6000 words today, hope you enjoyed reading.
The hallucinations of the other people are not described in detail.
This mainly describes Tony and the captain.
The rest can fill in the blanks themselves.
The campfire gradually died down, and the flickering orange-red flames slowly dimmed.
The group, who had been busy setting up their camp and chatting idly during the day, gradually relaxed. Exhaustion began to creep in, and the thought of the unknown tomorrow filled everyone with complex emotions. No one wanted to linger and chat any longer; they all got up to say goodbye and turned back to their houses to wash up and rest.
The sounds of people gradually subsided in the open space, and the lively atmosphere returned to complete silence.
Finally, a few scattered footsteps faded into the distance, and the entire camp fell silent, leaving only the soft rustling of the evening breeze across the grass, accompanied by the delicate chirping of insects from the distant farms and woods—a scene of gentle tranquility.
Lynn stood quietly, his gaze gently falling on Natasha beside him, a clear hint of pity hidden in his eyes.
During the day, everyone else was relaxing and resting, but Natasha always carried a subtle tension. Others might have been expectant, apprehensive, or curious, but she harbored the deepest and heaviest shadow in her heart. Black Widow's life was one of training, control, and being deprived of choices; the wounds and despair etched into her bones were far heavier than anyone else's.
Lynn spoke softly, his voice low and gentle, exceptionally clear in the quiet night. " Natasha, I don't know how much you've truly let go of your past."
"The illusion Wanda is going to create for you tomorrow will most likely touch your deepest wounds, and the process will definitely be very painful."
He lowered his eyes slightly, his tone filled with genuine worry and expectation. "But I hope you can pull through. You've long since severed ties with that dark past. You're no longer that helpless agent. You now possess the power to break free from the past, and you deserve a better, more stable future."
Natasha looked up at the young man gazing at her tenderly. The night was hazy, and starlight fell on Lynn's face, so gentle that it could soothe the hardships and trials of her life.
She smiled gently at Lynn, a smile clean and resolute, devoid of any pretense of hardness, leaving only utter softness and peace. "Don't worry, Lynn."
"I can't guarantee that I've completely let go of the past. Those scars are really deep, and they can't be completely erased in a short time."
She leaned closer, her eyes gentle and tender, her words sincere. "But having you now is enough. You can't be by my side to protect me forever; my own growth is something I must complete."
"As long as you're still by my side, you're that ray of light, and even the deepest despair can never completely destroy me."
As soon as she finished speaking, Natasha tiptoed and kissed Lynn's lips.
The evening breeze suddenly stopped, and the night was gentle and tender. Her soft lips carried a sweetness and warmth that was unique to her.
Lynn's body stiffened slightly, and the restraint in her heart quietly loosened at this moment, her breathing gradually becoming rapid.
The surrounding tranquil night and the distant chirping of insects in the forest were all shut out, leaving only Natasha's warmth and presence.
Just a second before he was about to completely lose control, Natasha suddenly released her grip on his arm and took a half-step back.
A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes, her eyebrows curving upwards, the tenderness and affection from before replaced by a lively and playful air. "I'm going to sleep."
"I need to get plenty of rest and prepare for the 'despair' that's coming tomorrow. Goodnight, Lin."
After saying that, she didn't linger. She turned around and walked lightly towards her own house, her back view graceful and unrestrained, with a hint of triumphant agility.
Lynn stood there, watching her calm departure, shook his head helplessly, and a faint smile played on his lips.
He raised a hand and gently rubbed his temples, muttering to himself with a hint of helpless exasperation, "Tsk, this instinctive reaction is really hard to control. I'll remember this; I must punish her properly after we deal with Ultron. Hmm, I'll make her give me a child."
As my emotions calmed down a bit, Wanda's words from earlier that day came back to mind.
Chaos Magic was never a fully controlled illusion; it was merely a trigger.
It is responsible for stirring up the deepest fears, regrets, resentments, and despair hidden in everyone's heart, and all the subsequent plots, developments, and endings of the illusion are all autonomously deduced and freely developed by each person's subconscious.
