---
As Nolan continued hammering away at the keyboard, vast amounts of data were downloaded.
He slipped the hard drive into his coat.
"Time to go,"
He muttered and then he burst from the control room in a flash.
Whoosh!
He shot out into the corridor. Outside, security guards were already waiting for him but they only held melee weapons. No guns.
That was the order they had to take Nolan alive.
If he died… they'd go down with him.
But how could they stop Nolan now, armed with a tactical combat knife and enhanced beyond human limits? One swing meant one kill.
In just moments, Nolan was drenched in blood, fighting his way toward the main exit of the facility.
In the surveillance room, the squad captain scowled.
"Bastards… where the hell is backup?!"
He could tell. If this continued, there was no stopping Nolan.
And if Nolan escaped, his own merit and a chance at a promotion would vanish.
"Deploy gas grenades! Just knock him out I don't care what it takes!"
He barked over the radio.
'These security fools if they couldn't shoot, why hadn't they used gas or tranquillizers?!'
....
Meanwhile, at another HYDRA base in Tennessee…
Upon receiving orders, a fleet of military trucks roared out of the compound, speeding toward the research site.
To avoid attention from nosy third parties, the convoy split into over a dozen squads, each taking separate routes to converge on the target.
These trucks carried HYDRA's elite veterans seasoned warriors forged in battle.
Elsewhere, a stealth aircraft took off from the base.
Aboard were four Super Soldiers, faces blank, eyes lifeless sitting upright like programmed machines.
....
Back at the research facility…
The squad captain gritted his teeth.
"You really think being a Super Soldier makes you invincible…"
Fortunately, the cleanup team had prepared for unexpected situations.
He grabbed another phone.
"Team One equip your exoskeleton armour and intercept Nolan!"
Soon, five soldiers in heavy exo-suits sprinted toward Nolan's location.
Enhanced by the armour, their speed was unnaturally fast.
In a wide-open atrium, Nolan was darting from cover to cover, his superhuman agility allowing him to leap and pivot with inhuman grace.
Whether in close quarters or gunfighting, his skills evolved rapidly his current learning speed meant just a few tries were enough for mastery.
But despite his power, the enemy had deployed a mix of gas grenades, tear gas, and more.
Even with his enhanced constitution and high resistance, the cumulative effect was starting to wear on him.
Occasionally, Nolan took hits, scratches, minor wounds, and even a few shots. The guards were desperate and had abandoned orders to capture him alive.
Wounds opened on his body; pain surged, but compared to what he had endured during serum absorption?
This was nothing.
He didn't even flinch. Steady hands gripped the rifle as he calmly fired precision shots, dropping guards with surgical accuracy.
"Almost there!"
He spotted the front gate up ahead.
Just a little further, and he'd be free.
The next time he meets HYDRA, he will make them feel the same torture as he felt.
Suddenly—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Five figures in heavy exoskeleton suits burst into view, charging straight at Nolan. They knew his strength and didn't hesitate for even a second.
Nolan sensed danger and immediately raised his weapon.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
But the enemies raised their armoured arms and deflected the bullets effortlessly, closing the distance even faster.
A devastating punch came flying.
Nolan blocked with his rifle
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
Three thunderous blows crumpled the rifle into twisted metal.
The five soldiers surrounded him in a tight formation. Nolan found himself on the defensive, struggling to hold them off.
He recognized the armour it boosted strength, but the wearers lost some mobility.
If he faced just one, he could win.
But five? All veterans? Their coordination was airtight.
Whenever he tried to single one out, the others would immediately strike his blind spots to force him back.
He had almost made it to the exit.... almost.
But the exosuits had blocked his path.
"Damn these things…"
Then, a thought flashed through Nolan's mind Exosuit Weaknesses.
He remembered that exosuits had fallen out of favour on the battlefield due to how easily they could be disabled.
EMP blasts. High voltage. Chemical agents.
More importantly, their early designs left vital circuits and hydraulic pistons exposed for portability.
Nolan's eyes locked onto the exposed cables and pistons of the suits. No shielding at all.
Suddenly, his gaze flicked toward a nearby lab door.
The five soldiers laughed as they forced Nolan back.
"Come on, give it up! We're not trying to kill you. Surrender, and maybe you'll get promoted, too!"
"Yeah, you're outmatched. Might as well tap out. We're allowed to rough you up a little!"
Nolan remained silent, retaliating with a flurry of counters. He absorbed a punch, then kicked a steel desk straight at them.
CRASH!
The lead soldier punched clean through the desk, debris flying everywhere.
The others flinched as their vision was obscured. Nolan seized the moment, turned, and sprinted toward the lab.
The soldiers were momentarily confused why run into a side lab and not toward the exit?
What was he thinking?
They gave chase in full pursuit.
...
In the command office, the squad captain saw Nolan divert into the lab and scoffed.
He checked the layout.
"That's just a basic lab. Not even any corrosive chemicals. What could he possibly do in there?"
He laughed with excitement.
"This was supposed to be a cleanup op… and now look at this haul. If higher up's are impressed, my career's about to soar."
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100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter!