Story's Shadow and I are so great-full that all you lovely fans enjoyed both the trailer, and the first chapter for Worlds Divided. I want to thank my amazing co-author for writing this entire chapter. Please give him some love my loyal friends.
-Empire State Building: New York City-
Thanos bellowed as he was bombarded by missile fire from Hawkeye, Black Widow, Iron Man, Falcon, and Red Hulk. He held his arms in front of his face as the constant barraged halted him from moving forward.
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Take it! Take it you ugly purple bitch!" Red Hulk yelled.
"Focus Red, this isn't going to stop him," Hulk advised.
"Cool it Jade Jaws, we got this guy right where we want him!" Red Hulk laughed.
"Is that right?" Thanos chuckled.
The group heard the sound of loud hissing and snarling coming from a bit of a distance. Those not firing turned and saw more of the Mad Titan's soldiers rushing in their master's direction.
"They must be the ones S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ground troops were fighting," Captain America said.
"And it looks like they lost," A-Bomb gulped.
Hulk growled at the sight of them.
"Hulk, take the Smashers and hold them off! The rest of us we'll deal with Thanos," Captain America ordered.
"But Steve -" Hulk started to say.
"I know big guy, but that's an order. We can't have them overrun our position or flood through the city. There are still civilians trying to escape," Captain America sighed.
Hulk sighed then nodded.
"Smashers! On me!" Hulk ordered.
"Great...let's go!" Red Hulk mumbled.
The Agents of S.M.A.S.H. leaped down onto the streets and barreled into the reinforcing soldiers. Thanos laughed at this.
"It seems your allies cannot stand with you to face me, such a pity." Thanos mocked.
"They stand to protect something while you only search to destroy, something you'll never understand." Captain America proclaimed.
"Insignificant speeches won't save you." Thanos scoffed.
"Our convictions will!" Captain America proclaimed as he charged forward.
Thanos suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Captain America by his waist then slung him towards the other Avengers. He chuckled as he strutted forward. Thor bellowed as he surged forward, slamming Mjolnir across the Mad Titan's face and knocking him back.
"I tire of that irritating hammer!" Thanos bellowed.
"Mjolnir has you on the back-foot! Have at thee!" Thor proclaimed.
Thanos growled in pain as the mystic hammer slammed into his chest and sent him skidding back. The Mad Titan grunted as he managed to grab the thunder god and sent him flying back with a vicious punch. Thor yelled in pain as he hit the roof. The other Avengers gathered around their friend.
"Is it me or is Thanos more determined than usual?" Black Widow grumbled.
"Your constant interference with my plans has gone on long enough, Avengers. I have gathered my forces to crush you and your allies. There is no hope for you." Thanos growled as he stood up despite the hits from Mjolnir.
Thanos grumbled as he walked towards the Avengers, towering over them as they stood to face him once again. The Mad Titan raised his fists to strike down once again. Not far away Spider-Man and his team watched from another rooftop, having just defeated a dozen of the Mad Titan's soldiers.
"The Avengers! Guys! Hurry! They need-" Spider-Man started to say.
Then what sounded like a sonic boom rang through the air. A loud rushing sound could be heard. Thanos was suddenly embedded in the roof itself. The Avengers and Spider-Man's team looked on as a figure was hidden by the sun's glow. Captain America thought he recognized the figure.
"Hyperion! What are you doing here?!" Captain America yelled.
"I don't know who this 'Hyperion' is. But I can assure you, I'm here to help," the figure said as he slowly flew down into view.
The man is as tall and muscular as Hyperion, but with black hair and has a mechanized suit with an 's' at the center and a full cape flowing behind him. He had a smile on his face and hands on his hips.
"Apologies, who are you?" Captain America said.
"I'm Superman. I'm from another world, or precisely universe to help," Superman replied.
"Really?" Black Widow scoffed.
"Of course, I saw you needed aid against this villain and I believed my intervention was needed," Superman responded.
"You cannot defeat me!" Thanos bellowed as he picked himself out of the roof.
His purple face was fixated with rage at the stranger who walked to stand directly across from him. The two charged each other, causing a shockwave which sent most of the Avengers flying back. Thor skidded back but caught the others from flying off the rooftop. Thanos and Superman gripped one another's hands, testing their strength against one another. Thanos towered over Superman, but the stranger was able to hold his ground against him. Superman's eyes suddenly glowed red and he fired off lasers which hit Thanos in his face. The Mad Titan recoiled in pain, one hand going to his face. Superman took the advantage and began to threw swift, powerful punches into his foe's torso.
"Whoa, this guy really does have the same powers as Thanos." Hawkeye said.
"Even still, pour it on Avengers!" Captain America ordered.
