Chapter Summaries

Shimizu and Tony synthesized a new palladium isotope, then Shimizu completed an S-rank combat puppet named Platinum in Shanghai. On the high-speed rail back to Beijing, he learned that Longhu Mountain’s Luotian Grand Ceremony would welcome Otherworlders under thirty and offer a valuable Heavenly Access Talisman.

• Tony agreed to help Shimizu synthesize a palladium isotope and explained how a quantum entanglement algorithm could control the nuclear reaction.
• Shimizu and Tony built a particle accelerator and created palladium isotope metal whose test results matched their projections.
• Shimizu told Yue Qian that he knew Divine Machine Hundred Refinements, and Yue Qian planned to seek approval to buy the technique and keep it secret.
• Shimizu finished Platinum, an A+ (S-) armored combat puppet powered by Qi, and assessed its limited operating time and combat capability.
• Shimizu boarded the high-speed rail with Yue Qian and read that Longhu Mountain’s Luotian Grand Ceremony would begin July 6, with the Heavenly Access Talisman as an additional prize.

Shimizu registered for the Luotian Grand Ceremony, tested his new Platinum Puppet against Yue Qian, and promised to make Yue Qian an artifact that could see qi. He then unveiled the artificial intelligence Bai Ze at Kyoto University, where his achievements made him a national treasure, while Ou Yuan cautioned him against intervening in the management of otherworlders.

• Shimizu registered for the Luotian Grand Ceremony and read a Nankai University forum post about the Naked Hero’s moonlit appearance.
• Shimizu brought Yue Qian to Nato Tong headquarters, where Yue Qian fought Platinum and demonstrated his military techniques while Shimizu observed.
• Shimizu healed Yue Qian and offered to make him an artifact that could reveal the flow of qi, asking him to wait a week.
• Shimizu unveiled the artificial intelligence Bai Ze at Kyoto University, impressing the researchers and officials gathered there.
• Ou Yuan told Shimizu that Elder Number One would meet him soon and advised him not to raise matters concerning the management of otherworlders.

Shimizu arranged to study Otherworlder abilities and learned he would receive two major science awards, then traveled to Yingtan for the Luotian Grand Ceremony. Xu Si and Xu San tried to figure out how to persuade him to help Zhang Chulan, and Shimizu agreed to hear them out after recognizing Zhang Chulan as the forum’s Naked Hero.

• Shimizu asked Ou Yuan to help him gain permission to study Otherworlder abilities, and Ou Yuan agreed to put in a word while warning him to follow ethical rules.
• Ou Yuan told Shimizu he would receive the State Top Science and Technology Award and the first prize of the State Science and Technology Progress Award.
• Xu Si and Xu San waited at the airport for Shimizu and discussed how to secure his help for Zhang Chulan at the Luotian Grand Ceremony.
• Xu Si questioned Mo School disciples about Shimizu before Shimizu and Yue Qian arrived in Yingtan and met the group.
• Xu Si invited Shimizu and Yue Qian to a foot massage parlor to discuss their request, and Shimizu recognized Zhang Chulan as Naked Hero.
• Zhang Chulan begged Shimizu not to expose his identity and offered to be his dog.

Zhang Chulan joined the Luotian Grand Ceremony with Shimizu, who sought the Heavenly Access Talisman and agreed to help Zhang Chulan pursue the Celestial Master's successor position. After Shimizu and Zhang Chulan advanced through their matches, Zhang Chulan revealed the Vermilion Seal to a curious crowd, and Shimizu examined its unusual properties.

• Shimizu and Zhang Chulan agreed that Shimizu would aim for the Heavenly Access Talisman while helping Zhang Chulan claim the Celestial Master's successor position.
• At Longhu Mountain, Zhang Zhiwei greeted Zhang Chulan as his grandmaster, while Shimizu met the Old Heavenly Master and Zhang Lingyu.
• Shimizu forged a sword and drew Karp Koi as his first opponent; Zhang Chulan planned to rely on Feng Baobao and Shimizu to clear his bracket.
• Shimizu advanced through the tournament matches with ease, while Zhang Chulan won his preliminary bouts through slick talk and shameless antics.
• Wang Ergou and others asked Zhang Chulan to reveal the Vermilion Seal, and a drunken Zhang Chulan displayed it as Shimizu studied its ability to sense others' emotions.

