Recaps

The Deep expected his injuries to earn him a return to Vought, but Homelander arrived and stopped the medics from taking him away for a mission. Homelander praised Soldier Boy’s crater-making power, leaving him proud of his father and their growing bond.

• The Deep waited for an ambulance after Kailong badly injured him, imagining that his injuries would help him return to Vought headquarters.
• The medics assessed The Deep’s facial injuries and broken ribs, then suspected brain damage when he smiled and planned to send him for a neurosurgical examination.
• Homelander landed beside the ambulance and told the medical staff that The Deep had to stay for a task.
• Homelander explained that Soldier Boy had created the enormous crater, prompting the medical staff to praise Soldier Boy’s power.
• Homelander felt proud as people admired Soldier Boy and reflected on his growing trust in his father.

Homelander enjoyed the medical staff’s praise before Soldier Boy hurried him to get The Deep out of the ambulance. When Homelander explained why he would not imitate Soldier Boy’s aggressive methods, Soldier Boy approved of him developing principles of his own.

• Homelander accepted praise and autographs from the medical staff while Soldier Boy urged him to bring The Deep over.
• Homelander asked the staff to carry The Deep out, but a doctor insisted that The Deep needed urgent treatment.
• Soldier Boy grabbed the doctor by the collar, dismissed his concerns, and ordered the staff to take The Deep out.
• Homelander reflected on Soldier Boy’s forceful approach but said he could not imitate it because he cared about Vought’s public image.
• Soldier Boy praised Homelander for having principles, and Homelander smiled brightly.

Homelander and Soldier Boy persuaded the badly injured The Deep to help them deal with Kailong by promising he might return to The Seven. The Deep agreed, and the group prepared to approach Kailong.

• The medical workers carried The Deep off the ambulance on Soldier Boy's orders, and he angrily berated a nurse after falling from his stretcher.
• Homelander explained that Private Angel could heal The Deep at Vought Headquarters and offered him a chance to return to The Seven if he performed well.
• The Deep eagerly accepted Homelander's mission and promised to keep Kailong from interfering.
• A nurse told Soldier Boy that his ninety-year-old grandmother wanted him to sign her underwear because she hoped to marry him, and Soldier Boy refused.
• Soldier Boy dismissed the medical workers and joined Homelander and The Deep as they prepared to meet Kailong.

Soldier Boy ordered The Deep to gather sea creatures to surround Kailong, who offered to reveal the truth about the Super Fish in exchange for a chance to survive. The chapter ended with Kailong proposing a blood pact to guarantee Soldier Boy’s promise.

• A middle-aged nurse asked Soldier Boy to call him his grandson, but Soldier Boy kicked him away, and Homelander teased Soldier Boy about his elderly fans.
• Soldier Boy told The Deep to ready sea creatures to surround Kailong, while Homelander noted that The Deep feared him.
• Soldier Boy asked Homelander whether his powers had changed since receiving the Original Compound, and Homelander said he still felt in peak condition.
• Soldier Boy confronted Kailong, who admitted that devouring humans had given him human intelligence and speech.
• Kailong offered to reveal everything about the Super Fish if Soldier Boy let The Deep leave him some small fish and shrimp to eat.
• Kailong rejected a pinky swear and proposed a blood pact based on the power of a Super Fish called Contract.

Soldier Boy agreed to Kailong’s blood pact, which would make the ocean hunt him, and Kailong warned that ancient sea monsters—not merely ordinary marine life—would pursue him. The warning about legends of world-ending floods left Homelander and Soldier Boy questioning whether those disasters were connected to the ocean’s power.

• Soldier Boy hid his excitement about Kailong’s demand and agreed to the pact, while Kailong and Homelander saw through his act.
• Homelander used his heat vision to pierce Soldier Boy’s palm, and Soldier Boy and Kailong mingled their blood on a broken rock.
• Kailong performed a ritual that sent a veil formed from their blood into the ocean, sealing the pact.
• Soldier Boy asked whether Vought had any supes who could become intangible, and Homelander said he knew of none.
• Kailong clarified that the ocean’s hunt would include Super Fish and ancient sea monsters, then asked why many human countries had legends of a world-ending flood.
• Homelander asked whether the floods were connected to the ocean’s hunt, as Soldier Boy considered the possibility.

