Hit Again

Zhang Ye withdrew his hand and sighed.

"That thing’s impact on reality has become even more severe. I thought its greatest danger was spreading corruption through the mental world, altering people’s sanity and perceptions. I never expected it to be capable of this."

"You mean this wound had nothing to do with Deadpool, but was affected by that thing?" Moon Knight murmured as he stared at the nearly healed wound on Kara’s shoulder.

"Yes and no. This wound appeared out of nowhere. In other words, Deadpool originally couldn’t have hurt Kara, but under that thing’s corruption, Kara herself believed Deadpool’s blade could hurt her. So that blade truly left a wound on you, Kara."

Zhang Ye’s words stunned everyone present.

"What?!" Everyone’s eyes widened as they stared at Zhang Ye in disbelief.

The notion that merely believing they were injured could make them truly injured, that reality could be altered this way, was simply unimaginable to them.

"That can’t be possible!" Pietro opened his mouth in astonishment. "Can corrupting someone’s perception alone break the laws of physics? That should be impossible!"

"But it happened, didn’t it?" Zhang Ye walked over to the table and tapped a stack of files with his finger.

"Moon Knight found these in Deadpool’s Safe House. They record the weaknesses of most heroes, but as far as I know, knowing some heroes’ weaknesses isn’t enough to kill them. Luke Cage and Doctor Voodoo, for example. Neither was someone Deadpool could kill."

"And yet, they still died by Deadpool’s hand." Moon Knight narrowed his eyes slightly.

Luke Cage’s physical strength was terrifying. Killing him was by no means easy, especially since Deadpool’s greatest assets were his guns and blades. In a direct fight, Deadpool was no match for Luke Cage.

The only way to murder Luke Cage was to poison him, to find a way in from the inside. But even setting aside the odds of success, even if Deadpool really could kill Luke Cage, he would still be no match for Doctor Voodoo.

With Doctor Voodoo’s magical abilities, even after death, he could have survived through his soul. Yet judging from the Avengers joint squad’s murder scene, after Doctor Voodoo was cut down by Deadpool, he never got back up.

"That only proves Deadpool is now a massive source of corruption. He unconsciously spreads distorted perceptions. My guess is that this is why this universe is about to be destroyed." Zhang Ye frowned. "But I still can’t figure out what that guy’s true goal is."

At that, everyone fell silent. After a moment, they all shifted their gazes in unspoken agreement toward the head resting on the table.

"Yoo-hoo~"

Deadpool opened his eyes.

"Guess who’s awakened from his brief little nap~!"

Deadpool showed no surprise at the sight of the room full of people. Or rather, he no longer possessed even a trace of reason, nor the capacity for surprise.

Watching Deadpool clown around, everyone present wore cold expressions. After all the slaughter he had committed, no one was going to show him even the slightest kindness.

Even John was the same. Though he was only a minor villain who usually lived in fear of Hunter or superheroes coming after him, he had his own bottom line. That was important to him.

Heroes or villains, they merely clashed over their own interests. Sometimes heroes did bad things, and villains saved the world. That was their bottom line. But Deadpool—Deadpool as he was now—had completely crossed that line.

"Deadpool, what exactly happened? Who turned you into this?" Moon Knight stepped forward, crouched down, and looked directly into Deadpool’s eyes.

"Hahaha~ Moon Boy, is this a pajama party you specially prepared for me? I really love it~ Especially since you invited my favorite Supergirl. That girl’s a real knockout, isn’t she~?"

"Enough!" Moon Knight roughly cut Deadpool off. "I’m trying to help you, Deadpool. I saw the message you left for us in the Safe House. At the very least, I hope you can tell us who turned you into this and what their purpose is."

Faced with Moon Knight’s aggressive questioning, Deadpool only revealed an even more grotesque smile. He threw back his head and laughed madly.

"Someone is driving a wedge between you and your friends! Moon Man, Khonshu isn’t your friend. You have to resist. You have to do everything you can to break free from His spell’s control!"

"What are you talking about?! You’re not here, are you?" Moon Knight clenched his fists. For some reason, Deadpool’s words suddenly sent a bone-deep chill through him, along with an intense sense of danger rising from within.

"Break free from His power, Marc. You can do it." Deadpool’s lips split into a grin, his words full of temptation.

"What… what are you saying?"

A suffocating sensation suddenly struck him. Moon Knight froze in place, abruptly struggling to breathe as the divine power flowing through his body began to boil uncontrollably.

".Let go… You’re free now."

Deadpool’s smile vanished. He stared solemnly at Moon Knight and spoke one word at a time.

".Khonshu’s spell can no longer control you."

Smack—

A hand swiftly slapped Moon Knight on the shoulder, making his whole body jolt!

"What’s wrong with you?" Zhang Ye asked curiously, patting Moon Knight’s shoulder.

Earlier, everyone had been watching Deadpool’s head. Although they all knew Deadpool was not dead, they had not been ready to speak with him, because no one knew whether the presence hiding behind the scenes might be watching them through Deadpool’s eyes.

But at that moment, Zhang Ye suddenly noticed that Moon Knight seemed off. He appeared overly fixated on Deadpool, as though he had become entranced.

Not only that, but the divine power throughout his body was fluctuating in a highly unnatural way. Zhang Ye quickly noticed this abnormal state.

Feeling the solid touch of Zhang Ye’s palm, Moon Knight broke out in a cold sweat. He was shocked that a single movement from Zhang Ye had stabilized the divine power within his body and awakened him at the same time. He was also horrified by the terrifying power that corrupted perception.

He turned his head and stared fixedly at Deadpool’s unconscious head, his thoughts in turmoil.

"I… I got hit again."