Apocalypse was a Mutant who had survived since ancient times, mastering a vast range of Mutant abilities.
In any ordinary universe, the Avengers would face the risk of total annihilation upon encountering him.
But the Avengers of the S Universe were clearly anything but ordinary.
"Looks like I'll have to get serious," Tony muttered.
He tapped his chest.
The armor covering his body flowed backward like liquid metal, retracting in an instant. From the Arc Reactor, his most powerful Nano Anti Superman Armor rapidly redeployed, expanding outward and locking into place.
As the golden red armor fully enveloped him, Tony's palms and chest began to glow like miniature suns.
He rotated midair, convinced that this was finally the moment for his Anti Superman Armor to shine.
And then he saw her.
Diana descended from the sky.
With a single, clean strike, she split Apocalypse in half.
Terrifying divine power surged along the blade's path, burning through Apocalypse's ancient body from the inside out. His blood scattered through the air like rain.
Without pausing, Diana withdrew her sword, spun gracefully, and slashed through empty space with speed that defied perception. She shot straight toward Magneto.
The cold gleam of the Godkiller Sword flashed beneath the shadow of the approaching Earth.
Another horizontal strike.
Magneto and Storm, who had been flying behind him, were both cut cleanly in half at the waist.
"Shit," Tony muttered, stunned.
The thrusters in his armor, which had been seconds away from full output, powered down instead.
Tony turned his gaze toward the battlefield below.
Magneto's death sent the Mutants on the ground into a frenzy. Rage spread through their ranks as they prepared to counterattack.
Tony immediately locked onto his original targets and charged toward Blink and Kitty Pryde.
But this time, someone was faster.
Twin beams of heat vision tore across the ground, instantly liquefying the surface beneath the Mutants. The earth glowed red as most of them were reduced to molten wreckage.
Even those who escaped through Blink's portals did not make it far.
Kara caught up to them in an instant and ended them with a single punch.
The gap in power was absolute.
Tony slowed to a stop, realizing he had neither the chance nor the need to intervene.
Compared to the other Superheroes on Earth, Diana and Kara existed on an entirely different level.
"Were they always this strong?" Tony muttered to himself.
"Even during the final battle with Darkseid, they didn't have this kind of speed or power."
Jarvis answered immediately.
"Sir, based on comparative analysis with historical combat data," Jarvis reported,
"Miss Diana Prince's strength and speed have increased approximately thirteenfold. Miss Kara Zor El's output has increased by roughly twenty one times. Miss Wanda Maximoff shows no fixed parameters, but her reality alteration efficiency has also improved significantly."
Tony's eyes widened.
"How did they get this much stronger?" He paused, then frowned. "Wait… did Malrick secretly help them?"
"That is a plausible conclusion, sir," Jarvis replied.
"If you wish to increase your own capabilities rapidly, you may consider consulting Young Master Malrick."
"What? Ask Malrick?" Tony scoffed immediately. "No way. That would just make that kid smug."
Despite his words, temptation flickered across his face.
"When Malrick gets back, Jarvis, you ask him what's going on," Tony said quickly.
"You're the butler. It's normal for you to worry about him."
"Yes, sir," Jarvis replied without hesitation.
Jarvis never refused Tony's requests.
He only occasionally delivered devastatingly accurate remarks at the worst possible moments.
"I will inform Young Master Malrick that you feel neglected due to his prolonged absence," Jarvis added calmly.
"That's right… wait, what did you just say?" Tony froze. "Neglected? Wronged? I never said that!"
Tony's face twitched.
Jarvis smoothly cut him off.
"Sir, the remaining Mutants on the ground have surrendered. You should regroup with the others."
After Diana and Kara displayed overwhelming force, the Mutants had already lost all hope.
Shortly afterward, Pietro defeated the Quicksilver from the Mutant world.
The two had raced through New York City at hundreds of Mach, leaving sonic booms in their wake.
In the end, the S Universe's Pietro emerged victorious.
After all, he had undergone physical enhancements and special training under Malrick. Losing under those circumstances would have been unacceptable.
At the same time, Banner fully transformed into the Hulk and defeated the Mutant world's Juggernaut.
With their strongest fighters falling one after another, the Mutants had no avenue of escape.
When Wanda finally shattered Professor X's remaining psychic defenses, all resistance collapsed.
Within the protective circle formed by Wolverine and the others, both Professor X and Jean Grey fell unconscious. Blood seeped from their eyes and noses.
That sight became the final blow.
A few minutes later, the Avengers regrouped on the ground.
The Mutants from the other Earth lay restrained in vibranium handcuffs.
Wolverine knelt beside Professor X and Jean Grey.
Nearby sat a bomb encased in dense metal, still intact.
Both Professor X and Jean remained unconscious.
Wolverine looked utterly defeated.
"You don't have anything to say?" Tony asked coldly, deactivating his armor as he looked down at him.
"No communication, a direct invasion, a plan to blow up the entire planet, and now you're silent?"
Wolverine did not respond.
His eyes were dull, filled with despair and a strange sense of relief.
His silence drew frowns from the Avengers.
"How about I take him into the woods and question him?" Hawkeye suggested calmly.
As a former senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, interrogation was one of his specialties.
Wanda raised a hand to stop him.
"There's no need," she said quietly. "I already saw the reason in Professor X's mind."
Everyone turned toward her.
"So what's their story?" Tony asked.
Captain America took a slow breath.
"They're Superheroes too. Why were they so determined to destroy Earth and kill billions of people?"
"It's more than billions," Wanda replied.
"This isn't their first world collision."
Before encountering us, they had already destroyed four Earths.
Four.
Silence fell instantly.
All eyes turned toward Wolverine, the only conscious Mutant left.
He shut his eyes tightly, pain etched across his face.
But Wanda continued.
"When the first collision occurred, their world was still divided. Humans and Mutants were locked in conflict, and Mutant factions were deeply fractured."
"To survive the collision, they tried to unite and cooperate with the other Earth."
"But they failed to find a solution before the collision deadline."
"So someone proposed destroying the other Earth."
"The X Men opposed it fiercely," Wanda said, her voice steady.
"But Magneto and his allies acted anyway, with the support of several governments."
"They brought Sentinel units and compressed bombs to the other Earth."
"They slaughtered that Earth's Avengers and planted the bombs across the planet."
"They succeeded."
"That Earth was reduced to cosmic dust."
"And theirs survived."
Wanda paused briefly.
"After that, the X Men turned on Magneto's faction."
"But before justice could be settled…"
"The second collision arrived."