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POV: Third Person
Location: New York City
"It's been several weeks since the Second Battle of New York, where multiple Titan species clashed throughout the city. Now, against all odds, Manhattan is showing signs of recovery much sooner than experts predicted. Much of the credit goes to D.A.M.A.G.E Control, whose large-scale, specialized equipment and workforce have accelerated reconstruction at an unprecedented pace."
The anchor's voice carried a polished calm, images flashing behind her of rebuilt streets, fresh steel girders rising against the skyline, and construction crews swarming over the ruins.
"But not all headlines are positive. Some lawmakers and citizens have voiced concern over D.A.M.A.G.E Control's controversial hiring practices. The company, led by its young CEO Max Draco, remains one of the only private corporations openly employing mutants and super-powered individuals. Supporters hail the move as forward-thinking, but critics warn it could pose dangers to public safety."
The broadcast shifted to a clip of protestors waving signs outside a half-finished building: KEEP HUMANS SAFE, NO MUTANT LABOR, and JOBS FOR HUMANS NOT FREAKS.
"Still, one thing is certain: in the wake of catastrophe, Max Draco and his company have become a name the world can't ignore."
The anchor's smile froze, the report fading to commercial.
The anchor's smile froze, the report fading to commercial.
Max sighed and mutted the TV, slumping back into the couch.
"Great," he muttered, running a hand down his face. "Already on half the world's watchlist, and now I'm the face of mutant labor rights? Perfect."
He groaned, annoyed, the weight of it all pressing heavier than any Titan fight.
Max lay sprawled across his couch, staring up at the ceiling. The base normally alive with the chaos of running feet, laughter, and arguments was silent. Too silent.
His kids were gone.
Not permanently, of course. They were at Xavier's School, getting their first taste of classes, of human life, of being around other children. It was something Max had always planned for them. Still… without their constant whirlwind energy, Nighthawk Island felt like a ghost town.
He shifted, exhaling through his nose. It wasn't that he didn't trust Xavier. It was that he knew Xavier's School had a nasty habit of being attacked, leveled, or both.
So Max had prepared.
Agumon and Gabumon were tucked safely into their digivices, always at the children's side. His phoenix and thunderbird clones circled the skies nearby, silent guardians nobody would notice until it was too late. And each child carried a panic button. A last resort.
Max had been very clear about that.
If you press it, he had told them, I don't care if I'm on the other side of the world I will tear a hole through the planet itself to reach you.
Professor Xavier had heard the same warning, though Max had phrased it only slightly more politely. If anything happened under the professor's watch, Max promised, there would be a very serious conversation.
But now Max found himself… bored.
His day-to-day responsibilities as a young CEO and high school student were already handled by his water elemental clone. His predator clone, meanwhile, stalked New York's streets as Nightfury. The dual presence kept suspicions at bay after all, no one would connect the heir of D.A.M.A.G.E Control to the shadowy vigilante if both were seen at the same time.
Which left the original Max Draco sitting here, flipping through TV channels, like he wasn't in a universe overflowing with things to do.
And that was the problem: there was too much to do.
Going out into space was tempting. To see the greater galactic landscape, the Kree, Skrulls, maybe even brush shoulders with the Shi'ar Empire…
Max shook his head. No. He needed to stay on Earth. Too many warning signs pointed toward something big coming, and when it did, he had to be here.
Exploring the Hollow Earth crossed his mind next. But honestly? He didn't feel it. He already held the second-largest territory on Earth to patrol and protect. Venturing into the Hollow Earth just to explore, kill, and loot? Maybe later.
He sighed, staring blankly at the television. "So what do I want to do?"
That's when the tug hit him. His connection to one of his clones suddenly strengthened, a ripple across his consciousness.
Moments later, the door slid open.
His predator clone dressed in the sleek armor of Nightfury stepped into the room.
The clone didn't even speak. One moment it stood there, the next it dissolved back into me.
Memories flooded my skull in a torrent of images, voices, sounds, snippets of conversation all crammed into my mind at once.
"Fuck…" I hissed, clutching my temples. "Do I hate it when they do that."
Efficient, sure. Faster than talking, faster than explaining and smooth communication was never the predator's strength.
As the chaos settled, the memories locked into place, and with them came something new. A glowing panel appeared in my vision.
---
[Mission: Heroes Unite]
• You have been invited to Avengers Tower. Purpose: Unknown.
Accept invitation?
Yes / No
---
"Huh. Guess I'm not bored anymore," I muttered.
The memory of my clone's encounter replayed: My clone had finished taking down a robbery when Johnny Storm and Spider-Man showed up both insisting I come to Avengers Tower. No explanation, just: Be there at noon.
Apparently, my clone thought this was important enough to warrant my personal attention.
I checked the clock.
11:58.
"Well, that's convenient."
With a mental flick, I selected Enderman. Shadows wrapped around me, the world folded, and in the next instant I stood crouched on a rooftop just a few blocks away from Avengers Tower.
