Chapter Thirty-Seven: Victory!

"Kill!"—twice! Iron Man and War Machine streaked close to the ground, crossing paths at three times the speed of sound. Each unleashed a beam of laser from their right hands—Proxima Midnight's head fell, the wound smooth and clean.

"Roar! Hulk!" Hulk hurled Supergiant from his hands, smashing her brutally into the earth. With a powerful leap, he stomped down, driving his feet hundreds of meters. The ground sank more than ten meters, leaving behind only a massive crater and a mess of unidentifiable flesh.

The Black Order, invading Earth for less than ten minutes, was completely annihilated. Not a single one survived.

"Brothers, charge!" Seeing the enemy’s commanders so easily dispatched, Captain America raised his shield high, issuing the order for the final assault.

"Kill!"—echoed countless voices. Soldiers and warriors, still standing, gripped their assault rifles, hurled grenades, and joined forces with Angel, Tony, Rhodey, Natasha, Pepper, and others for the last charge.

The invading Chitauri forces were finished. Millions of soldiers lay bloodied across the battlefield, swept away without a trace.

Sensing defeat, the Chitauri leader severed the signal to the invading troops and withdrew, abandoning the invasion.

As the last troop carrier was smashed to scrap metal by the combined hammers of Thor and Sol, not a single invader remained alive on Earth.

In the sky, the portal lingered, but not a Chitauri soldier dared enter Earth's airspace again.

Earth had won this war.

Captain America, surrounded by Tony, Rhodey, Angel, Hao Yun, Thor, Hulk, Natasha, Barton, and Sol, climbed atop the roof of an abandoned school bus, raised his shield to the heavens, and shouted with all his might:

"Brothers, we have defeated the alien invaders. We are victorious!"

"Victory!"—the triumphant cry resounded through New York. Reporters from newspapers and television stations, who had braved the battlefield, broadcast images of victory across the world.

Beijing, Tokyo, London, Los Angeles—countless cities rang with firecrackers and celebration. The same voice echoed throughout the planet:

"Long live Earth! Long live humanity!"

...

On the aerial command ship, while everyone else reveled in celebration, Nick Fury was being interrogated.

"Why didn't you launch the nuclear missile? Those people are not heroes, they're freaks beyond our control! If something goes wrong, can you take responsibility?"

The American representative at the United Nations stood up and demanded answers. At the moment when Captain America led the forces in their final counterattack, he had requested Nick Fury to launch a nuclear missile—for the safety of Earth, he claimed.

If Nick hadn't been prepared, and together with Hill shot down the plane carrying the missile, New York would not be celebrating, but mourning the dead.

"Don't forget, six million people still live in New York! And the Illuminati is merely a civilian organization!" Nick Fury replied coolly, threatening him. Six million lives—you're considering a nuclear strike? If I leak this, you'll be out of office in a heartbeat, disgraced forever.

"A civilian organization capable of repelling aliens? Nick, are you joking? I don't think you understand the consequences of your actions!" the American representative pressed on, unyielding.

"You can ask the United Nations. The request for aid you submitted is still posted on their official website." Nick said with a touch of mockery. "Don't forget, they're just scholars who enjoy research. At least half of them hold doctorates! And they are dangerous, extremely dangerous!"

"I think the whole world knows now—even the entire universe knows!"

"But that was not our original intention!"

"No, that was precisely our intention: to let the whole universe know Earth is dangerous. Even if they aren't under the control of those in power, they are still Earthlings!"

With those words, Nick Fury couldn't be bothered with the hypocritical politicians any longer. He turned and left the room.

"Hill, contact Captain, Natasha, and Barton. I now formally announce their retirement from S.H.I.E.L.D.!"

"SIR, is it really appropriate to hand them over to the Illuminati just like this?" Hill voiced her concerns, her suspicion even sharper than Nick's. Natasha and Barton possessed incredible combat abilities, and Captain America was the spiritual leader of the American military. Entrusting them to the Illuminati—wasn't that courting disaster in the future?

"No, keeping them in S.H.I.E.L.D., letting politicians command them, would be far more dangerous. Besides, within S.H.I.E.L.D...."

Nick stood at the bow of the ship, gazing into the distance... his words abruptly cut off.

Hill gave Nick Fury a long look, said nothing more, and picked up the phone to call Natasha and the others, announcing Nick's decision.

...

In the center of the battlefield, Natasha's joyful expression suddenly soured. She looked at Tony with a face full of grievance.

"Tony, does the Illuminati still need people? What do you think of me, Barton, and Steve?"

Tony was stunned for a moment, then his phone chimed with a text message. He glanced at the information from Nick Fury, and his face blossomed into a delighted smile.

"Of course, partner, welcome to the Illuminati! Oh, by the way, have you ever tasted Arabic barbecue? There's a place about two blocks away, not sure about the taste, but I'd like to try it!"

"Damn you, Uncle-in-law, forget that foolish idea! I've tried it, and I swear it's the worst thing I've ever eaten in my life!"

Hao Yun strode forward to sling his arm around Sol's shoulder, loudly disparaging that Arabic barbecue joint. He had gone there once, hoping to check in... needless to say, the taste was unforgettable—in the worst way.

"Alright, I’m quite understanding. Pepper, call my chef. Tonight, I want to host a hero PARTY at the Illuminati base! Invite all the elite of New York!"

"Oh yeah!"

"Count me in!"

"Absolutely, you can't miss it!"

Rhodey jumped off the vehicle, hugged the military personnel who had joined the battle, and laughed heartily.

The scene was filled with laughter and joy. Though the battlefield still bore scars of conflict, it radiated exuberant life.

That night, while everyone changed outfits to prepare for the party, Hao Yun lay in the bathroom, reviewing his gains from the day.

"Congratulations, Host, for arriving at the Marvel iconic scene—the battlefield of Illuminati Alliance One—check-in successful!"

"Congratulations, Host, for arriving at the Marvel iconic scene—the site of Ebony Maw's death—check-in successful!"

"Congratulations, Host, for arriving at the Marvel iconic scene—the end of the Black Order—check-in successful!"

"Congratulations, Host, for arriving at the Marvel iconic scene—the Trident Tower—check-in successful!"

All in all, Hao Yun checked in no fewer than ten times at the first Avengers scene, earning countless items.

Looking at his panel, the abundance of resources left Hao Yun overjoyed and utterly lost in delight.