Chapter Summaries

Wang Bert and Psylocke battled Evil Believers who grew stronger by killing, while the military refused to ask mutants for help. After learning the source of the Believers’ increasing strength, Wang Bert set out to find Greed and Wrath as Psylocke hunted the scattered attackers.

• The Evil Believers overwhelmed soldiers with their strength and regeneration, and their Captain killed the commander with an explosive attack.
• A lieutenant colonel and a Washington general ordered helicopters and heavier weapons deployed, refusing to rely on mutants or reveal the Sentinel Robots.
• Wang Bert teleported to Psylocke’s aid, restored her stamina with Banknotes, and learned from an Evil Believer that each kill made them stronger.
• Psylocke and Wang Bert fought a Telekinesis Captain and his followers; Wang Bert redirected their gunfire and dropped the Believers from the sky, while Psylocke killed the Captain.
• Wang Bert left to find Greed and Wrath, and Psylocke flew off to hunt the remaining Evil Believers.

Bert Wang learned that the Evil Believers grew stronger by killing and negotiated military support in exchange for establishing the Guardians and expanding his Security Company. After sending Nightcrawler to aid the military, Bert went to Kosha County to confront Greed and Wrath, where their fight began.

• Bert Wang learned that the Evil Believers were attacking towns across America and growing stronger through their kills, then told the president to pass the information to the military without offering help.
• Bert Wang asked Yuriko to recruit prisoners from the Recycling Plant for a bonus and teleported to Kosha County, Texas, to find Greed and Wrath.
• The old general failed to reach Professor Charles and Hank, then negotiated with Bert Wang for mutant assistance, agreeing to the Guardians, the Security Company's expansion, armed helicopters, and fifty million US dollars.
• Bert Wang sent Nightcrawler to transport troops and equipment to the frontlines while he continued searching for Greed and Wrath.
• Greed fired on the town from a stolen helicopter, and Bert Wang appeared and attacked him with a black hole before Wrath's iron rod struck the helicopter and sent it crashing.
• Greed reappeared beside Wrath and told Bert Wang not to attack yet because he had a gift for him.

Wang Bert stopped Greed and Wrath from using the city’s civilians as leverage, while Original Sin ordered the Evil Believers to retreat after confronting the Professor. The battle ended with heavy civilian losses, and Wang Bert arranged for the Mutant Guardians and his Security Company to take a larger role in protecting the public.

• Greed threatened to kill the city’s residents, but Wang Bert erased the puppets’ eyes and used Money Power to stop the Evil Believers’ attacks before Original Sin teleported Greed and Wrath away.
• In California, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and the Professor fought the Evil Believers as the Professor resisted Original Sin’s attempt to corrupt him.
• Original Sin ordered the Evil Believers to retreat, and the Professor informed Wang Bert, who directed his allies to pursue them.
• The battle ended more than an hour later, leaving tens of thousands dead in America and even more casualties in Mexico.
• Wang Bert asked the president to announce the creation of the Mutant Guardians, then planned to expand his Security Company and secure a long-term government contract.

The Old General and Acton sought to keep the new mutant Guardians from falling entirely under mutant control, while Wang Bert negotiated international expansion and used his influence to advance mutant protections. After the massacre left America grieving and furious at the military, the Guardians and Wang Bert’s Security Company grew, and Wang Bert offered the outgoing President support for reelection despite his poor chances.

• The Old General concluded that mutants would favor the Mutant Affairs Department or Iron Man over the military, planned a visit to Trask Industries, and agreed to meet presidential candidate Acton about placing human allies in the Guardians.
• Wang Bert told Mexico’s president he would consider establishing a branch there if Mexico created a Mutant Affairs Management Department, then received similar requests from Canada and other countries.
• Wang Bert promised foreign leaders help if they protected mutants, and they agreed to establish Mutant Affairs Management Departments.
• Over the following half month, public anger over the deaths and the military’s use of heavy weapons helped Wang Bert’s Security Company recruit mutants while the Guardians expanded into other cities.
• The President told Wang Bert that Acton had placed military-linked officials in the Guardians and was pushing a Patriot Act, prompting Wang Bert to offer his support if the President sought reelection.
• The President and his staff doubted that even Iron Man’s support could overcome public anger over the Stryker and Evil Believers incidents.

