Thanos' spaceship hovered slowly and ominously above New York City.

Its hull was pitch black, a metal leviathan that seemed to blot out the very sky, and its sheer size made skyscrapers look like children's toys. The sun disappeared behind it, casting the city in a dim, suffocating shadow. The air itself seemed heavier, as though the world knew what was about to descend upon it.

Panic spread through the streets like wildfire. People screamed, shoved, and stumbled over one another in a desperate attempt to flee. Mothers clutched their children, fathers pulled loved ones by the hand, and car horns blared as drivers abandoned their vehicles to run on foot.

Where had they ever seen such a terrifying sight?

Not even during the Chitauri invasion years ago had the dread felt so unbearable. Back then, the alien army had been bizarre, grotesque, but still recognizable as "soldiers." Even the towering Leviathans, terrifying as they were, now seemed almost laughably small in memory compared to this.

This time, it wasn't just an army. It was a judgment.

The ship itself was a weapon of war, its hull bristling with rows upon rows of massive cannons, sharp and alien, glowing faintly with deadly energy. Just imagining them firing was enough to send a shiver through anyone's spine. The devastation would be absolute, whole city blocks could vanish in seconds.

Alarms blared across New York, sirens wailing from every direction. The entire city was thrust into emergency status. Helicopters circled the skies, broadcasting frantic evacuation messages, while the streets below became rivers of chaos.

At that moment, the troops of the New York Military District stormed into the streets, their uniforms soaked in sweat despite the crisp air. Tanks rumbled forward, Humvees blocked intersections, and squads of soldiers scrambled to direct civilians toward safe zones.

Orders were clear: evacuate the population, establish a line of defense, and prepare to resist at all costs.

Yet, as the soldiers raised their rifles and looked up, their courage faltered. Against that behemoth of a spaceship, their tanks and rockets felt laughably small. The difference wasn't just between man and machine, it was the difference between ants and a mountain.

Still, training ran deeper than fear. Orders were orders. With tight jaws and clenched fists, the soldiers set up barricades, their faces pale but determined. Even if they had to throw their lives away, they would not let New York fall without resistance.

…

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.

The Avengers were gathered at the doors of the gleaming building, their eyes locked on the massive ship in the sky.

No one spoke at first. Even Earth's mightiest heroes felt dwarfed, insignificant before the shadow of Thanos' warship. The ground seemed to tremble beneath its silent presence, and the air was heavy with the sense that this battle would be unlike anything they had faced before.

They were not cowards, none of them, but deep in their hearts they knew: this would be the fight of their lives. Some might not live to see tomorrow. And still, not a single one stepped back.

Finally, the massive ship stirred. With a groan of shifting metal, a column of searing light pierced the clouds, striking the pavement not far from where the Avengers stood. The ground cracked and hissed under the alien energy.

Out of the beam, shadows began to form. Several towering figures emerged, each step deliberate and heavy, the air vibrating with their presence.

At the front was a giant of a man, his skin a mottled purple, his chin carved with deep vertical lines. His eyes glowed faintly with cruel wisdom, and his presence radiated inevitable doom.

Thanos.

Behind him, his generals assembled, the Black Order. Proxima Midnight, tall and deadly, her spear gleaming with otherworldly energy. Corvus Glaive, lean and sharp, his weapon glinting as though thirsty for blood. Cull Obsidian, a hulking brute who towered even over Thanos, muscles coiled with destructive potential. And Ebony Maw, their silver-tongued herald, bowing with reverence.

The Avengers advanced in turn, stepping forward as one. Iron Man's armor gleamed in the dim light and Captain America adjusted the grip on his shield.

The two sides finally faced one another. A tense silence settled, heavy and suffocating.

Tony broke it first. He took a step forward, his mask retracting just enough to show his sharp, unflinching eyes.

"Sorry," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm and defiance. "Earth is closed to visitors today. You'll have to go back the way you came."

Thanos didn't even blink. His gaze swept lazily over the Avengers, unimpressed.

Instead, Ebony Maw stepped forward, bowing low before raising his voice in a cold, theatrical tone:

"You stand before the great Titan, Thanos. Hand over the Infinity Stones, or prepare to be crushed beneath the weight of his wrath!"

Captain America stepped beside Tony, his shield reflecting the faint light from above. His expression was calm but resolute.

"You should turn back," Steve said firmly. "We won't hand over anything. If it's a fight you want, you'll have one."

Ebony Maw's polite facade cracked, his face twisting with contempt. "Ignorant mortals," he spat. He turned to Thanos and bowed once more. "Master, allow me to slaughter these insects and retrieve your Stones."

But Thanos only lifted a massive hand, halting him. His eyes shifted, not to the Avengers, but to the soldiers of the New York Military District who were slowly surrounding the area, weapons trembling in their hands. Then back to the Avengers, who stood unflinching, ready to fight.

And then, slowly, he smiled.

When he spoke, his deep voice rolled across the battlefield like thunder.

"Send in the army. Leave nothing alive. This world… does not need its people."

Ebony Maw's eyes gleamed with cruel excitement. Proxima's lips curved into a sharp grin. Corvus licked his teeth, while Cull let out a low growl of anticipation.

Above, the great warship came alive. The hull split open with mechanical roars, revealing countless openings. From them descended triangular pods, dozens, then hundreds, streaking down like a deadly rain.

The vanguard had arrived. Thanos' most savage soldiers. Each pod carried death.

…

Nearby, not far from the colossal spaceship, a lone helicarrier cruised quietly through the air. Compared to the monstrosity above Manhattan, it looked insignificant, like a fishing boat drifting beside a battleship.

Because of its size, Thanos' forces hadn't even bothered to notice it.

On its deck, Luke stood with Hela at his side, and Wanda and Sharon just a few steps away. The four of them stared at the chaos unfolding in the distance.

Wanda's fingers twitched with scarlet energy, her chest rising and falling quickly with adrenaline. Sharon swung Mjölnir in impatient arcs, the weapon humming as if it was also eager for battle.

Hela's eyes narrowed at the sight of Sharon wielding the hammer. Once, Mjölnir had been hers, her weapon of pride. For a brief moment, jealousy flickered in her gaze, but she said nothing. If Luke trusted this woman enough to grant her such a weapon, then she would hold her tongue. Still, the urge to prove herself on the battlefield burned hot within her.

She whispered under her breath, "If the Mad Titan dares to stand before my master, then I will be the one to cut him down."

But Luke was different.

He wasn't pacing, wasn't impatient. He stood calm, almost serene, his eyes fixed on Thanos with a small, unreadable smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Because in his mind, the system's voice had just spoken.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for encountering Thanos, one of the Marvel world's core antagonists. 2 plot points obtained.]

[Ding! Host has met the requirements for system advancement. Would you like to upgrade now?]

Luke's heart leapt. Finally, the moment he had been waiting for. All the battles, the planning, the endless buildup… it had finally paid off.

'Do it,' he commanded silently.

A flash of blue light surged across his vision. The system panel reappeared, but it was no longer the same as before. Its layout shifted, new symbols appeared, and the information displayed had completely transformed.

Luke's system had finally reached Level 6.

…