I Created a Sanctuary in Marvel

Chapter 79 The Released Brotherhood of Mutants

"Is there really no other way?"

"Is Mephisto truly invincible?"

Doom lowered his head, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force. Johnny's words had almost shattered his beliefs of many years.

He is not willing!

He sacrificed so much to save his mother's soul, delving into forbidden black magic and constantly enhancing his power—

If all of this is meaningless in the face of a true ancient god, then what is the point of all his efforts?

"No, hope is not entirely absent."

"Joining the Sanctuary might be the most likely way to find the answer right now. His Holiness the Pope—the most powerful and incredible human being I have ever seen."

"His knowledge is growing at an alarming rate every day, and his wisdom and vision are far beyond the ordinary."

"If there truly is someone in this world who can help us find a way to defeat Mephisto and fulfill our long-cherished wish, then I believe that only His Holiness the Pope has the ability to do so!"

Johnny's voice rang out again, and he turned his gaze to the window, as if he could see through space to the distant sanctuary.

His words carried an undeniable firmness and faith.

Doom abruptly raised his head, and the almost extinguished flame in the depths of his eyes reignited, still mixed with resentment and doubt, but more so with a sense of determination.

"I see."

"Once your mission in New York is complete, I will accompany you to the Sanctuary. I also want to hear with my own ears what His Holiness the Pope—the Mephisto he speaks of—and the future he can foresee."

Doom took a deep breath, as if to expel the gloom and resentment that had been building up in his chest for years.

He absolutely had to go to the Holy Land.

This is not only for the sake of the mother's soul, but perhaps also to find a new possibility for this lonely and obsessive path of one's own.

Just as Doom and Johnny finished their conversation, the atmosphere became even more tense in another part of the hotel suite.

"How was it? Was the information Victor brought back useful?"

Clarice sat gracefully on the edge of the windowsill, her gaze sweeping over the still bustling yet turbulent night view of New York City below, and asked a question.

Anna, who was standing to the side, also turned her head, her icy blue eyes looking at Logan, who was deep in thought while looking into the communicator.

They had all heard Logan's brief report to Pope Ye Feng and were well aware of the intentions of this temporary team leader. The Sanctuary had shown interest in Doom, and their mission here had reached a point where it had to be advanced.

They've been stuck in New York for over a week, and beneath the surface of calm, tensions are mounting. Some people, or rather, some forces, are probably already at their breaking point.

"Yes, you could even say—absolutely."

"Victor's information was incredibly detailed, almost marking out the location of the Hand's key locations in New York, and even their possible headquarters. But—"

Logan put down the communicator, his brow furrowed, and wisps of smoke rose from the cigar between his fingers.

He paused, a wild instinct making him uneasy: "I feel like something's not quite right. Everything seems to be going too smoothly."

"How could a college student so easily uncover the core intelligence of the Hand, a killer organization deeply rooted in the underworld for many years?"

"And in these recent conflicts, the ninjas they sent seemed fierce, but it always felt like they were testing us, or rather, deliberately wasting some insignificant pawns, causing no real harm."

After Logan gained his sixth sense, he developed an extraordinary sensitivity to potential crises.

At this moment, this perception was sending him a faint warning, as if something in the darkness was weaving a large net.

"Are we going to keep waiting?"

"His Holiness the Pope is still waiting for news from the Sanctuary. The longer it drags on, the more unpredictable things become."

Clarice frowned; her more direct personality made her somewhat impatient with the long wait.

"I'm not waiting anymore."

"We'll move out tomorrow. We'll launch a surprise attack on the location most strongly indicated in Victor's file. If it's a trap, we'll destroy it along with the people who laid it!"

Logan stubbed out his cigar, a resolute glint in his eyes.

If it weren't for Doom's sudden appearance and the crucial information he brought, they might have acted much sooner.

But now, with intelligence in hand, despite his doubts, Logan is confident that with their current strength, they are capable of handling most challenges.

His immortality, coupled with the surge in power after comprehending the microcosm, is his greatest source of confidence.

Meanwhile, deep underground in New York, the Hand headquarters, converted from an old subway tunnel and abandoned air-raid shelter, was filled with an atmosphere that was different from its usual eerie and sinister one, a mixture of anticipation and grimness.

Stryker stood in the dimly lit command room, looking at the rows of mutants with empty eyes who looked like puppets, his face filled with barely suppressed smugness.

The core members of the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto and Erik, stood quietly behind him, like the most loyal soldiers, awaiting their master's orders.

Besides relying on Jason Stryker's powerful mind control abilities to distort reality and perception, the Hand's secret passageways and transportation network, which had been operating in the underworld for many years, also played a crucial role in quietly transferring them from heavy guard.

