Chapter Summaries

Dinah received Catherine’s report on Father Morlu and ordered her to join Tita, Aura, and Sevia on a mission before meeting Salomon. The chapter ended with Lorelei confined in the City of Immortals, wondering whether Salomon preferred men after her attempts to seduce him failed.

• Catherine returned from tracking Father Morlu in New York and reported that he had flown back to Rome.
• Dinah explained that the Artificial Humans were to make contact with the Witches, and Catherine asked to join the ongoing mission.
• Dinah agreed, sent Catherine to follow Tita’s command, and reminded her to retrieve and iron her robe.
• Dinah reviewed the Artificial Humans’ missions and monitored Lorelei, who remained confined in the City of Immortals.
• Lorelei recalled how Salomon had rebuffed her attempts to seduce him and began suspecting that he liked men.

Agent Coulson’s operation to find the Oracle failed, and Agent Hand grew suspicious that Salomon Damonet was involved. After Grant Ward killed Thomas Nash, Coulson doubted Nash had been the real Oracle, and Simmons reported that Salomon had arrived at the office carrying something.

• Agent Coulson and Skye launched a double-blind operation to find the Oracle, while Agent Victoria Hand urged Coulson to add Salomon Damonet to the suspect list.
• Agent Hand warned Coulson that Salomon might be dangerous and said she would return to headquarters to coordinate the teams.
• The operation went wrong: Grant Ward’s team missed its target, Coulson and Garrett were intercepted, and Deathlok attacked Agent Black and Melinda May.
• The agents tracked Deathlok to Thomas Nash, and Grant Ward shot Nash after the Oracle ordered Skye shot.
• Coulson doubted Nash had been the Oracle, and Simmons told him Salomon Damonet had arrived carrying something.

Salomon pressured Lorelei to study so she could become a capable Queen Regent, then left her locked in her room to inspect Maya Hansen’s successful Extremis Virus experiment. He ordered Maya to combine the Knights of the Round Table’s DNA with his and Asgardian genetic material, and set out to find test subjects and more DNA.

• Salomon told Lorelei that she needed to study if she wanted to become Queen Regent, and warned that she would die if she had no value to him.
• Lorelei agreed to study, and Salomon left her confined behind a magically sealed vault door.
• Maya Hansen showed Salomon that the Extremis Virus had successfully transcribed genetic material from the Knights of the Round Table.
• Salomon told Maya to splice the Knights’ DNA with his and Asgardian DNA, then study and label the resulting genetic combinations.
• Salomon vanished through a portal to find test subjects and more genetic material, leaving Maya worried that he planned to rob graves.

Salomon visited Agent Coulson’s team and confessed to excavating the remains of historical figures, then asked them to tolerate his methods. Later, he made a dangerous bargain with The Unifier to gain genetic-modification knowledge, and emerged from the ordeal with his sanity damaged but his soul protected by Agamotto.

• Salomon found Agent Coulson’s plane and showed Coulson, Simmons, and Skye the historical remains he had dug up.
• Salomon told Agent Coulson he had used portals to enter burial sites and planned to dig up George Washington, but agreed to leave Washington’s remains alone.
• Mariana Stern’s experiments prepared Extremis Virus samples containing edited DNA from the Knights of the Round Table, Salomon, and Asgardians.
• Salomon traded part of his sanity and Mental Power to The Unifier for the Goddess of Dark Abundance’s genetic-modification techniques, while Agamotto protected his soul.
• Maya Hansen watched Salomon convulse as the knowledge overwhelmed him, then heard him declare that he understood everything.

Salomon completed a dangerous transaction with Yog-Sothoth and Agamotto, gaining the Mother of Genes’ knowledge at the cost of enduring severe physical and mental strain. He told Maya Hansen the sacrifice was necessary for his mission, while the Sorcerer Supreme watched new threats gather across the universe.

• Salomon activated the Holy Marks and rose through the Formative Realm into the Creative Realm as the transaction with Yog-Sothoth and Agamotto took place.
• Salomon received the Mother of Genes’ knowledge about human genetics and life-altering technology, then shut down the Holy Marks and endured the knowledge’s impact.
• Salomon collapsed, vomited blood and black pus, and laughed before recovering enough to speak with Maya Hansen.
• Maya Hansen demanded to know what had happened, and Salomon explained the deal and said he had paid a price she could never pay.
• Maya Hansen asked whether Salomon’s sacrifice was worth it, and he calmly affirmed that it served his mission.
• The Sorcerer Supreme observed Dormammu and several other threats stirring across the universe and judged Salomon indispensable.

