Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Earth-113599)

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a 2017 live-action superhero film produced by 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios. It is the overall twentieth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the direct sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy. The film was released worldwide May 5th 2017.

Production

Guardians of the Galaxy was, much to surprise of Marvel Studios and the entertainment industry as a whole, a critically acclaimed motion picture and an extremely profitable franchise for 20th Century Fox's film slate. James Gunn, the director of the first film was quickly hired to helm the sequel which he had stated multiple times to have plans for. However, this time Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios wished to have the Guardians play a much more prominent role in the overall direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and to help lead into their upcoming Avengers 3, which was planned to star Thanos as the main villain. After Comic Con Summer 2015 Phase 3's schedule was publicly shown. Including the Guardians sequel which was revealed to be titled Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and given the prime time May release slot in 2017, one year exactly before Avengers 3 and two years before Avengers 4 respectively. Feige described this decision as being intentional claiming that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 would act as the beginning to an "unofficial" trilogy of films telling one large story that would be continued in Avengers 3 in 2018 and concluded with Avengers 4 in 2019.

Connecting furthermore to the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Hulk's disappearance at the end of Avengers: The Ultron Imperative was meant to set up the Planet Hulk storyline for either Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Thor: Ragnarok, or Avengers 3. Marvel Studios approached James Gunn with the option to use the Hulk if he wanted to but if he didn't the character would simply be moved into another Phase 3 film. Gunn fortunately agreed to do it claiming to be a fan of Planet Hulk and thinking Bruce Banner would fit well with the Guardians.

Principle filming began in mid 2016 and the film was released on schedule May 5th 2017.

Cast

• Chris Pratt as Jason Quill/Star-Lord

• Zoe Saldana as Gamora/Umbra Requiem

• Bradley Cooper as Rocket (Voice)

• Vin Diesel as Kanoot (Voice)

• Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer

• Pom Klementieff as Mantis

• Matthew McConaughey as Adam Warlock/The Magus

• Jeff Goldblum as En Dwi Gast/The Grandmaster

• Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk

• Steve Agee as Korg

• Josh Brolin as Thanos

• Peter Dinklage as Pip Gofern

• Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta

• David Hasselhoff as Sphinxor

• Sean Gunn as Kraglin Obfonteri (Cameo)

• Karen Gillian as Nebula (Cameo)

• Robert Downey Jr. as Anthony "Tony" Stark/Iron Man (Cameo)

Plot

The film starts by simply showing an alien television set. On the screen a show with bad video quality and fuzzy audio begins playing. It consists of an alien man who introduces as Sphinxor talking to the viewer asking them if they've heard the good word of their holy savior, the Magus. His Church of Universal Truth know the evil that is inherent to this sinful universe and within every creature's soul. But not all hope is lost, they have to choose to overcome darkness and reach for salvation. It then shows thousands of aliens gathered praying and worshipping in unison inside of large Churches, with the host telling the viewer to find the nearest Templeship and submit themselves to the all encompassing grace of The Magus. The rest of their days will be spent fed, sheltered, and loved by billions of other true believers, entering the Idyllic Kingdom when the time comes. With cleansed souls and pure hearts they will be blessed with the Universal Truth that The Magus died to gift them with. The Host and a choir then begin to awkwardly sing a jingle that goes ♫ Praise be Universal Truth, Praise be Universal Truth, my soul is free, my eyes do glow, and now I can escape my pain, let all who hear me know ♫

Suddenly, It then shows the Guardians of the Galaxy on the planet Hala gathered atop of a skyscraper prepared for a battle against the Many-Angled One! Star-Lord says they all attack at the count of three and before he can start counting down Rocket asks him if he means when he's done counting or when he says "three". Jason says it doesn't matter just get ready, but the Raccoon argues he has to know what he's talking about if he's going to be their leader. A baby flora Halfworlder named Kanoot tells Rocket "I am Kanoot" and the Raccoon replies he is not scared of the Many-Angled One and to mind his own business. That his father, Groot, wasn't so nosy and Gamora eventually yells for them to shut up noticing the Many Angled One roaring to them. Drax begins to charge screaming that he will cut its head clean off. The Destroyer then makes his jump for it, but proceeds to get swallowed, as Jason winces. All the Guardians begin fighting until Kanoot finds Star-Lord's walkman and begins dancing to Mr Blue Sky while the brutal fight continues. Drax eventually slashes his way out of the Many Angled One's stomach and Rocket blows its head open, all the Guardians getting covered in its guts except Kanoot, who laughs at them.

The Guardians of the Galaxy after inform the Kree Minister who hired them the Many-Angled-One is dead. He thanks them for their service to the Kree and hands them a currency card containing their payment of ten million units. They return to the Milano where Gamora cashes the Card and after looking over their finances informs the Guardians that they've done enough jobs around the Galaxy to take a vacation to Contraxia. All the Guardians begin to celebrate with Drax and Rocket listing off all the things they want to do at the planet's famous resorts and casinos. Star-Lord and Gamora then go to the other room where she tells him that she's most looking forward to getting a room that overlooks the Ice Fields at dawn. Jason, however, claims he only has one thing he wants to do and that's rent out a bunch of Love Bots with her to have an eight-way orgy. Gamora pushes him away after saying that asking why he has to make everything so crude. Jason claims it's a vacation and asks when they're ever going to go back to Contraxia again.

Gamora informs him that's the point! He is her lover and she wishes to be intimate with him, but all he can think about is sex like a hormone crazed animal. Star-Lord tells her he's a man, he has needs, and one of them happens to be doing in his girlfriend and a small army of android prostitutes at the same time. Gamora tells Jason she is done talking about this and it cuts to later in the night where she's asleep and Star-Lord is watching her standing in the doorway. Drax quietly joins him and when Jason notices him gets startled, asking where he came from. Drax insists that he has mastered the art of "invisibility" he moves so quietly, he becomes undetectable. Jason continues looking at Gamora and tells the Destroyer about their argument before and he makes the observation that there are two types of beings in this universe, those who dance and those who do not. He is a dancer and Gamora isn't. They'll need to learn how to move past that to enjoy their time on Contraxia together. It might be the last time they ever spend together. Star-Lord asks what's that supposed to mean and Drax says that he and his wife, Hovat, were the same. Even at a Prosilican war rally where everyone was dancing she wouldn't so much as tap her foot. He longs for that despite how much it used to anger him. The only way he can remember it when he fights, but that he will think of him and Gamora as well. Jason tells him thank you and Drax responds by giving him a hug, despite Quill insisting he doesn't want one.

