Captain America felt a chill of foreboding and asked urgently, "What are you planning to do, Tony?"
"Reintegrate J.A.R.V.I.S.' data into this body—to create a new Guardian of Earth!" Tony said firmly, locking eyes with him.
"Like creating Ultron?"
Scarlet Witch couldn't stay quiet anymore. One Ultron was enough; this sounded like another disaster waiting to happen. Did Tony think the Earth wasn't already in enough danger?
"This whole mess started because of you," Quicksilver added sharply, rubbing salt into the wound his sister had opened.
"It was an accident," Tony shot back. "Believe me, I'll get it right this time."
Tony glanced around the room, meeting each of their eyes in turn. Not a single person seemed to believe in him. No one planned to support him. But Tony was nothing if not stubborn. With a decisive wave of his hand, he began transferring J.A.R.V.I.S.' data.
Captain America saw the look in Tony's eyes—reckless determination heading straight for disaster. He couldn't allow that. As a hero, he had to intervene.
With a swift motion, Cap's shield flew through the air and struck Tony's hand just as he operated the console.
Tony refused to back down. His armor deployed instantly, encasing him in steel. He fired a repulsor blast—energy cracked through the lab and detonated with a thunderous 'boom.'
The atmosphere grew tense. Everyone moved at once. Captain America tried to stop him. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch took defensive stances, ready to act.
Chaos erupted.
As the "Strongest King," Blaine watched the entire scene like a spectator at a comedy show. He had to admit—his patience for these people was wearing thin.
Tony? Not yet capable. Maybe once he developed his next-generation nano armor.
Thor? Not unless he awakened his true godly power.
Banner? Useless without mastering his fusion with the Hulk.
Hawkeye and Natasha? No comment.
Scarlet Witch? She, at least, drew Blaine's attention.
Quicksilver? Strong, yes—but far weaker than his comic counterpart, and doomed by destiny.
Looking at this team of "elementary school-level" Avengers, Blaine couldn't help shaking his head. Only Nick could think protecting this bunch was a good idea. To Blaine, their current squabble looked like children playing house.
As the shouting continued, Thor climbed onto the cabinet that held Ultron's body. Raising Mjolnir, he summoned lightning, intending to destroy the Vibranium shell once and for all.
Electric arcs danced across the hammer as Thor swung it down with full force.
"Warning! Warning! Warning! System overload!"
The cabinet couldn't withstand it. With a deafening 'bang', it exploded, throwing Thor backward.
Liquid nitrogen burst from the chamber, spilling across the floor as a glowing figure emerged through the smoke.
When the haze cleared, the figure's skin was a deep crimson. Embedded in his forehead was a yellow gemstone that gleamed like sunlight. His form was uncanny—flesh and metal perfectly fused. He looked almost human, yet unmistakably synthetic.
Without warning, the figure shot forward at incredible speed, colliding with Thor. The impact sent the god of thunder flying.
Outside the window, glass shattered as Thor's body smashed through the first pane. The figure stopped in midair, suspended before the second window, hovering effortlessly. The motion was as smooth and precise as a car skidding to a perfect stop on snow.
Then, he flew back into the lab. This time, somehow, he was clothed—a sleek carbon-fiber uniform with a metallic cape, radiating advanced technology.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice steady. "It feels… strange."
"Strange?" Thor echoed, blinking.
"Uh, thank you," the figure replied, as if expressing gratitude for being brought to life.
"Thor," Captain America said, narrowing his eyes, "was he created by your lightning?"
"I had a vision," Thor answered gravely. "A vortex consuming all hope—and at its center…" He gestured toward the new being. "Him."
More precisely, Thor was pointing to the gemstone on the figure's forehead.
"It's a jewel," Banner said, frowning. "Like the one on Loki's scepter."
"To be exact," Thor said, "it's the Mind Stone—one of the six Infinity Stones. It holds immense cosmic power. Its destructive potential is unmatched."
"Then why go through with this?" the Captain demanded.
"Because Stark was right," Thor interrupted calmly.
"Oh, great," Banner muttered. "This really is the end of the age."
"The Avengers cannot defeat Ultron alone," the red-skinned man said, his tone measured and calm.
This was Vision—the being born from J.A.R.V.I.S., the Mind Stone, and the synthesis of man and machine. A new Avenger, and a key player in the coming war. On that, at least, Blaine silently agreed.
From the moment Vision appeared, Blaine's gaze had locked onto him. And almost instantly, a bold idea formed in his mind—one he acted on without hesitation.
He used the Soul Tracking Technique to plant spiritual seeds within Vision's consciousness.
Blaine had three reasons.
First, to control Vision—making him his right hand. As the wielder of an Infinity Stone and a being of Vibranium, Vision would be an invaluable ally.
Second, to study the Mind Stone through Vision's physiology. If Blaine could one day analyze the structure and essence of an Infinity Stone, he could theoretically reproduce them—a walking gem factory.
And third, to use Vision as a countermeasure against Ultron—to trace, contain, and ultimately annihilate him once and for all.
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