(AN: Here's the chapter for today. Had to make another note cause someone just left a review so I am compelled to release a bonus after. Please be patient, I shall have the chapter ready within the day after Sunday business is done haha. Shout out to all christians out there who is also gonna be busy. Thanks!)
Time remained frozen.
Smoke hung midair. Blood droplets hovered like crimson beads.
Broken pavement, twisted metal, and corpses—human and inhuman—were locked in a single unmoving moment.
Yet five figures could still move.
Four stood together near the ruined street—Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Natasha Romanoff.
The fifth watched.
A presence with a peculiar necklace, observing from somewhere beyond sight.
For now, that someone remained unseen.
Getting back to the Left 4 Dead of Earth 616, Steve, Bruce, Tony, and Natasha.
The test was over.
And yet none of them felt relieved.
Because their new 'boss'—Arthas Menethil—had just proven something deeply unsettling.
He knew them, as really really knew them.
[Villain's Generals — Group Chat]
[Arthas Menethil:
Are you finally ready to listen now?]
The four exchanged glances.
Steve nodded once, slow and deliberate.
"We're listening," he said aloud.
"But don't mistake that for obedience. We won't follow any order that harms innocents."
[Arthas Menethil:
How noble! But, you seem to have forgotten my title? Have you?]
"We still won't do everything you say," Tony shot back. "We'd rather die."
For a moment, nothing came.
Then—
[Arthas Menethil:
Well now, why would I kill my own generals?
You'll change your minds eventually.
Now—let's stop wasting time.]
All four subtly tensed.
[Arthas Menethil:
I want you to not rush the Snake problem inside SHIELD.
As I have mentioned earlier, another force has already infiltrated SHIELD and is getting ready to invade Earth.
Now, I don't care what you guys do, even if you join a super boy band created by Fury to battle this upcoming threat.
It won't matter to me so I won't stop you.
My order however, is for you guys to take a certain Item, once the battle is over. ]
Steve's eyes sharpened.
"You want the Cube for yourself?" he said immediately.
[Arthas Menethil:
Huh.
I didn't realize you were that sharp, Captain.]
"Why do you need it?" Natasha asked.
[Arthas Menethil:
I don't.
Not really no.
I simply want to collect it.
None of you know what it really is anyway—so why not give it to someone who does?]
Tony frowned. "My old man worked on it. You keep saying it's more than that. So what is it?"
A pause.
Then—
[Arthas Menethil]:
Interesting question.
You've just given me an idea.
Here's how this will work.
You retrieve the object you call the Tesseract after the invasion.
You send it to me through the system.
And once I have it—
I will answer that question.
And many others.
Knowledge even Fury has buried beneath that eyepatch of his.]
Before anyone could object, the system intervened.
[Order Detected!]
[Arthas Menethil has issued his first command!
Order: Retrieve the Tesseract after the invasion and deliver it to him.
Reward: Knowledge regarding the Tesseract's true origin.
Failure: A swarm of Insectoids will be dispatched to retrieve it—regardless of cost.]
Bruce swallowed. "What… what are insectoids?"
The system prompts again, it was the movie starship troopers. Scenes of the battle of klendathu, a battle where the UCF lost against space bugs.
By the end of the scene, all four of them ain't numb from having too many consecutive horrified expressions in a single day.
[Arthas Menethil:
That's all for now. I shall make contact again once you have provided me the cube or the space bugs do.
Regarding the rest of the enemies, they will be dealt with once you're first order is completed and the Invasion is won.]
"Wait," Bruce said urgently. "What is this invasion you keep talking to us about?"
[Arthas Menethil: It ain't my problem. Why should I help you?]
"Because if Earth is invaded, it affects everyone," Steve argued. "Including you."
[Arthas Menethil]:
Why would it affect me—
when I'm not on your Earth?]
Silence.
Tony frowned. "What do you mean your Earth? Are you saying you're not human?"
[Arthas Menethil:
I was. But not anymore. My world is called Azeroth.
As for the invasion—here's a hint:
They operate on a hivemind.
Destroy the mothership.
And the battle's over.
Oh—and take care of Elias for me, will you?]
Elias casually gave them a task to protect himself for fun.
In truth, Elias despised this interaction with them. It didn't feel like him at all.
However, Elias, for once, was looking through more than just the surface.
With this kind of connection to them, he might be able to prevent some chaos the Avengers created and will face in the future.
[Arthas Menethil has gone offline]
[Arthas Menethil has decided to deal with the designated enemies. No judges shall be sent for now.
Deadline:
• First Order Completion
• Invasion Resolution ]
[Side Task Issued: Protect Elias Mercer.]
