Chapter 322: Ch.321 Melting Head
Chapter 322: Ch.321 Melting Head
Chapter 322: Ch.321 Melting Head
Before them lay a vast expanse of yellow sand, with moonlight softly draping over everything, casting a hazy glow. Temperature, humidity, wind speed, and light refraction—all the parameters appeared normal, and Su Ming's visor displayed the scientific analysis.
However, satellites are also a product of science, and according to the coordinates recorded by the satellite, the landing location of the Aggregate should be just ahead.
"How peculiar," Su Ming mused, bending down to scoop up a handful of sand, watching it slip through his fingers.
"Right? It's so weird. I've never had to deal with something I can't see before," Harley chimed in, moving closer. She smelled heavily of makeup, with a faint hint of sewer.
Deadshot joined them, and by now, he had completely lost any hostility toward Su Ming. During negotiations with the black woman, Su Ming had secured benefits for each member.
As soon as this mission concluded, Deadshot would get a day off, allowing him to pick up and drop off his daughter at school, help her with homework, and stay with her until after lunch the next day.
Of course, a team of combat-trained agents would shadow him, and he would be prohibited from handling anything with a trigger—even power drills.
Captain Boomerang would receive a case of liquor, Killer Frost would get a new freezer, and Killer Croc would have his water pool replaced with clean water.
So now, aside from Katana, who still harbored some resentment, the Suicide Squad had accepted the change in leadership.
In fact, Deadshot and Boomerang even felt more at ease.
After all, while Rick was just an ordinary soldier, Deathstroke was a renowned tactical mastermind. Having him in charge meant a better chance that those who went in would come back out.
Deadshot tapped his visor. "I don't see anything either. Could the Justice League have already taken it?"
Su Ming shook his head as he probed the space ahead, continuing forward.
"When I say peculiar, I don't mean the thing is gone. I'm surprised by Constantine's actions—no personal gain, yet he still put in the effort to cast such a large spell."
"Oh, a magic trick! When was the last time I watched a magic show?" Harley bit her finger, gazing at the sky as she tried to recall. Then she snapped back. "Hey, wait up! Don't walk so fast!"
The sand beneath them rustled softly, feeling like stepping on cotton, and with Killer Croc's heavier weight, each step sank deep into the ground.
The cool night air made everyone a little more alert; after all, most of them were nocturnal types.
After a while, Su Ming bumped into an invisible wall, as if hitting a sheet of glass. He reached out to feel it, looking like a mime performing a routine.
"This is the spot. Everyone, step back. Diablo, use your ability on this spot," Su Ming gestured for the team to scatter as Diablo prepared to unleash his power.
Diablo's character design resembled that of the Ghost Rider next door. Inside him dwelled a spirit of vengeance. While his flames weren't Hellfire, they had unique properties.
They could purify, enable him to become an elemental, and currently, he needed them to counteract the invisibility spell.
Diablo stepped up, closing his eyes as his breathing quickened. His veins bulged as he let out a beastly roar.
Su Ming tapped his wrist.
Sparks began to flicker around Diablo, distorting the air as the temperature rose slowly.
Su Ming paced back and forth.
Diablo raised his hands, finally summoning flames. Anger was necessary to activate his power, but it was hard to get angry in the middle of an empty desert.
Su Ming sighed inwardly. Diablo's power was useful, with a purifying fire that could counter the Enchantress's magic.
But his "casting speed" was way too slow. Usually, by the time he could use his big moves, the rest of the Suicide Squad had either taken care of the enemies or been taken out themselves.
Unlike most criminals, Diablo was reluctant to use his power, spending his days praying or seeking forgiveness to keep himself calm.
His intentions might be good—trying not to hurt others.
However, if he truly lost his powers, he'd become useless to A.R.G.U.S., and Amanda wouldn't let him meet a pleasant end.
Each member of the Suicide Squad had done their share of dirty work for the government, and dead men tell no tales.
But that was of no concern to Su Ming. If Harley was the least afraid of dying in the Suicide Squad, then Diablo was second. He followed the team as a form of atonement, already long resigned to his fate.
Beyond Diablo, Killer Frost wasn't much better. Her ability drained her stamina rapidly; using a large-scale ice power often left her more exhausted than the enemies.
Amanda Waller's selections always seemed lacking to Su Ming.
Even someone like Mr. Freeze or Firefly would have been more effective than Killer Frost and Diablo.
Putting a regular soldier like Rick in charge, relying on a lone gunman like Deadshot to devise tactics, using a madwoman like Harley as a strategist and mediator, and keeping a traitorous Captain Boomerang around?
It was truly a suicide mission, and it was a miracle they were still alive.
Amanda clearly had a hidden agenda. Think about it—America's superpowered criminals were plentiful, so why did her Suicide Squad only have seven or eight members?
But all Su Ming needed was the official nature of the Suicide Squad. With that cover, he could openly follow the Justice League's trail.
Protest? Sure, go complain to the White House.
When the Justice League inevitably ran into trouble, Su Ming would make his move, cashing in at the right moment.
As Su Ming pondered, Diablo's fire finally erupted, two streams of flames shooting from his hands, lighting up the surroundings and slamming into the unseen barrier, causing sparks to fly.
"Ahhh! F***!"
Diablo cursed loudly, channeling more anger, making the pillars of fire grow even larger.
It was like drilling through glass. The flames burned away a section of the spell, revealing what was hidden beneath.
Just as Barry had described, there lay a massive stone head. For some reason, it looked like a melting ice cream cone, slowly dissolving.
"It's too big. We can't move it," Killer Croc shook his head immediately. His massive form looked like an ant compared to the giant head.
"Just looking at it won't satisfy the black lady. She already saw it on the satellite images," Su Ming muttered as he tested the head's barrier with his fist.
Beneath the invisibility spell was another purple barrier, made of an unfamiliar energy—not magic, not divine power. It was like viscous rubber, highly elastic, resisting any attempts to penetrate.
Su Ming strained to push his hand through, still feeling the force trying to push him back out.
From the strength required, it seemed only he and Killer Croc had the muscle to force their way inside.
He was curious about what this massive head was.
It had once been the head of a powerful being on the Source Wall, but now, in contact with Earth, it seemed to be undergoing some kind of transformation.
The melting stone, the faint, strange smell—all of it left Su Ming with a bad feeling. If he planned to exploit the Justice League, he needed to stay ahead in terms of information and set up his moves.
The Suicide Squad's presence had likely already been detected by the Watchtower. Whatever he intended to do, he needed to act quickly.