Chapter Summaries

Josh prepared the Secret Ones Alliance for the coming conflict and planned to visit S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier to observe Loki and the Mind Stone. As Natasha and Avila discussed Avila's wish for freedom, Natasha left her support up to Avila herself.

• Fury and Coulson concluded that they needed to address Loki's attack and the Tesseract threat before anything else.
• Josh told Tony to alert Dumbledore's mages to prepare for war and to accompany Coulson so Josh could get the Helicarrier's location.
• Josh planned to study Loki's Mind Stone and asked Master Gu Yi to loosen her monitoring of the visitors, which she agreed to do.
• Josh invited Natasha and Garen to join him, and agreed to make Avila a Memory Magic Crystal so she could understand the world's language.
• Natasha asked Avila whether she planned to travel with Josh, and Avila explained her sheltered life and desire for freedom.
• Avila asked Natasha for help, and Natasha told her that it depended on her.

Josh and his companions joined Tony aboard the Helicarrier, where Fury welcomed them and Garen reminded him about payment for his earlier help. As the group prepared for the mission, Tony told Bruce Banner that he was both Iron Man and a mage.

• Josh gave Avila a Memory Magic Crystal, then prepared to leave with Garen, Natasha, and Avila.
• Garen and Akathosh teased Josh about his relationship with Avila, and Josh used Warping Leap to take the group to the Helicarrier.
• Fury and Coulson recognized Josh and Garen as powerful allies and greeted them after they arrived aboard the rising carrier.
• Garen asked Fury to remember the payment Josh had promised him for helping with the earlier incident.
• Rogers and Banner discussed Josh's group, and Tony told Banner that he was a mage who combined technology and magic.

Fury asked Josh about the Space Stone, the Infinity Stones, and the mage protecting Earth, then sought Josh’s help recovering the stone from Loki. They agreed that S.H.I.E.L.D. would keep the recovered Space Stone as long as the Secret Ones Alliance responded to future threats.

• Fury brought Josh and the others into a secured conference room and asked what Josh knew about alien civilizations and the Space Stone.
• Josh explained that the Space Stone was an Infinity Stone with power capable of destroying a planet and that Loki had not mastered it, but was still on Earth.
• Josh revealed that a powerful Earth-born mage in the Secret Ones Alliance possessed the Time Stone and would not intervene unless Earth faced destruction.
• Fury questioned Josh’s intentions toward Earth, and Josh explained that he had founded the Secret Ones Alliance with the mage to protect Earth and regulate mages.
• Fury agreed to work with Josh to recover the Space Stone, which would be returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. for safekeeping, while the Secret Ones Alliance would handle future arrivals.

Fury agreed to let Josh take the Space Stone in exchange for promises, then joined Josh’s group in pursuing Loki in Stuttgart. Josh secretly restrained Loki during his staged fight with Rogers, leaving Loki stunned as a huge shoe flew toward his head.

• Fury accepted Josh’s deal for the Space Stone and learned that Loki had appeared in Stuttgart.
• Josh assured Fury that he could restrain Loki from a distance, while Rogers prepared to confront him.
• Rogers fought Loki, and Avila worried that the ordinary man was no match for a powerful mage.
• Josh recognized that Loki was trying to get captured and used his magic to immobilize him.
• Loki realized he had been restrained by an unseen force, then saw a huge shoe flying toward his head.

Josh and Garen waited for Thor to arrive after Loki was captured, and Thor came to Earth seeking to address Loki’s actions and prepare for a possible Chitauri war. Thor recognized Garen from their previous fight and learned that Josh was the leader of the Secret Ones Alliance.

• Josh wondered whether Thor would come, while Garen admitted that he had beaten Thor and his four companions during their previous visit.
• Josh asked Fury to open the Helicarrier’s rear hatch, and Thor arrived amid thunder and lightning.
• Thor recognized Garen and treated him respectfully, having learned from Odin about the Secret Ones Alliance and its powerful leaders.
• Thor explained that he had come to deal with Loki and warn Earth about the possibility of war, but Josh told him they already knew about the situation.
• Josh introduced himself to Thor, who realized that Josh was the boss of the Secret Ones Alliance.

