Chapter 28: This is the Sense of Security Homelander Brings You!
The two fashionable young women were completely terrified.
A huge shadow loomed over them, rushing straight at their faces.
In front of the several-ton steel beast, their slender legs couldn't move an inch.
They could only hug each other in despair, letting out piercing screams.
"Ah—!!!"
It was over.
This was the only thought in their minds.
However.
Just one millisecond before the massive bumper was about to touch their noses.
Boom!!
A dull, extremely loud bang rang out.
The anticipated severe pain and shattering of bones did not arrive.
The strong wind messed up their carefully styled hair, but the crazy truck...
It was as if it had hit an unshakeable mountain, instantly coming to a halt!
That's right.
It was an instant stop!
Without any buffer.
The enormous inertia caused the truck's rear compartment to violently lift up, then fall back down heavily.
The front of the truck, due to the terrifying impact, was directly caved in, crushed into a mass of scrap metal.
The hood flew off, the radiator burst, and white steam instantly filled the air.
The two women trembled as they opened their eyes.
Through the hazy steam, they saw a tall, incredibly imposing figure from behind.
A dark blue combat suit, golden eagle-head epaulets.
And a bright red cape, emblazoned with the Stars and Stripes, slowly fluttering in the steam.
He stood there, one hand pressed against the deformed truck front, without even retreating half an inch.
Effortlessly.
As if he had just stopped a toy car.
"Fuck! What happened?!"
In the driver's cab, the robber wearing a Joker mask was thrown around by the sudden stop, his forehead covered in blood.
He shook his head, looking at the blurry figure outside the windshield, and the fierce glint in his eyes instantly erupted.
"Damn it! Someone's blocking the way!"
"Kill him! Quickly, kill him!"
These desperate criminals didn't care about much else.
Under the stimulation of adrenaline, their minds were filled only with slaughter and escape.
The robbers in the back immediately poked their heads out of the deformed compartment, raising their automatic rifles.
And unleashed a barrage of insane gunfire at the blue figure.
"Da da da da da da—!"
Flames spewed, and dense bullets poured out like rain.
At this range, with this firepower...
Even a SWAT Officer in a bulletproof vest would be riddled with holes!
"No—!!"
The two women behind them covered their mouths in terror.
However.
The next second, a scene that made all the robbers doubt their lives appeared.
Clang, clang, clang!
Those rifle bullets, capable of penetrating steel plates, struck the man's body and actually made crisp metallic sounds.
Sparks flew!
The deformed bullet heads fell weakly to the ground, making crackling sounds.
And the man, let alone bleeding...
He didn't even have a single small hole in his blue combat suit!
He reached out and elegantly brushed his shoulder, as if flicking away some insignificant dust.
As the steam gradually dissipated.
The sunlight once again shone on that excessively handsome face.
That iconic smile, full of oppression and divinity, came into the eyes of all the robbers.
"That's..."
The robber boss in the driver's cab's pupils suddenly constricted to pinpricks.
His gun clattered onto his lap.
He recognized him!
Just this morning!
At that nationally televised press conference!
And that figure who tore apart an alien warship yesterday!
"Ho... Homelander?!"
The robber's voice instantly cracked, filled with endless fear and despair.
"How is this possible?!"
"We're just robbing an armored car! Why send Homelander?!"
This was like stealing a manhole cover on the side of the road and then being targeted by an intercontinental missile.
This was too exaggerated!
"Damn it! Run!"
Several robbers were so scared they soiled themselves, abandoning the money, pushing open the car doors, and trying to run in the opposite direction.
Fight a monster like this?
Were they tired of reincarnating too slowly?!
Arthur looked at these scurrying ants, a playful sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Run?"
"Causing trouble on my turf, and you still want to run?"
"Did you ask for my permission?"
But he didn't immediately give chase.
As a professional superhero, he knew what was most important.
Arthur slowly turned around.
He ignored the fleeing robbers behind him.
Instead, he faced the two young women who were still stunned.
He subtly straightened his slightly disheveled cape.
A warm smile, capable of making any woman's hormones surge, appeared on his face.
"Ladies."
Arthur's voice was magnetic and gentle, a stark contrast to his previous tough, Man of Steel image:
"Are you hurt?"
He even reached out, very gentlemanly, and helped one of the women who had fallen to the ground back up.
"N-no..."
The woman felt like she was about to faint; looking at his face up close, the intense masculine aura made her legs weak.
"That's good."
Arthur nodded in satisfaction, striking an incredibly handsome pose for the two of them.
He pointed to the golden 'A' on his chest, then to the sky above:
"Don't worry, and don't be afraid."
"Because I am here."
"As long as I am here, no evil can harm you."
"This is the sense of security Homelander brings you."
After speaking, he even gave them a playful wink.
"Ah ah ah—!!!"
The two women finally reacted, letting out screams even more shrill than when they encountered the car crash.
It was excitement, exhilaration, a fanaticism like witnessing a miracle!
"Homelander! Homelander saved us!"
"He's a million times more handsome than on TV!"
[Ding! Detected extreme adoration and admiration, popularity points +200!]
[Ding! popularity points +200!]
Listening to the pleasant notification sound, Arthur was thoroughly satisfied.
This was what he wanted.
As for those robbers?
"Alright, showtime's over. Now it's time to clean up the trash."
Arthur turned around, looking at the robbers who had already run dozens of meters away, his eyes instantly turning cold.
Whoosh—!
His figure instantly vanished from the spot.
There was no need to use Heat Vision; that would be too wasteful, and a bloody mess would also affect the city's appearance.
Arthur was like a white flash of lightning, instantly appearing behind the robbers.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Like swatting a few flies.
Arthur didn't even exert himself, just casually slapped them a few times.
"Ah!"
"My leg!"
Accompanied by several screams and the crisp sound of bones breaking.
Those robbers, who had been incredibly arrogant moments before, flew out like kites with broken strings.
They fell heavily to the ground, either with broken arms or broken legs, unable to get up again.
Completely losing the ability to resist.
At this moment.
The Police cars, which had been left far behind, finally arrived belatedly.
The Police Officers jumped out of their cars, rushing over with their guns raised, only to find that the battle was already over.
The legendary man was holding the robber boss by his collar with one hand, tossing him onto the hood of a Police car like a little chicken.
"These pieces of trash are yours, Officer."
Arthur clapped his hands, smiling at the dumbfounded Police Officers:
"Remember to find them a sturdy cage, don't let them out to scare pretty ladies again."
"Yes! Yes! Officer!"
The leading Officer was so excited he was incoherent, even subconsciously saluting:
"Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"
"Is this your power? It's simply incredible!"
The surrounding onlookers also erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
"Homelander! Homelander!"
Arthur basked in the cheers, his smile growing brighter.
He waved his hand, his red cape fluttering in the wind.
"You don't need to thank me."
"This is my reason for existence, isn't it?"
"For New York, for America."
[Ding! Detected gratitude and adoration from all New York Police Department members, popularity points +1500!]
[Ding! Detected fervent faith from onlookers, popularity points +3000!]
Another big harvest!
Arthur was ecstatic.
This feeling of effortlessly accumulating large amounts of popularity points was simply addictive.
"Alright, everyone."
Arthur looked at the growing crowd, knowing that staying any longer would cause a traffic jam.
Too much is as bad as too little; maintaining a sense of mystery was also very important.
"I have to go, there are more people waiting for my help."
With that said.
Under everyone's gaze, he slightly bent his knees.
Boom!
Accompanied by a sonic boom, he shot up into the sky, soaring into the clouds!
Leaving behind only a ground full of upward gazes.
...
Ten thousand meters above the ground.
Clouds rapidly swept past beneath his feet.
Arthur wasn't in a hurry to find the next victim.
Instead, he floated in the stratosphere, happily opening the system panel.
Adding the accumulation from the Battle of New York and the recent harvest from saving the damsels in distress...
The number on the system panel had become an extremely tempting astronomical figure.
[Host: John Gilchang]
[Current popularity points: 502,300!]
[Reputation Level: Renowned!]
"Five hundred thousand..."
Arthur looked at the number, unable to resist licking his lips.
This excited him even more than a string of zeros in a bank account.
Because this meant...
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host on increasing their Reputation Level!]
[Received phase reward: Stellar Energy Tolerance Enhancement (one-time)!]
[Triggered advanced quest: Baptism of the Sun!]
[Quest Description: As the owner of a Kryptonian Body, the Sun is your source of power. Since you already have the ability to fly into space, why not take a bath in that big fireball?]
[Quest Requirement: Enter the Sun's core region and charge for four months.]
[Quest Reward: Silver Body (Elementary)!]
Looking at the quest description, Arthur's eyes instantly lit up frighteningly.
Bathe in the Sun?
Was this fast-forwarding directly to the version where Superman meditates in the Sun for decades?
One must know, while the Man of Steel was strong, in a place like the Marvel Universe where gods fought, he was at most a planetary overlord.
