Marvel: man of steel, but transformed into homelander
Chapter 1: Man of Steel, but as Homelander
"Hahaha, I've done it!"
In a hidden Underground Room in Queens, New York.
John Arthur tightly gripped a vial of reagent emitting a faint golden glow.
The look in his eyes as he stared at the reagent was even more fanatical than if he were looking at a naked Wanda.
He roared at the sky, almost wanting to give the damned Heavens a couple of kowtows.
Twenty-five years!
Do you know how I've lived these twenty-five years?
Ever since transmigrating into this danger-filled Marvel Universe, Arthur had lived with extreme caution.
Although he was bound to a system at birth, the problem was that this troublesome thing actually had a prerequisite task:
He had to personally develop the [Perfect Superman Serum] to officially activate the system and unlock the Superman Template.
Is this even a task for a human?
Fortunately, Arthur was also a ruthless man.
Since he didn't have superpowers, he would rely on his brain.
Relying on his strength as a Bei-Qing doctoral student in his past life, he fought his way into MIT and became the prize student of the one-armed Dr. Connors.
Using Dr. Connors' equipment, along with the occasional clues about the "Golden Sentinel's" remaining manuscripts provided by the system.
Arthur spent a full four years in this sunless laboratory!
"As soon as I inject this, I'll be a god among men!"
Arthur looked at the test tube in his hand, his eyes burning.
He hadn't been idle during these four years; besides doing scientific research, he had also done something big.
Relying on having read Marvel and his foresight of the plot.
Just as that playboy Tony Stark returned from an Afghanistan cave and announced the closure of the weapons manufacturing division, causing Stark Industries' stock to plummet.
Arthur went all-in with his entire net worth, buying the dip like crazy!
And then?
He sold it off and made a fortune, instantly becoming a billionaire.
He even splurged a hundred million dollars to buy a penthouse duplex in Manhattan, with even the decorations being top-of-the-line.
In the future, he could be a bit closer to the Sun than others when sunbathing!
"With the power of Superman, whether it's Thanos or Odin, they'll all have to call me 'ancestor' when we meet!"
Arthur no longer hesitated; gritting his teeth, he plunged the thick needle directly into his carotid artery.
Injection!
The golden liquid instantly flooded his blood vessels.
The next second, a heart-wrenching pain swept through his entire body, as if every cell was being torn apart and reorganized.
"Hiss... damn! This is a bit intense..."
Arthur's vision went black, and he almost passed out.
This feeling was like being slammed on the ground a hundred times by the Hulk as if he were Loki.
He didn't know how long had passed, maybe a moment, maybe a century.
Just as Arthur thought he would become the first transmigrator to die of pain from injecting serum, that heavenly voice finally rang in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the prerequisite task: Developing the SupermanSerum!]
[Ding! Superman Template (Man of Steel version) activated!]
The pain receded like the tide.
Replacing it was an unprecedented sense of immense power!
Arthur snapped his eyes open and sprang up from the experimental table.
Crack-crack.
The bones all over his body popped like firecrackers.
He looked down; his original height of 1.8 meters had shot up to two meters, his white coat was stretched tight, and his muscle lines were distinct, as perfect as a Greek sculpture.
Most importantly...
Arthur glanced down at his crotch.
Hmm?
Good heavens, was this a second puberty?
With this size, he probably wouldn't have to worry about finding a girlfriend in the future; he might even have to worry about whether the girlfriend would break.
"Holy Superman!"
Not only that, his brain was also crystal clear at this moment, his thinking speed incredibly fast.
Arthur clenched his fists, feeling the power within him that seemed capable of crushing a building, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up wildly.
It's set!
This time, it's completely set!
[Ding! Newbie Hint: Please expose the host to sunlight as soon as possible to activate the full Superman Template abilities!]
"Heh, sunbathing, right?"
Without a second thought, Arthur kicked open the heavy security door of the laboratory.
Boom!
The iron door, weighing several tons, flew out like paper and embedded itself directly into the opposite wall.
Arthur strode out of the Underground Room and rushed toward the surface.
However.
When he pushed open the door to the surface, prepared to welcome the bright sunlight and a wonderful billionaire life.
What met his eyes was a scene straight out of the apocalypse.
Rumbbbble!
The sound of massive explosions was deafening.
In the sky, a massive blue portal was open, and countless alien aircraft, like flies, came whistling out.
There were screams everywhere, and the fire of war was everywhere.
There were even several massive Leviathan beasts, looking like giant mantis shrimp, weaving between skyscrapers and smashing building after building.
"This... this is?"
Arthur was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized.
This is 2012!
The Battle of New York!
He had been cooped up in the Underground Room for too long and had actually forgotten about this!
Before he could even lament the start of the plot.
In the distance, a Leviathan beast swung its massive body and slammed hard into a skyscraper in the center of Manhattan.
That was...
Arthur's pupils suddenly shrank.
That was his penthouse apartment!
Boom!
The moment the building was hit, the glass curtain wall on the top floor shattered, and that iconic sky pool directly turned into a waterfall.
The corner of Arthur's mouth twitched.
That was a hundred million US dollars he spent!
That's a full 100,000,000 dollars for that luxury penthouse!
He hadn't even had the chance to bring a Hollywood actress back for a roll in the hay!
It's just gone like that?
"Holy sh*t! My hundred million!"
Arthur couldn't hold it together.
An unnamed rage instantly rushed to the top of his head.
Fuck your mother, pay me back!
You alien scum, fight your war if you want, but why tear down my house?!
Arthur no longer hesitated; the ground beneath his feet instantly shattered, and he soared into the sky like a cannonball.
He spread his arms, forming a large star shape in the air.
The golden sunlight poured onto his body without reservation.
Every cell was like a starving ghost, crazily devouring the energy of the Sun.
A warm current surged through his body, and his power exploded exponentially!
[Ding! Yellow star radiation detected!]
[Charging... Charging progress 10%... 50%... 100%!]
[Congratulations to the host, the Superman Template (Man of Steel version) is fully activated!]
[Host: John Arthur]
[Abilities: Man of Steel (Nuclear-level defense), Heat Vision (5500°C), Super Flight (Mach 100), Super Strength (10,000 tons)...]
[popularity points: 0 (popularity points can be obtained by gaining the admiration, gratitude, and other emotions of others. popularity points can be used to increase the upper limits of various attributes.)]
Looking at the introduction on the system panel, Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"popularity points?"
"Make me play the superhero?"
This is simply wonderful.
Although he was thinking about how to do whatever he wanted in this World, who says I can't be a superhero just because I don't eat beef?
As long as he smiles brightly enough in front of the public and strikes ruthlessly enough, then he is the one true god!
This is the Homelander way of living!
I can do whatever the f*ck I want!
Whirr—
A Chitauri individual flight craft recklessly charged over, firing a volley of energy bolts at Arthur, who was floating in the air.
Bang bang bang!
The energy bolts hit Arthur, but didn't even leave a red mark; it didn't even feel like a mosquito bite.
Arthur slowly lowered his head, looking coldly at that ugly alien.
In his eyes, red light began to gather frantically.
"It was you pieces of trash who destroyed my home?"
Sizzle!
Two crimson high-energy Heat Vision beams instantly erupted!
Without any obstruction, that aircraft, along with the Chitauri Soldiers on it, blew into fragments in the air.
Not even a scrap was left.
On the ground, the crowd that was originally screaming and fleeing saw this scene and were all dumbfounded.
"Oh my God! Who is that?"
"Is he here to save us?"
[Ding! Extreme shock and admiration from the surrounding public detected, popularity points +22!]
[Ding! popularity points +35!]
Arthur suspended in the smoke, looking at the chaotic New York below and two aircraft piloted by Chitauri Soldiers, a terrifyingly "kind" smile appeared on his face.
Red light burst from his eyes.
"So you're the ones called Chitauri, huh? All of you, die for your Grandpa!"
Chapter 2: I Still Prefer You Call Me... Homelander!
Sizzle!
Two crimson beams of Heat Vision, like the scythe of the God of Death, swept across the sky in an arc.
Two more Chitauri Flyers, darting about like flies, exploded in mid-air, turning into two brilliant fireballs.
[Ding! Extreme shock and worship from the surrounding public detected. popularity points +25!]
[Ding! popularity points +25!]
"Only 50 points? The lives of these alien scumbags are worth way too little."
Arthur hovered in mid-air, looking down at his white lab coat.
The originally loose lab coat was now stretched tight against his bulging muscles.
He looked just like a hunk in a small T-shirt at the gym, exuding a sense of violent aesthetic.
As the wind blew, the hem of his coat fluttered, giving off the faint vibe of a cape.
At that moment, Arthur's newly acquired Super Vision sharply caught a scene hundreds of meters away.
A dust-covered New York Police officer stood in the middle of the street, waving his arms frantically and shouting at the top of his lungs, directing panicked citizens into the subway station.
"Quick! Don't push! This way!"
