Under the night sky, a dazzling starlight transformed into a radiant curtain enveloping the Empire State Building. The hemispherical shield flickered briefly before fading, restoring the usual calm.
Passersby glanced curiously toward the Empire State Building but paid it no further mind.
Meanwhile, Wanda and Pietro surveyed their surroundings—a barren expanse of sand dunes under a sky streaked with vibrant auroras. They felt as if they'd been transported to another world.
"Is this spatial teleportation?" Wanda frowned.
Pietro shook his head. "Feels more like a dimensional domain from some anime. Speaking of, have you seen—"
"Shut up!"
Wanda's face darkened. "This is all your fault, playing these dangerous games for no reason. Now that guy's found us, and we're probably going to get beaten to a pulp."
Pietro pouted, unconvinced. "Who knew he could track us here? If I'd known, I wouldn't have messed with him."
As his words fell, the ground trembled violently.
Thud~ Thud~ Thud~
Amid the quaking dunes, countless light particles rapidly converged, forming a towering silver giant, dozens of meters tall.
The giant strode forward, kicking up clouds of sand. A glowing red wing-shaped gem on its chest radiated a mysterious aura.
Seeing this, Wanda and Pietro's expressions grew grim.
"A Light Giant? He's using that against us?" Wanda's anger flared inexplicably.
Pietro locked onto the helmet-like structure atop the giant's head. "Whoa, it's a different Light Giant. He's wearing a hat!"
"Stop talking nonsense—he's coming!"
Wanda raised her hand, unleashing a torrent of scarlet energy. She scoffed, "Using a giant's power against us? Does he think I'm some kind of villain?"
With that, she transformed into a streak of crimson light, hurtling toward the giant with explosive force.
"Wait…"
Pietro sighed. "People might think you're the one picking a fight. Women are such strange creatures."
Clutching the Rabbit Talisman, his figure vanished in an instant.
Meanwhile, Charlie, transformed into the Light Giant, had sealed the area with the Nexus's Meta Field, trapping Wanda and Pietro completely.
Facing Wanda's aggressive charge, he couldn't help but quip, "I'm not even mad, and you're the one getting worked up?"
He clenched a fist, distorting space as he struck the incoming crimson streak.
Boom!!
An explosion erupted midair, the clash of light energy and Chaos Magic scattering sparks across the sky.
Buzz~
Before the sparks faded, the spreading scarlet energy enveloped nearby hills in the blink of an eye.
Crack crack…
The next moment, a scarlet giant rose from the hills, roaring at Charlie before charging wildly.
Chaos Magic—reality altered!
Charlie nearly forgot: the young Wanda had fully awakened her Chaos Magic. Though she lacked the Darkhold's enhancement, her combat prowess was formidable.
In the main world, aside from Charlie, almost no one could face this Wanda head-on.
Not even an elderly Steve or Carter.
Unless the old man had enough hammers.
Rumble!!
As the two giants clashed fist-to-fist, the battle of titans officially began.
Atop the scarlet giant's shoulder, Wanda's eyes glowed red, her hands channeling scarlet energy to control the giant against Charlie.
Roar!
The Light Giant bellowed, flipping backward while firing a light beam that struck the scarlet giant's chest.
Boom!!
Light particles erupted, leaving a gaping hole in the scarlet giant's chest, only for Wanda's Chaos Magic to repair it instantly.
"What are you screaming about?"
Wanda cursed, summoning another scarlet giant to flank the Light Giant from both sides.
Thud thud thud~~
The ground quaked as the two giants lunged. The Light Giant's eyes flashed, unleashing a radiant light sword.
Zing!!
In an instant, the sword's sharp gleam seemed to cleave the heavens.
With one stroke, it sliced both scarlet giants in half, their scarlet energy exploding across the sky.
Boom~~
As the scarlet giants collapsed, Wanda, enveloped in Chaos Magic, floated in the air, hurling insults at Charlie.
"You jerk! I'll shove your head up your—"
Mid-rant, Charlie slapped her away.
Whoosh~ Boom!!
Watching the scarlet energy crash into a dune, Charlie dusted off his hands, shaking his head. "Women are such strange creatures. Clearly you're in the wrong, yet you dare yell at me? So rude."
His eyes glowed brightly as he scanned for Pietro's traces.
But a sudden tornado caught his attention.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
The raging vortex surged closer, clearly conjured by Pietro's super speed.
Charlie crossed his arms, watching the performance. "Don't you get tired running like that?"
