Cyborg snapped out of it, his brain racing.
"Apokolips' communication network is synchronized in real-time. If the Dark Fortress is attacked, the alarm will instantly reach Darkseid's flagship," Cyborg analyzed. "The fortress is the source of his power; if it's destroyed, his divinity will be severely damaged."
"Even if there's only a one-in-a-billion chance, he will absolutely turn back at all costs. Protecting the fortress is ten thousand times more important than destroying Earth."
"Excellent."
Homelander turned around and snapped his fingers.
"Then our tactics are very clear. I'll be at his home base, sitting on his throne, waiting for him."
" Attacking East to Save the west," Bruce whispered the four words with a French accent. As a tactical master, he had read all military books, both American and foreign.
He immediately understood Homelander's intention: "You're going to use yourself as bait to draw the flames of war from Earth to Apokolips."
"Exactly, Bat." Homelander gave Bruce an appreciative look.
"You're crazy!"
Cyborg Victor countered loudly.
"Homelander, I know you're powerful. You defeated Superman, and you cleared Earth of the Parademons. But Darkseid is different! He is a true cosmic god!"
"If he were anywhere else, maybe you could fight him with your strength. But if he's on Apokolips, it's a completely different story!"
"That's his home turf! With the support of the anchors, his power will increase a hundredfold!"
"You can't win against him!"
"Going there is just death!"
Cyborg's warning echoed across the empty square.
Everyone fell silent.
They knew Cyborg was telling the truth. Facing a god with home-field advantage in the enemy's headquarters went against all basic tactical common sense.
Homelander didn't immediately argue back.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the cameras still rolling in the square.
Hundreds of millions of eyes worldwide were now glued to their screens, listening to Cyborg's despairing pre-war analysis.
Homelander lowered his head slightly, letting half of his face be submerged in shadow.
When he looked up again, he had completed a perfect switch of emotion and expression.
On camera, his brow furrowed slightly, his eyes showing a touch of compassion, a hint of helplessness, and a resolve that saw through life and death.
"Victor..."
Homelander spoke slowly, his voice low, but his words struck straight at the heart.
"Tell me, if I don't go to Apokolips, where should the battlefield be?"
He turned around and slowly reached out his hand, pointing to the surrounding dilapidated skyscrapers and the scarred streets.
"Here? On Earth?"
"Don't you understand yet? Darkseid isn't coming back to conquer or occupy this time. Darkseid comes with rage, only to destroy!"
"If the battlefield is on Earth, when his Dark Fleet hovers outside Earth's atmosphere and countless flagship main cannons are aimed at our cities... even if we can win here, what's the price?"
"The oceans will be evaporated, the continents will be shattered. Life that has just begun to recover will turn to ashes in an instant."
"Of these billion people who finally survived, how many would be left? Ten thousand? Or a million?"
"In this war so far, humanity has already shed too much blood. A mother should not lose her child again, and a soldier should not cry over the mangled limbs of a comrade."
"Maybe in the end, we'll get justice for humanity, but what's lost will never return..."
Homelander took heavy steps toward Cyborg and patted his cold shoulder.
"We shouldn't be Avengers, Victor. We are the Guardians of humanity."
After saying this, he turned to face the camera, facing the global audience.
Sunlight spilled onto his handsome profile, faintly giving him a divine filter.
"My fellow citizens, I am Homelander."
"I promised you that as long as I am here, nothing can hurt you."
"So, I must go to Apokolips."
"I want to lock the battlefield on his land; I want to burn the flames of war in his palace."
Homelander's right hand clenched into a fist, pressing against the golden eagle emblem on his chest.
"Now, I promise once again!"
"I will end Darkseid on Apokolips! I will use my own hands to completely strangle this universal nightmare on his throne!"
"If..."
He paused, his eyelids drooping slightly, showing a smile of relief.
"...the price is for me to die today... then please let me turn into light and live in your tomorrow!"
"My heart is with you!"
Tragic, incomparably tragic.
At this moment, no one spoke; there was only the whistling sound of the wind through the building wreckage in the square.
Batman, Bruce Wayne, pursed his lips tightly. He was a suspicious man, but at this moment, facing the strategy this man was paving with his life, he could find no reason to argue.
Barry turned his head away secretly, quietly wiping the corners of his eyes so others wouldn't see his moved tears.
Queen Mera looked at that broad back. The gratitude she originally felt had now transformed into intense admiration.
Amazon General Philippus struck her right fist heavily against the armor on her left chest, performing the highest-level warrior's salute.
Even the extremely conceited Deathstroke spoke silently at this moment: "He... is a true hero."
On the other side of the screen, countless ordinary people worldwide watching were also broken by these words.
In a shelter, a mother hugged her child tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Remember this face, child... he is the one who gave us a chance to live."
Those scarred Resistance fighters silently took off their helmets, gazed at the clouds on the horizon, and raised their hands in salute.
Fanatical emotions turned into a substantial stream of data, exploding in Homelander's mind.
"Prompt! Gained special popularity value +5000! (From Harley Quinn)"
"Prompt! Gained special popularity value +5000! (From Slade Wilson)"
"Prompt! Gained special popularity value +10000! (From Bruce Wayne)"
"Prompt! Gained special popularity value +10000! (From Barry Allen)"
"Prompt! Gained special popularity value +12000! (From YMera Xebella Challa)"
"Prompt! Gained special popularity value +10000! (From Philippus Egeria Themyscira)"
"Prompt! Gained special popularity value +10000! (From Kilowog)"
...
"Prompt! Gained popularity value +1,540,112!"
"Prompt! Gained popularity value +1,625,500!"
"Prompt! Gained popularity value +2,199,520!"
...
Looking at the explosive growth of the numbers, Homelander was thrilled in his heart.
This was the effect he wanted! The emotional value of these residents of the DC wasteland was ridiculously high.
"Let me go with you."
Bruce, the Dark Knight of Gotham, suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "I may not have superpowers, but I can help with tactical infiltration and sabotage."
"And me!" Barry Allen immediately raised his hand. "I can help you draw fire!"
"Atlantis never lets a friend fight alone!" Mera stepped forward.
"The sword of the Amazon is willing to clear the way for you!" Philippus echoed loudly.
Looking at the crowd, who were indignant and ready to go to Apokolips to "die" with him, Homelander inwardly rolled his eyes.
Take you guys? You've got to be kidding. With you bunch of dead weight, how could I let loose?
With your meager skills, you're only fit to be leeks on Earth!