"Sharon, you're a little too cautious—but I understand. Facing unknown enemies and even the mythical Protoss from myths, it's reasonable to stay low-key and play it safe."
Kain had called Sharon over, intending to tell her not to be overly careful when dealing with Asgard in the future. They had nearly annexed several small countries already.
However, Sharon seemed to have misunderstood his intentions.
Thinking she was about to be reprimanded, she brought Simmons along and surprised Kain as soon as they arrived. The two women cooperated seamlessly to keep him occupied for several hours. Simmons, in particular, reverted to her previously resistant behavior, which, unsurprisingly, led to a long session of discipline.
This wasn't an act from Simmons. During Kain's time in the resident evil World, she had exchanged obedience for several opportunities to visit Fitz, gradually softening their strained relationship.
But today, something inside her was reawakened—stirred by Kain's presence. That familiar rush of submission resurfaced, leaving her so exhausted that she lay limply on the bed for over an hour before recovering.
"Still, strength determines confidence. You're still a regular human, so your reaction isn't surprising," Kain said. "That's the magic of the Nine Paths of Power, and of Thunder and Fire. You can choose to become a superpowered individual or a Mage."
As he spoke, Kain waved his hand, bringing up a long list of abilities. These included not only ten powers inherited from the Eternals but also the elemental paths of Thunder and Fire, along with two major schools of magic.
With his current strength, he could bestow even tenth-level magic—but not in unlimited quantities. Granting abilities to more than a thousand individuals could start affecting his own performance.
Still, he had already decided to empower those closest to him. Lorelei and Betty, for instance, had already received their enhancements. He was steadily developing the Super Personnel Bureau, and Sharon's performance certainly deserved a reward—especially considering her loyalty.
"Are these the abilities of the Eternals?" Sharon asked.
"That's right. There's still a certain black, heavy-set Eternal unaccounted for. Keep an eye out—his ability could be quite compatible with Simmons," Kain said as he gave Simmons a playful smack, eliciting a soft moan and a ripple of reaction. "Inventive power like his is rare and highly specialized."
"I'll stay alert. But Mr. Kain, do you have any recommendations for my ability selection?" Sharon asked softly. She knew exactly whose orders took precedence—between Kain and President Ross, she always prioritized Kain.
"If you're undecided, I suggest you take Ikaris's abilities: flight, enhanced durability, laser vision, and super strength. A very well-rounded and powerful package.
It's a pity you didn't undergo the magical bloodline transformation, or I'd have recommended the Thunder and Fire magics instead."
Magic, in terms of versatility, was unmatched—it covered everything from soul manipulation to elemental transformation and material alteration. But mastering it required significant time and study.
"This is more than enough," Sharon said, visibly excited. She then expressed her gratitude in a way she knew would please Kain, lowering her head in reverence and intimacy.
She had seen Ikaris in action before. If not for pre-arranged countermeasures and the assistance of Wanda and Pietro, defeating that Eternal would've been nearly impossible.
Two days later, Sharon awakened her new powers—and the difference was undeniable. Her fear of even nuclear weapons had vanished, replaced by newfound confidence. Her boldness in handling global affairs increased dramatically.
Under her leadership, the Super Personnel Bureau adopted a far more aggressive stance. Any organization posing a threat to global peace—or opposing the Bureau—was swiftly and forcefully eradicated.
One such target now under consideration was the hidden Ten Rings Organization.
Boom!
A dazzling beam of rainbow-colored light suddenly appeared over a town in the Mexican desert—the very same town where Thor had first landed. Ever since Mjölnir's descent, the place had become a hotspot for tourists and conspiracy theorists.
Though the area had long been cordoned off by the Super Personnel Bureau, curious explorers still managed to sneak in.
Today, their curiosity was satisfied. The radiant beam lasted two full minutes, so intense that even local authorities were alerted before it faded.
