Ashton's expression flickered with curiosity, a glint in his eyes that revealed far more knowledge than most people could imagine. He was well aware of the strange shifts happening across the Terra Federation. Ever since the Network had spread its influence, whispers had circulated of individuals who had awakened mysterious abilities in secret. Ashton himself had even witnessed one such person conjure a blazing fireball with a casual flick of their hand.
The memory of that moment had haunted him, fueling a relentless curiosity. He longed to acquire samples, blood, tissue, anything, to study these extraordinary beings and uncover the source of their power. But they were elusive. The awakened ones stayed hidden, shielding themselves behind a veil of secrecy, and no matter how Ashton dug for answers, he found no entry point.
Are those who capture memories and awaken special abilities fundamentally different from those who dwell within the divine realms? The question gnawed at him. He burned with the desire to study this mystery in depth, yet for now, he buried the thought deep within himself. Some secrets, he knew, were better left concealed, at least for a while.
Then, in an instant, Ashton shot to his feet. His abrupt movement startled the colleagues around him, sending a ripple of unease through the room.
At that very moment, across the entire Terra Federation, a collective cry rang out:
"It's over! The channel has been opened!"
"F**k!"
The live broadcast counter skyrocketed in mere seconds, viewers flooding the stream in a frenzy until the numbers surged to a staggering 180 million. All eyes were locked on the unfolding chaos displayed in the feed.
[ On the platform atop Stark Tower, Dr. Eric's carefully tuned equipment erupted in a blinding beam of light that speared the heavens. The sky shimmered violently as the beam struck its target, tearing open a colossal rift. A strange, oppressive aura spilled forth from the void. ]
[ From that swirling darkness, monstrous Chitauri creatures piloting sleek alien aircraft poured out, shrieking with a sound so sharp it cut through bone. ]
[ The air filled with a deafening cacophony as the invaders surged in every direction, scattering like a storm unleashed. ]
[ Tony Stark, peering through his helmet display, watched in horror as crimson warning markers multiplied across his HUD. ]
[ "All right," he muttered grimly. Without hesitation, he powered up his armor and shot skyward, streaking along the glowing beam of energy like a missile. ]
[ The Chitauri swarmed him immediately, their vessels spitting crackling energy rounds that exploded around him. Tony weaved through the barrage with impossible agility, repulsors blazing as he obliterated enemy after enemy. ]
[ Target markers locked onto multiple foes. The armor's shoulder panels snapped open, releasing a salvo of miniature missiles. ]
[ Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions tore through the sky, scattering enemy craft like shattered glass. But no matter how many Tony destroyed, the swarm only grew, flooding the battlefield in every direction. ]
The viewers held their breath, hearts pounding as the alien horde descended. The once-peaceful sky was now a churning nightmare. The Chitauri's grotesque forms and guttural roars ignited primal fear.
"This… this is real?"
"That's the Chitauri army?! They're horrifying!"
"I didn't feel fear when I saw them lined up before… but this is different. This is war."
"Tony's flying straight into danger alone! Damn it!"
"Rogers says he fights only for himself, but in my eyes? Tony's a hero."
"There are too many of them… way too many!"
"An army of ants can kill an elephant. Tony, call your team! Don't do this alone!"
"One man against an army! Absolute legend!"
"I'd have fainted if I saw this in person."
"I once said he was selfish, but look at him now… he's risking everything."
"Tony's a madman!"
"One man, one wave of enemies. Unreal."
"Damn Loki! What a monster!"
In the Administration Office, chaos mirrored the broadcast. The chief could no longer sit still. The Chitauri had arrived. And the first terrifying machines to emerge from the rift, a massive, whale-like mechanical beast, confirmed his worst fears.
The truth struck him like a hammer to the skull. The monstrous leviathan wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secret weapon as he'd once hoped. No, this… this abomination belonged to the Chitauri. His entire body went cold as the illusion crumbled.
"How… how do we fight that?" he whispered, trembling.
Each alien weapon unveiled so far had effortlessly crushed Terra's defenses. Humanity's so-called power was being dismantled piece by piece. And now, the sheer number of enemies spilling from the void was overwhelming.
On Earth, who could stand against this? There was only one Tony Stark. Only one Dr. Banner. Thor was powerful, yes, but even he was just one man.
The expert team watched in grim silence, their faces pale with fear and fury as the Chitauri's devastation unfolded.
"This is a massacre," Tonio snarled, slamming his fist on the table. "They're slaughtering people!"
Johan's hands shook violently, his voice cracking as he spoke, "This… this catastrophe marks the true end of the Terra Earth Age. Loki has done it, he's brought the Chitauri here!"
Every expert's gaze hardened, each mind drawing different conclusions, but none offered hope. Several military leaders stood frozen, their faces carved with despair. Attention shifted to the enemy aircraft cutting through the skies.
"Their stability is remarkable. Their acceleration, control, everything surpasses our technology," one analyst muttered.
"Does this mean their civilization's tech level is higher than ours?"
"If they invade the entire Terra Federation, can our weapons even touch them?"
