Chapter 32 Nick Fury It’s Just an Anomaly Right

Van Fleet-Level Firepower!

32: Nick Fury: It’s Just an Anomaly, Right?

Van Fleet-Level Firepower!

Nick Fury stared grimly at SCP-096, “The Shy Guy,” after watching it completely destroy S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Las Vegas facility.

On the surveillance footage, the entity’s face was covered by a mass of pixelation.

But that did nothing to hide what it was doing.

SCP-096 moved in an almost perfectly straight line.

Reinforced concrete structures, massive alloy security doors, and every other obstacle inside the base were smashed apart as easily as tofu.

After tearing its way through the outer perimeter, SCP-096 suddenly accelerated and began sprinting toward some distant location at an unbelievable speed.

“Where is it going?” Nick Fury turned toward the intelligence analyst beside him.

The blonde analyst in glasses pushed them up the bridge of her nose while rapidly typing on her keyboard.

“Director, based on its current trajectory…” “It appears to be heading toward the location of Witness Number Two.” Then her expression suddenly changed.

“Sir!” “Its current speed is 328 kilometers per hour!” “That’s comparable to a supercar.” “At this speed, it’ll reach Witness Number Two in approximately three hours and twenty-five minutes!” Fury immediately issued orders.

“Has Coulson coordinated with the military?” “We need to stop this SCP-096 immediately!” “It seems to move in a straight line.” “Put Witness Number Two aboard a helicopter and continuously relocate him.” “Guide SCP-096 away from populated areas and into the wilderness.” “Yes, sir.” “The order has already been transmitted to Agent Coulson and Protection Team Two.” A few moments later, the analyst spoke again.

“Director, SCP-096 is altering its course.” “We’ve successfully drawn it toward an uninhabited area.” Fury immediately switched communications to Coulson.

“Coulson, what’s your situation?” “Director, we’ve contacted the military.” “The military is deploying gunships along with six A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.” “We’ll intercept SCP-096 at a designated point outside Las Vegas!” “We’ll stop it.” Fury nodded firmly.

“Good.” “Coulson, hit it with Van Fleet-level ammunition expenditure.” “With that kind of firepower density, there’s no way SCP-096 survives!” “S.H.I.E.L.D.

is definitely going to fail this time.” At the Foundation’s D-Class New York Base, Ethan rested his chin on both hands and calmly watched the screen.

He looked like a spectator who already knew exactly how the story would end.

Behind him, 2B quietly approached and placed a freshly prepared latte beside him.

“Commander.” “If S.H.I.E.L.D.’s efforts are futile, why don’t you stop them?” “Why not deploy the Mobile Task Force immediately and contain SCP-096?” Ethan sighed.

“Because humans have never been creatures particularly good at learning from history.” “If they don’t suffer setbacks themselves, they’ll never understand how inexperienced they really are.” The live feed suddenly switched.

The scene now showed an empty stretch of desert outside Las Vegas.

Military radio traffic could be heard in the background.

A powerful strike formation appeared overhead.

AC-130 gunships and six A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft entered the combat zone.

“Warthog Strike Formation reporting.” “We’ve reached the target area.” “Target acquired.” “Permission to engage?” “Permission granted.” “Fire at will until the target is destroyed.” “Warthog copies.” “Formation entering attack position.” “All units, weapons free.” “Commence attack!” The instant the order was given— WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

WHOOSH!

Twelve high-explosive air-to-ground missiles launched from the aircraft’s wing pylons.

They streaked toward the rapidly moving humanoid figure below.

All twelve missiles struck almost simultaneously.

BOOM!

A massive explosion swallowed SCP-096.

Smoke and fire completely obscured the target.

One of the pilots spoke uncertainly over the radio.

“Target destroyed?” The next second— A figure emerged from the smoke.

SCP-096.

It didn’t even acknowledge the aircraft attacking it from above.

It simply continued running.

Its speed remained completely unchanged.

328 km/h.

“Jesus Christ!” “What the hell is that thing?!” “Maintain fire!” “Repeat, maintain continuous fire!” The gunships opened up.

Their 105mm cannons, 35mm autocannons, and 7.62mm rotary guns poured fire onto SCP-096.

The A-10s continued launching air-to-ground missiles.

Once their missiles were exhausted, they descended and began dropping precision-guided 1,000-pound bombs.

Explosion after explosion tore through the desert.

The ground was blasted into something resembling the surface of the Moon.

And yet— SCP-096 never slowed down.

Not even slightly.

It continued advancing at a steady 328 kilometers per hour.

Then another transmission came through.

“Paladin self-propelled artillery and M270 rocket artillery are in position!” “We’re ready to begin saturation bombardment!” “Fire!” “Fire!” “We have to stop that target!” “Target unit confirmed!” “Three full ammunition loads!” “FIRE!” The U.S.

military’s ground artillery forces joined the attack.

Thunderous cannon fire shook the desert.

Smoke from the bombardment rose so high that people in towns dozens of kilometers away could clearly see it.

Civilians who had no idea what was happening might have assumed the U.S.

military had started fighting aliens again.

The bombardment was so intense that sections of the desert were nearly melted.

Sand fused into glass.

Parts of the impact zone glowed with heat.

Yet SCP-096 continued running.

328 km/h.

Unwavering.

Unstoppable.

By this point, neither Nick Fury nor Coulson possessed anything resembling their earlier confidence.

Instead, confusion and unease filled their expressions.

Such overwhelming firepower…

And SCP-096 hadn’t even been delayed.

Was the only remaining option a tactical nuclear weapon?

Ten minutes later— A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber passed high above SCP-096.

Then— A white light appeared.

Brilliant as the sun.

A mushroom cloud slowly rose over the desert.

Every surveillance feed went dead as the nuclear detonation’s electromagnetic pulse disrupted communications.

For a time, there was nothing but static.

Then the images returned.

Nick Fury stared at the screen.

Coulson stared as well.

And there— Still moving at exactly 328 km/h— Was SCP-096.

Silence filled the command centers.

Everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D.

who saw the footage began questioning everything they thought they understood about the world.

The HYDRA operatives secretly watching the same intelligence were equally shaken.

Only one question remained in their minds.

What kind of monster were they fighting?