Inside the church, Adam Robert had no idea what was happening outside.
He was still stunned for a moment—but not for long. Years of training kicked in. His instincts screamed at him, and he immediately understood what had happened.
They'd been caught.
He didn't know how exactly Iron Man had shown up out of nowhere, or what kind of trap had been laid, but one thing was absolutely certain in his mind:
What he had just said must not be leaked.
If those words spread, Colonel Stryker would be done for. And Adam himself? He wouldn't escape the fallout either.
So, without a moment's hesitation, he raised his rifle, barked a cold order—
"Fire!"
The trigger clicked. The bullets tore through the air instantly.
Da-da-da-da-da!
A dozen special operatives hidden in the church sprang into action the moment the shots were fired. Bullets rained down on Wolverine and the others from every direction. Simultaneously, loud bangs rang out from outside the church as smoke bombs were launched in through the shattered windows.
"They're trying to kill and silence everyone!"
The audience watching the livestream gasped in horror.
But this time, the X-Men weren't going to be so easily taken out.
"Let me handle it."
Jean Grey—also known as Phoenix—stepped forward, her voice cold and resolute.
Ever since she had overheard Wilhelm Stryker's twisted plan to use a brainwave amplifier to eradicate all mutants, her soul had been boiling with fury and fear.
The Phoenix Force that slumbered deep within her responded.
But instead of losing control like before, this time the Phoenix Force stabilized her. Her power surged—but with clarity, not chaos. Her abilities became exponentially stronger, but she remained fully in control.
Raising both hands, she spread her fingers wide. Her left palm faced the incoming bullets; her right turned toward the smoke bombs hurtling through the air.
Time seemed to freeze.
The bullets halted mid-flight, hanging in the air like deadly ornaments. Even though Adam Robert's squad kept their fingers on the triggers, nothing could get through.
"Speak!" Phoenix demanded. Her eyes glowed with energy. She tilted her head slightly.
The bullets hanging mid-air trembled—then spun around and aimed themselves at the special operatives.
"Where is Wilhelm Stryker?!"
Adam Robert didn't flinch. He stared straight at her, devoid of fear, defiance etched into his features.
"Watch out!"
Wolverine and Cyclops shouted at the same time.
Before they could react further, the church windows shattered as black-clad figures burst through in a hail of broken glass and flying debris. They flipped mid-air and landed silently—like trained assassins.
There were seven of them. Each was tall and broad-shouldered, wielding long blades. Their faces were expressionless, their eyes cold and empty—more machine than man.
And every single one of them charged straight toward Phoenix.
Wolverine and Cyclops launched into action.
Cyclops reached up to his visor, pressing the activation switch. A beam of concentrated red energy blasted from his eyes, slicing through three of the attackers in an instant.
Wolverine lunged into the air, his Adamantium claws gleaming as they extended with a metallic clang. He drove both claws into the chests of two enemies mid-leap, while simultaneously landing a powerful double-kick that sent a third one crashing to the ground.
He roared, blood flying through the air.
But then—something strange.
The two men he'd pierced didn't even flinch. Their long knives twisted in their hands, each stabbing toward Wolverine's ribs—one from the left, one from the right.
Even the one he kicked tried to slice at his throat.
"Damn it!" Wolverine growled, heart sinking.
Memories came flooding back—bad ones.
Weapon X.
These were not ordinary men. They were subjects from the same horrific experiment that had once turned him into what he was.
"They're from the X-Weapon Project! They used my self-healing gene!" he shouted, warning the others.
With sheer strength, he smashed his knee into the hand of the attacker beneath him, dislodging the knife. Pain tore through his body as the other blades pierced his ribs. But he didn't stop.
His claws slashed outward with brutal force, tearing the two attackers beside him in half. Blood splattered the floor.
And this time, their faces changed—finally showing pain.
"Their regeneration is weak! They can't recover from serious damage!" Wolverine yelled.
"Got it!" Cyclops responded.
The three attackers he had shot earlier lay motionless on the ground, gaping holes in their chests, clearly down for the count.
Cyclops turned to find the last one—
But this one was different.
Faster.
More agile.
After landing, she suddenly sprang forward like a panther. Her speed increased dramatically, and she hurled her long knife toward Cyclops.
He ducked, barely avoiding it.
But she was already in front of Phoenix.
With a metallic sound, bone claws extended from her hands.
A female subject. Another product of the Weapon X experiments—clearly a more advanced variant.
The infamous Death Woman.
But Phoenix didn't flinch. She didn't even move her hands.
Her psychokinesis activated on instinct.
The bone claws stopped just inches from her face.
"I admit you're strong," Death Woman said, struggling against the invisible force. "But there's not enough of you."
Phoenix's heart skipped a beat.
Behind her—
A new sound—the sharp, tearing whistle of something slicing through the air.
She spun instinctively—
But it was too late.
Nightcrawler had emerged silently from the floor, teleporting behind her. His tail, shaped like a sharpened hook, thrust forward toward the base of her neck.
The traitor had hidden in plain sight all along.
But just as the fatal strike was about to land—
BANG!
A pulse blast shot through the air and struck Nightcrawler directly.
He crumpled to the floor, stunned.
Above them, floating effortlessly in the air, Tony Stark finally made his move.
"Seriously?" he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "We're still live right now. Did you people forget? You're silencing witnesses on a livestream. Do I look invisible to you?"
He adjusted his suit, hovering with ease.
He had been holding back, unsure when to step in. After all, his role was just to be a witness.
But now that things had spiraled out of control—and with the entire world watching—he could no longer stay idle.
The true villain today was Wilhelm Stryker.
Not the X-Men.
Not Joseph.
Tony adjusted his thrusters and prepared for a cinematic dive, determined to bring the situation under control.
But in the next instant—
A red beam—nearly as powerful as Cyclops'—slammed into his chest.
BOOM!
The blast launched Tony backward. He smashed through the church walls like a cannonball, disappearing in a storm of dust and rubble.
The crowd watching the broadcast collectively gasped.
And then—he appeared.
A figure in a red-and-black combat suit, mask hiding his face.
Two long steel blades extended from his arms.
He stood right behind Phoenix.
He had arrived out of nowhere.
"This is impossible…"
Wolverine turned and froze. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"I killed you…"
The masked man didn't reply.
He simply glanced back—
His eyes glowed red.
Laser beams fired from them, piercing Wolverine clean through.
Wolverine fell, clutching his chest.
At the same moment, another figure crept into the church unnoticed.
He made a beeline for Eddie Locke—the reporter broadcasting the whole scene.
Clearly, the goal was the camera.
Wilhelm Stryker had prepared well. He had anticipated everything. Even with Iron Man's interference, even with Phoenix's rising power, he had planned for a final counterstrike.
The livestream continued.
And yet, every viewer watching from home held their breath, frozen by the terrifying reveal.
The man in red and black was real.
Deadpool had arrived.
And everything was about to get far worse.