"Status...
[Name: August
Characteristics:
Strength - 11.2
Dexterity - 21.3
Stamina - 11.1
Perception - 209.5
Magic Power - 41
Available Characters:
Defstroke 100%.
Viper 100%
Red Skull (Spawn of the Millennium War) 15%
Skills:
Serpent regenerative healing factor level 2
Superhuman Reflexes Level 2
Superhuman Strength 1st level
Superhuman Dexterity Level 2
Superhuman Stamina Level 1
Snake Enhanced Immunity Level 4
Cold Weapon Proficiency Level 4
Firearms Proficiency Level 3
Explosives proficiency level 2
Hand-to-Hand Combat 3 level
Telepathic Resistance Level 2
Poison Creation Level 4
Polyglot
Advanced Thinking Skills Level 5
Mind of War
Cash: 23461]
"The perception index has passed two hundred units... - Augustus covered his eyes for a moment to concentrate. Opening his eyes, he was already looking at the world differently. Standing in the centre of the room, he was watching a fly that had accidentally flown into the kitchen. He could see its every movement clearly. The fly was too slow for him, his gaze could follow every flap of the fly's wings. - According to my rough calculations, I can slow down time around me about twenty times.
After a dozen seconds, August's head began to hurt badly. He interrupted his concentration and felt a renewed moisture in his eyes. Touching the wet spot with his hand, he saw a trace of blood on his hand.
During his brief but maximum concentration, blood ran from his eyes. Perception strained his entire body. August's untrained body couldn't handle the pressure of such a huge perception. He needed to increase his other characteristics to be able to withstand the pressure from the huge perception index.
"The magic power had increased to forty-one units. There was no use in increasing this characteristic. No matter how much I improve it, I don't know how to use magic. To go to the closed temples for apprenticeship or to ask to be an apprentice to some magician - no, I'd rather kill. I'll spend too much time there, and as such there'll be no output.
August went to the bathroom. He needed to clean himself up. His haggard and bloodstained face had already frightened the food delivery girls. He had to make himself look human.
As he entered the bathroom, he noticed a significant change. His other eye had changed and was as yellow as the first. Maybe it wasn't just his smeared face that scared the delivery girls after all. To see a man with snake eyes... Considering how many super freaks there are in New York. Anyway, the girls held their own and fully deserved their big tips.
Switching on the hot shower, August removed the ruined clothes from his body and threw them on the floor. The blood made the underwear very difficult to wash. It was easier to throw them away and buy new clothes.
After undressing, he stepped into the shower stall. The warm water hit his body in small drops. For a moment August's eyes unfocused and a vision came to him. It was as if a memory from the past.
He was standing in front of the mutilated corpse of Captain America. The sky was covered with clouds, pouring down a torrential, chilling rain. There was an emptiness inside Augustus. His feet were ankle-deep in mud, muddy water seeping through his leather boots.
"There you are dead Rogers. If it had been twenty years ago, I would have been thrilled," Augustus was a mute spectator. The words came out of his lips. - But now you're more like a coward who ran away from the big war and had to save the people of this town? I never understood you. You always put the lives of the minority before the lives of the majority. Is that the meaning of heroism? Then I despise heroes.
An ugly creature's head rose from under the hill. It looked like a rat and a dog. When it saw August, it squeaked loudly. The mutant's squeak was followed by a wild howl. Thousands of mangled, twisted creatures began to emerge from the darkness. Their eyes glowed red, eager to tear August to pieces.
"Did you feel me? You think you can do to me what you did to Rogers? Try..." Augustus leaned over Captain America's body, casting one last glance at him, he picked up the red and white shield from his body. In the reflection of the shield, the mercenary saw his face for the first time. A deformed, reddened face with a missing nose. More like a skull, over which flaps of muscle had been crudely stretched. A bloodthirsty grin played on the lips of the ugly face.
With a jerky movement of his head, Augustus "woke up." In the reflection of the shower stall his own stunned face was staring back at him.
"What was that just now? Don't tell me this started because of a new character. This never happened before.
August finished showering, wrapped himself in a towel, and walked out into the living room. Sitting down on the couch, he began searching the system for answers to the recent vision. The search yielded no results. No specific answers he found. The unknown began to frighten him.
With gloomy thoughts, he went to bed. Tired from fighting for life while taking the ability, his body demanded rest. Tomorrow he needed to meet with Norma about work. She would assign him a front for future work.
