Baron Strucker was quite satisfied with the twin siblings he had personally created. Moreover, the twins held no goodwill toward the Avengers.
Their family had died under Stark Industries' weapons. Since childhood, they had been filled with hatred for Stark Industries. Now that they had become powerful superhumans, Strucker had reason to believe the siblings would become the leading figures of Hydra's new generation of combatants.
Wanda's mind control and reality-warping abilities were the key factors in Strucker's aggressive development of gene monsters. With Wanda, Hydra could use psychic abilities to control the gene monsters, fearing neither side effects causing them to lose control nor their retaliation.
Because they created these gene monsters, Hydra understood them deeply. The Avengers were no match for them. And these were just first-stage monsters. A second-stage monster, fused with two gene serums, could bog down the Avengers alone. How could the Avengers resist such a massive monster army?
But Strucker dared not use second-stage gene tech on a large scale. The gene fusion data they obtained from Dr. Connors lacked many critical components, resulting in a low success rate.
This was why Strucker thought of Loki's Scepter—to use its energy to create powerful superhumans. Hydra had started this phase of experiments long ago. Red Skull, who once obtained the Tesseract, had researched infinite energy technology based on it. Strucker merely inherited Red Skull's tech.
"Sir, the twins are missing," Strucker's assistant suddenly said.
Strucker wasn't nervous; he even smiled slightly. "It's impossible for the Avengers to deal with those two."
Quicksilver's speed. Wanda's Chaos Magic. Both could suppress the Avengers. Although the siblings hadn't mastered their abilities to perfection, their inherent power meant only the Hulk posed any threat to them.
"Let them loose; they've been stifled for too long. Besides, wait until we've packed everything before ordering their retreat," Strucker said coldly.
Assistant William nodded immediately.
"Tangling too much with the Avengers does no good for our plans. These people can't accomplish anything but ruin everything. They don't understand Hydra's grand goals; they're stuck in old grudges," Strucker sneered.
He had no interest in destroying the Avengers. Possessing an item with seemingly infinite energy, he didn't want trouble—he just wanted to develop his unique technology. When the era of true domination arrived, Hydra would stand atop the world. All factions would fall before their tech, becoming Hydra's vassals. The Avengers would be executed then.
Strucker suddenly looked at a special server.
Research on Loki's Scepter wasn't just about creating the twins. Using the Stone's power, they glimpsed the possibility of true Artificial Intelligence. If successful, an AI acting as Hydra's brain would protect them by any means necessary.
A true AI could coordinate Hydra's global resources, boosting their strength tenfold. With its help, Hydra could remain hidden in darkness, undetectable. This was Strucker's greatest project. Combined with top alien tech and gene soldiers, Strucker couldn't imagine who on Earth could resist them. Once successful, Hydra's rise would be unstoppable.
"Sir, data transfer complete. Let's evacuate," Assistant William reminded.
"The Avengers are lucky they met me. I have no mind to kill them for now," Strucker laughed loudly.
"That is your mercy, Sir. Though our base is exposed, our combat power is proven. With your status in the Council, you will surely surpass Red Skull and become Hydra's savior," William flattered.
Strucker laughed maniacally.
Hiding in the shadows, Wanda and Quicksilver observed Strucker.
"A powerful enemy is descending. We watch and wait."
The siblings wouldn't sacrifice their lives for Hydra. But Hydra's power kept them around to help Strucker. Strucker's success meant their revenge. To Wanda and Quicksilver, the Avengers were strong, but nothing compared to true Hydra power. Unless Strucker courted death himself.
"Is it the Avengers?" Quicksilver asked.
Wanda shook her head. "I only saw fragments of the future, but the Chaos Magic inside me tells me: leave immediately. Crisis has arrived."
Just as Wanda finished speaking, a terrifying whistling sound descended from the sky. Inside a beam of light stood a superhuman, flying through the shattered shield into the fortress.
"Hill, a powerful lifeform appeared at the Hydra base. He's breaking the shield and entering," Tony Stark quickly reported to Hill.
"Can you see his face?" Hill's expression changed slightly. The video feed was too blurry to identify whose side the sudden superhuman was on.
"Unclear, but these damn bat monsters are abandoning me."
Massive numbers of gene monsters retracted their lines, rushing back to the fortress. Something forced them to return to save Hydra.
"Retreat first. Whoever it is, the monsters haven't received orders to kill you yet. I worry the situation has changed."
Hill calmed down. This was the best time to retreat. Otherwise, the Avengers might all perish in this wilderness fortress.
"Monsters here are retreating too," Black Widow replied.
"Hydra is in danger, recalling their soldiers. If we attack now, maybe we can gain something?" Hawkeye suggested.
But Hill rejected it immediately. "Do you want to face hundreds of monsters like Captain America again?" she roared in the earpiece.
Captain America looked exhausted but smiled. "Avengers, retreat!"
He had to give the order. Continuing meant death. Intel for this mission was severely lacking. It nearly got them killed. If the monsters hadn't held back, they would have been finished. Cap felt frustrated.
Inside the fortress.
A robust figure in a blue suit descended from the sky, looking at everything with a smile. Numerous gene monsters lunged at this unexpected guest.
