Chapter Summaries

Ekaterina defeated Tatyana in a training bout while Tatyana remained distracted by what she had forgotten from that morning. Salomon passed a demanding private examination across several disciplines and later pushed Wanda and Pietro through intensive lessons, urging Pietro to plan for a future beyond revenge.

• Ekaterina, driven by envy and resentment, struck Tatyana with her training sword and kicked her down during their bout.
• Tatyana got back up and counterattacked, while Tita allowed the fight to continue under the training-ground rules.
• Salomon sat a three-day private examination in classical literature, physics, mathematics, politics, economics, philosophy, and linguistics, impressing the professors and earning access to scholars across disciplines.
• Salomon taught Wanda and Pietro an intensive lesson in mathematics and magic, leaving both overwhelmed by the amount of information.
• Salomon told Pietro to pursue a good university and scholarship alongside his revenge, and reminded Wanda to study both magic and science.

Salomon taught Pietro and Wanda magic and science, then announced an exam that could earn them a trip to London and a special gift. He left them preparing for their tests while he planned to send Pietro back and revive a Hydra researcher.

• Salomon explained that he had always been surrounded by magical knowledge and taught the Maximoff siblings at a pace that overwhelmed them.
• Salomon assigned Lorna lessons on her magnetic powers and Pietro studies of physics and the effects of his super-speed.
• Salomon announced that Pietro would take a physics exam and Wanda a combat-training exam, with a London trip as their reward for passing.
• Salomon told Wanda that she could restore a Hydra researcher’s consciousness after he sent Pietro back, and praised her progress.
• Pietro asked how the researchers would react to the siblings’ absence, and Salomon said he could replace them with snowmen; Wanda asked to learn the alchemy.

Salomon reunited with Cassilius in Oslo, and the two shared drinks and memories before discussing their assignment to recover forgotten artifacts of old gods. They set out to search for such magical leftovers, which Cassilius dismissed as trash.

• Cassilius met Salomon at a café in Oslo and embraced him like a son.
• Salomon and Cassilius drank vodka, reminisced about Salomon’s childhood, and talked about his recent examinations.
• Cassilius asked about their mission after they finished their drinks.
• Salomon explained that The Venerable One had assigned them to search for artifacts left behind by old gods.
• Cassilius called the assignment trash-picking and noted that Kamar-Taj had to handle the trouble such objects could cause.

Salomon and Cassilius traveled to Oslo to recover one of Apollo’s Golden Arrows from people planning to conquer the world. Cassilius charged into the suspects’ hotel room, while Salomon stayed behind and left the outcome unresolved.

• Salomon explained that he had taken the mission after finishing an assignment and discussed the Sisterhood’s nuclear tank preparations and the Maximoff siblings’ gifts.
• Salomon recalled that Athena had tasked him with retrieving Apollo’s Golden Arrows, which Kamar-Taj had been collecting for centuries.
• Salomon and Cassilius used Artificial Intelligence to locate the person holding an arrow near Ship Street in Oslo.
• Cassilius cast a spell and rushed into the hotel room where the arrow holders had gathered.

Salomon considered whether to activate Samaritan, an unfinished artificial intelligence he hoped to study and use for projects such as the Mars Foundry. He also discussed Hydra research and a plan to use life-extending surgery to gain influence, while resolving to destroy a powerful rival completely.

• Catherine defeated Always Vigilant at a bank, and its members surrendered except for their leader, whom she handed to Mr. Finch.
• Salomon delayed deciding Samaritan’s fate so he could study its code and considered its potential value to his projects.
• Cassilius interrupted Salomon’s thoughts and invited him to drink strong ale.
• Stephanie told Salomon she had begun acquiring pharmaceutical company shares and investing in a neuroscience institute under cover of Hydra research.
• Stephanie proposed using life-extending surgery to attract wealthy people and gain influence, and Salomon agreed before declaring they must destroy their greatest competitor.

Salomon discovered that the hard drive meant to contain Samaritan held only worthless files, then learned The Machine had concealed the hard-drive swap from him. As he prepared to destroy Samaritan and claim control over it, The Machine sent him two video recordings, including one of a Red-haired Woman mouthing his name.

