Chapter Summaries

Sebastian Shaw overwhelmed Captain America with rapid, energy-charged punches, cracked and shattered his Vibranium shield, then struck him into a crater. The livestream audience watched Captain America near defeat as Soldier Boy and Homelander reacted to the fight.

• Sebastian Shaw battered Captain America's shield with energy-filled punches until cracks spread across its surface.
• Chang Wei wondered why Sebastian Shaw kept targeting the shield instead of attacking Captain America directly.
• Sebastian Shaw shattered the shield, sending Vibranium fragments through the surrounding debris.
• Sebastian Shaw punched Captain America into the ground, knocking off his helmet and drawing blood.
• The livestream audience was stunned, while Soldier Boy admired the shield and judged Sebastian Shaw more dangerous than Juggernaut.

After defeating Captain America, Sebastian Shaw challenged Chang Wei, the White Emperor, and attacked him at supersonic speed. Chang Wei stopped time, pierced Shaw’s body, and seized his heart, revealing that his ability could overcome Shaw’s energy absorption.

• Soldier Boy admired Sebastian Shaw’s strength, while Homelander felt relieved that Captain America had also lost.
• Sebastian Shaw challenged Chang Wei after defeating Captain America and demanded a fight.
• Chang Wei appeared and refused to speak with Shaw, who vanished and charged at him at supersonic speed.
• Chang Wei stopped time and pierced Sebastian Shaw’s body, grabbing his heart.
• Chang Wei explained that stopping time interrupted the energy flow Shaw needed to absorb energy.

Chang Wei killed Sebastian Shaw by using Time Stop, revealing an ability that terrified Soldier Boy, Homelander, and the gathered superhumans. The public cheered him as a guardian, while schemers and superhuman terrorists began fearing his power and struggling over how to respond.

• Chang Wei stopped time and struck Sebastian Shaw with a fatal blow, leaving him to die in despair.
• Soldier Boy and Homelander were stunned by Chang Wei's Time Stop, and Homelander feared Chang Wei could have killed him during their earlier encounter.
• Chang Wei declared that he would not abuse his abilities but would oppose those seeking to destroy peace and order.
• Audiences watching on television and computers cheered Chang Wei, while ambitious schemers and superhuman terrorists saw him as an unbeatable threat.
• Some schemers secretly sought ways to counter Time Stop, while divisions grew among the terrorists over whether to surrender or keep resisting.

Chang Wei's display of power restored public confidence and made him a symbol of safety as superhuman terrorists retreated. Vought Company accepted bankruptcy liquidation, leaving The Administration and Supernova Company dominant.

• People believed Chang Wei could stop time through Supernova Company's Compound A, which was more powerful and varied than Vought Company's Compound Five.
• Chang Wei's strength convinced the public that he could protect them from superhuman terrorists, and news outlets hailed him as the White Emperor and Savior.
• People returned to their daily lives, while many began craving Compound A and those who had used Compound Five regretted it.
• Congress and financial conglomerates pressured Vought Company, which accepted bankruptcy liquidation and surrendered its assets and resources.
• Superhuman terrorists went underground or fled America as The Administration's influence grew.

After Chang Wei’s actions drove superhuman criminals out of America, Compound Five continued spreading worldwide and reshaped society. The chapter leaves the world facing an escalating arms race, class divisions, and a thriving black market.

• Superhuman criminals fled America, and crime there fell as Chang Wei let them go elsewhere.
• The Tank Gang and other terrorists obtained the Compound Five formula and began producing it to build their own superhuman armies.
• Compound Five spread through underground factories and became accessible to criminals, terrorist organizations, and governments.
• Countries pursued superpowered soldiers, intensifying military competition and raising questions about their rights and use as weapons.
• Superhumans gained social privileges while ordinary people faced growing hardship and resentment.
• A profitable black market and costly superhuman training industry expanded around Compound Five.

Chang Wei reviewed how the pursuit of Superpowers users was reshaping crime, business, education, and family life, while Compound Five injections spread to infants. He concluded that humanity might become superhuman within a few years and then checked on Soldier Boy and Homelander.

• Corporations and criminal groups hired Superpowers users, disrupting legitimate businesses and increasing threats to public safety.
• People pursued Compound Five despite its dangers, while schools and parents increasingly prioritized Superpowers training over ordinary education.
• Criminals secretly injected infants with Compound Five and planned to raise them as controlled, loyal superhuman subordinates.
• Some parents voluntarily sought Compound Five injections for their infants, and the trend suggested that most people might become superhuman within years.
• Chang Wei approved of the prospect of a world of superhumans and checked the situations of Soldier Boy and Homelander.

Soldier Boy thrived as a well-paid superhuman mercenary, while Homelander struggled to survive after Vought Company’s collapse. On day 182 of the liquidation, Homelander fought to control his rage in his third rental apartment, afraid of destroying it like the two before.

