Chapter 7 – Control From Within

Nick Fury paced slowly around in his quarters, a blank expression on his face as he stared at the floor.

He’d just got off from a call with the World Security Council, which was something he loathed. Almost every time, it boils down to the same two conclusions, with them requesting more or making the man’s day a living Hell. There was no middle ground when discussing with the Council. There were a lot of things on his mind that he wanted to say with their demands during the call, but restrained himself as arguing with the old coots won’t get him anywhere, only a few ranks down the ladder.

Still, he couldn’t let this minor annoyance throw him off balance.

Taking one bottle from his drawer, that housed various alcoholic beverages to get him through the day, he poured himself a glass before focusing back on the computer. The moment his fingers graced the keyboard, he got a report from Coulson about debriefing several of their agents.

Holding in his disappointment at the poor timing, Fury drank the entire glass, before walking out of the room towards a different section of the Helicarrier.

Upon entering the meeting room, Fury didn't bother throwing a glance at anyone inside, the only exceptions being Coulson and Natasha Romanoff. There were plenty of assignments to hand out, with all the agents paying close attention when they would be called out. The only person to not pay any attention whatsoever was the red-headed assassin, listening in every now and again but there wasn't anything new or something she didn't already know.

The infamous Black Widow watched as the last agent left, her boredom disappearing as she will find out the reason for her being called. “What are we dealing with here anyway?” Natasha asked casually, crossing her arms while sitting at the edge of the table.

“That’s the thing, we barely know anything at all,” Nick answered while adding the finishing touches on the assignment he gave the members who left. “We might as well consider him nonexistent, appearing only a few times on camera, even then it’s nothing much to work with.”

Pressing a button on the keyboard, Fury brought up the very small file they had on the vigilante. Piquing her interest, Natasha stood up and walked closer to the screens to take a better look.

“Like I said, very little to work with.” With another press of a button, the first clip played, one where Fury studied numerous times before. The side of the building where two men were falling surrounded by water, the masked man walking to the flipped car. Lastly, the newest footage they were able to acquire, recorded from inside one of Aldrich Killian’s test facilities. While the primary focus was the unknown entity, Natasha’s eyes couldn’t turn away from Killian’s test subjects, barely recognizable from the picture she saw of the man before. The image froze and zoomed in on the monstrosity that was once Killian’s right-hand man.

“You were right… very little to work with.” Natasha said calmly while pulling all the images together with the very little amount of information about him. The gang that was apprehended not too long ago had ties with the group of scientists and armed men underneath that fish market. Meaning their new masked friend definitely paid them a visit. There is some information she can dig up from the two groups, although Natasha would like to know how he operates. While he wasn’t sloppy by any means, he wasn’t perfect, otherwise, he wouldn’t let this happen.

It was a challenge, just what Natasha wanted.

“What do you think? I can’t make a proper deduction with barely a page’s worth of data. Can’t tell what kind of angle he’s playing at. His movements seem… random, although that's not saying.”

“I’m not sure, but at the moment, I don’t care,” Nick spoke without any emotion while eyeing the images. “I want to know every single detail about him. We don’t even know the full extent of his powers, but we can safely assume he’s an Enhanced. We’re not sure what his allegiance is, or what kind of incidents these are. I feel like he won't give you too much trouble, anything else would be just a waste of resources. As of now, we have a new player in town. For what we know, he could be on our side, or a dangerous and problematic threat we’ll have to deal with.”

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“Owww, this is now becoming insufferable!”

I groaned while leaning on the wall of the bathroom, my mouth wide open, the toothbrush rapidly moving all around in my mouth, with a small stream of water coming in every now and then.

It has been several days since my dance with the Brotherhood and the pain was still present but decreased ever since I took some time off. I’d tried using some methods to make my body recover sooner, the only problem was that I couldn’t use the more effective ones because every time that I did, my wounds would act up, making it difficult to complete till the end. I’d only managed to make a quick potion, something that would ease my head, it being the most prominent area that still caused pain. It being so simple to make, didn’t result in it being all that helpful, but did get the job done.

Finishing up in the bathroom, I made my way to my living room, I made several gestures to enter my newly acquired Pocket Dimension! The moment I learned teleportation, this one was the most struggle I had on learning the technique, but the number of days and countless hours studying and perfecting the requirements in Astral Form to make it, I can safely say that it was worth it.

As for its appearance, there was a lot of variety. Most of the place was made out of mahogany wood, giving it a matching appearance with the furniture that fits the overall aesthetic. The large area was covered by a silver dome, something that could be easily changed on a whim. On the edge of the room, there were four sets of circular staircases, two going on the room below, while the remaining ones led up to the second floor. The second floor had lots of room around the corners, giving the first floor a nice wide view of the customizable dome. It served to be the room to tinker with various creations and inventions, with plenty of bookshelves to be filled and materials to house. The main floor served for relaxing or laying back, a spacious table in the far right corner. It was still pretty empty, although that will change when I figure out what else to put in here.

Another piece of decorations I couldn’t resist to add, multiple stone figures holding up the second floor. There were a total of four of them with identical Spartan armor, their heads only being the only difference in appearance, having the head of a lion. Three were the same size, except the one far down, who towered over the wide table. The kitchen, which had zero technology whatsoever, was outstanding by magical means.

Sitting down at my brewing station, one wave was enough to pull the ingredients on the table closer, focusing on the see-through beaker that contained the potion I so desperately needed at the moment.

Up until today, I caused a miniature explosion by accidentally adding a few extra drops of the needed red liquid, almost poisoning the air at first when the heat temperature was too low for the potion to adjust and acid-like substance when missing the proper window to add the following ingredient. I’ll consider myself lucky since I wanted to experiment with potions that are a tad bit difficult to make this early on if not careful.

Potion brewing, was one tricky and complicated field of work if I might say. But on second thought, I've survived the training phase of my own cooking, so I see this as a reminder that the utmost delicate hands and precision were required to exceed in the craft.

Something I took up as a personal challenge.

The potion needed twelve hours to cool off before I could finish it, but when it was time, I threw in a few pinches of green dust Helix I got somewhere from the outskirts of Russia, and so, it was done. I waited a few more minutes to see if this is the one and judging by its behavior and the very, very detailed instructions, it was a success. Taking a small glass flask, easily filling it to its limit. With just one whiff, it sent a chill down my spine by the split second of taking in the smell.

Well, I hope it tastes better.

Taking one small sip, I was close to spitting all the liquid out, but barely restrained myself, so I simply swallowed it.

“Christ, it tastes like a mixture of monkey piss and grape juice.”

Ignoring the horrid taste, I kept on sipping till I got used to it. I stood up and went down to sit on one of the couches. Drinking almost half of the liquid inside the flask, I could slowly feel the pain fading away. After a few days of being confined to my couch, I’m finally able to move around without much trouble. The muscle strain I could live with, but the feeling of your head hurting like it was used as a drum, not so much. Later, I’ll start off preparing other potions I had in mind, but right now, let’s finish another room I was planning on setting up. Before I got up, I took a wooden figurine that I left overnight so it could be ready as soon as possible.

Walking up to the wall with a stone panel on it, doing the necessary gestures required for the wall to move forward a few inches before sliding upwards. Inside, it contained my soon to be training room. The Mirror Dimension, which I was finally able to access, still didn’t mean other training methods were unwelcomed. The inside was spacious,

It was a room dedicated for various training sessions, the walls enchanted so even fairly powerful attacks won’t damage them, and if they are, they will repair themselves. The room was spacious but rather empty at the moment, itself was like a pseudo-Mirror Dimension that was easily accessible and is used for non-magical training. Because I was out of commission from using heavy levels of magic until I properly recovered, but in about thirty minutes to an hour, I will be able to at least put in some physical training in the meantime, something that will come in useful to stay in shape.

Reaching the center of the room, I placed the figurine down on the floor. Slapping my hands together, then twisting them to activate the figurine’s ability. Over some time, the size increased exponentially, its final height towering over me by a few inches. It was a training dummy that was used back at the temple, and it could be enchanted to fit the required training session. The dummy had a bulky build, only the joints marked with a thin gray line, not many other characteristics in terms of appearance, only having a helmet that only left opened its lower parts of its face.

Taking out the other pieces of paper I grabbed, one by one holding it up in front of the dummy, the small pieces disintegrating and letting out red dust that faded away. It was an indication the move set was transferred. Kamar-Taj used these dolls for training, and this particular paper to choose what kind of fighting style you want it to use, making it optimal for hand-to-hand combat training for Sorceress. I'll have to add more types of fighting styles to get the full advantage of it.

That's for next time. I went back to my little work station, ready to begin with my next experiment, creating armor.

The robes were really comfortable and adding more enchantments over the next few days, but it still wasn't the most optimal choice for protection. For starters, only certain clothing can be turned into armor, but the metal had a better structure that when combined with various enchantments, made it resistant to plenty of things. On regular circumstances, sorcerers didn't bother with using it as they stay secret and only tackle mystical threats.

But as for me, who deals with pretty much anything, will be really handy.

This had been on my mind for some time now, as I need to figure out the most optimal way to use magic in order to make it. I had quite the collection of Vibranium to use, but I couldn't just make Black Panther like armor right off the bar. For starters, I'm not entirely sure how precisely this method of molding the metal will work with magical means, and I won't bother getting the equipment if I can do it like this. I forgot what the needed temperature is to make it bend, along with the setup needed to start the procedure.

Instead, I used a long piece of steel as a start, as it would be significantly easier than Vibranium. Making some space at the far end, I created four energy support beams that were roughly about thirty-five inches tall, same going for the length, then a yellow see-through wall connected through all the beams. These were made to be specifically resistant to high temperatures, to about five thousand degrees Celsius. If my memory is correct, or at least partly, it’s more than enough to bend its shape. At the edge of the table, where the box was located, I made another one that extended off of the surface, the beams going down until they reached the floor. Around halfway, I filled the box with water to use later to cool off the metal, keeping them close together so I could finish the process without any additional hassle.

But that’s where we run into a bit of a problem, conjuring that kind of heat is challenging. I doubt even with it being charged up, I can't come anywhere near close to that kind of temperature right off the bat. It would need some time until it could reach that level, which shouldn't be that big of a problem. Placing the metal inside, it hovered a few inches as the walls made it so that it wouldn't move. It was basically a magical cooker. For stainless steel, it needs over a thousand degrees Celsius for it to bend. A basic fire spell slightly amped up on each wall and a function so I can shape the metal when it becomes bendable, with the added option of rotating it along with some safety promotions that will keep everything inside. All of the work being done on the inside, there was a measurement line on all sides that could be moved for easier use.

After a few minutes of setting up, I dial appeared at the bottom left of the box that connected to all the walls, giving full control on changing the temperature. Alright, let’s see how this goes.

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It took a while for the temperature to reach the required heat, which was about less than an hour. If it were to go any higher, it would take more time to prepare. When it got to that point, it was time to begin. Outside the box, two green see-through energy gloves hovered on the bottom, my tools to safely mold the metal. Putting on the gloves, another pair appeared on the inside, ready to begin. Of course, I couldn't just instantly bend the metal, I had to take my time with it, and something I learned with my hours of crafting at the temple. Knowing the measurements of my arm, and turning off the head, I used the gloves to craft my arm piece. It was different and took a few minutes to get adjusted to it, I was able to make my item as it wasn’t anything too complicated. Or anything I was unfamiliar with.

I wanted for the armor to be easily attached and removed, so I split the metal into two, it is now a front and back piece.

With the crafting process done, I walked to my left with the energy gloves on hand, I controlled the ones inside to transfer the amor in the cooling box, dipping it into the water only for the steam to rise

When they cooled off, I placed them back on the center of the table, going for the finishing touch. On the edges, I started adding magnet-like connectors that will attach to its match, something simple but effective. Placing my hand on the bottom part then placing the top one moments later, instantly latching on, the first attempt was now a success.

The feel of armor on my arm was interesting. Never have I thought I would ever actually have my own made set, the only thing closest to this was the plastic toy ones when I was younger.

My how times change, and drastically I might add.

As for the weight, it wasn't that heavy but when other pieces are stacked up together it will be heavier for sure. Luckily, I know the exact spell to help out.

Wait... is the spell I'm thinking of actually used to tear metal or my mind is betraying me? I stayed still while contemplating if I knew what the spell was. I got it... I got it... and it’s gone... shit.

Well, looks like I'm back to the drawing board until I find the appropriate tool.

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No.

No.

Not it.

Definitely not it.

Okay. I knew I came across it somewhere. Why didn't I mark it? It's a damn spell for reducing the weight on almost any object!

I kept scrolling between the pages on one of the books until I found what I was looking for. By now it feels like I finished these books numerous times but they still had more to them than one might think.

I need to start remembering more of these spells, just to save me time in the future.

Seeing a pair of thin legs landing on the top of the page, I was greeted by Helix with his questionable stare like usual.

"Yup, we're back here again..."

Helix’s head looked down slightly, then looked back again with his head tilted.

“If that’s you asking me if I found what I was looking for, then it's a big fat no,” I responded with a huff while stretching a bit. “Annoying, I know, but it is what it is…”

After he got his answer, I was about to resume my research. I spotted him sitting off to the side, getting comfortable in said position. Looks like I got myself company.

“Thanks for sticking around, better than being alone in this giant man cave by myself.”

Gently petting the top of his head, only to receive a happy squeal in return, I went back to my searching.

Okay, I’m sure it was somewhere around here.

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“Found it! Finally!”

After a few hours of searching, I found my ticket. Splitting the piece back into two, I began working on a new Rune for the spell to take effect. If I would just use the spell on the metal without the Rune, then there might be a chance for it to wear off, something that I can’t leave to chance, especially when in a full suit of armor. Converting the spell into Rune format didn’t take long, as I already knew most combinations, and this one wasn’t too difficult.

Putting the mark on the two, I put the amor back on. I did a few more arm motions to get a feel with the weight, then with a single activation sigh, the Runes went into action, removing all weight from the metal. If anything, it was like wearing regular clothes. Now, with that taken care of, all that’s left is to reinforce it, make it even more durable. It won’t be the same as Vibranium, but it will make a perfect substitute for now.

With enhanced durability, something that can easily stop bullets and maybe tank an empowered hit. I spend several minutes adding the necessary enchantments, now all that’s left is to see if they are enough. Given how durable it is now, it should stop a bullet without leaving a dent, not to mention if someone tries a sneak attack it won’t penetrate it that easily. Lastly, I need a more “exceptional” example to be sure

What do I use?

Looking over my table, I spotted one of my Sol Blades. Perfect.

Picking it up, I charged it up slowly for the familiar orange-colored blade to appear. Since it had magical properties and wasn’t just a simple sharp blade, it makes it the ideal testing tool. I wanted to test if this intensity, which is around slightly higher than standard, if I could pierce it and how deep it would be, so I placed my arm on the table. Winding back a little, I stopped for a moment as second thoughts quickly flashed through, but I already made my choice.

With all my strength, I slammed the dagger towards the table.

I jerked slightly as I felt a warm and sharp energy blade cut through my front forearm. I stayed still, remaining calm and trying to figure how much of the blade went through. On a closer look, it only scratched the surface, and just barely. Once the blade was out, I took the armor off, which had a thin entrance now, to look at a thin cut on my arm that started bleeding slightly. The wound itself wasn’t that painful and seemed like it didn’t go too far.

Barely a few millimeters.

Just like I said before, perfect.

A brief smile flashed across my face upon knowing my plan had worked but quickly changed when I felt slight pain when moving my arm. I had to tend to my wound before I do anything else. Healing the insignificant injury was over in no time, only I took a few more minutes just in case, to make sure the flesh properly closed.

“A total success, and what a big one at that,” I leaned back in my chair and lifted my feet. “With that done, I have one less thing to worry about. Before, I had to keep my distance if I wanted to make an offensive move, while also having a countermeasure in place if something pops up. It all boils down to quick movements to have a spell in place, a field that can always use improvement and if too slow, it can be costly in battle. It’s something that I will get better over time, I still can’t place all my chips on reflexes, especially while they are still, on their own, normal.”

I reached towards the table, grabbing my mug that was right at the edge, I took a sip. “While I’ll give magic users praise for being quick on their feet, I can’t wrap my head around the fact that a majority of them depend on that or rarely have any kind of armor on them. It just makes no sense if you ask me. In my case, who has a habit of getting into situations that are too close to comfort, I plan on using every trick to keep myself safe.”

Taking a glance at the pile of metal, I knew I had more work to do. Before I went back to that, another thought I pushed to the side popped up while thinking about improving my defenses. “It’s a long shot and could be nothing more than a total waste of my time. Still, I can’t ignore the potential fact that acquiring that kind of ability can open is countless. I know only a small number of people who’ve mastered the technique, with an even smaller number who are willing to give it to me.”

Finishing my tea, I set the mug aside to get another refill while I checked my arm. With everything good to go, I took my refiled mug and stood up, walking to the pile to take another piece.

“First off, needed to finish this before I move onto that.”

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“Now, let’s see if we can find ourselves a certain Master of Kung Fu". If he exists in this universe that is. ”

I may be stuck not using spells until I properly heal, but I was lucky I could still access my Astral Form. I wasn’t all that sure if this person existed in this particular universe, but with the inclusion of the X-Men and Fantastic Four, my guess all bets were off the table. That and I’ve heard some stories that circled this area of town, so now all that’s left to see if my hunch is correct. Learning Chi was on my to-do list for quite a while. I didn’t put much thought into it while in the temple, due to being occupied with other assignments. I’m not even sure if I could learn it there, but I was content going this route. I can’t absorb it like any other energy source, so I’d have to learn it from the one man I know.

Truth be told the constant need to fly around different sections of the city in this form was enjoyable to some extent, but it also annoyed me. Moving around like this was tedious, but it was the only way to travel without any way of getting seen. I know S.H.I.E.L.D./Hydra is going to get my image and details at some point, there’s no preventing that. The best I could do is keep the list short. My armor will be complete in about two days, so fearing bullets will become a thing of the past.

Aside from that, I went back to searching.

Chinatown, like other parts of the Big Apple, was still new to me, so I was going in blind. I had Helix do patrol to cover more ground, as I gave him the necessary information on who we’re tracking down, so if he finds him, I will know. It was a bit cloudy outside, other than that, the night was relatively normal and silent.

Until I saw the door of a local Ramen Restaurant bursting wide open.

I was pretty high up, so I dived down to see who’s ruining the peaceful evening. From inside, several masked individuals, four to be exact, exiting the establishment with baseball bats and crowbars, all of them laughing as they did.

“Same time next week, Mr. Tong! Don’t forget!”

The last one stayed behind momentarily, sharing a similar laugh as his companions as he broke into a run to join them with a large bag behind his back.

Seems like I have to call off my search for a few minutes. This shouldn’t take long.

They went around the corner, running in a straight line until they made several turns, after several minutes they were long gone from the food place they just robbed, and most likely trashed. This particular part of town had the buildings so close together, somehow making the environment around feel claustrophobic. After a few more minutes of running, they reached their hideout, going through the backdoor of a three-story building that wasn’t in the best condition.

“Alright, let’s get this over with.”

Before I sent myself back to my body, I saw someone turning around the corner, then running on the same path as the four goons. Huh, this is interesting, looks like someone else wants to join in. I flew down to him and the building where the goons were. The individual made sure to check his surroundings numerous times in fact, and when he knew for sure not a single soul was around, he used a trash can to give him a lengthier jump, clutching the last iron beam from the fire escape. Without much effort, he quickly climbed up to the first story, making his way to the top in no time. Once there, he looked over the edge for another round of surveillance.

This gave me the chance to properly examine him as I lower myself to his level. He wore a red jumpsuit, only having a small section on his chest being a black color instead of being fully read. He was an Asian male, in his late twenties with short black hair that swayed to his left, with an athletic build that fitted the suit perfectly.

Holy crap, this is Shang-Chi of all people. So when I try searching for him the old fashion way, I find not a trace, but get side-tracked for less than a minute and he pops up just like that? Well, why am I to complain?

Not long after, he jumped to the next building. Athletic or not, with the buildings so close to each other, he didn’t need to waste too much of his energy. Shang-Chi reached the rooftop of the hideout, kneeling at the fairly large air vent. He raised his hand, which let out a low yellow color, easily removing the exterior, tossing it aside, and going in.

Okay, so I might get first-class seats of one of the best Martial Artists around and how he kicks ass.

Bloody terrific.

Going for a swan dive, I phased through the roof and looked around the third floor, going through all the rooms only to find nothing, the same going for the second and first floor. They were located in the basement, the place where they had stashed all their robberies it seemed. The room was dimly lit, just enough light for them to count the money, the only thing around them was some furniture and the rest of their weapons, but had a low number of firearms, if any to be exact.

As for the group themselves, they were the residence of Chinatown and I didn’t find out if they were a part of a bigger gang or just a small group, not like it was important and if it was, I’ll find out soon enough if the larger group might pose a problem.

I sat on one of the armchairs in the corner of the room, ready to enjoy the show.

“I think this is the easiest score we’ve ever done!” One of them laughed.

“That moron will never learn, will he?” Another spoke in a similar fashion.

“Listen, all I’m saying is that we need to think bigger,” The third one perked up, grabbing their attention. “We hit the spots that are still untouched, and after we-“

Before the man could finish his sentence, the door to the basement came crashing down the steps after a loud smack, taking everyone by surprise. All of the members instantly stood up, two grabbing the only available bats that were on the ground next to them. Casually, and with style, Shang-Chi walked down the stairs slowly, not even bothering to look at the faces of the shocked gang, only doing so when he was on equal ground, his expression unreadable.

“Who the hell do you think you are, you son of a bitch?!” The supposed leader spoke up first, unfazed about the intruder, who was standing several meters away.

In response, Shang merely raised his eyebrows ever so slightly, seemingly unbothered in this predicament.

“You better start talking, or else…” He tapped the desk with his bat.

Pecking his lips slightly, Shang lifting his hands slightly off to the side. “Or else it is, then. But I warn you, you all better give it your best shot.”

All of a sudden, the man closest to the cupboard that had a gun on top, made a run for it. Shang’s eyes darted towards the ground, where he saw a piece of wood from the door right next to him. With a swift kick on its edge, it made the wood jump upwards that he easily grabbed, then instantly threw it at the man running for the gun, hitting him straight in the teeth as he turned his head, hitting him so hard it knocked him onto the floor while clutching his mouth.

The other three looked at the Martial Artist, who merely did an “oopsie” expression.

Taking initiative, the leader slammed the bat on the table with a war cry, charging at the intruder with no fear. Shang took two steps back as the leader swung his bat left and right, just out of reach but it didn’t faze the man in the slightest. After dodging another swing, Shang kicked his right knee, making the leader fall to his knees and cried out in pain, but received a clean hit to his left temple. The others who were on their feet made their attempt at the same time, one with another bat while the other only with his fists.

Charging in with a swing, Shang ducked and rotated, going for a kick to the head that hit with precision. Since the second one was coming weaponless, all he had to do was sidestep when the gang member went in with a punch, Shang grabbing his wrist with his left hand, squeezing it severally. Crying out in pain was all the man could do, but was cut off with a right-kick to the stomach that made him fall back.

The Kung Fu Master’s eyes went to the far end of the room, where the one he threw the piece of wood at crawled on the floor, making another attempt at reaching the gun. Just as he grabbed the edge of the cupboard, pulling himself up, he was knocked back down as Shang ran up behind him with a kick to the back.

The leader found himself to be the only one on his feet, too far away from his bat, only up-side is that the intruder was turned around. Rushing towards him, the man in the red jumpsuit spun around while raising his leg, going for a spinning hook that hit the leader in the jaw. The leader wobbled backwards, crashing onto a pile of boxes.

The other two got back up at the same time, going at Shang simultaneously once more. Moving towards the closest one, Shang swiftly punched the man in the jaw then jumping slightly to reverse kick the second one in their right temple. They won't be getting up after that.