Kailong told Homelander and Soldier Boy that Compound V’s original formula was based on a Super Catfish, and that ancient Super Fish once ruled the oceans and parts of the land. He ended by asking why they had vanished, leaving their fate unexplained.

• Kailong explained that his octopus lineage had survived for hundreds of millions of years and preserved knowledge of Earth’s past.
• Kailong said Vought founder Vogt had dissected a Super Catfish and used its biological fluids as the blueprint for V1.
• Homelander called Ashley and ordered her to search Vought’s archives for records on Original Compound V and Vogt.
• Kailong said Vought continued refining Compound V from Super Fish after creating the first formula.
• Soldier Boy asked where the Super Fish came from, but Kailong admitted he did not know.
• Kailong revealed that the first generation of Super Fish had once dominated the oceans and occupied much of the land, then asked why they had disappeared.

Kailong explained that the first generation of Super Fish had vanished after a mysterious disaster from beyond, described in an old saying about the sun being swallowed and visitors arriving. He revealed that Homelander’s uncontrolled Heat Vision may have drawn attention from beyond Earth, leaving Homelander and Soldier Boy alarmed by what might come next.

• Kailong told Soldier Boy that the first generation of Super Fish bred only with others who had superpowers and once grew numerous enough to rival ordinary fish.
• Kailong recited his clan’s account of the Super Fish’s destruction: the Sea Clan ruled the cosmos until the great sun was swallowed and visitors came from beyond.
• Kailong admitted he did not know what the saying meant, but hearing it made him feel terrified and compelled to flee.
• Soldier Boy connected the disaster from beyond to Homelander’s weakening powers and asked whether it was also related to Kailong’s claim that Homelander had caused a huge disaster.
• Kailong blamed Homelander’s uncontrolled Heat Vision, explaining that it had streamed through space for ten minutes and extended more than a hundred million kilometers.
• Soldier Boy realized the immense red beams might have attracted attention from beyond Earth.

Soldier Boy concluded that the Super Fish’s inherited fear of exposing themselves came from an ancient massacre caused by a similar incident to Homelander’s V1 injection. As Soldier Boy worried that the Visitors from Beyond were real, Ashley called Homelander with a file about the Original Compound.

• Kailong said Homelander’s Heat Vision might attract the Visitors from Beyond and explained that Super Fish feared exposing themselves.
• Soldier Boy insisted the Visitors from Beyond were real, and Homelander said he had felt something watching him when he injected V1.
• Soldier Boy connected the Super Fish’s fear to an inherited instinct passed down from an ancient massacre triggered by exposure.
• Kailong admitted the Sea Clan’s maxim was true and that Super Fish stayed hidden because they feared revealing themselves.
• Homelander brushed off the threat and said he and Soldier Boy could face it together.
• Ashley called Homelander and said she had found a file containing records of the Original Compound.

Homelander and Ashley discovered that Super Fish had provided the prototype for the Original Compound, and they discussed capturing some for Vought’s research. Ashley then found what might be Vogt’s diary and began reading entries about his experiments and Clara’s killings of enslaved people.

• Ashley told Homelander that the Original Compound’s prototype came from extracts taken from Super Fish, and she proposed capturing some for research.
• Homelander agreed to bring back Super Fish for Ashley, while Soldier Boy urged him to ask whether the files contained anything else.
• Kailong protested that Homelander and Soldier Boy were discussing capturing his companions, and Soldier Boy provoked him while Homelander kept their argument from escalating.
• Ashley found a notebook bearing Vogt’s name and read diary entries about Clara killing enslaved people and Vogt struggling with failed Compound V experiments.

Soldier Boy and Homelander learned from Vogt’s diary that Stormfront had helped procure Black slaves for experiments and that Vogt developed Compound V from a Super Catfish. Homelander realized he might know where the Super Fish were hiding.

• Homelander and Kailong laughed as Ashley noticed the diary described slaves despite the slave trade having ended.
• Soldier Boy confirmed that the diary was mostly true, explained that Clara was Stormfront, and said she had devised the charity scheme used to obtain slaves for experiments.
• Homelander told Soldier Boy that Stormfront had urged him to fund a homeless shelter on an island, but he had refused.
• Ashley found stuck pages recording Vogt’s capture of a Super Catfish and its role in advancing Compound V.
• Soldier Boy accepted that Kailong’s claims were true and worried that breaking their contract could bring the ocean’s pursuit upon him.
• Homelander realized he might know where the Super Fish were hiding.

Kailong told Soldier Boy and Homelander that respected Super Fish gathered east of the Tonga Islands during the winter solstice, though it could not say where most Super Fish hid. Soldier Boy and Homelander planned to investigate, then evaded Kailong’s agreement to feed it.

• Homelander recalled that researchers had sent him into the Mariana Trench as a child, but Kailong questioned whether Super Fish could have been there.
• Kailong explained that awakened Super Fish hid in deep waters and that respected elders gathered east of the Tonga Islands on December 21 and 22.
• Soldier Boy and Homelander decided to investigate the gathering, while Kailong offered to guide them if needed.
• Soldier Boy suspected Kailong had an ulterior motive, but Kailong denied plotting against its kind.
• Kailong reminded them of Soldier Boy’s promise to let The Deep feed it small fish and shrimp, and Homelander denied responsibility for the agreement.

Kailong explained that ancient flood myths described humanity’s broken agreements with Super Fish and the ocean’s retaliation, but Soldier Boy challenged gaps in his story. Kailong agreed to explain further after Homelander and Soldier Boy hinted that The Deep could question the sea creatures.

• Kailong said ancient flood stories from different civilizations described the ocean retaliating after humans broke agreements with Super Fish.
• Soldier Boy questioned how the ancient Contracts had been made, why human records omitted Super Fish, and why breaking his own Contract would put all humanity at risk.
• Kailong praised Soldier Boy for his questions and said they were alike, while Soldier Boy rejected the comparison.
• Homelander hinted that The Deep could ask sea creatures about the flood, and Soldier Boy backed him up.
• Kailong agreed to continue explaining the story.

Homelander let Ashley listen in and record Kailong’s account of gaining his Contract power by consuming a Super Salmon. Kailong then explained that an ancient contract bound all humanity, leaving Soldier Boy suspicious that Homelander had secretly arranged a powerful position for him.

• Homelander told Ashley to listen to the conversation and record everything, making her his trusted assistant.
• Kailong said he gained his Contract power by consuming a fresh Super Salmon corpse he found on a winter night.
• Kailong suggested that mermaids and other legendary beings in human stories were inspired by Super Fish.
• Kailong explained that powerful nobles had represented humanity in an ancient contract that nevertheless bound everyone.
• Soldier Boy suspected Homelander had secretly placed him in a position of power, but Homelander denied having influence beyond Hughie, the incoming New York State governor.
• Soldier Boy mocked Kailong for giving him a meaningful look.

Soldier Boy planned for the coming Visitors from Beyond by preparing governments, Vought’s superheroes, and Compound V research. He recruited Kailong to help obtain Super Fish in exchange for a sperm whale, setting their cooperation in motion.

• Soldier Boy questioned whether a contract with Kailong could make all humanity suffer the consequences, and Kailong warned that Soldier Boy might represent the United States.
• Soldier Boy concluded that the Visitors from Beyond posed a grave threat and planned to alert governments, strengthen Vought’s superheroes, and improve Compound V.
• Soldier Boy asked Kailong to help him obtain more Super Fish, and Kailong demanded additional payment.
• Kailong rejected Soldier Boy’s offers of Super Fish and their remains, then asked for a sperm whale instead.
• Soldier Boy agreed to provide a sperm whale, and Kailong promised to lead him to some of the finest Super Fish.

Homelander and Soldier Boy prepared to follow Kailong into the deep ocean, where they encountered a gigantic octopus. As Homelander charged it and Soldier Boy followed, the water suddenly froze around Soldier Boy, trapping him.

• Homelander told Ashley to prepare a biological research team, and Kailong said they needed lights and other equipment to explore the ocean depths.
• Homelander flew off to find searchlights while a policewoman delivered headlamps and oxygen tanks arranged by Vought Headquarters.
• Homelander returned with flashlights, and he and Soldier Boy followed Kailong into the ocean with the headlamps.
• After diving more than 5,000 meters, Soldier Boy and Homelander saw a huge octopus tentacle withdraw from an enormous shape ahead.
• Homelander sped toward the creature, and Soldier Boy followed, but ice rapidly engulfed Soldier Boy and left him unable to move.