The Milano flies into Contraxia's atmosphere while listening to Planet Queen as they land Rocket begins giving Kanoot advice on how to game the system until the Guardians are all shocked to see the Resort being torn down and guests being killed or dragged away in chains. Star-Lord reads the notice out loud which claims Contraxia has been seized and "purified" by the Universal Church of Truth. Gamora tells them they need to get out of here right now noticing a group of Church Cardinals approaching from behind she takes them behind a building. Jason asks why they're hiding, insisting he wants to give these guys a piece of his mind, they've been planning this trip for months. Gamora explains she's encountered the Universal Church of Truth while working as a Child of Thanos, they're dangerous fanatics. An entire religious Empire dedicated to the teachings of a prophet named the Magus, he saved his people extinction so now they think he's a divine being. It made them obsessed with life, so much so that they travel around the Universe giving any planet the Church deems "sinful" a choice, to convert or be converted. Rocket realizes these are the same people behind those terrible commercials he sees every night, she should've just lead with that, nothing worse than a bunch of religious nuts.

He starts walking away and Star-Lord yells for him to get back here, telling everyone so what a bunch of bible thumping jesus freaks are ruining everyone's fun. They're the Guardians of the Galaxy, they don't get pushed around. He then says there must be some sort of Covenant they're all coming from, they'll just go there, kick them out and then everything goes back to normal. Kanoot shouts out that he agrees with Star-Lord and Drax claims too would relish a good fight, but Rocket isn't convinced. Claiming there are ten other planets in the Galaxy they can go to instead. Gamora though says to him it's more than just getting the vacation back, there were people here who got massacred and others who are next. They could find the Church's Templeship in nearby Space and stop them right now. Rocket backs down and they all start walking to the Milano, Drax wonders to Kanoot why the Children of Thanos would oppose the Church for doing exactly what their father does. Kanoot simply responds saying "I am Kanoot!"

Act 1

In Space, hoards of citizens from all over the Galaxy begin landing their cruisers inside of a large golden Templeship as the Milano is shown doing the same. The Guardians all walk out and are instantly greeted as "newcomers" by a Troll named Pip. Who insists they've all made the right choice to join this celebration of life and have their souls be saved. The Cardinals confiscate all of their weapons and currency cards before they are allowed entry into the Church. Once inside, Star-Lord start telling them the plan. Kanoot has to go over to the wall and discreetly rip out four of those Anulax Batteries that are powering the Templeship. Once he has them Rocket needs to use the batteries to make a circuit breaker that can disable the electrical grid so they can get their weapons, then it's game time. Kanoot runs through the Templeship under everyone's feet until running behind a back room curtain only to see Sphinxor inside secretly smoking an alien hookah. He gives Kanoot a dirty look and closes the curtain, the baby Halfworlder simply running the other direction.

Gamora looks around at all the devout Churchgoers and tells Drax how disgusting it is seeing all these brainwashed saps blindly putting their faith into this tyrannical Empire. She hasn't followed any religion since being abducted and never will. Drax agrees and claims he is counting down the seconds for when the adorable tree returns with the "Harbulary" Batteries. Gamora tells him they're called Anulax Batteries but Drax insists it's Harbulary and that she's wrong. Kanoot eventually hands Rocket the Anulax Batteries and he begins opening them only to realize something and gets Quill's attention while he's listening to his Walkman. Jason asks what the problem is and Rocket explains these Batteries don't have any charge in them, they aren't run on any element he's familiar with. Jason and him start to bicker until Pip gets the entire Templeship's attention claiming that they are in deep luck for on this day, the Magus himself is visiting to read Gospel from his own sacred tongue. Suddenly, it then begins playing Jesus Christ Superstar (the song Jason was listening to on the Walkman) as a man with Gold Skin and a large staff containing a glowing orange gem on the end of it walks out and everyone begins cheering and crying wishing their prayers to him, all the Guardians staring in awe. Gamora commenting she's never seen the Magus in person, it's like his skin is crafted from the finest Cotati silk. Drax begins tearing up muttering "I believe".

Rocket looks down at the Anulax Batteries and they begin glowing twice as strong, the Raccoon telling Quill he thinks these might run on faith instead of fuel. Which means he can't use them to make anything. The Magus speaks to the entire congregation telling them to embrace life, but also be worthy of its preciousness. His Staff of Karnic feels the Souls of every being who praises his name. But that he is a man of action, not thoughts. Life is only worth living to those who seek out the truth. In this Galaxy death and ignorance reign supreme. But they know better, they are all his chosen few worthy to hold a piece of the Soul Stone inside of themselves. Jason realizing his staff has an Infinity Stone inside of it. The Magus proclaims to the Church will now recite an Om to Life and their patience of living noble enough to be worthy of entering the Idyllic Kingdom. He starts to chant, the Karnic Staff glowing, and the entire Church does the same all except for the Guardians of the Galaxy. The Magus instantly noticing their intentions are different he commands everyone to be silent, claiming there are conscientious objectors in their midst. He walks down to the Guardians and asks what troubles them.

Star-Lord begins to distract him while Gamora grits her teeth and Rocket hides the stolen Anulax Batteries. Jason yammers about how they're just... nervous that they might not be able to go to the "Idyllic world". The Magus explains many spend their whole lives never being pure enough to enter as is written in the old scriptures. All of the Churchgoers begin taking out their copies and reading them aloud, causing the Batteries to begin glowing exceptionally bright and eventually burn through Rocket's satchel. Falling on the ground revealing to the congregation and the Magus that the Guardians had stolen them. Gamora knowing the gig is up fights off two of the Cardinals and is about to kick the Magus too, but he grabs her leg mid air and shouts out that they have brought upon themselves eternal damnation and uses his Karnic Staff to release a powerful blast of Soul Energy that shatters much of the Templeship and forces everyone back in a strong blow.

The Magus prepares to use the Karnic Staff again to kill them but stops himself, realizing that if he strikes them down like this they will be sent to the Idyllic World. He lowers the staff and instead commands his Temple Cardinals to slay the heretics! The Churchgoers all begin fleeing in fear and the Guardians attempt to the escape and fly away on the Milano. The Guardians of the Galaxy all bicker to one another until making their way to safety on the Milano and fly away from the Templeship. They all catch their breathe inside until noticing an entire fleet of Church Omnicrafts appear and start pursuing them. Star-Lord and Rocket take control of the Milano and begin arguing with one another. Rocket eventually getting frustrated and commenting he needs to kill something and starts to shoot down the Omnicrafts using the Milano's offensive systems.

Gamora points out he's not killing anyone, the Universal Church of Truth values life too much, all of their ships are remotely piloted. Inside the Templeship, all the Cardinals never left and are controlling their Omnicrafts via pods that resemble an arcade game. When they get destroyed the pod simply shuts off, but the controller is unharmed. The Magus watches the Cardinals all in their Pods and asks one of the High Priests asks why the Guardians undeserving lives still continue. He responds that many Cardinals are hesitant to kill them on this holy day of his arrival. Magus claims they have committed heresy of the highest order holiness has been violated, but the Priest responds claiming they've dedicated their whole lives to the pursuit of the Universal Truth and Life, it must be undyingly followed everyday. He of all the Church should know this. The Magus looks to him and claims perhaps he is the heretic teaching them that which has already mastered and the Priest gets taken away. Pip the Troll then announces to the Cardinals they are under order to fire with the intent to kill.

