Having been ejected from Asgard, Thor falls to Earth, ready to aid his friends against the threat of the Serpent. He flies to Broxton, the site of the destroyed Asgard (see SIEGE) and finds a militia refusing him entrance; the people don’t like how their homes were destroyed by the squabble of the high and mighty heroes and want to take care of their own problems. Thor bids them farewell….
All over the world, the chaos wrought by the depredations of the Worthy and the panic of ordinary people caught up in events far beyond they control or even comprehension, is feeding the Serpent, increasing his power until he will be strong enough to challenge Odin. The All-Father, meanwhile, is exhorting the Aesir to increase their efforts to build a force strong enough to destroy the Serpent and his avatars, along with the world they have made sick with their terrors and destruction—a war of mercy….
Aboard the SHIELD Helicarrier, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Nick Fury stand over the fallen form of Captain America James "Bucky" Barnes. Black Widow relates his last words about the Serpent, which none of them understand. Thor arrives and explains what is behind the worldwide terror: the Serpent, enemy of Odin, striking at him through man’s fear…and Odin plans to destroy the Earth to stop this threat. The Avengers are needed—and suited up and ready to lead: Steve Rogers, back in costume as Captain America. Steve assigns Iron Man to gather appropriate weapons to fight the possessed superbeings. Thor is assigned to contact the Serpent and talk to him on his own level. Thor informs Cap of a prophecy: Thor will destroy a serpent, at the cost of his own life. He volunteers to fight the enemy alone, so that no more lives are lost. Cap declines his offer. At this point Maria Hill interrupts with a news flash….
…in British Columbia, the dead of Atlantis are rising from the sea, the offering of Nerkkod, Breaker of Oceans (formerly Attuma). The terror caused in the fishing village empowers the Serpent that he is able to raise his palace from the Earth, growing younger in the process….
In Manhattan, Cap leads the Avengers on the ground against Skadi/Sin and her Nazi battle machines. She relishes the coming battle for the opportunity to kill Captain America a second time….
Iron Man arrives at the ruins of Asgard near Broxton and demands an audience with Odin; his sacrifice? He downs a bottle of liquor, offering up his long-kept sobriety to the All-Father. Odin appears, "I’m listening…."
Thor comes to Antarctica where he battles his way past the Serpent’s guards and into the presence of the villain. Thor cites the prophecy; the Serpent appeals to Thor to join him against the true usurper, Odin. Thor refuses and the enemy sends him whirling though the air to crash down in New York; there, the God of Thunder comes face to face with his two foes Angrir, Breaker of Souls, and Nul, Breaker of Worlds, formerly the Thing and the Hulk….