Chapter 8
Translucent understood.
His hand stopped moving, and all the color left his face. He looked from Frenchie to Butcher, then toward Adam. He became even more afraid when he looked at Adam.
Frenchie watched him and smiled.
"Your friend has gorgeous ideas," he said to Butcher.
Butcher gave Adam the same crooked smile as before. "Useful mate."
Inside the cage, Translucent stayed near the back and watched them fearfully.
Adam watched him, but a blue screen suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.
[Template Synchronization Increased]
[Current Synchronization: 10%]
More lines formed below it.
[Enhanced Senses Strengthened]
[Heat Vision Output Increased]
[Enhanced Strength Increased]
[Initial Solar Energy Absorption Unlocked]
[Current Solar Absorption Rate: Low]
Adam's eyes widened as he immediately felt his body changing.
His senses became much sharper. He could hear faint sounds outside the room and detect airflow and pressure changes around the hideout.
The range of those senses had increased as well. Adam could now notice movement farther from the room and understand which direction it came from.
His body became considerably stronger.
It was still nowhere close to the real Superman's full power.
At ten percent, Adam could now fire heat vision at will.
His body could also absorb a small amount of solar energy. That energy would slowly restore him whenever his power dropped. As he absorbed more of it over time, his body would continue becoming stronger.
The absorption was slow at ten percent.
Adam felt very happy about the increase.
However, Adam knew what would happen next and focused on the situation.
Frenchie turned toward one of the old monitors near his workspace. He looked carefully at the screens placed around the hideout. When he noticed movement on one of them, his eyes widened.
"Homelander is here."
Butcher immediately moved closer to the monitor. He and Frenchie spoke quickly and decided that Frenchie would go outside to distract Homelander. They did not have much time before he reached the area.
"I'll draw him away from here," Frenchie said.
Butcher looked toward the exit. "Then move before he gets any closer."
Adam listened without interrupting until he noticed a dull zinc sheet lying against the wall. He walked over and picked it up.
Adam placed both hands on the zinc sheet and easily folded it between his hands without using any tool.
The room became quiet. Butcher stared at the bent zinc, then looked at Adam's hands. Frenchie stopped talking, while Hughie stood still with a shocked expression.
Even Translucent moved closer to the small window in the cage door to see what was happening.
Adam pulled one section away from the sheet. He bent it around the lower half of his face and pressed the sides into place. Then he used another metal section to cover more of his head.
He continued folding the zinc until it became a rough mask. The front covered his face while two narrow openings allowed him to see.
After adjusting the rough mask, Adam made sure it covered his face from Homelander's X-ray vision.
Butcher stepped closer.
"What the hell are you doing?" he asked. His gaze dropped to the crushed metal in Adam's hands. "And how the hell are you doing that?"
Adam tightened the last part of the mask.
"Clearly, I'm strong enough," he said. "I'll explain later. Right now, Homelander needs a distraction. I'll handle it."
Frenchie and Hughie were still staring at him. Butcher looked like he had several questions, but Adam started walking toward the exit before any of them could stop him.
Butcher stared after him.
'Is this bastard a Supe?'
Adam reached the exit.
"Wait," Butcher said from behind him. "I'm coming too."
Butcher hurried after Adam and stayed close as they moved through the outer passage. His eyes remained on Adam's zinc mask.
"You already knew who I was, didn't you?" Butcher asked.
Adam did not stop.
"No. I had no idea who you were."
Butcher was now certain Adam was a Supe. No normal man could fold a zinc sheet with his bare hands. He wanted to discover Adam's real identity, but Homelander was already too close.
He kept following Adam because this was not the time to begin a fight between them.
Adam pushed more strength into his legs and ran ahead. Although slower than A-Train, he reached a distant open area within seconds. There, his improved senses detected Homelander approaching above the nearby buildings.
Adam raised both hands and slammed his palms together with his new strength.
A powerful boom shook the surrounding area. Air burst away from his hands, and the shockwave spread between the buildings before moving upward.
High above, Homelander noticed the disturbance. He stopped following his earlier path and looked toward the sound. Then he changed direction and flew toward its source. A moment later, he dropped from the sky and landed in front of Adam.
Homelander looked at Adam with surprise and suspicion. His eyes moved across the rough mask. He tried to see through the zinc, but the metal prevented him from identifying Adam.
"Who are you?"