Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Into the Fray
Nick Fury strode into the Helicarrier's conference room, Sebastian Shaw and Tony Stark at his side.
The room buzzed with tension, its monitors casting a sterile glow over the assembled heroes: Natasha Romanoff—Black Widow, her eyes sharp and calculating; Bruce Banner—the Hulk, his reserved posture hiding a volatile power; and Steve Rogers—Captain America, his steady gaze a beacon of resolve. The Avengers were converging, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
Fury, Tony, and Sebastian took their seats, the latter two exchanging a glance but remaining silent. Fury wasted no time, his voice cutting through the room's charged atmosphere. "Listen up. Three hours ago, Loki and his team hit Germany, stealing a massive cache of iridium. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s scientists confirm iridium's role—"
Tony interjected, his tone clipped. "Iridium forms antiprotons. Pair that with the Cosmic Cube's energy—"
Fury nodded, picking up the thread. "We believe Loki's planning to open a wormhole. He's aiming to bring aliens to Earth."
Sebastian's voice cut in, firm and precise, drawing every eye. "Not just aliens—a fully equipped alien army. The Chitauri. They're dangerous, disciplined, and well-armed."
Steve leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "Sebastian, how do you know this? Got some secret channels?"
Sebastian shook his head, meeting Steve's gaze. "No secret channels. I have divination magic."
With a subtle gesture, he extended his hand. Twenty-five rune stones, etched with ancient symbols, floated from his palm, hovering above the conference table. They orbited each other like celestial bodies, their faint blue glow casting eerie shadows. The room fell silent, captivated by the display.
Steve's frown deepened, skepticism etched on his face. "Magic? No offense, but we don't have time for tricks."
The others exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of amusement and understanding. Sebastian smiled, unfazed. "First-timers always doubt. Doesn't change the fact that I can find Loki."
He waved his hand, and the rune stones spun faster, their glow intensifying. With a flick of his wrist, an archery glove—Hawkeye's—materialized in his grasp. He tossed it into the orbiting stones, where it floated, suspended by arcane energy. Using Clint Barton's personal item as a focus, Sebastian channeled his magic to locate the mind-controlled archer—and through him, Loki.
The stones hummed, their patterns aligning. Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he read the divination's outcome. With a final gesture, he recalled the rune stones, and the glove dropped onto the table with a soft thud.
He looked up, his voice steady. "I've got Hawkeye's location. He's with Loki and the others. They're at…" He waved his hand, and a shimmering grid of energy formed on the table, displaying precise longitude and latitude coordinates.
Tony, already tapping his phone, checked the coordinates. His face darkened. "That bastard…"
"What's wrong, Tony?" Fury's tone was sharp, sensing trouble.
"They're in New York," Tony said, his voice tight.
"New York?" Fury's eyes widened. "Coulson, redirect the Helicarrier to New York—now!"
Sebastian stood, his presence commanding. "Everyone, prep in five minutes. I'll take us directly to New York."
Natasha, Tony, and Fury, familiar with Sebastian's portal magic , nodded without hesitation. Steve, still processing, followed Natasha as she rose and headed to the equipment room. He donned his iconic suit and shield, while Natasha armed herself with her tactical gear. Bruce remained seated, his expression conflicted.
Sebastian turned to him. "Dr. Banner, are you joining us?"
Bruce shook his head, his voice low. "If I go, you'll have more than Loki to worry about."
Sebastian respected his choice. "Fair enough. Everyone has their path."
Three minutes later, Steve and Natasha returned, fully equipped. Sebastian raised his left hand, the Ring of Harnessing Power gleaming faintly as he summoned a portal, its edges crackling with arcane energy. He stepped through, followed by Steve, Natasha, and Tony, vanishing from the Helicarrier. The portal reopened atop a New York skyscraper, the city's skyline sprawling below.
Natasha's voice was a murmur, tinged with awe. "This… is actually New York."
Sebastian opened another portal, this one linking to his villa's basement lab. Two custom battle suits, designed by Tony, emerged. The black-and-white inner suit enveloped Sebastian, its sleek design enhancing his agility. Over it, a black hooded trench coat of the same material settled, its fabric shimmering with subtle enchantments. He pulled the hood up, activating the suit; faint blue runes glowed along its edges, a testament to his Hellfire Authority.
A streak of fire blazed across the sky as Tony's Mark VI armor landed with a resonant thud. The suit opened, and Tony stepped inside, the panels sealing around him with a mechanical hum.
Fully Prepared, Tony briefed the team, his voice crisp through the suit's comms. "Loki's in the basement of that abandoned building to the right. Six stories, no security, no cameras. It's a ghost town inside, so we're blind. Stay sharp. I'm taking point."
Tony's thrusters roared, launching him toward the building's top floor. Sebastian turned to Steve and Natasha, his wand materializing in his hand. With a flick, he wove a spell, and black smoke enveloped them, Apparition carrying the trio into the abandoned structure.
The smoke dissipated, revealing a dimly lit corridor. Steve and Natasha exchanged stunned glances, processing the teleportation. Sebastian's voice crackled through their comms, steady and urgent. "I'm going ahead. Stay cautious—Loki can control minds. Don't end up like Barton."
Before they could respond, Sebastian dissolved into black smoke, streaking toward the source of magical fluctuations he sensed—Loki's presence. Steve and Natasha shared a nod, gripping shield and pistols, and advanced, guided by Tony's recon data, ready to confront the enemy within.
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