Chapter Summaries

Steve Rogers and the Avengers lured Murphy’s Ghost Battleship toward Asgard, then Tony Stark, Thor, Wanda, and Hulk boarded it to sabotage the vessel. Murphy intercepted the intruders, defeated and imprisoned Hulk, and went after Thor next.

• Steve Rogers ordered the Avengers to retreat behind Asgard’s palace shield and told Tony Stark, Thor, Wanda, and Hulk to wait until the Ghost Battleship entered range.
• Murphy ordered Christina to fire the Ghost Battleship’s cannons at Asgard’s shield, but the shield held against the bombardment.
• Tony Stark, Thor, Wanda, and Hulk boarded the battleship, with Tony and Wanda searching for its energy center while Hulk began smashing through the ship.
• Murphy used the Power Stone to overpower Hulk, beat him unconscious, and lock him up.
• Murphy used the Space Stone to reach Thor, who prepared to hold him off so Tony Stark could continue the mission.

Murphy defeated Thor and sent him into space before confronting Tony Stark and Wanda Maximoff near the warship’s energy center. Wanda attacked Murphy while Tony moved to destroy the energy source.

• Murphy fought Thor, overpowered him, and dodged Thor’s hammer before using missiles to obscure Thor’s view.
• Murphy transported himself and Thor into space, struck Thor away with the Power Stone, and returned to the warship.
• Murphy found Tony Stark and Wanda Maximoff near the energy center and told them Thor had been thrown into space.
• Tony tried to persuade Murphy to stop collecting the Infinity Stones, but Murphy blamed the others for the conflict and refused to change course.
• Wanda attacked Murphy with red energy while Tony went to destroy the energy source, and Murphy countered with the Power Stone.

Murphy killed Wanda and defeated Tony Stark, while the Avengers sent Harry Osborn, Peter Parker, Scott Lang, and Hope van Dyne into the warship. The chapter left Murphy confronting the four infiltrators and threatening to kill Hope’s parents.

• Murphy overwhelmed Wanda with the Power Stone, and Quicksilver sensed her death and collapsed.
• Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, Scott Lang, and Hope van Dyne volunteered to infiltrate the warship, then shrank to evade its defenses.
• Murphy confronted Tony Stark at the energy center, and Tony detonated his chest core in an attempt to stop him.
• Murphy used the Time Stone and Space Stone to send Tony outside the warship, where he exploded above the shield.
• Murphy confronted the four infiltrators, said most of their companions were dead, and threatened to take Hope van Dyne’s parents’ lives.

Murphy fought Spider-Man, Green Goblin Hero, Ant-Man, and Wasp while the battle against Asgard continued, and their teamwork began to overwhelm him. He used his Light-Based Nerves to invade their suits, leaving the four heroes horrified.

• Murphy froze time and attacked Wasp, but Ant-Man broke free and knocked her out of the way.
• Spider-Man, Green Goblin Hero, Ant-Man, and Wasp coordinated attacks that knocked Murphy off balance and forced him to retreat.
• Murphy's blast damaged the battleship's Energy Core, weakening its assault on Asgard and allowing the shields to stabilize.
• The four heroes cornered Murphy and targeted the Infinity Stone in his clenched right fist, using Spider-Man's webs to restrain him.
• Murphy let the heroes grab his limbs, then extended Light-Based Nerves through his armor to invade their suits.

Murphy defeated the Avengers who boarded his battleship and kept Bruce Banner alive for his genes, then resumed attacking Asgard. With Thor stranded in space and Asgard’s defenses failing, the remaining Avengers prepared a surrender ruse to infiltrate Murphy’s ship.

• Murphy seized control of the four armor suits, ejected their occupants into space, and ordered Elizabeth to copy their fighting styles from their records.
• Murphy told Bruce Banner he had spared him for his genes and explained that he expected to restore his soul after destroying Asgard and could alter his memories afterward.
• Murphy repaired and recharged his battleship, then resumed its attack on Asgard.
• Natasha Romanoff proposed a false surrender so the Avengers and Asgardians could board Murphy’s battleship, while Heimdall revealed Thor was alive in space.
• Natasha arranged for Asgard to weaken its shield and for Steve Rogers to be tied up as the bombardment continued and the shield shattered.

Murphy secured the Reality Stone, then destroyed Asgard despite Natasha Romanoff’s apparent surrender. Several days later, Lady Sif and Star-Lord found Asgard gone, while Soul Murphy followed Magneto after Rogue was captured.