The night had gone well. In the morning, having brewed himself a cup of coffee, August travelled to the house of the Osborne family in the car given by Fisk. The events of yesterday no longer weighed so heavily on him, and today he was going to devote himself entirely to his work.
It was eight fifteen o'clock, and he drove up to the gate of the Osborne mansion. The gate was opened by a servant, he parked his car and went to the entrance of the mansion. He already knew the way perfectly well, he didn't need the help of the maids.
After ringing the doorbell a couple of times, the door was opened for him by Hera. A happy smile played on the girl's face. She came close to the mercenary and hugged him gently. Of course Augustus was taken aback by such a greeting, but he did not push the younger Ozborn away. Apparently she knew she would, so she decided to seize the opportunity.
"Where's your mother?
"She left for work early this morning," Hera answered disappointedly, apparently expecting a different question from August. - My classes at the university start in ten minutes. Could you drive me to them?
The cute expression on her face and sweet voice didn't work on Augustus. Turning away from Hera, he dialled Norma's phone number. This attitude from the man he loved made the girl angry, but she said nothing. Leaning back against the wall of the mansion, Hera watched August talking on the phone with a complicated expression.
"So, what did my mum say? - With a curve of her lips, the girl peeled away from the wall.
"Come on, I'll take you to the university.
A satisfied smile blossomed on Hera's face. She picked up her expensive branded bag and followed August to his car. Today she knew that the mercenary would visit their house, so she dressed up nicely and even put on make-up beforehand. She wanted to create an impression of herself, but apparently it didn't work. It was a waste of time. Well, the main thing is that she can stand out in front of her friends and other girls at uni, having arrived in an expensive car together with a handsome guy.
As the couple sat down in the expensive sports car, Hera had a question. Where did August get such an expensive car? The girl spent a lot of time in the circle of rich people and had notions about expensive things. According to her rough estimate, August's car was valued at a million dollars. Of course, an even bigger question for Hera was the man's eyes. Glowing gold vertical pupils. They looked more like snake eyes than human eyes. Not to say that they looked ugly, on the contrary, in Hera's opinion August's new eyes gave him even more charm and exoticism. They made him look even more attractive, they were his highlight that made him stand out from the rest.
"Gwen, keep Petra near the entrance. I'll be right there," Hera's phone rang outside the university. It was Gwen. She, Petra and Hera were in the same group and always met each other at the entrance to the university to go to classes together. Hera used to always wait for them, as she was always the first to arrive by car. Petra and Gwen travelled by public buses and were often late for classes because of traffic jams.
A Bugatti Veyron pulled into the student car park, slowly making its way through the car park, looking for a place to stand, it unknowingly attracted stares. Students and teachers stared at the car, wondering who it could belong to.
Petra and Gwen couldn't help but notice the Bugatti pulling onto the campus. They, as well as all the unwilling spectators, were also curious about the owner of the car. They didn't know the real value of the sports car, but just by its appearance they realised that it was definitely worth a lot of money.
Finally finding a spot, the Bugatti parked. The passenger door opened first, and a young make-up girl with black hair, wearing branded clothes and carrying an equally branded bag stepped out. Some teachers and students recognised her, and were not surprised in principle. They knew that the Osborne family was wealthy. They were more shocked when the driver's door opened and a dazzling platinum blond man in a tight-fitting tee suit stepped out. His emotionless, haughty face and impassive gaze had instantly enamoured half the university. Some of them had recognised August thanks to the recent news and the news of his appearance at the university with Osborne had spread quickly.
"I think you can take it from here.
"No, my mum should have told you we have an open class at the university today. You have to be there," Hera said with a sweet smile, looking lovingly into August's eyes.
"So you and she had a prior agreement. I should have expected something like that," the mercenary grumbled. He had no interest in babysitting Hera, but apparently now while he was working for Norma, he would be temporarily acting as her daughter's babysitter. That's smart. The elder Osborne is still reeling from the August terrorist attack. So she's decided to leave her daughter's protection to someone she trusts.
"Hey, major, we're here! - Gwen shouted across the street, drawing attention to herself. Hera's eyebrows furrowed and she turned with a flushed face towards her approaching friends.
"Shut up stupid Stacey," Hera stomped her foot in anger. How dare this upstart embarrass her in front of her lover!
"Oh-oh, we're all puffed up. Do you think Petra, is it because of August Hera so sulking? - Innocently covering her face, loudly asked her friend Gwen.
"N-don't know, - Parker replied embarrassed, seeing that she was all the attention.
"It's definitely because of that! - Gwen pointed her finger in Hera's direction, which finally pissed her off.
"Apparently, you have not been beaten on your empty head for a long time. Nothing, now I'll give you a preventive session! - Hera shouted bloodthirstily and threw her bag at Gwen. The blonde calmly dodged the thrown projectile and started running away from her black-haired friend under the cheerful laughter.
Augustus and Petra became unwitting spectators of Osborne's punitive operation. She really couldn't catch Stacy. The little girl was too fast and agile. She even kept throwing taunts at Hera during the chase, which pissed her off even more.
Watching Gwen scurrying around the car park, Augustus noticed for himself the girl's phenomenal agility. News of the new superheroine had already travelled all over New York. Spider-Girl in a snow-white costume. The mercenary didn't have to guess who the girl under the spider mask was. Gwen Stacy was still just beginning her career as a hero, she had a few small thefts to her credit. She became popular not because of her heroic deeds, but because of her unusual way of travelling around the city. When a girl in a white suit passes over you between buildings, you are bound to wonder who she is.
"Aye-aye, you're going to break my arm Hera, stop it, I give up, I give up, time out! - Gwen finally decided to give in to her already angry friend. I guess that was a mistake for Spider-Girl.
"Hera, Gwen, we're already late! - Petra ran to separate her friends. Watching the two girls struggling on the grass, August couldn't help but cover his face. Hera and Gwen were now somewhere around nineteen years old, still young and full of energy. Considering that the concept of the stronger sex in this world had been changed, such behaviour was quite normal for young girls.
Satisfied with her accomplished revenge, a slightly dishevelled Hera approached Augustus. He suddenly reached his hand to her cheek and gently brushed the dirt from her face.
"Clean yourself up first," the mercenary pointed at the girl's wrinkled clothes. Hera blushed a little, but did as he said.
"And me, me, will you get the dirt off my face? - Like a schoolgirl Gwen raised her hand, the other pointing at the smear of dirt she had just made.
"'Stacey, get lost,' Hera hissed caustically.
That was the end of the scuffle between Osborne and Stacey. They went to their first pair of classes. They were already twenty minutes late. When they entered the classroom, the eyes of everyone in the room were on them. The female professor was about to shout at the perpetually late trio, but noticed an addition to their usual company.
"And who are you? - The woman asked sternly, thinking August to be a student.
"I came to the open class with Hera Osborn," August answered.
"Are you her brother?
"You could say that.
"Then I'd like you to stay after class, I'll need to talk to you, but in the meantime, take a seat in the back rows with the other parents.
"What side are you playing on anyway? - August whispered to Gwen.
"The side of justice.
Mercenary spent the day at uni with the trio. It turns out that the girls have already earned themselves the status of local bullies here. A special thanks to Hera for getting this status, it was mainly thanks to her work that the group had acquired such a bad status.Taking the younger Osborne back home, August called the older one, where he spoke in detail about all the remarks of the teachers and about Hera's general behaviour at the university. Norma was a little upset by what she heard, but said nothing specific. She loved her daughter too much to do anything about it.
The next day August went again to the Osborne house. This time Norma was going to introduce him to the rest of the hired mercenaries and basically tell him about the job in detail. The hallucination that had happened in the shower room was forgotten by the mercenary as a terrible dream. August did not find any answers on how to get rid of possible next attacks, so he decided to forget about it in order not to make himself nervous.
"What kind of homosexual are you? - August was greeted by an unknown male voice when he entered the Ozcorp locker room to change into a yellow chemical defence suit. A mandatory rule enforced by the Ozcorp lab to prevent employees from being infected with dangerous viruses.
"Who the hell are you? - August immediately found common ground with the stranger.
"Yes, I'm a freak," the disfigured man nodded, pulling on a yellow suit. - My name is Deadpool, just Poole to my friends.
"August, just August," the mercenary extended his hand for a handshake. The disfigured man shook it calmly. - Are you here under contract, too, Osborne?
"Yeah," Deadpool waved his hand, putting on his Hazmat. - Look, I'm kidding, but are you really not queer? I just need to see if I can relax my arse on this assignment or if I'm going to have to keep it tense all the time.
***
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