The dense trees surrounding Wanda Maximoff and Gwen Stacy cast long shadows over the secluded clearing where they were training. The air was crisp, filled with the faint hum of cicadas and the occasional rustle of leaves. To the untrained eye, this seemed like the perfect spot to relax and hone their skills. But in the distance, hidden within the foliage, Kraven the Hunter crouched low, watching his prey with a calculating gaze.
His movements were silent, almost feline, as he adjusted the long knife on his belt. The man who had hunted lions in Africa, bears in Siberia, and sharks in the deepest waters of the Pacific now set his sights on two new trophies: the Scarlet Queen and the Spider.
"Two predators," he muttered to himself, his accent thick but his voice quiet as death. "One of power, one of agility. Together, they will prove my greatest hunt. And when I mount their symbols on my wall, the world will know: Kraven has no equal."
In the clearing, Gwen swung from a low-hanging branch with her webbing, performing an acrobatic flip before landing on her feet. She gave Wanda a cocky grin. "You know, for someone who's 'not a mentor,' you're surprisingly bossy when it comes to training."
Wanda leaned casually against a tree, her arms crossed, a small smirk playing on her lips. Dressed in her black symbiote outfit, the crimson lines of magic flickered faintly around her fingertips as she watched Gwen. "You're welcome for the guidance. You'd be falling on your face without me."
Gwen rolled her eyes but smiled. "Sure, Maximoff. Keep telling yourself that. Next thing you know, I'll be the one training you."
"Now that I'd like to see," Wanda teased, tilting her head. "But if you're so confident, let's see you dodge this."
With a quick flick of her wrist, Wanda sent a small, controlled burst of chaos magic toward Gwen. The red energy crackled through the air like a whip, fast and unpredictable. Gwen yelped and barely managed to somersault out of the way, landing in an ungraceful crouch.
"Hey!" Gwen protested, brushing dirt off her suit. "That's cheating!"
"Is it?" Wanda asked innocently, the corners of her lips twitching. "Or is it training? Adapt to the unexpected, Spider."
Gwen sighed but couldn't suppress a grin. "Fine. But next time, I'm throwing something back."
"I'd love to see you try," Wanda quipped, the glimmer in her eyes betraying her amusement.
From his vantage point, Kraven observed their banter with a faint sneer. So confident, so unaware of the predator in their midst. They laugh while the hunter closes in.
With practiced precision, Kraven triggered a small mechanism in his belt, releasing a set of steel bolas that zipped silently through the air. They struck Gwen mid-flip, wrapping tightly around her legs and sending her tumbling to the ground.
"Gwen!" Wanda's sharp voice cut through the clearing as she turned toward her fallen companion. But before she could react, Kraven stepped out from the shadows, his towering figure framed by the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.
"Ah, the Scarlet Queen herself," Kraven said, his voice rich with an eerie calmness. "How fortunate I am to hunt such exquisite prey."
Wanda's eyes narrowed, crimson energy sparking around her fingers. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Kraven bowed his head slightly, as though introducing himself at a dinner party. "I am Kraven, the world's greatest hunter. And today, I hunt queens and spiders."
"Yeah, well, this queen's not in the mood," Wanda said, her voice dripping with disdain. With a flick of her wrist, a wave of chaos magic surged toward Kraven.
Kraven anticipated the move, leaping to the side with inhuman agility. His hand darted to his belt, retrieving a smoke bomb that he hurled at Wanda's feet. The clearing filled with thick, choking fog, obscuring Wanda's vision.
"Coward!" Wanda growled, raising a protective barrier of crimson energy around herself.
Meanwhile, Gwen struggled against the steel bolas that pinned her legs together. The cables were reinforced, digging into her suit with painful precision. She clawed at them with her gloved hands, but they wouldn't budge.
"Wanda!" Gwen called out, coughing as the smoke began to spread around her.
Wanda's voice cut through the fog. "I'm here, Gwen! Hold on!"
Kraven's laughter echoed around them, taunting and cruel. "The queen protects her spider. How noble! But nobility is a weakness in the hunt."
Wanda whirled toward the sound of his voice, hurling a burst of magic in his direction. It struck a tree, splintering it into pieces, but Kraven had already moved. His figure was a blur in the smoke, his movements impossible to predict.
Just as Wanda prepared another attack, Kraven's voice rang out again, this time from behind her. "You're impressive, Maximoff. But even the strongest predators can be distracted."
Wanda turned sharply, realizing too late that she had been lured away from Gwen. The momentary lapse in focus was all Kraven needed.
He emerged from the fog near Gwen, standing over her with a predatory grin. His knife gleamed in the light as he crouched down beside her, his voice low and mocking. "And here is the spider, caught in her own web."
Gwen glared up at him, defiant even in her vulnerable position. "You're a real piece of work, you know that?"
Kraven chuckled. "Flattery will get you nowhere, little spider. But don't worry—I'll make your end swift. A trophy must be preserved, after all."
He raised the knife, the blade catching the sunlight as he prepared to strike.
Through the thinning smoke, Wanda's eyes locked onto the scene: Kraven standing over Gwen, his knife poised for the killing blow. The sight sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins.
"NO!" Wanda roared, her voice cracking with raw emotion as crimson energy exploded around her.
The blast cleared the smoke instantly, revealing Wanda standing tall, her symbiote-enhanced suit rippling with power. Her eyes burned with rage as she charged forward, her magic flaring wildly.
But Kraven didn't flinch. He glanced over his shoulder, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Ah, here comes the queen, desperate to save her spider. But will she be fast enough?"
Wanda pushed herself harder, the distance between her and Kraven closing rapidly. But the knife was already descending, and Kraven's smirk widened.
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