The subordinate pressed a few buttons on the control panel, preparing to lock onto the Quinjet piloted by Coulson's team for a missile strike.
But before he could fire, the radar screen suddenly flashed—a warning. The second missile they had just launched was now flying back toward them.
"Sir!" the subordinate shouted, panic in his voice. "That missile… oh my God, sir, there's a person standing on top of it!"
The commander spun around in disbelief. "What?"
"Look at the radar feed!"
The live feed flickered on the monitor.
There—Kai, dressed in his signature yellow-striped suit, was standing on top of the missile, surfing through the sky toward them at terrifying speed.
"What the hell…" The commander's eyes widened. "That's not humanly possible!"
But as soon as he snapped back to his senses, he barked, "Deploy all weapons! Shoot him down!"
"Sir, if we activate all systems, our stealth shield will be picked up on radar—"
"We've already been exposed since the first missile! Forget the concealment system! Whether Coulson's team survives or not, S.H.I.E.L.D. will come looking for this place anyway!"
He slammed his fist on the console. "Now, launch a full-scale attack!"
"Yes, sir!"
The order was given. Missiles roared to life below.
High above, Kai balanced effortlessly atop the missile as it streaked through the air. Below, dozens of weapon silos opened like mechanical beasts baring their fangs.
A swarm of guided warheads rose, their targeting systems locking on to him.
Kai grinned. "Oh, how scary."
He raised his hand. "Yasakani no Magatama!"
Brilliant golden photons burst from his palms, tearing through the sky like divine fire. The missiles below didn't even have time to launch before being struck by the cascading energy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A chain of violent explosions erupted across the valley, lighting up the night. Flames soared into the clouds, shockwaves ripping through the mountain range.
Within seconds, the entire valley was consumed by fire and smoke.
Kai stepped off the disintegrating missile and dove straight through the inferno. His elemental body shimmered with light, ignoring the explosions as he landed in the ruins below.
Inside the control room, alarms screamed as the base began to collapse. Dust filled the air.
The commander, covered in debris, scrambled to the flickering monitor.
Through the static, he could see Kai—walking calmly through the flames, the yellow-striped suit glowing like something out of a nightmare.
The commander's face twisted with rage and despair. "Impossible… how is he still alive after that?"
He slammed his fists onto the console, then looked around at the ruined room.
Without hesitation, he drew his pistol and aimed it at his unconscious subordinates.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three shots. Three bodies hit the floor.
Then, breathing heavily, the commander turned the gun toward his own head.
He muttered bitterly, "Why did the Elders give that order? Did they already know how strong the Flash Man was?"
"Either way… this base is done for. Whether we succeed or not, S.H.I.E.L.D. will find this place."
He bit down on the cyanide capsule hidden in his molar—then pulled the trigger.
Bang!
His body collapsed with a dull thud.
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters—Alexander Pierce's office.
Pierce sat in silence, phone in hand, his expression cold.
"Exposing the base to S.H.I.E.L.D.?" he said icily. "What the hell are you trying to do?"
"Fury already suspects Hydra's survival because of Ophelia. Now you pull this stunt? Do you want S.H.I.E.L.D. to find us and wipe us out?"
The voice on the other end chuckled—a calm, elderly tone.
"It's just… exchanging space for time, Pierce," the old man said. "You have your vision, Ophelia has hers, and we—well, we old men—have ours. It's all for Hydra's future."
The elder glanced at the lab nearby, where several orc-like test subjects were being studied by scientists.
"If S.H.I.E.L.D. investigates, let them," he continued. "They won't find anything. We've already set up our scapegoat. But be careful with Ophelia—she's ambitious. She might already be eyeing those so-called 'superheroes.'"
Pierce hung up, his expression dark and brooding.
A decade ago, these men were cunning visionaries. Now, blinded by greed, they were reckless fools.
"Trade space for time…" he muttered. "What the hell are you planning?"
He took a deep breath and pressed the intercom. "Sitwell. Get in here. Now."
Back in the Valley.
The Quinjet touched down on a small patch of surviving ground. Coulson and his team stepped out, staring at the devastation around them.
What was once a hidden valley fortress was now a wasteland of twisted metal and smoking rubble. The hollowed-out mountains had caved in; half the base was buried.
Coulson waved through the haze, spotting Kai standing nearby.
"I didn't expect a secret base like this to be hidden here," Coulson said, scanning the wreckage. "Maybe this time, we'll actually find something big."
Kai nodded. "When I was standing on that missile, there were dozens of warheads pointed right at me. Ordinary forces couldn't have gotten their hands on that kind of arsenal."
Coulson frowned. "Yeah… this wasn't just some rogue operation."
He pulled out his phone, snapped a few pictures, and dialed Nick Fury.
The air still reeked of smoke and gunpowder. Whatever had just happened here—it was only the beginning.