Valkyrie
finds herself in another dimension, transported there by Devil-Slayer using his
Shadow Cloak; while floating around, he explains the situation that she misread
last issue: how he rebelled against the Cult of the Harvesters of Eyes and
fought to destroy it and how Vera Gemini and the Cult are plotting Xenogenesis,
a rebirth of the demon race on Earth using the Eye of Agamotto stolen from Dr.
Strange. Devil-Slayer takes Val to find the Hulk battling a crystalline
creature called the Ort-Beast, after its sole cry. Spotting Devil-Slayer, Hulk
tries to attack him but is transported back to Earth by the Cloak, DS and Val
following….
They
arrive at the home of the injured Doctor Strange, who fills them in on what he
has seen of the Cult: they have offered up a human sacrifice to conjure the
demon Belathauzer who related to
the half-human/half-demon Vera Gemini how demons have taken up human bodies,
using their powers and positions to spread fear and violence, preparing the way
for Xenogenesis, the return of the demons to reconquer Earth. Strange explains
that they have used the Eye to open a portal and hasten the day. Demon-Slayer
officially joins the Defenders and they begin preparations….
Near the Long Island Riding Academy owned by
Kyle Richmond, Hellcat takes Kyle’s Lola MK1 on a reckless test drive, scaring
him. Kyle shows her around his carnival as his tech staff outfits Nighthawk
with a new jet-pack. He tests his new infra-red lenses and maneuverability by
flying in and out and around a “ride” that mimics the motions of an aerial
battle with weapons. NH does quite well, until Hellcat jumps in too and
accidentally hits the buttons to speed it up. Things then move at a violent and
insane clip—and then Hulk arrives and smashes it to pieces….
Interlude: Soviet scientists are examining Red Guardian
(Tania Belinsky) after her radiation exposure (issue #53) and fear her
enhanced strength and as yet undemonstrated nuclear powers….
Dr.
Strange enters the Arcane Dimension, home of the demons, in his astral form and
finds a horde of demons to fight. Vera Gemini appears in her demon form and the
demons swarm Strange and begin to merge, trapping Strange among them. Vera
opens the Eye of Agamotto for them to enter this world. Learning that
Xenogenesis is happening, Devil Slayer uses his cloak to teleport to their Dark
Retreat in Mexico, where he faces the Agent of Fortune. Meanwhile, the
Defenders arrive at the Sanctum only to find Dollar Bill, who informs them that
Dr. Strange is dead….