320 What Do You Fight For?

The once-chaotic battlefield suddenly fell silent.

The Scarlet Witch's desperate struggle had come to an abrupt end—cut short by the words of Kagura.

Only the Hulk, still lost in his rage, continued smashing and tearing through the battered mechanical cityscape.

Let's spare a brief moment of sympathy for Ultron...

"...Huh?"

Tears shimmered in Wanda's eyes, her expression a mixture of disbelief and a desperate yearning for hope.

"Ask... for your help? But... but if I don't kill you, Ultron will kill my brother!"

"Calm down, Miss Wanda." Kagura gently placed a hand on her trembling shoulder.

"First of all—you and your brother, Pietro—you're not truly loyal to Ultron, are you? You don't really hate humanity or this planet."

"Ultron's goal is the total annihilation of human civilization. He wants to turn Earth into his own mechanical factory, then expand out into the universe, bringing about a true Age of Machines."

Wanda took a shaky breath and composed herself before speaking again.

"When we realized Ultron's true intentions, it was already too late. My brother and I—of course we stand with humanity."

"In that case," Kagura said with a gentle smile, "you're not my enemy anymore. Let's fight Ultron together."

"The Avengers aren't the kind of tyrannical global force you might think we are. Mr. Stark has already repented—he even came to hate himself for ever being an arms dealer."

"No... but... I still can't trust you." Wanda hesitated, stepping back as if trying to put distance between herself and Kagura.

"This world has already taken so much from me. If I disobey Ultron, Pietro will die. He's all I have left!"

Her voice cracked with emotion.

"I don't know what kind of lives you 'heroes' lead, or what the Avengers really stand for—or even who you are! All I know is that I can't lose my brother!"

Scarlet energy began to gather around her again. As Wanda's emotions surged, so too did the chaotic magic she wielded.

"Even if Stark regrets what he did, my parents... my home... they're never coming back! And now, under the name of some righteous cause, you're going to take my brother from me too?!"

"That's how it always is! You people—these so-called 'big heroes'—you're all liars! You say you're saving people, saving the world, but it's all for yourselves, isn't it?!"

Her crimson eyes blazed as she shouted at Kagura.

"HYDRA lied! Ultron lied! And now you—you're lying too! Everyone just wants to use me! I won't let you! I won't—I won't—I won't!"

Before she could finish, Kagura suddenly stepped forward and wrapped Wanda Maximoff in a tight, gentle hug.

"...Huh?"

Wanda's red eyes widened in shock, her pupils trembling as her mind struggled to process what had just happened.

The fresh, faintly sweet scent of the silver-haired girl filled Wanda's senses, and with it, the chaos inside her heart began to settle.

So soft...

A simple, involuntary thought popped into Wanda's mind.

This girl—this warrior who had just taken on both her and the Hulk—was slender, delicate, and warm... like any ordinary girl.

So warm...

The girl who had unleashed freezing, blade-like attacks... her embrace felt so full of comfort.

"Miss Wanda," Kagura whispered gently by her ear, "I'm not lying. If you're willing to stand with me, I promise—your brother will be safe. I told you before: saving Pietro is my goal too."

Her breath tickled Wanda's ear as she spoke, her voice sweet and full of kindness—like it could melt a frozen heart.

"But... I can't believe it..." Wanda's voice cracked with sobs.

"No one... no one in this world has ever shown me kindness. Not truly. Everyone's always cold... cruel... The only warmth I've ever known was my brother's."

Kagura stroked Wanda's long hair and said softly,

"You're right. This world isn't perfect. It's full of lies, pain, loss, and cruelty…"

"Maybe the hero you meet was once an arrogant, selfish businessman."

"Maybe the person who claims they'll help you get revenge turns out to be a mad scientist."

"Maybe the one who freed you from your prison... is actually a villain who wants to destroy the world."

"But even so, Miss Wanda—that's no reason to shut yourself off forever. No reason to stop trusting completely."

"This world may not be beautiful... but we can change it."

"Not because someone orders us to, not because of sweet-talking or threats. But by our own will. You have that power—to reshape this world into the one you once dreamed of."

"To reshape the world... into what I hope it could be?"

Wanda's tearful eyes still shimmered, but deep within her gaze, a long-extinguished flame flickered back to life.

"That's right. No deals. No strings attached. Just your will—your power. Fight for your own future, and change this world with your own hands."

Kagura gently pulled back and wiped away the tears on Wanda's cheeks. "That's what I'm doing. And I believe that's what any true hero should do."

"Yeah... I think..." Wanda nodded softly, looking down in thought. "First—I want to save my brother. No matter what, I won't lose him."

"But this time... Yes. This time, I'll do it with my own will, in my own way."

She lifted her head, the Scarlet Witch once more, but no longer consumed by despair.

"I won't be Ultron's puppet anymore. He's wrong—and I'll fight him. I'll defeat him! Beautiful silver-haired lady, my powers may not be enough... so will you fight alongside me?"

"Of course!" Kagura tilted her head with a bright, sweet smile. "If you want, from now on—you're one of the Avengers."

"Hmm..." Wanda paused. "Actually... maybe not the Avengers. I'm still not a huge fan of that team."

"That's fine." Kagura laughed and patted Wanda's shoulder. "In that case—welcome to the Griffin Security Organization!"

"Griffin?"

"Haha! I'll explain later. First—we've got to save your brother. And after that, we're going to destroy that pompous, self-proclaimed god-tier AI once and for all!"