Sanctuary Emerges, Hydra's Probe

Sanctuary Emerges, Hydra's Probe

The completion of Thunder Temple caused no stir in the ordinary world. Like a silent giant, it lay hidden among the mountains along the Hudson River. Its advanced concealment field and simulated environment allowed it to blend perfectly into nature; even the most sophisticated satellite reconnaissance would see it only as an ordinary mountainous region with occasional thunderstorms.

However, in the dark side of the world, certain keen-nosed entities had already sensed a change.

S.H.I.E.L.D., Helicarrier.

"Director, we've lost the conventional tracking signal for 'Thunder' Lin Ye. His last confirmed location was the safe house in Queens. After that, he vanished completely," a technician reported to Fury.

Fury was not surprised. "As expected. He said he was going to establish a base, so naturally he wouldn't let us find it easily. Expand the surveillance range. Focus on unusual energy fluctuations and electromagnetic interference in northern New York State."

"Also, Hill, is the new cooperation agreement drafted?"

Maria Hill handed Fury a document. "It's complete. The terms are extremely generous, practically equivalent to allied treatment. We only ask that he respond to requests for help during large-scale global crises and promise not to actively undermine international order. Should we contact him now?"

Fury glanced at Natasha, who stood by nearby. "Wait a little longer. We need a more suitable opportunity, not a rash visit."

Hydra, secret base.

"Director Pierce, S.H.I.E.L.D. has also lost track of the target," Sitwell reported to Alexander Pierce. "The target appears to have completely concealed himself."

John Garrett rubbed his chin. "A man with the power to destroy a fleet suddenly goes into hiding? That's not common. What is he guarding against? Or what is he planning?"

"Whatever he's doing, this is our opportunity." A sharp gleam flashed in Pierce's eyes. "S.H.I.E.L.D. has lost direct contact with him. That leaves a gap. Garrett, mobilize the resources under your Clairvoyant project. Use every unofficial means to search for any clues related to 'Thunder'! Especially unusual purchases, logistics, and personnel movements around New York recently!"

"Understood!" Garrett grinned. This was exactly the kind of mission that interested him most.

Inside Thunder Temple.

Lin Ye enjoyed the convenience and tranquility of his new home. The Sanctuary core could not only gather lightning energy for his cultivation, but its internal training grounds could also simulate all kinds of combat environments, allowing him to freely test his newly acquired powers and [Thor Form].

Dr. Banner had completely immersed himself in the top-tier laboratory, nearly forgetting food and sleep. With the [Gamma Energy Preliminary Analysis Report] provided by Lin Ye and research equipment far beyond the era, his understanding of Hulk energy advanced by leaps and bounds. He had even preliminarily designed several prototypes of biological inhibitors that could mildly influence emotions and delay transformation. Though complete control remained far away, a light of hope had already appeared.

That day, Lin Ye was in the training grounds familiarizing himself with more precise lightning control in [Thor Form] when Remy's voice sounded.

"Master, an unauthorized small convoy is approaching the Sanctuary's outer shielding boundary. The convoy is carrying heavy weapons. The life signs of its members indicate enhancement, and their behavioral patterns suggest mercenaries or special forces. Their network activity has no connection to S.H.I.E.L.D.; instead, it shows data links to several suspected Hydra front organizations."

"Hydra?" Lin Ye stopped training, a chill flashing through his eyes. "They couldn't resist probing me this soon? They're courting death."

His Mind Network instantly spread out, piercing through the Sanctuary's shielding and clearly "seeing" the convoy. Five modified off-road vehicles, around twenty people, well-equipped and well-trained, with fierce eyes and the desperate air unique to expendable cannon fodder.

"Analyze the commander's communications."

"...Repeat, mission objective: infiltrate the designated area, install detectors and signal relays. If resistance is encountered, open fire decisively and test the target's defensive strength... Mr. Clairvoyant needs data..." Remy decrypted the fragmented encrypted communications.

"Clairvoyant? Garrett?" Lin Ye smiled. "Perfect. I'll use you to test the Sanctuary's defenses and send Hydra a little 'gift' while I'm at it."

He had no intention of acting personally. There was no need to use a sledgehammer to kill a chicken.

"Remy, activate the 'Low-Threat Response Protocol.' Release the Lightning Hounds and let them play with them. Remember to leave a few alive to 'deliver the message.'"

"Command confirmed."

Outside the Sanctuary, deep in the dense forest.

The commander of the Hydra assault team, "Scorpion," made a hand signal, and the convoy stopped. The team members swiftly got out, using the trees for cover as they warily observed the seemingly ordinary valley ahead.

"Energy readings are abnormal, but visual and radar scans are normal," the technical soldier reported. "The shielding technology is highly sophisticated."