On the third attempt, the thug finally managed to grab the firearm, a relieved smile forming momentarily. Flipping the safety switch, he turned towards the intruder that was a few meters away. Pointing it towards the man in the jumpsuit, he attempted to pull the trigger before his hand covered the front of the gun. The man expected to blow a hole through his hand, but after pulling the trigger nothing happened. Shang’s hand radiated a soft yellow glow, crushing the gun little by little before tossing it aside, then landing a swift uppercut.

While the overall encounter seemed longer in retrospect, it was all over way too quickly.

Looking around himself, Shang made sure all of them were knocked out for good. Walking towards the table, he took the backpack from the middle and put every last dollar inside, alongside a few pieces of jewelry that were there as well. While he was packing, his hand movements slowed down, then looking around himself. Shang wasn’t focused on the thieves, rather on something else entirely. For about two seconds, his eyes landed on the area where I was located, before looking away.

With everything packed, Shang-Chi walked up the flight of stairs, heading towards the front door. I floated behind as he did, going a bit higher after leaving the building.

Going back to the restaurant that was robbed, Shang found the owners, who couldn’t be over a day over forty, sitting at one of the tables in distraught as he entered through the door. The moment they heard the door-knob click, they immediately jumped to their feet, only for Shang to calmly reassure them he meant no harm. He simply walked to the neared table, placed the bag on the top, and turned around to leave. Just as he opened the door, he stopped, turning his head slightly to the right, only uttering a single sentence.

“You two are safe now. They won’t be coming back anymore.”

With that, he left the establishment.

“He’s a good man after all, with a big heart to compliment that,” I thought while following him out. “To think he most likely lives in some rundown apartment with barely any money to come by. ”

I turned my attention off him by hardly two seconds, and he was already off the streets, now climbing the side of the building like it was nothing. It made sense though, as it would be smarter to move on the rooftops of the buildings to spot any additional crimes and not be in the open for anyone to spot him. He jumped from building to building for quite some time, doing more patrol for the night. Luckily, things seemed to be quiet, deciding to call it a night and head back before the rain started pouring harder. The two to three story buildings in this street were all huddled together, having small openings in-between them every now and then.

"This seems to be the place alright," I confirmed my suspicion of this being his place while doing one more check-up before porting back. The place itself was acceptable, just enough room for a single person to live, only having two other separate spaces, those being a small bedroom and a tiny bathroom. Speaking of which, the living room and kitchen were connected, having a barstool to separate them. For its overall appearance, it seemed to be on its last leg.

Shang set his weapons in a cabinet that stored several others, then went to his kitchen, making whatever food he had left along with some tea.

As he was done making some noodles, he began preparing his green tea, but something seemed… off. His hand movements were slower, much slower, and his face wasn’t focused on it anymore. Shang’s head slowly turned to the right, his eyes moved from the floor to the wall, looking back at the far end of his apartment, now focused at the upper-left corner of the room.

The same spot I was at.

His stern and unbreakable stare made me jump slightly. There’s no possible coincidence that he decided to drop what he was doing to peak around his apartment. That’s when it hit me, his Chi. He must be at that stage where he’s that proficient with the technique where he can sense the slightest form of life across his surroundings.

Shang’s glare didn’t change, not one bit. If anything, it got more intense by the second. I was testing my luck, seeing if there was anything else that caught his attention other than me. Sadly, he only focused on this particular spot, making me feel more nervous than I already was.

Seeing as how things were going, it was time to disappear.

Within a second, I found myself back at my Pocket Dimension, lying on one of the couches.

“Damn, he’s good.”

I huffed while sitting upright. I wasn’t expecting to be “caught” that easily, that’s what I get for underestimating a person of his caliber who also had several magical affairs.

----------------------------------------

Shang’s eyes never left the upper-left corner of his apartment, his expression yet to change. Only now, he was sure he was alone once more. Whatever was there had just vanished, within a moment’s notice. This was unlike anything he’d sensed before, which was in that case, was alarming.

“Some kind of presence was here, I’m positive of that,” Shang thought while his hands went for the steaming teapot, averting his eyes to focus back on his dinner. “I felt a similar presence back in that room with those thugs. I wasn’t sure what it was then, I’m not that entirely sure now, only now I’m certain someone, or something, was here.”

Instead of dwelling on the matter further, he decided it was best to revisit the subject once he gathers more information. While he wasn’t worried about this unexpected arrival, he was sure about one thing.

If this “presence” does come up a second time, then it means he might have to be more careful during their next encounter.

----------------------------------------

Now confirming that Shang-Chi exists, and knowing his location as well, I had to come to him for help. Hand-to-hand combat was one thing, but if I could learn Chi, I can step up my game exponentially. It’s a very versatile tactic and could be implemented in a lot of scenarios. My mind already thought of some noteworthy tactics it could be used for, only that was still beyond my reach. First, I have to get it in order to use it.

Which brings me here.

A decision that could be considered as a bold one, or a very stupid one. To be honest, I think it’s a heavy mix of the two.

Several buildings away was where Shang lived. It was still a rainy day, a quarter past one in the afternoon, the clouds blocking the sun, making it feel like it’s going to start up again any second. I want to avoid using anything that might set him off, as he can knock me out, or flat-out kill me before I could even blink. I had one ace up my sleeve, so I hope it doesn’t get activated on its own.

I entered a steady pace as I set my sights on my target. There weren’t that many people walking around at this time, a lucky break for me as this neighborhood didn’t have that much activity. Going inside the building, I stopped for a moment to observe the wooden staircase that was in critical condition, along with the walls that had planks popping out or had some kind of damage.

Still walking up to the second floor, I stopped when I reached Shang’s door. With it being the only residence on that floor.

Hope this goes well.

Gently knocking a few times, the door creaked open slowly after the third knock.

“This is by no means a good sign.”

I can’t see Shang not locking his apartment door, and the lock doesn’t seem to be broken. Something’s very off here. I’m not liking it so far. He would just sense my Astral Form if I were to use it,

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

I'd very much like to take the safer route of checking the place, sadly, we have to go the old fashion way for this. Slowly pushing the door with my fingers, I peeked through the open space, only able to see the hallway, with a small view of the living room. Fully opening the door, I made sure to check every inch I could see. The doors on the side were closed, I couldn’t hear a single sound from within. Looking up, I was glad to know he wasn’t hiding in one of the upper corners.

Stepping inside, I walked with caution, constantly shifting my gaze all around.

That is when I heard a low sound of wood hitting against each other slightly.

Before I could react, a ten-inch blade appeared in the corner of my right eye, with it instantly going down towards my neck while a hand firmly grasped my left shoulder. My eyes widened upon the realization. Not that I was concerned that Shang managed to sneak up on me, rather he activated the card up my sleeve. When the blade and hand came into close range, even before that actually, I had to move my arm to the side as the spell was triggered. A dark-purple four-dimensional cube that moved in every possible direction, only the yellow sphere stayed in the center. The aura it released could make anyone’s skin crawl, not to mention the eerie sound it produced.

Damn it! He triggered it! I shifted my focus upwards, seeing a small opening on the ceiling, the wooden tiles lifted up that revealed a secret space where he waited.

His grip tightened and his blade drew itself closer to my neck. “Do not try anything. If you do, you will be dead before you could turn around.” Shang said lowly, and for the first time, his voice was very much threatening.

I swallowed the lump that was in my throat, and I could feel sweat starting to form on my forehead. I would say that I held composure, only my mind was occupied on the problem that was in my hand rather than the one behind me. Taking a sharp breath, I tried to respond calmly. “I don’t plan on doing anything, all I want to do is talk. Preferably without neither of us wanting to kill the other.”

“What is that in your hand?” Shang asked.

No use in lying, he most can sense how dangerous this thing is. “You know what a dead man’s switch is? Imagine that but only a few dozen times more intense.”

“You say you’ve come here to talk, how am I supposed to believe that when without hesitation use that… thing?” Shang asked. “Also, I haven’t seen you around these parts, so tell me, who are you?”

“Actually, this “thing” activates on its own when someone steps too close, so I’ll have to apologize if that startled you. As for your other question, we’ve technically already met, just not face to face.”

Due to the only sound coming from the “bomb”, I could hear Shang gasping slightly since he was probably a few inches away from me. “That’s how I recognize you. In that case, it would appear we’re in a stalemate.”

“Not necessarily,” I spoke more freely. “To tell the truth, I’m an admirer of yours. My intentions weren’t to stalk you, I’m not an idiot who bites off more than he can chew. I just so happened to come across you while I was doing patrol.”

“Then deciding to leave only when getting caught?” Shang asked. “Then knocking on my door a day later? That doesn’t seem like a coincidence all on its own.”

“As I said, all I wanted was to find you and talk, nothing more. How about this, we come to an agreement?” I offered. “I will deactivate this dead man’s switch and nullify it completely. I have nothing else on me, nor do I intend on using anything else. I didn’t want this to come out at all, but even you should know walking in without a plan is a fatal mistake. You can keep your blade on me until I do so, only I trust that you will allow me to talk to you in a civilized manner after I do. Here.”

Moving my arm slowly off to the side, the outer-sides of the cube were now being absorbed within the yellow sphere, the aura around going in as well. It took about twenty seconds to fully deactivate, as I needed to be careful to not accidentally set it off. With a low pop, the sphere disappeared. I raised my hands slowly to show I had nothing else while proving I was willing to cooperate.

Now that the bomb was gone, I could breathe properly again. All that’s left is hoping Shang doesn't knock me out. “No more tricks. If I wanted to harm you or blackmail you, I wouldn’t have deactivated my only defense. If this won’t convince you, I don’t know what will. I only came here to talk.”

After a few seconds of standing completely still, his grip on my shoulder tightened, making my eyes go wide when realizing what’s coming next. Suddenly, his grip softened before fully removing his hand off my body, then retracting his knife. Releasing a sign, I lowered my hands at the same pace I raised them, now finally being able to turn around to face him.

When I got to see his face, it was the same stoic face, exactly like it was yesterday. The only thing that was moving was his eyes that scanned me top to bottom. Looking behind him, I raised my eyebrow. “Couldn’t you at least close the door when you sneaked up on me? You might be used to this, however, I seriously doubt the neighbors are as well.”

Shang walked backwards till he reached the door, closing it, then walking back to me. “There aren’t any.”

He motioned towards the living room, to which I followed. Actually being inside, it looked even messier and was starting to cave in. Shang then moved his arm towards one of the seats, to which I sat in one of them. While waiting, I noticed Shang eyeing me as he walked to his kitchen, his gaze never going off of me. I simply smiled and looked around his place to avoid that much eye contact.

“Since you’re so inclined on meeting me, best do it over some tea, no?” Shang asked, his eyes still firmly set on me.

“Oh, yes please, whatever you have will do.” I replied.

Not long after, he arrived with a tray in hand, setting it down on the coffee table as he sat down. Taking my cup along with its own plate, I waved my finger over it, making the heat die down a little to take a sip.

“Mmm, now it’s perfect.”

Taking a look at Shang while going for another sip of my tea, I saw his hands resting on thighs with an upright posture, eyes fixated on me and me alone.

“Before I start, I’m sure you have some questions to ask me, right?”

Shang’s eyes narrowed slightly. “How did you follow me? To be more specific, what kind of ability was that?”

Placing my cup on the plate, I answered. “That was me separating from my body to access my Astral Form. I’m quite surprised, didn’t expect anyone to spot me while I’m in that state. I think you'd be a first to do that.”

“Hmm, that’s what that was. I’ve heard of such a technique before, but I’ve never witnessed it first-hand.” Shang rubbed his chin. “Now answer me this, who are you, and how much do you know of me?”

“My name’s Ethan Chester, I’m a Sorcerer from a temple called Kamar-Taj, and to be frank, you and I are very much alike,” I said calmly, taking another sip from my cup. ”Only we have different methods of approaching a problem. You deal with street crimes while I focus on more dangerous threats. As for your other question, I did say I was an admirer. I read a few reports of some notorious gangs from Chinatown being taken out. It would be safe to assume that was you?”

Shang stayed silent, only to speak up after a few seconds. “Correct, that was me. Feel like there’s no point in denying that since you already witnessed my work first hand.”

