MM Racing Page 30
Page 30
“Stark, Barton, execute the attack!” He stopped trying to coordinate with the Association through public channels and refocused his attention on the Avengers’ own actions.
Golden-red energy beams and explosive arrows trailing flames lit up once more, carrying the avengers' determination, and blasted towards the joint on the left rear side of "Deep Sea King".
After a brief period of turmoil, the association's defenses returned to their previous rhythm—the Sandmen, like tireless reefs, withstood the raging waves head-on; the other heroes, following the constantly updated task list from the system, cleared away any stragglers, repaired fortifications, and transferred the wounded, operating like the gears of a precision instrument, coldly and efficiently at work.
The two sides seemed to be performing two completely different dramas on the same infernal stage. One was a tragic epic full of individual heroism and the pursuit of a decapitation strike; the other was a survival documentary relying on a vast network and cold algorithms, pursuing overall survival and efficiency.
Different scripts, incoherent lines, and despite sharing the same goal, they find it difficult to share the stage.
Steve Rogers, the warrior who awoke from the frozen past, felt for the first time with such clarity that a new, yet not fully understood, logic of "order" was unflinchingly proclaiming its existence on this ruin. And the command methods he had once believed in and relied upon for success now seemed so...incongruous on this new battlefield.
Chapter 69: Winning Through Cooperation
The battlefield in Tokyo Bay, after witnessing the brilliance of individual heroes, the cracks caused by friendly fire, and the clashes between command systems, was finally dragged into its final, bloody chapter by a more primal and violent force.
The Deep Sea King's mountain-like body, after enduring Sandman's relentless biting of crystallized sand, Iron Man and Hawkeye's continuous and precise harassment with firepower, and the scattered yet persistent probing attacks from the Association's defenses, finally succumbed to utter rage. It no longer attempted to destroy the defenses with mere physical force or corrosive breath, but instead unleashed the terrifying energy accumulated within its body, originating from the deep sea, without reservation!
A visible, dark green energy shockwave suddenly spread outwards from its center! The air shrieked under the strain, and the seawater was instantly pushed aside, forming a huge bowl-shaped depression! Wherever the shockwave passed, the defenses built by the heroes of the Association using sand and energy were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer, emitting a heart-palpitating distorted sound!
"Ugh—!"
Flint the Sandman was the first to be hit. His crystallized sand core, which he had gathered to stabilize the entire A-sector defense line, let out a mournful cry of impending destruction under the impact of this pure and brutal energy! He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and nearly a third of his massive sand-like body instantly disintegrated. The foundation of the defense line, which had just been repaired, shook violently again, and cracks spread like a spider web!
"Defense team! Energy overload!"
"The stability of the sand-based substrate in Area A has plummeted to 41%!"
"Energy barriers #3 and #5 in Zone B have been shattered!"
On the association's communication channels, the cold, alarming sounds of the system mingled with the commander's urgent shouts, conveying an unprecedented sense of crisis. For the first time, the association's defenses, renowned for their efficiency and stability, showed signs of crumbling!
"Now! It will be briefly stunned after its energy burst! Everyone who can move, attack! Attack the chest area where its energy is most concentrated!" Steve Rogers' voice boomed through the chaotic channels like a horn piercing the fog! He no longer tried to distinguish between Avengers and the Association, but instead issued the purest and most direct call to battle to everyone still fighting on the battlefield!
This time, his instructions were not ignored.
Because of the indiscriminate and destructive energy eruption of "Deep Sea King", everyone realized a cruel fact - if they did not work together, everyone would die!
"Jarvis! Concentrate all energy into the chest reactor! We only have one chance!" Tony Stark roared, his gold and red armor drawing a sharp arc in the air. He stopped the tedious weakness analysis and focused all his energy on one point. The core reactor in the chest of the armor shone with an unprecedentedly dazzling light!
“Barton!” Natasha Romanoff’s voice rang out on the Avengers Channel. She herself, like a cheetah in the shadows, rapidly climbed up a tentacle that Deep Sea King had temporarily neglected due to its energy burst, aiming her stun gun at the dense compound eyes on one side of its head.
"Understood!" Clint Barton understood immediately, drew his bowstring taut, and a specially made arrow, its arrowhead constantly spinning and flashing with high-frequency vibrations, locked onto its target.
