Chapter Summaries

Josh and his companions reached Monteriggioni, where Giovanni reunited with his brother Mario and explained the danger facing their family. Giovanni asked Mario to keep his survival from Ezio and join Josh’s effort to establish a religion promising freedom and love; Mario was left startled by the prospect of becoming like Josh.

• Josh landed with Giovanni near Monteriggioni after revealing his angelic wings, and Giovanni greeted his brother Mario.
• Giovanni told Mario that Josh and his companions had rescued him and his sons from the Paladins’ attack in Florence.
• Giovanni explained that Ezio had avoided the incident while delivering a letter, and asked Mario to keep the survival of Federico, Pedruccio, and Giovanni secret from him.
• Giovanni asked Mario to join Josh and help establish a religion devoted to him, saying its doctrine promised freedom and love.
• Giovanni added that they might become the same kind of people as Josh, leaving Mario shocked.

Josh arranged for Giovanni to secretly mentor Ezio under the codename Eagle, while planning magical studies for the frail Pedruccio. Giovanni searched the road to Monteriggioni for Ezio and, after nightfall, spotted him driving a carriage surrounded by attackers.

• Josh learned that Ezio had killed Uberto and was traveling to Monteriggioni.
• Josh told Giovanni to assume the codename Eagle so he could train Ezio without revealing that Giovanni was alive.
• Josh planned to teach Pedruccio magic because the boy was frail.
• Giovanni left Monteriggioni alone in disguise to find Ezio and prepare to mentor him.
• After searching through the day and resting by the road, Giovanni heard hoofbeats and saw Ezio's carriage under attack.

After killing Uberto and escaping Florence with his mother and sister, Ezio was ambushed on the road to Monteriggioni by Vieri and his soldiers. Just as Ezio prepared to fight for his family, a mysterious man in black robes and an eagle-shaped iron mask appeared and cut down the attackers.

• Ezio infiltrated an art exhibition at Santa Croce Church and killed Uberto with his Hidden Blade.
• Ezio announced that the Auditore family had not fallen, took a letter from Uberto, and fled as Florence's most wanted man.
• With Paola's help, Ezio evaded the search and left Florence by carriage with his mother and sister.
• Vieri and his mounted soldiers caught and stopped the carriage on the road to Monteriggioni.
• A mysterious man in black robes and an eagle-shaped iron mask appeared between Vieri and Ezio and killed several soldiers.

Giovanni, disguised as Eagle, rescued Ezio and his family from Vieri’s ambush, killing the soldiers who attacked them. He revealed that he had been sent to escort them to Monteriggioni, while keeping his identity and Josh’s plan secret.

• Giovanni watched Ezio stand against Vieri’s men and decided to intervene before his son was hurt.
• Giovanni killed four soldiers with his Hidden Blades, startling Vieri, Ezio, and the family.
• Vieri ordered the remaining soldiers to attack Giovanni, but Giovanni killed them as Vieri fled.
• Ezio raised a sword against Giovanni until Maria ordered him to lower it.
• Giovanni proved his familiarity with Ezio by recalling a private family secret and said he would escort them to Monteriggioni.
• Giovanni introduced himself as Eagle, also called Igor.

Giovanni escorted Ezio, Claudia, and Maria toward Monteriggioni while hiding his identity behind the mask and the name Igor. He explained the Light-Dark Brotherhood and invented a story about his and Ezio’s father’s past, leaving Maria quietly suspecting that Igor was Giovanni.

• Ezio asked Igor how well he had known his father, and Giovanni said they had been close friends and studied under the same mentor.
• Claudia asked why Igor wore a mask, and Giovanni explained that he and Ezio’s father served different roles in the Light-Dark Brotherhood.
• Ezio inferred that his father had gathered intelligence, while Igor had chosen the darker path because of faith.
• At Ezio and Claudia’s urging, Giovanni told them a fabricated account of how he and their father had chosen different Brotherhood paths.
• Maria noticed that Igor’s story resembled one life divided into two halves and wondered whether he was Giovanni.

