Chapter Summaries

Tony, Megatron, Stephen, and Captain Yang tried to contain Kaecilius after he broke free using Dark Energy. The chapter ended with Kaecilius sacrificing himself to open a Dimensional Gate to the Dark Dimension, prompting Captain Yang to call for reinforcements.

• Stephen agreed to relay Captain Yang’s request for an exchange with Kamar-Taj to the Sorcerer Supreme.
• Kaecilius unleashed Dark Energy, corroded Blackout’s arm, and trapped himself inside an energy shield.
• Tony and Sunday absorbed the shield’s Dark Energy while Megatron helped weaken it, and Captain Yang pierced Kaecilius with his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade.
• Kaecilius activated Dormammu’s spell, and his arm began consuming him as Captain Yang recognized the attempt to summon an Outworld Heavenly Demon.
• Megatron explained that Kaecilius was opening a Dimensional Gate to the Dark Dimension, and Captain Yang called for reinforcements.

Lu Qi and the Ancient One kept Dormammu occupied while Lu Qi sent Shadow Ninjas to investigate the Material World. At the Hong Kong Sanctum, a growing gate to the Dark Dimension overwhelmed the defenders, and Tony called for Galacta after realizing her power might help sever the gate’s energy source.

• Lu Qi summoned his Shadow Devourer Soldier and fought Dormammu alongside it while the Ancient One supported them with spells.
• Kaecilius became a mass of black energy, and attacks against him opened a dimensional hole from which dark creatures poured out.
• Tony, Megatron, Captain Yang, and their allies fought the creatures as the gate expanded and overwhelmed their defenses.
• Stephen suggested entering the Dark Dimension to cut off the gate’s energy source, but Tony warned they could become trapped there.
• Tony noticed the Dark Crystals on his armor and told Saturday to email Galacta and ask her to come.

As the dimensional rift kept expanding and overwhelming the defenders, Captain Yang, Tony, Megatron, and the Decepticons struggled to hold back the monsters. Lu Qi’s Shadow Legion arrived in force, turning the battle as its soldiers attacked the hordes on the ground and in the air.

• The rift expanded, breaking the defenders’ formation; Captain Yang transformed into a golden giant and rescued Barricade while fighting the ground monsters.
• Flying monsters attacked the Hong Kong Sanctum, and Tony, Megatron, Blackout, and Stephen fought them as Captain Yang ran out of strength.
• The rift expanded again, overwhelming Tony’s airborne defenses and sending a vast swarm toward the defenders.
• Nearly a thousand Bat-Wing Soldiers emerged from the Sanctum and tore through the airborne monsters, while Ninja Soldiers, Blade Soldiers, Troll Soldiers, and other Shadow Legion troops attacked the ground horde.
• The Shadow Legion broke through the enemy ranks alongside the defenders, and a Shadow Devourer Soldier appeared on the battlefield.

Galacta and Megatron entered the Dark Dimension to cut off the expanding portal’s power while the Shadow Legion fought off its creatures. Dormammu sensed the raid on his dimension, abandoned his fight with Lu Qi and The Ancient One, and attacked Lu Qi as he tried to stop him.

• Galacta killed a Dimensional Demon God’s avatar, used its energy to strengthen Mordo’s soul, and hurried to the Hong Kong Sanctum.
• Galacta scanned the portal and confirmed its safety mechanism would let it shrink gradually after its energy supply was cut off; she gave Tony Mordo’s soul and entered the Dark Dimension with Megatron and the Shadow Legion.
• Galacta installed an energy isolation device, causing the portal to shrink, while she, Megatron, and the Shadow Legion battled the Dark Dimension’s creatures.
• Dormammu sensed the assault on his dimension and fled from Lu Qi and The Ancient One; Lu Qi caught up and tackled him, then ordered Megatron and the others to return.
• Dormammu revealed that the raid had cost him two billion units of energy and attacked Lu Qi in a fury.

Dormammu attacked Earth, and The Ancient One used the Time Stone and hundreds of preserved versions of herself to hold him off. As Lu Qi gathered nearly one hundred billion units of stored energy, the fight remained unresolved and he prepared to join it.

• Dormammu pursued Lu Qi, Galacta, and Megatron, but Lu Qi escaped with them through a portal and severed the connection to the Dark Dimension.
• Dormammu followed them into the Material World and destroyed the Hong Kong Sanctum, while Lu Qi fled into the Shadow World and left The Ancient One with the Time Stone.
• Dormammu attacked Galacta, and The Ancient One confronted him, using the Time Stone to accelerate herself and unleash powerful spells.
• The Ancient One trapped Dormammu in a fierce magical battle, then summoned more than a hundred versions of herself from preserved timestamps to bombard him.
• Lu Qi supplied The Ancient One with energy and moved nearly one hundred billion units of energy stored in crystals into the Dark Dimension, preparing to unleash his firepower against Dormammu.

Lu Qi returned to join The Ancient One’s fight against Dormammu, bringing Galacta and Tony to help. After Galacta swallowed the Space Stone and Tony attached the Reality Stone to his armor, the group relocated the battle to international waters, where Lu Qi gained an advantage underwater, though Dormammu began rising toward the surface.

• Tony used JARVIS to watch footage of The Ancient One fighting Dormammu, who grew to nearly a hundred meters tall.
• Lu Qi returned to Kamar-Taj, learned that no other Dimensional Demon Gods had appeared, and gave Galacta the Space Stone to defend Earth.
• Galacta swallowed the Space Stone and learned to control its power, while Tony attached the Reality Stone to his armor so he could assist.
• Lu Qi, Galacta, and Tony arrived just as Dormammu threatened The Ancient One; Lu Qi transformed, caught Dormammu’s punch, and fought him alongside the others.
• Galacta transported the battle from the city to international waters, where Lu Qi used the sea to weaken Dormammu and repeatedly struck him.
• Dormammu set Lu Qi alight and rose toward the surface, while Lu Qi circled him underwater looking for an opening.

Lu Qi, Tony, Galacta, and The Ancient One battled Dormammu, but his Dark Dimension began swallowing Earth and he drew on countless souls to attack Lu Qi’s Shadow World. After Lu Qi repelled the assault, Dormammu called for help, and several Dimensional Demon Gods arrived to surround them.

• Tony and Galacta attacked Dormammu while The Ancient One accelerated their allies with the Time Stone, but Dormammu resisted their efforts and quickly healed.
• Tony used the Reality Stone to create new armor that absorbed Dormammu’s energy beam and fired it back at him, giving Lu Qi an opening to strike Dormammu into the sea.
• Dormammu opened a rift to bring his Dark Dimension toward Earth, but Lu Qi deployed the Shadow World to hold it back.
• Dormammu used the souls of his servants to attack Lu Qi’s Shadow World, but Lu Qi bound and destroyed the souls before Dormammu could break through.
• Dormammu called on other Dimensional Demon Gods for help, and they appeared around Lu Qi and the others.

Lu Qi and his allies fought Dormammu, Mephisto, and the Dimension Lords after Earth’s defenses fell. Lu Qi lured the weaker Dimension Lords into retreat, then entered the Dark Dimension to battle Dormammu, while Tony and Galacta held off the remaining enemies; their fight remained unresolved.

• The Ancient One assigned herself to fight Mephisto, Lu Qi to fight Dormammu, and Tony and Galacta to face the other Dimension Lords.
• Galacta and Tony used their powers and the Infinity Stones to defeat Dimension Lords, while reinforcements—including an Intermediate Dimension Lord—put them under increasing pressure.
• Lu Qi used a phone recording of Dormammu offering to share Earth to make most of the weaker Dimension Lords flee.
• Lu Qi entered the Dark Dimension and summoned Shadow Devourer Soldiers as he confronted Dormammu.
• Dormammu grew larger by absorbing the Dark Dimension’s energy, broke Lu Qi’s twin scythes, and continued fighting him as Lu Qi increased his own power.

Lu Qi defeated Dormammu outside the Dark Dimension, but Dormammu’s collapse threatened Earth with a flood of Dark Energy. Galactus arrived and consumed the energy, then descended to Earth, where Galacta recognized him as her father.