Soldier Boy broke through the endless ice and found Homelander battling the enormous Black Octopus in a frozen cavern. After the creature swatted Soldier Boy into the ice, Homelander severed one of its tentacles, and Soldier Boy used Exchange Points to inspect its stats.

• Soldier Boy smashed through the ice tunnels while searching for Homelander and avoided using his Chest Beam in case it hit him.
• Homelander's Heat Vision struck Soldier Boy, revealing his location and leading Soldier Boy to break into a vast cavern where Black Octopus waited.
• Black Octopus struck Soldier Boy with a tentacle and hurled him through the ice wall.
• Homelander cut off Black Octopus's tentacle with Heat Vision, and Soldier Boy kicked the creature beside its eye.
• Soldier Boy and Homelander discussed Black Octopus's strength and abilities, and Soldier Boy spent ten Exchange Points to reveal its Stat Panel.

Soldier Boy and Homelander fought Jerry, a powerful octopus with super strength, durability, cold attacks, and healing. Homelander severed all of Jerry’s tentacles, but the wounds began regenerating, leaving him wondering how Father had known Jerry could heal.

• Soldier Boy checked Jerry’s panel and saw that he possessed several high-level powers, including physical immortality, super healing, extreme cold, strength, and durability.
• Jerry chose Soldier Boy as his first target and attacked him with three enormous tentacles, while Homelander held back because Vought needed Jerry alive.
• Soldier Boy fought Jerry at close range and urged Homelander to cut off his tentacles, but Homelander hesitated because he feared killing him.
• After Jerry struck Soldier Boy, Homelander used his heat vision to sever all of Jerry’s tentacles.
• Homelander saw new flesh beginning to grow from Jerry’s severed tentacles and wondered how Father had known he could heal.

Soldier Boy and Homelander captured Jerry, but Soldier Boy’s Chest Beam could not remove its powers, so Homelander blinded it before they carried it away. At dawn, they brought Jerry to Homelander Lake, where Soldier Boy discovered Homelander had built a villa as a retreat for their family.

• Soldier Boy tested his Chest Beam on Jerry but found it could not strip away its powers, so Homelander used Heat Vision to blind it.
• Kailong ate Jerry’s blood and scraps, growing larger, before Soldier Boy burned most of the remains and decided to leave Kailong for The Deep to deal with.
• Soldier Boy and Homelander carried Jerry’s body over New York as dawn approached, drawing startled attention from people below.
• Homelander led Soldier Boy to Homelander Lake, where Soldier Boy discovered a renovated lakeside property and villa intended as a family retreat.

Homelander proposed using a Bible-based movie starring himself and Soldier Boy to turn Vought’s brand toward worship, while Soldier Boy worried about Homelander’s motives. The chapter ended with Soldier Boy suspecting Homelander was planning something reckless.

• Soldier Boy and Homelander laid the unconscious Jerry in a clearing and discussed the risks of publicizing the creature.
• Homelander showed Soldier Boy Vought’s publicity proposal, including Ryan’s debut in a suit Homelander had designed.
• Soldier Boy warned Homelander to show Ryan the outfit before putting him on camera, but Homelander brushed off the concern.
• Homelander argued that Vought’s crime-fighting publicity had become one-dimensional and that the company needed to address its shrinking market value.
• Homelander proposed making a Bible-based movie to deify himself and Soldier Boy and steer Vought toward worship, leaving Soldier Boy suspicious of his intentions.

Homelander persuaded Soldier Boy that his plan to turn Vought into an object of worship was a way to organize fans, and tricked him into agreeing to star in a movie. Soldier Boy approved their new Lakeside Villa, and they began preparing for the visitors from beyond that Kailong had warned them about.

• Homelander explained that Vought's worship brand would organize fanatics and strengthen its superhero lineup, and Soldier Boy agreed with the plan.
• Homelander revealed that Soldier Boy had also agreed to star with him in a movie, which was already in preproduction.
• Soldier Boy went to inspect the Lakeside Villa, and Homelander followed him, moved by Soldier Boy calling it their home.
• Soldier Boy praised the villa and suggested they move in after their vacation, and Homelander eagerly agreed.
• Soldier Boy and Homelander planned to prepare for the visitors Kailong had mentioned, and Soldier Boy decided to visit the White House to tell world leaders.

