New York's night sky was dyed crimson by the flames of explosions. Billowing black smoke rolled and spread above the city like demonic tentacles, blotting out the already faint starlight. The pungent smell of gunpowder mixed with burning rubber and scorched flesh invaded everyone's nostrils, turning their stomachs. Just as the Avengers and their Midtown High School companions had gained the upper hand through teamwork, an eerie mechanical hum suddenly rose from the ruins. It sounded like a summons from the depths of Hell, drawing nearer as its frequency climbed higher and higher, making their eardrums ache and sending chills down their spines. Lee Stark piloted his armor sharply upward. The screech of grinding metal accompanied his heavy breathing as his wary gaze swept the surroundings. His nerves were stretched taut as strings on the verge of snapping. On the armor's radar screen, dense clusters of red dots were rapidly converging.
The rubble on the ground began to shake violently, as though something terrifying was struggling to break free from beneath the earth. Cracks spread swiftly like a spiderweb. Amid the crackling of shattering concrete, several massive slabs of stone were forced upward. Then, dozens of figures wreathed in blue flames burst out of the ground. The bulging veins beneath their skin resembled twisted webs, while dark red patterns crawled across their bodies, every pulse seeming to proclaim the virus's madness. The crazed red light in their eyes looked as if it had come from the abyss of Hell, and the stench of charred flesh and harsh chemical agents wafted from their bodies. These soldiers, modified by Hydra using Extremis Virus, had long since had their clothes burned away by the heat, leaving their horrifying bodies fully exposed without hindering their movements in the slightest.
"What is this..." Tony Stark's voice carried a rare trace of surprise. His armor rapidly analyzed the enemy's data while alarms echoed continuously through the cramped cockpit, their piercing shrieks seeming ready to rupture his eardrums. "Extremis Virus? Hydra actually teamed up with that bastard Killian!" Remembering his past grudge with Killian, anger and regret flashed through his eyes. His clenched knuckles left pale marks on the control console.
Dr. Killian stood atop a modified Hydra war vehicle, wearing a specially designed protective mask. The vehicle's shell was covered in vicious spikes and flickering, eerie lights, while its engine gave off a deep rumble like the roar of some enormous beast. He laughed smugly, his voice brimming with madness and twisted satisfaction. "Stark, didn't see this coming, did you? This time, your end has come! Activate Plan B!" At his command, the ground shook even more violently, and more Extremis Virus Soldiers surged from underground—well over a hundred of them at a rough estimate. Like a horde of released demons, they howled and lunged at the group. Their cries seemed ready to swallow the whole world, and wherever the sound waves reached, glass shattered one pane after another.
The abilities displayed by these Extremis Virus Soldiers were terrifying. With a single leap, they could easily reach buildings more than ten stories high. When they landed, the force of the impact shook the ground, sending nearby stones flying like a rain of rocks. With a casual swipe, they could overturn heavy cars as if they were toys. The shriek of tearing metal rang through the streets, while shards of glass scattered like raindrops. Hawkeye stood atop a distant high-rise, calmly nocking an arrow and drawing his bowstring until it hummed with tension. Yet before his arrows could touch their targets, the Extremis Virus Soldiers crushed them barehanded. The hardened arrowheads were as fragile as glass in their palms, bursting into tiny sparks. Some soldiers even caught the incoming arrows with their bare hands and hurled them back at Hawkeye. They flew so quickly that he had to dodge in embarrassment.
Even more frightening was their regenerative ability. Hulk roared in fury, his immense body like a moving hill, leaving deep footprints in the ground beneath him. He threw a punch at an Extremis Virus Soldier, instantly pulverizing the soldier's arm. Flesh and bone flew everywhere, and blood splashed across the ruins. Yet blue flames immediately surged from the severed limb. Within those flames, the ruined arm regrew at a visible speed, skin gradually covering it as blood vessels reconnected. In the blink of an eye, it was fully restored. Wanda's Scarlet Magic, flowing like nimble silk ribbons, wrapped around several Extremis Virus Soldiers, but its tremendous power could only restrain them briefly. Moments later, the virus beneath their skin devoured the magical energy. After breaking free, the flames on their bodies burned even more fiercely, and they became even faster. Bloodthirsty light gleamed in their eyes as they charged wildly at Wanda. She kept retreating, forming barrier after barrier with her magic, but the enemies smashed through them with ease.
