Scheming

The instant Red Skull appeared, Tessa’s face went completely pale. It was not that she feared how formidable Red Skull was, but that she feared the Hydra behind him! Hydra was an organization with a history as long as the Hellfire Club’s. Though it lacked powerful mutants, its combat strength was not to be underestimated.

"What do we do now?" Little Logan moved closer to Tessa, looking somewhat nervous as he clenched his fists and his Bone Claws slowly extended.

Tessa glanced at Little Logan, then shifted her gaze to Qiqi, the fire dragon beside him. With a solemn expression, she said, "Qiqi, we’ll have to rely on you in this battle!" The robots led by Red Skull could all fly, while there were only a handful of mutants capable of flight.

Qiqi shook his basketball-sized head, his huge eyes turning slightly as he spoke in human language. "We can call over the Bat People. Whether they join the battle directly or carry mutants into combat, they would be a good choice."

Tessa froze for a moment, delight flashing across her face. "How could I have forgotten them?" Then she paused again, slapped her forehead, and shouted urgently, "Notify the Bat People, and the Beastmen Legion too!"

The Beastmen Legion had been a special force formed to fool the Descendants of Atlantis. Although most of it had been disbanded after the war, some members remained, including many flying beasts and Pterodactyl-men.

Not long after Tessa’s orders were issued, Red Skull’s army of flying robots approached the Floating Giant Island. Battle was about to erupt.

Holding binoculars, Tessa watched Hydra’s army draw ever closer. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she suddenly shouted, "Kill!"

Amid earthshaking battle cries, the previously calm lake beneath the Floating Giant Island suddenly surged into towering waves. Waves more than a hundred meters high smashed fiercely into the robots in midair. Caught off guard, countless robots plummeted down like dumplings dropped into a pot. In an instant, the robot army that had filled the sky was reduced by twenty percent!

"Good!" Little Logan leaped up excitedly, his wide eyes shining so brightly they nearly glowed. "If they dared come looking for trouble, they’d better be prepared never to leave!"

Tessa, however, remained utterly calm. The waves had achieved such tremendous results only because of the surprise attack. Repeating it was basically impossible. After the enormous waves, Hydra’s alert army immediately rose higher, and the second wave accomplished almost nothing.

Seeing that the waves had lost their effect, Tessa immediately gave a new order, leaving Hydra no chance to catch its breath or recover. "Open fire!"

Fierce Energy Cannons fired from all across the Floating Giant Island. Fast as lightning, their blasts appeared amid the robot army in an instant and exploded with thunderous roars. Swathes of robots burst in the air like fireworks, brilliant and dazzling.

The Energy Cannons were powerful weapons invented by the aliens who created the Savage Land, and most had been installed throughout the cities of the Descendants of Atlantis. Alex had taken a liking to them and specifically ordered several dismantled and installed on the Floating Giant Island. Unfortunately, the cannons were enormous and difficult to dismantle and install, so the vast island had fewer than twenty of them.

Moreover, the Energy Cannons consumed immense amounts of power and came with serious drawbacks. They could fire at most five volleys before they had to shut down, or there would be a risk of exploding in their barrels. Fortunately, after five consecutive volleys, Hydra’s robot army had been reduced by nearly another fifty percent, producing impressive results.

"What a pity!" Watching the Energy Cannons shut down one by one, Tessa sighed and issued another order. The ready Bat People carried numerous mutants into the air, beating their wings. Only now did the true battle begin.

At the same time, Alex’s battle encountered an unforeseen crisis—and also a turning point.

Those locked in fierce combat failed to notice that, at some point, many soldiers dressed in AIM’s distinctive beekeeper uniforms had gradually appeared around them. Each soldier carried something resembling a shoulder-fired rocket launcher.

By the time someone finally noticed them, everyone suddenly realized that they had already been surrounded by these AIM soldiers!

"Strucker?!" The Black Queen’s pupils contracted. She turned, intending to find Strucker, only to discover that he had somehow retreated to stand before the suddenly appearing AIM soldiers.

Alex’s heart lurched, and panic rose within him for no reason. Before he could think further, an enormous Energy Force Field formed instantly, protecting most of those present—whether they were from X-Mansion or the Hellfire Club, and even one or two AIM members.

The moment the Energy Force Field formed, shells resembling miniature artillery rounds fired from the rocket launchers.

The dense barrage struck the Energy Force Field in an instant. In what seemed like no more than a breath, the sturdy field burst like a soap bubble. Half the shells were stopped, while the rest whistled toward everyone—Alex, the Black Queen, and Mandarin!

Alex had already greatly overestimated the power of those "shoulder-fired rocket launchers," yet he had still underestimated them. The instant the Energy Force Field shattered, Alex turned to Mandarin, deep pleading in his eyes, and shouted urgently, "Mandarin!" The shells were far more powerful than Alex had imagined. Very few of those present would survive!

With the Ten Rings in hand, Mandarin feared nothing. However, Strucker’s actions had angered him, and he had immediately intended to settle the score with Strucker. But after hearing Alex’s shout, Mandarin stopped. He looked at Alex, then ultimately dispelled the Electromagnetic Interference.

The instant the Electromagnetic Interference disappeared, Alex’s Psionic Power began operating at high speed. Enveloping everyone within range, he roared and activated Teleportation.

The intense pain made Alex feel as though his soul were about to be torn apart. His soul trembled violently, and even the Consciousness Register trembled along with it.

At last, the stabbing pain surged in like a rising tide, then vanished as swiftly as it had come. The Teleportation had succeeded.

Alex looked around. After confirming that they were far from danger, he let out a long breath and collapsed weakly to the ground. He raised a hand to wipe nonexistent sweat from his forehead, his thoughts in complete chaos.

Whenever he thought of the terrifying rocket launchers in the AIM soldiers’ hands, Alex’s heart grew heavy. With Strucker possessing such power, the Savage Land was destined to know no peace, and X-Mansion’s future situation would become extremely perilous.

As he was lost in wild thoughts, footsteps sounded. Alex turned and saw the Black Queen preparing to leave with her subordinates.

"I owe you one." Noticing Alex’s gaze, the Black Queen gave a cold snort. Without the slightest hesitation, she swiftly departed with her people.

The Brotherhood mutants hesitated for a while. Most chased after the Black Queen, while only a small number chose to remain, standing timidly beside Alex and the others.

Alex gave these mutants a gentle smile, then glanced at everyone. His expression darkened as he said coldly, "Come on. Let’s head back first!"