Rom and Starshine (Brandy Clark) arrive at a daycare center that has been encircled by Wraith-Hunter Rangers under General Merriwether Locklin. Inside, a group of freshly hatched Dire Wraiths — lacking elder guidance — have begun to act. One of them attacks a teacher using its razor-barbed tongue, absorbing her identity and memories, then kills her outright.

The Wraith impersonator then readies its “sisters” to target the children, but Rom and Starshine burst in to confront them. The Wraiths shift into Deathwing disguises and attempt escape. All but one are captured; the lone Wraith flees and is chased across a river until it is overtaken. The Wraith pleads for death, claiming it no longer cares after its elders were destroyed. As Starshine prepares to strike, Rom intervenes, choosing to banish it rather than kill it outright.

Meanwhile, from the portal opened by Rom’s Neutralizer, an energy form leaks into the river and drifts toward a church congregation mid-baptism. The being takes on the form of a human adolescent. The preacher calls it a miracle and decides to raise it as his “son.”

Weeks later, Professor Xavier and the New Mutants are caught in a wildfire near Cumberland County. After aiding in rescue efforts, the team notices a church on a mountainside that was in the path of the fire but remained untouched. At the same time, Rom and Starshine confront a disturbing mind-shock in a Wraith sensor, hearing “The Horror! The Horror!”, which triggers Rom’s memory of a horror he hoped was gone.

Hybrid appears, controlling Rom’s armor and paralyzing him, then banishes him to Limbo. Starshine is captured too. While in Limbo, Rhino (sic: Rom) sees Hybrid’s attempt to make Brandy his bride by undoing the spell that merged her with Starshine’s powers. The New Mutants, meanwhile, are also captured by Hybrid, who intends to use the female members as breeding stock. Illyana (Magik) escapes to Limbo, finds Rom battling Dire Wraiths, and helps teleport them both back to Earth.

Back on Earth, the battle continues. Rom tries to use his Neutralizer to banish Hybrid, but loses control of it. Ilyana impales Hybrid with her Soulsword, giving Brandy the chance to recover and fire the Neutralizer herself. Professor Xavier shields her and she ultimately defeats Hybrid. Exhausted, she collapses into Rom’s arms.