Chapter 18
Carol's pupils contracted sharply, but her combat instincts made her immediately switch tactics.
Her left leg swept horizontally toward Yang Jian's waist at blinding speed, while her eyes erupted with ultra-high-energy photon blasts!
Yang Jian didn't even bother dodging. He let the photon blasts slam directly into his chest. The massive energy only caused his bio-field to heat up slightly.
He reached back, grabbed Carol's ankle, and swung her down toward the ground like a sandbag!
BOOM!!!
The ground of the Mirror Dimension was smashed into a massive crater. Carol let out a muffled groan; her golden energy shield shattered, and a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of her mouth.
She struggled to her feet. A trace of horror finally appeared in her eyes.
This man… was ridiculously strong!
"What the hell are you?!" she gritted out.
"Thing?" Yang Jian's gaze turned cold.
"Looks like you still haven't realized your situation."
He appeared in front of her in an instant and drove a fist into her abdomen!
Pfft!
Carol sprayed a mouthful of blood; her body shot backward like a cannonball.
She smashed through dozens of illusory buildings in the Mirror Dimension before finally embedding herself into a twisted mountain peak.
She clawed her way out of the rock wall. Her entire body surged with wild energy; the fury in her eyes was almost tangible.
"You forced me to do this!"
Her hands slammed together. The cosmic energy inside her fully unleashed!
"Supernova form—full power!!!"
In an instant, her body grew brighter and brighter. Golden energy instantly swept across the entire Mirror Dimension!
Golden patterns emerged on her skin; her hair turned into pure flames of light; her pupils became twin miniature suns!
This was her strongest form—one she had never been pushed to before!
"Now—again!"
Her voice became a roar. She threw a punch that tore black rifts in space!
Yang Jian finally showed a trace of interest.
"Now that's more like it."
He stopped holding back. The scarlet light in his eyes surged violently; heat vision fired at full power!
BOOM!!!
The crimson beams collided head-on with Carol's supernova-charged fist. A terrifying energy storm tore the Mirror Dimension's buildings to shreds!
Illusory mountains and structures disintegrated into quantum dust.
But—
Yang Jian's heat vision ultimately proved superior.
Carol's fist was slowly pushed back. Her golden energy was devoured inch by inch by the crimson beams!
She roared, pouring every ounce of strength into resisting—but it was futile.
"It's over." Yang Jian's voice came cold and final.
In the next instant, the heat vision intensified sharply, piercing straight through her energy barrier and slamming into her chest!
Shhh!
Carol's body was pierced through. Her supernova form collapsed instantly; the golden energy flickered out like a candle in the wind.
She dropped to her knees, staring in disbelief at the charred hole in her chest.
"Im… possible!"
Yang Jian walked up to her, towering over her fallen form.
"I gave you a chance."
His eyes blazed red once more. A final heat vision beam pierced precisely through her forehead.
Bang.
Carol Danvers' body slowly toppled backward. The light faded completely from her eyes.
The Mirror Dimension dissolved; reality returned.
Wanda stood amid the villa ruins, watching Yang Jian step out from the void. Behind him floated Carol's corpse.
"She's dead?" Wanda's voice was calm. After Hydra, she no longer feared death.
"Yeah." Yang Jian replied flatly.
"Use your magic to fix this place. That woman was very rude."
Scarlet energy flowed through the ruins. Broken walls stitched themselves back together; shattered glass flew back into frames; overturned furniture righted itself.
Wanda's fingertips danced lightly. Chaos magic meticulously repaired every crack in the villa, as if time itself were reversing.
Minutes later, the villa was restored to its original state—not a single trace of battle remained.
Wanda looked around, satisfied, and turned to Yang Jian: "Done."
Yang Jian nodded and pushed open the door to the living room.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The floor didn't have a single scratch—as if the earlier battle had been nothing more than an illusion.
He walked to the sofa and sat down. He picked up the surviving bottle of Bordeaux on the coffee table and poured himself a glass.
The deep red liquid swirled in the crystal glass, reflecting his calm eyes.
"Sit." He tilted his chin toward the opposite sofa.
Wanda obediently sat down, hands resting on her knees. Her red hair draped over her shoulders, making her look gentle and quiet.
Yang Jian took a sip of wine and suddenly smiled: "Nothing you want to say?"
Wanda blinked: "About what?"
"You're not going to ask why I killed her?" He swirled the glass.
Wanda shook her head, voice soft: "During my time with Hydra, I learned one thing. Anyone who wants to kill you… should never be spared."
Her fingertips unconsciously traced the long-healed scar on her wrist—a remnant from one of the experiments.
"There was once a test subject who escaped on their own." She said quietly.
"I don't know if they were ever recaptured. But after that day, the guards increased the voltage on the shock collars."
She looked up. Her amber eyes held no hesitation—only resolve.
"If I had the power back then, I would have killed every single Hydra member."
Yang Jian gave a light laugh and raised his glass toward her: "Wise choice."
"We're not reapers. We don't kill without reason. But we also don't let anyone who tries to kill us walk away alive."
Wanda nodded obediently: "I understand."
The living room fell quiet for a moment. Only the soft sound of waves outside the window.
Yang Jian suddenly stood up and walked toward the kitchen: "Hungry?"
Wanda was startled for a second, then followed: "A little."
The fridge was fully stocked.
Steaks, fresh shrimp, vegetables, pasta, and an unopened bottle of olive oil.
Yang Jian took out two steaks and tossed Wanda a bag of pasta: "Can you cook noodles?"
"Yes."
She caught it and skillfully set water to boil, added salt, and waited.
Yang Jian pan-seared the steaks. The sizzle of oil soon filled the kitchen with the rich aroma of meat.
Wanda stole a glance at him and noticed how unexpectedly skilled his movements were.
"What are you looking at?" He asked without turning.
"I didn't expect you to know how to cook." She said softly.
"When you've made friends with enough people, you pick up a little of everything." He flipped the steak, tone casual.
Wanda didn't reply. She just quietly cooked the pasta, occasionally sneaking glances at his profile.
The kitchen window was open. Evening sea breeze carried a salty scent inside, mingling with the food aromas.
In this moment, it felt as if the cosmic wars and bloodshed outside had nothing to do with them.
Only the sizzle of the pan, the bubbling water, and two equally cold yet strangely compatible hearts.
Nightfall
On the dining table, candlelight flickered gently, illuminating their faces.
The steaks were cooked to perfection; the pasta was coated in rich sauce. Delicious aromas filled the warm dining room.
Wanda kept her head down, slowly twirling noodles with her fork—but she hadn't taken a bite yet.
Her fingertips were slightly clenched, as if she were building up to something.
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