Lynn looked up at the dark night sky, where starlight was scattered. He murmured to himself, his voice tinged with apprehension, "I hope tomorrow's result won't be too bad."
He knew very well the plot of the original timeline. After seeing Wanda's vision, the entire Avengers would fall into a prolonged mental breakdown, unable to mobilize their peak combat power, and their condition would decline significantly, greatly reducing their combat strength.
Ultimately, he was just a transmigrator who wanted to live a peaceful life and take a Buddhist approach to life. He only wanted to avoid crises and protect the people around him, and he never intended to do anything proactively.
"This damn world! What did I do wrong? I changed everything, so why am I being targeted like this?"
He sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness, "Hopefully Ultron can stay quiet for a few more days and not cause trouble when everyone is at their lowest point."
"Otherwise, I'll have to do it myself."
A gentle night breeze blew by, scattering the whispers; the night was deep and still.
The next day at dawn.
The first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, illuminating the entire farm and dispelling the chill of the night. The chirping of birds in the woods was lively and clear, rising and falling, breaking the stillness of the night and slowly waking the sleeping camp.
Lynn was awakened by the cheerful chirping of birds outside her window.
He got up, quickly washed up, dressed, and pushed open the door. The fresh morning breeze carrying the unique clean scent of the mountains and fields greeted him.
Everyone was already seated at the dining table in the center of the camp.
Unlike yesterday's relaxed and lively atmosphere, everyone looked listless, with faint bloodshot eyes, slouching and weary, their brows furrowed with an overwhelming sense of fatigue and unease.
Clearly, no one could truly relax and get a good night's sleep. Everyone was speculating, imagining, and anticipating the "desperate ordeal." The unknown fear was the most tormenting, keeping everyone on edge all night.
Seeing the listless and anxious looks on everyone's faces, Lynn smiled faintly, walked forward slowly, and teased in a lighthearted tone, "Looks like you guys were really looking forward to the despair I was talking about, and you didn't sleep well all night, did you?"
Upon hearing this, Tony immediately curled his lip, his face showing both impatience and helplessness as he broke the silence. "Don't just stand here and talk nonsense without understanding the situation. Stop with the joking around."
"Everyone's been kept in suspense all night, wondering what kind of torturous tricks you're going to pull. Who could sleep soundly?"
He raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples and continued to complain, "I tossed and turned in bed last night, imagining countless possibilities. My brain is practically fried. Hurry up and come eat. If we finish early, we can get started. The sooner it's over, the sooner we're free. Don't keep us hanging on like this."
Lynn walked to the only empty seat at the table, shrugged helplessly, and smiled calmly, "You guys are just too impatient and don't know how to treat yourselves well."
"A good night's rest would have given you plenty of energy, but you stayed up all night overthinking. Let me warn you in advance: after what happened today, you won't get a good night's sleep for at least the next three to five days."
After saying that, he casually picked up a sandwich from the table and began to eat it slowly and deliberately, his expression relaxed and calm, showing none of the unease and anxiety of the others.
Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, everyone knew that further questioning would not yield any answers. They could only suppress their anxiety, lower their heads in silence, and quietly eat their breakfast.
The farm was exceptionally peaceful and tranquil in the early morning.
A gentle breeze ripples across the green grass, while in the distance, the verdant mountains gleam. The soft morning light bathes the vast wilderness. The air is fresh and pure, free from urban exhaust fumes and noise, filled only with the natural scent of grass and earth. Birdsong echoes through the woods, rustling through the leaves, mingling with the soft sounds of chewing at the table—a scene of tranquility and peaceful serenity.
No one could have imagined that in this peaceful and gentle mountain wilderness, everyone was about to face an extreme despair that would overturn their mindset and crush them all.
The simple breakfast ended quickly.
Everyone spontaneously cleared the table and stood quietly in the open space, their expressions solemn, already prepared.
