Break in through the front door?
Hearing Richard's declaration, both Clarice and Sabretooth stared at him in disbelief.
They recognized Richard's formidable power—his capacity to single-handedly eliminate multiple mutant agents attested to that. But they hadn't realized his tactical approach included such brazen audacity.
"Are you sure about this?" Sabretooth asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
"What's there to be uncertain about?" Richard replied. "We're already committing to raze the Department of Mutant Affairs, so let's be decisive about it."
"Stealth infiltration would certainly be more practical, but it lacks a certain... impact."
"There's something unquestionably more dominating about breaching the main entrance!"
Richard's expression remained utterly serious as he spoke.
Neither Sabretooth nor Clarice knew about the system's existence, nor did they understand that Richard needed to eliminate twelve mutant agents to complete his mission and claim the Phantom Sword as his reward.
"I can't deny the clear impact of a frontal assault," Sabretooth conceded, "but you must recognize this will significantly complicate tonight's operation."
"I doubt the two of us can handle every operative in the Los Angeles branch simultaneously."
While Sabretooth possessed bone claws and regenerative capabilities far exceeding normal humans, he remained acutely aware of his limitations.
Conventional firearms couldn't permanently eliminate him, but recovery required time. Head or cardiac wounds from gunfire would substantially extend his healing period.
"How about this," Richard proposed, noting Sabretooth's reluctance. "I'll breach the main entrance, while you use Clarice's portal to access the second underground level directly. We'll operate independently."
Though splitting their forces wasn't ideal, Sabretooth found Richard's revised strategy preferable to both of them charging through the front entrance.
Without further objection, Sabretooth instructed Clarice to generate a portal to the second underground floor.
Moments later, Clarice manifested the spatial gateway.
As soon as the portal stabilized, Sabretooth stepped through.
Simultaneously, Richard employed Blinkstep, teleporting from the rooftop directly to the Los Angeles branch building's main entrance.
Without hesitation, he extended his right hand, palm facing the metal doors before him.
Repulsion!
Air compressed rapidly under his telekinetic influence, then launched toward the metal entrance with the force of a pneumatic cannon.
BOOM!
The compressed air struck the metal doors with devastating impact.
The tremendous force blasted the doors from their hinges, sending them flying several meters before crashing to the ground with a resounding clang.
Having deployed Inessa's repulsion ability to eliminate the doors, Richard calmly strode inside, Masamune drawn and ready.
Upon seeing the security guard in the reception booth raise his pistol, Richard lifted Masamune and executed a casual swing.
As the blade descended, six or seven crescent-shaped energy projections—purple-rimmed with white centers—streaked toward the guards with lightning speed.
Before the guards could discharge their weapons, the energy crescents pierced their bodies, bisecting them completely.
With each use, Richard's proficiency with Judgement Cut End increased, improving his control over the technique. Unlike his earlier attempts, when the crescent energies followed fixed trajectories after release, he could now partially manipulate their paths mid-flight.
After dispatching the security personnel, Richard refrained from immediately entering the main building. Instead, he positioned himself in the plaza before the structure.
Though Masamune, empowered by mana, could cleave through reinforced concrete as easily as cutting fruit, wielding such a massive blade in confined spaces presented tactical disadvantages compared to open areas.
Additionally, he deliberately remained outside for strategic purposes—drawing attention to himself in the plaza would relieve pressure on Sabretooth, who had already infiltrated the second underground level.
In terms of combat experience, Richard couldn't compare to Sabretooth's centuries of warfare.
But regarding raw power, ten Sabretooths combined couldn't match Richard's capabilities.
As anticipated, a substantial contingent of fully armed security personnel rapidly emerged from the office building.
Though specialized forces and mutant agents hadn't appeared yet, Richard had no intention of sparing the conventional guards.
If they're enemies, eliminate them.
As the guards poured from the building's entrance, Richard activated Blinkstep and initiated a one-sided massacre against numerically superior but fundamentally outmatched opponents.
His mana reserves had completely replenished during the afternoon's rest period.
Rather than deploying techniques like Octaslash or Zenshin, he wielded Masamune in conventional slashes that consumed no mana.
These basic attacks proved more than sufficient to eliminate the security personnel.
Each swing of Masamune harvested lives with the efficiency of a death god emerging from the underworld.
In under ten seconds, the initial wave of guards rushing from the office building lay slaughtered.
Severed limbs scattered across the ground as the metallic scent of blood disseminated through the night air.
Emergency alarms blared throughout the building, transforming the previously quiet facility into a cacophony of activity.
Simultaneously, surveillance cameras captured Richard's methodical execution of the guards at the main entrance, transmitting the footage directly to Benjamin, Jack, and other Department officials.
Richard Wesley?
Recognizing the intruder as Richard, Benjamin experienced an overwhelming surge of murderous intent.
Without hesitation, he seized his phone and dialed an internal extension.
"This is Benjamin Reign. Activate the Sentinel robots immediately!"
Before the recipient could respond, Benjamin terminated the call and departed his office.
He had initially suspected some random illegal mutant attempting to demonstrate power against the branch. The realization that the attacker was Richard—responsible for fifteen of his operatives' deaths—changed everything.
Though Benjamin hadn't personally witnessed Aiden's team's elimination, he knew Richard bore responsibility.
Aiden and Belt had previously reported Sabretooth and Clarice's capture, along with their plan to leverage the captives against Richard.
Exiting his office, Benjamin bypassed the Operations Department and proceeded directly to the corridor's end.
CRASH!
He raised his right fist, shattering the window glass with a single punch, then leapt directly through the opening.
His office occupied the building's fourth floor.
For ordinary individuals, such a jump would prove catastrophic.
For Benjamin—a Level 4 Alpha-class mutant—it presented no challenge.
Landing gracefully on the lawn below, he immediately activated his mutant ability without hesitation.
Steel Skin!
As his power manifested, Benjamin's dark skin acquired a metallic luster resembling polished steel.
Simultaneously, his strength, endurance, and physical capabilities underwent dramatic enhancement.
Though Steel Skin represented his sole mutant ability, it had secured his position as Operations Director for the Los Angeles branch.
After fully transforming, he sprinted toward the building's main entrance.
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