Chapter 63: Homelander: Awakening
Homelander Group Headquarters, Top Floor.
In the overly spacious conference room, several of Hollywood's top directors and screenwriters were currently seated.
These 'artists' who usually commanded the set and scolded celebrities like their grandchildren.
Now, they all hunched their shoulders, like a group of elementary school students waiting for their teacher to check their homework.
Because the man sitting at the head of the table had his feet propped up on the million-dollar mahogany conference table.
He was flipping through the script they had painstakingly written over several sleepless nights.
"Garbage."
Arthur casually tossed the first script into the trash can.
"What is this? Homelander: The Choice Between Love and Peace?
"The protagonist struggles internally when facing the villain? And has to contemplate the boundaries of justice?"
Arthur sneered, his blue eyes full of mockery:
"Are you insulting me?"
"I am a god. Gods don't struggle."
"Gods only need to descend and then judge."
The old man, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a three-time Oscar winner for Best Screenplay, wiped his sweat and tremblingly raised his hand:
"But... Mr. Homelander, movies need conflict, they need character arcs. If the protagonist is invincible from the start, the audience will feel... a lack of immersion."
"Immersion?"
Arthur looked as if he had heard the funniest joke in the World.
He stood up, his red cape flowing behind him, and the golden eagle head epaulets dazzled the eyes.
"Who told you to give them immersion?"
"What I want to give them is shock."
"It's that feeling of prostration when seeing God descend!"
Arthur walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the Manhattan skyline, his voice magnetic and domineering:
"Listen, the script I want is very simple."
"Act one, the World falls into crisis, the army is defeated, the Avengers... hmm, let's give Tony some face and say they're in a tough fight."
"Act two, the villains are rampant, the people are desperate, the President is crying."
"Act three."
Arthur suddenly turned around, spread his arms, and showed his iconic, extremely benevolent smile:
"I'm here."
"Then I punch the villain into dust."
"For the last ten minutes, I want to stand under the national flag, receiving the cheers and worship of all humanity."
"Understand?"
The entire room fell silent.
The directors and screenwriters exchanged glances.
Is this a script? This is a personal propaganda film!
But looking at the faintly flickering red light in Arthur's eyes, who dared to say no?
"Yes! Completely understood!"
The big director immediately put on a look of sudden realization and slapped his thigh, shouting:
"This is deconstructionism! This is the pinnacle of postmodern superhero cinema!"
"Back to basics! The ultimate simplicity!"
"We'll revise it immediately! The new script will be out tonight!"
Arthur nodded in satisfaction.
"That's right."
"Also, I've thought of the title."
"It's called—Homelander: Awakening."
"Go to work. I want to see the finished film within a month."
"Money is not an issue. Max out the special effects. I want the audience to feel my Heat Vision scorching their faces even in the cinema."
...
Once the script was set, next came the filming.
To speed things up, Arthur directly bought Hollywood's largest soundstage.
And even for realism (mainly to save on special effects costs), he directly had Wesley buy an abandoned town to blow up.
On set.
Logan was wearing his handsome black leather trench coat, a cigar in his mouth, looking displeased.
"Hey, you with the megaphone."
Logan shouted at the director, pointing to the foundation on his face:
"Can you wipe this damn stuff off? I feel like I'm smearing shit on my face."
The director was so scared he almost ate the megaphone, looking to Arthur, who was supervising from the side, for help.
Arthur was lying on his exclusive lounge chair, drinking iced cola, enjoying a massage from two Hollywood actresses.
Hearing Logan's complaint, he slightly tilted his head.
"Logan."
"That's to make your skin look better on camera."
"Think about your cigar, think about your top-shelf whiskey."
"This is work."
Logan's mouth twitched, and he spat.
"Fuck."
He repositioned himself, and his adamantium claws popped out with a 'clang'.
"Come on! Bring out that damn green screen monster!"
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Magneto Erik seemed much more professional.
This former villain leader seemed to be born for grand spectacles.
"Action!"
At the director's command.
Erik made a grabbing motion in the air with one hand.
Rumble!
In the distance, the abandoned tank, used as a prop, actually flew into the air without any wires!
Then, it was forcibly crumpled into a giant iron ball by an invisible force in mid-air!
"Cut!"
The director excitedly jumped out of his chair:
"Fantastic! So real!"
"The special effects are absolutely amazing! Industrial Light & Magic couldn't achieve this quality!"
No shit.
Arthur rolled his eyes inwardly.
This is real, so how could it not be realistic?
This is the advantage of inviting real supervillains to make movies.
The money saved on special effects is enough to buy several more buildings.
"Erik, make your expression a bit colder."
Arthur pointed out:
"I want that micro-expression of 'although I'm strong, I'm still a junior in front of Homelander'."
"Understand?"
Magneto's hand, suspended in the air, stiffened slightly.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to smash that tank onto Arthur's head.
For the future of Mutants...
To no longer hide in the sewers...
He endured it!
He turned around, facing the camera, and showed an expression full of awe and submission.
"Perfect!"
Arthur snapped his fingers.
"Next scene, Jean!"
"Release a bit of that bird within you, I want that World-destroying special effects light!"
The entire filming process was less like making a movie.
It was more like documenting a series of real superpower shows.
No stand-ins, no green screen cutouts.
All the explosions were real, all the flying was real.
Even the fear of the villains (played by a few unlucky HYDRA captives) was real.
This extremely hardcore filming method put the entire crew in a superimposed state of extreme excitement and extreme fear.
...
One month later.
Global simultaneous release.
Homelander: Awakening.
This day was called "the D-Day of film history" by the media.
All cinemas across the U.S., from New York to Los Angeles, from Chicago to Houston.
All screenings were completely dominated by this one movie.
Want to watch a romance? None.
Want to watch a comedy? None.
Today, all humanity can only watch Homelander!
Stark Tower, private cinema.
Tony Stark wore sunglasses, holding a bucket of popcorn, with Pepper Potts sitting beside him.
"I'd like to see what this guy can come up with."
Tony said stubbornly:
"If it's a bad movie, I'll definitely mock him on Twitter for a year."
The lights dimmed.
The movie began.
No lengthy opening credits, no incomprehensible narration.
The opening was a suffocating disaster.
Alien fleets blotted out the sky, cities wailed in a sea of fire.
The army's defenses shattered like paper.
Just as despair spread to its extreme, and all the audience couldn't help but hold their breath.
A sonic boom tore through the darkness!
On the screen, a golden stream of light descended from the sky.
That man.
The man clad in the Stars and Stripes, with eyes as resolute as iron.
He floated in mid-air, with the rising Sun behind him.
He didn't speak.
He just slightly raised his hand.
Sizzle—!!!
Two beams of Heat Vision, enough to scorch retinas, swept out.
The audience outside the screen instinctively shielded their eyes; the immersive pressure was too intense.
Boom boom boom!
Alien warships exploded in succession, turning into a sky full of fireworks.
Immediately after.
It was a thirty-minute solo performance.
He single-handedly lifted an aircraft carrier on the verge of capsizing.
He used his body to block missiles heading for an orphanage.
He picked up a little girl with a dust-covered face from the ruins, revealing that warm smile:
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
At that moment.
The cinema was filled with a chorus of sobs.
"Wuwuwu... so touching..."
"This is Homelander! This is our God!"
At the end of the movie.
Homelander stood on the White House lawn, with Magneto, Wolverine, Phoenix, and other powerhouses behind him.
He looked at the camera and uttered the classic line:
"You are the true heroes."
"And I am merely your Guardian."
"God bless America."
The screen froze on his close-up, filled with divine radiance.
The credits rolled.
The entire audience stood up.
Thunderous applause, lasting endlessly.
Some even knelt on the ground in excitement, praying to the big screen.
This was no longer just a movie.
This was a sermon! A baptism!
In Stark Tower.
Tony's popcorn spilled all over the floor.
He took off his sunglasses, his eyes extremely conflicted.
"This guy..."
Tony muttered to himself:
"He actually... really made a 'Bible'?"
Although as a professional, Tony could see many logical flaws and forced emotional appeals.
But he had to admit.
The emotional manipulation power of this movie was nuclear-level.
It precisely struck the deep-seated desire for security and worship of the strong in every ordinary person's heart.
"It seems my Iron Man merchandise is going to be unsellable."
Tony gave a bitter smile, then turned to Pepper:
"Do you think I should also make a movie? Iron Man: Love of the Mech?"
