Chapter Summaries

Luke used psionic empowerment to suppress Barbatos and reshape his nature, while Stephen explained the power to the two Bruces. Barbatos then agreed to lead them to the World Forge in exchange for the Abyss power he had learned about from The Batman Who Laughs.

• Stephen explained that Luke’s empowerment could subtly reshape a target’s mind and soul, and he compared its effects to Betsy’s control over dangerous dimensional beings.
• Bruce judged Luke’s power more terrifying than the Anti-Life Equation, but Stephen clarified that it worked gradually rather than through compulsory mind control.
• As the energy storm subsided, Barbatos asked Luke to give him the Abyss power in exchange for taking them to the World Forge.
• Luke asked whether Barbatos was certain, and Barbatos insisted that Abyss power suited him and that he had learned of it from The Batman Who Laughs.

Luke tricked Barbatos into opening a passage to the Abyss, which seized and swallowed him. Bruce learned that Barbatos might eventually return as an Abyss Dragon, while Luke left the passage sealed.

• Luke warned Barbatos that the Abyss was dangerous, but Barbatos demanded its power and signed Luke's contract.
• Barbatos opened a passage to the Abyss, whose tentacles bound his soul and pulled him into its dimension.
• Luke closed the passage after Barbatos was swallowed, while Bruce and Stephen maintained their protective runes.
• Bruce asked whether Barbatos was dead, and Luke explained that the Abyss would slowly assimilate him rather than immediately destroy him.
• Luke warned that Barbatos could return as an Abyss Dragon, and Stephen reassured Bruce that Luke had locked the Abyss away.

Silent City's dwarves eagerly prepared to receive a World Forge capable of mass-producing universes, hoping Hebron would master its technology and create a furnace beyond anything they had seen. As the Dimensional Bifrost activated, an enormous object began crossing dimensions toward the Teleportation Hall.

• Silent City's dwarves became wealthy through their forging work and invested their earnings in customized furnaces from Hebron.
• Eitri used an Origin Forge to create Little Dwarves who assisted Dwarven Master Craftsmen, and Hebron added them to its Life Forging Equation list.
• The dwarves learned that a World Forge capable of forging worlds was about to arrive in Silent City.
• The dwarves organized themselves in the Teleportation Hall to prepare for the World Forge's arrival.
• The Dimensional Bifrost activated at full power as an enormous object began crossing dimensions.

Silent City’s Teleportation Hall safely received the World Forge, whose arrival enthralled the gathered Dwarves. Eitri recognized it as a container rather than a furnace, while Luke brought the World Forger Alpheus into Silent City and considered how he could help its researchers and Dwarves.

• Silent City’s systems combined technology and magic to compress and contain the descending black celestial body, draining energy across the city before returning to normal.
• Eitri and Munk watched the celestial body with the other Dwarves, who could not approach it because of its pressure.
• The celestial body’s strange influence scattered spectators’ consciousness until a rumble woke them, and Eitri declared that it was not a furnace.
• Eitri identified the celestial body as a container and said its runes and patterns resembled those in Silent City’s Energy Room.
• Luke, Stephen, Bruce, and the blue giant Alpheus appeared beneath the celestial body, and Luke welcomed Alpheus to his world.
• Luke considered having Alpheus help analyze the World Forge and teach Hebron’s researchers and the Dwarves, then turned his attention toward the Dwarves.

Stephen returned to his Sanctum and met another Doctor Strange and America, who were fleeing the Scarlet Witch across universes. Though Stephen initially wanted to rest, he recognized the danger and suggested they seek help from this universe’s Wanda Maximoff.

• Luke brought the World Forge to Silent City, and Alpheus followed him after failing to stop its transfer.
• Stephen realized he had left Thor behind in another universe but decided not to retrieve him yet.
• Master Mage Wang arrived with another Doctor Strange and America, surprising Stephen as he relaxed at home.
• Stephen and Strange discussed their different experiences with the Ancient One, while America asked to meet Stephen’s adopted daughter, who was apprenticing under the Ancient One.
• Stephen sensed Chaos Power clinging to Strange and America, and Strange explained that the Scarlet Witch had killed at least eight or ten versions of him.
• Stephen refused to fight Wanda himself and advised Strange to meet this universe’s Wanda or stay there, where she could protect them and help treat the Scarlet Witch.

Stephen helped Strange and America rest in his universe, then brought them to meet Wanda and Pietro at the Avengers Complex. Wanda agreed to speak with the Scarlet Witch, and Strange and America became an anchor point that drew her across dimensions.

