The Next Step Is Mine

Dust and smoke billowed.

The officers and soldiers who had just been thrown to the ground scrambled up, covered in grime, and then saw a figure emerge from the haze.

Golden hair swept back, sharp angular features, a warm and sunny smile on his lips, clad in a Blue battle suit—though missing a Stars and Stripes cape, people still recognized him.

"Homelander."

"What's he doing here?"

"This is going to be a huge mess."

The soldiers muttered among themselves, showing no excitement at all.

Azu caught their words and took in their expressions.

He found it odd and casually asked an officer, "Who's in charge of this camp?"

The officer pointed to a tent. "Colonel Yuri, sir."

Having gotten his answer, Azu paid them no further mind, lifted off the ground, and shot into the tent with a whoosh.

Colonel Yuri, who had been in charge of the international airport hijacking last time, was once again assigned to handle the Silver Tree Town incident. He was staring at a screen when he heard the wind.

Then he saw Homelander grace him with his presence, and his brows instantly knitted into a knot.

He had already experienced Homelander's "arrogant disregard for others" during the airport incident.

Seeing this Super now gave Colonel Yuri a throbbing headache.

"Hello, Colonel."

Azu got straight to the point. "You shouldn't be here."

"I suggest you evacuate immediately. This place will soon become a battlefield."

Colonel Yuri planted his hands on his hips and said with considerable authority, "That's exactly what I was going to say to you, Homelander."

"I don't know how you found out about the trouble in Silver Tree Town, but unfortunately, the Seven won't be allowed to intervene this time."

Azu shot him a questioning look.

Colonel Yuri gestured. "Follow me."

He led Azu to a screen, picked up a remote, and pressed a button. An image appeared on the display.

It was clearly some kind of basement, dimly lit, but with many people lying on the floor.

They were curled up, breathing rapidly. As the camera moved closer, Azu saw their skin was blackened, their hair falling out, their veins bulging—they had mutated.

A word flashed through his mind.

Nightcrawler.

Then a ridiculous, clownish face appeared in the frame.

More precisely.

A clown.

"To everyone at the Department of Homeland Security, by the time you receive this video, over two thousand residents of Silver Tree Town are already in our hands."

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself."

"My name is... never mind. You can call me 'Joker.'"

"Midnight Clown."

The clown made an exaggerated expression on the TV, stuck out his tongue, and let out a 'wah' at the camera.

Then he stepped back two paces, pulled out a dagger, and started peeling an apple.

"Right now, over two thousand residents of Silver Tree Town are suffering immense pain."

"They've been poisoned."

"A very potent and terrifying virus. It makes them irritable, highly aggressive, and quite bloodthirsty."

"You wouldn't want them to be released. You wouldn't want to see them roaming other cities or towns."

"For now, we're keeping this situation under control."

The clown finished peeling the apple, took a crunching bite, and then pointed at the camera. "We didn't need to go this far."

"But you ignored our demands time and time again, and even let that damned Homelander of yours kill two of our important comrades."

"That made me angry."

"So now, it's time for you to face the consequences."

The clown spat out the apple core, revealing a sinister grin. "Now, we not only want the release of two of our comrades serving time in Luxe Island Prison."

"But we also want you to designate a region for our use and grant us the right to self-governance."

"If you don't give us an answer within 24 hours, look at those poor souls behind me. They'll become killers, and it will all be your doing!"

The clown raised another finger. "Oh, and one more thing. If you inform that damned flying murderer in the sky."

"Then no matter the outcome, the negotiations will be considered broken."

"We will immediately release these dangerous yet pitiful individuals."

"On the other hand, if you agree to our demands, I will provide the antidote and restore these poor souls to normal."

"Whether these 2,174 people can continue living normal lives rests on a single thought from you gentlemen."

"Think it over carefully, but don't take too long."

The video ended there.

Colonel Yuri turned around. "This is why you can't be here, sir. I must ask you to leave."

Azu smiled slightly. "Trust me, they have no life left to live."

"I mean the residents."

"True mercy is to set them free, not to make them bargaining chips for extremists."

"So from here on, leave it to me. Either you evacuate, or you surround the town and make sure those black things don't get out."

Just then, the sound of a helicopter landing echoed outside the camp. Moments later, a soldier jogged in to report.

"Sir, the rest of The Seven have arrived."

Yuri's temple throbbed. He raised his voice. "Homelander, this involves two thousand lives. You can't just take over like this."

"This is a matter for our National Security Bureau!"

Azu had no intention of arguing with him. He strode toward the tent.

A young officer blocked his path.

"Enough. What do you think this place is?"

"This is the military—sacred and inviolable!"

"Not your playground for playing hero games!"

He noticed Colonel Yuri watching.

The young officer's heart swelled with secret delight. He saw a golden opportunity.

A chance to shine in front of his superior.

As for Homelander, he wasn't too worried.

After all, like he said, the military was here. Would Homelander dare kill him?

If he did, Vought would go bankrupt!

So he pressed harder, even jabbing a finger at Homelander's chest as he shouted.

"And from the very start, I never trusted you superheroes."

"You lack oversight, you're arrogant and reckless—especially you, Homelander!"

"Without your superpowers, what are you? Maybe a farmer, or some low-level employee slaving away at a company only to be despised by your boss!"

"Without superpowers, you're nothing!"

"So what gives you the right to throw your weight around here?"

The young officer pointed at the entrance. "Now, I want you out. Take your superpowered friends and get—"

Before he could finish.

Azu grabbed him and tossed him upward.

The officer screamed as he crashed through the tent, flew into the sky, and vanished into the distance.

Staring at the blue sky and white clouds overhead, Colonel Yuri was dumbstruck, unable to believe Homelander had done that.

"You—"

"Do you know what you've done?"

Azu spread his hands. "What did I do?"

"I just cleaned up an ill-mannered brat for you."

"God bless his soul."

With no sincerity whatsoever, Azu traced a cross over his chest, then flew into the sky, heading toward Silver Tree Town.

Colonel Yuri shook his head. "Crazy. Absolutely crazy."