Blood mixed with the cold rain, spattering in every direction.
A sharp, cold gleam cut through the night like a phantom, twisting and dancing with deadly precision.
"Damn it! What is that?!"
"We're under attack! Defend—"
"It's too fast! Fall back—!"
"No!"
The moment HYDRA's operatives caught sight of that flash of cold light, an instinctual chill gripped their hearts. Fear, raw and primal, surged up.
They raised their guns, desperate to retaliate.
But Alex was faster.
In the blink of an eye, he sliced through nearly every throat among the HYDRA squad.
Their shouts ended mid-sentence.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One after another, the bodies dropped into the cold mud, splashing thick water and dirt into the air.
Blood flowed freely, mixing with rain, pooling into crimson rivers that stained the earth.
Each fallen agent's eyes remained wide open in disbelief.
He was simply too fast—inhumanly fast.
Their vision dimmed as death claimed them.
Clang!
The blade stopped—hovering at the last operative's throat, trembling but poised.
Alex halted.
A tall figure emerged from the rain, shield strapped to his back, long knife gripped tightly in one hand, pointing directly at the man's neck.
A black fiber mask covered his face, but his intent was unmistakable.
In the background, Klaue and Elizabeth stared, wide-eyed.
Klaue's voice was trembling, disbelieving: "You came."
But more than surprise filled him—he was stunned.
He'd watched Alex train. He knew his speed. Impressive for a human, yes—but human.
But this… this was something else.
In a blink, Alex had crossed the distance and wiped out a full squad. That kind of speed wasn't just improved—it was supernatural.
Klaue felt a chill down his spine.
His brother… had become something terrifying.
Tears mingled with rain on Elizabeth's face as she smiled weakly. "Big brother, I knew you'd come save us."
Alex's voice was calm, steady. "I told you—I'd take care of your pursuers."
"And now… I'll keep that promise."
Elsewhere—inside S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters.
Black Widow and others watched through surveillance feeds.
From the shadows, the cold flash had erupted—slicing through HYDRA troops like a force of nature.
Too fast. Too precise.
Everyone who saw it took in a sharp breath.
"My God…" Natasha whispered. "Too fast."
Hawkeye's voice cracked. "That speed… it's beyond belief. I could barely see the figure—just a blur and a blade."
He swallowed hard. "Who the hell is this guy?"
Then the camera caught Alex standing tall, blade still in hand.
Black Widow's eyes narrowed. "It's him."
"He finally showed himself."
"Alex."
Hawkeye recoiled. "That's Alex?!"
"I thought he was just at the peak of human capability. But this—this isn't human anymore."
Everyone stared at the figure on the screen.
This was the man HYDRA feared.
The storm that had shaken S.H.I.E.L.D and threatened to rewrite history.
To Hawkeye, the mystery only deepened.
In that instant, Alex seemed like something more than a man—something unknowable.
Hill turned toward the screen, stunned. "He's faster than Natasha ever described. Faster than Captain America. This is something else."
Natasha murmured, "Either he was hiding his real power before… or he's grown. Drastically."
"And if it's the latter…" She paused, swallowing. "Then we should all be afraid."
Back in the jungle.
Klaue spoke quickly, "Come on, brother. We need to leave now. There's a bigger HYDRA unit coming."
"We have to escape before they catch up."
Leaning against a tree, Klaue stood slowly, blood and rain soaking him.
Alex didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned to a surviving HYDRA soldier.
"Send a message," he said coldly. "Say you've found Klaue and his daughter near the canyon."
"Say he's being difficult. Request reinforcements."
The edge of his blade pressed into the man's neck. Blood welled.
Panicked, the agent grabbed his communicator.
"I've located Klaue and the girl! They're in the canyon! Requesting backup—Klaue's evading us!"
Static.
Then: "Message received. The main force is enroute to the canyon. They won't escape!"
Excitement filled the HYDRA team.
They thought they were close to capturing Klaue and the child.
Klaue chuckled. "A feint. You're luring them away to help us escape. Smart."
Alex shook his head.
"No. I'm not luring them away."
"I'm leading them there—because I'm going to end this."
"I said I'd handle your pursuers. I meant all of them."
His voice was calm. But beneath it was a power that could not be ignored.
He hadn't come to kill a few agents.
He came for a massacre.
No HYDRA soldier who entered that canyon would leave it.
He would make the earth red.
Klaue, watching, paled. "You… you're going to face a full HYDRA strike force?!"
"They're more than just soldiers! Exosuits! The Winter Soldier! You'll be captured—or killed!"
The HYDRA agents around him stared at Alex like he was insane.
One man, against an army.
Madness.
Even S.H.I.E.L.D was stunned.
"He's going to get himself killed," Natasha muttered.
"No matter how fast he is, he can't take on that many alone."
"They'll crush him with sheer numbers."
Hawkeye clenched his fists. "What the hell is he thinking?!"
Then suddenly—the cameras cut out.
All surveillance feeds went black.
Black Widow's expression turned grim. "He found the drones."
"He destroyed them all."
A voice crackled in her ear: "Stop him. Don't let him do this. He's reckless!"
Natasha snapped to motion. "We're going. We'll stop him."
She and Hawkeye vanished into the jungle, feet pounding against muddy ground.
At the same time, near the canyon.
Alex handed Klaue a key. "Head that way. There's a car."
"You're both in bad shape. Go to the safe house."
Klaue nodded. "You're staying?"
"I am."
Elizabeth smiled faintly, "Big brother, come back soon. Dad made your favorite food."
Alex smirked. "Good. If I'm late, make sure he doesn't burn it."
Then he gently touched her head.
She beamed, her soaked face glowing with joy.
Elizabeth, watching, said softly, "Alright. I believe you."
Klaue nodded as well. "We'll go."
With Elizabeth in his arms, Klaue disappeared into the rain.
Alex turned.
Psst.
He withdrew his blade from the HYDRA soldier's throat.
Then he moved.
Like a predator loosed into the wild.
Faster than sound.
Rain parted around him. The blade gleamed.
In moments, Alex reached the canyon.
Flanked by towering cliffs on both sides, it was the perfect kill zone.
"This is where they die," he whispered.
He pulled mini explosives from his pack, launching them into the cliffs.
Whup! Whup! Whup!
More into the soil. More buried in the ground.
He repeated the process at the far end.
Then climbed the cliff wall with supernatural agility.
At the top, he sat like a god of war—shield ready, blade drawn.
Rain poured down.
And his voice echoed:
"Your turn, HYDRA."
Soon, the troops arrived—vehicles, bikes, soldiers, tech.
A massive force.
As they filled the canyon…
Click.
Alex pressed the detonator.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions tore through the canyon, shaking the mountains.
And the slaughter began.