After a draining bargain left Salomon weak, Maya Hansen helped him rest while he reassured her and assigned the Druid Order to support her work. He fell asleep surrounded by anxious Artificial Humans, after explaining that Bayonetta and Jeanne had gone to Japan.

• Salomon apologized to Maya Hansen for making her think he distrusted her and promised she was important to his plans.
• Salomon told Mariana Stern to gather the Druid Order of Sola Red Forest and begin learning his deepest spells to assist Maya Hansen.
• Maya Hansen took Salomon to his bedroom and arranged sick leave, but he refused to let her call a doctor because his DNA was secret.
• Salomon explained that Bayonetta and Jeanne had gone to Japan to deal with the Witch Himiko and her contract with the Abyss demons.
• Dinah and the Artificial Humans rushed in after Salomon summoned them, and he ordered them to protect Maya Hansen and notify his allies.
• Salomon told the worried group he only needed sleep, then drifted off as Dinah stayed by his side.

After Salomon fell into a deep sleep, the Sisterhood imposed a sweeping security lockdown and refused T'Challa's request to visit him. Tita told the Wakandan prince that Salomon was mentally exhausted, while privately struggling to keep the newly created Sisters calm about their master's condition.

• T'Challa arrived at Salomon's apartment with his guard, but armored Artificial Humans blocked them from reaching him.
• Dinah's Artificial Human legion fortified Salomon's apartment and nearby rooftops, while carrying out a violent purge of the neighborhood's criminals.
• T'Challa told Tita that Wakanda wanted to know what had happened to Salomon and asked when he would wake up.
• Tita said Salomon had ordered the Sisters to let him sleep for several days because of mental exhaustion, but she could not say when he would awaken or let T'Challa visit.
• T'Challa asked the Sisters to have Salomon contact him when he woke, then left with the Wakandans.
• After Catherine asked whether Dinah knew more about Salomon, Tita reassured her and privately admitted that she and the other Sisters were struggling to stay calm.

Salomon collapsed after receiving overwhelming knowledge from Yog-Sothoth, and Athena confirmed that he was suffering from mental exhaustion. As Dinah cared for him, Salomon remained trapped in a dream, struggling to process the knowledge and sinking deeper into sleep.

• Athena examined Salomon and determined that his collapse came from mental exhaustion, while Dinah concealed what she knew about his secret arts.
• Maya Hansen described Salomon's spell, and Dinah told Athena that the Sorcerer Supreme had ordered him to rest; Athena left him in the Artificial Humans' care.
• Dinah refused Tony Stark's request to visit Salomon, suspecting that S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent him to gather information.
• Salomon struggled through a dream of genetic knowledge forced upon him by The Unifier, convinced he had to decipher it before he could wake.
• Agamotto's amulet interrupted Salomon's near-mad thoughts, and he fell into a deeper sleep as Dinah prepared an IV nearby.

Salomon woke after a long sleep and reassured Maya Hansen that he was safe and unchanged. He explained his progress with the Holy Marks and the Kabbalah’s Tree of Life, while the subtle influence of his emerging power affected those around him.

• Salomon woke and drank hot tea while Dinah and the Sisterhood members watched over him.
• Salomon told Maya Hansen he felt fine and asked Dinah what had happened while he slept.
• Dinah recounted visits from the Wakandan royal prince, Master Wong, Athena, Harold Finch, and Samun Shaw.
• Salomon showed Dinah and Maya Hansen the Kabbalah Mysticism text and explained how his Holy Marks related to the Sephiroth and his pursuit of the Unmanifest.
• Salomon described the pain of the Holy Marks and promised Maya Hansen that the knowledge would not change him, though his presence subtly influenced those nearby.

Salomon reviewed reports, arranged Mars exploration plans with Wakanda, and caught up with visitors before Athena noticed a change in him and urged him to improve his quality of life. The chapter ended with Athena lecturing him about bathing customs in Ancient Rome.

• Dinah stopped Salomon from working and watching a women's high jump competition during his meal, then gave him visitor records that included Master Wong's report on the Witches' operation.
• Salomon reviewed the Witches' mission and decided not to interfere, then emailed T'Challa to arrange a meeting about Mars exploration and unmanned construction factories.
• Salomon contacted the visitors he had missed, though some would require in-person meetings.
• Athena examined Salomon and sensed that he had gained an unusual power resembling that of Zeus and the Sorcerer Supreme.
• Athena criticized Salomon's shampoo and lectured him about Roman bathhouses, bathing rituals, and the importance of taking better care of his life.

