The enormous gash across the arena was a horrifying sight. Everyone who saw it was shaken.
Even Homelander, watching from the Studio, looked grave.
Such terrifying destruction from a casual strike. No wonder this guy was considered one of the favorites to win.
It seemed some of these rising stars were not to be underestimated.
Homelander had not been particularly interested in the Rising Star Tournament, but he had seen plenty of discussion about it on social media. Some commenters claimed the best of these newcomers had the potential to threaten The Seven's position. At the time, he had scoffed.
But faced with this staggering display, Homelander had to admit that, apart from himself, no one in The Seven could have pulled it off easily.
The key was that the tournament would ultimately put those online claims to the test.
The final stage included a challenge match for the top rising stars, giving them a chance to take on The Seven.
Would The Seven hold on to their position, or would the newcomers surpass them? The answer would soon be clear.
Homelander was not worried about his own performance in that stage.
Not yet, at least.
But if the other members of The Seven fared poorly, the group's standing in the public eye would suffer.
And that would inevitably affect him to some degree.
With that thought, Homelander grew more interested in the match.
He knew the blond young man had not shown his full strength yet. He needed to find out where his limits lay so he could gauge just how powerful the tournament's strongest contenders were.
Only then could he prepare properly for the final challenge match.
The Monk's injuries were serious. Severe abrasions covered one entire side of his body, greatly restricting his movement. He had also