NOVEL WEB Chapter 27: 027
Escape with spiritual power and abandonment of the body.
Russell wasn't too surprised that Cassandra could pull this off.
After all, even Professor X could do it.
However…
Russell looked up at Khonshu in the distance.
He didn't believe that this "god," who could manipulate sunlight, didn't have the power to stop her.
In fact, during the previous battle, Khonshu probably hadn't even used his full strength.
More importantly—
He might not be safe right now!
Russell's expression remained calm, but he was already on high alert.
Who knew whether this so-called "Moon God" saved him because of the black market's rules or for some unknown reason?
At that moment, Spider-Sense was heightened to the extreme.
He was prepared to summon the Venom battle suit at any second and activate the Siren ability to fly out of here!
Of course, that probably wouldn't work.
The power gap between them was simply too massive.
Russell took a deep breath.
He hated this feeling—having his fate in someone else's hands.
Defeating the Snake Squad, Mordo, and the others earlier had gone far too smoothly.
And after that, he'd overwhelmed the Siren, the Human Torch, and others with ease.
It had dulled his caution—made him arrogant without even realizing it.
Coming to the black market this time, completely unprepared, was a lesson.
Even if TVA hadn't shown up, Cassandra probably would have!
Worse still—
The power he'd acquired might be overwhelming to most beings in the Void…
But once he encountered a truly powerful enemy, he couldn't even run.
He had to repair the Time Tablet—fast!
The Void might be a decent temporary base, but he couldn't hide in doomsday timelines forever.
If he wanted real power, he needed to leave and seek opportunities within the timeline.
Just then, Russell felt a scorching gaze fall on him.
Then that ancient voice echoed again:
"Don't be so tense, human.
You've already paid for your protection in advance."
(Though in reality, I totally evaded the entrance fee…)
Russell obviously couldn't say that, so he forced a polite smile.
"Thank you for your help, Lord Khonshu."
Khonshu's empty eyes didn't show expression, but Russell could somehow sense a smile in that gaze.
Then Khonshu chuckled and said:
"No need to thank me. This is fairness—I care about that most."
"And I've wanted to warn Cassandra for a long time. That woman has been getting more and more reckless."
Russell didn't ask why Khonshu didn't just kill her.
He didn't care about the deeper reasons or politics.
At that moment, golden sunlight bathed the space, and Khonshu slowly dissipated into pure light—vanishing without another word.
Russell finally let out a breath of relief.
He had been worried that this god would suddenly "ask" him to do a favor.
After all, in all those third-rate novels he'd read before transmigrating, this was how it always went—dragged into the games of higher beings, facing endless dangers, and rarely ending well.
"Good, he ignored me~"
Russell sighed. Looked like this crisis was really over.
He bent down to pick up Cassandra's lifeless body and walked over to the dazed Human Torch lying on the ground.
"Hey, Flame Baby!"
"Is your brain still stuck at home? Wake up!"
Russell slapped him a few times to snap him out of it.
The next second, the Human Torch jolted awake and immediately started cursing with wide eyes:
"Damn! That crazy woman! That giant thing almost crushed me to death when it fell! Who the hell fights like that?! Freaked me out, man!"
Russell raised an eyebrow:
"She's not dead yet. Her spiritual energy is still here—she can hear everything."
"WHAT?!"
Human Torch's face went pale, filled with pure dread.
Russell immediately felt better.
No need to suffer alone—true bros share the trauma.
The Torch wasn't actually stupid. He'd just been too overwhelmed by what happened. Now that his brain caught up, he realized Russell had been messing with him.
He gave a bitter laugh.
"All I did was come to the black market for some food... and I almost lost my life."
"And now? That lunatic might actually be targeting me."
Russell patted his shoulder.
"No worries. If the time comes, I'll help you kill her."
The Human Torch rolled his eyes.
"You're in deep trouble already, and now you're volunteering to help me? If that day ever comes, I'll kneel and call you Daddy."
Russell laughed.
"Deal."
"But before that—do me a favor."
The Torch immediately tensed, covering his butt in panic.
"What the hell are you planning?!"
If he didn't need help, Russell would've kicked this guy—he was becoming as annoying as Deadpool.
He said impatiently:
"Take this adamantium and go trade it on the black market for me. Get a few steel armor components."
He described what he needed—components with computing modules.
Adamantium was valuable. He figured he could at least trade for two.
As for why he didn't go himself...
Even if he was immune to soul trading, if Khonshu was still watching him, walking into the black market personally would be suicidal.
The Human Torch exhaled in relief.
Thank god—he didn't have to sell his a**.
He didn't even bother asking why Russell wouldn't go—just in case the guy changed his mind.
He grabbed Cassandra's corpse and bolted toward the black market.
Ten minutes later.
Russell received three armor components, climbed into his beat-up Honda Odyssey, and returned home safely.
Now it was just a matter of time…
How long would it take to crack the Time Tablet?
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