Chapter 7

"..."

The monster didn't reply, and simply stared at her, his icy snake like eyes gazing deep into her soul, for some strange reason, almost disappointed.

'... was I rude? Oh god, the creature just saved Pietro from certain death and here I am, questioning his intelligence …'

"Why are you so surprised? I am a human as well, you know … or at least I was." replied the creature, whilst turning back and breaking eye contact.

'That is true, as a shapeshifter, I am all manners of things combined, so technically speaking, I possess the body and memories of a human being, therefore I am or was human.'

And you may say… that doesn't make sense, you didn't embody the body of the kid once.

'Except I did, for half of a second, before turning back to this more … lethal and unforgiving form'

Wanda watched as the monster walked away, and while all sorts of things gravitated around her mind, she couldn't help but think:

'Why Is he leaving so soon? … I wanted to ask more questions, I … I want it to stay.'

"Wait! … Where are you going?"

The hunter turns back, looks her in the eye, and answers in a simple way.

"Home … or at least my parent's home" says the creature, pointing with its tail at a ruined building.

'Oh …'

"The last body, it's there."

'Last body? Wait …'

"Ultron?" asked Wanda, with a voice so cold that it threatened to freeze the ruins surrounding them."

"Ah … so that's his name?"

'But... I still don't understand, why is he helping us?'

"I'm going, judging by your voice, I'd say you want to go as well."

"I … I want to, but Pietro still needs my help."

"Your brother?"

"Yes … how did you know?"

"Call it instinct."

Then, out of nowhere, Hawkeye spoke:

"Wanda, I'll take Pietro to safety. You … two, go and deal with Ultron's last body."

'Wanda … so that's her name.'

"Alright … but, uhm, there's still something I don't understand."

The monster looked at her, inwardly prepared himself, and said:

"Ask away."

"Why are you helping us … what do you get out of killing Ultron?"

'Oh boy, If I wasn't sure that my honest heart was a pain in the ass before, I am now …'

{Think from the boy's perspective. Weave the truth until it becomes a lie.}

'Ah … yes, that might work.'

The creature looked down for a moment, before raising its head, looking at her, and said:

"Well, he did kill my parents … and I am a very vengeful and petty monster"

'Both are truths, but they don't necessarily need to corelate with one another.'

"… I, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"There is no time for apologies. Now … now's the time to kill." said the creature with a final tone.

And so, the hunter leaped towards a building and stuck to its side, standing perfectly perpendicular on the wall, as if gravity didn't apply to him.

And after a short session of running and scaling buildings, Wanda Flying closely behind it's back, they reached Ultron's last body.

The Robot looked horrible; he was laying close to a crashed jet, and as he was scrambling about, spewing nonsense out of its mouth, he noticed Wanda …

And our Hunter.

That was the first time Ultron felt fear, and not for death. No … this was a much more interesting fear, a fear of … being devoured.

Meanwhile, the hunter's monstruous face, as if noticing his panic, blooms into a smile.

'I wonder … can I consume artificial life?'

{Uhm, I don't know.}

'Well, there is only one way to find out, then.'

{Be careful … and Bon appetit.}

Closing the distance between myself and the robot, I hear him mutter one word.

"Fascinating ..."

And grab him by the throat.

'Woah, this metal is strong, durable, … perfect for my skin and exoskeleton, even claws.'

Meanwhile Wanda curiously watches as Ultron is lifted into the air, and as … the monster disappears?

"… What?"

The hunter's tendrils, whilst invisible, consume Ultron.

A decision which is immediately regretted.

Wanda watches Ultron disappear as well, and after a short period of time, the hunter reappear.

Only this time, he is screaming in pain, and looks like he is almost ... melting?

'… Too much knowledge, t-too many ... memories, it hurts, so, so much!'

{Endure. So what if it hurts? You are better than pain.}

'Am I?! Doesn't fucking feel like it!"

But then, out of nowhere, the pain alleviates.

Even whilst transforming, the hunter's dome allows him to clearly see Wanda, close to him and on her knees, casting some sort of spell on his being.

It takes a while, but the pain finally stops.

And, maybe because of some subconscious reason, or because of her magic, the hunter finally transforms back.

Only this time, he is no longer in the body of a monster, but a human.

A small child, not a day older than 12, with dark hair and sokovian features. Perfectly normal … if not for his dark as night eyeballs and red slitted irises.

Wanda, holding the now unconscious boy in her grasp, maybe because of some sort of instinct, or not, can't help but think that:

'... He is adorable.'

What both don't know, is that now deep inside the devourer, close to his dark soul, for some reason, blooms a newly formed, scarlet magic core.