Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
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In the dimly lit war room of the Triskelion, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and Phil Coulson watched the grainy footage of the Harlem brawl. The feed showed the Hulk and the Abomination tearing through buildings, interspersed with glimpses of MailBirdramon's aerial attacks and the chaos on the streets. Maria Hill, ever the picture of no-nonsense professionalism, stood with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes missing nothing. She absorbed every detail, every movement, every chaotic burst of energy on the screen. Fury leaned forward, his one good eye narrowed, while Coulson maintained his usual calm demeanor, though a flicker of something akin to awe played across his face. They watched as this Cipher commanded multiple Digimon.
"The hell is all of this?"
Fury's tone conveyed that his question was rhetorical. The display spoke for itself.
"What do we know about this Cipher?" Fury asked, turning to Hill.
Hill tapped a few keys on the console, bringing up a file. "Limited intel. We've been tracking him since the Tombstone takedowns. He's been a consistent factor in Digimon activity, but his motivations remain unclear. He's a wildcard."
"A wildcard with a stable of monsters," Fury corrected, gesturing to the screen as Beetlemon entered the fight, slamming into the Abomination with surprising force. "That level of control… it's unprecedented."
"And potentially dangerous," Hill added. "He seems to be following the Digimon, but the frequency of the events is concerning. We're still trying to figure out what these creatures are, where they came from."
Fury didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the screen, analyzing every detail. A new player had entered the game, one with abilities that defied explanation and the potential to tip the balance of power in a world already teetering on the edge of the unknown. The situation demanded caution, and Fury knew that their next move could determine the fate of everything.
The mood shifted as the Abyssal Abomination emerged. The creature, wreathed in shadow and radiating malevolence, easily overpowered the Hulk, a threat they already struggled to contain. Fear was creeping into their hearts. Even Coulson's usual stoicism faltered slightly.
"That thing just took down the Hulk like it was nothing," Coulson said, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
Fury grimaced, the implications sinking in. The Hulk was a force of nature, unpredictable and destructive, but manageable to some extent. This Abyssal Abomination was something else entirely.
Then came the true shock: the emergence of SkullGreymon. It radiated power. The uncontrolled nature, as it unleashed Ground Zero, caused deep concern. Fury watched as the city block vanished in a cloud of dust and debris.
"What in God's name was that?" Hill exclaimed, her usual composure momentarily shaken.
"A walking nuke," Fury said grimly. "And Cipher unleashed it."
Fury swiveled his chair, his expression hardening. "Any traces of Blonsky left? Anything we can salvage from that… mess?"
Hill shook her head, her voice flat. "Ground Zero vaporized everything within a quarter-mile radius. There's nothing left of Blonsky, the Abomination. Just ash and twisted metal."
A muscle ticked in Fury's jaw. The loss of a potential asset, even one as dangerous and unstable as Blonsky, was a setback. The Abomination could have been studied, weaponized, or at least understood. Now, he was gone, erased by a power they barely comprehended.
"We need countermeasures," Fury stated, his voice firm. "If that thing ever shows up again, we need to be ready to put it down."
"Finding Cipher is now top priority," Fury declared, his voice cutting through the room. "We need to know who he is, what he wants, and how he controls these…Digimon."
"Stark might know something," Coulson offered, "He was there. And he took Cipher for a ride after that mess."
"Doubt he'll be forthcoming with information," Hill added, "He's never been one to play nice with SHIELD."
"Then we'll have to persuade him," Fury said, a glint in his eye. "Coulson, you keep pressing Stark. I'm sure we can find something he values enough to trade for a little cooperation."
Fury knew Tony Stark. Everyone had a weakness. With Tony, it was all about family.
His father... Fury's thoughts drifted back to Howard Stark. Howard's brilliance was only matched by his arrogance. Fury reflected on Howard's belongings. Howard Stark's old belongings and research, currently under lock and key in a SHIELD vault. They were supposed to be given to Tony after Howard's death, but he could use them now as leverage. If Tony Stark continued to play hardball, Fury had a bargaining chip that would get his attention. He could dangle those precious pieces of his father's legacy in front of him. It was a gamble, but Fury was always willing to play the game, even if it meant getting his hands dirty.
"Understood, sir," Coulson acknowledged. He knew what Fury was implying. Dealing with Stark was always a delicate dance, but Fury was the master of manipulation.
Coulson left the room, his mind already formulating a plan to approach Stark. It wouldn't be easy. Tony Stark did what he wanted to do, not what someone else told him to do.
"Hill," Fury turned his attention to his second-in-command, "I want every available agent digging into this Digimon business. I want to know where they come from, what they're capable of, and how we can stop them."
"Focus on that SkullGreymon," Fury said, his tone hardening. "I don't want anything like that running around unchecked. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," Hill replied, her expression grim. The sheer destructive power that monster wielded was enough to keep her up at night. Understanding these Digimon, especially that one, was now paramount to global security.
Hill departed, leaving Fury alone in the war room. He took out a folder. The words "Avengers Initiative" were printed in bold letters across the cover. He opened it, flipping through the profiles of potential candidates: Rogers, Romanoff, Barton.
He paused, his gaze drawn to a blank page at the end of the file. It was reserved for potential new recruits, individuals who possessed unique abilities and the potential to protect the world from threats beyond conventional means. He glanced back at the footage of the Harlem battle, replaying Cipher's coordinated attacks and the sheer power he commanded.
Cipher, he thought, a wildcard. But Fury couldn't deny the young man's potential. His ability to control multiple Digimon, to summon creatures of immense power, could be an asset, a game-changer. And even with the danger that SkullGreymon posed, Fury had to admire the way that Cipher put a stop to The Abomination.
Fury stared at the empty profile page, his mind already racing with possibilities. The Avengers Initiative needs adaptable people. He added the name "Cipher" to the list of potential recruits. He would find him. He would assess him. And if Cipher proved to be the asset he suspected, Fury would bring him into the fold.
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