Bab 32: The First Day!
Maxim steadied his breath as he surveyed the hellish wasteland stretching endlessly beneath a crimson sky, jagged mountains and rivers of molten lava cutting across the landscape.
The air had a smokey, toxic presence and seemed to pulse with hostility, as it seemed to press down on Maxim, as if recognizing he didn't belong in this dimension and trying to push him out.
Maxim just grinned at the experience, feeling the thrill of power humming through his veins, eager to be tested by the upcoming demons.
He looked towards the first demon he spotted, its eyes, pits of flames, blazed with ravenous fury as the creature's body was a mass of jagged plates with dark demonic flames flickering around its form, claws glistened as the demon charged forward.
Maxim squeezed the triggers of Ebony and Ivory, his twin handguns roaring as he charged them with Demonic Energy, firing off in rapid succession, sending a hail of bullets towards the charging demon.
Each bullet hit its mark, ripping through the creature's hardened skin and sending bursts of dark blood spraying across the ground. The Demon was on the brink of death, and lunged forward for a final dying attack.
Maxim leapt to the side, sliding across the uneven ground and feeling the heat of the creature's claws slice the air beside him. With a flick of his wrist, Rebellion, his broadsword, materialized in his grip, shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow.
He brought it down in a sweeping arc, the blade slicing cleanly through the demon's leg and sending it crashing to the ground in a howl of agony, before Maxim shot out one final shot from Ebony, sending a bullet piercing the Demon's head.
No time to waste, another demon loomed nearby, this one larger, with elongated, spidery limbs that scrabbled across the rock with disturbing speed.
Maxim activated his incorporeality to phase through one of the attacks as the creature's massive arms swung at him. He emerged from the other side, driving Rebellion deep into the demon's back, severing its spine in a clean strike.
As the creature collapsed to the ground, dead, the ground itsekf suddenly trembled beneath Maxim's feet as a swarm of demons, each twisted and monstrous began surging towards him.
Without hesitation, Maxim tightened his grip on Ebony and Ivory, and grinned, opening fire into the approaching crowd.
The bullets sliced through the demonic horde, piercing flesh, bone, and sinew with ruthless precision. He moved fluidly, each shot a calculated strike to incapacitate, wound, or eliminate. Yet for every demon that fell, two more took its place.
As certain demons began slipping through the cracks, Maxim used his telekinesis to control Rebellion, beginning to take down demons that moved closer to him.
As he fought more and more Demons, Maxim felt as if he could feel the Dante Template whispering to him, guiding his movements and making his decision making more fluid.
Once he felt he was getting swarmed, Maxim got on the move, darting to the side and leaping into the air as the ground where he stood erupted in flames, summoned by a massive beast with molten skin and pitch black eyes.
As he flipped mid-air, he pulled the triggers again, filling various Demons with demonic bullets. As he landed, he holstered Ebony and Ivory and grabbed Rebellion, dashing towards the incoming swarm.
Like a dancer, Maxim elegantly moved throughout the crowd, slicing and dicing anyone in his path. The grotesque bodies of demons were sliced in half effortlessly, as Maxim poured more and more of his demonic power into the sword.
One particularly large creature, a mass of scales and sinew with jagged horns spiraling from its forehead, lunged at him, but Maxim effortlessly sidestepped the attack, cleaving through the demon's arm, and with a fluid spin, he drove the sword deep into its chest, watching as its form crumbled to ashes,
"Come on," Maxim muttered under his breath, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Is that all you've got?"
More demons surged forward, as if angry from his statement, forming a wave of snarling faces, slashing claws, and snapping fangs.
Maxim leapt, somersaulting over the crowd, his body transforming in mid-air as he accessed Incorporeality, his figure shifting into a shadowy wisp that drifted seamlessly through the throng of demons.
Reemerging on the other side, he unleashed a volley of bullets into the ranks of his enemies, each one tearing into their twisted flesh with deadly accuracy.
He didn't let up. With a thought, he summoned a Gravity Well, causing the ground to tremble and pull his enemies inward. They writhed, snarled, and clawed at each other in a frenzied attempt to escape the crushing force.
The weak were crushed underfoot, the stronger ones left vulnerable, and Maxim capitalized, dashing in with Rebellion in a series of devastating slashes that cut down every demon in reach.
With the immediate area cleared, Maxim began pressing forward, looking for another fight. Towering cliffs loomed above him, casting deep shadows that concealed even more twisted figures watching from afar.
