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One week later.
Inside the combat chamber, two figures were locked in a fierce sparring match. One of them had an unmistakable edge his right arm, gleaming with a metallic sheen, was a powerful cybernetic limb. With a roar, he threw a brutal punch.
The air cracked with a sharp whoosh.
But in a split second, the other figure raised his Vibranium shield.
CLANG!
The room echoed with the impact as the two fighters froze in a brief stalemate.
Nolan suddenly stepped in, grabbing Klaue's other arm and yanking him forward. With perfect form, he flipped the arms dealer over his shoulder and slammed him to the ground.
"Oof—!"
Around them, several guards immediately raised their weapons in panic.
"Put those down, you damn mutts!" Klaue growled from the floor.
Nolan offered a hand and pulled him up.
"You really are tough for a guy with just flesh and bone," Klaue grumbled. "Feels like even with this new arm, I still can't take you. You sure you didn't tamper with my programming?"
"You're still adapting," Nolan replied coolly. "And you're relying too much on that steel arm. Your greatest asset shouldn't become your biggest weakness."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel Delina brought over.
Over the past week, Nolan had been deep in accelerated training. When not buried in stacks of biomedical journals and genetic research, he was grinding through combat drills, sparring matches, and firearms training.
With his enhanced learning and super-soldier physique, he was like a dry sponge soaking in knowledge at a terrifying rate.
Klaue flexed his arm with awe. "Feels like it's always been part of me. The power, the control… incredible."
"But your body still feels stronger than this arm," he added, glancing at Nolan with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Nolan shook his head. "Maybe in pure force, we're close. But this thing is tougher. And you've got sonic blasts."
He tapped his chest. "I'm still flesh and blood. I get shot, I bleed."
Klaue laughed. "You make it sound like someone out there's bulletproof. What's next, a guy who shrugs off rockets?"
"I'm talking about humans," Nolan replied. "Not rage-fueled monsters like the Hulk. There are others Colossus, Luke Cage, the Juggernaut… even people who can fly."
Klaue blinked in disbelief. "Damn. The world's full of weirdos with powers, huh?"
Nolan just smiled. And I plan to dissect every single one of them, he thought. Especially Jessica Jones. That flight ability of hers he needed it.
As they walked out of the training room, Klaue nudged him. "So... your body must've been modified too, right? Think you could hook me up?"
"I could," Nolan said casually. "But it'd hurt. A lot. You might end up as a pile of goo if you can't handle it."
Klaue gulped. "Any chance for a pain-free version?"
"No pain, no power," Nolan said flatly. "You traded an arm for that one. Not everything comes free."
"Fair," Klaue grinned. "Guess I'll stick with what I've got."
"I'm going to check on the Vibranium exosuit design. It's coming along but I still need a power source for extended field use."
"We've got time," Klaue replied, waving it off.
Just then, his curvy secretary rolled up with a tray.
"Mr. Klaue, Mr. Nolan fresh juice. Enjoy."
A post-sparring tradition between the two: a juice to cool down.
Klaue grabbed two glasses, handed one to Nolan, and raised his own.
"To our glorious future," he grinned.
"Cheers."
Nolan took a sip and then immediately froze. His brows furrowed, and the glass slipped from his fingers, shattering on the floor.
With a flick of his arm, he slammed his shield into Klaue's glass sending it flying.
"Don't drink it. It's poisoned."
Klaue, already two gulps in, stared at him in confusion until the secretary whipped a compact pistol from her cleavage and fired at him.
BANG, BANG, BANG!
Nolan raised his shield just in time. Bullets pinged harmlessly off the Vibranium.
Klaue's cybernetic arm morphed instantly, releasing a sonic shockwave. The blast struck the assassin squarely in the chest blood gushed from every orifice as she collapsed in a heap.
At that moment, security forces burst into the room.
"Sir! Gunfire outside!"
"Return fire! Prepare for evacuation!" Klaue barked, groaning as the toxin began to cloud his mind.
"They've found us," Nolan muttered. "Your secretary was a HYDRA Agent. That means they were one step from putting a bullet in your head."
"Cut the chatter!" Klaue snarled, clutching his temple. "Grab your gear we've got an exit route."
"Forget sneaking out," Nolan countered. "You're already drugged. That ether's going to hit harder before it wears off. Take your guns We walk out the front."
Klaue hesitated, then nodded. "I can take it. Follow me."
They made their way to the weapons cache. Outside, gunfire erupted like a warzone.
Klaue stumbled into the armoury. "What do we need?!"
"Everything," Nolan said calmly, grabbing body armour and tossing a vest to Klaue. "Arm your men. Get them to break through the front. And stop acting like a rookie your arm is a damn cannon."
Suddenly, he turned, eyes narrowing.
A shadow behind them.
"Help… me…" Delina whispered.
Without a second thought, Klaue spun, drew his pistol, and shot her between the eyes.
Blood sprayed across the crates as her body dropped.
Nolan glanced at him, surprised.
"What? You getting sentimental?" Klaue sneered. "Right now, it's just us. Trust no one."
Nolan nodded grimly. Klaue may have been generous, but he was still a warlord blood didn't faze him.
"Is there another way out?"
"Yeah. The side corridor leads to the main hall."
Klaue slung his rifle across his back and snapped on the vest.
Nolan armed himself like a walking arsenal, grenades at his hip, a rifle across his chest, and a rocket launcher in hand.
Klaue blinked. "You seriously going out like that?"
"You got a better idea?"
Klaue barked into his comms, "Everyone! Breach the front!"
They pushed through the corridor doors.
RAT-A-TAT-TAT!
Gunfire erupted instantly.
Nolan's shield shot up, catching the bullets like a wall of steel.
He dropped the launcher onto his shoulder.
"It's him! It's Nolan!"
"Get the tasers! Tranquilizers! We need him alive!"
"He's got a rocket! SPREAD OUT!"
Too late.
BOOM!
The launcher roared.
The impact obliterated the corridor—blood and debris everywhere.
In a single breath, half the enemies were gone.
Their formation shattered.
Nolan surged forward, bullets pinging harmlessly off his shield. He returned fire with his rifle while seeking cover.
"MOVE!" he barked at Klaue.
Finally shaking off his shock, Klaue raised his gun and joined in.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Enemies dropped like dominoes.
From every corner, reinforcements poured in.
Nolan's expression remained cold and focused.
Another rocket flew.
BOOM!
Another wall was blown open.
"Let's go!" Nolan shouted.
And with that, they charged through the smoke and fire into the chaos.
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100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter!