Queen Maeve was completely stunned. The blinding glow of the heat vision reflected on her shocked face, making her wide-eyed expression look almost comical.
It was already unbelievable that someone dared to challenge Homelander, but this guy actually had the same powers as him?
Turns out the real clown… was me!
As she watched the two locked in a dead-even clash, Queen Maeve suddenly had a bold thought.
This man had already shown overwhelming strength and a bizarre teleportation ability. Now he also had heat vision. That made him strong enough to rival Homelander.
The despair in her heart suddenly gave way to a spark of hope, like a drowning person grabbing hold of a lifeline.
Maybe… maybe he could protect both her and her ex-girlfriend.
Her eyes began to shine with renewed life, and she subconsciously turned to look at Fenris.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Fenris, who had been locked in a beam struggle with Homelander, vanished from her sight.
In the next instant, he reappeared behind Homelander and slammed a heavy punch directly into the back of his head.
Bang!
Caught completely off guard, Homelander was sent sprawling to the ground and slid forward a great distance.
Heat vision alone could never defeat someone with higher durability like Homelander. Fenris didn't expect to win with heat vision. His greatest advantage was the strength already validated against Queen Maeve.
Dizzy and groaning, Homelander slowly pushed himself up with one hand and a knee. The pain and humiliation of being knocked down made his rage boil uncontrollably, driving him into a frenzy.
"Die… I want you dead… everyone must die!"
Fenris wasn't the least bit intimidated by Homelander's hysterical screaming. That was just impotent rage. He yelled back, "Die, your mother!" and instantly appeared in front of him, landing right on his face and pummeling without mercy.
Twin beams of heat vision blasted out from Fenris's eyes, forcing the unsteady Homelander to stagger backward.
Fenris closed in and rained down a barrage of punches.
Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!
The thunderous sound of fists filled the air like a storm.
Homelander tried multiple times to regain control and counterattack, but every attempt was crushed by Fenris's overwhelming and unstoppable offense.
Gradually—
Homelander's rage vanished. He completely lost the ability to fight back.
For the first time in his life, he felt pain. For the first time, he was seriously hurt. And for the first time, he felt the fear of death creeping in.
His arrogant and dominant mindset was shattered. He panicked. He was scared.
Tears streamed from his eyes. The look of fear now carried a visible, desperate plea.
Fenris froze, surprised, and paused his blood-soaked punches.
Homelander… was crying?
I actually beat Homelander into tears?!!
Sure, Homelander was mentally unstable. Raised in a lab with no love or care, given immense power, and never taught consequences, he was basically a violent and cruel man-child with mommy issues.
But this? Crying this easily? This was way too dramatic. What happened to the terrifying blackened Superman persona?
How was anyone supposed to fear him after this?
Thinking back to Maeve's earlier expression of hopelessness and her words, "Everyone bows to him. You won't be the exception…"
And now? Look at the man, crying with tear-streaked cheeks, begging for mercy.
It was comical. Utterly absurd.
Fenris grabbed Homelander's cape with disgust, wiped the blood off his hands, and then casually smeared more blood and tears across his face.
"You can get lost now."
Homelander, instead of exploding in rage, looked relieved. Grateful even. He had survived.
He cast one final, complicated glance at Queen Maeve, whose jaw was practically on the floor. And then, whoosh!, he took off into the sky.
That glance. Both Fenris and Maeve understood what it meant.
He wanted Maeve dead.
If she died, then no one would know what had happened here. And he wouldn't have to live in fear of being reminded of it by her presence.
Queen Maeve was certain: even if she left alive today, Homelander would find a way to kill her.
There was only one path forward now.
She slowly walked to Fenris and dropped to one knee with a loud thump. "I–"
"Hold up."
Fenris pulled out his phone and turned on the video recorder. "Okay, go on."
Queen Maeve's face turned all shades of red and green. After a moment, she managed to speak.
"I am Queen Maeve… I–I'm Maeve. I swear loyalty to you!"
Satisfied, Fenris put away his phone. "I accept your loyalty. Remember my name, Fenris. Quan as in 'Omniscient and Omnipotent.'"
A name she had never heard before, spoken with arrogant confidence. Queen Maeve knew nothing about his background, but one thing was clear. He beat Homelander. He had the power to protect both her and Elena.
After leaving the wrecked factory, Fenris gave her the hotel address and opened his system.
[Character Panel]
[Host]: Fenris
[Points]: 63
[Abilities]:
Dimensional Teleportation (Impossible Man)
Super Strength (Jessica Jones, Queen Maeve)
Super Soldier Serum Enhancement (Isaiah Bradley)
Super Endurance (Jessica Jones)
Super Jump (Jessica Jones)
Super Defense (Jessica Jones, Queen Maeve)
Heat Vision (Homelander)
[Equipment]: Super Soldier Serum
[Detection Range]: 100 meters (Upgradeable)
Aside from the newly added heat vision, Jessica Jones' physical damage resistance and Queen Maeve's super defense had been merged. Likely because they were overlapping powers, though the system still displayed their sources.
"Now then… who's next?"