• Salomon found that the hard drive supposedly containing Samaritan held worthless documents and ordered Tita to bring him the operation file.
• Natasha Romanoff told Steve Rogers that Salomon had foreseen S.H.I.E.L.D.'s crisis, and she offered to help Rogers find him.
• Salomon accepted Artificial Intelligence's proposal to destroy Samaritan and planned to use The Machine's server locations to coordinate an attack.
• Salomon realized The Machine had known that the bank staff swapped the hard drives before Catherine took one from Harold Finch and his classmate, and had hidden this from him.
• The Machine sent Salomon recordings of a black vehicle surrounded by SWAT officers and a Red-haired Woman mouthing his name.

Tatyana watched the Sisterhood mobilize for war while Salomon revealed that Hydra was hunting Nick Fury and that he planned to seize S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark Industries assets. The Artificial Human squads set out as Stephanie began coordinating Salomon’s wider war, leaving Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff to face the truth about Hydra.

• Tita summoned the Artificial Humans, who armed themselves, swore an oath to their master, and boarded Assault Transports and Super Heavy Nuclear Tanks.
• The Sisterhood departed through the rocky dome’s circular gate while the girls watched from their dormitories, and Stephanie began organizing intelligence and preparations for Salomon’s war.
• Natasha Romanoff questioned Salomon about his drinking and his knowledge of Nick Fury’s attack, while Steve Rogers watched footage of the Winter Soldier.
• Salomon told Natasha and Steve that Steve’s old friend was Hydra and explained that his squads were moving against S.H.I.E.L.D. bases and aircraft carriers to seize their technology and wealth.

Tita led the Sisterhood’s assault on multiple S.H.I.E.L.D. sites to rescue Coulson’s team and Agent Victoria Hand, as Salomon’s allies worked to seize parts of S.H.I.E.L.D. before rival Hydra leaders could take them. Meanwhile, Salomon, Natasha Romanoff, and Captain Rogers fled with a USB drive and prepared to decrypt it.

• Tita briefed the Artificial Humans aboard an Assault Transport, ordering them to eliminate hostile targets and rescue Coulson’s team and Agent Victoria Hand.
• Sisterhood teams set out for S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities and an aircraft carrier, coordinating through Wakanda’s satellite Communication System and Salomon’s portal scrolls.
• Tita led the assault on a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. base, with Catherine and her troops following to break through its defenses.
• Tita recalled that Stephanie was using the Malik family’s resources to support Salomon’s plan to capture parts of S.H.I.E.L.D. while leaving conspicuous assets as bait for rival Hydra leaders.
• Salomon told Natasha Romanoff and Captain Rogers that he would decrypt their USB drive with help from an Artificial Intelligence, and Captain Rogers urged them to move quickly.

Alexander Pierce manipulated the World Security Council into restarting Project Insight while Salomon joined Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers to protect S.H.I.E.L.D.'s remaining agents. Salomon met with the supposedly dead Nick Fury, then Agent Victoria Hand arrived at a tense S.H.I.E.L.D. carrier.

• Alexander Pierce steered the World Security Council into blaming Nick Fury for the Lemurian Star hijacking and restarting Project Insight.
• Salomon told Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers he would protect S.H.I.E.L.D.'s remaining forces without directly using magic, and named Agent Victoria Hand as someone he trusted.
• Salomon met with the wounded Nick Fury, who revealed that he and Salomon had made a deal known only to them and Agent Hill.
• A black Assault Transport landed on a tense S.H.I.E.L.D. carrier, and Agent Victoria Hand emerged under the Sisterhood's protection.

Steve Rogers and his allies reached a hidden S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, where Salomon treated Natasha Romanoff and learned that Nick Fury had faked his death. After Steve confronted Salomon about his foreknowledge of the Winter Soldier, Nick Fury discussed Project Insight, and Salomon revealed he had a replacement program.

• Maria Hill brought the wounded Natasha Romanoff and the others to the hidden facility, where they found Nick Fury and Salomon Damonet alive.
• Salomon operated on Natasha and treated her injuries while explaining that his visions showed possibilities across parallel universes.
• Nick Fury revealed that he had used Tetrodotoxin B to fake his death and explained that the deception was meant to make the assassination attempt appear successful.
• Steve Rogers confronted Salomon for knowing the Winter Soldier's identity, but Salomon said Steve could not have changed anything with that knowledge.
• Nick Fury described Project Insight, and Salomon announced that he already had a crime-prediction program.

Salomon and Nick Fury argued over the Helicarriers and the political forces behind Project Insight, while Natasha Romanoff prepared to continue the mission despite her injuries. Salomon explained that he had come for his own purposes and believed S.H.I.E.L.D. could survive Hydra’s defeat by blaming its failures on Hydra and returning to oversight.