On the association's side, the system's instructions have also undergone a fundamental change!
[Top Emergency Order (Coordinated Operations): Target has entered a state of post-high-energy burst immobilization!]
[All A-level and B-level offensive units, abandon your current mission and immediately launch a maximum-intensity attack on the target's chest energy core area! No need to hold back! Repeat, no need to hold back!]
All defensive and support units, regardless of cost, must create an environment for attacking units to deal damage! Provide cover!
The cold, electronic voice now carried a resolute tone!
"Damn it! Fight it!" An A-rank strength hero from the association abandoned the cover behind him, roared and leaped up from the ruins, his muscles bulging, and with an indomitable momentum, he crashed into the chest of "Deep Sea King" like a human cannonball!
"Energy Focus! Maximum Power! Open!" Another B-level energy manipulator from the association, disregarding his own physical limitations, forcibly compressed and focused the surrounding dissipated energy and all his mental power, forming a condensed, almost tangible, incandescent white beam of light, which blasted towards the same point!
Despite the excruciating pain and weakness that threatened to tear his consciousness apart, Sandman Flint forcefully condensed the scattered sand back into form. Instead of defense, it transformed into dozens of incredibly thick, massive sand spears with dazzling crystalline tips. From the ground and from the air, as if being volleyed by ballistae, they carried all his strength and will, fiercely stabbing into the chest of "Deep Sea King"!
"For the Association!!"
"For New York!!"
"Kill it!!"
All sorts of roars, from the Avengers, from the Association, and even from some officials who were still fighting, strangely merged together at this moment!
The beam of light shot from Iron Man's chest, Hawkeye's arrow that penetrated the gaps in his armor and caused high-frequency vibrations in the internal structure, Black Widow's precise throw of a powerful blast grenade that exploded on a giant compound eye, Captain America's powerfully thrown Star Shield that spun like a golden meteor and cut through his chest armor, and the reckless, storm-like physical and energy shocks from the heroes of the Association...
In that instant, all the attacks ceased to be chaotic and individual battles, but rather, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, carrying different colors and attributes, yet all sharing the same goal of destruction, fiercely and solidly bombarding the area on the "Deep Sea King's" chest where the energy was most surging and whose defenses were temporarily disrupted by the explosion!
"Awooo—!!!!!"
The Deep Sea King let out its most shrill and painful roar since the start of the war! The sound was no longer just a simple physical sound wave, but also contained a violent shock on the mental level! Under such dense and powerful concentrated attacks, its thick, despair-inducing carapace finally let out a loud thud, like a glacier breaking apart, as it could not bear the weight!
Cracks, centered on the point of attack, spread wildly like a living thing! Dark green, foul-smelling energy blood gushed out of the cracks like high-pressure water jets! For the first time, its massive body shook violently and unbalancedly, the resulting waves sending the nearest heroes flying!
The attacks have not stopped!
The second and third combined attacks came one after another! Everyone was in a bloodthirsty frenzy, unleashing all their remaining strength without regard for anything else!
Finally, with a deafening roar, as if the earth were collapsing, the massive carapace on the chest of the "Deep Sea King" shattered and exploded completely, revealing the pulsating, filthy energy core beneath, resembling a giant tumor!
"That's it! The final blow!" Steve's voice was hoarse, but he still held the Star Shield that had just flown back into his hand, letting out his final shout.
No further instructions are needed.
Iron Man transformed the last of his armor's energy into an extremely refined spear of light; Sandman gathered all the sand on the battlefield and transformed it into a crystallized giant sword that pierced through the heavens and the earth; all the heroes who could still launch an attack poured their last strength into this final blow!
The light devoured everything.
As the blinding light gradually faded and the deafening explosions subsided, an eerie silence descended upon the battlefield.
The massive body of the "Deep Sea King," which had once brought endless terror, sank limply and slowly into the murky seawater, as if all its bones had been removed, leaving only a shockingly large, gaping hole in its chest, its edges still emitting blue smoke and sparks of energy.
It... fell down.
After a brief moment of deathly silence came a complex outpouring of relief, a mixture of pain and ecstasy. Some collapsed to the ground, weeping uncontrollably; others, disregarding their injuries, embraced one another; still others stared blankly at the slowly calming sea, as if they could hardly believe what they were seeing.
