One Bite…

There was no way they were leaving after being handed such a fine Qilin Arm for free.

They had to go advertise it properly…

Anyway, amid a plane full of grumbling, the Quinjet landed outside a jungle.

Beyond the jungle lay Hydra’s secret fortress.

After setting the Quinjet to stealth mode, the group prepared to cross the jungle.

"Be careful. Hydra’s hidden sentries are everywhere in the jungle!"

Carter closed her eyes to sense the area, then warned everyone with a grave expression:

"Even if I can detect their positions in advance, we should avoid letting them support one another…"

"Uh, actually, it doesn’t need to be that troublesome."

Oaks gave a light cough and interrupted Carter’s arrangements:

"In a place full of trees like this, I happen to have quite a bit of experience."

The three Avengers who had witnessed Oaks’ power exchanged glances in unison and began silently mourning Hydra.

Skoll merely tilted his head disdainfully—

He alone could wipe out every hidden sentry inside, let alone his master.

Seeing that Steve, Natasha, and Barton had no objections, Carter, Bucky, and Sam quietly watched Oaks step forward alone.

"Nature Force, heed my call… Forest, how about opening a path for us?"

As light flickered in Oaks’ hand, the six people and one dog watched in amazement as the trees before them grew and intertwined, forming two impenetrable walls!

The two walls extended from before them all the way ahead, and through the passage between them, they could see Hydra’s fortress on the other side!

The disturbance in the forest had clearly alerted Hydra’s hidden sentries, but without the Mind Stone, Baron Strucker did not yet possess limitless energy to create those powerful weapons!

Armed only with conventional weapons, Hydra’s hidden sentries had no way to breach the forest barriers’ formidable defenses!

Not only that, when they gathered together, countless vines and roots burst from the ground and bound them firmly in place.

The next moment, it was as if the Stars were visible in the daytime sky. Fine stardust rained down, and terrifying explosions wiped out all the Hydra agents on both sides of the forest barriers!

"…I feel like there was no need for us to come," Sam could not help complaining.

"I thought he was just a doctor."

Bucky instinctively touched the Goose portrait on his mechanical arm and swallowed hard:

"I think cats are pretty great too."

"Well, the power of nature truly is incredibly strong."

Carter instinctively touched her lower abdomen. Her power came from Oaks, so when he acted, she felt it most deeply—

It was as though he had merged with the forest itself.

For that brief instant, Carter had felt as if the forest itself had destroyed Hydra’s hidden sentries.

"Let’s go."

Steve had already become somewhat accustomed to what these magic users could accomplish:

"Skoll, please."

Oaks nodded. Skoll licked his lips and rose to his feet, transforming into a massive Magic Wolf before everyone and startling Bucky—

When Bucky had fought him before, Skoll had not been this large.

"Get on, Bucky!"

The five members of the Howling Commandos were already used to it. Skoll had worked with them many times.

Aside from Sam, who flew on his own, Steve, Carter, Natasha, and Barton all climbed onto Skoll’s back.

Bucky gave a wry smile and jumped onto Skoll’s back as well:

"Looks like I’ll need a lot of time to get used to this world."

Oaks transformed directly into Falcon form and flew toward Hydra’s fortress alongside Sam, while Skoll carried the others after them on the ground.

Baron Strucker had already discovered that the forest, which had originally served as a barrier, had undergone a tremendous change—

Not only had the hidden sentries been wiped out, but what was going on with those trees?!

"Mobilize all defensive forces!"

In the surveillance room, Baron Strucker’s face was dark. The Mind Scepter had been lost in broad daylight, and somehow Sokovia had learned that his side was Hydra!

"Baron! Colonel Zemo is still leading troops against our forces. At most, we can pull back half our manpower for defense!"

A subordinate came to report:

"Since our identities were exposed, Sokovia has uncovered dozens of our agents already!"

"Hmph, damn Zemo…"

Baron Strucker clenched his fists tightly:

"The rebels and the government actually reached an agreement under his mediation, specifically to target us…

He’s just an insignificant colonel!"

Glancing at the surveillance feed showing the Howling Commandos charging straight in, Baron Strucker gritted his teeth:

"Forget Zemo! Captain America is leading the new Howling Commandos!

Bring out every weapon and piece of equipment we can use. Draw upon all the energy we have stored, and recall all armed forces!"

He turned and walked out of the laboratory:

"No matter how strong they are, there are only a few of them. We have our trump cards too!"

"Yes, Baron!"

The subordinate accepted the order and left, while Baron Strucker headed to a special room.

"The time to act has come, Pietro, Wanda."

He looked at the twins turning their gazes toward him, a vicious smile curling at the corner of his mouth:

"Though Stark isn’t here, there are four Avengers among those who came. Capture them, and you can even storm Avengers Tower and kill Stark!"

"Avengers? Hmph…"

Pietro Maximoff sneered and rose from his chair:

"I wonder whether they can keep up with my speed!"

"Brother, they are Avengers after all."

Wanda Maximoff tilted her head and watched Baron Strucker for a while. A red gleam flashed through her eyes, making him involuntarily take a step back:

"I wonder what kind of pasts they have. I can barely wait to take a look."

"…They’re almost here. Prepare for battle!"

Boom—

Before he had even finished speaking, Baron Strucker heard a tremendous blast, followed by the building shaking—

Sam had launched a small missile, which struck the blue shield that had just risen outside Hydra’s fortress.

"The shield can hold for a little while longer. You must hurry!"

Baron Strucker shouted sharply and turned to run toward the laboratory—

If things became impossible, he had to destroy those records!

Yet before he had made it halfway, it was as if he had slammed into a bizarre space—

"Awooo~"

His vision abruptly went dark, and Baron Strucker vanished from where he stood.

Boom—!!

This was no longer the tremor of a single small missile. Oaks and Skoll had joined forces to summon Solar Force, and a thick beam of sunlight descended as if fired directly from the sun overhead, striking the shield head-on!

Without the Mind Stone, relying only on the energy Hydra had stored beforehand, the shield could not last more than a few minutes against such intense solar flames!

As the shield shattered with a thunderous crash, the Howling Commandos, having already taken out the outer watchtowers, launched their assault on the fortress!