The screech of tortured metal split the air.
The fully loaded bus slammed into his pale, outstretched hand—as if it had collided with an immovable mountain. The front end crumpled visibly, the engine block detonating on impact. Antony, meanwhile… didn't even have a hair out of place.
He even had the leisure to flash a perfect eight-tooth smile at the terrified passengers inside.
"Everyone okay?"
With a casual motion, he ripped the bus door open and lifted the unconscious driver out like a kitten, setting him gently on the pavement.
Ding! Popularity +54
Ding! Popularity +31
Ding! Popularity +36
"…Better than nothing," Antony clicked his tongue inwardly.
-----
Three days later. 2:00 PM.
"ROBBERY! BANK ROBBERY!!"
A black Dodge Charger roared out of a bank entrance, gunfire ripping through the air as the robbers suppressed the responding NYPD.
"MOVE! MOVE! We've got heavy firepower! Anyone gets close—"
BOOM!
The explosion cut them off mid-threat.
The robbers didn't even see what happened.
"H-Hey, boss…" one of them muttered, staring upward. "What the hell is that?"
The leader looked up—and swore violently.
"Shit! It's that cape-wearing psycho! OPEN FIRE! KILL HIM!"
RATATATATAT—!!!
Three AR-15s screamed, 5.56mm rounds pouring upward like a storm.
Ting… ting… clang…
Every bullet bounced off Antony's body, dropping uselessly to the ground.
"D… demon…"
"Keep going," Antony smiled, curling his finger at them. "Don't stop."
"FUCK YOU—DIE!!!"
The leader snapped, emptying the magazine in blind panic.
Antony's eyes glowed faint red.
Zzzzt—
Two razor-thin heat beams flashed.
Ssshhhk—!!
The weapons in the robbers' hands instantly glowed white-hot.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH—!!!"
The leader screamed—not a human sound—as his AR-15 melted, liquefied steel and polymer fusing directly into his hands.
"My hand! MY HAND!!!"
He collapsed, rolling on the ground in agony.
The other two dropped their half-melted guns instantly, threw their hands up, and fell to their knees.
"WE SURRENDER! PLEASE! WE SURRENDER!!"
Antony nodded, satisfied.
"Much better."
He drifted down gracefully, the star-spangled cape unfurling behind him like a banner.
The police arrived seconds later—staring, stunned.
"Homelander!!"
"Oh my God—he's incredible!"
"I LOVE YOU, HOMELANDER!!"
Fans and reporters swarmed instantly.
Antony switched modes flawlessly—his face warm, heroic, calm.
"Everyone, please remain orderly."
He struck a practiced hands-on-hips pose, even taking photos with a few screaming fans.
"Homelander!" a reporter shoved a mic forward. "Your thoughts on today's robbery?"
"I'm just glad no innocent New Yorkers were hurt," Antony said gravely. "But let this be a warning—to anyone considering crime."
He smiled into the camera.
"With me here… your good days are over."
Ding! Popularity +1250
Ding! Popularity +825
Ding! Popularity +762
Ding! Strength slightly increased!
The warm surge of power washed through him again. Antony closed his eyes briefly, savoring it.
-----
4:00 PM. Queens.
"M-meow… meow…"
A calico cat clung to a high oak branch, trembling. Below, a little girl with twin braids was on the verge of tears.
"Mimi! Come down! Please!"
"Sweetheart, stop crying—we'll call the fire department…"
"No need, ma'am."
A gentle voice descended from above.
They looked up.
Bathed in sunlight, Homelander floated down like a god.
The struggling cat instantly calmed, padding into his gloved hands and licking them.
Antony knelt, towering even at a crouch.
"Is she yours, sweetheart?"
"…Y-Yes," the girl whispered, awestruck.
"Here you go." He handed the cat back. "Keep an eye on her. She gets scared."
"T-thank you, Homelander!"
Phones went up everywhere.
"He even saves cats!"
"This is what a real hero looks like!"
Ding! Popularity +920
Ding! Popularity +1152
Ding! Popularity +1163
Antony's inner voice: Fucking cat. Trash popularity… and yet it works? This country is unbelievable.
Then it happened.
Ding! Popularity −15
Ding! Popularity −40
Ding! Popularity −22
On the rooftop pool of his penthouse, Antony snapped his eyes open.
"…Huh?"
"The numbers are dropping. Slowly—but consistently."
That was bad.
He grabbed his tablet, scrolling social media.
The source appeared instantly.
-----
Daily Bugle
HEADLINE:Homelander—Hero… or the Next Tyrant?
New York Post
The Devil Wrapped in the Flag: Should Homelander Be Regulated?
Fox News (Guest Commentary):
We don't need a god telling us how to cross the street! Yesterday's "rescue" destroyed half a building—who's paying for that?!
Antony switched on the TV.
On-screen, a man with a square mustache was practically foaming at the mouth.
"…HE IS A THREAT! A THREAT WRAPPED IN THE AMERICAN FLAG!!"
The image beside him froze on a high-res photo.
The robber.
The one whose hands had been welded shut by heat vision.
"LOOK AT THIS!" J. Jonah Jameson roared. "A hero?! Would a REAL hero do THIS?! This is vigilantism! Torture! Abuse!"
"And THIS—!"
The screen cut to another image.
And the crowd's roar outside… suddenly didn't sound quite as unanimous anymore.