chapter 10

"Huh? Wanda! I'm here!"

Hearing Adrian's words, Pietro was momentarily stunned before he excitedly shouted to the figure ahead.

The figure resembling the Scarlet Witch seemed to hear the voice and slowly walked towards Adrian. Her red cloak fluttered gracefully in the wind, standing out amidst the ruins.

Adrian tilted his head, a hint of doubt and caution in his eyes, as a subtle uneasiness crept into his heart. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

Questions flooded his mind as his thoughts spun. Was it her appearance, or was her behavior uncharacteristic of a witch? He struggled to find an answer.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. His eyes widened in realization.

"So there was another character in the plot besides the Scarlet Witch. Why is she the only one here now?"

"Moreover, if she were truly the Scarlet Witch, wouldn't she be concerned about her brother being tied up?"

Reacting quickly, Adrian drew his gun and aimed it at the 'Scarlet Witch' without hesitation.

Almost instantly, the figure began to move, accelerating at an astonishing speed, and let out a low, terrifying roar that shook the air around them.

"Hehehe, it doesn't matter if I'm discovered. It doesn't matter if it's armed. As long as it's meat, I'll eat it!"

"No!"

When the familiar yet piercing voice reached his ears, Pietro's heart sank. Pain and sadness flooded his chest, tears threatening to spill.

Adrian, meanwhile, watched as the figure's appearance started to change. Her true form was gradually revealed—a sickly blue complexion and faded blonde hair blowing in the wind.

As she moved, blue patches appeared across her skin, turning it into a rotten blue shade.

It was Mystique, not Wanda. In the original storyline, she transformed into Wanda, infected Quicksilver, and spread the virus worldwide at an unimaginable rate. Adrian had nearly fallen into her trap.

Eyes narrowed in concentration, Adrian aimed at Mystique and fired two shots. Unfortunately, Mystique twisted her body, deftly dodging the bullets, which skimmed past and struck a distant wall.

Turning to Pietro, who still had his eyes shut in pain, Adrian crouched down and placed his hands on Pietro's shoulders, firmly urging, "Look up—that's Mystique in disguise. Get out of here. I'll handle her."

Pietro opened his eyes, and seeing the blue-skinned zombie running towards him, he didn't dare speak. He quickly turned and rolled towards the street.

Adrian refocused his aim on Mystique, lifting his gun with calm determination, and pulled the trigger once more. The bullet hurtled through the air towards Mystique.

Mystique roared, her body shifting rapidly as she attempted to dodge the lethal shot. This time, however, her luck ran out. The bullet struck its mark, piercing her skin and splattering her decaying flesh and bones.

She screamed, her shape-shifting powers failing, leaving her unable to hide any longer.

"Ah! Even this meat can be bitten!"

But despite the injury, the creature didn't retreat. Mystique lunged at Adrian, her bloody mouth open, her razor-sharp teeth glinting menacingly.

In a crucial moment, Adrian took a deep breath, grabbed a handful of dirt he'd prepared earlier, and flung it at Mystique without hesitation.

The dust flew, sticking to Mystique's face and blurring her vision.

Blinded, Mystique desperately tried to wipe the dirt from her eyes, but the more she wiped, the worse it became. She roared, swinging her arms wildly, attempting to clear the obstacle in front of her.

Seizing the opportunity, Adrian took several steps back, aiming at Mystique's head.

"Boom!"

The gunshot pierced the air, the bullet embedding deeply into Mystique's skull.

Mystique let out a shrill scream, her body trembling. She struggled to remain upright, her claws swiping viciously towards Adrian.

"Oh no!"

Adrian's eyes widened as he dodged, her claws narrowly missing his cheek, leaving a bloody scratch from the forceful swipe.

A chill spread through him, his heartbeat quickened, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Only inches away, he'd nearly become one of the walking dead himself—a mindless zombie without any self-awareness.

"Damn it!" he cursed, firing relentlessly at Mystique's head as he backed away.

Though Mystique was a third-level mutant, her skin could only resist small-caliber bullets. While she could shift the position of certain organs, she couldn't protect her brain.

Gunfire and roars echoed through the streets as Adrian fired in rapid succession, relentlessly hitting Mystique's head.

Blood and brains splattered everywhere, her already monstrous face becoming even more grotesque.

Finally, Mystique collapsed, her body twitching twice before becoming motionless. Adrian's fury subsided, and he panted heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Adrian looked over to where Quicksilver had rolled, and he smiled faintly.

"You okay?" Pietro asked in shock.

Adrian nodded. "Yeah, just shaken up. Let's keep moving; we can't stop here."

Just then, a low rumbling sound reached their ears, growing louder as it approached.

On the horizon, a formation of helicopters appeared, their rotors slicing through the air, buzzing like a swarm of bees.

"The National Guard," Adrian muttered, squinting. "Not that they'll be much help."

But before he could finish, a blinding red laser shot out from the distance, striking one of the helicopters. The hit threw it off balance, and it spiraled downward in flames.

The sudden attack sent the remaining helicopters into disarray, some being destroyed in the ensuing chaos.

Shrugging, Adrian turned, pulled Pietro to his feet, and continued forward, unable to do much else.

🛡️Ronin 🛡️

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