As the flames died down, Axel looked around with a chuckle.
Excellent. The city before him was New York, and at least for the moment, it was free from the ravages of war.
Although the streets around Axel still bore clear traces of destruction, the sound of gunfire had finally ceased.
Aside from a few citizens cautiously making their way through the streets, numerous small groups of three to five young men were scattered around various vehicles and shops, gathering supplies for K'Sante's mysterious little shop.
For the moment, the city had fallen into an uneasy silence.
Feeling the tranquility that had settled over New York, Tony landed and immediately spoke to JARVIS.
"JARVIS, search for all available information regarding what happened in New York last night and send me the key points."
"Understood, Mr. Stark."
JARVIS responded immediately, connecting to New York's network.
At the same time, Bruce and the others quickly deployed their intelligent battle suits.
With dozens of battle suits sweeping through the surrounding districts, the small groups scavenging for valuables suffered heavy losses. Within a minute or two, at least a hundred of them had their legs broken.
After quickly reviewing the information, Tony approached Axel and lowered his voice.
"New York experienced a major battle last night. The dozens of battle suits we left behind, along with Steve and his group, destroyed five entire buildings in Hell's Kitchen.
"After Kingpin's men were subdued, Wilson Fisk found an opportunity to escape New York and fled toward the Los Angeles area. With him gone, New York lost its last major source of organized resistance.
"According to JARVIS's search, several surveillance recordings indicate that high-ranking HYDRA personnel also began leaving New York one after another after Fisk's defeat.
"The NYPD, along with Navy forces stationed at the port, are now securing the city and keeping militias of uncertain allegiance outside the city limits.
"As for the Avengers, after retaking New York, they appear to have dispersed, with some heading toward cities such as Los Angeles and Washington."
Tony's expression darkened.
He opened his faceplate, and the raised section of his helmet projected a holographic map of the United States.
The projection clearly showed how the country had become divided between the Avengers' faction and HYDRA's forces.
Tony pointed toward the map and continued.
"Most of the northern United States is now effectively under HYDRA's influence. You know the type, rural extremists and militia groups. They're among HYDRA's strongest supporters.
"As for the southern states, much of that region remains under the control of the federal government. The political balance there is different, and HYDRA's historical hatred of Jewish communities has made cooperation with certain groups particularly difficult.
"In short, America is being torn apart.
"Alexander Pierce, along with several HYDRA-backed corporations, has established a separate government in Washington.
"The military-industrial complex doesn't completely support HYDRA, but numerous militia groups have developed close ties with them.
"That means America's political authority isn't the only thing being fragmented. Even its military power is gradually splitting apart."
Tony's expression grew increasingly grim.
He was beginning to worry.
If this crisis wasn't resolved quickly and the division continued for long enough, ordinary Americans might eventually become accustomed to living in a fractured country.
Once that division became permanent, America would be dealing with far more than HYDRA.
It would be like a whale fall. When a massive whale dies, countless creatures descend upon its remains and feed on what is left behind.
America was facing the same danger.
There were countless countries and organizations around the world eager to take advantage of the opportunities created by its collapse.
If the United States completely fractured, the consequences could be even more severe than what the Soviet Union experienced after its dissolution.
The European Union wouldn't ignore such an opportunity, and neither would the powers across Asia.
America's collapse could become a global feeding frenzy.
Tony rubbed his face in frustration.
As a superhero, he might have the ability to defeat the villains directly standing in his way.
But even Iron Man couldn't stop the ambitions of the entire world.
And the forces pushing for America's division were no longer limited to HYDRA.
God only knew how many foreign powers were already operating inside the country.
Tony took a tense breath.
"I need to get the Iron Legion to Washington as quickly as possible. Otherwise, things are only going to get worse.
"What about you? Are you coming with me?"
Tony looked expectantly at Axel and the others.
Axel met his gaze, shook his head, and waved dismissively.
"Don't ask me. I'm not interested."
"Okay, I get it. Boss, as long as you don't side with HYDRA, you've already given us the greatest help you can.
"But what about the others? Come on, Bruce. You wouldn't leave me hanging, would you?
"And Lex, Clark, we can't just stand around here. You help me, and I'll help you.
"Today, you help me defend America. Tomorrow, I'll help you defend Gotham.
"Honestly, if you've read the comics, you should know I'm already taking a huge loss by agreeing to this. Gotham has far more problems than we do, doesn't it?"
With that, Tony reached out and grabbed Lex and Clark by the arms.
Seeing the genuine urgency in Tony's expression, Bruce nodded.
"I understand. For now, Los Angeles and Washington are the two cities that most urgently need us to establish a fighting force.
"Since that's the case, we'll split into two groups.
"Clark, you'll go with Tony. Take ten battle suits with you. Washington needs someone like Tony to appear publicly and give people confidence.
"As for me, I'll operate independently. I'll take twenty battle suits to Los Angeles, rendezvous with the Avengers' local forces, and work out a combat plan.
"Lex, New York is yours. Tony, give Lex access to your laboratory. He'll continuously manufacture Iron Legion battle suits for us.
"Combined with the intelligent battle suit assembly line we've established in Gotham, I expect we'll have more than a hundred additional combat-ready Iron Legion units by tonight at the latest.
"Don't worry, Tony. Even though this isn't our hometown, we'll use everything at our disposal to protect it. This place is still a reflection of the world we came from."
As soon as Bruce finished speaking, he acted.
More than twenty battle suits immediately soared into the sky, following him as he sped toward Los Angeles.
After Bruce departed, Lex clapped his hands lightly and laughed.
"Tony, lend me JARVIS for a while."
"No problem. JARVIS, you heard Batman's plan, right?
"New York is yours. So is our entire rear line.
"Clark, let's go!"
