"Sir, Ms. Darcy is requesting a call."
"Put it through."
The voice that answered wasn't Darcy's. "Did you forget about me?"
Hong Fei froze. "Sif?"
He exhaled sharply, caught off guard.
"Apologies—the battle was intense just now. I've arranged for someone to pick you up."
"Where are you going?"
"To check on Thor."
Sif's tone softened. "Don't worry about me. The situation's changed, and it's not safe for me to show myself right now. I'll wait for your notice."
"Alright."
Hong Fei hung up and turned to Jessica. "Go pick up Sif."
He accelerated toward New York, his mind racing.
Over New York, the order to evacuate had already been issued. Without hesitation, Xu Wenwu and his team donned their iron armor and took to the skies. Tony Stark, caught in the mix, had no choice but to follow—for now.
As they reached higher altitude, Tony suddenly realized what was happening.
"Wait, you're leaving?"
The tension between Tony and Xu Wenwu had been palpable ever since their altercation. Unsurprisingly, Tony was the one feeling awkward. Xu Wenwu, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened.
Tony had been holed up in his room for days. If not for this mission, he'd probably still be there, tinkering on his anti-Xu Wenwu armor.
Xu Wenwu paused, and the others halted with him. Hovering mid-air, he turned to Tony.
"This is an order."
Tony blinked rapidly.
"Wait, I know what you're going to say, but I'm not trying to refuse. I've already detected the alien warship approaching New York. Is it really appropriate for us to just leave?"
Xu Wenwu's tone shifted, less authoritarian now.
"Considering this is your home, and you're only an exchange member, I won't treat this as disobedience. But if you turn back now, the agreement between our teams ends here. You can make decisions for the Avengers, and I can make mine regarding this. So, what's your answer?"
Tony shook his head firmly.
"No. The agreement can't end."
"Then come with me."
"But..."
Xu Wenwu smirked.
"Big Head, play the audio clip for Mr. Stark."
The clip was the conversation between Hong Fei, Hill, and the Secretary of State. As Tony listened, his expression shifted from disbelief to outright fury.
"That idiot!" Tony spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Trash! Garbage!"
Though Hong Fei's final response was to evacuate and stay out of it, Tony knew better—this guy was doomed.
After a moment of seething silence, Tony's eyes gleamed with sudden determination.
"Since Hong Fei won't come, I'll take his place. That way, we don't have to tear up the agreement, and no one has to feel wronged."
The team fell silent, all eyes on Xu Wenwu. His iron armor stood out—mostly white, with black lines tracing its surface, distinct from the black armor of the others.
"Besides, after the war ends, I guarantee I will find a way to make that idiot pay the price!"
The armor's arms bore seal characters identical to those on the Ten Rings flag. Xu Wenwu studied them briefly before nodding.
"Fine."
Tony exhaled in relief.
"Thank you," he said, then turned and sped toward Avengers Tower.
"He actually said thank you," Ivan remarked coldly.
Big Head chuckled.
"Guess he learned his lesson after the beating."
"I wish I'd been there last time," Ivan said with a hint of regret. He glanced at Xu Wenwu. "Call me next time you take him down?"
Xu Wenwu laughed. "If the opportunity arises, I will."
His expression sobered as he addressed the group.
"Return to Sokovia, but stay vigilant. The boss will summon you soon. Keep an eye on New York. Until this war ends, everyone remains on standby."
"Yes!" they chorused.
Xu Wenwu nodded to Big Head, who released two drones from his armor.
"They'll supplement our armor signals."
Xu Wenwu waved them off.
"Go!"
Above the sea, Thor carried Jane as they skimmed the water's surface, the air vibrating in their wake. Behind them, the massive Dark Elf flagship surged forward. Five kilometers from New York's coastline, a fleet of naval warships had gathered. Further back, an aircraft carrier sailed away—useless in this kind of conflict, as land-based platforms could handle all fighter operations.
At the Pentagon, chaos reigned. The cacophony of voices was deafening as generals debated whether to redirect Thor elsewhere.
