◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon of which 10 Chapters are free. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
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"Sam!!" Steve wanted to rush to the rescue, but Winter Soldier's assault came like a storm, leaving him no opening.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!!!"
Worse, dense footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
Squads of fully armed HYDRA commandos poured out; muzzles spat tongues of fire, and a hail of bullets pinned the trio in a dead-end alcove.
"We're done for!" Natasha yelled back while returning fire.
"Captain! Where the hell is your boss?!"
"On his way!" Steve raised his shield, blocking wave after wave of bullets.
HYDRA soldiers pressed forward, tightening the ring.
"Fine…" Natasha slapped in her last mag, glanced at the still-composed Steve beside her.
"Captain, since we're counting breaths, how about you tell me you can do magic—give me some hope."
Steve glanced at the comm on his wrist.
Its red light blinked urgently.
He lifted his head, looked at the encroaching Winter Soldiers and HYDRA troopers, and said calmly,
"I don't do magic, Natasha."
"But I do have…a glory-hog boss."
The instant the words left his mouth—
"Screeech—"
A shrill, high-frequency noise pierced the wall.
It was the sound of Heat Vision slicing concrete.
Next—
"BOOM————————!!!"
The one-meter-thick reinforced wall beside them exploded inward from outside!
Rubble flew; dust rolled.
Every gun fell silent in that instant.
HYDRA soldiers spun in horror toward the gaping hole.
Dazzling sunlight poured through, lighting the gloom.
In that blaze…
a figure hovered mid-air.
Red-and-blue suit, golden pompadour, star-spangled cape billowing.
Hands on hips, backlit, a smile three parts arrogance, seven parts showmanship.
Homelander.
Beside him, Jessica Jones held a follow-through punch—clearly the breach was her handiwork.
"I hate dark holes like this."
"Yahoo—!"
Pietro became a silver lightning bolt, burst in, ignored his HYDRA coworkers, and in a heartbeat stripped the rifles from a dozen front-row soldiers.
In the blink of an eye he was back, twirling a sub-machine gun.
"Barbecue time!"
A mass of flame followed; Angela descended like a fire goddess.
The Seven (minus a certain red-clad perv) had clocked in.
And behind them, beyond the huge hole,
countless SWAT officers poured in.
Behind the SWAT teams… dozens of news vans bristling with lenses.
Choppers hovered outside, cameras trained on the breach.
Logos of every major network blazoned on their flanks.
FOX, CNN, BBC… Fully kitted SWAT officers shouted for the cameras, "Federal Police! Drop your weapons! Hands where I can see 'em!"
"This…" Natasha's lip twitched at the spectacle.
"My God…" Sam was dumbstruck. "Are we fighting a war or walking a red carpet?"
"That's Vought," Steve exhaled. "Whatever they do, they do it with style."
Anthony descended slowly, never sparing the stunned HYDRA troops a glance, and addressed the cameras in his rich baritone:
"No matter how deep the darkness hides!"
"No matter how wildly evil laughs!"
"When the World needs heroes—"
With a sweeping gesture, The Seven—faces resigned—struck their pre-rehearsed heroic poses.
"—The Seven answer the call!!!"
"Snap-snap-snap—!!"
Camera flashes strobed non-stop.
HYDRA soldiers stared slack-jawed.
Are we fighting a war or shooting a damn movie?
Having delivered his line, Anthony turned toward the three Siberian Super-Soldiers and the HYDRA rabble.
The smile stayed, but twin crimson death-lights ignited in his eyes.
"What're you waiting for?! Cleanup on aisle none!"
At his word, The Seven pounced like tigers.
The force that had pinned Steve seconds ago had zero chance to fight back.
It was outright slaughter.
Anthony didn't even lift a finger.
He just looked pretty, beamed for the cameras, did play-by-play.
"Look! Quicksilver—his speed is pure art!"
"Oh! That punch from Jewel—packed with girl power!"
Less than two minutes.
No enemy remained standing.
Except… three cheetah-like figures sprinting for the hydro-plant's rear exit.
"Running?"
A chill crept into Anthony's eyes.
This was live across America; if the bad guys escaped, where would The Seven park their face?
Anthony's eyes blazed crimson.
"Screeech—!!!"
Two high-energy Heat Visions slashed the air.
No suspense whatsoever.
The two fleeing Siberian Super-Soldiers' heads burst like rotten watermelons.
"Pop! Pop!"
Headless corpses kept running two steps on momentum, then crashed down.
"Perfect." Anthony nodded, applauding himself.
"Now that's a decapitation strike."
His gaze locked on the last man.
The one with the metal left arm.
"One left…"
Red light gathered again in Anthony's eyes, aimed at the back of Bucky's skull.
"Wait!!"
Steve Rogers vaulted forward, blocking Anthony's line of sight.
The crimson faded from Anthony's eyes. He landed slowly in front of Steve, smiling that half-smile.
"What's up, Captain?" He pointed at the fleeing silhouette.
"…Don't tell me that's your 'cheating wife'?"
"Ahem!" Natasha nearly choked on her own spit.
What kind of lewd remark is that?!
"Anthony… cut it out," Steve sighed, voice low.
"That's Bucky… my brother."
"Oh~~~"
Anthony stretched the syllable, wearing an I-get-it, lips-sealed grin.
"Alright, since it's your 'family business', I'll butt out."
"Go get him; don't let your Juliet run."
Steve didn't bother correcting Anthony's nonsense.
"Thanks!"
He scooped up his shield and sprinted after Bucky.
The instant Captain turned, a crisp system chime rang out!
"Ding!"
"System detects intense character bond!"
"Characters: Steve Rogers (Captain America) & James Barnes (Winter Soldier)"
"Hidden combo-ability unlocked—[Captain & Winter Soldier]!"
"Effect: When both are in host's faction and appear together in any public action or media exposure, host immediately claims 30% of their combined popularity as bonus dividends!"
"Ding! Team module upgraded!"
"New team formation unlocked—[Howling Commandos]!"
"Current team size: 1/5."
"Core bound members: Captain America, Winter Soldier (missing). (Ability invalid if either is absent)"
"Team effect: While any Howling Commando member is within 3,000 m of host, host gains 'Tactical Intuition', 'Super Will', and full-attribute boost!"
"Boost rate: 40% per member, cap 200%!"