Chapter 110: Wade vs. the Fake Deadpool
Stryker hadn't activated the base's self-destruct sequence—instead, he had released control over the Ultimate X Weapon.
At present, it was his proudest creation.
"Evacuate immediately. Abandon the base," Stryker ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
The base could be rebuilt. Life, however, was irreplaceable.
Having dedicated his life to the fight against mutants, Stryker cherished his own survival above all else.
With the Ultimate X Weapon buying them time, a safe retreat was no issue.
The base had been constructed inside a mountain, as if the entire thing had been hollowed out.
It contained countless sectors: a soldier recreation area, living quarters, armory… dozens of sections forming a self-contained town.
"Americans are so extravagant. Even going to work looks like a vacation," Allen muttered as he passed through the gym area, eyeing hundreds of different training machines with envy at the luxurious setup.
Just a research facility, yet equipped with everything short of adult entertainment.
"Turns out infrastructure pays better than robbery," Wade said with a meaningful look.
"What if we robbed capitalists instead—wouldn't that be faster?" Allen's eyes lit up with the bold suggestion.
Wade immediately objected, "I'm not afraid to die, but I am afraid of being hunted by the entire world."
Once a bounty is posted by the rich, every mercenary and bounty hunter across the globe would come running.
As a mercenary himself, Wade knew just how terrifying money could be.
"Hey, you got a twin or something?" Allen asked, staring at the enemy blocking their path—he looked exactly like Wade, except with his mouth sewn shut.
"Shit! My only living relative is my cousin, Deathstroke," Wade growled as he unsheathed his twin katanas. "That bastard's a clone."
"No wonder he looks exactly like you," Allen muttered in realization.
Wade's constant battlefield injuries made it ridiculously easy to collect genetic samples from him.
Allen recalled that in the movies, there was a modified version of Deadpool—an Ultimate X Weapon combining multiple superpowers: teleportation, regeneration, Adamantium, swords, and even laser eyes.
But based on Allen's current timeline, the clone couldn't possibly have optic blasts—the real Cyclops was already an official X-Man and currently on assignment.
"You fake bastard! I'm the fan-favorite in the comics!" Wade shouted, swords at the ready as he charged at his clone.
Anyone would be pissed to find out they were cloned without permission.
The clone Deadpool instantly teleported behind Wade and viciously stabbed him with dual blades that grew from his arms.
"My kidneys! That's dirty—how am I supposed to find happiness after this?!" Wade cried out.
He twisted around, plunging both swords backward through his own abdomen, hoping to hit the clone behind him.
But the clone teleported away again before the blades connected.
Wade, now stabbed twice by the clone and twice by himself, stood dumbfounded. "I'm fighting myself, and I'm the only one getting hurt!"
"I'm calling for backup—hold him off!" Allen declared before activating his invisibility.
He should've checked his horoscope—everyone he ran into today either had guns or were unkillable cockroaches.
As a close-combat type himself, Allen saw no point in throwing his life away head-on.
He couldn't help but sigh—at least DC was more reasonable. Whether hero or villain, powers usually had limits. Mutants, on the other hand, were a mixed bag—some powers were godlike, others were bizarrely weak. Like that porcupine guy from the Brotherhood—weak as hell, yet always desperate for attention.
"Hey, get back here, you little psycho!"
Wade yanked his swords from his stomach and braced himself to keep fighting.
If not for his regenerative ability, he'd have bolted long ago.
He had even pre-soaked his katanas in Adamantium solution—otherwise, they'd have snapped by now.
Steel clashed as sword shadows danced and sparks flew.
Meanwhile, Allen stayed hidden, waiting for the right moment to strike.
He wasn't sure if the Redemption Blade could kill the clone in one blow.
It was a risky bet.
If it worked—perfect.
If it failed and the clone teleported behind him, stabbed him through the heart, that would be game over.
"What if this dumb author's stats suck and he decides to kill me off because the book's bombing? What if he switches focus and makes Wade the main character…" Allen's mind spiraled with anxiety and paranoia.
Suddenly, a flicker of violet light flashed across the battlefield.
Illyana burst out of a spatial rift and struck from behind, slicing clean through the clone's neck.
Time seemed to freeze.
The clone stood motionless as a crimson line appeared on his neck, deepening second by second—
Thud!
The head dropped. The body followed.
"Good timing," Wade said, then quickly added, "I could've handled him with just a bit more time."
"Yeah right, you were getting your ass kicked the whole time," Allen appeared and exposed him.
The clone hadn't taken a single hit, while Wade had been skewered left and right. Regeneration truly was his saving grace.
"We've rescued everyone. Time to go," Illyana urged.
Thankfully, Mystique had arrived just in time. Her Soulsword could wound the soul directly, countering healing and regeneration—making it the perfect weapon for a one-hit kill.
Of course, it didn't work on Wade. Death herself favored him, making his soul immortal and undying.
"We have to capture Stryker," Allen said solemnly. "If we don't deal with him, the threat will never end."
As a military colonel with access to American resources, Stryker could always target Xavier's school. They couldn't guard against him forever.
Illyana nodded. "You're right."
This time, they got lucky.
Next time, maybe not.
——
Aboard a helicopter heading toward another military facility, Colonel Stryker kept one hand hovering over the self-destruct button.
Clone experiments, human testing—all of it was taboo in the scientific community.
If exposed, he'd face a massive public outcry.
The mutant side would jump at the chance to play the victim, so Stryker was already prepared to erase all evidence.
If he didn't, the American public—and even the military—might quietly "retire" him with no chance to defend himself.
Just as he was about to press the button…
He felt a cold touch on his neck.
Three figures suddenly materialized in the cabin.
Before the soldiers could react, Wade and Illyana secured the area.
Any sudden moves, and they wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.
Allen grabbed Stryker by the collar—and in the next moment, Illyana teleported them away.
The soldiers watched their superior officer get kidnapped and could only exchange helpless glances.
They couldn't win. They didn't want to die. This was a lose-lose.
——
Golden sunlight bathed the sky above Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
The day had been nothing short of terrifying.
Returning students looked at the ravaged campus and couldn't help but marvel at how colorful life could be.
They had come this close to being dissected like lab rats.
"Everyone assemble!"
Illyana shouted across the field.
The students gathered quickly.
Mystique, having already been a reserve X-Man, had now earned her place as a leader after saving them all.
With their varied powers, the mutants each pitched in to help restore the school.
All except Allen and Wade.
They were busy with another task.
Each grabbed one end and hauled Stryker into the principal's office.
With Wade's filthy sock stuffed in his mouth, Stryker could only grunt and struggle—until a few punches made him obedient.
"What now, little psycho?" Wade asked, staring at Stryker. Part of him wanted to run him through on the spot.
This fanatic had targeted mutants for years, ruining countless innocent lives.
Both the X-Men and the Brotherhood loathed him.
If not for his official status and control over the X-Weapons, someone would've already made him disappear.
But Charles always insisted on mercy over vengeance, believing violence would only deepen the hatred.
"Bind him up and let Professor X deal with him," Allen said. "He could be a useful bargaining chip—maybe buy mutants some rights."
He pulled out a bundle of rope, grinning wickedly. "Hold him steady. I'm about to use my 'Great Binding Technique.'"
"Great Binding Technique?" Wade looked confused but intrigued.
"Learned it in Silent Hill," Allen replied, recalling the barbed wire bondage on twisted creatures. It was finally time to put it into practice.
Cough... ptui—
Stryker spat out the sock and snarled, "I'm a colonel! Are you prepared to go to war with the government?!"
"Shut your mouth," Wade said, stuffing the sock back in.
Allen began tying him up with precise skill. Once finished, he dusted his hands and admired his work. "I call this one: The Unity of All Things."
"What's the secret?" Wade asked, playing along.
"No matter how he moves, all the pressure focuses on one spot. It's a real test of a rope artist's skill," Allen said proudly.
"You're quite the multitasker."
"Wanna learn? I'll teach you."
Stryker was in agony. Held in an excruciating position, even the slightest twitch sent pain shooting through his lower body. He could only grit his teeth and endure it.
——
Night fell.
A jet roared back at full throttle.
The students, having barely escaped death, had already reported everything to Charles.
Hearing the news, the X-Men rushed back to the school.
When the jet landed and they saw the students helping repair the campus, the X-Men had complicated expressions.
Charles remained somber the entire time.
He knew they had been set up.
Fortunately, there were no casualties—and they'd even captured the mastermind.
Learning he was in the principal's office, the X-Men rushed over to investigate.
Click!
The light flicked on.
Charles saw his usual chair turned toward the wall—with two people snuggled up in it.
"Who are you?"