DC HERO AT MARVEL

The meeting commenced.

This wasn't an internal S.H.I.E.L.D. meeting; it was a formal inquiry from the higher-ups.

The higher-ups, of course, referred to the World Security Council.

Thus, the only people qualified to attend this meeting were S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Secretary General Alexander Pierce.

The meeting lasted the entire morning, and aside from the attendees, no one knew exactly what was discussed behind those closed doors.

Agent Phil Coulson only noticed that when his director and Pierce emerged from the conference room, their expressions were noticeably grim.

"Have they arrived?"

Back in his office, Nick Fury rubbed his temples as he looked at Coulson, appearing visibly strained.

"Things don't look good. The World Security Council has major issues with Batman.

They believe his exposure of S.H.I.E.L.D. constitutes a public safety violation… And Pierce—along with others—holds an even stronger grudge against him."

"They're here," Coulson replied with a nod. Then he hesitated before adding, "Alexander Pierce… the article claims he part of Hydra."

"The situation is complicated. We can't fully trust everything Batman says… Regardless, the council approved my proposal for an internal review.

What coming next will be an unprecedented purge within S.H.I.E.L.D.," Fury said with a grave tone.

"In any case, this is at least the first step toward our goal. We have Batman to thank for that much."

The Hydra issue within S.H.I.E.L.D. was, of course, not something that could be eradicated with a simple internal review, nor could it be resolved overnight.

But as Nick Fury had stated, this was a good start.

It marked the beginning of S.H.I.E.L.D. acknowledging its internal problems and demonstrating a willingness to address them.

As for the infiltrators hidden within, Fury would systematically root them out and deal with them over time.

"The internet is in an uproar right now. Let go. We need to calm the storm of public opinion," Fury said, standing up and motioning for Coulson to follow him to another meeting room.

The best way to suppress one narrative in the media? Release an even bigger story to overshadow it.

And what could be bigger news than the controversy surrounding Batman and S.H.I.E.L.D.?

The answer: the official unveiling of the Avengers Initiative.

An officially sanctioned team of superheroes, featuring none other than the world most famous billionaire playboy, Tony Stark, and the symbol of American spirit, Steve Rogers, the legendary Captain America, who had dazzled the world 70 years ago before being frozen and only recently revived.

As for the others? Black Widow, Hawkeye, Doctor Octopus, and the newly recruited Brock Rumlow were strong additions, but in the presence of Tony and Steve, they served more as supplementary figures.

The Avengers Initiative was designed to showcase S.H.I.E.L.D. strength and determination, positioning itself as a counterbalance to the already established Justice League.

To the public, this would frame the narrative as a clash of two superhero titans, shifting focus away from any talk of S.H.I.E.L.D. flaws or Hydra infiltration.

After all, Hydra was a distant concept for the general public.

Even during World War II, few truly understood the existence of Hydra as a covert force pulling strings behind the German army.

For the uninformed majority, Hydra was little more than an obscure historical footnote.

And in the absence of knowledge, people naturally gravitated toward stories they were more familiar with—like the formation of a superhero team featuring household names such as Iron Man and Captain America.

Nick Fury strode into the meeting room.

Inside, the spacious room was already filled with six people seated around the large conference table: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Dr. Otto Octavius, and Brock Rumlow.

These six individuals were set to become the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. Avengers Initiative.

While there might be additional recruits in the future, Fury immediate plan was to present this team to the public as the face of S.H.I.E.L.D. resolve and capability.

"You should all be familiar with one another by now," Fury began.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. is facing some unique challenges, and we need to address them directly and decisively.

It time to officially announce the existence of the Avengers Initiative to the public."

This statement caught everyone by surprise.

Most of them had assumed that today meeting was merely an internal formalization of the Avengers Initiative within S.H.I.E.L.D. They hadn't expected it to go a step further with a public announcement.

Then again, considering the damning Horn Daily article, it wasn't entirely unexpected.

"Hydra…"

Tony Stark mused aloud, deep in thought.

Across from him, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, sat silently with a stern expression, his face heavy with concern.

As someone who had fought on the front lines during World War II, leading the Howling Commandos into countless battles against Hydra, Rogers understood the organization insidious nature better than anyone.

Seventy years after their supposed fall, Hydra had resurfaced. To Rogers, this was a sign that his return had a renewed purpose.

"Let get to work," Rogers said as he rose to his feet, turning to Fury.

"I assume you've made all the necessary arrangements."

"Yes," Fury confirmed with a nod.

"I've secured the media. The press conference is about to start. Today, S.H.I.E.L.D. will officially go public, and this will also be your team debut. Tony, Rogers—you two will take center stage at the event."

"Got it," Tony waved his hand nonchalantly. "I'll handle it."

Before long, the group arrived at the main hall of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

Several prominent media outlets from across the United States had already gathered, their excitement palpable as Nick Fury led his team into the room.

When the cameras shifted from Fury to the figures behind him, every journalist eyes widened in disbelief.

"Tony Stark…"

"Wait, that guy wearing Captain America uniform—could he be a successor?"

"No, he looks exactly like Steve Rogers."

"Is he Steve Rogers' descendant?"

"That impossible. Rogers didn't leave behind any descendants!"

The media erupted in excited speculation, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of astonishment.

Among the reporters was Eddie Brock, who had flown in at top speed to attend the event.

As the editor-in-chief of The Daily Bugle, Eddie was the author of the bombshell article that had shaken S.H.I.E.L.D. earlier that morning.

A controversial figure in media circles, he was seen as a thorn in the side by many, especially at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.

Several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents shot him odd looks, their expressions betraying a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

"Captain America…"

Eddie gaze landed on Steve Rogers, and even he couldn't hide his shock.

He hadn't expected to see the real Steve Rogers, alive and well, after seventy years.

Steve looked exactly as he had in the prime of his youth—unchanged, as though he'd never aged a day.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Fury began as he stepped up to the podium, his voice calm and authoritative.

"I am Nick Fury, the current director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Today, this press conference serves two purposes: to address some of the concerns raised recently, and to introduce a team.

"A team that, contrary to what some might believe, predates Batman Justice League.

For years, we've been working behind the scenes, conducting global and internal evaluations, to bring together a select group of individuals.

The result is the formation of a superhero team we're unveiling today…"

Fury paused, letting the room hang on his words, as he gestured toward the group standing behind him.

"A superhero team?"

Amid the murmurs and discussions in the crowd, someone raised a question.

"Can you tell us exactly which superheroes are part of this team?"

"Tony Stark, known as Iron Man, needs no introduction," Fury began.

"But the individual I want to highlight today is another pivotal member—Steve Rogers, Captain America."

"Steve Rogers?"

"He alive?"

"Is it really him?"

The room erupted in astonishment. Countless pairs of eyes locked onto Fury, filled with disbelief.

"Yes," Fury confirmed with a nod.

"The man you see here is indeed the Steve Rogers you all know as Captain America.

He didn't die. During the most critical moment of the war, he went down with a plane carrying a bomb, crashing into the Arctic ice.

He was accidentally frozen for seventy years, with time stopping for him in that instant.

"Not long ago, we discovered him encased in the polar ice and successfully brought him back. He has returned! Captain America is back!"

The announcement hit the room like a nuclear explosion, igniting an uproar among the gathered media.

Even Eddie Brock, who had tried to maintain his composure, was visibly shaken.

Before flying to Washington, Anton had told him he'd encounter someone remarkable. Eddie had been curious but hadn't dwelled on it.

Who could have imagined it would be Captain America?

"This is going to completely overshadow The Daily Bugle story!" Eddie thought, his face darkening slightly.

It wasn't just about his article being eclipsed. Eddie also harbored a deep distrust of S.H.I.E.L.D., which he viewed as inseparable from Hydra corruption.

Even though Anton had assured him that Nick Fury himself was trustworthy, Eddie couldn't fully accept it.

To him, anyone working in what he perceived as a den of thieves couldn't be considered an ally.

As Eddie had feared, the aftermath of the press conference unfolded exactly as expected.

The news of S.H.I.E.L.D. forming the Avengers Initiative swept across the globe, fueled by reports from every major media outlet. The world buzzed with excitement.

The headlines weren't just about Tony Stark officially joining S.H.I.E.L.D. The centerpiece of every story was the return of Steve Rogers, the Captain America thought lost to history seventy years ago.

A man frozen in time, now fully restored, and still the embodiment of youthful strength and patriotism.

It was nothing short of a legend—a story only Captain America could live.

The entire nation erupted in celebration and cheers, as Americans found a renewed sense of pride and hope.

Meanwhile.

In his office, Alexander Pierce scrolled through the latest news. Seeing articles about S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra still trending, with the Avengers Initiative announcement starting to overshadow them, a faint smirk appeared on his lips.

Things were unfolding as he had anticipated.

Nick Fury, the man he had handpicked as his successor, had successfully steered the unfavorable narrative away from S.H.I.E.L.D. and toward a more positive direction.

As for the so-called "internal review" and "unprecedented purge" approved by the World Security Council? Pierce dismissed them entirely.

Creak—

The door to his office opened, and Brock Rumlow entered.

"Well?"

Pierce expression remained calm. "Have you secured the target?"

"It done," Rumlow replied, his voice steady. "All preparations are complete. We're ready to act."

"The tides of public opinion have shifted," Pierce said as he rose and walked to the window, gazing out with a hint of reflection in his tone.