• Lu Qi dragged Dormammu out of the Dark Dimension and disabled his Dark Energy, then forced him into battle outside it.
• Lu Qi learned from The Ancient One that he had to destroy Dormammu’s dimension or exhaust his source, and he depleted Dormammu’s power until Dormammu became a black crystal.
• Dormammu’s Dark Dimension began disintegrating and spilling Dark Energy toward Earth, so Lu Qi called Galacta for help.
• Galacta tried to devour the falling Dark Energy but quickly reached her limit, while Lu Qi struggled to contain the rest.
• Galactus seized the Dark Dimension, consumed its remaining Dark Energy, stabilized the Solar System, and descended to Earth.
• Galacta appeared before Galactus and called him Father.

Lu Qi and his allies defeated the invading Dimension Lords, and Uncle Galactus arrived to rescue Galacta and thank Lu Qi. As Uncle Galactus prepared to stay on Earth and study the AllSpark, he revealed that Galacta was pregnant with a Cosmic Tapeworm child; the group then planned to repair the Earth Formation and learned that Mordo's soul was at Kamar-Taj.

• Uncle Galactus devoured the Dimension Lords, while The Ancient One told Lu Qi that Mephisto had escaped.
• Uncle Galactus returned the Dark Dimension and Galacta returned the Space Stone, while The Ancient One gave Lu Qi the Time Stone; Tony removed the Reality Stone from his armor after Uncle Galactus warned it could damage Saturday.
• Uncle Galactus examined the AllSpark, offered to research how to increase Energy Crystals' capacity, and announced that he would stay on Earth.
• Uncle Galactus revealed that the Cosmic Tapeworms inside him and Galacta were their children, so Lu Qi agreed not to extract any more Devouring Source from Galacta.
• Lu Qi proposed that Stephen use the Time Stone to repair the Sanctums and sent Galacta to deal with the remaining Dimensional Demon God avatars.
• Tony offered Uncle Galactus Stark Tower's laboratory, then told Lu Qi that Mordo's soul was at Kamar-Taj, prompting Lu Qi and The Ancient One to head there.

Lu Qi and The Ancient One planned to free Corvus Glaive’s weapon from its soul so it could provide Mordo with a suitable body, and they decided to seek Johnny Blaze’s help. After Lu Qi upgraded his Conversion Module with Dormammu’s Dark Source, a Dark Dimension carrying Dormammu’s incomplete, revived form entered the Marvel Universe and headed for Earth.

• The Ancient One explained that Corvus Glaive’s weapon could create a body suited to Mordo’s soul, but dark magic was needed to remove Corvus Glaive’s soul from it.
• The Ancient One suggested finding Johnny Blaze, and she and Lu Qi planned to meet him at a Texas stunt performance and help him break his contract with Mephisto.
• Mephisto argued with Blackheart and resolved to activate a contingency on Earth to reclaim Blackheart’s authority.
• Tony told Lu Qi that Galactus was studying the AllSpark and modifying his laboratory, then left Kamar-Taj to return to Pepper.
• Lu Qi used Dormammu’s Dark Source to double the Conversion Module’s efficiency, while Dormammu’s surviving soul fragment revived inside a Dark Dimension and brought it toward Earth.
• Lu Qi sensed the arriving Dark Dimension and was puzzled that he seemed to have complete control over it.

Lu Qi briefed the Security Council on the Dimensional Demon Gods and oversaw the Trading Station’s adoption of Trade Coin. Back home, Galactus accepted Lu Qi and Galacta’s relationship developing naturally, then went to Stark Tower to study the AllSpark with Tony and Banner.

• Lu Qi learned that Galactus had parked his spaceship on the roof, then went to the Security Council to explain the Dimensional Demon Gods’ attack.
• The representatives reported that Dwarven weapons had killed two Dimensional Demon Gods who tried to seize goods at the Trading Station.
• Lu Qi reassured the national representatives that a specialized organization dealt with the Dimensional Demon Gods and said he would ask whether it would reveal itself.
• The Trading Station established Trade Coin, forged by the Dwarves from Jotunheim metal and engraved with Lu Qi’s and Odin’s portraits.
• Galactus told Lu Qi he would let Lu Qi and Galacta’s relationship develop naturally, while Lu Qi admitted he was unsure of his feelings.
• Galactus flew to Stark Tower and continued studying the AllSpark with Tony and Banner.

