"Sam!!"
Steve Rogers tried to break away, but the Winter Soldier came at him like a hurricane. There was no opening—no room to breathe.
RATATATATAT—!!
As if that weren't bad enough, dense footsteps thundered from the far end of the corridor.
A full Hydra assault unit poured out, rifles barking fire. The storm of bullets forced the trio back into a narrow dead angle behind cover.
"We're finished!" Natasha Romanoff shouted while returning fire. "Captain! Where are your boss's people?!"
"They're coming!" Steve raised his shield, eating wave after wave of rounds.
Hydra closed in, tightening the noose.
"Alright…" Natasha slammed in her last magazine and glanced at Steve, who still looked infuriatingly calm. "Cap, at this point, why don't you tell me you can do magic or something? I could use the hope."
Steve flicked his eyes to the communicator on his wrist.
The red light blinked furiously.
He lifted his head, watching the Winter Soldier and the Hydra troopers advance step by step, and said evenly:
"I don't do magic, Natasha."
"But I do have a boss… who loves showing off."
Right on cue—
ZZZZ—
A piercing, high-frequency screech sliced through the wall.
The sound of heat vision cutting reinforced concrete.
Then—
BOOOOOOM——!!!
The one-meter-thick steel-reinforced wall beside them exploded inward, obliterated from the outside.
Stone shards flew. Dust rolled like a tidal wave.
Every gun fell silent.
Hydra soldiers stared in horror at the massive breach.
Blinding sunlight flooded the dark interior.
And in that light—
A figure hovered in midair.
Red-and-blue suit. Perfect blond hair. A star-spangled cape billowing in the wind.
Hands on hips.
Backlit by the sun.
A smile that was three parts arrogance, seven parts amusement.
Homelander.
Beside him, Jessica Jones was still holding a follow-through punch—clearly her handiwork had opened the door.
"I really don't like dark places," Homelander said casually.
"YAHOO—!"
A silver blur shot past.
Pietro Maximoff zipped in as a streak of lightning, instantly disarming over a dozen front-line Hydra soldiers—then reappeared a heartbeat later, spinning a submachine gun on his finger.
"Barbecue time!"
A roar of flame followed.
Angelica descended like a fire god, heat rippling through the air.
The Super Seven—minus one red-suited lunatic—had arrived.
And behind them, through the massive opening—
Rows upon rows of fully armed SWAT teams.
Beyond the SWAT lines—
Dozens of broadcast vans.
Helicopters hovered overhead, cameras aimed straight through the breach.
FOX. CNN. BBC.
Logos everywhere.
SWAT officers shouted into megaphones in front of live cameras:
"FEDERAL POLICE! DROP YOUR WEAPONS! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!"
"…Wow." Natasha's mouth twitched.
"My God," Sam Wilson gaped. "Is this a combat op… or a red-carpet premiere?"
"That's Vought," Steve exhaled. "Whatever they do, they do it with production value."
Homelander descended slowly, not sparing the stunned Hydra soldiers a glance. He turned straight to the cameras, voice booming and theatrical:
"No matter how deep the darkness hides!"
"No matter how wildly evil dares to laugh!"
"When the world needs heroes—"
He swept an arm wide.
Behind him, the Seven—wearing expressions ranging from resigned to embarrassed—snapped into their pre-rehearsed, heroic poses.
"—THE SUPER SEVEN ANSWER THE CALL!!"
CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK—!!
Flashbulbs erupted like fireworks.
Hydra soldiers stood there in disbelief.
What the hell was this—war, or a movie shoot?
Homelander turned back toward the three Siberian super-soldiers and the remaining Hydra goons.
The smile stayed.
But two crimson points ignited in his eyes.
"What are you waiting for?" he said lightly. "Clear the set."
At his command, the Super Seven surged forward like unleashed predators.
The Hydra force that had just pinned Steve and the others down folded instantly.
This wasn't a fight.
It was a one-sided slaughter.
Homelander didn't even bother joining in.
He just stood there—looking good, smiling at the cameras, narrating like a sports commentator.
"Look! Quicksilver—fast enough to make girls scream and Invisible Man cry!"
"Oof! Jewel with that punch—pure female empowerment!"
Less than two minutes later—
No enemies were left standing.
Except—
Three figures, moving like panthers, bolting toward the rear exit of the hydro plant.
"Trying to run?"
Homelander's eyes went cold.
This was a nationwide broadcast. Letting villains escape would be bad optics.
"Ashley! Blur the feed!"
His eyes flared crimson.
ZZZZ—!!!
Twin beams of heat vision ripped through the air.
No suspense.
The two unfamiliar Siberian super-soldiers had their heads blown apart like smashed melons.
POP! POP!
Their headless bodies staggered two more steps—then collapsed.
"Perfect." Homelander nodded approvingly.
"That's what a decapitation strike looks like."
Then—
His gaze locked onto the last runner.
The man with the metal left arm.
"Just one left…"
Crimson light gathered again, aimed squarely at the back of Bucky Barnes's head.
"WAIT!!"
Steve Rogers lunged forward, stepping directly into Homelander's line of fire.
The red glow faded.
Homelander descended, stopping right in front of Steve, wearing a half-smile.
"What's wrong, Captain?" He pointed lazily at the fleeing figure.
"…Don't tell me that's your cheating wife?"
"—KHK!" Natasha nearly choked on her own spit.
What kind of unhinged line is that?!
"Antony… this isn't the time," Steve said helplessly, lowering his voice.
"That's Bucky. My brother."
"Oooh~~"
Homelander dragged out the sound, nodding like he'd cracked the code.
"Got it. Family drama."
"Alright. Since it's your domestic issue, I'll stay out of it."
He waved Steve off.
"Go on. Chase him. Don't let your Juliet get away."
Steve didn't bother correcting him.
"Thanks!"
He grabbed his shield and sprinted after Bucky.
And the instant the Captain turned—
DING!
A bright system notification chimed.
System Alert: Strong Character Bond Detected!
Subjects: Steve Rogers (Captain America) & James Barnes (Winter Soldier)
Hidden Combo Unlocked — Captain & Winter Soldier!
Effect:
When Captain America and the Winter Soldier are simultaneously aligned with the Host and appear together in any public operation or media exposure, the Host automatically siphons 30% of their combined popularity gains as bonus revenue!
Team Module Upgrade!
New Formation Unlocked — The Howling Commandos
Current Roster: 1/5
Core Bound Members: Captain America, Winter Soldier (missing)
(Both required for activation)
Team Buff:
When Howling Commandos members are within 3000 meters of the Host:
Tactical Intuition
Super Will
Full Attribute Boost
Boost Scaling: +40% per member (Max 200%)
Homelander blinked.
"…Huh."
That was interesting.
--------------
T/N:
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