Earth.
The beautiful blue planet shimmered peacefully in the vastness of space.
But unlike the planet itself, not everyone on it was in high spirits.
At the Avengers Compound, the heroes who had remained on Earth had gathered together.
"We've had a lot more trouble lately."
Steve Rogers looked around the room.
"Criminal activity has increased everywhere. It's like every thug on the planet suddenly decided now was the perfect time to cause chaos."
The Avengers came from very different backgrounds.
Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton were agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Others were civilians, scientists, or businessmen.
Then there was Steve himself, a man who had lived for nearly a century.
The only thing they truly shared was the desire to protect Earth.
Even so, disagreements naturally arose among them.
When Tony Stark and the others had still been on Earth, those conflicts rarely surfaced.
With Iron Man around, solving problems had always been much easier.
But after Tony and the others left the planet...
The cracks within the incomplete Avengers team slowly began to show.
Fortunately, after spending time working together, they had managed to set those differences aside.
Especially now.
The threat of Thanos was drawing closer every day.
No one could afford internal conflict.
Steve suddenly looked toward Natasha.
"Has the equipment from Lock Technology arrived yet?"
Although the Avengers consisted of people from different walks of life, many of them received funding through S.H.I.E.L.D.
Steve did.
So did Natasha and Clint Barton.
Not long ago, S.H.I.E.L.D. had spent an enormous amount of money purchasing several Mjolnir Armor suits from Lock Technology.
No one could honestly say they weren't excited about them.
Scott Lang, standing nearby, couldn't hide the envy on his face.
His Ant-Man Suit was already incredible.
But no matter how he looked at it...
The Mjolnir Armor clearly outperformed it in raw combat ability.
Of course, the two served different purposes.
There were things only the Ant-Man Suit could accomplish.
Still...
Jealousy was unavoidable.
"They're almost here."
Natasha nodded.
Each Mjolnir Armor had been custom-built by Lock Technology, so delivery times varied.
She hadn't received hers yet.
Clint, however, already had his.
Looking at the armor Barton wore, even Natasha couldn't help feeling a little envious.
Steve continued,
"A powerful monster has appeared in the southern district."
"We're being sent to deal with it."
Everyone present had already heard reports.
The creature was enormous.
Its physical strength rivaled the Hulk's.
Years ago...
When Bruce Banner first became the Hulk, another monster had appeared.
Abomination.
Back then, Nolan had killed Abomination while wearing the Mjolnir Armor.
Thinking of that battle...
Everyone unconsciously turned to Clint Barton.
Barton shrugged.
He understood exactly what they were thinking.
And honestly...
He didn't mind.
"In that case..."
"I'll handle it."
"I think I'm more than capable now."
As he spoke, he proudly patted the Mjolnir Armor covering his body.
This thing was incredible.
Ever since putting it on...
He had almost begun to feel like he no longer needed his bow.
Of course, because of that...
S.H.I.E.L.D. had also commissioned Lock Technology to manufacture an entirely new bow for him.
Unlike his old one, this bow required overwhelming strength to draw.
Only while wearing the Mjolnir Armor could he fully pull the string.
In return...
Its power was terrifying.
In Barton's opinion, every shot carried the destructive force of a small missile.
Combined with Lock Technology's specialized arrowheads...
His long-range firepower had reached an entirely different level.
Even his close-quarters combat abilities had improved dramatically.
Sometimes...
He truly wondered how Nolan managed to invent so many frightening weapons.
But that only made him appreciate both the armor...
And the new bow that had yet to arrive.
Today...
He intended to test the Mjolnir Armor's true strength.
When Nolan had handed him the suit, he had explained something.
The armor amplified its user's own strength.
The stronger the wearer...
The greater the armor's power.
Back then, Nolan had defeated both Hulk and Abomination by himself.
Clint had always assumed Nolan had simply been an ordinary man who exercised regularly.
Now...
With the same armor...
Clint believed his own combat ability should already surpass what Nolan had displayed back then.
Thinking that, he stood up without hesitation and walked toward the exit.
He didn't know where the monster was.
But the Avengers possessed one of the most advanced surveillance systems on Earth.
It could access nearly every camera throughout the United States.
Not exactly legal...
But extremely useful.
Soon enough...
The information arrived.
When Barton reached the southern district...
"Clint."
"We've located the target."
"It's three kilometers ahead, slightly to your left."
"Understood."
He bent his knees.
The Mjolnir Armor roared as power surged through it.
Boom!
The ground exploded beneath him.
He launched himself forward like a missile.
Within seconds...
He spotted the creature.
It was a crimson giant.
Nearly five meters tall.
He had no idea where the monster had come from.
Nor did he care.
The only thing that mattered...
Was killing it.
Clint reached behind his back and drew his Psionic Combat Blade.
The weapon had become standard equipment for Mjolnir Armor users.
Of course...
Buying one cost a fortune.
As one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s elite agents and an Avenger...
Clint had naturally received one.
Smiling into his communicator, he said,
"Watch closely, everyone."
"It's showtime."
The instant he finished speaking...
He charged.
His blade slashed downward with explosive force.
His speed was incredible.
His power overwhelming.
In his mind...
There was no way the monster could block the attack.
Then...
The red giant threw a punch.
