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!"
Bab 34: Demon Lord!
Maxim soared across the gap between jagged peaks, his coat snapping in the fiery winds as he landed atop a narrow ledge.
Just as he steadied himself, a blur of shadows pounced from the rocks, eyes gleaming like embers and claws slicing through the air. Demonic jaguars, rippling with hellish energy, lunged from the crevices, moving with lethal intent as they tried to kill him.
Without missing a beat, Maxim raised Ebony and Ivory, firing a multitude of rapid shots that tore into the jaguars mid-leap.
Each bullet struck with pinpoint accuracy, ripping through the creatures' thick hides and exploding them in mid-air. Black blood rained down, staining the rocks as he vaulted to the next peak, firing with practiced precision.
One of the jaguars snarled, leaping from below and aiming for his legs. Maxim flipped and dropped low, meeting it mid-air with a fist crackling with concentrated demonic energy.
His brutal punch connected with the creature's skull, and in an instant, its body detonated, spraying shards of bone and sinew into the infernal wind. The shockwave echoed across the peaks, but he didn't stop.
Another leap, another ledge, another jaguar dispatched with an effortless shot or brutal strike. One by one, the creatures fell, their bodies bursting into clouds of darkness, until the jagged peaks stood quiet once more.
Maxim stood on top of the jagged cliff, looking outwards as he saw the infernal landscape before him like a war ravaged domain. Rivers of lava flowed through the rugged terrain, whilst he could see mountains piercing the blood-red sky.
[ Name - Maxim Novikov ]
[ Race - Radiant Human ]
[ Character Integration:
- Dante: 21%
Fully Integrated Characters:
- Omen: 100%
- Killjoy 100%
- Astra: 100%
Maxim looked at the template. Over the past few days, his assimilation rate with the Dante Template had rapidly increased. He had been constantly receiving more and more demonic power.
His current powers intensified, his muscles felt much more powerful and his combat senses grew sharper as he assimilated more and more. Maxim flexed his hand, feeling the raw, demonic energy coursing just beneath the skin, ready to be unleashed.
Once he finished testing his new powers, Maxim looked across the skies, focusing on a distant clearing where he could very clearly see dark silhouettes gathered.
A demonic congregation, assembled for their dark rituals, the perfect proving ground for his newfound power. He set his sights on the gathering, leaping from the mountain's edge.
He landed in silence, his figure shrouded in shadows as he crept through the twisted forest. There were various demonic insects and animals in his path, which he had to kill in order to keep the secrecy going.
As Maxim approached closer, the demonic congregation's guttural chants grew louder, filling the air with an unholy cadence that vibrated through the ground.
When Maxim approached the edge of the clearing, he saw them. Dozens of demons, each more grotesque than the last.
Hulking creatures with massive horns, smaller, scurrying demons with insect-like limbs, and towering brutes clad in molten rock armor.
At the center of this congregation, a massive creature presided, with gnarled wings, and scales shimmering like obsidian. Its blazing red eyes, sockets filled with seething hellfire, regarded the crowd with ruthless authority.
Maxim grinned. This was precisely what he had been searching for.
Without hesitation, he charged forward, lunging right into battle. He unleashed a torrent of bullets from Ebony and Ivory, each shot fueled by intense demonic energy.
The bullets tore through the air with a furious whistle, piercing through the twisted flesh of the demons, leaving trails of dark smoke and searing wounds.
Shrieks filled the air as demons fell, one after another, staining the cracked ground with blackened blood. Every single step Maxim took ignited the ground , creating a blaze of Hellfire that burned the bodies of dead enemies to ash.
Seeing their comrades fall, the demons scattered before regrouping, their snarls echoing with renewed rage. They surged toward him in a relentless wave, claws slashing and jaws snapping.
Maxim darted forward, shifting between corporeal and incorporeal states as he phased through attacks, his form a blur as he weaved through the crowd. Still, his incorporeal state left barrages of hellfire to burn the attacking enemies.
He had unlocked HellFire once reaching 20% Assimilation with Dante, and it was quite useful when engaging in battle with multiple enemies.
