Fury's Death

Inside the Supreme Court, the air seemed to solidify into lead, pressing heavily on everyone's chest.

Nick Fury, dressed in an orange prison uniform, scanned the jury with his single eye, then the expressionless judge, finally settling on Captain America, who stood solemnly in the gallery representing the Arbitrators.

His back was ramrod straight, like a steel nail that refused to bend.

"Stellar Project?" Fury's voice was low and hoarse, with an almost obsessive certainty. "Its only mistake was starting too late! Power! Unrestrained, absolute power that transcends national and human order is the greatest threat in itself! Arbitrators? Look at them now! The whole planet is cheering for them! With a flick of their finger, they can rewrite the world order! Today they can be heroes, but what about tomorrow? When their will overrides that of billions of ordinary people, who will restrain them? Who will judge them?"

He pointed sharply towards the Arbitrators' seat, his single eye burning with a final, burning resentment. "Let them run rampant? That's creating a new generation of tyrants cloaked in hero's robes! History has proven countless times that absolute power inevitably corrupts absolutely! There must be limits! There must be a trump card to control them! Stellar Project? That's just the beginning! A necessary means!"

The jurors' faces revealed undisguised disgust and absurdity.

Limiting or Arbitrators?

At a time when this Arbitrators had saved Blue Planet from countless disasters and prevented numerous horrific events, and whose reputation was at its zenith, Fury's accusations sounded like the ravings of a madman.

Some even shook their heads slightly, letting out barely audible sighs. A hushed murmur of disdain rose from the audience.

The judge, expressionless, slammed his gavel. "Silence!"

His gaze towards Fury was utterly cold. "Defendant Cooler Joseph Fury, your seditious speech ends here. Based on your crimes of conspiring with Valentina to develop illegal super soldiers and plotting actions that threaten global security and stability, this court hereby sentences you to life imprisonment! Immediately transfer to the Mariana Trench Prison!"

There is no opportunity for appeal.

The sound of the gavel falling brought a chilling end to Fury's era.

The heavy metal gate slammed shut behind Fury, severing the last glimmer of light from the outside world.

Mariana Trench Prison, located beneath the deepest and darkest trench in the Pacific Ocean, is a graveyard specifically for hardened criminals with superpowers.

The damp, cold air, carrying a heavy, salty, and rusty smell, filled his nostrils. Fury took a deep breath of this suffocating air and walked to the only source of light in the center of the cramped cell—a dim white lamp.

"It came faster than I expected." Fury didn't turn around; his voice was unusually clear and calm in the empty, silent cell.

Behind him, the thick shadows, impenetrable by the light, seemed to come alive, silently twisting and stretching. Two figures emerged from the darkness like ink, completely solidifying into form.

Vergil, with snow-white hair and pupils that gleamed coldly in the dim light, casually rested his right hand on the hilt of the Yamato at his waist. Beside him stood Madara Uchiha, his Rinnegan shimmering with a faint, deep purple light in the shadows, his crimson Sharingan appearing and disappearing in the shadows.

"Looks like I guessed right," Fury slowly turned halfway around, his single eye sharply sweeping over the two of them, a knowing, relieved smile creeping onto his lips. "He's not like any of the 'heroes' I've ever known. He's more like a chess player behind the board. Magneto? The Brotherhood of Mutants? Those so-called 'villains,' aren't they... also pawns on his chessboard?"

"On the surface, he is a righteous Arbitrators, passionate, just, and kind. The fanaticism and selflessness he displays in order to eliminate the enemy threatening Blue Planet are all just a facade, aren't they?"

Fury chuckled as he said this, "I really underestimated Chen Tian. I never imagined that a young man in his early twenties could simultaneously control both light and darkness."

"Vergil, you're the one who rescued Erik and Logan from the Hydra Base in the Arctic, aren't you?"

Vergil and Ban remained silent, like two statues.

There were no words, no movements. Only a murderous intent, almost solidified into liquid, permeated and froze in the cold air of the narrow cell.

But this deathly silence itself is the loudest answer.

