Imperiex had his arms under Sequoia’s and had him locked in a full nelson. The Celestial Messiah struggled under the grip. “Release me fiend!” It was not a command his attack would obey.

The robotic monstrosity laughed coldly at Quoi. “Pathetic creature. You are as meaningless to me as the wind is to an angel’s wing!”

Seeing the creature squirm at the taunt filled the Imperiex drone with pleasure. His true body was elsewhere in the universe, but that information wouldn’t be disclosed to his allies. Not until he had got what he needed from them. While this was not his universe, he had every intention to mold it in his image. This abundance of Destiny Force would facilitate the cosmic giant in that endeavor.

It would have taken Quoi nothing to teleport from Imperiex’s grip, but he was trying to let his energy build up again. Going from the battle with Factor 3 to having to teleport in so many Avengers had taken its toll on his energy supply. That and a few other unknown activities. There was no telling when he would have to do another big feat. He couldn’t afford to be low on energy. So for at least the next few minutes he would rely on his natural super strength and wits.

Imperiex’s grip grew tighter and Sequoia cried out in pain. “A messiah is what I’ve heard you called. Who can you possibly save when you can’t save yourself?!!” That angry question was followed by a powerful blast to the back of Sequoia’s neck that sent him tumbling through the air wildly.

Regaining his bearings, Quoi turned to his attacker and grinned. “Was hoping you would do that. Needed the charge.”

Imperiex realized his mistake only after Sequoia began to punch him at supersonic speeds. The blows were actually hurting him! Perhaps this Messiah would live up to his name after all. Each of his blows came down like hammers, but eventually he found an opening and delivered a wide smack. His nearly door sized hand sent Quoi into a tailspin, but when he stopped he was grinning again.

A blast of lightning shot downward and stuck Imperiex on top of his bulky head. The bolt shot through his entire body, but he hadn’t budged. “Lightning? If you are a messiah, then you are a stupid one. The power of Imperiex is beyond nature.”

Quoi smiled again as chunks of Imperiex’s armor began to rust and break off. Sequoia’s lightning had not been electricity at all, but rather tachyon particles that had aged Imperiex’s armor by thousands of years. “Beyond nature. Not beyond me.”

The drone let loose a guttural roar as it charged at Quoi. Air rippled around its fractured body as it barreled towards the Celestial messiah. This fool dared mock Imperiex, who had brought worlds to their knees. It was a trait that the two didn’t know they had in common. Both had been harbingers of destruction to their respective universes. Both believed that destruction had been wrought from noble purposes. The line between hero and villain was thin indeed.

Before Imperiex could collide with him, Quoi formed a force bubble around his body. The cosmic machine rammed into the plant/human hybrid and the two went tumbling through the air. Imperiex punched Quoi, but his force bubble had absorbed the blow. As both bodies were tumbling towards the ground Sequoia slammed an open palm into Imperiex’s chest and sent him flying backwards. The force from his blow would have been enough to snap a truck in half.

In mid-flight Imperiex readjusted himself. “You are quite the insolent whelp! I will crush you before this day is over!”

Two towers of green energy ripped forth from Imperiex’s eyes even as bits of armor rusted off. The blasts tore through Quoi’s force bubble and struck him dead in the chest. He felt the air leave his chest as he was forced backwards. Imperiex took advantage of the opportunity and charged forward.

Before he reached his opponent, the Celestial Messiah vanished and disoriented Imperiex. “Behind you.”

The machine quickly turned around and saw a smiling Quoi. “You really weren’t paying attention when you were told about me. I absorb energy and convert it to whatever use I want. Any and all kinds of energy.”

“That will not stop me from crushing you!”

Sequoia shook his head. “Arrogance. Not a good trait. This is battle is over. Even as we speak the liquid methane oceans of Neptune pour into you.”

The Messiah had created a tiny portal in Imperiex’s inner body that led straight to the oceans of Neptune. Now that incredible cold drained into Imperiex’s body. The drone could no longer move, but managed to shout out one last thing as he exploded. “I WILL KILL YOU!!”

As he exploded blue green liquid fell from the sky and made its way to the ground. Quoi reached out and made it disappear before it would have hit a battling Sersi and Big Barda. Before he could make any effort to help Sersi, he sensed the peril Black Knight was in and headed his way.

“You have made a mistake coming here!” Sersi said as she deflected a blast from Big Barda. The Eternal then delivered a blast of her own that slammed into Barda’s chest. “Emperor Gladiator spoke of you. One of the new lapdogs of Thanos. Know that service with him will only end in a cruel fate for you.”

Barda silently rose to her feet and stared at Sersi with soulless red eyes. The warrior woman quickly lobbed off a few black shots from her rod. Sersi deflected two of them, but the third struck her in the shoulder. The force of the blast sent her spinning into the air and she crashed hard into the Mansion’s lawn. Her body stopped moving and Barda moved towards here. When she stood over The Eternal’s body, she bent down and grabbed her opponent by the hair. A blast in the face would end this fight and allow Barda to move on to her next opponent.

