Chapter 4766

As for how much crisis awareness superheroes and mutants can actually have, and how sharp their on-the-spot reaction skills have become from enduring all kinds of disasters, just look at the present and you'll know.

Clearly there were no signs at all, most people were still enjoying the comfort of the hot springs, but Mat let out a sudden shout, and everyone sprang up in a flash, not even bothering that they were shirtless—some even flung off the towels wrapped around their lower halves, rushing out with ashen faces.

This is the complete opposite of the disaster movie scene where someone gives a warning and everyone stands there frozen like frightened fools. Every superhero and mutant acted as if they'd rehearsed countless times, retreating with the same speed as their entrance, a perfect heroic withdrawal—just hear the swish-swish-swish-swish-swish, and the people in the sinkhole vanished instantly.

Never mind that Stark's illness isn't fully healed yet—his reaction is absurdly fast. Before Mat's words even finished, he instantly armored up, his left hand gripping Steve, his right hand Bucky. As he passed Natasha, Bucky grabbed her too, Natasha then reached for Shiler, who, worried about Mat, also grabbed him. The people from the Central Universe were strung together like candied haws, flying straight out of the sinkhole.

The main universe Avengers weren't bad either. Iron Man hoisted Spider-Man, Spider-Man used his webs to stick to Captain America, Doctor Strange pulled in Black Widow and Banner, while Thor hauled Hawkeye with a big leap. The only flaw was that Captain America and Thor's bathrobes had fallen off. Fortunately, it was dark enough that no one could see.

The local Avengers reacted a bit slower, and since they were socializing with mutants, they'd all split up. Spider-Man shot a web to pull himself up, Black Widow used her grappling hook to ascend. Iron Man wanted to save people, but the mutants didn't need his help, so he just flew up on his own. Winter Soldier, Captain America, and Hawkeye, among others, were escorted out by the mutants they were talking to.

The remaining mutants really pulled out all the stops—basically, one leading a large group. Just Polaris alone brought over twenty mutants, all arriving in neat formation above the sinkhole.

In just a second or two, the ground began to tremble. But it wasn't swaying side to side—it was jolting up and down like a boiling pot. The vibration was so intense even someone like Captain America, a modified human, couldn't stand steady, nearly being thrown into the air.

"Wrong!" Stark stepped forward first and said, "This vibration is too regular—it can't be a natural phenomenon. Something is triggering… a volcano! Something is triggering a volcanic eruption!!!"

Everyone's faces changed. You have to know, the volcano on Clark Asia Island is an active one, and geological activity is quite frequent. If it erupts, the whole island might be buried under volcanic ash. Even if there are no casualties, all the time Clark Asia has spent building would be wasted.

Moreover, we're this close to the volcano now—we might not have time to run. Besides superheroes and mutants, there are also a bunch of ordinary people here. Not only the earlier ordinary scientists, but also the God Spear Bureau and Wakandans. Plus some ambassadors from small nations on good terms with mutants. If all these people die here, mutants will have to flee Earth overnight.

Before Stark even finished speaking, he tried to jump down, but Steve quickly grabbed him. "What are you doing?!"

"I need to go down and dismantle that thing." Stark shouted, raising his voice, "A volcanic eruption doesn't happen that fast—we still have time!!!"

Hearing that, the mutants reacted too. Iceman and Human Torch surged forward, and other young mutants quickly gathered around.

"I'm going with you!" Iceman said, "No matter what it is, I can freeze it. If that fails, I'll still find a way to freeze the lava!"

"Exactly!" Polaris said, "I can stabilize the underground magnetic field to buy you time. We absolutely cannot let the volcano erupt!"

Stark took two small steps back, "Shi Difen!"

"No." Strange stepped forward and said, "I don't know the exact underground structure—if I open a portal, I might throw you straight into the magma. Besides, the explosion could damage the portal, and then you wouldn't be able to return!"

"No time." Stark gritted his teeth and said, "We're flying down!"

Several figures shot swiftly toward the bottom of the sinkhole. At that moment, another figure followed him. Stark flew while glancing back, and saw it was actually the local Iron Man. The man lifted his visor and roared, "The underground water diversion system was designed by me—I have to go there!"

Stark said nothing, but he knew only artificial equipment could cause such regular ground movement, and the only artificial equipment underground now was the water diversion system. This must be related to the local Iron Man's design.

Although there are too many doubts, Stark had to be cautious. As he flew into that cave, he deliberately blocked the local Iron Man's position. The other man noticed sharply, wanted to say something, but there was no time—Stark vanished in a flash, giving him no chance to explain.

"Others, follow me to the volcano crater." Erik said, "If the volcano is destined to erupt, we can only try to guide the lava. Captain, you take the others to evacuate."

"Come underwater." Namor suddenly said, "I've built a temporary air bubble cabin in the deep sea below the island. Even if the volcano erupts, that place won't be affected. Follow me."

Veterans like Captain America and Winter Soldier didn't need to communicate—they instinctively formed a formation. Some led the way, some brought up the rear, maintaining formation like sheepdogs, and withdrew at high speed toward the destination. Ordinary people without superpowers and relatively weak mutants could only grit their teeth and follow.

In the blink of an eye, they had withdrawn to the lakeside. Namor swam to the lake's center, waved his trident, and an underwater passage opened. Superpowered mutants began leading ordinary people downward. Since there was no seawater throughout and no need to adapt to pressure changes, they reached Namor's deep-sea refuge quite smoothly.

"You can see here," Namor said, "there's a continuously rising water flow straight to the lake's center. I wanted to build a high-speed water flow channel between Atlantis and Clark Asia—it's only halfway done, and I didn't expect this to happen."

"I still don't feel at ease." Apocalypse said, "I'm not afraid of the volcano erupting—you wait here, I need to go check."

After saying that, he flew back up. Several other powerful mutants did the same—they couldn't just hide in the refuge like ordinary people, and after sending people down, they all flew back up.

But everyone went to the volcano crater to find Erik, and they didn't dare go down lightly. Because they don't know the underground structure, nor what exactly is shaking down there—going down would just add chaos. If it really explodes later, escaping might not be easy.

However, Strange and Shiler from the Central Universe are bold and skilled—mainly because they're too worried about Stark, who hasn't recovered yet. They flew into the cave at top speed; the temperature here has already far exceeded before.

Before, it was merely unsuitable for ordinary people to live in; now it's even somewhat unsuitable for superpowered beings. Strange had just entered when he added several layers of shields to himself, then said, "Even the lava river in Mephisto's Hell isn't this hot. Can Tony's armor hold up?"

"They brought Iceman and Polaris too—should be fine." Shiler said, though gray mist had already spread, beginning to search the entire cave for Stark's silhouette.

The gray mist really doesn't like hot places, but that's just his psychological effect—actually, temperature has no effect on outer gods. Or rather, most things in the real world completely fail to affect it. Besides, the gray mist and little Morgan are good friends—little Morgan's father might be in danger, so he's anxious, forgets the heat, and goes full throttle.

"Found it!" Gray Mist suddenly shouted, "Wait—I need to retract my ability a bit, or it'll affect their minds…"

Shiler coalesced into human form, and several mutants were startled by him, nearly lashing out. Iceman's ice spikes had already been fired, but luckily they didn't affect Shiler.

"Oh, sorry, I…"

Shiler quickly made a silencing gesture, because now the two Iron Men were there studying the water diversion system's engine. This very thing keeps releasing shockwaves, agitating underground heat, and is about to cause a volcanic eruption.

Iceman looked anxious, gritted his teeth and said, "Can't we just freeze this thing directly? The volcano's really about to erupt!"

This is no joke. The ground's vibration is worsening, the entire cave is beginning to collapse, the path on the left has already half-collapsed. Worse, the ground is starting to crack—this means magma might be rising.

For the heat-sensitive Human Torch, he suddenly shouted, "Get out of the way!"

Polaris jerked in a second, directly pulling all mutants and the two Iron Men into a rapid retreat. The newly arrived Strange raised a shield. Less than ten meters from the engine, a huge fissure directly spewed lava.

Good thing they retreated fast and had shields blocking—otherwise they might have already been hit. Being able to endure this heat is one thing; being directly hit by lava is another. It's like working near the sun versus stepping into it—Stark's nano-armor is too thin, and might not even block it.

"We must shut down the engine!" Stark shouted, "You hold back the lava—I'll go check again!"

After saying that, he tried to fly out, but Strange gritted his teeth, wanting to pull him back yet unable to move. Seeing him fly off, the mutants had no choice but to grit their teeth and fly out too. Polaris gritted her teeth and stomped her foot, forming a magnetic storm vortex that directly pressed the lava back into the fissure.

Iceman immediately followed up with control—an ice blanket spread from his feet, instantly sealing the fissure. But Human Torch said, "No, the backed-up lava will find another weak point to burst through—this doesn't solve the root problem!"

"Where's the next point?!" Polaris snapped back.

Human Torch felt the heat shift, reached out and pointed forward: "There!"

Scarcely had the words left his lips when the spot he pointed to split open with a crack. Polaris waved her hand, a magnetic arrow shot out—but this time it couldn't block the lava eruption, only weakened its force. Iceman drew a deep breath, exhaled, and a thick ice mist sprayed out, instantly lowering the temperature by over ten degrees—this fissure barely froze over.

"You're right—this isn't a solution." Polaris stared at the still-twitching fissure, but she had no better idea. Originally restricted by Clark Asia, their abilities couldn't be fully unleashed, and they had to be extra careful, afraid of destroying the whole island—so they could only barely cope.

"Something is wailing." Shiler suddenly said, "Did you hear that?"