Showing posts with label Steve Foxe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Foxe. Show all posts

Monday, June 3, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #142 Spoilers & Art

Spoilers: The X-Corps drop the floating island on top of Selene, where the thrusters roast her alive. Sunspot joins the others to check if Selene is really dead. Selene resurrects herself and declares that no child will ever be able to kill her.

In reality, Selene is trapped in a stasis chamber developed by Wiz-Kid, Trinary, Tempo, and Somnus. Mirage explains that keeping Selene alive but pacified is the best way to contain her, despite Tempo's protests. The other Externals have also been locked up in stasis chambers where they relive an endless cycle of their worst nightmares.

Most of the X-Corps disband, while Strong Guy heads back to the floating island. Mirage and Sunspot talk and reflect on what their next move should be now that the threat of the Externals and the war against Orchis are over. Sunspot explains that Madrox and Layla are staying on the island with their son because it's their home. However, Cerebra stayed in Nova Roma to catalog all the mutants killed by Selene. Rictor and Shatterstar have taken a break to spend some time together. Betsy reunited with Rachel. The Proudstar brothers went back to Camp Gozhoo to rebuild their village. Sunspot admits he has no idea what to do next. Mirage leaves for a meeting with Karma and Wolfsbane. Meanwhile, Cannonball arrives at the floating island and reunites with Sunspot. The two hug and share a moment of friendship. The future is unlimited.

The Krakoan Era is officially over for Miss Betsy Braddock!

Monday, May 27, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #141 Spoilers

Spoilers: Selene and Dani engage in a fierce one-on-one battle, with Selene boasting about her impending ascension to becoming a true External High Lord and dismissing Dani as insignificant. Despite Dani's best efforts, Selene easily catches and breaks her arrows. Meanwhile, the rest of the team, including James, Betsy, Rictor, and Shatterstar, are retreating, acknowledging that Dani is buying them time. They encounter and eliminate two zombie Orchis goons, with Betsy noting the persistent threat of Selene's zombie soldiers. Madrox appears, revealing that he and his duplicates have taken care of the remaining enemies.

Magma is eager to fight Selene but is reminded by Betsy that she and Khora are vital to the mission's success. Betsy coordinates with Roberto, who is ready with X-Corps Island and a team including Layla, Trinary, and Wiz-Kid. Layla expresses concern about testing new tech on Selene, but Roberto trusts his team.

The fight between Selene and Dani continues, with Selene attempting to drown Dani, who retaliates by striking Selene with her bow and stabbing her with an arrow. Betsy emphasizes the importance of isolating the battlefield to protect Nova Roma and the rescued mutants. A mutant circuit involving Magma, Rictor, and Khora is initiated to isolate Selene's palace.

As Dani prepares to leave through a portal with Shatterstar's help, she reveals that the fight was a setup for Selene's downfall. The mutant in the Cerebro-like helmet is revealed to be Cipher, whose abilities were used to hide X-Corps Island, thanks to Trinary's programming. Dani taunts Selene, implying that traditional methods can't kill a witch like her, as she disappears through the portal, leaving Selene in disbelief.

Monday, May 20, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #140 Spoilers

Spoilers: Selene's ascension is nearly complete as she grows in size and rises covered in blood. Every drop of blood that drips from Selene transforms into a creature. Betsy warns X-Corps that they need to buy time for Mirage's team to work. Betsy, Rictor, Shatterstar, Thunderbird, and Warpath group together to face the blood drones.

Meanwhile, Mirage's team (Magma, Cerebra, Khora, Velocidade, and Escapade) rushes to stop Selene. Mirage notes that Selene is holding Tempo prisoner in her grasp and that her ascension won't be completed if they rescue Tempo. Escapade and Velocidade manage to rescue Tempo. Magma seizes the opportunity to hit Selene with her lava. Mirage observes that Selene is using the full strength of her mutant powers to complete the ascension; Cerebra then intervenes and makes her X-gene disobey her. Selene loses her giant, bloody form and becomes enraged at having her ritual interrupted. Mirage points her arrow at her and says it's time to settle the score.

Monday, May 13, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #139 Spoilers

Spoilers: Selene walks through a pool of blood in her chamber, engaging in conversation and taunting Tempo, who is restrained on a large piece of bone. Tempo's powers have dramatically accelerated the External ascension process within just a few days. An explosion erupts from the top of Selene's palace tower. Mirage reaches out to the prisoners and calls for reinforcements: Magma, Escapade, Velocidade, and Khora of the Burning Heart.

Magma melts through the walls to liberate the prisoners. However, Dani warns that if the shackles were enchanted to suppress powers, simply breaking them won't suffice. After a power-boosting circuit between Cerebra and Khora, everyone's powers are restored. Despite this, Nova Roma remains besieged by undead guards. Madrox confronts the guards, multiplying into hundreds.

Betsy, Shatterstar, Rictor, Warpath, and Thunderbird hasten towards the palace, but their progress halts abruptly as Warpath gestures upwards. They behold Selene's near completion of ascension, witnessing her emerge from the palace, towering in size and drenched in blood.

Monday, May 6, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #138 Spoilers

Spoilers: Outside Nova Roma, Saul, in his dragon form, grabs Captain Britain and takes flight. Meanwhile, Rictor and Shatterstar keep fighting against Absalom and Nicodemus. Inside Nova Roma, Mirage leaves Thunderbird to deal with Crule as she heads towards the cells where Selene keeps the mutants imprisoned. Mirage encounters Cerebra and warns that more allies are arriving to join them. Thunderbird and Crule engage in a brutal and fierce yet balanced fight. When Crule gains the upper hand, Warpath shows up and chops off Crule's arm, freeing his brother. Despite Crule's contempt, he decides to face them both, but he's no match for the Proudstar brothers and ends up defeated. Shatterstar and Rictor join the Proudstars in Nova Roma, assessing the losses: with Crule, Absalom, and Nicodemus defeated, Gideon and Burke handled by Sunspot, and Apocalypse and Candra out of the picture, only Saul remains. Betsy continues riding Saul, soaring through the air, and orders him to land. With no choice, Betsy uses her psychic knife on Saul, knocking him out until he falls unconscious to the ground. Betsy informs Mirage that the Externals have been defeated and it's time to bring in the strike team.

Monday, April 29, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #137 Spoilers

Spoilers: Saul warns X-Corps that they shall not trespass any further, with Absalom and Nicodemus by his side. Betsy orders Mirage and Thunderbird to move forward, while she, Rictor, and Shatterstar stay behind to deal with the three Externals. Betsy attacks Saul with her psychic sword, but he stops it in midair. Saul transforms into a dragon, and Betsy jokes that in a fight between knight and dragon, the knight always wins. Meanwhile, Rictor and Shatterstar decide to switch opponents, with Rictor facing Absalom and Shatterstar against Nicodemus. Saul warns that Betsy falls short of her responsibilities and doesn't understand her potential as a vessel for magic. Betsy retorts that she's used to old mages questioning her worth, referring to Merlyn, and defends herself from Saul's attack with a large butterfly-shaped telekinetic shield. With a surge, Betsy climbs up the dragon's body and thrusts her psychic sword into its scales.

Further into Nova Roma, Mirage and Thunderbird encounter Orchis zombie soldiers and take them down one by one. The duo finds the pens where the kidnapped mutants are being held. Before they can free them, Mirage and Thunderbird are confronted by Crule, who seeks a rematch against Thunderbird.

Friday, April 26, 2024

Captain Britain Graces the Cover of "X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic" #141


The cover of "X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic" #141 features Captain Britain, signaling a continuation of the External Saga. Initially planned as a 20-part story from issues #121 to #140, the arc has been extended to 25 chapters, as confirmed by Steve Foxe's newsletter. Issue #145 is set to conclude the saga on June 24.

Monday, April 22, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #136 Spoilers

Spoilers: Shatterstar teleports Rictor, Thunderbird, Mirage, and Captain Britain to Nova Roma. Betsy notes that Selene's defenses have created a psychic dead zone around Nova Roma, making telepathic contact with X-Corps Island difficult. Mirage recalls how Nova Roma's citizens suffered at the hands of Doctor Barrington recently, emphasizing the need to stop Selene once and for all. Mirage mentions that Magma will soon play her part in the war against Selene.

Meanwhile, amidst the Amazon jungle, the X-Corps encounters an invisible barrier. Betsy identifies it as magic, noting that the Externals are skilled in ancient ways. Rictor raises the earth to gain a better vantage point, revealing that Selene has shielded the entire city of Nova Roma under a dome. Thunderbird considers punching the dome, and Shatterstar suggests blindly teleporting inside, but suddenly the dome opens for them. A blast of fire is launched directly at the X-Corps, and Rictor shields the team by knocking them back to the ground. Absalom and Nicodemus appear, challenging the X-Corps to a fierce battle. Saul intervenes, urging his comrades to calm down, as it will serve him well to unleash the beast within him once again, transforming into a dragon.

Monday, April 15, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity #135 Spoilers & Art


Spoilers: In a dynamic battle, Sunspot and Solem overpower Gideon, leaving him defeated on the ground. Despite Gideon's resilience and warning of his ability to rebuild, Sunspot cunningly exploits the situation by seizing Gideon's fortune with the assistance of Sebastian Shaw, who gleefully betrays Selene. Meanwhile, Solem confronts Sunspot with the option of decapitating Gideon, leading to a revelation about the Externals' mutant-tracking software, which operates on a dead man's switch. Gideon offers critical information to Sunspot in exchange for his freedom, but Solem severs his hand to prevent further manipulation. As Gideon questions the team's ability to thwart Selene's plans, Sunspot, accompanied by Shatterstar and Trinary, departs, leaving behind a tense atmosphere of impending confrontation.

On X-Corps Island, Trinary and Wiz-Kid use Gideon's DNA to access the Externals' mutant-tracking software, contemplating erasing it to hinder Selene's plans. Layla Miller warns of potential consequences if Selene discovers the disruption to her supply chain, emphasizing the need for swift action. Observing from above, Betsy, Dani, and John recognize the urgency to confront the Externals directly, signaling a shift towards proactive engagement. As tensions escalate and plans unfold, the team braces for the impending clash with Selene and her allies, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Dead X-Men #4 Preview

Dead X-Men #4
Writer: Steve Foxe
Art by: Vincenzo Carratu, Bernard Chang, David Baldeon

The Story: Everything ends! Prodigy, Dazzler, Frenzy, Cannonball and Jubilee have gone farther and have risked more than any X-Men team before. Now, at the end of everything, the final fate of Krakoa rests on these five mutants. Will the Dead X-Men save the seed of the future…or kill it before it can even be planted? Rated T+

In Shops: Apr 17, 2024

Friday, April 5, 2024

Marvel Preview: X-Men ’97 #2 Teases Psylocke Appearance


X-Men ’97 #2 features the return of Psylocke, a mysterious psychic ninja. News anchor Trish Tilby reports on Psylocke's recent activities, hinting at potential trouble caused by the enigmatic figure. Serving as a canonical prequel to Disney+'s animated series X-Men '97, this comic sets the stage for forthcoming adventures in the mutant universe.

Monday, April 1, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #133 Spoilers

Spoilers: Thunderbird and Captain Britain discuss strategy while examining a map of Nova Roma. However, Gideon successfully disables the floating island's thrusters, causing it to plummet toward the ocean. Betsy contacts Dani telepathically, learning that although Trinary and Wiz-Kid expelled Gideon from the system, the thrusters are still failing. Dani warns that if the island hits the ocean, it could break apart. Betsy then asks Rictor to use his geokinetic abilities to prevent the crash. With time running out, Rictor summons earth from deep below the ocean, rising to catch the falling base.

Betsy inquires about the extent of the system damage, and the Madrox dupes inform her that they can repair it, but it will take time. Dani consoles Taki, who blames himself for Gideon's success. Trinary reveals that they managed to counter Gideon's hack during the battle and can trace his digital trail to find his operation. Sunspot overhears and enters the room, eager to confront Gideon. However, he is exhausted and depleted from boosting the island's thrusters, leaving him unable to take immediate action.

Dani expresses concern for Sunspot's condition and advises him to rest. Sunspot believes this is the opportune moment to retaliate against Gideon, who expects them to be weak and inactive. Dani suggests assembling a squad with Cipher and Magma, but Sunspot rejects the idea, opting to enlist the help of someone outside of X-Corps Island. He reveals that he has been accumulating resources and knows the perfect individual to assist them in bringing Gideon down.