The Police officer's voice was hoarse from shouting, yet he failed to notice something in the low sky a hundred meters behind him.
A Chitauri Soldier was zooming in on a flyer, the dark muzzle of its energy cannon already locked onto his back.
"Oh? An opportunity to farm points... ahem, save someone, delivered right to my door. How can I miss this?"
A sharp glint flashed in Arthur's eyes.
Boom!
A visible white shockwave exploded in the air.
Arthur's figure vanished instantly, leaving behind only an afterimage and the delayed roar of a Sonic Boom.
...
On the ground.
The Police officer had just ushered a little girl into the subway entrance when he turned around and saw a blur.
Thud!
With a dull thud, the asphalt road instantly cracked.
A tall, blond man in a tight white lab coat stood abruptly before him, appearing like a god descending from the heavens.
The Police officer's heart nearly stopped in fright. He instinctively reached for his gun, but upon seeing the person was human, he immediately shouted in anxiety:
"Hey! Sir! Are you crazy?"
"This is a combat zone! Hide, quickly! You'll die standing in the middle of the road!!"
As the Police officer shouted, he rushed forward to push away the man he thought was frozen in fear.
However.
Arthur simply stood his ground, even flashing a standard, eight-toothed, "kind" smile.
"Don't worry, officer."
"Watch out—!!!"
The Police officer's pupils dilated suddenly as he saw a ghostly blue energy bolt firing from behind the man.
It was too late!
Boom!
The high-energy blast, powerful enough to blow up a Police car, slammed squarely into Arthur's back.
The massive explosion instantly drowned out everything nearby. Flames and dust billowed into the sky, completely swallowing the tall figure.
"No..."
The Police officer fell to his knees in despair, his face filled with grief.
He had watched with his own eyes as this man took the blast for him.
It was a certain-death strike!
The citizens who hadn't dispersed yet also let out terrified screams; some even covered their eyes, unable to bear the sight.
However.
The next second.
The dust cleared.
The grief on the Police officer's face froze, replaced by horror and shock.
The man was still standing firmly in place, not having moved even an inch.
He lightly patted out the small flames still flickering on his back, the movement as nonchalant as brushing a speck of dust off his shoulder.
Forget being injured—even the white lab coat wasn't burned through, just scorched a bit!
"How... how is this possible..." the Police officer muttered to himself, his worldview shattered.
"Screech—!!!"
While everyone was still in shock, the Chitauri Soldier who had ambushed them swooped in low on its flyer, screeching as if to deliver a finishing blow.
"Watch out! It's coming!"
Someone yelled in terror.
Arthur didn't even turn his head.
He just tilted his ear slightly, listening to the sound of something cutting through the air behind him, a disdainful sneer curling his lips.
"Humorous."
Just as the Chitauri Soldier was about to crash into the back of his head.
Without even looking, Arthur swung his hand back.
Boom!
A terrifying gust of wind from his fist, like a tangible air cannon, blasted backward instantly!
The metal alien flyer shattered in mid-air as if it had slammed into an invisible wall of steel.
The Chitauri Soldier didn't even have time to scream before being vibrated into a puddle of mush.
But he wasn't done yet.
Arthur slowly turned around, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Sizzle!
Two laser-thin beams of Heat Vision shot out with precision, instantly vaporizing the falling wreckage so that not even a scrap hit the ground.
He wouldn't allow such ugly trash to exist on this clean street.
The entire area fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stood with their mouths agape, staring blankly at this man who seemed like both a god and a demon.
Even if Iron Man had flown by nearby, he might not have delivered such a shocking visual impact.
The pressure and awe brought by such pure physical strength were simply too overwhelming!
[Ding! popularity points from extreme shock +50!]
[Ding! popularity points from extreme worship +50!]
[Ding! popularity points +50...]
Hearing the pleasant notifications in his mind, the anger in Arthur's heart finally dissipated a bit.
This is the life.
"Are... are you Superman?"
The Police officer stood up tremblingly, looking at Arthur with a voice full of awe.
He had never seen any of the Avengers tank an energy cannon with their bare body and swat away aliens like flies.
Arthur turned around, the coldness on his face vanishing instantly.
It was replaced by a smile that was bright, righteous, and as refreshing as a spring breeze.
He even thoughtfully straightened the Police officer's crooked tie.
"Superman? Hmm, a nice name."
"However..."
Arthur slightly puffed out his chest—a symbol of power—as he looked around at the citizens filming with their phones, his voice gentle yet powerful:
"I still prefer you call me—Homelander."
"It's safe here now. Everyone, please evacuate in an orderly manner."
With that, Arthur didn't linger.
Because his Super Vision had already spotted something on the roof of a building a few blocks away.
That mortal Agent with the bow and arrows was being besieged by a group of Chitauri like a rabbit being hunted.
That was a member of the Avengers.
How many popularity points would saving him get?
"This is the responsibility of Homelander."
Arthur thought slyly to himself, then slightly bent his knees.
Boom!
The ground instantly caved in, forming a half-meter-deep crater. He turned into a streak of white light and soared into the sky, accompanied by a deafening Sonic Boom!
"Wow! So cool! Look, Mom, it's Homelander!"
"He's even faster than Iron Man!"
"God bless Homelander!"
Countless exclamations and cheers from the public echoed behind him.
[Ding! popularity points +50!]
[Ding! popularity points +50!]
In mid-air, hearing those cheers, Arthur's grin almost reached his ears.
Yes, exactly like this.
Cheer to your heart's content, you lovely little popularity babies.
Chapter 3: One Punch into Mush!
A few blocks away, on the roof of an office building.
Hawkeye Clint Barton was in an extremely frantic state.
He even wanted to curse.
As the only ADC in the Avengers, he felt like he was under even more pressure than the Hulk.
The Hulk was only responsible for smashing things, but he had to calculate wind speed and angles for every single arrow.
Swish!
An explosive arrow accurately blew a passing Chitauri craft into fireworks.
Barton skillfully reached back for his quiver.
He felt nothing.
"Shit!"
Barton cursed under his breath, cold sweat dripping down his forehead and cheeks.
The worst-case scenario had happened.
Out of mana... no, out of arrows!
And just then, it was as if God were playing a joke on him.
Zzzt-zzzt-zzzt!
At the edge of the roof, three Chitauri Soldiers in dull armor, looking like giant mantis shrimp spirits, crawled up holding Energy Spears.
The dark muzzles instantly locked onto the unarmed Barton.
"Well, this is going to be lively."
Barton gave a bitter smile and tightened his grip on his Compound Bow.
Although he was an archer, hitting people with a bow was also a required skill.
Just as he was about to switch to melee mode on the rooftop.
Boom!
A violent sonic boom suddenly exploded overhead!
The sound was so loud it made Barton's eardrums ache, and even the three Chitauri Soldiers were startled into a pause.
Immediately after.
A dark figure, as if teleporting, hovered three meters above Barton's head out of thin air.
Barton reflexively looked up.
He saw a man in a white lab coat, with a physique that would make even Captain America feel ashamed, floating effortlessly in the air with his arms crossed.
The white lab coat fluttering in the wind was somehow worn with the aura of Superman's cape.
Arthur looked down at the disheveled Barton, a signature, refreshing smile on his face.
"Hi, Mr. Agent."
"It looks like you've run into some minor trouble here?"
Barton was completely stunned.
He opened his mouth wide, even forgetting that there were three aliens in front of him.
Fly... he's flying?
This person has no thrusters, no iron suit, he's just flying out of thin air?
This isn't scientific!
"Roar!"
The three Chitauri clearly didn't have the mood to admire a handsome guy; they let out a strange cry and instantly raised their muzzles, aiming at Arthur in the air.
"Watch out!" Barton shouted instinctively.
However, Arthur didn't even blink.
He just turned his head slightly, and those deep eyes instantly turned crimson, as if they contained two miniature Suns.
"It's a bit noisy here; I'll help you quiet it down."
Zzzzt—!
Two beams of high-energy Heat Vision instantly erupted, like a red-hot blade cutting through butter.
There was no suspense at all.
The three Chitauri Soldiers didn't even let out a scream before their upper bodies were directly melted by the high-energy lasers.
Only three pairs of legs remained standing, the cuts charred black and smelling of roasted meat.
An instant kill!
This is the dominance of a max-level account in a starter village!
The red light in Arthur's eyes gradually faded, he spread his hands and smiled at the dumbfounded Barton:
"See? Threat eliminated."
[Ding! Detected shock and gratitude from Avenger Hawkeye, popularity points +100!]
Listening to the system prompt, the satisfaction in Arthur's heart was even better than drinking an ice-cold Coke.
Barton swallowed hard, looking at the three smoking corpses, then at Arthur floating in the air.
This kind of power was simply outrageous!
"Who are you?"
Barton asked in astonishment:
"You can fly, and you can shoot lasers from your eyes. Are you Superman?"
This World has DC Comics, so he instinctively thought of Superman.
Arthur slowly landed on the roof, flicked his lab coat, and struck a perfect pose.
