Chapter Summaries

Taylor spent nearly a year developing his resources and constructs on the Zombie Plane before opening a portal to a new plane and stepping through with Kano and Bobby. Elsewhere, a bald woman sensed that the future had changed.

• Kano began reverse-engineering the zombie virus while Bobby improved the resource-extraction system on the Zombie Plane.
• Taylor sold excess resources and knowledge at Great Wizard Ustier's White Gold Tower, then used the points to obtain experimental equipment and knowledge.
• Taylor repeatedly traveled between his wizard tower and the Zombie Plane, using mana ore to power the spatial teleportation array.
• Taylor completed new Construct Puppets and awakened Hawkes and Sargeras with the souls of the Mechanical Man and the Snake Man.
• Taylor warned Hawkes and Sargeras to guard the base, then entered a newly opened plane with Kano and Bobby.
• A bald woman in a mysterious mountain complex opened her eyes and said the future had changed.

Taylor, Kano, and Bobby recognized that they had arrived in the Marvel Universe and discussed its powerful beings and resources. The Ancient One caught Taylor in a spatial distortion and invited him through a portal to share tea and exchange ideas.

• Taylor read a newspaper about Tony Stark and realized they were in the Marvel Universe.
• Kano and Bobby suggested studying the plane's magic, technology, and powerful beings, and establishing a Wizard tower there.
• The Ancient One distorted the space around Taylor, leaving him unable to escape.
• Taylor turned to face the Ancient One, who invited him to drink tea and exchange ideas.
• The Ancient One sent Taylor through her portal, and the surrounding space returned to normal.

Taylor met the Ancient One, negotiated permission to remain at Kamar-Taj in exchange for sharing knowledge and helping protect the world, and began studying spatial magic under her guidance. After three months of training and settling his identity, he continued his studies at Kamar-Taj.

• Taylor asked the Ancient One how she had discovered him, and she explained that his arrival had altered the timeline and carried an unfamiliar spatial aura.
• Taylor told the Ancient One he came from a world of wizards to seek knowledge, and offered to share what he knew and help if the world faced danger.
• The Ancient One revealed that she knew Taylor understood the plot and asked him to support Stephen Strange, offering him protection and access to the Sanctums' knowledge.
• The Ancient One began personally teaching Taylor spatial magic and showed him around Kamar-Taj, where the mages learned he was studying under her.
• Over the next three months, Taylor studied with the Ancient One, familiarized himself with the Sanctums, and received her help resolving his identity issue.

Taylor bought a house in Queens, prepared to renovate it into a home and laboratory, and sent Kano to recruit Luke Cage. Kano incapacitated Luke and led him into the darkness.

• Taylor left Kamar-Taj, bought a detached house in Queens, and unknowingly caused Ben Parker, May, and Peter to look for a home elsewhere.
• Taylor summoned Kano into a simulated Magic Mech body, gave him a Spatial Storage Ring and Spider's Eye, and sent him out with instructions to be careful.
• Taylor brought out furnishings, construction materials, and worker puppets to renovate and expand his new house, then tasked Bobby with building an underground laboratory.
• In Hell's Kitchen, Luke Cage struggled to make money and considered starting a mercenary hero company.
• Kano approached Luke, struck him with a spiritual illusion ray, and led the incapacitated Luke into an alley.

A hired gunman shot Commissioner George Stacy’s car tire, causing a crash that left George and Gwen unconscious and injured. Taylor rescued them and brought them into his house, leaving the gunman’s employer unknown.

• Commissioner George drove Gwen through Queens while worrying about crime and Kingpin’s influence.
• A masked gunman shot the sedan’s front tire, causing it to crash into a garden and injure George and Gwen.
• The gunman photographed the wreck, sent the image to an unknown contact, and left after receiving payment.
• Taylor sensed the crash and damage to his garden, then summoned Hawkes to rescue George and Gwen.
• Taylor carried the unconscious Stacy family into his house through an illusion.

Chief George and Gwen awoke in Taylor’s fantastical castle after he rescued and healed them. Taylor introduced himself as a wizard and explained that he had intervened because their overturned vehicle landed in his garden, leaving George shocked by the revelation that wizards existed.

