Chapter 57 to Chapter 60
In the remote, uninhabited western region of Russia, a simple house stood amidst trees and vegetation. A pastoral-style home, it was surrounded by vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and a pig pen.
Natasha, Alexei, and Yelena approached the house, walking side by side. As they moved, Natasha and Yelena's eyes flicked downward for a moment, noticing a subtle change in the ground beneath their feet, though neither paid it much attention.
When they reached the barbed wire fence, a faint movement came from inside the house. Their arrival had clearly caught the attention of its owner. The door creaked open, and a woman stepped out, holding a shotgun aimed at them.
But when she saw Natasha, Yelena, and Alexei, the woman froze in shock. The sunlight revealed her appearance—a tall figure, mature and beautiful, dressed in a red-and-white plaid shirt and jeans. Her long golden-red hair added to her feminine allure, but her sharp eyes carried a cold, detached air, like someone who had taken lives without remorse.
As Natasha got a good look at the woman's face, her own sharp and cold demeanor softened with recognition.
"Natasha, Yelena, Alexei?" the woman muttered in disbelief, frowning as she lowered the shotgun.
Natasha, Yelena, and Alexei opened the gate and walked down the winding path toward her.
"Melina~~," Alexei called out, his unshaven face lit with excitement. Seeing his lover and their family reunited, he was happy but visibly nervous.
Melina stood on the front steps, looking at the three of them before turning around to open the door. "Come in."
Without hesitation, Alexei hurried inside. Natasha and Yelena exchanged a glance before following him.
The inside of the house was spacious, a classic example of Eastern European rural homes with wooden structures. The walls, decorations, and furniture were simple and unassuming, typical of an ordinary rural household.
Melina led them to a long wooden table and gestured for them to sit. After brewing several cups of coffee, she placed the mugs in front of them and sat down herself.
A heavy silence filled the air, making the atmosphere awkward. Alexei's lips quivered with excitement as he looked between Natasha, Yelena, and Melina. His eyes were filled with joy and satisfaction.
Yelena stared down at her coffee, while Natasha, feeling a mix of emotions, finally broke the silence.
"Have you been living here for long?"
Melina nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "About four years."
After finishing her drink, Melina looked at the three of them, her brow furrowed. "Dreykov's death and the fall of the Red Room—was that your doing?"
Yelena lifted her head and glanced at Natasha, her eyes saying more than words ever could. "To be precise, it was Natasha and the people behind her who did it."
Natasha ignored Yelena's glance, wanting to take advantage of the moment to uncover the truth. She looked at Melina, her eyes lowering slightly. "You... what exactly were you? A former instructor? Retired?"
Melina hesitated before answering, her voice quiet. "I was just working behind the scenes, continuing something Dreykov had envisioned."
Natasha pressed on, curiosity in her tone. "And what was that?"
After a moment of silence, Melina sighed. "It was a project... something to control the will of those children."
"Control?" Natasha, Yelena, and Alexei were visibly startled.
Melina, however, wasn't surprised by their reaction. She locked eyes with Natasha. "When you defected all those years ago, Dreykov saw it as proof that the 'products' he created had a fatal flaw—self-awareness. After years of turning children into weapons, he couldn't accept that they might develop their own ideologies."
She continued, her voice steady but grim. "So, he came up with an idea. He wanted to create something that would take away the children's ability to escape his control. He sought a way to manipulate their consciousness completely."
"And I was responsible for researching it."
Yelena couldn't stay silent any longer. "But how is that even possible?" she asked. "Brainwashing is one thing—it's the typical way to make soldiers loyal, but it's a long process. Even then, a brainwashed soldier can start doubting themselves one day. Controlling will with a drug? People have tried, but it's nearly impossible."
"What you're saying is true, but we've already made some progress. Pheromones," Melina said, her voice steady. "By implanting a chip that controls the nervous system, we can essentially achieve mental control. The person implanted with it can't disobey an order. Dreykov could issue a command remotely, and the chip would force everyone under its influence to comply without question."
Her voice dropped even lower. "Including orders to asphyxiate themselves."
Yelena's eyes widened in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me!" she exclaimed, a chill running down her spine. The thought of having such a chip inside her, turning her into nothing more than a mindless robot, was horrifying. Natasha's breathing became heavier, and Alexei clenched his fists in anger.
