General Corvus let out another strangled scream as he hit the ground hard, rolling violently before hurling Steve away with a burst of desperate strength. Steve crashed down near his shield, the metal disc skidding across the pavement with a sharp scrape.
He pushed himself up instantly, grabbed the shield without hesitation, and glanced toward Corvus. The alien general had shifted his hands from protecting his lower body to clutching his eyes, his expression twisted in pain and fury.
Steve didn't waste the opening. With a flick of his wrist and a sharp thrust forward, the shield roared through the air with a violent buzz, slicing a straight path toward its target.
Cohen sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening. Damn it, if I'd known you were this kind of ruthless lunatic, I would've driven a broken pickup all the way to the North Pole just to dig you out myself.
The shield cut through the air like a missile, aimed directly at Corvus's most vulnerable spot. Just before impact, a blur of motion streaked across the battlefield. Corvus's right hand snapped out and caught the shield mid-flight with terrifying precision.
His left eye was bloodshot, his entire body trembling as veins bulged beneath his skin. Grinding his teeth, he forced out each word with murderous intent.
"You shameless bastard… I'll skin you alive, drink your blood, and tear your tendons out piece by piece."
Steve only gave a cold snort, completely unimpressed. His posture remained relaxed, almost mocking, as he tilted his head slightly.
"And what's killing me going to accomplish?" he shot back, pointing casually toward Cohen. "That guy over there—he's the strongest guardian this world's got. The symbol people believe in. If you want to take this planet, you go through him first."
Corvus's gaze snapped toward Locke, narrowing instantly as he took in the sight of Ebony Maw struggling in the distance. The moment he recognized the situation, his expression hardened further.
Locke's thoughts shifted, and the sky responded immediately. Thunder twisted and condensed, forming a massive electric net that snapped shut around Ebony Maw.
With a flick of his hand, Locke dragged the immobilized figure through the air and into his grasp. The Absolute Zero Zone opened and closed in a blink, swallowing Ebony Maw whole.
Corvus's caution deepened instantly. The battlefield might be chaos, but Locke's control over it was absolute.
Locke drifted down beside Steve, glancing at him with an amused expression. "Damn… I'm starting to like you more and more."
Steve shrugged, spreading his hands with an easy grin. "Hey, I won a beautiful woman over with nothing but my chest muscles. I've got standards."
Locke snorted, then turned his attention back to Corvus. His tone shifted, casual but edged with threat. "Looks like you can't handle both of us. I won't say I'm bullying you, though—I'll even give you a chance to call for backup."
Corvus's jaw clenched, fury radiating off him in waves. "Arrogant fool!"
With a roar, he charged forward, weapon raised high.
Locke shook his head, almost disappointed. "Still stubborn, huh?"
Mjolnir lifted slightly in his hand. The sky answered instantly.
Thunder erupted.
...
Far away, inside Stark Tower, in a shadowed corner of a middle floor that no one paid attention to, a figure stood silently observing the battlefield.
Mephisto leaned lightly on his cane, dressed in an immaculate suit, as if he were attending a formal gala instead of witnessing a war. Chitauri soldiers streaked past him in every direction, yet not a single one acknowledged his existence.
His eyes rested on Steve in the distance, and he muttered softly, almost to himself.
"Captain America… your will really is something. Even with everything I tried, this is as far as I could twist you."
His lips curved slightly as he shifted his attention elsewhere.
"A man like Stark, though… far more useful."
Then his gaze landed on Locke.
The temperature in his eyes dropped instantly.
"Hmph. Enjoy your last moment of glory. When this world collapses, I want to see if you'll kneel at my feet and beg."
The moment the words left his mouth, his figure faded away as if it had never existed.
...
Meanwhile, the battle across New York took a sharp turn for the worse.
From the massive portal overhead, colossal shapes began to emerge one after another. Leviathans—gigantic creatures armored like living warships—poured into the sky, their sheer size enough to make even seasoned soldiers hesitate.
Missiles launched toward them in rapid succession. Explosions blossomed across their bodies, but when the smoke cleared, not a single one showed visible damage.
They moved between skyscrapers like massive whales gliding through water, releasing swarms of Chitauri soldiers from their bellies. Instantly, the pressure on ground forces skyrocketed.
At the same time, Chitauri aerial chariots multiplied in the sky. Fighter jets and helicopters sent by the U.S. military were torn apart mid-air. One helicopter lost control entirely, spiraling straight into Stark Tower.
The explosion shattered glass across multiple floors. Fuel sprayed everywhere, igniting instantly and sending flames roaring through the structure.
The battlefield had become a nightmare.
Inside the White House, tension reached its peak. Screens across the room showed the unfolding disaster in real time.
Barack Obama wiped sweat from his forehead, relieved the press conference had already ended. If reporters had asked him questions now, he wouldn't have had answers.
"Where are the Avengers?" he demanded, voice tight. "If they don't show up soon, our troops are going to take heavy losses!"
A staff member lowered his phone, exhaling in relief. "They're here, sir. They've arrived!"
Almost immediately, the Avengers' jet roared into New York airspace.
Before it even touched down, a massive green figure dropped from the sky.
