The Reality Stone's energy surged from Kai's Vibranium ring, spreading across all of New York in an instant with blinding, cosmic force.
Under the moonlight, crimson light merged with the night sky — as if new life itself had descended upon the world.
On the ground below, Hulk, who had been relentlessly smashing through collapsed buildings, finally regained clarity in his eyes.
Thor, who had been punched through a skyscraper, climbed out from the rubble, gripping Mjölnir tightly.
Nearby, Steve Rogers held his broken shield, regret flashing in his eyes — but it quickly vanished.
The battle wasn't over. This wasn't the time to reminisce about the dance he still owed.
Across New York — on streets, rooftops, alleys, and apartment corridors countless civilians holding knives, forks, and shattered glass suddenly regained consciousness under the Reality Stone's glow.
None of them knew what had just happened or why they'd walked outside…
But when they saw the blades in their own hands aimed at their throats, horror struck. They dropped the weapons immediately.
Looking around at the countless terrified faces in the crowd, fear once again descended upon New York.
Manhattan Battlefield
"Crack..."
Fractures crawled across Kai's Vibranium ring — the Reality Stone's energy was too immense. Even Vibranium couldn't contain it.
He looked at the cracked ring with visible heartache, then charged forward toward Wilson Jones, whose body was possessed by the Vampire Ancestor.
The dark barrier shattered instantly under the Stone's overwhelming energy.
A flash of blinding light shot from Kai's fingertip, piercing straight through the Vampire Ancestor's chest.
With Armament Haki coating his arms, Kai's punches landed like cannon fire.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Before the Vampire Ancestor could even hit the ground, Kai flashed beside him again, launching another kick that sent him flying through the air.
Repeatedly struck and pummeled midair, the ancient creature had no chance to retaliate — only endure Kai's relentless assault.
Originally, the Vampire Ancestor intended to use dark magic to drain millions of lives for a blood sacrifice, hoping to ascend to the level of a Dimensional Lord.
But under the Reality Stone's influence, his magic backfired — stripping him of nearly all his strength.
Now, before Kai's fury, he was nothing more than a cornered beast.
"You can regenerate after losing an arm, huh?"
Kai's Haki-infused fist shattered the Vampire Ancestor's shoulder blade.
"Your heart can turn into a sword, right?"
Another flash from his fingertip pierced through the creature's chest.
"You can still spew lava, can you?"
Kai picked up a stone, bit a chunk off with his teeth, shoved it into the Vampire Ancestor's mouth, and punched him hundreds of meters away.
Then his feet glowed with golden radiance.
"Speed is weight — let's see how you handle light-speed power!"
His kick connected — the possessed body of Wilson Jones exploded into fragments.
The Vampire Ancestor's soul — horned and dripping blood — rose from the remains, flapping its wings and glaring at Kai with burning hatred.
Before it could speak, Kai twisted reality itself — solidifying the soul midair.
Then a single beam of light obliterated its head.
Kamar-Taj Sanctuary Rooftop
Watching from the Sanctuary, The Ancient One lifted her hand. The remnants of dark energy from the Vampire Ancestor's shattered soul gathered into her palm.
Turning to Mordo, she said calmly, "Everything in this world has two sides — just like dark magic.
It can destroy the mind, amplifying greed and tyranny. But if one's conviction is firm… that same darkness becomes wings."
Mordo nodded silently, though his eyes held conflict.
The Avengers each had their flaws — yet their purpose was unwavering: to protect this world.
He too had a stance — one that opposed the very darkness his teacher now held.
The Ancient One smiled faintly, understanding him without further words.
The future… would be Doctor Strange's to face.
After the Battle
The once-bustling Manhattan streets were now ruins — skyscrapers reduced to shells, luxury hotels to piles of debris.
Tony Stark approached Kai, watching him mournfully touch his cracked ring.
"Hey, don't stress. It's just a ring. The crisis is over," Tony said, patting his shoulder.
"Your generous boss will not only double your bonus — he'll forge you a new one."
Kai sighed. "Thanks, boss, but… it's Vibranium, so—"
"Yeah, yeah." Tony waved him off, turning toward the others.
