Chapter Summaries

Kang the Conqueror explained the origins of the Time Variance Authority, the Sacred Timeline, and his fear of the Celestials. He revealed that Qin Xiao was an accident from a separate timeline, and that he had chosen to watch Qin Xiao change the course of events.

• Kang the Conqueror explained that allied versions of himself created the Time Variance Authority and Sacred Timelines to end their multiversal war.
• Qin Xiao asked why the universe was trapped in a time loop, and Kang said it was meant to prevent a future version of himself from emerging.
• Kang explained that he cut off the past after the Celestials vanished because they could fully master the Infinity Stones and shape the universe.
• Kang said he had split the Eternals' and Deviants' timelines into separate loops, but Qin Xiao crossed between them as a soul.
• Kang told Qin Xiao that the Time Variance Authority had not acted against him because he was absent from its timeline, and that a Loki's killing of one version of Kang had delayed its response.
• Kang said he had changed his mind and wanted to watch Qin Xiao alter everything.

Qin Xiao struck a bargain with Kang the Conqueror to avoid interference from the TVA and eventually end the time loop by killing Kang. He returned to the Avengers with Little Groot, explained the threat of Kang and the timeline, and left the team facing a war they were not yet ready to fight.

• Qin Xiao agreed to grow stronger and kill Kang the Conqueror a thousand years later in exchange for Kang keeping the TVA away and eventually ending the time loop.
• Kang sent Mandela back to his own time after erasing his memories, and Qin Xiao returned to the Bifrost hall with Little Groot.
• Qin Xiao reunited with Thor and the others, while Little Groot greeted Natasha and then bonded with Thor.
• Heimdall questioned Qin Xiao about where he had been, and Qin Xiao joked that he had gone out of town.
• At the Avengers' Sky Base, Qin Xiao told the team about Knowhere, the TVA, Kang, and the timeline branches, but kept the existence of the two worlds secret.
• Tony and the Captain reacted angrily to learning their lives were scripted, while Qin Xiao warned the Avengers that they needed time to grow stronger before confronting Kang.

Qin Xiao prepared to collect the remaining Infinity Stones and led the Avengers in building the spaceship the Light for a public voyage into space. The Avengers secretly returned to the Sky Base, leaving only Qin Xiao, Little Groot, and Tony Stark aboard as the ship launched before the world.

• Qin Xiao decided to collect the remaining Infinity Stones himself and set out to explore the universe with a spaceship.
• Thor brought ships from the Nine Realms to Asgard, where Tony Stark and Wakandan scientists helped build a new vessel using Vibranium and titanium alloy.
• Tony named the ship the Light, fitted it with weapons and the AI Scarlett, and loaded Asgard's star charts and wormhole coordinates.
• Tony arranged a public launch, and the Avengers announced that they were leaving Earth to draw out hidden threats.
• After the Avengers boarded the Light, Qin Xiao secretly sent them back to the Sky Base, keeping only Little Groot and Tony Stark aboard.
• The Light circled above Earth, accelerated through the atmosphere, and disappeared from view.

The Light withstood Ronan’s fleet and destroyed many of its small warships, prompting Ronan to flee after learning the ship came from C-53. On Xandar, Nova Prime learned the Light’s crew came from Earth.

• Ronan’s fleet opened fire on the Light, but its Vibranium-reinforced hull endured the barrage without damage.
• Tony stopped Qin Xiao from intervening so he could test the Light’s hull, and the crew launched a counterattack.
• The Light tore through Ronan’s small warships, destroying those it struck with its weapons and Vibranium edges.
• Ronan learned the Light came from C-53, remembered Captain Marvel, and ordered his fleet to retreat into subspace.
• Nova Prime watched footage of Ronan’s retreat and learned that C-53 was Earth.

Qin Xiao and his companions negotiated with Nova Prime to take on Ronan the Accuser, securing three mineral-rich planets, advanced technology, and help transforming the Moon and Mars in exchange. They left with the deal settled and awaited intelligence on Ronan before acting.