[Time will resume in 10 minutes. Prepare accordingly.]
They immediately returned to their previous places before the time freezed.
They had time so they discussed what they'll do next.
"What do you think?" Tony asked quietly.
"Time is not on our side, we need a proper place to discuss this and more. We also need to talk to Fury." Natasha replied.
"But we're not allowed to share anything regarding our current situation. And it's not like we can when that is preventing us from doing so." Tony added.
"So, what are we supposed to do?" Bruce asked.
"For now we collect ourselves. Focus on what's in front of us." Steve decided.
"Once this is over, we have the chat, we'll talk there the time and location where we can discuss everything." He proposed.
I agree with Cap. Tony immediately supported, and so did Natasha and Bruce.
Just in time, the system chimed in.
[Time's up! Time will now resume!]
When the time started ticking again.
They were met with the rest of the reinforcements lead by Rumlow.
"You guys alright?" He asked.
We're good. Steve answered.
Rumlow went to Phil to receive further orders.
Phil himself was already reporting everything to Fury.
The battle, the results, the remaining survivors.
Fury's voice buzzed through their comms.
"Alright, the four of you clearly need to tell me something.
Phil, lead them here along with the remaining survivors, have them rested, i feel like we're going to have a lot to talk about.
Have Rumlow and the rest start gathering the corpses, I'll be sending our experts.
As of now, this part of Queens is under the jurisdiction of SHIELD."
"I'm taking Pepper and Happy with me back to Stark Tower, no offense, but I'd rather rest at my place."
"None taken. Go ahead."
"Tony, why not take Elias with you?" Natasha suggested.
"That's not a bad idea, alright, I'll take him too." Tony decided.
"Stark, that individual is under SHIELD supervision." Fury immediately warned.
"Widow, what are you doing?" He asked
"He's not connected to this Fury." this time steve mediated.
"What do you mean?" Fury asking for clarification.
"The- uh-"
Steve was unable to continue as he felt his heart being gripped. Then remembered, right, no sharing.
"All you to know js that he's innocent Fury, I can vouce for that." Steve ultimately decided to say.
"Boss, he's not responsible for anything. He's innocent, I can't provide proof, but I'm sure and I bet my career on this." Natasha added.
"I don't know if my words have any impact, but I also vouch for this individual." Bruce sealed it.
Fury could only rub his temples. Natasha, Steve and Banner vouched for him so he decided to let go.
"Fine, I won't pry anymore."
Is what he wanted them to hear, but in truth?
He was even more convinced Elias is more than likely connected to all of this.
His Paranoia was kicking in full swing.
.
.
.
.
The street was no longer a battlefield.
Under harsh floodlights, S.H.I.E.L.D. had claimed Queens with surgical efficiency.
White containment tents rose where corpses once lay.
Men in full hazmat suits moved with practiced precision, tagging bodies, sealing them in reinforced polymer bags marked with biohazard symbols and unfamiliar warning glyphs hastily added by very nervous scientists.
Inside one tent, the air was cold and sterile.
An infected body lay on a steel table, restraints locking it in place despite the fact that it was very, very dead.
Scalpels whirred.
"Muscle density is abnormal," one scientist muttered, slicing through gray flesh. "Fibers are… layered?"
"Like it was reinforced," another replied.
"Bone density's up by forty percent. This thing shouldn't have been able to move like it did."
A third voice chimed in, tense. "And the brain?"
"Destroyed. Completely liquefied—yet motor function persisted for several seconds afterward."
Silence followed that.
"This isn't viral," the lead researcher finally said. "This is engineered. Or… altered."
No one liked that answer. Why? It was the same answer they've got 2-3 years ago within the same area.
Elsewhere, another table held a special infected—a Charger.
Its arm alone required a mechanical brace to hold steady.
"What the hell do you even call this?" someone whispered.
No one answered. It'll take a while but they'll know the name's of every infected soon once the footage has been fully reviewed.
.
.
.
Mercer's Hearth
Elias crossed his arms as Tony Stark paced his shop.
"No," Elias said flatly. "Absolutely not."
Tony stopped pacing. "C'mon, kid. Temporary. Stark Tower's safer than anywhere else on the planet."
"I'm not leaving my people," Elias replied. "This place exists because of them."
Tony sighed, scrubbing his face. "I get that. I do. But you're officially on someone's very weird radar now—and trust me, I recognize that look. It's the you're-about-to-be-a-problem look."
Elias narrowed his eyes. "You planning to kidnap me?"
Tony raised both hands. "Whoa. No. I'm persuading. Big difference."
Elias hesitated. "…My employees."
"They get protection," Tony said immediately.
"Full detail. Armed. Trained. Overpaid."
Elias studied him for a long moment.
"…While I'm gone," he said slowly. "They're not touched."
Tony nodded. "On my name."
That did it.
Elias exhaled and turned toward the counter. "Mara."
She looked up instantly. "Yeah?"
"You're in charge while I'm away," he said.
"Everything runs through you. No risks. If anything feels off, you shut it down."
Mara blinked. "…You're trusting me with this?"
"I wouldn't leave if I didn't."
She nodded, serious now. "Go. We'll hold the fort."
Tony clapped once. "Great. Road trip."
Elias muttered, "I hate you already."
.
.
.
Betty's apartment was dark, warm, and blissfully normal.
Bruce came back on a quinjet nearby where it would only take seconds to get back.
Bruce sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders slumped, exhaustion finally catching up with him.
Betty touched his arm gently. "You're safe here."
He looked up at her, eyes tired but soft. "I know. I just… needed to hear it."
She smiled and leaned in, pressing her forehead to his. "You're allowed to rest, Bruce."
The world narrowed.
For the first time in a long while, Bruce let go.
The door closed.
The lights dimmed.
And for once—there was no fear of losing control.
.
.
.
Helicarrier — Designated Quarters
Steve sat on the edge of the narrow bunk, towel draped over his shoulders, staring at nothing.
Natasha leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"You okay?" she asked.
Steve nodded after a moment. "Just… thinking."
"Dangerous habit," she teased lightly.
He smiled faintly. "I keep wondering how much of this we didn't see coming."
Natasha shrugged. "We never do."
She pushed off the wall and sat beside him.
"You did good today."
"So did you. We all did."
Silence settled—not awkward, just tired.
"You think he's telling the truth?" Steve asked quietly.
"About some things," Natasha said. "Not all."
She glanced at him sideways. "You still believe people can choose."
Steve met her gaze. "I have to."
Natasha leaned back. "Then let's hope you're right."
.
.
.
Stark Tower — Later That Night
The elevator doors slid open with their familiar, polished hum.
Tony stepped out first, already rubbing at his temples.
Pepper followed beside him, heels clicking softly against the floor, tablet tucked under her arm.
Happy came last, carrying two paper bags that unmistakably smelled like bread.
And Elias.
Elias paused for half a second at the threshold before stepping out, eyes lifting—not in awe, but in quiet disbelief.
"I still think this is unnecessary," he said. "You people have security teams. Plural."
Tony waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, and Fury still wants you where he can 'keep an eye on things.' His words. Very eye-heavy sentence. I'd rather have you here where it's easy to you know, protect you from a certain pirate."
Pepper glanced at Tony. "You didn't tell me SHIELD was officially involved."
Tony lowered his voice just enough. "They are. And they aren't. Long story, classified, annoying. Bottom line—Fury's nervous, and you don't ignore a nervous Fury unless you enjoy being followed by satellites."
Elias sighed. "I run a bakery."
"And a really good one," Happy added.
"These are still warm."
Elias shot him a look. "I made them as you requested but you forgot your wallet?"
"Hey, I'll pay," Happy replied. "Eventually."
Pepper turned to Elias, arms folding gently. "You know this isn't about suspecting you, right?"
"On paper, yes." Elias said. "But the truth is, they're highly suspiscious of me."
Tony pointed toward the open living area.
"You've got a guest suite. No cameras inside. Before you ask—yes, I argued about that."
Pepper nodded. "FRIDAY's only monitoring the perimeter. Fury doesn't get a live feed."
"That was non-negotiable," Tony added.
Elias studied them for a moment.
"And my staff?"
"Already handled," Tony replied.
"Two discreet bodyguards, rotating shifts. They'll pretend to be customers with bad coffee habits."
Happy grinned. "I volunteered. Got rejected."
"Shocking," Elias deadpanned.
Pepper smiled faintly. "You'll stay here until Fury calms down. Could be a few days. Maybe longer."
Elias exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Fine. But I'm still visiting the shop from time to time to check on them."
Tony smirked. "Good. Because I refuse to live in a world without those pie of yours."
Elias shook his head. "This is officially the strangest customer loyalty program I've ever seen."
Tony clapped him on the shoulder.
"Welcome to Stark Industries. We ruin lives, but we feed you first."
Pepper sighed. "Tony."
"What? I'm being honest."
Elias couldn't help it—he laughed, just a little.
And for the first time since the system appeared, his tension eased just a bit.
(AN: Next chapter is a summary skip to the start of the Invasion)
End of chapter