That was not all. The Extremis Virus Soldiers could also unleash high-temperature attacks. When they opened their mouths, they spewed blue flames so hot that concrete roads instantly melted into crimson lava wherever the fire passed. Steel building frames warped and twisted, groaning under the unbearable heat. Claire and Jill rode motorcycles as they attempted a flanking attack, the roar of their engines mingling with their ragged breaths. However, they discovered in horror that the enemies were no slower than they were. Several pursuing Hydra war vehicles continuously fired shells at them. The Extremis Virus Soldiers on the vehicles coordinated with the convoy, releasing high-temperature flames to cut off their retreat while the fire warped the surrounding air. Heat waves slammed into them, making it hard to breathe, and even their motorcycle tires began smoking from the heat. At the same time, they hurled heavy weapons with strength far beyond that of ordinary humans. Huge stones and metal parts rained down, blasting deep pits into the ground. Claire made a sharp turn and barely avoided an incoming boulder. When it struck the ground, the flying debris cut her cheek.
Gwen hid behind a wrecked car, her livestream camera shaking violently in her trembling hands. She shouted in terror, "Oh my God! New monsters have appeared! They look like modified humans! Everyone, hide!" The livestream chat was instantly flooded with panicked messages. The hope the public had only just found was swallowed by fear once more, and despair spread across the internet. More and more viewers sent messages saying that strange tremors had appeared in their own areas as well, and they feared these monsters would appear at any moment.
"We can't let this continue!" Lee Stark spiraled rapidly through the air, evading the enemy's attacks. His armor's energy shield flickered continuously under the barrage, sounding shrill alarms. Each flicker meant the shield was weakening. "Uncle, these soldiers' weak point should be the virus cores in their chests. We need to concentrate our fire there!" His eyes were resolute, though they could not conceal a trace of anxiety. Sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the control panel.
Tony Stark nodded and raised his armor's repulsor power to maximum. A dangerous glow flashed from the emitters. "Listen up, kids! Keep pace with us. Don't make any reckless moves!" However, the Midtown High School companions, accustomed to fighting independently, still failed to coordinate perfectly with the Avengers. As Lee Stark and Tony Stark drew the enemy fire and prepared to guide everyone into delivering a fatal blow, Claire caught sight of a trapped little girl from the corner of her eye. The girl was curled up amid the ruins, covered in dust. Her terrified eyes and desperate cries cut into Claire's heart like a blade. Almost instinctively, Claire broke formation without permission and sped toward the girl on her motorcycle. The wind howled past her ears, and only one thought remained in her mind: save that child.
"Claire! What are you doing?!" Captain America roared, his voice filled with urgency and anger. A gap had opened in their once airtight attack formation. He had no choice but to abandon his original position and rush over, swinging his shield to protect Claire. The shield collided with the enemy's attack with a thunderous crash, leaving his arm slightly numb from the impact. This change threw their entire defense into chaos. More Extremis Virus Soldiers took the opportunity to breach the line and rush toward the civilian shelters. As they charged, they continued mutating. Some grew extra limbs, their joints twisting grotesquely like monsters while their movements became even more agile. Others developed skin as tough as impenetrable armor. Bullets left only pale marks on it, and could even ricochet back.
Watching the chaotic battlefield, Dr. Killian laughed even more wildly. His laughter echoed over the city like the whisper of a demon. "Keep attacking! Let them know that Hydra's power cannot be stopped!" Behind him, several Hydra soldiers carefully transported mysterious crates. Purple light, similar to that of the magic array beneath Stark Tower, seeped from the crates, while strange runes flickered in and out of view across their surfaces. The air around the crates warped from the surging energy. Clearly, they were brewing an even more terrifying plan. A greater crisis, like dark storm clouds, was pressing down upon them all. Meanwhile, Loki and Amora watched the chaos through a magical crystal ball, smiles of a successful scheme appearing on their faces.
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