The three mutants struggled against their bonds, but without their powers, they couldn't break free.
Kicking one who was being particularly difficult, Marcus glanced over at Hank and Alex. The battle on their side was also concluding.
The super-strong mutant still twitched occasionally, foam forming at his mouth—clearly suffering from severe electrical shock.
The energy-projecting mutant, constantly forced to dodge Alex's attacks, had no opportunity to counterattack.
"Finish them off quickly! We need to move on!"
At Marcus's command, the two accelerated their efforts. Alex unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, driving his opponent into a corner, while Hank waited patiently as the tall mutant approached his position.
The moment the mutant rushed forward, Hank sprang up, grabbed a steel pipe, and swept it hard against the man's knee joint.
Clang!
With a dull sound, the mutant dropped to his knees, immediately pinned to the ground by Hank.
"Well done!"
After praising his teammates, Marcus tied up the remaining two mutants. The virtual energy field around him slowly expanded, encompassing all of them.
Just as they finished securing the mutants, a group of police officers rushed onto the scene with guns drawn.
"Freeze!"
"Easy there!" Marcus pulled out his ID and waved it at the officers. "No need for alarm. Here are our credentials!"
Seeing the ID, an officer who appeared to be in charge approached cautiously and examined it.
"CIA Special Operations Team?" After returning the ID, the officer frowned. "If I remember correctly, the CIA's jurisdiction is supposed to be foreign operations, right?"
The CIA handled external operations, while the FBI managed domestic issues. Why would CIA agents be operating here?
"That's correct, but these individuals have connections with overseas operatives, which is why we need to apprehend them," Marcus explained.
His ability to fabricate convincing lies was masterful—mixing truth with fiction made it impossible to separate fact from falsehood.
Noting the officer's thoughtful expression, Marcus continued: "Our operation has proper authorization. You're welcome to verify with your superiors. Now, may we proceed?"
"Well..." The officer nodded and stepped aside. "I've heard similar incidents are happening in other cities. Seems like many people have been affected by some kind of... influence."
Marcus nodded and began dragging the captured mutants away.
"Hank, go rent a vehicle. We need to reach the next city!"
Burdened with several prisoners, Marcus found movement difficult. He assigned Hank the task while he and Alex guarded the captives.
The mutants remained defiant, constantly struggling against their restraints.
Marcus wasn't easily provoked. Seeing their continued resistance, he raised the Devil's Touch and cracked it against them.
Crack!
The whip, surrounded by electrical current, not only delivered a stinging blow but also shocked them into continuous twitching. One mutant was immediately rendered unconscious.
Looking at their convulsing bodies, Marcus sighed with relief.
"Finally, some peace and quiet!"
Shortly afterward, Hank returned driving a bus—the most suitable vehicle he could find. They loaded the still-twitching mutants aboard and set off toward the next city.
The long journey, punctuated by occasional electric shocks when necessary, eventually subdued the unruly captives. They sat quietly as Marcus and his team reached their new destination.
Upon entering the city, everyone immediately sensed something wrong. The atmosphere felt unusually tense. Most people remained hidden in their homes, and those on the streets moved with extreme caution.
"Hank, find out what's happening."
As he spoke, the bus pulled over. Hank jumped out and approached some pedestrians.
However, the locals seemed unwilling to interact with strangers. Despite several attempts, Hank failed to engage anyone in conversation.
Just as he was about to give up, an elderly voice spoke from behind him.
"Are you looking for directions?"
Turning around, he saw an old man in a brown suit.
"Hello, sir. I'm actually wondering what's happening here. The atmosphere seems very..."
"Tense, isn't it?" The old man finished his thought. "Some kind of monsters have appeared in our city. They've not only caused destruction but also abducted children. Everyone's on high alert."
Though Hank knew mutants were causing trouble here, he hadn't expected the situation to be this severe.
After thanking the old man, Hank returned to the bus and relayed what he'd learned.
The mutants operating in this city were clearly more dangerous than the five they'd already captured. They posed a genuine threat to the civilian population.
"Let's go. We need to locate them first."
The bus resumed its journey through the city streets. They turned on the radio to ensure they'd catch any reports of mutant activity immediately.
After crossing half the city, they finally received a broadcast alert:
"Monster sighting in the 16th district. Citizens are advised to evacuate immediately!"
"Perfect timing! Let's move!"
The bus accelerated toward the location mentioned in the broadcast.
When they arrived, the area was already unrecognizable. Fire hydrants had been ripped from the ground, their water creating fountains that soaked everything nearby.
Through the mist, they could make out a fish-like creature bathing in the spray while destroying its surroundings.
Police officers fired continuously at the monster, but their bullets simply glanced off its slippery skin, deflecting in all directions.
"Alex, you're up!"
It was just a "fish-man"—unusual, but not something requiring Marcus's direct intervention.
Alex exited the bus, the energy controllers on his hands glowing brightly. Twin beams of red energy shot toward the aquatic mutant.
The attack startled the police, who initially feared another monster had arrived. They relaxed somewhat when they noticed the technological devices on Alex's hands.
The officers assumed the red beams were products of advanced technology rather than mutant abilities.
The energy blasts hit the water curtain surrounding the fish-man, instantly vaporizing it. Thick steam enveloped the mutant, obscuring him completely.
"Haha, that backfired!"
Marcus laughed. Alex's ability was certainly powerful, but against the water curtain, it had not only failed to hit its target but had actually limited their visibility. Now dense fog surrounded the area, making it impossible to see what was happening.
"Mommy! I want to go home! Mom, I want to go home!!!"
A child's cry suddenly pierced the air. Marcus looked toward the sound, which seemed to come from a house not far away.