{Chapter: 286 Preparation for Death}
Alice's pupils gleamed with an unnatural light, flickering with raw energy. With a swift motion of her hand, a concentrated pulse wave burst forth like a crashing tide. The grenade that had been tossed toward them detonated prematurely in mid-air, caught in the center of the shockwave. Shrapnel and smoke scattered violently in all directions, but the pulse wave didn't stop—it surged forward like a living force, seeking out more destruction.
Up ahead, Hawkeye narrowed his eyes as the wave approached. Without hesitation, he grabbed one of the armed operatives beside him and hurled the man directly into the oncoming telekinetic force.
"No, wait—!" the man screamed, but it was too late. The pulse wave consumed him, ripping through his body and reducing him to a spray of blood and shredded flesh.
Alice shook her head with a faint sigh, watching the gruesome outcome. "You're quick to run, I'll give you that. Cowardly, but efficient."
Her voice carried no malice, just cold observation. She looked back at Ada. "It's over. Take Maria and go. William will bring this entire aircraft carrier down. That's what he does—destruction in his wake."
Ada nodded, maintaining a firm grip on Hill's restraints. "Let's move. We don't have much time."
The three women—Ada, Alice, and the bound Maria—disappeared down the corridor, their steps echoing on the metallic floor.
Moments later, groaning in pain, Fury clawed his way out of the debris in the command room. His ribs ached with every breath, but determination kept him moving. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead, yet he staggered forward, refusing to fall again.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the aircraft carrier, William strolled leisurely through the hallway with Natasha slung across his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Despite her struggles, he remained unfazed.
"It appears Loki's little plan worked out after all," William said casually, as if discussing the weather.
"You and Loki are working together, aren't you?" Natasha's voice was sharp with accusation.
William chuckled and shook his head. "Absolutely not. Don't lump me in with that arrogant fool. Yes, we're both villains—but my standards are far too refined to align myself with someone as theatrically stupid as Loki."
"Taste? You? Don't flatter yourself. Birds of a feather flock together."
William smirked. "Keep insulting me, Natasha. I enjoy the fire in your eyes. That spark of anger mixed with helplessness—it's beautiful."
"You disgusting pervert," Natasha spat.
He raised an eyebrow and smacked her buttocks with a loud snap!
"You should know by now," William said, voice dripping with smug confidence, "every time you curse at me, I'll make sure you pay for it later."
Natasha growled in fury and twisted her body, sinking her teeth into his shoulder. "I will kill you, ah…"
"Argh—damn you!" Natasha winced slightly, when Natasha pulled back, she grimaced in pain herself.
"Did you just… bite me?" he said, amused. "You poor thing. Biting steel tends to hurt, doesn't it?"
She clenched her jaw, struggling to stay composed despite the ache. "You think you're invincible—but your time will come."
William chuckled, that same infuriating calm never leaving him. "You've been watching too many heroic stories. In fairy tales, yes, the bad guy loses. But this isn't a story, sweetheart. In reality, the strong survive, and the clever rewrite the ending."
Natasha glared at him. "We'll see how clever you are when everything crashes down around you."
Suddenly, a commanding voice rang out from a nearby corridor. "That's far enough!"
William turned to see Agent Coulson standing with a team of SHIELD operatives, weapons trained on him.
"Coulson?" Natasha gasped in surprise, then shouted, "Get out of here! He's too powerful—you can't win!"
Coulson didn't move. "Retreat isn't part of my job description. William, let her go."
William raised an eyebrow. "You're brave, Coulson. I admire that. But it won't change anything."
Coulson's grip tightened on his weapon. "Let her go… or we open fire."
Natasha smirked through her discomfort. "That's the Coulson I know. Don't worry about me. Just pull the trigger and shoot this bastard."
Coulson gave the signal. "Fire!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of red energy beams, thick and searing with power, burst from their rifles and shot toward William. But just before they struck, William's eyes narrowed. A translucent barrier shimmered into existence before him—a manifestation of his telekinesis.
The beams froze midair, suspended unnaturally one meter from his body. They hovered for a moment, like insects caught in amber, before disintegrating into harmless particles.
