A thunderous crash echoed through the abandoned factory as Su Zhan's fist smashed through one of Multiple Man's duplicates. Without pausing, he charged into the crowd, his movements swift and precise. Although it looked like he was surrounded by a mob, every face was the same—each one a copy of Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man. This mutant's power was impressive in its own way: he could turn a one-on-one fight into a battle against an army. But the quality of these duplicates was lacking. Against ordinary people, they might be overwhelming, but against a true powerhouse, their numbers meant little.
One copy was weak, and a crowd of them was simply a group of weaklings. That was all.
In just a few moments, Su Zhan had dispatched all of Multiple Man's duplicates. He now faced Quill, who had just tried to launch a barrage of quills at him. Quill was not among the most powerful mutants, but his body was covered in sharp quills that he could launch as projectiles or use in close combat. Perhaps he assumed Su Zhan would hesitate to approach, wary of his deadly quills, but Quill's confidence was quickly shattered.
Su Zhan did not even need to use his fists. Without warning, a massive energy club materialized above Quill's head and came crashing down. Quill was flattened to the ground, his head spinning. He tried to get up, but a second blow knocked him out completely.
As the dust settled, Su Zhan looked to the side and saw that Callisto had managed to rescue Quill at the last possible moment, pulling him away from the club's path. Her speed was remarkable, especially at close range. It was almost as if she could teleport short distances. She was not as fast as Quicksilver, and certainly not on the level of the Flash, but among mutants, her speed was impressive.
Su Zhan could not help but think of the speedsters he had encountered in other worlds. Some could even move when time itself was stopped. Callisto's ability was not quite at that level, but it was still formidable.
After saving Quill, Callisto immediately joined the fight. She appeared behind Su Zhan, but his reflexes were faster than hers. The moment she materialized, Su Zhan's fist was already flying toward her. Startled, Callisto dodged and reappeared from another direction, but every time she tried to flank him, Su Zhan was one step ahead.
Multiple Man, seeing Callisto in trouble, tried to summon another duplicate to help. But before he could, Su Zhan grabbed him by the shoulder and hurled him across the room. Jamie Madrox crashed into Callisto, and the two tumbled together to the ground.
Callisto struggled to her feet, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Multiple Man slowly rose from where he had slammed into the wall. He barely had time to check on Callisto before Su Zhan appeared beside him.
"Be careful! Get out of the way!" Callisto shouted, but it was too late.
Su Zhan's fist crashed into Multiple Man's shoulder, sending him flying like a ragdoll. He hit the far wall with a sickening thud, coughed up blood, and lost consciousness before he hit the ground.
"That's two down. Two left," Su Zhan said, rolling his shoulders. "I was just getting warmed up."
Without hesitation, Su Zhan reached out for Quill. Instantly, Quill was lifted into the air and slammed into the factory's ceiling. Again and again, Su Zhan sent him crashing into the ceiling and then the floor, until Quill finally fell limp and motionless.
"Three," Su Zhan counted, turning his gaze to Juggernaut, who had not moved since the start of the fight. Su Zhan's eyes sparkled with interest. "Forget the others. You're the one I'm really interested in. They call you Juggernaut, right? Are you a mutant, or did you get your power from somewhere else?"
He remembered that in the comics, Juggernaut's strength came from the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, making him nearly unstoppable. In the movies, however, Juggernaut was depicted as a mutant, and his strength was not quite as overwhelming. Su Zhan was genuinely curious about which version he was facing now.
Juggernaut's answer was a guttural roar. "When I crush you into powder, you'll know!"
He charged, his massive body shaking the ground with every step. The pressure in the room mounted as he picked up speed, his red armor and heavy helmet making him look like a living tank. If he hit Su Zhan, it would not be a joke.
Su Zhan summoned a thick wall of energy in front of Juggernaut. Without slowing, Juggernaut crashed into it headfirst. The wall shattered instantly, fragments of energy scattering across the floor.
Su Zhan conjured another wall, then another, but Juggernaut smashed through each one as if it were made of paper. Su Zhan was impressed. His energy constructs were not invincible, but this was the first time he had seen someone destroy them so easily. Juggernaut's destructive power was on a different level.
A smile crept across Su Zhan's lips. This was the kind of opponent he enjoyed.
But before he could fully engage Juggernaut, he noticed the Winter Soldier making a move toward Nick Fury, who was still handcuffed nearby. With a burst of energy, Su Zhan pinned the Winter Soldier to the wall and sliced through Fury's restraints.
Nick Fury rubbed his wrists and stepped away from the chaos. "I'll help you!" he called out.
Su Zhan laughed. "Don't make trouble. Are you helping me or getting in my way? Why not get to safety? I want to enjoy this fight!"
Fury hesitated, then nodded and slipped away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the factory. As soon as Fury was gone, Su Zhan heard the familiar chime of the system in his mind: Mission complete.
He rolled his shoulders, facing Juggernaut with renewed excitement. "Now, let's see what you're really made of."
Juggernaut roared and charged again, but Su Zhan was ready. The two titans clashed in the center of the ruined factory, the sound of their battle echoing far into the night.