Chapter Summaries

William reunited with his eldest son, Ivan, on Minos Island and prepared to visit his grandson Heros, whom Athena had sent to study under Hades in the Underworld.

• Serena comforted William as he looked forward to seeing his son, and joked that Arthur might cause trouble in another universe.
• William and Serena went to the Orbit Station after learning that Ivan’s Flying Formation was landing at Umbrella’s base.
• Ivan arrived with Megan, Athena, and Ghost Agents, then traveled with them by Orbit Train to meet William.
• William greeted Ivan and asked Athena to take them to the Underworld to visit Heros, who was being taught by Hades.

Athena brought William, Ivan, and the others to the Underworld beneath Minos Island to retrieve Heros after a year in Hades and Persephone’s care. Hades welcomed them and presented gifts for Heros, including armor, a trident, and a strange crystal.

• Persephone soaked Heros in the River Styx at Athena’s request, leaving his entire body without a weakness.
• William, Ivan, Athena, and the others descended to the Underworld entrance beneath Minos Island and met Cerberus, who obeyed Athena.
• Athena led the group through the temple doors into Hades’ palace, where Hades and Persephone greeted them with Heros.
• Athena thanked Hades and Persephone for caring for Heros, and Hades called for the gifts he had prepared.
• The maids brought in two carts carrying Greek-style armor, a trident, and an elongated Z-shaped crystal.

Hades gave Heros three powerful Greek Divine Artifacts: the Invisibility Helmet, Cronus-fighting armor, Poseidon’s trident, and Zeus’s Thunderbolt. After Heros nearly activated the Thunderbolt, Hades sent him away with William and the others, then Persephone revealed that Heros was about to enter the Marvel Universe.

• Hades demonstrated that the Invisibility Helmet could make Heros undetectable and gave him armor that could withstand most Divine Artifacts.
• Hades explained the trident’s powers, including causing natural disasters and striking hidden enemies without fail.
• Heros accidentally charged Zeus’s Thunderbolt, so Hades snatched it back before it could fire and scolded him.
• William, Ivan, Athena, Heros, and the Ghost Agents left the Palace of the Underworld and returned to Minos Island.
• Persephone told Hades that Heros was about to enter the Marvel Universe.

Persephone worried that Heros would face danger in the Marvel Universe, but Hades trusted Athena and Heros's parents to protect him. William examined Heros's demigod abilities before leading Umbrella's mixed fleet through a portal, where the stabilized vortex that had taken Arthur and his companions appeared.

• Hades reassured Persephone that Athena and Heros's parents would keep him safe, then returned with her to watch television.
• William scanned Heros and learned that his demigod powers, Adamantine Body, and Divine Artifacts made him one of Umbrella's three strongest combatants.
• On December 17, 2042, William led Umbrella's fifty-seven-warship mixed fleet through a Forerunner portal into the outer space sector of the MSS-45 Galaxy.
• A stabilized vortex tunnel, the one that had previously pulled Arthur, Carl, and the Blood Raven Battle Group into the Marvel Universe, formed nearby.

William led Umbrella's Mixed Fleet through the passage into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and ordered it to appear openly above Washington. The fleet reunited with the Blood Ravens and Arthur, who returned to his parents after six months away.

• Carmen asked William whether the fleet should enter the passage, and William ordered her to lead it into the Marvel universe.
• The Mixed Fleet emerged near Jupiter, and William told Captain Macha to rendezvous above North America before ordering the fleet to Earth.
• Umbrella's fleet arrived in low Earth orbit above Washington, prompting the US Government, military, S.H.I.E.L.D., and UN Security Council to enter an emergency state.
• Macha, Gabriel, Vadim, Carl, and Arthur arrived aboard two Pelicans at the Star Killer hangar.
• Arthur ran to William and Halsey, and Halsey embraced him and threatened to break his brother's legs if he sent Arthur to the military again.

Arthur reunited with William and Halsey after returning from the Marvel universe, and William offered him the chance to command an army. Arthur then revealed that he was dating someone and wanted to marry her, leaving William to realize that the shy Carl was his girlfriend.

• Arthur thanked Captain Macha, Angelos, Vadim, and Carl for protecting him and asked William to reward them.
• William offered Arthur command of his own army, but Halsey suggested they first prepare for the governments on Earth.
• William assigned his officers and family members tasks before ordering the fleet to assemble in three hours.
• After the others left, Arthur asked William and Halsey whether they would approve of him marrying someone he was dating.
• William realized Arthur meant Carl and privately marveled at his son's courage.

Arthur announced his relationship with Carl, and William and Halsey accepted it before William brought Arthur into the plan to conquer the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On December 31, 2012, their fleet arrived over Washington, where government, military, Security Council, and S.H.I.E.L.D. leaders gathered for a new negotiation with Arthur.

• Arthur told William and Halsey that Carl was his girlfriend and that they had already had sex.
• Halsey reluctantly accepted the relationship, while William teased Arthur and entrusted him to Carl.
• William told Arthur that he would serve as an adviser in their campaign to conquer the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• A fleet of sixty-three ships descended over Washington, sending the city into panic on December 31, 2012.
• Matthew Ellis, Ross, Alexander Pierce, Nick Fury, and other leaders gathered at the Monument Grounds after Arthur promised negotiations at eight in the morning.

Umbrella arrived over Washington with its fleet and overwhelming military force, while Kesha’s angelic appearance threw the gathered American officials and the public into confusion. William and Umbrella’s leaders landed at Monument Square under heavy guard, leaving the three factions to face the scale of their power.

• The Star Killer and Umbrella’s fleet appeared over Washington, terrifying American officials and military leaders.
• Nick Fury, Natasha, and Rogers reacted to the fleet’s arrival as transports and ace MS units began deploying from the Star Killer.
• Kesha flew alongside the formation and used her Divine Stance, prompting people in the square to mistake her for an angel and making the sight a global online sensation.
• Umbrella’s MS units surrounded Monument Square while transports landed and thousands of Astartes and other elite troops disembarked.
• William arrived with Andre, Arthur, Heros, and Umbrella’s other leaders and unusual allies under the protection of their forces.

William Russell arrived with Umbrella’s forces and told the leaders of three factions that he intended to replace their governments and rule in their place. He introduced the powerful allies and family members accompanying him, then exposed Alexander Pierce as Hydra’s leader.

• Matthew Ellis, Ross, Pierce, Nick Fury, and the others feared the forces gathered around William as they approached.
• William introduced himself as Umbrella’s chairman and revealed that Umbrella commanded approximately fifty thousand Astartes.
• William identified the angels, elves, and Sangheili as allies, then introduced Heros Russell as his demigod grandson and the God of War.
• Matthew Ellis asked why William had brought so many troops and warships, and William said Umbrella planned to replace the existing governments.
• William defended his plan as protection for humanity and accused Alexander Pierce of being Hydra’s current leader.

William exposed Alexander Pierce as Hydra's leader with videos and ordered Heros to kill him, triggering a gunfight at Monument Plaza. As armed forces converged on the plaza, MS units blocked their advance and the National Guard began surrendering.

• Serena showed officials videos and classified files depicting Pierce leading Hydra and committing crimes, and William ordered Heros to kill him.
• President Matthew Ellis tried to stop Heros, but Heros shoved him aside and ran Pierce through with his Golden War Spear.
• Agents and strike teams opened fire on Heros, but their bullets could not harm him, and chaos spread across Monument Plaza.
• MS units aimed their Gauss Cannons at the armed forces surrounding the plaza and warned them to surrender.
• Hydra, Special Services Bureau, and armed S.H.I.E.L.D. teams charged toward the monument, while the National Guard colonel ordered his troops to lay down their weapons.

William ordered Arthur to incapacitate S.H.I.E.L.D.’s leaders while Umbrella exposed Hydra and identified its members. With the officials fleeing and armed forces still attacking, William called on the Primarchs and Astartes to demonstrate their power.

