Before this moment, Alex had poured more than 120,000 SP into refining the Extremis formula. But the 50% discount he earned for killing Killian wasn't spent here—it had been set aside to enhance something else, something important.
With Maya's reference data from Killian's unfinished Extremis serum, Alex perfected the formula with Supremacy Enhancement. The result was named Phoenix Serum—unnatural healing and more strength than an ordinary person, along with pyrokinesis, though its effects varied drastically from person to person. Researchers still couldn't pinpoint why, but Alex knew it was stronger, safer, and completely under his control.
Convincing Maya had been a challenge. He'd told her bluntly, "No matter how many improvements you make, Extremis will always be a weapon. If you truly want to help people, you have to change your perspective." To help her, he created the Rebirth Potion with more focus on healing. Its effects are immediate but temporary, lasting just an hour.
When she witnessed the results, hope shone in her eyes. Without thinking, she stepped forward and hugged Alex. He stood frozen, caught off guard, his breath catching in his throat. Their gazes met—hers full of gratitude and a hint of something more—as she leaned in, lips hovering just inches from his. His instincts made him step back. A flicker of hurt crossed her face, and she bit her lip, her eyes searching his.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling, before she turned and fled the room, leaving Alex feeling both relieved and unsettled.
Alex watched her go, uncertain of the strange pull in his chest. He wasn't the cold assassin he once was, but love was still foreign ground. A small smile tugged at his lips. Let's just go with the flow.
---
That night, in the underground hall of Kane HQ, New York.
Over two hundred operatives stood assembled—each infused with the Phoenix Serum. Davies was appointed Squadron Commanding Officer, veterans from the first Phoenix Squad became leaders, and fifteen squads formed three platoons with full logistics support, totaling 215 soldiers.
Alex stepped to the podium. "We were once beaten down, but we never gave up. Like the Phoenix, we rose from the ashes. That is the name you bear. You've been briefed on the changes within you. From this moment, you are soldiers that will bring changes to humanity."
He paused, letting the silence settle over the room, eyes sweeping across the gathered soldiers. "We stand here at the next step of our journey. Before undergoing the procedure, each of you swore your loyalty. Tonight, we will seal that promise for eternity."
He unfurled an ancient scroll—the Enhanced Blood Oath. It had cost 150,000 SP to upgrade, plus 20,000 SP for the scroll itself. Thankfully, the 50 % discount applied.
[The Eternal Oath-Enhanced Blood Oath (S3): Binds up to 500 people to one oath. It also imparts a sense of loyalty to the oath-takers towards the scroll's owner.]
"Repeat the oath displayed behind me."
Voices echoed through the hall. The scroll glowed black, binding the oath to their souls. Then, chaos began.
Several operatives convulsed, bodies burning from within as the Phoenix Serum tried to heal them. Alex's eyes narrowed. He approached one, voice calm but cold. "You should have thought carefully before swearing. This isn't something you can break."
The man bit down hard, black creeping up his throat. Alex smirked. "Poison? Really, buddy? That'll only make it worse for you. Maybe I should've included a user manual." His gaze sharpened. "Damn, maybe spending too much time around Tony is starting to rub off on me. I'm starting to talk like him."
Richard leaned in and whispered, "Is this the side effect of the new formula?"
Alex shook his head, a faint smile ghosting across his lips. He glanced at the rest of the soldiers as three more were dragged forward, faces twisted in pain. His tone dropped to a lethal chill. "No need to be afraid, but watch closely. Their pain, their suffering… and their deaths—that is the fate awaiting every traitor."
The first man's body began melting from internal heat, yet his lips twisted into a mocking smile. He mouthed, "Hail… Hydra…" before collapsing. His burnt-black eyes stared lifelessly; the oath had scorched not just his body, but his soul.
Four traitors had been uncovered in a single night—even within this carefully chosen Phoenix Squadron.
The hall fell silent. Everyone was shocked. No one had ever witnessed such a thing before, but then again, their new leader was full of surprises.
Alex turned to Elias, their intelligence officer. "We need a dedicated agency to prevent infiltration like this." Elias lowered his gaze, guilt in his eyes. "I'm not blaming you. We simply never prioritized counterintelligence before. That changes now. You'll lead the new agency—and find out everything you can from these traitors' remains."
---
The Senate chamber buzzed with reporters, cameras flashing. Tony Stark lounged in his chair, flipping through notes he had no intention of reading, tossing smirks at the panel.
Alex sat beside him with an unreadable expression. Unlike Tony, he wasn't here to entertain. He was here to dismantle accusations with precision.
The hearing targeted the recent attack on Hammer Industries and alleged illegal human enhancements. Senator Stern leaned forward. "Mr. Kane, are you denying involvement in developing these… enhanced soldiers?"
Alex met his gaze. "I deny the use of any illegal human experimentation. As for the bioweapon you mentioned, Extremis was originally invented by Dr. Maya Hansen to better mankind. Her vision was noble—until Dr. Aldrich Killian twisted it into a method for creating unstable, weaponized subjects."
Murmurs rippled. Alex continued, "Killian's work created living time bombs. Some self-destructed in catastrophic explosions. They weren't soldiers; they were victims."
Alex gestured to the monitors. A news still filled the screen: "Tennessee—Soldier Kills Self in Suicide Bombing." The anchor's crawl labeled it a suicide bombing; local reports called it an isolated act of terror. The chamber absorbed the headline in stunned silence.
"This is what Killian's test subjects became when his experiments failed—volatile, unstable, unpredictable time bombs. And he covered it up in various ways," Alex said, voice flat. He turned his gaze toward the gallery. "And Justin Hammer backed him. It was Hammer's funding and access that let Killian continue when he should have been stopped."
A hush ran through the room. Alex reached into his coat and produced a sealed document, setting it on the table for the cameras. "This is a SHIELD capture order for Aldrich Killian, signed by Director Nick Fury. It authorizes me to use necessary force to apprehend him," he announced.
This was one of the preparations he had made for this day, secured through an arrangement with Director Fury in exchange for a favor.
"First, I will explain that Dr. Hansen and I pursued research aimed solely at medical applications." Then he proceeded to show a simulation of a patient regenerating a lost limb. "Let me introduce you to the Rebirth Potion—a formula that, unlike Extremis, cannot be weaponized. This potion will remain under the stewardship of Dr. Hansen and Kane International to ensure it never falls into the wrong hands."
Alex turned to the crowd. "Once perfected, it will revolutionize humanity, and I will see to it that its benefits are accessible to everyone, the rich and poor alike.
Everyone began clapping and cheering. Tony seized the moment to jab at Stern, "You should be thanking us. We take care of the bad guys to keep the people safe—and now we're trying to save even more. Instead of supporting us, you support murderers and warmongers." Alex shot him a glance at the phrasing, but the crowd murmured in agreement with Tony's words.
Stern, realizing the scene was slipping out of his control, angrily adjourned the committee and stormed off. Tony turned back to the crowd, flashing a victory sign, drawing another wave of cheers. He was clearly enjoying the spotlight. Alex just smiled faintly and shook his head.
'Such an attention seeker.'
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