Tony really couldn't understand why Batman insisted on throwing every criminal he caught into Arkham Asylum.
To him, it looked less like crime prevention and more like the big bat was just entertaining himself.
As they debated, the light-screen began playing the next candidate's video—Stormfront.
But what appeared on screen wasn't Stormfront at all. Instead, it showed Homelander, Starlight, Hughie, and Billy Butcher.
They seemed to be in a sewer. Hughie was lying on the ground covered in blood, while Starlight, dressed in an extremely revealing outfit, stood hesitating, torn over what to do. And Homelander, arms folded, loomed nearby like a supervisor, watching them closely.
Even without dialogue, the situation was clear enough.
"Wow… Starlight's new outfit is really something. Looks like she and Hughie are in trouble."
Tony explained to Natasha and Bruce who Hughie, Starlight, and Billy Butcher were.
He concluded:
"Obviously, in this future video, Starlight is still publicly with Vought. But behind the scenes, she's helping Hughie fight against the Seven and the company. This time, though, she's cornered. Homelander is standing right there, forcing her to attack Hughie. If she refuses, Homelander will kill them both."
Natasha glanced at Homelander, who now looked like he had turned to stone, and frowned.
"What about Hughie and Starlight now? How are they doing?"
"They were part of the last quiz game, actually,"
Tony shrugged. "They're doing alright. But I'd bet they're cringing hard watching this video right now—especially Starlight."
He was dead on.
In the Marvel world, Annie, Hughie, and Queen Maeve were gathered together, watching the livestream of the quiz game.
Up until now, most of the video clips had focused on Homelander, so the three of them had just been watching for fun. But now that the footage featured them, it was like the gossip had suddenly turned into a self-exposé.
Especially Annie—she was mortified watching her future self in that skimpy outfit. She curled her toes in embarrassment.
"Oh my God, why would I ever wear something like that?!"
Maeve chuckled.
"Honestly, I think you look stunning. Very attractive. Hughie, what do you think?"
"Uh…"
Hughie froze, looking like he wished he could disappear. Nod, and it would be suspicious. Shake his head, and it would be worse. Luckily, the video quickly shifted their attention.
On screen, forced by Homelander's presence, Starlight prepared to attack Hughie.
But just then, Billy Butcher stepped in, shouting at Homelander:
"Oi! Over here, ya bloody wanker!"
Homelander turned his head, flashing a smug grin. He spoke slowly, every word dripping with mockery:
"Well, well, isn't it William? Funny, I had breakfast with your wife this morning. Delicious. Especially the pancakes—they were exquisite."
He even wagged his tongue in a vulgar gesture.
Even the viewers outside the video felt their blood boiling. For men—especially Hughie—Homelander's taunts were beyond humiliating.
And sure enough, Billy and his wife Becca were also watching the livestream.
Becca's hands covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.
"I… I don't want this…"
"Alright, enough." Billy's face darkened, though he kept his anger in check.
"Becca, didn't I tell you? The past is the past. I killed Homelander with my own hands. He'll never threaten us again. We'll go back to the way things were—the happy life we had together."
To be fair, Billy truly did love his wife. Even now—when the entire world, no, the multiverse knew he'd been thoroughly cuckolded—he still chose to forgive her.
He couldn't blame her completely. She hadn't exactly volunteered… it was more of a half-coerced, half-reluctant situation. Not that it mattered anymore.
What mattered was this: Becca had been his obsession for years. After she went missing, finding her became his life's mission—second only to destroying Homelander and the Seven.
Now that they'd been reunited in such a miraculous way, he couldn't just abandon her. If he did, then everything he'd fought and suffered for all these years would have been meaningless.
Half his life would be a complete waste.
"Thank you, Billy…" Becca sobbed as she collapsed into his arms.
But just as the couple embraced, a small voice came from behind them:
"Mom…"
Ryan had stepped out of his room, blinking curiously.
"It's really noisy out here. Can I watch the livestream too?"
He knew about the quiz game, but Becca had forbidden him from watching the future videos.
Partly because the footage was violent and explicit, but mostly because she didn't want Ryan to know the truth—that his biological father was the sadistic, psychopathic monster called Homelander.
She hadn't let him watch the last quiz, and she certainly wasn't letting him watch this one either.
Quickly pulling away from Billy's arms, she wiped her tears, forcing a smile.
"Sweetheart, go back to your room, okay? There's nothing worth seeing here. I'll find you some videos of Peter and the others instead."
She shot Billy an apologetic glance before ushering Ryan back to his room.
Billy's eyes darkened as he stared at the closed bedroom door. His fists clenched, then loosened.
He wanted to go back to the good old days with Becca. But deep down, he knew—as long as that brat was around—he'd never get those days back.
If it were up to him, he'd send the kid away, as far away as possible, and never see him again.
But he also knew that child had become Becca's weakness. She cherished him more than anything—even more than Billy himself. And that left Billy stuck in a painful bind.
For now, he pushed the thought aside and turned back to the screen.
In the video, faced with Homelander's taunts, Billy Butcher only smirked. He wasn't bothered.
Because behind him, a young Asian man stepped forward.
The moment he spread his hands, the ground beneath Homelander's feet began to crack. Clearly, this young man was a superpowered individual!
As Homelander shifted his focus downward, something suddenly dropped from above—a bus, crashing down with rubble and debris, slamming Homelander flat!
Watching this, Erik arched a brow.
Tony glanced at him with a grin.
"Erik, doesn't this look… a little like your powers?"
...
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