Chapter 28
At daybreak, a large army of Shadow Demons invaded Star City. They moved through the air, all gathered together like a flight of crows.
At Arrow's bunker, Dinah stared at the monitors. She could see the arrival of the Anti-Monitor's army.
"All right, listen up. I got a ton of those shadow things descending on Gardner Pier."
Copy, we're en route!
Then she turned to Charles Xavier who had joined her at the bunker.
"I hope we get there!" she says.
"We will. Together," Charles assured her with a look of confidence. "As Supergirl told me: El Mayarah."
In a gigantic wasteland in Star City, a multitude of heroes arrived for the battle of their lives. There was Natasha Romanoff, War Machine, Sam Wilson with Captain America's shield, Bucky Barnes, Doctor Strange, Clint Barton, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Professor Hulk, then Black Panther.
Very close to them, the five X-Men (Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Gray, Storm and Beast) joined them. Then, Wild Dog, Spartan, Dreamer, Flash, White Canary, Supergirl, Thor, J'onn J'onzz, Alex Danvers, Spider-Man, Batwoman and Superman. And finally, the Guardians of the Galaxy joined the group of heroes, with their weapons raised towards the Shadow Demons. Groot chuckled in apprehension at the sight of the Demon army, but kept a serious head.
"I am Groot."
Rocket patted him on the shoulder.
"We're together on this one, bro!"
Then Groot patted him on the shoulder, nodding.
"We are Groot."*
"That's this guy's army?" Star-Lord asked in amazement. "They are… ghosts?"
"They're creepy!" Ant-Man stammered, pulling the helmet off his suit.
"This is the fight of our life," Professor Hulk said.
"This will be the last time for me" Clint said with a determined nod as he readied his bow and arrows.
Alex noticed that J'onn was wearing a very different Martian outfit. It was darker with big red lines.
"This is new?" Alex asked her friend.
"New world, new look," replied the Martian focused on the Shadow Demons.
"Cut the chatter, they're here." Sara declared.
A swarm of Shadow Demons stood before them, floating in the air a few feet above the ground. All the heroes gathered advanced in a straight line towards the enemy army.
Then the Demons rushed forward to attack them. Finally, the heroes ran into the fight. All fought the Demons. Wolverine used his claws to fend off several Demons. Cyclops used his power to project red eye rays on Demons. Storm used lightning to strike down the Demons in the sky. Thor threw his hammer like a spear at the demons, annihilating them, and used Stormbreaker to slay those on the ground. Clint shot several arrows at the Demons. Natasha, Bucky, Wild Dog, Spartan and Alex used their guns to defend themselves. The two Kryptonian cousins flew through the air, along with War Machine and the Falcon, and slaughtered any Demons they encountered. Spider-Man used his webs to make all the Demons disappear. Star-Lord used his jet-pack to take flight and shot the Demons with his blasters. Groot made his limbs widen into branches of trees that pierced the Shadow Demons. Rocket was shooting the Demons like crazy with his blaster, roaring in rage. Ant-Man and the Wasp confronted the Shadow Demons, unsettling them with their size changes.
Then suddenly, all the Shadow Demons erased in smoke, much to everyone's surprise.
"What?" Rocket wondered, puzzled.
"What the hell?" J'onn added.
"Seriously?" Wolverine exclaimed stunned with his claws sticking out.
"Was that it?" Flash wondered.
"Uh… Guys, that was too easy!" Ant-Man asked in a small, fearful voice.
The Shadow Demons that had just disintegrated into smoke began to form a dark mass, spinning in all directions.
"It's not over yet!" Sara said, her eyes fixed on the phenomenon.
"This is just the beginning!" Black Panther added.
Finally, the form of the Anti-Monitor appeared in front of all the assembled heroes, much to everyone's shock.
"Whoa!" Wolverine exclaimed, amazed.
"That's him?" Star-Lord wondered.
Rocket, who had already seen the cosmic being in his true form, charged his gun straight at him, gritting his teeth.
"The Anti-Monitor!" Strange declared, brandishing his fists, revealing golden orbs.
As all prepared to attack him, the Anti-Monitor spoke in a loud voice:
"Paragons, the universal safeguard meant to thwart me. It is time to meet your end!"
