chapter 54

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The castle basement was dark and damp. Time had left its mark on the stone walls, with cracks and water stains scattered around. Each step Adrian took kicked up a cloud of dust, filling the stale air with a sense of decay.

Above, the ceiling trembled ominously, shedding dust and fragments of stone like the remnants of forgotten battles. The unsettling sounds hinted at the zombie hordes closing in on the castle, but inside, the current happenings remained a mystery.

At the center of the dimly lit basement stood a massive Teleporter, its intricate metallic frame glowing faintly with a pale blue light. The aura of the machine seemed almost alive, a beacon of hope amid despair.

Beside it, clad in his iconic green robes and armor, stood Doctor Doom, his arms crossed, exuding an air of authority and composure even in the face of disaster.

"Why did you move the teleporter here?" Susan Storm, the Invisible Woman, broke the silence.

Adrian and Susan had just arrived, summoned by Doom to the basement. He had assured them that the others were on their way.

Doom extended a hand, and with a simple wave, the brick wall to their left groaned and crumbled. The crash of stone filled the room, stirring the air into a dusty haze.

As the dust settled, the view revealed a hidden laboratory—one Adrian immediately recognized. It was the same lab he had seen earlier, untouched by time or war. Broken tools and scattered papers littered the space, remnants of a forgotten past.

"This teleporter hasn't moved," Doom explained, his metallic voice calm yet commanding. "I simply concealed it. Your perceptions were manipulated through the runes to ensure this secret remained hidden."

Adrian shrugged. "Alright. But where's everyone else? And what about the Latverians you promised to evacuate? We're all here, but they're not."

Doom snapped his gloved fingers. The sound was sharp, echoing in the cavernous room.

Almost on cue, a group of civilians emerged from the shadows, their faces pale and weary. Each clutched a single large bag, the weight of survival etched into their features.

"I quarantined them here when the crisis began," Doom said matter-of-factly. "As I've stated, Latveria has remained immune to this plague."

Susan glanced around the group and frowned. "Why only the castle staff? Are you just leaving the rest of your people behind to fend for themselves?"

"Doom does not abandon his people," he replied coldly. "However, these individuals do not meet the bare requirements for rebuilding civilization. Even so, Doom is merciful. They will not fall to the monsters."

The civilians quietly went about their final tasks. The castle staff, clad in crisp black uniforms, methodically cleaned the last greasy plates, wiped down tables, and returned chairs to their proper places.

Once done, they each pulled out a small white pill from their pockets and swallowed it without hesitation.

Moments later, their bodies shuddered lightly, and foam began to trickle from their mouths. A hauntingly serene smile crept onto their faces as they slumped to the ground, lifeless.

Susan gasped, her voice caught in her throat. She opened her mouth to protest but ultimately fell silent. There was no point in arguing anymore.

Before long, more survivors began to arrive—agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., their hardened faces betraying the weight of loss. Nick Fury led the group, his gaze meeting Adrian's and Susan's briefly before he turned his attention to the teleporter.

"How's the teleporter holding up?" Fury asked, stepping up to Doom. "The zombie hordes are nearly at the gates, and we're out of time."

Doom, his posture unwavering, replied, "The charge is complete. Doom does not fail. The first wave will depart shortly."

The teleporter began to hum, a low, rhythmic sound that filled the room. Its glow intensified as Doom approached the control panel, inputting commands with precision.

Turning to the gathered crowd, Doom raised his voice. "Move quickly. Doom waits for no one."

The civilians hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. They climbed onto the platform, their eyes filled with equal parts hope and fear. The machine's energy swirled around them, forming a brilliant blue vortex. Tiny orbs of light, like stars, floated through the air before being pulled into the vortex.

"Stand still and do not move," Doom instructed.

The energy intensified, and with a resounding crack, the vortex collapsed, taking the civilians with it. Silence fell over the room, save for the faint hum of the teleporter powering down.

Doom turned back to Adrian, Susan, and Fury. "The teleporter is programmed to prioritize survival. It will deliver each group to a safe location, free of infection. Every civilian carries the tools and knowledge necessary to sustain life, even in the harshest conditions."

He gestured toward Susan. "You and your family will accompany me on the next wave."

Susan hesitated, glancing at Fury. The S.H.I.E.L.D. director sighed and nodded.

Adrian stepped forward. "Wait," he said.

Doom regarded him with a raised brow. "Yes?"

Adrian leaned in and whispered something into Doom's ear.

Doom paused, his metallic face unreadable. After a moment, he nodded and strode into the adjacent lab. He returned with a stack of documents and handed them to Adrian.

"I trust you know what to do with these," Doom said, his voice low but firm.

Adrian quickly leafed through the papers before passing them to a nearby agent. The documents were packed into a large black duffel bag.

Meanwhile, Wanda Maximoff and Quicksilver approached, standing silently beside Adrian.

The teleportation process continued, group by group, until only the S.H.I.E.L.D. team and a handful of heroes remained in the room.

Doom stood at the control panel, his back to the group. "Prepare yourselves," he said without turning. "We're almost—"

A deafening roar interrupted him as the castle shook violently. The ceiling cracked, sending chunks of stone and clouds of dust crashing to the ground. The walls trembled, their ancient foundations groaning under the strain.

The zombie horde had arrived.

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