Chapter 127: Entering the Wormhole

"A ridiculous victory," one of the Security Council members said as the group convened via video conference. They had just finished watching the live broadcast from New York. However, their assessment of the battlefield was far from optimistic.

The Council's satellites monitored the situation over New York, revealing that the spatial rift above the city had expanded enough to allow five Leviathan warships to pass through simultaneously.

Garus' fleet and his mutant forces were clearing the Chitauri with impressive speed, but the number of enemies only seemed to grow.

"We can't wait any longer. Sacrificing New York to save the world is a trade we can afford."

"Our only viable option is the nuclear warhead aboard Fury's helicarrier. But he'll never agree."

"We don't need his approval. S.H.I.E.L.D. has more than just his loyalists."

"I'm concerned," said one of the female council members. "I'm not convinced a nuclear strike will even stop them. What do we do if it fails?"

The battle between Black Dwarf and Abomination had shaken her confidence. If beings like them could withstand the shockwave, heat, and radiation of a nuclear explosion, what hope was there?

"Regardless, the nuke must be launched," one of the other members said, their tone betraying the growing panic. The ferocity of the battle had far exceeded their expectations.

"Director Fury! A Quinjet carrying a nuclear warhead is preparing to take off!" Coulson reported. S.H.I.E.L.D. only had two aircraft capable of deploying nuclear weapons, and one of them was now taxiing for takeoff. Coulson could tell this wasn't Fury's decision. "Director, this wasn't your call, was it?"

"What!?" Fury stood abruptly, saying nothing as he sprinted to the helicarrier's flight deck. Spotting the Quinjet just before takeoff, he grabbed a rocket launcher and reduced the aircraft to a fiery wreck.

But his relief was short-lived—another Quinjet took off moments later. Without time to reload, Fury could only watch as the aircraft disappeared into the sky, carrying its devastating payload.

"We need to warn Tony and the others to stop that nuke before it obliterates New York." Even if the bomb managed to wipe out the Chitauri forces over the city, it wouldn't matter. The wormhole's other side housed countless more. If the Avengers and Garus' fleet were wiped out, Earth would have no defense left.

"This place is too dangerous. You need to leave now."

The sudden voice startled Sarina, but she relaxed when she saw Spider-Man. Excitedly, she shoved her microphone toward him. "Mr. Spider-Man—"

"This isn't a safe place for an interview. I'll take you to a shelter," Parker interrupted, pulling her away. But as they moved, he caught sight of Garus in the distance and called out, "Hey, Garus!"

Garus was about to respond when the system's alarm interrupted him: [Warning: Target Black Dwarf is attempting to flee. Host, act quickly!]

What? He's running already? Garus hadn't expected Thanos' lieutenant to be so cowardly. Moments ago, Black Dwarf had seemed confident and composed. Plus, the Chitauri forces showed no signs of retreating.

For the sake of my exchange points, Black Dwarf must die.

Locking onto the enemy's location, Garus activated a Death Gate.

"Blonsky, follow me." Thanks to the regenerative effects of Garus' death energy and his own remarkable healing factor, Blonsky's injuries had fully healed.

Garus was determined to pursue his target into the wormhole and eliminate him on the other side.

"General Kallruth, pilot the flagship into the wormhole."

"What?" Kallruth thought he must have misheard. "Into the wormhole?"

"Yes. Don't waste time—move!" Garus snapped, impatient with the hesitation.

"Fine. Let's hope we survive this." With a resigned grimace, Kallruth obeyed, steering the ship toward the wormhole. He doubted their chances but feared defying Garus more.

"All ships, provide covering fire," Garus commanded, his voice echoing across the fleet's communication channels.

"Headmaster!?" The mutant students aboard the other ships were baffled by his orders.

The five Legion warships unleashed their full firepower. Erik (Magneto) manipulated metal to tear apart the Chitauri's shields before hurling their exposed ships into each other, clearing the area around the wormhole.

"What's Garus trying to do?" Steve Rogers wondered aloud, his gaze fixed on the skies. With only five ships, it seemed impossible to defeat the Chitauri army.

Emerging from the wormhole, Garus found himself facing an enormous Chitauri fleet, their warships arrayed in tight formations.

As cannon fire lit up the void, Garus attempted to summon Sindragosa, the Frost Wyrm.

"Well, well, little one. In trouble again?" The frost dragon's voice echoed as she answered his call.

In the pitch-black void, a summoning circle materialized. Massive bones assembled into the form of a colossal dragon.

"ROAR!" Sindragosa unleashed freezing blasts from her maw, turning Chitauri ships into floating ice sculptures and clearing a wide path for Garus.

"There, the largest warship! Head for it. The other Legion ships will return through the wormhole." Garus was certain Black Dwarf was aboard the massive flagship.

With Sindragosa leading the charge, Garus believed he could reach his target without suffering further losses.

"Sir, Garus' ship just entered the wormhole!" J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.

Tony Stark looked up at the Chitauri-dominated sky. He saw Garus' fleet fighting fiercely near the wormhole before disappearing into the rift.

"Tony." Fury's voice came through the comms. "A Quinjet carrying a nuclear warhead is heading your way. You need to intercept it."

"What!?" Tony was horrified. "Which idiot approved this? There are millions of civilians here!"

"The Security Council. But there's no time for that now. You have to stop it."

"Alright, I'll handle it." Gritting his teeth, Tony glanced toward the city and cursed. "Damn it, where did Garus go?"

Intercepting a nuke wasn't exactly in his comfort zone. Failure would mean not just his death but the destruction of all New York.

"Sir, I suggest redirecting the nuke into the wormhole."

"That's... not a bad idea," Tony muttered. He noticed that the area near the wormhole had been cleared, and Garus' fleet had reemerged—though only four ships returned.

Tony grabbed the nuke and flew toward the wormhole. Reprogramming its trajectory mid-flight proved challenging. As he crossed into the wormhole, his suit lost power.

Plummeting through the void, Tony glimpsed a massive skeletal dragon and Garus' ship heading straight into the heart of the Chitauri army.

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