c16: Myths and Legends
Dr. Bruce Banner gradually came to terms with the Hulk within him and ultimately became one of the most vital members of the Avengers' combat force.
Throughout this journey, he underwent countless transformations into the Hulk, with several instances where the Hulk lost control and rampaged uncontrollably.
Notably, during the earliest transformations such as his destructive rampage in Las Vegas Banner, as the Hulk, lost all rationality and was responsible for significant destruction and even civilian casualties.
Yet, did these actions prevent him from becoming an Avenger?
Not in the slightest.
Then there's Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man.
Shortly after constructing the Mark II armor, Stark discovered that Ten Rings terrorists in Gulmira using Stark Industries weapons were endangering innocent lives. Without any sanction from the U.S. government, he flew straight to the region and obliterated the terrorists in a unilateral operation.
However, by international law, does Stark have the right to act as judge, jury, and executioner?
Even if those terrorists deserved punishment, legally speaking, Tony Stark's actions could be classified as vigilantism and unauthorized military engagement.
But what became of Tony Stark?
He evolved into the globally celebrated Iron Man—admired not just for his intellect and technology but revered as a symbol of modern heroism.
With such tacit societal endorsement, the strategic analysts within S.H.I.E.L.D. saw no reason to doubt the credibility of Namikaze Minato.
In such a context, the words of Minato naturally carried immense weight.
However, his statement—"the current situation of S.H.I.E.L.D. does not seem to be very optimistic" raised eyebrows.
What was he implying?
Nick Fury began to contemplate deeply.
On the surface, S.H.I.E.L.D. was expanding its operations, and superhumans were appearing all over the globe, from Wakanda to New York.
So why did the intelligence team from Konohagakure Village assess that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s situation was deteriorating?
Fury couldn't pinpoint the reason, but his gut sharpened by years of espionage and battlefield leadership—warned him that there was truth buried in that statement. A truth that could be critical for him and for the future of S.H.I.E.L.D.
As Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury was trained to think three steps ahead, so his caution was understandable.
The others, however, weren't as contemplative. Their attention shifted completely to Ryan Wong, eagerly awaiting what he would reveal next.
After all, when someone as powerful as that arrives in New York, what he does next is what truly demands attention!
Nick Fury collected his thoughts and focused, listening intently.
"Alright. Let me tell you a story."
"A long, long time ago, there existed a celestial world tree—akin to Yggdrasil from Asgardian lore—that supported the balance between realms. One day, this sacred tree bore a single cosmic fruit, a nexus of power equivalent to the Heart of the Universe or the Phoenix Force. The guardian of this tree consumed the fruit and ascended into divinity. This being came to be known as the Goddess of Gaia."
"Although the Goddess of Gaia transcended mortality, she still held affection for Earth's people and bore two children with a celestial emperor, some say a figure as ancient as DC's Highfather or Marvel's Kronos."
"But as her divine power grew, so did her detachment from humanity. Over centuries, the Goddess of Gaia became twisted—consumed by cold logic and eventually evolved into a merciless deity of destruction."
"At that point, her two children, demi-gods with powers rivaling the Celestials, matured and saw the threat their mother posed. They rose to defend the mortal realm."
"To protect the world from their mother's tyranny, they waged war against her and ultimately sealed her on the moon—echoing tales like that of Enchantress in her banishment or Doomsday's entombment."
"The elder son, due to his unmatched wisdom and heroism, was later venerated by ancient civilizations as the Immortal of Six Paths a title passed down in secret among hidden sects."
"But the tale doesn't end there. In sealing their mother, the sacred tree was enraged and transformed into a monstrous entity with ten cosmic tails each one pulsing with an energy signature like an Infinity Stone, forming a primordial beast of chaos."
"This Ten-Tailed Leviathan was unstoppable, and only the Immortal could challenge it. To weaken its power and protect the Earth, he split the Leviathan's energy into nine separate entities—nine tailed beasts designed to aid humanity much like the Eternals were sent to Earth."
"Yet, humanity driven by greed and fear sought to control the beasts. Time and again, they were hunted, imprisoned, and turned into weapons, echoing how the Weapon X program manipulated mutants or how the Red Room used the Widows."
"Betrayed and corrupted, the tailed beasts grew hostile. And in his final days, the Immortal sealed them across the globe hoping for balance, much like how Zatanna or Doctor Strange might bind rogue forces to preserve mystical equilibrium."
After sharing all this in one breath, Ryan Wong paused, allowing Natasha Romanoff and the S.H.I.E.L.D. team a moment to process everything.
Time was short, and the urgency was real. Ryan didn't have the luxury to invent a new legend from scratch. Instead, he had adapted the ancient truths of his origin world—stories passed down in the shadows of Earth's hidden history and reframed them into the mythos of the Marvel universe.
His aim was simple: to give S.H.I.E.L.D. a narrative they could logically insert into their fractured worldview—one that explained his presence and the stakes involved.
Seeing Natasha's astonishment begin to fade into critical curiosity, Ryan continued: "Originally, all nine seals remained undisturbed. But recently, the one hidden beneath New York beneath this very city has begun to fracture."
"The Six Paths Immortal's power eclipses that of Odin and even Zeus. His seals shouldn't erode, not even after millennia. Which leads us to believe this was no accident. Someone possibly a dark cabal like Hydra or the Court of Owls—has intentionally tampered with it, attempting to resurrect the Ten-Tailed Beast."
"And that," Ryan said, his voice low and urgent, "is why I was sent here by my village. I am its fastest and most skilled operative. This investigation is mine to complete."
"Now," he added, turning to Natasha, his gaze piercing, "you and S.H.I.E.L.D. should understand exactly why I'm here in New York."
Ryan lifted his eyes and stared deep into Natasha's, though it felt like he was looking through her to the one-eyed, bald-headed commander who waited silently behind her in the shadows of power.
Nick Fury met Ryan Wong's unwavering stare, and his expression hardened. He could feel it in his gut this wasn't a fable. It was a warning.
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