Chapter 111: The Present Aether
S.H.I.E.L.D. has just disbanded, and there are many details to manage. About a month later, Nick Fury, having settled back into a routine, is preparing to tackle HYDRA. They must not be allowed to make a comeback, as the past lessons are still fresh.
"I'm going to ask the Avengers to go to Sokovia and deal with HYDRA once and for all."
From the list Thor provided earlier, HYDRA still has a significant stronghold in Sokovia that has not been cleared. The Mind Gem has blocked the insight plan, rendering this area undetectable.
It's clear that the last HYDRA stronghold's security is beyond stringent, especially with the Mind Gem in their possession. This is beyond what S.H.I.E.L.D. can handle; the Avengers must be dispatched.
Nick Fury went to Thor's residence to discuss plans for eradicating HYDRA, but was met with a refusal.
"The time isn't right yet. HYDRA is very cautious right now. An attack now would only alert them, causing them to scatter and create chaos worldwide. We should wait until they let their guard down and then strike suddenly, leaving them no chance to escape."
In reality, this was just him stalling.
While others might be unaware of HYDRA's activities in Sokovia, he was not.
They were using the Infinity Gems to conduct human experiments in an attempt to create a superhuman capable of confronting the Avengers.
By the end of this experiment, only two subjects survived: one is Quicksilver, a minor player; the other is Wanda, who would become one of the most powerful members of the Avengers in the future.
"And one more thing," Thor lowered his voice. "If we engage now, we risk losing two future Avengers, one of whom is a superhero stronger than me and Carol!"
Nick Fury, ever perceptive, knew well the power of both Captain Marvel and Thor, who had previously destroyed countless Chitauri with a single blow. It was clear that either of these two could potentially destroy the earth.
Imagining a superhero even stronger than them was beyond his grasp.
At this time, Thor could not leave.
This morning, Sif delivered troubling news—Jane Foster had gone missing.
Last night, Jane had gone to investigate an anomaly near Stonehenge in England. She lost contact suddenly, and Sif's attempt to locate her through Heimdall proved fruitless; it was as if she had vanished.
Knowing the plot, Thor was not overly worried. He traveled to England, checked into a room near Stonehenge, and awaited Jane's return.
In a dark and oppressive realm, Jane was fully armed, holding Mjölnir tightly as she advanced cautiously.
Though now a female Thor, her greatest interests remained astronomy and space science. When she heard of the anomaly at Stonehenge, she rushed over, only to find herself trapped in this strange dimension.
This place exuded a sense of dread. All means of communication had failed, and the realm seemed boundless, with no apparent way out.
Jane gripped Mjölnir tightly, remaining vigilant to any sounds around her.
Suddenly, a rune stone pillar appeared, split by a narrow gap in its center. Within this gap, strands of red mist swirled ominously.
Jane approached cautiously, her tension palpable...
Without warning, the red mist surged towards her, enveloping her completely. Jane was caught off guard as the mist invaded her body.
"This is bad!" Jane's face went pale. Although she didn't understand the nature of the red mist, its malevolence was unmistakable.
Before she could assess her condition, she felt her consciousness fading and lost consciousness.
This was a barren world, devoid of life.
Svartálfheim, once the domain of the Dark Elves in the Nine Realms. Since the last king of Asgard, Bor, led a successful campaign against them, this place had become a forsaken land.
A massive spaceship suddenly appeared.
Onboard, a pale figure slowly opened his eyes.
He parted his withered lips and spoke in a raspy voice: "The Aether has awakened us. The celestial bodies are about to align. This time, we must reclaim the Aether, restore our former glory, and plunge the entire universe back into darkness!"
"People of Asgard, you have enjoyed peace long enough. This time, your end has come!"
King of the Dark Elves, Malekith!
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