Rich explains that he needs the WorldMind's help in order to save the Aakonians. He explains to the artificial intelligence that there are too many variables and events happening at once for him to handle. He instructs the WorldMind to directly input any strategies and knowledge directly into his brain to maximize its impact. The sentient computer system agrees and begins transferring information to Nova's cerebellum. The Human Rocket suddenly becomes an incredible fighting machine and begins widespread destruction of the Annihilation Wave's battle cruisers!

However, an alien ship retaliates with a bombardment zone that is meant to catch Nova in the blasts! Just as Nova is about to be hit, suddenly Quasar comes to the rescue and destroys the ship by blasting his way through its hull! Quasar asks Nova if he's crazy for attempting a frontal assault and if he truly thinks he can win this battle. Rich confides that he doesn't believe that a victory is possible even with the two of them fighting the alien fleet. However, he is confident they can hold them off long enough for the Aakonian colonists to get to safety.

As the two young heroes start their run on the Annihilation Wave, the sub-etheric link that allows them to communicate in space picks up a transmission from Drax down on the planet's surface. He suggests that the heroes stop their attack on the smaller ships and head for Annihilus's command ship and assassinate the leader himself!

Meanwhile, aboard Annihilus's ship, the leader of the Wave is informed that the attack on Nycos Aristedes is being resisted. Not by a rival fleet but by two super-powered individuals! Annihilus realizes that one of them is the same being who destroyed some of his other ships with gravimetric powers after his destruction of Xandar. The Wave's second-in-command is instructed to allow Nova and Quasar access to the command ship where he plans to add their cosmic energies to Annihilus's own Cosmic Rod. This course of action is given primary importance and the conquest of Nycos Aristedes is now secondary.

Nova and Quasar make their way to Annihilus's ship and smash their way through into the command area! The WorldMind increases Rich's amount of Nova Force to help him in the battle. The two heroes confront Annihilus and the alien leader viciously knocks Nova aside, leaving him unconscious with a large gaping cut across the right side of his face!

With Nova down, Quasar attacks the invader from the Negative Zone with his Quantum Bands. However, Annihilus uses his Cosmic Rod to begin absorbing the quantum energy along with Quasar himself! Quasar heroically resists but ultimately falls to his attacker as his body dissolves into energy. With Quasar defeated and now possessing the Quantum Bands, Annihilus turns to finish off Nova only to find Rich Rider gone!

Suddenly, Nova unleashes a powerful energy-filled punch into Annihilus and begins to fiercely attack him! The two foes grapple, giving everything they have in order to destroy the other with neither willing to surrender. Nova grabs Annihilus and tells the WorldMind to follow the plan that's in his mind. With Nova's enemy now mentally connected to the WorldMind, the artificial intelligence system takes advantage of the Annihilation Wave's hive mentality and commands them to attack each other! Eighty-seven of the starships begin firing on each other with Annihilus helpless to stop it! The WorldMind suggests that Nova take advantage of the confusion and retreat to recuperate from his wounds. Nova wants to stay and finish off Anihilus but realizes that the WorldMind is right and departs. Realizing he has lost this battle, the leader of the Annihilation Wave orders the self-destruction of the infected ships and a withdrawal of his surviving fleet.

In orbit, an unconscious Nova awakens to the concerned voice of the WorldMind. The artificial intelligence informs Rich that Annihilation Wave has abandoned the star system and they have won the battle. It also tells Nova that he has done a good job and it's proud of him. Rich suggests that they stay together and are capable of doing great things as a team. The WorldMind agrees just as Drax and Cammi pull up next to them in a small spaceship.

After he gets into the ship, Nova informs Drax and Cammi of Quasar's fate. Despite the WorldMind's attempts at healing Rich's body, Drax points out that he will have a scar from the facial wound inflicted by Annihilus. Drax also tells Nova that he needs a StarGate in order to escape the star system. Rich agrees to supply him with one in exchange for Drax training him to fight with lethal force. He tells Drax he believes it will be needed for the battle ahead.