Disclaimer: I have no creative rights over the characters and places you can identify in this story and have no way profited from this work.
20/07/2022
Change of plans. Rather than abuse readers' patience, I've decided to spread the climax over three chapters instead of two.
Still not sure what to make of Thor: Love and Thunder. Part of me wonders if it was mainly about introducing a new demi-god to the MCU.
I've previously mentioned Rings of Power in an earlier chapter. Bringing literature to the silver screen always requires compromises with the source material. Though I'll be disappointed if Sauron isn't a player in Numenor's downfall like some rumours suggest.
Dante 101: MTCU Thanos could well be able to use the Gauntlet to create new soldiers out of nothing. But I would argue he would need the Mind Stone to give them consciousness. And I don't know what the accumulated strain would be from constantly using the Time / Soul Stones to bring millions of existing soldiers back from the dead.
Tecinde: I'm firmly in the camp that believes Maglor had well and truly faded by the time of the Third Age.
Aragorn II Elessar: I admit I'm biased but I was very disappointed with the direction MoM took. [Spoiler Alert] IMHO it completely undid Wanda's character development in WandaVision (Darkhold being just a convenient plot device).
Chapter 24 – Dagor Muspelheim: Part 2
Thanos was seething. Being briefly distracted by the Bifrost had allowed a wounded Morgoth to escape. He returned his attention to the battle's new entrants.
"Isaac," Thanos contacted his virtual assistant. "What's the size of the Allied force?"
"No more than ten thousand, sire," ISAAC detected it was less than a division.
Morgoth pronounced that his enemy's doom had arrived. Thanos privately dismissed it as an attempt to draw his attention away from the Dark Lord. Nor was Thanos complacent though. A handful of Allied combatants had almost killed him at the Battle of Wakanda.
"Are Gandalf and the Avengers there?" Thanos checked.
"As well as Maximoff, sire," ISAAC confirmed.
Thanos was certain they would again try killing him to claim the Gauntlet. He was equally certain they would not attack him if the rest of the Allies were suffering heavy casualties.
"Warbringer," Thanos decided to delegate. "Rid me of that nuisance."
"With pleasure, sire," Warbringer believed a glorious slaughter was in the offing.
Thanos's attention returned to what he considered the main threat. Ela was busily eradicating the remaining shadow spirits as he commanded. Thanos took it upon himself to eradicate Morgoth's remaining ground forces. Hundreds of orcs and trolls were charging towards him following Morgoth's departure. With the need for secrecy now moot, Thanos killed all of them with a combined blast of the Power and Space Stones. A belated reply to the Dark Lord's pronouncement followed.
"Prophesy all you want, Morgoth," Thanos mocked his absent foe. "But the only inevitability is me."
The Allied host had arrived on a small rise overlooking the battle. Even its strongest and most experienced members felt nervous by what they saw. They knew they would be vastly outnumbered on Muspelheim. Confirmation via sight and sound was much more frightening. Explosions, weapons fire, and screams could be observed across the breadth of the plain and in the sky above. The Allied commander was the first to focus his thoughts on the task ahead.
Captain America was standing alongside Aragorn, both front and centre of the host. Directly behind the pair was Faramir, the Tower Guard, and the combined company of Rivendell elves and Dunedain. Rogers took a couple of steps forward to weigh up the tactical situation. Hundreds of thousands of well-armed enemy combatants were locked in ferocious combat. The Allies would be like a sailboat casting out upon a raging ocean. As Banner observed more than a year ago, they would need all-hands on-deck.
"They're ready, Steve," Radagast reported about some late extras.
"Thanks, Radagast," Rogers replied before contacting the inner circle. "Eyes on the prize, anyone?"
"I see Thanos," Legolas easily spotted him.
"But no sign of Morgoth," Stark relayed his sensor readings.
"Then we should attack as planned," Aragorn advised.
Captain America agreed with his second-in-command. Every Allied combatant had been issued with an earpiece.
"Alright, everyone," Rogers gave the host his final instructions. "You should all know two things. Your assignments. And that being outnumbered isn't the same as being outmatched. So, let's get this done and go home."
The Allies began advancing on the southern flank of the battle. Thanos and Morgoth's forces were too intent on killing each other to effectively form up against the new threat. Rogers exploited their indecision. The opening Allied assault consisted of three waves.
"First wave, attack," Rogers ordered.
Stark, Thor, Pepper, Rhodes, Danvers and Brunnhilde took to the sky. They sped ahead of the host to prevent losses from friendly fire. Rescue and the four Avengers began carpet bombing the ground forces of both enemies. Hundreds were killed every second as a devastating combination of energy blasts, missiles, and lightning bolts rolled over them. Thor even summoned a tornado to scatter whole battalions. The overwhelming display of Allied air power did not go unchallenged for long.
"Multiple contacts inbound, boss," FRIDAY detected them.
Several of Thanos's squadrons moved to intercept the first wave. The rest of the Allied host watched as a fierce dogfight broke out in the distance. Pepper and Stark formed back-to-back before rotating on the spot. Several Necrocraft exploded as the couple's repulsor attacks shot out in all directions. Danvers and Rhodes combined to target and destroy the slower moving Chitauri chariots. Driven by memories of the Battle of Wakanda, Thor launched a personal crusade to eliminate any copter within his vicinity. Thanos's squadrons discovered the other airborne Asgardian posed no less a danger to them.
Brunnhilde spurred Grane through the maze of energy blasts towards an oncoming Leviathan. The Valkyrie quickly proved her aerial might despite not having any long-range weapons. She pierced the Leviathan's armour with her blade, cutting the beast open as Grane flew down the length of it. The Leviathan was already dead as it plummeted to the surface. Fighting a distant air battle was Rogers's plan for avoiding casualties from falling debris. Still, it was imperative the Allies kept disrupting enemy forces on the ground.
"Second wave, attack," Rogers ordered.
The second wave was spearheaded by Hulk as well as the Scarlet Witch and her bodyguard. Wanda was mounted upon Beorn in bear-form as they charged towards the enemy. Joining the trio were Kraglin and the other Ravagers. Morgoth had unintentionally amplified Wanda's powers during her captivity. The Dark Lord was not the least flattered as she mimicked his earlier entry into the battle.
Wanda unleashed a massive wave of psychic energy at the enemy divisions ahead. Thousands of Thanos and Morgoth's minions found themselves paralysed with fear. Hulk leapt and scattered many after landing amongst them. He went on a destructive rampage through the mass of paralysed foes still standing. The Ravagers fired their sky-cycles' laser cannons in support. Although Kraglin could not resist using his Yaka arrow against a massive, stationary target. Enemies began falling like dominos as the arrow cut them down where they stood. Observing from a distance, many dwarves were still enjoying Wanda's return.
"Wanda's mind games are better than ever," Bifur mused about her initial attack.
"I think she's just warming up," Bofur similarly replied.
Wanda used her chaos magic upon Beorn, allowing him to keep pace with the Ravagers. The pair ploughed through enemy ranks via a combination of the Beorning's strength and the Avenger's psionics. A goblin company was directly in front of them. Beorn tore through its front ranks as Wanda disintegrated the rest with her energy bolts. It earned her a rousing cheer from the Dwarves of Erebor. Hawkeye and the Men of Dale were positioned behind them. Wanda's destruction of the goblins did not escape the sharp eyes of Dale's ruler.
"I can see why my great-grandfather fell for her," Bard wryly told Barton.
All but a fraction of the Allied host were fighting on foot. The first and second waves had decimated the southern flanks of both enemies. The rest of the host was responsible for mopping up any survivors.
"Third wave, attack," Rogers ordered.
Faramir blew the Horn of Gondor to strengthen friendly resolve. Allied infantry steadily made their way forward. Rogers and Aragorn did not break stride as they respectively killed a Chitauri and an orc. Faramir, Radanir, and Elrohir were soon fighting alongside them, using their new weapons to dispatch enemy stragglers. The Mannish forces comprising the Allied centre followed the group's example.
Months of training paid off as Wakandans worked cohesively with the Gondorian and Rohirrim exiles. The front ranks raised energy shields with their vibranium capes, protecting those behind them who began firing their sonic spears. Any enemy who reached their line was promptly dispatched with a vibranium blade. Some enemies thought an unshielded part of the centre might prove an easier target.
The Dora Milaje and Jabari were positioned alongside each other. Okoye, Shuri and Arwen were leading the former from the front. A warg pack charged towards them with fangs bared. The Wakandans had learnt from their skirmish against the creatures in Uganda. Shuri pointed her gauntlets at the pack and hit them with a powerful sonic burst. The enemy's charge was instantly broken thanks to their sensitive hearing. The wargs stood motionless, whimpering in agony from their ruptured eardrums. Arwen and the remaining Wakandans swiftly moved in to finish off their crippled foes. She drove Hadhafang into a warg's neck as M'Baku swung his knobkerrie to crush the skull of another. Okoye had not forgotten the unfortunate Dora torn apart by the wargs in Uganda.
"For our fallen sister," she coldly told a warg before killing it with her spear.
Arwen was not the only non-human within the Allied centre. Thor had ordered the Asgardian contingent and Sakaar rebels to protect Gandalf and Radagast. Korg, Miek and the two Istari were advancing surrounded by a protective square of Asgardians. Korg's height advantage allowed him to fire his laser rifle over Asgardian heads. The White Wizard flinched when the Kronan was hit by an enemy rifle's burst.
"Are you alright, Korg?" Gandalf feared he was injured.
"All good, man," Korg thanked his rocky exterior. "As long as they don't start shooting paper."
The forces of Erebor and Dale formed the Allied right wing. Their position meant they would be primarily confronting Morgoth's legions. A group of spiders scuttled towards them from directly ahead. The leading ranks of dwarves formed one of their renowned phalanxes, many eager to use their uru-forged weapons for the first time. It was then Hawkeye joined Bard and a company of Dale-men in loosening a volley from behind the phalanx. Dozens of expertly targeted arrows rained down on the spiders. The Avenger killed a trio with an explosive arrow while Bard and his men easily took care of the rest. Not a single spider was left for the dwarves to engage. Their king conveyed their reaction to Bard and Barton.
"Would you mind leaving some for us?" Thorin grumpily requested.
Only one dwarf was positioned away from his kin. Legolas had stood amongst Gimli and the dwarves at the Battle of Weathertop. Gimli felt it only fair to return the gesture at the Battle of Muspelheim, joining Legolas and the Silvan who comprised the bulk of the Allied left wing. In contrast to the Allied right, the left's principal enemy would be Thanos's army. Rogers had assigned others to aid Gimli and the elves against this daunting obstacle.
"I am Groot?" Groot asked Legolas and Gimli over the network.
"He wants to know if you're having that competition," Rocket translated.
"Just don't tell Odinson," Gimli wanted to maximise his chances of winning.
He and Legolas each opened their account by killing a Sakaaran. Away from the pair, several Sakaarans opened fire with their laser rifles. Their shots felled a score of Silvan along the front rank of infantry. Elven archers shot and killed the offending Sakaarans in a heartbeat. Thanos's forces discovered archers were not the Silvan infantry's only source of support. For among the Silvan was a highly unusual force even by the Infinity War's standards.
Pippin and Sam were leading their fellow hobbits. But the pair knew they could not offset their kin's inexperience alone. With Hulk part of the second wave, the hobbits advanced towards the fighting alongside the Ents and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Groot was walking with Sam and Pippin at the head of the Shire-folk. Rocket and Bilbo were riding upon Treebeard's shoulders though. The Ent's height and branches provided excellent firing platform for the pair. A Chitauri Gorilla lunged at the approaching Allied left only to be cut down by Rocket's laser cannon and Bilbo's retractable blaster.
"You're getting good at that," Rocket praised his student's aim.
"I had some late practice in Morgoth's throne room," Bilbo credited the gampruin ambush.
Black Widow had worked well with the Eldar in previous battles. This time she was with Galadriel amongst the Silvan. Romanoff's assignment was to counter any threats the Elf-queen sensed with her telepathy. Legolas had ordered a small band of his best warriors to guard the pair. Those Silvan still could not protect them from every threat.
"A Leviathan is heading straight for us," Galadriel sensed one from above.
Romanoff spotted the Leviathan as it dived menacingly towards them. Fortunately, she was not the only Avenger stationed on the Allied left.
"Bring it down, Scott," Romanoff ordered over the network.
Lang activated his regulator and grew more than 60 feet in height. He slammed his fist into the Leviathan's face. The force of his superhuman blow flung the creature away from Allied lines. The notionally tallest member of the host was impressed by Giant-Man's feat.
"Hmm," Treebeard remarked to his passengers. "I must ask Master Lang about the Ent-draught he takes."
Warbringer watched as the Leviathan crashed into the ground. He had been deliberately sacrificing the odd unit to keep the Allies occupied. It was all about him buying sufficient time to organise a full-blooded counterattack. Warbringer was confident his plan would decimate the Allies and impress Thanos at the same time.
"Strike force ready, captain," a subordinate advised him.
Warbringer smirked with bloodthirsty anticipation. "Await my command."
Allied ground forces were advancing as planned. Both enemies had only made piecemeal attacks against their line. FRIDAY detected the first signs of an organised assault.
"There's a large force massing west of us," she reported over the network.
"I see them, Friday." Legolas replied before ordering his subjects, "Prepare to receive Outriders."
A dense column of Outriders was charging towards the Allied left flank. The closest Silvan seamlessly pivoted to face them, locking their shields and spears in a tight defensive formation. Archers loosened a volley from behind. It took only a one uru-tipped arrow to kill an Outrider. But it was still not enough to offset the column's numerical advantage. The Outriders crashed into the opposing elves. It was the first time that the genetically-engineered shock troops had ever squared off against the Eldar. Despite centuries of training and experience, the Silvan struggled to hold firm against the Outriders' strength and ferocity.
"They need us, lad," Gimli advised Legolas.
"We've our own problems, Gimli," Legolas directed his attention north.
Several battalions of Chitauri were closing in directly ahead of the pair. Warbringer had hit the Allied left with co-ordinated attacks from the west and north. In the latter's case, it would be fatal if the Silvan were ordered to stand and hold against the Chitauri's energy rifles.
"Meigol!" Legolas ordered his warriors to fight hand-to hand.
Legolas unsheathed Ringil for the first time in battle. The closest ranks behind him copied his example and immediately drew their swords. They fearlessly followed Legolas and Gimli who sprinted to engage the advancing Chitauri. Several Silvan were shot dead by laser blasts. The majority covered the short distance in quick time like Legolas and Gimli. A Chitauri attempted to parry the Elf-king's blade with his rifle. Fingolfin's sword had lost none of its legendary quality though. Legolas effortlessly sliced through the rifle and the Chitauri's armour with one stroke. His subjects and Gimli similarly hewed Chitauri with their uru blades. However, the onslaught against the Allied left had only just begun.
The Silvan had played an important part in defeating Warbringer's raid upon the New Avengers Facility. Warbringer was now bent on exacting revenge. He had placed himself amongst the charging Outriders. The defending elves quickly discovered which enemy was the most dangerous. Warbringer reached the Allied line and promptly killed the closest Silvan with a vindictive swing of his axe. Spilling red blood for the first time this battle only drove his desire for more. Warbringer swiftly hacked his way through his enemy's line. Silvan formations broke apart as Outriders poured through the resulting gap. The Allied left began crumbling as elvish casualties mounted. Some of its non-Silvan members fought to stave off disaster. A pair of Outriders were blindsided as a Guardian skewered them with an extended limb.
