[Marvel : The God Of Punishment] Chapter 71 - 75

Chapter 71: The Madman's Gambit

"BAM! BAM! BAM!"

Left hook, right hook, uppercut!

Jason unleashed a devastating nine-hit combo that tore through half of Obadiah's massive armor. Broken components scattered across the ground, including the central hatch, which left Obadiah's head exposed to the night air.

Stark watched the spectacle with his jaw hanging open.

What the hell? The last time I saw this guy, he wasn't nearly this powerful! If I'd known, I should have rescued Pepper while he held the line!

Obadiah, battered and disheveled, seethed with rage. He had never imagined someone could exist who could dismantle advanced mechanized armor with their bare hands. This world was far more insane than he'd ever realized!

He gritted his teeth. If that's how it is, let's see who's truly the crazier one!

Remember where we are? A military factory of Stark Industries! I've got weapons to spare!

He issued a command to his armor's operating system, transmitting a remote signal.

Immediately, the automated roof of a nearby workshop slid open. One, two, three bright flares ignited in rapid succession. Three slender projectiles shot upward into the night sky.

Jason's eagle eyes identified them instantly, causing his breath to catch in his throat.

Abandoning Obadiah, he flashed in front of Stark.

"You oversized banana! I thought the weapons division was shut down—why the hell are there three Jericho missiles here? Are you insane?"

Stark stared blankly at the three missiles ascending rapidly into the sky, his expression darkening.

"That bastard... That absolute son of a bitch—he's been running the factory all this time. I had no idea!"

"Where are those missiles headed?"

Stark hesitated. "They should—"

A terrible premonition formed in Jason's mind.

Sure enough, after reaching their apex, the three missiles' propulsion flames extinguished momentarily as they arced downward—then reignited, sending them hurtling back toward the ground below!

Oh, come on!

He immediately rounded on Stark. "You actually designed a U-turn function for your missiles? What kind of lunatic does that?"

Stark was nearly in tears. "A car only sells at premium prices if it has lots of features! Who could have predicted this function would ever actually be used?"

Jason sighed heavily. Looking at the missiles' wide dispersal pattern, he realized they might not escape the coming bombardment.

In that moment, a voice suddenly resonated within his mind.

A new Side Mission.

Assessing the situation with lightning speed, he made an immediate decision.

Grabbing Stark, he pointed toward the massive Arc Reactor testing facility.

"Overload it! I need... a massive electrical charge!"

With those words, he flung Stark directly toward the reactor.

Then he flashed to Obadiah's side. The villain's armor had lost propulsion capability, and he was struggling desperately to maintain balance and escape.

Jason's dragon chi erupted instantly, doubling in intensity.

With one devastating punch, the remaining armor flew backward, no longer able to maintain structural integrity, and practically disintegrated into multiple fragments.

Obadiah lay among the scattered components, his fate uncertain.

Jason's leg muscles exploded with power as he leaped skyward.

The Jericho missiles had reached their lower altitude deployment phase.

The projectiles automatically split open, releasing hundreds of cluster bombs that scattered across the sky like deadly celestial blossoms.

If these bombs successfully detonated upon impact, dozens of surrounding city blocks would be obliterated.

The casualty count would easily reach hundreds of thousands.

Many people within the blast radius had already spotted the unusual phenomenon.

They stared blankly at the sudden appearance of multiple lights in the night sky, momentarily transfixed.

Some innocent children gazed at the spectacle in wonder, tugging at their parents' sleeves. "Dad, are those fireworks?"

Pepper Potts stood at the roadside, witnessing the unfolding catastrophe.

As a Stark Industries employee, she instantly recognized what she was seeing.

Watching the Jericho missiles releasing their payload at high velocity, her mind went blank. New York is finished!

The people of New York weren't the only witnesses to this apocalyptic sight. Three U.S. fighter jets at high altitude also observed the scene.

Flying thousands of meters above the ground, they watched in horror as the Jericho missiles dispersed their devastating payload like macabre confetti.

They had never seen anything like it.

One pilot murmured numbly, "God... what can we possibly do?"

His wingman responded with quiet resignation: "We... can't do anything."

In the Air Force Command Center, with the aid of Global Hawk drones and reconnaissance satellites, Rhodes and a group of senior officers witnessed the same nightmarish scene.

The only words Rhodes could manage were: "Notify the White House. Notify the Pentagon. Notify the National Guard. Notify the NYPD. Notify... every rescue unit we can mobilize."

Jason hovered above the Arc Reactor, watching the deadly rain drawing inexorably closer. Far from panicking, he calmly opened his system interface for confirmation.

Unlike previous occasions, this time the system presented him with a multiple-choice scenario:

[Side Mission:

• Mission 1: Preemptive Rescue

• Mission 2: Subsequent Elimination of Evil

Mission 1 Content: Countless innocent lives face imminent destruction. Save them, Knight of the God of Punishment.

