SHIELD Helicarrier.
"Abnormal energy readings in the Atlantic. A circular area with a diameter of 300 kilometers has been frozen solid."
"Atmospheric pressure dropping. A localized blizzard is masking further satellite reconnaissance."
Maria Hill listened to the intelligence reports, her face growing grimmer by the second.
If this anomaly was natural, it was a catastrophe. If it was artificial... it was an extinction-level threat.
"Freezing an entire island and the surrounding ocean..." Hill murmured. "That requires energy on par with a nuclear detonation."
"Cross-reference with known super-powered individuals," she ordered.
SHIELD's database was extensive.
"Match found," an analyst called out. "Two candidates. The mutant 'Iceman' (Bobby Drake) and the enhanced individual 'Ice Demon' (Vincent Hall)."
"Iceman is currently at the Xavier Institute. His power levels have never reached this scale," Hill noted.
Bobby Drake was an Omega-level mutant in theory, but in practice, he was just a kid throwing snowballs compared to this.
"That leaves the Ice Demon."
Hill knew Nick Fury was obsessed with recruiting Vincent Hall. Fury wanted to leash the unpredictable element.
"Classify this event as Level 8. Codename: Ice Age."
Hill couldn't help but think of the animated movie, but the reality was far from funny. If this energy release continued, it could trigger a global climate shift.
"Agent Hill, we have satellite footage from Long Island."
A technician pulled up a grainy video. It showed Vincent Hall walking into the ocean at his private estate and vanishing into the currents.
Hill watched the screen.
"Keep this video sealed. Only Level 7 and above."
She stared at Vincent's face. A high school graduate. An orphan from Hell's Kitchen. And now, a being capable of freezing the ocean.
No wonder Fury is walking on eggshells around him.
If SHIELD tried to arrest him and failed, they wouldn't just lose a team. They might lose the Eastern Seaboard to a permanent winter.
"Such power..." Hill whispered. "Is he even human anymore?"
Around the bridge, other agents stared at the monitors in stunned silence.
[System Notification for Vincent Hall]
[Desire Points Generated: +3,000 (Nick Fury)]
[+2,500 (Maria Hill)]
[+2,000 (Phil Coulson)]
[+1,800 (Clint Barton)]
[+500... +500...]
Long Island Estate. Morning.
Vincent woke up feeling refreshed.
"Another beautiful day."
He brushed his teeth, smiling at the mirror. Then he checked his System Interface.
He froze, toothbrush hanging from his mouth.
A flood of notifications filled the log.
[Mission Update: Building Prestige (SHIELD)]
[Objective: Intimidate SHIELD agents. Harvest 200,000 Desire Points.]
[Status: COMPLETE.]
[Reward: Blue Blind Box.]
"Mission complete?" Vincent blinked. "Just like that?"
He realized what happened.
SHIELD had found his "masterpiece" in the Atlantic. They had connected the dots.
The sheer awe and terror of the "Ice Age" event had generated massive amounts of Desire Points from the top brass of SHIELD.
"They're watching me," Vincent realized, looking up at the ceiling. "Satellites. Energy sensors."
He wasn't surprised. SHIELD had access to Kree technology and decades of HYDRA infiltration. They were the world's premier spy agency.
"Well," Vincent spat out his toothpaste. "At least they know I'm not someone to be trifled with."
Ding-Dong.
The doorbell rang.
Vincent frowned.
Jessica Jones wouldn't ring the bell. Gwen was mad at him. Julia was busy house-hunting.
He wiped his face and went downstairs in his pajamas.
He opened the door.
Standing there was a stunning woman with wine-red hair and a killer smile.
"Isn't this the school counselor from Midtown High? Good morning, Ms. Natasha."
Vincent feigned surprise.
"I resigned from that position," Natasha said softly, her voice like velvet.
She looked at him. Tall, handsome, radiating a lazy confidence. He looked like a model or a movie star.
But Natasha saw something else.
She saw the monster who froze the Atlantic. The Ice Demon.
She smiled, but her heart was pounding. This was the most dangerous man on the planet.
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