Avengers Compound
"Ready?" James asked, voice steady.
Tony swallowed hard. "God, I hope our math's right."
Steve gripped his shield. "We trust you."
Bruce's eyes glistened. "For Natasha…"
Thor raised Mjölnir. "For Asgard!"
Rocket Raccoon peeked from behind Thor. "Let's get this over with. I hate waiting."
As the team focused, Nebula slipped back, vanishing into the corridor's shadows.
James caught it, smirking faintly but staying silent. Stopping her now would just delay bigger trouble. Let her act—I'll handle it all.
"Here we go."
James inhaled, raising the gauntlet-clad right hand. "Let's bring them back."
A crisp snap echoed.
Six-colored light erupted, blindingly radiant. Energy waves surged from James, passing through walls, the atmosphere, the universe itself…
He sensed the power reshaping reality, restoring countless lives. His super hearing caught global gasps—loved ones reappearing at tables, empty streets filling, hospital beds occupied again.
"It worked!" Clint trembled, his phone flashing with his wife's missed call.
Bruce's monitors flared. "Global vitals spiking! They're back!"
But the compound shook violently, ceiling lights crashing.
"What's happening?" Tony donned his armor. "Friday, scan outside!"
"Massive spatial distortion detected," Friday replied, cut off by a deafening explosion.
The east wall tore open, revealing a stormy sky and a colossal ring-shaped mothership, flanked by countless Chitauri fighters.
"That's…" Steve's pupils shrank.
A purple-skinned giant sat on a rock, a golden double-bladed sword beside him, Nebula at his side.
"Thanos," Thor growled, hatred in his voice.
"You humans thought you could defy fate?" Thanos's voice rumbled. "I balanced the universe, and you dare undo it."
Tony analyzed. "Friday, energy readings!"
"Time-jump signature. Thanos's fleet arrived via temporal leap!"
Thanos raised his blade, pointing at the Avengers. "Today, I'll purge this universe—not half, but all."
Vanguard Guards flooded from the mothership, Chitauri skimmers swarming like locusts.
Steve snapped into action. "Everyone, battle stations!"
Thor summoned lightning. "For vengeance!"
James raised his gauntlet, stones glowing. "Step back."
His quiet command halted the team.
Thanos squinted, wary of the stranger.
"Who are you?" Thanos demanded.
James glanced at the fleet, then Thanos's army. "This all you got?"
Thanos blinked. "What?"
"I said," James vanished, reappearing before Thanos, gauntlet hand seizing his throat, "is this your whole army?"
Thanos reacted fast, his blade slashing at James's neck, stopped an inch away by an invisible field.
James released him, eyes flaring red. Heat vision pierced Thanos's shoulder.
"Argh!" Thanos roared, his left fist—a blow that could stun Hulk—crashing toward James's face.
It connected, but Thanos's knuckles cracked.
"Impossible!" Thanos staggered back.
James didn't pursue, looking skyward. "Since everyone's here…"
He raised the gauntlet, six stones blazing.
"Let's end this."
A louder snap echoed.
Thanos's fleet dissolved like sand in the wind, thousands of Vanguards and Chitauri crumbling to ash.
Thanos stared at his disintegrating body, eyes wide with disbelief. "I… am… destiny…" His words faded as he vanished.
Silence fell.
The Avengers gaped. Their unbeatable foe, erased by a snap?
James landed, the gauntlet's stones dimming. He faced the stunned team. "Problem solved."
Tony snapped out of it. "Holy hell, who are you?"
"I told you," James smiled. "Call me Superman."
[Ding! Task complete! Growth Points earned! Random reward drawing…]
[Received: New Ability—Stone to Gold. Turns stone into gold, as the name suggests.]
James: …Seriously?
Steve stepped forward, offering a hand. "Whoever you are, thank you for saving our world."
James shook it. "No need."
Bruce eyed the gauntlet. "The stones…"
"As agreed, Space, Mind, Time are mine." James removed them, handing the gauntlet with Power, Reality, and Soul Stones to Tony. "Deal with these."
Tony took it carefully. "We'll keep them safe. Wait, you're leaving?"
James nodded. "My job's done. Back to my universe."
Thor strode up. "Friend, where are you going?"
James smiled, tracing a golden portal revealing 2012 New York. "The Time Stone needs returning. We'll meet again if fate allows."
As he stepped through, Tony shouted, "Hey! If we're in trouble again, can we call you?"
James's voice echoed back, "Find Strange. He'll know."
The portal closed, leaving the Avengers stunned.
"So…" Scott scratched his head. "We just got saved by Superman?"
Clint stared at his family photo on his phone. "He brought back what we lost."
Tony studied the gauntlet, thoughtful. "Friday, log all data on Superman. I've got a feeling we'll need him again."
2012 MCU New York
James reappeared above the city. [Ding! All tasks complete. Claim bonus reward?]
"Claim it," James smiled.
[Received: Parallel Universe Locator (Freely travel to explored universes)]
James eyed the sleek device, chuckling. I can do that with portals already.
"My journey's just starting…"
He streaked toward the Sanctum Sanctorum.
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