15 Mind Weaver

Isaac walked through an empty street, between two apartment complexes. With the scarce lighting and tight space, one would assume it was an alley rather than a typical road. These apartment buildings were common in his neighbourhood. They were the only types of houses in the whole block.

At first, some might find it troubling navigating through them, seeing as how the entire neighbourhood resembled a maze, the only streets always being between two large buildings, resembling the home of rats, lunatics, garbage and shady individuals. However, Isaac knew the neighbourhood like the back of his hand. After all, he'd been living there his whole life.

"How many times do I have to tell you, League is not a bad game? Sure, the fanbase can sometimes be…special, but what game doesn't have crazy players." Isaac could be seen talking to himself as he turned another corner.

"I didn't play games a lot and even I know League is the Devil's spawn. Whether the game is good or not is another matter." Says Darwin.

"You know what, screw you. Why am I arguing with a villainous dead man over the best game to ever exist." Isaac says, flipping off to nobody.

"Thank you for proving my point."

"I'm going to go home and play League right now. And you have no choice but to watch." Isaac revealed an evil grin as he hurried kid steps. As he did, he couldn't help but slowly frown.

"Isaac, watch out!" Yelled Darwin. It was as if all time had slowed. Isaac slowly widened his eyes. Not in shock or fear, but because his surroundings were so dark that he tried his best to catch a glimpse of the moving shadow in the corner of his eyes.

The shadow moved toward him, silent. Despite this, something from the shadow yelled at Isaac. It was as if a wave of malice washed over the boy, making his hair stand and cells yell for him to run. It was the same feeling from the day he awakened his first ability.

He turned his head as a blaring ticking rang in his mind as if death himself were counting down the time he had left. Seconds. No, even less.

The shadow drew even closer as it stood at an uncomfortable distance. One where it could do as it pleased while Isaac was still trying to catch his bearing.

In a blurring second, Isaac disappeared from his position, slamming into a nearby wall as he breathed heavily, sweating while staring at where he just was. He had manipulated his gravity non-verbally, losing control due to the shock and suspense and accidentally created a small crater in the wall.

"Did you just…fly?" Asked a male in a flat and cold tone.

Looking back, he noticed a man wearing a grey bodysuit that covered his entire body from neck to feet, even acting as thin shoes. It was basic, with no extra details as if it were made to be the bare minimum for someone to wear.

However, Isaac first noticed the grey skull mask on the man's face with a large crack fashioned on its centre which brought back uncomfortable memories.

Isaac put on a forced smile as he spoke.

"You again? I'm starting to think you're my biggest fan." Says Isaac, looking toward the man's hand and seeing a dark dagger.

"I kicked your ass last time, do you really think you can beat me with a small knife." Mocks Isaac, however, inside his heart was beating rapidly. His eyes rapidly scanned his surroundings, trying to find what the man might be plotting. He knew he was fast and more durable than the man, yet he couldn't help but feel the man had something up his sleeve.

"Don't worry. I never fail twice." Saying this, Taskmaster walks back into the shadows, disappearing as if he were one with the darkness.

"I'll admit, you caught me off guard last time, but that won't happen again. Trust me, I've made sure to prepare thoroughly." Taskmaster's voice echoes through the alleyway as Isaac looks around, not knowing where the voice is coming from.

"Isaac, get away. You're at a disadvantage." Says Darwin as Isaac looks up.

"Light Gravity x70."

Isaac bolts to the skies, moving away from anywhere his enemy might attack him. As the sky neared he saw himself moving closer to the roofs of the buildings, he suddenly crashed into something.

He looked around, finding he was bound in some sort of sticky rope. He followed the thin line, barely visible as the light of the full moon reflected off it, noticing it covered the entire alleyway, making sure no one could escape. Even the entrance where Isaac had first entered the alley was somehow covered. Isaac widened his eyes as he realised that he was prey trapped by the larger predator.

