Chapter Summaries

Black Cat tried to escape Spider-Man with Hydra’s stolen box, but she stalled him by mocking his love life. As Su Ming and Ancient One watched, Su Ming arranged for Hydra and The Hand to arrive and push Peter toward the Spider-Women Alliance.

• Spider-Man chased Black Cat across New York after she took the box from Hydra and The Hand.
• Black Cat cornered herself on a rooftop and accused Spider-Man of being a pervert, then called him a loser who would never get a girlfriend.
• Spider-Man stopped to sniff his suit and fell into despair while Black Cat delayed him by showing off and explaining that she planned to sell the box for Wilson products.
• Su Ming and Ancient One watched from above as Su Ming ordered the Adjutant to lure the Hydra and The Hand members toward the rooftop.
• Ancient One asked to attend Su Ming’s cousin’s wedding at TVA headquarters, and Su Ming asked whether her difficulty deciding was connected to Firmament.

Spider-Man and Black Cat fought The Hand over the box while Black Cat discovered Spider-Man was a teenage boy and teased him. Above them, Deathstroke identified the box’s contents as likely part of Black Sky’s bones, and the fight continued with Spider-Man gaining the advantage.

• The Hand surrounded Spider-Man and Black Cat, and the crimson-clad leader accused them of stealing the box.
• Spider-Man and Black Cat fought back-to-back as The Hand attacked, with Black Cat refusing to let go of the box.
• Black Cat realized Spider-Man was young and teased him with a promised reward, causing Peter to blush and lose control of his fake voice.
• Spider-Man kept fighting and webbing up the ninjas, while the battle’s outcome increasingly favored him.
• Ancient One sensed darkness and chaos in the box, and Deathstroke said it was probably a piece of Black Sky’s bones that The Hand had tried to buy from Hydra.

Su Ming explained the origins of ninjutsu and how Beast had secretly empowered The Hand with Shadow Magic. The chapter revealed that The Hand’s prized fossil was a piece of Beast’s bone, sought as part of his plan to return to the Main Dimension.

• Su Ming had Adjutant send Hydra and The Hand a warning, prompting Hydra to withdraw with the cash boxes while The Hand did not pursue.
• Su Ming described how ninjutsu combined repackaged qi techniques with diverse magic and energy-based powers.
• Su Ming recounted how Beast hid during the First God War, claimed the concepts of Shadow and Demon, and created lesser demons before Wayfinder and the first Captain Universe defeated him.
• Beast survived as a Demon Soul and later offered The Hand Shadow Magic in exchange for gathering his remains so he could be resurrected.
• Su Ming identified the fossil in the box as a piece of Beast’s bone, which Black Cat had recognized as valuable.

Spider-Man and Black Cat fought the ninjas on a rooftop until Su Ming secretly killed their red-clad leader. After the fight, Black Cat prepared to give Peter his reward, leaving him stunned by her suggestive gesture.

• Peter ran out of web fluid but used his Spider-Sense, strength, and agility to defeat dozens of ninjas alongside Black Cat.
• The red-clad ninja filled the rooftop with black smoke and attacked Black Cat, but Peter took the blade strike meant for her.
• Su Ming flicked a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean at the ninja, killing him and clearing the rooftop of smoke.
• Peter and Black Cat found the ninja's body below, and Peter blamed himself for failing to save him.
• Black Cat set down the box and teased Peter by tracing her finger down her body as she offered him his reward.

Peter turned down Black Cat’s attempt to seduce him and tried to persuade her to change her life, but she slipped away with the box and left him her card. Afterward, Deathstroke decided to buy the Beast’s bone from her and destroy it in Azeroth’s lava to prevent the Beast’s revival.

• Black Cat began unzipping her suit as a reward, but Peter covered his eyes and urged her to give up stealing and consider working for S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Peter talked at length about his uncle, his life as a hero, and his ordinary interests, then discovered Black Cat had escaped with the box and left a business card.
• Peter learned that Ned had heard his speech over their still-connected call, then headed toward Stark Industries before remembering he had run out of web fluid.
• Deathstroke and Ancient One agreed that the Beast’s bone posed a threat, and Deathstroke ordered the Adjutant to arrange a purchase from Black Cat and drop the bone into Blackrock Mountain’s lava.

