As the tide of public opinion turned more overwhelmingly against the Avengers, it was clear that any lingering hesitation or fear among official agencies had been replaced by excitement and fervor. Discussions within these agencies grew increasingly aggressive, to the point where even the so-called "conservative voices" were accused of being too cautious by their more radical counterparts.
In their minds, the Avengers were already dismantled and each member reduced to either a mere employee or an experimental subject, paving the way for these agencies to achieve their ultimate objectives.
Their newfound confidence stemmed from a significant trump card: despite the Avengers' best efforts to maintain secrecy, the identities of its members had long been compromised.
After the Doomsday incident, Lex Luthor had managed to obtain a trove of classified information about the Avengers, which he shared with numerous government entities. This meant not only the Avengers' identities but also those of Robert, Kara, and Clark were no longer secrets. Evidence of this was the fact that agents had already visited Robert and Kara's homes, attempting to apprehend the Kent and Danvers families, and even targeting Alex Danvers.
Previously, the Avengers' overwhelming strength and the strong public sentiment in their favor had made such actions against their families unthinkable. Official entities couldn't use these tactics to threaten the Avengers, nor could they manipulate public opinion to their advantage.
Before the Avengers' reputation collapsed, even if their identities had been leaked, malicious individuals seeking to harm their families would have been few and far between, and the Avengers would have easily been able to protect their loved ones and eliminate the threats.
But now, things were different. With the Avengers' identities revealed amidst their plummeting reputation, the number of people harboring ill intentions toward their families wasn't limited to a handful—it was an uncountable mass of enraged citizens.
While most of these people might not go as far as to physically harm their families, they could still subject them to psychological torment, disrupting their lives to an unbearable degree.
This tactic was more than enough to threaten the Avengers. No matter how powerful the Avengers themselves were, their families were still ordinary people, vulnerable to such harassment.
Soon, a coordinated effort among official agencies began. Using every official media channel and platform at their disposal, they launched a campaign to pressure the Avengers publicly. Several world leaders even made statements calling for the arrest and investigation of the Avengers.
These leaders insisted that the deaths caused by Ultron were the Avengers' responsibility. As for what punishments they deserved, they argued that this required international consensus.
More importantly, some leaders demanded a thorough investigation into the Avengers' actions during every extraordinary event they had been involved in. They wanted detailed accounts of the Avengers' decisions, actions, and locations during these incidents.
These leaders expressed outrage over how the Avengers, despite being at the forefront of countless crises, had suffered no casualties, while over half the Earth's population had perished. They questioned whether the Avengers, wielding such immense power, had deliberately neglected their responsibilities—or worse, if they had orchestrated some of these deaths, disguising them as collateral damage.
"Hand over the murderers!"
"Avengers, surrender yourselves for investigation!"
"You don't deserve to be called heroes!"
Across New York City and other parts of the world, massive protests erupted. Some were grassroots efforts, while others were clearly organized by official agencies. Unsurprisingly, the largest demonstrations were in America, with New York City leading the charge.
The protests became so intense that even the now-closed Stark Tower, which Tony Stark had recently shut down after delisting the company, wasn't spared. Despite being empty, the building was stormed by protestors. They looted what little remained inside before vandalizing it, leaving the once-iconic structure in ruins.
The tower became a focal point for angry mobs, with protestors coming in waves to vent their fury. Thankfully, the Avengers' main base remained in a remote, undisclosed location shielded from satellite surveillance; otherwise, it too would have likely been attacked.
"The Avengers are really holding back, huh? Even now, they don't show themselves? Do they think they can just wait this out?" scoffed one official during a meeting of government representatives, mocking the Avengers' continued silence.
"What a joke! They call themselves superheroes? More like super cowards!"
"Do they think hiding will save them? Do they really believe they can escape public outrage? Or worse, that they can somehow turn this around?"
"Turn this around? Hah! The people hate them so much now that if public opinion somehow shifted in their favor, the public would probably die of embarrassment!"
"Humans love to build gods, but they love tearing them down even more. The Avengers have been on a pedestal for too long. It's time for the people to tear them down!"
"So, what's the plan? Should we fan the flames even more? Force the Avengers to capitulate entirely?"
"Not yet. Let's start by sending them a warning—especially to their strongest member, that Saiyan, Robert!"
"Exactly! So what if he's powerful? He's just another alien, like those Kryptonians! He doesn't belong here. If he's so strong, why couldn't he stay on his own planet instead of freeloading on Earth?"
When Robert's name was mentioned, the room grew united in their disdain. Even back when they weren't sure of Robert's identity, his sheer destructive potential had terrified them. Many high-ranking officials had contemplated leaving Earth just to avoid the risk of being annihilated along with the planet.
But now, they believed they no longer had reason to fear. Their calculations suggested that Earth's newfound resilience meant Robert's power alone wouldn't be enough to destroy the planet.
Feeling emboldened and confident that they had leverage over Robert, the officials decided he should be their first target. If they could intimidate him, the rest of the Avengers would likely fall in line.
"It seems like there's no way to change the current situation," Pietro said lazily, half-reclining in a rocking chair at the Avengers' base. "Honestly, I'm thinking about retirement too."
"Retirement? We're practically already forced into it," Peter Parker sighed. "I guess there's no more friendly neighborhood Spider-Man for New York..."
"Who says? Maybe Vought will create some knockoff, like Red Spider or Black Spider, to replace you as New York's new hero," Johnny Storm quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
"This isn't the time for jokes," Brian interjected nervously, tugging on Johnny's sleeve. He turned to Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. "Seriously, though—what should we do now?"
Brian, a newcomer to the Avengers who had just passed his probation, felt utterly lost. He hadn't even had the chance to enjoy being a superhero before the Avengers were branded as a terrorist group.
"What should we do? Maybe we should've kept more distance from ordinary people in the first place," Steve said slowly, shaking his head. "From now on, we should focus solely on extraordinary threats. There's no need to constantly show ourselves. After all, we don't survive on public approval..."
Steve's gaze lingered on Peter Parker and Johnny Storm. While Peter had never sought fame, Johnny and others had occasionally enjoyed basking in the public spotlight. But unlike groups like Vought's superheroes, the Avengers didn't need to be celebrities, and Steve believed they should avoid unnecessary public appearances moving forward.
"The Eye of the Sky has sent us a new message. They're calling it a warning," Jarvis announced, drawing everyone's attention.
"They must be out of their minds," Frank Castle growled. "They want us to work for them, take orders, and even play clowns like those Vought heroes?"
"Not just clowns—they want us as lab rats," Morbius sneered. "They've wanted to dissect us for years, thinking they can replicate our powers. Let them dream."
"Open it," Steve said with a sigh, motioning to Jarvis. Since Tony remained silent, Steve took it upon himself to give the order.
A soft hum filled the room as Jarvis played the message. It was a slowed-down video showing Robert slaughtering a group of individuals.
"Is this... the Skrull incident with S.H.I.E.L.D.?" the Avengers immediately recognized the footage, but it had been edited to omit the Skrulls revealing their true forms.
"The video has already been uploaded online. Should I upload the full, unedited version as well?" Jarvis asked.
"Go ahead," Steve replied, though he sighed heavily. "Even with the Skrull footage, it'll only distract a small portion of the public. The rest will still focus their anger on us."
But then, as the video ended, another segment began to play. This time, it was a detailed profile of Robert:
"Global Alert: Wanted—Robert Kent, alias Saiyan. Resides in Smallville, Kansas. Adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent in 1992 after arriving on Earth in an alien spacecraft.
Robert is currently an auxiliary member of the Avengers, possessing terrifying power. He has caused numerous deaths due to his uncontrolled abilities and has even come close to destroying Earth. Previously, the Avengers vouched for him, preventing him from being classified as a criminal.
However, Robert has committed too many atrocities, including the complete massacre of S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel during the Skrull incident. His methods are shockingly brutal.
We hereby demand that the Avengers hand over this fugitive. We also urge the Kent family not to shelter this alien, who poses an existential threat to Earth
. As a being capable of planetary destruction, Robert must be placed under human supervision to ensure the planet's safety!"
"They dare?!" The Avengers' eyes widened in shock and anger as they realized the implications of this so-called warning.
By revealing Robert's identity and labeling him a global fugitive, the agencies were signaling their willingness to expose every Avenger's identity if they didn't comply. The fallout for their families would be devastating, especially in this climate of widespread hatred against them.
Robert's eyes gleamed coldly as he stood. "It seems I didn't kill enough of those people earlier," he said, his voice icy.
"Saiyan, calm down!" Steve exclaimed, his own heart racing.
"Why call me Saiyan? Just use my real name," Robert said quietly, shaking his head. "And if you want to wait until they've captured your families before taking action, be my guest. Guardian, bring their families here."
"Understood," the Guardian AI replied, ignoring Steve and Tony's hesitation. It gave Peter Parker and the others a reassuring nod before beginning its preparations.
Meanwhile, Robert disappeared, leaving only a chilling silence in his wake.
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