Hulk slammed onto the back of a Leviathan and began tearing into it with savage force, fists rising and falling like wrecking balls.
Elsewhere, Storm carried Cyclops and Jean Grey out of the aircraft, landing on the roof of Stark Tower. A beam of red energy shot skyward, cutting through the clouds like a blade.
Dark clouds gathered instantly. Tornadoes formed. Lightning cracked across the sky as Chitauri forces were swept away in waves.
Jean Grey stood at the edge of the rooftop, lifting her hand. Distant chariots were seized by invisible force, crushed against buildings or slammed into the ground.
Their combined power drew attention immediately.
Chitauri soldiers swarmed toward Stark Tower, climbing its walls like an endless tide of ants.
And far away, Tony Stark was still racing back at full speed.
...
Seeing the Avengers had returned, Locke stopped wasting time.
Mjolnir flared with power, unleashing relentless thunder. Lightning hammered down on Corvus like a storm without end, each strike tearing into him with brutal force.
Corvus struggled to endure it, his body—despite its incredible resilience—quickly covered in wounds. Blood spilled freely as his defenses began to fail.
His eyes flickered with desperation.
Suddenly, he surged forward with explosive force, feigning a direct attack. At the last second, he twisted his body and found a gap in the lightning.
With a violent swing, he hurled his blade straight toward the portal.
His soul resided within that weapon. Even if his body died, he could resurrect as long as the blade survived.
But Locke already knew.
The blade had barely traveled a few dozen meters before a dense web of lightning snapped into existence, catching it mid-flight.
Corvus's expression collapsed into shock.
A bolt of lightning as thick as a pillar slammed down onto him, blasting him into the ground. His body convulsed violently before going completely still.
Locke appeared beside him in an instant, sealing both Corvus and the weapon into the Absolute Zero Zone.
Just like that, three of Thanos's Black Order generals were gone.
Locke glanced toward the portal, frowning slightly. The invasion wasn't stopping.
Behind that gateway… there was something massive waiting.
He turned toward Wolverine, voice steady. "You guys handle cleanup down here. I'm going to find a way to shut that thing."
Then he looked at Steve.
"If you're interested in joining the Avengers, come find me. I'll make you the team leader."
Before Steve could respond, Locke shot into the sky.
...
After scanning the area, he quickly located Ancient One calmly practicing Tai Chi on a balcony, completely unaffected by the chaos around her.
"Master, the enemy keeps coming. What's the plan?" Locke asked.
She glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
Locke didn't react. "I want to go through the portal and destroy their mothership. Care to join me?"
"I don't want to."
The answer was immediate.
Locke raised an eyebrow. "Come on, build some goodwill. I might help Strange in the future."
"If he can't overcome his own path, he doesn't deserve to become Sorcerer Supreme."
Locke paused, then smirked faintly. "You're not afraid of Thanos, are you? Respecting him enough to leave his ship untouched?"
The Ancient One didn't respond.
Locke clicked his tongue. Stubborn.
Going in alone was risky. If the portal closed behind him, getting stranded on that ship would be catastrophic. Even if he made it inside, destroying the entire vessel solo wasn't guaranteed. They could self-destruct or drag him across space.
After a brief moment of calculation, he made his decision.
He pulled out his phone.
"Mr. President," he said calmly, "the situation is out of control. Launch the nuke."
The Ancient One didn't even look up.
Locke shot into the sky, intercepting the incoming missile and guiding it personally. Acting as a human targeting system, he directed it straight through the portal.
On the other side, a massive four-armed warship came into view.
After making final adjustments, Locke released the missile and immediately turned back toward Earth.
Mid-air, he pulled out the Mind Scepter and dove straight toward the device maintaining the portal atop Stark Tower.
With a single strike, it shattered.
The portal began collapsing rapidly.
At the final moment, a blinding flash of light burst through the closing gap.
Then—
Everything stopped.
Leviathans froze mid-air before crashing down. Chitauri chariots fell like broken machines. Every remaining soldier dropped lifelessly to the ground.
The invasion was over.
...
In the distance, Tony Stark finally came into view, flying at maximum speed after two relentless hours in the air.
His eyes were bloodshot, his body pushed beyond its limits.
He hadn't even had time to land once.
When Stark Tower finally came into clear sight, his vision went dark, and his body nearly gave out mid-flight.
...
The Avengers had saved the world once again.
At the same time, the performance of the U.S. military helped restore public confidence in both the Pentagon and the White House.
President Obama took the opportunity to address the public, explaining that an early election involved complex procedures and required time. He urged patience, promising an official announcement as soon as possible.
There was little opposition.
His term was quietly extended.
...
Far below the surface of the ocean, in the deepest trench on Earth—the Mariana Trench—a lone figure appeared.
Mariana Trench lay silent and crushing around him, yet he moved as if walking on dry land.
A gentleman's suit. A skull-topped cane.
He advanced slowly until an invisible barrier stopped him.
Beyond it, he could sense something ancient. Decayed. Lonely. Yet still unimaginably powerful.
His lips curved slightly.
"Why stay trapped here forever?" he murmured softly. "Come out. Return with your army. Let the world tremble beneath your feet… conquer everything."