At that moment—
"HULK SMASH FLYING THING!"
A colossal Chitauri Leviathan came crashing down from the sky toward Leon.
Leon looked up calmly. Aside from the brief moment earlier when Loki and Thor had broken through his composure, he had maintained an almost elegant serenity.
With a casual backhanded wave—
The Leviathan was swatted aside by invisible force, smashing into a nearby skyscraper and collapsing it entirely.
As for Hulk—
Still standing atop the creature's head—
He leapt again, fists raised like twin warhammers, roaring as he descended toward Leon.
"Leon's friend is Hulk's friend!"
"No hurt!"
For the first time, Leon's pupils contracted slightly.
Hulk's raw, unfiltered violence sent shockwaves through the air. Dust clouds erupted. The collapsing skyscraper tilted toward Leon as well.
RUMBLE—
The massive disturbance caught Steve Rogers and Natasha's attention from across the battlefield.
They exchanged a glance.
"Barton," Steve called to Hawkeye, who was providing cover fire from a distance. "Tony and Thor might be in trouble. Hold this sector—we're reinforcing."
"Got it," Clint replied. "And give me a lift."
Natasha piloted the captured Chitauri chariot, dropping Clint onto a nearby rooftop before picking up Steve and racing toward the collapse site.
They might not match Tony or Thor in raw power—
But they never lacked courage.
When the Dust Settled
The smoke cleared.
Tony and Thor were suspended midair, wrapped tightly in steel bindings—only their heads exposed.
Like living statues.
Or worse.
Hulk, too, was frozen in mid-leap, trapped in telekinetic restraint. Steel wrapped around him inch by inch as he struggled violently.
Leon inwardly exhaled.
This big guy's strength is ridiculous…
Containing Hulk demanded more effort than restraining Tony and Thor combined.
"ROOOAAAR!"
"LET HULK GO!"
"NO HURT FRIEND!"
Hulk's fury surged.
The steel casing around him cracked.
Leon felt his telekinetic grip weakening.
The angrier Hulk became, the stronger he grew.
Damn it…
Where was this energy against Thanos in the original timeline?
Leon wasted no time.
He pressed the Mind Scepter against Hulk's forehead.
A pulse of psychic energy rippled outward.
Hulk's rage was forcibly suppressed.
His massive form shrank.
Bruce Banner re-emerged.
As his body reduced in size, the steel prison compressed automatically around him.
"Sleep," Leon murmured.
Banner tried desperately to call Hulk back.
Nothing.
No green.
No transformation.
"Pointless," Leon said softly, dragging the scepter's tip from Banner's forehead down to his throat, drawing a thin line of red-tinged blood.
"Under the power of the Mind Stone, the beast sleeps. Perhaps… it's what he always wanted."
Captain America Strikes
"Hey! Squidward!"
Steve Rogers' shout cut through the tension.
Leon turned.
Steve hurled his Vibranium shield with perfect form.
Leon stopped it effortlessly—with a single telekinetic finger.
He smiled.
Then—
Beep.
Leon frowned slightly.
On the back of the shield—hidden beneath a pliable explosive compound—
A detonator ignited.
BOOM!!!!
Flames engulfed Leon.
The shield ricocheted cleanly back to Steve's hand.
Steve narrowed his eyes.
"Something's wrong. Stay ready."
When the fire cleared—
Leon stood there.
A faint cut marked his face.
That was all.
Steve exhaled slowly.
As expected.
He threw the shield again—
But at that same instant—
A shadow moved.
Natasha had circled behind Leon.
She grabbed one of Loki's fallen Lion's Fangs, leapt into the air, and aimed for Leon's neck.
Without even turning—
Leon caught her by the throat.
Simultaneously, he seized control of the blade telekinetically.
With three flashing arcs—
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Captain America's Vibranium shield—
Symbol of a nation—
Was sliced cleanly into eight pieces.
The fragments clattered to the ground.
Silence fell.
Steve froze.
Natasha froze.
Tony. Thor. Banner—bound and kneeling—stared in disbelief.
With the shield shattered—
It felt like hope itself had been severed.
"You think I'd fall for the same trick twice?" Leon asked coldly.
He tossed Natasha aside.
Steel bindings wrapped around her as well, forcing her to kneel beside the others.
Four of Earth's mightiest—
Reduced to captives.
Leon raised the Mind Scepter and slowly passed it before the restrained Avengers—
Then stopped.
His gaze settled on Steve Rogers.
He stood there alone.
Bruised.
Shieldless.
Unbowed.
Leon floated slightly higher.
Elegant.
Victorious.
And began speaking—
The classic villain's monologue.
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