Chapter Summaries

Luke ignored the Soul Stone’s sacrifice trial, destroyed Vormir’s hidden pocket dimension, and claimed the stone. Its energy gave the Shadow Ninjas souls, while Luke trapped Red Skull and left a message for Hawkeye and Black Widow before heading to Xandar.

• Luke challenged Red Skull’s claim that a sacrifice was necessary and revealed that he had already collected five Infinity Stones.
• Luke tore apart the mountain and exposed a hidden pocket dimension, then seized the Soul Stone and suppressed its power.
• Luke drew the Soul Stone’s energy into the Shadow World, giving the Shadow Ninjas individual souls and the potential to learn magic.
• Luke refused to let Red Skull enter the Soul Stone, sealed him inside a small crystal, and dropped him into the pit.
• Luke carved a message for Hawkeye and Black Widow into Vormir, then ordered the spaceship crew to take him to Xandar.

Star-Lord reached Xandar with Shadow and tried to sell the Orb, but Rocket and Groot captured him, triggering a fight with Shadow and the Nova Corps. Luke learned that the Infinity Stones still had undiscovered uses, then prepared to visit Xandar himself by contacting the Nova Corps as the lord of Earth.

• Star-Lord landed on Xandar with the newly muscular Shadow, and the Xandarian girl asked for Shadow’s comm code before they parted.
• Star-Lord went to the Broker to sell the Orb, but the Broker drove him away after hearing Ronan’s name, while Rocket and Groot captured him outside.
• Luke told the Old Master that he had collected all six Infinity Stones, and the Old Master explained that they were cornerstones of the universe’s laws with uses Luke had yet to discover.
• Shadow returned to rescue Star-Lord and fought Rocket and Groot, while Nova Corps officers captured Star-Lord, Rocket, and Groot but failed to restrain Shadow.
• Shadow escaped the Nova Corps by surrounding himself with ice and vanishing, and Luke then told his crew to contact the Nova Corps so he could visit Xandar as the lord of Earth.

Luke met with Nova Prime to request technology and the release of Star-Lord, whom the Nova Corps had imprisoned in the Kyln. After Ronan raided the prison and killed everyone inside, Luke blamed Nova Prime and pressured her into agreeing to compensation.

• Nova Prime learned that Luke, reputed to be a powerful ally of Asgard, wanted to meet with her and arranged to receive him.
• Luke told Nova Prime that Star-Lord was his subject and had been abducted from Earth, then discovered the Nova Corps had jailed him in the Kyln.
• Nova Prime explained that Star-Lord had been arrested after his companion, the Shadow Ninja, escaped a drone encirclement; Luke revealed that the Shadow Ninja served him.
• The Nova Corps received news that Ronan had raided the Kyln and killed everyone inside, prompting Luke to threaten Xandar over Star-Lord's death.
• Nova Prime accepted blame and offered compensation, and Luke took his seat on the Dark Throne to negotiate.

Luke negotiated compensation from Nova Prime for Star-Lord's injury, securing most of the requested technologies and arranging to raise money by selling the Orb to the Collector. After sending Star-Lord's group toward Knowhere, Luke flew there himself, while Nova Prime hurried to arrange the remaining technology rights and feared Shadow Ninjas were still watching.

• Luke persuaded Nova Prime to compensate Earth with requested technologies, then learned that jointly owned technologies would cost about ten billion credits with the Nova Empire's support.
• Luke decided to have the Shadow Ninja steer Star-Lord's group into selling the Orb to the Collector for twenty billion credits, then instructed the Shadow Ninja to convince them the Orb could fetch tens of billions.
• The Shadow Ninja broke up the Guardians' argument, restrained Drax, and persuaded him to train before seeking revenge on Ronan.
• The Shadow Ninja told Star-Lord, Rocket, and Drax that the Orb could be sold for tens of billions and directed them to take it to Knowhere.
• Luke left Xandar and flew toward Knowhere, while Nova Prime ordered officials to prepare the technology-sharing arrangements and worried that Shadow Ninjas remained nearby.