Fury's smile deepened, carrying a weariness and relief that came from knowing everything. "Heh... as expected. That kid was really good at hiding his true intentions... even better than me..." He sighed, as if a thousand-pound shackle had been removed, and his body relaxed a little.

He stopped looking at the two men and instead looked up at the cold alloy ceiling of the cell, as if trying to pierce through the earth and see the sky he had sworn to protect. "Do it. Give me a quick death. Don't keep him waiting too long."

Madara's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spun silently. Suddenly, a crimson light ignited and exploded in Fury's single eye!

Fury's expression froze instantly.

There were no flashing swords, no flying blood. In the depths of Fury's consciousness, that absolutely real illusion instantly Descent.

He "saw" Black Widow Natasha's mocking smile as she plunged a deadly poison needle into his carotid artery; he "saw" Captain America Steve Rogers, his eyes cold as ice, as he brought his Vibranium Shield down on his head; he even "saw" Maria Hill, his most trusted aide, personally altering S.H.I.E.L.D..'s top directives, labeling him a traitor...

Scene after scene, all of them were betrayals and torn apart by the people he trusted and relied on most in his life, in the most direct and cruel way!

Every betrayal felt like a hammer blow to the heart, and every "death" brought suffocating despair and boundless rage!

A real physiological reaction instantly swept through my entire body!

Blood pressure soared wildly like an out-of-control Rocket, tearing apart the fragile blood vessel walls; the heart pounded wildly and irregularly in the chest cavity, each beat bringing excruciating pain, as if it were about to explode at any moment!

His face instantly turned from ashen to a terrifying purplish-brown, his breathing became rapid like a broken bellows, each inhale accompanied by a burning pain in his lungs, and each exhale was accompanied by a dying hoarse sound.

The immense mental shock and the extreme physical pain intertwined, assaulting his already overburdened nerves!

"Uh... gulp... pfft--"

Fury's body stiffened abruptly, as if struck by a giant hammer, and he convulsed violently.

A mouthful of blood with a sweet, metallic taste spurted uncontrollably from his mouth, splashing onto the cold floor and forming a small, dark red stain.

The crimson light in his eyes suddenly went out as if the power had been cut off, his pupils dilated and went out of focus, and the flame of life was completely extinguished within them.

His body lost all support and, like a piece of rotten wood that had been cut down, fell straight and heavily forward, crashing onto the cold, hard ground with a dull thud.

Vergil's cold gaze swept over the lifeless body on the ground, as if he were looking at a piece of trash.

The Yamato silently returned to its sheath, emitting a very faint "clang".

He turned around, and his figure vanished without a trace, like a drop of water disappearing into the darkness.

Madara gave the corpse on the ground one last indifferent glance, and his scarlet Sharingan slowly closed.

The black vortex spun and expanded silently beside him, and the next second, his figure completely disappeared from the spot.

In the cell, only Fury's body remained, lying silently on the cold floor, a pool of dark red blood slowly congealing below his mouth and nose.

The dim light made the death seem all the more lonely and cheap.

Three days later.

"Breaking news," the dignified female anchor announced on the television screen, her tone heavy with a formulaic tone, "Nick Fury, former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.., sentenced to life imprisonment at Mariana Trench Prison for treason and multiple felonies, was found dead in his solitary confinement cell three days ago. According to the preliminary autopsy report and prison surveillance records, Fury's cause of death was a sudden, massive myocardial infarction complicated by a cerebral hemorrhage... The time of death was approximately late three days ago... There were no signs of forced entry or struggle at the scene... Experts analyze that the immense mental stress and psychological burden he had endured for a long time were likely the main cause of his sudden death..."

Arbitrators' headquarters, in a brightly lit lounge.

Coulson stood quietly in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, holding a steaming cup of coffee.

Outside the window is the bustling and orderly Arbitrators Base, where aircraft take off and land silently, and industrial robots are busy moving S.W.O.R.D.'s data.

The news anchor's voice continued on the television, calmly announcing Fury's fate.

Coulson's face remained expressionless, but a complex and unfathomable emotion flickered deep within his eyes before finally settling into a silent undercurrent.

