The reappearance of the purple-skinned monster cast a heavy shadow over everyone. That golden glove felt like a force crushing the very essence of the soul, even through the screen. No one knew how vast the distance truly was, yet almost everyone sensed a strange, searing pain rippling through their bodies.
"Damn it! What's going on? I felt like I was electrocuted just now!"
"Huh? You too? Same here! I thought there was a power outage in my house!"
"Isn't that insane?! I didn't even move, and it felt like lightning struck me!"
"Gan! Could this be related to that purple-skinned monster's movement just now?"
"How long ago was this era supposed to be? Just watching a fragment of memory, and it can actually affect us?"
"This is horrifying! Who the hell is that thing?!"
"No, no, no! I refuse to believe this!"
"I've never heard of captured past-life images affecting people on Terra!"
At that exact moment, nearly everyone experienced the same sensation. Countless people flooded the chat with frantic shock and disbelief. Fortunately, the pain vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving no lasting damage. But the entire Terra Federation erupted. Since the Network's inception, this was the first time such a massive number of individuals had been affected by past-life imagery.
Inside the Administration, colleagues from the Information Department were on the verge of losing control. On one hand, they were shaken by their own firsthand experience, but on the other, an avalanche of complaints poured in, demanding immediate explanations.
The director himself hadn't yet recovered from the shock when phone calls rang nonstop. He rubbed his forehead, still throbbing from the earlier stabbing pain, and answered them one by one, explaining tirelessly.
The experts exchanged glances. Shock was clearly written in each other's eyes.
Johan said with undisguised horror, "I have never seen anything like this. The direct reaction is already shocking enough. This is the first time someone's past-life memory has directly affected everyone. Perhaps this is the first such event since the Network was ever connected."
As the foremost authority on this subject, Johan knew it best. If even he didn't know, no one else could.
The image of the figure and those gloves replayed endlessly in Hawking's mind: "What kind of existence could possess such terrifying influence?"
Inside the Council, many Councilors looked pale. They, too, had felt that burning pain.
"The past life… reflecting upon the present?" Kennedy slowly spoke those words, but silence followed.
Gladwin's eyes were filled with distant memories. "Back then, I accidentally linked to the higher Network, and no one has ever been able to explain what happened. Today, it has changed twice. And now, once again, a past-life image has influenced the present."
He scanned the room, letting out a bitter smile. "We thought we understood how to use the Network, and we believed we controlled a great portion. And yet… it keeps teaching us lessons, again and again."
Hyeon spoke with a trembling voice, "This… is this… backlash?"
Everyone froze. "Backlash… against us?"
Gladwin shook his head slowly. "I don't think this is backlash. If we follow the natural order, we've done nothing wrong. It is the Network itself that allowed us to observe past-life memories; what affected us wasn't that. It was that purple-skinned monster and the glove on his hand. The power it holds is simply too great. So great that it surpasses even the Universe's authority. That is why we were affected."
His explanation was far easier for everyone to accept. Even so, the truth lay far beyond human comprehension.
"And the source of everything… All of it originates from past-life memories of the Immortal Warrior. Infinity Stone… the Earth Age…"
The Councilors turned their attention back to the screen. At that moment, a new image appeared.
[On a bustling street, Wanda sat in a roadside café with a cup of coffee resting in her hands. Her gaze casually swept the surroundings.]
[Through the internal channel, Rogers' voice sounded, "What do you see?"]
[Wanda replied calmly, "A few ordinary patrol officers. Small police department. Not many vehicles. Easy to move."]
[Rogers was hidden in an upstairs corner nearby. He peered through half-opened curtains, "There's an ATM to the south. It should be, "]
[Wanda lifted his hand to cover his mouth naturally and said, "There are cameras."]
[Rogers continued, "Both intersections are one-way streets."]
[Wanda nodded slightly. "Which makes escape more difficult."]
[Rogers said, "That means our target isn't afraid of exposure. When he runs, he'll do whatever it takes. See that SUV in the middle of the road?"]
[Wanda stirred his coffee. "The red one. It's beautiful."]
["And bulletproof. That means personal guards. Which means more guns." Black Widow's voice joined the channel. From a nearby position, she said lightly, "That makes things more troublesome for people like us."]
[Wanda replied, "You know I can move objects with my mind, right?"]
[Black Widow responded calmly, "You should still pay attention to your surroundings."]
The audience was confused.