The Shadow Ninja and Star-Lord’s companions sold the Orb to The Collector for fifty billion credits, but The Collector discovered it contained a black crystal rather than an Infinity Stone and put a bounty on them. As Knowhere’s inhabitants attacked and The Collector sent a fleet after them, an unknown figure appeared and destroyed the ships to protect the group.

• The Shadow Ninja led Star-Lord and his companions to The Collector, who recognized the Orb and agreed to pay fifty billion credits for it.
• The Collector dismantled the Orb and found a black crystal instead of an Infinity Stone, then angrily placed a bounty on the group.
• Star-Lord and his companions tried to escape Knowhere, but the crowd attacked them after The Collector broadcast their images and offered a reward for their heads.
• The Shadow Ninja, Rocket, Star-Lord, Drax, and Groot fought off the attackers as The Collector ordered ships to ram them.
• As the group despaired at the approaching fleet, an unknown figure destroyed every ship with a bolt of black lightning and declared that the game was over.

Luke fought The Collector after the Collector discovered the Orb contained no Power Stone, then found Star-Lord and the others alive and explained that he was the lord of Earth. The group prepared to leave Knowhere, with Luke insisting they settle the payment aboard their ship.

• The Collector confronted Luke over the missing Power Stone and the fifty billion he had paid for the Orb, then ordered Knowhere’s anti-ship cannons to attack him.
• Luke blocked the cannon fire with magic and battered The Collector’s Celestial Shield with energy torrents until The Collector calmed down and apologized.
• Luke realized he had forgotten Star-Lord and the others, sent Shadow Ninjas to search, and found them unconscious in a pool; Groot revived them.
• Luke told Star-Lord’s group that Shadow Ninjas were his immortal subordinates and that, as the lord of Earth, he considered them his subordinates too.
• Star-Lord declined Luke’s offer to return to Earth, and the group agreed to leave Knowhere while Luke demanded payment from them.

Luke hired Rocket and the Guardians to find Thanos, then agreed to deal with Ronan’s Kree fleet for the Nova Empire. He asked Nova Prime to build Stargates in Earth’s star system in exchange, leaving her to arrange the costly project.

• Groot shared his hundred-million-credit voucher with Rocket, Star-Lord, Drax, and the Shadow Ninja, while Rocket agreed to take Luke’s job to find Thanos for a billion credits and a Dark Crystal that could summon Luke for help.
• Luke sent the Shadow Ninja with Rocket’s group before heading to Nova Corps headquarters to complete his transaction with Nova Prime.
• Nova Prime showed Luke how Ronan’s fleet continued attacking Nova outposts despite the ceasefire, while the Kree Empire avoided intervening.
• Luke consulted Megatron, who wanted the Kree starships for the Decepticons, and offered to defeat Ronan’s fleet for Nova Prime.
• Luke told Nova Prime that Earth already had a history of conflict with the Kree and asked her to build Stargates in Earth’s star system as payment; Nova Prime agreed to have her assistant handle it.

Luke and Megatron ambushed Ronan’s fleet, capturing Ronan and converting the Kree warships into mechanical life. Luke planned to sell Ronan to the Nova Empire, while Megatron brought the Dark Aster to life for its future use.

• Luke lured Ronan to the planet with Nova Prime’s supplies while Megatron prepared to fight the Kree fleet.
• Megatron disabled and captured Kree warships, learned their weaknesses, and led a surprise attack that destroyed Ronan’s fleet.
• Luke entered the battlefield and captured Ronan aboard the Dark Aster, explaining that he would hand him over to the Nova Empire.
• Megatron converted the surviving warships and, after Luke removed Ronan, brought the Dark Aster to life.

