Chapter Summaries

Lu Xi made Pepper Potts agree to a soul contract in exchange for rescuing Tony Stark from the Ten Rings. He saved Tony and Doctor Yinsen, then returned them to Pepper, while discovering that contracted souls strengthened his Divine Power.

• Lu Xi showed Pepper a projection of Tony being beaten, and she voluntarily signed his soul contract after he warned that Tony might not survive.
• The contract strengthened Lu Xi’s Divine Power and clarified his perception of the world's laws, so he flew to Tony’s hidden cave in the Middle East.
• Lu Xi killed the Ten Rings members in the cave with telekinesis, then noticed their souls drifting toward what seemed to be the underworld.
• Tony and Doctor Yinsen emerged, and Lu Xi told Tony that Pepper had sent him to help.
• Tony returned to the cave to set the Iron Man suit’s self-destruct program before Lu Xi flew him and Yinsen back to the villa.
• Tony and Pepper reunited, and Pepper concealed the contract while Tony thanked Lu Xi for saving him.

Tony and S.H.I.E.L.D. dealt with the growing public attention surrounding Lu Xi, whom the media and public called an Angel. Nick Fury then learned that Peggy Carter was near death after a medical mistake, leaving him worried about the consequences for his leadership.

• Tony reviewed Stark’s data and online reports about Lu Xi, including footage of him defeating Hulk and killing Abomination, while the public debated whether he was truly an Angel.
• Maria Hill told Nick Fury that powerful groups were trying to contact Lu Xi and demanded his file, so Fury decided S.H.I.E.L.D. would stop interfering and issue a limited public file under the codename Angel.
• Alexander Pierce interrupted the meeting to tell Fury that Peggy Carter was dying after a nurse gave her something she was allergic to.
• Pierce explained that doctors expected Peggy to live only two or three more days, and Fury worried that the accident could give his critics a chance to undermine his authority.

Nick Fury considered asking Lucifer to save Peggy Carter, while Lucifer decided to seek valuable souls through a deal with S.H.I.E.L.D. Maria Hill arrived to request his help, and the chapter ended with Lucifer surprised that S.H.I.E.L.D. might consider his soul contract because the person in danger had little time left.

• Garrett suggested that Nick Fury ask Lucifer to cure Peggy Carter, and Fury sent Maria Hill to speak with him.
• Lucifer concluded that souls belonging to important people in the Marvel Universe were more valuable to his power and began choosing future targets.
• Maria Hill visited Lucifer and asked him to save an important person whose life was in danger.
• Lucifer proposed that S.H.I.E.L.D. members trade ownership of their souls after death, and Maria studied the contract but said the deal exceeded her authority.
• Maria asked Lucifer to change his terms because the person needed help immediately, promising that S.H.I.E.L.D. would discuss the soul deal afterward.

Lu Xi agreed to help the dying Peggy Carter and offered to restore her youth in exchange for her soul after her natural death. Peggy learned that Lucifer could heal her, but the chapter ended before she answered his offer.

• Maria gave Lu Xi Peggy Carter's file, and Lu Xi agreed to visit her without demanding a soul in advance.
• Nick Fury ordered Maria to accept Lu Xi's offer, hoping to learn more about his need for souls and possibly control him.
• Lu Xi recalled that his Divine Power had clashed with Wanda's Chaos Magic and suspected Peggy would not have the same obstacle to becoming an Angel.
• Maria brought Lu Xi to Peggy at a heavily guarded sanatorium, where Peggy's fear triggered a medical emergency.
• Lu Xi used a Healing Spell to stabilize Peggy and offered to restore her health and youth if she gave him her soul after she died naturally.

Peggy Carter agreed to Lu Xi's soul contract after he promised to resurrect Steve Rogers and give them both at least fifty years of natural life. Lu Xi restored Peggy to youth and gave her angel wings and superhuman strength, leaving Maria astonished.

• Peggy refused Lu Xi's offer at first, but wavered when he promised she could reunite with Steve Rogers.
• Peggy agreed to the contract after Lu Xi promised to bring Steve back to life and give them both at least fifty years of natural lifespan.
• Nick Fury listened through Maria's earpiece and reluctantly let Peggy proceed, deciding to bear the blame if the deal went badly.
• Peggy carefully read the contract and pressed her fingerprint onto it, strengthening Lu Xi's power.
• Lu Xi used Divine Power and a feather to restore Peggy's youth, give her white wings, and enhance her strength.
• Peggy lifted the iron hospital bed with one hand, while Maria watched in shock and envy.

Lu Xi restored Peggy's youth and powers, then gave her Steve's location so she could find him alive beneath the Arctic ice. Back home, he considered Wanda's potential and the value of powerful souls, while Tony announced that Stark Industries would end weapons development and returned to building Mark II.

• Lu Xi gave Peggy the coordinates where Steve was frozen and told her to dig him out.
• Lu Xi returned home, where Wanda asked to trade souls for greater power, but he told her to be patient and sensed that her abilities had not fully awakened.
• That night, Lu Xi realized his Divine Power had grown by at least a tenth after obtaining two soul contracts and wondered how much Tony Stark's soul might strengthen him.
• Tony announced at a press conference that Stark Industries would shut down its weapons development division, provoking angry reactions from reporters and the public.
• Tony ignored the backlash and returned to working on the Mark II blueprints.

Alexander Pierce came to Lu Xi seeking to pledge Hydra’s loyalty in exchange for rewards, and Lu Xi accepted, healing Pierce and warning him against betrayal. The chapter ended with Lu Xi asking whether Hydra had been involved in Stark Industries weapons reaching Sokovia during the unrest there.

• Lu Xi identified Pierce as a Hydra leader and introduced him to Wanda and Pietro, who reacted with fear and anger toward Hydra.
• Pierce offered Hydra’s resources and intelligence network in exchange for rewards for its members, and Lu Xi accepted the deal.
• Pierce celebrated by shouting “Hail Lucifer,” and Lu Xi healed him, granting him a stronger body and at least twenty more healthy years.
• Lu Xi warned Pierce that betrayal would bring suffering, and Pierce promised Hydra’s loyalty.
• Lu Xi asked Pierce whether Hydra had a role in Stark Industries weapons appearing in Sokovia, leaving Wanda anxious for his answer.

Wanda learned that Strucker, not Tony Stark, had arranged the arms deals behind her parents’ deaths, and Lu Xi ordered Pierce to eliminate Strucker’s faction. Pierce then urged Hydra’s leaders to pledge allegiance to Lucifer by revealing Lu Xi’s power and the prospect of eternal life, winning several members’ immediate support.

• Pierce showed Wanda and Pietro records linking Strucker to arms deals with Obadiah, confirming Wanda’s childhood memories.
• Wanda regretted blaming Tony Stark and slapped herself, but Lu Xi healed her and ordered Pierce to purge Strucker’s faction.
• Pierce gathered Hydra’s leaders and announced that Captain America was alive and would soon be found.
• Pierce revealed a classified file about Lucifer and said Lu Xi had granted power to him and Peggy Carter.
• Pierce argued that Hydra’s leaders could gain eternal life and limitless power by serving Lucifer, and Crossbones, Garrett, and Sitwell agreed to follow him.

Pierce united Hydra under Lucifer and reported that Baron Strucker’s faction had been wiped out. At Lu Xi’s villa, General Ross demanded that Lu Xi submit to military studies and threatened to destroy the area, leaving Lu Xi facing a direct confrontation.

• Pierce secured Madame Viper, Malik, and Zemo’s support for Lucifer and planned the purge of Baron Strucker’s faction.
• Pierce told Lu Xi that Strucker’s faction had been completely wiped out, and Lu Xi approved.
• Lu Xi rejected a chubby boy’s offer to trade his soul for help winning a girl and reflected on the stream of people seeking trades he could not accept.
• General Ross arrived at Lu Xi’s villa seeking to capture him for military studies.
• Ross threatened Lu Xi with six infrasonic cannons and a ground combat group, claiming they could destroy the villa district.

Lu Xi took General Ross to the Arctic and demonstrated his power with a punch that created an explosion far stronger than a nuclear bomb. The blast alarmed defense agencies worldwide, and the U.S. President ordered the country onto combat readiness while demanding answers from Russia.

• Lu Xi dismissed General Ross's threats and claimed that even humanity's nuclear weapons could not match his power.
• Lu Xi seized Ross and flew with him to Novaya Zemlya, shielding him from the high-speed airflow with Divine Power.
• Lu Xi punched the Arctic, creating a vast explosion and mushroom cloud after holding back half his Divine Power.
• Lu Xi checked the surrounding area and found no people within a thousand kilometers.
• Russian detection officials measured the explosion at more than sixty megatons and wondered if it was a weapons test.
• The U.S. President ordered the country onto combat readiness after officials reported an explosion equivalent to five thousand Little Boy atomic bombs.

Lu Xi brought General Ross to the President and warned America to deal with him, then visited S.H.I.E.L.D. and offered Melinda May a contract-bearing business card. At headquarters, he met Nick Fury and discovered that most of the seven people present were Hydra agents.

