◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon of which 10 Chapters are free. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
------------------------------------------------
Homelander looked around and shook his head gently.
"No."
"Don't thank me."
He pointed to the citizens supporting each other in the ruins.
"You should applaud yourselves."
"In this disaster, I saw something more powerful than superpowers."
"I saw the strength far beyond ordinary people that parents burst forth with to protect their children."
"I saw the helping hands extended between strangers."
"I saw the courage to not give up hope even in the face of despair."
Tears shimmered in Homelander's eyes.
"It is precisely because I have your support behind me, precisely because I know... what a lovely group of people I am protecting, how worthy of protection you are..."
"That I can stand tall even in desperate straits!"
"I am no hero."
Homelander opened his arms to embrace the crowd.
"You are!"
"This battle belongs to all of us! It belongs to humanity!"
Cheers erupted again like a landslide or a tsunami, piercing the clouds.
"Long live Homelander!"
"Long live humanity!"
"Long live Vought's heroes!"
Under the glow of countless flashes, Homelander stood atop the ruins, enjoying this supreme glory.
Yet no one noticed.
The corpse of "Ultron" lying on the ground quietly gave a thumbs up... "Anthony!"
A call.
Wanda pushed through the crowd and rushed in recklessly.
She looked at the disheveled Homelander, and her tears instantly burst forth.
"That's great! That's great!"
Wanda threw herself into his arms, tightly hugging his waist.
"I thought... I thought I'd never see you again..."
Jessica stood not far away, watching this scene where someone else had beaten her to it because of her own hesitation, and curled her lip.
"Tch... Little bitch, shameless."
Although she said that, her tense shoulders finally relaxed.
"It's good that he's alive..."
At this moment, the popularity level that had been stuck for a long time finally shifted.
Pleasant system notification sounds came one after another.
Prompt! popularity value gained +115,224!
Prompt! popularity value gained +137,722!
Prompt! popularity value gained +123,611!
...Earth region popularity level increased: Praised Throughout the Four Seas!
Ability Enhancement: Super Strength (40,000 tons normal state)!
Ability Enhancement: Super Speed (Mach 1,600 limit)!
Ability Enhancement: Heat Vision (88,000°C focused state)!
Ability Enhancement: Steel Body (Stellar-level++)!
Skill level increased: Bonding Fist LV2
Skill effect: Consume 10,000 special popularity value, the next strike's destructive power increases by 2,000%!
...V.G.D. Banquet Hall.
To celebrate this victory that was enough to go down in history, Vought was not stingy with champagne and caviar.
A jazz band played light tunes in the corner, the lazy sound of the saxophone weaving through the crowd.
"I have to say, although Vought's taste is sometimes as flamboyant as a nouveau riche, their wine list is indeed impeccable."
Tony Stark swirled a glass of deep amber liquid, leaning against the bar. The Stark-esque cynicism had returned to his face.
"I thought you'd miss your Ex-Girlfriend ultron more."
Natasha Romanoff walked over, wearing a black backless evening gown. She stood tall, her mature and lethal charm making several young Vought heroes around her restless.
"Don't mention that name, Natasha. I'm allergic to any word starting with 'U' now." Tony made an exaggerated shivering motion and casually put his arm around Pepper beside him. "Now I just want to be a responsible technical consultant and maybe fix my fiancée's nails."
Pepper laughed and patted his hand. "Come on, Tony. You were still mumbling about how to improve the thrusters to that pile of scrap metal in the lab last night."
At this time, Steve also came over and clinked glasses with Tony.
"To be honest, Captain." Tony's tone carried a bit of self-deprecation. "I used to think it was a bad idea for Homelander to gather a bunch of freaks together. But now it seems..."
"As long as the purpose is right, there will always be a good result." Steve looked at Bucky, who was being surrounded by a few young people for photos in the corner, his eyes gentle. "And, here gave Bucky a chance. That's enough for me."
"Yeah, silverhand Bucky." Tony curled his lip. Although he still felt a bit uncomfortable, he was a man of class. "I'll help him improve that arm when I have time. Soviet craftsmanship is too crude."
"Thank you, Tony."
"Don't get me wrong, I just can't stand that kind of outdated industrial design appearing in my sight." Tony turned his head away haughtily.
On the other side of the hall.
Wanda stood alone on the terrace, holding a glass of juice, letting the cool breeze blow against her red dress. Her gaze drifted to the closed golden doors of the banquet hall from time to time.
"Why hasn't he come yet?" Wanda murmured softly, unconsciously shaking her glass.
"Stop looking, little Witch. You're going to see through the door."
Jessica Jones walked over. She wasn't wearing a gown, still in her signature leather jacket and jeans, holding a bottle of whiskey.
"That guy always likes to make a grand entrance. You know, he's the kind of narcissist who feels the entrance isn't grand enough if he doesn't make everyone wait for ten minutes. In that regard, he's even worse than Stark."
Although Jessica was sharp-tongued, her gaze also lingered on that door from time to time.
"He said he was bringing a friend." Wanda was a little worried.
"'A new old friend'? What does that mean? Is it another Avenger?"
"Who knows." Jessica tilted her head and took a swig of liquor. "As long as it's not that Asgardian psycho woman. That old monster is still locked in the solitary confinement room, and I don't know when Thor will take her away."
...And Homelander was currently in his office, sizing up a svelte body reflecting a metallic luster.
This was a combination of Vibranium and organic cells. Her skin was a dark red, and the Mind Stone on her forehead emitted a warm light.
"How do you feel?"
Homelander asked softly.
"Very... wonderful, Mr. Starr."
Skynet's voice was the same as before, but the tone was full of emotions that only humans possess.
She raised her hand, looking at her palm lines and the reflection of her fingertips in the moonlight.
"The data stream has turned into nerve signals. My logical operations have been transformed into something I'm not sure of."
"That's called emotion." Homelander said with a smile. "Or desire. It depends on how you define it."
"That is a biological instinct."
"Oh... for example, I want to be close to you. Not because of a command, but because... I want to."
"Is this desire? Mr. Starr." Skynet swayed her body and slowly walked in front of Homelander.