Urgency (2)

"Oh my God, those machine monsters are coming at us! Run—run—ah?!"

Before long, the footage suddenly shook violently, as if it had been attacked by some kind of flying Demon Engine. The terrified screams of the cameraman mixed with the desperate cries of the pilot over the comms, echoing through the cabin.

The final image was a dizzying view of the city and a heavy, violent crash. Then the signal cut out, and the screen went completely black.

The holographic screen dimmed with it, leaving only the cold white light cast by the cabin's overhead lamps, illuminating every twisted face filled with shock and fury.

Dead silence.

An even heavier, more suffocating silence than when Invisible Woman had suggested asking Warp Group for help.

It was as though the air still carried the smell of gunpowder and blood from the footage, along with the desperate cries of civilians, soldiers, and police officers, buzzing through everyone's minds—

Thud!

Tony Stark clenched his fist tightly. After a brief moment of stillness, he slammed it hard against the sturdy alloy bulkhead beside him.

The dull impact rang out, painfully sharp in the silent cabin.

Tony Stark's knuckles split open at once, blood seeping out, but he did not even glance at his hand, as though he felt no pain.

Compared to the surging guilt and rage within him, nearly drowning and tearing him apart, that little bit of physical pain was utterly insignificant.

His teeth ground together, his jaw clenched as hard as iron.

Fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his expression was terrifyingly twisted.

His eyes remained fixed on the spot where the holographic screen had gone dark, but reflected deep within his pupils were the civilians pursued and torn apart by Demon Engines, the armored vehicle rolling