Wang Bert persuaded the president to gamble on reelection with his help, then reviewed Rebirth Group’s growing operations and recruited Domino after discovering her luck came from absorbing the luck of those around her. The chapter ended with Wade wondering whether Domino would drain his luck as her supervisor.

• Wang Bert convinced the president to seek reelection and promised to help him defeat Acton, while the president agreed to rally his party and begin campaigning.
• White Queen and Yuriko reported Rebirth Group’s media acquisitions, recycling operations, mutant employment, and prisoner rehabilitation, and Wang Bert requested funds for the coming campaign.
• Wade brought Domino to Wang Bert, who identified her power as absorbing other people’s luck and offered her a job spying on the Mutant Brotherhood.
• Domino accepted the job, received a teleportation bracelet, and learned that Wade would supervise her.
• Wade asked whether Domino would absorb his luck.

Wang Bert worked to expose Francis's organization while Professor X tried to keep Magneto's Brotherhood from disrupting peaceful coexistence. After Magneto ordered the Brotherhood to lie low, Human Torch John's jealousy of Iceman drove him to accept Original Sin's power and become the messenger Jealousy.

• Wang Bert told Translucent to investigate Francis, uncover his organization and the general behind it, and gather evidence for a public exposure.
• Wang Bert studied the Mutant Gene Source and noted that his research had unlocked five percent of it and greatly strengthened his abilities.
• Professor X urged Magneto to support coexistence, but Magneto rejected his path and ordered the Brotherhood to enter a dormant period while Mystique gathered intelligence on a mutant-hating senator.
• Human Torch John objected to the Brotherhood's order to lie low, then grew furious when the news praised Iceman as a hero approved by Iron Man.
• Original Sin exploited John's hatred and jealousy, and John agreed to believe in him and became his third messenger, Jealousy.

John became the third messenger and planned to seize the Brotherhood, while Greed and Wrath prepared to destroy God's City after a month of preparations. Original Sin unleashed scattered Evil Believers across America, forcing Psylocke, the Mutant Guardians, and Wade's Security Company to respond as Wang Bert investigated a possible larger threat.

• John gained Human Torch's power, vowed to kill Iron Man, and agreed to recruit mutants from the Brotherhood while secretly planning to attack Iron Man as soon as he took control.
• Greed told Wrath that they would gather believers to destroy God's City in a month, and Original Sin approved the plan while granting power to new believers as an appetizer.
• A burly Black man received Petrification Skin from Original Sin and massacred several gangs before Psylocke intercepted and killed him.
• Psylocke received reports of scattered Evil Believer attacks, while the Mutant Guardians mobilized across America and Hank questioned why the attackers appeared alone.
• Wang Bert called Wade's Security Company to support the Guardians and asked the military and FBI to investigate; the president then called, worried about the renewed attacks.

Wang Bert helped President Richard build a tough public image while the Mutant Guardians and Security Company suppressed the Evil Believers. After rapidly clearing threats in Mexico and sending Nanotech Armor to Great Canada, Wang Bert left for Europa as the fighting continued there.

• Wang Bert advised President Richard to declare war on the Evil Believers and present himself as a tough leader, and Richard gave a forceful televised speech promising to make America safe again.
• The Mutant Guardians and Security Company fought the Evil Believers for two hours, gaining experience and reducing the attacks enough to respond with teleporting squads.
• Wang Bert sent Nanotech Armor to Great Canada and traveled to Mexico, where he rescued Guardians Captain Juan's team and defeated the local Evil Believers within half an hour.
• The Old Mexico President praised Wang Bert and decided to promote him, while Wang Bert moved on to help other countries.
• Wang Bert told Hank that Nanotech Armor would take his place in routine battles and asked Hank to give President Richard credit during interviews.

Wang Bert completed Psylocke’s genes, dramatically increasing her abilities, while Wade learned he had cancer and began preparing to seek treatment. The chapter ended with Wade telling Wang Bert he could no longer serve him.

• Wang Bert used crimson particles to complete Psylocke’s Mutant Gene, and she awakened purple armor and ranged blade attacks.
• Psylocke thanked Wang Bert and went to the Training Ground to develop her enhanced abilities.
• Wang Bert considered which mutant to enhance next and wondered where Apocalypse was.
• Wade learned he had cancer and only a little over two months to live, then told Domino about his illness and resigned to focus on treatment.
• Wade visited Wang Bert and said he could no longer serve him.

Wang Bert cured Wade’s cancer and ordered Domino to investigate suspicious activity in the Mutant Brotherhood. Meanwhile, Azazel agreed to help Human Torch take over the Brotherhood in exchange for help rescuing his demon kin, and President Richard announced he would seek reelection before a reporter challenged his campaign record.

• Wang Bert instantly cured Wade’s cancer, then sent him back to work after learning from him that something was wrong within the Mutant Brotherhood.
• Wang Bert told Domino to investigate the Brotherhood, and Domino went undercover by pretending to be a drunken mutant angry at its leadership.
• Azazel told Human Torch that he was a Demon Type Mutant seeking to free his kin, and agreed to help recruit Brotherhood members and capture Nightcrawler in return for the Doomsday Master’s support.
• Human Torch and Azazel planned to capture Quicksilver as leverage against Magneto, then vanished to recruit mutants at other Brotherhood branches.
• President Richard announced that he would campaign for reelection, and a reporter challenged him over suspending his campaign and diverting its funds.

President Richard revealed that Iron Man supported his reelection and used his newly granted hair-growing powers to win voters over. Acton rallied the military and other allies against Richard, while Professor X questioned Wang Bert’s support for him.

• President Richard announced that Iron Man, Psylocke, and Angel supported his reelection, then revealed his mutant ability by restoring a balding reporter’s hair.
• President Richard claimed his hair powers would grow stronger with his status and promised lasting hair to voters who kept him in office; his demonstration sparked arguments and fights across America.
• Acton accused Wang Bert of breaking their agreement, and Wang Bert said Acton had crossed a line by getting too close to the military.
• Acton asked Sico to gather his team, then coordinated with Old General to attack Richard’s wealth and flood the media with campaign coverage while avoiding any attack on Wang Bert.
• Acton asked Professor X to persuade Wang Bert to stop, but Professor X admitted he was tempted to vote for Richard because of the hair-growing power.
• Wolverine said Wang Bert supported Richard because he was obedient and warned that Acton would betray mutants, while Storm defended Acton’s past support for them.

Wang Bert defended his plan to secure President Richard’s reelection and explained how he could create temporary Gene Potions. The Professor then sensed that Magneto’s warning signal had activated, as John led a faction to seize control of the Mutant Brotherhood.

• Wang Bert told White Queen to spend three hundred million dollars promoting President Richard, then argued with the Professor, Jean, and Wolverine that Richard had to win and the military would not dare overturn the political contest.
• Wang Bert revealed that he could grant Mutant Genes to people with sufficient compatibility and proposed temporary Gene Potions, which the Professor saw as a possible way to increase public acceptance of mutants.
• The Professor’s warning signal in Erik’s mind activated, and Wang Bert realized Magneto was enraged.
• Domino drugged Quicksilver at the Mutant Brotherhood’s New York Branch, while John arrived with his followers and announced that he would take command of the Brotherhood.
• John led his group toward Magneto’s laboratory to confront him, and Astra gathered the branch’s mutants to protect Magneto.