• Natasha Romanoff watched Salomon and Nick Fury argue as she recovered from serious injuries, while Agent Hill steered the group back to the mission.
• Nick Fury revealed three targeting chips and proposed replacing the modules on all three Helicarriers so they could seize the carriers and stop Alexander Pierce.
• Steve Rogers opposed keeping the Helicarriers, while Salomon observed that Hydra’s kill list targeted many capitalists and found the political irony amusing.
• Salomon reviewed Tita and Stephanie’s operation updates, then hid his phone when Natasha Romanoff approached and asked whether she would continue the mission.
• Natasha Romanoff said saving twenty million lives mattered most, and Salomon told her that S.H.I.E.L.D. might survive by blaming its problems on Hydra and returning to oversight.

Salomon concealed a backup plan while S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra prepared to collapse, and the Sisterhood revived Victoria Hand to help seize the Helicarrier. The chapter ended with the Sisterhood assaulting a hidden Hydra base to find the Artificial Intelligence Samaritan.

• Salomon told Natasha that the Artificial Intelligence takeover plan was only a contingency, while keeping his real preparations secret.
• Natasha learned that Salomon knew who had attacked him on London's Route 4 and reflected on Steve Rogers' call to purge S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Tita told revived Victoria Hand that John Gettler and Grant Ward were Hydra and ordered her to help suppress the rebellion aboard the carrier for Salomon.
• The Sisterhood attacked a farmhouse concealing a base, crushing its defenders and searching the ruins for the Artificial Intelligence Samaritan.

Salomon planned a future beyond S.H.I.E.L.D. and invited Natasha Romanoff to leave with him, while his forces raided a secret intelligence base for something he wanted. The assault continued as Aura warned the Artificial Humans that troublemakers had arrived.

• Salomon invited Natasha Romanoff to join him at his estate after S.H.I.E.L.D. fell, but she left without answering.
• Salomon revealed that he needed Natasha to help uncover Nick Fury's hidden S.H.I.E.L.D. files and search for clues about the Skrulls.
• A massive tank blasted open the building where the Sisterhood was attacking a Homeland Security base used by an intelligence contractor.
• Aura and five Artificial Humans in Power Armor entered the damaged building and targeted survivors through the dust.
• After the tank fired again and advanced through the rubble, Aura urged the sisters to move faster because troublemakers had arrived.

Salomon coordinated the loyalist S.H.I.E.L.D. forces and the Sisterhood as Steve Rogers exposed Hydra’s takeover and Alexander Pierce’s plans. As fighting broke out inside Triskelion, Salomon sent loyalist agents and armored forces into Washington to seize and protect the Helicarriers while he prepared to upload commands.

• Salomon coordinated with Robert Gonzales and Victoria Hand, secured Gonzales’s agreement to attack Triskelion, and checked the code for the newly activated Artificial Intelligence.
• Alexander Pierce toasted the council members as Steve Rogers began broadcasting that Hydra had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. and that Pierce had killed Nick Fury.
• Steve Rogers reached the satellite command center with Maria Hill’s help and warned S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that Hydra planned to use the Helicarriers to kill its opponents.
• Salomon used two Artificial Intelligences to monitor S.H.I.E.L.D.’s cameras while Stephanie coordinated police and city forces, and gunfire broke out inside S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Salomon sent Robert Gonzales, loyalist agents, and the Sisterhood into Washington through a portal, then ordered Tita to link up with the armored forces and told commanders to protect the Helicarriers.

Salomon watched Steve Rogers and the others fight to stop Project Insight as the three Helicarriers rose from the Potomac. Steve reached a Helicarrier’s server room, where Salomon revealed that he had already altered its code.

• Three Stark-powered Helicarriers rose from the Potomac, and Steve Rogers and Falcon attacked while Maria Hill reported from the satellite control room.
• Robert Gonzales led loyalist agents into Triskelion Headquarters, while Salomon sent Wakandans to seize their Helicarrier and aircraft.
• Salomon deployed Tita and the Sisterhood, who attacked the Helicarriers’ crews and advanced toward their bridges as artillery from the riverbank struck Hydra aircraft and guns.
• Steve Rogers reached a Helicarrier’s blade server with eight minutes left before Project Insight could activate, and found Salomon beside its open hatch.
• Salomon told Steve Rogers that he had replaced files and added programs to the server, leaving Steve too late to stop his changes.

