As the highest-valued corporate group in the world, Vought International's headquarters operated on a scale most people could barely comprehend.
The first-floor lobby alone was massive, filled with nearly a thousand employees moving in constant motion, each focused on their own task.
Vought stood as both the largest pharmaceutical company in the world and the most powerful organization managing superheroes. They had close to three hundred registered heroes under contract, along with thousands of enhanced individuals under observation, all potential recruits.
At the center of it all was The Seven, the company's most prestigious and profitable team. They were the public face of Vought.
Beyond them, countless other heroes operated worldwide under Vought's control. From Washington to Houston, from Chicago to Los Angeles, their presence covered every major city.
New York, home to Vought Tower, was different. It was a hub, a gathering place. Even with The Seven occupied elsewhere, more than a dozen other heroes moved through the building at any given time.
Cameras followed them constantly, capturing footage for marketing and media.
In the middle of this routine, a violent gust of wind tore through the lobby.
Boom!
The floor cracked as Axel landed, carrying the mangled body of A-Train in one hand.
For a moment, everything froze.
Then the screams began.
"Oh my God, that's A-Train!"
"He's dead!"
"Run! Anyone who can do that to him is insane!"
"Stop filming and get out!"
Chaos erupted instantly. Several heroes who had been filming promotional content abandoned everything and fled, their enhanced speed making escape easy.
Ashley Barrett, Vought's nervous and overworked executive, stood frozen as she hurriedly dialed her superior.
The call connected.
"What happened?" Madelyn Stillwell asked calmly.
"A-Train… he… you need to see this yourself!"
"Understood."
Madelyn ended the call immediately and pulled up the security feed. Her expression remained steady as she watched Axel toss A-Train aside like discarded trash.
Back in the lobby, Axel waved casually at the terrified crowd.
"Relax. I'm not a supervillain."
He gestured toward A-Train's broken body.
"I even brought him back for treatment. So, where do I sign up for The Seven?"
"You want to join The Seven?"
Ashley hesitated, then stepped forward despite herself.
Before she could speak, another employee answered from across the lobby.
"S-sorry, applications are online. You need to submit videos, abilities, qualifications…"
A blur.
Axel appeared in front of him instantly.
With a calm smile, he pushed his hand into the man's skull and pulled out a mass of blood and tissue.
He wiped his hand on the man's clothes and looked around again.
"I asked where."
Screams echoed again.
A woman nearby tried to run, but Axel's fist drove straight through her chest. He tore out her heart and crushed it without hesitation.
Silence followed, broken only by trembling breaths.
Axel lifted another person by the head, holding it loosely as he spoke.
"So. Where?"
No one answered.
Then, a voice cut through the tension.
"Well, this is interesting."
Axel turned.
Two figures walked in together.
Homelander and Queen Maeve.
Homelander clapped slowly as he approached, a wide smile spreading across his face.
He stopped beside Ashley and pointed at her.
"This your idea? I've heard about you. Good with publicity."
He laughed lightly.
"This is brilliant. A staged attack, a dramatic rescue. Nothing boosts ratings like this."
He looked around.
"Get the cameras ready. This is going to push my approval ratings up at least three points."
Maeve said nothing, her expression tense.
Homelander stepped forward, eyes locked on Axel.
"Tell me, did they talk you into this? Or do you actually think this is real?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Either way, you picked the wrong role. I don't go easy on villains."
He raised his hands toward the crowd, encouraging them.
The lobby erupted into cheers.
High above, Madelyn watched through the surveillance feed and finally relaxed. With Homelander present, the situation was under control.
She turned away, already planning the press conference and the narrative that would follow. Every crisis was an opportunity.
Back below, Axel suddenly laughed.
"Nice. I finally get to meet you."
He walked straight toward Homelander.
Homelander extended his hand confidently.
"Going for a handshake? Not bad. After this, I might even give you an autograph. Just this once."
Axel stopped in front of him.
Then he spoke, his tone flat.
"Move."
Before Homelander could react, Axel's hand snapped across his face.
The impact exploded through the lobby.
Homelander's expression shattered from confidence into pure shock as the force sent him flying straight out of Vought Tower.