At Star Labs, Ryan, Hank Pym, Ray and Nash Wells were working at full speed to design the anti-matter device. All were agitated.
"We'll need a reinforced core to contain the reaction." Ryan said.
"Titanium?" Ray suggested, immersed in his plans.
"No, that's too heavy." Nash retorted.
"I agree," approved Hank Pym. "We also need to make sure that we don't shrink at the same time as the Anti-Monitor and disappear with him forever. I know what I'm doing."
"With all due respect, Dr. Pym, I made my Atom' suit myself," Ray chided him gently. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
"Right. So, Raymond, hurry up and build this thing that will send this monster to another microscopic universe!" Hank said impatiently. "I should have asked Hope to bring her mother!"
"Steady, gentlemen," Nash said, brandishing a black bottle. "What we need is depleted promethium."
"Star Labs," Dinah warned them from Arrow's bunker. "I've got shadows advancing on your position."
"On it," Killer Frost told her.
She, Mick Rory, and the Fantastic Four's Thing watched the halls of Star Labs.
"It's been a while, Frosty. You look good." Mick said to Frost.
"Thanks. I read your book, Rebecca." she replied.
"Which one?" Mick retorted with amusement. "I'm very prolific!"
"Are you a writer?" asked the Thing.
"What are you? Alien?" Mick wondered with wide eyes at the imposing Fantastic Four's creature.
"No, I come from Earth like you! I'm Ben Grimm!"
"We mustn't come to the same Earth, buddy!"
Before Ben could answer him, a Shadow Demon appeared out of nowhere in the hallway and floated straight towards them to attack them.
The Thing brandishes its massive fists.
"It's clobbering time!"
"Boys, do you wanna take this guy, or should I?" Frost asked.
"Ladies first," Mick replied, brandishing his gun.
"Age before beauty." said the cold Meta woman.
Then a burst of lightning burst out of nowhere and made the Demon disappear. The three of them turned to see Black Lightning standing next to them, smiling.
"Who the hell are you?" Mick growled in surprise.
"Static Shock?" the Thing questioned in confusion.
"No, I'm Black Lightning," answered the new hero still with a smile. "Guy who just saved your ass."
"We had that covered." Killer Frost assured him.
"Sure you did!" Black Lightning replied unconvinced.
Then they heard the arrival of other Shadow Demons.
"Guys, we've company!" Ben clarified, brandishing his fists.
"I stay ready." said the hero of Freeland, still kindly.
The Anti-Monitor stood in front of the heroes, with his imposing figure, while continuing his monologue as he walked, shaking the ground with his steps:
"I am destiny incarnate, inexorable and inescapable! You are nothing! Insects fated to be crushed beneath my heel without a moment's thought! Fighting is useless! Surrender!"
In Arrow's bunker, Charles Xavier attempted to reach the Anti-Monitor by telepathy. But the voice of the cosmic being echoed in his head.
"Give up, Charles Xavier! You cannot defeat me! I'm a being far above what your weak mind can do, insect!"
After some effort, he finally collapsed, moaning in pain in his wheelchair. Dinah came over to him, worried.
"Hey, you alright?"
Charles moaned in pain before answering:
"The Anti-Monitor...… I can not reach his mind… He's so more powerful than me... I cannot help them… I can't… They are alone…"
"They'll be fine," Dinah assured him confidently.
On the battlefield, the heroes stared at their foe with murderous looks without saying a word. Then Sara began to speak in a loud voice:
"Not today. Not ever. Oliver died so that we could continue to fight. He sacrificed everything for this new world, and we will not fail him. We will not fail this world. FOR OLIVER!"
"For Oliver!" Supergirl whispered with determination.
"For Oliver!" Flash said with the same gaze on the enemy.
"For Oliver," Spartan said.
"For Oliver," Rocket added, brandishing his blaster.
"For Oliver," Spider-Man yelled, his voice obscured by his mask.
"For Oliver," Thor roared angrily.
"For Oliver," Clint added threateningly.
Then all the heroes screamed at the same time:
"FOR OLIVER!"
"I AM GROOT!"Groot yelled fiercely.
