When he walked out onto the street and looked up at the sky, countless bats flew overhead, their shadows cascading across his face.
George's face became impossibly heavy, he muttered under his breath, "They're back...and this time, we don't have a savior."
"Matt, grab your gear, let's go." Blade Warrior Eric entered the Avengers' base and told Matt, "Let's see what Dracula has up his sleeve. Has he lived so long that his brain has rusted? He dares to invade New York."
Matt had just hung up his phone. He said, "I mentioned before, I found some promising young people in Hell's Kitchen. Some of them are mutants, not too powerful, and others are ordinary people who gained powers from various accidents."
"I've trained them for a while now. It's time they had some real-world experience. Tony always stopped me from sending these youngsters into battle, but we all know that those powerful superheroes couldn't always be here. We have to learn to protect ourselves."
As the Blade Warrior headed toward the exit, his words echoed in the room, "It's a little late to start now. Iron Man, Captain America, and Spider Man have guarded New York flawlessly."
"People here have been secure for too long. They've forgotten how dangerous this world can be. Now it's time for us to pay the price."
The moonlight shifted once again. In a pitch-black prison, a figure was curled up in a dimly lit cell. Looking through a small window above, he saw flocks of bats swooping past.
He lowered his head and looked at his now clean, fair arm. There was no trace of blood, but he could still see it there—blood and bits of viscera. He had crushed the soul of a true hero.
Clothed in a prison uniform, Speedball started to tremble uncontrollably. He felt his mind gradually fragmenting, unable to distinguish between illusion and reality.
The steel bed nearby began to shake ceaselessly, the iron bars on the window twisted, and a look of terror spread across the jailers' faces.
The young man, who could manipulate kinetic energy fields, had become almost omnipotent, as he began to seriously consider what his powers could do.
More and more lights came on, and more and more people were awakened. Panic began to spread.
Inside the office where the generals and politicians were gathered, everyone looked as if they were at death's door. Now they finally understood the meaning of "misfortunes never come singly."
The general's hand trembled slightly as he stood up, "Quickly mobilize personnel and equipment to protect New York. New York cannot be destroyed..."
"But first, we need to deal with Shiller! We only have three days. If we spend it resisting the vampires, then we... then we..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone knew what he meant.
If vampires invaded New York, it would be ordinary people who would die. Unless they destroyed all of New York, they couldn't reach the conference room where the vampires' target was.
However, Shiller wouldn't bother with ordinary people. He was coming for them.
Three days is a limited time. Manpower and equipment are also limited. If they were assigned to deal with the vampires, to protect the ordinary citizens of New York, then they'd undoubtedly run out of time. They wouldn't have time to revive these superheroes, nor be able to deal with Shiller. At that point, they would be the ones to die.
But if they spent their time looking for a way to resurrect the superheroes first and dealt with Shiller, they might be able to use the resurrected superheroes to deal with the vampires. Maybe that way, they could achieve both ends.
The only problem was that, during the time they spent seeking a revival, ordinary people, practically defenseless, would suffer heavy casualties.
Just then, a communication officer walked in, saluted, and said, "A call from the President, sir."
As he finished speaking, he turned on the speakerphone of his mobile phone. The President's voice came through, saying, "At all costs, repel the vampires and protect New York."
"I don't care what you're thinking, what you're going to deal with. The choice in your heads now will only bring you closer to Shiller Rodriguez's slaughter."
With that, the call was ended. The general forcefully slapped the table and shouted angrily, "What does he know! Just another damn politician! All he cares about is votes, votes, votes! Why doesn't he think that if we can't deal with Shiller, we will only die faster!"
One of the politicians coughed and said, "The President has always been like this. He has to answer to the public. But we are more professional in making decisions. We are responsible for the whole country..."
"We absolutely cannot let that madman brainwash us or kill us. Otherwise, the whole country will stop functioning! My suggestion is not to divert manpower to deal with the vampires but to stick to our plan!"
"I agree!" Another general raised his hand and said, "The plan is already halfway done. We've already discovered the Obelisk is constantly sending out signals that may be pointing to the Kree. Once we can resurrect the superheroes, we can rely on them..."
"We allocate so much funding and weaponry to the police every year for this very moment! They should fulfill their duty!" Another person chimed in, "Isn't that why they became police officers?"
"I..." Ross tried to voice his agreement but suddenly felt something surreal about the whole situation.
His goal has always been to save the world. If the Hulk threatened the world, he would stop the Hulk. If Shiller threatened the world, he would stop Shiller.
Whether he joined the Tartu faction or used the faction's power to eradicate the mutants and deal with the monsters, he believed everything he did was for the future of humanity.
However, just as he was about to speak, he suddenly found it hard to say the words. 'Give up on ordinary people'- the phrase was so short yet so long.
Ross took a deep breath, choosing to stay silent. Still, the atmosphere in the office became heated.
"We are responsible for the whole country, and reasonable sacrifices are necessary! We are doing this for the future of humanity!"
"The President doesn't understand. He's only after public opinion and votes. If we now divert forces to protect ordinary people, that would bring us one step closer to Shiller's slaughter!"
"We have always used our foresight and wisdom to pave the way for this country, and we have made countless correct decisions. This time will be no different..."
"Issue the orders. Have all the agents continue with the plan. The military shouldn't move yet to ensure we have enough manpower in case we have to confront Shiller directly…"
"Stop him! For the future of humanity!"
"For the future of humanity…"
Old General Davis, who had walked out of the room, turned towards the moonlight streaming in through a hallway window.
At that moment, the clouds had dispersed, making the moonlight extraordinarily bright. The galaxy overhead was incredibly radiant.
His aged voice reverberated in the hallway, like a train that had reached its final stop. The carriage and wheels have rusted, but the shudders from a past era have yet to cease.
"Only now do I realize that perhaps those who once missed you were truly the ones bearing the future of humanity in their hearts."