Against someone of Thanos's level, or someone with the Infinity Gauntlet, he would still need to be cautious.
But...
If it were the Silver Body?
That was a terrifying existence capable of pushing planets and blowing out the Sun with a single breath!
"Stellar Energy Tolerance Enhancement..."
Arthur clenched his fists, feeling the special energy within him, which had appeared due to the system reward.
This was practically an umbrella prepared to allow him to safely enter the Sun.
The system was forcing him onto the path of invincibility!
Although it would take four months, it was absolutely worth it!
"Since that's the case..."
Arthur looked up, through the thin atmosphere, at the scorching Sun hanging high above.
That was no longer a burning fireball.
That was his power bank!
That was his source of power!
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Arthur's lips curved into a fervent smile, and his Bio-electric Field suddenly erupted.
Boom!!!
A sonic boom that echoed across the sky exploded in the stratosphere.
Arthur transformed into a golden stream of light, breaking free from Earth's gravitational pull.
He charged resolutely towards the Sun, burning with raging flames!
Chapter 29: What the hell? Why can't I shake off this bald monk?
In the vast, boundless space.
Without air resistance, unbound by gravity.
Arthur felt like a fish returning to the sea, every cell in his body cheering with joy.
"This is the feeling of freedom..."
He looked back.
The blue Planet, now appeared as small as a blue glass bead in his vision.
Arthur silently calculated in his mind.
"The current speed is Mach 150, which is about 51 kilometers per second."
"The distance from the Earth to the Sun is about 150 million kilometers..."
Upon calculating, Arthur's brows furrowed slightly.
"33 days?"
"A one-way trip takes a month?"
"That's too slow!"
Although he was already fast on Earth, this was interstellar travel!
This speed, on a cosmic scale, was no different from a snail's crawl.
"One month to go, another month to come back."
"Plus, the system task requires me to stay in that sauna-like environment at the Sun's core for at least four months to complete the transformation and activate the Silver Body..."
Arthur counted on his fingers.
"This trip will take at least half a year."
Half a year?
Arthur's eyes suddenly lit up.
It was summer 2012, shortly after the Battle of New York.
If he pushed it back half a year...
Wouldn't that be Christmas 2012?
"Let me think..."
"At that time, wasn't it the beginning of the 'Iron Man 3' plot?"
He remembered it clearly.
At that time, Tony Stark would be so anxious from PTSD after the Battle of New York that he couldn't sleep.
Then, a perverted scientist named Killian.
Would lead a group of self-detonating Red Warm Zombies to blow up that large seaside Villa into rubble.
Not only that.
Even the U.S. President was kidnapped and hung in mid-air like cured meat.
It was simply the most shameful day in the history of America.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
"The President kidnapped, the whole nation in panic—how many popularity points would that be?"
"If at that time, I, Homelander, who had disappeared for half a year, suddenly made a triumphant return..."
"Punching the villain to smithereens, catching the President's private jet with one hand."
"That scene, that spectacle..."
Arthur's blood boiled just thinking about it.
Absolutely perfect!
This business trip was worth it!
He could upgrade his cheat, and also return just in time to harvest a huge wave of popularity points.
This was a massive win!
Thinking of this, Arthur suddenly realized again.
After obtaining the Silver Body, he should be able to fly at the speed of light, right?
That way, he would reach the Earth in eight minutes.
But it didn't matter, if he could really fly at the speed of light.
He wouldn't mind soaking in the Sun for another month.
Then, he no longer hesitated.
Bio-electric Field fully activated!
Boom!
Although there was no sound in space, the surrounding space seemed to vibrate.
His speed surged again, and he sprinted at full speed towards that distant star, emitting endless light and heat!
However.
Just as he flew past the Moon's orbit.
Buzz—
A strange ripple, without any warning, spread deep within his mind.
Immediately after.
A gentle, calm, yet slightly helpless female voice, directly echoed in his cerebral cortex:
"John Gilchang."
"Where are you going?"
"Are you in such a hurry to leave Earth that you didn't even say goodbye?"
Zzz—!
Arthur, who was flying at high speed, suddenly slammed on the brakes.
Inertia made him tumble several times in space before he stopped.
He vigilantly scanned his surroundings, his eyes instantly glowing red, Heat Vision ready to unleash.
The dark Universe.
Aside from the distant starlight, there wasn't even a ghost of a Shadow.
"Who?!"
"Who's talking to me?!"
Arthur was a little freaked out.
This was space, for crying out loud! A vacuum environment!
Where was that voice coming from?
"It's me."
The voice sounded again, even with a hint of a smile:
"Ancient One."
"Ancient One?!"
Arthur's eyes widened, a look of disbelief on his face.
"That damned bald... ahem, Sorcerer?"
"Where are you? Why can't I see you?"
His Super Vision was activated to the extreme, scanning hundreds of kilometers of surrounding space with X-ray, telescopic, and microscopic vision.
Let alone a person, there wasn't even a meteorite.
"I'm still drinking tea in Kamar-Taj."
The Ancient One's voice remained unhurried:
"There is a magic barrier constructed by the Three Sanctums around the Earth."
"Any individual with powerful energy entering or exiting, I can sense it."
"You made such a big commotion breaking through the barrier, it would be hard for me to pretend I didn't know."
"But then again..."
The Ancient One's voice carried a hint of surprise:
"Although I know your physique is special, this is still physically traversing the void."
"You just flew out like that, without any protection?"
"Your physiological functions are truly beyond my expectation."
Hearing this, Arthur rolled his eyes.
He stood with his hands on his hips, floating in space, and complained to the void:
"That's it?"
"Sorcerer, are you underestimating me a bit too much?"
"For most carbon-based life forms in this Universe, surviving in a vacuum is indeed quite difficult."
"But for a god among men like me..."
Arthur spread his hands, a Versailles-like expression on his face:
"It's just a piece of cake."
"More than that, what I'm more curious about is..."
"What kind of sorcery is this?"
"I've flown hundreds of thousands of kilometers, and you can still chat with me?"
"This is too much of a privacy invasion!"
"This is not sorcery, but an advanced application of astral projection and telepathy."
The Ancient One patiently explained:
"I am currently in a soul state, connected to your mind."
"You can't see me because your third eye hasn't opened yet, and your perception of the magical dimension is not enough."
Arthur's mouth twitched as he listened.
Soul state?
Connecting to my mind?
"Isn't that just seeing a ghost?!"
Arthur couldn't help but curse in his heart.
"Sorcerer, can you please not do this horror movie plot in broad daylight?"
"Even though I'm Homelander, I still have nightmares."
Far away in the Himalayas, the Ancient One's hand, holding a teacup, trembled slightly.
She shook her head helplessly.
This disciple, his talent was good, but his mouth... was too annoying.
"Alright, let's skip this topic."
The Ancient One asked seriously:
"You're leaving Earth in such a hurry, even skipping your weekly magic class."
"What are you going to do?"
"Could it be that a new dimensional demon has invaded?"
In the Ancient One's understanding, a strong individual of Arthur's caliber suddenly leaving surely meant something big was happening.
However.
Arthur's answer almost made her spit out her tea.
"Nothing major."
Arthur pointed to the dazzling fireball in the distance, and said with a relaxed expression:
"I just feel a bit cold, and want to go over there for a bath."
"And get a tan while I'm at it."
"Bath... a bath?"
The Ancient One was stunned.
Even as the Sorcerer Supreme, even with all her knowledge.
At this moment, she couldn't quite keep up with Arthur's thought process.
"Are you saying... the Sun?"
"You're going to bathe in the Sun?"
"Are you sure you haven't gone mad?"
That was a star!
Its core temperature reached 15 million degrees Celsius!
Even Odin of Asgard wouldn't dare to say he could bathe in it in the flesh, would he?
"Of course not mad."
Arthur was full of confidence:
"My physique is a bit special; the more I bask in the Sun, the stronger I get."
"Recently, I've felt a bottleneck, so I need to get some'supplies' from the source."
"Don't worry, Sorcerer, I'll be back soon, I won't die."
The Ancient One was silent for a long time.
She looked at the blurry future in the timeline and finally sighed.
This guy was indeed a variable.
Even his cultivation method was so hardcore.
"Then how long will you be gone?" the Ancient One asked.
"Not long, just about half a year."
Arthur said casually:
"I'll definitely be back in half a year."
"I'll bring you some Sun specialties then... well, if there are any local specialties there."
"Half a year?!"
The Ancient One's voice rose a few octaves:
"Are you kidding me?"
"I just told you yesterday that you need to come to Kamar-Taj for class every week!"
"You've only just learned to draw circles with your magic shield, and you want to skip class for half a year?"
"This is called requesting leave! Do you understand requesting leave?!"
Arthur retorted righteously:
"This is preparation for saving the World!"
"Besides, Sorcerer."
"I'm a smart person, I learn everything quickly."
"When I come back, I guarantee I'll memorize all your books in three days!"
