Chapter Summaries

Iron Man and Thor tracked Carnage to Queens and overwhelmed it with a laser barrage and lightning. Meanwhile, Xi Nian realized the livestream had been a trap meant to draw out his Black Cat form.

• Thor and Iron Man rushed to the wrecked Queens street where Eddie had livestreamed, while Doctor Banner planned to follow by cab.
• Carnage ambushed Iron Man from the sewers, but Thor struck it with Stormbreaker and badly wounded it.
• Iron Man fired a powerful laser at the fleeing Carnage, and Thor followed with a bolt of lightning that engulfed it.
• Xi Nian questioned why Eddie had revealed himself after weeks of resisting Carnage and asked Venom whether Carnage had sensed its arrival in New York.
• Venom confirmed Carnage could sense it, and Xi Nian concluded the livestream had targeted him and his Tri-Symbiotic Form, Black Cat.

Xi Nian realized Carnage had lured the Avengers into a trap, but Iron Man and Thor believed they had destroyed the symbiote after rescuing Eddie. Carnage survived by infecting Doctor Banner, whose transformation into the Hulk gave it what it considered a perfect host.

• Xi Nian told Gwen that Carnage was targeting his Tri-Symbiotic Form, and they suspected its livestream challenge had another purpose.
• Xi Nian warned Gwen that Carnage was drawing the Avengers into a trap, while Iron Man and Thor attacked Carnage in Queens and pulled Eddie free.
• Gwen called Iron Man and explained that a host who survived separation from a symbiote meant it was still alive; Eddie then charged Doctor Banner before Thor split him with Stormbreaker.
• Iron Man destroyed Eddie's body, but Carnage had already attached itself to Banner, who transformed into the Hulk.
• Carnage covered the Hulk with its tendrils and declared him a perfect host, revealing it had chosen Banner over Thor.

Carnage and Hulk merged into a rampaging monster that overwhelmed Iron Man and Thor, forcing the Avengers to prepare for a desperate fight. Gwen left Xi Nian to join the battle, while Xi Nian, Little Huang, and Venom got ready to enter the Tri-Symbiotic Form.

• Carnage merged with Hulk, suppressing Banner and transforming their body into a powerful, heat-emitting monster.
• Carnage Hulk leapt into the sky and shattered Iron Man’s shield with a punch, then damaged his armor and resisted his laser cannon.
• Thor attacked Carnage Hulk with Stormbreaker, but the weapon stuck in its exoskeleton and Carnage Hulk knocked Thor unconscious.
• Steve Rogers, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Iron Man regrouped against Carnage Hulk as he emerged from an explosion unharmed.
• Gwen decided to leave Xi Nian and join the fight, then leapt into the night after kissing him.
• Xi Nian prepared to enter the Tri-Symbiotic Form with Little Huang and Venom after obtaining Spider Genes.

Peter Parker watched the Avengers battle Carnage Hulk as Tony Stark summoned Deadpool, whose rapid regeneration let him return after being flattened. Spider-Woman arrived as another intern, while an intelligent-looking Black Cat appeared beside her on a rooftop.

• Peter Parker entered the evacuated battlefield and saw Carnage Hulk tear apart an empty Hulkbuster Armor.
• Tony Stark detonated the Hulkbuster Armor and checked on Captain America, Black Widow, and Clint as they struggled against Carnage Hulk.
• Tony Stark called in X007, and Deadpool emerged from an airdropped container before Carnage Hulk killed him twice.
• Captain America noticed Deadpool's Carbonadium katana could suppress healing, while Iron Man called Deadpool an intern.
• Spider-Woman arrived, and Iron Man spotted an unusually intelligent Black Cat watching from the rooftop beside her.

Tri-Symbiotic Xi Nian confronted Carnage Hulk after the creature noticed him, and their clash began tearing apart the surrounding streets. The chapter ended with Xi Nian and Carnage Hulk trading blows while Iron Man and Captain America watched in alarm.

• Iron Man identified the black kitten as Black Flash, while Captain America questioned whether it was truly the same creature.
• Peter Parker sensed Cousin Gwen among the fighters and noticed another familiar presence nearby.
• Hawkeye helped the injured Black Widow withdraw, and Skye arrived to provide support outside the battlefield.
• Carnage Hulk grew hotter and angrier, drove Deadpool away with flaming tentacles, and then fixed its attention on the black kitten.
• Xi Nian revealed his stabilized Tri-Symbiotic Form, combining Venom, Little Huang, and Gwen's Spider Genes abilities, and slammed Carnage Hulk into a crater.
• Carnage Hulk leaped from the crater and traded a powerful punch with Xi Nian, sending shockwaves through the streets as Iron Man and Captain America watched.

Tri-Symbiotic Xi Nian and the Avengers fought Carnage Hulk in Queens, with Xi Nian’s defenses and Spider-Woman’s webbing helping restrain the monster. As Xi Nian considered how to free Hulk from the symbiote, Thor arrived empowered by lightning and joined the fight.

• Tri-Symbiotic Xi Nian endured Carnage Hulk’s attacks and broke its hands when it tried to crush him.
• Xi Nian bound Carnage Hulk with his tail while Spider-Woman webbed it, and Captain America and Iron Man joined the assault.
• Carnage Hulk transformed into a tentacled creature, forcing Spider-Woman, Captain America, and Iron Man back while Xi Nian kept hold of its core body.
• Xi Nian considered how to remove the Carnage symbiote from Hulk as rain extinguished the fires around them.
• Thor descended through the tentacles, declared himself the Avengers’ strongest, and used lightning and divine strength to suppress Carnage Hulk.

Xi Nian used Stormbreaker and Captain America's vibranium shield to unleash a deafening shockwave that freed Thor and weakened Carnage Hulk. Skye then destroyed the symbiote with vibrations, leaving Banner unconscious and Carnage dead.

• Thor revived and attacked Carnage Hulk with lightning, but the symbiote adapted and began consuming him.
• Xi Nian took Stormbreaker from Deadpool and Captain America's vibranium shield, then struck them together to create a powerful sonic shockwave.
• The shockwave blasted Thor away and shattered Carnage Hulk's exoskeleton, but Carnage submerged Hulk again.
• Skye used vibrations to break apart the weakened symbiote and free Hulk, who reverted to Doctor Banner.
• Xi Nian crushed the fleeing Carnage symbiote, killing it.

After the battle, Skye told Xi Nian that S.H.I.E.L.D. had disbanded, while Gwen returned home troubled by how much she enjoyed her time with him. Back home, Xi Nian learned that Wanda’s deskmate had vanished and recognized why the disappearance mattered.

• Peter Parker watched the battle’s aftermath, reflected on his weakness, and glimpsed two caped figures before they disappeared.
• Skye cuddled Xi Nian in his Black Cat form, then told him that she had been cleared and that S.H.I.E.L.D. had disbanded; she vowed to lead whatever new agency arose.
• Xi Nian and Gwen spent the night at Future Chronicle Company and returned to Washington the next day, where Gwen realized she was already looking forward to seeing him again.
• Xi Nian returned home and found Wanda worried that her deskmate had disappeared after missing school and leaving her apartment empty.
• Xi Nian understood that Wanda’s missing deskmate shared her bloodline.

Xi Nian traced Lorna’s disappearance to the Great Era cruise ship, while Steve Rogers received tickets linked to his search for the Winter Soldier. At Avengers Headquarters, Tony Stark learned that someone had hacked their systems and stolen Iron Man armor blueprints.

• Xi Nian and Wanda learned from Alice that Lorna had left Washington for Metropolis and vanished near its harbor.
• Alice identified the Great Era as the likely ship Lorna planned to board for a costume party and weeklong voyage.
• Sam Wilson gave Steve Rogers two ship tickets and said they revealed where to find the Winter Soldier.
• Tony Stark discovered that an external hacker had breached the Avengers’ firewall and stolen Iron Man armor blueprints.

The Justice League learned that Lex Luthor had lured them aboard the Great Era, while Xi Nian and Wanda boarded to find Polaris. As the liner prepared to depart behind a powerful signal-blocking device, Bruce Wayne decided the group would board but leave one person behind.

• Atlantis Empress learned that Prince Orm had leaked undersea technology and ordered the battle suit recovered; Vico also reported that Namor was associating with surface humans aboard a ship.
• Bruce Wayne received Lex Luthor’s invitation and six tickets, then agreed to board the Great Era despite Alfred’s warning that it was a trap.
• Xi Nian and Wanda boarded the liner to find Polaris, while Alice warned that a signal-blocking device was disrupting communications around the ship.
• Bruce Wayne and the others saw that the Great Era was shielded with lead and could not be stopped from sailing, so Bruce decided they would board and leave one person behind.