Pepper rolled her eyes: "Oh please, you'd just turn it into 'Tony Stark's Personal Fashion Show'."
...
And at this moment.
As the instigator of this frenzy.
Arthur was sitting in the Homelander Group's office.
Watching the frantically jumping numbers on the system panel.
[Ding! Detected that Homelander: Awakening's premiere box office broke all-time records!]
[Ding! Detected a surge in global audience faith points!]
[Ding! popularity points +500,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +1,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +2,000,000...]
In just one day.
Just on the premiere day.
popularity points soared like a Rocket, directly breaking the eight million mark!
And it was still rising at a terrifying speed.
"Hahahahaha!"
Arthur couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He took out a bottle of '82 lafite from the wine cabinet and drank directly from the bottle.
"Awesome!"
"This is the power of capital! This is the power of media!"
"What's all that fighting and killing? How can it be as fast as making movies?"
He looked at the city outside the window, going crazy for him.
"With this wave of popularity points."
"The Silver Superman intermediate template, and even the advanced template, are no longer a dream!"
"Once I truly exchange for those abilities..."
A chilling glint flashed in Arthur's eyes.
"At that time, what Thanos, what Dormammu."
"They will merely be villain material for my next movie."
Just then.
Wesley pushed open the door, his smile even brighter than if he'd won the lottery.
"Boss! It's exploded! Completely exploded!"
"Merchandise pre-sales are booked until next year!"
"Our stock price rose by three hundred percent today! It triggered a circuit breaker!"
"And..."
Wesley lowered his voice, with a slight tremor in his tone:
"The White House called."
"Mr. President wants to invite you to a state dinner."
"He said, to celebrate the success of this 'great patriotic education film'."
Arthur put down the wine bottle, a sneer playing on his lips.
"State dinner?"
"Tell him I'm available."
"However..."
Arthur stood up, adjusting his collar:
"Tell him to save the main seat for me."
"After all, by now, he should have a pretty good idea of who's really in charge of this country."
Wesley bowed even lower:
"Understood, Boss."
Chapter 64: 'Homelander: Origins'
Washington, the White House.
Tonight's night seemed even more enchanting than usual.
Because a state banquet, significant enough to be recorded in history, was being held there.
It wasn't to host a head of state, nor to celebrate a peace treaty.
It was merely to celebrate the success of a movie.
A biographical film about a "God."
Inside the opulent banquet hall, people were elegantly dressed, and glasses clinked.
The most powerful group of people in all of America were gathered here at this moment.
Senators, who usually argued until their faces turned red on Capitol Hill, were now holding wine glasses.
With smiles more cordial than to their own fathers, they lined up, waiting for an audience with the same person.
"Mr. John Arthur, I've seen your movie; it's truly stunning! It's the perfect interpretation of the American spirit!"
"Homelander, my daughter is a huge fan of yours. Her room is covered with your posters, could you possibly..."
"Mr. Arthur, regarding next fiscal year's defense budget, we believe it should be allocated more towards the Homelander Group..."
Arthur, surrounded by the crowd, wore his iconic dark blue battle suit (he deliberately didn't wear a tuxedo, because the battle suit was his true form).
His red cape draped casually behind him, and the golden eagle head epaulets shimmered under the crystal chandelier, emitting a light that was difficult to look at directly.
He held a glass of champagne, a flawless smile, full of divinity and magnanimity, on his lips.
"Thank you, everyone."
Arthur nodded slightly, his voice magnetic and gentle:
"I just did a small job."
"The success of this movie is because it awakens the desire for justice in each of us."
"It is for America."
"It is for freedom."
"Clap clap clap clap!"
A thunderous applause immediately erupted.
Even if he spoke nonsense, these politicians could still discern profound meaning, like the Declaration of Independence, from his words.
[Ding! Detected collective worship from high-ranking U.S. government officials!]
[Ding! popularity points +50,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +50,000!]
Listening to the continuous notifications in his mind, the satisfaction in Arthur's heart was overflowing.
"Tsk, these old foxes."
"They talk about principles, but all they care about is business."
"But it doesn't matter."
Arthur sneered inwardly, his gaze sweeping over these usually high-and-mighty figures.
"As long as you can provide me with popularity points, even if you're a bunch of pigs, I'll be your most dedicated feeder."
"Come on, grovel to your heart's content."
"The more humble you are, the stronger my power becomes."
Just then.
President Ellis walked over with a wine glass, his face plastered with a fawning smile.
"Homelander, are you satisfied tonight?"
Ellis leaned in closer, lowering his voice and saying:
"The specifications for this state banquet were set to the highest standards; I even invited those old stubborn ones."
"Satisfied, of course, satisfied."
Arthur reached out and patted the President's shoulder.
This single gesture made Ellis feel flattered, and he straightened his back a little.
"Mr. President, you are a smart man."
Arthur looked at him and said meaningfully:
"As long as we stand together, this country will have no problems."
"Of course! Of course!"
Ellis nodded repeatedly, his face flushed with excitement:
"With you here, America is invincible!"
Not far away.
Tony Stark was hiding in a corner, holding a small cake, with a constipated expression.
"Look at that face."
Tony complained to Pepper beside him:
"Where is this a state banquet? This is clearly a fan meet-and-greet."
"That President is smiling like a Corgi seeing a bone."
Pepper sighed helplessly and helped Tony straighten his tie:
"Tony, say less."
"Now John is the hero of all America, one might even say a belief."
"Haven't you seen the latest poll? His approval rating has reached 99%."
"The remaining 1% is because they don't have internet access."
"Hmph."
Tony snorted arrogantly, stuffing the cake into his mouth:
"Belief? I see it as brainwashing."
"This guy is addicted to acting."
Although he said that, a deep apprehension flashed in Tony's eyes.
He looked at the figure surrounded by adoring crowds.
That absolute control, that composure as if playing with the entire World in the palm of his hand.
It made him feel an unprecedented pressure.
"Perhaps..."
"I should also make a movie?"
Tony pondered inwardly.
...
The banquet lasted until late into the night.
Arthur declined the President's invitation to stay overnight at the White House (Are you kidding? That broken bed is nowhere near as comfortable as the Egyptian cotton in Long Island?).
Boom!
He shot up from the White House lawn, transforming into a streak of light that vanished into the night sky, under the awestruck gazes of the politicians.
Back at the Long Island Manor.
Arthur took off his battle suit, changed into comfortable silk pajamas, and lay down in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Wesley had been waiting for a long time, holding the latest financial report.
"Boss."
Wesley's voice was filled with fanaticism:
"The global box office for 'Homelander: Awakening' has already exceeded three billion U.S. dollars!"
"This is a miracle in film history!"
"And merchandise sales have reached an astonishing fifty billion!"
"Now the whole World is crazy about you!"
Arthur swirled the red wine glass in his hand, looking at the shimmering sea outside the window.
"Three billion?"
He pouted, a look of disdain on his face:
"Only this much?"
"It seems this generation of audiences is still holding onto their wallets too tightly."
Wesley: "..."
Boss, that's three billion! And it's U.S. dollars!
How many companies can't earn that much money in a hundred years!
"However, money is secondary."
Arthur put down his wine glass and opened the system panel.
[Current popularity points: 15,800,000!]
Fifteen million eight hundred thousand!
This number made Arthur feel a little better.
But it was still not enough.
Far from enough.
To exchange for a more advanced Silver Superman template, to have the power to punch a Planet into oblivion and repeatedly jump across timelines.
This amount of popularity points was just a fraction.
"Wesley."
Arthur suddenly spoke.
"Yes, Boss."
"Why do you think this movie was successful?"
Wesley was stunned for a moment, then thought:
"Because it was shocking?"
"Because of the special effects?"
"Because you personally starred in it?"
"No."
Arthur shook his head, his eyes sparkling with wisdom (and cunning):
"It's because of 'divinity'."
"In this movie, I am invincible, omnipotent, and supreme."
"But it's still not perfect."
Arthur stood up, walked to Wesley, and gestured with his hands:
"Gods also need 'humanity'."
"A God who is only powerful can only inspire awe."
"But a person who becomes a God through a 'tragic past' and 'unremitting effort'...
"Can evoke empathy, drive people crazy, and make them devoted!"
Wesley pushed up his glasses, his eyes lighting up:
"Boss, you mean..."
"A sequel."
Arthur snapped his fingers, a playful smile on his lips:
"I want to make a sequel."
"But not about the future, but about the past."
"I want to make—'Homelander: Origins'."
"Origins?" Wesley was a bit confused, "But Boss, your origins..."
He knew that the Boss had suddenly appeared; where would he have any origins?
"Idiot!"
Arthur slapped Wesley on the forehead:
"If there's no origin, we'll make one up!"
"What are Hollywood screenwriters for?"
"Write it! Make it as tragic as possible!"
Arthur began to pace around the room, the script already taking shape in his mind.
"Listen, this is the story outline I want."
"I, John Arthur."
"Born in a slum, no, an orphanage."
"Frail and sickly since childhood, suffering endless bullying."
"But I have an indomitable heart!"
Arthur clenched his fist, his eyes becoming "resolute," as if he had already gotten into character:
"To protect the weak, for the justice in my heart."
"I dedicated myself to science; I toiled day and night in the laboratory."
"I am a genius scientist!"
"I experienced countless failures, countless explosions."
"Even for experimental data, I didn't hesitate to test drugs on myself!"
"Finally!"
Arthur suddenly spread his arms wide, his voice soaring:
"On that stormy night!"
"I developed the 'Perfect Superman Serum'!"
"To save the World, I injected that potentially fatal serum into my own body!"
"At that moment, I was in excruciating pain, but I endured!"
"I was reborn!"
"I became Homelander!"
Snap!
Arthur snapped his fingers, looking at the dumbfounded Wesley:
"How is it?"
"Is this story inspiring enough?"
"Is it touching enough?"
"Is it enough to make those naive girls cry their eyes out?"
Wesley's mouth hung open, unable to close for a long time.
He looked at the man before him, who possessed god-like power yet spoke utter nonsense.
Only one thought was in his mind:
Boss, it's a real waste of your talent not to go for an Oscar for Best Actor!
This is just too much to make up!
What sickly and frail? What orphanage?
With your physical fitness, you could probably crush the Doctor's hand at birth, couldn't you?
And developing serums?
Besides using Heat Vision to burn people, do you even know how to do experiments?
But...
Wesley thought again.
This story... really has selling points!
A tragic hero scientist, who struggled through self-effort and was willing to sacrifice himself for justice?
This is simply the ultimate embodiment of the American Dream!
This will definitely win over fans of all ages!
"Boss..."
Wesley took a deep breath and gave a thumbs-up:
"Absolutely brilliant!"
"This script is simply amazing!"
"If this is filmed, it will definitely be even more popular than the first one!"
"That's a given."
Arthur sat back down in his chair, looking self-assured:
"This is a 'perfect persona' I meticulously designed based on market research."
"Go."
"Call that guy, James Cameron, for me."
"And Spielberg."
"Tell them I want to make an epic biographical film."
"This one, I want to be heartfelt."
"I want the whole World to know that my success as Homelander today is all thanks to my own 'hard work'!"
...
Three days later.
The Film and Television Base under the Homelander Group.
It had been transformed into a huge laboratory set.
To pursue authenticity (even though the story was fake), Arthur specifically had Wesley poach several real scientists from Stark Industries to serve as consultants.
At this moment.
Arthur was wearing a worn-out white lab coat, with a "haggard makeup" on his face.
His hair was messy, and his eyes were filled with "a thirst for knowledge" and "unyielding defiance against fate."
"Action!"
With the director's command.
Arthur immediately got into character.
He held a test tube containing blue liquid (actually a sports drink) with trembling hands.
Facing the camera, he cried out:
"The two thousand three hundred and forty-fifth experiment..."
"Failed..."
"But I cannot give up!"
"Those children are still waiting for me!"
"For justice! For peace!"
"Even if it means death, I must succeed!"
Saying that, he abruptly drank the liquid in the test tube (the action was originally designed as an injection, but changed to drinking for coolness).
Then.
"Ah—!!!"
Arthur let out a heart-wrenching scream.
He knelt on the ground, his body trembling, veins bulging.
His acting was so realistic, his expression so painful.
It even made the on-site staff cry.
"So touching..."
"Mr. Homelander has been through so much..."
"So, he sacrificed so much for us..."
Several emotional female script supervisors had already started wiping away tears.
"Cut!"
The director shouted excitedly:
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
"That take is good!"
Arthur instantly sprang up from the ground.
The painful expression on his face disappeared in a second, replaced by his usual nonchalant look.
"Water."
He held out his hand.
An assistant immediately handed him the best chilled Evian water.
Arthur took a sip, moistening his voice that had become hoarse from shouting.
He sneered inwardly.
"Tsk, acting really is physically demanding."
"However..."
He glanced at the adoring gazes around him.
[Ding! Detected extreme emotion from crew members! popularity points +500!]
[Ding! popularity points +500!]
"Even a mosquito's leg is meat."
"As long as I can earn popularity points, let alone playing a scientist."
"Even if you make me play a humble cabbage, I can make all of America weep."
Just then.
Wesley walked over with his phone, his expression a bit strange.
"Boss."
"What's wrong?"
"Mr. Tony Stark called."
"He said he heard you're filming an 'autobiography' and wanted to... visit the set."
"Oh?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his lips:
"Tony?"
"What's he coming for? To learn techniques?"
"Or to sabotage?"
"Tell him he's welcome."
"Coincidentally, my movie still needs a 'rich villain who is jealous of the protagonist's talent'."
"Let him play himself."
"I think the audience would be very happy to see Iron Man being rubbed on the ground by me."
Wesley: "..."
Boss, you're really not afraid that Tony Stark will fight you to the death.
However...
Who made you Homelander?
In this land, you are the script, you are the director.
You can act however you want.
"Alright, Boss, I'll go reply now."
Wesley turned and left.
Arthur lay back on the lounge chair, looking at the spotlight above.
"Come on, Tony."
"Let me see how spectacular your expression will be when you see my 'deeply moving' struggle for success."
"Hahahaha!"
Chapter 65: Homelander's Popularity Soars!
On set.
Lights focused, all cameras aimed at the man kneeling in the center of the laboratory.
"Ah—!!!"
Arthur's scream was heart-wrenching, as if he were enduring hellish torment.
His muscles convulsed, veins on his forehead bulged like earthworms, and sweat mixed with "blood" (actually tomato juice and syrup) flowed all over the floor.
That kind of pain of sacrificing oneself for all humanity, that kind of perseverance in seeking light amidst despair.
It was simply textbook-level acting.
"For... the future of the children..."
Arthur squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, his voice trembling yet firm:
"I... will never... give up!"
Boom!
He slammed his fist onto the floor, and the specially made prop floor instantly shattered, sending dust flying.
"Cut!"
The director excitedly threw his script, tears streaming down his face:
"Perfect! Mr. Homelander! This take is definitely Oscar-worthy!"
"This is the radiance of divinity!"
The surrounding staff also had red eyes, and a few emotional makeup artists were already pulling out tissues.
Arthur instantly recovered from his "near-death state."
He stood up, took the towel handed to him by his assistant, and elegantly wiped the "bloodstains" from his face.
He glanced at the adoring and sympathetic looks around him.
[Ding! Detected extreme move from on-site personnel, popularity points +1,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +1,000!]
"Tsk, these fools are so easy to trick."
Arthur sneered inwardly.
Acting?
For a Silver Superman, controlling the tremor frequency of every muscle, controlling the position of every drop of sweat, was easier than breathing.
This wasn't acting; this was a dimensionality reduction attack.
Just then.
A flamboyant engine sound was heard.
Immediately after, a mustached man in an expensive custom suit and sunglasses swaggered onto the set.
Tony Stark.
He took off his sunglasses, looked at Arthur, who was still wearing a tattered white lab coat, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Whoa."
Tony whistled, his tone full of teasing:
"I think I just heard the sound of a pig being slaughtered? I thought you guys had converted this place into a slaughterhouse."
"But when I came in, it turned out to be our 'god among men' suffering."
Tony walked up to Arthur and scrutinized him:
"This is your 'origin'? Drinking some blue potion that looks like a sports drink, and then you mutated?"
"John, are you insulting biology, or are you insulting my intelligence?"
Arthur tossed the towel to Wesley, not getting angry.
He walked up to Tony and showed an extremely benevolent smile:
"Tony, you don't understand."
"This is called artistic embellishment."
"The public doesn't need to know complex gene-editing principles, nor do they need to know about Kryptonian bloodlines."
