Chapter Summaries

Lu Qi urged world leaders to condemn Hydra and proposed the Defenders as a regulated organization to handle supervillains. Most countries accepted, while South Korea’s prime minister tried to secure paid services for its conglomerates and was rebuked; the meeting ended with willing countries directed to contact Tony.

• Lu Qi described the Celestials’ preferred path for human development and warned world leaders that Hydra was an extremist terrorist organization after the purge in Sokovia.
• China’s prime minister and several major powers agreed with Lu Qi’s condemnation of Hydra, and Lu Qi proposed founding the Defenders with Tony Stark.
• Lu Qi distributed the Defenders’ regulations, which promised political noninterference, prioritized civilian protection, and required training and compensation for battle-related losses.
• South Korea’s prime minister suggested paying the Defenders to suppress supervillains, prompting Lu Qi to insist that the organization was a public service, not a mercenary force.
• After Captain Yang’s email explained that South Korean conglomerates had prompted the request, Lu Qi directed countries interested in cooperating with the Defenders to send their lists to Tony.

T'Challa urged Wakanda to open its borders and adapt to a rapidly changing world, but the tribal elders resisted, leaving T'Chaka searching for a way to force change. Meanwhile, Doctor Zola abducted Pangborn to learn about Kamar-Taj, then planned to send Hydra agents there and reinforce his body.

• Shuri reassured Wakanda's elders that the Celestials had likely known about Vibranium for centuries and had no interest in taking it.
• T'Challa argued that Wakanda risked falling behind other nations if it stayed isolated, while elders threatened T'Chaka over his duty to protect Vibranium.
• After the elders left, T'Chaka considered T'Challa's proposal but struggled to find a way to overcome their opposition.
• Doctor Zola disguised himself as a disabled man and attacked Pangborn, who recognized him as nonhuman and fought back with sorcery.
• Zola captured Pangborn, stole his Sling Ring, and tortured him until he revealed information about Kamar-Taj; Pangborn later died.
• Zola left disguised as Pangborn and ordered Hydra agents to investigate Kamar-Taj while planning to reinforce his body with a powerful metal.

Lu Qi learned that Thor’s drunken exaggeration had turned his victory over minor Celestials into a rumor that he had wiped out an elite squad. The chapter left Lu Qi furious after Thor revealed a returning merchant caravan might spread the story across the universe.

• Lu Qi shared breakfast with Galacta, then went to the Trading Station and found Thor presenting him with Asgardian gifts.
• Thor explained that Loki had sent the gifts to congratulate Lu Qi for repelling the Celestials, and Lu Qi had the guards move the airship out of the crowded passage.
• Representatives from other realms learned about Lu Qi’s victory and reacted with shock because the Celestials had once driven their pantheons off Earth.
• Thor admitted that his drunken account had led Asgardians to believe Lu Qi had wiped out an elite Celestial squad, despite his guards’ efforts to correct the rumor.
• Thor warned Lu Qi that a merchant caravan returning from Asgard might spread the exaggerated story, and Lu Qi smashed through the building floor in anger.

Lu Qi planned to leave Earth in Galactus's care after Thor publicized his confrontation with the Celestials, but he first helped investigate why Banner's soul was weakening. Galactus discovered that Dark Energy had fused with Banner's soul, and Lu Qi realized it had come from the body he had made for Banner during the Battle of New York.

• Lu Qi decided to leave Earth and take Galacta on a trip through other universes, then went to Stark Tower to speak with Galactus.
• Galactus explained that Banner's attempt to merge with Hulk had nearly erased Banner's consciousness, and tests showed Hulk's soul was stronger than Banner's.
• Lu Qi noticed Banner's increased sleep began after he started contacting Hulk with a drug, but Banner's records could not explain the cause.
• Banner remembered that his soul had left his body during the Battle of New York and entered a body Lu Qi had made from Dark Energy.
• Galactus examined a fragment of Banner's soul and found that Dark Energy had fused with it, while Hulk had absorbed the displaced soul energy.
• Lu Qi read Galactus's report and realized that Banner's condition might have been caused by the Dark Energy body he had created.

Lu Qi and Galactus discovered that Banner’s soul was weakening and presented him with two ways to recover; Banner chose to let dark energy transform him into a powerful agent. After arranging for Hulk to protect Banner while Galactus taught him, Lu Qi prepared to honeymoon in a dangerous world marked in The Ancient One’s coordinate book.

• Galactus explained that dark energy had weakened Banner’s soul and offered two ways to save him.
• Banner chose to let dark energy completely taint his soul, accepting the possibility of becoming Lu Qi’s subordinate.
• Lu Qi placed Banner’s soul in a dark crystal and asked Hulk to protect it while it absorbed dark energy.
• Galactus offered to teach Hulk to read and run experiments, and Hulk obediently followed him.
• Lu Qi returned home to pack and chose the unexplored coordinate marked “Danger,” which led him toward Dark Ruler Gatanothor.

