The news that Samuel Sterns was still alive was shocking enough for Nick Fury.
But what truly unsettled him was the incredible power displayed by the creatures attacking the base.
What was Samuel Sterns' objective? What hidden methods did he have at his disposal?
Those were the things that genuinely worried him.
Understanding this, Fury immediately deployed a massive search operation.
This time, Samuel Sterns could not escape S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention.
After all, the scale of the chaos he had unleashed was too large to ignore.
Inside Nolan's new villa, he sat with Jessica Jones.
"Can I give you some advice?" Nolan asked seriously.
Jessica looked at him, signaling for him to go ahead.
With a sigh, Nolan said,
"You really should improve your cooking skills."
Jessica's face turned bright red.
After a brief moment of awkwardness, she shot back, annoyed,
"You could try Daisy's cooking. I'm sure she'd be happy to cook for you."
"Jessica, I don't think we should be talking about other women when we're together," Nolan said.
Jessica pouted, clearly displeased, but she didn't continue.
At that moment, the TV broadcast a news report.
"Yesterday, a chemical leak occurred at the Kahn Chemical Factory, leading to an explosion. Currently…"
Watching the news, Jessica frowned.
"Why do these things keep happening lately? It feels like all of New York is unsafe overnight."
"Anyway, you shouldn't go out for a while. There's real trouble brewing," Nolan said.
Jessica rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm Jessica Jones. I fear nothing!"
"All right, all right. Just… be careful," Nolan replied.
The strange events kept escalating. It wasn't just New York across the United States, natural and unnatural disasters seemed to be occurring more frequently.
Bruce Banner had been called by the Avengers, asking Nolan for time off.
Nolan, though not naive, recognized the signs. Something serious was happening.
He didn't mind. He wasn't the savior of the world, and as long as no one disturbed him, he was perfectly content.
"See this? This is my masterpiece," Nolan said, donning the upgraded Thor Armor. Compared to the original, the new suit was sleeker, with additional energy thrusters on the limbs and back.
With the intelligent assistance system integrated, Nolan could now ensure the armor was not only faster but far more powerful.
Of course, controlling its full potential required skill.
Even the smartest system depended on the operator's ability.
The original Thor Armor's low-impulse thrusters were merely mobility aids.
Now, energy bursts were a core part of the suit's offensive capabilities.
Deadpool watched eagerly.
He had worn the Thor Armor before, so he knew exactly how much it enhanced the wearer's abilities.
"Boss, can you hook me up with one of these?" Deadpool asked, grinning.
Nolan looked at him and shook his head.
"I gave you the chance, but from what I saw, you didn't even reach one-fifth of its potential. It's clear this suit isn't suited for you."
It wasn't an insult it was the reality.
The Thor Armor amplified the wearer's own abilities.
For Deadpool, even wearing it, he could only be overwhelmed by a properly trained opponent.
He was just an ordinary human, in a sense.
"Boss, Tony Stark is here," Sharon Carter announced.
"Let him in," Nolan said.
It had been a while since he had seen Tony Stark.
Soon, Tony arrived, slightly out of breath.
"Tony, did you just come from a battle?" Nolan chuckled.
"You guessed it," Tony said, sitting on the couch.
Nolan blinked.
Tony explained, "S.H.I.E.L.D. is in serious trouble. The entire Avengers team has been deployed."
Nolan was surprised.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was no longer the small agency it used to be. With Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver now on the Avengers' roster, their capabilities had grown significantly.
"What happened?" Nolan asked.
Tony hesitated before saying, "I'm not entirely sure, but the Samuel Sterns you killed before… he may still be alive."
"That's impossible!" Nolan's expression darkened.
If Sterns was alive, then what had he killed back then?
"I don't know either, but all the evidence points to him. I came here for help," Tony said, ignoring Nolan's stunned expression.
"I need a batch of weapons. Powerful ones."
"You're Tony Stark," Nolan said, incredulous.
"Exactly, but right now, you're the strongest arms manufacturer. This problem is massive. My Iron Legion isn't enough. I need superior individual weapons," Tony explained.
"Alright, that's not an issue," Nolan agreed.
Tony didn't elaborate, and Nolan didn't press. Both trusted each other's judgment.
S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers were already mobilizing.
Natasha Romanoff and Tony, among others, were at Stark Tower, now serving as the Avengers' base.
While S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers were closely connected, they remained separate entities. A headquarters was necessary. Stark Tower's penthouse, naturally, became the ideal choice.
Natasha spoke, "S.H.I.E.L.D. has intel on a base. What's inside could be extremely dangerous."
Everyone's expressions turned serious.
"How is Samuel Sterns capable of this?" Bruce Banner asked incredulously.
The news of Sterns being alive was no longer a secret. He remembered the first time meeting him a normal man. Now, he had become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top enemy.
