Chapter Summaries

Luke and Tony rescued Happy from Killian’s island and destroyed the Extremis force there, but Killian escaped after learning his base had been discovered. Killian then planned to kidnap the Stark Group’s CEO and inject her with Extremis as he prepared to rebuild his operation.

• The Ninja Soldiers ambushed and wiped out the Extremis Squad on the island, while Luke ordered them to hunt down the remaining Extremis Soldiers.
• Attack helicopters fired missiles at Happy, but Tony protected him with a magic circle and destroyed the helicopters with black fireballs.
• Luke and Tony landed on the island, learned how Happy had been captured, and found that Killian was not among the people they had rounded up.
• Luke questioned the ringleaders, but their unstable Extremis reactions prevented them from giving useful information; hidden cameras let Killian see that Tony and Luke had raided his base.
• Killian recognized Tony in the footage, decided to make money and rebuild elsewhere, and ordered his bald subordinate to obtain Extremis serum and kidnap the Stark Group’s CEO.
• Killian struck his subordinate when he said the serum was on the island, and the subordinate retrieved a case from a house after gunfire rang out.

Pepper’s convoy was attacked in Hell’s Kitchen by Killian’s Extremis Soldiers, but her ninja guards defeated them. Tony and Luke captured Killian and confronted him at the harbor, where Tony killed him and left the story with Killian’s explosion swallowed by darkness.

• Pepper diverted through Hell’s Kitchen, where Killian’s Extremis Soldiers tried to abduct her and her Ninja Soldiers fought them off.
• Pepper called Tony, and Luke identified the attackers as men working for the mastermind behind Happy’s kidnapping.
• Tony and Luke arrived in Hell’s Kitchen and found the Ninja Soldiers had captured the last Extremis Soldier while Pepper left for the harbor shipment.
• Killian waited at the harbor with serums, but Tony confronted him in darkness after his yacht vanished.
• Killian injected himself with the serums and attacked Tony, who countered his fire with magic and absorbed his heat.
• Killian tried to explode beside Tony, but the surrounding darkness swallowed him and stopped the blast.

An elderly Steve Rogers visited Carter and planned to let Hydra's Arctic operation rescue Bucky, hoping to change the future. As Hydra altered the mission roster and Pierce approved the changes, Natasha secretly stole a patch from his wine bottle and escaped S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.

• Luke teased Tony about nearly mishandling a threat at the port, then left through a portal, and Tony asked JARVIS to have Pepper assess the port for purchase.
• Rumlow delivered Captain America's Arctic mission briefing, then reported to Sitwell that Captain America did not suspect the plan to capture him.
• The elderly Steve visited Carter, discussed finishing his fight against Hydra, and sent several messages to put his plan in motion.
• Rumlow questioned a last-minute change to the Arctic team and contacted Sitwell, who brought the revised roster to Pierce.
• Pierce approved the new personnel and ordered additional team members to prepare at the Arctic base; after Captain America and the others departed, Pierce went to monitor the operation.
• Natasha entered Pierce's office unseen, removed a thin patch from a wine bottle, restored the room, and left S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters in disguise.

Natasha and Nick Fury investigated suspicious S.H.I.E.L.D. operations and were confronted by an unexpected visitor at their safe house. In the Arctic, Captain America realized Rumlow and part of the Task Force were acting suspiciously, and the chapter ended with the two sides facing off in the records hall.

• Natasha gave Fury a recording of Pierce and others discussing Captain America, but she said their caution alone did not prove they were moles.
• Fury showed Natasha reports of thirteen Special Operations Team missions conducted while they were in Asgard, and they found the missions lacked proper intelligence and procedure.
• Fury told Natasha that Coulson had inspected the attacked bases and uncovered evidence omitted from the reports, while Fury admitted he did not know whom at S.H.I.E.L.D. he could trust.
• A hooded figure entered the safe house, and Fury and Natasha fired at the newcomer before recognizing the person and reacting with shock.
• Rumlow led Captain America and the Task Force to an Arctic base, where they found an apparently abandoned facility and searched its records hall.
• Captain America noticed that Rumlow and several team members were nervous and armed, while another Task Force member signaled that they were enemies; Rumlow and the others then dropped their pretense and faced him.

Captain America fought Hydra forces and their Winter Soldiers while waiting for reinforcements, but the battle turned chaotic when the enhanced soldiers went out of control. As he prepared to face the strongest Winter Soldier again, an enormous figure appeared behind his opponent and crushed his head.

• Captain America attacked Rumlow, but Hydra reinforcements drove him and his allies into a defensive position as Rumlow escaped.
• Captain America and the squad fought back with grenades, his shield, and gunfire, then ran low on ammunition as Hydra soldiers advanced through smoke.
• The Winter Soldiers overwhelmed Captain America's allies, while the strongest one engaged Captain America in a prolonged fight.
• The Winter Soldiers turned on Hydra's soldiers and commander, and dark figures seized the commander at the entrance.
• Captain America knocked down the strongest Winter Soldier, but the man recovered and grabbed him before an enormous figure crushed the Winter Soldier's head.

Luke rescued Captain America and his teammates from Hydra, then met Old Captain America, who asked him to help reconcile Steve and Tony over Bucky’s role in Tony’s parents’ deaths. Luke agreed only to give Old Captain America a chance to explain, and later began telling Tony that his parents’ car crash had not been an accident.

• Luke and the Shadow Ninjas defeated the Winter Soldiers and rescued Captain America and his unconscious teammates.
• Luke met Old Captain America, who revealed that he had tried to stop Bucky from assassinating Howard but failed to save Tony’s parents.
• Luke refused to seek Tony’s forgiveness for Bucky, but agreed to let Old Captain America speak with Tony and promised to support Tony’s decision.
• Luke rejected Fury’s request to join S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fight against Hydra and decided Hydra could help Tony release his anger.
• Luke took Tony to a rooftop and began telling him that his parents’ fatal car crash might have been deliberate.

Tony learned Hydra had killed Howard and decided to avenge him, while Pierce launched the Helicarrier operation after Luke reassured him. Captain America’s broadcast disrupted Hydra’s takeover, and Tony and Luke arrived to help defeat the forces aboard the Helicarriers; the chapter ended with Luke promising to explain more about Bucky after the battle.

• Tony learned Hydra had killed Howard and initially considered bringing his father to the present, but chose to deal with Hydra first so Howard would be safe.
• Pierce ordered the Helicarriers launched after Luke’s email led him to believe Luke would not interfere, while Captain America, Falcon, Hill, Barton, and Natasha moved against Hydra at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
• Captain America’s broadcast alerted S.H.I.E.L.D. as Hydra seized key departments and took the Security Council members prisoner, but Natasha subdued Pierce and the guards.
• Hydra launched all three Helicarriers, and Captain America, Falcon, and Barton boarded them but were overwhelmed by Hydra soldiers.
• Tony arrived with the Armor Squad and used magic to destroy Hydra forces, then told Captain America he planned to avenge Howard.
• Captain America apologized to Tony, who did not know Bucky had survived; Luke appeared and promised to explain more after the battle, while assuring Tony he would support his decisions.

Tony's Armor Squad helped the heroes sabotage the Helicarriers while Barton, Falcon, and Captain America fought their way to the cores. After Fury and Luke stopped Pierce from threatening the Security Council, Fury and Natasha released S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files online, and Luke turned his attention to the Helicarriers firing at one another.

• Tony led his Armor Squad against Hydra aboard the three Helicarriers, clearing paths for Barton, Falcon, and Captain America to reach the cores.
• Barton defeated Rumlow by melting the bridge beneath him and sending him crashing through the glass, while Falcon disabled Doctor Zola's drone swarm with hot water and electricity.
• Captain America knocked Bucky unconscious, installed the chip in the carrier's core, and said it was time for them to atone.
• Luke met Fury at the Triskelion and joined him and Natasha in the command room as they prepared to publish S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database.
• Pierce threatened the Security Council with explosive badges, but Luke cut off his hand and erased the badges; Fury used a duplicate of Pierce to complete identity verification.
• Fury and Natasha connected S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database to the internet, and Luke watched the Helicarriers firing at one another as he raised his hand.

Luke helped Fury bring down Hydra and took the warships, then brought Tony to meet Old Captain America, who revealed that Bucky had killed Tony’s parents. Tony confronted Bucky, severed his metal arm, and decided to make him serve and protect his parents.

• Luke captured the warships and gave Fury the remaining Hydra agents to hand over to the authorities.
• Luke brought Tony to the Captain America Memorial Museum, where Old Captain America told him that Bucky had killed his parents while brainwashed by Hydra.
• Tony watched footage of the murder and struck Bucky, then severed his metal arm with an enchanted sword.
• Tony ordered Bucky to serve and protect his parents, and told Old Captain America to restore Bucky’s memories.
• Luke reminded Captain America that he owed Tony as Tony left to get some air.

Luke met Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff after they mistakenly attacked Galacta while she pursued a Dimensional Demon God's avatar, then brought them to watch Stephen use the Time Stone to repair the Three Sanctums. The siblings began to believe they had found a place unlike any other as the restored Sanctums formed a vast magic array around Earth.

