In Marvel With My Gacha System

Chapter 26: The Retaliation (and the Really Bad Date) – Or, "So, They Sent a Super-Assassin, and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt... and a New Power."

The tranquil hum of a quiet evening in Ghannouch, Tunisia, was a welcome reprieve from the constant, high-stakes chaos of Avenger life. Adam and Wanda, nestled in a small, charming restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Gabes, were attempting something novel for them: a date. No world-ending threats, no sassy AIs, just good food, the gentle murmur of the sea, and the flickering candlelight. Adam had even (mostly) resisted the urge to conjure a spontaneous mariachi band from Newt's Suitcase.

' This is nice. Very nice. Peaceful. Almost too peaceful. My meta-sense is tingling. That's never a good sign. Usually means someone's about to try and kill me. Or at least demand I explain the intricacies of a magically appearing cheesecake. Either way, my quiet dinner is probably about to be ruined. Figures. '

Just as Wanda was laughing at one of his absurd anecdotes about Clint Barton's aversion to doing laundry, a flicker caught Adam's eye. A figure, impossibly fast, moved through the shadows of the alley across the street. Clad in dark, tactical gear, utterly silent, and radiating a distinct aura of professional menace. This wasn't a local mugger. This was HYDRA. And they were not happy about the memes.

"Company's here," Adam muttered, subtly nudging Wanda's foot under the table. "Looks like someone didn't appreciate the cat videos."

Wanda's eyes narrowed, a faint red glow beginning to emanate from her hands. "An assassin?"

"Probably. And a very dedicated one, if they followed us all the way to Ghannouch for dinner," Adam replied, already planning. "Don't worry. I've got this. This is more my kind of 'fight' anyway."

The assassin, a woman with cold, unblinking eyes and a sleek, silent knife, burst from the alley. Her target was clearly Adam. She moved with frightening speed, a blur of motion intended to end things swiftly and silently.

Adam didn't move from his seat. As she lunged, her knife aimed for his throat, he subtly activated his Portable Hole. Just as her foot landed on the ground beside their table, the patch of black cloth shimmered into an inky void. Her foot, mid-stride, vanished. She stumbled, momentum carrying her forward, but her leg was now suspended in an extradimensional space. She landed awkwardly, sprawling across the table, sending plates, silverware, and their half-eaten tagine flying.

"Whoops! Watch your step, darling," Adam chirped, pulling the Portable Hole patch away. The assassin's leg reappeared, but she was now tangled in tablecloth, covered in couscous and the remains of their dinner.

She scrambled up, snarling, her eyes blazing with fury. She drew a second knife, throwing it with pinpoint accuracy. Adam didn't even flinch. He used his Universal Remote. The knife, mid-air, suddenly rewound itself, flying backward into the assassin's hand. She stared at it, bewildered.

"Sorry, no throwing knives during dinner," Adam explained. "Terrible etiquette." He then pressed "Fast-Forward" on her, making her arm rapidly repeat the throwing motion, sending the knife flying, only for it to be instantly rewound back into her hand. She was caught in a frustrating, absurd loop, her eyes wide with confusion and growing panic.

"What… what is this sorcery?!" she hissed, finally breaking free of the temporal loop by sheer force of will, but looking deeply unsettled.

"It's called 'mildly inconvenient physics,' and it's a specialty," Adam replied, standing up. Wanda was now carefully moving civilians away, her hands glowing faintly. "Look, lady, I get it. Your bosses are mad. But ruining a perfectly good date? That's just unprofessional."

The assassin lunged again, but Adam was ready. He subtly activated his King's Haki, a focused, precise burst aimed directly at her. He didn't want to put her to sleep entirely, just… disrupt her. Her movements, already precise, became erratic. She stumbled again, her foot catching on a chair, sending her spinning into a nearby fruit stand. Oranges and apples cascaded around her as she lay tangled in a net of fruit.

Adam approached her, a hand extended. "Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way: you tell me who sent you, what their next move is, and then you take a really long, well-deserved nap. The hard way: I make your underwear disappear, turn you bright pink, and you'll spend the rest of your life explaining why you're glowing and covered in fruit, while HYDRA disowns you for being utterly incompetent."

The assassin, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and utter bewilderment, seemed to genuinely consider the underwear option. She had faced hardened soldiers, super-spies, and even rampaging monsters. But a man who made her weapons vanish, her actions rewind, and her legs disappear into thin air, all while calmly discussing dinner etiquette? This was beyond her training.

"Strucker… Baron Strucker… he wants you neutralized… for the digital attacks…" she choked out, her pride clearly shattered. "He says… you are… an abomination to… order…"

"Order? I'm the epitome of order!" Adam scoffed. "Chaotic order, maybe. But order nonetheless. And you can tell Strucker his next Rickroll is personally dedicated to him."

He then subtly deployed a precise burst of King's Haki, finally putting her to sleep. She slumped into the pile of fruit, snoring softly.

Wanda returned, a small smile on her face. "You did not use your tactical nuke."

"Please! That's for really bad dates," Adam joked. "Besides, she was just a grunt. Didn't deserve to be vaporized. Humiliated? Absolutely. Vaporized? Maybe later, for a main villain. Speaking of which, this was a perfectly good date, until a super-assassin decided to ruin it. Now, where were we? Ah yes, Clint's laundry habits."

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: Plot Event: Retaliation Thwarted. Special Reward Unlocked: King's Haki Advancement! ]

Adam felt a surge of energy, a new depth to his primary power.

[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: [Rare Skill Card] Enhanced Hypnosis (Subtle Mental Suggestion) acquired! This refines King's Haki, allowing for precise, non-sleep-inducing mental influence on non-powered individuals. Can subtly nudge thoughts, create minor distractions, or implant temporary, harmless suggestions. (Recipient: Adam's Skill List). ]

' Enhanced Hypnosis! Oh, this is going to be so much fun. No more accidental naps for Cap. Now I can just make people forget why they walked into a room. Or subtly suggest they give me their last piece of chocolate. The possibilities for low-grade, everyday chaos are endless! And for high-level espionage, too, I suppose. '

He smiled, looking at Wanda. "Well, that was exciting. Maybe next time we stick to takeout? Less chance of assassins covered in hummus."

Wanda chuckled, a warm sound. "Perhaps. But it was… memorable. Like everything with you, Adam." She took his hand. "And you are safe. That is what matters."

Adam squeezed her hand. The date might have been ruined, but he'd gained a new power, reinforced his bond with Wanda, and sent a clear message to HYDRA: their attempts at retaliation would only lead to more bewildering humiliation. And maybe, just maybe, a new power that would make their lives even more miserable.

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