Chapter Summaries

After dying in an electrical blast, Chen Mo awoke in New York in the world of The Boys, broke and without an identity. His wound healed as a strange hunger and urge to evolve emerged, and he turned toward an alley where thugs were attacking the boy who had offered to buy him water.

• Chen Mo died when a sphere of lightning burst from his computer and woke to find himself alive in a filthy alley with dollars in his pocket.
• He recognized Homelander and The Seven in a Vought promotional ad and realized he had transmigrated into The Boys.
• Chen Mo wandered through New York, saw Homelander praised on advertisements and the news, and struggled with hunger and his lack of money and legal identity.
• A cut on Chen Mo's palm healed within seconds as an instinct urged him to eat and evolve.
• Chen Mo saw thugs dragging the boy who had offered to buy him water into an alley and approached them, asking where he could find a free buffet.

Chen Mo discovered that his strange abilities sharpened his senses and stirred a hunger, but he set a rule not to prey on good people or innocents. After spotting the armed thugs from the alley apparently abducting a woman, he followed their van into the night.

• Chen Mo intervened when armed thugs robbed Allen in an alley, tested his unusual toughness, and scared them off when sirens sounded.
• Chen Mo returned Allen’s glasses, advised him to prioritize escape over protecting a customer’s laptop, and left before the police could question him.
• On a subway platform, Chen Mo experienced vivid memories and heightened senses, accepted cookies from an elderly woman, and vowed not to feed on good people or innocents.
• Chen Mo noticed a black-and-red filament beneath his skin and reflected on his lack of identity, shelter, and strength in a world dominated by Vought and Homelander.
• Chen Mo spotted the same thugs opening a van and pulling a woman back inside, then followed them as his hunger intensified.

Chen Mo tracked the kidnappers to a warehouse, where he discovered a gang extorting a woman and trading Compound V. Drawn by the vial, he attacked the gang and ended the chapter facing them with a gun in hand.

• Chen Mo followed the van to an old warehouse district and overheard the gang demanding money from a kidnapped woman.
• He knocked out a guard at the back door and discovered that the bald boss possessed a vial of pale blue liquid that he suspected was Compound V.
• Chen Mo learned the gang planned to extort the woman's family and send her away if they did not pay.
• He distracted the guards, entered the warehouse, and killed one man while disarming and knocking down another.
• Chen Mo confronted the gang, admitted he was there for the vial, and called it his takeout.

Chen Mo raided a warehouse to claim a glowing blue drug, rescued a captive woman, and defeated the Bloods despite being shot. After extracting memories from the bald boss, he learned that Pharmacist Marlow would distribute another shipment at the Gray Whale Parking Lot at midnight, and saw evidence linking the drug to Vought.

• Chen Mo entered the warehouse asking whether the blue drug was ripe, then knocked down the man in the baseball cap and the fat man.
• Chen Mo freed the captive woman and sent her out the back door while the fat man and bald boss shot at him.
• Chen Mo healed from his wounds, subdued the fat man, caught the blue vial, and stopped the bald boss from escaping.
• The bald boss told Chen Mo about a midnight shipment at the Gray Whale Parking Lot, Section B, handled by Marlow, nicknamed Pharmacist.
• Chen Mo used black-and-red filaments to consume the bald boss and received memories of a Vought-marked refrigerated container, failed test subjects, and the shipment's drop point.

Chen Mo drank black-market Compound V, which strengthened his Blacklight Virus and gave him a blade-like weapon. After learning that a shipment of failed test subjects—including a caged girl—would be sold at the Gray Whale Parking Lot, he headed there to confront Marlow and the buyers.

• Chen Mo devoured Raymond, learned about Marlow and the black-market Compound V, and drank the drug.
• The Compound V intensified Chen Mo’s Blacklight Virus, sharpened his perception, and let him grow a blade from his hand.
• Chen Mo sent the woman away, killed the surviving criminals, and learned from their memories about the buyers and failed test subjects bound for the Gray Whale Parking Lot.
• Chen Mo found documents describing the shipment, including a caged girl labeled a potentially stable abnormal drug-fusion subject.
• Chen Mo tucked away the documents and left for the Gray Whale Parking Lot, intent on confronting Marlow and the people buying the test subjects.

