Chapter Summaries

Tony successfully tested the Tull Type 3 Armor on Natasha, confirming its impressive performance and preparing for limited mass production. On Vormir, Thanos and Gamora found Red Skull, who explained that the Soul Gem required the sacrifice of someone they loved.

• Tony guided Natasha through binding the Tull Type 3 Armor and explained how to activate and maintain it.
• Natasha transformed into the armor and reported that it felt comfortable and increased her strength.
• Tony and Natasha tested the armor, which reached extreme speeds, delivered powerful strikes, and resisted anti-materiel weapons.
• Tony approved limited mass production and offered to customize weapons for Natasha to store in the armor.
• Thanos and Gamora arrived on Vormir seeking the Soul Gem, and Red Skull told them it required sacrificing someone they loved.

Thanos sacrificed Gamora on Vormir and claimed the Soul Gem, while Star-Lord returned from training and learned she had disappeared. Star-Lord decided he would have to devour Ego to stand a chance against Thanos, and Ego began searching for him.

• Thanos sacrificed Gamora on Vormir and obtained the Soul Gem, giving him both it and the Power Gem.
• Star-Lord sensed that someone important had left him, completed his Bright Realm training, and returned to Xandar.
• Yondu and Nebula told Star-Lord that Thanos had returned without Gamora, leading Star-Lord to believe something had happened to her.
• Star-Lord calmed down and told Yondu, Rocket, and the others that he planned to devour Ego to gain the power to fight Thanos.
• Ego sensed that Star-Lord was alive and headed toward the place where his presence had vanished.

Star-Lord lured Ego away from Xandar and followed him inside his planetary body, intending to use the Vajra Armor and the Bright Realm’s guidance to devour him. Ego revealed his plan to make Star-Lord his ally in ruling the universe, and the chapter ended as he began explaining how he had planted seeds on living planets.

• Star-Lord flew out to meet Ego in space so their fight would not devastate Xandar.
• Ego recognized Star-Lord’s divine power and claimed to be his father, offering to help him grow stronger.
• Star-Lord pretended to accept Ego’s invitation and followed him into the planet that formed Ego’s true body.
• Ego showed Star-Lord the source of their divine power and described his search for a child over millions of years.
• Ego said he wanted them to rule the universe, then clarified that he meant the Single Universe and began describing the seeds he had planted on living planets.

Star-Lord used Ego’s attempt to empower him to become a Sub-Father-class and turn the tables, drawing on the Vajra Armor to devour Ego’s divine power. As Ego resisted and the fight continued, Star-Lord confronted him over killing his mother.

• Ego linked his divine power with Star-Lord’s, helping him break through to the Sub-Father-class.
• Star-Lord summoned the Vajra Armor and began devouring Ego’s power, while Ego failed to drain him through the armor.
• Star-Lord called for an attack, and ships outside the planet, including Xandar’s planet-killer, opened fire on Ego.
• Ego revealed his planetary form and resisted Star-Lord’s attempt to absorb his divine power.
• Star-Lord told Ego he would pay for killing his mother, and Ego kept his power from being taken while remaining unable to drain Star-Lord.

Star-Lord's ambush forced Ego to unleash his million-year reserves of divine power to escape, but the backlash left both of them weakened. Star-Lord rejoined his fleet and judged that he was stronger than Thanos without Infinity Gems, though still no match for Thanos with two.

• Ego poured his accumulated divine power into Star-Lord, whose body began to crack under the strain.
• Star-Lord ordered the fleet to retreat, and the divine power link broke as Ego's power burst outward and destroyed the surrounding stars.
• Star-Lord emerged from Ego's planetary body in the Vajra Armor, but Ego's divine power storm sent him flying.
• Ego left the star system rather than risk further injury, while Yondu and the fleet returned to Star-Lord.
• Star-Lord told Rocket he was stronger than Thanos without Infinity Gems but could not defeat him while he wielded two.

After Gamora’s death, Star-Lord and Nebula decided to go to Earth for help and to wait for Thanos. The Illuminati met them in Wakanda after their ship requested a meeting, and Quill began his descent to the landing site.

