Chapter Summaries

Lake discussed Natasha Romanov’s growing influence in the Supervisory Bureau, then met with Hill to hear updates on the missing Midgardians and the Saint Nava case. He learned that Phil Coulson had been sent to investigate the Texas demon case, leaving Nick Fury’s growing suspicions and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s internal problems unresolved.

• Lake considered Natasha Romanov’s growing authority and asked Tiffany where Mr. and Mrs. Warren were assigned.
• Lake and Tiffany traveled to Gardiners Island, where Lake summoned Commander Hill to his office.
• Hill said she had found a possible lead about the missing Midgardians, but Lake asked her to wait until she could confirm it.
• Hill explained that Phil Coulson had led S.H.I.E.L.D.’s investigation into the Saint Nava case and that his Texas assignment might be connected to Lake’s earlier treatment of him.
• Lake recalled how Crossbones’s report and later events had fueled Nick Fury’s suspicion of Phil Coulson, who had now effectively been exiled to investigate the Mephisto demon case in Texas.
• Lake criticized Nick Fury’s paranoia and lack of control over S.H.I.E.L.D., noting that the White House had ignored his suggestion to have Fury psychologically evaluated.

Lake planned a Texas task force to purge demons and seize Earth’s authority over death for the Chaos Underworld. He left Hill to organize personnel while he went to investigate a break-in and look for another recruit.

• Lake told Hill he had no objection to her recruiting Phil Coulson, then proposed a Texas demon-purging task force led by Adam.
• Lake explained that he planned to eliminate Texas’s demons, seal the Hell passage, and eventually connect the Chaos Underworld to Earth, while repeatedly defeating Mephisto when he appeared.
• Lake said the Warren couple would join the task force as demon-hunting experts, and Hill agreed with the plan but asked about staffing.
• Lake told Hill to recruit their promising people from Midgard Island rather than agents from S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Hill asked whether Lake was taking another vacation, and Lake said he was checking a break-in at home and might bring back another top-tier talent.

Lake traveled to Quilce Town to recruit L, a former Federal Bureau criminal psychology expert, and met her daughter Robin. L agreed to consider joining him but made her first two conditions unclear, telling Lake she would reveal them if he accompanied her to sleep.

• Lake told Hill that he wanted to recruit L and revealed that he had sealed L and Robin's records because Robin could foresee the future.
• Lake flew to Seattle and drove to Quilce Town, where the sheriff told him that L and Robin were by the river.
• Lake found L watching Robin play with the other children, and L welcomed him, saying she had been waiting for his visit.
• Lake joined L and Robin for dinner at the pharmacy, then discussed recruiting L with her afterward.
• L asked for a salary and restored law-enforcement authority, and Lake agreed.
• L leaned close to Lake and said she would reveal her second and third conditions if he accompanied her to sleep.

Lake learned that Robin’s dreams had shown his arrival and possibly an empty future city, while L asked him to keep Robin’s ability secret. Though he planned to hurry to Forks after learning the Cullen family had left, Lake turned back to L before departing.

• L explained that Robin dreamed of things she noticed or encountered and asked Lake not to tell anyone about her ability.
• L showed Lake Robin’s drawings, including scenes of his arrival, the present moment, and an empty city.
• Lake learned from Emilia that the Cullen family had left Forks a month earlier, possibly because Katherine had received a warning.
• Lake prepared to leave for Forks, and he and L joked about meeting again after he finished his business.
• Lake remembered that the Black King was supposed to go to Forks, turned back toward L, and caught her as she tried to run.

Bella and Edward’s romance was interrupted when Lake, disguised as the Black King, arrived in Forks to investigate the Cullen family and the Russell family. The Cullens scrambled to conceal the truth, but Lake seemed to recognize their scheme as he headed to their home.

• Bella recalled how she had discovered Edward was a vampire and how they had begun their relationship.
• Bella spotted Lake approaching Forks, and Edward carried her to safety before rushing to meet him.
• The Cullen family failed to contact Katherine and hurried to distract the Russell family by sending Alice and Jasper to deliver expiring Paris trip tickets.
• Carlisle and Esme met Lake and invited him to their home with an offer of rare Lightning Bourbon.
• Lake invited Edward to join them, while Esme told Edward that the Black King could see through their attempt to send the Russell family away.

