The dark figure stopped at the entrance to the square.
It's not hesitation, it's gathering strength.
Emma Frost's mental tendrils suddenly tensed, like a string stretched to its limit, ready to snap at any moment. Her face turned deathly pale, her lips trembled slightly, but she bit her lower lip tightly to keep herself from making a sound. Ye Mo's hand was already on his waist, his knuckles white from the force, but he didn't move. He was waiting. Waiting for that dark figure to completely tear apart this false peace.
"Bang!"
A dull, loud bang rang out.
It wasn't an explosion, but an air tremor caused by the instantaneous release of some high-frequency sound wave. Immediately afterwards, a blinding red light swept across the plaza entrance, like an invisible scythe, reaping all order from the scene.
Klaue appeared.
He wore a black tactical vest and a gas mask, and carried an oversized sonic transmitter. The device was still buzzing, with blue arcs of electricity leaping at the muzzle, emitting a nauseating ionized smell. Behind him, a dozen heavily armed mercenaries surged out like a tide, their assault rifles spitting fire.
" Wakanda's treasure is mine today!"
Klaue's voice, amplified through the loudspeakers, filled the entire venue with a manic laugh.
The crowd erupted in chaos.
Screams, cries, and the sounds of overturned tables and chairs mingled together. The guests, who had been holding champagne and dressed in formal attire, scattered like startled ants. Some fell to the ground, others trampled on each other, and the scene was utter chaos.
Ye Mo narrowed his eyes, coldly observing everything through his silver half-rimmed glasses. He didn't rush forward immediately, but instead quickly surveyed his surroundings.
"Don't panic," Emma Frost's voice echoed in his mind, weak but firm. "I'll try to calm those who are getting close to us. You find an opportunity to break in."
Ye Mo nodded, his body slightly lowering, his center of gravity receding. His gaze locked onto Klaue. This Vibranium dealer hadn't disappointed; he'd pulled off a ruthless attack right from the start. While sonic weapons couldn't kill directly, they were enough to incapacitate and even cause internal organ damage. That's why those security personnel had collapsed before they could even react—their eardrums and balance systems had been instantly destroyed.
T'Challa reacted extremely quickly.
In the very first second of the chaos, he leaped from the platform. His black battle suit shimmered on him, making him appear like a true Black Panther, agile and deadly. He landed silently, and with a backhand swipe, an energy blade severed the gun barrels of the two nearest mercenaries.
"Protect the people!" T'Challa roared, his voice filled with authority.
But he wasn't just facing a few mercenaries; he was also dealing with that damned sonic weapon in Klaue's hands.
Klaue sneered and adjusted the angle of his gun, " Black Panther? Hmph, you think you can block my ' Sound of Silence '?"
He pulled the trigger.
A visible ripple spread outwards. T'Challa paused, the light in his eyes dimming slightly. It was the interference of sound waves on mental energy. Ye Mo keenly sensed that T'Challa's breathing had become rapid, clearly resisting this mental pressure.
" Emma Frost, interrupt him!" Ye Mo whispered.
Emma Frost took a deep breath, her eyes glowing faintly white. She tried to use Telepathy to disrupt Klaue's consciousness and distract him. However, Klaue seemed to be prepared; the device on his helmet flickered, and a shielding wave deflected Emma Frost's mental attack.
Emma Frost groaned, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.
"Damn it!" Ye Mo cursed. This bastard not only brought men, but also equipment specifically designed to target Mutants.
" Ye Mo, watch out!" Emma Frost exclaimed.
A mercenary spotted Ye Mo in the corner and fired. The bullet grazed Ye Mo's ear and shattered the stone pillar behind him. Shards flew everywhere, cutting Ye Mo's cheek.
Ye Mo didn't dodge; instead, he took a step forward and, taking advantage of the mercenary's blind spot, kicked him in the knee. The sound of bones breaking was crisp and pleasant. The man screamed and fell to his knees. Ye Mo snatched his gun and, with a backhand motion, smashed the butt of the gun into the head of another enemy who was charging at him.
The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
But this was just a drop in the ocean. The square was swarming with enemies, T'Challa, outnumbered, was gradually forced back to the center of the square. Klaue, on the other hand, stood on high ground, wielding a sonic weapon, waving his arms like a conductor, enjoying the thrill of the chaos.
"See that? This is Game of Thrones!" Klaue shouted into the microphone. "Whoever controls the resources controls everything! I'm taking all of Wakanda's secrets with me!"
Ye Mo wiped the blood from his face, his eyes turning cold. He glanced at Emma Frost beside him and saw that she was struggling to maintain Mental Barrier, protecting the civilians within a few meters from the sound waves. Her face was growing paler and paler, her strength greatly depleted.
"We can't wait any longer," Ye Mo thought to himself.