"As for now..."
Arthur glanced at the approaching Sun, the craving from deep within his cells making him restless.
"Next time!"
"I'm really in a hurry right now, the bathhouse is about to close!"
Ancient One: "..."
In the meditation room at Kamar-Taj.
The Ancient One put down her teacup and rubbed her temples.
She truly had no way to deal with this rogue.
She couldn't hit him, and he wouldn't listen to scolding.
"Alright then."
The Ancient One conceded.
"Originally, I was thinking that since you can project your soul, even if you're in space, I could still give you online classes through astral projection."
"Teaching you some meditation and mental defense techniques."
"But since you're going to an extreme environment like the Sun..."
The Ancient One shook her head:
"It's filled with violent energy storms; even my mental power would struggle to maintain a stable connection there."
"It seems there's no other way."
"Then go ahead."
"However, John."
The Ancient One's tone became more serious:
"Remember your promise."
"You must return in half a year."
"The Earth needs you."
"Relax, relax!"
Arthur waved his hand in space, looking carefree and happy:
"Don't worry, I'm Homelander, Earth is my home."
"Where else would I go if I didn't come back?"
"Well, that's it, Sorcerer."
"I'm leaving too, don't miss me too much!"
After saying that.
Arthur cut off the feeling of mental connection (he just didn't want to listen anymore).
He turned around, facing the giant, scorching star that emitted endless light.
His eyes were filled with fanaticism and ambition.
"Goodbye, Earth."
"When Daddy comes back, I'll put on a big show for you all!"
Boom!!!
The golden stream of light accelerated again, charging fearlessly into that ocean of light.
Chapter 30: Is This the Sun? I'm Going to Suck You Dry!
Pitch black.
Dead silent.
This was the main theme of space.
Arthur maintained the classic Superman flying pose.
"Boring."
"It's really f*cking boring."
Arthur couldn't help but complain inwardly.
Although his speed had reached an astonishing Mach 150, flying over fifty kilometers per second.
This was incredibly fast on Earth.
But on the vast scale of the Universe?
He felt like an ant paddling in the Pacific Ocean; the surrounding scenery barely changed.
That unchanging darkness and silence, stretching across eons, was enough to drive an ordinary person mad.
"How many days has it been flying?"
"There isn't even a car radio. I should have brought an iPad."
Arthur sighed, bored, and flipped over, changing to a backstroke position.
Since traveling was too boring, he might as well find some fun.
Arthur directly activated his Super Vision and hearing.
Buzz!
As his senses extended infinitely.
That blue Planet, which he had already left behind, once again appeared clearly in his mind.
This was the authority of a god among men.
As long as he wished, there were no secrets on Earth.
His gaze penetrated the atmosphere, passed through steel and concrete.
It locked directly onto the top floor of Stark Tower, which had just begun repairs.
"Let me see what those guys are doing."
...
Stark Tower, temporary office.
Tony Stark was holding a glass of chlorophyll juice, holding the phone with a helpless expression.
On the other end of the phone, Nick Fury's roaring voice, filled with questioning, came through.
"Stark! Tell me where he is!"
"It's been twenty-four hours! Satellites can't find him, thermal imaging can't find him, even that damn facial recognition system can't find him!"
"A living person, and an obvious one wearing a star-spangled cape, just vanished into thin air?!"
Fury was anxious.
Ever since yesterday's press conference, Homelander had vanished as if he had evaporated from the Earth.
This made his extremely controlling heart unbearable.
Who could sleep with an uncontrolled nuclear weapon wandering around outside?
"Relax, buddy."
Tony moved the phone away slightly and dug at his ear:
"I'm looking for him too. You know, he still owes me a celebration dinner."
"Besides, he can fly."
"You saw yesterday, he was gone in a flash."
"Maybe he went to the South Pole to see penguins? Or to Mars for his honeymoon?"
"Tony!" Fury's voice deepened, "This is no time for jokes."
"Alright, alright."
Tony shrugged, though Fury couldn't see it.
He pondered for a moment and offered a seemingly reasonable suggestion:
"Do you remember that Bald Magician who opened the spark rings?"
"Are you talking about... the Himalayas?"
"Bingo!" Tony snapped his fingers, "Since she's the Sorcerer Supreme, and she took John away the day before yesterday."
"Maybe she knows something?"
"After all, for magic matters, you still have to find a magician."
Silence fell on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.
"I understand."
Beep—beep—
The call ended.
...
In space.
Arthur listened to this conversation, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"These guys."
"I'm just going on a long trip, do they miss me that much?"
"Especially that Black Braised Egg, his desire for control is too strong, isn't it? Does he really think I'm one of his Agents?"
"Want to find me?"
"Next lifetime!"
Arthur retracted his gaze and continued his boring flight in space.
Time passed quickly.
The next day.
Arthur once again activated his Super Vision and hearing.
This time, his gaze locked onto the Himalayas.
He saw a dark Quinjet, braving the wind and snow, landing extremely arrogantly outside the ancient monastery of Kamar-Taj.
The hatch opened.
Nick Fury, wrapped in a thick leather coat, walked down with a team of Agents.
At the entrance.
Sorcerer Ancient One was still in a thin yellow robe, holding a folding fan, calmly looking at these uninvited guests.
"Director Fury, you've come a long way. I apologize for not greeting you properly."
"Sorcerer Ancient One."
Fury didn't waste words and went straight to the point:
"Homelander, John Gilchang, is he here with you?"
"Or is he learning those magic spells from you?"
Ancient One smiled slightly and shook her head:
"He is not here."
"He is just a passerby; this place cannot keep him."
Fury's single eye was filled with disbelief.
Not here?
He was exchanging flirtatious glances with you the day before yesterday, and now he's not here?
Are you kidding me?
"I need confirmation," Fury said forcefully.
"Please do."
Ancient One turned sideways and made a 'please' gesture, so generous that Fury was momentarily stunned.
"Kamar-Taj has no secrets, except for truth."
So.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents, armed with various high-tech instruments, scanned the ancient monastery inside and out.
Forget Homelander.
They didn't even find a single golden hair.
Half an hour later.
Fury walked out with a dark expression, looked at the still calm Ancient One, and gritted his teeth.
"Apologies for the disturbance."
With that, he took his people and scurried onto the plane, retreating.
...
"Hahahaha!"
In space, Arthur laughed so hard that tears almost came out.
"This Black Braised Egg, his frustrated look is just too amusing."
"Keep looking, keep looking."
"If you can find me on Earth, I'll eat the Sun in front of me right then and there!"
Arthur was in a great mood.
In the following days.
While traveling, he monitored every move on Earth like watching a TV series.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was like a headless fly, scrambling all over the World.
And besides S.H.I.E.L.D., Arthur also turned his gaze to another dark corner.
Somewhere in the Middle East.
In a dimly lit room.
An old man in a long robe, wearing rings on all his fingers, and with a long beard.
Was facing the camera, delivering a declaration of terrorist attack.
"I am The Mandarin..."
"I will teach the U.S. a lesson..."
His acting was exaggerated, and his lines were awkward.
And behind the camera.
Several Directors holding scripts were gesticulating.
"Cut! Trevor, your emotions need to be fuller! That kind of perverted madness!"
"Okay, Director, I'll prepare a bit more. Uh... where are my drugs? I want a hit to get into character."
The so-called "The Mandarin," Trevor Slattery, was lewdly asking for his payment.
Arthur sneered in space.
"Indeed, an actor."
"The real mastermind..."
His gaze shifted, crossing half the Earth, to a hidden laboratory in the United States.
Aldrich Killian.
This cripple, who had once been stood up by Tony, had now become handsome and dashing, but the madness in his eyes was even more intense.
He stood before a giant experimental tank, looking at the experimental subjects inside, whose bodies were red and on the verge of exploding due to the Extremis injection.
"Perfect..."
Killian murmured:
"Tony Stark, soon, you will know what true despair is."
"I will also soon create the perfect Bio-weapon!"
Watching this scene, Arthur not only didn't worry but instead showed a benevolent smile, like someone watching leeks grow well.
"That's right."
"Keep up the good work, Killian."
"Make more of those self-exploding red-hot monsters, and make a big commotion."
"Even kidnapping the President is fine."
"If you don't cause trouble, how can I make a grand return?"
"How can I harvest those massive popularity points?"
"Come on, villains! I'm rooting for you!"
...
Time passed day by day in this boring journey and interesting peeping.
Finally.
On the thirty-third day.
The scene before Arthur's eyes completely changed.
The small fireball that had been hanging in the sky had now turned into an boundless, colossal wall of flame!
It filled his entire field of vision!
The Sun!
This star, which gave life to Earth, was now wantonly releasing its terrifying light and heat.
The golden corona churned like a giant dragon, and each ejected plasma stream was several Earths in size.
Even from a distance.
The terrifying high temperature and radiation had already distorted the surrounding space.
If it were before, Arthur might have been vaporized before even getting close.
But now...
"Hoo..."
Arthur took a deep breath (although there was no air here).
He not only felt no discomfort.
Instead, he felt an unprecedented...
Thirst!
Every cell was cheering, screaming, craving that endless energy!
"So beautiful..."
Arthur looked at the massive star before him, his eyes full of obsession.
"Is this a surface temperature of 6000 degrees?"
"Is this the bathhouse I wanted?"
He felt every gene in his body trembling.
It was like a person who had been thirsty for three days in the desert suddenly seeing a clear lake.
He couldn't control himself at all!
"The system didn't lie to me!"
"With that Stellar Energy Resistance Enhancement, this Sun is just a warm swimming pool to me!"
Arthur no longer hesitated.
He suddenly spread his arms wide, like a prodigal son embracing his lover.
Boom!!!
Bio-electric Field fully open!
He transformed into a golden meteor, plunging headfirst into the churning sea of fire without hesitation!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
The golden flames instantly swallowed him.
There was no burning sensation as imagined.
Instead, it was a warm, unimaginably vast energy.
Madly surging into his body through his pores!
Awesome!
So awesome!
Arthur felt like he was about to ascend to heaven.
Power was surging!
Cells were evolving!
That feeling of fullness was even more comfortable than a thousand massages!
He swam freely in the sea of fire, even flipping over and shouting contentedly:
"Holy crap!"
"This is too comfortable!"
"Is this the Sun?"
Arthur's eyes glowed as he looked at the endless golden plasma around him, revealing an extremely greedy smile:
"My little darlings, don't run."
"I'm going to suck you dry!"
Chapter 31: Mission Complete, Reward: Silver Body!
The Sun.
This colossal star, accounting for 99.86% of the Solar System's mass.
At this moment, it was like a restless heart, frantically spewing out millions of degrees of plasma flames.
And in the core region, where any substance would instantly vaporize,
a shirtless figure, curled into a fetal position, floated silently in the endless golden sea of light.
Endless nuclear fusion energy flowed through every pore of Arthur's body.
Madly pouring into his already nearly perfect physique.
Who knows how long passed.
Perhaps an instant, perhaps a century.
[Ding! Four-month charging period complete!]
[Advancement Mission: Baptism of the Sun - Completed!]
[Congratulations, Host! Superman Template evolution successful!]
[Current Template: Silver Body (Elementary)!]
The system's prompt sounded like a clap of thunder, exploding deep within Arthur's mind.
Whoosh!
Arthur suddenly opened his eyes.
In that instant, the previously violent solar core seemed to momentarily freeze.
His pupils seemed to contain two miniature stars, their golden light even eclipsing the surrounding nuclear flames.
"Hoo—"
Arthur exhaled a long breath, a stream of highly compressed, high-energy particles.
He stretched, and his bones let out a series of jarring cracks, as if stars were shattering and reforming within his body.
"Is this... the power of the Silver Age?"
Arthur clenched his fist.
The feeling was peculiar.
If his previous Man of Steel physique was a heavy tank, then he was now a Star Destroyer.
He could clearly feel that if he wished, he could even push the Moon around like a billiard ball.
Even...
With just a gentle puff of air, he could stir up a hurricane in the atmosphere.
"Light-speed flight..."
Arthur thought, and his figure shimmered slightly.
The surrounding space seemed to turn into viscous liquid, and time and space became extremely slow in his perception.
At this speed, even that red-suited kid who only knows how to run (Barry Allen) might not be able to outrun him now.
"So, it only takes me eight minutes to return to Earth now?"
"Or even less?"
Arthur glanced at the distant blue speck, a playful smile curling on his lips.
"No hurry."
He closed his eyes again, finding a more comfortable position to lie in the sea of fire.
"This damn sauna is too comfortable."
"And... by my reckoning, The Mandarin should have just started his performance, right?"
"Let the bullets fly a little longer."
...
Earth.
Days passed.
This winter was exceptionally cold for the people of the United States.
Not because of the temperature, but because of fear.
A Terrorist calling himself The Mandarin, like a ghost, hijacked screens across the U.S. via television signals.
Explosions.
Attacks.
Ubiquitous threats of Death.
The Hollywood Chinese Theatre was bombed into ruins. Air Force One was threatened, and even ordinary shopping malls were no longer safe.
"This is The Mandarin's lesson to the U.S...."
On TV, the old man with rings on his fingers was still babbling.
And the public was nearly driven mad.
"Where is Iron Man? Where is Captain America, wearing the flag?"
"Why haven't they caught this madman yet?!"
Although Tony Stark and Colonel Rhodes were fighting fires everywhere,
those damn Extremis soldiers were like human bombs, impossible to guard against.
Panic spread.
And amidst this panic, one name was mentioned by more and more people.
"Homelander..."
"Where is he?"
"Why did he disappear when we needed him most?"
Online, public opinion had completely exploded.
Some were frantically praying: "God, please bring Homelander back! With just one glance from him, The Mandarin will turn to ash!"
Others were angrily cursing: "What kind of superhero! What kind of protector! They're all liars! He must be scared! He abandoned us!"
Even Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat who once harbored fantasies about Arthur,
could only leave grumbling after half a month of fruitless waiting outside Stark Tower.
"Liar! Scumbag!"
The entire World was calling out the same name.
And in the core of the Sun,
Arthur opened his eyes.
His superhuman hearing, even across 150 million kilometers,
could hear the noisy and desperate cries from Earth.
"It's about time."
Arthur stretched, and the surrounding plasma flow was instantly dispersed.
He opened the system panel.
His popularity points were still increasing, but the growth rate had clearly slowed.
It had even begun to stagnate due to his long absence.
This wouldn't do.
When the leeks are ripe, they must be harvested.
If not harvested soon, they would rot in the ground.
"Alright, vacation over."
Boom!!!
A super solar flare seemed to erupt on the Sun's surface.
A golden beam of light instantly broke free from the star's gravity.
At a speed that defied the laws of physics, it vanished into the depths of the dark Universe.
Just eight minutes later.
Earth, New York.
Inside the luxurious penthouse apartment at Stark Tower.
Tony Stark had two huge dark circles under his eyes.
Holding a cup of cold coffee, he paced nervously in front of a holographic projection.
"Jarvis, still no trace of that damn Mandarin's signal source?"
"I swear, when I catch him, I'm going to pull out every single strand of his beard!"
Tony was in a bad state now.
Very bad.
Since the Battle of New York, he had suffered from severe anxiety.
Even though Arthur helped him with palladium poisoning, it didn't cure his mental illness.
He built suits day and night; mark 42 was almost complete, but he still didn't feel safe enough.
Especially that bastard Homelander, who left without a word and disappeared for half a year!
"Damn blonde bastard..."
Tony grumbled, picked up his coffee, and was about to take a sip.
Buzz!
The air suddenly twisted without warning.
Immediately after,
a blast of hot air appeared out of nowhere, and the normally constant indoor temperature instantly soared by more than ten degrees!
A figure, familiar beyond words, abruptly appeared on the leather sofa in the center of the living room.
With his legs crossed, he even held a can of ice-cold cola, seemingly acquired from nowhere.
"Pfft—!!!"
Tony spat out the coffee he had just drunk, splashing the holographic projection all over the floor.
"What the hell!!!"
Tony jumped up in fright, his wrist-mounted sensor bracelet instantly lighting up.
Parts of the mark 42 whizzed towards him to protect him.
"Calm down, Tony."
Arthur waved his hand, and the Bio-electric Field that erupted in that instant directly froze the flying armor parts in mid-air.
He took a sip of cola, burped, and looked at the disheveled Tony with an expression of disdain:
"Half a year gone, and what have you done to yourself?"
"Anyone who knows you would say you're a billionaire, but anyone who doesn't would think you're a homeless man who just crawled out of a dumpster."
Chapter 32: Thinking of your ass!
Tony's eyes widened as he stared intently at the man who had disappeared for half a year.
That face was still as punchable as ever.
But for some reason, Tony felt that this guy had become even more terrifying.
Even just sitting there, the faint sense of oppression emanating from him...
made Tony feel like he was standing on the surface of the Sun.
"You..."
Tony took a deep breath, forcing Jarvis to cancel the suit assembly.
He rushed over, looking like he wanted to punch Arthur, but ultimately held back.
"Where have you been for the past six months?!"
Tony roared, saliva flying everywhere:
"And how did you suddenly come back like this? Are you a ghost? Not a sound!"
"Why didn't you even say goodbye before you left? Not even a note?"
"Do you know we've been looking for you like crazy? That Black Braised Egg from S.H.I.E.L.D. almost blew up my phone!"
Arthur wiped the spittle from his face, looking speechless.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Arthur made a stop gesture:
"Tony, you really sound like a menopausal old lady right now."
"And the hysterical kind, because her son didn't come home at night."
"Old lady?!"
Tony's face flushed with anger:
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? I was worried about you!"
"Do you know how much trouble you caused us after you left?"
