The instant the gem slotted into place.
A torrent of golden energy surged up Homelander's arm and washed over his entire body.
Homelander jerked his head back. His pupils turned gold in an instant.
"...If I don't pay the rent, my landlord will kick me out tomorrow..."
"...That girl just looked at me. Does she like me?..."
"...That damn bastard. I want to throw my keyboard in his face..."
"...Hungry... So hungry..."
They were the thoughts running through countless minds at that very moment.
Desire, fear, greed, love, hunger, anger.
Those thoughts tangled together and battered Homelander's consciousness.
Homelander frowned. It felt as though ten thousand flies had crawled into his head and started buzzing.
"Shut up."
He growled the words inside his mind.
The Mind Stone flickered, as if answering its master's will.
In an instant.
The tide of noise receded.
The world fell quiet again.
But whenever Homelander wished, he could turn up the "dial" and listen to anyone's thoughts.
He lowered his head and looked at his right hand.
No one needed to teach him. The gem itself carried knowledge.
As the fusion finished, the Mind Stone's abilities imprinted themselves on his mind like instinct.
While wielding the gem's power, he could gain:
Mental manipulation and domination.
Thought reading and access.
Absolute immunity to mental attacks.
The ability to grant intelligence to inanimate objects.
The ability to unlock and enhance potential.
And... the ability to project mental energy into physical form.
"Interesting."
He looked toward a Vibranium Spear leaning in the corner of the collection room. Ashley had bought it from an underground dealer named Sith just last week.
Homelander willed it.
The yellow gem on the Infinity Gauntlet flashed.
Zzz—
Two golden beams shot from his pupils.
Soundlessly.
The spear, made from what was supposedly the