Chapter Summaries

The God-Emperor prepared to absorb the Hilling Empire members after overwhelming the Imperium of Man, but Hua Wei descended in person and stopped Him with a casual touch. The Imperium’s leaders realized that Hilling’s supreme ruler had arrived, leaving the confrontation poised for a reversal.

• The God-Emperor’s power darkened the sun and overwhelmed Guilliman, the primarchs, and the Hilling members as He prepared to absorb them.
• A Crystal Cross insignia appeared behind the God-Emperor, and Hua Wei stepped through it.
• Kieran, Liang Bing, He Xi, and the other Hilling members knelt to Hua Wei, while Szarekh and the Necron girls followed their example.
• Hua Wei lightly held the God-Emperor’s wrist, stopping His raised hand despite the divine power He unleashed.
• The God-Emperor turned toward Hua Wei with wary disbelief, and the Imperium’s leaders recognized the Hilling Emperor’s arrival.

Hua Wei healed and empowered the Hilling members, then gave Slaanesh a new godhood and renamed her Shalish. After stopping the God-Emperor and drawing out the Emperor’s human will, Hua Wei began a conversation with him about Earth.

• Hua Wei used psionic empowerment to heal and elevate Kieran, Liang Bing, He Xi, Szarekh, the Hilling Apostles, and the Necron girls.
• Slaanesh begged Hua Wei for a blessing, and he granted her the Love Goddess godhead, severing her connection to the Warp.
• Hua Wei renamed the reborn goddess Shalish and named her the Love Goddess, and she vowed to serve him and the Imperium.
• The God-Emperor tried to attack Hua Wei, but Hua Wei’s command froze him and forced him to sit for tea.
• Hua Wei suppressed the God-Emperor’s divine consciousness and summoned the Emperor’s human will, who told Hua Wei he had been waiting for him.
• Hua Wei recalled that he had forgotten how long it had been since he last returned to Earth.

Hua Wei reassured the Emperor that people on Earth respected his struggle and offered two ways to separate him from or merge his divinity. The Emperor chose to give up his divine power, and Hua Wei used an artifact to strip it away, leaving the Emperor free but weakened while the captured divinity remained in Hua Wei’s hand.

• Hua Wei told the Emperor that many people on Earth had followed his history and considered him worthy of respect.
• Hua Wei offered to separate the Emperor’s divinity or fuse it with his humanity, and the Emperor chose separation.
• The Emperor entrusted the Imperium of Man to Hua Wei, who promised to incorporate it into the Hilling system.
• Hua Wei bought and used [Mercy of a Certain Void Creature] to strip the divine will produced by human faith from the Emperor.
• The Emperor felt his Warp connection severed and regained his freedom, while Hua Wei contained the extracted divinity in a black-and-gold sphere and asked the system how to deal with it.

The Emperor transferred the Imperium of Man to the Hilling Empire, naming Hua Wei its supreme ruler. As Gaia and Alaya arrived and Hilling forces took control of Terra, Guilliman accepted the transition, and the Emperor asked to visit the Hilling Empire.

• The Emperor ordered the Imperium of Man and all its territories, people, armies, and legacy to belong to the Hilling Empire under Hua Wei.
• Guilliman ordered officials to broadcast the Emperor's command across the Imperium and treat defiance as betrayal of humanity's survival.
• Hua Wei promised the Primarchs access to Hilling's resources and systems so they could grow stronger and reach a higher realm.
• Alaya, Gaia, and Hilling Apostles appeared in the Throne Room, briefly overwhelming everyone with their pressure before Hua Wei released them from it.
• Hua Wei assigned Gaia temporary authority over the Imperium's administration and resource integration, with Guilliman ordered to cooperate.
• The Emperor asked to visit the Hilling Empire, and Hua Wei agreed before looking toward the Great Rift.

Genesis erased the Abyssal forces across the Great Rift, while the Doom Slayer protected Khorne from the blast so their duel could continue. Pandora arrived, learned that Nyarlathotep and Yog-Sothoth had entered the Warp and taken Inquisitor Puni, then postponed pursuing them when she sensed that Big Brother had awakened.

• Lan, Nanook, and Xipe helped contain the Abyssal gods as the Sovereign completed its Genesis charge.
• Genesis swept across the Great Rift and erased the Abyssal gods and corruption, leaving Khorne fighting the Doom Slayer.
• The Doom Slayer diverted Genesis around himself and Khorne, then resumed their duel; Khorne embraced the chance to fight him to the death.
• Pandora arrived with three companions, and Aha tried to flatter her before she kicked him away.
• Lan told Pandora that Nyarlathotep and Yog-Sothoth had entered the Warp and taken Inquisitor Puni, whose condition was unknown.
• Pandora prepared to pursue them, but sensed Big Brother had awakened and chose to wait for his arrival.

