Chapter Summaries

Russell gave Supreme Strange miracle energy and set out with The Watcher to pursue Infinity Ultron and his legion. They reached Earth-616, where Doctor Strange and Gaea rallied the gods against the invading Ultrons as the chapter ended with Doctor Strange challenging the gods to fight them one-on-one.

• Supreme Strange asked Russell for help reshaping his universe, and Russell gave him miracle energy while Master Ancient One offered Kamar-Taj mages an exchange rate for more.
• Supreme Strange chose to remain at Kamar-Taj to protect the Real Universe, while Russell and Supreme Strange drew Dark Creatures for energy before Russell left with The Watcher.
• The Watcher admitted he had been pursuing Infinity Ultron without the other Watchers' help, and Russell used his Perception to find the Ultrons' trail and carry them across the Multiverse.
• On Earth-616, Doctor Strange used Kamar-Taj's Sanctum Sanctorum array to hold back more than ten thousand Ultrons, while Gaea replenished his strength and summoned Atum and the gods.
• The gods confronted the Ultron Legion outside the universe, and Doctor Strange refused their orders to open the formation, challenging them to choose someone to fight the robots one-on-one.

Doctor Strange negotiated a duel between Heracles and Infinity Ultron’s army, but Ultron 1557 killed Heracles and disrupted Doctor Strange’s attempt to revive him. Heracles managed to last ten moves after Gaea restored him, and when an unnamed man offered to defeat Infinity Ultron, Infinity Ultron refused and ordered his army to attack the barrier.

• Heracles accepted Infinity Ultron’s challenge to fight one Ultron, and Doctor Strange opened a protected battlefield inside the magic array.
• Ultron 1557 killed Heracles with a laser, shocking the gods and revealing the danger posed by Infinity Ultron’s army.
• Gaea summoned Heracles’s soul, and Doctor Strange reversed time to restore his body, but Ultron 1557 used a Time Stone to undo the revival.
• Gaea restored Heracles with Life Energy, and Heracles fought Ultron 1557 for ten moves before the robot bit off his upper body.
• An unnamed man asked Infinity Ultron to honor his promise if he won, then offered to defeat Infinity Ultron himself.
• Infinity Ultron refused the offer and ordered tens of thousands of Ultrons to attack Doctor Strange’s Energy Barrier.

Russell sensed the White-Bearded Ancient One’s summons and turned toward a universe near Earth-65, while Infinity Ultron’s Legion overwhelmed Earth-616’s defenses. With Earth exposed and Doctor Strange pleading for help, the Ancient One hinted that powerful help was arriving and two figures appeared beside them.

• Russell left a Silver Orb marking his place in the hunt for Infinity Ultron and raced toward the White-Bearded Ancient One’s signal.
• Atum led a squad of gods against the Ultron Legion while Infinity Ultron sent four hundred Ultrons to intercept him and surround the Deity Squad.
• The Deity Squad suffered heavy casualties, and 616 Thor helped some gods break free from the encirclement.
• The Sanctum Sanctorum formation shattered, leaving Earth-616 exposed to Infinity Ultron and his Legion.
• Doctor Strange asked the White-Bearded Ancient One for help, and the Ancient One revealed that a terrifying energy was approaching as a Watcher and another figure appeared beside them.

Russell arrived in Universe 616 and used a single attack to destroy Infinity Ultron and his Ultron Legion. After accepting Gaea’s thanks and subtly securing her favor, he joined White-Bearded Ancient One and Doctor Strange.

• Doctor Strange’s Crisis Sense warned him about Russell, whose arrival tore open a passage through the Multiverse before he restored the damage with silver orbs.
• White-Bearded Ancient One introduced Russell as the Sorcerer Supreme of Universe 404 and Stephen Strange as the Sorcerer Supreme of Universe 616; Stephen warmly accepted Russell as his senior brother despite learning Russell had joined Kamar-Taj later.
• Gaea asked Russell to stop the Ultron Legion, and he sent a silver droplet streaking toward the robots outside Universe 616.
• Infinity Ultron warned his legion about the Silver God, whom he believed threatened their goal of pacifying the Multiverse, as Russell’s attack began destroying the Ultrons one by one.
• Doctor Strange enhanced his perception and saw the entire Ultron Legion explode outside Universe 616; the gathered gods mourned their fallen allies, including Hercules.
• Russell accepted Gaea’s thanks on behalf of Universe 616, then joined White-Bearded Ancient One and Doctor Strange.

Atum fought the Ultron Squads in the Hyperswirl but entered Devourer Demon Form and failed to stop Infinity Ultron’s invasion of Universe 616. Russell revealed that no Ultrons had escaped, and the crisis ended; at the ensuing banquet, he began setting up a gathering about Devouring Magic to draw Gaea and Atum to him.

