Wanda, Rogers, and the Mandarin stepped forward, forming a line in front of the Silver Surfer.
The aura they exuded was enough to make anyone watching realize—these weren't ordinary people.
"Stark, who the hell are they?" Johnny muttered as he edged closer to Iron Man, keeping his voice low, afraid to draw attention.
"I don't know either," Stark replied, eyes narrowing with curiosity and a hint of envy. "But they're probably part of another superhero group."
Even as he spoke, Stark couldn't help but picture that dark, imposing figure in the shadows—the Black Devil. If anyone had the ability to gather these kinds of powerhouses under one banner, it would be Gene.
"Three low-tier intelligent lifeforms? You intend to stop me?" Silver Surfer sneered, his voice echoing with disdain before darting straight toward Wanda.
To him, she was the weakest target. A fledgling human with still-developing powers—how much threat could she really pose?
But he had gravely underestimated her.
A crimson haze erupted like a tidal wave, engulfing him. In an instant, his incredible speed became meaningless, like trying to run through thick mud.
Chaos Magic.
This was Wanda Maximoff's domain—the unpredictable, raw force of reality-warping sorcery. The Silver Surfer, for the first time in eons, found himself struggling.
The red mist clung to his body like sentient tar, draining his momentum, burning through his form with maddening precision. He growled, and an invisible shockwave pulsed outward from his body, shattering the binding field around him.
The sphere of chaos magic began to swell, expanding rapidly like a balloon on the verge of rupture. Unable to maintain control, Wanda clenched her fists and screamed—and the sphere detonated.
BOOM!
The shockwave rocked the battlefield, centered on the Surfer. It blasted the Avengers backward like rag dolls.
Susan Storm, drained and staggering, summoned the last of her power to catch each of them midair and guide them safely to the ground. The effort took its toll—her body slumped, unconscious, the moment they landed.
Wanda knelt, breathing hard, her face pale, blood trickling from her nose. But her eyes—those burning, unrelenting eyes—never wavered.
The crimson energy flared up again.
High above, the Silver Surfer twisted through the air to avoid her next wave of magic.
But that's when the Mandarin moved.
With a flick of his wrist, one of the Ten Rings gleamed, and suddenly, Silver Surfer's body lurched downward—slammed by an invisible weight.
The ground cracked beneath him.
"What—gravity manipulation?" the Surfer gritted his teeth, trying to lift off again, but he was trapped.
Before he could escape, a shield appeared—one not made of any known metal, etched with unfamiliar markings. It struck with impossible force, blocking each of his movements with surgical precision.
Captain Rogers, clad in his enhanced combat armor, leapt forward. His movements were fluid, lethal, efficient.
"Not bad, Rogers," the Mandarin remarked, still channeling the full power of the Ten Rings. But his casual tone was gone—replaced by the tension of battle. "He's stronger than we expected."
Rogers didn't answer. His eyes were focused, jaw clenched. Even with the T-Virus enhancements, the second-generation serum, and his state-of-the-art uniform, Rogers wasn't gaining ground.
He'd once stood toe-to-toe with the Hulk. But this—this was something else entirely.
The Mandarin gritted his teeth. He had the Ten Rings pushed to their limits, distorting gravity with brutal intensity. Any ordinary lifeform would've been crushed into pulp by now.
But this being—this silver demon—was still rising, preparing to soar again.
The Silver Surfer's strength was monstrous.
But the elite members of the Sharp Blade Squad weren't ordinary, either.
In a flash, the battlefield erupted into a storm of light and force. Crimson chaos magic arced across the sky. The shield clashed with cosmic-infused strikes. The power of the Ten Rings warped space and pressure.
The Avengers could barely keep up.
"What the hell kind of power is that?" Johnny exclaimed, jaw slack as he watched the battle unfold.
Just the aftermath of each collision sent shockwaves through the surrounding area, enough to make Johnny's hair stand on end. He shuddered at the thought of being caught in the middle—he wouldn't last a second.
Reed stared solemnly at the clash in the distance. His earlier optimism, the momentary thrill of being saved by new allies, had nearly clouded his judgment. But now? Now he knew.
The difference in strength between them was astronomical.
And Stark—Stark couldn't take his eyes off the Silver Surfer either. In his mind, only one image played over and over: the Black Devil.
Gene.
If Gene were here... how would he handle this?
Would he crush this silver invader? Or would even he struggle, caught in this cosmic glue trap?
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from the sky.
"ENOUGH!"
A blinding shockwave erupted from the Surfer. Rogers was flung backward like a bullet, flipping through the air before landing cleanly on his feet.
Wanda and the Mandarin both raised shields of magic and energy, bracing against the blast.
"You insolent vermin!" the Surfer's voice thundered, filled with fury. "You dare defy me? Do you wish to die?"
His eyes locked on Wanda, voice dropping to a deathly whisper:
"You… first."
A blinding silver radiance burst forth from his body—like a newborn star. Cosmic energy swirled around him in waves, each one heavier than the last.
On the ground, Stark could feel it—his heart skipped a beat, breath caught in his throat. The raw pressure made his armor groan.
And the Surfer wasn't even looking at him.
He couldn't begin to imagine how Wanda felt. Or Rogers. Or the Mandarin.
But they were still standing.
Still ready to fight.
Now the question was—how the hell do they survive what comes next?
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics