I Am Homelander!

New York.

Manhattan Plaza.

On the podium.

As the military representative, Rhodes was explaining the "truth" behind the Gemira incident to the public, paving the way for today's main attraction.

After a string of ear-numbing official rhetoric, he finally reached the end:

"...I deeply sympathize with the suffering of the people of Gemira, but I can assure you that the American Government was not involved."

"As for Iron Man and Shield Boy, who saved Gemira from danger—"

"Their true identities remain unknown. However, due to the pressure of online public opinion, the Stark brothers, who have found themselves at the center of the controversy, will be making a statement."

"Please note that they will not be answering any questions. Thank you."

With that said.

Rhodes stepped down to hand things over to Tony. When he noticed Leon was not beside Tony, a faint sense of unease rose within him, and he hurriedly asked, "Where's that kid Leon?"

"He said he was a little nervous and went to the restroom."

Tony answered casually.

"At a time like this?!"

Rhodes was speechless. He could only hope Leon would arrive in time, or this would turn into an official disaster.

Next.

Tony took the stage and began speaking.

"Hello, hello. Good, Rhodes didn't crush the microphone."

Tony joked, drawing a round of laughter from the crowd. Then he pulled out the script Coulson had given him from his pocket.

"Hmm, it's been a long time since I've seen everyone. I'm a little nervous, so I think I'll read from the script this time."

"Yesterday, the armed warlords entrenched in the town of Gemira were eliminated by two superheroes clad in iron armor and carrying shields."

"Some say Shield Boy was my brother Leon, while others say that handsome fellow called Iron Man was me."

"Oh, come on. Take a good look at this body of mine. Do I look like someone capable of doing something that strenuous?"

"If you woke up beside a different woman every day like I did, you'd understand that such a thing would be completely impossible."

At that moment.

Christine from the press corps spoke up in challenge:

"Mr. Tony, we only want to know whether you and Mr. Leon are truly the superheroes who saved Gemira, as online public opinion has suggested."

"Please answer the question directly instead of using such vulgar methods to clear yourselves of suspicion."

The moment she said that.

The reporters beside Christine were stunned. Didn't they agree not to ask questions? Was she suicidal?!

Seeing this.

Tony's lips curled upward. Here it comes.

Christine was a plant the brothers had specifically arranged among the reporters, meant to stall for time. They had even rehearsed the lines.

"Uh, actually, I know this may sound a little far-fetched, but the official statement has already made things very clear."

"As for suspicion, miss reporter, interrupting my statement is one thing. Randomly speculating or insinuating that I'm a superhero is another matter entirely."

"I never said you were a superhero."

Christine corrected him.

"You didn't? That's great. Otherwise, it would've been a little too fantastical." Tony smiled, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the distant sky.

The timing should have been about right.

"Obviously, I'm not hero material. I have a great many personality flaws, and I've made countless mistakes. Most of them, you already know about."

Other than the two opening lines, Tony had gone entirely off-script. By now, he was starting to run wild.

Rhodes could no longer stand watching. He hurried onto the stage, walked over to Tony, and reminded him, "Read the script. If you keep improvising, S.H.I.E.L.D. is going to have a hard time dealing with this."

"Okay, okay."

Tony agreed readily, but his eyes remained fixed on the distant sky. Only when a glimmer of golden light began to flash did his lips curl into a smile. He looked at the reporters and the crowd, then slowly said:

"Actually, the truth is—"

"I am Iron Man."

As the words fell.

"!!!!!" × N

Apart from Christine, who already knew the inside story and remained as steady as a madam, the reporters erupted into cheers. Unable to suppress their gossip instincts any longer, they all rose to ask Tony whether what he had just said was true.

However.

It was not over yet.

Tony raised a hand to calm the reporters down, then pointed at the sun with one hand and declared:

"Let me say it ten thousand more times: I am Iron Man too!"

"And this—"

"Is the truth you wanted!"

The reporters and bystanders followed Tony's gesture and looked up.

In the direction of the sun, a humanoid figure radiating dazzling golden light ignored the pull of gravity, hovering high in the air like a god descended to earth and looking down proudly upon all below.

Then.

A thunderous roar!

The second sun descended from the sky.

In but an instant.

It broke the sound barrier from an extreme distance and landed in the fan-shaped area deliberately left open at the center of Manhattan Plaza.

A blinding gust of wind and sand swept through the plaza!

The marble floor at the center of Manhattan Plaza cracked loudly, horrifying spiderweb-like fissures spreading outward in every direction!

The earth shook for an instant.

The light dimmed.

Leon emerged from within, dressed in Soldier Boy's outfit but without the helmet, radiating at every moment the fatal allure of a masculine succubus.

Under the influence of that wickedly elegant aura.

The reporters and audience forgot how to breathe for a moment.

Step! Step! Step!

Leon strode steadily toward the podium, and Tony gracefully bowed aside to give him the spot.

"A not-so-pleasant accident gave me the power I possess today, turning me from an idle, spoiled bastard into the superhero I am now."

"We were once attacked, just as Gemira was not long ago."

"Before I came onstage, certain people wanted Tony and me to say the same tired old platitudes everyone has heard enough of, so our people would be more accepting and praise peace."

"But Tony and I didn't want to do that. Do you know why?" Leon leaned toward the microphone and asked. The reporters and audience below answered in unison, "Why?"

"Because I believe God granted me this power. He gave me strength, and at the same time, He gave me the responsibility to save the world!"

"So Tony and I went to Gemira, dragged out the human demons spreading war and fear, and killed them!"

"As long as anyone dares lay a hand on this beautiful world, as long as anyone dares harm our kind people, they are my enemy!"

"No matter what corner they hide in, I will make them taste what God's judgment is—that is what I believe!"

"Do what I can do!"

"Do what I should do!"

"Do what is right and benefits the people!"

"A real man, a real hero, should not cower and hide. He should stand proudly in the light and let his justice and strength shine into every corner of the world!"

"Was I not chosen by God to save you?"

"Protecting our homes, protecting our homeland, protecting this beautiful planet—is that not the sacred mission God entrusted to me?"

"But even with the power I have today, I have never forgotten who I am."

"Because it was the 'homeland' that raised me!"

"Whether in the past, present, or future, I will carve my loyalty to the 'homeland' into my heart!"

"So remember my name—"

"I am Homelander!"

"And you, my friends, are the true heroes!"

"Homelander! Homelander!! Homelander!!!" × N

As Leon's speech came to an end, the atmosphere at the scene reached its peak. Whether reporters or passersby, everyone involuntarily shouted Homelander's name.

From this day onward.

There would be no more Shield Boy among superheroes, only—Homelander!