"We can kill them," a general said grimly, "but not enough. Not at this scale."
"No visible propulsion… anti-gravity systems, maybe. Either way, they're advanced. And they're damned dangerous."
Beyond the broadcast, panic rippled across Terra's entire network. The Chitauri ships swooped low, their energy beams ripping through the streets. Explosions thundered as cars ignited, buildings crumbled, and entire blocks were leveled. Civilians fled in a frenzy, screams piercing the air as the invaders hunted them down without mercy. Skeletons and rubble littered the streets. The casualty count soared with every passing second.
The internet erupted with grief and rage:
"Damn Loki!"
"Why?! What did humanity ever do to deserve this slaughter?"
"I feel so helpless watching this… I can't stop crying."
"If aliens ever invade Terra, I will fight to the death! No regrets!"
"Same here! I'll give my life if I have to!"
"Count me in, too! I'd bring my entire family to fight, even if it means we all die!"
"Wooooo-"
"Tony… Tony's incredible."
[ On the ground, chaos reigned. The invasion left the streets unrecognizable, a shattered wasteland. Children wailed, lost amid the screams. A building struck by enemy fire crumbled, sending massive slabs of concrete crashing down. The city had become a vision of the apocalypse. ]
[ Loki strode to the platform, his horned helmet gleaming. He surveyed the carnage with satisfaction. Thor descended from the heavens, slamming into the rooftop like a thunderbolt. ]
[ "Loki, you bastard!" he roared. He pointed at the glowing cube. "Shut it down, or I'll destroy it!" ]
[ Loki raised his scepter, a smug grin on his face. "You can't stop it. This war is inevitable." ]
[ "Then this is what you wanted all along!" Thor growled. ]
[ Loki hurled a blast of energy, and Thor met it with Mjolnir, sparks lighting the sky. They clashed violently, their blows shattering signs and cracking steel. ]
[ Thor pinned Loki with his hammer. "Open your eyes! Look at this destruction! You're not in control of anything!" ]
[ Loki trembled but whispered, "It's too late." ]
[ Thor pressed harder. "Not if I have a say!" ]
[ Loki's dagger flashed suddenly, stabbing Thor. The god of thunder stumbled, his hammer slipping from his grasp.]
[ Loki smirked. "Your emotions make you weak." ]
[ Thor roared and slammed Loki into the ground, but the trickster rolled away, tumoring off the building and landing on a passing Chitauri skiff. ]
"Tony's tower is taking a beating."
"Thor still thinks Loki can be redeemed… poor guy."
"Another building bites the dust!"
"The number of Chitauri is insane!"
"Brother against brother, wow…"
"Thor just got manhandled!"
"Loki is ruthless. Even his own brother isn't safe."
"Thor's soft spot for Loki keeps backfiring."
"Thor: 'Backstab me again?'"
"Loki's the king of kidney shots!"
"Man, Loki knows how to twist a knife in more ways than one."
"Three minutes of silence for Thor."
A monstrous roar shattered the scene, black smoke choking the sky. The broadcast audience was transfixed, fear twisting their guts. The war had fully begun, its outcome unknown, its cost unimaginable. The Terra Federation, untouched by war for so long, was now staring straight into the abyss. Many viewers wept openly at the devastation.
[ "Tony! We're at your three o'clock! Northeast!" Black Widow's voice rang through the comms as she and Rogers swooped in. ]
[ Tony, panting, snapped, "Took you long enough! Stopping for lunch, were you? Get ready! Sending them your way!" ]
[ A swarm of Chitauri clung to Tony's trail as he banked sharply around a skyscraper. Clint's jet swept in from the flank, gunning down multiple enemies. ]
[ "Warning: Enemy activity intensifying!" Jarvis chimed. ]
[ Tony smirked grimly. "Perfect. Let's bunch them up." ]
"Tony's pissed!"
"Tony: I'm suffering here!"
"Why does this look like fun when it's chaos?"
"Oh no! The jet got hit!"
"These Chitauri are relentless!"
"Where's Terra's army?! Why aren't they here yet?!"
"This is heartbreaking… so much death."
"I can't handle this scene."
The screen jolted violently. Explosions thundered as Rogers, Black Widow, and Clint's crawled from the wreckage.
[ "We're heading for Stark Tower," Rogers barked, sprinting down the burning streets. ]
[ Panic-stricken civilians fled as fire consumed everything. Suddenly, the ground trembled violently. The light cube pulsed, releasing another shockwave. The portal expanded, revealing an unimaginable horror, a gargantuan, armored, whale-like creature. Its colossal fins sliced through skyscrapers as it soared, releasing wave after wave of Chitauri. ]
[ The sky blackened as swarms poured into the city, smashing windows, ripping buildings apart, and unleashing chaos within. ]
The broadcast counter ticked toward 200 million, but viewers were silent, breath stolen by terror.
In the office, the chief collapsed onto the floor, his spirit shattered, "This… this isn't S.H.I.E.L.D.'s weapon. It's theirs. The Chitauri's. How… how do we fight something like this?"