Danger Across Dimensions: A Marvel Ultraman Story (Part 2)

by Japan Boy

Four of four salutes to Stan 'The Man' Lee, & part 2 of a 2-part story: the Ultra warriors team up with the Marvel superheroes to prevent an invasion of giant monsters & aliens, & the ones behind it are revealed as both hero groups get help from some very unexpected sources. In honor of what would've been Stan Lee's 100th birthday on December 28, 2022. Kindly review if read.

Reader's note:

(Stay tuned after the story for a tribute to Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee in my own words)

DANGER ACROSS DIMENSIONS:

A MARVEL / ULTRAMAN STORY (PART 2)

2021 by Anthony Ogozalek

Previously:

In another universe, the Ultra warriors – Ultraman, Zoffy, Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Taro, Ultraman Leo, Astra, Ultraman 80 & Yullian – were all locked in battle with the malevolent half-cyborg creature Dimenshigon, who was in possession of the six Dimension Stones, powerful artifacts that can enable him to travel from one universe to another. With extra help from Father & Mother of Ultra, along with Ultraman King, the Ultra warriors defeated Dimenshigon & crushing four of the six stones. Believing the other two were destroyed when Dimenshigon detonated, the Ultra warriors celebrated their victory.

Unbeknownst to them all, the last two stones survived the explosion, & thus were sent into another universe as it was discovered years later by a sinister trio on another Earth – one that had protectors of its own. Heroes such as the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, & many others suddenly found themselves dealing with giant monsters from another universe that are somehow sneaking into theirs & invading their Earth. During these battles, several of them were abruptly abducted by an unknown force.

Ben Grimm (The Thing) of the Fantastic Four, Rogue of the X-Men, the Hulk, the Scarlet Witch of the Avengers, Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Stephen Strange, Thor of Asgard & Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) became the ones who were abducted after each one defeated a giant creature.

Arriving on the planet Nebula M78, it was there they were met by the giant Ultra warriors who explained they are the cause for their abductions. A brief fight broke out, but Stephen Strange defused the situation in order to allow the Ultra warriors to explain their actions. The Father & Mother of Ultra, along with Ultraman King, gave the heroes a quick rundown on why their Earth was being invaded by giant monsters, informing them all that two of the Dimension Stones they thought were destroyed when Dimenshigon was had been rediscovered in their Earth by persons unknown. They added that the more of the stones' power they use, the stronger they become, enabling them to bring over tons of giant creatures – more than even all of Earth's heroes combined could handle.

With this horrific knowledge collected, the seven heroes needed to get back to the Earth in their own universe.

There was a problem: having spent their energies on transporting them to their universe, both Father & Mother of Ultra and Ultraman King needed time to replenish their energies over a 24-hour period before they're able to open up another portal & send them back home. With time to kill, seven of the Ultra warriors took their new friends over to Tokyo, Japan at the Earth they protect to enjoy themselves until a trio of monsters – Gomora, Red King & Black King – emerged to cause havoc. After a vicious fight, five of the superheroes & three of the Ultra warriors fell in battle as Ultraman King created a portal to take them back home, even as Nebula M78 has been under attack itself.

Only Ben Grimm & Rogue managed to escape, along with Ultraseven, Ultraman Leo, Ultraman 80 & Yullian.

The other fallen heroes/Ultra warriors were then taken by vile Aliens Metron & Godola.

Arriving at the Baxter Building, Ben & Rogue were met not only by the other Fantastic Four members, but also Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Henry 'Hank' McCoy & Charles Xavier. The Ultra warriors were in their human forms of Dan Moroboshi, Gen Otori, Takeshi Yamato & Ryoko Hoshi upon arrival with Ben & Rogue. They've explained that while it was their people who abducted the seven heroes from their planet/universe, Ben & Rogue added quickly that they've had a perfectly good reason for what they did, thus defusing the situation before it turned ugly.

A quick scan of the Ultra warriors' minds from Xavier confirmed Ben & Rogue's claims.

With Ben suggesting to get others on the wire to spread the situation, Reed & company get started.

In a SHIELD Helicarrier, Natasha Romanova (Black Widow) & James Buchanan Barnes (the Winter Soldier) are held & interrogated by agents Maria Hill, Phil Coulson & Director Nicholas J. Fury after their capture of two mafia bosses and their unexpected run-in with the Kemur alien in Santa Monica, California. During which, the quintet were unexpectedly encountered by a mysterious shadow that seemed alive & with a will of its own. It claimed it can explain for the sudden arrival of giant monsters that began infesting their planet.

Having being given the chance by the SHIELD Director, the shadow had begun talking.

In Latveria, Doctor Doom – whose own land was attacked – makes preparations to pay an 'old colleague' a visit.

At another location, the three primary antagonists – the ones who found the two surviving Dimension Stones – prepare for the endgame.

CHAPTER I

The Baxter Building, New York City:

It only took a good 5 minutes to get other heroes and/or their home bases on the line once Ben Grimm made a suggestion to get others in the loop of current events. Avengers Tower, Utopia & Wakanda were all among the areas as groups of heroes, mutants & Wakandans were all watching monitors & getting in touch with Reed & company at the Baxter Building.

Only SHIELD itself was not in attendance, as one of the agents had explained that Director Nick Fury was still in a conversation with both Natasha Romanova & James Buchanan Barnes after their incident in Santa Monica. He also adds that Fury was not to be interrupted by anyone, be it heroes of any kind or even the President of the United States of America himself.

Captain America understood, but asked that Nick Fury get in touch with the Baxter Building or Avengers Tower immediately once he was finished. It was an arrangement the agent agreed on.

With most everybody in attendance, the floor went to the four Ultra warriors in their human forms to give them all the details of the dilemma, with Dan Moroboshi starting things off: he began by quickly explaining the origin of his race, followed by the reasons why seven of their fellow superheroes were suddenly abducted by their three superiors.

In the midst of Dan's explanation, Gen, Takeshi & Ryoko also put in their two cents, each one giving their details in full as Dan himself. Everybody soaked in the information that was being presented by the four alien warriors that are in disguise, never skipping a beat.

Their explanation ended when they arrived inside the Baxter Building, along with Ben Grimm & Rogue.

The conversation, however, was far from over.

"So, let me see if I got this straight", Shuri says on the monitor. "You four beings from this other universe are all giant aliens that defend the Earth in your dimension from other aliens & giant monsters…meaning, the same monsters we've all been fighting here?"

"And that these giant creatures were brought over via the last two remaining 'Dimension Stones' which were once thought to have been obliterated when you 'Ultra warriors' destroyed this 'Dimenshigon' creature?", Cyclops adds from Utopia.

"Yes, Shuri, Scott Summers. That about sums it up", Ryoko said.

"Was that the reason as to why you 'people' kidnapped seven of our own?!", Vision said with more force than he intended. "You simply could've just came to us & explained the situation instead of removing us from our Earth as if we were Chess pieces on a board! And now, they are probably in the clutches of these malevolent aliens you giants battle! Who knows what kind of tortures they're getting put through this very moment!"

"Mr. Vision, we understand how you & everyone else must feel about taking some of your friends without your consent, but you have to believe me when I say that time was short!", Gen Otori says in his defense & that of his fellow Ultra warriors.

"Gen is correct!", Ryoko says. "Let me ask you something: if any of us Ultra warriors did suddenly show up here on your Earth, would you have refrained yourselves from attacking us just as you did those monsters that did make it here to your Earth – without offering us the chance to explain our presence here first?"

Vision fell silent, as did the others on the monitors: with the way they went in to attack the giant monsters which did appear on their Earth, they no doubt would've given the Ultra warriors the same treatment, had they suddenlyshown their faces from out of the blue.

No explanations, no compromise, no nothing…just swoop in & put them down before the populace gets trampled.

It would've probably never occurred to them that they came on a good will mission.

As Ben Grimm stated, they're supposed to be better than that.

"You are correct, Miss Ryoko Hoshi", Vision says in a much gentler tone. "I guess I should offer my apologies for lashing out before."

"None are necessary", Ryoko says with a little smile. "You're worried about the welfare of your teammates, & it is an understandable trait. But rest assured: with the help of Dr. Reed Richards & his friends, we will be getting them back home to you, no matter what it takes."

Ryoko's words had an immediate boost in Vision's confidence, & he offered her a little smile of his own.

"My thanks, Miss Ryoko", Vision said. "Do whatever you can."

"And on that particular subject…how are we going to get the rest of our abducted friends back home?", replied Wolverine. "We can't even hone in on their home universe unless we locate that fish creature these folks call 'Muruchi'! Who knows where the hellit is now!"

"We've used our satellites to try & track this Muruchi creature, Wolverine, but so far, we've come up empty here in Wakanda!", Lunella Lafayette said as Shuri, Okoye & Ramonda all nodded. "He could be anywhere in the world!"

"Trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack?", Spider-Man puts in. "That's going to take too much time – time we don't have!"

"You're right on the money about that, Spider-Man: with our friends trapped in that other universe, we don't have the time to find this Muruchi beast", Captain America says before turning towards the four Japanese humans. "But fortunately, we might not have to, either. I believe we just found a quicker way to reach that other universe."

Dan, Gen, Takeshi & Ryoko look to each other, somewhat in confusion.

"You mean…us?", Takeshi asked, placing a hand on his chest.

It began to sink in with several others.

"Of course!", Hank replied excitedly, approaching the quartet. "The four of you are from that very same universe as Muruchi's from! We don't need to find that giant fish creature to hone in on your home dimension! Any one of you people should suffice quite nicely!"

"What do you mean by that, Dr. McCoy?", asked Dan.

"It's exactly what Dr. Richards, Mr. Stark, T'Challa and myself were discussing shortly before your…unexpected arrival, Dan Moroboshi: living things, including humanoids like us, are all surrounded by an aura that lasts throughout our lives, even if we're unaware of its existence! That also goes for you alien warriors in disguise! Therefore, our theory is, if we can somehow get a complete scan of your aura with Dr. Richards' specialized X-Ray machines…"

"Then you'll be able to get an exact fix on our home universe!", Takeshi says as Hank nodded.

"And once you do…", Gen Otori started to say.

"We'll be able to rescue both our people from whoever has them within their clutches, exactly!", Tony Stark had finished.

Their equation sounded logical to the rest as they heard it.

"It's certainly worth a try, gentlemen, & I definitely understand your theory", Hank Pym says. "But will it actually work? That's the big question."

"There's only one way to find out, Dr. Pym…and that's to try it", said Johnny Storm.

"Correct you are, Johnny", Reed says. "Let's commence with the operation: the sooner we get a lock on the Ultra Warriors' home dimension, the sooner we can bring everybody home."

"And let's pray that we're not too late, Stretch", Ben says as Reed nodded.

"Shuri, even if we no longer need to find Muruchi to hone in on his aura, I still want you to keep searching for him anyway: like the other creatures, he's not a resident of our Earth", T'Challa says.

"Count on it, brother", Shuri replied. "And if we do manage to locate him?"

"Just keep him within your sights, but do not engage."

"Understood", Shuri, Lunella & Okoye say in unison.

"We too will keep searching for Muruchi with our own satellites, T'Challa", Emma Frost says. "Perhaps Namor can also help us locate this thing: he knows every inch of the planet's waters like he does his own hand."

"It will be a huge help to us, Emma Frost", T'Challa says. "You have our deepest thanks."

"Our own satellites will still be on the lookout for this fish monster, Cap", Wasp said. "You'll be informed in an instant should we get any kind of nibble or bite on Muruchi…" Janet gave a slight smirk. "And do forgive the unfortunate choice of words."

Captain America gave her a smile of amusement.

"It's quite all right, Janet…you knew somebody had to say it", he said before becoming all business. "But just as T'Challa said, people: should anyone manage to spot Muruchi, keep a close watch on & follow himas much as you're able to. Do not engage with the creature…unless absolutely necessary! Understand?"

"Understood, Cap", Hawkeye replied.

"We hear you, Captain Rogers", Okoye said. "Thankfully, Muruchi hasn't been spotted anywhere since leaving Portland, Maine the other day. He's probably somewhere deep down in the waters, where detection is impossible from surveillance up above."

"He's bound to turn up sooner or later, Okoye", Rogue said. "Judging from what Takeshi & the others have told us, Muruchi will surface at some point when the critter gets hungry enough. Best ta keep close watch near the shorelines or any other popular fishing lanes and/or tourist attractions."

"We'll use one of our satellites to observe these areas, with the other scanning the oceans, Rogue", Cyclops says. "But with the huge amount of water thatwe have to cover, it won't be a simple task."

"Ah understand, Scott. Just do the best that ya can."

Scott Summers nodded, along with Emma Frost, Wolverine, Storm & even Magneto.

"In the meantime, let's get cracking with rescuing our trapped comrades", Tony Stark said, turning to the quartet of Japanese people. "If you folks from the Rising Sun will just follow us…"

Dan, Gen, Takeshi & Ryoko began to do exactly that, as they indeed allow Tony Stark to lead them to where they need to go. Mostly everyone else in the Baxter Building start clearing the room, but not before Charles Xavier & Captain America give final instructions.

"Let's keep our communication lines open, everyone", Cap says. "Give updates at every top of the hour. The first one to spot Muruchi or any other giant creature anywhere on the planet, call out."

"Scott, Emma…better get the students inside the emergency shelters", Xavier says. "Until this matter is resolved, Utopia is in lockdown: unless otherwise noted, no one & nothing is to come near the island, much less leave it. That goes for everyone."

"Understood, Professor", Scott & Emma said.

"Leave it to us, Charles", Magneto says. "No mutants here on Utopia will be harmed…not on our watch."

"Thank you, old friend. Excuse me…", Xavier says, walking off to join Reed & the others.

Soon, only Franklin & Valeria were left before they, too, exit the communications room & head for the kitchen.

In the back of their minds, they wish their father the best of luck.

The monitors in the room went dark.

Aboard the SHIELD Helicarrier, California Coast:

Once he was given his chance to speak, the living black shadow had agreed to spill what information he could to Natasha Romanova, James Buchanan Barnes, SHIELD agents Maria Hill & Phil Coulson & Director Nicholas J. Fury.

There was one condition: the black shadow wanted sustenance, as he hadn't eaten or drank anything for days on end ever since his arrival.

It was a condition Fury had agreed upon: ordering a dozen cheeseburgers from McDonald's & bottles of Poland Spring water. The quintet unwrapped the burgers & approached the shadow, who simply sucked in the burgers & water bottles with ease. As he ate, the black shadow relayed the information to those in the room, going over every detail.

Part of it was unbelievable to the group, beginning with his actual name.

Alien Pegassa.

The alien shadow kept unleashing a treasure trove of information about the Earth where he'd once paid a visit to, adding that it is also the home to endless giant monsters & otherworldly aliens that tried to invade it on more occasions than anyone could count. Alien Pegassa also brought up the giant Ultra warriors who constantly protect the Earth from his dimension, saving it more times than he or anyone can remember.

Romanova, Barnes, Hill, Coulson & Fury absorbed every piece of info Alien Pegassa relayed.

While it all still sounded like stuff from out of an old science-fiction movie, the proof of that alien creature which Black Widow & the Winter Soldier encountered in Santa Monica, followed by all the other reports of more big creatures assaulting the planet was all the proof they need to know that Alien Pegassa was telling the truth & 100% on the level.

Having given them the info they need, the quintet started to trust the shadowy alien from another dimension.

"So, from what you described to us, you come from a universe with an Earth that frequently gets invaded by these giant monsters & aliens, only to be thwarted by these equally-large 'Ultra warriors', who fight to protect the Earth, am I right?", asked agent Hill.

"That about sums it up, Agent Maria Hill", Alien Pegassa says. "Along with the alien Kemur that both Mr. Barnes & Miss Romanova fought & those other monsters that came to your universe & Earth, I came from that same dimension until I was suddenly & unexpectedly picked up by some powerful energy source & brought here."

"How long have you been here on our Earth, might I ask?", Barnes says.

"For about several weeks now."

His answer was stunning to everyone in the room, even to Nick Fury himself.

"You've been here for more than a month?", Natasha asked.

"That I have, Miss Romanova", Alien Pegassa said. "When I first landed here on this Earth, I knew by natural instinct that it wasn't the same Earth in which I visited last time. I began by disguising myself as a human to blend in with the populace, checking out articles on the news & social media networks, hoping I could find somebody to help me get back home to my universe."

"Is that how you knew about me, along with everyone in this room, not to mention how to find us here?", asked Nick Fury.

"That's correct, Director Fury: wherever I looked on the social media networks, I saw that there were humans with abilities beyond those of others who have helped save this Earth countless times, not unlike the Ultra warriors I've mentioned before. It's also where I discovered your organization SHIELD, learning that you were its director. After an agonizing several weeks of trying to locate you, I finally got a lead in Santa Monica, California & saw your floating fortress, hoping I'd find you inside. Seems my hunch paid off, needless to say."

Nick Fury Jr. looked very impressed by Alien Pegassa's tracking skills, as did the rest inside the room: even if it did take him weeks, he was able to locate & approach his desired targets without anyone noticing his presence until he was practically right on top of them. What equally impressed them all is that not many people have the ability to sneak up on them, & this little alien creature had done just that.

"Not bad, little alien", Phil Coulson says. "You certainly get points for ingenuity and skills. There's hardly anyone on this Earth who can sneak aboard a heavily-guarded SHIELD craft like this one, let alone get the drop on any of us in this room. Bravo. But there's something else we'd like to know: what kind of race are your people back in your home universe? We're…rather curious."

Alien Pegassa inhaled & exhaled in a solemnly manner.

"May I have another burger & bottled water, if you please?", he asked.

Looking to Nick Fury, he nodded as agents Hill & Coulson provided their alien guest with another helping of an unwrapped cheeseburger & water bottle with its cap removed. The black shadow sucked in both from out of both Hill & Coulson's hands like magic, & the sounds of consumption of both food & drink could be heard in seconds before an exhalation of satisfaction erupted.

"Thank you", Alien Pegassa says before resuming. "The story of my people back home is pretty much a tragic one, but it did result in some sort of happy ending…"

Like before, the quintet of people in the room listened to every word from Alien Pegassa.

The Baxter Building, New York City:

Heading into Reed Richard's laboratory, Dan Moroboshi, Gen Otori, Takeshi Yamato & Ryoko Hoshi became astonished by all the equipment & machinery that was arranged & set up within. Rows of scientific data stored upon a variety of discs lined up like music CDs. Various types of gadgets & parts were also visible, all placed in alphabetical and/or numerical order. Electric cables were lined up mostly up and/or against the walls, with only a few laying on the floor to power the many number of unique devices & such that took place within.

Seeing these devices & gadgets in Reed's lab reminded the foursome of when they used to be members of the various defense groups they were each once part of: the Ultra Garrison, MAC (Monster Attacking Crew), & the UGM (Utility Government Members), each of which also had numerous machinery & gadgets for defeating enemies.

One of the first devices Reed Richards lead them to were something that revealed themselves to be something of X-Ray machines, each having a rectangular space for the subject to stand within & having lights/scanners placed inside.

Reed had exactly two of these on deck, meaning that two of the Ultra warriors in disguise would have to choose among themselves on who will be the ones to get scanned.

After a short & quick debate, it was decided that Dan Moroboshi & Takeshi Yamato would be the ones to become Reed's volunteers: stepping inside the machines, Reed began to scan both disguised aliens from top to bottom as both Ultra warriors were bathed in a lime-green light moved from their heads straight down to their toes & back again. Reed & company watched as the elastic superhero/scientist stretched his arms at various control panels, both turning knobs & flicking switches/pressing buttons to gather all the readings from Dan & Takeshi.

Despite the multi-tasking Reed Richards was performing, the process took over an hour to complete.

In the midst of his scanning, Reed & company discovered something very strange on the screens as Takeshi & Dan were being scanned.

"Reed, darling, are you actually seeing this?!", Susan asks, her eyes in astonishment.

"I most certainly am, Susan!", Reed says, unable to take his gaze away from what was on the screens.

The same went for the others that saw Dan & Takeshi's X-Rays being displayed: except for Gen & Ryoko, none of the heroes could believe what they were witnessing, as it was far beyond the anatomy of any lifeforms they've ever faced previously.

"This can't be, Stretch!", Ben says. "This can't be what we think it is!"

"Yeah, Reed! There's got to be some other explanation for it!", Johnny adds.

"I wish there was, Ben, Johnny!", Reed says. "But this proof before us is indisputable: these Ultra warriors are living beings just like any one of us, but with certain mechanical enhancements in their systems! In all ofmy years in studying the human anatomy, I've never seen anything like this before!"

"Neither have I, Dr. Richards!", Rogue says. "When we first saw these Ultra warriors in their true forms, ah asked if they were robots, but one answered that they were as much alive as any of us! Ah just never thought it'd be like this!"

"That goes for us all, dear Rogue!", Hank McCoy said. "Their anatomy is on a similar, yet different level than any other I've ever examined in my life, mutant or no! One could probably earn a living trying to figure out the origins of these Ultra warriors…but curiosity aside, we're scanning Mr. Dan Moroboshi & Mr. Takeshi Yamato for a reason!"

"That we are, Hank", Tony Stark said. "Fascinating alien anatomy aside, we've each got friends & comrades all stuck in another universe, each of whom are no doubt in grave danger even as we speak. The sooner we get an exact fix on their home world…"

"The sooner we can go in & rescue them", Captain America said. "With what we're most likely to face shortly, we're going to need all the help we can get – superhero & Ultra warrior alike."

"Amen to that, Captain", T'Challa says.

As the scanning of Dan Moroboshi & Takeshi Yamato resumed, Ryoko Hoshi was curious about other matters.

"Aside from reading minds, what else are you capable of doing, if you don't mind my asking, Xavier?", she asks, facing him as Charles smiled.

"I have the ability to also erase minds, perform astral/illusion projections, take mental control of others, even fire mental blasts if need be", he explains.

Ryoko Hoshi & Gen Otori wore astonished faces, clearly intrigued by Xavier's answer as the X-Men founder had chuckled in amusement.

"Like I've mentioned, I usually don't read the minds of others unless they allow me to willingly", he resumes. "I only read yours without your consent to help defuse the situation when you were encased in Susan Richards' invisible barrier."

"You did the right thing, Professor", Ryoko says. "Were our positions reversed, I possibly would've done the same thing."

"How did you get these abilities, Professor?", Gen Otori asked. "Was it because of an accident of some kind?"

"Not at all, Gen Otori", Xavier explains. "Simply put, like my other fellow mutants…I was born with them."

It was another answer that surprised the two Ultra warriors.

"It must've been crazy for you when you've first discovered that you have these abilities when you were younger, Professor", said Ryoko.

"It certainly had its challenges, Ryoko", Charles went on. "For the most part, I fought & taught myself to keep my abilities a secret from everyone, ranging from family to friends. When I realized I wasn't alone, that there were all but other mutants out there in the world, I funded my self-named School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester County, New York to train others to use their powers to benefit mankind & protect humanity from those who wished harm upon them. Dr. Henry 'Hank' McCoy, right over there, was one of my first five students, along with Scott Summers, who we call Cyclops, Bobby Drake, who is called Iceman, Warren Worthington II, who we call Archangel, & Jean Grey, who we used to call Phoenix or Marvel Girl. Sadly, Jean Grey is no longer with us."

"Our condolences, Professor. She sounded like such a great person."

"That she was, Ryoko: like me & Emma Frost, she was a powerful telepath, & used her powers accordingly. She – had a very unfortunate accident that claimed her life, devastating us all. It's something that still haunts me & all my fellow X-Men to this day."

Xavier hung his head in sorrow, reflecting on the memory.

Ryoko & Gen knew better than to push for further details on it.

"As Ryoko mentioned, Professor, you have our deepest sympathies", Gen says. "But you're doing her memory proud by continuing with teaching young mutants how to use their powers to help mankind to this day."

Charles lifted his head & smiled at the notion.

"My thanks to you both, Gen, Ryoko", he says. "You are correct: despite the tragedy of losing Jean Grey, we X-Men are doing her memory proud right on up to this day. Mutantkind has grown into a society all its own, despite all the hardships it's endured through the years, what with other mutants trying to conquer mankind, as well as the scorn we get from humanity itself."

"You mutants…get scorned from humans? Even after you've help save them countless times? Why, Professor?", Gen asked.

"Humans fear what they don't understand, Gen. It's always been in their nature ever since the first race of man first appeared in the world during prehistoric times. Despite our best efforts, we mutants get hounded, hunted, & even at certain times, beaten to death…simply because of what we are. It's one of the reasons as to why I funded my school: to give those with mutant abilities to not only help train their powers to benefit mankind, but also to give them a strong understanding of the world in general. This way they learn that while the majority of the humans do fear & hate us, it still isn't all as bad as it seems. My dream is to help bring humans and mutants together in peaceful harmony. It's one I've fought hard to preserve ever since I discovered myself to be a mutant long ago."

Gen Otori moved in to face Charles Xavier in the eye.

"Listen to me, Professor", Gen says soft but firm. "Back on the Earth which we protect, the people there all know how powerful each one of us Ultra warriors are: we have abilities that can practically level entire cities with ease, yet we use those powers to defend the Earth and its people from any & all threats that come to it. Even though they know we're all aliens from a far-off planet, the people still believe in & trust us completely. Without question. If they gladly accept us on that Earth, then there's a chance that this Earth will accept mutants in the same manner, even if there are evil ones who'd rather hurt mankind than defend it."

"Gen's correct, Professor", Ryoko stepped in. "No matter what hardships you & your X-Men face, no matter how long it might take for your dream to finally bear fruit in the world, you must never surrender to the madness humanity can inflict upon itself or even your people, let alone give up on your dream entirely. Your goal is a worthwhile struggle, even if some don't see it that way."

Usually, it's Xavier himself who gives out speeches & advice to his fellow students & teammates.

On this day, however, it's Charles who gets on the receiving end of it – and from a pair of disguised aliens, no less. Hearing their words gave Xavier a renewed strength he didn't think he had before, thus rejuvenating his struggle in bringing humans & mutants closer together more than before.

Xavier smiled at the two aliens, & even Reed Richards & the rest smiled upon hearing Gen & Ryoko's speeches even as they're busy with their work. It also went for Dan Moroboshi & Takeshi Yamato, who listened to every word Gen Otori & Ryoko Hoshi said to the telepathic mutant.

Great going, Gen, Dan thought happily.

Nice job, Ryoko, Takeshi thought in the same manner.

T'Challa was a little saddened by their speech, even though he fought to hide it: he kept thinking about his former wife Ororo Munroe – Storm of the X-Men – and wondered if he could've done more to keep their marriage from falling apart like it did. It hurt him the most in the room, having not only been comfortable in a mutant's presence, but falling in love with her enough to ask to be his wife.

His pain of the marriage being on the rocks was so deep, Gen & Ryoko's speech couldn't help soothe it, much as it was inspirational.

Without warning, an alarm went off & struck the lab with a blaring noise as crimson lights flashed on & off.

"What's going on, Dr. Richards?!", Takeshi yelled over the blaring noise as he & Dan stepped out of the booths.

"An intruder alert, Takeshi!", Reed replied. "Somebody's broken into our headquarters!"

"Who'd be stupid enough to do that?!", asked T'Challa, going into his Black Panther mode.

"Whoever it is, they're gonna be very sorry about it, your highness!", Ben said, pounding a fist in his hand.

The buzz comm came to life as Franklin answered in a frantic voice.

"Mom! Dad! Get up here…quick!", he cried as Valeria was heard screaming in fear in the background.

The transmission stopped as suddenly as it began.

Franklin! Val!, Reed & Susan thought dreadfully.

Without hesitation, the two parents & the rest of the group raced out of the lab & headed straight for the kitchen area, where Franklin was using his body to shield his sister Valeria from the intruder in the room as Val hid behind her brother.

"Get away from us! I'm warning you!", Franklin says in a voice that tried to sound tough.

"Calm yourselves, children. I only wish to speak with…", the intruder started saying.

In no time, Reed, Susan, Johnny, Ben & everyone else burst into the room to see the foolish intruder in all of his glory: it was a man that stood at a height of 6 feet, 7 inches tall dressed in a green cloak complete with hood. A brown belt with golden buckle was wrapped around his waist, with a holstered pistol on the side. His legs & arms were both covered in silver armor, & his metal face mask wore a permanent frown with eyes that looked as malevolent as can be. A green cape hung from his shoulders, with a golden choker keeping it in place.

Neither the Fantastic Four nor their allies could believe who they were now in the presence of: the figure standing in the room was none other than Victor Von Doom, Doctor Doom, one of the FF's oldest & deadliest enemies.

"YOU!", Ben, Susan, Johnny, Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Rogue & Beast cry out.

Just about everyone got into a defensive position, but it was Susan Richards who became the first to act: heading over to her kids, she puts up an invisible barrier between them & Doom before the armor-clad super-villain could fire at either of them.

"Stay the hell away from my babies, Victor!", Susan barked.

"You misunderstand my intentions, Susan Richards. I didn't come to your home to…", Doom started to say.

"She told youto stay the hell away from her children, mister!", Ryoko Hoshi called out, aiming her right index finger at Doom & firing her crimson Princess Ray at the armor-clad villain.

Victor was caught by surprise by her method of attack, & he was struck in the chest by her beam as it knocked him away across the room. Doom landed on his rear as he fought to regain his senses from the unexpected attack.

"Maybe you have a hearing problem!", Ryoko barked.

"Well, maybe he can hear this, Ryoko…it's clobbering time!", Ben Grimm cried out as he rushed Doctor Doom with his right fist raised.

With only a fraction of a second to spare, Doctor Doom erected his energy shield that surrounded his entire person in a bubble that was a baby blue in color. Ben's fist collided with jarring action that shook the complex as Johnny lit up his right hand & shot forth a stream of flames at Doom's protective bubble, hoping to find a weakness. Rogue, Beast & Black Panther stood by their side, ready to join in if & when it's warranted.

Captain America, Iron Man, Charles Xavier, Reed Richards & the four Ultra warriors stayed behind.

Johnny Storm & Ben Grimm continued their assault on Doom's bubble shield, not making any dents on it.

"Please, you must listen to me!", Victor cried out. "I came to your home on a good will mission!"

"Yeah, sure thing, Doc! And I sell nuclear warheads door-to-door!", Ben says, landing several more punches.

Hearing Victor's words, along with witnessing the fact that he isn't striking back against Ben or Johnny, Reed is beginning to wonder. But even so, he needs to stop this brawl before either Johnny burns it down with his fire, or Ben pulverizes it with his bare hands.

Even though his strength level is nowhere near that of the Hulk's, Ben can still cause the Baxter Building a lot of damage.

"Johnny, Ben…stop!", Reed cried out, stretching his arms & wrapping them around Ben's wrist & Johnny's torso before pulling them back, stopping their attack. Rogue, Beast & Black Panther also back away, wondering why Reed stopped his two companions.

"What gives, Stretch?", Ben asked as Reed unwrapped his arms from him & Johnny.

"Yeah, whose side are you on here, Reed?", the Human Torch asked, dousing his flames.

"My apologies, gents", Reed says, retracting his arms. "I just didn't want our home to suffer too much damage during your brawl. I also noticed that Doom never made any attempt to strike back at any of you: he merely raised his shield to protect himself. If he was here for battle, he would've launched a counteroffensive even while still within his bubble. But he didn't."

"You mean to say he came here to talk?", Captain America asks.

"Due to the fact that he hasn't counterattacked during Ben & Johnny's assault…yes", Reed replied.

Cap motioned for the others to stand down, which they did.

"All right, Victor!", Iron Man stated. "You say that you wanted to have a chat with us, we're listening! But know this: you try anything funny, especially to either of those two kids, & you & I will really find out who has the better suit of armor! Understand?"

"I am hardly intimidated by your threats, Tony Stark", Doctor Doom says. "But, as I tried explaining to Susan Richards and her kids before I was attacked, I only wish to speak with Reed & the rest of you."

"You know this man, Dr. Richards?", Gen asked.

"That I do, Gen", Reed explains. "Underneath that armor & cloak is Victor Von Doom – an old colleague from my days in college. One day, he attempted to create a device that would enable him to communicate with his mother in the afterlife. I checked over his notes & noticed a flaw in his design. I even warned him about it, but he all but adamantly refused to listen. When he did activate it, he became scarred & blamed me for his accident. Shortly after, while studying the arts of both science and the supernatural, he returned as Doctor Doom, hell-bent on gathering as much power as he could. My team & I fought him several times in the years that followed."

"Even we X-Men had a run-in or two with this poor excuse of a dictator!", Rogue said, scowling.

"Doom even tried taking on the Avengers a few times – only to end up in defeat!", Captain America adds.

"How typical – and megalomaniacal!", Takeshi says. "He gets himself scarred from an accident he himself caused & blames it upon his roommate! Only an egotistical buffoon does that!"

"Bah! As if you would know anything about me, alien!", Doom says.

His answer was stunning to both the superheroes and the Ultra warriors.

"You…you know what the four of us are?", Ryoko asked, gesturing to Dan, Gen, Takeshi & herself.

"It's what I discovered on my trip here from my home of Latveria, Ryoko Hoshi", Doom explains. "And I must say…I have no idea you could use that beam of yours in your human form."

Doom allowed himself a chuckle of amusement.

"Victor Von Doom, how about you dispense with the pleasantries & tell us why you're here?", Xavier stated.

"For once, Xavier, I agree", Doom started. "As you all might have heard about on both the news & social media networks, my home of Latveria & two of my neighboring countries were attacked by a trio of giant monsters, each one seemingly to appear out of nowhere. With fierce determination, my forces & I were able to defeat them before they can completely destroy our lands. As my staff & I worked but failed to locate the source of where these creatures originated from, I soon realized that my lands weren't the only ones to have suffered attacks from giant monsters: Santa Monica, Portland, Flagstaff, Wakanda, Detroit, even here in New York City each received unwelcome visitors. Learning that my old colleague Reed Richards & his Fantastic Four had also encountered giant creatures, I decided to arrive here in order to put aside our differences, pull our resources, & put a stop to these giant menaces that are currently invading our Earth, along with all of those responsible for sending them here."

Victor Von Doom ceased to allow the information to sink in with everybody, each with their own feelings on the matter. Some actually have a pang of sympathy for the armored monarch, but others were not as lenient towards him.

In any case, they kept their feelings to themselves & didn't reveal them orally.

"I see", said Gen. "And just out of curiosity, how did you manage to find out that my three colleagues & I were aliens?"

"Upon my trip here, I simply tuned in to your discussion when you four were relaying the information to the rest of the Avengers, X-Men & T'Challa's fellow Wakandans", Doom says.

"Meaning, you hacked right into our software & were spying on us!", Johnny Storm fumed.

"I actually prefer the term 'listening in' on important information, Johnny Storm. But surely you can forgive the intrusion, as we all face a common dilemma and unknown enemies orchestrating it all."

"You mean to form a partnership with us in order to defeat the ringleaders in all of this!", Black Panther says.

"That's correct, your highness."

"And why would you even consider such a notion, considering your not-so-glorious past with these people, Von Doom?", Dan Moroboshi asked.

"Because, alien, while this might come as a shock to you, I am a resident of this Earth just as they are, & when faced with a serious & dangerous dilemma like the one that is currently threatening it, I will fight tooth & claw to keep it safe…especially when my own land of Latveria is in grave danger. Both it & two of my neighboring countries already suffered attacks from large creatures, & I fear that they could very well be hit again, unless we get to the bottom of this & end it before we are all but overwhelmed by these gigantic titans all over the planet."

The group of superheroes & Ultra warriors alike stared at the armor-clad monarch with disdain but also wonder.

Doom awaited patiently for anyone to answer, & he gets one almost instantly.

"I'm rather loathe to admit it, fellow heroes & aliens, but Victor Von Doom has raised some valid points", Beast says. "On this endeavor, we will need all hands on deck before we literally get overrun & trampled underfoot by these creatures. What happened previously, I fear, is only a small prelude of what is to come, & in this situation, I'll happily take whatever assistance is offered to us…even from someone like Victor Von Doom. 'The enemy of my enemy', as it were."

"It still doesn't make him a friend, Hank, but I see where you're going with this", Iron Man said. "All right then, Victor: you want in on this? We won't fault you for it, much less try to stop you. But we're giving you this one warning: you try anything we don't like, & we'll make certain that you regret it – big-time! Comprende, compadre?"

Doctor Doom scoffed at Iron Man's threat, neither impressed nor intimidated by it.

"As you wish, Tony Stark", Doom replied. "But I do believe that you were in the middle of something until my 'unannounced arrival'? If we're going to bring this nightmare to our Earth to a satisfying conclusion, you'll truly need to gather up your heaviest hitters."

It was another good point from the armor-clad monarch: they need to mount a rescue for the Scarlet Witch Wanda Maximoff, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel, Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Stephen Strange, Thor of Asgard & the Hulk, all of whom are still stuck in the other universe & probably caught in the clutches of whoever was bold & dumb enough to attack the Ultra warriors' home planet of Nebula M78.

As of right now, there's no telling what they're going through right now, which was all the more reason for them to resume with locating the Ultra warriors' universe.

"Here, Dr. Richards: I will lend you my communicator", Doom says, dispensing a rectangular object from his left forearm & tossing it to him with his right hand. Reed caught it in his outstretched right hand. "Once you've rescued your comrades and located the source from where these monsters are arriving here to our Earth, use that to contact me."

"And where will you be in the meantime?", asked Gen Otori.

"Aboard my shuttle, awaiting Richards' return", Doom says as he turns to leave.

"You seem to have quite an abundance of faith in my husband all of a sudden, Doom!", Susan says, still shielding her kids.

Doom halts & turns to face the Invisible Woman, chuckling.

"Your husband has performed miracles time & again, Mrs. Richards – even ones which have all but caught me by surprise", he says. "Not only that, it's because this is something we all have never faced previously, & if we are to be victorious, we shall need a miracle or two. A scientist of Reed's caliber – and others – can provide us with one."

Victor Von Doom turned & walked out of the room without another word.

Ryoko started taking a step towards him, but Takeshi placed an arm on her stomach & gently shook his head.

She stared at Doom with malice until he was gone from sight.

Her feelings in the matter were understandable, as she wasn't the only one who felt uneasy with having someone like Doctor Doom joining forces with them, rather than against them.

"Doctor Doom on the side of the Avengers, X-Men & other heroes? That's like Professor Moriarty joining up with Sherlock Holmes!", Iron Man says without humor.

"We're even less crazy on the idea, Tony Stark!", Rogue said. "Ah can't believe we're even agreeing ta this!"

"I concur, Rogue!", Dan Moroboshi says, turning to Reed. "Reed, you're not actually considering in allowing one of your greatest enemies to join our cause, are you? You have to know that he'll just as soon stab you & the rest of us in the back once we've reached our objective!"

"In all honesty, Dan Moroboshi…yes", Reed says. Dan tried to say something in protest, but Reed silences him with a raised hand as he goes on. "Believe me, I fully understand your feelings in the matter, all of you. But do keep in mind: super-villain or not, he is a native of planet Earth – this Earth – and will go through extraordinary lengths to save it from enemies that are even deadlier than himself, just as he'll do for his own homeland of Latveria."

"So…you'll trust him on his word then?", Dan asked.

"Yes, I will, Dan. I know this man better than most anybody else alive: despite his other faults, Victor Von Doom is not a liar. On this endeavor, he will fight by our side."

The group takes a few moments to soak in Reed's words, which has something of an immediate effect.

"Very well, Reed Richards", Takeshi Yamato says. "Because we have the highest trust in you & your friends, we will go along with Victor Von Doom accompanying us. But please hear this: if that man does do anything to stab any of us in the back as Tony Stark believes…"

"We Ultra warriors will put him down like the mad dog he is – with extreme prejudice!", Ryoko Hoshi stated.

Dan Moroboshi, Gen Otori & Takeshi Yamato all nod to Ryoko's words: even the heroes dared not push their argument further, so they don't.

"Understood", Captain America says. "But we can worry about that if & when the time comes. Right now, we have a task to complete."

"That we do", Xavier says. "I suggest we head back down into Reed's lab & finish what we started before we've been rudely interrupted."

The thought of rescuing their fallen comrades struck their thoughts big-time, & everybody nodded before Reed leads the way again.

It was getting closer to the moment of truth, & they needed all hands on deck for it.

The sake of two universes & countless others depends upon it.

CHAPTER II

In a darkened area:

Wanda Maximoff couldn't tell for how long she was out for: her mind reeled at past events as she began to revive.

She remembers battling a pair of giant monsters in Detroit, Michigan with her fellow Avengers before she became one of seven heroes abducted to a far-off planet in another universe by a race of giant beings that desperately needed their help. Wanda also recalled spending time in that universe's Earth with her fellow heroes, along with seven of the Ultra warriors in the city of Tokyo before it & they were attacked by a trio of giant monsters. Going into battle with the dark-brown monster with a boomerang-crested head, she was knocked out & remained in darkness until now.

Recalling these events, Wanda attempted to lift her hand to her head but discovered she couldn't.

Her arms, legs & body were tightly secured, including her fingers, which she couldn't even wiggle.

Judging from her position, Wanda can surmise that she was laying upon some sort of table that was vertical with a slight tilt backwards. She looked around for any clues as to her whereabouts, but all she could see was pitch darkness everywhere she turned her head: left, right, up, down, it was all the same. There were no outlines of a room, no other furniture and/or doors/windows that she could make out.

All she can see is the eerie darkness that surrounds the entire area.

Having failed to see where she's been strapped to, Wanda had begun calling out for her friends, hoping & praying they were alive just as she is.

"Stephen! Thor! Carol! Bruce!"

She received no answer, so she tried again & a third time.

On her third go-round, she did get a reply.

"Wanda! Is that you?"

"Carol?!", Wanda asks. "Yes, it's me! Can you move?"

After a few moments of grunting & attempting to get loose, Carol Danvers gave her reply.

"I'm afraid not!", she says. "I can't even burn my way free! Whoever it was that strapped me down did so with the utmost caution!"

"My own dire situation mirrors yours, ladies", said another voice.

"Stephen?!", Wanda & Carol cry out.

"Correct", he says. "I've tried escaping my binds, but found out that I am unable to do so: my arms are spread out like an airplane, & my fingers feel like they're being compressed inside of a steel glove. I cannot even wiggle them."

"Aye, tis the same with thyself, good friends", said another voice.

"Thor!", the ladies & Stephen say.

"You can't get loose either?", asked Carol.

"Not a chance, fair maiden", Thor replied. "Like Stephen Strange, thy arms are spread out & secured tightly, as thine fingers are in the same predicament. With my arms & hands incapacitated, I cannot summon Mjolnir to help me break out – wherever it might be."

The sounds of an animal growling & loud banging caught everyone's attention on their left, followed by someone barking angrily.

"Hulk wants OUT!", he yelled, giving his confinement several more punches that rang loudly across the area.

His punching ceased when sinister laughing replaced his pounding on metal as lights erupted on the five heroes, giving each one a better view of their predicament: Thor & Stephen Strange were each placed upon a large metal cross, their arms spread like Jesus Christ himself when he was crucified as atonement for his sins. As for Wanda, she was all but correct in her assumptions: she was strapped to a table that leaned slightly backwards, her hands & fingers tightly fitted in a metal glove, giving her no chance to use her hex spells.

Carol Danvers' predicament was the same, except her hands/fingers were encased in fisted bonds, nullifying her own powers.

As for the Hulk, he was encased inside a cylindrical metal container with a rectangular opening that sported four vertical bars, like a jail cell.

Whatever metal that container was made of, it was more than capable of keeping the Hulk encased but good.

"So…you five 'superheroes' are awake at last!", said a voice. "Excellent!"

"Who's out there?!", Carol demanded.

"Are you be thy captors of my friends & thyself?!", Thor asked.

"If you are, then show yourselves to us instead of hiding within the dark like cowards!", Stephen demands.

"Very well, Stephen Strange!", said another voice.

More lights begin to shine in the area, giving the floor before them great illumination that spread out for about 20 meters in circumference. The walls – if there were any – were still shrouded in total darkness, giving the five heroes no inkling of what lay beyond.

Standing in the middle of the lighted area were a half-dozen figures that were each human-sized, with some being only a few inches taller. The first one is a red, blue & green creature with orange eyes & three antennae on its head – one on top, the other two on the sides. A short tail stuck out from the back, which also sported pointed dorsal spines protruding from it. The mouth was like a tentacle or an elephant trunk. The second figure was mostly clad entirely in a black hue, with its face sporting blue oval-shaped eyes, a golden patch where a mouth should be that glowed like lights, a pair of gray patches in between the eyes & 'mouth', plus a pair of oversized ears that were white within, along with the outline of its face. The third figure was also in mostly a black hue, but sported silver ankle & forearm bracelets, with a silver piece of armor in its pelvic area. Its face was silver as well, wearing some sort of mask with blue eyes & had pointed ears on the sides of its yellow-haired head, giving it a cat-like appearance. Figure #4 looked something like a humanoid cicada, having a V-shaped head at the top & sporting a pair of round yellow eyes. Its forearms extended in a pair of pincers that opened & closed like crab or lobster claws. This cicada creature let out a creepy baritone laugh.

Last but not least were the two aliens Metron & Godola, the ones who gathered up both the fallen Ultra warriors and superheroes.

"Greetings, 'heroes'!", replied the alien who sported the elephant-like trunk. "We're all so happy to finally make your acquaintance!"

He let out another sinister laughter.

"Too bad we can't say the same – whoever & whatever you people are!", snapped Carol.

"And just who the hell are you people?!", Thor asked fiercely.

"We are not 'people' at all", said the elephant-nosed alien. "We're aliens, each & every one of us. Allow us to introduce ourselves to you: I am Alien Hipporit."

"Alien Mephilas", he says.

"Alien Baltan", he announced.

"Alien Metron", he introduced himself as.

"And I am Alien Godola", he says, pointing to the last one of their group. "That one doesn't speak, but he's known as Alien Magma – a very highly-trained & deadly assassin. As Alien Hipporit had said, it is good to meet you."

Alien Godola let out a laugh of his own, enjoying the heroes' helpless predicament.

The five captive heroes renewed their struggle to get loose from their binds, only to remain stuck.

"Please don't try to escape from your bonds…because you can't", Alien Metron said. "We've constructed each of them in a specially-designed manner that will not only keep you trapped, but nullify your powers, thus keeping all of you as weak & docile as kittens."

The sound of banging from the Hulk's container caught the aliens' attention as Alien Mephilas walked up to the opening to see the Hulk's angry face.

"Hulk will escape from metal cage & kill lousy aliens!", he growled.

"I doubt you will, Hulk", Alien Mephilas says. "The metal of that container is some of the strongest here within our universe. It can hold someone even of your unmatched strength very easily."

"Why haven't you killed us when we were defeated along with the Ultra warriors?", Stephen Strange asked.

"And where are the Ultra warriors anyway?! What have you done with them?!", Wanda demanded.

"You needn't worry yourselves about them, my dear 'Scarlet Witch'", Alien Baltan says as the rest of the lights come on.

When the remaining lights do shine on, it was in the exact same room the seven heroes were taken to after they've been abducted from the Earth in their universe. Nine of the Ultra warriors were also present in their original sizes.

Only difference is, the other Ultra warriors – the original Ultraman, Zoffy, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace, Astra, Ultraman Taro, Father of Ultra, Mother of Ultra & Ultraman King – were all lined against the walls & fixated by large metal crosses, their arms, legs, chests & necks all held securely by chains. Each of their color timers have gone out, as have their eyes as they too resemble giant alien versions of Jesus Christ.

This horrid sight made the heroes gasp in fright, as even the Hulk had a sorrowful look on his face.

Seeing the Mother of Ultra in this inanimate & zombified state made the Hulk look like he'd lost an old friend.

It also seethed his rage.

"What have aliens done with giant Ultra friends?!", he barked.

"Same with the five of you, nothing…yet", Alien Metron says. "When we sent those three monsters – Gomora, Red King & Black King – to attack the city of Tokyo, the six of us invaded the Ultra warriors' home planet of Nebula M78, catching them off-guard. They each put up a brilliant fight, but in the end, we merely drained them of their energy to make them easier pickings before placing each one upon their cross."

"You're going to execute them all – aren't you?!", Stephen Strange says.

"All in good time, Stephen Strange", Alien Baltan says. "But before we do that, we need something in order to carry out their demise…and that's where the five of you come in."

"Us? What do you plan to do with us?", asked Wanda.

"Each one of you possesses a special & unique talent", Alien Mephilas says, pointing to each one in turn. "You, Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, possess powerful hex magic with nearly limitless potential. Carol Danvers, who is also known as the recent Captain Marvel, you received your powers from alien DNA, making you resistant to mostly anything, & have the ability to absorb & redirect energy & fly through space on a whim. Doctor Stephen Strange, once a successful surgeon who is now a master of the mystic arts, able to perform even the most difficult to magic spells. Thor of Asgard, the son of the great Odin, whose power from the gods themselves knows no limits courses on through your veins & can conjure bolts of lightning with your hammer Mjolnir. Bruce Banner, caught in the heart of a gamma bomb blast, transforms into the emerald brute known as the Hulk, whose immense strength can level whole mountains. Remarkable talents you each possess…and for mere humans. In all our discoveries of beings with great powers, we've never come across ones like you."

"It's just too bad that your other two companions – Ben Grimm & Rogue – have escaped our grasp, along with those other four Ultra warriors: Ultraseven, Ultraman Leo, Ultraman 80 & Yullian", said Alien Hipporit. "But it matters not: you five, plus these Ultra warriors we've captured, will do quite nicely & shall fit our needs beautifully once we complete the extraction."

Wanda was about to ask what Alien Hipporit meant by 'extraction', but then it dawned upon her right away.

That same feeling hit everybody else, & it chilled most of them.

"You're going to extract our powers from us!", Carol says. "That's why you spared our lives!"

Alien Godola laughed amusingly.

"Of course, Carol Danvers!", he says. "Power such as the ones you possess are too good to waste or throw away on a whim! And once we get your powers & make them into our own, then we will join in the invasion of your Earth with our monster army, defeating each & every one of its so-called 'superheroes'!"

"And in turn, we will extract each one of their abilities before spreading our invasion force to countless worlds in equally countless universes!", Alien Metron says. "Speaking of which, according to our calculations, the invasion of your Earth should be commencing shortly, what with our 'companions' over there ready to deliver the next batch!"

"Companions? Which ones do you mean, Alien Metron?!", Stephen Strange says. "Who on our Earth has both the Dimension Stones in their possession?! Answer me!"

Alien Baltan laughed his creepy baritone laugh.

"You, Stephen Strange, are in no position to give orders!", the cicada alien says. "Like the rest of your party, you will perish here on Nebula M78, along with its nine residents, knowing that your Earth will suffer a horrific fate before we spread our reign of terror throughout the various universes while you all rot in your graves, having failed to prevent the inevitable!"

More banging from the Hulk caused the alien fiends to turn in his direction.

"Hulk will smash evil aliens!", he growled.

"And how, pray tell, do you intend on pulling off that little miracle, monster?", asked Alien Hipporit. "You cannot escape from your cage any more than your friends can escape their binds!"

Alien Hipporit let out a laugh of pure amusement.

"You are an amusing creature, Hulk!", he says. "How I wish I could keep you as one of my personal pets, but I fear that even you won't survive the extraction of your incredible strength any more than your comrades will! Let us now begin with the operation: first with these five superheroes, followed by the Ultra warriors right afterwards!"

"Yes, the time has come!", Alien Mephilas says, raising his right hand.

Like magic, a large floating metal sphere measuring twice the size of a basketball materializes out of thin air & extended a quintet of large syringes from its body before it began hovering over to its first target to extract the powers from.

Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch.

Seeing the sphere getting closer & closer, Wanda frantically struggled in her binds to try & buy her time to think of some way to get herself & the others free before the first syringe can plunge itself into her.

Watching her struggle in vain amused the six aliens, & they each chuckled.

"It's no use trying to dodge the bullet, my dear Wanda Maximoff!", Alien Godola says. "Better to just give in & accept your fate! The more you resist, the more painful the process will be!"

But Wanda still resists to the best of her very limited abilities: as the metal sphere comes closer with the needle at her throat, she fights more fiercely than ever to prevent giving the aliens what they desire. Stephen Strange & the rest watch as the inevitable comes nearer, each wishing they could do something to stop all this.

With them being just as safely & tightly secure, they could do nothing.

Except watch.

The needle's end was now just inches from her neck.

From out of nowhere, a blue-gloved hand stretched out & snatched the floating sphere only seconds before the needle could make contact, getting thrown against the wall & shattered. Everyone in the room – aliens & captive heroes alike – turn to see an unusual sight: the Fantastic Four, along with Iron Man, Rogue, Captain America, & the last four Ultra warriors who eluded capture – Ultraseven, Ultraman Leo, Ultraman 80 & Yullian.

For the captured heroes, they were a welcome sight.

For their abductors, it was a surprise that made them angry at having their process interrupted.

"Stop them!", Alien Hipporit barked.

"Remember the plan, everybody – rescue & retreat! Go!", Captain America says, throwing his shield at the one nearest him – Alien Mephilas.

His weapon bounced off the alien's head with a clang, knocking down the space creature as the shield returned to its rightful owner. The black-clad alien rose to his feet almost instantly, ready to fight.

"You shall pay for that, super soldier!", Alien Mephilas said.

"Get in line, mister – I've got a list!", Captain America says as he & Alien Mephilas clashed.

Aliens Magma & Metron grew to giant size, as did Ultraseven & Ultraman Leo: the latter Ultra warrior clashed with Alien Magma, with Ultraseven doing so with one of his own enemies, Alien Metron.

Rogue, Ultraman 80 & the Fantastic Four charged after Aliens Hipporit, Godola & Baltan as Johnny Storm cried out 'flame on!', transforming himself into the Human Torch & flying after Alien Baltan. The cicada alien swerves to avoid a stream of flames but gets clobbered by Susan's invisible barrier, followed by Rogue's tackle of him once he hits the floor. Ultraman 80, Mister Fantastic & Ben Grimm tango with Alien Godola, with the Ultra warrior shooting forth his eye beams that miss the alien, but couldn't avoid a clobber to the face by Mister Fantastic, who stretched his arm out & gave a fierce right hook to the side of his head. Ben Grimm charged the alien like a bull that's seen red as he raised his right fist before bringing it down.

Alien Godola swerved to one side a split-second before it came down. He then shot forth energy rings from his clawed hands, striking Ben squarely in the chest.

Unfortunately for the alien, the shots bounced off his rocky hide like popcorn.

Ben Grimm smiled at the stunned alien.

"Doesn't even tickle, fella! But I promise you this won't!", he says, raising both his fists.

Again, the crab-like alien dodged both fists before Reed Richards lashed out with fists of his own as Alien Godola manages to avoid these as well. Getting back on his feet, he mocked the heroes' attempts at putting him down with his malevolent laugh.

"You think you've won just because you made it to this universe to free your friends?", he says. "Fools! You'll never stop the big storm that's coming, so give up now! If you do, we'll be merciful!"

"We'll pass on your offer of giving up, ugly!", Ben says. "That's one word that'll never be in our vocabulary!"

"Got that right, Ben!", Reed says. "Surrender, alien! We have you outnumbered ten to one!"

"Not in this or any other lifetime, Reed Richards!", Alien Godola says adamantly.

"Your mistake, Alien Godola!", Ultraman 80 says.

Their fight began anew.

With most of the other aliens being occupied by his companions, Iron Man flew up not to engage in battle, but to perform a tactic that will be the ultimate game-changer: heading over to where Father & Mother of Ultra & Ultraman King were placed, Iron Man prepared to put his plan into action as he watched the preparations being set up, along with each of the sleeping giants all hung from large metal crosses, each one with their color timers & eyes dimmed.

It was something of a horrific sight for billionaire playboy Tony Stark.

My God!, Tony thought dreadfully. I'll bet the Old Testament never envisioned something like this!

Brushing it aside, Tony asked his suit's systems if everything was ready to begin.

"Percentage of preparations are at 100%, sir. Ready to commence on your word", it replied.

"That word is now! Do it!", Iron Man answered.

Raising his arms with palms out, Iron Man's gauntlets & chest plate began lighting up with golden energy. Each one is aimed at a particular target: the chest plate aimed at Ultraman King's gemstones on his chest, with his palms all aimed at the color timers on Father & Mother of Ultra.

"Okay, folks, here comes your wake-up call! Don't miss it!", Tony says.

His aiming set at precise angles, Iron Man shoots forth a quartet of gold beams from his armor: two from his own chest plate & one from each of his gauntlets. All of them aimed & struck exactly where they were supposed to: both of Ultraman King's red gemstones, plus the color timers on the Father & Mother of Ultra. Iron Man pushed their power up to their limits, praying that this plan of action is successful. Tony called for a digital readout on the life readings of each giant he was attempting to revive.