Isaac witnessed Taskmaster leap into the sky, his figure being illuminated by the light of the moon. He pulled back his body, ready to stab Isaac with all his might.

"Light Gravity x100"

Isaac disappeared from his position as a loud thump could be heard. Isaac landed on his feet, darting his eyes back to his enemy to see Taskmaster fall to the ground after him, ready to plunge his weapon inside Isaac.

Isaac stepped back, dodging the attack as Taskmaster quickly recovered, lunging once again. He slashed at Isaac as the boy put his hands up to guard, only for his forearms to gush blood.

He widened his eyes, noticing he was cut. His eyes stayed glued onto the knife. If he were to get hit, he would die.

Isaac's mind went blank. His feet weren't on the ground so he couldn't dash away. Not to mention he didn't know what else Taskmaster had up his sleeve, he couldn't mindlessly fly rapidly. He just needed a second to exert his superior speed and weight over Taskmaster.

Taskmaster slashed the knife toward Isaac as the boy prepared himself. However, before he could, Taskmaster ducked rapidly, swiping Isaac's foot, causing him to lose balance.

"You may be heavy kid, but you still can't match up to me in combat." Says Taskmaster as Isaac falls.

Simultaneously, Taskmaster drove his knife through the air, ready to plunge it against Isaac's momentum, through his head, killing him instantly.

"Now! Light Gravity x100"

"Not again, Weirdo! You won't ruin my destined fate with Ms Romanoff." Isaac spoke as he appeared on the alley wall, his hands and feet on the brick wall, knees bent as he stared straight at Taskmaster.

'I've been meaning to test this.'

"Not too hard Isaac, you don't want to kill him. We still need to know who sent him." Says Darwin as Isaac prepares.

"Heavy Gravity x50!"

Isaac shot off the wall at great speeds, invisible to the naked eyes he disappeared. Almost instantly, blood flooded from Taskmaster's mouth as Isaac, both his arms protruded out as they formed a rectangle shape and body straight like an arrow, crashed into Taskmaster's ribs as loud cracks could be heard.

"Hunter's Arrow."

In the next second Taskmaster was sent soaring through the air, crashing into his sticky ropes and slowly falling to the ground, unconscious with his dark dagger beside him.

Isaac walked over, standing over him as he breathed slightly.

"Now, what should I do with you? You've seen my abilities, and to be frank, you've become a nuisance." Says Isaac, bending over and poking at the unconscious Taskmaster.

Before Isaac could decide, the silence of the tranquil night was broken by multiple loud SNAPS. Isaac was fast, but he still needed to process the fact that he needed to dodge something. The simple fact was, Isaac's fight or flight response wasn't quick enough when it counted.

All he could do was stand as arrows rocketed toward him, making contact but snapping upon touching Isaac's steel skin.

Isaac said nothing as he stood with a blank face, slowly looking back.

"Crap, that scared me. I thought I was in danger…"

A cold chill ran through Isaac's spine as he instinctively snapped his head back, but he was too slow. A familiar black knife was inches away from being impaled through his throat.

"Naive brat." Whispered Taskmaster in a chilling tone, his grey suit spoiled by bright red blood that painted his neck and lower jaw.

[Congratulations!]

[You have gained the A-rank Evolution "Mind Weaver"]

'Whatever, just activate it!'

As the dagger approached Isaac, all time seemed to slow, eventually coming to a stop as Isaac witnessed the event. Without having time to absorb his surroundings, Isaac suddenly entered a slow descent toward Taskmaster.

'What the…'

Defying all physics, his descent toward Taskmaster quickly sped up as he braced himself for the world of hurt Taskmaster would be in upon impact.

However, that never came. Instead, Isaac was transported to a dark void without anything in sight. He couldn't see, hear, smell or feel anything. He looked around, quickly figuring out which way was up and that he was…floating.

"Darwin, where am I?" Asked Isaac, however, he wasn't given a reply.

"Darwin?" He said, once again given no reply.

