Chapter 122 – The Fruits of War
"What exactly is hidden in this city?"
Loki stared in disbelief as another Leviathan crashed into the streets. He was reeling. Why were his Chitauri forces, which were supposed to be expanding across the city, suddenly exploding in every direction? They had been pushing outward, yet every path was blocked by some unseen, overwhelming force.
The battle for the central zone was dominated by the Hulk, but the destruction outside the perimeter meant his army was failing everywhere else. Was New York a city of monsters? Had he been lured into a trap? Was this all a calculated counter-attack, waiting for him to bring the Chitauri to their doorstep?
Tony, floating amidst the chaos, was just as stunned. He had feared the devastation of New York, yet the invaders were being held back behind an invisible line centered on Stark Tower. New York isn't just a city, Tony realized. It's a fortress. He knew the mutants and other hidden powers here wouldn't just sit by while the world burned.
"It seems your invasion plan is failing," Tony mocked, watching Loki's frantic attempts to regain control.
"No! I don't believe it!" Loki screamed. "All units, push outward! I refuse to believe you can hold them all!"
The Avengers were holding the line, but it was grueling. Thor acted as a walking thunderstorm, obliterating anything that flew too close, while the Hulk acted as the heavy hitter, turning Leviathans into scrap metal.
Meanwhile, Rogers, Natasha, and Coulson were holding the streets. Rogers, a man from a different era, found himself bewildered by the new world. Coulson was a marvel—his torso flying through the air while his legs stood guard, his energy weapons dismantling Chitauri pilots. Natasha was even more terrifying; she touched the dropped Chitauri weapons, turning them into Homies that snapped to life and fired on their former masters. She was an army of one.
Rogers, for the first time in his life, felt obsolete. "You are all so capable," he muttered, breathless. "I'm not sure if you need me to lead."
"Captain, you are our idol," Coulson insisted, never missing a chance to champion his hero. "Fighting alongside you makes us stronger."
"Forget that," Rogers said, sensing a shift in the battlefield. "Look at them—the Chitauri are pushing toward the city limits again. If they break out of New York, the war becomes uncontrollable. We have to keep them trapped in the city."
Natasha tapped her comms. "Barton, you're on the roof. What do you see? Why are they pushing outward?"
"I don't know, but don't worry about the perimeter," Barton replied, his voice strained. "Whoever is out there is stopping them. Nothing gets through."
"The military?" Rogers asked, hopeful.
"No," Barton said. "It's not the military."
While the heroes speculated, Qin Xiao was watching the notifications flood his system.
Ding!
Detected: Rumble-Rumble Fruit developed to a certain level. Ability extracted: Threefold human body density.
Thor was the first to provide feedback. The lightning storm tearing the sky apart was the result of Mjolnir, Thor's body, and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit acting in unison. It wasn't just raw power—it was the fury of a god. The extraction granted Qin Xiao the superhuman resilience of an Asgardian, enhancing his strength, defense, and recovery.
Ding!
Detected: Soul-Soul Fruit developed to a certain level. Ability extracted: Espionage Skill—Seduction Interrogation.
Qin Xiao froze. "Seduction Interrogation? Is the system joking? Do I even have the looks for that?" He sighed, making a mental note to check on Natasha's progress later.
Ding!
Detected: Bomb-Bomb Fruit developed to a certain level. Ability extracted: Master Combat Technique.
This was a surprise. Kingpin, who Qin Xiao had essentially abandoned to his own devices, was fighting somewhere out there. Kingpin's physical prowess, combined with his极限 (extreme) human combat skills, was legendary. Combined with Qin Xiao's own raw strength (from Hulk and Abomination), this was the piece he had been missing.
Ding!
Detected: Fruit of Cause and Effect developed to a certain level. Ability extracted: Beast Intuition.
Sabretooth. Another win.
Qin Xiao stood in the heart of the city, flanked by Frank, Logan, and Abomination, eating snacks while watching the world burn. "A massive harvest today. More than I could have imagined. Perhaps it's time to get a closer look."
Just then, a squadron of Chitauri soldiers peeled off, heading straight toward his location, followed by a snarling Leviathan.
Qin Xiao looked at Frank and Logan, a faint smile on his face. "You wanted to see the aliens, didn't you? Well, the opportunity has arrived."