The rooftop gave way to a series of fire escapes and narrow alleyways. Metis and Natasha moved swiftly, their steps barely audible as they maneuvered through the chaos. The Avengers were fighting near Stark Tower, but every second spent in these alleys brought more Chitauri soldiers into the fray.
"We need to get to Stark," Natasha repeated, her voice steady but urgent.
Metis grunted in agreement. He could hear the crackle of his system, alerting him to approaching threats. Three Chitauri soldiers dropped into the alley ahead of them. Without hesitation, Natasha was already moving. She dove low, firing her Widow's Bite into the nearest soldier's chest while Metis followed up with two precise headshots to the remaining two.
Chitauri Unit Defeated: +50 XP.
Chitauri Unit Defeated: +50 XP.
Chitauri Unit Defeated: +50 XP.
The fight was quick, efficient. No wasted motion, no unnecessary words. They worked as a seamless team, pushing forward toward the heart of the battle.
"Take the right," Metis ordered as they neared a corner. His system flashed with warnings—more enemies ahead. Natasha darted right while Metis stayed left, covering both sides of the alley. Two more Chitauri units landed in front of him. He raised his weapon, aimed, and fired before they could even react.
Chitauri Unit Defeated: +100 XP.
He moved forward without slowing, his focus entirely on the battlefield ahead. Every kill brought him closer to leveling up, but he didn't let that distract him. The bigger picture was all that mattered now—stopping Loki and the invasion.
They turned another corner, finally emerging from the alleys onto a street lined with abandoned cars and burning debris. Chitauri soldiers filled the area, engaging with SHIELD agents and scattered pockets of civilians trying to fight back.
"We're getting close," Natasha said, scanning the area. "Stark Tower's just ahead."
Metis nodded, his mind already calculating their next move. "We clear this street and move straight to the tower. We can't afford to get bogged down here."
Natasha didn't respond, but her expression said everything he needed to know. They moved together, weaving through the chaos with precision. Every step was calculated, every shot aimed to perfection.
Metis's system fed him information continuously: angles of attack, enemy positions, weak points in the Chitauri formations. He processed it all in an instant, taking down enemies with deadly accuracy.
Chitauri Unit Defeated: +50 XP.
Chitauri Unit Defeated: +75 XP.
Natasha covered him flawlessly, her movements swift and lethal. She dispatched three more Chitauri soldiers with her Widow's Bites, electrocuting them before they could even raise their weapons.
They cleared the street in minutes, leaving a trail of defeated Chitauri behind them. Metis's system chimed softly in his mind.
Level Up: Level 8 Achieved.
The power surged through him briefly, sharpening his senses even further. But there was no time to reflect on it. Stark Tower was visible now, just ahead. They were close.