Chapter Summaries

Evenson recovered the Sanctum Sanctorum Contract from Cartesley, the former Ghost Rider who had defied Mephisto. After Evenson left, two men attacked Cartesley and demanded to know where the contract was.

• Evenson’s soldiers shot Cartesley repeatedly after he unexpectedly rose, then Evenson confronted him about an old debt.
• Evenson revealed five shovels and used one to break a tombstone, retrieving the Sanctum Sanctorum Contract hidden in its handle.
• Cartesley warned that Mephisto would use the contract to turn the human world into hell, but Evenson dismissed the threat and left with Melinda.
• As night approached, two men appeared and beat Cartesley while demanding that he reveal the contract’s location.

Mephisto's son searched for the stolen Soul of Mephisto Contract, only to learn that an unknown group had taken it from Cartesley. At the Thor's Hammer base, Thor hinted that Evenson might be able to help with something he was considering.

• Mephisto's son fled to the human world to find the contract and build power in San Venganza, but Ghost Rider pursued him and his bandmates disappeared one by one.
• Mephisto's son beat Cartesley for information, learned that a group working for Mephisto had taken the contract, and decided to use Ghost Rider's heart to make him help find it.
• Evenson told Melinda that Cartesley had once been freed from prison by Mephisto and argued that Asgard would stop Mephisto if he threatened the human world.
• Evenson asked Thor how he was settling in at the Thor's Hammer base, and Thor said Evenson might be able to help with what he was thinking about.

Thor asked Evenson what standard he needed to meet to lift Mjolnir, and Evenson helped him understand that a king must wield strength with wisdom and restraint rather than act from anger. Thor began to reconsider his past choices, and Mjolnir trembled just as Evenson noticed a tank arriving with his takeout.

• Thor confirmed with Evenson that Odin was not seriously ill and asked what it meant to be worthy of Mjolnir.
• Evenson suggested that Mjolnir's standard might be the standard for becoming king and asked Thor why Odin had stripped him of his Crown Prince status.
• Thor explained that he had provoked war with Jotunheim, and Evenson taught him that a king must not wage war out of anger or arrogance.
• Thor reflected on his desire for revenge against the Frost Giants and said he understood his father's lesson a little better.
• Mjolnir trembled at the base, and Evenson spotted a tank arriving with his takeout.

Evenson persuaded Nick Fury to consider military support for Thor, arguing that Loki’s coup would leave Earth vulnerable to a war meant to strengthen Loki’s rule. Fury weighed the risks as Evenson revealed that Asgard called Earth Midgard, one of its Nine Realms.

• Evenson asked Nick Fury to arrange military support to protect Thor from the coup in Asgard.
• Nick Fury questioned whether supporting Thor would improperly involve Earth in Asgard’s internal affairs, and Evenson argued that Thor would be a beneficial king because he was straightforward and loved Jane Foster.
• Nick Fury asked about Loki’s attitude toward Earth, and Evenson warned that Loki would need to build prestige after taking the throne through a coup.
• Nick Fury identified war as the fastest way for Loki to consolidate power and asked whether Earth might become his target.
• Evenson explained that Thor called Earth Midgard, one of Asgard’s Nine Realms.

Nick Fury and Evenson concluded that Loki would inevitably attack Earth, either to exploit its vassal status or to cover up killing Thor. They arranged for military support in New Mexico as they prepared for Loki’s trusted forces to arrive.

• Nick Fury learned from Evenson that Asgard considered Earth one of its vassal states, and they discussed Loki’s possible war plans.
• Evenson warned Nick Fury that Loki would attack Earth regardless of whether he also fought the Frost Giants, because Earth could be blamed if Thor died.
• Nick Fury realized Thor had to be protected, and Evenson said Loki would likely send only a few trusted but powerful Asgardians.
• Evenson asked for military support and proposed using the crisis to test Earth’s conventional weapons against Asgardians.
• Nick Fury promised to coordinate troops stationed in New Mexico, who were expected to arrive the next day.

