Battle of New York (IV)

New York's streets had been utterly reduced to a living hell beneath the rampage of the Extremis Virus Soldiers. Broken rebar jutted from twisted concrete like savage fangs, while burning car wrecks lay scattered everywhere, flames greedily licking at metal with crackling bursts. The air reeked of scorched debris, blood, and strange chemical agents; every breath felt like swallowing red-hot iron filings. Li Stark's armor had suffered damage in multiple places during the intense battle, its silver shell covered in burns and dents of varying depths. His energy bar had fallen into the dangerous red zone, and piercing alarms rang relentlessly in his ears like death knells. Hovering in midair, he watched as Claire's risky rescue of the little girl caused the barely maintained defensive line to collapse into disarray. Anxiety burned in his chest, and his knuckles had turned white from gripping the controls too tightly.

"This can't go on!" Li Stark shouted over the comms, his voice noticeably ragged, every word seemingly forced out of his chest. "We have to regroup our defenses and concentrate our fire on their virus cores!"

"Easier said than done!" Tony Stark streaked through the air in his armor like a silver bolt of lightning, blasting down an Extremis Virus Soldier attempting a sneak attack. The blazing energy from his repulsor carved a dazzling arc through the darkness. "These bastards regenerate too fast. Before our attacks can keep up, they've already recovered!" Rare gravity colored his voice as his gaze remained fixed on the endlessly surging enemies. On his armor's radar display, red dots crowded together like a boiling swarm of ants.

Wanda knelt amid the ruins, her magic becoming increasingly unstable from the prolonged battle. Strands of hair clung to her sweat-soaked forehead. Biting her lip, her eyes filled with unwillingness, she raised trembling hands and gathered scarlet energy once more, binding several snarling Virus Soldiers rushing toward her. Yet the viruses pulsing beneath their skin struggled madly as if alive. In the blink of an eye, they tore through her magic, the blue flames on their bodies blazing even brighter as they charged at her again. Wanda staggered backward and forced herself to her feet, her skirt stained with dust and blood, her heart pounding as though it might burst from her chest.

Hulk roared furiously, making the surrounding air tremble. His body was covered in burns from the searing heat, veins bulging beneath his green skin like twisted blue snakes. He grabbed an Extremis Virus Soldier, the veins in his muscular arm standing out as he smashed it viciously into the ground, instantly creating a massive crater. But the soldier quickly climbed back up and opened a mouth full of razor-sharp fangs, biting down on Hulk's arm. Hulk howled in pain and flung it away. Blood poured from the wound on his arm, only to heal at a visible speed, leaving behind nothing but a faint scar.

Captain America Steve Rogers swung his shield, blocking and counterattacking through the hail of gunfire. Every collision between his shield and the enemy's attacks produced deafening crashes, and each impact sent sharp pain shooting through his arm. The metal shield's surface was already covered in scratches of varying depths. Looking over the chaotic battlefield, his face smeared with sweat and dust, he suddenly shouted, "Listen up! We attack in turns. One person holds them down while the others seize the chance to strike their virus cores!" His voice was firm and powerful, like a ray of light in the darkness, piercing through the smoke and chaos of the battlefield.

Just as everyone prepared to follow the new strategy, Ashley's voice suddenly came through the comms, carrying both excitement and tension. It trembled slightly from agitation. "Wait! I found something! When these soldiers regenerate, their virus cores show a brief energy fluctuation! If we can strike at that moment, we might be able to destroy them completely!" Her fingers flew over the keyboard as her eyes remained locked on the screen before her. Dense streams of data flickered continuously across it, sweat dripping from her chin onto the console.

Li Stark's eyes lit up, hope rekindling within them. "Good! Thor, use lightning to launch a wide-area attack and disrupt their movements. Wanda, use your magic to hold the targets down. Hawkeye, wait for the right moment and snipe them. My uncle and I will provide fire support! Everyone else, protect the civilians and don't let the enemy break through the line!" His voice carried the resolve of someone staking everything on one final gamble as he maneuvered his armor into position, preparing for the coming fight.

Thor raised Mjolnir high, lightning gathering wildly around him. The sky was instantly illuminated, and the dark clouds were stained an eerie purple. "Let these ants feel the wrath of Asgard!" he roared. A massive bolt of lightning fell like divine judgment. Numerous Extremis Virus Soldiers were struck, their bodies convulsing violently as they let out shrill screams. The blue flames on them danced wildly beneath the current's assault, their movements briefly paralyzed.

