The chaos above ground was nothing compared to the carnage unfolding below. While the streets of New York buzzed with life—lights, laughter, and the hum of nightlife that never stop—the secret HYDRA base beneath the city was a nightmare of blood and death. I moved through the dimly lit hallways like a shadow, my footsteps silent, my presence unnoticed until it was too late. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid smell of gunpowder. The wails of dying HYDRA operatives echoed through the corridors, a symphony of fear and pain that I had orchestrated.
"Huff! Huff! BANG! ARRGGHH!"
A HYDRA agent stumbled into view, his face pale with terror. He tried to run, but I was faster. A single shot to his knee sent him crashing to the ground, his screams filling the air. He looked up at me, his eyes wide with fear and confusion.
"Why? Who… who are you? BANG!"
I didn't answer. I never did. The bullet tore through his skull, silencing him instantly. His body slumped to the floor, joining the growing trail of corpses I had left in my wake.
"None of you deserve any explanation from me," I muttered under my breath, stepping over his body as I continued down the hallway.
The base was a labyrinth of reinforced steel and concrete, designed to withstand attacks and keep its secrets hidden. But it wasn't built to withstand me. Room by room, hallway by hallway, I cleared the base with ruthless efficiency. HYDRA operatives fell like dominoes, their training and weapons useless against my precision and speed.
"That's the 57th HYDRA operative in this base, Sir," Magina's voice chimed in through my helmet's HUD. "Base No. 23 has been 100% neutralized."
"Noted," I replied, my voice calm despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. "Heading to the Base Control Command Center."
The command center was the heart of the base, a room filled with monitors, servers, and enough computing power to run a small country. It was also where HYDRA stored their most sensitive data—plans, experiments, and research that could tip the balance of power in the wrong hands. I wasn't about to let that happen.
I entered the room, my eyes scanning the equipment. The place was deserted, the operatives who had once manned the stations now lying dead in the hallways. I pulled out a small device from my utility belt—a Hijacking & Hacking Device I had spent weeks developing. It was robust, powerful, and designed to be undetectable. HYDRA's technology was advanced, but so was mine.
One of the reasons I had delayed hitting this base was to perfect this device. HYDRA wasn't just another shadow organization—they were a global threat with resources and knowledge that rivaled even SHIELD. But unlike SHIELD, HYDRA had no morals. They didn't stop when their experiments crossed ethical lines. They didn't care about collateral damage. They just did whatever it took to achieve their goals. And that made them dangerous.
I connected the device to the main console, the screen flickering as Magina began her work. "Initiating data extraction," she said, her voice calm and focused. "This may take a few minutes."
While Magina combed through HYDRA's database, I turned my attention to the rest of the base. It was fully equipped, a testament to HYDRA's resources and ambition. Weapons, vehicles, experimental tech—they had it all. And I wasn't about to let it go to waste.
I moved through the armory, my eyes scanning the rows of weapons. Advanced rifles, experimental energy weapons, and enough ammunition to start a small war. I couldn't take the vehicles—they were too conspicuous—but the weapons were another story. I began loading them into a secure storage unit, my mind already calculating how they could be used in future missions.
HYDRA's research was a double-edged sword. On one hand, 60% of it was geared toward world domination and weapons of mass destruction. That kind of knowledge in the wrong hands could spell disaster. But on the other hand, some of their work could be repurposed for good. Advanced medical tech, energy solutions, even some of their AI research—it was all there, waiting to be exploited.
But I wasn't naive. I knew the risks. In the Marvel world, 99% of the time, people who got their hands on this kind of tech used it for evil. Even SHIELD, with all its lofty ideals, had its dark side. They played with morals, stopping only when they were caught. HYDRA didn't even pretend to care. And that was why I had to be careful. I couldn't let this technology fall into the wrong hands—not even my own.
Reaching Level 20 had unlocked one of my valuable Job-related skills: Shadow Armory. It was exactly what it sounded like—a literal armory hidden within my shadow. This pocket dimension allowed me to store and summon any type of weapon or equipment I needed, whenever and wherever I wanted.
