Terek attempts to unite the cantons in an attack against Ming. Also, after learning that Rankol is a Celetroph, Ming orders his execution. Meanwhile, Dale and Norah are forced to flee to Mongo.
Flash is thrust away to the Frigian snowfields after visiting a Celetroph monk. Flash faces the final test of the prophecy, to free the region's queen who has been encased in ice for many cycles.
The water supply that was released to the cantons by Flash in Terek's name is found to be contaminated. In an effort to prevent a massive loss of life, Flash and Aura search for a disgraced Omadrian named Esmeline.
Rankol drains an Earth lake using rift technology, which Ming hopes will ease water shortages. Flash decides that the only way to stop this from happening again is to destroy Ming's rift generator.
Hoping to secure photographic evidence of Mongo's existence, Joe steals the rift blaster from Zarkov's lab. Also, Dale is possessed an evil sorceress' spirit.
While helping Flash and Baylin find a way back to Earth, Zarkov is arrested in Nascent City. In a prison cell, an old prisoner by the name of Krebb claims to have met Flash's father.
A parasite from Mongo bites Flash's friend, Nick. Dale is forced to keep Nick unhappy to keep him alive, and Flash and Baylin travel to Mongo to acquire an antidote.
Ming's best bounty hunter, Baylin, is stranded on Earth. Ming dispatches another bounty hunter, Tyrus, who has a personal connection to Baylin, to bring her back to Mongo.