Chapter Summaries

Neos learned that the Abyssal Hilling Empire was the Hilling Empire transformed into a nearly unstoppable system, and that restoring contact with the Imperium required destroying the regional Hilling Mainframe. He gathered his team and began purging the Abyssal psionic energy from his body.

• Neos insisted that they send intelligence about the Abyssal Hilling Empire back to the Imperium, even if it cost them everything.
• Sandora explained that the Command Network controlled and analyzed the enemy, rebuilt destroyed units, and blocked Neos from contacting the Imperium.
• Sandora described how the Paradox Engines twisted reality and how the Abyssal Gate System bound invaded universes irreversibly to the empire.
• Neos asked where to begin after realizing that brute force could not defeat the empire's interconnected pillars.
• Neos briefed his team and began fighting the dark red psionic energy inside him.

Neos reunited with his squad after Sandora saved him from Viska, but the squad distrusted her because of his Abyssal Corruption and her status as a supposed traitor. When Sandora revealed imperial ceremonial robes and effortlessly compelled the squad to lower their weapons, they began to reconsider who she was.

• Mio and Elysia arrived ready to fight after sensing the corruption within Neos, while the squad surrounded him and Sandora.
• Neos told the squad that Sandora had saved him from Viska and knew the source of the Abyss anomaly.
• Elysia recognized the imperial significance of the clothing beneath Sandora's trench coat, and Sandora revealed ceremonial robes reserved for the Emperor of the Hilling Empire.
• Mio accused Sandora of impersonating imperial attire, and the squad aimed their weapons at her as Neos questioned her identity.
• Sandora ordered the squad to lower their weapons, and her authority forced them to comply.
• Mio concluded that someone with Sandora's level of status had no need to deceive them.

Sandora revealed that she was the Emperor of the Old Hilling Empire and explained how the failed Bridge-Building Project corrupted the empire and created Abyssal Hilling. The group cautiously accepted her account and learned they needed to destroy the Hilling Mainframe to contact their empire, while the Paradox Engine’s forces were already closing in.

• Sandora identified herself as the Old Hilling Empire’s Emperor and described how her Bridge-Building Project led to the empire’s corruption and the birth of Abyssal Hilling.
• Sandora explained that Abyssal Hilling branded her a traitor and sent Viska’s pursuit force to seize her authority, while her loyal subordinates died helping her escape.
• Gorda questioned Sandora’s story, but she said the Hilling Mainframe could verify her identity and warned the group that the Hilling Will might be corrupted.
• Neos sought Mio and Elysia’s judgment, and Mio cautiously addressed Sandora as Your Majesty before asking how they could contact the empire.
• Sandora said they had to find and destroy the Hilling Mainframe, which operated within the Paradox Engine’s force field and could relocate dynamically.
• Neos realized that the Paradox Engine would come after Sandora because Elysia had been marked and their location had been exposed.

Sandora persuaded Neos and the others to ally with the Abyss gods and fight on Earth, where they would try to destroy the Abyssal Mainframe and send intelligence to the True Imperium. As the team prepared for a perilous thirty-minute mission, Viska received orders to capture Sandora and launched her forces toward Earth.

• Sandora told Neos's team that they would cooperate with the Abyss gods to hold back the Fallen Apostles while they attacked the mainframe.
• Neos accepted responsibility for the alliance, and Mio and Elysia agreed to follow his command.
• Sandora explained that the gods would hold off the fleet while she faced Viska, giving Neos's team no more than thirty minutes to destroy the mainframe and transmit intelligence to the True Imperium.
• Sandora warned that death or complete corruption would prevent the Imperium from reviving them, and the team agreed to proceed.
• The Hilling Will ordered Viska to capture Sandora or destroy her and recover her information template.
• Viska assembled her forces and sent a massive starship and dark-clad Apostles toward Earth.

The allied forces and cosmic entities struggled against the Abyss Fleet as it destroyed fleets and corrupted the battlefield. Thor charged the Sovereign-class fortress, and Thanos followed with a Power Stone strike, leaving the battle unresolved.

• The Abyss Fleet destroyed the Kree mothership and overwhelmed the Kree, Shi'ar, and Skrull forces.
• Death used her power to destroy Abyss ships and prolong the lives of allied troops, while Thanos urged her to focus on the flagship.
• Eternity, Infinity, and Oblivion fought the Abyss Fleet but weakened as their powers were resisted and corrupted.
• Thanos called Thor to attack the Sovereign-class fortress, and Thor charged toward it with his remaining divine power.
• Thanos invoked Death and hurled a compressed burst of Power Stone energy toward the Sovereign.

As the Abyss Fleet overwhelmed the allied forces, Ilani Rael sacrificed the Nova Supreme and its crew to briefly halt the invasion. Thor and Thanos prepared one last attack as more Sovereigns appeared, while Earth's countdown reached its end.

• Ilani Rael activated the Nova Corps’ Final Protocol, destroying the Nova Supreme and erasing much of the Abyss Fleet for a few seconds.
• The Abyss Fleet rapidly re-formed, and Eternity, Death, Infinity, and Oblivion admitted that the corruption and damage were nearing catastrophic levels.
• Thor and Thanos regrouped after losing Mjolnir and exhausting most of the Power Stone’s reserves, then planned a final assault on the Sovereign.
• A second and third Sovereign emerged with more Abyss ships as the war continued and Earth's countdown ended.

As Viska’s Bulwark Star destroyed the Abyss gods and advanced toward Earth, a mysterious will shielded the heroes from corruption, but fallen apostles began massacring cities with constructs the heroes could barely damage. The heroes remained overwhelmed as more constructs descended.

• Earth’s sky turned crimson as the Vis Bulwark Star advanced through orbit and Abyss gods attacked its fallen apostles.
• Viska fired the Bulwark Star’s weapons, erasing Atlach-Nacha, the death dragon, and the Lord of Corruption before ordering the fortress toward her favorite toy.
• A protective will suppressed the Abyss whispers affecting Tony Stark, Steve, and the other heroes gathered at Stark Tower.
• Fallen apostles descended in dark red crystal constructs, and one devastated three blocks of Times Square before Captain America’s shield cracked against it.
• The heroes’ attacks barely harmed the constructs, while identical massacres began in cities worldwide and more attackers fell from the sky.

Neos and his team infiltrated Bulwark during a brief disruption in the Abyssal Hilling network, aiming to destroy the Hilling Mainframe and transmit its intelligence. After their disguises and Neos's authorization carried them past the defenses, they descended toward the core database as the red glow over Earth intensified.

• Mio explained that Sandora was diverting most of Bulwark's power to the battle on Earth while suppressing the Abyssal threat across the region.
• An unknown message announced a 25-minute disruption and sent Neos's team a route to the Glory Star Fortress core database.
• Neos ordered the team to infiltrate the core, destroy the Hilling Mainframe, and send back intelligence, warning them to kill any teammate who became corrupted.
• The team disguised themselves as Fallen Apostles and slipped past a suspicious guard during a flicker in Bulwark's systems.
• Neos passed the deep-defense barrier with Level 8 authorization, and the team entered a vertical shaft leading down to the core database.

Neos and his team fought through the Apostles toward the Hilling Mainframe while the Paradox Engine suppressed their powers. Gorda unleashed his forbidden power to break through the enemy’s defenses, but the high-ranking Apostles killed him, leaving the mainframe just out of reach.

• The Hilling Mainframe detected Neos and his team as intruders and sent over a hundred Apostles to exterminate them.
• Mio warned that the Abyssal Network had marked the team and the Paradox Engine’s suppression had begun, weakening their powers.
• Neos and his companions battled through the Apostles, but the enemy’s numbers and the suppression stopped them from reaching the mainframe.
• Gorda unleashed the Forbidden Key’s deep-blue flames and carved a path through the Apostles toward the mainframe.
• Gorda broke through the crystal wall guarding the final stretch, but four high-ranking Apostles struck him and assimilated his body.
• Gorda fell, and the Apostles took up position before the mainframe again, blocking Neos and the others from reaching it.

Sandora arrived to confront Viska as Earth’s battered heroes faced defeat, then summoned the Ulysses Imperial Authority and entered Glory State by drawing on emotions across the universe. Her star fortress battled Bulwark Star in orbit, but the exchange favored Viska and gave the Abyssal Hilling fleet time to recover.

• Sandora descended onto Earth’s battlefield and blocked the constructs’ attack before clashing with Viska.
• While the heroes’ defensive line continued to collapse, Sandora invoked the Imperium and summoned the Glory Star Fortress, the Ulysses Imperial Authority.
• Sandora gathered emotional energy from lives across the universe, strengthening herself and creating a protective halo around the humans still fighting on Earth.
• Viska ordered Bulwark Star into Absolute Defense Stance and directed its main cannon array at the Ulysses Imperial Authority.
• The two star fortresses exchanged repeated volleys, with Bulwark Star’s defenses and penetrating cannons damaging Sandora’s fortress.
• Sandora’s focus on the bombardment and energy gathering halted her efforts to disrupt the Abyssal Hilling will, allowing its fleet to recover from command chaos.

