Chapter Summaries

After Rocket Raccoon removed Nebula’s surveillance chip, Thanos learned of Apocalypse’s power and ordered his forces to prepare the Stellar Array. On Ego’s Planet, Ayesha came to retrieve the Sovereign’s unborn child, Adam, and left after asking Apocalypse whether he could ascend to the God Race.

• Rocket Raccoon found and removed the encrypted chip in Nebula, while Thanos saw the transmitted battle and ordered Ebony Maw to focus resources on the Stellar Array.
• Ayesha sent a message asking for the return of the Sovereign’s child, and Apocalypse invited her to meet him on Ego’s Planet.
• Rocket Raccoon claimed to be the planet’s strongest being until Nebula grabbed him by the ear, and Star-Lord introduced Apocalypse to Ayesha.
• Apocalypse returned the child without asking for payment and learned that Ayesha’s people intended to use him to ascend to a god race.
• Ayesha’s attendants carried the biological pod to their ship, and Ayesha knelt to ask whether Adam would ascend to the God Race.

Ayesha allied the Golden Race with Apocalypse in exchange for a drop of his blood essence to improve Adam’s potential. Afterward, Star-Lord made Ego’s roots wither across thousands of worlds, and Apocalypse received a system notification.

• Apocalypse told Ayesha that Adam could not become a member of the God Race, and he refused her offer of a living planet for his blood essence.
• Ayesha pledged the Golden Race’s loyalty and proposed a lasting alliance, persuading Apocalypse to give Adam a drop of his blood essence.
• Apocalypse infused Adam with golden blood, and Ayesha learned that Adam would be born after three months of fusion.
• Apocalypse and Ayesha formally established an alliance between the Golden Race and Earthlings.
• Star-Lord said he could not retrieve Ego’s roots remotely, but he made them wither across thousands of living planets.
• Apocalypse received a system notification after Star-Lord’s psychic wave spread through the universe.

Apocalypse prepared to leave Ego's Planet with Rocket Raccoon and Nebula while the others stayed behind, then received a private call from the Ancient One. She asked for his opinion on Stephen Strange's approaching timeline, leaving Apocalypse wondering why she needed his advice.

• Apocalypse watched the Recovery Potions accumulate and saw Earth's withered root system crumble into ash.
• Apocalypse asked the Guardians of the Galaxy who wanted to return to Earth; Star-Lord, Gamora, Mantis, and Drax stayed, while Rocket Raccoon and Nebula chose to go with him.
• Apocalypse surprised Rocket Raccoon by describing Earth's research into Pym Particles, the Quantum Realm, and giant-scale materials.
• Heimdall arranged a private Bifrost connection so the Ancient One could speak with Apocalypse on Xandar.
• The Ancient One told Apocalypse that Stephen Strange's car accident was approaching and asked how his timeline should unfold.

The Ancient One warned Apocalypse that his influence had diverted Stephen Strange from his destined path and offered him the Eye of Agamotto, but Apocalypse refused the role of Sorcerer Supreme and agreed to correct Stephen’s timeline. After returning to S.H.I.E.L.D. with Wanda, Rocket Raccoon, and Nebula, Apocalypse reunited them with his allies and heard Nick Fury complain about Yelena’s Widow Army.

• The Ancient One explained that Stephen would likely use S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Recovery Potion instead of going to Kamar-Taj, and offered Apocalypse the Eye of Agamotto and the duty of guarding the Dark Dimension.
• Apocalypse refused the Eye and the Sorcerer Supreme’s responsibilities, agreed to correct Stephen’s branching timeline, and the Ancient One disappeared.
• Apocalypse left Xandar with Wanda, Rocket Raccoon, and Nebula, then arrived above S.H.I.E.L.D. through a wormhole.
• Black Widow greeted Apocalypse and teased Rocket Raccoon, who later befriended Vision and claimed the title of big brother; Nebula also comforted Wanda and became her friend.
• Nick Fury met with Apocalypse and Black Widow to complain that Yelena’s Widow Army was causing him trouble.

Apocalypse intervened in Stephen’s car crash, ensuring he survived but removing an unseen thread that would have led him down another timeline. Stephen woke with irreparable hand injuries, exhausted his savings trying to regain his surgical abilities, and rejected Palmer’s support.

