◇ 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
------------------------------------------------
"Mwah!"
Hearing Homelander's words, Harley stood on her tiptoes and gave Homelander a loud kiss on the cheek.
Notification! special popularity value +5,000 (from Harley Quinn)
Homelander was delighted, and the look he gave Harley became even more "affectionate."
This crazy woman's popularity value is way too easy to farm, isn't it?
Is it because she's not right in the head that her emotions are so much more intense?
Whatever, as long as she pays up, she's the boss.
He looked away and turned back toward Batman and the others, his expression becoming righteous and awe-inspiring.
"And... Earth shouldn't be like this."
"No matter which Universe, no matter which timeline."
"Humans are born free; they shouldn't be enslaved by a tyrant or live in the shadow of fear."
He slowly rose into the air, hovering above everyone's heads. Turning his back, the dim light outlined his perfect silhouette, making him look like a chosen one.
"Since that impostor has squandered this power and betrayed this Planet..."
"Then I shall be the one to correct this mistake."
"I will drag that tyrant down from the sky and make him kneel before humanity to repent!"
"I will let the sunlight shine upon this land once more, and let freedom and love soar over it again!"
These words were spoken with power and conviction, resonating deeply.
Even Batman, whose heart had long since turned to ash, couldn't help but feel a stir of emotion.
Notification! special popularity value +5,000! (From Bruce Wayne)
Notification! special popularity value +5,000! (From Victor Stone)
Notification! special popularity value +6,000! (From Harley Quinn)
Notification! special popularity value +500! (From Slade Wilson)
Listening to the notifications in his mind, Homelander nodded with satisfaction.
"Get in the car, big hero." Deathstroke whistled and sat in the back seat. "I hope your fists are as tough as your talk."
Homelander descended and wrapped an arm around Harley's waist.
"We don't need to squeeze into that junker, sweetheart."
"I'll fly you there."
"Woohoo—!!" Harley screamed with excitement, clinging tightly to Homelander's neck. "Fly higher! I want to pee on that big blue guy's head!"
"As you wish."
Homelander took off into the sky with Harley in his arms, following Batman's off-road vehicle from a distance toward the bunker deep in the wasteland... Meanwhile, far away in the Marvel Universe on the Sovereign Planet.
This Planet, known for its golden splendor, fastidiousness, and arrogance, was currently shrouded in an atmosphere of extreme tension.
Ayesha, the High Priestess of the Sovereign, still sat atop her high golden throne.
But now, her posture lacked its usual composure.
Below the hall, representatives from various civilizations across the Milky Way Galaxy were gathered.
Centurion Rhomann Dey of the Nova Empire stood at the very front in his uniform, his face ashen.
Then there was the representative of the Kree Empire; though Ronan was dead, the Kree's arrogance had not diminished in the slightest.
Even the Raider Union, usually a disorganized mess, had sent several fierce-looking leaders.
In addition, the Intergalactic Alliance, the Galactic Council... representatives from nearly half the civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy were gathered here, all pointing their fingers at the Sovereign.
The reason was simple.
Although Ego's "Expansion" plan was interrupted, the brief eruption of the celestial flowers still brought catastrophic consequences to countless Planets.
Cities were destroyed, ecosystems ruined, and casualties were countless.
Even though Ego was dead, the angry victims needed an outlet, an explanation, and more importantly, compensation.
All post-event intelligence and trajectory tracking showed that before Ego's eruption, the entire Sovereign drone fleet had entered the area on a large scale.
Rhomann Dey of the Nova Corps was the first to attack, pointing at the holographic star map in the center of the hall, which was marked with tens of thousands of disaster sites.
"We need an explanation! Why was the Sovereign fleet at Ego's Planet when that disaster occurred?"
"Many civilizations suspect that this was some kind of cooperation between the Sovereign and Ego."
The Kree Empire representative snorted coldly, his war hammer thumping heavily against the ground.
"If the Sovereign was behind that madman, then the Kree Empire's fleet will arrive in this star system within one standard day."
Facing pressure from almost the entire Milky Way Galaxy, even someone as proud as Ayesha felt immense pressure.
Normally, she wouldn't hesitate to snap back at these "lower lifeforms."
But not now.
If not handled properly, the Sovereign would face total annihilation.
"Everyone."
"The facts are not what you think."
Ayesha waved her hand.
"Since you want the truth, I will give you the truth."
"Show them the final video logs from the scout ships."
At her command, the holographic projector in the center of the hall activated.
A crystal-clear high-definition recording was presented before all the representatives.
In the footage.
That hideous giant planetary face was roaring madly, and a massive blue beam of destruction erupted.
And before that destructive brilliance.
A tiny figure in a black combat suit stood alone, blocking the path of that torrent.
The camera zoomed in.
People saw the determination in his eyes and the way his body withered and aged under the onslaught of energy.
Then came that crimson torrent that seemed to tear the Universe apart!
Finally, under this colossal clash of energy, the footage cut out.
The entire hall fell into silence; though they didn't see the end, the withering of the celestial flowers said it all.
Whether it was the proud Kree, the Nova Corps, or the Raiders who were used to life and death.
All were silent now, staring blankly at the figure who, with a mortal body, had taken on a God.
"W-what kind of creature is this?" The Nova representative's voice was trembling.
"He alone... defeated a God?" The Kree representative almost lost his grip on his war hammer.
"Homelander."
Ayesha's voice echoed in the hall, carrying an inexplicable emotion.
"His name is Homelander, and he comes from Terra."
"He was the one who stopped Ego's plot to destroy the Universe; he saved all of your civilizations."
"And the Sovereign fleet..." Ayesha's words were forceful and righteous, "...sacrificed themselves to assist this great warrior."
The crowd broke into an uproar.
Though the explanation was far-fetched, in the face of that shocking footage, no one bothered to dwell on the fate of the Sovereign's thousands of junk ships.
Everyone's attention was drawn to this powerhouse named "Homelander."
"Send this footage to the Interstellar News Agency."
Nova Prime made an immediate decision.
"The entire Milky Way Galaxy needs to know about this... a new Guardian has been born in the Universe."