As the Challenge of the Gods continues,
the gods of the Shi'ar, Sharra and K'ythri, create a supernova and
send it hurling toward an inhabited galaxy. Thor breaks the rules by
summoning the Mother Storm to destroy it before it does any harm. The
next several events—Inspirational Infanticide, Fire and Brimstone,
creating a race of giants, summoning plagues—all involve the Shi'ar
gods bringing death and destruction on their followers and Thor
trying her best to minimize the damage, not always successfully.
Finally she faces them and demands Trial by Combat; they tell her she
must survive the challenge of Ultimate Judgment, which the referee
Shadrak tells her no one would survive and Thor is forced to continue
the game by Shi'ar rules....
Meanwhile, a few light years away, the
army of Asgardia proves more than a match for the Shi'ar warships.
Then the Shi'ar Imperial Guard arrive on the scene, which prompts Cul
to summon Asgard's secret weapon—the Destroyer....
Flashback, a few days ago: a mysterious
stranger informs Sharra and K'ythri that as gods they are
insignificant in the grand scheme of the cosmos, telling them that
Thor has stolen all of their worshipers, prompting them to call for a
Challenge of the Gods. The visitor is Loki and he is there on behalf
of Malekith—but it's no fun for him anymore....
Thor finally is sick of the challenges
and demands a fight. Sharra and K'ythri order Shadrak to unleash the
Ultimate Judgment. Unwillingly he relays the request to Omnipotence
City and heads off to mourn. The army of Asgardia arrives as Thor is
beating up the Shi'ar gods. And far away, on a nameless world,
something arises from a pool of lava....