Chapter Summaries

Josh’s new bodyguards adapted to their enhanced abilities while Logan recovered and spent time with them. After discovering messages from two passengers, Logan learned that his biological daughter Laura was waiting for him at a motel, and he went there with Josh and Natasha to meet her.

• Akathosh modified Logan’s blood into a safer serum, and Price and the other bodyguards quickly mastered their enhanced senses, Healing Factors, and strength-or-speed specialization.
• Trapp shot himself in the shoulder to test his Healing Factor, then healed as Price and the others watched.
• Price and the other bodyguards befriended Logan over training and cigars while he recovered and neglected his taxi-driver messages.
• Logan found a recent message directing him to the Liberty Motel, and Josh told him that Laura was his biological daughter.
• Logan drove Josh, Natasha, and Sandman with two others to the motel, where they saw Laura playing alone outside.

Josh, Logan, and Natasha brought Gabriela and Laura away from the motel after Logan stood up to the owner and Josh healed Gabriela. As they drove to Charles’s refuge, Natasha said she wanted to become Laura’s teacher, and Josh suggested they visit Valoran later.

• Josh convinced Logan to approach Gabriela and use Laura to draw the people who had hurt him out of hiding.
• Gabriela urged the group to leave for the border, but Josh told her to come with them to somewhere safe instead.
• When the motel owner berated Laura over a broken window, Logan paid her and threatened her until she backed down.
• Josh healed Gabriela’s arm with magic, then the group climbed into Logan’s luxury car.
• Natasha explained that Laura reminded her of her own past and asked to become Laura’s teacher; Josh agreed as they drove to Charles’s refuge.

Gabriella explained how she had rescued Laura from a mutant research center and asked Price’s group to help them reach Canada, but Price dismissed her escape plan. When Gabriella tried to leave the next morning, she found the laboratory’s forces outside, and Price’s team, Logan, and Sop went out to fight while Josh and the others watched from inside.

• Gabriella told the group that she had freed Laura, a mutant weapon created with Logan’s genes, from a Mexican research center and asked for help escaping to Canada.
• Price warned Gabriella that crossing the border would not keep her safe and said the laboratory had to be dealt with instead.
• Gabriella tried to sneak away with Laura the next morning but found SWAT soldiers and laboratory personnel surrounding the hideout.
• Price led his team outside to fight, and Logan joined them after Josh insisted he follow their orders.
• Josh, Natasha, Charles, Gabriella, and Laura watched the battle on a large screen as Josh refused to help, confident Price’s team could handle the attackers.

Logan and Price’s squads ambushed Donald Pierce’s forces after negotiations over the woman and child failed. The battle halted when Pierce took Caliban hostage, but Josh ordered the soldiers to keep attacking and spare only Pierce.

• Price assigned Logan and the soldiers to positions, and Logan confronted Pierce outside the compound.
• Pierce demanded the woman and child, but Logan refused, and Pierce ordered his men to attack.
• Price, Ghost, and Logan’s squads used the Red Queen’s target guidance to overwhelm Pierce’s forces.
• Pierce had Caliban brought forward and held him at gunpoint, forcing Logan to stop fighting.
• Josh ordered the soldiers to resume the attack and kill everyone except Pierce.

Josh and his allies defeated Pierce’s forces, and Josh frightened Pierce into revealing what he knew before Logan killed him. The group learned that Josh had forgotten to ask Gabriella about her escape, leaving her knowledge unused.

• Price and the former Task Force 141, SAS, and Delta Force elites killed Pierce’s men while Josh protected Caliban with a magical shield.
• Josh questioned Pierce, but Pierce refused to cooperate until Josh threatened to kill him and put his soul into a starving dog’s body.
• Pierce broke down and agreed to tell Josh everything he knew, after which Logan killed him.
• Logan thanked Josh and asked whether he had really planned to put Pierce’s soul into a dog, and Josh admitted he had only wanted to scare him.
• Logan pointed out that Gabriella had escaped from the facility, and Josh realized he had forgotten to ask her what she knew.

