Chapter 84: COBRA Commander
"Calling command, we've intercepted a submarine and found McCullen unconscious on board..."
"Teams Four and Five have entered the base and are clearing it..."
"We've located nanotech warheads, but they've been destroyed."
"Confirming—we only found two warheads. The last one is missing."
A barrage of communications filled the G.I. Joe submarine.
Without centralized leadership, the entire Arctic base offered minimal resistance and was easily secured by G.I. Joe forces.
By the time Scarlett, Duke, and the others arrived at the command center, the remaining hostile forces at the base had been almost completely neutralized. In fact, due to the short duration of the engagement, the base hadn't suffered extensive damage, and many of its facilities remained operational.
This was a tremendous asset for G.I. Joe.
"Has anyone spotted Mason?" Scarlett asked urgently.
"We're still accounting for all personnel—nothing yet."
"What about Ana? She's gone too."
"What happened here? The warhead appeared to have entered its launch sequence, but it was automatically destroyed for some unknown reason. It must have been Mason. What is he hiding?" Scarlett's head ached as she tried to piece it together.
"We captured McCullen, but he was injected with a concentrated dose of nanomites, causing complete paralysis. He can't move—can only blink." The results were encouraging, but Breaker felt that this entire operation was confusing.
"It's not time to celebrate yet. There's still one warhead missing," Duke said with a frown. He now suspected that Ana had escaped with the remaining warhead.
"We acted without authorization this time. Before we resolve these issues, we'll have to face the President's inquiry," Breaker sighed.
At that moment, the submarine that had passed beneath the Arctic glacier transformed, broke through the ocean surface, and took flight, heading straight for a small island in the Pacific Ocean.
Space on the aircraft was limited, and besides Mason and his two companions, only one exceptionally large Neo-Viper accompanied Rex. Mason secretly estimated that this operative's strength was probably comparable to his own.
Unlike the other Neo-Vipers, he didn't wear heavy armor, only a seemingly standard tactical suit.
"We've arrived!"
Rex's voice revealed a hint of excitement as the aircraft descended and came to rest atop a mountain peak.
Rex stood at the summit, surveying the island's terrain. "A new era has begun, and COBRA is about to rise here!"
"I'm sorry, Rex, but I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. You can't stay here."
Rex turned to look at Mason. "What do you mean? Do you plan to replace me?"
Mason chuckled. "Such a theatrical name—you can keep it for yourself. Don't resist. Just come with me."
Rex snorted coldly, and the Neo-Viper standing beside him suddenly launched forward, attacking without hesitation.
"Mistake!"
Ana, standing beside Mason, pulled the trigger, unleashing an electromagnetic pulse that sent the Neo-Viper flying eight or nine meters, tumbling into the nearby vegetation.
Mason had already reprogrammed Ana's nanomite controls—his commands were now her primary directives.
"Don't resist. Just come with me." Mason's expression remained casual.
"You're with G.I. Joe? No, that can't be. You destroyed a quarter of Paris. Why would you do that?" Rex shook his head in confusion.
"Just follow my lead, and one day you'll rule the entire world!" Rex continued.
"Ana, restrain him." Mason, too impatient to listen further, urged her forward.
"Tsk tsk, what a shame..." Rex shook his head. Just as Ana approached within two meters of him, he activated something, and Ana's body went rigid before collapsing to the ground.
Large beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and she convulsed violently as if enduring excruciating pain.
"What did you do to her?" Mason became wary.
"Everyone who has undergone nanomite modification is a member of COBRA, and I... as the supreme COBRA Commander, naturally possess absolute authority over them!"
Rex straightened to his full height. "What a pity—I originally intended to grant you equal status with me." With that, he pressed several concealed buttons on his helmet. Accompanied by a hissing sound of injection, Rex's originally thin frame swelled at a visible rate!
He spread his arms wide. "Nanotechnology will be the ultimate power in this world, and I will become a god of the new age!"
"What kind of insane enhancement is this?!" Mason cursed internally. The physical pressure emanating from Rex made his breathing labored, almost unbearable.
It felt like an ordinary person facing a grizzly bear or tiger—even without an attack, the sheer size and power radiating from the enhanced physique was terrifying.
Mason now understood why the helmet Rex wore seemed absurdly oversized—it was clearly designed to accommodate him after transformation.
Rex now stood over two meters tall, even more imposing than before, with muscles bulging like steel cables across his arms. Mason estimated that Rex's strength had probably surpassed his own.
"I reconstructed my skeletal structure with nanomites, allowing it to withstand exponentially greater force. Now I am the perfect fusion of strength and intellect!"
"Is it too late for me to reconsider?" Mason suddenly asked.
Rex was momentarily confused, then understood the implication. He was about to respond when a figure flashed before his eyes—Mason was already beside him, delivering a devastating blow to his chest!
Mason's strike came without warning. Rex was just a scientist, far less experienced in combat than Mason, and didn't react in time. He only managed to roar when the fist was nearly upon him.
"Die!"
He didn't dodge, throwing a counterpunch at Mason, intending to trade blows!
Mason had no intention of engaging in direct exchanges. He twisted his body to evade Rex's heavy strike, simultaneously activating his gauntlets. In a flash, razor-sharp blades extended from his fingertips.
Then, he shifted his stance, using his core strength to generate power, attempting to eviscerate Rex from below!
SLASH!
Blood and tissue sprayed. At the critical moment, Rex blocked Mason's attack with his thick forearm, but was also slashed open by Mason's blades, the wounds deep enough to expose bone.
But Mason didn't escape unscathed—Rex, driven by combat fury, landed a devastating kick that sent him flying.
Pfft!
Mason coughed up blood. Just that single blow had rattled his internal organs. "This guy's strength is monstrous!" He had to admit that Rex's enhanced power far exceeded his own.
But as soon as he looked up, he discovered that the wounds he'd inflicted on Rex were healing at a visible rate.
"Damn it! How am I supposed to fight this?"
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