77 Black Technology Everywhere

With the help of the automatic rope, Bucky and Natasha climbed up to the rooftop.

Using the advantageous position of the lab's beams, they launched a fierce attack on the Hydra agents pursuing them below.

"By the way, your metal arm's been upgraded?" Natasha asked, while shooting down at the agents below.

"Last time I saw you, it didn't have so many... interesting features."

Although their interaction was limited during the mission to reclaim the Vibranium transport, Natasha remembered Bucky's metal arm quite clearly.

"Out with the old, in with the new, lady," Bucky replied.

He raised his left arm, transforming his mechanical limb into a mini grenade launcher.

The arm's interior opened, revealing a launcher that fired a swarm of miniature grenades downward, like a cluster of bees.

Explosions erupted all over the lab, flames soaring into the air.

The Hydra agents, who had previously been able to put up a decent fight, were now disoriented by the sudden heavy fire, their lines quickly collapsing.

Bucky's new arm had been created by Rhodes Island Industries.

Since it wasn't a mass-produced weapon or something for sale, it featured a small Ark Reactor and a matching capacitor to power its many functions.

The design was crafted by Kagura Hitomi, featuring a range of abilities drawn from memories of various worlds and eras, showcasing an incredibly creative compilation.

For example, there were features like the folding shield from The Division, retractable grappling hooks from Sekiro or Batman, and this mini grenade launcher, inspired by the swarm missile launcher on the untested Mark 7 Iron Man armor.

"Hey, Bucky Barnes, care to tell me the meaning behind that symbol now?" Natasha pointed to the new emblem on his metal arm, casually knocking out another Hydra agent.

"Not yet. Let's get out of here first," Bucky said, pointing ahead.

From the rooftop, they could see that the Hammer Industries R&D base had gone into full alert.

The blaring alarms echoed throughout the area.

Although it was just a weapons manufacturer's base, due to Hydra's infiltration and development of new gear, it housed a considerable amount of armed forces.

"Alright, looks like we better escape first," Natasha said, leaping off the rooftop and sprinting toward the nearest exit of the weapons base.

Bucky followed closely behind, dodging the security patrols while dropping several black triangular boxes from his metal arm.

"Dropped something?" Natasha noticed the objects falling.

"No, those are 'Prisms'," Bucky replied, grinning.

"As you can see, my new arm has its fair share of cool gadgets."

Once they were far enough, the triangular boxes opened automatically, transforming into long metallic plates that secured themselves to the ground.

A blue light glowed from the center, and their holographic images gradually took shape.

These "Prisms" were portable projection devices developed by Rhodes Island Industries.

They could project any image and disrupt enemies' sight, confusing their judgment.

Unlike their prototype in Rainbow Six, these holograms could even move and interact.

At this moment, the two "Prisms" projected their own holographic forms, and the images hugged each other in plain sight.

"Goodness, who designed this thing?" Natasha couldn't help but joke.

"What a weird sense of humor."

"Don't look at me; I didn't know it had that feature," Bucky replied, looking embarrassed.

Time passed.

The two of them successfully navigated the hidden routes and reached the area near the base's perimeter wall.

Due to the distraction from the "Prisms" and their tactical skills, neither the security guards nor the Hydra agents were able to hinder their escape. It seemed like things were going smoothly.

However, as Bucky approached the wall, ready to use his mechanical arm to break through the metal fence, the ground suddenly shook.

Boom!

A blast of light erupted, and a suit resembling Iron Man's armor landed in front of them.

"Sorry, but you know too much. I can't let you two leave alive tonight," came the voice of the man from the earlier broadcast.

"Wow, I thought you were just some insignificant announcer, but looks like you have some serious gear?" Natasha taunted.

"If you'd shown up earlier, I wouldn't have been able to escape."

"Hmph! I'm not stupid enough to bring a test suit to the battlefield," the man replied, "and I'm no nobody!"

"Oh, so you're someone important?" Natasha continued, mocking.

"Didn't expect that. You don't exactly look like Tony Stark."

"Stark? His kind of suit is outdated by now!" the man retorted.

"Remember my name—I'm..."

'Bang—!'

Before he could finish, a bolt of electricity came crashing down.

A silver-white blade from the experimental unmanned combat armor pierced its head, slicing it in half with sparks flying.

Taking advantage of the fall's momentum, a young woman landed gracefully, flicking the blood off her long knife before folding it and securing it at her waist.

"'Flashblade! You came at just the wrong time—he hadn't even finished his evil monologue yet…" Natasha complained.

"Don't worry, Natalie," the girl replied, "I've already gotten the intel I needed."

"Natalie?" Natasha froze, realizing something.

"Who are you, really?"

The girl straightened, deactivating the holographic projection on her cat-ear headband and turning around.

"Did Nick Fury not tell you? Natalie, it's fine to reveal my identity to you."

"Hitomi?" Natasha blinked in shock.

"'Flashblade' is you? That's... shocking."

"Hehe!" Kagura smiled playfully.

"Surprised, huh, sister?"

"You really are a little troublemaker, always surprising people," Natasha said, a smile creeping onto her face.

"So, if I'm not mistaken, you're the one who saved Bucky?"

"Yep!" Kagura grinned, hands on her hips.

"Now he's a hero, 'White Wolf'!"

"Don't say that," Bucky laughed, shaking his head.

"I'm just a penitent man trying to redeem himself."

"Hitomi, we need to talk," Natasha said.

"There's a lot you haven't told me, right?"

"Right," Kagura replied, grinning.

"Griffin Security has officially invited you, Natasha Romanoff, Agent."

...................

[TL Note]

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