Mission 2 Content: Obadiah Stane has attempted to murder millions of New Yorkers. If he succeeds, he will become the perpetrator of "mass slaughter" or "genocide" on the planet. Execute him, Knight of Punishment.

Task 1 Time Limit: Indefinite

Task 2 Time Limit: Indefinite

Mission 1 Reward: Title: Savior of Millions. Your face and name will spread throughout New York. You will become a citywide hero.

• Tens of millions will offer their gratitude

• Millions will respect you

• Hundreds of thousands will worship you

• Tens of thousands will believe in you

Note: You could easily win the New York mayoral race should you desire.

Mission 2 Reward: 180,000 Dead Souls. This represents the number of casualties from this attack. Their souls will become your reward. Note: Should you wish, journey to Hell. With the assistance of these souls, you will instantly become a powerful Lord of Hell!]

After only a moment's deliberation, Jason abandoned the second mission option.

This wasn't because he couldn't bear to part with the pleasures of the mortal realm, nor because he undervalued the power of becoming a Hell Lord.

It was because he had already formulated plans to assault Hell directly.

Weren't Anton and his son helping him develop a super-bomb?

The system's requirements had become increasingly demanding. How could he acquire the elite reward packages without orchestrating a few massacres?

Given the system's classification of all vampires as target, Jason was certain that the demons in Hell would start at silver-tier targets at minimum!

Could a super-bomb eliminate tens of thousands of hellish entities?

Wouldn't that reward package be utterly magnificent?

Going to Hell to become a lord under these circumstances?

Would he be able to challenge Lucifer? Could he defeat Mephisto?

Or would he simply become Hell's newest punching bag?

No thanks. I'll settle for being a corrupt, decadent mayor instead.

With his decision made, Jason slowly extended his arms—one hand pointing skyward, the other toward the ground.

A lightning bolt erupted from his earthward hand, instantly connecting with Stark's overloaded reactor.

In a blinding flash, it was as though the heavens themselves had opened.

The enormous electrical energy generated by the Arc Reactor found its conduit, and hundreds of silver-white lightning bolts enveloped Jason's body.

In an instant, his outer clothing disintegrated to ash. Fortunately, his vibranium vest and shorts remained intact.

His body continued ascending.

And then, under the desperate gaze of countless onlookers, a savior appeared—his form wrapped in silver dragons of pure energy, like a god descended from the heavens!

Chapter 72: The Savior of Millions

Jason's energy reserves reached their absolute limit.

He could feel his skin beginning to crack under the strain, the power coursing through his body threatening to tear him apart from within.

Now or never!

In one explosive moment, countless silver dragons of pure energy soared skyward from his body, racing toward the falling cluster bombs like two armies colliding in mid-air, engaging in a ferocious battle of light against death!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Violent explosions erupted with Jason as their epicenter, creating a rippling shockwave that spread across the night sky.

The entire cityscape of New York was bathed in crimson as the detonations illuminated the darkness. No matter where they were in the city, people found themselves drawn outdoors or pressed against windows, transfixed by the apocalyptic spectacle unfolding above them.

Jason functioned as a living conduit, channeling the colossal electrical energy generated by the Arc Reactor and dispersing it throughout the atmosphere. Every cluster bomb encountered his intercepting energy, resulting in premature detonation before they could reach the ground.

The people of New York witnessed this unparalleled display of power—a deadly fireworks show that signified their salvation rather than their doom.

Pepper Potts, gazing upward, recognized the figure wreathed in lightning. Her heart skipped a beat as the realization hit her.

Below Jason's position, Stark watched the magnificent scene with amazement, but his attention remained fixed on Jason himself. He was utterly stunned by the raw power being displayed.

Suddenly, a thought that had previously flickered through his mind—one he had initially dismissed—grew more insistent.

Since returning from Afghanistan, he had investigated clues about the "Day of Mourning" incident. He had conducted thorough research on the mysterious "Death Devil" that had terrorized the terrorists.

What struck him most was the timing—the entity had only appeared during the period when he himself was trapped in the cave. And even more curiously, if he narrowed the timeline further, the appearance roughly coincided with Jason's arrival in Afghanistan.

Could there be some connection between them?

As he watched Jason saving half of New York City in mid-air, Stark fell into deep contemplation.

Jason remained oblivious to Stark's internal deliberations.

From his perspective, he had completed his mission perfectly—except for one minor detail...

His lightning had accidentally struck a fighter jet that had ventured too close to the danger zone. He winced internally. Nothing I could do about that. The pilot got too close, and now I have no idea where he ended up.

After the cluster bombs had completely detonated across the sky, a rain of superheated shrapnel began to fall. Although this created significant property damage, miraculously, it caused no casualties.

As the dazzling flames in the sky gradually dissipated, Jason slowly descended toward the ground.

He'd noticed many people recording him with their phones, cameras, and camcorders throughout the entire ordeal.

No hiding my appearance anymore.

But he wasn't particularly troubled by this development.

