Chapter Summaries

Xu Fan took Thor and Loki to Nidavellir so Thor could obtain a weapon before confronting Hela. Heimdall warned that Asgard might fall within six hours, and the chapter ended with the group discovering Nidavellir was dark and lifeless.

• Xu Fan insisted that the group stop at Nidavellir before going to Asgard, and Thor assumed he was meant to reclaim Asgard himself.
• Thor contacted Heimdall, who reported that Hela had killed the Warriors Three, resurrected Fenrir and the dead, and trapped Frigga and her people underground.
• Heimdall estimated that Frigga's group could hold out for about six hours, and Thor asked him to buy them more time.
• Xu Fan opened a portal to Nidavellir, where Thor and Loki saw a realm without light or stars.
• Loki suggested Xu Fan had opened the portal to the wrong place, but Xu Fan confirmed that it was Nidavellir.

Xu Fan and the others arrived at ruined Nidavellir, where they encountered Dwarf King Eitri and learned that the dwarves blamed Asgard for failing to protect them. Loki noticed a gauntlet model on the workbench that connected the tragedy to Thanos and the Infinity Stones.

• Xu Fan opened a portal to Nidavellir and led Thor, Loki, and Hulk through it.
• Eitri attacked the newcomers, but Hulk overpowered him before Thor stopped Hulk and recognized Eitri as a former friend.
• Thor asked what had happened to Nidavellir, and Eitri blamed Asgard for abandoning the dwarves.
• Xu Fan told Eitri that Odin was dead and Hela ruled Asgard, leaving Eitri devastated.
• Loki spotted a gauntlet model with grooves resembling the Infinity Stones and pointed it out to Xu Fan and the others.

Thor learned that Thanos had forced the dwarves of Nidavellir to forge the Infinity Gauntlet before slaughtering them, and he asked Eitri to make a weapon to fight Hela. Thor tried to restart Nidavellir’s furnace, but the mechanism broke and the furnace went dark again, leaving him with little time.

• Thor asked Eitri what had happened to Nidavellir, and Eitri explained that Thanos had killed the dwarves after they forged the Infinity Gauntlet.
• Loki told Thor that Thanos had given him the Mind Scepter and Chitauri army in exchange for the Cosmic Cube and a chance to rule Earth.
• Thor promised to stop Thanos and asked Eitri to forge a weapon before Hela could threaten Asgard.
• Eitri agreed to restart the furnace, and Xu Fan opened a portal so Thor could reach its activation mechanism.
• Thor pulled the mechanism’s handles to restart the furnace, but they broke, plunging Nidavellir back into darkness.

Thor endured the power of Nidavellir’s star to forge Stormbreaker, while Xu Fan received an Infinity Gauntlet and supplied the weapon’s handle. Thor woke after Xu Fan healed him and saw Eitri finish Stormbreaker.

• Thor insisted on restarting Nidavellir’s furnace with his body, and Loki recognized Thor’s sense of responsibility.
• Thor endured the star’s energy as Eitri melted Uru metal into Stormbreaker’s head, while Xu Fan received an Infinity Gauntlet without Infinity Stones.
• Thor fainted when the furnace shut down, and Eitri realized Stormbreaker still needed a handle.
• Hulk caught Thor, and Xu Fan gave Eitri Vibranium to use as the handle.
• Xu Fan healed Thor, who woke and asked about Stormbreaker as Eitri presented the completed weapon.

Thor and Xu Fan returned to Asgard with Loki, Hulk, and Eitri after Eitri gave Stormbreaker the power to open the Rainbow Bridge. Loki regained his divine power during the journey, and Hulk and Loki arrived in Asgard to find Hela's army waiting for them.

• Eitri gave Thor Stormbreaker, which he had modified to open the Rainbow Bridge, and Thor set out for Asgard with Xu Fan, Hulk, and Loki.
• As Loki crossed the Rainbow Bridge, his divine power returned, and he flew toward Asgard.
• Xu Fan and Thor persuaded Eitri to leave Nidavellir with them by promising to heal his hands and help him start over.
• Thor and Xu Fan followed Eitri through the Rainbow Bridge, and the portal vanished from Nidavellir.
• Hulk emerged in Asgard surrounded by Hela's army, and Loki arrived soon after and confronted Hela.