• Luke spoke with Tony, who planned to deal with Hydra before bringing his parents over and asked Luke for information about Hydra bases.
• Galacta brought Luke Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff, who had attacked her while trying to protect a Dimensional Demon God's avatar.
• Pietro tried to escape and fought the Blade Soldiers while Wanda attacked Luke, but Luke stopped them and explained the misunderstanding.
• The Ancient One invited Wanda and Pietro to see evidence of the sorcerers' world, and Pietro eagerly accepted her offer of food as the siblings followed her through Kamar-Taj.
• Stephen used the Time Stone to rewind the ruined command hall and restore the Three Sanctums, whose energy then formed an enormous magic array across Earth.

Wanda and Pietro considered staying at Kamar-Taj so Wanda could study Chaos Magic and they could grow stronger. Luke agreed to help the Ancient One switch the Earth Defense Formation to Dark Energy, while the siblings discovered that Tony Stark helped fund Kamar-Taj.

• The Ancient One explained that Wanda was born with Chaos Magic and invited her to study at Kamar-Taj, while Pietro took her aside to discuss the offer.
• Wanda persuaded Pietro that they should stay and become stronger, partly to pursue revenge against Tony Stark, and they explored the streets to learn about Kamar-Taj.
• The Ancient One explained that Wanda needed training to guard against dangerous influences and proposed powering the Earth Defense Formation with Dark Energy so Luke's strength would not be restricted.
• Luke bought and enhanced ordinary Shadow Ninjas to raise his energy supply, then agreed to help the Ancient One modify the formation.
• Galacta went to clear Dimensional Demon God avatars, Stephen went to see his girlfriend, and Luke took General Corvus Glaive's weapon to Johnny.
• Wanda and Pietro learned that Kamar-Taj had little factional conflict, but were shocked to discover that Tony Stark was one of its financial backers.

Luke visited Johnny, revealed his disguise as Mephisto, and caught up with the stunt rider. At Kamar-Taj, Mordo merged with Corvus Glaive to regain a body, but he still had to hold the weapon, and Luke promptly tried to make him work off its value.

• Luke went to Johnny's home, where Johnny recognized him after he pretended to be Mephisto, and the two talked about Johnny quitting stunt performances.
• Wanda and Pietro decided to stay at Kamar-Taj despite learning Tony was one of its financial backers, and the Ancient One planned to let Luke address their concerns.
• Luke brought Corvus Glaive to the attic so Mordo could merge with it, and Mordo's soul was drawn into the weapon without being harmed.
• Mordo emerged with a restored body, but Luke covered him with Dark Energy and sent him to the Mirror Dimension to get clothes.
• Mordo returned holding the Glaive and explained that he could not exist independently of it, so Luke demanded that he work for a thousand years to pay for the weapon.

Luke and Galacta went to Busan after China located Ulysses Klaue, who was being held by American agents at a hidden base. Luke captured the agents and found Ulysses, then planned to deliver him and see the local scenery.

• China informed Luke that Ulysses Klaue had been found in Busan, South Korea, and Luke invited Galacta to go there with him.
• Luke and Galacta entered a concealed gambling den, where American agents were holding Ulysses under house arrest and questioning him about the vibranium he had sold.
• Galacta discovered that the gambling tables were rigged, and Luke exposed the machinery before the Shadow Ninjas subdued the guards and sentries.
• Luke reviewed the agents' interrogation records and had the Ninja Soldiers bring Ulysses before him.
• Ulysses recognized Luke from the agents' photograph and panicked when Luke said T'Chaka had identified him; Luke then told Galacta they would deliver Ulysses and look around.

Luke brought Ulysses to Wakanda, reunited him with the people he had harmed, and met King T'Chaka. He proposed trading vibranium through the Trading Station in exchange for access to its goods and knowledge, leaving T'Chaka and T'Challa to consider Wakanda's future.

• Luke and Galacta arrived at Wakanda with the bound Ulysses, and W'Kabi recognized him and had warriors take him away.
• Okoye welcomed Luke and Galacta, guided them through Wakanda's illusion, and brought them to T'Chaka and his family.
• Luke handed Ulysses over to T'Chaka and proposed peaceful trade relations in exchange for vibranium.
• Luke demonstrated that he could send vibranium through a spatial rift, then offered Wakanda a private portal to the Trading Station and access to goods and knowledge from other realms.
• T'Chaka hesitated over exposing Wakanda to trade, and Luke left him time to decide before asking T'Challa to guide him to Galacta.
• After Luke left, T'Chaka asked T'Challa what he thought of the proposal.

T'Chaka agreed to trade Luke one ton of vibranium each month, and Luke tested the newly produced Samurai Soldier, discovering its ability to summon Shadow Ninjas across dimensions. After Luke's power grew stronger in his Dimensional Demon God Form, an enormous Dark Dimension approached Earth, leaving the Ancient One wondering whether Luke was responsible.