He shook his head and fired a light beam, shattering the tornado.
Boom!
As sand and dust swirled, Pietro choked on the debris, coughing uncontrollably.
Cough cough… "Forgot my mask…"
Boom!!
The next moment, Pietro vanished as a massive silver fist slammed into his former spot.
Pietro, now a distance away, stared at the fist embedded in the ground, his heart racing.
"Damn it, you're not seriously trying to kill me, are you?" he shouted at Charlie.
Charlie tilted his head, the silver giant's lips curling into a sinister arc.
Utterly villainous.
"Hand over the Rabbit Talisman, and we'll call it even."
"That's it?"
Pietro didn't want more trouble. He held up the Rabbit Talisman. "If it's about this, take it! But no hitting me."
"Deal."
Charlie reached for it, but a flash of scarlet energy snatched the talisman first—Wanda.
"No way we're done."
Wanda floated high, her hair whipping in the wind.
Her eyes burned with fury. "You owe me an explanation!"
Charlie: "!!!!"
"This naughty lady, you're the one who owes me an explanation. Did you get that backward?" He threw up his hands.
"Lady?"
Wanda's anger flared hotter, her chest heaving. "You're calling me a lady?"
Charlie: "???"
"Uh, what's wrong with that?"
He put his hands on his hips. "It's basic courtesy."
Wanda clutched her head, fuming. "You jerk, take your courtesy and die!"
Instantly, her surging scarlet energy consumed the entire space.
Wherever Chaos Magic touched, an infernal hellscape emerged.
The barren dunes transformed into a fiery abyss, with endless molten lava erupting and massive meteors locking onto the only light in this hell—Charlie.
Charlie exhaled, exasperated. "If you're sick, I can take you to a doctor.
Wait… is it that time of the month?"
The thought struck him.
If it wasn't that, Wanda wouldn't be this irritable.
Or this unreasonable.
Yes, that must be it.
With that, Charlie dispelled the giant form and pulled ten bucks from his pocket.
"I know you're tight on cash lately. Take this, buy something nice. Oh, and don't buy from that store—their tampons are made of recycled cardboard—"
Before he could finish his heartfelt advice, a furious Wanda commanded a massive meteor to crash down.
"Go to hell!!"
"No way!"
Charlie looked up at the descending meteor, his face stiffening.
"Did I hit another nerve?"
Women were truly strange.
"I'm trying to help you!"
He activated the Monkey Talisman, mimicking the invincible Spider-Man. A golden spider spun in the air, opening a massive spatial tunnel that swallowed the meteor.
But scarlet energy surged again, plunging Charlie into deeper trouble.
Pietro, watching from a corner, trembled.
He had no idea what had driven his dear sister mad. It was his first time seeing her like this.
He could only pray Spider-Man fended for himself.
Wait.
He suddenly realized: if Spider-Man's strength had dropped this low, Wanda could totally protect him, her dear brother.
Then he wouldn't have to give up the talisman.
With that, he stood, cheering for Wanda.
"That's it, hit him!"
"Yes, yes, dear sister, keep it up!"
…
Meanwhile, in the future timeline's Bermuda Triangle, Corrupted Charlie had prepared everything for teleportation, unaware of the events Charlie faced in the past.
After releasing enough dark energy, Dark Thor summoned lunar gravity with Mjolnir, and a massive teleportation array erupted with blinding light at the ocean floor.
"Let's go!"
He signaled Arthur and Thor, and the trio stepped into the portal to Asgard.
Buzz~
Boom!!
In a flash, they vanished from the seabed.
In Asgard, Odin faced an unprecedented challenge.
On the Rainbow Bridge battlefield, Odin, wielding the Gungnir spear, unleashed golden divine energy to fend off overwhelming demonic auras.
His waning power left him drenched in sweat, unable to hold out much longer.
Behind him lay countless fallen Asgardian warriors.
Through the terrifying demonic haze, he glimpsed Loki hiding behind the demons.
Disappointment flashed in his eyes.
If this was the so-called Ragnarok…
He sighed inwardly, hoping Thor would arrive in time.
The prophesied Ragnarok had deviated, and he didn't know why.
His power could no longer protect Asgard.
In the Asgardian vault, Frigga stood ready to cast Surtur's crown into the Eternal Flame.
Asgard might be destroyed, but it was the only way to end Ragnarok.
But the next second, she sensed something.
The Rainbow Bridge!
"Loki, you've gone too far!!"