“It was unlike anything I've witnessed before,” I praised him. “Your movements are flawless, each hit was executed with precision. It was quite the show.”

The next several minutes was one-sided questioning, which I didn't mind all that much. It was necessary to establish a trustworthy connection. I was careful how I would answer and when it was too much, I couldn't get carried away so easily. He had some knowledge of the Sorcerers’ temple, only very little of it. “Something is still a mystery to me.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“Your reason for being here,” Shang clarified. “A person such as yourself coming to me to establish some kind of contact? I feel like you're leaving out a few details.”

“Well, you see, it's never a bad thing to call for some help, you never know when it can come in handy. I know working solo is more preferable, although there are times where we bite off more than we can chew. For you, it might not make a difference how many in a group there are, but that doesn't mean there will be a situation that can be solved all on your own. Over time, I feel like it's going to mean a lot more than it does now, so it's best to keep the option on the table. Might as well do it with the people I think I can trust then wait until the last second.”

“You've already done this before?”

“A few times, yes.” I replied simply.

“So your only reason for coming here is to offer help if needed and nothing more?” Shang asked, not beating around the bush.

“Now that you mention it, there is one thing I need your help with,” I said optimistically. “If you’re available that is?”

“What might that be?” Shang asked curiously.

“When that thug tried shooting you, you placed your hand on the front of the gun, stopping the bullet before it even left the gun, that’s when your hand started glowing. Correct?” I asked while reminiscing of yesterday’s events, receiving a nod from Shang. “At first, I wasn’t sure what that was, since I’ve never seen it before in person. I’ve heard of multiple people in New York that use that technique, seems like I managed to find someone who's not a criminal using it. Now, I’m sure it’s what I saw was the ability to channel Chi. Partly the reason I came here is to ask for your guidance, I'd wish to learn such power. In return, I will do whatever you ask of me.”

Shang stood still, making it difficult to get a readable expression off of him. He took his time before replying.

“I cannot help you.” Shang said dismissively. “That type of power is not carelessly taught, nor does it belong in the hands of any person willing to learn it. It would be irresponsible of me if I would give out that kind of knowledge just like that. Aside from the fact that we've just met, I don't see you being the type of person who would deserve that form of power. It's no simple feat of acquiring it either, but as of now, I don't see you being worthy of learning its secrets.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. I was hoping to ask for some fighting lessons as well,” I said sadly, finishing my drink then standing up. “The tea was outstanding, but I feel like I took up enough of your time.”

Shang raised his eyebrow. “Just like that? No attempt at persuading me otherwise?”

“Nope,” I said with a pop while fixing my clothes. “I'm more than pleased that we've officially met, and you've listened to what I have to say, so I thank you for that. We are bound to meet once again at some point, so I'd like to know we're on the same side. Other than that, I thank you for your hospitality.”

Saying goodbye, I casually walked across the hallway and began to leave.

Closing the door, I didn’t waste time in creating a portal back home. Sitting onto the couch, I thought over my encounter with Shang. The odds of him teaching me Chi right off the start were slim, even I knew that. I’ll have to come with a different approach to make him reconsider, there’s bound to be something I can do. I can only be glad that we started off on the “right” foot, it’s the best start I could have got.

Now, how can we approach this?

----------------------------------------

"Please, come in."

I opened the entrance and gestured to my guest, Shang himself, to follow me through the door. The man’s face was filled with wariness, the same degree of caution as well, nevertheless the less he went to step inside. I contacted him with the stone I left, and I was surprised he answered, even though I had to somewhat annoy him for him to show up here.

The place was barely lit because there are only a few windows around the second floor so not much light was available without turning on the lights.

"What are we doing here?" Shang asked, his tone completely neutral.

Walking off to the side, a few feet away from a control panel, I flipped a couple of switches when I got in reach. Numerous lights came to life, giving an appropriate view of the inside. It had a boxing ring in the far left that part of the building having the most room. Beside it, there were dozens of gym equipment and dozens of boxing bags by the side. Next to the ring, countless training mats covered the floor, most commonly used for sparing or even training.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The only slight downside to this luxurious establishment? It was a bit messy and kept out of shape. Trust me when I say when the cost was quite cheap in comparison. Luckily, this guy can whip this place into shape. I did most of the main problems right off the bat, fixing the broken glass and parts of the walls that needed another layer to hide the holes, making it seem brand new. Essentially, this was an easy investment.

"Your new place."

I walked past him, him following me as we walked to the small office room that was near the stairs. "I apologize for the slight mess, I've been doing some cleaning to help out. Believe me when I say I was able to get this place at a fairly low price. People just don't see the investment. Also, if you're going to ask, the place is legit, paperwork and all that stuff included."

Motioning to the office with my hand. "Has all the things you'd want to know about the place, as well as a bed, and over there has a small kitchen too. Showers upstairs, with some empty rooms. It’s got plenty of space, and when it’s whipped up to shape, it’s a fine upgrade from what you currently have. Plus it’s got a training area. That would be a deal-breaker, right?"

I stopped walking to let Shang take a proper look at the place without bothering him. He took his time to eye the place and only spoke up when he looked over the corner of the inside.

"If this is what you think will make me reconsider teaching you Chi, I have to apologize, it won't work," Shang said as he turned back to face me, his tone and face still neutral. "While I appreciate the fine gesture, such things matter not to me. My current home does its job well.”

"Yeah, I kind of expected that," I commented sheepishly. "Still, this place is yours, whether you're willing to teach me Chi or not. This right here, consider this a gift from me."

"So you're doing this out of the kindness of your heart and nothing more?"

"Eh, something like that," I shrugged. "I just thought you'd deserve at least something for your troubles. We may have met just recently, but you've stacked yourself a bit of a reputation, a good one in my eyes. You're the type of guy I can count on. Might as well let you have this to be on your A-game, will make things more interesting, at least."

"Count on for what?" Shang asked, raising a single eyebrow.

"Oh, if a situation ever gets out of hand or goes completely to shit, I'll know you'll be there to help out. That would seem reasonable. It's hard to find a person who would do what's right without a second thought, this is my way of paying back to those who keep on fighting the problem, instead of becoming a part of it."

The Master of Kung Fu stood silent, going back to observing the wall behind him. On it, dozens of picture frames that were previously busted and cracked, showing notable fighters throughout history.

“One test.”

Said Shang, making my head snap towards him upon hearing those two simple words. “Excuse me*”

“If you’re so determined to display your true self to me, there’s only one way that you can show me if you truly deserve it,” Shang said calmly. “Words so far haven't told me anything I wanted to know. In order for me to truly understand who you really are, I will have to ask all but one requirement, facing me in battle. I will get my answer there. If you manage to do that, I will teach you how to manipulate your Chi without question, and at the time you find most appropriate.”

“Oh, now we're talking,” I said excitedly, while also keeping my composure. “What kind of test, and what are the conditions?”

“A simple match, that’s it,” Shang said clasping his hands softly, now walking towards me. “I want to see how well you do in a fight against me. Through combat, only then will I be able to decide. If you are willing to accept, we can start immediately.”

“That’s just dandy…”

My brow twitched when finished. I knew exactly what I would be getting into if I were to accept, one big on an ass-kicking. Going up against him is like signing a death wish. That only begs the question, what kind of test would it be? Is it asking me if I would blindly do anything if would mean achieving my goal, or if I thought about the risks and was confident in passing his test. Which then brings up another question; how much was I willing to risk?

The truth, I wasn’t quite sure.

I always had a minute at least to think of a plan, any plan, just as long as I had an idea what course of action I would take. Hell, it didn’t need to even be a good plan, because I never could trust myself acting on pure instinct. In order to succeed, I’d have to go in blind and at least try to survive in one-versus-one against one of the most skilled Martial Artists in the whole Marvel Universe.

Nevertheless, I made my decision long ago, and to just, what, chicken out now? He can play the intimidation game if he wants, but that won’t be enough to make me back out. The benefit greatly outweighs the risk and having a new understanding of how to control the power I already have and the new things I could do with Chi.

I smiled slightly, realizing that I might indeed have made a foolish mistake doing all this. Seems like I’ll have to do what I always do when facing these kinds of matters, keep going until I get it done.

“I accept.”

----------------------------------------

I breathed in, then breathed out. The most difficult part is that my composure might not be at a hundred percent. Not long after I agreed, I quickly changed into clothes more suitable for fighting that didn’t restrict my movements, that being black sweatpants with a gray t-shirt.

Shang wore his usual red jumpsuit, standing in the center on training mats with his hands behind his back. That’s what’s making it difficult for me, his calm and calculated behavior, each second that passed made me feel more nervous. I closed my eyes, taking one last breath and keeping it in for a few seconds while clearing my mind. When I was ready, my eyes shot open as I released the air, then moved closer to meet Shang in the middle.

“If you wish to call it off, the option still stands.” Shang expressed calmly.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I asked with a grin, attempting to show confidence. “Trying to talk me out of it won’t work, I’ll tell you that much.”

Oh yeah, I was a nervous wreck alright.

Shang merely perked his lips with a light shake of his head. “Whenever you’re ready, we can begin.”

Clenching my fists, I took my stance, the one I learned back in Kamar-Taj. It was primarily a defensive stance, just to get into the right mindset.

“Now, how do I do this?”

I know for a fact that he won’t be the one to initiate the dance. Shang wanted me to make the first move, something I wanted to avoid at all costs. He can counter any move I make in eleven different ways, making it difficult to think of how to go in, and land a hit.

I took slow steps off to the side, starting to circle him, only for him to only move his eyes. If I don't do anything, this stand-still is going to last all day.

Here goes nothing.

Deciding that there's no point in waiting, I charged in. Shang never moved a muscle, while I was barely a few meters away. Going with a punch to the face, Shang moved his head slightly to dodge it, slapping my hand away. It was enough to make me lose my balance at the moment, retreating for a moment before going back in. The next several attempts were of no use and would end the same way. After a certain point, once he slapped my hands away, his open hand hitting me slightly below the chest.

That alone was enough to make me lose my breath, forcing me to back off. Shang’s hits move way faster than mine, making it difficult to counter them if my hands are out.

While thinking of an optimal strategy, Shang suddenly ran towards me. Taken aback by the sudden action, my mind immediately jumped into preparing my defense. Shang jumped into the air, going for a flying kick. I ducked towards the left, barely dodging it, only for another kick heading my way as I got back up. While I could block it, I was getting pushed into a corner as he threw more and more kicks. The only reason why I could hardly keep up with him because he wasn’t using his full strength. It was drastically one sided from an outsider's perspective.

After a few minutes, my arms were slowly becoming sore from all the hits I blocked. When he saw an opening, he built up a kick but quickly retracted it only for the leg to spring back, hitting me directly in my stomach. It hit me with such force that I was sent backwards, rolling on the ground upon falling. When I stopped, I rolled off to my side, getting into a kneeling position with my hands on the floor.

“This isn’t going so smoothly,” I thought grimly. Looking off to my side, I found a water dispenser. “He didn’t specify what kind of style of fighting.”

Raising my pinky, I was about to get ahold of some water before I felt my left eyelid twitch, clenching my fist as well.

No. I can’t do that. I won’t do that. No matter what kind of disadvantage I'm in, there’s no way I’m going to cheat like that. Winning in that type of fashion won’t get me anywhere. I knew what I was signing up for, meaning I’ll play by his rules fair and square.

Of course, also being so damn persistent to not know when to give up. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t survive in this world for as long as I have, and I don’t intend on letting this stop me. Rising up, I whipped off the small amount of blood dripping from my lips, forming the same stance once more.

Shang threw me a look of acknowledgment, seemingly impressed by my commitment, so instead of one waiting for the other, both of us met each other head-on.

Every time I got remotely close, Shang would evade my attack while simultaneously easily landing a single hit on me that pushed me back a little at every physical encounter. Defending myself until I get a very good opening is my only chance, fighting with extreme defensive won't take me far. It was increasingly difficult to keep up the more we fought. I used every ounce of knowledge of combat training and experience, it still wasn't enough.

I didn’t know how much time passed during our brawl, I long forgot to keep track of it.