• Soldier Boy grew wealthy and indulged in luxury while taking dangerous mercenary contracts.
• Soldier Boy received a seven-figure offer to deal with three superhumans who had hijacked a ship at the East River Docks and set out for the job.
• Homelander struggled without Vought Company’s help, mishandling his clothes, money, food, and daily life.
• Homelander mourned his lost fame and former luxurious lifestyle while living alone in a shabby Upper East Side apartment.
• Homelander nearly unleashed his Heat Vision in anger but stopped himself because he had already destroyed two rental homes and paid for the damage.

Homelander struggled to survive on low-paying advertisements and small fan events, where he began charging fans extra for autographs and photos. The God of Regret offered him a Regret Pill that could send him back to the moment he regretted most, and Homelander pictured giving Compound Five to terrorists.

• Homelander accepted cheap commercial work and small appearances because he needed money, despite feeling humiliated by his decline.
• At a mall event, several young fans still cheered for Homelander, and he took tips for autographs and charged extra for photos.
• The God of Regret asked Homelander if he regretted his actions and offered him a chance to change the past.
• Homelander threatened to call The Administration, then asked whether the offer was real when the voice began to leave.
• The God of Regret presented Homelander with a Regret Pill that could return him to his moment of greatest regret.
• Homelander remembered giving Compound Five to terrorists in an attempt to create crises that would boost the status of Superheroes.

Homelander swallowed the Regret Pill and returned to the moment he was about to hand Compound Five to The Flash Liberators. A future version of himself destroyed the Compound Five and confronted him, but Homelander attacked, refusing to believe the stranger was really him.

• After Compound Five empowered terrorists and ruined his reputation, Homelander hesitantly swallowed the Regret Pill.
• Homelander returned to the moment he was about to give Compound Five to The Flash Liberators.
• A red laser struck the case and vaporized Compound Five, scattering the terrorists.
• Homelander saw a dark-uniformed version of himself, who claimed to have traveled from the future to prevent the disaster.
• Homelander suspected the newcomer was an impostor and attacked him with his lasers.
• Future Homelander matched Homelander's laser attack as Homelander increased its power.

Future Homelander fought his past self in the factory and warned him that losing Compound Five would unleash super-criminals and devastate the world. After overpowering Homelander, Future Homelander wondered whether changing the past would alter his future and began considering killing his past self to take his place.

• Homelander and Future Homelander traded lasers and punches as Homelander insisted that he was invincible and would rule the world.
• Future Homelander killed the fleeing terrorists with his lasers while Homelander tried to exploit the distraction and strike him.
• Future Homelander caught Homelander's fist, struck him in the abdomen, and made him vomit the milk he had drunk from Madelyn.
• Future Homelander reflected on changing the past, tried unsuccessfully to contact the God of Regret, and wondered whether he would have to kill his past self and take his place.

Future Homelander’s buried trauma and Darkness Power drove him to attack his present self, trying to kill him to escape his past. Present Homelander broke free and fled through the roof, leaving Future Homelander behind.

• Future Homelander’s memories of Vought’s control and his childhood loneliness stirred his Darkness Power and hardened his resolve to kill present Homelander.
• Future Homelander seized present Homelander and choked him, while Homelander fired heat vision that struck Future Homelander’s face and blasted a hole in the ceiling.
• Present Homelander forced Future Homelander’s hands apart with a surge of strength.
• Present Homelander launched through the roof and escaped into the sky, overwhelmed by fear.

Future Homelander pursued Homelander through the air and battered him after striking him with his eye beams. Homelander survived a crash landing, but Future Homelander kicked him flying again.

• Homelander fled from Future Homelander, who chased him through the sky.
• Future Homelander struck Homelander in the back with a blast from his eyes, sending him tumbling toward the ground.
• Future Homelander caught up and punched Homelander in the face, leaving him to fall from the sky.
• Homelander steadied himself before impact and landed in a crater, injured and exhausted.
• Future Homelander landed before Homelander and kicked him, sending him flying.

Future Homelander captured Homelander after smashing him through a high-rise, but hesitated when bystanders began filming. Homelander tried to turn the crowd against his captor, while Future Homelander calmly reclaimed their support and tightened his grip.

• Future Homelander hurled Homelander into a high-rise, then pulled him from the rubble and prepared to kill him.
• Future Homelander paused when a crowd of passersby began recording the fight, and Homelander pleaded with them to save him from an impostor.
• Future Homelander calmly claimed that Homelander was the impostor, and the crowd sided with him, cheering for their hero.
• Future Homelander enjoyed the crowd's praise as he tightened his grip on Homelander's neck, then realized Homelander was tougher than he had expected.

Future Homelander overcame Homelander’s immense durability by twisting his neck until it broke. He left Homelander limp and unable to resist, with the surrounding area devastated by their struggle.

