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He picked up the vial and tossed it into his inventory for later use. As Luke turned to leave, a nagging doubt crept in, prompting him to glance back at the corpse.
Why hadn't the system notification appeared yet? Normally, he got EXP for every living thing he killed—so what was going on here?
"Don't tell he's still alive?" Luke thought, unease prickling at him. After all, in Marvel stories, villains are like cockroaches—never easy to kill. You think they're finished, but sohow, they keep crawling back for another round.
He frowned, took out his gun again, and leveled it at the leader. "Just to be sure," he muttered, then squeezed the trigger, sending two more shots into the man's head. Bang, bang. For good asure, he emptied the magazine.
This ti, his system chid in:
[Monster Eliminated]
[5000 EXP gained]
Luke shrugged, holstering the empty gun. When it ca to Marvel villains, you could never be too careful—they had a knack for surviving the impossible.
Good thing he double-checked; turns out the guy wasn't really dead the first ti, but now there was no doubt. Luke had made sure this problem wouldn't co crawling back.
Despite everything, Luke had done a decent job keeping his identity under wraps. Sure, it might seem odd—he'd faced down the Abomination with no mask, nothing covering his face, fighting in plain view.
But people tended to forget the battlefield conditions: the area had been transford into literal hell, with flas roaring and the air thick with smoke and heat.
No cara could get a clear shot in that chaos, and any footage would be a blurry ss at best. Even if he was caught on so security caras, his features would be little more than smudges in the inferno.
And as for coming to the lab, Luke had made sure to be discreet, taking hidden side routes to avoid attention. He took no chances—if anyone spotted him, they'd have only seen shadows in the swirling aftermath.
A sharp sound interrupted his thoughts—the echo of footsteps coming down the narrow hallway outside the lab. Instinctively, Luke drew his gun again, swapping in a fresh magazine with practiced speed.
Given all the chaos, the odds of a student or a regular lab worker wandering in now were near zero. Anyone still moving through this place had to be sothing else.
The figure stepped into the doorway, the harsh lab lighting catching on tactical suit and crimson hair.
Luke's eyes narrowed, recognition flashing across his face.
She wore a black tactical suit, tailored that flexed with every movent. Twin pistols were holstered against her thighs, fingerless gloves gripping the doorfra. The shock of red hair was unmistakable.
Natasha Romanoff. Black Widow.
Well… she really was just as beautiful as in the movies.
The mont her sharp eyes landed on Luke, she moved like lightning—her sidearm was already in her hand, aid squarely at his chest.
"Well, I didn't expect to see you here," Luke said, wincing at the dull ache in his head.
Honestly, under different circumstances he would've tossed in a playful line—maybe even flirt a little, because whenever a gorgeous woman appeared the instinct kicked in—but right now his head was pounding too much to bother.
"You know ?" Natasha's tone was calm, though her eyes flickered with surprise.
Luke spoke like soone who already knew her, but she was certain they had never t. And her identity? That wasn't sothing people just guessed. Maybe he was bluffing. Maybe he was angling to flirt.
Then again, she knew she was beautiful. Too many n have proven that over the years.
"Yes," Luke replied without hesitation. "Natasha Romanoff. Black Widow. Top agent of S.H.I.E.L.D… and a few other things."
Her eyes narrowed. That wasn't the response of a man fishing for attention. That was soone who knew far too much—especially about S.H.I.E.L.D., which was strictly off the public radar.
"I'm sorry," she said, lips curving into a faint, almost playful smile, "but I'm going to have to ask you to co with ."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Can I take that as a date invitation?"
"Yes. And trust ," she replied smoothly, "it'll be the most exciting date you've ever had. Cos with free transportation, dinner—if you survive the questioning—and maybe a nice cell to sleep in."
Luke chuckled. "Tempting. But I've got… other priorities. Don't go thinking I rejected you because you're unattractive—you're beautiful. I just don't have the ti."
Before she could pull the trigger, the ground cracked open and three jagged stone spikes shot upward, separating them with a grinding noise. Natasha reacted instantly, sidestepping, circling for a clean line of fire.
But when she ca around the obstruction, Luke was gone.
Her eyes swept the lab, stance low and precise. She tapped her comm.
"Agent Romanoff to Mission Control. I've got an unknown asset. Knows too much—possibly super-powered. Proceeding with caution."
She had co to retrieve Dr. Samuel Sterns, the scientist known for working on Hulk's blood, a critical asset in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s containnt projects.
But it seed this person had arrived before her. The lab was in disarray—vials shattered, notes scattered across the floor, and Sterns himself slumped on the floor, his head riddled with bullet holes.
She clicked her comm again. "Target is dead. "
There was a pause. Then Fury's voice ca through, sharp and commanding.
"Romanoff, co back. I have a new mission for you."
Natasha's eyes narrowed. "Understood, sir. I'm on my way."
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