Chapter Summaries

Kedar killed the woman who had returned from the grave as a Void-infected creature, then learned from Willager and Morse about the infection and its connection to a stolen Bear-Headed Mask. After hearing that the infection could spread through bites, Kedar considered the wolves near his home and prepared to deal with them.

• Kedar found Willager, Morse, and their dog in his home, then told them the injured woman they were seeking had died and that he had buried her.
• The woman crashed through Kedar’s window, transformed into a monstrous creature, and Kedar killed her with his axe.
• Kedar led Willager and Morse to the empty grave, where Willager confirmed that the Void-infected could revive.
• Willager explained how a stolen Bear-Headed Mask and his human-enhancement injection were connected to an outbreak of infection in Piltover.
• Morse described the stages of infection, and Willager said ten severely infected people had escaped and been pursued to the Freljord.
• Kedar asked whether infected blood could spread the disease, then gripped his glowing axe and mentioned the wolves near his home.

Kedar fought a pack of corrupted Ice Wolves while the Ashen One and Fire Keeper traveled through the cold, and He Shenyan returned to Hogwarts. The chapter ended with Snape giving Harley a gift for her mother and looking at a photograph of Lily and James Potter.

• Kedar used his battleaxe and lava to burn down the attacking Ice Wolves, but the skeletal wolves began to rise again.
• The Ashen One stopped to warm the shivering Fire Keeper, then gave her a warmer robe and camped with her in a cave.
• The Ashen One reassured the Fire Keeper that He Shenyan was a good person and did not need to be distrusted.
• He Shenyan discussed magical inscriptions with Snape, greeted Harley, and left Hogwarts for the Forbidden Forest to visit the Unicorns.
• Harley told Snape that her father, James Potter, wanted to speak with him, and Snape asked James to come in person.
• Snape gave Harley a wrapped gift for Lily and looked at a photograph of Lily and James Potter after Harley left.

He Shenyan returned to Hogwarts, visited Dumbledore during his holiday with Ariana, and learned that Dumbledore had retired as headmaster. Meanwhile, Kedar exposed Willager’s monstrous arm and discovered that Willager’s family was being used to force his silence, just before Willager’s hand exploded.

• He Shenyan explored the Forbidden Forest, borrowed an ancient tree’s identity to search for Unicorns, and left after witnessing an awkward glimpse of their lives.
• He Shenyan found Dumbledore sunbathing with Ariana on a Pacific island and met Dumbledore’s sister.
• He Shenyan learned that Dumbledore had resigned as Hogwarts headmaster and heard how Ron Weasley and his brothers had accidentally showered the Great Hall with spoons.
• Kedar accused Willager of lying, beat him, and revealed that his right arm matched the transformed woman’s monstrous arm.
• Willager admitted that his family was in the hands of people who could monitor him, and his right hand swelled and exploded as Kedar fled with Morse and Ruto.

Kedar discovered that Piltover-linked magic had caused Willager to explode, while Ash and the Fire Keeper discussed Ash’s memories and his reasons for continuing to fight. He Shenyan told The Emperor about a mysterious blessing, and The Emperor warned him that his ability to cross worlds represented freedom.

• Kedar saw Willager mutate and explode after leaking a secret, then blamed Piltover and recognized the purple residue as magic.
• Kedar dragged the unconscious Morse away from the ruined forest as his frightened dog followed.
• Ash killed an attacking monster with a Golden Thunderbolt, and the Fire Keeper asked whether he hated fighting.
• Ash told the Fire Keeper that he kept fighting because it was the only thing he remembered and because a promise was a promise.
• He Shenyan showed The Emperor the glowing spider-shaped mark and explained its benefits and the request attached to it.
• The Emperor said the mark’s giver likely wanted He Shenyan’s power in exchange and warned that crossing worlds represented freedom.

The Emperor and He Shenyan heard Angron praying before he entered Chaos to find Fulgrim, and the Emperor revealed his guilt over Angron’s past. The chapter ended with the Emperor admitting that he had treated humanity as a whole as his duty rather than acting as a father to Angron.

• The Emperor sensed an unfamiliar prayer and used his power to let He Shenyan hear the voices of his supplicants.
• He Shenyan heard Angron lament the Empire’s collapse and explain that he was entering Chaos to confirm the fates of Fulgrim, Magnus, and Lorgar.
• The Emperor identified the praying Primarch as Angron and admitted that Angron’s fall was his own fault.
• He Shenyan recounted how Angron was enslaved on Nuceria, implanted with the Butcher’s Nails, and forced to watch his fellow gladiators die after the Emperor teleported him away.
• The Emperor said he had believed Angron betrayed his trust, then confessed that he was humanity’s tool, not Angron’s father.