• Stephen gave Strange a mind-soothing drink that helped him sleep and recover, while refusing to give any to America because she was a minor and could lose control of her power.
• The next morning, Strange found that his nightmares and surveillance sensations had eased, and Stephen told him Wanda had agreed to meet them.
• Stephen led Strange and America to the Avengers Complex, where they met Wanda and Pietro; Strange was surprised that Pietro was alive in this universe.
• Wanda said she would talk with the Scarlet Witch and identified herself as a professional Soul Surgeon, while Strange warned that the Scarlet Witch might not cooperate.
• Wanda and Pietro stepped aside as Strange and America stopped concealing themselves, and Scarlet Clouds rippled across the sky.

Wanda and Stephen confronted the Scarlet Witch in the Mirror Dimension, where the Scarlet Witch mistook Pietro for her dead brother and unleashed Chaos Power. Wanda entered the Scarlet Witch’s Mental World and learned that jealousy and grief drove her to erase Wanda and take her place; Wanda prepared to overpower her before they could talk.

• Stephen created a Mirror Dimension so he and Wanda could handle the Scarlet Witch without S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hebron intervening.
• The Scarlet Witch saw Pietro and, believing the sight could not be real, flooded the Mirror Dimension with Chaos Power.
• Wanda countered the Scarlet Witch’s power, restoring the space as both versions fought for control.
• Wanda entered the Scarlet Witch’s Mental World and heard her rage over losing her family and being unable to have children.
• Wanda recognized the Scarlet Witch’s desire to erase her and take her place, then charged to fight her and subdue her.

Stephen explained that his upgraded Mirror Dimension could contain powerful threats, while Wanda faced the Scarlet Witch and urged her to wake up. The Scarlet Witch demanded to replace Wanda, and Wanda began suppressing her Chaos Power and Mental World.

• Stephen said psychic guidance could only briefly restrain the Scarlet Witch unless she chose to cooperate.
• Stephen explained that his universe's Mirror Dimension had been transformed into a reflection world capable of containing weaker Dimensional Demon Gods.
• Wanda reflected on how her multiversal counterparts' tragedies made her cherish her own family and want to help them through Soul Surgery.
• The Scarlet Witch said she wanted to replace Wanda because Wanda's brother, lover, and children were alive.
• Wanda refused to let the Scarlet Witch take her life and began suppressing her energy and Mental World with Chaos Power.

Wanda subdued the Scarlet Witch by drawing her into a hopeful dream and began planning a careful treatment. The Scarlet Witch awoke with enough clarity to resist her paranoia, while her curiosity about Wanda’s children gave her a reason to remain calm.

• The scarlet energy dissipated, and Wanda landed safely with the sleeping Scarlet Witch as Strange and America learned that the battle was over.
• Stephen turned a Black Box into clothes for the Scarlet Witch, and Wanda explained that she had guided her through a beautiful dream rather than cured her outright.
• Wanda said the Scarlet Witch needed gradual treatment and explained that the Scarlet Witch’s subconscious had cooperated because Wanda’s power offered her hope.
• Wanda told Strange that she would first need to earn the Scarlet Witch’s trust, then described her children, Vision’s absence in this universe, and the planet’s dominant psionic energy.
• America asked where Wanda’s children had come from, and Wanda revealed that the Scarlet Witch had awakened from her dream.
• The Scarlet Witch opened her eyes, wanting to stay rational for the nearby children and learn how Wanda had children without Vision or a husband.

Wanda helped the recovering Scarlet Witch accept restraints and confront the harm caused by her obsession with reclaiming her children. She left with Billy and his brother to meet Pietro and Sally, while Strange learned that the Energy Bank was a coalition of powerful beings, including Dimensional Demon Gods.

• Wanda explained that the Scarlet Witch had chosen to wake from hypnosis, then fitted her with a restraint suit that filtered her powers while she recovered.
• Wanda warned the Scarlet Witch that her fixation had endangered multiple universes and described another version whose obsession had led to tragedy; the Scarlet Witch agreed to stay and spend time with the children and Pietro.
• Stephen reassured Strange that the universe was protected, then revealed that the Energy Bank was a corporate alliance whose shareholders included Dormammu, Mephisto, Nightmare, Odin, the Ancient One, and Luke.
• The Scarlet Witch changed into casual clothes and nervously waited with Wanda as the children returned home.
• Wanda introduced the Scarlet Witch to Billy and his younger brother, who embraced her, then the boys led her out to meet Pietro and Sally.

