Desperate Watch charge progress: 68%... 70%...
As Darkseid unleashed his power without restraint, the epic-grade 'Unyielding Elegy' skin equipped by Homelander finally began to manifest its heart-shaking visual effects.
This was absolutely the top-tier 'misery-selling' special effect produced by the system.
Under the gaze of the worldwide audience, that red and blue uniform, symbolizing hope and justice, began to tear in large areas. The fabric shredded, revealing the scarred muscles beneath.
But with the enhancement of the skin's special effects, realistic 'wounds' began to spread across his body.
Blood surged from the wounds, instantly staining his combat suit red.
His cheeks were badly swollen, the corners of his mouth were split, and his golden hair was matted to his forehead with blood, looking absolutely wretched.
Every punch that landed on Homelander's body was an indictment of the price he was paying for humanity.
Mothers pressed their children's heads into their bosoms to keep them from seeing this cruel scene, yet they themselves stared at the screen, tears streaming down their faces.
Old veterans dropped the guns in their hands and covered their faces with both hands, their shoulders twitching violently as they let out suppressed sobs.
"Oh God... please open your eyes and look." The priest gripped the cross on his chest tightly, old tears flowing down his face. "Don't let this child who saved us suffer all this cruelty..."
"Stop! You bastard! Stop it!!!"
Outside the barrier, Harley knelt on the ground, her hands frantically pounding the light screen. Her voice was completely hoarse, and her tears, mixed with eyeshadow, washed out two clear tear tracks.
Every time Darkseid's fist fell, Harley's body would shrink back, as if the fist were smashing into her own body.
Bruce clenched his fists tightly, overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness and guilt.
He was the founder of the Justice League, the Guardian of Earth. But now, he could only stand here like a useless person, watching someone else be beaten to death to save them.
This visual impact of beauty and hope being destroyed bit by bit became an indelible and irreplaceable cruel brand in people's hearts.
Prompt! popularity value +1,122,002 harvested!
Prompt! popularity value +1,235,581 harvested!
Prompt! popularity value +1,119,265 harvested!
...
"That's it!!" Homelander gave a frantic thumbs-up in his heart. "Cry, scream! And then remember me for a lifetime!!"
[Desperate Watch charge progress: 100%!]
[Prompt! Charging complete, 'Love Infinite' skill is ready.]
Homelander heard the system prompt and knew the time had come.
Just as Darkseid raised his fist again, preparing to smash it down.
He blinked slightly twice at Darkseid, giving a subtle hint.
Understanding the signal, Dago began the next step of the performance very smoothly.
He shook the blood off his fist and stopped punching. Looking down at Homelander on the ground, he let out a disdainful cold laugh.
"This is the consequence of resisting me. This is destiny!"
At this moment, the skin effects on Homelander had reached the ultimate state of misery; if Homelander could look in a mirror, he might even be moved by himself.
In the eyes of others, Homelander had completely lost all vital signs, his chest no longer rising and falling, his eyes tightly closed.
A large pool of blood gathered beneath him.
The tattered red cape covered him, looking like a shroud laid over a hero's remains.
Harley stopped pounding the barrier; she stared blankly at the motionless Homelander on the ground, her eyes losing focus, her soul seemingly pulled from her body at that moment.
"No..." Bruce lowered his head and closed his eyes.
Darkseid stood proudly beside the pool of blood, his cold gaze sweeping over the heroes outside the barrier.
"Do you see? This is your savior."
"He is dead. Died without dignity, and now there is no one left to stand before you."
He stomped his left foot, and the barrier instantly dissipated, a wind heavy with the scent of blood blowing across the square.
Darkseid slowly walked toward Bruce and the others.
"I will slaughter every living thing on this Planet. I will use your bones to rebuild my Dark Fortress here."
"Prepare to face your endgame."
Darkseid's eyes glowed intensely red, the destructive Omega Beams ready to fire.
The aura of death enveloped the defenseless Earth heroes.
With no cards left to play, the tyrant's butcher knife hung over everyone's necks.
"Do it." Bruce straightened his body and puffed out his chest. Even in the face of death, Batman would never bow his head.
The global audience also lowered their heads one after another, as if accepting their fate, waiting for death to descend.
...
"Stop..."
An extremely faint voice, yet one that seemed to shatter the shackles of fate, came from behind Darkseid.
Darkseid's movements paused, and he turned his head in disbelief.
Harley's body trembled violently, and her eyes brightened once more.
All the heroes prepared to die, including the audience worldwide, widened their eyes and looked incredulously toward the source of the voice.
The man who had already been judged dead by everyone was actually standing up again.
Though his figure was swaying and his legs were trembling violently, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.
But he straightened his battered spine and stood tall upon the Earth.
No one could imagine how he, having endured the pain of a billion people and then being so cruelly tortured by Darkseid.
What exactly was supporting this riddled remnant of a body to stand up once more?!
"Impossible..."
Darkseid, cooperating perfectly, showed a look of shock and incomprehension as he looked at Homelander.
"How can you still be alive?!"
"No one can stand up under such pain! Not even a god!"
"Tell me, Earthling." Darkseid stared intently at Homelander, his voice carrying a tremor he himself was unwilling to admit.
"Just what kind of power has allowed you to persist until now?"
The whole World was silent; everyone wanted to know the answer.
Homelander struggled to open his eyes wide, and in those eyes, there was neither hatred nor anger, only a clear persistence.
"Love..."
He coughed up a mouthful of blood and used all his strength to make his voice clearly reach everyone's ears.
"It's... love."
This word was as light as a feather, yet it smashed heavily into everyone's hearts.
"Love?"
Darkseid was stunned, then burst into a sky-shaking mad laugh.
"Hahahaha—!! Love?"
He covered his forehead, his mouth full of mockery.
"This is the most pathetic thing about you lower organisms."
"I have ruled countless star systems and seen countless civilizations. You lower organisms always like to treat this fragile, useless chemical reaction that only creates weaknesses as something grand."
"It can't repair your broken body! It can't stop the destruction of Earth! Your love is worthless!"
"Worthless, is it..." Homelander slowly shook his head, his eyes sweeping over the people in the square, finally meeting Harley's gaze.
"You're wrong, Darkseid.