Chapter Summaries

Valkyrie sparred with Quill after he accidentally damaged her room, but worldmind took control of Quill and pushed her to the brink. Valkyrie awakened her Asgardian God-Force and survived the clash, while Quill stopped worldmind from killing her; she was left unconscious and drifting in space.

• Valkyrie woke to Quill's Nova Energy blast, learned it had been an accident, and challenged him to spar outside the warship.
• Quill struggled to fly and fight, so worldmind controlled his body and used its predictions and Nova Energy to gain the upper hand against Valkyrie.
• Valkyrie's memories of Hela and the slaughter of the Valkyrie Legion returned as worldmind battered her, awakening her Asgardian God-Force.
• Valkyrie clashed with Quill's Nova Energy in a devastating explosion, while Quill ordered worldmind not to kill her.
• Worldmind forced an explosion that separated them; it returned toward the warship, while the severely injured Valkyrie lost consciousness and drifted into space.

Quill returned from his battle with Valkyrie, and Zhan Liu healed her after she overcame her fear of Hela and chose to rely on Asgardian divine power. Meanwhile, Quill repeatedly left the starship at night; Rocket, Drax, and Groot followed him and discovered that the person they thought was Quill was someone else wearing his body.

• The Ravagers cursed Quill for winning their bets, while Rocket discovered that Quill’s Nova-powered energy shield had worn down his claws.
• Zhan Liu healed Valkyrie, who thanked him but refused to learn another power system because she wanted to focus on Asgardian divine power.
• Quill left the starship at night several times, but he denied going anywhere when Rocket questioned him the next morning.
• Rocket suspected Quill was secretly meeting a woman and persuaded Drax and Groot to follow him one night.
• Rocket, Drax, and Groot found Quill speaking with a Kree warrior, but the figure who turned toward them had cold, emotionless eyes that did not belong to Quill.

Quill confronted Worldmind after learning it had been controlling his body at night, but he agreed to let it remain in his mind in exchange for a promise not to act without permission. That night, Quill secretly left his room after deepening his companions’ sleep with Nova Energy.

• Worldmind defeated Rocket, Drax, and Groot when they tried to stop it, then carried them away and put them in their bedrooms.
• Rocket, Drax, and Groot told Quill that Worldmind had controlled his body, and Worldmind confirmed it had gone out at night to recruit Nova warriors.
• Quill considered removing Worldmind but hesitated when it warned that he would lose his Nova Energy and return to being weak.
• Quill agreed to keep Worldmind in his mind as long as it did not control his body without permission, and Rocket reluctantly accepted the agreement.
• Quill and his companions joked together and grew less wary of Worldmind as it accompanied Quill around the warship to recruit candidates.
• Quill woke during the night, used Nova Energy to deepen his companions’ sleep, and quietly left the bedroom.

Zhan Liu’s forces defeated Sovereign’s fleet and invaded the homeworld, where Gamora fought through its robot army. The High Priestess detonated the Super Energy Battery, leaving Gamora gravely wounded in a vast crater.

• Zhan Liu ordered his warship and fighters to attack Sovereign after its remote-controlled fleet provoked him.
• Sovereign commander escalated the battle with remote-controlled warships and fighters, but Valkyrie, Gamora, and Quill destroyed them.
• High Priestess Ayesha demanded Zhan Liu leave Sovereign, but he cut off the call and ordered Gamora to capture her.
• Gamora fought through Sovereign’s robot forces while Quill watched, and Nebula grew jealous of her success.
• High Priestess Ayesha detonated the Super Energy Battery, devastating the surrounding area and leaving Gamora without her lower body, barely alive.

Zhan Liu rescued Gamora, devastated Sovereign’s defenses, and humiliated High Priestess Agatha and the nobles before a Black Order battleship arrived. The newcomer proved to be Proxima Midnight rather than Thanos, while Quill remained intent on avenging Yondu by attacking Zhan Liu.

