Chapter 123: The Legion Warship
Long before the Chitauri invasion, Garus had begun reinforcing the area around the Azeroth Technologies Tower. He'd procured a substantial amount of Khorium ore and replaced the building's outer walls, ensuring they could withstand the impending assault.
"Kingpin, should we activate the weapon now?" Bullseye asked, standing alongside Kingpin and Dr. Wim in a top-floor room, unconcerned by the chaos outside.
Though the weapon had been ready for some time, it had never been tested in combat.
"Do it," Kingpin ordered, observing the advancing Chitauri forces through the surveillance monitors.
Bullseye pressed a switch, and the screen displayed a panoramic view of the area surrounding the tower. Above the building, a dark cloud began to form, thick and ominous.
The Avengers struggled against the seemingly endless waves of Chitauri. Even the U.S. military's forces fared worse, with their fighter jets and tanks obliterated upon entering the battlefield. Their weaponry proved ineffective against the enemy.
Suddenly, a glowing shield appeared over an unassuming building near Stark Tower. Tony Stark, busy eliminating Chitauri near the tower, received a call from Nick Fury.
"Tony, direct the Avengers to evacuate civilians to a specific building. I'll upload the coordinates to your system."
Tony's HUD displayed the location—a site close to Stark Tower. "What's that place?" he asked.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., analyze the energy signature of that shield," Tony commanded.
"Insufficient data," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied.
It was strange that such a location had gone unnoticed until now. Tony's curiosity was piqued, though the incoming Chitauri fire reminded him that it wasn't the time for distractions.
Flying toward Captain America, Tony relayed the directive. "Steve, get the civilians to that building."
Steve Rogers followed Tony's pointing finger and saw the glowing shield. Nodding, he led the Avengers to escort the people to safety.
At the building, they encountered Mordo, a sorcerer from the Ancient Order.
Though cautious about the unfamiliar site, Steve trusted Tony's judgment and prioritized civilian safety. Under the threat of enemy fire, they entered the building.
Steve turned to Mordo. "Where's the Ancient One?"
"My master is dealing with other threats," Mordo replied, visibly anxious about the situation.
Not far away, a storm gathered in the sky, with flashes of lightning illuminating the dark clouds.
"Thor?" The Avengers instinctively thought of the God of Thunder.
Lightning struck relentlessly around the Azeroth Technologies Tower, shooting down Chitauri aircraft for over ten minutes. Watching from a distance, Spider-Man quipped, "Wow, that's impressive. Did Thor upgrade his hammer with a power bank?"
But when the clouds dispersed, Thor was nowhere to be seen.
"That must be Azeroth Technologies' latest weapon, Lightning Storm," Tony explained. "It won't do much against their numbers, but it'll distract them."
Indeed, the attack diverted much of the enemy's focus.
Tony chuckled darkly. "Let's hope Garus shows up soon, or his company's going to be reduced to rubble."
Back in Sky Fortress, the mutant academy students were already watching the chaos in New York unfold on live TV. They were well aware of the situation.
"Those alien bastards better not destroy my favorite restaurant. I had plans this weekend," one student grumbled.
"I'm going to capture one and use it as a lab rat," another said with a mischievous grin.
Despite the grim news, the students' confidence in their headmaster kept them calm.
In the control center, Garus summoned General Kallruth, Wanda, Pietro, and Erik.
"Are we striking back now?" Pietro asked eagerly, noting that Sky Fortress was almost over New York.
Turning to General Kallruth, Garus inquired, "How's the training on the Legion warships?"
"My lord, the ships are simple enough for anyone with basic intelligence to operate. We're ready," Kallruth replied.
The Burning Legion's warships, designed by the Mo'arg scientists, were built to be operated by brutish demons who relied on brute strength rather than intellect. The controls were straightforward.
"Good. Deploy the fleet immediately. Position Naxxramas above the company tower and annihilate the Chitauri." Garus was determined to prevent his tower from becoming a pile of rubble.
His primary concern was Black Dwarf, the unpredictable variable. This individual didn't appear in the original storyline he knew, making his strength an unknown quantity.
The arrival of even one of Thanos' generals had elevated the mission's difficulty to SS rank. If Thanos himself, armed with all six Infinity Stones, appeared, Garus wondered if he could even survive.
In high-altitude stealth mode, the fleet approached Azeroth Technologies Tower. Chitauri warships had already surrounded the area.
Meanwhile, three city blocks in New York had fallen, and the destruction was spreading rapidly. The Chitauri's actions didn't suggest they were searching for something. Thanos seemed intent on annihilating all life on the planet to please Mistress Death.
Several massive Chitauri Leviathan warships charged toward the Azeroth Technologies Tower, slamming into its reinforced walls.
"Boring," Black Dwarf muttered as he observed the battle. Aside from Johnny Blaze's Ghostly Warplane, nothing had piqued his interest. "Where are the strong opponents Ronan promised?"
At that moment, a holographic image of Thanos appeared before him. Black Dwarf immediately knelt in deference. "What are your orders, Lord Thanos?"
"If the plan fails, let the Earthling return to his planet and perform some tasks for me. Also, I don't want you dying here. If necessary, you have my permission to retreat. As for the Chitauri army, do with them as you wish," Thanos commanded.
"Yes, Lord Thanos." Black Dwarf was puzzled by Thanos' apparent leniency but suspected he had uncovered something important.
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