Showing off backfires! Has senior brother turned evil on the spot?

Roswell Desert, New Mexico.

This is the second core base of the Silver Peak Consortium, outside the Mind Stone and Cloning Central Hall of the Zero Gene Furnace.

A dozen cloned guards lay sprawled on the ground, their chests all deeply caved in.

In the center of the passage, Duan Shuiliu, dressed in martial arts attire, stood between two corpses, retracting his right fist.

He raised his right hand, smoothed his short hair back, and glanced sideways at Yan Shuangying, Tony, and Yang Liqing who were walking behind him.

"You all raved about this conglomerate before you left, but during the meeting you all acted like you were facing a formidable enemy."

"In my opinion, they're nothing but a bunch of chickens and dogs, not even qualified to warm me up!"

Yang Liqing walked to the side and kicked the helmet of a clone ward at her feet.

"The Duan Shuiliu; this is just a patrol post, not even a proper dish."

"Save your energy. Don't start bragging before you even meet the person in charge."

"So what if they're on patrol? So what if they're the ones in charge?"

Duan Shuiliu, with his nose in the air and a face full of disdain, said, "Don't you understand the saying 'one leaf heralds autumn'?"

"Judging by the speed and physique of these useless guys, the people in this base are just there to make up the numbers."

"I'm not targeting any one clone lying on the ground, I'm saying every single one of you! You're all trash!"

Tony, who was walking on the other side, stopped and turned his head to look Duan Shuiliu up and down.

"Have you gone mad from practicing martial arts? These dozen or so people all have the same heartbeat; they're clearly mass-produced expendables. Anyone who didn't know better would think you single-handedly took down the White House."

Duan Shuiliu snorted, "Stop being sarcastic! Why weren't you the first one to rush in when the door was opened?"

"Now that I've taken them all down, you're trying to act all high and mighty? I think you're just afraid of dying!"

Tony pulled his right hand out of his pocket, ran his thumb through his stubble, and spoke in a sinister tone:

"When I was in the business, I'd seen at least eighty or a hundred guys as loud as you. Do you know where they all ended up?"

"They're all feeding the fish underwater! If you want to try it, you can practice back at base after this job?"

"Why wait to go back to base? I can cripple you right now!"

"Alright!"

Yang Liqing stepped between the two, glaring at them. "What kind of time is this to be fighting amongst yourselves? Besides the Zero Gene Furnace, Roswell also hides Mind Stone Amplification Matrix!"

"If you two have a death wish, why don't you just fight to the death right now? That way, the guys inside won't have to lift a finger!"

Duan Shuiliu scoffed, but ultimately didn't make a move.

"What Mind Stone Amplification Matrix? That's something for weak-willed people like you!"

"The path of martial arts is all about overwhelming force, where one's essence, energy, and spirit are united as one, making one invincible!"

"Before my power to Duan Shuiliu, any illusions or tricks are nothing but a joke!"

Duan Shuiliu straightened his collar and looked past the two men at Yan Shuangying, who remained silent.

"Ling Ling'er, although the leaders have appointed you as the team leader, might makes right."

"Once we get into the main hall, you and the other two stand quietly at the back and watch my performance."

"Don't interfere unnecessarily, lest your paltry skills get in the way."

Tony chuckled and turned to Yan Shuangying: "Our senior brother wants to eat everything by himself, and he wants the three of us to applaud and cheer for him from behind."

"How about we find a deck of cards and squat by the door to Dou Dizhu cards? Someone's eager to do the hard work, I don't mind having a smoke and taking a break."

Yang Liqing glared at Tony:

"You're joining in the commotion too! This is a transoceanic offensive, not a bargaining session at the market!"

"Team leader, say something! Are you really going to let him run wild like this?"

Yan Shuangying, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, "If he likes to go ahead and explore, then let him go."

Did you hear me?!

Duan Shuiliu became smug. "The team leader is right, he knows his place. You all just keep your eyes peeled and watch closely, and see what true number one in the world looks like!"

After saying that, Duan Shuiliu snorted and strode towards the end of the passage.

Just as the Duan Shuiliu was less than two steps from the gate, Yan Shuangying, who had been following behind, stopped.

With his left hand slashing to the side, he blocked Yang Liqing and Tony, who were about to follow. His right hand was already inside his trench coat, resting on his holster.

"Stop."

Duan Shuiliu, still holding his raised foot, stopped in front of the threshold and turned around impatiently. "What is it now? I just praised you for having self-awareness, and now you want to back out and steal the credit?"

Yan Shuangying ignored his sarcasm, her eyes fixed on the ground. "Don't move forward."

Tony abandoned his lazy demeanor and scanned his surroundings.

Is there a hidden layer under the floor? Or is it an infrared-detected mine?

"It's not a security agency; there's something sinister inside that's already targeting him. It's not too late to retreat now."

Ha! Playing tricks!

Duan Shuiliu laughed loudly, "Yan Shuangying, I thought you were all that capable after all these years overseas!"

"If you're too scared to come in, then just stay in the passageway and be a coward."

"Duan Shuiliu, come back!"

Yang Liqing shouted urgently, "Don't gamble with your life!"

Duan Shuiliu looked at the three of them with disgust and stepped into the hall.

The moment the soles of the shoes touched the floor of the hall, the ring light above their heads flashed three times, and the lighting in the entire area turned a dark gold.

Just minutes ago, I was so enraged by the pile of yellow junk and internet memes in Deadpool's head at the Chicago Cathedral that my celestial avatar collapsed on the spot.

At this moment, this madman with God complex was unleashing his pent-up resentment and rage through the amplification matrix onto the first unlucky victim.

"Mortals! You filthy reptiles! Kill yourselves!"

The sharp Mind Stone roar transformed into a mental storm, drilling directly into the depths of the mind through the seven orifices of the Duan Shuiliu.

"Who goes there? Who's talking to me? Get out here!"

The Duan Shuiliu couldn't even withstand half a second of resistance.

The more he boasted of being invincible, the more his deep-seated narrow-mindedness, jealousy, arrogance, and fear of being outdone became the perfect fuel for his pent-up resentment.

All I could hear were countless overlapping, vicious whispers:

"Look at Yan Shuangying behind you, he looks down on you completely..."

"That thug named Tony is laughing at you for being a frog in a well..."

"And that woman, she thinks you're not as good as others..."

"Kill them! Slaughter these eyesores, and then no one in the world will be able to lord it over you!"

"Yes... kill them!"

"Only by wiping out all the masters of the 749 Bureau can I, Duan Shuiliu, truly become the number one in the world!"

The Duan Shuiliu, and his whole body convulsed and trembled violently.

Yang Liqing, who was in the passageway, sensed something was wrong and took a few steps forward.

"The Duan Shuiliu? Can you hear me?"

Duan Shuiliu turned around, his eyes bloodshot.

"You... all of you must die! Die, all of you!"

He pushed off the ground with both feet, and with his right hand's five fingers together, he chopped down at Yang Liqing, who was closest to him.