Chapter Summaries

Lucian persuaded Kimiko to cooperate with research by revealing that he knew about the Shining Light Liberation Army and her brother. After Hughie left them alone, Lucian used Mind Control to make Kimiko submit and began copying her Super Healing ability.

• Lucian offered to tell Kimiko where her brother was in exchange for a day or two of research, and Hughie asked him to prove he had real information.
• Lucian named the Shining Light Liberation Army, confirming Kimiko’s connection to the group that had kidnapped her and her brother.
• Kimiko agreed to stay, while Hughie took the room next door and promised to come if she called for help.
• After Hughie left, Lucian activated Mind Control and selected Kimiko’s LV5 Super Healing ability to copy over 24 hours.

Lucian completed his copy of Kimiko’s Super Healing ability and verified that it could rapidly heal a severe wound. After waking Kimiko, he gave her information about her brother Kenji and left the motel planning to return to school and pursue more abilities.

• Hughie worried about Kimiko and repeatedly messaged Lucian, who sent him a photo showing her resting safely.
• Lucian completed the permanent copy of Super Healing and tested it by cutting his palm, which healed within seconds.
• Lucian woke Kimiko and told her that her younger brother Kenji was at a Shining Light Liberation Army training base in the Philippines and would be smuggled into New York in a few months.
• Kimiko accepted Lucian’s information and nodded, completing their deal.
• Hughie checked on Kimiko as Lucian left the motel and headed toward his next plans at Godolkin University.

Lucian returned to Godolkin University, paid Jordan Li to replace his training room lock, and met Cate Dunlap at their usual place. While comforting Cate, he copied her Mental Manipulation ability, beginning a process that would take 24 hours.

• Lucian called Jordan Li and paid her $50,000 to replace the broken lock on his training room.
• Lucian messaged Cate and met her in the abandoned old gymnasium.
• Cate told Lucian she felt hurt and afraid when he entered her life and then disappeared without warning.
• Lucian embraced Cate and promised not to leave her like that again.
• Lucian selected Cate's Mental Manipulation ability, and the System began copying it for 24 hours.

Lucian comforted Cate during a walk and learned that Dean Shetty had urged her to use her powers and given her pills to control them. He recognized that Shetty was weakening Cate for her own plan, then left to meet Professor Brink while his attempt to copy Cate’s powers remained at 1%.

• Lucian walked with Cate, reassured her that Homelander was not hunting him, and made her laugh with a story from Vought training.
• Cate told Lucian that Dean Shetty had encouraged her to practice using her powers despite her fear of losing control.
• Lucian saw Cate’s medication and realized Shetty’s pills suppressed her telepathy and weakened her memory manipulation, making her easier to control.
• Lucian and Cate chatted about campus life until Professor Brink called Lucian to his office.
• Lucian kissed Cate on the forehead, promised to bring her Queens pizza, and left while his power-copying progress stayed at 1%.

Lucian visited Brink, who presented an elaborate superhero suit and laid out plans to promote him as a future member of The Seven. Brink asked about Lucian’s abilities and urged him to prepare for next week’s ranking competition, while Lucian left with Brink’s black card and his copy progress still interrupted at 1%.

• Lucian entered Brink’s office and played along as Brink teased him about enjoying himself while he was away.
• Brink showed Lucian a black-and-gold suit design with a retractable cape, Chinese ink-wash details, and specialized armor materials.
• Lucian thanked Brink, and Brink said he and several board members would fund the suit and promote Lucian alongside Golden Boy.
• Brink hinted that members of The Seven were preparing to retire, then asked whether Lucian’s abilities had improved.
• Lucian said his strength and speed were increasing, and Brink urged him to demonstrate his strength at next week’s ranking competition while offering PR support and a higher card limit.
• Lucian returned to his dorm and saw that his copy progress remained at 1%, interrupted.

Lucian hid his real motives by using his mind control to make himself believe he was genuinely in love with Cate, leaving himself a warning to uncover the altered memories later. He grew closer to Cate over pizza, and she left to meet Shetty after kissing him and arranging a date for Times Square.

• Lucian decided that deceiving himself was the safest way to approach Cate without revealing his intentions if her mind-reading returned.
• He altered his own memories and left himself a written warning to use a future ability to investigate what was wrong with them.
• Lucian found the warning confusing, then remembered his promise to bring Cate pizza and invited her to meet him at the cafeteria.
• As they ate, Lucian touched Cate and felt a warm sensation, then became bolder and more openly affectionate toward her.
• Cate took Lucian's behavior as proof that he truly liked her, leaned against him, and kissed him before leaving for a counseling session with Shetty.
• Cate arranged to go to Times Square with Lucian the day after tomorrow, and he watched her leave while the warmth from touching her lingered.

Lucian and Cate grew increasingly close over two days, then spent a romantic day together in Times Square before going to a hotel. When Cate’s glove fell off, Lucian touched her bare hand, and their powers surged as she heard his sincere declaration of love and claimed him as hers.

