64: Diffrey, you think you're so high and mighty? We Hydra are done with you!

In the underground dock's command center, Nick Fury stared at the surveillance screens, the composure in his single eye remaining unshaken.

Three Insight Helicarriers were right behind him, 30,000 combat personnel were in position, and the defense systems of the underground fortifications were fully activated.

Even if that alien warship launched another round of bombardment, it wouldn't be able to crack this fortress capable of withstanding nuclear bombs.

Until the first tank appeared on the surveillance screen.

Fury's brow furrowed.

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That thing had a clumsy shape and a boxy turret, looking very much like an old antique from the World War II era.

"What's the use of driving tanks? Are they going to..."

The next second, Nick Fury knew the answer.

Boom!

The alloy main gate of the base was blasted open by a single shell.

"Damn it!" Fury cursed under his breath.

"Blow up all the elevator platforms!"

"They're blown, sir. All passages leading underground have been cut off."

Without the elevator platforms, those tanks were just decorations; they couldn't enter the underground fortress at all.

But before he could fully exhale that breath of relief, the scene on the surveillance screen caused his pupils to contract suddenly.

Soldiers in Powered Armor nearly three meters tall, holding shields almost as tall as an adult, formed a neat battle line and advanced step by step.

There were no clever tactics; they just held their shields like that. If attacked, they would lower the shield, prop up the thing in their hands, and fire!

The roar of the Heavy Stubbers could be felt even through the surveillance monitors.

Projectiles poured onto S.H.I.E.L.D.'s defensive positions like a rainstorm. Bunkers were torn to shreds, and the soldiers hiding behind them couldn't even let out a scream, because the people behind the cover were simply gone.

"Is this a fucking machine gun?" Nick Fury gritted his teeth.

Even more ruthless were those crimson lasers.

Occasionally, crimson laser beams flashed by, and the autocannon sentry towers in the fortress were instantly pierced and turned into scrap metal.

Nick Fury's face grew darker and darker.

"Launch the quinjets! Fast!"

Nick Fury knew very well that taking off fighter jets in an enclosed space made them sitting ducks, but he had no choice.

If they didn't counterattack, the entire underground fortress would be steamrolled.

The greatest advantage of the quinjet is that it can take off vertically; this was the only thing Nick Fury was currently grateful for.

However, this gratitude didn't last for half a minute.

Dozens of crimson lasers lit up simultaneously.

The engine of the first jet was pierced, exploding into a fireball in mid-air.

The cockpit of the second was hit, and it crashed to the ground trailing black smoke.

The third and fourth tried to split up and evade, but those beams chased them as if they had eyes, shooting them all down within three seconds.

Nick Fury stared fixedly at the surveillance screen, his face ashen.

On the screen, those ordinary soldiers wearing black exoskeletons carried early-model arc reactor backpacks. An energy tube connected to the portable hellgun in their hands, the muzzles still glowing with a faint red light.

It was these crude-looking weapons that treated the quinjets he was so proud of like target practice.

"What the hell is this..."

In the surveillance, the S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers' machine gun fire hit those steel giants, only splashing a few sparks.

The enemies opposite didn't close the distance at all; they just hid behind the heavy Powered Armor and poured out firepower frantically, relying on their weapon range advantage.

The blast-proof bunkers S.H.I.E.L.D. was so proud of became complete decorations.

Those hiding behind concrete walls had the walls shot through.

Those hiding behind armored vehicles had the vehicles blown up.

Those hiding in fortifications had the fortifications plowed into flat ground.

Ten minutes later, the defense line collapsed.

The Hydra agents lurking within S.H.I.E.L.D. were furious:

"Enough, we can't keep fighting! We can't sacrifice our Hydra troops for S.H.I.E.L.D.! Whether S.H.I.E.L.D. lives or dies is none of our damn business!"

"Notify our people to evacuate!"

Nick Fury never would have guessed that the entire S.H.I.E.L.D. had been infiltrated by Hydra.

Especially this underground dock; it was almost entirely Hydra's people.

Faced with Nick Fury's demand to hold the position to the death, the Hydra personnel instinctively resisted.

Thus, the Hydra people began to retreat.

Fury watched the fleeing soldiers on the screen, his clenched fist slamming onto the control console.

It wasn't that he hadn't lost battles before.

"These deserters! Cowards! Hold your positions!" Nick Fury cursed, but no one listened to him.

Finally, Nick Fury accepted reality and fled with his people.