• T'Challa advised T'Chaka that Wakanda needed to trade vibranium and prepare for the outside world, and T'Chaka agreed to Luke's terms.
• Shuri and Galacta bonded over Shuri's vibranium inventions while Luke toured the laboratory and underground vibranium operations.
• T'Chaka signed Luke's agreement to sell him one ton of vibranium each month, and Luke explained the Trading Station before taking delivery and leaving Wakanda.
• Luke tested the Samurai Soldier and learned that it could summon Shadow Ninjas, even across dimensions, and move stealthily as a shadow.
• Luke entered his Dimensional Demon God Form in space and found his armor and abilities had become stronger.
• The Ancient One sensed an enormous Dark Dimension approaching Earth, and she wondered whether Luke was behind it.

Luke discovered that Dormammu’s dark energy came from dark spaces outside the dimension and merged the dark space he brought into the Shadow World. Meanwhile, the Silver Surfer encountered a fleet of seemingly undying ships that rebuilt themselves after he destroyed them.

• The Ancient One and Galactus joined Luke in space, where they found Dormammu surrounded by dark energy eroding Earth’s formation.
• Luke discovered he could control the dark energy and used it to engulf Dormammu, leaving behind a dark source.
• Luke sensed the dark source and learned that dark energy was flowing from countless dark spaces outside the Dimensional Space through a passage.
• Galactus warned Luke that dimensional fluctuations would destroy his consciousness if he tried to reach those spaces, so Luke merged Dormammu’s dark space into the Shadow World instead.
• The Shadow World doubled in size and absorbed the remaining dark space as its source, while Luke considered how to make it grow further.
• The Silver Surfer encountered a battered fleet, destroyed its ships, and discovered that black energy repeatedly rebuilt their wreckage into working warships.

Silver Surfer destroyed Shadowbane’s fleet, but Shadowbane armored himself with the wreckage and chased him toward Earth. Meanwhile, Luke approved Tony’s restricted robot army plan, checked on Wakanda’s Trading Station stall, and found Galacta happily feeding rhinos before suggesting she keep pets.

• Silver Surfer blasted apart Shadowbane’s warships, but the surviving vessel transformed into an armored monster and pursued him through an asteroid belt toward Earth.
• Tony proposed building an army of centrally controlled robots to fight Hydra, and Luke agreed after discussing safeguards and the system’s name, Ultron.
• Luke visited Wakanda’s Trading Station stall, heard that its technology sales were going well, and asked how Galacta was doing in Wakanda.
• Luke found Galacta feeding rhinos, gave her a Shadow Devourer Soldier to hold, and suggested she try keeping pets.

Luke recognized Agent Aili as a vampire and had her killed before she could turn Jane, then promised to give Jane endless life. The group headed into a game together, while Thor learned that Galacta had encountered vampires before and tasted their flesh.

• Galacta asked Luke what to feed her Shadow Devourer Soldier, and Luke warned that feeding it shadows would make it grow.
• Thor brought Luke to meet Jane, Erik, and Agent Aili, who had been assigned to protect Erik.
• Luke identified Aili as a vampire and ordered a Ninja Soldier to kill her after she offered Jane eternal life through the Embrace.
• Luke explained that vampires made those they turned into puppets, and Jane and Thor thanked him for stopping Aili.
• Luke promised to give Jane endless life, and Galacta joined the group’s game using Aili’s phone.
• Thor asked about Galacta’s knowledge of vampires, and she said their meat tasted bitter when she had eaten some.

Luke gathered information and allies to prepare a global campaign against the vampires, while Tony began researching how to identify them. After the Shadow Legion captured vampire leaders, Thor and several Avengers joined the coming fight.

• Luke obtained Fury's locations for vampire bosses and warned Earth's representatives that he planned to wipe out the vampires.
• Tony agreed to study vampire samples with Bruce Banner, while a Samurai Soldier led the Shadow Legion in capturing vampires, including an elder who tried to flee to Vanaheim.
• Luke told the gathered representatives that the campaign would begin once Tony and Banner found a way to identify vampires.
• Thor arrived and asked to join the fight because the vampires had targeted Jane, and Luke agreed.
• Steve called Luke and said that he, Natasha, and Barton would join the force against the vampires.

Luke visited Eitri on Nidavellir to ask the Dwarves to sell defensive shields that could contain the vampires. Eitri agreed to provide the shields, and the five great hooligans bought the entire stock.

• Tony and Banner helped develop vampire detection devices, and countries used them to drive vampires into military encirclements.
• Military representatives told Luke that bombing the vampires risked a breakout and a blood plague, and asked for defensive shields to trap them.
• Luke traveled to Nidavellir and found Eitri forging weapons on the Dwarves’ stellar ring.
• Eitri explained that the Dwarves’ weapons were too powerful for their own strength and agreed to supply shields from their stock.
• Luke returned to Earth, and the five great hooligans bought every shield the Dwarves brought out.