Immediately, all attacked at the same time. Batwoman sent her Batarang, which the Anti-Monitor managed to push back with a force field. Thor roared and hurled Mjolnir and Stormbreaker along with lightning bolts, but only slammed into the cosmic being's force field. Wolverine rushed forward and attempted to pierce the invisible barrier surrounding the Anti-Monitor with his claws. Drax used his blades on the force field, hoping to reach the cosmic being. The same goes for Black Panther who tried to break through the Anti-Monitor's force barrier with his costume. Clint didn't stop shooting arrows at him, which only bounced at him. Strange used his powers on the Anti-Monitor, attempting to destroy his force field. Jean Gray used her telepathy, while Storm used her lightning to attempt to strike down the Anti-Monitor. The Beast attacked with Wolverine, Drax, and Black Panther, but none succeeded in destroying the force field.
Then came Alex, Spartan, Black Widow, War Machine, the Falcon, Wild Dog who shot him with their weapons. Dreamer used her powers over the cosmic being. Above them, Supergirl and Superman also attacked from the air with their heat visions. Flash ran around him at super speed, but even he couldn't break the energy barrier that surrounded the Anti-Monitor.
The latter knew perfectly well how to repel their attacks. Then he saw Sara who gave him a hostile look. With a growl of rage, he slammed his fist to the ground, hitting him, creating an earthquake that knocked back any heroes that attacked him.
They were all thrown into the air and fell to the ground. Ant-Man was thrown into the air, before shrinking, then the Wasp, who had shrunk, managed to retrieve him.
"Scott, you okay?"
As all tried to rise to fight again, the Anti-Monitor gave them a sinister grin.
"Your poor efforts are useless, heroes! I am a being far beyond your knowledge! You thought Oliver Queen died trying to destroy me, but you were wrong! Because he failed! Just like you, Paragons! You thought you would save your world by creating this new universe! And where did that bring you? To me! You only managed to win yourself a short respite! As I told you, I am destiny! I will wipe you out like insects! And then I will destroy this new world until there is nothing left!"
"It is not up to you to decide our lives!" Black Panther roared, standing up. "We may be insects to you, but we will never stop fighting you! We will fight you to the end!"
"We're gonna blow your head off, you intergalactic dinosaur!" roared Star-Lord angrily.
"This universe doesn't belong to you!" Strange added furiously.
Thor stood right in front of him, brandishing his hammer and ax.
"Superman! Supergirl! As with the Quantum Tower!"
Immediately, Superman shot his heat vision at Thor's ax, while Supergirl shot her heat vision at Mjolnir. Thor drew lightning from the sky, knocked Stormbreaker and Mjolnir together, and, with the heat visions of the two Super Cousins, produced a powerful blast of electricity which he aimed at the Anti-Monitor. But the latter used his protective field to protect himself, with a smirk on his face. He slammed his fist to the ground, creating a shock wave that propelled Thor, Supergirl and Superman away from him.
Groot let out a primitive howl and stabbed his hands into the ground to wrap the Anti-Monitor in root cables, which he easily shattered. And he projected a beam of energy that destroyed all of Groot's limbs, and sent him projecting far away.
"Groot!" Rocket yelled, horrified.
And he cast a fierce animal look at the cosmic being.
"You won't kill my family anymore! I'm gonna tear you to pieces, you son of a bitch!"
And he rushed at him, howling like a rabid animal and firing lasers with his blaster. But the Anti-Monitor dodged the shots. The raccoon leapt into the air and got ready to claw at his enemy's face, but the latter only pushed him away with his arm, sending the little animal away from the heroes. Rocket fell to the ground, unconscious.
Alex, Natasha, War Machine, Bucky, Wild Dog and Spartan shot him with their weapons. But none of them succeeded in causing him any harm. The Anti-Monitor only smirked and created a shock wave that sent them far away.
"Insects!" he growled with a sadistic smile.
Wolverine rushed towards him with his outstretched claws, howling in rage. As he was about to reach his foe, the Anti-Monitor slammed his fist into the adamantium mutant's chest and sent him throwing him several yards away.
Black Panther, whose armor was bulging with kinetic energy, leapt into the air like a real panther, but the Anti-Monitor easily grabbed him by the neck, and pushed him back a few feet away from him.
