Chapter Summaries

Thor chose to climb a towering, lightning-struck mountain in the Thunder Domain as his trial to regain his status as the God of Thunder. Apocalypse took Tony and the others out of the Nine Heavens, and they returned to the crater with instructions about Thor and Coulson’s future work.

• Apocalypse showed Thor an enormous mountain covered in lightning, and Thor insisted on climbing it himself rather than being taken to the summit.
• Thor thanked Apocalypse for the chance, drained his King Fruit juice, and began his climb while Tony offered him encouragement.
• Apocalypse offered Tony and Coulson a chance to try a mountain, but Tony declined, and Coulson said he would wait until he had mastered the Tyrant ability.
• Apocalypse took Tony and the others out of the Nine Heavens, where they glimpsed Li Ge resting on a white bed before returning to the crater.
• Apocalypse told Tony to head back and reminded Coulson of his task, then instructed them to tell anyone seeking Thor that he had gone to undergo a trial.

Apocalypse met Odin, who asked about Thor and sought his help protecting Thor and Loki. Apocalypse confirmed Thor was training in the Nine Heavens and agreed to help Asgard when needed.

• Odin materialized before Apocalypse and the others, and Apocalypse recognized him as a powerful clone.
• Odin said the Ancient One had told him about Apocalypse’s glorious future, which impressed Tony and the others.
• Tony mocked Odin for raising Thor, but Odin ignored him and asked Apocalypse where Thor was and how he was doing.
• Apocalypse told Odin that Thor was undergoing a trial in the Second Heaven to master the true power of thunder.
• Odin let Thor continue his training and asked Apocalypse to help Thor and Loki if Asgard faced trouble.
• Apocalypse agreed to help Thor and promised to deal with Loki’s misbehavior.

Apocalypse negotiated with Odin for access to the World Tree and Asgard’s treasures, promising not to harm the Nine Realms’ tree and explaining that he wanted to copy its information for his Nine Heavens. Li Ge joined Odin to travel to Asgard while Apocalypse stayed on Earth, and he revealed that he himself was the Ninth Heaven and the endpoint of the Path to Godhood.

• Odin agreed to take Apocalypse to the World Tree and let him gather information on Asgard’s treasures after Apocalypse promised to leave the Nine Realms’ tree unharmed.
• Apocalypse said his main body was ready to go to Asgard, and Li Ge emerged from his Divinity while Apocalypse remained on Earth as his clone.
• Tony, Coulson, and the others examined the Nine Heavens in Li Ge’s hand and noticed that only eight layers were present.
• Li Ge explained that he had designed himself as the Ninth Heaven, beyond the reach of those following the Path to Godhood unless they could grow stronger than him.
• Tony complained that he would never catch up with Li Ge, and Li Ge told him to accept his place as a Subordinate God.
• Odin approved of Li Ge’s plan to gather strength from the wisdom of living beings and agreed to stake Asgard’s future on him.

Li Ge traveled to Asgard with Odin, where he scanned Heimdall’s eyes while Apocalypse prepared to protect Thor’s romantic destiny on Earth. Loki went to the Bifrost intending to visit Thor, then found Odin and Li Ge there and froze in alarm.

• Odin declined Li Ge’s invitation to watch Thor’s trial and took Li Ge to Asgard using Gungnir.
• Apocalypse told Coulson that S.H.I.E.L.D. could leave the crater and asked him to take him to Selvig’s astronomy team.
• Odin permitted Li Ge to scan Heimdall’s eyes, and Heimdall cooperated.
• Loki discovered that Gungnir had vanished and worried that Odin had awakened and learned of his plans.
• Loki went to the Bifrost to travel to Midgard, then saw Odin and Li Ge in the control room and stammered in surprise.

Li Ge asked Odin to let Loki work for him, and Odin agreed, hoping both of his sons would benefit from the Nine Heavens. Loki accepted Li Ge's offer and entered the Nine Heavens to explore its powers, while Odin led Li Ge toward the treasury.

