The concert had ended, but the joyful mood quickly turned into doubt and worry after the sudden bad news.
A few phone calls were all it took to confirm it—something had really happened in New York. And not just any incident—an alien invasion. The audience instantly grew anxious, with some people trying to leave immediately.
Thankfully, Elsa cooled the temperature of the snowy dome to help calm everyone down.
Pepper Pots walked onstage and said, "The situation has stabilized. Please don't panic. For those who want to leave, we'll clear the roads as quickly as possible. But for now, please remain calm. We'll keep you updated with firsthand information. Trust in Stark Industries."
"I understand everyone's worried about their families," she continued. "But if you all rush out at once, it'll only add to the chaos. Please stay calm—everything will be okay." Pepper was worried about Tony too. But right now, she had to hold everything together. She knew exactly how the crowd felt.
With Elsa's low-temperature calming tactic working, the crowd finally settled down. People started calling their families to check on them. Those who had come with loved ones held each other tightly, grateful they were safe.
Volunteers stepped up, and the concert grounds returned to order.
Still, due to the alien attack, Elsa's originally planned three-day concert had to end early.
Some attendees chose to head home, but not in a panicked rush. Instead, they lined up in an orderly fashion. Once they saw the damaged roads, the crushed vehicles, and the wounded crying out for help, they realized it was all real. And when they saw the giant alien creature Spider-Man had trapped, they were completely shocked. But right after that, someone got out and started taking photos.
A few fearless young people, upon learning that a real live alien had been captured, ran straight over to take selfies and group shots. It was their first time seeing an alien up close, and they didn't care at all about exposure to alien viruses. No protection, no caution—just face-to-face interaction.
Liu A'dou watched these young people and could only shake his head. 'Reckless,' he thought. But if they wanted photos, they had to hurry. S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably turn this whole area into a quarantine zone soon.
"Photos are fine—just don't block the road," Spider-Man said. He liked photography too, so he understood why people were excited to see an alien. He waved his arms to help the cars reroute around the scene.
Meanwhile, Mary and Harry were both looking for him. Harry had even asked his father to send a helicopter.
"Parker, where are you?" Harry called.
Spider-Man held the phone between his face and shoulder and replied, "Out here checking out aliens. Don't wait up—I'll bring back photos."
Hearing Peter was okay, they relaxed. Still, the alien stuff sounded exciting. They decided to go see for themselves by chopper.
Norman Osborn came in person to pick up his son, making him the first scientist to see a live alien. Without hesitation, he left his son behind and landed immediately, calling in his company's research team. He wanted to get a jump on the government and start examining the creature right away. This was pure, uncontrollable scientific curiosity at work.
So he sent Harry home on his own. Norman was staying to begin his research.
Liu A'dou watched as the helicopter landed and thought, 'Perfect timing. I've still got two critical patients to move.' A sharply dressed middle-aged man stepped out, his hair slicked back with gel, wearing a silver-gray suit that clearly came from a top-tier tailor.
Liu A'dou eyed the chopper with interest. He didn't yet realize that the man in front of him would one day become the Green Goblin. He just figured he was an Osborn Corp executive. The company's logo on the helicopter confirmed it.
Liu A'dou walked straight up to Norman but was stopped by bodyguards.
"Sir, we have two critically injured patients who can't handle rough transport. I wanted to ask if we could use your helicopter to get them out safely," Liu A'dou explained.
Norman glanced around at the wreckage on the road. It was truly a mess. He didn't need the chopper right now anyway. He planned to stay until his security team arrived.
"Of course. I'll have the pilot assist you," Norman said. He had already completely forgotten about his son.
"Much appreciated." Liu A'dou called over a middle-aged woman with solid medical experience to accompany the patients, while he stayed behind to keep managing the scene.
Meanwhile, Norman called his son. "I'm busy. Not coming to get you. Head home on your own."
Harry was speechless. They'd come with a driver, and now with the roads trashed, he'd hoped to get home by helicopter. Guess not.
"Why don't we just stay here tonight?" Mary suggested. She had already confirmed her family was safe, so there was no rush. Spending the night on-site sounded fine.
Harry looked up. The sky had already gone dark. They decided to make do. Stark Industries had acted fast, moving supplies from a nearby city. In just three hours, they delivered enough materials for several thousand people. It was a clear show of Stark's wealth and capability.
It was bound to be a restless night—the first night after the battle.
Military units combed through New York, hunting down surviving Chitauri. Bit by bit, they figured out how these aliens worked. With enough firepower, Chitauri weren't invincible. Gotta admit—they were tough. Every one of them fought to the death. None ran. None hid.
Even after dark, gunfire could still be heard. Each shot a sign of human resistance—and victory.
"Loki, you can't run anymore," Thor said, staring down his brother. "Since you gave us the key to shut down the portal, I'll plead with Father to go easy on you."
The Avengers had surrounded Loki, who stood unarmed. He kept a smirk on his face, but inside he was cursing like mad. 'Thor, you really think you can sway Odin? Dream on. If I get captured, it's life in a cell—forever.'
"I am a god!" Loki straightened up and declared proudly, like he was ready for one final stand. "No mere mortal shall touch me!"
"Nobody hold me back. I'm kicking his ass," Tony snapped. He hadn't forgotten how Loki had messed with his mind.
"Hulk!" Hulk also stepped forward, fists itching to smash.
Thor sighed. "Loki, face it. I can't protect you anymore."
Then Hulk slammed the ground. The concrete cracked and crumbled like paper.
Loki froze. That green monster's punch was no joke. He sucked in a breath. "I surrender." Sometimes, you just have to face the facts. Loki wasn't a brave warrior—he hated pain.
"Loki?" Thor had hoped his brother would show some dignity. Instead, Loki folded instantly. What a disgrace to Asgard.
But this wasn't over. Not yet. The night had only just begun.
Across New York, government agencies and citizens alike were about to kick off a new competition: who could grab the most alien tech before it all got scooped up?
Tonight, nobody was sleeping.