In a room filled with screens showing snowy landscapes, one of them displayed the Avengers charging against soldiers who were firing at them. The room was in full alert, alarms blaring and red lights flashing. At the center of the control room, a man covered in scars watched the monitors with anger.
A soldier rushed in and shouted:"Sergeant Frank! The Avengers have broken through our defensive lines, and Iron Man has managed to breach our shield!"
Frank glared at the soldier, ready to speak, when the base shook violently."Already?!" he cried in shock.
At that moment, a scientist burst into the control room."One of the test subjects has escaped!" he said in horror.
The sergeant froze, then turned back to the monitors. He pressed several buttons, and one of the screens changed, showing black and white flames dancing wildly. He pressed again, and the image turned completely white. Frank glanced at the camera's thermometer, but before he could read anything, the camera exploded and the screen went black.
Frank remained still for a moment, thinking, before finally saying:"Prepare the vehicles for evacuation. We've lost the base."
The soldiers didn't argue. They immediately rushed into action. Five minutes later, Hydra's bunker was empty—except for the capsules that held four unknown living beings.
Ace was in that room, surrounded by his flames. He looked around and saw others in the same situation. His fire, as if responding to his thoughts before he even voiced them, exploded toward the capsules.
The capsules began to melt, and the beings inside were freed. The flames avoided them as though refusing to burn them. Once it was done, the fire swirled back around Ace. With a surge of power, he blew apart the reinforced door that served as their prison. He cast one last glance at his fellow captives before vanishing into the maze of the bunker.
After about ten minutes, he came face-to-face with a man clad in the colors of the United States, carrying a shield.
Ace's eyes widened, and he charged with all his might. Flames followed his every move as he slammed a punch into the vibranium shield of the one and only Captain America—Steve Rogers to those who knew him.
Steve was hurled backward. He touched his earpiece and shouted:"I've encountered a teenage boy on fire! He just attacked me! I need backup!"
Then he turned his attention back to the teenager before him. His expression tightened as he saw the pure hatred burning in the boy's eyes.
Ace, convinced more of those bastards responsible for his family's death were here, gave a twisted grin—a smile of pure hatred. The flames around him grew even stronger, and Steve was forced to shield himself from the heat. The fire kept intensifying until, suddenly, wings burst from Ace's back. He didn't notice, but Steve did. Peering over his shield, Steve's eyes went wide.
Ace sank deeper into his rage, lowering his center of gravity. Still standing on both legs, he leaned forward, like a predator ready to pounce. Steve blinked—and suddenly Ace's face was inches from his own, teeth clenched, eyes glowing with a savage light. His right hand stretched back, fingers splayed like claws, fire forming burning talons at their tips.
The strike came down hard against the shield, leaving a black mark on its surface. Steve was blasted backward, smashing through the corridor and crashing through reinforced concrete walls before coming to a stop several meters away.
Ace roared in triumph, an animalistic cry, as his flames exploded outward, flooding the corridors. Just as Steve was about to be engulfed, a red-and-gold suit of armor appeared in front of him, blasting lasers that pushed the fire back.
As the flames dissipated, the armor turned and spoke:"Close call, Cap. Need a hand?""Gladly," Steve replied to his ally, Iron Man—Tony Stark, the billionaire in armor.
Tony launched forward with his thrusters, delivering a massive punch… but Ace caught it with one hand.
The beast that Ace had become reacted like any cornered animal—by attacking with savage fury. Still gripping Tony's fist in his left hand, Ace clenched his right and slammed an uppercut into the armor's gut, sending Iron Man crashing into the ceiling before gravity dragged him back down.
As Tony dropped in front of him, regret flickered in his eyes—regret for going into close combat—for he saw a fist flying straight toward his face. Ace threw his full strength into a left hook. The blow shattered the helmet and sent a shockwave ripping through the concrete walls.
Tony's nose broke before his body slammed down beside Steve. Both men, dazed, found themselves lying side by side, while Ace loomed over them, angelic wings spread wide behind him.
Steve and Tony exchanged a glance, nodded, and forced themselves back up. They both raised their guards.
"I've got a bad feeling we're gonna regret this," Tony muttered, staring at the beast before them."All we need to do is buy time until the others get here," Steve said with his usual calm.
Then, together, they charged.