• Taylor led the injured George and unconscious Gwen into his castle, while Hawkes stayed outside with the patrolling knights.
• Taylor used potions to heal George and revive Gwen, and both awoke in the castle’s lavish interior.
• A puppet served Taylor, George, and Gwen pale blue tea, but George and Gwen hesitated to drink it.
• George thanked Taylor and asked who he was, while protecting Gwen and keeping his guard up.
• Taylor subtly eased their suspicions, introduced himself as a wizard named Taylor, and said he saved them because George’s death in his garden would cause trouble.
• George was taken aback by Taylor’s explanation and wondered whether wizards from myths and fairy tales were real.

Taylor explained to Chief George that no ordinary people could expose or threaten his hidden castle, then revealed his Three-Headed Golden Dragon bloodline. George and Gwen left, and George contacted his officers after realizing someone had targeted him.

• Taylor showed Chief George his golden vertical pupils and said no one could beat or kill him.
• Taylor explained that illusions and mental suggestions kept ordinary people from finding his castle, and that he had put nearby witnesses to sleep.
• Gwen asked about Taylor’s eyes, and Taylor said the Three-Headed Golden Dragon bloodline let him transform into a dragon.
• George asked to leave so Gwen could attend her school’s Oscorp Industries tour, and Taylor saw them off.
• George inspected his wrecked car and contacted his officers, while Gwen looked back at Taylor’s unremarkable house.

Commissioner George concealed the Queens incident, but S.H.I.E.L.D. recovered surveillance footage revealing Taylor and the armored figure's extraordinary powers. Nick Fury began weighing how to investigate and prepare for the mysterious group, while considering whether Taylor might join his planned superhero team.

• Commissioner George sealed the Queens surveillance footage and ordered the officers who saw his wrecked car to keep quiet.
• Queens residents reported waking up asleep on their floors, prompting S.H.I.E.L.D. to investigate the mass incident.
• Agent Coulson showed Nick Fury footage of Taylor rescuing George and his daughter with the armored figure's help.
• Nick Fury saw Taylor levitate George and his daughter and merge with them into a house, then noticed George's injuries had healed.
• Nick Fury decided to investigate Taylor's background and visit George, while considering possible countermeasures and recruitment.

Commissioner George refused to tell Nick Fury and Agent Coulson about Taylor, warning them not to provoke him. When Fury threatened to question Gwen, George agreed to take the agents to Taylor himself, hoping to prevent them from causing trouble.

• Commissioner George came home and found Nick Fury and Agent Coulson waiting in his living room.
• Fury questioned George about Taylor, but George refused to answer and warned that Taylor was not someone to provoke.
• Fury threatened to question Gwen, prompting George to grab him and demand that he leave his daughter out of it.
• Fury said the agency intended to control or monitor uncertain threats, and George warned that Taylor was beyond their reach.
• George agreed to take Fury and Coulson to Taylor after calling to give him advance notice.
• As they drove, Fury touched his eyepatch and remembered the old-fashioned pager in his coat.

Gwen visited Taylor's hidden home after developing spider-like abilities, while Chief George brought Nick Fury and Agent Coulson to seek an audience with the mysterious wizard. The chapter ended with Gwen emerging to greet them, leaving her father alarmed that she might disturb Taylor.

• Gwen discovered that a spider bite had given her enhanced strength, wall-clinging, sharp senses, and a changed appearance, so she followed her intuition to Taylor's home.
• Taylor welcomed Gwen and observed that her physical condition and life level had improved since the bite.
• Nick Fury, Agent Coulson, and Chief George arrived at Taylor's house, but Coulson was mentally turned away when he tried to approach it.
• Coulson explained his experience, and Nick Fury ordered him to write a report and undergo a psychological examination.
• Gwen emerged from Taylor's house, and Chief George hurried to her, asking why she was there and warning that she might disturb Mr. Taylor.

