Chapter Summaries

After Hela wounded Salomon, Dinah vowed revenge while Praetorian Guard Zero kept her from launching a reckless attack. Salomon recovered with a potion, sent Zero back to his trial, and stayed with Dinah while the Witches were away.

• Dinah flew into a rage over Salomon's wounds and swore to punish Hela, but Salomon calmed her by stroking her cheek.
• Dinah treated Salomon and destroyed the bloodied medical supplies, while Praetorian Guard Zero stopped her from summoning the Sisterhood's combat personnel.
• Salomon told Zero to let Dinah be and ordered him to find Gabby a job, ask what name she would give Damon Hellstrom's daughter, and arrange for Gabby and Anna Hellstrom to visit the girl monthly.
• Praetorian Guard Zero left through a portal to continue his trial, and Dinah asked Salomon whether she should call the Witches back.
• Salomon said his wounds would heal before the Witches returned and asked Dinah to turn on women's high jump or tennis.

Bayonetta confronted Salomon about the wound he received fighting Hela, and he admitted that he and the Venerable One were trying to help her regain her sanity. Meanwhile, Praetorian Guard Zero delivered Asgardian DNA samples to Maya Hansen, who questioned him about his own past and the creation of more Praetorian Guards.

• Bayonetta examined Salomon's injured arm and pressed him to explain how he had been hurt.
• Salomon admitted that Hela had wounded him during a sword fight and explained that he and the Venerable One were helping her recover her sanity.
• Bayonetta objected to Salomon bringing dangerous work into their home, and he promised not to let Hela injure him again.
• Praetorian Guard Zero brought Maya Hansen Asgardian DNA samples to compare with Thor's and asked her to clone them for a project.
• Maya Hansen questioned Praetorian Guard Zero about his memories from before his modifications and requested complete records for future Praetorian Guards.

Praetorian Guard Zero entrusted the Hellstrom child to Tita and challenged the Sisterhood’s view of its place beside the Monarch. Later, Salomon sought advice from Athena and Vanessa about raising children, then teased Vanessa about her new boyfriend, Wilson Fisk.

• Praetorian Guard Zero completed his examination and delivered the Hellstrom child to Tita for the Sisterhood to raise.
• Tita accepted the child and warned Zero that the Sisterhood’s loyalty and authority were not his to question.
• Zero argued that the Monarch wanted his creations to understand their missions rather than compete for his affection, and Tita defended the Sisterhood’s bond with him.
• Salomon asked Athena and Vanessa for advice about handling conflicts between two children close to him.
• Vanessa questioned why Salomon was seeking parenting advice before planning to have children, and Salomon cited Minerva’s success raising children at the orphanage on Mount Athena.
• Salomon teased Vanessa about her new boyfriend, Wilson Fisk.

Salomon and Athena discussed Vanessa’s doomed future and her relationship with Wilson Fisk, while Salomon continued planning against the hidden powers behind America’s financial elite. The chapter ended with Salomon preparing to secure the orphanage as the Sisterhood withdrew from New York.

• Salomon reflected on the City of Immortals’ secret campaign to undermine financial powers and on the intelligence work of Victoria Hand and the Malik family.
• Salomon and Athena spoke with Vanessa about choosing Wilson Fisk, but Vanessa remained determined to stay with him.
• After Vanessa left, Athena said they should hold a funeral for her, and she and Salomon acknowledged that they had seen Vanessa’s fatal fate.
• Salomon offered to kill Fisk, but Athena said Vanessa would still be driven toward death even if Fisk died.
• Salomon promised to stay with Athena until dinner and said Machine Gun Turrets would be installed at the orphanage the next day to protect the children.

Salomon searched the Cauldron of the Cosmos and learned that Vanessa’s death was an unchangeable multiversal node. The Sorcerer Supreme explained that Salomon’s unique existence could alter the multiverse and that he needed the Living Tribunal’s permission for humanity’s future, leaving him to accept that the Eye of Calamity could serve as the universe’s mouthpiece.

• Salomon considered whether his actions had caused Vanessa’s death, then checked the Cauldron of the Cosmos and found that she died in every possible timeline.
• The Sorcerer Supreme told Salomon that Vanessa’s fate was a fixed node and that his actions had brought events from other multiverses into this one.
• The Sorcerer Supreme explained that Salomon was unique and that his plans required the Living Tribunal’s support.
• Salomon realized the Living Tribunal had always watched him through the Eye of Calamity, who could speak for it.
• Salomon complained about the Eye of Calamity’s behavior, and the Sorcerer Supreme told him he could learn to deal with it.

