The morning routine was always the same for Alex—wake before the city roused, stretch his body with light exercise, and finish with a strong cup of coffee. It was a habit carried over from another life, a discipline that kept his mind sharp. Today, however, something was different.
The sun was already up, bathing the room in soft gold. Maya lay curled beside him, naked, her breathing slow, her hair a spill of auburn across the sheets. For a moment, Alex simply watched her, and an unfamiliar warmth pulled at his chest.
Noticing Maya's peaceful expression, Alex's thoughts drifted. Last night drained her more than she admitted. 'She really had no way of keeping up with my Super Soldier-level endurance.
He brushed a thumb gently across her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin. 'She may be the architect of Extremis, yet she's never used it on herself. In truth, neither have I. Maybe it's time I take that step—and persuade her to join as well. Richard has already accepted the procedure—why can't she?'
The terrace overlooked New York City, the morning air carrying the distant hum of traffic below. Maya sat across from him, coffee cradled in her hands, her eyes still heavy with exhaustion.
Alex placed two slender vials between them. The liquid within burned with an otherworldly glow. Maya's eyes flicked from the glowing vials back to Alex, confusion clouding her face. Alex spoke in a soft manner. "It's time that we go through the procedure—you and me both, Maya. It isn't about power. It's protection. Killian might be gone, but the threat is not over yet. There will be others that will lust after power. You'll be a target because of your mind."
Her brows drew together, doubt flickering. "Is it really necessary?"
Alex gave a steady nod. "More than necessary. It's the only way to make sure no one can ever use what you created against you again."
Her grip tightened around her cup. Fear flickered in her gaze. "And if it changes me? If I lose myself the way he did? What if I become… a monster?"
Alex reached across the table, covering her trembling hand with his own. "You perfected what he corrupted. No need to think of it as a weapon. It's more of a shield."
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the city below. Then, with a breath, Maya nodded. The choice was made. Together, they would cross that line.
---
A week later, the War Room inside the Triskelion glowed with projection screens, data pouring across them like rivers of light. Fury stood at the head of the table, his single eye sharp as Maria Hill finished her report.
"Sir," Hill began, her tone clipped yet steady. "After we began a targeted investigation into the Ten Rings, we uncovered their financial webs, smuggling lines, and safe houses across multiple continents. They are not a rundown terrorist group. It's an empire in the shadows. Political assassinations, oil market manipulations, corporate backers buried deep—nearly a century of operations was discovered. It's really frightening they managed to keep under the radar for so long."
She tapped a display. Maps bloomed across the wall, marked with glowing red nodes. "We believe their true origin lies in China, according to our oldest intelligence—perhaps in the western provinces. However, we couldn't dig up anything more than that."
Fury's fist slammed against the table, rattling coffee cups. "Track their money. Track their leaders. Tear down their cells. I don't care what it takes. Whoever's running this is dangerous—and I'll be damned if I let another Hydra grow under my nose."
The screens continued to flicker, nameless figures lost in static. A phantom organization, just beyond their reach.
---
At K.A.N.E. headquarters, the newly built training ground for the Phoenix operatives bore the scars of countless tests—scorched walls, burn marks etched into the reinforced floor, and shattered dummies lined in rows. The air itself smelled faintly of ozone and ash.
Alex stood at the center, his powers pulsating under his skin. A wave of fire erupted from his right hand, roaring across the chamber and consuming a training dummy in a blaze. He shifted seamlessly, arcs of lightning crackling from his palm and lashing against another target. The chamber lit up as if a storm had been caged within its walls. His veins glowed faintly beneath his skin, pulsing with fire and electricity as he tested the limits of his control.
The System's message he got immediately after he endured the procedure echoed sharply in his mind.
[Congratulations, Host. You have awakened a superpower through your own effort. Reward Granted—S-3 Enhancement integrated into the Phoenix Serum. Phoenix Serum Synchronization Complete. Ability Unlocked—Pyro-Electrokinesis]
It was the first time he had seen the S-3 tag appear in an enhancement. According to the System, S-1 represents the smallest of changes, while S-2 strengthens the original properties and removes any negative side effects. S-3, however, goes further—adding an entirely new property or diverting the current effect in another direction for the item or formula being upgraded. S-4 and S-5 reach beyond human limits and carry strict restrictions on where they can be applied.
He exhaled slowly, electricity dancing between his fingers.
"The new serum has its perks," she murmured, the fire reflecting in her eyes. "But yours... that is something else."
'Extremis sharpens the nerves, heightens the body, and grants control over heat and regeneration… but for me, it awakened something more with System's help. I can command the electricity running through my nerves. It's more than that. I feel like I could generate electricity like the arc reactor itself.'
"Well, most people showed subtle variations in how the serum affects them. I think because my body was already enhanced—and with my power—this outcome was inevitable," Alex explained, careful not to reveal the system.
The doors opened suddenly, and Elias entered with a file in hand. He walked directly toward Alex, giving Maya a respectful nod before focusing on him. "Sir, I thought you might want to hear this. While tracing the heavy weaponry from the Manhattan heist, we discovered something bigger. There's a crime syndicate behind the attack. After digging deeper, we found they're led by someone called Kingpin. He seems to be controlling the docks and unions and has half the cops in the city on his payroll."
He handed a file to Alex. "Our investigation led us into Hell's Kitchen, where most of Kingpin's operations appear to be based. There's also a vigilante stirring up trouble for him there."
Alex's gaze lingered on the file, the faint glow of electricity still crackling around his fingertips before fading into silence.
'The Devil of Hell's Kitchen.'
His lips curved into a thin smile. Pieces were already moving on the board, but with allies like this vigilante, the game could shift in his favor.
He closed the file with finality and looked at Elias. "Make contact with this vigilante. If he's everything they say he is… then it's time we bring the Devil into the fold. Send someone from Umbra. They are perfect for this job."
The training ground lights dimmed, leaving the scorched walls and shattered dummies as silent witnesses. A storm was gathering—fire, lightning, and devils all converging on New York.
And Alex was ready to stand at its center.
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