Before he could question this, he started to hear muffled chatter and a dim light coming toward him.

"...Seeing as we both have somewhere to be, I suggest we make this quick." As the light moved closer to Isaac, the words became more clear.

"I know that voice."

The dim light came into view as it passed Isaac by his right. He turned his head, noticing a scene playing in front of him.

"Dad?" He said, witnessed his father sit before his point of view and speak in a metallic room with metal chairs and a metal table. As the scene passed, Isaac caught the voice of someone else he also recognised.

"I'm sorry, Director Fury, were you talking to me…" The scene soon passed as the voices became muffled and the view obscured. Soon, Isaac was once again returned to the dark abyss.

Once again, another scene with muffled words moved toward Isaac. This time it was a scene Isaac knew well.

"How many crap do you have in your pockets?" Isaac turned his head, following the scene as he witnessed himself, battered and bruised, leaning against a wall holding a blinking device.

Isaac grits his teeth as the scene passes.

This went on for hours, at least, it felt like hours. A scene would emerge as Isaac watched from Taskmaster's point of view. An assassin of a politician, a battle with Captain America and the most enjoyable scene according to Isaac.

"Yeah! Haha, you got your ass handed to you by the Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man!" Yelled Isaac as he laughed loudly. The situation he was in changed rather quickly as Isaac watched the scenes like he was watching a highly anticipated movie. He laughed and grinned, seeing Taskmaster fight superheroes, the Avengers and even Natasha

"Oh!" Yelled Isaac, watching Natasha wrap her legs around Taskmaster's neck, soon flipping herself and slamming him to the ground.

Isaac watched, laughing loudly and happier than he'd ever been. He was watching real fight scenes with his favourite Superheroes, he couldn't help but let loose a little.

However, one fact was abundantly clear throughout this whole trip.

Taskmaster was way out of Isaac's league. If it weren't for his abilities that far exceeded the capabilities of a slightly superhuman individual, he would have died in both encounters.

After all, this was a man who constantly plotted and fought with the Avengers.

"Does this mean I can put up a good fight against the Avengers?" Thought Isaac. For some reason, being able to stand up against Earth's Mightiest Heroes in a physical confrontation seemed amusing to him.

As Isaac watched, the scenes soon changed. Instead of assassinations and battles against superheroes, it was now people he didn't recognize performing fighting styles against Taskmaster.

A man with a yellow bandana around the top side of his head. Most prominently with glowing hands as he expressed impressive feats of martial arts.

Once again another Asian man in red and black, once again performing martial arts.

Every once in a while, Isaac would see people he recognized, like Captain America performing a version of basic but fluent and experienced boxing with his shield.

But mostly, it would return to unknown individuals. Like a man wearing all red and red eyes with two D's on his chest, mostly fighting with batons.

Once again, this went on for hours. Despite Isaac enjoying the chance to watch such experienced fighters, it quickly for boring.

As he thought of how he might leave, the scenes stopped. Isaac was floating in the dark abyss, aimlessly as he lost all forms of entertainment.

"What's going on? Is this the work of that Evolution I gained?" As he asked this, a screen appeared before him.

[Mind Weaver (A)

Description:

You are able to manipulate and exploit the confusion within someone's mind. By tapping into the target's mental state, Mind Weaver can implant thoughts, ideas or beliefs that fill the void of uncertainty.]

Isaac read this, scratching his head soon after.

'What kind of uncertain state is this weirdo in?'

Isaac thought for a while, looking around and seeing nothing other than the dark void. As he looks around, he thinks of something.

"Is this guy an amnesiac?" That was the only explanation for why Isaac wasn't seeing what should be the whole life of Taskmaster and only recent events. If that was the case, Taskmaster's whole life was an "Uncertain State".

Isaac slowly grinned as he let out an ominous cackle.

"Oh, you're so screwed." He said, cracking his fingers and getting to work.

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Gimme dem POWERSTONESSS