And then—it roared.
The sound shattered nearby windows and sent tremors rippling through the ground. The towering Shadow Dragon radiated raw power, its very presence exuding fear. It stretched its wings wide, casting an enormous shadow over the ruins of the city.
"What is that?" Widow asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Thor's expression hardened. "That... is a Dragon. Such creatures are among the most dangerous in existence."
"And Max just made it?" Steve muttered, watching in disbelief.
Max smirked, glancing at his handiwork. "My mount is ready," he said, his voice calm yet filled with satisfaction.
He leapt effortlessly onto the dragon's back, the massive creature lowering itself to let its master mount. To Max, this wasn't merely a weapon of destruction—it was his mount.
"Did he just say mount?" Thor asked, his brow furrowed, as the others nodded in stunned agreement.
"Holy moly," Tony's voice echoed in disbelief, breaking the silence. "I bet those aliens would piss their pants if they saw this thing now." The others couldn't help but nod in agreement, their eyes glued to the massive Shadow Dragon.
Back at the SHIELD command center, Fury stared at the screen, struggling to find the right words. His thoughts raced as he watched the footage of the Chitauri bodies disappearing into nothingness, only to culminate in the creation of this monstrosity. Did he use all those bodies to make this... abomination? Fury wondered, a mixture of shock and unease crossing his face.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Lumia folded her arms, glaring at the massive dragon. "Bastard," she muttered, her voice low but brimming with irritation. "I wanted to create a Death Guardian too." She waved her hand, signaling her own undead forces to retreat. With a flick of her wrist, they dissolved into shadow, leaving her to stalk away, her frustration evident in every step.
Max stood atop his newly formed Shadow Dragon, his figure silhouetted against the vast sky. The dragon's wings beat slowly but powerfully, creating gusts that rattled windows and stirred up loose debris on the ground. He looked down at the Avengers, a smug smile playing on his lips as if daring them to challenge him.
"You think he's going to be a problem?" Natasha asked Fury through her comms, her voice calm but tinged with concern.
"He's already a problem," Fury replied grimly, watching the live feed from the Helicarrier. "A big one."
The Shadow Dragon let out another earth-shaking roar, its violet aura radiating a menacing energy that seemed to defy the natural laws of the world. Civilians who had been cautiously emerging from hiding scattered once more, fear gripping them at the sight of the monstrous being.
Max's voice rang out, amplified and commanding. "This city owes me no thanks, nor will I stay for your misplaced gratitude. Consider this a demonstration—of both power and mercy."
He patted the dragon's neck, and with a mighty leap, it rose higher into the sky. The light from its glowing eyes lingered in the minds of those watching, a haunting reminder of what they had witnessed.
"Max!" Peter's voice crackled through their private comms. "We're heading back now. Everyone's safe. The Tesseract is secured."
"Good," Max replied, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. "Make sure it stays that way."
Peter's acknowledgment was quick, and soon the Spidey Squad disappeared into the labyrinth of New York's underground. Lumia followed, her grumbling about missed opportunities fading into the background.
As the streets of New York began to settle, the Avengers stood in silence, watching Max and his monstrous dragon take to the skies.
"Anyone else feeling like the world just got a whole lot weirder?" Clint muttered, breaking the uneasy quiet.
"Definitely," Natasha agreed, her eyes never leaving the shrinking figure of the Shadow Dragon against the horizon.
On the Helicarrier Tony, Thor, Steve, and Natasha regrouped, standing around a holographic map of the city. Fury, as ever, loomed nearby with his arms crossed.
"This guy," Tony started, gesturing at the live feed of Max's retreating dragon, "is either going to be the best ally we've ever had—or the worst enemy."
"We don't know his motives," Steve pointed out. "What does he really want? What's his endgame?"
"He's not from this world," Thor said gravely, his voice laden with the weight of ancient knowledge. "That much is clear. But his power... it's unlike anything I've seen."
Fury's gaze was sharp as he addressed the group. "We need answers. Whatever resources we have, throw them at this. I want to know where he's from, what he's capable of, and how we can counter it if we have to."
"What about Phil?" Clint suddenly asked, drawing everyone's attention.
"What about him?" Fury responded, his tone wary.
"I mean," Clint began, "in books and movies, undead creatures obey their master. And since Phil was brought back by Max... well, doesn't that mean he's bound to him? You know, like some master-creation bond or something?"
The room fell silent for a moment before Tony broke it, looking at Thor. "What do you know about necromancy?"
Thor furrowed his brow. "Not much, but it is said to be a magic born of the darkest realms, one that once sought to envelop all existence in shadow. Those who practice it are often immensely powerful, but their strength comes with a price."
Hearing this, Tony nodded slowly. "Yeah, we've seen the 'immensely powerful' part. But what about weaknesses? Every power has one."
Thor stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Light magic," he said after a moment. "It is the direct opposite of necromancy. Light magic can disrupt and destroy undead creatures, severing their bonds to their master. In its purest form, it can even neutralize necromantic magic entirely."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. So, theoretically, if someone—like me—were to, say, create armor imbued with light magic, we'd have a fighting chance against this guy?"
Thor inclined his head. "If you can create such a thing, it would undoubtedly be a valuable tool. But wielding light magic requires more than technology. It demands a purity of intent, a connection to realms of light and life."
***
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