"No, no, no, you've got it wrong," Black Adam sneered, his tone dismissive as he responded to Pietro's threat. "It's not releasing him that will give me a way out—it's keeping him in my grasp that ensures my survival."
"I don't know how powerful your Avengers truly are," Black Adam continued, "but I do know that if you don't take down this green barrier, the strength of my grip will only increase. Don't even think about him saving himself—if he can't shout that word, he won't be able to regain the power of the gods. Do you really expect an ordinary human to escape my grasp alive?"
Frank's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed Black Adam's words. The revelation struck a nerve. It wasn't just that Black Adam was powerful—he clearly understood the intricacies of the Shazam power better than they did.
Frank had previously assumed that shouting "Shazam" was the sole trigger for reversing the transformation. But now it seemed that exposure to lightning-like energy, especially from a similar divine source, could forcibly cancel their transformations.
This weakness didn't apply to all the Avengers wielding Shazam power. Those like Pietro, Susan, and Steve had superhuman abilities even without the power of the gods. But for Frank and Harry, the situation was different. Without their Shazam forms, Frank was barely capable of taking on a single super-soldier, and Harry's base strength, though enhanced by the Spider Totem, was not enough to withstand threats like Black Adam.
The fight against Black Adam had exposed a vulnerability they hadn't fully considered. It was a lesson they would have to study and address later—testing whether it was specifically Shazam's lightning or any electrical energy that posed a risk.
"I have to say," Black Adam mocked, "for a group of people wielding this power, you've barely scratched the surface of what it can do." His disdain was palpable as he surveyed the group. "It's clear to me that you're unworthy of this strength. Why not give it to someone who would actually use it properly?"
"Ha! Look who's talking!" Frank snapped, his voice laced with scorn. "You're just an old relic who's had this power for centuries. Do you really think that's something to brag about? Were you even half as strong as me when you were my age?"
Frank's retort wasn't just a rebuttal—it was a tactic. He was deliberately engaging Black Adam in conversation to buy time for Pietro, Clark, or the Sentry to make a move and rescue Harry.
Black Adam glared at Frank, his voice dripping with condescension. "Living for centuries is a skill in itself. If you were born in my time, you wouldn't have survived to see this day. But you're trying to stall, aren't you? Such an obvious trick."
Black Adam's grip on Harry tightened as he continued, his tone threatening. "Let me make this clear: if you don't take down that green barrier, I'll kill this little one right here and now. One life for another—it's a fair trade."
In Black Adam's hand, Harry Osborn looked like a fragile child. Despite having gained some power from the Spider Totem, Harry's physique was nothing compared to the towering, muscle-bound Black Adam. The disparity was painfully evident, and Harry's odds of breaking free seemed nonexistent.
Steve Rogers stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. "There's no need for this to escalate. We can negotiate. But you have to understand—if we take down the barrier, there's no guarantee you won't escape with Harry."
Black Adam smirked, his eyes narrowing. "Escape? How would I disappear? Your speedster here—he could catch me in moments. No, I need more than just the barrier gone. I need you all to stay where you are and give me enough time to get away."
His voice turned cold. "If you don't give me that time, even if I release him, you'll still catch me. And in that case, I might as well take him down with me. I've lived for thousands of years—this isn't even my era anymore. If I die, so be it."
Despite his words, it was clear Black Adam was bargaining for his life. He wasn't eager to die—otherwise, he wouldn't be making demands.
"Releasing the barrier isn't the problem, but…" Steve began, but his voice trailed off as he turned sharply to look in another direction.
He wasn't alone. Nearly everyone present—except Harry—turned their gaze toward the horizon.
"What's that?" Black Adam's expression shifted to confusion as he spotted a group of hulking, monstrous figures flying toward them. Unlike the easily recognizable Kryptonian mech soldiers, these new creatures—Doomsday units—were far beyond his comprehension.
"Doomsday," Clark said quietly, his tone unreadable.
Black Adam frowned, his mind racing. "Doomsday? Is this another creation of that… Vought Group? If I didn't sense demonic energy from them, I'd think they were some kind of hellspawn."
He recalled the information he'd gleaned earlier, including the Kryptonian mech soldiers. The arrival of these Doomsday units added a new layer of uncertainty. Were they here for him? For the Avengers? Or for everyone present?
Unlike the mech soldiers, the Doomsday units vastly outnumbered the current group. Their sheer numbers suggested they were prepared to engage all targets simultaneously.
A booming, manic laugh echoed across the battlefield, emanating from the direction of the Doomsday units. It wasn't one of the creatures—it was a voice, human and triumphant.
"What a pleasant surprise!" the voice called out. "We came here hunting that new superhuman, and now we've stumbled upon Superman, the Sentry, and even the Avengers' long-lost Captain!"
The speaker's tone turned mockingly curious. "Sentry, why are you here with the Avengers? Did you leave Vought to join them? No wonder you've been fighting us—you were one of them all along!"
The Sentry's eyes narrowed as he listened. His voice was calm but edged with disdain. "I know that voice. Weren't you the one who nearly pissed yourself when I confronted you at Vought?"
The arrival of the Doomsday units marked a significant escalation. Unlike the mid-level operatives who previously commanded the mech soldiers, these new reinforcements were accompanied by high-ranking officials from Vought.
And Vought wasn't alone. The sighting of the Avengers—especially Steve Rogers—had sent ripples through the various factions that comprised Earth's shadowy institutions.
The Avengers' disappearance had been a source of paranoia for these groups. They had assumed the Avengers were biding their time, waiting to strike. Now, with their location exposed, the institutions saw an opportunity to strike first.
Within moments, news of the Avengers' presence spread like wildfire among the clandestine organizations. Each faction mobilized its forces, deploying their own Doomsday units in an unprecedented show of power.
Even with their internal rivalries and mistrust, the groups understood one thing: if they didn't act decisively against the Avengers now, they might never get another chance.
The battlefield was set. Black Adam, the Avengers, and the incoming waves of Doomsday units were all drawn into a web of conflicting agendas and raw power. In this chaotic storm, survival would demand every ounce of strength, strategy, and resolve.
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