Because the enemies chasing Luca and his team from behind were too close and driving too fast...
And these fanatics, already in a frenzy, never expected the news van ahead to suddenly turn.
Most of these vehicles didn't slow down.
The two cars leading the chase collided head-on with the jeep convoy attempting to block the intersection.
The massive impact twisted four or five cars into scrap metal on the spot.
BOOM—
A terrifying explosion sent flames shooting into the sky. A giant orange fireball obscured everyone's vision.
The vehicles spinning and colliding at the center of the explosion were lifted by the powerful shockwave, triggering a chain of secondary explosions.
Numerous metal fragments even embedded themselves into the walls of buildings on both sides of the street.
The lucky ones behind who escaped the carnage weren't deterred. Instead, they swerved around the burning wreckage, turned sharply, and continued to chase after Luca's team.
However, just as the grey van leading the second wave turned its front to rush through the intersection...
The streetlamp post previously hit by Wrench finally gave way under the deformation caused by the severe impact.
The metal post let out an ear-piercing creak, then slowly fell toward the center of the road.
The driver of the grey van watched in horror as the lamp post fell. gripping the steering wheel tightly, he floored the gas, hoping to speed past before it hit.
But...
CLANG—CRUNCH—
The long lamp post fell like a guillotine.
It smashed heavily onto the rear cabin of the grey van.
Blinding sparks flew everywhere, and the not-so-sturdy lamp post broke into several sections.
Of course, the van hit by it suffered even worse.
Not only was the rear cabin flattened and deformed...
Because the vehicle itself was light, and the driver was accelerating hard after the turn...
The van's front lifted high into the air as the "guillotine" smashed its rear, flipping the entire vehicle backward uncontrollably.
BOOM—
The backward-flipping van smashed directly onto the roof of a black sedan following close behind. The two cars had a truly intimate encounter.
Even the passengers inside merged seamlessly with each other.
Seeing the explosion caused by the pile-up behind them, seemingly shaking off the enemies temporarily, Shield Mountain and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
But at this moment, Luca, pressing his [Tracking Glasses] to activate thermal vision, ruined the mood with a warning.
"Three cars approaching from the right at the intersection ahead."
"Judging by their direction and speed, they're definitely here to intercept us!"
Since Luca's [Dominator] was out of power, he couldn't kick debris to explode pursuing vehicles with his [Kick Power Enhancement Shoes] in the cramped van, and [Baymax] had no room to operate as a melee fighter...
He had been relying on the [Tracking Glasses] to observe potential enemies from all directions for the squad since the beginning.
He spotted the three cars approaching side-by-side in the distance immediately.
His warning tensed everyone up again.
But that wasn't all.
Shamila and Shield Mountain, who were watching the rear from the firing ports, also noticed something.
Through the flames of the explosion behind, several more cars rushed out, crushing the fallen streetlamp, and chased after them again.
The situation was grim once more.
"Captain! Where to?!"
Wrench, driving, shouted to Shield Mountain in the back while swerving continuously to dodge the intercepting vehicles.
But bullets strafed the right side of the news van, leaving another row of dense bullet holes.
Fortunately, this was a disguised news van with multi-directional reinforcement. A few bullets couldn't penetrate the hull.
However, Wrench's question hit the nail on the head.
Although they had killed Kingpin and were retreating, they couldn't just drive straight home.
Hell's Kitchen seemed to have come alive. Gangs large and small were mobilizing to take them down.
Not just the pursuers behind; in fact, more gang members were joining the chase every moment.
The intercepting enemies appearing ahead were the best proof.
Of course, it wasn't that Luca's team couldn't break out of Hell's Kitchen's perimeter.
However, this chaotic situation was only tolerated without massive armed police intervention because it was Hell's Kitchen, the "Little Gotham of Manhattan."
Actually, not long after the chaotic chase began, NYPD helicopters appeared overhead.
It was just that the precinct in Hell's Kitchen was full of corrupt cops who couldn't be bothered to risk intervening in this mess.
Plus, because it was Hell's Kitchen, few pedestrians or vehicles were out late at night, providing the perfect venue for this chaotic "gang team building" exercise.
But regardless of the conditions or how special Hell's Kitchen was...
If Luca's team dared to lead a massive swarm of adrenaline-fueled gangsters out of Hell's Kitchen...
The entire NYPD would show them why a local police department was considered one of the top law enforcement agencies in America.
So, what Luca's team needed to do most was find a way to shake off the pursuers and the helicopter overhead before the NYPD lost patience with the riot and intervened, then exit quietly.
Luca and the others knew that if Kingpin, the underworld emperor, were still alive, seeing the situation escalate like this, he would likely choose to abandon the chase and wait for revenge later to avoid further escalation.
But now, with Kingpin gone, the thugs of Hell's Kitchen seemed to have fallen into a frenzy.
All gang leaders focused on Luca's team.
As if whoever successfully killed them to "avenge Kingpin" would become the next emperor of Hell's Kitchen.
However, Luca and his group, the "grand prize" of this chase, had no intention of sacrificing themselves for others' ambitions.
In a flash of thought, Shield Mountain, who was making room for Thresh to shoot, and Luca, who was observing the road ahead...
Spoke simultaneously.
"Go to the Hudson River!"
"Drive toward the riverbank!"