The Sahara Desert known for its scorching heat was now swept by a refreshing breeze.
Snowflakes gently drifted through the air, mingled with shimmering shards of shattered alloys and vibranium, creating a surreal and beautiful sight.
Tony Stark raised his metal-clad hand thoughtfully, catching a delicate snowflake on his palm.
What a miracle this was.
The snowflake melted instantly. As it touched the Iron Man suit, the fragile, ornate flake dissolved into a single drop of dew—an ephemeral reminder that all things must fade. Tony couldn't help but feel a moment of quiet reflection.
After a pause, he asked, "All done?"
"All hostile targets within range have been neutralized. No reinforcements detected from the mechanical city either," replied Kagura with a calm smile. "Yup, everything's taken care of here, Mr. Stark."
"Whew…" Tony let out a long sigh. "That last strike of yours—now that was something else. Are we talking next-level black tech?"
"Of course!" Kagura beamed proudly, a playful glint in her eye. "That's just the usual Kagura brand black technology!"
Tony chuckled, tapping her nose with a finger. "You're holding onto a treasure trove of gadgets that even I find impressive, and you're keeping it all to yourself. That's just not fair."
"Oh, it's nothing fancy," she said, whistling casually with her hands behind her back. "Give it time, Mr. Stark—you'll catch up to me eventually. I believe in you!"
Tony groaned with theatrical despair. "Hitomi, be honest with me. I've spent my whole life saying that exact line to other people."
"Never thought I'd hear someone say it to me. It hurts, you know?"
"Hehehe!" Kagura stuck her tongue out and made a silly face. "Alright then! Time to pay a visit to Ultron's beloved 'Mechanical Empire!'"
———————————————————————
Sahara Desert – Perimeter of the Mega Mechanical City
"Whoa—!" Kagura looked up at the towering city walls and let out a long breath of awe. "It's enormous!"
"Yeah, I feel the same," Tony agreed. "For human civilization to construct a fully integrated city of this scale... it's basically impossible."
"It's not just a technical limitation," Kagura added. "The nature of human civilization itself prevents cities like this from ever existing."
"Because cities grow and evolve over time," she continued.
"Urban expansion, population shifts, and constant re-planning make this kind of massive, pre-designed fortress completely incompatible with human society."
"In other words, we grow into cities. We don't just build one from scratch, fully formed and sealed like this."
Tony nodded. "Exactly. A place like this might only work for mechanical lifeforms—beings capable of perfect self-regulation and hive-mind coordination."
"Right," Kagura said, "but it's not limited to machines. You can find examples in nature too—termite mounds, for instance, function a lot like Ultron's city."
"Hahaha! Ridiculous! Absolutely laughable!" A sharp voice echoed from the distant alloy wall.
They turned their heads to see a red-caped mechanical figure floating above the wall via anti-gravity thrusters.
Clearly, it was one of Ultron's elite bodies—a high-level avatar of the AI himself.
"You dare compare my empire to a termite's nest?" he sneered. "Arrogant fools! You stand before a god—something far beyond anything this world has to offer!"
"Ugh, here we go again." Kagura waved him off with a look of disdain. "Your cringe monologues are getting old."
"If you've got something up your sleeve, bring it out already. Otherwise, just give up and save us both the trouble."
"Tony Stark. Hitomi Kagura," Ultron growled. "You're incredibly naïve, standing before my gates alone like this."
He raised a hand dramatically, continuing his speech like a theatrical villain.
"I expected you to run after defeating my elite units—like children seeking reward and recognition. But instead, you've walked straight into your doom."
His crimson eyes narrowed. "And you, Kagura… I still can't see through you. That makes you dangerous. Mysterious."
"I'll enjoy destroying you the most—your death will be the sweetest victory."
"Don't get your hopes up, Ultron," Kagura said coolly.
Wings of light unfolded from her back as her "White Moon" combat suit shifted into full battle mode. "You'll be dust before that ever happens—lost forever in the tides of time!"
"Hah! You're even more amusing than that red witch with her reality-bending powers," Ultron laughed. "But really… did you think I'd come out and duel you like a knight? I'm Ultron—a machine. I have no concept of chivalry!"
As his voice echoed across the desert, the mechanical city groaned and began to transform.
The enormous alloy walls shifted, metal grinding against metal with a thunderous roar.
This wasn't just a city—it was a mechanical titan, capable of reshaping itself at Ultron's command. It might even be a starship in disguise.
Soon, the solid walls deformed and unfurled into a massive gate—two kilometers wide and over 300 meters tall.
From within, an army of mechanical soldiers began marching out in perfect formation.
"Come now, so-called superheroes—let's see just how long you can last against my army."
Ultron sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. "I imagine this will be quite the entertaining hunt. I'll enjoy watching you squirm before the end."
Kagura chuckled softly. "Ultron... when exactly did you get the absurd idea that it's just me and Mr. Stark who came to challenge your mechanical empire?"
"What...?"
Ultron's expression shifted. He quickly turned to scan his sensory radar.
This radar, enhanced with Wakandan technology, covered the entire expanse of the Sahara Desert.
But aside from Kagura and Tony Stark, there were no other lifeforms or threats detected within range.
No… could she be referring not to a ground force, but an orbital strike like the one Wakanda deployed?
Ultron lifted his gaze skyward.
The city's dome was still intact—a shimmering blue shield enveloping the entire mechanical metropolis.
Not a ripple, not a scratch.
This was a fortress stronger than even Wakanda's celestial barrier. A single "Hammer of Heaven" orbital bombardment wouldn't even dent it.
"Ultron," Kagura said calmly, "you still know too little about humanity."
"And here's something else: superheroes are never truly alone."
She smiled just slightly—and Ultron felt a twinge of unease.
"Do you know why I came here alone? Why no one else from the Avengers came with me to 'visit' your little kingdom?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't worry. They won't be missing the party."
As she spoke, a glowing orange portal swirled open behind her. Sparks crackled at the edges as its circular form stabilized—an unmistakable sight.
"Everyone's ready."
A confident voice rang out.
"Avengers—assemble!"