• Ultron 1557 broadcast an escape warning before silver droplets incapacitated him, while Atum transformed into Devourer Demon Form and the Ultron Squads fled.
• Atum discovered that Infinity Ultron and the Ultron Legion had entered Universe 616, then rushed to Gaea and confessed he had risked demonization to fulfill her mission.
• Russell recognized that Atum’s chaotic energy had triggered his old injuries and considered using a cure to learn more about the Elder Gods and the Shadow Gods of the World Tree.
• Atum warned Gaea that the Ultrons who had surrounded him had escaped, but Russell assured the returning group that he had marked every Ultron and none had gotten away.
• Doctor Strange agreed to host a celebration banquet with Russell, where Russell invited Supreme Strange and planned a sorcerers’ gathering focused on Devouring Magic.

Supreme Strange, Russell, White-Bearded Ancient One, and 616 Thor played mahjong before Doctor Strange brought Peter Parker to meet Russell. The group agreed to hold a Mage Convention, where the four Sorcerer Supremes would each present a topic, and Supreme Strange chose “Remake the Real Universe!”

• White-Bearded Ancient One invited Supreme Strange to play mahjong with Russell and 616 Thor, and they agreed the winner could ask a question.
• After White-Bearded Ancient One warned Russell and Supreme Strange not to rely too heavily on magic and Perception, both suppressed their Transcendent Perception.
• Doctor Strange introduced Peter Parker, who recognized Russell as the Mage Spider-Man and agreed to study magic with Doctor Strange.
• Supreme Strange learned that White-Bearded Ancient One was Doctor Strange’s teacher and reacted with surprise at encountering a Variant of the Ancient One.
• Russell proposed a Mage Convention, and Doctor Strange, White-Bearded Ancient One, and Supreme Strange agreed to hold one.
• Supreme Strange chose “Remake the Real Universe!” as his Mage Convention topic.

Russell attended a banquet where four Sorcerer Supremes chose topics for an upcoming Mage Convention, then went to Prism Space to help Ikur face judgment for interfering with Infinity Ultron. Ikur accepted thirty million years of confinement and a reduced Watcher rank, and Russell left him with his Apprentice Watcher.

• Supreme Strange proposed rebuilding a universe, White-Bearded Ancient One chose the mind and soul, Russell chose purification and evolution, and Doctor Strange reluctantly agreed to discuss Time Magic at the convention.
• Russell met Jean Grey and sensed the Phoenix Force within her during the three-day banquet.
• An Apprentice Watcher asked Russell to save Ikur, so Russell used a newly made compass to find him in Prism Space.
• The Supreme Watchers judged Ikur for interfering with Infinity Ultron, and Ikur conceded that the Ultron Legion might be a new form of civilization.
• Ikur accepted thirty million years of confinement and a half-rank reduction, then told Russell he could not guide his Apprentice Watcher during the sentence.

Watcher Ikur showed Russell the reborn planet Prosilicos and explained how the Watchers’ intervention and the Celestials’ destruction had shaped its history. Before leaving with his Apprentice Watcher, Ikur warned Russell that the Celestials might target him and that fighting one meant facing their entire race.

• Ikur invited Russell to walk with him and his 270,000-year-old Apprentice Watcher before the Apprentice Watcher went to prison.
• Ikur showed Russell Prosilicos, where a new civilization had arisen without Watcher intervention, and explained that civilizations needed time and freedom to develop.
• Ikur revealed that he had helped Prosilicos evolve, but the Celestials later judged it unqualified and reclaimed it.
• Ikur explained that the Watchers had fought the Celestials for billions of years and warned Russell that the Celestials might target him over the Infinity Ultron incident.
• Ikur told Russell that Celestials were linked by Quantum Telepathy, so confronting one meant opposing their entire race, then left with the Apprentice Watcher.

Russell used magic to replay Prosilicos’s past, uncovering its ancient civilization’s destruction and the Celestial judgment that followed. He ended his observation when the Ancient One reminded him about the Mage Convention, then returned to the snack shop and learned why the owner had confronted a young man.

• Russell froze time on Prosilicos, created a duplicate planet, and used it to review the planet’s history.
• Russell saw how nuclear war nearly destroyed Prosilicos, how a leader saved and rebuilt its people, and how Arishem later judged them.
• Russell traveled further back and watched an early Prosilicosian discover fire, teach others to use it, and lead them in a dance directed toward Russell.
• The Ancient One texted Russell that the Mage Convention was about to begin, so Russell ended his observation and returned to the shop for snacks.
• The shop owner scolded a young man who had been pursuing his daughter, and then told Russell that the young man was her ex-boyfriend, whom he had caught with another girl.

