8:00 PM, Midtown Financial Building.
According to intelligence from Alessa, this was where the Hand intended to perform their demon summoning ritual.
Information about the ceremony was kept highly confidential even within the Hand organization, so she had obtained only fragments of the plan.
A large square stretched in front of the building. Across the street, at the opposite end of the square, stood a structure over ten stories tall.
On its rooftop, Jason and his allies gathered.
SHIELD was represented by Hawkeye, Black Widow, Agent May, Agent Ward, and Rumlow—all under Coulson's command.
Jason's team consisted of Blade, Wade, Fox, Cross, and Wesley, with the latter three forming a sniper unit.
Jason's interest was immediately piqued when he spotted Agents Ward and Rumlow. SHIELD really does have an abundance of talented operatives!
Nick Fury's voice crackled through their earpieces: "Channel check. Can everyone hear me?"
Jason responded first: "Loud and clear! Hey, Fury, what are your hobbies? I know a reservoir with excellent fishing spots. We should go fishing together sometime!"
Everyone on the rooftop gave him strange looks.
Nick Fury, on the other end of the communication line, was equally perplexed. Who does this guy think he is, inviting me fishing? He'd probably try to drown me or strangle me with the fishing line!
"Iron Man, please refrain from discussing matters unrelated to this operation on the public channel."
Jason replied eagerly: "Do you have any private channels? We could chat one-on-one..."
"No!"
Nick Fury appeared to go offline temporarily.
Jason shook his head in mock disappointment, then caught sight of Coulson. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he sauntered over and draped an arm around the agent's shoulders.
"Coulson, how many years have you served with SHIELD?"
"Uh... over twenty years." Coulson looked bewildered by the unexpected question.
"So you joined immediately after graduation, right?"
"We... hadn't adopted that abbreviation yet, but yes, I joined the organization right after completing my education."
"From that perspective, you've made tremendous contributions. Have you ever considered taking a significant leap forward in your career?"
Coulson's eyes widened in alarm. He hastily covered his communication device. "What the hell are you talking about? I harbor no such outlandish ambitions. My loyalty to the Director transcends all boundaries—"
"What are you afraid of? He's offline."
Coulson shook his head vigorously. You're too naive. Our Director is an old, cunning... experienced agent who always has contingency plans. He's undoubtedly monitoring us through some alternate method!
Seeing Coulson's apprehension, Jason reluctantly released him but remained persistent.
"Tomorrow night, 8:30, there's an excellent restaurant in Chinatown. Interested in a friendly conversation?"
Before Coulson could respond, Fury's voice reverberated through their headsets: "I repeat, do not discuss matters unrelated to this operation on the public channel! Additionally, there are approximately a dozen unfortunate employees working overtime in the financial building. Coulson! Extract them immediately without alerting the enemy! Otherwise... your situation could become extremely precarious!"
Coulson's face drained of color as he cast a reproachful glance at Jason. "Damn it, this high-risk operation wasn't even supposed to be my assignment!"
Jason's eyes widened dramatically. He shouted into the channel: "Listen here, Nick 'Moth******ing' Fury! Coulson is my half-brother. If anything happens to him, I will personally ensure vengeance, regardless of who comes to his aid!"
After his outburst, he surveyed the confused faces around him and snorted defiantly.
Then, brightening suddenly, he clapped his hands together. "Everyone, meeting like this is destiny! Since we're fortunate enough to share this mission, I propose we establish a group name!"
The others regarded him with bewilderment, but Jason remained undeterred. "Any suggestions?"
Wade stroked his chin thoughtfully. "How about... 'Wade and His Boys'?"
Jason pointed accusingly. "You've just forfeited your right to speak. Next!"
Black Widow and Hawkeye exchanged glances, but neither volunteered an alternative.
"Alright, I'll handle the naming ourselves. From this moment forward, we shall be known as The Avengers! I'll serve as alliance leader, and you're all official members. Greetings, Avengers!"