Salomon visited Athena, then Harold Finch drove him to Sing Sing Prison because someone wanted him dead and Finch believed a prisoner named Elijah could help resolve the danger. Salomon entered the prison to meet Elijah, while two members of the Sisterhood followed him from the air.

• Athena dressed Salomon in a suit and insisted he eat Japanese barbecue with her before he left.
• Harold Finch warned Salomon that New York gangs believed he had joined their conflict and that gang bosses near his home had been killed.
• Salomon told Finch that The Machine could now manufacture weapons and equipment, but Finch said the Machine was not the reason for their meeting.
• Finch drove Salomon to Sing Sing Prison, where he said someone wanted Salomon dead and introduced Elijah as the person they would see.
• Two armed members of the Sisterhood followed Salomon, while he entered the prison with Finch.

Salomon and Elijah discussed using Salomon’s forces to destroy New York gangs and crooked cops, while Harold Finch opposed their violent approach. After learning that mercenaries had accepted a bounty on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Lemurian Star, Salomon decided to investigate Nick Fury and take over an organization’s resources by becoming Hydra.

• Salomon and Elijah discussed New York’s gangs, crooked cops, and a deal in which Elijah would help convert seized gang wealth into gold.
• Harold Finch argued against violence, but Elijah said legal methods would fail and Salomon lacked the people to fight crooked cops without casualties.
• Salomon suggested hiring the Punisher, but Elijah said Frank Castle might kill him even in prison.
• Dinah reported that Shuri had focused on machinery and that the Sisterhood’s first aircraft could reach low Earth orbit and support orbital drops.
• Dinah told Salomon that mercenaries had accepted a dark-web bounty on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Lemurian Star, and Salomon ordered the artificial intelligence to trace who posted it.
• Salomon said Nick Fury was no longer a cooperation target and declared that his organization would become Hydra.

Salomon planned to seize Hydra assets through a covert factional dispute and sent Dinah to recover the New York battle’s nuclear missile as leverage. He then visited Stark, who demonstrated the Disintegration Field prototype’s material problems and revealed he had found a cheaper source of Vibranium.

• Salomon planned to disguise his takeover of Hydra assets as a conflict between its factions before Project Insight exposed them.
• Salomon gave Dinah a mission to locate and seize the nuclear missile launched during the Battle of New York, ordering her to avoid casualties among the Artificial Human Legion.
• Salomon told Dinah to gather the team and asked her to have Shuri design orbital warships.
• Salomon visited Stark, who demonstrated that the Disintegration Field prototype melted titanium-gold alloy and tungsten steel.
• Stark admitted he had used half of Salomon’s Asgardian longsword for testing and said he had found someone who could supply Vibranium cheaply.

After arranging matters in New York, Salomon returned to Oxfordshire to resume classes and discuss his research with Jane Foster. He reunited with Darcy and invited her to see Les Misérables, leaving for the performance with tickets and contraband liquor.

• Stark explained that Vibranium had informed the Mark II Iron Armor’s shock absorption system, while Salomon agreed with his idea of building armor suited to its purpose.
• Dinah woke Salomon before dawn, and he traveled from New York to London so he could return to class at Merton College.
• Salomon rode to his Oxfordshire home and prepared to visit his college tutor about revising his paper with Jane Foster.
• Salomon met Darcy at Jane Foster’s flat and offered her tickets to Les Misérables at the Royal Opera House.
• Darcy brought miniature bottles of liquor, and she and Salomon hurried off toward the performance.

Tita led the Artificial Human Sisterhood in a stealth assault on Langley Air Force Base to seize the nuclear warhead stored there. They destroyed the base’s command tower and defenses, then secured the freight elevator leading underground.

• Tita organized the assault squad and support team, assigning Aura’s reserve squad to handle enemy armored vehicles if needed.
• The Sisterhood activated their Steel Wings and descended from a stealth aircraft toward the base.
• James Rhodes discovered the attackers’ target and ordered the base to respond, but a rocket destroyed the control tower before he could reach his armor.
• Tita’s squad crushed the defenders and armored personnel carrier guarding the special munitions depot, while Catherine and the others advanced under heavy fire.
• Tita ordered explosives prepared at the freight elevator, and Sevia and other Sisters tossed grenades down its shaft.

Tita led the Sisterhood into the bunker to reach the nuclear missile while Darcy and Salomon fled after causing trouble at the Royal Opera House. Above ground, Christina used an EMP to disable the attackers’ electronics, but Colonel Rhodes’s Iron Armor and the American troops had forced the Sisterhood into a fight on both sides.

