Marvel : The great sage

Hydra Fortress – The Runway

The deafening roar of the Valkyrie's engines echoed through the hangar, its thrusters kicking up a whirlwind of dust and debris. The massive aircraft began to move, its colossal wings unfolding as it prepared for takeoff.

Schmidt was already aboard, his laughter carried by the wind. "Too late, Captain Rogers!"

But Steve and Alex were not about to let him escape.

They sprinted toward the runway, dodging debris and gunfire. Explosions rocked the hangar behind them, but they didn't slow down.

Just ahead, a Hydra jeep screeched to a halt.

Peggy Carter was in the driver's seat, gripping the wheel tightly, her expression determined. Colonel Phillips sat beside her, barking orders into a radio.

"Get in!" Peggy shouted.

Alex and Steve didn't hesitate—they leaped into the back of the jeep.

Peggy floored the gas, tires screeching as they sped down the runway. The Valkyrie was picking up speed, mere seconds from lifting off.

Colonel Phillips growled, "Dammit, Rogers, you two better stop that plane, or I'll be writing your obituaries myself!"

Steve didn't even look back. "We got this, sir."

Alex's eyes flickered toward Peggy. There was something he had to do before it was too late.

---

A Moment Before the Storm

The jeep swerved to avoid wreckage, but Alex didn't notice.

His focus was on Peggy.

"Peggy," he said over the roar of the engine.

She glanced at him, her blue eyes sharp but filled with something else—concern, maybe something more.

"You better not be about to say goodbye," she said.

Alex chuckled softly. "No. Just… I don't want to leave things unsaid."

Peggy's grip on the wheel tightened. "Then say it."

Alex leaned in slightly. "After this—when we win—I owe you a dance."

Peggy's lips parted slightly in surprise before she let out a breathless chuckle. "Is that so?"

Alex smirked. "Yeah. And I don't break promises."

Peggy looked at him for a long moment, then, with a sudden burst of confidence, she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him.

It was brief—urgent but filled with unspoken feelings.

As she pulled back, she whispered, "You better keep that promise, Rogers."

Alex grinned. "Wouldn't dream of missing it."

Steve, watching from the side, smirked. "About time."

Colonel Phillips grunted, "For god's sake, focus!"

The Valkyrie was nearly airborne.

"Now or never!" Peggy shouted.

Alex and Steve leaped from the jeep, landing on the aircraft's loading ramp just before it lifted off.

The final battle was about to begin.

Inside the Valkyrie – The Final Confrontation

The interior of the Valkyrie was massive—its metal framework humming with energy, powered by the glowing Tesseract-fueled warheads lining the bay. The aircraft trembled as it climbed higher, slicing through the sky like a predator ready to strike.

Alex and Steve landed hard on the metal ramp, barely keeping their footing as the wind howled around them. The moment their boots hit the floor, they were met with gunfire.

⌈ Hostile forces detected. Engaging countermeasures. ⌋

Alex moved first, dodging the bullets with unnatural precision, weaving between shots like he could see them before they were fired. He grabbed a Hydra soldier, twisted his arm behind his back, and slammed him into the wall.

Steve, just as relentless, plowed through the guards, his shield deflecting bullets before he threw it, knocking three men down in one go.

The last guard tried to run—Alex caught him by the collar and sent him tumbling with a well-placed punch.

And then, they saw him.

Johann Schmidt.

Standing at the far end of the chamber, he turned to them, his face twisting into a mocking smirk.

"Impressive," Schmidt mused, stepping forward. The red hue of his monstrous face gleamed under the Tesseract's glow. "But predictable."

He reached for the controls, his fingers hovering over the release switch.

"You're too late, Rogers. Hydra will shape the future—one without weakness."

Steve stepped forward, his jaw set. "Yeah? Then let's find out if you can back that up."

Schmidt grinned. "Very well."

He lunged.

---

Captain America vs. Red Skull

Schmidt was fast.

Too fast.

He sidestepped Steve's first punch, countering with a brutal uppercut that sent Steve stumbling back. His enhanced strength was nearly equal to the Super Soldier Serum.

But Steve wasn't backing down.

He recovered instantly, spinning with his shield raised just in time to block Schmidt's next strike. The impact sent a shockwave through the air.

Schmidt grinned, pressing forward. "You fight well, Captain. But you lack vision!"

He swung again—Steve ducked, pivoted, and slammed his shield into Schmidt's ribs. The Red Skull grunted, staggering back, but barely winded.

Alex started forward, but Schmidt's glare stopped him.

"This is not your fight, twin." His voice dripped with scorn. "You are nothing more than a shadow."

Alex clenched his fists. The urge to intervene was strong.

But Steve gave him a quick look. "I got this."

Alex exhaled and stepped back.

Schmidt charged again, throwing a barrage of lightning-fast punches. Steve blocked two, dodged the third, then caught Schmidt's wrist and twisted.

A crack echoed as he drove his knee into Schmidt's stomach, sending him sprawling across the deck.

Schmidt snarled, wiping his mouth. His red, unnatural skin gleamed under the flickering lights.

"You think you can win?" he spat, standing once more. "You don't even know the true power of the Tesseract!"

Steve rolled his shoulders. "Then why don't you show me?"

Schmidt roared and attacked again.

This time, Steve met him head-on.

---

The Power of the Tesseract

The two titans clashed, trading blows with inhuman strength. Steve's discipline and training met Schmidt's ruthless aggression.

Punch. Block. Counter. Dodge.

Steve slammed his shield into Schmidt's chest, sending him flying into the control panel. Sparks erupted as Schmidt crashed against it, his hands gripping the edge for support.

But in his fury, he grabbed the Tesseract-powered container.

"Power beyond your imagination, Rogers," Schmidt sneered, lifting it high. "This is the future."

As he activated the chamber, the glow of the Tesseract intensified.

Alex and Steve shielded their eyes.

A vortex of blue light engulfed Schmidt, his screams turning into something unnatural. His entire body began disintegrating—no, not disintegrating… being pulled apart.

A swirling portal opened above him, the cosmos itself peering through.

The Red Skull's last, agonized expression burned into their minds as he was ripped from existence, pulled into the void.

And then—he was gone.

The Tesseract fell from his grasp, crashing to the floor.

For a second, everything was silent.

Then Alex muttered, "Well… that's one way to go."

---

The Mission Isn't Over

The ship lurched violently, alarms blaring. The Tesseract burned through the metal, melting the floor beneath it.

Steve's eyes widened. "It's overloading!"

They both ran forward—but it was too late.

The Tesseract fell through the hull, plummeting into the ocean below.

The energy backlash surged through the Valkyrie's systems.

The aircraft shuddered.

Steve ran to the cockpit, his voice grim. "We need to take control of this thing before it reaches the city!"

Alex followed. "Then let's do it fast!"

The final moment was approaching.