Loki regained his divine power and joined Hulk, Eitri, and Xu Fan against Hela’s army as Thor challenged Hela to a duel. The battle began with Hela’s Death Knights attacking, while Thor and Hela prepared to fight.

• Loki announced himself as Asgard’s savior, and Frigga and Heimdall heard that he had returned alongside Thor and Xu Fan.
• Frigga guarded the entrance to protect the Asgardians hiding with her and Heimdall.
• Eitri, Xu Fan, and Thor arrived in Asgard, where Hela tried to persuade Eitri to join her and demanded that the others kneel.
• Hela sent her Death Knights against them, and Eitri, Loki, and Hulk fought back.
• Thor charged Hela with Stormbreaker, and Hela met him with two conjured blades.

Thor overpowered Hela in their battle and urged her to surrender, but refused to kill her because she was his sister. He offered to let her roam the Nine Realms if she promised never to return to Asgard, leaving Hela to react to his proposal.

• Hela sent the Death Knights away and challenged Thor, but his Rushing Thunder knocked them back and forced her to one knee.
• Hela recovered and attacked Thor with blades, vowing to kill him and avenge herself on Odin, while Thor evaded her strikes and broke through her weapons with Stormbreaker.
• Thor pressed Hela into a close fight and kicked her across the ground, leaving the Death Knights shocked by their queen's defeat.
• Thor told Hela that he could defeat or kill her before her power grew further, but said he did not want to kill her.
• Thor offered to spare Hela and let her roam the Nine Realms if she promised never to set foot in Asgard, and Hela bitterly wondered if he was pitying her.

Thor battled Hela’s Death Knights while Hela withdrew to draw more power from Asgard, and Fenrir attacked Hulk. Seeing Thor and the others overwhelmed, Xu Fan opened a portal to Queens, New York.

• Thor refused to kill Hela, so she ordered her Death Knights to overwhelm him and retreated to draw more power from Asgard.
• Fenrir appeared on the battlefield, and Xu Fan used Chaos Magic to burn away Death Knights while Loki joined him for shelter.
• Fenrir and Hulk clashed, with Fenrir biting Hulk as Hulk struck his face with repeated punches.
• Loki urged Xu Fan to turn the battle around as Thor struggled against the Death Knights and lost sight of Hela.
• Xu Fan decided Thor would exhaust himself before reaching Hela, then opened a portal to Queens, New York.

Xu Fan used The Allspark to turn Queens’ vehicles into an Iron Legion that overwhelmed Hela’s Death Knights in Asgard. Thor wounded Hela with Stormbreaker, but she grabbed the weapon and seized his throat as they fell toward the ground.

• Queens residents panicked when Xu Fan opened a portal to Asgard, but Xu Fan used The Allspark to transform vehicles across Queens into mechanical lifeforms.
• The Iron Legion poured through the portal and destroyed the Death Knights surrounding Thor and Eitri.
• Thor thanked Xu Fan, then moved to confront Hela while mechanical lifeforms surrounded her.
• Hela summoned black swords from the ground to pierce the machines and dodged their energy blasts by leaping into the air.
• Thor struck Hela’s shoulder with Stormbreaker and told her she had already lost.
• Hela grabbed Stormbreaker’s haft, seized Thor by the throat, and dove toward the ground with him.

Thor exhausted himself fighting Hela, and Loki saved him from her killing blow before Hela overpowered him as well. With Thor and Loki down, Xu Fan approached Hela to face her.

• Hela drove Thor into the ground and impaled him with a black sword, but Thor snapped it and pulled it from his body.
• Hela took Stormbreaker and raised it to kill the weakened Thor, but Loki blocked the strike with a golden scepter.
• Loki was unable to hold Hela back for long, and she kicked him away as Thor collapsed.
• Loki called for Xu Fan to take over, and Xu Fan reassured Thor before approaching Hela and greeting her.

