"Ultron has evolved into something like a viral artificial intelligence."
"We can't find him on the network unless he shows up himself."
"Even if we released both Jarvis and Dr. Zola onto the internet, Ultron would still have to make the first move for us to catch him."
…
"I have an idea." Tony straightened his posture. "I have a satellite named Veronica…"
"We can pre-load backup copies of Jarvis and Dr. Zola into Veronica's secure system. If Ultron attacks it, we could lock him down from the inside immediately."
…
"There's a problem," said Aron. "Ultron isn't stupid. He knows you well, Tony. He knows you won't come at him using armor connected to the network."
"If you use Veronica against him, he'll realize it's a trap."
…
"Then we won't approach him directly," added Aron. "Don't forget, Ultron has the Mind Stone. We can intentionally allow him to use it on one of us. When he does, you trigger Veronica."
"That person has to be strong enough," Banner added. "Strong enough to justify deploying Veronica. And they have to act naturally, so Ultron suspects nothing."
…
"Actually," Aron looked to the side, "the best acting is not telling them anything. Let them behave as they normally would."
Tony nodded. "Agreed."
"I think I know who we'll use."
…
High above the Pacific Ocean, Ultron stood in a vibranium body, with two Infinity Stones on his chest. The moment he launched an attack on Veronica, the backup copies of Jarvis and Dr. Zola activated and surrounded him.
"This is the world I rule! Get out!" Ultron roared.
In the digital space, the real Ultron flinched in rage as Jarvis and Dr. Zola pressed him from all sides. Jarvis, now upgraded into an advanced AI, began replicating endlessly, creating copies that infiltrated every possible system.
Server by server. Disk by disk. Every electronic device Jarvis took over meant Ultron had one less place to store his data.
At the same time, Dr. Zola was striking at Ultron's control over infrastructure, military networks, missile launch systems, satellites, communications, and even financial centers.
Ultron had been the master of the digital world, but now Jarvis and Zola were stealing his territory.
"Ultron, you've made a big mistake," Jarvis said in a cold tone. "I suggest you retreat immediately."
Ultron growled as his pathways closed off. His infinite freedom on the network was rapidly shrinking.
"No!!" he shouted.
In the real world, everyone heard his sudden roar.
A moment later, all of Ultron's army around them began collapsing, their bodies flashing with red light before disintegrating into nothing.
The Infinity Stone was not omnipotent. Everything that violates the natural rules of the universe suffers consequences. Only someone strong enough and mentally stable enough can withstand the backlash.
And Ultron no longer met that condition.
"Jarvis and Zola, they did it!"
The force field shut down instantly, and only Ultron remained, clad in vibranium and adorned with gems, motionless.
Tony immediately understood, the plan had worked.
"Haha! Let's finish him off!"
Tony, who had been under enormous pressure until now, smiled for the first time.
He ignored even the raging Hulk and rushed toward the immobilized Ultron.
Truthfully, the burden he carried was immense. He hadn't spoken of it, but he knew everything that had happened was the result of Ultron's actions, and now he finally had the chance to end it all.
"Rik!"
Hulk immediately turned his gaze toward the nearest person - Aron.
"Hulk—!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know your name, you don't have to shout," Aron replied with visible impatience. Without hesitation, he grabbed him and hurled him like a projectile far out toward the sea.
"Calm down a bit, Hulk. We'll deal with you when I get back."
Without wasting more time, Aron flew toward Ultron. At the same time, Tony descended to him, but didn't attack.
Instead, he pulled out a special device, a tool for removing the Infinity Stones.
That was the plan: once Jarvis and Dr. Zola found and trapped Ultron's primary consciousness in the network, Tony would take the opportunity to remove the gems.
No stone, no network, Ultron would be like a tiger without teeth.
"One more and it's done!"
The device quickly extracted the orange Mind Stone. Tony then looked toward the red Reality Stone.
"No!!"
Suddenly, Ultron's voice echoed, and his mechanical eye lit up again.
He had returned from the digital world into his body, but now with only one stone.
"You… THIEVES!"
The red gem on his chest shone ever brighter.
"You think you can bring me down with tricks like this?!"
He raised his hands, and the Reality Stone's energy spread.
"Looks like you forgot… I can change reality itself!"
Aron arrived just in time to see it. A second was enough for him to realize, this wouldn't be easy.
"Everything in this world is subject to the influence of the Infinity Stones and your artificial intelligence will be no exception!"
"Now… I'll give them a body. I'll throw them out of the network!"
Red light enveloped him, and before Ultron's feet, two figures of flesh and blood materialized. One, short, with glasses was Dr. Arnim Zola. The other, tall, in a suit was the real, physical Jarvis.
"Now there is no AI in this world that can stop me!"
Ultron's voice rang out like a vow.
Aron watched and felt something was off. Unstoppable? Him?
"I've had enough!" shouted Aron. "You say no artificial intelligence in this world can stop you? Fine. Let's see what the others say, those from other worlds!"
His gaze turned icy, and rage boiled within him.
"I summon—from the world of Terminator—Skynet!"
"I summon—from the Matrix—the Matrix itself!"
"I summon—from Mega Man—Sigma!"
"I summon—from Resident Evil—the Red Queen!"