Thor stared at the endless mass of Ultron's commanders in front of him.
For a moment, he was completely stunned.
"You're right… damn it!"
He realized that this situation was the result of their own stupidity.
He would have liked to slap himself several times.
If only he had had a bit more sense and taken the Aether particles earlier, they wouldn't be in this mess now.
"Alright, don't talk about those useless things."
Aron was not impressed by Thor's sudden enlightenment.
He didn't believe it would bring him any long-term benefit.
"Thor," he said calmly, "since you know this is your fault, you'll go first. Here's your chance to make it right."
Aron took a step back and motioned with his hand for him to go ahead.
Thor took it as a challenge and didn't hesitate.
"Good!" his voice was filled with both determination and excitement.
In his mind, this meant that Aron, who was stronger than him, was giving him the honor of attacking first. He saw it as an act of respect and friendship.
"Your name's Aron, right? From now on, you're my friend too! You may be stronger right now, but that's only temporary, soon I'll surpass you!"
"Because I am Odin's son, the God of Thunder!"
Thor spun Mjolnir, ready for battle, and, with a clap of thunder, charged toward the mass of Ultrons.
"…Wouldn't it be better to stay out of it and let him handle it?"
Tony leaned toward Aron and asked quietly.
"You have to bait the fish before you catch it," Aron replied without taking his eyes off the scene.
---
"Ultron! Feel the wrath of thunder!"
Turning into lightning, Thor dashed straight into the crowd of Ultron commanders.
His laughter echoed as he smashed enemies to pieces with Mjolnir.
But every destroyed Ultron was instantly restored, their parts disappearing mid-fall and reassembling into a new commander just a few steps away.
Still, that didn't slow him down. Thor plowed his way through dozens until he reached Ultron himself, the one with the Infinity Stones.
"I… finally…" he raised Mjolnir for a strike, but Ultron only smiled.
"Oh, Thor, haven't you realized yet? You're being used."
"You're just a test. They sent you alone to see what my gem can do."
On Ultron's chest, the Mind Stone glowed a bright orange. A wave of energy enveloped Thor.
"Since they want to know the power of the Mind Stone, let's show them," Ultron said as he tried to seize control of Thor's mind.
"Aaaagh!" Thor felt his thoughts cloud, his pupils turning red.
But in the next moment, his willpower broke through the haze again.
"No! I can't attack my friends!"
Though he wasn't known for a sharp mind, Thor possessed an unshakable will in battle.
He gritted his teeth, resisting Ultron's control.
"I am not pitiful Thor…" he roared, "I am Thor, the God of Thunder!"
Under Ultron's shocked gaze, he raised Mjolnir high into the air and brought it crashing down on his own chest.
Boom!
The explosion of thunder hurled him backward, far from Ultron.
He would rather hurt himself than let the enemy turn him against his allies.
His body slammed into the sea's surface, sending waves high into the air.
Everyone who saw it was completely stunned.
"He…"
Tony's mouth hung open.
He couldn't believe things had developed this way.
According to the plan, sending Thor was supposed to allow Ultron to control him with the Mind Stone and make him attack his allies.
Either way, Thor wouldn't be able to beat Aron, but he would retreat toward the water where he'd be safe.
But… who could have expected this?
This guy, usually considered a hero, clearly didn't have the sharpest head on his shoulders.
But one thing was certain, when he acted like a tiger, he was a real tiger.
"What now?"
Tony turned his head toward Aron.
"…"
Aron stayed silent.
Thor's move wasn't just a surprise — it had thrown their whole plan into chaos.
"Since Thor can't, then there's no other choice…" Aron didn't even get to finish the sentence.
Just then, a deafening roar sounded beside them.
"Rooaaar!"
"Hulk!!"
"I don't like metal pimples!!"
Hulk, under the influence of magic, leapt straight toward Ultron's Mind Stone.
"Hulk! Come back!"
"Come back right now!"
Aron's eyes widened as he shouted after him, sounding genuinely concerned.
"That's what makes you human," Ultron said with a smile, "you never learn from mistakes and love to repeat them."
Seeing Aron frantically calling to Hulk, Ultron smirked mockingly.
The Mind Stone on his chest glowed orange.
Zwoom!
Hulk's eyes suddenly turned red.
He turned and charged straight toward his allies.
"Hulk!"
"Smash little bug!!"
His voice boomed as he rushed forward, but his targets were no longer the robots, they were his friends.
"Uh-oh!"
Hawkeye and the others scattered in panic, none daring to get close to Hulk in that state.
"Stark!"
Aron shouted, and Tony instantly snapped to attention, his gaze sharp.
"Hulk is mine!"
"Aron, you go for Ultron, only you can stop him!"
Without further hesitation, Tony charged toward Hulk.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.!"
"Call Veronica!"
At the same moment, 10,000 meters above Earth, the Veronica satellite activated.
In seconds, it released huge armor modules, which locked together as they fell through the atmosphere.
The parts assembled into a massive battle suit - the Hulkbuster and hurtled toward Tony at high speed.
It was his most powerful armor, designed specifically to fight Hulk.
"Oh, Tony… you don't think I forgot about Veronica, do you?"
Ultron smirked as he watched the scene.
Just as Tony reached for the armor, Ultron had already begun hacking Veronica's system.
"I wonder, Stark… how will you cope when this little trick of yours disappears?"
However, his words were suddenly interrupted.
Because at that very moment, instead of one, two voices echoed through the communication channel.
"Hello, Ultron. I am J.A.R.V.I.S. - glad to see you again."
"This is our first time meeting, Ultron. You can call me Dr. Zola."
——
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