The angel's self-destruction left only scattered bits of celestial energy drifting through the command center. Shuri, faced with Jason's ultimatum and T'Challa's pleading eyes, reluctantly agreed to cooperation.
Although T'Challa had reservations regarding Jason's heavy-handed methods, he couldn't dispute their effectiveness. The ends—in this singular instance—justified the problematic means.
Meanwhile, outside their protected enclave, the European deity's forces approached extinction. Barely a few hundred angels remained, their once-beautiful forms now battered and bloodied as they sought temporary sanctuary against Manhattan's buildings.
Jason studied Shuri with calculated assessment. "Tell me precisely what conspiracy the North American deity orchestrated."
"You've witnessed most already," Shuri responded with clinical detachment. "The unrevealed components involved North American angelic forces arriving to engage the vampire army, which would strategically 'retreat' southward into South America."
She continued without emotion, "The North American angels would divide their forces—one contingent cleansing United States territories while another pursued vampires southward. During this manufactured flight, my forces would devastate South American nations, committing atrocities guaranteed to provoke maximal horror among both mortals and celestial observers. Then the North American angels would arrive as triumphant saviors."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
Jason shook his head with genuine distaste as the underlying strategy became clear. The deity clearly targeted the South American region—territories previously occupied by Hell's forces, still saturated with residual demonic energies.
The scheme's elegant simplicity was undeniable: orchestrate massive threat, facilitate continental devastation, arrive as divine savior, harvest resultant faith-energy, and secure dominion over South American celestial territories.
Casualties numbered in hundreds of thousands—perhaps millions—reduced to mere tactical variables in divine political maneuvering.
T'Challa trembled with suppressed emotion, staring at his sister with deep grief. The woman before him bore Shuri's appearance, yet something essential had been irreparably transformed.
"The plan requires modification," Jason announced with decisive authority. "Effective immediately, you and your vampire forces transition from agents of darkness to instruments of divine justice. Cease all civilian targeting. Prepare your forces for engagement against the 'righteous' angelic host when they came."
Shuri glanced reluctantly toward the virtual displays tracking Stark Tower's siege. On the holographic interface, vampiric forces had pushed Ultron to his absolute limit. The armor had depleted its energy reserves and ceased functioning. Even Ultron's vibranium-infused form showed signs of catastrophic structural damage—the relentless assault had damaged crucial integration components.
Jason guessed her thoughts immediately. "Abandon that vendetta. Ultron remains beyond your capacity to destroy."
Shuri paused before responding tersely, "I know that."
Jason raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "You know his true nature?"
"He's artificial intelligence. Not human."
"Since you know his identities, surely you recognize additional strategic implications," Jason continued. "Beyond his technological nature, consider that Stark Tower houses the one human being he genuinely values. More critically, he maintains exclusive control over America's nuclear arsenal."
He allowed the implication to settle. "Should that particular human die, how might an emotionally compromised artificial intelligence wielding thermonuclear capabilities respond?"
Shock registered across Shuri's features. "This information wasn't in my intel."
"Indeed," Jason confirmed. "His numerous transgressions warranted Avengers intervention, yet I merely deployed covert counteraction rather than direct confrontation. Do you imagine this restraint stemmed from aesthetic appreciation or excessive compassion? I simply recognized that innocent populations shouldn't suffer apocalyptic fallout from his potential retaliation."
His voice hardened. "Your involvement represented the single miscalculation in my calculations."
Shuri remained silent, the weight of unintended consequences settling across her shoulders.
At that precise moment, dimensional energy rippled above New York's skyline. Reality parted like theatrical curtains as legions of celestial warriors emerged through the opening.
These angels arrived in perfect battle formation, armored in gleaming divine light with magnificent wings extended behind them. They confronted the suicidal bat swarms with methodical efficiency.
The vanguard established precise geometric formations, their harmonized hymns creating thousands of holy-light constructs resembling ethereal swords. These phantom weapons tracked individual targets with supernatural precision, eliminating hundreds of explosive bats within seconds.
The surviving vampire creatures scattered in apparent disorder, vanishing among Manhattan's architectural canyons.