Meanwhile, Nick Fury, orchestrating the operation behind the scenes, was carefully raising a steaming cup of coffee to his lips.
When he heard the name "Avengers," he jolted with shock and instinctively took a large gulp to regain composure.
"PFFFT—"
In his alarm, coffee sprayed everywhere, with hot liquid cascading directly onto his most sensitive areas. "DAMN IT! No, my—"
Listening to what sounded like chaos through their headsets, everyone on the rooftop exchanged puzzled glances.
"Haha!" Jason smirked knowingly.
Coulson prepared to enter the building as everyone divided responsibilities.
Fox and her two companions assumed positions as long-range snipers, providing cover fire.
SHIELD agents coordinated with the New York Police Department, which had been notified well in advance, establishing three defensive perimeters around the building.
Jason, Wade, Blade, Black Widow, Hawkeye, May, Ward, Rumlow, and others formed the assault team.
As personnel moved into position, Jason felt his cell phone vibrate. A message from David read simply: "Ready."
At that moment, he sensed an inexplicable energy emanating from the target building.
The Hand's summoning ceremony had likely commenced.
It seems the Ancient One won't be joining us. Such negligence!
Suddenly, intense gunfire erupted from within the building. Coulson's panicked voice filled the communication channel: "They're not human! Retreat, retreat immediately!"
"Coulson! Report!" Fury demanded anxiously.
"They turn to ash when they die! There are too many—we can't hold them back!"
"Fall back to the exit! Snipers, prepare to engage! All personnel, lock and load!"
From his vantage point, Jason could clearly observe Coulson and several surviving agents frantically sprinting toward the lobby exit.
Behind them surged a horde of eerily swift ninjas clad in red, armed with an assortment of bladed weapons—knives, swords, and halberds.
The Hand's Shadow Ninjas!
"BANG! BANG!"
Fox and her companions opened fire. When bullets struck the ninjas, they instantly disintegrated into ash!
Somewhat reminiscent of vampires, yet distinctly different.
Most alarmingly, within mere seconds, hundreds of ninjas had poured from the building's first-floor lobby!
They seemed endless, with no sign of diminishing numbers.
Something was terribly wrong.
These ninjas possessed extraordinary physical capabilities and combat awareness.
Once they dispersed from the building entrance into the surrounding neighborhood, the defensive line formed by SHIELD and NYPD personnel would prove woefully inadequate.
Everyone witnessing this development gasped in dismay.
The Hand must have anticipated their intervention and created this ninja army specifically to counter them!
Gunfire intensified as bullets streamed toward the building exit. Despite creating clouds of ash as ninjas were hit, the overall effectiveness remained discouraging.
Coulson, clutching his wounded arm, made his way toward their position with difficulty.
Jason took a deep breath. "Fury, where are your helicarriers and fighter jets? Call them in and obliterate these things!"
Nick Fury sighed heavily. "It's too late. The helicarrier is stationed far out at sea. These monsters will breach our defensive line within minutes! Getting the U.S. government to authorize a bombing run on Manhattan—those bureaucrats couldn't reach a decision in hours of deliberation! Even if I scrambled fighters without authorization, New York's air defenses would prevent their approach."
Jason rolled his eyes impatiently. "So what's your heaviest available firepower right now?"
"RPGs and... vehicle-mounted M134 rapid-fire machine guns."
M134 rapid-fire machine gun?
Jason instantly accessed his system interface. The master-level skill upgrade card activated, transforming into a beam of light. Within moments, his skill bar updated: Assault Rifle Proficiency → Assault Rifle Master.
"Well, well. Nick Fury, you are one lucky dude~"
"What?"
"I need your gun!"
"Which gun?"
Jason's face split into a wolfish grin. Of course, he would become the Gatling Bodhisattva, firing 3,600 rounds per minute and saving the world with devastating firepower disguised as compassion!
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