Lu Qi pondered his feelings for Galacta while preparing to join The Ancient One in investigating Johnny Blaze’s performance and Mephisto. At Stark Tower, Tony formed a matchmaking alliance to help Lu Qi understand his feelings, while Lu Qi remained unaware and planned against Mephisto.

• Lu Qi asked Galacta what she thought of him, then gave her Dark Crystals before leaving for Kamar-Taj.
• The Ancient One warned Stephen that time could not be fully controlled, using Lu Qi as an example of something that could alter the timeline.
• Lu Qi and The Ancient One discussed waiting until Johnny Blaze’s afternoon performance to look for Mephisto.
• Pepper brought pastries to the lab, where Tony, Banner, and Galactus took a break and discussed Galactus’s conversation with Lu Qi.
• Tony declared that he would help Lu Qi figure out his feelings for Galacta, forming Lu Qi’s Matchmaking Alliance without Lu Qi’s knowledge.

Lu Qi and The Ancient One watched Johnny Blaze’s record-breaking stunt and followed Mephisto as he plotted to use Ghost Rider against Blackheart. After interrupting Mephisto’s approach to Johnny, Lu Qi offered Johnny a deal: help him use the power inside him, and Lu Qi would reclaim Johnny’s soul and restore his freedom; the chapter ended with Lu Qi sending Johnny to reunite with Roxanne.

• Johnny moved the cars off the field, then leapt over six helicopters and landed safely, setting a world record.
• Lu Qi and The Ancient One followed Mephisto and learned that he intended Ghost Rider to kill Blackheart and leave the demon’s Hell Dimension authority intact.
• Mephisto went to awaken Johnny’s Ghost Rider power, but Lu Qi stabbed and erased his avatar before he could act.
• Lu Qi explained that he needed Johnny’s awakened power and offered to recover Johnny’s soul and freedom in exchange for his help.
• Lu Qi sent Johnny to meet Roxanne for their date and said he and The Ancient One would return the next day.

Lu Qi and The Ancient One forced Johnny’s Ghost Rider to lead them to Carter, the previous Ghost Rider, and obtained the Contract of San Venganza. The Ancient One planned to recruit help so they could get Blackheart to absorb the contract and use its power against Mephisto.

• The Ancient One explained that mages across Earth worked together to safeguard magic, and Lu Qi agreed to meet them with her someday.
• Lu Qi’s Shadow Ninjas beat Johnny until Ghost Rider emerged, then Lu Qi’s forces subdued him and let him escape on the Hell Cycle.
• Lu Qi, The Ancient One, and Johnny followed the Hell Cycle to a remote cemetery, where Carter mistook Lu Qi and The Ancient One for demons and tried to protect Johnny.
• The Ancient One recognized Carter as the previous Ghost Rider, cleared up the misunderstanding, and explained that they had come for the Contract of San Venganza.
• Carter gave them the contract, and Lu Qi silenced the evil spirits inside it with Dark Energy.
• The Ancient One proposed finding people to help persuade Blackheart to absorb the contract.

The Ancient One returned the Contract of San Venganza to Saint Michael's Church, where Blackheart found it and absorbed the evil spirits inside. Johnny and Carter confronted Blackheart, and Lu Qi joined the fight as Mephisto arrived to take control of the situation.

• The Ancient One arranged to return the contract to Saint Michael's Church, while Carter taught Johnny about Ghost Rider.
• Blackheart broke into the church, destroyed its seals, and tore the contract apart, absorbing the evil spirits and gaining power.
• Johnny transformed into Ghost Rider and attacked Blackheart, but Blackheart restrained him with evil spirits.
• Carter transformed into the Second-Generation Ghost Rider, blasted Blackheart apart, and forced him and the demons to flee the chamber.
• Carter and Johnny pursued Blackheart outside, where Mephisto arrived and revealed his plan to use the contract to control Johnny.
• Lu Qi appeared behind Mephisto, and a bolt of black lightning blasted Mephisto into fragments.