• Star-Lord suggested that he and Nebula go to Earth, where Thanos would likely seek the Infinity Gems, and Nebula agreed.
• The Illuminati tested their new Tru Type 3 armors, and Tony identified finding the remaining Elemental Crystals and investigating the armor seen in Earth’s sky as their next tasks.
• J.A.R.V.I.S. alerted the Illuminati that an alien ship had entered Earth’s orbit and requested a meeting.
• Tony connected with Quill, who introduced himself as the Summoner of the Three Wonders Armor and asked to land and discuss a request for help.
• Tony gave Quill’s group landing coordinates in Wakanda, where the Illuminati and Wakandan guards waited as the ship began its descent.

The Illuminati learned from Star-Lord and Nebula that Thanos planned to collect the Infinity Gems and prepared to alert the Sanctum Sanctorum and Thor. At Kamar-Taj, Doctor Strange found The Ancient One and asked whether his damaged hands could recover.

• Star-Lord and Nebula told the Illuminati about the Power Gem, Xandar, and Thanos's plans.
• The Illuminati identified the Mind Gem and Space Gem as Thanos's likely targets and agreed to notify the Sanctum Sanctorum.
• Tony suggested contacting Thor for information about Thanos and the wider universe.
• Strange arrived at Kamar-Taj seeking a way to heal his hands, and The Ancient One said recovery was possible but difficult.

The Ancient One told Stephen Strange that mastering Water or Wood magic and earning the Armor Power could restore his hands, and he eagerly agreed to train at Kamar-Taj. She showed him the Sanctum Sanctorum and began explaining its magical books, leaving him learning how White Magic differed from Five Elements magic.

• The Ancient One told Strange that Water or Wood magic and the Armor Power could heal his hands and potentially regrow his body.
• Strange asked to stay at Kamar-Taj and learn magic, and the Ancient One agreed.
• The Ancient One revealed that only five people in at least five thousand years had mastered Water or Wood magic and earned the Armor Power’s recognition.
• The Ancient One toured Strange around Kamar-Taj and led him to the Book of the Heavenly Dao.
• The Ancient One explained that the Book of Vishanti recorded White Magic, the Book of the Heavenly Dao recorded Five Elements magic, and the Darkhold recorded Black Magic.
• The Ancient One said White Magic borrowed power from gods through contracts and incantations.

Strange touched the Book of the Heavenly Dao and discovered his exceptional affinity for the Water Element, opening the possibility that he could become an Armor Summoner. After beginning his training at the Sanctum Sanctorum, he learned the basics of both white magic and Water Element magic in one week.

• The Ancient One brought Strange to the chamber holding the Book of Vishanti and the Book of the Heavenly Dao, explaining that the latter could reveal whether he could cultivate Five Elements magic.
• Strange touched the Book of the Heavenly Dao and experienced an overwhelming vision of water, then learned from The Ancient One that he had very high Water Element affinity.
• The Ancient One told Strange he might become the next inheritor of the Black Rhino Armor, began his formal training the next day, and sent him to his room through a portal.
• Strange arrived at the sorcerers' training grounds and drew curious attention from sorcerers who discussed his potential as a Water Element Armor Summoner.
• Strange learned the basics of white magic and Water Element magic within one week.

Strange slowly healed his hands with Water Power as the Illuminati prepared for Thanos, while the Ancient One chose not to join the fight. Thanos acquired the Infinity Gauntlet and two Infinity Gems, and Huang Yun told Wu Fengji that Thanos had a role in one of his plans.

• Strange used Water Power to begin healing his hands, and the Ancient One sensed the Illuminati discussing her but decided they would have to face Thanos themselves.
• Tony asked where the Sanctum Sanctorum was, then sent Banner to warn its members about Thanos.
• Thor received the Illuminati's message and decided to visit them with Jane the next day.
• Ebony Maw presented Thanos with the Infinity Gauntlet, and Thanos learned the Black Order had retrieved it from Nidavellir without Asgard noticing.
• Thanos placed two Infinity Gems in the gauntlet, reached God King level, and chose to wait rather than attack Earth before the Reality Gem appeared.
• Huang Yun told Wu Fengji that Thanos was involved in one of his plans and promised to show her his potential.

The Illuminati and Guardians of the Galaxy prepared for Thanos, learning that the Ancient One might leave Earth as Thanos pursued the Infinity Gems. Thor's question about the Soul Gem revealed that Thanos had sacrificed Gamora, leaving Nebula devastated and Star-Lord enraged.

• Huang Yun sensed Thanos making moves across multiple universes and believed this universe's Thanos was destined to suffer defeat.
• Captain America led a meeting with the Illuminati and Guardians of the Galaxy, where Nebula explained Thanos's power, army, and plan to erase half the universe's life.
• Banner told the group that the Ancient One was preparing for Dimensional Ascension, and Nebula warned that Thanos might attack Earth after she left.
• Thor asked whether Thanos had sacrificed someone he loved to obtain the Soul Gem, prompting Nebula and Quill to realize Gamora was dead.

The Avengers discussed Thanos’s hunt for the Infinity Gems and decided to prepare on Earth, while Thor went to Asgard to ask Hela what she knew. Hela revealed that powerful beings already knew of Thanos’s plan, dismissed him as no threat to Huang Yun, and dragged Thor off to awaken his divine power.

• Tony calmed Star-Lord, and Captain America summarized that Thanos had two Infinity Gems, the Avengers had two, the Sanctum had one, and one remained missing.
• Captain America argued that Earth could not rely on its mysterious armor to stop Thanos, and the group agreed Star-Lord should stay on Earth while Thor returned to Asgard.
• Thor asked Hela whether she knew about Thanos’s plan to collect the Infinity Gems, and Hela said God King-level powers across the universe knew of it.
• Hela dismissed Thanos as a clown and believed Huang Yun had already trapped him, leaving him no chance to escape or resist.
• Hela seized Thor and dragged him to the training grounds to awaken his divine power while he protested that he had things to do on Earth.

The Ancient One ascended to the Bright Dimension, leaving Strange to take over as Sorcerer Supreme and protect Earth. Strange accepted the responsibility and went to train, determined to restore his hand and wear the armor.

• The Ancient One told the sorcerers at Kamar-Taj that she was ascending to a higher dimension and asked them to support Strange.
• Wong and the other sorcerers congratulated the Ancient One as she ascended to the Bright Dimension and vanished.
• Wong warned Strange to train in white magic and Five Elements magic and to treat the Time Stone as a trump card.
• Strange acknowledged that he was unprepared to replace the Ancient One but resolved to meet the challenge.
• Strange went to train so he could restore his hand and put on the armor.

After The Ancient One ascended to the Bright Realm, Thanos learned that her departure gave him an opening to pursue the Reality Gem during the Nine Realms’ convergence on Earth. Tony and the Illuminati remained unable to locate Thanos, while Captain America prepared to give Tony a file.

• Wu Fengji welcomed The Ancient One to the Bright Realm, where she chose to rest after centuries of work.
• Ebony Maw told Thanos that The Ancient One had undergone Dimensional Ascension and that the Nine Realms would converge on Earth in less than a month.
• Thanos planned to act when the Nine Realms converged, relying on Supergiant, who had infiltrated Earth to search for the Reality Gem.
• Carol told Tony she had found no information about Thanos despite searching the universe for more than half a month.
• Captain America mentioned Hydra, then told Tony he had a file to give him.

Captain America gave Tony the file proving that Bucky had killed his parents, and Tony revealed he had already known and understood that Bucky had been controlled by Hydra. The friends reconciled, leaving Natasha and Banner reflecting on how much Tony had changed.

• Captain America warned Tony to stay calm and handed him the file about his parents’ murder.
• Tony saw that Bucky Barnes had killed his parents but admitted he had known the truth for a long time.
• Tony said he still felt anger toward Bucky but understood that Hydra had controlled him and did not want revenge.
• Captain America was moved by Tony’s response, and Tony asked him to help clean up Hydra.
• Natasha and Banner watched from the next room and discussed Tony’s growth into a trusted leader.

The Illuminati investigated strange mirages on Earth and learned from Thor and Loki that they showed the Nine Realms. Loki explained that the realms might be overlapping because of an orbital pattern, but the cause and consequences remained unresolved.