Suddenly, Sersi moved and slammed her elbow into Barda’s throat. As she went clutching for her throat, Sersi blasted Barda in the face. The blast carried the woman clear to the door of Avengers Mansion. Rising to her feet Sersi mumbled, “Time to break that damn rod.”

Even though Barda was stunned, Sersi had no intention of taking any chances. Green telekinetic energy came forth from her hand and lifted Barda into the air. Sersi quickly flung her through the air and outside the Mansion grounds. Barda’s body slammed into a parked minivan. Glass exploded and a car alarm began to blare. People scattered as they saw Sersi regally descend from the air. She looked at an unmoving Big Barda and waved a disapproving finger. “Really think I would fall for my own trick?”

Using her main ability, Sersi morphed the metal around Barda into hot tar. Her enemy never once cried out as the substance consumed her body. The Eternal was impressed if nothing else. Despite what was probably intense pain, Barda lifted up her rod and aimed it at Sersi.

“That isn’t happening,” Sersi said as a beam of green energy short forth from her forehead and hit the rod. The blast was supposed to dissolve the weapon. Anger filled Sersi at the failure of her attack. It was extremely rare for her molecular attacks to fail. Barda’s weapon was either mystic in nature or was just dense enough to require more concentration to manipulate. Sersi didn’t have time to try again though as Barda launched a blast into The Eternal’s chest. She was sent careening straight through the gates of Avengers Mansion and went rolling across the ground. A normal mortal would have been ripped asunder by the assault, but the physiology of Eternals was resilient.

Still, Sersi’s attempts to rise to her feet were in vain. She would push herself up trembling, only to crumple back down into the grass. As she continued to regain her footing the tar covered Barda marched towards Sersi ignoring all the pain. The Mad Titan would not stand for failure. Sersi’s back was to Big Barda so she could not see her from any angle.

Before she could fire another shot, a yellow energy bubble surrounded Barda. She looked upward and saw that Quasar was the source of her imprisonment. Her dark scowl prompted a response from Quasar, “Don’t be too mad. I probably just saved you from a severe beating.”

The scowl continued and Barda pointed her rod upwards. She unleashed a stream of energy at the roof of her bubble. Sweat began to trickle at Quasar’s brow as the attack pressed onward. “You really aren’t making this easy.”

Her attackers’ relentlessness and skill reminded Barda of a world she had known long ago. Still, she would not lose. Her fear of Thanos far surpassed her respect for these warriors. So it was that she continued her assault. Quasar’s muscles were beginning to shake and quiver under the pressure Barda was applying to his field.

Having recovered enough, Sersi slowly rose to her feet and looked upward at a struggling Wendell. Gritting her teeth, The Eternal struggled forward and said, “Drop the shield Wendell!”

Quasar nodded and as soon as the field was dropped Barda’s blasts went flying skyward. She was taken aback by the dropping of the field and hit directly in the back by a blast from Sersi. The hot tar that was beginning to dry on Barda’s body became hard metal and the woman struggled to move. Normally, she would have broke from it easily, but she was battle weary.

“Time for this to end!” Sersi exclaimed as she re-shaped the air molecules around Big Barda into a metallic sphere prison. Looking up to Quasar, she said, “Make her useful.”

Wendell noted the brutality in The Eternal’s voice, but chose to ignore it. She was tired and had suffered a good amount of harm at Barda’s hands. Pushing any negative thoughts from his mind, he wrapped Barda in a field and flung her in the direction of her master, Thanos.

“That should give Quoi and Warlock a bit of hand,” Wendell smiled.

“And now we need to assist Moondragon.”

“If Cap was here we’d have mopped the floor with these guys already,” Quasar sighed.

Iron Man flew over the monstrosity and unleashed a full repulsor blast in Maestro’s face. The future Hulk roared in anger and leaped into the air after his attacker. His anger blinded him to the giant Pym who had knocked him out of the sky with a smack. Maestro crashed into the ground and as soon as he was on his feet, the shield of Captain America met him. Rogers slammed the shield into Maestro’s face and as his head snapped back Cap crashed it into his neck. Maestro stumbled back and reached out with one hand that grabbed Cap’s shoulder and most of his throwing arm.

“Take your shield to orbit!” Maestro yelled as he flung Captain America over his shoulder and right into the hands of Pym. He looked at Cap and smiled as he slung his teammate at Maestro like a baseball. Captain America straightened his body like a bullet and lifted his shield in front of his face. He slammed into Maestro’s back and landed in front of him. “How about that orbit?”