He extended a finger and shook it gently.
"Superman? The guy who wears his underwear on the outside?"
"No, no, no, Mr. Agent. Although our abilities are quite similar."
Arthur puffed out his chest, the smile on his face sunny and confident, as if he were the incarnation of justice:
"But you can call me—Homelander."
"Homelander?" Barton murmured to himself, memorizing the name deep in his mind.
Just then.
"Clint! Are you okay!"
An anxious female voice came.
Natasha Romanoff, the famous Black Widow.
She was piloting a stolen Chitauri craft, docking it clumsily at the edge of the roof.
She was also in a mess, her bodysuit covered in dust.
"I'm fine, Nat, but..." Barton was about to explain.
Natasha had already jumped down and said very quickly:
"No time to explain, we have to get to Stark Tower! Loki is there, we must find a way to close the Portal!"
However, before she could finish.
"Hiss—!"
Two Chitauri Soldiers that had slipped through the net appeared from nowhere, brandishing Energy Blades and lunging insidiously at the defenseless Black Widow from behind.
"Natasha! Behind you!" Barton roared in terror.
Natasha was startled; it was too late to turn and defend.
At that critical moment.
"A sneak attack right in front of me?"
"Where are your manners?"
A magnetic voice rang in Natasha's ear.
Immediately after, a gust of wind blew past.
Bang!
A dull thud, like the sound of a watermelon being smashed by a hammer.
Natasha only felt a warmth on her face, as if some liquid had splashed on her.
She turned around, her pupils shrinking instantly.
She saw the mysterious man in the white lab coat standing behind her, holding a punching pose.
And on the wall not far from him.
The two attacking Chitauri had disappeared.
Replacing them was a large smear of red and green "mosaic" on the wall, slowly sliding down.
Simple, brutal.
One punch into mush!
Not even a chance for medical attention!
Dead silence.
Natasha touched the unknown liquid splashed on her face, completely dazed.
As a top S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, she had seen the Hulk smash people and Thor use lightning.
But this pure, no-frills aesthetic of violence still made her scalp crawl.
[Ding! Detected extreme shock from Black Widow, popularity points +150!]
[Ding! Detected a second shock from Hawkeye, popularity points +80!]
Arthur retracted his fist and flicked the blood off his hand with disgust.
He pulled out a handkerchief, wiped his hands elegantly, and then turned to look at the still-dazed Natasha.
He gave that signature, reassuring smile.
"Beautiful lady, if such a lovely face were to be injured, it would be a loss to the World."
Natasha snapped out of it, looking warily at this dangerous man, her hand quietly reaching for the taser at her waist.
Although she knew it was likely useless.
"Who are you? That... Superman?" Natasha asked the same question as Barton.
Arthur sighed helplessly.
What's with this batch of Avengers? Why is their head full of Superman?
Did they pay the copyright fees?
"No, ma'am."
Arthur floated up slightly, looking down from above, his white lab coat snapping in the wind like a deity descending to the mortal realm.
"I am Homelander."
"Remember this name."
After speaking, he ignored the two Agents who were still processing the information.
Because his Super Hearing had already captured that flamboyant scream coming from the distance.
A few kilometers away.
Tony Stark was piloting the somewhat damaged mark vii, being chased by dozens of Chitauri craft like a dog.
"Jarvis! I think we're in trouble!"
"Sir, power is at 30%. Suggest evasive maneuvers."
A playful smile tugged at the corner of Arthur's mouth.
"Oh? The rich guy is in trouble?"
"That's flying popularity points!"
How could he miss such a good chance to farm points?
Boom!
The concrete ground beneath his feet instantly shattered.
Arthur turned into an afterimage, pulling a white vapor trail in the air as he headed straight for Stark Tower!
Leaving only Natasha and Barton bewildered in the wind.
"Homelander?" Natasha murmured, "Where on earth did this guy come from?"
"No idea." Barton picked up an alien energy gun from the ground and gave a bitter laugh. "But I have a feeling this guy is on our side."
Chapter 4: Remember, It's Homelander
Above Manhattan, the flames of war were everywhere.
Tony Stark felt terrible right now.
Truly, it was worse than the time Pepper found out he had bought that entire cabinet of strawberry donuts.
"Sir, twelve enemy aircraft are locked on at your six o'clock. Immediate evasion is advised!"
Jarvis's calm voice rang out inside the helmet.
"I know! I see them!"
Tony gritted his teeth as the mark vii performed an incredibly thrilling Cobra maneuver in mid-air.
Zzzzt, zzzzt, zzzzt!
Several beams of eerie blue energy grazed his paintwork, exploding into sparks on the glass of the nearby Stark Tower.
"Dammit, are these alien flies endless?"
Tony looked at the dense cluster of red dots on the radar, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.
His repulsor energy had already dropped to the warning line, and only two micro-missiles remained.
If he didn't find a way to shake his tail soon, tomorrow's New York Times headline would likely be 'Billionaire Dies Tragically in the Streets, Iron Man Becomes Scrap Metal Man'.
"Jarvis, find me a shortcut, preferably one that only has room for me!"
Tony shouted as he dove at high speed, hugging the glass curtain wall of a building.
He was gambling.
Gambling that these alien scum weren't as good at flying as he was!
Boom!
Tony piloted the armor at an incredibly tricky angle.
Using the blind spot of a building's corner, he fired two backhand repulsor blasts, accurately blowing up the two closest pursuing craft.
"Ha! See that? Now that's skill!"
Tony was just about to breathe a sigh of relief.
However...
The next second, his expression froze.
Because after the smoke cleared, five Chitauri flyers were still stuck to his tail like leeches.
And they were even closer!
He could even see the hideous grins on those alien freaks' faces.
"Okay, I take it back. Looks like luck isn't on my side today."
Tony took a deep breath, preparing for a desperate final stand.
Just then.
A white figure appeared extremely abruptly in his right field of vision.
There was no roar of thrusters, nor any disturbance in the air.
Like a ghost, he appeared out of thin air.
Tony instinctively turned to look, his pupils dilating in shock.
It was a man.
A man wearing a tight white lab coat with an incredibly fit physique.
He was just flying through the air with his hands behind his back, his body parallel to the ground.
He maintained an extremely elegant, even lazy, posture while flying.
The most ridiculous part was...
His speed was actually perfectly synchronized with the mark vii at full thrust!
Even as Tony accelerated, decelerated, or turned, the man stayed right beside him like a sticker, motionless!
The two made eye contact through the gold and red faceplate.
The man even turned his head and gave Tony an incredibly bright, sunny, standard eight-tooth smile.
"Hey, Tin Man, if you don't watch where you're going, you're going to hit that billboard up ahead."
"What the f—?!"
Tony was so startled his hands twitched, causing the armor to jerk violently, nearly crashing into the building ahead.
"Who are you?! Which lab did you escape from? Or are you some new S.H.I.E.L.D. weapon?"
Tony instinctively raised his repulsor, locking onto the weirdo beside him.
This wasn't scientific!
This completely violated the laws of aerodynamics!
He could fly without any thrusters? And he could keep up with an armor cruising at supersonic speeds?
"Sir, scans indicate the target is a human male containing extremely high energy reactions, but he has not shown any hostility."
There was a hint of unmistakable confusion in Jarvis's voice as well.
Arthur looked at the repulsor pointed at him and didn't get angry.
He just raised an eyebrow slightly, his smile remaining 'kind' and charming.
"Don't be nervous, Mr. Stark."
"I'm here to help you."
"It looks like you've encountered some... well, trash you can't seem to clean up?"
As Arthur spoke, his gaze moved past Tony to the five Chitauri flyers behind him.
In that instant.
Tony felt as if the surrounding air had frozen.
The smile in the man's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by two beams of extremely violent, crimson light.
"Watch."
Arthur calmly uttered the word.
Zzzzzzt—!!!
Two red rays, as hot as lava and as straight as lasers, instantly erupted from his eyes!
The red light was so dazzling it even outshone the midday Sun.
Without any warning or charging up.
The moment the five pursuing Chitauri flyers touched the red light, they were like snowflakes hitting a red-hot iron.
Even the process of exploding was skipped.
They were directly sliced, melted, and vaporized!
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!
Five massive fireballs erupted simultaneously in mid-air, forming a brilliant display of deathly fireworks.
And against the backdrop of the sky full of fire.
The man in the white lab coat remained in his posture with his hands behind his back, not even a corner of his clothes ruffled.
It was as if he had just casually swatted a few flies.
"My God..."
On the ground, the citizens who had been screaming and fleeing all stopped in their tracks, staring blankly up at the sky.
"Who is that?"
"It's that man in white! I saw it too, he shot lasers from his eyes!"
"Is he a god come to save us?"
[Ding! Iron Man Tony Stark is extremely shocked. popularity points +200!]
[Ding! New York City residents are extremely worshipful. popularity points +25!]
[Ding! popularity points +25...]
Listening to the wonderful notification sounds, the red light in Arthur's eyes slowly faded.
