"This is..."
Bruce looked at the Sling Ring that the Cloak of Levitation had forcefully slipped onto his index and middle fingers. Tilting his head in confusion, he glanced at the visibly excited cloak.
"You mean I can use magic with this?"
The moment Bruce finished speaking, the Cloak of Levitation enthusiastically lifted one corner of itself and nodded repeatedly.
It then grabbed Bruce's wrist and guided his hand in a circular motion.
As his hand completed the motion, a shimmering golden portal instantly appeared before him.
On the other side stood a stocky Asian man dressed in Kamar-Taj robes. He froze for a moment before blurting out in disbelief.
"What is going on? Since when can Iron Man use magic? I want Kamar-Taj to become stronger, but not like this!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the man stepped through the portal.
Landing on the battlefield, he casually closed the portal behind him before looking around.
"Is this the battlefield where everyone's fighting Thanos? But... Mr. Stark, can you explain why Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation is on you? Don't tell me it actually picked a new owner. Strange should obviously be its first choice, not someone who didn't even know magic before."
While speaking, he caught sight of two armored figures resembling Iron Man attacking Thanos in the distance.
He immediately spun back toward Bruce, staring at the Sling Ring on his hand.
"You're not Iron Man, but you're wearing the armor. Wait... that symbol on your chest..."
His eyes widened as he stared at the unmistakable Bat symbol.
He rubbed his eyes several times before shouting in complete disbelief.
"Am I dreaming? Batman is helping us fight Thanos? And he's using Kamar-Taj magic? Who's supposed to teach him? Should I accept him as my master's disciple? Otherwise, who in the world is qualified to teach Bruce Wayne?
"You're practically cursed when it comes to mentors and parents!"
"Seriously..."
Even Bruce's composure cracked after hearing that.
"Watch your language, buddy."
His expression turned unusually serious.
"I was actually pleased that you recognized me so quickly. I admired your observation skills."
"So don't give me a reason to regret that."
"Yes, yes. No regrets."
The man chuckled before looking around the battlefield once more.
After confirming that Thanos was the only enemy left, and seeing allies that included Thor, two Iron Men, and Hulk wearing the Veronica Hulkbuster armor, he let out a long breath.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The final boss was clearly being overwhelmed, while all the heavy hitters were taking turns beating him down.
There was plenty of time to chat.
Relaxing considerably, the man smiled at Bruce.
"Batman, I grew up reading your comics. I'm actually a fan.
"As for recognizing you, trust me, after living the life I have, nothing surprises me anymore.
"When I first entered the world of magic, I discovered things far stranger than comic book characters becoming real.
"Both Eastern and Western gods exist. Cosmic pantheons exist. Devils, God, demons, souls, they're all real.
"Once you've seen enough of the mystical world, someone like you appearing in reality is just another surprise among many.
"So... who are these people?"
He gestured toward Bruce's companions.
Bruce took a slow breath before introducing them.
"That's Lex Luthor, and that's Clark Kent.
"If you've read my comics, you already know who they are."
"What?!"
The stocky sorcerer nearly jumped.
He rubbed his face hard, looking slightly dizzy.
"I was mentally prepared, but seeing the three of you standing together is still wrecking my worldview.
"I understand you're comic book characters, and your world is just as real as ours.
"But I still have to ask.
"How did Clark Kent end up working alongside Lex Luthor?"
"Damn it."
Lex raised his middle finger.
"I can forgive everything else you said, but only once."
The gesture made the sorcerer instinctively shrink back.
While he was still trying to process everything, the battle reached its peak.
Thor's hatred for Thanos could hardly be put into words.
Ever since Thanos destroyed the Asgardian refugee ship, he had become the person Thor hated more than anyone.
Far more than Surtur.
Far more than Hela.
When Thanos possessed the Infinity Stones, revenge had been impossible.
Even after forging Stormbreaker and obtaining far greater divine power, Thor still couldn't defeat him head-on.
A surprise attack could wound Thanos.
A direct confrontation could not.
The Space Stone and Power Stone alone were enough to overwhelm him.
Then there was the Time Stone.
Anything Doctor Strange could accomplish with it, Thanos could do as well.
Even if Thor killed him thousands of times, Thanos could simply reverse time and erase the victory.
Without question, a fully equipped Thanos was one of the strongest beings in existence.
But now...
Thor raised Stormbreaker high and brought it crashing toward Thanos with all his might.
Before attacking, he cast a grateful glance toward Axel, who was lounging comfortably in the distance as though he were watching a show.
After Axel stole the Infinity Stones, Thor had finally received the chance he'd wanted for so long.
Revenge.
With that thought, Thor focused completely on his attack.
Wrapped in endless lightning, Stormbreaker slammed toward Thanos.
Thanos gathered all his strength and punched the side of the axe.
Boom!
Lightning exploded across his body, scorching his skin and filling the air with the smell of burnt flesh.
Even so, he managed to knock Stormbreaker off course.
Even without the Infinity Stones, Thanos possessed monstrous strength.
He had defeated Hulk with shocking ease.
Although Thor had once beaten Hulk himself, Thanos had accomplished the feat far more effortlessly.
Besides, Hulk had subconsciously held back against Thor because they were allies.
Against Thanos, Hulk had fought with everything he had.
Even then, he lasted fewer than twenty punches before being knocked unconscious.
That crushing defeat had traumatized Hulk so badly that he refused to come out of Banner afterward.
It was enough to show just how terrifying Thanos truly was.
Even with Stormbreaker, Thor was still at a disadvantage.
But what did that matter?
After all...
There was such a thing as a group beating.
Whether it was righteous or not was open to debate.
The "group" part certainly wasn't.
The moment Thanos deflected Stormbreaker, he barely had time to react before missiles and laser fire rained down upon him.
The two Iron Men fought cautiously.
The older Tony had already experienced Thanos' strength firsthand.
The middle-aged Tony was facing him for the first time and refused to underestimate him.
Instead of engaging directly, both remained at range, unleashing an endless barrage of missiles and energy blasts.
Forced onto the defensive, Thanos raised his arm to shield himself.
The explosions weren't enough to injure him significantly, but they obscured his vision.
That brief opening was all Wanda needed.
"Thanos!"
Her furious scream echoed across the battlefield.
"Give me back my lover's life!"
An overwhelming tide of crimson energy surged toward Thanos like a collapsing mountain.
Even Thanos felt genuine pressure.
He immediately shouted back.
"I didn't kill your lover! The Infinity Stones aren't even with me!
"If you're looking for revenge, at least choose the right target!"
"You...?"
Wanda hesitated.
The torrent of Chaos Magic slowed.
After thinking for only a moment, she realized he was right.
The Mind Stone had not been removed from Vision by Thanos.
Her icy gaze slowly shifted.
It landed directly on Axel.
Seeing her murderous stare, Axel blinked.
"Seriously? You're blaming me too?"
He casually raised his middle finger.
"Yeah, I took the stone.
"What, you want me to give you another husband?
"Go ask Stark instead. I don't have billions of dollars lying around to build another android.
"Besides, he's basically Vision's grandfather."
From Axel's perspective, the logic was flawless.
Vision had ultimately come from Ultron.
Ultron had been created through Tony Stark and Bruce Banner's work.
Jarvis also formed part of Vision.
Calling Tony Vision's elder wasn't unreasonable.
Unfortunately, Wanda saw none of the humor.
Her face slowly darkened.
She inhaled deeply.
The crimson energy behind her contracted before exploding outward.
It crossed the battlefield in an instant.
"I want you dead."
She spoke quietly.
No shouting.
No screaming.
Only those four words.
Chaos Magic completely engulfed Axel.
The surrounding earth, grass, and stone were instantly corroded into incomprehensible matter.
Axel's pupils dilated.
His breathing stopped.
Then...
Thud.
He collapsed face-first onto the ground.
"Axel!"
Lex cried out in apparent grief, as though he had lost someone precious.
The next instant, flames erupted.
Axel casually walked back out, rubbing his chin.
"Thanks for the free power-up, old friend. Looks like I got stronger again.
"But here's the important question.
"Does anyone know how I actually died?"
"Shut up!"
Wanda could no longer contain her fury.
Why was he still alive?
Why wouldn't he die?
As she spoke, Axel suddenly stopped talking.
Everyone watching stared at him in horror.
"Axel... your... your mouth!"
"Mmm?"
Axel instinctively touched his face.
Then froze.
His mouth was gone.
His teeth still moved beneath perfectly smooth skin.
"Mmm?!"
Startled, Axel immediately raised a finger and jabbed it into where his mouth should have been.
Blood poured down his face.
Then he inserted a second finger with his other hand.
With a brutal pull in opposite directions...
He tore open a brand-new mouth.
Fresh blood streamed from the gruesome wound.
After taking a deep breath, he laughed.
"You almost scared me.
"I thought I'd really lost my mouth.
"So... can you still see my smile?"
He grinned toward Lex.
Lex stared for a moment before nearly vomiting.
"Turn around, buddy.
"I don't want nightmares."
Chuckling, Axel stretched the bloody grin even wider before extending his right hand toward Wanda.
"That wasn't very polite.
"You took away my mouth.
"But if I lose my mouth, I can always make another one.
"What happens if you lose your heart?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Axel clenched his hand.
A blood-covered mass suddenly appeared in his palm.
He stared at it.
Wanda slowly lowered her head.
One side of her chest had instantly collapsed inward.
Axel's expression stiffened.
"Damn... wrong one again."
Flames ignited within his hand.
This time, Wanda's real heart appeared there.
The instant it burned...
She collapsed lifelessly.
Silence spread across the battlefield.
Then, after witnessing Wanda's death...
Captain America exploded with rage.
===
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