"Whoa! Is this a mission?"
"Does that mean Wanda joined the Avengers?"
"Looks like it, awesome!"
"No idea what mission this is, but it's happening among ordinary civilians."
"The Earth era of Terra is unfortunate, so many unknown threats."
"But also fortunate."
"Because there are Avengers."
"They've taken on the burden of saving the world."
[On the balcony, Falcon walked along the edge. Wearing sunglasses, he said, "Did someone say you were suspicious?"]
[Black Widow smiled faintly. "I didn't say it to your face. What, are people still talking behind my back?"]
[Rogers said firmly, "The target has appeared. This is our best chance in six months. Don't let Rumlow escape."]
[Falcon smiled lightly. "He won't. He hates us too much to run."]
[Rogers spotted a transporter barreling down the street, "Sam, see that vehicle? Follow it."]
[As soon as the words slipped, a drone unfolded from the compartment behind Sam's suit. It shot forward, tracking the transporter. Sam controlled the display with arm movements.]
["Initiate X-ray scan." The vehicle's interior appeared on the screen. "Maximum capacity. Driver fully armed."]
[Black Widow said urgently, "It's a crash vehicle. Move!"]
[Wanda asked, surprised, "Where to?"]
[Rogers opened the window and jumped. "His target isn't the police department."]
[Sam spread the mechanical wings behind him and dove. The once-quiet police station, the transporter smashed through the gates at full speed, and the driver leapt out.]
[Two vehicles rushed in from both sides, and armed terrorists poured out and opened fire without hesitation. Gunfire erupted instantly, smoke bombs were hurled inside, and chaos followed.]
[Suddenly, Rogers descended from above. One shield strike knocked a terrorist unconscious. A few leaps later, the area was cleared.]
["Body armor. AR-15s. Seven enemies." Sam weaved through buildings, deflecting bullets with sharp rolls. Two rooftop enemies were neutralized instantly, "Five remaining."]
[At the entrance, red light flared. Wanda descended from the sky. Scarlet energy glowed in her hands, lifting effortlessly. Bullets poured toward her, but a barrier formed instantly.]
[Sam landed and kicked another terrorist away, "Four!"]
[The drone locked onto new signals, "Rumlow is on the third floor."]
[Rogers turned to Wanda. "As usual."]
[Wanda hesitated, "What about the gas?"]
[Rogers looked up, "Get everyone out."]
[The next second, Wanda lifted Rogers directly and launched him toward the third floor.]
"Whoa! Wanda's power skyrocketed!"
"Yeah, his control is way better now!"
"Sam's tech is insane."
"Hey! Don't compare that tiny drone to combat gear!"
"Who are they catching?"
"No idea, but if it takes Avengers, it's no small deal."
"Where's Tanner?"
[On the third floor, amid heavy cover, a heavily equipped man slammed his arm striker, and the security door shattered. A container was opened, and inside lay a tube.]
[Smoke filled the room before Rogers hurled his shield, and enemies were blown aside.]
[Outside, Scarlet energy surged from Wanda's hands, and dark red light glowed in her eyes. She seized control of the gas. A violent crimson hurricane erupted, launching the smoke skyward.]
"Insane!"
"Wanda is incredible, powerful, and precise!"
"Rogers' shield is unstoppable!"
"Newton's coffin can't stay closed anymore!"
[When Rogers walked into the laboratory, his gaze instantly locked onto the empty container. His expression shifted dramatically as he spoke into the comm channel, "He's taken the biological and chemical weapons."]
[Black Widow responded without hesitation, "I'll pursue."]
[The roar of a motorcycle engine exploded through the streets as Black Widow charged headlong toward the terrorists. The motorcycle was flung aside, and several enemies were sent flying into the air.]
[Elbows. Fists. Knees. In a whirlwind of precision strikes and fluid movement, Black Widow effortlessly dismantled multiple heavily armed terrorists.]
[Suddenly, Rumlow seized Black Widow by the neck from behind. She reacted instantly, stabbing her electric shock baton into him. But Rumlow remained unfazed, showing no reaction.]
["This trick is useless on me," he sneered. With brute force, he hurled Black Widow directly into the armored vehicle beneath her feet, tossing in a bomb before slamming the hatch shut.]
[Inside the armored vehicle, two terrorists were already waiting. Just as the bomb was about to detonate, Black Widow knocked both men down and used their bodies as shields.]
