Chapter Summaries

The Void Cult celebrated its victory over Ronan the Accuser’s fleet while Lex reflected on the Precognitor’s role in their success. Tony, Banner, and Kyle discussed the Power Stone and the other Infinity Stones, then planned to give the Power Stone to Sonia.

• Sonia ordered a week-long victory banquet, and the Void Cult members celebrated after returning to Void Island.
• Lex redirected a discussion questioning whether the battle had been an unforeseen development and considered leaving the next day.
• Tony learned that the Power Stone had awakened Banner and Kyle’s deepest desires, and he revealed that five other similar gems existed.
• Renoli asked how they would hand the Power Stone to Sonia, and Kyle suggested giving it to her during her afternoon patrol.
• Kyle gave the Omni-weapon to Lacey, and Tony agreed to tell Renoli and the others more about the Infinity Stones.

Kyle handed the Power Stone to Harvey through Sonia after the battle on Xandar, and Harvey arranged monetary rewards for Kyle and Banner. Harvey warned Sonia that stronger enemies would eventually come after the Infinity Stones, leaving him to anticipate Thanos's eventual move.

• Kyle gave Sonia the Universal Orb containing the Power Stone and said that protecting Xandar had been reward enough.
• Sonia brought the orb to Harvey and relayed Kyle's message; Harvey decided to reward Kyle with four hundred million and Banner with two hundred million.
• Sonia asked Harvey what he meant by saying Xandar's greater disaster had yet to come, and he explained that powerful beings would pursue the Infinity Stones.
• Harvey said Void Island did not need stronger defenses because the Void Cult members could detect intruders.
• Harvey considered Thanos's likely response but did not open the Universal Orb, since using the Power Stone at the villa could cause damage.

After the Power Stone fell into the Void Cult’s hands, Thanos weighed negotiation against waiting for a chance to seize the Infinity Stones, wary of Kassadin, Odin, and Ancient One. On Void Island, Tony explained the Stones to the others, who discussed the danger of attracting powerful enemies and waited for Kassadin’s guidance about Thanos.

• Thanos considered contacting Kassadin to negotiate for the Power Stone, but decided to wait until he had obtained other Stones and Odin and Ancient One could no longer interfere.
• Tony explained the Infinity Stones to Renoli, Lacey, Kyle, and Precognitor, while warning them not to tell Lex.
• Precognitor asked whether the Power Stone’s public connection to the Void Cult would attract trouble, and Kyle and Renoli said they were confident in Kassadin’s protection.
• Lacey asked whether Thanos was an enemy, and Tony said he was only a potential enemy because he had not yet acted against Kassadin.
• Kyle set aside his plan to meet the Black Order and decided to wait for Kassadin’s instructions.

After the Void Cult destroyed Ronan’s fleet and claimed an Infinity Stone, Odin considered the consequences of its growing power. He approved Thor and Loki’s visit to the Void Cult to offer thanks and establish friendly ties, leaving the brothers to prepare for their diplomatic trip.

• Renoli told Tony that they could help with Blue Star’s future troubles but needed Kassadin’s approval before the Void Cult could wage an all-out war against Thanos.
• News of the Void Cult’s victory over Ronan and its acquisition of an Infinity Stone spread across the universe, and Odin hoped the Cult would remain on friendly terms with Asgard.
• Thor and Loki discussed the Void Cult’s strength and agreed that Thor should visit Tony and thank Sonia.
• Odin approved Thor’s visit as a diplomatic mission and told him to bring Asgardian wine and follow the Cult’s rules.
• Odin required Loki to accompany Thor, and the brothers agreed to go while bickering about Loki’s conduct.

The Void Cult’s victory over Ronan the Accuser drew attention from powerful figures across the universe, including the Ancient One, Zeus, and Captain Marvel. The Collector and Grandmaster discussed Kassadin’s possible longevity and decided to watch how the Void Cult developed.

• The Ancient One suspected that Kassadin was blocking her view of the future and planned to leave Earth’s troubles to Stephen Strange when she retired.
• Zeus considered inviting Kassadin to the Pantheon Banquet but decided to observe his abilities before judging whether he deserved a personal invitation.
• Carol Danvers learned that the Void Cult had defeated Ronan and his Kree forces, took an interest in Kassadin, and chose to follow the news rather than travel to Xandar.
• The Collector lamented losing the Power Stone, but the Grandmaster reminded him that their eternal lifespans gave them time to reclaim it.
• The Collector said the Void Cult’s future depended on whether Kassadin was a true god, and the brothers agreed to watch its rise and test of time.