• Apocalypse told Natasha to rein in Yelena’s Red Room Widows and promised to explain their actions to other countries alongside Nick Fury.
• Yelena arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters with more than a dozen women who had made outstanding contributions.
• Apocalypse watched Stephen crash on a mountain road, confirmed he would live, and pulled an indescribable thread away from him.
• Billy found Stephen hours after the crash, and the delayed treatment left his hands severely damaged.
• Stephen underwent numerous operations, spent his money, and ran up debt without regaining the use of his hands.
• Palmer continued caring for Stephen, but he rejected her comfort and said they were neither friends nor lovers.

Palmer ran into the rain after Stephen hurt her, but Apocalypse comforted her and gave her records about Jonathan Pangborn. The records showed that Jonathan had recovered from paralysis, prompting Stephen to call him and investigate.

• Palmer ran from Stephen into the rain, where Apocalypse appeared and offered to beat Stephen up for her.
• Apocalypse gave Palmer documents about Jonathan Pangborn, and Palmer returned inside to throw them at Stephen.
• Stephen read that Jonathan had been paralyzed with crippled hands but later recovered and played basketball.
• Stephen questioned Palmer about the records, and Apocalypse urged him to verify Jonathan’s recovery himself.
• Stephen found Jonathan’s number in the records and called him.

Stephen pursued a cure for his injuries by planning to travel to Kamar-Taj, while Apocalypse arranged for Jonathan to guide him. After Palmer joined Stephen on the journey, Apocalypse returned her broken watch to him, revealing why he had searched for it.

• Stephen and Palmer examined Jonathan and learned that mysterious energy had helped heal him, and Jonathan explained how to find Kamar-Taj.
• Stephen tried to book a flight but discovered he had no money and had pawned his watches, so Palmer lent him a credit card and left in hurt.
• Stephen searched the car accident site for Palmer’s watch, unaware Apocalypse had retrieved it from the river.
• Apocalypse convinced Palmer to accompany Stephen to Nepal, and she boarded the plane with him and Apocalypse.
• Apocalypse showed Palmer an edited video of Stephen searching for the watch, then returned the broken watch to Stephen, prompting Palmer to apologize for misunderstanding him.

Apocalypse brought Stephen and Palmer to Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One began Stephen’s training by revealing the multiverse to him. As Stephen asked to be taught, Apocalypse glimpsed the Ancient One’s hidden dark power.

• Apocalypse reunited Stephen and Palmer with Baron Mordo in Kathmandu, and Mordo led them to Kamar-Taj.
• The Ancient One noted that Palmer’s presence had changed the timeline, and Apocalypse explained that he had intervened so she and Stephen could remain together.
• Stephen asked whether magic could heal his hands, and the Ancient One sent his soul through visions of the multiverse to test his understanding.
• Stephen returned convinced and begged the Ancient One to teach him, while Apocalypse helped Palmer see his soul form.
• Apocalypse sensed the dark power hidden within the Ancient One, who noticed his scrutiny and asked what he had seen.

Apocalypse discussed the Ancient One’s sacrifices, Earth’s strange importance, and the possibility of an ultimate supreme being with her. The Ancient One gave him no solution to the Celestial threat, accepted his potion, and arranged for Stephen and the others to begin training the next day.

• Apocalypse recognized the Ancient One’s thousand years of protecting Earth, and she reflected that fame and power often created new conflicts.
• Apocalypse asked the Ancient One about the Celestial gestating in Earth’s core, but she said her visions had become unclear and offered no solution.
• Apocalypse gave the Ancient One a Purple Recovery Potion, which she accepted after he said he had more for Stephen if needed.
• Apocalypse asked why Earth drew so many cosmic threats, and the Ancient One said a previous Sorcerer Supreme had suspected a connection to an ultimate supreme being.
• The Ancient One sent Mordo to arrange rooms and begin training the next day, and Mordo gave the bewildered Stephen and Palmer the Wi-Fi password.

Apocalypse demonstrated extraordinary magical power while Stephen struggled to produce even a spark, despite the Ancient One saying his talent was the highest among the disciples. The chapter ended with Apocalypse introducing Stephen to the concept of the Knowledge Barrier, or intellectual obstruction.

• Stephen and Palmer began training under the Ancient One, while Apocalypse watched and said he knew almost everything except magic.
• Apocalypse created a gigantic golden circle of magical power after hearing the Ancient One's explanation, astonishing the disciples and earning access to the library.
• In the following days, Apocalypse learned spells with ease, while Palmer progressed and Stephen's magic dwindled as he trained harder.
• The Ancient One showed Stephen a Daoist with a severed arm forming a perfect magical circle and told Stephen that his talent was the highest among the disciples.
• Apocalypse asked Stephen whether he had heard of the Knowledge Barrier and explained that it was also called intellectual obstruction.

