The high-ranking leaders of HYDRA gathered in a dark room for an emergency meeting. Baron Strucker, Viper, Arnim Zola, and Alexander Pierce sat at an electronic projection conference table, their expressions grave and serious.
Baron Strucker spoke in a deep voice, "Our operation failed. Andre and Electro escaped."
Viper snorted coldly and said, "They were too strong! Electro's energy control was far beyond our estimation, and Andre's power was even more unimaginable."
Arnim Zola, a faceless skin-suit, said blandly, "Our weapons didn't pose enough of a threat to them. We need to upgrade our technological weapons."
Alexander Pierce nodded in agreement, "Exactly. We need more advanced weapons to deal with them. Strucker, you must accelerate the research and development plan. We cannot let them escape again."
"Forget it. He's busy with his super-powered experiments. Wasn't he the most enthusiastic this time?" Viper mocked.
"Viper, what do you mean? You haven't invested much either," Baron Strucker said, looking annoyed at Viper.
"So, you've lost more than half of your manpower, Alexander. You're not having a great time, are you? You're in the U.S. Don't you lack manpower? Do you need me to fund you?" Viper asked with a teasing smile.
"No need," Alexander Pierce refused expressionlessly.
Arnim Zola's skin-suit glanced at them and went offline immediately.
"Then I'm leaving too," Viper went offline.
"I'm leaving too; I still have some things to attend to." Alexander Pierce nodded to Baron Strucker and then went offline.
"Fuck!"
Inside Umbrella Corporation.
The current meeting lineup included Nathan Hawke, Wesker, Andre, Electro, and The Invisible Man. As for Ryoma, he wasn't interested and had Nathan Hawke's permission not to attend.
"According to our investigation, HYDRA's opponent this time should be Baron Strucker, located in Europe," Nathan Hawke said seriously.
"Europe?" Andre blinked.
Noticing Nathan Hawke's gaze, Andre gave an awkward smile and said no more.
Wesker raised his hand to signal, then stood up and spoke, "Umbrella Corporation has already located several of their Bases. This time, I, Andre, and Electro will lead the team. As for The Invisible Man, your influence in Hollywood is immense right now, and the recent charity gala conflicts with the operation, so you don't need to go."
The Invisible Man nodded upon hearing his assignment.
"Your adjutants will inform you of the mission details later," Wesker told the two.
The two nodded in agreement. To be honest, they weren't at all adept at leading teams, but as the strongest combatants in the group, they had to be named as the leading Officers for this mission.
"You all go prepare now, and also familiarize yourselves with your adjutants."
"Meeting adjourned," Wesker told the three.
After the three left, Wesker followed Nathan Hawke into the underground interior of Umbrella Corporation, accompanied by the curiously interested Ryoma.
Ryoma excitedly followed behind the two, rubbing his hands together, eagerly anticipating what was to come.
A six-pointed star of light shimmered, illuminating the entire space.
"Where is this? Where?"
A steady, low voice, conveying solemnity and mystery, slowly emerged.
A man with flowing silver-white hair and a handsome appearance, wearing a black buttoned overcoat and silver shoulder armor, with a black cross-shaped harness on his chest.
"Hello, this is Umbrella Corporation. You are the one summoned here," Wesker said, looking at the tall and upright man before him.
"Summoned?" The man frowned deeply.
"Which means you can't go back now," Ryoma said, spreading his hands in a welcoming gesture.
"I remember..." The man fell into contemplation.
Nathan Hawke gazed at the summoned man; his name was Sephiroth.
He was the result of the Shinra Electric Power Company's experiments; as a fetus, he was injected with jenova cells from an extraterrestrial lifeform. He was also a member of the Shinra Group's private elite force, the "Shinra Special Forces." He belonged to the highest of the three classes, "1st Class," and was considered the strongest among the "1st Class" members. He was known as a legendary hero, the perfect masterpiece of the Jenova Project.
And this Jenova Project...
Nathan Hawke could only think of countless deceased newborns.
"Eight Blade Flash." A steady voice, yet it resonated in people's hearts.
Sephiroth launched a swift attack, his eyes revealing decisive resolve. He quickly unleashed Eight Blade Flash, his tachi moving like flowing water, rapidly and accurately delivering eight slashes. The sword light flashed, forming instantaneous slashes that tore through the air towards Wesker.
Wesker's cold eyes showed no wavering. He calmly met Sephiroth's attack, swiftly dodging the Eight Blade Flash. He nimbly evaded the sword qi while simultaneously attacking Sephiroth.