• Natasha Romanoff offered the Reality Stone in exchange for Thor’s safety and asked Murphy to spare Bruce Banner, and Murphy accepted the surrender while taking Steve Rogers prisoner.
• After Murphy left the terrace, Natasha and the others prepared for Asgard to welcome him, but Murphy ordered his warship to bombard the unshielded palace and annihilate everyone there.
• Murphy used the Power Stone to destroy Asgard and its hidden realms, then departed through the Space Stone as the planet broke apart.
• Several days later, Lady Sif, Star-Lord, Gamora, and the Ravagers arrived and found Asgard destroyed.
• Soul Murphy followed Magneto after Mystique, disguised as Iceman, provoked Rogue into running away and Magneto captured her.

After Magneto brought Murphy to his island base, Murphy reflected on the divisions among mutants and felt pity for their hopeless struggle. That mercy cleansed his soul and led him to question whether the Infinity Stones existed to empower a ruler of the universe.

• Magneto brought Murphy to his island base, where he continued thinking about Jean Grey instead of experimenting on Rogue.
• Murphy considered how mutants were divided by their appearances and by the conflicting beliefs of Professor X and Magneto.
• Murphy concluded that neither leader could unite mutants or resolve their conflict with humanity, and that only overwhelming power could force lasting change.
• Murphy pitied the mutants, experienced a cleansing of his soul, and recognized mercy as a possible quality of the soul.
• Murphy wondered whether the Infinity Stones were meant for a ruler of the universe and what such a ruler would need.

Murphy concluded that becoming an Infinity Lord required following his own convictions while learning and cherishing life, then returned to Mutant School to approach Jean Grey with a plan to resolve the mutant conflict through her. He persuaded the Phoenix Force to stop fighting Jean for control, though the X-Men remained wary of him.

• Murphy reasoned that the Soul Stone tested his character and chose to act according to his own ideas rather than let the Infinity Stones control him.
• Murphy decided to nurture Jean Grey into a powerful figure who could resolve the mutant problem, then left Magneto and returned to Mutant School.
• The X-Men prepared to stop Magneto, unaware that Magneto had changed his plans, while Murphy arrived seeking Jean Grey.
• Logan raised his claws at Murphy, but Professor X recognized him and asked him to speak with the group.
• Murphy told the Phoenix Force that fighting Jean for control would leave Jean dead and force the Force to drift again, prompting it to fall silent as Jean collapsed.

Murphy took Jean Grey under his wing as her mentor, intending to help her strengthen her will against the power inside her. When Magneto abducted Jean to pursue a new plan, Murphy overpowered him and brought Jean back to the X-Men.

• Professor X welcomed Murphy, who asked Jean Grey to let him become her mentor and promised to help her prepare for the power inside her.
• Murphy secretly followed the X-Men to their mission, where Magneto captured them but took Jean Grey away on his yacht instead of continuing his original plan.
• Magneto told Jean that he wanted to use her power after sensing it during her clash with Murphy, and Murphy realized his arrival had changed Magneto's plans.
• Murphy appeared on the yacht, freed Jean, and rendered Magneto's powers useless before flying away with her.
• Murphy told Jean he would protect and mentor her, and they returned to the X-Men, who rescued Rogue and left.

Murphy began training Jean Grey through exhausting runs and steadily intensified physical and willpower exercises, strengthening her body and teaching her some Combat Arts. Months later, after a mutant attacked the president and the X-Men prepared to investigate, Professor X asked Murphy whether Jean could join an operation.

• Murphy ordered Jean Grey to chase him while he floated, pushing her to run until she reached her limit.
• Professor X stopped Cyclops Scott from interrupting Jean's training, while Murphy urged her to endure the fatigue and keep moving.
• After forty minutes, Murphy ended the run and explained that he was training Jean's will as well as strengthening her body to withstand her immense energy.
• Murphy trained Jean day after day for several months, while Uncle Wolf searched unsuccessfully for his lost memories and the schoolchildren continued growing up.
• A mutant attacked the president, putting the X-Men on alert; Murphy recognized Stryker's role but said nothing, and Professor X asked whether Jean could join an operation.

Jean Grey and Storm were lured to a church by Stryker, who wanted them to reveal Cerebro’s location. They fought their way out and escaped aboard their jet, with Nightcrawler joining them as it took off.

• Murphy watched as Jean Grey and Storm went to the church where Professor X had located Nightcrawler.
• Jean Grey sensed that the church was surrounded, and Storm summoned a storm as Stryker and armed soldiers appeared.
• Stryker demanded to know where Cerebro was, so Jean Grey and Storm attacked and fought through the soldiers.
• Stryker sent an Asian woman with healing powers and claws after Jean and Storm, but they escaped aboard their jet.
• Nightcrawler appeared on the departing jet and asked Jean and Storm to take him with them.

Jean Grey brought Nightcrawler to the mutant school, where the X-Men and Magneto agreed to attack Stryker’s base at Alkali Lake Dam. Meanwhile, Consciousness Murphy bombed the survivor camp where Hank Pym and the others were hiding, then searched the ruins for survivors.

• Jean Grey and Storm brought Nightcrawler to the mutant school, where he told Professor X that Stryker had controlled him into attacking the president.
• Magneto and Mystique arrived at the school, and Magneto agreed to work with the X-Men against Stryker.
• Professor X, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Magneto, and Mystique set out for Stryker’s base while the students stayed behind under Iceman’s protection.
• Professor X and Magneto argued over whether to capture or kill Stryker, then agreed that whoever caught him would decide his fate.
• Mystique transformed into Wolverine and went alone to the facility gates to infiltrate the base.
• Consciousness Murphy led jets in bombing the survivor camp, then landed among the ruins and searched for survivors.

Murphy defeated the survivors’ attempt to escape, but Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, Curt Connors, and Norman Osborn reached the Quantum Realm while Stephen Strange distracted him. Murphy returned to the moon to prepare for his final battle with Thanos, while the Ancient One hinted that she had seen a promising possible future.

• Norman Osborn, Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, and Curt Connors survived, but they escaped through a hidden Quantum Accelerator after Stephen Strange briefly distracted Murphy.
• Murphy destroyed the Quantum Accelerator and returned to the moon, deciding that he would kill Thanos and restore himself with fabricated memories.
• Murphy began mass-producing Combat Robots based on the Ravager Fighter and stopped worrying about the missing Ultron.
• The Ancient One questioned Stephen Strange about intervening and said she was not worried because she had seen a better possible outcome.
• The Ancient One revealed that she could use the Eye of Agamotto too, but sent Stephen Strange back to training without explaining what she had seen.

Thanos sensed an approaching crisis and concentrated his forces on Titan, while Murphy continued preparing his Combat Robot forces for a confrontation. As the Guardians of the Galaxy argued over whether to intervene, Lady Sif resolved to seek revenge against Murphy.

• Thanos decided to gather his army on Titan because he feared the person who had destroyed Asgard would come for him.
• Murphy continued expanding his Combat Robot forces and prepared for the coming battle without building more warships.
• Lady Sif returned toward Xandar with Star-Lord and the others and identified James Murphy as Asgard’s destroyer.
• The little raccoon reported that Thanos had recalled his forces to Titan, and Lady Sif said Thanos was preparing for Murphy.
• Gamora proposed attacking after both sides had weakened, Drax insisted on killing Thanos, and Star-Lord argued against getting involved.
• Xandar and the Kree gathered their forces defensively as Thanos waited among Titan’s ruins and reflected on Earth’s destruction.

Murphy led his fleet to Titan to confront Thanos, while Star-Lord persuaded Yondu to gather the Ravagers and wait for the two sides to weaken each other. Murphy’s fleet and Thanos’s forces met in space, and the battle began with Murphy’s main cannon firing at the Chitauri fleet.

• Murphy launched his fleet toward Titan, assigning Elizabeth, Christina, Alfred, and Laura to command its ships, fighters, and ground forces.
• Star-Lord convinced Yondu to contact the Ravagers and propose that they gather to attack after Thanos and his opponent were weakened.
• Yondu won support from Ravager leaders, and their teams began assembling covertly.
• Murphy’s fleet emerged five thousand kilometers from Titan, and Thanos ordered his Chitauri forces to launch and prepare for battle.
• Murphy ordered his fleet to advance and told the landing forces to circle around and attack Titan once the fleets engaged.
• Murphy ordered the main cannons to fire, and the Ghost Battleship’s beam destroyed Chitauri aircraft and Ironclad Armored Dragons in its path.

