Chapter 93 - 93: Aldrich Killian

At this moment, Aldrich Killian stood in the lavish interior of his private manor, meticulously groomed and sharply dressed, awaiting his guests with the poise of a man expecting greatness. Killian—the founder of Avant-Garde Technology and the mastermind behind the Extremis Virus. Standing dutifully beside him was his most trusted lieutenant, Eric Savin. Among all the test subjects, Savin was the pinnacle—the most stable and powerful result of Extremis Virus enhancement. A soldier reborn. Killian's eyes flicked to his watch. One minute to go. "Hmph. Seems these Hydra big shots aren't exactly punctual," he scoffed with a sneer. "Still not a single shadow in sight." S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But just as the words left his lips, a shadow did appear—directly above their heads. A sleek, high-tech aircraft descended silently from the clouds, its dark, unmarked hull gleaming ominously under the sunlight. The aesthetic of the craft couldn't help but conjure comparisons to the Kree warships that had not long ago loomed over Earth. "Tch. Showoffs," Killian muttered, a little bitter. The Eagle Fighter hovered before slowly touching down in the clearing ahead. From its ramp stepped a silver-haired man, calm and imposing. Gene. One of the many masks he wore when walking among mortals. And today, he was here as Hydra's envoy. Killian quickly stepped forward with a rehearsed smile. "From the great Hydra itself—what an honor to finally meet you," he said reverently. Gene waved his hand dismissively. "Spare me the flattery. I'm here for one reason only—to see whether this 'Extremis Virus' of yours can truly enhance human potential." "Oh, absolutely," Killian replied with smug confidence. "Everyone injected with it becomes a top-tier soldier—stronger, faster, tougher than anything humanity's seen." He led Gene into the heart of his facility, chatting casually along the way. "To be honest," Killian continued, "I always thought your organization had been dismantled by S.H.I.E.L.D." Gene's voice was low but chilling. "Cut off one head, and two shall take its place. You know the saying." "Hydra still lives—stronger than ever. With powers beyond your imagination. And for your own sake, Mr. Killian, I suggest you avoid asking too many questions." His gaze was like a blade, slicing through the room and pinning Killian in place. The difference in presence between Gene and the average war profiteer was as stark as sky and earth. Killian forced a grin to hide the sweat forming at his temples. "Right, of course. Just a group of stubborn survivors…" He looked away, muttering under his breath, "One day, Avant-Garde Technology will eclipse even Hydra in power." The tour led them to a massive laboratory filled with advanced machinery. A giant screen covered one wall, displaying graphs, charts, and footage of human testing. Here, Killian was in his element. Like a passionate evangelist, he began to sell the Extremis Virus. "The concept is genius," he boasted. "We found a way to bypass biological resistance, effectively hacking the host's DNA. The virus enhances cellular regeneration, grants thermal manipulation, and even allows for limb regeneration—unless, of course, the brain or heart are destroyed." A video began playing. A soldier, injected with the Extremis Virus, slammed a glowing hand down in a brutal chopping motion—slicing a main battle tank clean in half like butter. In another clip, a red-hot soldier self-detonated with an explosion exceeding 3000 degrees Celsius—turning enemies to ash. It was a terrorist's dream drug. "I trust you now understand the magnitude of what we've created," Killian said, clapping his hands with pride. "Imagine what Hydra soldiers could do with this. Our partnership could change the future." But Gene's expression remained cold. Unmoved. "Oh?" he said flatly. "Funny thing—my agents recently reported a detonation on Tenth Street in Big Apple City. Ring any bells? That explosion bore all the hallmarks of your little serum." Killian's smile faltered. "Don't tell me you're organizing terror attacks, Mr. Killian?" There was a brief pause. Then Killian exhaled, realizing that lying was not an option. "That… wasn't us," he confessed. "One of our clients… he overdosed. Couldn't control the dosage. It wasn't an act of aggression—it was a malfunction." Gene narrowed his eyes. "So what you're saying… is your miracle drug turns soldiers into addicts." "You want me to inject my forces with something that turns them into unstable, glowing junkies?" Killian felt the pressure in Gene's gaze again. It was suffocating. He almost lashed out—almost. But reason kicked in, and he held his tongue. "We're still perfecting it," Killian said quickly. "Addiction isn't an issue if properly regulated—our researchers are working on the heat management protocol—" Gene cut him off. "This isn't the result I wanted to see," he said coldly. "And for the record… I didn't come here to buy your Extremis Virus." Killian's face darkened. "…What are you talking about?" This was not part of the plan. If this were any other day, Killian would be bracing for a brawl—Gene slaughtering his way through glowing super-soldiers, his lab reduced to rubble. But before any of that could happen—chaos erupted outside the lab. Gunfire. Screams. "What's going on?!" Killian shouted, spinning around. From beyond the doors came the frantic cries of his men. "It's steel—it's Steel Man!!" Killian's heart sank. No… it can't be… And then—BOOM! The heavy iron door to the lab exploded inward, blown clean off its hinges. It slid across the ground with a screech of metal, skidding to a stop just inches from Killian's feet. A figure stood in the doorway, palm glowing with deadly light. "Gentlemen," Tony Stark said, voice calm but razor-sharp. "The deal's off." -------------- T/N: Access Advance Chapters on my P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics