Hydra, determined to eliminate Nick Fury, had deployed formidable forces, including the elite "Assault Strike Team" equipped with Chitauri technology, to launch a surprise attack on Rhodes Island Industries' warehouse district.
Though most of Hydra's troops had already been wiped out by the electromagnetic railgun, Hawkeye, and the relentless assault of "Troy" drones, the real threats—War Machine and the Assault Strike Team—were still standing.
To hold the entrance to the underground safe house, Hawkeye engaged in brutal close-quarters combat against War Machine and the elite Hydra troops.
"Ryūjin no ken wo kurae!"
With a dramatic battle cry from a certain well-known shooter game, Barton unsheathed the katana strapped to his back.
His combat suit's power system surged energy into the blade, making it indestructible.
This phrase, beyond just sounding cool, was actually the command to activate his combat suit's melee mode.
In this mode, Barton temporarily set aside his bow and switched to using his katana in combination with other energy-based blades embedded in his gear for close combat.
As a Level 7 S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Barton was already a formidable hand-to-hand combatant.
Now, with the cutting-edge technology of Rhodes Island Industries augmenting him—donning a suit that could go toe-to-toe with Iron Man in melee combat.
He fought with effortless precision even against the onslaught of the elite Hydra troops.
As long as he avoided making any fatal mistakes and didn't exhaust himself, this samurai-like Hawkeye could hold his ground against most of the enemy forces.
However, relying solely on Barton for the entire defense was not a wise strategy.
Thankfully, the reinforcements that Kagura had called for were about to arrive.
"Target is 30 kilometers away. Support units are entering the battlefield"
Cortana's voice rang in Barton's earpiece. "Mr. Barton, incoming fire support. Please try to distance yourself from the enemy."
"Copy that! But that's easier said than done!"
Barton parried a downward strike from a Chitauri blade, spun around to deliver a powerful kick that sent an enemy soldier flying, then sidestepped to evade a repulsor blast from War Machine. Pivoting mid-air, he sliced another attacker cleanly in half before landing gracefully.
The enemy barely gave him a moment to breathe.
Seizing the split-second opening, Barton diverted his suit's energy into his mobility enhancers and made a powerful leap backward.
Naturally, War Machine and the Assault Strike Team pursued relentlessly.
If they could take down this troublesome "Hawkeye," then Nick Fury would be cornered with no escape.
But Kagura had no intention of letting Hydra have their way so easily.
While she wasn't in the habit of doing charity work, she saw this as an opportunity to do a good deed and earn some favor with Fury.
From a purely pragmatic standpoint, it was also a chance to completely eradicate these troublemaking Hydra forces in one fell swoop.
"Mr. Barton, sometimes it's okay to rely on your teammates!" A familiar voice crackled through the earpiece—Tony Stark.
"It's an honor to fight alongside you, Legolas."
"Ha! You actually remembered that?"
Barton chuckled, surprised that Stark had recalled their exchange from the Battle of New York. "I always thought you were the kind of guy who forgets what he had for breakfast."
"I did forget what I had for breakfast. But some things stick with you, Agent Barton. And according to Hitomi, you need backup."
A streak of red and gold blazed across the sky as the Mark 42 "Prodigal Son" suit roared in, hovering above Barton.
With a swift motion, it raised both hands and blasted an approaching Hydra soldier away with its repulsors.
"If you ask me, just you alone might not be enough."
Barton spun his blade in a flourish, then lowered his stance, ready to receive the next wave of attackers. "So, are you here to fight alongside me?"
"Actually, I'm here to save you."
Stark fired a repulsor blast over his shoulder, sending a Chitauri-tech-enhanced soldier flying. "When reinforcements arrive, they should come in numbers, right?"
"Oh?" Barton smirked. "Is Natasha here too? Or…?"
"No, it's just me. But also… not just me."
Stark grinned. "J.A.R.V.I.S., let's start the party."
In the distance, lights ignited the night sky.
First, one. Then two. Then dozens of thrusters flared to life, streaking across the heavens. It was as if an entire battalion of armored soldiers had taken flight.
If Obadiah Stane were alive to see this, he would undoubtedly have mixed feelings.
"That's quite the entrance, Stark!"
Barton ducked under an enemy's energy blade, flipped away from War Machine's barrage, then sliced through another soldier's armor, finishing him with a clean stab.
"Iron Legion, let the festivities begin!"
Stark spread his arms wide, descending like a god of war. "J.A.R.V.I.S., target all hostiles equipped with Chitauri tech and eliminate them. As for Rhodey—leave him to me!"
Locking his heads-up display onto War Machine, Stark narrowed his eyes. "Old friend, I don't know who did this to you, but I swear I'll bring you back."
War Machine tilted his head slightly, as if acknowledging the challenge.
At the same time, Rhodey activated his comms. "Rumlow, Iron Man's here. Deploy all remaining Strike Team units—and bring in the war machines!"
"Roger that."
From a distant command center, Brock Rumlow issued new orders, sending more Chitauri-enhanced Hydra troops and heavily modified armored vehicles into the fray.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., looks like our guest list just got longer. Can you handle it?"
"Sir, given the current Iron Legion numbers versus enemy firepower and equipment, our probability of victory is 37.2%."
"Oh?" Stark raised an eyebrow, casually swatting away another enemy. "Guess I need to upgrade your tactical algorithms."
The Iron Legion, after all, was fully controlled by J.A.R.V.I.S. And while J.A.R.V.I.S. was an advanced AI, each suit could only function at a fraction of its potential without a human pilot.
This was why, in the original MCU, the Iron Legion struggled against even a few Extremis-enhanced soldiers, suffering heavy losses.
"J.A.R.V.I.S. could use a little help. Fortunately, that's where I come in!"
A new voice suddenly joined the comms—Kagura.
"Hitomi?! Weren't you on the other side of the planet? When did you get back?"
"I crawled through the internet! Hehe!"
She giggled mischievously. "Mr. Stark, to win this battle, I'll be borrowing your Iron Legion for a bit!"
"…Huh?"
"Sir, my remote control protocols are being overridden. The Iron Legion's command permissions are being seized."
"…HUH?!"
"Master… The Iron Legion's control has been completely lost. The hacking method used is incredibly advanced… unlike anything I've seen before."
"Hitomi, was this you?!"
"Bingo! So, I'll be borrowing your Iron Legion, okay?"
From within the Mark 17 "Heartbreaker" suit, Kagura's voice rang out cheerfully. "Just a little trick of mine—'Grand Heist: Collectible Raid'—activated!"
[Core Skill: Deep Dive Consciousness—Activated]
[Gaining control of Iron Legion]
[Full-power combat mode engaged—Target: Hydra—Exterminate completely!]
With Hitomi at the helm, the Iron Legion surged forward with newfound speed and efficiency, turning the tide of battle in a spectacular display of firepower and precision.