In terms of sheer quantity, the meteorites Richard conjured with his magic this time far exceeded his previous efforts. Yet in total volume, these hundreds of meteorites combined weren't much larger than the single massive meteorite that had obliterated the yacht earlier. The largest fragments measured only about half a meter in diameter, while the smallest were merely fist-sized.
In the original game, Black Materia could only produce a single meteorite at a time. Before upgrading the ability to level 3, Richard had faced the same limitation. Now, with Black Materia at level 3, he could adjust both power output and magical distribution at will, creating as many meteorites as desired. Given sufficient mana reserves, summoning tens of thousands of meteorites would pose no challenge—let alone a few hundred.
Witnessing hundreds of meteorites materializing in the sky above him, Sebastian Shaw displayed neither fear nor anxiety. Though he couldn't fathom why Richard had created so many smaller meteorites rather than a single devastating one, he remained confident that none could harm him. By enveloping his entire body with his energy absorption powers, even the most intensive barrage would prove harmless—worse, from Richard's perspective, such attacks would only strengthen Shaw by providing more energy to absorb.
"You think you can defeat me with these meteorites?" Shaw taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "Aren't you being a little too hopeful?"
"Whether it's fantasy or reality," Richard replied calmly, "you'll know momentarily. Enjoy your meteor shower baptism!"
As Richard finished speaking, a green beam of light from above enveloped Sebastian Shaw. In the next instant, meteorites of all sizes hurtled toward him at tremendous velocity, like artillery shells.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
One after another, meteorites approached Shaw only to shatter with thunderous explosions approximately half a meter from his body, disintegrating into small fragments before disappearing entirely.
Though indistinguishable from authentic celestial bodies, these meteorites were Richard's magical constructs. Facing Shaw's energy absorption, both their kinetic energy and the magical power maintaining their form transformed into pure energy, which Shaw absorbed without effort.
The meteor shower bombardment lasted less than ten seconds before subsiding. As the final meteorite fragment converted to energy and disappeared into his body, Sebastian Shaw regarded Richard with undisguised contempt.
Though uncertain of Richard's strategy, Shaw had realized these weren't genuine meteorites. More importantly, he felt assured they posed no threat. In fact, absorbing their energy had significantly increased his own power reserves.
"Is this all you have?" Shaw mocked, his face twisted with disdain. "If so, you'll never kill me—not in this lifetime!"
"Celebrating at halftime isn't a good habit," Richard remarked, ignoring Shaw's ridicule as he activated Black Materia once more.
In moments, hundreds of additional meteorites materialized in the sky above. Taking shape, they immediately rocketed toward Sebastian Shaw at blistering speed.
Once again, explosions echoed across the marina.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Just as before, Shaw employed his powers, protecting himself with a 360-degree energy absorption field without blind spots.
As Shaw began to dismiss Richard's attack as predictably ineffective, a sudden, overwhelming sense of mortal danger flashed through his mind. Before he could react, the mind-isolating helmet protecting his head began moving away.
Not good!
Sebastian Shaw spun around, desperately attempting to reclaim the helmet as it drifted from his grasp. His efforts came too late.
Telepathy!
The instant the mind-isolating helmet separated from Shaw, Richard launched a telepathic assault, invading his mind and completely immobilizing him. Within a second of Shaw's paralysis, his energy absorption powers ceased functioning.
A surreal tableau unfolded before Emma Frost and other distant onlookers. On the dock surrounded by luxury yachts, Sebastian Shaw stood frozen like a wax figure in his impeccable suit, staring helplessly at his hovering mind-isolating helmet.
The meteorites assaulting Shaw appeared suspended in midair, maintaining their attack posture but no longer advancing. Behind the mind-isolating helmet, electric cables had appeared seemingly from nowhere. Copper wires within these cables splayed outward like octopus tentacles, firmly gripping the helmet.
From their distance, neither Emma Frost nor the curious onlookers could discern Shaw's expression clearly. Nevertheless, his final actions before freezing conveyed unmistakable panic and desperation.
Richard had never expected conventional attacks to defeat Sebastian Shaw, nor had he believed the Black Materia meteorites would prove lethal. After observing Shaw return to the yacht with the Magneto clone, Richard had already formulated his strategy.
In the film, young Magneto and Professor X had demonstrated the optimal approach for neutralizing Shaw through practical application. With that successful precedent, Richard needed only to reproduce their tactics.
Professor X possessed telepathy—so did Richard. Magneto wielded magnetic field manipulation—which Richard had just acquired by eliminating the enhanced clone. With all necessary abilities now at his disposal, the rest became elementary.
First, use Black Materia to create a meteor shower as distraction. Simultaneously, manipulate wires salvaged from a nearby yacht, approaching Shaw gradually at speeds too subtle to attract notice. Though Shaw would absorb the kinetic energy generated by moving wires, replenishing such minimal energy wasn't difficult. More importantly, amid continuous meteorite bombardment, the negligible kinetic energy from slowly moving wires could easily be overlooked.
Even if detected, Richard could simply reduce the wires' movement speed further. Though uncertain of the upper and lower limits of Shaw's energy absorption, one fact remained certain: energy beneath a certain threshold wouldn't register. This made logical sense—air molecules possess kinetic energy, yet Shaw clearly didn't absorb that energy during normal breathing. If even the faint kinetic energy of air flow could be absorbed, Shaw would asphyxiate himself whenever using his powers unless he held his breath.
After telepathically immobilizing Sebastian Shaw, Richard took a moment to admire the three-dimensional "still life" he had created before approaching the motionless figure, Masamune in hand. Simultaneously, he searched Shaw's mind for valuable information—the location where Wanda and Pietro were imprisoned, the reason for their capture, overseas bank account numbers and passwords, the Hellfire Club's liquid assets, and more.
By the time he reached Sebastian Shaw, Richard had extracted all the information he needed.
"I told you that celebrating at halftime isn't a good habit," Richard remarked coldly. "Be more careful in your next life."
As he raised the Masamune, preparing to sever Shaw's neck and claim his eighth Alpha-level power, a Quinjet bearing S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia arrived overhead.
"Stop!" A voice infused with righteous conviction reached Richard through the Quinjet's loudspeaker. "Richard Wesley, stop killing innocent people!"
Hearing this authoritative declaration from above, Richard employed his enhanced vision to examine the hovering aircraft.
Sure enough!
The moment he heard those justice-filled words, a name had materialized in Richard's mind. His intuition proved correct—the speaker was none other than Captain America, the living embodiment of American justice.
Beside Captain America, Richard spotted Hawkeye in the Quinjet's cockpit. Hawkeye occupied the pilot's seat, controlling the aircraft, while Captain America sat adjacent, clutching a communication device and staring intently through the windshield at Richard below.
Under the watchful gaze of Captain America and Hawkeye, Richard first released a heavy sigh.
Then, the Masamune in his left hand flashed outward like lightning, instantly slicing through Sebastian Shaw's exposed neck.
...
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