Corrosive venomous projectiles rained down from above, splattering against the ground and eating away at the terrain, leaving massive craters in their wake.
The swarm advanced, kicking up thick clouds of dust and sand.
Peter felt his adrenaline surge at the sheer scale of the battle. However, with no towering skyscrapers or massive trees around, he found himself at a disadvantage—his usual mobility options were severely limited.
Within moments, the vanguard of the insectoid horde closed in, now less than a hundred meters away. Their writhing tendrils and chitinous exoskeletons were visible in disturbing detail.
"Ugh, disgusting. Do these bugs not believe in hygiene?" Some of the creatures were covered in a thick, slimy substance of unknown origin.
Behind Peter, Ant-Man suddenly grew to an enormous size, towering several stories high as he prepared to charge straight into the enemy lines.
"Whoa, Scott! Hold up!" Tony called out, taken aback by the sheer versatility of Pym Particles. As fascinated as he was, he wasn't about to let someone charge in recklessly—especially not Hank Pym's son-in-law. Howard Stark had once told him stories about how terrifying Pym could be when enraged, and Tony wasn't keen on experiencing that firsthand.
A gust of icy wind swept across the battlefield, and in an instant, a blinding white radiance spread across the desolate wasteland.
From the light emerged a tide of undead creatures, surging forward to intercept the first wave of the swarm.
Garus knew that even with the combined might of the superheroes, the situation couldn't be resolved so easily. Numbers were on his side—he had legions of undead at his command. But his real concern was that devastating beam from before. It had obliterated obsidian walls reinforced with intricate rune formations. If his suspicions were correct, it had been fired from the Cosmic Control Rod.
The undead and the insectoid horde clashed in a frenzied, brutal melee. Neither side felt fear. The battlefield became a gruesome spectacle of shattered carapaces, dismembered limbs, and spilled viscera.
"That one's mine!"
Scott, suddenly emboldened, locked onto a towering insectoid and charged forward, engaging it in direct combat.
The sight gave Garus a distinct Ultraman versus kaiju vibe.
Tony and Colonel Rhodes took to the skies, coordinating their fire to thin the enemy ranks while covering Scott's reckless charge.
Doctor Strange opened a portal to the Mirror Dimension, dragging an entire cluster of insects into his domain, where he held absolute control.
"Battle makes my blood boil!"
Abomination's eyes glowed crimson as he hurled himself into the swarm like a living cannonball.
In that instant, magic, technology, and mutant abilities intertwined, painting the battlefield in a chaotic symphony of destruction.
Garus, however, did not engage. He scanned the battlefield, searching for the swarm's commander.
"Heimdall, can you locate Annihilus?"
The Asgardian sentry, mid-swing as he cleaved through a lunging insect, shook his head. "I cannot see him. He is shrouded by a powerful energy, concealing his position from my sight."
The swarm showed no signs of relenting, wave after wave of fresh insectoids pouring in. But Garus and the others quickly realized that these were newly spawned drones—mere cannon fodder meant to stall them.
Naxxramas couldn't be repositioned to the elven city—not while the Cosmic Control Rod remained an active threat. If another unexpected attack struck, it could destroy the very heart of the floating necropolis.
Garus had already tried repairing the damage from the previous blast, even using the Reality Stone. But the affected sections had been reduced to pure void—there was nothing left to restore. His current abilities weren't advanced enough to create matter from nothing.
"What's the plan?"
Tony landed beside him, covered in splatters of insectoid blood. "These things just keep coming. We're not gonna kill them all at this rate."
Garus frowned. "I didn't expect this many of them. Last time, I handled it alone."
After a moment of thought, he made a decision. "I'll negotiate with the elves. Hold the line until I get back. Don't take unnecessary risks."
Before anyone could protest, he shot into the sky, streaking toward the glowing magical barrier surrounding the elven city.
The shield, formidable enough to hold back the insectoid tide, proved no obstacle to Garus. Mastering the powers of the Death Knight, he channeled the strength of an anti-magic field into his hands and carved open a temporary passage.
Thor, who had been patrolling the barrier's perimeter, spotted him immediately and rushed over.
"Hold your fire! He's with us!" Thor shouted, stopping a group of elven archers from loosing their arrows.
The God of Thunder exhaled in relief. "Garus, you finally made it. Where's the rest of your team?"
Garus landed and dusted himself off. "Still holding the front. I couldn't guarantee their safety on the way here—too many enemies."
Thor's expression darkened. "What's our next move?" He had fought Frost Giants alone before, but even that had never made him this uneasy. "Can we push them back?"
"Of course," Garus said without hesitation. The Brood were formidable, but with the Infinity Stones at his disposal, they were far from invincible. "The real question is… can I guarantee your survival? The amount of destruction I might unleash could wipe this entire continent from existence. A lot of people will die."
Thor hesitated.
"Come with me," he finally said. "You need to speak with the Elven King and Njord, the Vanir god of the sea. Maybe they have another solution."
As they made their way through the city, they passed weary figures—elves, Vanir, and other allied races—hurrying between tasks, their faces etched with exhaustion.
A regal, long-eared man, clad in resplendent robes, stepped forward to meet them. His ethereal beauty was undeniable, embodying everything the legends said about elves.
"Thor, who is this?" the Elven King asked, his piercing gaze fixed on Garus.
Thor gestured toward him. "Your Majesty, this is Garus of Midgard. His forces were ambushed before they could reach the city and were forced to hold their ground outside, about ten kilometers away."
"Ten kilometers?" The Elven King's expression darkened. "That area has been reduced to ruins. We saw the attack. We feared the worst."
"We're holding for now," Garus confirmed. "But it won't last forever. I'm here to ask you to evacuate. I'll provide as much assistance as I can."
The Elven King shook his head. "The swarm's target is the branches of the World Tree. If they consume them, they will grow stronger—strong enough to consume entire worlds. If that happens, even your world will fall. Where could we possibly escape to?"
The Nine Realms were bound to Yggdrasil—the World Tree was the foundation that linked their existence.
Garus understood the logic. But at this rate, total annihilation was inevitable.
"Come with me," the Elven King said. "You must speak with Frigga and Njord. Perhaps they have a way forward."
They entered the only stone-built structure in the city, a towering hall crowned with a massive gemstone that pulsed with soft, white light.
Suddenly—
"We're out of time!"
A frantic voice rang out as they reached the upper chamber. Njord stood at the center, desperately maintaining the city's magical defenses. Around him lay fallen mages, completely drained of their power.
"The swarm has launched a full-scale assault! The Midgardians can't help us now! And that weapon—!"
Before he could finish, an earth-shaking tremor rippled through the city.
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON