The sky erupted with thunderous booms—six cannon blasts echoing through the air, their shockwaves ricocheting between the towering buildings like a storm breaking on a clear day. Below, Abomination crouched, ready to strike, while Ivan and his companions surged into the air, their eyes locked on the fighter jet that had dared to provoke them.
Then, sudden and devastating—the first cannon shot struck. The jet erupted into flames, a fiery blossom against the sky. Five more shots followed in rapid succession, each hitting their mark with brutal precision, obliterating the aircraft into fragments that scattered like ashes. Abomination roared triumphantly, his arms raised to the heavens, while Ivan and the others turned their gazes toward the source of the attack.
General Ross stood frozen, his face pale. The remaining soldiers were equally stunned, their mouths agape. "A tank?" Hill murmured, her voice low. Fury nodded grimly. "It was upstairs earlier. It's back. It has to be him." Hill's expression darkened. Even if it was him, what could they do? This was New York. A fighter jet opening fire was already pushing the limits.
Hong Fei had no shortage of ways to deal with a jet. Abomination was one option, but the other five were equally lethal. They could fly, and their speed wasn't far behind the jet's. Unless it climbed to extreme altitudes and hit top speed, any of them could intercept it at lower heights.
The Iron Man Armor could fail repeatedly, but the jet would be finished with a single hit. It was a crushing disparity—both in firepower and defense. Hill turned to Fury, her voice tense. "Director, what now?"
Fury watched the burning wreckage plummet toward the city. After a moment, he spoke with quiet certainty. "He'll negotiate. But first, he needs to vent—or prove a point. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done this." General Ross suddenly bellowed, his voice cutting through the tension. "Bronski! Remember who you are! You're a soldier!" Abomination's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Ross.
Ross seized the moment, his voice rising to a shout. "Colonel Bronski! You're a key part of this project. You've become a true super soldier. You know what that means! Come back—don't throw it all away. I can get you promoted—"
Before he could finish, Abomination hurled a car door straight at him. Fury yanked Ross out of the way just in time. The general stumbled back, his face pale with shock and fury. Ivan's voice broke the silence. "Nick Fury, we're waiting for you upstairs." With that, he and two others shot into the sky, returning to the building.
Hill's brow furrowed deeply. Ross glared at Abomination's retreating form, his fists clenched. Fury didn't hesitate. "I'll go up. Stay here for now." "Director, be careful," Hill warned. Fury nodded and stepped away from the group.
Entering the building, the aftermath of battle was everywhere—shattered glass, craters pockmarking the walls, spent shell casings littering the floor, and bodies sprawled in every corner. The scene spoke of the ferocity that had unfolded moments ago. Reaching the sixteenth floor, Fury paused, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.
The first thing he saw was Luke Cage, motionless in a pool of blood.
Passing through the corridor, he turned to see Hong Fei and the others. Frank, Abomination, and three others stood flanking the room, while in the center were the captives—Natasha, Coulson, and Tony in his Iron Man suit, unmistakable among them. Hong Fei sat imposingly amidst the group, a revolver resting in his hand. His eyes lifted as Fury entered, meeting his gaze with a calm, expectant stare.
Fury's boldness was undeniable. He strode forward with barely a flicker of expression, facing the shame-filled gazes of Coulson and the others with nothing more than a reassuring nod. "Speak," he said, his voice steady. "What do you want?"
"Huh?" Hong Fei tilted his head slightly, feigning confusion.
Fury paused, his tone softening just a fraction. "What do you want?"
Hong Fei's reply was blunt. "I don't want anything. The things I desire, I take for myself."
"Then what's the point of all this?" Fury pressed.
Hong Fei didn't mince words. "The point is to make you annoying dogs stay away from me from now on."
"You're a thief—"
Bang!
"Director!" "Officer!" The captives erupted in alarm as Hong Fei fired, the bullet striking Fury's thigh and forcing him to his knees.
Frank and the others raised their weapons, quelling any outbursts of righteous indignation. Hong Fei sat back in his chair, looking down at Fury with a cold satisfaction. "That feels much better."