Zhuo Shimizu advanced through the Luotian Grand Ceremony and explained that he had beaten Wang Bing to study the Wang Family’s Divine Painting. After other tournament matches unfolded, Shimizu faced Feng Xingtong and examined the power of Liu Kunsheng, the spirit summoned to fight him.

• Shimizu reported that Hu Jie was controlled by Gao Ning, prompting Lu Jin to seize and interrogate Hu Jie.
• Shimizu repeatedly slapped Wang Bing until he conceded, then said he wanted to study the Wang Family’s Divine Painting; Wang Ai held back from intervening.
• Feng Zhenghao introduced his son Feng Xingtong to Shimizu and sought to build ties with the scientist.
• The Luotian Grand Ceremony continued, with Feng Baobao, Wang Ye, Zhuge Qing, Feng Shayan, Zhang Chulan, Zhang Lingyu, and Ling advancing through their matches.
• Feng Xingtong summoned Liu Kunsheng to face Shimizu, whose sword qi barely affected the powerful spirit before it attacked with black mist.

Shimizu defeated Feng Xingtong and Liu Kunsheng with lightning-infused swordsmanship, then advanced to the Luotian Grand Ceremony semifinals, where he overwhelmed Zhang Lingyu using Platinum, a huge silver-white armored machine. Zhang Lingyu resisted until Zhang Zhiwei urged him to concede, while Zhang Chulan called out that he would surrender in the final too.

• Shimizu struck Liu Kunsheng repeatedly with lightning-infused swordsmanship, and Feng Xingtong surrendered to end their match.
• Shimizu reassured Feng Xingtong that Liu Kunsheng’s spirit body would recover, while Zhang Zhiwei concluded that Zhang Lingyu might not reach the final against him.
• Zhang Lingyu defeated Zero in the quarterfinal, and Zhang Chulan advanced to the final after a staged match with Feng Baobao.
• Zhang Lingyu fought Shimizu in the semifinals and used the Golden Light Spell and Watery Mire Thunder, but Platinum’s attacks broke through his defenses.
• Zhang Zhiwei told Zhang Lingyu to concede, and Shimizu revealed Platinum’s mounted guns and cannons as Zhang Chulan offered to surrender in the final.

Shimizu defeated Zhang Lingyu, declined the position of Heavenly Master's successor, and exchanged his reward for Longhu Mountain's talisman arts. After agreeing to protect the mountain once if it faced trouble, he learned Quanxing might attack that night and planned to visit Elder Tian.

• Zhang Zhiwei stopped Zhang Lingyu's fight, and Zhang Chulan forfeited the final, leaving Shimizu the winner.
• Shimizu accepted Lu Jin's Heavenly Access Talisman and asked Zhang Zhiwei for Longhu Mountain's talisman arts instead of the successor's position.
• Zhang Zhiwei gave Shimizu the Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu and promised access to higher-grade talisman arts in exchange for Shimizu helping Longhu Mountain once after his death.
• Shimizu agreed to Zhang Zhiwei's condition and learned that Jin Zhong could teach him talisman arts.
• Yue Qian warned Shimizu that Quanxing members had been spotted near Longhu Mountain, but Shimizu planned to visit Elder Tian with late-night snacks.

Shimizu and Yue Qian fought their way through Quanxing’s attack on Longhu Mountain and reached Tian Jinzhong just as Gong Qing and Lu Liang were about to force him to reveal what he knew. They stopped the attempted interrogation, leaving the Celestial Master Mansion owing Shimizu another favor.

• Shimizu studied the Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu and learned how talisman ranks, rituals, and preparation affected their power and risks.
• During Quanxing’s assault, Shimizu and Yue Qian defeated the attackers threatening Lu Linglong and Zhi Jinhua, while Tu Junfang escaped.
• After sensing Lu Jin’s frenzied Qi, Shimizu and Yue Qian hurried toward Tian Jinzhong’s quarters.
• Gong Qing revealed himself as Quanxing’s acting leader after knocking out the Daoist boy Xiaoyu, and Lu Liang helped him confront Tian Jinzhong.
• Shimizu and Yue Qian arrived before Gong Qing could use a Ghost Gate Needle on Tian Jinzhong, then knocked Gong Qing and Lu Liang unconscious.

After consolidating Sunagakure’s advances into the Land of Fire, Shimizu learned Orochimaru and Jiraiya were at Mokuchi Town and attacked their camp. The strike drew out the Third Hokage, leaving Shimizu facing a dangerous ambush.

• Lu Jin thanked Shimizu for saving Linglong and the others, and Shimizu offered to help Xiao Xiao recover his lost arm.
• Shimizu reviewed Sunagakure’s troop deployments and planned to secure captured cities while severing the Land of Fire’s western transportation routes.
• Baki reported that Ebizo’s deep-cover agent Ant had located Orochimaru and Jiraiya’s command post at Mokuchi Town, so Shimizu ordered Pakura and Rasa to bring the main army there.
• Shimizu advanced ahead of the army, watched the Konoha camp, and attacked when Orochimaru began relocating his forces.
• Shimizu’s puppets struck the camp, and he cut through Orochimaru’s Triple Rashomon before the Third Hokage appeared and attacked him with an enormous staff.

Shimizu fought Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Konoha’s forces while waiting for Sunagakure’s reinforcements. He revealed the Flying Thunder God to severely wound Hiruzen, leaving Orochimaru convinced Konoha could no longer keep Shimizu from escaping.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru joined forces with thousands of Konoha Ninja to attack Shimizu, but his magical weapons and puppets helped him withstand their assaults.
• Shimizu assessed the limits of his strength as he fought the three Kage-level opponents, then chose Hiruzen as the best target for his hidden Flying Thunder God technique.
• Shimizu used his puppets to clear the battlefield of Orochimaru’s snakes while a Yamanaka sensory ninja warned that two powerful Chakra signatures were approaching.
• Shimizu teleported to Hiruzen with the Flying Thunder God and struck him, but Enma blocked the fatal blow; Hiruzen was left with a severe abdominal wound.
• Jiraiya pulled Hiruzen away, and Orochimaru recognized Shimizu’s Flying Thunder God and realized Konoha might be unable to hold him there.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stayed behind to hold off Shimizu and Sunagakure’s reinforcements while Orochimaru led Konoha’s main force in retreat. Hiruzen named Orochimaru the next Hokage, and the chapter left him surrounded and fighting toward his death.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi realized Shimizu had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique as Sunagakure’s reinforcements, led by Rasa and Pakura, approached.
• Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya argued over who would stay behind, until Orochimaru dragged Jiraiya away and ordered Konoha’s younger ninja to retreat.
• Hiruzen declared Orochimaru the Hokage and ordered the remaining ninja to evacuate, while hundreds stayed behind to help him delay Shimizu.
• Shimizu fought Hiruzen as Pakura and Rasa attacked the Konoha rearguard, and he warned them to avoid Hiruzen’s final counterattack.
• Sasori and Kazakami Senran arrived with five thousand Sunagakure ninja, surrounding Hiruzen as his allies fell and his strength gradually faded.

Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Reaper Death Seal against Rasa, but Shimizu’s Soul Summoning Talismans saved most of Rasa’s soul at the cost of his hands. After Hiruzen died, Shimizu examined Rasa and considered ways to restore him, leaving their next steps uncertain.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and seven Konoha Jonin launched a final charge, and Hiruzen invoked the Reaper Death Seal.
• Shimizu saw the Shinigami with Yin-Yang Sight and retreated, but Hiruzen changed targets and seized Rasa with Enma’s help.
• Shimizu created clones with Eckhart’s Form and covered Rasa with Soul Summoning Talismans, pulling most of his soul back into his body.
• Hiruzen sealed the remaining portion of Rasa’s soul corresponding to his hands, then died from the jutsu.
• Shimizu examined Rasa, explained that undoing the seal would be difficult, and promised to make him Puppet Arms if other remedies failed.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi died covering Konoha’s retreat, Shimizu ordered Sunagakure to seize the western Land of Fire while Orochimaru worked to unite Konoha’s forces. The other villages assessed the threat posed by Shimizu, and Madara Uchiha prepared a backup plan after Uchiha Fugaku remained loyal to Konoha.

• Shimizu told Rasa that chakra-metal puppet prosthetics could restore much of his strength, then ordered Pakura to keep his sealed hands secret and advance into the Land of Fire.
• Orochimaru asked Jiraiya to help him unite Tsunade, Konoha’s elders, Minato, and the village’s other forces after Hiruzen Sarutobi’s death.
• News of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s death reached the other villages, and Ōnoki concluded that Shimizu was too powerful for a single Kage to challenge.
• The Third Raikage and Fourth Raikage discussed Sunagakure’s growing strength and Killer B’s training as a potential counter to Shimizu.
• Yagura ordered the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to replace their fallen comrades and continue fighting Konoha after Uchiha Fugaku defeated them.
• Madara Uchiha told Yagura that Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan but remained bound to Konoha, so they would use the backup plan.

Madara chose Uchiha Fugaku as his agent, planning to exploit Konoha’s succession crisis and alliances to advance the Moon Eye Plan while postponing a confrontation with Shimizu. Back at Konoha’s camp, Fugaku considered pursuing the Hokage position after learning that Orochimaru had been named acting Hokage.

• Madara told Black Zetsu that Fugaku’s Mangekyō and personal weaknesses made him a useful agent, while Obito needed more time to mature.
• Black Zetsu reported that the Third Hokage had died covering Konoha’s retreat, and Madara discussed using Hanzo and Nagato’s ambitions to support the plan.
• Madara ordered Yagura to help Fugaku earn achievements so he could gain a place among Konoha’s leaders, and told Black Zetsu to summon Fugaku and retrieve his body.
• Fugaku returned to Konoha’s camp after defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, where Yashiro urged him to pursue the Hokage position and Fugaku said he would first assess the village’s attitude.
• Minato and Homura welcomed Fugaku, and Homura announced that Orochimaru would serve as acting Hokage under the Third Hokage’s final order.
• Fugaku questioned Orochimaru’s succession, and Homura warned him that the village’s jonin would have to approve the appointment.

Konoha’s leaders agreed to support Orochimaru and contain Shimizu while the war continued. In Marvel, Shimizu completed the Electric Light II armor and explored how rune magic and talisman arts could strengthen his artifacts, leaving him to reconsider the true potential of two of the Eight Wonders.

• Mitokado Homura, Uchiha Fugaku, and Minato Namikaze urged Konoha to unite behind Orochimaru, and Fugaku agreed to support the village through the crisis.
• Konoha attacked Kirigakure again, where Fugaku led the Uchiha elite in severely wounding its main force, while Minato returned to help Orochimaru and Jiraiya against Sunagakure.
• Shimizu completed the Electric Light II Battle Armor’s artifact conversion, giving it an S- rating, and considered how further refinement might improve it.
• Shimizu recognized that palladium isotope reactors powered spatial magic and ruthenium isotope reactors aided mental magic, as Kamar-Taj sorcerers used them to develop portals and mental artifacts.
• Shimizu compared Rune Magic with talisman arts and considered using defensive and psychic-protection runes to enhance his puppets.
• Shimizu reflected on the side effects and limitations of the Eight Wonders and concluded that the Heavenly Access Talisman and Divine Machine Hundred Refinements depended on reaching heaven and refinement, respectively.

Shimizu exchanged technical research with Tony Stark and continued developing his armor while keeping Bucky imprisoned. As Steve Rogers’s team investigated a threat to the Vienna conference, Shimizu reminded Steve that Tony did not know Bucky had killed Howard Stark and left Steve responsible for keeping it that way.

• Shimizu accepted Tony Stark’s offer to trade Titanium Gold Alloy production technology for nanotechnology research and ordered the materials and equipment needed to study it.
• Shimizu reflected that combining nanotechnology, Titanium Gold Alloy, and advanced runes could greatly improve his armor, then resumed his work and handled S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs.
• George saw the women leaving Wade Manor the next morning as Shimizu spoke with Steve Rogers, whose team was inspecting the Vienna conference venue for a suspected plot.
• Steve reported that Daisy had found signs of activity in underground ventilation ducts, and Shimizu told him to use Clint’s search warrant or rely on Daisy to investigate restricted areas.
• Shimizu showed Steve that Bucky was imprisoned, receiving treatment, and allowed to watch selected television, then explained that Tony would want Bucky dead if he learned the truth about Howard’s murder.
• Shimizu told Steve that S.H.I.E.L.D. valued Tony more than Bucky and implied that Steve’s importance was the reason Tony still did not know about Bucky.

Shimizu prepared Steve Rogers for a mission in Wakanda, then learned that Ancient One had died and traveled to Kamar-Taj for the funeral. He accepted the Eye of Agamotto and began a cheerful funeral ceremony while claiming to honor Ancient One’s final wishes.

• Shimizu told Steve Rogers to lead the mission, protect Wakanda’s old king if possible, and pass Nick Fury a message about auditing Shadow S.H.I.E.L.D.’s funds.
• Shimizu learned that Ancient One had died in his sleep and that his spirit would leave the world on the seventh day after his death.
• Shimizu used concentrated onion extract to redden his eyes and traveled to Kamar-Taj, where the mages gathered for Ancient One’s memorial.
• Shimizu mourned before Ancient One’s coffin, accepted the Eye of Agamotto from Wong, and promised to inherit Ancient One’s will.
• Shimizu turned the mourning hall into a stage and urged the gathered mages to applaud Ancient One’s passing as a joyous funeral.

At Ancient One’s seventh-day memorial, Shimizu learned that Dormammu might invade Earth and prepared to take on the threat as the next Sorcerer Supreme. He told Nick Fury and Steve about the coming danger, but insisted he could handle it with his two Infinity Stones.

• Shimizu turned Ancient One’s memorial into a singing competition, while Wong explained how a new Sorcerer Supreme could be chosen and mentioned Dormammu as a likely challenger.
• Shimizu considered whether he could match Ancient One, then spent the night studying The Book of Cagliostro to prepare to use the Time Stone.
• On the seventh day after Ancient One’s death, Shimizu expected Dormammu to sense the loss of the Darkforce and target Earth’s dimension.
• Nick Fury and Steve contacted Shimizu about Hydra’s five super-soldiers, but Shimizu explained that Dormammu’s invasion was a more urgent threat and revealed he was the next Sorcerer Supreme.
• Shimizu declined the Avengers’ help, saying he had confidence in facing Dormammu with his two Infinity Stones, while Fury urged him to share future crises with S.H.I.E.L.D. sooner.

Shimizu joined the fight against Kaecilius’s attack on the Hong Kong Sanctum, then pursued him into the Mirror Dimension and killed him. He discovered that Kaecilius’s retreat was a diversion as the Dark Dimension invaded London, and he faced Dormammu with the Mind Stone and Time Stone.

• Wong told Shimizu that Kaecilius and the Dark Wizards had attacked the Hong Kong Sanctum, so Shimizu opened a gateway and joined the battle.
• Shimizu overwhelmed the Dark Wizards with spells and the Net of Xolara, then chased Kaecilius into the Mirror Dimension and killed him.
• Shimizu returned to the Sanctum and learned that the London Sanctum was under attack while the Dark Dimension invaded; he set a Time Stone save point and flew toward Dormammu.
• Shimizu confronted Dormammu and fought off his attacks with the power of the Mind Stone, while Dormammu offered him a deal to let the Dark Dimension consume the world.
• Shimizu rejected Dormammu’s offer and continued preparing to fight him.

Shimizu fought Dormammu at the boundary between Earth and the Dark Dimension, using the Time and Mind Stones to survive and learn from the stronger enemy. After three days of combat in the accelerated battlefield, he began to glimpse new insights into Dormammu’s rule-based powers.

• Nick Fury, Steve Rogers, Maria Hill, and Tony Stark feared for Earth’s safety and placed their hopes in Shimizu, while Tony flew toward Britain despite warnings that he would only hinder him.
• Shimizu endured Dormammu’s attacks with the Mind Stone and repeatedly restored his armor and body with the Time Stone, refusing Dormammu’s offer to let him devour Earth.
• Maria Hill told the United Nations Security Council that nuclear weapons might be ineffective and that Shimizu was Earth’s only known defense against Dormammu.
• The national representatives discussed Shimizu’s chances and their ties to the Sorcerer Supreme, while Dongda expressed confidence in his ability to protect Earth.
• Shimizu extended the battle to ninety-three hours by altering the battlefield’s time ratio, used the Time Stone to survive repeated defeats, and treated Dormammu as a sparring partner.
• Shimizu discovered that the Mind Stone heightened his comprehension during perfect flow, allowing him to begin grasping Dormammu’s control of space and other rules.