"Strong, huh?" Magneto's voice dripped with mockery. "Compared to you, yes—he's very strong."
Deadpool tilted his head. "Relative to you, old man?"
"I don't judge strength that simply," Magneto replied coolly. "Power depends on timing, place, and the people involved. Without all three, even a monster can lose. If you're itching to fight Ryuuto, just go to Axville and find him. No need to follow orders from Abomination."
"Who said I'm following him?" Deadpool grumbled. "I just heard you're fun to watch when you fight."
"Sounds like following to me," Magneto said, eyebrow raised.
Deadpool instantly drew both pistols and fired.
The bullets froze mid-air, caught in Magneto's magnetic field. He glanced at them with mild annoyance and flicked his wrist—the golden slugs clinked harmlessly to the floor.
"I've fought Ryuuto before," Magneto said. "He's a mutant who grows stronger every time you blink. If you really want a duel, go soon—before he outpaces your regeneration."
Abomination cut in, irritated. "Enough with your provocation. You know how many mutants are at that school now—even the Invisible Woman, Hulk, and Iron Man have joined the X-Men. You send Deadpool there now, he's asking to die."
"He can't die again," Magneto murmured.
"He can't die," Abomination shot back, "but he can't kill anyone either."
"Hey, Abomy!" Deadpool snapped. "You're underestimating me! I'll go get Ryuuto's head right now!"
He ran toward the stained-glass window. Abomination barked, "We're attacking tomorrow! Don't ruin the plan now! Remember who pays you!"
Deadpool squatted on the windowsill, smirking. "Cute, angry little Abomy—don't talk down to me. I'm a mercenary, not your pet. You hire me, I play along. You annoy me, I quit. And if a single cent goes missing from my account? I'll hunt you down and collect—with interest."
He tapped his belt. "Besides, I haven't even used my real power yet."
Then he flipped backward out the window and vanished—teleporting into thin air.
(Yes, this version of Deadpool uses his comic-book teleport belt. Sorry, movie fans.)
When the smoke cleared, Abomination scowled. "You drove him off!"
"So what?" Magneto replied, calm as ever.
Six floating bullets hovered around him, each one aimed straight at Abomination's chest.
Abomination's throat tightened. He gripped the scepter hard, his body half-ready to transform. He wasn't afraid of bullets—they were like mosquito bites—but in a church built with steel girders, Magneto's domain was everywhere. He'd seen footage of Magneto fighting the Hulk before; if they brawled here, the best he could hope for was a draw.
But he hadn't come to fight.
"Magneto," Abomination said with a forced smile, "we want the same thing, so let's not start a war. Even if you won't join the Dark Avengers, we can still cooperate. I've already scheduled a full-scale assault on Axville Academy for noon tomorrow. I'd like your help."
"Are you sure you can win?" Magneto asked quietly.
"Absolutely." Abomination's grin widened. "You probably don't know, but S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier has enough missiles to start World War III. They were designed to erase enemy nations—Russia, for example. But now I control S.H.I.E.L.D., and I plan to use those missiles on the X-Men."
"Ryuuto can dissolve missiles into dust," Magneto reminded him. "That plan's useless."
Abomination tilted his head back and laughed. "He can nullify missiles—but not if I strike before he can react. I'll hit him before he even blinks!"
"Overconfidence leads to ruin," Magneto warned. "You're not the first brute who thought that."
"You don't understand my power," Abomination growled.
"Oh, I understand well enough," Magneto said. "You're the second coming of the Hulk—with a stolen toy in your hand. That scepter's not even yours. And against someone with Ryuuto's speed, it won't save you."
"You really don't know what I'm capable of."
Abomination's smile twisted into something ugly.
"Cooperate with me, Magneto," he said slowly. "Together, we can win tomorrow. The victory will belong to us."
"Not interested."
"Don't you want to destroy them yourself?!"
"I have no such desire." Magneto's tone was like steel. "You and I have different goals. I fight for mutant supremacy—a world led by our kind. You fight to rule it alone. If you succeed, we become enemies. And I will gather every mutant alive to bring you down."
Abomination's grin vanished. "So you'll never join us. You won't even stand beside me."
He stepped back toward the door. "Shame. I thought we could share a drink first."
"Leave the scepter," Magneto said coldly.
"This?" Abomination smirked. "It's mine. You think I'll hand it over?"
Magneto's only answer was six bullets snapping through the air.
Abomination roared, transforming mid-blast—the rounds pinging off his hardened skin like raindrops.
The church trembled.
The war between monsters was only beginning.