Chapter 153 Avengers, assemble!
Because they had to rush to provide support, the two decided that after they landed, their discussion was very quick, almost reaching a tacit understanding.
The selection of members was also quickly finalized: Abomination, Whiplash, and the big boss Mr. Blue, with some other death row inmates serving as accompanying subordinates.
The requirement was elites; waste was only fit to be cannon fodder!
An alien invasion was a disaster for ordinary people. But for ambitious individuals, this was a rare opportunity!
If they succeeded in defending, the research into the wreckage of these alien warships would provide an accelerator for the entire scientific community.
Moreover, resisting an alien invasion—if one could step forward at such a time!
That would undoubtedly be a glory recorded in history, and this immense prestige would be enough for them to demand all sorts of benefits afterward!
Green Goblin's idea was also very simple: all the benefits went to General Ross. Did he get no benefits? How to convert prestige into benefits—that was a philosophy!
Manhattan combat zone.
Reporters from the Horn Daily were still filming here, and in front of them was a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers.
Wearing combat uniforms, her blonde hair tied back neatly, Sharon, looking fresh and capable, was directing the soldiers to fire.
The firearms she held were made from energy extracted from the Tesseract over the past year, capable of firing beams with decent lethality, similar to the Chitaurisoldiers' forearm cannons.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I've been a reporter for so many years, and I've never witnessed an alien invasion.
Countless citizens are being slaughtered by them, blood and death are so close. Where are our Police? Where is our army?"
Roxanne questioned the camera with an angry expression; behind her, Chitauri aircraft flew everywhere, continuously firing while in high-speed flight.
"Fortunately, we still have reliable departments, S.H.I.E.L.D.!
The relevant department that has always been committed to protecting us is very good at dealing with supernatural superhumans.
Behind me is Sharon, the Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.She used to work for the CIA and has extensive experience.
Now she is assisting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s special forces to resist the aliens and cover the evacuation of citizens.
I am honored to receive her protection, and I believe people like her are heroes! Please give them more applause and support!"
Sharon calmly directed in front of the camera, while having people resist the Chitauri Legion, she also dispatched Agents to guide citizens into underground shelters and leave via the subway.
The image of a heroic and capable female soldier leaped onto the screen; women envied her, men adored her, and her popularity soared!
Many Chitauri soldiers fell from the sky, roaring as they charged at Sharon.
They all had dynamic battlefield data sharing, a hive-mind combat strategy. If one was unlucky, other soldiers also knew who was easy to deal with and who was not.
The audience in front of the screen was stunned when they saw the Chitauri soldiers, with such ugly faces and fierce, cruel eyes.
Everyone was worried about this beautiful Director, very worried that she would perish because of this!
But the next scene that appeared stunned them; the seemingly delicate beauty actually had such powerful combat skills!
With a spinning kick, Sharon directly sent a piece of rubble flying. The small piece of rubble, propelled by immense force, had the kinetic energy of a bullet and pierced through the head of a Chitauri soldier.
She pulled out her sidearm with a backhand, quickly pulled the trigger, and the bullets cut elegant arcs through the air, accurately hitting the eyes of these soldiers.
Entering through the eyes, completely destroying the brain inside!
"Maintain vigilance, communicate with the subway company to halt all subway operations in the Manhattan area, stopping all trains at platforms, so as not to impede citizens' escape.
Hurry! Don't waste time; for every second you're slow, multiple innocent citizens will die!"
Sharon's heroic and capable image deeply resonated with people; every command she issued was clear, focusing on evacuating and saving citizens!
A streaking light flew from afar, and several palm cannons shot down the passing aircraft.
"Hello, Director, I'll take it from here. Captain is right behind me."
Tony finished speaking and took off again; this battlefield made him feel particularly exciting! The only thing that bothered him was that the source of it all was directly below his building, which was where his laboratory was located!
These bastards actually used his home as a summoning point. If they messed up his plants and flowers, who would pay for it?
"It's Iron Man!"
"Cool! I just wonder how many he can take down!"
Sharon frowned slightly. She didn't quite approve of Tony's style of action; he lacked professional training.
To think of fighting an alien civilization with just an Iron Man Suit was simply ridiculous!
Fortunately, her sister's businesses had already been evacuated in advance; now, staying to save people was just a cover.
And to gain some prestige, after the war ends, this alone will grant permanent tax exemption!
At this stage, money was still very useful, especially for purchasing mineral resources. They needed various resources and semi-finished products—these were materials for expanding the Villa!
Just then, Steve also arrived.
A handsome motorcycle flew over, its wheels crushing several Chitauri soldiers, and the shield he casually flung bounced back and forth in the air.
Each bounce killed a Chitauri soldier.
With special enchanted processing, the flying shield's damage was enhanced, making it unbeatable for taking down minor enemies!
And it came with the characteristic of always returning; no matter how it was thrown, it would fly back without affecting its damage!
In addition, it was incredibly sturdy; now, even against Thanos's Tyrant's Blade, it could withstand his slashes head-on and would no longer be cut to pieces!
"I'm here!"
Steve winked at Sharon, his handsome stealth suit and dashing appearance.
Standing together with Sharon, they were a perfect military couple! A talented man and a beautiful woman!
"You're not late this time!"
Sharon's usually aloof expression also bloomed into a radiant smile, a smile that directly melted the hearts of men!
Gone was the girlish shyness, replaced by the maturity of a woman.
Who would have thought Sharon already had an adorable daughter? She looked incredibly young, showing almost no signs of age, always like a warm older sister next door.
"You two are responsible for coordinating all parties to evacuate civilians. I will lead the special forces to hold back these aliens and figure out how to close the portal."
Steve pressed his earbud with one hand and began issuing orders to his team members.
Hawkeye was responsible for observing movements from a tall building and reporting the situation to him.
Iron Man was responsible for containing the enemy, preventing them from spreading outside, waiting for the special forces to get into position, and then going to Stark Tower to observe how to close the portal.
Wolverine, Deadpool, and Sabretooth were responsible for holding the ground, blocking the Chitauri infantry.
He himself would attract the enemy's attention head-on, drawing fire.
"Be careful, I'll wait for you to come home for dinner."
Sharon finished speaking and turned to leave, leaving behind a phrase that sparked endless imagination.
This also made the audience in front of their televisions and radios incredibly curious: was there an unspoken relationship between these two?
"How come I feel like this female Director is flirting with Captain?"
"Bad woman! Let go of my husband, let me do it!"
"Are you crazy! This female Director is Captain Steve's wife, they are a married couple!"
"Ah? When did that happen? Does Captain also like to play with insubordination?"
Whether it was insubordination or not, it was an ironclad fact that Sharon married Steve.
Some people had even joked before that everything Peggy missed was probably being made up for by her niece!
Why not choose her daughter to make up for it? That would be too ridiculous! The censors wouldn't even approve it!
Who writes like that? It sounds exciting, but it's just something to think about privately, not for public consumption!
Censor: You keep talking, I'm listening!
Facing the surging Chitauri Legion, Steve led the charge, fighting bravely under the cameras of Horn Television.
He didn't immediately display his superhuman strength, but instead fought hard for ten minutes, building up goodwill and imprinting his image of fighting valiantly in the minds of ordinary people worldwide.
Who said Captain America necessarily represented the United States?
Boom!
Steve had just rescued citizens hiding in a cafe when a Chitauri soldier directly detonated the explosives on his body.
He raised his shield to block, and the violent blast wave sent him flying, crashing hard onto a taxi.
After a while, he finally got up, gasping for air. The camera captured this scene, moving countless viewers beyond words. This was Captain America!
He had made his presence known enough.
He was still busy completing his mission, having just summoned mjolnir.
Thor also descended from the sky accompanied by lightning, and the violent lightning electrocuted all the nearby Chitauri minions.
Beep beep beep!
Dr. Banner also arrived, driving a dilapidated motorcycle, though no one knew when.
"Looks like I came at the wrong time?"
"No, you came at exactly the right time. Tony, bring the Chitauri Leviathan over.
Banner, now is your time to unleash your fury freely!"
Steve laughed, then suddenly threw his hammer, smashing a Chitauri soldier who was preparing to ambush in the distance.
"Captain, I'm always angry; that's my secret!"
Banner walked along, forcing a wry smile, then suddenly turned, his muscles rapidly expanding, transforming from a human into the nearly three-meter-tall Hulk!
