Trial

"You’re strong, but you’re still only a mortal. I, on the other hand, am a messenger of the gods."

Greed appeared not far away and spoke arrogantly. Wade hacked desperately at the transparent spatial barrier, but it did not budge. It was so sturdy that it inspired despair.

That was not the end of it. The Space Cage began to shrink, intending to crush Wade alive inside it. Wade’s expression changed as he attacked the barrier with all his strength, but he could only slow its contraction slightly.

"Mortals, stop struggling. Destruction is your inevitable fate. Only we can transcend."

Greed laughed loudly, then tossed an eyeball into the air. Having learned from before, everyone turned away and refused to look at it, firing at the eyeball from memory.

Unfortunately, every bullet missed. Then, the eye released waves of hypnosis, and the guards began to grow drowsy.

"Don’t fall asleep. Don’t fall asleep."

The guards did everything they could to stay awake, but how could they fend off the believers in such a state? The defensive line began to crumble.

Meanwhile, Cable arrived at the backyard where the mutant prisoners were being held. Seeing that Fire Fist was not on the exercise yard, he was somewhat disappointed. Then he shouted at the prisoners inside, "If you want freedom, go in there and kill Fire Fist and Doppelganger."

Cable did not dare enter the backyard. He was afraid he would not be able to get back out.

"Why do we have to kill Doppelganger and Fire Fist to gain freedom?"

A seductive blonde woman in green asked. She was the mutant Viper, immune to all poisons and capable of creating lethal toxins—she had been imprisoned for poisoning dozens of men to death, making her one of the worst criminals.

Behind Viper stood several burly men whom she had subdued.

"If Doppelganger isn’t killed, the people outside can’t get in. His duplication ability is terrifying."

Cable looked at Viper and said, "As for Fire Fist, he’s connected to that security supervisor. He has to die."

Inside the dormitory building, Fire Fist stood by a window and shouted, "I have nothing to do with that security supervisor. I can help you kill Doppelganger."

At the sight of Fire Fist, Cable’s rage surged. He immediately raised his gun and fired at him. Fire Fist was startled and hurriedly dodged. The bullet punched a large hole through the doorframe with a bang.

"What a terrible liar. Fire Fist is your target, isn’t he?"

Viper laughed. "I’ll kill Doppelganger, but Fire Fist must wait until after we gain our freedom."

Cable considered it, then nodded. "Fine. Move quickly. Only if the people outside break in can you escape."

"Don’t worry. It won’t take long."

Viper smiled and shouted to the prisoners, "Did you hear that? Those who want freedom, follow me inside to kill Doppelganger and capture Fire Fist."

Quite a few prisoners’ eyes lit up, and they moved behind Viper. However, many more prisoners stood at the dormitory entrance, prepared to stop Viper and the others from entering.

This was somewhat beyond Viper’s expectations. Frowning, she asked Man Bull, the two-meter-tall Black man, "Man Bull, what do you mean? You don’t want freedom?"

"I want freedom, but I don’t want to become a fugitive."

Man Bull said, "Mr. Wang is a good man. What he’s doing is right. Besides, I’m satisfied with my current life: stable work and an environment without discrimination. To me, this place is practically Heaven."

"That’s right."

The mutants behind Man Bull nodded one after another. If society had not discriminated against them, they would never have embarked on the path of crime in the first place.

Now that Wang Bert had given them a bright road to walk, they had no desire to return to their old ways.

Viper shouted unhappily, "Man Bull, aren’t your ambitions too low? We’re gods. How can we work for others?"

Man Bull laughed. "Gods? Excuse me, do you use the bathroom?"

Viper said irritably, "What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I use the bathroom."

"I’ve never heard of gods needing to use the bathroom."

Man Bull said disdainfully, "We’re people—people with superpowers. Viper, I’ll say it again: if you want into the dormitory, you’ll have to get through us first."

The mutants behind Man Bull raised shovels and other weapons, shouting, "We will never let you enter the dormitory."

Viper’s face turned somewhat ugly. She estimated that more than fifty mutants were willing to follow her, while Man Bull’s side had over seventy. The remaining several hundred were all neutral, standing around or inside the dormitory building to watch the show.

"So many mutants support Bert Wang?"

Cable was somewhat surprised. He raised his gun, preparing to shoot Man Bull, when a fierce gust suddenly came from behind him. He hurriedly lifted his metal left arm to block.

To Cable’s shock, the other person’s claws pierced straight through his metal arm. Then she kicked his knee, forcing him to drop to one knee.

"I heard you’re from the future? You’re not much after all."

