Meanwhile, Steve stood in the middle of the rubble-strewn street, his shield raised to deflect another barrage of energy blasts.
"Thor! Little help here!" Steve shouted, spinning and throwing his shield with precise aim. It ricocheted off a glider, sending its rider careening into a building while he dodged another blast of fire, hopping and grabbing his shield back.
With a thunderous crack, Thor landed beside him, Mjolnir already spinning in his hand. He swung the hammer in a wide arc, sending a bolt of lightning that vaporized a group of advancing Chitauri.
Before either could react, a fresh wave of Chitauri gliders descended from the portal above, their piercing shrieks filling the air.
Thor readied Mjolnir, but a sudden ripple of dark energy cut through the sky. Shadows twisted and coiled, and a figure appeared among the enemy ranks, a blur of black and blue, moving faster than the eye could follow.
Maxim Novikov emerged from the darkness, Yamato in hand. In one fluid motion, he slashed through three gliders, their riders disintegrating into ash as they spiraled to the ground.
He teleported again, appearing atop a Leviathan. With a swift, precise cut, he severed the creature's spine, sending it crashing into the street below.
Thor and Steve stared as Maxim landed between them, shadows still swirling around him. His glowing eyes locked on the portal high above, where more Chitauri continued to pour through.
"It doesn't end," Steve muttered, tightening his grip on his shield.
Maxim's voice was calm but cold. "Then we'll cut them down until it does."
Thor swung Mjolnir again, unleashing another crackling blast of lightning that arced through the ranks of the Chitauri, turning many of them to ash whilst Steve charged forward, slamming his raised shield into an enemy before sweeping its legs out and hurling the shield to another glider.
The shield stuck itself into the Glider's neck, killing it instantly, whilst Maxim teleported and grabbed the shield, tossing it back to Steve while he slashed Yamato, sending an arc of holy power that cut through the Chitauri soldiers like tissue paper.
With that, Maxim teleported back to the ground, his glowing eyes scanning the battlefield as the portal continued to spew Chitauri soldiers and gliders like a relentless tide.
With a flick of his wrist, Maxim summoned a dozen spectral blades that hovered around him like a halo.The blades shot forward, piercing through gliders mid-flight and skewering soldiers as they landed.
One Leviathan roared as it descended, but Maxim vanished into the shadows, reappearing on its back. With one powerful swing of Yamato, he split the creature down its spine. It collapsed in a heap of metal and flesh, crushing a Chitauri battalion beneath it.
Suddenly, Natasha's voice came through the comms, urgent and clear: "I can close the portal!"
Steve pressed a hand to his earpiece, dodging an energy blast as he responded. "Do it!"
Before Natasha could reply, Stark's voice cut in, strained but steady, "Hold on! I've got a nuke heading straight for the city. Give me a second to send it off."
Thor's brow furrowed as he glanced at Steve, "What madness is this?"
Steve ignored him, his focus on the comms, "How long, Stark?"
"Not long. Just keep the skies clear for me!"
Maxim turned toward the portal, his expression unreadable. The shadowy mist around him thickened as he prepared for the next wave. "The portal stays open until Stark's done," he said coldly. "Let's make sure he gets there in one piece."
Thor nodded, raising Mjolnir, "Then we fight on."
Steve gave a curt nod, lifting his shield, "You heard him. Let's move!"
The air was a chaotic symphony of screams, explosions, and the constant hum of Chitauri gliders. Tony Stark grunted as he held steady, his armor's thrusters flaring brightly as he carried the missile toward the portal.
"Maxim, I've got company!" Stark shouted through the comms, a hint of panic in his voice as he spotted a wave of Chitauri flooding near him.
"I'm on it," Maxim replied, his voice cold and assured as his figure blurred into the darkness, the shadows across the city rippling with unnatural energy.
Maxim reappeared in mid-air, spectral blades swirling around him like a shield as he flanked Tony's position. A swarm of gliders converged on Stark, energy blasts raining down toward the nuke.
Maxim raised Yamato, slashing downward. A crescent wave of blue energy rippled through the sky, cutting through three gliders in a single stroke.