Angry eyes flashed upward and as Maestro was about to stand to his feet a full-sized Wasp blasted the bearded Hulk in the back. Maestro felt the attack, but refused to show it. None of these punks should be hurting him! What the hell had Wanda done to him? He didn’t have time to ponder that question because in addition to Wasp’s blasts he now had Iron Man’s Uni-beam atop his head.

“Keep it up! We got him on the ropes!” Captain America commanded. After all this was over he was going to give Wanda a big hug. No way the four of them could handle a Hulk under any normal circumstances. This new Wanda was indeed a force to be reckoned with.

Finally growing frustrated with the combined attacks Maestro yelled, “ENOUGH!” He leaped into the air and collided with a stunned Iron Man. Maestro wrapped his hands around Tony’s mid-section and began to squeeze. Alarms began to blare in Stark’s ear. His armor was holding up under the pressure thus far. Pym reached out and punched Maestro, loosening his grip enough for Stark to escape. He quickly turned around and fired his repulsors into Maestro’s chest.

The future despot crashed into the ground and sent up a plume of smoke upon impact. Maestro leaped up from the plume and landed only a few feet from Wasp. He reached out to smack her, but Wasp nimbly avoided the potentially damaging attack. Janet blasted maestro in the face and said, “Didn’t your mother teach you manners?

Maestro couldn’t help but to cry out from the attack. He was getting weaker with every second. Damn Wanda to Hell! If not for her all of Wakanda would be in ashes by now. He would make her pay for this no matter what it took. Right now he had to find a way to survive this fight, which was becoming less and less of a possibility.

Pym noticing how much Maestro had decreased in muscle mass said, “You look a little famished. Need a protein shake? Maybe a steak?”

Growling under his breath, Maestro leaped into the air again, but was caught easily by Pym, who began to squeeze. “You really shouldn’t make this so easy. Our Hulk would be smarter.”

“Your Hulk is weak and pathetic!” Maestro exclaimed as he struggled in Pym’s grip. “He is nothing to me!”

Iron Man hovered in front of Maestro. “Looks like the complete opposite to me at the moment. Wouldn’t you say Hank?”

“I think you’re right Iron Man. He’s even losing his lovely green hue,” Pym said with a smirk.

Pym sat a raging Maestro on the ground, but the once powerful monster had transformed into an elderly Bruce Banner. Cap walked up to the man and shook his head, “You may have had your way in your time, but we’re The Avengers. You weren’t going to get past us.”

“That arrogance old partner is so unbecoming of you,” an all too familiar voice said to Captain America.

Looking up Steve saw Bucky, an alternate version of his old friend who had been twisted by Red Skull into his dark servant. Captain America knew that this conflict was coming, but he still couldn’t shake images from the war out of his mind. He didn’t want to do this. Bucky was someone he could have never hurt, but things were different. Red Skull had made sure to that.

“We can finish this quickly,” Iron Man said as he landed behind Captain America.

“No,” Captain America said. “This is for me to handle.”

“Jarvis, how the hell am I supposed to handle sitting on the sidelines?” an injured Jack-of-Hearts asked as he sat on the medical bed.

The loyal butler of the team wringed his hands as he watched visual feeds from Wakanda and outside The Mansion. “Do as I do Master Hart. Simply keep yourself busy.”

Jack laughed. “You’ve been watching those feeds since this all started.”

Jarvis looked back and smiled. “Only because you simply refuse to be a good conversationalist.”

Jack hung his head and sighed. “Sorry Jarvis. I’ve been fussing so much about my own condition…I know watching all of this has to be getting to you.”

“You’d think after how many battles I have seen them go through that this would be an easy affair, but I cannot help it. Their safety is paramount to me,” Jarvis said with his voice trembling only so slightly. “That is why I take your care upon me as a matter of honor. They save the world. The least I can do is to nurse to their needs.”

“You’re a good man Jarvis,” Jack said. “Better than most. So if you wanna help me just keep me distracted.”

“That is a plan I find most agreeable,” Jarvis replied.

Suddenly there conversation was interrupted by one of the video feeds being replaced by the image of Falcon with Hercules, the first Human Torch, Swordsman, and Magdalene behind him. “Jarvis, have the Avengers already left?”

Jarvis nodded. “Yes, Master Wilson. They have already divided themselves up.”

“Ok then. Who’s gonna need our help the most?”

Jack-of-Hearts answered for Jarvis. “The Avengers in Greenland. We got all the cosmic folks here and Captain America is in Wakanda.”

“Then that’s where we’re headed. We’ll be using SHIELD’S Hermes system to get there fast. Take good care of him Jarvis,” Falcon said as the screen switched back to the battle outside the mansion.

Jarvis sighed and could only wonder what perils awaited Falcon and the others.

Romanoff walked across the hard, frozen ground and stared at Belladonna spinning her purple staff. She was the leader of a splinter group of assassins who had allied themselves with Thanatos. Boudreaux was a smaller cog in the alliance, but she intended to fight tooth and nail for her impending godhood.