He picked up his coffee, took a sip, and the warm liquid slid down his throat.

Setting down the cup, Coulson pointed his fingers toward his chest.

There hung a badge belonging to the now-defunct S.W.O.R.D.. His fingertips paused for a moment on the cold metal badge, then without hesitation, he ripped it off forcefully—

Sizzle!

The badge was torn off cleanly, the pin on the back scraping against the fabric with a soft sound.

He pulled a brand new badge from the inside pocket of his uniform.

The silver base features the Arbitrators's simple yet powerful symbol at the center—a sword in front, with Blue Planet and a ring symbolizing inclusion and connection behind.

The metal gleamed with a fresh, resolute sheen in the light streaming in from the window.

Click.

Coulson carefully and neatly pinned the Arbitrators's badge to his chest, replacing the blank space.

His movements were fluid and without the slightest hesitation. He casually tossed the torn-off old badge of the S.W.O.R.D. into the nearby trash can, making a slight clattering sound, like the lingering echo of an old era being completely discarded.

He straightened his collar, turned around, and called out in a deep voice towards the door, "Come in."

With a soft click, the heavy door slid open. Light flooded in, illuminating several familiar faces in the doorway.

Melinda May was the first to step in, her sharp lines accentuated by her black tactical uniform. Her gaze, sharp as an eagle's, first swept over Coulson's brand-new Arbitrators badge before settling on his face, a hint of sneer in her voice, "The Champion who switched sides? You moved fast enough. How much did Coulson Stark offer? How much of a raise did you get?"

The complex heaviness on Coulson's face was instantly replaced by a helpless smile, "May, can't you care about something else? Like, the new boss's benefits are really good?"

"Benefits?" May snorted, walked to the side and stood against the wall, arms crossed, her gaze sweeping across the entire office as she habitually assessed the environment. "I only care if the issued equipment is the latest Stark Industries model."

Following May in was Monica Rambo, dressed in a smart dark blue uniform. Her eyes were calm and powerful. When she saw the badge on Coulson's chest, she nodded slightly, everything understood without saying a word.

The scientists, Fitz and Simmons, appeared both excited and nervous. Fitz adjusted his glasses, his eyes sparkling with curiosity about the unknown technology, while Simmons wore a gentle smile, though his eyes also held anticipation for the future.

The last to enter was Meli, the former assistant trained by Fury at the S.W.O.R.D.. Her expression was the most complex, carrying a scrutinizing look and a hint of tension.

"Alright, don't stand there, find a place to sit," Coulson said, the atmosphere easing slightly thanks to May's blunt teasing.

He picked up the document that had been prepared beforehand from the desk and walked to the center of the office.

"I know everyone has questions," Coulson said, waving the tablet in his hand. "To be honest, I was stunned myself when I received the appointment notification from Tony Stark."

He chuckled, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice, "After all, jumping from the nearly dismantled S.W.O.R.D. to the thriving core department of the Arbitrators is indeed a rather large step."

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the tablet in his hand.

"However, they're offering real money, which shows their sincerity." He swiped his finger across the screen, and several virtual documents were instantly projected in front of everyone, hovering precisely.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the projection.

The document's title is concise and cold, yet carries a heavy weight:

Arbitrator Alliance Intelligence Department (AID) - Core Architecture and S-Level Permissions Explanation

"AID?" Fitz blurted out instinctively, his eyes widening suddenly. He snatched the light screen floating in front of him and his fingers flew across the screen.

"My God! Unlimited access?! Including Stark Industries' S-level database?! Including Wakanda's Vibranium Technology archives?! This... this level of access..."

Fitz's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

Simmons quickly scanned the documents, then gasped, "Not only... but also observation rights to the Global Defense System? Access to intelligence below SS level on the Watcher Platform? This... this scope of authority..."

Monica Rambo's expression turned extremely serious. She asked in a deep voice, "Coulson, this authority... is practically equivalent to having the eyes and ears of the entire planet. What exactly does Stark... or rather, the Arbitrator Alliance, want us to do?"

