As soon as Renzo stepped out of the portal, he saw Natasha aiming her gun, watching a group of unfamiliar people with clear vigilance. Fortunately, after Captain Carter's explanation, Natasha lowered her guard and joined their team.
At that moment, a deafening sound echoed through the sky. The barriers between universes were breaking down. The sky itself cracked like a mirror, shattering into fragments.
"Natasha! Where's the Zola virus? That's our only hope!"
Seeing this, Renzo didn't hesitate. If they truly had to fight Ultron head-on, their chances of winning were slim.
"It's—" Before Natasha could finish, an invisible force lifted her into the air.
Ultron raised his hand, trying to pull the Stone from Natasha's grasp. Renzo reacted instantly—the Mind Stone on his forehead flared, and a laser sliced through Ultron's arm, severing it.
Protected by Dark Strange's magic, Natasha landed safely.
"Natasha! Go find the Zola virus! It's our only chance!" Renzo called out, already turning to face Ultron alongside Thor.
"Got it!" Natasha pulled out the data arrow, ready to pass it to Renzo—
A sudden beam cut it apart midair.
"I will not allow you to oppose me." Ultron's forehead glowed faintly—the attack had come from him. From above, he looked down on them like insignificant insects. He had destroyed countless universes; to him, their resistance meant nothing.
"Looks like this is going to be a real fight," Renzo said, watching the arrow disintegrate. The situation had spiraled completely out of control—but he didn't panic. He didn't believe the Watcher would simply let them die. "We'll have to separate Ultron from the Stones first."
With that, Renzo and Thor charged forward. Against this monster, only the two of them could withstand direct confrontation. The others were far too vulnerable—even with protective spells.
"For Las Vegas!" Thor roared, swinging Mjolnir. A pillar of thunder as thick as a cannon struck Ultron head-on—but it left no mark.
Renzo's laser followed. He knew it was nearly useless, but buying time was all that mattered.
Ultron raised a hand casually, blocking both attacks with ease.
"Ants daring to challenge a god."
Clearly bored, Ultron activated the five Stones on his body. A surge of energy blasted the entire team away. Fortunately, Strange's protective spell kept them alive.
"If this keeps up, we're finished," Carter said, lowering her shield. Her expression was firm and unyielding. Natasha stood beside her, both gripping their shields in a ready stance.
"I have a plan!"
Renzo crashed beside them, quickly getting back to his feet. Gamora, T'Challa, and Killmonger moved in immediately, engaging Ultron in a fierce assault.
Renzo turned to Strange. "I need you to get reinforcements. Go to my universe—find the Ancient One!"
Strange continued casting spells to support the front line, his eyes fixed on the battlefield. "If I leave, and the protective spell breaks, you won't survive."
"Better to take a risk than wait to die," Renzo replied. "You're the strongest Strange here. We can't beat Ultron—but we have a chance."
"You mean…" Strange turned to him, meeting his determined gaze. "…I hope you're right."
Without another word, Strange opened a portal and stepped through.
Renzo smiled faintly, then launched himself back into the fight.
On the ground, only Carter and Natasha remained.
"We can't help like this," Natasha muttered.
"No," Carter replied with a small smile. "A true soldier waits for the right moment. Come on."
"Alright." Natasha smirked, and the two charged forward with shields in hand.
"Ahhh—!"
Thor was hurled away yet again. Thanks to his Asgardian durability and Strange's spell, he remained unharmed—but barely.
Renzo, meanwhile, was caught in Ultron's grip. As he watched Ultron casually slam Killmonger into the ruins, he cursed inwardly.
"We are the same. Submit to me, and you may survive. Together, we can conquer the multiverse."
Ultron's voice echoed—mechanical, yet disturbingly human.
"You know," Renzo said, staring at the identical face before him, "the Ultron in my universe said the same thing."
"And?"
"We beat him too."
"So you've been corrupted by humanity."
"No," Renzo said, suddenly smiling. "Humans are brave."
Ultron prepared to erase his consciousness—but paused.
A shield struck him square in the face.
"Well said! Humans are brave!"
Captain Carter soared in, thrown by T'Challa. The impact staggered Ultron. Before he could recover, another shield slammed into the back of his head.
Natasha followed, launched by Thor. The two attacked in rapid succession, catching Ultron off guard.
"For Odin's beard!" Thor roared, charging again. He soared into the sky, Mjolnir blazing. The heavens turned into a storm of lightning—thunder crashing, serpentine bolts writhing through the air.
Seizing the moment, Renzo fired another beam and shouted, "T'Challa!"
"Let's see how he handles this!" T'Challa appeared behind Ultron, slamming a powerful magnet onto him—salvaged from the Kree, strong enough to pull in small spacecraft.
Killmonger burst in next, using thrusters to drive Ultron into the ground. Gamora followed, already poised—her double-bladed weapon striking cleanly across Ultron's armor, severing the Reality Stone.
"Move!" Renzo shouted.
At that instant, Thor's thunder reached its peak.
With a roar, he brought Mjolnir down.
Lightning engulfed everything.
The battlefield became a sea of thunder.
...
"Did we… do it?" Natasha whispered, staring at the scorched wasteland. She sank to her knees, eyes hollow. Even if they had won… she had nothing left.
Renzo, however, remained focused. His gaze stayed locked on the center of the ruins.
Ultron wasn't that easy to kill.
"You… truly surprise me…"
The voice echoed from the wreckage.
Ultron rose slowly into the air, battered but intact, looking down on them like a god.
"Thor… can you do that again?"
"I swear, that was the strongest lightning I've ever summoned!"
Despair settled over them. For the first time, survival felt impossible.
"Nice fighting with you all," Natasha said quietly, a faint, resigned smile on her face.
"Asgardians die with honor!" Thor grinned, gripping his hammer.
Even in the face of death, their resolve held.
"It seems someone is missing," Ultron said, noticing Strange's absence. "No matter. More effort, perhaps—but the result is the same."
"You should thank me… thank your god…"
"I actually liked what Vision once said."
Before Ultron could continue, a portal opened behind the team.
They turned.
Strange stepped out, calm, composed—smiling faintly as he looked up at Ultron.
"Humans are brave."
"Now everyone's here," Ultron said dismissively.
"You're back." Renzo let out a breath of relief.
Strange said nothing more. His expression was calm—but something about it felt… off.
Renzo shook it off and rose into the air, meeting Ultron at eye level.
Strange cast a spell. Golden light enveloped Renzo, solidifying into a suit of armor—sleek, metallic, nearly identical to Ultron's, but without Stones.
"Oh?" Ultron tilted his head. "Pointless. I have five Stones. You have one."
"Who said that?" T'Challa stepped forward, revealing the Soul Stone glowing in his hand. Gamora raised the Reality Stone.
Both floated into the air and merged with Renzo's armor.
"Even so—"
"And this one," Strange added, revealing the Time Stone. It, too, joined Renzo.
Four Stones now pulsed with energy.
Renzo exhaled sharply, feeling the overwhelming power surge through him.
His gaze locked onto Ultron, whose expression had darkened.
A faint smile appeared on Renzo's lips.
"Finally… someone worth testing myself against."
Four-Stone Vision—has arrived.
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