My name is Marco Klaue.
He was once an ordinary soldier for Hydra.
Until I attended Professor Pyg's "elite course".
He didn't teach us to shout " Hail Hydra," he showed us "God."
I saw a man sitting on a throne.
Lynn Morris.
He told me that Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D.. were just dust from the old era, and that I had been chosen to be the "messenger" of the new world.
My beliefs changed from that day on.
With the perfect resume that Professor Pyg forged for me, a small business owner who went bankrupt due to Vought's monopoly and was filled with hatred for big companies, I easily passed Fury's screening.
When I stood before Fury, feeling his scrutiny, I felt nothing.
Because I know that everything I do is for my one and only God.
An abandoned subway platform.
Nick Fury stood in front of his cobbled-together " Wild Dogs " squad, with a few emergency lights flickering in the background.
"Is everything clear?"
Fury's voice echoed in the empty platform.
"Our first target: the Mole Man."
"A madman who lives underground and can control mutated monsters."
On the holographic screen behind him, information about a Class B Vought hero named " Diamond Arm " and his home address in Queens was displayed.
"Intelligence indicates that the Mole Man will attack Diamond Arm's home tonight. Our mission is to eliminate him and his pets before he causes any casualties."
Fury scanned each person.
I lowered my head, pretending to listen attentively.
"Remember, we're not Vought's bunch of show-off actors."
Fury's tone became more forceful.
"Swift and decisive, leaving no trace. We want to prove to the world that true efficiency doesn't need the spotlight."
I almost burst out laughing.
Prove to the world?
No, Fury, you're just trying to prove to yourself that you haven't been left behind by the times.
You poor mortal, you will never understand what a magnificent being you are facing.
"Let's go," Fury ordered.
Four figures quickly disappeared into the darkness of the subway station.
Queens, a quiet middle-class neighborhood.
The piercing screams and the tremors shattered the tranquility of the night.
At the entrance to " Diamond Arm's" house, the lawn was turned upside down, and from several holes, monsters with fangs and resembling moles were crawling out.
A short, stout man dressed in miner's clothes and wearing goggles stood at the edge of the pit, waving a metal scepter and shouting wildly.
"Come out! Diamond Arm! You Vought's lackey! I'll tear you and your beautiful house to shreds!"
"The Mole Man screamed."
The " Wild Dogs " squad emerged from the Shadow a hundred meters from the villa.
" Sarah, you hold the line and draw their fire."
" Iris, your abilities are enough to deal with those metal-shelled monsters. David, disrupt his command equipment."
"I seized the opportunity from the Shadow and took direct control of the Mole Man."
The plan sounds perfect.
Sarah roared and was the first to charge forward.
Her formidable physique and rapid healing ability make her the perfect tank.
She punched a monster that pounced on her, sending it flying and drawing most of the fire.
The battle started off smoothly.
My body blended into the Shadow on the ground, like a silent serpent, gliding silently toward the Mole Man's side and rear.
I raised the concussion gun in my hand, aiming the muzzle at a monster that was trying to flank Sarah from behind.
Just as I was about to fire, my wrist twitched "involuntarily".
A beam of blue energy grazed the edge of the monster without causing any damage, but instead struck Sarah in the back, who was engaged in fierce combat in front of it.
"Well!"
Sarah let out a muffled groan, her body staggered, and her movements froze for a fraction of a second.
In a battle between masters, life and death hang in the balance in an instant.
In that fraction of a second of pause, all three monsters pounced at once.
Although her wounds were healing rapidly, she was temporarily unable to fight because she was pinned down by the monster.
Damn it!
Iris cried out in alarm and tried to rush to her aid.
But the monsters around her seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, leaving her unable to defend herself.
" David! Disrupt him!"
My voice carried just the right amount of anxiety.
Repairman David Chen, clutching his equipment, squatted on the ground, sweating profusely, looking completely terrified.
Another combatant has been rendered useless.
The defensive line collapsed.
"Hahahaha! You bunch of trash think you can stop me?"
The Mole Man the Batman Who Laughs, pointing his scepter at the villa.
"Get them out! Drag them out!"
The monsters roared as they charged past the fallen Sarah toward the brightly lit villa.
I emerged from the Shadow, pretending to try and stop them, but I was entangled by two monsters and found myself "outnumbered and unable to fight alone."
Screams from a woman and a child came from inside the villa.
Everything is unfolding according to the script.
High in the sky, VNN News' helicopters circled, their searchlights fixed on the chaotic battlefield.
The female anchor was broadcasting live in an exaggerated tone.
"My God! What are we seeing? A group of mysterious masked men not only failed to stop the criminals, but they've made the situation even more dangerous! The lives of the citizens are in grave danger!"
Who exactly are they? Are they a new criminal gang?
Over the comms, Fury roared, barely containing his rage. " Marco! What the hell are you doing! Retreat! Everyone retreat!"
Just then, several figures descended from the sky.
The " New Guardians " has arrived.
They were wearing matching uniforms and stood tall and straight.
The blond captain didn't even glance at the " Wild Dogs " squad struggling on the ground.
He simply gave VNN's camera a confident and charming smile.
"Citizens, please rest assured, we are here."
As soon as he finished speaking, his teammates behind him moved.
A hero, crackling with electricity, unleashed electric nets from his hands, engulfing most of the monsters.
Another hero, moving so fast he left afterimages, weaved through the monster horde, each time he dodged, a monster fell to the ground.
The monster army that had just left the squad helpless was now incredibly vulnerable in the face of the " New Guardians ".
The battle was over in less than three minutes.
The Mole Man was knocked unconscious by the blond captain with a single punch, and all the monsters were wiped out.
The captain walked to the villa entrance, gently helped up the frightened wife of " Diamond Arm," and gave a brief speech to the camera.
"We will never allow anyone to tarnish the word 'hero,' nor will we allow any evil to threaten the safety of New York City residents. Vought will always be your strongest support."
As the helicopter approached, residents who had rushed out to watch erupted in thunderous cheers.
"That's amazing! That's a true hero!"
"Who were those sneaky guys just now? They didn't look like good people!"
"Thank you Vought! Thank you, New Guardians!"
Amidst the praise, I quietly helped the injured Sarah to her feet, and then, along with the equally disheveled Iris and the terrified David, we slipped into the darkness.
Our failures appear particularly glaring and utterly inadequate in the light of the New Guardians.
Back to the abandoned subway station.
Iris kicked over a trash can, Sarah silently tended to her wounds, while David crouched in a corner, holding his head and apologizing repeatedly.
Fury emerged from the Shadow.
He didn't get angry; instead, his face showed a weary calm.
"This is not your fault."
He looked at us, dejected, walked up to me, and patted me on the shoulder.
You've done your best.
I lowered my head, feigning remorse.
Fury, oh Fury...
All your skills in judging people and all your experience in detecting lies are worthless in the face of faith.
My infiltration has only just begun.