We Are Surrounded By One Person?

On the other side.

HYDRA was alerted as soon as Klaue entered the canyon—Alex's side made sure of it.

The message quickly made its way to Baron Strucker.

Upon hearing the news, a confident grin spread across Strucker's face."Now, Klaue… let's see how you escape this time."

He leaned forward, eyes flashing with anticipation."Finally, we'll catch him."

A flicker of excitement danced in his gaze."And once Klaue is in our grasp, Alex's location won't be far behind. I'm rather looking forward to it."

He rubbed his hands together eagerly.

Elsewhere.

Dr. Zola murmured under his breath, "So, Strucker's pulling out all the stops… just to catch Klaue? Just to get to this 'Alex'?"

He narrowed his eyes at the screen."What does this Alex have that's worth such effort?"

Curiosity piqued, Zola began combing through HYDRA's database.

It didn't take long.

He located Alex's profile—an unremarkable researcher from Research Institute No. 71.

"Just a regular staff member?" Zola frowned. "HYDRA has hundreds like him."

To his eyes, there was nothing exceptional about Alex.But then he noticed something strange.

The entire Research Institute No. 71 had been cleared.

While poor performance could explain a purge of researchers, it was rare for commanding officers and soldiers to be included.

But this time… everyone was gone.

That could only mean one thing—someone wanted to cover something up.

Zola spoke quietly:"Research Institute 71 was sanitized. Strucker's hiding something."

His fingers tapped rapidly across the console.

"This Alex… he's not who he seems to be."

A cold whisper escaped his lips:"What exactly happened at that facility…"

In the canyon.

HYDRA forces had just stepped into the gorge when—BOOM!

Explosions erupted at both ends of the canyon.

Massive cliff faces crumbled, showering boulders like a tidal wave of stone.

Rocks thundered down, a deadly avalanche tearing through the canyon.

The noise alone was deafening.

Panic spread through the HYDRA ranks.

Vehicles were crushed like toys.Motorcycles flattened.Men reduced to pulp and gore.

Screams echoed like cries from hell.

It was a slaughter.

Some who had been farther from the impact zones escaped the worst of it.

But then—more explosions.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Underground charges tore through the canyon floor.

Metal twisted. Vehicles were hurled into the air.Flesh and fire filled the storm-soaked landscape.

Blood mixed with rainwater, forming crimson pools.Flames flickered in the downpour.

The canyon was sealed at both ends—rocks piled high.

Within moments, the place had transformed into a warzone straight out of a nightmare.

From afar.

Black Widow and Hawkeye were sprinting toward the canyon, following Alex's last known trail—when the ground trembled.

A thunderous rumble shook the air.

The sound froze them in place.

Black Widow's heart pounded."What the hell was that?!"

Hawkeye looked toward the canyon."It came from there… Was that artillery?!"

"Did Alex walk into a trap?""Was that HYDRA's doing? Did they attack him?"

Black Widow quickly pulled a miniature drone from her pack."We need eyes in the sky."

Hawkeye nodded, and she launched the drone.

Back in the canyon.

It was carnage.

Yet not all HYDRA personnel had died.

Alex's bombs were concentrated at the ends—designed to block escape and cause chaos, not total annihilation.

A third of the soldiers survived.

The Winter Soldiers and exoskeleton units remained virtually untouched—dodging debris or smashing boulders with raw power.

But as they looked at their fallen comrades—two-thirds of their number gone—rage boiled over.

"Why were there so many bombs?!"

"This was supposed to be a simple op! Two injured targets, no major threat!"

"Did Klaw set us up?! Was this all a trap?!"

"Could it be S.H.I.E.L.D.? Are we surrounded?!"

Then—

A voice thundered from above:"HYDRA! You are surrounded… by me!"

"Today—this canyon becomes your grave!"

All eyes turned upward.

Rain obscured their vision, but they could make out a lone figure standing on the cliff edge.

A blade gleamed coldly in his hand.

Gasps rippled through the soldiers.

"One person?!"

"Is he serious?"

"Who the hell is that?!"

A Winter Soldier suddenly stiffened."That voice… That's Alex!"

The exoskeleton warriors exchanged looks.So he was here. Their main target. The reason for this entire mission.

But then—Alex leapt.

Alone.

Strucker's command post.

Strucker was stunned.

"Alex… he came by himself?" He stood up, almost disbelieving.

"He lured my forces… and then showed up alone?!"

But instead of fear, a twisted excitement gripped him.

He laughed:"I hunted you endlessly, and you walked right in!"

"You think some bombs can stop my Winter Soldiers? My exoskeletons?"

"Very well. Since you came—let's end this."

He issued a command:"Capture Alex at all costs! I want him alive!"

Back in the canyon.

As everyone watched, Alex slid down the muddy cliff at speed.

Rain pouring down.Blade in one hand. Shield in the other.

He looked like a figure of myth—unstoppable.

Two-thirds down, he suddenly launched himself—like a cannonball.

CRACK!

He landed in the center of the battlefield.

"Die."His voice was cold.His blade, swift.

He cut a soldier in half instantly.

"Get him!" someone screamed.

"Even if we cripple him—just don't kill him!"

More poured in.

But Alex was a storm.

His blade danced.

Heads flew.Hearts pierced.The shield ricocheted through bodies, shattering bones.

Someone lunged from behind—Alex sensed it instantly.

Spider-sense.

He turned, blade flashing, splitting the attacker in two.

Gunfire erupted—Alex blocked with the shield, used bodies as cover.

Then came the exoskeleton warriors.

He dodged.Struck.Sliced through steel.Smashed through helmets.

Yellow matter sprayed.

His shield crushed skulls.

He was wounded—stabbed, sliced, battered—but unstoppable.

Blood coated him. His own and theirs.

He fought like a demon in a slaughterhouse.

He was the slaughterhouse.

The butcher in the storm.

HYDRA soldiers were terrified.

This was not normal.

This was not human.

But as Alex took more wounds, they felt hope.

"He's bleeding!""He's slowing down!"

"He can't last much longer!"

They surged again.

But something was wrong.

Alex didn't slow.

He didn't falter.

He thrived in it.

He was still a machine of death—unrelenting.

One of the Winter Soldiers cursed."This isn't working! He's not going down!"

They regrouped.

"The four of us—plus the remaining exoskeletons! We hit him together!"

"Cut off his limbs if we have to—just bring him in alive!"

The final elite forces moved.

Rain pouring.

Weapons raised.

And Alex…

He smiled.

The storm had only just begun.