"At any cost?"
The phrase lingered in the air long after Steve Rogers finished speaking. Fury, Natasha, and Barton had expected opposition to Richard, but not that level of resolve. "At any cost" didn't just mean increased surveillance or tactical containment. It meant mobilizing SHIELD resources and potentially the Avengers at full operational capacity.
Richard was an S-level fugitive under the Mutant Affairs Department. That much was official. But his actions so far had been directed almost entirely at that department and its enforcement arms. He hadn't attacked civilians. He hadn't targeted SHIELD facilities.
Rogers' position escalated the matter to something else entirely.
Fury remained silent for several seconds, studying the determination on Captain America's face. Then he shifted his attention.
"Barton," Fury said evenly. "Your take?"
Clint leaned back slightly before answering. "Your call. Whether we reject the request or go all in, I'm on board."
He wasn't indifferent. He had watched Richard decapitate Sebastian Shaw the previous night. But Clint saw nuance where Rogers saw absolutes. Shaw had blood on his hands too—likely far more than Richard. The difference was presentation. Shaw operated in shadows and politics. Richard operated openly.
After Clint spoke, Natasha didn't hesitate.
"I don't recommend accepting the request," she said calmly. "Richard's shown restraint. In San Francisco, he could've killed Banner and me. He didn't."
Her gaze moved to Rogers. "That matters."
Rogers cut in before she could continue. "He didn't kill you because he chose not to that day. That doesn't make him safe."
His tone hardened. "He's killed over fifty mutant agents. Including special forces, over three hundred casualties in three months. He's unstable and extremely powerful."
He met Fury's eye. "We can't gamble on his mood."
Fury exhaled slowly.
"Accept the request," he said at last. "We move to control Richard first."
Natasha's jaw tightened slightly, but she said nothing.
"He has influence," Fury continued. "Young mutants see him as a symbol. If that spreads, we're looking at wider unrest."
Whether to imprison Richard indefinitely or restrict him under supervision could be debated later. First came containment.
Rogers nodded once. "I'll assemble special forces and begin drafting a capture strategy."
He left immediately.
"Romanoff," Fury said. "Talk to Banner. See if Hulk's holding back something useful."
"I'll try," she replied.
"Barton, coordinate with Intelligence. Compile everything we have on Richard and assist Rogers."
"Got it."
When the room emptied, Fury walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Washington stretched below him.
Should he call her back?
If she returned, Richard would be far easier to handle.
…
Las Vegas.
Caesars Palace.
Richard had no knowledge that SHIELD had formally aligned with the Mutant Affairs Department. He sat in the study of the suite, focused on something else entirely.
"Do you have Magneto's contact information?" he asked Emma.
She shook her head. "No. But I can ask around."
"Do it."
After she left to make calls, Richard remained seated for only a moment before a new system interface materialized in his vision.
[Mission: Son of the Devil (III)]
[Objective: Kill the superhero "Captain America" Steve Rogers.]
[Reward: Yama Blade]
[Time Limit: 1 week]
Richard stared at the panel.
Kill Captain America?
The surprise lasted only a second. Then his expression shifted.
Yama Blade.
Since acquiring Dimensional Slash, he had been waiting for this. The Yama Blade was the natural complement—an extension of spatial severance amplified to its theoretical peak.
If killing Rogers secured that weapon, hesitation wasn't part of the equation.
He had never viewed himself as bound by moral absolutes. To him, this world was closer to a game simulation. Characters existed. Some aligned with him. Some opposed him. The difference between hero and villain was largely perspective.
If Rogers intended to capture him, then Rogers was an obstacle.
The system didn't issue missions randomly. The timing suggested something.
SHIELD and the Mutant Affairs Department had joined forces.
Sentinels had failed. Enhanced clones had failed. Escalation was the only remaining move.
Rogers would lead the response.
Richard closed the panel and stood.
He entered the living room where Wanda and Pietro were seated.
"You're coming with me," he said.
Pietro didn't question it. "Sure."
Wanda stood as well. Pietro took her right hand. Richard took her left.
Teleportation activated.
In an instant, they stood in the Nevada desert dozens of kilometers outside Las Vegas. Wind rolled across the sand in slow, dry currents.
Richard faced them calmly.
"You two attack me. I want to see your current control level."
Pietro grinned slightly. "If we win, do we get something?"
"Win?" Richard tilted his head faintly. "You win if you touch me or keep me in your line of sight for one minute."
The Authentic Blade materialized in his hand.
Pietro vanished.
Super speed blurred the air as he and Wanda relocated nearly a kilometer away in less than a heartbeat.
Richard smiled faintly.
Teleportation.
He reappeared behind them before their muscles even relaxed from the sprint. The blade's tip rested lightly against the back of Pietro's neck.
"Advice," Richard said evenly. "Never stop completely during combat. Even if you can't sustain maximum speed, maintain unpredictability."
Pietro stiffened but didn't panic.
"You only won because I paused," he said.
"I didn't stab you," Richard replied calmly. "Losing isn't the problem. Pretending you didn't lose is."
The wind moved quietly around them as the lesson settled in.
.....
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