• Zhan Liu teleported to Gamora, healed her grievous injuries, and carried her through Sovereign’s missile barrage without being harmed.
• Zhan Liu stormed the palace, killed its guards, changed the nobles’ skin to silver-white, and left as the Ravagers began looting the planet.
• Thanos’s battleship appeared, frightening Nebula, Gamora, Quill, and the others, while Zhan Liu declared that he would fight Thanos himself.
• Quill argued with Worldmind about ambushing Zhan Liu during the coming battle, but Worldmind warned that he was acting out of hatred and had no knowledge of Zhan Liu’s weaknesses.
• Proxima Midnight emerged from the Black Order’s landed battleship, and Gamora explained that Thanos had sent one of his subordinates instead of coming himself.

Proxima Midnight used her mind-control powers to turn Zhan Liu’s forces against one another, then challenged him after stealing memories that let her reach the Fiftieth Heaven of Magnetic Field Rotation. Before Zhan Liu could kill her, the Sovereign nobles detonated every Super Energy Battery, destroying their planet and leaving only Zhan Liu, Proxima Midnight, Quill, and Valkyrie alive.

• Gamora warned Zhan Liu’s allies about Proxima Midnight’s abilities, but Proxima controlled the battlefield and made the Ravagers and Kree warriors attack one another.
• Proxima Midnight approached Zhan Liu, revealed that she had stolen his memories and learned his technique, and reached the Fiftieth Heaven of Magnetic Field Rotation.
• Zhan Liu prepared to kill Proxima Midnight, but sensed a dangerous fluctuation beneath his feet and turned his attention toward it.
• Driven mad by their altered genes and loss of status, High Priestess Ayesha and the Sovereign nobles activated the Sovereign Empire Final Battle Plan.
• High Priestess Agatha ordered every Super Energy Battery on Sovereign detonated, obliterating the planet and killing nearly everyone nearby.
• Zhan Liu, Proxima Midnight, Quill, and Valkyrie survived the explosion, while Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy died.

After Sovereign’s destruction, Quill blamed Zhan Liu and vowed revenge, while Proxima Midnight used her life force to deliver a devastating attack that shattered Zhan Liu’s body. As Worldmind and Valkyrie fought, Proxima Midnight’s soul emerged from her broken Immortal Body, revealing that she had survived.

• Quill broke down over the destruction of Sovereign and the deaths of his companions, then accused Valkyrie and Zhan Liu and swore to kill Zhan Liu.
• Proxima Midnight told Zhan Liu that she could burn her life force to amplify her attack, and he invited her to strike.
• Proxima Midnight’s life-fueled punch reached the Ninety-Seven Heavens and shattered Zhan Liu’s right arm and much of his body, while her Immortal Body broke apart.
• Quill tried to attack Zhan Liu, but Valkyrie intercepted him, and they fought as Worldmind assisted Quill.
• Valkyrie fought Worldmind with her fused Asgardian God-Force and Nova Energy until Worldmind sealed her access to the Nova Force.
• Zhan Liu saw a transparent soul emerge from Proxima Midnight’s shattered body and realized she possessed an Indestructible Soul.

Zhan Liu studied Proxima Midnight’s indestructible soul while Valkyrie defeated Worldmind’s advantage by purifying her Asgardian God-Force and summoning a Pegasus. Quill’s father Ego arrived and attacked Valkyrie, but Zhan Liu intervened and broke Ego’s finger.

• Zhan Liu examined Proxima Midnight’s spiritual body while she futilely attacked him and vowed to kill him after recovering.
• Valkyrie depleted the Nova Energy fused into her body, purified her Asgardian God-Force, and summoned a Pegasus to fight Worldmind.
• Valkyrie overwhelmed Worldmind, while Worldmind warned Quill that Zhan Liu had already defeated Proxima Midnight and urged him to flee.
• Ego arrived, revealed that Quill was his son, and offered to take him home; Quill stood stunned as Valkyrie and Worldmind paused their fight.
• Ego attacked Valkyrie for striking Quill, and she resisted his divine force alongside her Pegasus until both were badly injured.
• Zhan Liu appeared before Ego, grabbed his pointing finger, and snapped it while threatening to rip it off if Ego pointed at him again.

