Not long ago, in Marvel's America, in Los Angeles.
Although Bruce arrived alone, he brought a large number of intelligent battle suits with him. The moment he entered the city, Hydra forces stationed throughout Los Angeles immediately launched an attack.
Unfortunately for them, their firepower was nowhere near enough. Bruce's evasion skills, combined with Jarvis's overwhelming observation and calculation abilities, allowed them to completely suppress Hydra's resistance.
Using Batman and intelligent combat suits against Hydra was a one-sided battle. The Bloodedge Armor's combat power was already terrifying enough that even someone like Thanos would have difficulty dealing with it.
As a result, Hydra suffered heavy losses in both the physical world and the digital battlefield.
Jarvis fought Zola through the network, while Bruce commanded the intelligent suits to block the major roads throughout Los Angeles.
Although Bruce had not yet experienced years of suffering against Gotham's criminals, traveling across several universes with Axel had already expanded his strategic thinking far beyond ordinary people.
In less than half an hour, Los Angeles had transformed from Hydra's territory into another major city that the Avengers were preparing to reclaim.
The Hydra leader responsible for Los Angeles attempted to escape by plane, but Bruce and the remaining battle suits surrounded him. The aircraft exploded after being forced down, crashing into Hollywood Hills.
Everything should have ended perfectly.
Batman had successfully completed a cross-universe rescue, and the Avengers would surely appreciate his efforts.
However, Bruce had not yet faced criminals like the Joker and Bane. He still underestimated how far villains were willing to go.
When Bruce trained under the League of Assassins, he was never truly involved in their operations. Ra's al Ghul had trained him as a weapon, but he had not yet exposed him to the darker side of his methods.
Because of that, Bruce did not understand the limits villains would abandon.
Hydra immediately gave him that lesson.
While Bruce continued patrolling Los Angeles, believing victory had already been achieved, flames suddenly erupted across eleven different locations throughout the city.
Bruce immediately rushed toward the fires, but he quickly discovered that Hydra had also destroyed parts of Los Angeles' water and power systems during their final counterattack.
Although the entire system had not collapsed, many fire hydrants across the city had lost access to water. Bruce could only extinguish two fires.
Near the Pacific Ocean cliffs, Bruce even used missiles from his battle suit to create a temporary vacuum zone and force the flames back.
But the dry Santa Ana winds turned the situation into a disaster.
The fire spread rapidly, consuming Los Angeles and surrounding the entire city.
Even Beverly Hills and other wealthy communities were swallowed by the flames.
However, Bruce was not focused on the wealthy people who could escape using helicopters. His concern was the ordinary citizens trapped inside the city.
The streets were becoming more crowded, escape routes were disappearing, and countless people had no chance of leaving before the flames reached them.
Even those who survived would likely lose everything.
Bruce immediately contacted the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.
He also contacted Clark through communications, telling him to leave Tony and rush over from Washington.
When Clark learned about the fire, he pushed his battle suit's power to its limit. Although he still could not fly naturally, he reached New York within twenty minutes.
But when Clark arrived, he was not facing a fire that could simply be extinguished.
He was facing a disaster that had already grown beyond control.
Even with his heart filled with pain, Clark found himself powerless.
Bruce was coordinating traffic on the remaining escape routes when he shouted toward Clark.
"Clark, damn it, what else can we do?"
"I don't know!" Clark shouted back. "I can save some people because I am fast enough, but that is all I can do!"
As he spoke, Clark had already rushed into the flames and carried three children away from danger.
The areas where the fire had fully spread were already impossible to enter.
The flames had reached such a terrifying temperature that even steel and gold would soften under the heat.
After placing the children into a rescue vehicle maintained by the city, Clark rushed back toward Bruce.
"Damn it, Bruce, don't you have a plan to stop this?"
"How could I plan for something I never expected?" Bruce replied angrily. "And this is a world I barely understand. I never imagined Hydra was prepared to burn the city from the beginning."
"This was not just Hydra either. Someone else helped them."
"Four days ago, after the Battle of New York, insurance companies across America collectively withdrew coverage from several major cities."
"Shit!"
Clark cursed and immediately returned to rescuing civilians.
Life was priceless. As long as there was still time, they had to save as many people as possible.
But every scream and cry he heard weighed heavily on him.
Fighting never exhausted Clark, but hearing innocent people suffer pushed him toward his limits.
After saving several more civilians, Clark returned to Bruce.
"This is not enough! The casualties are still increasing. We need another solution!"
"There are solutions, but none of them are possible," Bruce answered. "The Los Angeles Fire Department has completely stopped functioning. Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. takes control, the city's water and electricity systems are already destroyed."
"No water. No electricity. What can we do?"
"But you're Batman, Bruce!" Clark shouted. "You're supposed to have an answer!"
"Unless you expect me to do what your comics show and use ice abilities to divide the fire, freeze oceans into ice, and move them above the city!"