"Those media outlets camped out in front of Stark Tower every day asking me 'Where's Homelander?', I'm sick of it!"
"And..."
Tony paused, a hint of weariness flashing in his eyes:
"Forget it, now's not the time to talk about this."
He walked to the table, picked up his dedicated encrypted phone, and quickly dialed a number.
"I'm calling that bastard Nick now to tell him that menace is back."
"So he stops sending Agents to rummage through my trash can every day."
The call connected almost instantly.
"What is it, Stark?" Fury's voice also sounded tired.
"Good news, Director."
Tony glanced at Arthur, who was leisurely drinking cola, and said grumpily:
"The canary you were looking for has flown back."
"He's right here, alive and kicking."
There was a second of silence on the other end, followed by the sound of a chair tipping over.
"I'm on my way."
Beep—
Hanging up the phone, Tony slumped into a chair opposite Arthur, his eyes complex.
"Seriously, John."
"You've been gone for so long, did you ever, even for a moment, think of us?"
Arthur put down his cola and gave an extremely perfunctory smile:
"Of course I did."
"I missed you all terribly."
"I missed your ass!"
Tony cursed directly, rolling his eyes dramatically.
But after cursing, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl into a relieved smile.
"But speaking of which..."
Tony leaned back on the sofa, completely relaxed:
"I'm quite Happy you're back."
"After all, while you were gone, this World turned into a complete mess."
Tony pointed to the large screen beside them, which was playing news of The Mandarin's terrorist attacks.
"See? That madman called The Mandarin."
"He's carried out a series of bombing attacks all over the World, including across the U.S."
"Honestly, Rhodes and I have been on the verge of exploding these past few months."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is also running around in circles, but they can't catch this rat's tail."
Arthur looked at the pretentious old man in the news and sneered inwardly.
Isn't this stage set up just for me?
He stood up, patted his butt, and made to leave.
"Since you don't miss me, then I'll leave, alright?"
"I'm sure there are other places in this World that welcome Homelander."
"Don't! Don't do that!"
Tony quickly jumped up and grabbed Arthur's arm.
The action was faster than trying to keep a girlfriend.
"It was just a joke, why are you taking it seriously?"
Tony said with a sincere (and fawning) expression:
"Since you're back, don't leave."
"Really, the Avengers need you, the World needs you."
"Most importantly..."
Tony pointed to his dark circles:
"I need a good night's sleep. As long as you're here, I feel like this Earth won't explode."
Arthur looked at Tony's expression, secretly pleased.
That's right.
It's right that you can't do without me.
"Alright then."
Arthur reluctantly nodded:
"For the sake of the stock dividends, I'll stay a little longer."
Just then.
The roar of a helicopter came from the rooftop helipad.
Less than five minutes later.
Nick Fury's iconic black leather trench coat appeared in the living room.
He was travel-worn, his single eye bloodshot, clearly having not slept well for a long time either.
The moment he saw Arthur, Fury's dark face instantly stretched long.
"Where did you go?"
"Do you know how much panic your disappearance caused?"
"Do you have any sense of responsibility as an Avenger?"
Fury immediately hit him with a barrage of questions.
Arthur picked his ear, looking impatient.
"Stop."
"I just got back from vacation, I don't want to hear your nonsense."
He pointed to Tony beside him:
"Ask him if you have anything, he's my spokesperson."
Tony: "???"
Although he really wanted to curse, seeing Fury's murderous gaze.
Tony still bit the bullet and tried to smooth things over.
"Ahem, Director, he... um, he went for secret training."
"You know, to better protect the Earth."
Fury took a deep breath, fighting the urge to draw his gun.
"Alright, training."
Fury stared intently at Arthur:
"Then could you please inform us next time before you go for training?"
"We've been looking for you like headless flies for the past six months, is that funny?"
"Alright, alright."
Arthur waved his hand dismissively:
"Next time for sure, next time for sure."
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"Don't disturb me from buying a new Villa."
"The old apartment was too small; this time I want a Villa with a helipad and a private beach."
After speaking.
Arthur didn't give Fury another chance to speak, striding directly towards the balcony.
Boom!
A sonic boom.
The golden figure instantly shot into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Leaving only silence in the room.
Fury looked at the disappearing figure, then turned to Tony, his voice faint:
"He's not going to disappear for another six months, is he?"
Tony shrugged, taking a sip of his cold coffee:
"I hope not..."
Just then.
Tony's private phone in his pocket suddenly rang.
It was a number only his closest people knew.
Tony answered the phone, his expression instantly freezing and turning pale.
"What?"
"Happy... was bombed?!"
"Right in front of the Dragon Country Theater?!"
The coffee cup in Tony's hand dropped to the floor with a
Chapter 33: This is the Man I Set My Sights On
Tony Stark's hand trembled as he hung up the phone.
"Jarvis, prepare the car."
"I'm going to the hospital."
A complex emotion flickered in Nick Fury's single eye.
He looked at Tony, who was on the verge of exploding.
He knew that Happy Hogan wasn't just a bodyguard; he was one of the few family members Tony had.
After Tony left, Fury simply swung his trench coat and turned to stride away.
...
The hospital, intensive care unit.
Tony looked through the thick glass at the large man lying in the hospital bed.
Happy was covered in tubes from head to toe.
Most of his body was tightly wrapped in bandages, like a mummy.
The monitor emitted a monotonous beeping sound.
Tony pushed the door open and walked in.
As if sensing Tony's arrival, Happy struggled to open his swollen eyes.
"Boss..."
Happy's voice was hoarse, as if he'd swallowed a mouthful of sand, each word accompanied by a spasm in his lungs:
"I'm fine... cough..."
"Those bastards... they were at the theater entrance..."
"Shut up, Happy."
Tony stood by the bed, his sunglasses hiding his gaze, but not his clenched jaw.
"You call this fine?"
"You look like a burnt marshmallow right now."
Happy strained to twitch the corner of his mouth, as if trying to smile.
But it tugged at his wounds, twisting his expression into a knot of pain.
"Hey... this is... the first time... anyone's called me a marshmallow..."
Seeing Happy like this, Tony felt like the reactor in his chest was about to explode.
It was anger.
It was fear.
It was even more a deep sense of guilt.
He walked out of the hospital room, facing the barrage of cameras and microphones already waiting at the door.
Flashbulbs went off frantically, like sharp swords stabbing into his eyes.
"Mr. Stark! What are your thoughts on this attack?"
"Is this a provocation from The Mandarin?"
"We heard your bodyguard is in critical condition?"
Tony took off his sunglasses and looked directly into the cameras.
A crazed fire, unlike anything seen before, burned in those caramel-colored eyes.
"I'll only say this once."
Tony spoke to the cameras, enunciating each word clearly:
"I don't know who you are, The Mandarin."
"But you listen up."
"You want war? Fine, I'll give you war."
"I'm at 10880 Malibu Point, Malibu, California."
"The gate's unlocked."
"If you're a man, stop hiding behind the scenes playing these dirty tricks."
"Come at me."
...
Just as Tony was declaring war to the World...
New York, Long Island.
This was a paradise for the rich, a backyard for money.
Arthur stood before an ultra-luxurious estate spanning dozens of acres.
The white European-style architecture, the massive private helipad, and that endless stretch of private beach.
This was the smell of money.
"Mr. Arthur, are you satisfied?"
The real estate Agent beside him smiled so hard the powder on his face seemed about to crack; this was an astronomical deal.
"It'll do."
Arthur gave a cursory glance:
"Although it's a bit more remote than my last place, it's quieter."
"How much?"
"Two hundred million dollars," the Agent carefully quoted the figure. "That's already the discounted price. Originally..."
"Charge it."
Arthur directly pulled out a black card and tossed it over.
Anyway, it was the insurance company's money from that sucker's payout. No point letting it go to waste.
Spending this money not only meant enjoying life.
It also had the added benefit of pissing off that insurance company's CEO. Why not?
"Yes! I'll process it for you right away!"
The Agent was so excited his hands were shaking.
"By the way."
Arthur stopped the Agent who was about to run off, a hint of amusement in his eyes:
"This house is too big."
"If it's just me living here, wouldn't it seem a bit too lonely?"
"You know, I'm a man who fears solitude."
The Agent was a smart man; he understood instantly.
"Of course! Of course!"
The Agent gave a knowing smile:
"Our company offers specialized... well, high-end domestic services."
"All strictly screened, with clean backgrounds, and... very professional."
"Whatever your preference, we can arrange it for you in the shortest time possible."
Arthur nodded with satisfaction.
"Then go ahead and arrange it."
"Remember, I want the best."
After speaking, Arthur's feet left the ground, and he slowly levitated.
Under the Agent's awestruck gaze.
He flew directly towards the massive infinity pool in the Villa's backyard.
Splash!
No splash.
Arthur was like a shark returning to the deep sea, elegantly diving into the water.
Then he flipped over, floating on his back on the water's surface.
