450. Acting.

450. Acting.

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.

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.

.....

????30 advanced chapters on p@treaon????

For advance chapters: /Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)

451. The Truth?!

452. A New Possibility.

453. Infiltrating Vought International!

454. Coercion.

455. Surprise.