"What is that…?" Steve froze.
Even Saitama and Weekend Special looked puzzled.
"Master, there's no data on it," the AI reported. "It's not in any Marvel world database I've collected."
But it looked familiar.
…
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, the lights still blazed late into the night.
In the director's office, Alexander Pierce stood before a holographic screen.
Wearing a control helmet—one modeled after Stark's tech—he piloted something enormous from afar.
"This headgear uses stolen Stark technology," said bald Minister Williams with a smile.
"After the Chitauri invasion, we didn't just prepare Project Insight. We launched… Project Hunter."
Pierce smiled coldly.
The Hunter Project.
Born from fear of gods and monsters—Thor, the Destroyer, Iron Man… and Saitama.
The governments, desperate to control the uncontrollable, secretly built a weapon.
A giant war machine forged from Stark's stolen designs, twisted by Hydra's ambitions.
Hunter Prototype One.
And Pierce was at the controls.
"Of course," Pierce muttered. "The future belongs to Hydra. Hail Hydra!"
Williams echoed the cry.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was Hydra now.
…
Back in the ruins of New Jersey—
"Bucky! It's me! Steve, your brother!" Steve shouted desperately.
His long-lost friend, torn apart in war, rebuilt as Hydra's Winter Soldier, stood before him.
But Bucky's only answer was a hail of bullets.
Tat-tat-tat!
Steve raised his shield, blocking the barrage, but Bucky lunged like a predator.
The metal arm struck like thunder.
Clang!
Vibranium shield met steel fist, the impact hurling Steve back. A savage kick sent him sprawling.
"So strong… stronger than I expected," Steve gasped.
"Leave Bucky to me. You handle that monster," he told Saitama, drawing Bucky away.
Saitama tilted his head, eyes blankly following the massive machine in front of him.
It resembled the Asgardian Destroyer—but bristling with weapons, even hidden cannons on its shoulders.
"Looks like more firepower than Stark's suits," Saitama muttered.
"That's right!" Pierce's voice boomed from the mech. "This isn't a toy like Stark's armor. This is Hydra's trump card—the Hunter!"
The giant Gatling spun.
Bullets that could pierce tanks rained down.
Clang clang clang!
Weekend Special dissolved into a black mist, shielding Saitama from the storm.
Pierce sneered. "So it's you, not Stark, who wields Earth's greatest tech. All the better. If bullets fail… then try missiles!"
The mech's shoulders glowed.
"Master! Destroyer-class energy detected!" Weekend Special warned.
Twin beams of searing orange light roared out, enough to level a city.
But the strain twisted the prototype's cannons, leaving them mangled and useless.
Pierce laughed. "This power isn't something Stark could dream of! You're finished!"
But his grin froze.
Because Saitama hadn't even moved.
He let the beams hit him.
On his retina, faint words appeared:
"Absorption Talent Activated. Absorbed Destroyer Flame. Gained: Pseudo-Destroyer Flame. Stored: 23%."
Saitama's body glowed red-hot, steam hissing from his ears and nostrils.
He looked like an iron furnace made flesh.
"…I just saw him eat my attack," Pierce whispered in horror.
"Not bad," Saitama said. "But if that's all, you're weaker than Stark."
He rubbed his nose, exhaled—
And unleashed the stolen fire.
WHOOM!
The Pseudo-Destroyer Flame erupted from his mouth, a tidal wave of fire that swallowed the battlefield whole.
(End of Chapter)
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