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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
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In the east wing of the ancient castle in Sokovia.
The gunfire here has thinned, leaving only the occasional crackle of short‑circuiting electricity.
Clint Barton dropped from a ventilation shaft, landing silently.
The composite bow in his hands was half‑drawn, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
Ahead was a secret corridor leading to the helipad. Several HYDRA soldiers were pushing a silver metal crate, panicked as they fled the corridor.
The crate bore a conspicuous radiation warning, but the pale‑blue energy glow leaking through the seams betrayed its contents— the Mind Stone.
"Got you."
Barton narrowed his eyes and released his fingers.
"Swoosh—!"
A bursting arrow sliced the air, embedding itself precisely at the lead soldier's foot.
"Boom!"
The Impact wave flung several men to the ground, and the metal crate crashed heavily, sliding to the middle of the corridor.
The remaining soldiers tried to raise their guns, but Barton had already slipped out of the shadows, moving with fluid grace.
Nocking, drawing, shooting— three motions in one seamless flow. The three soldiers didn't even see their attacker before they were nailed to the wall.
"Done."
Barton pressed his earpiece, "Natasha, Tony, I've got the scepter. Evacuating now."
He hurried toward the crate and grasped its handle.
"If I were you, I wouldn't touch that thing, mortal."
A lazy, oddly magnetic female voice suddenly echoed through the empty corridor.
Barton's muscles tensed instantly; he spun, pulled the bowstring taut, and aimed the arrow at the source of the voice.
From the shadows of the corridor, a woman stepped forward slowly.
She wore modern leather, yet the attire exuded a classical elegance.
Her reddish‑brown hair fell loosely, and her eyes resembled bottomless lakes.
Lorelei.
"Don't move," Barton warned, "I don't shoot women, but HYDRA is an exception."
"HYDRA?" Lorelei chuckled, a sound like a feather brushing Barton's heart.
"I am Lorelei. When your ancestors were still picking fruit from trees, I had already conquered the World."
"Stop!" Barton felt something off. His heart raced, his palms sweated around the bow—not from fear, but from an inexplicable agitation.
"Look at me, archer."
Lorelei stopped five meters in front of Barton. She wielded no weapon, merely lifting her chin slightly, her gaze shimmering with intoxicating light.
"You look tired."
Her voice slipped into Barton's ear, bypassing his rational defenses, caressing his weary soul directly.
"Put it down."
Lorelei extended her hand, her fingertips giving a gentle flick.
"You don't need to bear these. Come with me, and I'll give you… everything a man should have."
"Glory, wealth, and… love."
Barton's eyes flickered, his pupils contracting, then completely dimming.
He lowered his composite bow, looking at the goddess before him like a devout follower.
"Yes… my lady."
He turned, lifted the crate containing the Mind Stone, and obediently walked to Lorelei's side, like the most loyal guard.
"That's right."
Lorelei gently stroked Barton's cheek, then turned and walked deeper into the darkness.
"Come, my warrior."
...Sokovia, central city square.
"Rumble—!!"
A bus packed with passengers was lifted by a massive green hand, flipping in the air twice, about to crash into a nearby café.
"Watch out!!"
A flash of silver appeared.
Pietro Maximoff rushed in at the last second.
In a blur, he first scooped the café's patrons out one by one, placing them on the opposite side of the street.
Then he charged onto the descending bus.
Time seemed to stand still.
He saw the terrified passengers inside, the shards of glass floating in mid‑air.
"Don't vomit on me, buddy."
Pietro grabbed a screaming elderly lady and pulled her from her seat.
One trip, two trips, three trips.
When the bus finally crashed with a "boom" into a heap of scrap metal, it was empty inside.
"Huff… huff…"
Pietro's stamina was depleted, sweat soaking his silver suit.
The high‑intensity, continuous rescue left his lungs feeling like they were on fire, sustained only by sheer willpower.
"I'm a hero… I'm a hero…" Pietro muttered to himself while running, "For that sea‑view apartment… for that damned sea‑view apartment…"
"Awo—!!"
Hulk's roar echoed from afar.
Pietro looked up.
The green monster was riding a piece of Anti-Hulk Armor, fists pounding like a pile driver.
"Hulk! Hate! Tin Man!!"
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Each punch dented the heavy titanium alloy armor, sparks flying, hydraulic oil spraying wildly.
"Damn! Banner, you should learn how to generate electricity with anger! You could save on the electric bill!"
Tony Stark's Mark 44 Armor, though massive, was also riddled with sparks under the brute force, its chest plate severely dented.
"Jarvis! Spare parts! Quickly!" Tony shouted inside his helmet.
"Sir, the transport pod was intercepted by the crane Hulk just threw; the spare left arm will arrive in one minute."
"Dammit!"
"Boom!"
Tony's chest‑mounted pulse beam fired at close range, blasting Hulk away.
Hulk crashed into a department store, instantly turning it into ruins.
Beside the wreckage.
Wanda watched, her face pale.
She saw the crying children, the destroyed homes.
"This… is my fault…"
Wanda's hands trembled. It was her magic that had scrambled the monster's mind, causing the disaster.
"I shouldn't… shouldn't have done that!" She looked up at the raging green figure. Guilt transformed into resolve.
She must atone.
"I can stop him…"
Wanda inhaled deeply, crimson light blooming in her palms as she tried to soothe the Beast.
"Calm… calm down…"
Red mist swirled like ribbons toward Hulk, coiling around his head.
Hulk, just risen from the rubble, paused.
He felt something drilling inside his brain.
Like countless ants crawling, or someone forcibly flipping through his most unwanted memories.
Abomination, General Ross, Prisoner's Cage, and Cursed Warrior.
"No…!!"
Hulk's anguished howl.
Wanda's Red Magic, instead of calming the frenzied Hulk, was like pouring cold water into boiling oil.
"Hulk… Hate… Witch!!"
Hulk spun sharply.
His blood‑shot eyes locked onto Wanda not far away.
"Awo—!!!"
A deafening roar.
Hulk tossed the big iron man aside, legs powering, the ground cracking instantly.
Like a green cannonball, he barreled straight at Wanda!