Nova Prime planned to execute Ronan publicly, and Luke agreed to attend Xandar with his subordinates in case the Nova Empire needed help. Meanwhile, Gamora, Hawkeye, and Black Widow discovered that Vormir had been damaged and the Soul Stone was missing, while Star-Lord and Rocket headed back to Xandar to use Luke’s rescue offer.

• Nova Prime sent Saal to invite Luke to Ronan’s public execution after the Nova Empire paid a billion for Ronan, and Luke agreed to bring help to Xandar.
• Thanos learned that Gamora and Nebula had disappeared with Hawkeye and Black Widow, and he blamed Nebula for turning Gamora against him.
• Gamora brought Hawkeye and Black Widow to Vormir, where they found the planet cracked, Demon Mountain gone, and the Soul Stone missing.
• Black Widow translated a message formed by the cracks, and Hawkeye and Black Widow decided to find whoever had left it; Gamora asked to be taken to Knowhere afterward.
• Rocket persuaded Star-Lord to return to Xandar for work around Ronan’s execution, planning to use Luke’s crystal to get free rescue service.

Hawkeye and Black Widow learned from the Collector that the person they were seeking was Luke, the lord of Earth, and that he would be at Ronan’s execution on Xandar. Gamora joined them on the journey, while Rocket and his companions arrived on Xandar and were turned away when they sought work.

• Gamora, Hawkeye, and Black Widow visited the Collector, who told them that Luke had captured Ronan and had nearly destroyed his collection during a fight.
• The Collector said Luke had been invited to Xandar as protection for Ronan’s execution, and Hawkeye and Black Widow decided to go there to meet him.
• Gamora arranged with the Collector to buy Ronan’s head for him, then joined Hawkeye and Black Widow on their trip to Xandar.
• After passing the Nova Empire’s security checks, Hawkeye and Black Widow reached Xandar, where Gamora left to meet with Nova Empire representatives.
• Rocket and his companions arrived on Xandar looking for work, but a city hall official told them the Nova Corps had already supplied all the staff for the ceremony.

Ronan’s execution on Xandar was disrupted by a Kree-backed assault, but the Nova Corps suppressed the attackers and completed the beheading. Luke then learned from the Ancient One that the Supreme Intelligence had attacked his home, revealing the raid’s likely purpose as a diversion.

• Rocket warned Star-Lord that explosives could turn the execution square into a disaster, while Sal told Luke the Nova Empire had prepared extensive security measures.
• Gamora arranged with the Collector to sell Ronan’s head for two hundred million and planned to keep the extra money for herself.
• During the ceremony, Ronan threatened the Nova Empire and Luke before guards gagged him and prepared him for execution.
• Civilian ships rammed the energy shield as Kree spies attacked the crowd, and Luke sent Shadow Ninjas to rescue Hawkeye and Black Widow.
• Nova Corps forces suppressed the assault, and the executioner beheaded Ronan, placing his head in the refrigerated case.
• After the Ancient One informed Luke that the Supreme Intelligence had attacked his home, Luke angrily blamed the Kree leader.

Luke returned to Earth and helped repel a Kree fleet alongside the Ancient One and Galactus, while Megatron captured the defeated ships. After Supreme Intelligence revealed that the Kree attacked because Luke had supposedly mastered their Full-Spectrum Projection Technology, Luke declared war on the Kree Empire.

• Luke returned to Earth through a portal as the Ancient One and Galactus fought off the Kree fleet, and he shielded the planet with a magic circle.
• The Ancient One explained that she had altered the surrounding space, disabling the Kree projectors, and Megatron sent Starship Giants to capture the enemy warships.
• The Kree Empire contacted Luke through a captured Starship Giant, and Supreme Intelligence accused him of mastering Full-Spectrum Projection Technology.
• Supreme Intelligence offered to end the conflict if Luke kept the technology from spreading, but Luke refused and learned the Kree had attacked Earth to protect their battlefield advantage.
• After Supreme Intelligence threatened to destroy the Solar System, Luke declared war on the Kree Empire on behalf of Earth.

