Chapter Summaries

Chen Mu subjected Star-Lord to three days of real torture in an accelerated Mirror Dimension, leaving him terrified and humiliated. As Qin Lin and Li Jing overpowered Ronan, Chen Mu offered Ronan the Power Stone if he could kill Star-Lord.

• Chen Mu used the Reality Stone and Time Stone to make Star-Lord endure seventy-two hours of torture in an instant, and Star-Lord emerged kneeling and apologizing.
• Star-Lord realized he had wet himself, while Gamora and Rocket mocked his reaction and Chen Mu walked away from the smell.
• Qin Lin and Li Jing beat Ronan, who blamed Star-Lord and threatened revenge before pleading with the two youths to let him go.
• Star-Lord warned Qin Lin and Li Jing that Ronan was a dangerous villain, but they hesitated to kill him.
• Chen Mu showed Ronan the Power Stone and offered it to him if he killed Star-Lord.

Chen Mu forced Star-Lord to face Ronan, but Drax, Rocket, and Gamora joined the fight and the newly formed team gained the upper hand. Chen Mu then froze everyone on the battlefield, interrupting Ronan’s likely defeat.

• At Chen Mu’s urging, Ronan charged Star-Lord, who fled and pleaded for his life.
• Drax recovered and attacked Ronan, but Ronan knocked him aside and taunted him.
• Rocket and Gamora joined the fight, and Star-Lord accepted them as companions and declared, “Guardians of the Galaxy, assemble!”
• The team coordinated their attacks and overwhelmed Ronan until Chen Mu raised his hand and stopped everyone from moving.

Chen Mu stopped the Guardians from overwhelming Ronan and gave Ronan the Power Stone to begin a second round. Ronan overpowered the team, but Star-Lord distracted him with a dance-off as he prepared to kill Gamora.

• Chen Mu halted the Guardians’ attack and criticized Star-Lord for relying on his teammates instead of awakening his own power.
• Chen Mu embedded the Power Stone in Ronan’s hammer, lifted the time stop, and started the second round.
• Ronan unleashed the Power Stone’s power, blasted the Guardians, and injured Drax and Rocket.
• Ronan confronted Gamora and threatened to kill her and later Thanos.
• Star-Lord drew Ronan’s attention by dancing and singing, leaving Ronan bewildered.

Star-Lord distracted Ronan so Rocket and Drax could fire their assembled turret, but Chen Mu took the Power Stone after Star-Lord nearly died holding it and reduced Ronan to ashes. As Chen Mu left to arrange resource mining, Qin Lin and Li Jing blocked the Guardians’ path as a DJ beat began.

• Star-Lord awkwardly danced to draw Ronan’s attention while Rocket and Drax prepared the turret.
• Rocket fired the turret, breaking Ronan’s hammer and knocking him away from the Power Stone.
• Star-Lord grabbed the Power Stone but could barely withstand its power, so Chen Mu pulled it from his hand.
• Ronan charged Chen Mu for the stone, and Chen Mu used the Reality Stone to grind Ronan into ashes.
• Chen Mu left with Xu Jia to notify the Heavenly Court about mining the resources, while Qin Lin and Li Jing stopped the Guardians as music started.

Qin Lin and Li Jing challenged Star-Lord to a dance-off amid the ruins of Knowhere, drawing stunned reactions from the Guardians. Star-Lord ultimately amazed them with a Moonwalk, leaving Qin Lin and Li Jing admitting defeat.

• Qin Lin and Li Jing began dancing to challenge Star-Lord, and Li Jing kicked up dust with a spin.
• Star-Lord accepted the challenge and danced against Li Jing while Rocket, Drax, and Gamora watched.
• Qin Lin changed the music and performed his own unusual dance, captivating Star-Lord.
• Star-Lord put on a cowboy hat and performed a convincing Moonwalk to “Billie Jean.”
• Qin Lin and Li Jing recognized Star-Lord had won and watched his performance in admiration.