Quill escaped Zhan Liu’s attack only because Worldmind seized control of his body, prompting a bitter confrontation over its control and Quill’s dependence on it. After Worldmind and Quill tentatively reconciled, Ego reappeared alive, and Quill broke down in his arms as Ego promised to deal with Worldmind.

• Ego sent Quill away and confronted Zhan Liu, who pierced Ego’s chest while Quill escaped through a spatial jump under Worldmind’s control.
• Quill confronted Worldmind for overriding his wishes, and Worldmind insulted his weakness and blamed Ego for getting himself killed.
• Quill pleaded with Worldmind not to abandon him, and Worldmind agreed to train him while both remained wary of each other.
• Ego appeared before Quill alive, and Quill embraced him and sobbed over his loss and loneliness.
• Ego comforted Quill and promised to deal with the intelligent life inside his head.

Zhan Liu returned to Earth with Valkyrie and Proxima Midnight after taking Ego’s Super Battleship, only to find Peter fighting Thor in space. Peter told him Thor intended to become the King of the Nine Realms and was demanding Earth’s submission.

• Zhan Liu severed Ego’s divine-power transmission with a Life Magnetic Field, then accepted Ego’s Super Battleship in exchange for letting him go.
• Zhan Liu healed Valkyrie and boarded the battleship with her and Proxima Midnight, while Ego taught Valkyrie how to operate it.
• During the journey, Zhan Liu repeatedly cut pieces from Proxima Midnight’s soul to study its recovery, and Valkyrie became concerned when Asgard did not warn them away from the Nine Realms.
• After the battleship emerged near Earth, Zhan Liu blocked a shock wave and saw Peter and Thor fighting in space as Asgardian warriors watched.
• Thor retreated with his fleet after Peter struck him, and Valkyrie declined to return to Asgard with the warriors.
• Peter told Zhan Liu that Thor wanted to become the King of the Nine Realms and demanded that Earth submit to him.

Zhan Liu reunited with Peter, who revealed that he had killed Steve and built an empire through a bloody revolution, then confessed how alone he felt in pursuing his New World. Peter explained that Thor’s bid to rule the Nine Realms had led to a battle that threatened the empire, and Zhan Liu decided to speak with Thor before choosing how to help.

• Zhan Liu learned that Peter had killed Steve, driven Tony away, and transformed the United States into an empire, but he listened as Peter explained his ideals and comforted him.
• Peter described how he enforced the New World with Mind Communication Devices, surveillance, and Magnetic Field Warriors while facing widespread private opposition.
• Peter told Zhan Liu that Thor had demanded Earth unite under him as King of the Nine Realms, and their disagreement had escalated into a battle in space.
• Peter asked Zhan Liu to help kill Thor, but Zhan Liu refused to intervene in their struggle over the Great Dao and promised to protect the New World Empire.
• Zhan Liu planned to visit Asgard to learn whether Thor’s obsession was ruling the Nine Realms or becoming the strongest God-King, and hoped to guide him toward the wider universe if it was the latter.

Zhan Liu and Valkyrie arrived in Asgard, where they found Thor hosting a lavish banquet despite the realm’s apparent decay and Valkyrie’s former friends ignoring her. After Zhan Liu called the scene Ragnarok, Hela returned and Valkyrie immediately struck her through the heart.

• Valkyrie guided Zhan Liu’s spaceship into Asgard, where Heimdall told them Odin had died and Thor was the new God King.
• Valkyrie showed Zhan Liu Asgard, but the warriors and old friends they encountered ignored her.
• Thor welcomed Zhan Liu at a banquet in the Golden Palace, and Valkyrie revealed she was a survivor of the Valkyrie Legion.
• Zhan Liu called the feast Ragnarok, silencing the hall as Thor readied Mjolnir and Valkyrie stepped between them.
• Hela entered the Golden Palace and attacked Valkyrie, who dodged her sword and pierced Hela through the heart.