• Natasha questioned why the Nova Empire could not defeat Ronan despite the resources it offered, and Nova Prime explained that a peace agreement and the elders’ opposition prevented military expansion.
• Qin Xiao asked Nova Prime to add the Nova Corps’ ship-energy-linking technology to the deal.
• Tony suggested that the Nova Empire also provide transport ships for moving people to Mars.
• Nova Prime returned with the elders’ approval, requiring that the technology only be shared with Earth and planets under Qin Xiao’s group’s authority.
• The Nova Empire transferred three planets to Qin Xiao’s group, promised surveys and plans for transforming the Moon and Mars, and agreed to provide intelligence on Ronan; news about him arrived within days.

Nova Prime warned Qin Xiao and Tony about Thanos, so they chose to wait before pursuing Ronan. While exploring Xandar, Tony and Little Groot encountered Rocket and Groot, and the chapter ended with Rocket firing at Qin Xiao.

• Nova Prime explained that Thanos was a feared power who controlled vast forces but would not retaliate for Ronan's defeat.
• Qin Xiao decided not to risk confronting Thanos, and the group stayed on Xandar while waiting for Ronan to leave Thanos's territory.
• Tony took Little Groot drinking around Xandar as Qin Xiao and Natasha went sightseeing.
• Rocket accused Tony of stealing Little Groot, while Groot met the other Groot and the two exchanged greetings.
• Qin Xiao separated Rocket from Tony, but Rocket cocked his gun and fired two shots at Qin Xiao's face.

Qin Xiao and the others dealt with Rocket and Groot on Xandar, then learned Rocket and Groot were hunting Star-Lord for a bounty. With help from the Nova Corps, they located Star-Lord at a local fence and waited outside for him to emerge.

• Rocket shot Qin Xiao, but the little Groot stopped the larger Groot’s attack and burned off his arms with electricity.
• Qin Xiao disarmed Rocket, and Tony showed his identification so the Nova Corps recognized the group as honored guests and aimed their weapons at Rocket and Groot.
• Qin Xiao explained the time loop, the Time Variance Authority, and Rocket’s predetermined past; Rocket agreed to join him but insisted on personally killing Kang the Conqueror.
• Rocket and Groot revealed they were on Xandar to capture Star-Lord, whose bounty from Yondu was forty thousand.
• The Nova Corps used surveillance to locate Star-Lord inside a shop that served as Xandar’s biggest fence, while Qin Xiao, Tony, and Rocket waited outside.

Qin Xiao and Rocket captured Star-Lord and Gamora, then negotiated over the Orb and its immense value. Qin Xiao took the Power Stone into his hand, absorbed it, and left Gamora wondering who he was as powerful changes began inside him.

• Rocket spotted Gamora outside the shop, and Qin Xiao knocked out her and Star-Lord through wormholes.
• Qin Xiao stopped Rocket from handing Star-Lord over and offered him eighty thousand units of galactic currency.
• Gamora revealed that Ronan and Thanos wanted the Orb and offered to split four billion with Qin Xiao.
• Star-Lord proposed selling the Orb together, and Qin Xiao agreed to divide the proceeds by headcount.
• Qin Xiao crushed the Orb's metal shell and absorbed the Power Stone as purple energy surged through his body.

Qin Xiao absorbed the Power Stone, which joined the Reality and Space Stones in transforming his body and greatly increasing his strength. After deciding to postpone seeking the Soul Stone, he freed Gamora and Star-Lord and led the group through a wormhole to an unusual place in the universe.

• The Power Stone merged with Qin Xiao’s bones and muscles as the Space and Reality Stones transformed his body.
• Qin Xiao traveled to an uninhabited planet near Xandar, where he tested his increased strength, flight, energy shield, and ability to teleport.
• Gamora questioned Qin Xiao about the Power Stone, and he said he had hidden it temporarily; Star-Lord complained about sharing it, while Rocket suggested killing him.
• Qin Xiao considered seeking the Soul Stone, but the system advised him to wait until he had greater mental power and a better grasp of the Mind Stone.
• Qin Xiao untied Gamora and Star-Lord, then took everyone through a wormhole to an unusual place in the universe.

Qin Xiao brought Tony, Gamora, Star-Lord, and Rocket to Knowhere to meet the Collector, Taneleer Tivan. After seeing Tivan’s collection of imprisoned rare creatures, Qin Xiao and Tony began considering how to rob him.