Apocalypse explained Stephen's Knowledge Barrier, and the Ancient One trained Stephen and Palmer on Mount Everest in the Mirror Dimension and Sling Ring use. Apocalypse realized the Multiverse consisted of overlapping universes and pondered how to transcend it, until an alarm announced Kaecilius's arrival.

• Apocalypse explained that Stephen's scientific worldview had become a Knowledge Barrier, and Stephen soon managed to trace rings of golden light.
• The Ancient One brought Stephen and Palmer to Mount Everest and introduced them to the Mirror Dimension and Sling Rings.
• Apocalypse opened a passage to another universe and explained his realization that universes overlapped like pages in a book.
• As the Ancient One taught Stephen to use the Sling Ring, Apocalypse contemplated reaching a level beyond the Multiverse.
• An alarm rang from below, and the Ancient One recognized that Kaecilius had arrived.

Apocalypse persuaded Stephen to help defend Kamar-Taj despite Stephen's reluctance to fight or kill. Stephen agreed to capture Kaecilius and Dormammu after Apocalypse framed the task as repayment for his treatment.

• Apocalypse insisted Stephen was ready for combat, and the Ancient One gave him the Eye of Agamotto and entrusted the future to him.
• Stephen refused to join the sorcerers' war, arguing that he was a doctor and would not kill one person to save many others.
• Palmer suggested calling S.H.I.E.L.D., but Apocalypse said some crises could only be resolved by Stephen.
• Apocalypse claimed the Ancient One would sacrifice herself if Stephen refused to take responsibility, and the Ancient One did not deny it.
• Apocalypse offered to let Stephen leave after capturing two villains, and Stephen agreed to catch Kaecilius and Dormammu.

Apocalypse and the Ancient One returned to Kamar-Taj during Kaecilius’s attack, and Stephen began fighting the dark sorcerers. Stephen chased Kaecilius toward the library while the Ancient One prepared for Dormammu’s arrival.

• Kaecilius and his corrupted sorcerers overwhelmed the defenders at the training grounds while Wong and Mordo waited for the Ancient One and Apocalypse to return.
• Apocalypse arrived with the Ancient One, Stephen, and Palmer, then shattered Kaecilius’s portals and prevented his escape.
• Stephen struck Kaecilius with a magical shield and drove him and his followers to the edge of the training grounds before they fled.
• Apocalypse told Stephen the attackers had run toward the library, so Stephen chased them with Palmer rather than letting others capture Kaecilius.
• The Ancient One entrusted the timeline to Apocalypse and left to prepare for Dormammu, while Apocalypse and Wong headed to the library after hearing a fight there.

Apocalypse and Stephen pursued Kaecilius from Kamar-Taj to the New York Sanctum, where Kaecilius attacked them in the streets. Apocalypse trapped the sorcerers in the Mirror Dimension and left Stephen to capture them, while Wong evacuated the crowd.

• Apocalypse urged Stephen to pursue Kaecilius, then followed Wong through a portal to the New York Sanctum with Palmer.
• Apocalypse gave Stephen permission to keep the Cloak of Levitation, and Palmer returned to the hospital while Stephen flew after Kaecilius.
• Kaecilius attacked Stephen and Wong by crushing buildings and turning the street into a concrete serpent, forcing them to defend themselves as bystanders fled.
• Kaecilius revealed that his powers came from his master, but Apocalypse appeared and confirmed that they were inside the Mirror Dimension.
• Apocalypse sent Wong to evacuate the crowd and told Stephen to capture Kaecilius before S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived.
• Kaecilius failed to open a portal and ordered his followers to split up and flee.

Stephen defeated Kaecilius in the Mirror Dimension, but Kaecilius sacrificed his followers to alert Dormammu, who opened a vast breach above New York. Apocalypse and Stephen prepared to face Dormammu, with Stephen proposing a Time Loop after Apocalypse’s attacks proved ineffective.

• Stephen folded the Mirror Dimension, outmatched Kaecilius’s illusions, and took down the dark sorcerers one by one.
• Kaecilius sacrificed the fallen sorcerers to notify Dormammu, and a huge dark opening appeared over New York City.
• Apocalypse told Stephen to capture Kaecilius and help him fight, while civilians fled the city in panic.
• Apocalypse attacked Dormammu’s breach with the Infinity Stones and his fists, but his powers had little effect near the overlap of dimensions.
• Stephen joined Apocalypse in the sky and suggested using a Time Loop to drive Dormammu back.

