Marvel: Rise of the Ultimate AI

The recently transmitted footage sent a shockwave through Nick Fury's mind.

Initially, he had merely intended to monitor Mason Industries and General Ross, trying to uncover their agenda. However, what he discovered instead was the Super Soldier.

That shield… it was undeniably Captain America's signature weapon.

That face… it was identical to the Steve Rogers from the old photographs.

But why?

The disbelief was evident in Fury's expression, and beside him, Agent Maria Hill was just as shaken.

"Director… that person just now… was he really—"

"Keep a tight watch on Mason Industries," Fury cut her off, his tone cold and severe. "I want to know exactly what they're hiding."

A dangerous suspicion had started brewing in Fury's mind, yet concrete evidence still eluded him.

"And… what about the task I assigned you before?" he asked.

Hill quickly responded, "Sir, the base does exist. I was about to dispatch a team to investigate."

"No," Fury said grimly. "I'll go personally."

...

Midnight – Alexander Pierce's Mansion

Seated in his study, Alexander Pierce massaged his temples, exhaustion evident on his face.

Recently, Fury had grown increasingly paranoid, acting as though he was haunted by shadows. And as if that weren't enough, Pierce had also caught wind of something concerning—Fury had reopened a classified file, one marked with the codename: Black Devil.

Across from him, Baron Zemo sat with a composed expression, his fingers tapping lightly on a small encrypted storage drive.

"Leader," Zemo said softly, sliding the device across the desk. "Dr. Zola's algorithm is complete. Once you initiate Project Insight, Hydra will reclaim its rightful control over the world."

Pierce picked up the device, his gaze unreadable. "And the Winter Soldier? How is his conditioning?"

"He's just been thawed from cryo-sleep. He's still adjusting," Zemo answered with a faint smile. "But the brainwashing is complete."

"He will be our greatest secret weapon."

Just as Zemo finished speaking—

The lights in the room suddenly went out.

Pierce's study, already dimly lit, was now plunged into complete darkness.

"What's going on?"

Pierce immediately drew his pistol, his body tensed.

Zemo, too, narrowed his eyes, his mind prepared to unleash his mutant abilities.

The two men stood, scanning their surroundings, poised for a fight.

And then—

A voice echoed through the room.

Smooth, mechanical, and laced with an eerie, synthetic distortion, it was as if the words were being whispered directly into their ears.

"Your scheming is truly… remarkable."

Both Pierce and Zemo whipped around—

A figure sat in the chair where they had just been.

Draped in obsidian-black armor, the unknown intruder exuded an overwhelming, inhuman presence. The V-shaped visor on his helmet gleamed an ominous red, glowing like the eyes of a demonic entity.

Pierce's voice trembled slightly. "Who… are you?"

And then, he saw it.

Clutched in the intruder's hand was the very same encrypted drive that had just been on his desk.

His heart plummeted.

If this person had been able to steal something right out of his hands without him noticing—

How many times could he have already killed them both?

A chilling realization sank in.

Zemo, however, was not as easily shaken. His expression turned dark as he subtly attempted to activate his psychic abilities.

The response was instant.

"Baron Zemo," the intruder spoke with an almost bored tone, "spare me your petty mind tricks."

Zemo's entire body convulsed.

A strangled groan escaped his lips as blood dribbled from his mouth.

His face contorted in painful agony, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.

Zemo was no stranger to psychic battles. He had even once fought Charles Xavier and held his own.

But this—

This was different.

His mind felt like it was being crushed.

An invisible force twisted inside his skull, like a drill boring straight into his brain. His vision swam. His nerves screamed.

And then—

A single, commanding word struck the air.

"Sit."

Pierce and Zemo's bodies froze.

They tried to resist—tried—but their limbs were no longer their own.

Their feet moved against their will, forcing them back into their chairs, their spines locking in place.

Horror.

The feeling of total loss of control was something that even the most hardened men feared the most.

And now, they were living it.

The intruder leaned forward slightly, his glowing red visor burning like twin embers in the darkness.

"I can help you," he said, his voice calm, amused, and yet utterly terrifying.

"I can make you Hydra's true supreme leader."

A deadly silence filled the room.

Pierce and Zemo exchanged a glance.

No words were spoken, but their thoughts were clear—

Who the hell is this man?

Hydra was ancient, deeply embedded in the world's infrastructure, with many factions scattered across the globe. While Pierce commanded one of the larger branches, he was far from being the sole ruler.

Zemo, still gasping for breath, tried to mask his unease. "You don't understand how powerful Hydra is…"

"Enough."

The single word slammed into Zemo's mind like a hammer blow.

Pierce stiffened in terror.

He watched, helplessly, as sheer, unadulterated pain contorted Zemo's face.

The Baron's mouth opened in a silent scream—but no sound came out.

His hands clawed at the table, his nails scratching deep grooves into the wood.

His legs spasmed. His throat convulsed.

He was drowning— drowning in a sea of invisible torment.

Then, the intruder casually tossed a small, glowing blue orb onto Zemo's lap.

Pierce barely had time to process what was happening—

A brilliant flash of blue light erupted.

And in the next moment—

Zemo was gone.

Not killed.

Not destroyed.

He had been erased—reduced to pure molecules, dissolved into the air as if he had never existed at all.

Pierce shook violently. Cold sweat drenched his back.

This wasn't science. This wasn't even magic.

This was something beyond both.

The armored figure turned to face him once more.

And this time—

There was a smile in his voice.

"Now then, Secretary Pierce… I believe we can finally have our conversation."

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