Chapter Summaries

Merlin, John, and the others destroyed the Alien Eggs and encountered the Xenomorph Queen, beginning a battle in the tunnel. The Queen wounded Hellcat, but Merlin struck back with his Electric Whip and restrained her as the fight continued.

• Cal destroyed the Facehugger and used her Shoulder Cannon to blast the Alien Egg area, but stopped when Hawkeye and Natasha warned the tunnel might collapse.
• Merlin joked about using Xenomorphs as Worker Aliens, and John suggested saving an Alien Egg to test the idea.
• Duke and Hellcat sensed danger, and the Xenomorph Queen appeared with six Deadpool Aliens behind her.
• John, Natasha, Hawkeye, and Cal attacked the Deadpool Aliens while Hellcat pounced on the Queen.
• The Queen sprayed acid on Hellcat, then kicked Duke away as he bit her ankle.
• Merlin cut off part of the Queen's crest and burned her back with his Electric Whip, then wrapped the whip around her neck and struggled to hold her in the air.

Merlin and the others defeated the Xenomorph Queen, rescued Deadpool, and watched Eagle's military sweep the city after the game ended. The platform then unveiled major updates, while Merlin discovered that Death Stranding had been unlocked.

• Merlin used his Electric Whip to bring down the Xenomorph Queen, and Arcee finished her with a Railgun shot.
• Punisher cut Deadpool open to remove a Xenomorph embryo, and Cal killed it before Stark dragged Deadpool out of the cave.
• The platform announced the end of the game, and Eagle's military arrived with ultraviolet searchlights to clear the Infected.
• The R-Star offline platform update added Skill Chips, professions, vehicles, forums, and a Transformers faction, then announced the game rankings.
• Stark received an offer to lead the Personal Battle Armor project, while Merlin saw a system notice that Death Stranding had been unlocked.

After Stark proposed forming a team to fight criminals and protect civilians, John considered the offer, Natasha and Hawkeye planned to consult their director, and Punisher refused. Merlin returned home to a scolding from George, then discovered that the system had unlocked Death Stranding and set Reputation Point costs for entry.

• At a celebration party, Stark proposed forming a team to respond to Earth's crises, protect civilians, and stop criminal players.
• John asked about the team's responsibilities and considered joining, while Punisher rejected Stark's approach to dealing with criminals.
• Natasha said she would discuss the proposal with her director, and John said he would decide after reading it; Stark told Merlin to stay out of it.
• George confronted Merlin at his door and scolded him for going to Los Santos, until Mrs. Stacy and Gwen intervened.
• After returning to bed, Merlin checked the system and saw that Death Stranding had unlocked, with entry requiring Reputation Points.

After the system update turned Reputation Points into a way to travel between game worlds, Merlin studied Death Stranding and planned to take control of its Beach. He went to meet Spider-Man at a cinema, where Spider-Man finally appeared after the movie had begun.

• Merlin checked his 900 million Reputation Points and learned that the updated system allowed him to enter game worlds.
• Merlin reviewed Death Stranding’s lore and planned to replace Amelie as the Extinction Body, hoping to control the Beach and let players become Repatriates.
• Merlin received a reminder from Spider-Man about their meeting and postponed his plan to enter Death Stranding.
• Merlin arrived at the Queen Lion Cinema in Queens to meet Spider-Man, but waited as the movie began.
• Spider-Man appeared by descending upside down in front of Merlin.

Merlin and Gwen Spider-Man shared a flirtatious movie date, and Gwen took him home, where they spent the night together while keeping her identity hidden. After Gwen left with a mysterious gift waiting at the theater, Merlin caught up on news about the Los Santos incident and Hammer Industries' CEO being arrested.

• Gwen Spider-Man arrived at the theater, and she and Merlin kissed before watching a movie together.
• Gwen took Merlin swinging across the city and brought him to his bedroom, where they spent the night together without her removing her mask.
• The next morning, Merlin told Gwen he would learn her identity when she was ready to reveal it, and she left after he mentioned a gift at the theater entrance.
• Merlin cleaned his room, ate, and read news about the Los Santos incident and Hammer Industries' CEO's arrest after the Iron Legion went out of control.

Merlin expanded the platform’s production and began selling Skill Chips and Androids, then discussed the Android project with Justine, who sought a way to secure her position at Hammer Industries. He agreed to give her the project on the condition that he retained its authority and profits, and Justine accepted.

• Merlin expanded production and launched Skill Chip and Android sales, while the platform’s Asian region began expanding into Neon.
• Justine visited Merlin and asked for one of his projects so she could establish herself at Hammer Industries after her father was imprisoned.
• Merlin explained that Big White Robot technology was already promised exclusively to Stark Industries, but offered Justine the Android project.
• Justine tried to persuade Merlin by citing her father’s support and then flirted with him, but Merlin refused to yield control of the project.
• Merlin offered Justine the project if he kept its authority and profits, and she agreed before asking whether his guardian needed to accompany him.

Merlin entered the Death Stranding world and landed in the mountains amid Timefall, where he encountered signs of a BT before an engine scared it away. After waiting for the rain to stop, he followed his radar toward nearby people.

• Merlin chose a 1:6 time flow rate, opened a Space Channel, and flew into the Death Stranding world on his Flying Sword.
• Merlin landed in the uninhabited mountains as Timefall began, and his armor protected him with an Electromagnetic Field shield.
• Merlin spotted an upside-down rainbow and realized that both Timefall and BTs were nearby.
• Invisible BT footprints approached Merlin, but an engine roared nearby and the BT retreated.
• Merlin waited for the Timefall to stop, then rode his Flying Sword toward the location shown on his radar.

Merlin met Fragile and Sam Bridges while traveling through the ruined world, returned Sam’s missing cargo, and joined him on his delivery route. As they crossed the landscape, Merlin told Sam that Strand Material would eventually spread across the world and trigger the sixth extinction.

• Merlin detected another person nearby and found Fragile and Sam in a cave.
• Merlin introduced himself as a traveler and returned Sam’s Brain Booster cargo.
• Fragile exchanged contact information with Merlin and vanished using her umbrella.
• Merlin followed Sam toward the next outpost, talking continuously until Sam let him carry the cargo on his Mechanical Longsword.
• Merlin told Sam that the world would face the sixth extinction after Strand Material spread across it, and Sam stopped in surprise.

Merlin stayed at Mama’s base to study BTs and develop weapons, using Sam’s blood and Mama’s research while acquiring advanced technology. On day six, he set out with a BB and his enchanted Mechanical Longsword to find BTs, and the detector led him to a river where black hands began pulling him into Tar.

• Merlin promised Sam he would deliver his message to the Beach and tell the Extinction Bodies that a path to survival existed.
• Sam brought Merlin to Mama’s outpost, where Merlin asked her to help research BTs.
• Merlin used Mama’s data and Sam’s blood to develop an anti-BT weapon and obtained Printers and other technology through Sam’s identity.
• After fewer than five days of research, Merlin left the base with a BB Baby Detector and his Mechanical Longsword, now enchanted to harm BTs.
• Merlin followed the detector to a river, where black Tar spread beneath him and hands grabbed his ankles as a BT approached.

Merlin fought a massive Jellyfish BT in the Tar Pit, then gathered the Kairol Crystals that grew after its defeat. With the crystals and Printer technology secured, he ran out of Reputation Points and returned to the real world.

• Merlin used the Mechanical Longsword to cut through BTs and wound the giant Jellyfish BT in the Tar Pit.
• When the Jellyfish BT attacked again, Merlin leaped into the air and used the sword to pierce it once more.
• After the Tar receded and Kairol Flowers bloomed, Merlin collected the Kairol Crystals and obtained a Hasselblad Camera from the Drone Printer.
• Merlin decided he had no time to visit Mama, then returned to the real world when his Reputation Points ran out.

Merlin returned from the game world and prepared to turn its technology into weapons while getting ready for the Big White Robot launch. Optimus Prime and the Autobots departed with Androids to help them, leaving Arcee with Merlin as the Decepticon threat continued.

• Amelie found the lingering energy where Merlin had vanished and feared she had lost her chance to save the world.
• Merlin returned to his custom shop after exactly twenty-four hours and planned to use technology from the game world to strengthen his defenses against Eagle.
• Pepper told Merlin that the Big White Robot medical launch would take place at Garden Square, and he promised to attend.
• Arcee greeted Merlin after his long absence, and he told her he was fine before joining the Autobots in the backyard.
• Optimus Prime and his companions said they had to leave because Megatron remained a threat, while Merlin promised to share information about the Decepticons around Christmas.
• Merlin sent Androids with the Autobots to communicate and provide cover for them, while Arcee stayed behind as his guardian.

Merlin planned the Game Platform’s expansion, discovered that Iron Man was recruiting players for an Iron Legion, and returned to his laboratory to build an Orbital Cannon Satellite and a Printer. He began modeling the satellite, aiming to launch it and its weapon into space within a week.

• Merlin decided to delay adding player resurrection until the platform had expanded and its veterans had been screened.
• Merlin read news about Iron Man’s player-selection mission for an Iron Legion, then Gwen Spider-Man visited him that night to play billiards.
• Merlin returned to Merlin’s Laboratory, where Tifa gave him a progress report and told him Dr. Esek had awakened but remained in nutrient solution.
• Merlin ordered Ford Jane to leave Dr. Esek alone for now and prioritized constructing an Orbital Cannon Satellite because agents were destroying hidden production bases.
• Merlin built the satellite’s data model and began making a Printer, intending to launch the satellite and its weapon into space within a week.

Merlin and Arcee used six Kairol Printers to begin producing an antimatter-powered orbital cannon satellite. Merlin then reunited Jane with the revived Dr. Esek, and the pair left his laboratory grateful to him.

• Merlin and Arcee activated six Kairol Printers, which began printing the satellite and its launch apparatus.
• Merlin left the workshop in Arcee's care after Ada Wong announced that Ford Jane had arrived.
• Merlin greeted Jane and led her to the Central Laboratory to see Dr. Esek.
• Merlin removed Dr. Esek's tubes and wires, and Dr. Esek woke to recognize Jane.
• Jane joyfully embraced Dr. Esek, and the two later left Merlin's Laboratory while the satellite continued printing.

Merlin launched an antimatter-powered Orbital Cannon Satellite from his laboratory on Christmas Eve, and it successfully reached low Earth orbit. As Fury and Coulson watched the launch, Fury resolved to win Merlin over before other powerful groups made their moves.

• Merlin and his companions gathered at the Third Space Laboratory to watch the Orbital Cannon Satellite launch.
• Merlin ignited the rocket, which broke through the laboratory skylight and climbed into the sky.
• Fury and Coulson saw the launch and discussed their plan to bring Merlin under their influence; Fury said they would win him over.
• The rocket reached its designated low Earth orbit and deployed its shell, revealing the Orbital Cannon.
• The Orbital Cannon Satellite successfully entered orbit, with its antimatter weapon ready to fire.

Merlin celebrated the successful launch of his Orbital Cannon Satellite, then spent Christmas Eve preparing to attend Stark Industries’ Baymax Expo and Hammer Industries’ Android Expo. At the crowded venues, Gwen revealed that Pepper had invited her band to perform the opening.

• Merlin, Charlie, and Marvin celebrated after the Orbital Cannon Satellite docked successfully, and Merlin confirmed that its systems were working.
• Merlin returned home with Arcee and spent the night with Gwen Spider-Man, then slept until evening as Christmas snow covered the city.
• A young man shot a convenience-store thief to increase his Crime Cleanup Progress, and Gwen Spider-Man chased him after exchanging a glance with Merlin.
• George and his wife invited Merlin to the Baymax Tech Expo, and Merlin planned to use his clone technique to attend it and Hammer Industries’ Android Expo.
• Merlin and the Stacys arrived at Plaza Garden, where Gwen ran over and explained that Pepper had invited her band to perform the opening.

Merlin helped present Baymax at the lively Baymax Tech Expo, then introduced Hammer Industries’ Androids to government and military officials. S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sitwell interrupted the presentation and announced that Merlin was being taken in for questioning over suspected weapons smuggling and endangering public safety.

• Pepper showed Merlin the Christmas-themed Baymaxes and explained that their auction proceeds would support a medical foundation, while saying she and Stark had broken up.
• Gwen’s band performed at the Baymax Expo before Pepper and Merlin presented the limited-edition Christmas Baymaxes to an enthusiastic crowd.
• Justine introduced Hammer Industries’ Androids at a more serious exhibition attended by government, military, and intelligence officials.
• Merlin began explaining how Androids could be integrated into society as Fury watched uneasily from the audience.
• Sitwell and a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents interrupted Merlin’s presentation and declared that he was suspected of weapons smuggling and endangering public safety.

The platform announced a Hydra annihilation mission and a Cybertron mission during the exhibition, revealing Hydra locations around the world and offering players new rewards. General Ross seized the opportunity to detain Sitwell and ordered Fury and Merlin to cooperate with an investigation.

• Sitwell handcuffed Merlin, claiming Pierce had ordered his arrest, while Fury denied issuing the order.
• The platform revealed the Hydra Annihilation mission, listing Hydra targets and bases across the world, including a S.H.I.E.L.D. base in Washington.
• The platform announced a Cybertron mission in which players could use points to turn vehicles into Transformer companions.
• General Ross's soldiers surrounded Sitwell and his group, and Ross accused them of being Hydra members.
• Ross invoked his authority as Secretary of State and ordered Fury and Merlin to remain for investigation.

After Hydra’s attempt to capture Merlin was exposed, Ross detained Fury and the others and brought Merlin in for questioning, while the platform released new missions against Hydra. Merlin reassured Justine and Pepper, and Felicia weighed the missions against her existing obligations as the chapter ended with Merlin still at the launch venue.

• Ross detained Fury and the others, then invited Merlin to answer questions as a witness rather than a criminal.
• Merlin told Justine that Ada would handle Android sales while he was away, and Ross learned that Merlin’s Android had appeared at Stark’s launch.
• The platform released the Hydra Annihilation and Cybertron missions to players, and Felicia decided to focus on Kingpin’s mission and her father’s safety for now.
• Pepper checked that Merlin was real, learned that his Android had been taken away, and promised not to let anyone take him too.

After the Baymax charity auction, Merlin read players’ plans to investigate Hydra while traveling with Arcee. A masked Black Cat attacked him, but Gwen Spider-Man intercepted her, and Merlin arrived as Gwen discovered Black Cat was a player.

• Merlin browsed the platform forum as players discussed Mechanics’ signal trackers, Orbital Cannons, and plans to investigate Hydra.
• A modified Odjok Detection Device blocked Black Cat’s grappling hook when she tried to capture Merlin.
• Arcee transformed and fired at Black Cat, who escaped onto a nearby rooftop.
• Gwen Spider-Man stopped Black Cat and fought her, discovering that her strength came from an improved Super Soldier Serum.
• Gwen spotted the Mechanical Spider on Black Cat’s chest, recognized her as a player, and Merlin landed behind her with Arcee.

Black Cat escaped after revealing that Kingpin had forced her to kidnap Gwen, and Merlin set out for Hell’s Kitchen with Gwen. Meanwhile, guild forces converged on Washington, where Elson Bull and Doctor Octopus prepared to infiltrate a S.H.I.E.L.D. base.

• Black Cat claimed Kingpin had ordered the kidnapping because her father was being held, then escaped from the rooftop using a grappling hook.
• Merlin cut Black Cat’s rope with a magnetic fan blade, but she survived the fall by clawing into a building and vanished into a Christmas tree.
• Merlin invited Gwen to help him find Kingpin, and she followed him toward Hell’s Kitchen.
• Players and aircraft from multiple guilds rushed toward Washington, while Hellfire and the Holy Light Tribunal joined forces against Hydra.
• Otto Gunther Octavius warned Elson Bull that the marked target was a S.H.I.E.L.D. base and that its Aircraft Carrier posed a major obstacle.
• Elson planned an infiltration and said Hellfire’s Assassins could handle it, with an Orbital Cannon as a possible way to destroy the Aircraft Carrier.