Chapter 150: Chapter 143.1: Superman Returns
Victor, aka Cyborg, shot out of the laboratory like a cannonball, crashing through a building before embedding himself into a parked car on another street.
At the origin point of this impact trajectory, Homelander lowered his hand. With a flicker, he reappeared in front of the Mother Box.
"Alright, let's see what you can do."
As he spoke, his eyes lit up, unleashing golden beams of energy that struck the Mother Box.
The intensity of the solar radiation continued to rise, causing the temperature in the lab to spike. The floor became scorching hot, and the lab equipment sparked and exploded from the overload.
Above, the fire suppression system activated, releasing a spray of water—only for it to evaporate instantly, turning into a thick cloud of steam.
Silas let out a sharp cry as the heat burned him, making him instinctively jump back—only to be scooped up and carried out of the lab in an instant.
"Victor!"
Homelander set Silas down outside. Meanwhile, Victor's metallic body automatically reconfigured, forming thrusters that allowed him to hover in midair.
Silas shouted urgently, "That thing—the cube! You have to get it out of there!"
Victor nodded. The red light on his chest flared as he shot back toward the lab.
Inside, the Mother Box had already risen into the air, reacting to Homelander's energy. Its surface split apart, releasing an eerie, pulsating energy.
Victor wasted no time. His arm transformed into a high-tech cannon, and he opened fire at Homelander.
But Homelander ignored the attack entirely. He could feel it—his energy was pushing the Mother Box toward a critical threshold.
Just then, a thunderous boom came from above as something crashed through the ceiling, sending debris flying everywhere.
A figure landed between Homelander and the Mother Box, raising a hand to intercept the heat vision.
The golden beams flickered and vanished on impact.
Through the swirling steam, a strong silhouette stood tall—a red cape draped over broad shoulders, covered in glistening droplets of water.
Homelander's lips curled into a grin. "Vacation's over, huh?"
Victor also saw the figure standing before the Mother Box. A deep, commanding voice echoed through the mist.
"Hmm... I was planning to rest a little longer."
"But it looks like circumstances won't allow that."
At that moment, the remnants of Homelander's clothing burned away.
In their place, the vibranium bracelet on his wrist disassembled into countless nanoscopic particles, rapidly spreading across his body, forming a sleek vibranium battle suit.
A flowing red cape attached itself to his back, completing his attire. Homelander hovered slightly above the ground, smiling.
"You're in my way. Mind stepping aside?"
The figure in the steam remained unmoved. "My instincts tell me that if I let you continue, this thing might cause an even bigger disaster."
"So... I'm afraid I can't do that."
Victor barely registered the movement before the man blurred forward and struck Homelander with a devastating palm strike.
BOOM!
The sheer force sent shockwaves rippling outward, blasting away the remaining steam and clearing the lab's interior.
And there, in front of Victor's eyes, stood the unmistakable figure—
A flowing red cape.
A bold "S" emblem emblazoned across his chest.
Superman. Clark Kent.
BANG!
Homelander crashed through several walls before coming to a stop, embedded deep in the structure of a distant building.
He had just been sent flying over a kilometer—by a single strike.
"Tsk."
"I thought you were retiring. Couldn't you rest a little longer?"
Homelander stepped out of the wreckage, brushing dust and debris off his shoulders. Then, his figure blurred and vanished.
Psychic Transmission!
Clark started to turn around, but his body suddenly froze for a brief moment, like an invisible force had seized control.
Psychic Invasion!
Homelander knew he couldn't control Clark's mind outright—the Kryptonian's willpower was far too strong for that.
But he didn't need full control.
He just needed a brief opening.
Seizing the moment, Homelander swung his leg in a powerful kick—
Blasting Superman away like a football.
"Returning the favor," he quipped with a smirk.
Clark hurtled through the air, crashing out of the lab and soaring high into the night sky. By the time he stabilized, he saw Homelander grabbing the Mother Box and tearing through the lab's walls.
He was making a run for it.
Clark's eyes flashed red, and a crimson beam shot forward, slamming into Homelander's back.
Homelander barely faltered before a high-tensile grappling hook latched onto the Mother Box, yanking it right out of his grasp.
He looked up—
Batman, now in full gear, stood atop a nearby building, his grappling gun in hand.
Homelander chuckled. Psychic Transmission!
In an instant, he reappeared beside Batman.
With a single push, he sent the Dark Knight flying, smashing through several cars before crashing into a storefront.
The grappling gun fell into Homelander's hands. As the Mother Box started to fly back toward him, a streak of blue energy sliced through the alloy cable, severing the connection.
Victor dived down, arms outstretched, catching the Mother Box midair.
Homelander stepped forward, ready to intercept—
But his vision blurred again—
Clark appeared in front of him, grabbing him by the shoulders and shoving him forward.
They blasted through multiple buildings and streets before Clark finally slammed Homelander into a fuel tanker.
BOOM!
The tanker exploded in a fiery inferno, sending civilians scrambling for cover.
Clark, however, didn't lower his guard.
Sure enough—
A figure rose from the flames, unscathed.
Hovering in midair, Homelander's eyes gleamed with golden light.
He fired his heat vision.
Clark responded in kind, and the two beams collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the city.
Homelander laughed. "You've gotten stronger since your break!"
Clark didn't reply. He gritted his teeth, his eyes glowing fiercely as his energy output surged.
Homelander grinned, increasing his solar radiation intake. His golden beam thickened, overpowering Clark's and sending the Kryptonian flying.
The moment Superman was sent flying, Homelander vanished into thin air.
Psychic Transmission!
Reappearing near Victor, he lunged for the Mother Box.
Victor barely had time to react before Homelander grabbed it with one hand—
And with the other, delivered a brutal punch to Victor's face.
The force sent Cyborg crashing into a rooftop.
Just as Homelander prepared to teleport away with the Mother Box—
Clark tackled him mid-air, sending the artifact flying.
Below, the Batwing zoomed past. Its cockpit slid open, and Batman caught the Mother Box, speeding away.
But before he could get far—
A soft click sounded.
Homelander appeared inside the cockpit.
"What happens when a bat loses its wings?" he asked with a smirk.
His heat vision sliced through the Batwing, severing its structure. Snatching the Mother Box, he blasted out of the wreckage.
Batman barely managed to grapple onto a nearby building, crashing through a window to avoid splattering onto the pavement.
Just then, Superman reappeared, lunging for the Mother Box.
Homelander met him midair—
The two titans wrestled for control.
"You know," Homelander mused, "I'm glad you're back, but don't you think Midway City needs you more?"
Superman's expression remained impassive. "I think you're the bigger threat."
Homelander chuckled. "Now, now. I'm a pacifist at heart."
"How about we stop fighting and study this thing together?"
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