"They just need to know—"
Arthur pointed to his chest:
"I, for them, am in great pain."
"That's enough."
Tony was stunned.
He looked at Arthur's blue eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts.
Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable chill.
This guy...
He understood too much.
He understood too much about how to manipulate people's hearts.
"You're really a madman."
Tony sighed and shook his head:
"But I have to admit, that scene just now... even I almost believed it."
"Your acting is even more terrifying than your Heat Vision."
"You flatter me."
Arthur shrugged, looking completely unfazed:
"Since you're here, why don't you make a cameo?"
"My script happens to be missing a 'wealthy villain who constantly opposes the protagonist out of jealousy for his talent.'"
"I think your demeanor fits perfectly."
Tony: "..."
"Get lost!"
Tony rolled his eyes dramatically and gave him the middle finger:
"I'm Iron Man! I'm a superhero! Not your stepping stone!"
"Besides, I'm making a movie too!"
Tony raised his chin proudly:
"Iron Man: Light of Technology. I've already had Jarvis write the script."
"We'll see each other at the box office then!"
Arthur smiled.
He smiled like an old father watching his child goof around.
"Alright."
"Hope I can see your taillights."
...
Several months passed in a flash.
During these months.
The massive commercial machine of the Homelander Group, under Wesley's manipulation, operated frantically.
Overwhelming publicity, insane marketing.
Even the giant screen in Times Square was booked for a year with Arthur's face.
Finally.
That day arrived.
Homelander: Origin, was released globally.
If the previous movie, 'Awakening,' was a nuclear bomb.
Then this one, 'Origin,' was a planet-destroying cannon!
In the cinema.
When the audience saw the frail (CGI-made) John.
Falling repeatedly in the lab, suffering torment from reagents again and again, all to save children with terminal illnesses.
When they saw John, to fight against an evil organization (HYDRA making a friendly cameo), risking his life to test drugs, refusing to give up even as his blood vessels burst from pain.
When that scene—
John, covered in blood, rose from the ruins, his cape fluttering in the sunset, and he uttered the words:
"The pain is mine, the light is yours."
At that moment.
All of the U.S. burst into tears.
Really.
It's not an exaggeration.
The movie theaters became a sea of tears, and tissues sold out.
Countless people covered their mouths, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Wuwuwu... so tragic... Homelander is so tragic..."
"So he went through so much... and we actually doubted him before..."
"He's a saint! He's a living Jesus!"
Some fanatical fans even fainted on the spot in the cinema and were taken away by ambulance, still shouting "Long live Homelander" from their mouths.
This fanaticism quickly spread from the entertainment industry to the political sphere.
Because.
This year happened to be a Presidential Election Year.
The current President Ellis, although endorsed by Arthur, was ultimately a weak politician.
And with the release of Homelander: Origin.
A strange voice began to emerge among the populace.
At first, it was just a few jokes online.
Later, it turned into protest slogans.
Finally.
It directly became data that major U.S. polling agencies dared not ignore.
In the public opinion poll "Who do you want to be the next President?"
Current President Ellis: 15%.
Opponent Vice President: 10%.
And in the "Other" option.
Someone hand-wrote a name—
Homelander: 75%!!!
This is outrageous!
You know, Arthur didn't even run!
He didn't even fill out the registration form!
But the public didn't care about that.
They only knew that compared to those politicians full of lies.
They preferred to trust this man who had "bled dry" for them and possessed god-like power.
Washington, White House.
In the Oval Office, the atmosphere was as oppressive as before a storm.
Ellis looked at the polling report in his hand, his hands trembling as if playing a Parkinson's concerto.
"Crazy... everyone's gone crazy..."
Ellis slumped into his chair, his face pale:
"75% approval rating?"
"He's not even a candidate!"
"What do these voters want to do? Do they want him to turn the White House into a temple?"
The Chief of Staff wiped his sweat nervously, saying cautiously:
"Mr. President... there's a saying among the people now."
"They say... since Homelander protects this country, why shouldn't he lead this country directly?"
"Even... some people are starting a petition to amend the Constitution, allowing superheroes to run for office."
"Amend the Constitution?"
Ellis laughed in anger:
"Do they think this is child's play?"
"Letting a superhuman who can tear apart an aircraft carrier be President?"
"Will the nuclear button be his toy then?"
Although he cursed verbally.
But Ellis's heart was filled with fear.
Because he knew.
As long as Arthur was willing.
He really could do it.
No election, no voting needed.
He just needed to fly to the top of Capitol Hill and look down.
Those congressmen would scramble to place the crown on his head.
"Quick! Contact Tony Stark for me!"
Ellis clutched at a straw:
"And S.H.I.E.L.D.! Get Fury, that Black Braised Egg, over here!"
"We must find a way... at least to make Homelander state that he's not running!"
Chapter 66: Homelander Runs for President!
Washington, D.C.
The weather today was as gloomy as if someone had just lost their father.
The dark clouds hung low, as if they could crush this white center of power at any moment.
The White House, Underground Supreme Command Center.
Around the long conference table sat the true power brokers who held the nation's lifeline.
President Ellis sat at the head, his face pale, clutching the stack of polling reports that had kept him awake all night.
To his left was Nick Fury, always in his black leather trench coat, still wearing an eye patch indoors to look cool.
To his right was Tony Stark, with a constipated expression, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table.
Further down were Senator Stern (a famous HYDRA member, though not yet exposed) and other bigwigs like the Minister of Defense and the Secretary of State.
"Gentlemen."
President Ellis's voice was hoarse, as if a lump of charcoal was stuck in his throat:
"We can no longer pretend to be deaf and mute."
"That… that person."
He didn't even dare to call him by name, as if the name itself carried a curse:
"His approval rating has reached 80%. Yesterday, some citizens even held signs in front of the White House, telling me to get out and give him my position."
"This is not normal! This is absolutely not normal!"
"This is America! A society governed by law! Not the mythical era of ancient Greece!"
Ellis slammed the table, but the force was weak and lacked any deterrent.
"Exactly."
Senator Stern pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes sinister:
"An individual with nuclear-level power, completely unrestrained by any laws, flying around our territory."
"He can burn Kingpin for 'justice' today, but tomorrow, can he burn all of us here because he's 'in a bad mood'?"
This sentence directly hit everyone's raw nerve.
Fear of death.
This was the sole reason they were gathered here.
"So, we've drafted a bill."
Nick Fury's single eye scanned the room, pushing a thick document to the center of the table.
On the cover of the document were striking large characters—
"Superhuman Registration and Regulation Act (Draft)."
"The core of this bill is simple."
Fury's voice was cold, devoid of emotion:
"All individuals with supernatural abilities must register with the government under their real names, disclose their ability data, and accept supervision from S.H.I.E.L.D. and the United Nations."
"Any unauthorized actions will be considered illegal."
"Especially targeting—S-Rank threat targets."
Although he didn't name names, any fool knew who that "S-Rank" referred to.
"Tony."
Fury turned to Tony, who had been staring blankly:
"As an Avengers consultant and the only one who can barely communicate with that guy technologically, I need your stance."
All eyes instantly focused on Tony.
Tony Stark sighed.
He rubbed his throbbing temples, took off his sunglasses, revealing his bloodshot eyes.
"To be honest, I hate this bill."
Tony spoke truthfully, with a hint of helplessness in his tone:
"This thing is like putting a chastity belt on the Statue of Liberty; it's both absurd and ugly."
"But…"
Tony's tone shifted, his eyes becoming complex:
"John… he is indeed a problem."
"He's too strong, unreasonably strong."
"And his personality… is too capricious."
"We need a safety catch, even if it's just for psychological comfort."
Tony looked at Fury and nodded:
"I agree in principle. But the premise is that this bill cannot become a tool for politicians to eliminate dissidents."
"Of course." Senator Stern smiled like a fox who had stolen a chicken, "This is all for national security."
"Good!"
President Ellis seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw:
"Then it's settled!"
"Immediately convene a press conference! I want to announce this bill to the entire U.S.!"
"We will use the weapon of law to cage this… this 'god'!"
…
An hour later.
White House Press Briefing Room.
Flashbulbs flickered wildly, and media from all over the World aimed their cameras at the Presidentstanding behind the podium.
Ellis took a deep breath, his face adopting a righteous expression.
"Fellow citizens, people of America."
"Today, I stand here to announce an important bill concerning our future."