With Sandora distracted, the Abyssal fleet broke free and used the Sovereigns’ three law-based weapon systems to crush the universe’s remaining resistance. The shattered Living Tribunal’s request for intervention went unanswered, and the Sovereigns turned toward the Solar System and Earth.

• Sandora’s suppressive field vanished, and the Sovereigns activated their Apocalypse, Gospel, and Genesis systems.
• The Sovereigns’ Apocalypse field redirected the Kree warship’s attack and turned the Shi’ar fleet’s suicide charge into collisions among its own ships.
• The Celestial Calculator’s star-throw attack became harmless light against the Sovereign’s Gospel field.
• Genesis scrambled Forger’s information, dismembering it, and the Sovereigns retrieved its components before doing the same to the other Celestials.
• The Sovereigns crushed the remaining resistance as the dimensional gods hid and the Living Tribunal sent an unanswered request for intervention.
• The three Sovereigns turned their fleet toward the Solar System and Earth.

As Viska’s assault forced Sandora to divert her power, Neos seized the opening and damaged Abyssal Hilling’s mainframe. The mainframe began repairing itself as more apostles surrounded the exhausted intruders, but the brief strike had sent a spark of status data to a distant communications anchor.

• Viska exploited a gap in the Ulysses Imperial Authority’s defenses, damaging its armor and forcing Sandora to focus more power on defending it.
• Neos sensed that the Paradox Engine’s suppressive force had shifted away and launched an attack on the mainframe crystal sphere.
• Mio, Elysia, Iglanias, and the other apostles held off their enemies long enough for Neos to crack the mainframe with his sword.
• The intruders’ terminals briefly turned green, and garbled status data was sent toward a distant communications anchor.
• The mainframe began repairing itself as more apostles emerged and surrounded Neos and his exhausted companions.

The Abyssal Hilling Empire’s fleet arrived at the Solar System as Sandora and the defenders faced imminent defeat. In Bulwark Star’s core hall, the mainframe began to malfunction and then went dark, leaving its fate uncertain.

• The Abyssal Hilling Empire’s expeditionary fleet entered the outer orbit of the Solar System, crushing the remaining hope of resistance.
• Viska welcomed the fleet and taunted Sandora, who wondered whether Neos’s team had failed.
• Neos prepared to destroy his divinity for one final strike as his exhausted teammates faced the closing Apostles.
• The mainframe emitted static and displayed conflicting system warnings while the Apostles froze.
• The mainframe shook, cracked, and flashed with chaotic light before all its lights went out, leaving the hall dark and silent.

Neos and the others restored the Supreme Wisdom link, disrupting the Abyssal Network and summoning the Hilling Empire’s golden fleet through a colossal gate. With Imperial forces turning the tide across Earth and space, Sandora faced Viska and declared that her turn had begun.

• Mio’s terminal restored its green connection to the Supreme Wisdom, and the Apostles near the mainframe lost coordination and attacked one another.
• A golden gate opened at the edge of the Solar System, and the Hilling Empire’s fleet emerged to confront the Abyssal fleet.
• Golden forces engaged the Abyssal ships and Fallen Apostles, using superior tactics to weaken and destroy them across the battlefield.
• Imperial paratroopers rescued the last heroes fighting above the ruins of New York, leaving Tony Stark and Captain America stunned by the reversal.
• Sandora regained her resolve, turned to Viska, and said it was her turn.

The golden fleet gained the upper hand after the Abyssal Mainframe failed, while Viska drove the Abyss Fleet into a reckless counterattack and the World Engine battled the Paradox Engine over the battlefield’s laws. Sandora broke Bulwark Star’s shield and overwhelmed Viska in close combat, leaving Viska laughing hysterically after Sandora declared the fight over.

• The golden fleet exploited the Abyssal Mainframe’s overload to push back the disordered Abyss Fleet, until Viska seized command and ordered a suicidal counterattack.
• The World Engine and the Paradox Engine clashed, throwing the battlefield’s laws into chaos as the golden fleet gradually drove the red fleet toward the Abyssal Gate.
• Viska overloaded Bulwark Star’s cannons to unleash a final barrage at Sandora, but Sandora linked her power to the Ulysses Imperial Authority and the distant golden gate.
• Sandora’s power weakened Bulwark Star’s defenses, and one step from her shattered its shield and triggered explosions across the fortress.
• Viska charged Sandora in a rage, but Sandora dodged her attack, struck her into Bulwark Star’s armor, and slammed her into a crater.
• Sandora told Viska the fight was over, but Viska answered with broken laughter that grew hysterical.