The power level on each Ultra warriors began to rise.

He hopes they do so quick enough.

Over to where the five superheroes were captured, Yullian used her Princess Ray from her finger to cut through all the binds that held them firmly secure. The female Ultra warrior did so quickly but with carefulness on her part: she only wished to cut their binds & not a limb. Yullian concentrates on two people at a time: she first works on the binds of Scarlet Witch & Captain Marvel. Thor & Stephen Strange watch as the ladies get picked first over them, but doesn't hold it against the female Ultra.

In fact, they find it rather amusing & even smile.

'Ladies first', & all that, Stephen Strange thought amusingly.

Both male heroes – even the Hulk – wait patiently for their turn.

The fight between Ultraseven & Alien Metron, along with Ultraman Leo & Alien Magma reach a fever pitch: the Ultra warriors were getting a fierce workout from dodging the stabs & slashes from Alien Magma's saber hand, along with Alien Metron's powerful chops & kicks that were stronger than even Seven calculated. This Alien Metron put up an even fiercer fight than the first one he fought long ago, when the alien stuffed a foreign substance within cigarettes that made people violent & turn on each other before that plan was thwarted.

Ultraseven defeated that Alien Metron by slicing him in half with his Eye Slugger before blasting him with his Emerium Beam.

This one he now faces is even more skilled in armed combat, as Ultraseven is discovering.

Same with the Alien Magma Ultraman Leo was now sparring with. The Ultra warriors' rage & hatred for this silent but deadly opponent knows no bounds, as it was this particular race of cat-like aliens that destroyed Leo's home of Planet L77, where he & his brother Astra were both from. Being the only two survivors of their home world, Astra & Leo's loathing of the Alien Magma is solid, & if either of them could wipe their malevolent race out of existence, they wouldn't hesitate.

It wouldn't be easy: the Alien Magma are skilled fighters, as this one is displaying.

But then, so is Ultraman Leo himself, having been trained vigorously by Ultraseven's human form.

No matter what it takes, Leo was determined to put this mad dog down.

Even outnumbered at three to one, Alien Baltan was giving Human Torch, Invisible Woman & Rogue a workout the'd never expected from the cicada-faced alien: Baltan dodged punches thrown at him by Rogue, each one missing him just barely. The alien retaliated with strikes from his pincers as Baltan opened them up & fired beams at the female mutant. These were blocked by Susan's invisible barrier as Human Torch flew in & shot forth several fireballs from his hands as Baltan launched minigun fire from his second pincers. Human Torch dodged these shots before flying in & clobbered the alien in the side.

Once Alien Baltan hit the floor, however, he disappeared from sight & reappeared only six feet from the ladies.

Rogue, Susan & Johnny redirect their attention to the alien, but discover that he has created multiple copies of himself as they walk & surround the trio of heroes while blaring their creepy baritone laugh.

"Let's see if you can find the real Alien Baltan before it's too late, heroes!", the real thing replied.

All the Alien Baltans raised their pincers, opened them up & shot forth deadly lasers from each.

Using a blast of energy rings to put distance between him & Reed Richards, Godola got into a boxing match with Ultraman 80 as the hero swung fist after fist at the crab-like alien, who dodged some & blocked others with his claws.

For each one he did block, the sound of a ringing bell blared out.

On the next swing of 80's fists, Godola snatched his right wrist & had judo-flipped the Ultra warrior over to Ben Grimm, who was unprepared for the maneuver & collided with the rocky-hide hero, knocking them down. Reed took advantage of the situation & wrapped himself around the crab-like alien, squeezing him tightly as an anaconda would to its prey.

"Give it up, Alien Godola!", Reed demanded. "Tell us who's in possession of the last two Dimension Stones over on our Earth, & we will go easy on you!"

Alien Godola simply laughs as if it's the funniest joke he's ever heard.

"You'll get no answers from me or any of my comrades, Reed Richards!", the crab-like alien says. "All I will tell you is that the storm is hitting your Earth, & no amount of your so-called 'superheroes' or these infernal Ultra warriors can prevent its spread!"

Like a magician, Godola vanished from Reed's rubbery grasp before reappearing behind & clobbering him with his energy rings attack. Reed was thrown into a rubbery tangle as he collided with Ben Grimm & Ultraman 80.

They struggled to get free as Alien Godola laughs at their predicament & defeat.

Captain America & Alien Mephilas were also engaged in a fierce one-on-one: each combatant fought with expert skill as Cap used his shield to block fists & feet, along with energy projectiles such as Mephilas' Pair Hand Ray, where he can shoot a volley of electric beams from his fists. The Living Legend followed it up with a throw of his shield that struck his alien opponent in the face, causing him to see stars in his vision. Mephilas was then clobbered by a right fist from Cap to his face before getting his legs knocked out from under him as Mephilas landed on his back.

The Living Legend placed a hard foot on his chest, pinning him in place.

"I'll only say this one last time, Alien Mephilas – tell your people to stand down!", Cap instructed.

Alien Mephilas just laughed at his demand.

"You absolutely think we'd surrender to the likes of you when we are already bringing the storm we promised to the Earth in your universe?", he says. "It's being brought to you even as you & your friends waste time here, 'Captain America'! Your efforts in saving your friends have neither hampered our objective, much less slowed it down! You've all lost this fight…you simply refuse to acknowledge it!"

While Cap soaks up the alien's rantings, Mephilas made a move which caught him off-guard: with a swipe of his arm, the Living Legend was knocked off-balance as Mephilas hit his leg & toppled him. Now it was Captain America who was laying flat on his back & staring up at his enemy.

Another swing of Alien Magma's saber hand came close to decapitating Ultraman Leo & had nearly became the second interstellar being to slice Leo into pieces, with Black Directive becoming the first after Alien Bunyo froze him when he was human-sized, using his buzzsaw to chop him up into pieces.

Were it not for Ultraman King putting him back together & resurrecting him, Leo would be no more.

Magma gave Ultraman Leo an uppercut with his saber arm which would've sliced him in half had Leo been a few seconds slower. Jabs & slashes of violent content were making Alien Magma more fearsome & dangerous with each miss.

It was also making Magma reckless, & it gave Leo a great idea.

Hearing the sounds of battle behind him, Leo gestured Magma with his hand to come at him.

As he predicted, the alien did just as he hoped for.

Ultraseven's fight with Alien Metron was also at its most fierce: both warriors traded blows from hands & feet as several hit their marks, with others being blocked/deflected & countered. Seven managed to get in a couple of good hits on Metron, striking him in the face area & the chest, each blow feeling to the alien like he was struck by a pair of steel balls. But Metron was more resilient than his appearance shows: he himself landed decent blows with his arms & legs, a few of them even hitting Ultraseven in the side of his head, causing white muzzled flashes to enter his vision.

Having kicked Seven in the stomach, the hero bent over & allowed Metron to clobber him dead in his face before swiping at his legs, causing Seven to hit his side.

Metron laughed as he stared down at his fallen enemy.

"You fought the good fight, Ultraseven!", he says. "But even you must realize how futile the endeavors of you & your so-called 'fellow superheroes' are! Our plans to rule not only their Earth are inevitable, but also the one in which you Ultra warriors waste precious time & energy in protecting, when you should be ruling over them!"

"I've already had this talk with one of your kind, along with several others, Alien Metron!", Ultraseven said. "No matter how hard you try, you will never convince me to use my powers – or that of my siblings – to rule over the humans on Earth, regardless of what universe they're from! And even if it costs us our very lives, we will stop this storm you're planning before it even begins to go beyond the Earth in the superheroes' universe!"

"You're correct about one thing, Ultraseven: you won't stop the oncoming storm, but it will dearly cost you, your siblings and your new superhero friends your lives! It is said that God watches over fools & drunks, but I doubt he'll be here to help you this time round! Goodbye, Ultraseven!"

As Metron prepares a killing blow, Ultraseven chuckled as his foe gets confused.

"Funny: I was wondering the very same thing about you!", Seven says.

"What are you…?", Metron started to say.

The whale-like alien stopped in mid-sentence when he felt something breeze by him & stood like a statue.

Like a neatly-sliced apple, the top of Alien Metron's head from between the neck & eyes fell over to one side as ichor squirted from what remained of the alien. Metron's now-headless body stood for several seconds before it crashed to the floor like a marionette with its strings cut. From behind the now-dead Metron were Ultraman Leo & Alien Magma, the latter of whom was made to swing his saber hand at Leo as the Ultra warrior approached Metron from behind until his enemy was close enough to swipe at & hit him, thus slicing his head off cleanly.

Ultraseven was proud of his one-time pupil: he had used an enemy's tactics to bring down another.

His training to Gen Otori had really paid off!

The happy moment was dead in seconds as Alien Magma attempted to skewer Ultraman Leo with his saber hand.

Magma thrusted his weapon forward before Leo could dodge or deflect it.

Ultraseven called out his name & rose to his aide.

The sound of cold hard metal piercing through organic material echoed the room as time seemed to stand still.

All eyes turned to the sight that can only be described as horrific: Magma has pierced Ultraseven in his midsection with his saber hand that not only punctured Seven, but also Leo behind him. Ultraseven used himself as a shield to go & take the full brunt of Magma's weapon. Unfortunately, his weapon had a longer reach than even Seven imagined, & both Ultra warriors received the deadly projectile as they fell to the floor, clutching their wounds.

Superheroes & Ultra warriors alike gasp at the display, while the villainous aliens laughed in delight at seeing a pair of their enemies get taken down in a simultaneous manner. Even Alien Magma grins fiendishly, seeing as he has literally killed two birds with one stone. Raising his saber hand, Magma attempts to sever their heads & keep them as trophies.

In a blinding moment, something fast & green struck Magma square in the face as a howling filled his face & ears before the giant alien crashed to the ground. The Hulk – now freed from his metal cage, thanks to Yullian – ran at Magma & clobbered him headlong in the face, with the alien trying to pry the emerald monster off his face & having a most difficult time in doing so: despite being just a human, he is incredible strong, even for Magma's great strength.

Aliens Mephilas, Godola & Baltan were all hit by beams of pure energy & magic. Hipporit dived to one side to avoid getting buffeted himself, & each vile creature looked to see who it was that shot forth energy/magic projectiles at them: Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange & Thor were also freed from their straps due to Yullian's Princess Ray, with Stephen opening a portal that lead to Tokyo. But retreat was not in the cards just yet: Strange only opened it just long enough for Thor to summon Mjolnir, which was left there after their duel with Gomora, Red King & Black King. Holding out his right hand, Mjolnir raced into the palm of its rightful owner before Stephen closed his portal.

Yullian called for the Hulk to return, & he ceased his assault on Alien Magma before going over to her side.

Hulk enjoyed the female Ultra's company, & strangely enough, she enjoyed his.

The freed heroes were then joined by the others as they regrouped with Ultraman 80 as they gathered around the injured Ultraseven & Ultraman Leo, facing the five alien fiends & poised to attack.

"So…you so-called 'superheroes' managed to locate the Ultra warriors' home planet from your universe to try & rescue your friends!", said Alien Mephilas. "I must congratulate you on fulfilling that particular task! Especially you, Reed Richards – it's no wonder as to why you named yourself 'Mister Fantastic'!"

Mephilas laughed at his own little joke.

None of the heroes found it funny in the slightest, much less cracked a smile.

"But despite this little miracle, surely even you people must know that you cannot triumph!", Alien Baltan says. "Already two of the Ultra warriors have fallen victim to Magma's saber hand, & even having Ultraman 80 & Yullian by your side still will not be enough! Don't forget: there are five of us, & the other Ultra warriors – including the three rulers – are all hanging in a helpless state, making you totally outnumbered!"

"Oh, don't worry about that, bug-eyes!", Iron Man says as he flew down & rejoined his companions. "According to my calculations, the odds should be back in our own favor, right about…now!"

The sounds of chains breaking & falling to the floor caused the five aliens to look at something that was simply impossible for them to be witnessing: all of the captured Ultra warriors – the original Ultraman, Zoffy, Ultraman Jack, Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Taro, Astra, Father of Ultra, Mother of Ultra & Ultraman King – had been rejuvenated, their color timers shining a bright blue & red as they each bust loose from the giant metal crosses they'd been chained to.

With Ultraman King stepping out in front, he summons his Ultra Mantle cape which in turn summons his giant King Hammer & begins thrusting it forward several times, causing a jingling noise while he does so. Golden dust flows from this hammer as it approaches Ultraseven & Ultraman Leo, surrounding both injured Ultra warriors before they both feel their wounds healing up & their strength returning.

In no time, both Ultra warriors were back on their feet, each one feeling rejuvenated with renewed vitality.

The superheroes look in wonder at Ultraman King's abilities that have helped to heal up two of his people in an instant along with reviving the other Ultra warriors, thus making them all powerful again & ready to fight once more.

Thor was impressed by the elder Ultra warrior's hammer, believing that a powerful artifact like his could rival even that of Mjolnir's.

If only Father could see this hammer at work!, Thor thought. He'd be hugely impressed!

Alien Mephilas, Godola, Baltan, Magma & Hipporit each grow to their original sizes as Ultraman 80 & Yullian did the same, as they & their smaller comrades get ready for anything. Those that can fly were already airborne.

"Foolish heroes, all of you!", Alien Hipporit says. "You might have rescued your fellow super-beings from death, but you're too late in stopping what we've set in motion: even as we speak, our allies over upon your Earth have already begun the grand invasion! Soon, it will become overrun with more monsters than even you combined could handle! As you've all wasted time over here on Nebula M78 rescuing your comrades, the great storm we've planned for weeks is now bearing fruit! Soon, your Earth & universe will be doomed, followed by numerous others!"

Hipporit laughs with fiendish glee.

"We will never allow such fiendish creatures like yourself to conquer any number of worlds or universes as long as we all stand, Alien Hipporit!", says Ultraman Ace. "We've beaten you all before, & we will do so again!"

"I doubt it, Ultraman Ace!", Hipporit says. "Because while my comrades are heading to the alternate Earth, all of you will be too busy being killed here – by my hands! Mephilas, Godola, Magma, Baltan – join up with our comrades at the targeted Earth! I'll regroup with you all once I deal with these fools!"

"Got it, Hipporit!", Mephilas says before he, Godola, Magma & Baltan all began rising quickly up into the air just like balloons after their strings are cut. Three of them – Mephilas, Magma & Baltan – were surrounded by a bright aura of white light & vanished from sight before any of the heroes could stop them.

Alien Godola, however, wasn't so lucky: Ultraseven launched his Eye Slugger at the crab-like alien as it sliced through his neck like a knife through warm butter. Godola's headless corpse came crashing down as his head went in another direction while Seven's Eye Slugger returned to him like a boomerang, placing it back on his head again.

Looking at Alien Godola's beheading & back at the heroes again, Hipporit pointed towards his hated enemies.

"You won't defeat me so easily!", he quips.

"That's what they all say, monster!", Thor says, charging Mjolnir with electricity. "As long as there is life in even one of us, we will do whatever it takes to bring mad dogs like you down for the count!"

"You should know, Alien Hipporit, that you cannot win!", Doctor Strange says, his hands lit up with energy.

"As if lowly creatures like you can defeat me!", Hipporit says. "Even with all your powers combined, you will be crushed underfoot like the insects you truly are!"

"Some insects have powerful stingers that can be quite painful to even the most fiercest of animals, creature!", said Captain Marvel, her fists glowing with energy.

"There's an old saying we have back on Earth, Hipporit!", Iron Man puts in, his gauntlets glowing. "And it goes like this: 'Soar like a butterfly, sting like a bee', or something like that! If you really intent on picking a fight with us, we can only hope you brought yourself some bug spray – a whole shitload of bug spray, for you'll be needing it!"

"Hulk smash big alien!", Hulk bellowed, his fists clenched tight.

"You & us all, Hulk!", Rogue said. "Surrender now, Alien Hipporit, & we might offer leniency! If you choose to resist us, you will be given no mercy – from anyone here!"

Hipporit laughed at his words, being as meaningless as their lives.

"It will be a cold day in Hell before I ever lay down my arms & surrender to the likes of you!", he says.

"That's what we thought you'd say, Hipporit!", Captain America says. When next he speaks, he does so everyone can clearly hear him, superhero & Ultra warrior alike. "Avengers, Ultra warriors…ASSEMBLE!"

"In other words, boys & girls…", Ben started saying as the original Ultraman joined in. "IT'S CLOBBERING TIME!"

"Wait!", Father of Ultra says. "You heroes head back to your Earth! We all will handle Alien Hipporit here!"

The Earth's Mightiest Heroes were stunned by his answer.

"Father of Ultra, you expect us to abandon you in your time of need?", Wanda says. "We just can't do that!"

"You misunderstand, Wanda Maximoff", Mother of Ultra says. "We're not asking you to flee like cowards, as you are all anything but. The reason for my husband's request is because your Earth is in grave danger, & you need to get back to & defend it with the other superheroes from your world. Alien Hipporit may be a vile & horrible creature, but we doubt he was lying when he said that the invasion of your planet has begun."

"Our mother is correct!", Ultraman Taro says, turning to the Living Legend. "Captain America – Steve Rogers – head on back to your Earth immediately! My family & I will handle this menace before us! Once he gets defeated, we will join up with & help you save your world before it gets overrun!"

The other Ultra warriors nodded in conjunction with Taro.

Captain America sees the logic in what his new friends were saying, & the other heroes were starting to see it as well. Even the Hulk could understand what needs to be done.

"Giant monsters currently smashing Earth!", the Hulk says. "We need head back home so that we can smash giant monsters!"

"Even we can't argue with logic like that, Hulk!", Captain America says, facing his team. "Let's get going, gang! No telling what hell's being released back home! Reed?"

"Way ahead of you, Captain!", Reed says as he uses his wrist device to reopen the portal that will take them all back to their Earth.

"Let's go, everyone! Charles & T'Challa are waiting for us through that gate!", Human Torch says.

"Go, my friends! My brothers & I will cover your escape!", said the original Ultraman.

Without another word, the superheroes raced for the portal but stop short when Reed Richards called out.

"Just a moment!", he says, turning to the Ultra warriors. "Before we go…Ultraman King, I have something for you!"

The most powerful Ultra warrior turned to face the malleable scientist as Reed three a trio of objects at Ultraman King opened his left hand & caught them with ease. Opening his hand, he scanned the objects & immediately understood what they were. Facing Mister Fantastic, he nodded his appreciation.

"Thank you, Reed Richards! Here…permit me to give something to you in return!", Ultraman King says, using his cape to summon a quartet of objects that soared through the air & went to the heroes. Each of the objects all glowed a golden hue & looked like miniature comets as they split up & headed to four heroes in particular.

Thor, Captain America, Rogue & Captain Marvel.

Each one flew straight to the right wrist of these chosen heroes, latching onto them as their glow each dissipated & revealed themselves to be golden bracelets.

It puzzled the heroes.

"What are these?", asked Rogue.

"Devices that will help even the odds for you when you go into battle", Ultraman King says. "Go now, friends: head back to your Earth & stop the rising storm! Leave Alien Hipporit to us!"

Nodding, Captain Marvel gestured with her head to enter the portal as the heroes each went into the bright sphere of light, disappearing from Nebula M78. Wanda became the last to enter, but not before taking a last look at the Ultra warriors.

Good luck to all of you!, she thought.

Without another word or thought, Wanda entered the portal before it closed.

Alien Hipporit laughed at the fleeing heroes & remaining Ultra warriors.

"No matter what you may give them, Ultraman King, it still won't be enough to counter the invasion that is now underway over on their Earth!", Hipporit says. "Powers or not, they're still mere humans!"

"Even as 'mere humans', those people will fight to overcome whatever threatens their home world, Hipporit!", said Zoffy. "Their fighting spirit is unparalleled by even our standards, & they will prevail in the end just as they always have in the past!"

"And you will fare no better against all of us, Hipporit!", said Ultraman Jack.

"I nearly killed the lot of you last time, Ultraman Jack!", Hipporit says. "You think I'll turn tail & run just because you're all united against me now?!"

"Yes! The only reason you got the drop on us was because you had friends!", Father of Ultra says. "Now you're facing the entire Ultraman family at their peak! Therefore, I'll only ask you one last time…surrender now, or else face annihilation!"

"How ironic! Those are my exact words to you!"

Without another word, Alien Hipporit unleashed his full arsenal of weapons at the Ultraman family, each of who have scattered to avoid direct contact before firing their own weapons at the alien intruder.

The battle for supremacy has begun!

Inside the Baxter Building, New York City, the Marvel Universe:

Charles Xavier, T'Challa & Hank McCoy all waited for the portal to be reactivated from Reed Richards' end as it closed up once they entered it to travel to the Ultra warriors' home planet in their universe. In the time they were all left alone as their friends have all gone into the Ultra warriors' universe, the trio were checking out readings & other essentials to make certain no malfunctions were occurring: whenever traveling between dimensions/universes, nothing is worse than your equipment breaks down, thus stranding you in the other place with no way back.

Thankfully, nothing of the kind has happened: everything was operating without a single hitch.

Mostly in huge part to Reed's meticulous calculations.

It still didn't mean the trio weren't worried: even though gone for only several minutes, Xavier, T'Challa & Hank McCoy were all worried for their friends, having gone to a planet run by powerful giants with more than enough power to level whole cities, if not continents. Thankfully, these giants are as noble as can be, & they use their power to protect & defend the innocent, not rule over them.

The trio were both in fear of & yet fascinated by these 'Ultra warriors'.

A buzzing sound, followed by warning lights flashing put the trio on alert.

"Our friends are about to return to our world once more, gentlemen!", Xavier says.

"Indeed, Charles!", Hank said. "Let us grant them space for them to set foot into!"

Xavier, Hank & T'Challa all backed away from the large portal in the room to give their friends as much space as possible, knowing that they could very well be returning with more company than when they left.

Energy filled the portal as moments went by before several figures started arriving inside Reed laboratory: Rogue, Iron Man, Captain America, the entire Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel, Thor, Doctor Strange, Hulk, & finally the Scarlet Witch. The portal closed once the final member of their party came through.

"By Jove! They've made it back with each one of our formerly captured compatriots!", said the Beast.

"What, Hank? You actually doubted our ability to rescue our own?", Susan joked.

"None have ever entered my mind, Mrs. Richards! Like Charles & T'Challa, I've always known that you'd come back with a full house! I just didn't know how soon! Welcome back, everybody!"

The group smiled at Hank's welcoming home statement.

"And not a moment too soon, ladies & gentlemen!", T'Challa says. "My apologies for putting a damper upon the reunion, but we've received word from Franklin & Valeria that a disaster has befallen our world – many disasters!"

Everyone looked to each other in horror & deep worry.

"How long ago did they report this, T'Challa?", Susan asked.

"Only a few minutes ago, Mrs. Richards!", he replied. "Xavier, Hank & myself told them to keep watch upon the monitors until further notice!"

"It's no doubt what those filthy aliens told us about what they planned on, Captain!", said Doctor Strange.

"Most likely it is, Stephen!", Captain America said. "Let's get to where the kids are, Reed!"

"Agreed, Steve! Let's move, everyone!", Reed says as everybody started exiting Reed's laboratory & headed up into the living room/kitchen area where Franklin & Valeria were each waiting for their parents & friends to return.

"Mom! Dad!", they called out, running to & hugging them.

Reed & Susan returned the affection.

"Were you that worried about us?", Reed asked as both kids nodded.

"When you're traveling to another dimension/universe like that, how could we not be?", Valeria says.

"Point taken, Val", Susan says. "But as you can see, we've returned home safely – with all our friends to boot!"

"A part of yourself might not wish you had, mom!", Franklin said. "Go & check out the newsfeed, & you'll see exactly what I mean!"

Franklin pointed to the large flatscreen television in the living room as everyone turned to & viewed the broadcast.

What was being displayed chilled the bodies & souls of everybody in the room, including the Hulk's.

"Oh, my god", was all that the ladies could say.

CHAPTER III

Inside the Baxter Building:

A horror show like no other was being shown on the big flatscreen TV in the home/HQ of the Fantastic Four: on display were various news reports of giant monsters attacking many familiar areas. A pair of big-horned monsters were creating large waves/tsunamis in Lake Michigan, heading straight for the city of Chicago; a gigantic bird monster was flying over the skies of Russia, heading directly for Moscow; Alien Mephilas, now at a height of 60 meters, is currently engaged with U.S. armed forces at Lanier Heights along with another dinosaur-like beast that had crab/lobster claws as hands; the resurfacing fish monster Muruchi in the Pacific with two other creatures, heading for the island of Utopia; a pair of monsters approaching the city of Pyongyang, North Korea as the vast military engaged in a fierce battle with the beasts.

Reporters on the scenes & in the newsrooms were relaying the details as they happened, staying professional as chaos was erupting everywhere.

More than one were wondering where the Avengers are, & when they will be arriving to put a stop to the horrors that have befallen Earth.

"Curse thy murderous aliens!", Thor said angrily. "Their horrid plans are already underway as a rescue on your part was being commenced, Captain! Not that we're ungrateful for it, of course, but thy sure knows what…"

"It's okay, Thor – I know exactly what you mean", Captain America says. "And if we had to do it all over again, we wouldn't change a thing. We don't ever leave any of our people behind, no matter what."

"But even with everybody rescued & brought safely back home, is it still enough to stop…all of this?", Franklin asks, gesturing to the chaos displayed on the monitors.

"You needn't worry, Franklin", Wanda says. "No matter what the odds are or how high they're stacked against us, we will find a way to bring this to an end. I promise."

Wanda's smile gave Franklin & even his sister renewed confidence.

They smiled back in gratitude.

"Ah can't believe that our home of Utopia is under assault again, Professor!", Rogue says. "Ah've got to get over there & help Cyclops, Wolverine & all the others!"

Rogue started to head off, but Xavier placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"Wait, Rogue!", he says. "Believe me, I know how anxious you are to give Scott, Logan, Eric & the others a much-needed assist, but in a scenario like this, we need to first formulate a plan of action."

"Ah already have a plan of action, Charles! Get down there & kick some major monster ass!"

"Xavier is right, Rogue!", T'Challa says. "Rushing right into battle without the formulation of a plan or strategy first is practically inviting an early grave! We need to assess the situation, then decide on who best to send in to defeat an enemy!"

Rogue was about to speak when a warning sign blared within the room, & the monitors came on to reveal that of Shuri, Ramonda & Lunella calling in from half a world away.

The looks on the three ladies in Wakanda were those of utter fear.

"Sister! Mother! Miss Lafayette!", T'Challa says.

"Brother, it is imperative that you return to Wakanda immediately!", Shuri spoke, he voice filled with trepidation.

"Is it under attack again?!"

"See for yourself, my son!", Ramonda says, pressing a button.

The monitor switched over to a live satellite image of a horrible sight: a large robot with a golden metal hue that stood 55 meters tall was marching across the Wakandan landscape, sporting a pair of multi-colored patterns on its chest that flashed, along with a rectangular light at the top of its head. Points like antennae stuck out from the sides, & a pair of black dots were placed in between its pair of flashing lights, these believed to be its eyes. Placed upon its back were five cylindrical tanks clustered together, & its hands sported three fingers. It constantly made a sound that sounded like a combination of 'wash' & 'walk' on a continuous loop.

It is the Pedantian super robot King Joe.

King Joe struck the Wakanda forces with its Eldritch Shot from both its eyes, detonating aircraft in mid-air & the ground vehicles obliterated where they stood. Even their high-powered missiles & lasers could not penetrate King Joe's Pedantic armor, & they met their fates in fiery holocausts.

T'Challa's heart was crushed: many of his fellow people died when Kingsaurus III & Dinosaur Tank attacked his home before, & now it was under siege by a robot that isn't even being slowed down under such tremendous firepower.

"Something needs to be done, T'Challa!", Lunella says as she, Shuri & Ramonda appeared again. "That robot's heading straight for the city itself, & even we don't know if the barrier surrounding it will be enough to keep this thing out!"

"Help is on its way, Lunella Lafayette!", T'Challa says. "For now, do what you can to keep that robot away from the city, & make sure you all get to a safe & secure location!"

Ramonda, Shuri & Lunella all nodded.

"May the Panther Gods guide & protect you, my son!", Ramonda says.

"And you as well, Mother", T'Challa says.

The screen switched from the three ladies to images of Magneto, Cyclops, Storm & Wolverine, all calling in from Utopia.

"Erik! Scott! Ororo! Logan!", Beast says. "How goes the situation over at our home?"

"Not too good, Hank!", Ororo Munroe says. "The kids are all just as scared as they were before, & even Kurt & Emma are having a hard time keeping them calm! To be honest, I just can't blame them!"

"Neither can I, Storm! It was bad enough the first time we were invaded by a pair of giant beasties, & now our beloved Utopia will soon be attacked by a trio of them!"

"How soon before their arrival, Scott?", Xavier asked.

"According to our calculations, Professor, they'll be within striking distance in about ten minutes!", Cyclops said. "Have you folks had any luck in locating exactly where these monsters are originating from, Captain?"

"Not as of yet, Summers", Captain America said. "But rest assured, we won't give up until we do."

"Once you do get that location, Rogers, I want in on it!", Logan says, extending the claws on his right hand. "I'm so in the mood to cut something!"

"I figured as much, Logan. As soon as we get an exact fix on their point of origin, I'll personally see to it that you get your chance to sink your claws into those responsible for…"

"Pardon me, Cap, but I believe we may all get our wish in just a few moments!", Iron Man says. "Just hold tight."

The heroes wait patiently as Iron Man's armor got to work computing data in record time before the armor-clad hero shined a holographic image from his chest that measured 6 feet high & 4 feet wide. It displayed an area located in eastern Asia, in the Korean landscape.

It locked onto a particular area for all to see.

"Well, what do you know?", Iron Man says. "Our mystery guests are located over in the area of Pongchon County, in the country of good ol' North Korea!"

"Of course!", Scarlet Witch says. "It makes perfect sense: North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in all the world, & whoever is behind conjuring up these monsters from the other universe is holed up there, thinking that nobody would ever consider finding them there, due to its dictator of a ruler owning it with an iron hand!"

"A perfect hiding place, I must say!", Captain Marvel says. "How did you discover where their point of origin is when nobody else could've earlier, Tony?"

"Like this, Carol", Tony Stark explains. "While we were still over at Nebula M78 in the other universe, my suit got a reading of the disappearing aliens that were sent over here to our Earth. Once we returned, my suit linked up with my satellites across the globe to search for anything similar resembling those energy readings my suit picked up. They'd begun the search the moment we got back home, & now we're seeing the results."

"Perfect!", Ben Grimm says, putting a fist in his palm. "Now we can put an end to these monster mashes, not to mention whoever's causing them!"

"Nothing we'd like better, Ben!", Reed says. "How do you think we should play this out, Captain?"

"I think I've got the perfect line-up to deal with this, Reed!", Captain America says. "To deal with the situation over in Chicago, I believe we should send…"

Captain America's address was interrupted by a sudden quake in Manhattan, taking everyone by surprise as they all fought to regain their footing & balance. Even the Hulk was rocked by the sudden tremor.

"Where earthquake coming from?", Hulk wondered orally.

"I believe it's right here in the city, big guy…and it felt awfully close at that!", Johnny said. "What hit us?"

On the monitor, a separate screen featuring Vision, Hawkeye & Janet appeared.

"Cap, you better take a gander at this!", Hawkeye says.

"What was it that hit us, Clint?", Cap says.

"It's best to see for yourself, Captain", Vision said. "A picture is worth a thousand words, so…"

Vision pressed a button to display a two-part shot of a pair of brand-new terrors that have invaded the Big Apple: another robot in a golden hue has just arrived in Central Park, but unlike King Joe, this robot was shorter in height, as it stood only 42 meters tall. Another difference is that its left arm is short with a small pincer for a hand at the end of it, while its right arm is three times the length with an even larger pincer claw. A storage compartment like a garage door is located on its chest, & pipes were adorned on the side of its head as a template rests upon the top. The robot stood on a pair of thin but powerful legs. The second shot showed a monster emerging from beneath the Hudson River upon the west side of Manhattan: it was a dinosaur-like creature with an ivory hue in its flesh tone, coupled with patches of black in areas. The dinosaurian head sported a pair of shark-like fins that rotated where the eyes should be, & the mouth looks like a zipper that was zipped up. Its hands were molded together & sported three holes in each, leaving only the thumbs present & looking like it was wearing mittens. A long snake/eel-like tail rose up & splashed down into the water from behind.

Just as with Wakanda & Utopia, Manhattan was invaded for the second time by giant monsters: the short robot with the long right arm is called Crazygon, while the dinosaurian monster in the Hudson is called Eleking.

Eleking screeched to acknowledge his presence, the noise sounding like nails on a chalkboard.

As if the other two creatures we fought weren't bad enough!, Stephen Strange thought, recalling the fight he had between him & Saramandora, while Spider-Man, Daredevil & Venom dealt with the monster called Dancan.

"This is the second time New York's been hit by a pair of giant beasts in as many hours, Captain!", Janet replied. "People are only starting in getting back to normal, only to have two more show up on their doorstep!"

"I know exactly how you & they feel, Janet, believe me!", Captain America says. "But thankfully, we've gotten a solid lead on where these creatures are being transported from that other universe! As I was mentioning before, here's the way we should divide our forces & help end all this: Storm should head over to Chicago & stop the monsters creating a tsunami; Rogue can head over to Utopia & help her fellow mutants there; Thor, I want you to head over to Wakanda & scrap that giant robot wreaking havoc; Johnny Storm, I'd like for you to remain here in Manhattan & go help out my fellow Avengers in repelling the other giant robot and the creature that emerged from the Hudson; Carol, as Doctor Strange takes Reed, Susan, Ben, Tony, Wanda, T'Challa, Cyclops, Wolverine & both the Red and green Hulk over to Pongchon County in North Korea, I want you to get over to Pyongyang & deal with those menaces wrecking the capital! Also…Vision, I want you to get in touch with Nick Fury & let him know that we've got a bead on where the monsters are being teleported from! He's going to want in on this as we do!"

"Understood, Captain", Vision replied. "But what shall we do about the bird creature attacking Moscow, not to mention yourself?"

"Vision does have a point, Captain Rogers", Magneto says. "What shall you be doing to help stop all this?"

"Fair questions, Vision, Magneto", Captain America said. "The creature hitting Russia's capital is no doubt being handled by that country's Winter Guard team. As for your question, Magneto, before I join Stephen Strange in North Korea, I'm heading over to our nation's capital of Washington, D.C.! If Alien Mephilas & his pet think he can demolish our democracy, they'd better think again!"

Captain America turned to Doctor Strange, who nodded.

"The battle plans have been made, Captain. Now it's time to implement them, starting with you", Stephen Strange says, swirling his left hand to form a teleportation ring. It showed the area of Connecticut Avenue in the Dupont Circle District, some of it partially damaged. In the background, everyone can hear the sounds of battle: guns blazing, people shouting out in terror & men barking orders at soldiers, followed by the sound of Mephilas laughing along with that of his giant pet.

It was more than Captain America could stand.

"All right, gang, here we go!", he says before entering the portal & disappearing from sight.

Once he vanished, Stephen closed his portal as everyone watched the monitor that showed the area of America's capital city.

Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C.:

Steve Rogers looked around at the destruction Alien Mephilas & his giant monster caused upon his arrival. He had of course read about the War of 1812 while still in school, when the British army attacked & burned down the U.S. Capital in August 1814 before it was built to its current glory in 1868.

This current attack upon the nation's capital made the War of 1812 & even the Civil War feeble by comparison.

Mephilas' monster companion stood 60 meters in height, having a body & limbs consisting of stacked tires, just like the famed Michelin Man he'd seen in TV commercials & in the city. Its hands & feet were each a giant silver claw, which seemed capable of cutting through solid forged steel. The head was attached to a neck that had lurched slightly forward, sporting a pair of elongated ears that looked like spikes. Sinister eyes & a mouth filled with sharp teeth made this creature as vicious as it looked, & the tail ended with four short spikes.

Captain America wondered as to how he was going to manage to bring down even one of these invaders from an alternate dimension.

He then remembered the bracelet he was presented with from Ultraman King.

Staring at it on his right wrist, he remembered what he said about using these 'gifts' that would help even the odds in the great battle ahead of them.

If Captain America was ever going to need an advantage against Alien Mephilas & his giant pet, the time is now.

All right, Ultraman King, Steve thought. Let's see what this little gadget can do for me.

He thrusts his arm forward, waiting for that something to happen.

Nothing did, so he tried again.

The results were the same.

Frustrated, Captain America held his wrist up to his face, wanting nothing more than to yell at the thing before ripping it off & tossing it away. Before he gave it a second thought, the bracelet started glowing as Cap was hit somewhat by a silent message which only he could hear. It was then that Steve Rogers knew & understood what he needed to do.

Standing firm on his feet, Captain America raised his right fist in the air as the bracelet took on its brightest glow which engulfed the Living Legend as the light show grew in height. When it was over & the light dissipated, the people of Washington, D.C. & all of America were greeted to an incredible sight: where Captain America once stood in all his 6-foot-2-inch glory now stood a giant figure in red, white & blue with a pair of yellow oval eyes & a robot-like mouth who stood a whopping 50 meters tall. Even his shield grew in size when he did, & the wings from the side of his head in his original suit were also present.

Captain America takes a quick look at his new form & was astounded beyond belief.

I'm…I'm an Ultraman!, Steve thought. So, this is what Ultraman King meant from before!

Surprised as he was by this sudden transformation, Steve Rogers also liked it!

Okay…now we're talking!, Steve thought.

With his newfangled look, Captain America called out to his enemies.

"Alien Mephilas!", he shouted.

Said alien & his monster companion stopped in their rampage & turned to the now-giant Living Legend.

The alien from another world was mildly impressed by the Captain's transformation. Mildly.

He even laughed in amusement.

"So…the legendary 'Captain America' has been given the power of becoming an Ultraman, has he?", Mephilas says. "It still won't make any difference: this Earth & all its people will soon fall to our unmatched might!"

"Not so long as I'm standing, Alien Mephilas! And for the record? In this form, you can refer to me as 'Ultraman America'!"

"I'd rather refer to you as a pompous fool who'll be dead in only moments! Sadora…kill him!"

Sadora roared like a soaring eagle or hawk & charged at Ultraman America with his pincers clicking, determined to cut & rip his opponent into pieces.

The Baxter Building, New York City:

As Ultraman America battled Sadora within the nation's capital, all the heroes watching from not only the Baxter Building, but also at Avengers Tower, Wakanda & even Utopia were all astonished beyond belief & words at the sudden transformation from human-sized to a staggering 50 meters tall.

"I tell you, people: if I hadn't seen that shit with my own eyes, I would've never believed it!", Hawkeye said.

"For once, I have to concur with you on that statement, archer!", Magneto said. "How on Earth did Captain America obtain the ability of becoming a giant?"

It was then that the answer hit Thor, Rogue & Captain Marvel.

"The bracelets!", the trio say in unison.

"Come again?", Lunella asked.

"Just before we left the Ultra warriors' home planet to come back home, Captain America, Thor, Rogue & myself have each been gifted with this gold bracelet!", Captain Marvel says, showing hers as her friends do the same.

"When ah asked what these bracelets were, Ultraman King only said that they'd be something ta help us 'even the odds', as it were!", Rogue says. "Ah just never thought they'd be gifting us the power to become an Ultraman, of all things!"

"But as you humans are quite fond of saying, dear Rogue, 'Never look a gift horse in the mouth'!", Thor said. "If Ultraman King granted the four of us to harness this power, then we should use thy power to protect this planet – just as they would for the Earth in their universe!"

"Well said, Thor! And now that we have this power to help us even the odds in our favor, it's time ta really get this party started! Doc Strange…time ta make with the portal magic, starting with Utopia!"

"Coming right up, Rogue", Stephen Strange says, conjuring up a portal that leads directly into the interior of the island home for mutants. Inside she saw Magneto, Storm, Cyclops & Wolverine all on standby.

"Good luck, y'all!", Rogue says, heading for the portal.

"The same back to you, Rogue!", Wanda says as Rogue nodded just before entering the portal.

In seconds she was replaced by Storm, Cyclops & Wolverine, all of whom were now standing inside of the Baxter Building before Stephen Strange closed it & reopened another a few feet away – this time opening up to the Windy City of Chicago. The sounds of people fleeing & water gushing could be heard, along with the sounds of two monsters on fast approach.

"Ororo Munroe…I believe this is your stop", Stephen says.

"So it is, Stephen Strange", Ororo says before turning to Black Panther. "T'Challa."

"Ororo", T'Challa says before Storm took to the air & flew off into the portal, disappearing from sight before this one also closed up, leaving the X-Men's weather wizard in the Windy City.

Some, such as Xavier, were worried that Ororo & T'Challa would get engaged in an argument before carrying on with their mission. Thankfully, they put their task first before anything else, being spared to listen to a heated quarrel between a husband & wife.

It displayed both Ororo & T'Challa's professionalism.

"Miss Munroe is en route", Stephen says. "That leaves Thor & Miss Danvers to send."

"We are ready, wizard", Thor says, holding up Mjolnir.

"As Rogue said before, let's get this party started!", Captain Marvel says.

Conjuring up two more portals, Stephen Strange displayed a scene of a vast jungle in the first portal, followed by the sounds of battle in the foreground as people speaking Wakandan were shouting orders & screaming in pain. T'Challa wanted nothing more than to rush into the portal with Thor & help his people & country. Thor notices the anxiety in the Ruler of Wakanda, & does his best to ease his burdens.

"Worry not, T'Challa", he says. "I shall defeat yon giant robot & keep your people – including your family – as safe as can be. You have my word."

"Thank you, Thor. May the Gods watch over & guide you", T'Challa says as Thor nods before using Mjolnir to fly him into the portal leading to Wakanda.

As Thor went to his destination, there was only Captain Marvel left.

"All right, folks, wish me luck!", Carol says.

"Best of luck, Carol", Cyclops said.

"Give 'em hell, girl!", Wolverine said.

Carol smiled at Logan's remark, nodding in his direction before flying into the portal & vanishing from sight.

Like the others before her, the portal shrunk & disappeared itself.

"I guess now it's my turn", Johnny Storm says. "Be careful over in North Korea, guys: you might have more than just giant monsters & aliens to worry about!"

"No worries, kid", Iron Man said. "If that fat, chubby Eraserhead of a dictator gives us any kind of trouble, he'll be getting a serious spanking like no one before him, guaranteed."

"Let's hope he's not that stupid, Mr. Stark. Stay cool, everyone! Flame on!"

Johnny Storm spontaneously combusted into his codename of Human Torch & took off for the window, heading directly outside to join the Avengers & do battle with a second duo of giant creatures.

"Now that everyone's off to where they need to be, it's time we got going ourselves. But first…", Reed says as he dug into his pocket to fish out the communicator given to him by his earlier 'guest'. "Victor? It's me. Listen: we've got a solid lead on where the monsters are appearing in our world. Its location is at the area of Pongchon County, the country of North Korea."

"Excellent news, Richards!", Victor replied. "I knew you could pull off what even I couldn't! I have already set a course for said destination in my ship's computer, & heading towards it even as we speak! I'll meet you there, old friend!"

The communication ended before Reed could say anything.

The two X-Men in the room weren't too happy with Reed's decision to contact Victor, & had very good reason for it.

"Hold on, Richards!" Cyclops said. "Victor…as in Victor Von Doom? Doctor Doom?!"

"This is one time I'm fully in par with Scott, Reed!", Wolverine said. "What were you thinking by involving your worst enemy in this?! You do realize that he'll stab you all right in the back once we finish our objective, don't you?!"

"We're all aware of that possibility, Scott Summers, Logan", Xavier said.

"Et tu, Professor?", Cyclops says. "You're one of the last people I'd ever suspect of collaborating with the likes of Doctor Doom!"

"Same here, Chuck!", Wolverine says. "Have you already forgotten when that tin-plated dictator went toe-to-toe with us?!"

"Of course I haven't", Xavier says. "Scott, Logan…Victor Von Doom may be one of the Fantastic Four's greatest enemy, along with the Avengers and the X-Men, but he's also a native of this Earth, & will do what it takes to protect it, same as with his homeland of Latveria, which was also attacked by giant monsters along with two of his neighboring countries. Like it or not, gentlemen, Victor has as much right to see this through to the end as we do. It's really not much different from Erik wanting to protect Utopia…which he has ever since he arrived."

Wolverine & Cyclops heeded Xavier's words: even when Erik (Magneto) has fought the X-Men numerous times in the past, he was always mindful of his fellow mutants & would do anything to keep them safe no matter what. To the people of Earth, he wouldn't have hesitated in putting them down if it gave cause to the mutant race, despite facing objections from Xavier & his X-Men.

It was one of the reasons why they've clashed with the Mutant Master of Magnetism over the years.

But having found Utopia, where mutants can live in peace without being harassed by ordinary people, he's been on his best behavior, never attacking any major metropolis or even the people within.

Cyclops & even Wolverine had to admit it.

Victor Von Doom is no different: despite his past with heroes like the X-Men and Fantastic Four, he's been kept busy with caring for his people in Latveria instead of trying to conquer the planet like he's attempted several times in the past.

"You really take Victor Von Doom on his word, Reed?", Cyclops asked.

"I certainly do, Scott Summers", Reed replied. "Faults aside, Victor is a man who's true on his word. I've known him for many years to believe that what he tells me is truth."

Cyclops & Wolverine faced Xavier, who nods.

"All right, Richards, we'll cooperate with Doom on this", Logan says. "But hear this: if he so much as looks at me funny in any way, shape or form, he's going to be dethroned & disposed of by my friends here!"

Wolverine extends his claws once before retracting them.

"And if that doesn't stop him, my optic blasts will finish the job indefinitely!", Scott adds. "These beams I project can punch through solid concrete, so you can only imagine what they'll do to a person!"

"We'll deal with that if it comes to it, gentlemen", Reed says. "Right now, Victor knows that we're on the same page. Now…let's collect our final member & be off to our true destination."

"Time to go smash?", Hulk asked.

"We're on the verge of it, big guy", Wolverine says. "Believe me, I'm just as anxious to go & do some damage as you are."

Hulk & Wolverine may not always see eye to eye on a lot of things when they first met in Canada years ago, but when it comes to defeating common enemies, they become almost like brothers.

Wolverine & Hulk can live with that.

In fact, they even gave each other a small & sinister smile, knowing that game time will commence real soon.

"Xavier & I shall remain here in the Baxter Building to keep a close eye on things, if that's all right with you, Dr. Richards", Hank McCoy says.

"Perfectly, Hank", Reed said. "In fact, you two can be our eyes in the sky with our satellites: if you and/or Charles happen to see something that might be of interest to us, we'd like to know about it."

"Consider it to be done, Reed", Xavier said. "Good luck to all of you."

"Thank you, Xavier", Wanda said, turning to the Sorcerer Supreme. "Time to pick up our final recruit & get to our destination, Stephen."

"And so we shall, Wanda", Stephen Strange says, opening another pair of portals: one leading right into Avengers Tower, the other leading to an area in the most isolated country in the world.

The group see their last recruit, who waited for his ride to arrive & entered.

Closing one portal, the heroes now enter the second that leads into North Korea.

It was time for the endgame to commence.

Central Park, New York City:

A team of heroes were dispatched once Captain America compiled them before he took off for Washington, D.C.: Vision, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Giant Man, Wasp, & Falcon were joined not only by Human Torch, but also Daredevil, Spider-Man & Venom to intercept Crazygon, who was scaring away the people in & near Central Park, & Eleking, who was literally making waves in the Hudson River, surfacing & approaching the Joe DiMaggio Highway, near 61st Street.

"I can't believe this!", Spider-Man said. "What – the first two weren't enough, so they had to send a second pair to take another bite out of the Big Apple?! No wonder New York has a bad reputation for being synonymous with crime & corruption!"

"Unless the gate between our universes gets shut down, Spider-Man, our Earth will continue to receive visitors like these beasts on an endless loop", Vision said.

"We should be doing exactly that, android!", Venom said. "The lives of innocent people are at stake here!"

"There's already a group heading out to do just that, Venom!", said Hank Pym. "Our task is to make sure these damn things get put down before they level the city like the other two attempted!"

"But you're right about the innocent people being at risk, Venom!", Hawkeye said. "That's what Quicksilver is here for – to minimize casualties as much as possible!"

"So…how do we commence with this?", asked Daredevil. "Split into two separate teams?"

"That's precisely what we're going to do, Daredevil!", Wasp said. "Vision, Spider-Man, Falcon, Hank and you will take on the robot! Hawkeye, Venom, Torch & myself – the big creature in the Hudson is all ours! Do whatever it takes to keep it away from the mainland on either side of it! Quicksilver…"

"Snatch those who can't escape from the danger fast enough, got it!", Pietro says before speeding off in a blue & white streak, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"Let's get to work, people! Avengers…assemble!", Wasp cried out before each hero heads off to their assigned targets.

Another pair of raging battles in Manhattan has begun!

Moscow, Russia:

The flying creature appeared out of nowhere over the skies of Sokolniki Park, letting out a boisterous screech that caused people to look up. What they saw was a complete nightmare: the monster was that of a gigantic bird which had a length/height of 62 meters, a pair of wings that ended in hands that sported three clawed fingers. The feet are also clawed, & its feathers were multi-colored all over its body. A short tail protruded in the back, & feathered spines rose from its back to the top of its head. A pointed beak adorned its face, & a pair of sacs dangled just below it.

It was a horrible sight to see over the skies of Russia's capital, & its name is Birdon – a giant monster that was successful in killing not one Ultra warrior, but two, for a brief period.

Birdon saw the hordes of people below & descended towards the park to feed upon the fleeing humans, snatching them up with the tip of his beak & gobbling them like they were French Fries. Local police & Spetsnaz came in with high-powered weapons & shot at the bird monster, but they too were gobbled up by Birdon, the sounds of flesh & bone crunching sickened anyone who heard it. From the air, Russian Yakovlev Yak-130 fighter jets & Mil Mi-24 choppers approached to deal with Birdon, as heavy machine gunfire & a bombardment of powerful bombs & missiles, many of which struck Birdon but never causing any serious damage to the bird monster.

Taking to the air, Birdon flew after his aggressors & attacked them with a high intensity flame that he shot forth from his shark beak, with others he simply plowed into & detonated them in mid-air.

With each aircraft taken down, hardly anyone had time to deploy parachutes, & those that did ended up being a snack for Birdon as he snatched each one in the air as they descended down.

Each one of these pilots screamed in terror before entering the bird monster's deadly beak, becoming silenced for good.

All the Mil Mi-24 choppers weren't so fortunate either: Birdon crashed into some, while simply flying by to cause more than enough winds to make the whirlybirds spin out of control & crash into the ground, killing their entire crews & starting fires in various districts of the city.

Birdon landed his feet onto the roof of the Bolshoi Theater, flattening it underneath his tremendous weight, killing anyone who was unfortunate enough to still be in the vicinity. He unleashed a victorious roar as he vanquished all his enemies that dared to attack him.

From out of the blue, something struck Birdon in the beak with enough force to cause the bird monster to cry out in surprise & pain. Turning to the source of the attack, Birdon spotted seven humans attired in unusual outfits: one was in a complete red suit of armor, one in a red cloak with hood, a robot with the Russian red star on its shoulders, a viking-like brute with torn red cape & battle axe that sparkled with electricity, a figure with a shield that has also sported the country's red star, a large humanoid bear, plus a woman who floated in the air surrounded by an aura of golden energy.

They are the group known as the Winter Guard, Russia's answer to the Avengers: Crimson Dynamo, Russia's Iron Man; Red Widow, the red country's Black Widow; Vostok, a synthezoid robot who can control machines; Perun, a brute who's even more ornery than Thor; Red Guardian aka Vanguard, Russia's own Captain America; Ursa Major, a literal Russian bear that spends most of his time getting drunk; Darkstar, a mistress of the Darkforce.

Birdon screeched at the newcomers with contempt, as it was Perun who struck the creature in his beak with his lightning bolts, causing pain in the beast.

"Got your attention, have we, monster?!", Perun barked at the thing. "Good! Now let's see how you fare against a real challenge instead of easy pickings!"

"Warning: the likelihood of an attack by creature is approximately 100%!", Vostok announced.

A stream of flames spewed from Birdon's beak, aiming where the Winter Guard were before they scattered like ants found under a rock. The flames struck the building they were on, detonating them into flaming debris as they went flying everywhere.

"Brilliant deduction like always, Vostok!", Ursa Major growled annoyingly. "Who wouldn't have guessed that might've happened?!"

"Stow it, Ursa Major!", Vanguard said. "Go do something useful like helping the citizens to evacuate before I'm thinking of having a new bearskin rug!"

Ursa Major growled lowly, but he did as he was told.

"Perun! I want you, Vostok, Darkstar & Crimson Dynamo to hit this creature with everything you've got in your arsenals!", Red Widow says. "Most importantly, do not let it leave this city unless as a lifeless corpse!"

"Copy that, Red Widow!", Crimson Dynamo said. "Nobody & nothing attacks our beloved Mother Russia & just walks away!"

For once, Dmitri Bukharin, we can agree on something!, Red Widow thought, as she's always challenging her comrade about who leads the Winter Guard, when she is the team's actual contact with the Russian government.

On this occasion, however, they don't argue the matter due to their feelings with Birdon becoming mutual.

With a solid strike from Crimson Dynamo, Birdon screeched in rage & went after his new foes.

Moscow's existence will be determined this day.

Utopia, island home of the X-Men, off the coast of San Francisco:

With the departure of Cyclops, Wolverine & Storm to perform other tasks, Rogue reappeared as Stephen's portal closed up from behind her. As she arrived on Utopia, Rogue had been greeted by Magneto, Colossus, Iceman, Gambit, Namor & Emma Frost. She was informed by Gambit that Kurt Wagner has the kids in the special safety bunker within the island, remaining with them to keep them safe & calm as best he could.

Taking a look out into the Pacific Ocean, Rogue & her fellow mutants have spotted the giant fish monster which the Ultra warriors called Muruchi, along with two other monsters traveling with him: the first newcomer was something of a quadrupedal creature but also fish-like, measuring 50 meters in length, having a flesh hue of black, white, & orange. A short tail in the rear ended in a small fin & its feet were in the shape of paddles, enabling it to swim with ease. The pointed head sported a drill that actually spins like one, & a mouth filled with sharp teeth made it a natural predator.

Its companion was a combination of an amphibian & reptile, measuring about 60 meters in height & having a hue of dark green with a pale yellow in the fins on its arms, head & back. Its hands sporter three fingers & were webbed for swimming. A frog-like mouth was filled with sharp teeth, & a pink tongue could be seen when it opened its maw to let out a roar that was deep & gravel-like.

The second fish-like monster is known as Gubila, while the amphibian-reptile hybrid is named Gesura.

Gubila roared with a sound that was like a screech more than anything.

All three aquatic monsters were heading for the mutant island, & were only minutes away.

Rogue & the other mutants get into defensive positions.

"Get ready, everyone!", Rogue said. "Once these things get within striking distance, y'all give them everything you've got, & don't let up until they're put down! Understand?"

"Copy that, Cherie!", Gambit says, taking out several cards in one hand. "We've beaten those other two monsters that came to our humble abode, & we'll surely beat Moe, Larry and Curly here!"

"Just don't get too cocky, Cajun!", Magneto replied. "Their tremendous size alone makes these beasts formidable opponents, & who knows what abilities they may possess! That goes for all of you!"

"I will focus my energies on the lizard creature!", said Namor. "Iceman can assist me with it!"

"I'm at your service, your highness!", Iceman replied, making the Ruler of Atlantis smile.

"We are prepared for battle this time, Rogue! Just say the word!", Colossus says.

"Although, I really wish the kids were taken off the isle before these things get here", Emma says. "Kurt feels the same way: not that he doesn't trust the safety bunker, but…"

"Ah understand how you & Kurt feel about the kids' safety, Emma, believe me", Rogue says. "But there wasn't any time to commence with an evacuation, & Doctor Strange had other duties to perform. Don't worry: if the bunkers aren't safe enough, Kurt can teleport them from here ASAP."

A promising look on Rogue's face gave Emma all the confidence she needs.

"Fair enough", Emma replied.

Muruchi's roar brought the mutants back to the fight which was to come.

It was then that Rogue decided to go into action, first 'dressing for the occasion'.

That's close enough, I'd say!, Rogue thought, raising her right arm in the air.

As with Captain America, Rogue's gold bracelet was shining bright as she got bathed within it, causing the other mutants to shield their eyes. When it dissipated, they were staring at a phenomenal sight: Rogue was transformed into a 50-meter-tall Ultra warrior with the green & white of her uniform still intact with her new appearance.

Her head also retained her hair style, even though it didn't act like normal hair.

Rogue has also become an Ultra warrior!

Magneto, Emma & her fellow mutants couldn't believe the unbelievable metamorphosis that just occurred with the mutant that has the Caldecott County accent; one moment she was a mere 5 feet, 8 inches tall, & the next she was a towering giant, complete with her outfit in the style of an Ultra warrior.

WOW!, Rogue thought as she observed herself in her new form. So this is what it's like to be an Ultra warrior! No wonder Dan, Gen, Takeshi, Ryoko & the others enjoy it so damn much!

"Rogue? Is that really you?!", Emma called out to her as the now-giant mutant turned to her.

"You bet it is, Emma!", Rogue replied with a slight chuckle. "Ah might look different, but it's still me! And for as long as ah'm in this stage, y'all might as well call me 'Ultra Rogue'!"

Emma turned to her fellow mutants, & they all smiled, each one enjoying the new look & name she gave herself.

The one-time member of the Hellfire Club smiled too, enjoying it herself.

"I love it!", she says.

"And just in time!", Ultra Rogue said, facing the monster trio. "Here we go, people!"

Muruchi, Gubila & Gesura bellowed their roars as the mutants on Utopia & Ultra Rogue begin their attack.

The fight for Utopia starts now!

Maggie Daley Park, Chicago, Illinois:

Alarms all over the city blared as the citizens started running in the opposite direction of the two approaching monsters out in the southern part of Lake Michigan. Ororo Munroe – Storm – arrived to see large waves erupting from where the two monsters were, knocking over fishing boats, skiers & surfers, many of which would never resurface.

The waves were getting closer to the shores of Chicago, with people still present amid the terrible danger. Floating up to an altitude of 65 meters, Storm summoned her powers to create winds that would push back the raging waters that threaten to turn the Windy City into the next Atlantis. Straining with her power, Storm manages to create strong winds which began to make the lake water withdraw from the city, pushing it back out & sparing the city a major flooding.

It took a lot of energy on her part, but Storm was successful.

With the waters going back to normal, Ororo can now see clearly the two monsters that summoned the tidal waves in their presence: one was a quadrupedal creature, measuring a length of 43 meters & looking like a lizard with a short tail, a small sail on its back, overlapping scales protecting its neck & having a mouth like a dinosaur's, filled with sharp teeth. From behind its eyes were two very small horns, with a much larger one protruding from its snout. Same as with its companion, the flesh had a grey hue with a sickly golden yellow on its stomach. The second creature was a bipedal monster, measuring at a height of 62 meters. It had four fingers on each hand, all of which ended in shar claws. A small sail was adorned on its back & long tail, with 3-4 spiked fins in the back of its head. Like its smaller companion, this creature had a neck guard & sported two small horns behind its eyes, plus a slightly larger horn right above them. Its longest horn protruded from its snout, being twice the length of its companion's. The mouth was filled with sharp teeth, with a pair of long fangs on either side.

Each of their roars bellowed throughout the city, with the bipedal creature's being lower in pitch but powerful as its mate bellowed a sound that was higher in pitch yet still similar.

These creatures are the husband-&-wife duo of Seamons (the quadruped) & Seagorath (the bipedal).

And Ororo Munroe – Storm of the X-Men – must deal with them both.

So, it was these two monsters that caused the tsunami, did they?, Storm thought. Very well, then…let's see just who's the real weather wizard around here!

With that thought, Storm prepared to do battle against Seamons & Seagorath as they make their way to shore.

The Windy City will soon be getting much windier.

CHAPTER IV

Wakanda:

King Joe dispensed with whatever military forces the kingdom threw at it, from shooting forth its eye beams to simply stomping on & swatting vehicles & aircraft like they were no more than cheap model kits. Only about a handful or so of warriors managed to escape a horrible death by this super robot from another dimension.

Watching her country's forces getting literally crushed underfoot by King Joe, Okoye ordered for a full retreat back into the main city.

Everybody who was able to obeyed the field commander's order without question, happy to be away from the robotic menace that struck their beloved homeland. Following the retreating forces, King Joe is within striking distance of the main city of Wakanda, sending chills up the spines of Ramonda, Lunella Lafayette, Shuri & even Okoye.

Okoye gave the order to raise the barrier, which spread throughout the entire city & coating it with an electrical shield that is virtually impenetrable to basically all kinds of assaults.

As for this giant robot, they have no idea if the barrier will be effective against something so big & powerful.

Ramonda, Lunella, Shuri, Okoye & everybody else are all saying a silent prayer that the barrier does hold.

Coming in contact with said energy shield, King Joe gets knocked backwards a few steps & gives itself a study of the barrier from left to right, even up & down, looking & scanning for a weakness or flaw in its design. The people in Wakanda – including Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur – watch & wait with baited breath to see what this giant robot will do: will it decide to attack the city even with its barrier erected, or simply give in & retreat?

Most are believing it will do the latter, but those with better sense know better than to think it will throw in the towel & withdraw.

Those who adamantly feel that this fight is far from finished are Ramonda, Lunella, Shuri & Okoye.

Even Lafayette's big friend Devil Dinosaur believes that a big fight against King Joe is on the horizon.

A low threatening growl from the Tyrannosaurus' maw makes him believe that things will be much worse before they get better in Wakanda.

Like any other animal in the 21st Century, Devil Dinosaur's instincts serve him well: King Joe gave the barrier a most thorough scan at every angle, thus commencing with its assault. Its hands forming fists, King Joe began pounding on the energy barrier that surrounded the main city. With each contact it made with the shield, the energy cackled madly as every fist that struck it created vibrations which were felt even from within the metropolis of Wakanda.

"So far that energy barrier's holding, but…even I can't say for just how long!", Lunella says.

"I know exactly how you feel, Lunella!", Ramonda says. "I dread that all we've succeeded in doing is buying us only a little time!"

"I feel the same way as you do, Mother!", Shuri says. "Strong as it is, that barrier looks as if it won't last for too long…not with that big robot pounding on it mercilessly! What is this thing made of?!"

Okoye did a quick scan of King Joe to try & answer Shuri's question – one she wanted answered herself.

It took only a couple seconds to receive one.

"According to this, the robot is made from some kind of alien metal, which is close to the durability to our very own vibranium!", Okoye says, reading the results to the others. "I can't say exactly what kind of metal it is, but I can say that conventional weaponry is all but useless against it!"

"Then how in God's name are we going to beat this big robot, Okoye?", Shuri asked.

"However we do it, Shuri, we need a damn miracle!"

Looking out the window over to where King Joe was relentlessly bashing on the energy barrier surrounding the city, Lunella & Shuri were starting to feel that no miracle was inbound.

Both doubted that even if T'Challa/Black Panther were here, even he probably wouldn't know how to deal with this latest giant menace that has invaded their home; even though it's now only a single enemy instead of two just like last time, King Joe makes both Kingsaurus II and Dinosaur Tank feeble by comparison.

King Joe is powerful enough for any amount of giant monsters.

From out of the corner of their eyes, Lunella & Shuri catch something on fast approach to Wakanda, & that of King Joe itself: a soaring object that looked like somebody flying while holding onto a large hammer by its strap.

Immediately, the faces & spirits of Lunella & Shuri lit up.

"Mother, Okoye…that miracle you were hoping for? It just arrived!", Shuri says.

"It has?", Ramonda asked.

"Yes…a miracle by the name of Thor!", Lunella said.

Hearing the Asgardian's name caused Ramonda & Okoye to join Lunella & Shuri at the window. Looking out, they also see the familiar hammer Mjolnir & crimson cape of said Asgardian as he flies towards the giant robot hitting the city's defense barrier. Crashing into & hitting the robot with Mjolnir in the back of its head, King Joe had ceased its attack on the barrier & turned to a human in blue armor, yellow boots, silver helmet with large dove wings upon its sides, long golden hair & a flowing red cape holding a hammer in his right hand which enabled him to hover in the air.

The Mighty Thor is in Wakanda!

He was a welcome sight to the people in this land hidden deep within Africa.

King Joe simply stared at this powerful newcomer, whose strength was enough to make even its own body quake.

"You've caused enough chaos in the land of dear friends of mine, robot!", Thor blasts in fury. "Now you will be faced with an opponent who can all but equal you in brute force!"

Raising his right arm & hammer to the heavens, the gold bracelet on Thor's wrist began to glow bright as the Son of Odin started a glorious transformation: the light that engulfed the Asgardian grew in size before it vanished almost as soon as it appeared. When next Thor was seen, the people of Wakanda gasped in awe at the sight before them: the Mighty Thor was now standing a whopping 50 meters tall, having a robot-like face with oval eyes that shined a bright yellow, with his newfangled outfit reflecting his armor. Even his long hair was present, despite the fact that it no longer sways in the wind, unlike his giant crimson cape. Mjolnir also gained in size – a weapon truly fit for a king.

Like Captain America & Rogue, Thor has transformed himself into an Ultraman!

Even the Asgardian is astonished by his conversion.

What a most precious gift to receive!, Thor thought, surveying his new form. Thy must give Ultraman King my sincerest thanks & gratitude for it!

Putting aside his wonderment, the now-giant Thor faced King Joe.

"You've been pretty good at crushing small vehicles & aircraft, robot!", the Asgardian says. "Now let's see if you can match someone in a fair fight! Like me – Ultraman Thor!"

Ignoring the barrier which protects the main city of Wakanda, King Joe charged at Ultraman Thor, who does the same. Their clashing/colliding with one another caused a powerful tremor that was felt for miles.

The fate of Wakanda now rests on Ultraman Thor's shoulders.

Pyongyang, North Korea:

If there was ever a good reason for the people in the most isolated country in the world to break away from daily tradition in North Korea's capital city, this would be the best one: from out of the blue, a pair of bright flashes erupted in the areas of the Glonge District between the Stadium & the Arch of Triumph, along with that of Mansudae Hill. The flashes disappeared to reveal a pair of nightmares that were even worse than the one they're living now in the dreaded Kim Regime: two giant monsters stood in the midst of Pyongyang, each bellowing a roar that was heard everywhere. The first one was standing in the Glonge District, measuring a height of 65 meters, having a blue flesh color & orange on its back, tail & head. Its hands sported not fingers, but sharp points on its oversized palms, & its head was a cross between a dinosaur's & a parrot's, sporting a pointed beak for a mouth by no teeth inside. The tail was curved & pointed, & a large thick spike protruded from the center of its back. A pair of small horns stuck up from over its sinister green eyes, & a large pointed silver horn rested on the top of its head. Its roar was something like that of a gigantic bird of prey, & a pair of vertical nostrils were visible at the tip of its beak. The second creature to invade North Korea's capital stood at a height of 55 meters, sporting a darker blue in its flesh & had scales like a reptile's. A plethora of sea coral-like in crimson clusters grew from the creature's shoulders, lower back, & behind its dinosaurian head. A vertical row of white bumps on its chest & stomach sported black holes on three of them, & the four clawed fingers on each of its hands were actually golden metal instead of flesh & bone. The head sported a pair of malevolent yellow eyes, a mouth with sharp teeth, & a pair of golden pointed horns protruding from its snout.

This creature stood in the midst of Mansudae Hill, letting out a roar that was similar to its companion's, but had a slightly higher pitch & not too gravelly.

North Korea's two monstrous invaders were the monsters Vakishim & Verokron, two terrible enemies that North Korea was about to discover: when the defense forces arrived almost at an instant as people started making their way to safety, Verokron & Vakishim wasted no time displaying their awesome & frightening power. From Verokron's red coral-like designs, a huge volley of missiles erupted from the ends of each stalk & flew in various directions, striking each & every attack vehicle in his vicinity, blasting them & their operators to pieces in powerful explosions. Vakishim delivered a similar punishment to those ground forces near him: from the tips of each his hands, a stream of flames had spewed forth & struck the armada, roasting them & those that worked them as the men screamed in pain & terror.

With a swipe of his spiked hand, Vakishim totally demolished the Arch of Triumph, a structure that was shaped in comparison with the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France that was completed in 1982.

Now it was a pile of rubble.

Over on Mansudae Hill, Verokron pointed his fingers at the two 20-meter-tall statues of deceased North Korean leaders Kim II-sung & Kim Jong-il & shot forth his yellow laser beams at these statues, blasting them to pieces in a pair of powerful explosions. What remained of these once-proud monuments were scattered throughout the city as chunks of them struck the streets, buildings & even unlucky people & soldiers.

With even more military forces heading their way, Verokron & Vakishim continued their rampage in Pyongyang.

Captain Marvel went through the portal Doctor Strange opened for her, taking the super-heroine from the Baxter Building in Manhattan to her destination in an instant. Once she does & the portal closes, Carol Danvers was upon the outskirts of Pyongyang, & already she could spot stacks of smoke from where she stood, followed by flashes of blasts & a pair of thunderous roars that could be heard even over the explosions.

She could also see the silhouettes of two large monsters wreaking havoc in the city.

Part of Carol Danvers didn't want to help the city of Pyongyang, due to the fact that its horrific, cold-blooded ruler Kim Jong Un resided in: a man who'd just as soon shoot somebody dead as look at them, with no meaning & no rhyme to it whatsoever.

Kim Jong Un does it because, simply put…he can.

But Carol knew that even a horrible country like North Korea has its innocent side: the people are all purposely starved by a severe lack of food & kept that way so they couldn't even think about putting up a protest/resistance of any kind & overthrow the regime. Kim Jong Un is a man who would do anything to stay in power, including murdering his own family members if he felt his rule was threatened.

What's worse, the people have no thoughts of their own: every man, woman & child in the country feel as if the regime could read their minds on a whim. Kim Jong Un has taken all the joy out of their lives, keeping it all for himself & his horrific regime.

Carol vowed to do what she could to somehow free the people of North Korea.

Right now, however, she came to this country for a different reason.

Before she headed off, Carol got on her communicator & made a call to some people she knew of to give a quick explanation on things as fast as she could.

When she was done, she hung up & pocketed her communicator.

Time to help Pyongyang…but not in the way its ruler wants!, Carol thought, taking off for the skies.

She arrived in the city in mere moments & saw the two monsters Verokron & Vakishim more closely as the beasts burn buildings, vehicles & people, both civilian & soldiers. It was sickening to Carol: these people were under the harsh influence of their ruler, having no choice but to die for their country no matter what.

And having no heart for the civilians that die with them is unforgivable.

It made Carol madder than usual.

She decided to make use of that anger: firing a bolt of powerful energy from her fists, Carol struck Verokron & Vakishim in their heads, getting their attention. The two monsters stared curiously at the floating female human.

"Got your attention? Good!", Carol addressed them. "How about you creatures go pick on somebody your own damn size?!"

Carol raised her right arm in the air, & the gold bracelet on her wrist came to life: she was bathed in a bright light which grew to an exponentially large size before dissipating. In its place was Captain Marvel, standing a good 50 meters tall, sporting a robotic face with oval yellow eyes. Her red, blue & gold outfit retained its colors as she transformed into a staggering giant, & her short-cropped blonde hair was kept at the top of her head.

She herself have now become an Ultra warrior like her three companions Captain America, Rogue & Thor!

Giving herself a quick look, Carol Danvers was amazed at her conversion from normal superhero to giant Ultra warrior.

My God, Ryoko!, Carol thought. Now I know how you feel whenever your transform! This is incredible!

In her new form, Carol Danvers is 'Ultra Marvel'.

She faced the two monsters again.

"Now, fellas…let's see how you fare against someone who can really fight you back!", Ultra Marvel says, getting into an attack stance.

Verokron & Vakishim bellowed a roar that meant they accepted her challenge, charging her as Ultra Marvel does the same.

Pyongyang is about to become a historic battleground.

SHIELD Helicarrier, over the skies of Los Angeles:

A rush of activity at SHIELD is as usual a sight as mall shoppers on the weekends.

But on this particular day, it was about 3-4 times as active as it ever was: reports of giant monsters & aliens were being spotted at various areas in the world, from Moscow to Manhattan. Several requests for dispatching armed forces in order to repel the invaders were brought up, but Director Nick Fury Jr. rejected them all. In a speech he gave to all his fellow SHIELD agents, Nick informed them that he'd been briefed by the Avengers & the Fantastic Four about the current situation, & that his people are already dealing with each situation as they happen.

He even further staked his claims by displaying live video coverage of an Ultraman-sized Captain America who is now engaged in battle with Alien Mephilas & Sadora in Washington, D.C., followed by other heroes that are taking on whatever giant creatures/aliens have appeared in their Earth.

When one agent asks what SHIELD should do in the meantime, Director Fury stated that they keep a close watch on each situation on the monitors, & give hourly reports as they happen.

Fury also brought up that he's got an exact fix on where the giant creatures are coming from, & that he'll be going over to give the heroes an assist with a team of his own.

Putting his sergeant in charge, Fury vacated the bridge as agents Maria Hill & Phil Coulson followed him as per his orders. Several SHIELD agents wished Director Fury & agents Hill & Coulson the best of luck before they exited the bridge, giving them a salute & a quick smile in appreciation.

Heading back towards the holding cell where Alien Pegassa was being kept, they were met by a waiting Winter Soldier & Black Widow, along with a newcomer who was 6-foot, 1-inch tall & attired in armor resembling Tony Stark's Iron Man, but with a much darker hue being in grey, complete with exterior weaponry.

James Rupert Rhodes, aka War Machine, was on deck.

"Rhodes! Glad you could join us!", Fury says, approaching the trio. "On a mission like this, we can certainly use someone like you!"

"Happy to be of some service, Director", Rhodes said, shaking the hands of Fury, Hill & Coulson. "Although, I have to admit that the idea of giant monsters coming to us from another universe – which is also protected by a race of giant beings from a far-off planet – is something of a bitter pill to swallow. If it weren't for the news footage which I've been following, not to mention the fact that Natasha & Barnes here showed me the alien you're currently holding in the next room, I wouldn't have believed a word of it."

"The feeling was mutual, Rhodes", Barnes said. "Our usual line of work is bringing in the top most wanted, not fighting giant creatures that can outrun motorcycles & make people disappear, let alone coming from another dimension, of all things. That's more Steve & Tony's department."

"We've all had our share of otherworldly & giant menaces at one time or another, Barnes", Natasha said. "But I concur: this shit really takes it to a whole new level."

"Speaking of 'the alien' in the next room, Director, what are we going to do with it, now that it's given us all the details we've asked it to give us?", Phil Coulson asked. "In my opinion, it shouldn't be allowed to remain here."

"Agent Coulson has a point, sir", Maria Hill said. "If anyone else sees that 'Alien Pegassa' other than us, they'll most likely shoot first & not ask questions. And don't forget, sir: he entered this facility from right under all our noses, & could no doubt exit the helicarrire in the same manner."

"So, are you saying that we should take him with us, Agent Hill?", Fury asked.

"Do you really think that's wise, Nick?", Natasha asks. "From what this Alien Pegassa told us earlier, he'd once tried to blow up the Earth in his universe. He probably would've succeeded, had it not been for Ultraseven. What if he attempts to do the same thing here, on our Earth?"

"I highly doubt that he will, Miss Romanova", Phil Coulson said. "I'm sure you & Barnes both recall that he'd also informed us he wanted to start his life over, away from his world-conquering past. It's no different from when Mark Raxton, the Molten Man, changed his ways after spending time as a criminal. What Alien Pegassa wants to do is pretty much the same thing: if Raxton can reform himself from his checkered past, which he did, why can't this little guy? I, for one, believes he deserves the benefit of the doubt."

"Same here", Maria Hill adds. "Alien Pegassa did say that he would gladly give us the information about how all these giant creatures were appearing in our universe if we gave him something to eat, & he did exactly as he promised: he spared no details in his confession, up to & including his one-time attempt to detonate the Earth in his dimension, & how he wished to begin his life anew after Ultraseven defeated him that first time. He should accompany us, sir."

Nick Fury absorbed all the info like a sponge does water, going through them at a record's pace.

Finally, he nodded.

"Those are all good points, all of you", he replied, facing Natasha & Barnes. "But I'll have to go side with agents Hill & Coulson on this one: Alien Pegassa did give us all the details on what he knew when we needed the intel, which in turn, coincides with what Reed Richards said in his report. And Alien Pegassa seems to trust all of us, since we're the first ones he'd come in contact with. Like Coulson said, he deserves to be given this chance to prove he wants to turn his life around. As always, I'll take full responsibility."

Natasha & Barnes gave in: Nick Fury gave his final answer, & they knew that whenever the SHIELD Director makes a final decision, he never goes back on it.

Both of them nodded.

"It looks like we got us a second new recruit, doesn't it?", Barnes said with a pinch of sarcasm.

"Maybe we should go in & give him the good news?", Rhodes said.

"No time like the present", agents Hill & Coulson said in unison.

With that, the group went to where their little friend was being held.

Inside the interrogation room, Alien Pegassa sat in a chair & looked through Agent Hill's iPad she left for him.

Alien Pegassa was a mere two meters in height & mostly covered in a black hue in his flesh, but having patches of white on his front, back, arms & lower part of his neck. No face was visible, but he did sport a pair of eyes upon the end of short stalks that protruded on the sides at the top. An orange flower-like shape was placed on his chest.

The alien creature was enjoying everything he was seeing from Agent Hill's iPad as he scrolled through it.

He looked up as he heard, then saw the door to the room opening up, revealing Hill, Coulson, Fury, Romanova, Barnes & an African-American in dark grey armor similar to Iron Man's.

Faceplate up, Rhodes walks over to & greets Alien Pegassa with a smile.

"Hi there!", Rhodes says. "We haven't been introduced yet! My name is James Rupert Rhodes, also known as War Machine! Pleased to meet you!"

Rhodes extended his hand.

Alien Pegassa turned to the other five & they nodded.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, James Rupert Rhodes!", Alien Pegassa said, taking his hand in greeting. "I take it they've told you who I am?"

"Yes, they did", James said, releasing his hand & getting down to business. "Alien Pegassa, I want you to listen up: my friends here have a proposition they'd like to make you."

James gestured to the quintet, as Maria Hill retrieved her iPad & the rest moved in closer.

Alien Pegassa waited patiently for the 'proposition' they have in store for him.

"You told us that you want to help protect the Earth rather than destroy it, correct?", Barnes asked.

"Yes, James Buchanan Barnes, very much so!", Alien Pegassa said. "All I ask for is a chance to prove I was on the level about it!"

"All right", Natasha puts in. "You'll get your chance to do exactly that. Here's the situation…"

Natasha Romanova laid it all out for Alien Pegassa as he soaked up every word.

Pongchon County, North Korea:

An area of land & mountains, Pongchon County is almost as quiet as a tomb in North Korea's eastern side. With Sang-Eum-Yeog & the National Highway running through it, hardly anyone voyages in this seemingly deserted piece of territory in the most isolated country in the world. Scarcely any structures are standing in this vacant bit of land.

Except for one: it was a building the size of a small factory, measuring about over 50 feet in length & 20 feet in height. It was placed exactly where the train station should be, & a sign was displayed in Korean saying 'Closed Until Further Notice'. It seemed deserted with no guards on duty, which struck those peering at it from a distance as unusual.

From over 300 yards away, Doctor Strange, Reed & Susan Richards, Ben Grimm, Iron Man, Black Panther, Red & Green Hulk, Cyclops, Wolverine & Scarlet Witch watched the landscape for several minutes, with Iron Man, Doctor Strange & Reed Richards all getting readings that were definitely on a positive note.

"So then, gentlemen…what's the verdict?", Black Panther.

"There is definitely strong energy readings within that structure, T'Challa", Reed says, checking the instrument in his hand. "According to my readouts, there's enough energy inside that place to light up an entire city! Looks like your satellite technology have once again led us to the right place, Tony Stark."

"Maybe so, Richards", Iron Man said. "But for once, I had hoped that they were wrong: the energy signature is unlike anything I've ever known before, & it's now getting stronger by the minute. I fear that if it continues on gathering up energy in a continuous loop, it could cause an explosion that would cause our Earth some serious harm."

"You mean like wipe out an entire country if it detonates?", asked Susan.

"Think more like blowing up the planet in half, Mrs. Richards", Stephen Strange said. "Even I'm unfamiliar with this form of energy, & whoever's using it to send monsters & aliens to our Earth doesn't know that they literally playing with dynamite that will literally blow up in all our faces."

"This is exactly what the Ultra warriors had warned us about, Stephen", Wanda said. "The more those stones are used, the stronger they become. But the controllers are probably not even aware of the grave danger they now face."

"All the more reason for us to get down there & end all this on a dime, Witchy!", Wolverine says. "Screw waiting for Doom: he'll only slow us down!"

"No, Wolverine!", Cyclops said. "Uncomfortable with having Doom join us as I am, I trust Reed on his judgment: in a situation like this when the entire world is threatened, especially on a scale like this, even he'd go to great lengths in stopping it. If those stones do explode & blow the planet in half, we will all pay the price, not just Doom."

Wolverine hated waiting further, but he kept his cool. Along with Richards, he knew Cyclops had a point: Doom would not allow the perpetrators that attacked his homeland to go unpunished, & it's no different from when Utopia or Wakanda got hit by giant creatures.

Doom deserves to deliver justice for his people like any ruler.

A call suddenly comes in on Iron Man's wrist, & he answers.

"This is Tony Stark, go ahead", he says.

"Tony, it's Rhodes!", he replied.

"Rhodes! Good to hear from you, buddy! Listen, you wouldn't happen to be in the area of, say, Pongchon County in North Korea, would you? We could certainly & happily use all the extra pair of hands we can get on this little caper!"

"Not really, but I'm betting you can help get us there in a jiffy…or rather, Stephen Strange could."

Iron Man looked to the Sorcerer Supreme, who nodded.

"Not a problem, buddy!", Iron Man said. "Just send me your exact coordinates, & Mr. Wizard will get you over here in two shakes!"

"Just a moment."

From Iron Man's other wrist, a holographic map is displayed in an upside-down triangle as a red marker showed where Rhodes was located. The map then displayed a 3D image of a SHIELD helicarrier in the room where Rhodes is standing at. Along with the red dot that showed where Rhodes is, six more surrounded him, indicating he wasn't alone.

"Rhodes…who else is with you?", asked Black Panther.

"Friends of mine who'll be joining me in stopping all of this", Rhodes said. "Trust me, T'Challa…they're just as dedicated to our task as any of you are."

The group look to each other as Iron Man nods.

"All right then, Rhodes, stand by", Tony Stark said. "One portal coming up."

He signed off right before Stephen Strange conjured a portal that appeared just 12 feet away from the rest, which showed War Machine coming through. Behind him were mostly familiar faces: SHIELD Director Nick Fury Jr., agents Maria Hill & Phil Coulson, Black Widow & the Winter Soldier, every one of these newcomers fully armed & each were warmly greeted by Ben & the rest.

But when they get a look at Alien Pegassa, they went on the offensive as said creature hid behind War Machine.

"Who or what are you, bub?!", Wolverine growled, extending his claws.

"Easy there, Wolverine…he's with us", Nick Fury said.

Slowly but surely, Wolverine & the others lowered their arms.

"It's all right, everyone", War Machine says as the alien came out from behind him. "This is Alien Pegassa. Like the other monsters/aliens, he also came from that same universe, but he's here to help us stop their invasion, exactly as we are."

"Is that true, Alien Pegassa?", Cyclops asked.

"As true as your actual name is Scott Summers", Alien Pegassa said, astonishing the mutant with the optic blast.

He gave the alien a smirk for effort.

Much as he wants to know as to how he learned his real name, Scott Summers put it focus on the task at hand.

"Okay, so the little alien's on our side", said Red Hulk. "But what kind of help can he actually offer us? He don't look all that tough to me!"

"What?!", Alien Pegassa barked. "I'll have you know, Red Hulk, that I am in possession of a…"

"He'll offer whatever help he can, tough guy!", Maria Hill stepped in, getting in Red Hulk's face. "That is all you need to know!"

Red Hulk stared back at the SHIELD agent, who did the same with him. Agent Hill didn't back away in fear or stood down from the Hulk's crimson counterpart, even though he towered over her easily. Red Hulk stared hard at the SHIELD agent, being reminded of his own daughter Betty Ross, who was just as iron-willed & strong-headed.

Thaddeus Ross couldn't decide if he should admire Agent Hill or be sick to his stomach of her because of it.

Finally, he snorts like an angry bull, blowing enough wind from his nostrils to only ruffle Maria's hair.

"Fine. Have it your way, sweetheart!", Red Hulk says, pointing to the alien. "But if that reject from an old sci-fi movie so much as looks at me funny, I'll rip him apart with my bare hands! You get me?"

Maria Hill stood still with her face firm, not saying a word.

It was all Red Hulk needed for an answer, & he grinned viciously.

"I thought so!", he says.

Up above, a sound like a distant explosion occurred before a bright flash lit up the sky briefly & disappeared as quickly as it appeared, revealing a floating craft that hovered 500 feet from the ground. From beneath this craft, a lower hatch opened up to allow a lone figure in silver armor & a green cloak/cape floating down via jet thrusters in his feet.

He was instantly recognizable by most.

"Doctor Doom?!", said Red Hulk, Nick Fury, Agents Hill & Coulson, War Machine, Black Widow & the Winter Soldier say in unison. Immediately they aim their weapons at the approaching Ruler from Latveria.

"Wait!", Reed Richards says, literally stretching & blocking their line of fire. "Victor Von Doom is here in North Korea at my request!"

His answer shocked the newcomers.

"You actually invited him here?!", Barnes says. "Why would you do such a thing, Richards?!"

"Because, Winter Soldier…", Doom says as he landed softly on the ground within the group. "Whether you might realize it or not, we all have a common enemy & goal: to stop these creatures from overtaking our Earth. Don't forget: my own land of Latveria and two of my neighbors were also under assault by monsters, & thus I wish to seek retribution on those responsible for it. Surely even I have the utmost right to safeguard my own people, yes?"

Black Panther stepped in before things could escalate.

"Victor Von Doom may be seen as an enemy to us, granted, but he's also an inhabitant of this Earth, just as we all are", he says. "In a dire circumstance like the one we're in, we could use all the hands we can get...even his."

"In other words, people, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'", said Alien Pegassa.

Doctor Doom faced the alien.

"Ah, I see you've learned a good number of Earth customs, yes? I am impressed", he says.

"I know all about making difficult decisions during my visit to the Earth in my own universe, Doctor Doom", the alien says. "Sometimes one must make a deal with the devil himself if it means doing what's right."

Doom allowed himself a chuckle of amusement.

"So, you believe for me to be the devil, do you?", he asks.

"It seems we've both got something to prove to these people that we're one the level, yes?", Alien Pegassa says. "Then may I suggest we go forward & prove it?"

"You amuse me, alien. But you're also correct: we should all but commence with the operation before it comes to a point of no return."

"On that we can all agree on, Doom", Nick Fury says, urging the others to lower their weapons, which they do.

"Excellent, Nick Fury. I didn't mean to pry, but I have listened in on your conversation just before my arrival, so there's no need for you to fill me in on how dangerous this mission has now just become."

"We'll need to talk about privacy once this is done, Victor!", Iron Man says. "But for once, I agree with you: this is now more than just stopping us from being overrun by giant beasties! We need to find a way to stop those two stones from reaching critical mass & blowing this planet in half if they should detonate!"

"Just a moment!", Alien Pegassa says. "What do you mean by 'blowing the planet in half'?!"

"It's a danger that we've only discovered ourselves just now, Alien Pegassa", said Scarlet Witch. "The more of those monsters & aliens appear in our Earth through the power of the stones, the more unstable they become. If they're not stopped in time, the energy they'll release if they detonate will either tear this world in two, or turn it into floating asteroids within space."

This news shocked not only Alien Pegassa, but also Nick Fury & the newcomers as well: their situation just got a whole lot more life-threatening, & they can't begin to tell how much time they have before the inevitable.

"Then what are we waiting for?! We need to end this now – before it gets worse!", Alien Pegassa says as he began running towards the facility.

Reed Richards stretched his arm & wrapped it around the alien's midsection before pulling him back.

"We understand your feelings in the matter, friend", Reed says, retracting his arm. "But charging in without a plan is not the best way to do it. We'll need to do a quick surveillance to make sure we're not walking into any traps in which the perpetrators have no doubt set up."

"Leave that to us, Dr. Richards", War Machine says, opening a compartment in his left arm as Iron Man did the same. A trio of mini drones flew out & flew towards their target. "These drones will give us an exact location upon any king of hidden surprises, giving us accurate targets to strike before they even knew what hit them."

A pair of powerful beams struck the area the heroes were all standing near, hitting them from out of nowhere & throwing everyone several meters in all directions. A plume of smoke rose from each hit, creating a cloud of dust. Even those like the two Hulks, Ben Grimm & Doctors Doom & Strange were caught unawares & thrown by this unexpected & powerful attack.

Once the dust cleared, everyone rose from their spot & asked if they were all accounted for.

Fortunately, they were.

A mini chorus of laughter erupted as the heroes & their allies rose back on their feet.

"That's actually funny, Mr. Rhodes! We were each thinking the same thing about you!", said a voice from an unseen enemy.

Wolverine extended his claws, ready for action. The rest followed suit & raised their weapons.

"Where the hell are you cowards?!", Wolverine cried out. "If you ain't afraid of a fight, show yourselves!"

"As you wish, Wolverine!", another voice said.

From 13 feet away, a trio of figures appeared from out of thin air: the first one stood 5 feet, 10 inches tall dressed in a suit of orange with silver metal bracelets on his forearms, lower legs, feet, pelvic area & chest. His hands, head & eyes had a greenish hue, & he sported a trimmed goatee around his mouth. The most unusual feature on this man is that his head was swollen like a heart-shaped balloon, sporting bumps everywhere on his oversized cranium. The second to appear stood 6 feet, 4 inches tall, dressed in a suit of green & yellow. His long blonde hair was done in a ponytail in the rear, & his helmet sported a pair of large curved horns. In his right hand he held a long, pointed sword.

The third figure stood like a human, but his features were anything but: at a height of 7 feet, he possesses both the body & characteristics of a humanoid Pteranodon, having large leathery wings on his arms, a long tail in the rear which ended in a pointed paddle, & a reptilian head that was pointed in both directions: a crest in the rear, plus a beak in the front with crimson eyes. The fingers & toes were adorned with sharp claws, & a brown pair of torn pants dressed his pelvis & upper legs.

These three individuals were the main perpetrators & the cause of their current dilemma.

"Samuel Sterns, aka the Leader!", Phil Coulson said.

"Loki!", Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Reed & Susan Richards all said in unison.

"Sauron!", Wolverine snarled.

Samuel Sterns simply smiled along with his partner Loki.

"Greetings, one & all!", Sterns said. "I must congratulate you on actually finding our base of operations here in the most isolated country in the world! Your persistence amazes even myself – and not that many people can do that!"

It was then that Loki took notice of Doctor Doom.

"Hello, Victor!", the God of Mischief says, grinning. "So…did you enjoy the lovely gifts that we sent your way?"

Loki's question infuriated Doom.

"How about this for an answer, God of Mischief?!", Doom growled, raising his hands & firing a trio of energy bolts at each of the true villains. To his & everyone's surprise, the bolts passed through each antagonist, doing no harm.

Loki, the Leader & Sauron all laughed amusingly.

"Holograms!", Cyclops & Black Widow pointed out.

"Foolish flesh-bags!", Sauron scorned. "Did you actually think we'd put ourselves in harm's way?! We suspected as much that you'd launch an immediate attack once you've seen us!"

"It still won't do you any good, chicken-lips!", Wolverine barked, claws extended. "Once we get inside the place, I'm going to slice you up into so many pieces so that none of the king's men will ever put you back together again!"

"We doubt that you will, Mr. Logan!", the Leader said. "You'll each be too busy having fun with our playmates! Allow us to introduce you to them – two of which you may already know!"

From 60 meters away, a trio of flashes – one much bigger than the rest – erupted before vanishing from sight.

What was revealed were two of the three aliens that escaped from Nebula M78 after the Ultra warriors were all revived: Alien Magma & Alien Baltan. The former crossed his arms as the latter raised his pincers & let out his baritone laugh, both of them at human-sized.

The creature that appeared stood at a much larger height at about 75 meters, sporting another dinosaur-like beast with a flesh hue of dark brown. Sharp spikes adorned the creature's tail along the sides & jutting out from the legs. Its hands were an axe on its left & a spiked ball on its right, & a pair of sails adorned the back. The dinosaurian head had an oxen-like appearance, with curved horns protruding from the sides, a pointed horn on the top of its head above its orange eyes. The mouth was filled with sharp teeth with long fangs at the front, & a sword was attached upon its head behind the horn. On the end of its tail were three snake-like appendages that can be used to strangle foes.

It raised its arms & made a sound like metal being sheared.

Loki, the Leader & Sauron each had sinister smiles on their faces.

"Alien Magma, Alien Baltan, Baraba…kill them!", Sauron ordered before their holographic images disappeared.

The three enemies get into defensive positions, ready for a fight they'll be receiving.

Ben Grimm stood with his fists clenched, also ready for a brawl.

"Reed…you, Suzie & all the others get inside that place & stop those three stooges and the stones from blowing up however way you can!", Ben says, joined by the two Hulks.

"I will also remain out here to deal with Alien Baltan!", Doctor Strange said, conjuring up a pair of mystic shields with his hands.

"Leave the cat-like creep to Barnes & myself! Get going!", Black Widow says, getting into a defensive position with said Winter Soldier.

Cyclops, Wolverine, Reed & Susan Richards, Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, Iron Man, War Machine, Doctor Doom, Nick Fury, & Agent Hill were already on their way towards the facility.

"All right, Alien Pegassa!", Phil Coulson said. "You said you were ready to prove that you're on our side…here's your chance!"

"Just what I was waiting for, Agent Phil Coulson! Let's go!", Alien Pegassa says as he & Coulson raced to join the others to their main objective.

Alien Baltan saw the group running towards their HQ & fired a beam from his pincers to intercept them, but they were blocked themselves by a mystic shield as Stephen Strange floated in between his friends & foes.

"Never mind them, Alien Baltan! I'll be your opponent!", Stephen says.

The cicada-faced alien laughed his baritone laugh.

"Very well, Stephen Strange!", Alien Baltan says. "Let's see how your magic fares against the superior power of my people!"

Stephen gave Alien Baltan a 'come get me' gesture with his hand, & the alien charged him.

Alien Magma leaped & landed at where Black Widow & the Winter Soldier were at, pointing his right arm as his saber hand appeared in the blink of an eye. He aimed it directly at his two new foes, the gesture clear.

"All right, asshole!", Barnes said, hanging up his guns & raising his left arm, his hand in a fist. "Let's see whose metal arm is more superior!"

Weapons of choice ready, Alien Magma charged his two enemies as they do the same.

Baraba raised his arms at the three powerhouses below, as itching for a fight as they were.

"Hulk smash giant monster!", the original says.

"For once, we're on the same page, fella!", Red Hulk says.

"You know it, boys! It's CLOBBERING TIME!", Ben Grimm shouted, fists clenched.

Taking a mighty leap, the three powerhouses headed straight for Baraba.

The battle for Earth's future has commenced!

CHAPTER V

New York City:

Manhattan once again became a battle ground: in Central Park, the giant robot Crazygon was engaged in a fight with the heroes Spider-Man, Daredevil, Vision, Falcon & Giant-Man in one of New York's most popular (& infamous) areas in the city. For several minutes, the heroes fought with every trick they could conjure up: Spider-Man tried to get its limbs gummed up by using his webbing, but the robot was too strong for it & tore through it like it was tissue paper; Vision used his eye beams to try & penetrate its armor, but it hardly left any marks or signs of damage; Daredevil used his acrobatics to get Crazygon distracted & focus upon him instead of the city itself; Giant-Man grew to 100 feet tall to have a better shot at beating it down, throwing powerful punches & kicks at anywhere he believes is a weak spot; Falcon gives air support with guns & bombs from overhead, striking Crazygon with everything he's got.

Unfortunately for the heroes, these were all ineffective against the robot with alien armor plating.

"This is insane!", Spider-Man says, swinging to avoid the larger pincer claw upon its right hand. "Everything & anything we throw at this crazy robot, we still haven't slowed it down one iota! What's it going to take to scrap this damn thing? Anyone have a large can opener nearby?!"

"Not currently, Spider-Man, but I may have the next best thing!", Vision said, flying towards Crazygon & going intangible just moments before touching its surface.

Instantly he is assaulted by a discharge of powerful electric voltage that turned him tangible again as Vision cried out in anguish before getting knocked away. Spider-Man called out his name before swinging after him, catching the sentient android with a web line before he could crash into the statue of Balto, the heroic Alaskan sled dog.

Spider-Man set Vision down next to said statue, placing him in a sitting position.

"Hey, what happened back there?", the Web-Slinger asked.

"Its alien metal…is somehow protected from…attacks such as mine", Vision said weakly. "I tried phasing…into it to…shut it down…from the inside. No such luck."

"At least you tried. Will you be all right?"

"Yes. It will…take me a couple moments…to reboot myself."

"Rejoin us when you can, Vision. I'm getting back in this fight!"

Vision nodded as Spider-Man shot a web line & disappeared from sight in the wink of an eye, heading back to where his allies were battling their giant robot enemy.

Spider-Man raced back towards the battle when he saw Crazygon firing its forehead beam at Falcon from above, missing him by only inches. Even with the constant distractions from both Daredevil swinging around upon it with his billy club & Giant-Man throwing punches & kicks, Crazygon fired at Falcon with its beam, sometimes getting too close in hitting its actual airborne target. One hit, & Falcon's goose will definitely be cooked.

Not if I can help it!, Spider-Man thought.

Swinging on his web threads like there's no tomorrow, the Web-Slinger heads straight for Crazygon's optics & he unloads a mess of his webbing directly into what he believes to be its eyes, blinding it before doing the same to the forehead beam which he hoped would clog it up badly enough to cause it to malfunction.

"You can't hit what you can't see, Robby!", Spider-Man called out to Crazygon, referring it to the iconic robot from the 1956 sci-fi movie 'Forbidden Planet', starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis & Leslie Nielsen.

"Good thinking, Spidey!", Daredevil says, swinging low towards the robot's legs. "You hit him up high, I'll hit him down low!"

As he spoke, Daredevil extended his billy club as far as it could go as he swung himself around Crazygon's legs in an attempt to get it to trip & topple itself. Giant-Man got the idea & backed away to taunt the machine to follow him as Daredevil wrapped its legs. Crazygon fell for the ruse: as it took steps forward, the line from Daredevil's billy club got taught, causing the giant robot to tumble forward & land flat upon its face. It was then that Falcon announced to hit it with everything they have on its back as its arms flailed around wildly, not hitting anything but empty air. Giant-Man bashed with his fists as Falcon dropped more bombs from the air, peppering the machine with explosions once Hank was in the clear. Spider-Man & Daredevil stepped to the side once their tasks were done, watching their comrades give the grand finale. At least, they hoped is a grand finale.

Once the fireworks ceased, the group of heroes waited several moments to see if Crazygon would make any kind of sudden moves after a period of inactivity. Each one watched the machine closely, not taking any chances. Vision had just returned after rebooting himself & recovering from Crazygon's attack.

"So…is this thing really deactivated, or just playing possum?", Spider-Man asked.

"I will scan its interior to see if its functions have all been ceased, Spider-Man", Vision says.

"Use caution, Vision", Giant-Man says. "Who knows what tricks this machine might be in possession of."

"Duly noted, Hank."

Falcon landed next to Spider-Man & Daredevil as Vision used his X-Ray scope to get a better look within their robotic enemy. The floating android scanned from one end to the other.

"See anything, Vision?", Falcon asked.

"Actually, Falcon…I'm getting nothing from my scanners", Vision replied. "This metal, having originated from another universe, is basically unknown to us & is somehow blocking my X-Ray scope. I have no way of knowing if this machine is truly put out of commission, or…"

Without warning, Crazygon reached out with its right arm & snatched Giant-Man by the neck with its pincer as the robot righted itself with jet propulsions in the front before retracting its legs & hovering in the air. The four heroes call out to Hank as he's grabbed by their enemy as the one-time Ant-Man & Yellowjacket fought to get himself loose from the pincer Crazygon held him firmly at, to no avail: its hold on him was too strong, & Crazygon flew over to the eastern side of Central Park before letting loose with its forehead beam, melting Spidey's webbing & blowing the tops off the buildings on either side of 72nd Street, sending debris flying.

Hank Pym was started seeing white swirls in his vision as he was having trouble getting oxygen in his lungs as Crazygon's pincer cut off his air flow, making him fight more desperately to get himself free.

Immediately, Vision, Spider-Man, Daredevil & Falcon rushed over to Hank's aide & get him out of the robot's grip while also stopping it from vaporizing half of Manhattan.

Fighting to stay conscious, Hank prayed that Janet & her team were doing better with the other beast over on the west side.

Over on the western side of the Big Apple, Janet was wishing Hank & his group better luck than she's having.

Johnny Storm used his flames to as high intensity as he dared to go without going supernova to go drive Eleking away from the city, with Hawkeye using fire arrows to literally add to the heat. Venom used his webbing to try & wrap up the creature as best he could while also staying clear of the flames, considering the symbiote's weakness to it, along with sonics. Wasp shrunk down to bug-size, attacking Eleking with her bioelectric force bolts from her hands, striking Eleking in the face which caused the monster to screech in annoyance. Eleking retaliated by firing light blades from his mouth – yellow crescent-shaped discs of energy that pack a punch. Janet & her crew were all viciously attacked by this method, & some of them came awfully close to striking them.

When his eldritch shots failed to hit his enemies, Eleking used his long tail like a whip & swatted at the heroes in his path like they were no more than flies. Janet was able to dodge the appendage in time by swerving to the right.

Venom wasn't so lucky: he was struck by the tip & not only was he clobbered with it, he received a strong surge of electric voltage that coursed through his body, shaking up both his human & alien symbiote halves. The one-time foe of Spider-Man cried out as Venom was thrown across the water & crashed into the BIG Tetrahedron Building.

Human Torch shared a similar fate: when Eleking swatted his tail at the flaming human, he created a splash that was able to reach Johnny Storm & soak him before he could dodge, thus dousing his flames. He fell into the water near Locomotive Lawn, where he swam over to & was pulled from the drink with some help from Hawkeye.

"You okay there, kid?", Hawkeye asked, helping the drenched hero to his feet.

"Aside from being soaked to the bone & unable to help either Venom or Janet…just dandy", Johnny said. "That damn thing suckered me into getting a bath in the Hudson River! It's smarter than it looks!"

"Got that right! It's also much more resilient than we thought: we gave it our all, & that thing shrugged it off like it was no more than fleas! I hate to say it, kid, but…I don't know how we're gonna win this one!"

Johnny didn't answer back…because he had no answer for the archer.

Eleking screeched as he made his way to shore, approaching the Joe DiMaggio Highway between 60th & 61st Streets. Hawkeye refused to give up, & he pulled out an arrow with an explosive tip, firing it & hitting the monster on target. Eleking was taken by surprise from this attack, & he swung his tail where the aggressor stood.

"Oh shit! RUN!", Clint Barton cried out, grabbing Johnny's arm & taking off just as Eleking's tail clobbered the spot they shared only seconds ago. Were they a split-second slower, they'd both be paste on the ground.

Janet flew over to where Venom crashed into, finding Eddie Brock's body & face getting covered up by the alien symbiote, becoming whole again.

"Are you okay, Venom?", Janet asked.

"Yes, Miss Van Dyne", Venom replied. "Electricity may hurt us, but it doesn't kill us. Still, we will do well to stay clear of that large tail the creature possesses!"

Janet smiled at that.

"Good advice", she said. "But we need a better plan of attack if we're to keep this thing in the water & drive it farther back out in the ocean before…"

Then ground shook as Janet & Venom fought to keep their balance as they heard Eleking screech before sounds of destruction were heard as both went to the opening & saw Eleking on the highway before crashing into the buildings between 60th & 61st Streets, causing dust clouds to rise & rubble to fall.

"Sorry, Miss Van Dyne. It's a bit too late for that!", Venom said.

"Perhaps not, Venom", Janet said, facing him. "I've got an idea, but I'll need your assistance to help me pull it off."

"You will have it, Miss Van Dyne. What would you like for us to do?"

Janet relayed her plan to Venom in record time.

Thanks to Quicksilver, the area where Eleking is now trashing has been deserted as buildings get pummeled by the large eel-like monster. More eldritch shots from his mouth erupted, causing infernos wherever they landed. Eleking whipped his tail around to cause debris to hit the streets below, crushing whatever's in its path.

Eleking makes his way over to West End Avenue.

It was when Venom made his move: swinging in as quickly as possible, he lands on top of Eleking's head before shooting a web line at each of his rotating horns where eyes should be. Tying both lines together, Venom waits until it becomes taut as the rotating horns suddenly come to a stop which infuriates Eleking as he thrashed his head violently around, forcing Venom to vacate.

With Venom's task done, it was time for Janet to step in: growing to her full height of 100 feet, Janet dropped in from above & delivered a powerful right foot to the monster's face. The blow was so strong that Eleking tumbled onto his side & made the ground shake with his & Janet's collision. Venom reappeared to commence with his second chore: he fired his webbing in great amounts to help keep Eleking pinned & restrict his movements. Even his tail was pinned as Venom trapped it on what buildings were in the vicinity, keeping it immobile. Human Torch returned after a quick speed-drying from Quicksilver, with Hawkeye also gearing up for more as he pulled out explosive arrows.

On Janet's word, the group assaulted Eleking as brutally as they could: Human Torch struck with his flames as Hawkeye shot arrow after arrow in rapid succession, with Venom & Janet giving Eleking a serious pounding with both regular & giant fists. Each blow from Janet felt like boulders striking him, & Eleking screeched in pain & protest.

"Great job, everyone!", Janet said. "Keep up the pressure! Don't let this creature get loose no matter what! And keep an eye out on its tail! That's its most powerful weapon, & if it does get free, we're in trouble!"

"You got it, sweetie!", Hawkeye said after unloading a half-dozen explosive arrows on the creature.

Taking a quick peek at the creature's tail, Hawkeye was on the verge of a panic: Eleking's tail is starting to get free, as pieces of glass & concrete were giving way where Venom's webbing held it.

"oh no", Clint said in a whisper before he turned to Janet & spoke a lot louder. "Janet, watch out! That thing's tail is about to get loose! Get the hell out of its path before it…"

His warning came too late: in a speed that belied his great size, Eleking ripped his tail away from where it was securely fastened to & whipped its way forward. Janet turned just in time to see the whip-like appendage slapped her in the side of her face, causing her to see stars in her vision. She was then stunned by electric voltage as Eleking wrapped a portion of his tail around Janet's waist before giving her a shock that caused her to cry out, her muscles locking up.

Unable to stay conscious, Janet fell to the ground with a thud.

Calling out her name, Venom, Hawkeye & Human Torch did what they could to help, but each received a blow from the monster: Johnny & Clint were shot at by Eleking's eldritch beams, the explosions knocking them away several yards. Venom was clobbered by the tip of Eleking's tail that sent him flying across more than a block.

Getting free from Venom's webbing, Eleking rose from the street & looked down on the giant-sized Janet Van Dyne.

He intends to deliver as much pain to her as possible.

Over on the east of the city, Crazygon was hovering over Madison Avenue, blasting away buildings with its beam as Falcon unloaded his armaments upon the robot as Spider-Man did what he could to divert its attention on him rather than the city. Vision had the same idea, but did so with a more direct approach: turning hard as diamond, the android rammed himself into the floating machine, jarring it backwards & forcing it to finally let go of Giant-Man, who shrank down to bug-size just in time as he fought to stay conscious.

Being in no condition to fight, Hank flew down to where Daredevil was before growing to his regular height.

"Are you all right, Hank?", Daredevil asked.

"Just need to get some more air into my lungs again, Matt", Hank replied. "I almost didn't make it this time."

"I know. I heard your heartbeat getting slower as you struggled to get free of that robot's pincer clamp. More than once, I thought you were a goner."

"Ditto. But unless we do something to stop that machine, that might still come to pass for us – and the whole city. If we're going to beat this damned thing, we'll need a miracle!"

Daredevil nodded, knowing Hank Pym was right: it isn't every day the heroes of this Earth deal with giant threats like the ones currently invading Manhattan. They barely stopped Dancan & Saramandora from their attacks on New York only the other day.

Now they're faced with two more, & they're a lot tougher than the previous ones.

Up above at a height of 250 meters, a circle of white light swelled up like a gigantic balloon before a pair of big objects fell through it. Neither Daredevil, Hank nor any of the other heroes in the city could believe what they were all bearing witness to: a pair of red & silver giants with yellow oval eyes & blue lights on their chests swooped down & landed in Central Park. Each one reached a height of 50 or so meters, & their faces were like robots.

Their gazes were on the two other giants that were currently terrorizing the city, as Crazygon & Eleking also took notice of their arrival.

The first one – Zoffy – spoke.

"Ultraman 80! You take care of Eleking, while I go & confront Crazygon!", he instructs.

"Understood, Zoffy!", Ultraman 80 says as both Ultra warriors head off to confront assigned enemies.

Ignoring the human-sized superheroes, Crazygon flew over to Zoffy & fired its forehead beam, which the Ultra warrior dodged before the robot landed in Central Park on its legs & engaged Zoffy in hand-to-hand combat. Eleking did the same with Ultraman 80: leaving the unconscious Janet Van Dyne, the eel-like monster crashed into buildings as he rushed over to the new enemy worthy of his time, spilling rubble/debris onto the city streets. Ultraman 80 came at him & dragged the creature into the ground by giving him a tumble that shook the area before delivering punches to his face repeatedly, never giving the monster a chance to fire his eldritch shots.

Zoffy did the same with Crazygon, having punched at & destroying its forehead beam with a single left hook & dislodging the weapon, rendering it useless. It didn't make the giant robot less dangerous, though: Crazygon still had its large pincer claw on its right arm, & it used that to full advantage. Swinging it with a speed that belied its size, this deadly machine swung & attempted to snatch Zoffy with its appendage while also using its own body weight to ram the Ultra warrior & knock him off-guard. Zoffy, however, was too experienced for such a tactic: he dodged/blocked all of the robot's swings, & stepped aside when it tried ramming him.

But even those with experience can make errors: with an uppercut that Crazygon made, Zoffy dodged it easily but got his left wrist snatched by its pincer & put pressure on it. Zoffy tried prying it loose with his free hand, but to no avail: Crazygon's grip was solid, & the pain even drove Zoffy to his knees. Ultraman 80 was also having trouble: even by having him pinned to the ground, Eleking was far from helpless. With his whip-like tail, he smacked Ultraman 80 in the side of his head, forcing him to let up in his attack. It gave Eleking the opening he waited on: the tip of his tail wrapped around his throat & sent a strong discharge of electric voltage that caused 80 to cry out as the shock coursed on through his body, making him convulse.

On the sidelines, the heroes watched as both Ultra warriors fought to defeat the giant menaces that have invaded the Big Apple.

"Are these guys really the 'Ultra warriors' Cap & the others mentioned before?", Spider-Man wondered orally.

"They have to be, Spidey!", Daredevil says. "I doubt that there's any other explanation!"

Over on the west side, Janet & her group were wondering the same thing.

"They're exactly like Ben & the others described them to be!", Johnny Storm says.

"They're that & more, kid!", Hawkeye said. "And right now, they're the ones who are in trouble!"

"We must return the favor to them, Miss Van Dyne!", Venom said.

"Indeed, Venom, & I know just the way to do it! Listen closely…", Janet says, relaying her plan.

Ultraman 80 was still getting a serious jolt from Eleking's tail as Zoffy was being kept pinned on his knees by Crazygon, having put the literal squeeze on his wrist. No matter what they do or try, neither Ultra warrior could get free of their enemies' grip. From above, Falcon dropped bombs on Crazygon's head as Vision rammed himself in the side of the robot's head, causing it to release its grip on Zoffy. At where Eleking was, he got struck in the forehead by Human Torch's stream of flames, making him screech in anguish before Venom fired a webbing line that wrapped around both his rotating horns before giving it to Janet, who was still at 100 feet tall. Using all her strength, she pulled on Venom's web line with enough power to literally tear off Eleking's horns, severing his radar & driving him blind as a bat.

The pain also caused him to release Ultraman 80 from his grip.

With both Ultra warriors freed, they nodded their approval to their little but brave saviors before getting back into battle: Ultraman 80 delivered blows to Eleking while dodging wild swings from his dangerous tail, while Zoffy watched out for the right arm Crazygon was flailing about as the robot was on a berserker mode. He managed to get in a couple of good hits while avoiding getting clobbered himself. When he saw he was getting closer to 80's fight with Eleking, an idea came to mind: keeping his sights on both Crazygon and Eleking, Zoffy made sure the enemies were in a close proximity before he addressed his fighting partner.

"Ultraman 80 – now!", Zoffy called out.