Steve Rogers leaned on his shield, breathing heavily. He looked around at the ravaged battlefield and at the exhausted, wounded men who had ultimately joined forces to win. His eyes were filled with complex emotions.
Tony Stark's armor landed heavily on the ground. He opened his visor, revealing a face devoid of its usual cynicism, only deep weariness and a barely perceptible hint of...contemplation.
Flint the Sandman's figure re-formed not far away. He knelt on one knee, barely able to maintain his form, but he raised his head and looked at the sea where the giant beast had sunk, his eyes filled with determination.
In the association's system, the huge red symbol representing "Deep Sea King" finally faded and disappeared completely.
The Dragon-level threat "Deep Sea King" has been confirmed to have been eliminated.
The mission "Confront the Deep Sea King" has been completed.
[Contribution points are being calculated...]
The cold, impersonal system notification tone brought this fierce victory to a close.
After paying the price of blood and lives, all parties finally put aside their temporary prejudices and misunderstandings, and joined forces in the most primitive and direct way to win this battle that concerned the survival of the city.
But is this combined effort a short-lived, desperate measure, or the beginning of a new future landscape?
Only the smoke and blood that filled the air above Tokyo Bay, and the slowly sinking remains of the giant beast beneath the sea, silently bear witness to all of this.
Chapter 70: Post-War Review Meeting
The smoke from the battle in Tokyo Bay had not yet completely dissipated, and the air still carried the pungent smell of seawater mixed with the acrid odor of burnt and faint blood. Deep underground in the command center of the Hero Association's Tokyo branch, the lights were still on, but the atmosphere was even more somber than when facing "Deep Sea King." This was not a place to celebrate victory, but an operating room, where a ruthless dissection of the association's own operational efficiency was underway.
At the center of the enormous circular conference table, a holographic replay of the Tokyo Bay battle was suspended. Every key moment of the battle—from the Deep Sea King's landing to Sandman's construction of the defensive line, to Iron Man's accidental injury, and finally the combined attack—was repeatedly played by the system in slow motion, from multiple angles, and accompanied by detailed data streams.
Wilson Kingpin sat at the head of the table, his massive frame casting an imposing shadow in the cold light. His expression was blank, his gaze sweeping over everyone present like a scalpel: the head of the Tokyo branch, the heads of various combat sequences, Leo Fitz, the technical representative, the head of logistics, and several heroes who had distinguished themselves or were representative of the group, including Sandman Flint and Spider-Man Peter Parker, who were participating via encrypted holographic projection.
Without any opening remarks or praise for the victory, Kingpin went straight to the point. His voice was deep and steady, yet carried an undeniable pressure:
“We won, but we won ugly, we won by luck.” He held up a thick finger and pointed to the scene in the hologram where Iron Man accidentally injured the Association’s defenses, causing them to collapse. “That’s the first problem: the battlefield interference and risks caused by the intervention of powerful external forces are uncontrollable.”
The image froze on the moment the crystallized sand platform collapsed and the hero was blasted away. Peter Parker instinctively shrank back, as if he could still feel the impact. Flint's projection remained silent, his face still somewhat pale.
“Stark’s attack intent is clear, but its modus operandi is incompatible with our defense system, lacking effective information sharing and coordination mechanisms.” The technical director immediately chimed in, pulling up the data, “Our system can predict most of Deep Sea King’s behavior patterns, but it cannot accurately predict the instantaneous actions of highly mobile and autonomous units like the Avengers. This is an inevitable result of differences in intelligence barriers and command systems.”
Kingpin nodded slightly, his finger moving to point to the image showing the Association heroes launching scattered attacks based on the system's "auto-judgment" when faced with Captain America's orders.
"The second problem is that at critical moments when a high degree of coordination is needed to form a decisive force, our distributed decision-making model is inefficient and may even miss opportunities."
The branch manager chimed in, “Yes, sir. The system’s instructions are designed to maximize individual survival and local efficiency, but when it comes to assaults that require ‘fists’ rather than ‘finger’, there is a lack of a ‘fist’ itself that can forcefully integrate forces and issue unquestionable commands. Captain Rogers’ tactical intent is correct, but our system cannot, or rather, has failed to authorize any individual or group to execute that kind of high-risk, high-reward unified assault order.”
