Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Bold Declaration of War

Hearing this, Luke, whose temperament was utterly at odds with his fierce appearance, frowned slightly. “So what do we do? Do we need to go find some masks or something now?”

“No need, everything has already been prepared for you,” Gu Zhongyan replied with a mysterious smile. He then raised his wand, aiming it forcefully at the colossal dragon bones atop the Statue of Liberty.

“Shape and Armor!”

A beam of white light descended. Four powerful dragon claws detached from the dragon skeleton, melting and transforming in midair, then whooshed down onto Jessica, Luke, the Old Stick Master, and Gu Zhongyan himself.

In the next instant, as if a masquerade ball had just begun, Jessica’s stylish black jacket transformed into a white bodysuit trimmed with blue. The delicate fabric accentuated every curve of her figure. Across her face, a mask matching the suit in color concealed her upper features, adding a unique allure.

At the very least, the two men present who could see her both found their eyes lighting up at Jessica’s transformation.

Jessica herself was astonished, gazing at her completely changed attire with admiration. “This is incredible! So fairy godmothers from fairy tales really do exist!”

Gu Zhongyan was nonplussed by her remark and retorted curtly, “Fairy godmother? What nonsense. This isn’t some costume spell. Don’t be fooled by the light material—at its core, this suit is forged from dragon bone and possesses formidable defensive power.”

Shape and Armor was a spell Gu Zhongyan had derived from Transfiguration in his previous life, using magical materials to craft ordinary clothing with extraordinary properties. It looked no different from normal fabric, but retained all the characteristics of magical matter, making it far more challenging than simple transformation magic.

Thanks to this skill, Gu Zhongyan had been able to traverse forbidden zones haunted by magical creatures in his former life.

Besides Jessica’s bodysuit, uniforms also appeared on Luke, the Old Stick Master, and Gu Zhongyan himself.

Luke was now clad in a set of yellow armor. Its metallic sheen made his already burly frame even more imposing. With a sturdy helmet atop his head, his height of six feet six now seemed to surpass six feet seven. Standing next to Jessica, he looked like a yellow giant.

These were, for the most part, adaptations or replicas of their classic comic book costumes.

As for the Old Stick Master, since his comic counterpart lacked a distinctive uniform, Gu Zhongyan fashioned him an outfit inspired by his staff and mastery of martial arts—a fisherman’s ensemble. Wearing a straw raincoat and a conical hat, and holding a cane resembling a fishing rod, he truly evoked the image of a reclusive master from a martial arts novel.

Gu Zhongyan himself wore a much simpler uniform: a tawny wizard’s cloak that shrouded him from head to toe, concealing any detail that could reveal his identity.

Apart from a sense of mystery, there was almost nothing else to discern.

Once they had all changed, Gu Zhongyan swung his wand once more.

“Armor of Protection!”

“Universal Shield!”

Two defensive spells fell upon the five of them. First, a flash of light swept over their bodies, then an invisible barrier shimmered into existence around each individual before vanishing from sight.

Curious, Jessica tapped Luke on the side. Her fist stopped three inches short of his body, as if striking an invisible wall.

Gu Zhongyan explained, “Both are defensive spells. Armor of Protection increases the defensive strength of your suits, preventing bullets or blades from penetrating your bodies. Universal Shield creates a protective barrier that absorbs impacts. Together, these spells offer you maximum safety.”

“But remember, no magic is infallible. Don’t get reckless just because you’re protected. If you need to dodge, then dodge. Understood?”

“How strong are these spells, exactly?” Matt asked.

Gu Zhongyan considered for a moment. “Universal Shield can probably withstand about ten attacks, each under two thousand kilograms of force. If it’s hit with more than four thousand kilograms at once, it’ll shatter completely. Armor of Protection should stop about twenty rounds of ordinary gunfire.”

“These are rough estimates; I can’t guarantee specifics. So, as I said, try not to let yourselves get hit during battle. Any other questions? If not, it’s time to draw out the Hand.”

“Alright, let’s begin!” The group took a deep breath and nodded.

Seeing this, Gu Zhongyan once again used Apparition, emerging at the very top of the Statue of Liberty.

He glanced at Su Yan, whose face was tense with seriousness, then raised his wand and cast an Impenetrable Shield to protect her.

Afterward, he pointed his wand at his own throat and invoked Sonorus.

“Scum of the Hand! Didn’t you want the dragon bones? I’m right here on Liberty Island. If you’re not afraid to die, then come and get me!”

His thunderous voice echoed through the skies, exploding over Manhattan like a summer storm.

Immediately after, he flicked his wand, and a dazzling burst of light erupted overhead, forming a massive dragon bone firework. Like the Dark Mark of the Death Eaters, it hung high in the sky, brazenly declaring his presence.

The deafening proclamation and the vivid, lingering image were a declaration of war so bold that they instantly drew the world’s attention.

Whether it was S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra’s underground networks, or the mainstream media, all at once, their cameras turned toward Liberty Island.

The furious leaders of the Hand, upon hearing that familiar voice, were instantly enraged. Ninjas began to converge en masse, swarming toward Liberty Island like a plague of locusts.

At the same moment, on the streets of New York, a filthy, shabbily dressed vagrant paused when he heard Gu Zhongyan’s challenge, abruptly turning his gaze toward the island.

“The Hand?”

The man murmured, as if remembering something, then set off running toward Liberty Island.

His agile form darted swiftly through the crowd, moving so fast that he drew cries of astonishment.

From all directions, parties converged. Thanks to its aerial advantage, CBS’s news helicopter was the first to reach Liberty Island.

Through the broadcast, viewers saw the enormous dragon bones sprawled atop the Statue of Liberty, and the whole world gasped in shock.

Clearly, the corpse of such a supernatural creature had shaken the world’s century-old, science-driven view of reality.

On screen, a figure shrouded in a wizard’s cloak stood atop the dragon bones, robes billowing in the fierce wind.

Facing him, from near to far, surged the advancing army of the Hand.

A wizard on the dragon bones, ninjas on the shore—the stark contrast left everyone who witnessed the scene with only one thought:

A great battle was about to erupt!