He turned his head to look at Tony, who had completely lost control of his facial expressions (seen via Super Vision), and the corner of his mouth curled into that signature smile again.
"How's that? Much quieter now."
Tony Stark felt like his brain was short-circuiting.
He looked at the falling debris and then at the man floating in front of him.
"Who are you?"
"Superman? The one from the comics?"
Tony couldn't help but blurt out.
The cape (though it was a lab coat), the Heat Vision, the flight.
Wasn't this that Kryptonian who wore his underwear on the outside?
Arthur sighed helplessly.
Superman again.
Can't these people be a bit more original?
"No, Mr. Stark."
Arthur extended a finger and wagged it gently, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable arrogance and confidence:
"I am Homelander."
"Remember, it's Homelander."
"Homelander?" Tony chewed on the name, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Alright, Homelander. Whoever you are, you just stole my thunder. I was saving those five for an experiment."
Despite his stubborn words, Tony's tense muscles clearly relaxed.
Right now, whoever he was, as long as he was fighting aliens, he was an ally.
Shortly after, the two flew one after the other across several blocks, arriving above Park Avenue.
The streets below were a mess.
And the culprit behind it all—Loki—was standing on a Chitauri individual flyer.
He was waving the Mind Stone, directing more alien soldiers to destroy the city.
"Is that the reindeer with the long horns?" Arthur looked down at Loki.
He didn't make a move, instead gesturing toward Tony.
Tony didn't hesitate; with thrusters at full blast, he dove down and landed steadily in front of Loki.
All weapon systems were active, locked onto Loki's big head.
"Even a tourist should know to follow the rules when visiting someone else's turf!"
Tony opened his faceplate, and his sharp tongue started firing off again:
"Put down the weapon in your hand! Surrender now!"
Loki looked at the Iron Man before him, an elegant yet wicked smile appearing on his face:
"Surrender? To whom? To you ants?"
"Wow, it looks like your horns didn't just poke your brain, they messed up your hearing too."
Tony even spread his hands in a mock-relaxed gesture. "How about I buy you a drink? Right over there at the top of Stark Tower. We can discuss your fashion sense while we're at it."
"Honestly, those two horns are really redundant. There's no way to style them."
Loki's smile turned cold.
He hated it most when people made fun of his helmet!
"You will pay for your insolence, mortal!"
Loki waved his scepter.
Whoosh!
A blue energy bolt instantly shot toward Tony.
Tony was prepared and easily dodged it with a side-step.
But he didn't counterattack. Instead, he intentionally let the energy bolt's aftershock graze his chest armor, causing a puff of black smoke.
"Oh! Dammit! My armor!"
Tony cried out exaggeratedly, then, as if frightened, turned around and flew toward Stark Tower.
"Trying to run?!"
Loki wasn't about to let go of the mortal who had insulted him and gave chase on his flyer.
Watching the two disappear among the skyscrapers in a game of cat and mouse.
Arthur, floating in mid-air, let a meaningful smile curl on his lips.
"That's it. Lead him away. This stage is mine now."
He looked down at the dense, rampaging Chitauri army below.
And at the crying, desperate citizens of New York.
In his eyes, how was that a disaster scene?
It was clearly a massive harvest field for popularity points!
"Since Iron Man is gone, then..."
Arthur straightened his collar, the smile on his face becoming even more brilliant—a smile unique to Homelander, full of a desire to perform.
"Now, it's Homelander's showtime."
Chapter 5: In the future, I want to become a hero just like Big Brother Homelander!
The streets of Manhattan had now completely turned into a living hell.
Ruins and debris were everywhere, and the sound of crying and screaming filled the air.
"Run! Run that way!"
"Don't look back!"
A group of citizens, cornered by the flames of war, fled frantically through the ruins like a frightened flock of sheep.
And behind them...
"Screech—!"
A squad of Chitauri Soldiers brandished energy spears, letting out hair-raising, eerie screeches.
Like cats playing with mice, they were in no hurry to kill, instead relishing the thrill of driving their prey.
From time to time, they fired energy beams, blowing up cars near the escapees and triggering bursts of terrified screams.
"God! Someone save us!"
"Mommy! I'm scared!"
In the crowd, a little girl wearing a purple checkered shirt tripped and fell onto the ground amidst the scramble.
She watched in terror as the hideous aliens drew closer, closing her eyes in despair.
The two Chitauri Soldiers clearly noticed the lone youngling as well.
They glanced at each other, cruel smiles appearing on their ugly faces as they raised their spears, the tips glowing with a lethal blue light.
At that critical moment...
Boom!
A massive explosion rang out, like a sudden clap of thunder on level ground!
The Chitauri Soldiers, who were about to pull their triggers, froze in their tracks.
They instinctively looked up.
Not just them—the despairing citizens nearby also stopped, staring blankly at the sky.
A dark shadow, trailing a white sonic boom cloud that tore through the air, crashed down!
Thud!
The earth shook violently, the concrete pavement instantly shattering as rubble flew everywhere.
The dust settled.
A man of imposing stature, wearing a white lab coat, stood before the little girl like an insurmountable mountain.
"Roar!"
Though the two Chitauri Soldiers were startled, they saw that the opponent had no iron armor or shield; he was just an ordinary person in white clothes.
Immediately, they flew into a rage from the embarrassment of being startled.
These days, any random Earthling dares to block the way?
"Run away, Big Brother!"
The little girl sitting on the ground saw this, and even though she was shaking all over from fear, she couldn't help but cry out loudly:
"They'll kill you!"
Arthur turned his head slightly, glancing at the little girl behind him from the corner of his eye.
The corner of his mouth curled into a meaningful arc.
"Run?"
"In my dictionary, that word doesn't exist."
The next second...
The two Chitauri Soldiers charged forward with eerie cries, their energy spears thrusting down viciously!
Arthur stood his ground, not moving an inch, not even bothering to lift a hand.
Just as the spear tips were only a centimeter away from his eyeballs...
Hum!
His eyes suddenly lit up, as if two red supernovas had erupted in an instant!
Two thick beams of Heat Vision gushed out!
There was no suspense.
Even their screams were instantly evaporated by the high temperature.
The two charging Chitauri Soldiers, along with their weapons, exploded directly into a cloud of red blood mist in the air!
An instant kill!
Not even a scrap remained!
The little girl's crying stopped abruptly.
Her mouth hung open as she stared blankly at the back of the figure bathed in the blood mist, her small brain completely short-circuiting.
[Ding! Detected that Kate Bishop is extremely shocked, popularity points +50!]
"Hmm?"
Hearing the system's prompt, Arthur's heart stirred.
Kate Bishop?
That rich second-generation girl, the future second Hawkeye?
Good grief, did I just intercept Hawkeye's fan?
This is a profitable deal!
Arthur turned around, the coldness on his face instantly switching to that standard smile filled with divine radiance.
At the same time, to ensure safety...
He decided to slaughter all these Chitauri Soldiers first.
Sizzle—!
Arthur snapped his head up, his red Heat Vision acting like the whip of the God of Death, sweeping in a circle around him!
Boom boom boom boom!
Within a hundred-meter radius, dozens of Chitauri Soldiers who were still rampaging—whether on the ground or in the air—
Were all sliced in half at the waist in that single instant!
For a moment, it was as if a green rain was falling over the entire street.
That was the blood of the aliens!
The street, which had been like a purgatory just moments ago, instantly fell silent.
Citizens poked their heads out from behind cover, watching the scene in disbelief.
They're all dead just like that?
These monsters that had routed the Police and military were all gone after being looked at by this man?
"My God..."
"Who is he? A new superhero?"
"So strong! He's even stronger than Thor!"
Cheers erupted on the street like a tidal wave.
[Ding! popularity points +25!]
[Ding! popularity points +35!]
[Ding! popularity points +50!]
Listening to the prompts constantly flooding his mind, Arthur felt refreshed all over, even better than getting a full spa treatment.
This was the life he wanted!
He walked slowly to the little girl sitting on the ground and knelt on one knee, trying to keep his gaze level with hers.
At this moment, Kate Bishop's small face was covered in dust and tear stains, but her large eyes sparkled with an unprecedented light.
It was a thirst for power, a worship of a hero!
"Big Brother..." Kate asked with a trembling voice, "Are you... Superman?"
Arthur reached out and very gently wiped the dust from her face.
This action was captured by countless mobile phones held up around them.
A perfect public relations image!
Arthur gave himself a thumbs-up in his mind.
"No, little sister."
Arthur looked into her eyes, his voice gentle yet firm, reaching across the entire street:
"I am Homelander."
"It's no longer safe here."
"Remember, if you encounter danger again in the future, don't be afraid."
Arthur stood up, his white lab coat fluttering in the wind like a savior's cape.
"As long as you call my name, I will appear immediately."
"Because I am your guardian god."
"Homelander..."
Kate murmured to herself, firmly remembering this name and that face with the sunny smile.
