The battlefield fell silent, the only sound the continuous cracking of the earth where Robert had driven Blanch into the ground. All the superhumans from the official agencies stood frozen, unsure of their next move.
It wasn't just the superhumans who were at a loss; even the commanders behind these agencies were at a standstill. Robert's display of power was beyond their comprehension. More importantly, everyone recognized him—the Saiyan whose destructive power rivaled that of humanity's ultimate weapon. His might had cowed every official agency present.
"Hum!"
"Hum!"
"Hum!"
Robert didn't stop despite their inaction. He appeared next to Steve and the others, using healing spells to mend their injuries.
Most of the Avengers were battered, especially Steve and his group, whose combat abilities, outside of their vibranium gear, weren't particularly strong.
"Thanks," Steve breathed, once his wounds were healed. Beside him, Bucky reattached his vibranium arm to its mangled socket.
"Pow!"
"Pow!"
"Pow!"
Robert wasn't just healing the Avengers. As he moved among them, the superhumans who had fought against them began to drop dead, one by one. Their deaths were swift, leaving no trace or resistance. They didn't even have time for final words.
All that remained of the official forces were the distant mechs and jets, their presence proof of the agencies' involvement. And in the deep crater, Blanch lay unconscious or worse.
"Are you okay?" Robert asked Peter Parker, who looked fatigued but otherwise unharmed. "Need healing?"
"No, I'm just tired," Peter sighed, rubbing his temples. Venom had retreated deep inside him, unwilling to re-emerge.
In truth, Peter knew Venom had given his all in the fight, understanding that capture would be equally dire for them both. Venom had managed to maintain the battle suit form, aiding Peter as best he could, even if not at full strength.
Luckily, none of the superhumans wielded sonic attacks, which would have crippled Venom's efforts entirely.
Of course, neither Peter nor Venom would admit that Robert's brutal display had thoroughly frightened the symbiote into hiding.
"Director, what do we do now?" At S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base, Rumlow and Coulson turned to Nick Fury, awaiting his orders.
Rumlow felt a mix of relief and dread. Initially, he had planned to deploy Hydra's superhumans to capture the Avengers, hoping to claim some spoils. Fury, however, had kept him back, sending real superhumans instead. At the time, Rumlow had been resentful, but now he was only grateful.
Rumlow was not overly confident. Even with the super-soldier serum coursing through him, making him feel on par with Steve Rogers and some of Fury's top agents, he didn't believe he could survive an encounter with Robert. Not even for a moment.
"With the Saiyan's speed, they can't retreat. Our superhumans are dead, and the remaining commanders and operatives can't escape either..." Fury spoke quietly, watching Robert on the monitor. His expression was grim.
"It seems the demon soldier knew something. Otherwise, he wouldn't have aided the Avengers. This implies that the previous battle waves were likely caused by the Saiyan. He truly has the power to destroy the Earth..."
Fury continued, "So, do we still proceed with the Insight Plan? Even if we uncover his true identity, we can't threaten him unless we find his weakness. And even then, we risk him choosing to destroy the Earth out of spite."
Fury's face showed frustration. Initially, he had thought it was better to have Robert as a known threat rather than an unknown one. But now, realizing Robert's potential to obliterate Earth, his anxiety had only grown.
With such immense power, Robert was almost untouchable. Unless Fury was willing to go down a dark path and join a doomsday plot, he couldn't see himself using Robert's identity against him without risking planetary annihilation.
Especially since Earth's current technology couldn't support interstellar travel or survival. Even if they built a few spaceships, how many seeds of Earth's civilization could they preserve?
"We can't abandon the Insight Plan. Even if we can't eliminate the Saiyan with it, we need some leverage to avoid complete helplessness like now!" Rumlow argued. The Insight Plan was Hydra's ultimate strategy. Its success meant they would gain a real ultimate weapon.
Even if they couldn't directly threaten Robert or Clark, they could at least learn more secrets and potentially develop counters over time.
Thus, despite knowing Robert's overwhelming power, Rumlow couldn't accept Fury abandoning the Insight Plan. It was vital for Hydra, far more than for S.H.I.E.L.D. In these times, with numerous extraordinary threats emerging, both official bodies and rogue groups like Hydra faced immense pressure.
