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[Frog] Chapter 193: The Stretch and Flex of Wood
🕑 Added 2024-12-04 03:44:34 +0000 UTCS.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
Hill stood on the command platform, her eyes constantly scanning the incoming data and monitoring the ongoing rescue operations.
“Commander, the military forces are arriving shortly.”
“All available rescue teams have been deployed.”
“Casualties and damages are currently impossible to estimate…”
As she listened to the reports, Hill’s expression grew grim.
In many ways, this disaster was a direct result of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s failure.
If they hadn’t insisted on studying the Tesseract, perhaps none of this would have happened.
Now, she finally understood why Howard Stark had abruptly halted his research on the Tesseract years ago.
Perhaps Howard had foreseen the unimaginable disaster that activating the Tesseract could unleash.
“Where are our forces?”
“Deploy all combat-ready units and send out the fighter jets!”
“We must contain these damned aliens within Manhattan. They cannot be allowed to spread!”
Hill issued her orders.
But the subordinate beside her stood motionless, a hesitant look on his face.
Hill frowned and shot him a sharp glance. “Why are you still standing here? Go!”
“Commander Hill, I’m sorry, but you no longer have the authority to issue such orders.”
“I don’t have the authority?” Hill’s voice grew cold.
“Didn’t you hear Director Fury’s instructions before he left for the meeting?
I’m currently in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D.!”
“Deploy our combat units immediately!”
“Commander Hill, even Director Fury doesn’t have that authority anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just now, Congress reached a decision.”
“Due to Director Fury’s failure in leadership during the Tesseract incident, all of his authority as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been temporarily revoked.”
“The final decision will be made after his meeting with the congressional committee.”
“Damn it!”
Hill slammed her fist onto the command console.
These damn bureaucrats! In the face of a crisis, their first response is always to strip someone of their authority, instead of focusing on how to solve the problem.
To them, power is everything.
Helplessly, Hill watched the streams of incoming reports and the grim scenes of devastation on the streets of New York displayed across the screens.
“You have to win…”
“Avengers…”
---
On one of the screens.
Gwen’s spider legs shot out from her back, piercing the heads of two Chitauri soldiers.
In one swift motion, she fired webs from her hands, ensnaring several airborne Chitauri soldiers and slamming them into another group.
“Pikachu, those over there are yours.”
“Pika!”
Pikachu leaped from Gwen’s shoulder, dashing along the wall toward the approaching Chitauri soldiers.
The soldiers unleashed a barrage of laser fire at Pikachu, but he nimbly dodged every shot.
In a flash, he reached their rear, and his small cheeks crackled with intense yellow electricity.
“Pika… CHU!”
ZAP!
A powerful surge of electricity coursed through the soldiers, instantly charring them black and leaving them crumpled on the ground.
---
Above New York City.
Thor summoned storm clouds, unleashing a relentless barrage of lightning at the portal, obliterating several Chitauri leviathans in quick succession.
On a Chitauri war chariot, Loki watched the battlefield unfold.
Every engagement seemed to end with the Chitauri forces being pushed back.
This turn of events frustrated him deeply. Losing the Chitauri was a minor issue—but if that person became enraged, Loki knew even he wouldn’t escape unscathed.
“Deploy all our forces,” Loki ordered.
On the other side of the portal, a colossal alien mothership stirred, emitting a faint ripple.
Moments later, waves of Chitauri soldiers began to pour out from the ship, followed by a dozen massive Chitauri leviathans.
As if responding to a summons, they surged toward the narrow portal, an unstoppable tide rushing to the battlefield.
Below, the heroes sensed the growing number of enemies.
After Gwen helped Tony take down an enemy behind him, Tony spoke up, “Spider-Woman.”
“This isn’t working.”
“They’re going to take us down eventually!”
Gwen knew all too well that this endless wave tactic would only lead to exhaustion. “Then what do you suggest?”
“There are two options,” Tony said.
“First, we find a way to shut that thing down. But getting close to it is almost impossible.”
“As if I didn’t know that. I’ve already tried.”
“Every time I head toward it, a swarm of aliens shows up to block me. I can’t get through.”
Gwen had already made several attempts with Pikachu, but breaking through the Chitauri’s endless horde was futile.
“What’s the second option?”
Tony blasted a Chitauri soldier away and continued, “The second option is to hold out until the Emperor arrives.”
“At this point, he’s the only one who can save the world.”
“But right now…”
“Who knows where he is?”
Gwen recalled how the Emperor always showed up at the last moment of a crisis.
Since his disappearance alongside the Green Goblin, she hadn’t seen him.
If it weren’t for her inexplicable confidence in him, she’d have worried he might have perished with the Green Goblin.
“I believe he’ll come.”
“But until then, we’ve got to hold on!”
---
On a Death Star.
Mephisto knelt on the ground, arcs of electricity still flickering across his body.
“I… I can’t use my powers…”
“What did you do to me?”
Mephisto realized the arcs of electricity were continuously paralyzing him, preventing him from using his powers or even detonating himself to escape.
The power wielded by the Emperor had far surpassed anything Mephisto could comprehend.
Now, the arrogance and disdain in Mephisto’s eyes had vanished, replaced entirely by fear.
He suddenly regretted ever signing the Green Goblin’s soul or coveting the Emperor’s power.
After unleashing his ultimate Five Shadows Strike, Alan reappeared before Mephisto. He had no intention of continuing this game.
Pointing the Emperor Sword at Mephisto, Alan declared:
“Mephisto, since your birth, you’ve deceived the souls of countless beings in the universe.”
“You’ve exploited others’ kindness and emotions, enslaving their souls.”
“Today, I shall represent the Will of Heaven and bring judgment upon you!”
As he spoke, five talismanic scripts materialized before Alan and floated toward Mephisto, hovering above his head.
The moment the talismans appeared, Mephisto felt an indescribable force pressing down on him.
Is this the ‘Will of Heaven’ the Emperor spoke of?
In all his years in this universe, he had never heard of such a concept.
Yet now, whether he recognized it or not, one thing was clear:
He was doomed.
“No, Emperor!”
“Spare me, and I’ll return the souls I took!”
“I’ll atone for my sins if you just let me go!”
Mephisto pleaded in panic, his usual composure shattered.
In the past, if anyone had demanded he release a soul, Mephisto would’ve shown them the true meaning of cruelty.
But now, he was willing to offer even his own soul if it meant the Emperor would spare him.
“Heh!”
Alan sneered, “Too late. You must pay for the sins you’ve committed.”
“I’ve defeated you. If the roles were reversed, would you show me mercy?”
“I…”
Mephisto faltered. He knew the answer.
He wouldn’t have shown mercy.
All he wanted was the Emperor’s power—everything else, including the Emperor’s life, was irrelevant to him.
Alan vanished in a flash and appeared atop the talisman(dharma) inscribed with the character ‘Wood’.
With the Emperor Sword in hand, he tapped the talisman.
The Stretch and Flex of Wood…”
—To be continued...
