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"It has to be here, damn it! How many times have we walked this cursed road?"
Captain America led a large group of zombies into the basement, their movements menacing. The moment they entered, they were shocked by the sight before them—a dozen robots rampaging through piles of dismantled machinery, the deafening clanging of metal echoing in the confined space.
"Where is he?! I'm asking you—where is he?!" Hercules, stunned for a moment, grabbed Captain America by the collar and shouted angrily.
The group had traveled a long way to get here, their goal clear: fresh meat. Yet now, not even a trace remained—not a single hair or scent. Despite the respect Hercules usually had for Steve, his tolerance for failure was at its limit.
Captain America hesitated for a moment before shoving Hercules off and snapping back, "Didn't I tell you? They must have teleported out before we got here! Stop wasting time—destroy those robots!"
Enraged, the zombies lunged at the Doom robots, ripping them apart with their claws, gnashing at their metal skulls in an attempt to suppress their hunger with sheer hatred.
Soon, the robots were nothing more than scraps on the floor, the acrid stench of burning circuits filling the air. But the teleportation device—their supposed salvation—was already damaged beyond repair. The Doom robots had only been cleaning up the remnants of the teleportation system.
"What now? Is this thing still usable?" Hercules asked, holding a piece of mangled metal and scratching his head in frustration.
"Nonsense! What's that over there?"
Captain America pointed toward the far wall, where a gray, ancient book lay embedded. As he reached for it, the floor in the center of the room suddenly rose, and a green holographic projection flickered to life.
Doctor Doom appeared in the projection, his image towering above the zombies, his metallic voice dripping with mockery.
"Fools. You're too late. The fresh meat you craved has been teleported to safety—by Doom! And your precious teleportation device? Destroyed by Doom's own hands!"
Captain America clenched his fists, his face contorted with rage. He let out a guttural roar. "Doooooom!"
With a fierce throw, he hurled his shield at the holographic image. It struck the floor below the projection with a loud crash, shattering the tiles and causing the image of Doom to waver before disappearing completely.
"Hmph. What now?"
He turned to the Book of Death embedded in the wall, which now seemed to wink at him.
"Don't eat me! Don't eat me!" the book screeched, its wrinkled face contorting as it begged for mercy.
Captain America sneered, holding the book up. "You're just a filthy, worn-out book. The flesh of the dead tastes like rot—why would I even bother eating you?"
The book hesitated before cautiously asking, "So… you're not going to eat me?"
"Maybe I'll just try a bite."
Before the book could protest, Captain America tore off a page and shoved it into his mouth. He chewed twice before spitting it out violently.
"Disgusting."
His attention was still fixed on the book when, behind him, the floor began to rumble again. Another section rose, revealing a faint dripping sound from below.
"What's that?" Hercules asked, leaning closer to inspect the source of the noise. As he peered into the opening, his eyes widened in shock. Beneath the floor was a green countdown timer, its numbers ticking down rapidly.
"Hey, Steve... what's this thing?" Hercules asked, confused.
Before anyone could react, the ground beneath Doom's castle erupted.
The earth cracked and swelled as a massive shockwave rippled outward, tearing through stone and soil. Flames shot skyward, engulfing the castle in a blinding inferno. Tiles flew from the roof, and ornate marble statues melted into viscous puddles before evaporating entirely.
Where Doom's fortress once stood, a towering mushroom cloud now loomed over the horizon, a grim marker of its obliteration.
---
Miles away, Hank Pym sat at a table in a dimly lit room, dressed in a tattered Ant-Man suit. He hummed a lighthearted tune, appearing unnervingly cheerful as he sliced into raw meat with a knife and fork.
Each bite was deliberate, the fresh, tender flesh savored with every chew. Juice dripped down his chin as he grinned to himself.
"Hmph. Latveria?" he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Did those fools really think they could outsmart us? If they had any sense, they'd know dealing with me is no easy feat."
He chuckled softly, oblivious to the faint whirring sound behind him.
---
The screws and bolts holding the room together began to shift and float, as if guided by an invisible force. They hovered momentarily before accelerating toward Hank, piercing his skull with deadly precision. Blood splattered across the walls as the metal shards ricocheted, striking again and again until Hank's head was reduced to a mangled mess.
The screws embedded themselves into the walls, dripping crimson as a figure stepped into the room.
It was a tall man with silver hair, dressed in a dark purple helmet, tights, and a flowing cape. His steely gaze fell on Hank's lifeless body before he spoke.
"A king reduced to this… truly pitiful," Magneto muttered. He turned and walked deeper into the room, his voice calm but resolute. "The monsters may have fled, but the fight isn't over. The world still needs saving, no matter the cost."
In the darkness, a man sat bound to a metal table. His skin was pale, his breath shallow. But at Magneto's voice, his eyelids fluttered faintly, the first sign of life in a long while.
The battle wasn't over yet.
🛡️Ronin 🛡️
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