Evenson coordinated a heavily armed military response after the Bifrost brought Thor’s companions to Earth. The chapter ended when Thor identified Sif, and Evenson asked whether she was Thor’s wife, alarming Jane Foster.

• Major Gary Sanderson arrived with elite troops, artillery, helicopters, tanks, and air support for the coming fight.
• Evenson sensed a surge of energy and saw the Bifrost bring visitors to a distant site.
• Coulson’s agents sent back a muddled report, so Evenson ordered them sent to Melinda for treatment.
• Sanderson’s helicopters recorded the visitors, and Thor identified them as his friends and the Warriors Three.
• Thor pointed out Sif, and Evenson asked whether she was Thor’s wife, leaving Jane worried that Thor’s original wife had arrived.

Evenson prepared Sanderson to command the operation against the arriving enemy, then used Kilrogg's Eye to identify the Destroyer after it landed. He ordered Sanderson to begin the attack with lethal force.

• Thor reunited with his four warriors and reassured Jane Foster that Sif was not his wife.
• Evenson told Sanderson to command the operation and explained that the goal was to capture the enemy, though failure could send the troops somewhere else.
• A strange storm gathered, and an unidentified object appeared fifteen miles northwest of the base.
• Evenson used Kilrogg's Eye to see the Destroyer standing at the landing site.
• Evenson ordered Sanderson to begin the operation immediately and use lethal force without warnings.

Sanderson’s forces attacked the Destroyer with helicopters, tanks, artillery, and a B-2 bomber, but its armor resisted every strike and its Destruction Beam destroyed aircraft and a tank. Evenson ordered Sanderson to let the assault continue only to buy time, leaving Sanderson unsure of his purpose as Evenson performed strange hand movements.

• Sanderson ordered attack helicopters to fire autocannons and missiles at the Destroyer, but the strikes left it unharmed.
• Evenson warned that the Destroyer was preparing to attack, and its Destruction Beam destroyed all ten helicopters before Sanderson’s withdrawal order could take effect.
• Sanderson sent tanks and self-propelled howitzers against the Destroyer; their fire slowed it, but its beams melted one tank, forcing the remaining tanks to retreat.
• Sanderson canceled an F-22 attack and ordered a B-2 bomber to drop JDAMs, but the Destroyer survived the explosions.
• Sanderson demanded more missile strikes, but Evenson stopped him and said the attacks should continue only to buy time.
• Sanderson noticed Evenson’s hands moving in a strange rhythm and felt nauseated and dizzy as he watched.

Evenson and the others watched the Destroyer devastate the military forces, while Thor urged them to retreat and then sent his four warriors into battle. As the Destroyer turned on Sif, Evenson summoned a flaming meteor and prepared to strike it.

• Thor demanded to know who Loki had sent to kill him, and Evenson led him to the command center to show him the Destroyer attacking the base.
• Thor recognized the Destroyer and warned Evenson that the defenders could not defeat it, but Evenson insisted they would fight and told Thor to reclaim his divine power.
• Evenson explained that Loki had likely activated the Destroyer without being able to command its full strength, then revealed he had prepared a powerful Magic.
• Thor went to meditate before his hammer while his four warriors joined the battle, and Sif pinned the Destroyer with her sword before it turned on her.
• Evenson raised his hands and summoned a flaming meteor, declaring that hellfire would fall from the heavens.

Evenson summoned a Fel-powered Hellfire that emerged from a meteorite and fought the Destroyer, while Melinda and Coulson watched. The two constructs were evenly matched, and Evenson explained that Hellfires were vulnerable to physical attacks.

• Sif was knocked unconscious when a green meteorite struck the Destroyer and Fandral and Hogun carried her away.
• A Hellfire crawled out of the impact crater, and Evenson told Melinda it was a powerful war construct he could summon after making a deal.
• The Destroyer's face cannon failed to seriously harm the Fel-protected Hellfire, so the two fought at close quarters.
• Coulson asked how many war constructs Evenson had, and Evenson said Hellfires resisted magic but were less durable against physical attacks.