Iron Man had just lured the Chitauri Leviathan over, and the enraged Hulk punched the Leviathan, which was flying close to the ground and had smashed countless shops!
This thing must have weighed one or two hundred tons, but Hulk still stopped the Leviathan's advance with a single punch. Although he was pushed back a distance, he still managed to stop the Leviathan dead in its tracks!
Its head was held down, but its body still wanted to fly forward, causing the entire Leviathan to perform a front flip.
The armor covering its body also fractured layer by layer due to the flip and folding!
Iron Man hovered in mid-air, a miniature missile striking a vulnerable spot in the middle, completely destroying the Leviathan!
Steve raised his shield, pulling Black Widow Natashaover with one hand, shielding her from the explosion's aftermath.
Whoosh!
Several flying Chitauri airships were blown over by pumpkin bombs, and Green Goblin, piloting his glider, used its built-in blades to sever the heads of Chitaurisoldiers!
Looking at the wary Avengers members, Green Goblinstill let out a maniacal laugh.
"Captain, we are the Dark Avengers, General Ross sent us to support you!"
Wanted criminals becoming Dark Avengers? It sounded a bit ironic no matter how you looked at it!
"Just you?"
Iron Man snorted disdainfully. What Dark Avengers? What a joke!
Whoosh! Clang!
An Iron Man Suit descended from the sky, its hands unleashing two long whips. The mask opened, revealing the previously arrested former Soviet scientist, Whiplash, who had used Hammer Industries to seek revenge on Iron Man at the exposition last time!
Clang!
A monster burst out from a nearby building, similar to Hulk, but covered in more bony, textured plating.
Abomination!
Even War Machine appeared, not missing out on this battle!
Swish!
Accompanied by the appearance of spider silk, Spider-Man also swung over from a distance, landing elegantly on a nearby taxi.
"Captain, count me in, I'll follow your orders!"
"Heh heh, and me too."
Four mechanical claws brought Dr. Octopus over. He hadn't died, he had just been arrested and imprisoned in the Raft. If he could atone for his sins this time, he might even get out early.
The drone camera focused on Steve, also capturing the superheroes beside him.
From the distant portal, more and more Chitauri Legionsoldiers continued to pour out, making the situation increasingly grim, accompanied by screams and explosions, a scene of doomsday!
Steve reached out, and mjolnir returned to his hand. Shield in his left hand, hammer in his right.
"Avengers! Assemble!"
If this line were accompanied by classic music, it would be absolutely epic!
"Natasha, you're in charge of scouting intelligence at Stark Tower, finding a way to close the portal. I'll send you up later.
Tony, Ivan, Green Goblin, Rhodes, you are responsible for containing the enemy air forces; don't let them escape Manhattan Island!
If you can't contain them, then take them out! Yell on the public channel before your energy runs out, and Sharonwill tell you where to get more energy.
Thor, Spider-Man, Otto, you are responsible for clearing ground troops, ensuring citizens can safely pass through!
Abomination, Hulk!"
When Steve called out their names, Hulk and Abomination ended their staring contest and glared fiercely at him.
Steve raised his hand, holding up his index finger, signifying he had only one command.
"You two have only one mission: smash those aliens with all your might!"
Upon hearing this, Hulk and Abomination grinned menacingly.
"Race you?"
"Hulk!"
Hulk suddenly leaped, directly reaching a height of eighty meters. He smashed a Chitauri soldier clinging to a wall, flattening him, then grabbed the wall with one hand, scaling it like Spider-Man, one punch at a time!
Abomination was not to be outdone, charging with a mighty stride and leaping to another spot, enduring the Chitauri's gunfire as he charged.
With a casual slap, he sent a descending Chitauri flying, then picked up a car and smashed it down on three continuously firing Chitauri soldiers!
The two giants completely unleashed themselves in battle; with Captain's orders as their foundation, smashing was all they had to do!
Abomination was still fighting on the ground, while Hulk was already leaping between buildings, swatting passing aircraft like toys!
Chapter 154: A Plan to Turn a Hero into a Criminal
Captain America Steve took the lead, swinging his hammer, throwing it out, and pulling himself and Natasha towards Stark Tower.
Thor's eyelids twitched as he watched this scene, feeling like a blond man was right in front of him, and he was powerless to do anything about it.
Natasha clung tightly to Captain America Steve; if she didn't seize such a good opportunity, she would regret it for the rest of her life!
"Spider-Man, this is Hawkeye. I'm almost out of arrows. Please bring me some."
Hawkeye was not polite. He had been observing the movements and using his bow and arrows to kill enemies, so his arrows were consumed very quickly.
"No problem, Mr. Hawkeye. Your arrow delivery will arrive in one minute."
Spider-Man Peter was a good guy. Fighting alongside the famous Captain America was something he had never dared to dream of.
In battle, he worked harder than anyone!
"You brat, how many can you send up? I might as well do it. Cover me!"
Dr. Octopus grabbed two bags of special arrows sent by S.H.I.E.L.D. with two mechanical arms, while the other three mechanical arms gripped the wall and climbed up directly, moving very quickly.
Spider-Man initially used his webs to weave a large net to block the Chitauri airships, but soon Green Goblin's scolding came.
"Fuck you, Spider-Man! Don't use your webs to weave a big net; I almost fell, understand?!"
Green Goblin cursed, seizing every opportunity to scold.
"Don't use foul language, folks. Keep the conversation civil. If you have any complaints, settle them after this battle.
You can duel privately, and I'll be your referee. But no infighting now.
The TV station is broadcasting! If you don't want to be heroes and want to be criminals, then keep it up!"
Captain America Steve's words immediately silenced Green Goblin. Offending Captain America was definitely not a happy thing.
"Exactly, I said Ivan's two whips had no lethality at all!
It's been a year; times have changed. Can you penetrate the defense of a Leviathan?"
Iron Man was just looking for trouble, mocking Whiplash for his outdated technology.
Splat!
Whiplash directly cut off the tail of a Leviathan, then fired a cannonball into the cut.
Boom!
The massive Leviathan exploded from the inside out, and he immediately sneered.
"Much more effective than your laser. The Stark family is nothing but arrogant and showy!"
"Damn it! That guy got to me!"
Tony snorted unhappily. His attack methods were too low-level. Lasers were powerful attack methods, but the enemy's defense was even higher!
"Sir, energy is below five percent. Go to the building on the right. Director Sharon is there, and there's energy for replacement."
Jarvis's voice continued to prompt.
"How do they have an Arc Reactor?"
Tony was a bit confused, but he still went to the location to replace the energy.
Unexpectedly, War Machine Rhodey was also there, but only to replenish ammunition.
It was a special supply vehicle; stepping on it allowed for automatic ammunition replenishment, which was more convenient than many other things.
"You need to eat fewer donuts, or your armor won't fit you!"
"Go to hell, Tony. That Whiplash guy is too fierce. I reasonably suspect he's smarter than you!"
Rhodes also retorted, unwilling to be outdone. What's wrong with being a bit fat! Am I eating your family's rice?
Green Goblin returned, grabbed a box of pumpkin bombs, replaced the glider's unique energy, and took off again.
"Stir it up, stir it up, just keep stirring it up!
Stir it until there's no one defending the front, Captain America and his team have no support, and you lose the battle, just keep stirring it up!
Who knows, some idiots might even order a nuclear attack on the city!"
These words changed the tone of Tony and Rhodes' banter. The two exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.
"So Green Goblin is an idiot?"
"Yes, that's right, he's an idiot!"
The two shook hands, confirming their previous answer, and set off again after replacing their energy.
Thor was in full swing, and Spider-Man landed beside him.
"It looks like a big one is coming!"
Ahead, a colossal Chitauri Leviathan was approaching, with rows of Chitauri soldiers deploying from its side wings, roaring at them.
The distant flying fleet launched energy beam attacks, sweeping the area. After this clear-out, even if they weren't killed, an entire street would be utterly destroyed!
"Just leave it to me."
Thor charged forward through the bombardment, taking a leap. His Stormbreaker swung at the flying Leviathan, but it was swallowed whole!
"Hiss!"
Spider-Man gasped, wondering if he should try to rescue Thor.
Just as he was thinking, he saw a violent flash of lightning erupt from the Leviathan.
Boom!
The explosion, from inside out, once again shattered the Leviathan into pieces. Its huge, grotesque, fanged head fell to the ground, sliding all the way to Spider-Man's feet.
