People scaring people to death — that was exactly what happened next.
General Ross nearly choked when Leo suddenly appeared in front of him inside the command vehicle.
His triumphant laughter froze mid-sound. His entire body stiffened, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You… weren't you in the villa?!" Ross's voice trembled as he pointed at Leo. "You're actually fine?!"
Leo smirked and sat casaually in the chair across from him, as if he were in his own living room.
"Me? You think I wouldn't know what's on your mind?"
Ross's face twitched, his voice lowering into confusion. "Why? How did you—? This plan wasn't leaked!"
Leo tilted his head. "Want to know?"
Ross swallowed and managed a stiff nod. "Yes."
Leo smiled faintly. "Alright, I don't mind telling you. Everything and everyone in this world—none of them can hide from me. Your thoughts, your schemes, I know them all."
His expression hardened, his tone turning cold and absolute.
"I am omniscient. Omnipotent."
The words carried a calm that made Ross almost believe him. Almost.
"Hah! You think I'd buy that crap?" Ross sneered, though his voice wavered.
Leo shrugged lightly. "Believe it or not… it doesn't matter."
He leaned forward, his tone dropping to a whisper. "Because you won't have another chance to decide."
The air went cold.
"You—you're going to kill me?" Ross stammered. His mouth was dry, his hands shaking. He couldn't believe this man was serious.
"Of course," Leo said softly. "The road to the netherworld can get lonely… oh wait, not netherworld. Hell suits you better. I hope you enjoy the trip."
Though his words were calm and casual, the killing intent behind them was suffocating.
Ross's spine went rigid. Cold sweat ran down his neck. The temperature in the vehicle seemed to drop to freezing.
"How dare you! I'm a General of the United States! You're challenging the authority of my country!"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "The U.S.? Relax. Who said I killed you? Who's going to file the report?"
He flicked his fingers casually.
Crack.
Ross's adjutant and driver froze mid-motion, eyes wide in terror—then shattered like glass, collapsing into a pile of glittering ice dust.
Ross's heart stopped. "Y-You—!!"
He realized the truth in that instant: if he died here, no one would ever know how, or why.
"Let's go, General Ross," Leo said, his voice calm as he stood up. "Your men are waiting for you in hell."
Before Ross could even react, Leo grabbed him by the collar like a helpless chick and vanished.
Meanwhile, at Leo's Villa
Five minutes earlier, just before the neurotoxin grenades were fired, Leo had already teleported No. 18 and Banner outside to watch.
Leo himself had gone to "visit" General Ross.
Inside the perimeter, Ross's soldiers—wearing gas masks and carrying submachine guns—rushed into the villa.
But before they could advance, their bodies slammed into something invisible.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
One after another, they dropped like dominoes, pinned to the ground by an unseen force.
"Fuck! What was that?!"
"No! No—it's that woman's shield!"
"The gas didn't work! We're screwed!"
"God! I don't wanna die!"
The panic spread like wildfire. Every one of them knew what that meant—No. 18's shield was absolute. They'd seen it before. Nothing could break it.
Still, some of them refused to accept their fate. They picked up their guns and opened fire wildly.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Bullets ricocheted off the invisible barrier, bouncing straight back into their ranks. Screams filled the air as their own bullets tore through them.
Despair settled over the soldiers like a thick fog.
No. 18's eyes were ice cold, not even blinking.
"Those who kill… will be killed."
She turned to Banner, who was trembling behind her. "Banner, they're yours. Don't tell me you've forgotten how to kill."
Banner's face went pale. He shook his head frantically. "N-No! I'm not doing that!"
No. 18's lips curved into a mocking smirk. "Oh, you don't have a choice."
Banner backed away several steps, his heart pounding. "W-What are you going to do?!"
"What do you think?" She grinned darkly. "I'm sending you in!"
Before Banner could react, she grabbed him by the collar and hurled him straight into the crowd.
"Off you go, big guy! Have fun!"
Whoosh!
Banner screamed midair. "WAAAAH! HELP!!"
The soldiers froze, confused. "Wait—what? Internal conflict?!"
Their confusion lasted only seconds.
Because the moment Banner hit the ground—
ROAR!!!
Hulk was online.
The green giant emerged with a thunderous roar, muscles rippling, eyes burning with rage.
He didn't hesitate. He simply smashed.
Bullets? Pointless.
Toxins? Harmless.
Soldiers? Paper.
In less than two minutes, the battlefield turned into a bloodbath.
When Leo reappeared, dragging Ross by the collar, the ground was soaked red. Corpses everywhere.
Leo's eyes twitched. "...Yeah, that's definitely No. 18's idea of fun."
He sighed and looked at Ross, who stood trembling, completely broken.
"How about it, General?" Leo asked lightly. "You won't be lonely on the road to hell. Plenty of company waiting for you."
Ross stared blankly at the carnage. His lips quivered. "N-No… please… let them go! They were just following orders. They're innocent!"
"I'll take the blame! Just spare them!"
Leo chuckled coldly. "General, do you think that's how this works? If I were weaker—if I couldn't defend myself—would they have spared me?"
He took a step closer, his voice dropping into a chilling whisper.
"If you don't pull the weeds out by the roots… they'll grow back in the spring breeze."
By the time he finished speaking, Hulk had torn through the last of Ross's men.
Leo nodded slowly. "Alright, General Ross. Time to send you on your way."
He lifted his hand. "If you meet Mephisto, tell him I killed you."