Doctor Strange came upon him brandishing a golden sword he had summoned and tried to reach the Anti-Monitor, but the latter managed to dodge his movements. He walked over to Doctor Strange and kicked him, but Strange's shield absorbed the damage – the cloak lifted him off the ground.
The still standing X-Men tried to subdue him with their gifts, but the Anti-Monitor only pushed them away like flies with his powers.
Spider-Man came upon him, leaping with his webs, and threw a tuft of spider web to reach the face of the cosmic being. But the powerful opponent protected himself with a force field. He grabbed Spider-Man by the neck and eyed him with a smirk. The young Avenger struggled, screaming, while his enemy eyed him with a sneer:
"Stupid little spider! You might be a Paragon, but you can't defeat me! You are helpless and tiny! I have a power that is beyond you, Peter Parker! Oliver Queen and Tony Stark should have prepared you for your future death instead of encouraging you to be a hero! Because you're gonna die like everyone else in this universe!"
Thor rushed at the Anti-Monitor with his two weapons. He brought Stormbreaker down on him, causing him to lose his grip on Spider-Man. Thor struck again with Mjölnir, but this time the Anti-Monitor blocked the hammer with his bare hand, and replied with a direct which tore Mjolnir away from his owner. Then he grabbed Thor by the neck, lifted him off the ground, and threw him to the ground. Thor overloaded himself with power, summoning lightning bolts that raced through his body. The overload of power was immense, Thor's eyes crackled and he let out a primitive howl as he stood up at full speed. He charged his fist at his enemy, but the latter managed to grab his hand, and twisted it. The Asgardian used his other fist to strike the Anti-Monitor, but his enemy also managed to grab it. Thor groaned in pain, as the Anti-Monitor twisted both of his hands with his evil smirk.
"I told you, Asgardian! You are just a fallen God! I am much more powerful than you!"
And using his foot, he punched Thor in the chest and pushed him away. Even Professor Hulk couldn't reach the cosmic being. No scratches. He was repulsed like all those who had tried to defeat him. Supergirl picked up Mjolnir from the ground. The Falcon arrived roaring with rage.
"Sam! The shield!" Supergirl said, throwing Thor's hammer in the air.
Immediately, Sam Wilson threw Captain America's shield. The two weapons crossed, creating a powerful shock wave that could destabilize anyone. But alas, it had no effect on the Anti-Monitor much to Supergirl's horror.
"May Rao help us!"
Dreamer waved her energy lasso and tried to neutralize the cosmic being, but managed to push her back, without the slightest effort.
Star-Lord with his helmet on his head, howled in incoherent rage, fired his two blasters and flew straight at him. But the Anti-Monitor dodged his attacks and created a shock wave that pushed him back. Nebula wanted to take a chance to take him by surprise. She gritted her teeth and rushed at him with a war cry and anger, then she wanted to bring her blade down on her opponent's head, but the Anti-Monitor dodged her gesture and grabbed her hand and threw her down like a bundle on the ground.
"How dare you? When are you gonna figure it out? I cannot be defeated! None of you can kill me! Your poor efforts are weak! I have just won! I destroyed the Multiverse, I will destroy this new universe! You are just backing away from your end! Soon, all of you, heroes, will cease to exist!"
Then it was Sara, Supergirl and Thor who stared at him with murderous looks. They were joined by Ant-Man and the Wasp.
"You don't get it!" roared the Asgardian furiously. "We'll never stop fighting!"
"Never!" Supergirl added with a hostile look.
"Never!" Sara repeated with the same look.
The Anti-Monitor continued to gloat, then his body began to grow. In seconds, it was the size of a Star City' skyscraper. All the heroes on the ground felt tiny, like insects facing the giant juggernaut. They all had wide eyes in amazement.
His voice roared like thunder:
"THE AGE OF HEROES ENDS NOW!"
"My God!" Thor whispered, shocked and dumbfounded.
"I am Groot!" Groot whispered fearfully, shocked pinned to the ground with two arms missing.
From Arrow's bunker, Dinah and Professor Xavier had their eyes fixed on the battle in the wasteland. Both were stunned and horrified to see the gigantic size of the Anti-Monitor.
"Oh my God!" Charles exclaimed in horror.
He was distraught that there was nothing he could do to help his X-Men and the heroes in the face of the divine powers of the cosmic being.
