Chapter Summaries

Nick Fury confronted Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff about their campaign against Stark Industries, then revealed that he and Stephen Strange had come to recruit them. After Wanda’s chaotic powers surfaced, Fury told the siblings they were needed to save the universe.

• Nick Fury recounted the twins’ history and accused them of using their studies and online posts to target Stark Industries.
• Pietro defended their truthful posts and objected to Fury entering their home, while Wanda tried calling 911 and discovered Fury had intercepted the call.
• Fury had Stephen Strange magically shut the door as the twins tried to escape, then insisted that he was a good person and an agent.
• Wanda’s anger triggered a red glow and a surge of chaotic power, which Stephen and Fury recognized as the beginnings of the Scarlet Witch’s abilities.
• Pietro asked whether Fury had come to make them superheroes, and Fury said they would do something greater: save the universe.

Nick Fury planned to have Wanda Maximoff awaken and master her Chaos Magic so she could destroy the Mind Stone, while Stephen Strange kept the Time Stone from He-El and Thanos. Stephen decided to train Wanda, but Pietro stepped between him and his sister.

• Nick Fury told Wanda Maximoff that she could save the universe, and Stephen Strange hesitated to show her the future.
• Nick Fury explained that Wanda's Chaos Magic could destroy the Mind Stone and insisted that Stephen never surrender the Time Stone.
• Stephen Strange agreed that destroying the Mind Stone and hiding the Time Stone was their best defense against He-El and Thanos.
• Stephen Strange decided to take Wanda Maximoff as his disciple because Chaos Magic had already begun to stir within her.
• Pietro Maximoff stepped in front of Wanda and demanded to know what Stephen Strange was trying to do.

Stephen Strange showed Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff a possible future without He-El, including their deaths and the destruction caused by Thanos. Wanda manifested Chaos Magic after seeing the future, while Pietro questioned whether the vision applied to their very different world.

• Stephen Strange touched Pietro Maximoff's forehead and showed him a future in which He-El did not exist.
• Stephen Strange showed Wanda Maximoff the same future, calming her emerging Chaos Magic as she absorbed the scenes.
• Pietro Maximoff saw himself die and Wanda Maximoff turn to dust, then tried and failed to use the supersonic ability he had witnessed.
• Wanda Maximoff manifested Chaos Magic, and Nick Fury explained that Pietro's ability still needed to awaken.
• Pietro Maximoff argued that the vision was not their future because He-El had changed their world, and Nick Fury told him to consider the future without He-El.

Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff reflected on how He-El had changed their lives and the future, while Nick Fury urged them to prepare for threats even with He-El around. Wanda agreed to help destroy the Mind Stone after learning that Vision could not exist in this altered timeline.

• Pietro Maximoff realized He-El had rescued him and Wanda from poverty and credited him with saving them again by helping eliminate Hydra.
• Nick Fury warned that they could not rely entirely on He-El to stop Thanos and had to prepare for the possibility of disaster.
• Wanda Maximoff used her Chaos Magic to judge the future fragments as genuine and asked Nick Fury whether Vision could still appear.
• Nick Fury explained that He-El's changes meant Vision would not emerge, and Stephen Strange cautioned Wanda not to let future emotions shape her present.
• Wanda Maximoff said she had no intention of recreating Vision and agreed to help destroy the Mind Stone.

Baron Mordo warned He-El that Nick Fury and Stephen Strange had taken Kaecilius from Kamar-Taj, and He-El realized they might be working against him. He traced their last known location to Sokovia and discovered that Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff had disappeared at the same time.

• Baron Mordo told He-El that Nick Fury had tried to bring Kamar-Taj under S.H.I.E.L.D. and had left with Stephen Strange and Kaecilius.
• He-El suspected Nick Fury and Stephen Strange no longer trusted him and ordered Vivian to locate them.
• Vivian reported that Nick Fury and Stephen Strange had last appeared at a New-Type Aid Apartment in Sokovia.
• He-El asked Vivian to check on Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff, and she found their home empty and their whereabouts unknown.

He-El brought Kamar-Taj under his command while allowing it to remain independent of the Earth United Government. Baron Mordo warned him that Nick Fury and Stephen had taken Kaecilius, but He-El sensed that someone had already arrived.

