After all, HYDRA was parasitic within S.H.I.E.L.D., not an overt organization. HYDRA's influence was vast, but the power it could openly deploy was limited. The personnel that could be urgently mobilized at that moment, who were sufficiently elite and would not arouse S.H.I.E.L.D.'s vigilance—at least leaving no traceable clues—were just the dozen or so people in these three SUVs.
"That old geezer Alexander Pierce is probably going to be furious, isn't he?"
Bucky, with his knowledge of spoilers, naturally believed that the most likely mastermind behind Howard's assassination was Alexander Pierce, the big boss from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, who even managed to fool Nick Fury. Just thinking about that big boss being so anxious he could explode, yet completely unable to guess where the problem originated, gave Bucky a small sense of satisfaction.
However, he still needed to resolve the immediate issue.
Bucky exited the villa, lurking in the darkness, but his optical cybernetic eyes had a low-light mode, allowing him to see everything around him clearly.
"One, two… twelve people?"
Marking each of the fully armed personnel, who had also infiltrated and were wearing infrared night vision goggles, with his optical cybernetic eyes, causing them to appear as high-contrast outlines in his vision, Bucky took a deep breath.
Stealing corpses and intercepting vehicles were minor matters. Actions without difficulty didn't make the choice seem hard, even if saving Howard Stark meant an endless feud with HYDRA. But to truly abandon his past self, truly become the Winter Soldier, and truly kill with his own hands?
This was his first true test since arriving in this world.
A modern person's soul, an ordinary person's values—even with fragmented memories of the Winter Soldier's ruthless killings, could he truly take vibrant human lives with his own hands? Did he truly have the resolve to have his hands stained with blood?
"The answer is no."
After self-reflection, Bucky still came to this conclusion.
"...But I also have no choice."
What if he didn't? Could he turn around and run away? Just live out the rest of his life anonymously, waiting for Thanos to snap his fingers after collecting all six Infinity Stones? Or accept the Winter Soldier's past, accept his current situation, and have an exciting adventure, making his transmigration worthwhile?
Damn it!
Bucky closed his eyes, took a deep breath, gripped the assault rifle in his hand, and as his index finger moved the safety, he opened his eyes, his expression resolute.
...
The twelve-person assault team was already less than fifty meters from the villa. Their leader gave a few tactical hand signals, and the team immediately spread out into a skirmish formation, intending to split into two groups and encircle the villa from front and back.
Pfft!
Ding!
Just then, a sudden gunshot from a suppressed assault rifle broke the silence of the night! The shot precisely hit one of the team members in the head! However, instead of blood spattering, sparks flew! The assault rifle bullet failed to penetrate the black matte metal helmet; the material of this helmet was extraordinary!
But this team member, even with the helmet and lining providing cushioning, still experienced a huge impact, causing him to abruptly duck his head and then fall to the ground, headfirst!
Pffft pffft pffft!
Pffft pffft pffft!
The others heard and saw, but their bodies couldn't react. The ambusher in the darkness fired three more shots! Yet these three shots hit another team member in the back, only knocking that person to the ground!
"Enemy attack! Find cover!"
Only then did they react. Their leader shouted, and everyone quickly scattered and went prone! The person who had been shot three times in the back also rolled over and raised his gun; he hadn't suffered any debilitating injuries!
"Damn it, did they all just put on level 3 helmets and level 3 armor?"
The ambusher in the darkness, Bucky, who was firing from the shadows, cursed under his breath. This group's equipment was incredibly good! Of course, they wouldn't be a match for the original Winter Soldier, but the current Bucky felt it was a bit difficult to handle.
Yet he didn't hesitate because the enemy had already started firing in the direction of Bucky's shots! Fortunately, while his consciousness was that of a transmigrator, his body was that of a super soldier. Bucky's physique had already surpassed human limits. With a sudden burst, in a matter of breaths, he had sprinted over ten meters away!
And although Bucky's heart was pounding so loudly he could hear it, and he was incredibly nervous, there was no fear, no dread—only excitement. The first time is always the most memorable and the hardest, but after you've fired, it's surprisingly easy. Before firing the first bullet, Bucky hesitated, but once he fired, it was as if a valve had opened, and there were no more obstructions.
Not only was it not uncomfortable, it was even quite exhilarating. It was also fortunate that the opponents were well-equipped and no blood was shed, which allowed Bucky to subconsciously tell himself that this was just a game, like Counter-Strike or PUBG. If he had blown a target's head off with one shot, with brains splattering everywhere, he might not have felt so excited.
However, the opponent's excellent bulletproof equipment and their status as highly elite soldiers indeed made them a bit troublesome to deal with. If it were the original Winter Soldier, he would have a way to deal with such a situation—very simple, just charge in. That was a killing machine whose physical qualities and combat skills completely surpassed the most elite special forces. Even against twelve such soldiers, he could rely on his powerful body and reactions to dodge, or use his Kirin Arm to block shots, get close, and with his Kirin Arm, slice them down one by one. He wouldn't even be grazed by a bullet.
However, the current Bucky hadn't mastered all of the Winter Soldier's combat skills and experience, nor did he yet have the resolve to get drenched in blood.
"Damn it, you're forcing my hand!"
Three of the enemies were continuously firing, searching for his possible movement, so Bucky had to relocate again. The rest of the enemies were directly flanking him from both sides. Bucky was getting a bit anxious; his first battle after transmigrating couldn't be a failure.
[System, Crafting item, SPT32 Ice Storm.]
[System message: Consuming 40 common item components, Crafting item, SPT32 Ice Storm;
SPT32 Ice Storm (White Common Item): Level 1, kinetic sniper rifle, damage 60~80, 83 attacks per second, weight 6 kg;
—Before this weapon, there is no such thing as cover.]
As red and blue neon colors flickered on Bucky's hand, an anti-material sniper rifle over 1 meter long gradually took shape! The gun body, with its extreme metallic and mechanical beauty, the massive caliber, the precise auxiliary instruments—all indicated that this gun was both cold and furious!
And this gun, though a blank slate and at the lowest Level 1, was a cyberpunk 2077 weapon. It was still more ferocious than any existing gun here!
Bucky lay prone, setting up this massive weapon. For system-produced weapons, he directly mastered their use. He aimed the holographic scope at an enemy also lying prone, his finger touching the trigger—
Boom!
Originally, both sides were firing suppressed rifles at each other with soft 'pfft' sounds. Now, however, there was a sudden, enormous roar like a cannon firing!
"...Ugh!"