After the High Evolutionary's death, the Guardians of the Galaxy chose to stay on Earth to repay the Avengers for their help. While they might not be the strongest allies, their skills would undoubtedly prove effective against Steppenwolf's Parademons.
Meanwhile, Robert returned to the interstellar battlefield, teleporting back to Supergiant's ship. Still unconscious and unlikely to recover without intervention, Supergiant remained in stasis as the ship continued its journey toward Thanos. Despite Supergiant's absence, Thanos' forces pressed on, following their plans to hunt for universal relics to strengthen their power.
During the journey, Robert contacted the Nova Corps, one of the few powerful empires he had successfully allied with. Hoping to glean more information about Darkseid, Robert quickly realized they knew little about him. However, the Nova Corps had extensive records on planets named Apokolips. Unfortunately, the galaxy was littered with planets sharing that name.
This wasn't unlike Thanos' home, Titan. While Earth's Titan (Saturn's moon) had no signs of civilization, the Nova Corps had documented Thanos' Titan as a distant world, thousands of light-years away.
Even with Nova Corps promising to investigate the Apokolips candidates, Robert understood it would take time—something Earth might not have much of.
On Earth, Steppenwolf, armed with the three Mother Boxes, had seemingly gone quiet. In truth, he was preparing to unify them. But first, he needed to create chaos to divert the Avengers' attention.
"Alert! Multiple spatial portals have appeared worldwide, accompanied by a massive surge of Parademons!" J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice rang through the Avengers' base and across every member's communication device.
Peter Parker, swinging through New York, froze mid-air. Looking skyward, he saw dark portals forming, spilling hordes of Parademons. The sheer number of creatures darkened the sky, turning day into night.
Panic gripped Peter as he realized the scale of the invasion. His spider-sense flared, not in warning for himself, but in anticipation of the devastation these creatures would wreak. As the portals spread, Peter knew the death toll would be catastrophic.
Lightning coursed through his body as the symbiote Venom expanded around him, forming a massive, monstrous frame over ten meters tall. Together, Peter and Venom charged into the fray, their combined power devastating the swarms of Parademons.
Peter's electrical attacks, lethal against these hordes, cleared the skies in bursts. Yet, no matter how many he destroyed, more emerged to take their place. The creatures, showing no fear or hesitation, avoided Peter entirely, focusing their attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
The Avengers mobilized swiftly, deploying every available member alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy and waves of automated Stark armors. Despite their combined efforts, the sheer volume of enemies overwhelmed them.
Attempts to breach the portals were thwarted. Diana and Kara charged directly at the openings, but as they approached, the portals would vanish, only to reappear elsewhere.
"Damn it! Can't we disrupt these portals?" Tony Stark shouted over the comms as he obliterated a cluster of Parademons.
"I can disrupt one at a time, but they'll just reopen elsewhere," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied regretfully.
"I've got an idea!" Kara suddenly interjected, her tone filled with determination.
She vanished mid-conversation, returning moments later with a device containing the Space Stone.
Activating the device, Kara unleashed a beam of blue energy that soared into the sky. Instantly, the portals in her vicinity disappeared. Without missing a beat, she began zipping across the globe, neutralizing portals wherever they appeared.
Soon, Earth was free of active portals. Though the remaining Parademons were numerous, they were now isolated and finite—a problem that could be managed.
Earth's nations quickly mobilized their upgraded militaries. With years of reverse-engineering alien technology, Earth's weaponry had evolved dramatically. Traditional firearms were replaced with advanced energy weapons, allowing for more effective extermination of the Parademons.
However, a surprising group emerged amid the chaos: a new superhero team called The Boys, introduced by a corporation known as Vought International. These heroes, branded as the "Seven," claimed official backing and seemed designed for public relations as much as combat.
The Boys bore uncanny resemblances to existing heroes.
Homelander displayed Kryptonian-like abilities. A-Train resembled speedsters like Quicksilver and the Flash. Stormfront wielded powers similar to Mary's. Lamplighter had abilities reminiscent of Johnny Storm but relied on external fire sources.
The Avengers took note. While Earth was no stranger to individuals gaining powers, these abilities were too specific to be natural. Clearly, the Seven were products of artificial enhancement.
Vought's timing couldn't have been better. As the Avengers fought tirelessly, their numbers stretched thin, the Seven swooped in, saving scattered civilians and earning public favor. Their official recognition by governmental agencies only bolstered their appeal.
Back at the Avengers base, J.A.R.V.I.S. compiled footage of the Seven's activities and public statements. Pietro, reviewing the data, scoffed. "Bunch of fakes. And they brought plenty of paid fans."
It wasn't just their actions that irked the Avengers. Vought's PR machine went into overdrive, releasing promotional videos that subtly undermined the Avengers.
The most controversial clip featured Homelander in an interview.
Homelander:
"As another superhero team, we respect the Avengers, but let's not pretend they're infallible. For years, they've held unparalleled authority, answering to no one. But times have changed.
The Boys are here now, officially recognized and ready to step up. The Avengers claim to protect Earth, but what have they achieved? Half the planet's population has perished since their formation.
But with us around, rest assured—such tragedies won't happen again."
Homelander's calculated remarks hit a nerve. Though partially true, they ignored context. The Avengers had faced unimaginable cosmic threats, but the public remembered the losses more than the victories.
Worse, the Avengers couldn't directly counter Homelander's claims. Doing so would make them seem petty, and their immense power already made them appear unaccountable.
If they argued that the threats were too overwhelming, the public might question whether the Avengers were truly giving their all.
The media frenzy around the Seven began to chip away at the Avengers' image. Though still trusted, the once unshakable faith in them began to erode.
For now, the Avengers focused on immediate threats. The Parademons had been vanquished, but the looming shadow of Darkseid remained, as did the unanswered question: who was truly pulling the strings behind Vought and the Seven?
Robert, preparing to face Thanos, vowed to uncover the truth behind this new player in Earth's escalating power struggle.
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