This power was overwhelming.
So overwhelming, in fact, that Baron Strucker could barely contain the euphoria coursing through his veins.
It was intoxicating. A rush unlike anything he'd ever felt. Like a god touching the stars. And yet...
"Hehe~"
"Luke, right?" he sneered, face twisting into a crooked grin. "You should've just finished me off when you had the chance. But no... you got cocky."
Strucker's fear had vanished, replaced by a savage confidence.
The trembling man from moments ago was gone, buried under layers of dark power.
Luke didn't respond. No need to explain himself.
The plan had already worked. The trap was set, and now it was time to collect the prize.
He moved first. Without hesitation.
"You really think I'm the same guy you fought before?" Strucker roared, the shadows coiling around him like living smoke.
Luke watched calmly as half of Strucker's shadow energy lashed out in chaos, trying to stabilize itself.
It was strong, yes—raw and abundant—but uncontrolled. Sloppy.
"Ha! Is this what it felt like when you tore through my forces earlier?" Strucker laughed maniacally, watching the newly born shadow soldiers surge forth, matching Luke's in number.
Then he vanished—slipping into the darkness like a phantom.
A sneak attack.
Classic.
But before he could strike, Luke's hand shot through the void and slapped him clean out of the shadows.
"What?" Strucker's voice cracked.
Luke stared him down. "You think you're the only one with shadow energy?"
Strucker stumbled, dazed by the hit.
The euphoria of power had inflated his ego.
Now it was leaking fast.
"You—"
Before the words could even leave his mouth, Luke was already on him again—faster than lightning.
A blur of fists and pressure.
Strucker panicked. He was still learning this power, still trying to control the torrent inside him.
He hadn't adapted yet.
Even if he had...
At best, they'd be equals.
But Luke wasn't planning on being equals.
"Who needs a hammer when I've got these?"
Luke fought barehanded, forcing Strucker back, step by step, shrinking his space.
Every time Strucker tried to summon shadow minions, Luke disrupted them with a violent torrent of shadow,
"If I'm not using them, neither are you."
"No! This can't be happening!" Strucker cried out. "I carry the power of the Shadow God! I'm invincible!"
But the look in his eyes told the truth—he knew he was losing.
His spirit was unraveling.
He'd been ready to die before. At peace with it.
But Luke had let him summon the shadow demon. Gave him hope.
And now, as that hope crumbled a second time, something in Strucker snapped.
He started rambling, his voice unsteady.
Luke didn't wait.
"Strike while the villain's unhinged," he muttered.
In a flash, he appeared behind Strucker.
Sinister gleam visible on his eyes.
"Take a deep breath. Dizziness is normal."
CRACK.
Luke twisted his neck with enough force to nearly decapitate him.
Strucker's body slumped, head hanging at an unnatural angle.
Buzz!
Inky-black shadow energy burst out of the corpse like a ruptured dam.
Luke reached out, absorbing it.
He took a deep breath, and savored the feeling rushing towards him,
The energy flooded his system like a tidal wave.
Waves of shadow energy erupted from within his very being, shaking the very air surrounding him.
The shadows were untamed, moving erratically, seemingly trying to return to its original owner.
[Ding!]
[Abnormal energy detected!]
[Supreme Exorcist System has successfully purified it for you!]
Just then, the shadow energy that was moving chaotically went to state of stillness, it covered Luke's form like a calm river, empowering his very being with darkness.
Luke flexed his fingers, feeling the raw power settle into him.
"Thanks for the donation," he said dryly, glancing at Strucker's lifeless body.
Then he turned to the remaining shadow soldiers.
"Chop him up—real fine. I don't wanna see a single chunk left."
The shadows moved without hesitation.
...
Inside the New York Sanctum.
Felicia, currently in her ragdoll cat form, nestled into a shadowy corner and peeked out cautiously. Her eyes tracked a group of kids who had just arrived—young, clearly shaken, but surprisingly well-behaved.
"Pietro," Wanda said softly, nudging her twin, "go let everyone know not to wander off or touch anything. This place isn't exactly toddler-proof."
She glanced around the room and added, "That guy saved us. Let's not make things worse for him."
Pietro nodded and clapped his hands to get the kids' attention. "Alright, you heard her! Stay put, don't mess with anything. We'll wait right here until that guy shows up. Jenny, put that down. Seriously."
Felicia's ears twitched.
These kids were bruised, scarred, some even limping. Her feline mind whirled with questions.
Meow? she thought. 'Where did these kids come from? And who hurt them like this?'
Before she could process it further, she felt something tighten around her waist.
Suddenly, she was airborne.
"Whoa! Look what I found!" Wanda exclaimed. "A cat!"
