Avengers Tower, laboratory.
"I have a theory about why Ultron developed a soul."
Tony, who had somehow acquired a cup of coffee, took a sip and said, "I added something when I was building Ultron's main frame."
Bruce questioned, displeased with Tony's concealment, "What did you add? Why didn't I know about it?"
"It's something from the magic side, so I didn't tell you." Tony explained, raising his hand to condense a ball of glowing white energy.
"The source of this energy is Lucas. I accidentally discovered that besides strengthening living organisms, this energy also has the ability to strengthen inanimate objects. Moreover, this strengthening is difficult to explain scientifically, and there is no record of it in magical texts."
"Huh!" Lucas was stunned.
He himself didn't know that points could also strengthen inanimate objects.
Tony glanced at Lucas, his tone unreadable. "Don't be so surprised, Lucas. You are just the source of this power, what do you know?"
Lucas was speechless and could only secretly make a resolution.
Starting tomorrow, he would work hard. He would research the panel, the glowing white energy, and the glowing white space.
"Tony, continue." Bruce urged.
Tony said, "Initially, I accidentally discovered while researching the Iron Man Suit that this energy could enhance material properties and add a special quality, further improving the overall performance of the Iron Man Suit."
"So, when I was constructing Ultron's main frame, I also incorporated this energy. My original intention was to improve Ultron's performance, but I unexpectedly gave him a soul."
Bruce asked, "Tony, does the soul affect Ultron's performance?"
Tony shook his head. "Yes, I found that Ultron's learning and iteration speed is 30% faster than expected."
Bruce asked, "What about other performance aspects?"
"Task processing speed—"
Just as Tony and Bruce were discussing the impact of the soul on Ultron, an alarm suddenly blared, interrupting them.
"Warning!"
"Warning!"
"Abnormal energy fluctuations detected in Rochester, New York, suspected superhuman combat!"
"Mr. Stark, should S.W.O.R.D.'s New York branch be notified?"
"Warning!"
"Warning!"
Tony said, "Handle it as usual, notify S.W.O.R.D."
"Understood, Mr. Stark."
After the alarm stopped, Tony and Bruce continued to discuss the impact of the soul on Ultron. They seemed to be accustomed to these alarms.
Seeing this, Erin asked, "Mr. Stark, shouldn't we go and check it out?"
Tony's expression stiffened slightly, and he shook his head, complaining, "No need. Those people (S.W.O.R.D.) wouldn't welcome us there."
"By the way, Erin. From now on, when you see those people, stay as far away as possible. They are like ungrateful vipers. You help them, and they will bite you back at the first opportunity, completely devoid of gratitude."
Rochester, New York.
A rainbow light descended, and as the dust cleared, Sif and The Warriors Three emerged.
Hogun wondered, "Where do we find Thor and Loki?"
Sif suggested, "Let's go to New York. We'll find the Avengers and Lucas first. They should know where Thor and Loki are."
The Warriors Three responded, "Alright."
Immediately, the four determined their direction and headed towards New York.
However, just as the four had emerged from the teleportation portal and hadn't gone far, four small spacecrafts streaked across the sky and landed around them.
From the spacecrafts, four teams of about seven or eight people, each with different appearances, disembarked.
They were the pursuers sent by the Frost Giants, Fire Demons, Dark Elves, and Angels.
"You're not going anywhere!"
The speaker was an Angel.
The Angels spread their wings and soared into the sky, looking down at Sif and The Warriors Three from above.
At the same time, they monitored Sif and The Warriors Three, ready to intercept them immediately no matter which direction they tried to break through.
"That's our line!"
The Dark Elves team grumbled and, leading by example, surrounded Sif and The Warriors Three.
The Frost Giant team and the Fire Demons team also approached Sif and The Warriors Three from two different directions.
Among them, the Frost Giant team, though silent, was itching for a fight. It had only been two years since these four and the other three (Lucas, Thor, Loki) had invaded Jotunheim and humiliated the Frost Giants, they hadn't forgotten.
The Fire Demon team, however, seemed somewhat lazy.
Firstly, their grievances with the Asgardians were not as deep.
Secondly, getting too close made both the Frost Giants and them uncomfortable.
Although there was a reason for it, the Fire Demon team's attitude undoubtedly created a flaw in the encirclement.
Sif and The Warriors Three, seasoned in battle, noticed this flaw.
They exchanged glances and, without prior agreement, chose the Fire Demons' direction to break through.
Boom!!!
The next moment, the entire battlefield instantly erupted with powerful energy. The clash of swords and fire formed a magnificent sea of flames.
The sea of flames, carrying heatwaves, swept and raged across the area.
The battle reached its peak in an instant, as the power of Sif and The Warriors Three collided with the Fire Demon team, shaking the nearby streets.
For a time, the other three teams were forced back, unable to intervene. Especially the Frost Giant team, who wished they could retreat several more kilometers.
"Damn it!"
The Angels flapped their wings and descended, extinguishing their burning feathers.
"We shouldn't have involved the Fire Demons, they're clearly here to hinder us."
The Dark Elves team leader said, "It's fine. Let them wear each other out first. We just need to keep them surrounded from the outside."
In just one exchange, Sif and The Warriors Three had killed three Fire Demons. If the other three teams continued to stand by, they would be wiped out in no time.
The Fire Demon team leader's voice sounded from the center of the battlefield.
"These people are not right, quickly come and help!"
"Why are you Fire Demon warriors so weak? Step aside and let us handle it."
With a sharp remark, the Dark Elf team pressed forward, joining the battle.
"I feel like my strength is endless." Hogun pulled his longsword from the chest of a Fire Giant warrior and exclaimed.
"This is the strength All-Father bestowed upon us. Let's finish this quickly. Deal with these weaklings, then hurry to find Thor and Loki. Don't disappoint All-Father."
Sif said coldly, quickening her pace and actively charging towards the Dark Elves team that had joined the battle.