Josh brought Logan, Charles, Caliban, and the others to Mexico to destroy the laboratory behind the X-Weapon Project and help the remaining mutant children. After unleashing a vast pillar of golden light that obliterated the research center, he prepared to send Charles and Caliban to find the children.

• Josh and the others agreed that Gabriella would leave Laura in Logan's care once the laboratory was destroyed.
• Logan explained that Dr. Rice had created X-24, a powerful clone of him, and planned to use it to eliminate the remaining mutants.
• Josh transported the group to Mexico and asked Caliban to find the mutant children Gabriella had freed; Charles offered to go with him after Josh dealt with the laboratory.
• Josh unleashed a kilometer-wide pillar of golden light that destroyed the research center and left a hole reaching the earth's core.
• Josh joked about Caliban calling the attack a judgment of the gods and considered adding singing to his next spell.

Josh brought Charles, Logan, Laura, and the rescued mutant children from their world to the Marvel Universe and arranged for the children to attend Hogwarts. Tony recognized Charles and Logan as Professor Charles and Wolverine, and Josh explained that their world’s food had contained drugs that weakened mutants.

• Josh realized his power could accidentally destroy a world and teleported with Charles to find the children.
• Charles persuaded the children to leave, and Josh brought them and Laura to his Marvel Universe office.
• Josh asked Dumbledore to enroll the mutant children at Hogwarts and help Aiden learn enough magic to study there.
• Master Ancient One noticed Charles’s exceptional mental power, while Tony recognized him as Professor Charles and Logan as Wolverine.
• Josh explained that drugs placed in their world’s food had caused mutants’ abilities to deteriorate.

Charles enrolled at Hogwarts to learn about the Secret Ones Alliance and help the newly arrived mutants, while Logan found work as a driver and became Garen’s apprentice. Josh then offered to try to locate Demacia so Garen could visit his family.

• Charles observed that the Alliance’s strict methods let people with special abilities live freely, then asked Professor McGonagall to enroll at Hogwarts.
• Professor McGonagall accepted Charles, who joined the newly arrived students while Laura studied under Natasha and Logan settled into life in the Alliance.
• Logan asked Josh for work, and Josh offered him a driving job or an apprenticeship with Garen; Logan accepted, and Garen agreed to train him.
• Josh asked Garen whether he wanted to visit Demacia and said he would try to find the world, though the chances were low.

Josh failed to reach the Valoran Continent, then spent a week with Natasha before meditation unexpectedly carried him and Akathosh into the Endless Void. There, they encountered a colossal wounded dragon that Akathosh recognized as his former self.

• Josh and Garen gave up trying to explore the Valoran Continent after repeated failures.
• Natasha confronted Josh about the women in his memories, then spent the following week with him and advanced to the Fifth Tier.
• Akathosh complained that Josh and Natasha kept him awake at night, then returned to the silver tattoo on Josh's body as Josh entered deep meditation.
• Josh and Akathosh found themselves in the Endless Void and read the inheritance's explanation of the Void and its possible connection to material worlds.
• Josh and Akathosh saw a gigantic wounded dragon drifting toward them, and Akathosh said it had once been him.

Josh and Akatosh encountered Akatosh’s colossal past self drifting unconscious through the Void, and Akatosh tried to reach him through his magical defenses. After repeated attempts, he finally sent a wave through, causing the ancient dragon to stir and forcing Josh to retreat.

• Josh saw Akatosh’s enormous former dragon form and learned that Akatosh had once approached the strength of transcendence.
• Josh and Akatosh traveled through the Void toward the unconscious dragon but could not pass through his magical defenses.
• Akatosh sent waves of his soul’s aura toward his past self, but the defenses blocked his first attempts.
• Akatosh altered how he released his power and eventually got a faint wave through the defenses.
• The colossal dragon’s eyes began to stir, and his aura erupted, forcing Josh to retreat.