"Guys, we're gonna need a bigger bomb!" Spartan said, his eyes fixed on the giant towering above them in horror.
"Holy shit!" Spider-Man yelled in horror. "Guys, what do we do?"
"I don't think we can do anything to stop him!" Strange added terrified at the sight of the giant.
After a shock of amazement, Supergirl spoke to anyone who might be able to fly.
"Sky team, with me!"
Immediately she flew into the air. She was joined by Thor and her cousin. J'onn J'onzz returned to his Martian form and flew away. Then it was Star-Lord, War Machine, the Falcon and Storm who flew away and attacked the giant Anti-Monitor.
The gigantic cosmic being tried to catch the heroes flying around him, but with their small sizes, they managed to dodge his movements. Supergirl and Superman confronted him with their heat visions on his face. Thor used his hammer and ax combined with his lightning bolts to strike down the Anti-Monitor's giant face.
As the flying heroes did all they could to fight the Anti-Monitor, Flash joined Sara in super-speed, who asked her allies:
"Ray, how's that shrink bomb coming?"
At Star Labs, Ray, Ryan, and Hank attempted to build their machine, but they were still a long way off.
"Well, we could really use some fast hands!" Ray said.
"We're not done yet!" Hank lamented fiercely.
"Could we ever!" Nash grumbled.
"Barry?" Sara said to the speedster.
Immediately, Flash disappeared in super-speed to reach Star Labs in Central City.
Supergirl flew around the Anti-Monitor who attempted to hit her with jets of flame. The Girl of Steel dodged them, but didn't see the giant's gigantic fist.
"Supergirl, look out!" the Martian Manhunter yelled, pushing her aside, taking the giant's fist head-on.
"J'onn!" Supergirl exclaimed in horror as she saw her Martian friend fall into the void.
From the ground, Ant-Man adjusted his suit to enlarge.
"Ants are small, but are very smart and able to think bigger!"
Then immediately Ant-Man became Giant-Man within seconds and grew to the same gigantic size of the Anti-Monitor who looked at him with little interest.
Ant-Man let out a cry of joy upon seeing his gargantuan new size and stared at the cosmic being, bellowing like thunder:
"COME ON, MAN! IF YOU WANT TO DESTROY THIS NEW EARTH, YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH ME!"
But the Anti-Monitor was hardly impressed and just smiled sadistically.
"LITTLE FOOL! YOU CAN'T STOP MY POWER!"
The cosmic being raised his fist to strike Giant-Man, but the latter ducked his fist as he ducked, and slammed his fist into the Anti-Monitor's jaw, barely unsettling him. And the two giants fought in a hand-to-hand combat.
Taking advantage of his being distracted by a giant Scott Lang, Supergirl, Superman and Thor flew behind the titanic cosmic being to use their powers on him.
At Star Labs, Black Lightning, The Thing, Heatwave, and Killer Frost battled the Shadow Demons.
Mick managed to strike a Demon with his fist, then Black Lightning used his lightning bolts to disintegrate it.
The Thing hit a Demon with its super fist smashing it.
Mick looked at the new hero with interest.
"Where are you from, Sparkles?"
"Don't call me Sparkles," Black Lightning replied abruptly. "I'm from Freeland. Martian came, got in my head, told me y'all were caught up. It's been a weird day."
"Tell me about it, buddy!" Ben Grimm said with a compassionate look.
Then a new Shadow Demon swooped down on them, but Killer Frost annihilated him with his ice cream.
"That's an understatement!" she declared.
Then they saw the flash of speedster in front of them.
The hero of Central City arrived at the lab, joining Ray, Ryan, Hank Pym, and Nash Wells.
"All right, what are we making?" he asked hurriedly, arriving in front of the scientists.
Hank showed him the coins they had collected.
"That's what we are making," he replied, sighing helplessly. "Now, this is what we have to build. And, these pieces are all very volatile."
Using his super-speed, Flash assembled the metal parts and made them into a small metal ball.
"How's this look?" he asked, pointing to the weapon.
"That's very good, Flash! Well done!" Hank congratulated him ecstatically.
Even the other scientists were impressed.
"Whoa!" Ryan said, shocked.
"Love when he does that," said Ray cheerfully.
