Faust ultimately couldn't run anymore. As he watched a bald clown holding balloons, hopping towards him, he could only lean against a large tree and empty the bullets in his handgun in vain.
However, it was useless. He couldn't even pop the opponent's balloon, which was so vibrant in the winter forest.
Resigned, he closed his eyes and gave up resisting. None of his chemical or biological agents worked on the various monsters trailing him, and psychological tactics were useless too. The few men he had left had all died not long ago, leaving only him.
Now, he had hit rock bottom.
Seeing his reaction, Su Ming, who was dressed as Pennywise from 'It Chapter Two,' knew it was about time. Throughout the journey, Faust had not only encountered Ironblood Warriors but also faced the Hand Axe, Slender Ghost Shadow, and Candyman.
These 'American Horror Story' sequences played one after another, reenacting scenes from future horror films. How could people of this era cope with that?
The current films are nothing more than those about vampires or serial killers, nowhere near the future level of 'human demons.' Faust was a victim of imagination, or rather intelligence, as they didn't know that Deathstroke could transform.
Zemo might have known but said nothing, and after betraying his colleagues, he would never share intelligence with them. Hydra and Faust thought his bargaining chip was the Super Axis Squad, but in reality, the intelligence in Zemo's mind was the most valuable.
Faust wasn't crazy yet, but he was on the brink of a mental breakdown, his limbs barely responsive. On the one hand, he was physically exhausted; on the other hand, he lost hope of escape. People, after all, live with hope.
If he hadn't wanted to be the President of the United States and jumped out to stir up trouble, he could have continued being the Director of SSR, and Deathstroke wouldn't have bothered with him.
However, dying while pursuing a dream isn't shameful.
Without saying much else, Su Ming handed him the balloon, which suddenly revealed a mouth full of sharp fangs and bit off Faust's head.
"Psshh!" The sound of high-pressure liquid splattering was heard, and the snow and trees were stained dark.
"Hmm... There's no useful intelligence, it seems Lady Nine-Heads still held back," Su Ming sighed after several seconds, as the Strangulation conveyed the memories to the Host, then picked up the headless corpse and returned to the farm, where he hung it on the hook.
Strangulation gradually reverted to its black and yellow armor form as a small black bag emerged from the Host's shoulder, its pair of crescent-shaped eyes looking quite adorable.
Su Ming patted its head and walked towards the still locked barn. Taking action alone always feels lacking without a companion, and solo comedy acts indeed miss that certain something. He and Strangulation share the same mind, so there's nothing amusing.
After Lady Nine-Heads' self-destruction, the gigantic body should have been destroyed, but definitely resides somewhere. A new Root of Hatred simultaneously activated, what's the process in between?
If he could find this link, even if he didn't understand the principle of her replication, he could still find her memory backups.
However, Su Ming both wanted to kill her and avoid using the Time Gem, as the cost was too great, and he was still recovering.
Perhaps negotiate terms with someone? Or start with the raw materials of the gigantic robot and trace it back?
While pondering, he casually snapped the chain on the barn door and peeked inside. The warehouse was filled with bags and racks for cultivating mushrooms.
Faust might have planned to control Dr. Jin first, then use him to control the other Black man group and spread the spores, inciting a civil war in the United States.
But now that he's dead, the mushrooms went unused, all falling into Su Ming's hands.
Looking at these red and white fungi, which were quite pretty, Su Ming rubbed his chin. He had no special thoughts about them.
While controlling others is all well and good, in the Marvel World, numbers are just numbers after all.
The method to counter mind control is simple, you just need robots. What's more, Shiva robots appear simple but can completely counter ordinary controlled groups.
Getting others to genuinely agree with your viewpoint is more reliable than these shady methods.
Let's take them back to Kama Taiji for research. If it doesn't work, hand them to Hamill and Xiaowang, see if there's a way to make dishes out of them.
"Heimdall! Help me carry mushrooms!"
Seriously, lacking insight, what a waste of those big eyes. Su Ming had been staring at the mushrooms for a long time, yet he didn't take any initiative.
Thus, the weathered Rainbow Bridge, somewhat like noodles, enveloped the barn.
..........
Monak woke up; as he opened his eyes, he saw Mordo sitting not far from the bed, looking at him with a salty expression.
As he watched, Mordo applied palm oil to his own chest, his black skin with black chest hair sticking together and shining brightly under the dim yellow light.
The Magic Prince gagged slightly and instinctively protected his chest, touching his pants with the other hand.
Luckily, there weren't any problems.
He closed his eyes, took a breath, and sat up from the bed while covering his head: "In winter, you should still wear a coat instead of looking like an idiot wearing black belts all the time."
"No need, Master Monak. This is a form of practice; I now feel a deep inner peace," Mordo smiled as though Monak's reprimand comforted him.
Monak shivered and waved his hand: "Stop, don't say more. I don't know how Deathstroke brainwashed you, but I have no interest in it."
Mordo stood up, lifted his tight leather pants in a laid-back manner: "Since Master is awake, I'll leave first. Friends in Philadelphia are waiting for me, it's a city full of friendliness."
"Philadelphia? I remember; I'll stay far away in the future," Monak said, stretching his face as Mordo opened a Teleportation Gate and disappeared.
"Love and peace! Kira!" Mordo heard him and suddenly turned back, energetically hopping on one foot, making a flamboyant orchid gesture, answering in a rough tone before closing the Teleportation Gate.
"Eek!" The Magic Prince looked disgusted as if he had seen something dirty, frantically rubbing his eyes.
Although Mordo's magical strength hadn't changed much, and over the years had only made slight progress, for some reason, Monak now felt extremely uncomfortable both physically and mentally seeing Mordo.
That sense of oppression and deterrence was like some kind of Evil God...
He sat on the bed, rubbing the bump Deathstroke had knocked on the back of his head and sighed.
Thinking back now, the incident of mistakenly attacking the troops must have been covered up. Deathstroke surely arranged everything according to his dark habits after knocking him out.
Honestly, if he'd known, he wouldn't have opposed; whatever he agreed or disagreed, he'd have to listen to him anyway, and took an unnecessary hit.
Speaking of which, was that weapon a frying pan? Why is Deathstroke so practiced at hitting people with a pan? He had lived for hundreds of years, experienced countless battles, and yet couldn't react at all.
Sighing repeatedly, not knowing how much time had passed, the serene room was once again disturbed by the sound of the door being pushed.
Turning his head, he saw Deathstroke holding a red mushroom as a microphone, dancing what he called the 'New Treasure Island,' stepping sideways as he danced step by step from outside the door: "Hey Monak, come help me check if this qualifies as Voodoo materials?"
Monak covered his face and lay back on the bed, his expression blank like a Walking Corpse. His mind was filled with sorrowful rage - 'Kama Taiji is doomed, Master Gu Yi, I have failed the trust!'
Seeing him fall like a sack, Deathstroke under the mask gave a slight smile; indeed, feigning madness and awkward dancing worked effectively, Monak forgot about being knocked out by him, plan succeeded...