At this moment, the place that originally belonged to Hawkeye was completely replaced by another, more domineering and powerful figure.
"Homelander! Homelander!"
The surrounding crowd began to chant the name.
Arthur smiled and waved to the crowd, enjoying the stage that belonged to him.
But he didn't stay long.
Because his Super Vision had already seen Loki, wearing his green-themed suit, striking a pose atop Stark Tower.
Moreover...
Calculating the time, that Nuclear Bomb should be about to be'shipped,' right?
That was the main event of the day!
Intercepting a Nuclear Bomb and saving New York.
If he let that tin man Iron Man do a job that only Superman should do, where would Homelander's pride go?
"Everyone, please evacuate to a safe area as soon as possible."
"I'm going to deal with the guy in charge."
Arthur left those words, then slightly bent his knees.
Boom!
He turned into a white stream of light, charging straight toward Stark Tower!
Watching the departing back...
Little Kate clenched her fists tightly, her eyes full of stars.
"So cool..."
"In the future, I want to become a hero just like Big Brother Homelander!"
Chapter 6: Saving the World is something a professional like me should do!
Over Manhattan, the air was thick with gunpowder smoke.
"Damn it! Are these guys who look like mantis shrimp never-ending?!"
Tony Stark, piloting the mark vii, wove through the concrete jungle in a disheveled state.
Behind him, a massive Leviathan Beast pursued him relentlessly, its abyssal maw wide open.
No matter how many miniature missiles he unleashed, it felt like a mere tickle to this thick-skinned interstellar Beast.
"Jarvis, concentrate all power in the chest; burn right through it!"
"Sir, power is at only 12%. Doing so will cause us to lose propulsion."
"Do as I say!"
Meanwhile.
Inside the luxurious hall on the top floor of Stark Tower.
Loki, who had just managed to crawl up, hadn't even had time to straighten his slightly crooked horned helmet before he felt the ground shake violently.
Thud!
A green behemoth smashed through the glass, charging in amidst a shower of debris.
It was the Hulk!
This guy had just finished dismantling a spaceship alongside Thor.
Turning around and finding Thor too talkative, he had backhanded the God of Thunder, sending him flying.
Now, he had his sights set on this puny figure holding a scepter.
"Roar!!"
Hulk let out a roar and, like an out-of-control tank, charged straight at Loki.
"Enough!"
Loki finally snapped.
As a Prince of Asgard and the God of Mischief of the Nine Realms, he had endured enough humiliation today!
First, he was insulted by that tin man, and then he was kicked down the building by that damn man in the white coat.
Now even this green Beast dared to roar at him?
"You lowly ants!"
"I am a god! I will not be bullied by the likes of—"
Bang!
Loki's arrogant speech wasn't even finished.
Hulk had already rushed in front of him and grabbed him by the ankle.
Immediately following that.
It was like slamming a ragged cloth around.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Slammed side to side, the floor was smashed into deep craters as stone fragments flew everywhere.
A few seconds later.
Hulk tossed him aside casually; Loki lay embedded in the floor like a pile of mud.
His eyes were vacant, and he let out a few groans that sounded like a broken bellows.
"Urgh..."
Hulk snorted disdainfully and turned to leave.
Leaving behind only one deafening evaluation:
"Puny god."
...
At the other end of the battlefield.
The situation for the Avengers remained critical.
Hawkeye hid behind a billboard, his fingers reaching for his quiver only to find it empty.
Captain America was surrounded, the paint on his shield scratched and marred.
Even Thor had been blasted into a disheveled state by several Chitauri flyers.
The entire team was facing a headwind!
Just then.
On the helipad atop Stark Tower.
Black Widow Natasha was anxiously watching the Tesseract as it continuously spewed energy.
"Natasha! The scepter! Loki's scepter can penetrate the energy shield!"
The voice of Dr. Erik, having regained his senses, came through the earpiece.
"The scepter?"
Natasha looked around; where had the scepter fallen during all that chaos?
At that moment.
A slender yet powerful hand, holding the Mind Stone scepter, was extended toward her.
"Beautiful lady, I believe you are looking for this?"
Natasha whipped her head around.
She saw the man calling himself Homelander, suspended half a foot off the ground like a deity.
His white coat was spotless, and his face wore that signature, unfathomable smile.
That composure was completely out of place amidst the hellish scene of war surrounding them.
"You..."
Natasha's gaze was complex.
Her instincts as an Agent told her this man was dangerous—extremely dangerous.
But he had indeed just saved her and Barton.
"Take it."
Arthur thrust the scepter into Natasha's hand and pointed at the blue pillar of light:
"Shut it down and save the World. Isn't that what you Agents love to do most?"
"What about you?" Natasha asked subconsciously.
"Me?"
Arthur looked up slightly toward the distant sea horizon, the smile on his lips growing more intense:
"I have something more important to take care of."
Natasha didn't understand, but she knew now was not the time for hesitation.
She grabbed the scepter and lunged it fiercely toward the energy shield!
Sizzle—!
The once indestructible shield was penetrated by the scepter as if it were thin paper.
"I can shut it down! Does anyone copy? I can close the portal!"
Natasha shouted loudly.
However.
Just as she was prepared to completely cut the power source.
Tony Stark's anxious and heavy voice suddenly came through the earpiece:
"No! Wait! Don't close it yet!"
"Stark? This is our only chance!" Captain America's voice cut in as well.
"There's a nuke coming!"
Tony's voice carried a hint of finality after desperation:
"It's going to blow in Manhattan in less than a minute."
"I know where to put it."
As soon as those words were spoken, the movements of all the Avengers froze for a split second.
A nuke.
That damn Security Council, in order to eliminate the aliens,
had actually decided to wipe out the entire population of millions in New York along with them!
Natasha's hand gripping the scepter stiffened as she looked toward the sea in disbelief.
And beside her,
the smile on Arthur's face finally blossomed completely.
That kind of smile wasn't for saving the masses; it was the look of a hunter who had finally waited for his fattest prey.
"It's finally here..."
His super hearing had long ago captured the scream of that nuclear missile slicing through the air.
Even the radiation symbol on the warhead was clear to see under his Super Vision.
"Tony Stark wants to play the hero? Wants to sacrifice himself to intercept a nuke?"
"How could I let a highlight moment like this go to you, tin man?"
Arthur sneered inwardly.
This was a massive amount of popularity points!
This nuke, I am definitely intercepting it!
Not even Jesus could stop me, I say!
In the distance.
Tony Stark had already shaken off the Leviathan, his thrusters at full blast.
He charged without hesitation toward that rapidly approaching messenger of destruction.
"Divert all power to the thrusters!" Tony roared inside his helmet, prepared for death.
However.
Just then.
Boom!!!
Atop Stark Tower, the air suddenly exploded!
A white figure, almost impossible to track with the naked eye, instantly pulled a long sonic boom cloud in front of him!
That speed was several times faster than the mark vii at full flight!
"That's..."
Tony only felt a blur before his eyes.
That fellow calling himself Homelander was like a bolt of white lightning, surpassing him in an instant!
Arthur flew at extreme speeds, the fierce wind blowing his hair back to reveal eyes full of ambition and fanaticism.
He glanced back at Iron Man, who had been left far behind, and even had the leisure to perform a barrel roll in mid-air.
"Sorry, Stark."
"Saving the World is something a professional like me should do!"
"You should just go back and hug your Pepper!"
The next second.
Arthur's speed surged again, leaving more sonic boom clouds in his wake!
His target was precisely that nuclear missile capable of destroying all of New York!
Chapter 7: Flying on a Missile
Tony Stark felt as if he had been hit head-on by a high-speed train traveling at full velocity.
Even though it was just the wake left behind by that person's flight.
The tragic sense of preparing for death was instantly scattered to the winds by this unreasonable gale.
"Jarvis! Tell me what the hell is that?!"
Tony struggled to steady himself in the air, his eyes behind the faceplate widening like copper bells.
His pride and joy, the mark vii, looked as slow as an old lady with a cane in front of that white figure.
"Sir, according to the Doppler effect analysis..."
Jarvis's voice even carried a hint of electrical trembling, as if his processors were about to burn out:
"The target's speed has exceeded Mach 100."
"In conversion, that is approximately 122,500 kilometers per hour."
"And... he is still accelerating."
Mach 100?
Are you kidding me?
Is this a speed achievable within the atmosphere?
Shouldn't the frictional heat have turned him into ash by now?!
"Is he even human?!"
Tony couldn't help but swear.
He looked at the light dot on the radar that was practically teleporting, and a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.
"Is he really not a Star Destroyer wearing human skin?!"
Meanwhile.
Inside the Helicarrier command center.
Nick Fury's perpetually dark face was even darker now.
He stared fixedly at the white trail tearing through the clouds on the big screen.
Just half a minute ago.
He was still worrying about the nuclear missile sent by the government.
Now, he had another weirdo in a white coat to worry about.
"Director... that's..." Agent Hill's voice was wavering.
"I don't know yet; I only know this guy calls himself Homelander."
Nick Fury stared at the real-time surveillance feed and said in a deep voice.
His eyes were filled with doubt, confusion, and shock.
...
Ten thousand meters in the air.
The gale roared in Arthur's ears, yet it couldn't move a single strand of his hair.
The Bio-electric Field trampled all physical rules underfoot.
In almost the blink of an eye.
The nuclear missile painted with danger symbols appeared in his field of vision.
It was spewing tail flames, carrying the mission of destroying millions of people, charging toward Manhattan without looking back.
"So this is the nuclear missile, known as humanity's strongest weapon?"
Arthur maintained a speed parallel to the missile.
He turned his head, as if examining a crude toy.
"Too slow."
"It's just too slow."
Arthur shook his head.
Originally, he intended to push this thing into the portal.
But that posture wasn't cool enough.
If it wasn't cool enough, how could he harvest the screams and worship of the masses?
How could he live up to the style of Homelander?
Suddenly.
An extremely bold, even crazy idea popped into his head.
"Since I'm delivering a package, I might as well do it with style."
The corners of Arthur's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a domineering smile.
The next second.
His figure flickered!
He appeared directly on top of the nuclear missile!
He didn't use his hands to push.
Arthur's feet stepped firmly onto the smooth body of the nuclear missile!
The Bio-electric Field instantly enveloped this restless Destroyer, forcibly taming it.
"Go!"
Arthur kept his hands behind his back, his white lab coat fluttering loudly behind him.
He rode the nuclear missile like a legendary sword immortal—no, he was a missile-riding Homelander!
This scene.
Through the cameras of countless news media near Stark Tower, was instantly broadcasted to the whole World.
...
"What the..."
On the roof of Stark Tower.
Hawkeye, who had just pulled out an arrow and was about to change positions to shoot, dropped his bow directly on the ground.
His eyes widened as if he were seeing a god descending to earth.
"Natasha, you have to tell me I'm seeing things."
"That guy... he's flying on a nuclear missile?!"
Beside him.
Black Widow Natasha's sexy red lips were slightly parted, unable to close for a long time.
As a top Agent, she had undergone professional training.
No matter how funny or shocking something was, she wouldn't lose her composure.
Unless she couldn't help it.
"Clint, I think we should consider retirement."
Natasha murmured to herself.
She looked at the figure standing with hands behind his back on the nuclear missile, feeling that her entire worldview had been shattered today.
This is Homelander?
This is a damn god!
Not far away.
Thunder God Thor, who had just used lightning to kill a Leviathan, was about to raise his hammer for a pose.
As a result, he looked up and saw Arthur's heroic posture of riding the missile.
"Heimdall above..."
Thor's hand holding mjolnir tightened, a hint of competitive fighting spirit flashing in his eyes, but it was mostly shock.
"This mortal can fly? Fine, but what is he doing flying on that big thing?!"
As for on the ground.
Captain America Steve Rogers, who was protecting a family of three with his shield.
He was currently looking up at the sky.
The hand holding the shield was trembling slightly.
"Howard's hover car back then wasn't even this fast..."
The Captain felt like he was truly getting old.
Has this era gone so crazy that humans can fly on nuclear missiles?
[Ding! Detected Tony Stark's worldview collapsing, popularity points +200!]
[Ding! Detected Thor Odinson questioning life, popularity points +200!]
[Ding! Detected Black Widow's extreme shock, popularity points +200!]
[Ding! Explosive growth in public worship, popularity points +10086...]
Listening to the notification sounds in his mind ringing like a slot machine spitting out coins.
The smile on Arthur's face became even more brilliant.
Refreshing!
So refreshing!
This is the treatment a transmigrator should have!
He intentionally controlled the speed of the missile, not teleporting directly into the portal.
Instead, he maintained a perfect speed that allowed the ground to see his heroic posture while still being able to send it away before the missile exploded.
What do you call this?
This is called professional stage management!
Arthur looked down at the city beneath his feet.
Super Vision activated.
Even from ten thousand meters in the air, he clearly saw the expressions on everyone's faces on the ground.
Shock, worship, fanaticism, fear.
This is the authority brought by power!
Suddenly.
Arthur's gaze swept over an old apartment building in Queens.
Behind a window on the third floor.
A young boy wearing black-rimmed glasses, looking only about ten years old.
He was holding an old-fashioned film camera, his face flushed and trembling with excitement as he pressed the shutter toward the sky.
That's...
Arthur's heart stirred.
A young Peter Parker? The future Spider-Man?
Man, I can even run into him here?
Arthur was in a great mood.
Since it's the future Little Spidey, I'll give you a close-up.
In high-speed flight, Arthur slightly turned his head.
Even across a distance of several kilometers.
He accurately locked onto that tiny lens.
Then.
He revealed a standard, kindly smile filled with Homelander-style fatherly glory.
He even playfully winked his left eye.
"Click!"
Little Peter pressed the shutter, so excited he almost threw the camera away.
"He saw me! Superman saw me!"
"Aunt May! Uncle Ben! Look! That's Superman!"
At this moment.
A seed named worship was deeply planted in the heart of a future superhero.
However, whether this seed would grow into the righteous Spider-Man or a dark Homelander-Spideywas hard to say.
Having done all this.
Arthur withdrew his gaze and looked toward the deep blue wormhole overhead.
That was deep space.
The location of the Chitauri mothership.
"Alright, showtime is over."
"Now, it's fireworks time."
Arthur's gaze turned cold, and he suddenly exerted force with his feet.
Boom!
Bio-electric Field at full power!
The nuclear missile seemed to have been fitted with a level ten thruster, its speed skyrocketing again!
He rode the weapon that represented destruction.
Turning into a bolt of white lightning surging upward, he charged into the portal without hesitation!
This scene.
Was frozen in the eyes of countless people around the World.
That figure in white became the most indelible mark of this day, and even this century.
"He... he really is on our side."
At the top of Stark Tower, Tony Stark looked at the figure disappearing into the portal, his tone somewhat complex.
Chapter 8: It Seems I've Successfully Saved the World?
The moment he passed through the portal, the clamorous noise of the battlefield was instantly cut off.
Stepping on the nuclear missile, Arthur plunged headfirst into this deep, cold expanse of outer space.
If it were an ordinary person, their blood would have boiled in an instant.
Lungs would burst like balloons, and eyeballs would bulge out.
But Arthur only blinked.
He even subconsciously held his breath.
Three seconds later.
"Phew—"
Arthur tentatively released that breath and even opened his mouth to give a silent, wide laugh.
He was fine!
Absolutely nothing was wrong!
The feeling was like returning to the womb.
The surroundings were filled with radiation and energy that made him feel comfortable.
Is this the Kryptonian constitution?
Is this what it feels like to be a god among men?
Arthur felt so good he even wanted to go for a swim in space.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for entering space with your physical body for the first time. Achievement unlocked: Interstellar Beginning!]
[Extra Reward: Flight speed increased to Mach 150!]
[Cumulative popularity points have exceeded 20,000 points!]
[Reward obtained: One ability enhancement!]
The system's prompt sounded at the perfect time, adding fuel to his excitement.
Arthur glanced at the status panel.
Holy cow, his speed had increased by another Mach 50. This was awesome.
As for the enhancement?
Was there even a choice?
Since he was going to be the Homelander and since he wasn't going to take any crap in this World...
Then he must have a pair of eyes that could make someone pregnant with just a glance...
Oh no, eyes that could melt people!
"System, max out my Heat Vision!"
[Ding! Enhancement successful! Heat Vision temperature increased to 6,500°C!]
6,500 degrees?
Good lord, that's higher than the temperature of the Sun's surface!
Arthur felt a heat in both eyes, as if they contained two active volcanoes about to erupt.
Just then.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss—"
Although he couldn't hear any sound, Arthur's Super Vision clearly saw it.
Countless Chitauri Flying Soldiers were swarming around him in dense numbers.
In the distance, several huge Chitauri Starships, like floating islands, were slowly turning their cannons.
Those eerie blue energy cannons were charging up, aimed directly at Arthur!
Floating in the vacuum, Arthur watched these insects who didn't know whether to live or die, his brow furrowing slightly.
He cursed in his heart:
"What a bunch of trash with no sense of judgment."
"Perfect, I'll use you to test out my new temperature."
Arthur lowered his head slightly, his eyes narrowing.
The next second.
Vroom!
Two golden-red beams instantly shot out!
He whipped his head around in space, his gaze sweeping 180 degrees!
There was no sound.
Only images of annihilation.
Every Chitauri, aircraft, or even small meteorite struck by this gaze...
Even the process of explosion was skipped.
They were directly vaporized into nothingness by the terrifying high temperature!
A massive area was cleared in one sweep!
It was as clean and efficient as using an eraser to wipe away smudges on a piece of paper.
"Awesome!"
Arthur roared in his heart.
This is power! This is Superman!
However.
Just as he struck a pose, waiting for the flood of popularity points notifications.
One second.
Two seconds.
