Amon's figure completely disappeared, and the suffocating pressure vanished along with it.
"Roar!"
Hulk recovered from his stiffness, his green pupils filled with rage as he let out a roar toward the empty space in front of him, venting the frustration of being unable to move just now.
The Hellfire on Johnny Blaze's body reignited. He looked around blankly, then at himself and Banner, not understanding what had just happened.
"Where's that Monster? Did it... self-destruct?"
"No, it was dealt with." Dr. Banner's voice was slightly hoarse. He adjusted his glasses and quickly walked to Lin Huai's side, his eyes full of curiosity and gravity. "Lin, what was that... just now?"
Dean Daniel and Father Moreau also approached with a group of warrior monks. Their faces showed a mix of relief and shock as they looked at Lin Huai, full of confusion.
"There's no time to explain!"
Lin Huai didn't answer Banner's question. His expression was grim, and his eyes were anxious. Amon's appearance had disrupted all his plans.
That Lunatic, that brat who treated all living beings as toys, had already begun his game.
He grabbed Banner, who had just returned to human form and was still panting, then shouted at Johnny, "Get in the car! We have to leave immediately!"
"Leave? Where to?" Johnny looked bewildered. "Aren't we here to solve the trouble? The trouble's solved; shouldn't we have a drink to celebrate?"
"The trouble has only just begun!" Lin Huai's voice left no room for doubt. "Johnny, Banner, trust me, follow me right now!"
After saying that, he ignored Dean Daniel and the others' attempts to make them stay, pulling the two of them as they rushed out of the monastery.
Dean Daniel opened his mouth to say something, but seeing Lin Huai's eyes, which seemed to be burning, he ultimately remained silent. He could feel that this young man was facing trouble far more terrifying than the traitor within the monastery.
The three of them rushed out of the monastery and jumped into the jeep.
"Dr., you drive!" Lin Huai pushed Banner into the driver's seat while he and Johnny squeezed into the back row.
The engine roared, and the jeep sped along the mountain road, leaving the monastery behind.
"Hey! Lin! What on earth are you doing?" Johnny was being tossed around and couldn't help but complain. "You have to tell us what happened! Who was that guy who suddenly appeared? And what was that Monster all about?"
Banner also looked at Lin Huai through the rearview mirror, waiting for an explanation.
Lin Huai took a deep breath and said, "That Monster just now was a Trickster Evil Monster. It was intentionally released here for its advancement."
"What?" Johnny and Banner exclaimed simultaneously.
"But that's not the point." Lin Huai's voice grew low. "The point is, after I dealt with it, another entity appeared. A... troublesome person we currently can't afford to provoke."
"Amon."
Lin Huai spat out the name.
Johnny looked blank, but Dr. Banner's face changed instantly. His hands jerked, and he almost lost his grip on the steering wheel.
"Amon? Are you talking about... the one from mythology, the Great Demon of the Seventy-Two Pillars of Solomon?" Banner's voice carried a hint of trembling.
"Not Him; that wouldn't be so hard to deal with." Lin Huai rubbed his temples. "He is the real-life Youngest Son of God Almighty, a natural Mythical Creature. He said He isn't interested in the plan His brother Adam is involved in, thinking it's too boring. So, He wants to play a game with me regarding human nature. As for that plan, I'll tell you about it later."
Lin Huai recounted what Amon had said about the game to the two of them exactly as it was told.
When they heard that Amon had specifically "borrowed" a Mother and son being hunted by Mephisto from the Evernight Goddess's servant to use as bait to lure out the Hell Lord for an experiment, the atmosphere in the car instantly dropped to freezing point.
"That bastard!" Hellfire flared uncontrollably in Johnny's eye sockets. He punched the car window with a muffled thud. "What does he think human lives are? Props for his game?"
"Calm down, Johnny!" Banner stopped him. "Anger won't solve the problem. Lin, what is His goal? Just to watch a show?"
"He wants to know what human nature really is." Lin Huai's voice was laced with hatred. "So, He gave me an exam question. He wants to see how a Mother, who could sell her son's soul just to survive, can show the radiance of human nature in a desperate situation."
"We can't let Him have His way!" Johnny growled, the spirit of vengeance within him howling madly.
"Of course not!" Lin Huai said decisively. "We must protect that Mother and son! Amon... He's just a brat with too much power and no discipline! When a brat makes a mistake, someone has to clean up after him and teach him a lesson!"
"So where are we going now? Do you know where that Mother and son are?" Banner asked.
"I don't know. But I can find a way to find out."
Just then, a rapid phone ringtone sounded.
It was Tony Stark's encrypted communication.
Lin Huai answered the phone, and Tony's anxious and angry voice came through immediately.
"Lin! Where are you? Something's happened! How did you suddenly disappear!"
"Tony, I'm fine, calm down." Lin Huai forced himself to be Calmness. "That wasn't me, just a substitute of mine. The situation is very complicated right now; I've run into big trouble on my end."
"Big trouble? Trouble bigger than a grown man vanishing into thin air?" Tony clearly didn't believe him.
"Yes." Lin Huai took a deep breath, knowing he had to give Tony a reason he couldn't refuse.
"Tony, listen, I need you to do me a favor. A very important favor."
"On your end, there's a pair of poor twins who are full of hatred for you, but I hope you can protect them well. I'll tell you why, but only after I've finished dealing with the situation here."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.
"Lin, are you sure you're not joking?" Tony's tone was full of doubt.
"I never make such jokes, Tony." Lin Huai's voice was incredibly serious. "Trust me, they are part of my plan. The gravity of this matter is far beyond what you or I can imagine. Protect them well, and I'll owe you a favor."
"...Fine." Tony finally relented. "Send me all the information you have. Jarvis will monitor the global network twenty-four hours a day. As long as they appear, I guarantee that even if Satan himself comes, he won't be able to take them from under my nose."
Hanging up, Lin Huai breathed a sigh of relief. Leaving the task of finding the Maximoff siblings to Tony was the most reliable choice at the moment.
"What do we do now?" Banner asked.
"We're going to find some clues." Lin Huai's gaze became sharp. "Amon's game is to see the spark of human nature, and He's using Mephisto as a pawn. I might not be able to find Amon, but I can find Mephisto's minions."
Lin Huai took out his tarot cards and began divining.
Lin Huai snapped his eyes open and slapped a card onto the map.
"Found them. They're in an abandoned factory."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Johnny was already impatient.
"No rush." Lin Huai shook his head. Just as he finished speaking, Banner's phone rang.
The call connected, and a familiar voice came through.
"Hello? Mr. Banner, I want to know what's going on. Don't leave yet."
It was Father Moreau.
"Father, hello, my name is Lin Huai." Lin Huai got straight to the point. "Weren't you looking for the traitor? The traitor has been found, and I can tell you the truth of the matter. Since you're making this call, it means you want to know. Come on, we're waiting for you in the car outside. A group of Mephisto's followers are stirring up trouble in an abandoned factory; you should be quite interested."
On the other end, Father Moreau's eyes instantly cleared. "Demon followers? Where? Wait for me, I'll be there right away!"
Hanging up, Lin Huai looked at the church outside the window.
Amon wants to watch a show?
Fine.
But who the director is and how the script is written—that's for me to decide.