Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng discovers that Tivan knows who has been spreading information about his possession of the Infinity Stones.
• Tivan demands an Infinity Stone in exchange for the information, but Lin Feng firmly refuses, explaining that the Stones are still too valuable to sell.
• Instead, Lin Feng offers Tivan a bottle of Low-Grade Saiyan Bloodline purchased from the system. The liquid grants an ordinary person Saiyan abilities, increases strength after surviving near-death experiences, and allows transformation into a Great Ape under a full moon.
• Tivan is fascinated by the bloodline’s uniqueness and accepts it in exchange for the information.
• Tivan reveals that “Thanos” is responsible for spreading the rumors. Lin Feng is skeptical because he previously confronted Thanos and used the Mind Stone to confirm that Thanos was not lying.
• Tivan clarifies that he never said it was Thanos from their universe, implying that another version of Thanos from a different universe is behind the scheme.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng demonstrates caution and strategic thinking. He refuses to sacrifice an Infinity Stone and instead uses a relatively inexpensive but exotic item to obtain valuable information.
• He also shows growing awareness of multiversal possibilities, though Tivan’s final statement catches him off guard.
• Tivan remains greedy, opportunistic, and obsessed with rare collectibles. He attempts to maximize the trade but is willing to accept the Saiyan Bloodline because it is unique and potentially useful for his collection.
• Tivan’s mysterious final clarification establishes him as someone with knowledge of events beyond the current universe.

Significant Themes

• Value beyond money: The Infinity Stones cannot be bought simply with wealth, while rare and unique objects may hold greater value to Tivan than financial compensation.
• Information as power: Lin Feng is willing to trade an unusual artifact to identify the person manipulating events behind the scenes.
• Uniqueness and collection: Tivan values rarity above practical usefulness, viewing the Saiyan Bloodline as a priceless one-of-a-kind specimen.
• Multiverse and alternate identities: The ending introduces the possibility that different versions of familiar characters exist across universes, complicating Lin Feng’s investigation.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Tivan negotiate aggressively, with Tivan repeatedly raising his demands and Lin Feng refusing to give up an Infinity Stone.
• Lin Feng appeals to Tivan’s collector mentality by presenting the Saiyan Bloodline as a unique, never-before-seen cosmic artifact.
• Tivan carefully examines and accepts the bloodline, then reveals the information Lin Feng wants.
• Their exchange ends with Tivan’s cryptic statement that the culprit is “Thanos,” but not necessarily the Thanos Lin Feng already knows.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Thanos travels aboard the Sanctuary II to an unnamed, barren planet after receiving an anonymous message claiming that he can “save the universe” by coming to its coordinates.
• The planet is covered in black mist, violent storms, sand, and dust, with almost no visibility or signs of life. Nebula doubts the information and questions why Thanos would investigate such a worthless world.
• Thanos remains confident, believing that no one would dare deceive him and sensing that the planet contains something important.
• Alongside Nebula and Ebony Maw, he discovers a massive ancient stone palace. Its doors open by themselves, and a flaming skull servant welcomes them, claiming that its master has been waiting for Thanos.
• Inside, Thanos finds a terrifying throne built from countless creature skulls. A powerful figure in golden armor sits upon it, while a huge green monster is chained nearby and casually eats a large bone.
• The throne’s master reveals that he sent the message and declares that Thanos has arrived to fulfill an important mission.
• When the figure removes his helmet, Thanos is stunned to see someone who looks exactly like him—but older, with purple skin, a golden headpiece, and a white beard.

Character Developments

• Thanos: Demonstrates his confidence, instinct, and willingness to personally investigate mysterious threats. Despite the ominous setting and strange inhabitants, he remains calm and fearless. His certainty is shaken when he encounters an apparent older version of himself.
• Nebula: Continues to feel inferior to Gamora and is portrayed as cautious and doubtful. She questions Thanos’s decisions but ultimately obeys him, fearing his displeasure.
• Ebony Maw: Provides brief comic relief by stating the obvious about the palace. His embarrassment after Thanos’s dismissive reaction highlights Thanos’s intimidating authority.
• Flaming skull servant: Introduced as a loyal and fearful servant who treats the mysterious throne master with deep respect.
• The chained Hulk-like creature: Appears as a dangerous, savage prisoner or subordinate. Its presence establishes the master’s power and hints at the chapter’s “Hulk raised like a dog” premise.
• Older Thanos: Revealed as the mysterious palace master, creating a major mystery about his identity, origins, and intentions.

Significant Themes

• Fate and destiny: Thanos is drawn to the planet by a message promising that he can save the universe, suggesting that his future may be connected to another version of himself.
• Power and authority: The skull throne, fearful servants, and chained monster emphasize the older Thanos’s immense dominance.
• Identity and self-confrontation: The chapter ends with Thanos meeting a possible future or alternate version of himself, setting up a confrontation between different incarnations of the same character.
• Mystery and the unknown: The lifeless planet, hidden palace, supernatural servants, and unexplained message create an atmosphere of cosmic suspense.
• Fear versus composure: Nebula and Ebony Maw are visibly cautious, while Thanos remains composed, reinforcing his reputation as an unshakable warlord.

Character Interactions

• Nebula questions Thanos’s decision to visit the planet, but he ignores her doubts and continues forward.
• Thanos mocks Ebony Maw’s unnecessary observation about the palace, reinforcing the hierarchy between them.
• The flaming skull addresses its master with submission and fear, demonstrating the throne figure’s authority.
• Thanos questions the master about the message and his identity, while the master speaks as though he already knows Thanos well.
• The chapter concludes with Thanos directly confronting the shocking sight of an elderly, nearly identical version of himself.

Chapter Summary: “A Sudden Snap, Lin Feng’s Alarm”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On Knowhere, Lin Feng meets Collector Tivan, who reveals that the person spreading information about Lin Feng’s Infinity Stones is an alternate-universe version of Thanos.
• Tivan shows footage of a gigantic head emerging from a portal. Inside its mouth are:
  • An elderly, scarred Thanos seated on Wong’s throne
  • A heavily armored Ghost Rider
  • An aged, chained Hulk treated like a dog
• Lin Feng identifies the head as likely belonging to Galactus and realizes that this Thanos resembles the brutal comic-book “Old Thanos.”
• Tivan explains that Old Thanos destroyed and consumed his own universe before traveling to Lin Feng’s universe in search of the Infinity Stones.
• Lin Feng refuses to sell the Stones, recognizing that giving them to Old Thanos could doom the entire universe.
• Lin Feng questions why Old Thanos has not attacked openly and wonders why cosmic entities such as the Watcher, the Living Tribunal, or the One Above All have not intervened.
• A sudden, universe-wide energy wave alerts Lin Feng that someone has used all six Infinity Stones to snap their fingers.
• Trusting his instincts, Lin Feng activates his bracer and snaps his own fingers. His shockwave collides with the other one, neutralizing both effects.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng becomes increasingly alarmed and cautious. Learning the true nature of Old Thanos convinces him not to surrender the Infinity Stones and makes him aware that a threat far greater than the local Thanos may be approaching.
• Tivan is portrayed as fascinated by danger and death. Even though Old Thanos could destroy the universe—and potentially kill him—Tivan remains interested in obtaining the Infinity Stones for his collection.
• Old Thanos is established as an almost completely inhuman figure: a universe-destroying tyrant who worships death and treats surviving beings as trophies or servants.
• Ghost Rider and Hulk are presented as the last surviving remnants of Old Thanos’s universe, reduced to roles that emphasize his cruelty and domination.

Significant Themes

• Cosmic-scale danger: The arrival of Old Thanos transforms the conflict from a personal struggle into a threat to the entire Marvel Universe.
• The corrupting nature of power: The Infinity Stones are shown as objects capable of deciding the fate of all existence, making possession of them both valuable and dangerous.
• Death and nihilism: Old Thanos’s slaughter of his universe reflects an obsessive devotion to death and the idea that existence has no value.
• Moral indifference: Tivan’s willingness to pursue the Stones despite the possible destruction of the universe contrasts with Lin Feng’s growing sense of responsibility.
• Uncertainty and hidden motives: Lin Feng cannot determine why Old Thanos is spreading news about the Stones instead of attacking directly, creating suspense about his true plan.

Character Interactions

• Tivan informs Lin Feng about Old Thanos and shows him the footage, while Lin Feng reacts with shock and growing suspicion.
• Their contrasting attitudes are highlighted: Lin Feng worries about survival and consequences, whereas Tivan treats the crisis as an opportunity for collecting.
• Lin Feng’s final interaction is not with a person but with the unknown Infinity Stone user. By counter-snapping, he prevents the other individual’s universe-wide action from taking effect, ending the chapter on a tense cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Old Thanos Spouting Nonsense”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng immediately reverses the effects of Thanos’s snap before the Infinity Stones can cause widespread changes across the universe.
• Tivan realizes that Lin Feng has gathered all six Infinity Stones and understands why Lin Feng previously refused to sell them.
• By sensing the massive energy concentrated around the Stones’ locations, Lin Feng identifies the source of the snap and opens a Portal directly to the planet where Thanos and Old Thanos are hiding.
• Lin Feng discovers that the Infinity Stones in this universe were likely brought by Old Thanos from another universe and lent to the younger, movie-version Thanos.
• On the dark, mist-covered planet, Thanos is exhausted and injured from using the Infinity Gauntlet. Old Thanos confirms that the snap failed because Lin Feng reversed it, but notes that Lin Feng’s arrival has also exposed their location.
• Lin Feng uses Super Vision to identify the occupants of the planet: Old Thanos, Thanos, Nebula, Ebony Maw, Ghost Rider, and a chained Hulk.
• Recognizing Old Thanos as the powerful, comic-book version of Thanos, Lin Feng estimates that he may possess Universal- or Multiversal-level strength, especially after allegedly devouring his own universe.
• Lin Feng lands before both Thanoses, creating the striking confrontation between the movie version and the comic version.
• Thanos admits that he cannot perform another meaningful snap because his body cannot withstand the Stones’ power. He understands that Lin Feng must be defeated for their plan to succeed.
• Old Thanos welcomes Lin Feng while concealing obvious murderous intent. He claims that the planet is ownerless and that he merely wants a peaceful place to retire.
• Lin Feng rejects the lie, pointing to the Infinity Gauntlet, the imprisoned Hulk, and Old Thanos’s unmistakable aura of violence.
• Old Thanos dismisses the Gauntlet as merely a “small gift” to his alternate-universe counterpart and attempts to explain away his manipulation of events.
• Lin Feng confronts him about secretly spreading information about the Infinity Stones, demanding to know why Old Thanos operated from the shadows instead of attacking directly.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Demonstrates exceptional speed, control, and confidence by countering the snap almost instantly. He becomes increasingly suspicious and confrontational, refusing to be deceived by Old Thanos’s polite façade.
• Old Thanos: Revealed as a powerful but highly deceptive villain. Despite presenting himself as a weary old man seeking retirement, his murderous history and concealed intentions are obvious. Unlike the movie version, he is willing to lie and manipulate freely.
• Movie Thanos: Shown to be physically overwhelmed by the Infinity Stones and dependent on Old Thanos’s assistance. He recognizes Lin Feng as the main obstacle but lacks the strength to challenge him directly again.
• Tivan: Reacts with amazement and disappointment upon realizing that Lin Feng possesses all six Stones, reaffirming his obsession with rare cosmic artifacts.
• Other captives and allies: Nebula, Ebony Maw, Ghost Rider, and the chained Hulk establish the scale of Old Thanos’s control and suggest that the planet is being used as a base for domination or experimentation.

Significant Themes

• Power and control: The chapter contrasts Lin Feng’s ability to wield the Infinity Stones safely with Thanos’s physical inability to withstand them.
• Deception versus truth: Old Thanos hides behind a friendly, reasonable persona, but Lin Feng sees through his lies and recognizes the violence beneath them.
• Alternate versions of the same character: The meeting between movie Thanos and comic-book Old Thanos highlights the vast difference between their power, experience, and methods.
• Moral authority and hypocrisy: Old Thanos invokes “universal law” and claims to want peace despite having destroyed an entire universe and keeping powerful beings imprisoned.
• Direct confrontation after hidden manipulation: Lin Feng’s questioning suggests that the next conflict will involve uncovering why Old Thanos spread information about the Stones and what larger plan he is pursuing.

Character Interactions

• Tivan questions Lin Feng about the snap and reacts with awe at his possession of the Stones.
• Old Thanos observes and criticizes Thanos’s failed snap, then recognizes Lin Feng’s arrival.
• Lin Feng and Thanos silently acknowledge one another as opponents, with Thanos understanding that Lin Feng neutralized his plan.
• Lin Feng directly challenges Old Thanos, rejecting his false hospitality and retirement story.
• Old Thanos repeatedly attempts to justify his actions, while Lin Feng counters each explanation with evidence of his cruelty and manipulation.
• The chapter ends with Lin Feng pressing Old Thanos for the truth about his covert campaign surrounding the Infinity Stones.

Chapter Summary

• Confrontation over the “gift”: Lin Feng confronts Old Thanos about revealing the locations of six heaven-defying treasures. Old Thanos shamelessly claims the information was a gift that allowed lifeforms to pursue greater power, dismissing the chaos and danger it caused throughout the universe. Lin Feng rejects this sophistry and decides to attack.
• Lin Feng launches the first assault: Lin Feng combines the power of all six Infinity Stones into a devastating energy strike. The attack drives Old Thanos backward and damages his armor, but Old Thanos remains largely unharmed. Lin Feng mocks him for giving “gifts” and threatens him with a funeral instead.
• The Infinity Gauntlet changes hands: Old Thanos attempts to reclaim the Infinity Gauntlet from Movie Thanos. Lin Feng intercepts it and uses it to amplify his Heat Vision, producing an attack several times more powerful than his initial blow. Old Thanos avoids the blast through spatial movement, and the beam tears through the planet’s black mist, leaving a massive ravine.
• Old Thanos refuses to fight directly: Despite provoking Lin Feng and spreading news of his possession of the Infinity Stones, Old Thanos repeatedly insists that he does not want a war. Lin Feng considers this hypocritical and attacks again. When Old Thanos tries to teleport away, an unseen force briefly restrains him, allowing Lin Feng’s amplified Heat Vision to strike him directly.
• Old Thanos is badly wounded and flees: The attack possesses at least Single-Universe Level power enhanced by the Infinity Stones. It melts Old Thanos’s armor, tears open his chest, exposes his ribs, and causes him to bleed heavily. Rather than retaliate, Old Thanos abruptly disappears from the universe, taking his palace and Hulk’s group with him while abandoning the Infinity Gauntlet.
• Lin Feng investigates the disappearance: Shocked that such a supposedly ruthless and powerful Thanos would flee so decisively, Lin Feng searches the planet and surrounding universe with his Bio-Force Field but finds no trace of him. A snap using the Infinity Stones confirms that Old Thanos is no longer anywhere in the universe.
• Revelation of outside assistance: Lin Feng realizes that Old Thanos’s earlier failed teleportation was likely caused by an invisible power restraining him. This suggests that an immensely powerful being was helping Lin Feng and explains Old Thanos’s reluctance to fight. As Lin Feng wonders who intervened, a voice in his mind tells him to ask the magical system.

Character Development

• Lin Feng becomes more aggressive and confident, immediately responding to Old Thanos’s excuses with overwhelming force. However, Old Thanos’s unexpected retreat leaves him confused and forces him to reassess the situation.
• Old Thanos is revealed as manipulative and shameless, but also cautious. Despite his reputation as a universe-slaughtering executioner, he avoids direct combat, suffers a serious injury, and ultimately abandons both his allies and the Infinity Gauntlet to escape.
• Movie Thanos and Hulk’s group remain largely passive, but their disappearance alongside Old Thanos shows that Old Thanos has control over the situation and prioritizes survival over preserving his resources or reputation.
• The magical system becomes more directly involved, hinting that it may have secretly protected or assisted Lin Feng.

Significant Themes

• Consequences disguised as generosity: Old Thanos frames the dangerous treasure information as a benevolent gift, while Lin Feng recognizes that it destabilized the universe.
• Power versus reputation: Old Thanos’s fearsome legend is challenged by his unwillingness to fight and sudden escape.
• Hidden forces and manipulation: The chapter introduces the possibility that a powerful unseen entity is influencing events and protecting Lin Feng.
• Worldview disruption: Lin Feng’s assumptions about Thanos are shattered when the supposedly ruthless villain behaves cautiously and retreats instead of fighting to the death.

Key Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Old Thanos argue over whether spreading the treasure locations was an act of generosity or reckless manipulation.
• Lin Feng repeatedly attacks Old Thanos with Infinity Stone-enhanced energy and Heat Vision.
• Old Thanos avoids confrontation through spatial techniques, while Lin Feng intercepts the Infinity Gauntlet and turns it against him.
• An unseen force interferes with Old Thanos’s escape, enabling Lin Feng to land a decisive blow.
• The magical system speaks to Lin Feng at the end, directing him to seek an explanation for Old Thanos’s strange behavior.

Chapter Summary: The System’s Explanation, Help from the Cosmic Consciousness

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng questions whether the System secretly helped him defeat or restrain Old Thanos. The System denies involvement and explains that the aid came from the Cosmic Consciousness of the Marvel Universe.
• The Cosmic Consciousness intervened because Old Thanos had previously slaughtered and devoured his own universe. Fearing that he might eventually consume this universe as well, it tried to expel him and hindered his movements.
• Lin Feng realizes that the brief pause before Old Thanos was struck by Heat Vision was caused by the Cosmic Consciousness. This explains why Thanos refused to fight despite Lin Feng repeatedly provoking him.
• The System reveals that Old Thanos has already escaped the Marvel Universe, probably intending to devour other universes. Lin Feng suspects he may eventually return.
• Lin Feng asks why Old Thanos spread information about his possession of the Infinity Stones. The System theorizes that Thanos knew Lin Feng was an outsider and a major variable. Since the Cosmic Consciousness would aid Lin Feng in a direct confrontation, Thanos attempted to have other powerful beings eliminate him instead.
• The System also suggests that Old Thanos arranged for this universe’s Thanos to use the Infinity Stones because Old Thanos himself may not have been able to perform the universe-destroying snap directly.
• To protect Blue Star and prevent further conflict, Lin Feng uses the Infinity Stones to erase everyone’s knowledge of their location. Across the universe, all beings forget where the Stones are, and the information is removed from communications and databases.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng gains a clearer understanding of Old Thanos’s actions and recognizes that Thanos’s apparent cowardice was actually the result of being restrained by the Cosmic Consciousness.
• He continues to rely on his own strength but now understands that the Marvel Universe itself may support him against existential threats.
• Lin Feng’s relaxed banter with the System reveals his exhaustion from constant battles and world-hopping. He misses the simpler period when he first arrived in Marvel and had more time with Susan.
• The System reestablishes its relationship with Lin Feng through playful bickering. Though defensive about being underestimated, it provides valuable strategic insight.
• Old Thanos is characterized as a universe-devouring threat who avoids direct confrontation when the circumstances are unfavorable. His apparent retreat is revealed to be a calculated survival strategy.

Significant Themes

• Cosmic self-preservation: The Cosmic Consciousness acts not out of morality but to protect itself from Thanos’s destructive nature.
• Power and strategy: Even an immensely powerful being like Old Thanos must rely on indirect schemes when unable to confront Lin Feng directly.
• Outsiders as destabilizing variables: Lin Feng’s status as someone who does not originally belong to the Marvel Universe makes him both dangerous and a target.
• Control over information: Lin Feng uses the Infinity Stones not to destroy or dominate, but to erase dangerous knowledge and protect the universe.
• Relief amid danger: The System’s humorous exchanges with Lin Feng provide emotional relief and show that companionship remains important despite the escalating threats.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and the System exchange teasing remarks, with Lin Feng mockingly questioning the System’s abilities and the System indignantly defending itself.
• The System explains the Cosmic Consciousness’s intervention and Old Thanos’s motives, helping Lin Feng resolve his remaining doubts.
• Lin Feng mentally reconstructs Old Thanos’s actions based on the System’s explanation, shifting from suspicion to a clearer strategic understanding.
• After discussing the danger posed by the Infinity Stones, Lin Feng acts decisively, using them to erase their location from the memories and records of beings throughout the Marvel Universe.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating Old Thanos and claiming the Infinity Gauntlet, Lin Feng prepares to leave. The surviving Thanos continues eyeing the Gauntlet and appears to harbor hostile intentions.
• Lin Feng departs, and Thanos suddenly turns to dust. Although Lin Feng had initially intended to spare him, he eliminates him because he does not want a weaker enemy constantly coveting his possessions.
• Lin Feng returns to Transit Star and destroys the Gauntlet, keeping the six Infinity Stones in a pouch. He considers selling them because he has no use for a second set.
• At Fading Star Bar, Lin Feng reflects on Old Thanos’s strength. He realizes that without the Cosmic Consciousness’s intervention, their confrontation would have been extremely dangerous, since Old Thanos could destroy universes and might return even stronger.
• Lin Feng browses the System Shop and becomes interested in Golden Superman, a Fifth-Dimensional existence whose strength exceeds the Multiverse level. However, Golden Superman requires one billion Reputation Points, while Lin Feng has only slightly more than forty million.
• The system offers to buy the six Infinity Stones for 500 million Reputation Points. Lin Feng considers the offer but ultimately refuses for the time being.
• When Lin Feng asks about new missions, the system instead points out that he has misunderstood the potential of his Silver Superman Body.
• The system explains that Silver Superman has no upper growth limit and can spontaneously develop entirely new abilities, including abilities as powerful as parallel-universe travel.
• Lin Feng has gained only Telekinesis so far, leading him to jokingly accuse the system of giving him a counterfeit or defective Silver Superman Body.
• The system admits the problem is unusual and proposes an “after-sales” solution: teaching Lin Feng a method to actively draw out new abilities rather than waiting for them to appear naturally.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Becomes more cautious after recognizing the threat posed by Old Thanos. His desire for greater strength increases, and he begins considering Golden Superman as a means of securing an overwhelming advantage. At the same time, he remains humorous and irreverent, blaming the system for his limited abilities. He also begins to reconsider the true potential of his Silver Superman Body.
• Old Thanos/Thanos: The remaining Thanos is shown to be greedy and unwilling to abandon his interest in Lin Feng’s power. His destruction emphasizes the gap between his strength and Lin Feng’s.
• The System: Acts as both a merchant and adviser. It justifies the Infinity Stones’ low resale price, recognizes Lin Feng’s anxiety about stronger enemies, and identifies that he has failed to exploit Silver Superman’s greatest feature. It offers practical help to unlock more abilities.
• Xixing: Her memory of Lin Feng’s confrontation with Stakar is altered by the snap. She no longer remembers the Infinity Stones or the true reason for the conflict, though she still retains a favorable understanding of Lin Feng.

Significant Themes

• The pursuit of greater power: Lin Feng’s encounter with Old Thanos reminds him that there are still beings capable of threatening entire universes, motivating him to seek further growth.
• Potential versus immediate strength: Golden Superman is stronger in the short term, but Silver Superman may eventually surpass him because its abilities have no upper limit.
• Underused potential: The chapter emphasizes that possessing a powerful ability is not enough; one must understand and actively develop it.
• System dependence and humor: Lin Feng’s relationship with the system combines serious strategic planning with comedic complaints about poor “product quality.”
• Power and insecurity: Despite overwhelming victories, Lin Feng remains uneasy about enemies who might return stronger, showing that his confidence is tempered by awareness of the wider multiverse.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng confronts the lingering threat represented by Thanos, ultimately destroying him when Thanos refuses to stop coveting the Infinity Gauntlet.
• Lin Feng interacts with Xixing at the bar, though her altered memories prevent her from understanding their previous conflict.
• Lin Feng negotiates with the system over the value of the Infinity Stones and discusses the possibility of purchasing Golden Superman.
• The system challenges Lin Feng’s assumptions about Silver Superman, pointing out that he has developed only Telekinesis despite having access to potentially limitless abilities.
• Lin Feng responds with sarcastic accusations that the system provided a fake Silver Superman Body, prompting the system to offer a method for awakening new powers.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The system teaches Lin Feng that he may be able to unlock abilities by genuinely believing he has possessed them all along.
• Lin Feng attempts to manifest fire by staring at his palm and chanting that he can control flames. His first attempts fail because his belief is not strong enough.
• After entering a trance-like state and focusing entirely on the concept of fire, Lin Feng successfully creates a small flame in his hand.
• He discovers he can enlarge, extinguish, recreate, and reshape the flame at will, confirming that he has gained genuine fire-manipulation abilities.
• Lin Feng leaves the bar on Transit Star and travels to a barren planet to test the ability without endangering anyone.
• He covers his body in flames like the Human Torch, adjusts the flames’ temperature, melts solid rock with white-hot fire, and forms a massive flaming sword capable of cutting through the ground.
• Pleased with the results, Lin Feng decides to use his free time to unlock additional abilities, believing that the external threats to Blue Star have already been resolved.
• Meanwhile, Tony trains in hand-to-hand combat with Stinger’s assistance. JARVIS informs him that every Avenger has received an invitation from New York authorities.
• Tony realizes the invitation may signal that Lin Feng’s extraordinary abilities are beginning to attract official attention. Since Lin Feng is away from Blue Star, Tony orders JARVIS to contact him.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng gains his first explicitly demonstrated fire-based ability through belief, concentration, and self-hypnosis. He becomes more confident and playful as he experiments with it.
• His combat options become more versatile: he can generate flames, transform into a human torch, control temperature, and create weapons from fire.
• Lin Feng also develops a new approach to power acquisition, recognizing that he can potentially unlock more abilities through imagination and conviction.
• Tony Stark continues improving his physical combat skills and becomes capable of fighting Captain America-level opponents without relying on Stinger or his armor.
• Tony displays increasing caution and awareness of political or governmental consequences surrounding the Avengers and Lin Feng’s powers.

