Silas Lawton shook his head violently.
God… that's the last line of human dignity.
"Would Batman have this problem? No—he has a utility belt."
"Would Iron Man have this problem? No—he has powered armor."
"Only me…"
Only Silas Lawton, Invisible Man, had to consider this as a tactical storage solution to save the world.
He felt a tragic swell of injustice.
Only I have to use such… such a humiliating method to be a hero.
But then—
The internet comments resurfaced in his mind like venom.
"Invisible Man? You mean that background prop?"
"Silas? Was he even in the Seven?"
"His power is invisibility? Sounds like a creep."
Each line stabbed deeper than a blade.
No-name extra… or legendary hero?
Seconds ticked by as he fought himself.
He didn't want to remain the disposable backdrop.
He wanted to stand in the spotlight.
He wanted headlines.
He wanted the world to shut up.
"If I don't risk everything, I'll always be a joke."
Silas stared at the metal muzzle in his hand.
"Imagine it—when everyone else is helpless, and only I, Silas Lawton, pull out the divine artifact at the critical moment and subdue the Enchantress…"
"What glory."
"This is saving the world. For justice. What's a little sacrifice?"
"Just endure it… once… for honor…"
He gritted his teeth, bracing for fate—
"I'm serious, Jane, that hammer strike was gorgeous. You should've seen Thor's face. Like he swallowed a live toad."
Angelica's voice approached from behind.
Footsteps followed.
Then the red-and-blue figure appeared first in the corridor.
Antony.
Behind him came Jessica Jones, Wanda Maximoff, Angelica, Pepper Potts, and the newly empowered Jane Foster, Mjolnir in hand.
Silas nearly lost his soul.
"Holy—!"
His hand trembled.
The enchanted muzzle dropped.
Clang.
It rolled twice and stopped in the middle of the hallway.
"Silas?"
Antony tilted his head slightly, staring at the empty air in front of him.
The women behind him followed his gaze.
"I—"
Silas's brain short-circuited.
Death.
He wanted death.
If the floor opened right now, he'd dive into lava willingly.
Then—
Wait.
I'm invisible.
They didn't see anything.
As long as I deny it—
"I— uh—"
He straightened up hurriedly, voice echoing from thin air.
"Boss! I was ambushing! Yes! Positioning for optimal tactical advantage!"
"Ambushing?"
Jessica stepped forward and picked up the muzzle.
She raised an eyebrow.
"You call this ambushing?"
She gestured at the empty corridor.
When she'd exited the elevator moments ago, the object had been hovering midair—
Waist height. Slightly below. Slightly above the knees.
"And then it dropped," she said slowly.
"And I swear I saw it… bobbing."
She squinted at the empty space.
Then—
Realization dawned.
Jessica covered her mouth and took one step back.
"Oh my God… Silas, you weren't about to—"
"No! I wasn't! Don't you dare finish that sentence!"
Silas nearly exploded.
"Slander! Boss! She's slandering me!"
Wanda blinked, confused.
"About what?"
Angelica shrugged. "Combat stress?"
Jane just wanted to get to Lorelei.
Jessica glanced around at the confused faces.
If she said it out loud—
Silas would socially die on the spot.
And the Seven's reputation would plummet with him.
She sighed.
"Nothing."
Then she forced a straight face.
"Judging from the trajectory and height… he was practicing a throw."
"Throwing?"
"Yes. Like baseball."
"Trying to arc it straight into Lorelei's mouth."
"That requires precision."
"And… strong core strength."
Wanda nodded seriously. "That does sound difficult."
Silas exhaled in overwhelming relief.
"Yes! Exactly! 'Phantom Pitch!' I was calculating angles!"
Antony watched the exchange, amused.
A good leader knows when to pretend ignorance.
"Now that we're here," Antony said calmly, "you won't have to struggle alone."
"Stay with us."
"Let's go meet the queen."
-----
Inside Avengers Tower
Lorelei reclined lazily on her improvised iron throne, swirling a glass of wine.
Enchanted male servants knelt, cleaning the battlefield mess.
"Faster," she murmured.
"My warriors will return victorious soon."
"I intend to host a grand celebration."
She smiled faintly.
"Thor… my sweet Thor."
The image of the Asgardian prince losing himself to her made her pulse with satisfaction.
"Even Odin's son cannot escape my grasp."
"As for those Midgardian insects…"
She laughed softly.
With Thor enslaved, no mortal could threaten her.
"When they bring that woman back," she mused, "I'll skin her and make a rug."
BOOM—!!
The reinforced alloy doors at the end of the hall exploded inward.
Half the wall collapsed with them.
The metal slab tore through the banquet table she'd just prepared.
Dust filled the air.
Through it—
Antony stepped forward.
He surveyed the decadent, corrupted Avengers Tower.
Then his eyes locked onto her.
Cold.
Measured.
Openly disdainful.
"So," he said calmly,
"You're the Enchantress?"
--------------
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