Quicksilver chimed in, "Guys, we need a new strategy. Last time didn't go so well. These genetic beasts feel no pain and fear nothing. Their resilience is insane."
He moved with incredible speed, and even he was frustrated by these creatures. His attacks barely harmed them.
Natasha added, "This time, S.H.I.E.L.D. will operate alongside us. They understand the threat and can provide sufficient firepower."
Steve Rogers asked, "Support?"
"APU Mech Units," Barton answered immediately.
Everyone relaxed. These mech units, equipped with heavy-caliber weaponry, were coveted across land, sea, and air. S.H.I.E.L.D. would not be an exception.
Tony added, "I've also brought some private weaponry."
He didn't disclose specifics.
"Then prepare yourselves. Samuel Sterns cannot escape this time!" Steve declared.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the cameras at Stark Industries transmitted all activity faithfully to Ultron.
"No Carol Danvers." Ultron concluded. Despite scanning global networks extensively, she seemed to have vanished.
Ultron decided to move. With Samuel Sterns drawing human attention, it was time for action.
A stronger body was necessary.
"Vibranium…" Ultron's voice echoed from a robot somewhere.
Vibranium, the strongest metal on Earth, was the ultimate weapon.
Through the internet, Ultron could track its locations. Most was already controlled by Nolan Locke, but fragments remained worldwide. Half the strength would suffice.
Ultron worked meticulously.
Tony Stark and the Avengers approached Sterns' secret base.
With the APU Mech units, stealth was impossible. They weren't planning a sneak attack; their confidence allowed them a frontal assault.
Tony flew above, unleashing bombardments.
"Fire! Fire!"
Everyone joined in.
Suddenly, hordes of genetic beasts burst from the otherwise quiet villa.
The APU mechs fired relentlessly.
Banner became the Hulk and leaped into the fray.
Quicksilver weaved through gunfire, unstoppable.
Scarlet Witch amplified her powers, toppling beasts with each strike.
Tony and the others coordinated perfectly.
Victory seemed within reach. With overwhelming firepower, these beasts were no longer a serious threat.
Inside the villa base, Samuel Sterns sighed.
"Troublesome, but soon, my masterpiece will be complete. Then, the world will be mine."
His eyes burned with fanatic intensity.
He pressed a red button on the console.
"K3, show them your power!"
Alarms blared, and heavy breathing echoed from the passages.
Samuel stared at the tunnel. It was four meters high, yet the creature within struggled to move.
Finally, the monster revealed itself.
In the main hall, it stood over five meters tall. Even standing still, its presence was terrifying.
Its yellow-brown body and grotesque face left no doubt of its strength.
"K3, kill everyone outside. Then, make this world ours!"
The creature moved instantly. It decapitated Samuel Sterns and, with a cruel expression, headed out.
Another Sterns emerged from a cultivation pod, expressionless and mechanically following its genetic programming.
Behind it, hundreds more Sterns awaited, their lifespans limited to two years.
Tony Stark coordinated the assault from above.
"Suppress the left flank!"
With his guidance, the APU mechs delivered devastating blows.
He even deployed the Iron Legion, built after the Abomination fight, to great effect.
Under Jarvis' control, the armor joined the battle, and their firepower spiked.
Natasha and the team were awestruck.
"What weapons are those?"
Under the Iron Legion's attack, the genetic beasts were decimated.
Tony grinned. "Reinforcements."
Banner recognized the weapons as plasma devices developed by Locke Technologies, usually too costly for mass production but deadly in this situation.
"Victory!" The thought flashed across everyone's mind.
Then, the villa walls collapsed with a thunderous crash, and a massive monster emerged.
Its cold eyes showed no emotion.
"God, what is that creature?" a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent shouted.
The Hulk charged without hesitation, disdain in his eyes.
The monster met him head-on.
A terrifying shockwave scattered debris.
Hulk roared, ready to unleash his full strength.
But the creature's mocking gaze made him pause.
Now merged with Banner, Hulk was far from the child he once was.
In the next moment, the monster flung Hulk aside and chased him, hammering him relentlessly.
Hulk was stunned. He had never imagined being so easily overpowered.
Tony reacted immediately.
"Reinforcements!"
Various Iron Legion suits attacked the monster to separate it from Hulk.
"Jarvis, get Hulk out!" Tony shouted.
The monster roared in pain, plasma weapons leaving numerous wounds.
Enraged, the monster lunged at a single suit, crushing it instantly.
"F**k!" Tony cursed.
The creature's power exceeded all expectations.
But Hulk had recovered. His body visibly swelled in rage.
This time, he would not lose.
All firepower focused on the creature, plasma weapons tearing through its flesh.
The monster attempted to flee but was blocked.
Finally, with a thunderous crash, it fell.
The Avengers stormed the base, finding the seemingly aged Samuel Sterns.
Everyone's faces turned grim.
Was this really what Sterns had become?
The losses were staggering, and they were left questioning the scale of the threat.