Emergence 2.16b
– o – o – o – o – o – o – o –
Captain America's expression didn't change. It didn't even flicker. If anything, he looked vaguely bored, as if fighting a super-powered teenager wasn't even going to make him miss his next appointment. He adjusted his shield, the motion smooth and practiced, like second nature.
"Name first," the Captain said, his voice as calm as if he were asking for a dinner reservation. The shield's polished star caught the light again, but this time, it felt more like a predator's gleaming fang than anything symbolic.
The glow around Zeke's fists flickered for a second, his focus snapping under the weight of confusion. "What?"
"I like to know a man's name before I put him in the ground," Captain America replied. He dusted a bit of debris off his tactical suit, the darkened blue panels of body armor making him look more like a soldier fresh off the battlefield than a comic book icon. The casual delivery of those words made them hit twice as hard.
Something about the phrasing pinged in Zeke's brain, a vague familiarity scratching at the edges of his memory. It felt like trying to recall a dream—blurry comic panels flashing by, their context just out of reach. But now wasn't the time to connect the dots. He shoved the thought aside and said, "I'm thirteen."
Captain America's stare remained unyielding, as immovable as the shield he wielded. "Man enough," he replied without hesitation.
Wolverine let out a low, guttural chuckle that sounded more like a growl. "Hell, I'd killed my first man by then."
Zeke felt a twitch in his left eye, his frustration bubbling dangerously close to the surface. He could feel the tension coiling in his muscles, every nerve screaming that he was seconds away from something he wasn't remotely ready for. "Okay," he muttered, the irritation slipping into his voice. "Screw this."
He activated [Observe] with a flicker of thought, the familiar overlay of stats and descriptors appearing over the two would-be assassins like an augmented reality filter. He didn't have time to think about why he'd waited this long to use it—he was too busy scanning the data that popped up.
> Captain America (Fake) Lv 30
> For France?
> This proves you can't judge a book by its cover—or a hero by his shield. Somehow animated from a replica to promote the new show "Ultimates Unite," this guy's about as American as french fries. Swings his shield like he's auditioning for a frisbee team and thinks "freedom" is just another word for "property damage." At least the real Cap can tell his elbow from his star-spangled ass.
Zeke blinked, his brain stuttering for a moment before moving to the next figure.
> Wolverine (Fake) Lv 33
> Bargain Berserker
> Thinks it's the ultimate killing machine, this half-baked Weapon X is as lethal as a sharpened butcher knife… which is still kinda lethal, actually. With a healing factor slower than continental drift, any real Wolverine would use him as a scratching post.
Zeke exhaled sharply, the tension in his chest loosening just enough to let sarcasm creep into his thoughts. "Right. Great. Bootleg Avengers," he muttered under his breath, his lips curling into a humorless grin.
> Observe Lv Up! (Lv 15)
There goes that eye again. With all this twitching, he was going to have to see an optometrist.
Assuming, you know, he didn't get turned into ground beef by Faux Cap and Walmart Wolverine.
But who could blame him?
It was bad enough that these were knockoff versions of two of the most iconic heroes in comic book history. But dealing with a Captain America that was both shitty and fake…
Captain America was a hero on a level like… well, Superman. While they were literally planets away in terms of raw power and ability, they were both moral paragons, symbols of good, and even in their worst moments, someone you could look up to and who tried to do what's right.
At least, Steven Grant Rogers was.
Steven "Steve" Rogers, however? Yeah, that was a whole other ballgame.
Zeke knew the difference well enough from the comics. Ultimate Captain America was… let's say, a less-than-ideal version.
More violent, more ruthless, more of a blunt instrument than an actual leader, Ultimate Captain America that seemed to exemplify the worst of modern America where the original represented its ideals at their best.in almost every way. Brutal, harsh and often belligerent, Ultimate Cap was the worst way to look at the country's patriotism and strength, being the kind of guy who thought "freedom" meant punching first and asking questions never.
Now that Zeke was looking closer, he realized he should've picked up on it sooner. The costume was a dead giveaway. No bright blue spandex here—this was all tactical, all business. The darker shade of blue, the armor plating, the sheer number of pouches strapped to the suit—it screamed "gritty reboot." The guy looked more like a Special Forces operative than a symbol of hope.
And that made him even scarier.
In the distance, a sharp crack of thunder pulled Zeke's attention. Captain Atom was still in the thick of it, a silver blur fending off both Iron Man and Thor. The sky lit up with energy blasts and streaks of lightning, turning the battlefield into a deadly Fourth of July show. Atom was holding his own—for now—but it was a struggle. Zeke winced as a particularly brutal repulsor blast hit the chrome hero square in the chest, sending him hurtling into a billboard that exploded into a shower of sparks.
Zeke grimaced, his focus snapping back to the immediate threat as he tried to stall for time. "Why do you even want to fight me?" he asked, his voice tight but steady. If he could get them talking, maybe he could piece together what the hell was going on. Or at least figure out how to not die in the next sixty seconds.
Ultimate Cap's eyes narrowed, his gaze dark and smoldering with barely restrained fury. "Listen here, you little Liberator sympathizer," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "We know you and your Red friends brought us to this godforsaken world. Using American heroes for your sick entertainment? That's a capital offense where I come from."
Liberators? Red friends? Zeke's brow furrowed behind his goggles. He didn't have time to parse all of it, but he filed the words away, his mind working furiously to connect the dots. None of it made sense, but one thing was clear: whoever—or whatever—these guys were, they weren't here by accident.
Wolverine's snarl cut through the air, snapping Zeke back to the present. The clawed mutant hopped down from the car he'd been perched on, his movements fluid and predatory. "Enough yappin'," he growled, his claws extending with a menacing snikt. "Let's gut the brat and be done with it."
Zeke's stomach flipped, but before he could react, Cap raised a hand, stopping Wolverine in his tracks. "Stand down, soldier," he ordered, his voice like a whip crack. "We do this by the book."
Wolverine sneered, his lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth. "Screw your book," he spat, his claws glinting dangerously in the sunlight. But despite the defiance in his tone, he stayed put. Barely. "Just lemme at the kid already. I'll carve him up so bad, even his mama won't recognize the pieces."
"Look," Genesis interrupted, his voice forced into something steady even though adrenaline coursed through him like wildfire, "I don't know how you got here or why you think I'm responsible, but I'm not your enemy. We can figure this out without anyone else getting hurt."
Captain America's jaw tightened, the muscles flexing visibly beneath the tactical mask. His narrowed eyes burned with a mix of distrust and something darker—something personal. "Nice try, son," he said, his tone cutting through the space between them like a knife. "But we've heard enough Commie propaganda to last a lifetime. You want to talk? Do it with your fists."
And with that, Cap hurled his shield.
The red, white, and blue disc spun through the air, a blur of gleaming metal aimed directly at Zeke's head. There was no time to think—just react. Zeke ducked on instinct, the shield whistling past so close he felt the wind ruffle his hair. The moment it passed, he shot up, his glowing hands already primed. Blue energy bursts erupted from his palms in rapid succession, streaking toward his attackers like miniature missiles.
Wolverine leapt to the side, moving with the kind of animalistic grace that sent a chill down Zeke's spine. Captain America wasn't quite as nimble, but he didn't need to be. The shield ricocheted back to his waiting hand just in time for him to deflect the energy bursts, each one fizzling harmlessly against the indestructible metal. The sharp clang of impacts echoed through the street.
"That the best you got, runt?" Wolverine taunted as he began circling to Zeke's left. His claws gleamed in the sunlight, their metallic edges catching every ray like tiny, lethal mirrors. "I've had fleas that hit harder than that."
Zeke didn't respond. He couldn't waste breath—not when every nerve in his body was screaming that he was moments away from being skewered. His eyes darted to the sky where Captain Atom was still locked in combat. The silver hero twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging Thor's hammer, only to get slammed back by a hail of missiles from Iron Man. Captain Atom went crashing into a billboard, shards of debris raining down like confetti.
Backup's not happening, Zeke realized, snapping his focus back to the two men in front of him. And just in time. Captain America was already on him, closing the distance in a blur of aggressive speed. Zeke barely managed to throw up a hasty mana shield before Cap's fist slammed into it. The impact rippled through the barrier like a stone shattering glass, sending Zeke skidding backwards across the pavement. His boots scraped against the asphalt as he struggled to maintain balance.
-9 MP
"The name's Genesis," Zeke bit out, shaking his hands to reignite the flickering blue light around his fists. He adjusted his stance, fists raised in a boxer's guard. "Proton Genesis."
"Shit name," Wolverine growled, flexing his claws menacingly. The motion was as casual as stretching, but it carried the weight of a predator ready to pounce.
"I know."
The air shifted, and Zeke barely had time to register the movement before the shield came spinning at him again, a streak of red, white, and blue cutting through the space like a buzz saw. He dove to the side, hitting the ground and rolling to avoid the projectile. The shield ricocheted off a nearby car with a sharp clang, angling back toward its owner.
Zeke scrambled to his feet, eyes narrowing behind his goggles. "Heads up, old timer!" he shouted, firing off a quick Mana Burst. The energy bolt streaked through the air, colliding with the shield mid-flight and knocking it off course. The disc hit the ground with a heavy metallic clatter, spinning briefly before coming to a stop.
The surprise in Captain America's expression was subtle but unmistakable—a slight widening of his eyes, the faintest tightening of his jaw. It was enough. Zeke surged forward, his fists glowing brighter as he drove a mana-charged punch straight into Cap's stomach. The impact landed with a dull thud, and Cap grunted, doubling over slightly as the air was forced from his lungs.
"Sorry," Zeke quipped, already pivoting to reposition himself, "did I hit your dentures?"
But the smugness didn't last long. A feral growl from behind sent alarm bells ringing in Zeke's head. He barely had time to straighten up before Wolverine was on him, claws extended and slashing wildly. Zeke ducked the first swipe, feeling the whoosh of air as the claws missed his neck by inches.
"Stand still, ya little runt!" Wolverine snarled, each word punctuated by another swing of his claws. Zeke darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike that sliced clean through a nearby lamp post. The metallic screech of adamantium tearing through steel made his skin crawl. "I'll carve ya up real nice!"
Zeke's hands flared with blue energy, and he unleashed a rapid-fire barrage of Mana Bursts, each glowing projectile crackling through the air like miniature comets. The blasts forced both attackers to pause, the air around them rippling with heat. The acrid scent of burnt hair mixed with ozone, stinging Zeke's nose and making his eyes water.
"Sorry," he quipped, his voice tight as he took a step back, muscles coiled like a spring. "Not really into the whole 'getting stabbed' thing. Maybe try yoga instead? I hear it's great for anger management."
The words came out sharper than he intended, but it helped drown out the drumbeat of his pulse pounding in his ears. He vaulted over the hood of a battered sedan, the screech of Wolverine's claws slicing through the metal right behind him. The sound was a jagged, metallic scream that sent chills skittering down Zeke's spine.
Wolverine was relentless, snarling like a beast as he pursued Zeke with unnerving speed. His movements were raw and predatory, each step a deliberate act of violence. Zeke felt the ground tremble with each pounce, his own sneakers barely keeping him one step ahead.
A flash of red and blue in his peripheral vision was all the warning he got before Cap's shield ricocheted off a nearby SUV, the collision sending a cascade of sparks into the air. Zeke ducked with a startled yelp, the shield's passage so close that he could feel its wake tugging at his hair.
"Seriously?" he yelled, spinning around mid-dodge and firing off a quick Mana Burst. The blue bolt streaked toward Cap, but the super-soldier sidestepped it with practiced ease, his movements smooth and precise. Zeke's blast hit nothing but air. "Didn't your mom ever tell you not to throw sharp objects?"
Cap didn't dignify the question with a response. Instead, he caught the rebounding shield mid-spin and hurled it back with speed that made Zeke's heart stutter. The disc became a blur, a deadly, spinning missile that Zeke barely managed to twist away from. The shield's edge just barely grazed his sleeve, and the fabric sizzled from the friction.
Zeke stumbled, his feet skidding on the asphalt as he regained his balance. Behind him, a car alarm wailed to life as Wolverine's claws raked across the hood with a screech that set Zeke's teeth on edge. Steam hissed up from the engine, forming a hazy backdrop as Wolverine locked eyes with him. A feral grin spread across the mutant's face, teeth bared like an animal that had cornered its prey.
"Here, kitty kitty," Zeke muttered under his breath, raising his glowing hands as he funneled energy into them. He could feel the warmth building in his palms, the tingling hum of power that made his nerves buzz. Please work, please work…
The first Mana Burst hit Wolverine square in the chest, forcing him to stagger back a step, but it wasn't enough to slow him. Zeke unleashed another barrage, peppering the mutant with bursts of blue light that struck like a drumbeat. Wolverine growled low in his throat, shielding his face with one arm as he pushed forward, his determination as unyielding as the claws he wielded.
Zeke backpedaled, his sneakers squeaking against the pavement as he fought to maintain distance. His heel struck something solid—a moment of panic flared as he realized what it was. Cap's shield.
"Oh, crap," Zeke muttered, spinning around just in time to see Captain America closing in with a determined glare.
"Gotcha now, kid," Cap said, his voice low and rumbling like an oncoming storm.
Thinking fast, Zeke dropped into a crouch, rolling forward and sliding between Cap's legs. The maneuver was clumsy—barely rehearsed—but it worked. He popped up on the other side, his hands already glowing with energy.
"Mana Impact!" Zeke shouted, slamming both hands forward and unleashing a point-blank blast. The energy erupted in a brilliant flash, striking Cap square in the back and sending him stumbling forward—right into Wolverine.
The two collided with a heavy, bone-jarring thud that left them both momentarily tangled. Zeke didn't stick around to admire his work. He bolted for cover, his lungs burning as he sprinted toward a nearby pickup truck. He skidded to a halt behind it, leaning against the side as he tried to catch his breath.
The reprieve was short-lived. A flicker of motion caught his eye, and Zeke's head snapped upward just in time to see Ultimate Cap vault over the truck in a single, effortless leap. His arm was pulled back, shield at the ready.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Fuck!" Zeke hissed, pushing off the truck as the shadow of the shield loomed closer.
Zeke ducked under the spinning shield, the edges slicing through the air with a high-pitched whistle that made his heart jump into his throat. He felt the wind rush past just inches above his head, ruffling his hair, before the shield ricocheted off a nearby van with a deafening clang. Without missing a beat, Zeke fired off a Mana Burst, the glowing projectile slamming into Cap's chest and sending him tumbling back through the air. The impact was satisfying, sure, but Zeke barely had time to register it before Cap hit the ground, rolled smoothly, and sprang to his feet in one fluid motion.
How does he kip-up in body armor? Zeke thought, grimacing as the man closed the distance in a blur of speed.
> Mana Burst Lv Up! (Lv 38)
"Man, you guys really don't know when to quit, huh?" Zeke called out breathlessly, retreating behind a battered minivan. The words barely left his mouth before the shield came screaming toward him again. It hit the van with enough force to shatter the windows, spraying Zeke with a hail of thick safety glass. He flinched, instinctively throwing up an arm to shield his face.
These dudes are relentless!
Above him, Wolverine crouched atop an SUV, his claws digging into the metal roof with a hideous screech. He bared his teeth in a sharp, wolfish grin, his gaze locked onto Zeke like a predator to prey. "Quit?" he snarled, his voice guttural and raw. "I'm just gettin' warmed up, bub. Gonna enjoy peelin' the meat off your scrawny bones."
Zeke's stomach churned, a wave of nausea rising at the graphic imagery. "Gross," he muttered, shaking his head as he edged out of cover. This guy's seriously messed up.
The next few moments blurred into chaos. The super-soldier's shield whistled through the air again, a streak of red, white, and blue that Zeke barely managed to avoid. He ducked and rolled as the shield slammed into a car door, crumpling it like paper. The sharp crunch of metal made Zeke wince. Too close!