Josh revealed that Loki’s Scepter contained another Infinity Stone after violently breaking its seal aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. carrier. Loki was left stunned that he had carried the stone without knowing it, while Thor, Fury, and the others witnessed Josh’s power.

• Thor told Fury and the others that Loki planned to let the Chitauri invade Earth through the portal and said the Infinity Stones could stop them.
• Josh suggested confronting Loki and asked Coulson to bring him Loki’s Scepter.
• Josh challenged Loki’s understanding of the Scepter and examined the seal hiding something inside it.
• Josh unleashed powerful magic aboard the carrier and broke the Scepter’s seal, setting off alarms and frightening everyone nearby.
• A yellow Infinity Stone appeared in Josh’s hand, and Loki admitted he had not known it was hidden in the Scepter.

Josh revealed that Loki’s scepter contained the Mind Stone and confronted Loki about being used by Thanos. Thor then identified Josh as one of the Secret Ones’ leaders, whose power Odin believed could surpass his own and Earth’s other protector, leaving Loki and the others stunned.

• Josh confirmed that the gem removed from Loki’s scepter was the Mind Stone and said he intended to return it with Thor rather than keep it.
• Loki tried to turn the humans against Josh, but Josh called him a fool for being manipulated by Thanos and misunderstood by his family.
• Thor reacted with alarm when he learned Loki had worked with Thanos, and Josh calmed him by pointing out that Odin and Master Gu Yi protected Earth.
• Loki questioned Josh’s identity and power, and Josh said he was a mage named Josh and asked whether anyone had told Loki about the Secret Ones.
• Thor explained that Odin had described the Secret Ones as Earth’s protectors, led by an Earthling and someone from another world, and said Odin believed Josh might surpass them both.

Josh planned to let the Chitauri invade so he could wipe them out and warn others against threatening Earth. After Thor realized the plan, Rogers raised concerns about protecting civilians, and Josh said the mages would be mobilized.

• Thor explained Josh's organization and the power of the God Kings to the people aboard the carrier, leaving S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents relieved but unsure of their role.
• Loki stayed silent about the Space Stone after Josh telepathically told him to, and he chose to side with Josh.
• Josh and his allies discussed deliberately allowing the aliens to enter, while Howard worked to help the Space Stone open a wormhole above New York.
• Tony, Thor, Banner, and Rogers came to speak with Josh, and Thor apologized for Loki's silence.
• Josh revealed that he had told Loki to keep quiet, and Thor guessed that Josh intended to destroy the invading army as a warning to others.
• Rogers worried about residents being caught in the attack, and Josh assured him that every mage would be mobilized.

Josh offered to help Dr. Banner reconcile with Hulk and asked him to join the Secret Ones Alliance. Banner agreed, and Josh prepared to use the Mind Stone to show him Hulk’s memories.

• Rogers heard Josh’s plan to let the invaders in and then have the mages destroy them, but he said nothing further.
• Banner asked Josh to kill or remove the monster inside him, and Josh explained that Hulk was part of Banner himself.
• Josh urged Banner to treat Hulk as a child who wanted to protect him, prompting Banner to reconsider their relationship.
• Banner agreed to join the Secret Ones Alliance, and Josh suggested that Banner learn magic while Hulk trained as a warrior.
• Josh took out the yellow gem and asked Banner to prepare to see Hulk’s memories, and Banner agreed.

Josh guided Banner through Hulk’s memories, helping Banner understand that Hulk had acted from instinct to protect him. While Banner and Hulk began speaking in Josh’s Illusion Space, Josh considered how to improve his illusion magic and proposed studying the Dreamscapes from Inception.

• Josh entered Banner’s soul space and carefully uncovered Hulk’s fragile memories.
• Banner watched Hulk’s memories and realized Hulk had repeatedly emerged to protect him despite Banner’s hatred.
• Josh struggled to create an Illusion Space that could control time, but assured Natasha that Banner was safe.
• Josh brought Banner and Hulk together in the Illusion Space while the others waited.
• Josh proposed studying Inception’s Dreamscapes and asked whether the others wanted to see a grown-up Jack.