"With the frequent occurrence of superpower incidents, our social order is facing unprecedented challenges."
"To ensure the safety of every citizen, to uphold the dignity of the law."
"I officially sign—the 'Superhuman Registration and Regulation Act'!"
"From today onwards, any superhuman, no matter how powerful, no matter how 'popular'."
"Must accept the supervision of the people! Must act within the framework of the law!"
"No one is above the law! Not even—Homelander!"
Ellis finally shouted out the name.
At that moment, he felt like a true warrior.
…
Meanwhile.
New York, Long Island Manor.
Inside the outrageously luxurious master bedroom.
Arthur, wearing a loose silk bathrobe, held a glass of red wine and leaned lazily against the headboard.
Beside him, the naked "Black Cat" Felicia was peeling grapes for him like a docile kitten.
On the huge TV screen, the President's impassioned speech was being broadcast live.
"Pfft—"
Arthur nearly spat out the red wine he had just drunk.
He looked at Ellis, who was spouting saliva on the screen, and couldn't help but grin wildly.
"Hahahaha!"
"Interesting, truly interesting."
Arthur laughed so hard that tears almost came to his eyes.
He pointed at the TV and said to Felicia beside him:
"Look at these fools."
"They actually want to use a piece of paper to restrict me?"
"Do they really think that if they write 'no flying' on paper, I'll obediently walk?"
Felicia fed a peeled grape into Arthur's mouth, her eyes dazed and worshipful:
"That's because they're afraid, Boss."
"Only the weak try to bind the strong with rules."
"You are a god; laws only apply to mortals."
"Well said."
Arthur chewed the grape, a cruel red light flashing in his eyes.
"Regulation Act?"
"Want to put a collar on me?"
"Alright, since you want to play politics, I'll play a big one with you."
"I originally wanted to wait a bit longer, until the time was more ripe."
"But since you're so impatient to stick your necks out…"
Arthur drained the red wine in his glass.
"Crack!"
The priceless crystal glass turned to powder in his hand.
He stood up, his silk bathrobe slipping off.
His perfect, Greek-sculpture-like physique was fully revealed.
"Change my clothes."
Arthur spread his arms, his voice deep and domineering:
"Bring me my battle suit."
"I'm going to Washington."
"I'm going to tell that idiotic President."
"Who is the true—Law—in this country!"
…
Washington, White House lawn.
The President's speech had just ended, and reporters were still frantically asking questions.
"Mr. President, do you think Homelander will accept this bill?"
"Mr. President, if there's resistance, does the Military have a contingency plan?"
Ellis wiped the sweat from his forehead, about to answer.
Boom!!!
An earth-shattering sonic boom, like thunder from the heavens, instantly exploded over Washington!
All the glass shattered at this moment!
The strong wind howled, making the Stars and Stripes on the lawn flap wildly.
Everyone looked up in terror.
A golden streak of light, carrying an unmatched momentum, descended from the sky!
Thump!
A dull thud.
The ground in front of the podium instantly cracked.
As the smoke and dust cleared.
The man in the dark blue battle suit, with a red cape fluttering behind him and a golden "A" on his chest.
Appeared abruptly, domineeringly, and without warning in everyone's sight.
He hovered half a meter above the ground, looking down at the President, who was already paralyzed with fear behind the podium.
The entire venue was silent.
The President, who had just been speaking righteously, was now trembling like a sieve.
The Secret Service Agents around him had drawn their guns, but their hands were shaking so much they couldn't even disengage the safety.
Who would dare to shoot?
That was Homelander!
That was a monster who could withstand a nuclear bomb with his bare body!
Arthur didn't even glance at the Agents.
He just tilted his head slightly, looked at Ellis, and showed his signature, extremely benevolent smile.
"Good afternoon, Mr. President."
Arthur's voice, amplified by the live microphones, clearly reached the entire World:
"I was watching TV at home just now and happened to hear your speech."
"Very exciting, truly."
"Regulation? Law? Order?"
"You almost made me cry with emotion."
Arthur slowly descended, his feet landing on the podium.
He reached out, as if adjusting an old friend's collar, and straightened Ellis's crooked tie.
"But, Ellis."
Arthur leaned in closer, his voice turning bone-chillingly cold:
"Did you forget something?"
"Who is maintaining the security of this country?"
"When you were hanging in mid-air by Terrorists, did your laws save you?"
"When you wet your pants facing an alien fleet, did your bill drive them away?"
"No."
Arthur straightened up and turned to face all the cameras.
He spread his arms, bathed in the Sun, emanating a divine radiance that was impossible to look at directly.
"It was me."
"I saved you."
"I was patrolling day and night; I was helping you clean up the trash."
"And now, you actually want to use a piece of scrap paper to restrict your savior?"
"This is not just foolish."
"This is—betrayal!"
Arthur roared the last two words.
His voice rolled like thunder, hurting the eardrums of everyone present.
[Ding! Extreme shock and guilt detected from the live and global audience!]
[Ding! popularity points +200,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +300,000...]
Listening to the prompts in his mind, Arthur knew the time was right.
He took a deep breath, his expression shifting from anger to extreme disappointment and heartache.
"I'm tired."
Arthur shook his head, his tone low:
"I'm really tired."
"I gave everything for this country, only to receive suspicion and shackles."
"Since you feel that the current government cannot give me justice."
"Since you feel that these politicians cannot represent the will of the people."
"Then…"
Arthur suddenly looked up.
In his blue eyes, the fierce fire of ambition burned.
He pointed a finger straight at the sky.
"I have decided."
"I will personally reclaim the authority that belongs to justice."
"I, John Arthur."
"Formally announce—"
"My candidacy for President of the United States of America!"
Boom!!!
This statement was ten thousand times more shocking than the sonic boom just now!
The entire venue erupted!
The entire World erupted!
All the reporters went crazy, their flashbulbs merging into a single white daylight.
The viewers in front of their TVs also went crazy.
They jumped off their sofas, spilling beer all over the floor.
"Run for President?! Homelander is running for President?!"
"Oh my god! This is insane!"
"I'm voting for him! My whole family is voting for him!"
"To hell with the regulation act! Let Homelander be President! This is what we want!"
Watching this scene.
Ellis, standing nearby, completely collapsed to the ground.
He knew it was over.
Everything was over.
Run against a god?
How could he win?
Win with his head?
And not far away, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Nick Fury watched the scene on the screen, and his coffee cup dropped to the floor with a "clatter."
Black Braised Egg's face was no longer just black; it was a desperate, deathly gray.
"Madman…"
"This madman…"
"He doesn't want to be a superhero."
"He wants to be an emperor."
In Stark Tower.
Tony looked at the ambitious man on the screen, remaining silent for a long time.
Finally, he could only helplessly close his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"Jarvis."
"Sir?"
"Prepare the blueprints for that 'Anti-Homelander Suit'."
"I think… we might need it very soon."
Chapter 67: The Seven
New York, Central Park.
Today, this place was no longer a leisure spot for citizens walking their dogs or jogging.
It had been transformed into a super rally site capable of accommodating half a million people.
A massive stage was erected in the center of the lawn, backed by a full one-hundred-meter-tall holographic projection screen.
Countless Stars and Stripes flags danced wildly in the wind.
Although election day was still a month away,
everyone knew it was merely a formality.
Today's rally was the dress rehearsal for the new emperor's coronation!
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
Wesley, wearing that impeccably tailored suit, stood at the side of the stage, microphone in hand, his voice trembling with excitement:
"Are you tired of a weak government?"
"Are you tired of days when you could only tremble in fear before aliens?"
"If so!"
"Then cheer!"
"Welcome your savior—and his divine Praetorian Guard!"
BOOM——!!!
As Wesley's words fell, seven beams of light descended from the sky, directly enveloping the entire stage.
An impassioned symphony instantly erupted, its grandeur ten times that of an Olympic opening ceremony.
Arthur was the first to step out of the light beam.
Cloaked in a Stars and Stripes cape, he hovered three meters above the ground, arms spread wide, basking in the rising tide of cheers.
"Homelander! Homelander!"
"We want you for President!"
The crowd's fervor was intense enough to scatter the clouds.
Arthur smiled slightly—a standard, perfect, divinely practiced smile he had rehearsed countless times.
He gently waved a hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
Though what he thought was: "Cheer all you want, scream your lungs out, I won't be handing out any money. I just want the popularity points."
