Chapter Summaries

Sean joked with Deadpool about his bounty, then learned that Hydra had hired the mercenary to kill him. After Sean paid Deadpool two million dollars, Deadpool shot him in the head.

• Deadpool told Sean that his five-million-dollar bounty ranked below Tony Stark’s and fantasized about spending the money.
• Sean raised his own bounty to ten million dollars and persuaded Deadpool to reveal that Justin Hammer and a Hydra agent had sought his death.
• Sean considered Hydra’s interest in him and its deep infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D., including Alexander Pierce’s rise to director.
• Sean transferred two million dollars to Deadpool, who pressed a pistol to his head and shot him after they said “hallelujah.”

Sean fought Deadpool on a highway after Deadpool tried to kill him, and used his powers and close-combat skill to overpower the mercenary. The chapter ended with Sean’s hand through Deadpool’s chest as Deadpool’s Healing Factor began repairing the wound.

• Deadpool shot at Sean inside a car, but Sean stopped the bullets and blew up the sedan with a blast of energy.
• Deadpool drew his swords and attacked Sean, who dodged his strikes and sent him flying with a powerful blow.
• Deadpool recovered from his broken breastbone and charged Sean again, while Sean fought him at close quarters without relying on his powers.
• Sean used a golden force field to pass through Deadpool’s sword strikes and pierce his chest, vaporizing the flesh and organs inside.
• Deadpool staggered against Sean as his chest wound rapidly healed, and Sean wondered how quickly the mercenary could regenerate.

Sean defeated Deadpool in a highway fight and offered him a job at Umbrella, along with help pursuing Ajax. Deadpool left after calling Sean “Boss,” though he planned to finish his revenge first.

• Sean explained that Deadpool had been transformed by Ajax’s experiments at a Hydra-linked mutant facility.
• Deadpool accused Sean of cheating and challenged him to another fight.
• Sean overwhelmed Deadpool with his force field and kicked him into a bridge pier.
• Sean offered Deadpool a job at Umbrella and gave him a lead on Ajax through the agent who had hired him.
• Deadpool shouted demands for a luxury car, driver, and Manhattan mansion as Sean drove away with Blonsky.
• Deadpool muttered “Boss” and left, intending to finish his revenge before considering Sean’s offer.

Sean sent Doctor Doom to Latveria to take control of the country, while Magneto led the Brotherhood from North America toward a new homeland in Africa. As the Mutants departed, Professor Xavier said goodbye to Erik and the old era came to an end.

• Sean arranged money and resources for Doctor Doom, ordering him to establish legitimate authority in Latveria and eliminate the Warlords and aristocratic lords.
• Doctor Doom boarded a freighter bound for Latveria, pledging to bring destruction and rebirth to his homeland.
• Blonsky told Magneto that Sean would provide someone who could help secure Wakanda's vibranium after the Brotherhood established itself in Africa.
• Magneto announced the Brotherhood's withdrawal from North America and led Sabretooth, Toad, and Mastermind toward a new Mutant homeland in Africa.
• Professor Xavier removed Cerebro, quietly said goodbye to Erik, and wheeled away as the old era ended.

Betty woke up in Sean's apartment after getting drunk at a banquet, where General Ross had tried to bring them together. After Sean comforted her and they confessed their complicated feelings, they became intimate, leaving them nestled together in the sunlit room.

• Betty woke in Sean's apartment and learned that he had brought her home after she got drunk and threw up on him.
• Sean recounted how Betty had insulted him at the banquet before passing out, and she angrily drove him from the room with a pillow.
• Sean watched news of Tony Stark unveiling a new-energy tower while Betty joined him on the sofa.
• Betty told Sean she wanted his feelings despite his relationship with Gwen, and Sean kissed her.
• Betty said Sean had forced her, and they became intimate on the sofa before resting together.

John joined Umbrella and found himself drawn to Sean’s wealth and influence, hoping to become an important figure like him. As Blonsky trained the new Mutant recruits after their defeat by the Thunderbolts, he wondered what drove Sean to keep pressing onward.

