The moment the gunshot rang out, time around them seemed to freeze...
The scorching, high-speed bullet spun through the air like a slow-motion frame-by-frame sequence, the air currents blooming like flowers in the void, slowly unfurling from the muzzle of the gun.
A faint haze of gunpowder swirled in the air, the brass shell casing still hovering before it could even hit the ground. The metal bullet had already neared Sean's temple.
In less than a breath, his head would explode like a ripe watermelon, blood and brain matter spraying into the air, mixing into a foul, viscous mess before life vanished and consciousness plunged into darkness.
But unfortunately, this wasn't a Western action movie, and Sean and Deadpool weren't two gunslingers in a duel. Or rather, they weren't characters in a shootout who'd bleed, get hurt, or even die from a bullet wound. In this world filled with superpowers and inhuman beings, anything was possible...
Time resumed its flow. The expected bloody scene never came to pass. Before the high-velocity bullet could penetrate Sean's skull and shatter bone, it was crushed by an invisible force, as if sinking into thick glue. It lost momentum and fell harmlessly to the ground.
"Whoa, dude, you're a magician! You're like, way better than David Copperfield!" Deadpool theatrically covered his mouth, feigning exaggerated shock.
Then, he drew another large-caliber pistol from his waist. Inside the cramped car, the roar of gunfire became incessant.
What was even more terrifying was that, thanks to the mercenary's superhuman physique, the recoil from the two large-caliber pistols barely affected him. The continuous barrage of bullets maintained a straight line of fire, like a prolonged flamethrower blast.
Facing the deafening hail of bullets, flames flickered deep in Sean's eyes, like molten lava churning beneath the earth's surface.
The air itself seemed to burn as scorching heat radiated outward. An invisible force twisted the air currents, gathering into a terrifying storm of energy, like a massive explosion of high-grade explosives.
*BOOOM!*
A deafening blast erupted...
The sturdy crash-resistant black sedan was engulfed in a towering inferno. Amid the flames, Sean stood unharmed, while Deadpool let out a yelp and kicked open the car door, using his superhuman reflexes to dodge the surging shockwave.
Even so, the self-proclaimed "greatest mercenary in the universe" was still sent flying by the violent blast, landing spread-eagled against the highway guardrail with a heavy thud.
Night deepened, and at this time, the highway was nearly deserted. Sean removed his expensive suit which was now singed with black marks.
Trying to have a normal conversation with a lunatic was clearly impossible, so he had no choice but to resort to unconventional methods.
Deadpool scrambled to his feet, tossing aside his empty pistols before drawing twin blades from his back, "Mr. Ten Million, you're being way too dramatic. Wouldn't it be easier if you just stood still and let me chop off your head?"
In all his years as a mercenary, he has never faced such a troublesome opponent.
"I'd be more than happy to be killed by the great Deadpool, provided you actually have the skill." Sean stood still, a faint smirk curling at the corner of his lips, "They say Deadpool is the gold standard of mercenaries, that there's no one he can't kill. But from the looks of it, that reputation might be a bit exaggerated."
"I am the greatest mercenary in the universe! When you see Deadpool, you're getting a one-way ticket to Death's sweet embrace, buddy!" Deadpool let out a wild shout, his voice cutting through the air as his red-clad figure lunged forward with blinding speed.
His body seemed to brim with explosive power as a flash of silver arced toward Sean's neck, swift as lightning.
Sean took a slight step to the right, narrowly avoiding the near-perfect strike. His toes barely touched the ground before his body coiled like a drawn bow, then shot forward like an arrow, slamming into Deadpool's chest with enough force to send the eccentric mercenary flying.
"Damn, dude, how much do you weigh? Like 300 pounds? Feels like I just got mauled by a pissed-off grizzly!" The obnoxious voice sounded in Sean's ear again.
Deadpool, like an unkillable cockroach, possessed absurd regenerative abilities. Even as his shattered ribs rapidly mended, he charged right back into the fray.
Blades sliced through the night, cold flashes of steel cutting through the darkness. Deadpool swung his swords with terrifying speed, the edges howling through the air like a raging storm.
Sean didn't use his overwhelming might to suppress this bizarrely skilled mercenary.
Instead, the dormant energy in his body surged like boiling magma, roaring to life as it awakened every cell.
He loved this feeling of dancing on the edge of danger and death, and even though there was no chance that actually happening here, much like the 'Floor is Lava' game, it was the thought that counts. And for Sean, the rule was he would 'lose' if Deadpool landed a hit.
A torrent of battlelust surged through him, like a beast baring its fangs, hungry for blood and slaughter.
The two engaged in close-quarters combat. Sean moved with subtle footwork, flickering like a ghost within the confined space, dodging the deadly arcs of steel that flashed from the darkness.
The high-speed slashes created violent wind pressure, carving deep gashes into the solid ground, sparks flying in all directions.
"Fight like a man, dude! Or do you only know how to dodge? Real men settle things face-to-face, up close and personal! Wait, that kinda sounds wrong..."
Deadpool's twin blades weaved a net of silver light, sealing off all of Sean's escape routes. The deadly web of slashes surged forward, as if the next moment would see the young man's body carved into pieces.
"You really think you can?" Sean smirked in response.
A faint golden glow wrapped around his arm as an invisible force field radiated from his body. The space around them distorted like rising mist, filled with surreal shifting illusions.
Before Deadpool could react, an intense pain erupted in his chest. Sean had somehow slipped through the barrage of blades... Then, with his hand wreathed in scorching heat, pierced straight through the mercenary's torso.
The golden flames vaporized flesh and organs within, leaving not even a drop of blood behind.
"I heard Deadpool never dies, no matter how much damage he takes. I'm really curious... just how fast is your healing factor?" Sean spoke with genuine interest.
This lunatic mercenary was indeed extraordinary, but the most shocking thing about him was undoubtedly his awakened regenerative abilities.
Like Wolverine, Deadpool possessed rapid cellular regeneration. This unkillable healing factor, combined with his superb combat skills and infuriatingly chatty personality, made him a nightmare opponent.
But it was precisely because of his incessant crude humor, his unparalleled vulgar wit, and his antiheroic nature that Deadpool had never been widely accepted.
Even the superhero community kept him at arm's length. In the end, he simply rented an apartment and went back to his mercenary roots.
"Honestly, I'm kinda dizzy. Might even puke. Feels like I just chugged an entire wine cellar." Deadpool staggered like a drunk, one hand resting on Sean's shoulder.
The gaping hole in his chest was already healing at a visible rate...