Significant Themes

• Belief and self-perception: The chapter presents belief as a mechanism for unlocking real power. Lin Feng must stop thinking of fire control as a new skill and instead accept it as something he has always been capable of.
• Experimentation and discovery: Lin Feng learns his ability by testing its scale, temperature, form, and destructive potential.
• Power and responsibility: He deliberately chooses an uninhabited planet for testing, showing awareness of the danger his abilities could cause.
• Humor and absurdity: Lin Feng’s misunderstanding of the system’s instructions—imagining himself as the “Fire God”—creates comedic friction between him and the system.
• Growing public scrutiny: The invitation from New York authorities suggests that the Avengers’ activities and Lin Feng’s powers are beginning to attract institutional attention.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and the system: Their exchange is argumentative but productive. The system repeatedly pushes Lin Feng to strengthen his belief, while Lin Feng responds with skepticism, irritation, and eventual success.
• Lin Feng and Xixing: Xixing secretly watches Lin Feng’s strange chanting and assumes he may have gone crazy. Her presence adds an outside perspective to his bizarre experiment.
• Lin Feng and the bar patrons: His ability attracts attention, though the patrons mistake his flame manipulation for an elaborate performance.
• Tony and JARVIS: JARVIS interrupts Tony’s training to deliver the official invitation. Tony relies on JARVIS to identify who received it and to contact Lin Feng.
• Tony and Lin Feng: Although they do not meet directly in the chapter, Tony’s concern about Lin Feng’s absence and his attempt to reach him demonstrate the importance of their alliance.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Lin Feng spends three days on a barren planet experimenting with his newly developed abilities.
• He becomes highly proficient at manipulating ice and fire, changing his size, enlarging individual body parts, turning invisible, and performing short-range spatial traversal.
• Lin Feng considers creating clones to improve his combat abilities, reasoning that his powers operate according to belief rather than scientific limitations.
• Tony contacts him and asks him to return to Blue Star because a serious matter involving him has arisen.
• Lin Feng restores the damage he caused to the planet with the Time Stone before returning.
• Instead of using the Space Stone, he tests his newly developed spatial-travel ability to reach Blue Star and flies to Stark Tower.
• There, he finds Tony, Black Widow, Captain America, Banner, Hawkeye, and Rhodey gathered in a tense meeting.
• Natasha gives Lin Feng a tablet showing that the “117 United Bureau” has introduced a Superhero Control Plan.
• Lin Feng realizes the authorities have begun implementing the plan and angrily condemns them for attempting to control superheroes.

Character developments

• Lin Feng grows more confident and imaginative in using his powers, treating his abilities as virtually limitless as long as he can believe in them. He remains playful and irreverent, but his attitude becomes sharply hostile when he sees the government’s attempt to regulate superheroes.
• Tony Stark takes the issue seriously and summons Lin Feng personally, demonstrating trust in him and recognizing his importance to the superhero community.
• The Avengers appear united and concerned, suggesting that the Control Plan threatens all of them rather than targeting Lin Feng alone.
• Natasha Romanoff acts decisively by presenting Lin Feng with the relevant information.
• Captain America, Banner, Hawkeye, and Rhodey are shown as troubled and thoughtful, reflecting the seriousness of the political crisis.

Significant themes

• Limitless power and imagination: Lin Feng’s abilities expand according to what he believes is possible, emphasizing creativity over conventional science or rules.
• Responsibility and restraint: Although Lin Feng causes widespread damage during his experiments, he restores the planet afterward, showing that he accepts responsibility for his actions.
• Freedom versus authority: The Superhero Control Plan introduces the central conflict between government oversight and the superheroes’ independence.
• Power and political distrust: Lin Feng views the authorities as arrogant bureaucrats who are overstepping their limits, while the Avengers’ uneasy gathering suggests that official control may provoke serious resistance.
• Humor amid tension: Lin Feng’s absurd experiments and irreverent remarks contrast with the increasingly serious political situation.

Character interactions

• Tony contacts Lin Feng through the communicator and asks him to return, framing the issue as important but requiring a face-to-face discussion.
• Lin Feng greets the assembled heroes casually, and they welcome him warmly because of their past cooperation during the Chitauri invasion.
• Tony asks about Lin Feng’s handling of the Infinity Stones, and Lin Feng responds with characteristic confidence.
• Natasha hands Lin Feng the tablet containing the Control Plan, allowing him to understand why everyone is distressed.
• Lin Feng’s final outburst aligns him emotionally with the Avengers and establishes his opposition to the government’s plan.

Chapter Summary: “Men Don’t All Like Watching Excavators?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After discussing the government’s proposed agreement to regulate superheroes, Lin Feng falls silent and stares out the window.
• The team looks to Captain America for guidance, treating him as their leader whenever Lin Feng does not take charge.
• Captain America concludes that attending the dinner meeting is necessary because more than a hundred members of the United Public Bureau, including representatives from Wakanda and nearly every kingdom on Blue Star, support the proposal.
• Tony agrees, explaining that politicians fear the Avengers’ growing power—especially Lin Feng, whose destructive abilities may even surpass nuclear weapons. Tony believes the agreement is mainly an attempt to reassure governments that superheroes can be controlled.
• Natasha questions why such a serious proposal was delivered during a dinner. Tony jokingly suggests that the dinner setting was chosen because Lin Feng is Eastern and, according to JARVIS’s database, Easterners often conduct business over meals.
• Hawkeye asks whether they will attend. Captain America decides that they should go and see what the governments intend, noting that the proposal will not take effect unless they sign it.
• Natasha attempts to ask Lin Feng whether he will attend, but discovers that he has been distracted by an excavator working in Central Park.
• Lin Feng’s unexpected interest in the excavator breaks the tense mood. The others tease him, with Tony laughing and Captain America and Hawkeye joking that all men enjoy watching excavators.
• Natasha eventually reminds Lin Feng that they were asking whether he would attend the dinner meeting.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Continues to be viewed as the most powerful and potentially dangerous member of the group, but his childlike fascination with an excavator reveals a humorous, relatable side. His casual distraction contrasts sharply with the seriousness of the political discussion.
• Captain America: Demonstrates dependable leadership and practicality. Although reluctant to attend, he recognizes the political importance of the meeting and makes the final decision for the team.
• Tony Stark: Shows political insight, correctly identifying the governments’ fear of uncontrolled superhuman power. He also lightens the atmosphere with sarcasm and humor.
• Natasha: Remains observant and pragmatic, questioning the unusual dinner arrangement and trying to keep the group focused. Her bewilderment at Lin Feng’s interest in excavators highlights her more serious personality.
• Hawkeye: Though quiet throughout most of the discussion, he asks the key practical question about whether the team will attend.
• The team as a whole: Despite their doubts about the proposal, they agree to face the governments directly rather than avoid the confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Fear of power and political control: Governments are attempting to regulate superheroes because they fear beings like Lin Feng could become impossible to restrain.
• The limits of bureaucratic authority: Tony suggests that the proposed agreement may provide only psychological reassurance, since paper regulations cannot truly stop Lin Feng if he chooses to resist.
• Leadership and responsibility: The team relies on Captain America to make a difficult decision when Lin Feng remains silent.
• Tension relieved by humor: The serious political debate is suddenly defused by Lin Feng’s innocent fascination with an excavator.
• The contrast between extraordinary power and ordinary interests: Although Lin Feng is nearly godlike in strength, he still enjoys a simple, childish pastime, making him more human and approachable.