I panted heavily, trying to regain whatever strength I had. By now, each blow got significantly more painful. My defenses were falling apart, the pain becoming more and more unbearable. Whatever I did, he'd easily counter and punch back harder. I can make do with blood coming out of my mouth, the numerous hits to the head are just now starting to make me dizzy. I wasn't sure how much more I can take, nor how to figure out a way to turn the tables.

I may have been beaten from the start, but that doesn’t mean I will be branded as a quitter.

With a sigh, I whipped off the blood from my lips. I'll just have to do what my gut tells me.

"It is over," Shang said calmly, closing his eyes while taking a relaxed stance as he moved forward. "You are your limit. I don’t take any pleasure in this fight, nor do I want this to be prolonged more than it needs to be. You’d be only causing yourself more pain, it be foolish if you-“

I lunged forward, my fist met with Shang’s jaw while he was too busy talking. It wasn’t by any means my strongest punch, but it wasn’t going to quit now. Due to my state, I was quickly losing balance, only managing to recover the last second. Turning around, I got a good look at Shang’s face, mouth hanging while his hand was on his jaw.

Good.

I want him to see I wasn’t joking around.

"Too bad... I'm not done yet..." I breathed heavily as I raised my hands for defense. "I've risked too much already... I have no option of backing out... not now. I already told you… talking me out won’t work. The only way to advance further… is to overcome another obstacle, just like the many… many trials I faced… until now. One of two things are going to happen... either I'll achieve what I set out to do... or... I'll die trying. If it’s the latter… you might want to clean the floor after this… ”

Even though I was severely outclassed, and was getting the living crap beaten out of me, I enjoyed it. I might not get Chi how I envisioned, I still found it fun for some odd reason. I wanted to prove what kind of person I was, so I'll show him first hand.

Shang, still taken aback by my sudden attack, watched as I made my declaration. I didn’t allow him another moment of peace as I charged at him. My first few steps were wobbly, almost making me fall down, only that wouldn’t stop me. This time around, Shang deferred from moving at all, staying firmly in place while only reacting with a hit to shove me back. My fighting became sloppier, making me miss out on potential openings, with my reaction time going down as well. There wasn’t a muscle in my body that wasn’t in pain, and I wasn’t doing them any favors by further pushing myself.

I no longer could focus on how much pain I was in, rather how tired I was. Very, very tired. I only kept going and going, resisting to stop. Because if I did, I know I wouldn't be able to continue.

“Keep going… just keep going.” That one thought plagued my mind as I limped towards my opponent. I didn’t want to give in, but realistically, I was reaching my limit, for real this time. My head was so dizzy I could barely make out in what direction I should be going, my muscles going on pure will power rather than strength, as I presumed I was dangerously low on it with each step I took. One quick look in front of me, I confirmed Shang was about three meters away from me. I didn’t stop, the best I could do is ignore the overwhelming pain as long as I could. I started raising my shaking fist when I reached my destination.

My fists moved on their own, probably wouldn’t respond if I told it to otherwise.

“Just a little more… and-“

“Stop.”

On instinct, my hand froze upon hearing the command. My head fell to my left, only to see Shang closing his eyes. “I’ve seen enough. There’s no need to continue.”

Oh no, we aren’t going through this again.

Winding up slightly, I went for another swing.

What I didn’t notice is that instead of my fist colliding with his face, it simply went off to the side, completely off target. As my arm traveled, my weight shifted as well, the feeling in my legs giving out on me, making me witness how I ever so slowly collapsed onto the ground. Even though my body crashed, I was relieved for a moment that I could rest in a still position.

“A few seconds…” The thought ran through my mind, trying to prevent my eyelids closing shut. “A few seconds and I will be… back… on my… feet…”

----------------------------------------

I groaned upon waking up, to some extent wishing that I didn’t.

The moment I opened my eyes, I remembered how I ended up in this state, with Shang beating me to a pulp. Every single part of my body was in pain, slow movements were enough to make me wish he’d just finish the job while he was at it. The irony, last time I was out cold by using too much power, now I was out by getting smacked around by a Martial Arts Master. We’ve come full circle without too much time passing.

“Where’s my bag. I need those potions. Right. Now.”

Looking around slowly, I realized I was on the bed in the office. On the nearby table, I spotted my bag with the upper part of my robe. Moments later, I heard the door open.

“I see you’re awake.” Shang spoke softly while carrying a tray with two cups and a pot.

“Unfortunately… would prefer still being out.” I responded lowly as I sat up, moving inch by inch to prevent further pain.

“I’m surprised, not many people would keep on fighting when going up against an opponent who outmatches them, let alone on the verge of passing out,” Shang commented while pouring in our drinks. “I certainly wasn’t expecting that level of commitment. You’ve earned my respect.”

Groaning when I fully raised myself, I signaled towards the bag with my head, instantly regretting it. “I’m glad I got something out of that fight. Mind handing me that?”

Shang went across the room to retrieve my bag, placing it on the bed beside me, muttering a quiet “thank you” as he did. Reaching into it was torture in out of itself, my fingers and wrist struggling with each movement. After some searching, my hand recognized the shape of the bottle I was looking for. My hands were shaking slightly when I gripped the cap and removed it, making sure not to spill a drop. Upon taking the first round, I could feel some discomfort and pain going away, just enough to make me wish I wasn’t dead. The second potion came soon after, speeding up the effect of the first potion.

I took my cup of tea, using it to wash away the taste of the potions. We were met with silence while I drank the liquid, only for Shang to break it after sipping his own tea. “Now that you’re up, there’s a topic we need to discuss.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I muttered disappointingly, taking another round of the three beverages. “I lost, no need to mention it. Just like we agreed, I won’t bother you anymore. You can still take the gym, I have no real need for it.”

Shang raised his hand slightly, indicating for me to stop. “You misunderstand, that wasn’t what I was going to say. Quite the contrary, I have decided to teach you.”

Due to his very blunt nature, and the condition I was in, I was very sure I misheard him. “Ughh, what?”

“I have decided to teach you Chi.” Shang repeated, more clearly this time. “You’ve shown me everything I needed to see.”

“Wait, wait,” I repositioned before continuing. “I lost, very badly. How does that convince you to teach me?”

“Simple,” Shang started before taking another sip. “Words can only prove so much, but actions tend to speak louder than words. In a fight, you can clearly tell what kind of person your opponent is. When we fought, I got to see who you really are. None of your moves indicated any hate nor rage. From start to finish, there was no change whatsoever to show me otherwise. I had to push you further to see if my theory was true. When I saw how far you’re willing to go, I realized you indeed are the kind of person you claim to be. I’ve met many people who lusted for power, willing to do anything to get it. However, with you, it honestly felt like a simple spar rather than a matter of winning. I’m now positive I can trust you with that kind of power.”

For the first few seconds, I stood still, then slowly nodding. “I’d react more energetically, only I would pass out if I would even attempt to stand up.”

A smirk appeared across Shang’s face. “Judging from those drinks, I’m sure that will change soon enough. Would you like to know the moment where my opinion started to change?” I nodded for him to continue. “When you raised your finger, I was positive you intended on using one of your abilities, but you didn’t. I could tell by the look in your eyes, it wasn’t about claiming victory, it was proving yourself to me. Even when you could barely stand, you used nothing but your fists. I’m not sure how many people would go about the way that you did. Everything else, just confirms my suspicion.”

“All in all, it was an agreed fight between two opponents, using my powers to get an edge didn’t feel right. Win or lose, I don’t feel like I would have earned your respect if I didn’t fight honorably. I’m glad to know I managed to prove myself, even though I was tempted on using my powers for a second there.

“Being tempted is one thing, actually giving into it is another,” Shang said wisely, then moving on to the main question. “When would you like to start?”

“Eh, give me until morning,” I said somewhat excitedly as I finished my tea. “Just enough time to get the feeling in my arms and legs.”

“Very well,” Shang stood up. “I’d advise you to rest. If you need anything, I’ll leave the door open so call me.”

“Not much I can do at the moment, might as well get some shut-eye.”

Before the man left the room, he focused on the wide training area before looking back at me. “The place really is impressive. It will be of great substitute compared to my current apartment.”

When hearing that, a wide smile appeared on my face as I got into a comfortable position. “Told you. Have fun back there.”

----------------------------------------

"In order for one to access their Chi, one must place the proper balance on the mind, and on the body," Shang explained calmly as he walked back and forth slowly. "While that may seem like a pretty basic explanation, it’s more layered than that. Improper balance of Chi can cause many problems to one who isn't suited for it, even though it would be possible for anyone to use it."

Shang instructed that I sit in a comfortable position as he sat with his knees. "You do have some experience in manipulating energy, and from what you've shown me, it's a good starting point. Using water as a versatile weapon by controlling it has its similarities with Chi Manipulation. One key difference, you don't focus on letting that energy flow out of your body, rather channeling it all in. Right now, I want you to clear your mind and relax your body. Focus everything you have into right here. You’ll know the feeling when you experience it, as well on how to manipulate it on your own once you do." Shang tapped at the center of his chest.

“Hope you don’t mind me asking, but can you be more specific by any chance?” I asked curiously. “I know it’s not that straight forward, however, I’m not sure what I should focus on?”

“In all honesty, it varies from person to person, as all have a different process,” Shang explained. “We already did the movements required to channel inner peace, it’s up to you to put the pieces in the correct order.”

After that, I've got a weird sense of Déjà vu.

It was like my first day when I began training, which I very much liked. It made me feel easier as I passed these trials already. As more time passed, I felt like I was moving one step at accessing my Chi, that might be since I would repeatedly ask Shang various questions whenever my training would come to a halt. I'm guessing that was a contributing factor as it made the process easier.

When my body and mind were synchronized, I’d imagine my heart as being the center point of my focus. While I was able to block out all sound, my heartbeat only grew louder in my head, which was a good sign. Over time, it felt like my whole body was experiencing that sensation. While my attempts were lackluster the first dozen tries, I wasn’t going to stop any time soon. I figured out how the process should go, now it was all about trial and error. The mechanics were similar to how Kamar-Taj taught drawing out Dimensional Energy, only the slightest chance meant the experience was different as well. Although, this would also help me out getting that type of energy to fuel my spells much easier. While I was doing my meditating, Shang would use the free time to train in a variety of ways in his new gym.

Just like in my Astral Form, time became irrelevant. Accessing my Chi was my main goal, meditating and synchronizing my mind with my body. The feelings I would have while channeling it would be amplified, serenity and state of clear mind became so… intoxicating. My resolution persevering through any doubt or hesitation I might have felt along the way. As more attempts were executed, I was having trouble fully summoning that much Chi into my whole body. For the solution, I tried focusing all the untapped Chi at the center of my palm, a similar tactic I used when training for Water Manipulation. If I can firstly create a small object of Chi, I can go off from there. While I was faced with more errors, I never stopped using my method, going up until I managed to succeed in my task.

Then, a breakthrough happened.

Shang and I observed the small ball of Chi that swirled in my hand, a yellow circle in the center of my palm acting as an opening. Its appearance was beautiful with the sphere incomplete, which is perfectly understated for my first time. After all that trouble, I’ve acquired one of the most flexible forms of manipulation, all that’s left is to become comfortable with it.

“Intriguing,” Shang commented with a hand on his chin. “This is unexpected.”

“How come?” I said with a smug look as the sphere disappeared. “Didn’t expect me to nail it so soon?”

“Not that,” Shang expressed without missing a beat. “Those who have experience manipulating energy will have a head start compared to those who haven’t. The fact you managed to manifest Chi as a small sphere rather than building it up inside your arm is what interests me the most. I had a hunch you’d be able to do it within some time with enough practice, however, this is something I didn’t foresee.”

“Why, is it unheard of?”

“No, it’s known to happen, although on rare occasions,” Shang answered. “Now, we have our work cut out for us.”

“How so?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Now that you can channel Chi, this allows us to improve some aspects to better suit your particular situation. I think I just might have the ideal method in mind.”

“Really?” I asked with a tone of interest. “What would that be?”

“You can call it “fine-tuning”,” Shang answered simply. “After that, I trust you can figure out the rest on your own.”

“In that case, may we proceed to the next step?” I asked, a smile forming on my face all the while.