He looked at T'Challa. The new king was locked in combat with three elite mercenaries, his armor already bearing several scratches, yet he stubbornly protected the people behind him. That sense of responsibility stirred a sense of respect in Ye Mo's heart.
" T'Challa, to the left!" Ye Mo suddenly shouted.
T'Challa instinctively dodged to the left, avoiding a mercenary's sneak attack. At the same time, Ye Mo threw a smoke grenade—a little gadget he had previously smuggled from the safe house.
White smoke instantly spread out, obscuring the enemy's vision.
"This way!" Ye Mo grabbed Emma Frost's arm and pulled her toward T'Challa.
Emma Frost looked at him with some surprise. "What are you going to do?"
"Can you do me a favor?" Ye Mo grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "I'm just killing time anyway."
The moment the three reunited, Klaue sensed something was amiss. He turned his head, his eyes behind his mask fixed on Ye Mo: "Oh? There's another clueless little bug here?"
He raised his sonic weapon and aimed it at Ye Mo and the other two.
"You think this will stop me?" Klaue laughed maniacally, slowly pressing the fire button.
Ye Mo clenched his fist, and the X-Gene Resonance System within his body began to vibrate slightly. He could feel the fragments dormant in the Gene Spiral Tower awakening. But he didn't choose to activate them now. He needed to observe, to find the best opportunity.
" Emma Frost, create an illusion," Ye Mo commanded in a low voice.
Emma Frost paused for a moment, then understood his intention. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The next second, several illusory T'Challa figures appeared in the air around Klaue.
Klaue hesitated.
It was that moment of hesitation that T'Challa.
He charged at Klaue with lightning speed, his claws aimed straight for the man's wrist holding the gun. Klaue fell backward in panic, the sonic weapon slipping from his hand and hitting the ground with a piercing noise.
T'Challa stepped on his weapon, looking down at Klaue: "It's over, Klaue."
Klaue struggled to his feet, but he was already surrounded by T'Challa's bodyguard. He looked at T'Challa, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness. "You think you've won? This is just the beginning..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ye Mo stepped forward and kicked him in the stomach.
"Shut up," Ye Mo said coldly.
Klaue collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The gunfire in the square gradually subsided, and the remaining mercenaries surrendered one after another. The civilians peeked out from their hiding places, their eyes filled with gratitude and lingering fear as they watched the scene unfold.
Ye Mo turned around and looked at the mess on the square. His chest heaved, and sweat soaked through his black hooded sweatshirt. Emma Frost stood beside him, breathing softly, looking at him with a complicated expression.
"Are you alright?" Ye Mo asked.
Emma Frost shook her head. "It's nothing. How about you?"
"It's alright," Ye Mo shrugged, "Just a little tired."
T'Challa over and nodded to the two men. "Thank you for your help. Things might have been worse without you."
Ye Mo smiled and said, "Don't be so polite. We're all friends."
Although he said that, he was secretly planning what to do next. Although Klaue had been captured, the power behind him was far greater than that. This attack was just the tip of the iceberg; a much bigger storm was yet to come.
He glanced at the wreckage of the sonic weapon on the ground, his brow furrowing slightly. The technology behind this thing was of unknown origin; it was definitely not something Klaue could have created on his own.
" Ye Mo, what are you thinking about?" Emma Frost noticed the change in his expression.
Ye Mo looked away and patted Emma Frost on the shoulder. "It's nothing. I was just thinking that the pancake stall might have to be closed later tonight."
Emma Frost couldn't help but chuckle, her tense nerves relaxing slightly.
Just then, a police siren sounded in the distance. A S.H.I.E.L.D.. helicopter was approaching.
"Looks like our main character is about to make his appearance," Ye Mo joked.
T'Challa frowned. " S.H.I.E.L.D.."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Ye Mo said confidently. "After all, I'm very good at cleaning up messes."
He turned and walked towards the edge of the square, where there was an abandoned jeep. He planned to leave first and find a quiet place to analyze the data of the sonic weapon.
Emma Frost followed, asking, "Where are you going?"
"I have something to take care of." Ye Mo glanced back at her. "You should go home and rest early too. You must be exhausted today."
Emma Frost watched his departing figure, a warm feeling welling up inside her. This man always seemed to appear at the most dangerous moments, resolving the most troublesome problems in the easiest way.
Unbeknownst to her, Ye Mo's retreating figure was actually filled with vigilance. He knew that Klaue was merely a pawn, and the real player was still lurking in the shadows, watching him intently.
And he must be prepared.
A night breeze swept across the square, stirring up black powder from the ground. Ye Mo started the jeep, and with a roar of the engine, he drove into the depths of the night.
At the other end of the square, T'Challa gazed at the sky, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
The storm has only just begun.