American Comics: Multiverse of Madness

With Lyle's corpse slung over his shoulder, Alex moved carefully through the dense woodland to avoid leaving unnecessary traces behind. Every step was precise, every movement calculated.

This meticulousness showcased the versatility of the powers Alex had borrowed from Mystique. After his transformation, Alex had made deliberate alterations to this new body. His footprints were uneven—one larger than the other—making them difficult to trace. Moreover, if someone were to scrutinize closely, they'd notice that his skin bore no identifiable patterns: no fingerprints, no identifiable ridges—everything erased.

Even his clothing was an extension of his own skin, transformed to mimic fabric. This ensured he left no fibers snagged on branches or bushes as he passed through the undergrowth. As for shedding skin cells, that was out of the question. Alex's epidermis was incredibly durable—far tougher than a normal human's. Standard weapons couldn't pierce it; only firearms or heavy-duty equipment could hope to inflict damage.

Walking through the dark forest, Alex not only advanced but reflected on his abilities. What started as an experiment had turned into something extraordinary. The fusion of Mystique's shapeshifting power with Sabretooth's feral capabilities was exhilarating.

Initially, he'd suspected it might work, but feeling the combined power coursing through him was a revelation. Most mutants—like the infamous Legion—could only wield one power at a time under normal circumstances. Although Legion had occasionally been able to use two or more abilities simultaneously, such instances were rare and unstable.

Alex, however, had achieved seamless integration. The possibilities were endless. Mutant abilities came in countless varieties, and with the right combinations, they could synergize to produce results far greater than the sum of their parts. With his ability to switch between powers on a whim, Alex was confident he could adapt to any scenario. In his mind, he was already envisioning strategies that could rival even someone as formidable as Apocalypse.

For now, the only limiting factor was the physical constraints of his borrowed form. With the proper adjustments, Alex was certain he could combine three or more mutant abilities simultaneously.

After a while, he reached the perimeter of the estate. The high walls surrounding the property were reminiscent of Wayne Manor, though not nearly as ornate. They were, however, formidable—standing at nearly three meters tall.

There was nothing nearby to use as leverage, but for Alex, the wall posed no challenge. Bending his knees, he gathered his strength and leapt. Even while carrying Lyle's corpse, he cleared the wall with ease. In mid-air, he performed a controlled roll, landing as gracefully as a gymnast.

As his feet touched the ground, Alex's enhanced senses detected movement. He sniffed the air, a faint smile crossing his face.

"You're late," he said, his tone calm but knowing.

Moments later, a large figure emerged from the shadows beyond the wall. It was Billy Butcher, arriving for their planned rendezvous.

"I just got here," Butcher replied, his gaze shifting past Alex to the towering wall behind him. "Didn't think you'd be this quick."

Noticing Butcher's lingering glance, Alex dropped Lyle's body unceremoniously to the ground and spoke in a measured tone.

"Relax. No tails. I'm not some green rookie who'd make a rookie mistake like that. I scouted everything before I went in."

It was Alex's first time at the estate, but Sabretooth's heightened senses had granted him unparalleled awareness of his surroundings. Even the subtlest shifts in the wind or faintest rustles of leaves hadn't escaped his notice.

"Better safe than sorry," Butcher muttered before shifting his attention to Lyle's lifeless body.

Seeing the corpse seemed to ease some of Butcher's wariness toward Alex. While he wasn't ready to trust Alex entirely, the sight of the dead man—someone Butcher had been hunting for a long time—was enough to dull his suspicion.

"If you only knew how long I've been after this bastard," Butcher growled, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Lyle's body with disdain. "Ever since I learned what happened to that poor photographer, I've been tracking this piece of shit."

Butcher's voice was thick with venom as he recounted Lyle's crimes.

"When Lyle got back to New York, the first thing he did was hold a press conference to tell the world how he'd 'survived' some extreme weather event. Then he had the audacity to mourn the so-called 'tragic loss' of his photographer."

Butcher's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly.

"Can you believe it? This cannibalistic psychopath stood in front of cameras, feeding off the sympathy of millions, and even managed to shed a few crocodile tears at the photographer's funeral."

Alex frowned, his expression mirroring Butcher's disgust. "Crocodile tears, huh?"

Butcher didn't respond to Alex's comment, instead posing a question of his own.

"Want to know how I got onto this bastard's trail in the first place? More importantly, do you know who his next intended victim was?"

Before Alex could respond, Butcher continued.

