An Abandoned Factory in Russia
Black Widow was on an investigative mission, busy with her favorite captive interrogation method, when Coulson called.
Tied to a chair with her hands behind her back, she tilted her head to hold the phone handed to her by the suspect and frowned. "I'm busy."
"Return to headquarters immediately," Coulson said directly. "Barton is under enemy control."
Black Widow's expression turned serious. "Wait a moment."
A minute later, after easily dealing with all the suspects, she walked to the door. "Where is Barton? Is he still alive?"
"He should be," Coulson said. "I'll tell you the details when you get back. But for now, we need you to go talk to that guy first."
"Stark? You know, Coulson, he doesn't trust me." Black Widow smirked as she walked.
"No, I'll handle Stark." Coulson chuckled. "You go find the Big Guy."
The smile on Black Widow's face gradually disappeared.
---
An Empty Boxing Studio in New York
A blond, blue-eyed, perfectly built man was pounding a sandbag over and over. Beads of sweat rolled down his sculpted muscles, each punch making the sandbag shake violently.
His expression was grim, anxiety evident in his eyes. Finally, with one last powerful strike, the sandbag split open, flying several meters away before crashing to the ground in a burst of fine sand.
A voice came from behind him, as if it had been watching for a while.
"Can't sleep?"
The man turned to see someone in black standing at the entrance of the boxing ring.
"I slept for seventy years, sir. I've had enough."
"Then you should go out and enjoy the scenery," Nick Fury said calmly, walking toward him with his hands behind his back.
Reaching the man, Fury handed him a file.
"You have a mission for me, sir?" The man unwrapped the bandages from his hands, speaking calmly. "You want me to adjust to this new world?"
He flipped open the file, his gaze landing on the words: S.H.I.E.L.D. Level 7 Secret—Cosmic Cube.
Fury looked him straight in the eye.
"It's not about adjusting—it's about saving it, Captain."
---
New York Upper Bay—Under the Sea
Tony, clad in the Mark VI armor, installed a special Arc Reactor onto the submarine transmission pipe underwater. The reactor powered up successfully, integrating with the exclusive power grid of Stark Tower.
Ever since the last blackout in New York, Tony had considered using an Arc Reactor to create an independent power grid for his building. That way, if someone tried to mess with him again, he wouldn't be left helpless.
On the calm surface of the water, the Mark VI burst out of the ocean and shot into the sky like a meteor, streaking toward the glowing cityscape of New York.
Inside the suit, Tony's interface displayed a video call with Pepper.
Tony grinned. "Stark Tower is about to set the standard for renewable clean energy. No one's gonna be able to compete with us for a while. That fusion reactor the kid is working on? Gonna take at least a year—no, three."
"Oh, so all we need is your Arc Reactor to work," Pepper teased.
"No problem. Hit the switch." Tony's voice oozed confidence.
As he looked up, Stark Tower—previously a dark silhouette against the night—lit up from bottom to top, transforming into the most brilliant landmark in the city once more.
"Pretty, huh?" Pepper asked.
"Like Christmas!" Tony smirked. "And it's all for me."
Landing on the tower's designated platform, Tony walked forward as robotic arms extended from both sides, swiftly disassembling the Mark VI armor with mechanical precision.
Jarvis' voice chimed through his earpiece. "Sir, Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. is calling."
"Tell him I'm not here," Tony said without hesitation. "You really gotta work on your timing, Coulson."
"Sir, I doubt he'll believe that," Jarvis replied.
"Have some faith, Jarvis. I have a date tonight." Tony walked casually, his mind already on the evening ahead. He had plans with Pepper, and keeping a beautiful woman waiting was against his principles.
The armor was fully removed, leaving only billionaire Tony Stark behind.
Inside the penthouse, Tony and Pepper poured champagne to celebrate. Before they could even get through a toast, Jarvis spoke again.
"Sir, your phone. My system has been altered… modified…"
"Again?" Tony frowned.
His phone buzzed on the coffee table, and Coulson's voice came through.
"Stark, we need to talk."
Tony grabbed the phone, his expression serious. "What you're seeing right now is Stark's holographic image. Please leave a message after the beep."
Pepper chuckled.
"It's urgent," Coulson insisted.
"Then talk fast."
Just then, the elevator doors slid open, and Coulson himself stepped into the room, holding his phone.
Tony threw up his hands. "So the security system's broken too? Why do you guys love breaking into my house?"
"Mr. Stark, this is important. Read this first." Coulson handed over a laptop.
Tony didn't budge. Pepper, ever the diplomat, took it for him. Only then did Tony sigh and reach for it.
He set it aside and let Jarvis project its contents.
When Tony saw the glowing blue cube and the assembled profiles of potential Avengers, his expression turned serious.
---
The Next Morning—S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier
Tony, leading the charge in his Mark VI suit, arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s airborne fortress—the Avengers' designated meeting place.
The Helicarrier, the top-secret headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D., was always in motion—sometimes deep in the ocean, sometimes hidden in the clouds. Countless people had tried to locate it, but none had ever succeeded.
Landing on the deck, Tony's visor lifted as he turned his gaze to the distant sky, eyes narrowing.
Five black dots—one large, four smaller—were approaching rapidly.
Tony raised an eyebrow. He recognized them.
As they closed in, their true forms became clear: the massive G-0 War Lord and four smaller Tornado mechas.
Under the guidance of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s landing officers, the five mechs smoothly touched down on the designated area of the deck.
Hatch doors opened one by one.
Luke stepped out first, followed by the four Roses.
Then, Peter Parker emerged from the War Lord's cabin, with the icy Christina following behind him.
Suddenly, a whole swarm of tiny fish-like robots flooded the deck, chirping in excitement.
Tony, watching the chaos unfold, took a step forward. His gaze shifted to Luke, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement.
With his mask now fully lifted, Tony quirked an eyebrow.
"Is this place open to elementary school students now?"
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"What is this? A goddamn field trip?"
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