And so, the twins who once hated both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra for the destruction of their homeland—Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch—unknowingly pledged their loyalty to the very man responsible for its ruin. Marcus had gained not just two powerful new lieutenants for his undead army, but also something far more valuable—something that could alter the fate of the world itself.
[Item: Loki's Scepter]
Material: Mind Stone, Tesseract Energy, Uru Metal
Weight: 4.1 kg
Length: Adjustable (1.0m – 1.8m)
Description: A divine weapon once wielded by Loki, gifted to him by Thanos through the Chitauri. It once opened a massive wormhole via the Tesseract, leading to the invasion of Earth. Its core houses the Mind Stone, one of the Six Infinity Stones, capable of manipulating thoughts and amplifying mental and telepathic power. The stone is encased in a shell formed from Tesseract energy, creating a unique resonance between the two artifacts. This connection allows control over the Cube's teleportation functions. Hidden within the scepter is an early, unstable form of artificial intelligence — the seed that would one day evolve into Ultron.
Note: Loki always fancied himself clever, and compared to most, he was. But in truth, he never truly grasped the scepter's full potential. From a god's-eye view, his ignorance was almost laughable.
A single artifact that bound together the Mind Stone, the Tesseract, and Ultron's genesis—three of the most dangerous forces in existence. Without foreknowledge of these events, even Marcus might have dismissed it as little more than an alien trinket. But now, with his understanding of its hidden potential, he could hardly contain his eagerness to unlock its power.
And fortunately, the perfect courier stood right before him.
"Take the scepter," Marcus ordered, handing the artifact to Quicksilver. "And take Wanda with you. Get them both back to Queens, New York. You'll have someone waiting for you there. With your speed, it shouldn't be difficult."
Quicksilver nodded without protest. To him, the task was trivial — his body could outrun aircraft, skim across the ocean, and circle the globe in minutes. He accepted the scepter, then supported his sister gently by the neck. Without another word, the pair vanished in a blur of silver light, leaving only a faint gust of wind behind.
Marcus turned his gaze back toward the hovering S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. Far off in the distance, he could see search teams combing through the ruins for survivors.
A faint, knowing smile crossed his lips.
"Heh… might as well enjoy a few more benefits of being a 'hero.'"
He made his way down to the mountain's base, to the place where Wanda's earlier ice strike had buried him in snow. There, Marcus lay down, covering himself beneath the cold blanket. He slowed his breathing, stilled his body, and waited.
Soon enough, the S.H.I.E.L.D. rescue team would find him — unconscious, injured, but miraculously alive. They would bring him aboard the Helicarrier for treatment, never suspecting that the "agent" they had rescued was the very architect of their disaster.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had always been his perfect cover — both sanctuary and pawn. And after this mission, his position within the organization would only rise.
A flawless performance, Marcus thought, as he closed his eyes and let his consciousness drift away. His mind separated from the body buried in snow, racing across the world toward New York.
---
When Marcus opened his eyes again, he was home — in Queens, within the towering headquarters of the New Umbrella Corporation, the heart of his undead empire.
He sat up from a pristine bed in what appeared to be a lavish rest chamber. This was his true body — the vessel of his darker identity.
If he was back here, then the others should be too. The prisoners freed from the island penitentiary… by now, they should have arrived in Queens with Tony's assistance.
Marcus dressed, then stepped out into the hallway, where his trusted advisor Alex was already waiting.
"Welcome back," Alex greeted, his tone composed as always. During Marcus's absence, Alex had managed every operation within the city — logistics, recruitment, and the delicate balance of secrecy.
"How are the prisoners from the island?" Marcus asked.
"Thunder and Killian are working on persuasion," Alex replied. "They're offering the same terms General Ross once used to recruit for the Thunderbolt Initiative. It's proving effective — most of them are beginning to cooperate. The only exception is Crossbones. He's… unyielding."
"Crossbones, hm?" Marcus murmured, closing his eyes briefly. Within the vast network of his psychic link, he located the man's mind — and crushed it.
In an instant, Crossbones' consciousness shattered, leaving only an empty shell behind.
"Use his body as a heavy trooper," Marcus said calmly. "If necessary, run an Extremis conversion test on him."
His tone was casual, detached — as if he'd merely swatted a fly. Crossbones was a brute, useful only for his physicality. His death meant nothing.
Alex nodded. "Understood. With that example set, the others should fall in line quickly. Once Thunder and Killian complete their conversions, I'll compile a full report on the success of the operation."
"Good." Marcus gave a short nod of approval. "Now, what about Quicksilver and Wanda?"
"They've arrived safely," Alex confirmed. "Per your instructions, I sent them through the tunnel network Earthshaker constructed. They're in Tony's underground lab now, waiting for him. The scepter has already been delivered."
"Excellent." Marcus's expression softened slightly. "I'll check on them soon. And the Extremis Zombie trials?"
Alex straightened. "The new test subjects have been relocated outside the city for live-combat training. All surveillance and satellite shielding are active — there's no risk of human discovery."
"Good work," Marcus replied. "I'll inspect them myself when I have the time."
He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. The weight of command pressed heavily on him. The coming days would bring no rest — tomorrow, the Umbrella Army would undergo a full-scale reorganization. Preparations for war had to be perfect.
Because soon, the world's greatest heroes and its mightiest armies would march on New York.
And Marcus intended to greet them — not as a fugitive, not as a victim — but as the master of the undead empire that would devour them all.
___
🎉 Shoutout to Cherry Man! 🎉
A huge thank you to Cherry Man! for joining my Patreon and supporting the journey! Your support means a lot and helps keep the chapters coming faster. Welcome to the VIP club! 🙌✨