Oyama Yuriko said contemptuously. Wang Bert had specifically sent her to keep watch over the mutant prisoners.

"You shouldn’t have touched my arm."

Cable grinned viciously. Blinding electricity flared from his metal arm, shocking Yuriko until her hair stood on end and smoke rose from her body. She hurriedly retracted her claws and retreated. Cable took the chance to raise his gun and fire at her.

Yuriko turned and dodged, then stabbed at Cable with claws like blades. Cable rolled away from Yuriko’s claws, then pulled a bomb from behind his waist and threw it at her.

At that moment, telekinesis enveloped the bomb. It flew off at an angle and exploded beside them with a thunderous boom. Jean had intervened.

Jean said, "Cable, I’ll give you an explanation about Fire Fist. Stop now."

"Sorry, I can’t stop."

Cable raised his gun and fired at Jean. Jean hurriedly dodged as Yuriko rushed in front of Cable, swiping at his neck. Cable summoned a defensive shield to block her attack. Then his left eye lit up red, firing a laser at Yuriko.

That was right—Cable’s left eye could fire lasers too. Yuriko could not dodge in time, and the laser pierced through her shoulder, forcing her back several steps.

Cable was about to follow up with another shot when Jean controlled the surrounding rocks and hurled them at him. He could only shoot the rocks away first. At that moment, Yuriko slid in and knocked Cable down, driving her claws viciously toward his neck.

As for the wound on Yuriko’s shoulder, sorry, it had already healed. Her regenerative ability was on the same level as Wolverine’s.

Cable roared as his metal arm crackled with electricity again. Yuriko’s whole body went numb from the shock, and Cable kicked her flying.

As Cable and Yuriko fought, Viper shouted to the people behind her, "For freedom, kill them."

"For freedom!"

The mutant prisoners roared, charging at Man Bull and the others with wrenches and other weapons.

"For our lives!"

Man Bull shouted, joining everyone in intercepting the prisoners. A massive brawl immediately erupted.

Fire Fist felt miserable as he watched from inside the dormitory building. Logically, he should help Viper, since he had always wanted to escape from prison. The problem was that Viper wanted to capture him as a bargaining chip. In other words, if he helped Viper, he would die.

"I’m under pressure no kid my age should have to bear."

Fire Fist cursed and turned toward the luxurious single room where Doppelganger was staying. However, after only a few steps, he saw a group of people fighting in the corridor.

The reason was simple. Some wanted to protect Doppelganger, while others wanted to kill him.

Fire Fist carefully went around them. When he reached Doppelganger’s door, he was shocked to see several duplicates guarding it with AKs.

"You actually have AKs?"

Fire Fist stared in disbelief. Mutants might have all sorts of abilities, but not many could withstand an AK.

"The BOSS gave them to me for self-defense."

One Doppelganger shrugged and asked, "Fatty, are you here to kill me or protect me?"

"I don’t know either."

Fire Fist said irritably. He really did not know what he should do. Doppelganger was speechless. He opened the door and said, "Go in."

Fire Fist was greatly surprised. "You’re not afraid I’ll kill your original body?"

Doppelganger merely smiled and gestured for Fire Fist to enter. Fire Fist walked in suspiciously and discovered Doppelganger and a suit of armor watching television—the live broadcast of the battle on the Frontlines.

"Iron Man!"

Fire Fist looked at the armor and cried out. He finally understood why Doppelganger had dared let him enter. The BOSS was here.

The armor turned its head and said to Fire Fist, "Fire Fist, that guy outside is called Cable. He’s from the future. In the future, you’ll burn his daughter to death, so he traveled through time to kill you."

Fire Fist looked completely bewildered, as if saying, I may not have read much, but don’t try to fool me.

Fire Fist could not help asking, "Iron Man, is that true or false?"

"Cable told Jean himself. It couldn’t be more real."

Wang Bert said, "Don’t worry, I won’t kill you, because your old man Wade definitely wouldn’t agree."

"Wade isn’t my father."

Fire Fist said angrily, "I don’t care what happens in the future. I’m definitely going to burn those bastards at the church to death."

Wang Bert smiled, waved his hand, and Fire Fist suddenly vanished. Doppelganger asked in surprise, "BOSS, where did Fire Fist go?"

"To the Frontlines. Let’s see the bond between him and Wade."

Wang Bert walked to the window and looked down at the chaotic battle below. "They’re fighting pretty fiercely."

Doppelganger was utterly confused. "BOSS, since you’re here, why not take care of them? Why stay here and watch television with me instead?"

Wang Bert said, "This is a trial. Those willing to protect you have genuinely repented. Afterward, I’ll grant them freedom."

