Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5735 - 4758: X Royal Family: Fierce Battle (25)

The arrival of another contingent of Avengers commanded everyone's attention. They closely resembled the local Avengers Alliance, differing only in minor details of their attire. In every aspect – their appearance, their bearing, and their actions – they seemed like exact duplicates.

When the two Captain Americas encountered each other, both launched their shields simultaneously. Their postures and stances were perfectly mirrored, and even the trajectories of their flying shields were symmetrical. The Black Widow from the prime universe executed a swing from a streetlamp opposite, while her counterpart precisely struck an alien on the shoulder with a Widow's Sting at the critical juncture.

The two Spider-Men were even more spectacular. One swung from this direction, the other from that. One employed spider silk to disrupt, the other delivered an aerial kick. The Hulks were equally matched; one swung an electric pole like a club, the other lifted and hurled a car. From vantage points to the east and west, the two Hawkeyes provided continuous aerial support, with one firing explosive arrows and the other deploying smoke arrows.

However, the most impressive display belonged to Iron Man. Beyond the armor they were already wearing, each brought two additional mechas. Unfortunately, the local Iron Man's mecha had been repurposed for civilian evacuation, so the main universe Iron Man shared one with him. It was evident their control authority had been synchronized long ago, as the four iron suits on the ground operated in perfect unison, relentlessly bombarding the area.

An influx of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents arrived, and military helicopters and fighter jets were certainly not absent. For a brief period, the Manhattan cityscape transformed into a scene of utter devastation, with fire and explosions engulfing the surroundings.

The integration of the main universe's Avengers Alliance yielded a significantly positive outcome; this was far more effective than a simple sum of its parts. Having a counterpart who shared their exact strategic thinking allowed for the execution of numerous unconventional tactics. The disabling devices deployed by the Shi'ar warriors were swiftly neutralized. One Hulk caught a soldier and slammed him into the ground with such force that a crater over a meter deep was gouged into the street. No carbon-based lifeform could withstand such an impact; even if they survived, their minds would be utterly obliterated.

Their enemy formations crumbled. The duo of Captain Americas pursued three Shi'ar soldiers, while the flying mechas contained another four, and Spider-Man managed to ensnare one with his webs. With victory seemingly within reach, they regrouped, preparing to eliminate the remaining enemy forces in a single, decisive push.

At that precise moment, the commanding officer suddenly bellowed, "Long live the Twin Gods!" The divine power within him erupted with unrestrained force. Captain America muttered, "Not good," as his two shields shot out, but it was tragically too late.

The Shi'ar officer had already transformed into a sphere of brilliant light, on the verge of detonation. The local Iron Man reacted with swift decisiveness, directing a mecha to rush forward and forcibly envelop the officer. However, with a thunderous boom, half the street was obliterated, and all the Avengers were flung backward, crashing hard onto the ground.

Naturally, the other soldiers were also consumed by the explosion, resulting in an intensely chaotic aftermath. Iron Man's mecha had bought precious moments, enabling the military aircraft to disengage from the battlefield. They soon returned, but this time, their mission was to recover the decimated Avengers Alliance.

Shortly thereafter, ambulances and medical personnel converged on the scene, a highly unusual occurrence, as under normal circumstances, the Avengers Alliance would have been capable of walking away on their own. Now, even the Hulk was swaddled in a large, comforting blanket, a testament to the severity of their injuries.

Agents arrived to manage the cleanup, noting that one of Captain America's shields had been propelled over twenty meters by the blast, embedding itself deeply into the side of a building. Adjacent to this building, the imprints of two Spider-Men could be seen pressed into the wall, alongside a partially destroyed Iron Man gauntlet.

Within the S.H.I.E.L.D. hospital, Nick Fury was nearing the brink of exasperation. Having one injured Avengers Alliance was already a significant burden, and now there was another, with the emergency room overflowing. He struggled to prioritize whom to worry about first.

As he felt his composure slipping, Hill entered, speaking in hushed tones, "The satellite has detected a small alien vessel in near-Earth orbit. They must have infiltrated during the Earth's magical defense network's adjustment period..."

Just as she finished speaking, Nick's phone rang. Upon answering, he was met with Doctor Strange's enraged voice, "What is going on with you people?! How did that spaceship manage to breach the magical defense network?!"

Nick opened his mouth. He suspected it was likely a contingency plan orchestrated by the Shi'ar Empire, but what did it have to do with him? He hadn't dispatched the ship, nor was he responsible for the explosion.

"I have repeatedly urged you to utilize that sky carrier for actual operational duties! Why weren't you monitoring the near-Earth orbit situation preemptively?!"

"I informed you of the situation in advance, did I not? I also urged you to prepare for potential exploitation. You even had two fully operational Avenger Alliances at your disposal!"

Nick found himself momentarily rendered speechless. Doctor Strange had indeed provided a prior warning; otherwise, Hill would not have been aware that the vulnerability stemmed from the adjustment of the magical defense network. The primary reason Nick had not taken the threat more seriously was the misleading nature of the frontline battle reports he had received.

He was aware of the factory’s destruction and, naturally, the opening of the teleportation portal. The advancing alien army was also clearly on his radar. However, the ongoing reports from the mutants consistently painted a picture of positive developments, effectively holding the Shi’ar Empire’s forces at the Jupiter Line. This led Nick to believe they would not advance so swiftly.