Human Torch led a Doomsday Master-backed revolt against Magneto and challenged him for control of the Mutant Brotherhood. Magneto defeated him with a powerful mech, but Azazel tried to seize Quicksilver to use as leverage as the fight ended.

• Astra told Magneto that Human Torch and Azazel had rebelled and captured Quicksilver, while Human Torch demanded Magneto surrender leadership of the Brotherhood.
• Human Torch revealed that he and his followers worshipped the Doomsday Master, and Magneto agreed to fight him outside while secretly instructing Toad to rescue Quicksilver.
• Magneto used metal weapons to pierce Human Torch repeatedly, but Human Torch healed and transformed into a giant of black flame.
• Magneto brought out his Anti-Iron Man Armor and used its shield, flying fist, and gear to overwhelm Human Torch, whose healing finally failed when his strength ran out.
• As Magneto prepared to strike the exhausted Human Torch, Azazel reached for Quicksilver to use him as a hostage.

Magneto was poisoned after Quicksilver, under a hypnotic suggestion, stabbed him, and Azazel’s mutants escaped with help from the Doomsday Master. After Azazel’s forces abducted Nightcrawler, Wang Bert learned from Mystique that Azazel had secretly imprisoned his descendants and seemed intent on sacrificing them.

• Toad rescued Quicksilver, but Quicksilver ambushed Magneto under a hypnotic suggestion planted by Azazel, and Magneto was weakened by poison on the dagger.
• Original Sin amplified Azazel’s teleportation and helped him escape with Human Torch, Domino, and the other traitor mutants before Wang Bert arrived with the professor, Jean, and Wolverine.
• Hank told Wang Bert that Azazel’s forces had attacked the Mutant Affairs Department and abducted Nightcrawler, so Wang Bert left to investigate while Magneto began relocating the Brotherhood.
• Wang Bert returned to Magneto for Mystique’s number, then called her to ask about Azazel and Nightcrawler.
• Mystique told Wang Bert that Azazel had imprisoned his many descendants for centuries and seemed to want to sacrifice them, though she did not know why.

Wang Bert recruited Magneto and Quicksilver to help rescue Nightcrawler, while Azazel prepared to sacrifice his descendants with the aid of Human Torch and Doomsday Master’s messengers. Domino alerted Wade that the ritual would begin in half an hour, and Wade joined the response as Evil Believers appeared across America.

• Wang Bert cured Magneto and Quicksilver with his Money Power and took Quicksilver to Las Vegas to search for Azazel’s lair.
• Azazel imprisoned Nightcrawler among his frozen descendants and began thawing them for the sacrifice.
• Greed and Wrath arrived, ordered Azazel to begin the ritual within half an hour, and prepared to draw Iron Man into a trap.
• Domino secretly called Wade and told him about the imminent ritual and the arrival of Greed and Wrath.
• Wade informed Wang Bert, then went to the Mutant Affairs Department as more than a hundred Evil Believers appeared across America.

Wang Bert gathered a team to attack Azazel’s forces near Small Mountain, using missiles and his spatial powers to devastate the enemy before the battle began. As the fight spread, Psylocke killed Wrath, while Azazel’s sacrifice plan and the rest of the battle remained unresolved.

• Wang Bert tracked Domino’s phone, located Azazel’s base, and assembled Magneto, Wolverine, Sabretooth, Quicksilver, and others for the assault.
• Wang Bert arranged a naval missile strike and opened a portal that sent the missiles toward Small Mountain, while he trapped Azazel’s group in space and caused many of their forces to be crushed or killed.
• Original Sin rescued the Altar before the missiles destroyed the mountain, and Wang Bert teleported his team in front of the surviving enemies and ordered them to attack.
• Magneto used metal objects to attack the enemy mutants, while Quicksilver battered Azazel and the Iron Man Armor fought Greed.
• Psylocke and Juggernaut confronted Wrath; Psylocke dragged him through the air with a glider and cut him in two with her Adamantium Longsword.