"At least these Helicarriers can't take off yet; they can't take them away anyway," Nick Fury comforted himself.

The battle ended much faster than expected.

"Lord Governor, the underground fortifications are fully under control. The remnants of the enemy have escaped through secret passages."

"Casualty report?"

Wade glanced at the Powered Armor soldiers lining up, then at those steel giants carrying shields with barely a scratch on them.

"My Lord, 3 minor injuries caused by stray bullet grazes; they have already been treated."

On the bridge, Fu Haoran looked at the all-green battle damage report on the screen, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Very good. Conduct a debrief as soon as possible and compile the tactical data from this assault. Our next battle won't be this easy."

Wade's body jolted, a flash of realization in his eyes. There was only one enemy in the entire Hive World who could make the Lord Governor take them so seriously—Brigadier General Valerius Costa.

That noble Commander who possessed three destroyers and five frigates.

Just then, a light screen suddenly popped up in front of Fu Haoran.

[System Prompt: This world's worldline change rate is 100%! Triggering early settlement for the War of the Heavens!]

[Winner: Reincarnator 976756 Fu Haoran]

[Final Evaluation: SSS-rank]

[Worldline Change Rate: 100%, over-completed]

[PS: This wave of harvesting by the host not only rubbed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s face into the ground but also conveniently snatched their three bottom-drawer Helicarriers. In the War of the Heavens, you're probably the only one who could fleece a novice world like this!]

Fu Haoran raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

He had originally planned to go to Wakanda to harvest a wave of Vibranium; he hadn't expected an early settlement.

The system prompts continued to scroll:

[Settlement Rewards:]

[Universal Points: +80,000]

[Attribute Points: +8]

[Exclusive Building Rewards (Can be deployed directly in any territory or new colony, unaffected by local industrial levels):]

[Battery/Ammunition Production Line x1]

[Small Dockyard x1 (Can build cobra-class destroyers, requires subsequent technology unlocking)]

[Supersonic Missile Production Line x1 (Range 18,000 km, conventional warhead)]

[Equipment Reward: Personal Shield (Deflector Field)]

[Special Item Reward: Marvel World Temporary Descent Card x1, can open a 100-day cross-world temporary passage]

[Recyclable Equipment: 3 Insight-class Helicarriers. Consuming 15,000 Universal Points can convert them into cross-world portable equipment. Confirm conversion?]

Fu Haoran scanned it and clicked confirm.

Subsequently, Fu Haoran allocated all 8 free attribute points to Strength and Agility, adding 4 points to each.

A surge of heat instantly flowed through his body; sensory acuity and muscular strength both received a tangible boost.

Fu Haoran closed the panel, leaned back against the chair, and let out a long breath.

As the light dissipated, the cobra-class destroyer had returned to the orbit of the Hive World.

Outside the window, that familiar industrial planet hung silently in the void.

Fu Haoran checked the time; time in the Warhammer World had not passed at all.

Before Fu Haoran could even breathe a sigh of relief, his communicator rang.

In the holographic projection, a greasy face smiled unscrupulously.

Brigadier General Valerius Costa.

"Governor Fu Haoran, have you considered it? Are you ready to give everyone an explanation?"

He paused, a sinister smile curling on his lips: "I forgot to tell you, my fleet has already reached the low-Earth orbit of your Hive City. You should know what that means."

In a situation where the Hive City's Macro Cannons and anti-ship Lances could not be activated, this was already a crushing level of armed force.

The other party was making it clear: either force him to hand over power, or directly open fire and level the Hive City.

Fu Haoran's face showed no expression, his tone flat, even carrying a hint of respect: "Your Excellency Brigadier General, I have prepared a dinner at the Governors Mansion for the day after tomorrow. At that time, I will publicly apologize. I hope you will grace us with your presence."

Valerius was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting him to yield so easily. He sneered: "At least you're sensible. I will attend in person the day after tomorrow. Don't try any tricks with me."

The communication was disconnected immediately.

The moment the screen went dark, the respect in the depths of Fu Haoran's eyes vanished instantly.

Beside him, Lucifer crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, her tone full of detached teasing: "Are you planning to bow your head and admit your mistakes to the nobles?"

Fu Haoran turned to look at her, a grim smile curling on his lips.

"Apologize? No, I've just prepared a 'Hongmen Banquet'."

"In my homeland, this is the highest form of courtesy for an opponent."