Marvel: Video Game Templates!

The bar was dimly lit, a haze of cigarette smoke hanging in the air as the patrons huddled over their drinks. The steady hum of conversation mixed with the clinking of glasses, creating a low buzz that filled the room.

It was the kind of place where no one asked questions, where people came to forget about their current life, to disappear into the shadows for a while and enjoy themselves.

Maxim Novikov sat alone at a corner table, a glass of tequila in his hand. A hoodie covered his face as he relaxed, being relatively lowkey as he drank the wine and scouted the area.

The burn of the liquor was a comforting sensation, grounding him as he stared into the amber liquid. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, plans, and memories, all of it swirling together in the quiet chaos of his mind.

He hadn't slept well in weeks, always fighting, training and moving. The adrenaline that had fueled him then still lingered, making it impossible to rest.

A small television mounted on the wall behind the bar flickered, the news broadcast playing on a low volume. Maxim's eyes drifted to the screen, catching the familiar blue, red, and white shield that flashed across it.

The headline scrolled across the bottom:

"Captain America Found! Reports Confirm Steve Rogers Alive and Well."

According to the reports, it had been a month since he had been found alive and well, and was currently reintegrating into society. Maxim's grip tightened as he watched the footage of Steve Rogers, America's golden boy, a symbol of hope and justice.

Captain America was one of his or Alex's favorite Superheroes, due to his morals that very rarely ever wavered no matter the situation. In the future Civil War, Alex believed that Cap was right, and having been hunted down by Hydra and Shield due to Hydra's influence, Maxim could also understand where Steve was coming from.

Maxim forced himself to look away, taking another sip of his tequila. As long as he kept fighting, he'd find a way to contact one of the Avengers Shield members who could be called relatively trustworthy.

Black Widow, Hawkeye or Nick Fury. Although he didn't fully trust them, especially Nick Fury, he couldn't live his entire life on the run, so he needed them to clear his name.

The alcohol did little to dull the edge of his thoughts, but it gave him something to focus on. He needed to stay sharp, to keep moving forward. There was no time for distractions, not when he had so much left to do.

Maxim's mind shifted to his immediate goal, the next piece of his plan that would bring him one step closer to his ultimate objective: dismantling Hydra.

For that, he needed resources—something powerful, something that could give him an edge. And he knew exactly where to find it from browsing Alex's memories of Marvel.

Ulysses Klaue.

The name had surfaced in Alex's memories, along with details about a stash of Vibranium Klaue had in his possession. The African Coast, somewhere near the border of Wakanda, that's where Klaue was hiding.

The man was a black market arms dealer, a ruthless criminal with ties to the worst kinds of people. But Maxim didn't care about Klaue's connections or his criminal empire. He cared about the Vibranium, and what it could do for him.

Vibranium was more than just a rare metal. It was nearly indestructible, with properties that made it invaluable to anyone who knew how to use it.

If Maxim could get his hands on some, he could craft weapons, armor, and tools that would give him a significant advantage in his fight against Hydra.

Maxim set his glass down on the table, his mind made up. The path was clear, the next step in his journey decided. He would head to the African Coast, find Klaue, and take what he needed.

The man wouldn't give it up easily, but Maxim wasn't planning on asking nicely. Maxim pulled up his Status to check his progress:

[ Name - Maxim Novikov ]

[ Race - Radiant Human ]

[ Character Integration:

- Omen: 65%

Over time, Maxim had naturally improved the efficiency of his skills. He had learned all of Omen's natural assassin skills, such as disguise, movement, combat training, but now he just needed to control Omen's powers.

However, even Omen at full power wasn't enough for Maxim. Vibranium was a near indestructible metal, and also a metal that was incredibly useful for technological research.

If he managed to get Vibranium in his hands, that was the next way to improve himself. According to Alex's memories, Ulysses Klaue worked mostly on the African Coast, so Maxim had a rough estimate of where he was.

Finished thinking, Maxim stood up, leaving a few bills on the table next to his unfinished drink. The television continued to drone on about Captain America, but Maxim didn't spare it another glance as he walked out of the bar and into the cold Russian night.

The next phase of his mission was about to begin, and there was no turning back. He would find Klaue, take the Vibranium, and use it to bring down Hydra once and for all.

And if anyone stood in his way, they would meet the same fate as those Hydra soldiers in the forest—swift, brutal, and final.

__________________________________

Chapter: The African Coast

The journey from Russia to the African coast was long and arduous, but Maxim Novikov moved with a singular purpose. The cold, unforgiving landscapes of Siberia had given way to the scorching heat of the African sun, but the shift in environment did nothing to deter him.

He traveled under various aliases, using false identities to avoid detection by both Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D. It wasn't easy; the more he moved, the more he felt the net tightening around him. But Maxim was used to the pressure by now, he thrived in it.

Maxim boarded a train heading west, blending in with the late-night travelers, most of whom were weary workers returning home or drunks looking for one last stop before collapsing into sleep.

Russia was mostly a chill place, people minded their business and kept to themselves, which helped Maxim on his travel, all he had to do was watch out for Hydra, but Maxim had plans for that.

Constantly swapping clothes, wearing different masks or hoodies to block any facial recognition technology. Finally, Maxim took a seat by the window, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape as the train began to move.

He pulled up the map in his mind, plotting his route. He would take the train to Moscow, then use the cover of the city to arrange for a discreet flight out of Russia.

From there, it would be a series of careful moves across borders, avoiding detection as he made his way to the African Coast.

Time ticked by and everything went mostly smoothly. The flight out of Moscow was uneventful. Maxim maintained a low profile, shuffling through the shadows to sneak onto the plane.

The next few days passed in a blur of travel and tense waiting. Maxim moved through a series of places, ensuring that his trail was difficult to follow. As a former Assassin, Omen was naturally skilled at anti-reconnaissance.

Finally, Maxim arrived at the African Coast. The climate was a stark contrast to the Russian winter, the heat oppressive even in the early morning hours. Maxim took a deep breath, allowing himself a moment to adjust to the new environment.

The sounds of the bustling port city filled the air—people shouting, machinery clanking, and the ever-present hum of commerce.

Maxim's destination was a remote port town on the edge of the African coast, a place notorious for its black-market dealings and corrupt officials. It was the perfect hiding spot for someone like Ulysses Klaue, a man who thrived in chaos and built his empire on the desperation of others.

The town itself was a maze of narrow streets, crumbling buildings, and hidden alleys, the kind of place where you could disappear without a trace, or find anything if you knew where to look.

As Maxim arrived at the port town, he kept his hood pulled low over his face, blending in with the crowd of dockworkers, traders, and smugglers. The stench of fish and saltwater hung heavy in the air, mixing with the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.

He moved quickly, his steps purposeful as he navigated the labyrinth of streets, his mind focused on the task ahead.

Finding Klaue wouldn't be easy. The man was careful, paranoid even, and he surrounded himself with heavily armed mercenaries who would kill anyone they didn't recognize.

However, Maxim wasn't just anyone. He already had a plan. To gather info, he naturally needed to blend in with the normal folk, listen to the whispers in dark corners of bars and markets, running into other criminals.

To someone like Maxim, it would be very easy to blend in and find Klaue, and his plan was already afoot.

Soon, Klaue would fall into his lap, alongside that precious Vibranium, and Maxim would be another step closer to his goal.