Lake visited the Cullen family and learned that Justin Russell, a Family Mage, had been hiding with them and was connected to Katherine. After confirming Hermione had warned Emilia about Justin, Lake accepted the Cullens’ loyalty to Katherine, then realized Twilight’s events had begun and saw Alice and Jasper arrive.

• Lake asked Carlisle Cullen about the thief hiding with the Cullens and learned his name was Justin Russell, the eldest son of the Russell family.
• Lake recognized Justin as a prominent Family Mage and joked that the Russell family should have had many more children to increase his magical power.
• Lake called London and confirmed that Hermione had informed Emilia about Justin’s connection to Lake, then decided not to punish the Cullens for protecting Katherine.
• Carlisle told Lake that werewolves were guarding Forks Town after people had been killed, and Lake realized Bella’s arrival had begun the Twilight story.
• Lake saw Alice and Jasper enter and asked Black Cullen whether he had quickly brought the Russell family out.

Lake learned the Russell family had fled to Paris and arranged for Emilia to invite them to the Immortal Castle, while Katherine hurried back to Forks. He left for Olympic Mountain and asked the Cullens to keep Katherine there when she arrived.

• Alice and Jasper tricked Mrs. Russell into taking a paid trip to Paris, where the Russell family had already gone into hiding.
• Lake told Emilia to invite the Russell family to the Immortal Castle instead of executing them immediately.
• Katherine heard from Rosalie that the Russell family had been found and flew toward Forks as a bat.
• Rosalie and the others realized the Russell family was likely already headed to the Immortal Castle, while Edward planned to cancel Bella’s visit.
• Lake asked Carlisle to keep Katherine with the Cullens when she arrived, then vanished toward Olympic Mountain.

Lake visited Kade Igner, formerly Bob Lee Swagger, at his secluded cabin in Olympic National Park and discovered that Kade was hiding a woman. Lake deduced that she was likely a member of the Alpha Wolf Clan, but the chapter ended with him puzzled by the situation.

• Lake arranged for Homeland Security to register Kade as an informant and stationed five agents near his cabin to protect his secluded life.
• Kade aimed at a buck, but Lake intercepted his shot and claimed the animal, then brought it to the cabin as a gift.
• Lake and Kade roasted the buck and talked about Kade's life in seclusion and the Homeland agents watching over him.
• Lake noticed the cabin was unusually clean and pressed Kade until he admitted that a woman had been visiting.
• Kade said the woman was a local from the reservation beyond the mountain, and Lake concluded she was probably an Alpha Wolf Clan member.

Lake and Cade were attacked in the forest by a group of vampires, including Victoria, James, and Laurent, and fought back with guns. Alice heard the gunfire and rushed toward them, with the Cullen family following.

• Lake teased Cade about his secretive female werewolf, then learned that Cade's girlfriend was named Alice.
• Lake sensed Alice's lingering scent on Cade just before three vampires leapt from the forest and attacked them.
• Cade shot the first vampire while Lake wounded Victoria and drove back the vampires with a barrage of special bullets.
• James carried the injured Victoria toward the grove, then charged back at Lake and was met with another burst of gunfire.
• Five Homeland Security agents at the foot of the mountain scrambled to arm themselves after hearing the shots.
• Alice rushed out of the Cullen home toward the gunfire, and Edward, Rosalie, Katherine, and the others followed.

Alice hurried to Cade after hearing gunshots, but found him safe at a barbecue with Lake and the Black King, who had captured wild vampires. The Cullen family joined them, and Little Cotton-padded Jacket chased the surviving vampire, Victoria, into the forest.

• Alice rushed ahead of the Cullen family toward the gunshots, fearing Cade had been attacked.
• Edward and the Cullen family reached the cabin and found Lake, Cade, and the Black King beside two captured wild vampires.
• Carlisle Cullen greeted the Black King and Lake, while Katherine revealed herself and affectionately greeted her father.
• Lake told Katherine that another vampire remained in the forest, and Victoria fled after hearing them talk.
• Katherine pursued Victoria, while Edward and Rosalie briefly returned to collect Jasper and Emmett before heading after them.
• Gunfire sounded near the foot of the mountain as Victoria fled and shouted resentfully.

Victoria escaped after using the Homeland agents as shields, while Lake returned to the Cullen villa and explained that Cade could avoid aging by awakening through Saga’s Cosmo cultivation method. Outside, Lake refused to teach the method to Katherine and confronted her about how long she had been dating Justin, leaving her to admit it had been two and a half years.