Important Character Interactions

• Captain America and Tony agree that attending the dinner is unavoidable, though for different reasons: Captain America emphasizes the political pressure, while Tony focuses on governmental fear.
• Tony uses Lin Feng as an example of the threat governments are trying to control, indirectly emphasizing Lin Feng’s overwhelming power.
• Natasha challenges Tony’s explanation for the dinner invitation and later approaches Lin Feng directly.
• Tony, Captain America, and Hawkeye tease Lin Feng after learning he was watching an excavator, turning the meeting into a moment of camaraderie.
• Natasha remains the only person openly confused by the men’s enthusiasm for excavators and brings the conversation back to the original issue.

Chapter Summary: “Sanctuary II Spaceship—Interested?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng and the Avengers agree to attend a dinner the following evening with politicians regarding the controversial superhero oversight proposal.
• Lin Feng plans to remain calm and avoid killing anyone, recognizing that violence would damage the public’s trust in superheroes and affect his friends. However, he intends to firmly intimidate the politicians and make clear that he will not sign the proposal.
• After the others leave, Lin Feng stays at Tony Stark’s home. The two discuss the proposal and the politicians’ desire to control Superman, whom they view as a weapon comparable to a nuclear arsenal.
• Lin Feng reveals that he possesses Sanctuary II, a massive spaceship belonging to a cosmic overlord. The vessel is approximately two thousand meters long and capable of spatial jumps.
• Tony becomes extremely enthusiastic about studying the ship’s advanced technology. Lin Feng proposes either placing it in space or storing it at a Stark Industries facility.
• Tony decides to build a secure research facility in the suburbs. He plans to protect it with numerous specialized Iron Man suits, while Lin Feng intends for Tony to eventually share the technology with S.P.E.A.R. in the East.
• They agree to establish the facility after the upcoming proposal dinner.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Demonstrates restraint and political awareness. Although angry at the politicians, he understands that killing them would create a public crisis and harm his allies. He remains determined to resist government control while using his overwhelming power as a deterrent.
• Tony Stark: Shows his distrust of politicians and his continued concern about outside attempts to control superheroes. His scientific curiosity is immediately awakened by the prospect of studying Sanctuary II. He also reveals his growing preparedness, having developed many specialized armor suits for security, rescue, engineering, and medical purposes.
• Captain America: Acts as the group’s moral and stabilizing influence by urging Lin Feng not to act impulsively during the dinner. His concern suggests that he recognizes both Lin Feng’s temper and the danger of the political confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Power versus authority: The chapter highlights the conflict between governments seeking to regulate superhumans and heroes who believe such control would compromise their independence.
• Restraint and responsibility: Lin Feng’s decision not to kill the politicians reflects the burden of possessing immense power and the need to consider broader social consequences.
• Technological advancement: Sanctuary II represents a massive opportunity to advance Earth’s technology, while Tony’s reaction emphasizes humanity’s desire to understand and exploit superior extraterrestrial inventions.
• Trust and cooperation: Lin Feng intends to share the ship’s technology with S.P.E.A.R., showing his willingness to help humanity while carefully choosing trusted intermediaries.
• Security and secrecy: The characters worry that intelligence agencies and foreign powers would immediately attempt to seize or investigate the spaceship, making concealment and defense essential.

Character Interactions

• Captain America warns Lin Feng to remain calm at the dinner, and Lin Feng reassures him that he will act responsibly.
• Lin Feng and Tony bond over their shared contempt for the oversight proposal and the politicians behind it.
• Lin Feng reveals Sanctuary II to Tony specifically because of their close relationship and Tony’s superior technological expertise.
• Tony eagerly accepts the opportunity to study the ship, while Lin Feng agrees to provide it once Tony constructs a secure facility, establishing a new technological collaboration between them.

Chapter Summary: “The First Clash”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Avengers gather at the exclusive Jotun Hotel to discuss the proposed Superhero Control Plan.
• Lin Feng arrives on time and sits beside Natasha, while Tony sits on his other side and Captain America sits near Natasha.
• Before Secretary G arrives, the team chats casually, showing that none of them has a clear strategy for opposing the plan.
• Secretary G arrives with extensive materials prepared by his administration. His team considers Rogers, Stark, and Lin Feng the greatest obstacles to getting the plan approved.
• He privately reveals that, if necessary, the government intends to create internal conflict among the Avengers to force the plan through.
• During the meeting, Secretary G praises the Avengers’ contributions before sharply criticizing them as dangerous vigilantes who operate without regard for borders, authority, or civilian consequences.
• He presents carefully selected footage of the Chitauri invasion and the Hulk-Abomination battle, focusing on civilians being injured, killed, or traumatized by the Avengers’ actions.
• The chapter ends with the Avengers becoming visibly uncomfortable and silent as Secretary G emphasizes the destruction caused during their victories.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng remains relaxed and skeptical. He recognizes Secretary G’s praise as manipulation and refuses to be affected by it.
• Secretary G is revealed to be calculating and politically aggressive. He intends to use guilt, public opinion, and possibly conflict within the team to secure approval of the control plan.
• Tony Stark maintains a controlled, detached exterior while watching footage of the damage he caused during the Chitauri incident.
• Bruce Banner reacts with visible shame, especially because Hulk’s actions were difficult for him to control. He eventually hides his face beneath the table.
• Captain America becomes alert to the shifting mood and watches the reactions of his teammates.
• Natasha remains composed and lightly teases Lin Feng, helping preserve a casual atmosphere before the meeting turns serious.

Significant Themes

• Accountability versus heroism: The Avengers’ accomplishments are weighed against the civilian damage caused during their battles.
• Political manipulation: Secretary G’s speech begins with praise but gradually reframes the Avengers as threats, using emotionally powerful imagery to influence them.
• The cost of war: Even when superheroes save the world, innocent people can suffer, and victory does not erase the destruction left behind.
• Control and freedom: The meeting introduces the central conflict between government oversight and the Avengers’ independence.
• Public perception: The footage demonstrates how the same event can be viewed differently by heroes and civilians—either as a necessary battle or as a personal tragedy.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng chooses to sit beside Natasha, while Tony and Captain America position themselves nearby, establishing the group’s informal social dynamic.
• Natasha playfully nudges Lin Feng when Secretary G singles him out for praise.
• Tony and Lin Feng respond dismissively to Secretary G’s flattery, recognizing the speech as a prelude to criticism.
• Captain America silently gauges the team’s reactions as the atmosphere changes.
• Secretary G directly challenges the Avengers as a group, particularly targeting the reputations of Rogers, Stark, and Lin Feng.
• The footage places Banner and Tony under emotional pressure, while the rest of the team is forced to confront the civilian consequences of their actions.

