**
Link's training results were surprisingly effective. For several consecutive days, he trained alone in the outskirts, occasionally checking on Wanda and Pietro, the sibling duo. He also crafted nano-battlesuits for them. Since he was the one who brought them back, it was only natural for Link to take responsibility for their progress. None of the other Avengers objected, as the two were still young.
However, their abilities were exceptionally remarkable, making their addition to the Avengers a major advantage.
Pietro's strength lay in his extraordinary speed. Link designed his suit in the style of the "Project Yasuo" skin, complete with a katana. In addition to speed training, Link introduced swordsmanship into Pietro's regimen. With his high velocity, using a blade would yield significant destructive power, reducing the chance of him injuring himself by relying solely on punches.
Pietro still struggled with mastering his speed, which Link knew had to be addressed. Though Link had prevented Ultron's emergence, ensuring Pietro wouldn't have to sacrifice himself to save anyone from a bullet, his reaction to danger still lacked precision. For someone as fast as Pietro, bullets should seem painfully slow, so why rely on physical intervention?
Such recklessness highlighted his lack of self-awareness regarding his speed. This deficiency, Link thought, needed correction immediately.
The katana was designed for precision and cutting, perfectly complementing Pietro's agility. It embodied the idea that "speed trumps all."
As for Wanda's suit, Link pondered for a long time before deciding on the design inspired by the "Katarina" skin. Given the limited options within the "Project" skin line that fit her, and Link's personal distaste for her movie attire, he opted to create a more unified style. With his and Jessica's suits already sharing this theme, adding the twins ensured cohesion. Jessica's secret role in the Avengers was still unknown, but Link foresaw her joining the team officially someday.
Wanda, of course, wouldn't wield daggers like Katarina. The suit's primary focus was to enhance her agility and flexibility, crucial for her flight and magic usage. However, without the guidance of a witch, like Agatha Harkness, Wanda lacked a true magical mentor. Link had no idea how to find Agatha, or even if he should. If they ever crossed paths, convincing her to teach Wanda would be another challenge altogether.
For now, Link set aside those concerns and focused on helping Wanda master the basics.
Link presented the twins with their nano-battlesuits, which they adored. Aside from the suits, he emphasized the importance of education. Due to their tragic past and the turmoil of war, their formal education had been severely neglected. Flying the Quinjet, for example, was beyond their current skill set, so their immediate focus was to learn and grow.
He had no plans to take them to the space headquarters just yet. That environment wouldn't allow them to maximize their abilities. Instead, Natasha and Clint remained at the Earth base, where their strength was needed. The twins, too, could become permanent members stationed there to bolster its defenses.
The twins loved their new suits and, under Link's guidance, adjusted their training regimens accordingly. Pietro continued honing his speed while becoming familiar with the katana. Part of his training involved dodging bullets to improve his speed perception. The vibranium suit was bulletproof, so Link fired shots at him, forcing Pietro to react at top speed.
Meanwhile, Wanda's training centered around three core skills: destruction, control, and mobility.
Destruction was the easiest; her raw power made it a matter of channeling her abilities. Even a simple energy blast could cause significant damage, akin to a basic energy gun. Control was slightly trickier. In *Avengers: Endgame*, Wanda briefly restrained Thanos, forcing him to order an indiscriminate bombardment. This ability needed further refinement.
The most challenging skill, however, was mobility. Wanda could fly, and her battlesuit was designed to maximize her agility in combat. While Link guided her through the basics, flying required more finesse.
Link also recognized her potential to manipulate others' minds, a skill that would become more critical later. For now, though, there were no suitable subjects for practice. He couldn't allow Wanda to meddle with people's minds for training purposes.
Thus, he limited her lessons to these foundational abilities. Once mastered, very few would stand a chance against Wanda.
...
"This is Knowhere. I am the Collector. They're coming. I need your help…"
Link listened to the incoming communication aboard the *Avenger*, then turned to Peggy. "We just received this?"
"Yes," Peggy confirmed. "After I joined, I learned that this ship was purchased from a being known as the Collector."
"Once the transmission came in, I alerted you immediately."
Link initiated the call to the Collector.
"Link, is that you?" The Collector's voice sounded frantic but intact.
"What's going on over there?" Link inquired.
"They're looking for the Orb. You know what I mean."
"Of course I do, but no one knows I sold it to you. So, why the panic?"
"It's Ronan. Ronan the Accuser, a Kree. He's dispatched a team to retrieve the Orb, and they clashed with a Ravager named Star-Lord. Neither side has it yet."
"They're both searching."
"Get to the point," Link interrupted. He had the gist now—*Guardians of the Galaxy* was kicking off, though it appeared the storyline had diverged. The Orb, or Power Stone, was nowhere to be found. Link wasn't particularly worried about Star-Lord's team; after all, their combat strength was limited.
"My slave, the one you met before—she betrayed me and stole a ship," the Collector finally admitted.
Link sighed. Didn't this guy have any way to control his own people?
If the Collector was still alive, the runaway would be captured soon enough. She knew about the Power Stone, and she had seen it when Link visited the Collector's vault.
Link sighed. "I understand. I'll bring a team over as soon as possible. But don't forget, you'll owe me for this."
"You'll be rewarded handsomely, I promise," the Collector quickly reassured.
After cutting the call, Link turned to Peggy. "Looks like our plans just changed."
(End of Chapter)