Sokovia, the abandoned City Hall.
When Steve Rogers said the words "I'll take his place," the air instantly went still, the atmosphere becoming so oppressive it was suffocating.
Tony Stark looked at Steve's back in disbelief. He opened his mouth, wanting to pull him back, wanting to say it was none of his business. But when the words reached his lips, he couldn't say a single thing.
He looked at Steve's upright back, then at Bucky, who was bound by scarlet energy with hollow eyes, looking like nothing more than a killing tool. Finally, Tony's gaze fell upon Wanda's eyes, which were filled with hatred.
Those eyes reminded him of many things.
The civilians who died by Stark Industries' weapons in that Afghan cave.
The endless alien fleet and the countless broken families that appeared because of him outside the New York wormhole.
And, Wanda's parents.
A thought occurred to Tony.
Stark Industries' weapons killed Wanda's parents.
HYDRA's weapons killed his parents.
If Bucky, this killing tool, requires a life to pay back the blood debt.
Then what should I, the one who created countless killing tools, use to pay it back?
The mockery and anger on Tony's face faded bit by bit, leaving only a sense of calm—a calm that comes with being prepared to die.
He pushed Steve aside, took a step forward, and faced Wanda directly.
"The Captain is wrong."
Tony's voice was soft, but everyone heard him clearly.
"This debt is mine."
Steve whipped his head around, looking at Tony.
"I agree," Tony said, looking at Wanda, repeating calmly, "A life for a life."
Both Wanda and Pietro were stunned.
They had expected Tony to get angry, to resist, to retaliate with even greater firepower, but they never imagined that this fearless billionaire would accept death so calmly.
The look of acceptance in Tony's eyes caused a crack to appear in the deep-seated hatred within Wanda's heart.
Lin Huai, who was lying on the ground playing dead, was already in a state of internal chaos.
"Wait, this isn't right. This isn't the script!"
He thought to himself, "My plan was to have this innocent old man die in front of them to make them understand that the priority is a ceasefire and to sit down for negotiations!"
"If the talks failed, I'd have Tony fake his death to deal with the situation here in Sokovia first, so I could hurry back to Eastern Europe. That mess with Mephisto is much more serious than this!"
"How did it turn into Tony actually dying?"
Lin Huai lay on the ground, not daring to move. It would be too awkward to get up now and say "it was all a misunderstanding." But if he didn't get up, was he really going to watch Tony die here? This play was a disaster.
One hero wanted to sacrifice himself, while one sinner wanted to achieve redemption. This scene was reaching its climax in a way Lin Huai had never expected.
* * *
Eastern Europe, the underground interrogation room of the Monastery.
A three-way standoff had formed a deadlock, and the atmosphere was tense to the extreme.
The monks held their holy daggers, their expressions both pious and frenzied.
The cultists stood in front, using their bodies to protect their "vessel."
Hulk and Ghost Rider were caught in the middle, in a dilemma.
Amidst the fury, a sliver of Banner's reason struggled to think. Hulk couldn't harm these monks; though they were mad, their sins didn't warrant death. Nor could he let the cultists have their way. This thought was transmitted to Johnny through a certain connection.
The Hellfire in Johnny's eye sockets flickered wildly.
"We can't let these monks kill the child, and we can't let those scumbags take him away." Ghost Rider's voice was hoarse and low, as if coming from hell.
He twisted his burning Skull and looked at the group of cultists.
The leading High Priest seemed to read his intent. His greedy eyes darted between the child and Hulk before he finally let out a raspy laugh and proposed a deal.
"Help us save him from the monks. After that, we'll decide who he belongs to."
"Deal," Ghost Rider agreed without a second thought.
An absurd alliance was instantly formed.
"Do it!" Johnny ordered.
"Roar!"
Hulk's massive body slammed into the monks holding daggers, drawing everyone's attention.
A dozen daggers gleaming with holy light immediately turned and stabbed at Hulk's thick green skin, but they only produced a harsh metallic scraping sound.
At the same time, Johnny, in his Ghost Rider form, unleashed a towering fire that turned into a wall of fire, sealing off the monks' retreat.
The cultists moved as well. They didn't attack but began chanting incantations. Black mist spread, creating various illusions within the altar to interfere with the monks' judgment.
The interrogation room instantly fell into chaos. Holy light flashed, Hellfire burned, black magic filled the air, and Hulk's roars were incessant.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Johnny rushed toward the center of the altar.
He tore the ropes off Danny, pulling the trembling child tightly into his arms.
"Got him!"
Johnny rushed out of the interrogation room with the child in his arms.
The newly formed alliance shattered instantly.
"Now, it's our turn."
Ghost Rider let out a cold laugh, swinging his burning chains at the cultists who hadn't yet reacted. Hulk also turned around, his green eyes full of rage.
A massacre began.
Under the combined force of Hulk and Ghost Rider, the cultists were turned to ash before they could even scream.
* * *
Sokovia.
Wanda looked at Tony, who was prepared to die, then at the resolute Steve beside him, her mind in total disarray. She still hated him, but her heart was wavering like never before.
Finally, Wanda took a deep breath.
"Stark..." Her voice trembled, and a red light flared in her eyes.
A surge of scarlet energy erupted, slamming heavily into Tony's chest plate.
Boom!
The massive impact sent Tony flying, crashing hard against the wall. The armor on his chest was badly dented, and sparks flew everywhere. Tony coughed up blood, but he wasn't dead.
This strike seemed to shatter all the hatred in Wanda's heart.
She withdrew her energy and with a wave of her hand, the red chains on Bucky instantly vanished.
Bucky regained his freedom and stood there blankly, taking in everything before him.
Wanda didn't look at Tony or Steve again; her gaze fell on the dead Sokovian old man on the ground. He was the most innocent person in this tragedy.
Lin Huai, lying on the ground, felt Wanda looking at him, and his heart skipped a beat.
"The outcome seems okay... but how do I end this? Living again would be weird, and just lying here is awkward..."
Just as Lin Huai was lost in thought, Wanda spoke.
"Pietro, take this old man. Let's go."
A silver blur flashed, and Lin Huai felt his body lighten as he was hoisted up.
Pietro took Wanda's hand and, carrying Lin Huai's "corpse," turned into an afterimage, quickly disappearing into the shadows of the ruins.
In the empty City Hall, only Tony, Steve, and Bucky were left, looking at each other... meanwhile, in Eastern Europe.
The battle was over.
The interrogation room was a mess.
Dean Daniel and the monks slumped on the ground, looking at the empty altar; their faith had collapsed at this moment.
Nadia rushed in from outside. Seeing Danny safe and sound, she could no longer hold back and rushed over to hug her son tightly, weeping uncontrollably.
She looked up, her vision blurred by tears, at Banner and Johnny, who had returned to their human forms and were covered in injuries.
This time, there was finally gratitude and trust in her eyes.
Johnny looked at the mother and son, then at the despondent monks behind them. He started his motorcycle and said to Banner:
"Let's go, Dr. Take them and let's get out of this hellhole."
The crisis in Eastern Europe had come to a temporary close.