• Tita descended the elevator shaft, and her assault team defeated the soldiers guarding the bunker lobby.
• Catherine killed more than a dozen soldiers, while the Sisterhood subdued the rest and opened the sealed steel doors with Shuri’s thermal cutting device.
• Tita took a researcher hostage and entered the nuclear missile maintenance area, determined to reach her target.
• Darcy got drunk in a taxi with Salomon, attacked a guard at the Royal Opera House, and fled with him as the guards gave chase.
• Sisterhood members above the shaft fought American troops and Colonel Rhodes’s Iron Armor while Christina called in EMP support.
• Christina’s EMP disabled most enemy electronics, and she ordered the Sisterhood to destroy the heavy armored vehicles and attack the remaining enemies.

Salomon monitored the Sisterhood’s battle against American forces as Christina led a brutal assault to secure the nuclear warhead. After the Sisterhood departed for Rome with the warhead and its researchers, Salomon told the hungover Darcy he was going to pick up his girlfriend.

• Salomon received Dinah’s report that Tita had located the nuclear warhead, Christina was intercepting reinforcements, and Colonel Rhodes had been captured under the Sisterhood’s control.
• Salomon authorized the use of scrolls and ordered the Sisterhood to keep Rhodes alive if possible.
• Christina drank a Dragon Form Potion, transformed into a crimson dragon, and attacked the American forces while the Sisterhood destroyed vehicles and fought at close range.
• Christina ordered the Sisterhood to protect Lady Tina’s squad as it transported the nuclear bomb and to prevent Rhodes from getting up.
• The Sisterhood flew toward the City of Immortals in Rome with the nuclear warhead and its researchers.
• Darcy woke with a hangover, and Salomon told her she had drunk Potions before leaving to pick up his girlfriend.

Salomon brought Bayonetta a candy bouquet and reunited with Laura Croft, who recounted her escape from the island with help from Bayonetta and Jeanne. The gathering turned serious when Salomon asked the Witches whether they were prepared to defy their overlord, and Laura learned that demons were real.

• Salomon visited Bayonetta and Jeanne with a bouquet of magical rose-shaped lollipops, and Bayonetta accepted it while teasing him with Laura Croft's dagger.
• Bayonetta and Jeanne explained that they had rescued Laura, treated her wounds, and helped her companions escape the island by yacht.
• Salomon drew the curtains, conjured blankets and a fireplace, and asked Laura to describe her adventure as everyone gathered in the living room.
• Salomon discussed the Umbra Witches' contracts and promised to retrieve Bayonetta and Jeanne's souls if they fell into the Abyss.
• Jeanne said Himiko remained in the dangerous place to keep people from wandering in, and Salomon told Laura that Phoenix was a demon god while Cheshire Cat was merely a cat from Avalon.

Salomon explained why he wanted to move the witches away from New York and considered several estates for their new home. Meanwhile, the missing nuclear warhead from the attack on a U.S. Air Force base left Gideon Malick fearing that S.H.I.E.L.D. had uncovered Hydra’s role.

• Bayonetta coaxed Salomon into revealing that Laura Croft’s fate was tied to Quetzalcoatl and that she could expose the god’s weakness before the flood.
• Salomon told the witches that magical mishaps and New York’s dangers made their apartment unsuitable, and he proposed buying an estate for them.
• Jeanne and the other witches began discussing estates and travel plans, including coastal destinations and a trip north to see the aurora.
• The White House classified the Air Force base attack as terrorism and sought S.H.I.E.L.D.’s help investigating the missing nuclear warhead, but Nick Fury refused.
• Gideon Malick realized the missing warhead was the one he had urged them to launch during the Battle of New York and feared S.H.I.E.L.D. had traced Hydra back to him.

Salomon forged a rune-etched sword as a sacred relic and symbol of his will for the Sisterhood. After inspecting their preparations, he told Tita that the Artificial Human Legion would soon undertake a mission that would bring them onto the stage.

• Salomon forged a sword for the Sisterhood over the course of a week, using rare materials and his own golden blood to imbue it with power.
• Tita explained that the sisters had chosen the sword as their sacred relic, to be wielded by a Sisterhood Commander in battle.
• Salomon asked Tita to show him the nuclear warhead, which the sisters guarded in a lead-lined room, and she reported that they were also monitoring the scientist in his inspections.
• Tita reported that the sisters had improved through live combat and were practicing tactics for the Artificial Human Legion.
• Salomon announced that their next mission would officially bring them onto the stage and would test the Artificial Human Legion.