---Line Break---

"You did well today," Shang said proudly, sitting on the bench right opposite me. "It seems like your training at the temple you attended taught you well. Your ability to control energy is remarkable when only practicing for three months. It’s not anything to scoff at, but having a solid start is good nonetheless."

"Heh, thanks for the pep talk. Glad to know on what stage I'm on when it comes to that, it has been a bit difficult to come to a conclusion on my own," I thanked the Kung Fu Master while packing up my gear. "Being able to tap into Chi this early on is a milestone in my eyes. I have a general idea on how it functions, so I think I should be able to figure out the rest on my own."

"Is there anything else I could assist you with?" Shang asked.

"I think I've troubled long enough, should be fine on my own from now on," I merely shrugged. "The only thing I could think of is a sparring match whenever you're free. Training dummies do their job and the styles I asked you for will help too, but it isn't the same as sparing with a real person, ya know?"

"I guess it isn't," Shang agreed with a smile. "I hope your training goes well, if you ever have any problems, you know where to find me. I'll make sure to take good care of it."

"As long as it’s of use to you, it’s all that matters." I said happily.

A few moments of silence passed before the conversation resumed. "What will you do now?"

Without skipping a beat, I replied instantly. "Break someone out from a highly secured prison."

Shang's eyebrows jumped slightly. "Pardon?"

"Ah, that... came out wrong, hold on," I began digging through my Holding Bag, trying to find a certain file, of a specific soldier. It was filled with information I added on my own, as I didn't need to steal any for this one, for now that is. However, I still needed to keep it all in one place, especially when I get some real evidence in there. "Here. This should help."

Shang took the file and read what’s inside, and judging by his facial expressions, some parts piqued his interest but also confused him. “Is this… all true?”

“Trust me, that isn’t even half of it,” I admitted, feeling I had no real need to keep this kind of information a secret, especially with people I plan on working with in the future. “There are still many things that are yet to be discovered. This is just scratching the surface. It took a while to gather that info alone, the rest is gonna be a bit more difficult, so it’s going to take some time until the ones behind the whole thing are caught.”

“I’m not sure what to make of this.” Shang admitted as he kept going through the file.

“I do, it’s messed up, and that’s putting it lightly,” I said, deciding to keep it simple. “I can’t say for certain what else they did or didn’t do, only it’s a matter of time before I uncover it all.”

“Do you think this is a wise choice?” Shang asked. “Make no mistake, it is not my place to tell you what you should do, or be involved in any kind of way. However, I feel like I should voice my opinion. Would this be a smart move?”

“An innocent man is held captive and they’ve used him as nothing more than a weapon for killing, actually, I consider that a suicide move if I walked in unprepared, but it will bring me one step closer to taking them down,” I stood up, shrinking the Bag of Holding and threw it into my backpack. “Besides, someone’s gotta do it.”

“You mentioned you’ve had some health problems?” Shang brought up. “If you insist on doing this, will you be able to succeed?”

“That was some time ago, I should be good when I actually go do it,” I responded leisurely. “Plus now that you’ve taught me Chi, I’ll have another trick up my sleeve to depend on. I should make it out alright, without a scratch of course.”

Shang stood up as well, extending his hand. “Then I wish you the best of luck.”

Shaking his hand, I replied with a smile. “Likewise.”

I turned around to make a portal back home. Just before I passed through, I looked back at him. “Now don’t get rusty, you hear?”

Shang pursed his lips slightly and shook his head. “Feel free to visit then. If I do get “rusty”, then the outcome of our next match might end in your favor.”

Letting out a chuckle, I waved back at the man, closing the portal a few seconds later.

After making a quick meal to refuel. The moment I was done, I immediately went into my secret room to begin planning. While I did tell Shang I would be capable of using my spells, I might run into trouble if I use them for an extended period of time. To compensate that, I’ll have to use some premade spells to have them on me as primary tools. Sure, I have Chi under my belt now, the only problem is that I can’t rely on it. It’s more of a wildcard than anything. At best, I can probably make one solid move out of it and nothing more. One attack for now should be my only focus when using it.

If I’m lucky, I could maybe channel some for a thin layer of protection if I have some to spare.

Sitting at my work station, I tried thinking what I would need to accomplish my mission. It’s going to be underground, tight spaces, tunnels, and all that kind of stuff. My best course of action would be using the environment to my advantage, as my armor will help me out for the most part. A tool that will alter the terrain or activate its action when I use it instantly.

Something small, compact, and effective. But what?

Looking around my table, I tried to come up with some kind of idea, when I saw the old gym membership I use to make my fake ID. Then something started to click.

Reaching towards it, I flipped the card back and forth. Small and compact, that can use the terrain to my advantage.

“Hmm, this could be a fun one,” I thought with a grin forming on my face. “Everyone likes a good card trick, right?”

----------------------------------------

“Ok, quick and simple this time."

I thought in my Astral State as I observed the bank on First Street, which was located in Washington, DC. The place where the Winter Soldier was kept.

From my memory, I recalled the last mission Bucky did was last year, where he fought against Black Widow, so he wasn’t used since then. Right now, he is in cryostasis underground, the place being used as an “S.H.I.E.L.D. safe house”, yeah right. I already did a sweep of the place, the underground section was divided into a few sections, having two more levels when down under. Of course, there were S.H.I.E.L.D./Hydra agents all about, only they didn’t have any notable pieces of tech that were dangerous.

Unless you count guns, but I honestly doubt that will stop me.

I prepared my tools I would need for this, since I wanted to try a different approach anyway. Instead of the laurel green robes I usually wear, I went with an all-black version for the occasion. I completed a full set of armor, easily using a spell to have the joints connected and each part would stay in its place. Being able to move freely and comfortably will be a big boost. I did several other tests to make sure my armor will be effective.

Like always, I’ll have to remove any evidence of me being here. The cameras they’ve had weren’t battery powered, meaning they go off when the electricity does.

Going back to my body, I opened a small portal on the ceiling of the security room that was occupied by only two guards. It was tightly concealed, meaning access was only available from the inside. Diving through, I kicked the guard closest to me in his left temple. As the man was sent back, the other guard jolted from his chair as I fully landed, lunging towards his gun that was on the edge of the table. I instantly created an Eldritch Whip and flung it his way, latching on his wrist the last second. Pulling the whip back, it pulled the guard as a result, to which I head-butted him.

Easily knocking the two guards out, I tied them up with energy whips that looked like rope and will fade out over time, throwing them both into the closet.

Looking over the camera feeds that were scattered in the underground hideout. Everyone was still in their positions just like I saw not too long ago. This really is a golden opportunity, Bucky is still frozen and the scientists that’s supposed to activate him were rooms away. My guess is when the lights go out, he’ll make a book towards the Winter Soldier. Not to mention a room full of guards was around them, at least it will be challenging without going all out. It would be good if I grab the book from them as well, just in case. All the more reason to have some fun.

The best part, S.H.I.E.L.D. won’t get any of this. Calling them for backup or reporting this break in? Not happening. Don’t misunderstand, Hydra will be fuming, only they will still have to cover this up to avoid questioning. Possible scenario is that they do report it with a whole different story, only that sounds like more trouble for Hydra so sweeping this under the rug seems most likely. Another scenario is that they call for backup, only they won't be able to get in nor be of any assistance as they will be too late, no matter the response time.

Not that there’s going to be any evidence either way.

It being a safe-house, there was barely anything of value here. I’ll have to make some money to keep my balance in check. Reaching behind for my bag, I took out a light-blue transparent card that had what appeared to be numerous sparks of electricity moved all-around inside as the image, only letting out a low sizzling sound. This little nifty creation was my answer to quick spells without needing to open the Codex or waste any of my energy.

Taking a few steps back, I flung my energy card towards the control panel. Upon contact, the card exploded into bolts of electricity that entered the machine, making it go haywire. Moments later, all the power this place had was out. Before moving in, I formed a white cube that will expand in size when placed on the door towards downstairs. Don't feel like simply teleporting the two out but don't want to waste more time while already going this route.

Opening another portal to the room with the scientists, with them and every single other guard turning towards my kneeled form, a single dimly red light made visible to them as they armed their weapons hastily.

“Evening.” I greeted them cheerfully as one hand went for my dagger and the other to my bag for another card. This time going for a lime-green colored one with swirling lines, letting out low sounds of wind blowing. I threw it towards the middle of the room, slamming my dagger downward, a thin energy blade appeared last second, keeping me in place. They unleashed their array of bullets only for it to have no effect. When the card reached its mark, it divided into four separate spheres of air, then releasing four gusts of intense wind, blowing everyone and everything in the room away.

I ducked slightly to avoid getting hit by anything. When I looked back up, I found the whole room to be in a mess. Most of the guards were knocked unconscious, only a few still awake, with one of the scientists ending up right next to the exit while the other was knocked out. Following the scientist, I was greeted with a wave of armored guards, forcing me to take cover in the same room I just exited. While I could take the hits, I’d rather not stay in the open. Raising my right arm, where a white gem allowed me to shoot energy beams from it. It was an experiment to make weapons out of any object that can hold energy.

I kept shooting while keeping my primary focus on the scientist running in the massive crowd. They weren't prepared for the beams that knocked them down, however, they were coming in numbers, meaning more to slow me down.

Taking out some of the guards, I knew I had to clear the place up. While shooting, I grabbed a brown-colored card with dark green lines all around it. Jumping to my right, I threw the card out, going upwards towards the ceiling. Moments later, a layer of wood started spreading from the source, traveling across the ceiling and moving down around the walls, closing off some entrances to other rooms. From it, countless vines shot out towards the guards, grabbing them and pulling them to the walls or ceiling. Startled, the men tried fighting back against the vines, only it was no use. It sent them in a cocoon-like state, fully trapping them inside. Only a few of them were left, which didn’t take long to take out. Walking through the now silent hallway, I tried not stepping on any of the unconscious bodies on the floor, the vines not bothering to grab ahold of them due to them not sensing any movement.

Reaching the end, I entered a spacious but empty room. The two doors on each side housed nothing more than guns and other supplies. There was one way where the scientists snuck off to, that being the two massive iron doors that opened on side to let a single guard out. Compared to every previous guard, this one significantly taller, with what appeared to be a different kind of protection than the standard ones.

“You aren’t getting through me, chump.” Taunted the big bulky guard, the only one that was protecting the chambers.

“Give me a minute and we’ll see about that.” I responded leisurely.

The man roared as he charged towards me, while I entered a defensive stance. When he was in range, he tried bombarding me with punches that I dodged by moving back. Seeing as how I was more agile, the guard lifted both his hands up and lunged forward, slamming his hands down at me. Instead of moving back, I crossed my arms as I lifted them up, stopping his attack with minor difficulty, only pushing me down slightly. Looks like my armor is holding up pretty well, I could hardly feel any impact and with my slightly amped durability, knocking me down won’t be so simple.

While in this position, I pushed his arms away with my own and kicked his kneecap. Falling on to his left knee, I smacked him right in the nose, breaking it with ease. The big guy went down, now for the scientist. Out of nowhere, I heard a war cry coming from behind, making me jump in that direction. A single guard ran down the halfway while shooting his assault rifle as he ran.

I crouched down while lifting up my arm, shooting multiple beams at him, the third and fourth shots hitting him in the upper right shoulder and stomach respectively. Getting back up, two large arms came around my waist, keeping my arms in place as the bulky guard hoisted me up in a bear hug. His initial plan didn’t work out as he couldn’t increase his grip due to the armor, so instead he started running forward to the nearest wall to slam me into it.

My arms may be stuck, however, with one flick of my hand, a small form of the green card slid out from my sleeve that expanded to its regular size. I activated it by squeezing the card as hard as I could, summoning a powerful gust of wind between us. As a result, the force made him lose his hold on me, only I flew upwards while he was pushed back, landing back on the floor. I maneuvered so I could ease my landing, sliding backwards as I went into another crouch when fully stopping. Resilient fellow, that guy.

"Hmm, eh, might as well."

