Are the Chitauri truly strong? Based on the movies, they seem almost laughably weak; ordinary Earth weapons can easily stand against them.
Yet, in the comics, things are entirely different. Their power level varies wildly depending on the version. Some depictions even suggest that the Chitauri and the Skrulls are the same race, which is clearly impossible, while others portray them as elite soldiers serving under Thanos, making them far more dangerous than their cinematic counterparts.
After giving it some thought, Shin decided that comparing the two versions was pointless. What mattered was the Chitauri force currently approaching Earth. He knew that the planet's technology had advanced rapidly, and with the presence of countless enhanced individuals, predicting the outcome of a confrontation would be difficult.
Moreover, Earth had a unique advantage that no other planet in the galaxy could match... superheroes.
Even if one excluded the countless vigilantes and lesser-known heroes, there were still heavy hitters like the Hulk, Thor, and Captain Marvel who could fight on a cosmic level. If one counted both magical and mutant individuals, Earth's overall power probably surpassed that of many interstellar empires combined.
Take the Shi'ar Empire, for instance. One of the three great powers of the universe, it revered powerful relics and singular warriors as national treasures. On Earth, however, warriors capable of surpassing such individuals appeared frequently, scattered among its heroes, sorcerers, and mutants.
With that in mind, Shin did not take the Chitauri threat too seriously. Had it been Thanos himself, he would have been far more cautious. But a Chitauri invasion alone was not enough to make him anxious.
Word of the invasion spread quickly. Bored and curious, Shin decided to investigate alongside Scarlet Witch.
Since Tony Stark had assumed leadership of S.W.O.R.D., the Avengers had grown mostly inactive. Tony, with his trademark pride, had no interest in restarting the Avengers Initiative. Even after witnessing the might of Galactus firsthand, he preferred to operate alone, keeping a record of every superpowered individual instead of gathering them as a team.
Still, he maintained contact with many of them. Captain America, for example, was technically retired and working as a comic book illustrator while receiving his veteran's pension. Wolverine, after Stryker's downfall and the dismantling of the Weapon X program, had retreated to Canada.
Whether he returned to his days as a lumberjack was anyone's guess.
Stark also had ties with the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and even the Defenders, not to mention connections within various street-level organizations. Though his leadership skills were questionable, his technological surveillance was unmatched.
In this modern age, tracking someone does not require field agents. Satellites, surveillance cameras, drones, and cellphone location data could map out nearly every move of a person's life.
Even if a superhero ditched their phone while patrolling, the records of where it rested each night were enough for Stark's algorithms to triangulate their general location. Between satellites, CCTV, and facial recognition systems, anonymity had become a relic of the past.
The days when a hero could hide behind a mask and remain a mystery to both friends and enemies were long gone.
Despite this extensive database, Tony did not bother to summon every superpowered being on the planet. He was selective. Aside from public figures like Captain America and the Fantastic Four, he contacted only Shin and Wanda. The mutants were notably absent from his list, a decision that reflected both his caution and his pride.
The meeting took place in a S.W.O.R.D. facility, the same building that had once served as a S.H.I.E.L.D. operations center. Unlike during past emergencies, Tony did not appear overly stressed. Compared to facing Galactus, dealing with the Chitauri felt like managing a minor skirmish.
Wanda appeared calm as well. Having fought through several cosmic-level battles, she no longer felt nervous. Her growth since meeting Shin had been extraordinary. Not only had she gained mastery over her Chaos Magic, but with the addition of Nth metal, chakra, and devil fruit augmentations, she had become a powerhouse in both mystical and physical combat.
Even without her magic, her enhanced physique rivaled that of superhumans like Spider-Man. Against ordinary opponents, she could dominate in sheer strength alone. Though Captain America surpassed her in technique, he could no longer match her power.
Her new confidence radiated through her every movement. Once reserved and uncertain, Wanda now stood tall beside Shin, exuding quiet strength.
Inside the S.W.O.R.D. operations room, Mr. Fantastic, still wearing energy cuffs, sat hunched over a computer terminal, his elastic fingers darting across multiple keyboards as he calculated in real time.
Reed Richards had been imprisoned for a while, ever since his unauthorized experiments crossed several ethical lines. Yet his incarceration was more symbolic than restrictive. Even in confinement, S.W.O.R.D. still relied on him for research. With another alien threat approaching Earth, it was only natural for Tony to release him temporarily to assist.
Of course, Reed's relationship with Tony was less than friendly. While both were geniuses, they constantly clashed. Tony often criticized Reed's reckless curiosity, and Reed found Tony's caution limiting. To Tony, Reed's research always seemed like a countdown to global catastrophe. Reed, in turn, considered Tony short-sighted.
Their constant bickering filled the air like background noise as Shin glanced around the room.
Most of those present were familiar faces: the Fantastic Four, General Ross, and Captain America. It was a small gathering for what could potentially become a planetary crisis.
Captain America represented moral leadership, the Fantastic Four offered scientific and tactical expertise, and General Ross represented the military and government interests. In theory, extraterrestrial invasions were S.W.O.R.D.'s domain, but large-scale conflicts inevitably brought national militaries into play.
Ross, as the highest-ranking military officer in the room, should have been in command. However, the lack of a unified chain of authority among the assembled heroes made coordination difficult. Tony Stark and the Fantastic Four were not under military control, and Shin operated entirely independently.
The reality was simple: each person in that room answered only to themselves.
Tony cleared his throat and gestured to the holographic display in the center of the room. A massive projection of the solar system appeared, showing several red markers converging near Jupiter's orbit.
The countdown to invasion had begun.
*******************************
If you would like to gain early access, you can join me at www.patre on.com/bookbattalion
Now available - Chapter 641: Training