Alexander Pierce.
Former director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
A close friend of Nick Fury's mentor.
In fact, Fury came to lead S.H.I.E.L.D. precisely thanks to his support from the shadows.
But now...
That old agent, already nearing retirement, personally stood in the middle of the road blocking Fury's vehicle.
Arms spread wide, as if to embrace an old friend, he looked directly at the approaching vehicle.
Zzzzzzuuuum——!
Fury stepped on the gas.
Without hesitation, he accelerated straight at him.
He was no longer the old acquaintance.
Pierce wasn't just a Hydra agent, he was their pinnacle.
His identity had been revealed, along with a plan that included blood rituals and human sacrifices in exchange for the power of dark deities.
"I'm sorry, Fury…"
"You could have seen a better world."
"A world ruled by Hydra, without chaos, without oppression…"
As the car raced toward him, Alexander Pierce didn't move.
Instead, he calmly stepped forward, as if he was the one in control, not the vehicle hurtling toward him at full speed.
Like from the darkness, shadows from the surroundings began to gather around him.
In an instant, a black spear formed in his hand, shaped from pure shadow.
"You don't understand, Fury… Hydra is stronger than ever."
Without blinking, he threw the spear.
The spear pierced through the supposedly impenetrable body of Fury's vehicle.
It pierced the windshield and pinned the car to the asphalt.
Boom!
The impact force stopped the car instantly.
The inertia flung Nick Fury forward.
His head slammed into the dashboard.
He almost lost consciousness.
Screech...
Pierce slowly approached.
With his bare hands, he opened the damaged door, grabbed Fury, and pulled him out.
He threw him to the ground like nothing.
"See? This is the power I now possess."
"The power of the Shadow God."
He spread his arms, his voice full of pride.
He laughed, a laugh of a man who had waited years to show his true face.
Then he leaned over Fury.
"Fury, Hydra's rise is unstoppable."
"Come with me. Join us."
"So, what's the price, Pierce?"
"That 'god' you worship…"
There's no power without a price. Fury knows that better than anyone.
He spat blood and added with a mocking smile:
"How much does it cost?"
"A little blood... and one human life."
Pierce shook his head with disdain.
To him, the Shadow God was generous.
For that much power, to sacrifice one man?
A perfect deal.
"Fury, you can't even imagine the mercy of the Shadow God."
But it was clear Fury was rejecting the offer. And firmly.
Pierce didn't hesitate. The shadow spear formed in his hand once more.
"Don't worry, your funeral will be dignified."
The spear flew—
Boom!
The ground shook.
A beam of light shot down from the sky, hitting Pierce and knocking him over.
A moment later, Tony Stark landed, leaving a trail of energy behind him.
His repulsor was aimed directly at Pierce.
"I've calibrated the intensity so this can vaporize half your body."
"So I suggest you don't do anything stupid."
After the last defeat, Stark spent days upgrading his armor.
The weapons system was now fully enhanced.
"Stark?"
Nick Fury was shocked.
He didn't expect Tony to come to his rescue.
"Jarvis picked up an alert from your car's AI."
"By the way, I'm that 'incompetent engineer' you insulted earlier."
Tony added sarcastically.
In reality, he had only given a few technical tips for the system.
At that moment, another voice was heard.
From the shadows, a young man emerged, Aron.
"Aron?"
Fury was even more confused.
How did so many people show up out of nowhere?
"You… how long have you been here?"
Tony asked, surprised.
Jarvis hadn't detected anyone else.
"For a while."
"I planned to let this loser die and then step out."
"I didn't expect to have to save you. Seriously, the good die fast, and scum lives forever."
Aron shrugged, completely indifferent.
"???"
Nick Fury stared at him.
"He's Hydra!" he shouted, pointing at Pierce, trying to clearly emphasize who the villain was.
But Aron didn't even look at Fury.
He hadn't come because of their internal disputes.
Then he addressed Pierce.
"You said… your Shadow God told you to kill someone?"
As he approached, he sensed the same shadow energy as in all the previous Hydra fanatics.
Unstable, polluted, without control.
Trash.
"Let me guess. That 'sacrifice' is me, isn't it?"
He said with a smile.
…
Pierce remained silent. That said it all.
The deal with the Shadow God was clear, kill Aron, at any cost.
"You can kill me, but it won't change anything!"
"Hydra will grow! Cut off one head, two more grow back!"
Even though he knew he couldn't escape, Pierce was still arrogant.
"You!" he addressed Aron.
"The Shadow God gave the order! Wherever you run, Hydra will find you!"
His speech was theatrical, filled with the weight of his experience.
But Aron just raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know if you're stupid or just believe too much in fairy tales."
"If that Shadow God of yours is really that powerful, why didn't he come kill me himself?"
He laughed mockingly.
"You know what, maybe it's better if you believe I'm Qin Shi Huang and that I'll make you a general when I return from the dead."
"Ridiculous."
He finished, and then coldly struck him straight in the head.