Josh discussed the coming Chitauri invasion, assured Thor that he would handle it, and began studying the Mind Stone. Fury and his agents failed to monitor Josh’s group, leaving Fury to accept their help despite distrusting them.

• Josh planned to send Price and the others to Bolivia to help Ghost Recon dismantle Santa Blanca and potentially recruit the Ghosts.
• Josh told Thor that Loki’s landing point was above Tony’s company and said Howard was guarding it, prompting Tony to calm down.
• Josh assured Thor that he would let some Chitauri reach Earth before his mages and he dealt with the invasion, then promised to return the Mind Stone after studying it.
• Thor went to speak with Garen, while Josh studied the Mind Stone and Natasha and Avila talked together.
• Fury, Coulson, and Hill could not hear or see what Josh’s group was discussing, and Fury admitted he had no choice but to cooperate with them.

Josh studied the Mind Stone while Loki’s failed Helicarrier raid ended with Tony defeating Eagle Eye’s team. He told Fury that Banner would join the Secret Ones Alliance and revealed his plan to have the mages destroy the invaders as a warning to Earth and outside observers, leaving Fury to reckon with the coming upheaval.

• Loki’s controlled Eagle Eye led a team to attack the Helicarrier, but Tony defeated them before they could find Loki, and Loki said Eagle Eye would recover after waking.
• Josh explained to Fury that Banner and the Hulk were building a better relationship and that Banner would join the Secret Ones Alliance to learn how to share awareness between them.
• Josh told Fury to inform the Security Council that he held the Space Stone and warned that Earth could face destruction if they challenged him.
• Josh revealed that he already knew the location of Cosmic Magic and had stopped Loki from telling the others, then confirmed he intended the mages to destroy the invaders and warn Earth and outside observers.

Josh prepared to demonstrate the wizards’ power by using a peak Ninth Tier spell to destroy the Chitauri army, while Fury rushed the Helicarrier toward New York. As Howard coordinated the Secret Ones Alliance at Stark Tower, Josh warned Master Gu Yi to prepare strong defenses in case his magic affected Earth.

• Fury left his conversation with Josh alarmed by the prospect of hidden wizards mobilizing and their ability to threaten Earth.
• Josh decided to use Seraph to wipe out the Chitauri army spectacularly and prove himself to the wizards who questioned his authority.
• Josh told Fury that the Space Stone was at Stark Tower, and Fury redirected the Helicarrier toward downtown New York.
• At Stark Tower, Howard watched Dr. Erik Selvig finish working on the equipment and contacted Josh for instructions.
• Josh told Howard to prepare the wizards for their operation and urged them to perform impressively while remaining Secret Ones.
• Josh asked Howard to tell Master Gu Yi to prepare high-intensity defenses because his magic might spill over while he cleared enemies in outer space.

The Space Stone opened a vast breach above New York, drawing the attention of the city and prompting Josh to prepare a response. As the Secret Ones Alliance’s elite mages mobilized, Josh set out to confront the Chitauri and told Fury to release Loki.

• Jacob and Jack saw a blue beam from Stark Industries Tower tear open a growing black hole in the sky above New York.
• Josh sensed the Space Stone’s spatial energy and realized it offered him a chance to study the laws of space.
• Fury arrived with Coulson, Eagle Eye, and Hill, and Josh told them to fly him to the breach and release Loki.
• Josh showed Fury and the others the breach through a curtain of water and explained that the Chitauri were coming through it.
• A large force of black-robed mages emerged from the church, and Josh said they were elite members of the Secret Ones Alliance.

The Secret Ones Alliance’s mages joined the defense of New York and crushed the Chitauri forces with ease. As Fury questioned Josh about the alliance, a call from the council revealed a threat serious enough to make Fury fear for Earth.

• Grant spoke with Ike Mania and Wong before Master Gu Yi signaled the mages to attack.
• Hogwarts mages flew into the sky on brooms while Ike and Wong prepared to defend people on the ground.
• The Secret Ones Alliance’s mages shielded civilians and slaughtered the Chitauri, turning the battle into a one-sided victory.
• Fury asked Josh how long it had taken to build the alliance, and Josh directed him to ask Howard instead.
• Fury answered a call from the council and reacted with anger and terror, warning that their actions could doom Earth.

After the Security Council ordered nuclear missiles launched at New York, Josh confronted Fury and demanded the officials responsible be arrested and tried. He intercepted the two aircraft carrying the missiles and contained their explosions, then announced that he would return the missiles to the Council.

• The Security Council dismissed Fury and ordered two aircraft to launch nuclear missiles at New York, targeting the mages protecting the city.
• Fury told Josh about the order, and Josh demanded that the responsible officials be captured and tried before the world or he would help the Chitauri destroy Earth.
• Fury agreed to arrest the officials, and Coulson began searching for them while Josh teleported away.
• Josh appeared in the path of the two aircraft as people around the world watched, then struck both planes with magic and caused them to explode.
• Josh shrank the two mushroom clouds into glass-marble-sized objects, contained them, and said he would return the nuclear missiles to the World Security Council.

Josh exposed the World Security Council’s plan to nuke Manhattan, then entered the enlarged rift and destroyed the Chitauri army with overwhelming magic. The Council watched in terror as Josh’s power nearly broke Master Ancient One’s protective barrier over New York.

• Josh used the Mind Stone to turn the public against the World Security Council after revealing its plan to drop a nuclear bomb on Manhattan.
• Josh flew toward the rift as Master Gu Yi and the others prepared to contain the energy he would release.
• Master Gu Yi used the Space Stone to enlarge the rift, revealing a vast Chitauri army and intensifying public fear and anger.
• The Chitauri attacked Josh, but he emerged unharmed and transformed into a familiar angelic figure.
• Josh trapped the Chitauri between two runes and destroyed them with silver flames, while Master Ancient One shielded New York from the blast.
• A World Security Council member wondered what kind of people they had provoked.

News outlets worldwide reported that Josh and the mages had stopped an alien invasion and condemned the World Security Council for trying to use nuclear weapons in Manhattan. As public fascination with the Secret Ones Alliance and Josh grew, Josh took Avila to another world.

• Major newspapers and media outlets reported that aliens had attacked Earth and that Josh and the mages had defeated them.
• The Associated Press described the Manhattan invasion and condemned the World Security Council's attempt to use nuclear weapons there.
• Reuters praised the mages and identified Josh as the angel who destroyed the weapons and eliminated the invaders.
• Agence France-Presse accused the World Security Council of targeting the mages and reported that S.H.I.E.L.D. had arrested its members.
• People around the world celebrated the mages, while the Secret Ones Alliance's church closed temporarily amid the public frenzy.
• Josh took Avila to another world.

Josh agreed to let S.H.I.E.L.D. hire the Secret Ones Alliance’s mages for future missions and sent Price and his team to recruit people in the Ghost Recon world. He prepared to visit the Inception world with Avila, while Natasha made clear that she had plans for him before they left.

• Josh accepted Fury’s proposal after discussing it with Dumbledore and Master Gu Yi, with the condition that Fury would not investigate the mages.
• Josh assigned Price, Sop, Gaz, and Ghost to recruit people in the Ghost Recon world, then opened a Void Gate for them.
• Josh asked who wanted to accompany him to the Inception world, but Garen, Natasha, Tony, and Howard declined.
• Avila asked to join Josh, and Natasha agreed, telling Josh they would leave the next day.
• That night, Natasha went straight to action and told Josh she would squeeze him dry first.

Josh and Avila went to a French university to recruit Dom Cobb for a job, but Cobb grew suspicious and walked away. Josh expected Cobb to return soon, leaving their meeting unresolved.

• Josh explained to Avila that Natasha liked her and had taken him to another world for a month to spend time together.
• Josh and Avila traveled to France to find Professor Miles and his son-in-law, Dom Cobb.
• Josh spotted Cobb at the university and followed him with Avila to a classroom.
• Cobb confronted Josh and Avila after realizing they had followed him, then refused the job and left.
• Avila asked why Josh let Cobb go, and Josh said Cobb would be back soon.