Manager, give me a membership card too!

"Yes, sir."

Upon hearing Nick Fury's order, Coulson initially responded instinctively, then paused slightly, looking at his superior with a hint of surprise: "Commander Fury, I'm not qualified to do this kind of thing; you need to do it yourself."

Nick Fury shook his head decisively, slapped a black USB drive into Coulson's palm, and said solemnly, "I still have some mistakes to make up for, and I don't have time for these trivial matters."

Coulson understood almost instantly what Nick Fury was planning to do, and in a moment of panic, he quickly tried to dissuade him:

“Commander Fury, the situation at the Arctic base is unclear, and it would be too dangerous to approach rashly. This is not something you should do. Let me do it, Commander Fury! Let me lead the team to rescue the survivors inside the base. You should report to the World Security Council.”

Upon hearing this, Chief Coulson smiled with satisfaction, patted Coulson's not-so-muscular shoulder, and said in a meaningful tone:

“Agents have their responsibilities, and the director has his. I was the one who sent them to the Arctic base, so it’s my responsibility to bring them back. Even if there are only a few survivors, I will give it a try.”

Nick Fury patted Coulson on the shoulder again, gave him a push, and a relaxed smile spread across his face.

"Go, my old friend. Go and request a nuclear bomb for me. If I'm not out of the base alive in two hours, don't hesitate, blow that damned cave and everything in it to smithereens! You heard it too, that species called the Xenomorphs has an extremely terrifying reproductive capacity. Even releasing just one would be a machine-terrifying disaster for the entire human society."

“As the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., I cannot allow such a thing to happen. Therefore, I have entrusted this important task to you. Can I trust you, my old friend?”

Looking at Nick Fury's earnest expression, Coulson felt that the director's image in his heart had never shone so brightly. Feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, he couldn't help but reach out and grasp the director's hand, speaking solemnly, "Rest assured, Director, I guarantee I will complete the mission!"

The agents surrounding the two were deeply moved. With a superior who valued his subordinates so much, they would have no regrets even if they died on the battlefield right now. If Nick Fury weren't a heretic within S.H.I.E.L.D., but rather a member of Hydra, that would be truly wonderful.

Young Jill, who had also been observing the actions and expressions of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team, smiled with interest. He glanced at the young Kallen beside him, who also seemed somewhat moved, and remarked on how much younger the nun was compared to how she would be ten years later. Then, he said to Nick Fury, who was about to turn and leave:

"and many more!"

Chapter 216 Rescue Operation

Chapter 216 Rescue Operation

The boy's clear voice made Nick Fury stop in his tracks once more. A look of exasperation mixed with helplessness crossed his dark face. The director could only turn around again to look at the difficult person behind him. If it weren't for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s tight budget, why would he, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., waste his time here?

“Mr. Gilgamesh, is there anything else you want to tell me? If not, please take your friends back to the cabin. My men will escort you back home and ensure your safety.”

Nick Fury, with his bald head, believed he had done everything he could. Even in his busy schedule, he still took the time to advise his cash cow against its recklessness. Was there anyone in the world more dedicated than Nick Fury? No!

Unfortunately, Nick Fury's good intentions did not yield the desired result. Our little Jill stepped forward with great interest and spoke in her clear, youthful voice:

"My purpose in coming here is to show Karen the magnificent, boundless glaciers of the Arctic. I will not return until I have achieved my goal."

Nick Fury frowned and said in an annoyed voice, "Are you crazy? Didn't you see those terrifying black monsters? You should know more about their terrifying power than I do, so why are you still determined to go and die?"

Waving his hand dismissively, Young Gil seemed oblivious to the gravity of Chief Egg's words, and casually remarked, "You guys are going to your deaths, but we're just sightseeing. Don't lump me in with you lot, you bastards."

As he spoke, a dangerous smile crept across young Gil's lips, his crimson eyes filled with indifference. Only then did Nick Fury belatedly realize that behind the seemingly gentle, kind, polite, and elegant boy before him lay something unknown to him.

Something deadly enough.

Looking at Nick Fury, who was frozen in place, young Jill shook her head slightly in disappointment and said to the silver-haired girl beside her, "Alright, my little master, it's time to go see the glacier."

"Ok!"

Upon hearing that she could once again travel to the Arctic for research, the silver-haired girl nodded excitedly, reached out and took the strong arm of the priest beside her, and followed young Gil with a smile as they walked out of the cabin.

For her, the Arctic base, the black monsters, the heavy casualties—none of these things mattered to her. Her life's meaning, aside from the perpetually lazy Yahweh, lay in the quiet life she shared with her father. Even this Arctic research trip was only possible because her nominal follower, Young Gil, had invited her. Otherwise, Karen could have peacefully remained in the Brooklyn church for the rest of her life.

However, just as the silver-haired girl was smiling and walking towards the exit with the silent priest, the agents, who finally realized that something was wrong with their superior, took action.

"Commander Fury? Commander Fury?!"

"Damn it, they must have done something."

"Move up! Form battle formation! Arrest them and interrogate them about what they did to Commander Fury!"

As the agents, armed with long guns and short cannons, approached him, a look of keen interest appeared on young Gil's face. However, before he could even raise his hand to teach these arrogant fools a lesson, a black figure had already shot into the oncoming group of agents like an arrow.

'Da da da da da da~'

'Thump! thump!'

In less than a minute, Kirei Kotomine, having taught those who dared to point guns at his daughter a lesson with a few punches and kicks, calmly walked over to Karen, who was looking at him with admiration, while flexing his wrists. He then took the silver-haired girl's small hand in his own.

"Father, you're so handsome! Will Kallen be able to become as strong as you in the future?"

Kirei Kotomine's usually icy face softened slightly as he gently smoothed Karen's slightly disheveled hair and spoke in a gentle tone:

"Karen, do you want to learn Bajiquan from me? It's going to be very tough, you know."

"Karen isn't afraid of hard work! Karen used to be able to clean the entire church and basement all by herself. Now that she can eat her fill, she'll definitely be able to work even harder!"

With a light laugh, Kirei Kotomine patted his daughter's thin shoulder and nodded in agreement. With Rorschach's system, even though Kallen was just a young child, she could still achieve considerable success. And he could use the interaction while teaching Bajiquan to strengthen his father-daughter bond with Kallen.

Unlike the trio who were laughing and chatting as they left the warehouse, Nick Fury, who was frozen in place, was experiencing a storm of emotions.

He initially thought Gilgamesh was just a nouveau riche who had suddenly acquired a fortune and become arrogant, a spoiled brat who was not mature enough, either psychologically or physically. Therefore, he naturally had a slightly uncontrollable arrogance in his attitude towards Gilgamesh.

But now he understands that he was the frog in the well, while the other party was the one who was truly superior.

Although he was unable to move for some inexplicable reason, Chief Bomber's eyes still saw everything that happened behind him through the reflective glass in front of him, and saw that almost irresistible power.

Dozens of battle-hardened combatants were easily defeated. The priest, who had previously attracted much attention, moved through the agents with a blur of movement that was almost indistinguishable to the naked eye, easily taking down the elite agents who had wide, incredulous eyes, as if he were bullying a group of helpless children.

Even bullets strong enough to pierce wooden planks and damage sheet metal had no effect on him whatsoever. Apart from exploding into conspicuous sparks, they did not even cause any damage to his clothes.

Such power, such speed, such defense—such overwhelming strength that it inspired despair—couldn't help but remind him of a certain woman still roaming the universe. While she might not seem as powerful as that woman, she was still beyond the capabilities of 'mortals' like them.

But now is not the time to think about those things. Young Gil and his group have gradually walked away and are about to leave the cabin and head to the deck of the Bagpipe Maru.

We must find a way to catch up with them!

Recalling the priest's sharp skills, Nick Fury secretly had an idea, but to realize this idea, he had to catch up with the three people who were about to leave.

Struggling to control his body, which was inexplicably as stiff as a rock, Nick Fury tried to move his body little by little.

One finger, two fingers, three fingers.

First the left hand, then the right hand, and then both legs.

The tense muscles slowly relaxed, and the stiff body gradually regained its flexibility.

With a "Ha!", Nick Fury clenched his fist tightly. After struggling for about five minutes, he finally recovered from the petrified state he had been in, as if he had been under Medusa's gaze, and regained his freedom.

