The Boys: I Became The Soldier Boy

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Homelander and Butcher

Chapter 76: Homelander and Butcher

Nearing the end of his explanation, The Deep hesitated before adding, "A-Train... the way he looked just now, his heart might not be in great shape. But he still went after them anyway. Plus, back when he and I were tracking the Church of the Collective, it was the same thing. His heart acted up multiple times..."

Whether he was trying to shift the blame or was genuinely concerned, The Deep let slip the issue with A-Train’s heart condition.

Benjamin furrowed his brow slightly. A-Train’s heart condition was indeed unresolved. For a speedster Supe, being unable to run was practically equivalent to being half-crippled. Couple that with a useless deadweight like The Deep, and it was entirely expected that the targets would escape.

"Fuck, this was on your turf too. You goddamn disappointed me," Benjamin sighed, shaking his head as he cursed.

"Split up and search!" Benjamin barked to the others.

Then again, Benjamin wasn’t pinning his hopes on the average speeds of Maeve and Starlight, nor was he counting on The Deep’s tracking or a cardiac-compromised A-Train. It was highly probable that Stormfront and Homelander would track them down first. He just wondered if Stormfront would actually listen to him if she passed through a neighborhood with Black residents. It would be best if he could beat them to the punch and find the targets first.

The group quickly advanced into the sprawling storm drain network.

---<>---

The interior of the storm drain network was dark and damp, thick with a mixture of sewage stench and rotting moss. The massive concrete pipes resembled the intestines of a labyrinth, branching out in every direction, seemingly bottomless.

As soon as they entered the tunnel, the group split up.

As Supes possessing flight capabilities and extreme speed, Homelander and Stormfront converted into two blurs almost instantly, vanishing into the depths of the pitch-black tunnels with a sharp crack of tearing air as they hunted for the Supe-Terrorists.

Meanwhile, Benjamin followed at an unhurried pace, keeping to a light jog. Clutching his heavy eagle shield, his combat boots sloshed through the standing water with dull, splashing thuds.

---<>---

At the other end of the tunnels.

Butcher was leading The Boys in a frantic flight through the labyrinth.

Suddenly, two pinpricks of crimson light ignited in the darkness ahead. A silhouette slowly materialized, blocking their only avenue of escape.

Homelander.

He simply stood there with a casual air, hands clasped behind his back, tilting his head slightly as his glowing red eyes scrutinized the mice-like mortals before him with genuine amusement.

When Homelander’s gaze finally settled on the heavily bearded man holding a rifle, the crimson glow in his eyes gradually faded. He froze for a moment, then his lips curled into an intensely amused, mocking smirk.

Likewise, upon seeing Homelander, instead of backing away in terror, Butcher ground to a halt. In this dark, foul sewer, the bitter rivals finally faced off directly for the very first time.

"William Butcher..." Homelander’s voice echoed through the hollow tunnel. "Former CIA operative, the murderer who blew up my colleague, Translucent. I finally get to meet you today."

Homelander took a small step forward, his tone shifting into an animated cadence. "But... it seems your target has never been Vought from the very beginning. It’s been me. You go out of your way to cause chaos everywhere, even going so far as to kill Translucent of The Seven, and you’re even willing to wager your own life. What exactly do you want from me? Money? Fame? Or are you trying to use this incredibly foolish method to prove something to me?"

Confronting one of the most powerful Supes on the planet, Butcher didn’t lower his gun; instead, a malicious smirk spread across his face.

"What do I want from you?" Butcher raised an eyebrow, staring at Homelander with a grin. "You think way too highly of yourself, you caped freak. I only have one objective... and that’s to hurt you. To hurt you completely."

Homelander froze slightly.

From the time he was a child, in this entire world...

No ordinary mortal had ever dared to challenge him to his face with such pure, unadulterated, almost fanatical malice!

Aside from his father, Benjamin, and the now-deceased Stan Edgar and Vogelbaum, practically everyone else in this world either blindly worshiped and feared him or reeled in starstruck awe like the rest of the civilian population. He was accustomed to being feared, accustomed to hypocritical flattery.

Consequently, when this completely unpolluted wave of pure hatred manifested, Homelander didn’t feel an instantaneous surge of explosive rage to slice the man in half with his lasers.

He had always respected people who weren’t afraid of him—whether it was Edgar previously, Vogelbaum, or Butcher now.

Furthermore, this was the first time someone had dared to stand before him with such raw authenticity!

BOOM!!!

Before long, a deafening roar shattered the standoff!

Kenji, who had been hiding behind The Boys, suddenly bolted from the shadows. He violently hoisted both hands upward!

He wasn’t aiming to attack Homelander at all! He was attacking the structure of the sewer itself!

With the eruption of his terrifying telekinesis, the massive concrete blocks beneath Homelander’s feet instantly buckled and caved in! At the same time, the supporting pillars above the tunnel were snapped clean through by telekinetic force. Hundreds of tons of massive rubble, rebar, and mud came thundering down like a savage landslide!

Before Homelander could even take flight, he was instantaneously buried beneath the mountain of heavy debris!

The violent collapse didn’t just bury Homelander; it simultaneously tore a massive breach straight through the ceiling of the tunnel to the surface above. Blinding sunlight spilled down through the opening.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Kenji capitalized on this critical window, leaping upward and breaking clean away from The Boys to make his escape!

---<>--- freeωebnovēl.c૦m

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