[DC Universe, Gotham City, An Abandoned Chemical Plant]
Cloud had been experiencing some "happy" troubles lately.
Ever since he'd completely captured Harley Quinn's crazy yet pure maiden heart with that "Mjolnir Mini Edition," his harem roster had gained an extremely clingy new member.
Harley had stuck to Cloud like an ultra-adhesive, strawberry-flavored piece of taffy.
Wherever Cloud went, she followed like a little tail, carrying her hammer—now capable of freely expanding and contracting while crackling with electricity—never leaving his side for even a moment.
When Cloud was on the rooftop of Wayne Tower researching fluctuations in the spatial rift, Harley would sit beside him, gnawing on a chicken drumstick while enthusiastically regaling him with tales of her and her "old flame" the Bat-Brat—their love-hate history of mutual attempts at murder.
When she got to the emotional parts, she'd wave her hammer around and ask Cloud, "Hey, next time I see him, should I knock him out? Or break his bones? Such a tough choice~"
When Cloud went to Metropolis to visit that hardworking Superman, Harley tagged along too.
Then, right in front of Superman's righteous "I am Justice" face, she'd seriously ask him: "Hey, big guy, are those red underpants worn on the outside? They look so cool! I want a pair too!"
This caused our great Son of Light, Clark Kent, to instinctively cover his pants every time he saw her.
Even when Cloud took Harley through Themyscira's secret passage to visit Diana, Harley acted like she'd discovered a new continent!
She grabbed Diana, insisting they compare whether her "Devotion Hammer" was more powerful or Diana's "God Killer Sword" was sharper.
These two stunning beauties of completely different styles—one wild and unhinged, the other noble and elegant—nearly demolished Themyscira over such a trivial question as "whose weapon is cooler."
Regarding this chaotic daily life full of drama, Cloud felt both pained and pleased.
"Sigh, being too charming is also a burden," he often remarked with affected modesty.
In stark contrast to this side of the DC Universe...
[Marvel Universe, Earth, Wakanda]
An apocalyptic scene.
The sky was blotted out by a massive black ring-shaped spacecraft. It was Thanos's flagship—Sanctuary II.
On the ground, a brutal slaughter was underway.
Thanos had arrived.
He hadn't given Earth any chance to breathe.
During Cloud's absence, he had already collected four of the six Infinity Stones—all except the Mind Stone and Space Stone!
The Power Stone gave him the might to crush planets with ease.
The Reality Stone let him warp reality at will.
The Time Stone made him invincible.
The Soul Stone let him perceive the essence of all life.
At this moment, he was the only god in this universe!
His subordinates—the four generals of the Black Order: Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, and Cull Obsidian—led an endless army of Outriders in their most frenzied assault on Wakanda, humanity's last line of defense!
"For Wakanda!"
Black Panther T'Challa, clad in his kinetic-energy-absorbing vibranium suit, tore through the horde like black lightning!
Every swipe of his claws ripped out an Outrider's throat!
But there were too many enemies!
Endless waves of Outriders crashed against Wakanda's seemingly impenetrable energy shield like a black tide!
BOOM!
A thunderous impact!
Cull Obsidian—that mountain-sized monster—swung his massive chain flail and smashed a gaping hole in the energy shield with a single strike!
ROAR—!
The Outrider army flooded through the breach like a broken dam!
"Captain America calling all units! Hold the breach!"
Steve Rogers, the battle-hardened veteran, his face already covered in blood and soot.
His vibranium shield had developed cracks.
He and Winter Soldier Bucky fought back-to-back against enemies several times their number in the most brutal melee!
In the sky above, War Machine Rhodey and Falcon Sam were giving everything they had.
Their firepower blasted wave after wave of enemies to pieces.
But the next second, even more enemies would engulf them.
Elsewhere, Dr. Banner in his massive Hulkbuster armor was locked in a desperate battle against Corvus Glaive.
But without the Hulk as his trump card, even with the armor's assistance, he was steadily losing ground.
SQUELCH!
Corvus Glaive's blade—capable of splitting atoms—easily pierced through the Hulkbuster's chest!
"Banner!"
A piercing, heartbroken scream!
It was Natasha!
She and spear-wielding Okoye were barely holding their own against Proxima Midnight.
The moment she saw Banner get impaled, she lost focus.
Proxima Midnight seized the opportunity!
Her trident, gleaming with deadly cold light, thrust toward Natasha's back!
At that critical moment!
A scarlet energy shield crackling with chaotic energy appeared before Natasha!
It was Wanda!
Her eyes burned with crimson fury!
After Cloud's "tutoring," her control over chaos magic had improved dramatically!
She hovered in mid-air like a true witch, both hands extended, lifting Proxima Midnight and dozens of surrounding Outriders with chaos energy, then twisting them like wringing out a towel!
"You... you monster!"
Proxima Midnight cursed defiantly in her final moment before being crushed.
But two fists couldn't match four hands.
Just as Wanda was fully focused on Proxima Midnight, a sinister, serpent-like voice spoke from behind her.
"Impressive power... but still too raw."
It was Ebony Maw!
The most powerful mage under Thanos had somehow appeared silently behind Wanda!