"The time has come. Tonight, we'll move forward. Bring the target to the designated location."

He paused, his expression unreadable. "Nick is starting to suspect me. If we let this continue unchecked, it will only work further against us."

"Understood," Rumlow replied with a firm nod.

With that, Rumlow left the Secretary General office, leaving Pierce standing silently by the window.

His face, reflected in the glass, remained calm and composed, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Nick Fury was no longer useful.

Tonight, he would lose an old friend.

But in doing so, Pierce would ensure that S.H.I.E.L.D. returned fully to his control.

Evening.

Washington, D.C., Nick Fury Residence.

After a long day, Nick Fury returned home, visibly fatigued. Fortunately, events had unfolded as he had anticipated.

Thanks to the public limited understanding of Hydra true dangers, the tide of public opinion had shifted.

The focus was no longer on S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra but had instead turned to the formation of the superhero team, the Avengers Initiative.

At the same time, the news of Iron Man joining the Avengers and Steve Rogers, Captain America, returning from a seventy-year slumber had swept across the globe in mere hours.

The buzz was so loud that people had even begun comparing Captain America to Batman.

In almost every sense, Captain America held the upper hand over Batman.

While Batman was a rising star, a new superhero whose fame had only recently soared, Captain America was a living legend—a fairytale hero who had shaped an entire generation dreams.

Yes, compared to Captain America, today superheroes, no matter how well-known, were still considered "new."

Steve Rogers' unparalleled recognition and goodwill were why Fury had emphasized him so heavily.

Anything Captain America supported, especially a living, breathing Captain America, was instantly seen as righteous and legitimate.

Having Captain America as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. Avengers Initiative wasn't just a PR victory; it was a powerful statement.

His presence gave S.H.I.E.L.D. operations an unparalleled sense of legitimacy, surpassing even what Batman brought to the Justice League.

As Fury mused over the day events, his peripheral vision caught a flicker of movement—a shadow.

His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward slightly, moving toward the dining table.

Feigning a casual motion to pour himself some water, his other hand slid under the table, toward a hidden compartment.

Inside was a handgun.

"Hydra…" Fury muttered under his breath, his instincts telling him he wasn't alone.

Nick Fury instantly deduced the source of the attackers surrounding his home.

Clearly, his actions within S.H.I.E.L.D. had become a significant threat to Hydra.

And now, Hydra had decided to eliminate him.

"I've been waiting for you!" Fury shouted, diving swiftly behind a wall for cover.

At that moment—

Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!

Silenced firearms unleashed a hail of bullets, shattering the windows and tearing through the dining table where Fury had been moments before.

The relentless barrage of gunfire pinned Fury down, forcing him to keep his head low.

His expression darkened, his fury palpable.

For Hydra to launch such a blatant attack on the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was nothing short of an open declaration of war.

They had ripped off the mask, abandoning all pretense of secrecy.

Fury pressed a button on his hidden communicator, summoning the Avengers members who were still in Washington.

If Hydra wanted to escalate, Fury thought grimly, then they would experience the full force of the Avengers.

Suddenly, he felt a faint vibration beneath his feet.

His eyes widened in realization, his expression shifting to one of alarm.

Boom!!

A massive explosion erupted from beneath the house, engulfing it in a fiery inferno.

The shockwave from the blast obliterated the structure, sending debris soaring into the night sky.

The fire and concussive force consumed everything in their path, leaving no trace of Fury behind.

For a brief moment, all that remained was silence, broken only by the crackling of flames licking at the remains of the once-standing house.

The Avengers received the alert on their devices, a blinking red dot on their screens indicating Nick Fury location.

Each member moved with urgency, employing their unique abilities to converge on the scene.

Tony Stark, donning his Iron Man armor, arrived first, his jets blazing through the air. In mere minutes, he landed at the site, but what greeted him was grim:

The house was utterly destroyed, reduced to rubble and engulfed in thick, rolling smoke.

Around the ruins, heavily armed Hydra operatives lingered, seemingly caught mid-retreat.

Tony expression darkened, a foreboding sense of dread washing over him.

Not for himself, but for Nick Fury. The thought of the legendary S.H.I.E.L.D. director, the only Level Ten operative, potentially buried in this wreckage was alarming.

Without hesitation, Tony engaged.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

In a flurry of precision strikes, he swiftly neutralized the armed enemies.

As the last Hydra agent fell, the other Avengers began arriving one by one: Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Doctor Octopus, and Brock Rumlow, who had recently been codenamed "Crossbones."

With the team fully assembled, Captain America face was stern as he surveyed the destruction.

"What the situation?" he asked, his voice steady but grim.

"I don't know," Tony admitted, the weight of uncertainty evident in his tone. "They struck fast. I can't tell if Nick still alive."

