Recaps

Tony conquered the Nova Civilization, pursued Star-Lord, and maneuvered through the Sovereign Empire while the Ancient One and Thanos assembled a coalition against him. The coalition seized the Space Stone, but the Ancient One suspected Tony had allowed it and was hiding a larger plan.

• Tony defeated Nova Prime and crushed the Nova Civilization’s resistance, then ordered Sarl sent into reincarnation to grow stronger.
• The Shadow Empire advanced on Xandar as Star-Lord awakened his creation power after Yondu killed himself, and Tony subdued him without killing him.
• Tony had Loki humiliate the Ancient One in public, while she moved her allies to the Moon and began recruiting Thanos and others to oppose him.
• Tony left Loki to govern the growing empire and traveled with Mephisto and Hyperion to the Sovereign Empire, where its weapon killed Hyperion and Tony ambushed Adam during their duel.
• Ronan and the Ancient One joined Thanos in preparing an attack on the Dark Empire, while Tony told Loki to resist and sent Hyperion back with the Space Stone.
• The Sovereign fleet and the alliance attacked the Dark Empire, but its Generals survived and counterattacked as Dier learned that Linda was surrounded by darkness.
• Tony gave Linda a Darkness Mark without mind control, sent Mephisto to capture Drax, and left after receiving Chiu’s thunder demon chi.
• Thanos defeated Hyperion and the Ancient One obtained the Space Stone, then realized Tony had deliberately let her take it for an unknown purpose.