After Qin Lin and Li Jing lost a dance-off to Star-Lord, they asked to stay with him and learn the Moonwalk. Star-Lord’s Guardians of the Galaxy recruited them, while he secretly counted on their strength and connections to keep the team safe.

• Star-Lord praised Qin Lin and Li Jing’s dancing but kept misnaming their dance, Zhi Yin, as Ji Ni Tai Mei.
• Qin Lin and Li Jing asked to learn the Moonwalk and explained that their temporary expedition team had already achieved its goals.
• Star-Lord argued to Rocket and Gamora that recruiting the two Chinese men would give the Guardians powerful allies and help protect the team.
• Gamora changed her mind about leaving after hearing Star-Lord’s reasoning, while Drax supported the recruits.
• Qin Lin and Li Jing reported that Long Aotian had let them choose for themselves, and Star-Lord announced that they were members of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Chen Mu learned that Thor had overthrown Asgard’s old system and established the Asgard Republic, then decided to attend its founding ceremony. Xu Jia stayed behind to oversee preparations for expanding the Reincarnation Plan and protecting Reincarnators through the Investiture of the Gods Project.

• Chen Mu and Xu Jia returned to the Celestial Court with the Howling Celestial Dog and told Zheng Xian about mining the Celestial head at Knowhere.
• Zheng Xian explained that Multivariate China could strip the deposit in months using its mages and Heavenly Soldier Robots.
• Zheng Xian told Chen Mu that Thor had established the Asgard Republic and invited China to its founding ceremony.
• Chen Mu eagerly agreed to attend, while Xu Jia declined because she was busy preparing the Reincarnation Plan and Investiture of the Gods Project.

Chen Mu and Chinese diplomats attended the founding ceremony of the Asgard Republic, where Thor declared the monarchy abolished and gained Asgard’s Power. Odin woke to discover that his power was gone and rushed outside to find out what had happened.

• Thor welcomed Chen Mu and the Chinese delegation to Asgard and celebrated the reforms that had turned it into a republic.
• Chen Mu and the diplomats joined the Asgardians for a lavish founding feast while Thor exaggerated his heroic deeds and military exploits.
• Drunk Thor kicked the king’s throne away and declared the Asgard Republic and Asgard People’s Government established.
• Asgard’s people hailed Thor, and the Power of Asgard flowed into him, raising his strength to near Odin’s peak.
• Odin woke from his sleep, found Frigga absent, and realized that his Power of Asgard had vanished.

Odin woke believing Asgard had vanished, then found the realm celebrating and was horrified to see his throne wrecked. Thor admitted he had destroyed it and declared that Asgard had become a republic in need of reform.

• Odin woke unable to sense the Power of Asgard and feared his kingdom had been destroyed.
• Odin left his chambers and found the Asgardians celebrating in a lively square.
• Odin saw Thor on the platform and discovered his golden throne had been kicked into a twisted wreck.
• Odin demanded that Thor bring him the culprit, and Thor admitted that he had destroyed the throne.
• Thor told Odin that Asgard needed reform and announced that it was now the Asgard Republic.

Thor argued that Asgard needed to become a republic, and the people and the Power of Asgard rallied behind him. Odin prepared to stop Thor and Loki from ending the royal family's rule, but Thor's power surged beyond anything Odin expected.

• Thor told Odin that equality and political reform were necessary for Asgard to progress, and the crowd embraced his call for a republic.
• Thor's speech strengthened the Power of Asgard within him, while Mjolnir transformed into a symbol of the Asgard Republic.
• Odin offered to pass the throne to Thor and urged him to stop speaking, but Thor insisted that Asgard needed socialism and communism.
• Loki supported Thor's call for equality, and Odin decided to seal both sons away to preserve the royal family's power.
• Odin summoned Gungnir and confronted Thor, but Thor was engulfed by an overwhelming surge of the Power of Asgard.

Thor and Loki used their ideals of equality to gain the Power of Asgard, forcing Odin to abandon his attempt to hold onto the throne. Odin accepted their reforms and appeared to entrust Asgard to them, though he privately mourned the fall of his family’s rule.