In Thor's arms, Jane voiced her concern.
"Why didn't White Dragon take us?"
"Because someone wants to harm Hong."
"How do you know?"
"White Dragon told me," Thor replied, his brow furrowed with unease.
Jane pressed further.
"Did something happen?"
"It's nothing," Thor said tersely.
Just then, two human armors approached, veering to follow above them. Thor ignored them, his gaze fixed ahead. Jane hesitated but chose not to push further. Moments later, the armors dove, attempting to block Thor's path.
Thor's eyes narrowed. He adjusted course, maneuvering around them. After several failed attempts, the armors climbed higher and flew off.
"They don't want us to pass, do they?" Jane whispered.
Thor remained silent. Jane watched the sea blur past, a tear tracing her cheek.
At S.H.I.E.L.D., the scene unfolded through satellite imagery, radar scans, and drone feeds. Steve Rogers slammed his fist on the table.
"Do you realize what you're doing? Thor may not be an Avenger, but he's our ally. And you want to abandon him? Do you understand what he represents? Haven't we got enough trouble with aliens? Are you trying to provoke Asgard too?"
Across from him sat a military representative, unruffled by Steve's outburst.
"We're not abandoning anyone. But let's not forget, Thor's brother started this. The Battle of New York was his doing."
"It's not that we're unwilling to contribute," Steve said, his voice tight with frustration. "We just can't risk turning New York into a battlefield."
Steve barked a bitter laugh. "Then where the hell do you propose we fight?"
"Anywhere but New York. Anywhere but U.S. soil."
The table shuddered under Steve's fist as he slammed it and shot to his feet.
"This is what you're really after, isn't it? You don't give a damn that Thor's out there right now, fighting for his life at sea. You don't care if he's even strong enough to make it to another country."
"Captain Rogers," the military representative said, lifting his gaze with icy calm. "Mind your tone. We're U.S. soldiers. Our duty is to protect American lives and property."
Steve whirled toward the window, yanking the curtains open. He jabbed a finger at the scene below.
"What I see is a convoy of luxury cars racing toward the airport with police escorts. They've been evacuating since you got the news. Tell me, has anyone bothered to warn the citizens you're so concerned about?"
The representative's expression didn't flicker.
"Panic would cause chaos. As long as Thor doesn't show up in New York, nothing will happen here."
"Then explain this mass exodus," Steve shot back. "Where'd they get their intel?"
"Not from me."
Steve was the only one losing his cool. The other man's tone stayed cold and detached, grating on Steve's nerves like a knife twisting in his chest. The silence between them was heavy, charged with tension.
The door burst open, and Hill stormed in. Her face was flushed with anger, her eyes blazing. She didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"Someone just fired a missile. It hit Thor."
"What?!"
Steve and the representative both shot to their feet, but Steve was already moving, racing toward the door. He paused, turning back with a hard look.
"If I were you, I'd start figuring out how to explain this to a god and a prince. Otherwise, you're looking at a war bigger than anything you've ever seen."
He didn't wait for a response. Mask in hand, he barked orders as he moved.
"We're out of time. Hill, get S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jets in the air. I'm taking the Avengers to Thor."
"Got it. Stay safe."
"Always."
They split at the corner, Hill barking commands into her headset while Steve charged through the door.
"Assemble in thirty! We move out now!"
On the sea, chaos erupted after the missile struck Thor. The commander roared, veins bulging in his neck.
"Who the hell fired that shot?! I swear I'll—" His tirade devolved into a string of curses.
A field officer was dragged forward and dropped at his feet, trembling. The commander kicked him hard in the gut.
"Who gave the order?!"
The officer stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence before he passed out. The commander raised his leg to kick again, but his men pulled him back just in time.
Suddenly, huge thunder rolled in the sky, and immediately after, a blinding flash lit up the night, brighter than daylight. The explosion came less than a second later, followed by a massive tidal wave surging toward the fleet. On the radar, the aircraft carrier's signal vanished instantly.