Baron Helmut Zemo stood in an underground Hydra archive hidden beneath Vienna. The message glowed red on the ancient terminal:
> "Subject: Silver Mage. Power exceeds known limits. Winter Soldier compromised. Initiate Phase Two."
Zemo's eyes narrowed. He knew power. He knew manipulation. But this… this was new. A man with glowing silver energy, wielding both celestial and demonic magic? It wasn't science—it was myth come alive.
> "The world doesn't need another god," Zemo muttered. "It needs a reminder that they can bleed."
He uploaded data to Hydra sleeper agents around the globe.
---
Back in the Arctic safehouse, Ron sat beside the unconscious Bucky Barnes. Hours had passed. He'd woven layers of healing spells over the man's fractured mind, but the deeper damage—Hydra's control—still clung like black tar.
A.I. Carter spoke softly. "His memories are fragmented. You're unraveling decades of psychological torment."
> "I know," Ron replied, eyes glowing faintly with white light. "But I can reach him. I just need more time."
Ron placed both hands over Bucky's head. White magic surged into the Winter Soldier's mind, illuminating memory after memory. His training. His missions. The blood on his hands. Then—Steve. Brooklyn. Freedom.
Ron amplified that light, guiding it like a flame in darkness.
Bucky gasped awake.
His eyes darted around, body tense—then he saw Ron. "You… stopped the noise," he whispered.
Ron smiled slightly. "Yeah. It's not all gone yet. But you're you again."
Bucky looked down at his metal arm. "I don't deserve this second chance."
Ron shook his head. "Neither did I… but here we are."
Suddenly, a magical ripple shot through Ron's chest like a jolt. He stood up, expression serious.
> "Something's wrong."
He opened a portal of black fire, scanning the magical threads of the Earth's balance. A ritual was being performed—dark, invasive, Hydra's signature. They were awakening something.
> "They're not just sending assassins anymore," Ron said. "They're summoning."
From the shadows of the underground in Europe, an ancient Hydra sorcerer emerged from cryo-sleep. His body reeked of rot and power.
> "The Age of Science is over," the sorcerer hissed. "Let the Age of Arcane Hydra begin."
Back in the safehouse, Ron's eyes flared with pure silver light.
> "So… they want to play with magic now?"
He turned to Bucky, offering a hand.
> "Then let's end their game before it starts."
---