Everyone fell silent.
It stung their pride, but the brutal truth was right in front of them. If Homelander hadn't arrived during that last wave of tentacle attacks, they would all have been wiped out.
"He's right."
Yondu spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. He was an old hand, and he knew when to cut his losses.
"We're just dead weight here. Move! Take Quill!"
Drax hoisted the unconscious Mantis over his shoulder, while Gamora supported the weakened Quill.
"If you die, I'll avenge you. I promise." Nebula gave Homelander a long look. Her dark eyes betrayed nothing.
"Ha! Thanks, sweetheart. But I'm not done living yet." Homelander smiled.
With Gamora's help, Quill came over to Homelander and said gravely,
"Listen, buddy."
"To destroy him for good, you have to find his brain!" Quill pointed underground. "It's down there... deep in the planet's core. There's a huge cavern, and his brain is inside it, wrapped in a thick shell."
Homelander nodded and patted Quill's arm.
"Got it. Brain, shell, smash. Sounds like a simple operation."
"Go on. Get to the ship, grab a can of Vought energy drink, and watch me splatter his brains."
Quill nodded and staggered away with Gamora's help.
The others began retreating from the temple.
Only one person stayed put.
Jessica Jones still stood there, holding the All-Domain Quantum Livestreamer.
"Jessica?" Homelander asked, puzzled.
"I'm not leaving." Jessica shook her head stubbornly and pointed at the camera in her hands.
"I'm your eyes, remember?"
"If I'm not here, who's going to record your heroics? Who's going to broadcast them to billions of people on Earth?"
"I have a holographic space suit, and I can teleport. If things go bad, I'll get out faster than anyone."
"You can't get rid of me, Anthony. Just like you