The high-definition lens of the Hummingbird Drone quickly captured that figure, synchronizing and enlarging the image onto every screen across the globe.
Red combat boots, a deep blue uniform, and that stars and stripes cape billowing in the wind.
It's him!
He's not dead! He survived that star-destroying explosion!
"Homelander!!! It's Homelander!!!"
"He's back! My God, he's alive!!"
After a brief moment of shock, the cheers erupting from everywhere felt as if they would tear the Earth's crust apart!
People tossed their hats high into the air, running and hugging each other frantically in the streets.
Regardless of skin color or faith, at this moment, the hearts of all humanity raced for the same person.
"Long live! Long live the God Among Men!"
On the Nullarbor Plain.
Jessica's once dim eyes burst with a dazzling radiance; watching the figure descending from the sky, she smiled through her tears.
Tony let out a long sigh of relief and slapped Steve on the shoulder: "That bastard, I knew he was hard to kill!"
At that moment, everyone noticed a detail.
Their God Among Men was not returning alone.
In his arms, he was carrying someone horizontally.
"That is...?!"
"It's Wanda!"
Inside the V.G.D. Hall of Heroes and on the Nullarbor Plain, the heroes immediately recognized the woman's identity.
By now, Homelander's red combat boots had stepped firmly onto the scorched Earth of the plain.
His brow was slightly furrowed, and his eyes carried a perfectly measured look of exhaustion and grief.
He carefully placed the unconscious Wanda onto a flat rock, his movements as gentle as if he were setting down a piece of fragile porcelain.
"Anthony, what on Earth happened?" Jessica looked at the unconscious Wanda, then at the battle-damaged version of the suit on Homelander. "What did you experience in space?"
"Gravik is dead. He detonated that thing in space," Homelander said, looking tenderly at Wanda.
"At the final moment, it was Wanda. She rushed into space through a portal and used magic to protect me, allowing me to escape the most lethal impact."
"But the aftershocks of the explosion still left her severely injured. Fortunately, she shouldn't be in any life-threatening danger."
The crowd gathered around, looking down at Wanda. Just as Homelander had said, although she was unconscious, her breathing was relatively stable; as long as she received timely treatment, there should be no danger to her life.
Pietro dragged his broken leg, limping through the crowd. He looked at his sister's pale face, the worry and heartache in his eyes beyond words.
But he quickly adjusted his emotions and turned to Homelander, a bright smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Welcome back, Boss." Pietro hopped over on one leg, leaning on Homelander's shoulder. "Since She was about sacrifice herself for you, You should take responsibility and marry her."
He shrugged, his tone sounding quite expectant.
"Looks like I need to get ready to be an uncle ahead of schedule."
"Shut your mouth, Pietro." Jessica struggled over and unceremoniously slapped the back of Quicksilver's head. "If you keep talking nonsense like that, I promise you, once your leg is healed, I will personally watch you complete 20 million kilometers of daily training."
Jessica's threat drew a burst of laughter from the crowd, and their frayed nerves finally relaxed.
Meanwhile, the roar of engines grew louder in the sky.
A medical transport plane bearing the Vought International logo broke through the clouds and landed steadily on the plain.
A fully equipped medical team pushed stretchers and ran quickly down the ramp.
"Gently, secure her neck," the Medical Supervisor shouted instructions.
Wanda, along with the rest of the scarred heroes on the scene, were properly placed on stretchers and sent into the cabin.
This doomsday crisis triggered by the Skrulls finally came to an end with the powerful return of Homelander.
But things didn't end there; although the alien leader was dead, millions of Skrull remnants still lurked on Earth.
The real purge had only just begun.
...
Washington D.C., the White House.
President Matthew Ellis stood in a sharp suit at the press conference podium in the Rose Garden.
There was no longer any anxiety or panic in his eyes; his entire being radiated a tough aura.
With Homelander back, he had his confidence. He was no longer worried at all about any so-called counterattack by the Skrulls.
"Citizens of America, and fellow humans all over the World who are watching this broadcast."
Ellis stared into the lens with eyes like torches.
"We won. The beacon of humanity, our Homelander, has once again pulled us back from the brink of destruction."
He paused, letting the weight of those words settle in the hearts of viewers worldwide.
"But... the war is not over yet."
Ellis took out a document he had just signed and held it high.
"I have just signed the 'Global Skrull Purge Act'."
"To all Skrulls currently lurking on Earth, listen closely. From the second this decree is promulgated, you have forty-eight hours."
"Within forty-eight hours, you must travel to Alaska and surrender to the Skrull Internment Park controlled by Vought International for a full investigation."
"If you have not caused any substantial harm to humanity during your time on Earth, then after undergoing Vought's Shape-shifting Molecule Removal Surgery, you will be collectively arranged to continue living in a quarantine zone. This is the final mercy humanity grants you."
"If your hands are stained with human blood... then you will face a harsh trial in a human court based on the extent of the harm and your attitude toward confessing."
"Remember, only forty-eight hours."
Ellis's tone was icy, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Once the deadline passes, the 'Global Skrull Purge Act' will be officially enforced. Any Skrull who has not reported to the park will be considered a mortal enemy of humanity. We will no longer issue any warnings, nor will we accept surrenders. You will be killed on the spot worldwide!"
"Homelander is with us."
...
After this tough decree was promulgated, it caused massive panic and division among Skrull groups across the globe.
Only a portion of the Skrulls chose to compromise.
Most of them were civilians tired of interstellar exile; on Earth, they had merely taken on the faces of humans who had already died from accidents or diseases, living quiet, anonymous lives, and had not participated in Gravik's mad plan.
This portion of law-abiding Skrulls chose to take their families and, filled with fear and helplessness, boarded planes to Alaska to accept whatever awaited them.
But this was only a minority; the vast majority of Skrulls were still holding onto hope for a lucky break.