Bzzt!
Crimson light bloomed at the tip of the brown wooden wand. With a precise flick of Talos's wrist—executing movements his body had never learned—a bolt of scarlet energy lanced through the air and struck the nearby grassland.
BOOM!
The impact cratered the earth, leaving a fist-sized hole and sending soil spraying in all directions. Natasha and Coulson couldn't conceal their astonishment, eyes widening at the casual display of power.
Natasha's reaction was particularly intense. Having personally studied magical practices at the Vientiane World, she understood that the Disarming Charm was no simple spell for apprentice sorcerers. Yet this alien had perfectly executed it after mere minutes of assimilation.
"Wizard... Vientiane World... Lockhart..." Talos murmured, seemingly disoriented as fragments of borrowed memories surfaced in his consciousness. The experiences and knowledge of the young sorcerer he was impersonating flickered through his mind like scenes from a fragmented film.
Nick Fury couldn't suppress the gleam of satisfaction in his eye. This confirmation validated his strategic instincts—the Skrulls' mimetic abilities would provide an invaluable intelligence resource. Despite their species' decline from their former glory as galactic conquerors, they clearly retained remarkable capabilities.
"Talos, describe your current experience," Fury pressed with barely concealed eagerness. "How far back can you access the subject's memories?"
Talos's borrowed features settled into a contemplative frown. "When simulating ordinary humans, we can typically access approximately one month of clear memories."
He gestured to his currently youthful form. "However, for this sorcerer—James—I can only reliably retrieve memories from the past week. Anything beyond becomes increasingly fragmented and ultimately inaccessible."
Fury nodded, processing this limitation. He turned to his lieutenants: "I want you to record everything Talos reveals and cross-reference it against our existing intelligence."
His gaze intensified. "Both of you have had significant contact with Lockhart and his associates. This is our opportunity to fill the gaps in our understanding—about the Vientiane World, Kamar-Taj, Lockhart himself, magical systems, everything."
Fury's decision to introduce Coulson and Natasha to the Skrull sanctuary represented a calculated risk. Their inclusion was partly based on trust—they were among his most reliable agents. More importantly, they had accumulated the most direct experience with Lockhart and the magical community. Their questions would help extract maximum value from Talos's temporary access to magical knowledge.
Moreover, now that Fury had confirmed the effectiveness of this approach, future operations would likely require their involvement. Better to brief them fully now than partially later.
Coulson and Natasha acknowledged the directive with professional nods.
"Hello," Natasha began with practiced diplomatic courtesy, "I'm Natasha Romanoff. I've had the opportunity to visit the Vientiane World and attempted to learn their magical practices."
Her expression remained neutral, but her mind raced with the implications of the Skrulls' abilities. The capacity to perfectly mimic another being while acquiring their abilities and memories was profoundly unsettling, even to someone with her extensive experience with enhanced individuals.
"I have a foundational understanding of their magical systems and key figures like Lockhart, though much remains superficial. I have several questions, if you're willing."
"Proceed," responded Talos in his borrowed form.
"I'm curious about how this sorcerer perceived Lockhart," Natasha inquired. "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intelligence on their relationship dynamics is limited."
Fury nodded imperceptibly, approving the direction of her questioning. Understanding Lockhart's influence over his followers would provide valuable insights for future contingency planning.
Talos's expression grew distant as he sifted through the assimilated memories. "Respect. Adoration. Even hints of what might be characterized as fanaticism."
"James—the donor of this tissue sample—appears to have occupied a relatively low position in their hierarchy. His specific memories are fragmented, offering limited tactical value."
Talos continued with growing confidence: "However, his emotional imprints are clear. He viewed Lockhart as his mentor—a transformative presence who brought light and purpose to his existence. Lockhart's treatment of his followers appears benevolent, generating absolute loyalty. James would have followed any directive from his mentor without hesitation."
Coulson processed this information, his analytical mind already formulating follow-up questions.
"Mr. Talos," he asked with characteristic politeness, "could you outline the general structure of magical education among these wizards? Specifically, Lockhart's teaching methodologies."
"Their educational system involves multiple instructors," Talos explained, accessing the borrowed knowledge. "Lockhart delegates specific subjects to various teachers."
"A woman named Peggy Carter instructs them in special operations tactics and organizational structures. Steve Rogers teaches hand-to-hand combat applications. Someone called Snape handles potions and defensive magic."
"Interestingly, Lockhart himself provides relatively little direct instruction compared to these specialists. His teaching focuses more on conceptual magical theory—sharing his personal magical philosophies with his apprentices."
As this intelligence flowed, Fury's expression darkened with thoughtful calculation, his mind already mapping potential strategies based on this organizational structure.
Suddenly—
A chill pervaded the air beside him. Without warning or sound, a figure in flowing black robes materialized where empty space had been a heartbeat before.
"You Muggles are truly insufferable," came a cold, contemptuous voice.
Ice shot down Fury's spine, his instincts screaming danger before his conscious mind could process the threat. Years of field experience triggered an immediate reaction—he stepped back to create tactical distance while drawing his sidearm in one fluid motion.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Fury fired without hesitation, each shot precisely aimed. The rapid succession of bullets continued until the magazine approached depletion, his finger never leaving the trigger.
The calculation was simple: any magical practitioner who could penetrate the world's most secure facility undetected represented an existential threat. The intruder's casual use of the term "Muggle"—a wizard's derogatory term for non-magical humans—confirmed his connection to Lockhart's world.
If word of their intelligence-gathering operation reached the wider magical community, S.H.I.E.L.D. would face retaliation from forces they were ill-equipped to counter. Containment was the only viable response.
Simultaneously, Coulson, Natasha, and the transformed Talos reacted with similar urgency, weapons raised in coordinated defense.
BANG! BANG!
"Expelliarmus!" Talos called out, the wand movement executed with borrowed precision.
A barrage of bullets and magical energy converged on the black-robed figure—Gellert Grindelwald—who regarded the assault with cold disdain, making no apparent defensive movements.
In the next instant, a shimmering barrier of dark amber energy materialized around Grindelwald's form, absorbing the combined firepower without the slightest distortion. The magical shield didn't merely stop the attacks; it negated them completely, as though they were utterly inconsequential.
With a casual wave of his hand, Grindelwald summoned something more terrifying than mere defensive magic.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dark blue flames—unnatural in their movement and color—dripped from his fingertips onto the grass like liquid. The moment they touched the ground, they surged upward and outward with intelligent purpose, forming a perfect ring of fire that rapidly expanded to encircle the entire village.
Within seconds, the Skrull sanctuary was completely surrounded by a towering wall of cerulean flames—not merely a barrier, but a proclamation of power that rendered conventional weapons meaningless.
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