"Zhongsu, run!"
Desperation laced Shendu's voice, his face pale and his eyes filled with terror, as if he were being closely pursued by some invisible threat.
"They're coming, get out of here!"
*Strange?*
That was Zhongsu's first reaction. Given Shendu's strength and status, even when facing formidable opponents like Uncle and Jackie Chan, he shouldn't have been this panicked. Moreover, he had Zhongsu—the indomitable Thunder Demon—right by his side. Yet at this moment, Shendu and his lackeys looked utterly terrified out of their wits.
Just as Zhongsu felt a wave of confusion, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted right before his eyes.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The sheer destructive power of the blast instantly turned everything within a one-kilometer radius into ruins. Accompanied by shockwaves, huge fireballs flattened buildings, while shards of glass and dust filled the air like the apocalypse had arrived. Vehicles on the street were ruthlessly tossed into the air before crashing heavily back down with heart-wrenching screeches. Trees were uprooted, and utility poles snapped like matchsticks, plunging the entire area into a dead silence.
For a demon possessing an immortal body, ordinary bombs should have been completely useless. His skin was as hard as iron and his muscles like rock; even the most powerful man-made weapons would find it difficult to inflict substantial damage on him. Yet this time, along with the roar of the explosion, a strange energy had erupted, actually burning his skin!
Zhongsu looked down in astonishment at his injured skin, his heart filled with doubt.
"How... how can this be? This shouldn't happen!"
What on earth was going on here? There seemed to be some secret hidden within these explosives. Could it be that they contained the power of Chi Magic?
He had never felt pain like this before. Even in the most intense battles, his body had always been able to rapidly self-heal. Zhongsu stared at the scorched wound on his chest, a mix of doubt and unease churning inside him.
"This magical aura... it makes me so uncomfortable."
What was going on? Why was he suffering injuries like this? He sensed a powerful force closing in on him, yet its source remained a mystery. This power gave him an unprecedented sense of threat—like the call of fate or the harbinger of doomsday.
"Could the World Consciousness have noticed my changes and sent reinforcements?" Zhongsu's heart tightened.
Without a moment's hesitation, he instantly soared thousands of meters into the high sky, looking down at the chaotic scene below. His gaze was sharp and focused, trying to find answers. Yet the moment he saw the sight below, his expression froze instantly, and sheer shock was written all over his face.
"How... how is this possible?"
What did he see? Was it a ruin consumed by flames, or enemies hiding within the debris? Was a mysterious force manipulating all of this, or was his own destiny changing? Zhongsu's mind was filled with questions. But he knew he had to find the answers, or he would never escape this mystery.
He began to circle high above, searching every corner with his extraordinary perceptual abilities. His gaze pierced through the smoke and dust, trying to catch even the faintest clue. He knew this explosion was more than just a simple attack; there had to be a deeper secret behind it, one that might decide his fate.
The thick fog gradually dissipated, revealing numerous figures. Within Zhongsu's line of sight, aside from Jackie Chan, Uncle, and Jade, there was a group of both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Some of them looked no different from ordinary humans, while others possessed superpowers or special equipment.
One of them wore a cape and a tight suit bearing an "S" logo. Another figure looked like a night-stalking bat, speeding along in the Batmobile. A warrior entirely covered in metal soared freely through the air. A green giant stared up at him with an angry glare.
These individuals were none other than the members of the Avengers! He even recognized Superman, Batman, Captain America, Hulk, and Iron Man Tony Stark hovering in the air.
"What on earth is going on here?" An unprecedented wave of doubt and crisis surged in Zhongsu's heart. "Shouldn't I be in the world of Adventures of Jackie Chan? Did I time-travel again?"
According to the animated plot, Zhongsu should have left the Netherworld and put on a show in Hollywood. Things like this shouldn't be happening. The plot was completely wrong! Shouldn't Jackie be far away, only encountering him when his performance reached its peak? Why were the Avengers here right now? The Adventures of Jackie Chan didn't have any of this!
"Could it be..." A terrifying thought suddenly surfaced in his mind, making him shudder. "This is a crossover anime world. Oh god, it's a massive melting pot."
Shendu felt utter despair. "Zhongsu, I don't know what else we can do..."
Not far away, the group gazing up at Zhongsu communicated in low voices.
Batman analyzed calmly, "His power seems quite weak right now. Our chance has come."
Captain America warned, "Zhongsu, you do not belong in this world. Lay down your weapons; we only want to send you back to the Netherworld."
Iron Man warned, "Zhongsu, your magic won't protect you here. Are you going to fight, or will you resolve this peacefully?"
Hulk roared, "Hulk gonna smash you!"
At that moment, Zhongsu felt an invisible pressure envelop him, making the entire world feel alien. He knew all too well that this battle would be harder than any he had ever fought before.
Just as he fell deep into thought, Iron Man Tony Stark already bolted toward him like lightning, moving at a breathtaking speed. "Avengers, let's show them our true power!"
Before Zhongsu could react, several missiles came hurtling toward him with a piercing shriek. Zhongsu keenly sensed that these missiles were no ordinary objects; they carried a potent aura of Chi Magic. Clearly, these were not just regular weapons, but specially modified ones equipped with the ability to combat evil. Needless to say, this had to be Uncle's handiwork.
Facing such a powerful attack, Zhongsu's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of tension welled up inside him.
"What a terrible start to this!"
He knew the destructive power of these missiles could not be underestimated. If he failed to react in time, the consequences would be unthinkable. He was still weak right now; once hit, he would surely be trapped in the Netherworld once again.
In that instant, Zhongsu's mind raced, desperately searching for the best countermeasure. But time was tight, leaving no room for overthinking—he had to act immediately.
His body seemed driven by a powerful force, reacting instinctively. He moved as swiftly as lightning, trying to evade the deadly missiles. Yet despite pushing his speed to the absolute limit, the missiles were equally ferocious and fast. He could clearly feel the searing heat of the missiles as they closed in at an astonishing speed.
Just then, his sharp gaze caught a fleeting window of opportunity. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped high into the air while unleashing his magic, attempting to conjure a sturdy energy shield to withstand the missile attack in mid-air.
[Lightning Shield]
His magic collided with the missiles in the mid-air, triggering a heaven-shaking explosion. The intense shockwave from the blast violently shoved him to the side, but relying on his stubborn will and nimble reflexes, he successfully managed to dodge the direct impact of the missiles.
"Curse that Chi Magic."
He crashed heavily onto the ground, but quickly climbed back up, gripping the lightning in his hand tight as he prepared for the ensuing battle. He knew this fight had only just begun. The other members of the Avengers would certainly not sit idly by; they were going to fight him to the death.
He had to remain highly focused at all times, making full preparations to deal with an even more brutal combat situation. He took a deep breath, steadied his mindset, and bravely faced the incoming challenge.
"If you want to fight, then bring it on!"