• Odin questioned Thor about his sudden increase in the Power of Asgard, and Thor explained that Asgard had recognized his socialist ideals.
• Loki declared that socialism could save Asgard and gained a small share of the Power of Asgard despite being adopted and a Frost Giant.
• Loki told Asgardians that anyone who sincerely protected Asgard could have a chance to wield its power, raising their hopes for equality.
• Odin realized he could not defeat Thor or Loki and lowered Gungnir, deciding to retire rather than risk destroying his reputation.
• Odin told Thor and Loki that he was satisfied to entrust Asgard to them, while privately grieving the end of his family’s rule.

Odin accepted Thor and his brother’s reforms to establish the Asgard Republic, though he privately resented China’s influence and was stunned by the strength of its delegation. After beating Thor in a contest of physical strength, Odin stepped away from the throne, and Thor rallied the Asgardians with a slogan to make Asgard great again.

• Thor told Odin that China had inspired the reforms, and Odin greeted the Chinese delegation, recognizing its members as powerful experts.
• Odin challenged Thor to a fight without using other powers, and he beat Thor in front of the gathered Asgardians.
• Odin stopped when his stamina began to fail, told Thor he could leave Asgard to him and his brother, and departed to enjoy his retirement.
• Thor vowed to make Asgard great again, and the Asgardians shouted “MAGA” in response.
• Chen Mu watched Thor’s swollen face and golden hair and thought the scene resembled Trump.

Hela returned to Asgard expecting to claim the throne, but found Thor and Loki had established a republic and destroyed it. When she tried to summon the Power of Asgard, Thor instead unleashed it and pinned her in place.

• Thor addressed the crowd as Chairman of the Asgard Republic and urged everyone to help rebuild Asgard.
• Hela emerged from a portal, assumed Odin was dead, and demanded to reclaim the throne.
• Thor explained that Odin was alive and Asgard was now a republic where everyone was equal.
• Hela threatened Thor and Loki, then discovered the throne had been destroyed by Thor.
• Hela tried to summon the Power of Asgard but received no response.
• Thor manifested the Power of Asgard and crushed Hela so she could barely breathe.

Thor used the Power of Asgard to overpower Hela, appoint her Asgard’s Minister of Defense, and make her apologize to China for insulting Midgard. The celebration was interrupted when darkness covered Asgard, and Hela identified the threat as Dark Elves.

• Hela asked Thor how he had gained such immense Power of Asgard and abandoned her fighting stance when she realized she could not defeat him.
• Thor explained that Asgard’s reform and core values had earned him the Power of Asgard, while Loki demonstrated that Asgardians could gain its recognition too.
• Thor appointed Hela Minister of Defense and introduced her to Chen Mu and the Chinese delegation.
• Hela dismissed Midgard as the weakest realm, so Thor used the Power of Asgard to force her to apologize to the Chinese guests.
• Darkness suddenly covered Asgard, and Hela recognized the phenomenon as the work of Dark Elves.

Hela explained that the Dark Elves had returned to attack Asgard, and their fleet launched a war against the kingdom. Thor fought back with Mjolnir, but a dark-red radiance identified as Aether suddenly enveloped Asgard.

• Hela told Thor that the Dark Elves had once tried to plunge the universe into darkness and had been defeated by Asgard.
• Hela warned the Dark Elves to leave, but their cross-shaped warship fired on the royal palace and shook its defensive barrier.
• Asgard's forces launched ships to fight the Dark Elves, while Chen Mu and the Chinese diplomats watched without intervening.
• Asgard's warriors struggled in the battle, but Thor destroyed many Dark Elf ships with lightning from Mjolnir.
• A dark-red radiance suddenly covered Asgard, and the chapter identified it as Aether.

Malekith led the Dark Elves’ attack on Asgard with the Aether, prompting Thor to challenge him and consider handing the Reality Stone to China. Thor overwhelmed Malekith and demanded the Aether, leaving the Dark Elf king struggling to fight back.

