章 61: chapter 61
Adrian raised an eyebrow, then felt a wave of relief.
He and his group had traveled halfway across South Dakota in a stolen SUV that resembled its original owner. However, they were spotted by a gang that had a grudge against the owner and sought revenge.
This SUV wasn't a convertible, so naturally, the gang couldn't identify the passengers and assumed they were clones. They decided to act separately.
The gang leader immediately noticed Adrian's puzzled expression and shouted:
"Don't misunderstand, old man! We were chasing this car, thinking it was your twin!"
For years, he had been surviving in the wastelands by licking blood off the edge of a knife. Without sharp instincts, he'd have perished long ago, either in a fire or at the hands of an irritable boss.
"Hey, let him go," Adrian said with a grin, pointing his gun at the downed gangsters.
A shiver ran down the leader's spine as cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
The group facing them was no ordinary band. Two sharpshooters, a woman capable of telekinesis, and a mysterious figure who hadn't made a move but radiated competence were more than enough to terrify him.
This was not a situation he had encountered before. Their sudden appearance could only mean they were preparing for something big!
His brain worked frantically. Survival was now his top priority. If he wanted to live, perhaps revealing some valuable information would help.
An idea struck him, and as Adrian's finger hovered near the trigger, he yelled:
"Brothers! Are you trying to go to North Dakota or Canada? You can't get there!"
"What?"
Adrian's finger eased off the trigger, signaling he was listening. The gang leader took a deep breath, knowing he had managed to grab their attention.
He might survive a little longer.
Licking his lips, tasting the metallic tang of rust, he continued:
"They say there was a massive battle years ago. A dozen sorcerers surrounded another mage who summoned tens of thousands of demons, tearing them apart right at the border. It created a rift almost a thousand kilometers long and several hundred meters wide."
"That rift has become some sort of connection point between hell and reality. No one who tries to pass through it has ever returned alive."
"The safest route is to pass through Hammerfall City, cross Magneto's territory, and exit through Hulkland. That's much safer."
"Hulkland is safe? Are you joking?" Pietro looked skeptical, doubting Jamie's words.
From what they knew, the Hulks in the Hulk Gang were human-eating monsters.
Adrian touched his chin, deep in thought, then raised a hand to stop Pietro from asking more questions.
The gang leader might not be entirely wrong. In Twilight Wolf: Return Home, North Dakota was scarcely mentioned.
As for the Hulk Gang, it wouldn't be entirely inaccurate to say their description was exaggerated. The conclusion of Twilight Wolf depicted Wolverine rising after the tragic loss of his family, slaughtering nearly the entire Hulk Gang.
Following that, a Punisher-loving group called the Judgment Gang arrived. They didn't collect rent or abide by any rules; they killed and robbed for fun.
Unlike the Hulks, who only killed when rent wasn't paid, the Judgment Gang saw the entire territory as a free-for-all and laid waste to it.
Once the Hulk Gang was wiped out, nearly every settlement met a similar fate—men were killed, children kidnapped, and supplies looted.
Even Logan, who swore to rid the world of evil, begrudgingly admitted that the Hulk Gang maintained a cruel order despite their barbarity.
"Are you sure you're not lying?"
"How dare I? There's a gun to my head."
"Fine."
A gunshot rang out, and blood splattered everywhere.
Adrian motioned to his group as he looked at the lifeless gangsters on the ground.
"Search them for money. Let's head to a town and get a new car. We'll find someone to verify this information later."
A few seconds later, Pietro returned, grinning, holding a stack of cash and some gold bars. He handed them to Adrian, who nodded and passed them to Frank, watching as he placed them in a bag with a sigh. Then, Adrian walked over and finished off the remaining gang members.
The SUV screeched to a halt, kicking up sand as it stopped. Adrian opened the door, stepping out to examine the town a few kilometers away.
A yellow sandstorm raged, strong winds carrying sand into the sky, blurring visibility. He shielded his eyes with his hand, squinting at his target through the storm.
"Leave the car here. We've covered hundreds of kilometers, and the oil in the barrels is nearly gone."
Adrian casually tapped his holstered gun and began walking toward the town.
The Punisher and the others had already disguised themselves in outfits they'd picked up along the Wasteland.
They didn't look any different from other Wastelanders, aside from being well-fed and having all their teeth.
The town was built atop the ruins of a shattered city, surrounded by rubble and broken buildings. A few hundred meters past the entrance, they spotted newly constructed structures.
It was a marketplace.
Adrian glanced around, noting a variety of superhero-themed items.
Realistic statues of heroes in bold poses and authoritative costumes stood proudly in rows. Among them were Iron Man's mech and Spider-Man's iconic red-and-blue suit.
Stalls displayed various superhero toys, including poseable action figures that allowed buyers to recreate iconic hero stances.
Honestly, at first glance, Adrian felt like he had stumbled upon an American comic book convention for diehard fans.
"Where did all these superhero goods come from? Don't these villains hold grudges?" he muttered.
A nearby stall owner, previously lounging idly, perked up at the question.
"Hey, you can make money and pay taxes! Hammerfall is the most popular tourist spot in the United States. Lord Magneto is pretty tolerant—sell away!"
Noticing Pietro's hair color, the vendor's face lit up with interest.
"Hey, little brother! Your hair reminds me of that speedy guy. What's your name? You look like him! Want to buy one? It perfectly recreates his demise!"
As he spoke, the vendor grabbed a toy version of Quicksilver and showed it to Pietro. The toy mimicked Quicksilver's iconic blue-and-white outfit in stunning detail.
The vendor bent the toy's flexible legs, showcasing how they could be broken apart to realistically depict Quicksilver's demise.
Pietro watched, his face turning pale, but he waved his hand and muttered:
"No thanks."
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