Chapter Summary: Black Widow Falls Silent, Lin Feng Speaks Up (Part 1)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Secretary G presents the Avengers with the Superhero Control Plan, created and signed by 117 nations after years of concern over the team’s unsupervised actions.
• The plan would transform the Avengers from an independent organization into a group supervised by a United Public Bureau. They could act only when authorized by government officials.
• Secretary G uses the destruction caused by past incidents—including the Helicarrier disaster—and compares Thor to a thirty-million-ton nuclear weapon to argue that superheroes must be controlled.
• He announces that the plan will be approved at a Vienna meeting in three days and pressures the Avengers to sign.
• When Natasha asks what would happen if they refused, Secretary G bluntly replies, “Then retire!”, leaving the room tense and effectively cornering the team.
• Lin Feng breaks the silence by enthusiastically accepting the idea of retirement, joking about beaches, drinking, and romance. He uses humor to undermine Secretary G’s intimidating presentation.
• Lin Feng then challenges the premise of the plan by pointing out that he is not formally part of the Avengers, despite handling threats on a cosmic scale.
• Using his powers, Lin Feng changes the footage to show interstellar wars, Thanos destroying planets, Ravager attacks, and fleets threatening Earth.
• He questions whether a government committee could respond more intelligently or effectively than trained superheroes, comparing the proposed arrangement to wolves being led by sheep.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng shifts from a silent observer to the meeting’s most outspoken challenger. He recognizes the plan as a political attempt to control the Avengers and openly exposes what he sees as government hypocrisy and self-interest.
• Captain America remains firm in his belief that the Avengers have already made the world safer. His refusal to even read the plan reinforces his distrust of government control and foreshadows the ideological conflict of Civil War.
• Black Widow appears uncomfortable and conflicted. She understands the seriousness of refusing the plan but is visibly troubled by the lack of alternatives.
• Tony Stark supports Lin Feng despite his own complicated past and apparent willingness to cooperate with authorities. His agreement is partly motivated by friendship and his desire to return to his family.
• Secretary G is portrayed as stern, manipulative, and politically confident. He frames the plan as a reasonable compromise while making clear that refusal will lead to retirement and the loss of the Avengers’ authority.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus governmental oversight: The chapter questions whether heroes can remain effective if they must wait for political approval before acting.
• Power and political control: Lin Feng suggests that the plan is less about public safety than about governments controlling powerful individuals and the outcomes of conflicts.
• Responsibility and accountability: Secretary G argues that unchecked superheroes are dangerous, while the heroes fear that bureaucratic supervision could create even greater disasters.
• Practical authority versus expertise: The chapter challenges whether ordinary officials can make better emergency decisions than the people directly trained and experienced in confronting superhuman threats.
• Manipulation through fear: Secretary G invokes catastrophic incidents and Thor’s immense power to pressure the Avengers into accepting restrictions.
• Humor as resistance: Lin Feng’s jokes about retirement and Tony’s past lifestyle weaken the secretary’s authoritarian tone and prevent the meeting from proceeding entirely on his terms.

Character Interactions

• Secretary G confronts Captain America over the Avengers’ independence, while Captain America calmly defends their record.
• Natasha tests the consequences of rejecting the plan, prompting Secretary G’s harsh “retire” ultimatum.
• Lin Feng teases Tony about his former carefree lifestyle, and Tony humorously agrees with him, demonstrating their close friendship.
• Lin Feng directly challenges Secretary G by asking whether government officials could handle cosmic threats more effectively than the Avengers.
• Through the footage of universal dangers, Lin Feng broadens the debate from Earth-based disasters to the far greater threats the heroes may need to confront.

Chapter Summary: “Lin Feng Speaks Up: The Second Plan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng openly challenges Secretary G and the proposed oversight of the Avengers, arguing that government supervision would become a burden rather than a safeguard.
• He emphasizes that superheroes can reduce casualties but cannot eliminate them entirely, pointing out that governments and military forces also cause unavoidable—and often politically motivated—destruction.
• Lin Feng accuses the Gray Palace and the Joint Task Force of using the Avengers as scapegoats for their own failures, particularly the Hulk and Abomination incidents, which originated from J-Faction research.
• His confrontation exposes the proposal as an attempt to shift responsibility and protect political interests rather than genuinely serve the public.
• Captain America and the other heroes begin reconsidering the proposal, realizing that many of their own powers and transformations also resulted from government experiments and wartime projects.
• Secretary G, intimidated but unwilling to concede, defends the Joint Task Force by claiming that representatives from 117 kingdoms would make more objective and efficient decisions than individual superheroes.
• Recognizing that his assurances are no longer convincing, Secretary G activates a “second plan”: creating distrust and conflict among the Avengers.
• He introduces evidence supposedly connected to Tony Stark, then displays footage of a car accident dated December 16, 1991, setting up a revelation about Tony’s past and likely the death of his parents.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng demonstrates fearlessness, political awareness, and a strong distrust of governmental motives. He uses both logic and intimidation to dismantle Secretary G’s argument.
• Secretary G shifts from defending the proposal to manipulating the heroes emotionally. Although shaken by Lin Feng, he remains politically calculating and begins targeting divisions within the Avengers.
• Captain America and the other Avengers realize they had nearly accepted a misleading narrative about Hulk, Abomination, and government-created superhumans.
• Tony Stark becomes the focus of Secretary G’s new strategy, suggesting that the upcoming footage will personally affect him.
• Rhodey, because of his ties to the J-Faction, is more concerned than the others about the practical and political consequences of rejecting the proposal.
• Natasha and Hawkeye remain skeptical of government claims because of their past experience with political corruption and hidden agendas.

Significant Themes

• Government accountability versus superhero oversight: The chapter questions whether governments have the moral authority to supervise heroes when they themselves cause destruction and evade responsibility.
• Political manipulation and scapegoating: Secretary G’s proposal is portrayed as a means of transferring blame from governments to superheroes.
• The inevitability of casualties: Lin Feng argues that heroism reduces harm but cannot guarantee a world without deaths or collateral damage.
• Hidden motives behind authority: Both governments and individuals are shown to act from self-interest, making claims of neutrality and fairness difficult to trust.
• Division as a political weapon: When persuasion fails, Secretary G turns to internal conflict, attempting to make the Avengers distrust one another.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng directly confronts and humiliates Secretary G, even physically patting him on the shoulder while criticizing him.
• Secretary G cannot effectively refute Lin Feng’s accusations but later tries to regain control through carefully worded assurances.
• The Avengers silently reassess their position after Lin Feng exposes the government’s hypocrisy, with Captain America and the others recognizing the validity of his claims.
• Secretary G deliberately looks between Captain America and Tony while introducing the new evidence, signaling an attempt to drive a wedge between them.
• The chapter ends with the screening of a 1991 car accident, creating suspense around Tony Stark’s family history and the conflict it may ignite within the team.

Chapter Summary: “Secretary G’s Move, Tony Learns the Truth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Secretary G reveals old, blurry surveillance footage of Howard and Maria Stark’s deaths.
• The footage shows Bucky, acting as the Winter Soldier, attacking the Starks after their car crash. He brutally beats Howard and kills Maria.
• Tony realizes that his parents’ deaths were not an accident and that Bucky was responsible.
• Secretary G deliberately exploits Tony’s grief and anger, emphasizing that Captain America knew Bucky was alive but never told Tony.
• Captain America’s guilty reaction confirms Tony’s suspicions. Tony, overwhelmed by rage and betrayal, leaves before Steve can explain.
• Tony puts on his armor and begins searching for Bucky, intending to kill him.
• Lin Feng recognizes Secretary G’s attempt to provoke a conflict between Tony and Captain America. Although he could have stopped the footage, he believes Tony had the right to learn the truth.
• Lin Feng threatens Secretary G, promising to deal with him after resolving Tony’s situation, then flies after Tony.
• The others abandon the meeting. Natasha comforts the devastated Captain America, while Lin Feng locates Tony and orders JARVIS to conduct a worldwide search for Bucky.

Character Developments

• Tony Stark: Learns the horrifying truth about his parents’ murders. His grief turns into uncontrollable hatred, and his trust in Captain America is shattered. He immediately adopts a revenge-driven mindset.
• Captain America: Becomes consumed by guilt and helplessness. He cannot deny the truth or justify concealing Bucky’s survival, leaving him unable to stop Tony.
• Lin Feng: Shows restraint and respect for Tony’s right to know, despite recognizing the danger the revelation creates. He shifts from observer to protector and prepares to intervene.
• Secretary G: Reveals himself as manipulative and politically calculating. His plan successfully turns Tony against Captain America and creates a crisis within the group.
• Natasha: Acts as an emotional support for Steve, though she privately fears Lin Feng may side with Tony.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus protection: Tony’s painful discovery raises the question of whether withholding the truth to protect someone is morally acceptable.
• Manipulation and political strategy: Secretary G uses genuine tragedy to engineer conflict and weaken the heroes’ unity.
• Revenge versus justice: Tony’s desire to kill Bucky is driven by grief and anger rather than calm judgment.
• Loyalty and betrayal: Steve’s decision to conceal Bucky’s survival makes Tony feel betrayed, while Steve is torn between loyalty to his friend and concern for Tony.
• The consequences of the past: A decades-old crime suddenly destabilizes the present and threatens the entire alliance.