"We are like a group of craftsmen with different tools, each fighting our own battle. We can repair the damage, but we can't work together to wield a heavy hammer that can smash the city wall," the logistics minister added, his tone somber.
Leo Fitz scratched his messy hair and pointed to the data stream in the video showing the final combined attack. Although the attacks from all sides hit simultaneously, there were still slight differences in energy attributes and attack frequencies: "There are also technical issues. Even if everyone fires at the same time, energy frequency, attribute conflicts, and even differences of a fraction of a second in the order of attacks will cause energy consumption, making it impossible to achieve the theoretically maximum superposition effect. We need a 'synchronizer' that can temporarily unify, or at least coordinate, the attack parameters."
Listening to these calm, almost brutal analyses, Peter couldn't help but mutter to himself in his team's internal channel, "But...didn't we win in the end? Didn't everyone attack together?"
There was a moment of silence in the channel, then a more composed voice rang out (possibly a squad leader): "Spider-Man, one stroke of luck doesn't guarantee you'll get lucky every time. The Association doesn't want gambling; it wants absolute control and a winning edge. What the boss wants is for us to systematically and efficiently resolve this level of threat, even without the Avengers and even with chaotic command."
Peter fell silent. He vaguely understood, but felt it was somewhat...inhumane.
Kingpin's gaze swept across the room, taking in everyone's reactions. Finally, he slowly spoke, making his decision:
"Victory cannot mask the system's flaws. The core problem exposed this time lies in the lack of a 'collaboration interface' that can effectively integrate internal forces and quickly and securely connect with uncontrollable external powerful entities."
"Therefore, I have decided that the Technology Department, in conjunction with the Tactical Analysis Department, should immediately launch the research and development project for the 'Team Collaboration Tactical Module'."
The moment the order was given, the atmosphere in the meeting room changed abruptly, transforming from self-criticism to preparation for battle.
Fitz's eyes lit up, and he immediately straightened his back: "Boss, do you have any preliminary ideas?"
"Yes." Kingpin brought up a new interface. "The module must include the following core functionalities:"
"First, dynamic threat level sharing and safe attack range identification. The system should be able to mark all high-threat units not registered with the association (such as Avengers) in real time, and predict their possible activity trajectories and attack ranges, forming dynamic 'safe/dangerous zones' within the association's internal network to minimize false alarms."
"Second, the tactical command priority override system. Under specific circumstances (such as when it is determined that there is a chance of a decisive victory, or when the defensive line is about to collapse), temporary authority is granted to high-level frontline commanders or the system itself to issue mandatory coordination commands, temporarily overriding the individual's right to 'self-judgment' and forcing specific units to cooperate."
"Third, attack parameter coordination and energy bridging technology. Develop technology that can temporarily unify or coordinate the attack energy frequency and attributes of different heroes, at least to achieve 'harmless passage'. Ideally, it should be able to achieve temporary 'bridging' and amplification of energy to form a true synergy."
"Fourth, limited communication protocols with external units. Establish a simplified, standardized communication protocol that is limited to the exchange of key tactical information (such as concentrated fire targets and avoidance areas), and attempt to conduct minimal and secure battlefield information exchange with external organizations such as S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers."
As Kingpin uttered each statement, Fitz rapidly recorded it on his terminal, his eyes growing brighter and brighter, muttering to himself: "Security identification... Command overlay... Power bridging... Limited communication... Interesting, very interesting!"
"Research and development cycle?" Kingpin asked.
Fitz looked up, his eyes gleaming with the light of a tech fanatic: "Give me the best resources, and in two months at most, produce a basic beta version!"
“Alright.” Kingpin nodded. “Logistics Department, fully cooperate with the Technical Department’s resource needs. All combat units need your full participation and feedback during the module testing phase.”
"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.
As the meeting ended, the holographic projections were turned off one by one, and everyone got up to leave. Their expressions were no longer those of fatigue and relaxation after the battle, but rather of carrying a new mission and a sense of urgency.
Kingpin sat alone in the empty conference room, watching the frozen image in the center of the magnificent yet chaotic energy explosion that ultimately defeated "Deep Sea King".
What he sought was never a dramatic, Pyrrhic victory achieved through individual heroism or temporary cooperation.
What he wanted was a perfect system, a tool of absolute order that could incorporate, evaluate, and ultimately control and utilize all variables—whether they were freaks, heroes, or even so-called "allies."
