Thunder Strike

"Bloodline resonance? It must be the owner of Hope Blood. Looks like I can have an extra meal tonight."

After hearing Elektra’s report, Wang Bert narrowed his eyes slightly. After thinking for a moment, he instructed, "Elektra, remain undercover and wait for orders."

"Yes, Master."

Elektra immediately agreed. Waiting was a required lesson for an assassin.

After hanging up, Wang Bert stroked his chin. "The Ten Rings? I wonder what abilities they have?"

Just then, the phone rang. It was Mercury. "General Ross came to Osborn Corporation to demand War Abomination and the Drone Armor. His attitude was rather arrogant. It makes me want to punch him."

"Give him War Abomination and some of the Drone Armor. The military funded their creation in the first place."

Wang Bert smiled and said, "But don’t let them take a single step into the Experiment Base. If they try to force their way in, attack them directly."

Mercury nodded. "Understood."

Wang Bert put down the phone and could not help shaking his head. General Ross really was unlucky. He had finally been reinstated, only to board the Vice President’s sinking ship.

"You’ll never have a chance to become Secretary of State in this lifetime."

Wang Bert smiled, took out a pager, and sent a message. Not long afterward, a reply came back: "Received."

After putting away the pager, Wang Bert walked out onto the balcony. Now, all that remained was to wait for the war to begin.

"Damn Osborn Corporation. Once I take power, I definitely won’t let you off."

General Ross cursed as he left Osborn Corporation. Those Vampires had been far too arrogant. They had actually dared to threaten him with guns.

Fortunately, he had obtained War Abomination and the Drone Armor. General Ross took them and rushed to the port Frontlines at top speed, where a temporary command center had already been established.

"General."

A soldier came over and reported, "S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Helicarrier has departed and is expected to arrive in three hours."

General Ross asked, "Good. What about the Super Heroes?"

The soldier replied, "They’re still scouting the port, but it hasn’t gone well. Whether it’s Drone Armor or drones, the moment they enter the fog, they’re immediately destroyed.

"Also, the Super Hero called Wind Demon tried to blow away the fog, but failed."

"What a nuisance."

General Ross said, "Get Iron Man, Rhodey, Steve, and Watchmen Company’s person in charge here for a meeting."

"Yes, General."

The soldier immediately went to carry out the order. Before long, Iron Man, Steve, War Machine Rhodey, and Electro arrived. General Ross said bluntly, "Tony Stark, Steve, Electro, from now on, you will follow my command."

Tony Stark frowned. Electro said coldly, "We will follow your command, but if your orders are problematic, we have the right to refuse. Also, any losses incurred while following your orders will be fully covered by the military."

Tony looked at Electro enviously. He wanted that kind of privilege too.

General Ross angrily said, "Are you defying orders?"

Electro was completely unafraid. He said, "President Ellis granted us this privilege. Unless the new president revokes it, it remains valid. Besides, Watchmen Company has a large number of liability exemption clauses. If needed, I can read them out to you."

General Ross glared fiercely at Electro, but Electro was not afraid of him in the slightest, wearing a cold sneer.

War Machine hurriedly smoothed things over. "I’m sure General Ross’s orders won’t have any problems."

"Of course not."

General Ross snorted and projected the situation at the port. "S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Helicarrier will arrive in three hours. When it does, we will launch a direct assault."

"A direct assault? What about the president and the hostages at the port?"

Tony asked, "Mayor George calculated that there are roughly two thousand hostages at the port and on the cargo ships under Mandarin’s control."

Steve added, "I think the hostages should be our priority."

"The president won’t be easily killed by an explosion. As for the hostages, we can’t concern ourselves with that now. Eliminating Mandarin and protecting America’s interests are more important."

General Ross spoke casually. He did not care at all whether the president lived or died. Or rather, it would be even better if the president died, because then the Vice President could take office.

President Ellis gave Blood God so many privileges. He’s practically a traitor to humanity. It’s a good thing Mandarin captured him.

General Ross thought to himself, The Vice President is America’s future!

Tony and Steve both frowned deeply. Tony wanted to say something, but War Machine pulled him back and whispered, "There’s no helping it. America can’t yield."

Tony and Steve could only sigh. Electro sneered from the side. He had known General Ross would do this.