When the rainbow light finally dissipated, a group of armored warriors appeared in the desert—clad in shining gold and marching in perfect formation. Even from a distance, the atmosphere turned tense and uncanny.
Those brave enough to remain tried recording the scene on their phones, only to find that all devices were locked—no signal, no recording, no communication.
It was the Asgardian army.
Sif approached Thor and asked, "Should we go to them now?"
Thor shook his head. "No. They'll come to us."
And he was right. The Rainbow Bridge's energy spike had triggered alerts across Earth. Within moments, Sharon received the intel. The Red Queen AI, aided by dozens of orbiting satellites, had already begun threat analysis and initiated defensive protocols.
This time, Sharon had no intention of holding back. With Kain—the god-like force behind her—she wouldn't hesitate again. Weakness could cost her everything.
After informing President Ross, she was granted full authority to coordinate the military. She also reached out to Betty—her former superior—requesting backup.
Betty didn't hesitate. Though the full power of Umbrella wasn't deployed, she approved the mobilization of:
100 Super Soldiers 200 beast-capable Warriors 5,000 elite, long-trained troops And the latest batch of advanced energy weapons.
From the moment Sharon gave the order, it took less than an hour to move these forces to the Mexican town. Local police had already begun evacuation protocols.
Emergency shelters were activated even in towns 50 miles away—this level of mobilization hadn't been seen since the last time Earth faced a foreign invasion.
The Asgardian army, waiting for Earth's forces to arrive, soon noticed unusual activity in the small town nearby. Their advanced technology picked up coordinated movements from every settlement within a hundred-mile radius.
Fandral frowned and turned to Thor.
"Thor, it seems they're not looking to negotiate. The civilians have been evacuated and the area cleared. Looks like a battle could break out any moment."
Just standing there made them vulnerable. It was likely the humans would strike first—an outcome not favorable for Asgard.
"We can't act first," Thor replied firmly. "Asgard must not be seen as the aggressor."
He had already been punished by Odin once for initiating conflict. And on Earth, with so many lives at stake, even if Asgard were in the right, the world would still blame them for starting a war.
Elsewhere, the mages of Kamar-Taj observed the unfolding events closely. The Sorcerer Supreme's duties extended beyond guarding the Dark Dimension—she also protected Earth from any supernatural or cosmic threat.
"Master, should we intervene?"
Baron Mordo bowed and addressed the Ancient One, but she slowly shook her head, hands folded behind her back.
"There's no need. Mr. Pent will handle this," she said calmly. "I'm far more concerned about this… Mr. Pent."
"What did you see, Master?"
Mordo knew she safeguarded the Time Stone and could use its power to glimpse fragments of the future.
"The future is clouded. But one thing is clear—Kain Pent is very interested in the Infinity Stones."
As she spoke, she gestured, conjuring a vision of a vast underground chamber. At the center stood a powerful wand, glowing faintly blue. The wand charged not only a network of energy blocks but also powered all of the Punt Group's reserves.
Two Infinity Stones were embedded in the wand. Four empty sockets remained—clearly designed to hold the remaining stones.
A powerful individual—mage and superpowered alike—already wielding two stones and pursuing the rest. The Ancient One could not clearly see Kain's future; too many possible timelines branched from his actions.
But one thing was certain: eventually, Kain Pent would come to Kamar-Taj for the Time Stone.
"All we can do now… is wait," she said softly.
Time passed. A battlefield had been cleared near the town, and American military forces—tanks, aircraft, and battalions—had arrived.
Within an hour, all the forces coordinated by Sharon were in position. This included transhuman agents from the Super Personnel Bureau.
Whoosh!
A blur shot toward the Asgardians. They saw the figure first, then the trail of dust he kicked up as he ran. The speed was incredible—no one reacted in time.
It was Pietro Maximoff—one of the Super Personnel Bureau's strongest agents, widely known as the fastest man on Earth. Only light itself moved faster.