• Odin introduced Li Ge to Loki and called Li Ge his equal in power, leaving Loki stunned.
• Li Ge asked Odin if Loki could work for him, and Odin agreed after considering Asgard's future.
• Odin urged Loki to follow Li Ge and said he hoped Loki would surpass him, moving Loki deeply.
• Loki accepted the offer and agreed to work for Li Ge, who said he could also be called Immortal.
• Li Ge sent information into Loki's mind and drew him into the Nine Heavens to explore and seek power.
• Odin invited Li Ge to see the treasury and led the way across the Bifrost.

Li Ge toured Asgard with Odin and explored the treasures in its treasury, deciding which ones could help his Nine Heavens. Odin agreed to let him take the Tablet of Life and the Eternal Flame while he gathered information on the other artifacts.

• Li Ge followed Odin through Asgard, observing its splendor and magical creations on their way to the treasury.
• Odin opened the treasury and invited Li Ge to examine its treasures and take anything that interested him, as long as he did not empty the place.
• Odin showed Li Ge treasures including the Casket of Ancient Winters, the Tablet of Life, the Eternal Flame, the Infinity Gauntlet, and the Destroyer Armor.
• Li Ge chose the Tablet of Life and the Eternal Flame and asked to stay to gather information from the other treasures.
• Odin agreed to let Li Ge take both artifacts, reasoning that keeping the Eternal Flame from Surtur would help protect Asgard from Ragnarok.

Li Ge placed Loki in the Thunder Domain, where Loki set out to see Thor’s trial and considered gaining lightning power himself. After witnessing the deadly lightning covering the highest peak, Loki abandoned the climb and accepted that he could not match Thor through this trial.

• Li Ge collected the Tablet of Life and the Eternal Flame into his Divinity World while Odin returned to his Odinsleep.
• Loki arrived in the Nine Heavens, recognized the Thunder Domain, and decided to find Thor at the highest peak.
• Loki crossed the Thunder Domain, observing its lightning-covered mountains and the steps winding up their slopes.
• Loki reached the foot of the highest peak and saw lightning covering the entire mountain, realizing that climbers had to endure its strikes all the way to the summit.
• Loki tried climbing a few steps but quit because the needle-like pain convinced him he could not endure the trial or gain power comparable to Thor’s.

Loki abandoned his attempt to match Thor on the lightning mountain and left the Thunder Domain. In a desolate place in the First Heaven, Grant Ward struggled to understand his surroundings and began relying on cactus for food, uncertain whether he could ever escape.

• Loki endured the lightning on the mountain but gave up climbing, then left the Thunder Domain despite hearing a roar behind him.
• Grant Ward, stranded in an unfamiliar land after Apocalypse brought him there, failed to contact anyone or find signs of human life.
• Grant concluded that the place might be an independent world created by Li Ge and focused on surviving there.
• With his food gone and his water running low, Grant cut edible cactus into pieces and ate it.

Coulson gained Nick Fury’s approval to lead an excavation and went to the Arctic to find Captain America. He uncovered the frozen plane and found Captain America still trapped in the ice.

• Nick Fury assigned Coulson to lead the search for Captain America and ordered Natasha and Barton to stay in contact with Apocalypse.
• Coulson quickly assembled an excavation team and traveled to the Arctic location provided by Apocalypse.
• The team detected a faint biological signal beneath the ice, and Coulson transformed into his Tyrant Form to descend into the cavern.
• Coulson found a World War II-era plane sealed in the ice and cut an opening into it.
• Coulson and the agents found Captain America frozen beneath the cockpit beside his shield, and Coulson welcomed him back.

After S.H.I.E.L.D. revived Steve Rogers, he learned that he had been frozen for seventy years. Apocalypse told him Peggy Carter was still alive, leaving Steve struggling to face a world that had moved on without him.

