In the living room of a private residence in the suburbs.
The long-lost Homelander holds a mobile phone, the same image playing on a loop on the screen.
The massive, blood-red wings supported the passenger plane, the waves on the sea were pushed aside by the fuselage, the passengers knelt on the runway, crying and embracing each other, and someone in the shot shouted "Blood Angel".
The next item is Vought's PR department's explanation for Homelander's recent continued disappearances.
[ Vought Spokesperson: Homelander is currently on another highly classified mission.]
The Homelander stared at the words, his fingers tightening little by little.
The phone just suddenly died.
"This is the fifth phone you've broken, John."
Madelyn sat beside her, wearing a beige loungewear dress and holding a glass of warm water.
The Homelander took a deep breath and threw the broken phone into the trash can.
" Madelyn, did you hear what they were saying?" He gave a stiff smile. " Blood Angel? They actually called that monster an angel?"
Madelyn didn't answer immediately, but simply pushed the warm water in front of him.
" John, have some water first."
Homelander glanced at her, a red glint flashing in his eyes before he quickly suppressed it.
" Madelyn, I'm not thirsty."
"I know," Madelyn said softly, "But you need to calm down right now."
Upon hearing this, the red light in the eyes of the Homelander flashed again.
Calm down, again? Why is everyone telling him to calm down?
They had no idea how much they were actually hearing while watching those videos: the passenger interviews, the fans' discussions, and the hushed skepticism of countless people behind the screen.
Did Homelander escape?
Did the Homelander not save them?
Is Homelander no longer the strongest?
"They know nothing," Homelander said softly. "I just wasn't serious. If I really wanted to kill him, he would be dead already."
Madelyn looked at him but didn't expose him.
Homelander gritted his teeth in resentment. "I should have killed him the first time we met. I should have done it a long time ago. It's all the fault of those two useless guys, the Deep and Translucent. They're only good for nothing and only drag me down."
Madelyn looked at Homelander, reached out, and gently pressed the back of his hand.
"You haven't lost yet, John."
The Homelander's fingers stiffened slightly.
You just haven't reclaimed your rightful place yet.
Homelander looked up, pursed his lips, and stared at Madelyn.
"I don't need anyone's help," he said. "I've always relied on myself."
Madelyn's thumb gently stroked the back of his hand.
" John, you know you don't need to hide anything from me."
The Homelander's Adam's apple bobbed, and he lowered his head, covering his eyes with his hand.
"I can't beat him, Madelyn, I can't beat him."
The living room was quiet for a few seconds.
The voices of the Homelander were even lower.
"The last time I saw him, I knew I was going to die," he said. " Madelyn, I really knew, if it weren't for Black Noir, if it weren't for the Stormfront, I might be dead."
After he finished speaking, it was as if he had finally admitted to something he couldn't admit, and his shoulders relaxed a little.
"We can leave," Homelander suddenly looked up. " Madelyn, we can leave here and go anywhere. As long as there's no monster."
Madelyn looked at him, her gaze softening.
"And then, John?"
The Homelander was taken aback for a moment.
"And then you hide every day, in the gutter, and watch him in the sun, becoming the new savior?" Madelyn asked softly. "Could you accept that?"
The Homelander's lips moved, but he didn't say anything.
Of course he couldn't; just thinking about it made his chest feel tight and painful.
Madelyn moved a little closer, her fingers tracing the side of his face.
"You're not alone, John. You still have me."
The Homelander looked at her, and his eyes finally softened.
"And these past two days, while checking V1, I also found something else." Madelyn paused, " John, you have a child."
The Homelander froze, his eyes suddenly becoming unfocused.
"What?"
Madelyn didn't rush to explain, but continued in that coaxing tone, "A boy, who inherited your bloodline. Someone hid him and raised him in secret. His location and condition aren't entirely confirmed yet, but he exists."
The Homelander's breath caught in his throat for a moment.
"A child, mine?"
Madelyn hugged his head. "Yes, John, it's not a lab, not a PR-manipulated family image, it's your own flesh and blood."
Homelander's eyes glazed over, and his fingers instinctively gripped Madelyn's wrist.
"Where is he?" Homelander asked.
"I'm still investigating," Madelyn said. "So you must survive, and you must win. Only if you win can you find him, can you protect him from that monster."
The Homelander slowly sat up straight, his eyes gradually becoming resolute.
"I will win," Homelander whispered. "For you, for my child."
Madelyn looked at him and smiled slightly.
Just then, the door lock clicked softly.
The Homelander turned his head instantly, a red light flashing in his eyes, like a startled Beast.
The door was pushed open, Stormfront walked in first.
"Don't look at me like that, Captain." She raised her hand and picked up a metal cooler. "I'm here to deliver a gift."
Homelander ignored her and just stared at the refrigerator.
Madelyn stood up and walked to the front of the Stormfront.
"Open."
Stormfront shrugged and opened the metal box.
Inside the box lay a silver sealed tube, while the blue medicine looked unremarkable.
The Homelander stared at it for a long time.
He knew this substance was unstable, and he knew it came from Vought's earliest, most insane experiments. Yet, looking at the vial, he felt no fear.
Excitement reigned within him; the door to the throne had finally been opened a crack for him once more.
Stormfront crossed his arms and looked at him with a smile.
"So? Still dare to call yourself a god?"
Homelander slowly reached out and picked up the vial.
The cold metal pressed against his palm, and his breathing actually calmed down.
"Alright, I will win. I will let that monster know that I am the only god in the sky."
He spoke in a frighteningly soft voice, and a red light gradually appeared in his eyes.
Then he turned to look at Madelyn and smiled.
"When I win, you'll be proud of me, right?"
Madelyn looked at him and nodded gently.
"Of course, John."
The smile on the Homelander deepened.
The next second, he raised his hand, and his Heat Vision precisely sliced through his own wrist.
The needle went in.