Gunfire erupted suddenly.
Blackwing's pupils contracted, and he, along with his team, instinctively dodged.
Even so, several of their comrades were hit before they could react.
Seeing this, Medusa's long hair shot forward like a living weapon, piercing one attacker's chest. The man's face froze in shock as the light in his eyes swiftly faded.
"Kill them!"
The masked man barked the order.
"Damn it!"
Karl Nick's face darkened with rage. They had been caught off guard, and they had no idea who these people were.
Seeing their fallen comrades, he roared and charged forward, intent on revenge.
"Come back!"
Medusa's expression changed, but Karl Nick didn't stop. His speed was astonishing, and in an instant, he was upon one of the attackers.
His right fist smashed into the man's nose, and his left arm followed immediately, locking him into a wrestling throw.
With a thud, Karl Nick heard a faint cracking sound likely the sound of a neck breaking.
He was a martial artist, and after years of training, he now unleashed everything he had mastered.
As he turned to strike a second attacker, the masked man fired at him.
Bang!
Karl Nick didn't dodge. In the chaos, he hadn't even noticed the shot. The bullet hit him in the abdomen.
Blackwing's face turned ashen.
"Ah~"
He opened his mouth. Even here, surrounded by people, he let out a sound.
Though barely perceptible, the terrifying soundwave surged toward the attackers, obliterating everything in its path.
This was his power. Fully unleashed, it could cause disasters comparable to earthquakes.
He had stayed silent before because this ability was uncontrollable; opening his mouth meant unleashing catastrophe.
Now, as he had spoken, the attackers quickly retreated. They withdrew!
Though the immediate threat was resolved, a new problem emerged.
Countless bystanders stared in fear.
"We need to go!"
Medusa understood instantly and shouted. One of them carried the gravely wounded Karl Nick, and the group hurried away.
Leaving, however, would not be simple.
Susan's face was cold as ice. She didn't know the full conflict, but Blackwing's attacks had already injured bystanders over a dozen people had been affected.
Nolan stood beside her, observing. The civilians cried out in pain. Though collateral, if they weren't treated in time, some might die.
This was the reality of superhuman battles. It was why ordinary people feared them. Unfortunately, their fear was justified.
"Who are you people?"
Susan demanded.
Medusa stepped forward, her hair whipping violently.
"Move!"
Her cold voice cut through the air.
Move? Susan would never yield! She couldn't allow such dangerous superhumans to leave freely.
Nolan had anticipated this. Though he hadn't orchestrated these events, bringing Susan here ensured he could intervene if necessary.
Normally, Blackwing would have left after achieving his goal, heading for the Moon. But that outcome did not serve Nolan's interests.
He wasn't unsettled. Blackwing was a so-called hero, but that didn't mean the Inhumans had no flaws.
The Inhumans still operated under a form of slavery. Even Blackwing's so-called companions did not include those deemed slaves by the royal family.
Justice? The hero to one is the enemy to another. Justice depended on perspective.
Seeing Susan refuse to yield, Medusa's fury flared.
In an instant, her hair shot toward Susan. Susan activated her repulsion field, and the two clashed violently.
Nolan's eyes locked on Blackwing. Among the Inhumans, many were powerful, but he considered Blackwing the greatest threat. If he lost control, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Fortunately, Blackwing retained enough composure.
"We need to retreat!"
Gore shouted. Karl Nick, the wisest among them, was severely wounded. This was human territory, and now that they had been discovered, they couldn't afford to stay.
Medusa and Susan's battle escalated. Both fought at full strength. In this direct confrontation, Susan began to gain the upper hand. Her repulsion field restricted Medusa's movements.
Medusa's powers were stronger in supportive roles; in a straight-up fight, her potential was limited.
Seeing this, Gore intervened, stomping the ground to send a seismic wave outward.
Susan staggered slightly. Medusa, hearing approaching sirens, didn't hesitate and retreated.
Susan scowled but had no choice. She couldn't pursue, and even if she could catch them, she likely wouldn't win. There had only ever been one Medusa she faced. With their leader and the man capable of generating shockwaves, they were unstoppable.
"Too bad I didn't bring Mjolnir," Nolan sighed.
"After all, we were just out for leisure. Who could have expected this?" Susan explained.
"Let's focus on helping the wounded first."
Nolan frowned as he looked at the injured. He had killed countless people before, but never at the cost of innocent civilians.
Blackwing, however, clearly had other priorities. He could have acted differently, but he had unleashed his fury without concern for civilians.
Only one explanation fit: he had never considered these people worth protecting.
Nolan smirked. A king of a slave society would hardly care about commoners. It was obvious without thinking.
Their unexpected clash had spoiled Nolan and Susan's outing, forcing them back to their hotel early.
Meanwhile, news of Blackwing harming civilians began to spread.
At S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury raised an eyebrow.
The One-Eyed Agent frowned. Inhumans had been attacked, and the assailants' identities were unknown. This complicated the plan to recruit Blackwing into the Avengers.
As for the injured civilians, he hadn't anticipated that.
Soon, Natasha arrived.
"Natasha, I need you to head to the East Coast. I've been trying to contact the Inhumans, and now there's an opportunity. I need you as a bridge to communicate with them, determine their intentions, and assess their threat level."
Fury paused before continuing.
"These people are dangerous, a volatile factor. If possible, we can recruit Blackwing into the Avengers as a hero. That would be beneficial for both them and us."
"You mean the group that harmed civilians on the East Coast?" Natasha asked, surprised.
"Yes," Fury nodded.
Natasha shrugged silently. She was a weapon. Whether in the Red Room or S.H.I.E.L.D., that had not changed. If she wasn't a weapon, she would be worthless. She knew the consequences all too well.
Soon, Natasha reached the East Coast. The Inhumans were well-hidden. Blackwing was preoccupied with the Maximus situation, and with Karl Nick wounded, their plans were delayed further.
"Maximus, do you understand the consequences of staying on Earth?"
Medusa spoke, while Blackwing stared impassively at Maximus.
Maximus ignored Medusa and glared at Blackwing instead.
"My dear brother, are you afraid? Even Karl Nick's injury hasn't given you the courage to resist. As king of the Inhumans, you are unworthy!"
Maximus sneered. Blackwing's lips twitched. Medusa continued.
"Humans are already far stronger than us. Once we are fully noticed, the Inhumans will never have a chance to escape. We must leave before more humans become aware of us."
"If you want to leave, leave yourselves. I will not. I will avenge Karl Nick and our fallen people!"
Maximus remained stubborn.
Natasha sighed.
"This will lead nowhere. Our strength is far weaker than humans. As king, your brother's only choice for the people is to leave."
"Even if we escape to the Moon, then what? Humans can now leave Earth. How long can we stay there? Are we to keep fleeing endlessly? Where is our next destination? Where can we escape?"
No one could answer. Neither side could persuade the other.
The next day, Maximus and his men left the hotel.
"My brother is scared. He just wants us to flee aimlessly, yet he cannot show us a future in this path."
Maximus voiced his displeasure.
"Yes, we cannot keep running."
One of his men agreed.
"But His Majesty has decided," another said helplessly.
"If only we could change his mind."
"It's impossible. Though he hesitated, without him, the Inhumans would have been wiped out long ago. We owe our current prosperity to the king who revived the Inhumans. He won't listen to other ideas."
It was a deadlock. Maximus scowled.
At that moment, two people caught the attention of one of his subordinates.
"It's that woman. If it weren't for her, we could have left already!"
Maximus's gaze landed on Susan.
"Her?"
"Yes. That damn woman wasted our time."
Maximus's expression darkened. He had an idea. If he killed her, he might change the situation. Even if not, it would be revenge for Karl Nick. He might gain the loyalty of Karl Nick's followers and others.
He soon made up his mind.
Meanwhile, Susan was casually strolling with Nolan. Yesterday's events were just an accident. Though they had dampened her mood, life went on, and she refused to abandon their outing.
Suddenly, Nolan's eyes narrowed.
Earlier, Red Queen had informed him via earpiece that they were being tracked.
Hydra? Or Inhumans?
Nolan's mind raced. The previous attack on the Inhumans had been clarified by Red Queen: the attackers were Hydra, specifically S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Crossbones.
With their presence here, it made sense that Hydra might target them one was a superhero, the other the wealthy owner of Lock Corp.
The Inhumans' motivation was simpler: they had caused trouble for their people.
Nolan didn't reveal his thoughts and continued accompanying Susan.
Eventually, they walked down a quiet street. Suddenly
Wham!
Susan barely had time to react.
Mjolnir appeared in front of her, blocking an attack.
The assailant had fired a single seed. But the seed carried the force of a bullet.
Inhumans.
The answer was clear.
"Who are you!" Nolan shouted.
Maximus and two of his men stepped forward.
"You're opposing the Inhumans?"
Maximus's face twisted in mockery, as if their audacity were laughable.
"Are you the same people from yesterday?"
Susan recognized one of them from the previous encounter.
A cold snort came from the man behind Maximus.
"Yes, it's us. We didn't get a chance yesterday, but now you're dead!"
Nolan's face remained expressionless.
It wasn't Blackwing's doing, but that was irrelevant. They had attacked, and Nolan had a mind to retaliate.
"No matter who you are, since you dared attack, just die already."
His voice was calm yet ominous, sending a chill down the spine.
Maximus still smirked disdainfully.
"Exactly. You… will die!"