• Qin Xiao arrived on Knowhere with Tony, Gamora, Star-Lord, and Rocket, and asked Gamora to lead them to the Collector.
• Tony questioned Qin Xiao about selling the Infinity Stone, and Qin Xiao revealed he planned to rob the Collector instead.
• Gamora led the group through Knowhere’s crowded marketplace to the Collector’s home.
• A pink-skinned attendant guided the group past cages holding rare creatures and explained that Tivan collected living beings as well as objects.
• Taneleer Tivan welcomed the group, and Tony told Qin Xiao he wanted to shoot the smug Collector.

Qin Xiao confronted the Collector after the Collector threatened Gamora’s group, then used his mastery of three Infinity Stones to force him to stand down. With the weapons withdrawn, Qin Xiao began the trade by presenting an empty metal sphere and asking the Collector to pay.

• Qin Xiao stopped Gamora from greeting the Collector and challenged him over his threatening behavior.
• The Collector revealed hidden weapons and ordered them to fire, but Qin Xiao protected his friends with an energy shield and endured the barrage unharmed.
• Qin Xiao showed the Collector the powers of three Infinity Stones, frightening him into withdrawing the weapons.
• Qin Xiao dismissed Rocket’s suggestion to rob the Collector and placed a piece of table wreckage into an empty metal sphere as the trade item.
• Qin Xiao showed the Collector his cosmic account number and demanded payment, but the Collector asked what money he meant.

Qin Xiao forced the Collector to pay for the Power Stone, then took control of the Tivan Group and freed its imprisoned captives. He asked Gamora to stay and help him run the organization, but she refused because she still feared Thanos and distrusted Qin Xiao.

• Qin Xiao made the Collector transfer four billion to the group, and Rocket distributed the money among them.
• Qin Xiao demanded compensation for the space dog, then forced the Collector to hand over control of the Tivan Group and implanted a tracking device in him.
• Qin Xiao brought in experienced Widows to take over the Tivan Group and arranged for its imprisoned intelligent beings to return home.
• Qin Xiao asked Star-Lord and Gamora to stay and help run the organization, but Gamora refused and insisted she had to escape Thanos.

Qin Xiao brought Gamora to Vormir and revealed that he knew her secret and held several Infinity Stones. After Gamora climbed the mountain and saw her fate, she returned with the Soul Stone, leaving Qin Xiao stunned.

• Qin Xiao opened a wormhole to Vormir and told Gamora he knew she had fled Thanos to protect the Soul Stone.
• Qin Xiao revealed that he possessed the Space, Reality, and Power Stones and said the Time and Mind Stones were on Earth.
• Qin Xiao told Gamora that Thanos would eventually seek the Soul Stone and that Nebula could be used to threaten her.
• Qin Xiao explained that the Soul Stone required the sacrifice of someone its seeker loved and told Gamora she had once died obtaining it.
• Gamora climbed the mountain while Qin Xiao waited below, then returned dazed and said she had seen everything.
• Gamora opened her hand to reveal the orange Soul Stone, and Qin Xiao swore in shock.

Qin Xiao discovered that Gamora had obtained the Soul Stone after Red Skull’s failed attempt to sacrifice her left him dead. Gamora accepted Qin Xiao’s account of what happened and agreed to help him take control of the Tivan Group, while Qin Xiao offered to protect her and Nebula from Thanos.

• Qin Xiao found Red Skull’s body being consumed by the altar and returned to Gamora.
• Gamora recounted how Red Skull showed her life, tried to push her off the cliff, and fell when she dodged his shove.
• Gamora explained that she met her counterpart’s soul and learned the Soul Stone’s rules after obtaining it.
• Qin Xiao realized he had acquired the Soul Stone and reflected on his plans for the remaining Infinity Stones.
• Gamora tentatively accepted Qin Xiao’s invitation to help control the Tivan Group, and he promised to protect her and Nebula from Thanos.
• Star-Lord stayed to keep Gamora company, and Qin Xiao decided to find a place to settle the matters involving Ronan and Yondu’s bounty.

Qin Xiao waited in hiding for Ronan to come after Star-Lord, but Yondu’s crew arrived first and surrounded the Milano. Qin Xiao intervened, killed Taserface, and faced Yondu’s crew.

• Qin Xiao waited near the Milano on a barren planet after news of the Power Stone and Star-Lord had spread.
• Yondu’s crew surrounded the Milano, and Star-Lord asked Qin Xiao to protect him.
• Qin Xiao told Star-Lord that Yondu cared about him and decided to prove it by confronting Yondu.
• Taserface spotted Qin Xiao, warned the others, and fired at him as Qin Xiao flew toward the Milano.
• Qin Xiao turned on Taserface and destroyed his head with a burst of flame, alarming Yondu.

