Chapter Summaries

Alvin organized a barbecue dinner at his villa, putting his friends and the children to work while reflecting on the Demons disrupting their vacation. Strange arrived with Wang Yuan, exhausted from training in Africa, and learned that S.H.I.E.L.D. reinforcements would be tested against the Demons.

• Alvin assigned Shang-Chi, Nick, Frank, Richard, and Mindy tasks to prepare antelope barbecue and soup, while Ginny enthusiastically pounded lamb.
• Alvin welcomed Pepper and Nakia and invited Fox and the others to dinner as the children played around the villa.
• Wang Yuan brought Strange to Alvin's villa after Strange rode for four hours from the Demon training grounds, complaining about the harsh conditions and lack of decent food.
• Wang Yuan explained that the incoming reinforcements were from S.H.I.E.L.D. and that they needed to be tested without frightening them away.
• Strange suggested that Wang capture a few Molochs from the Behemoth Horde for the reinforcements to fight.

Alvin hosted Strange, T'Challa, Okoye, and Nakia for a barbecue before planning the next day's trip to a demon gathering point. Stark provoked T'Challa over Wakanda's traditions, leaving their first meeting tense.

• Alvin welcomed Strange, offered him food and beer, and promised to send supplies to the New York Sanctum.
• Alvin teased Jessica about her outfit, and she punched him before returning to change; Nick also teased Mindy and got his ear twisted.
• Okoye and T'Challa arrived at Alvin's villa, where T'Challa thanked him for inviting them and said they had been searching for Nakia.
• Alvin encouraged T'Challa to talk with Nakia and warned him that Okoye's harsh attitude would not help.
• Stark criticized Wakanda's traditions and its use of women as bodyguards, and T'Challa responded with a restrained, strange smile.

Alvin prepared Coulson, Hawkeye, and Heavy Load’s teams for a Kamar-Taj test against demons, warning them to prove they could survive before joining an operation. As the guests ate, T'Challa and Nakia argued over Wakanda’s duty to help people beyond its borders, and Alvin noticed someone arriving who was about to receive a wake-up call.

• T'Challa admitted Nakia was his former girlfriend, and the two argued over whether Wakanda should remain hidden or help suffering people in Africa.
• Alvin served grilled antelope to his family and guests, then told Coulson’s group they would face Kamar-Taj’s traditional demon test before joining the operation.
• Frank ordered Heavy Load to organize a squad and prepare suitable weapons, warning him that his team was not yet qualified to make claims about fighting demons.
• Heavy Load decided to call Snake Eyes and ready the Mobile Armor, while Coulson left to consult Russell about demons and prepare S.H.I.E.L.D.'s response.
• Alvin told Hawkeye that ordinary people needed to prove they could handle demons, then noticed someone approaching the terrace.

Alvin and Strange began a test of conventional weapons against Gluttony Demons for Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. team, while Peter, Harry, and Wesley were forced to face the creatures as well. The first Demon resisted gunfire and charged the agents, leaving Coulson's team struggling to bring it down.

• Wesley, Harry, and Peter worried about Alvin's test as Fox encouraged Alvin to let them see Demons.
• Strange opened a Space Gate and brought in Wong, who subdued four Gluttony Demons and handed one over for the test.
• Alvin assigned one Demon to Coulson's team and forced Peter, Harry, and Wesley to stay close to the others.
• Wang Yuan moved everyone into the Mirror Dimension and raised a Crystal Wall as Coulson and Hawkeye's team fired at the Demon, but the bullets barely dented it.
• The Gluttony Demon charged and knocked a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent into the Crystal Wall; Coulson and another agent staggered it with powered gauntlets while Hawkeye struck it with arrows.
• Coulson tried to stab the Demon in the temple, but it struck him into the Crystal Wall, where Nick and Ginny watched him slide down.

Coulson and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fought a Gluttony Demon to test their equipment, with Hawkeye ultimately killing it. After seeing how dangerous the demons were and how much the team relied on Hawkeye, Coulson questioned S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ability to face them and asked Alvin if they had won.

• Alvin encouraged Coulson to continue the test, and Coulson drew the Gluttony Demon’s attention while Hawkeye wounded it with an arrow.
• Nick bragged that he could defeat a demon, so Alvin sent him toward Peter, Harry, and Wesley, who struggled to restrain one of three bound demons.
• A Gluttony Demon badly injured a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, but Coulson and three teammates pinned it down while Hawkeye shot its remaining eye.
• The blinded demon broke free, and Hawkeye killed it with a powerful arrow that blew apart its head.
• Coulson checked on his injured teammate, saw the other demons still bound, and realized ordinary forces would struggle against them without Hawkeye.
• Coulson asked Alvin through the Crystal Wall whether S.H.I.E.L.D. could count the fight as a win.

