In less than an hour, Stormfront, drenched in blood, burst into the base where Soldier Boy had been kept frozen.
White mist slowly cleared from the cryo chamber as Soldier Boy stepped out of the liquid nitrogen pod, his beard unkempt, his body unsteady. He lifted his head and fixed a cold stare on the tense Stormfront.
Their eyes met.
He paused, then let out a faint, amused chuckle.
"Heh… it's you. I remember that party we had back then. Not bad, right?"
His expression hardened instantly.
"But tell me something. Why the hell are you the one who came to get me? Where's Crimson Countess? Where are the TNT Twins? I waited decades, and you're the one standing here? You?"
The moment he roared, a brilliant golden glow erupted from his chest. A violent surge of energy blasted forward toward Stormfront.
She reacted quickly, dodging in shock. But as the energy wave passed close to her, she felt it immediately, her powers had weakened significantly.
She staggered, eyes widening.
"No wonder they believed you could kill him," she said, clearly shaken. "Even I know that man is a monster… and you can actually weaken our abilities."
She hurried over and steadied him as he nearly lost his footing.
"Let's start over. I'm Stormfront. We've met before. It wasn't exactly friendly, but now we can consider ourselves allies, so…"
"Cut the crap," Soldier Boy snapped. "Answer the question. Why are you here? Where are the others? And why save me?"
He grabbed a nearby uniform from a corpse and began putting it on without care.
"Or what, you into older men now? Came all this way for me?"
Stormfront ignored the jab. She switched her phone to video mode and held it up for him.
"I don't know why your old team abandoned you. If I had someone like you, I wouldn't."
She met his eyes.
"But that doesn't matter. The Deputy Secretary of Defense sent me. America needs us. There's someone we have to stop."
Soldier Boy frowned and watched the footage. The moment Axel's punch reduced the Vought Tower exterior to ruin, his expression shifted slightly.
"Hm. Hard to judge from a clip."
He shrugged.
"Doesn't matter. No one beats me."
His gaze sharpened.
"And you think I'll just follow orders because you broke me out? Not happening. I've got my own priorities."
He suddenly grabbed her shoulder, forcing her downward.
Stormfront resisted immediately, her expression darkening as she broke free.
"If humiliating me matters more to you than stopping someone who's taken over Vought and threatens America, then you're more pathetic than I thought."
Soldier Boy paused.
"Taken over Vought?"
Stormfront nodded.
"His name is Axel."
Soldier Boy let go of her completely. He ran a hand through his beard, his tone turning dismissive.
"I remember why I couldn't stand you. Always running your mouth with garbage opinions."
He sneered.
"There's no superior race. Just people strong enough to take what they want."
He stepped closer, his presence heavy.
"You're the kind of idiot that makes everything worse."
Without warning, he struck her across the face, sending her stumbling.
"Bitch, go tell whoever's pulling your leash something simple. No one tells me what to do."
He flexed his hand, then continued coldly,
"You broke me out, so I won't kill you next time we meet. That's your reward."
He turned toward the exit.
"As for this Axel… if he's taken Vought, then sure, he's on my list. Just not near the top."
He glanced back once.
"I've got unfinished business first. When I'm done, I'll deal with him myself."
With that, he walked out of the base without another word.
Stormfront stood there, her powers still unstable, her chest rising heavily.
Homelander was terrifying, yes. But Soldier Boy carried a different kind of pressure. His strength, and the way he suppressed other Supes, made him far more dangerous in close proximity.
And his personality made it worse.
Compared to him, even Homelander seemed restrained.
Meanwhile, as Soldier Boy went his own way and Stormfront began preparing for what came next…
In another universe, inside the Tower of Fate, Inza Cramer stood silently before the Helmet of Fate, tears still on her face.
Across from her, Hawkman and Hawkgirl held each other's hands. As lovers bound by endless reincarnation, they understood loss better than anyone.
The helmet responded to Inza's touch.
It lifted, then settled onto her head.
Golden light spread across her body as armor and a cape formed around her. Inza had inherited the mantle, becoming the new Doctor Fate.
She steadied herself, absorbing the knowledge left behind.
Then she looked at the Hawks.
"I'm ready to go to Gotham. Are you?"
Hawkman shook his head.
"Not yet."
His voice was firm.
"Kent was my friend. I want revenge as much as you do. But rushing in will get us killed."
He pointed his Nth Metal sword at a map, the tip resting over Greece.
"We need allies. Strong ones. Especially those who have already faced Wraith."
Hawkgirl stepped forward to explain.
"We've already made plans. Wraith is beyond anything we've dealt with before. If we want a chance, we need information first."
She met Inza's gaze.
"We find Diana and Zatara. They've fought him and survived. After that, we gather more allies… and possibly seek help from Shazam."
Silence followed.
Inza took a breath, then nodded.
"I understand. I won't rush into death. I'll do this properly."
Before anyone could say more, a voice suddenly echoed through the room.
"Mind if I come in?"
Dark mist filled the space.
The three heroes tensed immediately.
As the mist cleared, two figures appeared.
A young man with a relaxed, teasing expression, and beside him, a girl who looked no older than sixteen, her skin dirty, her appearance unsettling, adorned with strange ornaments.
The young man smiled.
"I'm Michael Jon Carter."
He gestured to the girl.
"And this is Dr. Jones."
His grin widened slightly.
"But you can call us Booster Gold… and Enchantress."
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