[Ding! Detecting extreme fervor from the 500,000 people on site! popularity points +500,000!]
"Thank you."
Arthur's voice echoed throughout the venue via the sound system:
"I said I would protect this country."
"But alone, after all, I can only be in one place at a time."
"So, I've found a few like-minded companions."
"They have been misunderstood, ostracized, even hunted."
"But in my eyes, they are the sharpest swords of the United States!"
Arthur abruptly turned, pointing towards the six figures behind him:
"Allow me to formally introduce to you—"
"The Seven!"
The first to step forward was Magneto Erik.
He wore a form-fitting deep purple combat suit (designed overnight by Tony's team, much cooler than that old tin can), with a matching deep purple cape flowing behind him.
With a single lift of his hand...
RUMBLE!
All the metal railings surrounding the stage instantly floated up, twisting mid-air to form a single word: "Order."
"Whoa! That's so cool!"
"Is that Magneto? He's actually that handsome?"
The young people below the stage instantly climaxed.
Next.
was Logan, in a black tactical vest, a half-smoked cigar clenched between his teeth.
SNIKT!
adamantium claws extended as he slashed an 'X' shape in the air, his gaze fierce and untamed.
That pure, raw masculine energy made the female fans in the audience scream incessantly.
Then came Jean Grey.
Her red hair like fire, a tight-fitting suit accentuating her perfect curves, a faint, unsettling energy fluctuation emanating from her entire being.
Following her,
was a pair of young siblings.
The scarlet-clad girl Wanda, and the silver-haired boy Pietro.
These two youngsters had just been "invited" back by Wesley from a HYDRA Base in Sokovia (the process was, of course, very 'amicable').
At this moment, Wanda was still somewhat shy, clinging closely behind Arthur. Looking at the sea of people below, her eyes were filled with nervousness and... adoration for Arthur.
In her eyes, this man had pulled her from hell and given her light.
"Don't be afraid."
Arthur "considerately" patted Wanda's shoulder, speaking in a voice only the two could hear:
"Smile. They'll adore you."
Wanda blushed, obediently revealing a shy smile.
Instantly, the close-up on the giant screen melted the hearts of every otaku in the crowd.
The last one,
was a bald Black man crackling with blue electric arcs—Max Dillon, also known as Electro.
This guy was originally just a Unlucky (unlucky) electrical engineer. After being intercepted by Arthurand subjected to some brainwashing (scratch that) persuasion, he was now a die-hard fan of Homelander.
"Look at this lineup,"
Arthur thought smugly to himself.
"Magneto for crowd control, Jean Grey for nuclear strikes, Wolverine as the tank, Quicksilver to flank, Wanda for magical DPS, Electro... well, he's not bad as a power bank or special effects guy."
"With this setup, even Thanos would have to take a couple of slaps before leaving."
...
The press conference was just the beginning.
Since he was running for President, he needed to show some real action.
Over the next month,
the United States entered a "preview period" of "superhero governance."
In the CNN news studio,
the anchor was reporting breaking news with a look of shock:
"We interrupt with a report! The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has just been attacked by terrorists, the bridge structure is fractured!"
"Oh my god! This is a disaster... wait!"
"Who is that?!"
The screen cut away.
Magneto Erik was seen hovering above the Golden Gate Bridge.
He expressionlessly extended a hand.
The thousands of tons of steel girders, already fractured and on the verge of plunging into the sea, were forcibly halted in their descent!
Then, under the terrified gazes of countless onlookers,
the fractured bridge seemed to come alive, automatically healing, reconnecting, and reinforcing itself!
In less than a minute,
the Golden Gate Bridge was restored to its original state, even sturdier than before!
"My god..." The anchor dropped his microphone, "Is this the power of Mutants? This is a miracle!"
Erik faced the camera, leaving behind a cold statement:
"For Homelander."
Then he flew off.
...
Chicago. A massive fire was engulfing a skyscraper.
Firefighters were helpless.
Just then,
a silver streak of lightning shot into the inferno.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Almost in the blink of an eye,
the hundreds of trapped people inside the building were all transported to safety as if teleported.
Quicksilver Pietro leaned against a fire truck, holding a bottle of soda, winking at the shell-shocked survivors:
"No need to thank me. Just remember to vote for Homelander."
And high above,
Wanda waved her hands. Red Chaos Magic spread like a vast net, directly covering the entire building.
The raging inferno was instantly extinguished under the suppression of the magic.
...
Texas border.
A group of heavily armed drug cartel members were exchanging fire with border patrol.
RATATATATAT!
Suddenly,
a dark shadow plummeted from the sky, directly smashing the cartel's armored vehicle.
Logan stood up from the dust and smoke, spitting out the cigar butt.
"Bunch of scum. Too damn noisy."
He unsheathed his claws and sliced through the cartel's defensive line like it was tofu.
At the same time,
a thunderous crash echoed from the sky.
Electro Max transformed into a bolt of lightning, directly bombing the cartel's rear Base.
"For the boss! For Homelander!"
Max laughed maniacally, releasing a million volts from his entire body, making the cartel members breakdance uncontrollably.
...
This week,
the entire United States was bombarded with these surreal news reports.
Wherever disaster struck, wherever crime occurred,
The Seven always arrived first on the scene.
Their efficiency was so high, their methods so uncompromising, that the Police and military became mere decorations.
Crime rate? It dropped straight to zero!
Who would dare commit a crime at this critical juncture?
Could you withstand Magneto's metal spheres? Could you evade Quicksilver's speed?
Or did you want to try Homelander's Heat Vision?
In the White House,
President Ellis watched the "miracles" unfolding on TV, looking as if he had aged ten years.
He held the latest poll report in his hand.
Homelander approval rating: 98%.
Ellis: 2%.
Those 2% were probably from people who filled out the form wrong.
"It's over..."
Ellis collapsed onto the sofa, his eyes vacant:
"Completely over."
"He's not running a campaign."
"He's giving us notice."
Beside him, Nick Fury's dark face was utterly numb.
He looked at the blonde man being worshipped by countless people on the screen.
A deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.... will probably have to change its name to the 'Homelander Fan Club' soon."
Fury laughed at himself mockingly.
He knew the tide had turned.
...
Homelander Group, top-floor office.
Arthur looked at the popularity points number on his system panel, which had skyrocketed.
[Current popularity points: 28,500,000!]
Twenty-eight million five hundred thousand!
This growth rate was even faster than printing money.
"Hahahaha!"
Arthur poured himself a drink, in the best of moods.
"See that, Wesley?"
"This is the herd mentality."
"Just give them a strong enough shepherd, and they'll obediently walk into the pen themselves."
Wesley stood to the side, his gaze filled with near-fanatical admiration:
"Boss, you are a born ruler."
"Those politicians are like children playing in the mud compared to you."
Chapter 68: Intermediate Template
America, noon.
The sun was like fire.
But even more intense than the sunlight was the passion of the American public.
Because their god, their Homelander, and that "The Seven"—who were like a divine praetorian guard—were making their presence felt across the land in a frenzy.
San Francisco.
Magneto Erik floated in mid-air, lightly crooking his finger.
An out-of-control oil tanker, fully loaded, was gripped as if by an invisible giant hand, coming to a steady halt right at the edge of a cliff.
"For Homelander."
The old man coldly dropped those words, turned, and flew away, hiding his merit and fame.
Chicago.
Wolverine Logan, with a cigar in his mouth, charged out of the burning ruins, cradling two children blackened by smoke in his arms.
"Cough, cough... Tell that guy in blue that this counts as overtime!"
Logan grumbled as he handed the children over to medical staff, then turned and charged back into the fire.
New York.
Jean Grey and Wanda joined forces, red Chaos Magic and the Phoenix Force intertwining.
They propped up a massive barrier directly in the sky, forcibly pushing back a sudden super typhoon.
The entire United States was boiling with excitement.
Crime rate? It was in the negatives!
Terrorists? They had already bought standing-room tickets overnight to flee back to the Middle East!
Inside the top-floor office of the Homelander Group.
Arthur sat with his legs crossed, watching the numbers jumping wildly on the system panel, smiling like an old farmer looking at a bountiful harvest.
[Ding! Detected that America's security environment has reached its historical peak! Public happiness is overflowing!]
[Ding! popularity points +1,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +2,000,000!]
...
"Thirty million..."
"Forty million..."
"Fifty million!"