Meli also raised her head, her voice calm. "This level of authority probably corresponds to an equivalent level of responsibility, right?"

Coulson didn't answer immediately. He walked to his desk and gently put down the tablet he was holding.

Click.

With a soft sound, a faint blue light suddenly shone in the center of the table!

The light rippled outwards like water, instantly forming a suspended, slowly rotating three-dimensional holographic projection—the silver Arbitrators's Badge: a sharp sword in front, and an invisible ring symbolizing the protection of the Blue Planet behind, radiating a majestic aura.

The light in the entire office seemed to be drawn away by the floating badge, and everyone's eyes were fixed on it.

Coulson extended his finger, hovering an inch below the tip of the spinning sword, without actually touching it, yet it felt as if there was an invisible force connecting them.

He raised his head, the smile vanishing from his face, replaced by a hawk-like sharpness and a sense of mission as calm as an abyss.

His gaze swept over every old subordinate and every new member. His voice wasn't loud, but it struck each person's eardrums clearly, carrying a firm tone:

"Do what?"

The Arbitrators's badge beneath his fingertips seemed to sense his will, its spinning suddenly accelerating, the cold glint of the sword flashing even more blindingly.

"From this moment forward, we, AID, will be the eyes, ears, and brain of the Arbitrators!"

"We will not participate in the fighting on the battlefield, but we will see the enemy's claws emerging from the shadows!"

"We do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, but we want to hear about any conspiracies that threaten the security of Blue Planet!"

"We must unravel every mystery, anticipate every crisis, and control the flow of all crucial information!"

Coulson's voice suddenly rose, becoming resolute:

"The era of Fury is over!"

"From today onwards--"

His fingertips pressed down sharply, as if branding the badge, which symbolized supreme power and responsibility, into the Void!

"We are the eyes of the world! We will light the way in the darkness!"

Coulson's words, "We are the light in the darkness!" still echoed in the holographic projection, showing his face, brimming with a sense of mission, so striking it could be a recruitment ad.

"Puff--!!!"

Tony didn't waste a drop of coffee; he sprayed it all over the gleaming desktop and the floating screen.

"Cough cough cough... Damn it!" He wiped his mouth haphazardly, stared wide-eyed at the screen as if he'd seen an alien, and turned to yell at the person behind the desk, "Listen to this! Chen Tian! Listen to this! Did I say something wrong back then? Coulson?! That Coulson with the weird smile?! How could he say such... such lines from a hot-blooded manga?! Is he possessed by something strange?"

He gripped the back of his head tightly, a look of utter disbelief and absurdity on his face.

Behind his desk, Chen Tian nestled comfortably in his high-backed chair, his feet propped up on the smooth surface.

A loose, black eye patch covered his eyes, but the lower half of his face wore a lazy, roguish smile.

A delicate metal pen twirled nimbly between his slender fingers, so fast it almost left a blur, emitting a soft "whoosh" sound.

Hearing Tony's scream, he didn't even flinch, only his smile widened slightly. "Hmm? That's good. It's a good thing they're motivated. It saves us the trouble of worrying about them. It's good to give them something to do, so they don't get bored out of their minds."

Tony rolled his Byakugan at his listless demeanor. "Fine, you're right."

His gaze swept over Chen Tian, then over 2B, who was standing quietly behind Chen Tian's chair.

The robot girl had impeccably styled short, silver-white hair, a delicate face devoid of expression, and icy blue eyes that calmly gazed into the air ahead.

Tony's gaze finally landed on a row of pale blue light screens floating above Chen Tian's desk.

The screens displayed complex charts and text in a very strange state—they were densely covered with various precise electronic dots, outlines, notes, and even strong, sharp electronic signatures!

Tony squinted, then suddenly pointed a finger at one of the light screens. "Hey! Chen Tian! Explain yourself! I brought you here to be the 'commander in charge' and handle affairs! Not to dump all the 'commander' work on 2B! Look at these annotations! These signatures! They're all in YoRHa-style data stream font! Do you think I'm blind?!"

He forcefully poked his finger at a freshly signed, sharply defined electronic signature on the screen.

