"Is this… a psychological suggestion?"
Inside the Federal Hospital, many stared in disbelief at the startling changes occurring in Bucky. Through nothing more than carefully chosen phrases and controlled intonations, a person's mental state had been forcibly manipulated. It was glaringly obvious. This was no ordinary phenomenon; it was the result of psychological suggestion taken to an extreme, an insidious form of mind control.
Tetsuo looked utterly shaken, and panic subtly crept into his voice.
"This isn't just psychological cues," he said solemnly, "I'm afraid Bucky has endured horrifying torture in the past."
Jay nodded heavily in agreement.
"Psychological suggestion works through indirect induction," she explained, "It employs implicit, abstract methods rather than direct confrontation. It influences thoughts and behaviors, guiding a person to accept certain ideas or act in predefined ways, until their thoughts align with the manipulator's expectations."
She paused briefly, then added in a low, measured tone, "But most people don't react this violently."
Suddenly, Jay spoke again, "Pavlov's dog?"
Tetsuo nodded. Pavlov's dog was an iconic experiment designed to study conditioned responses in animals. Yet disturbingly, the same principle applied just as effectively to humans.
Tetsuo said slowly, "Bucky's behavior isn't solely the result of suggestion. What we're witnessing is an instinctive reaction, formed through a complex mix of forced psychological conditioning, historical trauma, operant conditioning, and relentless reinforcement."
"Those special phrases," he continued, "are like the key to opening Bucky's Pandora's box."
The astonishment on Tetsuo's face deepened.
"What troubles me most," he added, "is the stark contrast between Bucky's behavior before and after activation. During his training… he must have suffered immensely."
Jay frowned, her expression uncertain. "I suspect Hydra directly tampered with his memories at a neurological level."
Tetsuo nodded in agreement. "Most likely. The man who was thrown into the air by Wanda and then detonated, reports claimed, Bucky had been brainwashed using biotechnology."
He exhaled slowly, the weight of the realization settling over him. "Hydra's methods are terrifyingly advanced."
Every time they discussed such matters, it felt surreal. On today's Terra, even memory erasure technology was still in its infancy. Yet, in that era, it had already been thoroughly developed and applied with chilling effectiveness.
The directors behind them erupted into murmurs. Shock and disbelief painted every face.
At the High Council, the Councilors watched intently. As Bucky's transformation unfolded, flickering expressions of alarm and curiosity crossed their features.
Sith asked calmly, "What kind of technology is this? An ordinary man, controlled entirely by a few phrases, yet wielding such overwhelming power?"
Kennedy smiled faintly. "An impressive technique."
Gladwin narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.
Meanwhile, the live broadcast erupted into chaos.
"Controlled?!"
"This is unbelievable, what the hell?!"
"Who is that psychologist? How does he even know this stuff?!"
"Hypnosis? No way, that's insane!"
"So it's real? I always thought hypnosis was a myth!"
"Why didn't he just swing a pocket watch? He just said a few words, and the guy snapped!"
"Cover your ears, you idiot, don't listen!"
"Bucky was Hydra, so is this guy one of them too?"
"If Bucky can be controlled so easily, what if he goes on a rampage?"
"This man isn't just a psychologist; there's something deeply wrong with him!"
"My God… did he plan all of this?"
"Pure IQ suppression! Everyone's being played!"
Scenes from the past flickered onscreen.
[When the power outage was discovered, Carter immediately informed Rogers of the holding location. But by the time Rogers arrived, the guards were already unconscious. In the innermost room, the psychologist lay screaming, "Help me…"]
[Rogers seized him and slammed him against the wall.]
["Who are you?!" Rogers demanded furiously. "What are you trying to do?!"]
[The psychologist replied calmly, "I want to witness the fall of an empire."]
[Outside, Bucky suddenly appeared, effortlessly flinging Sam aside with one hand. Rogers noticed the disturbance and rushed in.]
[The two clashed in the dimly lit corridor. Under complete control, Bucky's combat skills had surged exponentially. Sonic booms cracked through the air with every punch, one blow shattering an iron wall.]
[Rogers grabbed Bucky's metal left arm with both hands, only for the steel door behind him to be ripped apart, tearing into the elevator shaft. Sirens blared throughout the base.]
[The commander barked into the radio, "Surround the building immediately! Deploy all helicopters, now!"]
[Black Widow and Tony raced outside. She whispered urgently, "Tell me you brought equipment."]
[Tony replied casually, "Of course. A three-piece suit."]
[Carter hurried over. "Come with me."]
[Inside the hall, Bucky was violently assaulting everyone in his path; nearly no one could stop him.]
[Tony advanced cautiously, tapping his watch. With a quick mechanical flip, a right-hand energy transmitter extended, forming a suit-mounted weapon, and a shockwave erupted. Bucky was instantly restrained. Tony charged forward and fired again, causing Bucky to drop to one knee, roaring in pain.]
[Just as Tony closed in, Bucky snapped up a pistol. Tony grabbed it with his suit-enhanced hand.]
[Bang! The shot rang out, but the protective shield absorbed the impact. Tony disassembled the weapon effortlessly and struck back. However, without full battle armor, his combat effectiveness was severely diminished, and he was struck in return.]
The live chat erupted once more.
"My God! Tony's watch is actually a suit?!"
"Even if it's just a suit glove, that's insane!"
"Tony's crazy, charging in without full armor!"
"That transformation was so smooth, totally different from before!"
"He's a tech mage! Why is he fighting in melee?!"
In Essen Heavy Industries Group, Astor and his team watched in stunned silence. Their shock far surpassed that of ordinary viewers. While laypeople marveled at the spectacle and experts grasped its implications, only they understood what this transformation truly signified.
Astor took a deep breath and asked with a trembling voice, "That material… could it be?"
His companion nodded, equally shaken. "Yes, President Astor. Nanotechnology."
A single unit of space, teeming with countless nanomaterials. The implications hit everyone at once. Nanomaterials alone were terrifying, but their deformation? That changed everything.
[The battle raged on. Carter and Black Widow rushed in together, but Bucky, still under control, couldn't fully unleash his strength. Even so, he easily subdued them. Suddenly, T'Challa burst from the shadows, his power overwhelming.]
[After a brief clash, he rolled away and vanished down the stairwell. Moments later, he reached the tarmac, where a helicopter was waiting. He jumped in and powered it up. The rotors spun to life, but at that instant, Captain Rogers charged forward.]
The next moment, nearly every viewer tuned into the broadcast leapt to their feet in shock.