Thanos and Murphy fought a two-front battle on Titan as Murphy’s Ghost and fighters engaged the Chitauri fleet while Combat Robots deployed against the ground army. The Chitauri advanced under heavy losses, and the chapter left the ground battle underway as Murphy’s forces targeted Thanos’s gun emplacements.

• Thanos ordered the Chitauri to concentrate fire on the Ghost, while Murphy’s Ravager Fighters split into combat and landing formations.
• Christina ordered the Ghost’s main cannons to fire, destroying another Chitauri mothership as the Chitauri launched a desperate assault on the warship.
• Alfred led the landing force through the atmosphere and deployed Combat Robots onto the surface of Titan.
• Thanos and Murphy ordered their ground forces forward, and the Combat Robots opened fire on the charging Chitauri beasts.
• Thanos’s personal guard began setting up gun emplacements, so Alfred directed the fighters and the Combat Robots’ shoulder weapons to attack them.

Murphy’s forces turned the battle against the Chitauri by transforming their fighters into powerful combat robots, while Thanos held back his strongest allies. Murphy then teleported to confront Thanos and unleashed every energy weapon on his armored platform, leaving the outcome obscured by dust and explosions.

• The robot formations held off the monsters while Alfred’s fighters attacked the Praetorian Guard, and both sides suffered mounting losses as their resources ran low.
• The Chitauri used suicide attacks against the Ghost’s close-defense autocannons, while Ironclad Armored Dragons moved in to board or damage the warship.
• Murphy ordered the Ravager Fighters to transform, and the resulting robots tore through the Ironclad Armored Dragons and Praetorian Guard.
• Thanos sent Ebony Maw and his other allies into the fight, but Murphy teleported in front of them using the Space Stone.
• Murphy deployed the Ghost Armored Vehicle as an energy-weapons platform and fired every weapon at Thanos and his companions, engulfing them in explosions and dust.

Murphy fought Thanos and his forces on Titan, using the Infinity Stones to kill several of Thanos’s strongest lieutenants. As Murphy and Thanos prepared to continue their battle, the Ghost came under pressure from the enemy fighters.

• Murphy emerged from the wreckage and confronted Thanos, who recognized him as the one who had destroyed Asgard and offered him command of his army in exchange for the Infinity Stones.
• Corvus Glaive and Proxima Midnight attacked Murphy, but Murphy used the Reality Stone to deceive them, then killed both of them.
• Thanos and Ebony Maw attacked Murphy, but Murphy’s armor withstood Thanos’s blows, and Murphy redirected Ebony Maw’s metal spikes to kill him.
• Murphy challenged Thanos with the power of his four Infinity Stones, while Thanos declared that he did not fear death and still wanted to save the universe.
• The Ghost sustained damage as Ravager Fighters and other flying combat units attacked, forcing gaps into its defenses while it maneuvered to strike the enemy mothership.

Murphy defeated Thanos after a devastating battle on Titan, while the Ravagers prepared to attack the weakened survivors. Ghost reported that it was too damaged to confront their fleet head-on, leaving Murphy facing a new threat.

• Ghost pursued the fleeing Chitauri motherships while its weapons ran low, and the Combat Robots fought the monster legion in a brutal close-quarters battle on Titan.
• Star-Lord's team and Sif watched from a distance, and Star-Lord sent footage of the battle to Yondu.
• Yondu shared the footage with the Ravager leaders, and Stakar ordered the fleet to prepare to depart in thirty minutes.
• Murphy told the wounded Thanos that he would rule the universe, then killed him with the Power Stone and reduced his corpse to ashes.
• Ghost descended over Titan, and Elizabeth warned Murphy that the Ravagers' fleet had been detected and the damaged warship could not face it head-on.

Murphy fought the Ravagers on Titan, then escaped with the mainframe as the Ghost self-destructed and devastated their fleet. The Ravagers searched the wreckage for Murphy, while Star-Lord fled.

• Murphy sent his remaining Transformers to fight and set the damaged Ghost to self-destruct after restoring its weapons.
• Star-Lord and Stakar split the Ravager forces and pursued the Ghost into Titan’s atmosphere, where its cannons destroyed many fighters.
• As the Ravager carriers surrounded the Ghost, Murphy ordered Elizabeth to activate the self-destruct sequence, then used the Space Stone to escape with the mainframe to the Moon Base.
• The Ghost exploded, destroying thousands of fighters and more than half the Ravagers’ forces.
• Sif demanded a search for Murphy’s body, while Star-Lord turned his fighter around and fled.