"That damn bastard!" Alexei growled. "He lied to me, locked me up in that hellhole of a prison, and then he did this? He deserves to rot in hell for this."
Melina looked down, her expression conflicted. "I was the one who developed it," she admitted, her voice laced with pain. "Every step of the way, I felt the agony and torture of what I was doing, but I had no choice."
Her eyes flickered with emotion. As an instructor, she wasn't supposed to have feelings for the children she trained, but as a woman, it was impossible for her to shut off all emotions. Especially when it came to Natasha and Yelena, whom she had come to see as her own daughters.
Receiving this mission tore her apart. It felt like she was being dragged through hell, and yet, she lacked the power—or the courage—to disobey Dreykov's orders. For years, she carried that burden. But then, two years ago, something shifted. Dreykov changed, seemingly overnight, and the entire situation took a sudden turn.
That change made her suspicious, and she cut off all ties with him. Only now, with Natasha, Yelena, and Alexei standing before her, did she realize the truth. Dreykov's transformation, his death, and the collapse of the Red Room—everything was connected to Natasha.
…
Melina felt an overwhelming sense of relief—relief like she had never known before. With Dreykov dead, the Red Room dismantled, and the children finally free, she no longer had anything to fear. This was the most peaceful period of her life. No more orders, no more training, and no more watching those children endure brutal suffering.
After a moment of calm, Melina turned to Natasha. "You saved those children, and in doing so, you saved us too. Natasha, was it difficult?"
In her mind, she believed it must have come at a great cost—one far beyond simple effort.
But Natasha gently shook her head. "It wasn't hard," she said softly. "I was just lucky."
She thought back to the fateful decision she made while being hunted down. That choice had led her to meet Leon, Wanda, and Sergei. She would never forget the words of the young man with the calm, jade-like demeanor, who spoke to her without even glancing back. "Maybe I can give you a place to stay," he had said, a hint of carelessness in his voice.
Yet, those words had been enough to create a small crack in the walls around her closed heart.
That day, Natasha witnessed something she had never seen before. The wooden house nestled in the mountains wasn't luxurious, but it radiated a warmth that felt foreign to her. It was a home for children who, like her, had suffered tragic and painful pasts.
Leon was like an eternal sun, always shining a gentle, warm light on everyone around him. He patiently taught those children, always respecting them, even her, the newest addition. He never doubted anyone; instead, he used his sincerity to dissolve the shadows clouding their hearts.
He led the children—and her—out of the darkness and onto a brighter path.
As Natasha thought about her time with Leon, Wanda, and the other children, a soft, warm expression appeared on her usually guarded face. Melina, Yelena, and Alexei were stunned by the unexpected display of emotion.
Melina, noticing the shift, smiled knowingly. "It seems I was mistaken. You've met someone very special."
Natasha's gaze softened as she replied, "Because of him I got to have a family again."
"Family..." Melina murmured, repeating the word as though savoring its meaning. She looked at Natasha's serene expression, then asked, "Can you tell me about him?"
Natasha was caught off guard. Her instinct was to refuse, to keep that part of her life private. But when she met Melina's curious, gentle eyes, she hesitated and fell silent.
....
A cordon had been set up around the Century Building, extending about a hundred meters down the street. New York police had parked patrol cars to block off the area, preventing bystanders from approaching. Officers were stationed around the perimeter, ensuring that no one could get too close.
At the entrance to the Century Building's corridor, several officers were busy conducting an on-site investigation. Among them, a middle-aged man in uniform entered the scene.
A police officer spotted him immediately and approached. "Chief Stacy."
"What's the situation?" George asked.
The officer gave a quick rundown. "Based on our investigation, there was a serious gunfight here. We've recovered numerous firearms, including heavy weaponry and grenade launchers."
George's eyes widened in shock. "Heavy weaponry?"
While guns were not uncommon in the United States, especially in a city like New York, where crime rates were high and gangs were prevalent, heavy weaponry was another matter entirely. Firearms, both legal and illegal, were everywhere, but heavy-duty weapons were rare and strictly controlled. Anyone caught using them would immediately become a high-priority target for law enforcement.
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A gun battle involving this level of firepower in the Century Building? If word got out, it would ignite a wave of public outrage, with people demanding to know how such an event could occur under the watch of the NYPD.
And the bad news wasn't over yet.