Ezio and his family arrived in Monteriggioni and met Josh at the Secret Ones Church, where Ezio chose to join the organization and seek revenge. Josh left Ezio’s training and future in Giovanni’s hands, while Giovanni remained disguised as the Eagle.

• Giovanni waited outside the church for Mario, then discussed his plans and decided Federico would also wear a mask.
• Mario led Ezio and his family to the church, where Giovanni introduced them to Josh, who greeted them as the leader of the Secret Ones Church.
• Josh asked Ezio what he planned to do, and Ezio decided to stay in Monteriggioni and join the organization.
• Ezio said he wanted revenge, to gain strength like Igor, and to follow his father’s supposed legacy of loyalty to the Secret Ones Church.
• Josh put Ezio in Giovanni’s hands and left, then wondered whether he could change the story of Ezio’s first girlfriend.

Josh reflected on Ezio and Christina’s tragic romance and decided to help change their fate by guiding Ezio toward greater strength. He then told Natasha he planned to move against Siena and agreed to bring her along, leaving her teasing him as she departed.

• Josh recalled Ezio and Christina’s failed relationship and resolved to find a way to keep their story from ending tragically.
• Josh considered how Giovanni’s comprehensive training could make Ezio stronger and decided he could work with Ezio as a classmate rather than a master.
• Josh found Natasha on the church rooftop, noticed she had reached the first tier, and asked how she was settling in.
• Natasha said she was bored, and Josh revealed he planned to expand his efforts beyond Monteriggioni by moving on Siena.
• Josh agreed to let Natasha join the expedition and decided Giovanni, Ezio, and the others would come too.
• Natasha teased Josh by asking whether she should thank him, then left in her assassin’s robe.

Josh considered how to manage Hosdena after the dragon returned with a stolen cow, while Giovanni introduced Ezio and his family to the Secret Ones Church and its extraordinary members. The chapter left Ezio stunned when he learned that the dragon overhead was Garen’s partner.

• Hosdena returned to the church carrying a cow he had taken from a farmer, and Josh planned to compensate the owner and bring the dragon along to conquer Siena.
• Giovanni led Ezio and his family through the church and warned Ezio to treat Josh with respect.
• Giovanni told Ezio that Josh had ruled the Secret Ones Church since Giovanni, Ezio’s father, and Mario were children, and described how Battle Qi had restored his vitality.
• Ezio worried that joining Giovanni’s training meant he would have to choose the Dark branch of the Brotherhood and lose the chance to return to Florence and Christina.
• Ezio spotted a dragon circling overhead, and Giovanni explained that it was Garen’s partner and told him to remain calm.

After a trace of faith power entered Josh’s soul, he learned from Akathosh that his Void Power filtered its harmful impurities and that he should study faith power while expanding his religion. The conversation ended with Josh and Akathosh considering whether Ezio should return to Florence earlier.

• While playing cards with Garen and Natasha, Josh sensed a force enter his soul and meditated as they guarded him.
• Josh found that the golden force was mingling with and apparently nourishing the silver Void energy in his soul, so he recorded what he observed.
• Akathosh identified the trace as faith power from Josh’s believers and explained that Void Power removed its harmful emotional impurities.
• Akathosh advised Josh to study faith power rather than simply absorb it and to expand his religion, while warning that faith had limits and could not replace comprehending the world’s laws.
• Josh said he had a target for establishing a place of faith, and Akathosh proposed having Ezio return to Florence earlier.

After three months of training, Ezio had learned Battle Qi and grown close to Giovanni and Nightingale, while strengthening his resolve to avenge his family. Josh assigned Ezio, Nightingale, and Giovanni a graduation mission in San Gimignano: eliminate the people harassing Monteriggioni and leave no survivors.

• Ezio learned to circulate Battle Qi, became stronger and sharper, and accepted Giovanni's explanation that his father had trusted Uberto too much.
• Ezio trained and sparred with Nightingale, while Natasha's skill in their practical assessment left him determined to improve.
• Ezio learned that Vieri was harassing Monteriggioni and considered asking Josh for permission to deal with him.
• Josh summoned Ezio, Nightingale, and Giovanni, confirmed that their training had met its initial requirements, and gave them a graduation mission.
• Josh ordered them to go to San Gimignano and leave no survivors, and the group agreed to obey.