"I see."

Doppelganger suddenly understood. After hesitating, he asked again, "BOSS, those prisoners are ruthless. Aren’t you afraid someone might get beaten to death?"

"Don’t worry. With the blessing I gave them, they won’t die. At most, they’ll be seriously injured."

Wang Bert said. He had previously used Money Power to make a wish: unless his people suffered severe physical damage, they basically would not die.

"That’s good. BOSS, how do you plan to deal with Viper and the others?"

"If they’re lucky enough to survive, I’ll transfer them somewhere else for proper rehabilitation. I guarantee that when they come back, they’ll be civilized and polite."

Wang Bert did not say more. He walked back to the television and said, "Let’s see Fire Fist’s choice."

At the entrance to the Frontlines, Fire Fist appeared out of thin air. Looking at the battle around him and Wade, who was trapped in the Space Cage and in increasingly dire condition, he was stunned.

Wade, who was attacking the Space Cage, saw Fire Fist and his expression changed slightly. He hurriedly asked, "Fire Fist, why did you come here?"

Hearing the voice, Greed turned to look at Fire Fist. He hesitated and did not attack immediately. On one hand, Fire Fist was wearing prison clothes—modified work clothes—so he might be an ally. On the other hand, Greed had expended quite a bit earlier and should not act rashly.

Fire Fist looked at Wade and mocked, "Wade, you look really ugly like this."

Wade was stunned. "This isn’t even my body. Wait, you can recognize me?"

Fire Fist said disdainfully, "Not your body? Who are you trying to fool? You look exactly the same as before."

Wade shouted unhappily, "Nonsense. How can this ugly body compare to my original one? I, Wade, am a famous handsome guy in New York."

"Probably no one in the world thinks that except you."

Fire Fist snorted. "Wade, I’m leaving. I told you, none of you can stop me."

With that, Fire Fist turned and strode toward the outside. Wade hesitated, then shouted, "Kid, it’s fine if you leave, but you can’t go burn down the church. I’m not saying this for those bastards. I’m saying it for you. Once you burn down the church, there’ll be no other road left for you."

"I know. In the future, I’ll become a great demon, but I don’t care, because I have to burn those bastards to death."

Fire Fist shouted without turning back. Wade sighed and said nothing more, even though he was about to be crushed to death—he did not want Fire Fist to put himself in danger. With Fire Fist’s strength, he was no match for Greed.

Seeing Fire Fist leave, Greed nodded in satisfaction. It seemed his choice had been correct.

Fire Fist walked a few steps, then suddenly thought of something and sharply turned around. The Space Cage was shrinking smaller and smaller, while Wade was resisting with all his strength.

"Wade is going to be crushed to death by the cage? Hmph, what does that have to do with me? It would be best if that guy died. Besides, Iron Man is here. He’ll definitely save Wade."

Fire Fist snorted, turned back, and continued forward, but his steps became slower and slower. What if Iron Man is held up by someone else? What if Iron Man didn’t notice this side?

As the saying went, concern clouded judgment. Because he cared, Fire Fist gradually lost his rationality. After a moment, he stopped walking, hesitated in place, then suddenly turned and charged toward Wade.

"Idiot, don’t come back."

When Wade saw Fire Fist return, he roared angrily. Fire Fist gritted his teeth and said, "You’re the idiot. You hung me from flagpoles so many times. I’m going to roast you on a cross."

"Idiot!"

Wade cursed loudly and attacked the Space Cage with all his strength.

Inside the room, Wang Bert smiled. "What a loving father and filial son."

Doppelganger was also smiling. "Indeed. I recorded this scene. Let’s see how they deny being father and son later."

"This kid isn’t bad at heart. He’s worth saving."

Wang Bert nodded. His voice rang beside Wade’s ear. "Wade, I bless you."

Wade froze, then rejoiced. He knew better than anyone how powerful Wang Bert’s blessing was.

"What a nuisance."

Seeing Fire Fist return, Greed cursed and controlled more than ten eyes to fire beams at him all at once. Fire Fist roared and blasted out a mass of blazing flames, burning every beam away.

Then Fire Fist swung both hands repeatedly, firing streams of flame at the Space Cage and Greed in succession. The kid’s power was incredibly strong. Otherwise, he would not have become a great demon in the future.

Greed snorted and threw out two energy-absorbing eyes. All the flames were sucked into them. Then he controlled the eyes to release the fire, forming two massive fireballs that shot toward Fire Fist.

Fire Fist was shocked and hurriedly tried to dodge, but he was far too late. Just as the fireballs were about to strike him, Wade appeared out of thin air and vanished with him.