"That's perfect, actually." Nash replied, nodding. "Okay, so now all we have to do is get it into direct contact with the Anti-Monitor once we've activated it."
"Okay, and to activate it I just press this button?" Flash asked, pointing his finger to one side of the metal ball.
"DON'T!"cried the four scientists, panicked.
"All right, okay, relax, relax!" exclaimed the speedster calmly. (Turning to Atom.) "All right, Ray, you're coming with me!"
"Oh, cool," answered the always jovial scientist.
Flash took off at super speed, taking Ray with him.
During the battle in Star City, Scott Lang aka Giant-Man fought the Anti-Monitor with his fists. Unfortunately, the giant Avenger had no advantage over his opponent. Whatever blows he gave her, the Anti-Monitor managed to dodge them all. With a sadistic smile, he muttered, chuckling:
"YOU ARE TOO WEAK FOR ME!"
And he slammed his fist right into Giant-Man's chest. The latter gave a heavy moan that resounded like thunder.
"Scott!" yelled the distraught Wasp. "You have to shrink fast! You're not gonna make it!"
Then the Anti-Monitor began to punch Giant-Man squarely in the face. He stammered, moaning in pain:
"SORRY GUYS, HE'S TOO STRONG FOR ME! I'M JUST GONNA GO TO SLEEP NOW FOR FIVE MINUTES! I JUST NEED FIVE MINUTES!"
And he collapsed, casting a gigantic shadow over the heroes.
"If he falls, he'll crush us!" Sara yelled, running for cover.
"Scott!" cried Supergirl.
She flew off to try to catch up with Scott's giant body. She managed to grab Giant-Man behind his back. But despite her super strength, she was just a tiny dot. Immediately, Superman and Thor joined her to lean against Giant-Man's back.
The Wasp flew until it reached the giant settings of Ant-Man's suit, and managed to shrink him. Even shrink him too much. Ant-Man vanished, shrinking in the air.
"Scott, where are you? Does anyone see him?" Hope yelled in panic. "He must have become tiny!"
Supergirl used her super vision and saw Ant-Man's miniature body falling into the void. Immediately, she dashed in flight and grabbed the tiny body of the Avenger in the palm of her hand.
"Gotcha!" she said, holding a tiny Scott, no taller than an ant in her hand.
The Wasp joined her.
"Thanks Supergirl! I got him!"
The Girl of Steel gently placed Ant-Man's tiny body in the palm of Hope's hand, and flew off to fight the Anti-Monitor.
The latter burst out laughing which echoed like a thunderous roar. He lifted his foot and went to crush the ground, making the ground shake. Immediately, the heroes ran to escape him.
"Fall back! Fall back, now!" Black Panther yelled as they ran to take refuge away from the gigantic size of their enemy.
Cyclops used his power of optical bursts on the titanic feet but had no effect. He ends up running for his life as well.
"Run! Run!"
As everyone ran to the safety of the Anti-Monitor who tried to step on them, Groot saw in horror his friend Rocket who had been unconscious on the ground since he had been struck by the cosmic being.
Howling in terror, the sapling joined the raccoon. He quickly ran up to him. But his arms hadn't grown back yet, he couldn't carry Rocket.
"I am Groot! I am Groot!" he pleaded with the raccoon, trying to wake him up.
But Rocket was completely out knocked. He remained unconscious.
In horror, he saw the giant Anti-Monitor move towards them. Soon he was going to crush them. Groot did everything to scream, to move the inert body of his friend. But Rocket didn't wake up, much to his dismay.
Helplessly, he could only watch in horror, the giant foot of the cosmic being approaching them and which was going to flatten them both. At that moment, Professor Hulk leaped up and came over to intercept the Anti-Monitor's gigantic foot, using Hulk's force to slow him down.
"Guys, get out of there!" he yelled, struggling with all his super strength against the giant foot.
But Groot still couldn't move Rocket without his two arms that weren't pushing back fast enough.
Then Sara rushed over and grabbed Rocket, carrying him in her arms.
"Come on, Tree! Run!" she yelled, rushing away.
Relieved, Groot ran to join the Paragon of Destiny. The Anti-Monitor managed to throw Professor Hulk like a toy and crush his foot, creating an earthquake.
Rocket regained consciousness in Sara's arms, who ran away from the giant towering over them and trying to crush them.
"What's going on?" murmured he, bewildered, not understanding how he could have found himself in the arms of a woman.
"You'll thank me later, Furball! We must take cover!" Sara yelled, running over and over, with Rocket in her arms.
Clint ran as far as he could from the Anti-Monitor's gigantic feet that threatened to crush them.
"And I said earlier, I would have preferred Godzilla than a giant stuffed animal! I should have kept my mouth shut! Because I miss Beebo!"
Spider-Man was leaping from web to web around the giant cosmic being, hoping to slow him down or stick him in a giant spider's web. But the Anti-Monitor grabbed him like a toy and threw him to the ground. The young Avenger lands heavily on the ground. Alex ran to him. She took off his mask to find that Peter was unconscious.
"Peter! Peter!"
The Anti-Monitor's giant steps shook the ground. With horror, she saw the gigantic titan approaching them. Alex tried to lift Peter, but she couldn't.
"Please, somebody help me!"
Dreamer ran up and came to help Supergirl's sister support Spider-Man. The two women carried young Peter away from the gigantic footsteps that threatened to crush them.
Drax and Mantis were running, screaming in fear.
Hope took refuge in a corner far from the Anti-Monitor. She made Scott enlarge to his normal size. His companion was still unconscious. Worried, she tried to wake him up.
"Scott! Please wake up! Wake up, come on!"
In the sky, Supergirl, Superman and Thor didn't stop attacking the Anti-Monitor using their powers. But despite their powers and even those of Mjolnir and Stormbreaker, they failed to destroy the evil giant.
As Superman attacked with his heat vision, the Anti-Monitor pushed him back with his hand, and with his other hand, grabbed the Man of Steel trapping him inside the palm of his hand.
"No!" Supergirl yelled, horrified.
"Kal-El!" cried Thor mortified.
At Arrow's bunker, Dinah informed the heroes of what she was seeing in the control monitors.
"Shadows are on the move again. Pérez Landing."
On the battlefield, the Shadow Demons appeared out of nowhere, preventing the heroes from escaping.
"Yeah, we know. We're here!" said Sara, who still wore Rocket.
"That's all we needed!" Star-Lord muttered.
"It changes us from the usual alien attacks," Natasha replied, pulling out her weapons.
Sara put Rocket gently in a corner, and went to fight the monsters with her sticks. Alex and Dreamer had to lay unconscious Peter on the ground, and fought the Demons with their weapons. Batwoman attacked them with her Batarangs, while Black Panther pushed them back with the strengths of her suit. Strange used his powers to destroy evil abominations.
Hope, still with Scott unconscious on the ground, saw the Shadow Demons come swooping down on her. With a resolute look, she stood up, closed her Wasp helmet and set off to fight the Demons to protect Scott.
Alex, Natasha, Bucky, Spartan and Wild Dog shot them with their guns. While Clint joined them shooting arrows at the Demons. Then it was the Guardians of the Galaxy who came to protect Rocket and Groot from the dark Demons. Nebula fought them fiercely with his sword, while Star-Lord killed them with his blasters.
Then Flash appeared out of nowhere at super speed and wiped out all the Demons, saving his friends.
"Barry?" Sara exclaimed.
"Bomb's ready," Flash said. "Ray's running it to the sky team."
"We're running out of time here, Ray." Sara warned him via communication. "Hurry!"
"Hurrying!" Atom replied as he flew towards the battlefield in Star City.
All the heroes, Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men gathered around to fight the Shadow Demons.
The Anti-Monitor held Superman inside his giant hand. He clenched his fist, wanting to crush the Kryptonian.
Thor rushed through the air, attacking the Anti-Monitor in the face with his lightning bolts. But the giant cosmic being swept away the Thunder God with a flick of his fingers, pushing him away like an insect.
While falling, Thor lost his hammer and ax. Supergirl flew and grabbed Mjolnir, and could only watch her cousin being crushed by the titanic fist of the Anti-Monitor.
Sighing in frustration, Supergirl took a deep breath. It was time to end this fight. She had to be put to an end. Even if she had to die. She had to deliver the final blow. She rushed through the air, brandishing Mjolnir, causing lightning to appear from the cloudy sky. She made her eyes glow red, wanting to combine her heat vision with the power of Thor's hammer. She flew straight into the Anti-Monitor, ready to deliver the final blow.
