Trask

High in the sky.

Charles sat inside the helicopter, watching it all.

Astonishment immediately appeared on his face.

Having experienced Gu Qing's memories of "First Class," he had naturally witnessed Magneto's fighting style.

But Gu Qing's current appearance was completely different from the one in his "impression"!

So violent, so... powerful!!

Meanwhile, Gu Qing had been bombarding Black King Shaw for over ten minutes.

Yet no matter how heavy the punch, Black King Shaw absorbed it.

But Gu Qing had not gained nothing!

Whenever Black King Shaw took around fifty punches head-on, his body would sway slightly when he was struck again.

And he would release the energy absorbed into his body as quickly as possible.

Even if it could not threaten Gu Qing, even if he merely discharged it into the sea.

It was obvious.

Fifty punches was Black King Shaw's limit!

But now, Gu Qing faced a new problem.

Black King Shaw could release the energy he absorbed at any time!

That meant that even knowing his limit, Gu Qing had no way of reaching it, much less breaking past it!

So Gu Qing had to become stronger!

"110,000 horsepower! Break for me!! Rapid Bullet Fist!!"

As he broke through his power limit, Gu Qing further refined and developed the various boxing techniques and fighting methods he had mastered.

Imitating Hai Hu from the comics, he created a new style of boxing!

Like bullets, he threw dozens of punches in a short span of time!

Every punch contained the terrifying force of 110,000 horsepower!

—Pfft!

Black King Shaw's defenses finally broke!

Gu Qing's punches were simply too fast, leaving him no time to release the energy stored within his body.

It made him feel as though his whole body was swelling, so uncomfortable that he seemed on the verge of exploding!

By the time the final punch landed on him, he could no longer fully absorb the kinetic energy generated by the blow.

Though more than half of this punch's power had been weakened, it still sent Black King Shaw vomiting blood.

Even though he could use the energy he absorbed to strengthen his body, making his physique far beyond that of an ordinary human, he still could not withstand it. His breastbone was shattered!

He shot away like a cannonball fired from its barrel.

Sea Blossom Music Restaurant.

Only three hundred meters from Biscayne Bay, its huge floor-to-ceiling windows offered a perfect view of the sparkling sea.

With its elegant atmosphere and attentive service, it was famous throughout Miami.

"Talia, actually, I..."

Under the soft lighting, amid such a romantic atmosphere.

After preparing for a long time, Trask finally gathered his courage.

Yes, he truly needed courage.

Because the woman before him possessed a beautiful face that even angels would envy. She was so adorable, so captivating.

Her smile seemed capable of healing anyone's heart. In fact, Trask had been melted by her smile the very first time he saw her.

But as for him, a dwarfism patient standing only 1.35 meters tall, his childhood had not been tragic, yet that could not change the timidity and inferiority buried deep within him.

But in the face of love, he had to cast those things aside. He needed courage, or he would regret it for the rest of his life!

He did not want regrets, so he boldly began pursuing her.

The outcome delighted him!

Talia, the beautiful angel heaven had bestowed upon him.

Did not care about his height at all. She had even been drawn to his humor and knowledge.

Their relationship had progressed passionately!

And today, Trask had decided to do something important.

He held the box containing the engagement ring in his hand.

Just as he was about to rise, drop to one knee, and speak the words that had been buried in his heart for so long.

A wave of startled cries suddenly erupted throughout the restaurant.

"Oh my God! Look over there, what happened?"

"It sounds like gunfire—and explosions! God, I can't believe it. Has the war not ended yet?"

"That direction seems to be the harbor. It's at least a kilometer away from here, yet we can hear it all the way here. With firepower this intense, could there really be a battle going on?"

Even Talia could not suppress her curiosity and stood to look out the window.

Only Trask remained frozen where he was.

Still clutching the diamond ring he had prepared for his proposal.

After a long moment, he came back to his senses and looked toward the commotion outside.

His instincts told him that this place was not safe.

"Talia, we should leave first..."

Before he could finish.

A black speck came hurtling toward them at high speed.

Then came nothing but a deafening explosion.

A gale howled through the air as shattered glass and metal fragments sprayed wildly in every direction.

Only then did Trask realize that being short had its advantages.

Yet he felt no joy.

Because—"Talia!!"

The chaos came swiftly and subsided just as quickly.

The entire restaurant was filled with wails of pain, while even more people had already died on the spot.

Talia included.

Her delicate face was embedded with shards of broken glass, and half her body had been reduced to mangled flesh scattered across the floor.

Her beautiful blue eyes had turned ashen gray. They were wide open, seeming to still hold a trace of confusion.

Confusion over herself—why had she died just like that?

Trask was overcome with grief. He fell to his knees and clutched the half of Talia's body that remained.

After a brief spell of sorrow, his bloodshot eyes turned with his head, locking onto the one responsible.

He did not seem to be doing very well either.

His chest was caved in, and he lay on the ground, continuously coughing up blood.

Traces of blood seeped from his other six orifices as well.

It looked as though he did not have much longer to live.

Whoosh!

A figure streaked over.

Appearing before him.

"Schmidt, it seems the Mutant Power you rely on isn't all that impressive.

Today, I'll blast you into scraps!!"

But just as Gu Qing prepared to throw a punch.

Bang!

A man in a black Zhongshan suit, with red skin and a tail, appeared beside Schmidt.

His hand pressed down on Schmidt's shoulder.

Bang!

They vanished!

The entire process lasted less than half a second.

It had happened so unexpectedly that even Gu Qing failed to react in time.

Red Devil?

That couldn't be right!

At this point, even the Hellfire Club had not yet been established. How could Red Devil be here?!

"Argh!!!"

Anger and unwillingness compressed in Gu Qing's chest.

It made him feel as if he were about to explode!

Magnetic Field Rotation spun at high speed at that very moment.

—120,000 Horsepower!!

—YAAAH!!

Gu Qing shot into the sky. The restaurant ceiling had been completely shattered, revealing the darkening sky outside.

Just like Trask's heart at that moment.

He stared at it all in shock.

At everything that lay beyond his comprehension.

CRACK! BOOM!

Everything in front of where Gu Qing had just stood suddenly shattered to pieces.

The restaurant sat at the edge of the top floor of a shopping mall.

And now, divided by the spot where Gu Qing had stood, the entire front half of the mall had completely collapsed!

Trask lowered his head again and looked at Talia in his arms. The ring box in his right hand had been crushed out of shape by his grip.

His eyes brimmed with hatred and fury.

"Mutant... ability?"