• Victoria escaped across the mountain, then vanished into the river after Katherine and the Cullen family nearly caught her.
• Lake said the two captured wild vampires had been burned, while Carlisle and Esme questioned Cade about joining the Cullen bloodline.
• Lake explained that Cade was training with Saga’s Cosmo cultivation method and had already reached nine thousand punches.
• Lake refused to teach Katherine Cosmo, saying she first had to throw ten thousand punches without stopping.
• Lake revealed he had invited Luo’s family to the castle, and Katherine admitted she and Justin had been together for two and a half years.

Katherine confessed to Lake that she had been dating Justin Russell, and Lake agreed to meet him while promising not to interfere if he proved respectable. Bella joined the Cullen family and learned more about Katherine, the Immortal Royal Family, and Cade, while Lake’s promise to take Katherine back to the Immortal Castle remained in place.

• Katherine told Lake she had repeated years at Forks to stay near the Cullen family and had only reached first base with Justin, and Lake said he would meet him.
• Edward explained to Bella that Katherine was the Immortal Royal Family’s eldest princess and that the Immortal Consortium held most of the family’s assets.
• Lake and Katherine watched from the backyard as Bella arrived at the Cullen villa, despite Lake’s earlier agreement to leave after the excitement began.
• Edward introduced Bella to Katherine, who asked her to use her name rather than call her Your Highness.
• Edward told Bella that Cade was Alice’s human boyfriend for now, then realized Alice had used Edward and Bella to test the family’s reaction before bringing Cade home.

Lake watched Katherine play vampire baseball before the Alpha Wolf Clan arrived, searching for the missing Alex Russell. After Alice said Alex had teleported to Paris, Lake offered to take Mrs. Black to his Immortal Castle, where the Russell family was visiting.

• Lake watched Katherine play baseball and told Cade that awakening Cosmo could greatly elevate his abilities and lifespan.
• A pack of giant wolves emerged from the forest, and Mason announced that his girlfriend Alex was missing.
• April Black greeted Lake, while Mason demanded that Alice explain where Alex had gone.
• Alice said Alex had used a magic teleportation gate to travel to Paris, and Katherine explained that Alex had learned the spell from the Russell family handbook.
• Lake said the Russell family was visiting his Immortal Castle and invited Mrs. Black to come confirm Alex's whereabouts.

Lake returned to the Immortal Castle and learned that the Voodoo Cult’s headquarters was in Haiti, but chose not to pursue them. The next morning, he questioned Justin Russell about his sister’s forbidden magic, making Justin’s survival depend on his answer.

• Katherine and Mason hurried to the Immortal Castle while Lake reunited with Selena and Emilia.
• Selena told Lake that the last Voodoo Cult follower had sent a message revealing the cult’s headquarters in Haiti, and Lake decided to leave it alone.
• Lake agreed to meet Justin Russell after Katherine said the Russells wanted to see him, but warned he might kill Justin if he disapproved of him.
• Katherine brought Justin to the rooftop, where Lake asked why he did not care that his sister had secretly learned magic reserved for a Family Mage.
• Lake told Justin that his answer would determine whether he left the castle alive, and Justin realized the threat was serious.

Lake questioned Justin about Alex and the Family Mage Championship, while Katherine tried to coach him through the answers. The questions grew more serious as Lake asked what Justin would do if Alex lost her magic and had to choose between the supernatural world and her werewolf boyfriend.

• Katherine rushed out from the stairwell to calm Lake’s killing intent and supplied the answer she thought he wanted about Justin indulging his younger sister.
• Justin rejected Katherine’s prompt and said he believed Alex could not defeat him in the Family Mage Championship, but Lake invited him to sit and offered him bourbon.
• Lake asked Justin about the championship date and Alex’s werewolf boyfriend, then explained the rules that would apply if Alex lost and became an ordinary person.
• Lake asked whether Justin would make Alex leave her boyfriend or sacrifice his own prospects to fulfill her wishes.

Lake tested Justin’s character and loyalty while Katherine repeatedly misunderstood the questions, then told Katherine he had no principled objection to her considering a relationship once she turned two hundred. As the Russell family prepared to leave Immortal Castle, a Merlin Magic Ring portal appeared beside their train.

• Lake asked Justin what he would do if Alex chose Mason, and Justin said he would secretly protect them even if the Family Mage Arbitration Committee discovered it.
• Lake asked Justin to choose between saving Katherine and Alex from drowning, but Emilia summoned Justin away before he answered.
• Emilia and Katherine questioned Lake about his test, and Emilia explained that Justin had passed while Katherine had misunderstood the different questions.
• Lake told Katherine she could consider other matters once she officially became an adult at two hundred, and Katherine nearly cheered.
• The Russell family prepared to leave Immortal Castle, but a Merlin Magic Ring portal appeared as their little train was about to depart.

Hermione accused Alex Russell of helping destroy the Family Mage World, and Alex discovered that her separated evil self had impersonated her and brought the Dark Destruction God to the Family Magic God. After Alex collapsed from losing her magic, the others realized her evil self could no longer be dispelled, just as the Russell family’s fireplace suddenly flared.

• Hermione arrived at Immortal Castle, showed a memory of Alex rampaging through the Family Mage World, and said the dying Family Magic God had named Alex as the thief of her source.
• Justin and Alex discovered that the Family Magic God’s source had turned dark, and Alex led everyone to her home in Forks Town.
• Alex found the mirror she had used for Good and Evil Separation shattered, then confessed she had transferred her evil into her mirror image using Mirror Image magic.
• Hermione explained that Evil Alex had pledged allegiance to the Dark Destruction God, led him to the Family Mage World, and helped him devour the Family Magic God’s source.
• Alex’s Family Magic erupted, and she collapsed after the converted source reclaimed her magic, leaving her unable to dispel Evil Alex.
• The group wondered what Evil Alex planned next, and the Russell family’s fireplace suddenly flared.

Lake exposed and captured a Dark Dimension servant who revealed that Durmstrang had joined the Dark Dimension, attacked Beauxbatons, and caused it to surrender and switch sides. Hermione decided to confront the schools, while Lake accompanied her to investigate why Kamar-Taj had not responded to the invasion.

• A bloodied Beauxbatons wizard pleaded with Hermione for help, but Lake recognized him as a servant of darkness, and Katherine restrained him.
• Lake extracted information from the servant and sent his dark soul into the Chaos Underworld after it threatened them.
• Lake told Hermione that Durmstrang had joined the Dark Dimension and forced Beauxbatons to surrender, and warned that the evil-minded Alex had prepared traps for her.
• Hermione declared that the two schools should be eliminated if they had pledged allegiance to the God of Destruction.
• Hermione sent Lake and Katherine to the Immortal Castle, where Lake ordered Katherine to stay, then took Hermione to Starlight Tower.
• Lake realized Kamar-Taj should have detected the invasion and agreed to go with Hermione to the New York Sanctum to investigate its silence.

Lake and Hermione discovered that Dormammu’s followers had attacked the New York Sanctum and joined the battle at Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One was trying to use the Time Stone to repel Dormammu. Lake defended her from Dormammu’s forces and rejected his offer to betray her.

• Lake and Hermione found the New York Sanctum’s Templar Mages dead, their souls taken by Dormammu.
• Lake brought Hermione to Kamar-Taj, where they found Templar Mages fighting Casillas’s dark mages and learned that the Ancient One was resisting Dormammu on the third floor.
• Hermione stayed to help Wong and the other defenders while Lake went to protect the Ancient One.
• Lake blasted Dormammu’s creatures and raised Crystal Walls around the injured Ancient One as she began using the Time Stone.
• Dormammu accused the Ancient One of betraying him and offered Lake power and souls to join forces, but Lake pretended to consider the offer while disbelieving him.

Lake negotiated with Dormammu for ten million souls, then rejected their deal and attacked when Dormammu demanded he step aside. He unleashed the Stardust Rotation Technique to devastate Dormammu’s forces and establish the Chaos Underworld’s power.

• Lake refused to trust Dormammu and demanded ten million souls in exchange for standing with him against the Sorcerer Supreme.
• Dormammu delivered the souls, which Lake absorbed into the Chaos Underworld to strengthen the 108 Demon Stars and speed the creation of their Underworld Warrior Cloths.
• After receiving the souls, Lake demanded one hundred million more and offered to help kill the Sorcerer Supreme; Dormammu refused and insulted him.
• Lake declared their transaction void, then denied possessing the souls when Dormammu appealed to the God of Oaths.
• Dormammu sent his dark creatures against Lake, who used the Stardust Rotation Technique to destroy the attackers and heavily strike Dormammu.
• Lake used the battle to demonstrate the Chaos Underworld’s power and discourage others from probing its secrets.