Lynn raised his hand to signal everyone to wait where they were, then turned and walked to the side, waving to Wanda who was standing quietly not far away.
Wanda walked slowly towards them, her expression serene.
"You don't need to deliberately guide the plot. You just need to implant the core illusion and emotional triggers, amplifying their deepest fears, feelings of helplessness, and regrets. Let their subconscious freely deduce and develop everything that follows."
"What I want is not deliberately created suffering, but their most genuine and instinctive despair, to let them fully experience what it means to be powerless and helpless."
He paused, his tone becoming increasingly serious, adding the crucial element of maintaining a proper balance, "When implanting the illusion, remember to hold back a little."
"Each of these people harbors psychological flaws, big or small, and I need to ensure they are always combat-ready. You will stay by their side and observe them in real time. If anyone is on the verge of a breakdown, immediately help them break free from their illusions."
"We must maintain sufficient fighting strength to guard against Ultron suddenly appearing and causing chaos."
Wanda nodded slightly, her tone calm. "Understood. I will control the overall intensity, but I can't control the development in real time. However, I will keep an eye on their condition and make sure nothing happens to them."
"Okay." Lynn nodded in relief.
He turned and walked back to the center of the open space, looking at the group of people who were already fully prepared and solemn. His voice was calm and clear, echoing throughout the open space. "Are you all ready?"
"The despair you've been craving all night is about to hit you head-on."
"If everything is ready, I'll have Wanda begin."
The open space was completely silent; no one made a sound, and no one retreated.
After a few seconds of silence, Steve spoke first, his tone calm and firm, his gaze open and resolute. "The fact that we're standing here means we completely trust your plans."
"No need for further explanation, let's get started. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get back on track and focus all our efforts on resolving Ultron's problem."
Upon hearing this, Lynn smiled faintly and turned to Wanda beside her, "Follow the instructions on the note. Remember, keep a close eye on their condition throughout, and act within their capabilities."
After giving his explanation, he walked over to Hawkeye, who was standing to the side.
" Barton."
Clint glanced at him sideways, his expression calm.
"Your heart is steadfast enough; there's no need for you to experience this illusion with them."
Lynn said calmly, "I believe that before you die, everything you care about, everything you desperately protect, will not be easily harmed."
"So you don't need to get involved. Just stay on the sidelines and keep watch to prevent any accidents from happening."
Without asking any further questions, Clint solemnly nodded in agreement. With a swift movement, he climbed up a tall, lush ancient tree next to him, sat firmly on a branch, and had a wide view of the entire open space. He quietly observed and awaited orders.
Everything is ready.
Lynn turned his head and nodded slightly to Wanda below.
The next moment, Wanda's eyes darkened slightly.
A delicate, translucent crimson Chaos Magic quietly bloomed from her body, silently spreading across the entire open space. There were no violent energy fluctuations, no sharp momentum; it was extremely gentle, yet all-pervasive, quietly infiltrating the depths of everyone's consciousness through the air.
Tony Stark was the first to fall into the illusion and be pulled into a subconscious Extremis.
The light before my eyes suddenly distorted, shattered, and reformed.
One second it was a gentle breeze in the mountains and green grass, the next second, the ear-piercing sound of air being torn apart, the roar of cannons, and the sound of mechs exploding suddenly pierced the eardrums. The view changed instantly, with billowing smoke and dust filling the sky, tall buildings broken and leaning, and streets full of devastation.
The familiar scene of despair instantly overwhelmed Tony completely.
This is the Battle of New York.
It was the most unforgettable battlefield of his life, the one he dared not look back on, and the source of his nightmares that kept him awake in the dead of night.
The initial plot was exactly the same as his past memories.
The Chitauri Army surged out of the wormhole, causing planes to crash, buildings to collapse, and cities to suffer, with smoke billowing over New York City. The Avengers fought side by side, each fulfilling their role, desperately trying to stop the alien invaders and protect the city and millions of civilians beneath their feet.
