HISD Chapter 81: Reality
The real world.
It had been an entire week since the Mist Incident.
After Tianhe City was evacuated, even a nuclear blast of tens of millions of tons hadn't dispersed the fog. Instead, it kept spreading outward.
The strange mist, birthing unknown monsters, had not only swallowed all of Tianhe City but, over the next three days, spread thousands of kilometers further.
The two neighboring cities were also evacuated. Fifty million people were directly or indirectly affected. One-third of the Daqin Autonomous Region was lost.
The only silver lining was that, after consuming three cities including Tianhe, the fog finally stopped expanding.
But the invasion was far from over. The mist remained. No one could guarantee it wouldn't grow again.
If even nuclear weapons were useless, who could stop it?
No matter what, the Mist Incident had already shaken the world to its core. The Xinglong Federation could no longer cover it up. For the first time, they admitted to their citizens that the world was facing—an Invasion.
The Mist Case was officially classified as SSS level—Apocalypse Grade.
The world was in uproar.
The Xinglong Federation also took this moment to publicly reveal the existence of the hidden guardians of the supernatural department, hoping to calm the people's fear.
…
West Administrative Zone of the Xinglong Federation,
Dimei Autonomous State, Baishen City.
In the central Holy Square, beneath the blazing sun, the vast plaza that could hold a hundred thousand people was packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
Even the surrounding streets and highways were overflowing with citizens.
The atmosphere was deafening, a sea of voices rolling through the city sky.
Reporters from across the Federation and beyond all focused their cameras on the stage.
Everyone knew—today would be recorded in history.
At exactly noon, the noise died down.
A middle-aged man in a suit stepped up to the podium. He wiped sweat from his brow, looked out at the crowd and the worldwide live broadcast, and chuckled nervously.
"To be honest, as mayor of Baishen City, this is the first time I've ever seen so many people. I'm a little nervous."
The crowd laughed. Indeed, such a gathering was once in a century.
"Of course, you're not here to see me," the mayor said quickly. "So I'll keep this short. Today, I will introduce to you, to the citizens of Baishen, to the people of the Federation, and to the world—a very special being!"
His voice boomed with excitement.
"For years, he has protected the West in secret, overseeing the supernatural division. Every time I see him, I am filled with awe and confidence that the Federation has the strength to crush any invasion!"
"Now, let us welcome—Homelander!"
The square fell silent. The entire crowd held their breath, eyes fixed on the stage. Around the world, billions watched their screens.
But no one appeared.
Ten seconds passed. The mayor began to look confused. Suddenly, gasps rose as countless heads turned toward the sky.
"What is that?!"
More and more people looked up. Cameras swung toward the blazing sun.
Not a plane. Not a bird. A man.
A lone figure descended from hundreds of meters above, flying straight toward the square.
Behind him, the flag of the Xinglong Federation billowed like a cape.
Bathed in sunlight, before hundreds of thousands present and billions watching, the man in a sharp blue suit with stylish hair landed smoothly on the podium.
The mayor laughed. "Oh, by the way—no, that wasn't a stunt. Homelander really can fly. Faster than any plane!"
"Hello everyone. I am Homelander." He looked around with a dazzling smile.
Was this real?
For ninety-nine percent of the Federation's people, this was their first glimpse of superhuman power. Shock froze them in place.
"Homelander!" someone shouted.
The cry spread until the entire plaza roared his name.
The mayor smiled knowingly and stepped aside, giving the stage to the hero.
Homelander raised his hands, his sheer presence silencing the square.
"I am the head of the West's supernatural division. For years, I've fought hidden invasions to protect you."
His speech was bold, righteous, inspiring.
When it ended, the reporters surged with questions.
"You there," Homelander pointed to a voluptuous female journalist.
She trembled with excitement, her voice shaking. "Homelander, what are your thoughts on the Mist Incident in the East?"
Every reporter leaned forward. This was the question all the people wanted answered.
Homelander smiled, feigning regret. "I heard about it the day it happened. I applied to go immediately, but by the time I received word, the nukes had already been dropped. I decided to wait for things to cool down before investigating."
Then he straightened. "But on second thought—why wait? I'll go now."
The Mist that terrified nations sounded, in his mouth, as harmless as a trip to the store.
And with that, under stunned eyes, Homelander bent his knees and blasted into the air like a missile. He broke the sound barrier within seconds, streaking eastward.
The crowd stood frozen, jaws dropped.
Homelander was heading east. Into the Mist.
Into the forbidden zone of monsters, radiation, and the unknown.
…
That day, the world was shaken.
Homelander crossed borders, soared over oceans, and entered the Daqin Autonomous Region.
Everywhere he passed, people captured his flight on camera.
The further east he went, the fewer humans could be seen.
Until finally—
Before him stretched a wall of white, endless fog reaching from earth to sky.
"So this is the SSS-class Mist Zone."
Hovering above the boundary, Homelander's blue eyes narrowed.
One week ago, when he claimed he was waiting for the radiation to die down, that was just an excuse. His body could withstand it easily.
No—the truth was, if the Mist hadn't spread further, he never would have had this chance to appear publicly.
"If I solve this crisis, I'll ascend to the true altar of gods in the eyes of humanity."
His smile turned coldly ambitious. Without hesitation, he shot forward, plunging into the Mist.
He wanted to see for himself what within dared stand against him.
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