Fury clutched his wound, his jaw tightening as if preparing to deliver a retort. But a glance at the gun in Hong Fei's hand silenced him. Courageous, yes, but not foolish.
"Have your people send my blade up," Hong Fei ordered.
Fury glanced down, murmuring instructions into his microphone before looking up with a frown. "What do you really want?"
Hong Fei spread his hands. "Didn't I already tell you?"
"You know that's impossible. Even if you kill me today, more people will come after you. As long as you disrupt order, there will always be those who uphold it."
Hong Fei sighed. "I'm glad we can discuss the concept of order, but I really don't care for yours."
Fury remained silent, and Hong Fei continued, "Today's incident wasn't what anyone wanted. But wasn't it you who kept provoking me from the start?"
"You kidnapped Tony Stark first."
"And why don't you mention that I saved him? Before I intervened, he was already under attack by people trying to kill him. Don't you know that?"
"Kidnapping is kidnapping. That's a fact."
"Don't get worked up. I didn't deny it. But do you have evidence?"
"You've already admitted it."
"Yes. And then what? Are you going to have these captives arrest me, or launch a nuke to blow me up?"
Fury said nothing.
"Speaking of which," Hong Fei mused, "when it comes to Tony Stark, Liberty Island, Tokyo Bay—you're more desperate than their own investigative agencies. Why do I get the feeling you're not an independent organization, but a dog lying at the feet of those in power?"
Fury's glare was immediate.
Hong Fei tilted his head thoughtfully. "Eating someone's food means guarding their gate—that's fair enough. But your goal isn't just to guard the gate. You want to turn the tables and become the master. In a sense, you have ideals and ambitions. So today, I'm prepared to give you some respect."
As he spoke, Hong Fei's fingers moved deftly. The cylinder of the revolver flicked open. He shook out five bullets, discarded four, and placed the single remaining one in front of Fury. "Watch closely."
He inserted the bullet into the chamber, spun it hard, and with a flick of his wrist, snapped the cylinder back into place. "If you live, today's spoils are yours. If you die, I'll find someone to weep at your grave and burn incense."
With that, he handed the gun to Fury.
On the ground, Coulson spoke up, his voice trembling. "Officer, don't—"
Big Head stepped forward and kicked him down. Natasha and Barton, immobilized, could only watch. But while Barton's gaze was filled with desperation, Natasha's held something else—a flicker of understanding, as if she'd truly heard Hong Fei's words.
Fury didn't hesitate. He took the revolver, raised it to his temple, and pulled the trigger.
Click.
The chamber was empty.
Fury tossed the pistol aside with a flick of his wrist. "I won."
"Congratulations," Hong Fei replied dryly. "Want me to pin a medal on your chest?"
Fury's jaw tightened, his dark skin flushing faintly. He fell silent, his lone eye darting rapidly as his expression turned unreadable. Hong Fei didn't bother trying to decipher it.
With a sudden movement, Hong Fei tapped his neck. The armor around his head and neck clicked open, separating cleanly. "You've been dying to know who I really am, haven't you? Here's your chance. Reach out and see if your guesses are right. But here's the real question—I'm standing right in front of you. Do you have the guts to take it off?"
The room froze. Not a single sound broke the suffocating silence. Even Frank and the others were caught off guard. Fury didn't move an inch, his gaze locked onto Hong Fei's.
The tension shattered only when Hill strode in, carrying Hong Fei's blade. He resealed his armor and took the weapon with a nod. "I seem to have misplaced a batch of bombs somewhere in the city. Consider it a gift—your elite S.H.I.E.L.D. agents might want to track them down before they fall into the wrong hands. Wouldn't want to cause any unnecessary chaos, would we?"
He hoisted Alexandra over his shoulder and motioned for Frank and the others to follow. Pausing at the exit, he glanced back. "Today's operation against The Hand went smoothly, though the venue wasn't ideal. Next time, I'd love to visit the Triskelion. Farewell, Director Fury."
With that, Abomination shattered the window and leaped into the night. Hong Fei and his team soared into the sky, vanishing into the distance.
The moment they were gone, General Ross barked an order to attack. But Fury's voice roared over the comms, cutting him off. "Stand down! Let them go! He's planted bombs all over New York!"