Chapter 553: The Battle of Public Opinion and the Reversal

In theory, with the current strength of the Avengers, as long as they discovered and located the vampires and werewolves, eliminating them wouldn't pose much of a problem. Initially, things did develop along these lines...

The vampires and werewolves of the Alexander lineage were completely unable to organize a decent counterattack against the prepared Avengers. Even though the number of vampires and werewolves in their headquarters far exceeded the numbers the Avengers had dealt with before, their strength was vastly inferior to those previous elite warriors.

Additionally, Tony Stark invested heavily to create a large number of portable combat robots, further reducing the suspense of the battle...

The reason for creating these portable combat robots specifically to target vampires and werewolves was simple: Robert had previously informed Tony Stark about the Dark Dimension, heightening Tony Stark's vigilance.

To prepare for the possible arrival of strong beings from the Dark Dimension, these portable combat robots also had an ultimate measure: self-destruction...

While the explosion wasn't particularly powerful, it incorporated high concentrations of ultraviolet sunlight and other means. According to Tony Stark and Jarvis's calculations, the explosion wouldn't harm the Avengers, but it had an astonishingly restraining effect on vampires and werewolves.

In the battle against the vampires and werewolves guarding the headquarters, these portable combat robots proved their effectiveness, which satisfied Tony Stark greatly...

Of course, these measures were only for dealing with the grunts and preventing the Avengers from being overwhelmed by too many enemies from the Dark Dimension. To truly deal with stronger foes, Tony Stark still needed to devise more powerful restraining weapons.

Soon, under various restraining measures, the vampires and werewolves in the headquarters were almost completely wiped out. Perhaps some vampires and werewolves not in the headquarters escaped this fate, but this lineage of vampires and werewolves was essentially eradicated. The remaining ones wouldn't be spared by the Avengers either.

Compared to the American official agencies monitoring European vampires and werewolves in a roundabout way, the Avengers found it easier to monitor them directly in Europe.

In this era, with the UK not having left the EU, Steve, whose headquarters was in London, had abundant intelligence and official contacts in Europe. Unless these surviving vampires and werewolves remained completely hidden, they were bound to leave traces when they appeared...

Especially the vampires. Apart from exceptions like Morbius and Blade, the vast majority of vampires needed blood to sustain their lives.

Before the headquarters was breached by the Avengers, the vampires had the wealth to sustain themselves, either by using humans directly as blood food or through refrigerated blood bags. They had the power and money to even keep humans as reserve food.

However, after the Avengers breached the headquarters, the remaining vampires no longer had such privileges. Survival itself became a challenge, forcing them to expose themselves to survive.

Seeing large numbers of humans being used as blood food in the headquarters, some even hooked up to tubes for blood extraction, the Avengers showed no mercy in their slaughter, avenging these victims...

After the Avengers breached this European headquarters, they didn't rest. Having witnessed the horrors inflicted on so many humans, the Avengers were fueled by anger. With Martian Manhunter having gathered ample intelligence on vampires and werewolves, the Avengers naturally aimed to eliminate them all before considering their departure!

Facing the relentless assault of the Avengers, the remaining European vampires and werewolves didn't last long. Their strength was far inferior to the Alexander lineage, and even their strongest couldn't match the vampire lords. Thus, their fate was sealed...

The mission to exterminate vampires and werewolves proceeded smoothly for the Avengers. One by one, the offshoots of vampires and werewolves were completely eradicated. But upon returning to America, the mission encountered some setbacks...

The Avengers, just beginning their actions, faced obstruction from official agencies again. However, not all agencies were against them. Steve had leveraged previous events to significantly elevate the Avengers' status with the officials.

Thus, most official agencies didn't want to antagonize the Avengers, not only because it was unnecessary but also because past conflicts hadn't yielded any benefits. One agency alone couldn't stand against the Avengers...

It's rare for all official agencies to have unified interests to oppose someone. Generally, the interrelations among these agencies weren't particularly good...

Nonetheless, some official agencies still stood up to stop the Avengers' slaughter of vampires and werewolves. Some had cooperative relationships with these creatures, some were researching them, and some simply felt that the Avengers' actions were too cruel...

Faced with these obstructions, the Avengers didn't pay much heed and continued their actions. If any official agency dared to obstruct them, they were ready to fight them too!

