The S.H.I.E.L.D command center was a storm of motion — holograms flickering with tactical maps, agents hustling between consoles, and Fury's voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
Rows of monitors displayed battle feeds: the Avengers clashing with monstrous serpentine warriors, entire city blocks scarred by fire and shadow. The urgency was palpable, the air thick with adrenaline and fear.
As the Fantastic Four and their new companions entered the room, agents instinctively turned to look. Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben were familiar faces, but the group trailing behind them — Greta, Candy, Louis, and Mona — sparked murmurs.
The murmurs turned into sharp gasps when two hulking figures stepped through the doors behind Mona, their eyes burning with demonic fire.
The room froze.
Guns were raised in an instant.
"Hold fire!" Fury barked, his single eye narrowing. He stepped forward, his trench coat sweeping across the floor. "Care to explain why Hell just walked into my base?"
Mona's posture was rigid, her green skin and sharp horns catching the cold glow of the holograms. She clenched her fists at her sides, standing between the demons and the S.H.I.E.L.D agents.
"They're with me," Mona said firmly, her voice carrying a defiance that quieted the room. "I summoned them from my father's realm to help in this war. They follow my command — not his."
The agents exchanged uneasy glances, hands twitching near triggers. Even Sue Storm's invisible barrier shimmered faintly, her instincts half-activated.
Reed spoke up, his calm voice bridging the silence. "We've vetted Mona. Her loyalty isn't in question." He glanced briefly at the two demons. "But their presence is… unconventional."
"Unconventional?" Johnny muttered. "That's one way to put it. They look like they eat agents for breakfast."
Ben grunted. "As long as they fight the snakes and not us, I don't care what they look like."
Candy stepped forward, arms folded. "Look, you've got world-ending snake cultists tearing through cities, and you're worried about who Mona brought to the party? She trusts them, and I trust her. That should be enough."
Louis, quieter but sharper, added: "If you want to win this war, you can't afford to reject allies just because they make you uncomfortable."
For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of suspicion and trust hanging in the balance.
Finally, Fury exhaled through his nose. "Fine. They stay. But if either of those demons twitches wrong, I'll have them both atomized before they blink. Clear?"
Mona's eyes glowed faintly red as she stepped closer to Fury. "Crystal."
Fury's stare lingered, but he turned back to the holograms. "Good. Now that we're done with introductions — let's get to work."
The holographic map expanded, showing four glowing markers across the globe.
"These are the remaining keystones," Fury said. "The Black Serpents are moving fast, consolidating power. We've got Avengers scattered between battlefronts, X-Men handling civilian evacuation, and now…" He gestured at the Fantastic Four and their companions. "…we've got you. This isn't just a fight anymore. It's a survival plan."
Reed studied the map, his mind already racing. "If the Serpents unite the keystones, their ritual will reach completion."
Greta stepped forward, her eyes narrowing at the glowing markers. "Then we make sure that never happens."
The room tensed as Fury's words echoed like a verdict:
"Heroes of the new dawn — this is your war now."