Chapter 897: Brilliant Stars (Complete)

The green figure slammed heavily onto the bridge deck of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Hulk appearing here was no surprise—but what was surprising was that almost immediately, another red figure leapt over as well.

"Red Hulk??" Matt widened his eyes. "Why is he here? And his movements… what's he looking for?"

"Isn't he a product of military experiments?" Erica hurled a string of throwing stars, forcing back the nearest bats. "If the military was going to show up, they'd have come already. Why now?"

"That suggests he wasn't sent by the military…" Matt narrowed his eyes. "Forget him. Stick to our plan."

Erica glanced back at the still-stable frontline. "Follow me. I've found a sniper position. I'll get you up."

Minutes later, Matt stood atop a building—the tallest in the area. From its edge, he could overlook the entire battlefield. A strangely shaped sniper rifle had been set up here.

Calling it a sniper rifle wasn't accurate—it looked more like a rocket launcher. And its ammunition wasn't conventional ordnance, but enchanted crosses crafted jointly by vampire hunter Eric and other vampires.

Eric, who arrived shortly after, spoke: "We all know Dracula is immortal, but he's still vulnerable to certain enchanted objects, which can briefly paralyze him."

"We can't kill him, but we can seal him. If we successfully drive this cross into his heart, at least we'll prevent him from strengthening other vampires."

"His strengthening ability likely relates to moonlight. I've never seen him use it, but it's undoubtedly powerful—all vampires exposed to moonlight have their physique and attack power multiplied."

"But without Dracula's enhancement, the police have freeze guns, other superheroes have special abilities—holding out until dawn, when vampires retreat from sunlight, won't be hard."

Matt had already stepped beside the sniper rifle. "Thankfully we prepared in advance. Decapitation plans are always the most effective."

After adjusting the rifle's position, Matt calmed his breathing, activated his Inner Eye, and in the pitch-black field of vision, outlines of objects gradually emerged.

While teaching others, Matt never neglected his own growth. His special ability, "Inner Eye," was countless times stronger than ordinary human vision.

When he focused, he became a living radar—everything within several kilometers unfolded in meticulous detail inside his mind.

Time slowed. Frame after frame of frozen images appeared in Matt's mind.

A bat slowly opened its mouth; the wear on its fangs was clearly visible. A flash of light passed over the fang surface, then transformed into a bullet speeding through the air.

The primer's black mark at the bullet's base deepened. As black strands of hair fluttered, Jessica swept past midair.

Bat, bullet, and human—all cleared the sniper's line of fire in a single fleeting frame.

Behind the dark muzzle, Matt lightly squeezed the trigger. The instant the cross shot from the barrel, time slowed—then rushed forward.

It skimmed past the bat's wing edge, brushed past the grenade, pierced through the superheroes' hair, and drove straight into Dracula's heart.

Crimson mist sank downward like falling higanbana. Dracula plummeted straight down. In the final second, he transformed into a bat and veered crookedly in another direction.

"Catch him!"

"Don't let him escape!"

Blade Hunter Eric shouted first: "We must seal him! Otherwise, the vampires will return!"

Instantly, the battlefield froze. All eyes fixed on the giant bat glowing with red light.

The first to chase was Otto, closest to Dracula. Then came the Hulk and the Lizard on the bridge deck. Next came the Spider-Men near the human frontline and Jessica soaring midair. Then Nightingale, the Fungus Man, and other young superheroes mingling with police. Finally, the police themselves.

Because the bat invasion's buildup lasted so long, most people had received warnings and stayed indoors.

Dracula, apparently too wounded to adjust his flight path, flew straight along the highway. No homes or rough terrain lay in his path—leaving ample space for pursuit.

George, driving the police car at the rear, frowned. He leaned out, watching the giant bat soaring above. "What's going on with this Dracula? He's injured—and still glowing?!"

"Uh, boss, maybe he can't turn it off? I read in novels—monsters get stronger the more special effects they show…"

"That's because special effects create psychological intimidation during battle," George frowned. "But fleeing and still glowing? That's just asking to be shot at."

He shook his head. "Forget it. These big rats never had good brains anyway. Their leader's probably no smarter. Keep chasing!"

"By the way—where's our helicopter? Did it pick up the bomb device? Maybe we can give him a real punch!" George gritted his teeth.

The officer behind him picked up the radio, asked a few questions, then replied: "The lab's bomb device has been loaded onto the helicopter. The pilot's en route. At his speed, no later than ten minutes…"

George snorted. "This bat dares to fly along the highway—and at this altitude? Tell the pilot to flank it from the other side. Once it enters range, detonate the bomb midair!"

"Understood!"

After Dracula began fleeing, most bats followed him in the opposite direction. On the ground, only those too slow to run or ordinary police remained behind. The more mobile heroes all chased Dracula.

