·"Weren't you two looking for me?"
"What's wrong—don't recognize me anymore?"
Alex's voice rang out, laced with a cold, mocking edge as he stood behind the two men in the hospital lobby.
His eyes locked on the man with the Mohawk and his partner in black casualwear.
---
"You idiots—it's him!"
A sharp voice crackled through their earpieces—Hawkeye, sounding suddenly serious for once.
"That's your target. That's him!"
---
Both men stiffened.
They glanced at each other in disbelief, then slowly turned to face Alex again—this time, with entirely different expressions.
---
So this was the guy…
No wonder Skullface's whole operation had collapsed in Fountain Plaza.
---
"Well well, Jazz," the man in black grinned.
"Looks like we won't be bored today, huh?"
---
"Damn right, Polka Dot," the Mohawk grinned back, cracking his neck dramatically.
"It's been a while since we met someone interesting. Let's see if he's as good as they say."
He popped his knuckles, itching for action.
---
"Just hope he puts up a fight and doesn't drop in one hit—"
But before he could finish the sentence, his throat was suddenly clamped in an iron grip.
---
So was Jazz's.
One in each hand, Alex held the two so-called mutants up like rag dolls, expressionless, unmoved.
---
"Grrkh—!"
"Mmph—!"
The two men immediately began to struggle, their faces turning red, air cut off, nerves flaring in panic.
They squirmed with all their strength, trying to break free—
But Alex's hands didn't budge.
His grip felt like forged steel, completely unshakable.
---
"W-What the hell!?"
Both of them were stunned.
They hadn't even seen him move.
And now they were trapped.
His strength was beyond anything they expected.
Even Hawkeye's warning hadn't done justice to the power they were facing.
---
BOOM!
With a burst of sonic energy, Alex vanished—taking both men with him.
---
---
Back in the hospital lobby…
Some bystanders stirred, glancing around in confusion.
"Wasn't there someone standing over there a second ago?"
"Where'd they go?"
Some swore they felt a sudden gust of wind—like something just ripped through the air.
But when they turned to look, the space was empty.
They must've imagined it.
---
---
BOOM!
A second sonic boom echoed—this time, in a deserted alleyway near the hospital.
Alex appeared, still gripping both Jazz and Polka Dot like they were nothing more than sacks of meat.
---
The hospital was the wrong place for this kind of conversation.
Not with Liz still undergoing surgery inside.
He wasn't Erik. He didn't do flashy for no reason.
---
Alex's gaze turned icy.
"Hawkeye. Who is he? Who are you?"
"I'll only ask once."
His voice was low and lethal, his grip tightening.
---
"How do you… know Hawkeye?"
Jazz choked out, eyes wide.
He hadn't even mentioned the name—so how did this guy know?
---
What Jazz didn't realize was that Alex had been listening the entire time with his superhuman hearing, catching every word of their earlier conversation.
---
---
Ten miles away…
Hawkeye suddenly shivered.
A chill ran down his spine.
"No way... Did I get exposed?"
He had been monitoring Alex nonstop from a distance using his hawk-like perception. From a technical standpoint, he hadn't made a single mistake.
So how the hell did this guy already know about him?
---
Back in the alley, Polka Dot let out a guttural laugh.
"Heh… hehehe! You really think… you've got us figured out?"
"You're underestimating us!"
---
Suddenly, he opened his mouth wide—and spat out a mouthful of foul-smelling, dark green liquid straight at Alex.
The fluid hissed as it flew, reeking like acid and death.
---
Alex instinctively flung Jazz aside and raised his arm to shield his face.
SPLAT!
The acid splattered across his forearm and cheek.
---
"Ha! You're done for now!"
Jazz coughed from the ground, laughing triumphantly.
"Polka Dot's spit can melt steel! You're dead, freak!"
---
But then... nothing happened.
---
Alex casually shook off the goop, wiping the sludge off his face with a look of disgust.
"Goddamn that's disgusting."
That was it.
No burns. No blisters. No smoke. Not even a reddened patch of skin.
---
"What...?"
"Not even a scratch?"
Jazz's grin died on his face.
Even Polka Dot, still in Alex's grip, looked stunned.
---
They knew this guy was tough. The intel from Katz said he could survive Gatling fire and even rocket blasts.
But this?
This was acid.
Even tanks had weak points to corrosion.
And yet… Alex shrugged it off like tap water.
---
What kind of body was this?!
---
SPLASH!
Suddenly, Alex clenched his fist, ready to end Polka Dot right then and there.
But just as he squeezed—more of that disgusting green goo burst from Polka Dot's skin, making his neck slick and slimy.
He slipped free, tumbling to the ground.
---
"Cough, cough!"
Polka Dot rubbed his sore neck, eyeing Alex with fear.
"That was close… One more second and you would've snapped my neck!"
---
Zzzzap!
Alex didn't waste time with comebacks.
His eyes lit up again—
And fired twin beams of heat vision straight at the target.
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