A thunderous explosion erupted, blasting away the lizardmen near the oil barrels. The shockwave threw Captain America into a pile of wooden crates.
Before he could get up, a lizardman lunged at him, claws outstretched—only to be crushed against the ground.
The crushing force came from Tony, who had landed with a decisive stomp.
"Cap, where did these brainless creatures come from? I imagine even their mother wouldn't want to see them like this," Tony quipped.
Hearing the sarcasm, Captain America stood up. Hawkeye deftly slid across the ground, picked up the shield, and tossed it back to him.
"They were sent by Hydra," Captain America said firmly. "They're trying to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to them!"
"Just as I suspected," Tony replied, spinning into the air and releasing a flurry of small explosives.
Hawkeye and Black Widow moved nimbly, evading the lizardmen's attacks while taking them down with precision.
Bruce Banner scratched his head awkwardly at first, but with the horde of lizardmen swarming in, he let out a thunderous roar. In a flash, he transformed into the Hulk, tearing through the enemy like a whirlwind.
The Avengers had assembled!
Captain America flipped through the air, stomping on a lizardman's head, then charged into the fray with renewed vigor.
With the team now united, the battle quickly shifted in their favor. The Hulk alone was enough to devastate the lizardmen, scattering them as if clearing debris.
Victory seemed imminent. Captain America kicked another lizardman aside when he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as though someone was watching him. Turning around, he only saw the rampaging Hulk, but the uneasy feeling intensified.
"Cap, watch out!" Black Widow's shout cut through the chaos.
Everyone's attention turned to a man who had appeared in front of Captain America. He wore a black military uniform, his wavy hair falling to his shoulders, and a gas mask obscuring his face.
In his right hand, he held a firearm, while his left was a sleek, metallic arm with a mercury-like sheen.
Gunfire erupted. Captain America raised his shield to block the bullets, but the man followed with a powerful punch, sending him flying backward with a massive impact.
"Who's this surprise Hydra recruit?" Tony's voice came through the comms.
Captain America got back to his feet, staring at the man ahead. The figure stood motionless for a moment, then slowly raised his left hand. The mechanical arm looked unnervingly organic, as if it had grown naturally from his body.
The sight stirred a vague familiarity in Captain America, though he couldn't place where he'd seen him before.
The man pulled out two grenades and hurled them at Captain America. Reacting quickly, he dove and shielded himself from the blast. When he looked up, the man was already in front of him.
Captain America threw a punch with all his strength, only to feel as if he had struck a mountain. His fist was caught effortlessly.
The man's mechanical arm gripped his hand tightly, the gas mask hiding any hint of emotion.
"Cap, watch out!" Hawkeye shouted, firing an arrow at the man.
The black arrow streaked through the air like a flash of light. As the man raised his hand to deflect it, Captain America seized the moment to break free and retreat.
But Hawkeye could only manage that one shot—he and the others were still preoccupied with the lizardmen.
"Who are you?" Captain America demanded.
The only response he received was a fist.
"Boom!" The man's heavy punch narrowly missed as Captain America dodged and retaliated by slamming his shield into the mechanical arm.
The shield, forged from vibranium and renowned as one of the strongest materials in the world, should have easily dealt significant damage. Yet when it struck the mechanical arm, it vibrated violently.
The shield had no effect whatsoever!
...