Supreme Wisdom emerged from the damaged host crystal and destroyed the fallen apostles attacking Neos and his team. She confirmed Sandora was an Emperor of the old Imperium, but declared that the Imperium now served Emperor Hua Wei, and predicted Sandora would defeat Viska after the support systems broke the enemy’s advantages.

• Supreme Wisdom manifested from the dead host crystal and condemned its outdated systems.
• Supreme Wisdom froze the fallen apostles with data ripples, causing their consciousnesses to overload and their bodies to collapse.
• Supreme Wisdom reprimanded Neos and his team for their delayed distress signal, then accepted their thanks.
• Neos asked whether Sandora was the old Imperium’s Emperor and whether the team should help her against Viska.
• Supreme Wisdom confirmed Sandora’s former status, declared loyalty to Emperor Hua Wei, and explained how the Imperium’s support had weakened Viska’s advantage.
• Supreme Wisdom assured Neos, Mio, and Elysia that Viska had no chance of winning, and they turned their attention toward the final confrontation.

Viska unleashed a self-destructive Destruction attack against Sandora, but Sandora effortlessly absorbed it and subdued her. Pandora appeared and repeatedly knocked Viska back until she could no longer rise, leaving her barely alive in the crater.

• Viska released her corrupted power in a desperate attack on Sandora, who stopped and erased the torrent with a gesture.
• Sandora’s will suppressed Viska’s Abyss-driven madness, leaving Viska weakened and confused in the crater.
• Pandora appeared and mocked Viska as a failed counterfeit who had not improved.
• Viska declared herself Pandora and charged, but Pandora casually slapped her back into Bulwark Star’s armor.
• Pandora repeatedly knocked Viska down until she could no longer rise, then dismissed her as boring.

Sandora refused Pandora’s offer and revealed her plan to return to the Abyss with Viska’s help. As the battlefield settled, a remnant of a ninth-rank creator god awakened and cast its gaze over the star system.

• Pandora challenged Sandora over Viska’s defeat and offered her a place with them, but Sandora refused and said she would return to the Abyss to rebuild the Imperium.
• Sandora explained that she wanted Viska’s corruption cleansed and her core stabilized so she could serve as an assistant in Sandora’s next plan.
• Sandora told Pandora that the power of the void was within reach and that she expected to succeed this time.
• An ancient will awakened within the universe, subtly smoothing the battlefield and drawing Sandora’s and Pandora’s attention.
• Pandora identified the presence as an incomplete remnant of a ninth-rank creator god, while Sandora silently assessed the new threat and Viska twitched weakly in the crater.

The universe was restored by a gentle restart that brought back planets, worlds, and many of the dead, while leaving the Imperium’s foreign forces untouched. OAA, the universe’s creator, appeared before Sandora, Pandora, and Neos’s team to thank them and ask about the gates and the Abyss.

• The universe’s fundamental state rewound, restoring shattered worlds and resurrecting beings whose existence information remained intact.
• Odin recognized the restoration as a restart and noted that Galactus, Galan, had not returned because the Abyss had consumed or corrupted his existence.
• The restart passed over the Imperium fleet, Apostles, Inquisitors, and gates without altering them, while Bulwark Star fell silent after its Abyss energy was drained.
• Neos and his team emerged from Bulwark Star and met Sandora and Pandora, who confirmed the mission’s success and promised that the fallen Imperium soldiers would be resurrected.
• OAA appeared before Sandora, Pandora, and the others, thanked them for saving the universe, and asked them to explain their origins, the gates, and the Abyss.

Sandora and the Imperium explained the Abyss to Jack and discussed the contamination left in his universe by the Abyssal Gate. Jack agreed to let Sandora control the gate as an observation window for her planned return to the Abyss, with the Imperium sealing and monitoring it.

• Sandora explained that the Abyss was the void carrying countless worlds and could corrupt them, while Bubble distinguished natural endings from malicious Abyssal incursions.
• Jack asked whether the Imperium was common and whether he could visit; Bubble said a visit was possible but challenged him to address the damage in his universe.
• Jack described the Abyssal anchor embedded in his universe's rules, and Bubble outlined possible methods of removing it.
• Sandora warned that the universe had already been marked by the Abyss and proposed keeping the gate under her control as an observation window while she rebuilt the Imperium in the Abyss.
• Jack accepted Sandora's plan, and Bubble said the Imperium would seal and monitor the gate on its side.