He teleported to another glider, slamming his blade into its engine and sending it spiraling into the others below.
"Keep moving, Stark," Maxim ordered, his voice sharp.
"I didn't plan on sightseeing!" Stark quipped, his thrusters roaring as he pushed the nuke higher.
Another Leviathan roared, rising from the chaos below to intercept them. Maxim vanished, reappearing on the beast's back.
With a guttural roar, he slashed through its armor, severing its spine in a single devastating motion. The Leviathan plummeted, crashing into a group of Chitauri soldiers on the street below.
More and more waves of Chitauri soldiers flooded towards Stark and Maxim, sending them as major threats, they screamed through the air and sent energy blasts streaking towards them like deadly comets.
Maxim unleashed a massive Astral Barrier that protected Tony from the attacks, "Keep steady, Stark," Maxim said, his voice cutting through the comms with chilling calm. "They'll throw everything they have at us now."
Stark grunted in response. "Yeah, I noticed. Thanks for the escort, but I think we're past the point of subtlety!"
A glider veered in close, its rider raising a weapon to fire, but Maxim's hand moved in a blur. A spectral blade shot forth, impaling the enemy before it could take the shot. The glider spun out of control and exploded in a fiery burst.
Another Leviathan loomed ahead, roaring as it blocked their path. Maxim didn't hesitate. He surged forward, teleporting onto the beast's massive head.
Yamato flashed in a brilliant arc, and in a single motion, he cleaved the creature in two. Its lifeless body crashed into the city below, clearing the path for Stark to ascend.
"Don't stop!" Maxim barked as Stark hesitated for a moment to look back. "Focus on the nuke. I'll handle this."
Stark nodded and pushed his suit to its limits, blasting toward the portal with renewed determination. B
ehind him, the Chitauri regrouped, converging in a final, desperate wave to intercept. Hundreds of gliders and soldiers poured forth, their screeches deafening as they closed in from all sides.
Maxim hovered in the air, watching the swarm with unflinching resolve. The shadows around him thickened, and Yamato began to glow with an otherworldly light. He raised the blade high, his voice echoing with a calm yet commanding tone.
"No more."
In an instant, Maxim vanished.
The sky seemed to freeze as the sound of countless slashes filled the air, sharp and precise, cutting through reality itself. Maxim reappeared in the center of the swarm, Yamato sheathed, his form emanating an aura of absolute power.
A single word left his lips, barely audible but carrying the weight of inevitability.
"Judgment."
The effect was instantaneous. It seemed like space itself shattered like glass that very moment, and suddenly, every glider, every Chitauri soldier, every fragment of the enemy wave was eviscerated in a blinding burst of light and shadow.
The sky was silent for a moment as the remnants of the destroyed army disintegrated into ash, leaving Stark a clear path to the portal.
Breathing heavily, Maxim looked up, his glowing eyes fixed on the shrinking form of Stark as he neared the portal. "It's all you now," he whispered before descending toward the city below, his job done.
Stark, carrying the nuke, disappeared into the portal's light as the world held its breath.
With a final burst of energy, Stark shot toward the portal, the nuke in tow. Maxim hovered mid-air, his focus shifting to intercept any reinforcements from the Chitauri.
He slashed through another wave of gliders, spectral blades darting through the air to skewer enemies before they could draw close to the portal.
On the Helicarrier, cheers erupted as Stark disappeared into the portal with the missile. Agents clapped and whooped, relief washing over the room.
"We've got a shot!" Maria Hill exclaimed, watching the screens.
Fury stood stoic, his gaze locked on the portal. "Not yet. We're not out of this until everyone's home."
Steve watched the skies, his shield gripped tightly in his hand. His jaw clenched as he waited, the seconds dragging on like hours.
Thor stepped beside him, Mjolnir crackling with restrained energy. "Stark is cutting it close."
Steve nodded, his voice grim, "He always does."
Maxim landed beside them, his glowing visage fixed on the portal, "He'll make it."
But the portal remained open, and there was no sign of Stark.