"Damn it!"

Brock Rumlow, visibly enraged, wasted no time and charged into the smoldering wreckage, determined to find Fury.

"You guys handle the fire. Rumlow and I will search for him," Steve Rogers commanded, immediately following Rumlow into the burning ruins.

As a super-soldier, Rogers' enhanced physique allowed him to endure extreme environments better than anyone else present.

Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff exchanged a glance and quickly began coordinating efforts to contain the flames.

Meanwhile, Doctor Octopus used his mechanical arms to assist in dousing the fire and clearing debris around the perimeter.

Moments later, Steve Rogers and Rumlow emerged from the rubble, carrying an unconscious figure—a man severely burned, his body riddled with bullet wounds.

"Nick…" Steve whispered, his voice thick with concern as he laid Fury gently on the ground.

The Avengers circled around, their faces etched with worry. Fury condition was dire, his breaths shallow, but he was alive—for now.

"Natasha, Clint, stabilize him!" Steve barked, taking command of the tense situation.

"On it," Natasha said as she pulled out a medical kit.

"Let hope we're not too late," Tony muttered, his suit retracting from his hands as he knelt beside Fury, his gaze unwavering.

The Avengers gathered around Nick Fury, their expressions grave.

"He still has a heartbeat," Steve Rogers said, exhaling deeply.

"As long as there a heartbeat, we can save him. Don't worry—what critical now is finding out who behind this. We need to confirm if these assassins were sent by Hydra."

"Nick?"

Tony scanned Fury body with his suit medical diagnostics, suddenly noticing Fury eyes flutter open. Fury lips parted, struggling to form words.

"Nick!"

Steve knelt down, gripping Fury hand tightly. His voice was firm but filled with urgency. "What are you trying to say?"

"The mastermind…" Fury bloodshot eyes fixed on Steve, his breath weak but filled with anger. "It… Batman! The one who wants me dead… is Batman!"

"What?!"

"Batman?"

"That impossible!"

The Avengers erupted in shock.

Inside his armor, Tony Stark eyes widened in disbelief. Even Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, and Doctor Octopus displayed expressions of sheer incredulity.

Steve Rogers' brows furrowed deeply.

While he had heard of Batman exploits, his lack of direct interaction with the Dark Knight left him less certain. To him, the accusation wasn't entirely implausible, though it was troubling.

Amid the group, Brock Rumlow, known as Crossbones, reacted with apparent astonishment at Fury revelation.

However, anyone paying close attention to Rumlow expression would have noticed something peculiar.

As Nick Fury spoke, Rumlow gaze briefly met Fury. For the smallest fraction of a second, an unspoken understanding passed between them. Both men faces betrayed a fleeting, sly smirk.

A momentary exchange, subtle yet deliberate, hinting that something far more complex was unfolding behind the scenes.

New York.

Anton received a message from the military.

"What?"

His expression shifted to one of shock. "Dead? All of them are dead?"

The news came from Secretary of Defense John Keller: the Cobra operatives—White Ghost, Firefly, Zartan, Anna, and Destro—who were transferred from the NYPD to a military prison had all been killed.

The military was enraged, furious to the point of chaos. They immediately launched an investigation, quickly identifying the mole responsible. However, by the time they found him, the mole had already committed suicide.

Frankly, Anton thought, if the mole hadn't killed himself, it might have taken longer to expose him.

This incident underscored the terrifying extent of Hydra influence. Their reach wasn't just confined to the U.S. but spanned the entire globe, a network meticulously built over decades.

"I don't have intel on this yet," Anton said. "But Hydra core leadership is entrenched in S.H.I.E.L.D.

"You can apply pressure on S.H.I.E.L.D.—especially on Alexander Pierce. I'm confident he one of Hydra heads. I have evidence, but it not enough to directly prove Pierce is the mastermind.

"Come to New York immediately. I'll show you the proof—live evidence, though it complicated.

And no, I didn't hand it over sooner because of situations like this—look at what happened to those prisoners. They're all dead!"

After ending the call, Anton brows furrowed in deep thought.

Ring! Ring!

Suddenly, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was Eddie calling.

"Boss, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury has been attacked… He in the hospital now, and his condition is critical," Eddie reported, his tone heavy, as though hesitating to say more.

"Is that so?"

Anton eyes widened slightly in surprise, though he couldn't say it was entirely unexpected.

Fury being targeted seemed almost inevitable under the circumstances.

"And," Eddie continued,

"Tony Stark reached out to me directly. He told me that before Fury lost consciousness, he managed to name the person responsible."

Eddie paused, his voice dropping.

"Who?" Anton asked, intrigued.

"Nick Fury said the mastermind… is Batman. The one who wants him dead is Batman."

"…"