• Lu Xi delivered General Ross to the President, revealed Ross had information about the Arctic Ocean explosion, and warned that he would intervene if America failed to handle the matter properly.
• Lu Xi noticed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Triskelion and decided to visit in search of souls suitable for contracts.
• Melinda May drew her pistol when Lu Xi entered, while Rumlow arrived and reacted with suspicious enthusiasm; Maria Hill identified Lu Xi as a senior consultant, calming the standoff.
• Lu Xi gave Melinda a business card that explained she could seek his help in exchange for signing away ownership of her soul.
• Lu Xi rode the elevator with Maria Hill, met Nick Fury, and saw that five of the seven agents in the command center were Hydra operatives.

Lu Xi admitted that he caused the Arctic explosion after General Ross tried to arrange his dissection, leaving Nick Fury to manage the international uproar. When Fury asked about future crises, Lu Xi refused to reveal them without a valuable trade and hinted that Fury’s soul was his most valuable possession.

• Nick Fury told Lu Xi that S.H.I.E.L.D. was overwhelmed by supernatural incidents and asked about a mysterious object that had flown from Lu Xi’s home to the Arctic before a powerful explosion.
• Lu Xi admitted he caused the explosion to demonstrate his power after General Ross ordered him to cooperate with dissection research.
• Maria explained that Lu Xi’s actions, including transforming Peggy Carter, created extra work as S.H.I.E.L.D. tried to prevent public panic.
• Lu Xi said that the current events were only the opening act of the Universe and admitted he knew a little about the future.
• Lu Xi revealed that a cat had scratched out Nick Fury’s eye, then asked where Goose was because he wanted to keep a cat.
• Nick Fury asked Lu Xi to share future crises, but Lu Xi said he would only reveal them in exchange for something valuable, such as Fury’s soul.

Nick Fury agreed to a conditional deal with Lu Xi in exchange for information about three future crises, including one caused by Fury himself. Lu Xi revealed that the Skrulls Fury sheltered would eventually rebel, leaving Fury questioning how they could do so under his surveillance.

• Lu Xi warned Fury that one future catastrophe would be caused by Fury himself, prompting Fury to accept a deal for information.
• Fury required details about at least three crises and made the deal take effect only after two were verified; he and Lu Xi signed the contract.
• Lu Xi warned that a stranded Asgardian prince could lead to an interstellar conflict or Earth falling under another civilization, and that an alien army would later attack New York.
• Lu Xi revealed that Fury's sheltered Skrulls would replace human leaders and try to transform Earth, intending to exterminate humanity.
• Lu Xi explained the Skrulls' history and criticized Fury for sheltering them; Fury objected that Carol had driven back the Kree and asked how the Skrulls could rebel while under his surveillance.

Lu Xi revealed that Talos had summoned thousands of Skrulls to Earth and showed Fury evidence of a Skrull rebellion, convincing him to remove them before they drew the Kree Empire’s wrath. Maria Hill agreed to work for Lu Xi screening deal requests, while Fury learned that Lu Xi would personally bear the consequences of changing the Skrull crisis.

• Lu Xi told Fury that Talos had secretly called scattered Skrulls to Earth and showed him footage of Skrulls replacing officials, gathering in huge numbers, and impersonating Fury.
• Maria Hill questioned Fury after seeing footage of a Skrull disguised as him shooting her, and Lu Xi confirmed the figure was not the real Fury.
• Lu Xi warned Fury that the Skrull population on Earth could provoke the Kree Empire, and Fury resolved that the Skrulls could not be allowed to stay.
• Lu Xi offered Maria a job screening deal requests and claimed S.H.I.E.L.D.’s outstanding blank-check condition to secure her agreement.
• Fury asked Lu Xi for advice about other future disasters, and Lu Xi urged him to form the Avengers and prioritize reducing civilian casualties.
• Lu Xi explained that he could disclose the Skrull crisis because he would bear the consequences of changing it, then left with Maria.

Lu Xi left with Hill after Tony Stark publicly revealed that he was Iron Man, while Fury began preparing to deal with the Skrulls. Back home, Tony looked for praise online but found angry investors and crude jokes instead.

