Fang Senyan’s eyebrows lifted upon hearing the news, a hint of surprise in his tone: “A thousand Chinese knock-off Arks? That’s truly ruthless.

If this plan succeeds, there won’t be any room left on Earth for people from other nations. No wonder the US is taking such drastic measures.

Strange, how was such a large-scale project kept hidden?” Count Hunter explained: “The method of concealment was quite unique: manufacturing components across the country and assembling them in underground fortifications. Apparently, back in the sixties when Sino-Soviet relations soured, China initiated the slogan of digging deep caves and storing ample grain in preparation for nuclear war.” “It is said that an astonishing number of massive underground nuclear shelters were constructed during that period; the exact count is known only to the highest levels of official leadership.

Their mock Arks cleverly utilized these historical remnants of engineering to complete their construction.” “Thousands of Arks sound staggering, but spread across 9.6 million square kilometers of land... they don't draw undue attention.

Moreover, there were also instances of private citizens constructing their own escape vessels, so it's entirely normal for satellites to miss capturing them.” Count Hunter was sent by Professor X to deliver this intelligence. After speaking, he flew out past the window.

Zih, however, frowned: “Isn’t this whole situation a bit too coincidental? Just what we needed happens to appear?” Fang Senyan pondered for a moment, then nodded: “It is somewhat coincidental, but one could argue it’s simply favorable providence from the spatial realm, assuming the news is true.

However, the defenses will undoubtedly be incredibly tight, and other factions will certainly converge here as well, so the actual difficulty won’t be low.” Reef was silent for a stretch before remarking: “This might be our last chance to complete a mission successfully. Although this subsequent mission doesn't specify any penalties, it should build upon the substantial rewards we received for exceeding the requirements of the first phase.

The benefits we stand to gain should be considerable.” Old Charlie, surprisingly, interjected: “Why did Professor X summon Count Hunter to relay this news to us? Because the Professor himself isn't certain about its veracity, which is why he remains silent and refrains from taking a stance.

If even the Professor isn't keen on it, I vote we don't go.” Fang Senyan nodded: “I understand. Come on, everyone state your opinions.” “Go,” the Black Dude drawled, puffing on his cigar.

“No,” Zih stated clearly. San Zai glanced quite cunningly at Fang Senyan, then at Zih, seemingly assessing who would hold the reins of power in their household after they married.

Finally, he promptly sold out his supposed leader: “I think we shouldn’t go.” Out of the six team members, there were three votes for going and three against. However, although Old Jack was Fang Senyan’s retainer, his opinion, status, and current power level afforded him parity with a formal member, making the decision lean heavily towards not going.

But just then, a massive explosion suddenly erupted from the laboratory area! Everyone immediately turned their heads.

They watched as the resulting flames instantly shot skyward, roiling and roaring, even coalescing into the shape of an immense giant made of fire, striding and trampling with savage glee. Wherever it stepped, it left behind a sea of inferno!

Only two entities possessed such formidable control over fire: the mutant Pyro from the X-Men, and the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four! Since the mutant Pyro had already perished at the start of the conflict, the answer became painfully obvious.

Professor X’s lapse in concentration, coupled with the benevolence of his dominant personality, had finally resulted in a blunder: the Human Torch had successfully infiltrated the base. Upon finding the moribund Grim, he became enraged by the sight of his half-dead state and lashed out.

It is widely known that anything associated with 'fire' generally implies frenzy, ferocity, and violence. When the Human Torch exploded in a rage, he targeted the area of greatest concern to everyone in the base.

After killing Pyro, his control over flame only grew stronger. In mere seconds, the fierce blaze spread like wildfire, and a violent detonation propelled the Human Torch's power directly to its zenith!

However, where were they? This was a terrifying forbidden zone guarded by numerous titans!

While the Human Torch might have slipped in while Professor X was momentarily distracted, it certainly didn't mean he could rampage here, nor could he simply start a fire and flee. In a swift sequence, several tremendous 'BOOM's echoed.

Seven or eight cars within the base seemed to morph and assemble like Transformers, clicking and clacking together to form a gigantic steel automaton, which then charged headlong into the fire giant—Magneto had made his move. Although fire is formless, the core of the fire giant was the Human Torch himself.

With a gesture, he ignited the steel machine composed of vehicles. The gasoline within the chassis instantly exploded, sending shrapnel scattering everywhere.