Deathstroke and the Ancient One comforted Spider-Man after Black Cat escaped, then left to check on Steve. They found Steve trapped in an awkward mahjong game with Peggy, Sharon, and Bucky, while Deathstroke wondered why Steve would not accept both women.

• Deathstroke gave Spider-Man a bandage and candy, and the Ancient One reassured him that he had acted heroically.
• Spider-Man asked Deathstroke to find Black Cat and promised to attend Wade's wedding the next day.
• Deathstroke and the Ancient One went to Steve's house to observe another altered Destiny.
• They watched Peggy and Sharon trade veiled insults over Steve while Bucky wanted to leave and Steve silently urged him to stay.
• Deathstroke concluded that Steve could easily resolve the love triangle by accepting both women as his wings.

Ancient One explained why she had hesitated to join Su Ming in seeking out the people he had helped: her past encounter with the Absolute Protoss had shaped her connection to Firmament. She began recounting how she was captured after trespassing in one of their observation posts.

• Su Ming gave up on checking Steve's unhappy life and suggested that Ancient One visit Daisy and Jessica Jones instead.
• Ancient One brought Su Ming through a portal to the Wilson Group headquarters and said she already believed in his ability to change destiny.
• Su Ming proposed that they prepare to find Dormammu, but Ancient One said her hesitation concerned Firmament rather than Dormammu.
• Ancient One explained how she had gained magic from a Stone Tablet, parted ways with her friend Karu, and later traveled the multiverse to find her.
• Ancient One told Su Ming that the Absolute Protoss had captured her after she trespassed in one of their observation posts.

Ancient One told Deathstroke how she had been trapped by the Absolute Protoss and escaped with Eternity’s help in exchange for serving him after her death. Concerned that changing her Destiny would violate the agreement, Deathstroke set out to confront Eternity and promised to keep her alive, whatever the cost.

• Ancient One recalled meeting Ubiquitor after the Absolute Protoss captured her and being placed under house arrest on Earth-691.
• After months in captivity, Ancient One contacted Eternity, who freed her in exchange for her soul serving as his traveling companion after her death.
• Ancient One explained that she had accepted the deal when she was young and later returned to Earth to establish Kamar-Taj and protect the planet.
• Deathstroke realized that making Ancient One immortal could alter her Destiny and conflict with Eternity’s agreement.
• Deathstroke transformed into his armor and went to speak with Eternity, assuring Ancient One that he would save her even if God tried to take her away.

Su Ming explained the nature of the Firmament cycles and why Eternity could not prevent the Seventh Firmament from being destroyed. He left Ancient One to seek an acquaintance who could act as an intermediary, then encountered Mephisto at the entrance to his garden.

• Su Ming described how the Firmaments had changed across cosmic cycles and how the current era had no single Seventh Firmament entity.
• Su Ming reasoned that Eternity was bound to the Marvel Universe and could not stop the Seventh Firmament from being destroyed.
• Su Ming left Ancient One in his office and went to find an acquaintance to serve as an In-Betweener and lobbyist.
• Su Ming greeted Mephisto at the garden entrance and warned him not to cause trouble at Deadpool's wedding, which was on Su Ming's territory.
• Mephisto said he had been invited to Deadpool's wedding and explained that the souls in line came from Parallel Universes destroyed in the previous multiversal collision.

Su Ming visited Death to ask her to help negotiate with Eternity over Ancient One’s contract. He offered the favor he earned by killing Lord Mar-Vell and protecting Death’s fragments in the Cancerverse, leaving Death to consider his request.

