Under the glare of countless cameras, Homelander watched the unfolding chaos and let out a low, appreciative whistle.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk…"
He tilted his head and glanced sideways at Tony Stark.
"Did you catch that, Tony?"
Encased in his armor, Stark stared grimly at the cascading data streams racing across his HUD.
"Gravity weapons… space-folding tech…" Tony snarled. "Damn it. What kind of alien tech tree are these bastards even running? Our conventional firepower looks like cavemen throwing rocks."
"That's why wars in space always end up close-quarters," Homelander said, tapping the screen. "Once tech hits a certain threshold, missiles are detected the instant they launch. Plenty of time to intercept. Long-range strikes become meaningless."
His hand slowly clenched into a fist. Crack. His knuckles popped like gunshots.
"So in the end, victory comes back to the oldest method of all."
He turned toward the squad behind him—hero trainees fully geared, eyes blazing with fanatic anticipation.
"You take your fists," Homelander said, baring a bloodthirsty grin,
"and twist their heads clean off."
He raised his voice.
"Children."
"Your turn."
"Go tell those alien sons of bitches—"
"Earth does not welcome illegal immigrants."
"Move out!"
"KILL—!!"
-----
Manhattan.
Sirens screamed across the city, but even they were drowned out by the thunder of explosions.
BOOM!
A Scythe-class fighter screamed down Fifth Avenue, its energy blast reducing a Starbucks to smoldering rubble.
"Help!!"
Civilians scattered in blind panic.
Then—
a familiar sonic boom tore through the smoke.
"WHOOSH—!"
A gold-and-red figure burst from the flames, chest-mounted repulsor cannon roaring as it slammed a precise shot into a fighter's wing.
BOOM!
The alien craft spiraled out of control and exploded against the pavement.
Hovering midair in Mark 42, Iron Man amplified his voice across the street.
"Hey! Gray goblin dudes!"
"You don't have visas—get the hell off my planet!"
"It's Iron Man!!"
Cheers erupted from the rubble.
-----
Ground Level.
Near an overturned bus, Dark Elf soldiers raised their energy rifles toward a cluster of trapped civilians.
CLANG!
A red-white-and-blue shield ricocheted through the air, snapping across three alien necks before returning to its owner.
Captain America burst through the smoke, caught the shield, and slid forward to kick another Dark Elf flat.
"Kids! Move!" Steve Rogers roared.
Behind him, a wave of brightly costumed Superhero Trainees charged into battle.
"That's—Captain America!"
"And those are the hero trainees from TV?!"
Camera drones buzzed overhead, broadcasting everything live to the entire world.
-----
Elsewhere on the battlefield.
Firestar — Angelica descended like a living meteor.
Her entire body was wreathed in flames as she slammed into a Dark Elf formation.
Their armor shrugged off bullets—but heat was a universal law.
"Burn!!"
Twin torrents of fire erupted from her hands, engulfing three Dark Elves. Their screams ended as they collapsed into blackened husks.
"Left side—watch out!"
Speedball, Robbie Baldwin, bounced between teammates using the high-velocity boosters Tony had built for him. He deliberately intercepted incoming energy blasts, absorbing their momentum—
—and released it in violent shockwaves that slammed into enemy fighters.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Not stylish.
But devastatingly effective.
Compared to this spectacle, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents looked almost invisible on camera.
Online comments exploded:
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? Isn't that ancient history?"
"We want Homelander! We want Jewel!"
"Disband S.H.I.E.L.D.—give my taxes to Vought!"
The pressure was suffocating.
And it terrified HYDRA.
To avoid unemployment, HYDRA operative Rumlow was personally leading his strike team through the streets.
"Boss," a soldier muttered, "who are we even working for?"
"Shut up!" Rumlow barked, smashing a looter unconscious. "For… S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
-----
Then the broadcast cut.
And the tone completely changed.
"HAHAHAHA! Now this is my kind of party!"
Deadpool—also known as Wade Wilson—whirled twin katanas like a deranged Fruit Ninja.
"I can't see! Who stitched my mask shut?! Oh right—me!"
SCHLK!
A Dark Elf collapsed as a blade punched clean through his eye socket.
Deadpool bent down, picked up an alien rifle.
"How does this thing work? Is there a manual? Do I scan a QR code first?"
ZAP—!
He pulled the trigger randomly.
The blast vaporized his own leg.
"Oh F—! My leg! My third leg—wait no, left leg! Still fine! Still fine!"
Hopping on one foot, he waved his severed limb at the camera.
"Mom! I'm on TV! I'm dying for my country!
…Okay, only like 20%!"
Nearby National Guard soldiers stared.
"…Is that really a superhero?"
"…I think so?"
This wasn't just a battle.
It was a show.
Vought's drones captured everything.
Across the world, audiences lost their minds.
"That's Angelica—I voted for her!!"
"Speedball is INSANE—I'm marrying him!"
"That red freak is gross but damn, he's trying!"
A tidal wave of Popularity surged toward Homelander.
He watched the numbers skyrocket, crimson light intensifying in his eyes.
DING! Hero Alliance Module Activated!
Team Popularity Gained +22,100
+32,155
+34,122
…
Current Earth Region Popularity: 12,252,100
Earth Region Status: Red-Hot
Power Enhancement:
Super Strength (7,500 tons)
Heat Vision (22,000°C)
Super Speed (Mach 300)
Team Assembly Buff:
For each certified "Seven" member within 1,500 meters,
All leader stats +60% (Max: 360%)
…
"Watch this!"
Pietro Maximoff zipped alongside Jessica Jones.
He became a silver blur.
Weapons vanished from Dark Elf hands.
Braids tied themselves together.
A heartbeat later—
they were blasted in the back of the head by their own allies.
"Too slow! Way too slow!"
Pietro skidded to a stop, posing with an armful of alien guns.
"See that?! Speed is everything!"
Then—
A black hole grenade rolled to his feet.
Gravity warped.
His legs felt like lead.
"…Crap."
"Hold it right there, speedster!"
A massive V-shaped vibranium shield slammed into the ground in front of him.
Jessica dropped from the sky, bracing against the pull as dark red energy erupted from her body.
The micro-singularity disintegrated into ash.
"Don't pose on a battlefield, idiot!" she screamed.
"T-thanks, boss lady…" Pietro gasped.
-----
Far above Earth.
On the Dark Elf Ark, Malekith turned sharply toward New York.
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"Found you."
Homelander watched Jessica's eruption on-screen—then glanced up as the Dark Elf fleet abruptly changed course, converging on Manhattan.
He smiled.
Straightened his collar.
Adjusted his cape.
Stepped to the edge of the balcony as the wind lifted his golden hair.
"…Finally."
He tapped his earpiece.
"Ashley. Queue the music."
"Which track?"
"Obviously—Theme From Superman."
BOOOOOOM—!!!
Homelander, deploys.
--------------
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