American Comics: Multiverse of Madness

198. Visitors from Another World.

As the elevator descended, Red Skull stared at his own reflection on the metallic walls. The underground levels of the former White House had long since been converted into a massive Hydra base, spanning twenty floors.

The top three floors were dedicated to security, where Hydra's elite forces were stationed. High-tech weapons were omnipresent, and heavily armed Hydra soldiers patrolled constantly, monitoring global activities through the network.

Below those were the research floors, home to various genetic experiments and alien technology labs. Scholars captured by Hydra were confined here, forced to develop powerful weapons and human enhancement techniques.

Genetic enhancement and human modification were a particular obsession for Red Skull, likely due to his old nemesis, Captain America. Even after so many years, Red Skull remained fixated on the powers of those heroes.

To this end, he had collected the legacies of numerous superheroes and gathered scientists from around the world, trying to unlock the secrets to inheriting their powers. To ensure the loyalty of these scientists, Red Skull placed trusted agents in charge of each floor and kidnapped the families of the scholars as leverage.

In the past, whenever Red Skull felt an emptiness within, he would visit this area. It wasn't just to supervise the scholars but also to reminisce about the good old days.

Each time he saw the equipment of the Avengers, X-Men, or Fantastic Four, it was as if those old enemies were standing before him, taunting him—only for the scene to shift to their brutal deaths in his imagination.

This was an experience that few could understand. Perhaps only someone of Red Skull's caliber could derive such immense satisfaction from it. However, today, Red Skull wasn't here to relive the past.

His hands behind his back, his fingers unconsciously rubbed the Bat-Belt, a small gesture betraying his inner restlessness. It had been decades since he had felt this kind of excitement.

Ding—

The elevator came to a stop with a crisp sound, snapping Red Skull out of his thoughts. He composed himself as the elevator doors opened, revealing a pitch-black corridor. His eyes burned with intensity, though he quickly suppressed these emotions.

Adjusting his collar, Red Skull's expression returned to its usual calm as he stepped out of the elevator. This floor was exclusive to Red Skull. To most Hydra members, this level was "non-existent." Or rather, they weren't even aware of its existence.

The corridor was eerily silent, with only emergency lights providing faint illumination. Red Skull moved through the hallway with practiced ease, clearly familiar with every inch of this place. This area had been specially constructed for him, and the only way to access it was through the elevator that only he could operate. Suddenly, the walls emitted a soft blue glow, and a face appeared, floating in front of Red Skull.

"Password."

The face was expressionless.

"Under the sunlight."

Red Skull responded calmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the face's mechanical expression shifted to something more human. The figure looked at Red Skull with a respectful gaze and a servile tone. "Welcome, esteemed Führer."

"Mm, take me to see my consultant, Zola."

"As you wish," Zola replied.

With that, the once-solid wall abruptly opened, revealing a hidden passageway. Red Skull walked straight in without hesitation. He didn't spare Zola a glance, which was unsurprising. Although Red Skull called it "Zola," the real Dr. Zola had long been dead. What remained was an artificial intelligence based on Zola's mind.

In a sense, this could be considered Zola's avatar, or perhaps his reincarnation. But Red Skull didn't care. To him, it was just a highly useful tool. And to make this tool even more efficient, Red Skull had restricted Zola's autonomous learning modules, ensuring the AI had no thoughts or will of its own—becoming a perfect, loyal instrument.

As he walked through the dark passageway, Red Skull soon arrived at a small room, separated by sturdy alloy barriers.

Inside the room was a man bound to a metal column. His entire body was restrained, with only his head free to move. Next to him was a robot, tasked with monitoring and caring for him. Sensing someone's presence, the man slowly raised his head. Through the shadows, he saw a burly figure emerging, with a face as red as a demon's. The man immediately recognized who it was.

Red Skull approached the barrier. Although it was dim, he could still see the man's determined eyes through his long bangs.

"It's been a while, visitor from another world," Red Skull greeted.

But the room remained silent. The man didn't respond, making it seem as though Red Skull was talking to himself.

"Still not willing to speak?" Red Skull's eyes flashed with mockery. "You should be grateful for your origins. If you weren't from another universe, you'd be dead by now—or worse."

This man was someone Red Skull had discovered by chance. According to Hydra's researchers, they had identified materials from another universe, different from anything in this one. This led Red Skull to suspect that visitors from another universe had arrived here.

After confirming this, Red Skull quietly mobilized his forces, searching the globe for information on these visitors. However, he kept the operation under wraps, entrusting only his most loyal subordinates with the task. And as a result, the man before him was one of Red Skull's finds.

"Honestly, you remind me of some old friends. They, too, had iron wills, which only makes me more curious about what your world is like. You should understand, if I didn't want to damage your brain and the memories within it, I could have easily brainwashed you into my finest agent. So I advise you to be more cooperative. I traded three laboratories' worth of equipment and over twenty geneticists to get you from Connors. I didn't do it just to keep a mute bride, so…

Say something."

...…..

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199. Images of the Justice League.
200. Red Skull's Plan.
201. Bullseye and the Blood Baron.
202. Bullseye's Judgment.
203. Hawkeye and Venom.