The X-Men and their allies fought Wrath, the Mutants, and the Elite Evil Believers while Azazel’s sacrifice ritual continued above them. As Bobby battled John and Wang Bert resisted Original Sin’s mental illusion, the ritual’s outcome remained uncertain.

• Psylocke, Juggernaut, and Magneto repeatedly attacked Wrath, while Wolverine, Sabretooth, Juggernaut, and White Queen fought the Mutants and Elite Evil Believers.
• Azazel carried the Altar and the Descendants high into the sky, where its runes began extracting Space Power from Nightcrawler and the other sacrifices.
• Psylocke pursued Azazel into the sky and fought him with energy daggers, but the Altar’s ritual continued as Quicksilver joined the battle below and learned Domino was an undercover agent for Iron Man.
• Bobby confronted John and tried to persuade him to return, but the two fought with ice and black flames as Bobby’s power surged.
• Original Sin trapped Wang Bert in a Hell Illusion, but Wang Bert summoned a mental image of Galactus that began collapsing the illusion.

Wang Bert escaped Original Sin’s attempt to drag him into Hell and learned where Hell was, but Original Sin fled with Greed and Wrath. Wang Bert then dealt with Human Torch, who had just agreed to return to the academy with Iceman.

• Original Sin trapped Wang Bert in a dream, but Wang Bert recognized its implausible events and broke free, leaving Original Sin’s spiritual form shattered.
• Azazel’s altar opened a Space Vortex, and Wang Bert killed Azazel and disrupted the portal, but Original Sin used the demons to seize Wang Bert and pull him toward Hell.
• Wang Bert revealed that the captured figure was a blood avatar that had marked Hell, then used money to bring back the vanished mutants and Evil Believers and force Human Torch out of his blazing form.
• Original Sin escaped with Greed and Wrath, while Iceman persuaded Human Torch to return to the academy; Wang Bert then swallowed Human Torch’s head with a small black hole, and his body began regenerating.

Wang Bert led the extermination of the traitor mutants and Evil Believers, then killed Human Torch after exposing his false surrender and allegiance to Doomsday Master. The battle ended with President Richard announcing the victory and promising stronger powers to fight the Evil Believers.

• Wang Bert ordered the Brotherhood to kill the traitor mutants and Evil Believers, and he stopped the fleeing survivors from escaping.
• Wang Bert forced Human Torch to speak honestly, exposed his plan to infiltrate the group, and killed him despite Iceman and the professor pleading for mercy.
• Original Sin revealed that Human Torch's soul core remained in its possession, but Wang Bert persuaded it that reviving him was not worth the cost.
• Wang Bert asked Magneto to provide blood samples from every Brotherhood mutant, and Magneto agreed while thanking him for the victory.
• Wang Bert sent the others away, then told President Richard that the Evil Believers had been defeated; Richard announced the victory and defended the Navy's attack at a press conference.

Acton and Old General plotted to damage Richard’s election chances while recognizing they could not openly oppose Iron Man, whose protection America depended on. Meanwhile, Professor X tried to keep the mutants aligned with Iron Man, Greed and Wrath prepared for another attack on God's City, and Wang Bert exposed Acton’s scheme to make Richard’s supporters look extreme.

• Acton rejected Old General’s proposal to kill Richard and explained that Iron Man’s protection made him too important to antagonize.
• Acton and Old General planned to stage a deadly clash involving fake Baldness Supporters, while also accelerating work on Sentinel Robots and the mutant cure.
• Bobby asked to help prepare John’s funeral, while Professor X urged Jean to support Iron Man for the sake of mutant-human peace.
• Greed and Wrath returned to God's City and received orders from Original Sin to destroy it, as Original Sin grew anxious about Wang Bert tracking him.
• A bald man defended Richard in an interview, and Wang Bert told White Queen that Acton had arranged the apparent supporters to turn neutral voters against Richard.