• Tony Stark announced to reporters that he was Iron Man, and Fury cursed at the spectacle while Lu Xi saw it as the start of more dramatic events.
• In the elevator, Hill asked why Lucifer had an Eastern appearance, and Lu Xi joked that outward appearance did not determine inner essence.
• Melinda May gave Fury the card Lucifer had given her, and Fury told her to keep it and make her own choice about her soul.
• Melinda warned Fury that Crossbones had seemed ready to shoot her, and Fury promised to watch him while asking her to help with something more urgent.
• Tony asked JARVIS to find online reactions to his Iron Man reveal, but the comments focused on stock losses, his armor, and bathroom problems.

Tony invited Lu Xi to a party to thank him for saving his life, while Lu Xi assigned Wanda and Pietro useful work and training. At the party, Tony introduced Lu Xi to Dr. Helen Cho, who eagerly asked to take a photo with him.

• JARVIS explained that the public had been less shocked by Iron Man because they had already seen Hulk, Abomination, and Lucifer demonstrate great power.
• Lu Xi arranged for Wanda to assist Agent Hill with transactions and offered Pietro safe training work at S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Tony called Lu Xi to invite him to a party, then removed cover girls from the guest list after Lu Xi asked whether it would be an orgy.
• Lu Xi arrived at Tony's party, where Tony greeted him in his Iron Man suit and introduced him to Dr. Helen Cho.
• Helen Cho recognized Lu Xi as the Angel from television and asked to take a photo with him.

Tony learned that Pepper had traded her soul to Lu Xi to bring him back, then offered all of his Stark Industries shares in exchange for her soul. Lu Xi refused, and Tony aimed his Iron Man armor at him.

• Helen Cho learned that Lu Xi called himself Lucifer and asked whether she could study his biology someday.
• Tony appointed Pepper CEO of Stark Industries, but grew suspicious when she reacted anxiously and looked toward Lu Xi.
• Tony put on his Iron Man armor and threatened to confront Lu Xi, so Pepper explained that she had traded her soul for Tony's return.
• Tony ordered the party guests to leave, then asked Lu Xi to return Pepper's soul and offered him increasing shares in Stark Industries.
• Lu Xi said the company and its wealth were useless to him and refused Tony's offer of all his shares.
• Tony aimed his repulsor at Lu Xi and demanded that he return Pepper's soul.

Lu Xi restrained Tony and dismantled his armor after Tony challenged him over Pepper’s soul, then offered to take Tony’s soul in exchange for hers. He explained the benefits of serving him, but Pepper stopped Tony from accepting, leaving Lu Xi to expect another chance later.

• Tony ignored JARVIS’s warnings and confronted Lu Xi, who immobilized him and tore apart his armor.
• Pepper intervened to protect Tony, and Lu Xi released him.
• Tony offered to trade his soul for Pepper’s, but Pepper refused and threatened to kill herself if he went through with it.
• Lu Xi explained that souls who served him would avoid Hell and could gain long lives and physical powers.
• Tony was tempted by Lu Xi’s offer, but after Pepper scolded him, he denied wanting the deal.

Lu Xi gave Tony a business card that could offer a second chance in a crisis, then learned that Obadiah had already been arrested after his plans were exposed. He flew Helen Cho to her laboratory, where she showed him her unfinished Regeneration Cradle.

• Lu Xi gave Tony a business card, and Tony pocketed it after Lu Xi warned that loved ones could be used as leverage.
• Tony told Lu Xi that Obadiah had been arrested for secretly selling weapons with a baron, and Lu Xi realized his actions had changed the events of Iron Man 1.
• Lu Xi left the wrecked villa with Helen Cho and carried her through the air to her laboratory.
• Helen Cho invited Lu Xi inside and showed him the prototype Regeneration Cradle, which used nanotechnology and biotechnology to repair nonfatal wounds.

Lu Xi healed a test mouse with magic, but refused Helen Cho’s request to study his biology until she proposed they become close enough to count as his own people. Meanwhile, Mephisto united the demon lords to plan an invasion of Earth and proposed forcing their universe’s Lucifer to lead the attack.

• Lu Xi restored a laboratory mouse’s severed limbs with a Healing Spell, astonishing Helen Cho.
• Helen Cho asked to study Lu Xi’s healing magic and proposed medical tests, but he refused to provide samples to someone outside his own circle.
• Helen Cho suggested that she and Lu Xi become “their own people,” then pulled him onto a sofa and kissed him.
• Mephisto told the demon lords that Lucifer’s true body had entered Earth, and Cyttorak identified the presence as a Lucifer from another Parallel Universe.
• Mephisto persuaded the demon lords to join forces to attack Earth, kill Ancient One, and divide its souls.
• When the demon lords asked who would lead the attack, Mephisto proposed forcing their universe’s Lucifer to serve as the vanguard or taking his territory.