Xu Fan overwhelmed Hela, shrugging off her blades and using Susanoo to wipe out the Death Knights. As Susanoo struck at Hela, she tried to block the blow with summoned blades and a powerful lightning attack.

• Xu Fan stepped in front of Thor and Loki and let Hela's blades shatter against his body.
• Hela intensified her attacks, but Xu Fan remained unharmed and protected Thor and Loki with a White Magic barrier.
• Xu Fan identified himself as the Sorcerer Supreme, and Hela ordered her remaining Death Knights to attack him.
• Xu Fan formed Susanoo, whose force pulverized the charging Death Knights.
• Susanoo swung its Chakra Katana at Hela, who raised Stormbreaker and unleashed powerful lightning to counter the strike.

Xu Fan killed Hela with a single slash, ending her threat to Asgard. As Hela died, she urged Thor to protect Asgard, while Frigga rushed to her daughter’s side.

• Xu Fan shattered Hela’s defenses and cleaved her in two, ending the battle as her resurrected Death Knights collapsed and the mechanical lifeforms remained standing.
• Thor crouched beside Hela to hear her final words, while Loki realized Xu Fan had defeated her without using his full strength.
• Fenrir charged at Thor, but Hela used her remaining strength to signal him to stop.
• Hela told Thor to protect Asgard before dying, and Thor closed her eyes.
• Heimdall told Frigga that Hela was dead, and Frigga rushed out of the civilians’ hiding place to reach her daughter.

After Hela died, Fenrir carried her body into the forest, while Frigga thanked Xu Fan for saving Asgard. Xu Fan healed Thor and left his Iron Legion to protect Asgard from threats while Thor rebuilt its forces.

• Frigga arrived at the plaza and learned that Hela had hoped Thor would protect Asgard.
• Fenrir carried Hela's body into the forest, and Frigga stopped Thor from intervening.
• Frigga thanked Xu Fan for protecting Asgard, and the people emerged from hiding and cheered for him.
• Xu Fan healed Thor and warned that the Dark Elves, Frost Giants, and fire demons could threaten Asgard.
• Xu Fan told Thor that his mechanical lifeforms would remain in Asgard as guards, and Thor thanked him.

Xu Fan returned from Asgard to Wakanda with Eitri, while Hulk chose to remain behind. In Wakanda, Orochimaru reported on Little Earth, and Xu Fan prepared to show Eitri something before healing his hands.

• Xu Fan asked Hulk about his plans, and Hulk chose to stay in Asgard rather than return to Banner.
• Xu Fan opened a portal to Wakanda and brought Eitri with him; Thor asked Xu Fan to tell Foster that their wedding would be postponed while Asgard rebuilt.
• Thor turned to the gathered Asgardians and introduced himself as Thor.
• Xu Fan and Eitri arrived in Wakanda, where Orochimaru greeted them and reported that Little Earth learned quickly but often wanted to destroy humanity after watching environmental videos.
• Xu Fan introduced Eitri to Orochimaru as a skilled weaponsmith, then said Eitri should see something before Xu Fan healed his hands.

Xu Fan showed Eitri Wakanda’s Vibranium and asked him to combine it with Uru metal to forge weapons for the Land of Fire’s ninjas. Eitri agreed to try, and Xu Fan supplied Uru metal and healed his hands before leaving the work to him and Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru led Xu Fan and Eitri to Wakanda’s Vibranium research laboratory, where Eitri recognized the metal and examined it.
• Xu Fan asked Eitri to fuse Vibranium with Uru metal into a hard, enchantable metal that could absorb kinetic energy.
• Eitri explained that combining the metals would require extensive experimentation and promised only to do his best.
• Xu Fan opened a portal to Nidavellir and used Chaos Magic to bring Uru metal to Wakanda, telling Eitri to ask Orochimaru for any help he needed.
• Xu Fan used the Time Stone to restore Eitri’s hands to their condition before Thanos injured them.

After Thor postponed their wedding to restore Asgard, Xu Fan sent Jane Foster there so she could confront him in person. Foster explained that she was angry because Thor had not trusted her enough to tell her himself, and Frigga suggested they hold the wedding in Asgard.

