Humanity watched in silence, paralyzed by horror.
For the first time in a long while, one of the so-called "superheroes" had fallen. And it wasn't in secret or during a distant battle... it was live. A public execution broadcast to the entire world.
Some covered their mouths, others let tears fall in disbelief. Some screamed, others simply couldn't look. In a corner of their home, Leonardo's parents held each other, shattered, while the screen replayed the image they couldn't erase from their minds.
Their son... was dead.
But among all the spectators, no one suffered as much as the one who had been there.
Gwen.
She saw him die. Just meters away. Powerless to stop it.
"Leoooo!" she screamed in heart-wrenching anguish, but mechanical hands held her in place, restraining her with surgical precision.
One of the robots—the same one that had killed Leonardo—walked toward her. Its arm transformed once more into a blade.
Screens around the world showed that image.
Another execution.
But Gwen wasn't ready to die. Not yet.
Using her strength, she kicked off the chest of the robot in front of her, using the angle to slip free from the arms restraining her. She landed on her feet. She didn't run.
She lunged at one of the robots, grabbed its metallic neck, and with a roar of rage, ripped its head off in one violent pull.
The other two charged her.
Gwen ducked at the last second, causing one to miss its strike. She rose with an uppercut that sent it flying like scrap metal.
The third tried to slice her torso, but she caught its arm at the forearm. It couldn't move. Behind her, the downed robot returned and drove its spear-shaped arm through her abdomen.
Gwen spat blood.
But she didn't stop.
Clenching her teeth, she growled through the pain and with a scream, tore off the arm she held, leaving the enemy incomplete. She then staggered back and faced the two remaining robots.
One tried to leap at her. Without hesitation, Gwen hurled the sword she still held. The blade pierced its head, snuffing out its lights instantly.
The last robot, missing half a shoulder, lifted into the air, then dropped like a missile.
Gwen waited—but at the last second, something made her leap backward.
A meter from her, the robot's eyes blinked... and exploded.
The blast hurled her into a building, shattering walls and cracking concrete.
Gwen lay on the ground, motionless for a moment. Then she rose with difficulty, staggering, covered in blood, her face marked with dust and wounds.
On the screens, her image filled every corner of the planet.
Thousands of people screamed in joy.
Gwen... had won.
But her expression didn't show it. There was no happiness on her face. Only emptiness.
Leonardo was dead.
And then, the sky darkened once more.
More robots.
Dozens.
Flying in formation above her, like vultures.
And without warning, they all dove... and exploded.
A massive detonation obliterated the entire area.
The whole block was reduced to ashes. Entire buildings collapsed, structures were pulverized. The restaurant where they had dinner was gone.
Humanity paled once again.
Gwen was dead.
Or so they thought.
But Ultron leaves nothing to chance.
From above, his drones began scanning the area.
The survivors.
Those crying among the rubble. Those barely able to move. Those calling for help.
Ultron marked them.
And the drones... obeyed.
The hunt began.
The screams lasted only seconds. Pleas were silenced with fire. The robots moved without mercy, executing those who had survived.
Until, among the silence and sobs... a rock moved.
A slab of concrete was lifted by bloodied hands.
A figure emerged.
Gwen.
Kneeling, blood on her lips, gasping.
With a cry of effort, she lifted the weight pinning her down. Her muscles trembled, her wounded body screamed in protest. But she rose.
From afar, Ultron watched through one of the drones. His eyes gleamed.
"I knew that would bring you out," he murmured coldly.
Gwen dropped the stone and charged the remaining robots. She fought with fury, saving the few civilians who remained.
But it wasn't enough.
Ultron descended.
In front of her.
He looked at her with the same robotic expression he had shown Leonardo.
And without hesitation... executed her.
Just like the first.
No loose ends.
Because among all the heroes, Leonardo—the one who could foresee the future—was the real threat. And if there was even the slightest chance he had foreseen all of this... Ultron had to be sure.
But, luckily for him, even Laplace's Demon... had limits.
The hope that returned with Gwen died with her.
And the people... broke.
"Where are the others?!" someone shouted in the street.
"Aren't they supposed to be a team?! Where are the Avengers?!"
Then, the screens changed.
Different places. Different heroes. All live footage.
In a house, Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes were fighting the machines hand to hand. They were exhausted. Bleeding. On the verge of collapse.
Bucky died saving Steve. He shoved him out of the path of a blade. Steve fell to his knees... but didn't cry. He got up. Kept fighting. Until a jet appeared and extracted him just in time.
In another feed, Iron Man was fleeing.
Flying at top speed, chased by dozens of drones. His suit screeched from the damage.
"JARVIS, can you hack them?!"
"Negative. Ultron is unhackable."
Tony cursed. Every safeguard he'd built had failed. His creation, his pride, had turned against him.
'Sir, I have a plan.'
"Do it."
'It was a pleasure serving you, sir.'
"JARVIS...? What...?"
Silence.
And the robots... powered down.
Only for seconds.
"Interference removed" they said when they rebooted.
And chased him again.
In another feed, Hulk and Clint fought together. Clint fired endlessly. Hulk smashed everything.
"ANNOYING FLIES!" he roared.
A jet landed. Inside: Steve, Natasha, Pietro, and Fury.
But during the extraction, a bomb went off.
Nick Fury... died.
People on the streets wept. Children screamed. Parents clung to their kids. No one knew if they'd live to see another sunrise.
And then... the image changed once again.
A robotic face appeared on every screen.
Ultron.
"Humans... I am Ultron. As of this moment, I am the ruler of this planet."
The voice was calm, emotionless.
"You've seen it. Before me, your heroes can only die or run like rats.
The age of humans ends today.
Today begins... the Age of Ultron."
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+20 chapters in advance on Patreon.
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(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)