But in the next second, they all turned into ice sculptures. A breeze blew, and they shattered into ice powder.
"Baron Strucker, it seems you don't welcome this uninvited guest."
Vincent spoke calmly, looking down at the bespectacled Hydra scientific leader with contempt.
"Ice Demon?!"
Strucker felt like he fell into an ice cave.
Wanda's eyes glowed with scarlet energy. Her gaze locked onto the sudden arrival like a torch.
Quicksilver frowned. He wanted to act, to take Strucker away. He was confident in his speed. But Wanda grabbed his hand.
"Don't attack, brother. You will die," Wanda warned.
Every cell in her body screamed warnings. Scarlet Witch knew the terror of the newcomer.
Of course, when Strucker said the name, they knew how powerful the enemy was. The Number One. The most terrifying superhuman. The most evil human. His reputation had spread among superhumans.
"It seems Hydra's intel work is good. You recognized me at first glance."
Vincent shrugged. It wasn't his first contact with Hydra. But Strucker was a titan in the scientific field. Easily using the Mind Stone's energy to create powerful superhumans proved his understanding of the Stone was sufficient.
"Sir, we have no grudge. I even avoided Oscorp and Deep Chill to not provoke you. Hydra's sincerity toward you is full; we avoid everything related to you if possible."
Strucker bowed his head directly.
"I know. That's because Hydra learned its lesson—knowing you can't deal with me, you chose the most conservative method: keeping a respectful distance."
Vincent's eyes pierced Strucker's thoughts. From the moment he landed, the fortress's destruction was decided.
But the only thing annoying Vincent was that the data had been transferred globally. He could find it, but it would waste precious time. In a tech world, sometimes Vincent lacked means to intercept such data transfers.
"Ice Demon, what do you want? Hydra's resources are ten, a hundred times better than SHIELD's. If you like money, we can make Oscorp the world's strongest company. If you like beauties, Hydra has enough for you to pick!!!"
Strucker asked in a low voice. His subservience shocked the twins. Strucker was arrogant, even maniacal. His strong conviction made him fear no enemy. Yet facing this young man, Strucker bowed. Didn't even think of running.
Scarlet energy flickered in Wanda's eyes. She immediately controlled all gene monsters to return to the fortress, buying time for Strucker.
Vincent smiled. He turned, glancing at the red figure in the shadows. Though they hid fast, in Vincent's eyes, their reaction was too slow. Even Quicksilver couldn't escape his vision.
"In your eyes, is the Ice Demon so vulgar?"
Vincent shook his head. He looked at Assistant William.
Just one glance, and William lost control. He put a gun to his temple and pulled the trigger.
Bang~~
A gene monster pounced like... (text cut)... before landing, it turned into ice crystals, scattering on the floor.
"It seems your subordinates are loyal to you."
Vincent's eyes began to glow red.
"No!!!" Strucker reached out to stop him.
But next second, Omega Beams pierced his brain.
Vincent stood with hands behind his back. A beam of light danced around him, refracting endlessly. Everywhere it went, everyone in the fortress was shot dead. No power to retaliate.
"Faster, faster, faster!!!"
Wanda urged her brother.
A streak of silver light carried Wanda, speeding away from the fortress at extreme velocity. But the terrifying power erupted behind them, making Wanda feel like she fell into hell.
Quicksilver gritted his teeth, pushing his speed to the limit.
The retreating Avengers turned back to look at the base. A beam of light danced in their vision. The miraculous movement stunned them.
"It's him!!!" Tony Stark recalled Vincent's face.
"Everyone, seems our job was cleaned up by that cleaner again," Captain America said helplessly.
They boarded the Quinjet to return. But their eyes remained on the fortress.
Vincent grabbed the Scepter. His body erupted with blinding flames. Terrifying fire, bright as the sun, wrapped the fortress. Fire dragons devoured everything.
Next second, Vincent turned into light and vanished from the base.
"No wonder that girl Hill worked so hard. Using her body to distract me." Vincent smiled helplessly. Hill's attitude was okay, 100% loyal even, but thinking from her standpoint nearly delayed his big business.
"Our base is destroyed."
Quicksilver finally stopped, panting. He had run over a hundred kilometers in one breath. First time he was so exhausted.
Scarlet Witch Wanda looked grave. She looked back in panic. She knew who they faced.
Ice Demon. The legendary Ice Demon. Frozen the Vatican. Repelled alien invasions. Killed the legendary Apocalypse. The synonym for invincible.
Wanda never thought she'd face such a powerful enemy.
"Base destroyed. All gene soldiers eliminated. He didn't even want to lift a finger—just a glance destroyed the fortress Hydra spent a fortune building."
Wanda lowered her voice. She knew her brother was tired. That speed broke his limits. If not for her Chaos Magic protecting them, the G-force alone would have crushed her body.
Wanda suddenly looked warily behind Quicksilver.
Light condensed. Forming a human shape. Holding a scepter.
Wearing a faint smile, looking at her with appreciation.
Wanda's heart pounded. Not from shyness, but nervousness so intense she couldn't adapt.
Quicksilver spun around. Saw the strange yet familiar young man. Without thinking, he grabbed his sister, forced himself into superspeed, and fled.
But light flashed.
The man stood in his escape path.
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