"I flew down," Malrick said calmly, pointing to the sky. "You were just too focused to notice."
Wanda crossed her arms, still slightly flushed. "You really need to stop sneaking up on people."
Malrick smirked slightly. "So, what powers did you two unlock?"
His voice was louder now, clearly aimed at the silver blur racing in the distance.
Pietro, hearing this, returned in a burst of afterimages. He stopped in front of Malrick with a cocky grin.
"Super speed—and a body to match!" he said, wiping his nose with his thumb, pride clear in his voice. "That's my power!"
"I'm way past the speed of sound now. Honestly? You might not even be able to keep up with me, Superman."
Malrick activated his enhanced vision and scanned Pietro.
The speed was real. But it wasn't just that—Pietro's entire body had changed. Enhanced muscles, lightning-fast reflexes, and a metabolism working in overdrive. His healing wasn't at Wolverine's level, but his accelerated recovery was leagues beyond a normal human's.
"Faster than me?" Malrick raised an eyebrow, amused. "You sure about that?"
Pietro nodded confidently. "I mean, yeah, you can fly and punch through walls, but speed? That might be my edge."
Typical post-power confidence.
He'd forgotten the comics—forgotten that Superman had once outrun Flash on several occasions.
Malrick placed one hand on his hip. "How about this—you run, and I'll try to catch you."
"You're serious?" Pietro tilted his head, eyes narrowing. But then, something caught his attention. His gaze dropped to Malrick's suit.
Sleek, armored, and tactical—not spandex-tight like most superhero outfits. More like advanced battle armor. Black with subtle red accents. And despite its bulk, it still outlined the sharp definition of Malrick's physique.
"Whoa. Did you change your suit or something? You look awesome," Pietro said, clearly impressed. No sarcasm. Just admiration.
In truth, Pietro was slowly letting go of his past. After everything—the loss, the pain—he and Wanda had been given a new chance. Funded by Stark, enrolled in college, surrounded by people who weren't trying to kill them. Life had shifted.
And with that shift came his natural, playful side.
So much so that he couldn't resist reaching out to poke Malrick's chest.
Malrick caught his wrist with a flick.
"Ow! That hurt!" Pietro yelped, yanking his hand back. "Just one poke!"
"If you can beat me, then maybe," Malrick said flatly.
Pietro laughed. "Then let's test it!"
In a flash, he was gone, circling Malrick and Wanda with blinding speed. The force of his movement whipped up wind currents, tearing up the grass beneath his feet.
Ten seconds passed.
Pietro kept one eye on Malrick as he ran.
He was still standing there.
Hadn't moved an inch.
Pietro grinned. Even if Malrick was some kind of Superman, this was his domain now. Speed. No one could catch him here.
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
If Malrick couldn't catch him… why not take the initiative?
With a burst of speed, Pietro dashed straight at Malrick, hand extended. He wanted to touch that armored chest—see some surprise on that always unreadable face.
But then he noticed something strange.
Malrick's eyes were following him.
Perfectly.
Not lagging. Not delayed. Tracking him in real time.
That shouldn't be possible.
And yet…
Snap.
Malrick caught his wrist effortlessly, halting him mid-sprint with a grip like iron.
"Got you," Malrick said, eyebrow raised. "You lost, Pietro."
Pietro blinked, stunned.
"To be honest, I kind of preferred you when you were still brooding."
"Why?" Pietro asked, dumbfounded.
"You were more focused. Not acting like a red-suited cartoon character."
Before Pietro could respond, Malrick enveloped him in a bio-field, and in a split second, the world around them blurred.
Suddenly, they stood atop a mountain, thousands of miles away. Wind whipped through Pietro's hair as he gaped at the horizon.
"Wanda's over there," Malrick said, pointing calmly toward a distant valley.
Pietro turned to him, stunned.
"What… what kind of speed was that? Teleportation?"
Malrick placed a hand on his shoulder.
"No. That was light speed."
Pietro's jaw dropped. He looked like a goldfish gasping for air, eyes wide with disbelief.
Malrick didn't wait for a reaction. He turned to Wanda, who had been quietly watching from a distance.
"And what about you?" he asked. "What's your ability?"
Wanda hesitated, glancing at her brother who was still reeling from what he'd just witnessed.
"I think… maybe telekinesis? Mind control? I'm not exactly sure. It feels like I can create illusions too," she said uncertainly.
"Try it on me," Malrick offered. "My mental defenses are strong. You won't hurt me."
"You're sure?" Wanda raised her hands, uncertain. "What kind of illusion do you want?"
"Something that would make me feel fear," Malrick said.
Wanda stepped closer, placing two fingers gently against his forehead. Scarlet energy shimmered from her fingertips.
But nothing happened.
Malrick raised an eyebrow. "You haven't started?"
"I have," she said, frowning. Sweat gathered at her brow. "I'm trying."
Malrick understood instantly.
His mind was reinforced by willpower stronger than most telepaths had ever encountered. And the small soul tower embedded within his mental core was acting as a barrier.
No wonder her powers couldn't get through.
"Try again," he said, and deactivated his mental defenses, letting the soul tower go dormant.
This time, the illusion took hold.
The world around him shifted.
He floated in space, staring down at Earth.
Everything was in ruins. Fires scorched the land. Cities crumbled. Everyone was dead.
He landed on the surface.
Tony Stark's lifeless body turned toward him, eyes opening.
"Malrick… why did you take so long to return? The enemy was too strong. I'm sorry. I couldn't stop him."
Then another voice. Natasha. Then Pepper. All around him, familiar faces spoke the same words.
"Why weren't you here?"
Dozens of them.
Hundreds.
This was the fear that lingered in Malrick's subconscious. The one that never left, no matter how strong he became—the fear that he'd return too late.
Too late to save them.
"This… is Chaos Magic," he said under his breath.
Wanda wasn't even controlling it properly yet. She was just channeling it instinctively, and still it had manifested his deepest fear with pinpoint precision.
Once she learned to control it, she could surpass the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj with ease.
He closed his eyes, focusing.
When he opened them again, the illusion shattered.
They were back in the field.
Wanda stood before him, her expression mixed—curious, concerned, impressed.
"You broke out of it?" she asked softly. "So easily…"
"Well, it'd be strange if I couldn't," Malrick said.
She tilted her head. "That… illusion. That's your greatest fear?"
Malrick nodded. "Strength isn't always enough."
Then his tone shifted.
"Wanda, your ability is far more than illusions or telekinesis. You're tapping into Chaos Magic—a force capable of reshaping reality itself."
He turned toward the horizon.
With a thought, he summoned materials from within his Inner World and constructed a full villa in seconds.
"You and Pietro have enormous potential," he said. "But potential doesn't equal strength. Not yet."
"You'll train with me here. Learn what your power really is."
Wanda's eyes widened as she saw the villa forming from thin air.
"Oh—and time flows a thousand times faster here," Malrick added with a faint smile. "So we've got time."
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