Deadpool's twin blades came down like a violent storm. Marcus could only raise his own to parry, sparks bursting in dazzling silver and gold with each clash.
It was only after crossing blades that Marcus realized the terrifying truth — Deadpool's swordsmanship wasn't as erratic or wild as it seemed. Beneath the apparent chaos was a ruthless precision, each strike instinctively aimed at his vital points. Even with the Winter Soldier's combat experience flowing through him, Marcus found himself barely holding his ground.
And to make matters worse — Deadpool's twin katanas weren't ordinary weapons. Each time Marcus's high-density bio-metal blade met them, a fresh notch appeared on its edge. Had he not continuously repaired it mid-battle using his metalization ability, the blade would have snapped long ago.
Even without his insane regeneration, Deadpool was a monstrous fighter.
"Hey, Deadpool!" Marcus gritted his teeth, pushing the mercenary's blades aside before speaking through clenched jaw. "Two hundred million. Take the money and walk away."
If Deadpool was only here for a payday, then with Tony Stark — the world's wealthiest man — backing him, Marcus could afford to throw around billions like pocket change. Two hundred million was practically charity.
"Two… hundred million?" Deadpool's attack faltered, his tone suddenly curious. "How many tacos does that buy me?"
"Enough for you to eat yourself to death, resurrect, and die again — a few million times over." Marcus snapped irritably.
"Ooh, tempting," Deadpool hummed, twirling his blades lazily. "And honestly, I'd love for you to be my new employer. It'd give me so much more screen time in this story…"
Clang!
Without warning, Deadpool's swords crashed down again with tremendous force, slamming into Marcus's blade and forcing him backward, his boots screeching across the metal floor.
"So, you're not satisfied with the offer?" Marcus snarled, forcing his weapon up to resist.
Deadpool shook his head, his muffled voice still somehow smug. "Nah, it's not that. It's just that for a mercenary like me, keeping my word still counts for something. Sorry, Mr. Protagonist — I've got to play my part in this act."
"Then so be it!" Marcus growled.
With a sudden twist, he deflected Deadpool's dual blades to the side and used the opening to drive his knee straight into the mercenary's gut. Deadpool gasped, doubling over, and Marcus seized the chance — reversing his grip and plunging his blade through Deadpool's back, twisting hard until the weapon shredded his organs to pulp.
[Virus Touch activated. Target: Deadpool. Zombie virus injection successful…]
[Target possesses a mutant regenerative factor. Infection rate unable to surpass cellular regeneration speed. Virus will soon be expelled. Recommend increasing virus input.]
So that was it — Deadpool's regenerative factor was even stronger than Spider-Man's mutated genes. It not only resisted the virus's invasion but purged it entirely in seconds. In other words, his body was the perfect counter to the zombie virus.
The system suggested an alternate method — increasing the infection rate by force. Theoretically, that could work.
Deadpool's healing factor might seem invincible, but it wasn't absolute. His regeneration could repair damage, but not resist mutation. Cancer cells, for example, still plagued him.
And Marcus's zombie virus was far deadlier than any cancer.
The question was how to inject enough of it long enough to overcome that healing factor.
"Oh, my poor stomach!" Deadpool groaned dramatically. "It's a total disaster in there."
He bent down, scooping up the pile of blood and shredded organs that had spilled from his abdomen — only for his body to knit itself back together, good as new, within seconds. The only trace of injury was the slick pool of gore left on the floor.
"That actually hurt a little," Deadpool admitted casually. "Can't you, like, stab me with some gentlemanly restraint next time?"
Marcus sighed. "You are, without question, the most irritating creature I've ever met — in every possible way."
Killing someone with this level of regeneration was nearly impossible. There were generally three viable methods:
1. Containment — trap them in a space they can't escape, rather than killing them.
2. Continuous damage — force them to keep regenerating until exhaustion or collapse.
3. Spiritual annihilation — use soul-based or psychic attacks to erase them entirely.
For now, Marcus could only attempt the first two.
Binding Deadpool was pointless; he could regrow his entire body from a single finger. A rope wouldn't hold him — he'd simply bite his tongue off and spit out a new body.
He needed a sealed container.
Fortunately, this secret laboratory had just the thing: a massive glass tank filled with some kind of unknown chemical fluid, its lid conveniently ajar.
That would do nicely.
Deadpool tilted his head when Marcus didn't advance. "Hey, pal, just standing there ignoring me? You know, according to the contract, I've technically done my job just by keeping you busy. But man, you're boring me to death over here."
Marcus's eyes narrowed. "Don't worry. You won't be bored for long."
Mental Possession: Hawkeye!
A gleaming silver bow formed in Marcus's hand, two arrows appearing between his fingers in the same instant. With deadly precision, he fired them both — straight at Deadpool's eyes.
Deadpool raised his katanas to deflect, but the moment blade met arrow, a blinding flash erupted.
"BOOM! BOOM!"
Twin explosions went off point-blank, the blast scorching Deadpool's mask to a crisp. He staggered, blinded by smoke and heat.
Marcus closed in like lightning. He swung the reinforced bow like a club, smashing it against Deadpool's knee with bone-shattering force. The mercenary screamed as he was lifted off the ground. Marcus followed up immediately — a brutal rising iron punch that sent him flying higher into the air.
"My kidney's in my mouth!" Deadpool shouted mid-flight. "I can taste iron — and regret!"
Marcus nocked two arrows again — this time, each trailing a fine strand of metal wire. He released, the arrows whistling past Deadpool's sides before wrapping tightly around him midair, binding his limbs in a cocoon of steel.
"I love baths," Deadpool said cheerfully, twisting helplessly, "but I'm really picky about the water quality—glub glub glub—"
Before he could finish, Marcus yanked the wires downward. Deadpool's body crashed into the massive tank of viscous liquid, submerging completely.
One final arrow flew, striking the tank's sealing mechanism.
CLANG!
The heavy lid dropped into place with a metallic thud — trapping Deadpool inside the tank.
And for the first time, the Merc with a Mouth went silent.
__
T/N:
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