The world was in turmoil. The disappearance of Javier Sánchez, the enigmatic and powerful leader of the Golden Raven Organization, left a void that no one could fill. Governments scrambled to understand his legacy, the Golden Raven faltered in his absence, and Red Skull, the public face of the organization, struggled to maintain control.
Amidst the chaos, two powerful women, both enhanced by the Sentry Serum, found themselves on opposite sides of an inevitable conflict. Peggy Carter, once a trusted ally of Javier, now viewed as a betrayer, stood against Sinthea Schmidt, Red Skull's most loyal and deadly soldier.
Their confrontation was not just a battle of strength—it was a collision of ideals, emotions, and unresolved feelings for the man who had changed their lives forever.
The Setting: A Stormy Night in Vienna
Under a moonless sky, heavy rain lashed against the ground as thunder echoed in the distance. The abandoned ruins of an old opera house in Vienna became the stage for their confrontation. The world watched from the shadows, governments and secret organizations monitoring the fight from afar, as the two most dangerous women of their time prepared to clash.
Peggy Carter, clad in tactical gear, stood near the crumbling staircase, her eyes steely with resolve. She had betrayed Javier under false pretenses, misled by fabricated evidence. Now, guilt and a sense of justice fueled her determination to take down the Golden Raven Organization from within.
At the opposite end of the hall, Sinthea Schmidt emerged from the shadows, her presence commanding and lethal. She wore a dark, militaristic uniform, the emblem of the Golden Raven emblazoned across her chest. Her fiery red hair glistened in the rain, and her piercing eyes glowed with the power of the Sentry Serum coursing through her veins.
"You betrayed him," Sinthea said coldly, her voice cutting through the storm like a blade. "You turned against the one man who saw the best in all of us. And now you'll pay for it."
Peggy tightened her fists, stepping forward. "I was wrong about him, I admit that. But I'll never regret fighting for what's right. If you think I'll let you and your organization run rampant, you're mistaken."
The Battle Begins
Without warning, Sinthea charged at blinding speed, her fist glowing with the enhanced strength of the serum. The air cracked as she swung her arm toward Peggy, who dodged just in time, the punch shattering the marble pillar behind her into dust.
Peggy retaliated with a swift kick, aiming for Sinthea's ribs, but Sinthea caught her leg mid-air and flung her across the room like a ragdoll. Peggy crashed into a stone wall, but she quickly recovered, her own enhanced endurance absorbing much of the impact.
"You'll have to do better than that," Peggy taunted, wiping blood from her lip.
Sinthea smirked, her eyes narrowing. "Don't worry—I will."
The two women clashed again, their blows sending shockwaves through the air. Each punch was calculated, every movement precise. The Sentry Serum had turned them into more than human—faster, stronger, and nearly indestructible. Their fight was a dance of destruction, each strike leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
Strength vs. Strategy
Sinthea fought with unrelenting aggression, her attacks powerful and overwhelming. She moved like a storm, her fists and kicks creating shockwaves that cracked the floor beneath them. Peggy, on the other hand, relied on her training and experience. She dodged, parried, and countered with precision, using her environment to her advantage.
At one point, Sinthea grabbed a steel beam from the wreckage and swung it like a club, aiming to crush Peggy. Peggy ducked just in time, rolling to the side and delivering a sharp uppercut to Sinthea's jaw. The blow staggered her for a moment, but Sinthea quickly recovered, her endurance seemingly endless.
"You're strong, Carter," Sinthea admitted, her voice tinged with grudging respect. "But you'll never be strong enough to defeat me."
Peggy's eyes burned with determination. "We'll see about that."
The Turning Point
As the fight dragged on, it became clear that Sinthea's raw strength was beginning to overpower Peggy. A devastating punch to the chest sent Peggy sprawling to the ground, gasping for breath. Sinthea stood over her, her expression a mixture of triumph and disdain.
"You were never worthy of him," Sinthea said, her voice trembling with emotion. "You betrayed him, and now you'll pay for it with your life."
But as she raised her fist for the final blow, something stopped her. A memory flashed in her mind—Javier's gentle smile, the way he had believed in her when no one else had. For the first time, Sinthea hesitated, her hand trembling.
"Why can't I do it?" she whispered to herself, tears welling up in her eyes.
Peggy's Escape and Sinthea's Decision
Taking advantage of Sinthea's hesitation, Peggy scrambled to her feet, delivering a desperate punch to Sinthea's face. The blow wasn't enough to knock her out, but it gave Peggy the chance to retreat. She staggered toward the exit, her body battered but her resolve unbroken.
Before she could leave, military forces stormed the building, their guns trained on both women.
"Stand down!" one of the officers shouted.
Sinthea, still reeling from her emotional conflict, turned her gaze toward the soldiers. With a roar of fury, she unleashed her power, disarming and incapacitating the entire squad in seconds. But as more reinforcements arrived, she realized the battle was unwinnable.
With one final glance at Peggy, Sinthea whispered, "This isn't over."
She then leapt through a shattered window, disappearing into the stormy night.
The Aftermath
The military found Peggy bloodied but alive. Though she had lost the fight, she had gained something more important: a deeper understanding of Sinthea's inner turmoil. Peggy couldn't ignore the tears she had seen in her opponent's eyes or the hesitation that had saved her life.
As for Sinthea Schmidt, she fled to the shadows, grappling with her growing feelings for Javier and the guilt of having fought another woman who had cared for him.
In the end, neither woman emerged as a true victor. Their battle had only deepened the wounds left by Javier's disappearance, setting the stage for future confrontations and alliances shaped by love, betrayal, and the enduring legacy of the man who had changed their lives forever.
End of Chapter 39