A quick nod, & Ultraman 80 ducked underneath Eleking's next swing of his tail as it swooshed past the warrior & wrapped itself around Crazygon's wrist on its right arm. Zoffy dodged the appendage as well, & Crazygon was hit by thousands of electric volts that fried its interior, causing smoke to rise up from within. Periods of sparks, followed by explosions occurred from inside & out of Crazygon as the robot was breaking down in functions. Without a way to sever itself from Eleking's tail, Crazygon was helpless.

In over a minute, Crazygon was deactivated as its right arm dropped like a literal dead weight, followed by its legs, which were unable to support its main body. Like a house of cards, Crazygon collapsed into a heap of scrap.

Only when Crazygon was all but deactivated did Eleking retract his tail to sense both Ultra warriors are still alive & kicking, but due to having his horns ripped off, could not find either of them to do battle with. Ultraman 80 & Zoffy finished off each enemy with their weaponry: Zoffy used his signature Ultra Beam, aiming right at Crazygon's middle & blowing the robot to bits with a single blast. Ultraman 80 used his own version of the Ultra Slash attack to first slice off Eleking's head, followed by another to slice off his tail in the middle. As his head fell off, purple blood gushed out of Eleking's neck & severed tail before the body collapsed like a broken marionette, hitting the ground with a thud.

Janet & all the other heroes in the city watched with amazement & bewilderment.

Venom was all but thrilled to see the Ultra warriors in action, as they were unafraid to do what was necessary to vanquish evil so it wouldn't return. In many ways, he saw a lot of himself in them.

Daredevil & Spider-Man were also grateful for their rescue, even if they weren't big fans about their using lethal methods since they themselves refuse to kill no matter the circumstance.

But considering they're from another universe, they let it go, as they knew that if not for their timely arrival, they most likely would've never defeated Crazygon or Eleking.

Zoffy & Ultraman 80 looked to the superheroes.

"Thank you, brave heroes!", Zoffy said. "We came to aide you in your struggles against the monsters that are all coming here, & in return you assisted us when we needed it! We are eternally grateful to you for that!"

"But our task is still not finished!", Ultraman 80 adds. "Please give assistance to the people in this city who need it while we hit this problem at the very source of it!"

The superheroes look to each other briefly before facing the Ultra warriors & nodded.

"Leave that to us, Ultra warriors!", Janet said.

Nodding their thanks, Zoffy & Ultraman 80 took off for the skies & disappeared from sight.

Hawkeye took a look at his immediate surroundings.

"We did leave quite a mess to clean up, didn't we?", he said.

"It's not our fault, Clint, but those two Ultra warriors do have a point", said Hank. "Let's allow them to shut off whatever's causing these creatures from entering our dimension while we aide those who might be trapped underneath the debris that got spilled…the ones Pietro couldn't get to."

"We know the drill, hank. Let's get to work!", Janet says as the heroes commence with their chores of rescuing lives & clearing away rubble.

Each said a silent prayer to their friends in North Korea & the Ultra warriors for success.

Washington, D.C.:

Not since the events of September 11th, 2001 has America's capital suffered such a horrific attack.

The otherworldly alien known as Mefilas & his monstrous partner Sadora showed themselves to wreak havoc on the city where America's laws & ideals were formed, making it the great nation it is today. Using the power of the bracelet Captain America received from Ultraman King, he gets transformed into a 50-meter giant as an Ultra warrior which reflects his own costume, complete with his trademark shield.

Deeming himself Ultraman America, he uses his newfangled form to defend his country's capital from the two large threats that have appeared in it: with his shield, Ultraman America blocks Alien Mefilas' electrical hand bolts as he dodges Sadora's deadly claws that snapped at him repeatedly. Seeing as to how ineffective his bolts have been thus far, Mefilas decided to get into a one-on-one match with his red, white & blue counterpart: with Sadora backing him up, Alien Mefilas used his own fighting prowess to match that of Ultraman America's. Sadora tried to get in some hits of his own, but these were thwarted by the Living Legend with a powerful kick to the chin before he buffets him in the face with his shield, the sound ringing like a giant Liberty Bell.

Sadora landed with an earth-shaking thud that put him out of action at the moment.

Now it was only the two of them left.

"Now…let's see how tough you really are without someone backing you up, Alien Mefilas!", Ultraman America says.

"I can beat you with one arm tied behind my back, 'Captain America'!", Mefilas says.

"Then prove it!", Ultraman America said, putting his shield on his back.

With an angry growl, Alien Mefilas charged Ultraman America & they engaged in a fierce fist fight. Each warrior was highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, matching every move almost exactly in movements so swift, they could be hardly followed. Despite their nearly-identical battle techniques, Ultraman America & Alien Mefilas were able to get in a good several hits on one another: the Living Legend gave his opponent a few solid punches to his face & performed some kicks to the solar plexus, along with a couple throwing moves when he grabbed his enemy's arm & flipped him over his shoulder. Alien Mefilas has retaliated in kind, doing so with moves that even caught Ultraman America off-guard, followed by landing a number of punches & kicks like a judo expert.

A punch to the face from Alien Mefilas caused Ultraman America to see actual stars in his vision, & he took a few steps back to regain his senses.

"So…you've had enough, 'Ultraman America'?", Alien Mefilas taunted.

"I can do this all day, Alien Mefilas!", Ultraman America says, raising his fists.

His answer infuriated his enemy, & Mefilas lashed out with a series of jabs that Ultraman America have dodged & blocked before dishing out punishment of his own. Most of these made contact with the black-clad alien, but others were avoided as the giant alien delivered counterattacks, some of which made contact with the Living Legend.

Much as both combatants are enjoying this brawl, they knew that time was short: Ultraman America had to get up to North Korea to join up with the others to stop this invasion, & Alien Mefilas needs to make sure it continues until this Earth becomes a lifeless husk.

Ultraman America also has to make sure that neither the White House not the U.S. Capital get demolished by the two invaders: he would make certain they get no pleasure in destroying two of the most important buildings in both the state and the country.

Not while I'm standing!, Ultraman America thought on the subject.

Alien Mefilas decided to use his electrical bolts at his enemy, which Ultraman America dodged for a bit before reaching for his shield again & blocked these shots. The black-clad alien fired a multitude of his bolts, but each one is deflected by his foe's shield, rendering them useless. Changing tactics, Alien Mefilas took to the skies to go for an aerial assault.

Well, if he can do it, I should too! Here we go…, Ultraman America thought, willing himself to fly.

He was airborne in just seconds!

Amazing!, he thought. So, this is what it feels like for Tony, Thor, Vision & the others! Maybe I can talk to Tony on building me my own suit of armor, if ever I need it!

Joy of flying unaided aside, Ultraman America headed straight for Mefilas, who in turn does the same.

And so begins a deadly game of airborne chicken, with both combatants heading directly for one another as each was dead set on bringing down his enemy. Closer & closer they get, with neither one backing down.

They were now only 30 meters apart & closing in fast.

When they get to within ten meters, Ultraman America makes his move: with a swing of his right arm, he strikes Alien Mefilas in the face that caused him to lose his balance & plummeted to the ground, crashing onto the area of the German-American Friendship Garden, only meters away from the Washington Monument. Getting up on wobbly legs, Mefilas was struck from behind by Ultraman America, keeping him pinned down. He continued battering on the black-clad alien, never giving him the chance to rise again.

"Stay the hell down, Alien Mefilas!", Ultraman America says, landing another blow. "Or I'll put you down like the mad dog you are!"

"You speak about putting down a rabid dog, Captain?!", Mefilas says. "Then you should've done that sooner!"

Before Ultraman America could ponder on what his foe meant, he was snatched from behind by Sadora, who was now back on his feet. His claws grabbing Ultraman America by his biceps, the Living Legend was held firmly as Alien Mefilas got up & started beating on the Avenger with hard fists & feet, each one feeling like he was being hit by a rock.

Ultraman America tried getting himself loose from Sadora, but the monster had a good grip on him.

Mefilas continued his pummeling of the Living Legend, enjoying the pain he's inflicting as he laughs amusingly.

The Living Legend was seeing white flashes in his vision, & his legs were starting to give out.

Sadora held him up like a ragged doll.

"So, this is the 'Living Legend' I've heard so much about, eh?", Mefilas gloated. "In my eyes, 'Captain', you do not look as if you've earned your title, even as you've been transformed into an Ultra warrior! What the hell made you so special anyway?!"

Ultraman America looked Alien Mefilas in the eyes. If he could smile, he would. But he does chuckle.

"Nothing. I'm just a kid from Brooklyn", he said.

His answer got him another hard punch to his face from the black-clad alien, the sound like a ringing bell.

"You're nothing but a joke, 'Captain'!", Mefilas barked. "I will prove it to your fellow superheroes when I present your headless corpse in plain sight to them! You have earned neither your title nor your reputation!"

"Oh yes he has, Alien Mefilas!", said a new voice, causing everyone to look in their surroundings.

Before either Mefilas or Sadora could ponder on the intruder's whereabouts, the former was struck by a powerful beam that knocked the alien down on his side, while the latter saw something round & bright pass by him as his grip on Ultraman America loosened, who ripped himself free to face the clawed monster, ready for another fight.

Only thing is…Sadora stood perfectly still, staring at the Living Legend & not attacking.

Ultraman America then sees why: both of Sadora's claws & his head fell off, blood squirting from wounds that look to be sheared cleanly by a sharp object. The monster's lifeless/headless body fell to the ground with a thud.

Alien Mefilas recovered to see Sadora decapitated as both combatants wondered what caused his demise.

From up in the sky, a flash of light erupted briefly before revealing the newcomer.

It was the original Ultraman!

"Ultraman!", both combatants say.

The original Ultraman flew over to the Living Legend & gave him a quick energy boost to help him back on his feet. Ultraman America felt his strength restored & nodded his thanks to his savior.

Mefilas was unimpressed by the new arrival as he rose to his feet.

"Having the original Ultraman arrive doesn't change anything, 'Captain'!", the alien scolded. "I fought him to a standstill in our first meeting, as we are evenly matched in strength & power! Even with both of you teaming up against me, you cannot win!"

"Don't be so sure of that, Alien Mefilas!", said the original Ultraman. "You were beaten before, & by someone who was less experienced than myself, if I remember correctly!"

"And get beaten you will be, alien!", Ultraman America says, raising his shielded arm.

Enraged, Mefilas charged at both Ultra warriors & attacked with the ferocity of a wounded animal: electrical bolt attacks endangered both his enemies, which was dodged/reflected by acrobatic moves & shield before the two Ultras came in for close-quarters combat, going hand-to-hand. Alien Mefilas fought like a professional karate/kung fu fighter, dodging/blocking blows & delivering punches & kicks; some of these were avoided, others hit their marks. Both Ultra warriors fought with equal ferocity as they did their best & gave their all to make sure that the area of America's capital received as little damage as possible, up to & including the White House & U.S. Capital.

Steve Rogers vowed to see that neither of them receives damage even in the slightest.

It also went for the Washington Monument.

Fighting for several minutes, Ultraman America was beginning to see why Alien Mefilas fought the original Ultra warrior to a standstill: each move delivered to him were mostly deflected with the grace of a master judo fighter. Each of his timings were near-perfect, & he counteracted to most.

Their fight is evenly matched, with no clear winner.

Until now: Mefilas grabbed Ultraman's arm & swung him like a baseball bat, hitting the Living Legend as he got thrown across the landscape & onto the Ellipse Lawn, a short distance from the White House.

With one Ultra down, Mefilas concentrated on the other: shooting a beam of electrical bolts from one hand, the black-clad alien stunned his enemy as Ultraman hollered in pain as he tumbled to the ground, his blue light turning red & flashing his warning sign. His enemy gave out a maniacal laugh.

"Unlike your people, Ultraman, I don't have any warning signs that tell me I'm running low on energy!", scoffs the black-clad alien. "Once you're completely dry, I shall collect your head right along with that Star-Spangled fool's & show it to the world before I…"

His threat was interrupted when Mefilas was clobbered in the rear by Ultraman America's shield, which returned to its thrower's arm. Mefilas shook out the cobwebs in his head & faced the Living Legend, his hatred of him rising.

"You're taking no one's head, Alien Mefilas!", Ultraman America said.

"I'll do more than just take your heads, Captain!", Mefilas threatened. "I'll slice you up into pieces before I go & scatter them everywhere on your Earth! And once you're all out of the way, we'll…"

Mefilas was so trained on the Living Legend, he never saw what came next: from behind, the original Ultraman threw a right fist into the alien's back, driving it all the way through that his fist came out of Mefilas' chest. The alien looked down to see his enemy's fist emerge from where his beating heart was, blood spewing as the aforementioned organ was still clutched in his foe's hand.

With a simple squeeze, Ultraman crushed the life out of it before withdrawing his fist.

Alien Mefilas remained on his feet for several moments before he collapsed like a house of cards on the lawn.

Blood kept spewing from the lifeless body, but Mefilas did not move or even twitched. He was dead.

Ultraman struggled to rise, but with difficulty: his red light was blinking faster, & his energy was sapping away.

The Living Legend ran to his side, using himself as a crutch for his companion & got him to his feet.

"Thanks for the save! Are you all right?", asked Ultraman America.

"Not for long, I'm afraid!", said Ultraman. "Remember what we told you all about our limited time in the Earth's atmosphere?"

"Yes. You can only stay in these forms for about three minutes or so before your color timers start to blink & turn red. Isn't there any way for you to get yourselves recharged? We still need you in this fight!"

"There is a way, but I'll need your help."

"Tell me what I have to do, Ultraman."

"Fly me up into the sky. I'll explain along the way."

Nodding, Ultraman America held the original Ultra warrior closely with one arm as he took off into the skies at a great speed. They were gone from sight in seconds, leaving the bodies of Mefilas & Sadora behind.

Ultraman gave the Living Legend his instructions.

Steve Rogers prayed he won't be too late.

CHAPTER VI

Utopia:

Even with Rogue becoming an Ultra warrior, the mutants from Utopia were having great difficulty in keeping all three intruders – Gubila, Gesura & Muruchi – from reaching their island home: Namor used the waves against Gubila as he hammered the aquatic monster with powerful splashes that would flatten an array of buildings to their foundation; Magneto used his magnetic powers to throw pointed pieces of scrap metal at Gesura, striking the creature but still not stopping him; Colossus did the same with whatever objects he can get his hands on, throwing them with great strength & hitting his target; Gambit used his charged-up cards to toss with accurate precision at the three monsters, hitting each one dead-on with powerful blasts; Sunspot, another one-time member of the Hellfire Club, used his solar energy blasts to strike at both Gubila & Gesura, giving his teammates a hand simultaneously; Iceman sprayed streams of ice at each creature, only to have them break free in every attempt.

Muruchi was left to Emma Frost & Ultra Rogue: the former made her flesh into living diamond & threw herself at the giant fish monster, hitting him in the chest. Muruchi bellowed in pain before Ultra Rogue delivered a series of well-placed punches & kicks even though she was in the water. As Ultra Rogue battled Muruchi, Emma Frost swam to a safe distance & got back to the beach of the island. She changed her flesh back to normal before attempting to use her telepathy to try & dissuade the three monsters from attacking their island. She pushed with her PSI as far as she could, reaching deep into the monsters' subconsciousness. When she did, the monster trio started to slow their assaults as the mutants were told by Emma to cease & give their enemies space while she tried her mental powers. The movements & even aggressiveness in Muruchi, Gubila & Gesura were starting to decline, getting lower & lower…

And then they bellowed in utter rage: the minds of the monsters were too strong for Emma to dig deep, & when the sudden backlash hit, Emma was thrown to the ground before the monsters restarted their attack: Gubila had rammed into Namor, throwing the Sub-Mariner across the water & crashing into the rocks not far from where Emma stood; the lizard beast Gesura bellowed at the sharp metal pieces embedded in his flesh by Magneto, the hard objects thrown by Colossus & ice blasts by Iceman, so he goes beneath the waves & disappears from sight; Muruchi slaps Ultra Rogue in her face with one of his finned hands before letting loose with his yellow heat ray, striking the Ultra warrior X-Man in her chest, driving her back several meters. Although shielded, the blast she took hurts like hell.

Ah better stay clear of that heat ray Muruchi spits!, Ultra Rogue thought. Ah doubt ah can take another direct hit, even as an Ultra warrior!

Muruchi spat his heat ray at his quarry again, but this time Ultra Rogue heeds her own advice & dodges the blast, diving beneath the waves & vanishes from Muruchi's sight. The fish monster searched frantically for any sign of his prey, ready to blast her at the first sign. Without warning, Muruchi was pulled under & disappeared from sight even faster than Ultra Rogue did. Gubila himself also submerged beneath the drink, leaving the rest perplexed.

Over two minutes passed, with no sigh of Ultra Rogue or any of the three monsters.

"Where are they, mesa mis?", Gambit asked anybody.

"Bobby & I have been searching the skies for any signs of them, but we got nothing!", Sunspot says as he flew in the air while Iceman skated on his ice slopes.

"Keep searching, Roberto, Bobby!", said Magneto. "I seriously doubt they've retreated, so watch for any signs of so much as a fin!"

"Copy that!", Iceman & Sunspot replied.

Emma gets on the line with Kurt Wagner.

"Kurt! How are you & the kids holding up inside?", she asks.

"We are all secured in the safety bunkers as you ordered, fraulein!", Kurt says. "But they cannot disguise their fear, for they are all very afraid! Truth be told, so am I! If only I could teleport them away from this madness…"

"You know you can't teleport that far, Kurt! Just stay where you are: we will not allow these monsters to invade our home a second time, I promise!"

"The kids & I will hold to you on that promise, fraulein Emma! Kurt out!"

Kurt cut the connection before Emma could reply back. She couldn't blame the kids or him: their island home is invaded by monsters from another dimension for the second time, & it was even getting under her skin, be it diamond or flesh.

She only hopes that Cyclops, Wolverine & the other heroes will be successful in shutting down the source of their problems before they escalate any further.

From beneath the water, Gesura & Gubila shot up as the former crashed into Iceman's slides & shattered them, causing the frozen mutant to fall into the water. The latter creature splashed down into the water that created a geyser of water, hitting Sunspot & dousing his flames before he plummets into the drink. Magneto, Gambit & the others cry out their names as Roberto & Bobby swim to the surface to get air in their lungs as large finned/paddled hands struck the water, each monster determined to crush the mutants like insects.

Not far off, Ultra Rogue resurfaced with Muruchi as she was in close combat with the giant fish monster: with a strong left fist, Ultra Rogue belted Muruchi across the face, followed by an uppercut with her right fist. Both blows had staggered the fish monster, but didn't stop him: lashing out with his tail, Muruchi struck Ultra Rogue in the side of her face, stunning her long enough for Muruchi to bite down upon her shoulder as the large X-Man cried out in pain before she gets picked up & thrown towards the beach – at the very spot where Emma & Namor stood at!

Both their eyes widened as Ultra Rogue was getting closer.

"RUN!", Emma shouted as she grabbed Namor by the wrist & pulled him away as both mutants pump their legs for all their worth. Even with their tough exteriors, neither was willing to find out if they'd survive being crushed by a giant, friend or not.

Ultra Rogue crashed onto the beach with more than enough force to shake the island, the impact of her landing being felt everywhere. Namor & Emma nearly stumbled in their flight, but managed to stay on their feet. Their giant X-Man teammate struggled to get herself back up, but was slow doing so: Muruchi fired his heat ray at the rocks just above the fallen Ultra warrior, causing a mini avalanche that hit Ultra Rogue & nearly burying Namor & Emma.

"Imperious Rex!", Namor bellowed at the monster through clenched teeth. "If only I've been given the power to become an Ultra warrior, I would…"

Namor was cut off abruptly by a bright light flash that shot forth a trio of white energy blasts that strikes each of the monsters, causing them to cry out in pain & cease their assault. Mutants & monsters look up to see who it was that fired these blasts: when the bright light flash vanished, it was a welcome sight to the mutants & Ultra Rogue herself.

"Ultraman Leo!", the giant X-Man said, getting back on her feet.

Said Ultra warrior landed close to where Ultra Rogue was, who rejoined her giant comrade.

"Are you all right, Rogue?", Leo asked.

"Ah'll live!", she replied. "Your timing is impeccable, sugah!"

Both Ultra warriors share a chuckle.

"Like my brothers, I've got a knack for showing up at dire moments! Speaking of…", Leo says, facing the beasts & getting into a fighting stance with Ultra Rogue. "All right, creatures! If any of you want to get on this island & any of its inhabitants…"

"You're gonna have ta go through us!", Ultra Rogue finished. "And that's not happenin'!"

Ultraman Leo shook his head to confirm his partner's vow.

The monster trio charged the two Ultra warriors, with them doing the same.

Muruchi was once again forced to deal with Ultra Rogue, while Leo went over towards Gubila & Gesura: giving both monsters a swift kick to the face, Leo's move distracted them long enough for Leo to pick up Roberto & Bobby as the former gets a quick burst of energy that dries him off & reignites his powers, enabling him to take off on his own.

"Thanks for the energy boost, Ultraman Leo!", Sunspot says as Leo nods.

Iceman also recuperates & sends his compliments to the giant that rescued him.

Getting themselves back in the game, Sunspot & Iceman assist Leo as they square off against Gubila & Gesura, each of whom were enraged by Leo's surprise attacks: Gubila started his drill nose that spun quickly & was ready to bore a hole into the Ultra warrior. Sunspot used his energy blasts to overheat the spinning weapon as Gubila screeched in pain from the heat before Iceman shot forth a stream of ice to rapidly cool it off, freezing it in an instant.

Fun science fact: when overheated metal is suddenly hit with cold water or ice, it becomes brittle & weak, thus it loses its sturdiness. It was Sunspot & Iceman's plan all along, & the end results became satisfying: Gubila's drill nose shattered into pieces when Ultraman Leo used a karate chop on it, breaking it like it was a vase.

Despite the loss of his weapon, Gubila was still a dangerous threat: he rushed Leo along with Gesura as both of the aquatic monsters attacked the martial arts Ultraman with the ferocity of a hungry/angry animal. It was more than enough to give Leo a strenuous workout, even with his training of martial arts to fend them off.

But even outmatched by two opponents, Ultraman Leo didn't falter: he fought on as fiercely as any of the mutants on Utopia did. Magneto, Colossus, Gambit, Emma & Namor watched as Leo fought to defend the island of mutants, as the Ultra warrior never gives an inch.

Ultraman Leo fights for our kind as fiercely as Emma, Scott, Logan or even I do, Magneto thought. He's just as adamant in protecting us mutants despite being from another universe. He is truly an honorable warrior.

His thoughts on Leo are the same as the others, praising his bravery to protect mutantkind as they are.

A scene in the battle gave something Magneto & the others to draw their attention to: when Iceman shot Gesura with a volley of pointed icicles, one of them landed on the fin on top of the monster's head, causing him to bellow out in pain as Gesura shook his head in displeasure.

Emma saw it herself, & she contacts both Bobby Drake & Ultraman Leo via telepathy about what they discovered about Gesura. Iceman & the Ultra warrior get the message & they put their plan into action: as Gubila takes another leap at Ultraman Leo, the giant warrior gives the aquatic creature a hard foot into the face that drove him back several meters, giving him & Iceman some breathing room. Once they do, Iceman acts first: he shoots off another volley of his pointed icicles at the large fin on Gesura's head, many of them piercing it & causing Gesura to bellow out in pain as he thrashed his head around to dislodge the icicles that punctured his top fin. Facing the human popsicle, Gesura attempted to leap up & swallow Bobby in one bite.

Ultraman Leo quickly put an end to that notion: snatching Gesura by the arm, he pulled the monster back down into the water & held him firmly with his left hand. With his right, Leo grabbed one of the large icicles Iceman struck his fin with & pulled with all his might. Gesura roared & fought back with all his might, but Leo kept on pulling even as the lizard monster fought fiercely.

With a satisfying yank, Ultraman Leo ripped off Gesura's head fin as the creature bellowed in agony at losing his appendage. Having lost his primary weapon, Gesura turns to retreat but Ultraman Leo fires his beam lamp ray from his forehead & strikes upon the top of Gesura's. An explosion occurred that causes the monster to slow in his retreat before he finally falls forward & splashes into the water, dead as a doorknob.

He sinks to the bottom like a stone.

Now there was Gubila to deal with: putting on a burst of speed, the aquatic monster knocked over Ultraman Leo as he advances towards Utopia, ignoring Iceman & Sunspot's attacks. The mutants on the island ready themselves for another attack, but Leo beats them to it: acting immediately, the Ultra warrior shot forth the cross beam which can also be shot from his forehead, urging Roberto & Bobby to dive for cover. It struck Gubila in the back, causing the monster to detonate into a million pieces.

Emma, Namor & the rest grin at the fierce fighting spirit Ultraman Leo displayed at helping to save their island.

They would have to put their victory on hold: there was still Muruchi left, & he was still giving Ultra Rogue such a fierce battle as she fought tooth & claw against the giant fish monster while dodging his heat ray in the process. Ultra Rogue launched an array of punches that would shake & crumble buildings to powder on Muruchi, & the fish monster was only getting angrier with each blow he received from the giant X-Man.

Come on, girl!, Ultra Rogue thought. If someone like the Punisher can drive this creature away from a populated area, so can you!

She recalled how the Punisher went up against Muruchi & a giant slug creature in Portland, Maine & how he got both of them to leave the area while the big slug dissolved in the water. What's more, he did so using only his weapons van & his wits – exactly as he does when he's dealing with criminals.

Part of Ultra Rogue wished he were here to help do it again.

But wishful thinking wasn't going to get rid of Muruchi this time, & she knew it: Ultra Rogue tried breaking one of Muruchi's arms when she got the chance to grab one, but the fish monster simply fired his heat ray at his opponent, forcing her to withdraw. As she did, Muruchi wrapped his tail end around her neck & lifted her out of the water before bringing her down again, creating a huge splash. Muruchi does this a good six more times before releasing her as Ultra Rogue fought to regain her sense of balance, not knowing which way was up or down.

Namor & the others call out Rogue's name, but it did no good: Muruchi grabbed her by the arms & reached in to bite down on her neck as a vampire would. Ultra Rogue fought to get him off, but the fish monster's bite was too solid.

He wasn't letting go until he wants to, & that means biting her head clean off her shoulders.

Ultraman Leo saw the predicament Ultra Rogue was in, & he took a mighty leap airborne, getting to a height of 100 meters before extending his right foot as it glowed with crimson energy. Muruchi felt he was about to get another foe to contend with, & so he looked over to his left & up to see Leo coming straight for him.

His charged right foot would be the last thing he'll ever see: with a powerful thrust, Ultraman Leo made contact with Muruchi's head, knocking it clean off his neck with a sickening snap of flesh & bone. Leo splashed into the water as Muruchi's head went flying, landing far away from Utopia. Both Ultra Warriors & the other mutants watch as the headless body of Muruchi fell over like a timbering tree & splashed into the water, sinking faster than Gesura did.

Utopia, the island home of the X-Men, was saved once again.

Everyone grinned big as their savior helped to avert another disaster.

Their grins were wiped off their faces when Ultraman Leo collapsed into the water, the warning light on his chest turning from blue to red & blinking fast. Ultra Rogue called out to & helped him get to shore quickly. Magneto, Namor, Emma, Gambit, Iceman, Colossus & Sunspot all came to Leo's side.

"What's going on? Why is that red light blinking on your chest, mon ami?", asked Gambit.

"I've…nearly spent…my energy", Leo says. "We Ultra warriors…can only stay like this…for a limited time."

"What is your energy source, comrade Leo?", asked Colossus.

"Solar energy…from the sun…I need to…recharge immediately…or I go back to…my human form."

The mutants look to each other, all of them worried, especially when Leo's timer blinks faster.

"He does need a recharge, but I don't know if ah can fly fast enough to the sun before his timer stops!", Ultra Rogue says.

"Maybe you won't have to, Rogue!", said Sunspot. "I'm betting I can give Leo the charge he needs to get back on his feet!"

"But Roberto, if you do this, you'll exhaust your own solar energy!", said Namor.

"Namor's right", Emma said. "If you transfer your energy into Ultraman Leo, you'll be drained of power for at least a few days before you can store it up again."

Roberto da Costa stared at his teammates for a few seconds, pondering his thoughts: doing what he wants will be an exhausting experience for him, as he will remain human for a few days.

But while disaster has been averted at Utopia again, it still doesn't mean that the danger is over: unless the source of all their troubles is stopped, this will continue until there's no more Earth to save.

In this or in any dimension/universe.

And the Ultra warriors could be their best bet in stopping it for good.

"If it means stopping what's happening to our Earth, it's a chance I'm willing to take!", Sunspot stated firmly.

"As you wish, Roberto", Magneto says in good faith.

Sunspot looked up at Ultraman Leo, who nods.

"Hit me when…you're ready…Roberto", Leo says.

Nodding, Sunspot aimed his arms at Leo's color timer & launched his solar energy at.

He didn't spare one ounce of power.

Moscow, Russia:

The country's superhero team the Winter Guard most definitely have their hands full: not only do they have to help rescue civilians trapped underneath the rubble of toppled buildings, they also need to stop the giant bird monster Birdon, which has terrorized Russia's capital city. Ursa Major, Vanguard & Red Widow were each cooperating with local law enforcement & paramedics in rescuing civilians that got injured and/or trapped beneath what had remained of once-beautiful structures, with more than a handful going into meat wagons to be taken to the morgue.

It put a sour mood in the team, & Ursa Major was not afraid to express it.

"What a drag!", he growled, clearing away more rubble to allow people caught to escape. "If only I was that big bird's size, I'd tear it limb from limb with my very own claws! And then…I would feast upon it for months!"

"How about thinking less of your stomach, Ursa Major, & more about getting these people away from the danger area?", Vanguard says, removing a concrete pillar & escorting people to the ambulances.

"Besides…the others are handling that big bird as we speak!", Red Widow says, handing over a child to its mom. "Speaking of…Dmitri, how are things going with the creature?"

"You're speaking as if we're trying to catch a pigeon, Widow!", Crimson Dynamo replied sourly. "This thing's wrecked a good portion of the capital, & we're not even close to bringing it down!"

"Then try harder, Dmitri! Use whatever's at your disposal to bringing it down, & then some! And whatever you do…do not allow it to so much as go near the Moscow International Business Center! Is that clear?! The president will have our asses handed to us if we fail!"

"Get this straight, woman – we're throwing everything we have at this monster, & it's still flying about! If you're so certain we can beat this thing, how about you come join us & bring it down yourself?!"

Dmitri cut the connection before Red Widow could respond.

She fumed, but continued in her task.

Birdon flew towards & landed at Park Krasnaya Presnya, crushing several trees & shaking the ground before he let loose an ear-shattering screech for all of Moscow to hear. Crimson Dynamo, Vostok, Perun & Darkstar all flew in as quickly as they could before letting loose with their armaments: Dmitri let loose with his repulsor beams, striking the bird-beast with hot energy in the back; Vostok used high sonics to disrupt his senses & disorient him, the sound as loud as most anything; Darkstar shot forth a twin blast of mystic energy at Birdon's chest, causing the creature to bellow in pain & rage; Perun went in for a more hands-on approach, going up to Birdon's face & driving his axe deep into the creature's flesh on his left cheek.

It caused Birdon to screech louder than Vostok's sonic blast, being hit by something of mystic origin.

A big grin came on Perun's face.

"Don't like the taste of my axe, do you, creature?!", he shouted to it. "Too bad: you'll be feeling my blade many more times before this day is through!"

To prove his point (literally), Perun removed his blade from Birdon's skin & went at various areas of the creature, driving his weapon into places where the monster was most vulnerable at. Some were mere cuts that bled, while others were deep penetrations that made Birdon screech out in pain & displeasure.

His cries of anguish only urged Perun to continue with his attacks, his pleasure increasing with each wound.

I've wondered what this giant bird might taste like…probably chicken!, Perun thought gleefully. I suppose both Ursa Major & myself will find out – once we slay this creature!

The literal Russian bear won't be the only one anxious to feast on Birdon once he's been slain.

But attacking Birdon & putting him down are two very different things, as the four members of the Winter Guard are about to find out: with a deafening screech, Birdon lifted his head before bringing it down to shoot forth a stream of high-intensity flames at his small but powerful attackers, starting with Perun: the god being barely dodged the flames in time to avoid getting broiled while in flight. Feeling the intense heat of Birdon's flames, he was glad to have dodged them: even he doubted he would've survived direct contact with them, & he didn't need Vostok's calculations to tell him so.

Vostok was next: using his aerial acrobatics & superior calculative mind, the Russian android steered clear of the deadly fire that streamed his way. Even the android knew that his armored hide was no match or protection against the fires Birdon spits from his beak. Turning now to Crimson Dynamo, Birdon moved with a speed that belied his gigantic size as he let loose another gout of fires that seemed hotter than Hades' domain. The Russian Iron Man swerved to one side with barely enough time to spare, but not before launching a pair of missiles that struck Birdon squarely in the chin & sending the bird-beast a literal chill all over as ice formed around his beak, ceasing his flames.

It was their perfect chance to end the creature.

"Now – hit the beak while it's frozen!", Crimson Dynamo cried out.

Nobody wasted a single second: the quartet shot forth with their arsenals to strike the creature where he was at his most vulnerable.

Unfortunately for the Winter Guard, Birdon was just as quick in response as anyone suspected: just like a living rocket, the bird-beast shot himself up into the air just as their attacks reached where his frozen beak was only seconds ago. Now airborne, Birdon unleashed another stream of fire from his beak, unfreezing it in the process. The quartet all went in separate directions to avoid the inferno before Birdon flew into & demolished both Capital Towers, pulverizing each into rubble.

Leaving the destruction & Winter Guard behind, Birdon headed for the Moscow International Business Center – the very place Red Widow told her team she didn't want the bird-beast to go.

"That creature is heading for the MIBC area!", Perun said.

"And the area has not been fully evacuated yet!", Vostok says. "My calculations indicate that it will take another full hour to get people to minimum safe distance using underground subways & shopping centers to escape the beast!"

"Neither we nor the people have a full hour, Vostok! Everyone double-time it!", Crimson Dynamo barked.

Like living rockets themselves, the Winter Guard put on a burst of speed to catch up with Birdon.

Over the skies of the MIBC, Birdon flew above the tallest buildings of Moscow & screeched as the people in the vicinity noticed the bird-beast overhead & cried in panic as law enforcement – including Spetsnaz – rushed citizens to where they can find shelter from the horror that has invaded their country & city. Birdon saw the multitude of numerous & delicious tidbits all running to seek shelter, giving him the perfect chance to have himself a grand feast of humans.

Bellowing a screech, Birdon began his descent into the heart of the city, landing on the open streets near the Neva Towers. People frantically scurried away like ants discovered under a rock.

Explosions from Crimson Dynamo's rockets launched by his suit struck Birdon in the back & sides, diverting his attention to the fast-approaching Winter Guard. Darkstar blasted at Birdon with her mystic energy, her attack seemingly stronger than before; Vostok used an electrical attack from his hands, hoping the voltage will work better; Dmitri used more of his missiles in a barrage that seemed endless as explosions peppered the creature's body.

Like before, Perun was eager to drive his axe into the monster, only now in his most vulnerable area yet.

"You're a mighty tough one, bird-beast!", Perun bellowed. "But even you have weaknesses…such as your very own eyes! After all…you can't fight what you can't see!"

Perun came in closer to Birdon's right eye even as the monster was bombarded with missiles & energy blasts.

Birdon didn't seemed too concerned despite the punishment he took from these four humans.

Unleashing a screech, Birdon started flapping his wings & created a powerful gust of wind which started blowing away anything that wasn't securely fastened: things like vehicles, rubble, foliage & even people/animals were getting blown away by this self-made hurricane, with many of the latter getting killed by striking into buildings & other objects at the velocity they've been thrown by Birdon's winds.

Even the Winter Guard were having difficulty getting through the creature's winds, no matter how hard the try.

"My jets are at full capacity, & I still can't get through these winds that monster's making!", Dmitri says.

"Even I'm having trouble, Dmitri!", Darkstar said. "It's not exactly a breeze…pardon the pun!"

"The odds of us pulling through these winds by the creature are about 10,000 to 1!", Vostok says.

"Never announce the odds, android!", Perun says.

Despite Perun's objections, Vostok's predictions were correct: the winds being far too strong even for them, the Winter Guard were thrown across the city, crashing into a parked car, a building & on the ground itself. Each member received injuries, & Crimson Dynamo's armor was fading in & out. Vostok was also sparking, & a big hurt upon both Perun & Darkstar kept them out of commission.

"Everyone okay?", asked Darkstar.

"A little banged up, but I'll live!", Dmitri says. "My armor just needs a minute or two to reboot itself, & I'll be back in the game!"

"I doubt you'll have that long, Dmitri!", Perun says, looking up.

The others follow suit to see Birdon coming down almost on top of the Winter Guard, staring down at the quartet of heroes. Having been troubled by these humans for too long, Birdon is ready to make an example of them.

Letting out a screech of anger, Birdon bent down to consume each of the quartet.

"Alert! Sensors have picked up another large object heading for Moscow!", Vostok says.

"Another monster?", asked Perun.

"Nyet. This one is…different!"

Birdon also sensed that something was heading his way, & he halts in the Winter Guard's consumption to look in the direction of this newcomer as he & the rest see a large crimson object coming in straight for their position.

If this object teams up with Birdon, Moscow & the Winter Guard won't stand a chance.

They needn't have worried: this red object – in the form of a 53-meter-tall giant – swoops down & collides with Birdon like a speeding train, sending the bird-beast tumbling away from the Winter Guard and the MIBC.

Shaking off the cobwebs, Birdon rose to his feet & turned to the intruder.

It was Ultraman Taro!

Having appeared from above the planet, Taro picked up Birdon's presence in Russia's capital & flew on down to handle the bird creature that once killed two Ultra warriors when he first appeared: Zoffy & Taro himself.

No longer afraid of dying by his hand, Taro launched his shooting beam from his hands that struck Birdon in his chest, causing the bird-beast to screech in pain. He retaliated by shooting his flames from his beak, but Taro went to one side & avoided the stream. He lashed back with blue laser attack from his horns, hitting Birdon on each of his wings as they sparked but didn't catch fire like he hoped. He wasn't daunted: Taro ran towards Birdon to engage in more close quartet combat, but the bird creature rose up like a balloon by the time he got there.

Birdon headed back towards the MIBC, the hunger in him too strong to resist.

Ultraman Taro took flight himself & went after his quarry.

The Ultra warrior caught up to Birdon in time & halted his progress as they both hit the ground next to the Public Museum of the Moscow Metro. It is here he holds the line as Taro keeps Birdon back to prevent him from snacking on the hordes of people he wants to consume. Birdon pushed with all his might to get within the MIBC, but Taro's amazing strength made sure his advancement didn't go any further.

His efforts didn't go unnoticed by the Winter Guard.

"What is this yon crimson giant that has also invaded our land & city?", Perun asked.

"Information of red giant is unavailable", Vostok said. "Origin is unknown, same as with the giant bird."

"Whatever – whoever – that crimson giant is, he seems to be just as adamant in protecting the citizens as we are!", said Darkstar, getting to her feet.

"If that really is the case, Darkstar…", Crimson Dynamo said, getting up now that his suit has fully rebooted. "I say we should lend him a helping hand or two! Are you all in?"

Vostok & Perun get back on their feet, each looking ready for more.

"Capacity has now returned at 100%", the android says.

"Aye, I'm ready to go another hundred rounds with yon beast!", Perun says, raising his axe.

Seeing his team ready, Crimson Dynamo nods & they take to the air.

Ultraman Taro landed a series of punches & laser blasts with his horns while both keeping Birdon back & dodging his deadly beak when he thrusts it forward. He still remembers when he first fought this nightmarish creature, which was one of the toughest foes Taro's ever faced; having already died by his hands once, he was in no hurry to repeat that experience. Birdon's hunger was at its most frantic, & the bird-beast was getting irritated by being denied nourishment.

To express his displeasure, Birdon unleashed a stream of flames at the ground below to roast the escaping people, but this was deflected by Taro as he turned the bird's head away, hitting only a building's side as it caught fire.

Once it ceased, Crimson Dynamo used coolants to douse the flames before hitting Birdon with his repulsor beams.

Perun used his lightning attack to strike Birdon in the face, blinding him & giving Darkstar the chance to act: a double blast of power from her fists caused Birdon to screech in pain. Vostok attacks in a similar fashion, getting the same results for the android. Ultraman Taro saw the actions of the Winter Guard, concluding that they are a superhero group in Russia's capital & the country itself.

Nodding his thanks, Taro leaped up & gave Birdon a solid kick to his face that sent him tumbling away from the MIBC area, sparing the people a horrible fate. The Winter Guard went after the fallen bird-beast & unloaded their arms on the downed creature, causing Birdon to bellow in agony & displeasure. Taro added to the confusion with the lasers from his horns, followed by his arrow beam as he shot forth a volley of them directly at Birdon, each one hitting his chest.

It was the last straw for Birdon: enraged more than ever, the bird monster rose on up & lashed out at the Winter Guard, nearly swatting Vostok & Crimson Dynamo with a single swipe. Darkstar also dodged the beast's claws but the backlash wind caused her to tumble through the air. Perun wasn't so lucky: Birdon scored a direct hit on the god warrior with a left claw that sent him soaring across the city before crashing down in the ruins of the Capital Towers.

With a grunt, Perun was down for the count.

Ultraman Taro would be next: Birdon threw himself at the Ultra warrior, his body weight acting like a wrecking ball as he body-slammed into his enemy as Taro landed on his back, with Birdon pinning him down. Like a maniacal version of Woody Woodpecker, Birdon rammed his beak at Taro numerous times, intent on killing the Ultra warrior as he did last time.

Only this time, it would be for good.

His beak attacks getting quicker & deadlier, Taro moved even faster to avoid being punctured by this lethal point which once took his & Zoffy's life. But Taro knew that sooner or later Birdon would get in a lucky shot, & he needed to figure out a strategy to get him off before that happens.

One came in the form of the Winter Guard: Crimson Dynamo, Vostok & Darkstar each fired a simultaneous hit on Birdon behind his head, causing him to lift his head & screech in pain & surprise.

It was the opening Taro waited for: placing his hands on the creature's chest, Taro used his incredible strength to shove Birdon off him before getting back on his feet. Nodding his gratitude to his small saviors, Taro went after Birdon & clobbered the creature a couple times with his fists & breaking off the pointed end of his beak right before grabbing his wings & getting airborne, taking his enemy with him.

Both rose up into the sky & were nearly gone in seconds.

"Where are they going?", Darkstar wondered.

"At their current course & speed, the two are most likely heading towards & into the stratosphere", Vostok says.

"Darkstar…let's you & I follow them to make certain that bird creature doesn't come back!", Dmitri says as he blasts off with his rockets.

"Copy!", Darkstar says, following her teammate & (mostly) leader.

Even though Ultraman Taro got a good head-start, Dmitri & Darkstar were able to keep them in sight as they do follow them to what is believed to be the stratosphere. As they get higher, Birdon's body began to ice all over, his own movements slowing the further up Taro takes him. Being a creature born from a volcano, it was only natural that Birdon would be weakened by cold/freezing temperatures – and there was nothing colder than the merciless vacuum of space.

Luckily, Dmitri created & designed his suit to withstand the extreme cold of space & even the heat friction of re-entry into the planet's atmosphere. Darkstar does the same with a mystic barrier, which also supplied her with oxygen.

They reached the outer atmosphere in good time, being completely above the planet as Ultraman Taro pushed away a completely frozen Birdon, who was covered in a sheet of ice from head to toe. As he tumbled on through space, Ultraman Taro gathered energy before placing his arms in a T position & letting loose with his Strium beam – a multi-colored attack that strikes Birdon's frozen form & blasts him into a million pieces, ending his reign of terror once more.

Crimson Dynamo & Darkstar just stared at the awesome display that occurred before them.

Ultraman Taro turned to the two little heroes that followed him & approached them.

Neither Winter Guard soldiers moved.

"I appreciated the help back there! Are you folks all right?", Taro asked.

"Yes", Dmitri said. "And we are also in debt to you, giant, for ridding our city of that horrid beast."

"Before you go, we have to ask", Darkstar says. "Who or what are you?"

"Ultraman Taro", he replied before noticing his color timer blinking. "If you will excuse me…"

Offering the two a heartfelt salute, Taro flew off at a speed even they couldn't follow & was gone in seconds.

Red Widow came on their comm links.

"Dmitri, Darkstar, report! What's going on up there, over!"

"Enemy neutralized, indefinitely", Dmitri reported. "Red giant – Ultraman Taro – has taken off to parts unknown, over."

The line went silent for a few moments before Vanguard came on the line.

"You & the others can tell us about him later. Right now, we have a city to clean up & people to help, so get back down here on the double. Vanguard out."

Vanguard cut the line before either could respond.

Without another word, both Winter Guard soldiers descended back towards Earth & Moscow.

Wakanda:

Even transformed into an Ultra warrior, Ultraman Thor was having a very difficult time in dealing with the robot called King Joe: made of an alien metal derived from another universe, the robot took whatever punishment its enemy had thrown at it & dished it out with equal ferocity, if not more. For every punch Ultraman Thor delivered to King Joe, the robot gave it right back with power that stunned even the Asgardian.

The power of Mjolnir had just as much difficulty: when Ultraman Thor slammed his hammer into King Joe, the robot erected its Pedanium Shutter – a barrier shield that can deflect attacks & stun enemies on contact.

No matter how hard he tried, Ultraman Thor could not penetrate it, with or without Mjolnir.

At one time he tried to disable the barrier by placing his hands on King Joe & summon the lightning to shock it into submission, but the barrier gave the Asgardian a nasty shock that seared even his near-invulnerable hide.

But even that didn't deter Ultraman Thor in clashing with King Joe: the Asgardian grappled with the robot in a fierce & very brutal hand-to-hand brawl where every punch delivered rang like a giant bell that was heard most every place in the region. Ultraman Thor used Mjolnir to block King Joe's Eldritch shot as the hammer absorbed every ounce of power the robot threw at him: he figures that if his hammer could just gather the energy from its own weapon, then he could use that very same energy to try & destroy it, or at the very least, cause some damage in its armor.

Mjolnir glowed brightly with the energy from King Joe's Eldritch shot.

It was now or never: his super-charged weapon in hand, Ultraman Thor went at King Joe & raised his hammer to strike at his robotic enemy, ready to give the machine a deadly taste of its own medicine. With a mighty swing, Ultraman Thor buffeted King Joe in the center of its chest, causing a powerful blast that actually lit up the ground like a second sun. The explosion was powerful enough to knock Ultraman Thor off his feet & backwards as he landed on his back with a ground-shaking thud. Everybody within the protective dome of Wakanda City also felt the power of the blow & Ultraman Thor's collision on the ground. The ground shook so fiercely that even Devil Dinosaur had trouble staying on his feet, nearly tripping over on his side.

From where King Joe stood, a thick cloud of smoke obscured the robot, becoming invisible to everyone.

Ramonda, Shuri, Lunella & Okoye stood together as they watched the fight right up to when Ultraman Thor had clobbered his robotic enemy before the bright explosion caused them to shield their eyes & seeing King Joe in a thick smoke cloud.

They & everybody else prayed to the Panther Gods that King Joe was destroyed.

When the smoke cleared, they were greeted by a most unusual sight.

King Joe was still standing & seemingly unhurt/undamaged anywhere!

Nobody in Wakanda, resident or otherwise, could believe it as they stared wide-eyed at the golden robot.

Even Ultraman Thor could hardly believe the results: he'd hit the robot with its own weapon at point-blank range, & it still doesn't go down.

"What is this robot made out of?! Vibranium?!", Ramonda wondered.

"Not exactly, Mother, but something close to it!", Shuri said. "After running a scan of its alloy, it's a metal not native to this universe at all! I've run the scan half a dozen times with Lunella, & the results were all the same!"

Lunella Lafayette nodded, confirming her conclusion.

"I suppose we ought to be glad it isn't made out of Vibranium!", Okoye adds. "But…heaven forbid if this robot does get ahold of our precious metal…"

"It will be unstoppable!", Ramonda says with trepidation in her voice. "And we've got a rather good amount of the metal right here in the city to help us construct new defensive weapons! Should that robot manage to break through the barrier & get its hands on it…"

"Game over, as they say in the outside world!", Okoye says.

"And even Thor won't be able to hold off this thing forever!", Shuri said. "Sooner or later, he's bound to fall in battle, & when he does…"

"Maybe not, Shuri!", Lunella says, an idea springing in her mind.

The three ladies turn to her.

"What are you saying, Lunella?", Shuri asked. "You think there's some way to penetrate that armor & help Thor turn the tide?"

"There very well could be, & I believe I know just the weapon that can help turn this fight in our favor! Let's go directly to the laboratory – I'll explain along the way!"

Anxious to hear what Lunella Lafayette has in mind, the three Wakanda ladies nodded & head for said area.

Whatever Moon Girl has planned, they pray for its success.

Seven minutes later:

On the outer area of the city, Ultraman Thor & King Joe's battle reaches a critical point: the giant Asgardian used his hammer to clobber King Joe upon the top of its head, but the area was just as protected as anywhere else. It also left Ultraman Thor open & vulnerable for an attack: with a swiftness that belied King Joe's size, the robot had snatched its opponent by his throat & lifted him up in a firm grip. Ultraman Thor raised his hammer to knock away the arm holding him up, but King Joe swatted it away just as when it came down, knocking Mjolnir out of his hand as it flew across the landscape & landed 220 meters away, embedded in the ground with the handle sticking up on a slant.

Despite the loss of his hammer, Ultraman Thor fought on by punching King Joe where its eyes should be, doing so with every ounce of strength he could muster. But King Joe simply ignores the literal thunderous blows striking it & retaliates with several punches of its own from its free left hand. Each fist throws at Ultraman Thor is almost like being hit by the very Gods themselves, from Hades' raging fires to Zeus' own lightning bolts at full power. With every blow he receives, Ultraman Thor sees flashes of white in his vision as he fights to stay conscious while attempting to get free & launch a counterstrike any way he can.

But every attempt he tries fails to do either: King Joe's grip is too strong, & it hammers Ultraman Thor in the face a good dozen times before lifting him up & throwing the Asgardian head over heels in the opposite direction where Mjolnir had landed. Ultraman Thor crashed onto his back with an earth-shaking thud that was felt everywhere, his body numb from the impact.

King Joe quickly walked over to its fallen enemy, who was fighting the numbness from head to toe. King Joe had stood at Ultraman Thor's feet as the Asgardian began kicking at the robot when it was in range. But each kick was just as feeble as his punches, & the numbness in each leg made it hard for him to summon the strength to be effective.

Bending down on & pinning its enemy's legs, King Joe raised its fists above its head & brought them down with sledgehammer force on Ultraman Thor's face, repeating the process continuously. The Asgardian attempted to block the blows he was receiving, but the robot was far too strong & he was beginning to slip out of consciousness. Ultraman Thor fought to stay awake: he knew that if he went under even for a second, it will spell the end for him, despite being an Ultra warrior with enhanced strength and size.

Reaching out with his left hand, Ultraman Thor summons Mjolnir as he fought to resist the hammering he was receiving from his mechanical enemy. With every ounce of will power he can muster, Ultraman Thor calls forth for his weapon to help him at least get leverage.

It was a huge strain, but it works: Mjolnir dug itself out of the ground & headed straight for the outstretched hand of Ultraman Thor. Acting quickly, the Asgardian used his hammer to block King Joe's latest swing of both its fists as metal clashes with mystic hammer. Undaunted, King Joe raised its hands & brought them down again, only to be once again blocked by Mjolnir. Changing its battle tactics, King Joe went & grabbed Mjolnir by the handle with both hands, with Ultraman Thor doing the same.

Using a quick strategy, Ultraman Thor summoned the lightning from above to Mjolnir in hopes that he will catch the robot off-guard & fry its internal circuitry. Bolts of energy from the skies struck the hammer & struck both Ultraman Thor & King Joe in a simultaneous manner as both combatants keep a firm grip on Mjolnir.

When the lightning show stops, King Joe was just as functional as ever.

Now it was a fierce game of Tug-of-War with each combatant struggling to be in sole possession of the hammer.

From 500 meters out, a flying hovercraft with a large platform trails the skies as a pilot carries Ramonda, Shuri, Lunella & Okoye in the cabin of the craft. From behind, Devil Dinosaur rests comfortably upon the platform. Even at their vantage point, the group can see how fierce Ultraman Thor's fight is going with King Joe, with the robot getting its advantage by having the Asgardian on his back as it pinned him down before it began pummeling with a series of double fists that were felt even from afar.

Anything Ultraman Thor tried was met with failure: even when he summoned his hammer & conjured up a fierce lightning strike, it did nothing to slow or stop King Joe's assault.

"All that punishment the robot is receiving from Thor, & it still isn't going down!", Ramonda says.

"All the more reason to put Lunella's plan into action, Mother!", Shuri says.

"And not a moment too soon, Shuri!", Okoye says. "Thor doesn't look as if he can take much more from this vile machine, even in his Ultra warrior status! Here's hoping this plan of yours is a game-changer, Lunella!"

"If only I had more time, I would've devised another strategy, Okoye!", Lunella says. "But time is something we don't have much of, & this was the only thing that came to mind in such a hurry!"

"We'll haveto go with it, Lunella, if Wakanda is to have a future!"

Lunella Lafayette nodded.

"Does everybody remember the plan?", she asks.

"Like we know our own hands, Lunella!", Ramonda says before addressing the pilot. "Get us behind the robot at a distance of about 50 meters! Once you drop us off, get away from the area to a safe distance until we call for you again!"

"Understood, Your Highness!", the pilot replied, carrying out his orders.

As per his instructions, the pilot landed at the exact distance from the dueling titans with King Joe's back to them as Lunella, Ramonda, Shuri & Okoye pour out of the cabin. Lunella whistled for Devil Dinosaur to climb out, & the red Tyrannosaur stepped down & off the rear platform before the pilot went on his way again, kicking up a gust of wind in its departure. Hanging from Shuri's shoulder was a rocket launcher, along with a pouch made from animal skin.

"Okay people: Thor's fighting tooth & claw to help save Wakanda! Now it's our time to return the favor to him!", Lunella says, turning to her giant pet. "Let's go, Big Red!"

Nodding, Devil Dinosaur lowered his tail & slipped its end underneath the legs of Lunella, Shuri, Ramonda & Okoye before carefully lifting it up & allowing the four humans to slide across his back until they were right behind his head, resting on his neck & part of his back. Shuri then unstraps & prepares her rocket launcher before digging into her pouch to take out a trio of cylinders – each one containing an energy crystal that were unintentionally made into bombs instead of power sources for vehicles, cities & the like.

As with loading a shotgun with its shells, Shuri carefully inserts the three cylinders into the rocket launcher.

Closing the loading hatch, she switches the launcher on as it began humming softly.

"There! The rocket launcher is all set & ready to fire!", Shuri announced.

"Please make sure you get it on the first try, Shuri!", Ramonda says. "If you should miss, we're all in trouble!"

"Worry not, Mother…it isn't me who'll be taking the shot!", Shuri says, handing the weapon over to Lunella.

Moon Girl was deeply surprised by the gesture.

"Wait…you want me to aim & fire this weapon?", Lunella asked. "Why not just let Okoye do it? She's a much better shot than I am!"

"Maybe so, Lunella, but I strongly sense a fire that's raging inside you!", Okoye says. "Just as Shuri & her mother do, I also see a warrior's spirit within you, dear child! You've proved that during the fight with the other two monsters that invaded our home, & now it's time for you to display that once again! Lunella, try & think of this as another part of your training!"

Lunella stared at the faces of her three friends, each one filled with not only warmth, but also utmost confidence.

If they firmly believe that she can pull this off, then she had no reason to doubt them. Or herself.

Nodding, Lunella took the weapon & placed it in a firing position.

Peering through the periscope, Lunella saw the trees in the way.

"We'll need to get to more of a clearing in these woods! Devil…", Lunella instructed.

Devil Dinosaur growled in approval, & he carried his owner & her friends to an area that will give her a clearer shot at King Joe's back without obstruction. It didn't take long: they were soon in a clearing that gave the group a clear & perfect view of the robot's back side as it continued its duel with Ultraman Thor.

"Perfect! Stop here, Big Red, & raise your head a little higher!", Lunella ordered.

Devil Dinosaur did as told, raising his head in a near-diagonal position when Lunella told him to stay. Looking in the periscope, she saw that she could shoot King Joe in the back at any time.

All she had to do was pray it stayed still long enough for her to fire her one shot.

Tensions arise in the girls (Lunella included) as the fight between King Joe & Ultraman Thor reached its peak: a hard fist from the Asgardian brought King Joe to a vertical position, but ended it too quickly for Lunella to go take her shot: it was bent down again in an attempt to flatten its enemy with its weight alone.

Lunella was more tense than the others, & Shuri could see it.