"I am Groot!" Groot added the pair to his kill tally.
He and the Ents were formed in a loose circle, protecting Sam and Pippin's company within. The Ents followed Groot in making their presence felt. Their ancient strength saw attacking Outriders crumple like tin. An Outrider leapt at Treebeard only for him to kill it with a single punch. Another Ent sent an Outrider flying with a powerful kick. Rocket and Bilbo used their position to pick off would-be assailants at range. Muspelheim's surface allowed those from the Shire to perform a similar role.
Pippin and Sam had fought at the Battle of Wakanda. Both knew their inexperienced kin would quickly die if they engaged the Outriders in hand-to-hand combat. Hobbits were renowned throughout Middle-earth for their ability to throw stones though. The rock-strewn battlefield was a good as an arsenal for those part of the Allied host.
An Outrider tried reaching the hobbits through a gap in the Ent's circle. Sam, Pippin, and several other halflings threw and struck the creature with precise aim. The stones did not kill the Outrider. But the momentary distraction blinded it to the presence of another Allied combatant. The Outrider was killed when Giant-Man stomped on it from above. Unfortunately, his height ensured plenty of follow-up attention. Outriders charged at Lang from all directions. Lang was initially able to brush them off. Weight of numbers meant Outriders were eventually swarming all over him.
"Mister Lang's in trouble!" Sam alerted the Guardians.
"I've got this!" Lang knew how to extricate himself.
He activated his regulator and turned into Ant-Man. With nothing to hold on to, the Outriders tumbled several storeys to the ground. Many ended up in an ugly tangle of arms and legs. A miniaturised Lang proved lethal to his crippled assailants, moving and striking them like a bullet. Inspired by his example, the hobbits broke cover. Sam, Pippin and the others stabbed and killed a trio of prone Outriders. More skilled combatants were also fighting desperately to stem the enemy tide.
The Outriders had penetrated deep into the Allied left. Romanoff and Galadriel were in the thick of the fighting with many of their escort having been killed. Black Widow used one of her Glocks and her Noldor dagger in combination to dispatch an Outrider at close-quarters. The Lady of Light fluidly wielded her lance to crack an Outrider's skull before impaling the creature with the tip. Another Outrider lunged towards the pair. Romanoff fired a taser disk from Widow's Bite to stun it. The Outrider stood no chance as Galadriel promptly destroyed it with a mystical blast. Her telepathy revealed which side truly had the upper hand though.
"Legolas and Gimli are being driven back," Galadriel sensed from afar.
"We're pinned down, Cap," Romanoff reported the situation.
The Allied line needed to keep moving to reach its objective. Captain America judged the progress of the first and second waves before sending relief.
"Pepper, target the Outriders," Rogers ordered. "Hulk, Kraglin. Take the Ravagers and engage those Chitauri."
"Later," Pepper told Stark before breaking off from the air battle.
Rescue dived towards the Allied left before levelling out above the fighting. Outriders swiftly began falling as repulsor blasts rained down from above. Pepper's advanced targeting system prevented Allied loses to friendly fire. On the other hand, it meant she could not use wide-area attacks to eliminate scores of enemies at once. The other relief force had no such problem.
Legolas's attack had initially surprised the enemy battalions moving towards them. Weight of numbers soon saw the Chitauri on the front foot though. Gimli, Legolas, and the elves with them were forced back despite stubbornly resisting every inch of ground. The advancing Chitauri column appeared irresistible. It was then Hulk and the Ravagers brutally struck the column's eastern flank. The tightly packed Chitauri battalions ensured mass casualties. Hundreds died every second from Hulk's exponential strength or the weapons of Kraglin and his men. Surviving Chitauri broke and scattered to escape the onslaught. A relieved Legolas felt he could now help elsewhere.
