Chapter Summaries

Alex returned to the Floating Giant Island and helped the mutants counter Hydra’s invasion, then freed his frozen body to copy Erik’s and Sebastian Shaw’s abilities. He came back to the battlefield ready to launch a stronger counterattack.

• Alex returned to the Floating Giant Island, where Hydra’s robots were destroying the island, and joined the fight as a fire phoenix.
• Tessa announced Alex’s return, inspiring the mutants to renew their attack, while Red Skull grounded the robots to limit Alex’s aerial assault.
• Alex asked Emma to release his body so he could copy Erik’s magnetic abilities, but Emma refused and urged him to release Erik instead.
• Alex flew to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, transferred his consciousness back into his original body, and copied Erik’s and Sebastian Shaw’s abilities.
• Emma’s body transformed into diamond, and she used her new Diamond Form to pierce through a robot and its Hydra soldier.
• Alex returned to the battlefield with his abilities restored and declared that the counterattack was beginning.

Alex began the counterattack by drawing Hydra’s robots into an attack and absorbing their energy, but Red Skull’s second volley left him racing through the sky to protect the mutants on the Floating Giant Island. He used flickering energy shields to keep the pursuing shells at bay as he neared safety, while Red Skull could only watch.

• Alex copied Alex’s Energy Impact Beam, warned Charles and the others, and used Erik’s electromagnetic ability to pull Hydra’s robots toward him.
• Red Skull ordered thousands of robots to fire their energy shells at Alex, but Alex absorbed the volley after his three energy screens filtered its impact.
• Red Skull ordered a second volley, and Alex flew toward it to absorb the energy gradually and prevent the explosions from destroying the island.
• Alex used alternating energy shields to slow the pursuing shells while he flew ahead of them.
• Red Skull watched helplessly as Alex neared safety and regretted not equipping the robots with more special shells.

Alex destroyed Hydra’s robots with a massive Energy Shockwave but nearly collapsed from the toxins in his body. After Joshua helped suppress the toxins, Alex learned that Strucker’s forces were approaching the X-Men and teleported away to respond.

• Alex absorbed the remaining artillery energy and unleashed a spherical Energy Shockwave that destroyed Hydra’s robots.
• Red Skull fled, but paused to decide to cause Alex trouble before disappearing into an alley.
• Emma urged Alex to transfer his consciousness back, but Alex refused while Strucker remained a threat.
• Joshua and Alex combined their abilities to force the toxins out of Alex’s cells and temporarily stabilize him.
• Tessa told Alex that Strucker’s forces were approaching and that Crystal had taken some of the X-Men to intercept them.
• Alex blamed Tessa for not telling him sooner and teleported away.

Alex found Crystal leading the X-Men in a counterattack against AIM, whose launchers had run out of shots, and joined the slaughter. After reuniting with Crystal, he scolded her for leaving the Floating Giant Island to find him, and she refused to return with him.

• Alex followed the signs of battle and discovered Mandarin had killed AIM soldiers with Cutting Beams.
• Alex found Crystal and more than a dozen X-Men overwhelming AIM after the soldiers' launchers ran out of ammunition.
• Alex joined the attack and killed AIM soldiers while Strucker ordered reinforcements and high-power electromagnetic launch devices to stop him.
• Crystal greeted Alex happily, but he angrily rebuked her for leaving the Floating Giant Island unprotected.
• Alex apologized and urged Crystal to return with him, but she stubbornly refused.

Alex led Crystal and the X-Men through AIM’s ranks, but the approaching dinosaur army and Strucker’s electromagnetic interference trapped them on the battlefield. After sending most of the X-Men away, Alex charged toward Strucker, and Crystal realized he had returned to his toxin-ridden body.

• Alex dragged Crystal through AIM’s soldiers while the remaining X-Men followed, and a dinosaur army charged onto the battlefield.
• Crystal agreed to retreat for the other X-Men, but Alex’s Teleportation failed because of electromagnetic interference.
• Alex gave energy wings to the seventeen X-Men, sending eleven away while six stayed to fight beside him.
• Alex urged the group to spread out and stay alive, then charged through the dinosaur horde toward Strucker.
• Alex’s Blade Wall cut down the dinosaurs in his path, and Crystal realized he had changed back into his own body.
• The six X-Men urged Crystal to focus on surviving, and she wiped away her tears and watched Alex with renewed resolve.

Alex and Crystal nearly wiped out AIM’s forces in the Savage Land, but Strucker threatened to destroy its ecosystem unless Alex died. Alex discovered that Strucker had arranged for the destruction to happen even if he was captured or killed, leaving Alex unable to stop him by force.

• Crystal arrived behind Alex, and he realized her emotions had helped her break through and strengthen her control over the four elements.
• Alex absorbed the AIM soldiers’ bullets and turned their energy into beams that cut down their ranks before he shook the ground and nearly buried the army.
• Crystal followed Alex’s example by making pits swallow more AIM soldiers, leaving the army almost completely wiped out.
• Strucker threatened to destroy the Savage Land’s ecosystem, and Alex found that controlling Strucker could not stop AIM’s contingency plan.
• Strucker demanded that Alex die, and Alex suppressed his anger because killing Strucker could still trigger the ecosystem’s destruction.

Alex and the X-Men confronted Strucker, but Crystal killed him and proposed that the mutants build a home of their own. As the Savage Land began to suffer catastrophic changes, Alex ordered everyone to evacuate immediately.

• Strucker gave Alex an ultimatum: die or let the Savage Land be destroyed, and Crystal attacked him, smashing him into Poseidonia and apparently killing him.
• Crystal proposed that the mutants establish their own home like Attilan, and Alex returned to discuss the idea with Emma.
• Bowl-sized hail began falling across the Savage Land, and Alex discovered that the Floating Temple had been destroyed again.
• Emma explained that Red Skull had freed Erik and Mystique, while Sebastian Shaw remained imprisoned; Alex warned that Strucker was dead and the Savage Land was about to be destroyed.
• Alex comforted Emma, then ordered Tessa to summon everyone to the Floating Giant Island so they could leave the Savage Land at once.

As the Savage Land was devastated by catastrophic storms, earthquakes, fires, and floods, Alex and the others struggled to shelter its survivors on the overcrowded Floating Giant Island. With the island failing and its Force Field nearing collapse, Alex arranged to admit the arriving Pterodactyl-men and savages, but Tessa questioned how he could evacuate everyone.

• The Savage Land suffered widespread destruction, killing countless Descendants of Atlantis, Swamp People, savages, and beasts as survivors fled toward the Floating Giant Island.
• Alex used the Tesseract-enhanced Teleportation to bring the scattered mutants and some Descendants of Atlantis onto the island, which became dangerously overcrowded.
• Emma warned Alex that the island could not hold everyone, and he sent Crystal to carve out underground space with help from people skilled in earth manipulation and construction.
• Pterodactyl-men arrived carrying savages, while Tessa warned that the island would fall in ten minutes and its Force Field would disappear in five.
• Alex decided to admit the newcomers through an opening beneath the island rather than lower the Force Field, then relayed instructions to Crystal and the Pterodactyl-men.
• Tessa asked Alex how he intended to evacuate the crowded island and everyone on it.

Alex tried to move the entire Floating Giant Island using the Tesseract and his Teleportation ability, despite Emma and Tessa realizing the attempt could kill him. He enveloped the island with his Psionic Power and activated Teleportation, enduring excruciating pain as the chapter ended before the outcome was clear.

• Alex vanished from where he stood and appeared in midair with the Tesseract, prompting Emma and Tessa to wonder how he planned to move the island.
• Emma realized Alex intended to use the Tesseract and his Teleportation ability to move the Floating Giant Island, and she collapsed in terror at the danger to him.
• Tessa explained that Alex might overwhelm his consciousness and suffer brain death, though she said there might still be hope.
• Alex confirmed that Crystal had gathered the Pterodactyl-men, the other savages, and the beasts, then shouted for everyone to go.
• Alex spread his Psionic Power over the entire island and activated Teleportation as the Tesseract erupted, leaving him convulsing in agony.

Alex used the Tesseract to shield the Floating Giant Island from lightning as the Savage Land collapsed, but the strain worsened his condition. With the island still trapped, he summoned Crystal and others toward him after Tessa realized what he intended to do to escape.