"Earth-Shaking (Sword Technique)."
Sephiroth remained unfazed. He quickly switched to Earth-Shaking (Sword Technique), his tachi rapidly swinging, sword light instantly blossoming. With four consecutive slashes, his sword dance flowed like water, and the final strike carried immense power, sending Wesker, who couldn't dodge in time, flying. Wesker spun in the air, but his body quickly adjusted to avoid excessive damage.
After Wesker landed, his eyes became even fiercer, his expression colder, his body crackling, exuding an aura of authority and menace.
Ryoma watched this scene excitedly, his eyes shining brightly.
Wesker charged again. This time, Wesker's body seemed to tear apart as he rushed forward at an extremely high speed.
"One Strike."
Sephiroth sensed Wesker's threat and showed no retreat. He swiftly delivered two consecutive slashes, more powerful than Earth-Shaking (Sword Technique). Sword light instantly blossomed; the two slashes were incredibly precise, and Wesker was sent flying again, his body flipping in mid-air.
However, Wesker was not defeated. He quickly stabilized himself, using the rotational momentum of his body to regain balance. His sharp gaze fixed directly on Sephiroth, his expression cold and resolute.
Sephiroth frowned again. After being struck by his slash, the opponent's wounds healed rapidly, as if he hadn't been injured at all.
"The probing ends here. What do you say?" Nathan Hawke asked Sephiroth, who showed no killing intent.
"I need to know where I am now. I plan to observe first." Sephiroth retracted his tachi and looked at Nathan Hawke, who was clearly the leader.
"Ryoma, take him for a walk. Oh, and unless he volunteers, don't bother him for anything," Nathan Hawke's words were understood by Ryoma, who made an OK gesture and said, "No problem." Ryoma wasn't a fool; he wouldn't extract the opponent's blood and cells for research unless he volunteered, given his combat power.
Nathan Hawke left. He needed to quickly familiarize himself with half of Sephiroth's power level.
Inside Nathan Hawke's private training ground.
"It seems there's a hidden, inherent power, but it's very small. Is it because the jenova cells aren't compatible with me?"
The jenova cells were completely incomparable to the virus within Wesker's body.
The jenova cells seemed to consciously pick their host more, while the Uroboros virus in Wesker's body was different, without so much thought.
Recalling his thoughts, Nathan Hawke picked up the prepared tachi and began to swing it.
30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes.
"No, this isn't suitable for me. This is Sephiroth's technique, not his superpower." Nathan Hawke frowned. It seemed very difficult to discover the jenova cells within his body.
"I'll familiarize myself for a few days, then go to Umbrella Corporation to extract my blood and cells." Nathan Hawke, having understood, threw away the tachi in his hand and began to train according to the exercise methods derived from combat data analysis.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"If you need revenge, Hammer Industries is your strongest backing."
"No need. I will rely on my own strength to ensure my opponent dies without a burial place."
Time passed, and Umbrella Corporation's plan to strike HYDRA's European Base was also ready.
Location: Monaco.
"Is there something good today?" Nathan Hawke asked, looking at Justin Hammer's excited face.
Justin Hammer gave a sly smile and first said, "Thanks to you recently, Hammer Industries' stock has been soaring. Come, a toast to you."
"No, we both got what we needed; you also contributed," Nathan Hawke quickly refused.
To be honest, Nathan Hawke was aware of Justin Hammer's ambition.
Especially his "prying" into his own Superheroes.
But after realizing Nathan Hawke was troublesome, and enduring successive assassination attempts, as well as being personally with Nathan Hawke during an assassination, he immediately extinguished the idea of replacing him.
The "big shots" in the same interest group also received news of Nathan Hawke's assassination, which caused many "big shots" with ideas to slightly curb their greed and content themselves with enjoying the group's dividends.
Among these, Justin Hammer's actions also somewhat pleased Nathan Hawke. He had fended off some unnecessary troubles for him, such as some "politicians" who wanted a piece of the pie.
Although Nathan Hawke could also handle these matters, it wasn't impossible if Justin Hammer stepped in.
As for whether he would speak ill of him behind his back, that was up to individual interpretation.
"Today, there's a good show against Stark that you'll definitely enjoy. A brilliant, real-life action blockbuster," Justin Hammer introduced with an exaggerated tone.
"Really? Then I'll have to look forward to it," Nathan Hawke replied with a fake smile.
"You'll definitely like it," Justin Hammer said with a mysterious smile.
"Oh, shit. Maybe I should install my Jarvis on a Formula 1 car."