The Supreme Intelligence ordered a massive fleet to attack Earth, while Luke planned to undermine the Kree Empire by spreading its Full-Spectrum Projection Technology and disrupting its Omni-Wave Projectors. Hawkeye and Black Widow chose to stay with Luke until he could help them recover their lost families.

• The Supreme Intelligence overruled objections and ordered ten stellar-class warships and three hundred thousand ships to attack the Solar System.
• Luke told the Ancient One he would sell the Kree's technology to the powers fighting the empire and asked her and Galactus to protect Earth while he handled the plan.
• Luke had Megatron prepare the Omni-Wave Projector blueprints and used dark energy to alter space throughout the Solar System, hindering the Kree projectors.
• Luke told Hawkeye and Black Widow he had all six Infinity Stones and would help restore their lost loved ones after dealing with the Kree Empire.
• Hawkeye asked to remain with Luke because he had lost everyone in his family photograph, and Black Widow chose to stay with him.
• Luke agreed to let them accompany him to meet Nova Prime.

Luke gave Nova Prime the Kree Empire’s Omni-Wave Projector schematics and arranged for the Nova Empire to sell the technology to powers hostile to the Kree. As rival empires prepared to attack, the Supreme Intelligence ordered the Kree leadership to abandon their territory and sent its remaining warships to destroy Earth.

• Luke brought Hawkeye and Black Widow to Nova Headquarters, where Nova Prime read the data he had recovered from the Kree.
• Luke revealed that the data contained the Omni-Wave Projector’s schematics and offered the technology to Nova Prime for fifty billion.
• Luke asked Nova Prime to sell copies to powers hostile to the Kree, and she agreed to contact other empires and publicize his role.
• Nova Prime distributed the schematics, and nearly ten empires bought the technology as news of the deal spread across the universe.
• The Supreme Intelligence learned the Kree technology had leaked and ordered the leadership to flee with senior technical personnel while sending its warships to destroy Earth.

Luke learned that the Kree Empire had pulled its front-line fleets to attack him, and he turned to Uncle Galactus for help protecting the Solar System. Uncle Galactus sent out a black-mist manifestation to meet the Kree fleet, and Luke and Galacta watched from space as it prepared to feed on energy from beyond the universe.

• Nova Prime reported that several empires had agreed to attack the Kree Empire after the Omni-Wave Projector was built, connected to the planned Solar System Stargate, and helped Luke earn over a hundred billion credits through trading.
• Nova Prime's assistant warned that the Kree Empire had withdrawn warships from its front lines and sent them toward Luke's planet, but Luke refused Nova Prime's offer to request reinforcements.
• Luke returned to Earth and told Uncle Galactus that the Kree fleet threatened the Solar System, then showed him the six Infinity Stones as a possible way to stop them.
• Uncle Galactus warned that using all six Stones could disturb the universe's balance, took them to absorb a limited amount of energy, and released a black-mist manifestation into space.
• Luke took Galacta into space to observe the manifestation, and Galacta explained that it could devour anything and seemed eager to consume energy from beyond the universe.

The Supreme Intelligence led a Kree fleet to attack Earth, but Galacta and Luke unleashed a black mist that revealed itself as Galactus and devoured most of the fleet. Layton escaped the battle only to have his warship captured by Megatron, who planned to extract its intelligence.

• The Supreme Intelligence ordered Acting Captain Layton to execute a petty officer for spreading rumors, then drove the Kree fleet toward the Solar System.
• Galacta called on her father, and Luke helped the black mist absorb Dark Energy until it spread around the Solar System.
• The black mist stopped the fleet’s bombardment, revealed itself as Galactus, and devoured warships while Layton requested permission to retreat.
• The Supreme Intelligence allowed the fleet to withdraw, but only thirty percent of its warships escaped the chaos and Galactus’s attacks.
• Layton asked where the surviving crew should go, and the Supreme Intelligence warned that other empires were preparing to attack the Kree Empire.
• Megatron and the Starship Giants captured Layton’s warship, and Megatron took out the AllSpark to force the crew to reveal their intelligence.