The system was quiet, not even letting out a peep.
Arthur was stunned.
He looked back at the small, blue portal opening behind him.
Then he looked at the pitch-black abyss of space.
Suddenly, he realized an extremely serious problem.
Wait.
This is space.
There are no cameras here, no reporters, and none of those New York citizens who only know how to scream.
In other words...
"Who the hell am I showing off for out here?!"
Arthur's mentality crumbled.
The feeling was as miserable as wearing a full set of god-tier gear and slaughtering everyone in a starter village, only to find out you've been disconnected and no one saw it.
No audience?
No popularity points?
Then what's the point of playing!
A waste of expression!
Arthur's original expression of enjoying the battle instantly collapsed into one of extreme impatience and disgust.
Since there's no audience, don't blame me for not following the script.
Finish up quickly, go home and eat!
Arthur glanced at the nuclear bomb beneath his feet, which was still counting down.
"To hell with this!"
Like throwing away trash, he grabbed the multi-ton nuclear missile with one hand and aimed for the largest Chitauri Mothership in the distance.
Using his waist for power, he threw it violently!
Boom!
Though there was no sound, space itself seemed to vibrate from this immense force.
The nuclear bomb turned into a shooting star, heading straight for the Mothership!
However.
The moment the nuclear bomb was about to hit the Mothership.
A layer of pale blue energy shielding suddenly lit up on the Mothership's surface.
Boom!
A dazzling nuclear fireball erupted outside the shield, like a giant firework going off outside a glass dome.
The fireball dissipated.
The Mothership hadn't even lost a chip of paint.
Floating in the distance, the corners of Arthur's mouth twitched wildly.
"That's it?"
"Humanity's strongest weapon is just this?"
"It can't even break the membrane?"
This is too pathetic!
Arthur felt his patience had been exhausted.
Since technology isn't working, then I'll use the hard stuff!
"Since I can't break the defense, then let me personally open a hole for you!"
Arthur's eyes turned cold.
Bang!
The space beneath his feet seemed to be shattered.
His figure instantly vanished.
Mach 100!
Extreme speed!
Arthur turned himself into a human kinetic weapon.
No bells or whistles, just pure speed plus mass!
He slammed right into that thick layer of energy shielding!
Crack!
If sound could travel, it would surely be a crisp shattering sound.
The shield that could withstand a nuclear bomb was as fragile as toilet paper under the impact of the Man of Steel.
Instantly shattered!
But it wasn't over.
Arthur's momentum didn't slow; he drilled directly into the bow of the Mothership and burst out from the stern!
Boom, boom, boom!
Chain explosions began inside the massive Mothership, firelight blooming silently in the vacuum.
But it still wasn't over!
Arthur hovered above the disintegrating Mothership, the red light in his eyes flaring to the limit.
"Die for me!"
Zzzzt—!!!
Two thick beams of Heat Vision, like God's scalpel, performed a horizontal slice across the several-kilometer-long Mothership!
Like a hot knife through butter.
The massive Mothership was cut clean in half!
With the destruction of the Mothership, the countless Chitauri Flying Soldiers who were still attacking frantically were like robots whose power had suddenly been pulled.
They instantly lost all power, paralyzed in place like space junk.
This was the weakness of the Hive Mind.
Kill the king, and the pawns die!
"Boring."
Arthur glanced at the debris filling the space.
This kind of battle without an audience was like wearing silk robes and walking in the night; it was truly too dull.
He turned his head and looked at the rapidly shrinking portal.
If he couldn't get back, even Superman would be left floating as space junk in this godforsaken Universe.
He didn't want to end up like Kars.
"Time to bail."
Arthur's figure flashed as he turned into a beam of light, heading straight for that small blue opening.
...
New York, Earth.
Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the closing portal.
The nuclear bomb had been inside for a long time.
The man in white had also been inside for a long time.
"Can he... still come back?" Captain America's palms, gripping his shield, were covered in sweat.
Tony didn't speak, only stared fixedly at the portal.
Just as the portal was about to close completely into a point of light.
Whoosh!
A figure shot out from inside like a bolt of lightning!
Immediately following.
All the Chitauri Soldiers, and those massive Leviathan beasts, crashed to the ground!
That figure hovered in mid-air, his white coat shining brilliantly under the sunlight.
He opened his arms, welcoming the cheers that filled the sky.
Although he was tired as a dog up there, in front of this group of Avengers and the citizens below...
He had to be elegant.
Arthur looked at the countless faces gazing up at him from below, the corners of his mouth curling into an extremely 'kind' smile.
"It seems I've successfully saved the World?"
Chapter 9: The Savior of New York!
No one knew what exactly had happened in the deep, pitch-black, and cold reaches of space.
The once-arrogant Chitauri fleet...
...hadn't even had time to send out a distress signal before they were turned into cosmic dust under that terrifying Heat Vision.
Meanwhile, back on Earth...
...everyone's eyes were fixed on that single figure's back.
A man in snow-white clothes, arms outstretched, floating in mid-air like a descending god.
It was he who, by his own strength alone...
...had forcibly stepped onto that nuclear missile, which was about to take millions of lives, using it like a surfboard to send it straight to hell!
It was also he who had ended this nightmare!
At the top of Stark Tower.
Tony Stark flipped open his battered faceplate, his usually cynical face now filled with complex emotions.
He watched the figure shining brilliantly in the sunlight, his throat bobbing.
"Jarvis..."
"Sir?"
"Create a top-secret file for that guy's data. The password is for my eyes only."
Tony took a deep breath, his eyes glazed over slightly.
"And... remind me the next time I upgrade the armor to consider this kind of nonsensical flight speed."
At this moment, even someone as proud as Tony Stark had to admit in his heart...
...this guy was a hero.
Even if he seemed a bit crazy.
"This is the kind of warrior Asgard admires!"
Thor stood to the side, the battle intent in his eyes having faded, replaced by a pure appreciation for a strong individual.
"Even in Asgard, there are only a handful who can achieve such a feat."
Natasha tightly gripped the Mind Stone scepter; just minutes ago, it was Arthur who had placed it in her hands.
If not for him, the portal would never have been closed.
She looked at Arthur in the sky. While her Agent's instinct for caution remained, it was overshadowed by the relief of having survived a catastrophe.
"Whether he's Homelander or Superman..." Natasha said softly, "at least today, he saved us all."
Hawkeye Barton, who had just climbed the stairs panting for breath, happened to overhear this.
He glanced at the familiar figure in the sky and threw his empty quiver aside with a bitter smile.
"Tell me about it. I feel like God himself came down for some overtime."
As for Hulk?
Under that dazzling sunlight, the big green guy seemed to find things a bit dull.
His size began to shrink rapidly, gradually turning back into the bewildered Dr. Bruce Banner, whose pants were about to fall off.
He pushed up his non-existent glasses and looked overhead:
"Uh... did I miss something? Why is there a person flying in the sky? Is that Tony's new armor?"
...
Thrum, thrum, thrum—
Just then, the roar of propellers broke the brief silence.
It was news helicopters arriving on the scene.
Like sharks scenting blood, this group of media people, known as the Fourth Estate in this country...
...would risk anything to get the first-hand big scoop.
Several helicopters circled around Arthur.
The camera lenses, like countless eyes, were locked dead on him.
Arthur floated in the air, looking at these lenses, his heart blooming with joy.
Here it comes!
Finally here!
This was the part he really wanted!
What's the point of being a hero without the spotlight? It's like wearing fine silks in the dead of night.
Arthur slowly turned around to face the nearest helicopter camera.
He slightly adjusted his somewhat messy collar, which had been pulled open earlier in space due to his extreme speed.
Then.
He faced the camera and flashed a textbook-perfect smile.
In that smile, there was thirty percent fatigue, thirty percent relief, and forty percent love for all mankind.
It was benevolent to the extreme.
He even waved at the camera with extreme friendliness.
His posture was like that of a big brother from next door who had just finished work.
Click, click, click!
The sound of shutters was clearly audible even over the noise of the helicopters.
At this moment.
All of America, and even viewers across the World watching the live broadcast, were struck by this smile.
It was the personification of security!
It was the synonym for power!
[Ding! Extreme admiration and fanaticism detected worldwide!]
[Ding! popularity points +50,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +80,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +120,000...]
The system notification tones in Arthur's mind weren't just ringing; they were frantically spamming his screen.
Like hitting a ten-year accumulated lottery jackpot, the dings and clangs were non-stop.
In just a dozen seconds.
Arthur watched as his Popularity Point balance shot up like a Rocket, directly breaking the 500,000 mark!
500,000!
If he relied on helping old ladies across the street, he'd have to keep doing it until the next century!
"Sweet!"
Arthur shouted in his heart, but his face maintained that compassionate expression.
He opened the system panel, looking at the golden 500,000 popularity points and the glowing upgrade icons in the system mall.
There was no need to hesitate.
"System, add points!"
"Max out my Heat Vision!"