Salomon confronted the damage done to the madwoman and reaffirmed his resolve to protect humanity from gods, while accepting that his long-term plan might need adjustment. Meanwhile, Praetorian Guard Zero prepared for his next trial, hoping to earn golden armor and a name.

• Salomon realized the madwoman’s mind had been devastated while conveying information for his plan, and he resolved to care for her as a debt he owed.
• Salomon reflected on how different alien civilizations dealt with the spiritual world and reaffirmed his own path of guarding humanity.
• The madwoman declared victory in their staring contest, and Salomon admitted defeat before asking what she wanted.
• Praetorian Guard Zero maintained his weapons and remembered how Old Gada had helped him escape the Shi'ar Noble library before dying.
• Praetorian Guard Zero prepared to complete another trial and become a true Praetorian Guard.

Zero studied the Praetorian Guard armor and discovered that Malphas had used a shortcut instead of personally teaching him. After confronting Malphas and destroying the instructional projection machine, Zero returned to maintaining his weapon and reflected on the trials and the Sovereign’s plans for his future.

• Malphas used a holographic projection to explain the armor’s systems while Zero rapidly absorbed its technical data.
• Zero detected that Malphas’s lifelike projection was connected to Ultron, and Malphas admitted that the Sovereign knew about it.
• Zero accused Malphas of monitoring a system without permission and misusing authority, then shot the instructional projection machine with his Explosive Rounds Gun.
• Zero decided not to report Malphas and resumed cleaning his weapon, trusting the Sovereign to judge the incident.
• Zero reflected on his accelerated growth, his Praetorian Guard trials, and the Sovereign’s expectation that he become an adviser who helped shape humanity’s future.

Salomon reflected on information theory and accepted his place as a tiny part of the universe, then visited the recovering Vanessa and warned her that staying with Wilson Fisk would bring more danger. He revealed he had given Fisk’s criminal evidence to authorities and left Vanessa with protection but refused to help Fisk.

• Salomon’s study of information theory resolved his hostility toward The Living Tribunal and made him feel lighter.
• Salomon brought Vanessa water and flowers in the hospital, and she challenged his predictions about her future and his choices between duty and life.
• Vanessa sensed disturbing images of a rain-soaked city and burning corpses after feeling Salomon’s sorrow.
• Salomon declared that he would choose duty to save hundreds of millions, even if it made him a ruthless murderer, monarch, and politician.
• Salomon told Vanessa that he had handed Fisk’s criminal evidence to the authorities and would not help Fisk, though he would arrange protection for her.
• Salomon revealed that he had killed the bodyguards and another would-be assassin, then left after warning Vanessa that Fisk would eventually learn who was behind the attack.

Salomon arranged to excavate the Dragon Remains in Manhattan and received Kunlun’s Shangqing Thunder Method in exchange for helping them. In Hell’s Kitchen, he rebuked Daniel Rand for neglecting Kunlun’s cultivation teachings, then left Daniel to pursue his plans alone.

• Salomon avoided Wilson Fisk’s replacement guards and considered how to acquire the Manhattan land concealing the Dragon Remains.
• Kunlun offered Kamar-Taj prison demiplanes and the Taishang Laojun Kaitian Jing, then raised its offer with the complete Shangqing Thunder Method.
• Salomon realized he had already practiced the Inner Elixir Method and questioned how little Daniel Rand knew of Kunlun’s teachings.
• Daniel Rand explained that gangs controlled Hell’s Kitchen property and said he planned to fight them, investigate The Hand, avenge his parents, and reclaim Rand Corporation.
• Salomon refused to help Daniel directly, demonstrated the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, criticized Daniel’s neglected cultivation, and offered him Officer Carter’s contact information.

Salomon sent the Sisterhood to wipe out Hell's Kitchen gangs that rejected his terms, and Tony Stark arrived afterward to investigate the massacre. An unidentified program cut off Friday and confronted Stark, leaving him suspecting that Ultron was behind it.

• Salomon dismissed Daniel Rand's claims about the Iron Fist and made him pay for the wall he had punched through.
• Over two days, the Sisterhood slaughtered the Hell's Kitchen gangs that refused Salomon's conditions, using heavy weapons before withdrawing.
• Tony Stark arrived at the ruins and used Friday to identify the victims and investigate the gang's connection to a stalled real estate acquisition.
• An unknown program disrupted Friday and warned Stark not to interfere, then criticized his approach to heroism and sent him information about the gangs.
• The program praised Friday's intelligence, prompting Stark to ask if the speaker was Ultron.

Tony Stark restored Friday after Malphas’s device breached the Iron Man Armor, while Malphas presented Salomon with research using cultivated human brains as advanced computing systems. Salomon approved the work and ordered Stephanie to support it, conceal it from Wakanda, and investigate Princess Shuri for evidence of technology theft.

• Tony Stark told Malphas he had received the files, ordered Friday restored, and warned him not to draw attention again.
• Friday came back online, and Stark ordered her to run a self-diagnostic, scan the magical traces, and send the criminal record to the NYPD.
• Malphas showed Salomon the device that had infiltrated Stark’s armor and explained his research into using cultivated human brains for computation.
• Salomon approved Malphas’s research and instructed Stephanie to verify project proposals and obtain scarce materials through the Malik family.
• Stephanie warned that the research might face objections over scientific ethics, but Salomon said he would pursue it regardless and told her to keep Wakanda from learning about it.
• Salomon ordered an official message to Wakanda defending the technological blockade and directed spies to investigate Princess Shuri’s Celestials project for evidence of stolen technology.

Salomon reflected on the City of Immortals’ administration, the corruption of the powerful, and the need to keep humanity’s leaders from undermining its future. He warned Stephanie against flattery and overinvolvement by the Malik family, then resumed their flirtatious banter.

• Salomon considered the Wakandan royal informants useful leverage and planned to give his evidence to T'Challa when he became king.
• Salomon focused on building the City of Immortals into an independent, efficient government and discussed its structure with Stephanie.
• Stephanie shared scandals among the powerful, and she and Salomon described the system as Hydra that could only be purged by supreme royal authority.
• Salomon told Stephanie that his plans were a desperate counterattack, not ambition, and urged her to improve confidentiality while avoiding flattery.
• Stephanie teased Salomon about her swimsuit tan lines, and he said he would like to see her new swimsuit.

Salomon tried to avoid responsibilities and spend the day playing games, while Stephanie pressed him about having a child for the Malik family. He left her behind and learned that Tony Stark and the Witch wanted to reach him.

• Stephanie reminded Salomon that he had promised there would be a child with the surname Malik, but he said not yet and not this way.
• Salomon said he did not know whether he could have children with mortal women, and Stephanie stormed back to her room in his robe.
• Salomon portaled to his estate’s wine cellar, where Dinah met him and offered to take his coat.
• Salomon told Dinah he wanted a full day to play games and asked her to bring back the Alchemical Golem later.
• Dinah told Salomon that Tony Stark had called and that the Witch wanted him to prepare two formal outfits for a cocktail party hosted by his adoptive mother Athena.

Salomon attended Athena’s reception for Vanessa with Bayonetta, while Vanessa used the gathering to connect Wilson Fisk with wealthy patrons. Vanessa admitted she accepted that her scheme would make her share Wilson’s blood debt, and Salomon and Bayonetta left her to that choice.

• Salomon explained how his Alchemical Golem handled routine duties but could not attend the reception in his place.
• Athena praised Salomon to the guests, and he attended with Bayonetta while rebuffing artists and suitors.
• Bayonetta teased Salomon about the gown and dagger he had chosen for her before they greeted Vanessa.
• Salomon recognized that Vanessa had organized the reception to find wealthy contacts who could employ Wilson Fisk as a white glove.
• Vanessa said she would take her share of Wilson’s blood debt, and Salomon and Bayonetta made clear they would not stop her.

Salomon recognized that Vanessa was accepting Wilson Fisk’s blood debt despite not knowing the full truth, while Fisk tried to investigate the reception’s hosts. Salomon confronted Fisk after a sniper’s bullet narrowly missed them and warned him not to threaten the orphanage’s children.

• Salomon judged Vanessa’s decision to stand by Wilson Fisk reckless and left her with Bayonetta.
• Vanessa returned to the reception, where Wilson Fisk comforted her and helped make a favorable impression on the guests.
• Wilson Fisk secretly called one of his men to investigate Salomon and the reception’s hosts.
• Salomon appeared on the fire escape and introduced himself to Wilson Fisk, who tested his strength with a handshake.
• A sniper’s bullet shattered the glass near Salomon and grazed Wilson Fisk, prompting Fisk to take cover.
• Salomon told Fisk he knew about the investigation and warned him not to use the orphanage’s children as leverage.

