Superpowers in the Marvel World

"Ahhhhhh!!"

The sudden explosion of the wall startled several timid mutants into shrieking, but most of the others turned their attention curiously toward the smoking rubble where the wall had been.

Such an unnatural occurrence clearly wasn't the work of the human guards at the base. Could it be that someone had finally come to rescue them?

"Hahaha! My bad, my bad! Did I scare you all?"

As the mutants exchanged varied expressions while staring at the collapsed wall, a cheerful voice emerged from the smoke. Moments later, a lean figure stepped forward into view—a boy of striking appearance.

"...Huh?"

The sight of the boy stunned everyone. Even the previously screaming mutants fell silent, their gazes fixed on him.

He had short, golden-blonde hair that shimmered under the dim light, a face with perfectly sculpted Western features, and an air of elegance and charm. Yet none of these traits were what truly shocked the mutants. Their astonishment stemmed from his blood-red eyes—pure crimson without a hint of impurity—the gleaming katana in his right hand, and the assortment of cold weapons slung over his back.

This intruder was none other than Alex, who had bulldozed his way through the walls with sheer force!

"Is this guy... a traveling weapons salesman or something?"

Despite the grave circumstances, the mutants couldn't help but ridicule him in their minds.

"...Um, excuse me, are you..."

A young girl, braving her fear, mustered the courage to speak, her voice trembling noticeably. "...Are you a mutant too? Have you come to rescue us?"

"I'm not a mutant," Alex replied flatly, cutting off her question.

The mutants' faces collectively fell. Not a fellow mutant. Not their rescuer.

Alex noticed their expressions and understood their disappointment. Trapped in a lab and treated like test subjects, these people yearned desperately for salvation. To have an outsider appear, only to dash their hopes—it was a cruel blow.

With a faint smile, Alex said, "I may not be a mutant, but I won't stand by while you're subjected to such inhumane experiments. Rest assured—I'm here to set you free."

"Really? You're willing to rescue us?"

The mutants' despondence evaporated in an instant, replaced by joyful disbelief. Even Emma Frost, typically cold and indifferent, couldn't hide her excitement.

Freedom—finally, they would escape this iron cage!

"If I weren't here to save you, why else would I come?" Alex quipped.

Stepping forward, he raised his gleaming adamantium katana and slashed down with a sharp "clang!" Metal bars on one of the cages snapped like twigs. With a final "clunk," the sturdy lock fell to the ground, and the cage door swung open.

"Wooooohooo!"

The three mutants inside erupted into cheers, flinging the door open and rushing out. The others, still trapped in their cages, burst into tears of joy, gazing at Alex as if he were a savior descending amidst calamity.

"Don't rush! One at a time!"

Alex moved toward the next cage, inspecting his katana along the way. The blade remained flawless—no nicks, no dullness. "Solid quality!" he remarked.

As he prepared to free more mutants, lifting his sword high, the captives stifled their cries, readying themselves to erupt in jubilation.

However—

"Move!"

A sudden, sharp warning echoed in Alex's mind. A sense of danger surged through him, far stronger than the peril he'd felt facing sniper fire.

Instinctively, Alex's pupils contracted as he leapt backward with explosive speed. In midair, his katana slashed rapidly in the direction of the threat, leaving streaks of silver light that shielded him while deflecting the incoming danger.

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Sparks exploded as metal clashed violently. A towering figure emerged where Alex had just stood.

"Ahhhhh!"

The mutants screamed again, crouching and scrambling in panic. The scene devolved into chaos.

Alex steadied himself, eyeing the newcomer warily. The man was bald, shirtless, and marked with thick black stripes. Most disturbingly, his mouth had been brutally sealed shut, the scars bearing witness to a grotesque and inhumane procedure.

"This guy's fast!"

Alex could feel the icy chill of danger. His clothes had already been shredded. A sidelong glance at the man's blade-like claws confirmed Alex's suspicion: he had narrowly avoided being skewered.

"He's definitely not an ordinary mutant," Alex thought. "No normal human—or mutant—should have hands that grow blades like that."

"To attack while I'm freeing the mutants, huh? Taking advantage of a momentary lapse in vigilance... clever!" Alex scowled at himself. "Damn it. One mistake, and I nearly lost my life!"

The teachings of the Punisher echoed in his mind: Never let your guard down in battle. Even the smallest oversight can be fatal. Stay alert—always!

Across from him, the man remained motionless, his cold, unfeeling gaze locked on Alex.

"So I'm the target, huh?"

Alex realized the man was no ordinary thug. Whoever had sent him still wanted Alex alive, and this assassin was the tool to achieve that goal.

Alex's eyes flicked toward the terrified mutants. Disdain flickered across his face. "Older than me, yet panicking like children. If this guy had wanted to kill you instead of me, you'd already be dead."

Mutants were born with extraordinary powers, yet these ones had allowed themselves to be reduced to lab rats. Their own cowardice had played no small part.

"If it were me, I'd fight tooth and nail. No power? Use brains. No brains? Fight with your life! Never let anyone trample over you!"

Still, Alex wasn't heartless. Without looking away from the bald assassin, he discreetly unsheathed a dagger and tossed it to a boy nearby.

"Use this to free the others. I'll handle him."

"Got it!"

The boy, summoning an unexpected burst of courage, caught the dagger and rushed to a cage. A few quick slashes later, the lock fell, and the door creaked open.

"You're a mutant yourself," Alex said softly to the assassin, "yet you stop your kind from escaping. Don't you feel shame?"

"..."

The man didn't respond. (Obviously—his mouth was sealed shut!) His emotionless eyes and robotic demeanor made him seem more like a puppet than a man.

"No point in talking, huh?" Alex muttered, brandishing his katana. Blood-red light flickered in his ghostly eyes as a fierce battle intent surged within him.

It had been too long since he'd tested his Kami-no-Mai swordsmanship in a real fight. Now, as the man raised his blade-like claws, Alex could feel his blood boiling in anticipation.

A clash of titans was about to begin.

---

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