• Future Homelander realized ordinary strangulation would not harm Homelander and decided to break his neck.
• Future Homelander seized Homelander’s head and neck and began twisting while Homelander struggled to escape.
• Future Homelander’s grip inflicted severe pain, and their contest caused the ground to collapse and nearby buildings to suffer heavy damage.
• Future Homelander continued twisting until Homelander’s neck broke and his body went limp.
• Future Homelander held Homelander in place and twisted his head one hundred and eighty degrees before stopping.

Future Homelander returned after killing and burying his own corpse, then went to Vought Company headquarters. He told Edgar and Madelyn that the other Homelander was an impostor, but his changed demeanor left them suspicious.

• Future Homelander buried his corpse and flew to Vought Company headquarters.
• Edgar and Madelyn summoned Future Homelander to explain the battle between the two Homelanders.
• Future Homelander claimed the other man was an impostor and said he had killed and disposed of him.
• Edgar suspected that the man before him might be the impostor, but hesitated to act without proof.
• Madelyn noted Homelander's changed temperament and said Vought Company needed to investigate thoroughly.

Homelander convinced Madelyn that he had killed an impostor, while Vought secretly investigated Future Homelander. Future Homelander confronted Edgar and threatened him into accepting that he could no longer be controlled, but Edgar became more convinced that he was an impostor.

• Homelander told Madelyn he had killed an impostor and thrown the remains into the sea, and Madelyn urged him to prepare for a promotional event.
• Vought investigated the supposed impostor as Future Homelander continued leading The Seven and earning the company's and public's praise.
• Edgar secretly monitored Future Homelander and grew more suspicious after noticing his changed behavior and interest in company strategy.
• Future Homelander waited in Edgar's office and confronted him, warning that he would have to obey if he wanted to remain at Vought.
• Future Homelander decided he still needed Edgar to manage the company, while Edgar became more certain that Future Homelander was an impostor.

Future Homelander searched unsuccessfully for Supernova Company and Compound A, while Chang Wei returned the real Soldier Boy to the Marvel World. Soldier Boy woke in a luxurious room, watched a diaper-changing advertisement, and angrily condemned modern men.

• Future Homelander feared Chang Wei would gain Compound A and considered killing him, but he could find no information about Supernova Company.
• Future Homelander flew to the suspected location of Supernova Company's headquarters, found it had not been purchased, and returned to Vought.
• Chang Wei took Soldier Boy back to the Marvel World, where the created version of Soldier Boy vanished.
• Soldier Boy woke in an unfamiliar room, lit a cigarette, and cursed at a television advertisement showing a man changing a baby's diaper.

Soldier Boy complained about his treatment and demanded drugs while military officials debated whether he was too dangerous to use. After the drugs wore off, he discovered records and news showing he was in a different world, where his younger counterpart had been chosen as America's superhero representative.

• Soldier Boy cursed at society and kicked over a chair as military officials watched him through surveillance cameras.
• Soldier Boy demanded high-purity drugs, and a military official decided they could use his addiction to keep him compliant.
• When the drugs wore off, Soldier Boy became restless and shouted for more, prompting military representatives to worry he would ruin their plans.
• Soldier Boy watched news reports about Captain America, Iron Man, White Emperor Chang Wei, and Hulk, then realized the world around him did not match his own.
• Soldier Boy examined identity records showing that his younger counterpart had been selected as America's superhero representative under the slogan "Recreate Captain America."

Soldier Boy accepted a mission to stop a rampaging Lizard Monster and headed to the bridge, while S.H.I.E.L.D. saw the creature as an opportunity for Captain America to return to public attention. Soldier Boy fought the monster, but the battle remained unresolved.

• Soldier Boy learned that the Blood Debt Blood Repayment Squad and Vought Company were gone, then reflected on his new family and wondered how his father was doing.
• A military representative showed Soldier Boy footage of a Lizard Monster rampaging on a bridge and assigned him to stop it.
• Soldier Boy put on his familiar uniform, took his shield, and insisted that he was the strongest rather than anyone's replacement.
• S.H.I.E.L.D. discussed using the Lizard Monster incident to bring Steve Rogers, Captain America, back into the public eye.
• Soldier Boy parachuted onto the bridge, dodged the Lizard Monster's bite, and struck it with his shield before it retaliated with its claws.

Soldier Boy fought Dr. Lizardman on a traffic-packed bridge while the military broadcast selectively edited footage to portray him as America's new heroic icon. The real fight remained chaotic and destructive, with Soldier Boy hurling a car at the Lizard Monster, an act the livestream omitted.

• Soldier Boy dodged Dr. Lizardman's attacks and struck its abdomen before blocking its claws with his shield.
• Dr. Lizardman rampaged across the bridge, smashing cars and attacking Soldier Boy with its tail and claws.
• The military livestreamed the battle under the title "America's New Captain America, Soldier Boy!" and edited the footage to emphasize Soldier Boy protecting civilians.
• The military blocked the real scene's signal and used a ten-minute delay to polish its propaganda broadcast.
• Soldier Boy lifted a car and hurled it at the Lizard Monster, but the livestream footage of the attack was deleted.