Evenson’s Hellfire fought the Destroyer but ran out of power before it could win, leaving the base’s defenders in danger. As the Destroyer attacked the fleeing troops, lightning struck the base and a red figure flew out.

• Evenson explained that Hellfire was costly, difficult to make, and limited to five minutes of use.
• Melinda asked whether Hellfire could defeat the Destroyer, and Evenson said it could not, pointing to the base as the key to victory.
• Thor knelt beside his hammer and tried prayers and vows to make it respond, but nothing happened.
• Hellfire grappled with the Destroyer until its time ran out and it collapsed into charred rocks.
• Evenson ordered the troops to keep the Destroyer occupied, but Coulson said they could not drop another bomb because the target was too close to the base.
• The Destroyer attacked the scattered defenders until lightning struck the base and a red figure flew out.

Evenson weakened the Destroyer with fel magic while Thor struggled to apologize to Odin through Thor's Hammer. Thor finally spoke sincerely, regained his divine power, and overwhelmed the Destroyer, while Evenson prepared to intervene as Thor readied a final blow.

• Evenson used fel spells and sacrificed his demons to damage the Destroyer, then deflected its destruction beam and protected himself, though many US Army soldiers were killed or wounded.
• Thor admitted that his arrogance had hurt Odin and asked for strength to protect the innocent people endangered by him.
• Thor's Hammer flew into Thor's hand, restoring his divine power and surrounding him with lightning.
• Thor charged the Destroyer, battered it with his hammer and storm, and blocked its destruction laser with ease.
• As Thor prepared to deliver the final blow, Evenson pointed at the Destroyer.

Thor regained his powers and helped defeat the Destroyer, but Evenson banished it just as Thor was delivering the finishing blow, ruining Thor’s dramatic entrance. Thor left for the Bifrost with Jane to confront Loki, while Sif stayed behind to recover and Evenson gave Thor an ancient scroll.

• Thor charged at the Destroyer, but Evenson banished it before Thor could land his final blow, causing Thor to crash into the ground.
• Thor confronted Evenson over ruining his grand entrance, then joined his warriors and the others after the Destroyer was subdued.
• Thor declared himself an ally of Coulson and asked for Jane’s equipment to be returned, then invited Jane to see the Bifrost.
• Evenson persuaded Thor to leave the unconscious Sif behind so she could recover, and Thor agreed to let Evenson care for her.
• Evenson gave Thor an ancient scroll, and Thor took Jane with him as he flew toward the Bifrost.

Evenson ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. Army to evacuate the base before nightfall while he stayed behind with the Destroyer and the unconscious Sif. That evening, Sif woke and learned Thor had returned to Asgard, then asked Evenson who had knocked her out.

• Evenson told Coulson to cover the semi-transparent Destroyer with a black cloth and evacuate everyone before nightfall.
• Melinda accepted Evenson's order, and Coulson organized the evacuation while leaving Sif behind.
• S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. Army cleared the base, leaving Evenson with the Destroyer and the unconscious Sif.
• Sif woke that evening and asked Evenson how the battle had ended.
• Evenson told Sif that Thor had regained his power and gone to Asgard, then denied knowing who had knocked her out.

Evenson comforted Sif about Thor and explained why Thor’s relationship with a human would face opposition from Asgard, lifting Sif’s spirits. A hostile guest arrived, and Evenson went out to meet him while asking Sif to help if needed.

• Sif drank heavily and admitted she was worried about Thor and the woman he loved.
• Evenson told Sif he supported her feelings for Thor and explained that Odin would likely oppose Thor marrying a human because of Asgard’s interests and her short lifespan.
• Sif took comfort in the thought that Thor’s human lover might not become Queen and finished the remaining beer.
• A motorcycle engine roared outside, and Evenson identified the arrival as an unfriendly guest.
• Evenson asked Sif to stay back while he met the guest, but requested that she help if he called for her.