"Steve, get the big guy to stop smashing things! I'm buying everyone Turkish kebabs later!"
Kai looked at a fallen streetlamp and sighed. What a shame… good lamp.
Police and rescue crews arrived soon after, surveying the city that looked like a war zone.
Reporters who'd once livestreamed the fight from helicopters had fled when the 15-meter-tall monster appeared — now, they filmed only ruins.
The entire ordeal lasted just over an hour — but to everyone, it felt like a lifetime.
Later That Night — Stark Tower
After showering, the Avengers gathered for the promised kebab feast.
Tony raised a glass. "Alright, call it a late-night snack. We all need it."
He looked around. "When that skull-faced guy unleashed his spell — what did you all see? Looked like illusions."
Steve exhaled. "Something from seventy years ago. I saw myself finally keeping my promise to Peggy… finishing that dance."
Thor nodded. "I saw myself leading Asgardian armies with Loki — victory after victory. The illusion felt real."
He turned to Natasha. "What about you?"
She paused mid-bite. Clint Barton stepped in quietly. "I saw my childhood."
Natasha smiled faintly. "I saw two children calling me 'Mom,' asking to go to the amusement park."
The table fell silent for a moment. Barton gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.
Then Kai broke the tension. "I saw Tony giving me a raise — and a huge monthly bonus—"
"Shut it, you brat! I was right there next to you!" Tony barked.
Dr. Banner chuckled. "Actually, Hulk was affected too. But Tony — you and Kai weren't, right?"
Everyone turned to Tony.
"Probably because I was wearing the armor," he said, half-shrugging.
"But… even civilians hundreds of miles away were influenced."
"Then it's not just the armor," Banner muttered. Even Kai gave Tony a thoughtful look.
Tony raised his glass. "Who cares? We won, didn't we? Cheers — to the Avengers!"
After the meal, everyone went to rest — except Tony, who stopped Kai.
"Hey, remember my anxiety?" he asked.
Kai sat back. "Yeah. I thought it was gone after we handled Extremis."
"It was — because I knew you'd handle anything unexpected," Tony said, pulling up a holographic projection of the Earth.
He walked through it, hands spread as golden light filled the room.
"I carried a nuke into space once. Ever since, I've feared another invasion. That's what caused my anxiety. I thought Extremis could create a global defense system. But I realized my direction was wrong."
He looked at Kai. "What's the most powerful aspect of imperfect Extremis?"
Kai grinned. "Self-destruction?"
"Exactly!" Tony said. "A bomb can destroy a building. A nuke, a city. But an Extremis self-destructing armor—"
He projected a miniature armor model — palm-sized, glowing red.
"Jarvis calculated: one can wipe out six city blocks. And I can fit 530 per satellite."
Kai blinked. "You're making space mines?"
"Fifteen satellites, that's 7,950 units. I'm building ten more — over 13,000 self-destruct armors in orbit. A planetary defense grid!"
Kai whistled. "How much does one cost?"
"Scrap parts — maybe tens of thousands? You think I care? I paid fifty grand for one of your cheeseburgers."
Kai smirked. "If you gave me that billion instead, I'd defend Earth myself."
"Yeah, right. Not happening." Tony laughed.
When Tony's gaze drifted toward the cracked ring on Kai's hand, Kai snapped, "Don't even think about it."
"I just want to study it—"
"Not for a billion dollars, Stark."
Tony sighed, disappointed. "Fine… but remember that hundred pounds of Vibranium you wanted? I'll—"
Before he could finish, Kai vanished.
Tony groaned. "A hundred pounds? Jarvis, start tracking Ulysses Klaue."
Twenty Days Later
Though the Vampire crisis had ended, panic lingered.
News feeds still buzzed with protests and outrage — civilians demanded truth, accusing Congress of cover-ups.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was gone; no scapegoats left. The people wanted answers.
Kai skimmed the paper and muttered, "Skye would've loved this chaos."
A system message flashed:
[Borsalino Acting Proficiency +0.1%]
He sighed. Ever since the Vibranium ring cracked, he hadn't dared use the Reality Stone again.
"Damn it, Tony… still no Vibranium? Useless."
He opened his Acting System panel:
God-Level Acting System
Name: Kai
Age: 19
Templates: Kyogoku Makoto (92.5%), Borsalino (59.4%)
Next template unlocks at 80%.
Abilities: Monster Physique, World-Class Karate, Armament Haki, Observation Haki, Glint-Glint Fruit (Unawakened), Marine Six Powers.
"Just 0.6% more…" he muttered.
He glanced toward the Staten Island Base, still under construction by Stark's company — progress slow as ever.
Frustrated, he grabbed his phone to call Tony — only for Tony to call first.
"Kai, get to Stark Tower. I've got something for you."
"I'm on vacation. You paying triple overtime?"
"You might earn a few million this time — maybe ten if you act right."
Kai's eyes lit up. "On my way!"
Stark Industries Tower
Kai appeared in his office to find Alice — the Skrull in disguise — standing beside Tony.
"Shouldn't you be my secretary? How'd you end up working for this capitalist?" he teased.
Tony smirked. "The bait's ready. Alice extracted data from the real Alice via Catherine. HYDRA believes you've fallen for her."
He leaned forward seriously. "Don't underestimate HYDRA, Kai. This mission's dangerous."
Kai grinned. "As long as the money's right, I'll do anything."
Three Days Later — Chicago
"Let's talk business," Kai said coldly, holding Alice's hand across from Ophelia, HYDRA's envoy.
"Since Pierce's HYDRA fell, your organization's finished. I'm only here because of her."
Ophelia smiled. "Such arrogance from the 'Flash.' You should know — threaten me, and every record of Alice's HYDRA past will be sent worldwide."
Kai's eyes darkened. "If not for her, you'd already be dead."
Ophelia pressed a button, playing a holographic projection — a swirling mass of black magnetic sand inside a glass cage.
"This was once under S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. It's alien, like the Obelisk — now held by Coulson's new S.H.I.E.L.D."
"So, you want me to steal it?" Kai asked flatly.
"Not exactly. A fragment was already taken — possessed a scientist, turned him into this."
The image shifted — a towering, purple-skinned monster tearing through steel walls.
"Bring back that magnetic material. Do that, and we'll erase all of Alice's records. Plus—" she leaned in, "HYDRA will pay five million dollars."
Alice squeezed Kai's hand, silently pleading him not to accept.
Kai smiled softly. "I said I'd free you from HYDRA. I meant it."
The look in his eyes sold the illusion perfectly.
Texas — Three Days Later
Through surveillance, the HYDRA Madam watched Kai battle the monstrous researcher — his moves swift, precise, brutal.
Satisfied, she turned to Alice. "You're certain he's in love with you?"
"Absolutely, Madam," Alice replied confidently. She recounted her staged romance — jealousy plots, fake quarrels, "accidental" intimacy.
By the end, even the Madam nodded. "Good. Deepen his obsession. A hero blinded by love and greed will become my most powerful weapon."
On screen, Kai finished the fight, retrieving the black material.
The HYDRA Madam dialed his number.
"Flash, don't kill him — he's one of ours!"
A flash of light pierced the researcher's head.
"You called too late," Kai said coldly. "I have the item. Now keep your word."
The Madam smirked. "Let's meet first. Agent 19 will bring you in."
Moments later, a stealth jet appeared overhead.
"Hop in, Flash," Agent 19 said with a grin. "Let's meet the Madam."
Back at Stark Tower
"Tony, Kai actually went with that Alice to meet HYDRA's Madam?" Natasha asked.
"Yeah," Tony replied. "Since Pierce's fall, HYDRA's been hiding. Now they're active again — perfect time to crush them."
Natasha frowned. "Don't underestimate them. Hill told me HYDRA splintered — Ophelia's faction and Coulson's investigation target are different branches. We can't wipe them all out so easily."
Tony nodded. "Fair point. But that's not why I called you."
He gestured to a holographic projection — a sleek new Avengers Base.
"Built-in training facilities, housing, medical bays, logistics — everything."
He sighed. "Barton's off-grid. Steve, Banner, and Kai don't care for logistics. Thor's off dating Jane."
"So, Natasha…" Tony grinned. "Looks like the new Avengers Base location is up to you."
...
Author's Update 18+ 📢
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