But the shield was the least of his problems. Wolverine moved with terrifying speed, leaping from the SUV and slashing downward in a single, savage motion. Zeke twisted just in time, but not fast enough to completely dodge. The claws raked across his arm, tearing through his jacket sleeve like tissue paper. Pain flared, sharp and hot, as blood welled from the shallow cuts.
-25 HP
"Again with the jacket?" Zeke hissed, clutching at his arm as he stumbled back a few steps. The sting was sharp but not debilitating. Then he realized something that made his breath hitch. The injury was surface-level. Barely a scratch.
Wait a second... These can't be real adamantium claws. I'd be minus an arm if they were.
Before he could follow that thought any further, Captain America's voice boomed across the lot, commanding and unyielding. "Stand down, son! This doesn't have to get any uglier than it already is."
Zeke glanced up, meeting the man's icy gaze with a defiant glare of his own. His fists began to glow as he channeled energy into them, the crackling blue light reflecting off the scattered glass around him. "Funny," Zeke shot back, breathless but steady, "I was about to say the same thing to you, Gramps."
Cap didn't flinch at the jab, his stance unwavering. Zeke stepped forward and swung, a glowing hook aimed straight for the shield. The punch connected with a resounding clang that echoed like a bell, the force reverberating up Zeke's arm and making his teeth grit. Cap staggered back a step, his boots skidding against the pavement, but he recovered quickly. Too quickly.
Cap retaliated with a sharp, calculated kick, his boot driving into Zeke's stomach with brutal efficiency. The impact hit like a battering ram, lifting Zeke off his feet and sending him hurtling backward. He crashed into the side of a parked car, the metal denting under the force.
-155
-55
> Concussion (Moderate):
>
> * -10% INT
> * -5% WIS
> * -5% Reflexes
> * -5% Accuracy
>
> Recovery: 4 Hours
For a second, all Zeke could do was gasp, the wind completely knocked out of him. Pain bloomed across his ribs as he struggled to pull air into his lungs. His chest heaved, his vision swimming.
"Should've stayed down," Cap growled, his voice cutting through the haze like a knife.
Zeke tried to push off the car, his muscles screaming in protest, but Cap was already on him. The man's fist swung in a clean, brutal arc, slamming into Zeke's jaw. Pain exploded behind his eyes, white-hot and blinding.
-239
Stars burst in his vision, and the taste of copper flooded his mouth as he stumbled back, barely able to keep his footing.
Zeke blinked away the stars clouding his vision, gritting his teeth against the throbbing ache in his jaw. Focus, idiot! His own internal voice snapped at him like an impatient coach. He didn't have time to dwell—he barely managed to throw up a Mana Shield as Wolverine lunged, claws slashing down with savage precision. The translucent energy barrier flared brightly on impact, crackling under the strain as the adamantium claws screeched against it.
The force of Wolverine's attack pushed Zeke off-balance, and he stumbled sideways, frantically backpedaling to put distance between him and the mutant's relentless onslaught. But just as he found his footing, a wave of heat prickled the back of his neck—a fist aimed squarely for his head. Zeke ducked instinctively, his muscles screaming in protest. Cap's punch sailed overhead, and the sheer force of the near-miss left Zeke's ears ringing.
Instead of finding its target, the blow connected with Wolverine's face in a sickening crack. The mutant roared, sent flying backward as he trailed blood.
"Sorry, bub!" Cap grunted, but the tension in his jaw made it clear he wasn't that sorry.
Zeke didn't waste the opening. He scrambled back further, putting the mangled remains of a minivan between himself and the two attackers. His breaths came in short, uneven gasps, each one a reminder of how much this fight was draining him. The super-soldier rounded the vehicle with predatory intent, his shield gleaming in the fractured sunlight filtering through the chaos. His glare was like steel, cutting through Zeke's momentary reprieve.
"You've got spunk, kid. I'll give you that," Cap said, his voice carrying that authoritative rasp that sent chills down Zeke's spine. "But spunk won't save you!"