• Coulson freed Captain America from the ice, placed him in a special container, and brought him to a prepared location.
• Steve woke in a staged hospital room and cautiously questioned Nick Fury, Coulson, and Apocalypse.
• Nick Fury explained that Steve had been frozen in the Arctic for seventy years after his plane crashed with Red Skull.
• Steve grieved that he had missed his promised dance with Peggy Carter.
• Apocalypse told Steve that Peggy was alive and living in a nursing home, deepening Steve’s uncertainty about his place in the changed world.

Apocalypse told Steve Rogers, Nick Fury, and Coulson that Hydra had survived and infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. He revealed Grant Ward and John Garrett as Hydra members, leaving Nick Fury and the others to investigate them.

• Apocalypse offered everyone juice and began explaining what had happened while Steve was asleep.
• Coulson recalled that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s predecessor had been founded to fight Hydra.
• Apocalypse revealed that Hydra still existed and had nearly merged with S.H.I.E.L.D., unbeknownst to Nick Fury.
• Apocalypse said he had caught Grant Ward watching his base and learned that Ward belonged to both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra.
• Apocalypse identified Ward's superior, John Garrett, as another S.H.I.E.L.D. member who belonged to Hydra.

Harry faced his first chance to use the powers Li Ge had given him when Sandman robbed an armored truck in New York. After helping stop the truck, Harry made his striking debut as a masked, winged hero, while Flint Marko lay scattered across the street.

• Apocalypse told Nick Fury and Steve that Grant Ward and John Garrett were Hydra, then teleported away.
• Sandman, Flint Marko, robbed an armored truck in New York while police pursued him.
• Harry escorted Mary Jane to safety, returned alone, and changed into the combat uniform Li Ge had designed for him.
• Harry revealed his blood-crystal wings and weapons, then sent crystal daggers into the truck's front tires.
• The armored truck crashed into a wall, and Flint Marko was thrown into the street, where his body collapsed into sand.

Harry fought Flint Marko after discovering that his new Ghoul power stirred a destructive urge, while Flint Marko used his sand body to overpower Harry in close combat. Harry escaped and took to the air again, regretting that he had let Flint Marko get near him.

• Harry suppressed his urge to destroy and wondered about Flint Marko's sand-based ability.
• Harry attacked Flint Marko with blood-crystal spikes, piercing his body, but Flint Marko re-formed from sand.
• Flint Marko turned his arm into a tentacle, caught Harry, and slammed him to the ground before pounding his head.
• Harry blocked Flint Marko's punches with his wings, cut through the sand binding his legs, and shoved Flint Marko away.
• Harry flew out of Flint Marko's reach and regretted choosing close combat instead of wearing him down with ranged attacks.

Harry struggled to stop Flint Marko from escaping with the stolen money, and the police arrived but could not intervene. Peter joined the fight as Spider-Man, but Flint escaped Peter's web by turning into sand and re-forming near the money bag.

• Harry fired a blood-red beam at Flint Marko, but Flint dodged it after his sand barrier held long enough.
• Flint Marko grabbed a bag of money from the armored truck and tried to flee as two police officers arrived.
• Harry attacked Flint Marko with blood-crystal spikes while the officers waited for backup.
• Peter swung onto the scene, introduced himself as Spider-Man, and offered to help Harry.
• Peter webbed Flint Marko by surprise, but Flint dropped the money bag, became sand, slipped through the web, and re-formed beside the bag.

Harry’s rage led him to blast Flint Marko with beams that vitrified his upper body, and he feared he had killed him. Peter noticed Flint Marko’s sand legs were still intact, and when they began moving, Harry called for Peter to web him before he escaped.

• Flint Marko trapped Peter’s hand in his sand body and struck him hard enough to send him tumbling across the ground.
• Harry charged Flint Marko with blood-crystal claws, then stopped short and fired red beams at his head and chest.
• Harry stopped the attack when Flint Marko screamed, revealing that the beams had turned his upper body into glowing glass.
• Peter and Harry feared Flint Marko was dead until Peter noticed his sand legs had not collapsed and began to stir.
• Harry urged Peter to web Flint Marko before he could escape.