Steve leads the ground clearing operation, stabilizing the battlefield defenses; Thor smashes through the rift in mid-air, suppressing the enemy's offensive; Banner transforms into the Hulk, tearing apart giant beasts and crushing the enemy; Natasha stabilizes the space equipment, preparing to close the wormhole.
Tony himself, piloting his Iron Man Armor, weaved through a hail of bullets and charged into battle time and again, enduring the relentless onslaught of the alien army.
The battle was fierce and intense, yet proceeded in an orderly manner, with everything moving towards victory.
Just as they remembered, they fought with all their might and finally stabilized the situation, intending to completely close the wormhole and end this catastrophe.
Tony hovered among the clouds high in the sky, his armor and cannons poised to fire, and the tension in his heart finally eased slightly.
He thought the ending would be the same as before, a close call but no real danger.
Just as they were about to shut down the machine, the clouds in the sky suddenly churned and burst open, and a huge, boundless shadow enveloped the entire New York sky.
A deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth, a fierce wind raged, and dust filled the sky.
A colossal spaceship, far larger and more sinister Chitauri Mothership, was forcibly wedged at the wormhole exit, slowly emerging from the void and hovering overwhelmingly above the New York sky.
The warship was entirely black and cold, its metallic texture chilling to the bone, covered with menacing weapon turrets, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
At the very top of the warship, on the supreme throne, sat a colossal and imposing figure.
The man's face was indistinct, shrouded in deep shadow, with only a pair of cold, indifferent eyes looking down at the battlefield below.
Simply sitting here exudes an overwhelming sense of oppression, as if a god who controls the life and death of all things is indifferently watching over the ants-like beings.
All sounds in the world Oblivion.
The entire New York battlefield fell into a deathly silence.
Tony hovered in mid-air, his armor thrusters slightly halting. A chilling feeling instantly surged through him, and an overwhelming sense of panic and helplessness gripped his heart.
The unknown, the terrifying, the overwhelming gap—it's all there.
The next second, the blurry giant on the throne merely raised his hand and waved it.
There were no earth-shattering moves, no complicated attacks, only a simple yet domineering torrent of energy that instantly tore through the air and struck.
Bang--!
Before Tony could even react, the hard alloy armor deformed and exploded, sending countless fragments flying everywhere.
The immense impact instantly pierced through his body, and he was slammed down like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ruined street. His chest ached terribly, his blood surged, and even breathing was excruciatingly painful.
The armor was destroyed, and the combat capability was completely lost.
He struggled to support himself on the wrecked mech, raising his head with difficulty to watch the supreme black figure looking down at the Avengers below.
The crushing victory, without a doubt, has begun.
Steve charged forward immediately, shield in hand, leaping into the air, attempting to shoulder everyone's hopes and halt the insurmountable darkness. But the sturdy Vibranium Shield shattered instantly under the enemy's attack.
The giant raised his hand and pressed down lightly, unleashing a tremendous force.
Steve's charge was abruptly cut off, and he was slammed to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth. His body crashed heavily into the ruins, unable to rise again.
"Team leader!"
Tony's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart tightened instantly.
The next moment, despair unfolded one after another.
Thor, wielding Mjolnir, stormed through the air with overwhelming force, attempting to use his divine power to resist the giant. However, the countless bolts of lightning that rained down on the giant failed to even inflict any damage.
The lightning Oblivion instantly, Mjolnir flew out of Thor's hand. Thor screamed as his body flew backward, crashing heavily onto the steps below the throne, and fell silent.
The Hulk, the green giant, swelled to enormous size, roaring as he charged forward with earth-shattering force. But faced with such an overwhelming disparity, all brute force seemed pale and laughable.
The rampaging Hulk was instantly and firmly suppressed beneath the throne, unable to move, and finally his body went limp, ceasing all struggle.
Natasha, Clint, Ivan...
Familiar figures, comrades-in-arms who had fought side by side through life and death, fell one after another before Tony's eyes.
There was no chance of turning the tide, no room for resistance.
Each attack was accompanied by the fall of a figure.
Blood stained the cold steps before the throne.
completely annihilated.
Smoke filled the air, and the wind howled.
The vast battlefield was littered with corpses, a scene of utter devastation. Comrades who had just been fighting side by side, laughing and chatting, were now silent.
On the entire battlefield, only Tony remained, his mangled body barely supported as he stood alone amidst the ruins.
He watched helplessly as everyone rushed to their deaths for the beliefs they were protecting, and as everything he had tried his best to protect crumbled and was destroyed.
He was a genius, a tycoon, a man who mastered cutting-edge technology and was blessed by knowledge. But at this moment, all his wisdom, all his technology, all his arrogance seemed utterly ridiculous and pale.
Just as despair completely enveloped Tony, a familiar figure rushed into the battlefield.
It's Lynn.
He came alone, his figure upright, facing the insurmountable dark giant, and resolutely fought back.
Lynn managed to hold off the giants' offensive, bringing a glimmer of hope to this desolate battlefield.
A glimmer of hope for survival flashed in Tony's eyes, and the last vestiges of reason within him screamed wildly. He stared intently at the center of the battlefield, his heart filled with anticipation.
But this hope only lasted a moment before it shattered completely.
After several intense exchanges, Lynn was ultimately unable to withstand the giant's power.
A deep, resounding boom echoed through the heavens and the earth.
Lynn was struck hard and fell from the sky like a bird with broken wings, crashing heavily onto the ruins in front of Tony.
puff--
Fresh blood gushed out.
Lynn was bleeding from all seven orifices, his clothes were torn, and his breath was extremely weak, with no trace of his former composure.
Tony's pupils dilated suddenly, his mind went blank for a moment, and his blood almost froze.
He rushed forward desperately, stumbling and crawling, and knelt down on one knee. His hands trembled as he supported Lynn's cold body, his fingertips touching warm, sticky blood. A chilling fear completely consumed his mind.
Panic, helplessness, despair, and regret surged into his chest, almost suffocating him.
He was at a loss, his hands trembling, and could only hold the person in front of him tightly, his voice hoarse and dry. " Lynn... hang in there..."
Amidst the desolate ruins, Lynn, his breath faint, slowly raised his trembling hand and gently grasped Tony's cold, trembling palm.
His gaze was clear, carrying a hint of relief as well as a deep sense of regret. His voice was weak, yet each word was clear, slowly reaching Tony's ears.
"I've said it before... you are cursed by knowledge."
"You clearly... could save us all..."
Why... didn't you give it your all...?
As soon as he finished speaking, his hand slowly fell to his sides, his eyes closed, and he remained silent.
A fierce wind swept across the ruins, stirring up clouds of dust, like a silent lament.
Tony knelt amidst the blood-soaked ruins, holding the utterly silent Lynn, his only sound the heavy, desperate breathing of his own.
Alone, facing the entire battlefield, facing boundless despair.
Helplessness and regret shattered his arrogance and pride at that moment.
Just as he was about to break down, the ruins of New York before him began to crumble inch by inch, turning into a sky full of scarlet fragments, dragging him back to that tranquil farm meadow.
Tony jerked violently, his knees slamming uncontrollably into the grass, and he curled up into a ball.
He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently, each breath accompanied by a tremor.
Images of his fallen ally on the throne steps, Lynn bleeding from all seven orifices and his drooping hand, kept flashing before his eyes, along with the question that echoed in his mind again and again: Why didn't you give it your all?
The images overlapped in his mind, and he turned his head away, letting out two suppressed coughs.
After a long while, he finally loosened his grip on the soil, his fingertips trembling slightly, and pressed his hand firmly against the spot where the reactor had been.
His gaze was unfocused and unfocused for a long time. After a while, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at Wanda, who was standing quietly not far away, and then looked at Lynn in the distance.
His voice was hoarse and dry, with a lingering tremor, lacking his usual eloquence, only heavy with weariness. "Your description of experiencing despair truly is despairing."