"Settlement complete."
"Congratulations, Host. Your popularity level in the Earth region has increased: Peerless!"
"Ability Enhanced: Super Strength (1,200 tons base state)!"
"Ability Enhanced: Super Speed (Mach 40 top speed)!"
"Ability Enhanced: Heat Vision (1880°C focused state)!"
"Ability Enhanced: Steel Body (Stellar-level MAX)!"
"Ability Enhanced: Super Vision (Weakness Detection)!"
"Weakness Detection: Your super senses have evolved to a conceptual level. You can intuitively see the structural weaknesses of any target (biological, mechanical, or even energy bodies) and mark them. Attacking the marked point deals 3% true damage and 50% damage amplification."
"New Skill Acquired: Execution!"
"Skill Description: When a target's weakness mark is attacked, if the target's vitality is below 3%, they will automatically fall into the kill zone and trigger the Execution mechanism—ignoring defense and rules for an instant kill. (Note: While this skill is active, the host will be in an invincibility frame state.)"
"Invincibility frames? Execution?"
Homelander almost burst out laughing.
Was the system worried he wasn't monstrous enough?
Imagine seeing through an opponent's weakness at a glance, then throwing a punch; if they aren't completely dead, it directly forces an Execution animation, tearing them in half while being invincible in the process... "This is a skill born purely for showing off!" Homelander was very satisfied.
"Alright."
Homelander spoke into the communication channel.
"Leave the rest of the cleanup to you all. Bruce, you're in charge of forming a provisional government. Cyborg, restore global communications. Ms. Mera, please have your people help clear the streets."
"I'm heading out for a bit."
"Where are you going?" Bruce asked, sounding slightly wary.
"To pick up my Little Pumpkin."
Homelander hadn't forgotten that there was still a crazy woman waiting for him at Kent Farm.
Of course, he was even more interested in that Superman's body.
In the lore, Superman was the first naturally born child on Kryptonian in centuries, breaking the tradition of genetic customization. His body was infused with the Kryptonian Codex, which recorded the genetic code of all Kryptonians.
If he could crack its secrets, he might find a way to grow stronger just by basking in the Sun.
Thinking this, Homelander's legs bent slightly, and he vanished into the horizon... Smallville, Kent Farm.
The wind and sand remained.
Harley Quinn was sitting bored on Superman's corpse. She was using her finger to dip into the blood on Superman's chest, drawing a ridiculous makeup look on his face.
"Look at you, big guy." Harley patted Superman's face. "You look much better like this. If you had dressed like this earlier, I might have considered letting you join my circus."
"Hey, big guy, can you give me some kind of reaction? Even a fart would do."
Naturally, the corpse did not respond.
"So boring..."
"Why isn't the World saved yet..."
"...I'm getting hungry."
Just then.
"Beep beep beep beep—"
A cheerful yet eerie electronic music drifted from the distant highway.
Harley looked up, squinting her eyes.
She saw a small van covered in colorful graffiti, looking like it belonged to a circus, bouncing along toward the ruins.
There was even a giant Jack-in-the-box clown head on the roof, swaying back and forth with the vehicle's bumps.
"Oh, shit..."
The smile vanished from Harley's face. She jumped off the corpse and gripped her baseball bat tightly.
The ridiculous van stopped a dozen meters away from her.
The door was kicked open.
A pair of polished, pointed leather shoes stepped onto the ash-covered ground.
Then, a man wearing a long purple tailcoat with hair so green it practically glowed stepped out.
"Hello~ Honey!"
The Joker spread his arms wide, as if to embrace a long-lost lover.
"It seems you've found yourself a new toy?"
His gaze swept over Superman's corpse beneath Harley's seat, his eyes filled with excitement.
"Get lost, Jack!" Harley's voice dripped with visceral disgust. "You're not welcome here!"
"Not welcome?"
The Joker clutched his chest exaggeratedly, putting on a heartbroken expression.
"Oh, Harley, my little Harley. You're breaking Puddin's heart. I came all this way specifically to take you home."
He approached step by step, the gun in his hand swinging casually.
"No."
Harley sat on Superman's corpse, not moving an inch.
"I'm staying here to wait for my Mr. Milk Candy."
The Joker's smile stiffened for a moment.
"Mr. Milk Candy?"
An exaggerated question mark on the van lit up.
"You mean that blonde new Boy Scout?"
"Don't be silly, Harley. He's off enjoying the cheers of those foolish humans. He doesn't care about you at all."
"Now, it's just us. You, me, and this Supes."
"Shut up, Jack! He's ten thousand times better than you." Harley rolled her eyes. "And his ass is much perkier than yours."
"Ha! Harley, when did your taste become so tacky?" The Joker gave a cold smile, his finger on the trigger. "It seems you need a little correction."
"Get in the car. Now."
"BANG—!!!"
A sudden explosion echoed from the sky.
A terrifying air pressure descended from above, and the Joker's colorful little van was instantly crushed into a pancake.
The Joker was blown back several steps by the blast wave and had to raise his hand to shield himself from the dust.
When he lowered his hand.
A figure was already standing in front of Harley.
A red and blue uniform, blonde hair, and those blue eyes that looked at him like he was trash.
"Looking for me?"
Homelander wrapped his arm around Harley's slender waist, smiling at the Joker.
The Joker looked at the van-turned-scrap-metal, then at Homelander, his expression instantly switching to one of exaggerated surprise.
"Wow! Look who's here! The big hero! The savior!"
The Joker tossed his gun aside and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
This wasn't in his plan, but he wasn't worried; he always had a new plan to use.
"Weren't you off saving the World? Why are you back so soon? I thought you'd be busy signing autographs for those fans."
"I'm done saving it." Homelander shrugged. "Those alien scumbags couldn't take a hit. Clearing them out was faster than I expected."
"Besides, I'm a professional hero. I value efficiency."
"Uh..." The Joker's smile stiffened for a second before becoming even more exaggerated. "Hahaha! Interesting! So interesting!"
"Alright, alright. It seems I'm under arrest? Is that it? I'm already starting to miss Arkham."
As if hearing something hilarious, Homelander turned to Harley.
"Honey, he thinks this is the Gotham Police Department."