Chapter 47: Is S.H.I.E.L.D. Blind? [New Book—Please Add to Your Favorites and Recommend]

Standing behind Roald, holding an orange cat and watching the spectacle, Kel'Thuzad was exceptionally relaxed. He resembled an old man stroking his cat while strolling through the park.

The two were currently communicating through mental awareness.

"My master, Zazara is quite capable... but Kel'Thuzad must say, the upcoming battle may not be so easy for her..."

Roald picked up on the underlying meaning in his advisor's words. Despite his concern, he felt a subtle urge to show off.

"Don't worry. This is just an impromptu opening I asked her to prepare—a small unveiling ceremony. The purpose is to cultivate a sense of crisis among these people, to help them gradually become accustomed to the feeling of death. Only by accepting death as a part of life can one face it calmly."

Everything Roald was making Zazara do now was designed to "stir" the consciousness of the local inhabitants. After all, New York would soon welcome many guests; better to let them experience war and the sensation of being invaded now, to become accustomed in advance.

It was a preventive measure, a necessary precursor to the appearance of the Scourge Legion. Officially, the Eight-Legged Spider was a branch of Hydra, but in truth, it was the Scourge Legion's Zazara making her debut.

Roald had laid extensive groundwork for this, preparing two factions and multiple characters. Though the Space Stone and the Cube possessed immense energy and maintenance was no longer a concern, they were not Soul Stones; they could not generate soul energy.

"Crack, crack, crack—"

Standing atop the building, the distant ground split open, the deafening rumble echoing clearly. As Zazara bared her fangs, the crowds further away—those filming with their phones, spectators and thrill-seekers—finally found their amusement turning upon themselves.

Mysterious folly, mysterious spectatorship... and then peaceful death.

Zazara remained hovering, but the potholes on Broadway's street multiplied; looking up at the sky, the clouds grew ever darker. The scent of despair intensified.

Fear began to saturate souls.

"What a delightful and sweet aroma of fear..."

"Do you hear it, darling Bigglesworth?" Kel'Thuzad stroked the orange cat's back. "Such a marvelous melody of souls... The Scourge Legion shall rise again!"

He inhaled deeply, offering heartfelt praise, stroking the cat and forcefully observing from Roald's side.

The orange cat screamed in terror, "Don't touch me!"

Roald was meanwhile communicating telepathically with Erika, Vikan, and Grommash.

About ten minutes later.

New York’s military forces began mobilizing, with reconnaissance aircraft first slicing through the sky.

Troops slowly advanced toward the scene.

Major television stations urgently issued bulletins.

"Manhattan has issued an emergency evacuation order."

"The army is expanding the blockade, evacuating citizens, and establishing quarantine zones."

Roald and Kel'Thuzad were witnessing the frontline firsthand, while the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. observed via satellite images and surveillance monitors from afar.

The monitoring room was a hive of activity.

"Sir, according to reports from the scene, the collapse and monster attack initially erupted at the Broadway intersection. Due to some buildings collapsing, the military can't advance quickly, and rescue operations are hampered.

"Although some citizens managed to evade in time and are sheltering in buildings, the exact casualties from the monsters are still being confirmed."

"Based on the energy readings at the site, we suspect this supernatural event differs slightly from the energy radiations in Mexico and Norway. Radar feedback indicates these monsters have very weak life energy reflections."

Hill operated the computer, relaying one bad update after another to Nick Fury. Around her, intelligence officers and staff rushed about, with several military personnel present.

Standing behind Nick Fury were Rogers and Rhodes, joined by Tony Stark and Vikan, who had just arrived.

"Hey, I was about to throw a party, and you called me here. Am I some kind of escort?" Stark's tone was less than pleased as he eyed Nick Fury. "You really know how to stir things up."

"Tony, you should be grateful neither I nor S.H.I.E.L.D. has any leverage on you, or I'd invite you over every day," Nick Fury retorted.

"This isn't the time for squabbling, gentlemen."

Hill quickly pulled up another screen, pointing to the dense red dots on the monitor. "Just now, the instruments detected a massive surge in energy fluctuations—there are even more monsters at the scene."

"Oh, this is turning into quite the grand gathering," Tony Stark shrugged at the display, then turned to Vikan. "Obviously, today's monsters are going to feast. What do you think, my friend?"

"Those are the lowest-tier monsters and slaves from the Spider Cult's combat ranks. We encountered them as far back as the fifth century BCE. They're back again?"

"Wait, you mean you've been alive since the fifth century BCE?"

"Yes."

"No—I mean..."

"Yes, I know what you mean. It's hard to believe, but... yes."

"Wow, amazing. That's truly astonishing." Tony’s expression was exaggerated, incredulous. Rogers, who thought his seventy-year sleep was bizarre enough, suddenly found himself face-to-face with an even older veteran.

Nick Fury's gaze flickered.

"Enough!"

Seeing Tony's interest drifting, the "Director" Nick Fury, now with everyone gathered, sternly interrupted: "This isn't the time for chat. We need to find a solution for today's situation. Sir Knight, I expect you'll have some intelligence to share—for God's sake."

Nick pointed at the images on the virtual holographic screen. "What are those things causing havoc among the populace? What exactly is the Spider Cult? Do you know these monsters' weaknesses?"

Vikan shot Nick Fury a sideways glance, his meaning clear.

"Who do you think you are?"

Tony looked equally unimpressed, giving Vikan a pat on the shoulder. "Some people are so used to giving orders, they think everyone is their subordinate. If you want to live in the human world, my friend, you’ll have to learn patience."

Nick Fury stood aside, his expression sour.

"Mr. Vikan."

"Hm?" Hearing Rogers call him, Vikan turned, "What's up?"

"I hope you can share some known intelligence. This concerns public safety—the situation is urgent."

"Give us a hint, man. I’d like to know too," Tony said, his curiosity piqued. He was fascinated by these undead soldiers, creatures with no life signs yet able to act as living beings.

Vikan thought for a moment before replying: "According to the information the 'Four Horsemen of Apocalypse' have gathered, these spiders are a kind of semi-biological weapon."

"You can assume those decayed soldiers were highly trained warriors in life. Their veins run with some sort of magical elixir, but they were put to sleep by hypnotic rituals—and awakened by the same."

Hearing this explanation...

Tony was dumbfounded.

"Hypnotic rituals? What is that—I’ve never heard of it!"

Captain America and Nick Fury exchanged a glance.

Both immediately thought of a certain nation's secret scientific organization, Department X.

They were experts at this kind of hypnosis.

Natasha had trained there before.