Chapter Forty: The Lich King—"We Are All Hydra!" [New Novel: Please Add to Favorites and Recommend]

Almost the instant the colossal pillar of energy ignited, the base’s alarms blared to life.

“Hail Hydra!”

Natasha stood powerless before the scene unfolding. She watched as the cube was activated by energy, and from outside the laboratory came the pounding of countless footsteps. When the ethereal blue frost dissipated, a figure appeared at the heart of the vortex, and she heard a cold, indifferent voice.

“Hail Hydra!”

Without meaning to, Natasha echoed the words, her reply bursting forth before she could restrain herself—a revelation that left Barton, who had just arrived, utterly aghast.

“Sir in the armor, no matter where you are from, put down your weapon now!”

Barton wasted no time. As soon as he entered, he drew his bow, his high-tech arrow aimed directly at the center of the swirling blue energy. There stood Roald, clad in a fearsome suit of armor, a long sword adorned with a skull clutched in his hand.

Roald turned to see Hawkeye and the base’s guards converging upon him.

He said nothing. Surveying the group, he wasted no words, bringing Frostmourne down onto the ground with a casual thud. Instantly, a surge of icy frost erupted.

As the frost exploded outward, Roald spun Frostmourne around; a visible wave of black energy shot forth, corroding a wide swath of the wall, triggering electrical surges and energy detonations. Several guards who rushed over, unable to dodge in time, were caught in the blast and thrown several meters.

In the moment of the explosion, Barton rolled aside to dodge, loosing an explosive arrow at Roald as he retreated. Yet Roald caught it effortlessly and hurled it straight back.

That single act was a signal. The instant the explosion rang out, the base’s guards no longer cared about the scientists and assistants in white coats who knelt on the laboratory floor. In a split second, a hail of gunfire was unleashed at Roald without a trace of hesitation.

With his armor, and the steady daily forging of ten “True King” cards—each adding one hundred to his defense—Roald’s protective strength had surpassed sixty thousand in just two months.

Even if he stood motionless, letting the soldiers fire at will, they could scarcely scratch him. With “Armor” in play, he was impervious to ordinary firearms and had little to fear from special weapons.

For over ten seconds, bullets clattered uselessly against his armor, falling to the metal floor in a metallic rain. The whine of ricocheting rounds filled the air, but Roald paid them no mind. As the gunfire concentrated on him, he unleashed a wave of “Terror,” causing some soldiers to collapse to their knees, while others, their resolve shaken, turned their weapons on their own comrades.

This time, Roald left no evidence. He did not repeat his previous tactics.

Strolling through the storm of gunfire toward the pedestal holding the Tesseract, Roald ignored Natasha’s astonishment as he pried her hand away and seized the cosmic cube. Then, with a sweep of Frostmourne, a blast of frost flung the agents and guards in the lab aside. He turned, sheathed his sword, and rested his hand on the hilt.

The entire sequence—drawing, striking, and sheathing the blade—was executed with flawless ease. With both armor and arcane protection, and with the agents wary of harming Natasha, neither bullets nor Barton’s arrows made any difference.

“Come now, serve Hydra with us. You are worthy of this honor!”

Frost crept inexorably across the laboratory as Roald, moving with unhurried poise, caught the arrow Barton fired and tossed it back. At the same time, he seized Barton, disregarding the guards nearby. Amidst the swirling frost, Roald pressed his hand to Barton’s head.

“You are…?” Barton’s eyes widened in shock at the all-too-familiar sensation.

“The process may be painful, but I promise you’ll come to enjoy it.”

Roald unleashed “Embrace the Darkness.” Frost and the energy of death enveloped Barton, as an unknown will invaded his body.

Beside them, Natasha suddenly found she could move again, but at that moment another will descended upon her. Her eyes turned milky white, and she collapsed to the floor. Erika materialized in the laboratory, and those still conscious fell to their knees all around.

“Take everything from here.”

“Yes, sir!”

…

Having just concluded his mission in Mexico, Coulson rushed to the base, only to spot Hawkeye carrying a case and leading a group of men out in haste.

Upon meeting, Hawkeye announced, “Coulson, Natasha has betrayed the organization. She’s a Hydra agent.”

Coulson was left speechless.

But the devastated scene before him could not be faked. He immediately dialed Nick Fury.

After all, this incident was well beyond the scope of his authority.

In his office, Nick Fury’s expression was grim. He had failed again to recruit Tony Stark, and the Hulk had once more been moved by the military. Lately, nothing seemed to go his way.

He found himself short-staffed.

Hill, always by his side, was competent and trustworthy, but just an ordinary person. Against supernatural threats, she was as helpless as a slice of cheese between two burgers.

Then there was Coulson—personally promoted by Fury and trustworthy, but also just a regular man. The only truly useful agents left were Natasha and Barton.

He stared at the diagrams and relationship maps on his computer, trying to plan his next move. Should he prioritize securing the Hulk, which was difficult, or try to recruit Stark, which might be easier?

A sudden call snapped him from his thoughts.

“Director, it’s Coulson.”

“Just tell me what happened.”

Fury’s brow furrowed, his train of thought interrupted.

“It’s about the lab—the one with the cube. Something happened.”

“Oh, that’s bad news, Coulson. I hope you’re not joking.” Fury stood up reflexively.

The Tesseract was something he’d long wanted to research. Though years of study had yielded little, he remained obsessed with it.

“Director, it gets worse. I’m not sure you can handle this.”

Coulson’s hesitant voice came through the receiver.

“I’ve seen it all. Out with it, Coulson.”

“Natasha has defected. She’s with Hydra.”

Fury was stunned.

Coulson was not one for groundless accusations, but the claim that Natasha was Hydra troubled Fury deeply.

Lately, he’d focused all his attention on the so-called “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” neglecting the Tesseract.

Natasha was personally recruited by him, always diligent and with an excellent record. To hear she had betrayed them was baffling.

He pressed further, “Who attacked the lab? Who told you all this?”

“It was Agent Barton. He said he saw Natasha activate the cube’s energy, and then a stranger appeared in the energy. That stranger took the cube—or rather, Natasha was the inside agent. She infiltrated us, then used the opportunity to steal the Tesseract from the lab!”

“And Barton? Where is he?”

“He’s gone after Natasha.”

“And you?”

“I just lost Barton.”

“How convenient,” Fury muttered. Coulson’s words left him speechless. If anything, Fury was more inclined to believe Barton was Hydra than Natasha.

“Is that so? It seems Agent Barton is Hydra as well…”

“Director, what are you saying? Barton is Hydra?”

“That’s right. Even what you see with your own eyes may not be the truth. Perhaps they’re both Hydra. You might be too…”

Coulson was left speechless.

Meanwhile, a certain antlered trickster grinned with delight, and a certain large man swung his hammer with gusto.