Thor was covered in oil. He slammed his battle-axe onto the ground, and the power of lightning spread, sending nearby Chitauri soldiers flying.
The oil and grime were also dispelled by a small magic, returning him to a clean and tidy state.
"Cool!"
Spider-Man had just spoken when he did a backflip, sending out a web to leap to a higher position.
He punched an aircraft carrying two soldiers, blowing it up. A shallow crater had been blasted by an energy beam where he had just been. If he had been hit, it would have been a big joke!
Everyone was fighting hard, each performing their duties. This heroic battle scene was continuously broadcast by the fearless reporters of Horn Daily.
If someone died, their family would receive compensation, and a fearless homeless person would be sent to continue carrying the camera.
In short, people could die, but filming could not stop! They had to show their heroic struggle, and then the material for the Avengers movie would be there!
Singing praises might not be foolproof, but making it into a movie, then it would be impossible to hide anything.
Lightning began to gather in the sky, and dark clouds enveloped the portal.
Captain America Steve controlled the lightning to attack the portal, which was protected by an energy shield. But the Chitauri Legion emerging from the shield suffered, whether it was individual flying vehicles or Leviathans, they were all numbed by the electricity.
Looking at the constantly jumping numbers on the panel, which represented the number of completed tasks, he didn't care if Manhattan was destroyed; he only cared about his own interests!
Polaris walked over with a smile, wearing high heels, and took out a towel to wipe Captain America Steve's face, then flipped the tissue over to show him a lipstick mark.
"Was that left by that woman named Natasha?"
"Uh, I forgot."
Captain America Steve had indeed forgotten. He only remembered Natasha thanking him and then kneeling down.
Not dwelling on the issue, some things are best said and then dropped. If you really held onto it,
it wouldn't be Captain America Steve who was embarrassed, but herself!
"My father and his group have arrived and have already made their move. Iron Man, War Machine, Green Goblin, and Whiplash's suits have all malfunctioned; my father is controlling them."
No wonder Magneto hadn't appeared, and Iron Man and the others lost contact after replacing their energy; it turned out they were being controlled!
Without Iron Man and their containment, some Chitaurisoldiers had already flown out.
The Military's deployed air force was also intercepting, but unfortunately, the effect was not good.
Often, a plane costing tens of millions of U.S. dollars would be destroyed after being hit by a Chitauri aircraft, losing all its defenses.
Such aircraft were very cheap, but the Military's planes couldn't withstand such attrition!
Don't let the ease with which the Super Heroes dealt with the Chitauri soldiers fool you. But when uncontrollable Chitauri soldiers appeared at the outer Military defense lines,
the battle lines, instantly destroyed by energy beams, still created a huge contrast. The Chitauri Legion, which had just been beaten like sandbags by the Super Heroes,
was now turning the tables and beating the U.S. Military like sandbags. The U.S. Military's resistance was not strong, and their lethality was even limited.
The clash between traditional gunpowder bullets and high-tech energy cannons also brought the same visual shock.
Dazzling energy beams spewed from the warships, accurately slamming into the ground army's defense lines.
Instantly, explosions erupted into the sky. Tanks were thrown like toys under the powerful energy impact, disintegrating, with fragments mixed with hot metal splashing everywhere.
U.S. soldiers were thrown to the ground by the blast, many of them swallowed by subsequent energy attacks before they could get up. Screams rose and fell, and blood stained the streets.
At the same time, the air force was also engaged in a bitter struggle.
The Chitauri aircraft were incredibly agile, weaving through the U.S. fighter formations with erratic flight paths.
Although U.S. fighter jets had fierce firepower, they gradually became overwhelmed when facing the numerous and highly maneuverable Chitauri aircraft. Missiles launched from the fighter jets were often cleverly dodged by the Chitauri aircraft, while the energy projectiles fired by the enemy continuously hit the U.S. fighter jets.
One after another, fighter jets trailed black smoke and burning flames, plummeting to the ground, creating huge craters in the city.
On the ground, army units began to fall into chaos under the sustained Chitauri assault.
The defense lines were torn open with large gaps, and Chitauri infantry surged forward like a tide.
These tall, grim-faced alien creatures wielded energy weapons, leaving devastation in their wake.
U.S. soldiers resisted stubbornly, firing rifles and machine guns furiously. Chitauri infantry fell one by one from the bullet attacks, but their counterattacks caused U.S. soldiers to fall in droves.
As the battle continued, the U.S. Military's disadvantage became increasingly apparent.
The Commander in the rear had a grim expression, completely not expecting that the U.S. Army, reputed to be the World's strongest, was no match for these aliens!
He constantly called for reinforcements, but at present, deploying more troops would only mean sending them to their deaths.
"Where are those Super Heroes! Damn it!
Call the Department of Defense immediately, we need support!"
The secretary brought bad news, with a very grim expression.
"Report, Officer, the Secretary of the Department of Defense has replied to us."
"What did he say?"
"He said to hold fast, and there will be a way!"
The Commander's face changed several times after hearing this. Was he being treated like a monkey and an idiot?
"Completely shrink the battle line, treat the wounded, evacuate the targets that need protection, and report the situation to the Department of Defense."
If you're unjust, don't blame me for not protecting your Villa, you didn't give me enough money!
The technological gap was too large, especially with the sky full of Chitauri Leviathans, each spewing out hundreds of Chitauri soldiers.
The other side had completely lost face and started a Zerg rush, how were they supposed to fight this?
Spider-Man also encountered a problem. While rescuing people, he was holding up a collapsing wall to let civilians pass first.
A whistle sounded.
He looked up to see his good friend Harry and his former crush Mary Jane being held by a man in a White suit.
Both were suspended outside the top floor, their feet flailing, desperately trying to find a foothold.
Under Black King Shaw's smile, Harry and Mary Janewere thrown outside.
At this moment, it was up to Spider-Man Peter to choose: continue saving civilians, or save his friends.
A classic trolley problem! Who to save?
Spider-Man, in a full burst of power, had his muscles tearing through his suit. Using the adhesive properties of his webs, he connected the collapsing wall to another point, preventing it from collapsing further.
But as soon as he left, Black King Shaw kicked him back.
"No!"
Pfft!
Spider-Man was pressed against the edge of the rooftop by Black King Shaw, forcing him to watch his friends fall to their deaths in front of him.
"You can't save anyone! You can't save anyone! Accept your fate! Spider-Man, you're not cut out to be a hero!"
Watching Harry and Mary Jane die tragically in front of him, Spider-Man rubbed his eyes hard, seemingly unable to believe any of this was real!
Black King Shaw had considered capturing Aunt Mei, as that would have been even more impactful.
But he searched for Aunt Mei for a long time and couldn't find her, so he had to settle for capturing Harryand Mary Jane instead.
"No! No, no! Ah!"
Spider-Man angrily shook off Black King Shaw, his full-power fists repeatedly striking his head, punch after punch, each carrying no less than ten tons of force, fast and ruthless!
With his friends dying tragically before his eyes, he was filled with boundless rage. His former no-kill principle had been shattered.
What exactly did Black King Shaw want to do?
If it was just to provoke Spider-Man, there was no need to go to this extent!
From the moment he saw the Avengers assemble, Black King Shaw knew that this alliance would inevitably remain absolutely stable under Captain America Steve's leadership.
A powerful kingdom alliance cannot be broken from the outside; one must find a way from within.
Oh, I misspoke. It cannot be breached from the outside; it can only be internally detonated.
Ruling the World, using Mutants as tools to rise to power, is still far from that stage.
He originally wanted to rely on Gorgon, but unfortunately, the other party was too useless, of no use at all, simply taken down by Captain America. If he wasn't useless, who was?
Once a hero crosses the line, the line becomes blurred. Once there is no line, there is no difference between a hero vigilante and a murderer.
He just wanted Spider-Man to fall, because of anger, rage, that ridiculous empathy, good deeds, and then to be infamous!
Why choose him? Simply because he was easy to bully!
Chapter 155 Ancient One: Captain, get out of my way!
You're no match for me, Spider-Man. I know your name, and I know who else you have! You can't protect everyone, and you can't protect anyone.
A hero? How laughable! You're just a CIA dog! Open your eyes and see, your Mei has already conceived someone else's child.
Do you still have the face to be Spider-Man, Peter Parker?! I'll make you regret opposing me!
Haha, you also have a girlfriend, right? You want children, right? Then I'll send you both to meet on the road to the underworld!"
Every word from Black King Shaw broke Spider-Man. His long-hidden secrets and identity were as transparent as glass to the opponent!
Secrets that were nothing to ordinary people, with a little investigation, finding him wouldn't be difficult at all.
It was just that S.H.I.E.L.D. and the CIA had protected Spider-Man too well, making him drop his guard.
"You dare to do that! I will never let you go!"
Spider-Man furiously punched Black King Shaw, each blow to his face exceeding ten tons of force!
Spider-Man's full power burst was terrifying. This situation couldn't last, as his muscle tissues couldn't withstand the recoil of the force.
The next second.
Black King Shaw caught his fist, smiled faintly, and squeezed his bones until they ached.
Then he kicked out, sending Spider-Man flying. His right hand was caught, causing him to perfectly absorb the kick with no chance to deflect the force. Even with Spider-Man's physique, he was left seeing stars and his stomach churning.
"You're just trash, calling yourself a superhero? There's no good end for opposing me, you useless piece of garbage!"
Seeing that it was enough, Black King Shaw kicked Spider-Man away, sending him plummeting from over sixty stories up.
Hawkeye noticed the situation immediately and reported it.
But Iron Man and the others were hard-controlled by Magneto. Forget about support, even self-preservation was extremely difficult.
The usually calm Green Goblin froze when he heard that two college students named Harry and Mary Janehad fallen to their deaths.
Many men were named Harry, so it might not be his son.
However, if a man named Harry was also with that bitch Mary Jane, then it was almost certainly his son!
His son was dead!
His only son was dead!
Green Goblin was Norman, and Norman was Green Goblin, two sides of the same coin. The physical enhancement serum merely activated his evil side; things he dared not do before now became commonplace.
The enraged Green Goblin shed all his armor and furiously walked towards Magneto in the distance.
At this moment, Magneto's eyes were still distinctly blue, looking very eerie.
He stretched out his hand, and a car crashed towards Green Goblin.
Bang!
Green Goblin punched the car away, then began to run quickly.
Magneto reached out again, disassembling the car. Metal parts turned into small fragments, then eerily merged to form steel bars.
Thump! Thump!
The steel bars formed an 'X' in front of Green Goblin, then began to wrap around him, pinning him in place.
This method was much more effective than direct confrontation. The wrapping made it very difficult for the opponent to resist; even Thor, after awakening, was imprisoned in this manner.
With his method of exerting force restricted, no matter how much strength he had, he couldn't effectively use it.
Whoosh!
A beam cannon struck Magneto, sending him flying.
Magneto, who had crashed into a large bus, gradually regained consciousness. He clearly remembered what he had done, but he couldn't resist, and the feeling was too strange.
Watching Green Goblin, who had broken free, walk towards him, Magneto felt a bit uneasy.
"Black King Shaw is over there. Let me clear my head. I need to get revenge on that bastard Loki."
Green Goblin wasn't really after Magneto himself; it was just that Magneto's control of the magnetic field had prevented them from supporting the battle.
"You deliberately gave your son-in-law time to show off, didn't you!"
Iron Man Tony was very annoyed. Being hard-controlled for twenty minutes, unable to do anything—who understands that feeling?
"I don't know what you're talking about. Others were also controlled. Just blast them, a little explosion, a fall, and they'll wake up."
Magneto held his head. This feeling of being controlled was very unpleasant. He needed to find suitable tools, tools that could prevent him from being controlled.
At this moment, Steve was truly like a God of War, wielding mjolnir and slaughtering. Combined with Thor, Hulk, and Abomination, the scene of Carnage was too beautiful to watch!
He threw the hammer, then turned and used his shield to reflect an energy beam that hit him. Chitauri soldiers fell like dumplings, one after another.
The hammer flew into the shattered leviathan's teeth, then broke through the armor. A lightning bolt struck the hammer, attracting a large amount of lightning to fall, using it as an anchor point.
Boom!
The entire Chitauri leviathan exploded into fragments!
"Roar!"
The Chitauri soldiers roared at Captain America, daring to blow up so many leviathans. Their hive mind made them target Steve; this troublesome human had to die!
Steve caught the returning hammer and the returning shield with one hand. Under the drone camera, he breathed slightly, his face still bearing scorched battle scars, showcasing his masculine charm to the extreme!
"Thor, go to Stark Tower and assist Natasha.
Hulk, Abomination, you two are responsible for continuing to smash those Chitauri soldiers.
I will pass through the portal to destroy their headquarters; we cannot let them continue to rampage in Manhattan.
Tony, Rhodes, Ivan. I want you to intercept the nuclear missiles the Military is launching towards Manhattan!
Magneto, lead the other X-Squad members to assist Hulk and the others. Don't let any Chitauri soldier escape. If any other criminals cause trouble, kill them without mercy!
Spider-Man, Black King Shaw is yours. Don't let him cause any more trouble."
"Yes, Captain!"
This scene was spoken with cameras rolling. Besides the Captain going through the portal, what was even more explosive was that the Military was actually preparing to launch nuclear missiles to destroy Manhattan?
This was insane!
The U.S. Military bombing U.S. soil with nuclear missiles? That was indeed crazy!
After this nuclear missile, the United States would probably have to form a new United States!
"Captain, how do I intercept a nuclear missile?"
Tony was also stunned. He looked at the portal in the sky and suddenly had an idea.
"How about sending the nuclear missile into the portal?"
"No, the launch order for the nuclear missile was decided by the Security Council. Send the nuclear missile back to them! Throw it at the Pentagon!"
Steve's eyes were incredibly wild. He spun mjolnir, then was propelled by the thrown hammer and flew off.
Black King Shaw suddenly appeared in the air, sneering at Steve, and punched him away.
Boom!
He crashed heavily into a building from a great height. Steve climbed out of the rubble.
He happened to see Sorcerer Ancient One descending the stairs. This person had even officiated his wedding, under the guise of a priestly blessing, without mentioning anything about being a Sorcerer.
"You look like you could use some help!"
"Yes, I'm very angry right now. Can you help me?"
Steve quipped, then looked at Black King Shaw, his eyes solemn. That guy had suddenly appeared and knocked him out of the sky. The force in that instant had reached thirty tons, which was incredibly exaggerated!
If it weren't for his upgraded battle suit, with such immense force combined with a fall from hundreds of meters, he wouldn't be unharmed now, but already buried!
"If you're very angry, go find your wife. I am not your wife.
Captain, go ahead. I'll handle things here."
Sorcerer Ancient One smiled gently. No matter how she was teased, she always maintained her elegant and gentle demeanor.
Standing before her was Black King Shaw, who had fallen from a great height and was still unharmed. The impact of the fall was also energy, which could be absorbed.
The energy from enemy attacks could also be absorbed and stored, then re-released with super strong destructive power once a critical point was reached!
"Steve, we haven't seen each other in a long time. Hehe, do you want to be a hero?"
Black King Shaw had just finished speaking when a ball of spider silk splattered on his face, directly interrupting his speech.
"Captain, leave this to me. You go and do your thing."
Spider-Man landed in his classic starting pose. He was very annoyed now and wanted to hit someone!
Steve spun his hammer, preparing to fly off. Before leaving, he patted Ancient One's butt.
"Help me keep an eye on this little brother. After the war, I'll treat you to dinner."
"Get lost!"
Ancient One was furious, even wanting to use the Time Stone to make Steve experience what 'Groundhog Day' felt like!
Before this, in the damaged aircraft carrier conference room.
The Security Council bypassed Secretary-General Hilland directly issued an order to Director Fury: bomb Manhattan!
This was to prevent the aliens from continuing to cause trouble, to achieve the greatest victory at the smallest cost!
As for what deals were made, that was certainly unknown. Without profit, the United States would never use nuclear missiles to bomb Manhattan.
This was New York's most prosperous area; Broadway, Wall Street, and Silicon Valley were all here, with not only technology companies but also financial debt companies.
If this place were destroyed, the entire United States' prosperity would decline by three levels!
Yet, even so, the resolution passed, and Hill was even deliberately bypassed.
Hill would not agree; this didn't even need to be tested. Her husband, Captain America Steve, was still fighting bravely on the front lines. How could she agree to bomb the front lines with missiles?
Crazy!
That would be murdering her own husband!
But even so, the Security Council still bypassed her and met directly with Fury. They initially thought Fury would agree, but unexpectedly, Fury still refused.