“Take your people and go home. Save yourself the trouble.”

Romanoff snickered. “Did you really just say that?”

Belladona picked up on the accent and laughed. “I guess a Ruskie would be use to this weather anyway.”

“Can’t quite say the same for a swamp rat,” Widow replied.

“Well played,” Belladona said as she ran full speed at Romanoff. She swung her stick at Black Widow, but the former Russian spy ducked it with ease and swept Belladona’s feet from under her. Belladona collided with the tundra, but she quickly rolled out of the way of Widow’s stomp.

The Cajun woman kicked her leg out and struck Widow in the shin. She then swung her staff like a bat and struck Black Widow across the head. Natasha was flung to the ground with a throbbing headache. As she fell, Belladona rose to her feet. The assassin ran towards Black Widow and stabbed her staff at the ground. Its destination was Widow’s face. Romanoff rolled out of the way, but the weapon managed to nick her hair. Black Widow cried out as some of her hair was ripped from the scalp. To add insult to injury, Belladona kicked Romanoff in the kidney closest to the dirt.

“Should have taken your Communist ass home,” Belladona said, as she was about to deliver another kick. Black Widow swung her arm backwards and fired a stinger blast into Belladona’s throat.

Fighting back pain, Black Widow rose to her feet and tenderly rubbed the kicked kidney. Belladona had been knocked flat on her back by Black Widow’s blast. She was barely breathing and from all appearances she was unconscious.

Natasha let out a sight of relief and in the same breath yelled out in pain. A knife had been lodged in her shoulder, but instead of pulling it out Romanoff turned to see who had thrown it and if they had anything else they felt like chucking.

“If my aim was better it’d be your neck!” Mieko Ko exclaimed. The Asian beauty was the current leader of HYDRA. She had waited patiently for Viper’s alliance with Shadow King to crumble and had taken her rightful place as leader of the terrorist organization. Rightful in her mind at least.

Laser fire quickly began to rain down on Natasha from a gun Mieko Ko was carrying. Widow was forced to perform her usual acrobatics with only one arm being available. Mieko was frustrated at not landing a shot. “Run all day if you want you roach! I’ll kill you and all your friends!”

The dry, barren terrain of Greenland didn’t offer Black Widow much in the way of cover so she was forced into having to rely on one arm. It was inevitable that one of Ko’s shots would find its mark and the first had been on her right knee. As Black Widow fell two more shots stuck on her already injured arm and in the center of her abdomen. Natasha landed on her back and drove the knife even deeper into her shoulder. She bit back a cry of pain as soon as she noticed Belladona standing over her.

With a raspy voice Belladona said, “It helps to have friends who show up at just the right moment.”

“You damn skippy!” Falcon yelled as he slammed into Belladona with both his fists and sent her careening over Natasha. Sam then helped Black Widow to her feet and supported her with his shoulder. “I got the memo a little late, but I’m here to help.”

Anthony Power stood atop the wreckage of a bus and looked won at the two Avengers who intended to oppose him. The Beast and Wonder Man side-by-side was hardly a sight that brought fear in the man who had single-handedly combated The Defenders, Avengers, and X-Men in the past. “You are who they send to do oppose with me? Has Japan been forgotten so quickly?”

Beast gave a toothy grin and said, “Opposition seems like such an inappropriate way to term what we’re doing. Simon, you have always had such an eloquent way of wording these situation. How about you having a go at it?”

Simon folded his arms across his chest. “I think what Hank means to say is that we’re going to kick your sorry metal ass.”

“Bravo!” Beast clapped. “Such power in such simplicity.”

Power clenched his fists. “Then come and make full on that promise. Or do you have more useless banter to spill?”

“Useless banter? From us? Surely he jests!” Beast said.

Simon shrugged his shoulders and flew forward slamming a fist square in the Professor’s face. Power soared off the wreckage of the bus and landed inside of a cart carrying plantains. Wonder Man turned back to Beast and said, “So about how pissed do you think he is?”

“I would have to gander about Thor on an empty stomach pissed.”

Simon’s eyes widened. “That bad?”

“You obviously have no earthly comprehension of how hard you punch.”

Simon grinned. “Flattery will get you anywhere.”

Beast put his hands to his ears and laughed. “Eww! Icky Hollywood voice!”

He leap-frogged over Wonder Man and slammed into Power just as he was rising from the cart. As Power was flung backwards, Beast flipped off his chest and with his feet delivered an uppercut. He was sent right back into the plantain cart.

Beast moved out of Simon’s way as he slammed the very same bus Power had been standing on right on top of him. Wonder Man dusted off his hands as he landed next to Beast. “I think my voice could do wonders for the team. I’m going to propose that they let me do a Got Milk ad for the team.”

