"What are you guys up to? What's the deal with Coulson?" After eating the meal Coulson prepared, Daniel took advantage of the others chatting to slip into the cockpit, closing the door behind him and speaking in a low voice.
Melinda glanced at Daniel with a cold expression before returning her attention to flying the plane. After a while, she finally spoke, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Although I don't know how you did it, I really admire you. Bringing someone back from the dead is something even we in the wizarding world can't do."
To obtain blood samples from both Skye and Coulson, Daniel decided to use a strategy of deception, exploiting the information asymmetry without resorting to force. Skye's blood was crucial, but so was the Kree blood that revived Coulson, a substance Daniel did not possess. His bio-virus could only save those who were not yet dead.
"How do you know about that?" Melinda's tone remained calm, showcasing her iron will.
"Don't forget, I'm a magician. I can see things you can't. While I don't know how you revived Coulson, I can guess there's a significant side effect. There can't be no price for coming back from the dead."
"I'm not clear on the specifics. You'd have to ask the Director." Melinda wasn't lying. The Tahiti project was beyond her clearance, and even HYDRA members within S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't know about it. Garrett's relentless search for the source via Coulson was a testament to that.
"That one-eyed spook? I'd rather not. Can you help me get a blood sample from Coulson? I want to check his current condition."
"Blood?"
"Yes. If I ask him directly, he'll suspect something's off. You wouldn't want him to find out something's wrong, would you?"
"I'll find a way." Melinda nodded after a moment of consideration.
"No need to complicate things. I already have a plan, but I need your cooperation." Daniel explained his plan.
"Alright." Melinda agreed after a brief thought. Coulson was a very important friend to her, and she wouldn't have taken this assignment without Fury's orders.
"Blood samples?" In the plane's lab, everyone was stunned when Daniel explained the purpose of gathering them.
"This is to ensure everyone's safety. Daniel is a renowned expert in biochemistry." Melinda set the example by being the first to draw her blood.
With Melinda's approval, everyone else followed suit. Simmons, though reluctant, complied. As S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, they were used to blood tests.
In fact, the lab already stored everyone's blood samples as a precautionary measure to ensure there would be a supply in emergencies. This practice had saved many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in the past.
Simmons' displeasure stemmed from Daniel stepping into her field of expertise. However, with Melinda and Coulson's approval, she couldn't object.
"Alright, everything's settled here. It's time for me to go." Daniel, having collected the blood samples, glanced at Skye, Ward, Simmons, and Fitz, then bid farewell to Coulson. Having achieved his goal, there was no reason for him to stay.
"Thank you. We owe you a great deal." Coulson expressed his gratitude, with Fitz and Simmons joining in.
"Don't mention it. You've all done well." Daniel felt a sense of nostalgia looking at Fitz and Simmons, who, in the original story, had a tumultuous path to being together.
"Fitz, you should thank me. In the original story, Simmons was accidentally sent to an alien planet where she fell for a pilot. It left Fitz heartbroken."
Of course, it wasn't Simmons' fault. She was a scientist, thrust into a desolate planet with the terrifying Hive. Fear and the need for rescue made her actions understandable.
But now, those events wouldn't happen. Daniel planned to deal with Hive soon. Previously, he didn't have the confidence, but now he did. That planet, although desolate, was still valuable, especially its mineral resources. Moreover, it could serve as a base for him.
Given Earth's limitations, Daniel couldn't freely use his battle armor. On another planet, he could deploy it without issue.
He also didn't intend to spare Ward, the HYDRA mole. Keeping him alive might complicate matters for Agent Hand, whom Daniel had an eye on—not romantically, but as a potential CEO for FeiFei Group. Hand's strict adherence to rules made her an excellent candidate for managing a company.
Hand was highly competent, having managed to fend off HYDRA within S.H.I.E.L.D. and take control of the hub. She would have succeeded completely if not for Ward's deep cover. Losing such talent to Ward would be a waste.
"Wait." As Daniel prepared to leave with his broomstick, Coulson seemed to receive new information and stopped him.
"What's up?" Daniel asked.
"We just got a mission. I'd like you to come along." Coulson said apologetically.
"A mission? What kind of mission?" Daniel was curious.
"It's a case involving superpowers. The target appears to have telekinetic abilities." Coulson displayed the mission details on a nearby holographic system.
The target was in a remote town in Batesville, Utah. The town was self-sufficient and tranquil until a lab explosion last week changed everything. The small town was shaken as the explosion killed several residents, all locals.
"The target is Hannah, a quality control specialist at the lab and the explosion's sole survivor. The townspeople blame her for the accident." Coulson pointed at images brought up by Fitz, explaining the intelligence from S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Coulson then pointed to several odd incidents, continuing, "Headquarters suspects she might have gained some strange abilities due to the particle accelerator explosion."
With Hannah blamed for the explosion and strange occurrences around her, the townspeople now believed she was possessed by a demon.
In small American towns, beliefs in demon possession and exorcism by the church were quite common. While this could be dismissed as superstition elsewhere, in a world with Ghost Riders and Mephisto, it was harder to rule out.
"It looks like telekinesis, but does that really exist?" Simmons commented, then glanced at Daniel, hesitating to finish her sentence in front of a real magician.
"What do you think?" Coulson turned to Daniel.
"I'm not sure. We'll have to meet her. Telekinesis is a very powerful ability." Thinking of a certain powerful telekinetic girl, Daniel imagined crushing a magnetic levitation train with such power.
"We'd appreciate your assistance." Coulson said.
The plane soon reached the town. A large crowd had gathered near a burning gas station beside a convenience store.
"That demon killed my husband. Why hasn't she been executed yet?"
"Get out of our town, demon!"
"Police, why aren't you arresting this demon?"
The police were present but only watching as the townspeople attacked Hannah, not stepping in to help.
As members of the community, many police officers shared the townspeople's views but, as law enforcers, couldn't arrest Hannah without solid evidence. Claims of demonic possession or superpowers weren't legal grounds for arrest.
Evidence was crucial in American law. Even Jessica's mental control couldn't stand up in court.
"Stop." As the townspeople prepared to assault Hannah, Ward and Melinda intervened, showing their S.H.I.E.L.D. credentials and ordering the police to maintain order.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authority compelled the police to grudgingly comply.
"Watch out!" Suddenly, an unmanned car started moving towards the crowd. Fortunately, it moved slowly, allowing people to avoid it, but it crashed into a wall, fueling more anger against Hannah.
The distressed Hannah seemed on the verge of losing control when Melinda decisively shot her with a tranquilizer dart loaded with cobra venom, freezing her.
"What are you doing?" Coulson and Ward were shocked at Melinda's action. While covert operations allowed for some flexibility, overtly shooting a civilian was frowned upon, even by S.H.I.E.L.D.
"This is interesting." Daniel smiled, noticing that the car wasn't empty. Coulson and the others might not see it, but Daniel did.
"Not telekinesis, huh?" Realizing there was someone in the car, Daniel was disappointed, hoping for a telekinetic encounter. Gaining powers from a particle accelerator explosion was typical in the Marvel universe, with most superpowers stemming from such events.
Not just in Marvel, but in the neighboring universe too, where many people gained superpowers from such accidents.
After securing Hannah, Coulson handled negotiations with the local police, asserting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction over the case.
"Fitz, who do you think is stronger, a superpower user or a magician?" At the lab explosion site, Fitz and Simmons were investigating using drones.
"Is that even a question?" Fitz retorted, recalling footage of Daniel destroying numerous creatures and buildings with his magic.
"I never thought magic and superpowers were real." Simmons was filled with awe.
S.H.I.E.L.D. detained many superpowered individuals, but those secrets were inaccessible to Level 5 or 6 agents like them. Accessing such information required Level 7 clearance or higher.
"Alright, we've got everything recorded. Let's head back." Fitz, a technological genius, efficiently gathered data using drones, saving manpower and resources.
"Is it superpowers?" Fitz and Simmons asked eagerly upon returning, all eyes on Daniel.
"No, it's not." Daniel shook his head.
"Then what is it? How did those objects move? How did the car start?" Skye blurted out before Coulson could speak.
"It's simple. Those objects and the car moved because of this." Daniel suddenly appeared beside Simmons
, reaching behind her to pull out a hidden figure.
"Ah!" Simmons screamed and ran behind Fitz, who, though terrified, stood his ground to protect her.
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It wasn't just Simmons who was scared; Skye in the other direction was equally frightened. Simmons hid behind Fitz, while Skye hid behind Coulson. Only Melinda remained unfazed, watching the figure held by Daniel Davis.
"How could it be him?" Melinda quickly recognized who Daniel was holding. Tobias Ford, one of the lab technicians, whose death in a lab explosion she had seen in photos before.
"It's really him. How is this possible?" Coulson, Ward, and Fitz also noticed. Simmons and Skye, peeking out from their hiding spots, saw the supposedly dead man and retreated in fear. Skye, however, managed to stay slightly more composed.
"Why aren't you in Hell?" Daniel asked as he released his grip. Now knowing who he was dealing with, he was intensely curious. For ordinary people, ghosts and souls are hard to believe in, but for those from Kamar-Taj, it's basic knowledge.
Although basic knowledge, Daniel had never seen a soul wandering Earth freely after death. There were many stories about such phenomena, like playing with spirit games or encountering terrifying urban legends. Kamar-Taj had many magical texts documenting these events. In a world like Marvel's, such games could be deadly.
Even knowing that these games were spread by Hell's demons, Kamar-Taj didn't interfere much as long as people didn't follow the procedures. Curiosity killed the cat, and many paid a bloody price for dabbling in such games.
Even with his current power, Daniel wouldn't dare play such games. Typically, these games summon ordinary ghosts, but there's always a risk. The church once tried using such a game to deal with Hell, only to summon a great demon, with predictable disastrous results.
Bang.
Tobias Ford, released by Daniel, raised a wrench to attack him but was kicked into the wall by Daniel, causing his body to disappear.
"Still not learning your lesson? Do you really think I can't see you?" Daniel kicked Tobias Ford again, sending him flying.
In his soul state, Tobias Ford was invisible and untouchable to most, but to Daniel, he was clear as day. Tobias seemed to forget how Daniel had grabbed him earlier.
Seeing Tobias disappear again, Daniel didn't pursue him but said, "Keep this up, and soon you won't even be able to go to Hell."
A soul is a form of energy. Without the ability to absorb dimensional power to strengthen his soul, every day Tobias remains in the real world, he's depleting his soul energy. Once it's gone, he'll truly vanish.
"Let me see Hannah," Tobias demanded, reappearing on the other side of the room. His eerie presence made Coulson's team huddle together instinctively.
"Uh," Tobias' words left Daniel momentarily stunned. He then looked at Coulson.
"Hold on a moment," Coulson said, glancing at Daniel but ultimately looking at Melinda.
Hannah was now in the plane's interrogation room, a specially designed cell. Since Coulson's team deals with super-powered individuals, the room's walls block all energy signals, preventing even Tobias' soul form from entering.
This shows the advanced technology of the Marvel universe. In other worlds, such measures wouldn't stop a soul.
Hannah was placed there because she was suspected of having superpowers.
"Are you sure there's no problem?" Melinda asked Daniel.
"Don't worry, I'm here," Daniel assured confidently.
Melinda then went to the interrogation room and brought out Hannah, who was still pale.
"Tobias Ford, are you here for revenge?" Hannah was shocked to see Tobias. If not for Melinda's support, she would have collapsed.
Hannah, a devout believer, thought she was possessed by a demon due to the anomalies around her.
In the West, believers, especially zealots, attribute everything to God. In the East, faith provides peace of mind without total reliance on a deity. Thus, divine authority never surpasses royal authority in the East.
