Hell's Kitchen, 50th Block.
In the complex of buildings long in disrepair and waiting to be demolished, several heavily armed teams were stationed.
Then a humanoid robot flew from the sky.
"Long time no see, Miss Tamayo!"
The robot came to a house that was almost in ruins and opened its faceplate, revealing Tony's slightly weathered face.
If the person standing before him were an inexperienced girl, she'd be immediately captured by his handsomeness and maturity, falling for his multiple advantages.
But unfortunately, before him was a female demon who'd lived for hundreds of years.
Tamayo maintained an indifferent smile and replied softly, "We only met yesterday."
"Well, our Miss Tamayo doesn't seem to have any talent for humor."
Tony spread his hands, looked at Coulson, and asked, "So, what's the situation now?"
"The enemy is expected to arrive after dark."
"Expected?"
"Because it's all conjecture based on knowledge of the enemy—there's no exact information."
Muzan could grasp the location of demons not too far from him and even know everything they'd encountered.
But it wasn't clear where Muzan was at the time. If he'd been close enough to understand what happened to the handball demon and arrow demon, he would have struck already.
After all, the enemy wasn't that strong.
If he could only sense location from a distance, then Muzan could only know of his subordinates' deaths without knowing what happened.
For safety's sake, there was a high probability demons would be sent to investigate the situation after dark.
After all, although the area awaiting demolition was in shadows behind high-rise buildings on the street, there were still many places where sunlight shone.
Of course, it was also possible the distance was too far and Muzan didn't even know where his two subordinates died.
Then naturally there'd be no follow-up.
"Alright, I got it..."
After listening to Coulson's explanation, Tony replied, "I mean, there's absolutely no need to send so many ordinary people. It's enough to have me alone."
"I naturally don't doubt Mr. Stark's strength, but I don't know how many people the opponent will send. If there are too many enemies, even Mr. Stark will find it hard to fight with only two hands!
Moreover, these aren't ordinary troops—they have rich experience fighting superhumans."
Coulson wasn't angry at all that Tony looked down on the S.H.I.E.L.D. fighters and said with a smile.
"..."
Tony spread his hands, noncommittal, but didn't say anything more.
He didn't know much about S.H.I.E.L.D. now, nor did he fully trust them.
But at least his father was one of the department's founders, so he'd try to know and trust.
On the other side, Chinatown.
"Old Guo, Liu Subaru, these two stores will be handed over to you."
"Thank you. Come to my martial arts hall more when you have time in the future."
"Me too! I'll definitely make the most delicious dishes to repay your kindness!"
"Don't worry, I'll come here often in the future."
In the store he'd just bought, Quinn waved goodbye to the centenarian in a wheelchair and the boy wearing a red bandana.
This scene happened because Quinn had found 'Guo Haihuang and Liu Subaru who'd just crossed over' in Manhattan under the eyes of his spies and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who came to contact them, staging the same scene. After a drama of mutual help between travelers, they'd become acquainted.
After saying goodbye to Guo Haihuang and Liu Subaru, Quinn drove Otto to Hell's Kitchen.
"The timing is just right. When the incident over there is over, everything will be on the right track."
The scorching sun came to an end, and the crescent moon began to rise.
The streets of Hell's Kitchen had become deserted.
In the Fiftieth Block, the old building area awaiting demolition was even more silent.
Boom!
With a loud crash, a house collapsed.
In the smoke, a figure was faintly seen.
"Fire!"
Accompanied by the order, the surrounding air surged, revealing dozens of figures.
They wore bulletproof vests, helmets, all kinds of grenades and tactical weapons, and carried newly developed M-style rifles—the five S.H.I.E.L.D. tactical teams.
Ratatatatat...
Gunfire spewed, gunshots roared.
Endless ammunition poured out with the gunfire into the figure in the smoke.
Special armor-piercing projectiles sufficient to pierce two-centimeter-thick alloy steel plates were released, turning the ruins of the collapsed house into rubble.
"Use sun bombs!"
The so-called sun bombs were a new type of explosive created after Fury learned demons feared sunlight. He'd specially instructed the research department to imitate the principle of the sun's operation and nature of its energy.
No—flashbangs might be more appropriate.
Because sun bombs didn't explode.
As the order was issued, grenades were thrown one by one, bursting with dazzling light, illuminating the area like daylight.
Prepared long in advance, Coulson and others who wore anti-glare night vision goggles stared at the fire's center...
The light faded and the smoke scattered.
Among the wreckage stood a huge white cocoon, about five meters in diameter.
"A cocoon!?"
The special forces couldn't help but exclaim.
Tony and the others couldn't help but change color and shouted, "Fall back!"
But it was too late.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
The silk threads loosened and fluttered around.
A cold light flashed under the moonlight. Centered on the cocoon, within a diameter of 100 meters and one meter above the ground—whether house walls or people hiding behind walls—were separated from top to bottom as if cut by a sharp blade.
Even because they were too sharp, members of the special team didn't react after being divided in half and looked confused.
Until the pain reached their brains, they couldn't help but let out miserable cries.
Most of those who'd survived by ambushing upstairs or lying on the ground to shoot were also buried by subsequently collapsed buildings.
"Shit!"
Standing on a tall building in the distance controlling the overall situation, Coulson uttered a curse and closed his eyes in pain. "Those who can still move, give mercy to those who can't be saved."
After the order was given, gunshots erupted, then calmed down.
Coulson opened his eyes, looked firmly at the cocoon surrounded at the center where spider silk was quickly fading, and asked, "Report the number maintaining combat power."
"A1 survives!"
"D3 survives!"
"C9 survives!"
"A4..."
As the voices in the communication headset ended, the white cocoon faded away, revealing a sickly pale boy in white clothes with bright red markings on his face.
At that moment, a gust of cold wind blew.
The boy's bangs were raised, revealing the whites of his eyes that were like flesh and blood—his eyes cold, like a spider catching prey.
On them, the Chinese characters for "Lower Five" were engraved.
Lower Rank Five...
Putting down the telescope, Coulson's heart grew heavy.
There were still twenty-three people in the special team, five armed helicopters could support at any time nearby, plus Iron Man...
Could they win?
Character Notes:
Rui - From: Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Lower Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki Spider Demon with the ability to create and manipulate thread/silk Extremely dangerous with threads sharp enough to cut through anything Can create a cocoon for protection Has a sickly, pale appearance with spider-like eyes One of the more powerful members of the Lower Ranks
Guo Haihuang - From: Baki the Grappler
Chinese martial arts master Appears as an elderly man in a wheelchair Actually possesses incredible martial arts abilities Recently crossed into the Marvel world Opening a martial arts hall with Quinn's help
Liu Subaru - From: Cooking Master Boy (Chuuka Ichiban!)
Young master chef from China Wears a red bandana Known for his exceptional cooking skills Recently crossed into the Marvel world Opening a restaurant with Quinn's help