Once Nick Fury regained control of his body, the first thing he did was check on the agents who had been defeated by Kirei Kotomine. After discovering that they had only fallen unconscious due to some external force, he breathed a sigh of relief and handed them over to the agents who had rushed over after noticing the incident in the warehouse. He then hurriedly chased after Gilgamesh and the others in the direction they had gone.

Damn it, I hope it's not too late!

Looking at the security personnel sprawled out and asleep along the way, Chief Baldy's expression grew increasingly grim. While he couldn't deny that the opponent's strength was unexpectedly formidable, the fact that his capable men had been defeated so easily still left him with a bitter taste.

As Nick Fury passed through the last corridor, the view before him brightened; he had arrived on the deck, and his targets were gathered not far in front of him, seemingly discussing something.

Gazing at the target he had been searching for, Nick Fury almost instinctively uttered a phrase that everyone present was very familiar with, except that the speaker and the listener were now completely reversed.

"and many more!"

Several black, upgraded Quinjet fighters streaked across the sky, their targets pointing directly at the icy lands of the north. Meanwhile, inside the warm cabin of the passenger plane, a dozen SHIELD commandos in combat uniforms were nervously preparing for battle. However, these agents, who should be elite fighters, seemed somewhat distracted today. The reason, ultimately, was four figures chatting and laughing on the side of the Quinjet's cockpit.

Their superior, Nick Fury, and Gilgamesh and his party, who had been stopped by Nick Fury just before their departure.

Ignoring the strange and fearful looks from the others in the cabin, the silver-haired girl was excitedly perched on the observation port of the Quinjet, watching the snow-white iceberg gradually approaching in front of her.

The Arctic is almost here!

'Hiss~'

With the sound of air pumps whirring, the Quinjet opened its hatch, letting in a blast of biting cold wind that filled the warm cabin. Young Gilgamesh, in his Heroic Spirit form, felt little discomfort, but Kirei Kotomine unhesitatingly removed his priest's robes and carefully draped them over his daughter Kallen's shoulders. Kallen, shivering slightly from the Arctic chill, looked up at Kirei with a bright, adorable smile upon feeling the warmth on his shoulders.

Unlike the priest's robes, which were easily protected from the cold by Kirei Kotomine's various divine arts, the bald-faced chief, who wore a leather trench coat all year round, visibly shivered, but forced himself to endure it in order to maintain his dignity as chief.

He glanced discreetly at the priest's robe beside him, which radiated a faint golden light, and then reached for the heating button on his trench coat. He felt a little better thanks to the warmth provided by the heat sink inside the coat.

After recovering, the bald-faced director nodded to Gilgamesh, who was gazing thoughtfully into the distance, and disembarked from the plane first.

With Director Egg leading the way, Gilgamesh and his group followed behind, and finally, several squads of combat personnel disembarked from other Quinjet fighters. The group thus stepped into the swirling, snow-covered wind and snow.

After passing through a blizzard that would make ordinary people dizzy, and walking for about five minutes, the group arrived outside a base enveloped in a pale blue light membrane.

Looking at the ice-blue barrier in front of him that seemed to be constantly undulating like the surface of water, Young Gil's face showed a hint of speechlessness.

"Some kind of inefficient energy barrier? Clever, this thing is really useful in such harsh environments."

Gazing at the constantly fluctuating pale blue light membrane before him, Young Gil nodded with interest. In locations experiencing extreme weather, an energy barrier could do many useful things. For example, maintaining the temperature within the barrier.

"Heh, it's just some immature technology. It's bulky and ineffective, and it's also very prone to overheating. It can only be of some use in places like this, where it's freezing cold, to provide data for future improvements."

Looking at the pale blue energy barrier standing firm against the wind and snow, Director Nick Fury felt extremely proud. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s scientific research and technology have always been at the forefront of the world, and defensive energy barriers like this have always been a focus of their research.

Unfortunately, this shield only works against high-speed moving objects. Only thermal weapons like bullets, shells, rockets, and energy attacks can trigger its defensive effect. It's completely ineffective against aliens, creatures that hunt on their own; otherwise, things wouldn't have escalated to this point.

