Chapter Summaries

Mordo arrived at the Ancient One’s request to teach Shen Fei, but Shen Fei rejected his guidance and proposed a bet that he could master the Mirror Dimension in three days. Mordo accepted, determined to judge Shen Fei’s character and train him to become a worthy Sorcerer Supreme candidate.

• Mordo introduced himself as Shen Fei’s new teacher, but Shen Fei said he preferred to study on his own.
• Mordo criticized Shen Fei for attempting the Mirror Dimension before mastering portals, and Shen Fei argued that his learning was not aimless.
• Shen Fei bet that he could master the Mirror Dimension within three days; if he succeeded, Mordo would stop interfering with his study plan.
• Mordo accepted the bet and set the condition that Shen Fei would follow his instructions until Mordo judged him ready if he failed.
• Mordo resolved to train Shen Fei to Sorcerer Supreme standards and prevent him from following the path of Kaecilius.

Mordo’s wager with Shen Fei became a topic of discussion among Kamar-Taj’s apprentices, who questioned whether Shen Fei could master the Mirror Dimension in three days. Shen Fei struggled to sense spatial nodes, then returned to Otto’s laboratory to use Cosmic Cube Fragment data in a scientific approach to magic.

• Kamar-Taj’s apprentices discussed Shen Fei’s wager with Mordo and learned that Wong had brought Shen Fei to the temple.
• Mordo defended his wager, explaining that Shen Fei had mastered portals in three days, then urged the apprentices to work harder.
• Shen Fei practiced the Mirror Dimension’s gestures and incantations but found that the Sling Ring’s energy did not let him clearly perceive spatial nodes.
• Shen Fei realized the Cosmic Cube Fragment might help him sense spatial nodes and opened a portal to Otto’s laboratory.
• Shen Fei asked Otto for data on the Magic Shard and Cosmic Cube Fragment so he could imitate the fragment’s energy and scientifically cultivate magic.

Shen Fei used the Cosmic Cube Fragment and his own methods to perceive spatial nodes and practice the Mirror Dimension. He created a stable dimensional space, leaving Wong to watch as Shen Fei appeared to master the technique.

• Ancient One reassured Wong that Shen Fei had not fled and showed him Shen Fei's location in the laboratory.
• Shen Fei directed Otto to use Sigma Ray on the Cosmic Cube Fragment, making spatial nodes clear enough for him to perceive.
• Shen Fei had Otto collect the leaked magnetic field data, then used Magnetic Control to adjust his own field.
• Ancient One explained to Wong that Shen Fei was using the fragment's spatial power to practice the Mirror Dimension, and Wong questioned whether that counted as cheating.
• Shen Fei adjusted his Brain Magnetic Field, opened a Sling Ring portal, and used Vishanti's power to perceive spatial nodes.
• Shen Fei captured a fleeting dimensional space within the nodes and used it to create a relatively stable Mirror Dimension.

Shen Fei mastered the Mirror Dimension and portals, prompting Wong and Ancient One to discuss how he learned magic so quickly. Back at Norman's office, Shen Fei considered using Beast's power as a source of magic and wondered whether Divine Dragon Power could fuel spells.

• Shen Fei used orange magic to alter gravity and the Mirror Dimension, impressing Otto and making him question his materialist beliefs.
• Wong watched a recording of Shen Fei mastering the Mirror Dimension in two days, and Ancient One explained that magic drew on borrowed power with a cost.
• Ancient One told Wong not to explain Shen Fei's method to Mordo, while Wong decided to ask Shen Fei about it himself.
• Shen Fei asked Otto about the Anti-Magneto Armor and Miniature Thermonuclear Reactor, then used a portal to return to Norman's office.
• Shen Fei demonstrated portal magic to Norman and considered exploiting Beast's power as a magical source, then wondered whether Divine Dragon Power could fuel magic.

Shen Fei arrived late to his wager with Mordo and demonstrated that he had mastered the Mirror Dimension in three days. After Mordo accepted defeat, Ancient One assigned Shen Fei to take charge of the New York Sanctum.

• Wong found Shen Fei in his laboratory experimenting on Beast and reminded him that the wager had begun, so Shen Fei opened a portal to the plaza.
• Shen Fei created and expanded a Mirror Dimension before the assembled mages, proving he had mastered the spell.
• Mordo conceded defeat and said he would resign because his teaching methods could not guide a genius like Shen Fei.
• Shen Fei dismissed the wager as a lesson for ordinary people, then returned to his laboratory as Mordo accepted the result.
• Ancient One told Wong that Shen Fei would take charge of the New York Sanctum while the sorcerers continued guarding against Dormammu and searching for Kaecilius.

