Homelander looked around and gently shook his head.
"No."
"Don't thank me."
He pointed to the citizens helping one another through the ruins.
"You should applaud yourselves."
"In this disaster, I saw something stronger than superpowers."
"I saw parents find strength beyond ordinary human limits to protect their children."
"I saw strangers reach out to help one another."
"I saw the courage to hold on to hope, even in the face of despair."
Tears glimmered in Homelander's eyes.
"It's because you stood behind me. Because I knew... I was protecting people so wonderful, so worth protecting..."
"That I could stand firm when all seemed lost!"
"I'm not the hero."
Homelander spread his arms toward the crowd.
"You are!"
"This victory belongs to all of us! It belongs to humanity!"
Cheers erupted again like a tidal wave, soaring into the sky.
"Long live Homelander!"
"Long live humanity!"
"Long live Vought's heroes!"
Beneath countless camera flashes, Homelander stood atop the ruins and basked in the highest glory.
But no one noticed.
The corpse of "Wanda" lying beneath the rubble quietly raised one thumb.
"Anthony!"
At the sound of that cry, Wanda pushed through the crowd and rushed in without a thought for anything else.
The moment she saw Homelander, battered and disheveled, tears streamed down her face.
"Thank goodness! Thank goodness!"
Wanda threw herself into his arms and hugged his waist tightly.
"I thought... I thought I'd never see you again..."
Jessica stood nearby. Seeing someone else beat her to him because she had hesitated, she pursed her lips.
"Tch... shameless little bitch."
Despite her words, her tense shoulders finally relaxed.
At least he's alive...
At that moment, the popularity level that had been stuck for so long finally budged.
A pleasant series of system notifications sounded.
``` Notice! Popularity Points