His initial impulse was to blame the mutants. However, with both Avenger Alliances now incapacitated, the mutants were the only remaining force they could rely upon. Nick vigorously rubbed his forehead, took a deep breath, and announced, "Keep a close watch on things here. I need to head to the United Nations immediately."

The invasion of Manhattan had already captured the attention of various nations, propelling the situation into a narrative arc familiar to viewers of Marvel Earth – specifically, the scenario where Manhattan, New York, USA, faces an alien incursion, and The Avengers valiantly engage in extended combat to repel the extraterrestrial threat and safeguard the planet.

Nonetheless, this time, despite the eventual repulsion of the enemy, The Avengers sustained significant casualties, rendering them incapable of organizing a formidable fighting force in the immediate future. A period of regrouping was necessary, alongside serious consideration of a thorny issue: the mutants.

"We should not have so readily agreed to their proposal of establishing a nature reserve," a diplomat stated as Nick entered the room. "Otherwise, we could have leveraged that agreement to request their assistance in fighting for Earth by conceding to the establishment of their own nation."

Despite having encountered this line of reasoning numerous times before, Nick felt a surge of irritation on this occasion. He cast a glance at the head of the Spear Bureau, and without regard for whether the individual understood, he directly took the microphone from a UN Security Council staff member. "Alright, esteemed colleagues," he declared, "now is hardly the time for us to engage in idle discourse and diplomatic maneuvering. It is paramount that we devise a concrete, actionable plan to appease and win over the mutants. My personal suggestion is that we extend a grand welcome to them in Washington and engage in discussions regarding strategies and plans for confronting alien threats. What are your thoughts on this?"

A wave of discussion swept through the chamber. Although the mutants were in the process of establishing a nature reserve, it was acknowledged that regional organizations could, at times, hold a status parallel to nations, potentially affording them equivalent rights. A formal welcome of the mutants in such a manner by Washington would send a potent political message. Should the mutants accept this overture, their days as scattered combatants would be irrevocably over, and their institutional activities on Earth would become normalized. This was a prospect many nations viewed with apprehension.

However, America, having been the direct target of the invasion, remained resolute in its stance. Other nations had little room to object. Had it not been for Manhattan acting as a colossal attractor, drawing the attention of any alien force, other countries might have found themselves in a more precarious position.

Consequently, the discussion persisted for some time, ultimately converging on a general agreement: direct engagement was not only necessary but imperative, and it had to be conducted with utmost seriousness.

Thus, on the day following the collective hospitalization of The Avengers, Professor X, accompanied by an impressive welcoming delegation, entered the White House for a cordial meeting with the U.S. President and the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. The two parties engaged in an in-depth exchange concerning a range of critical issues, including the future trajectory of Clarkia, and a foundational consensus was achieved.

These matters, however, were of secondary importance. Once the necessary diplomatic protocols and courtesies were concluded, Nick urgently sought out Professor X. "How are things progressing at Jupiter?" he inquired.

"The situation is not particularly promising, Nick," Professor X responded gravely. "They are systematically eroding our defensive line. The strength of the mutants is proving insufficient."

Even though he had anticipated this outcome, Nick could not suppress a sigh. "I am truly sorry to hear about Magneto," he remarked.

"You must understand, he is not deceased, but even so, his return is not imminent," Professor X stated. "The current predicament is our lack of sufficient strength; his absence, while significant, does not fundamentally alter the imbalance."

"How could this have happened..." Nick clenched his teeth. "Is the alien army truly this formidable?"

"This should have been considered when you were undertaking the factory project," Professor X pointed out. "If they had not meticulously planned and schemed for an extended period, why would they have committed such substantial resources?"

Could Nick possibly misunderstand such a basic principle? In the past, when extraterrestrials invaded, they would appear, at most opening a single spaceship. This time, however, the situation was dramatically escalated. Their meticulous planning caught everyone off guard, making defeat almost inevitable.

Nevertheless, Nick began to seriously question if confronting the Mutants with such a large-scale operation had truly been the right decision. This factory had yielded no positive outcomes whatsoever; its most significant accomplishment was the elimination of the raid squad. The core issue, however, was that the consciousness had been successfully rescued by the Mutants and its physical form reconstructed, effectively resulting in no losses for them.

In essence, Earth had invested immense manpower and resources, only to bring about calamity upon itself and consequently be forced into a compromise with the Mutants due to this very calamity. What was the true purpose of all this?

"I assure you, in future endeavors involving such projects, I will strongly advocate for more careful consideration," Nick conveyed, offering his utmost assurance within the boundaries of his authority. "Even if I cannot prevent it entirely, I will at least provide you with a warning."

"You are quite astute, Director Fury," Professor X stated, pausing his movement and meeting Nick's gaze. "Mutants represent a potential time bomb, yet at times, they can also serve as a crucial brake and restraint. Those who blindly rush down the wrong path always require a steadfast obstacle like ourselves, wouldn't you agree?"

Nick's lips tightened as he responded, "We will not repeat the catastrophic error of the Red Orchid Factory. But for now, the most pressing concern is to seal the teleportation portal located within the Sun. Do you have any insights?"

"If you are anticipating the Mutants organizing another raid squad to venture into the Sun and shut down the teleportation portal, I fear that may not be feasible. Simply maintaining their position at the Jupiter Line already requires every ounce of our effort."

"I have an idea," Nick announced. "Perhaps we can resolve this issue without resorting to brute force."