A second figure appeared—this time descending swiftly from the sky. As she drew closer, the Avengers and Asgardians finally saw her face.
"Sharon?"
The Avengers were stunned. It was Sharon Carter—once an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Her voice rang out powerfully:
"The Asgardians first entered U.S. territory illegally. Then they took fugitives wanted by the Super Personnel Bureau. Since then, they've made multiple unauthorized entries—and now they've brought an army to invade again after ignoring repeated warnings.
You have only one option: surrender immediately and submit to Earth's judgment!"
Thor's eyes burned with anger.
"Is this your answer? You would go to war with Asgard!?"
He hadn't expected the Earth forces to be so uncompromising. They showed no interest in dialogue.
"If this is your stance, then you will bear the consequences of provoking a war!"
Neither side had a temper suited for diplomacy.
Later, Kain would reprimand Sharon for this incident. Though she had received new powers from him, her aggressive handling of the situation displeased him. Even with the benefits, she felt uneasy.
Behind the Asgardian ranks, Nick Fury sensed things were spiraling. He reached into his coat and pulled out a pager—a device he hadn't even used during the S.H.I.E.L.D.–Hydra conflict.
If war broke out between Earth and Asgard, it would make that civil war look like a skirmish.
"Asgardians—second warning. Surrender immediately. All consequences henceforth will be yours to bear!"
Thor's grip tightened around Mjolnir.
"Asgard has never initiated war!" he shouted defiantly.
Sharon's eyes narrowed.
"This is your final warning. Surrender immediately!"
Her finger hovered over the attack command. If the Asgardians didn't stand down in the next five seconds… she wouldn't hesitate.
Thor roared, his voice echoing across the desert:
"Asgard will never surrender to Earth!"
The moment he finished speaking, every Asgardian warrior raised their weapon in unison. A radiant light surged from their arms—magic and power crackling in preparation.
"Back off, Pietro!"
The order came sharply through Pietro's earpiece. He was responsible for covering Sharon's escape. While Sharon now possessed superpowers, her capture by Asgard would still pose a serious problem. Pietro was the only one in the Super Personnel Bureau capable of rescuing someone that quickly.
But it wasn't necessary this time. The moment Sharon pressed the attack command, she soared into the sky, putting distance between herself and the battlefield. Pietro simply shrugged and vanished a second later in a blur of speed.
Suddenly, Thor's instincts flared.
"Shields up—protect!"
His command echoed across the ranks.
Thousands of Asgardian warriors raised their shields to the sky. The glowing energy from their weapons converged to form a massive protective barrier—a radiant dome stretching for miles above their heads.
And just in time.
The sky darkened as countless points of light appeared in the distance—missiles, tank shells, and energy rounds marked the beginning of the first assault.
"Damn it!" Thor cursed, spinning Mjolnir in his hand before hurling it toward the incoming barrage. The hammer pulled him forward, launching him through the air like a missile.
"I'm going to intercept the eastern front!" he shouted.
But as he gained altitude, he suddenly spotted hundreds of black silhouettes rising from multiple directions. Some were fighter jets. Others—human shapes—were clearly flying superhumans, closing in fast.
"Sif! Return fire!" Thor shouted.
He had barely spoken when a distant beam cannon struck him mid-flight, blasting him out of the sky. His body spiraled backward and crashed into the outskirts of the abandoned town with a thunderous impact.
Meanwhile – The Kain Estate, New York City
Inside a luxurious lounge, Isaac quietly set down a tray of black tea and freshly baked pastries before retreating to await Kain's next command.
Kain lifted a dessert, taking a slow bite as he sipped the tea. His eyes were fixed on the holographic display in front of him, showing the real-time battlefield feed.
"It's like a sci-fi blockbuster come to life," he mused. "I wonder who's going to save Asgard this time. Sharon and her people might be enough."
He smiled faintly, watching the unfolding chaos with the calm detachment of a god playing chess.
…
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