Chapter 178: Stormfront

In Manhattan, New York, Jon, cleverly disguised as a Caucasian man, stood before a residential building. He scrutinized the structure meticulously, ensuring it was the correct target before gearing up for his assault.

Jon typically initiated his attacks with a devastating gravity wave, aimed at annihilating the residence. His ultimate goal was to draw out the superhero dwelling within and eliminate him in direct combat. Jon's strategy was crafted to create the impression of a killer with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, adhering rigidly to a specific modus operandi. This facade served as a safeguard, deterring any potential connections between the name Phoenix and these murderous acts. Although it seemed unlikely anyone would make the connection, Jon preferred to err on the side of caution.

But today's events took an unforeseen twist. As he raised his hand to launch the attack, he detected a presence behind him.

Simultaneously, he sensed a distinct, almost intoxicating aura of malevolence.

"Searching for a hero to slaughter, Gravity Psychopath?"

A figure clad in a black bodysuit and cape descended from above, landing with grace behind Jon.

"It's Stormfront!" exclaimed several bystanders, clearly taken aback.

Jon, however, remained composed and unsurprised by her appearance. In his recent escapades, all but two members of the Seven—Homelander and Stormfront—had pursued him, yet he had consistently eluded capture with the aid of his mystical abilities.

"Let it go, Stormfront. You and I both know he's no hero—just a regular person enhanced with Compound V," Jon retorted as he turned to face her. "And really, 'Gravity Psychopath'? You must agree that you can come up with something more original for a supervillain's nickname."

Unfazed by Jon's sarcastic tone, Stormfront, who had endured for decades as a female Nazi, brushed off the taunt. Simple provocations like these were insufficient to rattle her.

"Looking for a more flattering nickname? I'm afraid that's not something a villain of your caliber is worthy of," Stormfront snapped back. "In just the past week, you've taken down numerous superheroes, notably ten who were white. By focusing your attacks on them rather than those of color, you reveal yourself to be the true menace of this world, a betrayal to your so-called noble race."

As she spoke, Stormfront's hands crackled with electricity, her body surrounded by a growing storm of energy, signaling her readiness for confrontation.

Just as she moved to strike, another voice interrupted from behind her.

"Stop, villain! Surrender now!"

A voice rang out from behind Stormfront, distinctly righteous yet tinged with a hint of cringe. She turned, her expression twisting into a frown, only to find a figure cloaked in a fiery red battle suit. This suit bore an exaggerated phoenix emblem on the chest and a cape adorned with flame runes.

It was Phoenix, another guise of Jon, made possible by using Alessa's power to create illusions. This technique allowed him to temporarily split into two, mimicking a cloning effect.

Phoenix's dramatic entrance stirred the crowd once more.

Stormfront's gaze shifted to Phoenix, her eyes a cocktail of disgust and hatred. As an extreme nativist and adherent to white supremacist ideologies, she believed that people of color sullied the purity of the noble white race. During her missions, she would occasionally exert lethal force on minorities, later pinning the blame on supervillains.

Despite her fervent beliefs, Stormfront maintained a level of rationality. Mishandling the situation could draw unwanted scrutiny to the Seven. Although such concerns about public image didn't personally bother her, she upheld the supremacist notion that beings like herself and Homelander were destined to dominate and cleanse the world, establishing a regime dominated by white supremacy.

Taking a deep breath, she managed a patronizing tone. "Wow~! You're the new guy? But if you're here to catch the Gravity Psychopath, you can leave because I'll handle it~!"

Phoenix responded with a calm demeanor, "No, upholding justice is the duty of every superhero. I won't let you fight alone."

He then addressed the villain as Stormfront had referred to him, "Surrender now, and your life will be spared!"

Stormfront fought to keep her rising anger in check. While she could easily eliminate an unarmed human, she couldn't risk the public's wrath, particularly not when Phoenix, a new hero, was gaining public support, potentially surpassing even the least popular member of their group, Shockwave.

But then, the unexpected occurred once more. The Gravity Psychopath burst into laughter. "Hahaha, think you can catch me? Let's see if you have what it takes~!"

With a menacing grin, he aimed his palm at the ground, unleashing two potent gravity waves. The ground trembled violently beneath them, and suddenly, the ground beneath the Gravity Psychopath collapsed.

"Damn!" Stormfront cursed under her breath, but it was already too late.

Chapter 178: Stormfront

The Gravity Psychopath, capitalizing on the disturbance he had created, launched himself off the crumbling ground and soared skyward. "Let's follow him!" Phoenix exclaimed, propelling himself in pursuit.

Reluctantly, Stormfront trailed behind. They rocketed across the Manhattan skyline, but by the time they reached where the Gravity Psychopath had been, he had vanished without a trace.

"He got away again, just like the last few times!" Stormfront said, her expression souring as she shot a sharp glance at Phoenix. She had intended to capture the Gravity Psychopath herself, fulfilling an assignment from Homelander and reveling in the slow ebbing of life from her target. But Phoenix, the new interloper, had disrupted her plans.

Her resentment toward Phoenix deepened, and she plotted to find a pretext to confront him directly today, consequences be damned.

As she contemplated her next move, Phoenix suddenly turned to face her. With a mocking sneer, he challenged her, "Hahaha~! Now, it's your turn, bitch~!"

Stormfront recoiled, stunned by his audacity. His words sliced through the air, leaving a palpable tension. Had this new hero really just insulted her directly? This bold, reckless provocation was unlike anything she had expected from him.