With a sigh, Nick Fury forced himself to cheer up, gave a welcoming gesture to Karen and her group, and stepped into the pale blue energy barrier first.

"Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D. Arctic Research Base. Please come in; I think you'll like it here."

A pale blue membrane separated the two worlds. Outside the shield, water froze instantly, and the air was bitterly cold; inside, it was brightly lit and the climate was pleasant. Seeing the scene before him, Director Nick Fury didn't waste any time. He immediately waved to the SHIELD commandos who had followed him into the energy barrier and gave the order:

"Alright, let's get to work. Search the entire base in small teams. If you see any clues, don't hesitate to fire and call for backup immediately."

Nick Fury paused here, then continued in a serious tone:

“We’re here to save any potential survivors, not to die. I don’t want to see anyone else die at the hands of those monstrous things. If you encounter an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, I authorize you to retreat immediately. Remember, be careful, and come back alive.”

"Yes, sir!"

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Chapter 217 The Hunter

Chapter 217 The Hunter

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A bright, clear moon hung high in the sky, its cool light spilling across the vast plain. Hills, forests, meadows, streams—everything appeared so tranquil and elegant under the soft moonlight, making one want to immerse oneself in this serene scene...

With one exception, a young man, or more precisely, a boy who was only about ten years old.

Huffing and puffing...

The boy with dark brown hair ran breathlessly, aimlessly heading straight ahead. His muscles trembled, his blood boiled, and his lungs pumped like bellows, emitting a rough, mournful whinny like that of a warhorse on its deathbed.

He was so tired, so very tired. He wanted to stop, to give up, to end it all.

But he couldn't do it. For his sister's sake, he had to complete the trial, the trial given to him by that man.

Wander through this seemingly endless ocean of plants before your eyes!

The man promised that if he could leave this sea of ​​flowers alive, he would take care of all his and his sister's future needs.

He could even teach him how to gain immense power so that he could take revenge himself.

For my sister's future, for the blood feud of my parents, and for my own future life.

Pietro 'Django' Maximov had to squeeze out the last bit of strength from his body and run forward in a disheveled state. His movements were so labored, his figure so weary, but he couldn't stop. Because...

'Roar~~ Awooo~~~~!'

It was a wail that could only be heard in hell, the excited roar of a predator before its hunt. Upon hearing this sound, Pietro's expression froze, and his legs, which had been somewhat sluggish from fatigue, tensed up again, causing him to stagger and struggle forward.

Almost the instant Pietro left, several enormous, emerald-green vines forcefully parted the surrounding grass and vegetation, greedily seizing the remaining signs of life in the air, and rushed towards the direction he had left at a speed no less than that of the boy.

Hungry and passionate, tenacious and stubborn, they possess a precious spirit of never giving up until they catch their prey.

However, while this spirit is a rare and admirable virtue for hunters, it was a tragic end for Pietro, his prey, with a near-death experience.

Looking at the enormous 'man-eating flower' behind him, with its mouth full of sharp teeth like a lamprey, dripping with suspicious pale green slime, and waving countless tentacles of varying thickness and thinness, the boy's face gradually lost all color. He desperately squeezed out the last bit of strength from his body, trying to get away from this terrifying monster.

One meter, five meters, ten meters, fifty meters.

After the ten-year-old boy ran several hundred meters in one go, his legs finally gave way and he fell to the ground with a thud.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in his hands and knees, Pietro struggled to his feet to continue his escape. But before he could even shakily prop himself up on his knees, a slender, soft vine had already wrapped around one of his calves without him noticing, tightening its grip and then abruptly pulling him back into the endless, dense vegetation.

The last thing the boy saw before losing consciousness was the predator's gaping maw behind him, covered with sharp, shark-like teeth, and the faint slime flowing from that enormous mouth.

Watching the small figure disappear into the giant mouth, Rorschach put down his monocular telescope with satisfaction and asked Wanda Maximov, who was obediently holding a metal object beside him, about it.

"Wanda, how long did Pietro last this time?"

"Fifty-three minutes, Mr. Rorschach."

Glancing at the time on her electronic stopwatch, Wanda, a little girl as cute as a doll, obediently announced the lifespan of her tragic brother, her clean-cut face showing no emotion whatsoever.