Hua Wei brought the Hilling Emperor and his followers to the Great Rift, where the Emperor reunited with his Primarchs and confronted Lorgar. The gathering’s emotional reunion was interrupted by the battle between Khorne and the Doom Slayer nearing its end.

• Hua Wei transported everyone from the ruins of the Imperial Palace of Terra to the Great Rift, where Pandora embraced him and the Hilling members greeted him as their Emperor.
• Iglanias, the Void Dragon, and Outsider swore fealty to the Hilling Emperor, while the Primarchs recognized the Emperor restored to life and health.
• The Emperor reunited with the Lion, Sanguinius, Perturabo, Russ, Fulgrim, Horus, Guilliman, and the other Primarchs.
• The Emperor told Lorgar that his faith had been shaped by Chaos and urged him to free himself from hatred and blind faith.
• A violent surge of destructive energy drew everyone’s attention to the battle between Khorne and the Doom Slayer, which seemed close to its end.

Doom Slayer defeated Khorne, but Hua Wei stopped him before he could deliver the final blow. The Emperor invited Khorne to join the Hilling Empire, and as Khorne accepted, Hua Wei confronted the hidden Tzeentch.

• Doom Slayer shattered Khorne's blood axe and wounded him, but Hua Wei ordered Doom Slayer to stop before he killed Khorne.
• The Emperor offered Khorne a place in the Hilling Empire and promised a fair battle in the future, and Khorne agreed to serve Hua Wei.
• Khorne discovered that Shalish was the transformed Slaanesh and learned that she had surrendered before him.
• Hua Wei located Tzeentch hiding in a secret dimension and invited him to come out and voice his objections.

Hua Wei captured Tzeentch and declared that his crimes made him beyond mercy, though he gave him a chance to attack. Tzeentch used that opening to sacrifice his power and summon Yog-Sothoth, leaving a terrifying passage opening before the assembled Hilling forces.

• Tzeentch tried to flee into the Warp, but Hua Wei's forces had sealed the dimension and made him powerless.
• Several Ravens captured Tzeentch and brought him before Hua Wei, the Emperor, Khorne, Shalish, the Hilling gods, and the Primarchs.
• Hua Wei condemned Tzeentch for embracing the Abyss, devouring Luke's heart, and reaching for psionic energy, then offered him a chance to attack.
• Tzeentch pretended to accept Hua Wei's mercy while planning to summon Yog-Sothoth and use the resulting conflict to escape.
• After Hua Wei lifted the restraint, Tzeentch burned his essence, knowledge, and authority to create a passage through which Yog-Sothoth's terrifying presence began to emerge.

Tzeentch summoned Yog-Sothoth to provoke a war between the Abyss and the Hilling Empire, but Hua Wei brought Nyarlathotep and Puni into the Great Rift and Shub-Niggurath soon arrived as well. Tzeentch and Nurgle realized that even three Abyssal supreme beings might not threaten Hua Wei, leaving their survival in his hands.

• Tzeentch sacrificed much of his power to summon Yog-Sothoth and urged him to destroy Hua Wei and the Hilling forces.
• Hua Wei opened a rift that brought Nyarlathotep and the Hilling Inquisitor Puni into the Great Rift after their battle.
• Puni apologized to Hua Wei for failing to seal the Abyssal rift, then returned to the Inquisition formation.
• Shub-Niggurath arrived with the Dark Young, followed by Nurgle, as the Hilling host faced the three Abyssal supreme beings.
• Tzeentch warned Nurgle that Hua Wei seemed stronger than the Abyssal gods, and they feared their survival depended on his mercy.

Hua Wei erased the Abyss army and spared Tzeentch and Nurgle at the Emperor’s request, then revealed that he could travel to other universes. The Emperor accepted Hua Wei’s invitation to explore a newly discovered world after they made arrangements in their universe.

• Hua Wei received a system notification that stable coordinates to a new world had been found and that multiverse travel was unlocked.
• Hua Wei manifested the Crystal Cross, which silently erased the Abyss army and its supreme beings.
• The Emperor asked Hua Wei to spare Tzeentch so he could personally avenge humanity, and Hua Wei banished Tzeentch and Nurgle to the Warp.
• Pandora and Alaya urged Hua Wei to leave such enemies to them, but Hua Wei dismissed their advice and said he had discovered a new world.
• Hua Wei invited the Emperor to explore humanity’s circumstances in other universes, and the Emperor agreed.

