Chapter 132: Who Are You?
After leaving the military compound, the three went straight to the vicinity of Ivanovich's residence without any delay.
This area was home to high-ranking government officials and important generals, and was under tight security; it took them considerable effort to infiltrate.
Once inside, Mason and Agent One made their way through the mansion, neutralizing all the guards.
Finally, when they reached the door of the top-floor office, they heard sounds coming from inside.
Mason's self-control was far beyond that of ordinary people, Princess Nuala was also incredibly agile, and Agent One's careful footsteps on the carpet still somehow alerted the guard inside.
Before Mason and the others could get close, a series of gunshots rang out, bullets piercing the wooden door, leaving several wounds on Agent One who couldn't dodge in time. Fortunately, the bullets were greatly reduced in power by the wooden door, and Agent One only suffered minor injuries before taking cover.
Mason lunged forward, kicking the door open. The door flew off its hinges, and through the flying splinters, he saw a young man with dark hair and a masked face.
Mason shouted, but the only response was a barrage of gunfire.
"Damn it!"
"Looks like Bucky's been brainwashed and turned into the Winter Soldier!" A dark realization settled over Mason. He hadn't known Barnes that well, and their relationship wasn't as close as Steve's.
However, as a superhero he admired in his past life, he didn't want to see Barnes transformed into the Winter Soldier again, becoming a mindless killing machine.
In truth, James Barnes was a sensitive and passionate young man, tall and handsome—the kind of person everyone liked.
But the twisted experiences and repeated brainwashing after his transformation had completely ruined his life, turning him into a monster confined to darkness, deprived of the right to love and be loved.
If it weren't for Steve's unwavering support, he might have died long ago.
Having experienced this world and become part of it, and with increasing contact with its characters, Mason has also undergone some changes. He wants to prevent tragedies within his power.
"Kaletta!"
A mournful cry came from beside him. Princess Nuala covered her mouth, weeping silently, her eyes fixed on the figure slumped beside the bed.
The female elf lay sprawled on the bed. As if afraid that her death would spoil his mood, Ivanovich had draped her neck over the edge of the bed.
Her cervical vertebrae were crushed and deformed, twisted into a grotesque shape, making her look unnatural.
Her eyes were wide open, staring at the doorway with despair and innocence, as if she were crying out for something.
Princess Nuala screamed and was about to rush forward, but fortunately, Agent One pulled her back in time, preventing her from being shot.
"Agent One, keep her safe!"
Mason growled, reaching for a solid wooden chair and throwing it.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Three gunshots rang out in quick succession. Before the chair even landed, it was struck multiple times, shattering into pieces and falling to the ground.
"This guy has incredible marksmanship!"
Apart from some of the best snipers he'd encountered, this was probably the finest marksman Mason had faced in actual combat. At this moment, he really didn't know whether to be impressed by Barnes or worried about himself.
He couldn't see into the bedroom from behind cover, but when he kicked open the door earlier, he caught a glimpse and noticed that there were only two people in the room.
Besides Barnes, the only other person was the naked Ivanovich.
The chair he had thrown earlier had revealed Barnes's location. Without hesitation, Mason grabbed the desk placed against the wall.
The solid wood desk, more than six feet long and weighing several hundred pounds, seemed weightless in his hands. Holding the desk in front of him, Mason roared and charged in.
Having judged the direction Barnes was hiding in advance, Mason turned to the left after entering the bedroom. But at that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing behind the curtains.
But it was Barnes, who should have been hiding on the left!
"Clever bastard!"
After firing, he not only changed position but also anticipated Mason's possible actions, deliberately hiding in Mason's blind spot.
If Mason hadn't been alert enough, he probably wouldn't have known which direction the bullet came from until it was too late.
In the critical moment, Mason's instincts flared. He abruptly stopped his forward charge, his body ducking behind the table for cover.
"Thud thud thud!"
A series of bullets hit the table. A surge of anger rose in him. Mason instantly deployed his reinforced gauntlets, and the sharp claws on his fingertips plunged into the table.
Then, he roared and used his core strength to hurl the hundreds of pounds of table like a weapon!
"CRASH!"
Mason was like a human wrecking ball, his internal bio-battery continuously supplying energy. He went on the offensive and instantly tore half the room apart. Finally, Barnes, with nowhere to escape, was sent flying by Mason, and the gun in his hand went skittering away.
Seeing an opportunity, Ivanovich hurriedly reached for the gun on the ground, but before he could grab it, Mason kicked him, sending him flying against the wall. He coughed up blood and passed out.
"Watch out!"
Princess Nuala's sharp cry rang in his ears. Mason turned around, and a dark shadow appeared before him like a ghost. A fist covered in metal was aimed at Mason's face.
Mason raised his arm and struck the opponent's elbow, deflecting Barnes' attack. Then, he stepped back slightly, his hand sliding from the elbow to the wrist, and with a burst of strength, he swung Barnes into the air, slamming him hard onto the bed.
"CRACK!"
The specially made wooden bed that Ivanovich used shattered with a crash. Barnes was thrown down hard, dazed and unable to get up for a moment.
This was only after Mason had held back, deliberately throwing his opponent onto the bed; if he had hit the ground, he would likely have suffered broken bones.
In just a few breaths, Mason had completed his assault and resolved the crisis in the bedroom, demonstrating overwhelming strength.
Just then, Barnes, lying amidst the broken wood, struggled to his feet. Beneath his medium-length dark hair were a pair of cold, emotionless eyes. His gaze towards Mason was devoid of recognition, like frozen ice.
"Buddy, calm down, don't make me hurt you,"
Mason said calmly, taking a half-step back.
But then, a crack appeared in the mask covering Barnes' face, and with a snap, it fell off, revealing a completely unfamiliar face.
This man wasn't James Barnes!
He was about the same height as Barnes, both had dark hair, and their faces were covered by masks. Mason, with his preconceived notions, naturally associated him with the Winter Soldier from his memory.
That's why the misunderstanding had occurred.
"Who are you?"
Mason couldn't help but ask.
The instant he uttered the question, a blade sprang from the man's sleeve. He stepped forward, the sharp edge aimed straight for Mason's throat!
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