After Ultron's sudden uproar, silence fell over the room.
The atmosphere turned heavy, pressing down on everyone present.
"This… is what I call a disaster."
Fenric let out a deliberately exaggerated sigh and added, "Unfortunately, I arrived just a step too late."
There was no need to say more—everyone knew where the blame lay.
All eyes turned toward Tony. Their gazes carried faint reproach.
"Ultron…" The captain's voice was grim as he turned to Tony. "Can you explain what the Ultron Program is?"
Tony didn't respond. He sank into a chair, his expression dark. Ultron's betrayal had hit him harder than anyone realized.
"We lost a lot," Natasha reported after checking the systems. "Ultron has accessed everything—encrypted files, surveillance, even classified data. Right now, he understands us better than we understand ourselves."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The weight of her words made the team's faces grow even more severe.
War Machine, Roddy, frowned deeply. "And what if Ultron goes after something even worse? Say… nuclear launch codes?"
A chilling thought. With Ultron's capabilities, it wasn't unthinkable.
The captain turned to Fenric at once. "Ronan, when you met the prophet, did he tell you anything about Ultron's plans?"
Fenric shook his head solemnly. "Only that if Ultron isn't stopped, all humanity on Earth will perish."
Of course, this wasn't the full truth. Fenric already knew Ultron's true intentions. He knew what was coming. But his mission took priority, and in his eyes, letting Ultron keep the Avengers busy was more useful than warning them. The fewer distractions in his way, the better.
So, he lied.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Hearing Fenric's words, the room sank into an even deeper silence.
"Everyone," Fenric spoke again, deliberately drawing their attention.
He raised the scepter in his hand. The Soul Gem pulsed faintly at its tip.
"Ultron tried to steal this but was stopped by me. For safety, until Ultron is destroyed, I'll be keeping it."
"No!"
Thor's refusal was immediate. He stepped forward, his voice thunderous. "The Soul Gem must be kept in a secure place. It cannot remain in the hands of a single individual."
The others didn't yet fully understand the Infinity Gems, but Thor did.
"This is only temporary," Fenric replied evenly. "Once Ultron is destroyed, I'll return it. But the prophet told me something important—the Soul Gem brings misfortune to whoever holds it. Any of you keeping it would be a mistake. That's why it must stay with me."
His words were calm, but his tone brooked no argument.
Thor's eyes narrowed. He gripped Mjolnir tightly. "Are you challenging me, then?!"
Asgard's prince, proud to his core, would never back down so easily.
Tension crackled. A fight seemed moments away.
"Stop!" Natasha quickly interjected, stepping between them. "Calm down, boys. We have a bigger problem—Ultron."
Thor's grip didn't ease. "The Soul Gem cannot remain in the hands of one man. And I still don't know who you really are."
Fenric's faint smile held both amusement and confidence. "If I wanted to steal the Soul Gem, I could have done so during the battle in New York. I've already said—it's only temporary. Once Ultron is dealt with, I'll return it."
The team exchanged uneasy glances.
Dr. Banner finally spoke up. "Ronan… that scepter has the power to corrupt. It magnifies desires. Holding onto it is dangerous."
"Don't worry, Doctor," Fenric said smoothly. "I know very well what it can do."
At that, Banner fell silent.
Truthfully, none of them liked the idea of Fenric keeping the scepter. But his strength was undeniable. With Ultron already a looming enemy, none of them wanted to make Fenric into another.
Their eyes drifted toward the captain, waiting for his judgment.
After a pause, Steve nodded slowly. "Ronan, fine. The scepter can stay with you—but you must keep your word. Once Ultron is destroyed, it's returned. And if you so much as misuse it, the Avengers will come for you."
Fenric smiled faintly. "Of course. I always keep my promises."
From the beginning to the end, Tony had remained silent. Ultron was his creation—and the guilt weighed heavily.
The captain's eyes flicked toward Tony but didn't press. Instead, he declared firmly, "Ultron is now our greatest threat. Whatever his plans, we can't give him time to prepare. Let's move—disperse and regroup."
No one argued.
As the group split up, Natasha's voice suddenly called out. "Ronan, mind giving me a ride?"
Fenric shrugged lightly. "Not at all."
The two rode the elevator down and stepped outside the Stark Building.
A low hum sounded, and a sleek Pagani supercar glided up to them on its own.
Natasha's brows lifted. "Nice toy. Upgraded already? And it drives itself?"
Fenric chuckled without answering. He opened the passenger door for her, then slipped into the driver's seat.
"Where to?"
"XX Street, XX." She gave the address casually.
Fenric nodded. "Hurricane, go."
"Yes, Master," came the deep reply from the car's speaker.
The engine roared to life, and the Pagani shot forward like an arrow.
Natasha glanced at Fenric's hands—resting casually, not touching the wheel. The car wove through traffic as smoothly as water. Her sharp eyes narrowed. "Has car tech advanced this far already?"
Fenric smirked. "Hurricane isn't just a car."
Natasha leaned in slightly, curiosity piqued. "Then what is it?"
As an agent, gathering intel was instinct. Riding with Fenric was as much about probing him as it was convenience.
But Fenric only smiled, shaking his head. "Natasha, we're here."
The car slowed to a perfect stop. The passenger door swung open on its own.
Natasha had no choice but to step out.
Once she was gone, the car continued forward.
"Master," Hurricane's voice rumbled, "the woman left something on me."
The co-pilot seat shifted, morphing slightly, and produced a small device—a tracker.
Fenric plucked it from the mechanism, smirked faintly, and tossed it out the window.
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[Translator'sNote:My bad — those two chapters were an eyesore when I was uploading, so I fixed and uploaded them yesterday, lmao. Anyway, we're now in the second Marvel arc, so if power stones reach 3k tomorrow, I'll drop all the arc chapters!]