Chapter 156: Nick Fury’s Call for Help

"My God, the energy level is rising rapidly!"

"With energy weapons now being developed around the world, this will definitely provide some excellent data."

Zhao Hailun stared at the constantly increasing figures on the screen and exclaimed in amazement.

"Energy weapons were actually developed a long time ago, weren’t they?"

Orion Cross looked at Zhao Hailun and smiled faintly.

"You mean HYDRA during World War II?"

Zhao Hailun frowned slightly.

"No. S.H.I.E.L.D. But there really isn’t much difference."

Orion Cross shook his head with a smile.

Nick Fury had used the Tesseract to develop energy weapons and had achieved considerable results.

But if one looked closely, they would discover that most of the researchers in the Tesseract research group had ties to HYDRA.

They already had the foundation and experience, so naturally, their development progressed quickly.

"S.H.I.E.L.D.? You mean that National Strategic Homeland... whatever agency?"

A trace of surprise flashed through Zhao Hailun’s eyes.

"What? Have they approached you?"

Orion Cross asked.

"Yes. I don’t know where they learned about what I was researching, but they wanted to cooperate with me."

Zhao Hailun nodded.

"But I refused. Then they settled for the next best thing and said they were willing to purchase the medical devices I developed. I agreed."

The medical devices she was referring to were not the Regeneration Cradle. They were the basic models that Zhao Hailun had originally intended to release to establish her reputation.

These medical devices could not yet be mass-produced either, but they were enough to treat and repair most external injuries, making them particularly suitable for the work of agents.

"Are you short on money?"

Orion Cross asked.

"No. I only agreed because I couldn’t be bothered to waste time dealing with them."

Zhao Hailun shook her head.

"I’ve already built two medical devices, but unless they have technology I need in exchange, I wasn’t planning to trade with them..."

"Of course, now that I’ve decided to join you, you’ll be the one making that decision in the future."

"Absolutely no problem."

Orion Cross nodded and immediately made his decision.

He would not trade the medical devices with S.H.I.E.L.D.

For one thing, there was nothing S.H.I.E.L.D. possessed that he wanted.

For another, most of S.H.I.E.L.D. was essentially infiltrated by HYDRA agents.

Giving an enemy a device capable of reliably restoring injuries would simply be creating trouble for himself in the future.

"How did the test go?"

Skye walked out of the metal testing room and looked toward Zhao Hailun.

"Very powerful."

Zhao Hailun swiped across the virtual screen beside her, examining the simulated data.

"At the lowest level, the energy output is equivalent to a boxer’s full-power punch. At the highest level, the energy is powerful enough to destroy a building."

"Is that the power of a single vibration, or..."

Orion Cross frowned slightly after hearing the report.

"Per second."

Zhao Hailun answered.

"The vibration frequency toward the end was too high to calculate the power of an individual vibration, so I used one second as the unit of measurement."

"I’m very satisfied."

Skye hurriedly spoke up.

Going from an ordinary office hacker to a superhuman who surpassed the limits of humanity was already enough to make her incredibly happy.

"You still need to practice and familiarize yourself with your abilities. You should also develop some special applications."

Orion Cross stroked his chin thoughtfully before speaking to Skye.

"For example, you could surround yourself with a layer of stable seismic waves as a protective barrier."

"A protective barrier?"

Skye followed Orion Cross’s instructions and tried it.

An airburst rang out, and the attempt immediately failed.

She could control her own power, but that did not mean she could manipulate her ability freely.

It was like an ordinary person being able to control the force of their fingers, but being unable to write beautiful calligraphy without practice.

"You can learn combat techniques from Raven. If she’s busy, you can find Psylocke or Akali."

"But when it comes to developing your elemental control and seismic abilities, you’ll have to figure that out yourself."

Orion Cross looked at Skye seriously.

Although he could simulate any Ascendant form and could therefore use Skye’s abilities as well, he had no experience with them either. He would have to start from scratch.

Besides, Orion Cross possessed far more abilities than these, so there was no need for him to rush into developing them.

"I understand."

Skye nodded.

"A major disturbance should happen soon. If you don’t want to leave New York and evacuate when the time comes, then work hard."

Orion Cross patted Skye on the shoulder.

"A major disturbance?"

Zhao Hailun looked at Orion Cross in confusion.

"What kind of disturbance? An alien invasion?"

"Exactly."

Orion Cross knew Zhao Hailun had only said it jokingly, but this time, she had actually guessed correctly.

"Huh?"

Zhao Hailun looked surprised and brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead.

"You’re serious?"

"Of course. And when you get right down to it, the whole thing can be blamed on that S.H.I.E.L.D. you just mentioned."

The moment Orion Cross finished speaking, his phone suddenly rang.

"Well, speak of the devil."

Orion Cross took out his phone and saw that Nick Fury was calling.

His old friend had not contacted him for some time. He had probably been busy recruiting the other Avengers candidates.

Beep.

Orion Cross answered the call.

"Hello?"

Nick Fury had not even spoken when a violent explosion erupted from the other end.

"Where are you? A battlefield in the Middle East? Or Chinatown during Chinese New Year?"

Orion Cross rubbed his ear and asked.

"This is bad. I need your help!"

Nick Fury’s slightly breathless voice came through the phone.

"What happened?"

Orion Cross raised an eyebrow.

Could Loki have finally decided to make his move?

After Orion Cross asked, Nick Fury did not answer immediately.

Several gunshots rang out from the other end, followed by a loud curse.

Clearly, Nick Fury was still in the middle of a battle. The only question was who the enemy was.

"It’s an invasion! An extraterrestrial civilization has launched an invasion! This is a crisis for the entire Earth!"

After a while, Nick Fury finally found an opening and answered Orion Cross.

"What?"

Orion Cross’s brows furrowed.

If Loki had made his move, Nick Fury should not have reacted like this.

Could Loki really have remained hidden until now, completely abandoning his usual desire to show off, and simply opened a portal over New York?

But there were still some questions.

If the Chitauri army had invaded New York while Orion Cross was away, Nick Fury should not have been the first person to contact him.

Orion Cross was about to ask Nick Fury for more details when another burst of intense fighting erupted from the other end.

He turned toward Skye.

"Call Raven and ask if anything has happened in New York."