In a penthouse atop a skyscraper in Chicago, Gideon converses with Burke, expressing his preference for high-rise living over Selene's choice of ruling from Nova Roma. Burke experiences a precognitive vision of violence involving metal and blood. As he describes it, their conversation is interrupted by the appearance of Solem.

Monday, March 18, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #131 Spoilers

Spoilers: At the External Stronghold in Nova Roma, Cerebra, Tulkas, and Somnus are imprisoned, tasked with caring for mutant children. Suddenly, zombie Orchis troops throw a Jamie Madrox dupe into their cell. In a flashback, Dani discusses the plan with Jamie Madrox, with the latter emphasizing the need for more intel to stop Selene's ritual. Jamie Prime prepares his dupe for a mission by injecting him with a needle and syringe, requesting Betsy to induce psychic sleeping time before the injection. Additionally, Betsy installs subliminal pain nullifiers to alleviate any discomfort. Layla suggests using technology against the Externals' psychic defenses. With Wiz-Kid and Trinary's help, they implant a camera in the dupe's eyes to gather intel. Multiplying the dupes, they hope one will be captured by Selene's Orchis forces. The plan succeeds as two zombies seize a dupe.

Returning to the present, Jamie's dupe instructs Somnus and Cerebra to smile for the camera, knowing they're being watched by the X-Corps team. Thunderbird expresses relief at seeing the Camp Gozhoo children alive and praises their resilience, eager to rescue them and confront the Externals. Somnus and Cerebra inform X-Corps of the Externals' plan to gather mutants for Selene's ritual, revealing the existence of multiple cells like theirs. Determined to disrupt Selene's plans, Jamie's dupe volunteers to be chosen as the next sacrifice, successfully drawing the attention of Orchis goons. As he is carried away, he braces himself for what lies ahead, motivated by his commitment to Layla and Davey.

In Selene's chamber, surrounded by a gruesome scene of death and blood, the zombie Orchis goons present Madrox to her. Delighted by his presence, Selene prepares to feed on him. However, the attention shifts to a figure tied to the ceiling above Selene, revealed to be Tempo. Betsy realizes that Selene needs to manipulate time, using Tempo to achieve her ascension. Despite their revelation, the X-Corps team faces a new challenge as the camera feed is corrupted, prompting Trinary's alarm. Suddenly, Gideon appears on the monitor, taunting them with the Externals' ability to breach their systems, reminding them of the game they're playing.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Dead X-Men #3 Spoilers

Spoilers: Rachel sends the X-Men to Moira's ninth life, directly into Apocalypse-9's throne room. En Sabah Nur-9 recognizes them as visitors from another reality and dispatches a host of Archangel drones to attack. The X-Men signal Rachel to get them out. Back in the White Hot Room, the X-Men explain that they accidentally gave Cyborg Moira the ability to jump to Moira-Prime's past lives. Now that Cyborg Moira is altering events, they need to track her down before she ruins Xavier's mission. After much discussion about the mission's viability, Rachel decides to fling them back and forth until they hit the correct timeline where Cyborg Moira is. The X-Men deduce that the Cyborg's goal is to reach Moira-Prime's first life. Mother Righteous tries to tempt Rachel by offering help, but Rachel rejects her. Rachel then sends the X-Men to a past life of Moira-Prime.

Meanwhile, Cyborg Moira travels to Moira-Prime's tenth, third, second, fourth, and sixth lives, interfering and altering events.

Moira's Fifth Life: In this life, Charles and Moira established Faraway, a secluded mutant nation and technological utopia. It became a target for Sentinels, and Moira-5 fell into a coma due to an injury. While Beast-5 and Dr. Cecilia Reyes-5 examine comatose Moira-5, Faraway's systems detect the arriving X-Men. They are approached by the X-Men-5 from the fifth life: Psylocke-5, the leader, her husband Cyclops-5, Wolfsbane-5, Banshee-5, and Sway-5. Since the Sentinel attack occurred only a week ago, Psylocke-5 orders an attack on the strangers. Dazzler subdues Banshee-5, Cyclops-5 overcomes Jubilee, and Cannonball incapacitates Wolfsbane-5 but is quickly defeated by Sway-5. Frenzy tries to reason with Psylocke-5, who prefers not to take risks and to attack first. Frenzy asks Braddock-5 to read her mind when Cyborg Moira arrives in the fifth life, using her M Weapon to unleash a powerful blast against both groups of X-Men.