• He-El decided that Kamar-Taj could not remain detached from a unified Earth and told Baron Mordo it had to submit to his command.
• Baron Mordo agreed, but insisted Kamar-Taj must remain outside the Earth United Government and continue protecting Earth from dimensional demonic gods.
• He-El accepted Mordo's terms and placed Kamar-Taj under his personal command.
• Mordo warned He-El that Nick Fury and Stephen had stolen Kaecilius, who could open a passage for Dormammu to reach Earth.
• He-El smiled toward the door and told Mordo that the person they were waiting for had already arrived.

Nick Fury and Stephen Strange brought Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff to a hidden Himalayan safe house to awaken the siblings' powers and investigate whether He-El could be trusted. Stephen began linking their senses to Kaecilius in Manhattan, leaving them poised to see what he witnessed.

• Nick Fury led Stephen Strange, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff to his network-free Himalayan safe house and explained that they would use the Mind Scepter to awaken the siblings' powers and assess He-El.
• Pietro and Wanda questioned why they would investigate He-El, whose actions had improved the world.
• Stephen said he suspected He-El's pursuit of the Reality Stone had been connected to the Ancient One's death and had risked humanity by drawing Earth into a conflict with Asgard and the Dark Elves.
• Nick Fury said He-El's willingness to hand him the Mind Stone had once lowered his suspicions, but he later recognized that He-El had selfish motives.
• Stephen completed a magic circle and prepared to link the group's senses to Kaecilius, whom Nick Fury had secretly sent to Manhattan.
• Stephen entered a trance, leaving his body rigid as his consciousness reached out to connect their vision and hearing to Kaecilius.

Stephen Strange possessed Kaecilius and disguised him as General Ross to enter the Earth United Government and confront He-El about a possible alliance with Dormammu. The disguise reached the government building, where a confused guard was left to pay the taxi fare.

• Kaecilius woke in a Manhattan hotel, and Stephen Strange took control of his body while linking his senses with Nick Fury, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff.
• Nick Fury explained that they intended to confront He-El and determine whether he had cooperated with Dormammu of the Dark Dimension.
• Stephen Strange transformed Kaecilius into General Ross and followed Nick Fury's directions toward the Earth United Government.
• Stephen Strange realized Kaecilius had no money for a taxi, so Wanda Maximoff suggested having the guards pay the fare.
• At the government gates, Stephen Strange ordered a guard to pay the taxi driver and walked into the building.

Stephen Strange sent Kaecilius, disguised as General Ross, into President He-El’s office while Nick Fury, Pietro Maximoff, and Wanda Maximoff watched through his eyes. Baron Mordo recognized Kaecilius as the disguise broke, and Dark Energy began flooding the office.

• Stephen Strange controlled Kaecilius, disguised as General Ross, as he pushed past the Secretary-General and guards into He-El’s office.
• He-El dismissed the Secretary-General and secretly ordered Vivian to gather information on the intruder.
• Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff saw He-El through Kaecilius’s eyes and admired him, while Nick Fury warned them not to trust his appearance.
• Baron Mordo sensed a familiar, dark aura and confronted General Ross, warning He-El that he was not who he appeared to be.
• Kaecilius revealed his true form, and Dark Energy poured from him, engulfing the presidential office.

Stephen Strange controlled Kaecilius as he used Dark Energy and the Mirror Dimension against He-El, prompting Baron Mordo to confront him and refuse to flee as Dormammu neared. Nick Fury urged Stephen to continue their plan despite Mordo’s life being at risk, and a gaze from the Dark Dimension then fixed on He-El.

• Baron Mordo recognized Stephen Strange’s spellwork in Kaecilius and accused him of following Ancient One into darkness.
• Kaecilius transformed the presidential office and Manhattan within the Mirror Dimension while Dark Energy spread around him.
• Kaecilius warned Mordo that Dormammu was about to emerge and urged him to escape, but Mordo attacked with a golden whip and refused to abandon his duty as Sorcerer Supreme.
• Stephen Strange pleaded with Mordo to leave, but Mordo said he no longer trusted him and grieved over his fall into darkness.
• Stephen told Nick Fury they had to stop, but Nick insisted they continue their plan to change the future and save Earth from He-El.
• A gaze from the Dark Dimension stared through Kaecilius’s body toward He-El.