The officer continued, "And there's something strange about the whole scene."
He led George to the stairwell entrance, where other officers were conducting their investigation. As they ascended, the officer briefed George.
"From our survey, aside from the gunfight in the lobby, the most significant activity happened on the stairways."
"The battle there was intense—almost as if a hundred people were involved."
"Oddly, many of the stairs weren't destroyed."
As they climbed, George grew increasingly uneasy. Each level of the stairwell was scorched, the walls blackened as though by fire. There were also numerous craters of various sizes, and holes riddled the passage. When they finally reached the rooftop, things seemed relatively intact in comparison, though bullet holes were everywhere.
However, George's instincts kicked in. From the lobby on the first floor, through the stairwells, and now up to the roof, the scene was littered with guns, communicators, and other gear. But something critical was missing.
"Where are the bodies?" George demanded.
The officer, looking equally puzzled, took a deep breath. "That's the strangest part. There was a fierce gun battle throughout the entire building, and we responded within twenty minutes, cordoning off the area immediately."
"But we've only found one body."
What is going on here?!
George frowned. "What about the surveillance?"
The officer looked as if he'd seen a ghost. "All the surveillance footage from the entire street has been silently erased. It's a complete dead-end case. There's no way to verify anything."
"This building belongs to someone. What about the employees? Are they missing too?"
"Yes, they're all gone. We checked the records of every employee and director associated with the building, but no one can be located. It's as if they vanished into thin air."
George was filled with disbelief. What could this mean? Could everyone in the building have been reduced to ashes after the gun battle? It seemed impossible.
As George stood, frowning in thought, a group of uninvited guests arrived at the building's entrance. The elevator doors on the rooftop chimed and opened, revealing a group of figures in suits stepping out.
Hearing the commotion, George turned to face them.
The man leading the group, dressed in a sharp suit, approached and presented a document. "Chief Stacy, FBI Senior Agent John," he introduced himself, handing over the paperwork. "We have the authorization. We're now in charge of this case."
George flipped through the document, confirming that it was indeed an official authorization letter, complete with a special seal and code. He glanced at Senior Agent John, who was dressed sharply and claimed to be from the FBI. Unsure, George pulled out his phone to verify the situation.
After speaking with the director and confirming everything, George sighed in relief. "Steven," he called to one of his officers, "let's step back and let the FBI handle this."
With a nod to Agent John, George and his team began wrapping up and took the elevator down, leaving the case to the federal agents.
Inside the elevator, George's mind raced. This whole case was strange—every aspect of it. There were too many oddities, too many things that didn't add up. And the fact that the FBI had taken over so quickly? That wasn't normal procedure. Usually, transferring a case took time, but this felt almost immediate.
Something about this situation was off.
The strange nature of this case made it difficult to handle. If it wasn't solved quickly, public opinion would likely put the blame squarely on the police department. Though George was intrigued by the mystery, he wasn't stubborn. If the FBI wanted to take over, it was probably for the best. The speed at which the case was transferred likely meant the director had pulled some strings.
As they reached the first floor, sure enough, a group of suited agents had already set up a cordon and were keeping a large number of reporters at bay. The moment George and his officers emerged, the reporters thrust their microphones forward, bombarding them with questions. But George and his team ignored them, heading straight to their police cars and driving off.
Meanwhile, up on the rooftop, the FBI agents got to work. They didn't bother with the discarded weapons scattered across the area. Instead, they used advanced devices, including infrared scanners, to survey the scene. Before long, red footprints became visible on the ground. One of the agents approached Senior Agent John.
"Sir, based on the footprints and blood samples we've collected, we've confirmed that this was a gathering place for vampires."
"And they were all killed," the agent continued.
John nodded and pulled out a tablet, connecting to a video call. A moment later, a cold, composed female figure appeared on the screen.
"Agent Hill," John greeted.
"John, how are things over there?" Hill asked.
"We've confirmed it was a vampire gathering. Around 150 to 200 members, all dead," John reported.
Hill's expression shifted slightly. The number was more than she expected. John continued, "They were heavily armed, but from the moment the attackers breached the building until all the vampires were killed, it took no more than five minutes. Maybe even less."
"I see. Investigate thoroughly. I'll grant you full access to all resources here in New York," Hill responded calmly.
"Understood," John replied before ending the call. Handing the tablet to another agent, he glanced around the rooftop and let out a sigh. All the street surveillance had been wiped, with no way to recover it. Whoever did this wasn't ordinary, and investigating them would be a challenge.
"Well..." he muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, under the majestic waterfall of the Seven Cities of Sky Blade, Leon stood, bare-chested, as water cascaded down on him. With Keisha's assistance and her precise calculations, he trained relentlessly—honing the three Haki techniques, refining his body, and mastering his devil fruit powers.
Leon's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a call from Natasha.
She mentioned that Melina and her family wanted to meet him, which caught Leon off guard. He knew Natasha was reconnecting with her sister and family, but why was he suddenly involved?
Despite his surprise, Leon didn't turn down the request.
"Tonight? Sure, I'll be there on time," he replied before ending the call.
Standing under the waterfall, Leon remained unmoved by the force of the rushing water. The intense pressure didn't bend his posture. Instead, his right hand began to glow with a dark luster, and a terrifying aura solidified around him. Wisps of red lightning suddenly sparked into existence, crackling and coiling around his arm.
His eyes, filled with a primal intensity, focused sharply as he compressed his energy. Finally, with a swift upward strike, his fist tore through the air.
Boom!
The force of his punch, enveloped in red lightning, caused the hundred-meter-high waterfall to reverse its flow. The water shot into the sky like an explosion, thousands of tons of it suspended momentarily before falling back down as a rainstorm, drenching everything below.
Water droplets clung to Leon's hair, sliding down his forehead, temples, and over his perfectly defined muscles, giving him an almost ethereal, rain-soaked appearance.
It was a striking, solitary moment, witnessed only by Leon—and Keisha, who silently observed from afar.
"The combination of pure mental energy and physical energy results in a high-intensity output," Keisha remarked, her graceful figure appearing beside the river. She gazed at Leon with her captivating eyes, explaining, "But it places severe demands on the user. The average human physique simply can't handle it."
Leon shrugged and jumped in front of her, his movements casual. Keisha snapped her fingers, conjuring a towel out of thin air, which she handed to him. He took it, wiping his hair as they strolled along the riverside path.
"How's the analysis going?" he asked.
"I've run a rough simulation," Keisha replied. "The three forms of haki are primarily driven by mental power. That mental energy can be stimulated through specific techniques. In addition, it works in conjunction with physical strength, enhancing both. If you're ready, Captain Leon, we can begin the process at any time."
"Let's hold off until I return. And the fruit?" Leon inquired.
Keisha's eyes sparkled with knowledge as she elaborated. "Your Devil Fruit energy is unusual. Once it reaches a certain threshold, it can influence matter and even alter fundamental laws. You can develop a wide range of abilities by manipulating light energy—thermal effects, light quanta, and even manipulating hot and cold light sources. Once your body is strong enough, you'll be capable of moving at the speed of light, or even beyond. The potential is enormous."
Keisha, speaking from the vast technological wisdom of angelic civilization, considered the Glint-Glint Fruit's potential remarkable.
"If you push it far enough," she continued, "and your body can handle the immense energy, you could evolve into something like a star—a walking, human-shaped sun."
…
In a simple country house, night had settled over the land, casting everything into darkness. Only the quiet murmur of voices could be heard from inside the hut. In the kitchen, Natasha, Melina, and Yelena were busy with preparations.
Suddenly, Natasha's eyebrows twitched as if sensing something. She glanced out the window. "Leon's here," she said softly.
Melina and Yelena exchanged looks before speaking in unison, "Let's go out and greet him." It was, after all, common courtesy to welcome a guest.
Melina removed her apron, and the three of them, along with Alexei—who was wearing a simple plaid shirt—stepped outside. The night was still and dark, with no sign of anyone on the road ahead.
"Is he black? Cause I can't see him," Alexei said with a grin.
Melina and Yelena looked at Natasha in confusion, but she merely smiled, gesturing with her chin as if to say, "Wait and see."
Melina and the others followed Natasha's gaze. They saw a figure emerge from the darkness, accompanied by subtle ripples in the air as if space itself had shifted. Though the appearance wasn't flashy, it was enough to leave Melina, Yelena, and Alexei in awe.
As Leon came closer, everyone stepped outside the fence to meet him.
Under the moonlight, Leon, wearing a red coat, approached with steady steps. His eyes briefly met Natasha's before turning to the others.
