Charlie guided Deadpool forward, sending him leaping down toward the creature marked by the exclamation point. As he got closer, the details of the alien came into focus. It was humanoid, with a lean, wiry frame, and although it had arms, legs, and a torso similar to a human, there was something animalistic about it. Its movements were agile, with a springy gait like a polar monkey. Its skin had a slight grayish tint, and it had large, dark eyes that darted anxiously between the ground and the beasts chasing him.
The creatures pursuing him were equally bizarre. They were entirely hairless, their pale bodies appearing skeletal, with bone-like plates covering their skin, giving them an armored look. Running on all fours, their long limbs stretched out powerfully, moving like cheetahs in pursuit of prey. Sharp teeth gleamed as they snarled, jaws open wide, their lean, muscular bodies gliding over the rocky terrain with frightening speed. They were closing in, mere feet behind the alien, who was stumbling, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Charlie had no personal stake in the alien's survival; this was, after all, an unknown planet with its own set of rules. But the game had clearly flagged the beasts as hostile entities, meaning they'd reward experience points if defeated. Not one to pass up a potential boost, Charlie decided to act.
However, instead of sending Green Lantern into action, he opted to summon his backup hero. The interstellar travel ability of Green Lantern was essential, so Charlie wanted to conserve his energy for more critical encounters. Instead, he called upon a character known for his irreverence, unpredictable combat style, and, conveniently, a unique team synergy with Green Lantern—Deadpool.
With a loud "Ha!" Deadpool appeared on screen, dressed in his iconic red and black suit, eyes gleaming with mischief as he adjusted his twin katanas on his back.
"Alright, boss! Who's the lucky sucker?" Deadpool said, cracking his knuckles as he dropped from a rocky ledge.
Charlie smirked. Even in an alien world, Deadpool's energy was as chaotic as ever. As Deadpool landed in front of the fleeing alien, the creature's eyes widened in shock. He tripped and tumbled across the ground, sprawling in a heap.
"Oops! Didn't mean to startle you, monkey-man!" Deadpool called out, before quickly focusing on the real threat.
The three beasts had reached striking distance. Their leader lunged forward, jaws snapping like a bear trap, ready to rip flesh from bone. The alien creature cowered, covering his head with his arms and letting out a strangled cry, certain he was about to be torn apart.
At the last second, Deadpool unsheathed one of his katanas, swinging it upward with practiced speed. The blade sliced clean through the beast's open mouth, skewering it right through the back of its skull. The creature twitched violently, its claws scrabbling against the dirt, before going still. Deadpool flicked his wrist, sending the limp beast flying off the end of his blade.
"Gotta say, you guys have a terrible dental plan," he remarked, casually wiping the blade on his pant leg.
The other two beasts, enraged by the loss of their comrade, snarled and circled Deadpool, their bodies low to the ground, muscles rippling as they prepared to pounce. Their dark, soulless eyes glared at him, and their long tails twitched in anticipation.
The beast on the right launched itself at Deadpool, fangs bared and claws extended. Deadpool swung his katana, aiming to strike, but the beast feinted to the side, narrowly dodging the blade. Just as Deadpool recovered, the second beast charged from the left, jaws wide open, ready to clamp down on his shoulder.
But Deadpool was quicker than he looked. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out a small pistol from his belt and fired off several rounds. The shots hit the beast square in the chest, the bullets flattening slightly against the tough bone-like armor, but they caused enough pain to force the creature to stumble back, snarling in agony.
Deadpool seized the opening, dashing forward with his katana raised. With a powerful thrust, he drove the blade straight through the creature's throat. The beast let out a choked growl, blood bubbling from the wound, before collapsing in a heap.
The last remaining beast, now fully enraged, launched itself at Deadpool in a desperate attempt to avenge its pack. But Deadpool was already prepared. With a quick movement, he grabbed a grenade from his belt, pulled the pin, and tossed it directly into the beast's open mouth as it lunged forward.
The creature's eyes widened in surprise as the grenade lodged in its throat. It tried to cough or spit it out, but it was too late. The explosion erupted from within, sending it crashing to the ground, twitching as its body went limp.
Deadpool twirled his katana with a flourish before sheathing it on his back. "Maybe next time, don't go swallowing mysterious objects from strange men," he quipped, dusting off his hands.
The alien, who had been frozen in shock, slowly got to his feet, staring at Deadpool with a mix of awe and confusion. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out.
"Hey, monkey-man," Deadpool called, giving the alien a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Got a name? Or should I just call you 'Saved by Deadpool'?"