• John admired his new Umbrella uniform and reflected on how Sean’s power and influence had changed his ambitions.
• John joined the Umbrella Security Squad alongside other Mutants, including Colossus Peter.
• Blonsky addressed the recruits and reminded them that their superpowers had not saved them from defeat.
• Blonsky recalled how the Thunderbolts had overwhelmed the Mutants in a live combat exercise a week earlier.
• Blonsky considered Sean’s relentless drive and briefly wondered whether the world was nearing its end.

Doctor Doom returned to Latveria and saw the poverty and lawlessness of the country where he had grown up. When his taxi driver tried to rob him, Doom killed him and called someone from the driver’s phone.

• Victor Doom arrived in Latveria after a long journey and took a taxi from the airport.
• Doom remembered his impoverished childhood, his studies, and the chance that had led him to America.
• The driver diverted the taxi toward the outskirts and demanded Doom’s suitcase while threatening him with a wrench.
• Doom revealed his iron mask, snapped the driver’s neck, and dialed a number on the fallen phone.

Victor Doom’s attack on Levandov’s arms factory killed Levandov and stole a case of weapons-grade plutonium, prompting Lazio to order a citywide manhunt. Doom remained hidden and declared that he would destroy and remake Latveria before becoming its uncrowned king.

• Limping John learned that a cloaked attacker had killed dozens of men and was heading for Levandov’s arms factory, but he initially dismissed the threat.
• Lazio told John that Levandov was dead and that the attacker had stolen nearly six kilograms of ring-shaped plutonium, then ordered John to find him and recover it.
• John mobilized his contacts, and Latveria imposed a martial lockdown as police and gangs began searching for the cloaked man.
• At an abandoned shack, Victor Doom inspected the plutonium and told Skynet that he had rejected a slower plan to gain influence through Latveria’s rulers.
• Doom declared that Latveria was rotten and that he would bring destruction and rebirth before ruling it in the name of Doom.

Sean approved Doctor Doom’s faster plan to seize power in Latveria and arranged Skynet’s help with a new robot called Terminator. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bonucci ordered Lazio to recover the stolen plutonium and continued plotting to rule Latveria, when Doctor Doom appeared in his study.

• Skynet told Sean that Doctor Doom had defied their original plan by provoking local gangs and Warlord and stealing weapons-grade plutonium.
• Sean agreed that Doom’s faster approach could work and asked Skynet about Ivan Vanko’s first-generation metal bionic robot prototype.
• Sean named the robot Terminator and envisioned Doom using mass-produced machines to defeat Latveria’s gangs and warlords.
• At the Prime Minister’s Palace, Bonucci berated Lazio for losing the plutonium and ordered him to retrieve it within twenty-four hours.
• Bonucci reflected on his rivalry with Latveria’s old nobles and his dealings with Hydra as he planned to become the country’s sole ruler.
• Doctor Doom emerged from the shadows in Bonucci’s study and greeted the prime minister.

Doctor Doom invaded the Prime Minister's Palace, tortured Bonucci, and revealed himself as Victor Doom before detonating the weapons-grade plutonium. He left the palace engulfed in a blinding blast as he declared that Latveria would convert to the Doomsday Cult.

• Doctor Doom incapacitated Bonucci, dragged him into the study's rest room, and whipped him until he answered questions about the Gunpowder Plot.
• Doom drew electricity from the palace and fought his way through security while hauling Bonucci to the rooftop.
• Doom used Bonucci as a shield against a nearby sniper and arranged for Mozart's Symphony No. 40 to play across the city.
• Doom reminded Bonucci that he had once been hailed as Latveria's Star of Tomorrow, and Bonucci recognized him as Victor Doom.
• Doom revealed that he had modified Bonucci's weapons-grade plutonium crate and left it in the prime minister's room, then a blinding explosion erupted from the palace.

Sean reviewed Victor Doom’s escalating effort to overthrow Latveria’s old order and build a cult around himself, then headed to Stark Tower’s inauguration ceremony. He left Doom poised to seize power while anticipating the dangerous game between a female agent and a scientist.