His steps took him into a dense forest of petrified trees, their branches sharp as blades, twisted and reaching like claws against the sky.
Here, he was beset by another wave of demons, this time smaller, faster creatures with jagged, insect-like limbs. Their movements were unpredictable, darting in from every direction. Maxim grinned, welcoming the challenge.
The ground trembled beneath Maxim's feet as the wave of demons surged toward him, their grotesque forms a chaotic mass of twisted limbs, horns, and fangs. The hellish sky above blazed red, casting a blood-soaked hue over the jagged landscape.
Maxim tightened his grip on Ebony and Ivory, his twin handguns, feeling the weight of his power coursing through his veins as he prepared to unleash the full might of the Dante template.
With a grin tugging at the corners of his lips, he opened fire.
Bullets tore through the nearest demons, ripping through flesh and bone with ruthless precision. Black blood splattered the cracked earth as the creatures howled in pain, but more surged forward, relentless and hungry for violence.
Maxim darted to the side, leaping into the air as the ground where he stood erupted in flames, summoned by a massive beast with molten skin and glowing eyes. As he flipped mid-air, he pulled the triggers again, filling the demon with demonic bullets before landing.
Without hesitation, he reached for Rebellion, his broadsword appearing in his grip in a flash of silver. He swung it with fluid ease, severing the limbs of a demon that tried to lunge at him from behind. Its shriek was cut short as Maxim brought the blade down, cleaving through its skull.
As the dust settled, Maxim kept moving. He had no intention of staying in one place too long—this Hell Dimension was vast, and he intended to explore every twisted corner of it.
He traversed jagged mountain paths, where lava rivers flowed like veins of fire, cutting through the landscape. Towering spires of blackened rock reached toward the sky, and in the distance, Maxim could see strange, twisted structures, perhaps fortresses of some Hell Lord, though he had no intention of seeking them out.
Not yet. He wasn't here for diplomacy or deals. He was here to fight.
Another wave of enemies surged toward him,this time, hulking creatures with boulder-like fists and skin covered in scales harder than steel. Their eyes glowed a sickly yellow as they lumbered toward him, roaring with primal fury.
Maxim chuckled to himself, "Let's see how you handle this."
Activating his Sense Manipulation, Maxim warped the creatures' perception of reality. To them, it appeared as though the ground beneath their feet had turned into a pit of endless abyssal darkness.
They staggered, confused, their roars of rage turning to shrieks of panic as they scrambled to avoid the illusory abyssal flames. Maxim took the opportunity to close the distance, slashing through their legs with Rebellion, each strike cutting deeper than the last. Even their formidable armor was no match for the power flowing through him.
As they fell, writhing in agony, he felt exhilaration coursing through his veins. There was something freeing about this place, a realm where violence was the only constant, where survival was won through blood and fire. Here, there were no limits, no restraints.
Just raw, unrelenting power.
Maxim moved towards a mountain, drawn by the promise of even greater challenges, He climbed, slaughtering any enemies he met on the way, and when he finally reached the summit, he could see the endless expanse of the Hell Dimension.
He paused briefly, taking in the infernal scenery, the rivers of fire, the jagged cliffs, the darkened skies filled with ominous clouds crackling with lightning. The world itself seemed to pulse with malevolence.
At the current moment, there was no place he belonged more than here, at the heart of chaos, a storm of violence and power, this was the perfect training domain,
This was where he belonged, at the heart of chaos, a storm of violence and power, and in the depths of the Hell Dimension, Maxim Novikov felt he could take on any challenge.
Bab 33: Red Room!
( Some small changes to the MCU Timeline related to the Black Widow movie occur in this chapter, but it isn't massively important, just wanted to notify everyone )
It had been a few days since Maxim had departed for the Hell Realms to train himself, and to say it was a turbulent experience for Wanda and Pietro would be an understatement.
It had been the first time since they had received their powers that they were completely away from Maxim. Although A.N.G.E.L was still there, her presence wasn't nearly as overbearing as Maxim's was.
The days had been passed constantly training the powers that Maxim had unlocked in the twins, refining their control and maximum power levels. With A.N.G.E.L overseeing them, they maintained their strict training regime, constantly improving themselves.
However, as time passed, they felt more and more restless and untested. Their powers continued to shimmer beneath the surface, and they desperately wanted to prove to Maxim, and to themselves just how useful they could be.
On the third day of Maxim's departure, this feeling had already bubbled up to the surface, and Wanda couldn't ignore it anymore. She approached her brother who was busy zooming around the training room,
"We need to do something Pietro, I can't stand just sitting here doing nothing while Hydra is out there, while other evil people are out there. We've trained enough to take down Hydra bases ourselves, yet we're sitting around here." Wanda said, venting her frustrations.
Pietro came to a quick stop, taking a couple deep breaths and wiping a bead of sweat off of his forehead, his blue eyes sharp as he gazed towards his twin sister, "You don't have to convince me. But where do we start? It's not like we know Maxim's entire plan. And he's… well, he's on a whole different level."
Pietro said and Wanda had to agree. Even after spending so much time with Maxim, his power level was still a complete mystery. All they knew was that he could effortlessly defeat them.
Wanda clenched her fists as she thought about it, her powers surging in a brief, glowing burst before settling again. "Then let's find out more about his plans. A.N.G.E.L. can help us."
At the sound of her name, a gentle chime echoed in the room as the AI took over the nearby monitors,
"How can I assist you, Wanda and Pietro?" A.N.G.E.L asked.
Wanda took a steadying breath, "We want to know what Maxim intends to do. We want to prove that we're ready. Whatever he's doing… we can help."
Pietro nodded in agreement, crossing his arms, "Yeah, we can't just sit around waiting for him to get back and do nothing. Who knows how long he will take. So spill, A.N.G.E.L. Where do we start?"
A.N.G.E.L's voice seemed to flicker with a hint of amusement as she regarded the two of them, "Maxim had indeed predicted that you two might ask something like this, and had be prepare for when it happened."
Wanda and Pietro shared a glance with each-other. Even when trying to prove themselves, they still played directly into Maxim's hands.
"Maxim indeed has significant plans for the future that can be shared with you. He seeks to liberate Madripoor from its criminal hold and, beyond that, target an operation known as the 'Red Room.'"
Wanda's eyes sharpened at the mention. The Red Room, she had certainly heard of it. Maxim had given her and Pietro multiple documents detailing many of the most important organizations on Earth to learn about, and the Red Room was one of them.
The document detailed about the brutal conditioning of the Red Room and the assassins it had produced. According to the document, some of those assassins had even conducted missions in Sokovia.
They'd read about children turned into merciless killers, of people torn from their lives and remade into weapons.
Pietro's face twisted into a frown, "The Red Room? That's where they train assassins, right? Like the Black Widow? Didn't she come from there?"
"Correct," A.N.G.E.L. replied, her tone serious, "The Red Room is a covert operation specializing in espionage and assassination, notorious for its inhumane treatment of its 'students.' Maxim has planned to destroy it and free those working there. He'd allow the rescued assassins to either work for him or reintegrate into the normal world."
Wanda looked at Pietro, a fierce determination building in her eyes, "If we take down the Red Room, we're not just proving our strength. We're giving these people a chance, freedom, something we never had. We can do this, Pietro."
Her brother's expression softened, and he nodded. "Alright, sis. If Maxim's after the Red Room, then so are we. But we'll need your help, A.N.G.E.L. We don't have the resources or intel he does."
A.N.G.E.L. inclined her head, her holographic form shimmering slightly. "Understood. I can provide tactical information, schematics, and the Red Room's recent and upcoming missions. While I can provide you information, the two of you need to be efficient in your actions. Are you ready?"
They exchanged a glance, each finding resolve in the other's eyes.
"We're ready," they said in unison.
---
The night air was heavy with the scent of fresh rain as Wanda and Pietro arrived in Florence, Italy.
They both were casual clothing, and subtly blended into the various crowds, ready for any potential action. They made sure to wear hoodies to obscure the perception of others, and A.N.G.E.L would delete their presence from any security camera footage.
As they walked through Florence, A.N.G.E.L.'s voice crackled quietly through their earpieces, guiding them toward the safe house where their target, Oksana, was rumored to be hiding.
"Proceed to the Ponte Vecchio," A.N.G.E.L. instructed, her voice steady, "She was last seen in an apartment complex near the Arno River. I've linked your devices to the nearest surveillance system, but be advised, the Red Room has increased monitoring here. They know Oksana defected and have agents on her trail."
Wanda and Pietro exchanged a look as they approached the bridge. The mission objective A.N.G.E.L. had laid out was clear: find Oksana, secure her safety, and if possible, gain any information she could provide on the Red Room's recent activities.
"Do you think she'll trust us?" Pietro murmured, his voice barely audible as they kept to the shadows along the riverbank.