• The Illuminati discussed the Space Gem's flashing and reports of people seeing other worlds, then asked Thor to come to Earth.
• Thor arrived and read Banner's file, recognizing the strange worlds as the Nine Realms of the World Tree.
• Thor identified realms including Vanaheim, Muspelheim, Jotunheim, and Asgard, but said he did not know why Earth could see them.
• Loki appeared, claimed he had turned over a new leaf, and explained that he was Asgard's chief minister.
• Loki compared the Nine Realms to a solar system, prompting Tony, Banner, Shuri, and the others to wonder whether the realms were overlapping along their orbits.

As the Nine Realms neared their alignment, Supergiant found the Reality Gem hidden in a folded space on Earth and absorbed it. She reported back to Thanos, who prepared to launch his final attack.

• Loki warned the heroes that the Nine Realms would overlap soon, and Captain America told him to leave.
• Supergiant searched Earth for the Reality Gem as the realms drew closer.
• Supergiant followed children to an abandoned factory, found a folded space, and entered a sealed chamber containing the Aether Particle.
• Supergiant touched the Aether Particle and absorbed the Reality Gem into her body.
• Supergiant reported her discovery to Thanos, who ordered her back and announced that the final attack was about to begin.
• Supergiant arrived at the Sanctuary and told Thanos that the Reality Gem was inside her body.

Thanos recovered the Reality Gem and ordered the Chitauri army to advance on Earth, prompting the Illuminati and the Sanctum Sanctorum to prepare for battle. The chapter left Earth mobilizing ahead of Thanos’s arrival within a day.

• Thanos pulled the Reality Gem from Supergiant and ordered the Chitauri army to advance on Earth.
• Captain Marvel warned Tony that Thanos’s forces would reach Earth within a day, and Tony declared a Level One combat alert.
• The Illuminati mobilized its armor suits, informed governments that an extraterrestrial enemy was coming, and began preparing Earth’s forces.
• Tony told Captain America that Thanos was heading for Earth, while Banner went to the Sanctum Sanctorum to secure the Time Stone.
• Banner urged Strange and Wong to join the Illuminati because Thanos was targeting their Infinity Gems, and they agreed to cooperate.

With Thanos due to arrive, the Illuminati chose Wakanda as the battlefield and moved their forces and three Infinity Gems there. Thanos’s fleet reached Earth and began deploying troops, leaving the defenders ready for the battle.

• Banner left the Sanctum Sanctorum for the Illuminati headquarters, while Star-Lord learned that Thanos was coming and continued preparing.
• The Illuminati chose Wakanda as the battlefield after deciding Earth would be at a disadvantage fighting in the air.
• Wakanda’s forces mobilized, Tru Type 1 and Type 2 mechs landed in Africa, and the Mind Gem and Space Gem were moved to Wakanda.
• Thanos’s fleet arrived in orbit, and he ordered his troops deployed after learning that Earth had gathered three Infinity Gems.
• Tony arranged for satellites to broadcast the coming battle worldwide to build support for the Illuminati.

Tony, Star-Lord, and their allies transformed into armor and fought Thanos and the Chitauri army to protect Earth and the universe. As the God King-level clash shook the battlefield, Huang Yun watched from another dimension, confident that Earth’s Elemental Armor and its defenders could withstand the battle.

• Tony rallied the defenders as civilians watched and admired the Illuminati, especially him for standing on the front line.
• Tony, Captain America, Natasha, Hawkeye, and Star-Lord summoned their armor, while Ajak praised humanity’s resolve to protect Earth and the universe.
• Star-Lord charged Thanos, and their clash of divine power and cosmic energy destroyed everything within five kilometers.
• Tony recognized how dangerous the God King-level battle was and relied on Wong’s assurance that the God of the Bright Dimension had strengthened Earth.
• Wu Fengji predicted Thanos would win, while the Ancient One backed humanity; Huang Yun said Earth’s Elemental Armor and Gaia’s power could endure the fighting.
• Huang Yun sensed Duanmu Yan watching the battle through Earth’s will and noted that the infant could assume a divine form and summon Thunder Yatalis.