The End of World War II

While Alex was trapped in an unknown place, racking his brains over how to reach the temple, the outside world was undergoing earth-shaking changes.

On the battlefields of World War II, following the Normandy landings, the Allies had advanced like a force of nature, and the German forces had fled at the mere sight of them. Just as Germany’s defeat seemed imminent, Red Skull miraculously returned from the dead and led a Hydra army back onto the battlefields of World War II. Not only did he save Germany from its decline, but he also dealt a devastating blow to the Allied forces that had landed on the European Continent!

After suffering such a disastrous defeat, the Allies were badly weakened, and their triumphant momentum came to an abrupt halt.

At Allied headquarters, the champagne prepared to celebrate victory had not even been cleared away. The Allied generals had gathered together, their faces so grim they seemed ready to drip water!

"Speak! What exactly happened?" A stern-faced American general slammed his hand on the table and turned toward Phillips, who sat at the far end. His face looked like that of an enraged lion. "Wasn’t Hydra destroyed by Captain America? Wasn’t Red Skull already dead? Why have they appeared again?!"

Phillips looked up at the furious general, and a faint mocking expression unconsciously appeared on his wrinkled face. "General Nemo, the report submitted by the Howling Commandos never said Hydra had been destroyed. Cut off one head, and two more shall take its place—that is Hydra’s creed. Hydra was never going to be that easy to wipe out. As for Red Skull, he merely fell from a plane. It would not be impossible for him to have survived by sheer luck."

"You…" General Nemo’s face flushed red, but the anger in his heart only grew stronger. Just as he was about to speak, another voice interrupted him.

"Enough. Stop talking." The voice carried great authority, and its calm tone allowed no doubt. "Hydra has returned, so send out the Howling Commandos and cut off all nine of its heads."

"General…" General Nemo’s expression changed drastically. He turned to the middle-aged general at the head of the table and spoke urgently.

"General, the Howling Commandos are no longer the same Howling Commandos they once were." Before General Nemo could finish, Phillips spoke first. "Ever since Captain America disappeared, the remaining members of the Howling Commandos have all been driven away."

The middle-aged general at the head of the table frowned slightly and looked up at Phillips. "What happened?"

Phillips ignored the pleading look General Nemo gave him and laid out everything that had happened. "…And so, Nick Fury was driven out of the military, Natasha returned to the Soviet Union, Logan disappeared…"

"Find them!" The middle-aged general’s brow furrowed ever deeper, and his voice became anxious.

Phillips gave a bitter smile and shook his head, speaking helplessly. "Even if we find them, it will be useless. They still lack a leader. Captain America has disappeared, and no one can lead the Howling Commandos."

Just as Phillips finished speaking, a strange laugh suddenly rang out. "Perhaps I can take on that task!"

The sudden voice startled everyone present. They turned around and saw that two people had abruptly appeared behind the middle-aged general. One of them was completely red and looked extraordinarily strange.

"Sebastian Shaw?!" Phillips had dealt with the Howling Commandos more than anyone else and knew quite a bit about the Hellfire Club. He recognized the man at once. "What do you want?"

"You have encountered an opponent, so I have come to help you!" Sebastian Shaw chuckled, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

The middle-aged general’s expression did not change. Without turning around, he asked calmly, "What do you want?"

"Destroying Germany is everyone’s responsibility, isn’t it?" Sebastian Shaw’s words sounded lofty, but the smile on his face made it perfectly clear that he wanted something.

The middle-aged general wasted no words and did not ask what Sebastian Shaw wanted. He said decisively, "Fine. Hydra is yours."

"Rest assured, my general. Sebastian Shaw will not disappoint you!" Sebastian Shaw chuckled again, gave an awkward imitation of a gentleman’s bow, and vanished along with Red Devil.

When news of Red Skull’s resurrection reached Japan, Strucker shot to his feet in shock, his one eye filled with anxiety.

Across from Strucker, a figure entirely covered in black ninja garb chuckled and said unhurriedly, "It is only one Red Skull, yet he has frightened you this badly. It seems Hydra is nothing special after all!"

Strucker ignored the ninja’s mockery and paced back and forth across the room. After a long while, he suddenly stopped, turned to the ninja, and said urgently, "Red Skull must die. Otherwise, I cannot control Hydra!"

Red Skull’s influence within Hydra was terrifying. Otherwise, he would not have been able to raise a Hydra army the moment he reappeared. The current leader of Hydra was Strucker, yet Strucker had not received even the slightest word beforehand. He only learned of Red Skull’s resurrection from the battle reports after a major battle had ended.

"Do you need me to act?" The ninja’s voice turned serious, carrying a faint killing intent.

Strucker nodded without hesitation. "Kill him, and we will cooperate."

"Fine!" With that one word, the ninja turned into a cloud of black smoke and vanished in an instant.

Berlin, Germany. Red Skull stood arrogantly before Little Mustache. An intimidating gleam shone from his skinless red face. "You are no longer suited for that position. The whole world belongs to me as well!"

Hitler stared at Red Skull in terror. His little mustache trembled violently with rage as he pointed at Red Skull and opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to curse him. But Red Skull grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air. "Little dwarf, you can die now!"

As he spoke, Red Skull tightened his hands, preparing to strangle Hitler to death. But at that moment, five people suddenly appeared in the room. They were none other than Sebastian Shaw, Red Devil, and their group.

"Who are you?" Seeing the five people who had suddenly appeared, Red Skull sensed that something was wrong. The moment he finished speaking, he threw aside Little Mustache, turned, and ran.

Red Skull’s escape clearly caught Sebastian Shaw’s group off guard. They stood stunned for several seconds before recovering. "He runs pretty fast. Go after him!"

Red Skull was merely a human who had undergone an unsuccessful Super Soldier Serum enhancement. He was much stronger than an ordinary person, but when faced with the group of mutants Sebastian Shaw had brought, he was immediately outmatched and could only become a punching bag.

Within a few moves, Red Skull was captured.

"Riptide, kill a few Hydra soldiers for show." Sebastian Shaw looked at the unconscious Red Skull, then turned to Riptide. "After that, we will head back!"

A few hours later, the Hydra army led by Red Skull was completely wiped out by several tornadoes from Riptide. Having completed his task, Sebastian Shaw left with Red Skull.

Not long after Sebastian Shaw departed, a team of ninjas quietly arrived in Berlin, only to find nothing.

"What do we do now?"

"Send word back: Red Skull has been eliminated!"

Strucker quickly received the news and let out a long breath of relief. He secretly began reorganizing Hydra, intending to bring Hydra’s power completely under his control.

Meanwhile, Germany, having lost the support of Red Skull and the Hydra army, fell into decline once more. It was no match for the reorganized Allies, and its defeat had truly become inevitable.

PS: I am truly sorry for missing yesterday’s update. The power and internet were both out—what a tragedy! Scorpion will work hard to make up the two chapters owed!