Chapter 364: Civil War VI
On the deserted island ————————
Having received word from the Shadow Khan, Silas understood that the Civil War had reached a temporary stalemate.
"The fighting is over. Where do you want to go now?" Silas turned to Wanda and asked.
Hearing this, Wanda's expression grew anxious. "What happened? How are the Captain and the others?"
"Steve and Barnes escaped. The remaining Avengers were captured by the government," Silas said plainly.
"No..." Wanda pleaded. "Silas, can you please take me to the other Avengers? I have to save them!"
"I understand how you feel." Silas reached into his own shadow, pulled out a tablet, and handed it to Wanda.
Wanda took it, confused. Displayed on the screen was a wanted poster—it was hers. The government was officially hunting her; there was even a financial reward for any information leading to her capture.
"You're now globally wanted," Silas shrugged. The U.S. government was always like that. They call you a hero when they need you to stop a crisis, and the moment it's over, you're a fugitive.
"A fugitive..." Wanda muttered with a self-deprecating chuckle.
Ping!
A message suddenly popped up on Silas's tablet. It was from Tony.
"It's for you," Wanda said, handing the tablet back.
Silas checked the message, and Tony's voice recording played: "One last favor, Silas. Can you get the Avengers out of the Raft prison?"
"Mhm~" Silas raised an eyebrow at Wanda.
"He actually asked you to break them out?" Wanda was stunned. Was Stark really that kind of person? He seemed like a completely different man compared to the one at the airport.
"Tony has always been like this. He thinks he's doing what's best for you, but his 'good' is like a pushy parent. Whether you like it or not, he forces it on you because it's 'for your own good.'"
Silas stood up and brushed the sand off his clothes. This was a favor he could easily handle.
"You're going?" Wanda had assumed Silas would refuse. After all, he wasn't an Avenger; he had no obligation to help them.
"Of course. Think of it as an apology gift for the fight we just had," Silas joked.
Wanda looked up at him and slowly stood. "Can you take me with you?"
"You?" Silas looked her up and down.
"Mhm." Wanda spread her arms playfully. "I'm already a fugitive. How much worse can it get?"
"Then... let's go." With a thought, Silas opened a Shadow Portal.
Wanda stepped through first, but paused to look back. "By the way, you were very impolite earlier. Who just kicks a lady like that?"
"I thought it was the most efficient way to move you," Silas said with a sheepish grin. Wanda pursed her lips; she didn't believe him for a second.
The Raft Prison
The Raft was a specialized underwater facility designed to hold enhanced individuals. Tony had recently visited to scout for Steve's location and check on Sam, only to be horrified by the conditions. It was a place for madmen. Even though Clint and the others had opposed him, Tony couldn't bear to leave them in that dark, sunless hole.
"We're just walking in?" Wanda asked.
She was standing on the roof of the prison. Beside her, Silas had put on a mask—though this time, it was a different one.
"Of course not." Silas looked at the guards below. "Do you think they'd just let us in?"
"Then why are you standing here so out in the open?" Wanda rolled her eyes. They were supposed to be breaking into a prison, yet he was acting like they were out for a casual stroll.
"When you have this kind of power, why hide?" Silas led Wanda into the interior.
As soon as they entered, they were met by a group of heavily armed soldiers pointing weapons at them. It was as if they had been expected.
"You finally showed up, freaks," General Ross said, his voice cold and stern. The prison systems had detected them the moment they landed on the roof.
"Where are they being held?" Wanda stepped forward, her hands glowing with crimson Chaos Magic like two blooming flowers.
"You'll find out once you're in a cell," Ross barked. With a wave of his hand, the soldiers pulled their triggers.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
A hail of bullets poured out like a swarm of angry bees, seemingly destined to turn them into Swiss cheese. Wanda was about to blast them away, but Silas caught her hand. Thousands of bullets froze mid-air.
"Damn it!" Ross cursed. Conventional weapons were useless against these monsters.
Then, the bullets in the air miraculously flipped 180 degrees, pointing directly at Ross.
"Shield! Get down!" Ross felt a surge of terror and turned to run.
But no human could outrun a bullet. The projectiles streaked forward, slamming into Ross's body.
"Aggh!" Ross collapsed to the floor. Despite the searing pain, he was shocked to find he was still alive. Silas had used telekinesis to ensure the bullets only grazed the skin; he wasn't there to kill. Tony had asked for a rescue, not a massacre.
Wanda saw this and let out a sigh of relief.
"Scroll of Slumber!" Silas summoned a scroll from the Shadow Kingdom. The golden scroll floated in the air, emitting radiant beams of light that slithered like snakes into the bodies of the guards.
Every guard hit by the energy collapsed into a deep sleep, their loud snoring filling the hall.
"Done. Let's go." Silas left Ross awake on purpose—he wanted the man to feel the sting for being so annoying.
"Stop!" Ross groaned, but he was powerless.
The two made their way to the bottom level where the Avengers were caged.
"Wanda?" Clint Barton, who had been crouched on the floor of his cell, turned around in shock.
"Clint!" Wanda rushed to the glass. She was horrified to see the heroes she knew treated this way.
"How are you here?" Clint noticed the masked figure behind her. "Is that Destiny?"
"Me?" Silas pointed at his new mask. "No, call me Fire."
"Don't mind him," Wanda sighed.
Scott Lang stood up from his cot. "Hey! Nice to meet you, Fire. I'm Scott. There was another guy who looked like you, but he called himself Destiny."
"His brain has never been his strongest suit," Clint joked. He knew that with Silas and Wanda there, they were as good as free.
"Everyone, get back," Silas commanded.
The prisoners took a step back.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three deafening explosions rocked the cells. A thick, choking black smoke filled the area.
"Cough! That was a bit much," Scott wheezed, waving the smoke away.
"I guess we should thank you for holding back during the actual fight," Clint said, extending a hand as he stepped out of the ruins.
Silas shook his hand. "Priority now is getting out."
"Agreed. I've had enough of this place," Clint said, glancing back at his cage.
"Let's go," Wanda nodded to Silas. He opened a Shadow Portal, and the group stepped through, vanishing from the Raft.
Silas brought them to a vast, empty plain.
"Oh no!" Scott suddenly realized something. "The military still has my Ant-Man suit!"
Silas knew what he was thinking. He snapped his fingers, and a Shadow Ninja emerged from the ground holding a red-and-black suit.
"Thank you!" Scott beamed, reaching for the suit. But the ninja stepped back.
"Wait?" Scott pointed at himself. "That's mine, right?"
"I know," Silas said. "But first, I need to have a little chat with Hank Pym."
"That cranky old man?" Scott didn't understand. "What do you want with him?"
Silas looked at Scott and asked, "What do you think?"
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