Zhan Liu shattered the illusion concealing Asgard’s destruction and forced “Thor” to face the ruined world, while Hela and Valkyrie fought over their old grudge. Hela escaped after being dismembered, and Zhan Liu revealed that the man claiming to be Thor was Loki, who blamed him for disrupting his false happiness.

• Hela recognized Valkyrie as a survivor of the Valkyrie Legion, and the two fought in the sky while Asgard’s buildings remained mysteriously unharmed by their attacks.
• Zhan Liu confronted “Thor” about hiding from reality, blocked his punch, and shattered the illusion that had made the devastated, lifeless Asgard appear beautiful and peaceful.
• Hela learned that Asgard had been destroyed and its people killed, then was dismembered; Valkyrie pinned her head down and attacked her, but Hela regenerated and fled toward Midgard.
• Valkyrie questioned why Zhan Liu and “Thor” were fighting and urged them to find Asgard’s destroyer, but Zhan Liu said “Thor” was Loki and suggested he had destroyed Asgard.
• Loki denied being Loki, blamed Zhan Liu for ruining his happy life, and enlarged the black hole between them until Valkyrie began to be pulled toward it.

Thor considered Loki’s proposal to trade Asgard’s help with Zhan Liu for the Aether, and Odin approved the plan to secure the Reality Stone. Thor returned to Asgard with the Aether, which Odin sealed in the treasury, while Loki earned praise for his apparent effort to atone.

• Loki urged Thor to distrust Zhan Liu and argued that Asgard should obtain the Aether before Zhan Liu gave it to a mage.
• Thor recognized Loki’s scheme but agreed to ask Odin whether Asgard should make the proposed exchange.
• Odin approved the plan, selected a trusted mage, and sent Thor with him to make the deal with Zhan Liu.
• Thor returned to Asgard with the Aether, and Odin inspected it before sealing it in the treasury.
• Thor told Loki that Odin praised his proposal, and Loki smiled happily.

Loki escaped his cell, stole the Aether from the Asgard Vault, and used its power to regain his Magnetic Field Rotation Force. After Thor tried to return him to prison, Loki defeated him and the guards, then headed to the Golden Palace to demand recognition as Asgard’s future king.

• Loki controlled a guard with the Mind Stone, escaped his cell, and concealed the escape with an illusion.
• Loki entered the Asgard Vault, removed Frigga’s seal, and took the Aether, which shattered the Ultimate Heart Lock and restored his power.
• Loki returned to his cell and convinced Thor that he had overcome his inner demon and was free to leave.
• Thor tried to drag Loki back to prison, but Loki accused him of protecting his claim to the throne and challenged him for the right to rule Asgard.
• Loki overpowered Thor, defeated Balder and the guards, and carried Thor toward the Golden Palace to proclaim his claim to the throne.

Loki returned to the Golden Palace with his Magnetic Field Rotation power restored and demanded the crown prince's position, while Odin and Thor tried to contain his increasingly erratic behavior. After the gods rejected him and Odin reaffirmed Thor's succession, Loki killed Sif, Balder, and other gods in a rage, prompting Thor's power to surge toward the Fifty Heavens.

• Loki dragged a powerless Thor into the Golden Palace and claimed he had recovered, while Thor warned Odin that Loki remained consumed by his inner demon.
• Loki showed the gods his Magnetic Field Rotation power and demanded to know why they praised Thor but not him.
• Loki declared that he would become Asgard's crown prince, but Odin insisted that Thor was the sole heir and would become king.
• Loki denounced Thor's fitness to rule, and Sif, Balder, and other gods defended Thor while insulting Loki.
• Loki blasted the gods who insulted him, killing Sif, Balder, and the others, and Thor's grief and fury drove his power toward the Fifty Heavens.

Thor fought Loki in outer space while trying to help him overcome his inner demon, and Odin refused to intervene because his injured body could not withstand the strain. Thor’s appeal to family ties briefly calmed Loki, but Loki revealed that he was a Frost Giant and claimed Odin had never loved him.

• Loki attacked Thor after killing Thor’s friends, and Thor drew him into battle in outer space to protect the gods.
• Frigga urged Odin to stop the fight, but Odin refused because his body could not endure using his power and he believed the battle might help Loki regain control.
• Thor blamed himself for years of neglecting Loki’s feelings and continued fighting while trying to persuade his brother to recover.
• After many days of fighting, Loki briefly calmed when Thor spoke of Frigga, but he turned furious again when Thor insisted Odin loved him.
• Loki revealed his blue Frost Giant form and told Thor that he was Laufey’s son and Odin’s tool, destined to rule Jotunheim.

After discovering Loki was a Frost Giant, Thor and Loki fought while Odin tried to protect them, but Loki’s desperate test of Odin’s love ended in misunderstanding. Thor sacrificed himself to show Loki that he loved him as a brother, and Odin sealed Loki after Thor’s death; Loki misread the act as revenge and used the Aether to break through the Fiftieth Heaven Magnetic Field Rotation.

• Loki revealed his Frost Giant form, and Odin declared that Loki was still his son while the watching gods fell silent.
• Loki attacked Thor, and Odin intervened; Loki then abandoned his defenses to test whether Odin would save him, but Odin hesitated after Thor pulled back his own strike.
• Loki concluded that Odin had chosen Thor over him, and Thor responded by lowering his defenses and letting Loki’s punch pierce his heart.
• Thor embraced Loki and told him that he and Frigga loved him before dying in Loki’s arms.
• Odin imprisoned Loki instead of killing him, but Loki mistook the seal for a threat of revenge and used the Aether to break through the Fiftieth Heaven Magnetic Field Rotation.

Odin sacrificed himself to stop Loki from reaching Hundred Heavens and used his divine power to suppress Loki’s inner demon, but Loki remained unstable. After Asgard’s warriors rejected his claim to the throne, Loki began slaughtering them, until Frigga stabbed him with her dagger.

• Odin destroyed the Aether and restrained Loki, then confessed his regrets and died while pouring his divine power into his son.
• Loki regained his Asgardian form and reunited with Frigga, but his confusion and inner demon remained.
• Loki declared himself king of Asgard, and the warriors attacked him, so he transformed into a Frost Giant and froze the advancing soldiers.
• Frigga tried to stop the fighting and defended Loki, but the gods refused to accept him and resumed their advance.
• Loki attacked the army and killed many Asgardians as his mind became unstable again.
• As Loki prepared to shatter a frozen warrior, Frigga stabbed him in the abdomen with her dagger.

After Frigga died, Loki’s grief restored his sanity and brought him to the Ninety-Seven Heavens, but he realized he had destroyed Asgard and lost the family and belonging he truly wanted. He recreated Asgard as an illusion without Loki, then, living as Thor, resumed his conquest of the Nine Realms until Zhan Liu arrived and Loki decided to kill his master to preserve the peace.

• Frigga stabbed Loki, then sacrificed herself to protect him as the gods attacked, and Loki’s grief unleashed power that killed every living creature in Asgard.
• Frigga’s death restored Loki’s sanity, and he realized he had killed Thor, driven Odin to his death, and destroyed the kingdom he had wanted to rule.
• Loki wandered through the silent Asgard, took Odin’s throne, and understood that he had wanted his family’s love and his people’s acceptance rather than kingship.
• Loki used Magnetic Field Force and illusions to restore Asgard and impersonated Thor, creating a version of the kingdom where Loki had never existed.
• As Thor, Loki resumed his campaign to conquer the Nine Realms, fought Peter Parker on Earth, and continued his war until Zhan Liu arrived with an unknown Asgardian warrior.
• Fearing Zhan Liu would disrupt Asgard’s peace, Loki resolved to kill his master.