Renzo wasn't feeling well. His system still hadn't repaired itself, which meant he had no choice but to lie low within Shaw's faction—gathering intelligence for him while searching for any abnormalities in the world. Like a monster tainted by dark magic.
Unfortunately, after several days, he had found nothing. The only progress he'd made was overhearing plenty of high-level gossip from Emma.
"Renzo… your name is a bit of a mouthful." Shaw sat beside him, a helmet resting on his head—one designed to block telepathic intrusion. Ironically, it would one day become Magneto's signature.
"Emma's been exposed. We're leaving for the enemy base immediately." Shaw's expression was serious. He had received news that morning—Eric and Charles had already defeated Emma and learned of his plan.
Since he was exposed, Shaw decided to strike first and eliminate the opposing team entirely. That way, no one would be left to stop him.
They quickly arrived at the outskirts of the facility.
The Red Devil was the first to move. Shaw and Renzo remained outside, calmly watching as he unleashed a one-sided slaughter.
His ability resembled teleportation. In reality, he entered another dimension separate from the real world, then exited at a different location, achieving instantaneous movement.
More importantly, he could bring others with him—a remarkably useful ability in any situation.
The Red Devil was just about to throw the overweight director of the facility from a great height, savoring the screams that would follow. To him, those cries were the sweetest sound in the world.
"Ah!"
The man's terrified expression froze—
A silver-white figure flashed past and vanished just as quickly. By the time the Red Devil reacted, every ordinary human in the base had been gathered underground, completely out of sight.
"What?!" he muttered, scanning his surroundings in confusion.
Then—
Bang!
A heavy blow struck his face, leaving him disoriented.
"Mutants?" The Red Devil hadn't expected to encounter mutants here who could already use their powers so skillfully. He had assumed they were inexperienced recruits, easy to intimidate.
Boom!
Pain contorted his expression. His eyes bulged as he clutched his abdomen, vomiting bitter fluid.
But the assault didn't stop.
Fists hammered into him from all directions—face, abdomen, thighs—countless impacts landing in rapid succession.
Within seconds, the Red Devil went from a confident predator to a helpless punching bag, unable to even activate his ability.
"You didn't see that coming?" Pietro's mocking voice echoed from above.
The Red Devil, his face swollen beyond recognition, forced his eyes open just enough to glimpse the silver-haired boy standing before him.
"That's it? He's one of Shaw's people? Not impressive." Pietro waved casually toward his companions behind the glass.
Over the past few days, Charles and Eric had been searching for mutants, assembling a team to oppose Sebastian Shaw.
"Villains at this level don't even make the cut," Pietro added arrogantly, hands on his hips. In his eyes, their abilities were strange, but hardly threatening.
An Avenger could take on two of them without breaking a sweat.
Before he could bask in his victory, three figures slowly came into view.
"Renzo?" Pietro narrowed his eyes. Then recognition struck. "You—"
His tone immediately turned mocking.
"What, the Avengers weren't enough for you? Had to try being a villain too? Who do you think you are?"
"You know each other?" Shaw asked, frowning at Renzo.
"Barely!" Pietro shot back. "Not nearly well enough!"
In the next instant, his body became a streak of silver light. He slammed into Renzo at incredible speed, sending him crashing through a concrete wall.
"Hah!" Pietro snorted, grabbing Renzo by the head and dragging him along the ground in a high-speed dash.
Renzo didn't feel much physically—but the constant grinding against the floor wasn't exactly pleasant.
"Stop him!" Shaw ordered Riptide.
At first, Shaw had suspected Renzo might be a spy. But after witnessing this, that suspicion faded. If he was an undercover agent, he was doing a terrible job of it.
Riptide obeyed, spinning his body to generate a powerful vortex. Grass, gravel, and dirt were pulled into the swirling current. The intense force disrupted Pietro's movement, bringing him to an involuntary halt.
"Now!"
The Red Devil, who had been beaten unconscious moments ago, suddenly reappeared behind Pietro using his teleportation.
As Pietro turned, an iron rod slammed into his leg.
"Ah!"
The crack was sickening. Pietro's right leg snapped instantly, and he collapsed to his knees.
"Pietro!"
Inside the room, his companions watched in horror, but none dared step forward.
Raven clutched Hank's arm anxiously. The others shrank back, frozen in fear, forced to watch as Pietro was beaten.
Grinning viciously, the Red Devil moved in, eager to repay every blow he had just suffered. He raised his fist and swung toward Pietro's face—
Bang!
A red hand caught his attack mid-strike.
"Don't touch him." Renzo's voice was cold.
The Red Devil's feral gaze locked onto Renzo's calm expression. The two stood locked in a tense standoff.
"Azazel," Shaw said sharply, cutting off the pointless infighting.
He stepped forward toward the glass enclosure, his gaze settling on the frightened youths inside—mutants, all of them.
A fanatical light ignited in his eyes. If he could recruit them, his forces would grow instantly, making everything far easier.
"Open it," Shaw said.
Riptide shattered the glass in an instant. The youths screamed, scattering before huddling together like frightened rabbits as Shaw approached.
"Children," Shaw began, his voice smooth and persuasive, "the revolution has begun. Will you remain here as servants to humanity… or rise as masters—kings of the world?"
His smile was charismatic.
To Renzo, it looked nothing short of sinister.
The group hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances. No one stepped forward.
Angel Salvador's expression wavered. She had endured too much—discrimination, humiliation, injustice. Now, faced with a chance to escape that life, to stand above it…
Her resolve faltered.
Slowly, she stepped toward Shaw.
"Salvador!" Pietro stared at her in disbelief. He had liked her—had even considered asking her out. Her choice struck him like a blow.
"I'm sorry, Pietro… I don't have a choice…" A single tear slipped down her cheek before her expression hardened.
"Don't even think about running!" Alex shouted.
Red energy bursts flared around him as he fired directly at Shaw.
A look of disdain crossed Shaw's face. Physical attacks might have posed a threat—but energy?
Shaw raised his hands, effortlessly catching the attack. He compressed it into a sphere of pure energy, then opened his mouth and swallowed it.
"That all you've got?"
The others stood frozen in shock. They had heard of Shaw's strength, but seeing Alex's most powerful attack rendered useless so easily—
"Move!"
Pietro, enduring the agony in his shattered leg, forced himself up. With a limp, he activated his super speed, slamming into Shaw and knocking him aside before collapsing to the ground himself.
"So, you wish to die in their place," Shaw said coldly.
He rose and extended a finger toward Pietro. Under the horrified gaze of everyone present, immense energy gathered at the tip—
Boom!
Renzo stepped in front of Pietro.
He had no real combat power—but he had one advantage.
He was durable.
"Ah—!" Renzo tried to endure the blast, but he had overestimated himself. After holding on for only a few seconds, he was overwhelmed.
The force hurled him backward, his body smashing through the structure before being buried beneath the rubble.
__________________________________________
You can read early chapters on Patr*on. If you enjoy my work and would like to support me, consider becoming a patron. My Patr*on username is Renzo28557.