T'Challa's raised hand did not fall, and the word "Go in" froze in the air for a moment.
The night wind swirled up the fallen leaves, brushing against Ye Mo's overalls. He didn't move, his gaze passing over T'Challa's sharp eyes beneath his Vibranium to look at Emma Frost, who was also still behind him. Their breathing was unusually clear in the silence, not from tension, but from a sense of pent-up energy, ready to be unleashed.
"Wait." T'Challa's deep voice came through the visor, carrying a metallic quality. " Ye Mo, are you sure you want to stand at the very front?"
This question wasn't a challenge, but a confirmation. The King of Wakanda never entrusted his back to uncontrollable factors, but in the past few hours, Ye Mo's performance had already exceeded the scope of a "technical advisor." From intercepting intelligence on the water tower to awakening his abilities deep in the mine, and now his composure in the face of Hydra's elite, this young man in a black hoodie possessed a quality that T'Challa both feared and admired—the ruthlessness to throw himself into a meat grinder in order to achieve his goals.
Ye Mo pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips, but his eyes remained unusually clear. "Your Majesty, if you expect me to stay in the back and watch, then my ' Vibranium Sense ' will be useless. Besides, if I don't lead the charge, who will scout ahead? Those sonic jammers are no joke. My body may be tough, but my brain still needs your protection."
These words sounded like a joke, but they were actually a declaration of determination. Ye Mo knew very well that in this team, position determined influence. Only by standing at the forefront could one take the initiative. He didn't want to be the spectator cheering from the back; he wanted to be the one to create an opening.
T'Challa remained silent for a moment, his gaze beneath the mask seemingly scrutinizing Ye Mo's soul. After a while, he slowly lowered his hand, the Vibranium claws retracting from his fingers with a soft clicking sound.
"Alright." T'Challa nodded, a hint of approval in his voice. "Since you volunteered, the tactical priority will be adjusted. You're no longer in a support role; you're the deputy commander of the assault team. Your Vibranium Sense will directly guide the attack's landing point, ensuring the sample is recovered without damage. If anything unexpected happens..."
"No surprises." Ye Mo interrupted him, his tone firm. "My seventh level of the Gene Spiral Tower has just been unlocked, and I'm in peak condition right now. Stop talking nonsense, time is of the essence, and Klaue is probably grinding his teeth in frustration."
Emma Frost sighed softly, a hint of helplessness flashing in her violet eyes, but even more so, trust. She stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ye Mo. "I agree with his plan too." Her voice was cool, yet carried an undeniable power. " Telepathy requires closer proximity to be most effective. If Ye Mo is in front, I can more accurately scan his blind spots, preventing mental attacks. We are one; acting separately will only increase the risk."
Looking at the two, T'Challa's last lingering concerns vanished. He knew that at this moment, Ye Mo and Emma Frost were not merely accepting a mission, but forging a deeper bond with Wakanda. It was a trust that transcended life and death.
"Then it's settled." T'Challa turned to face the tightly closed factory gate. "I'll relay Okoye's orders through the encrypted channel, but since she's not present, I'll be fully responsible for the specific tactical execution. Ye Mo, Emma Frost, remember, our goal is to retrieve the samples, not to Carnage. But if anyone gets in our way..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood the meaning of the second half. In this wilderness, kindness often means death.
Ye Mo touched the miniature listening device in his pocket, a little gadget he'd taken from Klaue, which now served as the perfect source of signal interference. He took a deep breath, feeling the slight warmth emanating from the Gene Spiral Tower within his body. The resonance from Vibranium flowed through his limbs like an electric current, putting him in a state of heightened excitement.
"Let's go," Ye Mo said softly, taking a step forward.
T'Challa followed closely behind, his steps steady and powerful. Emma Frost walked on the flank, her mental energy subtly released, like invisible tentacles reaching into the darkness ahead.
The three men formed a triangular formation and approached the factory gate again. Thirty meters, twenty meters, ten meters away.
Ye Mo stopped and closed his eyes. His Vibranium Sense were fully activated at that moment. He could almost hear the sound of metal vibrating deep underground and feel the movement of free-floating particles in the air. Beneath that deathly silence lay countless dangerous signals, but there was also a clear passage leading directly to the core area.
"There's a trap on the left, and a sniper on the right." Ye Mo opened his eyes and pointed to the ground on the left. "The middle is safe, but there's a three-second window after which the automatic defense system will activate."
A flicker of surprise crossed T'Challa's eyes, quickly turning to admiration. "How did you know?"
"It's like," Ye Mo shrugged, "Like I knew you were going to kick the door down next."
T'Challa didn't ask any further questions, he simply nodded. He raised his right leg and delivered a powerful side kick towards the door.
boom!
The massive metal door collapsed inward, raising a cloud of dust.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Mo charged into the darkness first. His figure traced a black arc in the moonlight, like a cheetah poised to pounce. Emma Frost followed closely behind, her mental energy instantly covering the entire hall, clearing obstacles for Ye Mo. T'Challa up the rear, his Vibranium Suit gleaming coldly in the darkness, alert to any potential threats around him.
The moment Ye Mo entered the factory, he felt an intense sense of oppression wash over him. The air here was even heavier than outside, as if time itself had slowed down.
"Watch out!" Emma Frost suddenly shouted.
Ye Mo turned around abruptly and saw a laser beam shooting down from the ceiling, heading straight for his throat. He dodged it with a quick movement, the laser beam grazing his ear and burning a charred crater in the ground.
"Automated defense system." T'Challa's voice came from behind, calm and decisive. " Ye Mo, can your senses locate the control center?"
"Yes." Ye Mo nodded, his Vibranium Sense quickly locking onto a metal box hidden in a corner. "It's there, about fifty meters away, encased in several layers of steel plates."
"I'll draw their fire, you go find the central command." T'Challa drew his twin swords and charged into the shadows on the other side. " Emma Frost, cover Ye Mo!"
"Received." Emma Frost's voice rang in Ye Mo's mind, and cool mental energy surged into his consciousness, creating a temporary safe zone for him.
Without further hesitation, Ye Mo sprinted towards the metal box. Each step he took was in time with his heartbeat, the Gene Spiral Tower spinning rapidly in his mind, various fragments of abilities colliding and fusing in his consciousness. He knew that this battle had only just begun, and he was ready.