He had anticipated this possibility when forming the Avengers. A timid, mysterious figure wasn't suited to lead an organization dedicated to saving the world. That approach would only breed more suspicion and distrust.

The title "Savior of Millions" would function as an invisible shield for him. Any organization or individual who might consider moving against him would need to factor in the public's adoration. Combined with his extraordinary abilities, it provided double insurance!

Additionally, this title would grant him unparalleled appeal and influence.

Won't the X-Men practically fall into my lap now?

A thought suddenly occurred to him. Didn't Professor Xavier claim they would emerge during a major disaster? Where is that bald bastard? Professor, professor... you're not playing games with me, are you?

Beyond receiving the "Savior of Millions" title, Jason also earned a gold-tier gift package.

Obadiah, whom he had incapacitated earlier, had succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward. As a gold-tier target.

Jason opened it without much ceremony.

The star rating wasn't particularly high, and his luck seemed middling at best, but he still obtained 32 attribute points, which he immediately allocated to strength.

Upon landing, he noticed Stark studying him with an intense, contemplative expression.

"What's wrong with you?" Jason asked.

"Nothing," Stark replied, though his tone suggested otherwise.

Jason chose not to press the matter. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Stark, how would you like a nickname?"

"What?"

"How about I bestow the name 'Iron Man' upon you from now on?"

Iron Man. As Stark mentally repeated the name, an inexplicable surge of satisfaction rose within him. This reaction surprised him somewhat. That's odd. Don't I usually dislike hand-me-downs?

"From now on, you'll be Iron Man, and you won't have to be called 'The Human Can Man' anymore!"

Stark's expression darkened slightly. "I've never been called 'The Human Can Man'!"

Jason shrugged innocently. "That's what they called you on TV. I didn't told them to say it..."

"That old bastard Jameson must have taken a bribe!"

Jason blinked with exaggerated innocence. "Hey now, don't make accusations without evidence. I'm telling you, he could sue you for defamation at any moment!"

He clapped Stark on the shoulder and added, "If you want to use the name, remember that royalties are due. Anyway, it's over now. I'm heading out."

Stark didn't respond. He gazed at the now-empty night sky and murmured to himself, "Is it really over?"

The following day, at his beachfront villa, Stark flipped through several channels, but every station was broadcasting the same interview.

In the small church, Jason, dressed in his priestly garments, stood beneath the cross, radiating an almost divine presence. The modest hall couldn't accommodate the throngs of reporters, resulting in crowds spilling outside the building and extending along the main street.

It wasn't just journalists—many ordinary citizens clutched bouquets, chanting the name they had only recently learned:

Jason.

This wasn't a mere press conference; it more closely resembled a rock star meet-and-greet.

Under the spotlight, Jason appeared composed and self-assured, speaking with effortless charisma.

"...My mother always said I was extraordinary from the day I was born, and that I was destined for greatness...

When I was two years old, I voluntarily shared my prized pear with my kindergarten classmates...

At age three, I broke open a large water container and saved..."

Beside Stark, Pepper, who had been passing through the room, found herself drawn to the television screen, pausing to watch.

Curiosity flickered across her features. "Is what Mr. Jason saying actually true?"

"Absolute garbage!" Stark retorted irritably. "He's just spinning tales for public consumption! These reporters and audiences happen to enjoy the narrative and are willing to believe it! The man is a qualified priest, I'll give him that much."

On screen, Jason delivered his closing remarks: "Ladies and gentlemen, my experiences have taught me that life's true value lies in constant self-improvement. We shouldn't measure our lives by their duration, but by their quality and impact.

I'm merely one of you who happens to have been blessed with extraordinary abilities. As an ordinary person with extraordinary powers, I will always stand alongside you all.

I shall continue the challenging mission of protecting all living beings, maintaining peace, and saving our world. No matter who or what challenges us, this commitment will never waver!"

"Woohoo!"

"You're my god!"

"Father, I'm a nun, and I want to bear your child..."

As he concluded, thunderous applause erupted from the gathered crowd, reverberating throughout the church and seemingly across all of New York City.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.

Nick Fury, Coulson, Maria Hill, Natasha Romanoff ‘Black Widow’, Clint Barton ‘Hawkeye’, and other senior agents huddled around a screen, watching the interview intently.

Fury clenched his fists in frustration. He recalled seeing this man briefly on the plane that had transported Stark back to New York. But when Stark had collapsed and chaos ensued, Jason had vanished, and Fury hadn't given him much thought afterward.

Who could have anticipated...?

He slammed his fist against the table. "Who the hell is this guy, really?"

Coulson's expression grew uncomfortable as he exchanged glances with Hawkeye before stepping forward.

"Sir, this is Father Jason."

"I know his damn name!"

"No, what I mean is—Hawkeye and I have encountered him before."

Fury paused momentarily, then quickly connected the dots. "During the Hell's Butcher operation?"

Coulson nodded. "At the time, I assumed he was just an ordinary civilian! I've conducted overnight research, and I'm now convinced he must share a close connection with both Daredevil and Iron Man. In fact, I believe he's affiliated with them."

Hawkeye interjected, "Or possibly, he's one of them!"

Nick Fury's eye narrowed coldly. "No wonder I've developed such an aversion to him—similar to my feelings toward that loose cannon, Iron Man."

After a moment's consideration, he turned to Hill. "Based on your assessment, how powerful is he?"

The moment Fury raised the question, everyone present understood his underlying intentions.

Agent Hill quickly shook her head. "Extremely powerful, sir! There's still too much we don't know about him to formulate an effective capture strategy. Plus, he's now New York's celebrated hero. This is definitely not an opportune moment to move against him!"

Fury nodded reluctantly. "Coulson, take Sitwell and Rumlow. Keep close surveillance on him. Gather any evidence of criminal activity or hidden secrets. I have a gut feeling this individual will eventually bring catastrophe upon us all!"

In the White House, the President was also watching Jason's televised interview.

He appeared haggard, deep furrows etched across his forehead.

These were challenging times for the administration.

As he observed the charismatic figure on screen, a thought crystallized: Could this man defeat that devil? Could he restore America's strength?

Or perhaps...

He held several photographs in his hand, including images of Obadiah's Iron Monger and Stark's Mark 3 armor.

These suits have potential too—and might be more manageable.

His contemplation was abruptly interrupted by gunfire erupting outside his office.

Several Secret Service agents burst through the door. "Mr. President, there's an assassin—we need to evacuate immediately!"

But they were already too late.

Before his eyes, a monstrous being with blue skin and a whip-like tail materialized in the Oval Office.

None of the agents who rushed to protect him stood a chance. They were swiftly incapacitated.

The President felt a wave of despair wash over him. Christ, is another U.S. President about to die in office?

Chapter 73: Wolverine's Fury

"Breaking news—we're reporting live from Washington D.C.

The Oval Office has been attacked. Details remain scarce, but we can confirm that both the President and Vice President are safe and unharmed.

Sources indicate the assault may have been perpetrated by one or more mutants..."

Professor Charles Xavier and the X-Men watched the television broadcast in stunned silence.

Jason had indeed warned them about a potential presidential assassination attempt. But none of them had anticipated that the would-be assassin would be a mutant.

A fresh storm was brewing.

The President would surely use this as justification to target all mutants.

After a brief strategy session, they quickly identified their prime suspect: their old adversary, Magneto—despite his current imprisonment.

The Professor employed Cerebro to enhance his telepathic abilities, tracing the assassin's psychic signature. He swiftly assigned tasks to his team.

He and Cyclops would visit the supermax facility where Magneto was detained, while Jean Grey and Storm would track down and apprehend the assassin.

Wolverine was instructed to remain behind at the Xavier Institute.

At this directive, Wolverine objected forcefully. "Why don't we reach out to the big hero?"

His question brought the room's activity to an abrupt halt, the other X-Men exchanging uncomfortable glances.

Wolverine's gaze swept across their faces. "You don't trust him? Even after he saved millions of lives? Why? Because he's not a mutant, or because he's an outsider?"

Cyclops responded coldly, "We mutants have never discriminated against baseline humans, nor do we look down on individuals of unknown origin. Logan, can't you sense something's off?"

Storm frowned slightly. "Logan, do you think Jason didn't know the assassin was a mutant, or that he deliberately withheld that information from us?"

Wolverine folded his arms, his voice rough. “Yeah, I used to be the paranoid one—figured anyone who got too close was out to stab me in the back. But I’ve learned to trust my gut. Look, Professor, you couldn’t read his mind before, so you kept your distance. Fine. But now? He’s done more than most of us ever have. You don’t need to dig into someone’s head to know they’ve earned our trust. We’re in uncharted territory here—we don’t have the luxury of second-guessing every ally.”

Charles closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled with quiet resolve. “Very well. I shall endeavor to place my trust in him.”

“Good,” Wolverine said with a growl of approval. “You all get going. I’ll reach out to him, see if he’ll help guard the school. Don’t worry—between the two of us, nobody’s getting past us to Xavier’s. Not without losing something first.”

Recognizing Wolverine's transparent ulterior motive, Cyclops rolled his eyes dramatically.

Wolverine truly did possess a remarkably one-track mind.

When Jason received Wolverine's call, he accepted the invitation with genuine enthusiasm.

He'd been monitoring the news coverage of the attack and had been anticipating this outreach.

He suspected that Professor Xavier probably wouldn't have trusted him so readily, but that was inconsequential. The plan he intended to execute didn't require the Professor's trust.

Shortly thereafter, Jason arrived at the Xavier Institute where Wolverine greeted him warmly.

The Professor, Jean Grey, and the others had already departed.

Jason was well aware of this. After seeing reports of the assassination attempt, he had dispatched one of David's remote-controlled drones to monitor the school's entrance, though he hadn't personally visited.

He had a singular objective: to discover Magneto's location.

The optimal opportunity to eliminate Magneto was now.

As one of the Marvel Universe's most notorious disruptors, Magneto's powers currently placed him among the strongest enhanced humans alive.

Jason had previously commissioned Anton and his son to equip his armor with Faraday cage capabilities as a countermeasure.

But as conventional wisdom dictated, anti-magnetic armor would inevitably be dismantled by the Master of Magnetism himself.

By eliminating the old mutant, Jason could fully assume the role of "disruptor-in-chief."

Even setting aside his other accomplishments, last night's spectacular aerial defense of New York would be difficult for any would-be successor to surpass for years to come.

As soon as they settled into the conference room, Wolverine produced a large case of beer, seated himself opposite Jason, and fixed him with an intense, expectant stare.

Jason shrugged helplessly. "Do you need to know everything right now?"

Wolverine raised an eyebrow. “Got a damn good reason not to?”

"Fair enough."

Jason collected his thoughts before beginning. "You and your brother wandered the world together, fighting in countless conflicts. Later, you joined a specialized team formed by a man named Stryker. You carried out numerous operations for him...

Eventually, you grew weary of that existence and retired to become a lumberjack...

Then, your brother Victor murdered your lover, Kayla..."

As Jason calmly narrated these events, Wolverine completely forgot about his beer.

His eyes grew bloodshot, veins protruding at his temples, six adamantium claws instinctively extending from his hands.

Heart-wrenching scenes began flashing through his mind.

Kayla, the woman he had loved so deeply, gradually materialized in his fragmented memories.

Her silhouette against the sunset, the gentle way she caressed his face, and then...

Her body, lying in a pool of blood!

“So,” Wolverine rasped, voice low and edged with disbelief, “I let them turn me into a damn weapon... to get revenge against my brother?”

Jason sighed, shaking his head. "Your so-called 'let them' was merely Stryker's deception. He simply needed you for his experiment. Your lover Kayla wasn't actually dead. She and your brother orchestrated an elaborate charade to manipulate you!"

Wolverine’s rage gave way to a flicker of confusion, his eyes narrowing as fragments of memory refused to settle. “So everyone was just using me… for what, exactly?”
His hand rose slowly, claws unsheathing with a familiar snikt. He stared at them, a bitter smile twisting his lips. “All this power... and this is where it got me.”

Jason remained silent, observing the feral man before him. He felt a twinge of concern, as he hadn't yet revealed the most significant revelations.

Wolverine was already displaying signs of becoming unhinged.

“Heh... so it was all a setup, huh? A damn conspiracy.” He let out a dry, humorless chuckle. “So she’s not really dead? That’s great. Means I don’t gotta grieve, right?”
His fists clenched, claws twitching just beneath the skin. “Hell, I just had my bones ripped out and replaced—guess that’s nothing now.” He looked away for a moment, then back, voice rougher. “It’s good she’s alive... right?”
His chest rose and fell in ragged bursts, and when

his gaze snapped to Jason, his eyes were glowing red, feral—like an animal moments before the kill.But Jason remained impassive, his expression neutral.

The silence was gasoline on the fire. Wolverine shot to his feet, his claws flashing out with a metallic snikt as he slashed the table between them into a storm of splinters.

“AM I RIGHT?!” he bellowed, voice raw with fury. “ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!”

"No, Logan. You are not right."

Wolverine's outburst had awakened many of the mansion's residents. Footsteps echoed in the corridor as Rogue, Iceman, Pyro, and others appeared at the doorway.

But neither Wolverine nor Jason acknowledged them.

Jason continued with the same measured calm. "Stryker had captured Kayla's sister and threatened her, forcing Kayla to get close to you. But she genuinely fell in love with you. Together, you liberated the other mutants imprisoned at Stryker's facility. In the end... she chose to stay and face the enemy alongside you."

“And what the hell happened to her?” Wolverine snapped, his voice tight with urgency. “Why can’t I remember? Where is she?!”

"Dead. Stryker killed her. He also shot you in the head with a specialized bullet, erasing your memories. The last time you saw her, she was lying in a pool of blood right before your eyes. The tragedy is, you've forgotten her entirely."

After Jason finished speaking, a profound silence descended upon the room.

But within that silence, turbulent emotions were beginning to brew.

Chapter 74: Truly Inhumane

“DAMN YOU, STRYKER!”
Wolverine’s roar tore through the air—a guttural, primal sound soaked in agony. “I’LL KILL THAT BASTARD! I SWEAR I’LL RIP HIM APART!”
He stalked the room like a caged predator, claws slicing through the air with deadly precision, each swing promising blood. Every breath was a growl, every step a warning—he was on the edge of losing all control.
Rogue, Iceman, and the others watched with growing apprehension.

From their perspective, Jason had seemingly unleashed something untamed and dangerous.

"Logan, calm down!"