Hua Wei arranged the Hilling Empire’s ongoing efforts to contain the Warp and prepare the Imperium for travel between universes, while granting the Emperor a Psionic Crystal that gave him a stable power rooted in the Void. Hua Wei, the Emperor, and Pandora then entered a portal to explore another universe, leaving Gaia and the others to oversee the Warhammer Universe.

• Hua Wei assigned the Inquisition and its forces to monitor the Warp, repair the Great Rift, and suppress Warp activity, explaining that the Abyssal Supremes had been banished rather than destroyed.
• Hua Wei directed Guilliman, Sanguinius, the other Primarchs, and the allied gods to study the Path of Destiny and Hilling Empire technology, then gave the Emperor a Psionic Crystal and explained its universal power.
• The Emperor absorbed the Psionic Crystal and gained a new perception of the universe’s laws and the ability to wield psionic power independently of any world.
• Hua Wei tasked Gaia with integrating the universe, dealing with hostile xenos and artificial intelligences, finding the missing Primarchs, and coordinating environmental and technological upgrades with Bubble.
• Pandora asked to join Hua Wei’s expedition, and he agreed to take her along.
• Hua Wei opened a portal to a new universe and entered it with the Emperor and Pandora, while Gaia, Alaya, Guilliman, and the others remained behind.

Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora arrived in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Hua Wei promised that Malcador could be revived by reconstructing his informational imprint. As the three settled into a café, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson noticed them and grew suspicious.

• Hua Wei, the Emperor, and Pandora appeared in a modern city and recognized Tony Stark announcing, “I am Iron Man.”
• The Emperor altered his appearance, took the name Neos, and recalled his old friend Malcador while Hua Wei led the group to a café.
• Hua Wei told Neos that Malcador might be revived by recovering his informational traces, and Pandora explained how the process worked.
• Neos thanked Hua Wei, encouraged by the possibility of Malcador's return.
• Phil Coulson entered the café by coincidence, sensed Hua Wei watching him, and discreetly assessed the three unusual guests.

Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora settled into New York after meeting Phil Coulson, while Hua Wei decided they would observe the world rather than intervene. Coulson returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. and grew suspicious when his investigation produced files that seemed too perfect.

• Phil Coulson introduced himself to Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora as an FBI agent and questioned them about their visit to New York.
• Hua Wei gave Coulson only their names, then told Neos that Coulson was a good man trapped in a corrupt environment.
• Pandora fabricated identities and a bank card for the group, and they checked into a luxury hotel in Manhattan.
• Neos sensed powerful individuals and energies across the world and asked whether Hua Wei planned to rule it; Hua Wei chose to observe instead.
• Coulson returned to the Triskelion, reviewed surveillance footage, and became suspicious of the group's seemingly flawless database files.

After Pandora’s purchases on Tony Stark’s account led him to Hua Wei, Hua Wei offered to help with Tony’s palladium-related illness. Ancient One arrived after detecting a disturbance in the timeline, leaving Tony caught between strangers whose abilities he could not understand.

• Tony Stark learned that several purchases totaling $8,743 had been made from his account and traced the final transaction to a hotel restaurant.
• Tony confronted Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora at breakfast, assuming they had hacked his account to get his attention.
• Hua Wei explained that Pandora had used Tony’s money by accident and offered to repay him by helping with his illness.
• Hua Wei introduced himself, Neos, and Pandora and promised Tony that he could call on his help once.
• Ancient One appeared through a golden portal after detecting a force that had disrupted her view of the timeline, and she scrutinized Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora.
• Tony asked Ancient One and Hua Wei’s group who they were and whether the portal had been magic or a mutant ability.

Hua Wei took the Time Stone from Ancient One so Neos could study it, then returned it after Neos gained insight into the laws of time. Ancient One demanded to know who they were and what they wanted, and Hua Wei called them travelers passing through.

• Hua Wei introduced Ancient One to Neos and explained how she had protected Earth alone from threats in other dimensions.
• Hua Wei opened the Eye of Agamotto and took the Time Stone, freezing time throughout the restaurant.
• Hua Wei gave the Time Stone to Neos, who studied its power and gained a deeper understanding of the laws of time.
• Neos returned the gem to Ancient One and apologized for alarming her.
• Ancient One asked Hua Wei where they came from and what they wanted, while Tony struggled to process what he had witnessed.
• Hua Wei told Ancient One and Tony that they were travelers passing through.

After witnessing Hua Wei and the others’ powers, Tony Stark began redesigning his armor to face supernatural threats. Ancient One contacted Odin about the beings on Earth, and Odin decided to send someone to investigate.

• Tony Stark resisted using Hua Wei’s offer to heal him and returned to his workshop.
• Tony ordered JARVIS to study myths, supernatural powers, and mutant research, then began redesigning his armor.
• Ancient One tested the Time Stone and realized its seals could not protect it from beings like Hua Wei.
• Ancient One sent Odin information about the three beings and Neos’s timeline-sealing power.
• Odin recognized the threat as potentially connected to ancient records and decided to send someone to Earth.

Gaia assigned the new arrivals their destinations and explained the Valkyrie Legion’s origins and power to Sanguinius and the others. At Star Ring’s Far Shore, the newcomers witnessed the Hilling Empire’s peaceful prosperity before the fleet resumed its journey to their respective destinations.

• Gaia told the five gods to undergo review on the Judgment Ring, gave Primarchs without Mind Cubes plans for enhancement and training, and directed Sanguinius, Horus, Angron, and the Necrons to the Valkyrie Legion’s headquarters.
• Glory explained that the Valkyrie Legion included the powerful Primordial Valkyries and Fated Valkyries, while reassuring Sanguinius and the others that the Legion supported all its members.
• Luke announced the fleet’s arrival at Star Ring’s Far Shore, where it would undergo routine inspection and the passengers could visit the spaceport.
• Guilliman saw the peaceful, thriving spaceport and reflected that it was the kind of life humanity should have pursued.
• Glory revealed that Star Ring’s Far Shore was a fortress equipped with a Halo Array capable of destroying a star system, and the fleet departed after completing inspection and registration.

Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora’s sightseeing in New York was interrupted by a Hydra-arranged robbery, and Neos’s response drew Spider-Man’s attention. After Neos sent Peter Parker away and warned him against blind judgment, Hydra reported that the trio might have powerful mind-control abilities.

• Hydra learned of Coulson’s investigation and ordered agents to test Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora using New York gangsters.
• Gangsters tried to rob the trio, but Neos controlled them and sent them into an alley, where gunshots followed.
• Spider-Man arrived and questioned the trio, suspecting they had caused the strange deaths.
• When Peter Parker tried to stop Neos, Neos gently sent him twenty meters away and warned him to examine situations carefully.
• Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora continued toward their hotel as a Hydra agent reported that they might possess high-level mind-control abilities.

Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora killed or defeated the assassins Kingpin sent after them, while Hydra monitored the encounter and became intent on capturing Pandora. Hua Wei and Neos began planning a genetic engineering company in Huaxia, leaving Hydra to plot against the group.

• Kingpin sent Bullseye to attack Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora, and Bullseye recruited Porcupine and Corrosive as helpers.
• Hua Wei welcomed the three intruders, while he and Neos casually discussed starting a genetic engineering company in Huaxia.
• Pandora burned Porcupine and Corrosive to nothing, then pursued Bullseye after he escaped through the hotel window.
• Pandora stopped Bullseye's weapons with an invisible barrier and frightened him to death before returning to the hotel.
• A Hydra agent reported the trio's abilities, prompting Hydra's upper ranks to designate Pandora as their priority target.

Hydra's false intelligence led Stryker to attack Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora on a beach, where Pandora effortlessly turned the assault into a game. Tony Stark joined the fight against the military to protect the trio, drawing in other factions as Hydra tried to erase its involvement; Hua Wei watched the chaos and wondered why everyone was so eager to die.

• Hydra planted intelligence about the trio, prompting Stryker to send Wolverine Logan, Sabretooth Victor, Wade Wilson, and a heavily armed unit to capture them.
• The military opened fire on Hua Wei, Neos, and Pandora, but an invisible barrier stopped the bullets, and Pandora fought the attackers using only her physical strength.
• JARVIS alerted Tony Stark to the battle, and Tony rushed to the beach after Stryker refused to stop the operation.
• Tony arrived in his Mark 7 armor and attacked the soldiers' weapons and vehicles, while Nick Fury and Colonel Rhodes tried to halt the military assault.
• Hydra's leaders ordered their operatives to erase all traces of their involvement as Pandora continued playing and Hua Wei remarked on the attackers' eagerness to die.