Felicia wriggled as Wanda hugged her close.
Pietro strolled over at his sister's call.
"Come here, Pietro. Doesn't she look just like the ragdoll cat we had back home?"
Pietro raised a brow. "Wanda, didn't you just tell everyone not to touch anything?"
Still, when he saw the snow-white cat with sapphire-blue eyes, his sarcasm faded.
Memories returned—of a simpler time.
A cozy home. Two happy siblings. Loving parents. And a cat just like this one.
Until that day.
Until the Stark missile tore their lives apart.
"Meow meow meow!~" Felicia cried out, squirming harder.
She didn't know their past, didn't care.
All she knew was—being manhandled wasn't on her wish list.
"I don't think she likes being held like that," Wanda said, gently lowering Felicia to the floor.
"Of course she doesn't," said a calm voice from the doorway. "Because she's not a cat."
Luke stepped in, his tone light but firm.
Fresh from his clash with Baron Strucker, he'd wasted no time returning to the Sanctum.
"Huh?" Wanda blinked. "Not a cat?"
She turned to see Luke clearly for the first time—cleaned up, no blood, just a cool aura and those sharp, calm eyes.
Now that she saw his face, she realized something.
He was young. And kind of handsome.
Wanda flushed slightly, remembering how she'd called 'Mister' earlier.
"S-Sorry about that..." she mumbled, glancing away.
Luke looked confused. "What're you apologizing for?"
Pietro crossed his arms. "So... she's not a cat? She's a person?"
Luke grinned and snapped his fingers. "Bingo."
He pulled a small book from his belt titled Encyclopedia of Practical Magic for Beginners and flipped it open dramatically.
"Hmm... let's see. Cut off the damned's nose, drill holes with amethyst..."
"Take another caterpillar, put it into the ear of the cursed person, and let the caterpillar penetrate..."
Luke read aloud from his Encyclopedia of Practical Magic, his voice calm and unbothered, as if he were reading bedtime stories.
Felicia, still in her ragdoll cat form, froze in place. Her round, sky-blue eyes widened in panic, and fat tears rolled down her furry cheeks.
"Scared now? Maybe next time you'll think twice before touching magical stuff," Luke teased casually.
"Meow meow meow!" she yowled, shaking her little head wildly.
Luke sighed and pulled out a card etched with exorcist runes.
With a practiced hand, he traced a glowing pattern in the air and flicked the card toward her.
A burst of soft white light washed over the feline.
In an instant, the spell broke—Felicia's body shimmered and snapped back into her human form.
She was back in her maid outfit… but still awkwardly crawling on all fours.
"Meow?—Bah! I mean, I'm going to clean up!"
Realizing she had nearly meowed again, Felicia's face turned bright red.
She scrambled upright and bolted down the hallway, clearly mortified.
Wanda watched the scene unfold in stunned silence.
Her mouth opened, but all she managed was:
"She... her... her..."
She never finished the sentence.
Luke let out a small chuckle. "Just a little curse."
But then he paused, his gaze softening.
These kids… they'd been held by Hydra for who knows how long.
Judging by their expressions, some probably didn't even know what the Chitauri invasion was.
They were cut off from the world—forgotten.
"Do you have anywhere to go?" Luke asked gently.
Wanda shook her head.
Around the room, several children mirrored her action.
"Most of them are orphans," Pietro said quietly. "After the war in Sokovia, a lot of families didn't make it. Hydra scooped up the strays. They were perfect test subjects."
Luke clenched his jaw.
He'd almost called Coulson to arrange something… but SHIELD had become Snake Shield.
It wasn't safe.
Giving them back would be like handing them straight to Hydra again.
He looked at them—worn, scared, but with that spark.
Potential.
"Do any of you want to learn magic?"
The room fell silent.
Then whispers spread. Curious eyes lit up.
"Magic? Like what you just did?" one of the older boys asked.
"We do!" another shouted.
One by one, hands shot into the air.
Even Wanda's eyes gleamed with excitement.
She and Pietro had chosen to undergo Hydra's experiments hoping to become something more.
Now, here was a new path… one not built on torture.
Wanda hesitated, then took a step forward.
"Mr. Constantine?"
"Just call me Luke," he said with a calm smile.
"Um, can I… can we stay with you?"
Pietro blinked, clearly surprised.
But when his sister made her choice, he followed without hesitation.
Luke looked at Wanda, then slowly narrowed his eyes,
He's feeling a slight intangible pressure from her, and his demonic energy was reacting to it.
His eyes widened in realization,
"Wait… your powers... they've awakened already?"
Wanda nodded, lifting her palm.
A faint scarlet glow shimmered in her hand, swirling like smoke and stardust.
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