Chapter 201: The Devil's Gift

"Wow, how touching! A father giving a lesson to his son~!" Jon looked at Soldier Boy and Homelander, his face twisted in mockery. "You wouldn't believe it, Soldier Boy, your son used to be such a sniveling little brat. Lack of love turned him into an Oedipal freak."

"Shut up!" Homelander roared, his eyes flaring up with rage as he shot twin beams of heat vision directly at Jon.

Jon took two steps back, examining the scorched patches of his uniform and the burnt flesh underneath. But his wounds began healing almost immediately.

"Looks like we're finally past the point of no return," Jon remarked, turning his gaze to the remaining three members of The Seven—Queen Maeve, Starlight, and Shockwave. He grinned and asked, "Since it's come to this, you all need to pick a side. Are you with me, or with Homelander? Your choice today will determine whether you live or die, so choose wisely."

Starlight made her choice first. She stood up and said, "I've waited a long time for this day. Though it didn't go as I planned, who cares?" She took her place beside Jon.

Shockwave was next. He joined Homelander's side without hesitation, his years of loyalty ingrained by fear and respect. To him, Homelander was the ultimate power; no mere Phoenix Warrior could hope to challenge him.

Finally, Queen Maeve stood, facing Homelander. "I've waited for this day too—for the day you lose everything, for the day you fall, for the day your empire crumbles." She took her place next to Jon.

Jon laughed and shrugged. "Looks like I'm better at winning hearts," he quipped.

Homelander stood flanked by Soldier Boy and Shockwave, glaring at Jon, who stood with Maeve and Starlight. "What are you waiting for? Attack!" Homelander bellowed.

Shockwave moved first, his super-speed making him nearly invisible as he rushed toward Starlight. Before she could react, his fist struck her abdomen, sending her sprawling to the floor. He placed his foot on her stomach, sneering, "I'm not some junkie like A-Train."

But Starlight gritted her teeth, staring up at him defiantly. "I'm not who I used to be either." Her eyes glowed with a strange golden hue, and soon the air was filled with the crackling of electricity. The lights flickered as she drew energy from them, her hands charging with brilliant white energy. She unleashed twin beams of light, blasting Shockwave across the room.

Elsewhere in the room, Queen Maeve engaged in battle with Soldier Boy.

Jon, wearing his Phoenix Warrior suit, slowly approached Homelander. Homelander took a step toward Jon, eyes narrowed in rage.

Jon wasted no time, raising his hand as hellfire surged forth, directed at Homelander. But before it could reach his face, Homelander grabbed Jon's wrist, halting the attack. Jon swung his other fist, covered in flames, but Homelander caught that hand as well.

Jon sighed, shaking his head. He then slammed his forehead into Homelander's, but it barely fazed him. Homelander only smirked, his grip still tight around Jon's wrists, and then lifted himself slightly off the ground, floating in the air.

With a roar, Homelander smashed his head into Jon's once again, the impact sending Jon crashing into the floor. The ground beneath him cracked and splintered from the force.

Jon clutched his head, struggling to rise, but Homelander gave him no chance. He was already on him, ready to strike again.

Suddenly, Jon spun around, extending his hand toward Homelander. A powerful gravitational wave erupted from his palm, sending Homelander flying backward.

The unexpected attack left Homelander momentarily stunned. He struggled back to his feet, his eyes filled with disbelief. "That Gravity... ? How is this possible? How do you have two entirely unrelated powers?"

As the most advanced product of Compound V, Homelander knew that powers were typically singular and specialized. Gravity manipulation and fire-wielding were two entirely distinct abilities, making it nearly impossible for one supe to possess both.

Jon chuckled. "You guessed it—I am the Gravity guy. That power came from the Compound V experiments. But my other power, the hellfire, that's not from Compound V at all. That's a gift… from the devil himself."

"Nonsense!" Homelander yelled, shooting twin beams of heat vision at Jon's face.

Jon's Phoenix mask shattered, falling to the floor, and his head snapped to the side from the impact. When he turned back, the sight made Homelander's eyes widen in shock.

Half of Jon's face was stripped of flesh, revealing a grinning skull beneath, engulfed in eerie flames.

"Judgment time has come," Jon said, his voice now a dark, gravelly echo, like a demon from the depths of Hell.

Flames erupted across his head, consuming the remaining flesh. Jon's transformation was complete—he was now in his Ghost Rider form, a flaming skeleton, the embodiment of vengeance.

The Devil's Gift.

Homelander stared at the Ghost Rider, finally understanding what Jon had meant by "the devil's gift." But he shook his head violently, trying to rid himself of the fear creeping into his mind.

"I am a god! Why would I fear a devil?!" Homelander shouted defiantly.

The Ghost Rider's hollow eyes seemed to focus on him. "Even gods have sinned. Today, I shall judge you."

Before Homelander could react, the Ghost Rider lunged forward, grabbing his collar and slamming him against the wall. Homelander responded by landing a punch on the flaming skull.

"Hahahahahaha…~!"

But the Ghost Rider felt nothing. He continued to laugh, a chilling, manic laughter that echoed through the room. For the first time, someone was mocking Homelander—taunting him as if he were a mere child.

Homelander's fury erupted. No one had ever dared humiliate him like this. He unleashed a barrage of punches on the Ghost Rider's skull, even using his heat vision, but nothing seemed to affect him.

"Now it's my turn~!"

With those words, the Ghost Rider effortlessly lifted Homelander, turning the tables. He pinned Homelander against the wall, forcing him to look into his blazing eyes.

"Look into my eyes! Your soul is stained with the blood of the innocent. Feel their pain!"

Homelander was overwhelmed by visions—burning in hellfire, feeling the agony of all the innocent lives he had taken, all the suffering he had caused. The flames of retribution burned, consuming his very soul.

------------

(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my Patreon to see more chapters ahead. patreon.com/TheMightyZeus

------------