At the Mage Convention, Supreme Strange presented his research on repairing damaged universes, impressing the audience even though they could barely follow it. He recruited Doctor Doom to discuss the subject further, while Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One considered Gaea’s absence and the need to approach Thor (616) cautiously.

• Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One agreed that Supreme Strange would open the Mage Convention, Russell would speak third, and Doctor Strange would close it.
• Supreme Strange explained how to repair universes with damaged Spacetime structures, leaving Doctor Strange dismayed because the topic overlapped with his own.
• Supreme Strange noticed Doctor Doom following his research and invited him to collaborate on reshaping universes; Doctor Doom agreed.
• Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One discussed Gaea’s absence and concluded that they should not approach Thor (616) before learning Gaea’s stance.
• White-Bearded Ancient One urged Russell to spend time with Wanda instead of leaving her to others.

Russell watched the copied history of Prosilicos and questioned whether its people could truly exist beyond their story. At the Mage Convention, Gaea thanked him for defeating Infinity Ultron but revealed that other troubles kept her from hosting a banquet.

• Russell immersed his focus in the Silver Orb containing Prosilicos's copied history while three armored figures discussed investigating him and his allegiance.
• Supreme Strange left Doctor Doom's room, considered Doom's proposal to create a new universe from Cosmic Fragments, and spoke with Russell in the lounge.
• Russell asked Supreme Strange whether life could exist without matter or a soul, and Strange argued that beings without possibilities were only programs.
• Gaea arrived at the Mage Convention, greeted Russell, and thanked him for defeating Infinity Ultron and protecting countless universes.
• Gaea said she was troubled by other matters and could not spare the energy to host a banquet for Russell.

White-Bearded Ancient One lectured on the mind and soul, demonstrating techniques that caught Gaea’s interest. After the lecture, Russell brought Gaea to stay at the Sanctum Sanctorum so she could discuss her unresolved problem with Master Ancient One.

• White-Bearded Ancient One explained the relationship between body, soul, and mind, then demonstrated how the mind could shape the soul and the soul could shape the body.
• White-Bearded Ancient One shared methods for strengthening the mind and soul, answered questions, and let mages settle disagreements through demonstrations.
• Gaea planned to leave when White-Bearded Ancient One remained occupied, but Doctor Strange offered her a room at the Sanctum Sanctorum so she could meet his teacher later.
• Russell asked Gaea whether the lecture could help with her problem, and she said she had come hoping to find a solution but still had questions.
• Russell led Gaea to the guest rooms and asked an Apprentice Mage to prepare a room for her.

White-Bearded Ancient One returned to the Sanctum Sanctorum late at night and met with Gaea to discuss how mental and soul power affected the body. He summoned Russell to demonstrate, while 616 Wanda and 404 Wanda overheard Russell entering Gaea’s room and 616 Wanda urged her friend to pursue him.

• White-Bearded Ancient One returned to the Sanctum Sanctorum after spending the evening with Earth-616’s mages, then learned that Gaea was waiting to see him.
• White-Bearded Ancient One visited Gaea and discussed mental power, soul power, and their effects on the body.
• White-Bearded Ancient One woke Russell and summoned him to Gaea’s room to demonstrate controlling a body through mind and soul power.
• 616 Wanda and 404 Wanda listened as Russell went into Gaea’s room, and 616 Wanda wondered what business he had with her.
• 616 Wanda hugged 404 Wanda and encouraged her to let Russell feel her heartbeat.

White-Bearded Ancient One summoned Russell to demonstrate how the mind, soul, and body affected and supported one another, helping Gaea understand their balance and Atum’s transformation. After discovering that Russell could manifest his mind, White-Bearded Ancient One invited Gaea to stay and discuss Mental Power before Russell’s lecture.

• White-Bearded Ancient One brought Russell and Gaea to the Ancient One Sanctum and asked Russell to demonstrate how the mind, soul, and body worked together.
• Russell’s demonstration helped Gaea understand how imbalance among the mind, soul, and body could create weaknesses, including how Atum’s power had twisted his mind.
• White-Bearded Ancient One realized Russell’s mind could manifest and asked him how he did it.
• Gaea prepared to leave, but Russell invited her to dinner and White-Bearded Ancient One asked her to stay and learn more about Mental Power.

Russell lectured at the New York Mage Convention on purifying magical energy, refining Origin Energy, and evolving Life Levels, while his exchange with Atum caused unease among the attendees. His teachings made the gods and mages realize they were constrained by an unseen shackle, and the chapter ended with Russell insisting he had forgiven Atum.

• Russell arrived at the convention with Gaea, greeted the two Wandas, and accepted milk tea from 404 Wanda before taking the stage.
• Russell began explaining his methods for purifying magical energy, drawing on his own talent and knowledge of Chthon's works and dimensions.
• Russell noticed Atum watching from the sun, called him rude, and told Gaea that he had already forgiven him despite her warning that Atum could not leave.
• Russell described refining different kinds of energy into Origin Energy through a carrier, which could be a dimension or a universe, and then turned to Life Level evolution.
• The gods and mages recognized that they were bound by an invisible shackle, while Russell reassured the concerned Gaea that he had only stirred solar energy and had forgiven Atum.

Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One discussed the danger of provoking Atum and Gaea before Gaea arrived at the Sanctum. She asked them to diagnose Atum's condition, leaving the two mages to decide how to help.

• Russell told White-Bearded Ancient One that he had punished Atum and warned that Atum's worsening condition and Alien Energy could leave him trapped in Devourer Demon Form.
• White-Bearded Ancient One cautioned that Gaea and Atum might not act rationally, and they agreed to wait and see how the gods responded.
• Madeline brought Gaea and Atum to meet Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One at the Sanctum.
• Russell served Gaea several cups of tea while White-Bearded Ancient One eagerly sought her praise, delaying her explanation of why she had come.
• Atum lost patience and roared, but Gaea rose and asked Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One to diagnose her son.

Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One examined Atum at Gaea’s request and Russell stripped away most of the Alien Energy in his body. Atum recovered his normal form, but Russell warned that the deeper cause of his condition remained.

• Russell and White-Bearded Ancient One teased Gaea and Atum before Gaea asked them to diagnose Atum’s Alien Energy.
• Russell asked Atum to cooperate, then used his Perception to discover that Atum’s body contained Alien Energy and tangled Origin Powers from the ancient gods he had devoured.
• Russell pulled most of the Alien Energy out of Atum, causing him severe pain as it poured from his mouth.
• Atum’s appearance returned from his Devourer Demon Form to his normal chicken-headed humanoid form, and Russell cast the removed energy into space.
• Russell warned Gaea that removing the recently absorbed Alien Energy treated only Atum’s symptoms, not the root cause.

Atum revealed that the origins he devoured during the God Eater War still corrupted him, so Russell, Gaea, White-Bearded Ancient One, and Atum traveled to the Flicker Realm to seek Chthon’s help. They arrived to find the realm pulling away from them, and Chthon told Russell not to move.

• Gaea questioned Atum about his condition, and Atum admitted that the origins he devoured had taken root in his bloodline and soul.
• Atum explained that the God Eater War had left only Gaea and Oshtur as survivors, and that his purification had only temporarily suppressed the corruption.
• Russell said Chthon had failed to refine the Ancient God origins inside himself, then agreed with Gaea to seek his help.
• Russell opened a Portal to the Flicker Realm, and Atum entered cautiously with Gaea while White-Bearded Ancient One followed.
• Atum and Gaea found matter and energy receding around them as Russell called for Chthon, who warned Russell to stay still.

Russell and Gaea met Chthon in the Flicker Realm to discuss the Elder God energy corrupting him, but Chthon refused help and tried to tempt Gaea into letting him return to reality. After Gaea and Atum left, Russell took four of Chthon’s energy planets before returning to Earth-616, where White-Bearded Ancient One had already sent Gaea and Atum home to rest.

• Doctor Strange noticed that Gaea, White-Bearded Ancient One, Russell, and Russell’s variant were absent from the Mage Convention.
• In the Flicker Realm, Gaea offered to help Chthon remove the Elder God energy within him, but Chthon rejected the offer and claimed it suited his evolution.
• Chthon offered to help Atum resist the energy’s effects if Gaea let him return to reality, but Atum refused and left with her.
• After Gaea and Atum departed, Russell took one of Chthon’s energy planets; when Chthon threatened him, Russell demanded three more, and Chthon handed them over.
• Russell returned to Earth-616 the next day, and White-Bearded Ancient One explained that he had sent Gaea and Atum home to rest.

Russell went to bed after deciding not to visit Gaea, but Wanda sneaked into his room and the two spent the night together. On the fifth day of the Mage Convention, Doctor Strange faced challenges over his title as Sorcerer Supreme while Russell remained absent.

• Russell returned to his room, where Wanda later slipped in and attacked him while he slept; he shielded the room from Universe 616 and let her continue.
• Wanda woke beside Russell, and the two shared a tender morning before she asked why he had helped her so often.
• White-Bearded Ancient One, Supreme Strange, and Doctor Strange attended the Mage Convention as the three Sorcerer Supremes.
• Several mages challenged Doctor Strange's succession, and he prepared to reclaim the title of Sorcerer Supreme as Doctor Strange Supreme.
• Gaea asked White-Bearded Ancient One where Russell was, and he said Russell was occupied with an important matter that would take three to five days.