Josh and Akathosh accidentally awakened the sleeping Void creatures when Akathosh’s former self sneezed, sending a ripple through the Void. As the Giant eyeball questioned them about the outside, Josh and Akathosh faced the beings their actions had awakened.

• Akathosh’s former self awoke, sneezed Josh away, and drifted into a black hole.
• The sneeze sent a ripple carrying Akathosh’s aura through the Void, stirring Mana torrents and awakening its dormant creatures.
• Josh realized that Akathosh’s former self had activated the Void creatures, and he and Akathosh argued over who was to blame.
• A huge one-eyed creature confronted them and asked whether they were the first beings of their kind to awaken.
• Josh confirmed that they came from outside, and the Giant eyeball asked what the outside was like.

Josh told a newly awakened Giant eyeball that many worlds existed beyond the Void, then was sent with Akathosh to a quieter region after being judged too weak. As they prepared to leave the Void, Akathosh encouraged Josh to pursue strength, though Josh still dreamed of living as a salted fish.

• Josh shared limited information about the material worlds with the Giant eyeball, which thanked him and urged him and Akathosh to grow stronger.
• The Giant eyeball teleported Josh and Akathosh to a quieter region of the deepest Void, away from the many beings awakening nearby.
• Josh and Akathosh discussed how overwhelmingly powerful the awakened beings were and agreed they needed to be cautious.
• Josh received a message from his inheritance that it was time to leave the Void.
• Akathosh encouraged Josh to approach and surpass the powerful beings, and Josh admitted that he still wanted to be a salted fish with dreams.

After recovering from his ordeal in the endless Void, Josh resolved to train more seriously and returned from the Marvel Universe to the Muya Continent to study. He found Avila reviewing documents in his territory and learned that she had been observing its administration.

• Josh reflected on his recent actions, recognized his weakness in mental power, and decided to resume meditation and improve his core areas.
• Josh chose to return to the Muya Continent, while Garen stayed to train and Natasha remained behind to study with Master Ancient One and keep Laura company.
• Josh and Akathosh passed through the Void Gate, where Josh felt the Muya Continent's dense Magic elements and told Akathosh to stabilize and strengthen himself.
• Josh greeted Arno and went downstairs, noting that about half a month had passed in Rivendell while he was away.
• Josh found Avila reviewing documents in his room and learned that Sir Frank had let her inspect the territory's records after consulting Kane.
• Josh explained that he trusted the people managing his territory and planned to rest there for a few days before leaving again.

After returning to Rivendell, Josh learned about the academy and his brothers’ activities, then assigned Frank new projects. He later took Avila for a walk, where she asked him to take her along on his next trip.

• Frank reported that Josh’s academy had opened with Hogwarts students and elves, while Kane served as Instructor Kane and List studied the Magic Brains.
• Josh ordered Frank to recruit wandering mages skilled in alchemy and enchantment, and to arrange a student team competition for the end of term.
• Josh left Frank to handle the details and spoke with Avila about how much she enjoyed the freedom of Rivendell.
• Avila asked Josh where he had gone during his absence, then asked him to take her along next time.

Josh spent two months in Rivendell showing Avila around and stabilizing his Eighth Tier strength before checking with Natasha about events in the Marvel Universe. He learned that Garen had handled S.H.I.E.L.D.'s request by beating up Thor and Loki.

• Josh refused to take Avila to another dimension, then showed her Rivendell and the new city of Shire.
• Josh absorbed the power of faith and cultivated rapidly, stabilizing his strength at the Eighth Tier.
• Josh spent two months in Rivendell as the territory attracted more tourists and remained peaceful.
• Natasha told Josh that Master Gu Yi had begun monitoring unauthorized arrivals on Earth after Thor came from Asgard.
• Natasha revealed that Garen had gone with S.H.I.E.L.D. and beaten up Thor and Loki.

Josh returned to the Marvel Universe after arranging affairs in his territory and spent time with Natasha and Laura. As the Void Gate closed behind them, a silver-haired, pointed-eared woman followed him through.