As the Great Era sailed from Metropolis Harbor, Xi Nian gave Wanda the choice of a magical artifact and she selected a necklace to become its Gem Guardian. Unable to infiltrate the ship’s unusually secure network, Xi Nian took Wanda to investigate the crowded costume banquet, where they found a sea of convincing superhero cosplayers.

• Xi Nian gave Wanda his red cloak for protection and let her choose between the Mind and Reality necklaces.
• Wanda chose one of the necklaces, and Xi Nian fastened it around her neck, making her its Gem Guardian.
• Alice reported that the ship’s network was highly secure and that infiltrating it would take at least six hours and risk detection.
• Xi Nian decided to investigate the ship in person and took Wanda to the sixth-deck entertainment area.
• Xi Nian and Wanda found the costume banquet packed with passengers dressed as Batman, Iron Man, and Captain America.

The Justice League and other passengers searched the cruise ship while wearing disguises, but the ship’s size and costume event made it difficult to identify people. Xi Nian kept looking for Lorna and ended the chapter speaking with Deathstroke.

• Batman told the Justice League to split up across the decks, while the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg assessed their surroundings and stayed alert.
• Batman spotted Tony Stark openly identifying himself as the two men met eyes across the fifth deck.
• Mera welcomed Susan to her table in the café, then told her that she was role-playing too.
• Xi Nian and Wanda searched the sixth deck for Lorna, encountered a drunken Instructor Rott, and sat nearby to keep an eye on him.
• Deathstroke sat down across from Xi Nian and Wanda, and Xi Nian mistook him for an Iron Man cosplayer.

Susan and Mera bonded over their loneliness and the people they liked, while Xi Nian met Deathstroke in the ship’s bar and offered him a job. Deathstroke warned Xi Nian to stay hidden later if he wanted a chance to get off the ship.

• Susan complimented Mera’s beauty, and the two introduced themselves and grew comfortable talking together.
• Mera told Susan she had someone she liked named Xi Nian, while Susan admitted she liked someone whose real name she did not know.
• Xi Nian traded insults with Deathstroke in the bar and introduced Wanda as his maid.
• Xi Nian offered Deathstroke a long-term job for one million dollars a day, but Deathstroke dismissed the offer and warned him to hide later.
• Xi Nian told Wanda that Deathstroke was pitiful because he could not reunite with his family.

Xi Nian sent jellyfish spheres to search the Great Era for Polaris while Batman and Tony Stark joined forces to pursue Lex Luthor. As Deathstroke headed for Batman and the ship’s host welcomed the costumed guests, the danger aboard the cruise ship escalated.

• Xi Nian deployed transparent jellyfish spheres across the sixth deck and had Can Luo use them to search for Polaris and follow Deathstroke.
• On the fifth deck, Tony Stark and Batman agreed to work together against Lex Luthor for the incident aboard the ship.
• On the tenth deck, Kara and Gwen recognized each other and realized they were pursuing the same targets; Kara said Bruce Wayne suspected Xi Nian was aboard.
• Superman Clark followed the Great Era across the Atlantic as the passengers continued celebrating, unaware of the danger.
• Deathstroke met a diamond-clad woman, learned Batman was on the deck below, and went down to the fifth deck after she sensed a faint psychic fluctuation.
• At eight in the evening, a man welcomed the superheroes and villains aboard the Great Era over the ship’s speakers.

Lex Luthor revealed that he had gathered superheroes and villains aboard the Great Era cruise ship to force a conflict and decide the world’s future. As panic spread, confrontations broke out across the ship, leaving several heroes under attack.

• Lex Luthor announced his hatred of superhumans and declared that the ship’s coming events would determine the future of the world.
• On the third deck, Susan warned Mera to stay behind her as Mera noticed a familiar figure.
• On the fifth deck, Deathstroke confronted Batman, but Deadpool appeared and was stabbed through the throat by Deathstroke.
• On the tenth deck, Superwoman Kara and Spider-Woman Gwen faced the ominous Enchantress as the cabin lights went out.
• A green-haired girl sent Batman flying, then repelled Iron Man after he formed his armor.

