Planning Together, Ready to Strike Back

The frost in his palm exploded, like a cluster of white thorns suddenly bursting open, shooting straight to his head. The dark figure leaping down from the ventilation duct was hit head-on by the cold air, his movements abruptly halting, his entire body frozen in mid-air for a fraction of a second—in that instant, Tony had already reacted, a miniature chaff ejected from the shoulder of his armor, exploding with a "snap" at the edge of the ventilation duct, the strong magnetic force instantly locking the metal frame, sealing the passage tightly.

Thor leaped up almost simultaneously, raising his warhammer high, and a bolt of lightning struck down, hitting the outer wall of the ventilation duct. The entire duct emitted a piercing twisting sound and was welded directly to the ceiling.

"It's clean now." Thor landed, flicking the arcs of electricity off his Hammerhead. "Was that Ultron's Pathfinder? Or his new clown?"

"I don't know." Ye Mo took a breath, slowly straightening up by supporting himself on his left knee. His right Steel Bone was still screaming, but thankfully it didn't fall apart on the spot. "Anyway, I didn't come here to deliver takeout."

Captain America strode forward, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Everyone's here. Now's not the time for details. What's the progress on Ultron's repair?"

"More than 80%." Ye Mo wiped the dust off his face, walked to the remaining control panel, and pointed his finger. A holographic projection popped up on the ground, showing Ultron's energy flow diagram. "The red heart in its chest is the main core, but its left arm cannon relies on dual batteries on its side for power. I discovered during our fight that if the power supply chain is interrupted, its firepower drops by half."

"So you're planning to attack the flank first?" Hawkeye crouched on the south steel beam, his arrow already drawn, his eyes fixed on the Ultron's rear interface area.

"Yes." Ye Mo nodded. "A direct confrontation is too tough; we'll be at a disadvantage if we go head-to-head. It's better to cripple one of its arms first, then find an opportunity to dismantle its core."

Tony leaned closer, stared at the projection for two seconds, and frowned. "But its energy array has a dynamic shield that ordinary attacks can't penetrate."

"Then let's not use the ordinary ones." Ye Mo raised his hand, and a thin layer of frost condensed on his palm again. Then he slowly injected cold air into the Steel Bone Structure of his right leg. A layer of white frost quickly formed on the metal surface, making a slight "crackling" sound, as if the low temperature made the molecular structure more brittle.

He turned and walked toward a broken conduit model beside him—a piece of equipment that had been blown away in the previous battle—raised his leg, and kicked it out.

"Bang!"

The catheter shattered instantly, the break as clean as if it had been cut with a knife.

"See that?" Ye Mo retracted his leg. "Ice Manipulation combined with Steel Bone creates localized ultra-low temperature embrittlement. I don't need to pierce it completely; just inducing a brittle fracture at a critical point will cut off the energy supply."

There was a moment of silence.

"That move of yours..." Tony squinted, "Why didn't you mention it during the last fight?"

"I didn't figure it out last time." Ye Mo shrugged. "I had a flash of inspiration five minutes ago, a skill tree I was forced to create in a life-or-death situation. Who would understand it?"

"I like this plan," Thor grinned. "It's a last-minute idea, prone to failure, but also exciting."

"This isn't about provocation," Captain America interrupted, his voice steady. "This is the most feasible breakthrough right now. Ultron won't give us a second chance."

He looked at everyone. "Listen up, we're not here to dismantle machines, we're here to end the threat. Everyone, form groups according to your abilities and act in unison."

No one spoke, only the occasional crackling sound of power lines in the distance.

"Tony and Ye Mo form the frontal assault team," Captain America ordered. "You two are responsible for drawing fire and breaching the defenses. Remember, Ye Mo's target is the flank power supply chain, not a direct assault on the core."

"Understood." Tony nodded, and the armored thrusters began to warm up, a hum gradually rising.

"Thor, use your lightning to disrupt the circuitry, create chaos, and jeopardize its data synchronization," Captain America continued. "Its shields have recharge intervals; you need to time it perfectly."

"Precise as a storm." Thor raised his warhammer, arcs of electricity crackling around it, illuminating half of his face.

"Black Widow, Hawkeye, you two sneak up the flank." Captain America turned to higher ground. "Find an opportunity to disrupt the backup wiring and sensor nodes. Once it has a defensive vulnerability, finish it off immediately."

"Roger that." Black Widow's voice came from above, and she slightly adjusted the angle of her sniper rifle.

"I'll keep an eye on its head sensors," Hawkeye added. "EMP arrows are ready."

"I'll take charge of command and support." Captain America, holding his Vibranium Shield, stood in the center. "Everyone, keep your channels open and wait for my signal to launch the final assault."

Ye Mo listened to the division of labor and looked down to check the condition of his right leg. The Steel Bone shell was cracked in three places, and the power output was still unstable, but the structure strengthened by low temperature could hold for the time being. He tried to take a couple of steps, and although he was a little limping, it was not a burden.

"Are you alright?" Tony asked in a low voice, his eyes filled with doubt.

"It has to work, even if it doesn't work." Ye Mo smiled. "Otherwise, are you planning to carry me up there?"

"I'm not afraid you'll fall," Tony said. "I'm afraid you'll say 'It's okay' at the crucial moment, and then we'll both blow up."

"Don't worry." Ye Mo patted his shoulder. "Don't believe anything I say this time, just treat it like nonsense."

"So what you just said about 'a flash of inspiration' was also fake?"

"That's true." Ye Mo blinked. "The system didn't teach me how to freeze iron into dust."

Tony snorted, brought up the bracelet projection, and began calibrating the armor's energy distribution.

Ye Mo looked up and around. The seven people in the ruins were each in their positions, behind cover, on steel beams, and beside broken walls, all in combat stance. There was no panic, no argument, not even a few unnecessary words. Everyone knew their place and what they were supposed to do.

This feeling is different from when I was carrying it all alone before.

Back then, he always felt like an unlucky transmigrator who had to rely on the system for everything. Now he realizes that the system's greatest achievement wasn't giving him any new abilities, but rather bringing him into contact with this group of people.

"Hey," Tony suddenly spoke up, "What are you grinning about again?"

"It's nothing," Ye Mo said, pulling himself out of his thoughts. "It's just that I feel our lineup looks pretty good."

"Of course they are." Tony glanced at him. "After all, they're both unlucky souls chosen by fate."

"You were chosen too?"

"I only woke up after being blown into a cave by a missile," Tony said, shrugging. "Isn't that terrible?"

"Then you awakened twenty years earlier than me." Ye Mo chuckled. "Senior, please enlighten me."

"Don't give me that." Tony rolled his eyes. "If you can't walk anymore later, I'll shove you into the armored co-pilot's cockpit and use you as a living ballast."

"You dare." Ye Mo pretended to kick him, but her right leg buckled and she almost did a split on the spot.

Tony grabbed his arm. "Alright, stop being stubborn. If you really can't take it, just call it a day. Nobody'll laugh at you."

"I know." Ye Mo steadied himself and exhaled a puff of white breath. "But I can't stop. If I stop, the people behind me won't be able to push forward."

Tony looked at him, then nodded after a few seconds. "Fine, you win."

The two stood side by side behind the western bunker, their armor and Steel Bone frame side by side, one gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, the other covered in dark, frosty patterns.

Captain America stood in the center, shield held horizontally, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "One last check of their condition. Anyone still able to fight, raise your hand."

Seven hands rose in unison.

"Okay." Captain America put away his shield. "Everyone, to your positions, remain silent, and wait for my signal."

The order was given, and the team quickly returned to their positions. Thor retreated to the open area on the east side, his warhammer half a foot off the ground, lightning crackling around him; Black Widow moved to a higher vantage point, her sniper rifle locked onto the interface on Ultron's back; Hawkeye crouched low, his EMP arrow nocked, forming a crossfire with Black Widow; Tony's thrusters hummed softly, his armor fully activated, his mask closing; Ye Mo stood beside him, his left hand hidden behind his back, quietly pressing the last bit of cold energy into his palm.

On the monitor screen, Ultron's figure stood silently, the red light on its chest flashing faster, the muzzle of its left arm slowly unfolding, and the energy conduit beginning to charge.

"It moved," Hawkeye whispered.

"Then let's strike first." Captain America's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, "Everyone, listen up—"

Ye Mo took a deep breath. Although his right leg was still giving him warning signs, his spirits lifted.

"Prepare."

No one spoke; only the hum of the equipment and the crackling of distant electrical fluctuations filled the air.

He stared at the red dot on the screen, his mind replaying the series of actions he had just witnessed—sending a signal, waiting for backup, his teammates bursting through the door one by one...

He used to think of himself as a lone hero, but now he stands here surrounded by people who would take a knife for him.

"I used to think of myself as an unlucky transmigrator who had to rely on the system for everything," he suddenly said in a low voice. "But now I realize that the system's most amazing achievement was bringing me together with you all."

Tony glanced at him sideways. "That's touching. I suggest recording it and showing it at the memorial service."

"Get lost," Ye Mo said with a laugh.

Captain America raised his shield and shouted, "Action!"

Tony's thrusters ignited with a roar, Iron Man Armor shot into the sky, heading straight for Ultron.

Thor swung his warhammer, and lightning struck, hitting the ground's electrical circuits.

Black Widow and Hawkeye fired simultaneously, their EMP arrows and sniper bullets crisscrossing.

Captain America's shield flew out of his hand, heading straight for Ultron's head sensor.

Ye Mo gritted his teeth, dragged his right leg, and rushed out of the cover. The Steel Bone Structure was running at full power, and cold air burst out from his palms, rushing straight towards the energy node on the side of Ultron.

Seven figures unfolded amidst the ruins, launching a relentless attack.

Ultron flashed a red light, signaling the start of a response.

Ye Mo charged ahead, almost touching the energy conduit—

The ventilation ducts overhead suddenly vibrated violently, and metal bolts flew off one after another.