On the Milano, the Guardians are overwhelmed by the near limitless number of Omnicrafts. Rocket suggests that the only way they're going to survive this is if they fly off faster than these nuts can chase them. Jason claims he'll have to go at least 700 clicks to do it, Mammalian lifeforms have trouble handling more than 50! Drax insists running away is never an option and Star-Lord says that he agrees and that the Raccoon is not allowed to do it. Rocket says they either do this, or they die. The Raccoon moves the Milano up to 700 clicks and they instantly escape the Omnicrafts but the pressure of moving at such speeds and traveling through space non-linearly causes all of the Guardians faces to distort before finally slowing down due to getting pulled in by the gravitational force of a strange planet while the Milano crashes on the surface. All the Guardians are shown to have flown out of their seats after the ordeal and Kanoot proceeds to vomit.

The Guardians of the Galaxy all walk outside only to see the planet they're on is completely covered in trash while the sky is full of wormholes that are all different shapes and sizes. Drax asks where they are and Rocket responds way out in uncharted space. Suddenly, a spaceship gracefully lands in front of them with a bunch of natives walking out. Star-Lord tells them they're a little lost and if maybe they could give directions to the nearest Nova Corps checkpoint he'd be willing to pay them. Jason tries to get out his currency card but he can't find it in his pocket, Gamora reminding him they left everything in the Templeship. The natives then take out guns and shoot all the Guardians with obedience disks that incapacitate them. Inside the spaceship, Star-Lord is barely conscious as he sees through the window that they're flying over a large city and the natives discuss how these five will be "valiant additions to the Contest". He passes out again only to hours later wake up fully conscious attached to a chair inside of a darkened room.

Jason asks what's going on and the chair starts to move forward while playing a holographic presentation narrated by a woman's voice who welcomes him to Sakaar, a world that's home to all the broken and unwanted trash from all reaches of the Universe. The Grandmaster, ruler of Sakaar, wastes nothing and will put them to good use. They will be meeting the Grandmaster soon and their fate decided. The chair begins moving forward twice as fast and the holographic images begin to glow as Star-Lord starts to scream and he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a large room, all the Guardians beside him in similar chairs as well. In front of Jason is a blue man in a yellow robe with white hair playing a DJ while hosting a party, Star-Lord quickly realizes he is the Grandmaster. The man insists that he is and has his slave assistant, Mantis, touch the Guardians to empathically read what they're best suited for. Mantis does as told and when she tries to feel Rocket he bites her and she yelps in pain. The Raccoon claiming he doesn't care who she is, he does not like being touched! The Grandmaster warns Mantis to get over it and tell him what she felt. The woman says that they are battle hardened and would be best used in the Contest of Champions. The Grandmaster claims it's settled then, they'll fight to their deaths in the area.

Drax shouts out "YES!" in victory and Gamora does the opposite. Telling the Grandmaster they will not be part of whatever game he is playing, and if he doesn't free them soon he will feel the cold taste of death by her hand. The Grandmaster simply laughs claiming that it's cute she's threatening him. Gamora talks back while Jason notices Yondu Udonta hanging out in the party that's simultaneously going on. He gets his attention and whispers for him to come closer and Yondu does. Jason explaining that he and his friends got captured by these crazy people and that Yondu he has to help them. Udonta claims Quill has nerve asking him for help, after everything that went down on Berhert. He and Kraglin were forced to find new Ravager clans to join, which means they lost everything. Going through the same thing would do Jason and his buddies some good. Star-Lord tells Yondu that he'll kick his ass for this and Udonta responds to save that fighting spirit for the Arena, maybe try to do a little better than their sparring sessions. Jason yells out that he was fourteen years old as Yondu walks away.

The Universal Church of Truth Templeship lands on their capital world simply called Homeworld that is, ironically, a series of Planetary bodies interconnected together via huge Anulax faith generators. As the Magus walks through the streets a group of Cardinals roll out a carpet for him to walk on as all the citizens, with skin as Gold as his own, all stop what they're doing and pray when the Magus walks by. He is escorted into the Holy Fortress and acts as Arbitrator for a Court Trial against citizens of a recently conquered planet G5 Deneb for their acts of "Blasphemy". The Denebians all plead for their lives but only a few of them are considered by the Karnic Staff to be worthy of living. Finally, the criminal sentenced to face the Magus' justice is a fellow golden skinned native of Homeworld. The dissenting citizen at first complies and begins telling the Church what they wish to hear before she begins to rebel and claims that the Magus is no saint but a slaver! Her brethren might believe him to be holy but his perverted religion is leading those blinded by it to their doom! She is instantly sentenced as guilty and Pip apologizes to the Magus that the citizen had spoke of his heroism in such a terrible manner. Magus turns to him and claims only he without sin may cast the first judgement.

On Sakaar, the Guardians of the Galaxy get thrown into a donut shaped cell. Star-Lord sarcastically commenting "Oh, Prison, how I've missed you" and that their one week apart felt like an eternity. Drax tells the Guardians not to worry he'll get them out of here and begins running the other direction, only for him to come back around since the cell is a circle. He continues to run two more laps falsely insisting that he's almost there until Rocket stops him and says to let it go. Jason starts talking under his voice that Rocket just had to get his way, the Raccoon asks if he said something and Jason clarifies everything that's happening right now is all his fault. If he hadn't messed with the controls and made them jump all those clicks they wouldn't have gotten lost and ended up here! Rocket says he's so sorry for saving all of their asses like he, their leader, was supposed to do! Jason insists he was in the middle coming up with a plan that wouldn't get them into even more trouble.

Gamora joins in telling him to give Rocket a break, he couldn't have come up with anything better. Jason insists that of course he could and Gamora doubles down saying all he would've done is tried to do an overcomplicated scheme against all the Omnicrafts while he blasted a song of his Walkman! It's always what he does, like a child. Now here he is blaming everyone else for doing what he couldn't. Quill lashes back asking so what he's not a stick in mud like her, they've survived all this time with his "childish" plans, never made them slaves on a garbage planet. Gamora then asks him who's idea it was to provoke the Church, and then came up with that idiotic idea to steal Anulax Batteries from them! Drax calmly insists to her once again they're called "Harbulary" Batteries and Gamora yells to him "NO, THEY'RE NOT!" Rocket tells Quill to face it, he's a crummy leader and this is all on him. All of the Guardians begin debating with Kanoot even joining in to simply state "I am Kanoot" until a large Kronan man along with an insectoid approaches them and they all quiet down in fear.