The Scarlet Witch reunited with Pietro and spent breakfast with Wanda and the children, while Stephen discussed the aftermath of multiverse travel with Strange. Strange agreed to return to his universe and take responsibility for resolving any resulting disturbances, with Stephen offering help from the Doctor Strange Taskforce.

• Pietro comforted the Scarlet Witch as she grieved for her dead brother and embraced the family she had found in this universe.
• Wanda and the children helped the Scarlet Witch manage her emotions and keep her Chaos Power under control.
• Strange told Stephen that he planned to return to his original universe.
• Stephen explained that multiverse travel could destabilize other universes and said Strange should help resolve the resulting problems.
• Strange accepted responsibility and Stephen offered to help him through the Doctor Strange Taskforce.

The Scarlet Witch pressed Wanda for a way to have real children of her own, and Wanda explained that Hebron would examine her and devise a cultivation plan after she addressed her psychological issues. The Scarlet Witch learned that her Chaos Power might not be an obstacle—and that beings like them were valuable to Hebron—as the story left their plan still to be arranged.

• After taking the children to school, Pietro left Wanda and the Scarlet Witch alone, and the Scarlet Witch eagerly asked whether she could have children of her own.
• Wanda promised to help but cautioned that the process would take time and that obsession could complicate the outcome.
• Stephen departed with Strange and America, while Strange asked about joining Kamar-Taj and accessing its library.
• Wanda told the Scarlet Witch that Hebron would give her a comprehensive physical examination and create a cultivation plan, but advised her to address her psychological issues first.
• The Scarlet Witch asked whether Hebron could counter Chaos Power and what price she would have to pay, and Wanda replied that people who could wield Chaos Power were valuable to Hebron.

King learned that the Scarlet Witch crisis had been resolved, while Strange remained in another universe to deal with problems caused by crossing dimensions. In Strange’s host universe, King issued Strange and the girl accompanying him identity marks and explained the planet’s strict monitoring of superpowers.

• Wanda told the Scarlet Witch that Hebron’s work focused on their connection to Chaos Power, not inhumane experimentation, and the Scarlet Witch looked forward to going there.
• Sorcerer Supreme King received Strange’s magical message, learned the Scarlet Witch crisis was over, and discovered Strange could not return yet.
• King wondered how a Bifrost-like beam had reached Kamar-Taj despite Asgard’s destruction and Strange being in another universe.
• King gave Strange an identity mark that also served as a temporary residence permit, then handed him another for the girl accompanying him.
• King explained that the permit recorded magic use and that S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hebron monitored superpowers, prompting Strange to question how much the planet had changed.

Strange toured Kamar-Taj’s expanded library with Master Mage Wang and learned about its collections, updated magic, and ties to S.H.I.E.L.D. and a mage school. Wang then led him toward Ancient One’s Spell Collection, where Strange hoped to study Kamar-Taj’s newer spells.

• Strange asked Master Mage Wang how he had been contacted, and Wang explained the Data Dimension network and activated Strange’s access pass and Library Card.
• Wang showed Strange the old public Book Repository, which Strange recognized but chose not to enter.
• Wang explained that Kamar-Taj had gathered spell records from many schools across the Multiverse and described how S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Time Variance Authority used these spells to train mages.
• Wang told Strange about the Magic School founded by Kamar-Taj, Asgard, and S.H.I.E.L.D., whose graduates were increasingly contested by governments and magnates.
• Strange asked about the energy behind the spells, and Wang confirmed Kamar-Taj had converted some of its energy into Arcane Energy without elaborating.
• Wang led Strange toward Ancient One’s Spell Collection and explained that it held powerful, efficient, stable, and safer spells created by Ancient One and Kamar-Taj mages.

Strange questioned Master Mage Wang about outsiders entering the universe and learned how Kamar-Taj, Hebron, and S.H.I.E.L.D. regulated them. Master Mage Wang described Hebron's Data Dimension and its authority over affiliated universes, leaving Strange surprised by the scale of Hebron's power.

• Strange noticed a Prince and Princess from another world studying in the library, and Master Mage Wang explained their diplomatic admission and magical studies.
• Strange asked whether outsiders could destabilize the universe, and Master Mage Wang said Kamar-Taj, Hebron, and S.H.I.E.L.D. approved and supervised long-term arrivals.
• Master Mage Wang explained that Hebron's Data Dimension monitored outsiders and detected them through a system more sensitive than human senses.
• Strange asked what Hebron was, and Master Mage Wang described its evolution from a high-tech company into a research-guiding institution.
• Master Mage Wang revealed that Hebron managed affiliated universes, set their energy limits, and could lock down a universe during a Multiversal Crisis.

