"You're trying to stall me here?"
After struggling several times with no success, Adrian finally realized Steve's plan. If the police really arrived, even with full confidence in the armor he had created, escaping would be nearly impossible.
Because of LexCorp's rise, large numbers of criminals with advanced weapons and powers had already appeared in the world.
Vought, however, had only just been established a few months ago. That meant that for all the years before, it was the police, armed with their own advanced equipment, who had maintained order.
The scattered weapons and materials leaked from LexCorp had spawned countless high-tech criminals. These criminals spread across the globe, and as a result, nations had also become desperate to obtain the company's latest weaponry.
That was exactly why LexCorp had been able to grow at such a rapid pace in just a few years.
So, the police in this world were not incompetent. Their gear was just as advanced. Even Adrian, inside his high-tech suit, would find escape very difficult if surrounded.
"But you are still dreaming!"
Since he grasped Steve's intent, Adrian wasted no time.
His wings beat furiously, and with the boosters on them adding thrust, he launched into the sky, dragging Steve with him. In a split second, they crashed straight through the Pym Technologies building.
The impact was enough to make even the future Hulk flinch, but against Steve's elastic body, it had no effect.
He held on tight, refusing to let go. Even being carried into the air, his very presence was enough to keep the authorities tracking Adrian.
"Give it up, Adrian. I don't know why you've become like this, but surrender yourself. Accept the law's judgment. After that, I'll do everything I can to help you!"
While Steve tightened his hold, he also tried to reason with him. So far Adrian had only killed a Hydra mutant. He hadn't gone too far down a dark path. Steve did not want to give up on the first person he had encountered since waking up.
"Easy for you to say!"
But Adrian, now completely transformed into the Vulture, was not someone who could be swayed by a speech.
This was the world of Marvel, not a Japanese Shonen Jump manga, where a few heartfelt speeches could save a villain. Idealism existed here too, but words didn't hit harder than raw power.
"What I want is your life. Are you going to hand it over to me willingly?"
With that, Adrian kept ascending higher and higher.
"Your body may be flexible, and I haven't studied your ability in detail, but there's one thing I know. Your power won't save you now!"
Being a scientist, his knowledge was not much inferior to Tony's. Once he regained composure, he thought of a way to force Steve to release him.
"No... could it be?"
Steve also had plenty of knowledge, though outdated from decades of sleep. But he immediately realized what Adrian was about to do. The principle behind it was simple, not advanced at all.
"As altitude increases, the temperature drops. Regardless of how amazing your elastic body is, the slowing of atomic movement caused by the cold is inevitable!"
That was Adrian's plan. In 2008, Tony would later use the exact same method to defeat Obadiah's Iron Monger. But now, the freezing cold of high altitude would impact Steve far more severely than it would a mechanical suit.
As they climbed, a thin layer of frost started forming across his body. His movements stiffened, the elasticity that once gave him fluidity slowly fading away.
There was no stopping it. No matter how extraordinary his ability was, it could not defy the laws of physics.
Elasticity might grant one a strange path to endless wisdom beyond gods, but the ability itself was far from the level of a true deity who could ignore natural laws.
* * *
On the ground below, Winter Soldier felt a sharp pain tear through his mind as he watched the two figures spiraling upward in combat.
He didn't know why, but whenever Steve was in danger, his brain would flash with scattered images, leaving him unable to stay calm.
"Raaahhhh!"
At last, a bestial roar ripped from his throat. The sound drew the attention of the nearby Hydra operative who had been monitoring him.
"Winter Soldier! New orders! Fall back at once and rendezvous with the Helicarrier!"
The agent quickly reported the situation to his superior. The higher-up, aware of the risk of the assassin losing control, gave orders for retrieval.
The agent began reciting the activation codes used to control Winter Soldier while keeping a close eye on his condition. To be assigned to this task meant he was well aware that the brainwashing was not entirely stable. Otherwise, Hydra wouldn't have needed him observing from the shadows.
Word by word, the command sequence spilled from his mouth. With each one spoken, the assassin's eyes slowly closed, a sign that the programming was taking effect. After the full sequence was completed, he would fall completely unconscious, making recovery easy.
The Hydra agent relaxed a bit. From his experience, this was usually the point where the job was basically done. The next step would be nothing more than hauling the incapacitated Winter Soldier away.
But accidents often strike the moment one feels most secure.
Suddenly, instead of succumbing, the assassin's eyes snapped open. In a swift motion, he tore the laser pistol from the Hydra agent's waist and, with just his sight to guide him, locked onto the two figures at least a thousand meters above.
"What?!"
The agent's heart lurched. He stumbled back and frantically recited the last few trigger words.
But it was too late. Winter Soldier had already pulled the trigger.
A searing red beam lanced into the sky. Though the distance should have been well beyond visual range, the shot pursued its targets unerringly, cutting across the air toward the ascending pair.
The instant after firing, the assassin's body went slack. He collapsed, unconscious, and the laser gun slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.
"Haah!"
The Hydra operative wiped sweat from his brows, pulse still racing. That had nearly scared him to death. For a second, he thought Winter Soldier had truly broken free. Thankfully, the brainwashing hadn't failed.
"But that shot just now..."
He lifted his gaze to the sky.
"Impossible... there's no way. At that height, I can't even see them anymore."
Yet high above, locked in their aerial struggle, neither Steve nor Adrian had the slightest awareness that a faint beam of red light was closing in on them fast.
**
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