• Sean trained for two hours in Umbrella’s gravity chamber, using the Artificial Suns to strengthen himself.
• Sean reviewed reports that Doom had bombed the Prime Minister’s Palace, armed rioters, and intensified unrest across Latveria.
• Sean concluded that Doom was deliberately destroying the old order and turning the riots into support for a Doomsday Cult.
• Sean told Skynet that it would soon have a new home as Doom’s takeover of Latveria advanced.
• Sean left for Stark Tower’s inauguration ceremony, eager to watch the dangerous game between a female agent and a scientist.

Natasha Romanoff arrived at Stark Tower disguised as actress Miss Scarlett, accompanying Sean to the opening ceremony while concealing her true purpose. As Tony reflected on how his life had changed, the event began with Jarvis introducing the tower’s new energy source.

• Natasha prepared her actress disguise and equipped herself with concealed spy tools.
• Natasha arrived at Stark Tower and met Sean, who apologized for making her come alone.
• Sean and Miss Scarlett entered the banquet, where Tony teased Sean about his reputation as a playboy.
• Tony reflected on leaving behind his former lifestyle and smiled at Sean, saying that being young was wonderful.
• Jarvis began the Stark Tower ceremony by presenting a holographic projection and introducing its new energy source.

At Tony Stark’s energy-source launch, Sean flirted with Miss Scarlett and drew her into a private conference room, while Tony and Pepper discussed S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Sky Carrier contract and Tony’s work with Reed. Scarlett remained unsure whether Sean had uncovered her real identity as their encounter turned passionate.

• Sean watched Tony present Stark Industries’ new energy source and reflected on the company’s successful shift from weapons to energy.
• Miss Scarlett approached Sean, and he acted nervous and inexperienced as they talked on the observation deck.
• Tony joked to Pepper that Sean was a better actor than a thinker, then discussed S.H.I.E.L.D.’s paid request for Stark Industries’ Sky Carrier design and technical support.
• Pepper asked Tony about his late-night research with Reed, and Tony said he was upgrading Jarvis while concealing their work on the Ultron Program.
• Sean and Miss Scarlett disappeared from the observation deck and kissed in a private conference room.
• Miss Scarlett tried to push Sean away, but his flattery reignited her desire and left her wondering what was happening.

Mindy and Gali ran away in Sean’s self-driving RV for a vacation in Wyoming, while Sean remained in New York with the undercover agent playing Miss Scarlett after the two spent the night together. The chapter left Mindy still defiant about Sean’s warnings and Miss Scarlett planning to use their intimacy to investigate him and Umbrella.

• Mindy and Gali traveled toward Yellowstone in an RV bought with Sean’s credit card, and Gali questioned whether their escape was truly independent.
• Mindy wondered whether Sean had noticed they were gone and blamed him for trying to send her to winter camp in Canada.
• Mindy said Sean claimed New York was the most dangerous place on Earth, and Gali worried her father might come looking for her.
• Mindy kissed Gali to test her claim that Sean’s scent was appealing, and the two kissed again.
• Back at the Baxter Building, Miss Scarlett considered killing Sean but decided to use their relationship to gain his trust and gather intelligence about him and Umbrella.
• Sean woke and called the agent Scarlett, while she briefly became absorbed in the role.

Magneto met with black-market merchant Ulysses Klaw to secure supplies for the Brotherhood’s foothold in Africa. Klaw hinted that he could offer more than arms and named Wakanda and vibranium, leaving Magneto to consider his real proposal.

• Ulysses Klaw loaded weapons onto a ship at Salva Mega Dock and angrily demanded compensation from a client who had cheated him.
• Klaw welcomed Magneto, who complained about the stench in his office and asked for weapons, equipment, and medical supplies for the Brotherhood.
• Magneto explained that the Brotherhood needed steady resources to establish a lasting base in Africa, not just strength to seize territory.
• Klaw said Sean had already paid the first installment and claimed he could offer services beyond reselling supplies.
• Klaw named Wakanda and vibranium as the opportunity he wanted to present to Magneto.

