Powerful shockwaves burst from Skye's body, lashing out at the swarm of bee-like insects coming her way.
Why was it always her?
Skye couldn't help but ask herself that question. When the Kree invaded, she had been injured. And now, yet again, she'd run into some self-proclaimed "god." Was she cursed by the actual god of doom?
As that ridiculous thought flitted through her mind, the swarm of bugs had already reached her—completely unfazed by the shockwaves she unleashed.
That was the only thing Skye could think.
A blast of azure light flashed before her eyes, and the incoming insects were vaporized instantly.
A shadow loomed before her—black armor, gleaming faintly under the lights. Skye's heart pounded as relief washed over her.
It was him—the one they called the Black Devil.
Just like before, when she had faced the Kree, he had appeared in the nick of time.
"So, should I call you a ridiculous god… or a beehive?" Gene's voice came coldly through his helmet, his shaped eyepiece locked onto the creature not far away.
"Who are you?" Hive asked, narrowing his eyes, his tone filled with suppressed hostility.
"The one who's going to kill you."
Gene's thrusters fired with a roar. In a blink, he was in front of Hive. His palm, glowing with azure energy, struck forward without hesitation.
Each strike of the energy beam exploded against Hive's form, leaving behind scorched, blackened wounds. Segments of bugs twitched, breaking away from Hive's body under the intense energy assault and fell lifelessly to the ground.
"RAAHHHH!" Hive roared in pain.
But he didn't waste time. His entire body disintegrated into a swirling cloud of insects and scattered through every passageway of the hall.
Gene's hands moved quickly into a sealing gesture. A dark rift opened before him, a rift into nothingness, and from it erupted pale, ghostly hellfire.
The bugs that had detached from Hive shrieked in agony as the soul-burning fire devoured them, turning them into wisps of black smoke that dissolved into the air.
"I'll remember you!" Hive's voice echoed in Gene's ears.
"Remember me?" Gene's V-shaped eyepiece pulsed faintly. "Good. Makes it easier next time."
The remaining Inhumans, seeing their so-called god defeated so easily, let out enraged howls and charged at Gene like rabid beasts.
"Sir, their minds are under psychic control," the Red Queen's voice rang clearly through Gene's neural network.
His eyes glowed crimson.
This Hive… is more dangerous than expected.
A surge of energy burst from his body.
The Inhumans stopped mid-stride, clutched their heads, and collapsed one by one, unconscious.
Skye, thanks to her concussive talent, managed to stay standing—but only just. She stumbled slightly, barely resisting the pressure of Gene's power.
"Mr. Black Devil! Mr. Black Devil!"
Skye stepped forward hurriedly, blocking Gene's path just as he was about to leave.
Gene paused, tilting his head to look at her.
Skye—birth name Daisy Johnson—daughter of two Inhumans, was a prominent figure in Marvel's comics. She had once been part of S.H.I.E.L.D. and even joined the Avengers.
Her power? The ability to create powerful oscillating shockwaves, similar to seismic tremors. She could cause earthquakes, or focus the destructive energy on precise points.
If she ever mastered that power completely… she'd be terrifying.
"I have something important to tell you." Daisy said, nervously staring into the scarlet glow of Gene's eyepiece.
She wanted to tell him everything she knew about the Inhumans.
After all, his power and methods seemed far more dependable than any government agency or secret organization she'd seen.
Gene didn't say a word. Instead, a golden portal swirled into existence behind him.
"If it's important, say it inside." His voice echoed as he stepped through the portal and vanished.
Daisy hesitated. Then gritted her teeth and followed him.
It's just a glowing portal. Golden. Shiny. Mysterious. Not scary… right?
Minutes later, the S.W.O.R.D. team stormed into the chamber, detaining the remaining Inhumans.
Each of them had been infected by Hive's bugs. They had to be contained and quarantined to prevent further spread.
As for Daisy, the sensation of teleportation left her dizzy. One moment, she was in the hall of a secret Inhuman gathering. The next, she stood inside what looked like a sleek, high-tech office.
"Mr. Black Devil, do you know that these Inhumans are planning something big? Their end goal is to rule the Earth," Daisy said breathlessly.
"Even if the 'god' they believed in turned out to be nothing in front of you—"
She suddenly froze mid-sentence.
Her jaw slowly dropped. Her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over her mouth.
Before her, the black armor of the Black Devil shimmered. The biological plating shifted and receded, like living skin peeling away.
Underneath was not a faceless enforcer of darkness…
A genius known across America—no, the world. A recognized partner of the U.S. Department of Defense. The man who had acquired Oscorp. The mind behind countless breakthroughs.
He was the Black Devil.
Daisy stood stunned for a second. Then frantically covered her eyes.
"Maybe I was wrong! I didn't see anything! Mr. Black Devil, please don't kill me!" she shouted in panic.
Gene looked at her, amused.
"How do you know I'd kill you just for seeing my face?" he asked, voice laced with teasing curiosity.
Daisy's voice trembled. "The movies say… you can't look behind someone's mask… or you're doomed. It's always like that in spy thrillers!"
She looked like she was about to cry.
This girl… might be more interesting than he thought.
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