But under Magneto’s influence, this shrapnel transformed into the deadliest projectiles! They descended like a metallic storm, swish-swish-swish, accompanied by an intense, bone-chilling hum in the air that raised goosebumps on everyone’s skin.

These incredibly sharp, faceted edges, slicing through anything, would undoubtedly flay flesh from bone! The Human Torch, being a legendary figure, immediately tried to evade Magneto’s attack, but suddenly, his vision went dark!

The enraged Professor X had launched a psychic assault. While X was gentle, this constituted a transgression against his core principles; even Buddha angers when his reverse scale is touched.

This psychic shockwave, amplified by the cerebral amplitude modulator, was a sheer, overwhelming force, exerted by a level-five mutant! The struck Human Torch immediately spat blood from his nostrils and ears.

By the time he recovered control of his body, Magneto’s metal storm was already savagely tearing at him, whipping him up over ten meters into the air, trailing a horrifying arc of crimson blood. Just as the Human Torch was about to be utterly shredded, his body strangely twisted as if colliding with something invisible and transparent in mid-air, suddenly veering toward the roof of a nearby building.

Observing this bizarre turn of events, Fang Senyan knitted his brows. Then, a soft hum from Jean echoed in everyone’s ears.

Immediately following, black light motes, like fireflies, gathered from all directions, finally converging on a seemingly empty spot on the adjacent rooftop. These black motes instantly ignited, transforming into living flame that illuminated a humanoid form.

Susan Storm, the sole female member of the Fantastic Four, had appeared. Next to her lay the corpse of a Vampire Marquis.

Her powers were invisibility and telekinesis. Susan’s invisibility was far beyond the common parlor trick of light refraction; it was a high-level technique involving moving between the interstices of other dimensions.

Refracting light might still be betrayed by scent, sound, or even footprints on the ground, potentially leading to awkward collisions with enemies. But Susan’s invisibility could only be preempted by a sixth sense.

Telekinesis, simply put, was the advanced version of mentally bending a spoon or flipping a coin. The Vampire Marquis Susan killed had been dispatched with a single fatal thrust of a silver blade soaked in holy water, piercing his heart!

Furthermore, the Human Torch’s strange mid-air redirection had been countered by Susan’s potent telekinetic pull, yanking him out of the metallic storm’s range. However, her sustained use of telekinesis allowed Jean, who had just awakened, to lock onto her, regrettably exposing her hidden position.

The black motes Jean manifested were a new ability derived from absorbing fragments of the Black Phoenix soul. Attached to Susan’s body, they instantly caused her face to turn ashen, cold sweat pouring down her forehead.

Susan fled with the Human Torch less than ten meters before pursuit arrived from all directions, arriving swiftly. Yet, she exerted herself, leaping five or six meters into the air, and then used telekinesis to drag her body another five or six meters forward.

The two were now quite close to the base’s periphery. Most of the personnel inside had been drawn away by the explosions caused by the Human Torch, leaving the base momentarily in a state of outward fragility despite inner strength.

Just as they were about to fall, a pair of long arms seemed to shoot in from beyond the heavens, reaching out to intercept them—it was Reed Richards, the leader of the Fantastic Four! Just as they seemed poised to escape successfully, a blood-red, violent tornado whipped up from the flat ground!

The vortex spanned at least ten meters in diameter, saturated with despair, fear, madness, bloodlust, and other negative emotions. Even the sound it emitted was a grating rasp, as if slicing through bone, accompanied by several massive, crimson-gold bat illusions circling above—it was Count Dracula, the most powerful of the three titans, who had been holding back until now!!

His attack was merciless. When the bloody vortex subsided, the Human Torch and Susan were torn into streaks of bloody mist, while Captain Reed, in a near-death state, managed to liquefy his body into a mercurial fluid, slipping away into the sewers!

Although two of the attacking enemies were dead and one wounded, they had at least avenged the fallen Pyro. Still, the base suffered grievous losses.

The other damages were manageable, but the critical blow was that at least half of the stored precious metals were either destroyed or contaminated... Professor X blamed himself deeply, but no one else could criticize him, as the Professor had truly exerted his utmost.

The Ace Squad members exchanged uneasy glances in the face of this situation; clearly, their previous decision was no longer applicable given these dire circumstances. For the base in its current state, if the Tritium element mentioned in the intelligence report truly existed, they would have to jump in, even if it were a trap!

(To be continued) RQ