Character Interactions

• Secretary G repeatedly provokes Tony by pointing out that Bucky was Captain America’s friend and that Steve withheld the truth.
• Tony demands confirmation from Captain America, but Steve’s guilt and inability to lie effectively answer the question.
• Natasha reassures Steve that Tony’s reaction is not his fault and hopes Lin Feng can calm him.
• Lin Feng confronts Secretary G privately, warning him that he will face consequences.
• Lin Feng pursues Tony while Tony orders JARVIS to locate Bucky worldwide, setting up an imminent confrontation.

Chapter Summary: Learning the Truth, Tony’s Choice

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tony returns to Stark Tower emotionally devastated after learning that Bucky killed his father, Howard Stark.
• Consumed by anger and grief, he immediately orders JARVIS to locate Bucky so he can kill him.
• Tony warns Lin Feng not to interfere, believing that neither Captain America nor the other Avengers can stop him if he and Stinger attack together.
• Lin Feng tells Tony that he will not stop or judge him, but explains that Bucky was only a weapon controlled by Hydra. The true responsibility lies with Hydra, particularly Zola, rather than with Bucky acting freely.
• Lin Feng warns Tony that Secretary G is deliberately trying to provoke conflict within the Avengers and cause internal chaos.
• He compares Bucky’s role to the Stark weapons that harmed Wanda and Pietro: weapons themselves do not choose to kill; the people controlling them do.
• Lin Feng leaves Tony alone to think, trusting that Tony will make his own decision.
• Natasha, Captain America, Banner, Rhodey, and the others arrive after hearing what happened. Lin Feng reassures them and encourages them to trust Tony, though they eventually leave.
• Captain America stays behind and privately asks Lin Feng for help, knowing Tony is now powerful enough to kill Bucky and that Steve may not be able to stop him.

Character Developments

• Tony Stark: His anger exposes how deeply he still cares about Howard despite years of resentment. Learning that Howard’s final message described Tony as his greatest creation begins to change Tony’s understanding of his father. He is torn between revenge and the possibility of choosing a more rational path.
• Lin Feng: Acts as a calm and objective guide. He refuses to force Tony toward either mercy or revenge, instead giving him the truth and emphasizing that the decision belongs to him.
• Captain America: Shows both concern for Tony and personal guilt over Bucky’s involvement. Although he supports justice and freedom, his desire to protect Bucky reveals a degree of selfish attachment.
• The Avengers: Their decision to come to Stark Tower demonstrates their concern for Tony, but they recognize that this is a personal emotional conflict they cannot resolve for him.
• Bucky: Although absent, he is reframed as a victim and tool of Hydra rather than the sole perpetrator of Howard’s murder.

Significant Themes

• Revenge versus justice: Tony must decide whether killing Bucky would be true justice or merely an act of vengeance.
• Responsibility and free will: The chapter distinguishes between the person used as a weapon and those who control or deploy it.
• Family and grief: Tony’s hatred of Howard is complicated by the realization that his father loved him and sacrificed for his future.
• Manipulation and division: Secretary G’s plan relies on turning the Avengers against one another, making emotional reactions dangerous.
• Trust and personal choice: Lin Feng emphasizes that Tony must be trusted to make his own moral decision rather than being controlled by others.

Important Character Interactions

• Tony and Lin Feng: Tony openly expresses his desire to kill Bucky, while Lin Feng acknowledges his pain and provides an alternative perspective without trying to command him.
• Lin Feng and the Avengers: Lin Feng tells the worried team that he has said what was necessary and urges them to give Tony space.
• Lin Feng and Captain America: After the others leave, Steve privately seeks Lin Feng’s help, revealing his fear that Tony will kill Bucky and his inability to stop him alone.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng refuses to interfere in Tony’s decision about Bucky, telling Captain America that Hydra—not Bucky—was truly responsible for Howard Stark’s death. He urges Steve to trust Tony and let time determine what happens.
• Lin Feng leaves to rest and plans to visit Secretary G the next morning, already knowing that Secretary G will report the previous night’s events to the Chief of Staff.
• Tony struggles emotionally after learning the truth about his parents’ deaths. Although JARVIS locates Bucky, Tony does not immediately pursue or kill him. Instead, he creates a “Revenge Plan” file and begins investigating whether S.H.I.E.L.D. possesses further information about the incident.
• Captain America also spends a sleepless night, troubled by the conflict and Bucky’s fate.
• Secretary G reports to the Chief of Staff that Tony failed to attack Bucky, disrupting their plan to fracture the Avengers. Intelligence suggests Lin Feng’s intervention caused Tony’s restraint.
• The Chief of Staff becomes furious at Lin Feng, whom Gray Palace considers an uncontrollable and nearly invulnerable threat. Their previous surveillance attempts have failed, especially after Lin Feng destroyed satellites and caused agents monitoring him to disappear.
• Lin Feng unexpectedly infiltrates the heavily secured Gray Palace office and appears directly before Secretary G and the Chief of Staff.
• Using his overwhelming power, Lin Feng immobilizes both men and intimidates them with a cold, murderous aura. He implies that their attempts to manipulate events are dangerous and foolish.
• Secretary G, terrified, offers to satisfy any demand Lin Feng makes. The chapter ends as Lin Feng approaches him and ominously asks whether he truly means “any request.”

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Acts as a mediator between Tony and Captain America but refuses to control Tony’s ultimate choice. He demonstrates confidence, strategic awareness, and overwhelming power by infiltrating Gray Palace undetected. His playful remarks conceal a serious threat against those plotting behind the scenes.
• Tony Stark: Shows greater emotional restraint than expected. Rather than immediately seeking revenge against Bucky, he pauses to investigate the truth and gather evidence, suggesting personal growth and a willingness to make a more informed decision.
• Captain America: Remains deeply worried about Bucky and Tony but ultimately respects Lin Feng’s advice. His helplessness reveals his emotional conflict and uncertainty about how to prevent another Avengers schism.
• Secretary G: Becomes increasingly helpless and frightened after realizing that Lin Feng cannot be monitored or controlled. He is the first to surrender psychologically and beg Lin Feng for mercy.
• Chief of Staff: His confidence collapses when Lin Feng penetrates his secure office. His anger toward Lin Feng exposes his frustration at losing control of the plan.

Significant Themes

• Revenge versus justice: Tony must decide whether Bucky deserves punishment despite being manipulated by Hydra.
• Free will and trust: Lin Feng refuses to dictate Tony’s decision, emphasizing that Tony must choose for himself.
• Manipulation and political control: Gray Palace attempts to provoke conflict among the Avengers so it can weaken them and advance its agenda.
• Power and vulnerability: The supposedly secure government officials are rendered powerless by Lin Feng, demonstrating the limits of institutions against extraordinary individuals.
• Fear as a weapon: Lin Feng uses psychological intimidation rather than direct violence to force his enemies into submission.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Captain America: Lin Feng reassures Steve that Bucky was only Hydra’s tool and urges him to trust Tony.
• Tony and Stinger: Stinger offers a simplistic solution—killing Bucky—contrasting with Tony’s complicated human emotions.
• Tony and JARVIS: JARVIS provides Bucky’s location, but Tony chooses investigation over immediate revenge.
• Secretary G and the Chief of Staff: They discuss the failure of their plan and blame Lin Feng for preventing the Avengers’ collapse.
• Lin Feng, Secretary G, and the Chief of Staff: Lin Feng invades their office, freezes them in place, and turns their political plotting into a terrifying confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “A Day Trip to Space, the Bewildered General Affairs Secretary”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng terrifies Secretary G and the General Affairs Secretary by amplifying their fear with the Mind Stone, then removes its influence and opens a portal.
• He transports both men directly into outer space, where they float before a breathtaking view of Blue Star and Stark Industries’ satellite.
• Although Lin Feng admires the view and tries to make them pose for a picture, the two officials are overwhelmed by fear and disbelief.
• Lin Feng then uses the Time Stone to display hidden recordings and replay private conversations concerning the Superhero Management Plan.
• The footage reveals the true reactions of governments around the world, including their concerns about control, military use, mission costs, and political influence.
• A secret “Superhero Joint Action Plan” is shown, in which superheroes are treated like purchasable assets, with mission prices, restrictions, and military deployment procedures.
• Recordings expose Secretary G and the General Affairs Secretary plotting against Lin Feng and Captain America, including plans to assess Lin Feng’s combat strength and undermine his influence.
• The officials discuss pressuring nations that resist the plan, especially the East, by canceling technology-sharing agreements and worsening technological restrictions.
• They also plan to deceive the East by providing outdated technology while hiding the decision from Lin Feng.
• The chapter ends with the officials’ hypocrisy and corruption fully exposed through their own words and laughter.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng is portrayed as confident, powerful, and contemptuous of political hypocrisy. He deliberately frightens the officials, but his main goal is to force them to confront undeniable evidence of their schemes.
• The General Affairs Secretary is revealed to be arrogant, manipulative, and openly committed to controlling superheroes. His public claims about peace and freedom are contradicted by his private plans.
• Secretary G appears cowardly and submissive, readily supporting the General Affairs Secretary’s decisions. Though he raises practical concerns, he ultimately shares the same cynical attitude.
• Secretary G and the General Affairs Secretary shift from fear of Lin Feng to complete exposure as their own conspiratorial conversations are replayed before them.

