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The former site of Egos Planet.
"Hum—"
Space distorted.
A rugged and massive spaceship appeared out of thin air in this dead, silent star system.
"Homelander II" had arrived.
"We're here..."
In the cockpit, everyone crowded by the porthole, gazing outward.
However, the sight before them was shocking.
What was once a Planet with a giant human face.
Now only a shattered celestial body with its core pierced through remained, floating quietly in the dark Universe.
Countless fragments of shattered meteorites floated around as the "Homelander II" spaceship slowly navigated through them.
"Jarvis, scan for life signals!" Tony said with a heavy tone.
"Scanning... full-spectrum search..."
An hour of silence felt like a century.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"I conducted a full-spectrum scan of the area, including quantum residues and life signals..."
"The result is zero."
Those words felt like a death sentence.
"No..."
Jessica Jones slumped weakly against the wall.
Her tears fell silently.
"He's really... gone..."
Although she had mentally prepared herself long ago, when faced with the reality, the heart-wrenching pain still left her breathless.
"Anthony..."
Wanda could no longer control herself.
The strength she had been holding onto completely dissipated at that moment.
"Liar... you promised me..."
She knelt on the ground, crimson Chaos Energy erupting from her body like uncontrolled wildfire. The surrounding instruments began to crackle, and even the ship's structure groaned under the strain.
"Wanda! Control yourself!" Steve Rogers shouted.
"Bring him back!! I want him back!!" Wanda cried out, Chaos magic gathering in her hands as if she wanted to tear through space to find that man.
"Stop her quickly! Otherwise, the ship will break apart!" Rocket yelled, grabbing onto a fixed seat.
Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control.
"Zzz—"
The ship's main control screen suddenly lit up, and Skynet's graceful figure appeared on the screen.
"Please calm down, Miss Maximoff," Skynet's voice was steady and calm. "Mr. Starr is not dead."
Those words acted like a powerful sedative, instantly calming the chaotic scene.
Wanda looked up in surprise, the red light in her eyes receding. "What... did you say?"
"I just completed the analysis of the gamma energy model in this area," Skynet displayed a set of complex data models.
"It shows energy feedback indicating torn spatial dimensions in this area. It is highly likely that Mr. Starr is lost in some spatial dimension."
"Moreover, before Mr. Starr departed, he left me a video. He had already anticipated this situation," Skynet continued. "He instructed that if he did not return within 72 hours of his disappearance, it should be broadcast to the whole World."
"Now, it's time."
The screen flickered.
The scene switched.
The background was Homelander's office in Vought Tower.
That familiar figure appeared on the screen again.
Homelander wore his iconic uniform, his hair meticulously combed, with his familiar confident smile on his face.
"Ahem, testing, testing," Homelander in the video cleared his throat.
"Hi, fellow Earthlings, and my friends."
"If you're seeing this video, it means I'm no longer here."
"Haha, don't rush to cry. When I say 'no longer here,' I might have gone to a faraway place or gotten stuck in some corner without phone signal."
"Of course, it's also possible that I might already be dead."
When he said the word "dead," he was still smiling, as if it were just an insignificant joke.
"But I recorded this video to tell you."
"Don't panic, don't fear, and don't despair."
"I am Homelander."
"I promised to protect you, and I will keep that promise. Even if my body perishes, my spirit will forever guard this World."
"So, wipe away your tears. Lift your heads."
"If I am dead, then let my spirit become your new beacon."
"If I'm just lost..." Homelander blinked, "...then wait obediently for my return."
"As long as you still believe in me, as long as you still need me."
"No matter where I am in the Universe, even at the ends of hell."
"I will crawl back... to your side!"
Then, his gaze seemed to pierce through the screen, looking at everyone in the spaceship.
"Jessica, stop crying. Your eyeliner has smudged into a blob of ink. If you miss me, go to my office. There's a whole cabinet of Macallan there, all prepared for you."
"Remember to help manage the company well. Don't worry, I've already whipped the old guys on the board into shape."
Jessica looked at the screen, crying and laughing as she cursed, "Bastard... still thinking about the company at a time like this..."
"And Wanda, my little Witch," Homelander smiled gently.
"Control your power. You're the best. Don't make me worry, okay?"
"Remember, your power is meant to protect everyone, not to wreck the home."
"Wait for me to return. I'm still waiting for you to warm my milk."
The red light around Wanda completely dissipated. She stared blankly at the screen, murmuring to herself, "I'll wait for you... I'll definitely wait for you..."
"Steve, Tony, Natasha, Pietro, and everyone."
"I'm temporarily entrusting Earth to you. Don't let me come back to a messy home."
"Oh right... Skye, is Skye there?" Homelander seemed to remember something.
Skye, who had been silently crying in the corner, suddenly looked up, her face filled with disbelief.
He actually... mentioned me?
"If you're listening," Homelander said apologetically.
"About your family... I'm sorry I couldn't personally help you find them."
"But I will always support you."
"No matter if you can find your birth parents, no matter what secrets lie behind your origins."
"Remember one thing."
"Vought is your home."
"And I..." Homelander gently tapped his chest, "...am always your family."
"That will never change."
"Alright, that's all for now."
"I have to go save the World."
"Love you all."
"Goodbye."
The screen froze on that brilliant figure giving a heart sign to the camera.
Skye covered her mouth, tears flooding out.
She had always felt like an outsider.
But now... "family..."
Skye tightly gripped the watch on her wrist.
"I'll wait for you... boss."
"I'll become stronger, strong enough to help share your burden..."
This video, broadcast globally by Skynet, played simultaneously in every corner of Earth.
The despairing crowd lifted their heads again.
That man's smile was like a beam of light, dispelling the gloom that had shrouded the World.
"He's not dead! He said he'll return!"
"Yes! He's Homelander! He can do anything!"
"We'll wait for him to return!"
Steve Rogers straightened his posture, looking at everyone who had regained their fighting spirit.
"Did you all hear that?"
"The boss has spoken."
"Before he returns, we must keep this home safe."
"Let's go home!"
The Homelander II's engines roared, carrying hope as it turned and flew back toward Earth.