Sokovia
Baron Strucker, who had been targeted by the Avengers, was commanding a critical experiment. He wore a monocle, and his fortress was protected by an energy barrier using Chitauri technology that originally belonged to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s spoils of war. This had been Strucker's source of confidence.
Well, that was before the S.H.I.E.L.D. building was demolished.
Captain America and Black Widow, working together, had destroyed the S.H.I.E.L.D. building, supposedly the world's most secure facility. This made Strucker, who had once boasted that his fortress was the world's most secure, somewhat panicked.
These were the Avengers. Who knew if a Hulk might suddenly appear and pound him into meat paste? But to make him give up like this was still somewhat difficult to accept. Right now it was all about racing against time, having guards surround the fortress completely.
This HYDRA base had cost a fortune, far more powerful than other HYDRA installations, with more advanced weapons. Because this place controlled the most technology and housed an important experiment. And this experiment had reached a critical moment.
But it was now that the uninvited guests arrived.
"We are under attack. Everyone return to your posts; this is not a drill."
"I repeat, everyone return to your posts; we are under attack."
Steve took the lead, performing a shield-throwing stunt. The vibranium-forged shield could always fly out to strike enemies and return precisely to his hand.
Tony, wearing his Iron armor, quickly dealt with enemies after they reacted. Thor descended from the sky, hammer striking with devastating force. Natasha drove a jeep while Hawkeye Barton drew his bow and shot arrows, each one precisely hitting its target. Hulk charged wildly, grabbing an unlucky soldier to use as a hammer, taking out other troops in the snow.
People in the base quickly reacted, soldiers were dispatched to attack these powerful Avengers. Enhanced with Chitauri technology, those soldiers were far more difficult to deal with than ordinary troops.
Tony bypassed those enemies, preparing to strike at the heart. Approaching the fortress, he was blocked by the energy barrier, causing him to crash into it.
This made him curse, "Damn it."
"Language," Steve instinctively corrected.
As a national icon, Steve's correction of profanity had become a reflex.
Commanding this battle, Steve inquired about JARVIS's situation. JARVIS, taking over Veronica's satellite cameras, analyzed from space.
"The central building is protected by some kind of energy barrier. Strucker is using technology more advanced than other HYDRA bases."
This made Thor pleased rather than surprised. Heavy security meant a higher possibility that the Mind Scepter was here. After so long, finally finding it, Thor sighed, "Not easy."
Natasha, weaving through the hail of bullets, couldn't help but complain at the god's casual words, "More than not easy, buddy."
Their surprise attack had yielded no results. This base was more troublesome than others. Strucker was truly cunning.
They didn't know that while they were lamenting Strucker's treachery, the subject of their discussion was panicking.
"Can you hold them off?"
"They're the Avengers." Not just Strucker, even his soldiers were somewhat panicked.
To boost morale, Strucker immediately ordered the tank assault. An offensive could raise spirits while buying precious time. They desperately needed that time—the research had reached a critical juncture. If they could repel the Avengers, so much the better. If not, he would at least have time to purge the data and evacuate.
As he thought this, in the base, a man and woman who looked to be in their twenties stood ready. The man wore blue clothes; the woman wore red. They were twins and also Baron Strucker's bargaining chips and research subjects for this operation.
Wanda could see through to people's true thoughts. She could tell Strucker's inner desire to retreat. She also knew that among the Avengers outside, there was her and her brother's enemy.
Hatred flashed in Wanda's eyes. At her waist, a cute white bear was clinging like a sloth.
Pietro looked at his sister. Although he was the older brother, in many matters, he listened to his sister Wanda.
"We're going out," Wanda said.
Pietro didn't question it at all, embracing his sister and activating his super speed to disappear.
The battle here also affected Sokovia's city. Tony made a decisive decision, dispatching his Iron Legion. One by one, unmanned Iron Machines controlled by JARVIS flew toward the city for evacuation. However, the people here weren't very welcoming.
Tony had no time to care—they were still increasing their attack intensity. This caused Strucker to change strategy.
One moment he was shouting to the HYDRA agents that they would never surrender, the next second he was telling his confidant, "Delete all files, I'm going to surrender."
The speed of his face-changing made people marvel at his deep scheming. Even his confidant couldn't quite react.
"If the Avengers get those files, they'll quickly achieve what we're pursuing."
Strucker didn't doubt Tony Stark's brilliant mind at all. If it belonged to HYDRA, they should be counterattacking the world by now.
Hearing him say this, his confidant hesitated, "But the twins..."
Strucker gritted his teeth, "They're not fully prepared yet."
"No, no, I mean..." the confidant gestured for him to look, "Where are they?"
Where the twins had originally been, there was now no one. Strucker was also stunned. These were HYDRA's important research results, and they just disappeared like that?
Meanwhile, at the orphanage
John had finally emerged from his extended seclusion. This time he had stayed inside even longer than before.
Martha had dark circles under her eyes—her demanding thesis was making her suffer. Administrator Gerald also had to complete his studies and wasn't present.
John stood behind Martha, and she didn't notice at all. Until John knocked Martha on the head, making her lift her head from her laptop.
"Mr. Wick!" Martha was delighted.
Edward had been muttering to himself nearby. After hearing Martha speak, he also stopped and said with delight, "I knew that wasn't an illusion."
Hearing this, John smiled mysteriously, "Are you sure?"
Edward's smile froze. He wasn't sure anymore. Once bitten, twice shy. Edward could barely distinguish reality from illusion anymore.
The other two also came over, with Smedley saying happily, "Principal, I missed you so much."
John smiled slightly and casually picked up a nutcracker to throw over. After approaching within a meter of Smedley, the nutcracker flew up.
John said with satisfaction, "Excellent ability."
Smedley was embarrassed by the praise, blushing and lowering her head.
Bertram also couldn't wait to show his results. His fingers were wrapped with electric arcs, crackling with energy.
John wasn't stingy with praise either.
When it came to Edward, that troublemaker smiled provocatively. The snow had stopped, and the sky had cleared. He felt he was capable again.
Half an hour later, he was huddled in a corner, his face still showing undiminished terror. Smedley and Bertram comforted him. Being scared to tears by the principal wasn't anything shameful. Even so, their laughter never stopped.
Martha shivered. John raised an eyebrow, signaling her to demonstrate.
Martha had no choice but to step away from her computer, spreading her hands wide. Two blood blades materialized from her palms. John gripped one between his fingers and applied pressure; it held firm.
Compared to the blood blade quality from some time ago, there had been a significant leap in improvement. John nodded with satisfaction.
During this time, all four superpowered individuals had been developing their respective abilities. Martha hurriedly took out a blood-generating pill she had developed and swallowed it. This restored color to her somewhat pale lips.
John clapped his hands, signaling everyone to look over.
"I'm very pleased with your progress during this time, especially you, Smedley. You've developed your abilities remarkably well."
The named Smedley received praise from others.
"So I've decided to open the underground training ground for you to conduct simulation training."
John smiled, "As for your opponents, they'll be these guys."
He snapped his fingers. Humanoid targets walked out of the laboratory, bearing different level markings.
Everyone looked curiously at those targets, while Edward looked miserable. He was the only one with illusion abilities that had no attack function.
John had also made arrangements for him. The school possessed a specialized brain training room designed for individuals with illusion-based superpowers. To provide Edward with proper motivation, John had captured a Dementor from the manor to serve as Edward's final examination target.
Perhaps because of being superpowered, they could see Dementors that Muggles couldn't see. Just seeing that thing that looked like a torn rag made Edward physically uncomfortable.
John smiled innocently, making Edward want to cry but have no tears.