With the puzzlement still hanging in the air, the battle resumed with renewed intensity.
In the sky, Loki, suppressing his own doubts, took command of the Chitauri forces.
"All units, move out!"
Soon, more whale ships descended, their overwhelming numbers creating a sense of despair.
At that moment, an even larger whale ship emerged from the space portal.
"Loki, I'm deeply disappointed in you. You were entrusted with the army, and yet you haven't dealt with these humans," a figure in black, looking grotesque by human standards, stood atop the massive whale ship.
Loki immediately recognized this figure as the Chitauri's supreme commander. He was shocked that the commander had the audacity to come through the portal.
As Loki contemplated this, he noticed that a multitude of whale ships had emerged from the portal, surrounding the Chitauri commander.
In such a scenario, any sudden attack would primarily hit the whale ships closest to the commander.
Ignoring Loki's presence, the Chitauri commander surveyed the burning human city with a sneer.
Humans, nothing but insignificant creatures!
At that moment, a scream pierced the chaos near Stark Tower, drawing Loki's keen attention.
He looked down to see a middle-aged woman huddled with two children, desperately trying to find cover.
As nearby buildings were demolished by stray fire, she was exposed to the Chitauri forces.
Seeing this, a group of Chitauri soldiers eagerly prepared to move in and eliminate the family.
"Are there still people here?"
Captain America and his team noticed the scene from a distance. Alarmed, they rushed over to eliminate the approaching Chitauri ships.
The Chitauri commander looked on with contempt, believing these human heroes were merely seeking their own destruction.
The mother and her children, watching the approaching Chitauri ships, were overwhelmed with fear and despair.
Suddenly, just as Captain America's team was about to intervene, a group of black figures appeared, drawing everyone's attention.
There were at least a hundred of these figures, moving steadily toward the scene.
"What are those things?"
The Chitauri commander and Loki were momentarily stunned. Even Loki, unable to recognize them, saw they were humanoid but not quite biological.
As the Chitauri and Loki were puzzled, Tony Stark, Captain America, and the newly arrived Hulk, along with the family, immediately recognized the figures.
"Oh my God, it's Sentinel robots!" cried the middle-aged woman, Melche, from the corner of the building.
Her eyes lit up with joy as she exclaimed, "Great! We're saved!"
Even the two children, aged about eight or nine, were thrilled, clapping their hands in joy.
In the sky, the Chitauri commander and Loki noticed the delighted expressions on the humans' faces.
What are these things that make the desperate humans so hopeful?
The Chitauri commander and Loki exchanged puzzled glances.
"What are those humans saying?" the Chitauri commander asked incredulously.
The woman and the children mentioned that these black figures were designed to deal with Omega mutants, specifically a Messiah and a White Knight. They believed these robots would save them from the Chitauri.
This was beyond belief!
The Chitauri commander sneered, thinking it was absurd for the humans to believe that a bunch of black humanoid objects could defeat the Chitauri army.
Not only did he have countless Chitauri forces, but their technology was far beyond anything the Earthlings could muster. Thus, he paid little heed to these black figures.
The notion that tools made to combat two specific humans could challenge the Chitauri was laughable.
It was like ants creating a weapon against bacteria and hoping to use it against the sun—preposterous!
In the distance, Black Widow Natasha, Captain America Steve, Hawkeye Barton, Hulk, and Tony Stark gathered together.
"What are those, human weapons?" Thor asked, arriving and looking up in amazement.
Captain America replied, "Those are Sentinel robots, created primarily to deal with the Messiah and the White Knight."
"They are Omega mutants, and the Sentinels were designed to combat them."
Thor looked on, both astonished and perplexed.
Sentinels? Messiah and White Knight? Omega mutants?
"Can these black figures really be used against the Chitauri army?"
Using tools meant for two so-called Omega humans to combat an entire army?
Even Thor hesitated, questioning the efficacy of these robots.
At that moment, under the watchful eyes of the Chitauri commander, Loki, Thor, Tony Stark, and others, the Sentinels sprang into action.
(End of Chapter)