DC HERO AT MARVEL

"Tony, you're too impatient," Nick Fury said calmly.

Despite the clear disparity in power between the current Avengers and the Justice League, Fury composure took Tony, Hawkeye, and Natasha by surprise.

To Tony and the others, it seemed like Fury had some hidden trump card.

"There are some things I hadn't planned on telling you at this time," Fury said, pausing as his gaze swept over the three, ultimately focusing on Tony. He continued slowly, "The Avengers are not just the three of you."

"What do you mean?"

Tony narrowed his eyes, his patience with Fury waning.

Fury picked up the remote control and turned on the TV.

The screen displayed footage of the Howling Commandos and Captain America.

It was an old propaganda reel from World War II, showcasing Captain America, Steve Rogers, widely regarded as the embodiment of American spirit.

"Captain America, Steve Rogers," Tony muttered, his expression darkening as his tone grew colder. "Nick, you're not seriously suggesting that the spiritual leader of the Avengers is this man who been dead for seventy years, are you? Are you saying that the spirit of Captain America lives on, so instead of three members, we're actually four, except one of us is a ghost?"

"You're wrong. What I'm saying is that Rogers isn't dead," Fury replied evenly.

The casual delivery of this statement hit Tony and the others like a thunderclap. Their faces instantly changed.

Captain America wasn't dead?

Tony, Hawkeye, and Natasha exchanged incredulous looks. None of them had expected such a shocking revelation from Fury.

The common belief was that Captain America, Steve Rogers, had perished during the final moments of the war, crashing a plane into the Arctic alongside Red Skull, leader of Hydra.

This was a widely accepted fact.

And now they were being told that Steve Rogers was alive?

It sounded utterly ridiculous.

"Even if Captain America isn't dead, seventy years have passed. He'd be nearly a hundred years old by now…"

Tony quickly regained his composure, his shock replaced by a skeptical frown. His tone was sharp. "A centenarian—are you expecting him to return to the frontlines and be the same Captain America he was seventy years ago?"

"No."

Fury replied, "Rogers was frozen in the Arctic for seventy years. During that time, he remained in a state of suspended animation, preserving his youth. He still the same as he was when he was frozen. However, he currently in a deep sleep and will need time to regain full consciousness."

He added with certainty, "Captain America will be an important member of the Avengers. Trust me, he won't let you down."

Hearing this, Tony paused, digesting the information.

However, he wasn't ready to let Fury off the hook just yet.

"Even so, there still a significant gap between us and the Justice League. Nick, what your plan to close that gap—or even surpass the Justice League?"

"I'll recruit more suitable candidates for the Avengers," Fury replied, meeting Tony gaze. "And we're not as far behind the Justice League as you think. On this matter, Tony, perhaps Batman himself would be a better person to answer your questions."

This remark subtly alluded to Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers, who was currently in space acting as a galactic guardian.

If Batman was aware of the Kree invasion in the 1990s, he undoubtedly knew about Carol Danvers.

Of course, Fury saw no need to share this intel with Tony or the others.

After hearing Fury explanation, Tony thought for a moment before standing up to leave.

Before walking out, he left a parting remark.

"My patience is limited. You'd better deliver on your promises."

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

Tony figure disappeared from sight.

Nick Fury withdrew his gaze from the door and turned to Natasha.

"Natasha, the next member of the Avengers is currently in prison—Doctor Octavius. I've already negotiated with the relevant authorities. As long as you can convince Otto, they won't stand in your way," Fury instructed.

"Dr. Otto?"

Natasha paused, recalling the recent "artificial sun experiment" incident that had taken place beneath the Manhattan Bridge along the Hudson River.

It hadn't been long since the event, and since Stark Industries had been involved, Otto sentencing was still pending. However, it was clear he wouldn't escape several years of imprisonment.

Despite this, no one doubted Otto genius.

Though the artificial sun experiment had failed, Otto transformation into Doctor Octopus and the debut of his mechanical arms had made a lasting impression and attracted significant attention.

This was precisely why Fury had chosen to recruit Doctor Octopus for the Avengers.

If Otto refused, he'd simply serve his sentence.

Fury was confident Otto wouldn't be foolish enough to decline.

This was an excellent opportunity to avoid prison time and atone for his mistakes.

An opportunity to become a celebrated superhero.

"Oh, and once Otto agrees, remember to visit the NYPD," Fury added. "Otto mechanical arms are currently being held as evidence there."

After issuing his instructions, Fury turned and left.

With the meeting concluded, he still had other matters to attend to.

Leaving Natasha and Hawkeye in the room, Fury moved to another location, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number.

It connected to U.S. Secretary of Defense John Keller.

"Nick!"

Keller voice on the other end of the line was cold and stern. "I need an explanation."

"Alien invasion," Fury replied. "That all I know."

"You're telling me that the craft flying over New York was a spaceship, and the mech defeated by those superheroes was an alien?" Keller laughter was laced with anger. "If that your explanation, I have no way to justify Ross death to anyone."

"Yet it the truth," Fury responded. "The facts are in front of you, whether you believe them or not. I'll prepare a detailed report for the UN Security Council. If you have other concerns, take them up with them."

Without waiting for a reply, Fury hung up.

Hoover Dam, internal base.

"Damn it!"

John Keller cursed under his breath.

But in reality, his expression wasn't as furious as his voice had sounded on the phone.

"Alien invasion…"

The aging, silver-haired Secretary of Defense took a deep breath as he looked at the massive, frost-covered robot standing before him, as tall as a skyscraper. His expression grew somber. "So, it finally happening? Damn aliens."

As a high-ranking government official, Keller was privy to many secrets.

Such as the truth that the U.S. government had been concealing since the early 20th century.

NBE.

Non-Biological Extraterrestrials.

This classified information was known only to a select few within the government, not even necessarily the president. It was an absolute secret.

Through years of research, Keller knew that the alien before him had likely fallen to Earth thousands of years ago.

In 1934, the U.S. government transported this robotic alien to a secret base within the Hoover Dam to study the advanced technology it possessed.

They had named it NBE-ONE.

Non-Biological Extraterrestrial—Unit 1.

"So Ross was the one who provoked the aliens…"

Keller dismissed his wandering thoughts and reflected on Fury explanation.

Though he had feigned disbelief, the existence of NBE-ONE before him made it clear that Fury was probably telling the truth.

Given Ross temperament—hot-headed, extreme, and bold—it wasn't hard to imagine him instigating an alien encounter.

"What an unlucky fool," Keller murmured with a calm expression. "But Ross, your death wasn't in vain…"

His gaze fell back on the alien research subject before him.

"It time to accelerate the pace!"