Meanwhile, at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Preparatory Academy in New York.
Clark, clad in his battle armor, streaked across the sky before crashing into the center of the training grounds.
His arrival immediately drew the attention of nearly seventy people.
Hydra soldiers stationed around the lecture halls, dormitories, laboratories, and other buildings quickly reported his appearance to their squads. At the same time, the guards assembled into tactical teams of three to five and advanced toward Clark in coordinated formations.
The nearest squad captain raised a hand and called out from a distance.
"Mr. Clark, S.H.I.E.L.D. has not authorized your involvement in this operation. You are currently not permitted to interfere in our internal purge."
"Uh..."
Clark sighed with a crooked smile.
"If this were the old me, I might have believed you."
"But I've picked up a few bad habits from a certain buddy."
"I can hear your heartbeat and see right through you. Your pulse and blood flow tell me you're lying."
"I can't tell which of you are Hydra since you're all dressed the same and chanting the same slogans."
"But I came here to protect every student and professor in this academy. Anyone who tries to stop me will be taken down."
With that, Clark walked straight toward the growing formation of Hydra soldiers.
The captain swallowed nervously before signaling his men to let Clark pass.
Although confused, the soldiers obeyed and opened a path leading toward the main lecture hall.
Clark walked through without hesitation and entered the large tiered classroom, where thousands of students were being confined.
After he disappeared inside, one of the soldiers quietly asked,
"Captain Bourne, why did we let him through?"
"Because he's Clark Kent."
"We can't beat him."
"Didn't Agent Sitwell already pass down our orders? Hydra's priority isn't wasting manpower in every battle."
"As long as we seize Washington, reorganize the American government, establish our own Congress, cooperate with the existing civil service, secure the backing of our financial supporters, and use the United Nations to stabilize America's international position, everything else becomes secondary."
"Once we control the media, we can simply announce that the previous government has fallen and been replaced."
"This academy? The New York branch? Even the Stock Exchange?"
"They're all expendable."
"If the Avengers and those visitors from another world want this place, they can have it."
"As long as Hydra successfully takes over America, everything in the country will belong to us eventually."
Captain Bourne smiled before looking directly at the questioning soldier.
"That's the explanation for the people at the top."
"But for people like us..."
He snorted.
"Do you have a death wish?"
"If you want to stand in front of a monster who can fight the Hulk head-on, I won't stop you."
"But don't expect me to collect what's left of your body."
"If you're determined to die, hand me your dog tags first. At least I can send them to your family afterward."
Bourne fell silent and looked toward the lecture hall.
A few moments later, Clark emerged with two students walking behind him.
Stopping a short distance from the soldiers, Clark said,
"This is a school, not a prison."
"You should leave."
"Oh?"
Bourne smiled politely.
"Mr. Clark, I believe you've misunderstood the situation."
"We aren't imprisoning them."
"We're protecting them."
"As you can see, we haven't harmed the students."
"Only a handful of professors who opposed Hydra died during the takeover."
"Other than those unfortunate casualties, every student here is perfectly safe."
"Damn it..."
Clark's face darkened.
"Don't play games with words."
"We both know exactly what Hydra really is."
Bourne interrupted calmly.
"Perhaps."
"But regardless of what you think of us, these students still require protection."
"New York is in chaos."
"The entire country is tearing itself apart."
"Gunfights continue throughout the city, and military units are fighting each other."
"There are countless places where people desperately need help."
"Compared to all of that, this academy is one of the safest places in America."
"Even if we withdrew today, every intelligence agency on Earth would immediately target these future S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."
"And at this moment, we're the only ones capable of protecting them."
He offered Clark another composed smile.
Clark drew a slow breath.
This was exactly the type of opponent he hated facing.
Nearly eighty percent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s future personnel trained at this academy. Every student possessed talents valuable to a world-class intelligence agency.
To every major intelligence organization, this place was as tempting as Axel himself.
Anyone who captured the academy could rebuild a new intelligence organization within only a few years.
That was why Alexander Pierce had entrusted it to Bourne.
Officially, Bourne served as a temporary Hydra field captain.
Unofficially, he was a Level Seven S.H.I.E.L.D. field agent, someone on the same level as Phil Coulson.
Clark would have preferred fighting a loudmouthed fool.
Instead, he faced an enemy whose arguments actually made sense.
Seeing Clark hesitate, Bourne nodded.
"Mr. Clark, this conflict won't be decided by who controls one academy."
"The real battlefield is Washington and Congress."
"We're all simply following the tide."
"If Hydra loses, the school will naturally return to normal."
"If Hydra wins, the academy will remain safe."
"Whatever people say about us, we still have rules."
"So leave this place to me."
"Even if you drove us away today, could you personally protect these children forever?"
"You have far more important places where your strength is needed."
"And please give my regards to Mr. Axel."
"Thanks to his assistance, we've reached a crucial milestone."
"Hydra won't forget to show him the respect he deserves."
He finished with a formal bow.
Clark clenched his jaw before finally letting out a weary sigh.
