93. Timely Arrival

Earth- 52,

The battlefield was in chaos.

Broken pieces of the Avengers Compound lay scattered like forgotten ruins, smoke rising into the darkened sky. In the center of it all stood Thanos—calm, collected, and merciless. He moved with the deadly precision of someone who had already seen victory. His massive double-bladed sword tore through the dirt with each step.

Thor, Captain America, and Tony Stark were all that remained standing between him and the gauntlet.

They were giving everything they had.

Thor hurled Mjolnir and Stormbreaker with roaring thunder, lightning exploding across the ground. Steve fought with grit, every punch landing with raw desperation, his shield already broken, but his will intact. Tony darted in and out with his nanotech suit, using every ounce of power and precision he had left.

But it wasn't enough.

They were slowing down. Thanos wasn't.

Blow after blow, the Mad Titan kept pressing forward. Blood stained the ground. The three heroes were bruised, panting, and nearly broken. Thanos wasn't even winded.

And then he did it.

He raised his massive hand and gestured toward the sky.

From above, a massive shadow fell across the land. Dozens... no, hundreds of ships began descending. The sky turned red and black with the sheer volume of Thanos's army. Outriders, Chitauri, Sakaarans—all roaring, ready to finish what their master had started.

The heroes stared upward, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Tony's chest rose and fell, hard and fast. His HUD blinked red warnings. Thor gritted his teeth, sweat and blood mixing on his face. Cap held his shield fragment tighter, jaw clenched.

They were outnumbered. Outpowered.

And then—

A spark.

A golden ring of light began forming behind them.

Then another.

And another.

Portals. Dozens of them. Opening all across the battlefield.

From the first portal stepped T'Challa, Shuri, and Okoye, flanked by Wakandan warriors in full formation. Behind them, Sam soared overhead with wings spread wide.

More portals opened. Doctor Strange and the Masters of the Mystic Arts stepped forward, spells glowing in their hands. Spider-Man swung through the air, landing beside Valkyrie on a flying Pegasus. The Nova Corps arrived next, their sleek armors catching the morning light. The Ravagers. The Asgardians. Giant-Man. Wasp. Bucky. Star-Lord.

Every fallen Avenger… returned.

And with them came armies. Reinforcements from every corner of the galaxy.

Captain America stared, eyes wide. For a moment, he forgot how to breathe. Thor let out a low breath, a crooked grin forming. Tony's shoulders sagged in disbelief.

Hope sparked.

But before they could even speak—before anyone could cheer—another portal began to open.

This one was different.

It didn't shine gold.

It pulsed black.

Thick, shadowy energy spiraled around its edges like smoke trying to claw its way out. The air turned cold. A silence fell over the battlefield, sweeping across both sides.

Even Thanos turned slightly, his brows furrowing as the portal twisted in place. From the Avengers' side, everyone paused.

An uneasiness fell on the warriors—like something ancient was awakening. Whispers of dread trickled into the hearts of even the boldest.

Steve narrowed his eyes.

Tony raised his hand cannon.

Thor stepped forward, tense.

But what emerged from the portal was not a monster. Not a titan. Not a beast.

It was four people.

The first to step through wore black robes with silver lines, a faint shimmer glowing from his shoulders. His eyes were sharp, but calm. A rune hovered above his open palm for just a second before fading. He looked around as though confirming something. His presence was composed—but overwhelming.

Beside him stood a tall, golden-haired warrior, clad in intricate Asgardian armor unfamiliar even to Thor. His expression was bold, carefree—but his aura thundered like a coming storm.

The third figure wore a tight black combat suit, two batons at her waist, her eyes sharp and calculating. She moved like a ghost, her steps silent.

And the last wore a sleek tactical outfit, a high-tech bow strapped to his back, eyes scanning the field like a seasoned hunter.

Steve stared. Tony blinked, lowering his weapon in shock.

"...John?"

His voice cracked as it echoed across the now-silent field.

Tony's mask opened, eyes wide as he recognized the impossible.

As for the john and others… all four of them froze.

Right as they stepped out, they stopped moving.

Their expressions shifted.

Confused. Dazed. Lost in thought for just a second.

John's eyes darted from left to right, taking everything in. The battlefield. The dust. The silence. His sharp gaze landed first on the massive figure of Thanos, standing with his army of monsters and ships on the left side of the field.

Then slowly, John turned his head to the right.

There—standing bruised and bloodied but not broken—was the Avengers' army.

Thor. Steve. Tony. Everyone.

And then John understood.

The silence. The portal. The moment.

They had arrived just in time.

Any later, and this war would've been over.

He let out a low breath, his muscles tensing as adrenaline kicked in. His hand opened slightly, energy gathering between his fingers, just in case.

But before he could move or speak—

"JOHN?!"

A familiar voice cut through the silence.

He turned his head sharply.

Tony Stark stood not far away, his armor battered, half-broken. Sparks flew from his side. His eyes were wide, filled with disbelief. His face was bruised, blood on his lip.

John stared at him for a moment.

Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.

He lifted one hand and gave a slow wave.

"Long time no see, brother."

The battlefield remained quiet.

But the storm had arrived.

And the war was far from over.