214. The Waning of a Hero.

"I'll make sure that phrase is engraved on your tombstone!"

The Hydra Captain sneered, raising his shield high and aiming it directly at Hawkeye's head.

The shield, identical to the one used by Captain America, was made from vibranium—a resource Hydra had obtained after occupying Wakanda. With the acquisition of enough vibranium, Hydra produced a variety of powerful weapons, including this shield.

The vibranium shield wasn't just a sturdy, vibration-absorbing shield. Its edges were incredibly sharp and hard, capable of cutting through flesh when wielded with immense strength.

As a veteran Avenger, Hawkeye knew this well. He quickly retreated, narrowly dodging what would have been a lethal blow. However, before he could make his next move, the Hydra Captain attacked again. The disparity in physical capabilities between them was too vast—Hawkeye was thrown off balance and sent flying once more.

As the Hydra Captain prepared for another strike, Hawkeye could only block with his compound bow. The next moment, he was violently slammed into the ground.

"What a pity, Melissa. Looks like you'll need to find yourself a new partner. I bet this old man won't last five minutes. It's time to end this."

Avalanche, watching the scene unfold, sneered while keeping an eye on Songbird, wary of her potential counterattack. Both Avalanche and Melissa were sonic vibration-powered supers, making it difficult for them to gain an upper hand over each other quickly. Additionally, since they were inside a Hydra base, Avalanche couldn't fully unleash his powers without risking the destruction of the facility.

Melissa, however, had no such concerns. Seeing Hawkeye in danger, she unleashed a powerful scream, sending countless pink sonic blades flying in all directions, attacking indiscriminately.

"You better calm down, lady," Avalanche said, raising his hand to shatter the incoming sonic blades. But when he saw the Hydra soldiers around him being cut down by the surprise attack, his face darkened.

Songbird's attack bought Hawkeye a moment to regroup. As the Hydra Captain blocked the blades with his shield, Hawkeye's mind raced.

'That vibranium shield has already damaged my bow...'

Hawkeye rolled to his feet and picked up his scattered quiver. Despite his impaired vision, his years of combat experience guided him as he surveyed the battlefield.

'If I fire another arrow, my compound bow might break...'

Steeling himself, Hawkeye drew his bowstring.

'I only have one chance.'

Taking a deep breath.

'So...'

Hawkeye glanced at the Hydra Captain before swiftly turning and aiming at Avalanche.

'I better...'

The arrow aligned with the sight on his bow, aimed directly at Avalanche.

'Make it count!'

With a twang, the arrow flew like lightning, and the compound bow shattered with a crisp snap. But Hawkeye's expression remained unchanged, his confidence as an Avenger unwavering.

Hawkeye never misses!

'Perfect!'

The arrow pierced through Avalanche's cheek, passing cleanly through his exposed jaw. Focused entirely on suppressing Melissa, Avalanche never anticipated being ambushed by Hawkeye.

"Arrghhh!"

Avalanche screamed in agony as searing pain erupted from his face, as if his cheek were being scorched by flames. The impact also caused some disorientation.

"You're dead, old man!" The Hydra Captain roared in rage.

Hydra's internal hierarchy was strictly enforced, and as the second-in-command of the base, Avalanche held a position second only to Baron Zemo. Seeing Avalanche ambushed by his opponent felt like a personal insult to the Hydra Captain, who couldn't even begin to imagine the punishment awaiting him.

In his fury, the Hydra Captain grabbed Hawkeye by the throat and lifted him off the ground. The immense pressure made breathing impossible for Hawkeye, his eyes bulging as blood rushed to his pupils.

"Gah..."

"I'm going to kill you—slowly and painfully!" The Hydra Captain raised his shield, intending to decapitate Hawkeye with its sharp edge.

"Let go of my friend!" Songbird shouted as she rushed forward, her pink wings of light unfurling behind her. She sped towards the Hydra Captain and aimed a kick at his head. But the Hydra Captain reacted swiftly, using his shield to block the kick. With a single motion, he hurled Hawkeye towards Songbird.

Concerned about hurting Hawkeye, Songbird halted her attack and caught him instead. The force of the throw sent them both tumbling backward.

They skidded to the edge of the room before finally coming to a stop. However, before they could even catch their breath, Songbird kicked Hawkeye away and used the momentum to dodge to the other side.

In the next instant, the vibranium shield slammed into the spot where they had just been. The shield rebounded, striking the ceiling before returning to the Hydra Captain's hand.

"I admit I underestimated you, but this doesn't change the outcome." The Hydra Captain glared at the two aging heroes with murderous intent.

"Really? With the two of us against you, I'd say the odds are in our favor." Hawkeye shakily got to his feet, switching to the sword he had used during his time as the Ronin since his bow was now broken.

"Two against one?" The Hydra Captain laughed, as if hearing the world's funniest joke. "You're in Hydra territory, where countless elite Hydra soldiers are stationed. But of course, I don't need them—I can take care of you both myself."

"Enough talk, just finish them off!" Baron Zemo's voice rang out, tinged with frustration.

Though Zemo had tried to maintain a calm and imposing demeanor, the way things were unfolding had clearly rattled him.

The Hydra Captain flinched at Zemo's command, then quickly regained his focus, raising his shield for another assault. But just then, a web shot out, binding the Hydra Captain's arm tightly. The immense force abruptly halted the Hydra Captain's arm mid-air, preventing him from making his next move.

The unexpected web and the overpowering strength behind it left the Hydra Captain momentarily stunned. Since receiving the super soldier serum, this was the first time he'd been physically overpowered.

The sudden shift in the battlefield caught everyone's attention, and the three combatants simultaneously turned to look in the direction from which the web had come.

A small figure approached slowly, her footsteps leaving bloody prints in her wake.

Specks of blood were still splattered on her face.

"Big guy, if you're looking for a fight, I think you should pick on someone your own size."

...

📢30 advanced chapters on p@treaon📢

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215. The Death of the Hydra Captain.

216. The Final Chapter of Baron Zemo.

217. Red Skull's Judgment Proclamation!

218. The Eagle and the Sparrow.

219. Neck and Neck.