Alvin arranged a second combat test, and the Special Forces fought two Gluttony Demons with their Mobile Armor and Snake Eyes's sword. The fight left Redhead's armor badly damaged and one demon immobilized, while Alvin praised the team's strength to Coulson.

• Coulson agreed that S.H.I.E.L.D. would join the fight and asked the Special Forces to test their weapons against two demons.
• Harry hoped the test would earn him and his friends a place among New York's superheroes, while Wesley warned him not to get carried away.
• Peter, Harry, and Wesley watched the children as Nick and Ginny secretly teamed up to kick a bound Gluttony Demon.
• Snake Eyes wounded one Gluttony Demon's heel while Heavy Load charged the other, but the aggressive demon struck Heavy Load and sent him tumbling.
• Redhead knocked down the aggressive demon, then the supposedly injured demon attacked her and tore at her Mobile Armor.
• Snake Eyes cut halfway through the attacking demon's neck, immobilizing it, and Alvin remarked to Coulson that the Special Forces looked stronger than S.H.I.E.L.D.

Alvin watched the Special Forces defeat a Gluttony Demon, then challenged T'Challa's assumptions about Wakanda's role in fighting the demons. T'Challa and Nakia decided to return to Wakanda, while Okoye demonstrated Wakanda's advanced weaponry and Strange opened a portal for them to leave.

• Heavy Load, Breaker, and Snake Eyes worked together to beat the last enraged Demon nearly to death.
• Wang Yuan warned Alvin that Africa's Great Rift Valley held many dangerous demons, but said Ivan and the Kamar-Taj mages were handling the smaller sites.
• T'Challa said Wakanda had a duty to deal with demons in Africa, and Alvin challenged him to prove he could fight them before taking charge.
• Nakia urged T'Challa to consult his father and protect Wakanda's secrets; T'Challa persuaded her to return home with him, and she agreed.
• Stark mocked Wakanda's weapons, so Okoye used her spear to blast the Gluttony Demon into pieces.
• Strange opened a portal for T'Challa, Nakia, and Okoye, while Alvin joked that the experts deserved special treatment.

After Coulson left to prepare for the next day's battle, Alvin set Shang-Chi up to fight the last Demon and prepared a harsher lesson for Peter and the others. He raised three armored skeleton warriors from Demon corpses, catching Hela's interest.

• Alvin told Coulson that S.H.I.E.L.D. should show Kamar-Taj more goodwill, while Coulson asked Alvin to stand with them against threats to Earth.
• After Coulson and the special forces left through Strange's Space Gate, Alvin told Shang-Chi to fight the last Demon and warned Peter and the others they would face a warm-up of their own.
• Shang-Chi chose to fight the Demon bare-handed, and Alvin had Frank watch over him while Stark collected combat data.
• Alvin shaped Venom into a staff, inscribed the Runeword White on it, and frightened Peter, Wesley, and Harry.
• Alvin used Skeleton Resurrection on three Demon corpses, raising armored skeleton warriors as Hela watched with sudden interest.

Alvin made Peter, Harry, and Wesley fight his Skeleton Warriors while Nick and Ginny showed them the Skeletons were harmless. Watching the battle changed Alvin’s mind about how much he should protect Peter and Harry, and he resolved to give his gifted children more opportunities.

• Alvin summoned three Skeleton Warriors and pressured Peter, Harry, and Wesley to fight them instead of facing the Demons.
• Nick and Ginny played with the Skeleton Warriors, while Alvin used their confidence to taunt Peter and the others.
• Harry activated his Bio-Armor, Wesley drew his Revolvers, and Peter overcame his fear to attack the Skeleton Warriors with Silk and flying kicks.
• As the three fought skillfully, Alvin reflected on his protective instincts and recognized that he had been underestimating their resilience.
• Alvin decided to give Peter and Harry more freedom and work to provide his children with a broader future.

Harry and Peter fought Alvin’s Skeleton Warriors while Wesley supported them with precise pistol shots. Hela restored one warrior and revealed it was Phil Narth, a Fearless Einherjar whose soul she had preserved, then asked Alvin to help give another Einherjar, Harorek, a body.

• Harry struggled against a barehanded Skeleton Warrior while Wesley used well-aimed shots to disrupt its attacks, and Peter kept two warriors busy with nimble leaps and kicks.
• Harry and Wesley brought down one Skeleton Warrior and prepared to help Peter.
• Hela healed the fallen warrior with silver radiance, covering its bones in silver patterns and igniting silver flames in its eye sockets.
• Hela identified the transformed warrior as Phil Narth, a Fearless Einherjar who had fought beside her across the Nine Realms and whose soul she had kept after Odin sealed him away.
• Hela told Alvin that Phil had begun to forget himself and asked him to provide a body for Harorek, another Heroic Einherjar.
• Alvin summoned the Corpse-Eater Vine and used it to pierce Hela’s lower leg.

Alvin watched Hela revive Phil Narth, whose divided loyalty made him attack himself until Hela sent him to fight Peter, Harry, and Wesley. After Phil Narth overpowered the boys, Alvin kept them in Africa and Hela began reviving another Einherjar; the chapter ended with Alvin teasing Harry about Hela and scolding him.

• Alvin watched Hela restore Phil Narth, and the newly revived Skeleton Warrior showed obedience to Alvin while remaining loyal to Hela.
• Hela calmed Phil Narth and ordered him to teach Peter, Harry, and Wesley a lesson, and he charged into their fight.
• Phil Narth knocked Harry aside, grabbed Peter, and bit his shoulder before Alvin ordered him to let Peter go.
• Alvin told the boys they had to stay in Africa, replenished Harry's Bio-Armor, and Harry discovered it could heal him and evolve.
• Hela began implanting the Einherjar Harorek into another Skeleton Warrior, while Alvin joked that she was Fox's new salesgirl and scolded Harry.

Alvin and Frank discussed Shang-Chi’s training before Stark tried to recruit Strange for a demonstration against a Demon. Alvin instead welcomed the exhausted young Mages through Strange’s Space Gate and arranged breakfast for them, while Stark prepared to resume the fight after coffee.

• Alvin woke beside Ginny, then joined Frank for coffee and a conversation about Shang-Chi’s kung fu and potential.
• Stark arrived in his Iron Man Armor and urged Strange to bring a Demon so he could demonstrate mecha combat.
• Strange opened a Space Gate to the Mages’ desolate outpost, and Alvin intercepted a food cart to invite the young Mages to breakfast.
• Alvin reassured a Chinese-descended young Mage that there would be plenty of food and promised to bring his family over.
• Stark said Pepper had contacted the Resort kitchen and was coming, then asked Alvin for coffee before they went after the Demons.

Alvin and his companions shared breakfast with the Kamar-Taj Mages before preparing to travel to the Demons’ gathering point. He left Little Ginny behind to care for the injured Shang-Chi and promised to return that night.

• Stark offered to fund comfortable facilities near the Space Gate, while Strange and Wang Yuan discussed why Kamar-Taj Mages endured hardship.
• Alvin arrived with the sleepy children, and Nick joked with Richard and Jessica before bonding with the young Mages over breakfast.
• The young Mages gave the children bone trinkets, and Nick collected prayer beads before Frank left to prepare weapons.
• Alvin refused Little Ginny’s plea to join the fight and asked her to care for the wounded Shang-Chi.
• Alvin assigned the group’s vehicles and passengers, then set out with Frank and the others to clear the Demons’ gathering point.

Alvin, Frank, and Stark traveled with S.H.I.E.L.D. toward the Great Rift Valley, where thousands of Demons threatened to escape. After seeing the horde below, Alvin and Stark prepared to descend first and establish a safe zone for the coming battle.

• Alvin told Frank that he supported S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark developing human ways to fight Demons so humanity would not depend solely on the Mages.
• Stark left his armored vehicle after complaining about Shirley’s driving and joined Alvin in the Paramount Marauder, where he encountered the skeleton guards Phil Narth and Harorek.
• Coulson inspected the Great Rift Valley and saw Gluttony Demons and Ram-Headed Demons crawling across its bottom.
• Alvin explained that Kamar-Taj had used the terrain and spatial magic to control where the Demons gathered, then prepared to help clear a safe zone.
• Alvin donned War God No. 3 as Stark equipped his Iron Man Armor with miniature missiles, and Stark announced that the battle was beginning.

Alvin prepared to turn Kamar-Taj’s demon-trapping position into a Hellfront, while Stark began testing conventional weapons against the Demons. The bombardment proved effective, but Stark crashed into the mages’ invisible barrier and asked Alvin to keep the embarrassing incident secret.

• Alvin agreed with Wang Yuan to establish a stable Mirror Dimension position in the Great Rift Valley and planned to leave some Demons for Stark and Coulson to test their weapons against.
• Wang Yuan warned Alvin not to use his destructive Blizzard spell, then evacuated the mages from the position.
• Alvin equipped Chains of Honor on his Warrior Three and told Stark to begin the attack.
• Stark bombarded the Demons with guided Micro-Missiles, igniting a corridor of explosions and boasting that they were easy to handle.
• Stark flew into the invisible Crystal Wall, fell to the ground, and asked Alvin to keep his collision a secret.