Lu Qi attacked the Zoga in their dark domain, using his Shadow Ninjas to slaughter the juveniles and overwhelm the adults. As the Zoga fell in droves, Gatanothor awoke and faced hundreds of thousands of Shadow Ninjas.

• Lu Qi explored the sleeping Beasts, inspected Gatanothor, and decided to conquer the dimension while taking some Juvenile Zoga and eggs.
• Lu Qi ordered the Shadow Ninjas to attack, and they killed the Juvenile Zoga, waking the Adult Zoga.
• The Advanced Units crippled and killed the first Zoga to awaken, while Alien Soldiers and Giant Pincer Soldiers helped bring it down.
• More than a thousand Zoga charged the Shadow Army, which cut them apart and shot down those that tried to fly away.
• Gatanothor emerged from its shell after hearing the dying Zoga and found hundreds of thousands of Shadow Ninjas staring at it.

Lu Qi confronted Gatanothor, whose dark-energy attacks failed against the Shadow Ninjas, and questioned him about his history and power. After learning that Gatanothor wanted to return to sleep, Lu Qi declared that he would teach him how Dimension Lords dealt with one another.

• Gatanothor attacked the Shadow Ninjas with tentacles, dark mist, and a petrifying beam, but none of the assaults defeated them.
• The Night Bat Legion and other Shadow Ninjas swarmed Gatanothor until he retreated into his shell, and Lu Qi recalled them.
• Gatanothor recognized Lu Qi as human and asked about humanity's survival and the existence of other universes.
• Lu Qi learned that Gatanothor had been asleep and that his dark power came from darkness in living beings' hearts, which made him hate goodness and light.
• Gatanothor asked to return to sleep and suggested that they should ally against the light, but Lu Qi rejected the idea and prepared to fight him.

Lu Qi defeated Gatanothor in the Dark Dimension and traveled with Galacta to Tiga World for a vacation. They arrived at the R'lyeh Ruins and discovered they had come just as the Beast That Shatters the Sky flew overhead.

• Lu Qi overpowered Gatanothor, then agreed to fight at Gatanothor's size before killing him when Gatanothor surrendered.
• Lu Qi explored the sunken R'lyeh Ruins, sensed the light within the petrified giants, and recorded Tiga World's coordinates.
• Lu Qi returned to the Dark Dimension, met Galacta, and invited her to visit a warm world with him.
• Lu Qi brought Galacta to R'lyeh, where they sensed the giants' light and discussed seeing the Giants of Light.
• Lu Qi and Galacta flew out of the sea after hearing a piercing sound and saw the Beast That Shatters the Sky soar overhead.

Lu Qi rescued the two unknown Ultraman statues from Golza and Melba, then watched Daigo awaken Tiga and defeat Melba before Tiga vanished. In the Mirror Dimension, Lu Qi used Dark Energy and Ninja Soldiers to awaken the statues as armored Dark Giants, then ordered them to capture Golza for another purpose.

• Lu Qi brought Galacta into the Mirror World and pulled the two unknown Ultraman statues away from Golza and Melba, leaving Tiga's statue behind.
• Daigo Madoka tried to protect Tiga's statue, crashed his GUTS Wing 1, and became Tiga when the statue came to life.
• Tiga defeated Melba, but Golza escaped until Lu Qi's glasslike cracks pulled it into the Mirror Dimension; Tiga then flew away as his energy ran low.
• Lu Qi infused the two statues with Dark Energy, then placed Ninja Soldiers inside their timers to give the Dark Giants minds and control.
• Lu Qi ordered the armored Dark Giants not to kill Golza, and they advanced on it with their weapons.

The Victory Team analyzed Tiga, the monsters, and the mysterious rifts, then received authorization to arm their aircraft after Yazumi found satellite footage of two unknown figures near the rifts. Meanwhile, Lu Qi revived the Dark Giants at the R'lyeh Ruins, moved them into the Shadow World, and planned to build an army of Golzas before setting out to explore with Galacta.

• Megumi Iruma led the Victory Team's discussion of Tiga, the monsters, and the rifts, while the team debated whether the rift-maker was an ally or an enemy.
• Yazumi revealed satellite footage of two humanlike figures near the rifts, and Megumi Iruma ordered a worldwide search for information about them.
• The director told the Victory Team that their weapons and equipment restrictions had been lifted, allowing them to arm their aircraft against monsters.
• Lu Qi raised a barrier over the R'lyeh Ruins, used Dark Energy to awaken tens of thousands of Dark Giants, and moved them into the Shadow World.
• Lu Qi decided to create an army of Golzas and invited Galacta to explore the world with him.

