Deep within the Avengers' secret headquarters, Captain Peggy Carter stood before a massive holographic display, her sharp eyes scanning the pulsing red signal over Northern Africa.
The data feed was erratic, fluctuating wildly—whatever was happening in Egypt, it wasn't natural.
"This isn't just another Hydra operation," she muttered under her breath. She turned, her expression hardening as she pressed a secured line directly to Steve Rogers. "Steve, we have a situation. Massive energy surge near the Great Pyramid. Whatever it is, it's destabilizing reality itself. We need to move."
Steve Rogers' voice came through steady, commanding. "Understood. I'll rally the team. Be ready. We leave soon."
Then he stopped and said, "You know we can't let this stop our next date," his tone a bit teasing.
"I know Steve. I'm looking forward to it," Peggy replied.
Steve smiled and cut the call.
Then he sent a message.
Across the world, the Avengers mobilized.
---
Black Widow—somewhere in Eastern Europe, in the middle of dismantling a covert Hydra network—paused mid-mission as her earpiece buzzed. She checked her wrist device and sighed. "Of course it's Egypt." She disabled the last of the security feeds, whispered something sarcastic to the unconscious guards, and disappeared into the night.
Hawkeye—perched on a rooftop in Kansas, enjoying a rare moment of peace—rolled his eyes as the notification blinked on his phone. "Can't a guy have a quiet evening?" he grumbled, before grabbing his gear and heading to the nearest transport point.
Falcon—soaring through the skies of Washington—angled his flight path toward HQ the moment he received the alert. "Guess we're going pyramid hunting."
Shang-Chi—locked in intense combat training in China—finished a perfect form before exhaling sharply. He flexed his fingers, feeling the energy surge in his fists. "Hydra, huh? They never learn."
Iron Fist—meditating deep in the Himalayas—opened his glowing eyes as the energy disturbance reached him before the call did. He rose, adjusting his golden sash. "Something's… different this time. I feel it in the air."
Soon, they were all back at HQ.
---
Assembling the Strike Team
The Avengers stood in formation around Captain Carter, the S.H.I.E.L.D. war table glowing with real-time intel.
"We've detected an energy signature unlike anything on Earth," Carter began, gesturing to the fluctuating readings. "This isn't just another Hydra stunt. We suspect advanced technology or a supernatural force at play."
"And Stark's still in his sci-fi meditation chamber," Clint noted, arms crossed. "That leaves us."
"Exactly," Cap said, his voice firm. "Tony left us prepared. We go in, assess, and shut this down before it escalates."
He turned to a nearby containment unit. With a wave of his hand, the chamber hissed open, revealing the new advanced tech suits—each customized to enhance their unique abilities.
Black Widow ran her hands over the sleek black and crimson design of her armor. "Nanotech? Compact power cells? And this—" She activated the built-in cloaking system, fading from view. "Nice."
Falcon tapped his gauntlet as the suit synced with his wings. "Okay, Stark. I see you."
Shang-Chi's suit adjusted seamlessly to his movement, amplifying his natural speed and strikes. Iron Fist's emitted a subtle golden glow, reacting to his chi.
Cap took his own in, rolling his shoulders as he felt the Starktonium Arc Reactor Core hum at his chest. "No more holding back."
---
Arrival in Egypt
The quinjet soared over Cairo, its stealth mode engaged as the desert stretched endlessly below. The Great Pyramid loomed in the distance, bathed in an unnatural glow—an eerie blue energy radiating from its apex, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"That's not normal," Hawkeye muttered.
"No, it isn't," Cap agreed, eyes narrowing. "Stealth approach. We land, move in quietly. We're not looking for a fight—yet."
The quinjet touched down just outside the ruins. The team deployed in tight formation, moving with practiced efficiency through the sand and stone.
---
The moment they breached the outer perimeter, the alarm sounded—a deep, mechanical chime that echoed through the desert.
"So much for stealth," Natasha quipped, already drawing her weapons.
A swarm of Hydra soldiers emerged from the shadows, each one outfitted in newly enhanced exo-suits—tech far beyond their usual arsenal.
"Great," Falcon sighed. "They've been shopping."
From the center of the ruins, Baron Wolfgang von Strucker stepped forward, clad in an elaborate dark suit, his cybernetic hand crackling with energy.
"Ah, the Avengers. Ever the meddlesome fools," Strucker said, voice thick with disdain. "You march into my domain, thinking you can stop the future?"
Cap stepped forward, shield at the ready. "We're here to stop Hydra. Whatever you're planning—it ends now."
Strucker smirked. "Ends? No, Captain. It begins."
With a single motion, he raised his hand—and the Great Pyramid trembled.
The ground split open beneath them, energy coursing through ancient runes long buried beneath the sands. Hydra soldiers surged forward, their suits amplifying their speed and strength as battle erupted.
Cap launched himself into the fray, shield colliding with an enemy in a devastating arc.
Black Widow moved like a shadow, her suit's enhanced reflexes allowing her to dance between attackers, delivering precise, lethal blows.
Hawkeye fired specialized Stark-tech arrows, explosive bolts tearing through Hydra's ranks.
Falcon soared, unleashing aerial strikes with pinpoint accuracy.
Shang-Chi and Iron Fist fought side by side—fist meeting steel, chi-infused strikes shattering enemy armor.
The battle raged, but Cap's focus remained locked on Strucker, who stood unmoving, eyes glowing with unnatural power.
"Hydra has always sought supremacy," Strucker said, voice rising. "And now, at last—we have it."
From behind him, a figure stepped forward from the swirling energy—something… ancient. Something not human.
Cap's grip on his shield tightened. "Avengers—regroup. Now."
The battle had just begun.
Read 30+ chapters and 30+ days ahead on www.patreon.com/marvelstark