Thor and Sif are in charge of training the new Brigade of Realms, a squadron of soldier representing each of the Nine Realms. The Thunder God presents them with a challenge: the stone colossus, a gigantic, angry rock monster—and it is up to the Brigade to stop it. A diminutive armored warrior leaps to the front of the fray and, realizing it is the boy Loki who has joined the group in disguise to impress his brother, Sif leaps to his rescue and Thor destroys the monster. Later, the Brigade members are bragging about their exploits, while Sif expresses concern about Thor’s light-emitting wound.
Elsewhere in the palace, Heimdall confronts Odin with the knowledge that The All-Father’s real reason for the expedition to the roots of Yggdrasil (last issue), were not to repair the tree but to recover the Seed. Odin conceals the Seed in the Destroyer armor, hints at an impending disaster facing Asgard, and demands his guardian’s unquestioning loyalty….
In Broxton, the Silver Surfer speeds through the town, warning the populace to flee before the coming of Galactus, then he enters Asgard to speak to Odin. The Surfer demands the Seed as the only chance for Earth to survive the coming of his master. Odin refuses, and as the Surfer makes a threatening move, Thor appears and hurls his hammer, knocking the Herald to the ground….