"Just relax, Lunella Lafayette", she says softly to her. "Don't force the opportunity to come: it will do so of its own accord, & that's when you'll know it will be time to strike."

Shuri's words seemed to have an immediate effect: Lunella was already calmer, & she waited patiently for when her moment of truth to show itself. Like a martial arts master, Lunella watched the battle unfold as Ultraman Thor used another bolt of lightning to try & blind King Joe even for the briefest of moments. It worked: King Joe's optics were all stunned by the sudden blast to its optics.

What's more, the robot shot up in an upright position like a catapult, giving Lunella her opening.

It was now or never!

There it is! Shoot, girl, shoot!, Lunella thought as she pressed the trigger.

Like any bazooka, the rocket launcher spat its cargo of crystals that struck King Joe in the back where its tanks were placed, scoring a direct hit. A powerful explosion occurred, brightening the area briefly as if a supernova went off in space, followed by a cloud of smoke that obscured King Joe from their sights. When the bright flash & smoke cloud all dissipated, there stood a scenario that was very satisfying.

King Joe was heavily damaged in the rear as interior circuitry was exposed & sparked all over as if about to short itself out.

Very happy faces were adorned on each of the women.

"I did it!", Lunella cheered as Shuri hugged her from behind.

Ultraman Thor saw the heavy damage inflicted upon King Joe, & he rose up to finish what Lunella started: with his hammer, he pounded the robot repeatedly, each blow tearing off a piece of the machine as arms, legs & other body parts went flying everywhere: some exploded further, others were deactivated.

The mighty robot King Joe was no more than scrap now.

Finishing scrapping his robotic foe, Ultraman Thor stared at the quartet of ladies on Devil Dinosaur's back & he nodded his approval & thanks before getting himself airborne, disappearing from sight in seconds.

"That was such a great shot, Lunella Lafayette!", Shuri says, hugging her once more. "We will definitely make a Wakanda warrior out of you yet!"

"I believe I'm halfway there already, Shuri!", Lunella replied, inciting a giggle between the two. "So…what do we do next?"

The faces of Ramonda & Okoye turn grim, wiping the smiles off the other two.

"We've done all we can do, dear child", Ramonda says. "It's now all up to my son T'Challa & his Avengers to end this farce for good."

"Yes, my Queen. May the Gods guide them all to victory & save both our dimensions", Okoye says.

Lunella & Shuri remained silent, knowing Ramonda & Okoye were right.

Both offered prayers for success themselves.

For both superheroes & Ultra warriors alike.

CHAPTER VII

Chicago, Illinois:

The Windy City was definitely living up to its name on this day.

And it wasn't good: despite having pushed back the tsunami caused by Seamons & Seagorath, the monster duo charged their horns with energy before creating yet another that came out of nowhere as waves of seawater rose up to a height of 65 meters, being even taller than Seagorath himself. Both monsters bellowed in pleasure in creating another huge tidal wave that still threatens to put all of Chicago underwater.

Ororo Munroe – the X-Man called Storm – was the only thing standing between its submersion.

It was no easy task for the X-Men's second team leader as she pushed with her wind powers to her fullest extent to push back this second tsunami like before, only this one was not only larger, it was much stronger than the previous one that threatens the city. To make matters even worse for the weather-controlling X-Man, Seamons & Seagorath have also conjured up powerful hurricane winds with their horns that rivaled Storm's own. Despite using her own winds to keep back the tsunami and hurricane winds at bay from entering the city, Ororo can feel the monsters' winds pushing back with greater force than hers, & she was straining with every muscle in her mutant body to prevent Chicago from becoming a monster playground.

Even with her blockade, Storm can see objects & even people getting tossed around like leaves in the breeze.

What's more, areas of the city were getting flooded as people rush inside buildings to avoid drowning on streets.

Part of Ororo wants to go help those in need, but she dares not leave her post, let alone lower her barrier: even in the slightest pause, the tsunami & hurricane conjured up by Seamons & Seagorath would clobber the city full force & cause untold destruction to the city not seen since its Great Fire incident of October 8-10, 1871 which burned 2,112 acres of land, 17,500 buildings & killed an estimated 300 people.

Should Storm somehow lower her wall of defense, the destruction Seamons & Seagorath will cause is going to make that historic incident look like a stroll through the city park.

Ororo vowed not to let that happen, let alone allow the two monsters to enter the city.

The Windy City is most definitely living up to its name…and in a terrible way!, Ororo thought through clenched teeth as she felt every bit of herself being pulled from the strain that threatens to tear her muscles like tissue paper.

But no matter what pain she endures, Storm will continue holding up her barrier until the monsters retreat or she falls in battle.

Just when Storm felt she was about to collapse from exhausting her powers, a flash from above the sky caught her attention.

What is that flash?! I certainly didn't summon any lightning to come to my aide!, Storm thought, looking skyward.

From out of the sky dropped a giant figure of 50 meters or so in a red & silver hue, complete with yellow oval eyes & a blue light on its chest. It was descending to earth at a rapid pace, & seemed to be heading straight for Ororo's position.

Or rather, it was heading for & landed next to the hovering X-Man, turning to face her.

"You're one of the so-called 'Ultra warriors', yes?", Storm called out over the winds.

"That's right! I'm known as Ultraman Jack!", he announced, putting a hand on his chest.

"Ororo Munroe!", she replied with a smile. "I am also known as Storm!"

"Happy to make your acquaintance, Storm! One moment, if you please…",

Ultraman Jack says, turning back to the huge tidal wave & placed his arms in an X position to his chest before he started spinning: slowly at first but then picking up great speed in seconds, becoming a blur of red & silver. As Ultraman Jack spins like a living top, the strength of Seamons & Seagorath's hurricane winds becomes weaker with every passing second, easing the burden on Storm as she herself softens her own wind powers. Ultraman Jack's Ultra spin also cleared up the skies above in a partial manner, leaving the sun to shine again through breaks of clouds.

When Ultraman Jack stopped spinning, he faced the huge tidal wave & extended his right hand. The effects were instantaneous: an energy shield was erected that not only blocked the tsunami, but also pushed it back out to sea as the huge wave went directly back into Lake Michigan.

Seamons & Seagorath were bombarded by their own tidal wave, & they disappeared beneath the surface.

Ororo Munroe watched as Ultraman Jack used a repelling power that surpassed her own as he effortlessly pushed away a force of nature that would've taken her long agonizing minutes, if not more.

Needless to say, she was astonished by his ability.

But any further fascination with her giant savior would have to wait: Seamons & Seagorath were still out there in Lake Michigan despite being hit with their own tsunami, & both Ultra warrior & X-Man needed to be ready for when they re-emerge, which they both have reason to believe they will after their sudden defeat.

Ultraman Jack & Storm watch the waters carefully like hawks would in search of field mice to eat.

For several tense moments, there was nothing.

Then it hit them: a pair of water geysers erupted at the edge of the Chicago Yacht Club, revealing both Seagorath & Seamons as they make landfall & demolish both the building & boats that were in their way. Both monsters roar in rage & challenge as they now approach the main city.

It was time for some real action to save Chicago.

"Storm! I'll handle Seagorath!", Ultraman Jack says, pointing at the bipedal monster. "You handle Seamons! Do whatever it takes to keep her away from the city!"

"Understood!", Storm says, floating over to the quadrupedal creature.

Seagorath bellowed before lowering his head slightly & charged at Ultraman Jack with a speed which belied his great size. Jack was totally unprepared for such a maneuver, & so he was clobbered in his midsection by the monster's head, his larger horn missing him by inches. Nevertheless, Jack was carried over into the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, which got demolished underneath their weight before Jack halted their advance. The Ultra warrior started pounding upon the monster's head, but Seagorath was well-protected there with thick armor plating that can absorb hits & deflect them as if nothing was happening. Seagorath retaliated with clobbering Jack across his face with his horn before doing an entire 360-degree turn, clobbering Jack with his tail as the Ultra warrior went sailing into the CAHIIM building, causing it to collapse in a heap of concrete, steel & glass down upon the Ultra warrior.

Ultraman Jack stood the entire time as the building came down on him.

Seagorath, however, didn't give the Ultra warrior time to gather his wits: he charged into Jack as they both went deeper into the city, causing more buildings to get trampled down to their foundations, spilling debris onto the streets.

A battle of raw strength unlike any other was underway!

From the Play Garden area, Seamons was trampling the place underneath her feet as structures were getting all but flattened by the four-legged monster. Her rampage couldn't be stopped even as Storm summoned bolts of lightning from the clouds above, striking the monster alongside her face.

They hardly begun to even slow her down.

This area looks more like a war zone than a Play Garden!, Storm thought bitterly, seeing a kid-friendly area in Chicago get pulverized by a monster from a different Earth.

Putting her grieve aside, Storm continued summoning lightning bolts to strike at Seamons, hoping to at least drive her away from the city before she enters it & joins Seagorath on its destruction. Unfortunately, none of Storm's attacks seemed to so much as hurt Seamons, no matter how powerful she makes them.

But they were making the monster angry: in a desperate attempt to reach Storm, Seamons reached up on her hind legs in a quickness that seemed impossible for anything her size. Opening her jaws, Seamons attempted to swallow the X-Man in one bite. Storm barely had time to dodge the attempt & put distance between herself & Seamons. However, it didn't help much: Seamons leaped like a giant frog to try swallowing her again, with Storm having only seconds to avoid becoming a tidbit snack. Seamons tried several more times to gobble up her smaller but powerful quarry, landing each time with a ground-shaking thud.

Ororo barely stayed away from her hungry maw, but now she had an idea to use the monster's move against her: floating over to the water's edge, Storm summoned a bolt of lightning to strike Seamons in her face, inciting her to take a leap at her.

Seamons only reared up on her hind legs & bellowed.

Even after two more times to goad her, Storm could not get Seamons to jump at her – not when she's floating at the water's edge.

She's not stupid, I'll give her that much!, Storm thought, seeing as to how Seamons refuses to take the bait.

But maybe she didn't have to: Storm saw that Seamons was standing on the Tennis courts in Peanut Park, being in front of the 400 E. Randolph Condominium building.

It gave Storm another idea – one that just might work in her favor.

But…neither am I, for that matter!, she thought with a sly smirk.

Summoning another lightning charge, Storm strikes Seamons again in her face, inciting her to rise up on her rear legs again. It was what Ororo hoped for: calling forth a strong wind gust, Storm used it to buffet Seamons in her stomach with enough force to throw Seamons backwards & crash into the building as it came down all around her, disappearing in a sea of rubble, dust & smoke. Flying over to where Seamons crashed, Storm called forth more lightning bolts to try & electrocute Seamons to death before she could cause any more destruction. She continues her electrical attack for a good minute or so before a bolt emerged from within the rubble & shot itself at Storm, hitting her dead-on.

Crying out from this unexpected hit, Ororo backed away at watch as Seamons burst out from what remained of the building & bellowed in rage, the beast ready for more.

From her nasal horn, Seamons lashed out with a lightning bolt of her own, sending it straight at Ororo. The female X-Man used her own lightning to first block the attack, then to push it away. An intense power struggle ensued between the X-Men's second leader & a monster from another universe as each one pushed with their personal strength to make their attack surpass the other & hit their enemy full-on.

Again, Storm felt her muscles being strained to their limits while Seamons is hardly putting in much effort. She's using only a small portion of her power, & it's already making Ororo strain under its strength.

In no time, Storm lost the fight & was hit once more by the monster's bolt, sending her flying across the park & crashing into Butler Field, short of hitting the Petrillo Music Shell.

Not able to pick herself up after receiving a second hit from Seamons' bolt, Storm collapsed.

Having seemingly vanquished her enemy, Seamons roared triumphantly & began walking towards her fallen foe.

She was going to make certain that her enemy cannot hurt her any longer.

By gobbling her up in one bite.

Within the city itself, Ultraman Jack & Seagorath were literally tearing up the town within the heart of the Windy City: many buildings from within the boundaries of East Wacker Drive were getting pulverized by the battling titans as police & military personnel were still in the midst of evacuating civilians when one of the buildings from the middle started toppling down, threatening to crush both civilians & their protectors alike.

Many covered their heads with their hands, waiting for the inevitable.

Only it never came: the people looked up to see Ultraman Jack holding up the toppled part of the building before it could descend any further. With a Herculean effort, Jack threw the top part of the building directly into Seagorath's face, knocking him backwards into a building – one totally evacuated.

Both crumbled all around the monster as he got buried under concrete, steel & glass.

It gave the people time to escape further away, grateful to the red & silver giant for saving their lives.

As Ultraman Jack predicted, Seagorath emerged from his bed of rubble & charged into his enemy with intent to gut him like a fish with his horn or beat him to death with his bare hands. Ultraman Jack knows that Seagorath is a beast who can do exactly that: when he fought him & Seamons that first time in Tokyo years ago, they were a powerful force whether by themselves or together, thus Jack knows better than to underestimate even one of them.

Last time he tangoed with both monsters, they had him at their mercy, & only the bold efforts of MAT's SP-70 laser gun which destroyed Seagorath's horn helped save the day. And him.

Too bad he's fresh out of that very weapon to repeat the process.

Landing several punches to his chest & stomach, Ultraman Jack was not stopping the monster but enraging it, as Seagorath displayed his anger at the red & silver giant: with a hard head-butt, he slammed into Jack's stomach which has stunned him temporarily. It was long enough for Seagorath to commence with his next move: with his larger horn, he scooped up Jack & tossed him high into the air like a bull would toss a terrier. Ultraman Jack was thrown in an arch as he sailed over the buildings still standing before landing hard upon the Great Lawn, where what remained of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion was at.

Ultraman Jack landed with an earth-shattering thud that shook the city.

Seamons turned to see Jack take a crash & turned in his direction, forgetting about the helpless Storm.

From behind the buildings on East Randolph Street, Seagorath crashed through Prudential Plaza as debris spilled onto the street & beyond as he emerged in plain sight of his mate. Both monsters shared a roar together, indicating that their foes were beaten.

Or so they thought: Ultraman Jack fought to rise up from the ground, his body still numb from the hard impact.

Seamons charged at Jack & clobbered him in the stomach, sending him tumbling over to Seagorath, who'd then buffeted Jack across the face with his larger horn as stars were swimming in his vision. The Ultra warrior tumbled back on towards Seamons, who used her armored head to toss up Jack & throw him across the land, doing so two more times before letting up. Both monsters backed up to allow Ultraman Jack to get back upon his feet – who does so on wobbly legs & a crooked sense of balance/direction.

That's when both monsters make their move: lighting up their horns, Seamons & Seagorath shot forth a powerful bolt of lightning that struck Jack from both sides, giving him immense pain from head to toe. Jack tried getting himself free from their grip, but found he could not: like last time, he was trapped but good between these two creatures, & on this encounter, there was no MAT (Monster Attack Team) to help him escape with an SP-70 laser gun.

He might not need said weapon: Ororo was woken by the sounds of combat as she saw the conflict between Jack & the two monsters. Although she ached all over, Storm rose to her feet & floated up to 60 meters from the ground as she assessed the situation. She perceives that the horns on both Seamons & Seagorath are in sync with each other, just like when they created the hurricane winds & tsunamis earlier.

Now Ororo knows how they're able to create weather just as she can, not to mention how to defeat them: ignoring her aches & pains, Storm called forth more lightning from the skies that strike her as she glows like a living light bulb. Floating over to get closer to the two monsters, Storm aims each of her hands at the horns on both creature's snouts & let loose with her most powerful blasts, each one striking just above the base.

Willing herself to go beyond her limits, Storm pushed her power with every inch of her being even as she began to slip into unconsciousness. Fighting to stay awake, Ororo makes one more final push.

It was a gamble that pays off: from the bases of both monsters' horns, a powerful blast blew off each appendage & sent them flying, their flow of electric voltage ceasing & freeing Ultraman Jack. Seamons & Seagorath both bellow in pain & rage at losing their primary weapons, with the latter going after Jack. The Ultra warrior was more than ready for his advance: despite the punishment he took, Ultraman Jack ducked underneath the overhand swing from Seagorath & lifted the monster up before tossing him hard over towards the Lakefront Trail, where he landed hard.

Seamons saw that her little foe was still alive & well, enraged about it and the fact that she lost her horn to her.

The quadrupedal monsters planned to rectify that: Seamons leaped at Storm with her maw wide open, but she was stopped short of her flight when Ultraman Jack reached out & grabbed her by the tail before swinging her around a few times before letting go as Seamons soared through the air before crashing into Seagorath, who just got back onto his feet. Both monsters collided with each other & were knocked into the water with a tremendous splash, smashing a plethora of boats & the docks they were tied to.

Ultraman Jack & Storm headed over to the edge where both monsters fell into the drink, each one ready to fight despite the aches Ororo felt all over & Jack's energy level dangerously low.

Almost immediately Seamons & Seagorath arose from the water, but instead of resuming with their attack, both monsters head further back out in Lake Michigan, heading away from the city. They swam at speeds too fast for anything to catch up to them.

They each roared in unison which was boisterous even from a far distance.

"Shouldn't we go after them, Ultraman Jack?", Storm asked her giant comrade. "With the power they're capable of wielding…"

"I doubt Seamons & Seagorath are much of a threat, Ororo Munroe…especially since they each lost their primary weapons", Jack replied. "And as much as I'd love to go in pursuit of them, there's a problem with that."

"What might that be?"

Jack pointed to the color timer on his chest, which was now blinking red with a high-pitched beeping.

"What is that red flashing light on your chest?", Storm asked.

"Our energy level", Jack explains. "Like most of my brothers, my solar energy stored within depletes rather fast in the Earth's atmosphere, enabling us to stay in this form for only a limited time. If at any time our color timer should stop blinking…"

"You would expire, am I right?"

Ultraman Jack nodded.

Ororo needed to think fast on how to replenish Jack's energy before it goes out completely: while the danger of Seamons & Seagorath have been expunged & dealt with, the crisis to the Earth itself still lingers, & she will fully need his assistance & possibly that of all his brothers if their Earth is to have a future beyond the next few days or even the next few hours.

There has to be some way to restore his energy in a hurry!, Storm thought. Wait a minute: perhaps if I were to give him something better than solar energy…

It was risky, but she could think of no other way to help him at the moment.

"Ultraman Jack!", Storm called to him. "I might have another way to get you back at full strength! It's a bit of a risk to you, but…"

"Whatever you plan on doing, Ororo Munroe, please go & commence with it! I trust you implicitly!", Ultraman Jack replied.

Hearing his words made the X-Man smile, & Storm does indeed commence with her idea.

Raising her arms, she calls forth for the elements to aide her.

Pyongyang, North Korea:

For many years since he's become North Korea's supreme ruler, Kim Jong Un was more than 100% confident in stating that an attack of any kind upon his capital city, much less anywhere in his country, would never happen as long as he's in possession of a small group of nuclear weapons.

And for all that time, he's worked to perfect his ICBMs to have enough capacity to reach the United States with no problems. So far, he hasn't achieved such a range.

With what's happening in the country's capital city, he could have even more difficulty in his goal: the two giant creatures Verokron & Vakishim were literally tearing up the town with their vast arsenal of built-in weapons, blasting away at buildings, weaponry & people both military & civilian. Fires from Vakishim's hands roast entire city blocks as people fighting & fleeing scream in terror while they get roasted alive, their flesh/clothes burned away, leaving nothing but charred skeletons behind. Verokron creates multiple explosions with his finger lasers & fire stream from his mouth which blast away everything in their paths.

Military personnel & civilians cried out in their death throes.

Some didn't have time to cry at all.

Despite the severe losses in armed military soldiers & vehicles, they were adamant to fight on by the insistence of their supreme ruler Kim Jong Un, who announced that all military personnel are to fight for the defense of their land and supreme ruler & his regime, lest they get shot & killed for treason by neglecting their duties.

No matter what decision the soldiers make, it's a death sentence either way: they either get killed by the monsters in battle, or shot by their leader who fancies himself a god in his eyes.

Even as she fought Verokron, Ultra Marvel found it disgusting that the country's ruler would send his own people out just to die without expressing any kind of sympathy or gratitude to those who lose their lives.

It pissed Carol off beyond words, & she aimed to fix that first chance she gets.

Her first priority, however, is to stop Verokron & Vakishim before there's not a city left to defend.

Launching a pair of energy blasts from her fists, Ultra Marvel strikes Verokron in his chest, causing the monster to unleash a bellow of pain before shooting a small volley of missiles from his maw. Using acrobatic moves, Carol has dodged each & every one of these projectiles as they explode at areas she was at just seconds ago.

Once Verokron stopped, he shot forth his finger lasers at his enemy, which Carol intercepted with her own energy beams, stopping them halfway. Each combatant pushed their power to gain an edge over the other, never giving an inch even as the strain became tough to maintain on both. With neither getting an advantage, Verokron unleashed a barrage of organic missiles from his red coral-like appendages all over his body. These streaked towards Ultra Marvel just like a locust swarm & struck her across the front as each one that struck created powerful blasts that sent her flying back & crashed into a row of buildings, each one crumbling down to its foundation.

Verokron followed it up by his finger lasers again, this time the projectiles hitting their mark as they keep Ultra Marvel pinned down as she receives excruciating pain.

From behind, another armada of North Korean military vehicles & soldiers arrive & open fire upon Verokron as his back is turned to them. A swarm of missiles, tank shells & machine gun fire struck Verokron in the rear, creating a volley of explosions that caused the monster to cry out in pain & surprise. Forgetting about Ultra Marvel, Verokron now turns his attention towards the North Korean soldiers shooting at him.

His response was just as quick & savage: from his body, organic missiles shot forth & blasted at several missile launchers & tanks, blasting them into scrap metal & killing their operators as they screamed their death throes. Finger lasers made short work of more vehicles carrying personnel & equipment, blowing them into flaming husks & killing everyone aboard. From his mouth, fires exceeding thousands of degrees literally vaporized the flesh & clothing of the soldiers, leaving only black bones that burned & smoked.

With the rest, Verokron simply went over & stepped on with his feet, crushing soldiers like they were nothing but cockroaches. Some were able to scream before getting trampled, others not so lucky.

Ultra Marvel blasted away at Verokron's back with her energy blasts, destroying the missile ports on his shoulders & deactivating them as they detonated into flaming pieces. Verokron bellowed in surprise & pain as he turned to find his enemy flying in towards & colliding into him with a powerful hit that sent the monster back into a row of buildings, flattening them into debris that spilled onto the streets. Having disabled some of his missile ports, Ultra Marvel begins clobbering Verokron with a series of punches to the monster's face, along with some powerful well-placed kicks which stagger the creature as Ultra Marvel's attacks were stronger than those of any Ultra warrior from Nebula M78 due to her half-Kree DNA.

But Verokron was no slouch in close-quartet combat either: having been constructed by the Yapool, Verokron is a living weapon even without his missiles, lasers & such. With a quick swipe of his clawed left hand, Verokron raked Ultra Marvel across her face with such force that she cried out in surprise before backing away several feet. Verokron pressed his advantage by charging her with more rakes of his claws & even belches of flames from his maw, hopefully melting off or even blinding Ultra Marvel's face briefly. Carol barely avoids a literally face disfiguration by dodging over to one side & allow the flames to stream by before she gives the monster an uppercut that staggered him & causing his line of sight to see stars. Leaping up, Ultra Marvel them clonked Verokron on the chin with a well-placed kick that sent the monster tumbling over backwards & landing with a thud on the ground, shaking it.

Walking up to the monster laying on its back, Ultra Marvel aimed & charged up her fists to blow the creature's head off in a single blow.

Verokron, however, was more resilient & quicker than he looked: from his hands, beams of white energy were shot forth & struck Ultra Marvel square in her chest, followed by a pair of missiles from Verokron's mouth. Both attacks caused her to back away several steps as it gave Verokron time to get back on his feet in seconds. Once he does, he then creates a ring of energy between his hands before launching it at Ultra Marvel. The energy ring loops itself over Carol's head & pins her arms to her side, keeping them pinned. Verokron created two more energy rings & threw them at Ultra Marvel, the results being the same. Carol tried to break free from the rings, but even her own amazing strength couldn't so much as crack them.

It left her vulnerable to Verokron, who can now attack her freely: with his finger lasers, he struck the incapacitated warrior in the chest, causing her great agony. He followed it up by launching more organic missiles from his remaining ports, each one striking their targets accurately.

Carol hollered in pain as she fought to stay conscious from receiving such punishment.

At another part of Pyongyang, Vakishim was busy finishing off another armada of North Korean defense forces with missiles launched from his nose, blowing away various vehicles & personnel in fiery heaps as men screamed from getting burned alive. Vakishim then charged the armada on foot, using his intense bulk to step on & crush whatever was in his path as vehicles were flattened like empty soda cans & exploded under his feet, many of which had drivers & passengers inside.

Only a few were able to avoid getting crushed along with their vehicles; the rest weren't so lucky.

From his hands, Vakishim unleashed both missiles & flames that struck several buildings on contact, detonating each one they hit into many flaming pieces of rubble. With many others, he simply crashed into them, pulverizing each structure with his own immense bulk as the streets get flooded with pieces of concrete, steel & glass. He roars in great satisfaction of his destruction spree, his blaring noise being heard everywhere in Pyongyang.

Within the air overhead, a small squadron of jet fighters flew in to give the ground forces some much-needed air support. High-powered machine gun fire & missiles were launched from these warbirds as their armament hit Vakishim dead-on, causing explosions to pepper his body in both the front & back. Vakishim hollered in annoyance from these new attackers, & thus launched one of his own: tilting his head slightly forward, Vakishim shot forth the large silver horn on the top of his head like a missile which heads directly for the first group of fighters. The silver projectile acted exactly like a missile as it struck the first jet fighter with its point & destroyed it in an explosion before it moved on to its next target. Without a flaw, the flying horn brought down another jet fighter with ease as both machine & operator detonated in flames, with scrap metal plummeting from above.

These pieces set fires wherever they landed.

Vakishim's guided horn missile repeated the process with almost the rest of the fighter jets, wiping them all out in record time before the soaring projectile safely returned upon the top of the monster's head.

Only a trio of fighter jets were left, & these unloaded their armaments upon the monster.

Making a mighty leap into the air, Vakishim obliterates these trio of pests simply by crashing into them with his bulk before landing back on the ground with an immense thud that shook the area.

Lifting his head, Vakishim roared in triumph as he raised his arms, claiming victory.

Turning over to where Ultra Marvel was in combat with Verokron, Vakishim watched as his monstrous partner captured the Ultra warrior with energy rings before striking her with finger lasers & missiles from the mouth, striking Ultra Marvel directly with her unable to fight back.

Just like a benched football player eager to get into the game, Vakishim leaped from his position & soared over to where Ultra Marvel was as she fought fiercely to free herself still from Verokron's rings of energy. Before she knew what hit her, Vakishim crashed his full weight into the superhero-turned-Ultra warrior, their collision being felt all over the city as Carol went down on her side. Verokron came over to Vakishim's side, & both monsters began trampling on Ultra Marvel with their feet even as she used her legs to kick back.

It was no good: despite her fierce kicking, Carol was outmatched by the two monsters, especially by having both arms pinned to her sides & unable to get any leverage. The two monsters continued their merciless assault on Carol, & she was beginning to fade out of consciousness from the thrashing she's taking.

From above, a crimson beam struck both Verokron & Vakishim in the face, causing them to stagger back, being hit unexpectedly. This same beam was fired at Ultra Marvel, but this time was aimed at the energy rings that pinned her arms, thus vanquishing them & freeing her. All three then looked up to see a red & silver giant female with a large red fin on her head, a green gem on her forehead & an ornament at the base of her neck, also with a green gem.

She was a familiar sight to Carol – and a welcome one at that!

"Yullian!", Ultra Marvel says, rising to her feet.

"Are you all right, Carol?", Yullian asks, taking her hands in hers.

"I am now, thanks to you! And now that you are here, care to take on one of my dancing partners?"

"It will be a pleasure! I shall handle Vakishim!", Yullian says, pointing to said monster. "Verokron is all yours!"

"Excellent! I have a score to settle with him!"

Nodding, both Ultra ladies split in two directions as Yullian went to battle Vakishim, with Ultra Marvel doing so with Verokron: leaping into the air, Carol gave the living weapon of a monster a painful kick to the face, which caught Verokron at the front of his mouth, stinging like a bee. Ultra Marvel didn't stop there: she emitted blasts of energy at more of the monster's missile ports, hitting both at the bottom half near his short stub of a tail, followed by the back of his head. Verokron bellowed in pain as his missile ports from the rear were more or less deactivated from Ultra Marvel's meddling.

Enraged, the monster turned to face his giant female quarry & shot organic missiles from the front of his stomach & along the sides. Carol put these out of commission as well by firing energy bursts at the monster's front side while she dodged the projectiles in cartwheel maneuvers. All the missiles did hit were abandoned buildings, each of which were annihilated in fiery holocausts.

Only a few missile ports remained active on Verokron, but the monster didn't use these: he was angry enough to attack his enemy & bring her down by use of his bare hands alone. Bellowing irately, Verokron went after Ultra Marvel in a blinding rage, destroying any buildings that were in his way. Carol braced herself as the monster reached her in an amazingly short time, considering his size & bulk. Like an unhinged animal, Verokron attacked Ultra Marvel with tooth & claw as he was vehemently adamant in tearing his foe apart like a lion does after killing a zebra. Carol herself had to get feral with her opponent, as she saw how unhinged he was after taking away his vast weaponry in both front & rear.

She didn't have a problem with that: Carol told Yullian she had a score to settle with Verokron, & she intended on making good with that promise.

Placing a hard foot underneath Verokron's chin, Ultra Marvel grabbed the monster by the head & gave the beast a karate flip that sent the creature flying across the city & plowing into a grove of buildings, completely demolishing each one he comes in contact with. Carol went rushing after him, grabbing Verokron by an arm & holding it firmly as she placed a foot on his chest, pinning him while she began punching the monster in the face with her free arm, giving no quarter to the creature that caused her so much pain & anguish.

Her punches were that of a woman scorned, & Carol was about to teach Verokron what it means to scorn anyone of the female sex.

Carol, on the other hand, was about to get a lesson of her own, this one featuring the fury of a wounded animal: Verokron belched a powerful gout of flames in her direction, causing Ultra Marvel to cease her attack & back away as her enemy rose up to grab the briefly-blinded Ultra warrior, lifting her above his head & body-slamming her right into the ground, shaking it. Stunned by the unexpected maneuver, Carol had trouble getting up as Verokron grabbed her by where her real hair should be & opened his mouth to take a literal bite out of her.

Only Carol's left arm was holding his jaws back, but because of the numbness she felt from the impact before, she was having great difficulty in keeping them away.

It was only a matter of time before those teeth bit down on her.

Yullian went at Vakishim like a champion judo expert, performing a series of jumping towards the creature & scoring with feet that sting, fists that were hard as rock, & judo moves that threw the bulky creature a city block or two. Vakishim disapproved of these assaults & retaliated by firing missiles from his hands & nose, followed by streams of flames from his hands. Yullian dodged & avoided these attacks due to her superb acrobatics, letting loose with her red princess ray from her finger when she had room to breathe. This projectile struck Vakishim in the neck, causing agony to the monster as he leaped at his enemy in anger to finish her off.

The female Ultra warrior was never to be underestimated: when Vakishim was in reach, Yullian grabbed one of his arms & used his momentum to body-slam the monster into the ground atop an empty building, pulverizing it.

Vakishim launched a stream of flames from his hands, but Yullian was already away at a distance when they had spontaneously combusted, keeping out of their reach. But even that didn't prepare her for the missile attack Vakishim commenced with: a volley of these struck Yullian in her chest, knocking her back into a row of buildings, flattening the ones she landed on. Leaping again, Vakishim landed nearly on top of his fallen foe.

Grabbing one of her legs, Vakishim pulled Yullian away from her bed of rubble & began swatting at her with his sharp points. Shooting her princess ray at the creature, Yullian breaks free as Vakishim pulled back after the crimson beam struck him in the throat. The female Ultra warrior got up just as her enemy closed in on & wrapped his arms right around & began squeezing to crush the life out of her in a deadly bear hug.

No matter how hard she tried pushing away, Yullian could not get free from Vakishim's powerful arms.

Looking over to where Ultra Marvel was dueling with Verokron, Yullian saw she was in a similar predicament as hers: the monster was ready to take a literal bite out of her comrade.

She couldn't allow that: acting fast, Yullian shot her princess ray from both her fingers at Vakishim's sides, the light blinding him briefly & causing him to let loose on his would-be victim, crying out in agony. While he was blinded, Yullian lifted Vakishim up by his chest/stomach & placed him over her head before throwing the monster directly at Verokron.

Being too intent on ripping Ultra Marvel's throat out, Verokron never sees Vakishim heading his way.

Until it was too late: Vakishim's horn slammed itself into the side of Verokron's head, going in all the way with a sickening crunch of flesh & bone. Vakishim fell to the ground minus his horn as Verokron stopped his attack on Ultra Marvel, who took a few steps back, ready to fight.

Verokron didn't fight: he just stood there for several moments before he fell over to one side & collapsed to the ground, dead as a doornail as blood gushed from where Vakishim's horn made contact.

Yullian flew over to Carol's side just as Vakishim rose up again, his horn absent from the top of his head.

Both female Ultras looked to each other & nodded.

Opening his beaked mouth & unleashing a bellowing roar, the two females made their move: Yullian opened fire with her princess ray, while Ultra Marvel blasted with an energy bolt from a fist. Both of their projectiles hit & entered the inside of Vakishim's open maw, causing the creature great pain within.

In just seconds, the pain became overwhelming, & Vakishim's entire head exploded just like an overripe melon as pieces of flesh, bone & blood/ichor splattered everywhere. The area where Vakishim's head used to be smoked like a burning cigar before the headless body collapsed to the ground, shaking it once it hits.

Both Terrible Monsters Verokron & Vakishim were defeated.

Yullian & Ultra Marvel face one another, nod & give a double handshake, each one grateful for the assist.

"Your timing was impeccable, Yullian! Thank you so much!", Ultra Marvel says.

"It was my pleasure, Carol Danvers!", Yullian says. "My siblings & I would've gotten here sooner, but our fight with Alien Hipporit was a lot tougher than even we had imagined. Thankfully, we were able to defeat him in good time in order to lend ourselves a hand in ending this danger between dimensions before it gets any worse."

"You mean that…your other siblings are here now? On our Earth?"

"Most of them. After Alien Hipporit's defeat, Mother & Father of Ultra & Ultraman King each opened portals & sent us to where we could be of the most use to you. Only a few hung back until we…"

The sound of more North Korean military vehicles approach interrupted Yullian's explanation as she & Ultra Marvel turned to see more tanks & rocket/missile launchers in their midst. Each one of them appeared to be aimed, primed & ready to fire.

At them.

Before either could say a word, the armada opened up on both Ultra females, peppering their bodies with blasts from missiles & shells.

"What is wrong with these humans?!", Yullian called out over the blasts. "Don't they realize we were only trying to save their city from total destruction?!"

"Trust me when I say that these people don't give a shit, Yullian!", Carol says, taking Yullian's hand & making a hasty retreat. "Forget about them, anyway…our task is still not done!"

Putting on an extra burst of speed, both Ultra females got themselves airborne & flew away from the ungrateful Korean army that continue firing at them until they could no longer see them before firing ceased altogether.

From a remote area in the city, Kim Jong Un & his generals watched the events on a monitor.

He was highly displeased with how things turned out, banging his fists down on the table as the generals backed away. Turning to them, he gave the men their new instructions.

Each man saluted & carried out their assignments immediately.

Kim Jong Un wasn't done with these people.

Not by a long shot.

CHAPTER VIII

Pongchon County, North Korea:

All hell was breaking loose in this remote, isolated area of North Korea: the facility placed in this region of the most isolated country in the world is the source of the problems currently plaguing the Earth in this universe, which is now masterminded by three of the most vile villains to ever grace this Earth.

Samuel Sterns aka the Leader, the God of Mischief Loki, & the humanoid Pteranodon Sauron.

It was these three who have discovered the two remaining Dimension Stones that were believed to have been all but destroyed by the Ultra warriors when they faced the malevolent creature Dimenshigon many years ago. Having the opportunity to discover these two powerful gems, the sinister trio found out that giant monsters & aliens from another universe can be transferred from their dimension into theirs, thus giving the heroes of this Earth their hands full with a horde of creatures.

But their troubles were only getting worse: the more monsters/aliens the trio conjure up, the more unstable both Dimension Stones become, & it was now reaching a point where either or both of them might explode. Should that ever happen, the force of the explosion would either blow the planet in half, or blast it into nothing more than floating rocks & asteroids in space.

The heroes, along with SHIELD agents Nick Fury, Maria Hill & Phil Coulson, along with their unlikely allies of Victor Von Doom & Alien Pegassa, need to get inside the facility & shut down the stones however they can.

Like always, it wouldn't be an easy task: Aliens Magma & Baltan, along with giant Terrible Monster Baraba, are all guarding/protecting the facility to prevent any of the heroes & their allies from thwarting the trio's plans. Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange took on Alien Baltan, with Black Widow & the Winter Soldier both butting heads with Alien Magma. Ben Grimm & the two Hulks – red and green – went to take on Baraba, giving the rest the chance to storm the facility & stop the stones from detonating & destroying the planet.

Unfortunately, the facility was more than it seemed to be: multiple weapons such as laser & machine guns, along with missile launchers were placed everywhere, emerging from hidden entrances that popped out of nowhere & started blasting. Susan Richards & Scarlet Witch put up barriers just in time before anyone could get hit.

Once their barriers were in place & keeping out bullets & bombs, both Iron Man & War Machine made a digital readout of the facility. On this scan, they got an actual readout, unlike with their drones earlier which were all destroyed before a complete scan could be made.

"Okay, Rhodes & I have got good news & bad news! Which do you want first?", Iron Man says.

"Just break it to us already, Tony!", Wanda said, straining to keep her hex shield up.

"The good news is, as you all can clearly see, we've located those hidden weaponry we suspected that the Three Stooges had in store for us!"

"No shit, Sherlock!", Wolverine growled. "How about telling us something that we don't know?!"

"Such as…what's the bad news?", asked Black Panther.

"That's the bitch about it, T'Challa!", War Machine says. "Not only are there automated defenses set up around the facility, there's an energy barrier shield surrounding it!"

"Can you find any weak points within it?", Maria Hill asked.

"Not a chance, Agent Hill: that barrier's strong enough to even keep the two Hulks out! They can pound on it all day and night, & they still wouldn't put so much as a dent in the damn thing!"

"In short, they've locked us out!", Doctor Doom says.

"So, even our combined might as one wouldn't do a thing to bring it down, correct?", Cyclops says.

"Looks like it to me, Summers!", Reed says. "Whether they know it or not, those stones will go critical & explode, leaving this a dead planet in space! Knowing those three, they probably don't give a damn!"

"Well, we do, Dr. Richards!", Nick Fury said, raising his weapon. "There must be some way to somehow penetrate that shield so we can stop the Big Bang that will wipe out our planet!"

"Well, if anyone's got a bright idea on how to do that, don't be shy about it!", Susan Richards said. "I don't know how much longer Wanda & I can keep our barriers up from the merciless pounding they're taking!"

Someone in their group speaks up, & it's not who they expected.

"I can get inside & deactivate that barrier!", Alien Pegassa said, turning to the group.

His statement got everyone's attention.

"You can? How?", Phil Coulson asked approaching him.

"Same way that I infiltrated your SHIELD Helicarrier!", Alien Pegassa explains. "That black shadow that I was when you first saw me? That's called my Dark Zone ability: with it, I can travel through a pocket universe & slip right through that barrier like it's not even there!"

Everyone pondered on Alien Pegassa's words.

With no other safe option currently available to them, his idea sounded like their best bet.

"Then do it, Alien Pegassa!", Nick Fury says. "And, not to be pushy, but…you have two minutes! Time really is of the essence!"

"I understand, Director Fury!", Alien Pegassa said. "And I'll most likely just need one, so…"

The alien suddenly changed from a solid mass into a living shadow right before everyone's eyes as he disappeared from sight. The seconds that ticked by felt like an eternity, each one wondering how their new friend is faring; some of them feeling hopeful, others not so much.

For forty seconds, there was nothing.

When it was fifty seconds, they noticed the barrier flickering on & off repeatedly until it vanished from sight.

"Tony! Rhodes! What's the reading on it?", Agent Hill asked. "Is it down for good?"

Using their built-in scanners, both Iron Men got what Hill had hoped for.

"Completely!", Rhodes replied. "Our new little friend did it! We can now launch our assault!"

"Just what we were waiting to hear, Rhodes!", Cyclops said, already blasting at weapons with his optic blasts.

Iron Man, War Machine, Doctor Doom, the three SHIELD agents, Wanda, Reed & Susan Richards all started to blast away with their own weapons at the automated defenses hitting them. Each one got obliterated by the group in a matter of moments due to their sharp, unwavering skills.

Soon, all weaponry blocking their path to the facility's main entrance were dealt with, leaving them unrestricted access.

"That's the last of them, everyone!", Black Panther said. "Now let's get ourselves inside & end this nightmare!"

"And let's get to Alien Pegassa's aide while we do so!", Cyclops said. "Alone against those three, he won't stand much of a chance!"

"Let us make haste then! Earth's future is literally in our hands!", Doctor Doom said.

"On that, Victor, we're all in accordance! Let's get moving, people!", Reed Richards cried out.

The group raced ahead without further hesitation.

Hold tight in there, Alien Pegassa!, Wolverine thought, his claws extended. The cavalry is on its way!

Like most of the others, he prayed they're not too late.

Within the complex:

The area inside was bigger than it seemed: a huge room with machinery placed on three-quarters of the room are placed alongside the walls, with a large double-door opening over at the rear corner. Near the far side of the entrance are the two Dimension Stones encased in a large cylinder that stood 18 feet wide in circumference, with the stones being at a size of about 20 feet tall. Each one hovered inside the cylinder via a stasis field keeping them aloft.

Both were glowing brightly, giving the room an eerie illumination.

It was the next to last thing on Alien Pegassa's mind right now, as he was too busy dodging laser blasts from both the Leader's hoverchair & Loki himself: once he entered the complex via his Dark Zone, Alien Pegassa started blasting away at consoles with his self-maned gun, shorting out the barrier shield before he was discovered. Sauron lunged right at him, knocking his gun away before the fireworks inside began.

Now he was using every maneuver he could to keep alive.

"Foolish little creature!", the Leader snapped. "I don't know how you managed to get in here, but you'll regret it once we fry you to a crisp!"

"You'll have to catch me first, Samuel Sterns!", Alien Pegassa said, dodging more blasts.

"I prefer to be addressed as your Leader, alien! My former name has been meaningless now for years!"

"Not to worry, Leader – he'll be taught to address us properly, if he wants to continue breathing!", Loki says as he charged the alien with his sword in hand.

Loki swung his weapon at the intruder, but Alien Pegassa dived to one side before the blade could make contact. Undaunted, the God of Mischief went at him again, swinging & stabbing his sword repeatedly at the alien, only to miss his quarry each time: Alien Pegassa was too quick & nimble on his feet to be touched by Loki's weapon, & it was more than getting on the villain's nerves.

"Hold still, you little troublesome shit!", Loki barked.

"Not likely!", Alien Pegassa said, dodging another swing.

Leaping backwards to avoid an uppercut slash, Pegassa landed on his feet & picked up the gun he dropped, his aim directly at Loki's head. Firing off a few shots, Loki leaped himself overhead & raised his sword, intent on slicing the alien cleanly in two, from head to sternum.

His attempt was blocked by Pegassa's gun, which he used as a shield.

Loki pushed down with all his might, but found that Alien Pegassa was much stronger than he looked: the alien was holding his own, standing firmly against an opponent that is more than a match for Thor himself.

This is…impossible!, Loki thought in disbelief. Not even my brother Thor can match me in sheer strength like this! What kind of an alien is he?!

Actually, Thor can & has matched & conquered Loki in brute strength alone in the past, but he wasn't going to let his enemy know that.

Pegassa answers Loki's question by first pushing his sword away & out of his hands before aiming his weapon at the God of Mischief, stunning said person.

Before he can pull the trigger, Pegassa was snatched by Sauron, who swooped in & grabbed the alien just like an eagle would do with a mouse. Keeping a firm grip on him, Sauron looked directly at Pegassa & chuckled.

"You are a feisty little creature, I must say!", the humanoid Pteranodon says. "The way you managed to sneak in here without us knowing is an admirable trait, plus your fighting technique is something to be desired! With skills such as yours, you should belong on our side!"

"Not a chance, Sauron!", Alien Pegassa says defiantly. "I came here to help put a stop to you! No way am I going to join with you cretins!"

"You don't have a say in the matter, alien!", Sauron says, his eyes glowing red.

Pegassa felt his will slipping away, but he fought & struggled to free himself out of Sauron's grip.

"Do not resist me, alien!", Sauron taunts. "You don't want to resist me! You want to obey me! You want to…"

His attempt to hypnotize Alien Pegassa was interrupted when the doors at the entrance exploded from outside & revealed Wolverine, Reed Richards, Nick Fury Jr. & all the rest of the party, each one primed & ready to deliver justice in his/her own way. During the break-in, Pegassa slipped right out of Sauron's talons by going into his Dark Zone form & oozed from his fingers like he was butter.

Pegassa returned to Phil Coulson's side.

"You okay there, buddy?", asked Iron Man.

"Thanks to your timely intervention, Tony Stark!", Pegassa says.

"It's a habit we like to make! Bad guys, on the other hand…not so much!"

If Alien Pegassa had a mouth, he'd be grinning to that reply.

Despite the intrusion, the Leader, Loki & Sauron began chuckling.

"Is there something funny, gentlemen?", Nick Fury asked.

"Only to witness just how pathetic you all really are, Director Fury!", the Leader says with a grin. "Did you all believe that we wouldn't be prepared for an intrusion like yours if by chance you did manage to somehow break through our barrier?"

"Whatever your contingency plan is, Samuel Sterns, it will not work!", Doctor Doom stated.

"Look who's decided to be on the side of justice for once!", Loki says, also grinning. "It still won't save you from the surprise we have in store for you!"

Loki snapped his fingers before the doors at the rear corner were literally ripped away by powerful hands as the creature they belonged to revealed itself. It was a monster of a brute, measuring nearly as big as the green Hulk, with a body covered in reptilian scales. Its feet sported only two toes, but the hands still sported all five fingers, each one with extending nails. The face was goblin-like, with large pointed ears & beastly reptilian eyes. The teeth weren't sharp, but produced a sinister grin as the beast smiled wickedly.

It was a frightening & terrible sight to many.

"Oh boy", was all that Iron Man said.

"Mother of God", Wanda whispered in her native tongue.

"Who or what is that?!", Alien Pegassa asked, pointing.

"He used to be called Emil Blonsky!", Phil Coulson said. "Now he goes by another persona…the Abomination!"

Said creature chuckled in amusement at the heroes & green-clad super-villain in his midst.

"You call this a cavalry?", he teased. "I was expecting the Hulk to be among you – you scrawny flesh-bags are hardly even a warm-up for me! But hey, I'm adaptable: if you fools are wishing to receive an early grave, you've come to the right place to get one!"

"The only ones who will be buried on this day, Blonsky, are you & your ringleaders!", Black Panther stated.

"I am in full agreement with the Panther on that notion!", Doctor Doom said, lighting up his palms as Iron Man & War Machine do the same. "You fiends will pay for what you've done to my homeland and two of my neighboring countries!"

"Not to mention playing Russian Roulette with the planet itself!", War Machine said. "Now…either you turn off that device & surrender yourselves, or we'll do it for you – after we put all of you down for the count!"

"You puny playthings can try, little man!", the Abomination said. "In fact, we urge you to try & put us down – all of you!"

The Abomination gave the group a 'come get me' gesture with his huge hands, grinning as he does.

"You should be more careful with what you ask for, Blonsky…", Wolverine says before leaping in the air, claws shining. "You just might get it!"

As soon as Wolverine & the Abomination clashed, the fight officially began.

"Have it your way!", Reed Richards says. "But just remember – you were warned!"

That said, the others rushed into battle to save their Earth.

Outside:

With Nick Fury & company heading towards the main root of the problem, half a dozen remained on the outskirts of their base to deal with the trio of enemies that were assigned to guard the facility & kill those who interfered: Alien Magma was in a fierce fight with both the Winter Soldier & Black Widow, his saber extended & ready for stabbing & slicing. Natasha & Barnes fought with every skill they possessed to stay in one piece as they tackled with an alien for who was just as adept at martial arts as they were.

Their fight went on for a few minutes, with neither combatant gaining an edge.

Pulling out her guns, Black Widow started shooting at Alien Magma, who used his saber arm to block the shots in movement that was almost blinding. When she ran out, Natasha quickly reloaded her guns but didn't have the chance to fire again: Alien Magma swiped at her with his weapon, causing the Widow to backflip out of its reach. In that time, Barnes raised his assault rifle to get a bead on the alien, but with a swipe of his saber, Alien Magma literally sliced his weapon in half, never getting a shot off from it. Dropping the useless firearm, Barnes got in close with his enemy & he jabbed with fists that were about as speedy in delivery as Magma was with his saber arm. The alien martial artist dodged, ducked & even blocked the blows Barnes sent his way, while watching out for any & all attacks from the alien fiend.

Both enemies were so evenly matched, it was hard to determine a clear winner.

Using a different tactic, Barnes dropped down to swipe at Alien Magma with his foot, knocking him off balance & causing him to fall on his back. Pulling the Luger from its holster, Barnes shot repeatedly at the alien, but each shot was deflected by Magma's saber arm, never getting hit by a single bullet. Kicking the gun out of his hand, Alien Magma got back on his feet in the wink of an eye & swung his blade at the Winter Soldier.

In an unexpected move, Barnes caught the weapon in his hand with his metal arm, grabbing it right below the deadly blade. Alien Magma jabbed at Barnes with his free left fist, but Barnes caught that in his own hand & held it in a tight grip. Both combatants stared at each other in deep hatred, their teeth gritting menacingly & faces that were only inches apart.

Alien Magma broke the standoff with a head-butt that caught Barnes off-guard, causing him to stagger a bit as he shook his head to clear his vision: he had no idea how hard-headed the alien really was until now.

He'll have to remind himself to avoid such an attack in the future.

From his left hand, Alien Magma shot a few silver spears that struck the Winter Soldier in the chest, the points going into his armored vest. If not for that, the spears would've dug in much deeper.

It still didn't mean that they didn't hurt: racing to pull them out with his right hand, Barnes raised his metal one to shield himself from getting hit by more of the projectiles, the points going into his arm & stuck there. Alien Magma followed it up immediately by a swipe of his saber arm that caught Barnes across his lower stomach with the tip of the blade. The Winter Soldier grunted in pain as blood started staining his body armor before Magma caused another cut across his chest in a diagonal manner. Barnes cried out louder this time before the alien drove his saber through his arm just below the hand in his metal one.

Although Barnes didn't feel any pain, he still felt it not functioning properly due to the damage.

The alien martial artist gave his enemy a kick in the ribs before retracting his saber & striking him in the face with his left hand, sending the Winter Soldier backwards several feet as he landed on his back.

Struggling to get up, Barnes saw Alien Magma pointing his saber arm directly at his throat with intent on driving it home. With his injuries, Barnes might not be able to stop him from carrying out his death threat.

Black Widow ran in & kicked Magma from behind, causing him to stumble forward before she got herself on his neck, wrapped her legs around in a tight choke hold & began punching the alien's head with all her might repeatedly, hoping to beat him into unconsciousness at the very least. Alien Magma swerved himself like a wild bull & wailed his arms violently as he tried to knock off his newest attacker. It was no good: Natasha held onto his neck like a vice while she pummeled the alien with her fists that were considerably stronger than one might ever imagine.

It was one thing Natasha was grateful to the KGB for when they trained her.

Frustrated that the female human in black was giving him a literally pounding headache, Alien Magma swung his saber in her position, but Natasha dodged the blade before the alien raised his left hand to shoot forth more of his silver spikes that would've killed & knocked Natasha off, had she not already removed herself from the alien's shoulders & hit the ground on her feet. Alien Magma continued spraying a volley of spikes in her direction as Black Widow ran to avoid being used as a living pincushion. While she was on the move, Natasha drew her guns & shot at her opponent, hitting him with two bullets: one in the hand, the other in the wrist, thus ceasing the flow of spikes.

Reeling in pain, Magma observed the damage caused by his enemy as he saw his hand bleeding in two places.

Gritting his teeth, Alien Magma stared with deep hatred for this black-clad female.

Natasha gave him indifferent.

"Let's see how tough you are without your damn spikes, freak!", she growled, holstering her guns.

By then, Barnes was back on his feet.

"You doing okay, Barnes?", she asked.

"A little banged up here & there, but otherwise dandy, Nat!", he replied. "Like Steve says, 'I can do this all day'!"

The two heroes shared a smile before facing their enemy again, their faces filled with loathing for the alien.

"Come on, motherfucker!", Barnes growled through clenched teeth.

Alien Magma clenched his own, & he charged the two with his saber arm ready to strike.

Black Widow & the Winter Soldier do the same, fists raised.

Doctor Strange vs. Alien Baltan:

The Sorcerer Supreme & the cicada-faced alien were also at a heated pitch in their brawl: floating at a height of about 20 feet in the air, Stephen Strange was battling Alien Baltan by conjuring up a pair of mystic shields from both his hands & used these to block every laser & physical attack the alien made with his pincers. When his attacks became even more vicious, Stephen uses his right mystic shield to morph into a sword, giving him the appearance of a mystical knight from the old days in Rome: a shield in one hand, a sword in the other.

Using these, Stephen used his weapon expertly like a knight in King Arthur's Court.

Baltan, however, was no pushover or slouch himself: from his right pincer, he fires a powerful beam that strikes Stephen's shield with a blast that actually knocked him backwards before he stopped himself & held his position. Alien Baltan then charged in while using his other pincer to form a blade of his own & raised it above his head. When he gets close enough, Baltan brought the blade down at Stephen's head, who blocked it with his own sword, causing sparks to erupt from the opposing energies. The cicada-faced alien continued swinging his sword at the Sorcerer Supreme, hitting only his mystic shield & blade, never striking the man himself no matter how vicious or valiantly he fights.

Changing tactics, Alien Baltan withdrew his sword & charged the sorcerer like a freight train, colliding into him & actually catching Stephen by surprise. The alien insect then snatched both his shield & sword, pulling his arms away & staring directly at the Sorcerer's face with both determination & admiration.

Stephen's face displayed disdain for the alien creature.

"You are a very formidable opponent, Stephen Strange!", Alien Baltan says. "My people could grow to admire a human of your mystic talents! With that kind of power in our possession, the Baltan race would be all but unstoppable!"

"Fiends like you have already tried to take my power from me, Alien Baltan!", Doctor Strange said. "Believe me when I state that the only way that you'll ever be receiving my power is from my dead body!"

"As you wish, sorcerer!"

From his V-shaped forehead, Alien Baltan flashed a light that stung Stephen's, causing him to cry out & stumble away as his line of sight was briefly incapacitated. This gave Baltan the opportunity to hit the Sorcerer Supreme with a vast array of attacks, beginning with his laser beams shot from his pincers, followed by a series of physical hits by his pincers & even his feet. Each blow Baltan struck on his enemy, Stephen tumbled through the air, fighting to regain his sight & his wits before the alien insect can cause a wound that would take him out of the fight.

It was a luxury Stephen cannot afford: too much was at stake for him to receive anything too serious.

Focusing on his other senses, Stephen Strange used his sense of hearing as Alien Baltan charged at him while he unleashed his echoing baritone laugh, clearly enjoying himself as he clobbers his enemy repeatedly in a helpless manner.

On his next pass, Stephen turned the tide: his Cloak of Levitation wrapped one of its ends around Baltan's pincer, catching him before he could strike Stephen in the face with his other pincer & threw him all across the sky, giving the Sorcerer Supreme the time he needed to regain his sight.

As soon as his vision was normal, Stephen stared at Alien Baltan, who was approaching him with intent to kill.

Shooting a bolt of mystic energy at the alien intruder halted Baltan's advance, thus driving him back several feet before Stephen lets up. It still didn't deter Baltan from advancing, though: the alien insect came up at his enemy before stopping at only 14 feet from his position. Both combatants stared at each other which seemed like an eternity before Baltan raised his pincers & began laughing his baritone laugh. While he does, the alien insect does something Stephen never expected: the alien was multiplying himself into several other Baltans, each one identical to the original.

Each one also unleashed a baritone laugh as if to mock the Sorcerer Supreme.

Then Alien Baltan spoke, they all spoke as one.

"Let's see if you can discover while one of us is the real Alien Baltan, Stephen Strange!", they said, their voices echoing.

Surprised but undaunted, Stephen Strange concentrated upon his magical forces to launch a counteroffensive: as if to mock the alien insect, Doctor Strange made exact duplicates of himself that spread out & multiplied into the same number Baltan created. All of the Stephens the real one created stared at the horde of Baltans, giving a smirk to each.

"Two can play at that game, Alien Baltan!", the Stephens replied in unison. "Do you believe that you can find the real Doctor Strange before it's too late?"

"You actually think you can defeat me by playing my game, sorcerer?", the Baltans say simultaneously. "It will take a lot more than copying my tactics to put me down! Prepare to face annihilation – all of you!"

All the Stephens smiled wickedly.

"That's funny – I was just about to say the same thing! Bring it!", they all said.

Like a pair of living tides, the horde of Doctor Stranges & Alien Baltans flew into & collided with each other in a brawl to end all brawls.

Sorcerer Supreme vs. Space Ninja was now at full swing!

The Thing & Hulks vs. Baraba:

As Benjamin J. Grimm stated, an entire bunch of clobbering commenced as the ever-loving blue-eyed Thing, as well as both red & green Hulks, were delivering to the Terrible-Monster known as Baraba: Green Hulk was taking care of the legs & tail of the creature, with Ben Grimm doing what he can to put the spiked ball & axe hands out of order. Red Hulk went for more drastic measures by getting himself up to the top of Baraba & began pounding the monster on his head that would hopefully knock him into unconsciousness.

But even hitting the creature at three separate locations still wasn't enough to bring Baraba down, & thus the big monster started making counteroffensives to his small but incredibly powerful foes: with a swipe of his spiked ball, he knocks off the Red Hulk from off the right side of his head as he plummets to the ground, landing with a crash. With Ben, Baraba swung his left arm & shook him off as the Thing crashed himself onto the ground, leaving a cloud of dust & a crater many feet deep.

The original Hulk was busy bashing Baraba's legs as the bigger monster simply kicked him away as the Hulk got thrown 100 yards before he stops. Getting up, the Hulk bellowed in rage & charged Baraba as if nothing happened.

"Giant monster no stop Hulk!", he bellowed. "Hulk smash giant monster with bare…"

A bashing from Baraba's tail cut short the Hulk's threat before it lifts up as said green monster got up on wobbly legs before the three snake-like tentacles at the end of Baraba's tail wrap themselves around the Green Goliath, trapping him but good. When the Hulk tried to get himself free, Baraba pounded the ground with his tail end, subduing the Hulk & giving him a warning: the more he tries to free himself, the harder he pounds the earth with him in it.

One was down for the count, with two more for Baraba to face.

He focused on the Red Hulk next: from the top of his head, Baraba unleashed his sword as it detached & soared through the air, heading straight for the crimson-skinned goliath.

Red Hulk doesn't even know it's coming for him, being disoriented from the hit he took.

"Ross, look out!", Ben cried out.

Before he knew what happened, Ben ran at & tackled Red Hulk a split-second before Baraba's sword came down on the spot he was at. Had Ben been any slower, Red Hulk would've been both skewered & crushed by its blade.

Seeing how close he came to death gave Ross the willies even through his tough hide.

"Nice save there, Ben! I didn't even see the damn thing!", Ross said, getting back on his feet.

"Glad to have helped, General!", Ben said, doing the same. "But that big brute's still not done with us yet! And he's got the original Hulk all wrapped up at the end of his tail!"

Baraba swished his tail as if teasing & taunting the two powerhouses to dare attempt a rescue, screeching while he does & raising his arms.

"Time to rescue the Hulk for a change, Grimm!", Red Hulk said. "You see if you can get to that tail end! I'll keep Baraba distracted & focus his attention squarely on me!"

"Sounds good to me, General! Good luck!", Ben said, running towards the rear of the monster.

Ross started shouting & throwing rocks at the beast.

"Hey! Asshole! Come squash me if you can!", he bellowed.

Screeching a metallic shriek, Baraba retracted his sword as it flew back on the top of his head before shooting the hook from the spiked ball on his right arm. Ross dived out of its way just in time as the hook embedded itself into the ground before Baraba retracted it. The Red Hulk took this time to throw another boulder at the monster, this time hitting him in the snout, a piece of it getting stuck inside & blocking his nasal passage.

A blow of air helped to get rid of it, enraging the monster further.

Raising his axe hand, Baraba went after the Red Hulk in anger, swinging it at the crimson-skinned being as Ross dodged, ducked & avoided every blow from the bladed weapon, along with the spiked ball that left craters wherever it landed.

Better pick up the pace, Ben Grimm!, Ross thought. I don't know how much longer I can keep on giving this alien dinosaur the slip!

From the rear, Ben watched as Baraba flailed his tail like a flag blowing in the breeze, occasionally bashing the original Hulk when he gets frisky in his tail coils trying to make a break for it. Seeing the Hulk get bashed by this giant monster was more than enough to have pity for the Hulk: despite their differences, the Hulk is a misunderstood monster who never deserved to become what he is. Plus, they've fought well together when a need arises.

And underneath all that rage is a great man & a good friend named Dr. Bruce Banner.

That reason alone was all the reason Ben needs to help the Green Goliath.

When Baraba's tail was close enough, Ben leaped up & snatched one of the spikes jutting out along its sides as he climbed up & held on for dear life as he made his way over to the tip end where the Hulk was being held. More than once, Ben had to keep a firm grip to prevent himself from falling off as it moved with a snake-like motion.

It still amazes Ben that these huge monsters can move with great speed & agility despite their size.

Concentrating on the task, Ben made it to the tail end where he can also see the green Hulk wrapped tightly in its coils, unable to free himself & seemingly knocked out.

"Hulk! It's me, the Thing!", he called out to him, hoping to wake him. "Can you hear me?"

Slowly but surely, the Hulk's eyes were opening up as he sees the orange-rock humanoid.

"Thing?", Hulk said.

"Yeah, big guy, it's me!", Ben says. "I've come to get you loose!"

"Hulk tried to get free! Hulk not successful!"

"Let's see if I can remedy that for you!"

Lifting his right fist, Ben brought it down with all his might.

Baraba screeched from the pain, having felt it all the way from behind. In retaliation, he whiplashed his tail to the front as Ben held on to keep from slipping off. It would prove to be a bad mistake: along with the Hulk & even Ross, Ben was forced into the ground with such power that he felt like his entire body shattered. He wasn't alone: the Hulk was finally released from Baraba's tail & hit the earth with devastating force, leaving him feeling like he'd been shrunk down in size. Red Hulk wasn't so fortunate either: he was not only thrown from the blast, he got clobbered by Baraba's hook, knocking the wind out of him before the monster retracted said weapon.

Having all three powerhouses at his mercy, Baraba was ready to deliver the killing blows to each.

Black Widow & the Winter Soldier vs. Alien Magma:

It was like living in a Bruce Lee movie: a three-way competition between an alternate-dimension alien against a pair of this Earth's superheroes engaged in one of the fiercest kung-fu matches ever. After receiving wounds from Black Widow in his left hand/wrist, Alien Magma went berserk with rage & attacks with the ferocity of a wounded animal, but also with the collective calmness of a martial arts master.

He wasn't going to be stupid just because he yearned for payback.

Even when Black Widow & the Winter Soldier were attacking with all their skills, Magma fought back with the ability & skill that any expert would wield in close-quartet combat: a series of punches & kicks were dodged/blocked, while sending out hits of his own, some hitting their mark, others missing or repelled. Despite being outnumbered two to one, Alien Magma gave the two heroes a workout like no other, keeping each one on their toes & never giving them a moment to breathe.

Only when Natasha & Barnes get a boot to the face did they retreat briefly to catch their breath.

They stare at the alien with disdain.

We threw everything at this alien, & he's still standing after all of that!, Natasha thought. Who the hell trained this damn thing?! Bruce Lee?! Jackie Chan?!

Natasha didn't have time to ponder on it: Magma came at them while swinging his saber arm, this time causing another cut in Barnes' metal arm as sparks flew. Putting a foot to Black Widow's chest that sent her sprawling across the ground a few feet, the alien swiped up his saber that made a clean cut on Barnes' metal arm. The Winter Soldier is stunned to see his left appendage drop off from his shoulder, leaving only the circled insignia that resembled Captain America's shield on his stump.

Before Barnes could gather his bearings, Alien Magma swung his left foot into his face, causing Barnes to do a backwards flip & land hard on his stomach, the blow knocking the wind out of his lungs. As he fought to get air back into them, Magma raised his saber to drive it into his head.

Due to his cat-like ears, Magma noticed movement from behind him, & he turned just in time to dodge a foot to his back from Natasha as the alien snatched Black Widow by the throat with his left hand. Immediately, Natasha's air was cut off as Magma had a firm/tight grip on her that could not be broken, no matter how hard she fought back.

With his saber arm ready, Alien Magma could easily stab Natasha through her middle & kill her.

But he doesn't: he owes her more than that, & he retracts his saber to bring his right arm back to normal before driving his fist into her face with great strength. Alien Magma does this repeatedly as she did to him before, paying her in full for the punishment he received by her hands. Blood was coming out of Natasha's mouth & nose, & her head was swimming like she overdosed on coke or crystal meth. Black & blue marks decorated her face along with the blood that was spilled.

With what strength that he had left, Barnes tried to come to her aide but was grabbed by his throat before he was brought up to eye level.

Even with his left arm severed, Barnes remained defiant.

"Fuck you, you alien!", he said, spitting in Magma's face.

Gritting his teeth, Alien Magma clonked their heads together with enough force to make them see stars.

They dropped to the ground like lead weights as Magma brought back the saber on his right arm, ready to skewer both heroes & cause them as much pain as possible before he finally kills them.

All Natasha & Barnes can do is watch.

Doctor Strange vs. Alien Baltan:

It was a smorgasbord of wizards & alien insects as they go at each other's throats: multiple duplicates of Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange & Space Ninja Alien Baltan were all in combat as Stephen's copies battled Baltan's. Even the alien insect had difficulty telling which Stephen Strange was the real one, as he blasted at anything that resembled the Sorcerer Supreme, striking them with the loathing he has for the Ultra warriors who have thwarted his race's plans for conquering Earth in their own dimension/universe.

His hatred for the superheroes on this Earth was just as strong.

The Alien Baltan copies shot forth with the lasers from their pincers, but were blocked by the multiple wizards' mystic shields. Their barrage kept up for some time before the wizards changed tactics by shooting forth lines of golden mystic energy, ensnaring each of the Baltans & pinning their arms to their sides. Sending surges through these lines, the multitude of alien insects began dissipating & thinning the numbers of copies the original produced.

With each Alien Baltan that disappeared from sight, another Stephen Strange copy also dissipated.

Soon, it was down to only a few of each opponent, & at that time, both real Stephen & Baltan recalled those that were left, leaving only the real McCoys.

"Well played, Stephen Strange!", Alien Baltan says. "You have managed to beat me at my own game! You're as good a combatant as any one of those accursed Ultra warriors! But it still won't help you to save your planet!"

"Alien Baltan, if I had a nickel for every would-be conqueror who said those exact words to me, I'd make Tony Stark look like a beggar out on the streets!", Stephen Strange said. "Others more powerful than your kind have tried to take over our Earth throughout the years, & they've all been beaten in complete failure! What makes you think you're going to fare any better than them?"

The alien insect unleashed his baritone laugh.

"Because there are an infinite amount of Earths that we can take control of & conquer!", he replied. "If there's an Earth we cannot take, then we shall destroy it – along with its billions of earthlings that reside on it!"

"Not while I'm still standing, alien!", Stephen said.

"Which won't be for long, sorcerer!"

Shooting himself forward like a living missile, Alien Baltan headed straight for Stephen Strange, who instantly put up his mystic shield as the alien insect fired his beams from both pincers. Stephen felt the intensity of these blasts as more powerful than before, & he was barely able to keep up his shield as Alien Baltan literally crashed himself into it. Baltan struck the shield with his pincers repeatedly, not bothering to display any strategy skills: he's simply attacking out of pure rage & abhorrence towards the Sorcerer Supreme.

It was then that Stephen reminds himself that's how the Hulk manages to beat his foes every time: the angrier he gets, the stronger he gets.

Alien Baltan is no Hulk, but he's still vicious enough even when he isn't irate.

The Sorcerer Supreme knows better than to underestimate this deadly enemy of the Ultra warriors, who have hit & terrorized many of them, from the original up to Ultraman 80.

Staying on the offensive line long enough, Stephen went on the defensive & shot forth a bolt of mystic energy from his right hand, hitting Baltan in the chest which caused him to tumble back before regaining his composure. The wizard fired again, but this time Baltan opened a twin panel on his chest to reveal mirrors that reflected the beam once it hit, causing no further damage.

Letting out a laugh, Baltan disappeared from sight, his baritone chuckle still audible.

Keeping his shield up & staying alert, Stephen searched the immediate area for any sign of his enemy.

He was struck in the back without warning, causing him to fall from the sky.

Only the Cloak of Levitation prevents him from hitting the ground & breaking every bone in his body.

But even that does not stop what happens next: in the blink of an eye, Alien Baltan appeared in front of Stephen Strange & sent an electric jolt through his body before the sorcerer could react. Stephen cried out before he fell to the ground, the Cloak of Levitation stunned itself & unable to assist its master.

His enemy defeated, Baltan unleashed his baritone laugh in triumph & amusement.

Grabbing his fallen foe with his left pincer, Baltan lifts up Stephen to eye level.

"A valiant effort on your part, Stephen Strange!", he says. "But it was doomed to fail from the start! Soon, this Earth & all its heroes will be crushed beneath our tremendous might, & its people enslaved for all eternity! As an added bonus, I shall proudly display your head as our trophy & wear your cape for my own! We will turn this planet into our utopia! Too bad you won't be alive to see it, Stephen Strange!"

Lifting up his right pincer, Baltan opened it up & extended a sharp dagger from within.

Its blade made a razor seem dull, capable of slicing through flesh & bone with ease.

Alien Baltan was ready to claim the head of Doctor Strange.

CHAPTER IX

It was a deadly scenario that's about to get homicidal.

Alien Baltan has Doctor Strange in his pincer grip, ready to behead the Sorcerer Supreme & claim it as his trophy, with Alien Magma ready to gut Black Widow & the Winter Soldier like fish, prolonging their suffering. Baraba, on the other hand, was about to pummel the Thing & the two Hulks – red & green – into paste with just a stomp of his foot or clobber of his spiked hand. He might even decide to slice them in two with his axe hand.

Either way, the three powerhouses were about to meet a grisly demise.

Barnes & Natasha could only watch as their demise was looming over them, both too stunned & numb with pain to do anything else. From the corners of their eyes, they see an object coming straight for them – one Alien Magma was unaware of as it came to them via jet pack that didn't make much noise.

Landing, the figure using the jet pack ran on foot & raised its arm.

Magma finally sensed the intruder's presence & turned to deal with it.

Before he knew it, a sword was swung at him with blinding speed. The alien & his two would-be victims saw an emerald-skinned female with jet black long hair & an outfit that was half spacesuit. She stood 6 feet tall, having emerald eyes & red lips. Her sword was held in her right hand.

The three were looking at Gamora, a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy who's hailed as the 'Most Dangerous Woman in the Galaxy'.

There's a good reason why she's called that, as Alien Magma is about to discover: raising his saber arm, he finds that it's been cut & severed right down the middle as that piece with the blade end fell off once he lifted it up. Staring back at Gamora, she lifts up her sword to reveal that blood stained her blade.

Alien Magma recognized the blood as his own, & thus he felt himself bleeding alongside his face in just seconds before the upper half of his head slid off & fell to the ground, followed by the rest of him as his body collapsed.

"Gamora?", Natasha & Barnes say as said person helped them both up.

"In the flesh", she says. "You two okay?"

"Aside from having my metal arm severed & a pounding headache…just peachy", Barnes said.

"I'm sure you'll walk it off…Winter Soldier", Gamora said with a smirk.

She receives a grin from him.

"If you're here, Gamora, then where's the rest of your so-called Guardians?", Natasha asked.

"Take a peek, Natasha", Gamora says, pointing in two directions.

The duo first looked over to where Alien Baltan has Doctor Strange at his mercy: the alien cicada was about to sever the sorcerer's head when he's suddenly ambushed from above by a flying humanoid raccoon with a height of 4 feet swooped down via jet pack & literally got onto the face of Baltan, taking the alien insect by surprise & releasing Stephen Strange.

"What the…?", Baltan says as he's assaulted.

"Hey, ya overgrown cockroach!", Rocket squabbled as he scratched Baltan's face. "Ya like picking a man when he's down & can't fight back, huh? How about you take on someone a little more lively – like me?!"

Alien Baltan snatched Rocket off his face & stared at the 4-foot humanoid raccoon.

"You think I fear an insignificant little thing like you?!", Baltan snapped. "You're hardly worth my time, as you are too small to be of any danger to me!"

"Oh, really?", Rocket says. "You should know the old Earth saying, ugly…'Big booms come in small packages'! Permit me to show you what I mean!"

From behind, Rocket pulled his rifle & began blasting away at Baltan's face, followed by the rest of him as the alien insect gets blasted to pieces by the equally alien raccoon. Rocket let out a battle cry as he filled Baltan completely full of holes, dropping the alien cicada to the ground as Rocket kept blasting, getting himself sprayed with his ichor.

Only when Stephen Strange placed a hand on his shoulder did he stop & looked up at the sorcerer.

"I think it's safe to assume that he's dead now, Rocket", Stephen says. "And thanks for the save, by the way."

"Hey, Doc! How you doin'?", Rocket says, smiling up at him. "And yeah…you're quite welcome!"

Star-Lord & Drax dropped down from above, landing near their raccoon comrade & Stephen.

"Not that your timely intervention isn't appreciated, Guardians, but…how did you know to come here to Earth?", Stephen asked.

"You can thank our friend Carol Danvers for that, sorcerer man.", Drax said.

"She contacted us not long ago, gave us the situation in record time, & now we're here", Star-Lord said, retracting his face mask to reveal Peter Quill. "We ourselves were attacked by a giant space creature, & once we found out that the cause of it all is here on Earth, we wasted no time getting here to help shut it down."

"And the final member of your team?", Stephen asked.

"Oh, he's…right over there", Drax says, pointing.

Stephen looked to where Drax & even Quill pointed at to see an amazing sight: the alien tree-man who they call Groot dropped out of the sky from their ship, which entered the planet undetected & without a sound. As he descended from the skies, Groot increased his mass & size, growing to an incredible height of 60 meters & headed straight for the monster Baraba. Lashing out with his left arm, Groot wraps his branches around Baraba's head & yanks back hard, with the monster getting thrown several meters & saving the Thing & two Hulks as they start to revive. They watch as Groot battles Baraba as both giant tree-man & Terrible-Monster get engaged in a vicious brawl that shook the ground: Baraba lashed out with his spiked ball, hitting Groot in the chest that urged him to step back several yards. Baraba retaliated by shooting his hook that wrapped itself around Groot's midsection & fastened itself before Baraba pulled hard on his line, knocking Groot to the ground. The tree-man fought to break free of the line, but couldn't do so before Baraba raised his axe hand to chop off the tree-man's head.

Groot, however, was smarter than his appearance shows: when Baraba brought his axe hand down, Groot swerved over to put the line to his hook in the way, thus severing that instead of his head, thereby freeing Groot as he launched a counterattack by wrapping his fingers around his axe & spiked ball hands, keeping them at bay & unable for use by the Terrible-Monster. No matter how hard Baraba tried to free his hands, he couldn't: Groot had a firm grip on them & he wasn't letting go.

Every attempt Baraba made only urged Groot to cover them in more of his branches.

Even Baraba's strength was unable to free them.

Baraba still wasn't helpless, though: from atop his head, his sword was launched & headed straight for Groot, who was unprepared for the attack. The giant sword stabbed Groot in his chest as the blade went all the way through, its blade protruding from his back. Getting struck from this unexpected hit caused Groot to release his hold on Baraba's armed hands as the monster screeched angrily before raising his arms & charging after his floral foe. Baraba buffeted Groot across the face with his spiked ball, causing him to see white flashes in his vision. The Terrible-Monster whacked Groot several more times before using his axe hand to slice off Groot's arms at the elbows, leaving him disarmed.

Literally.

With a whip of his tail, Baraba brought it forward & wrapped Groot's throat with the three snake-like appendages & threw him airborne before body-slamming him into the ground, shaking it. Having Groot at his mercy, Baraba repeats his maneuver five more times, leaving Groot armless & numb as the sword still stuck in his chest prevents him from re-growing his lost limbs.

Ben Grimm & the two Hulks had to scramble to get out of the way, joining Doctor Strange & company.

Now lying on his back, Groot looked up to see Baraba standing over him as he raises his axe hand, ready to slice off & behead his floral foe.

A bright light flash erupted from the sky above, distracting Baraba before an object of light surges towards him & makes a clean cut in Baraba's neck before retreating. The light flash was gone in seconds as Baraba stood still like he was frozen.

He wasn't: the object of light that flew toward & into him sliced his neck as Baraba's head fell off his shoulders & plopped onto the ground. The Terrible-Monster dropped to the ground, joining its severed head as Groot & everyone else turned to see who actually threw that glowing object that effortlessly killed Baraba.

It was a sight that was unbelievable yet favorable to the heroes: Astra, Ultraman Ace & Ultraseven (the one who threw his famed Eye Slugger that beheaded Baraba) came in & landed next to Groot. Ultraman Ace effortlessly pulled out Baraba's sword, enabling Groot to quickly regrow his severed limbs as he rose from the ground.

Facing his three saviors, he offered them a smile of appreciation.

"I am Groot!", he said, patting himself in the chest with his newly-grown right arm.

The three Ultra warriors looked at each other, then back at Groot.

"I am…Ultraman Ace", he said, copying the gesture.

"I am…Ultraseven", he says, doing the same.

"I am…Astra", he replied, doing so himself.

Their happy introductions were interrupted by a new pair of flashing lights that quickly dissipated as soon as they appeared. In their place were two new nightmares: one was a 60-meter-tall dinosaurian creature that looked floral like Groot, but in a shade of green rather than brown. It sported twin tails in the rear, with four red spikes protruding from its back. A spike also stuck out of the arms, with one sporting a red hook-like feature & the other a whip-like appendage that twirled like a rope or a snake. The head was dinosaurian with a mouth full of sharp teeth & two fangs at the rear. A red horn protruded from its nose, with a larger one jutting out from atop its head & fin-like ears on each side. The most disturbing thing about this monster was its large flower on its stomach, the center sporting a large mouth which it no doubt uses to eat whatever gets caught inside it.

When it roared, it sounded like a mix between a high-pitched squeal followed by a low guttural roar.

The second newcomer was 46 meters tall, its flesh in a black hue with four fingers on each hand. Its head was an unusual sight: it sported oval yellow eyes & large white 'ears' that let off a shine from within. It emitted a sound that is like something a squirrel would make, only more alien.

Both new arrivals were all too well-known to the Ultra warriors.

"Astromons!", Astra said, referring to the large floral creature.

"Alien Prote!", Ultraseven & Ultraman Ace said.

"Astra! Go with our friends down below & help them to shut that facility down by any means!", Ultraseven said. "Ace, Groot & myself will handle these two! Remember: the surefire way to end all this is…"

"I understand! Good luck to you all!", Astra says as his friends nod before he shrinks himself to human size.

He then heads over to the gathered heroes.

"Coming to join us, Astra?", Black Widow asked.

"That's what my friends want, Black Widow!", Astra said. "Like you all, we've had enough of this farce & want it shut down permanently before this Earth of yours becomes nothing more than a memory!"

"That won't happen, mister!", Red Hulk said. "Not on our watch!"

"Glad to hear it!", Peter Quill says. "Gamora, you, Drax & Rocket get inside that facility with these folks & shut it down any way that you can!"

"What will you be doing in the meantime, Quill?", Drax asked.

"I'm going to give Groot and Astra's friends a hand!"

"Then all the best to you, Peter Quill", Doctor Strange says. "We will regroup with the others inside the facility & assist them in ending this disaster for good. But first…"

Raising his left hand, Stephen used his magic to lift up Barnes' metal arm & make repairs within its golden aura, which took only seconds. Once the arm was complete & whole again, Stephen brought it over to Barnes & reattached it to his left shoulder, the magic doing the repair work in no time. Stephen even fixed the wounds that Barnes received.

"It is done. Try it, Barnes", Stephen said.

Barnes moved his newly-repaired metal arm as he performed some quick movements with it, receiving no glitches whatsoever. He grinned at the display & all of his wounds disappearing, being totally satisfied.

"I'm good as new all over!", Barnes said. "Thank you tons, Stephen! You really were an actual doctor before you started performing magic!"

"A highly skilled surgeon, to be precise…but you are correct", Stephen says.

Stephen then turns to then facility where their other comrades have raced off to.

"Now that we've dealt with the majority of obstacles out here, it's time to confront the masterminds of this ordeal & bring this farce to a conclusion", he says.

"You read our minds, Doc!", Red Hulk said. "Let's save both our universes – and countless others – from total domination!"

"Hulk go smash some more?", the original Hulk asks.

"That's right, big guy! Just follow us! It's clobbering time!", Astra said, charging towards the facility.

The others followed closely behind, leaving Peter Quill behind.

Give them hell, guys & girls!, he thought, donning his face mask & taking off via jet pack.

Peter headed right in the heart of the battle of giants.

Inside the facility:

Chaos ensued within the facility as it did outside of it: Susan Richards & Wanda Maximoff were engaged with the Leader, who has put up a barrier shield surrounding his hoverchair as it is also equipped with automatic weapons as the ladies block these with their own shields; Iron Man & Black Panther were currently engaged in a fight with Sauron, being careful not to stare into the humanoid Pteranodon's crimson eyes; Doctor Doom wages a one-on-one feud with Loki, vowing to make the God of Mischief pay with extreme prejudice; Cyclops, Wolverine, War Machine & including Alien Pegassa were all in fierce combat with the Abomination, with Wolverine doing the most damage to the monster.

Unfortunately, the Abomination's healing factor is about as good as Wolverine's, making him a tougher foe to beat than the Hulk.

Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Phil Coulson & Reed Richards were frantically searching for any of the consoles that may hopefully help to end the nightmare & stop it from getting any worse.

The sounds of battle were loud & boisterous everywhere, but the three SHIELD agents & Fantastic Four leader remained collective amid the chaos.

"Have you found anything of value yet, Richards?", Nick Fury called out.

"Just about!", Reed called back. "I've located a power source which taps into that of the stones themselves!"

"So, we just need to disconnect it?", Phil Coulson asked.

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple, Coulson: this energy is too strong & too unstable to just let it run wild! That's just what will happen if we simply blast away at it, causing a possible chain reaction & destroying everything!"

"In short, we'll be doing the enemies' work for them!", Maria Hill says.

"Correct, Maria! I need to find a way to extract the energy safely, so that it doesn't cause a sudden explosion!"

"Any ideas how to do that?", asked Coulson.

"Perhaps by reversing the energy's polarity, it will cause the stone's energies to be drained away rather than fed, making them more stable & less dangerous to us and the planet!"

"Sounds good to us, Richards! Get to work on it – we'll cover you!", Nick Fury says, getting nods from Coulson & Hill as the three SHIELD agents ready their weapons, prepared to shoot anything that interferes with Richards' work.

It was a long shot, but a good chance that they have to end this without anything exploding.

Richards was already busy at work on his idea, praying it saves the planet.

Doctor Doom erected an energy sword to counteract Loki's blade as the two fought fiercely, the Latverian ruler determined to end the God of Mischief for sending giant monsters to his homeland.

Blocking another blow from Doom, Loki gave the armor-clad warrior a hard kick in his solar plexus, knocking him a distance away. The two men stared at each other as Loki grins amusingly.

"This is quite a change of pace, I must say!", Loki says. "Victor Von Doom – fighting alongside Earth's heroes rather than against them as he usually does! What is this world coming to?"

Loki's chuckle infuriated the Latverian ruler.

"I care nothing for the cause of Earth's heroes, trickster!", Doom says. "I'm here because you've brazenly struck my home with such callousness that it cannot go unpunished! Furthermore, this Earth is as much my home as it is theirs, & when a mounting danger like this threatens it, I will stand to defend it – even if it means making a brief pact with the likes of the Fantastic Four & Avengers, if need be!"

"And yet it still doesn't make you one of them! You're a harder man to figure out than I realize, Victor! Not many people can confuse me with their motives as you!"

"The only thing you need to understand about me, trickster, is that I am going to kill you on this day!"

"Better men than you have tried, Victor – and they have all lived to regret it!"

"I'm more than just 'better', Loki…I surpass them!"

After he spoke his last word, Victor Von Doom blasted Loki with a beam from his right gauntlet, hitting him in his chest that sent him flying several feet. His midsection still smoking, Loki rose from the floor & started at Doom.

And this time, his teeth were clenched in hate.

"You'll regret that, Victor!", Loki snarled.

Doom chuckled in amusement.

"Better men than you have tried, Loki!", Doom replied, throwing his words back.

Enraged, Loki charged Doom with his sword, eager to slice him to ribbons.

Doom did the same with similar intent as their fight resumed.

Sauron was definitely giving Iron Man & Black Panther a workout: the humanoid Pteranodon swiped at the two heroes with his wings & claws, wishing to cause some damage in their armored suits but so far having no such luck. A whack of his tail caught Iron Man by surprise, causing him to crash into the floor. Black Panther attacks with his own claws that actually make contact with Sauron's chest, drawing bleeding cuts. He followed it up by a hard left foot to his reptilian beak, catching him beneath his chin & knocking him on his back.

Examining the blood spilled from his chest, Sauron chuckled & stared at the Panther.

"Impressive, mammal! You draw first blood!", Sauron said as he rose from the floor. "Not many enemies can do that when in battle with me!"

"I'll be drawing even more of your blood before this day is done, Sauron!", Black Panther snapped.

Sauron simply laughed maniacally, which really enraged the Protector of Wakanda.

"You think this is funny, reptile?!", Black Panther fumed. "You invade my home of Wakanda with not only two large dinosaurian creatures, but also a giant robot – and for what?! Your particular domain is in the Savage Land! Why have a sudden interest in all this, anyway?!"

"You have to ask, mammal?", Sauron explains. "For power, of course: when Loki & the Leader found the two stones, they wanted a third member in their party, & thus they came to me! After describing what the stones are capable of, it was an offer I absolutely couldn't resist: to summon giant monsters undreamt of from another dimension, along with the promise of an area that spread beyond the Savage Land – it was far too tempting to refuse! As you humans might say, 'When opportunity knocks, don't knock the opportunity'!"

"Samuel Sterns & Loki are two of the worst people one could ever ally themselves with, Sauron!", Iron Man said. "Each has a reputation of using their partners to their fullest extent, thus discarding them afterwards when their use is all but bone-dry! You actually think that either of them would share their so-called 'utopia' with the likes of you?! As far as they're concerned, you're nothing but an expendable asset!"

"Iron Man is correct, reptile!", Black Panther said. "What they're doing right now isn't making the planet into what they so desire – they're threatening it to extinction for everyone & everything that lives on it, including you! Don't you remember, Sauron?! You were human once by the name of Dr. Carl Lykos, a man who would never…"

The mere mentioning of Sauron's former name caused him to bellow in rage.

"Do not ever mention that name to me again, mammal!", he snapped, throwing his claws at both heroes, each of whom have dodged. "Dr. Carl Lykos is dead! There's only Sauron now!"

Infuriated by the name of his alter-ego, Sauron renewed his fight with Iron Man & Black Panther.

Wanda Maximoff & Susan Richards fought with both their minds as well as their bodies while confronting the gamma-radiated super-genius Samuel Sterns aka the Leader: the balloon-headed villain's hoverchair hosted an array of weaponry, from laser beams that can burn steel, tasers that can stun enemies, & even machine guns encased within the chassis of the hovering device. Susan & Wanda fought feverishly to dodge these oncoming projectiles while launching blasts of their own: Wanda uses her hex magic to deflect the bullets from the machine guns, stopping them cold before Susan tries pushing the hoverchair into the wall to hopefully damage it, or at the very least, knock the balloon-headed fiend out of it.

It's been said that Samuel Sterns has difficulty moving on his own due to his literal swelled head.

Using her invisibility powers, Susan pushes the hoverchair as hard as she could, with Wanda giving her cover from the armaments that threaten both. The Leader fought back by using the chair's full power to press against Susan's attack as her forehead was sweating, straining herself as far as she can push. Wanda was in the same fix, overextending her powers to bring down the super-genius by shielding herself & Susan from repeated firepower.

Samuel Sterns' mind is even more dangerous than the Abomination's strength!, Wanda thought. He is never to be underestimated, for very good reason!

Through it all, the Leader guffawed at their feeble attempts.

"Foolish females!", he scoffed. "No matter what tricks you may perform, it won't work: I've anticipated every one of your abilities & made countermeasures against them! Even if you were to combine all your powers against me as one, you'll never so much as touch me!"

"Spare us the megalomaniac act, Sterns!", Susan says. "You've been beaten before, & in the name of all that's good & holy in the world, we'll do it again!"

"Not by your hands, Miss Richards, Miss Maximoff! I am the one true genius on this mudball of a planet, & it will only be a matter of time before the entire human race bows down to my will!"

The two ladies smirk with sinister features at their foe.

"This coming from a man claiming to be a genius who's been beaten repeatedly by a giant green brute who has an intelligence level of an angry child!", Wanda scoffs.

Her remark got a reaction from Samuel Sterns, who gritted his teeth in anger, displeased at being mocked.

In fury, the Leader unleashed a new weapon from his arsenal: a sonic boom cannon that produces soundwaves in powerful blasts that hit Susan & Wanda with sledgehammer force, carrying them all the way over to the far wall, hitting it with bone-shattering force.

Wanda & Susan drop to the floor, their bodies numb from the hit.

The Leader floated up to them, his face one of disdain & abhorrence.

"You don't ever compare me to that green childish brute, do you hear me?!", Sterns bellowed.

Neither woman gave the maniac the satisfaction of being afraid.

"So be it, girls!", he snapped. "Let's see how defiant you remain when I crush your very bones into powder!"

Warming up the cannon, Susan & Wanda stare with hatred for the lunatic as the Leader grins with glee, knowing he'll be ridding the world of two of its heroes.

A huge grin on the Abomination's face mocked the feeble attempts of War Machine, Cyclops, Wolverine & even Alien Pegassa's attack on his monstrous form: every bullet, missile, laser beam & claw slashing hardly had any effect on the Abomination's scaly hide as each projectile that strikes his body bounced off like ping-pong balls, inflicting no damage. Even Wolverine's claws, while they do penetrate his flesh, does little to bring the monster down: each wound he inflicts gets closed up in the blink of an eye.

It was frustrating for those pouring it on him, & not seeing any wounds on the monster to show for it.

"Damn it all!", War Machine says, unloading his armaments. "We're throwing everything we have at him but the kitchen sink, & he's still not going down! Doesn't he have any kind of weaknesses on him?!"

"Just keep on striking him, War Machine!", Cyclops said, firing another of his optic blasts. 'Whatever happens, don't let up for a second! He has to drop sooner or later!"

"We're not doing very good at it, Scott Summers!", Alien Pegassa said, firing his gun. "Everything we've thrown at him just bounces off! Even my gun – capable of bringing down entire buildings – is having no effect on him! What is this beast made of?!"

"An experiment gone horribly wrong, bub!", Wolverine says, slicing at Blonsky's back, drawing blood. "Like Dr. Bruce Banner, Emil Blonsky was exposed to gamma radiation, becoming the brute who you see here! Unlike Bruce, however, Blonsky's got no morals or conscious, making him an even deadlier creature than the Hulk!"

"Bah! Having morals & a conscious is for wimps, runt!", the Abomination says. "I'm the Hulk's superior, & even he knows it! Speaking of…where is that big green bastard anyway?"

"Preoccupied at the moment, Blonsky!", Wolverine said, cutting the beast's arm. "You'll just have to deal with us for right now!"

"Fine by me, squirt! You four fools are simply a warm-up, & on that particular note…"

Like a runaway freight train, the Abomination charged at Cyclops, War Machine & Pegassa as they all continued unloading their armaments on the creature even as no visible effect were occurring. When the Abomination raised his right hand to take a swipe at the trio, Cyclops & Pegassa dove for cover to avoid its strike.

War Machine wasn't so lucky: he was grabbed by the left arm as the monster ripped off Rhodes' shoulder arms, followed by pieces of his armored suit. Even when Rhodes fought back by firing rounds of bullets at Blonsky at point-blank range, the Abomination simply grinned as if he were enjoying the experience.

He ripped off another piece of his armor & tossed it away effortlessly.

"Let's see how tough you are without your armored suit, little man!", Blonsky mocked.

Cyclops blasted him square in the chest, catching Emil's attention & forcing him to let go of Rhodes, who used the time to scramble away. Scott kept up his beam on Blonsky, but the monster walked up to him like he was enjoying a stroll through the park & grinned at the mutant hero.

Placing a huge palm over Scott's face, the Abomination turned off his optic blast.

Scott cried out in surprise.

"That optic blast doesn't do anything to me but tickle!", Blonsky scoffed. "Surely you can do better than that?"

"How about me, creature?", Alien Pegassa says, firing his gun in Blonsky's face at point-blank range.

All the Abomination did was grin, surprising the alien.

With a speed that belied his size, Blonsky grabbed Pegassa's gun & crushed it like it was nothing more than a cheap toy. The creature then lifted up the hand that still held Cyclops in it to swat the alien. Thinking fast, Alien Pegassa converted to his Dark Zone mode as he swallowed up Scott Summers before both disappeared, re-emerging at another area of the complex. Scott Summers was dazed & a bit confused, but still alive.

Once Scott & Pegassa were gone, Wolverine came at Blonsky & jumped on his back before he began slicing at his head & shoulders, causing cuts that bled & erupted like mini fountains as Blonsky cried out in surprise.

"I'm going to cut you up into little pieces, Blonsky!", Wolverine growled as he hacked at his enemy. "You'll be so scattered everywhere, that all the king's horses & all the king's men will never be able to put your ass back together again!"

Despite the punishment he was taking, Blonsky laughed.

Grabbing Wolverine's right arm, Blonsky threw him off his back & slammed him onto the floor on his own, the blow leaving him numb. The Abomination stared down at the mutant with a fiendish grin, chuckling.

"Nice little workout, runt!", Blonsky scoffed. "But enough dealing with all of you pussies! I want a real fight!"

A portion of the far wall was blasted away by a pair of powerful fists as concrete & steel pieces flew on inwards, interrupting both friend & foe alike. When the smoke cleared, there were more heroes standing in their presence: Black Widow, the Winter Soldier, Doctor Strange, Drax, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Astra, the Thing & both Hulks, the latter of whom were the ones who caused the hole in the wall.

"So…are we a little bit late for this party?", Rocket asked, cocking his rifle.

"On the contrary, Rocket…you're all just in time!", said Iron Man. "Join the fun…I love a gathering!"

The Abomination had his sights on only two of the newcomers, however.

"How nice…two Hulks for the price of one!", Blonsky says, grinning.

"Hey Blonsky! You say you want a real fight?!", Red Hulk says. "Well, come & get it, asshole!"

"My pleasure!"

Running at full speed at the two Hulks, the Abomination crashed into both of them & kept on running until they were outside the facility & a good distance away. He threw down both Hulks like they were sacks of potatoes, sizing himself both up as he prepares for that fight he so craved. In the distance, the sounds of battle occurred inside & out of the facility, but Blonsky paid them no mind.

"Now it's just the three of us!", Blonsky says. "No interruptions, no wimpy heroes to stop our brawl…it's just us three against each other's throats for a fight to the death!"

"Somebody's going to die in this brawl, Blonsky!", Ross says. "But it won't be either one of us!"

"Big talk, General! But in my eyes, you'll always be that puny little man you've been your whole life!"

"Prove it!"

"Gladly!"

"Hulk…smash!", the original Hulk bellowed.

As one, the three hulking monsters came at each other, fists raised.

Back inside the facility, the newly-arrived heroes prepare to lend their comrades backup at a crucial time.

"Samuel Sterns, Loki, Sauron", Doctor Strange says, his hands glowing with mystic energy. "You've each caused enough trouble with these stones you've obtained: unless you cease & desist, the energies in them will go unstable & detonate with enough force to destroy the Earth completely!"

"You really expect us to believe such tripe, sorcerer?", Loki says. "We've discovered a new power source unlike anything we've come across! We won't allow anyone to take that away!"

"It isn't tripe or propaganda, trickster!", said Astra. "The more power you use from the stones, the more deadly it becomes! Continue using it the way you've been doing so, & they will explode with enough force to kill this planet & everybody on it!"

"Surely even you can see the danger it poses to our planet, Samuel Sterns!", Barnes said.

"I personally could care less if this planet gets destroyed, Mr. Barnes", the Leader said. "Truth be told, it deserves to be a pile of asteroids floating around in space after the way the world shunned me & my brilliant genius! But hey…if what you say is true, then you only need to get through my men to shut these stones down, if you can!"

"No problem, bighead!", Drax said. "Loki & Sauron are merely stepping stones!"

Sauron, Loki & the Leader simply chuckled as they regrouped.

"What's so damn funny, Sterns?", Doom growled.

"I wasn't referring to either Sauron or Loki…", Samuel started saying before pressing a button on his chair.

From above on the ceiling, several holes opened up which dispensed pink globs that hit the floor in various places.

Almost immediately, these globs started rising & forming humanoid shapes that stood a good 6 feet tall, each one without a face. Their numbers measured to about twice as many as those in the room.

"I was referring to them!", the Leader said. "Kill them, my Humanoids!"

On the Leader's orders, the pink Humanoids obey & charge at the heroes.

CHAPTER X

The Ultra brothers, Groot & Star-Lord vs. Astromons & Alien Prote:

Groot charged at Astromons as both plant/floral monsters collided into one another & began brawling with their limbs, striking & smacking at each other with tremendous strength. Astromons wraps his right tentacle around Groot's neck & started pulling on his appendage, trying to choke Groot to death while beating on the tree-man with the hook on his left arm. Groot fought back fiercely with his arms, but could not pull free from Astromons' tight grip on him.

Star-Lord flew in & shot both his double-barreled guns, firing powerful energy blasts as Astromons & hitting his right arm which caused the monster to release Groot from his grip. Astromons retaliated by spitting a stream of fire at Star-Lord from his mouth, nearly frying the space adventurer. Peter dodged to one side just in time before blasting away more, hitting the monster in the chest & causing him to screech in pain.

From the large flower on his stomach, Astromons sprayed a liquid at both Star-Lord & Groot: Quill moved away in time to avoid whatever it was, not wanting to find out how deadly it likely was. Groot, however, wasn't so lucky: he was hit with the spray in the chest which started dissolving, surprising the tree-man.

"I am Groot!", he says, stunned at seeing his chest get eaten away.

Astromons swatted Groot with his right tentacle arm, sending the giant tree-man sprawling across the ground several meters. The acidic spray the monster hit him with was still eating away at his body.

"You're going to pay for that, monster!", Star-Lord barked, firing with both his guns & striking Astromons every place on his body that he can: his chest, stomach, arms, neck, even a few at his head.

Bellowing an angry screech/roar, Astromons belched fire at Star-Lord's position, unleashing a fiercer blast than before & intending on roasting the flying human alive. Peter escaped instant roasting by flying upwards while blasting a few shots at the monster in retaliation. Flapping his arms rapidly, Astromons took to the air & went after Star-Lord, who looked back & saw the monster coming after him in the sky.

Holy shit! This monster can fly, too?!, Peter thought, astonished. All right, Sigmund…let's see how well you can keep up!

Putting on an extra burst of speed, Star-Lord lured Astromons away from Groot, giving him time to heal up his wounds & get him back in the game. To Quill's dismay, Astromons can keep up with him, & he was gaining ground on him quickly. Peter pushed his jet pack to the limits to stay ahead of the oncoming terror heading his way, but it still did no good: Astromons was hot on his trail & closing in fast.

Quill did a risky maneuver: making the sharpest of U-turns in the air, Star-Lord went in the opposite direction as Astromons closed his jaws, missing the flying human by inches. Even so, Peter can still feel the thing's breath for just a second before zipping away.

Christ…give that thing a mint!, Quill thought, waving his hand in front of his face.

Undaunted by missing his prey, Astromons, himself made an airborne U-turn & resumed his pursuit of the space explorer. Catching up to him was not too difficult: he was already gaining ground on Peter Quill in mere moments.

Quill caught sight of Astromons coming in, realizing he won't stop until he's just a memory.

It was time for Peter to take more drastic measures.

Once Astromons was close enough, Star-Lord turned around but still flew forward so that he was literally face-to-face with the monster. Aiming both his guns, Star-Lord unloaded with blasts of energy that struck Astromons in his face, causing burning wounds as the creature screeched in pain before losing his balance & falling to earth.

He plummeted to the ground & landed with an earth-shattering thud.

Wanting to make certain he doesn't get back up, Star-Lord dove down & resumed blasting to keep Astromons as immobile as possible, never sparing his shots & making sure each one counted. Despite the punishment he was getting, Astromons was much more resilient than his floral appearance shows: raising his head, he shoots a stream of flames at Star-Lord, who once again avoids getting roasted alive. Astromons anticipated such a maneuver, & he counteracted it with one of his own. Striking with his right whip arm, he swiped it at Peter & nicked him along the side.

Although only a slight nick, it was more than enough to topple him.

Peter fell from the sky, his jet pack starting to sputter as he headed for terra firma.

Despite the jet's thrusters to slow his descend, Quill hit the ground hard as his body went numb.

Withdrawing his face mask, Peter Quill sees Astromons rise up & head towards him.

Even with the guns still in his hand, Quill couldn't lift his arms to fire at the thing: he was numb from the impact when he hit ground.

Not far off, Groot was busy trying to repair the damage Astromons' acidic spray caused him. He fought hard to fix what he could, but the wounds were starting to get worse, getting inflicting faster than Groot can repair them.

He needs some kind of floral booster to help him heal, but the area is mostly mountains.

Then he saw Peter Quill in battle with Astromons, dodging one attempt at getting eaten before shooting the thing down with his guns before he gets put down himself. Unable to fight back, Peter was in trouble.

An idea came to Groot's mind, & while it might seem crazy to many, it could be the only way to save Quill and dispose of the monster.

Rising to his feet despite the acidic spray that was still eating at him, Groot charged at Astromons & hollered his phrase 'I am Groot!'.

Getting Astromons' attention, the monster turned & saw Groot charging him, his head lowered as if intent to ram.

Astromons saw it as a challenge & an opportunity, & he opened the entranceway in his flower that decorates his chest. Peter saw what Groot was attempting, & he was less enthusiastic about it.

"No, Groot! Don't!", he says, trying to speak louder but couldn't do so any more than he could prevent his friend from doing something so suicidal.

Even if Groot could hear Peter, he wouldn't have stopped: he actually picked up speed & headed directly for the opening in Astromons' stomach, literally sticking his head inside. Peter Quill watched in horror as Astromons gobbled up the large tree-man into his stomach, swallowing up his head, then his arms & body, followed by his legs before he was no longer in sight.

Having gobbled up his enemy, Astromons roared in victory.

"You…you son of a bitch!", Quill shouted, this time with more force behind it.

Astromons somehow heard him, & turned to face the space adventurer, ready to finish the job he started before he was interrupted by the giant tree-man.

Peter was still too numb to raise his arms & fire his guns at the creature.

Just as he was only 10 meters from Quill, Astromons stopped in his stride as if he was unsure of what to do next.

But it was something else which made him stop: from within himself, Astromons felt like his body was refusing his commands, followed by something fighting back inside. The floral creature bellowed in rage & pain as this anguish within was rising in intensity before areas of Astromons' body started bulging, pushing their way as if something was attempting to burst its way out.

Quill knew it could only mean one thing.

Groot's still alive in there!, he thought. Keep on pushing, buddy…you've got this!

As if hearing his friend's urging, Groot suddenly busted through Astromons' chest right above his large flower, his head, arms & portion of his chest busting through & facing the stunned Astromons. The floral monster tried fighting back with his limbs, but they were having trouble responding as Groot grabbed Astromons by the throat & started to dig his fingers within, piercing his hide like they were syringes. Astromons screeched in pain & protest, feeling his will & very essence slipping away as Groot was now the one to absorb his enemy as Astromons tried before.

Only this time, Groot was going to make this assimilation more permanent.

Knowing that Astromons was a floral creature like he himself is, Groot had the chance to use his own molecules & cells to not only heal him completely from the damage he was suffering, but to defeat the beast for good. More of the floral monster disappears within Groot's body, giving the tree-man renewed vigor & vitality as his wounds healed up as if by magic. Astromons gave out a final bellow from his mouth before what remained of him vanished into Groot, never to be seen again.

Coming over to where Peter was, a smiling Groot knelt down & held a hand over him, his palm glowing.

Immediately, Quill felt better as the numbness he experienced faded away.

When he was able to stand again, Groot ceased his glow & retracted his hand.

"Groot! You slippery soul!", Peter says, grinning. "Don't ever scare me like that again!"

"I am Groot?", he asked.

"Well, of course I was scared, you big oaf! How was I supposed to know you were able to defeat that monster from the inside?"

Groot simply stayed & smiled as Peter sighed.

"At least you're okay, that's what counts!", he says. "Now, let's go lend a hand to our two big…"

Quill's jet pack sputtered & shorted out completely, leaving it useless.

Groot's face turned from smiling to concerned.

"I am Groot?", he asks.

"Yeah, jet pack's shot, I'm afraid", Quill said. "Sorry, Groot…you'll have to give our two big friends there some assistance! I'm going inside the facility to lend the others a hand!"

Groot gave Peter an 'okay' gesture with his hand before heading off to assist Ultraseven & Ultraman Ace a hand.

Peter raced off to give the other heroes in the facility a hand, hoping to still find action.

A fierce conflict between Alien Prote & the two Ultra brothers was still in progress as the black-skinned alien hit Ace & binds him briefly before he's able to sever them with ease. He charged Prote with a high kick that the alien had barely dodged, only to be thrown over Ultraseven's shoulder when he saw his opening. Recovering quickly, Alien Prote weaved & dodged a series of kicks & punches from Ultraseven & Ultraman Ace as both siblings did a team-up against their foe. Prote responded in kind with expert fighting techniques of his own: grabbing Ace's fist, he delivers a kick to the solar plexus to Ultraseven, followed by Ace afterwards. Both siblings hit the ground in surprise but get back up as Ultraseven used his Eye Slugger to behead his enemy. At the last second, Alien Prote ducked beneath the weapon as it flew by, sparing him a gruesome fate as Seven retracted his Eye Slugger.

The aliens from their world have learned since their first encounter, & Seven needs to be more clever to beat this one.

Ultraman Ace tried using his punch laser from the gem on his large fin at Alien Prote, but the alien swerved right & shot beams from his large white ears, striking Ace in the chest & staggering him briefly.

Prote followed it up with a karate kick to his chest, knocking Ace down.

Grabbing the Ultra warrior by the neck, Alien Prote attempted to strangle Ultraman Ace as the Ultra warrior had delivered punches to the face of his enemy. Prote ignored them as he fought to crush the life out of Ace, getting into a brawl like two schoolyard boys in a tussle. Ultraseven watched the fight & prepared to launch his shuriken beams once Ace is in the clear.

So far, he was too much in the way as both combatants were twirling & moving too quickly for Seven to get a clear/clean shot.

After several moments of brawling, Ultraman Ace gained the upper hand: utilizing his slash beam, Ace hits Prote in the chest with an arrow of energy that forced them to split & gain space. Ultraseven made his move be firing his own shuriken beam, scoring a direct hit on Alien Prote as the creature became rattled by the double strike before Seven went in & attacked with blows to the alien's face with punches that would shatter buildings with ease. Alien Prote had fought back in the same manner, blinding Seven with his ear beams & giving him a judo throw over his shoulder, paying him in kind for before. Ultraseven landed hard on his back as he fought to get up.

Ultraman Ace fired more slash beams at the alien, but Prote avoided these by running in a circle, staying ahead of each strike Ace threw at him. Ace then tried his punch laser special on Prote, but the alien jumped in the air to avoid getting hit & gave Ace a hard foot to the head as he went down.

Both Ultra warriors were down, & Alien Prote came in close for the kill.

From out of the blue, Groot stretched his arm & grabbed Prote's face in a tangle of living branches, blocking his vision before lifting the alien up & body-slamming him to the ground, shaking it & buying the two Ultras recovery time after the beating they took. Groot performed this maneuver two more times before Alien Prote suddenly disappeared from sight, vanishing from Groot's hand like a popped balloon.

One moment he was in Groot's grip, the next he was gone.

Ultraseven & Ultraman Ace rose back up & joined Groot in his search for the alien creature, looking everywhere for any sign of him.

"Stay on your guard, Groot!", Ultraman Ace warns. "Alien Prote can vanish & reappear at will, plus he can also create multiple clones of himself in order to confuse enemies!"

"I am Groot!", the tree-man said, stating he understands.

The three giants get their sighting of Alien Prote as he appeared in the sky, ready to swoop down for an attack.

Groot does so first: he launched his right arm as a spear & extends it to pierce the alien in his heart.

Only one problem: the pointed spear went right through Alien Prote, showing no signs of damage.

It was an illusion, something Ace neglected to mention.

Retracting his arm, Groot scanned the area with both Ultras to hopefully find the real thing.

Suddenly, Alien Prote reappeared before them, ready to do battle once more.

He was accompanied by another Alien Prote, followed by another, another & yet another.

When all was said & done, Groot & the two Ultras were confronted by nine Alien Protes as these surround the trio.

Ultraman Ace attacked first: launching his circular guillotine attack, a pair of energy blades create an X that Ace shot forth to slice at least two of the Protes, while Ultraseven unleashed his Eye Slugger to sever several heads as Groot shot forth the fingers from both hands like spears & extended them in unison. Every one of their attacks hit their marks, but while heads were cut off & bodies pierced/sliced open, these Alien Protes were still alive.

Each head of the alien chuckled & nodded as if mocking the trio in their feeble attempts.

One of the Alien Protes fired the bolt beam from his ears, striking Groot in the face. The tree-man retracted his fingers & shook his head to clear it. A blast from two more Protes stunned both Ultraseven & Ultraman Ace, as they'd also took hits to the face.

After they were cleared, they turned to their foes once more.

None of them were in sight anywhere, as they've all disappeared.

When they reappeared again, it was now in twice that amount, adding up to 18 Alien Protes to deal with.

All clones bobbed their heads in a mocking gesture, taunting the heroes to come get them.

Like a living tidal wave, the Alien Prote clones charged the trio.

Within the facility:

Pink Humanoids – the Leaders' robotic plastic/rubber henchmen – were causing all kinds of trouble & mayhem for the heroes within, as they were getting overrun with Samuel's faceless minions. Everyone fought back with all their skills & weapons: Susan Richards & Wanda Maximoff used their hex & invisibility powers to put up a barrier to prevent themselves from being smothered by the Humanoids; SHIELD agents Nick Fury, Maria Hill & Phil Coulson shoot at whatever Humanoid they can, moving quickly before repeating the process; the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Rocket Raccoon, Iron Man, War Machine & Doctor Doom keep their foes at bay with bullets, repulsor rays, & whatever else is in their possession; Doctor Strange uses his magic to blast away at the Humanoids, while staying out of their reach; Black Panther, Drax, Gamora & Wolverine use their claws/daggers/swords to slice & dice whatever Humanoid comes their way; Ben Grimm uses his great strength to pick up & throw Humanoids left & right; Alien Pegassa mainly dodges each pink figure when they try to grab him; Astra used his expert karate/judo maneuvers to bring down Humanoids as if her were an alien version of Bruce Lee; Reed Richards used his elastic body to deflect punches & wrap himself around the bodies & fling them like a living rubber band; Cyclops blasted each pink figure with his optic blasts, putting holes in each of their chests.

But for every Humanoid they damage or bring down, the pink figures reshape themselves & continue in their task as if nothing happened.

"This is insane, sir!", Maria Hill shouted, firing her guns. "We've been at this for several minutes already, & they show no signs of letting up!"

"I agree with Agent Hill, Director!", Phil Coulson says, blasting away with his firearms. "Fighting these things is like fighting living rubber! Our bullets have very little to zero effect!"

"So I've noticed, Coulson!", Nick Fury says, shooting anything in pink. "Samuel Sterns knew how to build these goddamned things, much to our dismay!"

"Unless we do something really constructive, Director, they're going to overrun us in moments!", Rhodes says, using whatever's left in his damaged suit's arsenal. "My suit's already running on fumes!"

"And even I'm not enjoying this shit very much!", Rocket says, blowing away pink figures with his rifle. "And this coming from a guy who loves a good brawl!"

"That makes two of us, Rocket!", Drax said, stabbing/cutting Humanoids left & right. "Why don't these goddamn things just die?!"

"Because they're not even alive to begin with, Drax!", said Reed Richards, throwing a Humanoid into a pile like he was bowling. "We'll need to shut them down at the source, & that means hitting the Leader himself!"

"That's all I need to hear, Reed!", Wolverine said, slicing the head off another before going for Sterns in his chair.

"Save a piece of that airhead for me, Wolverine!", Ben says, knocking away a quartet of Humanoids & heading in Samuel's position.

Almost immediately, Ben & Wolverine got to the Leader with their fists/claws extended, but Samuel puts up a barrier surrounding his hoverchair in time before Ben's fist or Wolverine's claws can touch him. Their blows were each deflected by the barrier which keeps him safe.

The Leader laughs maniacally.

"It's no use, gentlemen!", he scoffs. "No matter how hard you strike my barrier, you'll never penetrate it! I've designed this barrier to even keep the Hulk from laying a finger on me!"

"You ain't nothing but a coward, Sterns!", Ben barked through clenched teeth.

"Yeah, egghead!", Wolverine snaps. "Why don'cha come out from that dome of yours & show us all what you're really made of?! Unless you really are yellow beneath that balloon-sized brain of yours!"

Sterns simply grinned fiendishly.

"Tempting, but I'm afraid you both have more…pressing matters to attend to!", he stated.

From behind, more of the Leader's pink Humanoids grabbed Ben & Wolverine, dragging both down with their sheer numbers & mass. Regardless of them swinging their fists & claws, neither could score a direct hit.

All over, the heroes & even Doctor Doom were starting to become overpowered by the villain's Humanoids. Not even Doctor Strange was spared: he was grabbed by the wrists & pulled upon like he was a doll two girls were fighting over as more converged on the Sorcerer Supreme; Doctor Doom received a similar treatment, being held securely by a pair of pink figures & outmatched by more; heroes left & right were being smothered by the Humanoids, their fighting abilities hampered by the elasticity of the figures' bodies, unable to escape, much less push them away.

Even Susan & Wanda were being overrun by the pink figures, their barriers weakening underneath the crush of living plastic/rubber servants. Not even Reed was able to escape: the Humanoids grabbed his limbs & stretched them out as far as they could, keeping him literally tied up & helpless.

Astra was also falling underneath their numbers: despite his fighting techniques, he was being outnumbered by the Leader's minions. More than once, Astra had thought of growing in size to stop them, but that would've also meant destroying the facility, killing friend & foe alike.

He wasn't going to take that chance, & soon he was buried under pink figures.

More than a few were having difficulty breathing, & those who have whatever breath they have to urge somebody come up with a way to save their skins.

"Whoever's got any bright ideas, right now ain't the best of times to keep it to yourself!", Barnes says before his face gets buried.

One came from an unlikely candidate.

"I've got one!", Alien Pegassa says. "Everyone, sit tight!"

"Not…a problem!", Gamora says before her voice is silenced.

Quickly, Pegassa converts to his Dark Zone mode before he uses it to actually suck in pink Humanoids, one or a couple at a time. The alien goes around as a literal dark shadow, sucking in every pink Humanoid he comes in contact with, pulling them in with the force of a vacuum cleaner – which is exactly what the alien has become.

All Alien Pegassa has to do is that he only sucks in the pink Humanoids & not any of the heroes with them.

Everywhere within the facility, the Leader's pink servants were disappearing from sight, giving the heroes room to maneuver and breathe. Neither Sauron, Loki or the Leader could believe what they were witnessing: each Humanoid is getting sucked up & vanishing by an alien from the very universe they were getting their monsters at. It was unfair: the heroes were being crushed under a mass of pink plastic/rubber servants, & now their one advantage over them was literally getting vacuumed.

"Loki…if you would be so kind as to blow away that little alien shit!", the Leader addressed.

"Why, Samuel, you only have to ask!", Loki says, grinning as he aimed his staff at the Dark Zone sucking up the Humanoids.

Wolverine swooshed by in the blink of an eye, his claws slashing his staff in half & disabling it.

"Sorry, trickster…that's our little friend you're threatening!", the X-Man says.

Loki was then hit by Cyclops' optic blast before he could react, knocking him against the far side of the wall.

"And we take care of our own, no matter which universe they may come from!", Summers said.

"How touching, Scott Summers!", Sauron says, spreading his wings & leaping towards him. "Then you can all die along with your 'little friend'!"

A pair of repulsor rays from Iron Man hits the humanoid Pteranodon in the chest, sending him to the far side of the wall as he joined Loki.

"Not on this day, Big Bird!", Tony Stark says, his palms aimed directly at him. "Now stay down, otherwise my next set of blasts take off your head!"

Sauron scowled in contempt, but did as instructed.

The Leader tried fixating his weapons at the alien, but he was confronted by not only Susan & Wanda, but also Doctor Strange & Astra.

"Go ahead, Samuel…try something! We dare you!", Stephen says, his hands glowing with power, as are those of the ladies & Astra's jewel placed on his forehead.

Samuel Sterns doesn't retract his weaponry, but he doesn't fire them either: he just sat in his hoverchair with deep loathing for the heroes.

By now, Alien Pegassa has finished sucking up the last of the Leader's Humanoids before reverting back to his original form. He was greeted by many smiles from the group.

"That was quick thinking there, Alien Pegassa!", Natasha said. "Thanks for the save!"

"I'll say!", Barnes said. "If not for you, I don't think any of us would've made it!"

Doctor Doom approached Alien Pegassa, with some being weary of what he might do.

"An impressive display, Alien Pegassa", Doom says. "How did you manage to perform such a difficult feat?"

"My Dark Zone is something of a gateway to a pocket universe, Victor Von Doom", the alien says. "With it, I can teleport not only myself, but anything that I suck into it. Those pink Humanoids I gathered up? I can hold them in my Dark Zone for as long as I need to."

"Intriguing. Even I've never been able to gain access to a pocket universe, much less find the entrance to one. In any case, little alien, you have the thanks of Doom."

"Uh…you're welcome, I guess."

Doctor Doom chuckled amusingly.

"You amuse me highly, alien", he stated.

"Again, Victor, you & I are in complete agreement", Reed Richards says. "This alien being from another world and universe helped to rescue us all in one of the direst of pinches, but I'm afraid that celebration will still have to wait."

"I am also in full agreement with you on this occasion, Richards", Doom says. "Those responsible may have been subdued, but there's still the matter of the two stones, both of which are now much stronger with energy, according to my readings."

"Mine too, Victor", Iron Man says, his gaze & palms still trained on Sauron. "They're getting to the point where my scanners can no longer get a reading to measure. I highly fear that the time for them going critical is finally upon us – something we've all dreaded!"

"Dr. Richards, is it still possible to try & drain away the excess energies before they become critical?", Nick Fury asked.

Reed stared at the area he was working at before the Humanoids appeared.

Aside from a few scratches, it seemed intact.

"It doesn't look like it's too badly damaged, Director Fury, so there's still a chance that I might…", Reed started saying when he was interrupted.

"Hey guys, what did I miss?", asked Peter Quill as he strolled inside, seeing everyone in attendance.

"Quill! You just missed a fight to end all fights, buddy!", Rocket says.

"Yeah, you were a little late attending this party, Peter!", said a smirking Gamora.

"But you're just in time for the grand finale, Peter Quill", said Black Panther. "These stones look as if they're to reach critical mass any moment now, & we must find a way to disarm them before that happens!"

"How much time is there before the inevitable?", Peter asked.

"Unknown", said War Machine. "Reed's already working to try & drain the energies before they reach critical mass, but truth be told, it's going to be too close to call."

"Meaning, we might not make it this time out."

Many in the room nodded in agreement.

"Hey, no sweat, you guys", Peter said nonchalant. "We Guardians have been in even worse scrapes than this! Why, I remember one time when we were all…"

Without warning, Peter Quill was shot from behind by an energy blast, leaving a smoking hole in his chest & a look of shock on his face. It was the same look on everybody's face – especially the Guardians of the Galaxy – had on as Peter Quill fell to his knees & flat on his face. When they looked up to see who had shot him, they were astonished & more than a little bit confused.

It was another Peter Quill standing over the dead one, his double-barreled gun still smoking from the shot.

"Peter?! What's going on around here?!", Drax says, raising his daggers.

"Easy, Drax! I'm the real deal, unlike him!", Quill said, staring down at his dead doppelganger.

Black Widow & a few others raised their weapons at Peter, who was undaunted.

"How do we even know that, 'Peter'?!", Natasha says.

"Nat's right!", Barnes said. "For all we know, you're just an alien or something in disguise, waiting to do to us as you've just done to him!"

"Yes, why would we believe that you're really you & not some impostor?!", asked Ben, his fists raised.

"Aside from the other Guardians, you've known me for some time, Ben!", Peter says. "Would I ever shoot to kill somebody so callously unless I was certain?"

"That's not good enough, Peter…not this time!", Rocket says. "How about showing us some actual proof before we do decide if you're the real deal or not?"

"Just look down, everyone!"

Weapons still trained on Peter, the group stared down at the corpse of the Peter Quill he shot, when the body had started glowing briefly before changing shape: it was a black figure with large white ears on its head. Gamora turned it over with her sword to see a pair of lifeless yellow eyes staring into space & a face without a mouth.

It was an alien Astra was familiar with.

"Alien Prote!", he says, proving Peter's case.

"Any other questions?", Quill says with a smirk, stunning everyone.

Convinced, the group take their weapons away from Quill's face.

Outside the facility:

The 18 clones of Alien Prote were giving Groot, Ultraseven & Ultraman Ace a fierce workout as each warrior fended off every attacker with all the moves they could maneuver, from karate chops to plain old punches & kicks. But whatever they tried, the clones kept on coming with unrelenting determination. Even when the two Ultras use any one of their special tactics such as Ace's guillotine attacks or Seven's emerium beam, the horde still advanced on them, with no end in sight. Groot didn't fare any better: he speared several of the Alien Prote clones with his extending branch fingers that he used as spears, but they hardly stopped their advancement towards him.

Before they knew it, the trio were all ganged upon by six clones each as they battered & beat down on the heroes, attempting to crush them underfoot with the sheer weight of their numbers.

No matter what they tried, the trio could not drive them off, much less defeat them.

Fists of power clobbered the three as they fought to hurl the masses off them.

Each hero was brought to his knees as the fury of the Prote clones were getting fiercer & stronger.

Just as the clones had the trio on the ropes & at their mercy, they all withdrew & staggered about, clutching their heads as if in great pain. Ultraseven, Ultraman Ace & Groot rose from the ground & watched as the Alien Prote clones stumbled in their steps & crashed into one another like they were blinded. Soon, each clone was glowing on the outlines of their bodies for several moments before something unexpected happened.

The Alien Prote clones started dissolving from sight, their bodies withering away like dust particles in the breeze.

Soon, not even the smallest piece of them remained.

"I am Groot?", the tree-man asked.

"Having fought this alien before, Groot, I've learned that the real Alien Prote can create & control multiple clones of itself, allowing the real thing to slip away", Ultraseven says. "If the clones have dissipated…"

"Then the real Alien Prote must've been killed!", Ace says as Seven nodded.

"And now that the threats out here have been neutralized, let's join our friends inside the facility to help stop it at its source before anything else comes through!"

Nodding, Groot & Ultraman Ace shrink back to human size, with Ultraseven doing the same.

Each of them race off towards the facility when they see another spectacular sight, halting their advance.

Two of them, in fact.

From a distance away, both red & green Hulks were engaged in a brutal brawl with the Abomination as the beasts were each throwing punches that shook the immediate area with every blow. The original Green Goliath & Red Hulk have both scored several crushing blows to the creature that was once Emil Blonsky, delivering fists that can level an entire mountain. Despite the tremendous pounding he was taking that would've all but killed anyone else on the first blow, the Abomination was still standing in all his glory, his toothy grin flashing bright even with them stained with his blood. He even chuckled in amusement, mocking the two Hulks in their attempts to bring him down.

Blonsky spat a glob of his blood on the ground & stared at his two hated foes.

"Is that all you pussies got?!", the Abomination scoffed. "I haven't even broken a damn sweat yet!"

"Don't you worry none, Blonsky! We'll make certain you break a helluva lot more than that!", Red Hulk says with a growl.

"Hulk break stupid Abomination in two!", the green Hulk says.

"Come try it, boys!", Blonsky says, grinning. "I can do this all night!"

Both Hulks bellow in rage as the Abomination does the same before charging in: the two Hulks deliver another series of punches that actually rattled Blonsky's scaly hide before he took the offensive. Grabbing the Red Hulk's arm, Blonsky swiped him at the green Hulk, using Ross like a baseball bat & clobbered the original in the chest that sent him tumbling many yards. Ross then broke free & went in for a choke hold on the Abomination, pressing against his Adam's Apple to cut off his air flow. As expected, the Abomination started choking from the maneuver.

"You're all mighty, Blonsky, but you still need to breathe just like the rest of us!", Red Hulk says.

The one-time soldier from Yugoslavia shook himself from side to side to get the crimson-skinned Hulk off, but Ross held on firmly while delivering fists to Blonsky's head with his free hand in hopes to knock him to unconsciousness before too long. Acting quickly, the Abomination grabbed Ross' hand & threw the Red Hulk over his shoulder before delivering a staggering blow to the red-skinned version of his hated enemy, causing Ross to see stars in his sight. His disorientation gave the Abomination the perfect chance to clobber both his foes as one when Blonsky sees the original Hulk charging in at high speed.

Blonsky grinned, eagerly awaiting his foe's approach.

When the green Hulk was in range, the Abomination made his move: a left fist struck the green Hulk's own which caused a powerful vibration in the air & a sound like a bomb going off. The attack stopped the Hulk in his tracks, which actually stunned him long enough for the Abomination to grab both Hulksters by the throats before Blonsky started to bash their heads together a good half-dozen times before body-slamming them with tremendous force.

Seeing them getting back up on wobbly legs & hands made Blonsky chuckle amusingly.

"Get this straight, gentlemen: no matter how many times you might strike me, I will always be your superior!", the Abomination scoffed. "My strength is even greater than both of yours combined, & that's why you can never beat me even if there were a hundred of you! Why, I'll bet that Captain Marvel bitch can hit harder than the two of you!"

Blonsky chuckled at the notion of the super-heroine giving him one right in the kisser.

"You know, Blonsky, you should be very careful with what you wish for…!"

The Abomination turned to the new voice over to his left.

His eyes widened at what – or rather who – he was seeing heading his way: it was said super-heroine back in her human guise again, flying in towards the scaly creature with a human-sized Yullian at her side.

Unable to dodge in time, the Abomination was clobbered by Carol's left fist & Yullian's right, sending the scaly monster head over heels & crashing many yards away with a ground-shaking thud.

The Abomination rose groggily on his legs as he stared at Captain Marvel & Yullian.

"You just might get it, as the humans often say!", Yullian finished what Carol started saying.

His strength drained from their double punch, Emil Blonsky – the Abomination – collapsed onto the ground, his face & stomach making a splat as he slipped into unconsciousness.

The Abomination was out of commission.

By now, the two Hulks were back on their feet, ready for another fight when they see the two females – Captain Marvel & Yullian – standing over the Abomination as said monster fell flat on his face.

"Carol Danvers?", Red Hulk says.

"Hey, Ross", Carol said, floating over to the two Hulks with Yullian. "Hope we didn't catch you boys at a bad time."

"On the contrary: while we could've taken Blonsky out ourselves, your timing is deeply appreciated, along with quite impeccable."

"I know you could've. And you're welcome."

Both Ross & Danvers share a grin of amusement.

"Hope you didn't mind Miss Danvers & myself stepping on your big moment, Mr. Hulk", Yullian says with such innocence. She was greeted with a big grin from the Green Goliath.

"Hulk don't mind, little Ultraman girl", he says.

Yullian couldn't blush but she could giggle, which she does.

"Yullian!"

The group turn to see Ultraseven, Ultraman Ace & Groot arriving.

"Seven! Ace!", Yullian addressed, though unfamiliar with the tree-man. "And this is…"

"Say hello to Groot, Yullian", Captain Marvel says. "He's a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, who usually patrol the outer regions of space on a regular basis. He & his team are all here at my request."

"I am Groot!", he says in a friendly tone & with a smile.

"I am…Yullian", she says, patting herself on her chest. "It is good to meet you, Groot."

Groot nodded.

"So you're the one who invited those misfits from space here to Earth, Danvers?", Ross asked.

"That's right, Ross", Carol explains. "Like us, they too were attacked by a large space creature – who we found out later that its name was Bemstar – out in space, which I helped to repel & defeat. Once I returned & was sent to the city of Pyongyang, I gave Peter Quill a ring to let him & his team know where the source of these monsters came from. I knew they'd wanted a piece of this action, as well as some payback for what happened, so…here they are."

The notion of getting some payback appealed to Ross: like the green Hulk, he himself was attacked by a giant monster in Arizona, & it proved to be more than a match for the both of them. Only by working together could they had beaten in, which they did.

Since the Guardians of the Galaxy went through the same experience in space, they too deserve to get even upon those who were sending the creatures from their home universe into theirs.

Ross can most definitely relate.

"Point taken, Danvers", Ross said. "And since we're all here & that the Abomination has bitten the dust, let's go in & end all this!"

"Nothing we'd like better ourselves, General!"

The group turned & looked up to see more new recruits coming in from the sky.

It made even the Hulk smile big-time.

"I am Groot!", the tree-man said gleefully.

"Yes, Groot…it truly is a wonderful sight to behold!", said Ultraman Ace.

Just when we could really use a helping hand!, Ultraseven thought.

The cavalry has arrived…and what a cavalry it is!

Inside the facility:

Having been distracted by the display of both impostor Peter Quill & the real thing have given the Leader, Loki & Sauron their chance: with swift decisive movements, Sauron flew into & clobbered Iron Man with his feet, sending the armored Avenger sailing across the room & landing near the entrance, part of which is already gone; Loki snatched Wolverine by the arm & threw him into Cyclops before Scott could fire off a shot; the Leader aimed & fired his chair's weapons at Astra, Susan Richards, Wanda Maximoff & Doctor Strange.

The blasts knocked back the two ladies & Astra, leaving them partially stunned, but Stephen Strange got injured in his hands that caused them to bleed & him to cry out.

Until his hands heal, Stephen won't be doing magic spells of any kind.

Several others in the room tried to intervene, but were each clobbered by the swiftness of Sauron & the lacking of leniency from Loki, the latter of whom shot forth energy bolts from his horns, striking several heroes down with one shot. Even Doctor Doom was unprepared for such an attack, & he fell along with the rest, his suit unable to compensate in time.

Only Alien Pegassa was unhurt, as he dodged the blasts from Loki & the deadly claws/wings of Sauron.

Not even the Leader's weapons from his hoverchair was able to get a bead on, let alone strike him.

If only I had my gun again…, Alien Pegassa thought, recalling that the Abomination crushed it earlier.

The trio of villains chuckled at the sight of fallen heroes & a would-be hero from an alien whose eyes were on a pair of stalks on the sides of his faceless head.

"How amusing!", the Leader said with a grin. "This seemingly reformed alien wants to protect his friends from a trio of powerful super-villains! I honestly can't decide whether to laugh or be disgusted from the display!"

"Alien Pegassa, surely you can't mean to try & defeat the three of us all by your lonesome, do you?", Loki asked with amusement in his voice & a grin.

"No matter what you fiends may throw at me, I will defend these people who stand by my side and help save this planet from becoming a lifeless husk!"

"You wish to fight for a hopeless cause, alien?", Sauron asks. "Then you are an even bigger fool than these other mammals! Surely even you can see how vastly outnumbered you are, now that your friends are down!"

"I don't care, reptile! I'm going to save this Earth – and multiple others – like I promised my friends here…even if I have to do it alone!"

"That, Alien Pegassa, is a problem that we can fix easily!"

All heads turn to the entrance of the facility as more of it gets blasted away, sending chunks of debris scattering at the three villains, who shielded themselves from the flying spray. When it was said & done, all heroes & villains are greeted by an incredible sight: the two Hulks have returned, along with a slew of other heroes including all of the Ultra warriors – Yullian, Ultraseven, Zoffy, Leo, Taro, Ace, Jack, 80, & the original Ultraman – along with Groot, Captain Marvel & those the Ultra siblings carried with them to the source of their troubles. They are consisting of Emma Frost, Magneto, Storm, Rogue, Thor & Captain America – the latter three who have now been reverted back to their original human selves along with Carol Danvers.

Neither the Leader, Loki nor Sauron could believe their eyes: each of the heroes were alive & well & standing before them. Even the sight of the Ultra warriors was enough to make them shiver, human-sized or not.

"Steve!", Barnes says, getting up along with the others. "Are you ever a sight for sore eyes!"

"What can I say, Bucky? I'm just like a bad penny – I always turn up sooner or later!", Captain America says.

Both men share a grin.

"And you brought reinforcements – the best anybody could ever wish for!", Iron Man says, noting the other heroes & Ultra warriors.

"Glad you people can make it!", said Reed Richards. "Now, with you keeping these three villains at bay, we can concentrate on reversing the polarity of the stones before they reach critical mass!"

"I won't allow you to do that, Reed Richards!", Sauron says, coming at him.

He was intercepted by Ultraman Jack & the original Ultraman, who each get ahold of his wings & keep him still long enough for Storm to deliver a powerful electric shock to the humanoid Pteranodon which knocks him out. Sauron let out a screech/howl of pain before slipping into unconsciousness.

Both Ultra warriors thanked the female X-Man with a nod as Storm smiled.

"Let that be a lesson for the two of you!", Emma Frost said, facing Loki & the Leader. "Try to interfere in any way with Dr. Richards' attempt to stop the stones from exploding, & the rest of us won't be so lenient! What Storm did with Sauron? That's us being nice!"

Many others agreed & nodded to confirm Emma Frost's threat.

"That also goes for me, Loki!", Thor says, pointing Mjolnir at him. "Brothers we may be, I will strike you down without mercy if you try anything brash from this point on!"

Despite being outnumbered, the Leader & Loki still weren't fazed by it or Emma & Thor's threat.

In fact, they start to chuckle.

"What do you fiends find so damn funny?!", asked Ultraman 80.

"Only that I once mentioned to Stephen Strange that this planet deserves to be nothing more than a lifeless husk, especially if I cannot be the one who rules over all its inhabitants", the Leader said. "And considering the stubbornness from both this world's heroes & the Ultra warriors from another universe, I believe it's time to make good on my threat. Loki?"

The God of Mischief nods & turns to the glowing stones in the cylinder.

"Don't you dare…!", Thor warned his sibling.

Loki didn't pay him any mind: lighting up his horns, the trickster fired a pair of yellow electric beams directly at the cylinder, hitting the glass & shattering it, throwing shards everywhere. Everyone in the vicinity shielded their faces to avoid getting cut by the broken pieces. From Loki's hit, the stones within began to sparkle & send electric bolts over at areas in the room, scorching whatever they touched.

"You'll pay for that, brother!", Thor bellowed as he charged Loki, his hammed ready to strike.

Ultraman Taro joined him, closing in on the trickster.

Loki opened a portal behind him & backed into it, disappearing from sight just seconds before Thor & Taro can get their hands on him. The Asgardian gritted his teeth in anger that his villainous sibling has escaped once again. Taro couldn't express his feelings physically, but he too was irate from Loki's escape.

He simply placed his fist in his hand to display his displeasure.

The leader had a similar escape route: Ultraman Leo, Astra & the two Hulks charged after Samuel Sterns, each of them eager to tear him apart with their bare hands. When they were within a meter of their target, the Leader pressed a button & dissolved from thin air, leaving no trace of the villain anywhere.

Samuel Sterns departed with a sinister smile.

Both Hulks, however, were baring their teeth in rage, & neither Leo nor Astra were happy about the Leader with escaping his due punishment.

"Coward!", Leo & Astra barked angrily.

"Pussy!", both red & green Hulk growled.

The two goliaths shared a brief smirk, being on the same page once again.

Doctor Doom, on the other hand, was not pleased, & he showed no restraint in displaying it.

"Fools!", he snapped, raising a fist. "You should have obliterated them when you had the chance! Now we face a crisis we might not emerge unscathed from due to the fact that you're weak & wouldn't do what's necessary!"

Magneto came up to Doom's face.

"I don't think I like your tone, Victor!", Magneto said.

"And I don't think I'm all that fond of you, Erik!", Doom retaliated.

Both men stared at each other with disdain.

"That's enough – both of you!", Zoffy said, getting in between & pushing them away from one another. "Arguing about what we should have done or what might have been isn't going to help stop what's happening now!"

Zoffy's words have defused their argument, but doesn't solve their current problem.

The blasts of voltage from the two stones got worse, & Susan Richards & Wanda Maximoff have put up barriers to block them from striking anyone in their group.

"We've got ta stop this somehow!", Rogue said, facing the Ultra warriors. "Can't one of you guys just grow big & throw it away into space as if it were a grenade or something?"

"I'm afraid that won't work, Rogue…not anymore!", Iron Man said.

"Why not, Tony?", Natasha asked.

"Because their energy levels are through the roof, Nat! They've now become so unstable, even by touching them will either make that person disappear without a trace, or worse, cause them to explode on contact!"

"You mean to say that…we can't lay even one finger on them?!", asked Emma Stone.

"Not unless you'd want to be broken down into your tiniest molecules, Emma dear! Even your organic diamond skin is no protection against them! You touch them, & poof – you don't exist anymore!"

"That also goes for us, needless to say!", said Ultraman Ace.

"You got it, Ace! When you guys fought & defeated that Dimenshigon creature all those years ago back in your universe, the stones were all within stable levels! But now? Touching them is an instant death sentence – even for you!"

"So then, how long do we have before they detonate, Tony?", Captain America asked.

"Before, we had maybe an hour or so! But because of what Loki caused, we now have only about seconds at the most! No more!"

The answer was like a punch in the gut for everybody, including the two Hulks: they only have that amount of time to somehow stop the stones from reaching critical mass & detonating in a blast that will all but kill the Earth.

Whatever they have to do in order to prevent that from happening, they only have one shot.

One shot they had better make count.

"Stephen Strange!", Gamora says, turning to said sorcerer. "You can get rid of the stones without touching them, couldn't you?"

"I'm afraid that notion is out of the question, Gamora!", Stephen says.

"Why? We were told that you are a great sorcerer, who can perform magic!", Drax said.

"That part is true, Drax! The problem with that…is this!"

Stephen Strange showed everyone the wounds on his hands, the blood staining his gloves.

"My hands were wounded by the Leader's guns!", he explains. 'The time it will take to heal them is longer than what we have left before those stones explode! I'm sorry!"

"Excuse me, Doc, but 'sorry' isn't going to save my birth planet from a Death Star-like blast!", Peter Quill fumed. "Either you find a way to save my home, or else I'll…"

"Quill, take it easy! It ain't his fault that his hands are literally shot!", Rocket says, soothing Peter's anger.

Taking a deep breath & exhaling it, Quill nodded.

"But Pete's still right, people!", Ben says. "With Doc Strange unable to just teleport these stones outta here, how are we going to save the Earth before they both go ka-plooie?!"

"I don't know, old friend!", Reed says. "We've got the worst-case scenario right in our faces, & we can't even lay a finger upon the cause to stop it!"

"You won't have to touch them at all, Reed Richards!", Alien Pegassa says. "In fact…none of you need to! I'll do it!"

All eyes turn to the black & white alien.

"Who or what are you?!", Captain Marvel asked the alien.

"He's Alien Pegassa!", Ultraseven said. "We had a run-in with each other years ago on the Earth I protect! He'd once tried to blow it up until I intervened & prevented it! I don't know why he's here now, but…"

"It's okay, Ultraseven! He's with us!", Nick Fury says, coming to Pegassa's defense. "In fact, he came to us to help put a stop to all of this!"

Ultraseven looked to Alien Pegassa.

"Is that really true?", Seven asked.

"I assure you…it is!", Pegassa confirmed as nods from Maria Hill & Phil Coulson made it official, vouching for him. Convinced, Ultraseven nods as well.

"What do you plan on doing, Alien Pegassa?", Cyclops asked.

"Same as I did in getting rid of the Leader's Humanoids, Scott Summers…suck the stones into my Dark Zone!", he replied.

His answer was not well-received by the group.

"Won't you vaporize once you make contact with them?!", asked Maria Hill.

"Not exactly, Agent Hill!", Alien Pegassa says. "My Dark Zone can swallow up even the most sensitive objects without them acknowledging it! For example: were I to gobble up a time bomb that's also touch sensitive, it won't go off until the counter reaches zero! Same as with the stones: I can swallow them both, & they won't even know it until they're set to detonate!"

"But even if it were to work, Alien Pegassa, what about the blast itself?", Phil Coulson asked. "It's got the power to blow the Earth in half or even into asteroids! Just imagine what it will do to you: once they go off while still inside your Dark Zone…"

"It's a chance I'm more than willing to take, Phil Coulson! Listen: when I came to you people at SHIELD, I said I wanted to help save your planet from annihilation, & I meant it! Please…let me have this chance! It's probably the only way to save your Earth!"

"He's right, Agent Coulson – time is of the essence, & this is the only shot we have!", said Black Panther.

Having no other recourse of action, Phil Coulson nodded.

"All right, Alien Pegassa, the ball's in your court now!", Coulson says. "Don't miss the shot!"

A nod from the alien was all Phil needed.

"All right, everyone – let's vacate the area! Right now!", Captain America said in a voice that bore no argument.

Everybody exited the facility as quickly as possible, mentally wishing their alien friend the best of luck. Not even Doctor Doom argued, & he vacates as well. Wanda carried the unconscious Sauron out via her hex powers.

Soon, only the original Hulk & Wolverine were left as they took one last look at Pegassa.

"Will little alien friend be okay?", he asked.

"Trust me, Hulk…I'll be fine", Alien Pegassa assured him.

"Come on, bub. It's in his hands now", Wolverine says as he & Hulk exited.

Now, Alien Pegassa was the only living soul inside the facility. He stared at the two stones that were pulsating with power & growing more unstable by the moment. He knew he has only a single shot at averting a world disaster.

Taking in a deep breath & exhaling it, Alien Pegassa transforms into his Dark Zone mode & began to swallow up the two stones that were now only seconds away from detonating with unimaginable destructive force.

His Dark Zone completely engulfed both stones.

In just ten seconds later, a powerful explosion occurred.

The entire facility went up in flaming debris.

CHAPTER XI

Pongchon County, North Korea:

The explosion was felt by the heroes even from a distance of 100 meters as most ducked their heads to avoid the debris that was sent their way. Susan Richards & Wanda Maximoff put up barriers to block any that have reached their position. While the explosion was tremendous, everybody was still relieved to see that it was nothing nuclear: there's no way either Susan nor Wanda would've protected everyone from an actual nuclear blast.

The debris shower was brief & lasted for several seconds before ceasing altogether.

"Is everyone accounted for?", Wanda asked as she & Susan lowered their shields.

Just about everyone announced that they were, being a big relief.

"What about Alien Pegassa?", Agent Hill asks. "Did he make it out intact?"

"Agent Hill, the odds of him surviving a blast of that magnitude is…", Cyclops started to say.

"Even if the chances of him living through that are slim to none, Cyclops, we still need to know for certain!", Nick Fury said as he, Hill & Coulson started going back to where the facility once stood.

"We owe him that much, Summers!", Barnes said as he & Natasha joined the SHIELD agents, followed instantly by everyone else.

Cyclops joined them, even if he didn't keep his hopes up.

A smoking crater 10 feet deep was all that remained of the facility, with flaming pieces of debris lying around.

Nobody, however, could see even the slightest sign of Alien Pegassa anywhere.

They were starting to get the dreaded feeling that Cyclops may be right about his assumption.

Faces of doubt, dread, fear & worry were adorned on most.

Even Doctor Doom was getting worried: having helped save the Latverian ruler from the Leader's Humanoids as he did for everybody else, Victor was getting doubtful that the alien lived through such an experience – and it worried him deeply, something he hardly feels for most of his people.

"I am Groot?", the tree-man said in a worried tone.

"I honestly don't know, buddy", Rocket said, his tone the same.

"No sign of alien friend?", the green Hulk says.

Wolverine removed his mask & sniffed the air around him, getting nothing unusual & shaking his head.

"Not a peep of him, bub. Can't even pick up his damn scent", Logan says in a rare display of compassion.

"What about you people?", War Machine asked the Ultra warriors. "Anything?"

"Nothing that warrants any good news, James Rhodes", said Ultraman Taro said as the others shook their heads.

"Then that means…", Rogue started to say.

"Yes. Alien Pegassa fell in battle to protect the Earth we ourselves safeguard", Drax said. "He died with dignity & honor."

"Indeed, Drax", said Doctor Doom. "He stayed & fought to defend this planet in a situation that would've cowed others less strong. Might I suggest a moment of silence to honor our fallen ally?"

"You ain't gonna get no argument from us, Doc Doom. Not this time", Ben says, getting full agreement from the rest.

"Let's go do exactly that, Ben, Victor", Captain America says. "Everybody, come gather around the mouth of the crater & bow our heads in honor of Alien Pegassa's bold & unwavering courage."

The group of heroes & Ultra warriors did as Steve Rogers suggested, standing at the edge of the crater where the facility used to stand before bowing their heads in great respect to an unusual but brave savior to planet Earth.

It lasted for about ten seconds, but still felt like an eternity.

Unable to hold it in anymore, Natasha started sobbing.

"Nat?", Barnes says, comforting her. "You okay?"

Natasha looked at him with moist eyes.

"I doubted him, Barnes!", she sobbed. "Part of me thought that if we gave him the chance to help save the Earth, he'd turn on us to try & destroy it like he once did to the Earth in his dimension! But he kept his word, & now he's…"

"Natasha Romanova", Ultraseven says, approaching her. "You were hardly the only one who was skeptical about Alien Pegassa. I myself was doubted that he would turn over a new leaf & go back to what he used to be. This bravery he displayed has proved to me that change in anyone – including a malevolent alien being – is possible."

"Even Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Phil Coulson and myself had doubts about him at first, Nat", Barnes said. "But we still gave him his one shot to right the wrongs he did in the past…and he succeeded beyond our expectations. The best we can do for him now is to honor his brave sacrifice."

Black Widow nodded, wiping away tears.

From where Doctor Strange stood, his hands were glowing faintly.

"If only they've healed much sooner…", Stephen said to himself.

"Don't blame yourself, Doc", Peter Quill says. "In a tough situation, sometimes you just need to improvise. It can happen to anybody. Hell, it happens to us all the time. I also wanted to owe you an apology for my behavior before. I was out of line, & I had no excuse for it."

"No apologies necessary, Peter Quill", Stephen said. "Anyone in your position would've reacted the same way you did. And you're correct: improvisation was needed at that critical moment, & thus Alien Pegassa rose up to it & had helped to save this planet of ours."

"That's bravery most worthy of a warrior, Stephen Strange", Gamora said. "And I've seen such courageous acts before and during my time with the Guardians. Hell, I've committed tons of them myself."

Doctor Strange simply nodded.

Magneto reflected on Alien Pegassa's bravery, giving him memories of his days as an X-Man rather than fighting against the mutant superhero group. It weighed heavy on his mind: if a man known for his acts of terrorism can somehow change his ways, why not this alien from a different universe?

Emma Frost, coming from a similar background, felt the same way.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you, Emma?", Magneto asks.

"How can I not, Erik?", Emma says. "Just as Ultraman Leo had done back on Utopia, this alien creature did what he had to in order to save our Earth, which he did. How I wish he had survived to join us on this victory he has helped us achieve."

"True. Like Leo, he would've made a great X-Man."

Emma smiled a little from that notion.

For several minutes, the area was quiet as each individual had his/her own thoughts about the interdimensional alien that gave his life in order to keep Earth a planet of life & beauty.

That silence was broken by a faint sound that kept rising in pitch.

"Do you all hear that?", asked Ultraman.

"Hear what?", asked Rocket as Ultraman put a hand up.

"Listen!"

Everybody remained silent as they listened for whatever Ultraman was picking up.

It soon became clearer & louder for the rest to hear.

"Hello? Is anybody there? Why's it so quiet all of a sudden?", it called out.

It was a voice they all recognized.

"Alien Pegassa?! Is that you?!", cried out Susan Richards.

"Where are you?!", cried out Phil Coulson. "If you're really still alive, give us a sign!"

From 10 feet away, a dark shadow emerged from one of the rocks as Ultraman Jack spotted it first & called out to the others. They all turn to see the black shadow rise up before it took the familiar shape of someone they all thought would never be seeing again.

"Alien Pegassa!", Captain Marvel cried out as most of the group raced up to & gathered around the alien that had saved their planet.

"Is everybody here okay?", Alien Pegassa asks.

Black Widow walked up to the alien & just stared at him for a few moments before she did something nobody ever expected her to – she ran up to & gave Alien Pegassa a hug.

"Okay, well…this is nice!", Pegassa said, embracing Black Widow in return.

Just about everyone smiled at the return of their little friend from another universe.

Ultraseven walked up to Alien Pegassa, who broke the hug with Natasha.

"Alien Pegassa", he began. "Excellent work back there! You did something which even my siblings & I couldn't do, let alone the heroes on this Earth! And for that, we are all in your debt!"

The alien was surprised by Seven's gratitude, but still appreciated it immensely.

"Thank you, Ultraseven!", Alien Pegassa says, extending his hand.

Ultraseven took it without a second thought. It was a moment to remember: former foes have now become a pair of allies.

After watching the display, Doctor Doom formed a circle of energy around himself & began lifting up in the sky like a helium balloon. He was stopped when Magneto addressed him.

"And just where are you off to, Victor?", Erik asked.

"This mission is finally over, Erik", Doom says. "I shall leave the aftermath of it to you people while I head back to my people in Latveria, where I'm needed." Doom then turned to Alien Pegassa. "You have my eternal thanks for the miraculous save of my planet, alien. Perhaps one day you can come visit my home – if you become a permanent resident of our Earth, that is. Until then, I bid you adieu."

Doctor Doom resumed rising up into the sky when his craft appeared out of its cloak & the bottom hatch opened up, allowing him access. Magneto raised a hand to stop him from fleeing, but Emma intervened.

"No, Erik…let him go", she says, lowering his arm. "Like we do with Utopia, Doom has his own people to look after. Besides, he's as much of a victim in all this as we were."

Erik knew Emma had a strong point: dictator as he is, Victor Von Doom is a solid ruler who'll do anything to keep his land & his people safe by whatever means necessary. It's no different from what he, Emma, Scott & the other X-Men would do for their island home of Utopia.

On that notion, Erik has Doom's respect.

And on a similar note, there's been enough fighting & destruction.

It was time to wrap things up.

A few hours later:

Nick Fury put in a call to SHIELD for a scheduled pickup at their current location, requesting the nearest carrier for transportation of the Abomination, who has been kept in a mystic sphere by Doctor Strange once his hands became fully healed from his wounds earlier. The Abomination tried punching his way out of Stephen's sphere, but couldn't, & so was put under a sleep spell until his ride arrived.

Most of the Ultra warriors reverted back to their human hosts/forms, with Ultraman Taro, Astra & Zoffy taking off for areas unknown, but not before wishing everyone well & stating that they'd be close by.

While they helped to avert a disaster, Seamons & Seagorath are still at large, & they need to be found quickly as possible before another urban area like Chicago gets trampled by the two creatures.

Zoffy, Astra & Taro flew directly for their last-known position to begin the search there.

A few hours later, one of SHIELD's transports contained a steel containment unit that was strong enough to even hold either one of the Hulks inside. On this day, however, it was the Abomination who will have the privilege of being placed inside. The unconscious Sauron will also be put in a special containment unit for medical treatment.

Once Blonsky & Sauron were all secured, an operator asked if Director Fury, Maria Hill, Phil Coulson or anyone else needed a lift back home. James Rhodes was one of them, his suit sustaining great damage during his fight with the Abomination, along with the three agents themselves. Alien Pegassa would also be joining them, having wanted to see more of the Earth he was inadvertently sent to.

Neither Nick Fury nor any of his associates had any objections.

Shaking hands with Captain America, Nick Fury & his troupe headed for the transport.

Captain America requested that he head for Avengers Tower in New York City for a celebration.

Fury nodded, stating with a smile that he'll be there.

Once Fury & his party were gone, the group enjoyed a gathering as they chatted with the Ultra warriors, now in their human guises.

"You people are defenders of the outer regions of space itself?", asked Hideki Go of Quill & his group.

"Pretty much", Peter says. "Groot, Drax, Gamora, Rocket & myself are a band that came together from different regions of the galaxy, formed this team & stop any intergalactic threats, becoming the Guardians of the Galaxy."

"And…we get paid for what we do, which is the best part!", Rocket adds greedily.

"We also do it because it the right thing to do, Rocket!", Gamora tells him, quieting the humanoid raccoon.

Hideki laughed amusingly.

"Your adventures must be really fun out there!", he says.

"We've…had our humorous moments", Drax says. "But in the end, we always prevail because…this group is a family, & nothing's more important than that."

"I know what you mean, Drax: my brothers & I are no different. We safeguard the Earth in our universe, along with other regions in space. You might call us 'Guardians' in our own way."

"It is an honor to have met & fought with you 'Ultra warriors' from another universe."

"Same here, Drax! And thank you!"

Hideki Go shook hands with Drax, along with the rest of the Guardians.

"Gen Otori?", Cyclops called to him as he & Dan Moroboshi turn to him.

"Yes?", Gen says as Scott, Wolverine, Rogue, Storm, Magneto & Emma Frost approach them.

"Magneto, Rogue & Emma Frost here told Wolverine, Storm & myself about what you did for the mutants back on Utopia when Muruchi & two other monsters attacked our home. They said you fought with as much determination as any one of them had, & even delivered the killing blow. On behalf of all the mutants from Utopia, I thank you with all my heart & soul for helping to protect our kind. You showed great courage & compassion to our kind like nobody else had previously. We are all eternally grateful."

Magneto, Rogue, Storm, Emma Frost & even Wolverine nodded in full agreement to Scott's statement.

It made Gen Otori smile proudly.

"Absolutely, Scott Summers!", he said. "Like Charles Xavier himself, I believe that humans & mutants really can co-exist with one another! He's mentioned to me once that both Magneto & Emma Frost here were once enemies of you X-Men before siding with you people! And if two former enemies like them can turn over a new leaf, then there's great hope for your kind!"

Dan Moroboshi smiled at Gen's reply.

"Gen is correct", he says. "We understand that it's been a hard road for all you mutants, what with the majority of Earth's population fearing & even hating your kind simply for what you are, but that doesn't mean you stop trying to make the world a better place for both your species. With a little understanding & a bit of luck, this Earth can be a worldwide utopia beyond your island home."

Each of the six mutants smiled at Dan's words, knowing how much veracity they're filled with.

"Spoken true as if you were a mutant yourself", Magneto says, shaking the alien's hand. "Thank you kindly, Dan Moroboshi. You too, Gen Otori."

Emma Frost surprises Gen Otori by planting a kiss on the alien's cheek, making him grin & even blush a bit.

"Thank you, Magneto, Emma Frost!", Gen says. "Your cause is worth fighting for!"

"It certainly is, Gen Otori", Storm says. "Despite the hardships we endure, it's a cause we would all gladly give our lives for."

"If only I could stay & help you fight for it, but I have my own Earth to protect."

"But we can go taking comfort in knowing that this Earth has protectors of its own", Dan Moroboshi adds.

"Amen, bub", Wolverine says, grinning.

"By the way, Rogue…how did it feel to be an Ultraman, even for a brief time?", Gen asked.

Mutant & alien eyes turn to the female X-Man.

"Honestly, sugah, ah don't know how ta begin ta describe it!", she says. "I guess the best word for it would be, shall we say…exhilarating!"

Gen & Dan laughed in amusement.

"That's surely one way to put it, Rogue!", Dan says. "The three elders on Nebula M78 chose wisely when they'd given you the power to become an Ultra warrior, along with all their other choices!"

The group nodded.

Iron Man flew up & over the entire party, demanding his attention.

"Folks, not to put a damper on our victory gathering, but…we're about to have company! Lots of company!", he announced. This made Captain America order everyone on full alert, knowing full well who would be approaching their position.

Except for the Ultra warriors, who are unfamiliar to this Earth's North Korea.

"What kind of company are we getting to acquire us to be on full alert, Captain America?", Seiji Hokuto asked.

"Trust me, Hokuto…you'll know it when you see it!", Cap says.

"And it's about to become the worst kind of company one could ever ask for, bub!", Wolverine says, extending his claws & putting his mask back on.

"Oh, shit! Not him!", Peter Quill says, hands on his guns.

"I'm afraid so, dude!", Barnes said, rifle ready.

"You gotta be kiddin' us!", Ben said. "Even he wouldn't be so stupid as to…"

"We don't know yet, Ben", Reed says. "But in any case, let's not go blasting away when they arrive. If we can somehow work out a diplomatic solution, we can avoid bloodshed."

"Like most everyone else, Reed Richards, I have my doubts about it, but we'll try it yours & Captain America's way", said Black Panther said.

"Get ready, everybody! Here they come now!", Iron Man said.

Sure enough, a caravan of vehicles were approaching from the west, with a black limousine leading the charge.

The other vehicles were military transports, each one filled with fully-armed soldiers that all spill out once their caravan comes to a stop. Every soldier takes their position & aim their rifles at Captain America & his troupe, just when the rear door of the limo opens up to reveal an Asian man standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall, wearing a black suit & wearing black-rimmed glasses over his eyes & a black Afro haircut atop his head.

Accompanying him are five men, wearing tan-colored suits with medals adorned on their chests.

Each of these men were also armed to the teeth, & they weren't shy about displaying their rifles.

"Who's that?", asked Shin Hayata.

"Eh, he's probably a dick!", Rocket says.

Peter Quill smiled from Rocket's remark, knowing it was his same exact thoughts about the man.

The green Hulk started growling at the sight of the armed men, but Red Hulk got him simmered down.

"Easy there, big guy", Ross says. "Let's let the Captain handle this one, yeah?"

However eager for a fight, Hulk did comply.

'Nobody make any sudden moves', Emma said with her telepathy to everyone. 'We've just been through a tough fight to save our planet. Let's see if we can avoid getting into another brawl'.

'Understood, Emma', Scott replied, along with most everyone else via telepathic message.

Holding out his hand, Captain America told everyone to remain where they are as he walks up to the man whose presence causes fear to most anyone he encounters. The two men were now standing only 6 feet apart.

"Kim Jong Un", Steve says.

"Captain America!", Kim says with disdain, malice & venom in his voice.

"What can we do for you?"

"You can all start by placing your hands on your heads & surrendering, as each one of you are under arrest!"

"On what charge?"

"For starters, that suit you are wearing: it is identical to the American flag – a flag my people & I greatly despise! Your other charges are entering this country without permission or authorization, invasion of our land with high intent on conquest, fleeing the capital & resisting arrest, among many more crimes committed! Therefore, as punishment, you & your party are to be sent over to the concentration camps, where the men will serve no less than 50 years of very hard labor! The women will be serving their time as personal escorts/entertainers for the men until they are old & gray, & the men find their usefulness all but over! Any attempts to resist your arrest from this point on will be met with a swift & conclusive death by a bullet into their hearts! Do you hear me?!"

Those in Cap's crowd were getting hard to control their anger: Seiji Hokuto, Wolverine, Gen Otori, & even Peter Quill were at the boiling point. Even the women were starting to feel the rage inside them, with Carol Danvers, Gamora, Ryoko Hoshi, Natasha Romanova & Wanda Maximoff taking it the hardest.

Only those like Doctor Strange, Reed Richards & others prevented them from doing something they'll regret.

Captain America, however, remained cool & collective even with dozens of guns aimed at him.

"Sorry, mister. I don't think we care to do that", Steve says.

"You will address him as 'supreme ruler', Yankee scum!", barked one of Kim's generals. "Now do as you were ordered to before we open fire! Speak again without the supreme ruler's permission, & you'll receive a bullet in your heart!"

"Your orders have been given, 'Captain America'!", Kim Jong Un said, spitting his name.

"Not gonna happen", Steve said plainly.

A bullet was fired at Cap's heart, but the Living Legend raised his shield & deflected it, surprising both Kim and his men. Even those in Steve's group were shocked about the bullet being fired at his heart, which he deflected.

He may not be Pietro, but Steve sure can move!, Wanda thought.

"Now, as I was saying…", Captain America started.

"I will not be treated in such a manner as this!", Kim Jong Un snapped, pulling out his handgun. "You can forget about being imprisoned & working as slaves: your actions on this day in my country have warranted each one of you a swift execution from where you stand, as I have had enough!"

"Funny thing, Fu Manchu…so have I!", Iron Man stated as he flew up to 15 feet in the air, putting his palms out.

Turning his hands, legs & arms into powerful magnets, Iron Man used them to gather up every single gun from each North Korean soldier, the weapons being pulled from their hands in a snap before they all get magnetized & gather on Iron Man's body. Even Kim's own handgun gets yanked out of his hand & clangs onto the Armored Avenger's suit.

Magneto got the idea & even added one of his own: with Emma's help, he sent out a telepathic message to Tony Stark, who was partly enthused by the idea but agrees to it.

"All right, Erik! Don't make me regret it!", Tony says.

"Trust me", Magneto says, floating up to Iron Man's height & holding out his arms before using his magnetism power to collect the guns Iron Man took from the soldiers.

"You there! Give us back our guns – now!", yelled one of the soldiers.

Using his mutant magnetism, Magneto re-aimed the guns at each of the North Korean soldiers & cocked their weapons, each one ready to fire. The soldiers all gasped as they watch their own weapons floating in mid-air & aimed at their hearts. Even Kim Jong Un was targeted, & the man was feeling afraid like never before.

"Are you all sure you want your weapons back?!", Magneto bellowed to the North Koreans. "They're all cocked & ready to fire at a simple twitch on my part! I don't believe I can stop them all!"

More than a hundred firearms were floating in the air, each one about to shoot on a dime, & all Magneto needs to do is make a simple jerk of his fingers, & they'll all go off simultaneously.

Except for Kim Jong Un, all the North Korean soldiers raised their arms in surrender, with Kim's generals backing away from their supreme ruler & joining the others. With concentration, Magneto aimed all of the weapons skyward & fired their rounds at empty air before gathering them all in a pile & crushing them into a ball of twisted metal before he drops it to the ground.

His deed done, Magneto floated back down next to his fellow mutants.

"Point proven, I should think", Erik says, getting smirks from most.

Kim Jong Un, however, remained fully defiant despite the harrowing experience & unshaken by the turn of events which just occurred. Gritting his teeth, he walked up to Captain America's face & began ranting like a lunatic.

"You think this changes anything, Captain America?!", Kim spat. "You have just extended your sentence to life in prison for you & your people, male and female! Not only that, we will complete our nuclear weapons arsenal despite how many sanctions are placed on our land! Once we get that completed, we will bomb America repeatedly until there isn't one shred of life anywhere on that pathetic land! You will all die knowing that America has been obliterated due to your actions, & the world will forever curse your names for letting it happen! Afterwards…"

Captain America was hardly listening to the madman's rants.

Instead, he offered an ultimatum.

"Kim Jong Un, do us a favor…", Steve says.

Like a bolt of lightning, Captain America landed his hardest punch to Kim Jong Un's face, the blow knocking out two of his molars as they flew out of his mouth, blood flowing.

Kim Jong Un hit the ground on his back, unconscious & unmoving.

Everybody in the vicinity, friend & foe, stared in shock & wonder at the display before them: North Korea's own supreme ruler getting punched in the face by the Star-Spangled Avenger, who stood proudly with his shield.

"Shut the fuck up!", Steve barked at the unconscious ruler.

Captain America picked up the unconscious dictator with his right hand & stared at the generals & soldiers.

"Listen carefully, people, because I'm not going to repeat myself!", Steve addressed firmly. "As of today, we are bringing your 'supreme ruler' back to America to stand trial for all the crimes against humanity he's caused throughout the years! In the meantime, you people will disarm & give up each & every one of your nuclear weapons to the United Nations to be disposed of properly! You will also free everyone who's been placed in a concentration camp & given fresh food to eat & water to drink! The days of hoarding the people's essentials all for yourselves, keeping them weak so they can't protest or stand up for their rights, is over! You will create a new democracy, one where a leader is chosen by the people who voted for one, not by the one with the most power in their midst! The lives of you & the people will be as free souls to choose what you say, feel, think & believe in without restrictions! As for having weapons, you will have a suitable defense force for only that very notion – self-defense, nothing more!"

Steve paused for a few moments to allow his words to sink in before he continued.

"And one more thing: if we hear of anyone making nuclear weapons anywhere in this country – and we will find out – we'll be back here with all the Gods of Thunder, Hulks, mutants, aliens, & every other costumed hero to complete what we started today! We're giving you, your country & your people a second chance at living better lives! I warn you all right now – don't blow it! We won't be so lenient next time!"

Again, Steve paused to let his words get through the heads of the North Korean soldiers.

"I'll say this about Captain America – he knows how to make a speech!", Takeshi Yamato says.

"That's only one of his many terrific traits, Takeshi!", Barnes said, smiling.

"It's no wonder as to why so many of you follow his lead in battle, not to mention look up to him in both spirit & inspiration!", Ryoko Hoshi said.

"On this Earth, Ryoko, Steve's been doing this sort of thing long before most of us were even born!", Susan said. "He's fought the Nazis during World War II, & when he was reawakened many years later after being frozen in the ice, his stance in fighting for truth, justice & freedom hasn't changed a single bit!"

Both ladies share a smile.

"A real champion from two different eras!", Shin Hayata said. "Not many people can say that!"

Many nodded in agreement.

Having said his piece & convinced that his messages got through, Captain America turned & headed right over to Doctor Strange, asking him for a portal to Washington D.C. in order to drop off Kim Jong Un to the local authorities at the Pentagon.

As Stephen Strange works on creating a portal, Captain Marvel came up to the Living Legend, landing right next to him.

"That was quite a punch you gave this Porky Pig creep, Steve!", Carol says. "How did it feel?"

"Felt quite good, actually", Steve says. "It was almost like punching Hitler in the face. Almost. Did you actually wanted to clobber him, Carol? I know you have a real mad-on & loathing for dictators, so I figured…"

"It's okay, Steve. Tell you what: next dictator we overthrow, you save him for me to deal with."

"I think that's a deal which can be arranged."

Both heroes share a grin as Stephen's portal opened to reveal a perfect shot of the Remote Delivery Facility of the Pentagon Building's entranceway. Seeing the familiar sight of American soil gave Steve, carol & many others a big sense of relief.

"Shall we?", Captain Marvel asks.

"After you", Steve says, gesturing with his hand for Carol to go first, which she does.

Captain America turned to the rest.

"Let's go home, everyone", he says before entering the portal after Carol.

At his urging, the rest do follow the Living Legend into Stephen's portal, leaving North Korea & entering the United States of America in just a few footsteps. Doctor Strange was the last to enter, & thus closed the portal once he was through.

While there was still more to do, the crisis to Earth has, at last, come to an end.

CHAPTER XII

Avengers Tower, New York City, days later:

Once Kim Jong Un was delivered to the MPs at the Pentagon, Captain America gave them an explanation as to how he managed to capture the merciless dictator of North Korea. He left out certain details, but still gave a full report on events & adding that the men will all get the complete story once they make interviews in New York City, which is their next stop courtesy of Doctor Strange via his portal.

Giving the MPs at the Pentagon a hearty salute, Captain America & company entered the portal to Manhattan as Kim Jong Un was taken to a holding facility, where the president & military staff will discuss having a trial for all his multitude of crimes to be scheduled.

Kim Jong Un became a powerful dictator one moment, the next he became a prisoner of war awaiting trial.

His own days of suffering & torment like he's put his people through for many years will only be beginning.

In the days that followed, cleanup crews in the Big Apple were currently underway, with various machines from Stark Enterprises working 24-hour duty to clear rubble & help any stragglers Quicksilver couldn't get to safety in time.

Quick as he was, even he can't be everywhere.

Various heroes also assisted in the rescue of civilians & clearing debris when Crazygon & Eleking attacked. The bodies of both monsters were carried away & disposed of by Ultraman 80 & Ultraseven, who revealed themselves to the general public as Ultraseven took Eleking up into space to let him sleep peacefully.

For all eternity.

With Crazygon's remains, Ultraman 80 took it over to the nearest steel mill to allow the workers to melt down every bit of it & use its metal as they saw fit.

Saluting the workers, Ultraman 80 took off for New York.

Once he returned, he reverted back to his human form of Takeshi Yamato & rejoined the other Ultra warriors & their superhero comrades. That evening, Captain America gave a long & lengthy interview with the press on their new friends who came from another universe to help stop a global disaster from occurring. After Captain America gave the details of what transpired the last few days, he introduced each Ultra warrior, who gave their viewers/interviewers the stories of a lifetime: where they were originally from, how they each became Ultra warriors, & so forth.