He Shenyan encountered a mysterious creature in the Endless Star Sea that wanted to protect humans, while Peter Parker stopped a grieving, unmasked bank robber and struggled with the danger of his double life. Peter decided to visit the robber in custody the next day.

• The Emperor and He Shenyan discussed whether the Angron who had prayed to the Emperor was part of the Blue Bird’s schemes, but neither could be sure.
• He Shenyan set out through the Endless Star Sea and met a blue creature that wanted to protect him because humans died more often than others.
• The creature said it had returned from a destroyed world and could sense the intense sorrow of human emotions, while He Shenyan ended their conversation and continued on.
• Peter Parker stopped an unmasked bank robber who seemed to be grieving, then remained troubled by the man’s expression.
• Peter gave Aunt May an envelope containing Uncle Ben’s belongings and told her about stopping the robbery; she scolded him and said she could not lose him too.
• That night, Peter decided to visit the robber at the police station the next day.

Spider-Man investigated why former bank relationship manager Jonathan Harlan had robbed a bank, finding no clear explanation in his records or computer. He resolved to keep looking, but someone entered the study while he was inside.

• Spider-Man visited records administrator Mabel, who found that Jonathan Harlan had no criminal record and had previously worked as a bank relationship manager.
• Mabel gave Spider-Man Jonathan's home address, and Spider-Man went to investigate after stopping several thieves on the way.
• Spider-Man found Jonathan's villa, heard a woman crying upstairs, and searched Jonathan's study for clues.
• Spider-Man found a photograph of Jonathan with a woman and searched his password-protected computer, but uncovered nothing useful.
• Spider-Man reasoned that someone might have forced Jonathan to rob the bank and decided to investigate further.
• Someone called out for Jonathan and opened the study door, leaving Spider-Man trapped inside.

Peter investigated Jonathan Harlan’s arrest, then found McGuire murdered in the police station’s records room and was transported away by an ancient bronze statue. He Shenyan learned that Cube had encountered the Ancient One, while Peter awoke in a web-filled cavern and learned that a talking white spider expected him to save them.

• Peter questioned Jonathan Harlan’s distressed wife, learned that Jonathan had muttered the name Batista, and decided to return to the police station.
• Peter found McGuire dead in the records room, and an ancient bronze statue appeared and carried him away.
• He Shenyan questioned Cube about its memories and learned it had once seen glowing spheres traveling with a bald woman.
• He Shenyan recognized the woman as the Ancient One and reflected on her role as his teacher and the guardian who had bound him to his position.
• Peter awoke trapped in a web, and a white spider rescued him from approaching creatures.
• The white spider accused the statue of choosing Peter to save them, and Peter angrily demanded to know what she meant.

Spider brought Peter Parker to a village whose residents believed he was a savior, while Amira said the prophesied person had not yet arrived. Elsewhere, He Shenyan met the cosmic spider that had marked him and agreed to hear its request to save a world.

• Spider fled with Peter from a slime-like monster and transported him to a ruined arena that served as a refuge.
• Spider led Peter into a village and told him to visit the stone building at its center.
• Peter met Amira, who explained that the villagers believed in him but that he was not the savior she had prophesied.
• Amira asked Peter to wait for the prophesied arrival, leaving him confused as he tried to read the village's history tablets.
• He Shenyan met a gigantic spider-shaped cosmic being, learned it had marked him to show friendliness, and asked why it shared its power.
• The cosmic spider asked He Shenyan to save a world, and he agreed to hear what it wanted despite already having other worlds to protect.

The spider asked He Shenyan to find and retrieve a stolen planet, warning that it might have changed during its long absence. Meanwhile, Peter and Amira faced a catastrophe in their village before He Shenyan arrived and saved them, leaving Amira kneeling in reverence.

• The spider showed He Shenyan how it created worlds and explained that one planet had been stolen, then asked him to bring it back.
• He Shenyan left the spider’s prison, where a golden sun appeared as a man and began a conversation with the spider.
• Amira explained to Peter that the roaring creatures had once been people who craved the gods’ attention, but an earthquake and darkened sky interrupted her story.
• Peter saved a Minotaur from a fissure as the ground shook, then watched a figure hurl golden lightning that cleared the sky.
• He Shenyan appeared, introduced himself to Peter, and asked Amira whether she was a local; after she knelt and thanked him, he complained to Peter that he had expected this reaction.