[Outside, Rumlow raised his machine gun, aiming upward at Rogers on the third floor.]
[Bang! Amid deafening explosions, Rogers raised his shield to block the barrage. Flames roared outward, pushing the police department to the brink of total destruction.]
[Rogers leapt from the shattered window, staggered to his feet, and shouted, "Sam! He's heading north in an armored vehicle!"]
[Sam and Black Widow immediately moved to intercept.]
["They've split up, four targets," Sam reported after a quick scan.]
[Black Widow broke into a sprint. "I'll chase the two on the left."]
[The streets were packed, with traffic gridlocked in chaos. Rogers pursued them to an intersection crowded with civilians.]
["They dragged the equipment and civilians away," he said urgently. Before he could finish, a red, flashing magnetic bomb slammed onto his shield. Rogers reacted instantly, hurling the shield skyward.]
[Boom! The bomb detonated high above, with the shield absorbing the blast and saving his life.]
[Suddenly, two massive impacts struck from behind, propelling Rogers forward.]
[Rumlow stepped into view, his arms encased in heavy gravity-punch devices. "You son of a b*tch! I've waited for this moment for a long time!"]
[The gravity punch fired, launching Rogers into the air once again.]
The chat erupted in chaos.
"This is insane! Captain Rogers is getting crushed!"
"That shield still hasn't broken, that material is extraordinary!"
"But honestly, Rogers fighting without the shield feels more raw."
"You've lived long enough to see this?"
"So exciting!"
"Rogers can still hold on, his endurance is unreal!"
"He was injected with the serum, of course his strength is enhanced!"
[Rogers pushed himself up and countered with a punch. It wasn't smooth, fist met flesh, but the overwhelming force of the gravity punch carried him.]
[Rumlow snarled, pressing forward. "Thanks for dropping the entire building on me!"]
[As he spoke, the gravity fist snapped open, revealing a sharp blade. Rogers narrowly avoided impalement. With a roar, he tore the gravity fist off Rumlow's right arm. The two clashed fiercely for a prolonged moment, but Rogers' stamina prevailed. He delivered a heavy kick, knocking Rumlow backward, then grabbed him by the collar.]
[Rumlow's scarred face twisted into a bitter grin. "Look at me now. I turned out pretty well, didn't I?"]
[Rogers frowned. "Who's the buyer?"]
[Rumlow laughed coldly. "He found you. Your good brother, Bucky."]
[Rogers' eyes burned with rage. "What did he say?"]
[Rumlow continued, almost mockingly. "He thinks about you. When I saw him, he cried. Then they re-brainwashed him. He wanted me to tell you: when it's time to go, you have to go."]
[His expression suddenly turned savage. Slam! He pressed the thumb onto the detonator. "I'm taking you with me!"]
[But the explosion never came. Instead, Wanda appeared out of nowhere, seizing control of the bomb's energy and compressing it into a single unstable mass. The strain was enormous. With a scream, Wanda hurled the condensed explosion upward, but it slammed into an adjacent building, unleashing a thunderous roar.]
[Rogers survived, but the building did not. Flames surged skyward, no one knew how many lives had been lost.]
[Wanda covered her mouth in horror as Rogers stared at the blazing structure.]
["Sam, the south side needs fire support! Save the civilians!" Wanda collapsed to the ground, sobbing. She stared at the flames with unbearable regret.]
Arguments erupted in the chat.
"Was this really Wanda's fault?"
"She didn't do it on purpose!"
"So everyone upstairs just died for nothing?"
"She could've thrown it higher!"
"If it had exploded here, would fewer people have died?"
The debate raged on.
Meanwhile, the memories continued uninterrupted, and music filled the screen. A woman sat at a piano, her fingers dancing across the keys as she sang softly.
The audience fell silent, captivated.
"What is this?"
"She plays beautifully."
"They must be wealthy, just look at that room."
[On screen, a man in a suit entered from behind. The woman said calmly, "Wake our child. Say goodbye to your father."]
[The man pulled back a blanket, revealing a young boy beneath it.]
["Where's the homeless guy from the couch?" the father joked.]
[The boy stood up with a grin. "I like coming home for the holidays. But every time I return, you're leaving."]
[The woman added gently, "Come on, he's been studying abroad."]
[The father sighed. "Chasing girls overseas?"]
[He removed the boy's cap. "Don't turn this place upside down before next week."]