The "team collaboration tactics module" is another solid step in this direction.
The victory in Tokyo Bay marks the end of the old model and the beginning of a new one. The conclusion of the review meeting signifies the start of another war without gunfire.
Chapter 71: Fury's Worries Deepen
S.H.I.E.L.D., Trident headquarters, the deepest command center.
The lighting here is perpetually dim, suitable for prolonged screen-gazing, and the air is filled with the low hum of electronic devices and the slightly astringent smell of filtered, recirculated air. Nick Fury stands alone in front of the enormous main screen, where several windows silently and repeatedly play key clips from the Battle of Tokyo Bay, processed by the technical department.
There was no rousing music, no passionate narration, only cold visuals and the constantly scrolling data analysis attached to them.
His gaze, like the most precise probe, was fixed intently on a few specific images:
Scene 1: Daredevil Matt Murdoch, ignoring the visual illusions and mental pollution created by the "traffic-driven" approach, accurately locates the hidden body solely through his extraordinary senses. The system marks his movement trajectory in perfect synchronization with the Association's command channel instructions; from accepting the mission to the precise assassination, only three minutes and seventeen seconds elapse.
Scene Two: Lin, the "Mind Master," faced the "Deep Sea King's" overwhelming pressure, enough to break the minds of ordinary people and even low-level heroes, and the subsequent energy shock mixed with violent intent. Although the silence field she constructed was eventually broken, it effectively calmed the panic of a large number of people in the surrounding area in the early stages and provided a brief mental buffer for some heroes. The system assesses her ability as "highly targeted, with strategic value exceeding combat rating."
• Scene 3: Flint Marco, the Sandman, initially only capable of sandification defense and crude attacks, but later demonstrating advanced abilities such as "local crystallization," "sand core sensing," and "morphological dispersion and reassembly" during the Battle of Tokyo Bay. Next to him is a graph showing his ability growth after joining the Association, with a shockingly steep slope.
• Scene 4: (Slow motion) During the final combined attack, despite the chaos, the heroes' attacks exhibited a subtle, not entirely Avenger-guided, "directional concentration" in the final moments. System analysis indicates that over 60% of the heroes' attack units spontaneously adjusted their attack angles in the last three seconds, based on the same highlighted coordinate marker updated on their respective terminals.
Fury's single eye, like a bottomless, icy pool, reflected these images and data streams. His hands, clasped behind his back, unconsciously twitched their fingers.
Individually, these scenes showcase the heroes' individual abilities and are highlights on the battlefield.
But when pieced together, it formed a chilling picture in the eyes of someone like Fury who was well-versed in the nature of organizations, power, and threats.
With a soft click, Maria Hill entered the command center, carrying a freshly printed assessment report that was still warm from the heat. Seeing Fury's posture, she stood quietly to the side, not disturbing him.
After a long silence, Fury spoke slowly, his voice low and carrying a chilling quality that penetrated his appearance:
"Hill, what did you figure out?"
Hill stepped forward, placed the report on the console, and looked at the screen as well: "Sir, the data shows that the Hero Association demonstrated organizational and mobilization capabilities, resource delivery efficiency, and... individual hero growth rates far exceeding our expectations during this Dragon-level event. Their 'system' seems to be optimizing the entire organization's operation in a way that we cannot fully comprehend."
“Optimization?” Fury scoffed, his laughter devoid of any warmth. He whirled around, his single eye sharply fixed on Hill. “You call this ‘optimization’?”
He pointed to Daredevil and the psychiatrist on the screen: "Look at this blind lawyer and that psychiatrist! In Hell's Kitchen, Matt Murdock was at best a troublesome vigilante; his abilities were mostly used for personal crime fighting and intelligence gathering. But now? He's been precisely deployed by that system to the battlefield best suited to his abilities, like a specialized scalpel, taking down even the illusionary monsters that Stark armor struggled with in one stroke!"
His finger moved to Sandman: "And this Flint Marco! A few months ago, he was just a hapless guy struggling to pay for his daughter's medical bills, with rudimentary abilities! And now? He's become an S-class pillar capable of directly confronting a Dragon-level threat and wielding his abilities with unparalleled skill! This system isn't just 'using' heroes; it's 'sculpting' them! It's tapping into their potential and guiding their growth in ways we don't know!"