◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
◇ You can read 40 chapter ahead on P@treon. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
------------------------------------------------
"Save you? So you can go back and keep eating my fans?" Homelander looked at him coldly.
"No... I... I can be your servant... I have... knowledge... I have power..."
This once arrogant God was now begging for mercy like a dog.
And his voice was growing weaker and weaker, his volume already reduced by nearly half.
"A servant?"
Homelander stroked his chin.
Although this guy was a treacherous old bastard, it had to be said, as a God, he might be useful in the future.
"Alright."
Homelander flicked his wrist.
A uniquely shaped metal sphere, purple and white in color, appeared in his hand.
The sphere's surface was engraved with a white 'M'. Overall, it looked utterly unremarkable, like a toy.
This was the Golden Legend he had drawn using a hundred thousand special popularity points back on Ego the Living Planet.
[Super Master Ball (System Custom Edition)]
[Description: Can capture any non-human life form with a 100% success rate, converting it into a particle stream and absorbing it into the sphere.]
[Captured subjects undergo mandatory will adaptation, instilling absolute obedience and loyalty towards the captor.]
"100% capture? Forced brainwashing?"
Homelander looked at the ball in his hand, a grin spreading from ear to ear.
"System, the stuff you gave this time is really... too considerate."
"Hey, big brain."
Homelander raised the Master Ball, assuming an extremely standard throwing posture.
"You're in luck."
"Although you've lost your qualifications to be a person, you've gained a job with much better prospects."
"Go! Master Ball!!"
Homelander flicked his wrist, and the Master Ball transformed into a streak of light, accurately striking Ego's remaining core.
"Click."
The sphere popped open, and a red beam shot from its center, enveloping the rapidly dwindling Ego.
"No!! What is this?! No—!!"
Ego panicked as he discovered he was uncontrollably being transmuted into a stream of red particles, being sucked into that small sphere.
"Snap."
The Master Ball closed, and a red light began flashing at its center.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
"Ding→ding→ding→ding♦ding♦"
After the rule-ignoring sound effect played, the red light turned white—the sign of a successful capture.
"Done."
He stored the Master Ball into his magical space.
Now, time to go home.
Homelander raised his right hand. The golden Sling Ring looked somewhat dim under the faint glow of the gem's energy..
"..."
An awkward situation occurred.
Not even a single spark emerged in the void.
Homelander, unwilling to believe it, drew another circle.
Still no reaction.
"What the hell..."
Homelander frowned.
"Great. I got here just fine, but now I can't get back."
And continuously maintaining the Reality Stone consumed immense energy. Although his physique was formidable, it couldn't withstand this endless drain.
"There must be a way..."
Homelander turned his hand and took out the Master Ball again.
"Come on out, Ego."
A flash of white light.
A blue brain, only five meters in size, appeared before Homelander.
This was Ego's current form. Though miniaturized, it still emanated the aura of a God.
"Boss."
A respectful voice vibrated in the void.
"Ego awaits your command. Your will is my direction, your..."
"Shut up!" Homelander cut him off. "Tell me, how do we leave this godforsaken place?"
"This..."
Ego's light flickered, seemingly hesitant.
"Answering, Boss. That passage earlier was one-way."
"The rules and elemental arrangement of the antimatter universe are special... My powers are ineffective here. I cannot tear open the dimensional barrier."
"Alright... Since conventional methods won't get us back..." Homelander sighed and recalled Ego back into the Master Ball.
"Then... I'll have to use that."
A flash of light, and a flimsy piece of paper fluttered into Homelander's hand.
[Item: Earth-1 Seven-Day Luxury Tour Ticket (Single/Round Trip)]
[Description: This is a VIP vacation voucher to Earth-1. No matter where you are, tear it, and you can enjoy a seven-day interdimensional holiday.]
[Effect: Upon use, the host will ignore all space-time laws of the current Universe and be instantly teleported to Earth-1.]
[Duration: 7 calendar days.]
[Restriction: This is a one-time use item. After 168 hours, regardless of the host's state, they will be forcibly teleported back to the initial arrival coordinates in the current World.]
"Riiip——!"
As Homelander tore off a corner.
A brilliant meteor streaked across the void, trailing blazing flames like a targeted intercontinental missile, heading straight for the top of Homelander's head!
Homelander was stunned. It felt so familiar.
Boom——!!!
Homelander disappeared... Time is relative.
Especially when involving cross-dimensional and antimatter universes.
In Homelander's perception, he had only been in this godforsaken place for a short while.
But for Earth in the positive matter universe... three days.
A full seventy-two hours had passed.
During these three days, everyone at Vought had fallen into unprecedented anxiety and depression.
And ordinary citizens gathered in churches, squares, and even on the streets, lighting candles, praying for the man who had vanished into the stars.
In the square before Vought Tower, flowers had piled up into a small hill.
Countless cards written in various languages converged into a single message:
"Come back, Homelander."
V.G.D. Headquarters, Hangar.
The place was brightly lit, the arc light of welding torches burning day and night.
A brand-new spacecraft rested quietly on the launch pad.
Its appearance was more rugged than the previous 'Homelander One', with thicker armor and larger engines.
"Turn up the thruster power a bit more! You stupid Tin Man! Can you hurry up?!"
Rocket Raccoon jumped onto the pilot's console. His eyes were bloodshot as he yelled at Tony, who was buried in the engine nozzle.
"Shut up! You stinking raccoon!"
Tony poked half his body out of the engine, his face covered in grease, waving a laser welding torch in his hand.
"You think this is like building with Legos?! This is building a ship capable of hyperspace jumps in three days! I'm risking my life here! Got it?!"
Although they were verbally sparring, their hands never stopped working.
This was the result of Tony Stark and Rocket Raccoon's sleepless efforts over the past three days—'Homelander Two'.
"Thrusters calibrated. Energy core output stable at 120%!" Dr. Banner shouted from the control console. "Ready to ignite at any time!"
"Good!" Tony threw down the welding torch and wiped the sweat from his face.
"Notify everyone. We're setting off."
...Half an hour later.
At the boarding ramp of 'Homelander Two'.
Jessica wore a black, tight-fitting combat suit, carrying a huge tactical backpack. Her eyes were red and swollen; she had clearly cried a lot these past three days.
Wanda's face was somewhat pale, but she hadn't shed a single tear in these three days. She had just silently sat in the hangar, staring intently at the progress of the ship's construction.
The members of the Guardians of the Galaxy were also fully armed.
Just as everyone was preparing to board.
"Whoosh— Whoosh—"
The roar of engines came from the horizon.