Taylor hosted Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, George, and Gwen at his hidden castle, where he demonstrated his portal magic and warned S.H.I.E.L.D. not to target him. Fury and Coulson left with a clear sense of Taylor’s overwhelming power, while Taylor made his threat explicit.

• Gwen reassured George and said Taylor had invited him inside to talk.
• Hawkes led Nick Fury and Phil Coulson through a hidden entrance to the silver-white castle, where they saw squads of armored giants.
• Taylor welcomed the visitors with tea, and Nick Fury cautiously complimented the castle.
• Taylor demonstrated portals by tossing an apple through one circle and having it emerge from another.
• Taylor told Fury he knew S.H.I.E.L.D.’s intentions and threatened to send any missiles or nuclear bombs back at them.

Taylor forced Nick Fury and Phil Coulson to abandon their attempts to bargain and morally pressure him, then offered to help S.H.I.E.L.D. in exchange for a tempting reward. The meeting ended with Taylor ordering them to leave.

• Nick Fury reassessed Taylor’s powers and thanked him on behalf of New York City for saving Commissioner George.
• Taylor told Nick Fury to handle his official matters, but Nick Fury hinted that S.H.I.E.L.D. would need compensation to intervene.
• Taylor used spiritual intimidation to terrify Nick Fury and Phil Coulson, then revealed that he could also deal with Captain Marvel.
• Nick Fury offered future assistance, and Taylor said he would help S.H.I.E.L.D. if it offered a sufficient reward.
• Nick Fury tried to appeal to Taylor’s concern for innocent people, and Taylor ordered him to get lost.

After S.H.I.E.L.D. Director George and Gwen left, Nick Fury decided the agency needed to study its collected superpowered and alien artifacts. Taylor explained why he had let S.H.I.E.L.D. leave, discussed Gwen’s potential as a wizard, and sent Kano to infiltrate Hydra; Taylor then examined blood samples from Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Matt Murdock.

• After George and Gwen drove away, Nick Fury told Phil Coulson that S.H.I.E.L.D. needed to study its unusual artifacts and develop more advanced power.
• Taylor met with Kano and two masked subordinates, then explained that Gwen’s blood revealed unusual potential for wizardry and that she could choose whether to become his assistant.
• Taylor told Kano he had spared Nick Fury because S.H.I.E.L.D. could handle problems for them, but agreed Fury might become expendable if he lost his usefulness.
• Kano said he would seek out Hydra and find a way to infiltrate and control the organization, and Taylor told him to go.
• Taylor took blood samples labeled Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Matt Murdock into his laboratory and examined them.

Taylor studied blood samples from superpowered individuals, using mental stimulation to reveal the runes behind their abilities. Meanwhile, Kano directed three masked fighters as they slaughtered a group of vampires and cornered the last survivor.

• Taylor examined three blood samples under a microscope and discovered tiny runes that manifested the sources of their owners’ powers.
• Taylor began analyzing the runes to incorporate them into his own rune system.
• In Hell’s Kitchen, three masked fighters attacked a group of vampires, overwhelming them with strength and weapons that prevented their wounds from healing.
• Kano ordered the fighters to stop and bring the last vampire before him.
• Kano crouched before the terrified vampire and cut open his chest with an iron table knife.

Kano and his subordinates slaughtered the vampires in a bar, then confronted and defeated Blade when he arrived. Kano collected Blade’s blood for testing and took him away, leaving the group to head back.

• Kano killed the vampires in the bar and considered using them and the Blood God as experimental materials.
• Blade arrived at the blood-soaked bar and confronted Kano and his three subordinates.
• Luke Cage and Mark attacked Blade, overpowering him with their enhanced strength.
• Jessica dodged Blade’s gunfire, shattered his weapon, and broke his bones until he lost consciousness.
• Kano drew a blood sample from Blade, then Luke Cage carried him as Kano said they needed to head back.

Taylor and Kano studied Blade’s half-vampire blood to uncover the secrets behind vampire powers and the Blood God. Kano prepared to find the vampires’ nest, while Taylor arranged for Hawkes and his newly upgraded Achilles warriors to support him.

• Kano brought the battered half-vampire Blade to Taylor, explaining that Blade’s blood could be used to create the Blood God.
• Taylor and Kano placed Blade on a dissection table and began analyzing vampire blood, discovering that its power appeared in symbols they could study and apply.
• Taylor gave Kano a Kamar-Taj coin that could summon Ancient One if the Blood God proved to be an overwhelming threat.
• Taylor and Kano discussed the escaped vampires and rejected asking the black egghead for information, with Kano insisting that he and his subordinates would find the vampires’ nest.
• Taylor told Kano to contact him telepathically once he found the nest and announced that Hawkes would lead the upgraded Achilles warriors to support him.

Taylor showed Kano the twenty Achilles Warriors, heavily armored constructs armed with Bolters and Chainswords. Kano admired their unconventional design, while Taylor explained how he had made them durable, powerful, and easier to produce than mainstream Construct Puppets.

• Taylor introduced the Achilles Warriors and explained the runes and weapons that made them lethal at range and in close combat.
• Taylor explained that only Hawkes had gained true intelligence, while the other nineteen warriors remained unfinished Construct Puppets.
• Taylor described how he used cheaper anti-magic and Fortification materials bought with resources from the Zombie Plane to build the warriors.
• Kano praised the Achilles Warriors’ resilience and unconventional design, and Taylor credited some of his approach to his teacher’s Construct Puppets.

Kano led a campaign against New York City’s vampires, whose leader Deacon confronted Nick Fury for answers. After Deacon left to accelerate his plan to summon the Blood God, Nick Fury sent Clinton to investigate the force attacking the vampires and assess whether it was connected to the mysterious wizard.

• Kano and his men destroyed vampire blood stores, bars, and hideouts across New York City, killing hundreds of young vampires.
• Deacon confronted Nick Fury at S.H.I.E.L.D. and demanded to know who was attacking the vampires, but Nick denied knowing anything.
• Deacon left with his subordinates and ordered them to gather their people and invite the Pureblood Council, moving his plan to summon the Blood God forward while they continued searching for Blade.
• Nick Fury told Clinton to follow the vampires and identify their attackers, warning him to seek the wizard’s favor or withdraw if the wizard was involved.
• Nick Fury ordered Clinton to recruit the attackers if they had no connection to the wizard, and Clinton reluctantly agreed.

Kano and Hawkes led the Achilles Warriors in an assault on Deacon’s fortified vampire base. The Warriors brushed off the vampires’ weapons and began tearing through the defenses, leaving Deacon’s ambush plan in ruins.

• Deacon gathered the surviving vampires at their underground base and prepared to ambush the hunters he expected Blade to join.
• Kano arrived with four masked figures, raised Taylor’s soundproof force field around the building, and summoned Hawkes and nineteen Achilles Warriors through a portal.
• Hawkes led the Warriors inside, where the vampires’ submachine-gun fire failed to damage their armor.
• Hawkes shot the vampire officer, and the Warriors used their Bolters to destroy vampires and drive the survivors into flight.
• Hawkes dodged one rocket, crushed another in his hand, and shot the two vampires who had fired them.
• The Warriors tore through iron doors and killed the vampires Deacon had stationed behind them for ambushes.

Hawkes and the Achilles Warriors broke through the vampires’ defenses and reached the ritual array where Deacon was becoming the Blood God. Kano completed the transformation with Blade’s blood, but a vast will took over Deacon before the battle could continue.

• Hawkes led the Achilles Warriors through the vampires’ defenses, forcing Deacon to order his forces to guard the underground entrance while he began ascending into the Blood God.
• Hawkes tore the alloy door from the wall and hurled it into the vampires, crushing their defenders and causing part of the underground area to collapse.
• The Achilles Warriors killed the surviving vampire officers and found the Pureblood Council elders bound to a blood-draining ritual array.
• Kano decided the ritual array should be preserved, then injected Blade and poured six vials of his blood onto Deacon’s cocoon to complete it.
• Deacon threatened his enemies from inside the cocoon, but a vast will descended, crushed his self-awareness, and took control of his body.