The roaring gradually faded...
Magneto, who had been floating mid-air, descended to the ground. His majestic purple robes were now tattered and scorched, his white hair disheveled like a bird's nest. The power within his aged body ebbed away like a receding tide.
His face was weary, his steps unsteady as he landed. The intense battle, though seemingly earth-shaking and devastating, had in reality been a one-sided onslaught. Sean had barely lifted a finger the entire time.
That vibranium spear, which tore through the air with overwhelming force, could have shattered Magneto's electromagnetic barrier and reduced him to dust. But Sean had held back, deliberately avoiding a fatal blow.
Magneto knew this all too well, which was why he had chosen to end this terrifying spectacle of a battle...
"This is no longer our era." The old man sighed.
Through this challenge, he had clearly seen the gap between them. Unless his magnetic abilities underwent another breakthrough, he would never catch up to the one who strode ahead.
Sean stepped out of the dust, ignoring the contemplative Magneto, and left the ruined camp behind without a backward glance.
The wheel of the world rolled ever forward. No one could remain at the pinnacle of the times forever... not mutants, not even superheroes.
He would soon return to North America. Having promised the Ancient One that he would deal with Kaecilius and his rampant cult, he intended to honor that agreement.
Matters in Wakanda were largely settled. The new king, Killmonger, might harbor rebellious thoughts. After all, the ambitious panther would never resign himself to being a puppet forever. But under the watchful eyes of the Mutant Corps and Magneto, he wouldn't dare act recklessly. At least for now.
The grand military strike had concluded. Though the bald eagle appeared battered, it had actually gained much. As a key member of the World Security Council, the U.S. secured an extremely low price for vibranium imports, while General Ross added another glorious line to his record.
The interest groups and corporate giants who had waited to carve up the spoils all walked away satisfied, each having secured their share. The increasingly acute domestic conflicts (plummeting oil markets due to the spread of new energy sources) were sacrificed to the new world order. Energy conglomerates and industrial giants began scrambling to pivot.
As one of the architects of this new game, Umbrella embarked on a frenzied acquisition spree. Through its various subsidiaries, it absorbed many once-dominant corporations, further perfecting its industrial chain and solidifying its status as a behemoth spanning multiple fields.
Unwilling to become stepping stones for Umbrella's expansion, some desperate capital groups tried to weaponize antitrust laws, only to hit wall after wall. The typically ruthless antitrust bureau, which was known for targeting giants like Google and Microsoft with fines and injunctions, suddenly became evasive and dismissive when it came to Umbrella.
Soon, they realized the harsh truth: in a nation governed by the will of capital, their voices were pitifully small...
....
~The next morning~
Sean boarded his private jet and spotted Wanda, who had come from Sokovia to North America. Dressed in a black blazer and white blouse, the simple outfit accentuated the red-haired girl's unique charm.
She sat buried in a stack of documents, twirling a pen in her hand.
Her youthful face which was tinged with a mature aura twisted in frustration as she muttered to herself:
"Mr. Harry Osborn's invitation... Hmm, according to Ms. Raven, this should be prioritized. Then there's Ms. Scarlett Johansson's call, an unfamiliar woman, dinner invitation, unimportant! Push that to the back. Miss Mindy's graduation ceremony, that's a must-attend, mark it as a key event. Then there's this, Betty and Gwen's 'Night of Revelry'? What even is this? Footnote says 'monthly routine'..." Wanda frowned, her eyes simmering with irritation.
Based on Ms. Raven's meticulously arranged schedule, that man's daily commitments and critical tasks could pile up into a small mountain.
And yet, amid this packed timetable, there were still numerous 'social engagements' with various women... from Umbrella employee Gwen, to the daughter of a Defense Department general, even the female neighbor in the adjacent apartment. The list went on and on.
A surge of inexplicable anger rose in Wanda's chest...
"He's even using meal and sleep times to chase women. Does he want to work himself to death?" she grumbled under her breath.
"Is that concern or a curse?" A teasing voice sounded behind her.
Startled, Wanda turned and froze at the sight of the familiar-yet-unfamiliar young face.
"Don't recognize me?" Sean asked, smiling lightly as he took the seat opposite her.
Seeing the girl's stunned expression, he instinctively reached out, gently brushing his fingers against her delicate cheek.
Perhaps startled by the sudden gesture, Wanda recoiled, bumping into a passing flight attendant. As she stammered apologies, she knocked over the stack of documents on the table.
"My apologies. If I overstepped just now, I sincerely regret it." Sean watched the flustered Wanda with amusement.
She hadn't been this skittish before.
"You should be apologizing to me... and Pietro!" Having gathered the scattered papers, Wanda glared, her brows knitted in stern disapproval.
"You left without even saying goodbye! And you lied to us, claiming to be a scholar from SUNY. Pietro was right, rich people are all liars!" She huffed, turning her head away.
In her limited imagination, stumbling upon an amnesiac wanderer who turned out to be a young American magnate, a celebrated genius who could meet the president at will, was the stuff of movies.
Every girl loved Cinderella stories, but no one actually believed them.
"This isn't what I imagined..." Wanda rested her head against the window, her voice tinged with dejection.
In her world, the most impressive person this Sokovian girl had ever met was probably the police chief overseeing her street.
The string of titles and dazzling accolades attached to Sean made Wanda uneasy. The young man before her felt like an iridescent bubble; beautiful but fragile.
"Give me a chance to explain, Wanda." Sean said earnestly, "I did attend at the State University of New York, and my name is Sean Cyphers. In a way, everything you knew about me was true. That said, leaving without a word was my mistake, and for that, I owe you and Pietro an apology."
Noticing the softening in the girl's eyes, Sean's voice lowered, emotions flowing out like a quiet stream, "No matter who I am, those days in Sokovia were some of the most carefree I've ever had. I miss them. I miss walking down Fourth Street with you, scavenging flea markets, teasing that stingy vendor. Those are some of my most treasured memories."
Wanda shot a sidelong glance at the seemingly sincere Sean, then turned away with a soft snort.
After a long pause, she muttered, "Pietro is furious. You should be saying this to him."
Sean chuckled but said nothing. The stubborn Wanda buried herself in the documents again, only to occasionally look up and meet his gentle gaze, which, like a spoon stirring coffee, unsettled her heart.
"You're distracting me from work." She stated this righteously.
"I am the boss you're working for." Sean shrugged, his tone playful.
They stared at each other... one pair of eyes wide with indignation, the other brimming with amusement. Until Wanda finally slumped forward, resting her head on the table in defeat.
"I never should have come. Sokovia is my home." She sighed.
Sean leaned closer, studying the conflicted red-haired girl. Softly, he asked, "Then why did you come?"
Silence settled between them once more. Wanda shook her head, offering no answer.
She didn't know why she had left Sokovia for this dazzling, unfamiliar new world either...