The air carried a foul, rancid stench—not detectable by ordinary senses, but the sort left by spiritual energy.
This was commonly referred to as Yin Qi, ghost energy, or something similar—a deeper, metaphysical scent beyond mortal perception.
Psylocke could sense it due to her powerful telepathy. While her abilities were slightly different from Professor X in scope, she was fully capable of perceiving this spiritual residue.
Natasha Romanoff and Bucky could sense it as well, not through psychic power, but because their life levels were sufficiently high. Their strength extended beyond the physical—into spirit, conviction, and heightened senses.
The three exchanged glances. Psylocke silently nodded, positioning herself at the lounge doorway at ten o'clock, tracing the scent carefully to locate its source.
The lounge was relatively large but sparsely furnished: a few beds, stools, tables, and a hanging TV. Four college students remained inside, but all looked weak and pale, leaning against one another on the sofas.
Initially frightened by Natasha and the others, the students' fear vanished when they saw Tony Stark in MK armor. Excitedly, they called out:
"Are you the Avengers?!""Valkyrie! Hawkeye! Winter Soldier! Psylocke! Hulk! Ghost! Iron Man!!"
The children used the nicknames popular online. Natasha and Bucky didn't care much for these titles. Natasha's moniker, Valkyrie, came from her exhilarating combat style: a blend of skill, speed, and ferocity that left observers awestruck. Bucky's "Winter Soldier" nickname was a coincidence—originally assigned during his HYDRA days, it now referred more to his aloof aura than to his past.
The students' excitement grew. Two girls threw themselves into Natasha's and Bucky's arms, seeking comfort. Bucky, a master of subtle gestures, comforted one gently, showing warmth despite his stoic exterior.
The remaining two male students, envious, quickly shifted attention to Psylocke. Noticing their gaze, she raised an eyebrow, drew her katana, and casually sliced a flying insect in half. The display startled the boys, forcing them to redirect their eyes to Tony Stark, whose armor gleamed impressively. Tony, ever flamboyant, struck a pose that made the boys' admiration almost comical.
After some comforting and settling down, the Avengers had a clear understanding of the students' situation. They exited the lounge and met briefly with the police chief and deputy, who tactfully excused themselves. The Avengers then gathered at the outskirts of the police station. Psylocke pointed in a direction with her katana.
"That way," she said.
Natasha, already familiar with the town's layout, immediately identified the location.
"Crystal Lake Camp," she confirmed.
"Then let's go."
The team boarded SUVs arranged by agents, while Tony flew ahead. The campground, a few kilometers outside town in a scenic mountain range, was empty. Agents had dispersed everyone. Only the lake remained, calm and reflective, with pine and cypress trees mirrored in its waters.
Psylocke nodded. "Here. The spiritual energy is strong."
"Stark?" Natasha queried softly. Tony responded through his earpiece: "J.A.R.V.I.S has scanned holographically. No anomalies detected. Be careful—this opponent is unusual."
The lake's surface suddenly churned violently, the calm water boiling under an invisible force. Natasha and Bucky immediately vanished from sight, moving with astonishing speed. Psylocke and the others had yet to react when a terrifying roar reached their ears.
Boom!!
The sound made everyone turn instinctively. Barton nocked an arrow, the string taut, eyes sharp and calculating. Dust and smoke revealed a massive figure: a burly man in ragged clothes, a gloved hand catching Barton's electrically charged arrow. Despite the electric surge capable of incinerating ordinary flesh, the man remained unharmed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The figure dropped the arrow, walking forward with heavy steps. One hand gripped a bloody machete. His exposed skin, gray-black and decayed, gave a grotesque impression of long-term decomposition.
Before he could advance further, Tony launched a salvo of micro-missiles from above.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions rocked the area. Trees toppled, soil flew, and flashes of blood and gore illuminated the chaos. The assault continued, leaving countless craters scattered across the terrain. Barton stared, surprised. Compared to prior missions, this seemed almost trivial.
However, Natasha, Bucky, and Psylocke were unfazed. They knew the explosion hadn't defeated the opponent. The lake still churned violently, confirming the target's immortality.
"Interesting… immortality," Bucky muttered.
Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath him exploded. Bucky launched forward, striking the masked figure atop the lake in a split second. His punch collided with the man's block, sending a shockwave across the water, forming massive waves.
Bucky followed with a devastating downward kick, snapping the creature's bones and separating head from body. A normal person would have been destroyed. But when the lake boiled again, the masked figure rose unharmed, confirming his immortality.
The Avengers silently recalibrated their strategy. Tony acknowledged instructions from Natasha, while Bucky and Psylocke prepared non-lethal methods.
Bucky's next strike was restrained, designed to test rather than kill. Psylocke's katana glowed with purple energy as spectral tendrils wrapped around the monster, tossing it into an open area. Hawkeye shot three glowing arrows in a triangular pattern, generating a special gravitational field to immobilize the target.
Tony deployed a freezing gas from the Quinjet, encasing the immortal creature completely.
The trap held… for now.
End of Chapter)
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