Wanda seized the opportunity and thrust both hands forward. Scarlet Magic surged out like a raging tide, transforming into chain-like streams of energy that wrapped around several soldiers and pinned them in place. Veins stood out on her forehead, and her face had turned pale from the strain as she panted heavily. Hawkeye stood at the highest point of a distant building, narrowed his eyes, and calmly nocked an arrow. The taut bowstring gave off a low hum. "Hah—" He exhaled softly, and the arrow streaked through the night sky like a meteor, precisely targeting the core in a Virus Soldier's chest. With a bang, the soldier's core shattered, turning into a mass of blue flames that dissipated into the air, leaving behind only blackened remains.

However, Dr. Killian quickly noticed their strategy. Standing atop a war vehicle and observing the battlefield, the smile on his face gradually vanished, replaced by a sinister expression. He sneered and viciously ordered through his communicator, "Change tactics. Spread out and attack. Make them unable to cover everything at once!" The Extremis Virus Soldiers immediately split into squads and attacked from different directions. Some rushed toward civilian shelters, some surrounded the Avengers fighting on the front lines, and others set their sights on the Midtown High partners providing support. The battlefield once again descended into chaos.

Meanwhile, at another corner of the battlefield, Black Widow Natasha moved like a black phantom, quietly approaching the Hydra soldiers transporting a mysterious box. Her steps were light and silent, her vigilant eyes sweeping the surroundings, the gun in her hand ready to fire at any moment. Cleverly using the ruins as cover, she avoided the enemy's sight. Then she suddenly cast out a rope, accurately tripping one soldier before swiftly pulling the trigger and taking out several other guards. She hurried forward and opened the box. Inside was a purple crystal emitting an eerie glow. Hydra symbols and strange runes covered the area around it, the runes flickering in and out of view beneath the light as if recounting some evil power.

"Li, Tony, I found something," Natasha said through the communicator, her voice grave. "This crystal seems connected to the magic array at Stark Tower. I think Hydra intends to use it for something even more terrifying." She carefully picked up the box, preparing to withdraw.

Li Stark's heart tightened. "Bring it back first. We have to stop Hydra's plan!"

At that moment, the ground suddenly began shaking violently, as if a powerful earthquake had struck. A gigantic Extremis Virus Soldier appeared. It was more than twice the size of an ordinary soldier, with dark-purple skin and even fiercer flames blazing across its body. Every burst of fire came with waves of heat, warping the surrounding air from the extreme temperature. It let out an earthshaking roar. Wherever the sound waves passed, glass shattered, and cracks began spreading through nearby buildings. It swung its enormous arm and punched at Natasha. Natasha's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly rolled aside. The box was sent flying by the tremendous impact, arcing through the air.

"Watch out!" Claire raced over on a motorcycle, speeding toward where the box was falling. She slammed on the brakes, leaving a long black streak across the ground, then reached out and snatched the box. She immediately took Natasha with her and sped away. But the giant soldier pursued them relentlessly. Every step it took made the ground shake, and buildings along its path collapsed one after another, kicking up clouds of dust. It was incredibly fast, closing the distance between itself and Claire and Natasha in the blink of an eye. Its huge palm came crashing down toward them.

Seeing this, Li Stark was frantic. "Uncle, let's stop it! Everyone else, keep attacking the regular soldiers! Don't let them get near the civilians!" Tony Stark nodded. The two flew toward the giant soldier in their armor like arrows released from a bow, their repulsors continuously firing scorching energy that formed dazzling beams across the sky. However, the giant soldier's skin was unbelievably tough. The energy beams only threw off sparks when they struck it, causing almost no damage. It roared in fury, turned, and lunged at Li Stark and Tony Stark. A far more difficult battle erupted above the ruins of New York.

Amid the chaotic battlefield, everyone was giving everything they had. Gwen hid behind a wrecked car. Though fear had made her legs go weak, she still held the livestreaming equipment in trembling hands and broadcast the battle to the entire world. "Everyone, look! The heroes are fighting for us with everything they have! We can't give up!" Her voice caught in her throat, yet it was filled with determination. Inside the makeshift command center, Ashley stared unblinkingly at the screen, constantly analyzing enemy data in an attempt to find more weaknesses. Sweat had soaked through her clothes, but she did not notice at all.

Deep inside Stark Tower, Loki and Amora watched the chaos on the battlefield through a magical crystal ball, smug smiles spreading across their faces. Amora lightly stroked the crystal ball as purple magic flowed around her fingertips. "Let them struggle in this desperate situation. When the time is right, our plan will surely succeed." Loki toyed with his scepter, evil light flickering in his eyes. "Once they are exhausted, it will be time for us to reap the fruits of victory."

New York's sky had been dyed crimson by the flames of war, as though the entire city were burning.