Stephen Strange failed to stop Dormammu from opening a passage through Kaecilius, and Baron Mordo was injured while trying to intervene. He-El ordered Vivian to store Dark Energy and stood with Mordo as Dormammu emerged and demanded that He-El fulfill his promise.

• Stephen Strange urged Baron Mordo to escape as Dormammu forced Dark Energy through Kaecilius and broke free of Strange’s control.
• Baron Mordo charged into the black mist but was blasted back at He-El’s feet.
• He-El asked Vivian about analyzing Dark Energy, learned it could not yet be separated, and ordered her to absorb and store it.
• He-El reassured Baron Mordo that Kamar-Taj was not responsible for Stephen Strange’s actions.
• Baron Mordo vowed to protect He-El and searched for a flaw in the Mirror Dimension as Dormammu’s head formed from the darkness.
• Dormammu emerged and told He-El he had killed the Ancient One and demanded that He-El fulfill his promise.

Dormammu revealed that He-El had worked with him to kill the Ancient One, confirming Stephen Strange and Nick Fury’s suspicions and exposing He-El’s deception. As they reeled from the revelation, He-El calmly faced Dormammu and told him he should not have appeared.

• Dormammu revealed that He-El had helped him kill the Ancient One, shocking Baron Mordo, Stephen Strange, and Nick Fury.
• Nick Fury realized He-El had exploited his greed and guided his choices while secretly arranging events to gain power over the world.
• Nick Fury concluded that He-El had known the future and manipulated the paths of him and the other heroes.
• Stephen Strange realized He-El had anticipated his attempt to save the Ancient One and arranged for her to die at the Hong Kong Sanctum.
• Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff reacted with disbelief as they learned He-El had allied with Dormammu.
• He-El ignored the stunned Baron Mordo, looked at Dormammu, and said he should not have appeared.

Dormammu confronted He-El over the curse and attacked him when He-El said it was not yet time to lift it. He-El overwhelmed Dormammu's Dark Energy, but their next clash killed Baron Mordo and left Kaecilius facing He-El.

• Dormammu entered the Mirror Dimension and demanded that He-El lift the Dark Dimension's curse, but He-El said their cooperation had not ended and he could not resolve the curse yet.
• Furious at what he saw as deception, Dormammu sent a Dark Energy tsunami toward He-El, who blasted through it with an equation cannon and drove it back with a blue energy wave.
• Dormammu compressed his Dark Energy into a spear and hurled it at He-El, killing Baron Mordo as the attack passed through him.
• He-El fired a Dark Matter Destruction Beam that collided with Dormammu's spear, devastating both sides of Manhattan in the Mirror Dimension.
• He-El lowered his hand after the blast and turned his gaze toward Kaecilius.

Stephen Strange blamed He-El for Mordo’s death, but He-El exposed Stephen’s role in the choices that led to it and offered to join forces against Thanos. Stephen refused, determined to protect the Time Stone, while He-El returned to the President’s office and ordered Vivian to search for the Mind Scepter.

• Dormammu killed Mordo, and the clash between his dark spear and He-El’s Dark Matter beam vaporized Mordo.
• Stephen Strange used Kaecilius to attack He-El, who argued that Stephen’s decisions had led Mordo to his death.
• Nick Fury warned Stephen not to let He-El manipulate him, but Stephen struggled with guilt over Mordo’s fate.
• He-El offered to work with Stephen against Thanos, but Stephen asked why He-El had worked with Dormammu to kill the Ancient One.
• He-El revealed that the Ancient One’s soul had hidden itself to continue their battle, and Stephen refused He-El’s offer to cooperate.
• He-El dispersed Kaecilius, shattered the Mirror Dimension, returned to the President’s office, and ordered Vivian to monitor the Mind Scepter’s response.

After witnessing He-El’s role in Ancient One’s death and his alliance with Dormammu, Stephen Strange, Nick Fury, Wanda Maximoff, and Pietro Maximoff struggled with the revelations. Nick Fury summoned Captain Marvel to help oppose He-El, but a global Mind Blast struck as the Mind Stone was exposed.

• Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff reacted in shock to He-El’s ruthlessness, and Pietro comforted his sister.
• Stephen Strange blamed his pride and poor choices for Baron Mordo’s death and Ancient One’s fate, then gained a deeper understanding of himself.
• Nick Fury realized He-El controlled Earth and decided to hide the truth from the Avengers, especially Tony Stark.
• Nick Fury pressed his pager to summon Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel.
• A wave of Mind Blast swept across the globe, shattering the Mind Scepter and revealing the Mind Stone beside Nick Fury.

After the Avengers found that Ebony Maw had already been rescued from the Deep-Sea Great Prison, a global psychic wave swept over Earth. The Avengers identified it as a scan searching for the Mind Scepter, but could not locate its source, and Steve Rogers ordered them to notify He-El and Nick.

• General Ross told the Avengers that Ebony Maw had been rescued and warned them to prepare for interstellar war.
• Steve Rogers agreed that the Avengers, the Red Unit, and the rest of Earth should work together against the coming threat.
• A high-frequency psychic wave swept across the globe, triggering the Avengers' psychic defense alarms.
• Tony Stark determined that the wave matched the Mind Scepter's frequency and appeared to be scanning Earth for the Scepter.
• T'Challa and Tony Stark failed to locate the scan's source, so Steve Rogers ordered them to notify He-El and Nick.

He-El tracked the Mind Scepter’s signal to Nick Fury’s hidden Himalayan safe house and used his technology to reach it. He exposed the Vibranium-encased shelter with a single flick, accusing Nick of embezzlement.

• Vivian detected the Mind Scepter’s psychic feedback signal deep beneath the Himalayas.
• He-El ordered Vivian to activate the Space Bridge and traveled to the signal’s location.
• He-El split the snow, clouds, and mountainside with a shockwave, exposing Nick Fury’s underground safe house.
• He-El recognized the shelter’s Vibranium casing and accused Nick of embezzling again.

A psychic scan triggered the Mind Scepter to explode, revealing the Mind Stone and alerting Nick Fury that He-El had found the safe house. Nick Fury sent Stephen Strange and the Maximoff siblings through a portal with the Stone, then stayed behind to face He-El.

• Vivian's psychic-wave scan struck Pietro Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff, Nick Fury, and Stephen Strange, causing the Mind Scepter to tremble and explode.
• Stephen Strange shielded everyone from the blast, and the exposed Mind Stone floated in the safe house as Nick Fury covered it with his coat.
• Nick Fury recognized that He-El had triggered the reaction and found their location, so Stephen Strange opened a portal and sent Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff through.
• Nick Fury handed Stephen Strange the Mind Stone and ordered him to awaken the siblings' abilities, destroy the Stone, and reveal He-El's true face to the Avengers.
• Nick Fury told Stephen Strange to close the portal, then stepped outside to greet He-El.

He-El reunited with Nick Fury in the Himalayas and recalled how their relationship had shaped his rise to power. After Nick Fury asked what He-El would do with Earth, He-El killed him, leaving his plans for the world and the expected return of the escaped heroes unresolved.

• Nick Fury emerged from the safe house and saw the vast canyon He-El had carved through the Himalayas.
• He-El and Nick Fury walked through the snow, reflecting on their years together and how He-El had manipulated Nick Fury’s actions.
• Nick Fury asked what He-El intended to do with Earth and humanity, and He-El said he wanted to see what future humans would create.
• Nick Fury admitted he regretted trusting He-El, and He-El turned him into particles that vanished into the Himalayas.

Tony Stark and He-El investigated a mysterious psychic wave that seemed to be searching for the Mind Scepter, while Nick Fury vanished without a trace. Tony then received a letter from Nick saying he was already dead.

• Tony Stark contacted He-El after the Avengers failed to find the source of a global psychic scan that resembled the Mind Scepter's frequencies.
• He-El confirmed he had felt the wave but could not locate its source, and Tony suspected someone was searching for the Mind Scepter.
• Tony asked about Nick Fury, and He-El revealed that Nick had disappeared while he searched for him.
• Tony ended the call and reluctantly signed for a document delivered to his home.
• Tony opened the envelope inside and read Nick's message saying he would already be dead by the time Tony saw the letter.