Bucky lifted his head slowly, something different in his eyes now—stronger, sharper, unstable.
Luke's voice was quiet.
"Get ready. You're going to test your limits in real time."
------
"So, bro… what's the plan?" said Tony.
Luke observed the outside before answering. "These bastards couldn't kill Mom and Dad on the first try, and now they're going for a second attempt—with more lethal force."
After experiencing the previous attack, the Stark family had installed numerous defensive and automated firing systems.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Ratatatatatatat!!
Sheewwww!
Ting!
Brrt! Brrt!
The weapons fired the moment the Hydra agents entered the firing range. It was a surprise attack, and none of the enemies expected this outcome. But given that they were professional killers and assassins, they adapted immediately. They stepped back and began targeting the guns, managing to dismantle a large number of them outside. Still, many of them died in the first wave of the attack.
The Winter Soldiers ran straight toward the Stark mansion, shooting all the cameras and sensors responsible for the exterior defense systems. Once inside, they cautiously moved through the hallway.
Bucky hid in a corner and started shooting the normal Hydra soldiers.
FWUINGG!
ACKK!
"ONE O'CLOCK! UGH!"
The Hydra soldiers began to counterattack, raining bullets on the spot where Bucky was hiding.
BANG!
BANG!
Bucky jumped from the second floor and slammed into one of the Hydra soldiers. He pointed the gun at the man's head—
BANG!
He used the dead body as a shield while firing at the enemies. When he ran out of bullets, he threw the body toward them and charged forward.
ARRRGG!
CRACK!
He grabbed a rifle and twisted the arm of its holder, then started firing at the nearest enemies. While doing this, the Winter Soldiers began to move. One of them launched a powerful punch.
With fast reflexes, Bucky managed to grab the incoming fist, pulled the attacker toward him, and slammed him into a concrete wall. Another soldier grabbed a guerrilla knife and stabbed Bucky in the back—but Bucky hardened his skin with vibranium, completely negating the damage.
He spun his body and delivered a sharp elbow strike to the enemy's neck.
ACKK!
The enemy couldn't breathe for a second. Bucky followed up with a punch to the face and finished it with a gunshot to the head.
While all of this was happening, the Stark family watched from the underground laboratory.
"He's more deadly than before. Are you sure he won't betray us?" Tony asked, looking at his brother Luke.
"He won't," Luke replied calmly. "He's free now—and powerful. Before he was brainwashed, he was a trusted comrade in the field. A man you could trust with your back in war."
"A man like that will not betray you," Luke added.
The fight continued outside.
Two of the five Winter Soldiers were now lying on the floor—motionless, dead. The remaining three struggled to keep up with the enhanced Bucky Barnes.
Bucky crouched and delivered a heavy uppercut to one of the Winter Soldiers. The man's jaw shattered, teeth embedding into his upper gums. Then Bucky kicked him aside.
"OHHW… that was painful," Tony commented.
Luke turned to his parents. "I'll go to the first floor and finish the enemies. Dad, after the chaos, you can follow up."
TING!
The elevator doors opened.
Luke stepped out.
Everyone on the ground floor turned to look at him—and then the remaining Winter Soldiers charged.
Luke raised his hands, and cosmic force erupted from his body. Fire ignited in his palms as he aimed at the remaining soldiers.
Then—
BOOM!
Flames engulfed all three of them… until nothing remained.
"WHAT?! Just like that?!" Tony was shocked.
Howard knew Luke was strong—but not this strong.
Even Bucky, who had just fought them, seemed petrified by what he had witnessed.
"Now, now… don't stare at me like that," Luke said casually. "Contact the security personnel and clean up the mess. We still have unfinished business with the snake hiding in the dark."
"They've already attacked us twice. I'm not going to let them attack a third time."
While the Stark Industries security personnel cleaned up the bodies, the family—along with Bucky—held a meeting.
"Dad, Bucky, me, Drake, and Chris will go to Xavier Academy. I'll ask for his help to locate Hydra across the U.S. Then we'll purge them one by one," said Luke.
"Can the four of you handle all those enemies?" Maria asked.
"Yes, Mom," Luke replied. "But I'll borrow some of the guards from the company. Let's create more serum and inject them with it. I don't want them dying while helping us clean this mess."
The three Stark boys began producing the serum. The process took only a short amount of time since they already had the formula and the perfect combination.
By morning, they injected the security guards. The guards stayed at the villa, while Luke and Bucky left for Xavier Academy.
The car entered the campus.
Many students grew curious about the arrival. When Luke stepped out, Storm, Jean, Logan, and the others saw him—and were surprised.
"Zup. Long time no see, old man," Luke said to Logan.
"LUKE!!"
Jean ran straight into Luke's arms.
The others were shocked by what she did.
In this timeline, Jean and Scott weren't that close. Jean spent most of her time in her psychic realm, eliminating the remnants of Apocalypse alongside Luke. Because of that, she had grown closer to him—more connected.
"I'm here to ask the Professor for help. Would you mind guiding me inside?" Luke asked.
The group hesitated, unsure what to do—
Then Xavier's voice echoed in their minds.
"Go ahead. Guide him here."