Chen Mo infiltrated Marlow’s underground Gray Whale Parking Lot to investigate a Vought serum deal and found gangsters trading vials and imprisoned test subjects. After Marlow demonstrated the serum and revealed a girl with deadly powers, Chen Mo prepared to strike.

• Chen Mo avoided the armed guards at the entrance and climbed into the abandoned mall through a broken second-floor window.
• From above, Chen Mo spotted Vought-branded serum, gang buyers, and three cages holding dangerous test subjects.
• Marlow arrived and demonstrated a serum vial on a reluctant underling, whose strength surged after the injection.
• Marlow offered standard and enhanced serum for sale and described the caged test subjects as tools for buyers.
• Marlow revealed a captive girl who crushed a live rat from a distance and said she was reserved for a bigger client.
• Chen Mo watched the deal and decided to take a large bite out of Marlow’s operation that night.

Chen Mo attacked Marlow’s serum deal, freed a caged girl, and consumed a vial of serum while surrounded by armed gangsters. The serum triggered a new armored form that withstood bullets, and Chen Mo charged into the crowd.

• Chen Mo cut the parking lot’s power and used the darkness to attack the gathered buyers and Marlow’s men.
• The buyers and Marlow’s crew mistook one another for threats and began fighting, while Marlow’s enhanced bodyguards joined the fray.
• Chen Mo knocked out a guard, broke the girl’s cage lock, and fought Marlow’s bodyguards, devouring the burly one to increase his strength.
• Chen Mo reached the refrigerated case and took two blue serum vials before Marlow switched on a searchlight and ordered him to put them down.
• Chen Mo drank a vial as Marlow ordered everyone to fire, then developed black armor that stopped the bullets and charged into the crowd.

Chen Mo massacred the criminals at a drug deal, devoured Shouhou and Marlow, and discovered the Compound V operation was connected to Rubber Man and Samaritan's Embrace. After freeing the caged girl, he gathered the remaining drugs and faced the question of what to do with her and the other surviving enhanced people.

• Chen Mo endured the gangsters' gunfire, then cut through their men and vehicles as the buyers and criminals fled the parking lot.
• The headscarf-wearing leader drank wild Compound V, swelled up, and exploded, while Shouhou opened the gray-skinned man's cage to distract Chen Mo before escaping.
• Chen Mo caught and devoured Shouhou, gaining speed and seeing memories of Marlow with Rubber Man at a party.
• Chen Mo disabled Marlow's SUV, cut off Marlow's hand when he tried to inject Compound V, and devoured him, learning about the shipment and Samaritan's Embrace.
• Chen Mo freed the caged girl, collected usable Compound V and Marlow's car keys, then wondered what to do with her, the acid woman, and the gray-skinned man.

Chen Mo killed and consumed the two mutated captives, learning how they had been tortured, then freed Mia and took her with him. After escaping the police, he ran into Allen, who offered them a place to hide, leaving Chen Mo asking for advice on raising a child.

• Chen Mo fought the gray-skinned man and acid woman after they attacked him and Mia.
• Chen Mo consumed the gray-skinned man and learned that Brian had been a dockworker sold to Marlow, then consumed Lisa and learned she had been a nurse abducted for experiments.
• Chen Mo freed Mia from her restraints, and Mia chose to leave with him rather than risk being returned to a cage.
• Chen Mo carried Mia up the mall wall and escaped as police arrived at the parking lot.
• Chen Mo encountered Allen, who offered his home as a temporary place to hide, and Chen Mo asked whether Allen had any advice about raising a child.

Chen Mo sheltered Mia at Allen’s apartment and absorbed Compound V, gaining the ability to change his appearance and becoming stronger. After learning that Ezekiel’s charity was tied to Mia’s trauma and that A-Train was searching for them, Chen Mo prepared to confront him.

• Chen Mo brought Mia to Allen’s apartment, treated her injuries, and told Allen that she had telekinesis and that the blue vials were Compound V.
• Mia revealed that doctors in white coats had experimented on children, and Chen Mo refused to take her to a hospital or the police.
• Chen Mo sent Allen and Mia into the bedroom, then absorbed the Compound V vials and gained greater strength and the ability to disguise himself as people whose memories he had consumed.
• Allen searched for Samaritan’s Embrace, Ezekiel, and the parking-lot news; Mia reacted fearfully to Ezekiel’s image, and Chen Mo learned that the club would host a superhuman party and Compound V trade.
• A news report identified Chen Mo as an Asian suspect who had taken a child, while A-Train announced he was helping find the escaped criminals; Chen Mo challenged A-Train to catch him.