“Does milk react appropriately with ionic energy?”

“Sure hope so. No need to go boom over some moo.”

The bus that Wonder Man had crumpled atop Professor Power began to shake wildly and there was a cacophonous crack as the vehicle ripped in half and professor Power flew forth from it. Glass from the bust shot off in every direction and the smell of gasoline filled the air. Power floated over the broken transport with green energy surrounding him. It flickered and popped like fire.

Simon turned to Beast and asked, “So do you think the pissed off factor has been kicked up?”

“Exponentially.”

“Figured as much,” Simon replied as he flew upward and was parallel from Power. “Sorry about the bus. Just standard big ass fight regulations.”

With practically a canine snarl, Power said, “These regulations will soon be the very least of your worries.”

The green energy quickly coalesced in Power’s hands into a sphere. He hurled the ball of energy at Simon, who flew to the side to narrowly avoid the ball of energy. Wonder Man then turned his eyes back to Power.

“Simon! Watch out!” Beast called out, but it was too late for Wonder Man to react. The ball had turned back and was heading for Simon like a heat seeking missile.

“Shit!” Simon cried out, as the sphere was only feet away from impact. He raised his hands up to cover his face and waited for Power’s attack, but it never came.

“Damnable woman!” Power yelled.

Simon looked down and saw Andromeda moving to retrieve her trident, which was glowing a bright green. A relieved Wonder Man turned back to Professor Power, cracked his knuckles and said, “I guess your green crap wasn’t as fancy as you thought.”

“Perhaps not,” Professor Power admitted as long knives popped out the top of his hands and shoulder plates slid back to reveal two cannons. “But I’m always prepared for such eventualities Avenger.”

Beast grabbed a steel bar that was lying next to a broken lamppost. Hank threw the bar upward and yelled, “Catch!”

Simon caught the makeshift weapon and flew forward into Power. He crashed the bar against one of Power’s knives and snapped it off. Then he smacked the bar across Power’s head before a blast from one of the shoulder cannons caught Simon in the face. He dropped the bar and went spinning through the air.

Having retrieved her trident, Andromeda ran to Beast and asked, “Do you think you can toss me up there?”

“Could Theseus find his way through the labyrinth?”

Andromeda narrowed her eyes and Hank sighed. “My humor is lost on yet another. Scott would rejoice.”

“Do you talk to yourself all the time? Simon needs our help!” the Atlantean woman exclaimed.

“He is a far tougher ox than given credit for,” Beast said, bending down and cupping his large hands together. “All aboard the McCoy Airlines. Fasten your seats and prepare for liftoff.”

Abyss rose up from a shadow cast by the sunlight. His blank eyes surveyed the battlefield and spied the former New Warrior, Justice, depriving a group of HYDRA soldier of their weapons through the use of his telekinesis. The rifles were being suspended in the air and their feet held to the ground. Raising a bandage-covered hand, Abyss began to chant inaudibly. A square white portal opened in Abyss’ palm and tiny winged snakes came forth from it.

“Go and devour what you have been summoned for,” Abyss commanded as the snakes hissed in compliance. They quickly latched on to Justice’s telekinetic fields. All of them turned yellow as they absorbed Vance’s energy. The Avenger looked at Abyss and hit him with enough telekinetic force to remove him from the large island.

As Abyss was soaring through air he whispered, “Come to me and bring what you have consumed.”

Trickles of light formed across his body as the snakes appeared and filled him with the telekinetic energy they had taken from Justice. Before they finish filling their master, eh was slammed into the ground by a blast of light. Abyss hit the ground hard enough to form a crater. Despite no harm being done, Abyss was none too pleased as he arose from the crater. Turning his whit eyes to the sky, he saw that his attacker had been Photon and next to her was Vance Astrovik. Snapping his fingers, the snakes unlatched themselves from Abyss and then he said, “Give me a sword.”

The snakes hissed in obedience as they began to glow pink and turned to blobs of telekinetic energy. They gathered together in Abyss’ hand and formed a broadsword. “Long ago I use to have one of these on a regular basis. Cutting you both down with it will be quite nostalgic.”

The shining metal gave Justice an eerie feeling so he quickly erected a telekinetic field around himself. Photon shifted into her light form and said, “I’d like to see your cut someone moving at the speed of light.”

“Whoever said you would be moving, “ Abyss replied as eh held up his hand and the two Avengers were locked in place. Justice was doing is best to escape from the grip, but his telekinesis didn’t seem to be working. Dark, malicious laughter erupted from Abyss as he floated upwards towards the two Avengers. “Your telekinesis is useless! Trying to escape your impending doom would be futile.”

Abyss was first in the face of Justice. He lifted his sword into the air above his head and was about to cleave Vance in two when Abyss’ hand was stuck by a blast from Warbird. “If you can’t play nice then don’t play at all!”

