Marvel: Starting with the Homelander Template

"Cough, cough!"

Smith choked out a raspy cough, struggling to push himself off the ground. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and his limbs trembled as he fought to rise.

But his body was too broken.

Still, he managed to grab the edge of Number Six's coat, trying desperately to pull her away. "You shouldn't have come out! Go! Now!"

But Number Six refused to leave. Instead, she threw herself in front of him, arms outstretched, shielding him with her own body.

Huh?

This girl…

Alex narrowed his eyes. She looked familiar. Definitely someone from the plot, maybe another crossover character.

But he couldn't place her right now, and honestly, he didn't care enough to try.

He ignored her entirely. His gaze locked on Smith like a predator sizing up a wounded animal.

"You get one chance," Alex said flatly, voice like ice. "Tell me why you're here."

Smith panted heavily, his fear obvious. But he still managed to meet Alex's eyes with a flicker of defiance. "One of you took something that belongs to me. I'm just… here to take it back."

Something that belongs to him?

Alex raised an eyebrow. The first thought that crossed his mind was Selene and her people. Could they be the target?

He hadn't taken anything from anyone recently—

Wait. No, that wasn't true.

He had raided Stryker's island not long ago and looted a decent stash of adamantium. But Smith didn't look like one of Stryker's goons.

Suddenly, Smith's eyes widened as he stared down at the pendant around his neck—a jagged wolf fang, glowing bright blue. The pulsating light intensified until it was nearly blinding.

"You!" Smith's voice shook as he pointed a trembling finger at Alex. "It's you! The Sanctum Stone—you have it!"

Sanctum Stone?

Alex blinked, then glanced at the glowing fang pendant.

Ah.

That weird half-stone he'd picked up—cracked, glowing, and somehow able to supercharge his psychic powers. That thing?

So that was the Sanctum Stone?

He couldn't help but chuckle. Given what the stone had done to his mind, the grandiose name actually kinda fit.

"You mean the glowing half-a-rock that looks like it got sliced by a lightsaber?" Alex said dryly, one brow raised.

Smith's expression confirmed it. That pendant was a locator. And now it had led him here.

No point in denying it.

Alex figured this was a good opportunity to learn more about the stone anyway, so he didn't bother playing dumb.

"Smith! It is him!" Number Six shouted, eyes wide with fury and desperation. "He has the Sanctum Stone!"

Smith's face twisted in anguish. The hope in his eyes darkened quickly into something else—resignation.

There was no way he could take it back from someone like him.

"Can you return the Sanctum Stone?" Smith asked, voice hoarse but steady. "Name your price."

Alex tilted his head. "Anything?"

"Anything," Smith said firmly. "Even if it costs me my life."

He meant it. There was no hesitation in his voice. The man was deadly serious.

"In that case," Alex said, lips curling into a smirk, "how about telling me where the other half of the Sanctum Stone is?"

Smith's face twisted into a scowl. "You want more?!"

"Yup." Alex didn't even try to hide it.

Smith stared at him in silence, breathing heavily—seething.

He'd never met anyone so shameless. This guy had already taken what wasn't his and now wanted to go double-or-nothing. And worst of all?

He owned it.

"You're a goddamn thief!" Number Six shouted, her face flushed with rage. "You're no better than a bandit!"

Alex turned his amused gaze on her, this girl who looked about his age, but still carried the innocence of someone too green for this world.

"And what," he said smoothly, "gave you the impression I was ever the good guy?"

Number Six's breath caught in her throat. She was stunned silent, her whole body trembling with frustration.

He was too strong to fight. Too cold for reason.

And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.

Smith took a deep breath, voice low and cold. "To anyone outside our bloodline, the Sanctum Stone is just a glowing rock. It has no power for others. Why do you want it?"

"I have my reasons," Alex replied flatly.

He was done talking.

Smith wasn't going to surrender anything willingly. So Alex turned and gestured to Selene.

"Take him back. Hand him over to Emma."

"Yes, My Lord," Selene replied crisply. With a wave of her hand, two of her vampire subordinates moved to apprehend Smith.

"Get away from him!" Number Six screamed.

She lashed out, hands flaring with invisible force, sending a shockwave of telekinetic energy toward the approaching vampires.

The air rippled under the assault—but it was weak.

Compared to Smith's telekinesis, hers was barely a ripple.

Smith had once blasted multiple vampire elites off their feet with ease. But all Six could do was slow Selene's stride.

Selene walked forward unfazed, like striding through wind. One step. Another. Closing the gap.

But her underlings?

They weren't so lucky.

Number Six's attack sent them stumbling back, reeling under the pressure. She held them at bay—but just barely.

Alex watched without moving. This wasn't his fight. Not anymore.

He had Selene for a reason.

He was the Supreme now—no need to dirty his hands with every minor skirmish.

Let others handle the mess.

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