General Ross glanced at Electro and said, "Once the Helicarrier arrives, you will stand by aboard it and coordinate with it in battle."

Electro shook his head. "I refuse."

General Ross angrily said, "Electro, are you provoking me? This is a perfectly reasonable order."

"It isn’t reasonable. Blood God said that the Helicarrier has no Defense Shield, so there’s an eighty percent chance it’ll crash every time it flies."

Electro said, "I can’t gamble with the lives of Super Heroes."

General Ross said, "The Helicarrier has been upgraded. It won’t fall again."

Electro said, "It still doesn’t have a Defense Shield."

General Ross was furious. Tony hurriedly said, "Electro, you stay behind to protect the command center. Mandarin may send people to ambush us here. Rhodey, Steve, and I will go to the Helicarrier."

This time, Electro did not refuse. "Fine."

General Ross glared resentfully at Electro and said, "Fine. When the battle begins, if anyone dares to slack off, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

"Super Heroes never fear battle."

Electro left those words behind and turned to gather the other Super Heroes: Sin Buster, Absorbing Man, Wind Demon, and the rest.

Watching Electro’s retreating back, General Ross snorted. These Super Heroes were far too unruly. Once he gained power, he would have to find a way to control them and make them obediently follow military orders.

General Ross was now filled with ambition. As long as he won this war, his future would be limitless! Outside the camp, Electro relayed General Ross’s decision. Damon sneered. "For a General who could even sacrifice students just to capture Hulk, making this kind of decision is perfectly normal."

"I hate the military, and I hate General Ross even more."

Power Man, who had once been captured by the military and used in human experiments, said irritably, "Electro, what do we do next? Those hostages are innocent."

Electro smiled. "Don’t worry. Mr. Wang will step in and resolve everything. We only need to follow orders."

Everyone immediately relaxed upon hearing that. With Mr. Wang around, nothing was a problem.

Three hours passed in a flash. The Helicarrier flew in from the horizon, and Iron Man and the others immediately flew up to it.

Alexander Pierce agreed to let Iron Man and the others board, but only on the deck. He said, "Tony, please understand. The inside of the Helicarrier cannot be opened to outsiders."

Tony nodded. "No problem, Director Pierce. These High-Temperature People can explode. Your Helicarrier has no Defense Shield, so be careful."

Pierce frowned. He felt Tony was being oddly sarcastic. He had heard what Blood God said as well.

"Don’t worry. With the Helicarrier’s firepower, the High-Temperature People won’t have a chance to get close."

Pierce said that and cut off the communication. Then, he said to Peacemaker Rumlow, "Rumlow, if anything happens to me, you take command."

Rumlow glanced at Pierce’s holographic projection and asked in confusion, "Sir, why are you using a holographic projection to command us?"

"I have a feeling something is off. It’s more convenient for me to remain at headquarters."

Pierce said, "Besides, everyone aboard the carrier is one of us. No one knows my true situation."

Rumlow immediately said, "Hail Hydra!"

"Hail Hydra!"

Pierce smiled triumphantly. Before long, the whole world would belong to Hydra.

On the Helicarrier’s deck, Human Torch looked up at the sky, where electric snakes slithered through the clouds, and frowned. "Mr. Stark, I have a bad feeling. This Helicarrier might really crash."

"This weather is strange. Jarvis, is New York expecting a thunderstorm tonight?"

Tony asked. Jarvis replied, "Sir, there is no rain forecast in New York tonight. Also, this thundercloud is only present near the port."

"Magic, or technology?"

Tony frowned. After thinking for a moment, he said to War Machine and Steve, "Let’s leave the carrier and guard the surrounding area."

War Machine nodded, then asked, "All right. Should we notify S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"No. They should have precautions in place."

Tony said. He was eager for the Helicarrier to have an accident. The only pity was that Pierce had not come in person—how could such a petty trick fool Tony Stark? At Blood God Manor, Wang Bert, President Ellis, Carter, and Lilith were watching a live feed from the port. Unlike the military, they could see inside the port—Elektra had planted cameras.

On the screen, a richly dressed middle-aged man stood on the deck, aiming the green ring on the middle finger of his left hand at the sky. As the green ring continuously flashed with electricity, the clouds above grew thicker and thicker, while the lightning became increasingly dense.

Wang Bert said, "It seems this ring can not only release lightning, but also summon it."