Josh prepared to expand his influence into Siena while studying the power of faith and allowing Ezio to follow his path of revenge. Mario reported that Siena was ready to fall under their control, and Josh planned to move on the city after Giovanni’s group dealt with Vieri.

• Josh reflected that saving Giovanni had changed Ezio’s future and continued studying how Void-eroded faith affected his soul.
• Mario reported that his preparations in Siena were complete and that Josh’s people could take control when ordered.
• Josh had given Mario a magic crystal that forcibly changed memories, which Mario used to make Siena’s High Priest submit to them.
• Mario told Josh that Siena had exiled its new ruler and fallen into chaos, creating an opening for their expansion.
• Josh ordered preparations to move on Siena after Giovanni and Ezio dealt with Vieri, with Florence as their next target.

Ezio and Giovanni completed their mission in San Gimignano, where they killed Vieri and learned that Rodrigo Borgia was tied to Giovanni’s family’s downfall. Back in Monteriggioni, Josh approved their work and prepared to expand into Siena, then called Giovanni and Mario to discuss something further.

• Ezio and Giovanni discovered that Rodrigo Borgia had been involved in the deaths of Ezio’s father and brothers, but Rodrigo had already left San Gimignano.
• Giovanni forced Vieri to reveal what he knew, then granted Vieri’s request for a clean death before they returned to Monteriggioni.
• Josh accepted Ezio and Nightingale’s completed mission and announced that Siena was the next target.
• Josh told Giovanni that Siena’s archbishop was already under their control, making the city easier to approach.
• Josh stopped Giovanni as he was leaving and said he had something to discuss with him and Mario.

Josh assigned Mario and Giovanni to lead the Assassin Brotherhood’s public and covert branches, defining their political and military responsibilities. He left them with the plan approved and told Giovanni that Ezio would eventually learn his identity.

• Josh summoned Mario and Giovanni to discuss the future of the Assassin Brotherhood and asked Giovanni to remove his mask.
• Josh renamed the Brotherhood the Light-Dark Brotherhood and assigned Mario to lead light, which would oversee public affairs, governance, and missionary work.
• Josh assigned Giovanni to lead dark, which would oversee military forces, Judgment squads, and assassins targeting hostile leaders.
• Giovanni asked whether Ezio would learn his identity, and Josh said he would once the Brotherhood had developed enough and Ezio met his requirements.
• Josh told Giovanni that he did not have to wear the mask forever unless he wanted to.

Josh and Akathosh discussed clues linking the ancient civilization in this world to its legendary gods and abilities. Akathosh had found a pile of bones, and Josh ended the conversation by threatening him over his teasing.

• Josh watched Giovanni and Mario leave, then wondered where Akathosh had been disappearing to.
• Akathosh revealed that he had been investigating the ancient civilization and found its legends and engravings reminiscent of Battle Qi and enchantments.
• Josh and Akathosh discussed artifacts such as the Golden Apple and how the ancient civilization might have preserved powerful techniques.
• Josh argued that he was helping preserve lost knowledge by passing down abilities, while Akathosh mocked him for seeking personal benefits.

Josh assembled his forces and set out for Siena, where he planned to establish his base before eventually moving against Florence. As the group reached Siena’s walls, Josh and Garen prepared to deal with the city, with Josh offering to take charge as Pope.

• After parting from Akathosh, Josh continued studying the Power of Faith and decided his preparations for Siena were complete.
• Josh gathered two hundred mercenaries, though he and Garen doubted their usefulness, and set out with Mario, Giovanni, Ezio, and Ezio’s family.
• During the journey, Josh told Garen he would wait for Siena to stabilize before making a move on Florence, likely for about a year.
• Josh and Garen discussed Josh’s ambitions and his preference for letting people manage themselves while he pursued the Power of Faith.
• The group arrived at Siena’s walls, and Josh said he would handle the situation as the Pope.