"Ms. Melina, Mr. Alexei, and Ms. Yelena," he greeted them, his voice calm and respectful. "My name is Leon. Natasha has probably told you about me. Thank you for inviting me."
"Wow, what a guy," Alexei muttered, impressed. Despite his rugged nature, he couldn't help but admire Leon at first glance. Leon's strong, perfectly sculpted physique was evident even through his coat, especially his defined abdominal muscles. As a super soldier, Alexei could feel an intense aura of power radiating from Leon, far greater than his own.
Melina and Yelena noticed this as well, both satisfied with their first impression of him. Yelena, in particular, felt intrigued by Leon. While he matched her expectations of Natasha's ally, she was eager to uncover more of his secrets.
After some polite exchanges, everyone headed back into the house. Dinner was almost ready, so they all gathered around a long wooden table, chatting while enjoying their meal.
Since Melina's family wasn't exactly an ordinary one, their conversations naturally took a different tone than what you'd hear at a regular family dinner. Especially Alexei, who, caught up in the atmosphere, started rambling. He went on and on about his time in the army, how he became a super soldier, and how he always wanted to compete with Captain America. At some point, he mentioned Dreykov, his anger flaring up as he loudly cursed, even saying he'd dig the guy out of his grave just to beat him up.
Melina and Yelena, both seasoned spies, were skilled in socializing and conversation, ensuring that the evening never became awkward. Leon, with his usual calm and friendly demeanor, contributed to the lively discussion, keeping everything smooth and light-hearted.
The atmosphere was warm and enjoyable—until Alexei drank too much. In his drunken state, he tried to arm-wrestle Leon, insisting on showing off his strength. It only added to how much everyone liked Leon.
After dinner, Melina and Natasha headed to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Alexei passed out on the sofa. Yelena, still full of energy, excitedly bombarded Leon with questions. Except for a few secrets, Leon didn't hold back, sharing a lot with her.
Yelena was quite satisfied with Leon's answers, even though she noticed he was holding back on some details. However, being smart, she knew better than to press further. Apart from Alexei, the whole family had top-tier emotional intelligence.
After chatting with the family for a while longer, Leon politely declined the offer to stay overnight. Instead, he activated the micro-wormhole transportation technology to leave. Natasha, though momentarily surprised, didn't dwell on it too much. She just felt that Leon carried more secrets than he let on—a sense of mystery that only made people want to dig deeper.
Upon returning to New York Manor, Leon's quiet arrival went unnoticed by the maids, who were still working. Inside the house, Sergei and the kids were out, and Leon didn't worry too much. With Kesiha's constant monitoring, any threat would be quickly detected, though few on Earth posed a real danger to them.
After a good meal, Leon settled into a balcony chair in the calm of the evening, sipping coffee and gazing up at the stars. The quiet and harmony of the night made him feel truly at peace.
Leon enjoyed moments like this—quiet and relaxing. In his previous life as an office worker, the constant pressure to secure a house, marriage, and financial stability had made life stressful. Even after coming to this world, he'd had to constantly plan and struggle to survive, especially with a group of children depending on him. Every step was a challenge.
Now that the Maximoff twins, Sergei, and the others had grown up, and with the Sky Blade No. 7, an angelic origin space battleship that seemed like a glitch in the universe, Leon could finally relax—at least to some extent. However, he was fully aware that in a world filled with gods and multiverse-level threats, an unexpected crisis could come at any time.
He knew his strength wasn't enough to handle some of the major events or cataclysmic forces out there. So, he still needed to grow stronger, but at least for now, he had the confidence to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Ironically, that peace didn't last long.
While he gazed at the stars, casually sipping his coffee, his body suddenly tensed as Keisha's voice echoed in his ear.
"Detecting space fluctuations outside Earth. Energy disturbance from another dimension," Keisha reported.
Leon stood up abruptly, placing his coffee cup on the table. He looked up at the sky, his eyes flashing with concern. Even without Keisha's warning, he had already sensed the fleeting presence of a terrifying aura—a power filled with darkness, death, and evil.
It was a force far beyond his current abilities.
"Such a dark, immense power... but it disappeared so quickly?" Leon frowned and asked, "Keisha, what's the energy intensity?"
"In terms of this universe's power scale, it's at the Skyfather level."