Turning to the two students, he gently patted their shoulders.
"He's right."
"You're safe here."
"Your future may be uncertain, but your lives aren't in immediate danger."
"I promise you this."
"I won't allow Hydra to take everything it wants."
"I'll come back for all of you."
The students glared at him with obvious frustration.
Most of them hated Hydra with every fiber of their being.
But Clark couldn't remain here forever.
Nor could he defeat Bourne, abandon the academy, and expect thousands of emotional students to safeguard countless classified facilities and equipment.
He turned back toward Bourne.
"I hope you keep your word."
"Protect every one of these children."
"I'll be watching."
"If you break that promise..."
"I won't."
Bourne's polite smile disappeared, replaced by burning fanaticism.
"I'll keep my word."
"For our agreement..."
"And for..."
"Hail Hydra!"
Clark nodded once before launching back into the sky.
As he disappeared, the students stood with clenched fists, their faces filled with anger and helplessness.
Bourne looked at them coldly.
"Go back where you belong."
"For Mr. Clark's sake, I'll allow you access to three locations."
"The lecture hall."
"The cafeteria."
"And your dormitories."
"You may move freely within those three areas."
"Nowhere else."
"I expect you to respect those rules."
He waved dismissively.
Before the students could protest, Hydra soldiers escorted them away.
The academy's truly elite field agents had already graduated into either S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra.
Most of those remaining were average trainees.
The academy still possessed outstanding scientists and researchers.
Unfortunately, brilliant researchers couldn't win a firefight against trained soldiers.
Meanwhile, after leaving the academy, Clark spoke through his communicator.
"They actually convinced me."
"Damn it."
"They're right."
"Our priority is keeping those students alive."
"As much as I hate admitting it, leaving Hydra there is currently the safest option."
Lex answered immediately.
"I understand."
"But that's exactly what worries me."
"Hydra no longer relies solely on force."
"It has an ideology."
"And history has already proven how persuasive that ideology can become."
"Enough about the academy."
"Head to City Hall."
"Hydra is still attacking there."
"Thor has arrived to help."
"But Bruce and Tony are being held back by those two kids Axel warned us about."
"What the hell?!"
Lex's voice suddenly cut off.
While replacing the damaged energy core in his armor, an incredible burst of speed slammed him onto the ground.
Quicksilver pinned him down while grabbing at his helmet.
"Are you human or just another robot?"
"Did that bastard Iron Man loan someone else his armor?"
"And what's with Bruce?"
"His combat skills are incredible."
"Luckily his willpower wasn't strong enough, otherwise he would've..."
"What's wrong with my willpower?"
Bruce suddenly appeared behind Quicksilver, locking him in a crushing chokehold.
Quicksilver's eyes widened.
"My sister controlled you."
"What did you do to Wanda?"
Bruce swallowed awkwardly.
What exactly could he have done?
She was the Scarlet Witch.
He had barely escaped her illusion, only for Wanda's crimson energy to rip apart half of his battle armor.
Fortunately, the nanotech armor was already repairing itself.
Within seconds, it would be fully restored.
But where was Tony?
Bruce looked into the distance.
Tony's red-and-gold armor was desperately fleeing from Wanda as she relentlessly pursued him with blasts of crimson energy.
The chase continued from City Hall all the way to a nearby restroom.
Boom!
Another blast struck Tony's armor, sending him crashing straight into the restroom.
Thud!
Dazed, Tony struggled to his feet.
"Mr. Stark, you are suffering from a concussion."
"I recommend resting for three seconds."
"I'm pretty sure I don't have three seconds."
He grabbed the nearest object for support.
Only after standing did he realize he was holding a urinal.
His expression twisted with disgust.
Before he could throw it aside, Wanda blasted through the wall and stepped inside.
She stared at him with icy fury.
"Hey."
Tony forced a grin.
"I'm fairly certain the only women I've ever hurt were emotionally."
"So why are you trying to kill me?"
"Did I date one of your relatives?"
"Was it your sister?"
"Please don't tell me it was your mother."
"Shut up!"
Wanda swung her hand.
Crimson energy exploded across Tony's face, smashing his head back into the urinal.
As he staggered, Wanda seized his helmet with her powers and ripped it off.
Tony's bruised, exhausted face was finally exposed.
Hope flashed through Wanda's eyes.
She grabbed his throat, preparing to snap his neck.
She had no interest in wasting another second.
Whoosh!
Mjolnir burst through the wall, crackling with lightning as it slammed into Wanda and hurled her across the room.
The hammer immediately returned to its owner.
Thor caught it mid-flight before charging into the restroom.
"Wow."
He looked at Tony's miserable appearance and whistled.
"I really wish I had one of your cameras."
"This would make an excellent picture."
Then Thor looked at Wanda.
"Wanda."
"Axel doesn't mind if you make Tony suffer."
"But he specifically said you aren't allowed to kill him."
"Trust me."
"Making someone like Tony live with his mistakes is far more satisfying than ending his life."
===
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