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*****
"Mike, Mike, I want to ride this one!"
"Eh? The carousel is so boring! Let's go on the pirate ship instead!"
"What? I'm too small to ride it? The roller coaster and the drop tower are off-limits too? I can only go on the Ferris wheel?"
"So boring!"
"Mike! Mike! I want ice cream!"
"Wow, it's so delicious!"
"I want a balloon!"
"Mike, let's go to the water park tomorrow!"
"Mike, I want to learn how to swim. I'll learn really fast!"
"Hehe, this is so fun, come play with me!"
"Mike, let's go to the aquarium!"
"Mike…"
"Grandpa, the zoo is so much fun! Those animals are so cute!"
After spending several days together, Oren's way of addressing Mike finally changed.
As they walked out of the zoo, Oren held Mike's hand, hopping with every step, clearly overjoyed.
He rarely had the chance to visit places like this. His mother hardly ever had time to accompany him.
Mike looked down at the boy with affection, as if seeing a young Clark all over again.
Speaking of Clark…
Mike's heart sank.
Two days ago, Fiora had contacted him once.
Seeing her son so happy put her mind at ease, but she also brought Mike troubling news.
She had found no trace of Clark.
That meant Mike had to prepare himself for the worst.
Of course, it didn't necessarily mean Clark was dead.
As long as there was no body, as long as there was no conclusive evidence, there was still hope Clark was alive.
If Mike's plan succeeded, they could at least find some clue about Clark, if not Clark himself.
Just then, Mike's phone rang.
"Dad, it's me!"
Gwen's voice was low, but Mike could sense the excitement in her tone.
"Star found you? They're preparing to surround you?"
"Exactly!"
Gwen replied quickly, "And this time, they've sent quite a lot of people."
Mike smiled at Oren, then asked calmly, "Have you reached the meeting point?"
"Almost there, about five minutes away."
"Good. I'll be there soon. Stay in touch."
With that, Mike hung up, lifted Oren into his arms, and said, "Grandpa needs to send you home now. I have something important to take care of."
"Is it about Star?"
Oren tilted his head curiously.
"You little rascal."
Mike pinched Oren's nose and chuckled. "Stay home with Uncle Tony and behave."
"Oh."
Oren nodded, obedient on the surface, though a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes.
The next moment, Mike carried Oren out of the crowd and used spatial teleportation to return home.
"Tony!"
Mike called as he set Oren down.
Tony, who was upstairs scribbling on paper, heard him and came down.
Before Tony could speak, Mike quickly said, "Star took the bait. Watch Oren for me—I need to rendezvous with Gwen and the others."
Tony muttered weakly, "Yeah, yeah, go on."
Ever since he'd come through time, he hadn't been able to help with much.
Now he'd been reduced to babysitting duty.
Just thinking about it filled him with gloom.
"I'm counting on you."
With those parting words, Mike vanished, leaving Oren and Tony staring at each other.
…
Meanwhile, near the border of North Dakota and Canada—
A cloaked aircraft descended onto a barren mountain. It was the Star-Breakers' jet.
This was the rendezvous point Mike and Gwen had chosen beforehand.
Gwen and the other four disembarked, their expressions tense at the thought of the coming battle.
"Mira."
Gwen took a breath and said softly, "I'm sorry for dragging you into such a dangerous situation."
Compared to the rest of them, Mira's only ability was x-ray vision. Her combat power was minimal, which meant she would undoubtedly be the most vulnerable in the fight.
Mira curled her lips. "Compared to you guys, I'll be safer."
All she had to do was stay inside the jet, ready to evacuate Gwen and the others if things went south.
"Ehehe."
Suddenly, Mira smirked mischievously. "Gwen, how about I give you a little fun before the battle? If we die here, wouldn't that be such a waste?"
As she spoke, she sidled closer to Gwen.
Gwen's mouth twitched, and Three-Eyes stepped between them, baring his teeth at Mira.
Mira rolled her eyes.
This was between humans. Why was a wolf butting in?
The five waited and rested for a short while. Just as they were preparing to move out, several portals appeared around them. One enemy after another poured through.
Their eyes narrowed, their faces filled with fury—but at the same time, they let out a quiet breath of relief.
Finally, they had arrived.
It was time to put on the act.
"Run! It's Star's people!"
Gwen shouted. Her battle suit materialized, and in the next instant she transformed into a blazing skeleton. At her side, Three-Eyes returned to his original size, becoming a massive avenging wolf wreathed in blue flames.
Peter, Luke, and Harry stayed alert while retreating cautiously.
"Don't let them get away!"
A man with white hair, clad in a blue combat suit, his body radiating frigid cold, stepped out of the portal.
Gwen's eyes contracted slightly.
Mr. Zero.
He was the commander of this battle.
Watching Gwen and the others try to retreat, he sneered coldly. While sending his men to attack, he stomped on the ground. An icy vein snaked across the terrain, racing toward the Star-Breakers' jet and freezing it solid.
"Damn it!"
Mira, who had just reached the jet, cursed loudly.
How was she supposed to fly it now?
Fortunately, Gwen reacted quickly. A strand of webbing shot from her wrist, attaching to the frozen jet. With a sharp tug, she vaulted into the air. Protected by Three-Eyes from incoming attacks, she landed atop the aircraft.
Pressing her hands onto its surface, she channeled the flames of vengeance. Blue fire coursed through the jet, temporarily enchanting it. Flames surged out, melting away the ice. She shouted sharply, "Mira!"
Mira nodded and dashed inside the cockpit.
Gwen flipped down from the jet, a web infused with blue fire snapping out like a burning whip. She lashed several enemies into ashes before shouting toward the others, "Retreat!"
The three men and the wolf immediately fell back.
Seeing this, Mr. Zero smirked darkly.
If he let them escape now, he'd have no excuse for his boss.
"Block them!"
His subordinates unleashed their powers, hemming in Peter, Gwen, and the others. At the same time, Mr. Zero summoned another wave of frost, surging toward the Star-Breakers' jet like a tidal wave.
Gwen burned another foe to cinders, then, covered by Three-Eyes, she leapt in front of the frost's path. Flames of vengeance roared from her hands, forming a blazing wall to hold back the endless chill.
"Damn it."
She gritted her teeth, glancing at Peter, the others, and Three-Eyes locked in combat, then shouted to the jet behind her, "Mira! Go!"
"On it!"
Mira responded, and under their protection, the jet roared safely into the sky.
Relieved, Gwen sneered at Mr. Zero. "Did you really think you had us cornered?"
At that moment, a dark figure descended from the sky, landing in front of Gwen.
It was Mike.
Mr. Zero's pupils contracted, though his lips curved into a smile.
So, this man had finally arrived.
(End of Chapter)