"I can't do that!" Clark yelled. "I don't know why my comics make me look so powerful, but I am not there yet!"
"What about Axel?" Clark suddenly asked. "Why don't we contact Axel? He can move seawater. He should be able to help!"
"Axel won't care about this," Bruce said.
Even so, Bruce still contacted him.
While Bruce waited for Axel's response, two cars suddenly crashed into vehicles ahead, attempting to force their way through the evacuation line.
Clark immediately moved.
He broke the window, knocked the driver unconscious, lifted the vehicle, and moved it back behind the others.
Clark was kind, but he was not foolish.
If those who broke the rules escaped first, everyone else would follow. During a disaster, maintaining order was just as important as rescue.
At that moment, Bruce's call connected.
A few seconds later, Bruce ended it.
"What did Axel say?" Clark asked.
"He said he did not start the fire."
"And?"
"He said this was a natural disaster, or at least it has become one."
"Fuck!"
Clark immediately understood.
Axel was not going to help.
To Axel, the people of Los Angeles were not his family or friends. He had no reason to become a hero.
Axel was someone who enjoyed watching events unfold, not someone who tried to save everyone.
Then where was the person who could save them?
Clark's hope began to disappear.
Suddenly, Bruce stopped.
"Go find the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, Clark."
"If they open a portal beneath the ocean near Los Angeles, the fire can be stopped."
"You are the fastest among us. This is your mission."
"I understand!"
Clark immediately moved.
He did not even use his battle suit's flight system. He relied only on his own legs and accelerated across the ground.
His running speed was faster than mechanical flight.
Within minutes, Clark arrived in New York.
As the wind created by his speed passed through the Osborn Group area, he shouted toward Axel, who was walking with children near an exhibition and speaking with Norman Osborn.
"Axel, you're a son of a bitch!"
The voice quickly disappeared into the distance, but Norman still heard it.
After meeting Axel, Norman looked curious.
"Was that...?"
"Haha, that's my good boy," Axel replied jokingly. "Too bad he still doesn't understand his godfather."
Axel then turned back to Norman.
"Stop wasting time. Tell me your final offer."
"How much can you compensate? Don't try any tricks."
Norman adjusted his expression.
"Mr. Axel, Osborn Enterprises will not disappoint someone who helped save New York."
"The accident happened because of our outdated display equipment. We accept responsibility."
"I am willing to provide the Parker family and Stacy family with five million dollars in compensation, cover all educational expenses until graduation, and provide future employment opportunities."
"Would this solution satisfy you?"
Axel shook his head.
"You need to add more money, Buddy. I made a huge promise in front of my friends."
"Your spider almost killed my friend's son and daughter. They are my godson and goddaughter."
"Do you really think I am some kind of superhero?"
"Ask the people who died because of me. Are my godson and goddaughter only worth five million?"
Norman immediately responded.
"Then we will provide two villas in a high-end New York community and five luxury vehicles for each family."
"If that is still insufficient, we can continue discussing."
"That is not the point, Buddy."
"The point is that I suffered psychological damage too. I was worried."
"We understand. We will offer you twenty million dollars."
"I don't need money, Buddy."
Norman hesitated.
"Then perhaps you would attend a private event hosted by me at the end of the month?"
Axel smiled.
"You're doing a good job, Norman. Maybe we can become friends."
Axel placed a hand on Norman's shoulder while Norman forced himself to tolerate the gesture.
At that moment, Clark finally reached the Kamar-Taj Sanctuary hidden in New York.
Ancient One, dressed in simple everyday clothing, appeared before him.
Clark immediately explained the situation.
"Ancient One, I am Clark. A catastrophic fire has spread through Los Angeles. People need help."
"I know, Clark," Ancient One replied. "But Kamar-Taj does not interfere with such matters."
"Los Angeles is not all of humanity. Saving it should not be the responsibility of sorcerers."
"Shouldn't that be the responsibility of the government?"
Clark froze.
Ancient One continued.
"Kamar-Taj has existed for thousands of years. Our purpose is not to save every individual. Our mission is to protect Earth and humanity as a whole."
"The fire in Los Angeles is a human-made disaster. Human-made disasters have sides."
"Kamar-Taj has no side."
With that, Ancient One joined her hands.
In the next moment, Clark vanished.
He appeared back in Los Angeles beside Bruce.
Bruce looked surprised.
"Clark, how did you return? Did Axel agree to help?"
"No."
"Nobody is coming."
"Axel and Ancient One both believe the people of Los Angeles and the California government must solve this themselves."
"They may be right, but I cannot accept it."
"I should be able to do more!"
Clark's emotions exploded.
His eyes began glowing red.
At the same time, Bruce noticed the air around them trembling.
Then the ground beneath Clark's feet suddenly cracked.
The force lifted Clark into the sky.
=≠=
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