Bismarck's furious shout exploded in the air, followed by a killing intent so suffocating that it pressed down like the weight of a collapsing sky.
The terrifying aura made Fury and Coulson tremble uncontrollably, their faces turning pale in an instant. It felt like the end of the world had come.
Earlier, Roland Phils' pressure was only an oppressive weight without true killing intent. But this woman before them radiated genuine bloodlust, and Fury's instincts screamed that if Phils gave the order, she would kill him without hesitation.
Phils, however, did not act immediately. He only sneered as he looked at Nick Fury.
"Nick Fury, it seems you have been director too long. You have grown arrogant and blind. You dare come to my place and question me, asking if I am good or bad for this world? If I am good, I am your friend, and if I am not, then I am your enemy? Are you teaching me how to act?"
As he spoke, a vine appeared silently at Fury's side. Before Fury could react, it shot forward, coiling tightly around him and lifting him into the air.
The vine constricted, pressing against his throat. Fury's face flushed red as his breath was cut off.
Phils looked down at him with eyes devoid of emotion, godlike in their detachment. Bismarck's murderous aura was terrifying, but Phils' calm, cold gaze was far more horrifying to Fury.
"He really intends to kill me!" Fury thought in terror.
Since becoming director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he had never been treated like this, never been this close to death.
The vine grew tighter. Death loomed closer. Even a well-trained agent could not help but feel fear when staring into the abyss, and Fury was no exception.
But then, with remarkable calm, he adjusted his mindset. If resistance was impossible, then he would face death directly. As long as he had done his duty, he had no regrets. Slowly, he closed his eyes, waiting for the end.
Yet, at that moment, the vine loosened.
"Impressive courage," Phils said flatly. "But that does not excuse your offense. You may avoid death, but punishment is inevitable."
The vine hardened into a sharp wooden sword, stabbing straight through Fury's right shoulder. Blood dripped down, only to be absorbed by the blade.
Fury grunted in pain but did not cry out. He raised his head weakly, meeting Phils' gaze.
"Mr. Phils, can we continue our discussion now?"
Phils smirked. "You do have some backbone. Very well. I will grant you another chance."
He cast a glance at Bismarck, and at once the crushing aura vanished. The wooden sword melted back into a vine, retreating into the great tree behind him.
Both Fury and Coulson gasped for breath, as if pardoned from execution. Coulson immediately sprayed a healing agent on Fury's wound, stopping the bleeding.
"Nick Fury," Phils said coldly, "do not play tricks before me, and do not show off your petty schemes. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to end you."
Fury forced a bitter nod. This man's strength was far beyond anything he had imagined. Not even the woman from his past had made him feel such dread. He had already brushed past death once, and he did not wish to do so again.
"I understand," he said at last.
After a pause, he continued cautiously, "Mr. Phils, many supernatural events have occurred recently. May I ask, are they connected to you? Please do not misunderstand, I do not doubt you. It is only that we cannot investigate some of these matters ourselves..."
Phils glanced at him. "Which events do you mean?"
"The one that concerns us most is the dark mist. It is not the first time it has appeared. Entire cities are panicking, convinced Hell itself is descending." Fury's tone was grave.
Phils did not answer. Instead, he tossed the book in his hand onto the table before Fury.
Fury picked it up, and his face darkened.
"The Lord of Hell, Mephisto!"
"Yes," Phils said calmly. "They are right. Hell is indeed descending."
The sky outside suddenly dimmed. From the depths of space, a vast mass of darkness hurtled toward Earth.
At Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One opened her eyes, sharp light flashing. "So, they are here."
Dark mist surged from the ground, quickly engulfing New York City. From within the fog rose countless wails filled with hatred, chilling all who heard them.
Around the world, the phenomenon spread across networks, igniting panic.
"My God, what's happening? Is this an eclipse?"
"I swear I saw figures flying in the sky!"
"Aliens? Demons? Is this the end?"
"Where is the military? Someone explain this!"
Panic spread like wildfire.
Fury looked out the window, stunned. "It's begun. I must return to S.H.I.E.L.D. We need to respond to this crisis!"
He tried to rise, but pain from his wound forced him back down.
Phils chuckled, lifted a hand, and bathed him in holy light. Instantly, Fury's injury healed.
"Mr. Phils, you...!"
"Organize your people. Face this disaster properly."
"Thank you," Fury said, nodding deeply. With a meaningful glance at Phils, he left quickly.
Phils smiled faintly, then turned to his shipgirls. "My fleet, it is time to march."
Meanwhile, across New York, in a coastal mansion, Tony Stark stood before a massive window with a cup of coffee in hand. Pepper hugged him from behind.
"What's wrong?" she asked. But before Tony could answer, she too saw the horror outside—the dark mist, the howling spirits. Her face went pale.
"What is that?!"
"Jarvis, analyze the black mist," Tony ordered.
Sampling... analyzing... error. "Unknown substance," Jarvis replied.
"Unknown?" Tony muttered, his interest piqued. "Collect samples for later. For now, ready the suit."
"What? You're going outside? It's too dangerous!" Pepper protested.
"Not just me. Us. We're going to Roland Phils' estate. Under the protection of the Lord of Life, it's the safest place in New York. And I need to fight. I must do something for this world."
Pepper saw the resolve in his eyes. This was no longer the careless playboy she once knew. Since his kidnapping, he had changed, becoming a man of responsibility. That was why she had chosen to love him.
"I understand. Let me pack—"
"No time. We leave now." He kissed her hair, donned the Mark II armor, and carried her into the night sky toward the Roland estate.
While the outside world descended into fear and chaos, the Roland estate remained calm. Its people trusted in the power of Phils' followers, warriors far stronger than ordinary humans. And above all, they believed in the protection of the Lord of Life himself.
Suddenly, a powerful consciousness descended over the estate.
At once, three demi-god-level shipgirls lifted their heads, eyes cold.
"Who dares spy on our master's domain? Courting death!"
"Such evil. This must be the Lord of Hell, Mephisto."
"Whoever intrudes here will face judgment!"
"Kill!"
Enterprise, Bismarck, Icarus, and Laffey rose, their eyes blazing with murderous light. Four beams of divine power streaked toward the fog.
Phils, unmoved, watched calmly. To Effie, he said, "Take your Holy Light Order and join Vog in cleansing the wraiths pouring from Hell. Take this, the Ring of the Holy Spirit. With it, you will ascend to demi-god level, more than enough for the task."
A white light flashed, settling onto Effie's hand. The ancient ring radiated divine brilliance, and power surged through her, granting her command over magic with nothing but thought.
"Thank you, Master. I will not fail you!" Effie said, trembling with excitement.
"Go," Phils replied calmly.
Effie bowed and departed with her order, marching toward the city.
Meanwhile, ten kilometers away, in a wheat field, a gray-haired old man in a black suit stood quietly. Though his face was kind, his eyes gleamed with malice.
The shipgirls had already sensed it. This was the one whose consciousness had pressed down upon the estate.
"Discovered already? So the traitor Mindless One wasn't lying. There are indeed new powerful beings on Earth, beyond even the Ancient One. Interesting."
This was Mephisto, Lord of Hell, who had long coveted Earth but had been restrained by the Ancient One. Now, with Dormammu distracting her, he had come to sweep aside the remaining obstacles.
But what he had not expected was to encounter presences so powerful that even he felt danger.
As he pondered this, four beams of divine light descended, surrounding him.
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