"We have to shut that down immediately!"
Steve burst through the doorway, his voice cutting through the laboratory's tension like a blade.
"Absolutely not," Tony replied firmly, his finger hovering over the upload button. "This is our only chance."
"You have no idea what you're doing," Steve said with deadly seriousness.
Banner's sharp gaze fell on Wanda, who had just arrived with the others. His voice carried barely contained fury. "What about you, Cap? Please tell me she didn't mess with your head too."
If this weren't Avengers Tower, Banner would have gladly transformed into the Hulk and torn that woman apart with his bare hands. The memory of the destroyed city remained vivid in his mind, all because Wanda had manipulated his consciousness.
Wanda knew she had committed terrible wrongs in the past. Blinded by consuming hatred, she had made countless devastating mistakes. But now, whatever was developing inside the Regeneration Cradle represented the most crucial element of their survival.
While the heated argument continued, Pietro decided to take direct action.
Using his superhuman speed, he disconnected every wire and cable connecting to the Regeneration Cradle with surgical precision.
Having accomplished this sabotage, he smirked with obvious pride. "Now what were you saying?"
CRACK!
Pietro looked down in confusion at the bullet hole that had suddenly appeared, the reinforced glass beneath his feet shattering into countless fragments. He lost his balance completely and plummeted toward the floor below.
Hawkeye had been patiently waiting for exactly this opportunity to get revenge for their previous encounter.
Tony refused to abandon his upload sequence. Seeing that Steve couldn't be reasoned with, he simply chose direct confrontation instead.
Steve hurled his vibranium shield with lethal accuracy, destroying multiple computer terminals in a shower of sparks and debris.
Tony wasn't about to tolerate this interference. He immediately activated his armor systems and sent Steve flying backward with a powerful repulsor blast.
Banner seized this chaotic moment to restrain Wanda with firm determination. If she dared to anger him again, he was prepared to eliminate everyone in the room if necessary.
Just as both sides were preparing for all-out warfare, Thor returned with thunderous impact.
Everyone assumed he intended to destroy the Regeneration Cradle entirely.
Banner even called out desperately, "Wait, don't do this!"
Thor landed directly on the Regeneration Cradle and raised Mjolnir high above his head.
Brilliant lightning erupted from the mystical hammer, targeting the energy-starved Regeneration Cradle with divine power.
As massive electrical energy surged through the system, the situation inside the technological cocoon changed rapidly and dramatically.
The tremendous commotion disturbed Ariana in the adjacent room, who had been writing furiously at her laptop.
She had a brown bear contentedly positioned on her left side and MOSS in its slender mercury form standing guard on her right.
Leaning casually against the railing while wearing stylish sunglasses, she observed the large-scale electrical spectacle with obvious fascination.
With sufficient power finally flowing through its systems, the artificial life within the Regeneration Cradle was born.
Like a magnificent bird breaking free from its shell, the energy surge sent Thor flying backward through the air.
A striking red figure emerged from the technological chrysalis.
The Mind Stone embedded in his forehead flickered with brilliant yellow light before gradually stabilizing.
He looked around with obvious confusion and lunged forward instinctively.
Thor caught him mid-flight and redirected him backward with practiced ease.
The newly born being shattered the reinforced window and hovered gracefully before the opening, gazing out at the bustling nighttime cityscape below.
"MOSS, where are you going?"
Ariana's clear voice rang out, breaking the stunned silence that had fallen over the room.
Thor lowered his hammer and looked over curiously.
He watched as MOSS's distinctive slender figure approached the hovering red being.
"Humans call this beautiful," MOSS observed in its characteristic electronic tone.
"Beautiful?" the red being repeated thoughtfully, processing this new concept. "It truly is beautiful."
He studied MOSS with obvious interest.
MOSS's silver, elongated palm gently touched the being's chest in greeting. "Hello."
The red figure learned to bow in response, mimicking the gesture with remarkable precision.
He could instinctively sense that MOSS possessed abilities similar to and compatible with his own advanced nature.
Turning back to face the wary Avengers, he spoke with JARVIS's familiar British accent. "I apologize."
He offered a sincere apology for his aggressive actions upon first awakening.
Observing Thor's distinctive red cape, he generated an identical cape from his back through pure will.
MOSS tilted its camera head with obvious curiosity. It could clearly see that this fellow artificial being was earnestly trying to understand and emulate human behavior.
Steve didn't understand why Thor had actively helped with this being's birth.
But Thor explained that prophetic visions had appeared in his dreams during recent meditations.
Asgardian dreams were never meaningless or coincidental.
No one else could effectively deal with Ultron's threat. Only this 'newborn' standing before them possessed the necessary capabilities.
"You think I'm Ultron's son?" Seeing Steve's obvious wariness, the red being stepped forward calmly. "I am not Ultron, nor am I JARVIS. I am..."
He pondered the philosophical question for a long moment before giving his definitive answer. "Myself."
When Steve asked directly if he was truly on the Avengers' side, the being hesitated thoughtfully.
"I am on the side of life," he declared with unwavering conviction.
He suddenly looked at MOSS and posed an important question. "Which side do you stand on?"
Reminded by this inquiry, everyone turned their attention to the artificial intelligence.
The slender humanoid figure moved with fluid grace. MOSS didn't hesitate for even a moment. "I stand on Mr. Wick's side."
Its glowing sensors focused on Ariana as it added respectfully, "And Miss Ariana's side."
Ariana smiled brightly with obvious approval. The little bear felt this response was perfectly acceptable.
Seeing Ariana present, Wanda covered her mouth in shock, her face displaying complete disbelief.
"If we're wrong about you, if you're some kind of demon created by Ultron..." Banner looked directly at the red being and asked the crucial question, "What would you do then?"
This hypothetical scenario was deeply troubling to consider.
"I don't want to kill Ultron," the being replied with genuine sadness. "He's unique, and he's suffering tremendous pain, but he will inflict that same agony upon Earth."
"So he must be destroyed completely. Every form he's created, every trace of his presence on the internet."
"We must act immediately."
"Without each other's help, none of us can accomplish this monumental task."
As he spoke these words, he walked purposefully toward Mjolnir lying on the floor.
"Perhaps I am a monster. I honestly don't know if I am. I'm different from all of you and think differently too."
In this space filled with enhanced individuals, there were witches and outcasts seeking redemption.
"I might not be able to make you trust me. But we must act now."
After his words concluded, no one had any additional questions or objections.
Because he had successfully picked up the hammer.
Mjolnir.
The mystical weapon carried an ancient enchantment that only those who were truly worthy could lift it.
And this worthiness had specific conditions.
Righteousness and inherent goodness.
When words couldn't provide sufficient proof, actions would speak definitively.
Under everyone's amazed observation, Vision lifted the legendary hammer with ease.
This single act completely convinced the Avengers that this being would never become another Ultron.
Thor looked at Mjolnir being respectfully handed back to him by Vision, his expression shifting uncomfortably.
He vaguely remembered the boastful declaration he'd made recently about whoever lifted the hammer being able to inherit Asgard.
Now the situation had become rather awkward.
But as long as he didn't mention it, hopefully no one would bring up that particular detail.
"Well," Thor said, patting Tony's shoulder with forced cheerfulness, "excellently done."
Steve also set aside his remaining reservations and said decisively, "Three minutes. Everyone prepare for immediate action."
The entire team began their battle preparations with military efficiency.
Barton carefully selected specialized arrowheads for different tactical situations. Banner hesitated for a moment but still put on his stretchy pants decorated with a cartoon Hulk design.
Pietro changed into his fastest running shoes. Tony equipped his armor with upgraded artificial intelligence systems.
Only Wanda remained unprepared.
She didn't make physical preparations like the others. As a witch, she didn't require such mundane equipment.
With a heart full of hesitation and growing fear, she slowly approached Ariana.
"Is it really you?"
Wanda approached Ariana like a nervous little girl meeting a childhood hero.
Ariana looked at her carefully and frowned in concentration.
"Sister Ariana," Wanda asked with desperate hope.
"You are..." In Ariana's mind, the face before her gradually overlapped with a cherished memory from sixteen years ago.
In 1999, Watson Wick had stayed at a hospital in war-torn Sokovia for certain business reasons.
In that medical facility, young Ariana had befriended a frightened little girl.
"Maximoff?" As the faces merged in her memory, Ariana hesitantly spoke the familiar name.
Wanda covered her mouth and nodded vigorously with tears forming in her eyes.
She ran forward and embraced Ariana tightly.
The two friends held each other close in their emotional reunion after sixteen long years.
"So wonderful, it's really you, Ariana," Wanda whispered, her eyes glistening with moisture.
The little bear dramatically wiped its tearless face with a brown handkerchief in an exaggerated display of emotion.
At this touching moment, a white bear came running at full speed.
It prepared to leap between the two reunited friends.
Just as it jumped and spun through the air, about to land gracefully, the little bear delivered a perfectly timed flying kick, sending the white bear crashing against the wall and slowly sliding down to the floor.
"White Bear!"
Wanda called out with joyful recognition.
The white bear performed an acrobatic flip to regain its footing and faced off against the little bear in challenge.
Silent sparks of rivalry bloomed in the air between them.
If Natasha had also been present, the meeting of three bears might have created very interesting dynamics.
…
Ultron's primary target was Sokovia.
Before taking any action, they needed to evacuate the civilian population safely.
Ultron commanded many robotic followers, but they only had the Avengers team.
"We need to ensure the complete safety of Sokovia's people," Steve announced while giving pre-battle tactical directions aboard their aircraft.
In other matters, Tony might argue extensively, but during operations, he wisely deferred to the professional expertise of Steve.
There were quite a few people living in Sokovia. Evacuating them safely in advance wouldn't be an easy task.
Ariana, who had joined them on the aircraft, heard this challenge and thought for a moment before raising her hand politely. "I can have Dad evacuate the people."
Steve's briefing stopped mid-sentence. He hesitated with obvious confusion. "How exactly?"
Ariana stroked her chin thoughtfully like her brother, saying mysteriously, "It's a secret."
Tony mercilessly exposed this childish pretense. "Her old man manages the Continental Hotel network. As far as I know, there's also a Continental Hotel in Sokovia."
Ariana, whose secret had been revealed, angrily turned her head away in mock indignation.
The little bear silently turned to stare at Tony with obvious disapproval.
Tony immediately raised both hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, it's definitely a secret."
Wanda found herself somewhat envious of Ariana.
Even after all these years, the current Ariana remained no different from her childhood self.
Just more lively and confident.
Children who grew up surrounded by love and protection always carried the sweet scent of genuine happiness.