After Thor has fallen in battle against the combined might of the transformed Hulk and Thing, the Avengers rush him to the ruins of Avengers Tower. Their plan is to transport him to Asgard by means of Heimdall’s observatory. To keep the watching citizens from sinking into despair, a handful of heroes led by Luke Cage elect to remain behind to give aid and comfort. Captain America leads the team bearing Thor to Asgard where Odin has assembled his Worldburner Legion to stop the Serpent by destroying the Earth. The Avengers arrive in Asgard where Cap demands that Odin heal Thor since he is needed to help the Earth people fight Odin’s war. A disgusted and embarrassed Odin sends the Avengers back to Earth with a wave of his hand, and carries his wounded son to a place of healing. Having landed in Broxton, site of the fallen Asgard, the Avengers are dismayed when Cap announces they have to evacuate Earth….
As he hears the reports of chaos and terror filling Earth, the Serpent exults in his impending victory. He orders his forces to converge on the World Tree, destroying everything in their path, ending with Odin and his family. When Skadi reminds him of the prophecy that Thor will kill him, the Serpent reveals that he was preparing it all for her the whole time….
Spider-Man has circled Manhattan three times searching the bridges for his Aunt May. When he finally finds her he confirms that she is all right. Claiming Peter Parker sent him to find her, and he says that Peter is well too. May insists that Spider-Man return to battle to fulfill his responsibility….
In Asgard, Odin pleads with the recuperating Thor to refrain from involving himself in Odin’s war. The Thunder God insists he will not stand by as a world is sacrificed to save their own…and he learned that from Odin. Seeing that Thor is adamant, Odin presents him with the armor he wore when he defeated the Serpent all those years ago but it will not protect him completely. Thor dons the armor, then asks Odin the serious question: is the Serpent the true All-Father? Odin doesn’t answer directly but reminds Thor that he has been trying to protect his people from this beast for millennia. He then presents Thor with the Odinsword—Ragnarok—which can kill the Serpent. Later Odin and Thor meet with Tony Stark in Svartalfheim where the black elves present the weapons they have made for Stark. Tony explains how each one is designed for a specific Avenger but he himself will be clad in his Iron Man armor. In order to receive Odin’s blessing the weapons must be dipped in a cauldron of molten Uru. Before this happens, Odin gives Thor one last chance to back down; then grants him until the shadow of the Serpent falls across the World Tree to defeat the enemy—then the forces of Asgard will obliterate the Earth. At this point the weapons are hurled into the Uru cauldron—and Iron Man dives in with them….
In Broxton, Captain America orders the Avengers to prevent the Serpent from reaching the World Tree while he goes to man the line. Cap joins the defenders of the town at the barricades just as the Serpent’s floating city comes into view. Cap announces that he is making a stand right here and invites anyone who wants to join him to stand by his side. As the villain, backed by the host of the Worthy, grins in anticipation, Cap says, "Let’s see what makes you afraid…."