"WOOOOOO—!!!"
At that moment, the emotions of the entire world ignited.
Whether it was the crowd on site or the billions watching through their screens, people everywhere lost control of themselves.
In the square, countless people were crying openly, screaming his name with hoarse voices.
Online, the live-stream chat flooded the screen so densely that it almost covered the broadcast:
"Come back safe, Homelander!"
"Humanity forever!"
"You can't die!"
Even the most cynical commentators fell silent.
In the face of such tragic, heroic resolve, their usual sarcasm seemed petty.
Across the world, people knelt in front of televisions, praying through tears.
"God… please protect him! Please!"
What kind of spirit was this?
What kind of greatness?
In that moment—
There were no nations.
No races.
No wealth or poverty.
Everyone was united by the man who always smiled confidently beneath the sunlight.
Their blood boiled.
Their spirits surged.
Because deep down, they believed—
As long as that man stood there, humanity would never lose.
System Prompt:
Popularity +254,100!
Popularity +331,200!
Popularity +298,800!
Popularity +…
-----
V.G.D. Strategic Command Center
The other heroes hadn't gone to the event.
They were gathered in the command center, watching the live broadcast.
Their expressions differed, but many of their eyes were slightly red.
Steve Rogers stood upright.
Then he gave the screen a perfect military salute.
"That's the resolve of a soldier," Steve said quietly.
"He's braver than any of us."
Natasha leaned against the doorway.
As a spy, she had always been trained to doubt everything.
But this time—
She found nothing to doubt.
"…Come back alive, boss."
Beside her, a portal crackling with sparks suddenly opened.
Wanda stepped out.
Her voice was soft, but unwavering.
"He will come back."
"He promised me."
"I still have to warm milk for him…"
Natasha glanced at Wanda and gently placed an arm around her shoulders.
"Of course," she said softly.
"That guy's harder to kill than cockroaches."
"And Jessica's with him," Tony Stark added from the side.
"She may have a terrible temper, but she never screws up when it counts."
Tony watched the screen silently for a moment.
Then spoke again.
"If it were me…"
"I don't think I could calmly face an entire planet."
"JARVIS."
"Yes, sir."
"Run another diagnostic on the ship's propulsion system."
"I don't want him dying because of something I built."
"It has already been checked three hundred times, sir. Everything is perfect."
"…Good."
"Check it again."
-----
Above the Atlantic Ocean – SHIELD Aircraft
Inside the cabin.
Skye clasped her hands tightly, staring at the livestream on her phone.
On the screen was Antony's determined face.
And the words that had shaken the world—
"Keep moving forward."
"He's going into space…"
Skye whispered to herself.
"But he said… if I pressed this watch, he'd come take me home."
"But now he's leaving…"
"What if he doesn't come back?"
"I have to find him."
"Even if it's just for the last time…"
Meanwhile, Coulson was discussing the next mission plan with the team.
"Enough!!"
Suddenly Skye shouted and jumped to her feet.
Coulson and the others turned in surprise.
"Skye? What's wrong?"
"I'm getting off this plane."
She stepped away from her seat without hesitation.
"Now."
"Immediately."
"Are you crazy?" May frowned.
"We're thirty thousand feet in the air, and we're on a mission."
"Forget the mission!"
Skye pointed at the screen.
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
"He's out there risking his life for the entire human race!"
"And what am I doing here?"
"I don't care about my stupid past anymore!"
"I don't care who I am!"
She grabbed a parachute pack and started putting it on while walking toward the cabin door.
"I'm going to find him!"
"Get back here!" Coulson shouted, rushing forward.
"It's too late anyway, Skye. Calm down!"
The others hurried to stop her.
"Everyone has their battlefield."
"Homelander's battlefield is in space."
"He's fighting that thing trying to devour Earth."
"But your battlefield is here."
Coulson quickly activated the holographic table.
Strange alien symbols appeared in midair.
"Listen to me, Skye."
"Your background is not ordinary."
"You have special blood in your veins."
"The alien symbols… the Obelisk…"
"All the clues point to something enormous."
He looked straight at her.
"When we solve that mystery, you might become the one who changes the outcome of the war."
"…Really?"
Skye froze.
"Trust me," Coulson said firmly.
"I'm a good judge of people."
"You have incredible potential."
"You could become a hero just like him."
Skye lowered her head and looked at the watch Antony had given her.
"The one who changes the outcome…"
When she looked up again—
The confusion in her eyes had vanished.
"Alright."
She clenched her fist.
"We continue the mission."
"And when he comes back…"
"I'm going to surprise him."
-----
Back at the Press Conference
Antony watched the crowd's frenzy and silently nodded to himself.
Even he had to admit—
He had performed perfectly.
"Let's go, Jessica."
He turned toward her.
"Time to get to work."
Jessica stared at him with a complicated expression.
She knew—
There was a very good chance this guy was acting.
But when she saw the genuine tears in the crowd…
When she saw the hope he had ignited across the world…
She had to admit something.
This bastard had a terrifying charisma.
"Let's go, my hero."
For once, Jessica smiled gently as she followed him.
Amid thunderous cheers, the two walked back up the boarding ramp.
The hatch slowly closed behind them.
Cutting off the noise of the outside world.
-----
Inside the Ship
Rocket Racoon sat in the pilot's seat, fiddling with the controls impatiently.
"You finally done talking?"
"I almost fell asleep!"
"You Earth people talk way too much!"
"I am Groot."
Groot sat nearby, happily playing the Game Boy Antony had given him.
Yondu lounged in the co-pilot's chair.
When Antony entered, he grinned.
"Nice speech, kid."
"If you joined the Ravagers, you could scam half the galaxy."
"That's called public relations, Mr. Yondu."
The tragic expression had already vanished from Antony's face.
Now he looked completely relaxed.
He walked to the throne-like massage seat Tony had designed for him and sat down.
Crossing his legs comfortably.
"Alright, Rocket."
He tapped the armrest.
"Fire it up."
"Let's go kick that planet's ass."
Rocket grinned wickedly and slammed the throttle forward.
"Buckle up, hillbillies!"
WHOOOOOM—!!!
Blue thruster flames erupted behind the ship.
The vessel the media had dubbed Homelander One blasted into the sky.
In full view of the world.
Like a blue spear piercing the heavens—
It shot straight through the clouds.
And toward the stars.
--------------
T/N:
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