prevously in chapter 33
The remaining agents started to falter, the relentless assault and intense heat proving too much. Henry could see the fear in their eyes, the realization that they were facing a force far beyond their capabilities. He reveled in their terror, his laughter echoing through the smoke-filled corridor.
As more agents attempted to retreat, Henry pursued them with ruthless efficiency. He tore through their ranks, each strike precise and deadly. Bodies fell one after another, the floor slick with blood and littered with the remains of shattered weapons. The building itself seemed to groan in agony, the structure compromised by the relentless onslaught.
Henry's rage-fueled rampage was interrupted by a sudden, sharp pain in his side. He looked down to see a tranquilizer dart embedded in his flesh. Growling, he ripped it out, but the damage was done. His vision swam, and he stumbled slightly, the effects of the elixir starting to wear off.
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Chapter 34
Realizing he was running out of time, Henry decided to make his escape. He summoned one final burst of flames, creating a wall of fire between himself and the remaining agents. The heat was so intense that the metal beams in the ceiling began to warp, and the sprinkler system finally failed, leaving the fire to spread unchecked.
With the building on the verge of collapse, Henry sprinted towards the stairwell, his enhanced strength allowing him to leap over debris and fallen bodies with ease. He burst through the exit door, emerging into the cool night air. The stark contrast to the inferno he left behind was almost shocking.
The sounds of distant sirens grew louder, and Henry knew he had to move quickly. He ducked into a nearby alley, blending into the shadows. The effects of the Stealth Elixir still lingered, making him nearly invisible as he slipped through the maze of backstreets.
Behind him, the apartment complex burned brightly, flames licking at the night sky. The structure groaned and creaked, sections of the building collapsing under the weight of the destruction. Henry didn't look back.
Inside the familiar confines of the S.H.I.E.L.D. plane, Coulson and his team gathered around a series of monitors, their faces illuminated by the flickering glow of the live feed. The tension was palpable as they watched one of their agents' body camera footage, capturing every moment of Henry's approach to the decrepit apartment complex in London.
The apartment building was in a state of severe disrepair. Rusted pipes snaked along the exterior walls, and chipped paint clung desperately to the brickwork. The air was filled with the faint stench of mildew and decay, accompanied by the distant hum of the city. Henry, dressed in unassuming civilian clothes, approached with purposeful strides, blending into the environment with practiced ease.
"He's here," Skye said, eyes glued to the screen. She tapped furiously at her keyboard, ensuring all feeds were synchronized. Coulson leaned in, his expression serious. "Everyone, stay sharp. We need to see how this plays out."
Henry slipped through the creaky entrance, the door groaning loudly on its hinges. Inside, the dimly lit hallway was narrow and cluttered with debris. Water stains marred the ceiling, and the faint drip-drip of leaky pipes echoed through the corridors. As Henry navigated the labyrinthine passages, the team watched in tense silence, noting every detail.
Fitz, engrossed in the feed, muttered, "He's moving like he knows the place inside out. It's too smooth. Guess he did his research" Henry continued to move through the building with a calculated grace, occasionally glancing at a small device in his hand. The team noticed his caution, the way he hesitated at certain doors, as if sensing something amiss.
"He's being careful," sky observed, her voice a low murmur. "Almost like he knows we're here." as may affirmed, "he definitely does" only for fitz to ask, "then why did he came? If he knew we set a trap?" coulson sighted not asnweing. As Henry ascended the stairs, he paused briefly, sniffing the air. The team watched as he pulled out a vial from his pocket and drank the contents.
"He's taking another potion," Jemma whispered, leaning closer. "I am guessing It must be enhancing his senses."Ward, standing with arms crossed, frowned. "He's prepared." The footage showed Henry making his way to a particular door, the one that housed the hacker he was after. He hesitated, then muttered something under his breath. The team held their breath as he prepared to enter. "Get ready," Coulson said, his voice tight. "This is it." Henry reached for the door handle but paused, sensing something off. He barely had time to react before the door exploded outward, the blast sending him flying back into the opposite wall. The camera feed shook violently, then stabilized, showing a dazed Henry struggling to his feet.
"Jesus," Fitz exclaimed, gripping the edge of the console. "That was a hell of a trap." Henry, with a growl, swallowed another pill from a container he had hidden in his teeth before he started to glow. "He's taking the Extremis," Skye said, eyes wide with concern. "This is about to get ugly."The team watched in horrified fascination as Henry's body glowed with an intense heat, his eyes igniting with a terrifying fury. The feed showed the agents converging on his location, weapons drawn, but they were no match for the enhanced Henry.
"He's gonna tear through them," Ward said grimly. As predicted, Henry unleashed a torrent of flames, the fire consuming everything in its path. The screams of the agents were audible over the comms, a chilling soundtrack to the chaotic scene. Henry moved with a speed and power that defied human limits, each movement precise and lethal. "This is bad," Jemma murmured, her face pale. "He's completely out of control."
Coulson remained silent, watching the carnage unfold. His jaw clenched as he saw the agents falling one by one, unable to withstand the onslaught. The hallway transformed into a battlefield, walls blackened and crumbling from the intense heat, the floor littered with the charred remains of what had once been a strike team. "He's... unstoppable," Fitz said, voice barely above a whisper. As Henry dispatched the last few agents, Coulson spoke, his tone grim. "Looks like we were right. He did find a way to stabilize the Extremis."
The team exchanged looks of concern and disbelief. Henry's rampage was a stark reminder of the power they were up against. The live feed showed Henry making his way back down the stairs, the building groaning in protest as sections threatened to collapse. "This is why I didn't want you all going up against him," Coulson said, his voice heavy with the weight of their reality. "He's too dangerous, and we need to find another way to deal with him." As the screen flickered and the feed ended, the team sat in stunned silence.
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A/N: So yeah, what do you guys think of POV changes? It's kinda hard for me, but I heard it's good for the story. Anyways, in the next chapter, you guys will see the real reason he is here to begin with.
P.S.: I know he could have teleported, but trust me, if his life was in any danger, he would have (and he will, soon). So yeah, that was why he didn't teleport—plus his big ego. Imagine what others, or to be more specific, S.H.I.E.L.D., would think of him if he couldn't handle just a SWAT team, what kinda villain would he be.