The battle aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier nearly sent the entire ship crashing from the sky. Chaos raged everywhere, alarms blaring and the deck trembling under explosions. Fortunately, though Loki's mind control was powerful, breaking it wasn't impossible.
During her desperate struggle with Hawkeye, Natasha Romanoff slammed him hard on the head, knocking him to the floor. Moments later, his pupils cleared, the haze of Loki's control gone.
With that breakthrough, things became much simpler.
Everyone turned toward the next and biggest problem Hulk.
Thor swung his hammer and shouted, "Hey, big guy!"
Hearing his voice, the Hulk turned his massive head. Before he could react, Mjolnir came crashing down on his skull with a thunderous boom.
The Hulk staggered, the world spinning around him. As he struggled to steady himself, Tony Stark blasted forward in his Iron Man armor and landed a solid punch right to Hulk's jaw.
This time, the green giant swayed once, then toppled over with a heavy thud that made the deck shake.
Everyone exchanged weary glances before finally sighing in relief.
Thank God it was over. For a moment, most of them had truly believed they were going to die.
The Hulk wasn't exactly someone you could reason with, and even knocking him out was a small miracle.
When Bruce Banner came back to his senses, rubbing his forehead, he groaned. "My head feels like it's going to explode."
Thor looked away guiltily, and Tony's eyes darted elsewhere. After all, they'd both hit him pretty hard.
If not for the confined space of the ship, which had limited Hulk's movements, subduing him would have been nearly impossible.
But Banner wasn't in the mood to dwell on it. Still dizzy, he stumbled to his feet, trying to reorient himself.
After the chaos finally settled, everyone gathered on the bridge.
"Loki's escaped," Nick Fury said grimly, rubbing his temple. "We need to find him fast. The only thing we know for sure is that he plans to use the Tesseract for something big."
At that, Tony Stark's expression sharpened. "To activate the Tesseract, he'll need a massive energy source. And in all of New York, there's only one place that fits that description."
When everyone turned toward him, Tony continued, "Stark Tower. It's the perfect power hub."
Bruce nodded in agreement. "He's right. If Loki's trying to open a portal, that's where he'll do it. We should move the ship immediately."
Tony shook his head. "Too late for that!"
His faceplate snapped shut with a hiss. "I'll go first!"
Before anyone could respond, he launched himself from the ship and shot across the clouds toward Manhattan. Every second mattered.
Nick Fury turned toward Nolan Rock. "Dr. Rock, any suggestions?"
Nolan shrugged. "Tony already said everything I was about to say. I don't have a Mark suit that can fly, so the best we can do is change course and back him up as fast as possible."
Around them, the full lineup of the Avengers stood assembled far more unified than in the original timeline. Nolan didn't plan to get too involved beyond what was necessary. His cooperation with S.H.I.E.L.D. was purely professional. He'd done his part; now, it was time to prepare for what was coming.
In the city below, Jessica Jones and Sharon Carter had just left the movie theater.
Jessica, frustrated by Nolan's sudden departure, decided to return to her detective office. Sharon, on the other hand, went back to Hive Industries headquarters where Nolan's private base was located. Ever since discovering that Fury had sold her out, she'd taken up residence there for safety.
When she entered her office and found Nolan standing silently by the window, she raised a brow.
"So, have you finished saving the world?" she asked teasingly.
"No," Nolan said without turning. "It's just beginning."
Something in his tone made Sharon's heart skip a beat.
Nolan's gaze was distant, fixed on the New York skyline. "War is coming."
After that, he made a quick call to Jessica Jones, ordering her to come to the Hive base immediately. Though reluctant, Jessica obeyed, knowing that Nolan never said anything without reason.
The Hive base, located in the outskirts of New York, was designed precisely for moments like this far from the chaos of the city, yet heavily fortified. Everyone in the city knew how devastating the Battle of New York would become. The suburbs were the only remotely safe zones.
Nolan began notifying all his employees to evacuate to Hive. He wasn't a saint, but these were his people his responsibility.
Still, he couldn't tell them the truth about aliens. Instead, he simply said there was a potential security threat in the city and the Hive base would be the safest place to stay.
Those who refused to come? He didn't have time to save everyone.
Soon, the Hive facility was filled with employees and their families. The air buzzed with unease as they realized something big was happening.
Frank Castle arrived with his wife and daughter, quickly settling them in before heading straight to Nolan's office, his face grim.
"Boss, what's going on?" he asked.
Nolan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave an order: "Frank, gather all personnel. I want every soldier in full combat gear. Ready the APU mechs, load live ammunition, and position them around the Hive perimeter. We might have a serious fight coming."
Frank froze. "What kind of enemy are we talking about?"
Nolan smiled faintly. "Don't worry too much. Just a mad god from mythology causing trouble."
Frank's brow furrowed. "Like Thor?"
"Exactly," Nolan replied. "That mad god's name is Loki Thor's brother."
Frank left, still dazed, but quickly began relaying the orders.
Within minutes, armed personnel flooded the armory. Rows of exosuits lined the walls like silent sentinels.
The soldiers suited up, their mechanical armor hissing as systems powered on. Frank donned his own advanced Black Armor a prototype far beyond standard issue.
Outside, the towering APU mechs came to life, their heavy steps echoing as they formed a steel perimeter around the Hive.
"Combat readiness!" Frank commanded.
In an instant, the Hive transformed.
Turrets emerged from hidden panels as the dome above opened. Automated drones and weapon systems unfolded like wings of steel.
The Hive base was no longer just a building it had become a true war fortress.
Nolan watched from the control deck, eyes gleaming. He had poured countless resources into this place. Now, it was finally time for Hive to reveal its fangs.
Meanwhile, Tony Stark arrived at Stark Tower.
Loki was already there, standing beside a massive energy reactor, the Tesseract glowing ominously above it.
Tony's expression darkened. He had already cut off the tower's power supply, yet the reactor was still charging.
He fired a repulsor blast at it only to be sent flying backward by a massive energy surge.
This is bad, Tony thought grimly.
He made a split-second decision: he dropped from the sky and stepped out of his armor, buying time until the others arrived.
Loki turned, amused. "You're very brave, mortal."
"I'm Tony Stark," Tony replied smoothly.
Loki smirked, clearly savoring his coming victory. As the self-proclaimed king-to-be of Earth, he seemed to enjoy having an audience.
While Tony stalled, he discreetly activated the remote control bracelets for his suit.
Loki, however, wasn't fooled. "Do you know why I've been talking to you for so long?"
"Because I'm handsome?" Tony quipped.
Loki's grin widened as he stepped closer, the scepter in his hand glowing. "No. Because you're about to be mine."
He pressed the tip of the scepter against Tony's chest
Nothing happened.
Loki blinked, confused, then tried again. Still nothing.
Tony's smug grin returned.
Loki's face twisted in rage. Magical energy erupted, blasting Tony clear out of the tower and into open air.
As Tony tumbled downward, Loki sneered. "No matter. Once you're dead, no one will know I ever failed."
But Tony wasn't done yet. He triggered his backup armor, the Mark VII, which latched onto him mid-fall.
With a roar of repulsors, he shot back into the air just as a brilliant beam of blue light tore through the sky above Stark Tower.
The heavens split open, revealing a vast swirling wormhole.
From within, an endless army began to pour through.
The war had begun.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Caught in the currents of this adventure? Tell us what hooked you—your thoughts and reviews keep the story blazing! Every 300 Power Stones unlocks a bonus chapter, propelling the journey even further!
Nolan's path is just getting started, and the story of justice is only unfolding. Keep riding the waves with Unbound Evolution and sail beyond the horizon!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.