Carol punched Abyss in the face and was taken aback at just how cold it was. Punching him had felt like hitting a slab of wet rock. Abyss was only knocked back a few feet by the blow, so he reached out and grabbed Carol’s hair. With cold brutality he head-butted Warbird and would have delivered a punch to the gut, but his fist was caught by Warbird’s open palm.

The broadsword fell to the ground an shattered into a million pieces. This freed Justice and Photon from their imprisonment. Vance, angry at his powers being made useless, latched Abyss in a telekinetic grip and separated him from Warbird. The two Avengers flew beside Danvers and Photon said, “Thanks for the help.”

“But I think you should let us take it from here,” Justice cut in. “Abyss decided to go and make it personal.”

Carol looked at Monica, who nodded. “The kid’s right. Abyss made toys out of us. I think throwing some strings on him would be appropriate.”

Warbird laughed at Abyss. “I’d hate to be you right about now.”

Kamee was trapped at the tip of the golden tower that looked like a twisted stick spurting forth from the earth. The pitiful gray being was the key to Thanatos’ plot and he was in Shiro Yashida’s sights. He barreled through the air at breakneck speed because he was going to need momentum in combination to his abilities. It was the only thing that would help him free Kamee. Atomic flame bristled off of Shiro’s body, as he grew closer.

A spear cut through the intense heat Shiro’s body was emanating and scraped the hero across the back. Sunfire let loose a cry of annoyance and turned to the source of what had struck him. There he found a man clad in the golden armor of a Roman centurion. Sunfire stared down his opponent and asked, “Who are you to strike me?”

“I am Thanatos you arrogant whelp! You are fortunate I only decided to injure you,” the battle clad man replied as the Spear of Destiny reappeared in his hand.

Sunfire laughed. “Are you sure you could even call that an injury with your incredibly bad aim?”

“Brave words for a dead man,” Thanatos replied as he lifted up his spear for another throw. “You and your allies will not stop me.”

Shiro knew he could deal his enemies a great blow by disposing of the architect of this battle. He had failed to save his country against the threat of Red Skull. He refused to fail the world. “You will be stopped!”

Atomic flame shot out from Sunfire’s body and rushed at Thanatos. The alternate Rick Jones shot forth a stream of Destiny Force energy from his hand and it cut through Shiro’s fire. The beam then struck Shiro directly in the chest and sent the mutant tumbling backwards in the air.

The strong arms of Warbird caught him. She scowled at Thanatos, but knew that she couldn’t fight him with Shiro in her arms. He smiled and began to fly towards her. Carol knew what was coming and took off like one of the planes she use to pilot. Thanatos hurled his power at her like missiles, which she was forced to nimbly dodge. It had become a cat and mouse chase with Sunfire being a huge liability for Warbird.

Shit! This is not good!

Carol flew above a blast and immediately below one. Thanatos was hurling multiple blasts, which were forcing her into a mood of ducking and weaving that would slow down her speed. Warbird knew something needed to change about the dynamic of this battle and fast.

That something came in the form of a pillar of fire that struck the pursuing Thanatos in the gut. The Destiny Force wielder was flung through the air and his entire body engulfed in flames.

“Looks like you needed a bit of a hand,” the Human Torch said as Thanatos screamed from the attack unleashed upon him.

“Johnny?” Carol asked wondering if the rest of the Fantastic Four were on the battlefield.

“No. I’m the first model.”

“You shouldn’t have come here old foe!” Thanos said as he backhanded Warlock into the air. “Death is coming to this planet today and it will be glorious!”

The Mad Titan was still choking with Black Knight with one hand as Sequoia slammed into his back and tackled him to the ground. Angrily the Messiah said, “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve heard people say that?”

Thanos released his grip on Black Knight and plucked Sequoia off of his back like a fly and flung him into the arms of Adam Warlock. Standing up, Thanos gave his opponents a glare of hate and began to march towards the entangled Warlock and Quoi. That was when a stone Big Barda blindsided him and knocked Thanos hard enough into the ground to create a crater. The rumble was felt throughout the city despite the crater only being big enough to house Thanos’ body.

By the time Thanos pushed back Barda and had risen from the crater, his opponents had repositioned themselves. Sequoia smiled at the Mad Titan and said, “Looks like a lil bit of teamwork is more than enough to kick your ass.”

Thanos snarled and let loose a blast of cosmic energy from his hand that was headed directly towards an unconscious Black Knight. Sequoia quickly flew to intercept the blast and caught it directly in the chest. He managed to absorb most of the energy, but he was still flung away from the battlefield. The Mad Titan took the opportunity to pounce Warlock and began pummeling him with blows.

“Like I said. You should never have come here,” Thanos repeated as he punched Warlock again and again. The blows that allowed Thanos to hold his own against Odin were causing Warlock more injury than he would ever admit.

“I am the master of souls!” Warlock yelled as a stream of green light struck Thanos in the forehead. “I know that you fear me being here more than you would ever admit to yourself.”

Thanos yelled out as Warlock bared loose all his inner demons with a single strike. Both of his hands went to his head as he struggled to regain control of himself. He didn’t have much time though as Sequoia was flying back towards the Titan at breakneck speeds.

Sequoia smashed into Thanos and said, “I really hate to hit a naked guy…on so many levels.”

Thanos swatted back Quoi and rose to his feet with a groan. “No matter how many times you knock me down I’ll get back up.”

“I haven’t been hitting you to hurt you. At least not much,” Quoi smiled. “I just used up too much energy on your little friend.”

Glowing pink tendrils rose up from the ground and wrapped themselves around Thanos’ wrists and ankles. The Mad Titan struggled at the constraints but found himself unable to move. Quoi floated in front of him, still smiling, and said, “Now that I got enough to hold you in place I’m gonna let Warlock go to work on you.”

Thanos spat in the Celestial Messiah’s face and said through gritted teeth, “Do your worst you pathetic backwater creature!”

Wiping the spit from his cheek, Sequoia stopped grinning and venomously said, “You better believe I will.”

Falcon had come to the rescue of Black Widow and succeeded in knocking out Belladonna. Ko had every intention of shooting the two Avengers dead in retribution. Just as she raised her gun to fire, a feral roar came from her side and the gun was kicked from her hand. Mieko’s fiery eyes locked onto her new opponent; the cat woman known to the Avengers and hero community as Tigra.

“You will not touch them!” Tigra hissed angrily.

Mieko kept a tight gaze and replied, “No, I won’t. Not until I have taken care of you.”

Tigra leaped forward an attempted to rake her claws across the HYDRA’s leader chest. Mieko dodged the attack and grabbed one of Greer’s wrists. Using Tigra’s own momentum, Mieko slammed her face fist into the tundra. As Greer skidded across the dirt, Mieko pulled out a tiny rod from the inside of her one of boots. The pencil length green rod extended into a spike-tipped staff.

Greer cursed as she rose to her feet. Mieko had moved faster than she expected. It was pretty safe to assume that she couldn’t afford to underestimate Ko a second time. Crouching low, Tigra began to circle her prey. Mieko laughed at the display.

“I’ve seen more threatening puppies.”

The Avenger rolled forward like a Civil War cannonball and Mieko Ko barely side stepped the attack. Tigra fluidly brought herself to a stop and back flipped. Her feet caught Ko in the chest and sent her to the ground. The HYDRA leader’s staff went flying through the air like a spear. Its intended target had been Tigra’s belly, but it instead struck her thigh.

“Stupid wench,” Mieko groaned as she struggled to catch her breath. The blood flowing freely from Tigra’s wound was pleasing to Ko. It showed her superiority over the woman. “You thought to bring harm to me? Such foolishness.”

Tigra removed the spear from her thigh with a cry of pain as Mieko stood to her feet. Greer stood as well, despite the pain, and said, “You are quite the woman, but unlike you my help isn’t down for the count.”

Mieko’s eyes widened at Tigra’s subtle threat and she quickly dropped to her knees narrowly missing the blunt edge of Swordsman’s primary weapon. She quickly swept her leg backward, but Jarvert was able to doge the attack with a leap. Before hitting the ground he stuck out his leg and kicked Mieko in the forehead. Ko snapped back and her body slid to the feet of Tigra.

Amazingly, Ko immediately kicked up her legs upward and wrapped them around Tigra’s neck. She flung the wounded heroine into the arms of Swordsman and jumped to her feet. “I may not be possessed of powers, but I have will in abundance and I refuse to lose this day.”

Pink lightning struck between the battling sides and all looked upward to see a man garbed in the armor of a Roman soldier accessorized by a long a flowing red cape. Pink energy bristled at the corners of his eyes and surrounded his hands. “Your strength is to be admired Mieko Ko. Let me vanquish these infidels for you.”

Mieko laughed. “My help is far from gone wench. Meet Emperor. He will be your doom.”

Bucky Barnes meant many things to Captain America. He was a friend, comrade, and fellow solider. Most of all, Bucky was the first person that Captain America ever felt like he had truly failed. Now he had failed another Bucky all over again. This time thought he had the chance to make it right and save a friend.

“We don’t’ have to do this. I know you’re in there. Fight him,” Captain America said to the alternate reality Bucky. This version of his old friend had come from a world where Captain America had died instead of Bucky. It was a world Rogers had wished for many nights.

“There is no fighting him. I am Red Skull’s son and to see you dead would please my father greatly,” Bucky said.

“If you really wanted to fight me you would have done it already,” Cap rebutted as he slipped his shield onto his back. “I won’t need this to beat you because you can do it by yourself. You’re strong. I know it!”

