Captain America sprang into action, his shield gleaming as he slammed into the Saint with perfect timing, sending the powerful figure stumbling back. The Saint's mind raced, confusion mingling with fury. Where did this guy even come from?
At first, he suspected someone had followed him. But that didn't make sense; he was certain no one had tailed him back to the headquarters. With the "blessing" from his god, his hearing and senses had been heightened—he would have caught any subtle footsteps or whispers. And yet, here was Captain America, appearing out of thin air.
What the Saint didn't know was that Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye weren't just working alone; they had a powerful ally in Charlie, who was directing them like pieces on a chessboard. When Black Widow infiltrated the base, it marked the location. All Cooper needed to do was send a signal from the Watchtower, and boom—Captain America and Hawkeye were dropped in like reinforcements from the sky.
Captain America stood tall, his shield raised in front of him as he looked at Black Widow with a grin. "What's going on, Natasha? You just doing a warm-up?"
Black Widow brushed back her red hair and gave him a dry smile. "Just a little slip-up. Won't happen again."
Before Captain America could reply, a whistling sound filled the air, and an arrow cut through the room, landing in the midst of the enemy soldiers. The arrow exploded, filling the air with fire and knocking back anyone caught too close. Out of the smoke and flames, Hawkeye swung down on a rope, landing gracefully beside Black Widow.
"Not like you, Natasha. Guess I'll need to get you some vacation days," he quipped, bow in hand.
She smirked. "Better that than watching you hobble through your retirement, Clint. Hope your aim's as sharp as it used to be."
"Oh, it's sharp." Hawkeye shot back with a smirk, letting another arrow fly. One of the enemy soldiers dodged it just in time and looked smug—until the arrow exploded behind him, releasing a net that wrapped around him, pulsing with electricity. He convulsed, caught like a fly in a spider's web.
"What do you think?" Hawkeye asked, satisfied.
But their real opponent, the Saint, wasn't as easily defeated. He had risen, brushing himself off as he looked over to the shadowy figure in the corner. The figure—his god—remained in the darkness, with only a pair of cold green eyes glowing, watching the battle unfold.
A new wave of soldiers surged forward at the Saint's command, weapons in hand. Each weapon glowed with an eerie light, gifted by their god. "Take them down!" the Saint ordered, his voice echoing through the chamber.
Captain America gave a quick nod to his team. "Hold them off. I'll deal with him."
Black Widow shrugged. "Careful, Cap. This guy's got a nasty streak."
Captain America and the Saint locked eyes, and in an instant, the Saint flew into the air, using his god-given bracelet to boost himself. This time, instead of launching energy from afar, he used the bracelet's power to propel himself forward, punching down with all his strength.
Captain America didn't flinch. He raised his shield just as the Saint's punch landed. The impact shook the ground, sending dust and debris flying, but Cap stood firm. His shield absorbed the hit, humming softly as it took the shock.
Furious, the Saint unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, each one a powerful explosion of energy that could crack stone. He moved with surprising speed, his fists slamming into the shield again and again. The force rippled through the room, leaving dents in the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.
But Captain America stood his ground, moving his shield with practiced precision. With each punch, the shield vibrated but didn't budge. Captain America barely took a step back, and whenever the Saint slowed for even a second, Cap countered with a powerful punch of his own, landing blows to the Saint's jaw and cheek, leaving his opponent dazed.
What is with this shield? The Saint thought, bewildered and angry. He was throwing everything he had, yet the shield absorbed it all, like an unbreakable wall. No matter how hard he struck, the shield just kept taking it, defying all logic.
For a moment, he hesitated, looking for an opening. Captain America saw his hesitation and lunged, slipping under the Saint's guard to land a brutal uppercut that sent him reeling. Blood trickled from the Saint's mouth as he staggered, his vision blurring.
Enraged, the Saint tried to bypass the shield, aiming punches at Captain America's sides. He swung left, then right, attempting to get around the shield's protection. But Cap was ready. With years of battle experience, he shifted his shield with practiced ease, blocking every hit.
The Saint tried to come at him from the side, but Captain America saw it coming, deflecting each strike and countering with a powerful blow to the Saint's nose, sending a fresh stream of blood pouring down his face.
Blinded by rage, the Saint threw wild, furious punches, but Cap stayed calm. He adjusted his stance, falling back into defense. Whenever the Saint swung, Cap dodged or blocked, letting the Saint wear himself out. Bit by bit, the Saint's punches grew sloppy and weak, his strength draining.
Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Black Widow fought off the Saint's soldiers, moving together with perfect rhythm. Enhanced by Captain America's presence, the duo worked flawlessly, taking down one soldier after another. Hawkeye shot arrows with deadly precision, while Widow moved swiftly, taking out soldiers with ease. Together, they kept the rest of the forces occupied, creating the space Cap needed to face the Saint one-on-one.
The Saint's rage was boiling over. He glared at Captain America, his fists shaking. This was supposed to be an easy victory, but it had turned into a nightmare. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't get past that shield.
Breathless, with his fists aching and knuckles raw, the Saint took a step back, his face twisted with fury and disbelief. He had thrown everything he had, and Captain America was still standing, his shield as indestructible as ever.
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