"Gulp."
Starlight swallowed hard, her throat tightening as she stared at Axel. The memory of last night crept into her mind, and she quickly forced it away, her breathing turning uneven for a moment before she steadied herself.
At the center of the room, Axel showed no restraint. Holding his severed arm, he brought it down on Soldier Boy's head again and again.
Blood splattered across the conference room, mixing together and staining everything nearby.
Only when the floor and walls were soaked did Soldier Boy finally stop resisting.
"Hoo... hoo..."
He struggled to breathe, fingers twitching weakly.
At that moment, recognition finally hit him.
This was the man Stormfront had warned him about.
But how could he be this strong?
Wasn't he supposed to weaken other supes? Why did it feel like his own strength was being suppressed instead?
Axel sneered and kicked Soldier Boy's ruined face.
Seeing that he no longer reacted, Axel lost interest and turned away.
"Ashley, send him for treatment. I want him back in top condition, just as arrogant as before."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
Ashley nodded quickly and rushed to call security.
While she handled it, Axel casually placed his severed arm over his shoulder, completely unfazed.
He turned toward The Seven with a bright, mocking smile.
"So, how was that? Entertaining enough?"
He chuckled.
"I'd say it beats bullfighting. With a sparring partner like Soldier Boy, I can at least stay sharp. When he's unavailable... Homelander, you can take his place."
Thud!
The sound of knees slamming into the floor cut him off.
Homelander dropped instantly, his face pale.
It was only then that Starlight fully understood. This man was not just part of The Seven. He controlled them.
Not through status, but through raw power.
Nearby, Maeve watched with quiet amusement. Seeing Homelander like this felt almost satisfying.
Homelander raised his hands nervously.
"Ancestor, I'm no match for you. You're the origin of all supes, something like a father or grandfather. How could I fight you?"
Axel laughed.
"That's some impressive flattery."
He walked over, then tossed his severed arm aside. It burst into flames and vanished, while his body restored itself instantly.
Starlight swallowed again. Regeneration, on top of everything else.
Axel flexed his hand briefly, then pointed toward Black Noir, who still lay motionless.
"Remove him from The Seven. If he collapses from something this minor, what example is he setting?"
Madelyn hesitated slightly.
"And his replacement?"
Axel didn't even pause.
"Soldier Boy."
He gestured toward the barely breathing man being carried away.
"If he hadn't shown up, I would have debuted in his outfit myself. Now that he's back, that would just look ridiculous."
Madelyn nodded quickly.
"We'll prepare a new suit for you."
"No need."
Axel cut her off.
"I already have someone working on it. It'll be ready in a few days."
He glanced at both Madelyn and Ashley.
"For now, focus on promoting Soldier Boy and Starlight. When that's done, I'll make my debut properly. Make it big enough to draw attention."
They immediately moved to carry out his orders.
Security dragged Soldier Boy out of the room.
Axel returned to his seat, even though the table was gone. Everyone else hurried to sit as well, like students under strict supervision.
He scanned the room, then pulled out a comic book and tossed it onto the floor.
"I gave it some thought last night."
His tone turned colder.
"Almost everyone here, except Starlight, deserves to be thrown into hell."
He paused briefly.
"That includes me."
His gaze swept across them.
"You've all done enough damage. Even Maeve went along with it."
He pointed at the comic.
"So I brought you a textbook."
A faint smile formed.
"You're going to read it carefully. You're going to learn how to be real heroes."
His voice hardened.
"Because forcing people like you to do good things is the worst punishment I can think of."
With a flick of his finger, the comic flew straight into Homelander's hands.
Homelander caught it, stunned.
Telekinesis too?
The admiration in his eyes grew stronger.
Axel frowned and waved his hand.
A sharp invisible force struck Homelander across the face.
Slap.
"Stop staring at me. Read."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
Homelander immediately obeyed, opening the comic.
After a moment, he hesitated.
"This is a Superman comic. But there's no one like that in the company. If this is the kind of hero you admire... does that mean he's already gone?"
Axel slapped him again.
"Talk less. Read."
Homelander went silent and focused.
Beside him, Starlight watched with clear interest. She wanted to read it too, but he didn't pass it along.
Axel didn't rush them. He simply waited.
Soon, Ashley returned with a cup of coffee.
"Ancestor, there's another matter. It's about Godolkin University."
She spoke carefully.
"Since your debut is still being prepared, you have time. You could visit the school, meet the younger supes, and build influence early."
Axel took a sip, unimpressed.
"Do whatever you want."
Then he tapped the table lightly.
"Wait here."
In the next instant, he disappeared.
About ten seconds later, he returned with five more comics.
He handed them out one by one.
"Everyone gets one. Read properly."
He turned toward the door.
"I'm going to see what those kids are like."
With that, Axel walked out of the room.
Far away, in another universe, Nick Fury watched recorded footage with a deep frown.
"After disappearing for two days, he comes back and picks up a couple of mid-tier comic books?"
He crossed his arms.
"So he might actually be from a comic universe?"
He turned to Hill.
"Find the owner of that comic store."
His voice sharpened.
"And do it fast."