He Shenyan returned the spider’s stolen planet and learned that the monsters had marked Peter Parker with the spider’s power, while the great spider warned that the war had begun. Elsewhere, the Astartes received orders to attack, though Arianto had to be restrained until their vengeance was near.

• He Shenyan sent Peter Parker back without answering his questions and told Amira that he was not the prophesied savior, but had saved her people through a transaction.
• He Shenyan found Chaos Energy monsters underground, burned them, and began disinfecting the planet before returning it to the great spider.
• The great spider discovered that its power had been erased from the planet and that one monster had marked Peter Parker with a portion of its power.
• The great spider relayed the golden sun’s message that the war had begun, and He Shenyan realized the conflict had already started.
• Arianto and another Astartes received orders to attack, while a servitor injected Arianto to stop his battle rage until their vengeance was near.

He Shenyan learned that the Warp made magic and teleportation dangerous, then prepared to return to The Emperor as Tzeentch taunted him about the coming betrayal of the Emperor’s sons. Angron resolved to enter Chaos, leaving his loyal World Eaters behind.

• He Shenyan read the White Tower Council’s warning about C-1789-K5 and learned that the Warp disrupted spells, especially long-distance teleportation.
• He Shenyan concluded that The Emperor was overwhelmed with work and decided to bring him goji berries as more fuel for his efforts.
• Tzeentch mocked The Emperor and predicted that his sons would slaughter one another, while The Emperor dismissed its threats.
• Angron reflected on the loyalty and compassion of the World Eaters, then resolved to enter Chaos.

He Shenyan brought Angron to Terra, where he met The Emperor and agreed to borrow Angron to fight a war in another universe in exchange for returning with help. Angron then witnessed an alternate version of his life on Nuceria, ending as the young Primarch was driven by the Butcher’s Nails to kill the old man who had cared for him.

• He Shenyan found Angron in the void, knocked him unconscious, and carried him to Terra using The Emperor’s power.
• He Shenyan met The Emperor on the Golden Throne and agreed to take Angron to fight a war, promising to return with helpers.
• The Emperor warned He Shenyan that their enemies might discover him, then concealed his arrival and sent him on his way.
• Angron awoke as a bodiless consciousness and watched an alternate version of himself land on Nuceria and kill Aeldari attackers as a child.
• Angron watched the alternate Primarch become a slave gladiator, endure the Butcher’s Nails, and kill the old man who had treated him like a son.

Angron witnessed another Angron’s memories of the Nucerian rebellion, the Emperor’s arrival, and the deaths of his fellow gladiators, then confronted the old man responsible for the Primarch’s fate. After waking on Terra, Angron learned from He Shenyan and the Emperor that he would travel to another world, where a version of Guilliman had never turned traitor.

• Angron watched the other Angron lead the starving gladiators through the mountains and give his blood to weakened companions.
• The Emperor found Angron and offered him a legion, but Angron refused and returned to fight beside his brothers.
• When the High Riders’ soldiers overwhelmed the gladiators, Angron surrendered to spare his companions, but the Emperor teleported him away as they were killed.
• Angron learned that the other Angron later became a servant of Khorne and angrily challenged the old man who had designed his fate.
• Angron awoke on Terra and learned from He Shenyan that he would travel to another world; the Emperor said he looked forward to meeting a Guilliman who had never turned traitor.

Batman confronted the High Lords of Terra over their corruption and killed the Master of the Administratum, while Guilliman and Steve Rogers waited aboard Macragge's Honour for the moment to enter Terra. Guilliman planned to purge Terra and begin the Indomitus Crusade.

• The High Lords argued against Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade as Batman appeared in their chamber and silenced them.
• Batman accused the High Lords of allowing Chaos cults and concealing Inquisitor Valisia's execution, then challenged several officials to explain themselves.
• Batman snapped the Master of the Administratum's neck, and Fadix questioned him about the killing.
• Guilliman and Steve Rogers discussed Batman and described the Emperor as an unqualified father, a qualified leader, and a lonely man.
• Guilliman and Steve waited aboard Macragge's Honour above Terra for the right moment to enter the planet and launch the crusade.