Salomon secured control of the Helicarriers’ satellite links while Natasha Romanoff and Nick Fury exposed Alexander Pierce’s conspiracy at Triskelion Headquarters. With six minutes left, Maria Hill reassigned Salomon to replace Ship C’s chip, and Steve Rogers set off on his own.

• Salomon installed a replacement chip and ordered the Artificial Intelligence to locate and take control of satellite links, including a possible switch to Wakandan satellites.
• Natasha Romanoff seized the Secretary-General’s office, armed the council members, and prepared to release S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secrets online.
• Nick Fury confronted Alexander Pierce, revealed his second iris record, and disabled the security protocols with Natasha’s help.
• Maria Hill told Salomon that Ship A was complete, assigned Falcon to Ship B, and ordered Salomon to replace Ship C’s chip as special operations soldiers attacked her.
• Steve Rogers handed Salomon another chip and declined his offer of a ride through the portal.

Brock Rumlow raced toward the Council chamber while the Winter Soldier threatened the Quinjet hangar, prompting Maria Hill to send Captain Rogers after him. In the chamber, Salomon stopped Black Widow from releasing his files, revealed that he had used an alchemical puppet to replace the Helicarrier chips, and declared that he was Hydra.

• Brock Rumlow learned that the Council had been breached and climbed toward the chamber as Maria Hill ordered Robert Gonzales to stop him.
• Maria Hill learned that the Winter Soldier had appeared at the Quinjet hangar and sent Captain Rogers to intercept him.
• Falcon caught Captain Rogers after he jumped from the Helicarrier toward the ground.
• Salomon stopped Black Widow from releasing his files and told Nick Fury that a snowman puppet was replacing the Helicarrier chips.
• Salomon discussed Hydra's rule and Kamar-Taj's priorities with Alexander Pierce, then let Black Widow resume deleting his files.
• Salomon told Nick Fury, “I am Hydra.”

Salomon revealed that he had taken control of Conservative Hydra and explained that he was gathering power to defend Earth from the Celestials and other threats. He seized S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra’s resources, including the Helicarriers, and declared war against humanity’s invaders.

• Salomon explained to Alexander Pierce, Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff, and Director Powell that he had purged Conservative Hydra and become its king.
• Salomon recounted the Brotherhood of the Shield’s history and warned that the Celestials would return to Earth.
• Salomon argued that humanity had to unite against the Celestials and other dark forces instead of fighting over political power.
• Artificial Humans arrived and reported that their replacements were complete.
• Salomon vanished the three Helicarriers and ordered his forces to take control of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra resources.
• Salomon declared that he would lead humanity’s war against its invaders and proclaimed his many titles and claims to rule.

Salomon met Natasha Romanoff in London and discussed the aftermath of the Helicarriers’ disappearance, the investigation into S.H.I.E.L.D., and his long-term role as humanity’s safeguard. He invited Natasha to join his plan and brought her through a portal to the City of Immortals.

• Salomon and Natasha discussed Congress’s investigation and the political fallout from the disappearance of the three Insight Helicarriers.
• Natasha explained that Nick Fury had kept Salomon’s name secret, while she struggled to account for the events surrounding Alexander Pierce’s death and the vanished carriers.
• Salomon described the contract he had made with the people present and his centuries-spanning test of secular governments against dark forces.
• Salomon asked Natasha about Steve Rogers and explained that S.H.I.E.L.D.’s remaining forces were cooperating to purge Nazi Faction Hydra.
• Salomon invited Natasha to join his plan, then opened a portal from the café’s supply room to the City of Immortals and urged her to enter.

Salomon showed Natasha the City of Immortals’ Helicarrier refit and his plans to build a space fleet for plunder. He revealed that captured Hydra personnel were undergoing labor reform and asked Natasha to contact Nick Fury for medical staff, leaving her to consider whether she would join his project.

• Salomon showed Natasha the Helicarrier being dismantled and described his plans to refit the vessels as Sky Battleships and spacecraft.
• Natasha discovered that the Helicarrier’s crew had been put to work cleaning the ships, and Salomon said they were being isolated while he reshaped their beliefs.
• Salomon told Natasha he planned to target resource-rich worlds as a space pirate and argued that he needed a larger workforce for humanity’s future.
• Salomon asked Natasha to speak with Nick Fury about obtaining medical personnel for his ships.