Shen Fei used Vishanti’s magic to trace Beast’s true body and learned that Beast was only a general serving one of Hell’s many layer lords. He left Beast inside Black Sky for the moment, having uncovered more about Hell and the danger its rulers posed to Earth.

• Shen Fei questioned Beast about its powers and reasoned that mastering its magic required locating its dimension and borrowing power from it.
• Beast warned Shen Fei that its true body would never agree to a contract, but Shen Fei used Vishanti’s magic to probe Beast through Black Sky.
• Shen Fei found a dimensional node with an aura like Beast’s and discovered that Beast served a lord of one of Hell’s 666 layers.
• Beast told Shen Fei that Hell’s many lords had tried to interfere with Earth but did not dare come themselves.
• Shen Fei decided not to use Soul Magic to remove Beast from Black Sky for now.

Shen Fei borrowed dimensional power and reviewed the Hulk experiments before learning that Peter had become a violent Black Spider-Man after bonding with Venom. He ordered Norman to investigate the Life Foundation and monitor superhumans, while directing Locke to expose Wakanda as their Vibranium supply dwindled.

• Shen Fei used the Vishanti's magic to imitate Beast's Demon Power, and Beast marveled at his method.
• Shen Fei reviewed Ross's experimental data and learned that Ross had succeeded in the Steel Body Experiment.
• Norman showed Shen Fei footage of Peter, wearing a black suit, attacking Rhino and other people after becoming increasingly violent.
• Shen Fei ordered Norman to investigate the Life Foundation and monitor Daredevil-related information through Osborn Company's hearing headphones.
• Norman reported Tony Stark's Illuminati theory and the appearance of new superhumans, including Punisher, Kick-Ass, and Hit-Girl.
• Shen Fei told Norman to focus on superhumans, continue the Steel Body Project, and have Locke push to expose Wakanda as Osborn Company's Vibranium reserves ran low.

Wanda failed to revive her brother, so Shen Fei demonstrated the Mirror Dimension and offered to teach her more about magic. Meanwhile, General Ross began a secret Gamma Experiment under Dr. Sterns, hoping to gain Hulk-like power, and endured the painful irradiation.

• Wanda told Shen Fei that her attempt to revive her brother had failed, and he explained that she had not yet mastered Chaos Magic.
• Shen Fei showed Wanda the Mirror Dimension and taught her about Vishanti-derived magic, then agreed to help her develop her abilities.
• After Wanda left, Shen Fei studied the aura he had recorded and decided against trying to use Vishanti's power to imitate Chthon's follower.
• Ross chose to undergo a Gamma Experiment, bringing in Dr. Sterns rather than inviting Shen Fei.
• Dr. Sterns ordered the irradiation, and Ross endured the intense pain, determined to succeed for Betty.

Ross underwent the Gamma Ray experiment and became the Red Hulk, whose strength exceeded one hundred tons and increased with his anger. After testing, Leader found that Ross could grow stronger, though not through Hulk’s continuously escalating anger-driven strength.

• Shen Fei recognized Leader in the surveillance feed and secured the experiment’s procedures and Ross’s monitoring data.
• Leader ended the Gamma Ray exposure after Ross’s vital signs repeatedly dropped, and Ross emerged from the apparatus apparently unchanged.
• Ross transformed into a red giant and destroyed a strength tester rated to withstand one hundred tons of force.
• Ross’s anger raised his body temperature dramatically, forcing Leader and the others to retreat before Ross calmed down.
• Leader’s tests showed that Ross was much stronger than Abomination and that his strength could still increase.

Shen Fei analyzed Red Hulk’s radiation-absorbing cells and began adapting the ability for his own body, aiming to grow stronger from sunlight without changing into a Hulk. After experimenting with Gamma Rays, he left Connors with simulated data for the next stage of the Absorption Module.

• Shen Fei reviewed Ross’s test data and decided to keep Red Hulk’s radiation absorption while suppressing its heat release and physical transformation.
• Shen Fei asked Al to devise separate ways to obtain Pym Particle information through Hank Pym, S.H.I.E.L.D., and Hydra.
• Shen Fei told Connors to bring the Mystique serum data and help with an experiment.
• Shen Fei exposed his own cells to Gamma Rays, reshaped the surviving mutations, and used Al to record the results.
• Al presented Shen Fei with the experimental data and simulated deductions.

