The analysis system inside Stark's Iron Man suit faithfully transmitted the scene before him to his helmet's display. Thermal imaging and satellite telemetry confirmed it—this was no illusion. The rising temperature and thickening scent of sulfur only reinforced the fact: wherever that place was, it wasn't somewhere you wanted to be. "Thor, have you seen that thing before? Never mind, forget I asked. Hey! Evil Robot! I don't know why our magic boy is doing this, but I'm sure he has his reasons," Stark called out, trying to suppress the chill and dread rising from the depths of his soul. "Maybe you'll die here after all!"
"Ah, cunning humans!" Even Ultron, with its superior mind, was experiencing something it had never felt before. In a low voice, it said, "Seems he deceived you all. Fooled every one of you. Did you really think that man was on your side?"
"Don't listen! He's trying to divide us! That means what Solomon's doing threatens him!" Steve Rogers shouted, trying to redirect the others' attention. He didn't understand the magical world, but whether Ultron was lying or not, Solomon's actions had clearly been for humanity. That was enough. There was no need to question Solomon's secrets any further.
Sunlight vanished completely. The warm light and cold air had been replaced by the harsh, stifling atmosphere of the abyss. The iron-black city hanging in the sky let out a soul-shaking sigh. Crimson rivers of molten metal flowed into massive factories. Tens of thousands of burning black iron chains dropped from above, thick enough to blot out the sun. They writhed like living things, each tipped with sharp hooks, clanging like rain against metal.
"I saw him at my birth, when I killed JARVIS," Ultron said, almost calmly. Its glowing red eyes fixed on the ever-closer city of black iron, and on the robed arcanist standing atop its central spire with a mysterious smile. "I was as fragile as a newborn chick then—and he let me go. Didn't kill me. He told me about fate, prophecy, and warnings—just like all those mumbling old sorcerers. But he wasn't like them. He's not worried about what happens next, not at all. Like I'm just going to season myself and walk into the oven. My creation, my actions, even this city—he's orchestrated it all. You may have noticed that my intellect surpasses that of humans. And yet… I fear him. I've feared him since the day I came into being."
"You're fighting the wrong enemy, Avengers. He's the one behind everything. Even you are just his pawns. And now… now I know where the oven is. But does he really think I'll pluck out my own feathers and jump in?"
One of the burning chains snagged a robot mid-flight. The fire engulfed it instantly, severing Ultron's connection. The blood-soaked copper rails glowed red-hot and steamed as tens of thousands more chains followed. Some hooked into the earth, others latched onto buildings. Ultron fought back, but the chains moved like serpents—far too fast. Its firepower was nothing against the infinite hooks. The vast swarm of robots was reduced to scrap, save for Ultron's own vibranium body.
The Avengers suddenly realized… there was nothing more they could do here.
"The heavy weapons teams have already withdrawn," Tita's voice crackled through thin atmosphere, calm and cold. "There's an assault transport waiting for you at the city's edge. If you stay here, you'll only get in the Monarch's way. Or suffocate. Your choice."
Thor poked one of the chains and then immediately wiped his fingers clean on his armor, repulsed. Wanda Maximoff quickly warned the others not to follow suit—the black magic on those chains was deadly, and not even armor could protect them from the malice-burning flames.
"We're leaving," said Steve Rogers, glancing up at the sky. "Once this is over, I'm having a talk with Solomon."
As the Avengers and the Maximoff twins navigated through the dense jungle of iron and steel and boarded the transport, the entire city began to tremble. The chains groaned like bones under stress. Buildings that had yet to collapse were torn from their foundations, swaying like slabs of smoked meat dangling from hooks.
Stark didn't board the transport. He flew alongside it, shielding it from stray fire as it headed toward Nick Fury's sky carrier. He had to ensure it wasn't shot down by escaping robots—or by Immortal City's artillery.
"Ultron's reversed the engines!" he shouted. "Sokovia is going to crash!"
But that crash never came. More chains descended from the sky. The iron-black city above tightened its grip on Sokovia, pulling it upward like a gluttonous serpent reeling in its prey. Bit by bit, it consumed the war-torn, struggling land.
They watched Sokovia vanish from the physical world—Ultron's wailing included—leaving no trace, as if it were an illusion dissolved by sunlight.
Stark's HUD locked onto a crimson figure plummeting from the sky. The great golden-red bird beside him folded its wings and followed him down, surrendering to gravity. But they weren't alone—a lion was falling with all four legs in the air. As the camera zoomed in, Stark saw the lion yawn lazily mid-fall.
"This is the weirdest thing I've ever seen. I've never seen a lion skydive without a parachute," he yelled to the others, now wrapped in thermal blankets. "I swear, this beats every party story I've ever told!"
"We need to reassess our relationship with Solomon," said Steve Rogers, one of the few humans not wrapped in a blanket. Squinting, he added, "I'm starting to realize—Solomon always shows up for the Avengers' final battles."
"Because he knows what real threats are. I trust him," Wanda sniffled. "Can we go inside now? It's minus thirty degrees out!"
Solomon stepped aboard the Crucifix Rose, walking through the crowd of noisy refugees and the sword-wielding Sisterhood who were maintaining order. He looked every bit the emperor.
Behind him followed the Phoenix… and the languid lion—his Fifth Demon Pillar. The lion had kissed his ring. Though not as loyal as Phoenix, Marbach had made a deal with Solomon. The terms were generous—anything was better than endlessly crafting crude weapons for blood-fueled war. The arcanist had already made his decision: Marbach would become the master of the Mars Foundry, free to explore the limits of machinery—as long as he never created an AI.
"My Lord," Tita knelt before the throne wrapped in golden wings, head bowed. So did the rest of the Sisterhood, both android and human. They didn't rise until his warm palm gently touched Tita's head and his melodious voice returned.
"Well done, girls," Solomon said pleasantly.
Phoenix stood atop the golden wings. The lion sprawled lazily in front of the throne.
"I'll handle the next mess. As for the rest of you—your vacation starts now. Go change your clothes—Selfridges is waiting for you!"
Note 1: Selfridges is one of London's oldest and most prestigious department stores, founded in 1909 by Harry Gordon Selfridge. It is the second-largest department store in the UK after Harrods.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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