The team rushed forward. Black Widow, Falcon, and Hawkeye fired their respective missiles. Iron Man kept up continuous streams of repulser blasts. Captain America and Thor moved in close and struck at Thanos with their respective weapons after Thanos sent Superman skidding back with a vicious backhand. Thanos bellowed as he grabbed Captain America and slammed him into Thor. He then leaped towards Iron Man and tackled him into the street below. Thanos grumbled as he stood over Iron Man.
"Uh, a little help here!" Iron Man called out.
Superman flew around and struck Thanos from the front. He released a flurry of punches into the Mad Titan's chest. The Avengers, Spidey's team, and now the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. watched in awe as the stranger pummeled Thanos with such speed and strength. Thanos screamed in anger as he retaliated with an assault of his own, slamming his huge fists into the stranger. Then the punches stopped. Thanos breathed in, his heart pounding in his chest. Superman stood before him, bruises on his face just like his foe's.
"You...cannot...defeat...me," Thanos grunted.
"You said earlier there was no hope. This symbol on my chest, where I come from it means hope." Superman said.
He flew back several dozen feet away then surged towards Thanos. Thanos yelled as he threw a punch at the blur that came towards him, but from the shockwave that occurred moments later, everyone saw Superman standing over the Mad Titan who laid in an unconscious heap below him.
"Whoa." Spider-Man gasped.
Iron Man flew to stand beside Superman and not long after the rest of the heroes came to stand around him.
"You...You beat him." Spider-Man gasped.
-Later-
Spidey's team, The Avengers, and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. stood behind Superman several feet away who now is talking to a crowd of reporters and news crews. S.H.I.E.L.D. having hauled Thanos to a secure and secret site for holding, or at least until the Guardians of the Galaxy could be reached to take him perhaps some even more secure and secret, was away from the public who were gathered not far from the interview that was about to begin.
"It was incredible what he did. Did you see how he pummeled Thanos like that?!" Nova proclaimed as he mimicked Superman's punching.
"Sounds like you're already a fan-boy." Power Man chuckled.
Nova grumbled under his breath.
"He's impressive, the same power set as Hyperion to say the least: strong, fast, heat vision, etc. Definitely, a force to be reckoned with." Falcon stated.
"True and look how that ended." Black Widow added.
"Probably another egocentric, pretty boy with a cape." Hulk scoffed.
Thor rolled his eyes.
"But this guy could be different." Spider-Man said.
"That's a possibility, Spider-Man, but we can't always be certain." Black Widow replied.
"Shouldn't we hope for the best in people? No matter where they come from?" Spider-Man asked.
"I like your view on this Spider-Man, but we still need to be cautious." Captain America added.
"I hate to interrupt, but the interview is about is starting." White Tiger said.
They all turned their attention to the interview.
"Superman, who exactly are you?" A reporter asked.
"My name is Kal-El, I am from another multi verse and from that specific universe I'm not from Earth. I'm from a planet called Krypton, making me a Kryptonian, but my world was...taken...and arrived on Earth when I was just an infant and was raised by humans." Superman answered.
"Why did you come to this universe?" Another asked.
"Things haven't been great back home, but have gotten better. I've aimed to make sure that other universes and multi verses don't fall into chaos as mine did." Superman answered.
"But isn't that a bit extreme perhaps? Wouldn't there be other heroes within those different universes to handle danger?" Another reporter asked.
"Without a doubt and that's not to say they aren't trying. I just hope to move things in a better direction." Superman said.
"Like what happened with Thanos?" One reporter asked.
"Indeed." Superman chuckled.
"So are this world's defenders not up to the task? Are you saying you can do better?" Another reporter asked.
The heroes looked at one another with varying expressions and back towards the interview. Superman smiled.
"Oh by no means they're not. Their powers and abilities are quite unique: strength, combat prowess, adaptability, and their teamwork was quite impressive." Superman argued politely.
"But it almost sounded earlier as if you were saying that you're best suited for fighting evil." another stated.
Superman's smile shortened a bit.
"Well, I didn't come alone. I have friends with me to aid in saving existence." Superman said.
"Friends?" One person grunted.
"Heroes from my world, old friends, and allies I freed from the very entity that stole my world and their worlds away," Superman explained.
"You have an army?" Another asked.
"...Yes, but we are here to help. There is no cause for alarm, we have just realized that it is better if there are more to fight the good fight to better save everyone." Superman answered.
"But don't you think some people will find that suspicious? Don't you think some people will think and argue that there are other things aimed at here?" Another person asked.
Superman was quiet and his smile was gone. The heroes looked at one another with uncertainty and some with skepticism. But Superman not long after smiled.
"I don't expect everyone to instantly start trusting me." Superman said with a wide smile.
To be Continued...