• Xu Fan told Foster that Thor had postponed their wedding to restore order in Asgard, and Foster demanded that he send her there.
• Xu Fan opened a portal to Asgard and provided Foster with a mechanical supercar to help her find Thor.
• Foster found Thor repairing Asgard, slapped him, and asked why he had not told her directly about postponing the wedding.
• Thor realized Foster was angry because he had not trusted her, and he embraced her after she assured him she supported his duty to Asgard.
• Frigga interrupted them and suggested holding the wedding in Asgard.

Thanos captured Gamora and her companions, then learned from Gamora that Xu, Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, had the Infinity Stones and was collecting them. When Thanos ordered Star-Lord and the others killed, Gamora offered to reveal the Soul Stone's location in exchange for their lives.

• Thanos captured Star-Lord, Rocket, Groot, Mantis, Drax the Destroyer, and Gamora aboard Sanctuary II.
• Gamora told Thanos that Xu had destroyed Ego the Living Planet and possessed the Infinity Stones, and Ebony Maw confirmed she was telling the truth.
• Thanos ordered Sanctuary II to head for Earth and recalled that Loki's failed invasion had also ended with the Cosmic Cube and Mind Scepter disappearing.
• Thanos welcomed Gamora home, then ordered his subordinates to kill Star-Lord and the others.
• Gamora offered to reveal the Soul Stone's location if Thanos spared her friends, while Star-Lord silently warned her not to trust him.

Gamora traded the Soul Stone’s location for the Guardians’ freedom, then traveled with Thanos to Vormir while hiding the sacrifice required to obtain it. As Thanos’s forces headed for Earth, Rocket decided the Guardians needed Xu Fan’s help to save Gamora.

• Gamora revealed that she knew where the Soul Stone was and persuaded Thanos to release Star-Lord and the others in exchange for its location.
• Thanos sent Ebony Maw and his forces toward Earth to find the Sorcerer Supreme and retrieve the Infinity Stones, then left with Gamora for Vormir.
• Gamora privately recalled that obtaining the Soul Stone required sacrificing the soul of someone she truly loved, and believed Thanos could never meet that condition.
• Rocket stopped Star-Lord from returning to Sanctuary II and argued that they needed a plan before facing Thanos.
• Rocket decided the Guardians should go to Earth and seek Xu Fan’s help to rescue Gamora.

Thanos and Gamora reached Vormir, where Red Skull explained that obtaining the Soul Stone required sacrificing the person Thanos loved most. Thanos chose to sacrifice Gamora, obtained the Stone, and left for Earth.

• Thanos and Gamora followed Red Skull to the summit where the Soul Stone was guarded.
• Red Skull told Thanos that he had to trade the soul of the person he loved most to obtain the Soul Stone.
• Thanos realized he loved Gamora and, despite his grief, decided to sacrifice her for his cause.
• Gamora tried to stab Thanos with her dagger, but he disarmed her and threw her from the summit.
• Gamora died from the fall, and Thanos obtained the Soul Stone before turning toward Earth.

Rocket and Star-Lord agreed to head to Earth and use Thanos’s threat to persuade Xu Fan to help rescue Gamora, while Mantis showed Star-Lord the truth about Ego. As the Guardians’ ship and Sanctuary II raced toward Earth, Stark tested his Mark LXXXV armor, and S.H.I.E.L.D. detected a spaceship approaching New York.

• Rocket convinced Star-Lord to go to Earth and provoke a conflict between Xu Fan and Thanos so the Guardians could rescue Gamora.
• Mantis showed Star-Lord her memories of Ego’s evil plan and how Xu Fan had destroyed him to protect the universe.
• Star-Lord struggled to accept the truth about his father and Xu Fan, then asked to be left alone while Rocket set the ship’s course for Earth.
• Thanos’s Sanctuary II also sped toward Earth as Stark completed and test-flew his Mark LXXXV armor.
• Coulson showed Fury satellite footage of a spaceship approaching Earth and reported that it would reach New York within five minutes.