Dead X-Men #3 Teaser


Meet tomorrow the X-Men from Moira's Fifth Life:
Psylocke, her husband Cyclops, Banshee, Wolfsbane, and Sway.

Monday, March 11, 2024

X-Men Monday #242 – Steve Foxe, Steve Orlando, and Phillip Sevy Talk ‘X-Men Unlimited’

AiPT!: From Sunfire and Firestar to Thunderbird and Captain Britain, everybody’s getting time to shine in a scrolling format. So, it was only fair that X-Fans got to check in with Steve Orlando and Steve Foxe — along with Phillip Sevy, the artist on several of X-Men Unlimited‘s chapters — and ask about Rictor, Shatterstar, and other fan-favorites.

AIPT: Betsy Braddock came out swinging in X-Men Unlimited with a voice that’s more certain and powerful than we’ve seen recently. Would you say all the events happening in the U.K. and the world have brought out the “gives no *****” Betts? And how much fun is writing her this way?

Orlando: I definitely think the events in the U.K. and the world, in general, have put Betsy in an imperative position. But it’s been a blast to watch her flex her power and agency. And as a special note, it’s been an asset having some fellow X-Writers on speed dial to ensure Betsy’s British lingo is as on-point as possible.

Foxe: I think our Betsy follows pretty closely on the heels of the transformative work Tini Howard did on the character across Excalibur, Knights of X, and Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain. Betsy, in whatever form, has been a nuanced and quite spicy character for decades, and Tini helped establish Betsy as a leading lady for a new era. Fall of X pushed a lot of characters to their limits, and Betsy – who not only has responsibilities toward mutantkind, but to the United Kingdom as a symbolic crusader – really got a raw deal trying to tolerate the antics of Orchis and the British government. She’s been enormous fun to write and a huge asset to the cast dynamic.

AIPT: Phil, I’ve loved your rendition of Betsy Braddock. Not only has that helmet never looked cooler, but I feel like every time we see her, she’s accompanied by crackling psychic energy (whether around her head, fist, or sword.) What do you love about illustrating Betsy?

Sevy: I’ve tried to use the helmet in a way that illustrates her power. When her helmet is off, she’s Betsy and she’s a bit more vulnerable. She’s showing you her face and what she looks like. I draw her a bit more feminine in those scenes. When her helmet is on, it’s go time. I use that as a reason to draw her more aggressive and masculine. She’s in battle and at war.

As a character, I very much connect with how Betsy’s identity is internal, and her external representation isn’t always reflective of who she is — so trying to show different sides of her (feminine, masculine, soft, aggressive, etc.) in how I depict her is the fun challenge. And also, I came into X-Men with the Jim Lee Psylocke design — so it was psychic knives and all that. So when I got a chance to draw her impaling Absalom’s head with her dagger, I was like “9-year-old me is SO happy right now.”

AIPT: Phil, you’re drawing so many different characters throughout this X-Men Unlimited arc. As an artist, is that an exciting challenge? An intimidating one?

Sevy: With this book, since there are so many characters that come at you so fast, I haven’t had as much time — but there are basic shortcuts that you can use to capture a character. Thunderbird — big guy, cocky, aggressive. Shatterstar — lithe, flirty, agile. Betsy — powerful, annoyed, a presence. Etc. Keeping costume details correct when you’re drawing a gaggle of characters can be really hard. Thankfully I have a giant reference folder I have open constantly.

Monday, March 4, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #129 Spoilers

Spoilers: On the night of the Hellfire Gala, Sunspot assembles key mutants on X-Corps Island, including Jamie Madrox, Layla Miller, Trinary, and Wiz-Kid, to form a new initiative. Sunspot envisions changing the world's perception of mutants, outlining a plan for X-Corps Island to provide global relief while the X-Men confront Orchis. However, a sudden psychic intrusion from Xavier causes the team to surrender, leaving them disoriented. Distraught over the loss of his dupes, Jamie discusses the grim news with Layla, emphasizing the need for help in a world unaware of their plan. Layla urges Sunspot to stay, citing the island's importance, but Roberto decides to return to Arakko, promising to come back and fulfill their mission.

