Everyone's gossiping eyes converged on Wanda.
Her mind went blank in an instant.
She could face down Cassandra like a seasoned witch, but the question Malrick had just asked turned her back into a shy nineteen-year-old girl.
"I… between us…"
The stares from the group made Wanda instinctively want to deny it. She was like most young women—standing next to the boy she liked, even a stray glance from others made her cheeks burn and her hands fidget. She wanted nothing more than to lower her head and escape the moment.
But then Wanda noticed something.
The blonde girl in the black-and-white suit, with a sharp cyberpunk-style haircut, wasn't mocking her. Gwen's eyes carried a hint of concern when she asked the question.
That single detail helped Wanda steady herself.
"We're not in a relationship," Wanda replied softly, then added with hesitation, "not yet."
Her denial left the door wide open.
"Yet?" Gwen murmured, glancing at Malrick before quickly looking away. She didn't know why she had even asked. Maybe it was just because she saw him bring Wanda along and felt an urge to question it. That was normal, wasn't it? A simple curiosity about a new friend.
But deep down, Gwen knew it wasn't just curiosity. Malrick was too mysterious.
One moment he seemed like an ordinary man, the next he wielded sorcery. One moment he was a sorcerer, the next he stood like a Superman. His strength and sharp features were impressive enough, but it was the air of endless mystery that surrounded him that kept her attention locked. He was like a treasure chest you could never quite empty. Who knew? Maybe next time he'd show up in a red-and-blue suit calling himself Spider-Man.
That excuse satisfied her curiosity… for now.
Unlike Gwen, Garfield-Spiderman and Toby-Spiderman weren't so reserved. Linking arms, they exchanged teasing grins.
"Not yet, huh?"
"We get it, we totally get it."
The look in their eyes was the same one every student gets when they see a budding romance: a knowing smirk that said, you'll be holding hands by tomorrow.
Wanda wrung her hands nervously, her voice stumbling. "I mean, I mean…"
Malrick cut in smoothly, saving her.
"What do you all understand? Let me introduce her instead. This is Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch of our universe. She's strong—strong enough to save you more than once in the future."
The teasing smiles on Garfield-Spiderman and Toby-Spiderman faded into respect, and they both introduced themselves properly.
B-15, who already knew of the Scarlet Witch's power, followed suit.
Even Deadpool, who was currently impaled in the waist by Wolverine's claws and in the groin by another, raised a hand. "I, uh, am the Marvel Savior!"
Wolverine drove a claw straight through Deadpool's head. "Savior? You can't even save yourself."
The two immediately fell back into their gruesome duel, blood spraying and organs nearly flying out. Everyone else wisely kept their distance. One side of the clearing looked like a reunion of heroes, the other like a butcher's workshop.
Before more introductions could continue, Captain America stepped forward, his voice hard and sharp.
"Before we go any further, I need to ask something. Are you absolutely sure Cassandra is dead?" His jaw clenched as his voice grew louder. "We survivors have tried countless times, and every damn time she recovered. We cut her head off, and she laughed as it grew back! We've lost Magneto, Punisher, Quicksilver… we survived Elios, but Cassandra nearly broke us. So answer me, are you really sure that monster is gone?"
Malrick raised an eyebrow at his bluntness. "Although your language makes me uncomfortable, Steve, Cassandra is indeed dead. Not even her soul remains."
He wondered if this man was even the real Captain America. The foul mouth didn't quite fit.
"Not even her soul…" Steve repeated, his eyes widening, his lips twitching as if he couldn't contain himself.
Then he erupted.
"Fuck Cassandra! That dark-hearted freak is finally gone!"
He burst into wild laughter, bending over and clutching his knees as tears of relief streamed down his face. Between wheezing chuckles he shouted obscenities, promising to find her corpse, set it on fire, and stomp it into ashes.
Everyone looked on in shock.
"Oh my god, what did Cassandra do to him?" Garfield-Spiderman whispered.
Malrick shook his head. "No idea. I think he's just naturally foul-mouthed."
Even Wolverine and Deadpool paused mid-fight to glance over.
"This place drives everyone crazy," Deadpool muttered. "And you thought I had a filthy mouth. Look at him—he's a pro."
Eventually Steve calmed down, wiping sweat from his brow, though his eyes still burned with mania. "Cassandra might be dead, but her minions aren't. I'll hunt them down myself."
"Her minions are dead too," Tony chimed in casually, turning from his chat with Holland-Spider. "I saw Elios devour them with my own eyes."
Steve blinked, faltering. "Then… the Deadpool mercenaries! I'll deal with them!"
Malrick raised his hand and conjured a glowing golden portal. On the other side, a hundred Deadpools in red suits looked up, instantly drawing weapons.
"There you go, Steve," Malrick said calmly. "Your wish, granted."
Steve froze, his excuse falling apart. He hadn't actually wanted to face a horde of Deadpools, but with everyone watching, he had no way out.
"Come on, aren't you going to fight them?" Malrick prompted.
Deadpool on the other side of the portal jumped in excitement. "Oh, this is gold! Captain America versus the Deadpool Corps! He's gonna shout it, right? He's gonna shout the line!"
"What line?" Wolverine grumbled, stabbing him again.
Deadpool screamed in pain but still shouted eagerly, "Avengers, assemble!"
But when the moment came, Steve hesitated. Then, to everyone's shock, he shouted instead, "Flame on!"
His body ignited, blazing with fire as he shot into the sky like a comet. But just before he hit the portal, he swerved away, soaring into the clouds.
"Sorry, guys! I just remembered I should tell the other survivors about Cassandra first. I'll be back later to deal with these Deadpools!"
His voice faded until only the trail of fire remained.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
"…What the hell?" Malrick muttered. "Not Captain America at all… Johnny Storm?"
Deadpool gaped, jaw hanging open. "Shit, it was Johnny! No wonder he swore so much!"
_____
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