The open area of the airport was engulfed in smoke from Falcon's grenades, obscuring visibility for both the spectators in the stands and the viewers on the SkyNet platform. No one could see what was happening inside the smoke-covered zone.
Falcon continued circling low over the airport, dutifully following Captain America's orders to drop more smoke grenades, ensuring the area between the open tarmac and the terminal building was entirely shrouded in white mist.
Inside the smoke zone:
The faint sounds of combat echoed— punches, kicks, and the clashing of weapons from Captain America, Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Quicksilver.
The stalemate was clear: one side relied on brute endurance, while the other exploited agility to maintain control. Neither could gain the upper hand, and the battle remained locked in a deadlock.
High above, Vision floated silently at an altitude of 100 meters. His golden cape fluttered in the wind, but his gaze was far removed from the battle below, showing little interest in the outcome.
Meanwhile, the audience in the stands grew restless, yawning as they watched the projection screen. Compared to the thrilling matches that had preceded it, this so-called "civil war" felt more like a casual exhibition.
The smoke obscured much of the action, some combatants were clearly holding back, and the whole affair lacked any real stakes or intensity.
In the central hall of the Watchtower:
Kyle stifled a yawn and leaned back in his chair. Princess Sakura, dressed elegantly in a kimono, approached him gracefully, settling onto his lap. She fed him peeled grapes and pressed her soft lips to his in a moment of intimate distraction.
Logan, however, remained fully focused on the match. As the timer ticked away, marking the halfway point, he muttered, "Boss, you think they might just fight to a draw?"
"If Vision doesn't intervene, it's a real possibility," Kyle shrugged.
Quicksilver's speed gave him a clear advantage over normal humans. Even against 100 opponents, he could dominate with ease. However, against someone like Captain America— famous for his indomitable resilience and equipped with a Vibranium shield— the advantage wasn't so clear.
Add in Winter Soldier, a battle-hardened warrior, and Quicksilver could suppress them indefinitely but couldn't land a decisive blow. Even with Black Widow's assistance, the fight could drag on endlessly.
Falcon wanted to engage but couldn't risk landing. If he got too close to the smoke zone, Quicksilver would dismantle his mechanical wings in moments, leaving him grounded and vulnerable. All he could do was provide aerial support.
In summary, this civil war felt too predictable. The combatants were overly familiar with each other's tactics, and none had enough motivation to secure a decisive victory, making the whole spectacle seem uninspired.
"Wake me up when it's over," Kyle said, wrapping his arms around Princess Sakura's soft, fragrant form and closing his eyes for a brief nap.
But barely two minutes passed before Logan shook him awake.
"Boss, look!" Logan's voice was hoarse, his face pale as he pointed to the screen, mouth agape.
Blinking awake, Kyle turned his gaze toward the projection. What he saw left him utterly stunned.
Inside the virtual airport:
The wreckage of a large Boeing plane lay sprawled near the terminal building, its remains engulfed in flames alongside the rubble of collapsed structures. Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky, and the entire airport looked like it had been ravaged by a catastrophic battle.
The Vibranium shield was partially buried under a wall of debris. Sparks flickered from a broken mechanical arm nearby. Captain America and Winter Soldier lay lifeless in pools of blood, their chests marred by severe, cauterized wounds. What remained of their bodies showed no signs of life.
Falcon's mechanical wings were destroyed— one missing entirely, the other pinned to the ruined outer wall of the terminal like a bird caught in a net. His lifeless form hung there, motionless.
Quicksilver and Black Widow fared no better. Both lay curled up near the terminal ruins, their bodies battered and broken. Their gray eyes were wide open, frozen in disbelief as if unable to comprehend what had happened.
Above the burning airport, Vision floated serenely. His expression was cold, the yellow Mind Stone on his forehead glowing faintly. His golden cape fluttered in the heat, making him look like a grim reaper gazing down at the devastation below.
"What… what happened here?" Kyle took a deep breath, his earlier drowsiness gone. Even though this was a virtual simulation, the shocking scene sent chills down his spine.
"I'm not sure," Logan replied, his tone heavy with unease. "Half a minute ago, Captain America and Winter Soldier managed to break through Black Widow's defense and enter the terminal, hoping to limit Quicksilver's speed. With Falcon providing aerial support and relaying information, they began to turn the tide, pressuring Quicksilver and Black Widow."
Logan paused, swallowing hard before continuing, "That's when Vision acted. He first pinned Falcon to the wall with precise force, killing him instantly. Then… he lifted a Boeing plane and hurled it straight at the terminal building."
"While Captain America and the others sought refuge, Vision used his energy laser to eliminate everyone— his enemies and even his own teammates," Logan recounted, his voice trembling. The scene of Vision's sudden and ruthless assault was utterly chilling like a mechanical grim reaper unleashed.
"What's going on?"
Kyle furrowed his brows deeply. Just hearing Logan's account was enough to make him feel incredulous.
Vision, turning on his own Avengers teammates? It defied all logic. Vision was known for his immense power but also for his aversion to violence. Among the Avengers, he was the most rational and autonomous, guided by a strong moral compass.
Yet the brutal sight of Captain America's team lying lifeless on the ground was undeniable evidence of what had transpired.
With Captain America's blue team entirely wiped out, Vision stood as the sole survivor of the red team. The God System declared the red team victorious, marking the end of the third match.
However, only Vision returned to the arena. Black Widow and Quicksilver chose to withdraw voluntarily from future superpower matches— a reasonable decision given the shock of their teammate's sudden betrayal.
In the stands, there was no applause, no cheers. Even the other contestants instinctively stepped back, keeping their distance from Vision, their faces pale with fear and unease.
A heavy silence blanketed the scene.
After a few moments, Logan turned to Kyle and asked, "Boss, should the superpower tournament continue?"
"Of course it will. Why wouldn't it?" Kyle responded, his gaze fixed on Vision standing in the arena.
In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through Kyle's mind:
Was Vision's behavior a sign of his system evolving toward Ultron-like tendencies?
Could a third-party force have manipulated Vision using some mysterious method?
Was the Mind Stone itself exerting a hidden influence?
Or… was this Vision's own conscious decision?
Since any of these possibilities could be true, the only way to find out was to let the tournament proceed and closely observe Vision's actions.
"Outsmarting the unseen is the real game here," Kyle thought with a faint smile. "Whatever the truth is, it will eventually reveal itself under my watch."
Vision's bizarre behavior had turned the superpower tournament into something far more intriguing than Kyle had anticipated.
'(End of Chapter)'
I have finished translating this fanfic, IMUC (I Am In Marvel With Unlimited Cards) and have posted all the advanced chapters on Patreon (Last Chapter -- 706). (https://www.patreon.com/c/marvel6395). You can read all the advanced chapters there.