Natasha's pistols spat fire — not ideal against Chitauri armor, but precise shots to joints and unarmored gaps still killed or incapacitated.
It was chaotic, violent, and overwhelming — but all under control.
James watched Natasha empty another clip, her movements efficient but under-armed, and he muttered in irritation:
He simply did not understand why she couldn't bring something packing more punch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The air above Manhattan vibrated with metallic shrieks and streaks of blue light as Tony Stark cut through another cluster of Chitauri sky-chariots. Behind him, explosions burst like fireworks against the fractured sky. The portal widened again, shimmering with unstable cosmic energy.
The immediate swarm on Tony's tail was getting smaller — Hawkeye's arrows had decimated several, Thor's lightning bursts vaporized even more, and James' earlier suppressing fire had cleared a path enough for Tony to maneuver.
But the relief lasted only seconds.
Because the next wave was already forcing itself through the expanding space-rift.
A wave larger and heavier than any before.
This time, multiple Chitauri Leviathans—massive armored sky-beasts—writhed through the tear, fins unfolding like metallic dragons born from the void.
James' was getting warnings from Cortana of the incoming enemies.
[Large-scale mass signatures detected. Leviathan count increasing. Enemy reinforcement density rising.]
Below him, Thor planted his boots on the surface of a building, storms gathering around him as lightning struck eagerly toward Mjolnir.
"James!" Thor shouted, voice booming like thunder. "Come closer. I shall smite the creatures pursuing you!"
James rolled sideways mid-flight, dodging two converging energy blasts.
"Negative, Thor!" James shouted through the small external speakers of his helmet. "Aim for the portal — cut off their reinforcements! I can handle myself!."
Thor didn't argue.
He raised Mjolnir high up to the sky and the sky answered.
Thunder rolled like an ancient beast awakening, clouds swirling into a dark vortex. Blue bolts lanced downward, then arced sideways toward Thor as if summoned by command. He became a beacon of raw electricity, every flash crawling across his arms and armor. Lightning fills his eyes, as he looks at his enemies like a true god filled with fury. (🗲__🗲)
When the next wave of Chitauri surged outward, Thor pointed Mjolnir toward the portal.
Thousands of lightning bolts surged through the air in a cataclysmic torrent, shredding hundreds of sky-chariots on impact. Their pilots ignited mid-air, bodies thrown like burning debris. Even the massive Leviathans writhed as electricity tore through their armored, rupturing entire segments of their flesh, like a chain lightning, every enemy close enough got struck.
James watched with a rare spark of envy.
Lightning at the command of your finger tips. Every boy's dream.
Still, Thor's power bought precious seconds — seconds New York desperately needed.
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THE GROUND HOLDS — FOR NOW
Thor dropped down beside Steve, panting, sparks still dancing across Mjolnir. Captain America raised his shield, forming a defensive line with Thor and the advancing Hulk.
But more Chitauri continued spilling downward, wave after wave.
"We're holding," Steve reported, "but we can't do this forever. We need that portal shut."
James banked hard to the right, sending a burst of golden Nexus fire through a pursuing chariot, then darted toward the group.
"How are you holding up?" he asked.
"We're fine for now," Steve responded. "But we don't know how many are coming. We need to close that portal fast."
James nodded. "Natasha — get to the top of Stark Tower. Find Dr. Selvig. If he's awake, ask him how to close the space generator."
Thor blinked. "What happened to Selvig?"
James answered casually, "I rebooted his brain."
Tony snorted. Steve stared. Thor grimaced. Banner muttered, "That explains… a lot."
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THE HELICARRIER PROBLEM
James opened a private comms channel.
"Cortana — patch me to Director Fury on a secure link."
[Channel secured.]
"Director. When can the Helicarrier arrive?"
Nick Fury exhaled sharply. "We've run into a problem. The World Security Council refuses to authorize the Helicarrier's involvement."
James froze mid-flight.
"What?" he snapped. "Why?"
"To prevent S.H.I.E.L.D. from being exposed. To keep the Helicarrier's existence secret."
James nearly lost control of his thrusters.
'They're worried about secrets NOW?'
"We're fighting an alien invasion," James said, voice dropping into cold fury. "And they're worried about secrecy?"
Fury's tone was low. "James… This is a restricted channel. Only the two of us can hear it."
James steadied his flight.
"Go on."
"If Hydra wasn't embedded in the Council, I'd have ignored the order already. But I need to stay Director. If I defy them now, Hydra will rip S.H.I.E.L.D. apart from the inside and bury us before we can fight back."
James clenched his fist.
"So they ARE compromised."
"Yes," Fury admitted. "At least two members. Maybe more."
"Then give me a list," James said immediately. "We will deal with them next."
Fury continued, "The Council also wanted to launch a nuclear strike. If Athena hadn't intercepted the authorization, Manhattan would already be gone."
James' blood ran cold.
"What about the fighter jets?"
"I can't send them," Fury said. "Council overrides everything. If I deploy them now, we lose all jurisdiction."
James gritted his teeth.
"So the army won't help."
"James," Fury said grimly, "the army wants S.H.I.E.L.D. to fall. The Council wants you dead. Hydra wants control. None of them want us to win."
James' voice was filled with fury.
"Understood. We'll handle it ourselves."
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THE TRUTH HITS THE TEAM
James switched back to the team channel.
"Everyone — bad news. The Helicarrier isn't coming. The Council blocked deployment. They even attempted a nuclear strike."
The channel erupted instantly:
"A NUCLEAR—?! Are they out of their damn minds?!" Tony shouted
"This is Manhattan. Millions of lives—" Steve was filled with dread of the outcome.
"Do mortals not understand war?! Why do they restrain your forces?" Thor was outraged of the stupidity of man.
"This is the World Council. This is what they do." Natasha expected nothing less from the fools.
"Sounds like them." Hawkeye in agreement.
James raised his voice.
"No time. Natasha — status on Selvig?"
Her voice came through, breathless.
"He just woke up. Getting answers now."
Above them, another wave burst through the portal — three massive Leviathans leading dozens of sky-chariots.
Clint, running around collecting arrows and shooting more enemies, got close to Steve as they tag teamed the ground forces. "Hey Cap, can you still keep up?"
"I can do this all day." As he caught the shield he just threw and smacked it on the face of a chitauri warrior.
"Avengers!—HOLD THE LINE!" James shouted to encourage everyone.
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THE THREE LEVIATHANS
James and Tony launched upward simultaneously, thrusters howling.
The first Leviathan tore past a skyscraper, jaws widening to release a deafening metallized roar. Its armored carapace glowed with pulsing blue energy.
The second crashed into a row of buildings, smashing through glass and steel.
The third swooped low toward the group — giant enough to crush entire blocks.
Natasha shouted over comms:
"We need that portal closed NOW!"
Tony spiraled upward firing repulsors, James firing golden energy rounds — their combined fire tracing brilliant arcs across the sky.
But the Leviathans were built for war.
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LOKI AWAKENS
Inside Stark Tower, Loki stirred on the floor, bruised, bleeding, and furious. James wanted to kill him, but he couldn't since his necessary for the future and his connection with Thor.
He slowly limped to the window, staring down at the chaos below.
A smile curved across his lips.
"You can't stop me," he whispered. "How long do you think you can hold?"
Then he glanced toward the space generator.
His smile vanished.
Natasha Romanoff and Dr. Erik Selvig has the scepter and were preparing to shut it down.
"No… no, no—NO!"
Loki panicked.
He had no idea Selvig had built a subconscious safety protocol — one requiring the scepter to override. If the generator shuts down, Loki's plan dies instantly.
He pushed himself to the window and screamed:
"STOP THEM! THE GENERATOR CANNOT BE SHUT DOWN!"
He didn't have the scepter to send a command. The Chitauri heard him anyway.
Suddenly, dozens of sky-chariots peeled away from the battle field and dove toward Natasha's position.
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THE DEFENSE OF STARK TOWER
Explosions erupted around Natasha as Chitauri soldiers focused every gun on her.
"Hey boys," Natasha said over comms, "I think I've become the main character."
James and Tony didn't hesitate to fly as fast as they could to Natasha's location, preventing the enemies from ever reaching her.
Energy blasts hammered their armor. Chitauri infantry converged, firing wildly. Tony's repulsors burned red-hot, James' Nexus Arms glowed a bright volatile gold.