Natasha's voice crackled through the comms, "Steve, I can't wait much longer. We need to close it now."
Steve hesitated, his grip on his shield tightening.
Then, softly, he spoke. "Close it."
Natasha nodded, her jaw set. She plunged Loki's scepter into the energy core, and the portal began to collapse, the swirling light dimming as it sealed shut.
For a moment, silence fell over the battlefield. Then, at the very last second, a figure emerged from the vanishing portal, tumbling toward the Earth.
It was Stark. His body plummeted at breakneck speed, the Iron Man suit sparking and unresponsive.
"He isn't slowing down." Thor muttered, and begin swinging his hammer, ready to fly up and catch Tony.
"ROARRRRRR!"
A deafening roar echoed through the streets as the Hulk leapt into action. His massive frame collided with Stark mid-air, catching him just before he hit the ground.
The force of the landing cracked the pavement, but the Hulk stood firm, cradling Stark's unconscious body.
Steve and Thor ran over and checked on the unconscious Stark, pulling his helmet off and staring at his unresponsive face.
"ROARR!" Thor roared loudly, and Stark shook awake.
"What the hell, what just happened? Please tell me nobody kissed me." Stark said shocked, and Steve just sat on his knees, exhausted.
"We won!"
With the battle over, the sky above New York City finally became relatively clear. With all the Chitauri dead due to their mothership destroyed by the nuke, various civilians and public services slowly came out of their hiding spot, examining the world.
Various injured civilians were swiftly carried away by public services. Still, damage had been done, the dead bodies of various Leviathans and other Chitauri soldiers lay all around the street, some of them scattered into pieces.
Many buildings were completely destroyed, cars totaled and smoke still rose from the streets below into the air. During all of this, Maxim currently stood on top of Stark Tower alongside the other Avengers, waiting for the unconscious Loki to awaken.
However, unlike them whose eyes remained on Loki, Maxim looked into his Shadow, where the true Scepter already lay. After coming up with the others, he had easily managed to complete the swap, and now Natasha was carrying around a fake Scepter.
~GROAN~
As this was happening, a sudden groan echoed in Maxim's ear, and he looked over, spotting Loki slowly coming to his senses. He walked over silently alongside the other Avengers, watching as Clint slowly pulled on his bow string.
"If it's all the same to you," Loki muttered with a painful groan, "I'll have that drink now."
***
~Sometime Later~
The group had gathered in Central Park, all to see Loki being shipped off to Asgard with Thor alongside the Tesseract.
Maxim stood not too far from the group, leaning casually against a wall in a dark attire and stared at the blue cube, chuckling as he thought of his future with the item and his plans with Hela.
Then, his attention returned to a tablet that he had A.N.G.E.L create with him, browsing through the various news broadcasts talking about what happened.
"Despite the devastation, what has been confirmed as an extra-terrestrial attack, the extraordinary heroics of the group known as 'The Avengers' has been a cause to many not only for hope but also for celebration. Across the globe, people are hailing these individuals as the defenders of Earth."
"I love you Thor!!"
"Did you see Iron Man, I saw Iron Man, he actually saved my life. Tony Stark saved my life."
"The devastation left in the wake of the alien invasion has left New York City reeling. Estimates suggest damages will reach the billions, with countless families displaced and entire neighborhoods leveled."
"Superheroes in New York? Give me a break." A certain old man said.
"These so called heroes must be held responsible for their actions and the destruction done to New York City. This City is our countries main economic hub, and they have done irreparable harm and have vanished into the wind. Where are they now? Where is the justice?"
"They saved all of our lives. The guy with the dark hood saved mine and my daughters, I owe them my life."
Maxim continued swapping through various channels, though his expression remained impassive. He swiped to another channel, this one hosted by an energetic young woman standing in front of the rubble of a Leviathan.
"I mean, just look at this! Thor's lightning fried this thing. And that shadowy guy, what do we call him? Omen?, he cut one of these monsters clean in half! Did you see the way he saved people from all those Alien monster thingies? People are saying he's the scariest Avenger, but honestly, I'd feel a lot better with someone like him on my side."
