Inside a hidden HYDRA base, deep within an unfrequented forest.
Baron Strucker sat silently in his sleek, metallic office. His fingers were interlaced on the desk before him as his gaze focused outside the reinforced window, where a large tree stood tall amidst the forest's tranquility. A bug crawled along its bark, oblivious to the sharp-eyed bird circling above, wings poised for the inevitable strike.
A subtle knock broke the silence.
A subordinate entered, cautious and respectful.
"Baron, we've found no trace of Nathan."
Strucker's eyes narrowed.
"Since the Claw incident, it's as if he vanished from the earth. Not a single lead."
The Baron scoffed, voice like a blade on ice. "You useless fools might as well be dead—but Nathan isn't."
He rose to his feet slowly. "That man created the Super Soldier Serum by himself. Then injected it into his own body. He's not just smart—he's not even human anymore."
He turned, staring directly at his subordinate. "He's hiding. He's clever. He must've changed his identity and is lurking somewhere across America. And I guarantee he's still continuing his research."
The Baron's eyes gleamed as memories resurfaced.
"Have you investigated the data he took? The research files on enhanced individuals?"
"There was… something," the subordinate hesitated. "An anomaly."
Baron Strucker's tone sharpened. "Where?"
"Wolverine. There was a recent altercation involving the Essex Group. A man resembling Captain America confronted them. Same Vibranium shield, but strength and durability like Superman."
Strucker raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like Captain America—but it could just as well be Nathan. He had ties to Claw before he vanished."
His expression turned solemn. "What is that boy planning?"
"Any similar cases?" he asked.
"No, sir."
The Baron's voice darkened. "Claw was the last to see Nathan. He's our only thread. If Nathan disappeared that cleanly, someone must have helped—someone experienced in black market operations, with safe houses and escape routes. That someone was Claw."
The subordinate nodded vigorously. "We're already hunting Claw and his two children. He's elusive, but we're closing in."
"Then send more men," Strucker said, eyes cold. "If Claw escapes again… be prepared to die."
The subordinate's face paled. "Understood! We've dispatched not only the Winter Soldier, but four other Winter Soldiers. Plus a full Special Ops unit, and an exoskeleton-enhanced combat team."
"That force could crush an army, Baron. Nathan will not stand a chance."
"Good," Strucker muttered. "What cover story are we using?"
"We claimed Claw broke a deal and stole valuables from HYDRA. The other HYDRA executives believe this."
Baron Strucker exhaled slowly, satisfied. He turned back toward the tree outside.
A bird swooped down in a flash—and in one strike, devoured the insect.
Strucker's voice was a whisper of venom. "Nathan... this time, I'll swallow you whole."
---
Elsewhere, in a small American town...
A tall man and a young girl navigated back alleys with swift, cautious steps. Their faces were worn, clothes disheveled, and caps pulled low.
It was Claw—and his daughter, Elizabeth.
Suddenly, Elizabeth began to wheeze, her pale face turning whiter.
Claw quickly pulled out an inhaler and helped her take a dose. She gasped but slowly steadied.
"Are you okay, little Liz?" Claw asked gently.
Elizabeth nodded weakly. "I'm okay, Daddy."
He patted her head. "We have to keep going. We can't let the bad guys catch up."
"Why don't we find big brother?" Elizabeth asked innocently. "He can beat the bad guys."
Claw's face tightened. "We can't go to him. They're not after us—they're after him. If we lead them to him, things will only get worse."
Elizabeth blinked. "So we shouldn't make it worse for big brother?"
"Exactly," Claw said, pulling her hand gently. "Now come on. We have to move."
They disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway.
---
Meanwhile, in a New York safehouse…
Nathan returned to his underground lab, carrying the unconscious ninja he'd captured from the Hand Clan. After ensuring the ninja couldn't bite through the antidote in his mouth, Nathan observed the figure.
"Soon," he murmured, "I'll extract your secrets—your clan's techniques, those beast-enhancing rituals, and that hidden sound technique you used."
He noticed the changes in the ninja's physiology. The muscular bulge and vascular enhancements had faded.
"Shame the enhancement state wore off. I could've studied it in full."
He turned to a large red wooden box in the lab. Inside lay the dragon bones—ancient, radiating power.
He opened it, his eyes gleaming. "This trip was worth it. Dragon bones with life-extending effects—and more importantly, I got the healing meditation technique I've been hunting for."
Nathan recalled how the meditation had dramatically boosted his self-healing factor—by over 50%.
"Even more powerful than Wolverine now," he said with pride.
His grin widened. "When I have time, I'll dissect the workings of this technique."
To Nathan, science was the study of truth—no matter the field. Even mystical energy had laws. If it could be studied, classified, and applied, it belonged to science.
He returned to his research station.
"The old man said there are many kinds of meditation," he recalled. "Each with unique breathing rhythms that produce different effects."
"Healing, mental enhancement, even unlocking hidden potential... It depends on the meditation school."
Nathan's mind burned with curiosity.
If he could gather more techniques, perhaps he could identify the patterns—and even create his own.
"When I next train with the old man, I'll ask about other meditations. And maybe search elsewhere too."
He also remembered his close-combat training. When complete, he would fight on instinct—like a true martial master.
This mission had brought many rewards—but also new dangers.
"The Beasts… they noticed me. But why?"
He glanced at the bound ninja. "I'll find out soon."
Just then, his computer flashed.
A secure message arrived via an anonymous email system. Nathan clicked it open.
It read:
> [It's me, Claw. HYDRA found us. Elizabeth and I are on the run!]
Nathan's eyes widened.
"How did HYDRA find Claw?"
He frowned. "They shouldn't care about a Vibranium dealer anymore. They shouldn't waste the effort."
But it clicked.
"They're looking for me. They think Claw helped me disappear."
Nathan clenched his jaw. It made sense. Claw was his last contact. HYDRA would never stop unless they believed he had outside help—and Claw, with his connections, fit the profile.
"Damn it, HYDRA. You've been playing the long game."
He stared at the screen.
Claw hadn't asked for help. He wasn't seeking safety with Nathan. That meant he was trying to protect Nathan—even now.
"You helped me escape HYDRA, Claw. And now they're hunting you and your daughter because of it."
Nathan's expression turned resolute.
"This started because of me. It ends with me."
He owed Claw. The man had sheltered him, hidden him, and never once asked for anything in return.
And now, even while being hunted, Claw was still shielding him.
Nathan couldn't let that stand.
He glanced at another monitor. His genetic splicing experiment—the Super Spider Genome—was nearly finished.
"Soon, I'll awaken my spider abilities. Speed, strength—my power will skyrocket. Combined with Wolverine's healing factor and my tech…"
"I'm ready."
No ordinary super soldier could fight HYDRA's enhanced task force.
But Nathan was no ordinary man anymore.
He typed back a response:
> [Come to New York. I'll deal with HYDRA.]
He hit send.
This time, Nathan would not run. He would strike.
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