A twitch occurred in Bucky’s cheek that let Steve know that what he said was getting through. Somewhere deep down, Bucky was struggling to regain control of himself. This Bucky had grown up strong. In him Captain America saw what his Bucky could have been. That angered Cap more than anything. Red Skull had stolen the young man’s potential for good.

Eventually the twitch stopped and Bucky smiled. “It is good you know my strength. I shall kill you with it.”

“I failed one Buchanan. I refuse to fail another,” Captain America defiantly proclaimed.

Bucky charged forward and threw a punch headed for Cap’s chin. The Avenger caught the attack with his palm and kept a firm grip on Bucky’s fist. He pulled his arm back and brought Bucky’s body forward. Cap moved to thrust his knee into Bucky’s chest, but the young man used Cap’s tug to flip forward and over Cap. Now free of Captain America’s grip, he sent a kick in the direction of the Avenger’s lower back that never connected. Rogers spun out the way of the kick. He immediately leaped through the air and kicked him in the head. Bucky’s head snapped back, but he grabbed Captain America’s ankle and flung him towards the ground. Cap’s hands touched the ground before any other part of his body and used the energy from Bucky’s throw into a back flip. Just as he was completing the flip he was punched in the face and then in the stomach. Before he could recover, Bucky twisted his body and cracked his elbow across Cap’s chin.

Ignoring the pain, Captain America thrust his knee into Bucky’s ribs and slapped him across the back of his head. Bucky pushed himself away from Cap and re-positioned himself. He was crouched down while Cap had taken on a boxer’s stance. The two’s battle had taken them into the middle of a narrow street littered with burning cars and twisted lampposts. Bucky began to edge closer to Captain America, keeping his eyes locked on the target ahead. Like a boulder in the plains, Captain America refused to move. Cap was going to let Bucky bring the fight to him, but he had every intention of shutting the battle out once that occurred.

Finally growing impatient, Bucky ran forward like crouching samurai of old. He ran up over a burning car with near blinding speed and propped his body, head first, towards Captain America. The two bodies collided with a deafening smack and they began to roll across the cracked asphalt. Bucky had his black gloves wrapped around the throat of Captain America.

“You expect me to give up!” Bucky growled. “I won’t. The will of the Red Skull will triumph and before long he will be a god that you will have to kneel before.”

Captain America grabbed Bucky’s wrist and thrust his body upwards like he was doing a strenuous sit-up. He made sure his head connected with Bucky’s nose. The same attack was repeated three times in rapid succession. Blood spewed from Bucky’s nose and Cap released Bucky’s hands. He shoved a knee into Bucky’s stomach and tossed him across the street. Rising from the ground, Captain America pulled off his shield and said, “Playtime is over Bucky. If you can’t break free of The Red Skull on your own, I’ll help you.”

“I’m already as free as I can ever be. What don’t you understand about that?” Bucky exclaimed as he struggled to rise to his feet. He looked to his left and saw a broken fire hydrant. Vibranium was this country’s meal ticket so it was safe to assume that least traces of the metal were in everything.

Walking over to the weakened Bucky, Cap said, “You’re my friend and I refuse to watch you suffer under Red Skull.”

Grabbing the piece of hydrant, Bucky flung his arm back and struck Captain America in his shield. Roger knocked the wreckage from Bucky’s hand and pounced on the young man’s back. He slammed his shield into Bucky’s head and twisted his arms behind his back. Now that he was pinned down, Captain America wasn’t quite sure what to do with him. Bucky managed to mumble something underneath the squeeze of the shield, “Sorry furk-er!”

“I’ll just take that as Red Skull talking,” Cap said, flagging down Iron Man to his position.

Iron Man hovered in the air alongside Wasp with Hank Pym, still holding on to a weakened Maestro, below them. The three had been watching Captain America duke it out with Bucky and had been waiting for the opportunity that they could help in the fight.

“You think Cap has this under control?” Janet asked Tony.

“Positive, but the four of us together could have neutralized it a lot faster.”

“Iron Man you know that Cap is a man of honor. He has to handle things on his own sometimes,” Pym replied when all four of them suddenly saw Captain America motioning for them to move his way.

“That’s our cue,” Iron Man said.

“Guess I’ll need to temporarily dispose of our little friend here,” Pym said as he tossed Maestro into a nearby pile of rubble. “We’ll be back for you later wrinkles.”

As the three heroes moved towards Cap’s position, Maestro felt the life returning to him. Looking down at his hands he saw that they were once again green and his body was growing at a massive rate. He smiled to himself. Wanda’s powers were still unpredictable as ever.

Maestro gave a devil’s grin and said, “Think it’s time for me to wish on a few bones.”

NEXT ISSUE: The monster you’ve all been waiting for! Issue 50 has arrived!