Dr. Merrick claimed that the moment he saw the Red Apple, he heard the voice of God.
God told him that his failures in the secretive cloning experiments were due to the absence of a soul.
Because of Dr. Merrick's devotion, he moved God, prompting God, who had long abandoned Earth, to once again turn his gaze to this world that had been corrupted by demons after his departure.
God informed Dr. Merrick that he would be the new Noah, and also the new Jesus, instructing him to use the countless pure souls within the Red Apple to create a new humanity.
Soon, God would descend to the world, once again causing a great flood to cleanse this demon-tainted world, and at that time, only he and the new humanity he created could board the new Ark to reach a new world after the flood.
Dr. Merrick believed this, and he stole the Red Apple, using the pretext of providing perfect organ matches for the wealthy to earn their investments, continuously expanding his cloning base, attempting to build an unprecedented new human race of his own creation.
Afterwards, he was captured by S.H.I.E.L.D.
But Dr. Merrick firmly believed that this was a test from God, similar to Jesus being nailed to the cross by ignorant humans in the past.
Being captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. did not shake Dr. Merrick's faith; instead, it strengthened his belief in God's promise.
He, Merrick, was the new Jesus.
Then he was rescued by Hydra. Initially, Dr. Merrick was very resistant to working with Hydra.
After all, he was chosen by God, whereas Hydra seemed to represent demons.
But he quickly came to his senses.
Hydra saved him, and S.H.I.E.L.D persecuted him, just as Jesus was persecuted in the past.
So...
Hydra was not the villain.
Dr. Merrick then reached a collaboration agreement with Hydra. Hydra promised him funding and a cloning base, and in return, Dr. Merrick would help Hydra clone their own Hydra Captain using Hawk's blood.
Hawk listened as Merrick recounted how he was chosen by God to be the new Jesus and the new Noah, then looked up at Merrick.
"What's the situation with those several buried clone bodies outside the base? Didn't you say you were building a new human race, so why create them only to destroy them?"
"It's God's will."
"Oh?"
"After God was disappointed and left humanity, demons took over Hell. To shine his light again upon this world, God needs devout souls as pioneers to fill Hell."
"So..."
Hawk, hearing this, looked at Merrick thoughtfully: "You're continuously cloning me and then killing me, just to let those formatted souls in the Red Apple pass through my clones and head to Hell?"
Dr. Merrick nodded.
"Exactly."
"So you're using my clones as a tool for soul cleansing."
"There's no choice. There are too few devout people left for God in this world, and God has lost faith in them, so he chose me."
Dr. Merrick explained thusly, and when he mentioned being chosen by God, he couldn't help but puff out his chest with apparent pride.
Hawk remained expressionless.
"Why me?"
"What?"
"If you want to help God cleanse souls, why fixate on me? Can't you clone someone else?"
"No."
"What?"
"God said, you are Samael!"
"Who?"
Hawk listened and, without waiting for Dr. Merrick to explain, instinctively raised an eyebrow: "Lucifer Morningstar?"
Dr. Merrick seemed a bit surprised, then as if realizing something, he smiled and said: "Yes, you were adopted by a church, Hawk. That's no coincidence, because you are Samael, the former Archangel."
Hawk chuckled but did not refute Merrick. Instead, he extended a hand: "Continue, I'm Archangel Samael, and this is also what God told you?"
"Yes."
"You are Samael."
"At least partially."
"God told me, your soul has also been tainted by this demon-occupied world, so cloning you, then killing you, is to help you."
Dr. Merrick nodded with unwavering certainty, then looked at Hawk with fervent eyes, saying: "Those souls that have been baptized through your clones will eventually become part of your soul. When they mature, grow, and strengthen, they will cleanse your soul, allowing your soul to evolve, and you, too, will return as Archangel Samael!"
Hawk understood.
He nodded slightly, turning to Dr. Merrick.
"So, God wants his soul to possess me?"
"No, no, no."
Dr. Merrick shook his head repeatedly.
"It's not possession, it's evolution. Your soul has already been defiled by demons, and only when pure souls re-fuse with you can you understand your true identity. You are Samael, you are the Archangel, you are..."
"Enough."
Hawk raised his hand to interrupt.
Just as excitedly, Dr. Merrick subconsciously fell silent, looking at Hawk.
Hawk then looked at Dr. Merrick.
"One last question."
"Samael, go ahead."
"Sa..."
Listening to Merrick, who was renaming him, Hawk's lips twitched again. Resisting the urge to kill Merrick on the spot, he directly asked: "Strucker, where is he, do you know?"