Thor and Loki visited Void Island to thank the Void Cult and spend time with Tony, while Tony warned Loki to obey the island’s rules. They reunited with Tony and Banner at the laboratory, where Loki saw how much the Cult’s members had grown.

• Tony received Thor’s call and warned Loki that provoking the Void Cult could endanger him and Asgard.
• Thor and Loki arrived on Void Island, where Renoli welcomed them and explained that the postwar celebration had ended.
• Renoli escorted the visitors to the Laboratory Zone, then left Tony to host them.
• Tony brought Thor and Loki into his laboratory, and Loki was surprised to see Lalatina fly away.
• Banner greeted Thor and Loki and explained that he had come to the universe with Tony to broaden his horizons.

Tony and Banner explained the Infinity Stones to Thor and Loki, revealing that Thanos had manipulated Loki as part of a plan to gather all six Stones. The group discussed the danger to the Nine Realms, but Thor and Loki concluded that they could not hide the Stones without authority and would face Thanos if he attacked.

• Thor asked Tony about his research into Aether, and Banner explained that Tony was focusing on reproducible technology rather than relying on the Reality Stone.
• Tony told Thor and Loki that Aether was an Infinity Stone and explained the nature of all six Stones with Banner's help.
• Thor and Loki realized that Thanos had intended to collect all the Infinity Stones and had used Loki's attempt to take the Tesseract as part of his plan.
• Thor comforted Loki by pointing out that Thanos had lost the Mind Stone, while Tony warned that the Stones in the Nine Realms could attract Thanos.
• Thor said he would ask Odin for help against an enemy they could not defeat, and Loki noted that they did not own the Space Stone or Mind Stone and could not decide to hide them.
• Tony dropped the suggestion of hiding the Stones, and Thor said they would deal with Thanos if he attacked the Nine Realms.

Tony told Thor and Loki that intelligence from Lacey identified Hela as Odin’s powerful daughter and linked her disappearance with the Valkyrie Legion’s destruction. Thor and Loki realized Asgard may have erased Hela from its records because she had caused a catastrophe, possibly by destroying the Legion, but they still did not know what had happened.

• Tony asked Thor and Loki whether they had heard of Hela, then explained Lacey’s account of Hela and the Valkyrie Legion.
• Thor said Asgardian legends described the Valkyries as a mighty force, while Loki confirmed Asgard’s records and family had never mentioned Hela.
• Banner suggested that Asgard had concealed a terrible event, and Tony asked what crime could justify erasing someone from history.
• Thor described Asgard’s harshest known punishments and said no one had told him of a punishment that erased all records and existence.
• Loki and Thor reasoned that Hela may have caused an internal catastrophe by annihilating the Valkyrie Legion, prompting Odin to erase her existence.

Thor and Loki discussed whether their sister Hela was still alive and decided to ask Odin about her whereabouts when they returned to Asgard. Tony then showed them around Void Island, where Loki hoped to earn the Void Cult’s forgiveness and Thor asked to see its training facilities.

• Tony suggested that Odin had erased Hela’s existence rather than killed her, and Thor agreed she was probably still alive.
• Thor and Loki decided to ask Odin about Hela and her whereabouts when they returned to Asgard.
• Tony invited the brothers to tour Void Island, and he advised Loki to avoid mentioning Kassadin to the Void Cult members.
• Tony explained that the Void Cult members from Mogri had left the island and described Lex as their most devout and powerful member.
• Tony and Banner led Thor and Loki around the island, and Tony offered to show Thor its training grounds, sports arena, and gravity chambers.

Tony, Thor, Loki, and Banner explored Void Cult training facilities as Thor and Loki looked for ways to grow stronger. Thor learned that mastering lightning without Mjolnir would require more practice, while the group left him to consider Tony’s challenge.

• Tony explained that the Void Cult had no places for learning magic, disappointing Loki.
• Thor and Loki watched Void Cult members train through combat drills and obstacle courses as their wounds healed.
• Tony described the gravity chambers and athletic arena, saying the chambers reached 150 times gravity.
• Tony said he could train under 40 times gravity, while Banner managed 75 times for ten hours, spurring Thor’s competitive interest.
• Thor admitted that he could not wield lightning freely without Mjolnir, and Tony challenged him to master the ability himself.

Tony showed Thor that he could summon lightning without Mjolnir, then warned him to practice mastering his power in case Hela returned as an enemy. He led Thor and Loki to the gravity tower, where they prepared to test their limits.

• Thor summoned lightning without Mjolnir, but it took him forty-one seconds, and Tony urged him to practice controlling it.
• Tony warned Thor that Hela might return seeking revenge and that he should not depend entirely on Mjolnir.
• Tony and Banner took Thor and Loki to the gravity tower, where Loki agreed to try it after Tony teased him.
• Tony explained that the tower's floors increased in gravity, advising Thor and Loki to adapt gradually before testing their limits.

Tony brought Thor and Loki into the gravity chamber to test how well they could adapt, while Banner increased the multiplier in stages. At ten times gravity, both brothers remained capable of moving, but their heavy landings showed they had begun to feel the strain.

• Thor and Loki agreed to skip a preliminary test, and Tony told Banner to adjust the gravity according to his hand signals.
• Tony entered the gravity chamber with Thor and Loki as Banner began increasing the multiplier every five seconds.
• Thor and Loki adapted to the initial increases, changing their breathing as the chamber reached three times normal gravity.
• At ten times gravity, Tony encouraged them to move and demonstrated a jump, prompting Thor and Loki to copy him.
• Thor and Loki landed with loud bangs, so Tony suggested they stay on the first level and practice before going higher.

Thor and Loki trained in the gravity tower while Tony taught them how to control their strength and conserve effort. Harvey allowed them to visit as guests, and Sonia learned that Odin had given him an Infinity Stone in exchange for protecting Asgard.

• Thor began running under tenfold gravity, while Loki studied Tony's movements and practiced dispersing the impact of his landings.
• Tony advised Thor and Loki to reduce wasted effort so they could move and train more effectively under heavy gravity.
• Void Cult members discussed Thor and Loki's visit, and Renoli and Precognitor explained that they had come to apologize and thank Sonia.
• Harvey told Sonia that Thor and Loki could visit as guests and that she did not need to go out of her way to meet them.
• Harvey revealed that Odin had given him an Infinity Stone in exchange for protecting Asgard, and Sonia realized he had likely arranged the deal during his visit to Earth.

Harvey told Sonia he still intended to bring Asgard into the Void Cult, but would wait for the right opportunity and consult Odin before deciding. Meanwhile, Thor and Loki trained in the gravity building, pushing themselves toward higher levels as Tony and Banner monitored them.

• Harvey identified Odin, Heimdall, Hela, and Thor as the Asgardians most worth considering, and said Odin and Thor’s positions made recruiting them complicated.
• Harvey told Sonia he would speak with Odin when he neared death and would wait for a suitable opportunity to bring Asgard into the Void Cult.
• Thor and Loki adapted to tenfold gravity after a week, then tried twentyfold and moved on to thirtyfold gravity, where they struggled to control their movements and breathing.
• Thor trained to become stronger and keep up with Tony, while Loki prepared for the possibility of Odin’s death and danger to Asgard.
• Tony and Banner used Jarvis to discuss thruster engines while watching Thor and Loki, and helped the exhausted brothers get food after their training.

Steve told Tony that he had stopped Hydra’s Project Insight and revealed that he wanted to apologize on behalf of one of his brothers. He left Tony unaware of what Bucky had done, while asking him to forgive him.

• Steve told Tony that he had stopped a S.H.I.E.L.D. traitor from stealing the Mind Stone and that Project Insight had been foiled without major casualties.
• Tony explained that he had known Hydra had a traitor in S.H.I.E.L.D., but had not known the traitor’s identity.
• Steve described Hydra’s plan to use Project Insight to eliminate people deemed future threats and seize control of Earth.
• Steve admitted that he had waited a week to contact Tony because Dr. Arnim Zola had told him that Bucky had killed Tony’s parents.
• Steve asked Tony to forgive one of his brothers, leaving Tony confused about what had happened.

Steve told Tony that Bucky Barnes had killed Tony’s parents while under Hydra’s control, and Tony insisted Bucky must die. Bucky chose to end his own life rather than let his death keep Steve from moving forward.

• Tony learned that Bucky Barnes had murdered his parents and vowed to destroy Hydra and kill Bucky after returning to Earth.
• Steve asked Tony to reconsider, but Tony gave him three to four months and refused to forgive Bucky.
• Steve told Bucky the deadline, and Bucky accepted that Tony would not spare him.
• Bucky urged Steve not to let the past damage his life and asked him to promise to move forward.
• Steve promised, and Bucky shot himself in the head.

Steve mourned Bucky after Bucky killed himself, then told Tony what had happened. Tony accepted Bucky’s death and agreed to let the matter rest, leaving both men to move on from the conflict.

• Peggy comforted Steve as he grieved for Bucky, his last friend from the past.
• Steve decided to explain what happened to Tony and bury Bucky at sea.
• Tony told Banner he had restrained himself for Steve’s sake and warned that Steve would face the Void Cult’s laws if he attacked him.
• Steve called Tony and said Bucky had taken his own life after explaining things to him.
• Tony saw Bucky’s body on the holographic call and agreed to let the matter rest.

Tony and Steve dealt with the aftermath of Bucky Barnes’s death, while Banner advised Steve to keep the Mind Stone until they could consult Asgard. The chapter ended with Tony reflecting on his parents, his friendship with Steve, and the regrets he could not undo.

• Tony left the control room after telling Banner to explain the Mind Stone situation to Steve.
• Banner explained that the Mind Stone belonged to Odin and advised Steve to keep it on Earth until they could decide what to do with it.
• Banner and Steve agreed that they would try to obtain the Zola Algorithm while eradicating Hydra after returning to Earth.
• Steve told Banner to thank Tony for giving Bucky a chance to die with dignity and said Hydra’s brainwashing and torture were the true targets of his revenge.
• Banner found Tony by the river and relayed Steve’s thanks, and Tony explained why he had chosen to kill Bucky despite the strain it might place on his friendship with Steve.

Harvey reflected on how Steve’s new attachments and reliable allies had changed his behavior, likely preventing the conflict with Tony that once would have split the Avengers Initiative. He considered future plans for the Void Cult and recruiting Stephen Strange, while anticipating greater power from future Hero Templates and Dark Star abilities.

• Tony returned to the gravity chamber, then took Thor and Loki to the lab to shower and rest; Loki sensed Tony was in a poor mood.
• Harvey realized Steve had told Tony the truth about Bucky Barnes, and thought Peggy Carter and his dependable teammates had made Steve less likely to act recklessly.
• Harvey concluded that Steve and Tony’s reconciliation meant the Avengers Initiative’s civil war might not happen, and expected Earth’s next major development around 2016 with Stephen Strange.
• Harvey considered approaching Stephen Strange after he became Sorcerer Supreme and recruiting him to the Void Cult as its Supreme Magical Mentor.
• Harvey noted that Void Energy was five hundred thousand short of ten million and that Kha'Zix needed more than two hundred evolutions to reach one thousand; he hoped to gain Dark Star power after Hero Ascension.

Thor trained for a month to pass the sixtyfold gravity test, becoming the fifth person to do so. After learning about the other challengers and their records, he and Loki saw how formidable the Void Cult's strongest members were.

• Thor improved his control of Godly Power through training and finally endured sixtyfold gravity for eleven hours and fifty-nine minutes.
• The gravity chamber announced Thor had passed its test as the fifth person, then gradually reduced the gravity while Tony, Banner, and Loki let him savor his success.
• Thor asked Tony about the chamber's encouraging female voices, and Tony explained that different women voiced each level, with Sonia voicing challenges at one hundredfold gravity and above.
• Tony showed Thor and Loki the rankings: Kyle led with an eightyfold record, followed by Lex, Banner, Lacey, and Thor.
• Tony explained that Lacey had evolved at least fifty more times than he had and usually trained at sixty-twofold gravity, leaving Thor and Loki impressed by the Void Cult's strength.