"The result is that we didn't get any answers; instead, we reaped even more questions," Peter said as he pushed open the manhole cover and jumped out. He then reached down to pull Cindy up, continuing his thought: "We roughly know that the reason my father was able to develop the genetically modified spiders was likely due to obtaining some kind of Spider Totem—I mean, help from a spider-powered individual. But that has nothing to do with what we're investigating."
He looked at Felicia, who was bringing up the rear, and extended his hand to pull her up. As Felicia climbed out, she replied, "Unless Hydra is just like your father."
Peter froze.
"What did you say?"
"I mean, unless Hydra is like your father. Their source of power isn't some Third Reich ideology or heaven-defying technology, but rather like your spider abilities—coming from a group of gods or something similar—and your father discovered it."
After Felicia finished, she noticed Peter standing dazed in place and realized something: "Wait, you don't actually think that's the case, do you?"
"It's not entirely impossible..."
Whether in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the comic universe, the force behind Hydra was never quite that simple. In the MCU, Hydra's origin was the Inhuman "Hive." After Hive led the Inhumans to overthrow Kree rule, he was exiled by his own kind due to his excessive cruelty, and his followers founded the earliest iteration of Hydra.
The comics were even more complex. The origin of Hydra was a divine artifact belonging to the great hero Imhotep, the Spear of Imhotep. This weapon of faith began to birth the prototype of Hydra after becoming corrupted, and it was eventually obtained by Hydra's founder, Baron Strucker, during World War II.
However, this universe was clearly different. First of all, whether in historical records or the Captain's own memories, the Hydra of Earth-616 developed from a branch of the Third Reich's SS, founded to pursue the Fuhrer's bizarre obsession with supernatural and anachronistic technology. As for what was hidden behind that, it remained unknown for the time being.
But there was no doubt that, based on current performance, Hydra's origins were far older than the Third Reich. It wasn't impossible that something else existed behind them. It was also possible that Richard Parker discovered some divine power lurking behind Hydra through his research, leading to his silencing by the organization.
Dammit, why does everything in Marvel always involve these ghosts, gods, and supernatural messes?
Peter sighed helplessly. In any case, his business in Taranto was mostly finished. They would rest here for the night and return directly to the main group the next day to continue their tour and deal with the Elementals.
Furthermore, even if he told Nick Fury about this hypothesis, it wouldn't be of much use. Unless this intel could be dug deep enough to directly dismantle Hydra, it was useless information for now.
But what Peter didn't know was that shortly after he left the temple, the spiders swarmed back over the statue. Simultaneously, a figure appeared and restored the sewer wall he had broken to its original state.
He knew even less that a few hours after he departed Taranto on the Wild Pack's transport plane the next day, the Captain and Logan arrived. After the two reached Taranto on their motorcycles, the Captain received news of Spider-Man's departure and encountered an enemy.
"The good news is we don't have to worry about the kid; he's already gone. The bad news is it looks like the guests we've been waiting for have arrived."
"You smell them?"
"No."
The shieldless Captain pulled out his loyal combat knife and 9mm handgun, swiftly leaping from the bike to hide in the nearby brush. "I just feel like I'm back on the battlefield."
Logan didn't react in time. A shot hit his motorcycle's fuel tank, and he was engulfed in flames as he rolled to the side. The Captain counted a few seconds in his head and suddenly felt something was wrong. After a roll, a man wearing a skull-like mask and a white cloak nearly impaled him with a sword.
"Anthony Masters. I know you. Taskmaster."
The Captain dodged and looked at the man holding a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. "You're a former SHIELD instructor. Why are you working for SHIELD's enemies now? And the man behind you—that's the legendary Winter Soldier, isn't it?"
In the distance, a figure could be seen. Dressed in all black, he was hard to make out clearly, but the Captain felt instinctively that it was Bucky.
"How interesting. I don't remember you. It seems you're not an agent I originally trained. Fury is really dreaming if he thinks you rookies can make a difference."
"Perhaps."
The Captain rapidly fired at Taskmaster while lunging toward him. Taskmaster timed his move, preparing to deliver a kick, but he hadn't expected the man charging at him to be a Super Soldier. The speed was far greater than he anticipated, and the Captain grabbed the shield in his hand directly.
In the distance, the Winter Soldier, holding a grenade launcher, was steadily approaching. He had originally aimed at the Captain, but something else burning nearby caught his attention. Only then did he realize that the man who should have been dead was standing up, his body still wreathed in flames.
The Winter Soldier fired several grenades in succession at him almost instantly.
"I see. An enhanced individual?"
Seeing this, Taskmaster seemed to realize something and let out a cold laugh. "Regrettably, power alone doesn't win a fight. Let me teach you what combat skill really is!"
The Captain watched as the Taskmaster in front of him sheathed his sword, slung his shield onto his back, and mimicked the Captain by pulling out a combat knife and a handgun. He let out a slightly helpless sigh.
Are you serious?
Ignoring the constantly regenerating Logan, the Captain immediately rushed up to trade blows with Taskmaster, seizing opportunities to fire at him. Taskmaster rapidly grasped the characteristics of the Captain's fighting style, learning his combat techniques as the two became entangled in a high-speed skirmish.
Only then did Taskmaster realize something was wrong. The man before him wasn't just an enhanced individual; his combat skills were exceptional. Where did Fury find a person like this?
But it ended here.
He had already analyzed this man's physical data and all of his combat techniques. Now, every one of the opponent's moves was within his calculations. He didn't need any extra means to settle this...
He saw the man before him sidestep and dodge. Then, a burning man appeared in front of him.
?
"Like we said before, I'll take the Winter Soldier."
The Captain looked at Logan, who had regained his mobility, leaving only that sentence behind. Taskmaster stood ready, prepared to once again copy the fighting style of the man before him.
Then he saw the claws extending from the man's hands.
"...Crap."