Tony Stark's missile blasted Elder Centipede's carapace, causing the giant creature to explode into segments. But as Tony watched, he realized the centipede's regenerative ability was beyond anything he'd expected.
Meanwhile, Reed's weapon had finished recharging. "Susan!" Reed shouted, signaling her to trap the centipede with her force field. Venom and Spider-Woman quickly reinforced her barrier with layers of webbing. But Elder Centipede, sensing the imminent threat, shed its damaged shell and escaped, just as Reed fired a direct hit to its head, seemingly finishing it.
As relief washed over the heroes, Elder Centipede reemerged from below, catching Susan off guard. The creature lunged, swallowing her whole.
"Susan!" Reed cried, horrified, as the creature roared triumphantly.
Then, a massive figure rushed in from the distance—Ben Grimm, the Thing. Reed's face lit up with hope. Ben had seen the devastation on the news and realized he couldn't stand by as his friends risked their lives. Though he'd struggled with returning to his stone form, the destruction of the city and the threat to innocent lives had pushed him to make the difficult choice.
"Ben, it got Susan!" Thunderbolt explained, landing beside him.
"I'm in. Tell me what to do," Ben replied firmly.
Reed devised a plan: if Ben could hold the centipede steady, Reed would line up a shot to its head. With Tony's missiles exhausted, his suit's energy cannon would serve as backup fire.
As Ben grappled with the centipede, the creature's attention shifted to him. At that moment, its midsection swelled—Susan was still alive inside, fighting her way out. The centipede screeched, writhing as Ben used his tremendous strength to pin its legs. Spider-Woman and Venom layered webbing to reinforce his hold.
Finally, Reed aimed at the creature's head and fired, obliterating it. The centipede fell, motionless, and everyone exhaled in relief.
In the aftermath, Nick Fury, observing from the Air and Sky Mothership, couldn't help but note the effectiveness of Reed's weapon, which had been instrumental in taking down the monster. However, both Tony and Reed were puzzled when the centipede's remains began disintegrating, leaving no trace behind. This was Zod's doing, accelerating the decomposition to prevent any remnants from being studied.
"Natural degradation?" Tony muttered. Reed, ignoring the digestive fluids covering Susan, eagerly examined the site with Tony.
Susan stood in shock, realizing Reed's dedication to his work might surpass his care for her. This left her questioning her feelings for him more than ever.
The next day, the battle dominated headlines. The Fantastic Four and Tony Stark became celebrated heroes, though public criticism mounted against the U.S. military. In response, the military announced plans to purchase a fleet of Iron Overlord war machines from Blade Technology Industries, aiming to reassure the public of their defense capabilities.
However, one representative voiced concern. "Ms. Urd, can you confirm with Zod if Iron Overlord can handle monsters of that size?"
Urd replied, "Iron Overlord is intended for threats like the Deep Sea King. If larger monsters are anticipated, Mr. Zod could create a giant mecha to counter them."
The representative's face fell, realizing the staggering costs that would accompany such a request.