I will confront my enemies with mercy in my heart.

As a cold, dazzling white light swept across the battlefield, hundreds of grenades exploded directly in the midst of the Hydra army. Yet, even as flames and shrapnel claimed their lives, the soldiers remained rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the man in the distance awkwardly dancing, their gazes fixed on him to the very last moment of their existence.

What could be done when the Diamond Stardust Fist's opening move left one unable to attack? This question had troubled Joss since the very first time he used this skill. Clearly, it was a near-rule-defining control ability, yet its laughable effect rendered its practical use infuriatingly low.

After much deliberation and several explosive—quite literally—field experiments, Joss finally discovered a solution! Naturally, it was still explosions—delayed explosions.

After all, the Diamond Stardust Fist’s opening move was an ability that rendered anyone who perceived Joss’s action—whether by sight, sixth sense, cosmic awareness, or mental power—unable to move. But it did not pause time or space. This meant that the laws of physics continued to operate during this interval!

Delayed explosions were just one application. If Joss and Hawkeye coordinated well enough, Hawkeye could take aim and fire, then Joss could immobilize the enemy at the perfect moment, forcing them to watch helplessly as they were shot dead.

Of course, even so, the limitations of this move were significant, and its impact not especially great. In a battle against true powerhouses, anyone would react the moment they saw Joss pull out a grenade; no one would wait for him to throw it at their feet. Moreover, grenades or similar conventional weapons meant nothing to anyone above a certain level.

But for now, Joss’s maneuver had become a massacre against the Hydra troops, each grenade harvesting dozens of lives in an instant.

No one could have anticipated that Joss’s arrival alone would so effortlessly turn the tide of battle! Steve and his team stood momentarily stunned by the suddenly empty battlefield, scarcely believing what they saw. But their formidable will and sharp minds ensured the awkward silence lasted only a moment before they sprang into action again.

After nodding to Joss, Hawkeye and Natasha withdrew, while Steve guarded their retreat with his shield. Despite the losses Joss had inflicted, the true Hydra elites were now converging on the field. With little strength left, lingering would only make them liabilities, so none hesitated to leave.

The three quickly reached one of Tony Stark's facilities, where every necessary supply—medicines, bullets, and more—awaited.

“Is Joss going to be alright?” Safe at last behind fortifications, Hawkeye caught his breath and immediately turned to Steve with concern.

For reasons unknown, Natasha raised an eyebrow at Hawkeye, then cast a meaningful glance between him and Steve, finally smiling as if she’d uncovered a secret Hawkeye himself didn’t know. Had Joss been present, he would surely have said, “Natasha’s already dreamed up an 800,000-word soap opera in her head—starring three men, no less.”

Steve, still catching his breath, missed Natasha’s subtle look and replied, puzzled, “He said he’ll be fine, because he plans to face the enemy with kindness.”

“Huh…?” Skepticism and confusion mingled in Hawkeye’s voice—he clearly didn’t grasp the meaning. If someone besides the ever-serious Captain America had said such a thing, they might not even have bothered to listen.

“Is he joking? Against those inhuman Hydra lunatics, what use is kindness?” Hawkeye frowned in obvious displeasure.

Even as a comrade, harboring such naive thoughts on the battlefield would not only get oneself killed, but risk the lives of others.

“He’s really wrong this time… Kindness is no weapon for the enemy. He might be powerful, but he’s still too naive…” Even Natasha sighed and shook her head.

Clearly, both had reached the same conclusion. Unlike them—heroes honed in battle and assassination—Joss had led a smooth life, making him somewhat too innocent in word and deed.

“Forget it. Let’s patch up and hurry back to help him. If he really goes and faces the enemy with kindness, everything will be lost.” Hawkeye sighed, quickly organizing his arrows.

“What are you all talking about?” Just then, Tony Stark’s voice (and nothing else) cut in.

The three turned to see Tony flying in from the window, seated in a special chair as he worked on his armor. They exchanged glances before Steve, with some resignation, repeated himself.

“Joss said just now that he’s going to face the enemy with kindness. To keep him from getting hurt, we’re planning to go back as soon as we’re patched up.”

“Uh…” Tony’s expression became peculiarly complicated.

“What is it, Tony? Do you know something?” Hawkeye pressed.

“Hmm… Rather than tell you, I’ll show you.” Deciding that words would not suffice, Tony projected a video from his Iron Man suit—a live feed from Joss’s surveillance camera.

On screen, Joss was charging forward, hacking down foes with something in his hand. Blood ran in rivers around him; beast soldiers and super-soldiers alike lay in heaps of mangled flesh behind him, forming a gruesome path of carnage.

“Didn’t he say he was bringing kindness…?” Even Natasha, hardened by countless deaths, was momentarily stunned by the bloody spectacle, struggling to believe her eyes.

As if to answer her—or everyone’s—question, Tony zoomed in. Only then did they finally see what Joss was wielding.

It was a massive, serrated greatsword with a dark golden sheen, its blade covered in bloody, fleshy remnants, making it all the more terrifying. As Joss swung the weapon, they could make out a line of elegant script engraved along the blade.

Kindness