Kagura seized control of the Iron Legion, wielding her "Deep Dive" ability to command them effortlessly.
As her consciousness merged with the operating systems of the Iron Man suits, the thirty-plus armors moved as a single, unified force.
They operated in perfect sync, as if there were suddenly thirty Iron Men fighting together.
"Deep Dive" was one of Kagura's latest core abilities—a powerful, ultimate-tier upgrade of her previous "Cyber Infiltration." As a core skill, it vastly outclassed conventional hacking abilities.
By consuming 100% of her sub-core energy, Kagura could fully integrate her consciousness into any electronic system capable of handling her communication load, gaining absolute control over any connected device within reach.
With "Deep Dive," all hacks and access permissions she executed were at the highest level, immune to failures caused by encryption or security protocols.
In other words, once activated, Kagura could surpass even the most advanced supercomputers on Earth, seizing control of any system connected to the network with ease.
Naturally, hijacking the Iron Legion remotely controlled by J.A.R.V.I.S. through "The Queen"'s wireless network interference was child's play.
"Mark 39 'Gemini,' increase altitude and provide long-range fire support."
"Mark 40 'Shotgun,' cover Gemini's assault."
Kagura directed the entire Iron Legion with her consciousness. Though the mental strain was immense, her automaton body handled the load effortlessly.
Simultaneously linking with over thirty Iron Man suits was akin to synchronizing with thirty neural interfaces at once.
Even if human technology could achieve this, an ordinary mind would crumble under the pressure.
Fortunately, Kagura was not human. Her automaton brain vastly outperformed any biological counterpart.
"Mark 11, help Mark 9 up—it's getting wrecked out there!"
"Mark 12, I know you're a prototype for War Machine, but for now, focus on eliminating those Hydra soldiers wielding Chitauri weapons. We'll leave War Machine to Mr. Stark."
Her consciousness split and reassembled seamlessly, processing multiple perspectives at once.
The experience was strange—like existing as countless versions of herself, each acting independently yet perfectly synchronized.
In a way, it was similar to her "Puppet Marionette" connection, but since all the linked consciousnesses were her own, "Deep Dive" offered a far more intimate and precise control.
"Ghost, cover Red Snapper. That one's designated Mark 35, but it's just a rescue unit—its combat capabilities are weak."
Kagura's mental network formed a sophisticated command structure, merging every suit's unique capabilities into a flawless tactical ensemble—something Tony Stark himself could only dream of achieving.
"Mark 16! Recon duty. Your 'Nightclub' stealth armor isn't equipped with extra weaponry."
"'Jack,' assist Barton! Hawkeye's not wearing an Iron Man suit, you know! 'Blue Steel,' your vibranium daggers can slice through Chitauri energy blades—use them!"
With her mind fused into the system, Kagura had a complete grasp of each suit's specifications, utilizing them for advanced team-based tactics Stark had likely never even considered.
"Igor, drop a shipping container near War Machine's location—the remaining Hydra forces are dwindling. Time to wrap this up."
As the battle raged on, Hydra's forces thinned out. Now, only War Machine remained, struggling against multiple Iron Man suits. Victory was imminent.
Despite equipping their elite strike teams with Chitauri technology, Hydra was no match for over thirty Iron Man suits under Kagura's control.
Even the Chitauri army itself would struggle against such firepower.
After all, Tony Stark had built these suits specifically to counter extraterrestrial threats like the Chitauri.
Against them, Hydra stood no chance—especially with Kagura in the mix.
"It's about time. 'Troy' drones, activate full-spectrum communication jamming. No one should know what happened here."
With that, Kagura issued a cryptic order.
She was already preparing for the next phase of her counteroffensive. The battle was won—but what came next would turn the tide against Hydra.
First and foremost, War Machine could not be destroyed.
Setting aside the fact that James Rhodes was Tony Stark's closest friend, eliminating him would be unacceptable on both moral and strategic levels.
Rhodey was a future Avenger, a responsible and upright man who did not deserve to die.
His current hostility was likely the result of Hydra's brainwashing. The best course of action was to disable his armor and later free him from their control.
Of course, if capturing War Machine was the only goal, jamming communications wouldn't be necessary.
But Kagura had a bigger plan—one that would deceive Hydra and expose their growing ambitions.
"Master, the communication jamming field is fully deployed."
"Excellent. Now, let's put on a show."
A sly smile crossed Kagura's lips.
"You had fun setting me up, didn't you, Hydra? But are you ready to taste your own medicine? Let's find out."
———————————————————————
The final stage of the battle didn't last long.
With the Iron Legion's overwhelming firepower, War Machine and the elite Hydra strike team were swiftly defeated.
Before long, War Machine found himself completely surrounded—thousands of repulsor blasts aimed at him, with a certain master archer standing among them, wielding an energy-charged katana.
"Mr. Stark, let me handle this. I can hack into War Machine's systems and shut down his power and controls."
Through Mark 40 'Shotgun,' Kagura communicated with Tony Stark while also piloting Mark 33 'Silver Centurion' to initiate her cyber infiltration.
Her consciousness traveled along the electrical pathways between the suits, diving straight into War Machine's system.
'Zzt—Crack!'
A soft electronic buzz signaled the override. Within moments, War Machine's operational control fell under Kagura's command.
The armor powered down, and Tony Stark yanked Rhodey out. To prevent any potential resistance, he knocked him out with a single punch.
"What do we do with Rhodey?" Barton asked. "He's acting…off. Was he always like this?"
"Definitely not," Stark replied. "I need to find a way to fix him."
"I can help with that once I return," Kagura said, scanning Rhodey with the suit's sensors.
"He's under some kind of mental control. But before that, I have a little plan—one that will reveal Hydra's schemes and utterly crush them."
"Oh? Now that sounds interesting. Tell us more, Hitomi."