He closed the distance between them in a flash, sword drawn and swinging low. Michael caught it with a solid tendril of mist, but the force behind it sent him skidding back a step.
"Hmm. Not bad." Michael smirked.
Taskmaster pressed the assault, shifting styles instantly — one moment Cap's shield work, the next Black Widow's acrobatics, then a Hawkeye-perfect knife throw. Michael dodged, deflecting with mist shields, barely keeping pace.
Felicia ducked behind a broken pew, watching the fight with wide eyes.
"Damn… it's like he's copying everyone's moves."
Varnak snarled, summoning another wave of cursed chains toward them both.
Taskmaster didn't hesitate — using Michael's own mist tendril as a stepping point, he leapt off it, flipping over the attack as it tore through the stone floor. In mid-air, he hurled a flash grenade directly at Michael.
"Catch this, ghost boy."
The flash-bang detonated in a burst of light and sound.
Michael reeled for half a second — enough for Taskmaster to land and aim a shot at his head.
Bang.
But the bullet stopped mid-air, hovering inches from Michael's skull as the mist thickened into a near-solid wall.
Michael's eyes narrowed, glowing faintly in the darkness.
"My turn."
With a sharp gesture, the mist burst outward like a tidal wave, slamming Taskmaster back against a crumbling wall. The mercenary grunted, shield raised just in time to absorb most of the hit — but the force cracked the wall behind him.
"Not bad, kid," Taskmaster coughed, getting to his feet.
Felicia cursed. "Okay, I'm really out this time."
As she made for a side exit, Michael stalked forward, mist spiraling around him like living shadows.
"You came for the book. Too bad."
He grinned. "You're leaving with broken ribs at best."
Taskmaster chuckled darkly, raising his sword again.
"Let's find out."
Michael looked at them — Taskmaster, Felicia, and the downed Varnak — a crooked grin curling on his lips.
Up until now, he'd only been using one of his skills — Mist Ruler, a gacha pull he'd scored weeks ago. A potent skill, but not the full extent of what he could do. And as much as the temptation itched at his fingers to show off his ace, now wasn't the time.
"I was really wondering how you idiots found me."
Michael's voice was low, dangerous, the mist around him thickening with every word.
Taskmaster scowled beneath the skull mask, tightening his grip on the sword.
"Doesn't matter now, freak. You bleed like anyone else."
Michael's grin widened as he raised a hand lazily — and with a flick of his fingers, the mist exploded, slamming into Taskmaster like a wrecking ball. The mercenary's shield came up too late, and he was sent skidding back, boots scraping against the stone floor.
Felicia winced.
"Yeah… nope. Not worth it."
She turned to bolt again, only to find a wall of mist blocking the exit.
"Leaving so soon, kitty?"
Michael's voice practically purred behind her.
Felicia spun, claws out — but before she could strike, a cold wave of pressure rolled through the room, thick and suffocating. Her instincts screamed at her.
"Easy, kitty. Rest for now… I'll pet you later."
Michael's voice was calm, but the weight behind his words left no room for argument.
Felicia glanced at him, saw the mist rolling off his body like a living thing, and nodded. Without a word, she stepped aside, keeping her distance. The mist brushed against her skin like icy fingers, and even she felt the cold kiss of death linger at her neck.
Taskmaster gritted his teeth, adjusting his grip on his blade.
"Alright then, you two… One's Taskmaster, but what the hell are you?"
Michael's gaze shifted to Varnak — the man half-hidden in the mist, still standing despite the storm of pressure.
Varnak raised his head, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"I am from Ancient Euseacasm… a ruler born of darkness."
His voice was cracked but defiant.
Michael tilted his head, unimpressed.
"So… a mutant. Got it."
In a blink, he vanished from his spot, reappearing beside Taskmaster. Without warning, Michael grabbed him by the wrist — the mercenary barely reacted before his entire body was hurled through a wall, vanishing into the dense mist beyond.
"See ya."
Michael muttered.
He turned back toward Varnak.
"Your turn."
Varnak's eyes widened as the mist around him thickened, the room vanishing from sight as the haze swallowed everything. Voices echoed in the fog — whispers of long-forgotten names and promises of death.
"Come, then!"
Varnak shouted, summoning what strength he had left.
But Michael just smirked, mist wrapping around him like a cloak.
"Let's finish this."
Varnak tightened his stance, his aura flickering as dark tendrils lashed out from his hands. The ancient symbols on his skin pulsed, drawing on cursed energy as he prepared for the onslaught.
"You think this mist scares me? I've fought monsters long before your time."
Varnak snarled, summoning a spear forged of pure darkness into his grasp.
Michael stepped through the mist like a phantom, his eyes cold, a crooked smile on his face.
"Good," he said softly. "Then you'll die knowing what real power feels like."
Varnak thrust his spear forward — a bolt of dark energy ripping through the church's walls, shattering ancient wood and crumbling stone. The blast cleared the mist for a brief moment, revealing Michael standing untouched, inches from Varnak, his hand outstretched.
Before Varnak could pull back, Michael's palm struck his chest.
"Mist Devour."
A pulse of energy erupted from Michael's hand — the mist condensed, spiraling violently into a vortex around Varnak, crushing him beneath its weight. The ancient warrior screamed as the mist ate away at his dark aura, his body rapidly aging and cracking under the sheer force.
Varnak fought to raise his spear, but Michael caught it mid-swing and snapped it like a twig.
"You talk too much."
He delivered a final, brutal knee to Varnak's gut, sending him crashing through the church floor and into the earth below, mist pouring into the crater after him.
Silence settled.
Then — a weak cough.
Varnak, battered and broken, tried to crawl free from the pit.
"Wait… I… I can offer you–"
Michael appeared beside him, crouching low.
"You already have."
*******
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