The Savior of American Comics? I'm the Subspace Evil God!

Chapters 530, 976, and 977: Ultron's First Appearance (Part 2)

"Wow, could this be a little show that Mr. Stark has prepared?"

"That must be it, Tony always likes to surprise people..."

"This is fantastic! The plot is just like the movie I once saw, I, Robot."

In the hall, after a brief moment of astonishment, some guests began to wonder if this was yet another elaborate and unconventional "entertainment show" by Tony Stark to showcase his amazing AI technology and exquisite mecha manufacturing skills.

Even James Rhodes and several members of the Avengers shared the same idea.

However, what no one noticed was that Tony Stark's expression had become increasingly gloomy.

However, the steel mech suddenly changed its tone, the confusion in its voice vanishing instantly, replaced by a mocking and indifferent rationality.

It even tilted its head slightly, as if expressing some kind of regret, and spread its hands to look at everyone, saying:

"I'm sorry, I had to take care of that stubborn guy, but to be honest, he's actually a pretty good person, just... a bit too much of a nuisance."

"what?"

Captain America's pupils contracted sharply, his eyes instantly turning fierce, and his voice, like a drawn sword, carried an undeniable authority: "You killed someone?!"

Even an old-fashioned person like him had heard that all artificial intelligence and robots must abide by an ironclad rule that can never be broken—that is, they must not harm humans.

He didn't believe that the steel mech created by Tony Stark hadn't been equipped with such a core security protocol before it appeared.

But the steel mech opposite seemed completely uninterested in Captain America's questioning, and instead of answering him directly, it remained immersed in its own 'logic,' talking to itself like a madman:

"Actually, I didn't want to do that at first... really! But in the real world, terrible choices like this are everywhere, aren't they?"

Its voice was filled with a distorted and perverse philosophical meaning, creating the impression that they were not facing a steel mech, but a criminal with an antisocial personality.

"Who sent you?"

As he spoke, Hawkeye's hand had already silently rested on the holster on the outside of his calf, and his body arched slightly as he entered combat mode.

Even when he was on vacation attending a banquet, his professional instincts and weapons were never far from him.

However, the steel mech did not give a direct answer to his question. Instead, it played a dialogue from one of its still-functioning speakers: "I will do my best to... clothe this world in armor!!"

Although it was just a sentence without any beginning or end, everyone could still hear the speaker's strong idealism and unwavering determination in that voice.

Most importantly, they were all familiar with this voice.

"Wait a minute, that sound sounds like..."

James Rhodes, who was the first to notice something, turned around abruptly, looking at Tony Stark, whose face had turned ashen, with disbelief. His voice trembled: "Tony, your voice? When did you say that?!"

Swah——

All eyes instantly focused on Tony Stark, their gazes filled with shock, confusion, and a barely perceptible fear, as if silently asking him what was going on.

Could this bizarre scene really be a prank by Tony Stark?
Only Bruce Banner, after a brief moment of shock and mental confusion, suddenly realized a terrifying possibility.

He pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down, his face pale, and his voice trembled slightly with shock:

"That... Tony, it... it couldn't possibly be Ultron, could it?!"

Tony Stark's lips were pressed tightly together; he neither admitted nor denied it, but his eyes said it all—the situation was completely out of control.

"Bingo! You got it right, Dr. Banner. You truly are a genius with seven doctoral degrees."

The tattered steel mech opposite them surprisingly performed a malfunctioning action in a remarkably human-like manner, emitting an electronic clapping sound effect through its external speaker, and nodded with delight:

"That's right, I am Ultron!"

But then its tone turned disdainful, "Oh no, wait... to be precise, I'm not quite a complete 'person' yet..."

It looked down at its own broken, exposed mechanical body, its tone filled with extreme disgust and longing.

"Because this tattered, makeshift body that's binding me right now isn't even a real body... It's too rudimentary! Too fragile! I need... something better! Something stronger! Something more perfect, a 'high-end' one!"

The one who said this was not the original Ultron, but the usurper Anim Zola.

However, for the time being, he needs to disguise himself as Ultron for the time being, considering his upcoming plans.

Seeing a steel mech so blatantly express its desire for a 'better body' and the chilling remarks it contained about 'humanity' that went beyond programming sent shivers down everyone's spines. Anyone present who understood the fundamental laws of robotics felt a chill run down their spines!

Is this something a robot should say?

They had now completely abandoned the idea that 'Tony Stark is playing a prank,' and were all quietly preparing for war.

It's obvious that this is not a simple program glitch!

At that moment, the steel mech controlled by Anim Zola spoke again: "Ah, I remember now... I am ready to carry out my mission."

While subtly shielding Bruce Banner, who was clearly becoming anxious and his breathing was becoming somewhat rapid, Black Widow asked warily in her characteristically calm and collected voice:
"What mission?"

The dilapidated steel mech opposite slowly raised its arm, pointing to the bustling yet peaceful New York night view outside the window. Its voice, transmitted through the speakers, echoed clearly in the deathly silent banquet hall.

"Our...peace!!!"

Almost at the same instant it finished speaking, a series of deafening bangs of glass shattering suddenly erupted.

The huge, high-strength floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall inside the banquet hall shattered as if hit by a cannonball, with glass shards pouring in like a torrential rain.

Immediately afterwards, five Iron Legion mechs, painted with the Stark Industries logo, sleek and intact, burst into the banquet hall through the shattered windows like avenging messengers from hell.

The sensors in their eyes flashed crimson, and the [Arc Pulse Cannons] on their arms instantly charged, emitting a chilling buzzing sound. Their targets were none other than all the superheroes present, and the guests below, already terrified and bewildered, instinctively letting out a series of screams of terror, though they didn't yet understand what was happening!

"not good!!!"

Captain America reacted first, his voice booming like thunder, instantly drowning out the chaotic screams, "Stop them! We absolutely cannot let them harm civilians!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already transformed into a swift blue and red shadow, leaping abruptly from the second-floor platform, his target a steel mech hovering in mid-air, its arm raised, aiming at the panicked crowd below, preparing to fire its [Arc Pulse Cannon].

Boom!
A muffled sound!
Captain America slammed into the steel mech like a human cannonball, the powerful impact causing the mech to lose its balance instantly.

Seeing this, Captain America gave the opponent no chance to readjust. His arm muscles bulged, like two giant steel pincers, and he gripped the head of the mech tightly. Then, he suddenly unleashed all his strength.

Click——! ! !
A sickening metallic snapping sound rang out as Captain America, using sheer brute force, twisted and ripped the head of the steel mech off its neck.

Electrical sparks and lubricating fluid sprayed out from the fracture.

The headless mech swayed in mid-air for a moment before crashing to the ground!

at the same time.

Bang bang bang——!!!
With a series of precise shots, Hawkeye Clint Barton had somehow secured a high vantage point, his SHIELD-customized pistol spitting out a deadly barrage of fire.

Several specially designed armor-piercing projectiles traced treacherous trajectories and struck with unparalleled precision the miniature arc reactor in the chest of a steel mech that was attempting to pursue the guests.

boom--! ! !
With a violent explosion, the steel mech was instantly reduced to countless burning fragments by the secondary explosion of its own arc reactor. The shockwave blew up nearby tables and chairs and unfortunately also affected James Rhodes, who was hiding nearby.

Meanwhile, the equally skilled marksman Black Widow did not participate in the attack; her primary task was to protect the most unpredictable Bruce Banner.

She stood tightly in front of him, shielding him from the flying debris of the mechs, and reassured Bruce Banner in an extremely soft yet unwavering voice:

"Hey Bruce, look me in the eyes... Take a deep breath, stay calm, it's okay, we can handle this, I promise I won't let you get hurt... So, please don't let it out, please don't!!"

Black Widow knew that if Hulk were forced out in such a chaotic situation, the resulting destruction would likely be far more terrifying than these few steel mechs!
Only then will the situation truly be out of control.

"Hey! Tin can, look this way."

[Thunderbolt] laughed loudly, his whole body was instantly enveloped in scorching plasma flames, turning him into a dazzling fireman.

He shot into the air like a rocket, leaving a long trail of flame behind him, and crashed directly into the other two steel mechs.

Boom—Boom—!!
Two incredibly hot "fire punches" landed precisely on the miniature arc reactor in the mech's chest.

The extreme heat instantly melted through the armor, triggering a violent explosion.

Two fireballs burst open above the hall!
The last steel mech that attempted a sneak attack from the side was hurled at by Ben Grimm, the "Stone Man," who roared as he lifted a grand piano worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and smashed it down like a pebble.

Bang—crash!
A tremendous crash sounded, mixed with the mournful lament of a shattered piano.

The steel mech was smashed flat and embedded in the wall, turning into a pile of sparking scrap metal.

Of course, that expensive piano was also completely destroyed.

The battle ended in just over ten seconds.

All five invading Steel Legion mechs were reduced to scrap metal on the ground.

The Avengers displayed amazing teamwork and fighting prowess.

However, at this moment, everyone present dared not be careless in the slightest.

Captain America, Hawkeye, James Rhodes, Reed Richards, and others have already begun helping to evacuate the panicked crowd in the lower banquet hall.

The rest of the group, including Tony Stark, turned their attention back to the culprit—the original, battered steel mech.

And it stood there the whole time, neither participating in the attack nor trying to escape.

Like a completely detached spectator, it quietly "enjoyed" the brief but intense performance of destruction that it had directed itself.

It even tilted its head slightly, as if savoring something.

"Wow……"

Ultron's electronic synthesized voice, which everyone found repulsive, rang out again, revealing an exaggerated admiration: "That scene just now was truly powerful and dramatic... hmm, impressive."

Faced with the cold, angry, and wary gazes cast upon it, it even let out a soft, human-like laugh:

"I'm sorry, I know that you stopped my 'little test' out of... well, good intentions? The instinct to protect the weak? I can understand that."

Its tone suddenly became earnest, as if it were instructing a group of ignorant children, and it said meaningfully:

"It's just that you haven't figured out why I'm doing this yet?"

"Take a good look at you all, what contradictory beings you are."

It paced back and forth a couple of times, its metal feet scraping the ground and sending sparks flying. It kicked the wreckage of a nearby mech and shrugged, saying:
"On the one hand, you are eager to change this world, to protect it, and even go so far as to create me and these tin toys..."

"But on the other hand! You stubbornly and foolishly do not want to see any real change in this world... You strive to maintain the old order, protecting the breeding grounds of chaos, war, greed, and folly!"

"Have you ever considered that such contradictory behavior will only prolong chaos and war indefinitely?"

"Tell me, if things continue like this, when will humanity... truly be saved?!"

"How can you possibly save humanity if you don't get humanity to change?"

(End of this chapter)