Soon, the skies above New York teemed with angelic warriors—conservative estimates suggesting between thirty and forty thousand heavenly soldiers. Leading this divine army, a towering figure riding a magnificent unicorn appeared at the formation's apex.
Jason instantly recognized the North American deity—the entity with distinctive golden ponytail.
A cynical thought crossed Jason's mind. The Ancient One had previously reinforced mystic barriers between dimensional planes, theoretically complicating travel between Heaven and mortal realms. Yet this massive celestial deployment suggested minimal impediment. Had Ancient One's death weakened these protections, or had the North American deity discovered countermeasures?
Following their leader's command, the angelic host descended toward Manhattan with coordinated precision. Their primary objective appeared to be the European goddess and her devastated forces.
Simultaneously, Jason's recorded evidence of celestial conspiracy transmitted across global communications networks, appearing on major television stations worldwide.
Across Europe, J. Jonah Jameson's voice blared from every screen and speaker he could hijack, practically foaming at the mouth with fury.
"Unbelievable! Un-freakin'-precedented treachery! What kind of god teams up with vampires, huh? I'll tell you—a fake one! This so-called deity? Demonic fraud, plain and simple!"
He slammed a fist on the desk, eyes wild with conviction. "They cooked up a global disaster! Manufactured chaos! And why? To control people. To sink their claws into South America and force the masses into worshipping them like sheep!"
Jameson pointed directly at the camera, spit practically hitting the lens. "This is the truth, folks! We're finally seeing these so-called 'celestial beings' for what they really are. No mercy. No divinity. Just politics and power plays! To them, we're pawns—expendable and clueless. Well, not anymore!"
He jabbed a finger toward the screen like he was shaking the heavens themselves. "You want gods? Pray somewhere else. I want answers—and accountability!"
Media outlets across all continents amplified this revelation. Throughout Europe, newly rekindled faith in the European deity began disintegrating. The tactics employed paralleled humanity's darkest historical atrocities—deliberate civilian targeting as political leverage.
Americans, already disillusioned with their absentee deity, abandoned remaining spiritual convictions. Even the most devout believers recognized the unforgivable betrayal.
A growing sentiment emerged across affected populations: perhaps angels and their gods represented greater existential threats than vampire predators.
In New York, the North American deity's initial engagement proceeded according to predetermined scripts. The ponytailed god swiftly retrieved the European goddess, maintaining performative sympathy while internally celebrating her diminished condition.
"My deep regret for delayed intervention," the deity lamented with calculated sincerity. "I recognized immediately that such unprecedented vampire aggression suggested sophisticated orchestration beyond typical capabilities. Prudence demanded comprehensive countermeasure preparation, which unfortunately created temporal delay."
The deity sighed theatrically. "What cosmic irony! Having barely survived Hell's invasion, we immediately confront these detestable vampiric forces. Please maintain spiritual fortitude."
The ponytailed god continued elaborate justifications while the European goddess regarded her "savior" with expressionless assessment.
Her once-perfect armor bore countless battle scars, her protective helmet lost during combat. With only a thin veil concealing her features, she detected unmistakable satisfaction beneath the North American deity's performative concern.
She understood precisely what happened behind diplomatic facades. Her elite forces had been decimated, reducing her celestial capabilities to approximate the Antarctic goddess's modest strength.
In Heaven's power hierarchy, the North American deity now stood unopposed. Should this "rescue operation" succeed, North American faith would consolidate further. The ponytailed deity could assume effective control over Heaven without bloodshed.
The "fortunate" Asian God newcomer—Jason—would presumably present minimal challenge with his supposedly shallow power base.
An uncomfortable realization formed in her consciousness: had today's catastrophic events been carefully designed rather than coincidental?
Regardless, her depleted condition prevented meaningful resistance against her "benefactor."
With calculated humility, she offered a slight bow. "Your timely assistance has saved us from annihilation. Upon returning to Heaven, appropriate appreciation shall be arranged."
The North American deity laughed with manufactured joviality. "Such formality remains unnecessary! Righteousness compels action when allies face peril!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~