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When all the Skullcrawlers vanished, the soldiers examined their astonishing accomplishments. These Skullcrawlers were mightier than the previous King Kong; not only did the king's strength rival that of King Kong, but they also held a numerical advantage. However, during their battle with King Kong, they struggled, making it unbelievable that they were so easily defeated by the even more formidable skeleton lizards.
In reality, this situation was expected. One must consider Ivan's extensive preparations before confronting the Skullcrawlers. Not only were there ample weapons readied, but there was also a pre-established ambush.
Conversely, the conflict with King Kong was entirely unexpected and unprepared for. At the outset, King Kong's sudden appearance left them bewildered. Escaping safely had been a stroke of luck. This emphasizes the importance of intelligence, which differed significantly without prior readiness.
With the acquisition of the Star whale egg and the repulsion of the Skullcrawlers, Ivan deemed the mission accomplished. Staying on-site no longer served a purpose, so Ivan promptly ordered an evacuation.
As for the remains of the Skullcrawlers, their massive size made transportation impractical. Ivan appeared nonchalant, stating that they would serve as sustenance for other creatures. However, on the journey back, he covertly arranged for the Red Devil to transport the Skullcrawlers into a private space and send them to Kerry. This would enable him to preserve them in ice for future study.
Focused on the Star whale egg, Ivan accelerated the return trip, continuing day and night. Although supplies dwindled, exhaustion was pervasive, prompting most to seek rest upon their return to the base.
Ivan, less fatigued but deeply excited, found a secluded spot within the base. He directed guards to keep everyone at bay and prevent disturbances, as he contemplated his trophy—the Star whale egg.
Though Ivan had previously glimpsed at it in the underground cave, the hurried circumstances had prevented a thorough examination. Now Ivan was awestruck by the extraordinary creatures known as Star whales.
Having spent a substantial time underground, Star whale eggs lacked continuous exposure to light and possessed a somewhat dull, gray-white surface resembling rock. However, after a day of sun absorption, the eggshell displayed a new luster and a certain degree of smoothness, suggesting life's vibrancy.
Ivan took a step closer, placing his hand on the eggshell, employing his mental power to sense its interior. He detected life's fluctuations and a faint, nascent consciousness.
Ivan was intrigued and attempted to establish a spiritual connection with the unborn star whale, aware that communication was improbable at this stage. He aimed to foster an innate bond with the creature and gain control through this connection.
Furthermore, the spiritual connection provided an advantage. Star whales were susceptible to sensing the emotions of other beings and empathizing with them, rendering them susceptible to manipulation. Through this connection, Ivan could utilize his formidable mental power to assist the creature in controlling its emotions and mitigating distress, if not entirely avoiding it.
Ivan's mental power also provided a glimpse of the young star whale's appearance within the egg, allowing him to familiarize himself with the creature. Apart from its immense size, the Star whale's form resembled an oceanic whale in the front half, but the rear half featured a unique tail. This tail comprised three long tentacles, each longer than the body itself. Without considering the tail, the creature measured slightly over a hundred meters, and with the tail, it extended to nearly three hundred meters.
With this new research material, the Star whale, Ivan invested the majority of his time on Skull Island. He postponed many original plans, remaining on the island while building a connection with the infant star whale.
During Ivan's stay on the island, there was an unexpected shift in the international situation. Germany suffered a major defeat, leading to Hitler's suicide.
In response, Germany declared surrender. The Allies, primarily led by the United States, had initially aimed to take advantage of Germany's vulnerable position as the defeated party. Their intentions included territorial concessions, reparations, and, at a minimum, regressing Germany for several decades.
However, Ivan intervened at this juncture. He instructed Kerry to secretly meet with German high-level officials, providing them with nuclear weapon research materials and a pre-manufactured nuclear warhead in exchange for their support in establishing Ivan as the leader of Hydra.
Upon reviewing the information regarding nuclear weapons, German officials swiftly agreed. The prospect of nuclear deterrence allowed them to maintain a strong position during negotiations, safeguarding their national interests and reputation.
Ideally, Ivan would have dealt with this matter personally, but he was engrossed in nurturing a connection with the infant star whale at the time. Hence, he delegated full authority to Kerry and appointed a trusted associate to manage Hydra's internal affairs in his absence.
Unintentionally, Ivan's actions led to unexpected outcomes. For an extended period, Ivan's scientific department had ostensibly dedicated all its efforts to research, leaving an unambitious researcher in charge. Ivan allowed the misperception to persist. As a result, German high-level officials mistakenly believed that someone was controlling Hydra under Ivan's name, though he was, in reality, a mere figurehead.
Ivan chose not to rectify the misunderstanding and even decided to cooperate with it. Moving forward, all of Hydra's affairs would be delegated to his subordinates, with him operating from the shadows.
Ever since the elimination of the Red Skull, Hydra had fragmented into several branches, each with its leader. While these branches maintained a degree of interconnectedness, none would fully comply with Ivan.
Ivan remained unconcerned. What he truly required were Hydra's connections, as he had already resolved to construct a global business empire with the resources at his disposal. Spanning various industries, this endeavor would necessitate Hydra's influence. Ivan recognized the potential within Hydra and knew he would gain the support of numerous high-level officials in politics and business. With their assistance, he could achieve his goals more efficiently.
Ivan never counted on the other Hydra leaders to be subservient to his orders, but he believed they could collaborate. It was essential to recognize that Ivan had effectively purged Hydra's technical personnel, which meant that in the future, as a variety of high-tech equipment became indispensable, others would eventually seek Ivan's assistance, and negotiations could proceed on his terms.
Subsequently, everything unfolded smoothly. After the German high-level officials acquired the information and the nuclear warhead, they invited the Allied countries, led by the United States, to witness a military exercise before commencing negotiations. They detonated the nuclear warhead in a remote desert, leaving a profound impact. At that time, only the United States possessed nuclear weapons. However, upon discovering that Germany's nuclear weapons were more powerful than those developed by the United States, they were quick to advocate for negotiations. The potential consequences of Germany deploying a large number of nuclear weapons were dire, with the capability to potentially devastate the entire country. Eventually, they opted to seek compensation from Germany as a defeated nation to preserve stability.
By this point, Germany had moved beyond the era of Hitler's rule, and many high-level officials did not share Hitler's fanaticism. Although the financial compensation was a blow to Germany's vitality, it was deemed acceptable, and the negotiations concluded on a positive note.
In some respects, Ivan became a hero in Germany, highly regarded by the country's high-ranking officials. However, Ivan himself remained indifferent to such recognition. Though he was the nominal leader of Hydra, he maintained a low profile, allowing his subordinates to handle the organization's affairs. This led many high-ranking individuals in Germany to perceive Ivan as a puppet, believing that he was coerced. Some even contemplated rescuing him but eventually abandoned the idea, as they did not know Ivan's whereabouts.
With Hydra's organizational matters resolved, Ivan had no immediate plans. He could relax entirely and devote his time to Skull Island, where he communicated with the emerging life within the egg.
One day, the star whale egg exhibited signs of activity. There was a series of cracking sounds from within, and a gap slowly formed in the eggshell, gradually expanding.
The cracking sounds grew louder, and more fissures appeared. A portion of the eggshell, over ten meters in size, shattered and fell to the ground. Through the opening, a colossal whale-like head emerged, struggling to escape. However, it lacked the strength, and it emitted distressed cries.
Ivan stood there, observing the young creature's efforts, without intervening, as he understood this was a crucial hurdle the creature needed to surmount. Any assistance from him would hinder the process.
The persistent efforts of the young star whale eventually paid off. The cracks extended across the entire eggshell, ultimately splitting it in two. The young creature emerged, extending its body. It measured over a hundred meters in length, with three long, tentacle-like tails, bringing its total length close to 300 meters.
The newly born star whale exhibited curiosity about its surroundings. Its three tails swayed gently as it floated and swam, observing the environment.
"Ow!"
The young creature, still adjusting to its new surroundings, emitted a resounding roar. A peculiar energy emanated, spreading throughout the entirety of Skull Island. All the creatures on the island, regardless of size, including King Kong and the skull crawlers in the underground caves, simultaneously turned their heads, gazing in the direction of the young Star whale. They lowered themselves slowly as if welcoming the birth of their king.
The star whale's unique magnetic field influenced the island's distinctive environment, establishing a connection with all the island's creatures. This magnetic field instilled an instinctive reverence for the star whale in the souls of these creatures, compelling them to involuntarily pay homage to the newborn ruler.