*The Battle in the Night Sky*
"Sister Pepper has already arrived backstage, and my freind has already rushed over. There are also androids to protect her. It's no problem," Merlin replied confidently.
"No, Ivan is still..." Stark said, turning to check the situation. Suddenly, a thick figure shot into the air, wielding two crackling electric whips as he chased them. Unlike the Iron Legion armor, this suit's metal plating looked more solid, clearly crafted with great care.
"Okay, looks like Pepper is safe for now," Stark noted, relieved. He turned his focus to Deathwhip in pursuit, then shot off as an explosion of light, speeding toward the Iron Legion squad heading to Los Angeles.
"Merlin, you should head back. Just sit this one out if you can," Stark warned through his comms.
"Not a chance! Punisher and the rest are here too. I'm the top strategist — I can't miss this," Merlin replied, refusing to be sidelined.
As Merlin was about to accelerate, a voice suddenly called out beside him. A red figure streaked through the air and came to a halt at his side, spraying energy with a soft hum. It was Arcee, who crossed her arms and stared at Merlin with her light-red eyes, a look of exasperation on her face.
"Forgot something, didn't you?" she said angrily.
Merlin: "...…"
"I was just coming to find you. Honest!" Merlin replied, his tone a bit sheepish.
Arcee rolled her eyes. "Right. With 'Zoro's Navigation,' I see? Hell's Kitchen is in the opposite direction."
"Let's go; I'll come with you," Arcee said, understanding the tension between the Transformers and humans but not willing to let Merlin out of her sight.
As Merlin prepared to leave, he noticed something and stopped mid-flight, his gaze zooming in on the top of the Empire State Building, brightly illuminated by neon lights. There, a black-and-white figure that looked like a spider held tight to webbing stretched taut, as if preparing for a slingshot.
"Whoops!" With a swift release, Spider-Woman, clad in black and white, launched herself from the Empire State Building, flying through the air like a dart toward Merlin.
But as she neared, Spider-Woman lost her momentum in mid-air, flailing her arms in a panic as gravity began pulling her down.
A white flash appeared, and Merlin caught her mid-fall, gripping her by the back of her suit like a kitten. He held her there, staring quietly.
Spider-Woman waved awkwardly as he stared. "Hi~," she greeted.
Merlin sighed, and Spider-Woman quickly wrapped her arms around him. "Let me come with you. I'll protect you!" she said, patting his shoulder.
"We're not exactly friends," Merlin replied, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, come on. We're practically teammates! And almost dating, don't you think? Imagine the regret if you watched the movie alone!"
Merlin sighed. "Fine. Just hold on tight."
With that, he transformed into a streak of white light, taking off at high speed. Spider-Woman cheered, but her excitement was short-lived as she noticed Arcee, who had caught up with them, glaring daggers at her.
"Uh... Hi..." Spider-Woman greeted nervously, shrinking slightly under Arcee's intense gaze.
"Why do I feel like I've just been busted?" she muttered. Not that she doubted Merlin's intentions, after all — it was impossible for man and machine to have any real connection…right?
*The Unexpected Alliance*
After saying hello, Spider-Woman swiftly and deftly climbed onto Merlin's back, holding him securely like a spider.
"I'm heading to Los Angeles. Mind giving me a lift? I'll protect you!" Gwen said confidently, patting his shoulder.
"We're not exactly close…" Merlin replied, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, come on! We're teammates who've fought side by side! And we're practically going to go on a date soon. How can you say that? You're hurting my feelings!" she teased.
"Fine, fine. Just hold on tight," Merlin said, trying to ignore her dramatics.
Gwen only grinned. "If you leave me behind, I'll just fall to my tragic death, and you'll be forced to watch our movie all alone," she added playfully. "I even picked a romantic movie. I can already imagine you bawling your eyes out!"
Merlin sighed. "Enough already! Hold on," he muttered, focusing on the task at hand.
With that, he turned into a streak of white light and shot through the night sky. Gwen, momentarily startled, hugged him tighter but quickly found herself enjoying the speed and freedom of the flight.
"Woohoo! This is awesome!" she cheered.
But her celebration was short-lived as her spider-sense tingled. Glancing to her side, she saw Arcee, who had caught up to them and was glaring intensely at her. It was as though she was debating whether to kick Gwen off Merlin's back.
"Uh… hi," Gwen greeted, shrinking slightly under Arcee's glare.
"Why do I feel like I've just been caught?" Gwen muttered nervously, but brushed it off. Despite her joking comments about Merlin having "gear oil for brains," she didn't actually doubt him. After all, relationships between humans and machines were practically impossible… right?
---
*Los Santos Under Siege*
Meanwhile, in Los Santos, the city had entered full martial law. Streets were quickly cleared, police cars patrolled every block, and sirens echoed through the air. Police helicopters circled above, searchlights scanning every corner of the city.
Jewelry stores and processing factories were blocked off, and players were flooding into the city. The Los Santos Police Department announced their cooperation with players to divide the combat zones, maximizing civilian safety and jointly preparing for the impending crisis.
The police had the advantage of information and electronic surveillance, enabling them to track monster sightings quickly. Players, on the other hand, had strength in numbers and weaponry, but lacked the police's technological resources. By working together, the players and police could cover more ground, share critical intel, and earn points by eliminating threats.
This collaborative approach was the best way forward, given the circumstances. The explosive growth in players and the ineffectiveness of attempts to shut down the platform forced the police to adapt, accepting players as a part of the new landscape.
Check out advance chapter in my patreon:patreon.com/Asriel_sain"