Scorpion licked his lips. "Now this is interesting. Team A, scout ahead. Team B, provide fire support. Team C, install the equipment with me! Move!"

The team members nodded silently and crept forward like ghosts.

However, the instant the foremost member crossed some invisible boundary—

Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!

Three blue-white figures suddenly lunged out from behind the trees on both sides of the road!

They were not living creatures, but canine constructs made entirely of highly condensed lightning energy! They were as large as tigers, their fangs and claws formed from leaping arcs of electricity. They moved as fast as lightning, silent and soundless!

"Enemy attack! Open fire!" Scorpion cried in alarm and immediately gave the order!

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—!

The team members reacted quickly, bullets raining toward the Lightning Hounds!

But the bullets passed through the Lightning Hounds' bodies, producing only bursts of electrical sparks and causing no real damage at all! They were energy beings by nature!

"What the hell are these things?!"

"Ah—!"

Screams rang out instantly! The Lightning Hounds pounced into the crowd, their claws easily tearing through bulletproof vests. High-voltage currents instantly paralyzed the soldiers' nerves, robbing them of their ability to fight. Their attacks were highly targeted, specifically destroying weapons and equipment rather than immediately taking lives.

The scene descended into chaos! The well-trained Hydra soldiers had no ability to fight back against these energy constructs. Their attacks were useless, while every pounce by a Lightning Hound inevitably brought someone down.

Scorpion frantically retreated while roaring into his communicator, "Retreat! Retreat immediately! The target has unknown energy defenses! Repeat! Immediate—"

Before he could finish, a Lightning Hound appeared behind him out of thin air. One swipe shattered his communicator, while its other paw lightly pressed against his back.

A high-voltage current flashed. Scorpion's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground smoking.

In just two minutes, the battle was over.

Twenty Hydra elites had been completely wiped out. Most had been electrocuted unconscious, while a few were severely injured and comatose. All their equipment had been destroyed.

The three Lightning Hounds stood quietly in the middle of the battlefield, their bodies flickering faintly as if awaiting further instructions.

A few minutes later, inside the Sanctuary.

"Cleanup complete. All targets have lost combat capability. All weapons and reconnaissance equipment have been removed. As instructed, the captain and three team members have been kept alive. Weak electrical currents have implanted specific hallucinated information into their cerebral cortices: 'Those who spy upon Thunder will suffer backlash. Next time, what comes will be destruction,'" Remy reported.

"Very good. Send the footage from the scene and the 'gifts' for those survivors anonymously to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Nick Fury and... Alexander Pierce's office," Lin Ye said calmly.

"Sent."

One hour later.

S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra—Pierce's office—received anonymous emails almost simultaneously.

The emails contained complete footage of the Hydra team being instantly destroyed, recorded from the Lightning Hounds' perspective, as well as real-time photographs of four survivors, charred black by electricity and barely clinging to life, being thrown outside a Hydra secret base somewhere in New York, with the address attached.

Fury watched the terrifying Lightning Hounds in the footage, his expression darkening. "Those Hydra idiots! They actually dared to provoke him!"

Hill frowned. "Is he demonstrating his power to us? Or showing goodwill?"

"It's both a warning," Natasha analyzed. "He's warning us that he can discover and destroy any malicious surveillance, while also telling us that he knows Hydra exists, and even knows about Pierce... He's forcing us to take a position and clean house."

A cold gleam flashed in Fury's single eye. "Immediately send people to that address to 'receive' those four survivors! We might be able to pry something about Clairvoyant and Garrett out of them! Notify the undercover teams to increase their surveillance of Pierce!"

Hydra base.

Pierce looked at the identical email, his face turning livid as he swept everything off his desk in one motion!

"Trash! That idiot Garrett! Who gave him permission to act on his own?!" he roared. "Not only did he lose an entire team, he completely exposed our existence in that man's eyes! He may even draw S.H.I.E.L.D.'s investigation!"

Sitwell was too frightened to speak.

Garrett was sweating heavily as well. He had not expected the probe to end so disastrously, nor the other side's retaliation to be so swift and ruthless.

"Immediately cut all ties connected to this operation! Abandon those bases!" Pierce panted heavily. "From now on, without my direct orders, no one is to approach the northern New York mountains in any form! Observe! We can only observe!"

Inside Thunder Temple.

Lin Ye received Remy's report on both sides' reactions.

He smiled faintly.

The pieces had already been placed. Now it depended on how these "players" would respond.

In this manner, Thunder Temple's fearsome name would quietly carve a deep mark into the minds of the highest ranks of both organizations.

And he knew this was only the beginning.

(End of Chapter Fourteen)