Chen Mo disguised himself to observe A-Train’s staged investigation at the Gray Whale Parking Lot and decided to infiltrate Vought rather than confront him. After stealing a Vought assistant’s identity, he headed toward the scene with plans to visit a club that night.

• Chen Mo told Mia he would only scout A-Train and transformed his face before leaving Allen and Mia at home.
• Chen Mo watched A-Train pose for reporters at the Gray Whale Parking Lot and used his blacklight vision to detect the fresh Compound V in A-Train’s body.
• Chen Mo decided he needed a Vought identity and followed a young Public Affairs assistant away from the crime scene.
• Chen Mo knocked out the assistant, tied him up, and copied his appearance and identity badge.
• Chen Mo walked unnoticed among the Vought staff and planned to check out a club that night.

Chen Mo infiltrated Vought International’s superhuman club in Jonathan’s disguise and witnessed the heroes’ abusive behavior toward staff. After A-Train arrived, Chen Mo began considering how to take on the stronger target.

• Chen Mo posed as Jonathan and endured a series of errands while trying to avoid drawing attention.
• Chen Mo saw Lady Morningstar partying and noticed needle marks on her wrist that suggested she had access to Compound.
• Chen Mo watched Iron Wall throw a server to the floor after the server spilled drinks on him.
• Chen Mo entered the VIP lounge and saw Matchstick Man and Echo Girl tormenting staff for amusement.
• Mind Master questioned Chen Mo, but Chen Mo used his virus to simulate nervousness and passed himself off as a new assistant.
• A-Train arrived at the lounge, and Chen Mo assessed him as a challenging target.

Chen Mo infiltrated the superhuman club’s underground operation, absorbed experimental Compound V and several superhumans, and disrupted the gathering. The chapter ended with A-Train confronting Chen Mo as they prepared to fight.

• Chen Mo overheard that test subjects were being transferred underground, then devoured a researcher to learn the facility’s layout and the superhumans’ abilities.
• Chen Mo freed himself to access the drug storage room and absorbed concentrated Compound V, gaining sharper senses and new combat abilities.
• Chen Mo killed Matchstick Man, Echo Girl, and Iron Wall, absorbing their powers as he fought through the VIP area.
• Chen Mo defeated Lady Morningstar and devoured Mind Master, adding emotion perception to his abilities.
• A-Train arrived, recognized the carnage, and challenged Chen Mo, who prepared to fight him.

Chen Mo defeated and devoured A-Train, gaining enhanced speed and physical abilities. He killed Lady Morningstar as well, then considered trying on A-Train’s skin.

• A-Train attacked Chen Mo at high speed, but Chen Mo adapted to his rhythm and struck him hard enough to send him through a wall.
• Chen Mo let A-Train trap his fist in his chest, then bound him with Blacklight tendrils and blasted him with Echo Girl’s sonic output.
• Chen Mo stabbed and devoured A-Train, absorbing his memories and gaining super speed along with improved mobility, reactions, and strength.
• Chen Mo stopped Lady Morningstar from escaping and killed her after she offered to serve him.
• Chen Mo wondered whether Hughie would still join The Boys and considered trying on A-Train’s skin.

Chen Mo killed A-Train and took his place, then convinced Vought that a powerful monster had attacked the club. He passed Vought’s checks and entered The Seven, where Homelander warned him not to embarrass the team again.

• Chen Mo copied A-Train’s appearance and suit, then staged evidence of a monster attack and told Vought that several heroes had been killed.
• Chen Mo escaped the estate, contacted Vought, and gave himself convincing injuries before the company’s medical team verified his identity.
• Vought brought Chen Mo to Vought Tower and prepared a cover story presenting A-Train as a hero who had warned the company about the attack.
• Chen Mo met The Deep, Translucent, and Black Noir before Homelander arrived and criticized him for running away.
• Chen Mo acted fearful and defended his decision to escape, convincing Homelander and the others that he was A-Train.