• Hydra commandos, Special Services Bureau agents, and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fired on Heros and Umbrella’s forces, but their attacks were stopped by Divine Stance and Energy Shields.
• Rogers accused Arthur of betraying humanity, and Arthur explained to William that Rogers believed Umbrella had deceived him.
• William ordered Arthur to knock out Nick Fury, Natasha, Barton, and Rogers so they could be made to sign the Confidentiality Agreement.
• Arthur used his speed and strength to incapacitate S.H.I.E.L.D.’s leaders and agents within seconds.
• Serena reported that she and Tina had breached S.H.I.E.L.D.’s network and obtained Hydra members’ identities; William ordered the information released and willing Hydra members killed.
• William told John and the others to let the universe witness the might of their Primarchs and Astartes.

William ordered Umbrella’s forces to livestream their attack while censoring gore, and they wiped out the Hydra fighters in two minutes. Umbrella held Washington’s leaders and agents prisoner, while Heros prepared to undergo Colossal Transformation.

• William sent the Spartan Primarchs and officers to scan the area, then instructed Serena and Tina to livestream Umbrella’s strength while censoring bloody scenes.
• Mylon and fifty Terminators opened fire on Hydra assault teams with Bolters, devastating the fighters and even felling a large tree.
• Umbrella’s Elite Veterans charged Hydra squads, and William’s forces eliminated the Hydra fighters in the square and surrounding woods within two minutes.
• Umbrella captured the leaders of the US Government, military, Security Council, and S.H.I.E.L.D.; the US Air Force could not reach Washington because Umbrella’s Mixed Fleet controlled the airspace.
• William stood beside Angel Keisha as Umbrella forces guarded the prisoners, and Heros began his Colossal Transformation in the woods.

After Heros transformed into a 170-meter giant, prisoners and online viewers reacted with fear, worship, or support for Umbrella as its forces began taking control of the United States. By January 2, 2013, Umbrella’s ground units had occupied all of North and South America.

• Heros’s Colossal Transformation caused many prisoners to kneel and worship him, while Serena and Tina broadcast the scene live.
• Netizens argued over Umbrella’s violent intervention, with many Manhattan residents supporting its attack on the Hydra-infested US Government.
• William sent Umbrella’s ground forces to seize Washington D.C., while the four Spartan Primarchs led Custodes and Raven Guard as the vanguard.
• Saum, Gabriel, Vadim, and Prus led forces that spread through the region, arrested resisting commanders, and drove most US troops to surrender.
• Umbrella’s forces used Physical Anesthesia against resisting soldiers, police, and militias who were not Hydra members.
• By 17:00 on January 2, 2013, Umbrella’s ground units had occupied all of North and South America.

William reflected on Umbrella’s three-day conquest of North and South America and his plans to secure the occupied territories and prepare Earth for threats from across the universe. Halsey joined him in the Oval Office, where she complained about formal clothes and William joked with her.

• Umbrella completed the conquest of North and South America, and William ordered captured soldiers and government officials to sign Confidentiality Agreements.
• William recalled that Stark, Pepper Potts, Bruce Banner, and their associates had vanished, while The Ancient One had stayed and offered cooperation against Dormammu.
• William accepted The Ancient One’s proposal and sent Ghost Agents to help defend the three Sanctums while Umbrella searched for Dormammu’s followers.
• William planned to turn Earth into a secure fortress and supply station for the Mixed Fleet’s campaign across the Marvel universe.
• Halsey entered William’s office, complained about wearing a suit, and joined him on the sofa as he joked with her.

William told Halsey that Tony Stark and Bruce Banner had disappeared, possibly after going to Wakanda, and discussed whether Vibranium would benefit Umbrella. He agreed not to attack Wakanda yet and said Umbrella would focus on consolidating its territories and the Aether Incident.

• Halsey massaged William's temples and asked him what was troubling him.
• William told Halsey that Tony Stark and Bruce Banner had disappeared and might have gone to Wakanda after it contacted the Avengers.
• Halsey explained that Vibranium could absorb heat, energy, and kinetic force, but would become fragile if it exceeded its limit.
• Halsey said Vibranium might be worth acquiring to upgrade the remaining first- and second-generation Spartan children's armor, and William agreed.
• William declined to launch an attack on Wakanda, saying Umbrella needed to consolidate its territories and should prioritize the Aether Incident.

