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Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Fury’s Judgment — Ghost of the War

Location: Manhattan – Aftermath Zone

The war had ended. The portal above Stark Tower was closed, the Chitauri defeated, and the Avengers… victorious. Or so it seemed.

But I remained—a ghost in the records, a god in shadows.

[System Update: Total Skills Trained – 10,021+]

[Per-Second Gain Active – +1 Level/sec on ALL Skills]

[Hidden Class Evolution: Shadow Sovereign – Unlocked]

[Title Gained: One-Man Army]

I stood atop a ruined rooftop, watching Tony Stark guide a nuke through the portal and fall back. Everyone cheered. But my eyes narrowed.

A new presence. Watching. Following. Calculating.

"...So, you're the anomaly," came a cold voice behind me.

I didn't turn.

"Nick Fury. I thought you'd send drones, not show up yourself."

He walked out from behind a ventilation duct, dressed in full black. Not an illusion. The real Fury.

"Drones don't intimidate shadows. But I figured I'd see the ghost myself."

I smirked and finally faced him.

"You want something, or is this just SHIELD's version of a 'thank you'?"

Fury tossed a small black disc on the ground.

A hologram of me—fighting off Chitauri, healing soldiers, creating undead armies, teleporting—flashed in the air.

"No name. No energy signature. Not even a breath we can track. And you're more dangerous than every Avenger combined."

"Then maybe leave me alone."

He raised a brow. "Or maybe I make you a deal."

I blinked.

"SHIELD could use someone like you. Off-books. Unlimited access. We don't even need to know your name."

I laughed.

"You think I need access? I could walk into your main server, possess it, and make it tell me bedtime stories."

[Skill: Digital Override – Technomancer Lv. 2000+]

Fury's wristwatch blinked red, then powered down.

I leaned forward. "I don't join systems. I rewrite them."

He stared at me silently, then nodded.

"Fine. Just know this—sooner or later, someone up there," he pointed to the sky, "will see you as a threat."

I stepped back, cloaking myself in black fire and shadows.

"I hope they do. Gives me something fun to level up with."

And I was gone.

---

Location: SHIELD Helicarrier – Aboard

Maria Hill reviewed a still image of me from the encounter.

Fury walked in, silent.

"Do we file this under 'enhanced'?"

"No," he said firmly. "We file this under: God-tier. Unclassified. Watchlist Priority Alpha."

She frowned. "And what about the witch?"

Fury looked out the window.

"If he's training her too… we might be watching the rise of a new pantheon."

---

Location: Abandoned Church – Outskirts of Brooklyn

Wanda sat across from me, her hands wrapped in glowing red chaos magic. I was teaching her to lace it with mage runes, necromantic precision, and hunter-level perception.

"You learn fast," I said.

"I have a good teacher."

She blushed.

I didn't speak.

[Wanda Affection: 33% → 42%]

[System Bonus Activated – Soul Bond Initiation Available]

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