When Natasha said those words, both her tone and her expression carried absolute certainty.
And the truth was—
Even Alexander Pierce, staring at the crimson streak blazing across the sky, didn't bother to refute her.
Because facts spoke for themselves.
Boom!
Hawk's body turned into a streak of light. In a flash, he pierced straight through the top Helicarrier.
The ship's vaunted vibranium shields didn't even ripple before being shredded apart.
The next instant—
A deafening explosion ripped out. Brilliant fire burst from both the upper and lower hull.
The shockwave spread in all directions, hurling Captain America and the Winter Soldier—who had been locked in combat—like ragdolls.
Thud!
Cap rolled, recovered, and sprang back to his feet.
Bucky wasn't so lucky.
Because Hawk had caught him.
The Winter Soldier struggled, but Hawk's hand was already clamped around his throat. Crimson light flashed in Hawk's eyes.
"Wait—Hawk, please!" Steve's voice cut in desperately.
The crimson glow faded. Hawk glanced at him. "Captain?"
"Don't kill him. I'm begging you." Steve's voice was taut, almost frantic.
On the way here, Steve had heard plenty from Natasha, Sharon, and Commander Hand. About General Ross's massacre. About Wakanda's annihilation.
Hawk was a man who could wipe out a nation. If he squeezed just a little tighter, Bucky would be gone.
But Hawk wasn't blinded by rage. Not now.
He only wanted to see if the legends were true—if Captain America truly carried such devotion to his old friend.
And yes. The legend was real.
Hawk chuckled softly. He looked at Steve's anxious face, then tossed Bucky down at his feet.
"He's yours, Captain."
"…Thank you."
"No need."
In a blink, Hawk was gone, reappearing atop the second Helicarrier.
Thor was still hammering at the vibranium shield, thunder roaring.
Hawk raised an eyebrow. "Need help?"
"Not at all!" Thor bellowed, shoulders taut, thunder rolling down his arms and into Mjolnir. With a roar, he smashed again—
Boom!
Crack—!
The shield split, a spiderweb of fractures racing outward.
Satisfied, Hawk turned away and vanished, reappearing on the third Helicarrier.
The deck was littered with Hydra corpses.
He saw Tony Stark already inside the command cabin, armor blazing, Jarvis wrestling Hydra for control of the ship. Hawk gave him a glance, then looked across to Natasha at the Triskelion's windows.
In the next moment—
Boom!
Space rippled. Hawk appeared inside the Triskelion's council chamber.
His eyes locked on Pierce.
"Where is Anna?"
"…Dead."
"Is that so?"
Hawk smiled faintly, unnervingly. "Then we'll find a quiet place. You and I will talk."
Pierce's pupils shrank. He bit down—
But Hawk's sixth sense lashed out, freezing his body and mind in place before he could crush the cyanide.
Natasha's voice cut in. "He tried to activate Hydra agents near Palm Street. He meant to seize Gwen to use against you."
Hawk's face changed.
"But I stopped him," Natasha continued. "The call never went through. Commander Hand already dispatched a team to secure Gwen."
"Thank you." Hawk exhaled, smiling faintly, then turned toward the Eastern councilor. "I need to take Pierce with me. You won't mind?"
The councilor gave a cultured smile. "We never interfere with another's internal affairs."
"Much obliged."
Hawk turned back, gaze sharp as a blade. "I thought you were Hydra's cleverest man, Pierce. But you're the stupidest of all."
Pierce's heart raced. His eyes contracted.
Hawk chuckled coldly. He was about to drag him away—first to confirm Gwen's safety, then to settle accounts properly.
But Natasha stopped him. She pulled her earpiece out, handed it to him. "Hawk. Gwen's safe. The strike team got her out of the safe house."
Hawk pressed it to his ear. "Gwen?"
"Hawk!" Her voice came, warm, steady. "I'm fine. Do what you need to do. Be a hero. I'm proud of you."
His lips curved upward. "Hero, you kn—"
"Heroes don't have to wear the mantle every day. They only need to step forward when it matters most. That is enough."
"…Alright. If that's what you want."
"I'll be waiting for you."
"Mm."
Her gentle words calmed his restless heart.
Hawk removed the earpiece, returned it to Natasha. "Watch him. Don't let him die. I can always fetch him from Hell if I must, but it's a nuisance."
He thought briefly of Mephisto. Last time they'd clashed, it had ended in stalemate. Neither could kill the other, but both longed to. Better not give the devil another bargaining chip.
Less trouble was better.
He vanished again—
And reappeared above the Triskelion, hovering in the skies.
His sixth sense spread like an infinite net, blanketing the building and its underground base.
He saw S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fighting desperately, outnumbered, pressed hard.
He saw Sharon Carter leading her squad, storming toward the Helicarrier control center.
Agents' faces burned with grim resolve. Hydra's with twisted rage, eager to die dragging others with them.
Hawk's cosmos surged.
Boom!
His power erupted, strands of psychic force locking onto every Hydra operative within range.
One by one—
Hydra soldiers vanished from the battlefield.
Sharon, charging headlong into enemy fire, braced herself for death. A gun leveled at her chest—then, suddenly, her attacker disappeared.
She blinked, stunned.
Then whispered, "Hawk…"
"Yes. It's him." Natasha's voice confirmed, calm.
Outside, blazing across the heavens, a fire-phoenix spread its wings.
And beneath it—Hydra soldiers reappeared, only to be consumed in black fire.
They didn't even have time to scream.
One by one, they were incinerated.
Like moths to flame, Hydra was drawn to its end.
It was, in the end—
Exactly what they deserved.
…
(End of Chapter)
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