"Now we can help my kin, Gimli," Legolas moved against the Outriders.
Warbringer held his nerve despite the punishment to his forces. The Chitauri column had been bait on his part. He wanted to draw Hulk and the Ravagers as far west as possible. It left a clear path to the Allied centre.
"Strike force, attack!" Warbringer launched his masterstroke.
Kraglin heard a loud rumbling to the north. He fell back into old habits upon spotting the source of the noise.
"Threshers, cap'n!" Kraglin warned Rogers.
A line of six Threshers was charging towards the Allied centre at high speed. They left behind shallower tracks than in Wakanda given the rocky ground. But on Muspelheim their blades were no less deadly against flesh.
"Spread out!" Rogers urged the centre.
Captain America and those immediately around him were not in the direct path of any Thresher. They escaped unscathed as Threshers sped by either side of them. Most of the Allied centre was not so fortunate. Many a reinforcement from Middle-earth was killed where they stood from the shock of encountering a Thresher for the first time. Hyaquet was not one of them. Standing near Eomer, the pair were forced to dive out of the way of an oncoming Thresher. They could only watch as the machine shredded scores of their countrymen as it cut through the Allied line.
"They're coming 'round again!" Hyaquet saw the Threshers entering a U-turn.
"We need air support now!" Eomer demanded over the network.
Warbringer had timed his attack well. Most of the Allied first wave was locked in fierce combat as the air battle continued to rage. Only one of the five was free to repeat Rescue's example in providing close air support.
"On it!" Rhodes answered Eomer's call.
War Machine had a clear view of the situation as he rapidly descended. The Allied centre was scattering in all directions as the Threshers commenced their second run. Still tied down against the Outriders, Pepper was unable to assist. She only hoped Rhodes had received some related intelligence. Hacking into the Q-Ship's computer allowed the Allies to learn much about the strengths and weaknesses of the Mad Titan's various weapons platforms.
"Did Friday send you the schematics?" Pepper checked about the Threshers.
"Targeting the starboard axle," Rhodes confirmed he had.
It was easier to disable a Thresher than to destroy it. The Allies learnt they could cut the machine's electric motor by damaging its starboard CV axle. Rhodes launched micro-missiles at two of the Threshers. The precision guided munitions detonated after penetrating both axle hubs. The two Threshers toppled sideways to the ground after their motors were cut in a series of loud explosions. Some other forces of Thanos moved to protect the remaining Threshers. One of War Machine's friends on the ground spotted the danger.
"Bandits on your tail, Rhodey!" Faramir drew upon his pilot training.
Rhodes was forced to break off as several copters closed-in from behind. He flew backwards while firing his repulsors at his pursuers. It allowed the Threshers to rip through the Allied second time. One of them bore down on the Istari and their escort. Gandalf teleported himself and the others to the Thresher's rear just in time. Deliverance finally came for the centre but not from the air.
The Allied right was faring best of the host. Many of Morgoth's servants chose to flee from the pair spearheading the advance. Still mounted on Beorn, the Scarlet Witch was merciless as she exacted revenge for her captivity. Wanda's attention was quickly drawn to the Threshers given all the frightened thoughts generated by their attack. She contacted a fellow magic-user after sensing he was in no immediate danger.
"Gandalf, I need your help," Wanda had an idea about the Threshers.
The White Wizard received a telepathic montage of her plan. Gandalf had been fighting only with his sword and staff up to this point. He was conserving his strength for any direct attacks from Thanos or Morgoth. However, the Scarlet Witch's plan would both stop the Threshers and allow the host to concentrate on just one of their foes.
"Do it, Wanda," Gandalf agreed to cast his first magical attack.
The Threshers continued to cause havoc amongst the centre. A group of Gondorians evaded one's blades only to be decimated by another's energy cannons. It was then all four Threshers came to a sudden and violent halt. Wanda had wrapped each machine in a tight envelope of psionic energy. Many Allied combatants watched in awe as she telekinetically raised the Threshers off the ground before hurling them over great distance. Gandalf sprang into action after the Threshers came crashing down upon Morgoth's army. The battlefield was littered with burning naxanár. Gandalf teleported large quantities of it upon the fallen Threshers. Thousands of the Dark Lord's soldiers were consumed in a series of violent explosions. Wanda's plan had effectively destroyed Morgoth's southern flank. The Allied right was now free to help against the Mad Titan's forces. They did not have to wait long. Angry about the loss of the Threshers, Warbringer contacted a Chitauri officer.
"Release them all!" Warbringer committed his remaining forces. "Attack the right as well!"
Apart from saving their lives, surviving members of the Allied centre initially felt the Scarlet Witch had given them breathing space to regroup.
"Thank you, milady," Aragorn acknowledged her directly.
"We're not out of it yet," Rogers spotted Warbringer's response in the distance.
Dozens of Chitauri Gorillas were now charging towards the Allied centre and right. Barton and the Men of Dale let fly and cut down many at range. Any Gorilla who closed in on the dwarves was killed by one of Wanda's bolts. By contrast, the centre was in no shape to repel the oncoming avalanche of brute strength and cybernetics. Captain America responded with some unlikely reinforcements he had ever commanded.
"They're up, Radagast," Rogers told their liaison.
The Brown Wizard asked the Muspelheim ant he rode upon if it had any friends. It was in response to the ant enquiring if Radagast could drive Morgoth off its world. The wizard chased up the matter with a good friend upon arriving at Nidavellir.
Guarded by Miek, Radagast hustled a couple of yards into no man's land. Radagast softly tapped the surface with his staff and smiled at the result. The ant and hundreds of its kind came crawling out of the ground. The wizard obtained their consent moments after the host landed on Muspelheim for what now happened.
"Over here, Scott!" Radagast gave his position.
"Oh, right!" Lang had almost forgotten about their plan.
He activated his regulator and became Giant-Man. Lang pointed his wristband in Radagast's direction and launched a special-purpose particle disc. It showered the ants in Pym Particles that caused them to rapidly grow. The Gorillas scrambled to halt before the transformation that took place just yards ahead of them. Their path to the Allied centre was now blocked by hundreds of Muspelheim ants the size of horses.
"Go you bad asses!" Lang excitedly urged the ants.
Ant-Man's call saw them immediately go on the warpath. The Gorillas stood no chance being comprehensively outnumbered and outmuscled by the ants. A slaughter ensued as the ants swamped them from all directions. An ant would pick up a Gorilla between its mandibles before crushing or slicing it in half. The ants' rampage quickly spread to the Gorillas attacking the Allied right. Watching on, the Scarlet Witch knew Radagast considered no animal to be disposable. That included losses to friendly fire.
"Hold your fire!" Wanda commanded the archers.
Hawkeye and the others promptly complied. The Avenger noticed a handful of Gorillas had managed to extricate themselves. The Allies had to eliminate as many enemies as possible if they were to win.
"Some are getting away, Wanda," Barton warned her.
"They're going nowhere," she assured thanks to her telepathy.
The fleeing Gorillas were desperately sprinting towards the main body of Thanos's army and safety. Hulk leapt in far from the west to cut off their retreat. The impact of his landing flung all but one of the Gorillas back amongst the ants. Hulk killed the one survivor with a powerful uppercut. Now the Allies had time and space to regroup.
"Reform the line," Rogers ordered the shattered centre.
Events prevented one group from complying. Rescue as well as Legolas and Gimli's company had tipped the balance on the Allied left. Some unexpected reinforcements arrived as the fight swung away from the Outriders. Black Widow saw a pair of the creatures fall victim to a sonic blast. She immediately knew who was responsible as Shuri, Okoye, and some Dora Milaje rushed up to her.
"I take you're here because of the Threshers?" Romanoff asked the princess.
"We got separated from M'Baku and the Jabari," Shuri confirmed.
The centre was not the only part of the Allied host that needed to reorganise. The Outriders had severely depleted the Lady of the Light's bodyguard. One of the few upsides from the Threshers' attack was sending a readymade replacement.
"I could use some help protecting Galadriel," Romanoff drafted the Wakandans into the role.
"Arwen's already on to it," Okoye wryly informed.
The Dora Milaje had divided into two groups upon joining the Allied left. Okoye had ordered half of them to help her defend Shuri and Romanoff. Arwen took the remainder to protect Galadriel. Not unsurprisingly, Arwen was the first to reach her grandmother. The younger she-elf immediately made her presence felt. Arwen slashed off an Outrider's arm before driving Hadhafang into the creature's chest. The Lady of Light had a realisation as the Outrider fell dead.
"There's one thing we never did together in Middle-earth," Galadriel told her granddaughter.
"Fight side-by-side," Arwen shared a long-held wish.
The Allied left rallied and went back on the offensive. Outrider numbers quickly began dwindling as the Eldar and their allies moved to eradicate them from their ranks. Warbringer impotently raged as the last elements of his offensive collapsed around him. Thanos's judgment would be harsh even in victory. It was then Warbringer spotted Galadriel and Arwen just a short distance away. Perhaps he could salvage the situation by making two prized kills? Warbringer steeled himself and made for the pair. Some of the Free Peoples made a brave but tragic effort to intercept him.
The formation containing the Ents, Guardians, and hobbits inevitably fractured in the chaos of the fighting. Two hobbits fearlessly charged at Warbringer with swords raised. Warbringer snarled as he slew both with a swing of his axe. A nearby Ent made to avenge the fallen. Warbringer's anger and desperation boiled over, screaming viscerally as he chopped down the Ent. A clear path existed to Galadriel and Arwen. The former shot her arm across the latter's chest.
"Leave him to me," Galadriel stated before locking eyes with Warbringer.
Thanos will never favour you.
Galadriel's telepathic message forced the Chitauri to confront what he had long denied. Warbringer paused as he was gripped by the painful truth. No matter how many battles Warbringer won or enemies he slew – Thanos would only ever see him as just another Chitauri. Galadriel communicating with Warbringer was not just about giving him an existential crisis. It was to distract him from the hostile force to his right.
The Ent and hobbits killed were promptly avenged. Warbringer was caught unawares by the barrage of stones and large rocks thrown by their enraged kin. Rocket also had a pouch of mini-bombs clipped to his belt. He first checked the projected blast area was clear of friendlies before deftly throwing one of the mini-bombs. A dazed and bleeding Warbringer felt the device attach to his chest. He was instantly killed when Rocket pressed the detonator.
"A fine hit, Master Rocket!" Treebeard rumbled approvingly.
Rocket was uncharacteristically modest. "They've always been the suckiest army in the galaxy," he derided the Chitauri as a whole.
Any remaining Outriders either fled or were killed. Warbringer's demise was both detected and unmourned by his own side.
"Warbringer's dead, sire," ISAAC notified their master.
"Must I do everything myself?" Thanos sighed in annoyance.
The Allied host is certainly a force to be reckoned with. However, I still wanted to emphasise the challenges facing them on Muspelheim. That includes how vastly outnumbered they are and that their enemies still have some powerful units.
Another reason spreading out the climax was to make Warbringer's end more than a footnote. I described him as overly ambitious in Chapter 12. And frail egos stand little chance against someone like Galadriel.
Speaking of "Galadriel"; Fenris was Hela's mount in the MCU. I felt Wanda riding Beorn was the perfect combination for the MTCU.
I realise the whole premise of Ant-Man is based on ignoring the Square Cube Law. But I was really taken by some MCU concept art that had giant ants taking part in the Battle of Earth.
Thanks again for your patience, readers. Next chapter we'll find out which one of the 14,000,111 possible outcomes the MTCU Infinity War finally lands on.