Chapter 29: The Punisher

The group quickly headed to the deck. Along the way, Noah saw heavily armed soldiers moving hurriedly in formation. Despite the urgency, there was no sign of panic.

Feeling puzzled, Noah stepped onto the deck. The sight that greeted him made his heart tighten.

Dozens of soldiers stood in a circle, rifles raised. They exchanged glances, but none fired. As soon as they noticed Noah and Fury's group arriving, they swiftly made way, revealing the figure in the center of the circle.

The person's injuries were horrifying. His left arm, left leg, and the left side of his face were completely destroyed, exposing raw muscle and bone. Blood streamed from his wounds, forming a crimson trail that hinted at the immense pain he must be enduring.

Half of his face was grotesquely disfigured, rendered unrecognizable from its once handsome appearance. The skin was charred, torn, and corroded, revealing exposed bone and shredded tissue. One of his eyes was entirely gone, leaving a black void that seemed to devour the surrounding light.

Despite his devastating condition, the tattered red cloak on his back and the remnants of his uninjured face made it clear who he was.

"Strange?! What happened to you?" Thor exclaimed, staring in disbelief at Doctor Strange. It was unimaginable that such a powerful sorcerer would end up in this state.

Doctor Strange let out a low sigh, his fragmented visage turning toward them. "This… is the result of a bargain with a demon. Earlier, I cast a healing spell, intending to purge the zombie virus from New York City. But I made a mistake."

His voice was heavy with regret and self-reproach. "The demon played a game of semantics. Instead of curing the zombie virus, the spell helped certain zombies heal their injuries. It's embarrassing, really."

Nick Fury frowned as he surveyed Strange's mangled form. He gestured to several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, who rushed over with scanning devices to inspect Strange from head to toe. Fury clearly wasn't taking any chances after what happened with Reed Richards. Open wounds like these were potential contamination risks aboard the helicarrier.

The agents' scanners soon lit up green, indicating no immediate danger. Relieved, the soldiers lowered their weapons. Medics, already on standby, rushed in with a stretcher and carried Strange away.

Watching the Sorcerer Supreme being wheeled off, Fury's face remained expressionless as he barked an order: "Computer, delete all plans involving magic to eliminate the zombie virus."

He then turned to Noah. "There's no time to waste. Prepare for Latveria. You're our last hope."

"Understood. But before we leave, I'll need some equipment. Take me to the armory."

"Take whatever you need!"

As before, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent escorted Noah through the sprawling helicarrier. After winding through numerous corridors, they arrived at the armory.

Noah stepped inside and was immediately awed by what he saw. The spacious, immaculate room was lined with towering metal racks displaying a dazzling array of weapons, protective gear, and advanced technology.

The walls were adorned with soft blue screens showcasing cutting-edge research and tactical data. Bright, even lighting bathed the space, lending it a sense of energy and purpose.

In the center of the armory stood a large operations table, covered with various terminals and monitoring equipment, displaying real-time battle data and inventory levels. Beside the table stood a young Asian woman in a black tactical uniform.

Holding an electronic device, she meticulously reviewed Noah's credentials. Once verified, she smiled and approached him. "Welcome to the armory, Mr. Noah. I'm Agent Skye, responsible for distributing and managing equipment. Per Director Fury's orders, I'll assist you with anything you need."

The name "Skye" gave Noah pause. He scrutinized the agent carefully. In the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Skye was revealed to be an Inhuman with superpowers. Was this Skye simply a namesake or an alternate-universe counterpart?

If she was the same Skye, had she joined S.H.I.E.L.D. before encountering the Terrigen Mist that would awaken her powers?

"Mr. Noah?" Skye's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, it's nothing. I'll need a lot of gear, so I might as well make a list."

Skye handed him a pen and paper. Noah began writing at an astonishing pace, quickly filling the page.

Watching him work, Skye shivered slightly, her expression a mix of awe and unease.

Moments later, Noah hefted a massive bag, nearly as tall as he was, and prepared to leave the armory.

As he looked up, he noticed a tall man sitting in a corner of the room. The man wore a black T-shirt emblazoned with a stark white skull emblem. It only took a moment for Noah to recognize him—Frank Castle, the Punisher.

Castle sat silently, meticulously assembling a firearm. His upright posture and muscled frame exuded an unyielding intensity. Scars crisscrossed his body like badges of honor, telling stories of countless battles.

Noah approached the Punisher, drawn by the quiet yet formidable aura surrounding him. He watched Castle's hands as they worked with precision. In his hands, the firearm wasn't just a weapon; it was an extension of his very being.

The silence lingered until Castle finally broke it. His voice was low and gravelly, fitting the archetype of a Western antihero. "What do you want?"

"Fury said I could take whatever I needed from the armory," Noah replied.

"And?"

Noah pointed at Castle.

Castle paused, his head lowering slightly as he muttered something under his breath. The words were unkind, their meaning unmistakable even without context.

Unfazed, Noah smiled. "You're coming with me."

"And why the hell would I do that?"

"Because," Noah said, "I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse."