Alex clapped his hands once, drawing their attention. "Not bad for your first real spar. You both made mistakes, yes, but you learned quickly—and that's what counts. Most beginners would be flattened by a single misstep."
Hill wiped sweat from her brow, Luma's wings folding calmly around her now. "It's… a lot to think about. Controlling illusions, sensing others, and keeping Aegis steady at the same time—it's exhausting," she admitted.
Steve nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah. That armor—Aegis—responds so fast, but every movement has weight. I overdid a few swings and nearly toppled myself. I didn't realize controlling something that powerful could tire you out this fast."
Fury crossed his arms, observing quietly. "You two are rough around the edges, but at least you didn't break the hall—or each other. Give it a few more rounds, and you might actually be ready for a real fight."
Alex smirked. "Exactly. It's like this: your partners are extensions of yourselves. If you hesitate or panic, they hesitate. If you focus, they act instinctively. Steve, your defensive instincts are solid. Hill, your illusions are raw but potent. Keep refining, and together you could control an entire battlefield."
Steve gave a tired chuckle. "Well, I hope Loki is scared. I'm still figuring out how not to crush my own teammates, but I think I could take him on."
Hill laughed. "Don't forget, I can make him see your illusions instead of you. We're actually a terrifying combo if we coordinate."
Alex nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Think of it as a chessboard. You have multiple pieces—you just have to move them in harmony. Strength alone won't win you a fight, especially against someone like Loki—or worse."
Fury raised an eyebrow. "Worse, huh? You mean Dormammu?"
"Nah, forget about him," Alex said casually. "Even if you guys trained your entire lives, you wouldn't be powerful enough to beat him."
Just then, the doors opened and Clint Barton—Hawkeye—stepped in, his expression calm and curious especially when he looked a big butterfly and a ancient knight looking armor near Steve.
"what's happening?" he asked as others looked at im.
Alex raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Ah, the last agent. Good timing. Step into the center, Clint. This is where you get your partner."
Fury nodded. "Juts follow his instructions and you will get powers like Black Widow."
Clint glanced at the magical circles Alex had prepared and then at Fury. "Uh… what do I need to do?"
Alex explained, "Same as the others. Cut your finger, drop a bit of blood onto the circle, and whatever is meant to bond with you will appear. It will sense you, your intent, and your skills, and form accordingly."
Clint smirked slightly. "Alright, let's do this." He stepped forward confidently, knelt in the center of the circle, and made a shallow cut on his palm. A single drop of blood fell onto the glowing circle.
The moment Clint's blood touched the glowing circle, the runes flared with a sharp golden light. Shadows twisted and shimmered, stretching into the shape of a creature before solidifying. Unlike Steve's massive knight or Hill's ethereal butterfly, this one was sleek, agile, and precise—its body slim and streamlined, like a predator designed for speed and accuracy. A pair of angular, feathered wings sprouted from its shoulders, glinting like polished bronze, and its eyes burned with a calculated intelligence.
Alex's gaze was sharp. "Interesting… this one adapted to you immediately. It's built for precision, speed, and long-range strike—perfectly complements your archery. It will enhance your aim, anticipate target movement, and even provide support for rapid repositioning."
Clint stepped closer, examining the form warily. "What… exactly is it?"
Alex smirked. "You'll see. It's a demon familiar, specialized for archers. Think of it as an extension of your reflexes and focus. It will fight alongside you, sharpen your aim, and even predict trajectories. You just have to bond with it."
The creature moved closer, bowing its head slightly in acknowledgment. Its talon-like hands flexed, and a faint aura of golden energy pulsed along its body, matching Clint's heartbeat. Clint extended his hand cautiously.
The familiar flinched slightly at first, then allowed him to touch it. The moment contact was made, a surge of connection flowed through Clint—his senses sharpened, and his reflexes felt instantaneous. If before he could almost feel the paths his arrows would take after a perfect aim, now he could see them like foresight, allowing him to shoot first and then aim next.
Alex nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, name it. That solidifies the bond."
Clint grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "I'll call you Viper."
Viper crouched, wings folding neatly along its back, eyes tracking Clint's every movement like a coiled spring ready to strike. It radiated an aura of precision and lethal elegance, perfectly in tune with Clint's archery skills.
Alex folded his arms. "Now you understand. It's not just about raw power—it's about synergy. Your abilities, your instincts, and your partner's enhancements—they all work together. Train with it, and you'll become faster, deadlier, and nearly impossible to surprise."
Fury nodded. "Excellent. Now, I want to see all three of you spar as a team. Steve, Hill, Clint—let's test how well your new partners integrate into combat."
Alex raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward. "Alright, Clint—what exactly did you gain?"
Clint flexed his fingers, a sly grin forming. "I… can make arrows magically." He held out his hands, and a faint red glow began forming at his fingertips. In an instant, the glow solidified into a sleek, blood-colored arrow, hovering in midair as if drawn by invisible strings.
"It's not only that," he added, "but these arrows are very venomous." He nocked the arrow on his bow and showed the arrow's effects on a small steel target nearby. The arrow struck perfectly, and the metal seemed corroded and damaged instantly. "The venom can destroy anything—even steel or reinforced alloys," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. The others nodded, impressed.
"good, but don't use it in the spar " Fury said as the steel target was made with reinforced alloys yet it was melted like butter meeting hot knife.
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