Chen Tian's pen-twirling motion abruptly stopped. He tapped the tip of his pen on the black blindfold covering his face, his expression a mixture of innocence and righteous indignation. "Please, boss! I'm blind! Really blind! I can't see the screen! Have my 2B 'read' the content for me, isn't that reasonable? Don't you understand workers' compensation benefits?" He even deliberately dragged out the words, "Workers' compensation—benefits—"

"Reasonable my foot!" Tony was so angry he almost jumped up and down, pointing at 2B, "'Read' the content?! You call this 'reading'?! She just approved it! Signed it! This is called substitute work! This is called... this is called workers' compensation fraud!"

He was so angry he was almost incoherent, "Do you think my Friday is just for show? Can't I just have it give you voice commands? Do I have to use a combat robot to process official documents?!"

2B's gaze seemed to glance very slightly in Tony's direction before quickly returning to her perfect standby posture, as if she wasn't the one who had just been accused of "usurping" power.

Chen Tian chuckled, swinging his feet more comfortably on the table. "Oh, Stark, you don't understand. 2B 'reads' with feeling, it's efficient, and it can even help me analyze the pros and cons. F.R.I.D.A.Y.? It's too AI-like, cold and uninteresting. Besides," he swiped across the table, activating a new floating light screen report, and "snap" its data stream in front of 2B, "2B, come on, show the boss what efficient collaborative work under 'work injury benefits' really looks like."

"Yes, Master." 2B's cool and steady voice rang out, and she began browsing the light screen in front of her without hesitation.

Her pupils instantly lit up with a rich blue light, and her fingertips swept rapidly through the Void, creating wisps of data light.

She read out lines of complex text clearly, steadily, and without any inflection. At the same time, precise electronic annotations, highlighted symbols, and even concise and powerful analytical points next to key paragraphs appeared on the screen as if by magic, following the path traced by her fingertips!

Tony stared in disbelief at the scene before him. The troublesome report, which he had originally planned to argue about for at least half a day, was processed and annotated at an astonishing speed under 2B's emotionless "reading" and Chen Tian's occasional brief instructions such as "reject," "add money," and "let them go argue with XXXX."

"Efficiency... is really high..." Tony muttered to himself, rubbing his temples, feeling his capitalist bottom line being challenged and tempted like never before.

He looked at Chen Tian's smug "Look how convenient this is!" expression, then at the incredibly efficient idiot, and finally could only wave his hand helplessly, resignedly sitting back on the sofa. "Fine, fine... workers' compensation benefits... workers' compensation benefits... you win! Damn it! Why did I agree to let you sit in the office?! It was like inviting a wolf into the house! No, it was like inviting a master back to serve!"

Just then, 2B's cool voice rang out again, interrupting Tony's rambling. "Master, Stark, it's lunchtime. Today's chef's recommendation: grilled Kobe beef with black truffle sauce, or braised beef noodles with double Nick Fury and beef brisket."

The office fell silent instantly.

Tony's complaint got stuck in his throat, his expression contorted.

Chen Tian's roguish grin widened instantly. He sniffed loudly, put his feet off the table, and excitedly slapped the armrest. "Alright! This is it! Beef noodles! Double Nick Fury, double beef brisket! Extra spicy! Let's go!"

He very consciously reached out his hand towards 2B.

2B skillfully stepped forward, bent slightly, and slipped her arms under Chen Tian's armpits and knees, easily scooping up her absent-minded boss, Master, in a standard princess carry.

"Hey! Chen Tian! The report isn't finished being approved yet! You..." Tony shouted in vain.

"Food is the most important thing for people! Tony! Nothing is more important than eating! Work injury benefits, you know?" Chen Tian was comfortably held, his head resting on 2B's shoulder, his voice lazily drifting back from the doorway, "I'll come back during afternoon tea time to 'review' the report!"

The door slid open silently and closed silently.

Tony was left alone, staring at his half-cold cup of coffee and the perfectly annotated but irritating digital report floating on the table, lost in deep thought: Should I also create an efficient, intelligent robot to help me review documents?