Luke learned that Kree leaders had fled with their specialists to planet TPU7 and set out to investigate, while Megatron prepared to join Nova Prime’s joint offensive with captured warships. On Xandar, Gamora discovered that mercenaries had stolen Ronan’s head and realized she needed help to pursue them.

• Galactus defeated the Kree fleet, and Luke reassured Galacta before she flew away.
• Megatron told Luke that Kree leaders had fled with their high-tech specialists, and Luke used the Mind Stone to extract planet TPU7 as their destination from Layton’s memories.
• Luke sent Megatron to join Nova Prime’s joint offensive with the Starship Giants, then traveled toward planet TPU7.
• Galacta met Hawkeye and Black Widow on Earth, and they left her a communicator before seeking another place to stay.
• Gamora learned that mercenaries had stolen Ronan’s head and found traces of them on Xandar’s black market, but realized she needed help to confront them.

Luke raided Kree evacuation sites to capture important figures and locate the Supreme Intelligence's mainframe. He found the mainframe, cut off its power, and returned it to the Solar System for Megatron and the others to handle.

• Luke destroyed the hidden base on Planet TPU7, pinned down the Kree warships, and captured their occupants alive.
• After intimidating the captives, Luke learned the location of the Supreme Intelligence's mainframe from a high-ranking Kree and released the Kree's family.
• Luke tricked the high-ranking Kree into stepping through a portal to Nova Prime, then headed for the mainframe's planet.
• Luke destroyed the escort warships and confronted the Supreme Intelligence, which warned him that over a thousand bases were evacuating Kree personnel and specialists.
• The Supreme Intelligence refused to reveal the evacuation routes, so Luke knocked out the enormous warship's power and sent it through a portal to the Solar System.

Luke used the Supreme Intelligence’s database to locate the Kree evacuation fleet and planned to seize its research data, while the Supreme Intelligence was forced to witness the empire’s fall. On Xandar, Gamora hired Rocket’s small crew after Shadow Ninjas demonstrated his skill.

• Megatron’s Starship Giants powered up the Supreme Intelligence and searched its database, uncovering backdoors that could locate the fleeing Kree warships.
• Luke and Megatron planned to let the ships gather valuable research before ambushing them, and Luke revealed that a senior Kree official had already betrayed the empire.
• Luke ordered Megatron to keep the Supreme Intelligence barely powered and show it the Kree Empire’s destruction; after returning to Earth, Luke learned Hawkeye and Black Widow had left and relaxed by gaming with Galacta.
• Gamora questioned Rocket, Star-Lord, Drax, Groot, and Shadow Ninjas because her job posting required at least a hundred people.
• Shadow Ninjas drew his sword and swiftly held it to Gamora’s neck, convincing her to hire the crew at the advertised price.

Megatron joined the allied empires’ fleet as they launched their campaign to destroy the Kree Empire, while Luke watched Gamora and her team battle mercenaries on Xandar. After recovering the tracker attached to Ronan’s stolen head, Gamora hired Rocket and the others to pursue the Sovereign warship carrying it.

• Nova Prime told Megatron that the allied empires had assembled a fleet of about one hundred thousand ships, and Megatron led the Dark Legion to join them in attacking the weakened Kree Empire.
• Luke noted China and Wakanda’s lunar exploration plans while playing a game with Galacta, then watched Gamora and her team infiltrate a mercenary hideout on Xandar.
• Rocket, Star-Lord, Groot, Drax, Gamora, and the Shadow Ninja fought through the mercenaries, and the Shadow Ninja defeated the cannon operator and seized the weapon’s remote.
• Gamora interrogated the mercenary leader, who revealed that the Sovereign People had Ronan’s head aboard their warship and gave her the tracker attached to the rocket carrying it.
• Gamora paid Rocket and the others extra to pursue the Sovereign warship, and Rocket agreed to take the job.