The Kronan then reveals himself to have a high pitched voice and friendly demeanor, introducing himself as Korg and the Insectoid as Miek. Explaining that he's one of the Gladiators in the Arena, not really a Gladiator just someone who warms the crowd up before the big shows. Star-Lord proudly introduces himself and asks Korg to tell him more about it, giving Gamora and Rocket a dirty look as they walk off together. Kanoot and Miek quickly approach one another, despite neither being able to speak quickly get along well. On the other side of the Donut cell, Jason and Korg chat the Kronan claiming he used to work on Sakaar as a waste collector but that he tried to start a revolution against the Grandmaster, but since he didn't print enough pamphlets nobody showed up. Quill claims that's a riveting story but that since Korg been here for awhile he could use some tips for how not die. Korg claims no one's ever beaten the reigning champion, he's the most savage fighter anyone ever seen. They'll probably let Jason and his buddies fight him together but that won't make a difference. Jason sarcastically claims that he appreciates his optimism but that those people aren't his "buddies". Not anymore at least.

It then starts playing Fox on the Run on Star-Lord's Walkman as he and the other Guardians are in the armory picking out their weapons for their upcoming arena battle. Korg is talking with Gamora about which weapon she wants and the Zen-Whoberi simply responds ranting about how she thinks joining up with the Guardians was a mistake. Her life as a Child of Thanos was miserable, but it had a purpose and there was order, stability. That's not a life Jason can provide for her, and she doesn't know if that's what she wants to live like with him. Korg wisely observes that perhaps she's afraid of the wholesome intimacy that the Guardians provide that she herself never received as a child. Gamora thinks about it for a second before dismissing Korg claiming who asked him anyway. Everyone continues to pick out weapons until Mantis comes in and informs everyone that it is time and the contenders are required to enter the arena very soon. Outside, it shows the actual arena with a full crowd of bloodthirsty Sakaarans along with Yondu Udonta in his own luxury room excited to see the fight as well. Mantis is revealed to be there as well looking disappointed and concerned over what's about to happen. The Grandmaster soon addresses the audience via hologram that they have a great show for them tonight. Their newest challengers who are possibly the lamest heroes in the entire universe, the ironically titled Guardians of the Galaxy! The Guardians all walk out with the crowd booing and Rocket yelling insults right back at them. The Grandmaster then claims they will facing the returning champion, the Green Scar, the Jade Jaws, please give it up for The Incredible Hulk!

Yondu begins to get unnerved when he sees who the Guardians are going to fight and comments they'll all be killed against that thing. He tries to walk to the door and do what he can to postpone the fight, but the Grandmaster arrives and subtly forces him to sit back down gleefully prepared to watch the slaughter unfold. The Hulk begins charging after the Guardians of the Galaxy as Star-Lord begins brainstorming his plan for what to do but before he can even finish it the Hulk smashes the ground and creates a large shockwave that separates all of the Guardians across the arena. Individually, all of them try to fight the Hulk with Star-Lord easily being dispatched and Drax, Gamora, and Kanoot able to put a decent fights before getting beaten down. Rocket though is able to use his ingenuity to trick Hulk into breaking one of the walls where a busted pipe releases enough toxic gas it temporarily stuns the giant.

The Raccoon then brings all the Guardians together and tells them his plan which is that Gamora, Jason and Kanoot need to distract Hulk long enough for Drax to do something "so crazy it might just work". Star-Lord, Gamora and Kanoot do as told until Drax lunges right towards the Hulk and forces himself into his mouth and down his throat. The audience gasps thinking he physically ate Drax until the Destroyer emerges ripping out of the Hulk's stomach using his daggers, fatally wounding the giant and earning the audience's applause. Korg along with the other Gladiators begin to cheer for them and Yondu in the Luxury suite smiles proudly. Mantis does the same while the Grandmaster looks both confused and disappointed by the turn of events. He eventually pulls himself together and goes back onto the hologram announcing that the Guardians of the Galaxy are Sakaar's new champions, while the Hulk's healing factor slowly begins to heal his wounds.

On Homeworld, the Magus is inside his personal quarters looking into the Karnic Staff until he physically transfers himself into the Idyllic World, a pocket dimension inside of the Soul Stone. There, the ground simply consists of shallow water covered by a deep orange sky. He walks forward past the metaphysical gate and sees all the "blessed" souls who were able to spend eternity there working together to build a towering pile of diamonds. The Magus asks one of them what the meaning of this is and he claims they're doing what they always do, Magus asking why anyone would choose to do this. The inhabitant responds because it's what they've always done and always will do. The diamond pile suddenly begins to get too large and tip over, The Magus trying to warn him of what's about to happen but the Inhabitant insisting this is what always happens. The pile collapses and he along with all the others begin making it once again starting from the bottom. He says they'll rebuild it to the same height and it will fall again, then they'll do the same thing the next day, and the day after that, forever. The Magus wonders if this would be how he truly wishes to spend paradise but the Inhabitant insists the choice was never his, he only does it to follow the Universal Truth. Paradise is defined by being a part of society, instead than a madman or a criminal. The Magus claims his words ring true and picks up a diamond and adding it to the pile, continuing the insanity.

Back on Sakaar, the Guardians are escorted by Mantis into the Penthouse where the Hulk lives. Gamora commenting they ironically might get their vacation after all. Rocket answering his ideal vacation probably wouldn't include that. Seeing the Hulk in a hot tub that he gets out of completely naked. After putting on a towel, Jason asks them if they're cool now and the Hulk responds in broken sentences as long as they stay out of his way. Drax claims he is a worthy opponent and asks what species he is, Hulk claims he's the only one, the strongest there is! Gamora asks him how he got here and Hulk claims the quinjet. Kanoot follows up asking "I am Kanoot" and Hulk walks to the window pointing to it outside in the junkyard. All the Guardians look too and Star-Lord sees the Milano down there and realizes that's there way out. He looks to Gamora and Rocket telling them they can both suck it, he's saving them. Jason then begins trying to run out of the Penthouse before getting zapped with his Obedience Disk. Hulk explaining to him no one leaves this room unless it's time to battle, revealing his Obedience Disk as well.

The Magus is shown sleeping inside of his Paradise Omega pod filled with Golden liquid. He starts to dream about his past where the Magus, revealed to have had Light Purple skin instead of his usual gold, is addressing the entire population of Homeworld who are united in an all encompassing crowd below the fortress balcony he stands on. All the people openly begin worshipping the Magus claiming that he is truly bestowed from divinity by performing his miracles that saved them all. The Magus proudly accepts their praises and announces that they will spread the Universal Truth to other worlds as well, their souls will purified as the Karnic Staff sees fit, or they will be lose the privilege of life. The Magus then is drenched by his High Priests in buckets of Golden Liquid, dying his skin its familiar golden hue. The worshippers on the ground below all do the same turning gold as well. In the present, Magus awakens within the Paradise Omega pod opening as he is removed by his High Priests and dressed personally by them in his normal attire before being handed his Karnic Staff. The Magus walks onto his fortress balcony only to see a crowd that's only a fraction as large as the one in prior. He announces to them doubt has been creeping upon the Church in recent times. That even he himself is not immune to it, for recently he has visited the Idyllic World. But that he wants to ensure them it's beauty is everything they believe it is and more and to never give up on Life and Universal Truth, and it shall never give up on them.

