Chapter 204: Unstoppable, Steel-bodied Xi Nian
(TL/N: Changed Quake to Shockwave)
"Then we'll die here together!"
Realizing he had no way to resist, Dr. Zola gave up and chose another, final method, his face twisted in grim determination.
Alice, the AI, alerted immediately: "Master, he has activated the system self-destruct program. It cannot be reversed. Additionally, the missile has only ten seconds remaining, and it's almost here!"
"Ten, nine…"
Alice's countdown sounded like whispers of death.
Boom—!
Skye acted fast, slapping the ground. The basement floor shook violently, and a small metal panel was blasted open, revealing a crawl space beneath just large enough for someone to lie down.
"Xi Nian, get down there!"
Skye gritted her teeth, fighting dizziness.
Her eyes held a complex emotion as she shouted to the boy beside her, "If you survive, make sure Hydra's infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the secrets of the Insight Plan reach Captain America and Natasha!"
Xi Nian understood and, after a brief thought, jumped into the underground crawl space.
Skye attempted to cover the opening, but the boy suddenly grabbed her ankle and pulled her down!
Normally, Skye would have reacted, but still dizzy from using her powers, she fell unexpectedly alongside him.
"Five, four…"
Alice's countdown continued, nearing zero.
Inside the crawl space, Skye struggled, shouting, "What are you doing? Without me blocking the missile outside, you're dead for sure!"
"You can't protect yourself with shockwaves, idiot!"
Xi Nian sighed, then wrapped his arms around Skye, pressing her beneath him inside the crawl space.
Just as he completed this action,
Alice's countdown finished: "…two, one!"
Interwoven with it were Dr. Zola's defiant cries: "Long live Hydra!"
Outside, over the abandoned U.S. base,
An orange flame streaked through the night sky, striking the large building below with pinpoint accuracy.
The missile hit!
At that instant,
Boom!!!
The three-story complex was obliterated inch by inch. Walls, windows, and everything inside were destroyed. The massive shockwave and heat blasted through the ground, reaching the basement where the computer towers were kept!
"Meow."
Xiao Huang, outside the crawl space, puffed up in fear, her fur bristling, black spreading from her tail upward.
The shockwave swept through the basement, spilling into the crawl space, striking Xi Nian's back first as he shielded Skye.
"No…"
Skye screamed, then quickly froze.
Rumble!!
Like thunder exploding, like furious crimson fire!
Under the blast's heat and shockwave, Xi Nian's shirt ignited instantly, revealing his bare, sculpted body.
Every curve and line perfect, muscles defined like a statue forged from steel, yet without bulk.
Sizzle!!
Pants and shoes burned away in seconds, molten flame flowing over him like baptismal lava, destroying everything around but leaving not a single hair harmed!
"Shockwave!"
Skye snapped into action, using her powers.
The blast and shockwave that Xi Nian's body had slowed were pushed outward, shielding her.
Of course,
The shockwave also affected Xi Nian, but
Even under the combined assault of missile blast and shockwave, he stood unshaken, supporting Skye without strain.
Dizzy, Skye looked at the black-haired boy before her, fully exposed to the fiery torrent, his perfect body bathed in crimson flame, and for a moment, it felt like a god was watching from above with mercy.
…
The U.S. base was reduced to scorched ruins, the building wiped off the map.
Shush.
Ash fell like black snow. Xi Nian crawled out of the crawl space, his bare body unharmed despite absorbing the blast's heat.
"You okay?"
He brushed ash from his hair and looked down at the crawl space.
Skye rose, her body wrapped in a tight black agent uniform, coughing slightly. Her gaze was blocked by something abrupt.
Startled, she quickly looked away and asked, "Why did you save me?"
"Consider it returning the favor for borrowing your clothes. Shame they're completely ruined."
Xi Nian didn't care.
"Also, I'm too lazy. Handle your S.H.I.E.L.D. problems yourselves; I'm not interested."
He shrugged. Nearby, ash scattered slightly, and an orange figure leapt from it.
"No big deal, just a missile…"
Xi Nian smiled, picked up Xiao Huang, and stroked her gently, then reached into her mouth: "Give me a set of clothes, just normal ones."
Soon,
Under Skye's astonished gaze, Xi Nian pulled out a set of casual clothes from the cat's mouth.
"Xi Nian, are you… a god?" Skye asked.
He shook his head, putting on the clothes.
"No. I'm just a human blessed by a goddess."
…
Emerging from the missile-ruined ruins,
Xi Nian looked at the still-dazed Skye and blinked. "Since I saved your life, can you keep my secret? You're a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. I don't want ten, a hundred, or even a thousand people knowing about me tomorrow."
"Even if I told people, no one would believe you…" Skye gritted her teeth.
This guy.
Backed by Wonder Woman yet pretending to be a normal student. Impervious to missiles and shockwaves but acting afraid in cars. Equipped with AI and a strange cat, yet relying on her, an agent.
Skye had thought she was the one carrying the burden, escaping all day and night, always tense…
Turns out, the burden was herself?
"You still can't leave," Skye suddenly said.
"Why?"
Xi Nian looked at her, curious. He had already achieved his goal, and had class tomorrow.
"About S.H.I.E.L.D…. you're responsible for it until the end!"
Skye looked at him with a sour expression.
Huh? This the cold, sharp agent she knew?
Xi Nian was a little confused. Surely she wasn't holding him accountable?
Skye took a deep breath, voice serious. "You help me handle S.H.I.E.L.D.'s current issues, and I'll keep your secret. Not only that, I'll eliminate anyone trying to uncover your identity. I'll inform you of any S.H.I.E.L.D. action."
Xi Nian thought for a moment.
This condition isn't bad…
He had no intention of controlling S.H.I.E.L.D., but that didn't mean he'd let it continue unchecked.
Like handling the underwater empire,
Xi Nian only wanted it restored to stability, unable to pose any threat to him.
"I can agree to help you with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s current issues, but I have one condition."
He met Skye's gaze.
"What… condition?"
Skye's face reddened, forcing calm.
"I want you."
Xi Nian said seriously:
"To become the next S.H.I.E.L.D. Director!"
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