However, the Avengers didn't anticipate that after they made a strong move, the agencies cooperating with vampires and werewolves would back down, the ones secretly researching them would also relent, but the agency deeming the Avengers cruel would step up...

This agency produced videos and news reports showing the gruesome deaths of American vampires and werewolves, broadcasting them through their controlled media. This immediately caused a huge uproar on the internet and in public opinion!

In America, there are always plenty of sympathetic figures, especially in a place where people had gradually accepted the existence of supernatural beings. Vampires and werewolves, being the most widely rumored, were also quickly accepted.

Thus, with the media's guiding reports, the slain vampires and werewolves were portrayed as beings not much different from humans, mere mutated superhumans like the Avengers. It was suggested that the Avengers slaughtered them because they felt threatened...

As these reports emerged, large protest marches filled the streets. While people didn't know the exact location of the Avengers' base, Tony Stark's company buildings were well-known.

Soon, Stark Group and its subsidiaries were surrounded by protestors demanding an apology and an explanation from the Avengers. Otherwise, they would lose trust in these so-called superheroes!

The Avengers couldn't believe that after almost eradicating vampires and werewolves in Europe, where not a single person criticized their actions, they were being challenged on their own turf...

Yet, the Avengers had to acknowledge the effectiveness of manipulating public opinion and swaying the masses. Despite knowing many protesters were guided individuals, they couldn't simply attack them...

"Need my help in guiding public opinion? Osborn Group controls quite a few media outlets..." Harry Osborn offered, arriving at the Avengers' base amidst the media storm.

"No need. It's not time for you to be exposed yet. We have our countermeasures. We've fought media battles before, and Jarvis has recorded plenty of data. It won't go to waste!" Tony Stark declined Harry's offer, preferring to keep their cooperation hidden until a more crucial moment.

Soon, the Avengers, or rather Tony Stark's counteroffensive began. With the public now aware of the supernatural world, Tony Stark had no reason to hide anything. With official agencies already turning a blind eye, Stark decided to expose the truth.

Stark Group's media outlets quickly began reporting on the origins and habits of vampires and werewolves, focusing on their use of humans as blood food.

To those sympathetic individuals who found the killings cruel, Stark showed them something even more horrifying!

Seeing vampires and werewolves brutally killed might evoke sympathy, but witnessing fellow humans being kept as blood food would surely turn opinions.

Tony Stark and the Avengers didn't need to convince every sympathetic person. They only needed to reveal the events to normal people. Once they saw the atrocities committed by vampires and werewolves, the tide of public opinion would naturally turn...

As for criticism of the Avengers acting without legal authority or trial rights, they didn't bother to respond. Most supernatural incidents had been handled by the Avengers, and even if the authorities hadn't officially recognized these powers, they had tacitly accepted them, especially after their previous failed attempt to oppose the Avengers.

With the increasing exposure of the vampires' and werewolves' crimes, public opinion finally began to shift. While some still criticized the Avengers for being too ruthless, the media narrative was no longer one-sidedly against them...

"Damn! These vampires and werewolves deserve to be exterminated! I think the Avengers were too lenient; killing them is too easy!"

"But even if they were cruel, there should be legal punishment. Why do the Avengers get to kill them?"

"Law? Which law can judge vampires and werewolves? Who can catch them? Police or the military? It still comes down to the Avengers!"

"The Avengers could have just captured them instead of killing them. We don't have the death penalty in our state, so why not give these vampires and werewolves a chance to reform?"

"Instinctual beings reform? Are you out of your mind? These are supernatural beings! They might live through centuries-long prison sentences!"

"Exactly, some clueless sympathizer doesn't understand that vampires need blood to survive. If they were imprisoned, the resources needed would be astronomical. Would that sympathizer volunteer their blood?"

The online debate raged on, but it was clear that as time passed, more people stood with the Avengers, condemning the vampires and werewolves...

This is what it means to sympathize with one's own kind. Even if they didn't know the victims personally, normal people felt deeply disturbed seeing humans used as blood food.

Moreover, vampires and werewolves had been in America for years, committing numerous crimes. With the knowledge of their existence, many people now attributed past disappearances of loved ones to them...

While public opinion in the normal world shifted, the supernatural world, especially its darker side, was thrown into chaos. Vampires and werewolves, being the most numerous and widespread supernatural beings, weren't willing to die without a fight. They hadn't known about the Avengers' actions before, but now with the reports, it was a different story...

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