S.H.I.E.L.D. also needed to expand its forces. Where would the hosts come from?
The vampires were having a terrible time.
This operation drew the attention of many extraordinary organizations.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has finally grown a conscience and started cracking down hard on vampires."
"Tsk tsk. Looks like they're trying to do what the Spear did... wipe out every last vampire."
The Spear had already exterminated the vampires in the East. With 240,000 registered superhumans and mutants on their roster, clearing out vampires wasn't difficult.
But now S.H.I.E.L.D. was doing the same, and many smelled something off. This wasn't their usual style.
They would find out soon enough.
"Our control over the Xenomorphs hasn't decreased with the increase in numbers. It's actually growing stronger!"
"The Xenomorph social structure has extremely strict hierarchies. As long as we control the higher-ranking ones and enough pheromones, we can dominate the entire species."
"Damn it, the chip implantation plan failed again. Their blood rejects all foreign substances!"
"Dr. Kleef, I have an idea... embed Adamantium into their necks and attach monitoring chips…"
"The psychic scanners are working fine. The Xenomorphs' mental states remain consistently stable. There are no signs of high-risk thoughts like scheming or betrayal."
Fury looked down at the more than a thousand Xenomorphs below, a trace of vigilance in his single eye as he reviewed the reports again.
Even the most advanced mind-reading equipment had failed to detect any form of disloyal plotting from these creatures.
"Director, while our psychic instruments are far inferior to Professor Xavier's, they're more than sufficient for monitoring Xenomorph brain activity," Hill reported.
She knew Fury was suspicious of the possibility of betrayal. Suspecting everything and remaining eternally vigilant... that was the mark of an excellent spymaster.
"Everything is going too smoothly. What do you think, Hill?" Fury pondered, feeling something was wrong.
"We mobilized the full resources of S.H.I.E.L.D. to rapidly expand the Xenomorph population. We used the most advanced biotechnology to create pheromones and technological instruments to monitor their growth."
Hill offered her view. "Adam is just one man. Whatever he could do, we can do better."
That last point was the key... the argument that convinced Fury.
Fury glanced at the serious, highly capable Hill.
If Coulson had been here, he wouldn't have simply offered reassurances. Before Fury even asked, he would have already prepared complete contingency plans for a Xenomorph revolt.
Unfortunately, Coulson was still recovering in bed after barely surviving New Mexico.
Natasha had gone and come back half-dead.
It seemed that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s senior agents tended to meet misfortune whenever they got too close to Adam.
"Then let's move. Send agents and Xenomorphs to coordinate an operation. Enter New York, eliminate Adam, and bring him in," Fury ordered.
Xenomorphs were natural weapons of war, perfectly suited to Fury's tastes: fearless of sacrifice, absolutely obedient, and mass-producible.
The only problem was finding suitable hosts in sufficient quantity.
Honestly, Fury hadn't initially planned to target vampires. He wanted to select from prisoners worldwide... many of whom possessed special abilities. But time was limited, transporting prisoners carried risks, and in the end he chose the vampires.
After all, the vampire empire's main base was in New York.
Thus, the vampires collapsed in despair. In just one night... only one night... how had the entire world suddenly turned its blades against them?!
These ancient bloodsuckers used every ounce of their accumulated wealth and the help of humans who sought extended life by serving them. The result? It was all useless.
"Xenomorphs! Why are there Xenomorphs with these agents too?!"
"Aaaaahhh!!"
Only the vampires suffered.
Fury hadn't slept for two days, closely monitoring every Xenomorph's activity. Finally, he gave the order. Agents and Xenomorphs advanced toward the outskirts of the Bronx in New York.
Adam would soon feel pain.
"May, report the situation," Fury said steadily.
"Everything is proceeding smoothly, but it's strange... we haven't encountered any of Adam's Xenomorphs. That's not right. He hasn't even deployed the basic ones for surveillance."
