Time stopped again.
Not slowed.
Not distorted.
Stopped.
Only the four candidates could move.
A translucent system window unfolded before them, larger than before, calmer in tone—but far heavier in meaning.
[General Candidate Test — Completed]
Another panel slid in.
[Rewards Distributed
• Inventory Slots x2 ]
Their 5 slots inventory vanished along with it's content.
What replaced it was now only two slots with one of them containing something.
-Tony's Chainsaw
-Steve's Fire Axe
-Natasha's Katana
A new line appeared beneath them.
[Melee Bond Perk Acquired
→ Bound melee weapons may be recalled to inventory at will. ]
[Special Adjustment — Bruce Banner
• Inventory Slots: 1
• Transformation Control: PERMANENT
• Emotional Trigger Override: ENABLED ]
Bruce stared at the words.
"…Permanent control?" he whispered.
He clenched his fist then green colors spread on his hands.
Then—slowly—green veins faded.
His breathing steadied. He can now will his transformation.
For the first time in his life, the Hulk wasn't a cage.
The system didn't pause though.
[Multiple Enemies detected!
Primary target: 5
Additional reinforcements: 30]
Tony's jaw tightened.
"Again?"
Steve exhaled slowly.
"HYDRA."
Bruce was beginning to get curious.
"Just how many of them are there?"
"HYDRA has infiltrated deep inside SHIELD. We need to have a very private talk with Fury after this." Natasha simply stated.
The four exchanged glances and nodded.
The 50 new signatures—originally sent as reinforcements by Fury—30 were instantly relabeled as enemies, which at least meant 20 of them were allies.
Not allies.
Not neutral.
Enemies.
Far behind them, Mercer's Hearth stood untouched.
Inside, Elias Mercer remained frozen mid-motion, caught between one step and the next.
But his mind was free.
And his system was very, very busy.
A private notification bloomed before his eyes.
[Congratulations! Four Capable Generals Acquired!
• Anthony Edward Stark
• Steven "Grant" Rogers
• Robert Bruce Banner
• Natalia Alianovna Romanova ]
Elias blinked.
"…Grant?" he muttered. "Since when did Steve have a middle name? And Bruce's first name is Robert?"
Before he could dwell on it further, another panel appeared.
[Primary Objective — General Acquisition: COMPLETED
Reward Granted: Epirus Bow (Immortals) ]
Elias' breath hitched.
The weapon materialized into his inventory, its icon glowing faintly gold.
He recognized it immediately.
A divine artifact.
A god-slaying weapon.
"No way, that was the movie where I first saw Henry Cavill on. I still remember him pulling that bow and firing multiple consecutive shot yet it all simultaneously hit their target at the same time!" he whispered.
Another system update followed, completely unconcerned with his disbelief.
[Tester/Judge Report
Designated Enemies Eliminated: 53
Remaining Hostiles: 35 ]
Elias frowned.
"So you don't count those still on the Helicarrier units unless they deploy, only the ones on the ground." he muttered.
The system didn't respond.
Instead—
[LEVEL UP!]
Level 8 → Level 9
EXP: 6/16 + 53 = 59/16
Level 9 → Level 10
EXP: 46/18
Level 10 → Level 1
EXP: 28/20 ]
[Congratulations, Host!
New Title Earned: Villain — Beginner! ]
Elias' vision blurred as prompts stacked on top of each other.
[Level Up!
Level 1 → Level 2
EXP: 8/3]
His updated status window unfolded.
[Villain System
Status
Name: Elias Mercer
Designation: Villain — Beginner
Level: 2
Experience: 5 / 6
Abilities:
• Tactical Mini-Map (Passive)
• Telekinesis — MAXED
– Limit: 10M tons
Summons(Servants):
• Xenomorph — Evolved (Hulk Blood)
• Yautja Hunters ×2
Skills:
• Appraisal — MAXED
• Imperius — MAXED
• Crucio — MAXED
• Avada Kedavra — MAXED
• Obliviate — MAXED
Inventory:
Slots: 30
Occupied: 3 / 30
• Slot 1: Facehugger Eggs ×2
• Slot 2: Lightsaber — Corrupted Variant (Crimson)
• Slot 3: Epirus Bow
...]