Lu Qi and Galacta explored Japan, where Lu Qi learned that a pair of gentle Gakuma brothers lived in a quarry. Knowing humans would kill them, he discussed with Galacta whether Beasts and people could coexist, and the story left him troubled by the brothers’ fate.

• Lu Qi and Galacta returned to Japan after sightseeing across Tiga World.
• Lu Qi overheard people discussing a rock-eating Beast called Gakuma on a southern island.
• Lu Qi recalled that two gentle Gakuma brothers lived in the quarry and would be killed after humans depleted their food supply.
• Galacta argued that Beasts belonged to the planet’s ecosystem and that humans could coexist with gentler ones.
• Lu Qi said people were not yet prepared to accept Beasts and regretted that the Gakuma brothers had appeared too early.

Lu Qi and Galacta enjoyed a fireworks festival while Lu Qi sent a Ninja Soldier to torment the alien Mitsuo Itabashi, who was secretly a Kirielian. After the Ninja Soldier fell in battle, the Kirielian attacked police officers and drew TPC’s attention, leaving Daigo and the TPC crew alerted to an alien rampage in Reijing.

• Lu Qi and Galacta watched the fireworks, and Lu Qi sent a Ninja Soldier to create accidents for Mitsuo Itabashi.
• The Ninja Soldier pursued Mitsuo Itabashi into a forest, where he revealed his true Kirielian form and defeated it.
• After receiving an order from their Kyrieloid God to lure out Ultraman Tiga, the Kirielian attacked police officers and killed several of them.
• A surviving officer called for reinforcements, and the police chief reported the incident to TPC.
• At a TPC celebration, Daigo accepted his identity as Ultraman Tiga before Yazumi received news that an alien was rampaging across Reijing.

Lu Qi and Galacta’s honeymoon was interrupted when Kyrieloid attacked the city and forced Daigo to transform into Ultraman Tiga. Tiga was overwhelmed by Kyrieloid’s sacred flames, and the chapter ended with Lu Qi and Galacta appearing before the fallen hero.

• Lu Qi and Galacta relaxed together until nearby aircraft sounds and shaking water warned them that something was happening.
• Kyrieloid grew into a giant and advanced into the city, while the Victory Team struggled to stop him without endangering residents.
• Daigo left GUTS Wing 1 to help evacuate people, then entered an alley and transformed into Ultraman Tiga.
• Tiga switched from Red Power Form to Blue Speed Form and fought back, but Kyrieloid unleashed his sacred flames and defeated him.
• As Tiga’s timer flashed and Kyrieloid approached, he heard someone speak and saw Lu Qi and Galacta standing before him.

Lu Qi destroyed Kyrieloid after Tiga ran out of strength, then explained the Giants of Light and their need for humanity’s faith to the Victory Team. As Galacta went with the team to TPC, two Kyrielians resolved to continue their plan to open the Hell Gate, confident their god could defeat Lu Qi.

• Lu Qi transformed into a Dimensional Demon God, crushed Kyrieloid’s Hellfire Bullet, and pursued him into the air.
• Lu Qi blasted Kyrieloid into a mountain and killed him with a dark beam that melted the mountain into a deep crater.
• Munakata tried to stop Lu Qi from entering the city, but Galacta took control of the GUTS Wings and warned the Victory Team not to provoke him.
• Lu Qi returned to Tiga, who reverted to Daigo, then told the Victory Team that Tiga needed humanity’s Light of Faith to regain his strength.
• Galacta told Munakata that she and Lu Qi were travelers from another world, and she accepted Rena’s invitation to visit TPC.
• A witch and her companion discussed Lu Qi’s power but decided to continue their plan to open the Hell Gate and bring the Kyrieloid God’s warriors to Earth.

Lu Qi and Galacta met TPC Director Sawai, and Lu Qi established his authority before agreeing to a formal meeting. As he answered the Victory Team’s questions about his world, Daigo confronted him about taking the giant statues and Golza, leaving Lu Qi’s reasons unanswered.

• Lu Qi and Galacta used Dark Energy to appear in formal clothes and spoke with Sawai, where Lu Qi’s titles and presence led Sawai to concede and invite them to a formal meeting.
• After the call, Lu Qi told the Victory Team about his world, including the Lords of the Nine Realms, Asgard, the Celestials, and the Trading Station.
• Daigo asked whether Lu Qi had taken the two giant statues and Golza, and Lu Qi admitted that he had.
• Daigo asked why Lu Qi had taken the statues and Golza, but the chapter ended before Lu Qi answered.

Lu Qi explained why he had taken the two giant statues and used a joke about bone broth to conceal what he knew about awakening Giants of Light. After warning the Victory Team about Dark Giants and reassuring them about Tiga and human technology, he asked Galacta to search TPC's database for the man who had examined Daigo's plane-crash footage.

• Lu Qi said he had taken the two statues to keep Golza and Melba from destroying them, and explained that Tiga awakened because what he needed was nearby.
• Lu Qi joked that simmering a big bone into broth was the only way to awaken a giant, then claimed his two statues could become Dark Giants and refused to return them.
• Lu Qi warned the Victory Team that Dark Giants had nearly destroyed the Ultra-Ancient Civilization, and reassured them that Tiga could regain strength through people's faith.
• Rena worried that Tiga might face too many enemies, while Lu Qi encouraged the Victory Team to trust Tiga and develop stronger weapons.
• Horii and Megumi Iruma described plans for a new fighter and the Max Power System as the Victory Team discussed future equipment.
• Lu Qi asked Galacta to find the man who had reviewed footage of Daigo's plane crash, and Galacta broke into TPC's database and found a result.

Lu Qi and Galacta uncovered Dr. Dango and Keigo Masaki’s theft of TPC information, and Lu Qi considered recruiting their scientific talents through official channels. The next morning, Daigo asked Lu Qi to train him so he could fight more effectively as Ultraman Tiga.

• Galacta hacked TPC’s database and found that Dr. Dango had deleted Daigo’s crash footage and sent TPC technology to Keigo Masaki.
• Lu Qi recalled Keigo Masaki’s future plans to become a Giant and destroy things, then considered approaching him and Dr. Dango through official channels.
• Rena admired Lu Qi and Galacta’s closeness while Daigo privately wrestled with a decision.
• After Lu Qi and Galacta spent the night at their hotel, Daigo visited Lu Qi on the rooftop the next morning.
• Daigo explained that Tiga’s combat experience had guided his first battle, but he had struggled against Gakuma when fighting under his own control, and asked Lu Qi to teach him combat techniques.

Lu Qi brought Daigo to an underwater ruin and arranged for Shadow Ninjas to train him in combat. After Daigo struggled to learn from watching their sparring, Lu Qi had him transform into miniature Tiga and practice directly, while testing whether Tiga could convert Dark Energy into Light Energy.

• Lu Qi summoned several Shadow Ninjas and offered them as teachers for Daigo, who eagerly accepted.
• Lu Qi took Daigo through a portal to an underwater ultra-ancient ruin and set up training in its arena.
• Daigo watched two Ninja Soldiers fight but could not follow their techniques, so Lu Qi told him about Tiga’s past as a Dark Giant and urged him to take control of Tiga’s strength.
• Daigo transformed into miniature Tiga and sparred with the Shadow Ninjas, whose attacks exposed his many openings and helped him improve.
• When Tiga’s energy ran low, Lu Qi gave him a Dark Crystal, and Tiga converted its Dark Energy into Light Energy before resuming training.

Daigo trained with the Shadow Ninjas all day, explaining to Lu Qi that he fought to protect humanity because he was human. After learning that Dark Power-derived Light Energy lacked Tiga’s reassuring quality and could leave Daigo more vulnerable to temptation, Lu Qi advised him to use it only occasionally in training.

• Daigo trained with the Shadow Ninjas until ten at night and returned to Lu Qi exhausted.
• Daigo told Lu Qi he fought for humanity because he was human, not for recognition or reward.
• Daigo explained that Light Energy converted from Dark Power felt different from Tiga’s original energy and that he had felt irritated and had strange thoughts while transformed.
• Lu Qi reasoned that the converted energy lacked a soothing quality and could expose Daigo to the temptations of power, so he advised Daigo to use it only occasionally during training.
• Daigo agreed to rely mainly on his own energy and hurried back to the base before eleven to sign in after leave.

Lu Qi and Galacta prepared for a meeting with TPC and the world’s leaders, but Lu Qi failed to appear at the hotel before it began. He arrived through a portal just before the start, leaving the officials surprised and ready to hear his proposal.

• Lu Qi and Galacta reviewed information about the world and prepared their points for the upcoming meeting.
• TPC senior officials gathered before the meeting, while Tetsuji Yoshioka worried that Lu Qi had not arrived and learned he had not left his hotel.
• Yoshioka argued that Lu Qi might be pushing humanity toward war and urged TPC to prepare military materials and technology.
• Lu Qi appeared through a portal moments before the meeting and asked whether he was late.
• Megumi Iruma welcomed Lu Qi, and he led Galacta into the conference room while planning to guide the officials’ curiosity toward the meeting they had prepared.