Privately, Fury highly affirmed and supported Hill's character and work ethic.
But from a power perspective, Hill had indeed taken away some command authority, which annoyed him.
Regardless, they had always cooperated happily. Now, asking him to bomb the front lines was something he couldn't do and couldn't accept.
"Sorry, council members, that's the island of Manhattan.
Unless my team can no longer withstand the alien offensive, and they are fighting valiantly, I will not order the use of nuclear weapons to bomb Manhattan or target civilians!"
"If it truly cannot be stopped, then that's when it's truly over!"
"If nuclear weapons are used, then that's when it's truly over!"
Fury finished speaking and cut off communications. How could these useless people, who only knew how to work in offices, eat light meals, and do yoga, know how hard the front lines were fighting!
But the Security Council was determined to bomb Manhattan. There must be some hidden reason why they absolutely had to use nuclear missiles to bomb it.
Even at the cost of economic recession and declining hegemony, they wanted to flatten Manhattan?
There was something very fishy and suspicious about this!
"Director Fury no longer has a say. Prioritize executing 7A11!"
"7A11, confirmed, preparing for takeoff!"
Coulson, in the control room, noticed something was wrong and quickly said.
"Officer, a plane is about to take off!"
Upon hearing this, Fury immediately realized that the Security Council had bypassed Secretary-General Hilland his own dual management as Director, transmitting the order directly to the lowest level.
So he grabbed a Rocket launcher and rushed out. If he couldn't stop the plane from taking off with verbal commands, then he would stop it physically!
"Attention everyone on deck, a plane is taking off without authorization.
Intercept it!
Repeat, unauthorized action!"
As Fury burst out of the hatch, a plane streaked past his eyes.
He crouched, shouldered the Rocket launcher, aimed, and fired!
All in one smooth motion!
Boom!
The fighter jet, with its wing destroyed, glided all the way to the edge, unable to stop its momentum, and still crashed.
This perfectly provided a screen for the subsequent fighter jets to take off. One after another, fighter jets glided and then surged off the runway.
These fighter jets were all equipped with tactical nuclear missiles, not just warheads, but actual nuclear missiles!
All these nuclear missiles combined would be enough to destroy the entire New York, not just the single island of Manhattan!
As soon as this happened, Hill immediately warned Steve.
This was the elites digging their own graves!
Since that was the case, he wouldn't be polite. He would turn their plan against them and make the nuclear missile launch public.
Using the advantage of drone camera broadcasts, he would expose the elites' plan to disregard civilian casualties and the Police who had not yet evacuated.
If they didn't treat the people below as human, the elites would never be able to hold their positions securely.
It was foreseeable that after this war, a new round of power reshuffling would inevitably ensue.
It was a good time to consider recommending some of his own people, replacing others, seizing key positions, and giving himself the green light!
The cooperation between capitalists and bureaucrats—that was a win-win!
I get rich, you get promoted, everyone's happy!
Considering this, Steve felt no anger. If worst came to worst, he could retreat first.
The following scenes elevated the tragedy of the superheroes to an even higher level.
Hulk and Abomination teamed up to tear apart a leviathan, but the next second they were met with a concentrated barrage of fire from Chitauri soldiers hovering in the sky.
Under the fierce artillery coverage, both were constantly forced to duck and dodge, completely unable to fight back or retaliate.
Watching the figures of Hulk and Abominationdisappear into the smoke under the artillery fire, this scene was utterly heartbreaking.
Chapter 156 The Macho Captain Destroys the Mothership
Iron Man, War Machine, and Whiplash were also trying to intercept the nuclear bomb. Since it couldn't be thrown into the portal, they decided to divert it towards the Atlantic Ocean during this time!
"It's too late. I think there's a more suitable place."
Whiplash didn't care at all about the U.S.'s life or death, but if he could make the U.S. look bad and suffer, he would be very happy!
"Where?"
Tony was using hacking programs to extend the explosion time as much as possible. Once it detonated, even the Iron Man Suit couldn't withstand the nuclear bomb's impact!
"Canada! A natural testing ground for explosions. If you don't think it's appropriate, that's fine, just let the big one explode in New York."
Whiplash's smile was incredibly sinister. A U.S. nuclear bomb exploding within Canada!
How could this not seem like a magical plot? If it really happened, what then?
How would they interact?
Clearly, such a thing was truly ridiculous.
"F*** you, Whiplash, you come down here, see if I don't beat you to death!"
Deadpool cursed. He was Canadian, and now Whiplashwas talking about bombing Canada with a nuclear bomb. He'd be a ghost if he were happy about that!
Wolverine and Sabretooth also looked displeased, because they were indeed born in Canada.
"Then I'll give you the nuclear bomb, you eat it."
Whiplash raised an eyebrow,
You won't agree? Then you do it!
Captain America had said before that he would send those nuclear bombs back to the congressmen. Who knew if that was out of anger or if he was serious?
Now the internet was going crazy!
They were all cursing those powerful congressmen for not caring about the lives of citizens, only wanting to preserve their own glory and wealth!
Everything was exposed, and maliciously speculating, could it be that they wanted to round up all the Super Heroes and Super Villains in Manhattan under the guise of an alien invasion?
It was very possible, extremely possible!
Steve didn't want to deal with any of this. There would be plenty of time and ways to settle scores later. For him now, completing the mission was the most important thing!
After passing through the portal, the mask provided breathing and low-temperature protection.
What appeared before him was an endless, continuous army. Nearly a kilometer above the portal was the Chitauri Legion's Mothership!
All Chitauri soldiers, Leviathans, and aircraft were controlled by the Mothership, even when crossing the portal to fight.
All battlefield data could be transmitted to the Mothership, analyzed by its control core, and then forces would be allocated to encircle key targets.
This was why Hulk and Abomination were suppressed, and why even Hawkeye had to jump out of a building to escape!
If he hadn't run fast, he probably would have been buried along with the building!
Seeing someone appear, the Chitauri soldiers became very excited. Apart from a few still passing through the portal,
the other soldiers fiercely attacked Steve. Taking advantage of Steve's inability to move, they frantically unleashed their firepower!
After enduring a wave of energy beams, Steve spun mjolnir and flew upwards.
His mind began to calculate, based on the current air pressure, temperature, and enemy distance, how best to throw his shield.
On the Mothership, a Chitauri Elder looked at Steve, who was wreaking havoc, with cold eyes.
"This creature is good material, try to capture him alive!"
The Chitauri race constantly improved their biological genes to evolve, collecting the genes of strong individuals from other races and adding them to themselves to gain enhancement.
Coupled with their hive combat mentality, no soldier dared to betray, otherwise it meant death!
This highly centralized form of rule was enough to ensure that their dominant position would not be shaken!
Looking at the mission requirements, which still included over three hundred Chitauri soldiers, two Leviathans, and ten high-ranking Chitauri Commanders.
Steve looked towards the Mothership, trying to find information about it.
The Chitauri Mothership: There are twenty high-ranking Commanders and one Chitauri Elder on board. After destroying the Mothership, the Chitauri soldiers and Leviathans that lose their power will also be counted as killed.
"Good opportunity! This is what I was waiting for!"
Since they could be counted as killed, he should have come over earlier, instead of fighting and grinding monsters below.
If it weren't for the extremely high spawn rate, and without Iron Man and the others to contain them, who knows how many Chitauri soldiers would have flown out.
Taking out the modified beam rifle, he hadn't used it before, precisely to conceal his strength.
He adjusted the power to maximum, activated the cannon mode, and pulled the trigger!
A concentrated beam of light pierced through all the Leviathans and aircraft in front, creating a vacuum tunnel with nothing to obstruct it.
He spun mjolnir, then threw it out forcefully, letting it carry him upwards.
"What is he doing?"
The Chitauri Elder looked at the spot hit by the beam. It couldn't even leave a white mark. What good was a weapon that couldn't even break through their defenses?
"Elder, he's coming up!"
Clang!
No sooner had he spoken than Steve, carrying mjolnir, smashed into the enemy's warship and began to charge inside.
He kicked through the protective glass, breaking the internal and external pressure balance.
The extremely strong air pressure instantly swept all living beings and objects inside the spaceship out into space. The Chitauri soldiers floating in outer space visibly froze into ice sculptures!
Steve, with his strong protection, ignored all this. He gathered his internal energy in his hands, picked up mjolnir, and smashed it towards the vulnerable parts.