Guilliman secured the High Lords’ approval for a crusade, while He Shenyan and Angron arrived near the Great Rift and encountered a World Eaters warband. Angron freed the still-loyal Givadoron from the Butcher’s Nails and set him on the path of atonement, leaving Givadoron confronting He Shenyan in the ship’s control room.

• Fadix realized the High Lords had known about the plot, and Guilliman demanded a crusade against Chaos without meeting any objection.
• He Shenyan and Angron arrived near the Great Rift, where He Shenyan discovered a nearby Chaos Astartes warband called the World Eaters.
• Angron attacked the World Eaters’ ship and found Givadoron, a loyal warrior who had resisted his Legion’s corruption for ten thousand years.
• He Shenyan rendered Givadoron unconscious, and Angron learned that Givadoron remained loyal and hated the slavery aboard the ship.
• Givadoron awoke freed from the Butcher’s Nails, recognized Angron, and was told his atonement had only just begun.
• Givadoron confronted He Shenyan for addressing Angron casually, and Angron sighed at his subordinate’s temper.

He Shenyan restored a Chaos-tainted Cobra-class destroyer and set out with Angron and Givadoron to find survivors in the ruined Cadia system. After encountering a Slaaneshi vessel crewed by Fulgrim’s corrupted sons, the group attacked and prepared to board it.

• Givadoron thanked He Shenyan for freeing him from the Butcher’s Nails, and He Shenyan repaired and magically transformed their damaged ship.
• He Shenyan explained that Cadia had been destroyed and the Great Rift made travel dangerous, while Angron vowed to save survivors and grant mercy to those beyond saving.
• After more than 58 hours of sailing, the group encountered a purple Dauntless-class vessel belonging to Fulgrim’s sons.
• Angron told Givadoron that he was not the Angron Givadoron had known, and Givadoron accepted him as Angron regardless.
• He Shenyan ambushed the enemy cruiser, crippled its systems, and split it in two with the transformed ram as Angron prepared to attack with Givadoron.

Angron and Givadoron defeated a Chaos warband aboard the ship, while He Shenyan dragged a besieged planet to them and unleashed a storm of golden lightning against its daemons. Angron and Givadoron arrived at the monastery, where Angron joined the Crimson Blades in clearing the remaining enemies.

• Angron and Givadoron slaughtered thirty-two Emperor's Children aboard the ship.
• He Shenyan showed Angron the doomed defenders on a distant planet, then used his magic to pull the planet close and strike it with golden lightning.
• On the monastery world, Captain Hajirod and the remaining Astartes prepared to defend the fortress rather than evacuate.
• He Shenyan's lightning destroyed daemons around the monastery, and the defenders hailed it as the Emperor's power.
• Angron and Givadoron appeared on the fortress wall, where Ezekiel introduced himself as captain of the Crimson Blades and Angron ordered the cleanup to begin.

Ezekiel and his Crimson Blades advanced through the daemon-infested battlefield while Angron fought under He Shenyan’s planet-scale spell. On Terra, Frank Castle followed new orders to meet someone aboard a Black Ship, and he left port with Bonavia the next day.

• Ezekiel led his battle-brothers through scattered daemons as lightning and golden flames cleared the ground.
• Angron slaughtered daemons with a lightning axe while He Shenyan prepared to turn the planet into a ship.
• Frank Castle killed seventy-eight cultists in the lower Hive City and received orders from Steve Rogers to meet someone at a Black Ship.
• Inquisitor Bonavia and Frank met an Ordo Hereticus courier, who told Frank to arrive at the third port at noon the next day.
• Bonavia boarded the Black Ship, and Frank revealed himself after it left the port.

He Shenyan transformed the ruined planet into a massive magical warship and left Angron to command it. He then met with the Crimson Blades and revealed that their gene-father was Sanguinius, not Guilliman.

• After the daemons were purged, the planet reshaped itself, and He Shenyan turned its weapons and ruins into parts of a warship.
• He Shenyan built the ship with enchanted cannons, protective and life-support magic, and a monastery at its center.
• Angron told He Shenyan that the survivors were a company of the Crimson Blades, and admitted his bias against them because Sanguinius was a traitor in his universe.
• He Shenyan urged Angron to accept that Sanguinius and his sons were honored in this universe, then left him on the bridge.
• He Shenyan met the seventeen Astartes of the Crimson Blades Third Company and asked about their secrets.
• Ezekiel admitted the Chapter's blood cravings and battle hallucinations, and He Shenyan told him their gene-father was Sanguinius, not Roboute Guilliman.