Recaps

Zhao Yu’s extraordinary progress carried him from basic shields and portals to powerful dimensional spells, astonishing Kamidar, Wong, Hamir, and Kaecilius. After learning Kaecilius’s spatial blade technique in hours, Zhao Yu remained wary of following him because he might become a traitor.

• Zhao Yu mastered the Magic Shield within three days, then rapidly learned weapon shaping and Portal under Kamidar’s guidance.
• Wong took over Zhao Yu’s combat training, where Zhao Yu adapted quickly, pressured Kamidar in a duel, and showed unusual power when resonating with magic.
• Wong taught Zhao Yu the Ring of Raggadorr, and Hamir helped him strengthen his channel for multiversal energy.
• Zhao Yu mastered the Chaos Orb alone, prompting Hamir and Wong to recognize that his ability defied known magical rules.
• Zhao Yu opened and reshaped the Mirror Dimension, then fused it with Portal laws to create a multilayered space he could manipulate.
• Hamir taught Zhao Yu the Vishanti Binding Spell, which Zhao Yu quickly reproduced as layered chains of platinum-white light.
• Kaecilius returned to Kamar-Taj and took Zhao Yu aside to test his talent, teaching him to form blades from sharpened space.
• Zhao Yu mastered Kaecilius’s Spatial Folding Art within hours, while Kaecilius assigned him further study and Zhao Yu privately considered whether Kaecilius might become a traitor.

Zhao Yu mastered increasingly powerful magic, defeated Kaecilius, and helped defend Earth during the Chitauri invasion. After the Ancient One made him an Apprentice Mage, he began guiding Stephen Strange while his spell mutations continued to cause trouble.

• Zhao Yu defeated Kaecilius after refusing to join him, but Dormammu seized the wounded sorcerer through a rift.
• Zhao Yu transformed Crimson Chains into a powerful Crimson Contract Chain as the Chitauri invaded New York and Kamar-Taj’s mages joined the defense.
• Zhao Yu rescued Steve Rogers, fought off Chitauri soldiers and warships, and helped the Avengers battle Loki and close the Portal.
• After the Ancient One returned, Zhao Yu’s Shield of the Seraphim mutated into Bethpheny’s Sigh, and she made him an Apprentice Mage.
• Zhao Yu helped Stephen Strange begin training, taking him to Mount Everest, where Strange found the focus to open a portal back to Kamar-Taj.
• Zhao Yu transformed a wind spell into Nebula Storm, wrecking the library and courtyard until the Ancient One stopped it and ordered him not to modify spells inside Kamar-Taj.
• As Strange struggled to summon Crimson Chains, Zhao Yu demonstrated a flexible chain that curled through the air like a tentacle.