Wanda shook her head, a slight frown creasing her brow. "Trust might not be something she's capable of anymore. But we'll make it clear that we're here to help. We have to."
As they neared the target location, A.N.G.E.L. spoke again, her tone becoming sharper. "Red Room operatives detected two blocks south of your position. You'll need to move quickly, Oksana's safe house is likely compromised."
Without a word, the twins quickened their pace, their hearts pounding as they slipped through narrow alleys and darted up an iron fire escape to reach the roof of a small building adjacent to Oksana's hideout.
Wanda held up a hand, feeling a pulse of energy beneath her fingertips, a faint trace of fear, tension, and desperation emanating from a nearby apartment.
"She's here," Wanda whispered, nodding to Pietro. They moved cautiously, scaling the side of the building and peering through a half-open window.
Inside, Oksana sat alone, her body tense as she kept a watchful eye on the door, a small handgun gripped tightly in her hand.
Wanda gestured to Pietro, signaling that she'd go in first. She reached out with her powers, forming a light shield around her as she slowly pushed the window open and entered the dimly lit room.
Oksana snapped to attention, raising her gun with a determined glare.
"Stay back," Oksana hissed, her eyes narrowed with a mixture of suspicion and fear, although she didn't recognize Wanda or Pietro from the Red Room, that didn't mean she could drop her guard.
Wanda raised her hands in a calming gesture. "We're not with the Red Room. We're here to help you, Oksana. My name is Wanda, and this is my brother, Pietro."
Oksana's grip on the gun tightened, her gaze flicking back and forth between the twins, her finger on the trigger "How do I know this isn't a trap?"
Pietro stepped forward slowly, making sure to stay within her line of sight, "You don't," he admitted, "But we know you used something called Red Dust to escape them. We're trying to take the Red Room down for good, and we think you can help us do it."
Oksana's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Red Dust, her body language softening just a fraction. She hadn't told anyone how exactly she broke the Mind Control, so she was a bit surprised the two in front of her knew what Red Dust was.
She glanced around the room, as though expecting an ambush at any moment, then lowered her gun, if only slightly.
"They'll kill anyone who tries to stop them," she said quietly, "And they never stop hunting those who betray them."
Wanda nodded, her tone gentle but firm, releasing a calming aura using her Chaos Magic to make Oksana believe them even more, "That's exactly why we're here. We've been trained by someone who's dedicated to dismantling operations like the Red Room, and we want to free the others trapped there, just like you. But we can't do it without your help."
Oksana took a shaky breath, reflecting on years of trauma and survival as she grabbed a bag opening it and showing off the Red Dust to Wanda and Pietro, "The Red Dust… it freed me, but it's not enough to save all the others. They've intensified their conditioning, most of the girls wouldn't even recognize freedom if it was staring them in the face."
Pietro clenched his fists, anger sparking in his gaze, "Then we'll make them see it. We have our ways. We know about the Floating Red Room, but is there any other place we should know about?"
Oksana hesitated, looking down at her hands as if wrestling with the choice. Finally, she spoke, her voice low, "There's a hidden base in Siberia, a place called 'The Cold Fortress.' It's where they take the ones they consider... irredeemable, ones who haven't lived up to their potential or were too resistant, It's heavily fortified, and they're constantly moving operations to avoid detection. But I know how to get you inside."
Wanda exchanged a look with Pietro, a fierce determination igniting between them. This was it, a real chance to strike a blow against the Red Room. They nodded in silent agreement, both understanding the risks but committed to seeing it through.
"We'll do whatever it takes," Wanda said firmly, "And we'll make sure you're safe."
A sudden noise from outside the apartment made them all freeze. Oksana's face went pale, and she motioned for them to follow her toward a hidden exit at the back of the room.
"They're here," she whispered, her voice tense. "We need to leave, now."
As they slipped into the narrow alleyway behind the building, A.N.G.E.L.'s voice came over the earpiece, her tone urgent, "Red Room agents have the building surrounded. I'll guide you through the nearest escape route."
"No," Wanda said, looking forward as she spotted various Red Room agents closing in on them, lead by an athletic attractive woman with blonde hair wearing a black combat outfit.
"All of these agents are people to be rescued," Wanda said, her hands glowing with Red Chaos Magic as she looked towards Pietro, who was also smiling,
"Let's fight!"
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
94 Power
stone Anda mungkin juga menyukai
Komentar Paragraf