• Chen Mu and the others realized the Dark Elves possessed the Aether and decided China should obtain the Infinity Stones.
• Malekith emerged from his ship and declared himself king of the Dark Elves, while Thor mocked his name and introduced himself as the first Chairman of the Asgard Republic.
• Malekith attacked Thor with blades formed from the Aether, but Thor dispersed them with lightning.
• Thor charged Malekith and demanded that he hand over the Aether, hoping to offer it to China as a token of goodwill.
• Thor’s attacks overwhelmed Malekith, who could not avenge himself against Odin’s grandson.

Malekith fled Thor after his Cursed Warriors were defeated, planning to use the Aether during the Nine Stars Alignment to plunge the universe into darkness. Before escaping through a spatial rift, he attacked Chen Mu’s table, but one of the people there casually deflected the blast.

• Malekith sent his Cursed Warriors against Thor, who defeated them and forced Malekith to retreat to his spacecraft.
• Malekith revealed his plan to use the Aether and the Nine Stars Alignment to spread darkness across the universe.
• As the Nine Stars Alignment began, Malekith ordered his spacecraft to flee through a spatial rift toward Midgard.
• Malekith noticed Chen Mu and the others calmly eating at a table and fired an energy blast at them.
• One person at the table stood up, deflected Malekith’s blast, and stared coldly at him.

After Malekith attacked the Huaxian delegation in Asgard and fled through a spatial rift, Thor offered compensation and promised to capture him, but Chen Mu said Huaxia would handle the Dark Elves. Malekith arrived on Earth intending to plunge the universe into darkness, only to find Huaxia’s battleships and fighters already surrounding him.

• Malekith ordered the Dark Elves to flee Asgard after his attack on the Huaxian delegation failed.
• Zhao Jian demanded an explanation and compensation from Thor, who promised Uru god steel and to capture Malekith.
• Chen Mu told Thor that Huaxia’s forces would deal with the Dark Elves after they reached Earth.
• Malekith arrived in Greenwich, London, and celebrated the start of his plan to bring darkness to the universe.
• Huaxia’s battleships and combat craft appeared above Malekith’s ship and aimed their weapons at it.

Malekith discovered that Earth’s Chinese military had surrounded the Dark Elves with overwhelming force, but he tried to complete his plan during the Nine Stars Alignment anyway. Wang Wei and Chinese soldiers intercepted him, and the chapter ended as Hulk soldiers confronted the Dark Elves’ last Cursed Warriors.

• Malekith was stunned by the advanced Chinese fleet and ordered his subordinate to pretend to surrender while activating the device for the Nine Stars Alignment.
• Wang Wei and armed Chinese soldiers entered through a golden portal and revealed that they had overheard Malekith’s plan.
• Malekith ordered an attack, but Chinese soldiers returned the Dark Elves’ space-distorting grenades through portals, causing the grenades to swallow their throwers.
• Wang Wei recognized the grenades as valuable technology, while Malekith ordered his troops to stop throwing them and sent two Cursed Warriors into close combat.
• Two Chinese soldiers transformed into Hulk soldiers and blocked the Cursed Warriors, who stopped when they saw their opponents’ overwhelming size.

Wang Wei’s Hulk soldiers overwhelmed Malekith and the Dark Elves, and China’s forces discovered that Malekith carried the Aether. Malekith was left helpless as Wang Wei ordered his soldiers to capture him alive.

• China’s Hulk program used disciplined soldiers, magical illusions, and specialized equipment to strengthen their powers while preserving their reason.
• Two Hulk soldiers defeated and subdued Malekith’s two Cursed Warriors, but Malekith continued attacking the Chinese soldiers.
• Wang Wei sent two more soldiers to confront Malekith, and they shattered the Aether’s attack with magical shields.
• Wang Wei recognized the Aether as the Reality Stone and ordered his forces to take Malekith alive.
• Wang Wei and more than ten Hulk soldiers charged Malekith, who realized he had no chance of escaping or winning.