Then a voice stopped her in her flying race:
"Hope I'm not too late!"
To her amazement, she saw Atom in the air very close to her.
"Ray?"
"Hang on, Superman!" Atom said, using his shrinking beam.
He shrunk the Kryptonian that vanished from the Anti-Monitor's fist. The latter let out a howl of rage that echoed like a thunderclap.
Then Atom loaded the Star Labs bomb. He passed it to the Girl of Steel.
"Throw it like a girl!"
The Kryptonian grabbed the bomb and started aiming at the Anti-Monitor.
"Always!" she said, raising her fist in the air.
And like a baseball player, she threw the bomb right into the Anti-Monitor's chest, which exploded and beamed energy around the giant, shrinking it.
"NO! NOOOOOO!"
Thor, who had just found himself on the ground, watched as his enemy reduced himself. The Anti-Monitor howled in rage, then continued to shrink continuously. And he disappeared into a microscopic universe forever.
Suddenly, all of the Shadow Demons attacking the heroes, Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men, went up in smoke. The Wasp fiercely fought Demons, until they vanished into dust before her, much to her surprise.
Before she knew what was going on, she heard a voice calling her:
"Hope?"
She raised her helmet and saw, to her relief, Scott who had just opened his eyes, half conscious.
"Scott, you okay?"
"What's happening?" Scott asked, awakening painfully.
"We won! We won!" Hope replied, smiling with joy.
"Oh, did I miss the party?" Ant-Man replied with a pout.
"No, you didn't miss anything!" Hope assured him, laughing with joy.
All the other heroes looked at each other, glad it was all over. Black Panther straightened his helmet, revealing T'Challa's cheerful face. Peter awoke and was able to share in the joy of having won the battle. Alex and Dreamer helped him up, congratulating him on his courage.
Groot smiled at Rocket, who yelled ecstatically at him:
"Oh, yeah!"
And he laughs with happiness, with relief. Groot felt his arms repulsed. With joy, he was going to embrace his companion.
"We won, Groot," Rocket told him cheerfully.
"We did it? Did we just win?" Star-Lord said, stunned.
In the air, Ray howled in joy as he raised his arms:
"We did it! We did it!"
"Wait, but where's Kal?" Supergirl worried, looking around.
"I'm right here," said a tiny voice that could reach her Kryptonian ears.
With great shock, she saw her miniature cousin struggling to stay in the air.
"Sorry about that, Superman! Here you go!" Ray said as he charged his beam onto the tiny Man of Steel.
And he made him enlarged to his normal size.
Then the two Kryptonians reached the ground, to find Thor who was ecstatic.
"That's it? Is it really over?" he asked her beaming with joy.
As an answer, Supergirl came to hug her friend.
"We finally stopped the Crisis! It's over, Thor!"
With a smile on her face, she returned her hammer to him.
"It's your hammer! It belongs only to you!" she said to him kindly.
"Thank you, Supergirl," Thor replied with a smile.
At Arrow's bunker, Dinah and Charles were relieved at the heroes' victory. They shook hands, cheerful that it was all over.
"They did it!" Dinah exclaimed, with a smile on her face.
"Yes, they did it!" added Charles, laughing with joy.
At Star Labs, Hank came to ask about his daughter.
"Hope? Hope, do you copy me?"
"Copy that, Dad,"answered the happy voice of his daughter. "I'm fine! We are fine! We won! The Anti-Monitor has shrunk and gone to join a microscopic universe forever!"
Mad with happiness, he began to scream with joy:
"They did it!"
Nash, Ryan, Mick, Killer Frost, The Thing, and Black Lightning all screamed with joy as they raised their arms.
After congratulating everyone who had fought bravely on the battlefield, Sara began to gaze up at the sky with a sad smile.
"Thank you, Ollie!"
The battle was over. The Anti-Monitor was gone. The Crisis was over.
Thanks for reading and reviewing.
* A reference to the movie Guardians of the Galaxy.
I enjoyed writing this chapter. I added my own version by adding more fights and dialogues. I hope you liked it!
We're getting closer to the end!