Cap closed the distance with startling speed, moving like a battering ram in human form. His punches were deliberate, precise, each one whistling through the air with enough force to shatter concrete. Zeke ducked and wove, every near-miss sending a shockwave that rattled his teeth. The teen's reactions were fast but strained, his muscles already burning from the effort of staying one step ahead.
I could seriously use more Power Boost right now, Zeke thought, narrowly avoiding a hook that would've taken his head off. He twisted on his heel, sweat dripping down his temples as he evaded another brutal strike. But it doesn't make me any tougher, and trying to keep it active while fighting two-on-one—
A haymaker sailed past his head, Cap's fist overextending just enough to throw him off balance. The soldier's eyes widened briefly, his surprise clear even beneath the tactical mask.
"Mana Impact!" Zeke shouted, seizing the moment. He thrust both hands forward, unleashing a cone of energy that rippled through the air in a crackling burst. The blue light surged into Cap's chest, sending him flying backward into a parked car. The vehicle groaned under the impact, the metal denting inward with a resounding crunch.
> Mana Impact Lv Up! (Lv 12)
Zeke didn't get a chance to enjoy the victory. Cap was already rising, his face red with fury as he ripped his shield off the ground. "You little coward!" he roared, his voice shaking with rage. "Fight me like a man, you yellow-bellied punk!"
"Like I said, still thirteen, dude," Zeke retorted, his tone dripping with forced bravado as he tried to catch his breath. His glowing fists clenched tighter, his legs trembling beneath him. "I can fight like a scrappy little boy, though. That work for ya, Gramps?"
Cap snarled, swinging his shield in a deadly arc. Zeke ducked low, the edge passing just inches over his head with a metallic hum. He countered with a Mana-enhanced uppercut that caught the soldier square under the chin, snapping his head back with enough force to stagger him.
Cap recovered almost instantly, grabbing Zeke's arm in a crushing grip and yanking him forward. Before Zeke could react, Cap flipped him over his shoulder with brutal efficiency, slamming him into the pavement. The ground seemed to explode beneath him, pain radiating through his back as he hit the asphalt hard.
Cap raised his boot to stomp, but Zeke rolled out of the way just in time. The pavement cracked where the soldier's foot landed, jagged fissures spreading outward. Zeke scrambled to his feet, his hands flaring with energy as he prepared to retaliate.
Then he heard it—a low, guttural growl that cut through the chaos like a blade. The sound sent a shiver up Zeke's spine, primal and filled with menace. Both Zeke and Cap turned toward the source, their fight momentarily forgotten.
Wolverine stood at the edge of the fray, blood dripping from his split lip as his claws gleamed in the fractured sunlight. His shoulders were hunched, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. The growl rumbled from deep in his throat, vibrating the air around him like the prelude to a storm.
Boy and man turned to face the mutant at the sound.
"Enough yappin', you two! It's past time I gut this runt like a fish!" The wild-eyed mutant lunged with terrifying speed, adamantium claws poised to tear into Zeke's midsection.
Time seemed to slow as Zeke watched the claws approaching, his eyes wide. At the last second, he twisted, using a screamed "Mana Thrust!" to propel himself to the side. Wolverine's trajectory was slightly off, and instead of shredding into Genesis's chest, his claws sank deep into the driver's side door of a nearby sedan with a metallic screech.
"What in the flamin' hell?" Wolverine snarled, his face twisting into an animalistic mask of frustration as he tugged at his now-stuck claws. The adamantium blades scraped against the door they'd buried into, sending up sparks that hissed and died in the air. His thick neck strained, veins bulging like cables, but the claws refused to budge.
Zeke's eyes locked on the mutant. Now's my chance! Please let this work…
With a sharp inhale, Zeke poured his remaining energy into his body, the blue glow of Mana surging around him in rippling waves. His muscles hummed with power as his vision sharpened, the world narrowing to just him and his target.
"Mana CHARGE!" he screamed, his voice cutting through the chaos like a battle cry as he launched himself forward at full speed. Wolverine's eyes widened, a flash of surprise breaking through his feral rage, just before Zeke slammed into him like a freight train.
