Chapter 169: The Red Skull. 

Author: only the previous chapter is incomplete. The rest is. The spammers had done their jobs. Make sure to thank them. Also, this chapter too needed 150 paragraph comments lol.

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Red Skull was transported into Vormir 70 years ago after he touched the cosmic cube with his bare hand. 

There, he was punished by having all the knowledge he wanted, and a source of immense power was only an arms length away, but he wasn't able to possess that power for himself.

Like a slave, he had to wait for the Soul Stone to be claimed by someone. He didn't drink or eat, nor did he age. He couldn't die from the curse that has been bestowed upon him. And he wasn't supposed to come back to Earth. 

There was only one purpose for him there. To guide the others toward the sentient soul stone – that was also his master that kept him there. He had guided multiple people, but all of them had failed to get the soul stone. 

In the 70 years of his servitude, he had planned to take over the world, to kill off the people who will resist, to make Hydra the world conqueror multiple times. However, it was all futile as he wasn't allowed to escape that planet until the promised someone came.

Until one day, a being by the name of High Evolutionary had come and took the burden of the soul stone from him. The High Evolutionary bestowed the stone to someone who has protected him while he was asleep for his next evolution. The Soul Stone was stuck on his benefactor's forehead and it would be impossible for anyone to remove it.  

Finally, Red Skull was free. 

He hijacked a traveling spaceship that came to Vormir in the search for the legends, killed all of the crew on board and flew towards Earth with numerous new technologies from the advanced civilization. 

A man that had been reborn had helped the High Evolutionary in some matter, and they had disappeared together to get to Counter-Earth. It was a secret to everyone else in the galaxy, but not for him. He knew about this matter when the High Evolutionary came to take the soul stone.

He noted the name – Adam Warlock, as the man who's in possession of the Soul Stone. 

The reborn man was from an advanced civilization named the Sovereign – a species that is golden in color and has peak genetic engineering skill with an unbearable arrogance.  

Red Skull had attacked the Sovereign planet and created some infamy in the galaxy before he returned to the Earth. 

He was confident that Hydra should already be ruling the world  – even if only from the shadows after 70 years. Now, he was planning to rule not only the Earth, but also the vast and infinite universe.

His disappointment was immeasurable and his day was ruined, when he found out that Hydra had already been destroyed and its name had been dragged through the mud when he got back. His potential army was gone before he could even start his conquest. 

"It couldn't be..Unless…Someone was monitoring the Hydra's head before it happened."

Red Skull had theorized why the giant Hydra organizations had fallen. 

He had some knowledge in magic, but the incident that took out the Hydra's members was too specific to be one. That leads him into not contacting the other Hydra's head and announcing his return. 

By meeting with the family of politicians that were once his butlers, he created a persona named Dell Rusk and wanted to learn the current situation of the world. 

He learned about the Avengers, Ryan Knight, the Templars, Wakanda, Dormammu, Kamar Taj and many more. 

Same as Fury, he noticed that the only person who was able to receive the benefit from the Hydra's fall, was suspicious. – especially since that person was called the All knowing Oracle. 

He set a target in his mind, and worked slowly toward it. Now that Hydra has been destroyed, he needs to work alone to make sure that no one will notice his plan. He also wanted to see if Ryan was as omniscient as the people have said. 

"In order for Hydra to rise again. Both The Oracle, and the team led by a 'friend' of mine in the past needs to fall," He muttered fanatically while stabbing a blade on Ryan's and Captain America's photo. 

The Avengers and Ryan, were both his targets in the operation he was planning. 

That was 2 months ago. Now, his plan is complete. Thadeus Ross was one of his pieces that he used to bring all the Avengers into one place that he had control over. 

…

5 minutes before the biochemical virus releases.

In the outskirts of the city, the battle was slowing down as the Red Hulk couldn't absorb any radiation to replenish his strength. He was beaten up by Kai and Steve, before Thor joined in and sealed his fate. 

Thor had placed his Mjolnir on the Red-Hulk's chest while he was down, restraining him from getting back up. 

"It was a good battle, monster. We should try it again sometime." Thor said to Red-Hulk. 

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Red-Hulk yelled. However, Kai shot a potent sedative on his forehead before he could muster any strength to escape.

"Why didn't you do it sooner?" Hawkeye asked. The battle will be a lot easier if Kai had shot the sedative earlier on. 