I thought about whether or not to test out my new little project, deciding it would be a shame to miss out. Brining my right hand behind my back, I spread it wide open, slowly starting to focus all of my Chi into the palm. Even though I was wearing armor, I could feel thin lines of pure energy traveling to my hand. The weight in the center started growing heavier, by now forming a sphere of Chi in the size of a baseball with streams of energy surrounding it. The sensation of using this ability was phenomenal, and quite addicting. With that ready, I charged in.

The guard was back on his feet, and going to meet me head-on again. Big mistake. With my left hand, I summoned my Green-Jaded Hook to catch him off guard. Throwing it out, it passed right above his left shoulder but looped around his neck, but pulling forward wasn't the idea. Sending out a whip, the chain extended further from the edge of the hook, a single chain locked as the rest grew in length. When we got close, I revealed my right arm, a golden-like aura circling around a white sphere with golden traits, while pulling the chain back with my left.

The chain around his neck pulled him slightly, stopping him in place with his chest wide open. Lunging forward with my own version of the Rasengan to his stomach that he left unprotected, it left him completely stunned upon impact. His whole body was sent flying backwards, the sphere pushing him until he crashed into the wall next to the metal doors, sliding down moments later.

Rapidly moving to the doors to complete the mission, I admired the final result. This version was just a prototype, and a much weaker variant as I didn’t know how it would work on a living target. It broke through his armor, leaving an open space around his stomach area, the flesh slightly burnt.

While still learning how to control Chi, I could only accomplish this move about two or three times in a fight before it starts taking a toll. Back to the metal doors, I could just teleport through, only that wouldn’t be as fun, would it?

Lifting my right arm again, I formed another Rasengan, conjuring more Chi this time, slamming it at the centerline where the doors separated. The doors blew open, chunks of metal flying back when it revealed the final room.

Seems like I’m just in time.

Bucky was out of his cryo-chamber and was restrained by metal bars on a table, while catching the scientist in the middle of reading the activation code. His face was full of shock when his eyes spotted me, but couldn’t do anything as one of my beams hit him in his left shoulder, knocking out the familiar red book out of his hand.

Taking a closer look, I could see that Bucky was in a daze, and quite possibly still in pain. That is to be expected from someone who got out of a freezing pod and immediately mind-controlled. Should put him to rest right away.

Bucky’s eyes widened, going back and forth from me to the scientist on the ground, who was just outside of his field of vision. Closing the distance, his breathing became heavier and rapid.

“It’s alright,” I said softly as I could, trying to ease his suffering. “I’m here to break you out. Just relax, I’ll do the rest.”

Reaching into my bag, I took out a tiny glass flask containing a small dosage of tiny vapor. While I didn’t think it was possible, his eyes grew even wider at the sight of the bottle. I immediately raised my hand. “Please, do not worry. This is to calm the nerves, ease the pain as well.”

His eyes darted back between me and the bottle. Not that the man had any options to choose from, so with a slight nod, he agreed. Taking off the cap, the purple vapor started leaking out, then bringing it closer to his nose. By the second whiff, his eyes started closing, no longer struggling against his restraints.

Within seconds, he was out-cold. I made sure this wouldn’t cause him any further pain. It was a hassle to whip up, although the end result was well worth it. Picking up the red book, I stashed it and went to cut the restraints with my dagger, opening a portal when done, carefully removing him from the chair by laying him down on the ground, creating a thin energy layer beneath him that acted as a bed, then taking him to the other side with his normal arm over my shoulders. I set him down on the couch in the Pocket Dimension. When I did, I looked at his sleeping form and for just a split moment, I realized this was probably his first time in a long while that he could sleep normally.

I wish I could say that he was scot free, only there was one crucial problem to fix, the brainwashing. I did study some cleansing magic, something that will help Bucky greatly. With my numerous hours of research, this particular type of brainwashing should be, and I quote, “out-of-date” and “simple”, which I find surprising to say the least. Taking out the red book from my bag, I looked at it before looking back at the Winter Soldier.

He should stay like this for a while, so I better get to work and see what I can do.

----------------------------------------

I was sure that I would be able to greet the War Veteran peacefully this time around, sadly, it didn't go so smoothly.

“Woah, woah, calm down there, pal,” I spoke calmly with my hands moving up and down. “No need to raise the metal fist in here.”

When I finished cleaning his mind, which took plenty of time in out of itself, I moved him to the couch of my actual home to make things easier to explain. While waiting for him to wake up, I began preparing our dinner. At some point, he jumped out of the bed without much warning, which is where I have to calm him down, again.

“Where the hell am I!?” Bucky blurted out, scanning every inch of the living room. His stance was defensive, and more like he didn't want to engage in a fight at all. “What year is this?!”

“My apartment, and two thousand-eleven.”

“Where? Exactly?” The soldier asked the second I answered, his heavy breathing not changing.

“In New York, close to Central Park to be exact,” I moved towards the window slowly, motioning him to follow. “Please, take a look for yourself.”

Bucky stood in place, his body still in a defensive stance, looking in every possible direction to make sure his surroundings were safe. Step by step, he walked towards another window, slowly moving the curtain off to the side to see for himself. Once he did, Bucky was mesmerized by the sight. Cars that, to him, were way different that he remembered, buildings having more color and… screens that showed various items and names he wasn’t familiar with, not in the slightest. Alongside the buildings that shone with lights, it complimented the night sky greatly. Looking down, he tried staying focusing on one person at a time, but he was overwhelmed with how much there was going on, and how… different everything looked.

“Is this… how the future looks like?” Bucky asked himself, unable to trust his own thoughts. While he’d liked to know more, he had a different dilemma at hand. Now he has to find out if this person is with Hydra and this is another one of their “tests” they’d like to toy him with.

Looking back at the person in question, Bucky was determined to get some answers, speaking in a low tone. “Who are you, and why did you bring me here?”

"I'm sure you have, like, a million different questions on your mind right now, and I will answer all of them, I promise," I motioned back towards the dining table. "Please, let's discuss it over some dinner. I'm sure you're starving."

I went back to the kitchen to add the finishing spices to the roast beef I was preparing. I already made vegetable soup, two plates cooling off on the table. When adding the final touches, I waved my hands over the tray to form a yellow energy box on it, heating up the meat to have it ready sooner instead of using the oven. Since he's awake might as well not waste time.

Hearing a sound that resembled a slight gasp, I could tell Bucky was shocked to see such a thing, where I couldn't help but smirk slightly.

"How did you do that?" Bucky asked, awe in his voice as he watched the food heating up. "What kind of technology is that?"

I clicked my tongue as an initial response, swiping with my hand to the right to lift the tray and place it on the table. "It’s not actually technology, not the type you'd expect that is." I seated myself in one of the chairs, forming a reassuring smile towards Bucky for him to join me. “It's magic, actually. I will explain that as well.”

The soldier was still skeptical, contemplating whether or not he should feel at ease, deciding it was the only thing he could do at the time being. His movements were stiff and robot-like, which is to be expected. Circling the liquid of my bowl with a spoon in hand, I was just about to begin before deciding to throw another glance at my guest. Bucky’s eyes studied his meal as if he was trying his hardest to find some kind of flaw in it.

“Is… there a problem?” I asked genuinely.

Bucky’s only response was to shift his focus from the soup to me, his emotionless stare looking back at his bowl.

“Oh, I guess I’d be slightly concerned about food poisonings. Let’s fix that. “

Waving my hands quickly, the two plates with the liquids stayed in place, only shaking slightly as the two plates flew an inch off the table to switch sides. Bucky jumped in his seat as he witnessed the plates move on their own, now having the other bowl before him.

“As I said, it’s vegetable soup. I’m not that cruel, especially when a person hasn’t eaten in God knows how long.” I expressed truth in that sentence, knowing how crazy I would be if I was locked up without a decent meal. “You can add anything you want from here.”

I said motioning towards the spices in the middle. Now showing that this wasn’t any trick, I hoped he could trust me a little more unless he thinks I would try and poison the both of us.

That would be a little too much, no?

After a few seconds, Bucky took his spoon to eat his serving, seeing as he could potentially relax for the time being, potentially. Putting the spoonful into his mouth, there weren’t words that could describe the feelings his mouth were experiencing. He wanted to gorge down on the soup, but he wanted to act as politely, that being the difficult part.

The dinner proceeded with peace and quiet, and when we were finished, I cleared the table with a gesture and decided it was time to get the ball rolling.

"There, with that out of the way, we can move on to the topic at hand," I spoke as I whipped my mouth with a napkin. "Would be fair to hold up my end of the bargain, so ask me anything."

"Your name would be a good start..." Bucky said lowly. "That and who you work for."

"Fair enough," I sighed leaning back into my chair. "My name is Ethan Chester and believe it or not, I don't with anyone. I work alone, as of late that is. I was enrolled in an "institution" not that long ago but I had to go on my own after a few instances involving another member."

"Does that place also have people who do magic?" Bucky asked. "I thought those were just made up stories."

"You'd be right to think so, it isn't exactly a place you'd find on the side of a street. Only a few know about our existence, while the rest of the world are oblivious. There's a reason why we Sorcerers tend to work from the shadows rather than going public, you know."

"That reason being?"

"It involves having to deal with that pesky group of people who held you captive for nearly seventy years, so," I replied while shrugging my shoulders. "Actually they're one of the reasons but you get the idea."

Bucky's hands balled into fists after just mentioning Hydra. He paused when thinking about his next question. "Why did you bring me here? I've been asking myself that ever since we started eating, and I still don't see your angle in breaking me out. If you truly say you're not one of them, how can I be sure that they won’t find us?"

"Well, when you find out one of the world's most troublesome organizations uses brainwashing on a World War 2 veteran, one that supposedly died helping Captain America fight that same group, to turn him into an assassin to do their bidding, the answer becomes rather simple," I replied honestly. "Hydra can’t find us, I have this whole block under surveillance, nobody can find us and there’s no way to track us down. To them, we out there appear like we don't even exist. As for Hydra as a whole, I did extensive research on them when I first discovered them. After snooping around a little, I've come to the conclusion that sitting around is a no go. Thought that cleansing the minds of the people they control would be the moral thing to do.”

Bucky’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean by “cleanse the mind”?

“Exactly that,” I responded without missing a beat. “All the work Hydra put into brainwashing you was removed, for good. Removed in the span of a few hours.”

Upon hearing this, Bucky’s eyes grew at the size of dinner plates, with his mouth hanging. At first, he wanted to ask how, but his mind wanted a different approach. “I don’t believe you.”

“Why would I lie?”

Trying to remain calm as possible, Bucky tried answering. “They’ve… they’ve been messing with my mind ever since I was in the War, that I can remember clearly. Every time they would bring me out, they’d… do something to me. You said it’s been almost seventy years, so I seriously doubt whatever you did in a couple of hours scratched the surface of what they did over the course of a couple of decades. I just can't see you or anyone else fixing what’s wrong with me.”

As a response, I waved my finger in order to summon the familiar red leathered book that was lying somewhere in the house, gently placing it on the table. Upon seeing it, Bucky flinched, but I was quick to act. “This right here, is now absolutely useless. I went over every single aspect of mind control they implemented into your mind. The words that they used to make you into their puppet dont work. If I were to read them out loud, they’d seem like ordinary words, just how they should be.”

I didn't get any sort or reply, just flat out silence. From how things were going, I don't think he had any intention on replying.

“So that’s how it is? Guess that leaves me with only one way of proving it.”

I closed my eyes for a few seconds, taking long breaths through my nose as I prepared myself for what I was about to do, and the risk that comes along with it. I’d like to have him by my side, as there’s a low amount of people I can properly work with. In order to accomplish that, I have proven my sincerity without fighting back when I do this.

“Longing.” I spoke the first of the ten trigger words, trying to sound to mimic a Russian accent as accurately as possible.

Instantly, Bucky jumped back in his seat with his eyes wide, gripping the edge of the table. “No…”

“Rusted… Furnace…” I continued on calmly, each word made Bucky jump. “Daybreak…”

“Stop it!” Bucky yelled as he shot up from his seat, walking backwards with his hands covering his ears.

“Seventeen… Benign…”

Even though his ears were covered, it just wasn’t enough, he could still faintly hear them, understand the motion of my lips. It was setting his mind on fire, the memories of the pain flashing through his mind became unbearable. He had to stop them, now.