Homelander and Soldier Boy returned to Vought and told Ashley that a world-ending flood threatened humanity, but she warned that convincing governments would be difficult. Soldier Boy pretended to take offense and pressured Ashley to intervene, while she arranged to brief the president at a meeting that afternoon.

• Homelander and Soldier Boy left the lakeside villa and returned to Vought.
• At the Seven's meeting, Queen Maeve told the others that the Flash Army had gathered terrorists under a new supe leader who had escaped the military.
• Ashley served Homelander and Soldier Boy tea and liquor as they explained the looming world-ending flood.
• Ashley warned that the White House might dismiss their warning as a fabrication, and Soldier Boy insisted that he would negotiate with the government himself.
• Homelander teased Soldier Boy about negotiating, prompting Soldier Boy to threaten to confront the White House.
• Ashley stopped Soldier Boy and said she would explain the threat to the president at a meeting that afternoon, while Soldier Boy secretly enjoyed intimidating her.

Soldier Boy confronted The Seven over Stormfront’s attack on A-Train’s brother, but heard her explanation that a criminal who could copy appearances and powers had caused the confusion. Stormfront demonstrated the criminal’s ability by transforming into Soldier Boy.

• Ashley prepared an explanation for Soldier Boy, who told her he would address The Seven before leaving with Homelander.
• A-Train accused Stormfront of breaking his brother’s legs, and Homelander reprimanded the team for allowing their dispute to escalate.
• Soldier Boy demanded that Stormfront explain her conduct and the punishment prescribed by the Sword of Damocles Project.
• Stormfront said she had mistaken A-Train’s brother for a criminal who could copy people’s appearances and powers.
• Stormfront touched Soldier Boy and transformed into his form.

Gideon, calling himself Underground Raven, invaded Vought and copied Soldier Boy’s powers, but Soldier Boy beat him down before Homelander pinned him beneath a boot. Homelander demanded that Gideon introduce himself, while The Seven and their allies positioned themselves around the conference room.

• Gideon revealed himself as Underground Raven and caught Soldier Boy’s punch, copying his strength through their contact.
• Soldier Boy broke Gideon’s balance and battered him with a barrage of punches until he fell beside Homelander.
• Gideon threatened The Seven, but Homelander’s presence brought back his fear from their past encounter.
• Homelander planted his boot on Gideon’s head and crushed it into the floor as A-Train recognized him as the Supe tied to his brother’s death.
• Queen Maeve guarded the window, Kimiko and Kenji moved toward the doors, Black Noir stood at the entrance, and Starlight overloaded the display with electricity.
• Homelander gave Gideon one minute to introduce himself.

Soldier Boy examined Gideon and discovered that Gideon had stolen Soldier Boy’s powers at the cost of ten years of his life. When Gideon began charging a Nuclear Chest Blast in Vought Tower, Soldier Boy rushed to carry him outside.

• Homelander stomped Gideon into the Conference Room floor and demanded that he introduce himself.
• Soldier Boy used the system to inspect Gideon and found his level 7 Thief Saint ability, stolen Soldier Boy identity, and shortened lifespan.
• Gideon tried to copy Homelander’s powers by grabbing his ankle, but realized Homelander’s suit covered his skin.
• Gideon’s chest began glowing as he charged a Nuclear Chest Blast, and Soldier Boy recognized the danger.
• Soldier Boy grabbed Gideon and smashed through the window, carrying him away from Vought Tower while Homelander watched.

Homelander waited at Queen Maeve’s insistence while Soldier Boy took Gideon to North Brother Island, where they fought over the power-erasing Chest Beam. Their beams collided in a massive explosion, and both fell motionless as Homelander watched from a distance.

• Queen Maeve restrained Homelander from rushing to help Gideon, warning that he might be hit by Soldier Boy’s Chest Beam.
• Soldier Boy carried Gideon to North Brother Island and tried to dump him there, but Gideon clung to him.
• Gideon realized Soldier Boy’s curses seemed to trigger the Chest Beam, and Soldier Boy’s own chest began glowing as he cursed him.
• Gideon and Soldier Boy fired their Chest Beams at the same time, causing a massive explosion that destroyed the abandoned buildings on the island.
• Homelander scanned the blast site and saw both Soldier Boys fall to the ground motionless.