Chapter Summaries

Chen Mo and Homelander fought a destructive battle over Carnival Island, tearing the island apart and drawing alarmed attention from news crews, the military, and Allen and Mia. The island was destroyed, but Chen Mo and Homelander remained alive and faced each other across the churning water.

• Chen Mo and Homelander traded blows in the air and on the ground, smashing through a hotel and trading Heat Vision attacks.
• Chen Mo struck Homelander with a spiked punch, and the two clashed their powerful beams, splitting Carnival Island apart.
• News broadcasts and military monitors captured the battle, while Allen and Mia watched from a safe house and hoped Chen Mo would return.
• Chen Mo and Homelander continued fighting across the ruined island, wounding each other as their bodies rapidly healed.
• Chen Mo and Homelander released energy into each other's faces, destroying the last of Carnival Island and sending them flying apart.
• Chen Mo stopped himself in midair while Homelander crashed through the island's eastern remnant, and they faced each other across the central chasm.

Chen Mo overwhelmed Homelander in a brutal battle after Carnival Island was destroyed, using his strength and endless metal blades to wear him down. The chapter ended with Homelander defeated and Chen Mo dismissing him as someone he would soon forget.

• Homelander recovered from the island’s destruction and charged Chen Mo, but Chen Mo struck him into the sea.
• Chen Mo pursued Homelander across the debris and cut him with his blade while battering him with close-range attacks.
• Chen Mo released a storm of metal blades from his wings, shredding Homelander’s suit and opening wounds faster than he could heal.
• Homelander burned through the blades with his Heat Vision and attacked Chen Mo, but Chen Mo seized his wrist and crushed his chest with a punch.
• Chen Mo continued striking Homelander and sent him skimming across the sea until he could no longer defend himself.
• Chen Mo looked down at the defeated Homelander and said he would probably have forgotten him by the next day.

After defeating Homelander, Chen Mo listened as the dying supe confronted the truth about his need for love and asked Chen Mo to consume his body before Vought could claim it. Chen Mo prepared to honor the request, but a helicopter approached through the sea fog.

• Chen Mo taunted the badly wounded Homelander as V1's power faded and his injuries worsened.
• Homelander said people had lied about loving him, then admitted he knew Madelyn feared him and had lied about his son.
• Chen Mo told Homelander he treated affection and fear as tools rather than needing anyone's approval.
• Homelander asked Chen Mo to eat him so Vought could not turn his body into souvenirs, and Chen Mo agreed.
• A helicopter appeared over the water before Chen Mo could strike, and he wondered whether someone had come to collect Homelander's corpse.

Chen Mo devoured Homelander above the ruins of Carnival Island, breaking through a new limit and frightening the nearby military fleet into retreat. He flew away after telling Edgar to prepare a place for him to rest and find him more food.

• A joint military force saw drone footage of Chen Mo consuming Homelander and raised its combat readiness.
• Chen Mo absorbed Homelander's memories and body, then evolved as his armor's energy surged beyond the instruments' limits.
• Chen Mo's shockwave sent several attack helicopters crashing into the sea, and the commander ordered the fleet to withdraw while reporting Homelander dead.
• Chen Mo called Edgar, declined to launch Vought's public relations plan, and asked him to arrange a safe zone and find new ingredients.
• Chen Mo flew into the clouds, telling Edgar to prepare large set meals and something novel.

Chen Mo returned to the safe house after killing and eating Homelander, then learned that governments were treating him as a major threat and planning an investigation of Carnival Island. He went to Vought Tower, where Edgar briefed him on international pressure and nuclear threats, leaving Chen Mo baffled that anyone dared to threaten him.

• Chen Mo returned to the safe house, reassured Mia, told Allen he had killed and eaten Homelander, and warned them to stay indoors before falling asleep.
• The next morning, Chen Mo, Allen, and Mia watched news reports about a multinational investigation near Carnival Island and the search for a mysterious dark red figure.
• Chen Mo told Allen and Mia to stay home and went to Vought Tower to check on the company.
• Edgar told Chen Mo that several countries were demanding access to Vought's files and that some officials had proposed using nuclear weapons against him.
• Chen Mo ordered Edgar to fire the deputy head of public relations for proposing international cooperation, then wondered where the officials had found the courage to threaten him.

