The castle's underground chamber was dim and damp. The stone walls bore the scars of time, riddled with cracks and water stains. Thick layers of dust blanketed the floor, with each step kicking up a swirling cloud into the stagnant air.
Overhead, the ceiling trembled precariously, sending small stones and dust cascading down through its cracks, like fragments of the castle's storied history. The undead heroes appeared to have reached the vicinity of the castle, yet no one within truly knew what was happening outside.
In the center of the underground chamber stood a massive teleportation machine. It was a complex metallic construct, surrounded by intricate wires and machinery. The surface of the machine glowed faintly blue, exuding a mysterious aura.
Standing beside the teleportation device was a figure clad in a green cloak and metallic armor.
"Why did you move the teleportation machine down here?" Susan asked sharply, her voice breaking the tension.
On the way here, Doom had unexpectedly summoned her and Noah to this basement, claiming he had already informed the others.
Doctor Doom raised an armored hand and gestured. The heavy brick wall on the left side of the room groaned and shifted before collapsing with a loud crash. Dust filled the air, obscuring visibility momentarily.
As the dust settled, it revealed a laboratory Noah had once visited. Its dilapidated walls, outdated equipment, and scattered documents seemed frozen in time.
Doom's voice resonated, slow and deliberate, "The teleportation machine never moved. What you saw before was merely an illusion." There was a note of pride and confidence in his tone.
"I needed your misconception to blend the runes here, disrupting the zombies when they breach the defenses," he explained.
Noah shrugged. "Fine. Where are the others? And the Latverian citizens you said would be the first to evacuate? We're all here, but they're not."
Doom raised a metal-clad hand and snapped his fingers, the sound echoing crisply.
From the depths of the chamber, a group of civilians emerged. They looked worn and weary, carrying heavy bags, but otherwise unharmed.
"I isolated them here within the first hour of the crisis," Doom said coolly. "As I've stated before, Latveria is immune to this plague."
Susan scanned the crowd and frowned. "Why are there only the castle servants? Are you planning to leave them behind as zombie fodder?"
"By Doom's standards, they do not meet the minimum requirements for preserving civilization," he replied curtly. "But I would never abandon them to those creatures. Doom's mercy extends even to them."
Meanwhile, in the dining hall, the last chair was returned to its place, and the final greasy dish was cleaned and set to dry.
The black-clad servants retrieved small white pills from their pockets, placing them into their mouths without hesitation.
Moments later, they began coughing softly, their lips curling into faint smiles. White foam trickled from the corners of their mouths, like the marks of a serene grin. Their eyes became tranquil, pupils dilating and eclipsing their irises.
Their bodies trembled slightly, as if swaying to some unheard melody. One by one, they quietly collapsed to the floor, the peaceful smiles frozen on their faces.
A profound silence enveloped the room. The servants lay motionless, their suffering seemingly ended.
Susan's eyes widened in shock. She opened her mouth as if to speak but ultimately fell silent. There was nothing left to say, no justification to challenge anyone's actions.
At that moment, a crowd of survivors from S.H.I.E.L.D. poured into the basement, led by Fury.
Fury approached Noah and Susan, exchanging a glance with them before stepping alone to the teleportation machine. Iron Man followed closely behind.
"How's the teleportation machine coming along?" Fury asked Doom quietly. "Noah's summoned undead army is almost exhausted. The zombies are preparing to break through your final barrier."
Doom maintained his cold demeanor. "The charge is complete, and the system is ready. Rest assured, Fury, Doom does not make empty promises. What I vow, I deliver."
The teleportation machine emitted a low hum as Doom walked to its control panel, tapping a series of keys. He turned to the crowd behind him and called out, "Why are you hesitating? Do you dare make Doom wait?" His voice thundered, filled with authority.
The civilians hesitated briefly before several stepped forward. They climbed onto the teleportation platform, marveling as radiant blue light began to swirl around them, dancing like ethereal spirits.
The energy coalesced into a massive vortex, enveloping them entirely. Countless tiny points of light, like stars, floated in the air.
"Stand still and do not move," Doom commanded.
The blue vortex spun faster and faster until, with a soft pop, it vanished. The people within disappeared, as though drawn into another dimension. The room fell silent again, save for the faint echoes.
Watching them vanish, Doom turned to Noah and the others. "To increase the odds of humanity's survival, each teleportation cycle is limited in capacity and reconfigures its destination. The computer ensures these locations are free from zombies."
"You may think Doom is deliberately scattering you, but that is not the case. Even the citizens of Latveria are subjected to this protocol. Each carries the essential supplies and knowledge to survive, even in the harshest environments."
Then, pointing to Susan, Doom said, "Susan, come with me. I will protect you and your family."
Susan hesitated, looking to Fury for guidance. He sighed and nodded.
"Actually, I have a request," Noah interjected, stepping forward.
"Oh?" Doom arched an eyebrow.
Leaning in, Noah whispered something into Doom's ear.
Doom was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. He strode into the adjacent laboratory, retrieved a stack of documents, and handed them to Noah. He gave him a long, measured look before stepping back.
Noah flipped through the documents briefly and then passed them to the Punisher, who stuffed them into the massive backpack he had carried all the way from the Helicarrier. Wanda and Pietro stepped out from the S.H.I.E.L.D. group, standing by Noah and waiting for his next instructions.
As the blue vortex continued to materialize and vanish, the number of Latverian civilians dwindled until only the S.H.I.E.L.D. team remained.
Doom, still at the control panel, called out without turning, "Alright, now it's your turn—"
Suddenly, the ceiling began to shake violently, accompanied by a thunderous roar. The entire chamber seemed to lurch, walls trembling as if on the verge of collapse.
The tremors intensified, dislodging chunks of the ceiling, which crashed heavily to the ground. Dust and debris filled the air, and cracks began spidering across the floor, spreading rapidly.