"Move, move!"
Outside the cave, Captain America Steve Rogers led a team of ten, advancing in a trapezoidal formation toward the entrance.
"Who are you?"
The jihadist members patrolling the cave were the first to spot the intruders. They raised their guns, aimed at Rogers, and shouted questions in their native language.
"Fire."
Rogers' expression remained cold as he waved his right hand. A soldier behind him raised his rifle, aimed, and fired smoothly in one motion.
Bang.
The silencer muffled the shot, but a bullet penetrated a terrorist's eyebrow. He dropped instantly, eyes wide in shock.
"Keep going. Target: Allens."
Rogers' face was stern, his leadership radiating authority. Even with wrinkles and age, he looked every bit the superhero on a mission.
Bang, bang, bang.
Three identical soldiers entered the cave first. They immediately engaged the terrorists, shooting with precision. Each target was neutralized almost instantly.
"Safe. No further targets."
The middle soldier tapped his earpiece, transmitting the message outside the cave.
"Team Fury, keep moving."
Rogers' face remained resolute. He hadn't flinched against Thanos; a few unknown terrorists were nothing.
"Allens, you're a mistake from time travel. I won't let you destroy the timeline."
Rogers whispered to himself. Ever since Allens stole the quantum battle suit, he knew stopping him was necessary—not just to protect the past, but to safeguard the future Avengers.
"Shit."
Inside, several terrorists playing cards were terrified by the intrusion. Some cursed under their breath.
Rat-a-tat-tat.
Gunfire erupted. The terrorists didn't stand a chance against the elite ten-man team.
Though only ten in number, each was a top-tier special forces soldier, surpassing even S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. They were Rogers' specially trained unit: Team Fury.
Team Fury was built from Nick Fury's genetic sample, cloned using HYDRA technology. Imperfections made them nearly emotionless, like lethal machines. Originally a failed HYDRA experiment for endless soldiers, Rogers restarted the "Infinite Soldiers" project during his 2023 seclusion, injecting each clone with a weakened super-soldier serum. Their abilities still surpassed normal humans, second only to Rogers himself.
This confidence gave Rogers certainty: he could complete this mission. He wasn't just revisiting the past to live peacefully with Tony Stark.
"Captain America is here… unbelievable."
Allens had already observed Team Fury through his monitors. He turned toward Tony Stark. He had considered activating the quantum suit to leave, but then heard it.
Tick, tick, tick.
The sound was more beautiful than any music, the rhythm of the laws of operation of all things. A spark of greed lit in Allens' eyes.
He knew this was a side effect of his new super-ability: seeing the laws of everything. When something extraordinary approached, his power compelled him to study it, to master it.
"This feeling… amazing."
Allens' face betrayed a hint of intoxication. Why resist it? The sensation exhilarated him, especially when encountering something he could understand and manipulate.
A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He tapped the table with his right index finger, sending ripples across the surface.
Boom, boom, boom.
Rogers' ears rang with a familiar roar. He looked up, and the cave vanished. Before him sprawled a devastated New York City. A massive space battleship hovered above, and the fallen Avengers lay scattered at his feet.
"Thanos? No… is this a hallucination?"
The illusion shifted again. Thanos stood before him, clad in golden armor and wielding the Blade of Judgment. His arrogance made Rogers frown, but panic did not enter his eyes.
"What about my illusion technique? Maybe this is the outcome of the final battle in the future."
Allens' voice echoed around Rogers, disorienting and omnipresent.
"Captain Rogers, this is our first battle. I hope you won't be defeated so easily.
"Even if I am a villain, it doesn't matter. I will be the most powerful villain—a being who controls the fate of all life in the universe, just like Thanos."
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