Fury wasn't bluffing. He did have reinforcements, but not many. The fact that this base was researching the Tesseract couldn't be known by too many people. If it weren't for that scoundrel Hong Fei coming to rob the place directly, he would never have let Tony and Steve in on it. The military's support was the real ace up his sleeve.
It was no secret that General Ross coveted the Abomination, so Fury had notified him early. Ross was likely already en route. Additionally, Fury was prepared to deploy those new weapons that hadn't been fully completed yet. Even if their origin was exposed, he'd already devised an explanation; that Thor character who appeared and disappeared inexplicably made for a perfect cover story.
Though this was only their second encounter, Fury had already mapped out how to handle Hong Fei. An enemy who intentionally hides his identity still has certain scruples—they won't suddenly go off the deep end. But an enemy without any scruples? That's a whole different ballgame.
Completely exposing Hong Fei's identity wasn't the way to go, especially since no one had obtained direct evidence yet. Even Tony's science had become unreliable. Acting rashly wasn't advisable. Faced with accusations without evidence, Hong Fei had plenty of options.
He could file a lawsuit outright, bribe government officials—even congressmen—and stir up a storm that would give everyone a massive headache. In a capitalist society, dollars speak louder than evidence. So, the current stalemate was the best scenario for both sides.
Either Fury could win outright, regaining the initiative and doing as he pleased, or maintain the status quo while rapidly expanding his influence until he could take Hong Fei down. If Hong Fei showed up unannounced again like today, Fury wouldn't hold back. That much was clear.
Seeing Tony and Steve standing side by side in front of him, Fury felt a flicker of relief. At least he still had some capable allies. Eight armored figures stood ready. Though they were formidable, let's not forget Tony had hundreds of suits in reserve. They could hold out for a while.
As long as they held out until General Ross's forces arrived, combined with the military's firepower, Tony and Steve could take them down in one fell swoop. As for Hong Fei, he didn't particularly care how many reinforcements Fury had. The primary goal of this operation was the Tesseract, but he also aimed to achieve a breakthrough in energy.
To achieve that breakthrough, he needed to escalate this situation as much as possible. Therefore, the more reinforcements Fury had, the better. Of course, if the opponent's assault turned out to be overwhelmingly ferocious, Hong Fei would simply take Fury's head and the Tesseract, then make a swift exit.
He was confident in pulling off a strategic retreat—unless someone decided to drop a nuclear bomb right now. But this was the area between Washington D.C. and New York, with a nearby town. Plus, Fury, Tony, and Steve were all on the field. Hong Fei and his crew weren't alien invaders.
If anyone actually dared to use a nuclear bomb on their own soil to take out a handful of enemies, then Master Hong would concede they were truly bold. The confrontation erupted in an instant. Tony was the first to move. His faceplate snapped shut with a metallic clang, and he surged forward, charging straight at Hong Fei.
However, his attack plan quickly failed because Frank took the initiative to fly up and collide with him, and the two of them flew into the sky while fighting. At this moment, Jessica also shot into the sky. She didn't rely on the power of armor to fly, but used her own more agile and effortless flight ability.
She dove straight into the hundreds of suits of armor nearby, using her own immense strength, supplemented by the armor's energy attacks. Upon contact, she tore the head off one of the five-man armors. Consequently, more armors launched attacks at her, but Jessica didn't foolishly stay in place; she flew into the distance while seizing opportunities to counterattack.
Ivan was the third to make a move, ascending into the air and brandishing his long whip. The Abomination roared and soared into the sky, wielding his mace. Three people attracted Tony's Iron Legion, which numbered over a hundred. Big Head spread his arms and floated up, his Psychic Power rushing toward the surrounding Agents.
One by one, they turned their guns on Fury, though a portion of them remained unaffected by the Psychic Power, and these people quickly engaged. Luke Cage clenched his fists and looked at the remaining people opposite him, but he didn't glance over at Hong Fei, instead staring at Yelena and Antonia. Yelena: "Don't look at me, I'm not interested in playing with you."
As she spoke, she pointed at Natasha. Natasha certainly knew her identity and shook her head slightly. The two of them tacitly walked to the side and were soon locked in a fight. Hong Fei: "Antonia, leave those two to you." Antonia nodded and turned to throw her shield at Luke Cage. Luke Cage caught it with both hands.
The next second, Antonia arrived in front of him like a teleportation, kicking Luke Cage, person and shield alike, sending him stumbling back. Hearing the sound, Matt flicked his blind cane, which transformed into a long staff, and attacked Antonia directly. Hong Fei: "It's just us left." Steve nodded.
Although he had thought about the possibility of fighting Hong Fei at S.H.I.E.L.D., he never expected it to be so soon. However, Fury was right there, so he didn't say much, only pressing his lips together tightly with a solemn look in his eyes. As the other battles around them became more intense, Steve adjusted his breathing, clenched his fists, and suddenly launched a preemptive attack.
Steve's physical state was still that of a 27-year-old; in other words, he was still the super soldier who had run rampant and turned the world upside down on the World War II battlefield, and his peak might still be far from arriving. He lacked neither strength, speed, nor technique. An ordinary, plain, and unremarkable swing punch kicked off the prelude to their battle.
Hong Fei did not use the Eyes of Death to dodge, but instead met him head-on with a tough stance and his own body. Clenching his right fist, he twisted and struck out. The two fists collided rigidly, emitting a muffled sound like two iron hammers slamming head-on, as if even the air had been shattered.
Immediately after, Steve's pair of fists struck like a storm hitting the Earth, interspersed with leg techniques, displaying a steady and heavy fighting style. Hong Fei did not dodge or avoid, fighting back and resisting head-on. Faced with his powerful and heavy punches and kicks, he showed no sign of weakness, nor did he retreat even half a step.
Every move he made displayed ferocity and sharpness. The two fought quickly, with continuous snapping sounds, their swift movements leaving one dazzled. But soon, Hong Fei changed his stance, and his entire demeanor changed completely. Facing Steve's attack, he turned his fist into a palm.
His arm met the opponent's fist, but instead of resisting, it went soft—fluid, boneless. His palm and wrist twisted with the effortless grace of flowing water, rotating against the fist as though kneading dough. Steve felt it immediately: a strange suction force erupted from Hong Fei's palm. The moment their hands connected, the trajectory of his power shifted uncontrollably.
Instinct took over. Steve stepped forward, stomping hard into the ground, and yanked his arm back. The move generated a fresh force to counteract his own runaway energy—two opposing forces canceling each other out perfectly. While the step relieved him from immediate danger, it left Hong Fei with an ideal angle.
Seizing the opportunity, Hong Fei extended his leg. His body trembled, and his feet sank several inches into the ground. Simultaneously, he pulled his arms back to his abdomen. Then, like a coiled dragon unfurling its spine, he snapped his arms forward with the speed and precision of arrows.
Steve sucked in his chest and scraped his toes against the ground as he flew backward, skimming just above the surface. After several meters, he alternated his feet in rapid retreat, finally regaining his footing ten meters away. His balance control was impeccable. When he looked up, his eyes burned with shock and disbelief.
The brief exchange—the final move—told him everything he needed to know. Hong Fei's strength wasn't just comparable to his own; it might even surpass it. Steve had suspected Hong Fei was extraordinary—that was the only explanation for the Abomination's submission—but he hadn't anticipated this level of raw physical power.
Hong Fei didn't press the attack. Instead, he stood still and remarked, "Without the shield, you might not be able to beat me." Steve nodded, unhooked the round shield from his back, and rubbed his burning chest. Moments later, he hurled the shield with a violent swing.
His throw carried far more force than Antonia's, and the Vibranium shield's attacking power was unmatched by ordinary alloys. Hong Fei raised his hand, channeling Qi into his fingers, and caught the shield with a coordinated pinch. As the shield left his hand, Steve charged forward.
Closing the distance, Steve kicked the shield into mid-air and followed up with a spinning roundhouse kick. Hong Fei stepped back, and Steve caught the shield mid-swing, bringing it down in a fierce arc. Hong Fei responded by summoning Dragon Power, filling his body with energy. He raised one palm skyward and struck the shield's center.
A pale golden air current erupted from the edge of his palm, and the shield emitted a low hum. Thankfully, Vibranium's kinetic energy absorption properties prevented any damage—the shield simply stopped dead in its tracks, leaving Steve unharmed. But this was only the beginning.
In a flash, Hong Fei swept his leg, striking Steve's knee and throwing him off balance. Steve wobbled, his shoulder exposed behind the shield. Hong Fei's eyes locked onto the opening like lightning. He drew back his fist like a bowstring and unleashed a punch faster and fiercer than any arrow.
However, Steve reacted with lightning speed. Almost a second before impact, he positioned the shield in front of him just in time. Boom! The gold-shrouded fist collided with the shield, triggering a sharp, explosive sound followed by a faint hum. From that moment on, Hong Fei held nothing back.
Hong Fei moved with electrifying precision—his footwork fluid, his kicks lethal. He pressed forward relentlessly, fists and palms carving through the air with razor-sharp precision. Pale golden currents of energy swirled around him, drawn into his body with each breath before surging out through his strikes.
The Vibranium shield became his sole focus. Every punch, every kick, every movement targeted its center with unerring accuracy. As his attacks grew more ferocious, the Dragon Power within him surged, boiling through his veins and merging with his very will. It was a perfect storm of skill and raw power.
Steve gripped the shield with both hands, bracing his shoulder against it. Despite his defensive stance, he was driven back step by step. His shoes scraped against the ground, leaving scorched black marks in their wake. The soles of his feet burned as if they were melting.
Hong Fei's hands came together, golden Qi swirling between his palms. With a swift motion, he thrust both hands forward. A low, guttural roar echoed through the air—a dragon's cry. The Dragon Power slammed into the shield, sending a high-frequency vibration rippling through the metal.
The sound intensified, a piercing resonance that rolled outward in all directions. As the Dragon Power clashed with the shield, dozens of pale golden energy streams erupted from its surface, spiraling through the air before obediently returning to Hong Fei's body.
Behind the shield, Steve lost his grip entirely. He flew backward, hit the ground hard, and tumbled end over end before finally coming to a stop. Every eye turned toward them. Behind Hong Fei, a towering phantom rose—a colossal dragon, its sinuous form partially obscured yet unmistakable.
The sheer presence of it pressed down on everyone nearby like a suffocating weight. It was as though they were prey caught in the gaze of a predator, or lesser beings facing a force beyond their comprehension. Their bodies froze, their minds reeled, and even their souls trembled under the overwhelming pressure.
Terrifyingly powerful! The phantom loomed like a living storm, its coiled form radiating an aura of primal dominance. No one dared move—no one dared breathe.