"Hannah, I..." Seeing Hannah's fear, Tobias panicked.
"There seems to be an issue between these two. Speaking of which, it's interesting that the wrench exists in his soul form," Daniel observed, losing interest in their relationship but curious about the wrench, which was akin to a soul weapon.
"Everything has a spirit," Daniel thought.
After some time, the others pieced together the story. Knowing the full truth, Simmons no longer feared Tobias but looked at him with pity.
The story was simple. Tobias liked Hannah but was too shy to express it. To get close to her, he loosened some machine screws to trigger alarms and call Hannah to check. After she arrived, he would tighten them and prolong the inspection to spend more time with her. However, one day, Hannah was delayed, and the accident happened because Tobias couldn't fix the screws in time.
Perhaps due to his love for Hannah, Tobias' soul stayed on Earth instead of going to Hell. Seeing the townspeople blame Hannah, he tried to help, leading to subsequent events.
After learning the whole story, both Hannah and Tobias fell silent. Despite the accident being Tobias' fault, it was due to his feelings for her. As a devout believer, Hannah found it hard to blame Tobias.
Coulson's team was equally speechless. What they thought was a superpower incident turned out to be a love story.
"Alright, I know you like her and don't want to leave, but your presence is troubling her. Without your actions, things wouldn't have escalated. You think you can protect her, but how long can you keep it up? If you don't go to Hell soon, you'll disappear completely. What will she do then? You should let her live on," Daniel said.
"Sorry," Tobias apologized to Hannah after Daniel's words.
A black vortex resembling a black hole appeared, emitting a strange aura. Though invisible to the team, they felt the temperature drop.
"It's getting lively here," a figure emerged from the vortex. In the team's eyes, a person suddenly appeared on the plane.
The newcomer, an elderly man in black leather, holding a skull-topped cane, lightly waved his cane, sending Tobias into the vortex, which then vanished.
To Coulson's team, it looked like the man made Tobias disappear with a cane strike.
"Damn, why did he show up?" Daniel's face turned serious, recognizing the man: Mephisto, one of Hell's kings, known for frequently visiting Earth. His legend includes the creation of the Ghost Rider.
Daniel learned about Mephisto from Kamar-Taj's records, as he had tempted their sorcerers many times, even clashing with the Ancient One.
"Who are you?" Coulson asked, looking at Daniel for answers.
"Greetings, Lord Mephisto. The Ancient One would be delighted to know of your arrival," Daniel greeted, calming himself. Mephisto's power was limited on Earth, and he rarely acted directly, preferring to tempt with deals.
As long as one didn't engage with Mephisto, there was no danger. Daniel, determined not to be tempted, was confident with two Infinity Stones in hand, treasures even Mephisto lacked.
"Mephisto," Daniel's words made Coulson's team step back in fear. Even Hannah fainted.
Seeing Coulson about to speak, Daniel signaled him to stay silent and let him handle it.
"A disciple of the Ancient One, don't try to use his name against me. He won't notice this place for a while. I was curious about a missing soul and stumbled upon this interesting event," Mephisto said, glancing meaningfully at Coulson.
"How bored are you?" Daniel thought, hearing Mephisto's explanation. Hell is vast, and many souls die daily. For a Hell king to notice one missing soul, he must be extremely bored.
"Can't help it. Human development is rapid, and Hell can't keep up. Lucifer dumped his territory on me and went on vacation. When I took over, I found this missing soul and came to check," Mephisto explained.
Seeing Daniel silent, Mephisto continued, "You don't seem concerned about Lucifer on Earth."
"That's not my concern," Daniel replied calmly, feeling helpless. He couldn't manage these Hell kings as long as they stayed out of his way. Plus, he lacked the power to intervene.
Marvel's dangers extend beyond the obvious threat of Thanos. The hidden dangers, like Hell kings and Celestials, are equally formidable.
If not for Star-Lord's intervention, Ego could have caused havoc across the galaxy.
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