Jason's voice cut through Wolverine's rage. "When Kayla was dying, she didn't want you to become a killing machine! Don't dishonour the woman who loved you so deeply!"

These words triggered a cascade of long-forgotten memories to flash through Wolverine's mind. In an instant, all the violent energy drained from his body.

He slowly retracted his claws and slumped to the floor, utterly defeated.

Jason sighed heavily, motioning for the onlookers to disperse before closing the door.

At this moment, only time could offer Logan any comfort.

He sent the young mutants back to their quarters. "Stryker will be attacking soon. If you don't rest now, you won't have the strength to escape when the time comes."

Rogue hovered uncertainly before stepping closer to Jason, her voice low and anxious. “Is Logan gonna be okay? You shouldn’t’ve told him everything like that… not all at once.”

Jason waved dismissively. "Don't worry, Logan won't stay down for long. If all else fails, we'll wait for Jean to return and have her give Logan a psychic tune-up. The invincible Wolverine will be back at full strength in no time."

Rogue rolled her eyes at his flippancy.

If Jean really tried that, Cyclops would never forgive her!

Late that night, while the mansion's other occupants slept, Wolverine remained alone with his grief. Jason, meanwhile, sat in the common room, mindlessly watching late-night television.

His phone vibrated. Opening it, he found a photo—an aerial view of Magneto's secret prison. The triangular facility was situated on a small island, isolated and heavily guarded.

By his estimation, Professor Xavier would have been captured by now. Stryker had almost certainly ambushed him at the prison.

Jason had deliberately withheld any information about upcoming events and had no intention of altering the course of events. His objectives extended beyond merely acquiring adamantium or securing the allegiance of a few X-Men.

In the Marvel universe, mutants possessed extraordinary abilities. One could even argue that if all mutants united, they might prove invincible against any coalition of other heroes.

In the current timeline, two figures stood out as particularly problematic: Magneto and Professor Xavier—both immensely powerful in their own ways.

Magneto's abilities needed no elaboration.

As for Xavier, his Cerebro amplifier could potentially be weaponized to eradicate all of humanity!

Conveniently, these two individuals represented the dual poles of mutant leadership—one advocating peace, the other embracing violence.

Magneto couldn't be allowed to remain at large, nor could Cerebro continue to exist as a potential threat.

Regarding the Professor himself, Jason remained immune to telepathic intrusion, so he had options. If Xavier could be controlled, fine. If not, Jason wouldn't hesitate to send him to reunite with his "old friends."

As these calculations ran through his mind, a faint rustling sound from outside caught his attention.

Stryker has arrived.

Let the show begin...

Wolverine, brooding in his room, instinctively sensed a shift in the atmosphere—danger approaching.

Glancing out the window, he caught sight of shadowy figures moving across the grounds.

Seconds later, a high-pitched scream shattered the night's silence, jolting everyone awake.

Wolverine burst from his room, immediately encountering Jason in the hallway.

"Be careful," Jason warned, his expression grave. "Hostiles are breaching the perimeter. Go protect the children!"

Chaos erupted throughout the mansion. Wolverine gathered all the students who hadn't been captured and led them toward the entrance of the secret passage.

He didn't know who was attacking or whether he could defeat them, but the secret tunnel offered strategic advantages—a position from which they could either retreat or counterattack as needed.

Meanwhile, Jason moved unhurriedly toward the invading forces. Upon encountering the first wave of attackers, he raised his hand, summoning a blinding flash of lightning.

Most of the assault team fell instantly. This devastating display drew Stryker's attention.

Listening to panicked reports through his communications headset, Stryker surveyed his surroundings and focused on the captured students—his newly acquired leverage.

Back inside the mansion, Wolverine was ushering people into the secret passage when he spotted Jason approaching.

"What's wrong? Even you couldn't stop them?" he asked, surprised by Jason's retreat.

Jason shook his head. "It's not that I couldn't stop them—it's that the enemy is utterly despicable."

Wolverine soon understood Jason's meaning. The soldiers had taken children as hostages.

Now, Jason and Wolverine faced a dozen armed soldiers, each using terrified students as human shields.

A middle-aged man with gray hair and a slightly portly build approached them. He wore glasses and bore a smug smile. He addressed Jason first.

"The famous Mr. Jason! I never expected to find you here. I watched your interview just this morning!"

Jason's expression remained impassive. "And I never expected American soldiers to attack a school full of children."

"Haha, this is no ordinary school!"

Stryker's smile widened. "Mr. Jason, have you truly decided to align yourself with these mutants?"

"I'm not aligning with mutants," Jason replied evenly. "I'm standing with my conscience."

Stryker laughed and clapped his hands appreciatively.

"It seems you really are the virtuous priest portrayed on television. Unfortunately, that leaves me with no alternative."

He shifted his attention to Wolverine, his eyes reflecting surprise tinged with nostalgia. "Logan, it's been too long! Look at me—I've grown old, while you remain in your prime!"