Information prompts and health bars were fully displayed. At this moment, dense health bars and vulnerability indicators appeared.
A steel door was in front of him. With just a glance, he could find the weak points and how to open it. He picked up mjolnir, smashed the fragile structure, and charged straight in.
Zzzzt!
The Chitauri soldiers behind the door hadn't even seen anyone before they were struck by a powerful lightning bolt. After trembling a few times, they collapsed limply to the ground. The air was filled with a burnt smell.
There was the stench of burnt flesh and the foul odor of high-temperature scorching from damaged metal.
Steve, with his full power unleashed, was like a War God at this moment. Even tightly sealed alloy doors, he would charge and smash open, sending the Chitaurisoldiers behind them flying!
Countless kinetic energy beams struck his shield, deflecting and hitting their own kind, without even causing Steve to pause for a moment.
He fought his way from the stern of the ship to the central energy supply room, took out a nuclear bomb from the system warehouse, dropped it, then broke through the Mothership's wall again, and leaped back into the dark expanse of space.
"Catch him! Kill him!"
The Chitauri Elder still didn't know what had happened, only that a lowly racial creature had run into his territory.
He had turned the Mothership upside down, and now he wanted to escape?
There was no such good thing. If he escaped, what about the Elder's face?
The Mothership's cannons aimed at Steve. Energy gathered in the strange pincer cannons. Then they fired suddenly, and One by one blue energy came sweeping down.
Steve activated the bomb while holding the shield behind him, fully operating mjolnir to carry himself back to the portal.
Countless beams of light struck the shield and were bounced away. Steve also used the impact force of the attacks to accelerate downwards.
During this time, Chitauri soldiers on aircraft on both sides were still firing, making it somewhat difficult to pass through the barrage.
The suit was not invincible. Once damaged, given his physique, he wouldn't survive long in the extremely low temperature and oxygen-deprived environment of space!
So, with a thought, his motorcycle reappeared.
He twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle's liquid nitrogen acceleration combined with mjolnir's propulsion suddenly increased his speed by a notch.
Relying on his Super Speed and the suit's defense, he simply endured the attacks and rushed back to the portal.
Boom!
The nuclear bomb behind him also exploded after nearing the portal. Exploding in the energy supply area, the chain reaction and sympathetic detonation shattered the entire Mothership into pieces!
With the explosion of the Mothership, the hive core controlling the Chitauri was also destroyed.
The once arrogant Chitauri Legion instantly crashed, caught off guard, without even a hint of warning. Suddenly, *smack*, they died!
After the Chitauri Mothership was destroyed, a chain reaction surged like a tsunami.
The uncontrolled Chitauri soldiers and ships, like kites with broken strings, crashed into the towering buildings with destructive force.
Skyscrapers trembled and collapsed upon impact, raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sky.
Reinforced concrete debris flew everywhere, and glass shards rained down.
Previously, the Super Heroes were suppressed, even Magneto had to focus fire to be safe hiding under the subway, and many Mutants died on the battlefield.
Yet, in this landscape of despairing ruins, a ray of hope quietly rose.
Survivors cautiously emerged from their hiding places, their faces covered in dust and fear, but their eyes glimmered with the light of having survived a catastrophe. As they looked at the figures who had saved this city—the Avengers members—their gazes were instantly filled with reverence and gratitude.
A pale-faced female convenience store clerk tightly gripped Hulk's hand. The huge difference in their sizes made her appear tiny and comical.
"Thank you, thank you!"
The female clerk burst into tears. She had thought she was doomed just now; a Chitauri Leviathan had already reached her and was about to devour her.
Then, Hulk, who had rushed over from behind, directly crashed into the Leviathan's face, tearing at it while punching, forcing the Leviathan to turn away. Otherwise, she would have truly died.
"Thank you, Hulk. You're called Hulk, right? I heard you shout your name during the fight.
Hulk, Mr. Giant, if it weren't for you, we would all have died here. This city would have been finished. You are New York's guardians!"
Hulk scratched his head, a little embarrassed. He was in his Hulk persona now, not very intelligent, but being thanked felt really good.
Abomination seemed unimpressed, turning his head away, but his folded arms and highly raised head showed he was very pleased.
"So this is what it feels like to be a hero?"
Not far away, a young mother holding her child, tears brimming in her eyes, shouted loudly to Thor.
"Mr. Thor, you are like a hero from mythology descended to Earth! It was your lightning that drove away those monsters! My child will look up to you as an example in the future!"
"Haha, that's right, of course, my teammates also deserve credit! I am Asgard's First Warrior!"
Thor laughed heartily, his laughter echoing through the ruins, bringing endless strength to the people.
Spider-Man skillfully weaved through the broken walls and rubble, helping rescue workers carry the injured.
An injured teenager lying on a stretcher excitedly shouted to him.
"Spider-Man, you're so cool! When I grow up, I want to be as brave as you!"
"Haha, good, recover well. The future depends on you all!"
Television reporters raced against time to document these touching scenes. Brandt, moonlighting as a senior reporter, held a microphone and spoke passionately to the camera.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just experienced an unprecedented crisis, but at this moment, standing on this scarred land, my heart is filled with emotion and pride.
The Avengers, this group of extraordinary heroes, stepped forward in our most critical hour.
Iron Man, Whiplash, War Machine, and Green Goblin, with their wisdom and courage, resolved the nuclear bomb crisis.
Hulk and Abomination, with their unmatched strength, rampaged across the battlefield, scattering the aliens. Their roars became the enemy's nightmare.
Black Widow and Hawkeye, their precise skills and fearless spirit, ensured that no enemy dared to underestimate them.
Spider-Man is not just a street hero; he is a war hero. In battle, his webs accomplished great feats and saved many people, reducing the number of broken families.
And Captain America, his outstanding leadership and unyielding will, united everyone's strength, becoming the core pillar of this battle.
He ventured deep into the portal, entering our unknown space, destroying the aliens' headquarters, and turning the tide of this battle.
They are not lofty gods, but mortals with flesh and blood, yet they, with courage and belief beyond ordinary people, built an unbreakable defense for us.
They demonstrated through action what true heroism is: to charge onto the battlefield without hesitation, even when knowing the dangers, to protect those we love, to safeguard this city, and even the entire World.
Today, New York witnessed a miracle; humanity witnessed hope. The name of the Avengers will forever be etched in the annals of history, becoming an immortal legend in our hearts! Let us pay tribute to these great heroes!
Now, let us offer them applause with warm applause, sincere blessings, and grateful hearts!"
Clap, clap, clap!
Thunderous applause erupted. As the reporter spoke passionately, the surrounding survivors all began to clap, their applause like thunder, echoing long over New York. This was the most sincere praise and gratitude for the Avengers.
Whether heroes or villains, at this moment, their souls seemed to be sublimated.
To be loved, to be respected. This feeling was truly wonderful, almost addictive.
Power does not necessarily bring a curse; it can also bring opportunity!
Green Goblin chuckled foolishly, not because he had become a hero, but because he hadn't accounted for Black King Shaw, which led to his son's death!
Chapter 157 Ancient One is addicted, right?
After Steve passed through the portal, Natashasuccessfully closed the portal with the scepter containing the Mind Stone.
At the New York Sanctum, Black King Shaw saw the unfavorable situation and prepared to retreat; he had never intended to achieve everything in one go.
Heroes must be corrupted little by little, and alliances must be disintegrated little by little.
This time, he only agreed to cooperate with Lokibecause Loki was an alien and had an army, but he didn't expect the other party to be so useless!
They had clearly suppressed the U.S. Military and the Avengers to the point of immobility; in a little while longer, they would have collapsed and suffered casualties.
But at the critical moment, the entire Chitauri Legioninstantly overturned, losing all energy without any warning and turning into a mass of dead machinery!
There was no sign of life!
What a pigheaded teammate!
They were just one step away from victory, but they couldn't hold on and were turned over by the protagonist's group!
He was so furious that he wished he could grab Lokiand strangle him to death! Strangle him to death, that pigheaded teammate!
Damn it!
Just as Black King Shaw was about to retreat, he heard a sonic boom.
Years of combat experience made him instinctively assume a defensive stance, concentrating all his energy on defense.
Boom!
A hammer blow from the sky directly smashed him into the ground, stopping only after thirty meters.
After that hammer blow, Black King Shaw's head was ringing, and his skull was fractured, but he was still alive.
His formidable defense saved him from a certain death, but even so, he didn't have much time left to live.
Just as Steve was about to summon lightning to kill Black King Shaw, a portal opened.
Hannibal walked out, followed by many Fallen Mages.
His subordinates rushed towards Steve, while he used magic to pull Black King Shaw up and escape through the portal.
Steve dealt with these Fallen Mages in a few moves; their conjured weapons shattered upon contact with mjolnir!
"You guys are so annoying!"
Steve clenched his right fist and unleashed a palm strike of lightning, not only charring the Fallen Mages but also sending Hannibal, who had just entered the portal, flying.
If the portal hadn't closed, he probably wouldn't have fared well either.
The Ancient One watched the show from the side, especially when she saw her disciples return to rescue someone who shouldn't have been rescued, yet she still didn't stop them, only showing surprise and disbelief.
At this moment, Steve walked over to the Ancient One, his tone somewhat unfriendly.
"Why didn't you stop him?"
"Violence for violence is not the answer; it will lead to a vicious cycle.
Kaecilius is exceptionally talented; he only joined Dormammu out of a desire for eternal life.
He doesn't know that so-called eternal life is actually an eternal curse!"
The Ancient One spoke mysteriously, saying some things and leaving others unsaid; she dared not expose the fact that she secretly borrowed power from the Dark Dimension to prolong her life.
It was precisely because Kaecilius knew that the Ancient One was both telling them to fight the Dark Dimension and secretly using the Dark Dimension's power to sustain her life.
How could such a hypocritical and deceitful person be their leader!
If there was a way to achieve eternal life, why hide it?
In Kaecilius's view, the Ancient One was a selfish and two-faced woman, completely unworthy of being the Sorcerer Supreme!
"Can you track Kaecilius?"
"No, and I cannot do so!"
"Do you know what I'm going to do now? I want to see if you're still as hypocritical!"
Steve grabbed the Ancient One by the neck and pushed her into the bedroom.
If Black King Shaw wasn't killed this time, he would return after recovering, and his businesses and wife could all be threatened.
An old schemer who doesn't care about human relations and only knows how to create chaos, hiding behind the scenes to cause disorder, is something Stevecannot tolerate.
If you don't cut the grass by the roots, it will grow back with the spring breeze.
An hour later.
Steve put on his clothes and looked at the Ancient One, who offered no resistance; he felt very bored.
"If Kaecilius isn't found, you'll suffer every day, I promise!"
As Steve was about to leave, the Ancient One replied.
"I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow."
"Fuck you, you're addicted, aren't you!"
--
The aftermath of the New York Battle has not yet subsided, and many things need to be dealt with.
The wreckage left by the Chitauri Legion, these are high-tech products for the people of Earth.
If collected and deciphered, they could have a very fast and efficient effect on technological advancement.
Secondly, the recognition and awarding ceremony for the Avengers will also be put on the agenda.
Once heroes, they must be widely publicized, and the wanted status of Abomination and others must also be revoked.
Green Goblin's request was simple: he wanted to run for councilor and mayor.
To take a different path, a superhuman running for councilor?
This is not a good sign.
Regarding the Avengers, the tycoons and councilors were highly unified in their attitude: to use them as high-level tools.
Give them money if they want money, people if they want people, and honor if they want honor!
But you want to enter politics? That's not allowed!
This point required repeated back-and-forth, but Green Goblin's son had died, which made him very unhappy.
Especially after learning that it was Black King Shaw, a Mutant, who did it, a plan gradually formed in his mind.
He couldn't find Black King Shaw alone, but what if everyone in the World looked for him?
What if the Military also looked for him? Would it still be hard to find?
The third point was post-disaster reconstruction, which was an expense and also a business.
Who would pay for it?
Should they ask the Chitauri for compensation? Not to mention whether they would pay, they couldn't even find them!
They could only pay for it themselves, but capitalism would never pay for citizens to build houses; that would be laughed at.
They are all capitalists; it's enough that you don't exploit the working class; do you still want to build houses for them?
You are not a capitalist! Unworthy of being called a capitalist, get out of this capitalist country!
The fourth point was scapegoating and accountability.
Launching a nuclear missile to attack Manhattan was not a big deal in itself.
In a World invaded by aliens, with no other way to stop them, using nuclear weapons was also a means.
Some things don't depend on right or wrong, only on the outcome.
If the nuclear missile exploded and destroyed the portal, that would naturally be a good thing.
Even if hundreds of thousands or millions of citizens and the Avengers died in the process, it would be irrelevant.
As long as they won, no one would care who died.
At most, a statue would be erected for future generations to commemorate them.
Capitalists are very willing to do this kind of gimmick that doesn't cost money.
But now the nuclear missile exploded in Canada, on the territory of your U.S. ally!
This was your U.S. nuclear missile, and now it exploded on an ally, on a subordinate.
How is this debt to be settled?
If no explanation is given, the U.S.'s position as the leading big brother would be difficult to maintain.
Security Council members must be held accountable, there is no doubt about it; they cannot be let off.
Even the honest Steve stated in an interview that Security Council members could not be let off.
If they didn't give a satisfactory answer, then they would be helped to
Chapter 158 Ancient One's Plan
Ending the meeting, these matters could only be handled by Steve himself. If he didn't, and left them to Green Goblin, the Avengers would likely be hollowed out by him.
Some people are like that; if used well, they are extremely capable subordinates.
If not, he would become a supervillain. This double-edged sword needs someone to control it, and he is the most suitable wielder!
Hill was selecting suitable Security Council members, placing her own people to avoid being constrained.
Sharon, on the other hand, was collecting and distinguishing HYDRA members within S.H.I.E.L.D., needing to separate enemies from allies.
The next step was to find a suitable opportunity to cleanse them. A thorough cleansing, even if it led to inefficiency, was an urgent matter.
Low efficiency was far better than working for their benefit.
Now everyone was focused on salvaging the Chitauri Legion wreckage in Manhattan; this was the moment to divide the spoils.
How terrifying would a self-sufficient Agentdepartment be, with its own finances, military power, law enforcement, and technological research?
This was simply a dimensional strike!
A warlord separated from the U.S., without any constraints, not needing to cater to anyone.
Without any leverage, cooperation with other financial groups was merely interest-based. Holding military power gives one the confidence to speak; that's a golden rule!
If you believed words had power, Native Americans would wake up laughing in their dreams!
Such obvious intentions, if spoken aloud, would be a bit embarrassing. But if not acted upon, it wouldn't just be embarrassing, but life would become difficult in the future.
New York Sanctum, a certain office.
Steve opened the window, letting the cold wind blow away the mixed smells in the room. The cool breeze brought fresh air, finally making it less stuffy.
Ancient One silently tidied her clothes, a satisfied smile on her face.
"I cannot kill Kaecilius; doing so would cause the entire Kamar-Taj's belief system to collapse.
He discovered my secret of using the Dark Dimension to prolong my life, which is why his faith shattered.
Kamar-Taj's belief is to resist the Dark Dimension's invasion. My actions would inevitably overturn their worldview, so his rebellion is understandable.
Killing one of him would only lead to a second, and a third.
But if I don't take on disciples, such things will still happen in the future; I cannot stop eating because of a choking incident."
It seemed she was simply stating the facts, without joy or sorrow, no emotional fluctuations whatsoever. It was as if she was reporting something, and it had nothing to do with her.
"So can you find him? You can't kill him, so I will. Don't play these feminine games; I'm not interested, nor do I care."
Steve snorted. He hated this kind of drawn-out, wishy-washy behavior the most.
As expected of a woman, always indecisive, without any resolve. If she had even a little courage, she wouldn't have none at all!
Listening to your words was like listening to words!
"Yes, I also know they took the man named Black King Shaw for a sacrifice.
In BCE, there was a Mutant recorded in history named Shabannun.
He was the first Mutant recorded in Egyptian history, and also a king.
Legend says he was immortal. Each time his lifespan was about to end, he would perform unspeakable evil rituals to seize others' bodies and lifespans.
Over the long years, this Mutant king was attacked. The slaves he enslaved rose in rebellion and eventually sealed him, and he vanished from the river of history."
"What does this have to do with Kaecilius and them taking Black King Shaw?"
Steve was a bit puzzled, but he had a vague guess.
Ancient One was not angered by Steve's actions, but smiled and explained, looking rather submissive.
Who would have thought that the esteemed Captain America would turn into the taxi boy he hated most?
