Chapter 89: Time Gem
2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou
Amidst countless surfaces resembling shattered glass, Doctor Strange's figure flickered.
At the same time, the vision in Colin's eyes began to blur, with ripples spreading from the fragment of the [Time Shard (Human Torch/Flameman)].
Within these ripples, Doctor Strange's figure could vaguely be seen, standing silently on a pile of ruins. On his chest, a green gem gleamed brightly. Looking past Stephen Strange's back, one could see a massive spaceship and a red planet in the sky.
However, before Colin could clearly see the scene behind Stephen, a blurry, purplish, tall figure appeared on the ruins amidst the green light's flicker. Stephen and many other indistinct figures flickered within, intertwined with the purple figure, erupting into a fierce battle.
Amidst the flickering green light, the scene continued to change.
Colin widened his eyes, looking at everything within the [Time Shard]. In fact, the moment that tall figure appeared, the source of the war in the scene became clear.
Even though the green light was like a hazy mist, obscuring all figures in the battle except Doctor Strange.
It was just, why did the [Time Shard (Human Torch/Flameman)] show a scene of Stephen and Thanos fighting?
Holding onto this doubt, Colin continued to watch.
Amidst the flickering green light, Thanos raised his left hand, adorned with the Infinity Gauntlet, red light shimmering on it. At the same time, Stephen, standing before him, suddenly reached out and opened a portal in front of himself, appearing directly before Thanos. He tore off the green-glowing gem from his chest and fiercely struck it against Thanos's fist.
"No!"
In the scene, amidst Thanos's angry roar.
Cracks appeared on the surface of the gem in Doctor Strange's hand. At the same time, countless glass-like shattered dimensions appeared behind him. The shattered gem was pulled into various time dimensions. Thanos extended his left hand, wearing the Infinity Gauntlet, and used the Reality Stone's power to form a red rope, firmly binding one of the fragments.
As the gem shattered, the green light in Colin's eyes began to flicker rapidly, and countless blurry scenes flashed before him.
In these blurry scenes, Colin saw a grey-skinned, blue-lipped figure holding up a fragment on a massive pyramid.
On a tall throne, a figure wearing a golden horned helmet waved a scepter glowing with green light in his hand, shouting, "I am a god!"
In a world churning with darkness, a colossal hand gripped a fragment.
On a boundless desert, a figure in military uniform was busily searching for something.
"Sir!"
Following the soldier's call, a figure with a Red Skull appeared, reaching out to take the fragment the soldier had found.
As the Red Skull in the scene picked up the fragment, a line of faint text shimmered and appeared before him.
[Time Gem Fragment (1/9)]
...
"I understand."
New York, inside the Hydra Tower.
Helmut looked at Madame Hydra's cold and beautiful face on the screen, and nodded.
From Ophelia, he already knew about the situation at the Hydra base.
"There's no need to continue the 'Reborn' experiment. According to current experimental results, the powers of the 'Reborn' subjects are quite unstable, making it difficult to achieve the level of powerful warriors like the Human Torch created by Professor Phineas Horton back then."
Hydra has always tried to replicate Professor Phineas Horton's 'Reborn' experiment to create more powerful Reborn soldiers.
However, the experiment's process has never been smooth.
Without Professor Phineas Horton, the core figure of the experiment, even with all its efforts, Hydra could only produce some rather unstable Reborn warriors.
Professor Phineas Horton's original formula was too complex; even Hydra couldn't fully decipher it.
"Hive Project is a promising research direction..."
A knocking sound from outside the door interrupted Helmut and Ophelia's conversation.
Frowning, Helmut gestured to Madame Hydra on the screen, ending the communication.
Then he lowered the screen in his hand and called out to the door.
"Please come in."
Hearing Helmut's voice from inside the office, the secretary pushed open the door and addressed him at his desk.
"Boss, Dr. Bruce Banner is here."
...
"Dr. Banner, I've heard much about you."
Spreading his arms, Helmut welcomed Banner with a smile on his face.
"My apologies, Mr. Helmut."
Somewhat unaccustomed to Helmut's enthusiastic demeanor, the thin-looking Banner, dressed in a loose jacket, adjusted his glasses and said apologetically.
"I had arranged a visit with the University of Munich in Germany quite some time ago, so I had to temporarily postpone your invitation."
"Dr. Banner, you're too polite."
Shaking his head, Helmut showed extreme generosity in response to Banner's apology.
"Personally, I have the utmost respect for researchers like you, and I sincerely hope you can join our Hydra. Through our cooperation, we can benefit more people."
"...Could you let me see what you mentioned in your letter regarding..."
After a brief conversation, Banner, who seemed unaccustomed to eloquent speech, finally couldn't help but prompt Helmut.
The reason he hastily concluded his visit to the University of Munich in Germany and came to Hydra in New York was precisely because of the contents mentioned in the letter Helmut had written to him back then.
Facing Banner's inquiry, a smile appeared at the corner of Helmut's mouth.
"If you're so eager, Dr. Banner, then let's go see him, Pepper."
As he spoke, Helmut gestured to his secretary beside him.
Led by his secretary, Pepper, Helmut and Banner, the three of them, went from Hydra's basement to a heavily guarded laboratory.
"Iris scan passed."
"Welcome, Helmut Zemo."
Standing before the laboratory, the great door was unlocked via iris scan.
"Dr. Banner, allow me to introduce... one of the German Military's greatest victories in World War II... the legendary..."
Helmut led the way into the laboratory, stood before a frozen experiment chamber, turned to Dr. Bruce Banner, and said, "Captain America!"
Amidst Helmut's introduction, Banner's gaze was firmly drawn to the figure behind him, and he unconsciously mumbled.
"Captain America."
(end of chapter)