Forty minutes earlier.
Vought International – New Product Launch Event.
Brilliant lights. A crowd of elites and celebrities.
This was the global unveiling of Vought Biotechnology's latest product—V-Care, a regenerative cosmetic technology.
Antony stood at center stage in his signature uniform, flashing that flawless, camera-ready smile as he addressed hundreds of reporters and invited guests.
"…Time should never be the enemy of beauty. With V-Care, even at eighty years old, you can still have the skin of an eighteen-year-old—"
That was when—
Ashley hurried onto the stage.
She didn't dodge the cameras. If anything, every step she took was perfectly framed by the spotlights.
"Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Homelander."
Her voice was urgent, and she just happened to stop right beside the podium microphone—making sure the entire hall heard every word.
"Mr. Starr! Apologies for cutting in, but… this is an emergency call! A direct line from Sokovia's highest leadership!"
The room exploded into noise.
Reporters reacted like sharks catching the scent of blood. Cameras snapped. Microphones surged forward.
"Please excuse me for a moment, everyone."
Antony's smile vanished. His expression turned grave as he stepped aside to take the call.
Moments later, he hung up.
He stood there silently for two seconds.
Then he looked up—his eyes now filled with sorrow for the world.
"I'm sorry, everyone."
His voice was calm, steady, and carried effortlessly through the venue.
"The launch event is canceled."
"As many of you know, I've received an urgent plea for help from the Sokovian government. As a citizen of this world, I cannot turn a blind eye."
"Business can wait."
"But life… only comes once."
Antony looked straight into the cameras—straight at the world.
"Even if it isn't America… life is still life."
"We will show them that Vought always stands with the innocent."
With that, he walked toward the balcony at the edge of the hall.
His back to the crowd.
The star-spangled cape unfurled.
BOOM—!!!
The red-and-blue figure vanished into the sky.
"Ashley," Antony asked through his bone-conduction mic mid-flight, "are the advance camera teams in position?"
"All set, sir!" Ashley replied instantly.
"The drone swarm is live! All preset aerial routes are locked!"
"Excellent."
…
Now.
Above the ruins of Sokovia.
The image of Antony catching Hulk's fist with one hand—
Was streamed in flawless, 360-degree high-definition through hummingbird drones to hundreds of millions of screens worldwide.
"Oh my God—he caught it!!"
"That pose—are you kidding me?!"
"Look at that back! Those lines! I'm dying—AHHH!!"
[Notification: Popularity Points +5,452]
[Notification: Popularity Points +6,682]
Antony tilted his head slightly, glancing back at the shell-shocked Wanda behind him.
His voice softened—perfectly calibrated.
"Don't be afraid, sweetheart. Take a step back."
"This kind of pressure isn't something a beautiful girl like you should be carrying…"
Then he turned back toward the utterly confused Hulk.
Hulk really was confused.
He tried to pull his fist back.
It didn't budge.
It felt like his hand had been welded into solid vibranium.
"Hr…?"
Hulk growled in confusion—then rage surged again.
He raised his other arm, reaching for Antony's head.
Antony was faster.
BAM—!!
A casual straight punch landed on Hulk's cheek.
The massive green body was lifted clean off the ground, sent flying in a perfect arc, and smashed into the distant riverbed—throwing up a towering plume of water.
Antony dusted off his glove.
Then he turned toward the girl still straining under the collapsing building.
Wanda stared at him, pale face frozen in disbelief.
Antony smiled faintly, lifted a hand, and gently ruffled her hair—radiating effortless, paternal reassurance.
With his other hand, he lightly supported the massive concrete slab.
"There we go, kid," he said warmly.
"You can rest now."
"I've got this."
He applied pressure with one hand.
Whoosh—
The enormous slab—something Wanda had barely been holding up with everything she had—
Was tossed aside like packing foam, landing dozens of meters away.
Pietro was free.
Lying in the rubble, he looked at the man standing in the sunlight… then at his sister, who couldn't take her eyes off him.
"…Well," Pietro chuckled weakly,
"…looks like I'm unemployed as an older brother today."
[Gained Special Popularity Points +15,000 — Source: Wanda Maximoff]
[Gained Special Popularity Points +10,000 — Source: Pietro Maximoff]
…
On the distant riverbank—
"HRAAAAGH—!!!"
Hulk hauled himself out of the mud.
He wasn't done.
Pain meant nothing. Anger only made him stronger.
He locked onto the golden figure in the distance, bent his legs, and launched himself into a cataclysmic leap.
Antony didn't dodge.
BAM!
At the instant Hulk closed in, Antony's right fist snapped upward.
"Vought Rising Dragon Punch—!"
A textbook uppercut slammed into Hulk's jaw.
Hulk's enormous body was launched straight into the sky.
Before gravity could reclaim him—
Antony vanished.
He reappeared above Hulk.
"Vought Descent—!"
BOOM!!
A hammering blow crashed into Hulk's chest.
Hulk plummeted like a green meteor.
But Antony wasn't done.
"Death Stare!"
Antony appeared beneath him.
ZZZ—!!
Twin beams of crimson heat vision blasted into Hulk's chest, forcing him back into the air.
Hulk roared in agony, skin charred black where the beams struck.
"Not done yet, big guy."
Antony blurred again.
Left hook.
Right hook.
Knee strike.
Elbow smash.
Hulk was reduced to a massive green punching bag—kicked and battered midair, never allowed to touch the ground.
Dozens of hummingbird drones—already locked into perfect positions—captured every second in cinematic 4K clarity.
In slow-motion replays:
The tension of Antony's muscles.
The sweep of the cape.
The iron resolve in his eyes.
And Hulk…
Hulk was completely overwhelmed.
In the face of such overwhelming power, rage became nothing more than impotent fury.
"Final blow."
Antony rose high above the city, looking down at the falling Hulk.
"Vought Supreme Punch!"
He pulled his arm back—
Then rocketed forward in a devastating, full-power superman punch.
THUD!
The strike landed squarely on Hulk's temple.
Hulk's eyes rolled back.
Consciousness snapped.
The massive body went limp in midair.
The fight was over.
Hulk shrank rapidly, green skin fading, reverting to the gentle, scholarly Bruce Banner.
Antony descended slowly, hovering above the city.
Sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating his golden hair.
"My God…"
Wanda covered her mouth, eyes sparkling uncontrollably.
Even Tony Stark—watching the livestream from inside his shattered armor—couldn't help but look up.
"…Alright," Tony muttered.
"I'll admit it."
"This guy is way too good at this."
"…But does he really have to shout the move names out loud?"
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals