Chapter 5: First Skirmish
The sun was beginning to set as Wanda and the resistance team trudged through the dense woods surrounding Novi Grad. The adrenaline from their first successful outpost raid had begun to wear off, replaced by exhaustion and the sting of fresh injuries. Still, there was a faint sense of triumph in the air—a small victory against the oppressive grip of Hydra.
Eska led the group at a brisk pace, her sharp eyes scanning the terrain for any signs of pursuit. Wanda walked a few steps behind her, the Chitauri Scepter resting heavily in her hands. The symbiote coiled faintly around her wrist, its constant hum in her mind both comforting and unsettling.
"You did well back there," Eska said without turning.
Wanda blinked in surprise. Praise from Eska was rare, and Wanda wasn't sure if it was entirely genuine. "I thought I was too destructive."
Eska's lips quirked into a smirk. "You were. But sometimes destruction is exactly what we need."
Dmitri, following close behind, let out a dry laugh. "Let's not make a habit of it, though. We barely got out with the supplies intact. A few more explosions like that and we'll have nothing left to give the people."
Wanda sighed, tightening her grip on the scepter. She wasn't sure if Dmitri's words were meant as a joke or a critique. Either way, they stung. She hadn't meant to cause so much damage, but in the heat of battle, controlling her magic had been harder than she expected. The symbiote hadn't exactly helped either, its cryptic whispers urging her to push harder, strike faster, burn brighter.
The forest around them grew darker as the sun dipped lower. The team's movements became more cautious, their conversation falling into tense silence. Wanda felt the familiar prickling at the back of her neck, a subtle warning from the symbiote. Something wasn't right.
The snap of a branch shattered the stillness.
Eska raised her fist, signaling the group to stop. Wanda froze, every muscle in her body tensing as her eyes scanned the trees. The air felt heavier, charged with an unspoken threat.
The first shot rang out, striking the tree trunk inches from Eska's head. She ducked instinctively, her pistol already in her hand.
"Ambush!" Dmitri shouted, diving for cover as more gunfire erupted from the shadows.
Hydra soldiers emerged from the treeline, their black armor gleaming in the fading light. They moved with mechanical precision, fanning out to encircle the resistance team. The sharp hum of an energy weapon cut through the cacophony of gunfire, and Wanda barely had time to raise a barrier of crimson magic before a blast struck her position.
"Fall back!" Eska yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Take cover and return fire!"
Wanda darted behind a fallen log, her heart pounding. The scepter pulsed in her hands, responding to her rising fear and anger. She peeked over the edge, spotting a Hydra soldier advancing on Eska's position. With a flick of her wrist, crimson energy surged from the scepter, striking the soldier square in the chest and sending him flying backward.
"Wanda, keep them off our left flank!" Eska shouted, firing a quick burst from her pistol.
Nodding, Wanda rose to her feet, chaos magic crackling around her hands. The symbiote coiled tighter around her arm, its shimmering tendrils enhancing her movements as she dashed between trees. Two soldiers turned their weapons on her, energy blasts slicing through the air. Wanda dodged with inhuman agility, the symbiote guiding her like a second set of instincts. She retaliated with a wave of magic, disarming one soldier and slamming the other into a tree with a satisfying crack.
Dmitri appeared at her side, his rifle barking as he provided cover fire. "Nice of Hydra to ruin our victory march," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Do they always travel in such numbers?" Wanda asked, deflecting an incoming shot with a flick of her wrist.
"Not usually," Dmitri replied, crouching behind a rock. "They must've had reinforcements nearby. We're lucky this isn't worse."
"Define worse," Wanda muttered as a grenade exploded nearby, sending dirt and debris showering over them.
Eska's voice crackled over the comms. "Dmitri, take your group and circle around! Wanda, keep them occupied. We need to split their focus!"
"Got it," Dmitri said, slapping Wanda's shoulder. "Try not to blow up the forest while I'm gone."
Wanda smirked despite the tension. "No promises."
Left alone on the front line, Wanda unleashed her chaos magic with growing confidence. Crimson energy danced across her fingers as she weaved through the battlefield, striking with precision. Her movements were a blur, the symbiote amplifying her speed and strength as she took down one soldier after another.
But the battle was far from over. A Hydra enforcer stepped into the clearing, his hulking frame clad in reinforced armor that gleamed ominously. He carried a massive energy cannon, the hum of its power building as he aimed it directly at Wanda.
"Target acquired," he growled, his voice distorted by his helmet's modulator.
Wanda braced herself, raising the scepter just as the cannon fired. A blinding blast of energy tore through the air, too fast to dodge. Instinctively, she channeled her magic through the scepter, forming a shimmering crimson shield. The blast struck with a deafening roar, the force sending shockwaves through the clearing.
The shield held, but barely. Wanda gritted her teeth, every muscle in her body straining as she pushed back against the enforcer's relentless assault. The symbiote hissed in her mind
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