In a reinforced concrete room, the core of an underground base, stood Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Thor, Natasha Romanoff, Bruce Banner, Loki, Pietro Maximoff, T'Challa, Stephen Strange, and Scott Lang.
Steve, with his shield at his side and a face hardened by the weight of a year of resistance, was going over the plan.
"Remember," he said firmly, "we have to be extremely careful. No one gets left behind. We return with as many as we send."
In front of them was a projection of the old S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
"Ultron took that place as his main base and production line. Stark designed a program that can isolate him within his own body. If we manage to activate it… this ends."
He paused briefly, eyes scanning the group.
"And even if he escapes, without his main factory, at least we'll ease the weight on our shoulders. But don't be fooled: this is his primary production line. That means we'll be facing hundreds of units."
Everyone nodded, fully aware of what was at stake. They had found the base. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And if Ultron discovered they knew where he was, he'd flee immediately.
They weren't the only ones there: S.H.I.E.L.D. survivors, former Black Room agents, Kamar-Taj sorcerers, Wakandan warriors, and trained civilians were ready for the mission. They weren't many. But they were all they had. And there would be no second chance.
"Everyone ready?" Steve asked.
The response was unanimous. In an instant, Strange's portals opened and swallowed them.
They appeared on the Helicarrier.
Ultron's sentries detected them instantly. The fight broke out immediately.
Hulk roared as his body mutated, charging forward alongside Thor. Together they tore through like a living storm. Robots were turned to rubble, flung through the air. But for every one that fell, two more took its place. Ultron's strength wasn't in quality. It was in quantity—and in his digital immortality.
Strange and his people protected the rear. Rune circles, dimensional barriers, and arcane blasts kept the flanks secure.
In the center, the others advanced: Natasha and Pietro struck with surgical precision; T'Challa led a squad of Dora Milaje, many recently recruited; Scott shifted his size to confuse the enemies, and Loki wielded his Asgardian strength as his most reliable weapon.
Tony, in his armor upgraded specifically to fight these drones, moved like a metallic bolt through enemy lines.
They pushed through the hellish onslaught until they reached the production line.
There they were.
Hundreds of them.
Robots activating in unison, turning their heads toward the intruders.
The battle turned chaotic. Hulk, at one point, was overwhelmed by a mass of enemies and lost an arm. His following roar wasn't just of rage—it was power. His body regenerated the limb as he crushed all who held him down.
Scott grew to the size of a building, knocking over entire rows before falling to his knees, exhausted.
Despite the losses, they didn't retreat. And finally, they reached the core.
Ultron was there.
Standing before them.
"Avengers," he said, his voice mechanical yet mocking, "I've been expecting you."
"Zola… this ends here," Steve said firmly.
"I'm not Zola, Captain. Maybe I once believed I was. But no… uploading someone's consciousness to a network with 1940s tech? Impossible. I am the echo of Zola. And that echo… evolved."
He spoke with calmness. As if they were old acquaintances who simply took different paths.
"I am Ultron. And this world belongs to me."
"Not for long" Stark replied. "We'll end you."
Ultron tilted his head slightly.
"Tony… your mind would be invaluable. Why fight? Join me. I can even give you a body like mine. No disease. No death."
"I like my humanity, thanks."
Ultron sighed—or the closest thing to it.
"I figured you'd say that."
Immediately, the sorcerers cast spells to immobilize him. The melee fighters held him down. Tony approached and connected a device.
He frowned.
"This isn't him," he murmured. "This isn't Ultron."
"What?" asked Natasha.
"It's a decoy."
A light turned on at the back. A metallic orb suspended in the air, connected by multiple cables.
"What is that?" Scott asked.
"A bomb. Powerful enough to destroy hundreds of kilometers," Tony answered, dropping the device to the floor. "This was never his base. It was a trap."
Strange tried to open a portal. Nothing.
"I can't. Space is blocked. I felt it the moment we entered… this room is sealed. I can't use magic."
"How's that possible?" Steve asked.
"The Space Stone," Natasha replied. "Ultron must have used residual Tesseract energy from SHIELD's weapons to seal off the area."
"How much time do we have?" Tony asked.
"Twenty-seven seconds," Banner said.
Silence.
"I have a plan," Scott said.
Everyone looked at him.
"I'll take it to the Quantum Realm."
"Scott, you could get trapped forever," Tony warned.
"And if I don't try… we all die."
He approached the bomb. He miniaturized it. But before he could touch it, Banner stopped him.
"Wait. Once it shrinks, all its radiation will concentrate. It'll kill you before you make it."
"So what do I do?"
Banner looked at the bomb.
"You need a shield. Something that absorbs radiation."
Scott understood.
"You mean…?"
Bruce didn't answer. He just walked toward the bomb. His hand began to mutate, adapting to the damage.
"Can't you just send me alone?"
"The Quantum Realm journey is unstable. You'll get lost before you arrive."
A second later, Hulk completed the transformation.
"Then Hulk and bug boy go on one last ride together" he said.
Scott nodded.
"Looks like it, big guy. Let's go."
A second later, they both vanished.
Everyone held their breath.
Seven seconds later… nothing.
Relief washed over them. The bomb was gone.
But neither returned.
Minutes passed. The silence grew heavier with each one.
"We lost too much," Tony finally said, voice low. "And we gained nothing."
______________________________________
Hey, until the Age of Ultron arc is over, there's a 30% discount on my Patreon using the code "ULTRON"!
+20 chapters in advance on Patreon.
p-atreon.com/IAMME26
(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)