Chapter 445 The Home Field and Beginning of an War
Caesar smiled, but Fury was anything but amused.
"I still don't understand," Fury said, resting his hands on the table and leaning forward to look directly at Caesar. "Why, Caesar? Why didn't we stop Loki when we knew what he was up to? Instead, we let him proceed with his plan, and now we're facing not only Loki but an alien army capable of conquering Earth!"
Caesar chuckled and said nothing. He picked up a roasted chicken leg as big as his arm and stuffed it into his mouth, his cheeks bulging comically as he ate it.
In fact, Caesar had known of Loki's plans since he invaded Earth and seized the Tesseract. Having seen the script and the movie, Caesar could hardly forget the pivotal battle in New York from the first Avengers movie.
He had anticipated every move Loki would make, even witnessing Venom's mind being manipulated by Loki's scepter in the church.
But Fury couldn't understand why Caesar, knowing everything, would allow Loki's plan to unfold.
"Explain yourself!" Fury demanded, his stern face hardening. He realized he was just another pawn in Caesar's great game - a game orchestrated by a child who looked no more than five years old.
Sighing, Caesar put down the half-eaten chicken leg and, chewing the meat, spoke through a mouthful, "I already told you to meet with the President and arrange for the evacuation of people from the heart of New York City. The city is practically deserted now so what's the point of getting angry?"
"It's not about the evacuation. We could have arrested or killed Loki before this happened. We didn't have to let it come to this," Fury said, slamming his hand down on the table. His eyes narrowed as he realized, "You were planning on using New York City as a battleground against the alien army all along."
"Exactly. Well done. Here, have half a chicken leg as a reward," Caesar said with a mischievous grin, holding out the greasy chicken leg, still marked with his teeth, to Fury.
Fury remained silent, leaning back and crossing his arms in thought. "You foresaw Loki's plans and prepared for the war only in secret, letting his plan play out in the open. So the impending alien invasion is an essential part of your counter plan?"
"Yes," Caesar confirmed bluntly.
"That's ridiculous!" Fury slammed the table again, his voice cold with anger as he spoke. "Once the alien army enters New York, the war begins. Even if the city is evacuated, the damage will be catastrophic. If we can't control the situation and win, Earth may be doomed!"
Caesar's face remained calm as he spoke in a firm tone, "That's why I had you alert the military to position elite troops in New York. Both the Carl family and Stark Industries have been preparing for this."
This war had been expected for a long time, and it was the reason Kyle had created Caesar, his Superman alter ego.
The two men fell into a heavy silence, each lost in his own thoughts and the room filled with tension.
Fury, still staring at Caesar, tapped his fingers on the table. Finally, he spoke again, "Give me one good reason why this war should not be prevented in the first place.
"Because it couldn't be stopped, and there was no need to stop it," Caesar replied, spreading his hands. "You know as well as I do that there are many powers beyond Earth. The Infinity Stones are coveted by higher races. With the Tesseract exposed on Earth, even if we stop Loki now, more alien forces will come later."
Fury pondered, "So you want to use New York as our home base to meet the first wave of the alien invasion head-on."
"Exactly," Caesar nodded. "By facing them here and now, we can demonstrate Earth's strength and readiness. It's a statement to the universe: Earth is not to be trifled with and if push comes to shove then we are ready for war."
The weight of Caesar's words settled over Fury as he realized the broader strategy at play. The battle in New York would be more than a defensive action- it would be a bold statement of resistance, a first step toward securing Earth's future in the cosmos.
This was undoubtedly an act of madness, for the worst-case scenario could spell doom for Earth!
Caesar nodded and said, "I have already measured Loki's power. Without the Mind Stone, he poses no threat. If we cannot defeat even a fraction of the alien army led by Loki, how will we fare against stronger alien forces in the future?"
"If we emerge victorious from this war, it will go down in history. Not only can we use this opportunity to advance our technology and narrow the gap between us and our enemies, but we can also sound the alarm for all humanity on Earth. The future crisis is beyond the stars!
Caesar's eyes sparkled like gems, filled with determination and resolve.
This was a challenge that New York, and indeed Earth itself, had to overcome. Only by overcoming it could they pave the way for the future!
Caesar's vision extended far beyond the present, encompassing the trajectory of the next decade and beyond.
"I understand," Fury sighed. The inevitable was upon them; this alien war was inevitable.
At that moment, Fury remembered several years ago when Kyle had returned from space and, instead of hiding the truth about aliens, had boldly announced it to the world through the media.
Fury hadn't understood it then, but he understood now.
Creating panic was inevitable, but only by understanding the potential enemy could they better respond.
And today, the alien enemy had indeed arrived!
After this war, everything would be overturned - their understanding, their rules.
The Earth, which had always seemed to be in a dark forest and kept isolated from the forces of other civilizations, was about to make its debut in the universe by firing the first shot!
"Kyle, we must win this war! And we must win it decisively!"
Fury rose to his feet, turned, and walked to the door, leaving a parting remark, "SHIELD will go in full force, no matter the cost!"
When Fury left, only Caesar remained in the sealed chamber.
"Full strength, huh..."
Caesar muttered to himself, his small hand grabbing at the meat on the table and stuffing it into his mouth in large chunks.
Energy could be replenished in many ways, but hunger could not be satisfied. He took advantage of the moment to let his body rest.
Meanwhile, in the New York City area:
It was noon, but the busy streets, usually teeming with people, were now devoid of life. Only the screens of some commercial buildings displayed advertisements, making the place seem like a ghost town.
But Loki paid no attention to such things. He flew his plane directly to Stark Tower. The scientists and agents he had previously controlled had already set up a portal creation device on the tower's rooftop balcony, connected by several transport cables to the building's internal Arc Reactor, which was absorbing an abundance of high-energy particles.
"Lord Loki, all is ready. We await your command," The former SHIELD scientist reported, his eyes gleaming with dark excitement as he humbly addressed Loki.
"Excellent."
Loki grinned devilishly as he stood at the balcony railing overlooking much of New York City below. With an imperious gesture of his hands, he declared, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's begin! Open the portal!"
(End of Chapter)
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