James took a hit to the chest — the impact knocking him backward but he managed to stabilize himself.
Cortana reacted instantly.
[Warning: Armor integrity compromised. Rear plating tension decreases.]
James got down on the landing pad of Stark Tower Bringing out his new weapons the Nexus Blades, spinning it in his hands, he sliced and diced any grunts that dare to get close, as threw the axes like a boomerang to those that try to go around him, then catching it back like Captain America as he continues his onslaught.
"We hold them here!" James yelled.
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AVENGERS REGROUP
On the ground, the team shifted strategy.
Thor flew upward. Steve took center ground with his shield. Natasha did her best to push in the Scepter to the tessaract. Hawkeye with shooting and retrieval. Hulk smashed through two Leviathan ribs like a raging unstoppable beast.
They formed a defensive phalanx around the Stark Tower.
James yelled into the comms and his speaker.
"Everyone — abandon lower ground! Move to the top floor and protect Selvig and Natasha!"
Thor arrived first, lightning crackling around him. Steve landed beside Natasha, shield raised. Hulk leaped up the building and crushed a Chitauri soldier beneath his feet.
But the numbers kept climbing.
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THE BIG MOVE
"Cortana," James commanded. "Check energy levels. Prepare for precision barrage."
[Arcshot reserves: 38%. Armor reserves: 24%. Nexus gun reserves: 61%.
Specify distribution for barrage pattern.]
"Pour all Arcshot energy into a barrage. Charge up Deadzone to full Power."
James brought out his heirloom twin pistols Safari Arms Matchmaster(Fox's custom .45 pistol) and Imanishi 17 (Mr. X's Custom Beretta 92S).
"Tony!" James shouted. "Unload EVERYTHING. I need time to charge up my attack."
"Say no more!"
Tony Stark unleashed every remaining missile in his suit — a full storm of micro-explosives ripping through the sky.
The Leviathans staggered. Chitauri infantry panicked. The swarm destabilized momentarily.
"ROAR!!!"
Hulk grabbed a Leviathan by the jaw and slammed it headfirst into the pavement, flipping its entire body over like a derailed freight train.
Thor laughed breathlessly. "Well struck, monster!"
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JAMES' CHARGE
"How long?" Thor asked.
"Soon," James said. "Natasha — be ready!"
Then James did the reckless thing.
He flew straight at the portal.
Tony tried to stop him. "I'll cover—"
"No! Protect Selvig."
James pushed his thrusters to maximum, shooting and weaving between the Chitauri army, using every skill in his arsenal like the gun-kata and other martial arts dodging laser blasts.
Each hit that clipped him tore more plating from his armor, but every bullet fired swerved into the enemies eyes like they were magnets.
His right arm plating was cracking, his right leg thrusters were starting to spark violently. Blood was dripping inside his suit.
Cortana was feeding him real time data.
[Warning: Structural integrity below 37%. Internal injuries detected.]
James ignored it.
Because finally — he saw it.
On the other side of the portal:
A sea of Chitauri soldiers hovering in the void. Dozens of Leviathans circling, waiting for their turn to go inside the portal. And far behind them…
A mothership so massive it stretched farther than he could fully see — a titanic vessel that earth was never prepared to face.
James stopped mid-air storing his pistols.
Raised his left arm.
He gathered every drop of energy for this one shot.
"Deadzone Unleashed!" A blinding half-moon of pure destructive force formed along his gauntlet.
James fired. The chitauri army around him got blasted back, and those in front got erased.
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THE DEATH OF A MOTHERSHIP
The golden crescent ripped through the void erasing everything. All in its path — the sky-chariots, the Leviathans, and the regular grunts — disintegrated instantly.
It kept going. Getting bigger and faster.
It struck the mothership.
Silence loomed before them.
Then—
*KA-BOOOOOOOOOOM—
A cosmic explosion tore across the far side of the portal, blossoming outward like a dying star.
James exhaled — half triumphant, half collapsing.
The energy blasts immediately tore into him.
Cortana screamed:
[WARNING — MULTIPLE ARMOR BREACHES! INTERNAL DAMAGE CRITICAL! BODY TRAUMA SEVERE!]
James spiraled backward, barely conscious, armor cracked all over like a broken shell.