The night sky above New York was eerily still for just a moment. Then, with a thunderous roar, a tear ripped open in the sky right above Stark Tower. The swirling vortex of energy crackled violently, illuminating the city below in an ominous glow. Within seconds, dark figures began pouring through—Chitauri soldiers, their grotesque forms glinting in the light as they soared down on their hovercrafts, weapons primed and ready for destruction.
High above the city, Tony Stark was already in motion.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., emergency protocol. Make sure the mutants in my secondary base are protected. If they choose to step in, you know what to do."
"Yes, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. responded smoothly. "I will activate the evacuation protocol and prepare defensive measures. Would you like me to deploy additional support units?"
"Not yet," Tony said, accelerating. "Let's see how bad this gets first."
His upgraded armor hummed with power, energy thrumming beneath the sleek plating as he pushed toward the incoming invasion. The Chitauri were fast, but Tony was faster. With a single motion, he raised his hands, repulsors glowing bright, and unleashed a barrage of high-intensity energy blasts. The first wave of Chitauri never even made it past Stark Tower before they were incinerated mid-air.
The battlefield was already chaotic. Civilians screamed and ran in every direction, car alarms blared, and the sound of explosions echoed through the skyscrapers.
"Alright, New York," Tony muttered under his breath, dodging an incoming plasma blast. "Let's dance."
He dived straight into the heart of the battle, weaving between the Chitauri crafts with precision. His newly enhanced reflexes made his movements sharper, his strikes deadlier. As he grabbed one of the Chitauri by the throat and slammed it into a nearby building, the force of the impact sent debris raining down onto the streets below.
Then, without missing a beat, he turned his head slightly and spoke. "J.A.R.V.I.S., release the Iron Legion."
"Deploying now, sir."
From a hidden compartment beneath Stark Tower, the ground trembled as panels shifted and opened. A deep mechanical hum filled the air before 100 sleek, gleaming robotic figures emerged into the open. The Iron Legion—his personal army of automated suits—took to the sky in synchronized formation.
People on the ground gasped, pointing up in awe and confusion.
"It's Ultron!" one man shouted.
"No," another corrected, staring wide-eyed as the Iron Legion began systematically taking down Chitauri forces with deadly precision. "That's Stark!"
Tony smirked as he listened to the chatter from below. 'Looks like my reputation's getting complicated.'
But there was no time to dwell on it. The battle was just beginning.
Meanwhile, aboard the SHIELD helicarrier, Director Nick Fury stood with his arms crossed, surveying the chaos unfolding on the screens before him. His expression remained impassive, but anyone who knew him well enough could tell he was furious.
"This just keeps getting better," he muttered.
Agents bustled around the command center, shouting out updates as the situation worsened by the second.
"We've got multiple Chitauri waves incoming! The portal's expanding!"
"Civilians are trapped in several locations across the city—evacuation routes are compromised!"
Fury exhaled sharply and turned toward the assembled group behind him. They were not in their usual battle gear, having been pulled in straight from their last mission, but they were ready nonetheless.
Black Widow, Falcon, Captain America, Captain Carter, Shang-Chi, Daredevil, Quake, Bruce Banner, Hawkeye, and Iron Fist.
It was an unconventional lineup, but right now, they were Earth's best shot at pushing back the invasion.
"You all know what's at stake," Fury said, his voice carrying over the noise of the command center. "Loki's bringing hell down on this city, and we're the ones who have to stop it."
"About time," Falcon muttered, cracking his neck as he adjusted his wings.
Captain America gave him a firm nod. "We've fought wars before. This is no different."
"Except it's an alien army," Clint Barton pointed out, gripping his bow.
"Details," Cap said with a smirk.
Shang-Chi stretched his fingers, the Ten Rings on his arms glowing faintly. "We take out their numbers first, focus on their leaders second."
"Sounds like a plan," Daredevil said, adjusting his red mask.
Quake rolled her shoulders, already feeling the vibrations of her power tingling beneath her fingertips. "I'll handle any collapses. Keep me updated on where people are trapped."
Bruce Banner exhaled slowly, keeping himself calm. "Just let me know when it's time to let the other guy out."
Fury smirked slightly. "Oh, you'll know."
The helicarrier shifted as they neared their drop point. Below them, the city was burning, the battle already raging. The Avengers had fought impossible battles before—but this time, the stakes were even higher.
The ramp opened.
"Move out," Fury ordered.
One by one, they jumped.
Black Widow and Falcon took to the air, Falcon deploying his wings as Widow grappled onto a nearby rooftop. Cap and Carter hit the streets together, their shields already raised. Hawkeye followed, perching himself on a high vantage point, while Shang-Chi and Daredevil sprinted down an alley, moving like shadows through the chaos.
Iron Fist and Quake ran side by side, heading straight for the densest cluster of Chitauri soldiers.
And as Bruce Banner dropped down last, he took one last deep breath before allowing the transformation to take hold.
The Hulk landed with a thunderous impact, sending a shockwave that sent Chitauri soldiers flying.
The battle for New York had truly begun.