They even gave everybody an extra treat by transforming on camera from their human forms into their true selves, dazzling the press & public alike & getting a standing ovation.

It would be a story to end all stories!

At a local café, an old man in his mid-90s was sitting at the outside tables having his dinner as he watched the large television displaying both Captain America & the other heroes, along with the Ultra warriors. The man had white hair on his head & a push-broom mustache, wearing a dress shirt & black pants & matching shoes. A pair of eyeglasses were worn over his peepers.

Viewing the TV made the man have doubts.

"You call those 'Ultra warriors' heroes? Pfft! Give me a break!", he says. "Superman's got more class & style than that bunch of losers!"

"Oh, I don't know about that, mister", said a voice next to him. "Those 'Ultra warriors' seem to me like they've got class & style to spare!"

The smiling Japanese man looked to be in his late 60s, wearing a brown business suit, matching shoes & hat. A pair of bifocals were worn over his eyes. In his left hand was a freshly-lit cigarette between his fingers, & in his right hand was a glass of champagne.

Having heard his words, the man in his mid-90s nodded his head, thinking he has a point.

"You know what? I'll drink to that, good sir!", he said with a smile, raising his own glass of wine in his left hand.

Both men clinked their glasses & took a sip toasting in honor of all the heroes.

The following evening, once the major clean-up in New York was handled, the Avengers held a gathering at their self-maned tower, with the X-Men, Fantastic Four & Ultra warriors in attendance. That also included SHIELD agents Nick Fury, Maria Hill & Phil Coulson, who already had reservations. The guest list also included the Guardians of the Galaxy (who were always looking for an excuse to party!) & Reed & Susan Richards' kids Franklin & Valeria. Both of Reed & Susan's kids were getting to know the Ultra warriors better than when they first met, enjoying the company of the hero team's young members.

Of course, Alien Pegassa was also in attendance, as their celebration was in big part a toast to him for helping to save Earth from a terrible fate. The alien got to meet Reed & Susan's kids, each of whom took an immediate liking to him, with Pegassa feeling the same way in return.

It was a scenario that made Reed, Susan, Johnny and Ben smile warmly.

Even Bruce Banner was enjoying the party as he & General Ross (both in their own human guises) listened to the stories Shin Hayata, Dan Moroboshi & the others were sharing with the group, every one of them intrigued by the adventures they shared as Ultra warriors throughout the years.

Their tales of heroism were not unlike those of the heroes' own, which they'd also shared in return.

Hideki Go, Seiji Hokuto & the rest were just as fascinated by their adventures as it was the other way around.

Their gathering went on until at least one in the morning, when they've all retired to a room already supplied for them by Stark himself, giving each an individual bed to sleep in. It was extremely comforting for Peter Quill & his team of Guardians, having an actual soft bed to rest in instead of a crummy cot with hardly any room to maneuver.

Quill made a note to himself to visit Earth more often.

In the morning, Jarvis – the Avengers' ever-faithful butler – was up at six as he prepared breakfast for everyone still snoozing. The fresh aroma of eggs, bacon, pancakes & other foods were filling the air in the main room, & by the time they were all up, a grand breakfast feast was all ready for consumption.

Everyone ate heartily to their heart's content, with many giving their thanks to the maker of the feast.

As they ate, Alien Pegassa had something on his mind that he had to bring up.

"Excuse me, Captain America, but…whatever happened to your wizard friend Stephen Strange?", he asked. "He wasn't in attendance last night, & he's absent this morning."

"After dropping us off here in New York, Stephen went to help Zoffy, Astra & Ultraman Taro find both Seamons & Seagorath", he explains. "As you might have heard, Ultraman Jack & Storm stopped their rampage in Chicago, but they fled afterwards. They would've gone in pursuit of the monsters, were it not for…you know."

Alien Pegassa nodded, understanding the reason.

"What will you do once those two monsters are found, Cap?", Hawkeye asked before a bite of eggs.

"Once they're found, Clint, Stephen will get in touch with us here at the tower, & then we'll devise some sort of a plan. Until then, we'll stay put."

"That shouldn't be too hard or take too long at all", said Falcon before a mouthful of pancakes.

"Really", said Johnny Storm, sipping his juice. "I mean, where can two creatures of Seamons & Seagorath's size hide in a world like this?"

Captain America chuckled before answering.

"Trust me, gentlemen…you'd be surprised", he said, sipping his coffee.

Neither gentleman said anything more, so they continued eating.

Bruce Banner was eating his breakfast when he was joined by General Ross with his own meal.

"Dr. Banner", Ross said, sitting across from him.

"General", Bruce replied. "What can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to say that…it was good that both your Hulk and my own were able to work together to stop a global threat. While the green guy might not be too crazy now that he has competition, it is good to know that they can cooperate when a situation warrants it. I feel that the world is more than big enough for three Hulks: you, myself, along with your own cousin Jennifer Walters. I just thought you should know."

Dr. Banner stared at Ross for several moments, reflecting on his words: ever since he first transformed into his alter ego the Hulk, all that Ross wanted to do was to rid the world of him. But now, since Ross has become a crimson-skinned Hulk himself, he's had a different perspective as he actually enjoys having the power of the Hulk as his own. It was no different from when Jennifer Walters received a blood transfusion from Bruce, enabling her to become one herself, but still retaining her intelligence & composure, unlike Bruce whenever he transforms.

"I think my Hulk will get used to the idea that he's not alone anymore, General", Bruce says. "Just give him time. I'm sure he'll come around."

Ross smiled at the notion.

"Fair enough", he said, raising his glass of juice as Banner does likewise.

Clinking their glasses, the men drank in a small toast.

An alarm buzzed from out of the blue, putting everyone on full alert.

"What is it, Captain?", asked Xavier.

"A call coming in, Charles…the one we've been expecting!", Steve says. "Hank, if you'd be so kind…"

"Way ahead of you, Cap!", he replied, activating the large monitor to see a familiar face on screen.

"Stephen! We've been wondering when you'd contact us!", Janet said. "I take it you've had luck in finding what you've been looking for?"

"Correct on the first try, Miss Van Dyne", Stephen said on the monitor. "With assistance from Zoffy, Ultraman Taro & Astra, I've been able to locate those two missing creatures they call Seamons & Seagorath. I'll give you all an exact location on their position. One moment…"

The image of Doctor Strange vanished, replaced by that of a map of the Great Lakes area which displayed a red flashing dot just north of the famed bodies of water shaped like a leaf.

"That's the Hiawatha National Forest!", Hank McCoy replied. "How long have Seamons & Seagorath been there, Stephen?"

"Not long, Hank: a trio of rangers spotted the creatures within the forest about an hour or so ago", Strange says as he reappeared on the monitor."Both of them were lying on the ground while huddled close to each other. In all that time, they haven't moved so much as an inch."

"Then we need to make sure that those two remain where they are until we figure out what to do with them!", said Captain America, turning to the group. "Avengers…"

"Wait, Captain America!", Hideko Go said, pausing his famous battle cry. "Perhaps going in full force isn't the best way to deal with this! Seamons & Seagorath look as if they're worried or even scared, judging by the way they're cuddled with one another! Should we go in as a whole group, it might provoke them to fight, causing more destruction! And hasn't there been enough of that already?!"

"Perhaps our interdimensional friend has a point, Captain", McCoy says. "Animals that are injured & scared will become violent if goaded into a fight. Even with the loss of their horns which can control weather, they can still cause a great deal of destruction wherever they go."

"And God forbid, Captain, if they should enter another populated area…", Charles Xavier started to say.

"Points highly taken, Hank, Charles", Steve says, turning back to Hideki Go. "What do you suggest on how we handle this, Hideki?"

"Let me go in, Captain!", Hideki says. "By going in alone, perhaps I can persuade them to return to the Earth we safeguard once it's our time to head home! Plus, I feel responsible for what happened in Chicago, so I owe it to them!"

"As do I, Hideko Go", Storm said, walking over to his side. "I'm as much responsible for their state of being as you are, as it was I who destroyed their horns even if it was to save the Windy City. Truth be told, I must go to try & fix all this."

"I myself shall accompany the two of you", Vision says, approaching the duo. "I can sense their emotions & tell what they're thinking. In short, I can become Seamons & Seagorath's translator of sorts."

More good points Captain America had to concur with, & so a plan of action has been made.

"All right, only you three will head there", Steve says, turning to Strange on the screen. "Stephen, open a portal for them to get there. I want you to supply us with full audio & video on this situation so we can see & hear everything that's taking place."

"I expected as much, Captain. It shall be done", Stephen replied.

As expected, a magic portal opened in the room that displayed a scene of the Hiawatha National Forest.

Nodding to each other, Hideki Go, Storm & Vision entered before closing up, leaving them on the forest floor as Seamons & Seagorath were only about 100 yards away. A group of forest rangers were on hand to meet them.

"You must be the Avenger known as Vision, yes?', the head ranger asks. "I'm Damien Hall."

"That is correct, Mr. Hall", Vision replied, introducing the others. "This young lady is Storm of the X-Men, & this is Mr. Hideki Go. They're here to assist me in the situation with Seamons & Seagorath."

"So that's their names. Well, I tell you, Vision, ever since these two showed up about an hour or so ago, people became too scared to even come near this forest, which regularly attracts many residents every year, foreign & domestic. Thankfully, they haven't done anything since they arrived, but people are demanding they be removed at once. Problem is…we've no idea how to do that. Hopefully, you folks will have better luck than us."

"It's exactly why we're here, Damien Hall", Storm said. "To try & fix this situation before it can escalate further. If you people would be so kind as to give up plenty of room to work…"

"Of course, Storm. How much room do you require?"

"To be on the safe side, Mr. Hall, make it a good thousand meters", Hideki Go said. "If things should somehow go south in our attempts, at least you'll be at a safe distance away."

"Understood", Damien Hall said, getting on his walkie talkie & addressing the other rangers to pull back.

Getting in their vehicles, the rangers give the trio the distance they required, leaving them alone with the monsters.

Vision & Storm nod to Hideki, who nods back before raising his arms & willing his transformation to occur.

Hideki Go becomes Ultraman Jack in seconds.

The effect it has on Seamons & Seagorath is immediate: the two monsters bellow as they receive first sight of the Ultra warrior. Vision & Storm float up to Jack's height as the former addresses him.

"They're scared that you're about to hurt them further, & are begging to be left alone", he stated.

Ultraman Jack put his hands out in a halting gesture & shook his head, indicating that he won't cause them any further harm. Seamons & Seagurath's roars settle down some, but they still remain on the defensive.

"Do they believe Ultraman Jack's promise of peace, Vision?', Storm asked.

"Partially, Ororo", he says. "But Seamons & Seagorath need further proof before they can supply him with any more trust."

Jack heard Vision's statement, & an idea came to mind: from each of his hands, Ultraman Jack shot forth a cone-like energy that went straight for the snouts of Seamons & Seagorath, where their horns used to be. The beams make contact where Jack wanted them to go, hitting their marks dead-on & offering no pain to either monster, but instead it was a rather soothing feeling.

Soon, something was happening that neither monster expected: within Ultraman Jack's energy cones, the horns of Seamons & Seagorath were actually growing back on their snouts, repairing the damage Storm caused them when they fought in Chicago. From the broken-off stub, each horn was fixed as they grew back to their original state, being brought back exactly as they were before.

Both Seamons & Seagorath can feel & see their horns get regrown, plus they feel their weather-controlling power getting stronger again. When Ultraman Jack was finished, both of the monsters' horns were back again, better than ever.

Seamons & Seagorath gave each other space in between to test out their regrown appendages.

As they hoped, both lit up & shot forth a bolt of lightning that struck in the center before ceasing.

The monsters roared again, happy that their ability has returned.

Like long-lost lovers, both monsters came to each other & embraced, bellowing roars of relief & happiness.

It was a joyous occasion for those watching from Avengers Tower & where Doctor Strange was currently at, with Zoffy, Ultraman Taro & Astra also viewing the touching scene.

Nobody needed a translation to know how each monster felt.

More than a few tears were shed at the joyous moment.

Ultraman Jack went over to give each monster a soft pat on the sides of their heads, & both creatures had bellowed softly. Neither one attacked Jack, now knowing that he means them no further harm.

"I think it's safe to say that they now trust Ultraman Jack", Storm said.

"Correct, Storm", Vision replied. "Having brought back what was taken from them, they understand the meaning of his intentions."

Those watching at Avengers Tower were getting that same feeling, which pretty much completes phase 1.

"Looks like we got Seamons & Seagorath under control", said Agent Hill. "That's the good news."

"But now we're faced with another problem", Agent Coulson says. "Where can we take Seamons & Seagorath to until we're ready to send them back home to their Earth?"

"This is a rather tough dilemma, Agent Coulson", Xavier says. "Utopia is definitely out of the question, & Hank & I seriously doubt that Moira MacTaggert would allow even one of those creatures anywhere near her home at Muir Island."

"There's gotta be someplace they can be comfortable at!", said Janet. "Like the other creatures from the universe where Dan Moroboshi & his friends all came from, none of these monsters asked to be here!"

"Of course not, Miss Van Dyne", Hokuto said. "They were thrown into this universe because of three villains who had the misfortune of finding the two Dimension Stones we thought had been destroyed with the rest years ago."

"Hokuto speaks true", Hayata says. "If we're being perfectly honest, it's our fault the stones were discovered by those three vile fiends you call the Leader, Loki & Sauron. We should've made certain they shared the same fate the other four met when we beat Dimenshigon long ago. If we had…"

Emma Frost placed a hand on Hayata's shoulder & addressed him eye to eye.

"None of you Ultra warriors are to blame", she stated. "You couldn't have known that two of the stones had lived through that blast & crossed over into our neck of the woods. You also couldn't have known that they would later get converted into bombs that would've destroyed this Earth due to multiple monsters being sent over from your universe into ours, making each of them unstable."

"Emma's right, Hayata", Carol says. "In this line of work, unexpected things are going to happen, & when they do, we adapt & improvise upon the situation whenever it's warranted. What you Ultra warriors do is not much different from what we do: fight for peace & justice, be it in the outer regions of space or right here at home on our Earth. Sure, each of us has done things we've regretted & wish to atone for it or wish we could've done more that first time. But it's the way of life: when an error is made, we can either sit & mope about it, or we can do something to fix it. It's not your fault unless you choose to do nothing to correct it."

"And correct it you did!", said Hawkeye. "Hey, were it not for you people, we would've never known how those giant critters were showing up here on our Earth, much less figured out a way to stop even more from entering here in our neck of the woods! For that, everybody here inside this building is eternally grateful for your services!"

"Clint doesn't exaggerate", Hank McCoy says. "The meeting of our two races might have been an accident which happened by a mere trick of chance, but sometimes fate works in mysterious ways in order to make the world – & even many universes – a better place for all sentient beings to live in."

The Ultra warriors looked to each other as they address the advice given to them by this Earth's heroes: not only are they fierce against enemies in battle, they have keen minds that know what decisions to make depending upon the situation before them. Carol Danvers was right: what these heroes do is not different from what they do, & it's these attributes that make them nearly identical in mind, body & soul.

Grinning, the Ultra warriors nodded to their new friends.

"Everyone…thank you very much!", Dan Moroboshi says. "Each one of you spoke in the truest forms, & while our natures might differ, our cause remains the same! No matter what gets thrown in our path, we will do what it takes to defeat evil & injustice with every inch/fiber of our being, exactly as you people would! Therefore, I would propose not only a toast to the heroes of this Earth & universe, but also a pact between us!"

The heroes were amazed at the offer handed to them.

"You mean to say that your people and ours…", Hank Pym started to say.

"Yes, Hank Pym!", Takeshi Yamato says. "You people are now a part of the Ultra family from Nebula M78! We bid you congratulations!"

A plethora of big grins & a boisterous round of applause erupted within the room, having been made members of a family from another universe.

"A momentous occasion, Takeshi Yamato!", Alien Pegassa says. "Your three elders will no doubt approve of this decision which you've made!"

"It's a moment that's been more than earned, Alien Pegassa!", Ryoko Hoshi says. "Just as yours was: were it not for you, this planet wouldn't still be rotating upon its axis normally! You've more than lived up to your promise to save it! For that, everybody's grateful – superhero & Ultra warrior alike!"

Alien Pegassa bowed in gratitude, making Ryoko smile brighter.

"Everyone!", Gen Otori says, getting their attention. "This moment in both our histories is definitely something for both our peoples to be proud of, but before we really pat ourselves on the back, there's still the matter of what to do about Seamons & Seagorath! Does anyone have any ideas on where we can put them where they won't cause any kind of harm?"

The room went silent as minds started to whirl about solving this particular dilemma.

Finally, it was Thor who stepped up & spoke.

"Gen Otori?", he says. "I believe I have the perfect solution for this little problem."

All eyes turn to the God of Thunder. Nick Fury walked up to & looked him in the eye.

"What exactly do you have in mind, if I might inquire?", Fury asked.

Thor smiled as he laid out his plan to everybody in the room.

Asgard, one hour later:

Once Thor relayed his plans, he set out to make them happen: with Mjolnir in one hand, Thor took Alien Pegassa in his other arm before he flew out to where the trio of Vision, Storm & Ultraman Jack were at with the beasts Seamons & Seagorath. Jack has transformed back into Hideki Go, needing to revert back for his alter ego to recharge his energy. From there, he held up Mjolnir to summon the Rainbow Bridge to teleport them to his home. Upon arrival, Thor was greeted by Heimdall as he made introductions before going to his parents at the throne. Introducing his friends to his parents Frigga & Odin, Thor gave a lengthy explanation of what happened since his abduction, lasting about a good half-hour.

Frigga & Odin were skeptical about Thor's idea, but said they would agree to it on one condition.

They request to meet with the one that kidnapped their son in person.

As luck would have it, a portal opened up in the throne room to allow Ultraman King, who appeared at human-sized to greet Thor's parents. Ultraman King bowed to the rulers of Asgard, giving him an instant likeness from both.

Shaking hands in good faith, Frigga & Odin granted Thor's request of not only having Seamons & Seagorath to be new residents of Asgard, but Alien Pegassa as well.

It was such an honor that made the alien happy beyond words – an offer he gladly accepts.

Using the Rainbow Bridge, Heimdall escorted said monsters to Asgard & sent them over to the nearest body of water, where Seamons & Seagorath immediately entered as they head out away from Asgard's main city.

Their roars were heard at great volume even from a distance.

"Can you sense how they feel, Vision?", Storm asked.

"Yes I can, Ororo", Vision says. "They are very happy being here on Asgard, & both are grateful to us for bringing them here to live in peace, away from the confusion of humans. They might even start a family, should all go well."

"Asgard is a wonderful place to do just that, Vision", Frigga says with a smile.

"Aye, dear wife", Odin adds. "As Thor & even Ultraman King had said, they never asked to be taken away from their original home, thus they deserve to live at a place where they are ensured a peaceful existence. Asgard is it! Thor, my son…you've gone & made a grand decision!"

"Thank you so much, Father!", Thor replied, bowing to his old man.

"And Alien Pegassa…what do you think of Asgard so far, now that my son & husband have registered you as a permanent resident here at our home?", Frigga asks.

"It's…beautiful, Queen Frigga!", Alien Pegassa said with high enthusiasm. "Such a paradise unlike any other I've seen in my lifetime! I know I'm going to love it here!"

"It's the perfect reward for your services, Alien Pegassa!", Hideki Go said. "It's more than earned!"

Alien Pegassa nodded in agreement.

"Lord Odin of Asgard", Ultraman King says. "As the other Ultra warriors have done with the superheroes from this universe's Earth, we'd also wish to make a pact with the people of Asgard, making you as a part of our family."

Odin & Frigga grinned at the offer.

"We are quite pleased with this pact you've made, Ultraman King!", Odin says. "You have our eternal thanks!"

Ultraman King nods before tossing Odin a device, which he catches. Observing it, the object is like a miniature transceiver with a mini screen on top & a few buttons below.

"What is this device that you give my husband, Ultraman King?", Frigga asked.

"It looks like a radio communicator of sorts, Mother", Thor said.

"You are correct, Thor", Ultraman King said. "With it, you are able to contact us even from across dimensions. Use it if you should ever be caught in the direst of troubles & need a hand. Both Father & Mother of Ultra are at Earth even as we speak, handing out the exact same thing to each of the groups of heroes: one for the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men & even one for SHIELD. Please tell Reed Richards that the Ultra parents & myself thank him for the interdimensional bracelets he made for us."

"I'll be sure to let him know when next I see him, Ultraman King", Thor says as aforementioned king nodded.

"Speaking of, Thor…please send the heroes & even SHIELD a message for me", Alien Pegassa says.

"And what would that message be, little friend?"

"Should any of them require my assistance for anything, please have them contact me with these."

Holding out his hand, Alien Pegassa made four communicators appear like magic before handing them over to Thor, who places them inside his pockets.

"I'll be sure to deliver your message, friend Pegassa…and your communicators", Thor said, smiling.

Seamons & Seagorath bellowed another roar that was still heard from a far distance as Thor, his parents, Ultraman King, Alien Pegassa, Vision, Storm & Hideki Go watched both husband-&-wife monster duo swim away from Asgard's main city. Even for such destructive beasts that can manipulate the weather like Ororo Munroe can, neither she nor her friends that stand by her could deny that there is a beauty to them both, & it had more to do than the fact that Seamons & Seagorath are a hubby-&-wife pair.

The group from Asgard, Planet Pegassa & Nebula M78 watch the duo swim off until they were gone from sight.

It would soon be time to bid their farewells.

Earth, the Marvel Universe, days later:

Shortly after the four communicators the Father & Mother of Ultra were given to the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men & SHIELD, the Ultra parents & their siblings each bid a farewell to everybody before wishing them all the very best before using the interdimensional bracelets Reed Richards made for them to head back home to their universe.

Both Father & Mother of Ultra thanked Reed for the devices, with Reed nodding his approval.

Valeria & Franklin Richards were greeted by the Ultra family right before they went home.

Afterwards, so did everybody else with help from Doctor Strange: the Fantastic Four were back inside the Baxter Building; the X-Men were sent back home in Utopia, where a major clean-up was currently underway; the Guardians of the Galaxy headed out to space, prepared to tackle their next assignment & receive the payment for another job well-done; SHIELD agents Nick Fury, Maria Hill & Phil Coulson were back on the Helicarrier over California, ready to deal with the next threat.

The Avengers were ready in doing the same.

The sun in New York City set after a long day.

Life on Earth in their universe, along with countless others, continued.

EPILOGUE #1

Somewhere out in space:

He sat & watched events unfold on his throne on a large monitor like he was enjoying an evening at the movies, seeing epic battles like he's never bore witness to: giant alien heroes doing battle with giant monsters & aliens that are unheard of in the universe where he resides.

What's more, the superheroes of Earth were also caught up in fights against monsters that seemed impossible to exist, moving in speeds which belie their tremendous sizes. He watched & studied every aspect of these giant warriors in red & silver, each with different patterns on their person. Even the lone female of the group fought was no pushover: she fought just as fiercely as her male counterparts, delivering killing blows that would make many others cringe with fear.

After the display was over, the giant of a figure scratched his multi-layered purple chin, giving thought on what he'd just witnessed.

"Intriguing", he says. "I've never had any idea that such creatures existed in the universe, let alone red & silver giants who do battle with & stop these titans to deliver peace & justice where they reign…and they exist in an alternate universe apart from our own. "

Of course, this 'titan' of a figure, who stands 6 feet, 7 inches tall & wears a blue suit along with golden armor, is all-too aware of alternate universes existing: he's actually visited a few, with intent to conquer before he was thwarted by the heroes from Earth and in the far regions of space, such as the Nova Corps & the Guardians of the Galaxy.

He's already imagining the power he would have by having giant monsters like these at his command, along with the malevolent & cunning aliens that have threatened the Ultra warriors repeatedly.

"I must find out which universe these giants originate from", he says. "With an army like them under my power & command, the possibilities would be endless as I conquer section after section of this universe & reshape it however way I see fit. These aliens who have power & abilities beyond imagination…I need to get in touch with & make them an offer they wouldn't be able to refuse. And just in case they should be foolhardy as to reject my generous offer,I can always use more…direct methods to get my point across."

Having turned off his monitor, the titan smiled a fiendish grin, vowing to make these giants his own.

So swears Thanos!

EPILOGUE #2

Earth, the Marvel Universe:

At his self-named building in Manhattan, Tony Stark stayed up late at night in his private office to go over the schematics he'd been working on for a good two weeks now, going over every detail & drawing that's been written & illustrated so far. His design was that of his Iron Man suit, but with slight differences: where the gold would usually be, the coloring in those areas would be silver, & the eyes would be more oval & yellow in color instead of slitted & white.

The face would also have a makeover, bearing a strong resemblance to the Ultra warriors' own.

Of course, this new suit will possess all the attributes to Tony's other ones, from weapons to the power of flight, & then some. The one difference on this suit would be is that it would be standing at a height of a whopping 50 meters tall, reassuring that of the actual Ultra warriors.

For two whole weeks, he marveled at his brand-new creation.

He even named it 'Project: Iron Ultraman'.

'Iron Ultraman', Tony thought gleefully with a smile. Hmm…I love the sound of that already!

The billionaire playboy could hardly wait to start building it.

A note to the readers:

Stan Lee.

Those two simple words bring a smile to just about everybody's face whenever they hear it: he was not only an Award-Winning editor, writer, publisher & producer over at Marvel Comics, he was also responsible for the creation of so many of the company's main characters who would all have a lasting impact (quite often in collaboration with co-writers/artists Jack Kirby (1917-1994) & Steve Ditko (1927-2018)): the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Hulk, Thor, the X-Men, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, & a whole mess of other heroes.

Stan Lee was also a veteran of World War II, where he was enlisted in the United States Army in early 1942, & served as a member of the Signal Corps, repairing telegraph lines & other communications equipment. While serving in the Army, Stan met with three people who were famous & soon-to-be famous: Frank Capra, Award-Winning movie director, New York cartoonist Charles Addams, who would go on to create 'The Addams Family', & Theodor Geisel, who would later on be known worldwide as 'Dr. Seuss'.

After his services in the Army, he started doing work at Atlas Comics, writing a variety of stories in genres such as romance, western, humor, medieval adventure, mystery/suspense, science-fiction & horror. By the end of the 1950s, Stan Lee was getting dissatisfied with his work & even considered quitting.

He probably would have quit, were it not for publisher Martin Goodman, who hired Stan to come up with brand-new superheroes that were of the less-than-perfect variety, different from the heroes at DC Comics. Julius Schwartz (1915-2004) revived the superhero genre at DC Comics with the company's 'Justice League of America' title, featuring all their greatest heroes in one book.

It was Stan's chance to really get on the bandwagon during this rejuvenation of comic book superheroes, & with Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko by his side, hero teams like the Fantastic Four & the X-Men, along with singular heroes like Spider-Man, the Hulk, Thor & others were thus created into existence at Marvel Comics that were a step away from the company's arch-rival DC heroes.

The rest, as they say, is history: the characters Stan Lee helped to create with Kirby & Ditko became so popular with the fans & the public in general, that they were beginning to be brought to life in animated shows during the mid-1960s: characters like Namor, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk & Spider-Man became cartoons with a catchy theme song (those really take me back!). Even the Fantastic Four received a cartoon of their own from Hanna-Barbera, the ones who gave us the likes of 'Yogi Bear' & 'Scooby-Doo'.

Live-action television series wouldn't be far-off either: the 1970s gave us 'The Amazing Spider-Man' that stars Nicholas Hammond, along with 'The Incredible Hulk', starring Bill Bixby (1934-1993) & Lou Ferrigno. Each series would also have a trio of Made-for-TV movies from the late 1970s right up to 1990.

Of course, other animated series & live-action theatrical films would be in the works: the 1980s would deliver 'Spider-Man & his Amazing Friends' along with 'The Incredible Hulk', both of which Stan Lee would have a hand in narrating. The mid-1990s gave us a new animated 'Spider-Man', followed by 'Spider-Man Unlimited' from 1999-2005.

Then came the live-action movies before & after Marvel Studios made its debut with 2008's 'Iron Man', starring Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow & Jeff Bridges. Stan Lee would make various cameos in most of these films as a variety of people from an old man watering his front lawn to a mailman & beyond, many of which were quite hilarious. One of his most favorite cameos was in 2015's 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', where he was a guest at Tony Stark's party at his NYC tower where he urges Thor to share his Asgardian liquid before he gets escorted out from being too drunk, saying 'Excelsior'.

His other most favorite cameo was as a man who watched the rising nuclear weapons alongside his wife Joan in 2016's 'X-Men: Apocalypse'.

Along with 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', here are my favorite Stan Lee cameos:

His cameo as an old man who drinks the gamma-infected soda bottle, giving him a little more 'kick' than he was looking for as he says 'Wow!' before falling to the floor from the illness in 2008's 'The Incredible Hulk'.

His cameo as a World War II general who says 'I thought he'd be taller' in 2011's 'Captain America: the First Avenger'.

His cameo as a security guard at the Smithsonian Institution who finds Captain America's old World War II suit stolen as he says 'Oh man, I am so fired' in 2014's 'Captain America: the Winter Soldier'.

His cameo as a FedEx delivery man where he asks 'Are you Tony…Stank?' in 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War'.

His cameo as a bus passenger reading a magazine stating 'That is hilarious' while paying no mind to the battle of Doctor Strange, Mordo & Kaecilius & his followers in 2016's 'Doctor Strange.

His cameo as a servant to the Grandmaster who cuts Thor's hair, stating that 'My hands aren't as steady as they used to be' in 2017's 'Thor: Ragnarok'.

His cameo as a pedestrian whose car gets shrunk by the Wasp as he states 'Well, the 60s were fun, but now I'm paying for it' in 2018's 'Ant-Man & the Wasp'.

His cameo as a school bus driver who tells the kids 'What's the matter with you kids, you never seen a spaceship before?' as a real one appears over the skies of New York City in 2018's 'Avengers: Infinity War'.

His cameo as an old man walking his dog who tells Eddie Brock 'Hey, don't give up on her…either of you' to help patch up their relationship in 2018's 'Venom'.

With that final one, as I was seeing 2018's 'Venom' at the theaters on October 5th that year, never in a million years would I figure that only after one month later, that wonderful man who gave us such unforgettable & very lovable characters at Marvel Comics since the very early 1960s, would be gone.

Stan 'The Man' Lee was lost to the world on November 12th, 2018 from pneumonia & heart problems at the age of 95. His wife of 69 years, Joan Boocock Lee, died on July 6th, 2017 from complications of a stroke, also at 95.

His loss was as big a shock to comic book fans as the passing of Godzilla actor Haruo Nakajima on August 7th, 2017 at age 88 – a death many Godzilla fans are still highly hurting from.

Many Marvel movies & TV shows paid tribute to Stan Lee shortly after his passing: 2018's 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse', 2019's 'Captain Marvel', Season 2 of FOX's 'The Gifted', Season 6 of ABC's 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.', the last episodes of Freeform's 'Cloak & Dagger' & 'Netflix's 'The Punisher', each one paying their last respects to a truly one-of-a-kind & wonderful/friendly person.

Stan Lee's final cameo appearance would be in 2019's 'Avengers: Endgame', where he would play a car driver in the 1970s along with a digital re-creation of his wife Joan as he shouts out 'Hey man, make love, not war!'.

Speaking of Stan Lee cameos, during my four-story salute to him, were you able to find each one of the cameos which I've made of Stan? If not, here's the complete list of them:

In 'Noir / The Punisher: Similar Natures', Stan Lee was dressed in a Humphrey Bogart-like trench coat & hat as he is interviewed on television at the NYC police precinct: 'It was the Punisher, all right! You don't forget that big skull on his chest! Trust me…I would know it anywhere!'.

In 'Guardians of the Galaxy / Dogora: Past Sins', Stan Lee was the old man living on Planet Greensleeves where Dogora was being killed by the insect venom injected into him as one of his pieces fell on his log cabin, flattening it just before he cries out, 'Oh no! And the mortgage was due today! The landlord is gonna kick my ass, toot sweet!'.

In 'The Avengers / Godzilla: Metal Madness', Stan Lee was dressed as the old foreman with a clipboard who says, 'And whatever happened to lovable monsters like King Kong, anyway?'. As an added bonus, right before Stan Lee as the foreman spoke, the huge 6-foot, 4-inch man who said 'It was a very harrowing & frightening experience, no doubt about it. But remember: as bad as this was, it always could've been worse, brothers' was Lou Ferrigno, who is, to the majority of people all around the globe, the one, true Incredible Hulk.

And finally, here in 'Danger Across Dimensions: A Marvel / Ultraman Story Part 2', Stan Lee was shown at a café in New York City while watching the superheroes on a large television introduce the Ultra warriors right before he says 'You call those 'Ultra warriors' heroes? Pfft! Give me a break! Superman's got more class & style than that bunch of losers!'. The smiling Japanese man who kindly corrected him was Eiji Tsuburaya, who then says 'Oh, I don't know about that, mister. Those 'Ultra warriors' seem to me like they've got class & style to spare!'. Stan Lee then says to Eiji Tsuburaya 'You know what? I'll drink to that, good sir!' before they clink glasses & sip their wine in a toast to the Ultra warriors & alsoeach other!

After all…who didn't want to see Stan Lee & Eiji Tsuburaya side-by-side?

Now that my four-story salute to Stan Lee has come to its conclusion, what do you rate each of the four stories if you've read each one, in your own personal opinion?

Everybody who's even heard of characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four & others owe it all to Stan Lee, as without whom, these iconic characters & so many others would never have existed. Stan Lee would've celebrated his centennial 100th birthday on December 28th, 2022 – a day that will no doubt mark a milestone at Marvel Comics & many other places that knew & loved Stan for being such an icon in the comics field, but also for being simply such a true, caring gentleman of a human being.

Just as with Eiji Tsuburaya, the world will NEVER see the likes of Stan Lee ever again.

Like millions of others, I wished that Stan Lee had lived to celebrate his 100th birthday on aforementioned date, but in 2022, it's a safe bet to say that many will celebrate Stan Lee's immortal legacy in their own way to honor/salute a man whose genius knew no bounds – a celebration that will no doubt last the entire year of 2022.

Thank you with all our hearts, Stan Lee! You were truly a one-of-a-kind gentleman! Nuff said!

Excelsior!

STAN 'THE MAN' LEE

(December 28th, 1922 – November 12th, 2018)

JOAN BOOCOCK LEE

(February 5th, 1922 – July 6th, 2017)

MEMORIALS:

John Wes Townley, Former NASCAR Driver, 31

James 'Jimmy' Neary, Iconic Midtown Manhattan Restaurateur, 91 (1930-2021)

Lars Vilks, Swedish Visual Artist & Activist, 75 (1946-2021)

Sidney Walton, World War II Veteran Known for 'No Regrets' Tour, 102 (1919-2021)

Marc Pilcher, Emmy-Winning Makeup Designer, 53

Alan Kalter, Longtime Voice of David Letterman's 'Late Show', 78 (1943-2021)

Eddie Robinson, Former MLB All-Star, 100 (1920-2021)

Cynthia Harris, Actress Best Known for 'Edward & Mrs. Simpson' & 'Mad About You', 87 (1934-2021)

Lizzie Bravo, Teenage Beatles Fan who Sang on Their Recordings, 70 (1951-2021)

Abolhassan Banisadr, Iran's First President After 1979 Revolution, 88

Neal Sher, U.S. Government's Leading Nazi Hunter, 74 (1947-2021)

Raymond Odierno, Retired Army General who Led U.S. Troops In Iraq, 67 (1954-2021)

Granville Adams, Actor Best Known as Zahir Arif in HBO Series 'Oz', 58 (1963-2021)

Shawn McLemore, Gospel Music Legend, 54 (1967-2021)

Ruthie Tompson, Pioneering Animator at Disney, 111 (1910-2021)

Eddie Jaku, Holocaust Survivor. 101 )1920-2021)

Martin J. Sherwin, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Biographer of Oppenheimer, 84 (1937-2021)

Paddy Moloney, Irish Folk Music Legend & Founder of the Chieftans, 83 (1938-2021)

Deon Estus, Longtime Bass Player for Wham! & George Michael, 65 (1956-2021)

Ricarlo Flanagan, 'Last Comic Standing' Comedian, 40

Brian Goldner, CEO of Toy Company Giant Hasbro, 58

Megan Rice, Nun who Crusaded Against Nuclear Weapons, 91 (1930-2021)

Timuel Black, Civil Rights Activist & Historian, 102 (1918-2021)

Ray Fosse, Longtime Broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics, 74 (1947-2021)

Dale Kildee, Former Michigan Representative, 92 (1929-2021)

Gary Paulsen, Beloved Children's Author & Wilderness Enthusiast, 82 (1939-2021)

Emani Johnson, R&B Singer Known Professionally as Emani 22, 22

David Amess, British Member of Parliament, 69 (1952-2021)

Richard Kraus, Photographer for Newsday, 88 (1932-2021)

Hubert Germain, French Resistance Fighter During World War II, 101 (1920-2021)

Dorothy Steel, Actress Best Known for 2018's 'Black Panther', 95 (1926-2021)

Otis Armstrong, Former NFL Running Back for the Denver Broncos, 70

Sean Wainui, Chiefs Super Rugby Star, 25

Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, Respected Dutch Climate Scientist, 59 (1961-2021)

Earl Old Person, Chief of Blackfeet Indian Tribe of Montana, 92 (1929-2021)

Colin Powell, Former U.S. Secretary of State, 84 (1937-2021)

Betty Lynn, Actress Best Known as Thelma Lou in 'The Andy Griffith Show', 95 (1926-2021)

Ronnie Tutt, Drummer for Elvis Presley, Billy Joel & Others, 83 (1938-2021)

Tom Morey, Creator of the Boogie Board, 86 (1935-2021)

Chris Ayres, Voice Actor Best Known for Voicing Frieza in 'Dragon Ball Z', 56 (1965-2021)

Shawn Lang, Longtime Connecticut Veteran of LGBTQ+ & HIV Activist, 65

Leslie Bricusse, Prolific Songwriter for Stage & Screen, 90 (1931-2021)

Bill Zeliff, Former U.S. Representative who Probed Waco Siege, 85 (1936-2021)

Eleonore von Trapp, Family Member of 'The Sound of Music', 90 (1931-2021)

Jack Angel, Voice Actor for Animation & Video Games, 91 (1930-2021)

Peter Scolari, Emmy Award-Winning Actor Best Known for 'Bosom Buddies' & 'Newhart', 66 (1955-2021)

Jerry Pinkney, Award-Winning Illustrator of Children's Books, 81 (1939-2021)

Halyna Hutchins, Cinematographer for Films & Television, 42 (1979-2021)

Jay Black, Lead Singer of Jay & the Americans, 82 (1938-2021)

Val Bisoglio, Actor Known for 'Saturday Night Fever' & 'Sopranos', 95 (1926-2021)

James Michael Tyler, Actor Best Known as Gunther from 'Friends' Sitcom, 59 (1962-2021)

Bernard Haitink, Renowned Dutch Conductor, 92 (1929-2021)

Grant Woods, Former Attorney General for Arizona, 67 (1954-2021)

Joanna Cameron, Actress Best Known for DC Comics' 'The Secrets of Isis' TV Series, 70 (1951-2021)

Duane E. Dewey, Korean War Veteran who Won Medal of Honor, 89 (1931-2021)

Carl Madsen, Longtime NFL Replay Official, 71

Mike Lucci, Former Pro Bowl Linebacker for NFL's Detroit Lions, 81

Sunao Tsuboi, Hiroshima Survivor who Met Barrack Obama at 2016 Meeting, 96

Mort Sahl, Groundbreaking Contrarian Comedian, 94 (1927-2021)

Rose Lee Maphis, Country Singer Known as 'Mrs. Country Music', 98 (1922-2021)

Sonny Osborne, Bluegrass Musician & One-Half of Osbornes Duo, 83 (1937-2021)

Jovita Moore, Longtime Atlanta News Anchor, 54

Puneeth Rajkumar, Leading Movie Star of Southern India, 46 (1975-2021)

Camille Saviola, Actress Best Known as Kai Opaka in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine', 71 (1950-2021)

Jo-Carroll Dennison, Oldest Surviving Former Miss America, 97 (1927-2021)

Jerry Remy, MLB Player & Broadcaster for Boston Red Sox, 68 (1952-2021)

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Psychologist & Author who Explained 'Flow of Creativity', 87 (1934-2021)

Linwood Holton, Former Virginia Governor who Backed Civil Rights, 98 (1923-2021)

Bob Ferry, Former General Manager of Washington Bullets, 84 (1937-2021)

Lisa Brodyaga, Lawyer who Helped Immigrants at U.S. Border, 81 (1940-2021)

John Stephen Smith, Ex-President of Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, 78 (1943-2021)

Bert Newton, Legendary Australian TV Host, 83 (1938-2021)

Joan Ringelheim, Scholar of Women During the Holocaust, 82 (1939-2021)

Aaron Beck, Father of Cognitive Therapy, 100 (1921-2021)

Bill Luckett, Blues Promoter & Business Partner with Morgan Freeman, 73

Miguel Mena, Veteran Horse Racing Jockey, 34 (1986-2021)

Pat Martino, Revered Jazz Guitarist, 77 (1944-2021)

Ronnie Wilson, Co-Founder of Funk Group the Gap Band, 73

Tom Matte, Longtime Baltimore Colts Standout, 82 (1939-2021)

Ruth Ann Minner, Delaware's First & Only Female Governor, 86 (1935-2021)

Barbara-Rose Collins, Michigan's First Black U.S. Congresswoman, 82 (1939-2021)

William Lucking, Actor Best Known as Piney Winston in FX's 'Sons of Anarchy', 80 (1941-2021)

Ed Krinsky, Long Island Basketball Coach who Discovered Anthony Mason, 88 (1933-2021)

Neal Smith, Longtime Iowa Congressman & World War II Pilot, 101 (1920-2021)

Ginny Mancini, Jazz Singer & Concert Hall Philanthropist, 97 (1924-2021)

Lionel Blair, British Entertainer of Stage & Television, 92 (1928-2021)

Marilia Mendonca, Grammy Award-Winning Brazilian Pop Singer & Songwriter, 26 (1995-2021)

Bob Baker, Writer for 'Doctor Who' & 'Wallace & Gromit', 82 (1939-2021)

Aaron Feuerstein, Famously Generous Mill Owner, 95 (1925-2021)

Angelo Mosca, 5-Time Canadian Football League Champion, 84 (1937-2021)

Terence 'Astro' Wilson, Founding Member of UB40 Reggae Band, 64

Peter Zimroth, Federal Monitor who Oversaw NYPD Stop-Frisk Changes, 78 (1943-2021)

John Marshall, NFL Defensive Assistant Coach for Oakland Raiders, 76 (1945-2021)

Pedro Feliciano, Former MLB Pitcher for New York Mets, 45 (1976-2021)

Max Cleland, Former Secretary of State for Georgia, 79 (1942-2021)

Earl A. Grollman, Prominent Grief Expert, 96 (1925-2021)

Dean Stockwell, Award-Winning Actor of Stage, Screen & Television, 85 (1936-2021)

Jerry Douglas, Actor Best Known as John Abbott in 'The Young & the Restless', 88 (1932-2021)

F.W. de Klerk, Former South American President who Won Nobel Peace Prize, 85

Don Maddox, Last Survivor of Pioneering Country Band, 98 (1922-2021)

Graeme Edge, Moody Blues' Drummer & Co-Founder, 80 (1941-2021)

Petra Mayer, Books Editor for NPR's Culture Desk, 46

Wilbur Smith, Zambian-Born Bestselling Author, 88 (1933-2021)

Art Stewart, Longtime Baseball Scout for Kansas City Royals, 94 (1927-2021)

John Artis, Co-Defendant of Boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, 75 (1946-2021)

Samuel Kravis, Engineer, Photographer & World War II Veteran, 96

Bob Bondurant, Champion Race Car Driver & Top Instructor, 88 (1933-2021)

Henry Woolf, British Actor of Stage & Screen, 91 (1930-2021)

Heath Freeman, Actor Best Known for 'Bones' & 'NCIS' TV Series, 41 (1980-2021)

Julio Lugo, Former MLB Player, 45 (1975-2021)

Chris-Tia Donaldson, TGIN Founder & Beauty Entrepreneur, 42

Nelson Freire, Piano Virtuoso of Warmth & Finesse, 77 (1944-2021)

Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., Rapper Known Professionally as Young Dolph, 36 (1985-2021)

Maureen Cleave, Pop Music Journalist & Confidante for the Beatles, 87 (1934-2021)

Philip Margo, Member of Singing Group the Tokens, 79 (1942-2021)

William Sterling Cary, Pioneering Black Minister & Civil Rights Activist, 94 (1927-2021)

Bergen Williams, Actress Best Known as Alice Gunderson in 'General Hospital', 62 (1959-2021)

Ardeshir Zahedi, Former Iranian Ambassador to America, 93 (1928-2021)

Ed Bullins, Leading Playwright of the Black Arts Movement, 86 (1935-2021)

Dave Frishberg, Jazz Musician & Songwriter for 'Schoolhouse Rock', 88 (1933-2021)

Larry Hopkins, Former U.S. Representative of Kentucky, 88 (1933-2021)

Mick Rock, British Photographer who Shot Portraits of Several Music Icons of the 1970s, 72 (1948-2021)

Art LaFleur, Actor Best Known for 'The Sandlot' & 'Field of Dreams', 78 (1943-2021)

H.J. Cummins, Former Reporter & Editor at Newsday, 70 (1951-2021)

Bob Lawton, Owner of the World's Largest Arcade, 90

Peter Buck, Co-Founder of Subway Sandwich Chain, 90

Peter Aykroyd, Dan Aykroyd's Brother & Cast Member of 'Saturday Night Live', 66 (1955-2021)

Billy Hinsche, Longtime Collaborator of the Beach Boys, 70 (1951-2021)

Will Ryan, Emmy-Nominated Disney Voice Actor, 82 (1939-2021)

Justus Rosenberg, Holocaust Hero who Helped Dozens Flee the Nazis, 100 (1921-2021)

Robert Bly, Bestselling Author & Poet, 94 (1926-2021)

Slide Hampton, Legendary Jazz Trombonist, 89 (1932-2021)

Joey Morgan, Actor Known for 'Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse', 28 (1993-2021)

Doug Jones, Five-Time MLB All-Star Relief Pitcher, 64 (1957-2021)

Malikah Shabazz, Daughter of Civil Rights Activist Malcolm X, 56 (1965-2021)

Emi Wada, Oscar-Winning Japanese Costume Designer, 84 (1937-2021)

Sylvia Weinstock, 'Queen of Cakes' Baker & Decorator, 91 (1930-2021)

Bill Virdon, MLB Player, Coach & Manager, 90 (1931-2021)

Marcella LeBeau, Decorated World War II Combat Nurse & Lakota Elder, 102 (1919-2021)

Abe Schumer, Father of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer & World War II Veteran, 98

Ian Fishback, Former Army Officer who Reported Prisoner Abuse in Mideast, 42 (1979-2021)

Charles Moose, Montgomery County Police Chief who Headed D.C. Sniper Attack Manhunt in 2002, 68 (1953-2021)

Stephen Sondheim, Renowned Broadway Lyricist & Composer, 91 (1930-2021)

Curley Culp, Hall of Fame Defensive Lineman for Kansas City Chiefs, 75 (1946-2021)

Phil Saviano, Clergy Sex Abuse Survivor & Whistleblower, 69

Virgil Abloh, Leading Fashion Designer, 41 (1980-2021)

Dave Hickey, Art Critic Known for Book 'Air Guitar', 82 (1938-2021)

Joanne Shenandoah, Celebrated Native American Singer-Songwriter, 63 (1958-2021)

David Gulpilil, Famed Australian Indigenous Actor, 68 (1953-2021)

Frank Williams, Founder of Formula One Racing Team, 79 (1942-2021)

Norodom Ranariddh, Cambodian Prince & Former Prime Minister, 77 (1944-2021)

Sherif Zaki, CDC Pathologist & Disease Expert who Studied Ebola & Covid-19, 65 (1955-2021)

Lee Elder, First Black Golfer to Play in the Masters, 87 (1934-2021)

Arlene Dahi, Hollywood Star of the 1950s, 96 (1925-2021)

Stan Kwan, Former Assistant Coach to Detroit Lions, 54

Thomas Wells, Former Star on 'X Factor' & 'America's Got Talent' Competition Shows, 46

LaMarr Hoyt, Chicago White Sox Cy Young Winner, 66 (1955-2021)

Jacqueline Avant, philanthropist & Wife of Music Legend Clarence Avant, 81

Eddie Mekka, Actor Best Known as Carmine Ragusa in 'Laverne & Shirley' TV Sitcom, 69 (1952-2021)

Petr Uhl, Czech Journalist & Human Rights Activist, 80 (1941-2021)

Ed McClanahan, Kentucky Author & teacher, 89 (1932-2021)

Jonshel Alexander, Former Child Actor, 22

Antony Sher, Acclaimed UK Theater Actor, 72

Claude Humphrey, NFL Atlanta Falcons Legend & Hall of Famer, 77 (1944-2021)

Edward Shames, Last Surviving Member of 'Band of Brothers' from World War II, 99 (1922-2021)

Bob Dole, Longtime Senator & World War II Veteran, 98 (1923-2021)

Darlene Hard, Hall of Fame Tennis Player, 85 (1936-2021)

Stonewall Jackson, Longtime Legendary Grand Ole Opry Country Singer, 89 (1932-2021)

Yvonne Wilder, Actress Known for 'West Side Story' & 'Seems Like Old Times', 84 (1937-2021)

Marie-Claire Blais, Award-Winning French-Canadian Novelist, 82 (1939-2021)

Bill Glass, 4-Time Pro Bowl Defensive End for the Cleveland Browns, 86 (1935-2021)

Martha De Laurentiis, Producer of 'Hannibal', 'Red Dragon' & Others, 67 (1954-2021)

Skilyr Hicks, Former Contestant on 'America's Got Talent' TV Program, 23

Denis O'Brien, Manager for George Harrison During his Solo Career, 80

Greg Tate, Influential Critic of Black Culture, 64 (1957-2021)

Carol Barnett, Daughter of Publix Supermarket Founder George W. Jenkins, 65 (1956-2021)

Masayuki Uemura, Creator of NES & Super NES Game Systems, 78 (1943-2021)

Al Unser Sr., Four-Time Indy 500 Winner, 82 (1939-2021)

Lina Wertmuller, First Woman Nominated for A Best Director Award, 93 (1928-2021)

Steve Bronski, Co-Founder of 1980s New Wave Band Bronski Beat, 61 (1960-2021)

Demaryius Thomas, NFL Wide Receiver for the Denver Broncos, 33 (1987-2021)

Carmen Salinas, Iconic Mexican Actress, 82 (1939-2021)

Barry Harris, Beloved Jazz Pianist Devoted to Bebop, 91 (1929-2021)

Vincent Cohran, Rapper Professionally Known as Slim 400, 34

Manuel Santana, Spanish Tennis Legend & Hall of Famer, 83 (1938-2021)

Glenn Foster, Former NFL Player for New Orleans Saints, 31

Michael Nesmith, Singer-Songwriter & Guitarist for the Monkees, 78 (1942-2021)

Anne Rice, Bestselling Author of Gothic Fiction, 80 (1941-2021)

Peggy Neal, Actress Known for 'The X from Outer Space' & Other Tokusatsu Films, 74 (1947-2021)

Rev. C. Herbert Oliver, Civil Rights Activist, 96

Vincente Fernandez, Revered Mexican Singer, 81 (1940-2021)

Lisa Brown, Actress Best Known for 'Guiding Light' & 'As the World Turns', 67 (1954-2021)

Cara Williams, Award-Winning Actress Best Known for 1958's 'The Defiant Ones', 96 (1925-2021)

Larry Sellers, Native American Character Actor, 72 (1949-2021)

Les Emmerson, Lead Vocalist & Guitarist for Five Man Electrical Band, 77 (1944-2021)

Michael Gearon Sr., Former Owner of the Atlanta Hawks, 87 (1934-2021)

Roland Hemond, Former GM of MLB's Chicago White Sox & Baltimore Orioles, 92 (1929-2021)

Ken Kragen, Organizer of 'We Are the World' & 'Hands Across America' Events, 85 (1936-2021)

Bell Hooks, Award-Winning Author & Poet, 69 (1952-2021)

Joe Simon, Grammy Award-Winning R&B Singer, 85 (1936-2021)

Leonard Hubbard, Longtime Bassist for the Roots, 62 (1959-2021)

Majid Al Futtaim, Emirati Billionaire (age not provided)

Kathy Flores, Women's Rugby Star & Coach, 66 (1955-2021)

Wanda Young, Singer with the Marvelettes Girl Group, 78 (1943-2021)

Sam Huff, NFL Linebacker Hall of Famer, 87 (1934-2021)

Kangol Kid, Member of Legendary Hip-Hop Group UTFO, 55 (1966-2021)

Johnny Isakson, Former Georgia Senator, 76 (1944-2021)

Sayaka Kanda, Japanese Singer & Actress, 35 (1986-2021)

Eve Babitz, Hollywood Icon & Author, 78 (1943-2021)

Phil Chen, Jamaican Bassist for Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck, 80 (1940-2021)

Marjorie Tallchief, Pioneering Ballerina, 95 (1926-2021)

Henry Orenstein, Toy Developer who Helped Launch Transformers, 98 (1923-2021)

Sally Ann Howes, Actress Best Known in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', 91 (1930-2021)

Michael James Penzel, Wrestler Known Professionally as Corporal Kirchner, 64 (1957-2021)

Joan Didion, Screenwriter & Iconic American Author, 87 (1934-2021)

Paul Mitchell, Co-Founder of the Floaters Singing Group (age not provided)

T. Mark Taylor, Artist & Toy Designer for 'He-Man' & 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles', 80

Desmond Tutu, South African Priest & Human Rights Activist, 90 (1931-2021)

Lee Kaufman, Teacher who Appeared in Noted Swiffer Commercial, 99 (1922-2021)

Mary Alice Jervay Thatch, Editor/Publisher of North Carolina Black Newspaper Wilmington Journal, 78 (1943-2021)

Sarah Weddington, Attorney who Won Roe v Wade Abortion Case, 76 (1945-2021)

Candy Palmater, Canadian Comedian & TV/Radio Personality, 53 (1968-2021)

Karolos Papoulias, Former Two-Term President of Greece, 92 (1929-2021)

Grace Mirabella, Former Editor of Vogue Magazine, 92 (1929-2021)

Richard Marcinko, First Commanding Officer of Navy SEALS Team Six, 81 (1940-2021)

Jean-Marc Vallee, Emmy Award-Winning Director & Producer, 58 (1963-2021)

Edward O. Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Biologist, 92 (1929-2021)

Sabine Weiss, Swiss-French Street Photographer, 97 (1924-2021)

April Ashley, Model, Actor & Transgender Activist, 86 (1935-2021)

Harry Reid, Former Senate Majority Leader, 82 (1939-2021)

John Madden, Legendary NFL Hall of Fame Coach & Broadcaster, 85 (1936-2021)

Sandra Jaffe, Co-Founder of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 83

Keri Hulme, Prize-Winning Novelist of 'The Bone People', 74 (1947-2021)

Manuel Perez, Former Reporter for New York Newsday, 57 (1964-2021)

Billy Turner, Trainer of Kentucky Derby Race Horse Seattle Slew, 81

Clifford De Bear, Longtime Photographer for Newsday, 92 (1929-2021)

Diana Maxwell, Queen Elizabeth's Lady-in-Waiting, 90 (1931-2021)

Jeff Dickerson, Longtime Chicago Bears Reporter for ESPN 1000, 43 (1978-2021)

Gertrude Pressburger, Holocaust Survivor from World War II, 94 (1927-2021)

Stephen J. Lawrence, Composer of 'Sesame Street' & 'Free to Be…You & Me', 82 (1939-2021)

Sam Jones, NBA All-Star for Boston Celtics, 88 (1933-2021)

J.D. Crowe, Award-Winning Bluegrass Banjoist, 84 (1937-2021)

Jane Alsobrook, Veteran Marketing & Acquisitions Executive, 78 (1943-2021)

Robert Bruce, Cast Member of Reality TV Show 'Comic Book Men', 62 (1959-2021)

Dan Reilly, MLB Mascot Hailed as 'The Original Mr. Met', 83 (1938-2021)

Dick Carson, Emmy Award-Winning Director & Brother of Johnny Carson, 92 (1929-2021)

Betty White, Legendary/Iconic Hollywood Actress, 99 (1922-2021)