“Nine… Homecoming-“

I got the word out as Bucky rushed towards me, grabbing me by the collar and hoisting me up, simultaneously pushing me until my back crashed into the wall, then firmly gripping my neck. The moment he grabbed me, my hands gripped his wrist, just so I could remain focused. With his enhanced strength, it was enough to make my knees shake as the grip slowly became tighter.

“I swear to God, if you say one more word…!” Bucky threatened by slightly raising his metal arm.

“O- One…!” I choked out, just one more to go.

His grip tightened, fully raising his other arm. “Bastard! I told you to stop!”

“Just one more…!” I internally screamed while closely watching his movements. His fist was almost fully raised, only it felt like time slowed down significantly. I have to finish this right now. With the last ounce of strength I had, I spat out the last trigger word. “Freight Car!”

Before his fist came into contact with my face, it stopped roughly about a few centimeters from my nose, staying in place while also shaking. Retracting his hand back, I got a good look at Bucky’s shocked expression, closely observing his metal arm before going over the rest of his body.

Seems like he realized the mind control is gone for good.

Tapping repeatedly the arm that held me against the wall, Bucky let go of me after a few seconds while moving backwards. Taking deep breaths and rubbing my neck, I straightened myself up before speaking. “As I said, you don’t have to worry about that anymore….”

Bucky to this moment looked over his hands, still unable to believe the words didn’t affect him at all. “How did you… manage that?”

“Just as Hydra has the ability to control one’s mind, people like me have the power that can repair it,” I explained with some difficulty, limping back to my seat. “Now that I’ve proven myself the only way I know how can we go back to talking?”

It took a few moments for him to properly respond, still looking at me with a skeptical expression. Even though he still had some doubts, he returned to his seat, this time more relaxed than before.

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask me?” I moved us back on track as I took a sip of my tea.

Reestablishing eye contact once more, Bucky spoke up. “Can they… somehow bring it back if they capture me?”

“By simply using another combination of words, no. They'd have to go from the start, that is if the method is even optimal anymore. I’m not sure if they can recreate the same procedure to control someone, so just in case, I can offer you some protection if they ever get ahold of you again.”

Lastly, Bucky moved on to the most dreaded question yet, looking down at the table. “What happens to me now?”

“To be honest, that entirely depends on you. I’m seeing two options here,” I said calmly, prompting Bucky to look up. “If you want, you are by all means free to go, and we will never encounter one another ever again. I won’t hold you against your will, or ask payment in return for releasing you. I can provide you with some assistance to help you get accustomed to this day and age. Although I must warn you, I’m not sure how far you can go on your own. I should inform you, just in case your memories are foggy, but as of now, Hydra, are everywhere. Agents hiding undercover at every single turn, surveillance at every corner, countless business and organizations corrupt, while also having resources to burn. Shortly after the War, Peggy Carter went on to form an organization, called S.H.I.E.L.D., to stop people like Hydra. Sadly, they didn’t notice they were infected from the start. The world’s most powerful group of people that are meant to protect, are nothing more than a cover for Hydra, so you can kiss security goodbye.”

I was met with silence for the next minute or so, patiently waiting to hear Bucky’s response. “What is option B, then?”

“You can stay and help me,” I said hopefully. “You see, I plan on eliminating Hydra. Time is scarce enough as it is, giving them any more results in us dying sooner. Like I said, they are severely infected, meaning in order to get rid of them, we’ll have to play around two groups. While I’ll admit there’s some good on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s part, trusting or even working with them are too risky. In fact, they might not even know that Hydra is still active. While we may be short in numbers, I believe it can be pulled off with the proper plan.”

Bucky’s eyebrows furrowed when I finished, coughing slightly as he leaned forward. “If they haven’t even been noticed since the War, and are really that powerful, what makes you think that you’ll leave more than a dent?”

For the first time, I couldn’t hold my ego in. Not because I was overconfident, but I knew what kind of advantage I had on my plate. “Just like the whole world didn’t know Hydra was under their nose, they are oblivious to my existence as well. I have various methods to counter their tactics, while also having the element of surprise. I know what I’m going up against, they don’t. I wouldn’t be asking you this if I wasn’t sure if my operation would work. Besides, what I did to remove Hydra’s program still has more to it. The memories they’ve removed can eventually be restored, the reason I didn’t do it is that restoring that many memories can cause brain damage if done recklessly. It seemed fair to me to let you choose what you would like to do with them.”

I wasn’t over-exaggerating, Hydra is a dangerous foe that should be dealt with caution. If I play my cards right, I will come out victorious. They are bound to be a bigger threat than what I’m familiar with, but I won’t give them the opportunity to hit me back. If Bucky decides to stay, I’ll have someone who has experience with Hydra, and will make the task of eliminating them much easier.

Still, it’s his decision.

I rose up from my seat. “I understand this is not something you can decide on the spot, I won’t put any further pressure on you. You can give me your answer in the morning. There’s some new clothes over there, plus the spare bedroom is the first door when you make a turn down the hall. That's all I got, so good night, Mr. Barns,.”

I walked towards my bedroom, aiming to get a head start on the books I want to finish. I won’t focus too much on Bucky, the man needs his space and he’ll decide in the morning.

No matter what the answer might be, I’m just glad I prevented plenty of damage in the long run.

----------------------------------------

Even though it was somewhat late at night, there was life all around.

The sound of people talking couldn’t be escaped when outside, and for Bucky, that alone felt abnormal to him.

It was the only thing he wanted to do, no, it’s what he needed to do. Bucky didn’t trail far away from this… person who willingly broke him out of captivity, now sitting in the park that was in the view from the apartment window. While he had several doubts about him, there weren’t any indications that meant Bucky was in harm’s way, at least he thinks. There’s no argument that Bucky was furious when that person, Ethan, began saying those accursed words. They alone brought many memories he wished he could forget, although he was still in control when he was done, so it meant he was genuine when he said that the program was out for good. Bucky was still on the fence about fully trusting him, though.

Right now, he attempted to enjoy the peace he so longed for, calmly seated on a park bench that wasn’t far from the iron fence, allowing him to hear the voices of people who passed. While Bucky originally planned on going somewhere quiet, he realized that’s the last thing he needs. The voices of other people, regular people, eased his mind more than he could imagine. With the new clothes he was offered, being a grey tracksuit, Bucky was able to hide his metal arm and put the hood on to hide in plain sight, not that a single person bothered with him anyway.

To tell the truth, Bucky wasn’t sure what to do now. Hell, how could he know?

He had the option of getting off the grid, which greatly tempted him. Finding an isolated place where he can spend the rest of his life. There would be no more fighting, no conflict, just himself. After everything he’s been through, was it too much to ask? Bucky realized that he was marked for life, with Hydra now in their prime being on the run from all authority is going to be difficult. At best, he could buy a few months or even years, if he would move every now and then that is.

On the other hand, Bucky felt like it was his duty to stay and fight.

He was a soldier, it was job to keep on fighting. Bucky didn’t hesitate when signing up for the Military, and knew what kind of risk he was putting himself into. Yet, putting his life on the line was a low price for the good guys to win. Under normal circumstances, he would jump right back in without a second thought. Now, it just wasn't the same.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Bucky fully leaned back on the bench, shifting his focus in the distance to distract himself. As much as he wanted to make himself believe this is the same world when he was still “alive”, it just wasn’t. No matter where he looked, everything felt different. Even the way people talked seemed foreign to Bucky. With so many concerns flowing through his head, Bucky tried calming down by remembering the moments he cherished most.

His childhood, teenage years, being deployed in the military. Of all those memories, they all shared a sense of unfamiliarity, but one person shined through them all.

“Steve…”

A sliver of a smile formed across Bucky’s face upon remembering his dear friend, only to disappear when more memories came flooding in. He would never forget the last moment he saw his friend, the glimpse Steve’s horrified face as he fell down to the cold river. Bucky had no idea how the mission went or if his friend made it out alive, but for some reason, he had a feeling that Steve pulled it off, he just knew. Enhanced super strength or not, Bucky always admired how Steve, even if the whole world was against him, would never run away from a fight, no matter the odds.

“Hope you had a good life, brother…”

Bucky looked up to the sky as he lowly uttered those words, making a mental note to find Steve’s grave, to pay him a visit to give him a proper goodbye. All the memories they’ve shared flashed through Bucky’s eyes one more time as he stood up.

While reminiscing about his friend, Bucky’s mind came to a resolution. He knew that he needed to keep going forward, it’s what Steve would want. While he wasn’t sure how much he could trust himself now that he was out of Hydra’s grasps, there was only one way he could live out the rest of his life, by atoning for his sins. Mind control or not, a small glimpse of the actions he did before made him decide what to do from now on. It made him feel sick when remembering all the cruel things he did, and there's no possible chance he's going to let Hydra go unpunished. When he does that, he can then live in peace.

Putting his hands into the pockets of the tracksuit, Bucky slowly began walking, going towards the gate, his mind set on his newfound goal.

----------------------------------------

After my dinner with Bucky, I confined myself to my room and didn’t exist from those four walls for the whole night. Like I said, privacy. Besides, I needed to go over the last few books I had on me to start practicing the more dangerous and intense spells. With Shang’s help, I have other forms of combat to practice with my training dummy. Approaching the spare bedroom, I saw the door was slightly opened, but when taking a peek inside, I saw it was empty. Fully opening the door, I inspected the room top to bottom, it was exactly how I left it.

“Can’t blame the guy,” I thought while closing the door. “I hope he’ll stay out of trouble. They’ll eat him alive if he isn’t careful.”

Continuing my walk towards the kitchen, I stopped when I saw smoke coming from the right side at the end of the hallway. Immediately, my mind went into overdrive, breaking into a run towards the kitchen. Turning the corner, I wasn’t greeted with danger of any kind. Frankly, it was quite the opposite.

Bucky was cooking, and with the smoke coming from the pan that was on fire, alongside his jittery behavior, he was having some trouble.

Jogging towards the stove, I waved my hands to manifest silver vapor from the tip of my fingers, instantly putting out the fire and clearing all the smoke when it came into contact. Turning over to Bucky,

While I wanted to ask him if he decided to stay, my mind said something else. “You could have just woke me up, you know?”

Bucky looked away embarrassingly. "Yeah... I was meaning to wait and ask you then, didn't expect that I would start a fire cooking a simple breakfast."

"You never cooked before?" I asked as I disposed of the burnt eggs and bacon.

"If you count heating up canned food then yeah." Bucky replied with a shrug.

"You're in luck, I happen to be an exceptional cook. I'll get you up to speed." I politely offered while taking out the second batch of ingredients from the fridge with a few waves.

"Sounds good." Was Bucky's reply.

He stayed by me when instead of using my powers, did the normal way for a change. While doing so, I had to ask. "So, you decided to stay?"

"I figured if the world's that bad, being on the run is gonna end badly for me I feel. I wanted to..." Bucky paused for a moment. "To thank you, for whatever you did. I feel like... my old self again. I don’t have anything I can repay you with, but if you really do want to take Hydra down, I want to be of use. They have to pay for what they did. Not just to me, but to everyone else who suffered by their hands. "

"Trust me, I'm only doing my part. I occasionally step in and do what I can. Besides, doing this kind of work is rather lonely. I’d be glad to work alongside you, Mr. Barns,” I said honestly as I looked at him, then extended my hand out to him. “From here on out, I will be fully transparent with you, and we’ll both work together, as partners. Have to warn you though, hope you get used to my methods, magic does tend to be confusing to newcomers.”

Bucky looked at my hand momentarily before accepting it. “I think I’ll manage, and Bucky is enough. No need to make me feel older than I already am.”

“Then we have a deal, Bucky. Welcome aboard.”

For the next several minutes, we were met with silence as I proceeded

“Oh, and another thing,” Bucky began, turning my focus towards him. “I took your warning and didn’t go too far away from the building, although I was wondering, can you tell me what happened ever since the war ended? Sure doesn’t file like the same New York when I left it.”

I gave a slight nod, more than happy to inform him of all that’s happened since then. “I’ll make you a list, then.”