"Boss, we've taken the scepter." Izu and Azu approached Dan, presenting the scepter embedded with the Mind Stone.
Dan nodded in approval, taking the scepter and immediately removing the Mind Stone. Feeling the infinite psychic energy and universal laws contained within, he broke into a radiant smile.
The Infinity Stones are vessels for the six fundamental forces of the universe. The Mind Stone contains limitless energy and universal principles, making it crucial for perfecting the Kamen Rider Chronicles.
Technically, they could have waited until the Avengers used the Mind Scepter to shut down the spatial portal and then taken the Mind Stone. But according to Dan's plan, the story was just reaching its climax—he couldn't end it so easily.
Atop Stark Tower, the portal continued to expand relentlessly. Chitauri forces poured out like a tide. Unlike before, when the portal's limited size only allowed small scouting teams into New York, this time huge waves of troops were entering.
Previously, only small reconnaissance squads had appeared; now, the vanguard of a true alien army was advancing.
Through the portal, one could even see a massive Chitauri starship slowly approaching from the cosmic void, waiting for the portal to grow large enough for it to pass through to Earth.
With the number of Chitauri increasing rapidly Earth's defenders were stretched thin.
Although the Kamen Riders possessed tremendous strength, they were few in number—just over ten—and against the near-endless alien army, two fists could not match four hands. Continuous high-intensity combat quickly drained their energy.
It was only when the Defender Alliance—Jessica, Luke, Danny, Matt, and Erica—arrived with Scana that the reinforcements stabilized the battle against the Chitauri.
"Doctor, is there any other way?" Natasha and Hawkeye anxiously looked at the expanding portal overhead and the looming starship behind it, addressing Dr. Erik.
"I just remembered. Nick Fury once sent a cartridge to our lab. We tried using the Tesseract's energy to activate it. The cartridge can carry and integrate the Tesseract's power, which should allow us to penetrate the shields," Erik said, his eyes lighting up with sudden realization.
"A game cartridge?" Tony reacted with surprise at Natasha's report.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Unless it's clear the situation cannot be controlled, I will never authorize the use of a peace missile in New York City. Frankly, this is an extremely foolish decision," Nick Fury said darkly to the U.N. representative on screen.
"Nick, this is the Security Council's final decision. S.H.I.E.L.D. must comply. The time has come to make choices. If we hesitate, once the alien fleet fully enters Earth, the entire world will be in peril."
The peace missile is humanity's most powerful weapon, but against an interstellar civilization, its actual effect is uncertain. They could devastate New York but fail to strike the Chitauri effectively.
Fury's expression shifted as he decided to delay, just as Tony contacted him to ask about the game cartridge.
"A mysterious figure called 'Genm' knocked out Coulson and took the game cartridge from the warehouse," Fury replied, frowning.
Could it be that the portal couldn't be shut down?
"Genm?! What does that guy want?!" Tony gritted his teeth.
"Unauthorized jets are taking off from the runway," Deputy Director Maria Hill warned.
"Damn it." Fury rushed to the mothership deck, grabbed a rocket launcher, and destroyed the launching jets.
However, another jet carrying a peace missile had already taken off.
"Nick, what's going on?" Tony sensed something was wrong.
"The Security Council ordered the jets to carry peace missiles against the Chitauri. I shot down one, but another is heading toward New York. Estimated arrival: five to six minutes," Fury reported, his voice tense.
"Damn, they're really going to drop peace missiles on New York? Are they out of their minds?" Tony cursed.
"It seems we'll have to deliver the peace missile ourselves, but…" Tony eyed the massive Chitauri warship approaching the portal, unsure if it would work.
"The U.S. government's missile is almost there. Time for the climax," Dan said lightly, observing the portal above Stark Tower, now hundreds of meters across.
Tony waited in front of Stark Tower, fending off Chitauri soldiers while preparing to deliver the peace missile to the other side of the portal.
"This is the perfect game backdrop. I can't wait to create the ultimate game," Genm said excitedly, appearing before the portal generator with the game cartridge obtained from S.H.I.E.L.D., watching the Chitauri invade New York and the battle with the superheroes unfold.
"Genm?! What are you trying to do?" Tony exclaimed, wary and confused.
"Of course, I'm going to realize the super game I've always envisioned," Genm replied with a mysterious smile.
"Game start."
Genm inserted the cartridge into the energy barrier generated by the Space Stone. The cartridge immediately emitted a stream of energy, linking to the Tesseract.
The energy contact caused the Tesseract and cartridge to erupt in blinding light. Space energy from the Tesseract was infused into the cartridge. With the Space Stone's infinite energy, the game field expanded without apparent limit, instantly encompassing the entire city of New York.
(End of Chapter)