Chapter 26: Maybe I'll Go to Hell, But Not Today

Ghandi spat out a mouthful of blood, followed by violent coughing, as he struggled to free his arm from the rubble he was buried in. Moments ago, his body had carved through the ground, creating a pile of debris in the parking lot, leaving him embedded in the heap of stones.

After finally pulling his arm free, he glared up at Homelander, floating above him in the sky. Hatred burned in the multiple spider-like eyes that adorned his monstrous face. With a furious roar, Ghandi raised all four of his arms, and suddenly, every electrical cable in the parking lot began to tremble. Under an invisible force, they ripped free from their conduits, crackling with electricity as they snaked through the air toward Homelander like tentacles.

"Oh?" Homelander mused. "So, this is your ability? Controlling wires?"

"Well, that's a bit more interesting than before."

As he spoke, Homelander deftly dodged the cables. His flying agility was on full display, effortlessly twisting and turning to evade Ghandi's attacks.

Realizing that the cables alone weren't enough, Ghandi extended his control to the nearby cars. Using a few cables to lash out at the vehicles, he hurled them at Homelander, attempting to overwhelm him with a barrage of both metal and electricity.

With this combination of attacks, Ghandi's assault became more varied, but Homelander adapted easily. He batted away cars with his fists, kicked others aside, and sliced through the rest with his laser vision. Occasionally, he even let out exaggerated gasps of surprise.

Maeve, still on the ground and momentarily incapacitated, watched the display with a twitching smile. "That guy isn't even taking this seriously. He's toying with him."

At that moment, Homelander sliced through another car with his laser vision, but behind the severed wreckage, a mass of cables surged forward like blooming tendrils. They wrapped around his legs, torso, arms, and neck, binding him tightly.

"Got you now, you bastard!" Ghandi shouted triumphantly. He directed even more cables toward Homelander, all while sending powerful electric shocks coursing through the ones already wrapped around him.

In an instant, Homelander was completely entangled in the cables. His entire body was bound, even his head, turning him into what resembled a mummified figure suspended in the air.

A collective gasp rose from the onlookers, including the reporters and police who had been standing nearby, helpless to intervene.

Since the battle was being livestreamed, comments and reactions flooded the internet:

"Oh my god, Homelander's been captured!"

"Serves him right for not finishing the fight earlier."

"Homelander, go to hell!"

"Come on, Homelander! I know you won't lose to some monster!"

Just as the tension peaked, two red points of light suddenly flared up from within the wrapped figure. A second later, twin beams of laser shot out, sweeping across the parking lot. The lasers carved a distinct "Z" shape into the ground below.

Boom!

A chain of crimson explosions erupted along the path of the lasers, igniting everything in their wake. The cables binding Homelander were blasted apart, sending sparks and fragments flying in every direction.

The stream of online comments exploded with excitement:

"See, I knew Homelander wouldn't go down like that!"

"Homelander for the win!"

"I'm so hyped right now!"

"Why can't the bad guys win just once? Come on, Monster Guy, step it up!"

"Homelander should die!"

As the various voices filled the stream, Homelander, having freed himself from the cables, dived back down toward the ground, crashing into Ghandi and sending him flying.

In the parking lot of Walmart, Ghandi was flung into the air, only to be caught mid-flight by another of Homelander's punches, which sent him crashing back to the ground. Before Ghandi could recover, Homelander landed next to him and stomped down on his chest.

With his eyes glowing faintly red, Homelander leaned in, his face expressionless. "I'll ask you one last time."

"What is the 'Night Council'?"

Ghandi glared up at him, blood dribbling from his mouth. "Go to hell, demon," he spat.

Homelander smirked coldly. "Maybe I'll end up in hell, but not today."

Without wasting another word, he unleashed his laser vision directly into Ghandi's cluster of spider eyes.

Ghandi screamed in agony as the lasers burned through his head, lighting up the veins and capillaries under his skin. His cells were trying to heal, fighting against the destruction, but the pain was unbearable.

After a few torturous seconds, tiny cracks of crimson light began seeping out from beneath his skin. Then, with a final, deafening roar, Ghandi's head exploded, and his body crumbled to ash. His arms fell limply to the ground, and within moments, the rest of his form disintegrated into black dust, swept away by the wind.

---

[System Notification]

You have successfully resolved the incident.

Incident Disaster Level Assessment: E+

'Perfect' Evaluation Reward: Dull Proficiency Essence x48

New items have been added to your shop.

---

A cascade of information filled Homelander's vision as he absorbed the notifications.

---

[Skill Progress]

Laser Vision +2: Proficiency 27/100

Regeneration +1: Proficiency 7/30

Flight +1: Proficiency 28/30

Super Speed +1: Proficiency 22/30

Super Strength +1: Proficiency 26/30

Your "Iron Body +1" has reached maximum proficiency.

Upgrading to "Iron Body +2."

*[Iron Body +2]: Body Density +110%, Physical Impact Resistance +70%, Energy Resistance +20%, Physical Damage Immunity +10%

Your "Insight" skill has reached maximum proficiency.

Upgrading to "Insight +1."

*[Insight +1]: You can now obtain more detailed basic information.

---

Two skills had leveled up. Super Speed and Super Strength weren't far behind either.

And the best part? He had just gained 48 proficiency essences in one go.

With the previous ones he'd collected, that made 93 essences in total.

Not only could he now afford to purchase a genetic serum, but he also had plenty left over to boost his skill levels.

Excellent. Another step closer to becoming the ultimate Homelander.

Satisfied with his progress, Homelander smiled as he floated out of the wrecked parking lot, ascending over the crowd gathered below.

Reporters and police officers stared up at him, tense and expectant. Finally, one brave journalist raised a microphone and called out, "Homelander, what happened to that monster?"

Homelander pointed skyward with one finger and flashed his trademark smile, teeth gleaming. "I sent him to meet God."

The crowd erupted into cheers, and the cameras flashed incessantly as the reporters snapped photo after photo, eager to capture the hero's victorious moment.

But Homelander didn't linger. After giving the reporters a few moments to get their shots, he waved and took off, flying toward Maeve.

Scooping up the still-recovering "Queen Maeve" in his arms, he soared back into the sky, heading in the direction of the Seven Tower.

Halfway through the flight, Homelander glanced down at Maeve. "So, now can we finally talk about that dinner tonight?"

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