From the moment Stryker had appeared, Wolverine had been lost in a flood of returning memories.

Hearing his name spoken by that familiar voice, he snapped back to reality. "Stryker!" he growled through clenched teeth.

SNIKT!

His adamantium claws extended with a distinctive sound as he prepared to lunge—only to be halted by a rapidly forming wall of ice that materialized between him and his target.

Behind them, Rogue and Iceman shouted urgently, "Go! Now!"

Despite the barrier, Wolverine hesitated, reluctant to leave the man responsible for his suffering.

Jason grabbed his arm. "Come on! You'll have your chance to settle with him later!"

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Wolverine turned and headed toward the secret passage.

As Jason followed, he discreetly retrieved a small disc emitting a soft blue light from his pocket and slipped it into a crack in the wall.

This device represented Anton and his son's latest achievement in weapons development. While not comparable to a nuclear weapon, it possessed more than enough power to demolish the entire structure.

At the exit of the secret passage, a cluster of frightened students huddled together.

They were disheveled, some quietly sobbing.

"Where will we go now?" a young girl asked, her voice trembling.

Wolverine opened his mouth to answer but found himself without a response.

Jason stepped forward. "We'll go to New Jersey. I have a facility there large enough to accommodate everyone."

Once they had moved a safe distance away, Jason surreptitiously pressed the detonator.

Moments later, a tremor rippled through the ground, followed by a thunderous explosion.

Everyone turned to see an enormous fireball rising into the night sky. Their expressions transformed to horror.

“What the hell?!” Iceman yelled, his eyes wide with shock. “They attacked us—and now they’ve blown up the school? That’s insane! How are we even supposed to go back after this?”

A subtle smile played across Jason's lips. What? You think you'll live at my place and then just move back? I'd lose out completely!

Hmph, let's play this development game, my little pawns!

Elsewhere, Stryker and several captured mutant children had barely exited the building when the shockwave hurled them to the ground.

He struggled to his feet, blood streaming down his face.

Staring at the collapsing building behind him, he spat a curse. "Goddamn it!"

These mutants are truly inhumane! They'd even destroy their own sanctuary! I have to say, there's scarcely a normal individual among this entire species!

But even this won't deter me!

He grabbed the commander of another squad, who looked equally dazed. "What I need is underground. This explosion can't have destroyed it. Dig down—and dig hard!"

"Yes, sir!"

Chapter 75: The Diamond Gift Package

After settling everyone at his base, Jason quietly slipped away. Dressed entirely in black and carrying specialized equipment, he set out on his mission.

He soon arrived at Restricted Area 14—the secret prison housing Magneto. The facility was situated on a small island off the New York coast, isolated from prying eyes.

With his extraordinary abilities, Jason could easily force his way inside. However, as New York's newly celebrated hero, he preferred to use his more conspicuous powers sparingly.

Fortunately, Anton and his son had equipped him with numerous advanced technologies while developing his armor and explosive devices.

The black outfit and mask he wore incorporated sophisticated optical camouflage technology. Like a chameleon, it adapted to its surroundings, rendering him nearly invisible. While not providing perfect concealment, it made him exceedingly difficult to detect without careful scrutiny.

After infiltrating the perimeter, Jason avoided heading directly toward Magneto's heavily guarded cell. Instead, he used infrared sensors to locate the facility's main power transmission lines.

Grasping the cables firmly, he took a deep breath and channeled the electrical current from the lines into his body, creating a massive surge that resulted in a catastrophic short circuit.

Sparks erupted from the underground generator and surrounding cables. Thick smoke and flames immediately engulfed the power room.

The entire facility plunged into darkness, with only emergency lights providing dim green illumination.

Panic spread throughout the base as guards scrambled to investigate the disturbance. They soon discovered what appeared to be a simple malfunction in the power distribution system.

Maintenance personnel rushed to extinguish the fire and replace damaged cables. The backup generator would become operational within minutes.

A false alarm.

The guards exhaled with relief and returned to their stations.

By this point, Jason had quietly completed his preparations throughout the facility and began slipping deeper into the core area.

The dim emergency lighting worked to his advantage. Combined with his optical camouflage and the [Breath Concealment Technique], he needed only to stand close to the wall as guards passed by, completely oblivious to his presence.

The prison's core was a spherical chamber located underground, constructed entirely from plastic components.

A single elevator provided access to the area.

Jason attached a small plastic explosive to the elevator doors, checked his watch, and began counting down. Three... two... one!

BOOM!

Multiple explosions detonated simultaneously throughout the facility!

The security monitoring center was bombed. The warden's office was bombed. The cafeteria was bombed. Even the restrooms were bombed!

True chaos erupted throughout the base.

Jason peered down the deep elevator shaft and jumped.

At the bottom, he encountered another thick non-metallic door. He applied the same methodology.

When the door blew open, several plastic bullets tore through the smoke and dust.

Fortunately for Jason, their aim was poor, and all projectiles missed their target.