Hydra's grand ambition was to dominate the world. The rise of individuals like Robert and Clark, and the constant emergence of new supernatural crises and unknown powerhouses, directly challenged their ultimate goal.
"Indeed. Our current methods can't contain the Saiyan or gather effective intelligence. But if the Insight Plan succeeds, we'll at least have some leverage over the Saiyan and the Superman..." Fury nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the monitor.
"However, after this incident, even if some harbor ill will towards the Saiyan, no one will dare act on it openly. This guy is just too terrifying. No one wants to provoke him unless they can stay hidden."
"What if that demon reveals our information to him? The demon knows a lot about our locations..." Rumlow's eyes flashed with worry as he reminded Fury of a potential threat.
Fury and Coulson's faces darkened at Rumlow's words. They had to admit he had a point. Even if the Hell Baron didn't publicly disclose their secrets, he could easily tell Robert in private, leaving them with no defense.
Should Robert decide to target S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury doubted they could protect their base, no matter their hidden resources.
Fury himself had numerous escape plans, but he couldn't say the same for the countless personnel and the infrastructure of S.H.I.E.L.D.—all his life's work.
"Cease the intrusion on J.A.R.V.I.S. immediately! Contact the military and have them speak to the demon. They'll likely be under pressure from other factions as well. Even if they want to appease the Saiyan, they can't withstand the combined pressure of our forces. After all, the Saiyan isn't playing by the rules," Fury ordered, regaining his composure and directing Coulson and Rumlow to take action.
As expected, numerous official agencies began reaching out to the military, particularly Blanch's faction. They wanted to ensure the Hell Baron's side could negotiate, not just to prevent Robert's retaliation, but also to see if they could save Blanch's life.
"Rama's decision was spot-on!" Back at the Hell Baron's military base, Jerry was recounting his story excitedly. He had played a crucial role, understanding the Hell Baron's intentions and executing them perfectly, saving their faction from a precarious situation.
Despite Fury's strong stance, the power now lay firmly with Jerry's superiors. Even if they had suffered minor losses, their spirits were high. The troubles of other factions were no concern of theirs.
Meanwhile, after dealing with the superhumans, Robert turned his attention to the remaining jets and mechs, which soon exploded into fireworks in the sky. Steve, watching the destruction, opened his mouth to speak but decided against it.
Bucky patted Steve's shoulder, offering silent comfort. Unlike Steve, Bucky felt no sorrow over the destruction of the jets and their occupants.
Years of brainwashing had changed Bucky. He no longer felt allegiance to the military. Especially since the superhumans sent by the military had shown no mercy towards him or Steve. Bucky didn't know about the higher-ups' plan to spare Steve.
To Bucky, if they showed no restraint, he had no reason to either. He was already being lenient by not personally turning their remains into fireworks.
"Sigh, still a step too late..." A voice spoke from above as the last jet exploded, revealing the long-absent Martian Manhunter. He had hoped to save the soldiers but found himself hindered by Robert's fiery methods.
The intense flames from the explosions nearly caused him to fall from the sky. Saving others became impossible; self-preservation was his immediate concern.
"You?" Robert raised an eyebrow at the Martian Manhunter. He had once suggested to Clark that they recruit him into the Avengers due to his unique abilities. But since then, they hadn't been able to locate him, and the idea had been shelved.
Now, the Martian Manhunter had shown up on his own.
"Yes, it's me. I apologize for not stopping them from attacking the Avengers," the Martian Manhunter said regretfully. "I came with a difficult request..."
"If it's difficult, don't say it," Robert cut him off, uninterested in the Martian's plea. He wasn't inclined to hear it, especially while still fuming over Kara's injuries.
And Robert still had more anger to vent. Not just on the fallen superhumans or the destroyed jets, but on Blanch, who lay in the crater, still alive and a tempting target.
"Do you need us to open a mirror dimension?" Baron Mordo asked, stepping forward with his allies. They had observed the entire confrontation, not intervening, but now worried that Robert's rage might lead to further destruction on Earth.
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