Ophelia…
Bucky's chest tightened at the sound of that name. It was a curse he could never forget — a shadow forever etched into his heart. Yet, even now, he lacked the courage to refuse her summons.
The corridor stretched long and silent, rooms neatly lined on both sides. The faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air — not overwhelming, but unmistakable. From somewhere above came the muffled echo of footsteps and voices.
A hospital? he wondered.
But as he continued forward, following the blonde woman who had summoned him, he realized how wrong that assumption was.
This was no hospital.
At the end of the corridor, the space opened up — and what greeted him looked more like a futuristic city enclosed within glass domes that reached into the clouds.
Neatly arranged streets stretched out ahead. Elegant potted plants lined the walkways, and the air carried the soft hum of hovering vehicles.
A sleek, wheel-less convertible drifted by silently. There was no driver — only passengers sitting comfortably on long seats, chatting idly, reading, or sipping tea as the vehicle glided smoothly above the ground.
Beyond the trees, Bucky glimpsed a vast lake gleaming beneath the artificial sunlight streaming through the glass dome. Mountains framed the horizon, and in the distance, laughter echoed — children playing, adults calling out to them.
Everything looked… peaceful.
"Mr. Barnes?"
The blonde woman's calm voice pulled him back to reality. He turned and saw her standing beside a hovering car, the door open in silent invitation.
"Sorry," Bucky muttered, walking over and taking a seat opposite her on the long sofa inside.
The door closed. The car lifted off the ground, gliding smoothly through the skyway at a steady pace.
Neither spoke.
Bucky leaned back, his eyes tracing the world beyond the glass. Rows of modern homes passed by — clean, spacious, serene. On one side, people walked leisurely under the trees. On the other, the green expanse opened toward a beach by the shimmering lake. Families played in the water; laughter carried on the breeze.
It was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
And utterly alien to a man who had lived his life surrounded by gunfire, war, and blood.
When the car finally slowed, Bucky looked up to see an enormous, glass-walled building towering before him — triangular in structure, rising more than five hundred meters into the air. The sunlight reflected off it like a blade.
The car didn't stop at the entrance. Instead, it ascended further — landing gently on a broad terrace that felt like a sky garden. Fountains, rockeries, and blooming flowers surrounded the open-air space.
The woman gestured for him to follow.
Near a koi pond sat her.
Ophelia.
She wore a refined summer dress, a wide-brimmed sunhat, and sunglasses that hid her eyes. She lounged gracefully in a chair, stirring her coffee as she read data from a holographic projection hovering in front of her.
Several maids stood quietly at her side.
When Bucky approached, they bowed. Ophelia barely nodded in response, motioning for him to wait.
His pulse quickened. He knew this woman — or rather, what she was capable of.
The memories still burned in his mind: the pain, the poison, the countless times he'd hovered between life and death under her cold experiments.
If he could, he would've fled long ago.
Instead, he stood there, stiff and silent, while she finally turned her head to look at him.
"It seems I've left quite the impression," Ophelia said softly, her lips curving faintly.
"Uh…" Bucky managed a weak smile, unsure what to say.
Ophelia stirred her coffee lazily. "Your punishment is over. You're fortunate, Bucky Barnes — not many survive my poisons."
Her tone was calm, almost indifferent. "Even demons would melt into blood under my venom. Only your willpower kept your mind intact."
She took a slow sip. "You endured it. So now, you're free."
Bucky exhaled shakily, his hands trembling slightly.
It was true. During her experiments, he'd been torn apart again and again — physically, mentally, spiritually. Her poisons destroyed his body at the cellular level, while her healing arts rebuilt it each time, stronger but never the same.
If not for his sheer will, he'd have become a soulless shell long ago.
Ophelia's gaze softened slightly, though her expression remained unreadable behind her glasses.
Before she had become a Saint of Ophiuchus, she had already been a master of toxins — a genius of both medicine and death. After awakening her Cosmo and gaining the power of the Serpent Bearer, her mastery over life and poison had reached godlike heights.
Bucky had simply been… useful.
Now, his purpose was fulfilled.
She no longer needed him.
But that, too, was mercy — for if she continued her new line of research, involving poisons that touched not only the body but the soul, he would have died instantly.
"Thank you, Lady Ophelia," Bucky said finally, bowing his head deeply. His voice trembled, but his gratitude was sincere. "You saved my life. If there's ever anything you need of me, I'll do it — even at the cost of my life."
Ophelia chuckled softly. "You have a good heart, Bucky Barnes. Gratitude is a rare quality."
She set down her cup. "Remember — pain and suffering are also forms of strength. One day, you may understand that."
She glanced to her butler, who immediately stepped forward.
"Mr. Barnes, please come with me."
Bucky gave a small nod, turned, and followed.
As he boarded the hovercar and it drifted away, Ophelia's gaze lingered — thoughtful, distant.
Moments later, laughter echoed across the terrace.
Three little children — Lily, Kanna, and Dean — came running toward her, two large dogs bounding alongside them. Behind them walked Leon, calm as ever.
"Sister Ophelia!"
The girls rushed into her arms, giggling as they nuzzled against her cheeks. The dogs circled excitedly while the maids hurried to bring out fruit and drinks.
Leon approached, the maids kneeling respectfully. "God King," they greeted reverently.
He smiled and waved them off. "You've done well."
They blushed at his words, retreating quietly.
Leon sat beside Ophelia, scooping up the tiny dragon-girl Kanna, who was squirming for attention.
"Here, look," he said, holding out a strawberry. "Something sweet."
At once, Kanna stopped struggling, opening her mouth for the treat.
"I want one too!" little Lily shouted.
Ophelia laughed softly, feeding the girl a strawberry of her own. "Such a greedy little princess."
Dean received his with shy gratitude, while the dogs were rewarded with tossed fruit and praise from the maids.
For a brief moment, peace settled over the rooftop garden — a slice of warmth above a world that was anything but simple.
Leon turned to Ophelia, watching her expression. "You let him go rather quickly," he said. "Does that mean you've outgrown your experiment?"
Ophelia nodded faintly. "He surpassed the limits of mortal endurance. But for what comes next — his body would crumble before the poison even touched his soul."
Leon smiled. "A confused soul wandering between death and destiny… perhaps his story isn't over yet."
His gaze turned distant, and a faint, amused light danced in the eyes of the God King.
End of Chapter)
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