This Ancient One also didn't look like a Sorcerer Supreme at all, surrendering without even resisting.
Those who knew would say she was the Sorcerer Supreme; those who didn't would think she was an old woman who had been waiting for a long time.
"Their idea is very simple: to find and resurrect this Mutant king.
Given Shabannun's personality, he considers Mutants to be superior, but in reality, he is arrogant and proud, and will inevitably provoke a war with the entire World.
The greater the negative emotions like sorrow and despair, the looser the seal of the Dark Dimension will become, giving them more opportunities."
Ultimately, it was still about releasing Dormammu, just in a different form, a different method.
If all the superheroes in the World gathered to fight him, they would certainly have a hard time.
But what if the whole World was thrown into chaos? Would anyone notice them then?
Obviously, no one would notice, nor would they have the time or inclination to do so.
Seeing this, Steve's expression became solemn. He didn't want to deal with such messy affairs.
Compared to the magic timeline, he preferred dealing with street-level villains, whose powers were small and whose resistance was like pouting, super fun!
"Steve, I need your help. I cannot see your future; your future holds infinite possibilities.
Although I cannot see your future, I can still offer you some hints through divination.
Your recent romantic luck and tribulations are intertwined, but behind them, a glimmer of light appears. If you can handle it cautiously, it will be greatly beneficial to you."
Ancient One revealed why she didn't resist. Simply put, after so many years of perseverance, she was physically and mentally exhausted.
Now that someone capable of taking on the heavy responsibility appeared, it was undoubtedly a huge surprise for her!
If Captain America was willing to help her, she certainly wouldn't have to work so hard. Don't think being the Sorcerer Supreme is leisurely; every day she opens her eyes, she is responsible for the food, drink, and daily needs of thousands of people in the three Sanctums.
Guiding apprentices, preventing Dormammu's followers from causing trouble. She also had to deal with relations with the secular World, all of which were very vexing.
Most importantly, there was her secret of secretly drawing power from the Dark Dimension to prolong her life. It was like fighting a villain, only to find out your own boss was the biggest villain.
This would cause a huge spiritual shock to the sorcerers. Who would understand? The big villain was right beside me!
"Then why are you willing to tell me now?"
Steve picked up the red wine, somewhat annoyed. He wasn't someone who could shoulder too much responsibility.
He had a wife, children, and a happy family. He didn't want to take risks, nor did he need to.
Everything he did now was just to allow his family to live in peace. Some things weren't there from the beginning; there was no such thing as peaceful times, only him carrying the burden for his family.
All of it was worth it. Thinking of Hill and Sharon in bikinis, thinking of his daughters babbling as they learned to speak, that was home, a harbor where his soul could find peace!
Ancient One then revealed a meaningful smile, much like a cunning old fox who had successfully calculated something.
"You are a man of strong emotions, always have been. I am tired and don't want to persevere anymore. If it were you, you would definitely help me.
Whatever you want, I can give you, including any position!"
Steve's expression darkened. He knew he shouldn't follow Soldier Boy; something bad was going to happen!
This Ancient One was really extorting him. Is this how a Sorcerer Supreme acts?
"You're only offering this much and you want me to help you? Haha, what if you decide to die, then wouldn't I have been tricked!
Don't tell me you haven't thought about dying. Strangehasn't become the Sorcerer Supreme yet. You old woman, you're truly malicious!
I, Steve, will never accept your blackmail! Dream on!"
Steve roared hysterically. He felt he had been set up, calculated. How was this a good thing? This was clearly an old cow eating tender grass!
"Everything your wife can do, I can do. I can bear children for you, and I can assist you, if you are unwilling.
Then after Strange's succession, handing the burden to him is also fine.
I will not die, and I do not want to die. I did have that thought before, but you changed my mind, so I will not die."
Ancient One's expression, no matter how you looked at it, didn't seem sincere. She was a thousand-year-old demoness; every word she spoke, even punctuation, needed careful scrutiny and could not be fully trusted!
Seeing that Steve was quite dissatisfied with this explanation, she continued to add.
"I know you're angry. You can treat me however you like; I won't blame you or resist.
There are still many magic artifacts in this Sanctum. If you like them, take them.
As for magic, if you want to learn, I can teach you, even if you don't have talent.
These are just a small token of my sincerity. If you need it, I can give you this too!"
Ancient One finished speaking and cast a spell. The pendant she wore around her neck rotated, and when it opened, a green gem was inside - the Time Stone!
Steve waited a long time but received no response from the system. It seemed there were no missions.
Without missions, his motivation wasn't as enthusiastic, and he even felt a bit disdainful after seeing the Infinity Stones.
Even if Thanos snapped his fingers, he would be safe in his safe house. He wasn't in a hurry at all, completely indifferent.
It was precisely because he had nothing to fear that he could be so lackadaisical!
Others being lackadaisical is because they truly have no worries about food and clothing! If you're lackadaisical, you'll starve tomorrow. Do you still dare to be lackadaisical?
Taking power and forming the Avengers were all just a gimmick, an excuse, a means to mislead others.
The current Steve had no pursuits whatsoever. He had laid his cards on the table: he was just being lackadaisical!
If anyone had an objection, they could complain to his superior, Sharon.
It didn't matter, anyway, his wife would definitely side with her husband.
Seeing Steve still unmoved, Ancient One smiled bitterly and shook her head. She wasn't discouraged but continued to persuade gently.
"Everything I own, everything I control, I can give to you. Oh, and there's a magic cloak in the Sanctum that has its own sentience and can fly. If you're interested, you can try it.
I don't guarantee it will go with you; you have to make it interested in you."
Ancient One seemed genuinely willing to sell anything she could to be lazy.
The reason she could make such an accurate judgment and feel that Steve could be entrusted was, of course, long-term observation and the attitude from Asgard.
Having taken mjolnir, a hammer used by both the Goddess of Death and Thor, its intrinsic value is immeasurable, to call it a divine artifact is no exaggeration.
Its greatest use is not combat, but forging!
A hammer's function isn't necessarily to hit people's heads; it can also be used to tap screws, drive screws, and in forging, it's exceptional!
Steve pinched Ancient One's chin. Why hadn't he noticed this woman's cunning when watching the movie before?
"You're truly cunning, Ancient One. If I find out you're just using me, I'll show you what true cruelty means!"
This posture carried a disrespectful humiliation. Ancient One looked up, gazing at Steve. She showed no fear; instead, she laughed.
"Steve, I am indeed using you. I am using myself as a bargaining chip.
You have this ability. In the New York Battle, I discovered your leadership was far superior to mine.
Some things are better resolved with magic. After Mordo returned and reported to me last time, I decided to use you.
You are more suited to lead Kamar-Taj than I am. You now also possess the divine artifact mjolnir and have mastered lightning, making you even more suitable.
I can serve by your side, providing all the help I can.
Your wives need an early warning, and I can do that."
This was Ancient One's biggest bargaining chip: ensuring the safety of Steve's wives.
magic makes early warning incredibly simple, especially for Ancient One, who controls the Time Stone and a part of the laws of time.
Without using the Time Stone, she could slow down the speed of a lightning flash to an almost complete stop.
Steve hesitated repeatedly, then let go of Ancient One. Since she said so, perhaps this was a good opportunity?
Sorcerers are rare, but that doesn't mean they are incredibly powerful.
Would an expert archer, who can't shoot a gun, worship firearms because of their appearance?
No!
The same applies here.
Walking out of the room, Ancient One used magic to float, moving alongside Steve. If she had chosen to walk, her legs would have been so weak she'd need to lean on the railing.
This was the benefit of magic; at least she didn't need to walk by leaning on walls.
Steve looked at the portraits and weapons scattered on the walls. There were mostly portraits, and very few weapons and tools.
Some weapons looked mediocre. To outsiders, they were indeed very sharp weapons with ancient designs, but in Steve's eyes, they were not worth mentioning.
In one exhibition hall, a red cloak was constantly floating around in a glass display case, seemingly bored, or perhaps looking for some fun.
When Steve appeared, the cloak actually adopted a human-like thinking posture, as if puzzled.
"It seems the cloak is interested in you. It's quite fickle, haha, Steve, why don't you try it?"
"From now on, when it's just the two of us, you know what to call me!"
Steve pinched her chin, enjoying this way of humiliating Ancient One. Having been tricked once, he still held a great deal of resentment towards Ancient One.