Homelander immediately switched states, his face shifting into...
He leaned over slightly and gently placed America from his arms onto the stone slab beside them.
Then he walked quickly to Wanda, tenderly cupping her cheeks.
His eyes were full of the pleasant surprise of regaining what was lost, heartache, and just the right amount of self-blame.
"I miss you so much, Wanda," Homelander said softly, with a touch of appropriate trembling.
Hearing that familiar voice and feeling the real warmth on her cheeks, Wanda's eyes turned red, and her tears suddenly broke through the dam.
The fear and loneliness of drifting in the void of endless dimensions were completely released at this moment.
She lunged into Homelander's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, as if he would disappear once she let go.
"I thought I would never see you again..." Wanda buried her face in Homelander's chest, sobbing uncontrollably, "There was nothing in that place. No time, no direction, I thought I had lost you forever..."
"Don't be afraid, I'm here," Homelander gently stroked Wanda's back with extreme gentleness.
"I promised you that no matter what happens, I will never give you up. During the time I lost contact with you, you don't know how much pain I was in."
"To bring you back, I consulted every ancient book I could find, and even touched the forbidden darkhold."
"I know it's dangerous, but I don't care. As long as it can exchange for your safety, even if I am swallowed by the darkness, even if I pay any price, everything is worth it."
Wanda trembled all over, her tear-filled eyes staring fixedly at Homelander.
During her time studying at Kamar-Taj, she knew very well what touching dark magic meant, and the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj avoided talking about this forbidden power.
Yet the perfect hero before her who valued honor most was actually willing to dabble in those evil powers for her, and willing to shoulder the risk of corruption.
This was love.
Unreserved love that transcended morality and bottom lines.
Wanda was moved beyond measure.
She didn't speak again, instead fiercely kissing Homelander's lips.
This kiss was filled with yearning, gratitude, and unreserved attachment.
Homelander parted his lips, passionately responding to the kiss.
Reminder! Gained special popularity value +20000! (From Wanda Maximoff)
Reminder! Gained special popularity value +2500! (From Wanda Maximoff)
At this moment, the system prompt sounded in Homelander's mind.
Huh?
Homelander's heart stirred slightly, what was going on?
Why was the special popularity value being given in stages now?
This situation had never happened before.
Could Wanda's soul have undergone some kind of mutation in the Universe?
Homelander calmly suppressed this question in his heart, intending to find an opportunity to test it later.
After a long time, Wanda reluctantly let go of Homelander.
"What happened here?" Her emotions had stabilized a lot, and only then did she ask about the current situation.
Homelander quickly organized his words in his mind, the expression on his face turning painful and regretful.
"Just now, a student I newly accepted..."
"His name is Stephen Strange. A genius in magic, the most outstanding disciple I've ever taught."
"To pull you back from your loss in the Universe, I needed someone to assist me in casting the traction magic array. Stephen took the initiative to shoulder this dangerous task. However, the energy of the Universe was too violent... He got sucked into an out-of-control Universe Portal, and fell into an unknown Universe."
Hearing these words, a sense of guilt immediately welled up in Wanda's heart.
"It's all because of me," she lowered her head, her voice carrying self-blame, "If it weren't to save me, your student wouldn't be missing. He might even have already..."
"It's not your fault, Wanda," Homelander interrupted her, pressing his hands on her shoulders and soothing her softly, "This is a choice we made together. Stephen is the most outstanding disciple I've ever seen. Even if he falls into an unknown Universe, he definitely has the ability to protect himself."
Homelander's words always carried a convincing magic.
The guilt in Wanda's heart lessened a little.
At this time, her gaze fell on another girl lying on the ground.
"Who is she?" Wanda looked at America's young face and asked in confusion.
"Her name is America," Homelander introduced, "She comes from another Universe. This child was born with the ability to travel between the Universe. It is precisely because of her power as a bridge that I was finally able to lock onto your location and bring you back."
Hearing the words "another Universe," a few fragmented images suddenly flashed through Wanda's mind.
A gloomy and terrifying forest.
A woman wearing dark red robes who looked exactly like her.
"I am your variant in another Universe."
Wanda subconsciously pressed her chest.
Was that an absurd dream born in nothingness, or something that really happened?
Wanda opened her mouth, wanting to tell Homelander about this.
But the words reached her lips, and she swallowed them back down.
She didn't want to add unnecessary trouble to Homelander right after he saved her back.
"We have to take good care of her," Wanda finally just looked at America and said softly.
Just as the two were talking.
In the center of the secret room, the golden spark circle appeared once again, and Sorcerer Ancient One in yellow monastic robes stepped out from the Portal.
Having just returned to Kamar-Taj, Ancient One acutely perceived the violent dark magic fluctuations erupting from the New York Sanctum.
So she immediately opened a Portal and rushed over.
Ancient One stood in the scarred secret room, her gaze like a torch.
Her line of sight fell directly on Homelander and Wanda.
Seeing Wanda standing safe and sound, a joyful smile appeared even on Ancient One's usually calm face.
"It seems a miracle has happened. Welcome back, Wanda."
"Thank you, Master Ancient One." Wanda respectfully nodded in greeting.
Ancient One turned her gaze to Homelander and asked, "I sensed very strong dark magic fluctuations. Can you tell me what happened here, Anthony?"
Homelander's expression didn't change, and he repeated the slightly adjusted version he had just told Wanda to Ancient One.
After listening, Ancient One frowned slightly.
She knew the danger of the darkhold better than anyone.
That book of corruption written by Chthon, the god of dark magic, had an extremely terrifying power to corrode people's hearts.
Even Vishanti would find it difficult to reverse the soul pollution it caused.
However.
Ancient One carefully sensed Homelander's aura.
The supreme and powerful aura on his body hadn't changed at all.
Pure, powerful, as dazzling as the scorching sun.
There was not a trace of a sign of being corroded by darkness.
She breathed a slight sigh of relief in her heart.
She couldn't help thinking of Homelander's past deeds.
This disciple had experienced so many doom-like life-and-death crises and endured unimaginable pressure, yet he had never changed his original intention of protecting Earth.
Perhaps it was this almost stubborn absolute belief in protecting Earth that made his heart as firm as a rock, leaving the corrosion power of the darkhold nowhere to start.
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