Melinda, a Level Seven agent specializing in aerial operations and one of the best in Air Cavalry, was leading the Xenomorphs and agents forward as field commander.
"The answer is simple. Adam discovered us long ago. Since he can control the Xenomorph pheromones, he must have sensed our Xenomorphs approaching."
Fury replied, "What interests me more is whether Adam's Xenomorphs have the probability Dr. Kleef mentioned of accepting our pheromones. Kleef may be insane, but his professional skills are solid."
"The probability is very low, but you'll know soon enough."
Fury studied the images transmitted by Melinda, cross-referencing them with satellite footage.
Xenomorphs were natural assassins, masters of stealth. Even he couldn't be sure how many were still hidden across New York. But a direct assault on Adam himself was undoubtedly the correct decision.
At that moment, an urgent communication interrupted his thoughts.
"Alexander Pierce?" Fury frowned. The current U.N. Secretary-General and former S.H.I.E.L.D. Director calling at this time was not a good sign.
"Nick, I don't understand what you're doing! Two days... just two days... and you've already cultivated this many Xenomorphs? And launched military operations?" Pierce's voice came through.
"Ha. Looks like some vampires complained to you. They must have paid a lot, but I trust you can handle the pressure," Fury said.
Pierce replied, "This isn't about pressure. Do you know how many complaints I've received about you? And not just from vampires! Colonel Stryker has expressed clear dissatisfaction. He believes the control and cultivation technology should be handed over to him first."
Fury sneered. "Stryker? He's made little progress on the mutant side and now wants a piece of the Xenomorphs?"
"His reasoning is solid: Adam was able to open a company and obtain that rundown building as a lab because he approved it. Therefore, Adam is officially a scientist under his command!"
"Damn it!"
Fury cursed, then mocked, "By Stryker's logic, shouldn't S.H.I.E.L.D. pay him an astronomical patent fee for using Xenomorphs?"
"Worse than that... he wants to charge you with endangering protected animal species."
Fuck!
Fury said, "I never knew Stryker was a leader in animal protection organizations. He must be crazy, trying to reach into S.H.I.E.L.D."
Pierce's voice was full of concern. "It's just that your moves this time were too big. The secrecy was too good. You quietly controlled and produced so many Xenomorphs, and it's making some people anxious."
"So it's about not sharing the spoils fairly. Thanks for the information, Alexander. But I suspect Stryker is just a front. It's the people pushing the super-soldier program making moves. Looks like I need to check who took over the project after Ross died."
Fury chatted with Pierce a bit longer, then ended the call. A trace of doubt lingered on his face.
As the former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Pierce shouldn't be a problem. He wouldn't leak S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence. Of course, leaving a few eyes behind in the organization was something Fury could understand.
"But why ask me about this right before a raid? Does he want me to succeed or fail? Or did he notice something?" Fury buried the doubt deep. It would only take one subtle signal for him to begin suspecting someone he had once trusted completely.
Soon after, Melinda reported in.
"I've located Adam. He's standing with Thor. Something's not right."
Melinda stared ahead in shock.
Adam was talking with Thor, occasionally pointing toward them and their Xenomorphs.
"Is this the additional army you mentioned?" Thor looked a bit confused. No matter how he looked at it, these people didn't seem to be here to hand over control of the Xenomorphs.
"If I say it is, then it is. Thor, you need to have faith in me."
"My brother, of course I have complete faith in you. You're the only one willing to help me in my time of greatest need. It would be even better if you returned Mjolnir to me."
Thor's hand unconsciously reached out. He was constantly looking for opportunities, convinced that if Adam could achieve things indirectly through Xenomorphs, he could do it directly.
Adam remained expressionless. With his other hand, he summoned Mjolnir, foiling Thor's attempt.
"See, Thor? This is the difference between you and me: no matter the situation, I can always stay focused. You can't. You're always distracted," Adam said.
Thor reluctantly withdrew his gaze, unsure how to respond. He awkwardly changed the subject. "So these people are radiating killing intent and standing with Xenomorphs. I didn't know before that the Xenomorph race could serve two masters at once?"
In his thousand years of warfare, Thor had seen all kinds of races. He had encountered similar situations many times and didn't think much of it.
But what happened next shattered his understanding.
"Strictly speaking, until I give the order, these Xenomorphs don't belong to anyone… at least on the surface."
A wave of subtle sounds rose as large numbers of Xenomorphs appeared. Even those that had only existed underground since birth now emerged.
Their numbers quickly surpassed a thousand and continued growing.
Adam's powerful vision pierced the darkness, landing on Melinda and the others. Just that single gaze made Melinda's hair stand on end.
She had only felt this way once before... when she had observed a Xenomorph queen up close.
"Just like Natasha mentioned, there are more of those bulkier Xenomorphs, likely born from parasitizing Hulk-derived creatures… No need to negotiate. Attack immediately," Melinda ordered everyone.
Under normal logic, the agents would coordinate with varying numbers of Xenomorphs, using high-tech weapons for ranged destruction of Adam's defenses before sending the Xenomorphs in for close combat.
If this weren't the outskirts and still technically populated, they could have sent armed helicopters for a missile barrage first.
Many observers from various organizations watching the situation had expected the same. No matter how you looked at it, Adam's side was at a disadvantage in numbers.
The Xenomorphs moved.
Squelch!
Melinda's eyes widened as her mind roared. She clearly heard the sound of tearing flesh and agonized screams coming from behind her.
The Air Cavalry agent spun around, staring in disbelief at the horrific scene.
All the Xenomorphs had turned on the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents at the same time. The attacked agents lost limbs instantly. Those who died on the spot were the lucky ones.
Gunfire erupted, but it was clearly too late. Even when they managed to inflict some damage, it wasn't enough.
Melinda gritted her teeth, backflipped away from a Xenomorph's thrusting tail, pulled a grenade from her waist, bit the pin, and hurled it precisely into the creature's mouth.
Boom!
It blew apart the Xenomorph's jaws, but Melinda's expression didn't improve. She knew injuries of that level meant nothing to a Xenomorph. It would heal almost immediately.
She had the skills to survive this long, but the other agents couldn't match her. No matter how elite the soldiers were, in this moment they were being slaughtered by the "comrades" they had fought alongside.
Worse, Adam's Xenomorphs were rapidly closing in to join the fight.
Especially the bulkier ones. Each possessed terrifying strength. Their hardened exoskeletal armor seemed almost muscular, with horrifying density. They ignored gunfire as they charged into the fray. A single punch against an agent turned them into pulp.
Melinda fought desperately, but as an ordinary human, she could only struggle to survive in the chaos, constantly dodging.
"Beautiful moves. You'd be very popular as a circus performer," Adam's voice cut precisely through the battlefield. His face appeared and disappeared in the dim light. In Melinda's vision, he looked like a demon wearing human skin!
"You knew! You knew from the beginning this would happen! You did it on purpose!!" Melinda's voice was sharp with fury.
The next second, several Xenomorphs pounced on her and pinned her down.
"Yes, I knew all your movements. I knew exactly what you did to my Xenomorphs. So what? I needed more troops. Thanks to you, you helped me make up the numbers in just a few days. If I had done it all myself, the commotion would have been too great. I might have become New York's public enemy by now."
Adam ripped off Melinda's earpiece and watched as the Xenomorphs tore her to pieces.
"Nick Fury, it seems Natasha didn't fully convey my message. Or maybe you knew and wanted to test whether I was lying? Level Nine agent... you're truly generous. Unfortunately, that means nothing to me. I'll be taking these Xenomorphs."
Adam turned to Thor.
"Thor, contact Heimdall now. Activate the Bifrost and send these Xenomorphs to Asgard in batches. Tell your people that powerful, brave, just, and fearless reinforcements have arrived."
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