• Josh arranged a school competition, welcomed mages traveling to Rivendell, and told Alexios to train sailors for fishing in another world.
• Josh left the Muya Continent through a Void Gate with Natasha, feeling the effects of his increased strength in the Marvel Universe.
• Josh and Natasha found Laura secretly playing on the computer, and Natasha explained how she had defeated Laura and Logan in sparring.
• Josh reassured Laura, then bantered with Natasha about their past while Laura listened.
• A silver-haired woman with pointed ears slipped through the closing Void Gate from the Muya Continent.

Josh revealed to Rogers that Howard was alive and a mage, then reunited Rogers with Howard and Tony. As night fell, Rogers returned to his apartment while an unknown arrival went to S.H.I.E.L.D., leaving the church in chaos and the night poised to turn dangerous.

• Rogers deduced that Howard was a mage, and Josh confirmed it while explaining S.H.I.E.L.D. had hidden the truth.
• Howard and Tony arrived with Logan, and Howard recognized Rogers as his old friend, Captain America.
• Josh used magic to keep their conversation hidden from bystanders and briefly punished Tony for his outburst.
• Howard and Rogers caught up over a meal, while Coulson failed to locate them because of Josh's magic.
• Rogers returned to his rented apartment, Tony stayed away from the church, and Howard went back there.
• Master Ancient One detected someone arriving on Earth, but a crisis at the church distracted her as the newcomer went straight to S.H.I.E.L.D.

Josh returned to New York and met Steve Rogers at a café after magically knocking out the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents watching them. He told Steve that Howard Stark was alive and would soon arrive, leaving Steve stunned by Josh’s revelations about the past.

• Josh reflected on how his actions had changed events around the Secret Ones Alliance and noticed that S.H.I.E.L.D. was still surveilling the church and its associates.
• Josh sat outside a café with Natasha and Laura, then used a magical snap to make the nearby S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fall unconscious.
• Steve Rogers approached Josh after sensing the magic, introduced himself, and joined their table.
• Josh told Steve that he knew him as Captain America and that Howard Stark was his friend.
• Josh revealed that Howard was alive and coming to meet them, and explained that he was a mage who had known Howard since 1943.

Josh dealt with Avila, the eldest princess of the Star Empire, after she followed a portal from his room into another world and discovered his secret. He secured her agreement to keep silent and began telling her about his life and travels, ending with her stunned by his eighth-rank strength.

• Josh learned that Avila had entered the portal in his room, wandered into the Mage Corridor, and been captured by Master Gu Yi.
• Josh explained that he was outside the Muya Continent and told Avila he needed her to keep his secret through magic and a lifelong contract.
• Avila agreed to the precautions and asked Josh how he had gained the ability to travel between worlds.
• Josh recounted parts of his history to Avila and Natasha, describing his magic, territory, companions, and discoveries across other worlds.
• Avila learned that Josh was a four-element mage who had spent over ten years traveling between worlds and was probably eighth rank.

Avila decided she wanted to travel with Josh, Garen, and Natasha, while S.H.I.E.L.D. asked Josh for help after Loki attacked a secret base and stole the Space Stone. Josh agreed to join the operation but demanded the Space Stone afterward, leaving Coulson to report his terms to Fury.

• Avila spent the night thinking about how to convince Josh to take her along, while Josh and Natasha also stayed up late together.
• The next morning, Josh and Master Gu Yi chatted with Avila and Natasha until Tony brought Coulson to ask for help.
• Coulson explained that Loki had attacked a S.H.I.E.L.D. base, controlled elite agents including Eagle Eye, and stolen the Tesseract, which Josh identified as the Space Stone.
• Coulson told Josh that S.H.I.E.L.D. lacked enough capable fighters because Rogers disliked its methods, Banner was difficult to control, and Natasha had joined Josh.
• Josh agreed to cooperate with S.H.I.E.L.D. but demanded the Space Stone after the operation and reminded Coulson to pay compensation for Garen's previous help.