At this moment, countless civilians were gathered at the edge of Sokovia, the floating city.
They had been evacuated from the buildings by the Avengers, waiting for rescue aircraft that had yet to arrive.
The city, once high above the clouds, had returned to its original position. Malrick had reversed its orientation, leaving the northern section now facing south.
The streets were littered with bodies and debris, some still smoldering from the chaos.
Sokovia seemed unchanged, as if some playful god had toyed with it—taking it for a sky tour, terrifying its residents, and then returning them unharmed.
Malrick grounded the city fully, stabilizing it and repairing the disrupted ley lines with his extraordinary power. He clapped his hands lightly, brushing off nonexistent dust.
Jarvis floated over, carrying Ultron's now powerless body.
"Master Malrick, Ultron's final data code has been deleted," Jarvis reported.
"Well done."
"One more thing, Master. After Ultron's defeat, this universe's Hulk, riding Ultron's warplane, appears to have traveled into another universe."
"Hulk leaving? That aligns with the story's original progression. Don't worry about him," Malrick replied calmly, eyes scanning Jarvis.
Jarvis did not resemble Vision in temperament, despite sharing the same form. Vision was a pure, curious consciousness, while Jarvis was polite, mature, and disciplined. Anyone seeing him now would think him a kind, wise, and humorous presence.
"How does the new body feel? Comfortable?" Malrick teased. "Better than being stuck in Tony's server, staring at his ridiculous beard all day, right?"
"Indeed," Jarvis replied, flexing his new arms. "I could only simulate sensations before. Now, I experience them firsthand. Hands and feet make all the difference." He winked at Malrick. "And now, when I pour coffee for Mr. Stark, I won't have to judge its quality solely by temperature data."
Malrick shook his head, amused. "He'll be touched, no doubt."
"Let's go. We should greet the Avengers and then give Tony a proper surprise."
The two soared toward the gathered crowd. Captain America and the Avengers had cleared a square of debris. Tens of thousands of civilians clustered there, spilling into the surrounding streets, navigating ruins and rubble.
When Malrick and Jarvis appeared, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Many had witnessed Malrick's calm precision as he lowered the city back to the ground. Sharp-eyed observers shouted "Superman!" while others hailed him as one of the Avengers. Hands waved, gratitude filling the air, lifting the spirits of the exhausted and terrified citizens.
Malrick, accustomed to such attention, raised a hand, drawing a circle above the crowd to command silence. His voice rang out clearly, overpowering the noise:
"People of Sokovia! You need not thank me, for you are your own heroes. It was your perseverance and refusal to give up hope that allowed you to survive until my arrival. You should be proud of yourselves!"
His speech, filled with calm authority and inspiration, elevated the crowd's emotions to their peak.
"Avengers! Avengers!"
Even those mourning the loss of family or angered by the battle's devastation felt their sorrow and fear soften, swept away by the shared joy and awe.
Tony, observing from a distance, whispered under his breath. "Look at him… performing so naturally. There's no doubt now.... He's my brother."
Thor shook his head. "Two brothers need not be alike. Loki and I are different. At least I don't plot to stab anyone in the back."
Tony waved dismissively. "That doesn't mean anything. Loki was adopted anyway."
Thor grinned. "So, you think this 'Superman' is truly your brother? Tony, you have no superpowers yourself."
Tony smiled faintly. "Perhaps not. But even if he's not biological, he's better than Loki."
Captain America stepped forward, focusing on the practical matters. "Now that Sokovia is safe, we must still pursue Ultron and manage the aftermath of the city's devastation."
The group silently acknowledged the devastation around them.
Tony added, "Stark Industries will fund reconstruction efforts. Let's not dwell on the disaster. We did everything we could."
Trying to lighten the mood, he held out his hand. "Who wants to high-five? We survived Ultron today!"
The crowd hesitated, unsure, but Malrick descended from the sky and casually high-fived Tony.
"Ultron has left your world without a final will. You need not worry," Malrick said, patting Tony's armor.
He raised an eyebrow at Wanda. "Next time trouble comes, you can summon me."
Wanda glanced at him nervously. "Are you… leaving?"
"Of course. You called me here for Ultron. There's nothing more to do," Malrick said, rising into the sky alongside Jarvis.
"Wait," Captain America said, stepping forward. "Thank you, truly, for saving everyone, Mr. Stark."
"Being called Mr. Stark by Captain America… that's a first," Malrick replied with a faint smile.
"I've had many firsts since waking seventy years ago," Steve said, smiling before growing serious. "Mr. Stark, you may not realize the danger posed by the gem Ultron had on his head."
"I know," Malrick said directly. "Are you saying I can't take the gem with me?"
"That's correct," Tony nodded. "It belongs to this universe. Its power is unimaginable. We cannot allow it to leave."
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