Besides those who were controlled, there were also those who joined voluntarily, such as Red Tank!

"It was worth the huge amount of manpower and resources we invested."

Mrs. Gao, leaning on her cane, slowly walked past these powerful mutants, a satisfied smile appearing on her gaunt face.

This power is enough to make any organization take notice.

"All the mutant teams I can muster are here."

Stryker turned to Mrs. Gao, his tone brimming with an air of absolute confidence.

"From now on, proceed according to your plan. I will coordinate their actions remotely through Jason."

He himself would naturally not go into danger; with the Master of Imagination around, he could completely control everything from a safe distance.

He was now eagerly anticipating the moment when those self-proclaimed righteous Saints stormed in, only to discover that Magneto's mutant army and the Hand had meticulously prepared a trap for them. He wondered what their expressions would be like then.

Despair? Anger? Or disbelief?

"Success or failure hinges on this one battle."

Madam Gao's expression was grave, and she tapped her cane lightly on the ground. During this time, the Hand hadn't been idle at all, practically emptying its coffers.

Using the last remaining, precious dragon bones, they spared no expense in mass-producing more "Black Void" containers.

These ninja assassins, completely corrupted by dark energy and stripped of their self-awareness, are far more fearless and powerful than ordinary ninjas, making them better suited for this life-or-death war of attrition.

In an effort to lull the Saints into a false sense of security and prevent them from becoming suspicious, the Hand sent out several groups of ordinary ninjas to harass and assassinate them, but all of them perished.

What alarmed them even more was that the unique ritual of the Hand Association, which could summon the souls of fallen ninjas back to their homeland, had lost its effect on those who had died.

Their souls seemed to have been completely purified or imprisoned by some force, and their physical bodies also disappeared without a trace, leaving no trace whatsoever.

This complete evaporation, from body to soul, brought the five leaders of the Hand to the peak of their fear of the Saints.

Now, seeing Stryker bringing such a luxurious lineup of mutants to support her, Mrs. Gao's heavy burden of pressure finally eased a little.

She looked around. In the shadows stood the newly created Black Sky figures, motionless like statues; in the light, stood powerful members of the Brotherhood of Mutants.

The entire headquarters has been set up as a trap, with countless traps, barriers, and ambushes hidden in every corner.

"Tell everyone to take their positions according to the plan."

"We must make the people of Sanctuary understand that the underground of New York is not a place for them! This will be their final resting place!"

Madam Gao whispered an order to an elite ninja beside her, a fierce glint in her eyes.

The air was filled with the final, deathly silence before the great battle.

The next day, all seven members of the Saint Seiya army were ready.

"Do you need me to come along?"

Doom watched quietly as everyone prepared.

"No need, this is a task assigned to us by His Majesty."

"You have helped us a lot during this time."

"We will inform you of the return time to the Sanctuary after this mission is completed."

Logan shook his head, declining Doom's request for help.

The world's supernatural organizations are watching them in this battle.

They not only want to win, but to win decisively!

"I understand. I'll be waiting for your good news at school."

Doom understood Logan's meaning and didn't insist.

Based on his understanding of Logan and Johnny, plus Clarice and several other Saints whose abilities he didn't know,

The odds of winning this battle are very high, and the chances of victory are very slim!

"Set off."

With a simple command given, the seven men shot off like arrows into the hustle and bustle of a New York morning, yet sped at an illogical speed toward the dark place beneath the city marked as the Hand headquarters.

Based on the precise intelligence provided by Doom, their target was clear: the vast underground labyrinth converted from abandoned subway tunnels and air-raid shelters.

The entrance is hidden behind what appears to be an ordinary freight station. The heavy iron gate is rusty, but it cannot conceal the coldness and bloodshed emanating from the cracks in the gate.

"This is it."

Logan stopped in front of the iron gate, his nostrils twitching slightly as he discerned a faint scent of incense and blood amidst the smells of rust and dust.

His sixth sense subtly warned of the danger behind the door.

"It makes me feel uncomfortable all over."

Anna frowned slightly, a hint of disgust flashing in her icy blue eyes, and the surrounding air seemed to cool down as well.

"Who cares what's inside? We'll find out if we break it open!"

Johnny grinned, flexing his wrists, eager to try.

Logan no longer hesitated. With a low growl, the power of his inner universe ignited within him, and a powerful aura burst forth.

He pulled his right fist back and, with a loud shout, unleashed a powerful punch!

"boom!!"

The heavy iron door was as if it had been hit by a heavy cannon, instantly twisting and deforming, and exploding inward with a piercing metallic tearing sound!

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, a dark passage leading deep underground was revealed to everyone.