• Lucian and Cate spent two days seeking each other’s company and became one of the hottest couples on campus.
• In Times Square, Cate and Lucian watched The Phantom of the Opera, visited M&M's World and Madame Tussauds, and saw Queen Maeve: Her Majesty.
• Cate told Lucian she had taken the night off from Principal Shetty's counseling session, and they went to a hotel.
• As Lucian and Cate embraced, one of Cate’s gloves slipped off, and Lucian took her bare hand, triggering a powerful rush of energy.
• Cate asked whether Lucian loved her, and he answered yes; her power confirmed his sincerity, and she declared that he was hers.

Lucian's enhanced Mind Control let him see through the false love that had clouded his mind and break the barrier hiding his memories. He recovered his original plan to exploit Cate's ability and infiltrate Vought, leaving him clear-headed in the bathroom.

• Lucian received an enhanced LV5 Mind Control ability after the system announced its fusion with his lower-level ability.
• Lucian found a note in his jacket telling him that his memories had been altered and to use his new ability to remember.
• Lucian examined his memories and discovered that hidden suggestions had made him mistake compelled behavior for love.
• Lucian used his psychic power to shatter the Mental Barrier he had created with LV3 Mind Control.
• Lucian recovered his plan to return to Godolkin University, use Cate to gain access to Vought's inner circle, and alter his own memories as a disguise.

Lucian concealed his schemes from Cate, then secretly gathered new powers and used mind control to make Professor Brink obey him. The chapter ended with Lucian testing Brink by asking where Sam was.

• Lucian built a mental firewall to hide his secrets from Cate, then returned to bed beside her.
• Cate put on her gloves, and she and Lucian spent the morning together before she went to Dean Shetty for counseling.
• Lucian obtained the private training room key from Jordan and copied super strength, super defense, and super senses from three Supes.
• Lucian summoned Professor Brink to the training room and used mind control to make Brink place Lucian's interests above everything else.
• Lucian erased the secretary's memory of what she had seen, then asked Brink where Sam was.

Lucian learned that Vought planned to move Sam from Sage Grove Center to the Woods for experiments, then focused on training and strengthening Cate’s trust in him. The chapter left Cate agreeing to gradually reduce her medication at Lucian’s suggestion.

• Lucian compelled Professor Brink to reveal that Sam’s blood could enhance other Supes’ abilities and that Vought planned to experiment on Luke after moving Sam to the Woods.
• Lucian ordered Brink to advance the transfer plan, then erased Brink’s memory of their conversation.
• Lucian trained intensely for the upcoming ranking tournament, using his enhanced strength and defense in close combat.
• Cate told Lucian that Dean Shetty had taken her to a psychiatric hospital, where she used her ability to calm a frenzied Metahuman.
• Lucian praised Cate’s progress and suggested she gradually reduce her medication, and Cate agreed to do what he said.

At Godolkin University's private Hero Arena, Lucian and Jordan impressed Vought executives by defeating Andre and Golden Boy. Golden Boy unleashed a fiery power and charged at Lucian, leaving their fight unresolved.

• Lucian entered the arena with Jordan Li and Cate as executives discussed his talent and Brink's support.
• Jordan defeated Andre by enduring his metal attacks, shifting into female form, and striking him with a shockwave.
• Lucian overwhelmed Golden Boy with a series of powerful attacks and sent him crashing into the arena wall.
• Golden Boy rose in rage, ignited in golden flames, and charged at Lucian.

Lucian overwhelmed Golden Boy in the Godolkin arena, surviving his flames and defeating him with a supersonic punch. Golden Boy lay unconscious as Lucian stood victorious, while Vought executives recognized him as a valuable new star.

• Golden Boy charged at Lucian with a blazing attack, but Lucian dodged and relentlessly beat him with precise strikes.
• Vought executives watched Lucian’s speed and durability with astonishment, while Professor Brink celebrated his abilities as an extraordinary mutation.
• Golden Boy raised a wall of fire, but Lucian passed through it unharmed and broke his nose before Golden Boy took to the air and bombarded the arena with fireballs.
• Lucian vanished at speeds beyond the sound barrier, then launched himself into the sky and punched Golden Boy out of the air.
• Golden Boy crashed to the ground unconscious, and Lucian landed unharmed and declared that he would soon forget him.

Lucian was hailed as Godolkin University’s new top Supe after defeating Golden Boy, and Brink unveiled his hero name, The Pivot. That evening, Lucian celebrated with Cate when Annie called to invite him to dinner, leaving him caught between the two women.

• Brink seized the opportunity to present Lucian to Vought executives as the university’s new pinnacle and sent him backstage to put on a custom suit.
• Brink announced Lucian’s hero name as The Pivot, and Lucian reflected that the name also evoked the Wolf Greedy Star Lord.
• Lucian emerged in his new suit to a stunned arena, then received a standing ovation as Golden Boy was carried away on a stretcher.
• At dinner, Cate read aloud glowing press coverage of Lucian and joked that Brink had praised Maeve more extravagantly.
• Annie called Lucian after watching his match and invited him to dinner, while Cate leaned in to ask who he was talking to.

