…
"Hey, Dan—" (Mindstorm's real name) "—I've known since we were kids you had it in you!"
Leon grinned, unable to hide his excitement as he pinned Mindstorm down from behind.
"No, no, no!"
"Leon, listen to me! It wasn't my idea!"
Still dazed from the carefully controlled punch Leon had thrown to keep him alive for questioning, Mindstorm hadn't even caught what Leon was saying. He just kept frantically shifting blame.
For the sake of survival, his words came out in a rapid-fire blur.
"Calm down. Deep breaths, Dan. I already know what you're going to say—that it was Black Noir's idea."
"Ah?"
Mindstorm froze.
Leon had just stolen the exact excuse he'd prepared.
Nearby, Billy Butcher and Hughie listened carefully. Judging from the sounds, Leon had fully restrained Mindstorm. They cautiously opened their eyes.
When they saw that Mindstorm's head had been completely covered—his line of sight blocked—they finally relaxed and let out heavy breaths.
"Listen to me, Dan."
Leon loosened his hold just enough for Mindstorm to breathe.
"I'm in a pretty good mood right now. So letting you go? That's not off the table."
Mindstorm's breathing hitched.
"How about this? I'll give you a chance to run. I'll count to ten before I come after you. Whether you survive… that depends on you."
"You know me. I always honor my word."
Leon flashed that signature, disarmingly radiant smile.
Butcher and Hughie felt their scalps prickle.
Leon did keep his promises.
But…
"Really?!"
Hope flickered in Mindstorm's eyes.
He believed in Soldier Boy's so-called spirit of the contract.
"Of course."
Leon released him completely.
Mindstorm scrambled to his feet and bolted toward the dense mountain forest.
Faster.
Faster!
If I can just—
If I can just make it there—
He sprinted with everything he had, adrenaline surging through him like a volcanic eruption.
Then came the voice of death.
"Ten."
The very first word of the countdown.
Leon honored his agreement.
He snapped his left arm forward and hurled his shield.
SHRRRK!
Mindstorm had barely made it a dozen meters when the Tungsten–Vibranium Shield cleaved him vertically in half with surgical precision.
A clean kill.
"I knew it…"
Hughie turned back, took one look, and immediately covered his eyes.
Leon clicked his tongue.
"Such a shame, Dan. I gave you a chance."
"Hughie. Go fetch my shield."
Too lazy to retrieve it himself—since it had landed outside the System Storage Space's auto-recall range—Leon gave the order to the "Green Flash" at his side.
"Okay. Leave it to me."
Finally getting a chance to prove himself, Hughie eagerly agreed.
He teleported away in a blink, leaving behind a crumpled pile of empty clothes.
2.5 seconds later—
He reappeared beside Leon, wobbling like a kid dragging oversized luggage, gripping the shield with both hands.
DUANG!
The shield hit the ground with a heavy, bell-like clang.
"Oh my God!"
"Why is your shield so damn heavy?!"
Even enhanced by Temp V, Hughie struggled to lift it. It felt like trying to carry two full water jugs one-handed.
Teleporting with it had been even harder.
"Seems your teleportation limit is lower than I expected."
Leon patted Hughie's bare shoulder.
"Train more when you get the chance. I've got high hopes for you."
He casually stepped on the slightly raised edge of the shield.
It snapped upward from the rebound straight into his left hand.
Re-equipped in one smooth motion.
Effortless.
Stylish.
"Butcher."
Leon glanced over.
"Now that Mindstorm's gone, the only member of Payback left is Black Noir. And he's currently with The Seven."
Butcher's eyes gleamed.
"In that case," he said, "why not finish both at once?"
Leon turned and walked off without another word.
Butcher and Hughie exchanged excited looks and hurried after him.
…
By the time the trio returned to the motel, it was deep into the night.
Everyone else was asleep.
Leon entered his room and shut the door behind him.
Butcher and Hughie both felt an uncomfortable tightness in their bodies and immediately retreated to their own rooms.
Since they were using the motel as a temporary base, Butcher had rented out the entire floor. Every member of The Boys had their own room.
Starlight included.
"BLEEAAARGH—!!!"
Two different rooms.
Same situation.
Butcher and Hughie leaned over their respective sinks, vomiting a thick, swamp-green slurry of unidentified fluids.
When they finally looked up at the mirror, they saw sunken eye sockets and faces pale as death—like terminal cancer patients.
In unison, they muttered:
"What the hell is happening to us…?"
…
Meanwhile, in Leon's room—
He was using Arcee's secure line to place a call to his nominal "son."
Beep. Beep. Click.
The call connected.
"Who is this?"
Homelander's confused voice came through the line.
Leon cleared his throat twice.
Then, in an oddly theatrical tone, he said:
"Son~ son~ it's Daddy."
PS : I've been consistently releasing chapters for many days now, and If you want to support my work and read the complete fic (soon all chapters will be added), you can check out
my P@treon. -> patreon.com/Sagamaster789
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789