Carter asked, "Blood God, is this magical power or technological power?"

"I don’t know either."

Wang Bert shook his head. Looking at Mandarin on the screen, his black hair whipping in the wind, Wang Bert really wanted to dub him—The blue sky is dead. The yellow sky shall rise.

"It really does suit him."

Wang Bert could not help smiling. President Ellis asked worriedly, "Blood God, this real Mandarin looks quite formidable."

Wang Bert smiled. "Don’t worry. As long as he is still within the bounds of humanity, he is no match for me."

"That’s good."

President Ellis sighed in relief. Whether they won or lost tonight, and who would rule America, depended on Blood God.

"Prepare to attack!"

When the Helicarrier reached the edge of the fog, Pierce ordered, "Don’t hold back. Bomb them directly. The military will take the blame for anything that happens."

"Understood."

Everyone was about to begin firing when the electric snakes in the sky suddenly converged directly above the Helicarrier. Then, all the lightning bolts struck at once, raining down densely upon the Helicarrier.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The Helicarrier was instantly hit hard. Numerous facilities exploded, causing heavy casualties. Worse still, the entire system was destroyed. All four engines shut down simultaneously, and the Helicarrier plummeted at an astonishing speed.

Naturally, Pierce’s holographic projection vanished on the spot.

Because Tony and the others were not aboard the carrier, they escaped disaster. Human Torch cried out, "Isn’t that a little excessive?"

"It really is excessive. If that was caused by that Mandarin guy, we’re in serious trouble."

Tony also gasped sharply. Looking at the falling Helicarrier, he shook his head. "It crashed again, just as expected. Jarvis, make a note: before we have a Defense Shield, never build large flying equipment."

Jarvis said, "Noted."

"It just crashed like that?"

General Ross, who had been waiting to see the Helicarrier display its might, cursed loudly. "Did S.H.I.E.L.D. come here to be a joke?"

The S.H.I.E.L.D. Council and America’s upper echelon were also dumbfounded. They had spent so much money on the Helicarrier, and it had crashed without even firing a shot? Could it be shoddy construction?

"Damn it, what do we do?"

Inside the falling Helicarrier, Rumlow frowned deeply and hesitated—should he have everyone transform into Lizardmen to escape?

If they transformed, everyone could survive, but Hydra’s existence would be exposed to the world.

If they did not transform, everyone except Rumlow would die.

Before Rumlow could decide, the others made the decision for him. Under the threat of death, many of them instinctively transformed into Lizardmen.

It was worth mentioning that Hydra agents had been injected with an improved version of the Lizard Serum. They would not think of themselves as Lizardmen, but they had to inject a drug at regular intervals, or they would become like Kingpin and the others.

Seeing this, Rumlow immediately shouted, "Everyone who can become a Lizardman, transform now, then carry the others and jump down."

Someone objected, "Captain, that will expose Hydra’s existence."

"At a time like this, we can’t worry about that. Follow my orders and act immediately."

Rumlow shouted. Everyone complied. Before long, a group of Lizardmen leaped from the Helicarrier while carrying ordinary people.

"What are those?"

General Ross, the government’s upper echelon, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Council members all saw the Lizardmen and were greatly shocked. The Council members called Pierce and Hill one after another, but none of the calls went through.

At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Pierce cut off the entire headquarters network, then slammed his fist onto the desk in fury. Damn Mandarin. Damn Rumlow.

"At this point, we can only launch the operation by force. Hail Hydra!"

Pierce pulled a special communicator from his pocket and viciously pressed it.

As Pierce acted, every Hydra agent’s phone began ringing. Then, the S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem on their phones vanished, replaced by Hydra’s skull insignia.

"Hail Hydra!"

Every Hydra agent knew the operation had begun. They immediately drew the pistols from their waists and shot the colleagues they had been drinking and boasting with moments earlier, then seized control of the surrounding area as quickly as possible.

After pressing the special communicator, Pierce took out a customized phone—he had not cut off Hydra’s dedicated network—and ordered the Hydra agents inside headquarters, "Take over headquarters and send the remaining two Helicarriers into the air. Also, kill Maria Hill."

"Yes."

The Hydra agents eagerly agreed. After waiting so long, this day had finally arrived.

After giving his orders, Pierce thought for a moment and called Lizard Doctor. "Bring all your creations to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters."