Chapter 232: You’re More Like the God of Thunder Than I Am

"Sitwell, have you found them yet?"

Washington, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Triskelion.

Alexander Pierce, former director of S.H.I.E.L.D., now a minister of the World Security Council and leader of Hydra's S.H.I.E.L.D. branch, stared at the screen in front of him and asked the bald-headed agent on the other end.

Years ago, he had valued Nick Fury’s talents, believing Fury could elevate S.H.I.E.L.D. to greater heights while also allowing Hydra to flourish within its shadow.

That was why he had passed the directorship to Fury.

And indeed, time had proven his decision wise.

Initially, S.H.I.E.L.D. was merely an agency under the U.S. government, comparable in stature to the CIA or FBI.

But under Fury’s leadership, it had grown into the world’s foremost security organization. With few exceptions, most nations offered it carte blanche, enabling S.H.I.E.L.D. to monitor nearly the entire globe.

And if S.H.I.E.L.D. watched over the world, that meant Hydra did as well.

All the technology, intelligence, and resources S.H.I.E.L.D. acquired were accessible to Hydra, yet Hydra’s advancements remained out of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s reach.

Thus, Hydra's strength had always surpassed S.H.I.E.L.D.’s.

Given time, Pierce believed he could fully transform S.H.I.E.L.D. into Hydra, using Fury’s ambitions to perfectly execute Project Insight.

In this way, Hydra could quietly seize control of the world.

Unfortunately, recent complications had arisen. Fury had started to suspect him and even initiated an investigation into S.H.I.E.L.D., forcing Pierce to accelerate his plans.

Fortunately, many high-ranking government officials were Hydra agents, preventing Fury from exposing his crimes through official channels, reducing their conflict to a covert struggle.

Despite being outmatched on many fronts, Fury had still managed to suppress their moves—a proof of his prowess as the greatest agent in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s history.

But Pierce’s preparations ran deeper, especially in terms of planted spies.

Finally, today, Fury was no more, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was a shadow of its former self, with only a handful of scattered remnants posing no real threat.

Yet there remained one concern: the intelligence that had led Fury to suspect him.

The famed Professor X and the X-Men, who had saved the world multiple times—such opponents were a massive threat to Hydra and could not be allowed to exist.

Thus, Pierce had refrained from wiping out every last agent, instead baiting Coulson and his team to lead them to the school, intending to eliminate them all in one sweep.

“No, sir. We’ve combed through the area thoroughly but found no trace of them,” Sitwell reported.

“So, those mutants have some tricks up their sleeves,” Pierce sneered.
“Launch a saturation strike. Obliterate the entire area. Let’s see if they can keep hiding.”

Three helicarriers were nearing final calibration. Soon, they would take to the skies, and Hydra would no longer need to conceal itself. Blasting the region to pieces could serve as a prelude to their global domination.

Based on intelligence, Pierce surmised that Professor X’s character would not allow them to remain silent. Even if the mutants had powers to protect themselves from the attack, they would not risk the safety of nearby civilians.

Enemies like this were the easiest to manipulate.

Pierce firmly believed Professor X was still the mutants’ leader, while the so-called “George” in their reports was merely a decoy.

“And what about Garrett and the others?”

Sitwell hesitated. A saturation strike would likely kill Garrett and Grant Ward too.

Pierce raised an eyebrow. “They will be honored to sacrifice their lives for Hydra’s greatness. We will remember their contributions.”

“Hail Hydra!”

Sitwell immediately caught Pierce’s drift and shouted the rallying cry.

“Sitwell, the weather outside is strange!”

At that moment, a new figure appeared on the screen—an imposing, muscular man. Upon seeing Pierce, he saluted with the Hydra hand gesture.

“Crossbones, what do you mean by ‘strange weather’?”

Sitwell frowned. Weather shouldn’t affect them; their forces were well-trained and could complete their mission under any conditions, be it storms or snow.

Crossbones pressed a button, and the control center’s custom roof slid open, revealing a sky heavy with dark clouds and dancing with lightning.

“This doesn’t look natural. Normal storms don’t have this much lightning.”

In an ordinary thunderstorm, a flash of lightning is followed by thunder and then heavy rain.

But now, there was no thunder, no rain—just countless bolts of lightning flashing and gathering in the clouds, creating a terrifying spectacle.

“Could it be the mutants’ doing?”

Sitwell, recalling a mutant from the X-Men files who could control weather and storms—Storm—began to speculate.

But according to the records, her abilities didn’t include manipulating so much lightning. Could this be some upgraded version of her powers?

“Attack! Attack now!”

Panicking, Sitwell gave the order without hesitation.

Armed helicopters adjusted their energy cannons, and tanks below repositioned their barrels, ready to raze the entire area systematically.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The deafening roar of thunder echoed—not from the helicopters or tanks, but from the lightning that struck first.

Under George’s control, the bolts of lightning targeted the most visible helicopters and tanks, including the command vehicle where Sitwell and Crossbones were stationed.

“It feels like the end of the world!”

Coulson and his team watched in astonishment as George wielded his wand, summoning countless bolts of lightning to rain down, decimating aircraft and tanks.

It was as if a god was punishing mortals with divine thunder.

If George were placed on a battlefield, what army in the world could withstand such devastating power?

“George, I think you’re more of a God of Thunder than I am,” Thor remarked, gazing at the lightning-filled sky in awe.

The last time George displayed his powers in Asgard, the lightning was far less intense.

This time, Thor felt even Mjölnir at full strength couldn’t compare.

“You shouldn’t be called the God of Thunder. You’re more like the God of Hammers,” Logan quipped, patting Thor on the shoulder.

The two, both heavy drinkers and habitual braggarts, shared a particularly close bond.