Chapter 49: A Foregone Conclusion

Malekith did not return to his ship. Not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't get the chance.

Before he could take a single step, a golden beam descended from the sky with divine violence, piercing through his ship as if it were made of paper and making it explode in a brilliant flare.

Malekith, just a few meters from the explosion, didn't even flinch at the shockwave. But there was fear in his eyes. Because when he looked at the place where the beam had struck, he saw what had caused it: a golden spear, majestic and terrifying at once.

Gungnir.

The legendary spear of Asgard. And its wielder…

"Malekith," came a roar from the sky.

He didn't need to turn. He knew that voice. Odin himself.

But Odin did not descend to face him. He sent warriors.

To Malekith, that was an insult.

The Asgardians arrived with spears ready, but he activated an anti-gravity grenade that made them float in the air. With a dark sword, he cut them down one by one in seconds, effortlessly.

He raised his weapon toward the sky, pointing at Odin with fury.

The elven ships activated immediately, firing at anything that flew.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the battle was savage. The Asgardian warriors charged Malekith without rest.

But he was no ordinary enemy. Every strike brought down a foe. He had centuries of experience, refined brutality, and a cause driving him.

Several warriors and Valkyries surrounded him. Their attacks were precise, synchronized. Still, Malekith waited for his moment: a Valkyrie descended on her pegasus with her spear held high. He caught her, threw her to the ground, and mounted her beast. With that same spear, he struck down the others, then drove it into the pegasus's skull to use its corpse as a shield. Brutal. Effective.

The rest hesitated, but discipline prevailed. More than a dozen flying Valkyries launched at him again. Malekith waited with another gravity bomb, which he threw without looking. This one didn't suspend them in the air like before… it reversed their gravity. The warriors shot up into the sky.

High above, another Valkyrie fighting the ships didn't see what was happening. Before she could move away from a ship about to explode, she collided—and they all died in the blast.

Malekith kept advancing, destroying everything in his path.

He threw another grenade, but a web caught it mid-air and flung it back. He was launched upward by the gravity reversal, grabbed a nearby griffin, and broke one of its wings to force a slower descent.

The griffin did its best to land safely, but upon touching the ground, it didn't realize it had company.

Two hands gripped its skull tightly until its body collapsed, lifeless.

Malekith dismounted the griffin, now back on solid ground, and looked up at the approaching group.

The Avengers.

"Is it finally your turn?" he said mockingly.

There was no answer. Only an attack.

Steve hurled his shield. Malekith caught it mid-air and used it to block Tony's blasts. Then he threw it hard at Gwen, knocking her off balance.

A blow to his back caught him by surprise. Pietro. Fast, but weak. Before Malekith could strike back, Pietro was gone.

Then came Clint's arrows. He caught them mid-air. Noticing something strange, he released them. They exploded instantly.

Steve lunged, but Malekith blocked him with ease, this time aiming at his legs. He made him fall and took the shield, throwing it far away.

But before the shield could touch the ground, Pietro stopped it in mid-air. It flew back the other way, and Malekith caught him with one hand—leaving his back exposed. Gwen struck him hard.

Then Natasha arrived with SHIELD's special weapons. They weren't lethal, but they distracted him just enough for Thor to reach him with his hammer. The blow knocked him down.

He stood up. Slowly. In pain. But still ready to fight.

From the sky, Odin watched.

The Asgardian army fought relentlessly. The enemy ships were neutralized one by one. While some troops drew the cannons' attention, others infiltrated to destroy them from within. Once disarmed, they were easy targets.

On the ground, the dark elves were overwhelmed. Their resistance was crumbling.

Hours later, all that remained were scorched ruins, smoking craters, and scattered bodies. Fewer than a thousand elves survived. Asgard had lost only three hundred soldiers.

Odin descended.

In front of the Avengers, Malekith was on his knees. Wounded. Drained. But he wouldn't surrender. Every time he fell, he stood again.

Odin looked at him without expression.

"It is over, Malekith."

With a gesture, he immobilized him. He didn't need a great spell. In that state, a simple seal was enough.

He could've killed him. But chose to imprison him. Malekith's immortality would become his punishment. And a message.

Then, Odin turned to the Avengers, with a look that spoke of respect. Finally, he looked at his sons, nodded in satisfaction… and ascended back into the sky.

The group fell silent.

"That was it?" asked Gwen, confused.

"This is the most powerful army in the galaxy, what did you expect? A months-long war?" Loki mocked.

"My brother is right. Once Asgard intervened, there was only one way this could end," added Thor.

Everyone nodded before heading back to the factory.

There, Jane ran to them as soon as she saw them enter.

"Is it over? Are you all okay?"

Thor approached and lifted her in his arms with a smile.

"Of course. Malekith never stood a chance."

Jane blushed, but upon seeing everyone safe, smiled in relief.

"And SHIELD? Where are they?"

"SHIELD?" said Tony with a half-smile. "They're looting everything they can from the elven ships. Free alien tech—who could resist?"

Everyone nodded. Nothing out of the ordinary.

At that moment, Pietro returned holding the sphere.

"And this?"

Thor took it solemnly.

"Too dangerous. We can't keep stacking Infinity Stones on Earth. Our father will take it somewhere safe."

"A safe place?" asked Natasha.

"The Collector. The greatest collector in the galaxy. He'll guard it… and Earth will be safe from new catastrophes."

No one replied. They didn't know that corner of the universe, but they trusted Asgard would know what to do.

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