Josh and his followers conquered and brought Italy under their control with little resistance, while his Church spread rapidly. The chapter leaves Ezio reunited with Christina and serving Josh as Florence becomes part of his growing domain.

• Josh used Hosdena and his new Icathian Rain spell to crush resistance during the campaigns for Siena and Florence.
• Over four years, Josh and Garen's forces secured Italy as cities surrendered and Ezio, Giovanni, and other assassins dealt with resistant leaders.
• Ezio chose to follow his father into banking and accepted Josh's assignment to establish a branch and gather intelligence in Florence.
• Ezio reunited with Christina, promised not to leave her again, and then completed his assignment before returning to assassination missions.
• Josh negotiated with Lorenzo, gained the right to rule Florence, and returned its authority to him while keeping him under control.
• Josh used Memory Magic Crystals to control condemned officials and church leaders as his Church expanded across Italy.

Josh’s growing faith power followed his efforts to stop the Black Death, while Ezio reunited with Giovanni and learned his family had survived. After four years in Italy, Josh decided to return to Muya and prepare for the Four Nations Invitation.

• Josh gained immense faith power as news spread that doctors from St Mungo’s had helped eliminate the Black Death in his territories.
• Ezio returned to Italy after reclaiming Florence and expanding his banks, then reunited with Giovanni after a fight in Rome.
• Giovanni explained that Josh had saved him and Ezio’s brothers, who were Nightingale and the young magician in the church.
• Natasha stayed close to Josh after catching him using a detection spell while she was bathing, and she continued to challenge him with her assassin skills.
• Josh and Garen agreed to leave Italy after four years, and Josh said he would organize his territory before entering the Four Nations Invitation.

Josh returned to the Muya Continent and admired how Constantinople had been rebuilt into a modernized territory centered on his castle. He explained his plans for commerce, administration, arts, and future construction, then proposed a name for the castle that provoked Akathosh.

• Josh returned from Assassin World and found that the restrictions on his strength had vanished.
• Josh, Garen, and Natasha toured Constantinople and praised the rebuilt town, including its sturdier homes and new roads.
• Josh outlined his plans for the commercial, administrative, and arts districts, and said the military district, technology district, and school were still under construction.
• Josh told Garen and Natasha that Dumbledore had agreed to help build and manage the Secret Ones Alliance in the Marvel Universe.
• Josh asked what to name his castle and suggested Dragon Sky Palace, prompting Akathosh to appear and angrily object.

Josh returned to his territory, named its current region Rivendell, and told Frank he had reached the High Fifth Tier. He planned to boost the territory’s profile and development by turning it into a city of arts, with films, opera, and theater, ahead of the Four Nations Invitation.

• Josh abandoned the name Dragon Sky Palace after Akathosh objected and decided to call his current region Rivendell.
• Howard and Frank arrived, and Josh told them he had advanced to the High Fifth Tier.
• Josh asked Frank whether promoting the territory as a city of arts could raise its reputation and support tourism, construction, and other industries.
• Josh explained that he wanted to use the Four Nations Invitation to attract nobles and wandering mages with artistic entertainment.
• Josh and Howard discussed making magic films about war and using Mozart or Beethoven for opera.

Josh considered making the world’s first films and decided to have Howard help establish a spy organization for the United States after the war. Howard agreed, while Josh reminded him to finish researching magical air conditioning before returning.

• Josh weighed different approaches to making war films but admitted he was unsure how to create the kind of work that portrayed humanity and truth.
• Frank left to handle construction and government affairs after Josh declined to review the administration’s work.
• Howard told Josh he might soon go to the battlefield with Captain America, prompting Josh to remember that S.H.I.E.L.D. needed to be established.
• Josh asked Howard to help the United States government create an intelligence organization after the war, and Akathosh explained that Josh wanted to preserve events for future entertainment.
• Howard reluctantly agreed to Josh’s request, and Josh told him to finish researching magical air conditioning before going back.