Odessa Oil Field, Texas.
The scorching sun beat down on this land.
Roxxon Energy Corporation's elite security force is a thing of the past.
More than a dozen corpses were scattered all over the ground, some hanging on the drilling rig, others stuffed into the gears of the oil pumping unit, making a "crackling" sound of bones breaking as the machine operated.
"No... don't come any closer..."
The drilling supervisor lay prone on the scorching asphalt ground, inching backward using both hands and feet.
His suit was now tattered, and his knees and elbows were raw and bleeding from the gravel, but he felt no pain.
Fear is the best anesthetic.
Before him stood a dark green nightmare.
The supervisor moved backward on the ground, his crotch already soaked.
" Roxxon will retaliate..."
Bucky Barnes ignored his supervisor's threats; this human was merely a "cleanup item" on his to-do list.
He raised his left arm, which was not covered by armor.
The arm, which had been normal, suddenly started to wriggle.
Dark blue blood vessels bulged on the skin's surface, and muscle fibers proliferated and swelled wildly.
"Guji--"
The supervisor's eyes widened, and his pupils contracted sharply.
He witnessed the most disgusting scene of his life.
Its arm swelled to three times its normal size, transforming into a gigantic, alien claw formed from keratinized skin and dark red muscle.
The fingers transformed into five razor-sharp bone blades.
The supervisor watched as the giant claw that blocked out the sunlight descended, and closed his eyes in despair.
Just then...
"Buzz--!!!"
A whooshing sound came from the air.
His fighting instincts compelled him to abandon the execution, and the alien giant claw that was originally aimed at the supervisor's head slashed to the side.
"Clang!"
A round shield.
A round shield with red, white, and blue stripes and a silver five-pointed star in the center was blasted away and finally landed steadily in the hand of someone wearing a brown leather glove.
The blue scale-patterned battle suit, the striking five-pointed star on the chest, and the helmet that even looked somewhat "outdated".
Steve Rogers.
Captain America.
He stood under the scorching sun, his chest heaving violently.
Those deep blue eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and... heartbreak.
" Bucky?"
Captain America took a step forward, his voice trembling slightly.
Even through that bizarre Locust helmet, even though the other person reeked of blood, even though that arm had turned into a monster's claw.
Steve still recognized that stance.
That was the way Brooklyn, the little guy, habitually positioned himself sideways when protecting him in countless fights.
Rider No. 1 did not respond to the name. "Codename: Captain America. Threat Level: High. Instructions: Eliminate."
"What are you saying? I'm Steve!"
Steve removed the helmet with the "A" logo, revealing his still resolute face, which had only recently thawed.
"Look at me! Bucky! Look into my eyes!"
"We grew up together... Have you forgotten that refrigerated truck that delivered meat? Have you forgotten those nights in Brooklyn?"
The concrete beneath Rider No. 1's feet cracked, yet it traversed several meters without any running start.
That's too fast!
Steve's pupils contracted.
This explosive power even surpasses that of Red Skull after he received the serum!
"When--!!"
The giant claw slammed heavily onto the Vibranium Shield.
The captain's feet dug two deep furrows in the ground.
"Damn it..."
Steve shook his numb right arm and looked incredulously at his best friend, who had once saved every penny to help him pay his rent.
How could it have turned out like this?
In the sky, the engines of the Quinjet suppressed the sound of the wind.
More than a dozen rappelling ropes were hanging down.
S.H.I.E.L.D..'s proud " Rapid Response Task Force " has finally entered the scene.
They wore S.H.I.E.L.D..'s latest lightweight exoskeletons and carried energy rifles previously seized from Hydra.
"Target locked! Open fire!"
A blue energy beam covered the area where Rider No. 1 was located.
In addition, three figures in special uniforms flanked from the side.
Those were super-powered agents selected by S.H.I.E.L.D..'s " New Mad Dog Project ".
One has hands that can conjure high-pressure air blasts, another has skin that can petrify, and yet another moves at an extremely fast speed.
"Don't kill him!" Steve yelled, "He's being controlled!"
Rider No. 1 did not dodge the hail of bullets.
The energy beams, powerful enough to burn through steel plates, had no effect on the carapace.
Rider No. 1 raised his left arm, and after the muscles expanded, it transformed into a tentacle whip several meters long, made of flesh and bone!
"Call!"
Flesh and blood tentacles swept across.
The petrified agent confidently stood in front, arms crossed.
"Click."
There was absolutely no suspense.
The petrified skin crumbled into powder the moment it came into contact with the tentacles.
The agent was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs while still in mid-air.
"Monster!"
The agent who fired the air-filled grenades screamed in terror and unleashed a torrent of fire.
As the red scarf fluttered in the Heat Wave, Rider No. 1 leaped into the air and performed a backflip.
The distinctive charging motion alerted the agent to something was wrong, and before he could react, Rider No. 1's flying side kick had already arrived.
"Bang!"
The agent's body was as if a high-explosive bomb had been planted inside him; he exploded into a cloud of blood mist.
Sold out instantly.
" Bucky! Stop!!"
Steve Rogers roared and charged forward.
He couldn't stand by and watch Bucky continue killing.
The shield flew out, Rider No. 1 raised his hand to swat it away.
Captain America used the angle of the shield's rebound to leap high into the air and punch Rider No. 1.
But how could this United States legend possibly be a match for Bucky Barnes, who had undergone several transformations?
Before Steve could land, Rider No. 1 delivered an uppercut to his abdomen.
"Ugh!"
Steve's super soldier physique allowed him to withstand a blow powerful enough to pierce a tank's armor, but he was still in excruciating pain.
Rider No. 1 didn't stop. He grabbed Steve's hair with one hand and pulled the " United States legend's" face close to his own.
Compound eyes facing blue eyes.
They were extremely close.
" Bucky... that's me... the skinny monkey who fought for you in the alley... remember me..."
Rider No. 1 did not hesitate for even a second because of that familiar name.
Thump!
Steve Rogers ' head was slammed into the ground.
The hard surface of the drilling platform cracked and splintered.
Even the enhanced physique granted by the Super Soldier Serum cannot completely offset this level of kinetic energy impact.
Blood streamed down his forehead, obscuring his deep blue eyes.
"Snap!"
The foot landed on Steve's left arm, which was gripping his calf.
"Ah--!!"
Steve let out a scream.
That was the ultimate physical pain, unbearable even for the strongest will.
But Rider No. 1 did not stop.
He gripped Steve's head and tightened his grip again.
"Bang!"
Mention.
"Bang!"
It crashed down.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
With each impact, Steve's righteous face became increasingly blurred.