It stretched across miles of private land, its estate so large that one could miss lunch simply by walking to the other side unless you drove.
Bigger than most military bases and far older than any modern presidency, this was the seat of the Malick family one of HYDRA's oldest and most secretive bloodlines.
A private banquet was underway.
On one side sat Gideon Malick, the family's current patriarch, flanked by high-ranking members of HYDRA's Inner Circle Baron Zemo, Madame Viper, and Baron Strucker. All of them with long shadows and longer vendettas.
On the other side stood a man cloaked in smoke, robed in black, eyes like pits Kaecilius, master of the dark arts, once a student of Kamar-Taj, now a servant of Dormammu.
His entourage of robed warlocks stood in solemn silence as Kaecilius cut into a steak with quiet fury.
"If you brought me here just for dinner, I'd rather be burning cities," he said flatly. "We should be talking about how to kill Superman."
He bit into the steak like he was devouring Nolan's flesh.
Gideon gave a charming smile. "Come now, Master Kaecilius. We're allies now, aren't we? Besides, I thought you might enjoy some of the magical relics I've acquired over the years. Perhaps you could help identify their true power?"
He gestured toward a small table of artifacts. Kaecilius arched a brow.
He'd been searching for allies ever since Nolan humiliated him in their last confrontation. Through his scouts, he'd learned about HYDRA and after peering through his arcane sight, Kaecilius discovered its truth.
HYDRA's Inner Circle was composed of more than just warmongers.
It had supernaturals. Monsters. Eldritch hybrids. One made of spores. Another pulsing with mystical radiation. A third seemed like a vessel for a cosmic demon, though even Kaecilius couldn't identify which.
He approached the table of items, and with a flick of his hand, three of the five artifacts flew back into the cabinet.
But one item caught his attention—a weathered revolver inscribed with runes and angelic script.
"That's interesting."
Gideon nodded. "We call it the Holy Gun. Made by a gunslinger warlock in the Old West. Said to kill anything even demons."
Kaecilius examined it. "It holds celestial energy, yes... but it won't scratch Superman."
He set the gun down. "But this..."
He raised the final object: a cube of reinforced crystal containing a jet-black stone. It thrummed with spatial resonance.
"This," Kaecilius whispered, "is no mere artifact. It's a key."
"You see it too?" Gideon's eyes sparkled. "It's been in our family for over a thousand years. Our mission. Our burden. Our... trump card."
"Where does it lead?"
"You already know, don't you?"
"I'm a sorcerer," Kaecilius said coldly. "Opening doors is what I do."
And this one? He could feel it.
A portal to another world.
He could open it with ease.
Gideon exhaled, relief washing over him. For generations, their family had protected the stone without ever understanding its purpose. Now, at last, the gate could open.
"Let me tell you a story," Gideon said, as the room grew still.
Long ago, when the Kree Empire was locked in eternal war with the Skrulls, they came to Earth not to conquer, but to create.
Using advanced genetic engineering, they modified primitive humans into living weapons superhumans they called the Inhumans.
And among them, the first was a being called Hive.
He wasn't the strongest or most destructive.
But he had one power no other possessed the ability to control all Inhumans. His very presence compelled obedience. Free will be shattered in his presence. He was born to lead. To dominate.
The Kree planned to use him as a commander, leading legions of Inhumans into galactic battle.
But then, mysteriously, they abandoned the project. Overnight, the Kree vanished, leaving Hive and his brethren stranded on Earth.
He built temples. Cities. Cults. His word was law, his image worshiped. His loyalists are buried in tombs etched in gold. No one could challenge him—not even fellow Inhumans.
Until, one day... a rebellion.
A hidden faction of free Inhumans unearthed a black monolith—a stone capable of banishing Hive to another world.
Offered the monolith as tribute.
And when Hive accepted, he vanished exiled to a lifeless planet in the far reaches of the galaxy. His control was broken, the Inhumans faded into myth, and humanity began its ascent.
The stone Kaecilius now held... was that very monolith's fragment.
A one-way key to bring Hive back.
"I want him unleashed," Gideon said, eyes blazing. "Superman, Stark, all of them... they're building a new order. It's time the old gods returned."
Kaecilius grinned. "Then let's welcome our king."
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