When the boy's face appeared, the viewers erupted in surprise.
"Is that Tony?!"
"That's young Tony!"
"Are those his parents?"
"The timeline moved forward!"
"He really was rich from childhood!"
"He was handsome back then!"
"Look, no beard!"
[Tony's father went to pack, and his mother stepped closer. "This might be the last time we're together. Say something you won't regret."]
[Tony looked at his father and softly said, "I love you, Dad. I know you tried your best."]
[She patted his shoulder and left with his father. At the doorway, another Tony appeared, dressed in black.]
The audience gasped.
[Tony's voice echoed, "This is the scene I hoped for. Dual-phase rewind and architectural transformation, the Second Structure."]
[Wearing strange glasses, Tony walked through his own constructed reality. "It's an expensive treatment. It forces the hippocampus to process traumatic memories."]
[He blew at the candle on the piano, but it didn't go out. Everything was simulated.]
["It won't change the fact that my parents died. It won't change what I did to heal," he said softly as the world faded away, removing his glasses.]
[Dan smiled. "This experiment cost hundreds of millions of dollars. No sane investor would fund it."]
The audience was stunned.
"I thought this was real time!"
"It's great, but insanely expensive."
"His brain really works differently."
"What exactly is the hippocampus?"
People at the Federal Hospital erupted into discussion.
Jay stared at the screen. "Boss… this is beyond psychiatry."
Tetsuo nodded. "At least half of Terra's population suffers from mental illness, with five percent requiring extreme treatment."
He studied the Second Structure. "This directly acts on the brain, without pain. It rivals the Cradle of Regeneration."
Jay was stunned.
Tetsuo explained trauma therapies further. "But Tony's approach... it's superior."
Inside the Administration, Darwin nodded in admiration. "This isn't amnesia; it's reconstruction, creation, not erasure."
The gathering understood the magnitude of the difference.
The captured memory flickered and shifted.
[Backstage, behind the grand stage, Tony walked briskly toward a woman standing alone near the wall. Stopping in front of her, Tony leaned slightly against the wall as well, his posture betraying a rare hint of unease.]
[The woman spoke first, her tone calm but heavy, "You did a very good thing for those young people."]
[Tony answered lightly, almost mechanically, "It should be done. It also makes my conscience feel a little better."]
[The woman's gaze did not soften. Instead, she continued, "It is said that generosity is often linked to guilt. But as long as you have money, even a small mistake doesn't matter, right?"]
[Tony turned his head to look at her, forcing a smile as he pressed the elevator button beside them, his lips tightening unconsciously. "Are you going upstairs?"]
[The woman replied coldly, "I'm exactly where I should be."]
[She reached into her purse and pulled out a photograph. With a sharp motion, she pressed it against Tony's chest.]
[Staring directly into his eyes, she said slowly, word by word, "His name is Charlie. You killed him in Scovia. For you, it wasn't even worth mentioning. Did you really think you were fighting for us? You were only fighting for yourself."]
[Her voice trembled with anger, "Who will avenge my son, Stark? It's your fault. He died because of you."]
[Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left. Tony remained frozen in place, staring silently at the smiling child in the photograph.]
"This kind of thing… I can only say it's unavoidable."
"Some people are truly beyond saving. You can't rescue them even if you try, and sometimes, saving them changes nothing."
"Why is everything blamed on Tony?"
"At that time, the city was about to explode! It was Tony who crushed it under unimaginable pressure!"
"This is heartbreaking!"
"No one wanted this to happen."
"If there were no Avengers back then, your son would have died far worse!"
"The mindless masses blame those who saved them, with righteous words!"
"You call Tony selfish? You're even more selfish, only thinking of your own pain."
"Moral abduction! The truth makes the Hulk want to punch someone!"
The woman's accusations ignited fury among some members of the audience. Among the citizens of the Federation, the impact was like a bomb detonating.
The screen shifted.
[Inside a quiet room, Wanda sat watching the television. The news replayed footage of the building she had accidentally destroyed during a mission. She scratched her head, anxiety written all over her face.]
[Behind her, Captain Rogers stepped forward and turned off the TV. He looked at her and said, "When Rumlow mentioned Bucky, I felt like I was pulled back sixty years. I noticed they were wearing body armor. I should have been more alert. This is my responsibility."]
["We are all responsible," Wanda said softly.]
