Boom—
A massive ball of light slammed into the plaza of Chinese S.H.I.E.L.D.'s extraterrestrial contact facility.
The Avengers who had just returned from Asgard bore the brunt of it, scattered in all directions by the impact.
The surrounding S.H.I.E.L.D. staff and Hill, who had just arrived, were instantly knocked off their feet and sent tumbling away.
Clint Barton was blasted into the air, curling his body as he was hurled toward the plaza equipment. He crashed into the spatial-coordinate teleportation receiver, sending sparks flying everywhere.
Natasha Romanoff was knocked rolling outward, shielding her face with both arms.
Steve Rogers was slammed flat onto the ground, using the shield on his back to resist the friction as he was shoved away, his back scraping sparks across the ground.
T'Challa's sharp claws savagely pierced the ground. He was forced to slide backward by the impact, his claws carving sparks and several deep gouges into the pavement.
Bruce Banner swiftly transformed into the Hulk. His massive toes dug into the plaza's concrete, and his thick green arms shielded his face as the blast forced him steadily backward. Each heavy step left deep footprints in the cement.
Tony Stark's emergency shield unfolded in time, blocking the first wave of impact. Yet he was still pushed back. As he retreated, nanomachines rapidly emerged from his clothing and surged over his body, forming the Nano Armor.
Dust billowed outward with the shockwave. At the center of the plaza was a cracked, sunken circle three meters in radius. A woman outlined in radiance stood within it, her hair flying as her sharp gaze swept over everyone present.
"You're the Avengers?" Captain Marvel Carol Danvers scrutinized them with a cold gaze.
The information Nick Fury had left behind indicated that the corrupted Avengers team had been concealing its