Lucian tried to meet Annie for a celebration, but Cate became jealous and frightened that Starlight would take him away, so he stayed with her before rushing to the club. Annie made him drink three beers for keeping her waiting, then asked what it felt like to defeat Golden Boy.

• Annie called Lucian and urged him to send his location, but Cate asked who was on the phone.
• Lucian told Cate that Annie January had invited him to celebrate, and Cate grew jealous and began removing her glove.
• Lucian stopped Cate from confronting Annie, soothed her fears, and stayed with her after she said she had stopped taking her medication and could not sleep.
• Lucian left Cate's dorm at 1:05 a.m., returned Annie's calls, and used Super Speed to reach her club in Brooklyn.
• Annie made Lucian drink three bottles of beer for arriving four hours late, then asked what it felt like to beat Golden Boy.

Lucian and Annie discussed Vought’s absences and the growing crisis around Butcher’s gang while celebrating Lucian’s victory. After drinking together and sharing stories, Annie began to speak to Lucian more intimately, but the chapter ended before she finished.

• Annie congratulated Lucian on defeating Golden Boy and offered to recommend him to Homelander, but Lucian declined her help.
• Annie listed the absent members of The Seven and realized she was the only one still reporting to work at Vought Tower.
• Annie told Lucian that Homelander blamed Butcher’s gang for Translucent’s death, Black Noir and A-Train’s injuries, and Madelyn’s disappearance.
• Lucian reassured Annie that Vought would respond and promised to protect her if he joined The Seven.
• Lucian and Annie traded stories about college Supes while drinking, and Annie eventually gazed at him and began to say something.

Annie thanked Lucian for helping her endure life in Vought and seduced him in a private room. After they discovered she could absorb electricity and Lucian used his metallization ability, they exhausted themselves and fell asleep together.

• Annie told Lucian how his support had helped her survive her first months at Vought.
• Annie pretended to be drunk, then seized control after Lucian carried her to the lounge.
• Annie absorbed electricity from the room and teased Lucian about his strength.
• Lucian activated Partial Metallization LV2, and the two clashed with their powers during their encounter.
• Annie and Lucian fell asleep together as the room's lights ran out of power.

After spending the night with Starlight, Lucian returned to Godolkin University and found Cate waiting for him, distressed by his absence. Cate accepted that he had used Starlight to advance his career but vowed to master her power and stop anyone from taking him away, leaving Lucian aware that his troubles were only beginning.

• Annie warned Lucian that Vought Tower and the Seven were dangerous before she left for a television appearance.
• Lucian found eighteen unanswered messages from Cate, including one saying she was waiting downstairs, and hurried back to campus.
• Cate rushed into Lucian's arms and kissed him, then said she knew Starlight could win his body but not his heart.
• Cate told Lucian she understood his need to use Starlight as a stepping stone but threatened to stop her from taking him away.
• Cate vowed to control her ability and become strong enough to act if Starlight pursued Lucian again, and Lucian reassured her.

After winning the selection tournament, Lucian attended Godolkin's celebration banquet with Cate, where Dean Shetty tested their relationship and warned him it could affect his career. Ashley then told Lucian that Vought had approved his entry into The Seven as A-Train's replacement.

• Lucian promised to stay with Cate, and she fell asleep holding onto his shirt.
• Professor Brink invited Lucian to the banquet and suggested he bring Cate.
• At the banquet, Dean Shetty probed Cate's dependence on Lucian and warned him about the effect their relationship could have on his career.
• Ashley told Lucian that Vought's board had approved him joining The Seven to replace A-Train.
• Lucian reassured Ashley that he would be easy to manage.

At the celebration, Lucian met Polarity and Andre, then used mind control to manipulate Brink into luring them to his secret training room the next night. He left with Cate, who wanted to spend the evening with him.

• Lucian socialized with Vought and university officials while Cate stayed close at his side.
• Polarity introduced Andre and asked Lucian to guide his son, and Lucian agreed to train with him.
• Lucian used mind control on Brink and instructed him to lure Polarity and Andre to the secret training room with a story about an enhancement serum.
• Brink left to prepare the scheme, believing it had been his own idea.
• Lucian reassured Cate that he was free for the evening, and they left together.

Brink persuaded Polarity to promote Golden Boy in exchange for a chance to enhance Andre’s powers with the Compound V derivative. Polarity demanded to see a completed experiment, and Lucian prepared to pose as the test subject when Brink and Polarity arrived.

• Lucian checked his current abilities and waited in the sealed training room for Brink’s message.
• Brink told Polarity that the Compound V derivative could amplify powers and repair nervous system damage, then offered Andre a place in the project’s future promotion.
• Brink asked Polarity to use his reputation and connections to build support for Golden Boy, promising that Andre and Polarity could receive the enhancement in return.
• Polarity agreed to help only if he could see a completed experiment and check for side effects himself.
• Brink agreed to let Polarity and Andre observe the test subject, then summoned them to the training room.
• Lucian received Brink’s message and used Physical Mimicry to take the face of the experimental subject.