"These weapons," William said, glancing with amusement at the sleek rifles pointed his way, "were developed using the Tesseract's energy. Impressive, I'll admit. They pack a decent punch. But against someone like me?" His eyes narrowed, glowing faintly. "They're nothing more than fireworks. That's the harsh truth. If you want to kill me, I'm afraid you'll have to keep dreaming."
As his eyes snapped fully open, a low hum filled the air. The halted energy beams, suspended a meter away from him, suddenly surged backward—reflected with lethal precision.
Coulson stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief. "That's... that's impossible…"
"No, Coulson," William responded coolly, his voice as steady as a machine. "That's what true power looks like."
"Ah! Aahhh!" Screams erupted as the redirected beams punched through the torsos of the armed agents surrounding Coulson. Each fell where they stood, their bodies crumpling like puppets with cut strings.
Within moments, only Coulson remained.
He stared at the carnage, fists trembling. "Why… why don't you kill me too?"
William's lips curled into a cold, malevolent smile. "Because I want you to watch. I want you to see their deaths—feel the weight of it—before your own comes. This is your punishment."
"Coulson, go!" Natasha's voice rang out like a shot.
Coulson hesitated, then turned to run—but he was a moment too slow. A final energy beam blasted through his back, lifting him off the ground before he crashed down hard.
"Coulson!" Natasha screamed in anguish.
"I... I..." Coulson choked out, blood spilling from his lips. His head lolled to the side, and silence followed.
William didn't spare him a glance. He simply continued forward, expression unreadable, steps deliberate.
"Damn you," Natasha muttered, fists clenched at her sides, fury boiling in her eyes. "You killed him."
"And what of it?" William turned slightly. "He tried to kill me. He just wasn't strong enough. That's the price of weakness."
Natasha said nothing more, her gaze darkening, her silence heavy with rage.
---
Meanwhile, on the deck of the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier, Alice and Ada had taken Maria hostage. The trio boarded a small stealth aircraft, its engines whirring softly as the ramp closed behind them.
"You're late," White Queen said, glancing up as the others entered the cabin.
Ada smirked. "What, worried about me? I didn't think you'd miss me so much."
"It wasn't quite that dramatic," White Queen replied with a small, amused smile. "Commander Maria Hill, it's good to see you again—under less than ideal circumstances. The moment I saw you, I suspected that brute William wouldn't let you slip away easily."
Maria eyed the young girl suspiciously. She looked no older than thirteen, yet there was something eerie in her confidence. "Who are you?"
"My name is White Queen," the girl said with a polite nod. Then her form shimmered as a projection flickered over her small frame—revealing the face of an adult woman in a lab coat.
Hill's eyes narrowed. "You… you're the researcher."
"Indeed," White Queen chuckled. "I was working with S.H.I.E.L.D. under a false identity."
"You infiltrated us," Hill said, her voice tight with frustration. "All three of you were part of William's group from the start. And S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance… it failed to detect you."
"Oh, don't be too hard on your agency," Ada chimed in, taking a seat beside Hill. "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance systems are some of the best on Earth. But against White Queen?" She shook her head with mock sympathy. "There's no shame in losing."
White Queen gave a playful wave. "Aw, you're too kind."
Hill glared at them. "What's your goal? Why go to such lengths?"
"You're asking the wrong people," Alice said, folding her arms. "Ask William. Everything we've done—every move we've made—has been part of his plan."
Hill's brow furrowed. "Then what is he doing now?"
A cascade of data flashed across White Queen's irises, her eyes glowing faintly as she accessed a surveillance feed. "Right now?" she said casually. "That guy is strolling through the helicarrier with Natasha slung over his shoulder. He's heading straight for Loki."
---
Inside the aircraft carrier, William turned a corner and came face to face with a small group. Standing at the front of them, smirking like he owned the world, was Loki.
"Well, well," William greeted, voice tinged with mock amusement. "Loki. You look… oddly cheerful for a man whose plans are unraveling."
Loki chuckled, unfazed. "And you look far too smug for someone who's made so many enemies. But I suppose that's your charm."
William's grin widened, but his eyes remained cold. The air between them seemed to tighten, like a storm waiting to break.
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