Alvin used his Venomous Flying Sword and poison spells to kill the surviving demons, while Stark went to change suits and nearly crashed after encountering a Spatial Inversion spell. Alvin realized the spell alone could not explain Stark’s symptoms, leaving him to suspect another cause.

• Alvin and Stark watched the missile survivors emerge, and Alvin sent the East Wind Flying Sword through the demons while warning Stark to keep clear of his poison.
• Stark disturbed a poisonous corpse cloud, so Alvin tested Poison Explosion and used the Corpse-Eater Vine to consume the toxic bodies.
• Alvin told Stark to change suits, then continued clearing the ravine with poison clouds and the flying sword.
• Stark suddenly dove toward the ground, and Warrior Three caught him before they crashed together into a crater.
• Alvin questioned Wang Yuan, who explained that a Spatial Inversion spell had been installed to keep flying demons out of the ravine.
• Alvin noticed Stark’s symptoms seemed too severe to be caused by Spatial Inversion alone.

Alvin fought off a coordinated demon assault while protecting Stark and helping Frank and Fatty Wang Yuan escape through a Space Gate. After defeating the Resentment Demons, Alvin noticed a large star over someone nearby and prepared to act.

• Alvin used the Corpse-Eater Vine, the Flying Sword "East Wind," poison, and Ghost Wolves to hold back the demons charging through the passage.
• Frank and Fatty Wang Yuan arrived through the Space Gate, and Alvin sent Stark up with Frank while he stayed behind to fight.
• Resentment Demons attacked from the rock walls, using psychic assaults that briefly disoriented Alvin and Frank and pinned down the Flying Sword "East Wind" with Red Boomerangs.
• Alvin activated the "Sanctuary Aura" from the Runeword "Enforcer" and shot down the Resentment Demons while Fatty Wang Yuan helped defend him.
• Fatty Wang Yuan identified the attackers as Resentment Demons of the Beelzebub clan, and Alvin spotted a large star over someone near the Space Gate.

Alvin captured demons near the Space Gate, using the Sanctuary Aura and brutal interrogation to force one female prisoner to talk while Fatty Wang Yuan took the captives away. He then charged into the surrounding demons to reach the trapped Flying Sword East Wind and unleashed a Poison Nova.

• Alvin shot and captured several Redskin demons as the Sanctuary Aura burned them and other demons to ash.
• Alvin crippled a young Redskin demon and killed his male companion, leaving the female prisoner terrified and willing to answer questions.
• Fatty Wang Yuan bound the surviving demons and took them through the Space Gate while Frank helped Stark retreat.
• Alvin charged through the demons surrounding the Sanctuary Aura and reached the Flying Sword East Wind, which two living Red Boomerangs had pinned down.
• Alvin dismissed his Ghost Wolves and Vines, then unleashed a circular Poison Nova against the demons around him.

Alvin used poison magic to slaughter the demons in the Great Rift Valley, while Loki learned of the massacre and reconsidered his plans to invade Earth. The rift had been cleared, and Loki decided to keep his invasion preparations moving while finding ways to distract Alvin.

• Alvin used a Golden Vine to replenish his mana and repeatedly cast Poison Nova, killing demons by the hundreds as their horde fell into disarray.
• Coulson watched the battle through a drone and sent footage to S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, concluding that Alvin posed a threat on the scale of a biological weapon.
• Loki learned from Professor Selvig that Destroyer Metal could power a portal, and he had Agent Hill arrange to obtain the Destroyer Helmet for the project.
• After watching footage of Alvin killing demons, Loki feared Alvin could ruin his conquest and told Hill to monitor Selvig while he considered finding other enemies to keep Alvin occupied.
• Alvin rested beside Kamar-Taj's barrier after clearing the area and held two Red Boomerangs that begged him for mercy, planning to let Stark examine them.

Alvin prepared for S.H.I.E.L.D. to take over the Great Rift Valley position while Stark investigated the Red Boomerangs and Fox and Shirley insisted on fighting the demons. As Shirley and Fox headed out, Frank took Alvin’s M4, telling him to use his Manhattan Axe instead.

• Alvin used Corpse-Eater Vine and Poison Burst to keep Ram-Headed Demons from charging through the Great Rift Valley passage.
• Stark arrived through the Space Gate with Coulson and S.H.I.E.L.D. forces, then asked Alvin to help capture demons for study.
• Alvin gave Stark two Red Boomerangs, which split off small red triangles before their original bodies became inert; Stark rushed to his makeshift laboratory to investigate.
• Alvin tried to dissuade Fox and Shirley from entering the fight, but Fox said she wanted to defend herself, and Hela recalled that she had killed the Valkyries.
• Shirley led Fox toward the demons, and Frank took the M4 from Alvin, saying the Manhattan Axe was all he needed.