Marvel: Umbrella Corporation

Not far from the battlefield, the leader of Alpha Squad observed the ongoing fight through a pair of binoculars, his expression cold and calculating.

His squad members were silent, meticulously checking their weapons and equipment, waiting for his command.

From the looks of it, it seemed likely that S.H.I.E.L.D. was about to fail once again.

"Everyone, prepare for action. Stand by for the signal!"

"Yes, sir!"

With the order given, an electromagnetic sniper rifle was set up by one of the operatives. The others performed their final equipment checks.

As expected, moments later, the mutated zombie broke into the ranks of the mutants, causing massive casualties.

A green-haired girl with the ability to control metal assessed the dire situation and promptly used her powers to escape, leaving chaos behind.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s forces weren't so lucky. By the end of the battle, they suffered at least dozens of casualties.

Meanwhile, under the mutated zombie's command, the surrounding zombies began closing in on the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives.

Then, a woman stepped forward. At her appearance, the mutated zombie ceased its slaughter.

To everyone's astonishment, the mutated zombie ordered its minions to part, creating a path for the surviving S.H.I.E.L.D. members to retreat.

Witnessing this, the Alpha Squad leader decided it was time to report the matter to his superior. But for now, their mission took priority.

"Demolition team, drive away the zombies!"

"Yes, sir!"

A heavily armored operative stepped forward, carrying a launcher.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Shells exploded among the zombies, releasing thick green smoke. As soon as the zombies inhaled the fumes, they began fleeing.

Seeing this, the Alpha Squad leader signaled to his team.

"Move in! Snipers and heavy gunners, provide cover!"

The squad pushed into the horde. The zombies, distracted by the smoke, ignored them entirely.

Thanks to this diversion, the Alpha Squad reached the mutated zombie with little resistance.

*BANG!*

A piercing bullet struck the mutated zombie's forehead, but the projectile simply flattened and fell to the ground, rendered ineffective by its thick skull.

Despite advancements in electromagnetic rifle technology that increased bullet speed, the ammunition's material was clearly insufficient.

"Snipers, switch to adamantium rounds!"

Adamantium and vibranium cost tens of thousands per gram, with vibranium being even pricier. Using such specialized ammunition required direct authorization from the squad leader.

"Understood!"

A moment later, the mutated zombie was knocked to the ground—not dead, but toppled by the immense force of the bullet. It quickly got back up, roaring in fury.

*ROAR!*

The mutated zombie unleashed a barrage of laser attacks, but Alpha Squad was prepared. They raised black shields coated with a lightweight, high-temperature-resistant material—the same used on rocket exteriors—to withstand the lasers.

Next, the squad deployed a specially designed tranquilizer, shoving it directly into the mutated zombie's mouth.

Given the zombie's near-impenetrable defenses and laser attacks, the only viable method of administering the tranquilizer was orally.

As the tranquilizer took effect, the mutated zombie thrashed violently, increasing its laser attacks before gradually weakening and collapsing onto the ground, motionless.

The Alpha Squad leader gave the signal to retrieve the shields and secure the zombie.

Though the mutated zombie was captured, the zombie crisis was far from over. The real threat lay in the hundreds of thousands of zombies still roaming the world.

However, with their leader gone, the zombie horde reverted to disorganized chaos, acting purely on instinct. No longer a coordinated threat, they were gradually brought under control by the military, preventing further spread.

For now, the zombie crisis seemed to be easing.

........

The Next Day, Noon. New York, Umbrella Corporation's Underground Base~

Adam entered the lab, greeted by the sight of the Alpha Squad and the subdued mutated zombie.

"Well done. From now on, you're the captain of the U.S.S."

He patted the man on the shoulder as he spoke.

"Thank you, sir!"

The newly appointed captain trembled with excitement before hesitating, then asked, "Sir, may I use my privileges to revive my family?"

As a U.S.S. captain, he now had access to a portion of the corporation's resources—a promise Adam had made to him long ago.

Adam looked at the hardened yet anxious man before him and smiled.

"Of course."

"Thank you, sir! I, Frank Castle, will be the sharpest spear and strongest shield of Umbrella Corporation!"

As Frank left, Adam's thoughts drifted back to the past.

Five years ago, while he and Luna were relaxing in Central Park, they had stumbled upon Erika assassinating a rival gang leader on behalf of Kingpin.

Frank's family had been in the park that day, inadvertently witnessing the crime. They became collateral damage, slaughtered by Kingpin's men.

Adam had saved Erika and brought back an injured Frank along with his family's bodies.

In the original Marvel timeline, Frank would have recovered and become the Punisher, a vigilante terrorizing the criminal underworld.

But at the time, Adam was forming the U.S.S. and offered Frank the position of Alpha Squad leader, promising to help him resurrect his family if he became captain.

This, incidentally, was why Erika later tried to shirk her responsibilities as U.S.S. captain.

Shaking off the memories, Adam turned his attention to the mutated zombie strapped to the lab table.

Standing 2.78 meters tall, with a hulking frame and numerous bone spikes protruding from its body, the zombie had evolved significantly since its first appearance on satellite footage.

"Red Queen, assign a team to research this mutated zombie."

With too much on his plate, Adam had no time to micromanage.

"Understood, Master."

After observing the zombie a bit longer, Adam left once the research team arrived.

Instead of returning to his office, he visited other labs, checking the progress on T-virus, G-virus, and C-virus research, as well as various X-gene experiments.

Finally, he descended to the lowest level.

Here, a massive metal door stood guard, flanked by six armed security personnel.

This was the most secure area of the base.

When Adam approached, the guards didn't step aside until the Red Queen verified his identity.

In this world, with shapeshifters like Mystique, Adam had mandated Red Queen verification for anyone entering the base.

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