered the manor and met Bruce Wayne, Batman, for the first time.

Harley searched for Poison Ivy after the criminals’ defeat and learned Ivy had left with an injured leg. In Washington, Diana met Gwen, reassured her about Xi Nian’s affection, then asked whether she and Xi Nian had already slept together.

• Harley and Nanawe visited a hidden underground bar after failing to find the silver-haired young man.
• The clerk told Harley that Poison Ivy had taken supplies and left earlier, limping from an apparent leg injury.
• Diana met Gwen at a Washington coffee shop and praised her work as a superhero.
• Gwen admitted she felt weaker than Kara and regretted needing Xi Nian to intervene.
• Diana reassured Gwen that Xi Nian valued her regardless of her strength, then asked whether she and Xi Nian had already done it.

At Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne invited Xi Nian to join the Justice League, but Xi Nian declined. Bruce instead promised to send him League intelligence, believing Xi Nian would help when the world needed him, and he privately recalled a vision in which another Flash had called Xi Nian the key.

• Xi Nian teased Bruce about his playboy reputation during dinner at Wayne Manor, and Bruce explained it had been a civilian disguise.
• Bruce told Kara that Diana was Wonder Woman, a descendant of the ancient Greek gods and an early Justice League founder.
• Bruce asked Xi Nian to join the Justice League and offered to provide him with an advanced suit, but Xi Nian refused because he lacked the desire to be a superhero.
• Bruce promised to send Xi Nian the Justice League's intelligence so he could decide for himself whether to act when the world needed him.
• Bruce remembered seeing a second Flash during the battle against Steppenwolf, who had called Xi Nian the key.

Xi Nian attended a Gotham banquet alone while Batman and Kara pursued a lead on Lex Luthor, then found himself facing several mysterious supernatural presences. After Zatanna Zatara began her magic show, she singled him out to join her onstage, leaving him to discover what she intended.

• Bruce Wayne received intelligence that Lex Luthor was entertaining unknown guests offshore, so he became Batman and left with Kara while Xi Nian went to the banquet alone.
• Wanda arrived as Xi Nian's maid and spotted an invisible crow watching them from the chandeliers; Can Luo sensed three powerful, ominous presences at the banquet.
• The lights dimmed for the magic show, and Zatanna Zatara appeared onstage, revealing herself as the magician Xi Nian had met at Gotham Station.
• Zatanna chose Xi Nian to assist with her next trick, and he left Wanda behind to join her onstage.

Xi Nian entered Zatanna’s Magic Wardrobe during her performance, but she teleported him away and warned that something had its eyes on him. Worried about Wanda, he used his Space Necklace to return to the wardrobe, where he found himself crammed together with Zatanna.

• Xi Nian spoke privately with Zatanna before agreeing to take part in her Magic Wardrobe trick.
• Zatanna shut Xi Nian inside the wardrobe, warned him to flee because something was watching him, and teleported him to the train station outside Gotham City.
• Zatanna showed the guests the empty wardrobe, then climbed inside as the raven watched her from the chandelier.
• Xi Nian decided to return to the hotel because Wanda was still there, and used his Space Necklace to teleport back into the wardrobe.
• Xi Nian reappeared in the cramped wardrobe beside Zatanna, leaving them pressed tightly together and both startled.

Zatanna revealed that the raven stalking her was a soul-devouring demon that hypnotized Xi Nian and invaded his mental world. There, Xi Nian’s mysterious powers restrained Raven, and Zatanna awoke inside the wardrobe as her assistant found Xi Nian lying on top of her.

• Zatanna explained that Raven had targeted people in Gotham City and that everyone it targeted had died.
• Raven hypnotized Xi Nian and entered his mental world, where it began consuming the darkness around his soul.
• Raven hesitated to devour Xi Nian, but attacked when Zatanna entered and tried to protect him.
• Xi Nian’s cloak blocked Raven’s feathers, then vines, spider silk, and red cloth bound Raven before a rising sun swept away the darkness.
• Zatanna awoke inside the Magic Wardrobe as her assistant opened it and found Xi Nian lying on top of her.

Xi Nian woke after a strange magical attack and learned Wanda had tied up the raven entity before it escaped. He uncovered a mystery surrounding Felicia Hardy and Selina, then comforted Kara after the Justice League’s failed operation and learned about Lex Luthor’s powerful allies.

• Xi Nian woke in the performers’ lounge, recalled being attacked by magic, and learned that Wanda had tied the raven entity with her hairband before it escaped.
• Xi Nian followed a woman he recognized as Felicia Hardy and watched her change from a banquet guest named Selina into a thief; he concluded that Selina and Felicia were the same person, though Selina did not recognize him.
• Kara returned to Wayne Manor in a gown and told Xi Nian that the Justice League’s operation against Lex Luthor had failed because Deathstroke and an unknown psychic woman had thwarted her and Batman.
• Xi Nian comforted Kara, reassured her that the failure was not her fault, and responded to her question about how she looked in her gown.

Lex Luthor recruited Deathstroke into a planned alliance called Doom, while Xi Nian returned to school and realized Felicia Hardy and the black-haired thief he met in Gotham seemed to have separate identities and memories. The chapter left Xi Nian suspecting that Felicia’s recent mutation had divided her personality.

• Lex Luthor persuaded Deathstroke not to kill Batman immediately and proposed forming an alliance called Doom to crush the Justice League.
• A mysterious presence knocked on the submarine, and Lex Luthor welcomed it as a new member of the alliance.
• Xi Nian and Kara arrived at school late, and Instructor Rott let Xi Nian return to class after he explained his absence.
• Xi Nian encountered Felicia Hardy, who dismissed his questions and showed no memory of meeting him in Gotham the previous night.
• Xi Nian noticed signs that Felicia and the black-haired thief had different memories and personalities, and suspected her mutation had split her identity.

Xi Nian returned to school and discovered that Gwen had brought Doctor Banner in as a visiting physics professor. Outside, Kara and Gwen discussed their Spider abilities, and Kara suggested they try combining them together.

• Xi Nian returned to class and met the new physics professor, Robert Bruce Banner, whom he recognized as the Hulk.
• Xi Nian and Gwen communicated through their shared Spider-Sense, and Gwen explained that she had recommended Banner for the visiting position.
• Xi Nian considered trying to recruit Banner for his tech company, Future Chronicle.
• Kara called Gwen outside after class, and the two walked away together without inviting Xi Nian.
• Kara asked Gwen about controlling their Spider abilities and suggested they try combining them, leaving Gwen blushing and steaming with embarrassment.

Gwen struggled to sleep after Diana's questions and Kara's bold proposal left her flustered and anticipating her upcoming date. Xi Nian reported his Gotham experiences to Diana, who shared evidence about June Moone and the witch-like entity inhabiting her, leaving them with a theory about why June survived.

• Officer George noticed Gwen was distracted and brought her hot cocoa, while Mrs. Mary joked that Gwen might be in love.
• Gwen lay awake replaying Diana's questions and Kara's proposal, then realized she was looking forward to her turn for date rights that weekend.
• Xi Nian visited Diana and recounted everything that had happened during his two days in Gotham.
• Diana showed Xi Nian an account of an archaeological expedition whose members died, with June Moone as the sole survivor.
• Xi Nian concluded that the witch-like entity lacked a physical body and had chosen June as a vessel.

Xi Nian and Diana discussed the witch possessing June Moone and planned to contact Zatanna before approaching June. Xi Nian revealed that his encounter with Poison Ivy had caused a dangerous divergence in his permanent ability, and he left Diana’s room to avoid risking her life.

• Xi Nian and Diana reasoned that June Moone might still be alive and sharing a balance with the witch possessing her, and Diana planned to contact her through archaeology work.
• Xi Nian suggested contacting Zatanna first, and Diana agreed to try reaching the magician.
• Diana asked about Poison Ivy, and Xi Nian explained that he had gained no permanent ability and that Poison Ivy’s body had not changed.
• Xi Nian revealed a green leaf-like mark that let him sense Poison Ivy and potentially strip her of her abilities or life, making her own survival dependent on his.
• Xi Nian grew afraid that his power could harm Diana, left her room, and Diana wondered why his permanent ability had diverged.

Harley Quinn tested a mysterious strand of hair, then received Lex Luthor’s invitation to a special banquet. Xi Nian visited Poison Ivy’s flower shop and found her offering herself to him, while questioning whether she had any control over her life now that he held her fate in his hands.

• Harley Quinn’s associate found that a strand of hair resisted a chainsaw, acid, heat, and electricity, and he suggested it might belong to Superman.
• Harley Quinn received Lex Luthor’s invitation to a banquet and considered it an opportunity.
• Xi Nian arranged his weekend date with Gwen and went to a flower shop after hearing about its unusual owner.
• Xi Nian found Poison Ivy at the shop, looking frail, and followed her upstairs.
• Poison Ivy lay on the bed and told Xi Nian to do whatever he wanted, arguing that he had taken control of her life and asking how it felt to conquer Gotham’s former Queen of Crime.

Xi Nian left Poison Ivy after realizing she had become dependent on him, then took Gwen on a date in New York. Their outing ended with Xi Nian suggesting a place to visit, and Gwen agreed despite misunderstanding his intentions.

• Xi Nian left Poison Ivy in the flower shop after hanging up her red dress, while she lay motionless on the bed.
• Xi Nian reflected that Poison Ivy's life now revolved around him and felt conflicted about his responsibility toward her.
• The next morning, Xi Nian and Gwen walked through New York, where he interviewed passersby about Spider-Woman and Gwen blushed at the praise.
• Xi Nian reassured Gwen that she did not need to feel pressure, then suggested taking her somewhere relaxing that weekend.
• Gwen mistook Xi Nian's invitation to visit a place for a suggestion to go to a hotel, but agreed to go with him.

Xi Nian brought Gwen to Future Chronicle Company and asked Alice about its growth and surveillance efforts. The company had reached the limits of world-class technology, but Xi Nian wanted it to advance beyond Earth’s current capabilities, and Alice continued searching for Pietro.

• Xi Nian and Gwen arrived at Future Chronicle Company, where receptionist Daisy Lois recognized Xi Nian from the Paris factory incident.
• Daisy watched in surprise as Xi Nian and Gwen entered the restricted sixth elevator without stopping at reception.
• Alice reported that Future Chronicle had over ten thousand employees, two dedicated satellites, and three supercomputers.
• Xi Nian said he wanted Future Chronicle to rival alien civilizations and lead Earth’s technological development.
• Alice told Xi Nian that the satellites were searching for Pietro and would alert him as soon as they found a lead.
• Xi Nian and Gwen reached the company chairman’s office on the tower’s highest floor.

Xi Nian and Gwen spent the day in the luxurious top-floor suite of the Future Chronicle Company, where Gwen offered to help find Pietro through the Avengers’ work with S.H.I.E.L.D. As evening came, Gwen pretended to sleep while Xi Nian asked if she wanted to play a game, and she quietly agreed.

• Xi Nian and Gwen explored the top floor, and Alice explained that it had been designed as Xi Nian’s second home while a standard chairman’s office occupied the floor below.
• Xi Nian and Gwen ordered food, then spent the afternoon playing games and watching movies.
• Gwen told Xi Nian that the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. were targeting Hydra bases and promised to share any news about Pietro.
• Xi Nian woke in the evening to find Gwen resting across his lap, and she quietly agreed when he asked to play a game.

Xi Nian and Gwen watched Eddie Brock reveal that Drake Bio-Gene had experimented on homeless people using alien symbiotes, including the one inside him. Eddie transformed into the monstrous Carnage during a live broadcast, leaving New York in panic as slaughter threatened the city.

• Alice interrupted Xi Nian and Gwen to show them a live news broadcast from New York City.
• Eddie Brock explained that Drake Bio-Gene had abducted homeless people and conducted experiments with alien symbiotes.
• Eddie revealed that a symbiote was inside him and begged the Avengers to kill him before it took control.
• Eddie transformed into Carnage, who shattered his glass cage and destroyed the camera, ending the broadcast.
• New Yorkers panicked as they feared Carnage would begin slaughtering people across the city.

After Carnage revealed the existence of symbiotes to New York City in a livestream, Xi Nian and Venom suspected the broadcast had exposed a hidden threat. At Avengers headquarters, Thor, Doctor Banner, and Tony Stark watched the footage, and Tony suited up to investigate Eddie's location.

• Carnage broadcast a livestream revealing symbiotes and its own identity, alarming New York City residents.
• Xi Nian questioned Venom, who confirmed that another symbiote had been hiding nearby and was likely Carnage.
• Thor drank with Doctor Banner and Tony Stark, lamenting the loss of Mjolnir while explaining that Stormbreaker had similar abilities.
• Jarvis showed the Avengers Eddie's livestream, and Tony became concerned when he heard Eddie mention the Black Cat.
• Jarvis located Eddie in Queens, and Tony donned his nano-armor and prepared to leave for the scene.