(AN: Regarding the lightsaber, I thank the individual who mentioned that it needed a connection to the force to be able to wield it. However, I'd just like to remind that as per the very first detail when it was given, the weapon was recalibrated so that the host, MC, can wield it no problem and cannot be corrupted. I, however, after reading your ciritc, added a little bit of effect. Further use and exposure to the lightsaber will slowly give the MC a bit by bit of connection to the force, but it won't be a dark one since it cannot corrupt him unless he himself decides to turn to the dark side. Thanks!]
Elias wiped sweat from his forehead—despite time being frozen.
"…I'm not a villain protagonist," he whispered
.
"I'm a final boss."
He looked up, panic and disbelief mixing despite having experience too many unbelievable things the system had done.
"System," he said quickly.
"Is there any way I can switch classes? Hero? Anti-hero? Civilian? I'll take shop owner. I don't want this. I don't want to be a villain!"
The system answered instantly.
[Objective Updated:
→ Issue Your First Order to your Generals]
Elias let out a hollow laugh.
"Of course," he said quietly. "Should've known."
He clenched his fists. Draw 3 deep breaths and tried hard to calm himself.
"I can accept having you as a system," he declared, voice shaking but resolute.
"But I will never be a villain!"
The system did not acknowledge his defiance.
It simply waited. Waited for him to fulfill his objectives.
The scene went back to his new generals as they saw the system's prompt.
[Subsystem Unlocked: Villain Generals — Group Chat
Function:
• Chat Communication
• Mind-Activated
• Send items to members
• Orders relay to Generals]
A chat window snapped into existence and the first chat from their new boss was sent.
[Villain Generals' GC]
[Arthas Menethil:
Congratulations for passing the test.]
Tony scoffed immediately.
"I don't have a boss," he said out loud—and typed the same.
"It's usually the other way around. Why don't you show yourself?"
Steve followed, calm but firm.
"I'm not a villain," he said. "I won't serve one."
Bruce didn't type.
Natasha didn't either.
But their silence wasn't submission.
[Arthas Menethil: I don't approve of you as my generals either. I prefer generals who obey—rather than challenge me.]
Tony didn't miss a beat.
"Cool. We quit."
Steve added, "Agreed."
Bruce nodded.
Natasha typed a single word: Same.
[Arthas Menethil:
I also agree.]
That surprised them. Why would he give a test and pass them but doesn't agree?
"What?" Tony muttered.
Before anyone could react, the system intervened.
[Request Denied!
Candidates have already been designated]
The realization hit all four at once.
Tony exhaled slowly.
"…So he's not the one who gave us the test."
Steve's jaw tightened.
"It chose us." clearly pertaining to the system.
Bruce swallowed.
Only Natasha was analyzing everything, she was having a very bad feeling to whom this Arthas is connected to.
Not him. She thought almost pleading.
[Arthas Menethil:
…Tsk.
Whose side are you on?]
Arthas asked but-
No response.
Not from the system.
Not from anyone.
[Arthas Menethil:
Typical.
Fine. Let's proceed.]
Bruce finally spoke and asked.
"Proceed with what?"
[Arthas Menethil: My first order of course. What else?]
Inside Mercer's Hearth, Elias remained frozen in place—hovering awkwardly mid-step.
But his mind was looking at the objective he received earlier.
[Objective Updated:
→ Issue Your First Order to your Generals]
.
.
.
Back to them.
Tony felt something twist in his gut.
"I don't like you," he muttered. "And I'm not following any command you give."
Inside the shop, Elias laughed quietly as he was already thinking how Tony would react when his first order concerns his parents killer.
Natasha was the first to fully grasp the situation.
"What's the command?" she asked.
Tony and Steve both turned to her.
"What?" she shot back.
Steve frowned.
"You do realize he's a villain, right? Whatever he orders—it won't be good."
Natasha didn't flinch.
"He's still the boss," she said evenly.
"And we're lucky this time."
They looked at her, clearly wanting her to elaborate that.
"The testers' targets were HYDRA. A villain organization. One you fought in World War II," she said, glancing at Steve.
"If civilians had been the primary target, the infected would've multiplied faster than we could stop them."
Silence.
"We would've failed the test," she finished.
"And everyone would've died."
No one argued.
Their conversation wasn't in the chat.
But Elias heard every word.
He typed again.
[Arthas Menethil:
Alright. Let's get this over with.
My first order is simple—eradicate HYDRA completely, but—]
Tony cut him off before the message could finish rendering.
"Of course we're eradicating them. We don't need you ordering us around to do it," Tony snapped.
"Are you sure you're even a villain? Because you're really bad at this."
Inside the frozen shop, Elias—unaware that Natasha had already separated from the group—felt his patience fray.
The jab hit closer than he liked.
Still, he forced himself to stay calm and typed again.
[Arthas Menethil:
I'm not asking you to act immediately.
Not now. Not even right after this mess.]
"Why?" Steve asked aloud, his eyes narrowing.
[Arthas Menethil:
Because another problem is coming. And it's far worse.]
"Trouble?" Bruce asked, unease creeping into his voice.
[Arthas Menethil:
S.H.I.E.L.D. is playing with a power it does not fully understand while they're not even aware that another force has already infiltrated them.]
Pause.
[Arthas Menethil: And no—I am not talking about HYDRA.
HYDRA are like children playing with firecrackers compared to them who are holding nuclear weapons.
They are capable of eradicating half of Earth's population—
if the timing is right.]
The words hung heavy.
Tony stopped smirking.
Steve's jaw tightened.
Bruce felt his stomach drop.
They exchanged uneasy looks.
That was when they realized—
Natasha was gone.
She stood alone inside Mercer's Hearth.
The shop was silent, frozen in time.
And there—by his station—was Elias Mercer.
Suspended mid-step. Frozen. Helpless.
Natasha studied him closely, eyes sharp, calculating.
A message appeared in the group chat.
[Arthas Menethil:
Why are you staring at your target?]
The other three turned sharply toward the shop.
Realization struck all at once.
They rushed inside.
Natasha didn't turn when they arrived.
"Nothing," she said quietly. Then hesitated.
"I just…"
She trailed off.
[Arthas Menethil:
You thought I was him?
What made you think that?
Was it because I wasn't the one who gave you the test?]
No one answered. But he could see it wasn't just Natasha who thought that way, all of them did.
There were no answers to his question.
So Elias continued.
[Arthas Menethil:
Elias Mercer.
Twenty-seven years old.
Owner of Mercer's Hearth.
Born November 11, 1987.
Lost both parents in his teens.
Moved to Queens looking for a second chance at life.
And built this shop through a loan—A place of warmth to share to everyone. The very same warmth he missed from his late parents.]
Silence filled the shop.
Natasha's eyes never left Elias.
And for the first time, doubt crept in where certainty had lived.
"You seem to know a lot about him." Steve commented.
[Arthas Menethil: Oh kapitan, I know more than just him, I also know about the 4 of you.]
That seemed to give them a foreboding feeling inside and Elias continued.
If he wants them to obey his order, he must first give them an 'encouragement' package that preferably doesn't 'hurt' much.
[Arthas Menethil:
Steven 'Grant' Rogers.
A war hero who missed a dance.
Lost his best friend. Woke up in a world that moved on without him.
Anthony Edward Stark.
A genius who learned what his creations did to innocent people— a bit too late.
Ever since he's been trying to make up for it, which is also to honor the memory of Yinsen. Someone who gave his dying hope that Stark doesn't waste it.
Robert Bruce Banner.
The Hulk.
I didn't watch you much—but you might want to consider birth control with Betty now that you're in control. ]
Bruce choked at that. Tony himself was in disbelief, how could anyone know about Yinsen's words? He was sure no one was there.
[Arthas Menethil: And Natalia Alianovna Romanova.
Adopted mother—Melina Vostokoff
Adopted father—Alexei Shostakov
Adopted sister—Yelena Belova
Trying to erase the red from her ledger by working for SHIELD.
Which is just HYDRA's husk.
Tell me, Natasha—
Are you sure your missions, all this time, was clearing the red on your ledger?
Or were you used to cause more harm than you ever knew?]
Everyone was shocked to hear that. Just how deep did HYDRA infiltrated SHIELD, or was even SHIELD still SHIELD? Or was it already a husk of HYDRA?
Somehow, they seem encouraged enough now to finally listen to him.
End of chapter