Chapter 292: The Lizard That Ate the Spider
"Who are you?"
Steve’s question had barely left his lips before the two cloaked figures who had stepped through the portal made their move.
At first, he worried for them. Their sand-colored robes did not look like gear that could resist the searing green flames that Hydra’s enhanced agents wielded.
But the very next second, his doubts shattered. Both strangers raised their hands, and an orange light burst forth. Strange energy twisted into glowing lines, and as they spread their palms, the lines stretched and hardened into ropes crackling with sparks.
"Wha..."
The sight stunned Steve. He had long suspected Hydra’s power came from some kind of special energy, perhaps even magic. Still, their methods of using it were crude and limited, something he could at least make sense of.
These two, however, were nothing like Hydra. They were straight out of myth: sorcerers weaving energy between their hands, creating ropes of pure magic.
This was the signature combat style of the mages of Kamar-Taj, fighting without artifacts, relying solely on their own mastery of mystic energy. To be able to forgo magical tools entirely marked them as elites among their order.
Though the Sorcerer Supreme had always been legendary in strength, it was this level of skill that defined the average mage behind such a leader.
And for now, this "average" was more than enough.
With their ropes, the two sorcerers quickly seized control. The green fireballs never reached them, for they simply walked on air, supported by their conjured magic. The agents’ magically-enhanced fists struck against the ropes, but the glowing bindings didn’t budge an inch.
Within moments, both Hydra operatives were dragged to their knees, their bodies completely wrapped in the radiant cords. Every attempt to break free only caused the ropes to blaze brighter, searing their flesh.
"So strong..." Steve murmured, truly feeling the gap between himself and those who had undergone disciplined training in their powers.
These sorcerers fought with refined technique. Every movement flowed in harmony with their mystical abilities, each gesture enhancing their strength.
He couldn’t say the same for himself. Even after inheriting Reed’s powers, he hadn’t learned to fully merge his elastic body into his combat style. He was still relying on the hand-to-hand skills he had honed during World War II, simply applying them with his new abilities. That also explained why those agents had been able to suppress him so effectively earlier.
But Steve wasn’t one to brood over such thoughts, especially with Hydra standing as a visible target in front of him. The enemy demanded his full focus.
As the fight drew to an end, he stepped forward, intending to thank the strangers. Regardless of who they were, they had indeed helped him.
But before he could speak, one of the robed figures waved a hand dismissively.
"I mean no harm... it’s just..." Steve tried to explain himself, but the words never reached them. The sorcerers flicked their fingers, and a portal sliced open before them. Without another word, they walked through and vanished, leaving only the two Hydra operatives still bound in the magical ropes.
"They don’t want to talk? Fine. Guess that’s that." Steve sighed, then turned his attention back to the fallen enemies. He reached for the cuffs he carried, planning to secure them before the glowing ropes dissolved. After all, no magic lasted forever.
But just as he approached, the two captives exchanged a look. Then the dark magic inside them erupted violently. The resulting explosion did not hurt anyone. The agents who had detonated themselves were far enough from Steve and Harry, who stood beside Peter, that the blast only ripped up grass and threw debris.
Still, the hard-won chance to capture Hydra had vanished in an instant.
"Damn it!" Steve cursed.
He had expected suicide. He knew the operatives might try to take themselves out rather than be interrogated. He had even planned for it. If either man gave the slightest motion, if their lips moved at all, his shield would have smashed into their faces and stopped them from biting down on any hidden poison.
But he had not foreseen this. They did not need to move. With a single thought their bodies exploded. Their own dark energy turned into the trigger. There was no way to take them alive.
Sirens began to wail in the distance. The New York police and the city’s heroes were finally noticing the disturbance in the park and rushing in.
It was time to go. Steve could not hang around anymore. He had to trust that Bucky would manage to capture some of the remaining Hydra agents.
Not even speaking to Harry, he left as quickly as he could, slipping away before the New York’s registered heroes swarmed the scene.
Soon a dozen costumed heroes arrived at the park, their faces tight. Reporters had already started to gather, making them feel embarrassed.
Most of them were street-level heroes. They built their careers by showing up, drawing crowds, and turning public attention into income. That made them practical. For many of them, failure in a fight was not the real fear. Even if they could not beat a villain, putting on a dramatic performance and surviving usually boosted their popularity and improved their standing inside the association.
What they dreaded most was showing up and missing the action entirely. That would make fans question their usefulness and hurt their brand.
"Who the hell was that?" one of them grumbled. "Who took the criminals down without saying anything?"
They did not blame Steve for saving the kids. Under Fury’s leadership, these heroes of the Hero Association had standards. They might be opportunistic but not morally bankrupt. They were angry because the situation had not been reported to the association. If someone had called in, they could have gotten the call too. As things stood, they had come all this way for nothing.
"I guess we’ll be working overtime for a few days," another muttered. "New York’s competition is brutal. Maybe I should tour other cities for a while. I’ll talk to my agent."
* * *
The heroes’ debates did not matter now. Harry watched as medics carried Peter into an ambulance. Anxiety throbbed in him. The day’s events had shifted something inside. Whatever dark part of his heart had been, Peter had pulled him out of it. He now truly saw the other boy as a friend.
’LexCorp is terrible,’ he thought. ’But their technology is solid. Peter will be fine. He has to be.’
After comforting himself, Harry moved to tidy the scattered items Peter had left. He wanted to deliver them when the boy woke.
That was when he noticed his pet lizard. It had not fled, rather, it was swallowing something
"That’s...Peter’s spider? That beast chose the right moment."
The lizard had eaten the spider down to the last scrap. Harry remembered why he had come today in the first place. He wanted to study that spider’s DNA. He had carefully gathered a few strands and hairs. Now the lizard had devoured the specimen.
"Fine, little lizard. Get ready for the lab table."
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