Chapter Summaries

Apocalypse attacked the X-Men, incapacitated Cyclops, Beast, and Professor X, then vanished with the professor. Xu Xiao took Jean Grey into his Divine Kingdom of Desire, where he contained the Phoenix personality with chains formed from the Dao of Desire.

• Apocalypse struck Cyclops and Beast, knocking them unconscious and trapping Beast beneath sand and gravel.
• Apocalypse ignored Charles's psychic attack, slapped him unconscious, and prepared to take him away.
• Jean Grey confronted Apocalypse, but he teleported away with Charles before Xu Xiao appeared and took her into his divine kingdom.
• The World Will reacted to Jean Grey's disappearance, then stopped when it could not detect an outsider.
• Phoenix surfaced in the Divine Kingdom of Desire and unleashed destructive psychic attacks, which Xu Xiao's divine kingdom nullified.
• Xu Xiao bound Phoenix with chains formed from the Dao of Desire.

Xu Xiao studied the Phoenix Force and fled with it to the Naruto World when its true body tried to reclaim it. There, he used his authority over the world to isolate and analyze the Phoenix Force, leaving Phoenix trapped in an unfamiliar universe.

• Xu Xiao compared the Phoenix Force to his Dao of Desire and considered anchoring his power to the life and emotions of many worlds.
• When the true Phoenix Force began withdrawing from Jean Grey, Xu Xiao crossed through the World-Crossing Gate to the apocalyptic main world and then the Naruto World.
• Xu Xiao sealed the Phoenix Force in his divine kingdom and waited nearly half a month to make sure it could not follow him across worlds.
• Xu Xiao brought his divine kingdom into the Shinobi World and used his authority to alter its laws and confine Phoenix in a region of outer space.
• Xu Xiao loosened his restraints enough to observe Phoenix’s attempts to resonate with the Naruto World’s life and emotional powers, while Phoenix remained trapped and unable to sense her source.

Apocalypse hid his connection to Xu Xiao, then completed his transfer into Professor X to gain telepathy and investigate the source of Mutant powers. He began drawing Mutants to him and planned to gather their abilities, help Xu Xiao, and disrupt the Marvel multiverse.

• Apocalypse sensed that Xu Xiao had disappeared, sealed his memories of him and Jean Grey, and resolved to investigate Mutant powers for Xu Xiao.
• Apocalypse built an energy-transfer pyramid in the Egyptian desert, weakened Professor X, and began transferring his consciousness into him.
• After about an hour, Apocalypse took over Professor X's body and sensed that an other-dimensional power had helped fuse their consciousness and genes.
• Apocalypse used his telepathy to identify Mutants across the globe and psychically draw them toward him.
• Apocalypse planned to collect Mutant powers, support Xu Xiao's plans, and disrupt the Marvel multiverse, starting with this world.

After Nina and Magda were shot by local police, Apocalypse saved them and persuaded Magneto to join his plan for Mutantkind. Magneto agreed to hear the plan and followed Apocalypse into the psychic transfer device in Egypt.

• Magda told Magneto that Nina was missing, and he found her held hostage by local police in the forest.
• An officer's arrow pierced Nina and Magda, and Apocalypse arrived and removed the arrow while beginning to heal them.
• Apocalypse sent Magneto to deal with the officers, and Magneto killed them before Apocalypse finished healing Magda and Nina.
• Magneto thanked Apocalypse, then followed him to Egypt while Magda and Nina stayed nearby.
• Apocalypse reminded Magneto of his ideals and explained his plan, and Magneto ultimately agreed to help.

Apocalypse used his influence in America to halt the military’s secret Mutant programs while secretly advancing Xu Xiao’s X Project. Xu Xiao directed him to focus on reaching other Marvel universes and spreading Mutants across them, leaving Apocalypse to continue operating in secret.

• Minister Pete received orders from the Supreme Council to suspend America’s secret Mutant-related research and distribute the directive to military departments.
• Stryker and other officers blamed Mutants for the decision, but their projects were shut down and their authority was removed.
• Apocalypse sat on the Supreme Council and reported to Xu Xiao through the Seed of Desire that he planned to develop and distribute an X-Gene reagent worldwide.
• Xu Xiao told Apocalypse to delay research into dimensional power and instead find a way to reach other Marvel universes, keeping Magneto as the public focus of the X Project.
• Xu Xiao planned to spread Mutants across multiple Marvel universes and investigate whether dimensional laws contributed to Mutant abilities and the Phoenix Force.

One month after losing his authority, Stryker hired a private detective to investigate who was researching Mutants and learned that powerful interests, including the government, were involved. FBI agents captured him and other anti-Mutant officials, and Magneto revealed himself as their captor.

• Stryker paid a New York detective to identify the groups researching Mutants, and the detective named major conglomerates and indicated the government was involved.
• The detective warned Stryker not to oppose those powerful interests and refused to accept future commissions about them.
• Several men attacked Stryker on the street, dislocated his limbs, and injected him with a sedative while bystanders let them act after seeing an FBI badge.
• Stryker awoke restrained beside other captives and realized that one of his attackers had been a Mutant.
• Magneto appeared before the prisoners, identified them as people who had persecuted Mutants, and taunted Stryker about being captured.

Apocalypse and Magneto carried out the X Project, transforming captured humans into Mutants while framing Magneto as the mastermind. Apocalypse planned to spread Mutants throughout the multiverse and establish himself as their representative as he continued seeking a way to cross between worlds.

• Apocalypse had brainwashed Magneto into supporting the X Project, which aimed to make Mutants numerous enough across the multiverse to secure their place in the universe.
• Xu Xiao changed the project into a multiversal seeding plan and intended for Apocalypse to become the embodiment and preacher of Mutants.
• Magneto captured Stryker and others to test the X-Gene and create villains who would make the world appear to oppose him.
• At a hidden command, Magneto's metal syringes injected the captives with the X-Gene while an unseen psychic force strengthened their memories of him.
• Apocalypse teleported away to continue researching multiversal travel, while Magneto locked up the newly made Mutants and staged their escape.

The Illuminati learned that the Phoenix Force had disappeared in another universe, and Professor X sent Jean Grey and the X-Men to investigate. After the team gathered intelligence, they found that the universe’s timeline was in complete disarray.

• Professor X warned the Illuminati that he had sensed a rising threat and that Jean had detected a missing Phoenix Force.
• The Illuminati agreed to monitor the multiverse and prepare to intervene if the threat grew beyond their expectations.
• Jean Grey and Scott led the X-Men through a portal to the affected universe to investigate the Phoenix Force’s disappearance.
• Scott divided the X-Men into separate teams so they could quietly gather information and later regroup.
• The X-Men reunited with darkened expressions after discovering that the universe’s timeline was in complete disarray.

The X-Men learned that a supervirus had turned most of the world’s population into Mutants and suspected Magneto might know who was responsible. Meanwhile, Apocalypse discovered how to cross between worlds and prepared to begin the Myriad Worlds Seeding Plan, as the X-Men set out to confront Magneto.

• Rogue confirmed that the farm couple had become weak artificial Mutants, while Scott and Jean worried that the hidden mastermind would be nearly impossible to find.
• The X-Men decided to target Magneto, who had become a popular leader helping governments calm the newly emerged Mutants.
• Apocalypse sensed the X-Men’s arrival, opened a space-time portal, and decided to settle his affairs before beginning the Myriad Worlds Seeding Plan.
• The X-Men learned Magneto would attend a meet-and-greet in Pennsylvania and planned an assault to reach him despite his guards and government security.
• Cyclops assigned Wolverine and Colossus to intercept the guards, Shadowcat to take Cyclops, Rogue, and Jean inside, and Iceman and Storm to hold off government forces.

Magneto prepared to lead the new humans and promote the creation of a Mutant god while the X-Men gathered at Long Island Park to confront him. As Magneto arrived, Scott launched the X-Men’s ambush and the crowd fled.

• Magneto reviewed the day’s schedule and committed himself to guiding the newly transformed Mutants, whom people now called new humans.
• Rogue wondered whether all people becoming Mutants might end human-Mutant conflict, but Jean argued that desire would continue to cause conflict and urged the X-Men to uncover the forces behind the altered timeline.
• The X-Men took their assigned positions at Long Island Park as Magneto arrived by aircraft and greeted the waiting crowd.
• Scott ordered the X-Men to move out, and Storm, Iceman, and Scott unleashed their powers while Shadowcat warned bystanders to escape.
• Magneto watched the X-Men’s surprise attack with composure and realized they had finally arrived.

The X-Men captured Magneto after Jean used the Phoenix Force to suppress his powers. Apocalypse arrived in World War II-era Northern Europe and prepared to introduce the X-Gene to the town’s people.

• Magneto used his enhanced magnetic powers to fend off Cyclops, Shadowcat, Jean, and Rogue as they tried to reach him.
• Rogue attempted to absorb Magneto’s power from a distance, but he blasted her, Shadowcat, and Jean away with his magnetic field.
• Jean used the Phoenix Force to break Magneto’s shield and suppress his Mutant ability, allowing Cyclops and Shadowcat to capture him.
• The X-Men regrouped with their teammates and escaped along their planned route with Magneto.
• Apocalypse arrived in World War II-era Northern Europe, scanned a city’s inhabitants, and found no trace of supernatural powers.
• Apocalypse took out a vial of improved X-Gene and prepared to use it on the town’s people.

Jack accepted the power of the God of Mutants and awakened as a powerful Mutant, while children and other oppressed people across occupied areas began evolving. Apocalypse watched as their belief in him started to form the concept of the God of Mutants.

• Jack worked in a frozen field under a German overseer until his worsening headache made him collapse.
• Jack saw the God of Mutants again and agreed to accept his power and fight for his new bloodline.
• The overseer whipped Jack, but Jack rose into the air and killed him with psychic force.
• Other children began experiencing painful awakenings, and Jack crushed nearby German soldiers with his power.
• People across the city’s factories, strongholds, and concentration camps began evolving and chose to accept the God of Mutants’ power for revenge.
• Apocalypse watched, satisfied that the recipients’ belief in him could help the concept of the God of Mutants coalesce.

After the Führer threatened Schmidt over superhuman resistance fighters disrupting German forces, Schmidt learned that HYDRA had found the Tesseract and headed for Norway. Apocalypse also ordered Jack and his New Mutant followers to seize the Tesseract and offer it to him.

• Schmidt returned to Hydra Base furious after the Führer blamed him for failing to stop superhuman resistance fighters and threatened to replace him or cut funding.
• A trusted aide told Schmidt that HYDRA had located the Tesseract, and Schmidt mobilized his forces for Norway.
• Apocalypse considered the dangers of revealing the Mutants too soon and saw the Tesseract as a way to travel between parallel universes.
• Apocalypse gave Jack an oracle to seize the Tesseract in Norway and bring it to him.
• Jack rallied his thousand New Mutant followers, who enthusiastically prepared to carry out the order.

The X-Men questioned Magneto about the world’s transformation, but he refused to explain and rejected their ideals. As they prepared to take him back to their universe, Xu Xiao arrived, killed everyone except Jean Grey, and took direct control of the situation.

• Scott questioned Magneto about what had happened to the world, while Magneto called the X-Men traitors to Mutantkind.
• Scott and Magneto clashed over whether Mutants could live in harmony with humans, and Jean said she could not probe Magneto’s mind without risking his escape or death.
• Shadowcat suggested taking Magneto to their universe for help from Jean and Professor X, and the X-Men agreed to return.
• Xu Xiao appeared and used chains woven from rules to restrain Jean and suppress the Phoenix Force within her.
• Xu Xiao turned Scott, Magneto, and the other X-Men to dust, leaving Jean alive as he took charge of the universe and prepared to draw the Marvel Universe’s attention.

Jack retrieved the Tesseract from the Nazis in Tønsberg and prepared to offer it to Apocalypse, but Thor arrived to reclaim it. Apocalypse sent the Tesseract through a portal to Asgard, and Jack and the other Mutants began fighting Thor as Apocalypse entered Asgard himself.

• Schmidt's troops recovered the Tesseract from a church in Tønsberg, but Jack and his followers stormed in and killed the Nazis, including Schmidt.
• Apocalypse appeared through a spatial rift and ordered Jack to offer him the Tesseract.
• Thor struck at Jack with lightning and demanded that he return Asgard's treasure.
• Apocalypse opened a portal to Asgard and told Jack to fight Thor; Jack sent the Tesseract through the portal and struck Thor.
• Jack and the other Mutants battled Thor and the Asgardians while Apocalypse stepped through the portal into Asgard.

Apocalypse invaded Asgard and devastated its defenders while Odin sent Loki to capture him. Loki tried to flee but Apocalypse seized him and began beating him.

• Odin ordered Loki to lead a team and capture Apocalypse.
• Apocalypse turned the advancing Asgardian guards and Valkyries to ash with his matter manipulation.
• Loki appeared and blocked Apocalypse's attack with magic, but his strength quickly drained.
• Loki tried to teleport away, but Apocalypse interrupted the escape and grabbed him.
• Apocalypse lifted Loki and began striking him with the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique.

Apocalypse fought Odin’s forces in Asgard, using Loki as a shield until Odin struck him with Gungnir. Apocalypse survived and seized the spear, then challenged Odin to decide whether the Tesseract was worth continuing the fight.

• Apocalypse used the injured Loki to fend off Asgardian warriors, and Odin’s enchanted armor joined the battle with Gungnir.
• Odin emerged through the armor and pierced Apocalypse’s chest with Gungnir, then rescued Loki and began lecturing him.
• Apocalypse stood up, healed, and pulled Gungnir from his chest, using Xu Xiao’s power to keep Odin from recalling it.
• Odin sensed that a powerful being stood behind Apocalypse and weighed the cost of fighting over the Tesseract.

Odin agreed to leave Apocalypse’s plans on Earth alone in exchange for Apocalypse keeping Asgard out of his affairs. Apocalypse returned to Earth, empowered Jack to Omega level, and found him and Thor poised to resume their deadly fight.

• Odin decided not to fight Apocalypse because he wanted to protect Thor and preserve Asgard’s strength.
• Apocalypse returned Gungnir, and he and Odin agreed not to interfere with each other’s interests.
• Apocalypse opened a portal to Earth after asking Odin to stop interfering with his actions in the mortal world.
• Jack and Thor continued their destructive fight in Norway, both nearly exhausted and unwilling to retreat.
• Apocalypse arrived, gave Jack a Seed of Desire, and raised his power to Omega level.
• Jack’s killing intent surged, and Thor raised his hammer to prepare for another fight.

After Thor left, Apocalypse gave Jack a mission to spread the X-Gene and turn people into Mutants, then used the Space Stone to travel to a parallel world. Meanwhile, Xu Xiao waited on Mount Everest for an opponent until a vast consciousness arrived and locked onto him.

• Apocalypse stopped Jack from pursuing Thor, and Thor left through the Bifrost after promising to return for another fight.
• Apocalypse gave Jack blue X-Gene serum and ordered him to spread it worldwide, especially among chosen children of destiny.
• Apocalypse absorbed the Space Stone and crossed into a parallel spacetime world.
• Jack gathered the scattered believers and prepared to use the X-Gene to create more Mutants.
• Xu Xiao waited on Mount Everest while analyzing the Phoenix Force, and a vast consciousness descended upon the Milky Way and targeted him.

Xu Xiao met Galactus and fought him in space after the two recognized each other as worthy opponents. As Galactus revealed his true form and unleashed his power, Xu Xiao summoned a near-identical figure and told it to fight next.

• Galactus arrived with Stardust, Firelord, Tyrant, and Silver Surfer after sensing Xu Xiao on Earth.
• Xu Xiao met Galactus aboard his spaceship, and they agreed to fight in space.
• Xu Xiao and Galactus exchanged punches, and their clash destroyed Galactus's spaceship.
• Galactus unleashed his full power and grew into an energy form as large as a medium-sized star.
• Xu Xiao produced a near-identical figure and told it to show Galactus its power.