Initially, Otto led—but due to his unusual movement style, he wasn't fast enough and quickly fell behind. The Lizard, having altered his limbs to walk bipedally, also lost speed and lagged several positions.

Most Spider-Men couldn't fly and couldn't match Dracula's altitude, so they remained at a distance.

Now, the closest to Dracula were Jessica, who could fly freely; the Hulk, who leapt high with pure rage; and Venom, who used slime-formed wings to glide.

In short: the experienced, cautious, consequence-minded were left behind. The young, mindless, and insane surged ahead.

Meanwhile, another chase unfolded in the opposite direction, equally massive.

The nitro-man, his skin dark red, ran while shouting: "Who the hell is chasing us?! Why won't he stop?!"

"Isn't that the kid called Speedball? That young, stupid superhero who caused an explosion and killed Spider-Man? Hahahaha!" another criminal added.

"Looks like he wants revenge for Spider-Man. Nitro-man, you're in trouble!" another criminal yelled.

Nitro-man cursed under his breath, dodged a kinetic ball, coughed hard twice, feeling pain. "Damn it… the power I stored that day wasn't fully released. I feel fire burning in my chest!"

Suddenly, two golden-haired figures flashed past in the distance.

The cobalt-man, leading the group, paused. He shook his head violently, as if controlled by something—but quickly returned to normal. "This won't work. We'll be caught if we keep running like this!"

"Then what do you suggest?!" Nitro-man turned back. "That kid's insane! He doesn't even care about injuries—and his ability's too weird. If I stay in his range, I can't even run!"

"I heard there's a government officials' meeting nearby. If we take hostages, someone will deal with him."

Nitro-man stared at his teammate in surprise. In his memory, Cobalt-man wasn't well-informed. But seeing the man's serious expression, Nitro-man narrowed his eyes.

He figured the guy had no reason to lie—they were all on the same rope. If caught, they'd all be dead. Nitro-man gritted his teeth. "Take us there. Those cowardly politicians will save us!"

The speaking Cobalt-man immediately led them in another direction. Surprisingly, his target wasn't Manhattan's center—but a small island closer to the coastline.

Located in Lower New York Bay, it was distant from Brooklyn but not too far. Nitro-man and the criminals hijacked a speedboat and landed on the island. The moment they stepped ashore, they spotted a helicopter in view.

The criminals froze. Then Nitro-man said: "Probably here to pick up those politicians. Ignore it. We storm in and take hostages!"

As they turned to move, they saw a wobbling bat on the horizon.

The bat glowed red, even more visible under moonlight. It flew unsteadily, like a drunkard—but upon seeing the island, it suddenly perked up, accelerating toward them.

The newly landed criminals were utterly confused. But Jessica, chasing behind, narrowed her eyes. "Wait… those people down there… holy shit—are they the ones who killed Spider-Man?!"

Jessica gasped, then felt boundless rage. Spider-Man had always been her idol. Her schoolmates all loved him.

When she saw the news report of Spider-Man's gruesome death, she swore to bring his killers to justice.

Ignoring everything, Jessica charged toward Nitro-man. At that moment, George was speaking into his radio: "Target located? Elevate altitude. Prepare to release the bomb. And watch the ground!"

The helicopter's technicians prepared to drop the bomb—but suddenly, the Hulk leapt high and slammed onto the giant bat, pinning it to the ground.

The bomb, meant to detonate midair, was suddenly grabbed by a black slime tendril and flung straight at Nitro-man.

On the other side, Jessica punched Nitro-man in the back, sending him flying. Nitro-man, enraged, felt the same power surge that had once knocked him back from Spider-Man's fist.

The strike landed. Jessica moved to follow up—but suddenly noticed a massive bomb flying toward her.

Though impulsive, this young superhero wasn't foolish. Panic flashed across her face. She slammed on the brakes, pulling sharply upward just before colliding with the bomb.

In her vision, Nitro-man and the bomb made a horrifyingly intimate contact.

At the same time, on the other side of the island, hidden behind a rising hill, the General narrowed his eyes. "Did you hear the helicopter?"

"Boom—Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

After a tiny pinpoint of light flared, a blinding sphere expanded. Then came a deafening explosion.

When the initial blinding light faded, the entire island shattered and rose into the air.

As fragments, streaked with nitro sparks, rained down, strange blood, organs, and human tissues danced alongside brilliant fireworks.

Bloody, alluring, eerie—charged with extreme ritualistic grandeur, like a mad, twisted sacrifice.

Under the firelight, brilliant as countless stars.

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After a tiny point of light flared, a blinding sphere expanded, followed by a deafening explosion.

When the initial blinding light faded, the entire island shattered and rose into the air.

As fragments streaked with nitre sparks fell, strange blood, organs, and human tissues danced alongside brilliant fireworks.

Bloody, seductive, eerie, charged with an extreme sense of ritual, like a mad and perverted sacrifice.

Illuminated by the flames, they sparkled like stars.