"Mhm. Let's go."
At Tony's call, Clark immediately shot into the sky, piloting a battle suit alongside Tony as they headed directly toward Washington.
At the same time, Lex turned toward the man and two women nearby.
"Mr. Tang, Madam Tang, and Miss Wanda.
"I'm off to do some foolish things unrelated to human evolution. I hope you three have a good time."
"Mhm. We definitely will. Wanda is really cute, isn't she?"
Selina waved at Lex with a smile before pulling the startled Wanda into her arms.
Wanda was caught off guard.
"Wait, Madam Tang, don't do that! I can fight too. I can help!
"Although I don't like America, and I especially don't like that scoundrel Tony, who would refuse to do the right thing?
"You should go with Mr. Tang. I have to..."
"All right, little Wanda. No matter how much you protest, you aren't going to stop me."
Before Wanda could finish, Selina leaned forward and kissed her.
After the brief kiss, Selina waved toward Axel from a distance.
"Sir, I'm taking Wanda to explore the Federal Reserve. I heard there are plenty of interesting vaults inside.
"Are you coming with us, or do we have to accompany you somewhere else?"
"Haha, you two go have fun. I'm going to find a girl to flirt with.
"Wanda should have met her before. I wanted to flirt with her yesterday, but there wasn't enough time, was there?"
Axel lazily waved at Wanda and Selina.
Seeing this, Selina nodded in satisfaction before blowing lightly against Wanda's cheek.
"See, cutie? My husband is always like this. He never minds giving me plenty of freedom.
"So you can't escape. I'll definitely have some fun with you before my husband does."
"Wait, Madam Tang, you need to listen! Didn't you hear what your husband just said? He's going to find other women!
"Why aren't you stopping him instead of bothering me?
"I can help you catch him. I'm very good at this, we can..."
"Oh? But why would we do that?
"Sir doesn't care if I flirt with other people, and I don't care if he flirts with other women. Whatever we find outside, we can always enjoy together afterward, can't we?
"Isn't that the best kind of relationship?"
Selina interrupted Wanda again before taking her hand and leading her toward a hotel roughly two hundred meters away.
In the parking lot, Selina spotted a beautiful pink Maserati.
She crouched beside it and casually pulled a small device from her clothing.
After attaching it to the car door near the driver's seat, Selina opened her wristband and lightly tapped the small display hidden beneath the fabric.
Click.
The car door unlocked, and the engine started.
"Tsk, tsk. Luther's technology really is perfect for a cat burglar like me.
"Wanda, you know, that Lex fellow can't be completely trustworthy. His inventions always seem to have applications for less-than-legal operations.
"But that has nothing to do with me. I'm even more excited about our trip now.
"Which bank vault do you think we should visit?
"Or should we try our luck in the basement of some wealthy family's mansion?"
"I think you should follow your husband and see which woman he's going to flirt with!"
Wanda suggested this with some trepidation.
Selina opened the car door and smiled at her.
"First, he's not my husband.
"Second, I don't particularly care for men.
"Third, I like cute women.
"So let's leave him alone. Come on, get in the car.
"Trust me, big sister won't completely eat you alive.
"At the very least, afterward, I'll make sure Sir gives you some gifts you won't be able to refuse.
"And the gifts I'll give you will definitely be more valuable than anything most men in the world could offer."
As she spoke, Selina casually tugged Wanda onto her lap.
"Ouch!"
Wanda yelped as she landed against Selina's legs.
Selina patted her backside before pointing toward the passenger seat.
"Move over yourself, or should I put you there?"
"I can do it myself, Big Sister Selina. Please take your hand... take it off!"
Perhaps Selina's hand had landed a little too firmly. Wanda let out an embarrassed cry before scrambling into the passenger seat.
After adjusting the seat, Wanda looked at Selina warily.
"Catwoman, do you really like women?"
"I like cute things that make me happy, and women are generally more enjoyable company for me than most men.
"Axel is simply an exception.
"Besides him, it's girls like you who remind me how much fun youth can be."
Selina answered while releasing the handbrake.
Boom, boom, boom!
The Maserati roared to life.
Selina's hand settled near Wanda's thigh and gave it a firm squeeze.
"Catwoman!"
Wanda immediately clamped her thighs together, staring at Selina with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.
Meeting her gaze, Selina pursed her lips and smiled.
"I was trying to shift gears, darling."
"But this car has a column shifter!"
Leaving the two women to their own amusement, let's return to Axel.
After leaving Selina behind, Axel stretched his legs, crouched slightly, and launched himself upward, arriving at the very top of Avengers Tower.
Standing atop the antenna, he gazed leisurely into the distance.
Before long, his eyes settled on a particular civilian residential district.
Having chosen his destination, Axel prepared to leave.
However, before he could jump, the door to the Avengers Tower's rooftop was suddenly pushed open.
Hill rushed toward Axel, speaking as she jogged.
"Axel, you're finally back. We have a serious problem!
"Hulk is trapped in Japan and can't return. He's surrounded by samurai!
"He's already destroyed half of Japan, but groups of ninjas, samurai, and onmyoji continue to harass him and seek revenge.
"Hulk has been fighting all night, and even he's exhausted now.
"Can I ask you to help us bring Hulk back? At least let him rest for a while!"
"Huh? What did you say?"
Axel shook his head disdainfully.
"That's ridiculous. The next time you see me, if the first thing you say is that you love me, then I'll consider doing you a small favor.
"As for now, why don't you jump off the building, idiot?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Axel leaped from the tower.
His body pierced through the clouds before he disappeared into the distance.
Not long afterward, in Queens, near a community service center, Axel, dressed in a suit, leisurely strode through the streets with a swagger.
His destination was a young woman receiving relief food.
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