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❄️ Chapter 30 — Shadows and Towers
The Helicarrier's medbay hummed with low power, the air heavy with disinfectant and exhaustion. Wounded agents filled the rows of cots, groaning softly. The ship floated like a wounded giant, alive but crippled.
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INT. MEDBAY – NIGHT
Clint Barton groaned awake, squinting against the white light. His wrist tugged against a cuff locking him to the bed.
Beside him sat Natasha, eyes shadowed with fatigue.
"You alright?" she asked quietly.
Clint let out a shaky breath. "No. It's like I was… a puppet. Just watching myself do things, unable to stop it. How many people died?"
Nat's gaze softened but stayed steady. "It wasn't your fault. You were under control."
"You don't know what it feels like," Clint muttered. His voice cracked. "Being trapped inside yourself—no control, no freedom."
Natasha's eyes darkened. "I do know."
Silence stretched. Clint sighed, shoulders slumping. "…Yeah. Sorry." His expression hardened. "But I'll sleep better if I put an arrow straight into Loki's eye."
For the first time since the battle, Natasha smirked faintly. "Now you're sounding like yourself."
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INT. MEDBAY – NEARBY
Steve Rogers stirred awake, muscles aching as he pushed himself upright. The first thing he saw was Tony Stark leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
"Well, well," Tony said. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty. Naptime's over.How are you feeling."
Steve groaned, steadying himself. "Not great… but I'll manage. What's the situation?"
Tony's expression tightened. "Engines are down. Romanoff pulled Barton back, but he's still out. A young pilot rammed Hulk with a jet. Saved us. Didn't make it."
Steve's jaw clenched. "…And Loki?"
"Gone. Took the scepter." Tony exhaled sharply. "So yeah, we lost him. Let's get him back."
Steve swung his legs down, already forcing himself up. "Then assemble everyone."
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INT. BRIEFING ROOM – LATER
The Avengers and Defenders gathered around a battered holo-table. Fury and Hill stood at the front, reports in hand.
Tony tapped the console. "Okay. Strategy time. We need Loki's location."
Hill shook her head. "We've been scanning for gamma radiation signatures—nothing."
Natasha turned to Clint. "You know something?"
Clint shifted, still pale but determined. "I know his base, but that's not where he'll strike. He said he wanted the whole world to kneel. He's got allies now. A witch in green who can control minds. Some scientist with four mechanical arms building a stabilizer. And a bunch of supervillains backing them up."
Thor stiffened, recognition flashing in his eyes. "…Amora."
Everyone turned toward him.
"She is no mere sorceress," Thor said grimly. "She bends wills with whispers and thrives on chaos. If Loki has allied with her, then Midgard is in greater peril than you realize."
Peter leaned forward, voice steady despite the ache in his body. "He crippled SHIELD here. Next move is a city. Somewhere crowded. So he can thin our number more and not just that he want..He wants eyes on him."
"Exactly," Tony said, pointing. "This isn't just about power—it's about the spotlight. He wants flowers. He wants parades. He wants his name on the skyline."
The realization hit him mid-sentence. He froze. "…Son of a bitc—"
Steve stood immediately. "Get the Quinjet ready. We're going to Stark Tower."
Tony smirked, repulsors charging. "You take the bus. I'll take the express route."
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EXT. New York– Skyline
Sun shines brightly shining across the sky , casting blue across Adrian's sharp features. The city's heartbeat pulsed through the streets —unaware of the storm about to break.
Adrian stood with arms folded, Natalie beside him, calm and focused. Plagg floated lazily near the desk, nibbling cheese.
"Natalie," Adrian said, voice calm but commanding, "start weaving suggestions through the crowds. Break them into groups. When the invasion starts, teleport them out in waves. Make it look natural—traffic jams, street gatherings. Hide your presence. Use technopathy to blind cameras and scramble broadcasts. Keep civilians away from Stark Tower."
Natalie nodded firmly. "Understood."
Plagg piped up, grinning. "By the way—what about your big date with Marinette? Gonna break her poor little heart?"
Natalie smirked faintly. "Yes, Adrian. Are you really going to let her down?"
Adrian exhaled, rubbing his temples. "…Guess I'll have to apologize. I just hope she understands."
Plagg chuckled. "If she doesn't, I'll take the blame. Tell her it was my fault."
Adrian gave a small, warm smile. "…Appreciated."
Then his eyes hardened as he turned toward the skyline, the faint glow of Stark Tower already visible in the distance.
"It's begun."
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EXT. STARK TOWER
The tower loomed tall and defiant, its neon arc glowing against the night sky. At its peak, the Tesseract pulsed with alien light, arcing into the stabilizer Otto Octavius had built.
Tony streaked across the city, landing on the rooftop with a metallic thud. His faceplate slid back, eyes locking on the chaos above.
"Mr. Hentai Protagonist," Tony called, voice dripping sarcasm, "kindly step off my tower and hand over the glowing cube."
Otto turned, his eyes wild, mechanical arms twitching with manic energy. "You don't understand, Stark. The cube is perfection! The cube is future! Loki is our king!"
Tony tilted his head. "Okay, one psycho confirmed." He raised his gauntlet and fired a unibeam straight at the Tesseract.
The beam struck a barrier, shattering against a glowing shield that rippled outward.
"Sir," JARVIS reported, "the cube is generating a protective barrier. Its energy is self-sustaining."
Otto laughed, drunk with triumph. "My shield! Nothing can break it. It would take something a thousand times stronger than the cube itself!"
Tony muttered, "Great. Built-in plot armor." He dropped onto the helipad, eyes shifting to the figure waiting in the shadows.
Loki.
The god of mischief stood tall, scepter gleaming, smile wicked.
The Tesseract's light intensified, beams piercing the sky. The air vibrated with the storm about to burst.
The final act was beginning.
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❄️ End of Chapter 30 ❄️
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