Sunlight bathed his face, warm and pleasant.
He closed his eyes, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
This was the life.
No aliens, no annoying Agents.
Just sunshine, a mansion, and beautiful women soon to arrive.
This simple, unadorned happiness was the standard equipment a transmigrator deserved.
Just an hour later.
The estate gates opened again.
Several stretched limousines slowly drove in.
The doors opened, and a line of young women with stunning figures and breathtaking beauty stepped out.
It had to be said, when enough money was on the table, the efficiency of capitalism was truly impressive.
And among this flock of beauties.
One woman stood out particularly, with silver-white hair, a coldly elegant yet slightly wild aura.
Felicia Hardy.
Also known as the famous Black Cat.
Today, she had deliberately worn a black, deep-V evening gown.
In her cat-like, cunning eyes, a light of determination shone.
Last time, at the press conference, she hadn't managed to get close to this man.
This time, hearing this big spender was recruiting, she had signed up immediately.
Not just for the money, but for the fascinating power that emanated from that man.
"Everything is ready, sir."
The Agent stood by the pool, calling out respectfully.
Arthur opened his eyes, slowly rising from the water.
Water droplets slid down the lines of his marble-sculpture-like muscles.
This sight made the women on the shore stare wide-eyed; some even subconsciously swallowed.
Arthur swept a glance over them.
His gaze lingered on Felicia for a second, the corner of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.
"Not bad."
"I'm pleased."
"Let them..."
Arthur was just about to speak.
When the phone on the lounge chair by the pool suddenly lit up.
A news notification popped up.
[Breaking News! Tony Stark Publicly Declares War on The Mandarin! Reveals Home Address!]
Arthur's finger paused.
He looked at the news, his eyebrow raising slightly.
"Hah."
"It's starting already?"
"That rich bastard really has a death wish."
Revealing his address?
What was the difference between that and directly shouting "come bomb me" at those Terrorists?
According to the plot, that madman Killian probably already had helicopters on the way.
That cliffside Villa was about to become a massive explosion site.
"Tsk."
Arthur looked somewhat regretfully at the beauties before him that he hadn't had time to enjoy.
Then he glanced at the phone screen again.
Although the women were tempting.
But...
That was Tony Stark!
That was a globally televised terrorist attack!
If he descended from the heavens at the critical moment, caught a missile with one hand, and saved that arrogant Iron Man in the process...
Wouldn't his popularity points just explode?!
Women were always available.
But this kind of epic chance to show off? If he missed it, it would truly be gone!
"Sorry, ladies."
Arthur flew out of the water, directly donning his battle gear.
"Something urgent's come up. I have to go."
"You all have fun here, make yourselves at home."
After speaking.
BOOM!!!
Before anyone could react.
A violent sonic boom exploded overhead.
The man's figure instantly transformed into a streak of golden light, shooting straight into the sky, flying at extreme speed towards the direction of the West Coast!
He left behind only a pool churned by the shockwave's giant waves, and a group of beauties left disheveled in the wind.
Felicia watched the figure disappearing into the horizon, biting her red lip.
The light in her eyes only grew brighter.
"As I thought..."
"This is the man I set my sights on."
"The harder he is to get, the more I want him..."
Chapter 34: I Told You That You Needed Me, Tony
Malibu, 10880 Freedom Way.
The sea breeze howled past the luxury Villa on the edge of the cliff.
Tony Stark stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window.
Holding the sensor bracelet used to summon the mark 42, he stared blankly at the ocean outside.
His mind was filled with the tragic image of Happy lying in a hospital bed, covered in tubes.
"Tony..."
Pepper Potts stood behind him, holding a suitcase.
Her eyes were filled with worry and helplessness.
"We have to go, really."
"You announced our home address to the whole World; you're sending an invitation to Terrorists!"
"It's not safe, we must leave here."
Beside them, Maya Hansen, the botanist who had come to visit Tony, also looked somewhat at a loss.
She had originally intended to discuss a formula from years ago, never expecting to be caught up in this suicidal declaration of war.
"I'm not leaving."
Tony turned around, a stubborn glint in his bloodshot eyes.
"I'm waiting for that bastard to show up."
"I have my armor, I have Jarvis, I can protect this place."
"Protect?"
Pepper's emotions began to spiral out of control as she pointed at the mark 42, which was still not fully assembled on the lab bench.
"With that prototype that's still in the testing phase?"
"Tony, you're gambling with your life..."
Vrrrrm—!!!
Before she could finish her sentence.
The dull roar of propellers approaching from the distance abruptly interrupted Pepper's argument.
Tony's expression changed instantly.
He whipped his head around to look out the window.
At the edge of the horizon, three attack helicopters painted to look like news choppers appeared.
They were approaching the Villa with a murderous aura and a determined posture.
No nonsense, no negotiations.
The missile pods mounted on the belly of the lead helicopter were already glowing with the red light of Death.
"Get down!!!"
Tony's pupils shrank as he let out a roar.
Swoosh—!
A missile trailing fire shattered the massive floor-to-ceiling window with precision.
Time seemed to slow down at this moment.
Tony watched the missile fly into the living room, looking at Pepper who was right beside him.
His brain kicked into overdrive in an instant.
Without a moment's hesitation.
He snapped his arm up, pointing it at Pepper.
"Jarvis! Protect Pepper!!"
Clang-clang-clang!
The mark 42, which had been in standby mode, disassembled instantly.
The gold and red pieces flew toward Pepper as if they were alive.
A millisecond before the Impact of the explosion arrived.
The armor precisely encased Pepper's entire body, shielding her firmly within the Man of Steel.
Boom!!!
A violent explosion instantly engulfed the entire living room.
Flames shot into the sky!
The Impact, mixed with debris and glass shards, sent Tony flying backward violently.
He slammed heavily into the bar counter behind him.
"Cough, cough..."
Tony felt as if his internal organs had been displaced, and his ears were filled with a constant ringing.
But he couldn't worry about that.
He struggled to lift his head and look toward the center of the ruins.
There, Pepper, wearing the mark 42, was shielding Maya Hansen, completely unharmed.
"Tony!"
The faceplate opened, revealing Pepper's terrified face.
"Take her and go! Get out of here, fast!"
Tony lay on the ground, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Jarvis! Get them out of here!"
Before Pepper could react, the armor's thrusters ignited automatically.
It forced her and Maya out through the sea of fire.
Meanwhile, Tony himself was left in the collapsing Villa.
At this moment, he was unarmed, wearing only a casual suit.
Outside, the three attack helicopters had already hovered just outside the Villa.
"Target confirmed, still inside the building."
Inside the cockpit, a cold-faced assassin grinned as he pressed the fire button.
"Send this billionaire on his way."
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Three more missiles trailed lethal fire.
They streaked toward the ruins where Tony was located in a triangular formation.
If these hit home.
Forget a human; even reinforced concrete would be blown into powder.
Tony watched the approaching missiles, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.
He reached out his hand, attempting to recall the armor he had just sent away with Pepper.
But the distance was too great.
It was too late.
"Shit..."
Tony closed his eyes, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.
Finally, his mind settled on a figure wearing a star-spangled cape.
That bastard... didn't he say I couldn't live without him?
Where is he?!
At this critical juncture.
In the instant before those three missiles were about to send Tony to meet God.
Boom!!!
A sonic boom more terrifying than a missile explosion suddenly detonated in the sky!
Tony only felt a flash of golden light before his eyes.
Immediately after.
The three missiles that were screaming toward him weirdly stopped in mid-air.
No.
They didn't just stop.
They were caught by a hand—a hand that didn't look particularly thick.
But it was a hand that contained World-destroying power, holding them firmly!
Tony snapped his eyes open.
Amidst the flames and smoke filling the air.
A figure wearing a deep blue suit with a red cape fluttering behind him appeared.
He stood like an insurmountable mountain, blocking the path in front of Tony.
He held the three missiles, which were still sputtering fire, in one hand.
"So this is what you meant by 'I have my armor, I'm safe'?"
The figure turned his head slightly, revealing a face that Tony found incredibly comforting at this moment, yet also extremely punchable.
Arthur had that playful and arrogant smile on his face.
"Tony, your renovation style sure changes fast."
"What is this? Wasteland apocalypse chic?"
Tony slumped on the ground, looking at the figure bathed in firelight, his throat bobbing.
"You..."
"What took you so long?!"
Tony roared, though he was scolding him.
But the relief of surviving a disaster couldn't be hidden in his tone.
"The protagonist always makes his entrance last, don't they?"
Arthur shrugged.
He turned his head to look at the three attack helicopters still circling outside the window.
In that instant.
The smile on his face vanished.
"Daring to touch my person on my territory..."
Arthur's fingers tightened slightly.
Crackle!
Those three high-explosive missiles were actually crushed into iron pancakes by his bare hands!
The explosives inside didn't even have time to detonate before they were snuffed out by the terrifying Bio-electric Field.
"Are you tired of living?"