Maxim smiled, continuing to browse through various channels when suddenly,
"Maxim!"
Steve's voice called out, drawing him from his thoughts. He looked up to see the Avengers gathered around Thor and Loki, with Bruce placing the Tesseract in some sort of technological container held by Selvig.
Maxim pocketed his phone and walked over, his steps purposeful yet unhurried. He stopped just short of the group, crossing his arms as he observed the scene.
Thor placed a heavy hand on Loki's shoulder, who stood shackled and glaring at the group with his usual disdain, his mouth still blocked, "I will ensure he faces justice in Asgard," Thor declared, his voice firm yet carrying a note of weariness.
"Try not to let him escape this time," Stark quipped, though his smirk softened the jab.
Thor nodded solemnly, "Farewell, my friends. Should you need me, I will return."
Thor twisted the technological innovation and with a surge of power, the Tesseract activated, enveloping the brothers in a swirling vortex of energy. A moment later, they vanished, leaving only silence in their wake.
As the portal's light faded, Stark sighed, "Well, that's one less headache."
Stark went alongside Steve whilst Clint went to fetch a bag of things for Bruce, and Maxim walked to a corner with Natasha to chat.
During that, Natasha approached Maxim who had begin leaning against a lamp post. Her expression was calm, but Maxim could see how the fatigue and stress of the past new days taking a toll on her.
She crossed her arms as she stopped beside him, glancing briefly in the direction where Thor and Loki had vanished moments ago.
"Never a dull moment with you around," she said, her tone teasing but warm.
Maxim chuckled, shaking his head, "I could say the same about you."
Natasha smirked at that, tilting her head slightly, "So, what's next for you? I'm guessing you're not the 'stick around and sign autographs' type, although Tony definitely is."
Maxim's gaze drifted toward the horizon, "No, not my style. I've got a few loose ends to tie up. Hydra's still out there, a-lot of unfinished business with them. I might reach out to S.H.I.E.L.D. when the time's right—assuming they don't come knocking first."
"Hydra," Natasha echoed, her voice losing its playful edge, "We've done some work trying to root them out, but it seems like if we cut three of them down, a couple more agents pop up. Make sure to be safe."
I'll be fine," Maxim assured her. "I've got my own methods, and I'm not exactly the easiest guy to catch off guard. Didn't you see me out there?" He said with a chuckle.
Natasha nodded, "Well, I'm sticking with S.H.I.E.L.D. for now. We've got our hands full cleaning up the mess from all this." She gestured vaguely to the city around them, her lips curving into a small smile, "And someone's got to keep Stark in check."
Maxim smirked. "Good luck with that." He reached into his pocket and handed her a small slip of paper. "By the way, check your deliveries in the coming weeks. I'll be sending some new gadgets your way. Things I've been working on,prototypes, upgrades, stuff for field-testing. And a new combat suit. Consider it my way of saying thanks."
Natasha raised an eyebrow, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
"Wouldn't be any fun if I wasn't," Maxim said with a wink. His expression softened as he added, "Take care of yourself, Natasha."
Natasha's smile faltered, replaced by something deeper and more personal. She reached out, pulling Maxim into a brief but firm hug, "You take care too, Maxim. And don't forget, you're not alone in this. Call me if you need backup."
Maxim nodded as she stepped back, "Always. And tell Clint not to lose another arrow betting against me."
Natasha chuckled, throwing a wave over her shoulder as she walked toward Clint, who was waiting at the car,"Will do. Stay out of trouble, Omen."
Maxim stood there for a moment, watching as she joined Clint and climbed into the vehicle. Then, with a quiet exhale, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the city as the Avengers began to go their separate ways.
By time Maxim returned home in Madripoor, he took time to relax, finally being able to check his system status.
[ Name - Maxim Novikov ]
[ Race - Radiant Nephilim ]
[ Character Integration:
- Astra: 99%
Fully Integrated Characters:
- Omen: 100%
- Killjoy 100%
- Astra 100%
- Dante 100%
- Vergil 100%
[ New Character Selection Available! ]
***
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