"There were no witnesses on that island, no physical evidence left behind. It was Lyle's word against the truth, and he spun his lies flawlessly. But there was one loose thread he didn't count on."

Butcher paused, his lips curling into a grim smirk.

"The photographer—poor bastard—he had a family once. Before his job tore them apart, he was married, with a daughter. A thirteen-year-old girl."

Hearing this, Alex immediately pieced together the situation. He didn't even need Butcher to elaborate; the entire story was already clear in his mind.

"They met at the funeral. The moment that bastard saw the girl, he probably remembered her father's... flavor."

Observing the condition of Lyle's corpse, Butcher's experienced eyes quickly deduced that he had been subdued and killed instantly, without any chance to resist.

"That's why you should have kept him alive, at least for a little while. I would've loved to entertain him properly," Butcher said through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, it does feel like he got off too easy," Alex admitted.

After linking up with Butcher, Alex no longer needed to expend any more effort. Butcher willingly took over the job of transporting Lyle's body. After walking a short distance, they reached Butcher's car parked by the roadside.

Tossing Lyle's body into the trunk, Butcher and Alex got into the driver's and passenger's seats, respectively.

"Lyle was one of the guests at this evening's party. The guy had some pull, so when he doesn't show up, most people will just assume he left early. No one will raise much of a fuss—for now. But if too much time passes, that might change," Butcher explained, focusing on the road as he drove.

"I've checked his schedule. Next week, he's supposed to appear on a talk show—one of those gigs Vought lined up for him. Now that he's disappeared, Vought will definitely take notice."

"You've already done it, so why worry now?" Alex wasn't particularly concerned. "As long as we clean up properly, there's nothing for Vought to find."

"I know. That's why I took some precautions beforehand and tampered with the surveillance at the villa," Butcher said, glancing at Alex. "The footage will show when and where this scumbag died, but it won't lead back to us."

Butcher's gaze lingered on Alex, full of barely concealed wariness.

This operation had originally been about gathering evidence of Lyle's crimes. But then, out of nowhere, a superpowered individual showed up and delivered swift, lethal judgment.

On the surface, it seemed like good news for Butcher—Lyle was a monster who deserved a brutal end, and now justice had been served. But the fact that Alex had done everything so effortlessly, without Butcher lifting a finger, only heightened his mistrust.

To Butcher, Alex represented a potential threat on the same level as Homelander. He hadn't forgotten how Lyle had died—his neck snapped in an instant. The sheer strength required for that was impossible to calculate, and then there was Alex's uncanny shapeshifting ability.

If Homelander was terrifying for his overwhelming power, Alex was equally dangerous for being completely unpredictable. After all, no one could ever be sure if the person standing before them was really who they claimed to be.

With Alex's abilities, he could infiltrate any place in the world, carry out an assassination, and disappear without leaving a trace.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet," Butcher said, breaking the silence. Feigning casualness, he turned to Alex. "Billy Butcher. What about you?"

"Call me Crow," Alex replied with a slight smile, deliberately withholding his real name.

Butcher wasn't surprised. He didn't expect Alex to share his real identity—if Alex did, it would likely be fake anyway. Still, having a name, even a pseudonym, was better than nothing.

"Crow, huh? Sounds like a codename. Were you military? Or maybe a mercenary?"

"Neither."

Alex saw through Butcher's attempt to fish for information. It wasn't even subtle—just plain, obvious probing.

"Actually, it's the superhero name I gave myself. I've always wanted to fight for justice, though until today, it was just an idea. Now, I finally got to put it into action."

"Superhero."

Butcher paused, stunned for a moment. Then he quickly recovered, a wry smile spreading across his face.

"So that's it. But if you want to be a superhero, why not join one of those talent shows? With your abilities, you'd have no problem getting into the Seven."

"Heh." Alex let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

"I'm not interested in clowning around for TV. Besides, don't forget what my powers are. Getting into Vought wouldn't be hard for me. That's how I know the truth behind their so-called 'heroics.'"

Butcher studied Alex's profile for a long moment before looking back at the road. He licked his dry lips, a grin slowly forming.

"In that case, I reckon we'll have plenty of opportunities to work together in the future."

Hearing this, Alex's face lit up with a clear, genuine smile.

"Of course. I think so too."

Their duel of words had ended. Alex and Butcher exchanged knowing smiles. But in their hearts, each man was already calculating their next move.

.....

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451. The Truth?!

452. A New Possibility.

453. Infiltrating Vought International!

454. Coercion.

455. Surprise.