Chen Mo attended a Seven meeting as A-Train, where Vought covered up the club attack and announced Starlight as a new member. After Homelander questioned him about the monster, Chen Mo left Vought Tower and prevented a car from hitting Hughie and Robin, leaving their future—and the story’s direction—uncertain.

• Chen Mo sat through the Seven's meeting while Vought presented the ruined club as an extremist attack and described A-Train as a wounded hero.
• Vought announced that Starlight would soon join the Seven, and Chen Mo agreed to reduce his public appearances in exchange for more lucrative endorsements.
• Homelander privately questioned Chen Mo about the monster and ordered him to report it immediately if he encountered it again.
• Chen Mo disguised himself, left Vought Tower, and spotted Hughie and Robin kissing near a street corner.
• Chen Mo warned Hughie and Robin to move away from the curb, preventing a speeding car from hitting them, then took a photo with Hughie.

Chen Mo returned to Allen and Mia after attacking Vought’s club, then revealed that he had devoured A-Train and could impersonate him. He arranged for Allen to find a safe house and investigate Vought’s criminal connections before heading back to Vought Tower disguised as A-Train.

• Chen Mo told Allen that Vought had covered up the club deaths and said they needed to move Mia to a safer home.
• Chen Mo transformed into A-Train, revealing that he had devoured the superhero and could copy his appearance and voice.
• Chen Mo explained that he had already attended a meeting at Vought Tower and spoken with Homelander while disguised as A-Train.
• Chen Mo asked Allen to find a safe house, obtain fake identities, and investigate drug dealers and Vought’s Compound V distribution channels.
• Mia offered Chen Mo cold pizza, and he promised to take her for barbecue before telling her and Allen to stay inside.
• Chen Mo transformed into A-Train again and left to return to Vought and continue his act.

Chen Mo sized up Maeve and The Deep in the Seven’s lounge, then accepted Shockwave’s challenge to race him after Vought planned to promote the newcomer. He realized Translucent was secretly following him into the parking garage and considered killing him.

• Chen Mo assessed The Deep’s insecurity and Maeve’s exhaustion while noticing that Translucent was absent from the lounge.
• Ashley told Chen Mo that Shockwave had publicly challenged A-Train and that Vought wanted to stage a race to capitalize on the attention.
• Chen Mo accepted the race and confidently promised Ashley that he would beat Shockwave quickly.
• Chen Mo sensed Translucent secretly following him in the elevator and walked into the underground garage without revealing that he had noticed.

Chen Mo, disguised as A-Train, caught Translucent spying on him and learned that Homelander had ordered the surveillance because he suspected Chen Mo was hiding information about the missing Compound V. Chen Mo forced Translucent to report that he found nothing unusual, buying himself more time to develop.

• Chen Mo evaded Translucent in the garage, disguised himself as a janitor, and followed him to Vought Tower's seventy-eighth floor.
• Chen Mo overheard Translucent tell Homelander that he planned to search A-Train's private changing room, then changed back into A-Train and waited there.
• Chen Mo confronted Translucent, dodged his invisible punch, and crushed his arm before demanding to know who had sent him.
• Translucent revealed that Homelander suspected Chen Mo's strange survival after the monster attack and wanted him watched for signs of the missing Compound V.
• Chen Mo spared Translucent and ordered him to tell Homelander that A-Train was only shaken by the monster and nothing seemed unusual.
• Translucent left to deliver the false report, while Chen Mo decided to keep him around as a lookout and mouthpiece.

Translucent reported to Homelander that A-Train was innocent and had injured him in a panic, easing Homelander’s suspicions. Meanwhile, Chen Mo learned about three Vought facilities containing superhumans he could target to grow stronger, and prepared to scout them as Starlight joined the Seven.

• Translucent told Homelander that A-Train had attacked him out of fear and had no hidden Compound V, and Homelander accepted the explanation.
• Queen Maeve watched Translucent leave as Vought’s public relations department announced Starlight Annie January as the Seven’s new member.
• Allen gave Chen Mo information about Godolkin University, Red River Institute, and Sage Grove Center, which held superhumans with varied abilities.
• Chen Mo decided to scout the facilities and ordered Allen to find safe houses while he disguised himself in A-Train’s suit.