Shadows peeled away as I reappeared right in front of Avengers Tower's massive glass doors.
The reaction was instant. Workers on break jumped back, some cursing under their breath. A few dropped their coffee cups. I expected that much — teleporting vigilantes in dark armor don't exactly scream friendly neighborhood.
What I didn't expect were the blades.
One was long and jagged, so black it seemed to swallow the sunlight itself. The other gleamed pale and silver, curved like a crescent moon.
Both hovered at my throat.
My eyes tracked upward. The black blade was held by a man in full, onyx-colored armor, helmet and all, his presence radiating the same oppressive weight as the weapon.
The crescent blade belonged to a figure in stark contrast — white armor, trimmed in silver, a crescent moon emblazoned on his chestplate, his cape catching the wind like a banner.
I didn't need introductions. I knew who they were.
Still, instinct kicked in, and I triggered [Observation].
- - - -
[Stats]
STR- ?
DEX- ?
INT- ?
Energy-?
[Skills]
?
- - - -
- - - -
[Stats]
STR- ?
DEX- ?
INT- ?
Energy-?
[Skills]
?
- - - -
My eyes widened at the stats shown or the lack of stats.
"What are you creature your human disguise can not fool my blade..." black knight said voice low the ebony blade shimmer like a black liquid.
Moon Knight said nothing but under the shadow of his hood two glowing white eyes glared at me.
"I was invited here, same as you. Unless this is Avengers Tower's idea of hospitality?" I said calmly but decided to shift from Enderman to my name sake monster.
If this did pop off I didn't want to kill them but hurt... they'll recover.
But before anything could happen a shimming semi-translucent wall appears around both knights separating them from me.
"Gentleman please put the knives away before some gets hurt," said a feminine voice that I immideatly recognized.
I turned to see Sue Storm holding one glowing hand up smiling at me.
"Sue good to see you again," I said smiling but she couldn't see because of my helmet.
"Good to see you two Nightfury see your making friends in our line of work," she said sarcastically and I nodded.
"Hey I didn't do anything but come because i was invited by your brother and the webhead I don't even know why I'm here," I said
That got a slight, amused exhale out of her, though Moon Knight's glowing eyes didn't so much as blink, and the Ebony Blade pulsed in Dane's grip like it was hungry.
Sue's voice cut through the tension.
"He's telling the truth. Nightfury was invited and I sent Johnny and Spider-Man to find him."
Her tone left little room for argument.
The Black Knight grimaced, but the shimmer of the Ebony Blade faded as he reluctantly slid it back into its sheath. Moon Knight, silent as ever, tilted his head once, then lowered his crescent blade with mechanical precision.
I didn't miss how those glowing eyes lingered on me, though.
Wonder what the bird skilled god of his made of me I thought.
Sue gestured toward the entrance. "Now, why don't we stop blocking the doorway before someone mistakes this for a standoff?"
The three of us followed her inside, and for a moment I forgot how to breathe.
The main hall of Avengers Tower had been transformed. Dozens of heroes — masked, costumed, cloaked — filled the space, voices mixing in a constant hum. Some stood in tight clusters, others leaned against walls or checked gear.
I recognized too many to count.
Doctor Strange and Wong, speaking quietly with Zatanna and Doctor Fate — a literal roundtable of sorcery.
Across the room, Captain America was shaking hands with Wonder Woman, their posture rigid but respectful, the kind of body language that carried the weight of those who had fought in war.
Hawkeye and Green Arrow were in the corner, already arguing over trick arrows.
And overhead, Iron Man and S.T.R.I.P.E compared notes, their armors glowing faintly in mirrored rhythm.
Heroes of every shape, size, and world.
This wasn't just an Avengers meeting.
This was… bigger than I thought it was going to be.
My eyes darted from face to face, from cloaks to masks to glowing eyes, and the sheer scale of it made my stomach twist.
"Sue, what's all this about?" I asked, my voice low but edged with unease.
Before she could answer, the room shifted.
He walked in.
The red cape flowed behind him like a banner, every step measured and unshakable. Blue and red, the iconic symbol on his chest catching the light. The mere presence of the man caused the noise to die instantly, conversations halting mid-word.
Superman had arrived.
But he wasn't alone.
The shadow trailing him was just as commanding, though for different reasons. A black cowl, a flowing cape, a glare sharp enough to cut through stone. Batman moved without wasted motion, falling into step beside the Man of Steel as if the two had been forged from opposite sides of the same coin.
The podium clanged as Iron Man dropped onto it, servos hissing as his faceplate slid back. Captain America stepped up beside him, every inch of him radiating command and duty. Wonder Woman joined them in regal silence, her armor gleaming beneath the tower's lights.
And then the thunder rolled.
Thor descended last, Mjolnir humming with restrained stormlight as he hovered down to stand with the others. His arrival silenced even the smallest whispers.
Together, Earth's greatest heroes stood gathered. A pantheon of power and ideals, shoulder to shoulder, united by something none of them had yet voiced.
And every single eye in the room was locked on them.