As he moved forward, Rebellion appeared in Maxim's hand, pulsing with a faint glow. In one fluid motion, he sliced through three demons, watching as their bodies fell to the ground in a grotesque heap.
He spun, delivering a crushing blow to a brute attempting to flank him, severing its arm and impaling it through the chest. It stumbled back, writhing in agony, as he finished it with a demonic-infused shot from Ebony to the head.
Unleashing a blast of telekinetic energy, he scattered a group of demons that attempted to swarm him, watching as their bodies collided with the trees, shattering into pieces.
One of the larger demons, a towering beast with iron-like skin and glowing yellow eyes, let out a furious roar, charging at Maxim with all the force of a raging bull. Maxim sidestepped its lunge, grabbing its arm mid-motion and twisting, feeling the satisfying snap of bone.
He brought Rebellion down in a brutal arc, cleaving through the creature's skull with a satisfying crunch, leaving it crumpled at his feet.
As the battle raged on, Maxim got more and more comfortable with Dante's abilities, systematically picking off his opponents with precise strikes.
Then, as he was almost done with all the enemies, from the shadows, the towering demon lord emerged, a beast of terrifying proportions.
This demon stood over twelve feet tall, its body a mass of muscular, rock-hard flesh covered in glowing sigils that pulsed with a sickly red light. Long horns spiraled from its head, and its eyes burned with the dark fury of a thousand tortured souls.
This was the boss, and judging from the fear-stricken expressions of the remaining demons, he ruled over them all.
"Interloper," the demon lord growled, its voice like the crackling of infernal flames. "You think you can challenge me? I will feast on your soul."
Maxim chuckled, unfased, "I'm counting on it."
The demon lord charged with a speed belying its massive form, slashing at Maxim with clawed hands the size of boulders. Maxim dodged, feeling the rush of air as the claws narrowly missed.
In response, he leapt forward, swinging Rebellion with all his might. The sword clashed against the demon's arm, sending sparks flying, but the creature's thick hide absorbed the blow with only a minor wound.
The demon roared and swung again, forcing Maxim to phase out of reach before launching a barrage of bullets from Ebony and Ivory. The bullets struck the demon's hide, digging deep into the flesh.
Sensing the creature's resistance, Maxim focused his energy, channeling the demonic power within him.
Dark energy swirled around him, and with a fierce shout, he unleashed a devastating slash from Rebellion, this time imbued with the power of his demonic might. The blade carved deep into the demon's side, and black blood sprayed into the air as the demon let out a bellow of agony.
The demon lord retaliated, summoning a wave of hellfire that surged toward Maxim in a wall of burning heat.
Maxim this time didn't even bother to dodge, just overpowering the demon and taking control of the HellFire himself, sending it swarming back to the Demon, ruthlessly burning it.
"~GRUAAAAAHHHH!" The Demon roared ferociously as it was burned by the HellFire, going into an absolute frenzy as it attacked Maxim senselessly, sending ferocious blow after blow.
Maxim moved with a blend of elegance and savagery, dodging the demon lord's relentless attacks and retaliating with brutal strike, and landing deadly shots when he could.
Finally, the demon lord began to falter, leaving its frenzied state as its movements grew sluggish, its roars weaker. Seizing his moment, Maxim gathered every ounce of demonic power within him, channeling it into one final, earth-shattering strike.
With a mighty leap, he brought Rebellion down, cleaving through the demon's chest and piercing its heart. The creature let out a final, shuddering roar before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Maxim stood over the fallen body, panting, his mind still racing from the thrill of the battle. He leaned down, placing a hand on the demon's skull, and using his telepathy, he forced his way into the demon's mind, searching for the information he needed.
The demon's memories flooded into his mind, revealing the location of the Hell Lord that ruled this domain, a creature of unimaginable power who resided in a fortress deep within the heart of the Hell Dimension. Satisfied, Maxim withdrew his hand and straightened.
He looked down at the demon lord's corpse, a smirk playing on his lips. With a swift motion, he raised Ebony and fired a final shot into the creature's head, ensuring it would never rise again.
With his new information, Maxim set his sights on the distant fortress, ready to head there and battle a Hell Lord.
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
94 Power
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