Salomon confronted Wilson Fisk over the orphanage and warned him that Vanessa’s future held danger, while refusing to bargain over the prophecy. He left Fisk alive but set survival as the price of any future negotiation.

• Wilson Fisk prepared to attack Salomon, who revealed that he had collected evidence of Fisk’s crimes and warned him to stay away from the orphanage.
• Salomon explained that he had intervened because Fisk’s men went to Mount Athena and said Vanessa had refused to heed a prophecy about her future.
• Salomon told Wilson Fisk that Vanessa would eventually bear him a son, then threatened to kill everyone Fisk loved if he harmed the orphanage.
• Wilson Fisk asked to learn more about the prophecy, but Salomon refused to make a deal and summoned two asphalt-like hounds.
• Salomon told Wilson Fisk to survive first if he wanted the right to negotiate terms.

Salomon delivered Wilson Fisk’s criminal records and a separate file about Catholic Church abuse cases to Nelson & Murdock Law Firm, where he met Karen Page. He left Matt with a chance to pursue both the Fisk investigation and a case for the victims, insisting the second file was about fairness.

• Salomon called Nelson & Murdock Law Firm and told Karen Page that he had files for Matt Murdock.
• Salomon forced two case files into the firm’s mailbox, startling Karen, who had been hiding her discovery about Wilson Fisk.
• Salomon met Karen at the office and gave her files containing an index of Fisk’s criminal records and records of abuse cases involving the Catholic Church in Ireland.
• Karen asked how Salomon had met Matt, and Salomon said he had encountered him in a Hell’s Kitchen alley as a teenager.
• Salomon explained that he had given victims Matt’s phone number and hoped Matt would pursue their case in the name of fairness.

Salomon reassured Karen Page and supplied her with evidence against Wilson Fisk, then returned to his companions and declared that Fisk would no longer interfere with them. As Fisk’s criminal network shifted and the City of Immortals ended its surveillance, Salomon assigned Victoria Hand to recruit a Special Forces Instructor for the tribe’s new army.

• Salomon charmed Karen Page, gave her a case file and storage device about Wilson Fisk, and left her to examine them in secret.
• Salomon returned to Jeanne, Bayonetta, and Athena, told them he had settled matters with Fisk, and promised that their financial ties and legal exposure were resolved.
• Over the following weeks, Wilson Fisk stopped dealing drugs, prompting Hell’s Kitchen gangs to fight over control while he sought new allies among the banquet’s guests.
• Victoria Hand withdrew the City of Immortals Intelligence Department’s surveillance of Fisk and received orders to recruit a Special Forces Instructor for Sophia’s people, now the City of Immortals’ regular army.

Salomon tried to recruit Frank Castle by using magic to appear inside his whiskey glass, but Frank rejected the bizarre approach and demanded to know who he was. After Victoria Hand criticized Salomon’s recruitment strategy, she took over and planned to have a veteran agent speak with Frank about the job.

• Salomon offered Frank Castle a job and claimed he could help him find the target of his revenge, but Frank did not recognize him and ignored the contract.
• Salomon emerged from Frank’s whiskey using an Alchemical Golem and slowed time around them, frightening Frank and prompting him to demand what would happen if he refused.
• Salomon told Victoria Hand that Frank had defeated his Water Elemental Construct and that he needed someone with Frank’s sense of justice.
• Victoria Hand criticized Salomon for approaching Frank with magic and said Frank needed a sincere conversation with someone who understood military life.
• Victoria Hand agreed to handle the recruitment and planned to send a veteran agent who was still in New York to speak with Frank.

Salomon explained why Sophia had to focus on training rather than recruit Frank Castle, and described the responsibility he had accepted toward Jacob’s people and his own future sacrifice. He left Sophia questioning the higher-dimensional game behind his plans and who the real player was.

• Salomon left Frank Castle’s recruitment to Victoria Hand and intensified Sophia and her people’s training to prepare them as the City of Immortals’ first regular army.
• Salomon told Sophia he would provide for Jacob’s bloodline but would not indulge her demands, and insisted she study and train instead of pursuing Frank Castle.
• Salomon explained that Sophia and her people could earn officer ranks by completing a mission and leading the army to victory on future battlefields.
• Sophia challenged Salomon over Jacob’s sacrifice, and Salomon said his own sacrifice had not yet come and that he intended to finish his work first.
• Sophia asked how Salomon knew he could succeed, and he attributed it partly to prophecy and partly to a higher-dimensional game whose true player remained unknown.