The impact rattled Zeke's teeth and sent a shockwave through his body, the kind of bone-jarring collision he was sure he'd regret later. Wolverine was ripped free from the lamppost with a screech of metal, both of them tumbling through the air in a tangle of limbs. They crashed into a brick wall across the street with an ear-splitting crunch that echoed like thunder.
Zeke hit the ground hard, landing in an awkward sprawl as the dust settled around him. His head spun, his ears ringing from the impact. With a groan, he pushed himself to his feet, his arms shaking from exertion.
Then he saw it.
Wolverine's body lay crumpled against the wall… but something was wrong. His limbs were bent at unnatural angles, jagged edges poking through what should've been flesh. The mutant's torso sagged oddly, revealing seams that split apart like cheap plastic under pressure. Zeke blinked, his mind stuttering as the broken pieces of Wolverine's body crumbled further, revealing a hollow, disturbingly artificial interior.
"What the actual hell…" Zeke muttered, his stomach twisting at the sight. He took an involuntary step back as the remains disintegrated further.
> + 1750 XP
> + 1 VIT
> Simulated Adamantium Sample (Uncommon)
> Enhanced Protein Capsules
> Self-Repairing Fabric Swatch
> Prototype Adamantium Blade (Rare)
> Wolverine's Dog Tags (Uncommon)
> Liquid Adamantium Coating (Rare)
> Mana Charge Lv Up! (Lv 3)
The notifications blinked at the edge of Zeke's vision, but his attention stayed fixed on the scene in front of him. 1750 XP? The plastic-like remains glinted in the sunlight, a chilling reminder of just how artificial the thing he'd been fighting was.
"Wolverine! No!" Cap's anguished cry shattered the moment. Zeke turned his head just in time to see the super-soldier standing at the edge of the lot, his shield trembling in his grasp. His voice cracked with grief and fury. "What did you do to him, you commie bastard?"
Zeke staggered, his legs trembling from exertion as he turned to face the enraged soldier. His breath came in ragged gasps, but his lips curled into a defiant grin despite himself. "Sent him back… to the toy store, looks like," he said, his voice shaky but laced with just enough sarcasm to mask the tremor of exhaustion. Cupping his hands, he began gathering energy between them, the pulsing blue light intensifying as it swirled and coalesced. "Looks like you're up next for the return bin, Capsicle!"
Cap's face twisted into something ugly, his chiseled features contorting with pure, unbridled rage. "Liberator scum!" he roared, his entire body surging with motion as he hurled his shield with everything he had. The adamantium disc screamed through the air, a deadly blur aimed straight for Zeke's chest.
But Zeke was ready this time. The energy in his hands surged to a crescendo as he thrust them forward with a shout. "Mana Wave!"
The torrent of blue-white energy erupted like a tidal wave, engulfing the incoming shield in an instant. The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the parking lot, the force enough to rattle windows and kick up debris. The shield was thrown off its deadly course, spinning wildly before clattering to the ground.
Cap wasn't so lucky.
The wave slammed into him with the force of a freight train, lifting him off his feet and hurling him backward. His body began to disintegrate mid-flight, breaking apart into shards of polymer and metal that rained down in a shower of broken pieces.
> + 1500 XP
> Torn Kevlar Strap (Junk)
> Vial of Endurance Elixir
> Magnetic Glove Lining
> America's Star (Uncommon)
> Cracked Polymer Joint (Junk)
> Shield of Patriotic Defense (Rare)
"1500 XP? Lame!" Zeke muttered, dropping his hands as the energy dissipated, leaving him standing alone amidst the wreckage. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, his limbs feeling like jelly as the adrenaline began to fade.
He glanced around at the chaotic battlefield—the green giant still stuffing his face at the far end of the lot, Captain Atom locked in a spectacular aerial brawl with Thor and Iron Man—and shook his head in disbelief.
"Even still," Zeke muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the distant sounds of destruction, "that… that was weird as hell even for me." He surveyed the bizarre scene again, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the carnage. "Seriously, what in the actual hell is goin' on here?"