MARVEL : Starts From Zombie universe

The SUV sped across the wasteland, its tires kicking up clouds of dust and leaving a faint trail behind.

In the backseat, Wanda sat hunched, her arms wrapped around herself as she pursed her lips.

Two days had passed since they had set out, and the Canadian border was finally within reach. The temperature had dropped drastically, the air growing colder with each mile they traveled.

"Canada's always been cold," Clint said, as if reading Wanda's mind. He turned halfway around to shout over the wind. "But it's been worse for the last twenty years. Some say it's because of a weather weapon someone built. Truth or myth, who knows?"

His voice was quickly swallowed by the howling wind, leaving only the hum of the SUV's engine as the group pushed forward.

The once-dry yellow sand and mud of the wasteland gradually gave way to a dirty layer of snow. The tires crunched against the icy terrain, emitting dull, rhythmic clicks.

Wanda nodded absently but suddenly jerked forward, covering her mouth as she shouted, "Look out! There's a cliff ahead!"

In the passenger seat, Adrian raised his head lazily, his sharp eyes locking onto the rapidly approaching cliff. He said nothing, his expression calm.

Clint, however, grinned, unfazed by Wanda's panic. Instead of slowing down, he pressed harder on the gas pedal, pushing the SUV to an even faster speed.

"Damn it," Frank muttered under his breath, tightening his seatbelt as the cliff's edge loomed closer.

The SUV launched off the cliff, defying gravity for a moment. It soared through the air, tracing a graceful arc like a hawk gliding freely in the skies. Time seemed to freeze, the sound of the wind the only thing audible as the vehicle hung in the air.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the inevitable landing.

"Bang!"

The SUV hit the ground hard but remained intact, kicking up dirt and loose rocks.

"Ha! Spider-Car for the win, boys!" Clint cheered, steering the SUV onto a dilapidated road that snaked through a silver-coated pine forest.

Adrian sat upright and glanced at a rusty sign barely clinging to its post. The faded, weathered text read, Checkpoint Two Kilometers Ahead.

"We're close to the Canadian border," Adrian muttered, "but the Rockies are still a ways off."

Baron Zemo, their target, was rumored to be holed up near an abandoned Weapon X facility further north.

---

As they drove on, the landscape around them turned bleak and desolate. Crumbling houses and ruined walls flanked the road.

"We need to switch cars," Clint announced suddenly. "This Spider-Car stands out too much."

He pulled into the remnants of an old scrapyard, and everyone got out. Before long, Clint had hot-wired a shabby-looking car, and the group piled in.

"When we get to the checkpoint, don't do anything stupid," Clint warned, glancing at the passengers in the rearview mirror. "I've been here before; there's a way through."

Frank exchanged a glance with Adrian, who nodded reluctantly. With that, Clint restarted the engine and drove toward the checkpoint.

---

At the checkpoint, two soldiers sat listlessly in a guardhouse, their hands stretched toward a stove for warmth.

Noticing the approaching vehicle, one of the soldiers stood up and shouted, "Halt! This land belongs to the Lord of the World, the Destroyer of the Alpha Force, and the King of the North!"

"Lord of the World?" Wanda raised an eyebrow, her tone incredulous.

Adrian touched his chin thoughtfully. "A relic from 40,000 years ago who somehow managed to survive to the present day. Think of him as Marvel's answer to Vandal Savage from DC—a prehistoric troublemaker."

Before anyone could respond, Clint hopped out of the car with a broad smile. "George? Jim! You two on duty today?"

The soldiers exchanged glances before relaxing slightly, lowering their weapons.

Adrian watched from the car as Clint approached the soldiers, chatting amiably. The conversation seemed to lighten the atmosphere. After a few moments, Clint handed each soldier some cash, and they lifted the barricade to let the vehicle through.

"See? Sometimes, it's not all about fighting," Clint quipped as he climbed back into the driver's seat. He snapped his fingers and grinned.

"They seem to know you pretty well," Adrian remarked, glancing at the soldiers in the rearview mirror.

"Of course," Clint replied with a shrug. "I came through here two years ago during a smuggling run. Not much happens around here."

He added, "And if we killed them, their replacements would just turn to Zemo or someone worse. No point in making things harder for ourselves."

---

The car continued down the icy road. Adrian squinted, spotting a figure in the distance. It was a woman walking stiffly through the snow, her pale skin marred by a grotesque, writhing tumor on her head.

"Stop the car!" Adrian ordered sharply.

Clint sighed but obeyed, pulling over to the side of the road.

Adrian got out of the car, striding toward the woman. Without hesitation, he shoved her to the ground. She let out a startled cry, but Adrian didn't stop. He pulled a gun from her coat and kicked her again.

Clint leaned out of the car, frowning. "Really? We don't have time to deal with some over-radiated scavenger."

"This is business," Adrian replied coldly, continuing to search the woman.

Within moments, he found a crumpled map tucked in her pocket.

The woman, now realizing her predicament, began screaming. "The Moon Mother will punish you! She is our savior! Only she can deliver us from this hell!"

Clint's eyes narrowed at the mention of the "Moon Mother." He grabbed his bow and stepped out of the car, pointing an arrow at her. "Where's the moon rock?"

The woman's expression turned defiant. "You pathetic fools don't deserve to speak her name!" She leaned forward, pressing her head against the barrel of Adrian's gun.

Wanda and Frank exited the car as well, their faces grim as they watched the strange scene unfold.

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