The four Giants of the Avengers in the b2 Universe were successfully drawn in by the chaos.
Thor and Banner, who had just dug themselves out of the rubble, slowly stood to their feet. They stared at the noisy newcomers with confused expressions.
Iron Man's gaze locked onto Little Spider in the crowd, and for a long moment, he forgot everything else. The greatest reason he had joined Captain America's desperate time travel plan was to save Peter Parker. Watching the boy chatter endlessly in front of him, Iron Man even forgot how strange the gap in their ages seemed.
Captain America, meanwhile, was focused on someone else entirely.
His eyes passed over the young Captain America and the older one beside him, finally stopping on Peggy Carter behind them. Those calm, sharp eyes and fiery red lips belonged to the woman he had owed a dance, the woman he had thought about for so many years.
It was not until the two other Captain Americas instinctively stepped forward and blocked his view that he snapped out of it.
"Carter…" Captain America murmured, unsettled.
The world on the other side was clearly different from theirs. Otherwise, how could another version of himself and Peggy exist at the same time? The older Captain America was already too aged, someone he barely recognized.
For a brief moment, all four Giants of the b2 Universe were distracted.
That was when Jarvis appeared silently in the air.
"Attention everyone," Jarvis announced over the channel. "The Infinity Stones are approaching the surface. The bearer is about to emerge from the ruins."
Everyone froze for a heartbeat, then the chatter exploded again.
Someone exclaimed that at least Thanos was dead. Someone else complained that the battlefield full of alien corpses would be a nightmare to clean up and that it would have been easier to turn them into dust with a snap.
As they talked, the group moved closer to the four Giants, blocking their view.
Then, a section of rubble at the Avengers Base trembled lightly.
Ant Man, Rocket, Rhodes, and Hawkeye surfaced at the same time.
"We made it! Captain, hang on, I… huh?" Ant Man suddenly stopped, his eyes widening. "Why are there so many bodies? And why are there two Captains?"
Rocket Raccoon stood on Rhodes' back in midair, the Infinity Gauntlet clutched tightly in his arms. He shouted urgently, "Quick, snap first and bring everyone back before Thanos… huh? What happened?"
Rhodes opened his faceplate, staring in disbelief. "Good lord, why are there two Tonys? And how are they supposed to explain that to Pepper later?"
Before anyone could react, a golden lasso shot out of the crowd at blinding speed.
Rocket's arms went empty in an instant.
"Huh?" He looked down, his fur standing on end. "The Stones, the Stones got snatched!"
In the crowd, Diana yanked the Infinity Gauntlet toward herself with the Truth Lasso, leapt upward, and soared into the air.
"Nice!" Tony's eyes lit up as his faceplate snapped shut and he blasted after her.
The heroes of the Main Universe had all been waiting for this moment. Almost everyone retreated at the same time, rapidly pulling away from the Avengers of the b2 Universe.
"Sorry, but we need to borrow your Infinity Stones," Tony said calmly through the comm as he flew. He was about to explain their reason when a sharp voice cut him off.
"Go to hell!" Rocket fired upward without hesitation.
The b2 Universe Avengers instantly erupted into action.
"They were after the Stones all along, stop them!" Iron Man roared as he ignited his thrusters and charged straight at Tony.
Captain America's unfocused eyes sharpened at once. His gaze locked onto the other two Captain Americas.
"Wait, we can explain!" the young Captain America called out.
Too late.
Thor had already raised Stormbreaker and launched into the sky in a burst of lightning, charging straight at Diana like a living thunderbolt.
Banner followed close behind, ripping open his shirt. "Give the Infinity Stones back!"
The battle ignited in an instant.
Tony had thought he would still have time to explain after securing the Stones, but the other Iron Man had already decided that this younger version was reckless and untrustworthy. There was no chance he would allow the Gauntlet to fall into Tony's hands.
The heroes of the Main Universe met the attack head on.
But the pressure on them was not overwhelming.
They had the numbers.
The two Hawkeyes found high vantage points and immediately engaged in a long range standoff. Rocket and Groot were quickly surrounded by Thunderbolt troops. Ant Man was pinned down by the other Ant Man, Little Spider, and Falcon. Banner found himself restrained by Hulk, Red Hulk, and Abomination. Captain America was overwhelmed by the two other Captain Americas and Peggy Carter working together.
Even with Thor's power, the b2 Universe Captain America was beaten into a defensive stand.
In the sky, Iron Man and Thor were not surrounded, but their situations were even worse.
The b2 Universe Iron Man attacked Tony with full force, firing a shark mouth cannon with his left hand while slashing with an energy blade in his right. He held nothing back.
Tony did not even block.
The impact wave slammed into his body, and he did not move.
The energy blade struck his armor and barely sparked.
"That's impossible," Iron Man muttered.
Tony's eyes shone with discovery. "So this is how it feels when Malrick lets me hit him without dodging."
He had picked up a dangerous habit from Malrick, enjoying the feeling of standing still while attacks crashed into him.
"Again, old man," Tony beckoned.
Iron Man's face darkened. "Friday, maximum output."
Glowing energy rings unfolded behind him in rapid succession. A high energy pulse burst forward, but when the light faded, Tony's armor was still unmarked.
Iron Man intensified the assault with heavy blows, palm cannons, and flying kicks.
Nothing worked.
Finally, six spider like nano structures unfolded behind him, rotating slowly.
"Thor!" Iron Man shouted.
That weapon could convert lightning into raw energy and magnify it to devastating levels. It was the strongest weapon of the Mark 85 Armor.
Thor could not respond.
He was already bound by the Truth Lasso.
Diana, now a true god, overwhelmed him with ease. Her bracelets blocked Stormbreaker. Her sword cut through his guard. She held the Infinity Gauntlet in one hand and restrained Thor with the other.
Thor's lightning filled the sky, but every strike was neutralized. Meanwhile, Diana's counterattacks steadily left fresh bruises on his face.
She found an opening and bound him completely.
Iron Man turned his head in time to see Diana dangling Thor with one hand, Stormbreaker tucked under her arm, and the Gauntlet gleaming on her other fist.
"Are you serious, Thor?" Iron Man muttered, staring at the god's swaying belly.
Thor licked his lips awkwardly. "Steve, help, throw the hammer up here!"
Captain America weaved through the three super soldiers attacking him, blocked one strike, deflected another, and hurled Mjolnir into the sky.
Before it could reach Thor, a hand caught it in midair.
The young Captain America lifted the hammer curiously. "I can use this too? Can everyone use it?"
Lightning surged over his body.
The b2 Universe Captain America froze. "Damn it…"
The older Captain America corrected calmly, "Language, young man."
Thor's heart sank. "That is my hammer, put it down."
On the other side, Iron Man's patience finally snapped.
He had no idea how such a serious battle had turned into something so absurd.
Tony's voice suddenly cut in. "Old man, your armor has one big weakness, magic. I always kept that in mind."
Before Iron Man could respond, Tony pressed his palm to his own chest. The arc reactor glowed crimson.
"Expelliarmus."
In an instant, Iron Man's armor disintegrated and scattered. The arc reactor fell free as he plummeted helplessly.
Tony caught him before he hit the ground.
The red glow of the sunset reflected in Iron Man's stunned eyes as the battlefield burned behind them.
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