Baron Zemo stared at Abomination's grotesque face. As if performing a magic trick, a scepter suddenly appeared in his hand—its tip pressed c
Baron Zemo stared at Abomination's grotesque face. As if performing a magic trick, a scepter suddenly appeared in his hand—its tip pressed coldly against Abomination's throat, radiating a paralyzing aura.
A chill spread from the scepter, seeping into Abomination's body like creeping death. His instincts screamed a rare alarm: he was in danger. Real danger.
"Now," Zemo said, voice edged with steel, "you understand why I'm qualified to lead."
His voice lowered, each syllable laced with threat.
"Colonel Blonsky… let me spell it out for you. I'm stronger than you—way stronger. You'll follow my lead, or you'll be nothing. Without me, you wouldn't even be a fart in the wind."
Abomination growled, muscles tensing, but that scepter—that damn scepter—set off alarms in every cell of his monstrous body. Ever since he became what he is, his instincts had never betrayed him.
That weapon could kill him. Instantly.
"Fine," Abomination muttered, arms crossed as he slowly backed off, still watching Zemo warily. "I'll listen. For now. But you'd better prove you're worth my respect—otherwise, I'll make my own decisions."
"Wise choice, Abomination," Zemo said with a smug nod.
He led Abomination deeper into the base—toward its very heart.
The core of the underground facility was already bustling. Gathered there were the dark and infamous members of Zemo's inner circle:
Scorpion Professor,
Living Laser,
Taskmaster,
Amora the Enchantress,
…and her ever-loyal executioner, Skurge the Executioner.
"So this is our new muscle?" Living Laser eyed Abomination's hulking frame. "Those layers of muscle will make a great meat shield."
"Another gamma mutation," muttered Scorpion Professor, squinting at Abomination's physique. "You must be the infamous Blonsky—former recipient of the Hulk serum. I studied your case."
Amora circled behind him, marveling at the sharp bone ridges growing from his back.
"Big guy," she said with a teasing smirk, "I like you. You've got that same raw strength as the green rage monster—but your look? Much more… aggressive."
"Hulk? I'm way stronger than that brute!" Abomination snapped.
If there was one word that instantly triggered his fury—it was Hulk.
"Really?" Amora tilted her head. "Funny, I heard your last fight with him didn't go so well."
"Abomination doesn't lose! Not to anyone!" he roared, his voice shaking the cavern walls. "I could crush him with one hand now."
Unlike Hulk, Blonsky's transformation had no off switch. The cost of retaining his identity… was losing his humanity forever. He could never turn back.
"Easy there," Taskmaster raised a hand diplomatically. "If you've got anger to burn, save it for him. Don't bring this base down on our heads."
Zemo clapped once. The room fell silent.
"Everyone," he said, voice cool and commanding, "now that our full roster is assembled, it's time to discuss our true objective."
With a gesture, a screen flickered to life in the air before them.
Dozens of photos appeared—portraits, surveillance stills, grainy captures.
Each one marked with a crimson question mark.
Faces flashed by:
—Captain Supreme
—Quicksilver
—Scarlet Witch
—Spider-Man
—The Winter Soldier (in his days with HYDRA)
—Daisy Johnson, a deep-cover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent
—Eddie Brock, a disgraced journalist now bonded with something monstrous...
Then one final, blurry image—a man's hand wearing ten glowing rings. Judging from the backdrop, the photo was taken during the Atlantean invasion.
None of these individuals had confirmed names. Only red question marks. And beneath that:
"EXTREMELY DANGEROUS."
"Oh lovely," Scorpion Professor scoffed. "Everyone here's marked as extremely dangerous. What a cozy little list."
"We have reason to believe," Zemo began, "that the entity known as Black Devil has united the remnants of HYDRA… and reformed them under a new banner."
He waved again. The screen changed.
A new emblem appeared: a circle, with a downward-pointing sword at its center.
"S.W.O.R.D.," muttered one of the villains, recognizing the text on screen.
"Yes," Zemo confirmed. "Under this organization, the Black Devil has been recruiting dangerous metahumans at an alarming rate. What you saw earlier is just the beginning. Rumor has it the tsunami that nearly wiped out New York was halted by two of these individuals."
Images appeared of Scarlet Witch and The Mandarin.
"Our first priority," Zemo continued, "is to dismantle this so-called task force. Neutralize the elite units first—then, we go after the Black Devil himself… and reclaim HYDRA."
The final image on the screen zoomed in.
A black armor suit. Crimson light flickered from a V-shaped visor. The silhouette was haunting. Ominous.
"So," Abomination said, arms crossed, "this is the guy we're gunning for?"
"Yes," Zemo confirmed. "He is extremely, extremely dangerous. According to my sources… he once took down Hulk in a single instant."
"Even if he beat Hulk," Abomination snorted, "he won't beat me."
Executioner raised an eyebrow, side-eyeing the green brute. This guy clearly had no idea how terrifying the Black Devil truly was.
"So what's the plan?" Amora asked, folding her arms.
Zemo smiled.
"The plan," he said, pointing to one of the figures on the screen, "begins with him…"
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