• Alex’s Teleportation was interrupted by lightning, and the Floating Giant Island began falling into the abyss.
• Alex formed a pale-blue barrier around the island, protecting its inhabitants from the next wave of thunder.
• Tessa warned Emma that Alex was badly injured, while Alex silently mouthed reassurance to Emma.
• A falling dome fragment pierced the barrier, but Alex destroyed it, absorbed the lightning that entered, and sealed the breach.
• Alex’s overuse of energy caused the toxins in his cells to flare up again, but he called Crystal and others to him.
• Crystal and several people began rising toward Alex, and Tessa recognized his plan and said they could escape.

Alex and the mutants worked together to raise the Floating Giant Island toward a breach in the Savage Land’s dome so they could escape. After Crystal and her group opened a passage through the frozen soil, the island finally emerged into the outside world.

• Emma and Tessa organized mutants to prepare protective equipment and help power the Floating Giant Island’s ascent.
• Alex reassured Crystal about killing Strucker and sent her group to open a passage through the dome, protecting them with an energy barrier.
• Alex used the Tesseract to propel the Floating Giant Island upward as Crystal and her group rode the winds toward the dome.
• Crystal and her group broke through seventeen or eighteen meters of frozen soil, revealing the night sky and opening a breach.
• After Tessa announced that the passage was ready, more mutants joined the effort and accelerated the island’s ascent.
• Thirty-two hours after the apocalypse began in the Savage Land, Alex guided the Floating Giant Island through the breach and into the outside world.

Alex teleported the Floating Giant Island out of Antarctica and onto the ocean, but the Black Energy Toxin consumed his body during the escape. Emma helped organize the island’s million-plus inhabitants before Tessa told her Alex was missing, leaving his fate uncertain.

• The Floating Giant Island left the dome, and Alex guided it away from Antarctica while its inhabitants celebrated seeing the outside world.
• Black Energy Toxin began consuming Alex, so he used the Tesseract and his Psionic Power to teleport the island over the ocean.
• The island crashed onto the sea, but its energy barrier protected the inhabitants from the waves and much of the impact.
• Emma searched for Alex, then worked with Tessa to organize the island’s expansion and reconstruction for its crowded population.
• After the urgent work was underway, Tessa stopped Emma and told her that Alex seemed to be missing.

Emma learned that Alex had vanished in a beam of seven-colored light rather than died, and she clung to the hope that he could be found. A month later, the Floating Giant Island had been rebuilt, and Vivien Leigh and the other women joined the search while Alex’s whereabouts remained unknown.

• Tessa told Emma that witnesses had seen Alex disappear in seven-colored rainbow light, and Emma confirmed the account with more than a dozen people.
• Over the next month, Emma oversaw the expansion and reconstruction of the Floating Giant Island, strengthening its defenses and establishing farms, laboratories, and X-Men facilities.
• On the fortieth day, Vivien Leigh and the other two women confronted Emma for keeping Alex’s disappearance from them, and Howard admitted he had let the news slip.
• Emma explained that Alex was missing and that the islanders and S.H.I.E.L.D. were searching for him, while the women vowed to wait for his return.

Alex woke on the Shi'ar homeworld after being unconscious for half a month, discovering through telepathy that Lilandra had rescued and cared for him. He had no memory of how he arrived and found no mention of Earth in Lilandra’s memories, while a formidable winged Shi'ar woman confronted him.

• Alex woke in a luxurious room and realized he could understand the unfamiliar language through telepathy.
• Alex recalled escaping the collapsing Savage Land with the Floating Giant Island, then realized he had lost all memory of the following half month.
• Alex read Lilandra’s memories and learned he was on Planet Feather, the Shi'ar homeworld, and that Lilandra was a royal who had saved and treated him.
• Alex searched Lilandra’s memories for Earth but found no information about it.
• A winged Shi'ar woman appeared and ordered Alex to stop pretending to sleep, prompting him to spring from the bed.
• Lilandra excitedly welcomed Alex, who smiled at her with gratitude for caring for him.

Alex introduced himself as a human from Earth, but the Shi'ar Empress suspected him of lying and ordered Warlord to seize him. Alex discovered his copied abilities were still intact, defeated Warlord's attack, and was left facing questions about Earth after learning the Shi'ar believed he carried the scent of a Kree.

• Alex told the imposing woman that he was a human from Earth, but she accused him of lying and summoned Warlord and armed guards.
• The woman was revealed to be the Shi'ar Empress, who ordered Warlord to seize Alex.
• Alex realized his copied abilities had not vanished, absorbed energy from Warlord's grip, and punched him away.
• Lilandra asked Alex to prove he was from Earth, but he could not because no one present knew of it.
• The Shi'ar Empress claimed Alex carried the scent of a Kree, and Lilandra explained that the Kree and Skrull empires were powerful rivals.
• The Empress asked what level of civilization Earth was, and Alex questioned what she meant.

Alex learned the Shi'ar Empire's civilization-level classification and admitted that Earth had not reached Level 1. The Shi'ar Empress assigned him to the Imperial Guard to keep him under watch, insisting that he remain in the empire because Earth was no ordinary place.

• The Shi'ar Empress explained the three civilization levels, and Alex realized the Shi'ar Empire was Level 3 while Earth was below Level 1.
• Warlord questioned how Alex had reached the Shi'ar Empire, and Lilandra and Warlord both said they believed Alex's claim that he did not know.
• The Shi'ar Empress assigned Alex to the Imperial Guard, where Warlord served as captain, effectively placing him under surveillance.
• After others challenged the decision, the Shi'ar Empress insisted Alex must remain in the empire and declared that Earth was no ordinary place.

Alex was taken to the Imperial Guard’s temporary base on Planet Feather and brought to a public spar with Warlord. He concealed most of his abilities and began fighting using only his physical strength and martial skill.

• Lilandra led Alex to the Imperial Guard’s base, where Warlord explained that it was a temporary station.
• Lilandra hurried Alex to the arena for the Imperial Guard’s required spar with Warlord, where the Shi'ar Empress and a crowd of spectators watched.
• Alex decided to hide most of his powers and attack Warlord using only his enhanced physique.
• Warlord vanished from Alex’s path, but Alex anticipated his return and nearly struck him with a punch.
• Alex twisted past Warlord’s counterpunch and drove an Iron Mountain Lean toward his chest.

Alex fought Battle Sword in the Shi'ar Empire and revealed his true strength after an unknown telepath urged him to defeat his opponent. Neither warrior could overcome the other, so they ended the fight in a draw and agreed to battle again.

• Alex knocked Battle Sword back with an Iron Mountain Lean, and Battle Sword responded by unleashing his full power.
• An unknown telepath told Alex to go all out and defeat Battle Sword, leading Alex to suspect Lilandra.
• Battle Sword struck Alex, but Alex's powers left him unharmed, and he taunted Battle Sword before the two resumed fighting.
• Alex and Battle Sword traded powerful blows, damaging the arena, while both continued growing stronger.
• Alex and Battle Sword agreed that neither could defeat the other there, called the match a draw, and promised to fight again.

After witnessing Alex’s strength, the Shi'ar Empress asked him to intervene in the coming war between the Kree Empire and the Skrull Empire, warning that Earth would become a key point in their conflict. Lilandra confirmed the danger and suggested Alex would only need to defeat their super teams, leaving Alex suspicious about how she knew what he was thinking.

• The Shi'ar Empress summoned Alex and asked about Earth after seeing his strength.
• The Shi'ar Empress told Alex that the Kree Empire and the Skrull Empire might soon go to war and asked him to stop the conflict.
• The Shi'ar Empress warned Alex that Earth’s strategic location would make it a key point in the war, but she refused to explain why.
• Lilandra confirmed the warning and spent more than three hours explaining the history of the Kree Empire and the Skrull Empire.
• Lilandra told Alex he only had to defeat the empires’ super teams, and Alex realized he had not said his decision aloud.

Alex discovered that Lilandra had read his present-life memories but could not access his past-life memories, and learned that she had favored him for a strategic reason. Suspecting Danger Bird had another plan for the Kree-Skrull war, he urged Lilandra to take him to the Empress.

• Alex confronted Lilandra about reading his memories, and she let him search her mind to prove she had not tampered with them.
• Alex confirmed Lilandra had seen only his memories from this life and learned more about the Shi'ar, Kree, and Skrull Empires and her reasons for helping him.
• Alex demanded to return to Earth, but Lilandra said the Empress would not allow it until the war was resolved.
• Lilandra explained that the Shi'ar Empire was too weak to intervene directly, and Alex reasoned that it wanted an uninvolved fourth party to handle the conflict.
• Alex realized Danger Bird had only proposed involving him after witnessing his strength and suspected she had an undisclosed plan.
• Alex told Lilandra to take him to Danger Bird, and Lilandra admitted the Empress had never told her what the Shi'ar would do if Alex had not appeared.