Nick Fury stood aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, gazing over the vast expanse of the sky. Only when standing on the bridge of this aerial fortress did he feel the full weight of his authority over the most powerful secret agency in the world.
Meanwhile, in Stark Tower, Tony Stark welcomed a new guest with a charismatic smile.
"Dr. Banner, it's great to see you. You should drop by Stark Industries more often."
Bruce Banner, who had been forcefully extracted from General Ross's custody by Nick Fury, was still recovering from his prolonged confinement. Though Ross had been vehemently opposed to letting Banner go, pressure from higher-ups had forced his hand.
Now free, Banner looked pale and weary, his time in captivity clearly taking a toll. But upon sensing Stark's genuine goodwill, he managed a small smile.
"Mr. Stark, the pleasure is mine."
The two scientific geniuses immediately found common ground, their mutual understanding forming an instant connection.
Suddenly—BOOM!
A powerful thunderclap tore through the sky, followed by a flash of brilliant white light. A bolt of lightning struck the deck of the Helicarrier, and in its place stood Thor, the God of Thunder.
"The warriors of Midgard! I am pleased to—"
Thor's booming voice trailed off as his gaze swept the deck. His eyes locked onto a particular figure—a blue-skinned man standing among them.
His demeanor changed instantly.
"KREE!"
Thor's expression twisted into one of sheer hostility, his entire body surging with divine power. The air around him crackled as he instinctively summoned his new weapon—a meteor hammer, a replacement forged by the Dwarves after his Mjolnir and Stormbreaker had been confiscated by Gene.
Twirling the hammer in his grip, Thor radiated a killing intent so intense that the Helicarrier's crew took a cautious step back.
"Goddamn it," Nick Fury muttered, rubbing his temple.
"Asgardian idiots … always thinking with their muscles," Mar-Vell scoffed.
Though Mar-Vell had spent years on Earth, the bad blood between the Kree and Asgardians was centuries old. The moment their eyes met, tensions skyrocketed.
Just as the two were about to come to blows, Stark quickly stepped between them, raising his hands in a gesture of peace.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let's all calm down here, alright? Mar-Vell is here to help."
Thor glared at Stark. "The Kree fleet is approaching, and you expect me to believe that he's not a spy?"
Mar-Vell folded his arms. "If you could put aside your arrogance for five seconds, Asgardian, you'd realize that I'm trying to help."
With everyone's persuasion, Thor and Mar-Vell reluctantly agreed to a truce, at least for now.
__
In the S.H.I.E.L.D. War Room, Nick Fury surveyed the gathered heroes.
"So," he said, his voice heavy with concern, "you've all seen this Black Devil in action?"
Everyone except Banner nodded solemnly.
Thor, having lost both of his divine weapons to Gene, clenched his fists.
Stark and Mar-Vell had personally witnessed Gene battle the Kree's reconnaissance robot and emerge victorious.
"And he's built a new organization… something called the S.W.O.R.D.?"
The mention of it made Nick Fury's expression darken.
"That's right," Stark confirmed. "And their motto? We monitor. We protect."
He activated a holographic screen, showing footage of the Black Devil's forces dealing with supernatural threats all over the planet.
Nick Fury exhaled sharply.
"The Black Devil is playing a very dangerous game…"
__
While they were formulating a battle plan, the true horror began to unfold in New York City.
At 10:00 AM sharp, the sky darkened.
A massive shadow loomed over the city as a colossal Kree warship descended from the heavens, blotting out the sun. Moments later, thousands of blue-skinned soldiers leaped from the aircraft, swarming through the city like a plague.
Then came the bombardment.
Energy blasts rained down from the sky, demolishing buildings, overturning cars, and engulfing entire blocks in flames. Fire erupted through shattered windows, explosions ripping through the streets.
Civilians screamed in terror, running for their lives. Police officers bravely opened fire on the invaders, but their bullets simply bounced off the Kree warriors, leaving not a single scratch.
For five relentless minutes, the city burned.
And then… the chaos stopped.
As if controlled by a switch, the Kree soldiers halted, assembling in precise formations in the city square, their movements eerily synchronized.
Then, the massive warship opened its circular docking bay, lowering two figures onto the ground.
Kree officers.
Dressed in military garb identical to Mar-Vell's, they exuded an air of cold superiority.
At that moment, the global communication network was hijacked.
All over the world—on television screens, smartphones, and computers—a new image appeared.
A blue-skinned warlord with a menacing glare and an aura of absolute authority.
His voice was deep, his words sharp as a blade.
"Inferior Earthlings. I am Ronan, the Great Accuser of the Kree Empire."
His chilling words echoed through every device in existence.
"I have come to offer you two choices."
"Choice one: Surrender."
"Submit to the great and glorious Kree Empire. Become a part of something greater."
"Choice two: Resist."
"And I will personally exterminate every last one of you."
"You have thirty minutes to decide."
Behind him, his two lieutenants stood at attention, their expressions unreadable.
Then, the screens went dark.
But Ronan's ominous message still hung in the air.
The World Reacts
"Pfft—WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"ALIENS?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
"The Kree Empire?!"
"New York City is under attack!"
Global panic erupted. Governments scrambled for an emergency response. The world's most powerful leaders engaged in frantic discussions, trying to grasp the reality of their situation.
__
Mar-Vell clenched his fists, his expression grim.
"They arrived sooner than we expected."
Stark, already activating his armor's flight mode, gritted his teeth.
"We don't have time for debates. We're heading to New York City—NOW."
With that, he blasted off into the sky, racing toward the battlefield.
The Kree invasion had begun.
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