[Rogers shook his head. "This job… We strive to save as many people as possible. But sometimes, we can't save everyone. If you can't accept that, then next time… maybe not even one person will be saved."]
[Wanda lowered her head and said nothing.]
[Suddenly, Vision passed straight through the wall and appeared in the room.]
[Wanda said helplessly, "Vision, why are you doing this again?"]
[Vision pointed toward the door. "Uh… the door was open, so I thought…"]
[Turning to Rogers, Vision added, "Captain Rogers, Mr. Stark will be notified as soon as he returns."]
[Rogers nodded. "Alright, thanks. Let's go."]
[As Vision walked toward the door, he said seriously, "This time, I'm going through the door."]
[At the doorway, he paused again. "By the way, he brought back a guest."]
[Rogers frowned slightly. "Do we know each other?"]
[Vision answered, "Official leadership."]
The scene shifted again.
[In the conference room, the Avengers were almost all present, except for Thor and the Hulk. Tony sat quietly in a corner. Everyone listened as the Bureaucrat spoke.]
["The world owes the Avengers a great debt," the Bureaucrat said. "You fought for us and risked your lives to protect us."]
[He looked around before continuing, "Many see you as heroes. But some people…" Pausing, he said, "I prefer the term vigilantes."]
[Black Widow asked sharply, "What word do you use for yourselves?"]
[He replied bluntly, "Dangerous. Isn't that accurate? A group of superhumans living within our borders. Ignoring sovereignty, imposing their will wherever they choose, and doing so without consequences."]
[His tone grew heavier, more urgent, like suppressed frustration finally spilling out. "What do you call such people?"]
[No one answered, but he activated the display. Explosions, devastation, and live footage appeared one after another. Battles meant to save others, accidental destruction, collateral damage.]
[The Hulk charging through buildings during the Chitauri invasion.]
[The massive explosion in Scovia.]
[Wanda accidentally destroyed an entire floor.]
[Silence fell over the room.]
In the broadcast, viewers erupted.
"What did I just watch?!"
"He thinks the people who saved the world are dangerous?!"
"What kind of logic is this?!"
"How many would have died without the Avengers?"
"Is this how Terra Earth officials behave?!"
"When nuclear weapons were about to destroy a city, where were you?!"
"Without the Avengers, the world would have ended long ago!"
"Now that things are stable, you want to clean them up?"
"You just want to control them!"
"If the world is about to be destroyed, should capable people just stand aside?"
"Never thought about what would happen without the Avengers?!"
Anger filled every corner of the broadcast. Those not watching learned about it through online platforms and began protesting in forums. Even after so long, these memories remained unbearable.
Inside the administration, the director and experts fell silent. No one expected this memory to unfold this way: the Avengers being branded as rule-breakers who ignored life and caused destruction.
Xiaotian sneered, "The Earth era is truly eye-opening."
The director smiled bitterly. "The purpose was clear. The Avengers were too powerful, beyond control. And anything that can go out of control at any moment, they will never allow to exist."
Johan nodded and sighed. "Yes. Almost any bureaucrat would make the same decision. Even in the current Federation, if something similar happened, the outcome would probably be the same."
Xiaotian's expression darkened.
Inside the training ground, Kasey narrowed his eyes in silence. Louis felt it clearly; her brother was holding back anger. They, too, were awakeners, powerful, rare, and potentially uncontrollable.
Kasey had a chilling realization: if that future came, their fate might be worse than the Avengers'.
Aldice's face turned pale. "How will the Avengers be dealt with?"
[Rogers interrupted sharply, "Enough."]
[The Bureaucrat continued, "For years, you have operated without oversight. The world can no longer tolerate this."]
[He placed a document on the table. "The Cisco Wia Agreement. Supported by 117 countries. The Avengers will cease to exist as a private organization, and all actions will be restricted and supervised."]
[Rogers frowned. "The Avengers were formed to make the world safer, and we did."]
[The Bureaucrat asked calmly, "Then where are Thor and Dr. Banner? If I misplaced two 30-megaton bombs, you know the consequences."]
["This is a compromise," he said firmly. "In three days, the world will ratify this agreement."]
[Rogers looked back at Tony.]
[Tony lowered his head, unable to meet his gaze.]
[Black Widow asked, "And if we refuse?"]
[The Bureaucrat replied without turning back, "Then you retire."]
The memory froze. If this agreement were signed, the purpose, and very essence, of the Avengers would vanish.