Steve barely managed to lift the steel beam when Bucky crawled out from underneath, gasping for breath. He fixed a cold, sharp gaze on Steve and growled, "You know me!"
"But I don't know you!"
Before Steve could react, Bucky's metal arm swung with brutal force, sending him flying.
…
Meanwhile-
Helicarrier C collided with the newly rebuilt Triskelion, shattering the structure once again.
From the cockpit of his helicopter, Nick Fury watched the destruction unfold. He sighed, "It's destroyed again. We didn't even get a year out of it this time..."
Natasha glanced at the crumbling Triskelion, remembering how it had fallen to the Sound Ninja before and now to their own helicarriers.
"This place really has bad luck," she muttered.
"No point rebuilding it again. Time to think about a backup plan."
…
Steve, struggling for breath after a long, grueling battle, stood once more. He fixed his weary eyes on Bucky and spoke, "Bucky, you've known me your whole life."
But Bucky did not relent. His metal fist slammed into Steve again, throwing him to the side.
Steve, undeterred, continued, "Your name is James Buchanan Barnes."
"Shut up!" Bucky roared, striking Steve again and again.
Bloodied but stubborn, Steve rose to his feet again. He removed his helmet and stared into Bucky's eyes.
"I'm not going to fight you."
He tossed his shield aside, letting it fall through the shattered glass beneath them. The mission to destroy Hydra's plan was complete; now, his only goal was to reach his friend.
"You're my friend."
Bucky screamed in fury, rushing at Steve and tackling him to the ground. He pinned him down, his expression a mix of rage and confusion.
"You are my mission!" he shouted, raising his metal arm.
Punch after punch rained down until Steve was beaten and bruised, refusing to fight back.
Between breaths, Steve whispered, "Then finish it."
"Because I'm with you till the end of the line."
The words struck a chord. Bucky's eyes flickered with hesitation, and his hand wavered.
At that moment, a massive piece of machinery dislodged above them. It crashed into the floor, sending both men tumbling. Steve fell through the air, unconscious as he hit the water below with a resounding splash.
Bucky clung to a metal bar, watching Steve disappear into the depths. His mind clouded, yet something stirred within.
Without fully understanding why, Bucky dove into the river. He found Steve and pulled him to shore, dragging the unconscious man onto dry land.
Kneeling beside his friend, Bucky observed the rise and fall of Steve's chest—he was alive. Silently, he turned and walked away, leaving behind the man he could not yet remember, but somehow knew he could not let him die.
…
Meanwhile-
Charles Doyle, accompanied by Selene, returned directly to their base.
"Your mission is complete. Next, extract Pierce's memories and compile any useful intel. Report back to me once it's done."
Selene nodded respectfully, "Yes, boss!"
Having given his orders, Charles glanced at the coordinates Natasha had sent. Without hesitation, he opened a portal using the Space Stone, stepping through to appear outside a warehouse in the outskirts of New York where 084 objects were stored.
…
Inside the warehouse, all seemed calm. Hydra operatives had yet to expose themselves since most had remained undercover. Suddenly, guards stationed outside spotted Charles materialize near the entrance.
"This is a restricted military area! Leave immediately!"
Ignoring their warnings, Charles vanished and reappeared beside the mounted machine gun. With a swift punch, he shattered it into flying debris.
"Boom!"
The sound of destruction triggered the warehouse's alarm. Unfazed, Charles eyed the heavy steel door barring his path and unleashed a devastating kick.
"Crash!"
A massive hole gaped where the door once stood. Stepping through, he faced a barrage of bullets from inside.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
A torrent of gunfire tore through the air. Charles teleported behind the agents, his fingers weaving hand signs. The air shimmered with ice needles.
"Water Release Secret Art: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"
"Shing! Shing! Shing!"
In an instant, the agents were pierced by icy spikes. Their lifeless bodies crumpled as Charles systematically eliminated any remaining resistance.
He then turned to the rows of crates holding the mysterious 084 artifacts, opening them one by one to inspect their contents.
…
On the other side-
Although the battle at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters had ceased, chaos erupted across other S.H.I.E.L.D. bases.
All HYDRA agents who heard Pierce's activation command immediately armed themselves and emerged, slaughtering the loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who refused to defect.
Various bases and outposts descended into chaos. At the same time, Minato Namikaze, who had arrived first, began a killing spree at one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. bases while collecting 084 objects and other critical materials.
Meanwhile, HYDRA operatives within the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy also came out of the shadows, instigating a rebellion and using the broadcast system to continuously relay the activation command!
The newly established Extraordinary Academy was the fourth division of S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, alongside the Technology Academy, Communications Academy, and Combat Academy.
However, its numbers were still small, with only thirty trainees aside from the staff. Despite this, S.H.I.E.L.D. held great ambitions for it.
Since all four academies were located within the same complex, the distances between them were not far.
Ao didn't understand the special code content broadcast over the speakers, but he noticed that more than half of the trainees exhibited strange expressions. Some of the agents responsible for documentation and logistics also showed abnormal behavior.
"Byakugan, activate!"
With his Byakugan activated, Ao scanned the other academies. Although his one-kilometer field of vision didn't cover the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, it was enough to detect the anomalies.
At that moment, Ao realized that the opportunity entrusted to him by the Mizukage had finally arrived.