Hive completely lost all signs of life.
At the same time, all around the world, the parasites hidden inside the brains of agents also turned into dried corpses due to countless cycles of death.
Casting such a powerful technique left Yvette so exhausted that she was almost paralyzed. Ignoring the mud soaked by the rain, she sat on the ground without any ladylike image, staring blankly at her surroundings.
That familiar feeling of loneliness, like an unbreakable thick fog, gradually enveloped her heart, as if she had returned to seventy years ago, when Luka left her.
The drizzling rain fell onto the ground, splashing up sheets of cold water.
Yvette stood in the light rain. After resting for a while, she propped herself up with her hand and slowly got to her feet, looking around in confusion, feeling as though she did not know where to go, as if the vastness of heaven and earth had no place for her.
For these seventy years, she had always been searching for Luka and avoiding Hive's pursuit. Everything had seemed to become a habit.
But after resolving Hive and then learning that Luka would return soon, she instead felt empty inside, as if she had lost her goal, somewhat at a loss.
"What are you thinking about?"
Howard, who had recovered his senses, slowly walked in front of the girl and asked.
After Hive died completely, his domination naturally lost effect. However, Howard, who had awakened, did not remember anything from when he was controlled.
"I was thinking about what... I should do next?" Yvette's eyes were filled with confusion. She did not know where she should go.
"Do you even need to think about that? Of course, you can do anything, as long as it's not illegal!" Howard smiled. "Hive is already dead. From now on, we are free. No one can threaten us anymore. You can try living on as an ordinary person."
Rain struck Yvette's face, and she gradually curled up a smile. "Perhaps just as you told me, I should try living like an ordinary person."
"Congratulations on regaining your freedom."
Howard smiled slightly, then looked toward their heavily injured companions and sighed. "I didn't expect Hive to be this powerful. If not for you, we would have been dead for sure. But I'm a little curious. How did you kill Hive in the end?"
"Hehe～ Secret!" Yvette winked playfully and did not tell Howard the truth.
In the battle to subjugate Hive, even though they had made sufficient preparations beforehand, Hive's combat power exceeded expectations, and they had paid no small price for it.
Bucky, Zemo, and Peggy, the three of them were all heavily injured. Only Howard was still relatively intact. As for Yvette, her spiritual power was nearly dried up. Even after completing her recovery, she would need at least one or two months.
"The World Between Gaps!"
Howard clapped his hands and summoned a light-blue wall of light, enveloping everyone within. "We need to leave here quickly. The battle caused quite a commotion. If the remaining Hydra discover us, with our current state, we really might not be able to leave safely."
"Mm, I'll leave it to you."
Yvette nodded and allowed the light-blue wall to envelop her.
Howard took everyone into the "gap," looked around, and after confirming that no one had noticed them, used the night and thick fog to quietly leave the place.
Not long after he left.
A tall and burly man with a rough beard covering his face and a string of Buddhist beads hanging around his neck suddenly appeared high in the air like a ghost.
Under the hazy moonlight, his face could be seen clearly. It was Ichibē Hyōsube.
The Monk seemed drunk, swaying as he walked, holding a brush soaked full of ink and casually waving it a few times, splashing out black ink.
Immediately afterward, something miraculous happened.
The dark clouds covering the sky actually gradually disappeared and dispersed along with the spilled ink, and the drizzling rain also stopped.
"How careless..."
Ichibē stroked his beard and said with slight dissatisfaction, "To actually use that kind of power in the Human World. What would happen if it were discovered? Fortunately, he told this old man in advance, so I'll reluctantly cover up the traces for you."
"But..."
"What exactly happened over there that made him disappear without even giving a greeting?"
Ichibē's thick brows sank slightly, and his expression grew a little solemn as he muttered to himself, "Could it be that a new situation has appeared over at Mariana?"
...
...
...
Inside the underground waterway.
Fury, who had been imprisoned for many days, was listless and dispirited, his eye sockets deeply sunken, making him look as if he had aged by more than ten years.
As footsteps sounded in the passage, Fury slowly raised his head and weakly sneered. "How long do you still plan to keep me locked up?"
Under the dim yellow light, Ikaris's eyes were gloomy, black energy gathered between his brows, and his entire body emitted an extremely dangerous aura.
"I advise you to give up."
Fury, who was firmly restrained, was not afraid of his gaze in the slightest and even showed a mocking expression. "A bastard trying to destroy Earth. Even if I die, I won't cooperate with you."
"Yes, I have already understood your firm conviction." Ikaris was expressionless as he said coldly, "No matter how I torture you or deceive you, you will not agree to my conditions, open the Reishi Laboratory, and release that monster."
"You're not even pretending anymore?"
Fury's heart sank, and he had an ominous premonition. "Looks like you found some other method that can replace the Reishi Laboratory?"
"No... I have not."
Ikaris said very calmly, "Only the monster in the Reishi Laboratory can ensure that Jugram Haschwalth is held back, thereby preventing the Emergence ritual from being disturbed."
"You... what exactly are you trying to do?"
That ominous premonition grew stronger. Fury was a little afraid of this kind of Ikaris, because he was simply too calm, to the point that he was like a pool of stagnant water.
"Since you are unwilling to cooperate, I can only use another method." Ikaris's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a trace of danger. "Although this method, you might not like very much."
"You want to control me?"
Fury's heart sank, and he guessed his thoughts.
"It is your turn to act, Druig."
Ikaris did not answer his question, but turned to look into the passage and said faintly, "Let me see if your ability has improved after several thousand years."
"Just a human..."
A young man who did not look very old, roughly in his twenties, slowly walked out with both hands in his pockets. The dim yellow light shone on his face, and his pure golden eyes appeared abnormally bright. "As long as I am willing, no one can be immune."
"Let me introduce him to you."
Ikaris looked down from above, overlooking the imprisoned and bound Fury, and the corner of his lips curled into a sneer. "Druig, one of the Eternals, my brother, able to control the thoughts of any living creature. During the thirteenth century, he helped the Mongols conquer European countries."
"Stop wasting time."
Druig impatiently pushed Ikaris aside and walked a few steps in front of Fury, his eyes lighting up with golden light.
Buzz——
A thought almost tangible directly broke through Fury's brain defenses. He felt as if he had been stripped naked and placed in front of this person, allowed to be carefully observed by him.
All secrets... had nowhere to hide!