In the present, Layla, Thunderbird, Betsy, and Dani venture into the core of X-Corps Island, facing challenges with losing altitude and periodic landings for Roberto's hour-long recharge. Trinary works tirelessly to evade Orchis' sensors during this critical time. Roberto, appearing fatigued yet claiming to feel better than ever, emerges from his chamber in casual attire. Dani assists him, expressing concern for his overextension. Roberto, informed of the involvement of Crule and the Externals in the mutants' disappearances, vows to confront them. Betsy clarifies that Selene, not Orchis, orchestrated the disappearances using her homunculi soldiers, escalating the urgency of their mission.

Layla reflects on the temporal insignificance of existential conflicts for immortals and highlights Selene's corrupt tendencies. She reveals that Selene, orchestrating conflicts between Krakoa and Orchis, employs her fellow Externals as convenient tools. The specifics of Selene's mysterious Ascension remain unknown. When Dani queries Roberto about Apocalypse's potential involvement, he dismisses it, emphasizing Apocalypse's recent positive actions. Roberto, aware of the Externals' distrust for Selene, expresses confidence in a particular mutant to uncover the immortal holdout. The scene shifts to New Orleans, where an Assassins Guild member confronts Mr. Cornillion, accusing him of crossing investment partners. Mr. Cornillion, actually Feint (Carmen Cruz) in disguise, reveals her true form, and Gambit intervenes, inquiring about finding his old friend Candra.

Monday, February 26, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #128 Spoilers

Spoilers: After the explosion at the Young Mutant Containment Facility in London, Betsy, Shatterstar, and Rictor find themselves engulfed in flames. The aftermath of the explosion caused by Nicodemus leaves Rictor with burns, and Shatterstar plans to teleport them to safety. However, their escape is interrupted when a firefighter accuses them of causing the fire, triggering a tense encounter with the police. Betsy uses her telekinetic abilities to deflect bullets, and in the face of hostility, they decide to bid farewell to Britain.

Upon their arrival at X-Corps’ floating island HQ, Layla Miller and Multiple Man tend to Rictor’s injuries. Meanwhile, Betsy shares with the rest of X-Corps that she has discovered they are facing the Externals, a group indifferent to both mutants and humans. She emphasizes that this lack of concern from their adversaries means that the upcoming conflict is bound to be brutal.

At the same time, in Nova Roma, Crule's sadistic actions terrorize prisoners, setting the stage for Selene's grand plan. In the presence of the Externals, including Nicodemus and Gideon, Selene discusses the process of ascension, emphasizing their detachment from mortal concerns. She dismisses mortal structures like Krakoa and Orchis as mere game boards in the immortals' grand play, teasing a power awaiting them—a power meant exclusively for the Externals.

Monday, February 19, 2024

X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #127 Spoilers

Spoilers: In the confrontation between Captain Britain, Shatterstar, Rictor, and the Externals, Nicodemus expresses disdain for his challengers. Absalom reminisces about being used to construct the External Gate. A fiery clash ensues as the heroes dodge Nicodemus's blast. Rictor decides to take on Nicodemus alone, citing their past encounter.

Betsy and Shatterstar engage Absalom in combat, with Absalom revealing bone shards akin to Marrow. Betsy and Shatterstar attack him simultaneously. During the skirmish, Absalom discloses that he and the Externals serve Selene, prompting shock from Betsy. Shatterstar intervenes, allowing Betsy to position herself behind Absalom. Betsy manifests her psychic knife – the focused totality of her telepathic powers –, attempting to induce despair in Absalom's mind.

However, Absalom counters with a nihilistic philosophy, using bones to break free from Betsy's psychic grip. Shatterstar responds brutally by impaling Absalom in the face with a sword. Betsy, displaying ferocity, suggests leaving the sword in. She delves into Absalom's mind to understand Selene's agenda. As Rictor attempts to restrain the Externals, Nicodemus holds them at bay and summons fire pillars. Despite Betsy's plea to stop, Nicodemus asserts that the children are already gone, signaling their departure.

The confrontation concludes with Absalom, wounded but defiant, claiming he doesn't need eyes to deal with the heroes. Nicodemus, declaring their departure, hints at ominous events calling mortals to hell. The situation remains tense as the Externals prepare to leave, leaving the heroes with unanswered questions and a sense of impending doom.