Harry and Peter captured the weakened Flint Marko after he became a glass sculpture and a struggling clump of sand, then escaped while two police officers planned to claim credit for the arrest. Harry handed Flint to Peter to take to Apocalypse so Li Ge could collect his power, while Harry declined to join him.

• Peter wrapped Flint Marko’s shifting sand body in webbing and, with Harry’s help, sealed it inside a sphere.
• Harry told the two officers to investigate the armored truck and flew away with the captured criminal as Peter swung after him.
• After Harry and Peter left, the officers agreed to tell their chief that they had defeated the criminals and claim the credit.
• Harry and Peter changed back into civilian clothes in a deserted corner, and Harry gave the web-wrapped Flint to Peter to take to Apocalypse.
• Peter asked Harry to come along and see the reward, but Harry said he did not care about it.

Peter accepted Harry’s offer to split their reward, while Apocalypse completed the King Fruit Tree that would provide enhanced abilities for the First Heaven. After learning of the tree’s creation in Asgard, Li Ge made a miniature copy and decided to begin planning the opening of the first two heavens.

• Harry insisted that he and Peter split the reward, and Peter agreed after Harry left.
• Peter returned to the research base and wondered whether Apocalypse had been slacking off.
• Apocalypse used Captain America’s serum information, King Fruit information, and Redstone energy to create a tree that could produce enhancement fruits.
• Apocalypse removed the serum’s trait-amplifying side effect and incorporated it into the Dark Domain’s power.
• Li Ge learned of the completed King Fruit Tree, created a miniature copy, and decided to plan the first two heavens.

Apocalypse completed the First Heaven and showed Nick Fury and Coulson’s team the way there. The group arrived in its barren landscape, where Nick Fury got his first glimpse of the new realm.

• Peter brought Flint Marko, trapped in a writhing ball, to Apocalypse and described how Harry had burned most of his body into glass.
• Apocalypse identified Flint Marko, paid Peter ten million, and sealed him inside a reinforced glass prison.
• Apocalypse visited Nick Fury and invited him to see the Nine Heavens, prompting Fury to gather Coulson’s team.
• Nick Fury put Maria Hill in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. while Steve continued investigating Hydra within the organization.
• Apocalypse teleported the group to the First Heaven, where Nick Fury saw its barren landscape for the first time.

Apocalypse sent Nick Fury, Coulson, Natasha, and Barton into the First Heaven, a harsh desert trial designed to test their willpower before granting them the ability to develop their potential. As they searched for water and endured mounting psychological pressure, they encountered Grant Ward.

• Apocalypse explained that the First Heaven tested willpower and offered two clues: cacti and emotional changes.
• Nick Fury, Coulson, Natasha, and Barton explored the barren landscape, conserving their strength and searching for food and water.
• The group felt an inexplicable urge to flee, and they realized the trial was testing them psychologically as well as physically.
• Coulson spotted a figure near a cliff, and the group recognized him as Grant Ward.

Nick Fury and his team encountered Grant Ward in the First Heaven, where Fury revealed that he knew Grant was Hydra and explained that Grant could not take the trial for power. Grant surrendered his pistol and led them to his shelter, hiding the rebellious anger that had returned after his hopes were crushed.

• Nick Fury recognized Grant Ward, and Coulson explained to Natasha and Barton that Grant was a Hydra agent.
• Grant approached the group but stopped when he heard Coulson’s explanation and saw the others readying their weapons.
• Nick Fury accused Grant of spying on Li Ge’s base and confirmed that the First Heaven was Li Ge’s trial ground, where people could gain power.
• Nick Fury told Grant he was not qualified to take the trial, and Grant’s hopes collapsed when he understood it as Apocalypse’s revenge.
• Coulson asked Grant for his dangerous belongings, and Grant handed over his pistol.
• Nick Fury ordered Grant to lead the group to his shelter, and Grant obeyed while concealing his renewed anger.