The only limitation was that it could only store items recognized as weapons or equipment. Anything else was a no-go. Still, the sheer utility of it was unmatched. I could carry an entire arsenal without lifting a finger, and that was a game-changer.
With the return of my Shadow Armory, I also regained access to some of my favorite weapons and equipment from my YGGDRASIL days. My trusty Gladius was replaced by the Giant Fang of the Shadow Dragon, a level 10 short sword that was indestructible, anti-magic, razor-sharp, and recallable. It wasn't the most powerful weapon in my arsenal, but in this world, it was practically a magical artifact. I also swapped out my current armor for the Trench Coat of the Hell Guardian, a sleek red leather trench coat made from the hide of Cerberus. It was a level 20 item, offering both protection and style.
For now, though, I decided to stick with most of my current gear. There was no need to go overkill just yet. 99% of the HYDRA operatives I encountered could be dealt with using standard bullets and my swords. No need to bring out the big guns—literally.
Magina's voice broke through my thoughts. "Sir, I've completed the data collection, and the self-destruct sequence is ready to be initiated."
I made my way back to the control room, grabbing the portable drive containing the extracted data. The base was eerily quiet now, the only sound the faint hum of the servers as they powered down. I didn't linger. With the drive in hand, I exited the base and hopped onto my Superbike, the engine roaring to life as I sped away.
"Start the self-destruct sequence, Magina," I said, my voice calm but firm.
Several seconds later, the abandoned subway station that concealed the base erupted in a massive explosion. Flames and debris shot into the night sky, the shockwave rattling windows for blocks. Contrary to popular belief, most HYDRA bases didn't have nuclear-level self-destruct mechanisms. Instead, they used just enough explosives to obliterate the base and erase any evidence of its existence. It was effective, if not overly dramatic and harmful to the environment, which is unnecessarily attentive of them.
As I rode away, the explosion fading in my rearview mirror, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Another HYDRA base was gone, its secrets either destroyed or in my hands. But the fight was far from over.
Back at my hideout, I took a quick shower and started preparing dinner. The mundane routine helped ground me, a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, life went on. As I chopped vegetables, Magina's voice echoed through the room.
"Father, we've uncovered some new information," she said, her tone serious. "We now have sufficient evidence and proof that General Stryker is funded by and cooperating with HYDRA on the Weapon X program. And the program is still ongoing."
I paused, my knife hovering over the cutting board. "Show me."
Magina projected several windows onto the screen, displaying documents, photos, and video footage. One clip caught my attention immediately: a young girl, no older than ten, being put through brutal training exercises. Her face was blank, her movements precise and mechanical. It was Laura Kinney—X-23.
"Laura is currently under training and has already been sent on several missions," Magina explained, pulling up more footage. The videos showed Laura in action, her claws slicing through targets with terrifying efficiency. It was hard to watch, but I couldn't look away.
"Logan's going to want to see this," I muttered, my grip tightening on the knife. "What about Voss? Any reactions from him?"
Magina switched the display to show security footage from one of Voss's bases. The man was pacing back and forth, his face red with rage as he berated his underlings. "Panicking and enraged," Magina said. "We've hit three of the bases under his management. He's feeling the pressure."
I smirked, setting the knife down. "Good. Let him panic. The more mistakes he makes, the easier it'll be to take him down."
Magina nodded, her digital form flickering slightly. "On our first HYDRA base hit, I was able to subtly hack into all of HYDRA's New York networks. As we anticipated, their systems are closely monitored by Arnim Zola. However, no matter how invincible he thinks he is within HYDRA's network, he's no match for me. He remains oblivious to what's happening in New York."
I leaned back in my chair, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. "Perfect. Keep it that way. The longer he's in the dark, the more damage we can do."
As I sat down to eat, my mind was already racing with plans and possibilities. HYDRA was a hydra in every sense of the word—cut off one head, and two more would take its place. But I wasn't deterred. If anything, I was more determined than ever. The fight was far from over, and I was just getting started.