Nothing makes a Homelander more excited than a pair of eyes that can stare someone to death.
[Ding! Consumed 500,000 popularity points!]
[Heat Vision strengthening... Strengthening complete!]
[Current Heat Vision Temperature: 10,000°C!]
[Congratulations to the Host for achieving: Savior of New York!]
[Reputation Level increased to: Slightly Renowned!]
As the system notification faded.
An indescribable heat flow instantly surged into his eyes.
Arthur felt as if his eyeballs had undergone some kind of divine baptism.
That feeling of overflowing power made him almost unable to resist firing a shot at the sky to celebrate.
Ten thousand degrees!
That was nearly twice the surface temperature of the Sun!
In the future, if he didn't like someone, he wouldn't even need to lift a finger; one look would turn them into vapor!
Arthur took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the wild joy in his heart to maintain that perfect smile.
Performance time was over.
Next, it was time to meet the Avengers.
After all, he was Homelander.
What would he be without a reliable organization?
He turned his head and looked down at the rooftop platform of Stark Tower.
The group of Avengers, some standing and some sitting, were looking up at him.
The corners of Arthur's mouth curled up slightly, and his body moved.
Whoosh!
He traced an elegant arc through the air.
Without kicking up any wind, he landed among them as lightly as a feather.
However.
The moment his feet touched the ground.
Clatter!
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Natasha's hand instinctively moved toward the holster on her outer thigh.
Barton didn't have his bow, but his body tensed into a combat stance.
Even Thor, who was praising him just now, subconsciously gripped his hammer, his muscles bulging.
Even Tony Stark, although his palm repulsors didn't light up, had his hand in a ready-to-raise position.
This was the instinctive biological reaction when facing an apex predator.
Even though this predator had just saved them.
That divine sense of inviolable, invincible pressure was simply too strong.
So strong it made them feel suffocated.
Arthur took in everyone's reactions.
He wasn't angry; he even found it a bit funny.
It seemed he was leaking a bit too much dominance...
He put both hands in the pockets of his white coat, his posture languid and casual.
Arthur looked around at this group of top-tier Marvel Universe heroes, his smile becoming even more radiant.
"Hi, everyone."
He spoke, his voice magnetic and gentle, breaking the awkward silence:
"Looks like we coordinated pretty well."
"Nice to meet you all, I'm John Arthur, but you can also call me Homelander!"
"Also..."
Arthur looked at Tony and pointed at the smashed lobby:
"Mr. Stark, would you mind buying me a drink? That trip just now was quite a bit of exercise, and I'm a little thirsty."
Chapter 10: Since when do heroes submit to investigations?
Everyone: "..."
Captain America's grip on his shield tightened, his gaze complex.
A bit too much exercise?
You call flying into space with a nuclear missile to blow up an entire alien fleet "a bit too much exercise"?
Then what does that make us?
Senior citizens doing radio calisthenics?
"Ha, of course, of course I don't mind."
Tony Stark was the first to break the silence.
He stepped out of the Mark 7 armor; though his face bore some abrasions, that billionaire pride was still very much intact.
"Even though my bar was just smashed by that big Green Guy, the good wine is always hidden in the safest place."
"Jarvis, contact Ms. Potts and tell her I'm not dead. Also, have her... forget it, she's already here."
Along with the roar of engines...
A private plane bearing the Stark Industries logo landed on the edge of the shattered helipad.
A pale-faced Pepper Potts rushed out.
When she saw that Tony was safe and sound, she nearly burst into tears.
However, she froze for a moment when she saw the man in the white lab coat standing next to Tony, whose presence was even more powerful than Tony's.
"Pepper, this is... Homelander."
When Tony introduced him, there was a trace of respect in his tone that even he hadn't noticed.
"He just saved us, and by extension, saved New York."
"If you don't mind, could you pour this superhero a glass of water? You know, the automated waiters here have gone on strike."
As a top-tier professional manager, Pepper possessed immense psychological resilience.
She immediately composed herself, poured a glass of ice water from the remains of the bar, and handed it to Arthur with both hands.
"Thank you, Mr. Homelander."
Pepper's voice trembled slightly—out of gratitude, but also out of awe.
"You're welcome, beautiful lady."
Arthur took the glass, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against the back of Pepper's hand, still maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor.
*Gulp.*
He tilted his head back and drained the glass in one go.
His Adam's apple bobbed.
"Ha—"
Arthur exhaled a satisfied sigh and casually crushed the glass into powder, letting the crystalline grains slip through his fingers.
"So refreshing, that hits the spot!"
Tony's eye twitched as he watched Arthur casually crush the glass.
Tony asked in a low voice within his mind:
"Jarvis, did you find anything?"
"Sir, facial recognition and database comparison complete."
Jarvis's voice sounded in Tony's invisible earpiece:
"John Arthur, 25 years old."
"Entered MIT four years ago, a student of Dr. Connors."
"Additionally, according to an equity penetration analysis, he purchased a large amount of retail shares in 2008 when Stark Industries' stock price was at its lowest."
"He is currently one of the top ten individual shareholders of Stark Industries."
Tony raised an eyebrow, and his previously tense body relaxed completely.
He even walked over directly and slapped a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"Wow, I didn't expect us to be acquaintances."
Tony looked at Arthur with a playful expression:
"John Arthur? Should I call you Homelander, or should I call you my sharp-eyed minority shareholder?"
"Going all-in when my company's stock was so low I was about to lose my underwear, and then selling some at the peak... that move would make the The Wolf of Wall Street weep."
"You really are a business prodigy."
Since they were shareholders, they were part of a community of interests.
Capitalist logic was just that simple and crude.
With this layer of relationship added, Tony's wariness toward this man with World-ending power instantly dissipated by more than half.
Arthur smiled slightly, not at all surprised that Tony had checked his background.
"You flatter me, Mr. Stark."
Arthur straightened his collar, his gaze sincere (or so he acted):
"That wasn't business acumen."
"It was because I believed in Stark Industries, and more importantly, I believed in you, Tony."
"After all, who doesn't know that Tony Stark is the smartest and most charismatic man in the World?"
"I knew you would bounce back, just as I believed you could create armor that would stun the World."
This precise bit of flattery hit Tony Stark right in his sweet spot.
The corners of Tony's mouth curled upward uncontrollably; though he tried to suppress it, his smugness couldn't be hidden.
"Ahem, although what you say is the truth, saying it in public like this still makes me... well, a little embarrassed."
Tony waved his hand with a "you certainly have good taste" expression.
Nearby, Captain America and Natasha exchanged a look and both rolled their eyes.
This damn narcissist.
However...
In the midst of this harmonious atmosphere of mutual business praise,
A set of heavy footsteps broke the peace.
A black trench coat, a single eye patch, and a bald head that shone dark even in the setting sun.
The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, strode over with a team of fully armed special ops soldiers.
His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
He ignored everyone else, his one eye locked firmly on Arthur.
"Who are you?"
Fury's voice was cold, carrying the scrutinizing weight of someone long accustomed to a high position.
"Relax, Nick."
Tony stepped in front of Arthur and spread his hands:
"This is our friend, and also a shareholder of Stark Industries, John Arthur."
"He's the one who just took the nuke up there, surely you haven't forgotten?"
"I know what he did."
Fury didn't care for Tony's interruption; he continued to stare at Arthur:
"But I'm more interested in knowing how an MIT PhD student, an ordinary billionaire, suddenly learned how to fly?"
"And how he possesses the kind of Heat Vision that can incinerate alien organisms in an instant?"
Fury's hand rested on his waist; though he didn't draw his gun, the threat was self-evident.
"Mr. Arthur, your power has exceeded the scope of safety assessment."
"We need you to come with us to S.H.I.E.L.D. immediately for a comprehensive evaluation and investigation."
"This is for national security, and for your own sake."
This was Fury for you.
Had it been anyone else, they would never have dared to speak this way after seeing Arthur's terrifying combat power.
But he was the King of Spies; he was used to controlling all uncontrollable factors.
The air instantly froze.
Natasha and Barton's bodies tensed, their palms instinctively moving toward the weapons on their outer thighs.
Though they knew it was futile, it was professional instinct.
Arthur looked at the Hard-boiled egg in front of him, the smile on his face slowly fading.
In that instant,
A suffocating sense of pressure emanated from him.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Arthur gave a soft chuckle.
"I just finished cleaning up your mess, saved this city, and even saved the lives of your group."
"And now you want to take me in for an investigation?"
"What?"
Arthur took a step forward, his height advantage allowing him to look down on Nick Fury.
His gaze was like that of a god looking down at a suicidal ant.
"Do you think I look like some office drone who needs to report his work to you?"
"As for me, I usually don't even bother to look at places I'm not interested in."
"And as for an investigation?"
Arthur reached out and arrogantly patted the collar of Fury's black trench coat, flicking away a speck of dust.
"As a superhero who just saved the World,"
"I go wherever I want to go."
"I do whatever I want to do."
"Since when do heroes submit to investigations?"
"Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Director?"