As a brilliant light bloomed over the Rainbow Bridge, a furious Dark Thor shot forward. Clutching Mjolnir, he saw his brother stoop so low as to attack their father. Forgetting familial bonds, he wanted only to take down the wretched brother who kept hurting their family.
Rumble!!
Thunder roared, and Super-Skrull Loki's face paled.
"How is this possible? How could he—"
Boom!!
As lightning surged, demonic energy flared. Tchang Zu, the Thunder Demon, swallowed the incoming lightning, grinning wickedly.
"Hahaha, nice snack. Got any more?"
"What?"
Dark Thor's face darkened, but he wasn't alone.
He stepped back as Arthur, clad in golden scale armor, moved forward.
"Out of the way, I'm the star here."
Corrupted Charlie pushed Arthur's head aside and stepped calmly from the darkness.
Surveying the scene, his gaze swept over the six demons, locking onto Super-Skrull Loki.
"Looks like a pure villain. I like it."
Corrupted Charlie grinned, raising a hand to unleash a torrent of water-based demonic energy.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
Instantly, the sea below the Rainbow Bridge churned, and a massive tsunami surged, threatening to drown the six demons.
"It's Bai Tza's power!"
Tso Lan, the Moon Demon leader, moved to suppress the tsunami with his own demonic energy.
But in Asgard, his power was far from its peak.
There was no moon!
Boom!!
As dark energy overwhelmed the Moon Demon's aura, the colossal tsunami crashed forward.
"Trouble—together now!"
Xiao Fung, the Wind Demon, summoned a hurricane to counter the terrifying tsunami.
Only the omnipresent wind could somewhat resist the water-based demonic energy.
But the Wind Demon's power was no match for Corrupted Charlie, who had absorbed all of Bai Tza's water energy. The hurricane soon showed signs of collapsing.
Fortunately, the other demons joined in, releasing their energies to counter Corrupted Charlie, finally halting the tsunami's advance.
With most of their energy focused on resisting the water, Odin could finally breathe.
His gaze locked onto a panicked Loki, his eyes complex.
In the end, he only sighed and turned away.
"Thor, bring your brother back," he said.
"Understood."
With the demons occupied by Corrupted Charlie, Thor could finally approach his brother.
"Need help?" Arthur asked.
Thor shook his head. "No, this is between him and me."
He advanced on Super-Skrull Loki, Mjolnir in hand.
For the first time, Loki saw such fury in Thor's eyes. He instinctively tried his usual tactics—feigning weakness and pity.
"Brother, I was wrong. It was just a joke…"
"Shut up!"
Thor raised Mjolnir, the dormant power of the God of Thunder erupting within him.
He fully unleashed his inner strength.
Because of his brother.
He was utterly disappointed.
This was a purely wicked man who would never change.
So…
"Loki!!"
With a roar, Thor, cloaked in radiant thunder, smashed toward Super-Skrull Loki.
"No!!!"
Rumble!!
Loki's scream echoed over the Rainbow Bridge. Nearby, on the demon-infested sea, Corrupted Charlie summoned a golden trident.
Aided by water-based demonic energy, he swept the trident, unleashing a tsunami laced with golden lightning that filled the sky.
Rumble!!
Zzt zzt…
Blue lightning flashed, absorbing the golden bolts for rapid movement.
"Go to hell!!"
Tchang Zu, the Thunder Demon, darted around Corrupted Charlie, blue lightning recklessly striking his dark energy.
Unfazed, Corrupted Charlie wielded the trident, fearless against the Thunder Demon's assault.
The next second, an undersea volcano erupted. Dai Gui, the Earth Demon, and Po Kong, the Mountain Demon, jointly hurled volcanoes at Corrupted Charlie.
Rumble rumble…
Instantly, lava flowed across Asgard's sea, the waters dyed crimson. Hsi Wu, the Sky Demon, altered the weather, creating an apocalyptic scene.
In this doomsday, Corrupted Charlie seemed on the verge of being overwhelmed by demonic energy.
With only water-based demonic energy, he was no match for the six demons combined.
That's what the demons thought.
But they overlooked one thing.
The moment Corrupted Charlie drew the Horse Talisman and Dog Talisman, all the demons' faces changed.
"What!!"
"No—it's Shendu's talismans!"
The Horse Talisman purged all negative effects, and the Dog Talisman granted immortality.
These powers, hidden within Shendu and misunderstood even by the dragon himself, were terrifyingly clear to the demons.