Boom!
The collision echoed through the street.
Clint Barton was launched backward like a cannonball before crashing violently into the ground.
Silence.
Inside Avengers Headquarters...
Everyone stared blankly at the screen.
Scott was the first to speak.
"...The Mjolnir Armor isn't defective, is it?"
Even Steve Rogers looked uncertain.
This was the same armor Nolan had once used to dominate the battlefield.
Back then...
Even Steve, while wearing his Black Armor, couldn't survive a single move against Nolan.
Yet now...
Clint Barton, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s finest agents...
Had been sent flying with one punch.
It was difficult to believe.
Clint slowly climbed back to his feet, his expression dark.
Fortunately...
He hadn't actually been injured.
The armor had absorbed almost all of the impact.
The only thing hurt...
Was his pride.
Unlike everyone else...
He knew the armor wasn't defective.
Not at all.
The real problem...
Was the monster standing in front of him.
This red giant was no ordinary enemy.
In Barton's estimation...
It could probably fight Thor head-on.
Even compared to Bruce Banner's Hulk...
It wasn't much weaker.
At that moment...
He finally realized something.
His earlier assumption had been completely wrong.
Why had Nolan effortlessly defeated Abomination back then...
While Clint, wearing the exact same armor, had been blown away with one punch?
He had always believed Nolan was simply an ordinary man.
Maybe someone who worked out a little.
Now he understood.
That had been a massive misunderstanding.
Even without the armor...
Nolan himself had already been terrifyingly powerful.
Otherwise...
None of this made sense.
Taking a deep breath...
Clint steadied himself.
One setback wasn't enough to shake his confidence.
Earlier...
He had simply overestimated himself.
Now that he understood the difference...
This monster would never overpower him again.
Gripping the Psionic Combat Blade tightly...
He charged once more.
This time...
He didn't attack head-on.
Sliding around the giant with practiced footwork, he slashed toward its back.
The red giant failed to react in time.
The blade carved a wound across its back.
Unfortunately...
The creature's muscles and hide were unbelievably durable.
The cut wasn't deep.
Instead...
It only enraged the monster.
Roaring furiously...
The giant swung another massive hand toward Barton.
Fortunately...
Clint reacted in time and leaped backward.
"Strong."
"Fast."
"But you're still too inexperienced."
He sheathed the combat blade.
Then...
He drew his bow.
He was an archer.
Not a swordsman.
Archery had always been his greatest strength.
Without hesitation...
He fired.
Unfortunately...
The arrow accomplished nothing.
The red giant casually slapped it aside.
Boom!
The arrow embedded itself in a nearby wall before exploding violently.
"Damn it."
Clint cursed.
Then fired again.
But the result was exactly the same.
The monster's abilities far exceeded his expectations.
The battle dragged on.
Despite Barton's skill...
The giant's overwhelming defense allowed it to suppress him completely.
Back at Avengers Headquarters...
Everyone's expressions turned serious.
"Looks like Barton needs backup."
Steve Rogers immediately stood.
No one objected.
Whatever the performance of the Mjolnir Armor...
Clint was still their teammate.
There was no way they would leave him to face that monster alone.
Everyone quickly mobilized.
Meanwhile...
On the battlefield...
Barton's expression grew uglier by the second.
He couldn't understand why another monster like this had suddenly appeared on Earth.
But now wasn't the time to search for answers.
He had a sinking feeling...
He might actually lose.
This was his very first battle wearing the Mjolnir Armor.
His chance to prove himself.
He refused to accept defeat.
Yet reality was merciless.
The red giant suddenly burst forward.
One devastating punch sent Barton flying.
Before he could recover...
The monster ripped a massive boulder from the ground and hurled it.
Boom!
The rock slammed into Clint midair and smashed him into a nearby building.
Even with the armor protecting him...
The impact was horrifying.
A sharp pain exploded through his chest.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood.
His vision blurred.
"Damn it..."
"Am I really going to lose my very first battle?"
Gritting his teeth...
He forced himself back to his feet.
The Psionic Combat Blade glowed brilliantly beneath the city lights.
"No."
"This isn't over."
"I can still win."
"I refuse to be this weak."
"Again!"
With a furious roar...
Clint charged once more.
It was only a monster.
There was no way he would lose.
Reality, however...
Was far crueler than he imagined.
Despite fighting with everything he had...
The difference in strength remained overwhelming.
Once again...
He was blasted into the air.
This time...
The giant's punch embedded him directly into the wall.
The red giant roared.
It raised its enormous fist...
Preparing to finish him.
At that critical moment...
A brilliant energy beam suddenly streaked across the battlefield.
Boom!
The blast struck the red giant squarely in the chest, launching it backward.
A spacecraft descended from the sky.
Its landing engines roared as it settled onto the street.
The hatch opened.
Tony Stark stepped out alongside the others.
Looking at the battered Clint Barton, Tony grinned.
"Hey, Clint."
"Looks like you could use a little fire support."
Barton finally let out a breath of relief.
His reinforcements had arrived.
Not quite the way he'd expected...
But he wasn't about to complain.
Just then...
A broad, muscular figure stepped forward.
Drax pointed directly at the red giant.
"That guy..."
"He looks a lot like me."
...
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