Loe struggled to keep his vision from blurring as he fought off the overwhelming pain and exhaustion. The darkness in his mind was like a heavy curtain threatening to drop, but Mindy's voice was the anchor that kept him from slipping away.
"You did what you thought was right. You're not alone in this, Loe. So please, you need to stay strong, for me, for us." Mindy's voice echoed in his mind, laced with the love and determination that had always kept him going.
"Yeah," Loe murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "It looks like I can't die yet." The thought of the people who still counted on him, of the battles yet to be fought and the things he still needed to do, stirred a resolve deep within him. He couldn't give up now, not when so much was at stake.
Suddenly, something caught Loe's attention. A familiar, flowing fabric appeared in front of him—Dr. Strange's cape. It hovered just before him, the crimson fabric pointing in a specific direction. Loe followed its lead with his eyes, spotting Dr. Strange standing near a portal, the swirling energy of the gateway casting an eerie glow around him.
Dr. Strange met Loe's gaze and gave a firm nod, his expression serious yet understanding. The message was clear: Loe needed to get to the portal and escape to safety.
With immense effort, Loe managed to push himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest. Blood trickled from the severe wound in his abdomen, and every movement sent waves of agony through him, but he refused to give in. He was a former vigilante, known once as the Angel—a title that had struck fear into the hearts of criminals. He wasn't about to let this be the end of his story.
"Honey, go there. Go to the magician and save yourself first." Mindy's voice urged gently but firmly.
Loe nodded, knowing she was right. He couldn't help anyone if he succumbed to his injuries here. Each step toward the portal was a battle of will, his vision swimming with every footfall. He clutched his wound tightly, trying to stem the flow of blood as he trudged forward.
As Loe gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move despite the searing pain in his abdomen. Every step felt like an eternity, but the thought of Mindy's voice urging him on, and the sight of Doctor Strange's portal just a few feet away, gave him the strength he needed. He knew he couldn't afford to collapse now—not with so much at stake.
The crimson cloak of Doctor Strange fluttered around him, as if guiding and shielding him from the chaos of the battlefield. The cape, with a will of its own, seemed determined to ensure Loe's safety, nudging him gently towards the portal. Loe took another step, his vision still blurry, but his resolve unwavering.
Mindy's voice echoed in his mind, calm yet filled with concern. "You're almost there, honey. Just a little further."
Loe nodded, though he wasn't sure if she could see him. "I'm not done yet," he whispered to himself, a steely determination settling into his bones. He couldn't afford to die—not yet. Not when there were still so many people counting on him, not when there was still so much left to do.
As he reached the portal, he glanced back at the battlefield. The sight of his allies fighting with everything they had filled him with a renewed sense of purpose. They were all risking their lives, battling forces beyond imagination. He couldn't let their efforts be in vain.
Doctor Strange, still fending off Ebony Maw's relentless telekinetic attacks, managed a brief nod in Loe's direction, silently urging him to go through the portal. There was no time for hesitation.
Loe took a deep breath, steeling himself for the journey ahead. He knew that stepping through the portal was only the beginning.
With one last look at the chaotic scene around him, Loe stepped into the portal, the swirling energy enveloping him. As the world around him began to shift and change, Mindy's voice echoed in his mind once more, filled with love and reassurance.
As Loe escaped through the portal, Mark Taylor, Emily Taylor, Dr. Strange, and the Hulk were left behind to face the danger. Dr. Strange quickly assessed the situation. He was worried because the Hulk, now fighting Thanos, was out of control. Since Bruce had only recently transformed into the Hulk, he hadn't yet learned to control his power, making him a wild and unpredictable force. This made the battle even more dangerous, especially with Thanos playing along as if testing Hulk's strength.
Dr. Strange knew they couldn't win this fight now and needed to get everyone out of there safely. He opened another portal, planning their escape, but it was clear that getting everyone to safety wouldn't be easy.
"I need to make sure everyone gets out of here.." Dr. Strange thought as he conjured another portal. His eyes darted between Ebony Maw, who was locked in a fierce battle with Emily Taylor, and Thanos, who seemed to be toying with the Hulk. The Hulk's wild, mindless rage was no match for Thanos' strength, and Dr. Strange knew they couldn't afford to lose anyone else.