Chen Mo and Edgar confronted Vought directors and government representatives who planned to seize the company’s assets and remove Edgar. Chen Mo disguised himself as an assistant to enter their meeting, then revealed himself as the room’s leaders recognized him and fell to their knees.

• Edgar showed Chen Mo reports revealing the joint investigation team’s plans to seal the abyss, investigate Homelander’s death, and take control of Vought’s Compound V data.
• Ashley reported that Vought’s board had called an emergency meeting and intended to remove Edgar in favor of a leader who would cooperate with the investigation team.
• Edgar displayed evidence of the directors’ and representatives’ misconduct, while the board members proposed suspending his authority and taking control of Vought.
• Chen Mo disguised himself as an assistant and accompanied Edgar into the boardroom, where he served coffee as Edgar challenged the directors’ demands.
• Chen Mo’s disguise faded, causing two government representatives and several directors to recognize him and drop to their knees; Chen Mo then unleashed a wave of energy from his fingertip.

Chen Mo took control of Vought’s board meeting, using Edgar’s evidence to expose a scheme to sell company data and proposing to turn government investigators into part of Vought’s supply chain. After binding the surviving directors and securing Edgar’s position, Chen Mo sent the young representative to identify the people stirring up trouble.

• Chen Mo killed several directors who supported challenging Vought’s leadership, leaving the rest terrified as Edgar resumed the meeting.
• Edgar revealed a network of directors, officials, and companies planning to transfer Compound V data and residual V1 samples before a joint review.
• Edgar proposed controlling key government officials and turning outside pressure into a global supply chain, and Chen Mo approved the plan.
• Chen Mo used tendrils to bind the surviving directors, who unanimously signed documents keeping Edgar in his position.
• Chen Mo bound the two representatives and ordered the young representative to find out who was stirring up trouble.

Chen Mo took control of Air and Space One, subdued the president, and brought him to Vought Tower, where the president proposed using vulnerable people and children as experimental subjects. Chen Mo killed him and ordered Edgar to become president, leaving the country under Chen Mo’s control and Edgar set to lead its government.

• With government communications collapsing, the president and his advisers considered launching a nuclear strike against Chen Mo.
• Chen Mo appeared aboard Air and Space One, stopped the president from pressing the nuclear button, and made him submit.
• Chen Mo brought the president to Vought Tower, where Edgar reported that the administrative network and most of the military were under control.
• Chen Mo ordered the president and Edgar to find criminals for experiments, but the president also proposed taking homeless people, missing persons, and children.
• Chen Mo killed the president and ordered Edgar to become president.

Chen Mo devoured criminals on an island for a week, then discovered he could perceive and travel between worlds. After scouting several worlds, he returned to Vought Tower and prepared to explore the newly opened “gacha pool.”

• Chen Mo used mind reading and his tendrils to kill criminals on the island, including a boy he left for the other inmates to torment.
• For a week, Edgar supplied convicted criminals for Chen Mo to expose to Temp V and devour, expanding his abilities.
• After eating a fraudster who could conjure coins, Chen Mo gained the ability to perceive worlds and sent clones to scout them.
• Chen Mo's clones found outer space, a seemingly endless ocean, and a world inhabited by dinosaurs.
• The next morning, Ashley fainted when she saw a velociraptor at Chen Mo's desk, while Edgar calmly greeted Chen Mo after he changed back into human form.
• Chen Mo told Edgar he could now cross worlds, though he had yet to find anything useful, and said the gacha pool was open.

Chen Mo struggled through a string of useless world explorations before arriving in a city under attack by Abomination. After Abomination punched him through a convenience store, Chen Mo returned unharmed and stopped the monster’s next attack with one finger, leaving the soldiers, agents, and reporters stunned.