On Sakaar once again, the Grandmaster is talking to Yondu Udonta telling him that he's heard about his attempts to try and free Jason Quill from the Contest of Champions. Yondu insisting that he knew Jason when he was only a little rascal, he'd be much better for the entire community working maintenance, fragile thing like him ain't going to be much entertainment in the arena. The Grandmaster claims on the contrary, he and the other Guardians of the Galaxy's fight against Hulk is one of the most talked about events on the whole planet. They have to have a rematch, and if they survive that keep fighting whatever other monsters drop through the wormholes. Yondu controls his Yaka Arrow and tells the Grandmaster he's done playing games, he either lets Jason goes or else... before Yondu can finish his sentence a Sakaaran guard shoots and destroys his Fin, causing the Arrow to drop and Yondu is collapse in pain. The Grandmaster comments that type of behavior is not going to change his mind anytime soon, he then commands his guard to tie Yondu up until he's calmed down. The Grandmaster then instructs Mantis in the meantime to start cleaning up around the barracks. At the Penthouse, Drax is trying to rip the Obedience Disk out of his neck until the Hulk start pushing him around claiming if not for the others he would've killed him in their fight. But the Destroyer responds it was him who dived into his stomach and ripped him apart, he could very well do it again.

Drax and Hulk continue to argue about who's the strongest and physically start throwing things at each other. They both tire themselves out and eventually apologize to one another, both admiring each other's strength and Hulk answering Drax's question before that there are more of him out there, but that they all hated him, because he would just gets so angry all the time and would use his strength against them. Only a few good ones tried to make him happy, but they're gone. All gone. Drax says that he lost his wife and daughter, that he fights because it's the only way to remember them. The Hulk says he is the same, but he's a raging fire, while Drax is merely a smoldering one. Mantis is then shown in the Penthouse as well cleaning up until noticing Star-Lord, Gamora, and Rocket all talking to each other, the three of them trying to stay respectful but obviously getting annoyed. Mantis claims she couldn't help but notice that they all have difficulty making their feelings known to each other and could possibly help them. Gamora asks how and Mantis claims that she is an Empath, she can read people's feelings and would be willing to do it for all of them to cease their conflict. Star-Lord says why not and allows her to do it, Mantis claiming that he feels humiliation and insecurity. The Zen-Whoberi is unsurprised and Jason looks vulnerable, Mantis then asks if she can feel Rocket without being bitten again and he sighs telling to go ahead. Mantis then feels him and says he is overwhelmed with envy! Kanoot tells him something while everyone stares at him, Rocket confessing maybe he's a little bit jealous of Quill being the leader. But that he's been controlling everything he does since he got out of slavery. It's not right having to listen to a man-child that doesn't even deserve it.

Mantis announces that she has to get to the other barracks soon and as she's leaving Star-Lord reveals that he stole her remote and uses it to release the Obedience Disks from himself, the Hulk, and all the other Guardians of the Galaxy. The Hulk runs over to Jason and gives him a bear hug, Rocket even admitting that was clever of him. As they all prepare to escape Mantis begs for them to take her, she's been forced to serve the Grandmaster since she was a larvae and they seem nice. Drax comments as long as Mantis can keep up as he jumps out the window and all the other Guardians do the same, Star-Lord listening to Fox on the Run on his Walkman. They slide down the palace and eventually make it to the streets and into the Junkyard. They find the Milano and Star-Lord begins to power it up realizing it's in horrible condition from the scavengers and Gamora suggests they should just take everything and they'll just have to figure something out. As they all start opening the compartments (Star-Lord finding a spare Fin) while Rocket realizes that they don't have squat, all of their weapons and money are still on the Templeship. The Hulk starts walking in and due to his massive size breaks apart nearly all the remaining structures of the ship. The Guardians try to tell him to stop but o no avail. Hulk then sees how scared everyone looks of him and has flashbacks to being viewed the same way on Earth. He then becomes overwhelmed with emotions to the point he begins to violently shrink down into his human form. The first thing Bruce sees is Gamora and says "Jen? Did-did we win? Is Ultron dead?" Gamora asks what he's talking about and Bruce looks closer realizing she's not Jen, and then at all the other Guardians. Deeply confused he asks "who the hell are you people"?

Star-Lord walks over and says he could be asking him the same thing, Hulk has been Terran this whole time. He fist bumps Bruce claiming he never meets other humans, and ask him if footloose is still the greatest movie of all time. Bruce asks if Jason just said "other humans" and Rocket answers asking what's wrong with him, he's on Sakaar, about the farthest from Terra you can get. He confirms that he's on another planet and had to learn it from a a talking Raccoon. He starts to freak out and Kanoot tells him "I am Kanoot" which just seems to make him even worse. Mantis bends down and puts her hand on Bruce, he tells her to get off him but she says that she used to do this all the time to help Hulk sleep, she manipulates his emotions enough that he calms down. The Guardians asking him to start from the beginning and Bruce tells them his real name, and that he was trying to stop an evil robot on Earth, he killed his cousin, Jen. Then he was launched into space and must've ended up here, he asks how long ago that was and Mantis answers ten months. Star-Lord explains they're the Guardians of the Galaxy and how they met Hulk in the Contest of Champions. They're planning an escape right now and to settle a score with an empire of religious fanatics. They'll get him back home if he sticks around. Bruce asks if he has much of a choice and Rocket tells him not really.

Jason gives Bruce a spare outfit he has in the Milano's remains and Drax asks him if every human on Earth can turn into a green monster except Quill because he's a weakling. Bruce answers they can't, he has a condition. Drax is disappointed. Gamora comments how the Church is going to discard their weapons and clear their currency cards any day now. The only way they can be on their way to Homeworld before then is if they fly through the biggest wormhole on Sakaar. Mantis commenting the only one that fits her description is the Great Portal. All the Guardians look up at it in the sky with Bruce commenting that it looks like an Einstein-Rosen Bridge fused together with a dying nuclear star. They're going to need an extremely advanced spaceship to fly through that. Rocket bounces off Bruce's scientific genius with his engineering knowledge and says he saw one of the Grandmaster's ships that looked like it could handle that. Star-Lord says they'll just have to sneak back into the Palace and steal one, regular tuesday afternoon for them. Suddenly, the Grandmaster appears via Hologram over the city and tells all the citizens that a bunch of his Contest gladiators have escaped, and whoever finds them will rewarded a sizable number of units. Jason commenting this just got a lot harder.