Extraordinary fighters clashed with their counterparts across the Great Era cruise ship while Xi Nian suddenly fell unconscious. Wanda tried to take him away, but Emma Frost arrived and recoiled in terror after sensing him.

• Captain America Steve Rogers found a silver-armed man he recognized as Bucky, while Sam went to organize the passengers' evacuation.
• The Flash encountered a small silver-armored speedster, and Cyborg's missile failed to harm the metal figure calling itself Black Vision.
• A red giant attacked Doctor Banner but stopped when a green hand caught its foot from below.
• Xi Nian learned of the attacks, then fell asleep; Wanda could not find Raven and prepared to open a portal to take him away.
• Emma Frost confronted Wanda and, after reaching toward Xi Nian with her psychic senses, shuddered in terror.

Xi Nian dreamed he was a little boy cared for by Aunt Diana and asked a raven to transform like her. On the ship, the White Queen let Wanda try to escape with the sleeping Xi Nian, but Cheetah Barbara recognized him as Wonder Woman’s child and attacked, only to be stopped by Wanda’s cloak and magic.

• Xi Nian dreamed he woke as a child, got ready for school, and received a goodbye kiss from Aunt Diana.
• Xi Nian met a raven on the way to school and asked it to transform into a girl like Aunt Diana.
• The White Queen tried to read Xi Nian’s mind, sensed a terrifying presence watching over him, and told Wanda she could leave with him.
• Cheetah Barbara arrived, identified Xi Nian as Diana Prince’s child, and declared him her prey.
• Cheetah Barbara pounced at Xi Nian, but Wanda’s cloak restrained her and Wanda drove her back with magic.

In Xi Nian’s dream, he saved Little Gwen and reunited with his auntie before returning home and sensing someone was missing. In reality, Wanda restrained Cheetah with Xi Nian’s red cloth, but the White Queen knocked Wanda unconscious with a psychic attack, leaving Xi Nian unprotected.

• Little Xi Nian rushed into an alley, helped Officer George save Little Gwen, and comforted her.
• Xi Nian recognized his auntie at the alley entrance, and she embraced him.
• The raven flew into Xi Nian’s room and transformed into Diana Prince.
• In the sixth-level ship cabin, Wanda used a magical shield to block Cheetah Barbara’s attack, then bound her with the red cloth from Xi Nian’s wrist.
• The White Queen struck Wanda with a psychic shockwave, making her collapse and causing the red chains to shrink back into cloth.

Xi Nian returned home in a dreamlike scene with Diana, while in reality Cheetah and White Queen tried to take him from the bar. Wanda's scarlet power erupted and blasted both villains into the corridor wall, leaving them shaken and injured.

• Xi Nian found Diana sitting on his bed, and she pressed her forehead against his as he held her waist.
• Cheetah offered to take Xi Nian while White Queen claimed Wanda, and White Queen warned Cheetah not to hurt him.
• Instructor Rott drunkenly tried to protect Xi Nian, but White Queen kicked him out of the bar.
• As Cheetah reached for Xi Nian, Wanda unleashed a surge of scarlet energy that destroyed the bar and hurled Cheetah and White Queen into the corridor wall.
• Cheetah and White Queen survived the blast but were badly shaken, and White Queen's diamond form was left cracked.

Wanda’s scarlet energy erupted around her and the sleeping Xi Nian, forcing Cheetah and White Queen to wait outside while battles raged across the cruise ship. The chapter ended with Xi Nian embracing a mysterious woman in the dark as he gave himself over to the moment.

• Wanda’s pendant glowed and released a destructive scarlet energy tide that left Xi Nian unharmed, while Cheetah and White Queen failed to approach them.
• Cheetah and White Queen decided to wait for Wanda’s power to weaken rather than abandon their attempt.
• The Flash raced against a small figure in Silver Armor on the eighth deck and realized the opponent’s speed was not Super Speed.
• Cyborg grappled with a dark mechanized figure on the seventh deck as their data consciousnesses tried to hack each other.
• Deathstroke stabbed Deadpool after Deadpool briefly blocked his attack, while Captain America tried to reach the Winter Soldier with memories of their past.
• Xi Nian embraced a mysterious woman in the dark and kissed her.