Late into the night, the top floor of the Second World headquarters was bathed in silence.
Since Joseph had remodeled it to accommodate Shadowcat, Jubilation Lee, Skye, and Felicity, the entire upper level of the building had become a comfortable living space, with super-sized bedrooms filling every corner except for Joseph's office.
By now, the regular employees of the company had long gone home.
The four girls had returned to their rooms to rest.
Shadowcat was just about to take a bath when she abruptly paused. Her expression shifted as she reached into her pouch and pulled out a round, compass-like object, a sly smile curving her lips.
"That was fast. I figured they couldn't wait."
Without hesitation, she knocked on the doors of Jubilation Lee, Skye, and Felicity, and held up the mysterious object for them to see.
"What's this?" Skye and Felicity asked in unison.
"Something Joseph made," Shadowcat replied, pressing down lightly on the device. "He calls it the Marauder's Map."
With a soft glow, a 3D light projection flickered to life, revealing an intricate model of Twisted City. Dotted along its streets were glowing red points, all converging rapidly on the Second World Building.
"The Marauder's Map?" Skye raised an eyebrow. "These red dots... are they tracking someone?"
"Oasis players," Shadowcat answered calmly.
The revelation stunned Skye and Felicity.
"You mean... it shows people?"
"Exactly," Jubilation Lee chimed in. "The login devices for Oasis are soul-bound. Even if someone isn't wearing a wristband, as long as they've activated Oasis, their soul frequency is tagged. Those red dots? Joseph personally marked them."
Understanding dawned quickly on the two women.
"Who's coming?" Felicity asked.
Shadowcat pointed out the targets one by one:
"General Ross from the military. Smith from the FBI's Twisted District. Phillips, the White House Secretary... Oh, and a few classics: Norman Osborn, Victor Doom, Doctor Octopus, Killian, Electro."
Skye and Felicity's eyes widened.
"The military and feds are joining hands with villains?"
The red dots were closing in fast from four directions, surrounding the entire building.
Clearly, this wasn't a friendly visit.
Yet, none of the women looked afraid. Instead, a strange, almost amused expression crept across their faces.
"After the Chitauri incident, the public fell in love with Mutants, but the government took a huge blow," Felicity said thoughtfully. "Of course they want payback."
"They want to take down Joseph and Mutants," Skye muttered, "but they still use the Oasis system he created? How ironic."
Felicity laughed. "They probably dream about getting superpowers in Oasis like everyone else."
Shadowcat's smile turned mocking. "And now they think Joseph's away. Classic power move. But they forget he's always ten steps ahead. These bigwigs won't come themselves. They're too scared to get their hands dirty."
She manipulated the map, accessing a hidden section Joseph had embedded.
The building subtly rumbled, a signal that defenses were activating.
Across the street, operatives had taken position.
"Observers and snipers in place. Target location confirmed. Four high-value assets are in the building."
"Target #1: Katherine Pryde. Mutant. Ability: Unknown."
"Target #2: Jubilation Lee. Mutant. Pyrokinesis."
"Target #3: Skye. Human. Possible latent abilities."
"Target #4: Felicity Smoak. Human. No abilities. Fully profiled."
"Additional targets including Catherine Bergett, Grant King, Evelyn Shaw, and Jay Lai are all under surveillance."
"Special operations team ready."
"Super Squad ready."
"Weapon X Squad standing by."
"Hulk Squad en route."
"Sentry units deployed."
"Suicide Squad and Dark Alliance mobilized."
From a rooftop nearby, General Ross surveyed the scene through a pair of binoculars. The wind howled, and orders crackled in his earpiece.
"Mission plan is go. Capture the four targets to lure the X-Men. Interrogate for the location of the new Xavier school. Launch full assault. Amanda Waller, deploy the Dark Alliance!"
Amanda Waller, standing on another rooftop, nodded coolly.
"Green Goblin, it's your time."
The Goblin chuckled, launching forward on his glider with devilish glee.
Doctor Doom flew behind him, while Electro turned into a bolt of lightning and darted toward the Second World Building.
Green Goblin's glider opened fire with a barrage of bullets, followed by twin missiles aimed at Joseph's office.
Doctor Doom, floating with hands clasped, launched a cascade of energy bolts.
Electro fired electric cannons that lit up the skyline.
BOOM!
The top floor erupted in flames, debris showering the streets.
"Hahahaha!" Green Goblin cackled.
Down on the streets, hidden among the shadows, Scorpion frowned.
"Is Osborn really trying to rush in and play Ross's sacrificial lamb?"
"Don't be naive," Doctor Octopus said with a sneer. "They're using each other. Let the military do the dirty work. We're just testing the water."
The Lizard Man nodded in agreement.
Sure enough, as the Goblin neared the building, he dropped a few pumpkin bombs and veered away.
Two more explosions tore into the walls.
General Ross cursed under his breath. "I knew we couldn't trust them. But their job was just to create chaos anyway."
Last time, during the Oasis press conference, they attacked and were repelled by Wanda and the others.
Now they were back for revenge.
As he watched, he spotted Shadowcat and Jubilation Lee emerge from the flames.
But before he could rejoice, the girls merely shot a cold glance at the attackers, turned, and disappeared inside.
Even the few security guards who had come out promptly retreated.
"What? Are they retreating into the building? Is there a hidden space?"
Ross wasn't surprised by the idea of teleportation – such powers had been seen before – but he couldn't believe it.
This was the Second World HQ, the heart of the Oasis system!
Shouldn't the X-Men be rushing in to defend it?
Shouldn't they be preparing to repel the attackers?
But no reinforcements arrived. No sign of panic.
Ross was uneasy.
Even so, the plan was already in motion.
"Sentry team, move in!"
"Team A, breach the first floor! Double flank!"
Fifty Sentinels, hidden nearby, launched into the air. Some crashed through the upper holes, others smashed windows to enter lower levels.
On the ground, five hundred elite operatives advanced in formation.
Then, something strange happened.
A silent ripple passed through the air.
T-UUUUUUUM!
The entire building blacked out.
"What happened?! Why is the comms channel silent?!"
Ross's face darkened.
The voices in his headset vanished. On the monitors in front of him, half the surveillance feeds blinked out.
The Sentinels and elite soldiers were gone – swallowed whole by darkness.
"We have a situation, General," Amanda Waller's voice finally came. "They were ready. Defensive magic?"
Ross exhaled sharply.
His plan was crumbling.
He had hoped to lure the X-Men and cripple their network. But now, his own side was disappearing into thin air.
Only two options remained:
Push harder... or pull back and reassess.
Ross, ever the seasoned general, trusted his gut. And his instincts screamed danger.
But the trap was already sprung. His team was deep inside enemy territory.
There was no retreat.
Admiral Scudder's voice rang in:
"Ross, commit everything! Even if it's a trap, we push forward with full force!"
Ross clenched his jaw.
"Understood."
This was now a gamble where hesitation meant defeat. He had no more cards to play.
So he played all-in.
No matter the cost.
---
[To be continued...]
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