Ebony Maw, growing increasingly frustrated, noticed that Loe had managed to escape and directed his anger at Emily, shouting, "Bat!!!" His voice was filled with fury, his telekinetic powers lashing out with renewed intensity.
Emily smirked, her fangs glinting in the dim light. "Oh, looks like you failed." she taunted, her vampire instincts sharpening her senses as she continued to fight back with ferocity.
Meanwhile, Mark Taylor, who was locked in a fierce struggle with Corvus Glaive, sighed in relief, knowing that his friend Loe had escaped. But he quickly refocused on the battle at hand. He knew that Corvus was stronger, a formidable foe, but Mark was not one to back down easily. He had his own set of tricks and was determined to hold his ground.
Corvus sneered at Mark, disdain evident in his voice as he called him a "Puny mortal!" The words were laced with arrogance, but Mark remained undeterred. He knew that winning this fight wasn't just about strength; it was about outsmarting his opponent.
At that moment, Dr. Strange, using his Eldritch Whip, lashed out at Corvus Glaive, momentarily distracting him. Strange then looked over at Mark and gave a firm nod, a silent signal that it was time to retreat.
Mark saw the portal behind Strange and understood the message. He needed to get everyone out of there before things got worse. Without hesitation, Mark called out, "Emily! We need to go, now!"
Emily, still locked in combat with Ebony Maw, glanced back at Mark and then at the portal. She realized the gravity of the situation and the need to regroup. With a powerful strike, she pushed Ebony back and dashed towards the portal.
Mark, still wary of Corvus Glaive, made his move as well, dodging a lethal strike and heading for the portal. Dr. Strange maintained his focus, keeping the portal open and ready for their escape.
As Mark and Emily sprinted toward the portal, the Hulk's furious roar echoed through the battlefield, shaking the very ground beneath them. Thanos, noticing their escape, shouted, "Stop them!!!" But before he could act, the Hulk's massive fist slammed into his head, sending the Mad Titan staggering backward.
Thanos, momentarily dazed, glared at the Hulk with a mixture of anger and annoyance. "Now you've done it, mindless beast!" he snarled, his voice filled with wrath as he prepared to retaliate.
Meanwhile, Mark and Emily raced toward the portal, knowing they had to escape. Ebony Maw and Corvus Glaive saw them getting away and quickly chased after them, determined not to let them escape.
But Dr. Strange was ready. He stepped in front of them and used his magic to stop their pursuit. He created magical barriers that blocked Ebony Maw's telekinetic powers and deflected Corvus Glaive's attacks.
"Now go!" Dr. Strange shouted, urging Mark and Emily to hurry through the portal while he held off the villains.
Mark and Emily didn't waste a second. They jumped into the portal just as it started to close. Ebony Maw and Corvus Glaive tried to stop them, but they were too late. Dr. Strange quickly closed the portal, leaving the villains trapped on the other side.
Thanos, his rage boiling over, turned back to the Hulk, his eyes burning with fury. But the heroes had made their escape, leaving the battlefield behind.
Thanos narrowed his eyes, recognizing the man before him. "You're that magician I killed back then.." he growled.
Dr. Strange smirked, undeterred by Thanos' menacing presence. "That was just an alternate version, weaker than me," he retorted, his tone dripping with confidence.
Thanos sneered and said, "Is that so?" before charging at Dr. Strange with his fist ready to strike. Just as Thanos was about to reach him, the Hulk, in a fit of rage, slammed into Thanos with all his strength. The impact was so powerful that it made Thanos stagger, forcing him to turn his attention away from Dr. Strange and focus on the massive green behemoth.
As Corvus Glaive and Ebony Maw rushed at Dr. Strange from opposite sides, he quickly realized he couldn't take them both on directly. Instead of panicking, he thought fast. He knew he needed to outsmart them rather than overpower them.
First, Dr. Strange used his magic to create multiple illusions of himself, causing Corvus and Ebony to hesitate, unsure which one was the real Dr. Strange. While they were distracted, Strange opened a small portal behind him and quickly stepped through it, reappearing a short distance away.
This brief moment of confusion bought Strange enough time to summon a magical barrier between himself and the two enemies. Now with a bit of space, he could better assess the situation and prepare for his next move, keeping Corvus and Ebony at bay while figuring out how to escape or turn the tide in the battle.
Just as Corvus Glaive and Ebony Maw were about to attack Dr. Strange, a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents suddenly appeared, weapons ready. They were clearly confused by the chaotic scene and immediately asked, "Who are you people? And where is Director Loe?"
The agents looked around, trying to make sense of the situation, their eyes moving between the alien-looking people and the sight of Dr. Strange.
Dr. Strange quickly took advantage of the situation. He pointed at Corvus Glaive and Ebony Maw and shouted, "They're the enemy! Look at them—they're aliens!" He added, "I'm human, from Earth, just like you. You need to stop them!"
The agents, faced with the unfamiliar and obviously alien forms of Corvus and Ebony, hesitated only for a moment before deciding to trust the sorcerer's words. After all, a fellow human—especially one who appeared to be a powerful magician—seemed far more trustworthy than the ominous alien figures before them.
"And that green one," Dr. Strange continued, pointing to the Hulk as he grappled with Thanos, "is Bruce Banner. He's human too, transformed due to circumstances."
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents recognized Bruce Banner, the scientist they knew from their own organization. They were shocked to see that he had turned into a massive green monster. The bald leader of the group looked at Dr. Strange with disbelief and asked, "Are you sure that's Bruce?"
Dr. Strange nodded confidently and replied, "I'm sure. He's undergone a transformation, but it's definitely him."
The agents, now fully on guard, redirected their attention to the true threats: Corvus Glaive and Ebony Maw. As they raised their weapons, ready to engage, Dr. Strange shifted his focus to the rampaging Hulk. He knew he couldn't leave Bruce behind in his current state, especially not with the portal to safety so close.
The agents opened fire, unleashing a barrage of rifle and guns that forced Thanos, Corvus Glaive, and Ebony Maw to take cover, temporarily stopping their advance.
Thanos, observing the agents' relentless assault, snarled in frustration. "You think these humans can stop me?" he growled, his eyes narrowing at Dr. Strange. But the agents, now fully committed, continued their onslaught, their weapons blazing with determination. One of the leaders, a bald agent with a commanding presence, shouted, "You're not getting past us! We protect this planet!"
Ebony Maw, ever the strategist, sneered, "Pathetic humans… they're nothing more than a nuisance." He looked to Thanos for orders, but Thanos simply waved him off, clearly irritated. "Pity human.." Thanos muttered. "They're only delaying the inevitable."
Dr. Strange realized that the agents' attack was buying him precious time. With Thanos, Ebony Maw, and Corvus Glaive momentarily pinned down by the barrage of fire, Strange knew he had a window to act.
He turned his attention to Hulk, who was still rampaging, lost in his fury. Strange needed to find a way to calm him down and get him through the portal. As the agents continued their relentless attack, Strange began to weave a spell, his hands moving in intricate patterns as he focused on Hulk.
"Bruce… I need you to calm down.." Strange murmured, his voice barely audible over the sound of gunfire. He cast a sleep-inducing enchantment, targeting the raging Hulk. Slowly, Hulk's movements began to slow, his roars turning into groggy growls as the spell took effect.
Thanos, noticing Hulk's change in demeanor, attempted to charge forward, the agents were relentless. They increased their fire, hitting Thanos with a concentrated barrage of rifle and guns. The force of the attacks made it difficult for Thanos to advance, forcing him to stay back and take cover.
Ebony Maw and Corvus Glaive, growing increasingly frustrated by the agents' persistent assault, attempted to push past them. But the agents were determined, and their intense firepower created a formidable spectacle, preventing Ebony Maw and Corvus Glaive from getting any closer to Dr. Strange.
Dr. Strange, sensing that Hulk was now subdued enough, quickly moved to his side. "Come on, Bruce, let's get you out of here." he urged, guiding the drowsy Hulk toward the portal.
As the agents continued to shoot, keeping the villains occupied, Dr. Strange led Hulk toward the portal where Loe, Nightwing, and Lady Vamp were already waiting. The agents' unwavering assault had bought them just enough time to make their escape, and as Strange and Hulk crossed the threshold of the portal, he gave a silent nod of gratitude to the agents who had unknowingly played a crucial role in their survival.
To be continue