• Chen Mo complained to Ashley and Edgar about repeatedly landing in empty or hostile worlds, and Edgar began classifying exploration sites as cross-world assets.
• Chen Mo sent a clone through the passage and found himself on a ruined city street, where Abomination punched him through a convenience store.
• Chen Mo took control of the clone, recognized Abomination and the surrounding agents, and identified the lead agent as Hawkeye.
• Chen Mo taunted Abomination, who charged at him in a rage while the nearby soldiers and reporters watched.
• Chen Mo stopped Abomination’s fist with one finger while holding a bottle of cola, stunning everyone at the scene.

Chen Mo overwhelmed Abomination in front of reporters, soldiers, and Bruce Banner, but before he could finish dealing with him, Tony Stark arrived in his armor and confronted Chen Mo. The battle paused with Tony demanding that Chen Mo let Abomination go.

• Chen Mo blocked Abomination’s punches with ease while reporters filmed, and Thaddeus Ross ordered his troops to withdraw and investigate the stranger.
• Hawkeye reported that Chen Mo needed a threat level beyond the existing charts, while Bruce Banner decided he did not need to jump into the fight.
• Chen Mo launched Abomination into the air, kicked him down, and smashed him against the street before pinning him to the ground.
• Chen Mo revealed blood tendrils and considered Abomination potential food as reporters and soldiers watched.
• Tony Stark landed beside Chen Mo and Abomination, aimed his palm cannons at Chen Mo, and told him to take his hand off Abomination.

Chen Mo overpowered Abomination, took him from the confrontation with Iron Man, and vanished using a spatial trick. He left Abomination in an abandoned warehouse and prepared to make him his first meal in a new world.

• Tony Stark confronted Chen Mo and demanded that he release Abomination, while S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hawkeye monitored the scene.
• Chen Mo explained that he wanted to eat Abomination and noted the gamma energy in his body.
• Abomination lunged at Chen Mo, who caught him and slammed him into the rubble before lifting him by his back spurs.
• Chen Mo used a spatial trick to vanish with Abomination, leaving Tony and the onlookers behind.
• Nick Fury ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. to classify Chen Mo as a high-priority unknown teleporter and investigate.
• Chen Mo tossed Abomination onto the floor of an abandoned warehouse and prepared to eat him.

Chen Mo devoured Abomination and gained new strength and resistance, while Tony and Fury investigated his sudden appearance. The Ancient One confronted Chen Mo in the warehouse, and Chen Mo prepared to leave rather than wait for answers.

• Chen Mo devoured Abomination, absorbed his memories and gamma energy, and developed stronger abilities.
• Tony reviewed footage of Chen Mo and told JARVIS to prioritize the Anti-Mysterious-Asshole Armor.
• Fury ordered S.H.I.E.L.D. to investigate Chen Mo’s disappearance and the evidence he left behind.
• The Ancient One appeared in the warehouse and said he had come to trace a disturbance in the threads of fate.
• Chen Mo told the Ancient One he would find answers himself, and the Ancient One raised a finger without explaining what he meant.

Chen Mo negotiated a deal with the Ancient One to protect Earth when necessary in exchange for her body and part of her legacy after her death. They agreed on limits to his obligations, and Chen Mo left the story committed to the bargain.

• The Ancient One told Chen Mo that his arrival had clouded the future she once saw clearly and asked him to protect Earth when necessary.
• Chen Mo asked for a reward, and the Ancient One offered him her physical body and the legacy she chose to leave behind after her death, excluding her soul.
• Chen Mo set terms that he would not accept guilt trips or be summoned at will, and that he could deal with anyone who provoked him as long as Earth was not endangered.
• The Ancient One accepted Chen Mo's terms and clasped his hand to seal the deal.

After making a deal with the Ancient One, Chen Mo explored New York, where he crossed paths with Daredevil and headed to Stark Tower. Tony’s surveillance detected him as he prepared to take a tourist photo.

• After the Ancient One left, Chen Mo erased the warehouse traces and changed into tourist clothes.
• Chen Mo bought a hot dog and watched news coverage of the Harlem incident, where his face had been poorly blurred.
• Matt Murdock tripped a purse snatcher and sensed Chen Mo’s overwhelming presence; Chen Mo greeted him before moving on.
• Chen Mo walked to Stark Tower, took a stolen phone to photograph himself, and noticed the tower’s hidden cameras scanning him.

