Ticket gates of the Metropolitan Football Stadium.
Qi Li had assumed Luke and the others would already be inside, considering how much time he and Kate had spent up in the sky.
As it turned out, the group was still stuck at the entrance.
Qi Li walked up and asked, "What's going on?"
Female Jordan turned around and sighed in relief. "They won't let Sloan in. To be precise, they won't let a donkey in."
Qi Li didn't even need to speak.
Kate had already stepped forward of her own accord. Gently resting her right hand on the back of the staff member's hand, the corner of her lips curved up.
"You love donkeys more than anything. You're definitely going to let him in, aren't you?"
The moment the words left her mouth, a blazing passion ignited in the staff member's eyes as he stared at Sloan. He waved them through immediately.
"To hell with stadium regulations—I fucking love donkeys! They have to come inside and get equal... no, superior treatment to humans!"
The group made it through without a hitch.
Qi Li glanced left and right. "Where's Maverick?"
"Right here."
The red cap that had been perched on Sloan's head suddenly floated into the air and settled securely onto a higher ledge nearby.
Qi Li stared at the cap. "What are you doing?"
"Skipping the ticket, obviously," Maverick replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Just as horses needed grass and humans had to take a dump, getting Maverick—an invisible man—to properly buy a ticket and walk through the gate was just as hard as asking him to wear clothes.
"Fair enough."
Qi Li had merely asked out of curiosity; he had no interest in babysitting him.
Dean was nowhere to be found.
Having arrived early, he had gone off to cheer on Shockwave, whom he knew personally.
Once inside the arena, Kate held up two VIP tickets with a beaming smile, waving them at the others who had only managed to buy general admission seats.
"Well, I suppose this is where we part ways."
The group split into two.
VIP viewing stands.
When Qi Li and Kate arrived, they noticed their seats were remarkably close to the Super Seven's private box.
While Sloan and the rest were being held up at the gate, Queen Maeve, Black Noir, Starlight—all here to support A-Train—and Homelander, who had made a grand finale appearance, had already arrived one after another along the red carpet at the opposite end.
None of them were in the stands at the moment, however.
Homelander and Queen Maeve were in the interview area chatting with hosts, discussing the hot-button superhuman military contract proposal that had dominated the news lately.
Starlight and Black Noir were in the fan zone signing autographs and taking photos.
Apart from Deep Sea, every living member of the Super Seven was present.
"Oh my god! Did Starlight get 'baptized' by a bunch of men last night? Is that why she finally took off her purity ring and switched into her favorite club-girl battle suit today?"
Out of nowhere, Kate spoke with venom sweet as honey, her eyes fixed on the massive overhead screen as she delivered a barrage of sarcasm.
Starlight had snatched the Super Seven spot that rightfully belonged to her boyfriend. Driven by fierce loyalty, Kate had become Starlight's ultimate hater.
Even though Qi Li had explained that it wasn't necessary, Kate refused to let it go.
Qi Li followed her gaze.
Up on the colossal stadium screen, a live feed showed Starlight taking photos with fans.
He finally understood what Kate meant by "club-girl battle suit."
To be fair, the description was spot-on.
Qi Li was somewhat surprised. He had previously remarked that Starlight's suit was exceptionally conservative, showing zero cleavage. Looking at it now, not only did it bare cleavage, but her rear was practically hanging out as well. She had swung entirely to the opposite extreme.
Qi Li recalled the Starlight from Vought's earlier interview clip and compared her to how she looked now.
Did joining the Super Seven really change a person this drastically?
"Those big blonde waves are definitely hair extensions—her hair was never that thick before. And that eyeshadow? A complete disaster..."
Speaking from a woman's expert perspective, Kate continued to rattle off flaw after flaw she spotted on the screen.
Qi Li didn't stop her.
Starlight wasn't his girl, so Kate could trash her all she wanted. There was no need to worry about rabid Starlight fans overhearing and starting trouble either.
With nearly a hundred thousand people gathered in the stadium, the atmosphere was at a deafening fever pitch.
Looking out across the arena, people were reduced to dense swarms of tiny black specks, submerged beneath roaring waves of excitement and clamor.
By comparison, the stage for the Campus Showdown was far smaller.
"I'll go grab a couple of cold drinks."
Kate had expended plenty of breath while they were up in the sky, and now she was wearing herself out venting on his behalf. Naturally, Qi Li wanted to take good care of her.
On his way past the area where Starlight was signing autographs, a lively scene happened to unfold.
"Hey, Starlight! Show us your tits!"
"Baby, you look incredible! Pull it down a little lower!"
"Hit me, Starlight! Come on!"
A pair of white hecklers—one skinny, one fat—"bravely" voiced their true feelings. That last remark, of course, was practically begging for a beating.
Starlight was furious, itching to throw a punch, but Ashley beside her held her back.
With so many people watching, she couldn't afford to raise a hand as a superhero and superstar. Doing so would ruin everything.
In the end, Starlight stormed off in anger, and the two agitators slipped away.
Qi Li thought the matter was settled, never expecting it would turn back on him.
"Hey, you're Bronze, aren't you?"
It started innocently enough, and Qi Li assumed it was just another fan. Given his current fame, he had already been recognized a few times along the way.
Then he saw the faces of the two troublemakers from a moment ago.
Predictably emboldened, the pair brazenly tugged the outer corners of their eyes upward, trading mocking jeers and insults:
"Hey! Slant-eyed Bronze! Qing dynasty roach! This is our turf, go back to your own country!"
"Don't eat my dog~~ Don't eat my cat~~"
"Despicable Bronze! You definitely poisoned Steel Soldier to steal your shameless win! White people can't be beaten!"
"That half-breed dean must be in on it! Bronze crawled into her bed, and together they framed the great Steel Soldier!"
Qi Li... smiled.
He etched both of their faces firmly into his memory, glanced at the crowd gathering around them, and turned on his heel to take a different path.
Seeing him walk away, the two grew even smugger.
"Look at that—that's a superhero for you. We can curse him out whenever we want!"
"Damn right! We're unstoppable!"
"Who should we cuss out next?"
"How about Black Noir? He's Black, right?"
Echoing each other in high spirits, they strutted forward. Before they realized it, the crowd around them had thinned to nothing.
And then—
*Thud! Thud!*
Before either could react, powerful hands clamped around the backs of their necks.
A nearby door swung open.
After a dizzying blur of motion, they were slammed hard onto the floor. When their senses finally returned, they found themselves inside a utility closet.
*Clang!*
The heavy door slammed shut.
Their hearts leaped into their throats, flooded with dread.
When the person who had closed the door turned around slowly, revealing his face—
All the color drained from their skin, and their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably.
Because the man standing before them was none other than the superhero they had just relentlessly mocked: Bronze.
Chapter 41