With the wind at my back, I arrived quickly at the second location. After sending out my reconnaissance bees, I used Air Door to infiltrate the facility.
Unlike the previous site, this location was considerably more fortified. The defenses were better organized, the guards were heavily armed, and the weaponry itself was both more advanced and in larger quantities. However, what really caught my attention was the energy radiating from three individuals guarding the area. Their power levels seemed to fluctuate, shifting between stronger and weaker states, which was quite unusual.
To avoid detection, I used a dimensional portal to reach my intended destination, then exited and hid in a corner. The three individuals weren't close by, but they guarded the shipment stored here. My *Haki* enveloped their bodies, allowing me to sense the odd energy fluctuations more clearly, and with my eyes trained to see the truth, I identified the cause: a metallic device attached to their bodies, resembling a centipede, with a strange orange liquid inside. This liquid was injected into their bloodstream, causing the shifts in their energy.
"It seems like a temporary boost... not sure of the exact abilities it grants, but it reminds me of the serum developed by Oscorp, albeit with some apparent differences," I murmured. The sensation was somewhat distinct.
My gaze scanned the crates, and I noticed that two of them contained more of these centipede devices, while others held high-grade weapons and even some bombs that seemed particularly dangerous. Frowning, I realized these elements would limit my actions somewhat. Therefore, I decided to first eliminate the weapons with the greatest potential for harm. Moving stealthily like an assassin, I rapidly disarmed guards and removed high-risk weapons. Though the guards hadn't noticed my presence, they would eventually realize the weapons were missing.
As expected, once I had secured most of the weapons, one of the men noticed the absence of a crate containing a centipede device.
"Hey, where did the crate go?" he asked. A well-built man of average height, clearly trained, began looking around. The others, alarmed by his question, started checking the items, and soon they noticed the missing crates, including the high-value ones. Realizing this, one of them reached for a communicator to alert their superiors. Naturally, I couldn't allow this.
Tiny magoi lights gathered at my fingertips, and with precision, I destroyed their communication devices, whether in their hands or earpieces. The sudden attack startled them, and I emerged from the shadows with a calm smile.
For this depot, I was implementing a different strategy, with a secondary plan in motion that wouldn't require my direct action. However, I still needed to neutralize these three.
Upon seeing me and sensing something off about my presence, they hesitated for a moment before charging at me. The first man reached me with a powerful punch, which I caught with one hand, feeling the clear force behind it—far beyond that of a normal human and comparable to a mutant's strength. Although it didn't injure me, it pushed me back slightly.
"So, it enhances strength... almost like a super-soldier serum?" I murmured. He swung again, but I dodged easily and delivered a forceful kick to his face, sending him flying. I raised myself up with one hand, reinforced my feet with Qi, and delivered two powerful kicks, launching him across the room.
Then, I smiled calmly. "Well, as for the other two, please enjoy this distraction." I clasped my hands together and summoned one of my more versatile abilities. "*Ice Make: Leopards*."
Two ice leopards sprang from the magical circle and leaped at the other two guards. They weren't huge, but they were resilient and strong enough to injure and restrain the men, allowing me to observe that their heightened abilities seemed limited to physical strength.
I approached the third man, who now looked at me in fear. "Who... or what are you?"
"Well, my usual title is the Immortal, a vigilante," I replied with a grin, moving swiftly toward him. My fist, imbued with a moon-like white energy, struck and kicked him in multiple areas of his body as I tested his strength and endurance. Soon, he passed out, and I decided not to remove the centipede device, only the orange liquid, as removing the entire device might be painful or even fatal.
Afterward, I looked over at the rest of the group. My ice leopards were slightly damaged but still effective, while the guards were visibly exhausted and bore claw and bite injuries. The frost element had clearly taken a toll on them, as patches of their skin showed signs of minor frostbite.
The wind gathered beneath my feet, and I moved toward the other two, an ancient green wooden staff in my right hand. My plan was to neutralize them quickly and finish with this site. I had no way of knowing whether Bushmaster, with his formidable strength, had other guards equipped with these centipede devices, but it would be a complication if he did.
...
3 POV
Inside the weapons depot, numerous police cars, FBI agents, and special forces stormed the location, heavily armed and prepared. However, what they found was surprising: people frozen in place, some trapped in icy chains or cages, others encased in frozen roses, and others bound by ropes, wires, or a solid red substance. Some lay unconscious on the ground, seemingly struck down by a blow to the head or by other means.
They also found most of the weapons intact. Yet, in one of the rooms, they discovered a group of men who had suffered various injuries and had strange metal centipedes attached to their backs or hands.
An FBI agent approached, frowning as he murmured, "What exactly is this… and who took down so many people in such a flashy way?"
A woman beside him, dressed in slightly fitted clothing with red hair, replied calmly, "Based on the evidence, it must be one of the special individuals we've been tracking in the city—the one known as the Immortal, specifically." She spoke while snapping photos and making notes on her equipment.
She then murmured, with a hint of confusion and curiosity, "Director Nick mentioned that this person is more of an ally than an enemy. That's why he sent me to redirect certain matters and gather information. I wonder who this person is. He seems powerful… and capable, judging by how things look here. Could he be a mutant?"
Though curious, she continued to do as she was instructed. Beneath her waist, a badge showed an acronym different from the FBI: S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Let's collect everything. Bring in all the weapons and items, and detain everyone. We'll take them in for interrogation."
…
Luke Cage's POV
After sorting things out with the vigilante known as the Immortal, I felt relieved. I didn't know the full extent of his strength, but I had a sense he'd complete the mission without any issues, which allowed me to relax a bit as I went into my own task. I tried to be somewhat stealthy, though I lack specific training for that. So, when the guards spotted me, I took them down directly. Their bullets barely scratched me, and their attacks didn't even tickle. With a light smack or punch, they'd go flying several meters.
I didn't spare any walls or obstacles in my path either, simply plowing through them as I headed toward Bushmaster's location. I was cautious enough, though, not to overdo my speed.
But then, things got a little complicated—or rather, irritating. Some sort of special bullets started coming my way. They didn't pierce my skin, but they caused an itching sensation and even left faint marks, as if they were laced with some kind of toxin. That got me a bit concerned, so I tore off a piece of nearby metal to use as a shield. I also picked up my pace to dodge the shots and crushed everything in my path with even more force.
Finally, I broke through the last wall and saw two tall men I hadn't noticed before. From a distance, I could make out something odd on their wrists, which intrigued me and made me stay cautious. Along with them, there were two others armed with submachine guns or similar weapons, while others who had been working there had already fled.
In the center stood the group's leader, wearing some gold earrings and an open shirt, his hair slightly curled.
"Luke Cage—or as some have been calling you lately, Power Man," he sneered. "What a ridiculous name! Even if you're stronger, there's no way I'd lose to you."
"I actually like the name. In a world where mutants roam around, a perfected human, a truly better human, is the one who deserves to be called Power Man. So, I'll be taking that name for myself."
"Fire at him."
His voice was cold and direct. His men didn't hesitate. I was already expecting the bullets to be different, so I stomped hard on the floor, shattering the second-story floor and sending us all tumbling down to the lower level.
Dust clouded the air, but it soon became clear that the two men with the strange devices on their wrists weren't affected by the fall at all. They were still standing, with only slight cracks where they landed. Bushmaster seemed the calmest of all; the ground beneath him was more broken, and he wore a grin that conveyed both irritation and amusement.
As for the other two with firearms, they'd been pinned under chunks of the building, still conscious but ready to fight. I took the chance to hurl two wooden beams at their heads, knocking them out cold.
I dusted off my hands and turned my attention to the two larger guys, who were glaring at me with fierce eyes.