Chen Mo visited Stark Tower after taking Abomination away, and Tony Stark invited him upstairs despite JARVIS's warnings. Their tense conversation was interrupted when S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicles arrived outside, leaving Chen Mo to point out that they had come to watch.

• Chen Mo took photos outside Stark Tower while Tony ordered JARVIS to scan him and confirmed he was the man who had taken Abomination.
• Tony put on his Mark Armor and asked the front desk to bring Chen Mo upstairs.
• Chen Mo entered Tony's lab with two coffees, and they traded jokes while Tony's scans failed to make sense of his physiology.
• Chen Mo implied that he had eaten Abomination, and JARVIS judged the alternative explanation less credible.
• JARVIS detected three suspicious vehicles outside, including one belonging to a covert S.H.I.E.L.D. unit, and Chen Mo pointed them out to Tony.

Chen Mo and Tony Stark received Phil Coulson and Brock Rumlow at Stark Tower after S.H.I.E.L.D. came to question Chen Mo about Emil Blonsky. Rumlow tried to arrest Chen Mo with restraints and a forged pretext, and Chen Mo struck him.

• Chen Mo spotted S.H.I.E.L.D. agents arriving and told Tony to let them up.
• Coulson asked Chen Mo what had happened to Emil Blonsky, and Chen Mo joked that he had eaten him.
• Tony scanned the agents' briefcase and revealed restraints loaded with needles and electrical devices.
• Rumlow presented an investigation order and insisted on taking Chen Mo into custody, despite Coulson's objections.
• Rumlow approached Chen Mo with the restraints, and Chen Mo suddenly appeared in front of him and punched him.

Chen Mo killed Rumlow and four Hydra agents who tried to capture him, then revealed their affiliation to Tony Stark and Phil Coulson. After Tony sealed Stark Tower's communications and exits, Coulson secretly relayed the revelation to S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, where Nick Fury confronted the possibility of Hydra's infiltration.

• Chen Mo killed Rumlow and four agents, then consumed their bodies and memories while Tony Stark and Phil Coulson watched.
• Chen Mo discovered that the agents belonged to Hydra and told Coulson that Hydra, not S.H.I.E.L.D., had tried to capture him.
• Tony ordered JARVIS to isolate Stark Tower's communications, networks, elevators, and backup surveillance footage.
• Coulson secretly transmitted the conversation to S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, where Nick Fury heard that Hydra had tried to capture Chen Mo.

Nick Fury discovered that Hydra had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. across several divisions, then faced a coup that cut off headquarters and turned its agents against him. Chen Mo arrived at the hangar to save Fury, Natasha, and Hawkeye, while Fury vowed to uncover how deeply Hydra had taken over.

• Fury traced Rumlow's authorizations to three senior supervisors, but the records vanished as Hydra seized the network and attacked the command room.
• Coulson asked Tony and Chen Mo for help after headquarters lost contact, and Chen Mo agreed when Coulson mentioned S.H.I.E.L.D.'s high-level files and inventory.
• Fury escaped with Natasha and Hawkeye, but Hydra forces trapped them in the sealed hangar and opened fire.
• Chen Mo crashed through the hangar roof, scattered the attackers, and joined Fury, Natasha, and Hawkeye.
• Fury said he would get to the bottom of Hydra's infiltration.

Chen Mo rescued Fury from a Hydra ambush and learned about Hydra’s infiltration and Project Insight. He agreed to help purge Hydra from S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in exchange for access to an unknown life-form’s remains and related records.

• Chen Mo stopped the Hydra gunmen’s bullets, crushed the squad, and absorbed a fleeing officer’s memories, learning about Pierce, the Winter Soldier, Project Insight, and Hydra’s secret projects.
• Natasha treated Fury’s stomach wound while Hawkeye joked about needing an instruction manual for working with Chen Mo.
• Fury asked Chen Mo to clear Hydra out of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, but Chen Mo demanded valuable compensation beyond classified files and weapons.
• Iron Man arrived and reported clearing enemy firing positions as Fury offered Chen Mo access to records about unknown remains recovered in the South Pacific.
• Chen Mo accepted the deal and sent black-and-red tendrils through the hangar doors to begin searching for Hydra agents.