"He'll burn the sedative if I administered the shot before." Kai explained.

"Spoken like a true doctor." Natasha teased.

"I am a doctor." Kai said in confusion while tilting his head slightly. 

"What kind of doctor could stop two of the most terrifying monsters in the world with just his palm? No offense, Hulk." Ayala chimed.

"None taken." Hulk said while grinning. He was also intrigued by the strength Kai had portrayed. He was sick of always fighting with Thor. He wanted a new sparring partner that can be more level-headed – like he was. 

The Hulk wanted to beat up the Red one and return to his room in the Avengers tower, however, he saw She-Hulk coming toward them from afar. 

"Jen?" Hulk's eyes shook after seeing her figure. Even Banner inside of him was stunned.

 A massive guilt washed over both of them after seeing that Jen was sharing their fate. 

Jen stopped in her tracks and hesitated to go meet the Avengers. She turned toward the readers and said, " Oh god. I am going to meet the most famous person in the whole world. And I am just wearing clothes that seem like underwear."

"Hmm, who is that?" Barton asked as he saw She-Hulk. The green woman waved shyly at them, and didn't move closer toward them. 

"The Hulk's cousin." Thor answered casually. 

"Jennifer Walters?" Natasha muttered her name instantly while looking at the Hulk. She already read the files on every member of the team. It was the only logical reasoning as the Hulk was created, not born. 

The Hulk smiled sadly and nodded. 

But, before they could end the battle in the outskirts and bring the Red-Hulk into a containment unit, Tony flew toward them, landed, and said urgently, "A biochemical virus was released into the city. It looks like  he was just a distraction." He pointed at the Red-Hulk.

"What?" The Red-Hulk's eye shook as he wasn't part of any plan that could destroy the city at a large scale. At most, he will ignore the collateral damages and casualties to get his mission done —That's it.

"Also, the military had barricaded the city. This is premeditated." Tony added.

"How did you know?" Ayala asked as she was confused as to why a good action was deemed a bad one. 

"Since when did the military move efficiently without people begging them to move and it was too late?" Natasha said in a questioning tone, making Ayala understand Tony's reasoning. 

"Ahh, I see." Ayala said.

"That's why, don't throw out your Avenger guidebook when you join." Barton teased while reloading his arrow. He had a feeling that tonight will be a long night for them. 

Captain America learned of the situation and tried to negotiate with the military officers near the barricade, but they wouldn't move for him.

"Allright, that's it. You got your chance-" Tony said angrily and aimed toward the barricade, but Steve stopped him. 

"CAP!" Tony yelled in dissatisfaction. 

"This is what they wanted Tony. Don't you realize it?" 

Tony looked toward the military men around the place, and saw multiple recording devices pointed toward them.

"This.." 

"I fear that what Ryan had predicted is happening. They wanted to plant a seed of doubt inside the people's mind by getting evidence of us going against the law, " Natasha explained. 

Tony gritted his teeth and tried to calm himself down. "Will it become like this everytime we want to help someone?" He asked sarcastically. 

"No. Ryan promised to change the world for the better. We have to believe in him. Nay. We need to, " Thor interjected. 

"Also. Thor, the rules of human society don't really affect you. Go create a vacuum with your hammer and suck off all the viruses towards outer space," Steve said. 

"On it Captain." Thor smiled and flew toward the city immediately. Thor moved Mjolnir from the Red-Hulk's chest, but he wasn't resisting any longer. He entered the restraint Tony created for the Hulk obediently, making Tony feel weirded out by his actions. 

Red-Hulk knew that he was used in the evil plan inside the city. He won't add to his crimes by resisting arrest and interfering with the Avengers rescue missions.

"Where is he going? He needs to stay-" A military man said hurriedly as he saw Thor flying toward the city. 

"Asgard. He went back to his home." Barton cuts off the military man immediately. The man was stunned, but he couldn't retort back. He could only report it to his supervisors in charge. 

However, he didn't know that even the supervisors were panicking as they couldn't contact the generals that were responsible for giving them orders in the first place! 

Captain America led the group to another location, away from the eyes of the military officers. 

"Natasha. Barton. See if you can get past the barricade. Tony. We need a sample." Steve ordered. "Kai, could you create a cure?" 

"Yes. If I have the right equipment." Kai replied casually, earning the others respect. They know his capabilities in curing unique diseases and viruses from his time in the SHIELD's prison. 

Then, Kai added, "Although… Ryan is inside the city now. I don't have to do it myself." 

"Wait what?" Tony asked quickly. He knew Ryan was at Washington before this as he was meeting with him at the location before. 'So how did he arrive in the city so quickly? Did he finally create a sui-' 

"Why are you surprised Tony? He is the Oracle. I am sure he had…Foreseen this." Barton joked and interrupted Tony's spiraling happy thoughts.

He earned a glare from the rest of the team, but he felt that it was worth it. 

"Hey." She-Hulk mustered her courage and came to talk with the Avengers. She didn't feel shy because of her personality, but it was only because of her clothing. She especially didn't want Kai to see her shirt with his wings logo on it. 

"I stumbled onto a suspicious person when I came here. He might have some answers, " She said.

"Natasha." Steve said quickly. 

"I know what to do." The Black widow said and a ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. Then, she left the team with She-Hulk and rode the hoverbike toward the place where the man was restrained. 

The man opened his eyes to see the two otherworldly beauties at his side while his hand was tied to the bed. He experienced what every man had dreamt to experience the moment he opened his eyes. Too bad for him, Natasha took out some 'information gathering' devices after he refused to tell them what he knew.

…

In the night city.

"Run!!" A random civilian shouted as the army of red-skinned people with a skull-like head was sprinting instinctively toward them.

However, an ice wall appeared and separated the infected people from the non-infected people.

The chaos came so suddenly that Ryan's disaster app couldn't evacuate people in time. His disaster shelter in the Knight Industries had been activated, and non-infected people were being gathered there.   

"Wait. Ice?" A young teenage girl – who was also the one who screamed about the superhero couple in the previous chapter, received a sudden realization about who had helped them.

"It's the Oracle! He's here to save us!" 

"Kamala, run. What are you muttering about?" Bruno grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the streets. 

The pair of the 14 years old who had snuck away after curfew and had gotten on a bus to New York City, scurried away to safety after being saved by Ryan. Now that the entire New York City was blocked, Kamala knew for sure that her mother would find out that they had snuck away. 

A few blocks away, a man in a red and black suit with a DD logo on it muttered softly, "It'll be a chaotic night."

He threw his baton toward an infected person, saving a little kid from getting bitten. A black shadow moved past him in an insane speed and stealth that he could barely detect from the remnant smell that lingered around the place the man had stepped on. 

"Knight?" Daredevil muttered. Then, an ice wall appeared and separated the infected people from the non-infected people again. "It's really him."

Murdock felt a bit relieved that one of the Avengers members was there in the city to help them out. Not only him, but most of the street heroes had come out and helped during the spread of the virus. 

The week old couple, Jessica and Luke Cage, were fighting nearby Harlem and protected the non infected people from getting bitten. 

The city's exit was blocked by the military men under the generals responsible for the Red-Hulk incident, and the residents of the city were pushed back to the city whenever they wanted to escape. 

They even blocked the Avengers from interfering under the guise of the country's order. 

Red Skull had cut off the contact from New York to the rest of the world, making it impossible for the Avengers to verify the order.

"What is this? Are these Marvel Zombies? I don't think so." Ryan in his stealth suit muttered quietly. He slid on the ice platform he created, and threw some ice domes to save some people from the city from being bitten. 

Despite all of the Red Skull's detailed work of hiding himself, Ryan already knew who he was the moment he used the name Dell Rusk.

"Honestly, using an anagram for his name was just ridiculous. Is he Lord Voldemort? The No-nose part is similar though."

He equipped a shrinked mobile lab on his back, and moved among the shadows to avoid detection from the Red-Skull.  

He had allowed the Red Skull to succeed in his initial plans because he wanted to use this chaos to settle a few things. Skull killing all the resisting generals was also a good thing for him, so he didn't stop him before it happened. 

"ALBUS and Red Queen are analyzing the virus sample, so I will have the cure in no time." Ryan said confidently. 

The biochemical attack spread quickly until it enveloped the entirety of New York. With most of the Avengers in a battle at the outskirts, the center of the city quickly turned chaotic. Then, he landed near the times square where the number of the infected people were the greatest. 

However, he wasn't the only one there. Roadblock – His head of security that doubled as a superhero, Patriot – the grandson of a black supersoldier whose feats had been erased from the world, 100 of the Templars member that was still in the city when the infection come, and lastly, the love of his life, Spider-Gwen in her armored spider suit. 

"Guys. We have a job to do." Ryan said coldly and set his target on the culprit responsible for the ongoing incident. 

People who had submitted to the virus started to rampage throughout the city, attacking those who weren't affected. Ryan split the team into several groups and sent them away into various parts of the city. 

Only Gwen was left with him after the others moved away to their respective locations and started to build a perimeter to save the non-infected. 

"I wonder if you actually let this happen because you wanted to play around and skip your work." Gwen said accusingly. She was teasing him, but after seeing his stunned expression, another thought raised up to the surface. "You don't allow this to happen because you're bored right?"

"Gwen. I am not omniscient." Ryan defended himself hurriedly. However, Gwen narrowed her eyes at him, filling him with a guilty conscience. He sweated profusely from underneath his stealth suit mask and waited until she finally gave up trying to understand him.

"Yeah. You aren't omniscient…" Gwen muttered, kissed him on the left cheek, and web-swing away. 

"Fuhhhh…." Ryan breathed in relief after she was gone. He saw Thor in the air and was guiding the red fog into space. He ignored the matter of the Avenger and tapped into his miniaturized supercomputer on his wrist. 

After reading the data on a few spots in the city, he moved toward the nearest location in a full stealth mode. 

"Ryan, are you inside the city?" Tony asked as he was finally able to connect with Ryan after trying for some time. 

"Yeah. How's the situation with the Red-Hulk?" Ryan asked with his armor full of blood. 

"We managed to restrain him, but he is not changing back to his previous self. So we have no idea who he is. Also, he looked like he was connected with this attack on the city." Tony said. 

"How so?" Ryan asked calmly. He already knew the culprit but he wasn't going to discourage the team. "You're not going to say because he is red right?" Ryan teased. 

However, Tony was silent after he said that. 

"Seriously?" Ryan said in disbelief. 

"Let me talk to him," Steve interjected before Tony could explain himself, leaving him with a bitter feeling of being looked down upon. 

" Ryan, this virus. I know where it comes from. You might not believe me… but- "

"It's Red Skull right?" 

Steve was silent for a while before agreeing with Ryan. The infection in the city was extremely familiar for him. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong in this incident. 

"We need to find where he is," Steve said. 

However, at that time, the billboards in Times Square and various parts of the city had been hacked and it showed a bald man with a red skin and no nose standing in front of a podium with a Hydra logo on it.

Red Skull hijacked the media and billboards, showing himself to the world unexpectedly. 

"We found him, Captain." Barton jokes to break the heavy atmosphere in the team. However, even he was solemn when he looked at the message Red Skull was preparing to give.

 No villain without proper planning and intelligence would reveal themselves to the world without having something to face the consequences. Whether its strength, armies, power, or money. 

"Attention Citizens of New York."

Red Skull's voice reverberated into every corner of the city. The escaping resident turned their attention towards the nearest display from them, and listened to the message from the Skull. 

" I am called, The Red Skull. Leader of the once mighty organization called Hydra. By now, the virus that has turned you into a person like me, should've been spread throughout the entire city."

" However, unlike me, those who come in contact with the virus…Will die in an hour without the antidote."

Tony widened his eyes after hearing the announcement. "Is he joking?" 

"Based on the rate of the virus' proliferation inside an infected body, he isn't." Kai answered. 

Red Skull continued. " My demand is simple. I want Mr Ryan Knight in restraint and delivered to me within the hours. Then…" 

He took out a nebulizer and showed it to the cameras." I will release the antidote for the infected, saving their life without any other tricks." 

"Bullshit." Gwen who was watching the message cursed out loud. 

"Haha. Nice move. Too bad you're facing me." Ryan muttered arrogantly while going to the next location in his list. Whether it's robbery or killing some people that had escaped the purification during his Tarot persona before, he had been very busy in the chaos. 

The people he targeted were trying to make his work harder to change the bureaucratic system in the country, so he decided to get rid of them all at once. 

"With the emergence of the infinity stone out there in the galaxy, who knows when Thanos will stop by the planet and start to kill half the population. Sorry, but if you don't want to change, there won't be any spot for you in the future I'm creating."

"Ryan? Ryan! DAMN IT HE'S NOT ANSWERING." Tony muttered angrily. Then, he turned to look at the military men nearby who were blocking the way. 

"Sorry guys. I have to do this." Tony said and rocketed toward the city. 

"TONY!" Steve yelled at him, but it was too late. Tony destroyed multiple air-turrets aiming at him before he entered the city's airspace. 

However, Peggy Carter contacted Steve at the same moment Tony had breached the blockade.

"All the generals responsible for this mess are dead. You can fight the military stationed there freely as they didn't have any legit order to be there," Peggy informed them.

"Avengers. Find Ryan Knight and protect him."

Steve took the lead and activated his jet pack. He arrived in front of the blockade and announced it to the military men. 

"Stand down. All of your generals are dead. You're following the enemy's plan at the moment. Let us in, and there won't be any trouble." 

Barton shot at an officer, his arrow knocked down the gun he stealthily moved from his holster. "Stand down. Or. Face the consequences."

The military men looked at one another, and decided that it wasn't worth it to antagonize Avengers. Especially when the Hulk was staring intently at them. 

Natasha contacted Steve and Tony when they entered the city. 

"The virus is a distraction. Skull's real aim is the Avenger tower." 

In the Avenger Tower. 

Tony had created a big arc reactor to support the energy usage of the entire tower. It was placed at the underground level of the tower, and hidden away from the public's knowledge. 

The Red Skull had taken over the system inside the Tower and had silenced JARVIS during his intrusion. 

He tapped the keyboard on the monitor near the arc reactor quickly, and had turned the arc reactor into a bomb that will destroy the entire city! 

Wearing a black iron armor based on Tony's iron armor, he inserted multiple weapons and an energy source from the galaxy. 

Instead of using an arc reactor, his suit was powered by Anulax batteries, one of his spoils that he was able to get from his time in the galaxy. 

"With the data I stole from the Avenger Training room and Tony Stark's weapons database, I will be able to create my own intergalactic army and conquer not only the world, but even the galaxy."

"That's a grand ambition. Have you thought about what would happen if you didn't get away with this thievery?" A young and energetic voice asked him from behind. Red Skull realized who was speaking and turned slowly while smiling. 

"As expected from the Oracle. You can see through me right away." Red Skull said to Ryan who was already out of his stealth suit. 

"If you know I would come, then why are you happy to see me? You even concocted the useless plan to let the Avengers look for me so that they won't realize what you are doing here." 

CLAP CLAP CLAP 

The Red Skull clapped his hand despite his plans being on the brink of failure. 

" You see, I thought a lot about what to do if Hydra was monitored from an outside party." Red Skull started to monologue. 

" However, I was only in a difficult place IF, I only had people from Earth to help me." 

"What did you say?" Ryan widened his eyes in surprise. 

Suddenly, two aliens lunged at Ryan from the shadows. He avoided being crushed by the aliens with a massive body by jumping acrobatically backward. 

"You are?" 

"We're the Blood Brothers. Galaxies greatest mercenaries!" 

The bald twin alien with a red skin and a body that was almost Hulk-size said gleefully while posing. 

"Are you starting an organization for bald people with red skin? Huh? RED SKULL?" Ryan mocked. 

"Kill him." Red Skull ordered coldly. He took out a big staff with a crystal made from dark dimension energy and started to chant. 

"Gladly." The twin Blood Brothers started to attack Ryan at the same time. 

Red Skull knows that Ryan wasn't a strengthened person. He closed his eyes and focused on chanting the incantation to summon Dormammu's minions and help him to create chaos in the city. 

His spaceship that he stole from a warring race is waiting for him in New York's airspace.

However, Red Skull was hit by a small orb that exploded in his face. 

"Arggh." He yelled and held his bleeding forehead. "You-"

His eyes widened as he saw that Ryan managed to attack him and cut off his ritual while fighting against both of the alien mercenaries at the same time!

Ryan had tied a metal wire on one head of the blood brother, and another on the body of another one. If one of them moves, then the metal will cut the other one!

"You-? What You? Finish your sentence next time." Ryan mocked while taking out his antidote for the virus that Red Queen has created. "Also, time up for your game."

Next chapter : Guardian of the Galaxy Prelude. 

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