Evenson confronted Johnny Blaze, who deduced that Evenson had taken the Soul of Mephisto Contract and admitted he had it. Johnny brought Mephisto’s son to Evenson, setting up a confrontation over the contract and their conflicting obligations.

• Evenson met Ghost Rider in the base courtyard, and Johnny Blaze transformed back to ask for the contract.
• Johnny explained that clues from Cartesley’s account and a bullet at the scene led him to identify Evenson’s agents.
• Evenson admitted that he had taken the Soul of Mephisto Contract and questioned why Johnny was pursuing it.
• Johnny said Mephisto’s son had cursed his girlfriend, then revealed that he had brought Mephisto’s son to Evenson.
• Evenson warned that serving two masters was taboo for someone who had signed a contract as Mephisto’s son approached.

Johnny blamed Evenson for Roxanne’s suffering, but Evenson argued that Johnny’s own pact had put her in danger. When Mephisto’s son demanded the contract, Evenson revealed that Thor had taken it to Asgard and then unleashed a golden beam from a disguised makeshift toilet at the approaching demons.

• Johnny accused Evenson of coveting the Soul of Mephisto Contract and causing Roxanne to be cursed, while Evenson blamed Johnny’s choice to sell his soul for putting Roxanne in danger.
• Evenson explained that he had ignored Johnny’s messages because his phone had run out of power.
• Mephisto’s son arrived with the Water Demon and demanded the contract, offering Evenson power in exchange for serving as Hell’s new Lord.
• Evenson mocked Mephisto’s son, claimed Thor had taken the contract to Odin’s Golden Palace, and dared him to retrieve it.
• Mephisto’s son and the Water Demon advanced on Evenson, who uncovered a makeshift toilet and fired a golden beam at them.

The Destroyer attacked Mephisto’s son after Evenson tricked it into targeting him, while Evenson explained that Midgard belonged to Asgard. Johnny lost control to the Ghost Rider, and Mephisto’s son tried to threaten Evenson by targeting the woman in the room, leaving Evenson confident he would not need to call for help.

• The Destroyer’s full-power Destruction Beam vaporized the Water Demon instead of hitting Mephisto’s son.
• Evenson used Soul Shatter to hide his presence and convinced Mephisto’s son that Asgard was protecting Midgard.
• Mephisto’s son tried to escape, but the Destroyer kept firing at him while Evenson refused to let him leave.
• Johnny lost control to the Ghost Rider, who began fighting the Destroyer and treated both Evenson and Mephisto’s son as sinners.
• Mephisto’s son threatened to control the woman in the room, but Evenson lowered his hand and decided he did not need to call for help.

Evenson watched Sif battle Mephisto's son after the Hell Prince was caught off guard by her ambush. The fight turned when Mephisto's son seized Sif's wrist and began draining her life, but Evenson intervened with a strange energy.

• Mephisto's son entered the room and was battered by Sif, who smashed him through a wall with a Shield Slam.
• Evenson identified Mephisto's son, and Sif attacked him as a demon of Hell.
• Sif changed from protection to arms and then berserker fighting, but Mephisto's son evaded most of her strikes.
• Evenson remarked that Mephisto's son was weaker than he had expected, and the Hell Prince lunged at Sif and seized her wrist.
• Mephisto's son began draining Sif's life and threatened to turn her into a dried corpse, but Evenson sent a strange energy into his body.

Evenson used Corrosion Seed to make Mephisto's son swell up and explode, then healed Sif with a Healing Stone. Mephisto's son reformed from the smoke and acknowledged Evenson's strength, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Mephisto's son grabbed Sif, but Evenson's Corrosion Seed made him swell until his body exploded.
• Evenson gave Sif a Healing Stone, and it restored her shriveled skin.
• Sif thanked Evenson and asked about Corrosion Seed, which he explained had finally worked as intended.
• Mephisto's son reformed from black smoke and said he now believed Evenson was powerful enough to defeat the Ghost Rider.