Arthur watched the number finally break the fifty million mark and drained the red wine in his hand in one go.
"Refreshing!"
"I've raised these workers for so long; it's finally time to harvest."
Nothing was more refreshing than making money while lying down.
If there was anything, it was becoming stronger while lying down.
"System, add points!"
Arthur roared in his mind:
"Exchange! Silver Superman Template (Intermediate)!"
"Max it out for me!"
[Ding! Consumed 50,000,000 popularity points!]
[Template upgrade in progress...]
[Congratulations Host! Silver Superman Template (Intermediate) has been activated!]
BOOM—!!!
An unprecedented, terrifying power instantly exploded from deep within every one of Arthur's cells.
If the previous Primary Silver Superman was a nuclear bomb.
Then now, he was a walking star!
The surrounding space began to warp, as if even reality could not bear his current mass.
Arthur slowly opened his eyes.
The World had changed.
It had become too slow.
He saw the birds outside the window suspended in mid-air, the patterns on their wing feathers clearly visible.
He saw the dust in the air standing still.
Even light, in his perception, became slow and viscous.
"Is this... speed?"
A wild, arrogant curve hooked at the corner of Arthur's mouth.
Swish!
His figure instantly vanished from the office.
It wasn't teleportation.
It was movement at the absolute limit of speed!
The next second.
He had already appeared on the Far side of the moon.
The second after that.
He was standing on Olympus Mons on Mars.
"Too slow, still too slow."
Arthur felt the power within him that was surging so much it almost overflowed.
"My current speed is at least a hundred times the speed of light!"
"In this Universe, distance has no meaning to me anymore."
Arthur floated in space, looking at that tiny Earth.
A sense of invincible loneliness arose spontaneously.
"Since Earth can no longer contain me."
"Why not... go into the Universe to pick up some goods?"
Arthur stroked his chin, and those few sparkling stones surfaced in his mind.
Infinity Stones.
They were the supreme authority of this Universe.
But in Arthur's eyes, they were just a few pretty batteries, or... decorations.
"Instead of leaving them for that Purple Potato Spirit Thanos to snap his fingers."
"It's better to keep them with me first."
"After all, I am very compassionate."
Arthur chuckled and turned his body.
BOOM!!!
Space was forcibly torn apart.
He transformed into a golden stream of light, countless times faster than the speed of light, charging toward the depths of the Milky Way Galaxy.
...
First stop.
Xandar.
The headquarters of the Nova Corps, known as the beacon of civilization in the Milky Way.
It was bustling and noisy here, with countless spaceships shuttling through the air.
Suddenly.
Alarms blared loudly!
"Warning! Warning! Unknown high-energy object detected approaching!"
"Speed... cannot be calculated! It's too fast!"
"It has penetrated our defense grid!"
Nova Prime looked at the figure that instantly appeared on the screen, her face turning white.
"What... what is that thing?"
Arthur floated high above Xandar.
He didn't make a move; he just quietly looked at this alien city.
That deep blue suit shimmered under the alien sun, and the red cape was like a divine banner.
He slightly released a bit of his Bio-electric Field.
Vrrr—!!!
The entire atmosphere of Xandar was vibrating.
All spaceships instantly lost power, falling like dumplings, only to be caught by an invisible force and suspended in mid-air.
All Xandarians looked up, staring in terror at that figure that was like a deity.
"Is this an alien civilization?"
Arthur shook his head, looking disappointed:
"Too weak."
"They can't even withstand a single glance from me."
"Boring."
He originally wanted to find that Ronan to play with, but looking at this situation, Ronan hadn't even arrived yet.
"Forget it, I'll come back to harvest this low-level map later."
Arthur's figure flashed and instantly vanished.
Leaving behind a group of Nova Corps soldiers slumped on the ground in fear, and a Nova Prime who was questioning her life.
"God... was that a god?"
...
Second stop.
Morag.
An abandoned dead star, perpetually submerged by floods.
Only every three hundred years, when the seawater recedes, would the temple holding the Cosmic Orbbe revealed.
At this moment.
The seawater was overwhelming.
The temple was still buried deep under the sea.
According to the plot, it would take another year for that fool named Star-Lord to come here and dance.
But Arthur didn't have the patience to wait for the tide to go out.
"Open for me!"
Arthur floated above the sea and threw a fierce punch toward the ocean below.
BOOM—!!!
This punch did not touch the water's surface.
But the terrifying wind from the punch directly split the entire sea wide open!
Millions of tons of seawater were forcibly pushed aside, revealing the ancient temple on the seabed.
"Open Sesame."
Arthur dove down.
Bang!
That Vibranium door, said to only be opened by a special mechanism, was directly shredded by him like paper.
He strode into the center of the temple.
Looking at the metal sphere floating in the force field—the Cosmic Orb.
Inside it was precisely the Power Stone.
"This is it?"
Arthur reached out and grabbed it.
Sizzle, sizzle!
The surrounding defense field tried to block him, but in front of his Man of Steel, it didn't even count as an itch.
Snap.
He gripped the orb.
With a slight squeeze of force.
Crack!
The shell shattered, revealing the purple-glowing stone inside.
A violent surge of energy instantly poured into his body, trying to destroy his cells.
If it were an ordinary person, they would have been blown to ash by now.
But Arthur only frowned slightly.
"A bit numb."
"Like getting an electrotherapy session."
He casually tossed the Power Stone around and then stuffed it into the pocket of his suit.
"Done, next stop."
...
Third stop.
Svartalfheim (the Realm of the Dark Elves), or some unknown dimensional crack.
It was dead silent here, with only endless darkness.
According to the timeline, in a few months, it would be the Convergence of the Nine Realms.
At that time, the Aether Particle (Reality Stone) would manifest due to spatial overlap and then burrow into the body of Thor's girlfriend, Jane Foster.
"Too much trouble."
Arthur floated in the void.
His eyes glowed with a dazzling golden light.
Super Vision fully activated!
Seeing through matter! Seeing through dimensions! Seeing through all illusions!
"Found it."
Arthur's lips curled up.
He saw a spatial rift with an eerie red fluid surging inside.
That was the Aether Particle sealed by Odin's father, Bor.
"Hidden quite deep."
Arthur flew to that rift.
He reached his hands into the void and suddenly tore them apart to both sides!
RIIIIP—!!!
The spatial barrier was forcibly torn open by him with a large gap.
That mass of red fluid seemed to sense a threat and surged wildly, trying to escape.
"Running?"
"In front of me, even light can't escape, let alone you?"
Arthur opened his palm, and his Bio-electric Field transformed into an invisible cage, instantly enveloping the Aether Particle.
"Condense for me!"
Along with Arthur's will.
That fluid, which originally had no fixed form, began to compress and collapse under the terrifying pressure.
Finally.
It transformed into a red crystal.
Reality Stone!
Arthur held it in his hand, feeling that wonderful power that could modify reality.
"Not bad."
"With this, I'll even save on special effects money for making movies in the future."
"Directly modify reality; I can have whatever scene I want."
Arthur satisfactorily put away the Reality Stone as well.
In less than ten short minutes.
Two Infinity Stones were in his possession.
Add to that his Silver Superman power, which was enough to crush everything.
Now, in this Marvel Universe, he was truly—
Lawless!
"Thanos?"
Arthur looked into the depths of the Universe, his gaze contemptuous:
"Are you still riding your broken spaceship everywhere looking for stones?"
"Sorry."
"Your buffet has already been packed up by me."
BOOM!
Arthur turned around.
He flew in the direction of Earth.
"Time to go back and see those little leeks."
"After all, I am still their presidential candidate."
"If I don't go back and give a victory speech, wouldn't that be too disrespectful?"
...
Washington, D.C., National Mall.
This place had witnessed countless historical moments.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream here, and countless Presidents had taken their oaths here.
But today.
This place would be redefined.
Because that man had returned.
From the depths of the Universe, bringing endless starlight and glory, he had returned.
"BOOM—!!!"
The atmosphere seemed to be torn apart by an invisible giant hand.
A golden stream of light, trailing a long tail of fire (that was plasma generated by intense friction with the air).
Like a meteorite hitting the Earth, it smashed straight toward the huge stage in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
No deceleration.
No buffering.
Just smashing down like that!
"THUD!!!"
The ground shook violently, as if a magnitude seven earthquake had occurred.
The dust cleared.
That man in the deep blue suit, with his red cape fluttering loudly behind him, was kneeling on one knee, striking that classic "superhero landing."