He raised his hand and fired several palm-mounted energy blasts, instantly incapacitating the guards.

This weapon represented another masterpiece from Anton and his son—or more precisely, a high-quality replica.

Inside his plastic cell, Magneto was drowning in despair.

He had deduced Stryker's scheme but remained powerless to intervene.

Could today truly mark the extinction of mutantkind?

What made his situation even more agonizing was his own undeniable responsibility in these events!

Charles had been captured. Even if some X-Men remained free, they were, in his estimation, worthless—incapable of stopping Stryker's plans.

Complete despair...

Suddenly, he felt a violent tremor shake the facility.

Startled, hope surged within him. Could it be... has someone come to liberate me?

Like a drowning man clutching at straws, he clung to this possibility.

Excellent! Hurry! Mutants face extinction—I must be released to save them!

Soon, he spotted a figure at the entrance to his cell—a young man regarding him with an enigmatic smile.

“If you are truly a fellow mutant, then release me—now. We have no time for hesitation.”

The words had barely left his lips when the young man suddenly levitated and flew toward him!

Magneto's surprise deepened. Look, he can fly! He must be a rising youngster among our mutant brethren!

As Jason approached the cell, Magneto’s voice rang with urgency yet retained his measured tone. “Quickly—release me. I’ve uncovered Stryker’s twisted conspiracy, and we must act before it’s too late.”

"Erik, I've come to kill you."

Magneto froze. "Kill me? Why?"

"You collaborated with Stryker, betrayed Professor Xavier and his institute, and endangered all mutants. The entire mutant community wants you dead," Jason stated with cold conviction.

“NO! I have not!”
Magneto’s chest rose with indignation, his eyes blazing. “I would never betray mutantkind—to do so would be to betray everything I am.”

"The evidence speaks for itself."

“You fool! Stryker has technology capable of controlling mutants—I was forced into it!”

"Haha, I don't believe you."

Jason's dismissive response nearly choked Magneto with rage.

Clenching his jaw, he turned and exposed the scar at the base of his neck. “This is the proof—Stryker’s device. He controlled me. I speak the truth!”

After examining it, Jason smiled coldly. "He wanted to control you, so you allowed it? You don't have strength to resist?"

Damn it... Magneto could practically taste blood as rage bubbled in his chest. Is that even supposed to be human language?
Did they not see the size of that guard’s baton? It was enormous—thick, merciless, and swung with the intent to maim.
He winced, feeling the throb in his bruised cheek. My face is black and blue… and they dare suggest I didn’t fight back?

Jason continued relentlessly. "Erik, this is the judgment of your mutant brothers. You betrayed your own kind!"

“I betrayed nothing, you bastard—nothing!” Magneto’s voice thundered with fury. “You miserable fool!”
He stepped forward, pressing both hands against the plastic door, eyes blazing. “Do you not understand? Mutants are on the brink of extinction—and all you can do is stand there and slander me?”

"Hmph, your desperation is showing."

Jason slowly withdrew a small iron box from his gear. He located the air vent on the door, positioned the box against it, and removed the cover.

Magneto startled at this action, backing away cautiously. "What are you planning?"

Tap. Tap.

Jason knocked on the bottom of the box several times, but nothing happened.

Concentrating briefly, he generated several tiny electrical arcs between his fingers, channeling them into the metal container.

Instantly, a loud buzzing erupted as dozens of plump, yellow bees swarmed out, flying through the air vent into Magneto's cell.

"What are these?!"

Magneto retreated in horror.

Jason shrugged nonchalantly. "Insecta, Pterygota, Hymenoptera, Apidae—killer bees."

The electrified killer bees were clearly enraged. They quickly identified Magneto and launched their assault.

"No! Stay away... GET BACK!"

Jason closed his eyes, unable to watch the gruesome scene unfolding before him.

He waited until more than half of the killer bees had exhausted themselves to death before turning to leave.

At the elevator entrance, an elite squad of soldiers had established a defensive position with bulletproof shields and assault rifles, waiting for the intruder to ascend.

What they hadn't anticipated was that the first things to emerge would be several precisely shaped explosive charges.

BOOM... BOOM!

The entire group was torn apart, blood spattering across the floor.

Jason then floated up leisurely and departed the facility without further incident.

Before returning to the Avengers base, he received a system notification:

[Mission accomplished.

Target classification: Diamond tier.

Upgrade: Not Upgraded.

Cause of death: Death by venomous bee stings.

Freshness rating: Five stars.

End-of-life emotions: Anger, anxiety.

Sentiment rating: Five stars.

Comprehensive task evaluation: Five stars!

Special reward for five-star performance: Gift package upgrading... Reward: Diamond five-star gift package, double luck enhancement]

Magneto truly deserves his reputation as a pivotal figure in the Marvel universe. Even as a prisoner, he ranks equivalent to the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Come, Jade Emperor, Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the Ten Kings of Hell—bless me!

Time to open the gift package!