Shen Fei identified Barbiturates as a factor that helped stabilize Mystique serum in test subjects and directed Connors to continue trials while exploring practical applications. He then combined Mystique serum with Red Hulk cells, and his experiments produced cells that grew stronger under sunlight, advancing his Absorption Module.

• Shen Fei reviewed Connors's Mystique gene research and noticed that two test subjects with histories of Barbiturate use took longer to become sludge.
• Connors tested mice with Barbiturates, and the mice transformed temporarily before returning to normal with black fur.
• Shen Fei approved further trials and instructed Connors to pursue Sentinel research and smaller cosmetic applications of Mystique's ability.
• Shen Fei began modifying Red Hulk cells with Mystique serum and Magnetic Control, recording the results with Al.
• Shen Fei found that the modified cells strengthened in sunlight without multiplying, confirming progress on his Absorption Module.

Peter learned that Venom had bonded with his Spider-Man suit and went to San Francisco to confront the Life Foundation and its leader, Riot. Meanwhile, Shen Fei completed an experiment that raised his normal strength to 150 tons, then learned Peter was heading toward the Life Foundation and decided to follow.

• Peter discovered that Venom had bonded with his suit, enhanced his abilities, and was making him more irritable while demanding to eat people.
• Venom told Peter to help kill the Life Foundation and its leader, Riot, in exchange for leaving him, and Peter set off for San Francisco.
• Shen Fei injected himself with the Mystique Giant Mutagen and exposed himself to Gamma Rays, transforming his cells.
• Al reported that Shen Fei's normal strength had reached 150 tons and that Peter was heading to the Life Foundation.
• Shen Fei decided to go to San Francisco and see what was happening.

Shen Fei followed Peter, whose behavior had changed since bonding with Venom, while Tony pursued them and confronted Shen Fei. At the Life Foundation, Drake’s attempt to bond a homeless man with a symbiote failed, and as black-suited Spider-Man attacked the facility, Drake ordered the experiment to be performed on himself.

• Shen Fei followed Peter, and Tony used his Iron Armor to catch up after learning Peter’s suit and behavior had changed.
• Tony resisted Shen Fei’s magnetic attack with his developing Anti-Magneto Armor and asked why Shen Fei was following Peter.
• Drake learned that Venom had bonded with Spider-Man and ordered the Life Foundation to fuse a powerful silver symbiote with a homeless man.
• The homeless man died during the failed experiment, and Drake learned that black-suited Spider-Man was attacking the facility.
• Drake ordered the staff to begin the symbiote experiment on him, insisting that he was the only one who could face Spider-Man.

Drake forced Riot to merge with him, and Riot fought Peter after he broke into the Life Foundation. Shen Fei and Tony arrived as Shen Fei explained the symbiotes’ need to replenish their strength to keep Knull imprisoned.

• Drake used a Sonic Emitter to subdue Riot and persuaded it to merge with him to oppose Venom.
• Drake transformed into a silver monster, and Peter fought Riot while guards supported it.
• Riot attacked Peter with spikes, believing the symbiote race needed Earth’s resources to keep Knull sealed away.
• Shen Fei and Tony entered the Life Foundation and watched the fight.
• Shen Fei explained the symbiotes’ origins and Knull’s threat, then forced the guards to leave.

Shen Fei used a sonic device to weaken the symbiotes, separating Riot from Drake and Venom from Peter before capturing them for study. He also secured the other symbiotes in the laboratory, while Drake was left threatening to involve the military.

• Tony fired missiles at Riot as Peter tried to restrain him with webbing, but Riot broke free and charged Tony.
• Shen Fei activated a sonic device, forcing Riot and Venom to weaken and begin separating from their hosts.
• Riot detached from Drake and fell to the floor as silver liquid, while Venom emerged from Peter after Peter resisted its control.
• Shen Fei trapped Riot in a containment vessel, then caught Venom and sealed it away before it could take over Tony.
• Shen Fei placed the blue and yellow symbiotes into containers after Al confirmed the data transfer was complete, and he warned Drake about what he had brought to the laboratory.

Shen Fei took the four symbiotes from the Life Foundation and began investigating their abilities and genetic structures. His research revealed that symbiotes could copy physical traits from hosts, making them useful tools for studying genes.

