Marvel: A.T.L.A.S. - Ghost Protocol

Osaka Stronghold - Moments Later

The first burst of .50 caliber rounds would have torn through normal body armor. But the Ice Aura that formed around Caspian was far from normal. The Emperor Eye tracked each bullet's trajectory, letting him angle the crystalline protection for maximum deflection.

"Professional hitters," Walter noted through the comm. "Ex-military. Russian training patterns."

The lead gunman's next shot caught a deliberate gap in the ice armor—exactly where Caspian wanted it. The Emperor Eye had already calculated the perfect counter. As the bullet struck, his body shattered into frozen shards.

An Ice Clone. The real attack came from behind.

The Frost Hammer materialized in Caspian's hands as he emerged from the shadows. The first Russian's skull and spine shattered simultaneously under its impact. The second managed to turn, revealing a familiar tattoo on his neck.

Spetsnaz. This wasn't just a Yakuza operation.

"Walter," Caspian subvocalized as he flowed around automatic fire. "We have Russian Special Forces involvement. High-level."

"Acknowledged. Director Valemont is being notified. This may connect to—"

The third Russian's attack interrupted their exchange. He moved with augmented speed, his strikes carrying unnatural power. The Emperor Eye caught subtle signs of enhancement—surgical scars, faint chemical signatures.

"They're running the formula," Caspian noted clinically, catching a punch that would have shattered concrete. Ice formed around the Russian's arm, spreading rapidly. "Crude implementation."

The enhanced operative snarled something in Russian as ice crystals formed in his blood. His next attack was desperate, enhanced strength fighting the spreading cold.

"The intelligence leak is bigger than we thought," Walter's voice was grim. "If they've combined the Yakuza network with Russian bio-enhancement research—"

"Agreed." Caspian's counter-strike shattered his opponent's partially frozen body. "Full containment protocol."

"Satellite shows multiple vehicles approaching. Local police response."

"Time to make a statement."

The Ice Barrier rose around the entire rooftop—thirty feet of crystalline wall, fashioned after Sub-Zero's most impressive techniques. Anyone trying to breach it would find themselves fighting absolute cold.

Through the facility's security feeds, Caspian tracked more hostiles converging on his position. The Emperor Eye analyzed their movements—more enhanced operators mixed with standard forces. All carrying weapons designed to counter superhuman targets.

They'd come prepared for something exceptional.

He'd show them what exceptional really meant.

"Walter," Caspian's voice was very quiet as ice gathered around him. "Tell my mother... this goes deeper than we thought. The Russians didn't just want intelligence. They wanted to test their enhanced soldiers against A.T.L.A.S."

"Agreed. Director Valemont is implementing Critical Response protocols. A full tactical team—"

"No. They need to understand what they're dealing with. What happens when you challenge A.T.L.A.S."

The temperature dropped another thirty degrees as Caspian gathered his power. The Emperor Eye tracked every hostile position, calculated angles of attack, predicted responses. Time to show them why shadows and ice were meant to be feared.

"Very well," Walter's tone held grim approval. "Make it clean."

"No." Frost swirled around Caspian like a living thing as the first enhanced soldiers breached the roof. "This time... we make it cold."

What followed would be whispered about in intelligence circles for years. A demonstration of why some powers were best left unchallenged. Why some shadows should remain undisturbed.

The night had only begun.