The Guardians of the Galaxy all run to the city and try to keep themselves hidden and Drax suggests to Bruce that he turn back into the Hulk as he is much more dangerous than his usual scrawny self. Banner tells him he won't, that last time he turned into the Hulk it lost almost a year of his life transformed! He can be useful too, he has seven PhDs. Two Sakaaran natives find the Guardians and are about to capture again them until Gamora breaks both of their necks, she then throws their guns to Jason and Bruce, the latter of which says this can work too. Inside the Palace, Mantis leads Rocket, Gamora, Kanoot and Drax to the docking bay where Mantis uses her Empathic abilities to make the guards fall asleep instead of letting the other Guardians fight them. They eventually track down the Grandmaster's state of the art ship and Rocket begins working his skills to manually override the door's keypad to get inside without the code. Star-Lord and Bruce meanwhile use their Sakaaran guns to shoot down anyone who stands in their way while Jason and him casually talk about Earth, Bruce is about to mention the Avengers and how much the planet has changed since the 80s but Star-Lord claims he doesn't want to know. The two humans eventually open a door that turns out to be Yondu's quarters where he's still tied up, Star-Lord mocking him claiming how the tables are turned.

Yondu claims the only reason he's like this is because he tried to stick up for him. He didn't know the Grandmaster was trying to get him killed. Star-Lord says that's what the whole Contest of Champions was about! Yondu defends himself that he just wanted to mess with him a little bit. Jason says he didn't want to be picked on his whole life he just wanted a father, Bruce is surprised when he hears him say that. Star-Lord continues his rant that if Yondu really doesn't care then neither does he. Jason and Bruce leave the room and get into an elevator to meet the other Guardians after realizing there aren't any advanced ships down there. In the elevator, Bruce asks Star-Lord what his story is and he explains how his mother died on Earth and he never knew his father, when Yondu recruited him into the Ravagers they were the closest thing he had to a family. Bruce comments his mother died too but that he did know his father, aren't all they're cracked up to be. Maybe Yondu wasn't the best guy to raise a nine year old, but that doesn't mean Jason has to be just like him. He know that it's wrong and can be better. Brian Banner always said he was a monster, that's why he's always running from the Hulk. The elevator stops at the top floor where Star-Lord and Bruce run past all the sleeping guards meeting with the other Guardians. Rocket just in time cracks the code and hijacks it as they all pile into the ship. Jason is deep in thought over Bruce's words and Rocket tells him the controls are all his, Star-Lord responding much to everyone's surprise that the Raccoon can lead them out this time, but only if he agrees to name their new ship The Benatar. Rocket seizes the opportunity and reluctantly agrees to do it, getting familiar with the controls. Quill then asks Kanoot if he can do a favor for him really quick.

Kanoot makes it to Yondu's room and releases him from his bindings in addition to delivering him a the same Fin Quill found in the Milano with a note attached to it. The contents telling Udonta not to take this personally. Udonta simply smiles as the Guardians begin to fly away through the Great Portal Star-Lord listening to Come a Little Bit Closer as Yondu uses his Yaka Arrow to single handedly slay every single guard in the Sakaaran palace. It eventually gets to the Grandmaster who, despite being slick enough to dodge it, isn't able to escape the explosion the arrow causes from a built in trap. Yondu then walks to the barracks finding Korg and Miek and releases them from their Obedience Disk. Korg proudly claiming that the revolution has begun! The Benatar takes off from the palace and begins flying into the Great Portal being chased by Sakaarans in spacecrafts behind them. Rocket can't find the blasters and Mantis informs him this is an leisure ship, not designed for combat. Drax and Gamora temporarily jump out of the Benatar to fight off the spacrcrafts. Star-Lord warns Rocket not to mess this up, and the Raccoon claims his specialty is escaping after getting Drax and Gamora back maneuvers the Benatar right into the Great Portal, flying past all the debris and out the other side. They're all relived and quickly begin the trek to Homeworld. Bruce then asks how long it's going to take them to get their stuff from the Church of the Universal whatever. Gamora corrects him and says they're following the designed spaceway, this new ship is so fast they could probably be there in under an hour. Kanoot then mutters "I am Kanoot" pointing to something out the window. All the Guardians and look at it in terror and Mantis asks what it is, Drax muttering Sanctuary, as the camera pans out showing a humungous vessel dwarfing the Benatar.

The Guardians are all then shown being taken into it by vicious Outrider soldiers being brought to the throne room of Thanos. He demands the Outriders unleash their cuffs and they do as told without question. Star-Lord asking if he's stupid and Drax begins aggressively walking over to Thanos saying he could skin him alive right now and without so much as a shiv. Thanos forcefully overpowers Drax with one hand, causing him to stop and claiming he doesn't remember the screams his wife and daughter made when he slaughtered them, but that he does not wish to fight. The Guardians of the Galaxy have recently acted against his old enemy, the Magus. That is no small task, one that they clearly wish to repeat. Rocket says their weapons and currency cards are on Homeworld, they were just trying to get them back, nothing more. Thanos claims he figured as such and that he wishes to help them do so. Gamora says because he wants the Soul Stone and Thanos doesn't hide this fact from his daughter or the Guardians. His strength against the Magus to retrieve their belongings in exchange for free reign to add the Stone to his Infinity Gauntlet. Mantis feels him and suffers greatly going through the Mad Titan's evil emotions, but confirms he's telling the truth. Everyone looks to Star-Lord and he tells them this is Rocket's decision. The Raccoon thinks it over and tells Thanos he'll need to go with them on their ship, no soldiers, none of his other children nothing, and if he dies during the assault, they won't save him. Thanos tells them he accepts the deal and awkwardly shakes Rocket's hand. Drax and Gamora are upset by the decision to take up the offer. Bruce says he thinks this is a mistake, that this guy is bad news. Thanos claims to Banner that he isn't he isn't familiar with him, but seeing under the surface knows that he is the most dangerous of them all. He wonders what he's going to do with that.

Templeships are then seen landing on Sakaar only for it to then show Pip the Troll speaking to Korg. Who explains that he'd love to have his soul purified, that's why he and Miek started a revolution. Pip then asks about the Guardians of the Galaxy that they were seen leaving a wormhole that lead here. Korg confirms they were indeed gladiators for a day or two, but disappeared after his revolution. The Troll commenting likely knowing their sinful ways would be unwelcomed, he thanks Korg for his service to the Church and contacts the Magus on Homeworld using his bluetooth device. Telling him that the Guardians of the Galaxy escaped to a far off world called Sakaar ran by a hedonist tyrant called the Grandmaster. Magus tells Pip to send him an image of the planet on his projector. The Troll does as told and an image of Sakaar is sent, the Magus stunned by what he sees. Parallels to his own leadership of the Universal Church of Truth and the piles of trash looking similar to the piles of diamonds he had seen in the Idyllic World. The Magus asks Pip to explain the history of this world again, he simplifies it as a blasphemous place until the glorious revolution. He has a flashback to a time long ago where the population of Homeworld was struggling with a terrible plague that was wiping out millions. The Magus, who was at time simply called Adam Warlock once again with light purple skin tends to his sick brethren, behaving in a much calmer and more heroic fashion.

Adam promises the dying people that he will save them, for he has discovered the location of the Soul Stone, when he returns with it they shall all be granted new life. Many days and nights pass as the Homeworldians continue to suffer and lose hope, until at the break of dawn the Adam returns, Soul Stone in hand. He uses it to miraculously heal them all. The Homeworldians all bow to him afterwards while crying tears of joy and call him their Magus. In the present, The Magus disconnects from Pip and shuts off the projection. He then enters the Soul Stone once again. Within the Idyllic World, he begins banishing all of the inhabitants who are building the diamond piles. He says they are all sinners who do not deserve the Soul Stone, they respond that this is what he has taught them to do. They do not understand, the Magus claims it cannot be! He is purity and life, but this isn't living. None of this is what he intended, but he is the messiah, the one without sin, these faults do not lie at his feet. On Sanctuary II, Hulk is standing alone until Mantis joins him. Banner asks how it feels to be away from the Grandmaster, Mantis tells him it's scary at first, as a native she's lived on Sakaar her whole life. It was her home, even the arena is nostalgic to her. Bruce understands claiming you had a purpose there, something to distract you from the pain. Mantis claims not to understand and asks what he means. Bruce claims the evil robot he was fighting, might've launched him off Earth, but he didn't do anything to stop it, he had nothing left to lose. Mantis asks if he had any friends, Bruce claims they all moved on. She then asks if he had a girlfriend and Bruce says she's in prison. Mantis finally asks about family and Banner insists they're all dead. Mantis then touches his arm feeling Bruce's emotions and begin to cry hysterically. The camera shows Drax listening in the background having heard everything.

Thanos approaches Gamora in the throne room and hands her a bowl of soup, she proceeds to aggressively throw it against the wall in rebellion. Thanos insists that surely he taught her disrespect towards allies is a sign of poor judgement. Gamora claims all he taught her was to hate herself. He killed every one of her species, brought her onto this ship, trained and tortured her until she couldn't think, couldn't feel anymore. She hated her life. Thanos explains and because of that she has become the most dangerous woman in the Galaxy. She betrayed him, stole the Orb away, became romantically involved with a Ravager vagabond. Yet he can't help but respect the sheer strength it took to make it happen, he envies it in a way. Gamora says Jason loves her more than she ever thought possible, he made her enjoy life. Thanos claims she sounds like the Magus talking, for they are not advocates of life, but harbingers of death. In the Sanctuary Docking Bay, Rocket is working with Kanoot on adding weapons to the Benatar. Star-Lord offers to help and confesses to the Raccoon that he did a good job with getting through the portal, and with "Grimace" back there. Rocket says it wasn't easy, and he still thinks Gamora and Drax are mad at him for it. Jason insists leading isn't an easy job, and you make a lot of mistakes doing it. His old man taught him that. Rocket finishes the modifications and calls in Thanos and the other Guardians that it's ready.

On Homeworld, The Magus is systematically ordering random citizens be executed inside of the Fortress without trial for performing "sacrilegious" feats that allegedly make Homeworld more like Sakaar. Despite their actions being endorsed by the holy scripture, Pip follows the orders and he along with the Cardinals do exactly as told. Suddenly, a hail tries to contact the Fortress from an unknown vessel and the Magus stops the execution, commanding it be turned on. They accept the hail and Thanos appears on the projector, who tells the Magus it has been too long since they last spoke. All the Cardinals become hostile but the Magus is unmoved, answering that the Acolyte of Death speaks to the Guardian of Life demanding audience, he will oblige. Thanos monologues that they've been playing this game for a long time, but Life only exists to grow old and die, as does his Church. The Magus' people are infected by sin and degeneracy as they speak, and he will grant them the chance for that which has deprived them of, peace and tranquility in the face of death.

The Magus responds Universal Truth will illuminate the darkness and lead the lost souls, no matter who lures them astray. Thanos claims the Universal Truth is a lie, one he stays awake every night telling himself. But deep in that empty heart of his, he's always known how this story would end. With the Soul Stone in his hand and Magus' head on a pike. Thanos is then seen flying the Benatar while Gamora locates the Sacrifice Hall that their weapons and money are being held. She then opens the door and jumps out with Rocket and Kanoot following behind. Bruce tells Star-Lord he's going to stay on the Benatar, Jason begs him that they're going to need the Hulk down there. Banner is insistent but Mantis proceeds to touch him on the back of the head and manipulate his emotions into rage which causes Bruce to transform into the Hulk, who's still hesitant to join in on a fight he's not a part of. Drax tells Hulk that he needs to do this, they're both the same in the way they fight to remember the ones they love, and all they've lost. It's in their blood. The Destroyer then yells out for Hulk to Smash and he jumps out with the rest of the Guardians following behind.

After landing Hulk jumps to fight against the Templeships while the Guardians of the Galaxy fight off the Cardinals in the Sacrifice Hall. They find all of their stuff in the pile of sacrifices under a sculpture of the Magus. Star-Lord gets all of his equipment and adaptation mask, Drax his knives, and Gamora her Godkiller Sword. Rocket tells the Guardians not to get too comfortable, because they're going after the Soul Stone, this is their one chance to take it from the Magus and depower these religious freaks. They all cheer and Gamora asks what about Thanos, Rocket responds "screw that big purple scrotum". Star-Lord comments they're going to save the Galaxy... again. The Guardians then all walk out the Sacrifice Hall in a slow motion team shot. Thanos is then seen flying the Benatar showing masterful tactical ability by destroying any Omnicraft that gets in his way. In his spare time, he embraces Death by terrorizing innocent civilians and breaking down buildings. The Magus is informed by Pip the troll that Thanos is enacting this invasion without his Outrider hordes, they merely need to take his ship down and order will be restored. Magus wonders what his motive is and quickly makes his way to the Fortress balcony, where he uses the Karnic Staff to begin making an assault on Thanos' soul. Inside the Benatar, the Mad Titan is in great pain from the Magus' soul attacks but through sheer willpower continues to pilot the Vessel. The Hulk has no problem smashing through the Templeships and enjoys tearing them apart.