Apocalypse fought Dormammu in the Dark Dimension while Stephen feared being trapped in a Time Loop. After Apocalypse's Infinity Stone-powered attack failed to hurt Dormammu, he phased through Dormammu's palm and reached his head.

• Stephen explained that in the original storyline he had used a Time Loop against Dormammu and prepared to sacrifice himself, but now hoped the Ancient One and Apocalypse could save him.
• Dormammu appeared and demanded that Apocalypse surrender, claiming the Ancient One could no longer stop him.
• Apocalypse attacked Dormammu with the Triple Infinite Divine Fist, but Dormammu blocked the planet-sized blow and its shockwaves devastated New York City.
• Dormammu revealed that Infinity Stones from his own universe had not been able to stop him, while Apocalypse realized his strongest fist technique had failed.
• Apocalypse charged at Dormammu's palm, passed through it like a phantom, and surprised Dormammu by appearing before his head.

Apocalypse fought Dormammu as Stephen trapped them in a time loop, forcing Dormammu to bargain rather than destroy Earth. As the loop repeated, Apocalypse discovered an unknown power was repairing the temporal damage and remembered he still had one ultimate move left unused.

• Apocalypse used a Thousandfold Nuclear Blast Fist to destroy Dormammu's left eye, but Dormammu regenerated it and attacked Earth.
• Apocalypse held back Dormammu's descending finger while Stephen repeatedly trapped them in a time loop and was killed by Dormammu.
• Dormammu eventually noticed the loop and heard Stephen demand that he leave Earth and never invade again, but he refused and increased his power.
• Apocalypse endured repeated attacks as training, strengthening his counterattacks from the Triple Infinite Divine Fist to the Ten-thousandfold Nuclear Blast Fist.
• Apocalypse sensed an unknown force repairing the time loop's damage to spacetime and wondered whether it was Kang or the One Above All.
• Apocalypse remembered that he still had one ultimate move he had not used.

Apocalypse discovered Dormammu wanted to capture him because his soul was linked to the loosening Sacred Timeline, so he decided Dormammu could not be allowed to escape. Unable to kill Dormammu with his own power, Apocalypse asked Stephen how to make two parallel universes collide.

• Apocalypse struck Dormammu with a soul guandao, but Dormammu recognized him as the source of the Sacred Timeline’s loosening and planned to seize him.
• Apocalypse pulled Stephen’s consciousness out of the Time Loop and explained that Dormammu might summon multiversal beings if he escaped.
• Stephen suggested trapping Dormammu in the Time Loop forever, but Apocalypse insisted he would kill him.
• Apocalypse recalled that collisions between parallel universes could destroy universes and asked Stephen how to cause one.
• Stephen was baffled because he had never even known parallel universes existed.

Stephen struggled to find a way out of Dormammu’s time loop while Apocalypse sought the magical books that might help. Ava discovered she could enter and leave the loop, carried Apocalypse’s request to Wanda, and set her on a search for the Darkhold.

• Stephen died repeatedly while considering millions of possible ways to stop Dormammu, but he could not find a solution without additional knowledge.
• Nick Fury gathered the available heroes, and they decided to send Ava into the time loop while beginning research on a time machine.
• Ava entered the loop in a modified Phase-Shifting Suit, resisted Dormammu’s attack, and received instructions from Apocalypse before leaving.
• Ava told Wanda that Apocalypse wanted her to destroy Dormammu’s universe, which contained no other living beings, and asked her to find the Ancient One and learn where the Darkhold was.

The Ancient One emerged from seclusion after dark power drained from Kamar-Taj and joined Dormammu, then helped Wanda and the others locate the original Darkhold. The chapter left Wanda at the temple, ready to use the dangerous book if Tang wanted her to.

• Wong brought Wanda, Ava, Nick Fury, Black Widow, and Iron Man to Kamar-Taj, where Mordo said the Ancient One was in Life-and-Death Seclusion.
• Dark energy erupted from the Ancient One's retreat and swept toward New York, then a purple light flashed as the storm over Kamar-Taj subsided.
• The Ancient One came out with her hair restored by Tang's Purple Potion and agreed to help them find the Darkhold.
• The Ancient One led the group to a snowy mountain temple, where skeletal monsters knelt before Wanda and a carving identified her as the heir Chthon had sought.
• The Ancient One warned Wanda that the Darkhold was a source of evil, and Wanda said she would follow Tang's wishes about using it.