• Shen Fei took the four symbiotes from the Life Foundation, while Tony confronted Drake and said the police had been called.
• Tony told Peter to web up Drake, but Peter admitted he had no webs, so Tony offered to get him armor.
• Shen Fei returned to his laboratory and studied the Life Foundation's data on the symbiotes, asking whether their comet was still nearby.
• Shen Fei examined Yellow Goblin's genes and found a rabbit jumping gene, then threatened Venom until it let him take a tissue sample.
• Shen Fei found Spider-Man's genes in Venom and concluded symbiotes could copy physical traits, making them valuable for genetic research.

Shen Fei learned that Knull remained sealed while symbiotes waited at the edge of the Solar System, then Ancient One told him to handle the threat as her successor. He agreed and prepared to take charge of the New York Sanctum, with Wong assigned to guide him.

• Shen Fei studied the symbiotes, learned how they reproduced, and fed Venom a live chicken as a reward for answering his questions.
• Venom revealed that millions of symbiotes had sealed Knull and that many others were waiting at the outskirts of the Solar System.
• Wong arrived to take Shen Fei to the New York Sanctum, but Shen Fei opened a portal to Ancient One and warned her about Knull.
• Ancient One said Knull was only a projection in this universe and told Shen Fei, the next Sorcerer Supreme, to handle him while she backed him up.
• Shen Fei returned to the laboratory, where the symbiotes feared Ancient One, and Wong explained that he would teach Shen Fei the Sorcerer Supreme's duties.
• Shen Fei agreed to visit the New York Sanctum with Wong after finishing his research.

Shen Fei tried on the Superman Armor Otto had designed, then proposed building an Illuminati base in outer space. Tony considered the plan while learning that General Ross had publicly opposed the Illuminati Concept and pushed for regulating superhumans.

• Otto showed Shen Fei the Vibranium Superman Armor, powered by Thermonuclear Fission and equipped with an Ignition Device and Gamma Emitter.
• Shen Fei tested the armor as Al explained its strength boost, systems, and Anti-Magneto, Anti-Hulk, and Anti-Iron Man modes.
• Otto gave Shen Fei plans for an outer-space warship, and Shen Fei told him to contact Stark about building an Illuminati space base.
• Tony received Otto's message and asked Friday to send Peter the Spider-Suit concept images.
• Friday told Tony that General Ross had publicly opposed the Illuminati Concept and was advocating superhuman regulation, so Tony ordered an investigation into Ross.

Shen Fei agreed to help the X-Men crack the X-Gene Inhibitor while pursuing research into symbiote genes that could help him create cells capable of continuous evolution. He began dissecting and comparing four symbiotes in the Mirror Dimension, leaving Venom, Riot, Yellow Goblin, and Blue Shadow under his control.

• Connors told Shen Fei that the X-Men wanted help developing an antidote to the X-Gene Inhibitor, and Shen Fei agreed to help in exchange for a sample from Sunspot.
• Connors reported that Peter had learned Sandman was connected to Uncle Ben's death, and Shen Fei told him to let Peter investigate the matter himself.
• Shen Fei ordered Connors to send Mystique's sample to the laboratory and speed up cultivation of an organism that could stabilize it.
• Shen Fei planned to combine symbiote genes with Mystique's genes to create cells that could adapt and evolve in response to his brain's magnetic field.
• Shen Fei took Riot into the Mirror Dimension and dissected it, discovering gene segments that could absorb exceptional individuals' genes and factors that sensed brain magnetic fields.
• Shen Fei dissected Venom, Yellow Goblin, and Blue Shadow for comparison, suppressing Yellow Goblin and Blue Shadow while Venom remained obedient.

While studying symbiote genetics and Soul Magic, Shen Fei learned that Kaecilius’s followers were attacking civilians in New York and flew to confront them. The chapter left Captain’s Avengers struggling against the mages while Shen Fei raced to the scene.

• Shen Fei concluded that Riot had leader-like genes that could be passed to other symbiotes, while Venom appeared to be a mutation, and recorded his research.
• Shen Fei had Al bathe him in Gamma Rays and calculate whether shapeshifting genes could combine with symbiote genes while he studied Soul Magic.
• Daredevil detected monitored targets converging, and Mordo warned Shen Fei that a Dark Magic User was trying to open the Dark Dimension in New York.
• Shen Fei learned that Kaecilius’s subordinates were fighting Rogers’s Avengers and flew toward their location in silver armor.
• Rogers’s Avengers struggled to stop five black-robed mages from sacrificing six civilians, and they considered calling Skye for help because Wanda was unavailable.