William and Halsey flirted in the President’s office before giving in to each other, while Arthur accompanied Steve Rogers on a Pelican and tried to ease his resentment toward Umbrella. The chapter left Arthur reminding Rogers that Hydra had used his best friend, Sergeant Barnes.

• Halsey teased William about relying on their son Arthur, and William complained that Arthur had asked for a salary.
• Halsey pulled William onto the President’s desk and said they would make history; William eventually gave in to her advances.
• Arthur sneezed aboard a Pelican, prompting Steve Rogers to ask him to cover his mouth.
• Rogers told Arthur that he had agreed to work for Umbrella and help stabilize the United States but remained unwilling to do so.
• Arthur defended Umbrella’s swift elimination of Hydra and reminded Rogers that Hydra had used his best friend, Bucky, Sergeant Barnes.

Arthur told Rogers that Bucky Barnes had survived, become Hydra’s Winter Soldier, and was now the target of an arrest operation. They arrived at Rogers’ former training camp and found a Hydra ambush waiting inside the bunker.

• Arthur showed Rogers files identifying Bucky as the Winter Soldier and explained that Hydra had brainwashed him and replaced his left arm with a metal one.
• Arthur said Umbrella intended to arrest Bucky, not execute him, and invited Rogers to help bring his old friend back.
• Arthur, Rogers, and twenty Ghost Agents landed at Rogers’ abandoned wartime training camp, stirring memories of his past.
• The group approached the bunker, where a Ghost Agent detected numerous heat sources behind the door.
• Arthur ordered the agents to spare targets whose left arms showed no thermal response and shoot the rest on sight.

Arthur and Rogers led the Ghost Agents into a Hydra bunker, where they fought the remaining Hydra forces and found Bucky Barnes. Rogers confronted Bucky while Arthur watched from nearby.

• The Ghost Agents used Gauss Rifles and plasma charges to clear the bunker entrance, then searched the passage for survivors.
• Rogers recognized Peggy Carter’s portrait and accepted Arthur’s invitation to become part of Umbrella.
• Serena remotely breached the elevator, allowing Arthur, Rogers, and the Agents to descend to the bunker’s lower level.
• Hydra forces opened fire as the elevator doors opened, but their bullets could not penetrate the Agents’ Energy Shields.
• Rogers charged toward Bucky Barnes, who discarded his rifle and fought him with his metal left arm.
• Bucky gradually gained the upper hand in the fight, while Arthur watched and admired his metal arm.

Arthur knocked out Bucky after Rogers briefly reached him, then had Doctor Zola reveal Hydra’s history and its role in the Stark couple’s deaths. The group prepared to destroy Zola’s facility, while Arthur planned to help Bucky and use the revelations to bring Rogers closer to Umbrella.

• The Ghost Agents surrounded the Hydra officials as Rogers tried to remind Bucky of their shared past, briefly stirring Bucky’s memories.
• Bucky resumed his mission to kill Rogers, but Arthur knocked him unconscious and promised to treat his brainwashing.
• Arthur activated the console and exposed Doctor Zola, who told Rogers that Hydra had infiltrated the US Government through Operation Paperclip.
• Zola revealed that Hydra had arranged the Stark couple’s deaths and that Bucky had carried them out as the Winter Soldier.
• Arthur ordered a lieutenant to plant plasma explosives and free Doctor Zola from the facility.

Arthur returned to Washington with Rogers, Bucky, and captured Hydra officials, while Umbrella began rebuilding the destroyed camp and planned defenses for Earth. After Bucky was taken for treatment to restore his memories, Arthur assigned Natasha to serve as Rogers’s deputy, leaving Rogers unsettled by how unfamiliar she seemed.

• A plasma bomb destroyed Zola's bunker and collapsed the training camp, prompting Umbrella engineers to begin rebuilding the site and prepare orbital defenses for Earth.
• Arthur and Rogers returned to Washington aboard a Pelican with captured Hydra officials and Bucky.
• Umbrella agents took the Hydra officials away for interrogation, while technicians escorted Bucky to the medical bay for treatment and memory restoration.
• Arthur told Rogers that Natasha would serve as his personal deputy, and Rogers regarded her as familiar yet strange.