The pilots on the helicopters were completely stunned.
They stared through the windshield at the monster who had crushed missiles with his bare hands, their minds going blank.
"That... that's..."
"Homelander?!"
"The intel didn't say he was here! Retreat! Retreat!"
The pilot pulled the control stick in terror, trying to turn around and flee.
Fighting Homelander?
That was just asking for a quick trip to the afterlife!
However.
Since Arthur had come, how could he possibly let them escape?
This was prime material for a 'justice served' video delivered right to his door!
"Run?"
Arthur sneered.
Inside his eyes, two crimson glows suddenly lit up.
That was Heat Vision enhanced to 15 million degrees!
Sizzle—!
Two thick red laser beams erupted instantly!
The Heat Vision sliced through the sky in an instant.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The three attack helicopters, along with the pilots inside, didn't even have time to scream.
They exploded mid-air!
Turning into three magnificent fireballs, they plunged into the dark sea below.
Insta-kill!
This was the power of the Silver Body (Elementary)!
[Ding! Detected Iron Man Tony Stark's extreme shock and relief, popularity points +1000!]
[Ding! Detected extreme worship from witnesses in the surrounding waters, popularity points +500!]
Listening to the pleasant notification sounds in his mind.
Arthur retracted the red light from his eyes and slowly turned around.
He looked at the dusty and disheveled Tony and straightened his own spotless cape.
His face once again wore that 'kindly' smile, full of fatherly love.
He reached out his hand and pulled Tony up from the ground.
"See, Tony."
Arthur patted the dust off Tony's suit, his tone earnest.
"I told you that you needed me."
"Without me here, you can't even keep a house."
"How about it? Do you feel a great sense of security?"
Tony Stark looked at the man before him who seemed like a deity against the backdrop of the flames.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something witty to strike back.
But looking at the mess of ruins around him, and then at the three wrecks still burning on the sea.
A thousand words finally boiled down to one very standard curse:
"What... the fuck..."
"Are you really human, you guy?"
Arthur shrugged, looking like it was a matter of course.
"Of course."
"I am Homelander."
"As long as I'm here, this land, and you, this damn capitalist, will always be safe."
"However..."
Arthur glanced at the Villa, which had completely turned into an open-air convertible, and clicked his tongue twice.
"Tony, your house's defense system really sucks."
"Next time, remember to increase Stark Industries' security budget."
"That being said, daring to touch my cash cow right under my nose..."
"That guy called The Mandarin."
"His path has just become very narrow."
Chapter 35: Live Execution!
"That damned The Mandarin..."
Tony gritted his teeth, his eyes practically spitting fire:
"Jarvis's servers are offline, and my suits are all in ruins."
"John, can you find that bastard?"
"No matter which corner of the Planet he's in, even if I have to dig three feet deep, I'll drag him out myself!"
Arthur adjusted his cape, which had been ruffled by the sea breeze.
"Of course."
"On this Planet, there's no sound I can't hear, and no corner I can't see."
Arthur pointed to his ear:
"Just now, I've located that Terrorist's lair."
"Miami."
"In a seemingly luxurious, but extremely tasteless manor."
"Miami?" Tony was stunned for a moment, then turned to leave. "I'll go get a plane right now, and we'll go kill them!"
"Wait."
Arthur reached out and pressed down on Tony's shoulder.
"You're just going to rush in like that?"
Arthur shook his head with an expression that said, "You're so naive":
"Tony, you're a superhero, not a street thug."
"And this is a war."
"A war of justice against evil."
"Since it's a war, it needs witnesses."
Tony frowned, somewhat puzzled: "You mean?"
Arthur took out the surviving phone and casually dialed a number.
Those were the numbers of several mainstream media heads he had specifically saved after the last press conference.
"Hello? This is Homelander."
"Don't scream, listen to me."
"Within half an hour, I want to see all your helicopters over Miami."
"I'll send you the coordinates."
"Tell all the people of the U.S. to turn on their TVs."
"Because next, Homelander is going to give them a live show of executing a demon."
He hung up the phone.
Arthur looked at the dumbfounded Tony, revealing his signature benevolent smile:
"See, this is how you solve problems."
"Killing someone and crushing their spirit."
"I want the whole World to see that so-called The Mandarin kneeling before me like a dog, repenting."
...
Half an hour later.
Over a hidden luxurious manor in Miami.
The once tranquil wealthy area was now shattered by the deafening roar of helicopter propellers.
More than a dozen helicopters, adorned with the logos of major news media, surrounded the manor, making it impenetrable.
Lenses of all sizes were pointed at every corner of the manor.
At this moment.
Across the U.S., and even the entire World, on TV screens and online live streams.
Even on the big screens in Times Square, the same scene appeared.
It was the "This is Homelander" special live broadcast!
"Oh my god! Homelander is really here!"
"I heard The Mandarin is hiding in there?"
"Kill that Terrorist! Long live Homelander!"
Countless viewers screamed wildly in front of their screens, adrenaline surging.
Meanwhile, inside the manor.
The fearsome "The Mandarin" from television was now wearing a flashy silk bathrobe.
Holding a can of beer, he stared blankly at the helicopters outside the window, which were practically shoved in his face.
"Hey! What's going on?!"
Trevor Slattery, the third-rate British actor, was completely flustered.
He grabbed a scarred bodyguard next to him, his voice trembling:
"Killian didn't say anything about this!"
"This isn't in the script!"
"I'm an actor! I haven't even put on my makeup yet! Where are my rings? Where are my props?"
The bodyguard.
An Extremis Soldier injected with Extremis, his face was also extremely grim at this moment.
He looked at the media helicopters in the sky:
"Damn it! We've been exposed!"
The bodyguard pushed Trevor away and yelled into the walkie-talkie:
"Everyone! Grab the actor! Retreat!"
"Through the back door! Hurry!"
The manor instantly descended into chaos.
The Terrorists, who had thought they were well-hidden, now scurried around in a panic.
Several black SUVs roared out of the garage, attempting to break through the back door.
However.
Just as their car hoods peeked out of the gate.
Boom!!!
A violent sonic boom, like divine punishment, exploded overhead.
Even the helicopter propellers were drowned out by the terrifying sound wave.
All cameras instantly tilted upwards.
A golden streak of light, carrying an unparalleled aura, descended from the sky!
Thump!
The ground vibrated violently.
The manor's sturdy wrought-iron gate, along with the cement road at the entrance, instantly shattered into dust.
As the smoke and dust cleared.
A figure clad in a Stars and Stripes cape, with a golden 'A' on his chest, hovered half a meter above the ground.
He stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the several SUVs that had screeched to a halt.
A suffocating smile was on his face.
"Trying to leave already?"
Arthur's voice, transmitted through all the media's microphones present, clearly spread throughout the World:
"Whether it's Terrorists or The Mandarin."
"Causing trouble on my Homelander's territory and trying to run without even saying hello?"
"Isn't that a bit impolite?"
[Ding! Detected extreme excitement among U.S. citizens, popularity points +5000!]
[Ding! Detected extreme fear among Terrorists, popularity points +200!]
"Drive! Run him over!!"
The Extremis Soldiers in the SUV's eyes turned red.
Their bodies instantly glowed with high-temperature red light, and they floored the accelerator.
These modified madmen were confident that their bodies combined with the impact force of a heavy vehicle would be enough to break through any obstacle.
Even Homelander!
"Vroom—"
Engines roared, and the multi-ton SUV charged like a steel beast, heading straight for Arthur.
"Heh, ants trying to shake a tree."
Arthur didn't even bother to dodge.
He merely extended one hand, palm forward.
Bang!
A loud crash.
The rapidly accelerating SUV slammed into an invisible wall.
Its front instantly crumpled and deformed, sending parts flying.
The enormous inertia caused the rear of the car to lift high, then smash down heavily.
Arthur, however, remained suspended in place, not even a wrinkle on his cape disturbed.
He held down the steaming wreck with one hand.
He lowered his head slightly, looking at the Extremis Soldier inside the car, whose face was covered in blood and whose body radiated thousands of degrees of heat.
Super Vision instantly saw through everything.
"This is Extremis?"
"Turning yourself into a bomb?"
"What a laughably crude trick."
"Ah!!!"
The Extremis Soldier roared, his whole body turning crimson, attempting to self-detonate.
However.
Arthur's eyes merely turned cold.
Zzzzt!
Two thin, thread-like Heat Visions, containing tens of millions of degrees of high temperature, instantly shot out.
That was the Silver-tier Heat Vision, refined by the Sun's core!
Chapter 36: Homelander Never Shows Mercy!
Zzzzt—!!!
Those two Heat Vision beams, containing temperatures of tens of millions of degrees...
...sliced through the Extremis Soldier who was trying to self-destruct without any resistance.
There was no explosion.
Because in the microsecond before the explosion could occur...
...all the organic matter, bones, and even the violent Extremis virus inside that soldier's body...
