Marvel 38

Max returned home, setting his bag down casually. The day had been anything but ordinary, but his mind was already on his next move. His underground city, hidden beneath his base, was waiting. He had created a powerful teleportation circle there, intricately designed with Rune magic that he had perfected over time.

Max knelt beside the circle in his basement, placing his hand on its surface. The glowing runes began to hum with energy, responding to his mana. With a slight grin, he activated the circle, feeling the familiar pull as the magic wrapped around him, and in an instant, he was transported to the underground city he had built.

The city stretched out before him, vast and dark, illuminated only by the soft glow of magical lanterns. The air was cool and quiet, a perfect contrast to the chaos outside. Here, Max was in control. He glanced around, ensuring everything was as it should be. The cryo-chambers containing Yulia Volkova and Bucky Barnes were safely stored in one of the secured sectors.

Max began walking deeper into the city, feeling the pulse of magic in the air. His mind was already buzzing with the possibilities of expanding this place further, using it as a hidden sanctuary for future operations.

As he approached the heart of the underground city, where the central command was located, Max paused for a moment, gazing at the vastness of his creation. He knew this city would play a crucial role in the battles to come, a place where he could gather allies, train, and prepare for whatever Hydra—or SHIELD—might throw at him next.

Max smiled to himself as he moved the cryo chambers containing Yulia Volkova and Bucky Barnes into the training area of his underground city. "Time to unfreeze them," he thought. This wasn't just about waking them up; it was also about freeing them from the mental control that Hydra had implanted deep within their minds.

The air in the training area felt colder than usual as Max began preparing the chambers. He inspected each one carefully, especially focusing on the complex mechanisms keeping the two in a state of suspended animation. With a flick of his wrist, Max summoned a small, glowing Rune Stone—one infused with a unique combination of magic he had developed to neutralize mental corruption.

He placed the stone on the first cryo chamber, Bucky's, and watched as the mist of frost that covered the glass began to dissipate. Slowly, the mechanical systems whirred to life, and the temperature inside started to rise. As the frost cleared, Max could see Bucky lying inside, his face serene but troubled by the layers of brainwashing Hydra had subjected him to over the years.

"Let's break those chains," Max whispered to himself as the chamber doors slowly opened with a hiss. He focused, sending his Abyssal Mist into Bucky's body, gently infiltrating his mind. Max had perfected this ability over time, allowing him to enter and manipulate the thoughts and memories of others. He navigated through Bucky's subconscious, carefully untangling the mental traps Hydra had left behind.

Within minutes, Bucky's breathing grew more steady, and Max could sense that the grip of Hydra's corruption was loosening. The Winter Soldier was beginning to wake up, free from the dark control that had held him captive for so long.

Max turned his attention to Yulia's chamber next. Her story was different but equally tragic—a fighter turned mafia queen, only to be imprisoned and manipulated by Hydra for their experiments. Her chamber opened much the same way, the frost lifting as Max once again used his mist to remove the mental programming Hydra had embedded within her.

Yulia's eyes flickered as the mental blocks disintegrated, and Max felt a surge of satisfaction. "Now, you're both free," he muttered as he stepped back to watch the two begin to wake.

As they stirred, Max prepared for the inevitable flood of confusion and questions. 

Bucky was the first to open his eyes. As he stepped out of the cryo chamber, he glanced around, his gaze eventually locking onto Max. Without warning, he swung a punch straight at Max's face. "Whoa! Easy there, buddy!" Max dodged the punch and stepped to the side.

"Get the hell away from me!" Bucky growled, throwing punch after punch, each one narrowly missing Max as he continued dodging.

'Why is he even attacking me?' Max thought, confused as he effortlessly avoided the strikes. He wasn't expecting Bucky to wake up so hostile.

"Whoa, easy there, bud!" Max said, dodging another punch. "I'm not your enemy."

"Shut up!" Bucky spat, swinging harder. His breathing was ragged, eyes wild with desperation. To him, Max was just another obstacle, a potential captor, someone keeping him from his freedom.

Max's thoughts raced as he sidestepped again. Why is he trying so hard to fight me? Then it clicked. Bucky wasn't just confused—he was terrified. Terrified of being under someone's control again. He had no idea Max had freed him from Hydra's mental corruption, and to Bucky, this was just another prison, another person pulling his strings.

Max raised his hand, summoning his mist. He enveloped Bucky in a thick, swirling fog, but this time he was just trying to restrain him, seeing he is not in the mood to talk to him.

"Stay still," Max said, his voice calm but commanding as the mist invaded Bucky's thoughts. "I'm going to help you."

Bucky now bound with mist, glared at Max, he kept trying hard but wasn't able to broke the bondage.

"Now, listen—" Max started to say, but he abruptly ducked as a small knife flew past his head. He turned to see Yulia standing there, her eyes sharp with anger.

"Where the hell did she get a knife from?" Max thought, surprised.

"Free him!" Yulia yelled as she rushed at him, throwing punches and kicks with deadly precision.

"Dammit!" Max muttered, dodging her strikes while trying to keep his cool. Her attacks were fast, but Max's reflexes were faster. In an instant, he released his mist, binding both Yulia and Bucky in swirling chains of abyssal energy, leaving only their faces free.

Max sighed, looking at the two of them restrained in his mist. "First things first, I am not HYDRA," he said firmly, but it was clear from the defiant looks in their eyes that they weren't buying it.

He had to find a way to get through to them before this escalated further.

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