Strange spoke with Master Mage Wang about the differences between him and other versions of Strange, then realized his memories of Ancient One Mage conflicted with his subconscious. Master Mage Wang revealed that Strange had passed a hidden test and could join the Doctor Strange Corps as an Official Member, while suggesting Strange’s universe might have restarted.

• Master Mage Wang explained that most Stranges chose the least costly option in a crisis, while Strange retained emotional bias and might not abandon someone for a righteous cause.
• Strange asked how Master Mage Wang could tell he was different, and Master Mage Wang attributed his insight partly to psionic energy spreading through the Multiverse.
• Master Mage Wang pointed out that Strange remembered Ancient One Mage as a man, while Strange’s subconscious insisted Ancient One Mage was a woman.
• Strange told Master Mage Wang about the conflict in his memories, and Master Mage Wang said Strange’s emotional stubbornness might have corrected his trajectory through psionic energy.
• Master Mage Wang revealed that Strange had passed a hidden test and qualified to join the Doctor Strange Corps as an Official Member.
• Master Mage Wang explained that the Ancient One’s counterparts had converged after she pursued godhood, and suggested Strange’s universe might have restarted.

Master Mage Wang considered how Divine Ancient One had escaped the debts and contracts created by her borrowed magic, while Kamar-Taj in this universe had been freed from those obligations and bound to her instead. He recognized that Stephen had taken a special interest in the unusual Strange and arranged for Wang to guide him through the library.

• Master Mage Wang considered how Ancient One’s borrowed power had left her with debts to numerous Dimensional Demon Gods, and how advancing to godhood let her settle those accounts.
• Ancient One’s path to godhood left versions of her in other universes as substitutes who retained her knowledge and debt relationships.
• Master Mage Wang understood that this universe’s Kamar-Taj had severed its ties to the Vishanti and now returned its mages’ souls to Divine Ancient One’s Energy Dimension.
• Master Mage Wang recognized that Stephen had personally helped the unusual Strange and arranged for him to receive a Library Card and a tour of the library.

Strange learned that access to Kamar-Taj’s Restricted Section required signing an Abyss Contract and questioned Master Mage Wang about its dangers. He discovered the contract was an imprint of Mephisto’s Primeval Contract, whose breach would draw the Abyss’s attention.

• Strange asked Master Mage Wang to show him the Restricted Section, but Wang warned him that it was forbidden and protected by surveillance and magic.
• Strange deduced that access to the Restricted Section had conditions and asked what he had to do to qualify.
• Master Mage Wang presented Strange with a standard Abyss Contract issued through the Energy Bank and explained that violating it would connect the signer to the Abyss.
• Strange asked about the Abyss and the contract’s origins, and Wang identified Mephisto as its creator.
• Master Mage Wang explained that Strange’s contract was an imprint of the Primeval Contract, which recorded signed contracts and grew stronger from powerful signers.

Strange learned from Master Mage Wang that Hebron could analyze and reproduce powers, even mass-produce Dimensional Beings and Dimensional Demon Gods. The chapter ended with Strange rejecting Wang’s claim that Hebron had successfully grafted Dimensional Being traits onto living creatures.

• Strange was shocked that Kamar-Taj cooperated with Mephisto and Dormammu, and realized this universe’s Strange was far more powerful than he was.
• Master Mage Wang explained that Hebron’s dangerous research had forced its laboratories out of the Material Plane and into the Data Dimension.
• Wang said Hebron could analyze and replicate any power or technology, and was researching mass production of Dimensional Beings and Dimensional Demon Gods.
• Wang described Hebron’s use of indebted Demon Gods and other prisoners as Experiment Subjects, and said its researchers had grafted Dimensional Being parts onto living creatures.
• Strange exclaimed that such grafting was impossible because of the immense incompatibility between Dimensional Beings and ordinary life.

Master Mage Wang showed Strange Kamar-Taj’s new magical schools and explained how Psionic Doctors treated the effects of psionic power. He introduced Strange to Rumlow, a Hydra agent who had undergone grafting surgery.

• Master Mage Wang invited Strange to see Grafted Ones at Kamar-Taj, and Strange followed him to a newly built hall.
• Master Mage Wang explained the Old and New Factions, the role of psionic power, and how robe colors identified different magical disciplines.
• Master Mage Wang described Stephen’s Psionic Doctor branch and its Soul Scalpel spell, which Strange recognized could be dangerous.
• Master Mage Wang introduced Rumlow, and Strange remembered him as a Hydra agent within S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Master Mage Wang told Strange that Rumlow had undergone grafting surgery and was one of Hydra’s best.