Magneto recruited Ulysses Klaw to help the Brotherhood obtain Wakanda’s vibranium and prepare for the Mutants’ arrival. Klaw agreed to provide information in exchange for a legal identity and a monopoly on vibranium supply channels, while Magneto awaited an important bargaining chip from Sean.

• Magneto pretended not to know Wakanda as Klaw explained that the isolated country held vast vibranium reserves and described his past smuggling operation.
• Magneto offered Klaw a partnership, promising him a legitimate identity and control of vibranium supply channels in return for a detailed dossier on Wakanda.
• Magneto demonstrated his power by making the ship shake, then ordered Klaw to tell him everything he knew about Wakanda.
• Klaw accepted Magneto’s offer, and Magneto contacted Sean to report that everything was ready and that he awaited the promised bargaining chip.
• Magneto left the ship and looked toward Wakanda, which he intended to make the Mutants’ new homeland.

Heimdall and Thor discussed Asgard’s stagnation, Midgard’s rapid progress, and Thor’s feelings for Jane Foster while the Bifrost’s transportation function remained under repair. Heimdall revealed that Loki had left the Nine Realms, while Thor expected his brother to return to Asgard eventually.

• Heimdall watched the Nine Realms and worried that Asgard had stagnated while Midgard advanced and conflicts spread without Odin’s suppression.
• Thor asked Heimdall whether anything had changed in Midgard and admitted he understood the difficulties of loving Jane Foster but would not give up unless she rejected him.
• Heimdall cautioned Thor that Midgardians were poor partners for long-lived Asgardians and reminded him of his future duties as king.
• Thor asked where Loki was, and Heimdall said Loki had vanished at the edge of the dark abyss and left the Nine Realms.
• Thor recalled that Loki had visited Midgard and believed his brother would eventually return to Asgard.

Sean and Jean spent Thanksgiving together at the Baxter Building, where Sean prepared a feast and reassured Jean as she struggled with feeling alienated after merging with the Phoenix Force. Jean accepted his comfort, and the two settled in to celebrate the evening together.

• Sean cooked Thanksgiving dinner while Jean relaxed on the sofa and teased him about preparing her favorite dishes.
• Sean reflected on his friends’ holiday plans and the wider developments involving the Mutant Registration Act, Doctor Doom, Magneto, and Ulysses Klaw.
• Sean told Jean about Thanksgiving’s history and the Indigenous people who had been displaced and killed after the settlers arrived.
• Sean brought the roasted turkey to the table and told Jean she could find acceptance with him despite feeling lost after merging with the Phoenix Force.
• Jean smiled, raised her wine, and told Sean she wanted to be on top after they finished the turkey.

Loki crossed the hostile outer reaches of space to find the Chitauri, hoping to secure Thanos's support for his revenge against Asgard. After claiming to know where the Infinity Stones were, he was taken to meet the Supreme Ruler.

• Loki recalled how Odin imprisoned Hela, concealed Asgard's history, and favored Thor over him.
• Loki endured the hazards of deep space as he searched for the Chitauri, determined to seize Asgard's throne with Thanos's help.
• Loki found what he believed was the Chitauri armory on a desolate planet and called out to Thanos.
• Chitauri guards subdued Loki, but he told them he had clues about the Infinity Stones and knew where they were.
• The Chitauri leader ordered his followers to take Loki to meet the great ruler.

Sean flew to Tokyo to rescue Harry Osborn, whom Hydra had abducted for his connection to Umbrella’s biotechnology. Meanwhile, a red-haired woman brought a ragged man to the Yashida estate amid Tokyo’s growing crisis of nighttime attacks, and the man was searched upon arrival.

• Sean used Skynet to locate Harry after his signal vanished in Tokyo and learned that Hydra’s Japan branch had taken him.
• Sean boarded a private jet for Tokyo, suspecting Hydra was connected to reports of creatures attacking people at night.
• A red-haired woman and a ragged man arrived in Tokyo by plane and rode to the Yashida Family residence.
• The red-haired woman warned the man that Tokyo had entered a dangerous period, with nighttime attacks and public panic worsening.
• Security personnel searched the man at the Yashida estate to ensure he carried no weapons.