• Su Ming and Mephisto discussed how souls were processed and sent through Death’s cycle of lives.
• Su Ming found Thanos presenting Death with a ring made from a collapsed star, but Death left Thanos to speak with Su Ming alone.
• Death asked whether Su Ming had come to invite her to Wade’s wedding, and he said he wanted her help negotiating with Eternity.
• Su Ming explained how Eternity had rescued Ancient One from the Absolute Protoss and deceived her into signing a contract.
• Su Ming asked Death to help void Ancient One’s contract and reminded her that he had killed Lord Mar-Vell to protect her fragments in the Cancerverse.

Deathstroke negotiated with Death to help void Eternity’s contract over Ancient One’s soul, offering her a secret meeting with Deadpool and an introduction to Constantine. Death accepted, and she and Deathstroke set out to find Eternity through the Other Shore and the Place of Non-Existent Existence.

• Death explained that the dead belonged under her management, giving Deathstroke grounds to challenge Eternity’s contract with Ancient One.
• Deathstroke offered Death secret meetings with Deadpool and, as an additional bargain, an introduction to Constantine.
• Death agreed to the deal, and Deathstroke swore a contract in the name of The One Above All.
• Death told Thanos to watch the house and warned Deathstroke that reaching Eternity required crossing the Other Shore and entering the Place of Non-Existent Existence.
• Deathstroke said he had come prepared and offered Death his Cloak as they began their journey.

Death took Slade to the hidden Far Shore Dimension, a gathering place created by Eternity and six Concepts. They reached its entrance, and Slade prepared to enter despite Death’s warning about the dangers within.

• Su Ming explained that the Far Shore Dimension was a private gathering place and transit station created by Eternity and the six Concepts he had made.
• Death told Su Ming that she and the other Cosmic Concepts had known about Eternity’s creations all along.
• Death promised Slade she would ask Eternity to void his contract and warned him not to try to sow discord among the five great Concepts.
• Death guided Slade through the cosmic expanse toward the Far Shore’s hidden entrance.
• Death and Slade reached a small pinkish-purple vortex, and Slade said he was ready to enter.

Death and Deathstroke entered The Other Shore, where they encountered three of the Seven Friendless watching a cartoon. Death led Deathstroke toward Eternity’s home, the Land of Couldn't-Be Shouldn't-Be.

• Death opened the way into The Other Shore, and Deathstroke saw Empathy, Epiphany, and Enmity watching Peppa Pig on a giant screen.
• Epiphany recognized Deathstroke, greeted him, and explained her plan to inspire humanity while living among humans as a painter.
• Enmity questioned Death about their destination, but fell silent after Death warned her not to provoke Deathstroke.
• Death led Deathstroke past the three manifestations toward a vortex that opened into the Land of Couldn't-Be Shouldn't-Be.

Su Ming and Death visited the Land of Couldn't-Be Shouldn't-Be to confront Eternity over his soul contract with the Ancient One. Eternity refused to hand it over, and Su Ming prepared to fight him.

• Su Ming and Death waited in Eternity's empty realm and discussed Wade's childhood.
• Death told Su Ming she wanted Eternity to transfer his soul contract with the Ancient One to her.
• Eternity appeared and asked why Death and Deathstroke had come together.
• Death demanded the contract, but Eternity refused and told them to leave.
• Su Ming drew his Lightsaber and challenged Eternity to withstand his attack.

Deathstroke used Godslayer to trap Eternity in a Happy Fun Tickle Chair, overwhelming the cosmic embodiment with tickling and distracting videos. Eternity was left helpless and laughing as Deathstroke tested the weapon's power.

• Death watched Deathstroke prepare Godslayer but stayed silent, recalling that Deadpool's wedding was the next day.
• Deathstroke commanded Godslayer to transform into a Happy Fun Tickle Chair and challenged Eternity.
• Eternity claimed Deathstroke could not touch him in his own space, but Godslayer bypassed his defenses and bound him to the chair.
• Golden hands tickled Eternity's feet and ribs until he burst into uncontrollable laughter.
• Deathstroke flew to Eternity's face and used his Power Ring to play slow-motion ear-cleaning videos to further disrupt him.

Deathstroke forced Eternity to reveal that Chthon had returned and was behind Nightmare’s attack on Wade, though Eternity did not know where Chthon was hiding. Su Ming demanded that Eternity hand over the contract with Ancient One for Death to destroy and attend Deadpool’s wedding on Earth.

• Deathstroke tickled Eternity into agreeing to surrender his contract with Ancient One.
• Deathstroke continued questioning Eternity about who had backed Nightmare’s attempt to lure Wade.
• Eternity identified Chthon as the one behind Nightmare and said Chthon had returned to form a balance with the Vishanti.
• Eternity said he had concealed Chthon’s return because of balance and did not know where Chthon was hiding.
• Su Ming ordered Eternity to give Death the contract to destroy and attend Deadpool’s wedding the next day.

Su Ming told Ancient One that Chthon and other evil gods had entered the universe, prompting her to summon the Vishanti and warn them. Oshtur declared that the Vishanti would fight any invading gods, while Su Ming suggested Chthon might be seeking revenge against her.

• Su Ming returned to his office and told Ancient One that Eternity had revealed Chthon and other evil gods had entered the universe.
• Ancient One contacted the Vishanti and explained the threat, including Eternity's decision to keep the information secret.
• Hoggoth criticized Eternity and suggested Oshtur would make a better Living Tribunal, but Oshtur rejected the idea.
• Su Ming suggested Chthon might be returning to take revenge on Oshtur for the God Eater that had once driven him away.
• Oshtur vowed that the Vishanti would fight the invading evil gods, and Agamotto agreed.

Su Ming explained to Gin how he had negotiated with Eternity and agreed to support his bid to replace the Living Tribunal. Their conversation ended when Sara's group arrived aboard the Waverider for the wedding, and Su Ming greeted Cindy instead of Sara.

• Su Ming told Gin that he had negotiated with Eternity by demonstrating his power, relying on Death's standing, and promising to support Eternity's ascension.
• Su Ming explained that he preferred to keep Eternity as a familiar ally rather than replace him with an unknown cosmic entity.
• Gin changed the subject and invited Su Ming to see her new pajamas, but he pointed out that another group of guests had arrived.
• The Waverider landed in the backyard, bringing Sara and the Legends to Su Ming's 40K Earth for the wedding.
• Su Ming welcomed the group, then passed Sara to embrace Cindy, who teased Sara by repeating her words.

Su Ming prepared TVA headquarters for Sara and Deadpool’s weddings, arranging separate venues and inviting a peculiar mix of guests. Batwoman arrived to attend both ceremonies after tracking down the headquarters, and she and Su Ming watched the strange guests enter.

• Su Ming admired the renovated TVA and its golden statues bearing his likeness while discussing the wedding arrangements with Strangle.
• Su Ming changed his mind and ordered seven million firecrackers prepared for the tower entrance, while the Adjutant asked why he had chosen that number.
• Batwoman appeared beside Su Ming in the rafters and said Harley had invited her to the weddings.
• Batwoman showed Su Ming invitations to both weddings, including Deadpool’s blood-written note, and said she had come to judge the strange invitation for herself.
• Batwoman and Su Ming watched Wade’s unusual guests enter the spire.

At the TVA gathering, Su Ming discussed tensions in the Justice League while Cindy prepared to surprise Steve. The chapter left Steve stunned after discovering that Deathstroke was a woman, as Peggy, Sharon, Bucky, and other agents watched.

• Batwoman told Su Ming that Diana and Barry had come to the TVA and that Hippolyta was angry about Diana’s investigation in Africa.
• Su Ming learned that Barry was touring his towers, Diana was looking for Gin, and Batwoman had gone to speak with Constantine.
• Deathstroke and Cindy identified Steve as their target, while Peggy and Sharon traded barbed remarks as they escorted him through the gathering.
• Cindy approached Steve and revealed that she was Deathstroke, reminding him that she had saved him and Bucky.
• Steve and Bucky stared in shock at Cindy, while a red-haired agent and a bald Black man with one eye watched nearby.