Significant Themes

• Political hypocrisy: Public language about peace, equality, and freedom conceals efforts to control superheroes and exploit them for national advantage.
• Power and control: The plan is less about protecting society than turning superheroes into government-controlled weapons and bargaining tools.
• Transparency versus secrecy: Lin Feng uses the officials’ hidden conversations to reveal how secret agreements contradict public policy.
• International manipulation: Powerful nations use technology, threats, financial incentives, and diplomatic pressure to force weaker or resistant countries into compliance.
• Moral corruption and commodification: Superheroes are treated as commercial products, with their abilities and missions assigned monetary value.
• Fear and accountability: Lin Feng’s intimidation forces the officials to face the consequences of their actions, while their terror contrasts with the ruthlessness they display toward others.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng dominates the encounter, physically transporting the officials, controlling their surroundings, and deciding what they must see.
• The officials remain frightened and powerless throughout the trip, unable to appreciate the beauty of space or resist Lin Feng’s revelations.
• The recordings show Secretary G and the General Affairs Secretary cooperating closely, with the General Affairs Secretary issuing orders and Secretary G providing information and suggestions.
• Their private conversation exposes their shared willingness to threaten other nations, manipulate technology agreements, and exploit superheroes for political purposes.

Chapter Summary: “Only One Chance, Plan Halted”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng exposes the true motives of the Superhero Control Plan by showing Secretary G and the Chief of Staff footage revealing that powerful officials are driven by money, influence, and personal gain rather than concern for public safety.
• He teleports both men beyond the Solar System and forces them to witness several horrifying cosmic events:
  • Massive interstellar wars fought over survival and profit.
  • The destruction, invasion, and exploitation of a populated planet.
  • The annihilation of a barren planet by Lin Feng’s Heat Vision.
• Through this demonstration, Lin Feng makes clear that his strength has grown far beyond their previous understanding. He is now capable of destroying Blue Star alone, making conventional weapons—including nuclear bombs—essentially irrelevant against him.
• After returning them to the conference room, Lin Feng demands that they understand the consequences of opposing him.
• The Chief of Staff agrees to:
  • Halt the Superhero Control Plan permanently.
  • Share genuinely advanced technology with the East as previously promised.
  • Leave the Avengers free from government interference.
• Lin Feng accepts these guarantees and leaves Gray Palace, satisfied that he has prevented future political manipulation of the superheroes.
• The two officials remain shaken. Secretary G asks whether the plan is truly canceled, and the Chief of Staff confirms that continuing would be suicidal.
• Despite complying publicly, the Chief of Staff secretly intends to fund research into mysterious Blue Star artifacts and high-energy objects, including the Obelisk, in hopes of finding a way to counter Lin Feng.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng demonstrates a more intimidating and authoritative side. Rather than merely arguing against the control plan, he uses overwhelming displays of power to force compliance and establish a lasting deterrent.
• He also reveals a pragmatic but protective attitude toward Blue Star and the Avengers. He gives the officials one chance to correct their actions, hoping to prevent future division among Earth’s defenders.
• The Chief of Staff is shown as calculating and politically ambitious. He quickly abandons the control plan when confronted with Lin Feng’s power, but he does not truly give up on finding a means to restrain him.
• Secretary G reacts with fear and helplessness. His physical terror, including losing control of himself and worrying about surviving another encounter, emphasizes how completely Lin Feng has broken their confidence.
• Both officials shift from arrogant policymakers to frightened, obedient survivors who recognize Lin Feng as an uncontrollable force.

Significant Themes

• Power and deterrence: Lin Feng proves that overwhelming strength can accomplish what negotiation and political pressure cannot.
• Corruption and hypocrisy: The officials claim to seek safety and reduce casualties, but their actions are motivated by control, profit, and self-interest.
• The darkness of civilization: The cosmic wars and planetary destruction reflect the selfishness and brutality hidden within the officials’ own ambitions.
• Unity versus division: Lin Feng fears that political interference could split the Avengers, as happened between Tony and Captain America, leaving Earth vulnerable during future crises.
• Temporary compliance versus lasting trust: Although the control plan is halted, the Chief of Staff’s secret research shows that fear has not erased his desire for power or self-defense.
• Mercy with limits: Lin Feng offers one chance for cooperation but makes it clear that further betrayal will result in harsher action, potentially including mind control.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng confronts the Chief of Staff and Secretary G as both judge and enforcer, forcing them to experience the consequences of the kind of violence and domination they seek to impose.
• The two officials are unable to resist or escape and must silently endure his demonstrations.
• The Chief of Staff speaks for both men, offering increasingly broad concessions until Lin Feng is satisfied.
• After Lin Feng departs, Secretary G questions whether they truly intend to comply, while the Chief of Staff responds angrily and fearfully, confirming that survival requires them to stop.
• Their final interaction reveals the difference between immediate obedience and hidden resistance: they abandon the plan but continue searching for weapons against Lin Feng.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After handling two general affairs officers, Lin Feng goes to McDonald’s to buy burgers and check on Tony, who has not yet taken action.
• While waiting in line, he overhears a woman encouraging a teenage boy to do better on his next test. Their names—Aunt May and Peter—alert Lin Feng that they are likely May Parker and the future Spider-Man, Peter Parker.
• Lin Feng realizes Peter has not yet been bitten by the spider and estimates that Peter will become Spider-Man in roughly a year.
• Lin Feng initially avoids interacting with them, but Peter recognizes him despite the magical ring concealing Lin Feng’s identity when he is not wearing the Superman suit.
• Peter borrows Aunt May’s phone and runs outside to confront Lin Feng before he leaves.
• Peter asks whether Lin Feng is Superman. Lin Feng confirms it indirectly rather than denying it.
• Excited and nervous, Peter asks for a photograph with his idol. Lin Feng happily agrees, and they take a picture together.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Shows his curiosity and awareness of Marvel’s future events. Although he has no immediate plan to interfere with Peter’s fate, he is amused by the coincidence and warmly indulges Peter’s admiration. His affection for Spider-Man and Superman as former favorite heroes makes the encounter meaningful to him.
• Peter Parker: Is portrayed as a young, thin, immature, and academically imperfect teenager who idolizes Superman and Iron Man. Meeting Superman leaves him extremely nervous and speechless, revealing both his youthful excitement and his desire to become a heroic figure himself.
• Aunt May: Acts as a caring but firm guardian, urging Peter to take his tests seriously. She remains unaware of Lin Feng’s identity and does not realize Peter has pursued Superman outside the restaurant.

Significant Themes

• Chance and destiny: Lin Feng unexpectedly encounters Peter before the events that will transform him into Spider-Man, emphasizing the unpredictable intersections between heroes’ lives.
• Hero worship and inspiration: Peter’s admiration for Superman reflects how established heroes influence the next generation. His dream of becoming someone who protects the weak foreshadows his future identity.
• Hidden identities: Lin Feng’s magical ring allows him to blend into ordinary society, yet Peter’s recognition suggests that instinct, familiarity, or “protagonist” intuition can overcome supernatural concealment.
• Mentorship and legacy: Though Lin Feng does not formally mentor Peter, their brief interaction gives Peter an inspirational personal memory before he becomes a hero.

Character Interactions

• Aunt May reprimands Peter gently about his poor test performance, while Peter promises to improve.
• Peter becomes distracted after recognizing Lin Feng and abandons the ordering line to pursue him.
• Lin Feng responds patiently to Peter’s nervous questions, calling him by name and encouraging him to calm down.
• Lin Feng accepts Peter’s request for a photograph and treats him kindly, creating a memorable encounter that Peter plans to preserve and display.