Qin Xiao confronted Yondu’s crew and demonstrated that neither their weapons nor the Yaka Arrow could harm him. He left Yondu facing the choice between abandoning Star-Lord and continuing a hopeless fight, as Qin Xiao sought to make him reconsider their relationship.

• Qin Xiao pulled Star-Lord from the Milano, held a saber to his neck, and made him pretend he had been captured.
• Qin Xiao refused Yondu’s offer of the bounty and vaporized one of his landing craft to warn the crew to leave.
• Yondu’s crew urged him to abandon the fight, but Yondu attacked Qin Xiao with the Yaka Arrow.
• Qin Xiao knocked the arrow aside, then let it strike him repeatedly to prove it could not pierce his skin.

Qin Xiao forced Yondu to explain how he had raised Star-Lord as his own son, then stopped Yondu from killing himself with the Yaka Arrow. Yondu and Star-Lord reunited on the ground while Qin Xiao kept the arrow.

• Yondu's crew fled after Qin Xiao defeated them, and Qin Xiao restrained Star-Lord to make Yondu reveal why he would not leave.
• Yondu confessed that he had been hired to bring Peter from Earth but had chosen to raise him instead, and he warned that the Orb would bring trouble.
• Qin Xiao demanded that Yondu kill himself in exchange for Star-Lord's freedom and blocked Yondu's planned ambush with a shield.
• Yondu summoned the Yaka Arrow toward himself, and Star-Lord rushed to stop him.
• Qin Xiao caught the Yaka Arrow through a wormhole, and Star-Lord tackled Yondu as they embraced.

Yondu learned that his crew had left him, while Qin Xiao, Yondu, and Star-Lord confronted Ronan aboard his ship. Ronan died when his cannon blast destroyed the ship, and Qin Xiao and Yondu decided to bury something in his honor.

• Yondu contacted Dave and learned that his crew had abandoned him and elected to choose a new leader.
• Dave warned Yondu that Ronan was approaching, and Star-Lord told Yondu that Qin Xiao had previously driven off Ronan's fleet.
• Qin Xiao opened wormholes to breach Ronan's ship, and he, Yondu, and Star-Lord fought their way toward the bridge.
• Ronan ordered his subordinate to escape with his armor and hammer, preserving his hopes for the Kree, while the other troops fled in landing pods.
• Ronan fired a powerful energy cannon at Qin Xiao, but Qin Xiao's shield protected him, Yondu, and Star-Lord as the blast destroyed the ship and killed Ronan.
• Qin Xiao and Yondu agreed to make Ronan a grave and carve his name on a gravestone.

While Qin Xiao and Yondu prepared Ronan’s grave, the Avengers fought off Corvus Glaive after he arrived demanding the Collector and Gamora. Thanos’s Sanctuary III then appeared over the Celestial’s skull, with Qin Xiao still away.

• Tony and Rocket unknowingly let the Collector activate an emergency communicator hidden in his shoe.
• Corvus Glaive crashed into the Celestial’s skull, and Gamora recognized him as one of Thanos’s generals.
• The Avengers defeated Corvus Glaive and his Chitauri soldiers after Gamora refused to return to Thanos.
• Gamora persuaded the Avengers to spare Corvus Glaive, and they sent him away in a tiny escape craft while keeping his ship.
• Thanos arrived with Sanctuary III and his army two hours after Corvus Glaive left, while Qin Xiao was still carving Ronan’s gravestone with Yondu.

Thanos arrived at the Celestial’s skull, cut off its occupants from outside help, and demanded that Gamora bring him the Collector. Gamora lured him down to meet her, and the chapter ended with the two sides facing off in a square before a fight.

• Sanctuary III surrounded the Celestial’s skull, destroyed ships that tried to flee, and blocked communications with the outside.
• Thanos ordered Ebony Maw to wait until his deadline passed, then chose to meet Gamora himself after she called with the Collector in a case.
• Gamora told Thanos that the Power Stone had already been given to someone else and asked why he still needed to carry out his plan.
• The Avengers and their allies left the Collector’s building and met Thanos in a square, where Gamora challenged him about the Power Stone.