Or rather, as a transmigrator with a God’s-eye view of everything, and now also John’s nominal and biological father, Benjamin found Holander’s character deeply tragic, even sowhat pitiable.
From the mont John was born, he had been robbed of the right to a normal family.
His childhood held no toys, no hugs from his parents.
Only the cold, sterile laboratories of Vought International.
Only endless blood draws, electric shocks, and extre high-temperature oven experints.
The scientists in white coats never saw him as a person.
To them, he was simply the most perfect product of "Compound V."
Then, after he grew up, Vought International wrapped him in a false halo and made him play the role of a noble, righteous savior in front of the caras.
For the first half of the story, Holander was even willing to risk his life for Vought International, desperately trying to preserve the glory of "The Seven."
Honestly, if any ordinary person had Holander’s powers and went through Holander’s childhood, there was a good chance they would grow up into a sociopathic terrorist a hundred tis crazier than him.
The fact that Holander had made it this far was already impressive.
Vought had personally turned Holander into a twisted test subject starved of love since childhood, and now they wanted him to beco a shining hero?
They wanted to use him to rake in money?
What a joke!
"Since I’m your old man now..." Benjamin thought to himself, "Holander, I’ll personally make up for the childhood you were denied."
"There isn’t a father alive who doesn’t want to raise his own son with his own hands, or even pass the hero’s halo on to him..."
Benjamin drew in a deep breath and brought his attention back to reality.
Feeling the bone-chilling cold around him, a violent red glint flashed through his eyes.
His top priority now was getting the hell out of this damn ice prison!
"Bzzzz!"
As Benjamin focused his will, a terrifying power that had lain dormant deep within his chest for nearly forty years began to awaken.
A dazzling light soon flared from his chest, illuminating the dim cryogenic hibernation chamber until it was blindingly bright.
Outside the chamber, the needles on every alarm gauge instantly maxed out, letting out a piercing buzz.
"Woo! Woo! Woo!"
Deep within the forr Soviet Union’s secret military base, a piercing air-raid siren suddenly erupted.
Rapidly flashing red lights flooded the laboratory.
Before long, squad after squad of fully ard Russian soldiers rushed toward the core laboratory with automatic rifles in hand, as if facing a deadly enemy.
"What happened?!"
A commander wearing the rank of major burst into the control room, sweat pouring down his face, and grabbed the collar of the technician frantically pounding at the keyboard.
"Sir, it’s... it’s the cryogenic zone where Soldier Boy is being held!"
The technician pointed at the energy readings soaring wildly on the screen.
"Damn Soldier Boy, he... he’s actually awake!"
"How is that possible?!"
The major violently shoved the technician aside and roared, "This ultra-low-temperature cryogenic chamber was built specifically for him! He’s been sleeping here like a corpse for forty full years. How could he suddenly wake up without any warning?!"
And yet, the truth was right in front of them.
Outside the cryogenic chamber, large numbers of Russian soldiers had already assembled behind layer after layer of steel barriers.
Dozens of AK rifles were all trained firmly on the chamber, which was radiating more and more heat.
Every soldier’s face was written with fear.
The thing imprisoned inside was no ordinary Supe.
He was the strongest hero of the first generation, a man who could tear tanks apart with his bare hands half a century ago.
A monster who could have an AK fired into his mouth and walk away without a scratch.
Inside the cryogenic chamber, the dazzling red light grew brighter and brighter, like a miniature sun expanding at terrifying speed.
The soldiers opened fire.
"Bang, bang, bang, bang!"
Dense muzzle flashes instantly lit up the entire underground laboratory.
But it was already too late.
"Boom!!!"
With a thunderous blast, a Nuclear Shockwave erupted from the cryogenic chamber as its center.
A blinding crimson stream of high-energy particles swept outward.
The supposedly indestructible cryogenic chamber shattered in an instant, sending tal fragnts weighing several tons exploding in every direction.
The terrifying explosion tore through everything in the laboratory with overwhelming force.
Naturally, the Russian soldiers surrounding the front line were the first to suffer.
They did not even have ti to scream before they were erased by the nuclear energy.
Soon, more Russian soldiers rushed in from outside the laboratory.
From within the thick smoke ca the sound of steady, powerful, unhurried footsteps.
"Step... step..."
The smoke and dust slowly dispersed.
A tall, naked man was strolling casually out of the flas.
Benjamin ripped the warped tal breathing mask from his mouth and tossed it to the ground as if crushing a biscuit between his fingers.
He took deep breaths as he looked around.
"M-monster..."
The Russian soldiers broke down and pulled their triggers one after another.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat!"
Dozens of rifle rounds poured out, striking Benjamin squarely in the chest and face.
Then, a sight of utter despair unfolded before them.
The mont the bullets touched Benjamin’s skin, they dropped weakly to the ground.
Benjamin lowered his head and glanced at the bullets scattered on the floor. Then he looked up again, revealing a cruel smile.
...
Five minutes later, Benjamin looked over the ss of wreckage and severed limbs covering the ground, then shook the blood from his hands in disgust.
He walked over to a relatively intact corpse, bent down, and stripped off a loose green Russian military overcoat, draping it casually over his muscular body.
Wind and snow from outside the base poured in through the blasted opening, making the military overcoat flap sharply in the gusts.
Benjamin took a deep breath of the free air he had not felt in forty years. Judging by his guess, The Boys had not arrived yet, which ant the current tiline should be around Season One or Season Two. He just did not know exactly when.
Had Hughie’s girlfriend been killed by A-Train yet?
If possible, he would stop it.
He would use that as a way to make contact with Vought International, and with Holander.
And if possible, he would save Hughie while he was at it.
After all, he was a superhero, and the strongest superhero of the first generation.
Soldier Boy planned to do a good deed, teach A-Train a lesson, and use the opportunity to educate all of The Seven, including Holander.
And if he could use this chance to clean up, or even take control of and restructure the corrupt Vought International...
Benjamin would turn Vought International into a true superhero company.
He shoved both hands into the pockets of the military overcoat and strode out of the base.
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