Lu Qi took the Hell Dimension’s authority after Johnny killed Blackheart, then resisted Mephisto’s attempts to reclaim it. He made Carter a Dark Knight and prepared to destroy the Hell Dimension with The Ancient One and Galactus.

• The Ancient One sealed Blackheart, and Johnny killed him with the Spirit of Vengeance, releasing a sliver of Hell’s authority.
• Carter attacked The Ancient One under Mephisto’s control, while Lu Qi fought off Mephisto’s avatar and intercepted Mephisto as he tried to take Johnny to hell.
• Lu Qi suppressed the Spirit of Vengeance, took the authority from Johnny, and absorbed it, but Mephisto damaged Johnny’s soul and caused Carter to rapidly age.
• Lu Qi restored Johnny by letting his soul fuse with the Spirit of Vengeance, then offered Carter a contract to become a Dark Knight.
• Carter returned as a black-armored rider on Nightmare, and Lu Qi ordered him and Johnny to clear the city of evil spirits before planning to destroy the Hell Dimension with The Ancient One and Galactus.

Lu Qi, The Ancient One, and Galactus attacked the Hell Dimension, where they fought Mephisto and the Dimensional Demon Gods he summoned. Mephisto escaped after losing his dimension, but Dormammu’s remnant captured him, while Lu Qi sensed that something was coming as the group headed back to Earth.

• Lu Qi and The Ancient One entered the Hell Dimension with Galactus, who began devouring its energy while Lu Qi attacked Mephisto.
• The Ancient One and Lu Qi battered Mephisto, but summoned Dimensional Demon Gods interrupted them and Mephisto escaped.
• Lu Qi and The Ancient One defeated the Dimensional Demon Gods while Galactus devoured their dimensions, and Lu Qi absorbed the ruined Hell Dimension into his Dark Dimension.
• Mephisto fled into Dimensional Space, encountered Dormammu’s remnant, and was swallowed by the Dark Dimension after Dormammu recognized him as Lu Qi’s enemy.
• As Lu Qi, The Ancient One, and Galactus traveled toward Earth, Lu Qi sensed that something was coming.

After the battle against Mephisto, Lu Qi learned that Johnny’s soul contract had vanished despite Mephisto’s escape and visited Tony’s lab, where he discussed Hulk, the AllSpark, and Tony’s living suits. The chapter ended when Tony discovered Happy and Thursday had disappeared after their last signal came from an abandoned ironworks, and he and Lu Qi prepared to investigate.

• Carter and Johnny defeated Earth Demon, and Lu Qi later told them Mephisto’s Hell Dimension had been destroyed, though Mephisto and Johnny’s soul contract were missing.
• Johnny and Carter shared their plans: Johnny would return to stunt riding and pursue Roxanne, while Carter would travel the world; Lu Qi gave Carter money before leaving.
• Lu Qi visited Tony’s lab, where Banner explained that he wanted to communicate with Hulk and Galactus revealed that the AllSpark could expand to the size of a planet.
• Tony told Lu Qi that his suits had formed rival factions, while Pepper arrived and asked about Happy’s absence.
• Tony discovered that Happy and Thursday had both disappeared and that Thursday’s last signal came from an abandoned ironworks, so he and Lu Qi decided to investigate.

Lu Qi and Tony traced Happy’s disappearance to AIM and found evidence of human experiments before locating him imprisoned on an island. They freed Happy, but AIM’s Extremis-enhanced soldiers pursued them as the Shadow Ninjas prepared to fight.

• Lu Qi and Tony investigated an abandoned ironworks, where blast evidence suggested explosions had moved before detonating.
• Lu Qi learned from Pepper that AIM’s Killian might be connected to Happy’s disappearance, and he and Tony searched AIM’s headquarters.
• Lu Qi’s Shadow Ninjas found human experiment records that pointed to an island, where Tony detected people with unusually high body temperatures.
• Lu Qi released thousands of Shadow Ninjas on the island, and they found Happy chained inside his armor in a basement.
• The Shadow Ninjas freed Happy and escorted him toward the island’s edge, killing guards along the way.
• AIM’s Extremis Soldiers pursued Happy through the forest as Tony warned him that the ninjas could self-destruct.