Then.
He slowly stood up.
The sunlight spilled over his blond hair, giving him a sacred halo.
His eyes were bluer than the sky, yet so deep that people dared not look directly at them.
And behind him.
"The Seven" were lined up in order.
Magneto was controlling countless metal banners to fly in the air.
Jean Grey's whole body emitted a faint red light, like a goddess.
Logan had a cigar in his mouth, his steel claws flashing with cold light in the sun.
At this moment.
A full million people at the scene (yes, a million, blocking all the surrounding streets).
It was as if the mute button had been pressed.
A deathly silence.
Immediately following.
"ROAR—!!!"
The sound waves erupted like a tsunami!
"Homelander!"
"Homelander!"
"Homelander!"
Countless people shouted until they were hoarse; some waved flags, some wept bitterly, and some even fainted from excitement.
How was this a campaign rally?
This was clearly a cult scene!
Arthur stood before the microphone, a corner of his mouth hooked into an extremely "nuclear-kind" smile.
He reached out his hand and lightly pressed down.
Instantly.
A million people fell silent together.
Orders were followed strictly.
This kind of control made the current President Ellis, sitting in front of the television, drop the remote in his hand in fear.
"My god..."
Ellis slumped on the sofa, his eyes empty:
"He hasn't even opened his mouth, and he's already won."
Chapter 69: Advanced Template
On the stage.
Arthur looked at the fanatical faces below the stage, and the thrill in his heart felt like it was about to explode.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"Look at these lovely leeks."
"Growing so beautifully."
He cleared his throat, and his voice spread throughout Washington through top-tier audio equipment, and was also broadcast across the World via live signal.
"My fellow countrymen."
Arthur's voice was magnetic and gentle, carrying a seductive power:
"I have returned."
"I just took a trip to the Universe."
"To help you clean up some... well, not-so-friendly neighbors."
A chorus of exclamations instantly rang out from below the stage.
"The Universe? Homelander went to the Universe?"
"Too strong! He actually went to enforce the law in space!"
Arthur nodded with satisfaction and continued:
"In space, I looked at this blue Planet."
"It is so beautiful, yet so fragile."
"I was thinking."
"Who can protect it?"
"Is it those politicians sitting in air-conditioned rooms, only capable of bickering with each other?"
Arthur turned around and pointed at the White House and Capitol Hill not far away, his eyes full of contempt:
"Is it them?"
"NO—!!!"
The people below roared in unison, their anger instantly ignited.
"Is it those useless Agents who take taxpayer money but can't even catch a few Terrorists?"
Arthur pointed toward the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters (though it wasn't visible, the point was made).
"NO—!!!"
The wave of sound grew even higher.
"Then."
Arthur suddenly turned back, and within his eyes, two crimson flames flickered faintly.
That terrifying sense of oppression made the audience in the front rows feel as if their skin was burning.
"Tell me."
"Who can protect you?"
"Who can tear an alien fleet to pieces when it descends?"
"Who can block destruction with his chest when a nuclear bomb falls?"
The whole place was boiling!
"It's you! Homelander!"
"Only you!"
Arthur smiled.
He smiled brilliantly, incomparably arrogant.
He spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire World.
"That's right."
"It's me."
"Only me."
"Therefore."
Arthur's voice suddenly rose, like a clap of thunder:
"You don't need a President who only knows how to sign papers."
"You don't need a puppet bound by legal clauses."
"What you need is a leader."
"A strongman."
"A—God!"
BOOM!!!
This sentence completely detonated the crowd.
All logic collapsed at this moment.
All rules were shattered at this moment.
The people went mad.
They threw their hats, banners, and even clothes into the sky.
They knelt on the ground, worshiping that man.
[Ding! Epic-level faith surge detected!]
[Ding! popularity points +1,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +2,000,000!]
[Ding! popularity points +5,000,000...]
The system notification sounds rang frantically in Arthur's mind like a telegraph machine.
Looking at the continuously jumping numbers.
Arthur felt like he was about to float away.
"Fifty million... sixty million... eighty million!"
"Hahahaha!"
"This is the true harvest!"
"What's making movies? What's selling merchandise? How can any of that compare to directly becoming a 'God'?"
Just then.
Arthur had a thought.
He felt the heat wasn't quite enough.
He needed to add more fuel to the fire.
He quietly reached into his pocket and touched the red Reality Stone (condensed from the Aether Particle).
"Since you treat me as a God."
"Then I will show you some miracles."
Arthur applied a slight force.
Buzz—!!!
An eerie red light instantly enveloped the entire National Mall.
The next second.
Under everyone's shocked gaze.
The originally gloomy clouds in the sky instantly dissipated.
Replacing them.
Was an aurora of ultimate splendor!
Not only that.
Countless ethereal golden petals fell from the sky, landing on people but passing through their bodies.
Everyone who touched a petal felt their exhaustion swept away, and even long-standing joint pain vanished (actually a psychological effect plus a trace of Bio-electric Field soothing).
"A miracle! This is a miracle!"
"Homelander has manifested his power!"
"My God, I see Heaven!"
Even Magneto and Logan, standing in the back, were dumbfounded.
"This..."
Magneto's eye twitched:
"Is this a mutant ability? Impossible, this isn't scientific!"
Logan bit through the cigar in his mouth:
"Fuck... has this pretty boy really become a God?"
Only Jean Grey, sensing that familiar fluctuation of reality distortion, had a flash of deep awe in her eyes.
"That's... the power of the Infinity Stones?"
"He has actually mastered such a thing?"
...
This rally eventually evolved into a nationwide march across the U.S.
Not just Washington.
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston...
In all fifty states of America, in countless cities.
Innumerable citizens spontaneously took to the streets.
They held high the Stars and Stripes and portraits of Homelander.
They didn't need to vote anymore.
They directly declared—
Homelander is the one and only king of America!
Top floor of Stark Tower.
Tony Stark looked at the frenzied marching crowds outside the window, and at the man bathed in the aurora on the large screen.
The wine glass in his hand shattered with a "snap."
Blood trickled down through the gaps of his fingers, but he seemed unable to feel the pain.
"Tony..."
Pepper looked at him with a face full of worry.
"I'm fine."
Tony took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly, but his eyes were clearer than ever before:
"Jarvis."
"Sir?"
"That 'Anti-Homelander Armor'... how is the progress?"
"Sir, progress is at 30%. Moreover... based on the data analysis just now, the target's energy index has risen again. With the current plan, the win rate is less than 0.01%."
"I know."
Tony closed his eyes, a bitter smile appearing on his face:
"But someone has to do something."
"Otherwise... this World will truly become his playground."
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
Nick Fury sat in his office, watching the images on the screen, looking as if he had suddenly aged twenty years.
"Director..."
Agent Hill stood to the side, her face pale:
"The White House just called."
"The President... has fainted."
"Congress is now in a total mess; many representatives are proposing to skip the voting process and directly declare Homelander the winner."
"Heh."
Fury gave a cold laugh.
That one eye flickered with the last of its light in the darkness.
"A bunch of spineless cowards."
"Surrendering already?"
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the World outside enveloped in red light.
"Since they chose a God."
"Then we can only... kill a God."
Fury pulled an old pager from his coat.
The pager with the star emblem printed on it.
His thumb rubbed against the button for a long time.
Ultimately.
He still didn't press it.
"It's not time yet."
Fury murmured to himself:
"Carol... if you come back now, you'll probably just be sent to your death."
"I need more chips."
"More... monsters."
...
Homelander Group, top floor.
Arthur reclined in the executive chair that could now be called a 'throne'.
Wesley knelt to the side, wiping those boots that actually hadn't gathered a speck of dust.
"Boss."
Wesley's voice was so excited it changed pitch:
"It's done! Everything is done!"
"The Supreme Court just sent word; they are urgently revising the constitutional interpretation."
"It's expected tomorrow... no, tonight!"
"You can move into the White House!"
"Mm."
Arthur responded lazily.
He looked at the popularity points on the system panel that had already broken the hundred million mark.
[Current popularity points: 128,000,000!]
One hundred and twenty-eight million!
This wasn't just a number.
It was the key to invincibility!
"System."
Arthur commanded in his mind:
"Exchange for me—"
"Silver Superman (Advanced) Template!"
"With the remaining points, max out that 'Magic Resistance' and 'Mental Defense' for me!"