...were instantly vaporized under that terrifying heat.
Not even ashes remained.
Only a distorted heat wave was left, slowly dissipating in the air.
Whether it was the Terrorists on the scene who had been fleeing frantically...
...or the news helicopters still circling in the sky...
...or even the hundreds of millions of viewers across the United States watching their televisions...
...at this moment, everyone held their breath.
Too fast.
Too strong.
The kind of super soldier who could easily destroy an armored vehicle...
...was as fragile as a soap bubble in front of this man.
Arthur hovered in mid-air, his star-spangled banner cape fluttering loudly in the heat wave.
He slowly withdrew his gaze, and the red light in his eyes gradually faded away.
In its place was a cold indifference toward all living things.
"Is that all?"
His voice was clearly transmitted to everyone's ears through the media's recording equipment.
It carried a hint of disappointment, a touch of disdain, and a lofty arrogance.
"Is this what you call the wrath of The Mandarin?"
"Is this the confidence you have to dare challenge the United States?"
Arthur shook his head, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Too weak."
"So weak that I feel like I'm bullying a group of disabled people."
"Bastard!!!"
The remaining Extremis Soldiers finally reacted.
The tragic death of their comrade did not make them feel fear.
Instead, it completely triggered the violent instincts brought by the Extremis virus.
Their skin began to turn red, even becoming transparent.
The blood vessels flowing like lava under the skin could be clearly seen.
The high temperature instantly ignited the lawn beneath their feet.
"Kill him!!"
"For The Mandarin!!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four or five flaming Extremis Soldiers lunged at Arthur from all directions like cannonballs.
They were very fast—so fast that the naked eye of an ordinary person could only capture red afterimages.
But in Arthur's eyes...
...slow.
Too slow.
It was like a few snails trying to besiege a supersonic fighter jet.
"Is this your full strength?"
Arthur didn't even bother to move.
He just tilted his head slightly...
...and looked at the soldier who had already jumped above his head, his fist carrying a temperature of several thousand degrees.
The soldier's face bore a hideous, wild laugh.
It was as if he had already seen the image of Homelander's head being blown apart by his punch.
However...
...the next second...
Bang!
A dull, heavy sound.
Arthur simply raised a hand casually.
Moving second but arriving first!
His palm accurately clamped onto the soldier's throat.
The terrifying kinetic energy was instantly zeroed out.
The soldier was left suspended in mid-air just like that.
No matter how much he struggled, no matter how the high temperature on his body scorched Arthur's palm...
...that hand remained motionless.
Not even a bit of skin was broken.
"Too noisy."
Arthur frowned slightly.
His fingers applied slight pressure.
Crack!
The sound of bone fracturing spread across the World through the microphone.
The soldier's head slumped powerlessly, and the red light in his eyes quickly extinguished.
Arthur tossed the body aside like a piece of trash.
Boom!
The body smashed into another soldier who was rushing over.
The massive impact force instantly turned both of them into meat paste.
Immediately after...
...Arthur moved.
Bang!
The air exploded.
His figure instantly disappeared from where he stood.
In the live broadcast, only a golden lightning bolt could be seen jumping back and forth within the manor.
Every pause was accompanied by a loud blast and a mist of blood filling the sky.
It was a one-sided, crushing, and suspense-free Carnage.
Tearing with hands!
Stomping with feet!
Slicing with Heat Vision!
Those Extremis Soldiers, who were like demons in the eyes of ordinary people...
...were more fragile than toys in Arthur's hands.
In less than ten seconds...
...the battle was over.
Arthur stood amidst a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
That blue battle suit was still spotless; not even a drop of blood had touched it.
The Bio-electric Field kept all filth at bay.
He slowly turned around to face the cameras in the sky.
His face wore that smile that made people feel incredibly reassured yet full of awe.
"Threat cleared."
"The air here is much fresher now."
At this moment...
...the viewers in front of their televisions went completely wild.
"My God! This is a real superhero!"
"Good kill! This is how Terrorists should be treated!"
"Iron Man, Captain America—they're all little brothers compared to Homelander!"
"Homelander! I want to have your babies!"
Fear was replaced by power.
People were no longer afraid of the so-called Mandarin because they had a more powerful superhero.
A superhero who was not only powerful but also decisive and never 'Holy Mother' soft-hearted!
[Ding! Detected that the emotions of the American public are extremely excited! Worship points are breaking through the roof!]
[Ding! popularity points +10,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +20,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +50,000!]
...
Arthur listened to the notification sounds refreshing like a waterfall in his mind, and his mouth almost stretched to his ears.
In just a few minutes...
...one hundred thousand popularity points!
This was much faster than helping an old lady across the street or saving people from a fire scene.
As expected...
...violence is the fastest way to harvest worship.
As long as your violence is used on the right enemies.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host, cumulative popularity points have surpassed the million mark!]
[Obtained a new prestige title: Red Hot Popularity!]
[Triggered special reward mechanism: Ability Advancement!]
[Current Reward: Super Speed Upgrade!]
[Your flight speed has broken through the light speed barrier. Current limit speed: 1.5 times the speed of light (approximately 450,000 km/s)!]
Boom!
A warm current instantly surged through his entire body.
Arthur felt his legs, and even every cell, undergoing a qualitative change.
The flow of time around him seemed to regress.
1.5 times the speed of light!
This meant that he could now circle the Earth in less than 0.01 seconds!
Previously, flying from Earth to the Sun would have taken him a month.
And now?
It only takes 5.54 minutes!
"Sweet!"
Arthur clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.
This feeling of constantly becoming stronger was truly mesmerizing.
He looked up at Trevor, the 'Mandarin' who had been scared witless.
The poor actor was shrinking into a corner of the manor.
He was still holding a can of beer, and a large patch of his pants was already wet.
"Don't... don't kill me..."
Trevor raised his hands tremblingly.
"I'm just an actor... My name is Trevor... This is all just acting..."
Arthur, of course, knew he was an actor.
But would he say it?
Of course not.
If he exposed this lie...
...wouldn't his heroic battle just now become a farce?
Heroes need villains.
The more evil and powerful the villain, the more it highlights the greatness of the hero.
"Acting?"
Arthur sneered, his voice spreading across the globe through the microphone.
"In my presence, no one can act."
"Your crimes—God knows, and I know."
Of course, he didn't move to kill this useless waste.
Killing an old man with no ability to resist would affect his glorious image.
"Leave the rest to the professionals."
Arthur turned around and struck a perfect pose for the cameras in the sky.
Hands on hips, cape flying, gaze resolute.
Like a deity guarding the mortal World.
"Tony, and friends from S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I've cleaned up here."
"I'll leave the remaining waste sorting work to you."
With that...
...Arthur did not linger.
He knew the climax of this play was still to come.
Aldrich Killian, the true mastermind behind the scenes...
...must be hiding in the shadows right now, fuming with rage.
His plan ruined, his men slaughtered.
With that madman's personality, he would surely stake everything on one last throw.
Ambushing Colonel Rhodes, stealing the Iron Patriot armor...
...and then kidnapping the President!
Burning the President to death in a live broadcast across the U.S.!
Now that's a real big scene!
That giant oil tanker at the port would be his final stage.
"Before that..."
Arthur glanced at the sky.
"Let the bullets fly for a while."
"I need to go back and rest for a bit first."
"After all, saving the World is very tiring."
"Besides, in the Long Island Villa, that scratchy little wildcat is still waiting for me..."
Thinking of Felicia's hot figure and wild eyes...
...Arthur only felt a fire in his heart.
Boom!!!
A World-shaking sonic boom.
Arthur's figure instantly disappeared above Miami.
He was so fast that not even the cameras could capture his afterimage.
Only a ring of clouds that lingered for a long time and a crowd of still-reveling people remained.
...
Meanwhile...
...thousands of kilometers away...
...inside a giant oil tanker docked at a pier.
Bang!
Killian smashed the television screen in front of him viciously.
Looking at the screen full of static...
...his handsome face was now distorted like a demon's.
His body glowed with high-temperature red light due to extreme anger...
...making his designer suit sizzle as it burned.
"Homelander..."
"That damn Homelander!"
"You ruined my plan! You ruined everything of mine!"
Killian roared, the madness in his eyes almost overflowing.
He had originally wanted to use The Mandarin as a puppet to create panic and control the President...
...thereby taking control of the entire United States.
But now, that puppet had been captured, and his Extremis Soldiers had been slaughtered to the last man.
All eyes were focused on that bastard wearing the star-spangled banner cape.
"Good... very good..."
Killian took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Since you want to be a hero, since you want to show off..."
"...then I'll give you an even bigger stage."
He turned his head and looked at a few of his trusted subordinates.
"Initiate Plan B."
"Go and capture that black man named Rhodes for me."
"I want that suit of armor of his."
"Tonight, I want to give Mr. President a big gift."
"I want to see if you, this so-called Homelander, can still smile..."
...when the President is burned to ashes on a live broadcast!"