The Guardians break into the Fortress and work together to fight off any of the High Priests and Cardinals who would stand in their way, releasing all the religious prisoners kept in an overcrowded bunker. They finally make it to the throne room where they see the Magus sitting there. Rocket tells him to hand over the Staff, or they'll take it by force, showing off his oversized gun. Magus says to the Guardians of the Galaxy that he should've known they would be fighting alongside Thanos. Gamora claims he forced them to do this, to look at what he has done. Worlds upon worlds terrorize by the Universal Church of Truth, his own people tortured and imprisoned. This isn't a celebration of life, this is an insult not worthy of the Soul Stone. The Magus tells Gamora she knows nothing of what he has done! Star-Lord tells him saving everyone from a plague, they know. The Magus tells him no! The Soul Stone holds a sacred place amongst the Infinity Stones, for there is a reason unlike the other five it was never removed from its original resting place until him. In order to activate the Soul Stone and enjoy its blessing, one must enact a sacrifice. Drax asks what he sacrificed and the Magus tells him a soul for a soul he gave his own, to save his people. It then shows a flashback of Adam Warlock on an asteroid, covered in sweat and dirt, where after mining for days finds the Soul Stone buried in the rubble. He places his hand on it and then stabs himself in the side of his waist with a spear. As Adam lay dying the Soul Stone rises from its place on the ground and into Him's hand, healing all his wounds as his irises turning gold. In the present, Magus insists without the constraints of his soul he was able to do what he could never, build an Empire dedicated to purging this sinful universe the same way he was. Star-Lord quickly gets on his adaptation mask listening to Immigrant on his Walkman. The fight is on!

The Magus is so powerful with the Karnic Staff that not a single Guardian is able to land a hit on him and become quickly overwhelmed by his Soul attacks. The fight goes on for longer and as it seems as though as hope is lost the Magus and Guardians hear Gamora shout in pain, as she reveals to have stabbed herself with the Godkiller sword while touching the Soul Stone. Her wound quickly heals and eyes turn gold while Magus' revert to their original blue. Adam Warlock runs to her and gently helps Gamora up, claiming she gave him back his soul by sacrificing her own. Gaining perspective Adam is disgusted with what he sees around him, that he has lost sight of what a Life Guardian must be. This isn't a holy Empire, this is tyranny! He gets onto his knees and bends down in grief. Gamora gets up and kisses Star-Lord, he asks what that was for and she was embarrassed to do that for so long, felt so much hate and sadness. But all of that has been washed away, her soul was so broken and now she's free. The legion of Cardinals lead by Pip the Troll come into the throne room and are about to attack but Adam Warlock tells them to stop. Everything they have been taught about Life and the Universal Truth is wrong, he has lost his way but through patience, education, and heroism they can make it better. The Church must change its way to spread love and compassion. Hate and conquering was never what he wanted, nor what the Universal Truth was about. He begs the Cardinals to put their weapons down and help him fix what for so long was broken.

Pip simply tells the Cardinals to open fire, and kill the Magus as well. They follow the orders and Star-Lord tells him they aren't stopping, Adam Warlock uses his Karnic Staff to start fighting them and in a single blow wipes all the Cardinals out, the Guardians are staring in awe. Despite being in pain, Pip gets up and tells Adam that there are billions of lifeforms across the universe who look to them as prophets. If he does this, he'll be just like everyone else! Adam quietly asks him what's wrong with that and walks away, telling the Guardians of the Galaxy to follow him. Rocket asks if he's "good" now and Adam claims with the restoration of his soul he sees how terribly the Church he helped built has fallen. He can no longer serve as their Magus, instead he reverts to the name Adam Warlock, Life's humble guardian, Drax responding that he too is extremely humble, everyone giving him a strange look afterward. After making it outside the Benatar lands and Thanos menacingly walks out, telling the Guardians they have done an excellent job, he knew they could do it. The Mad Titan puts his Infinity Gauntlet covered hand out and requests the Soul Stone from their prisoner. Adam Warlock tells him that he has sworn to protect the Stone under all costs and Rocket claims the Guardians of the Galaxy are the same. Thanos claims this is treachery but Star-Lord claims they have a Hulk.

The Hulk then jumps down and starts to fight Thanos, who simply smiles and with his own strength is able to easily overpower and brutally beat the Hulk until he's unconscious and heavily bleeding. Thanos, largely unharmed, looks over at the Guardians who all take their weapons out to protect the Soul Stone, including Adam Warlock who even begins powering up the Staff. The Mad Titan scoffs noting Gamora had given her soul to restore Warlock's humanity. He always knew she had a touch for embracing death, perhaps his teachings still linger on. Gamora tells him his lessons mean nothing to her anymore, not anymore. Thanos tells the Guardians he'll be taking his leave, this time. He'll be seeing them all again soon, and when he does there will be nothing but blood and dust. The Mad Titan begins walking away as all the Guardians sigh in relief, Star-Lord in particular claiming he was not ready to fight Thanos. They all run over to help the Hulk except for Gamora who asks Adam where he will go now. He tells her that the Soul Stone must be protected now that Thanos knows of its existence. He will take a sabbatical from religious teachings and exile himself with it to somewhere the Mad Titan will never look. His only fear is what his Church is going to do in his name. Gamora insists she and her friends will take care of it, once word spreads of his departure they won't have a Magus to hold on to anymore, they'll have to find the answers on their own. Adam tells her that for a woman with no soul, she truly exhibits what it means to live. He will never forget her or everything she has taught him. He then goes up to the Hulk on the ground and tells the Guardians he will heal their fallen comrade. Scanning over the Hulk with the Karnic Staff, Adam notices that not only is his body broken, but his soul scarred in unspeakable ways. Warlock puts the Staff to Bruce's head and with the might of the Soul Stone and heals his fractured psyche.

Bruce quickly opens his eyes and tells Adam thank you in a perfectly coherent sentence. Surprised that he's fully in control even in his savage form, Banner utters "Peace" under his breath as he then willingly transforms back into a human. Kanoot tells him something and Bruce asks Rocket what he said, the Raccoon claims he just told him "Welcome to the freakin Guardians of the Galaxy" except he didn't say freakin. Star-Lord then listens to More than a Feeling on his Walkman while it does a montage over the next couple of months where the Guardians are traveling around the Galaxy in the Benatar fighting off all remaining remnants of the Universal Church of Truth. It also shows Yondu Udonta finally getting back on his feet and assembling his own crew consisting of Korg, Miek, Kraglin and Nebula. Korg saying he always wanted to be a space pirate or something, Kraglin laughs at his comment and Nebula rolls her eyes claiming they're all idiots.

On Contraxia, the Guardians are in the Iron Lotus resort prepared to finally take their vacation. Bruce announces to them that these last few months have been a blast and exactly what he needed, but there are spacecrafts for sale here and he thinks it's a good opportunity for him to buy one and come back home to Earth. The Guardians all respect his decision and he says goodbye to all of them, Mantis touching him and claiming he feels contentment, crying once again tears of joy this time. Star-Lord and Gamora walk into their room and she asks Jason if he's ready, he insists that he was born ready. Afterwards, a bunch of love bots come in and they shut the lights off with the end credits playing as a Guardians Inferno music video plays starring the Alien Host from the beginning.