The mage let out a whistle. Nothing happened. He whistled again, louder and sharper this time, and finally, there was a response. A bright white arc descended from the New York City skyline to land before Solomon. It was Pegasus, the magical steed he had sent roaming the city earlier, instructed to return when summoned. However, the sight of Pegasus holding a bag of Skittles in its mouth was... unexpected.
That foolish horse! Where had it stolen the candy? Solomon could only hope the store clerk hadn't been too terrified by a horse that could open doors and pick out snacks. Pegasus, of course, didn't seem the type to pay for its haul.
This wasn't the time to scold the sugar-obsessed creature, though. Solomon climbed onto Pegasus's back, grabbing the golden reins. With a gentle nudge to the horse's sides, Pegasus began to gallop. Its massive white wings beat the air, propelling it forward until it became a streak of light. Leaping over stalled cars and downed Quinjet wreckage, the steed soared into the sky, heading toward Stark Tower. The alien invasion was now the world's focus, the Sorcerer Supreme's goal achieved. It was time for Solomon to keep his promises.
"Is that… Solomon Damonet?" Captain Rogers hesitated. "Did we give him comms?"
"No," Romanoff replied with a shrug, unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out of the cockpit with Clint. "He knows plenty, but he never shares."
"That kid's even more of a maverick than Stark." Rogers picked up his shield from the floor. The word "maverick" wasn't exactly praise; it was his polite way of expressing frustration with those who refused to follow orders.
"He's never been one of us, Captain," Romanoff remarked. Solomon's independent, unpredictable nature had left a lasting impression on her. She never knew what he would do next.
"Then we just focus on our own tasks." Rogers squinted upward, trying to see through the smoke and dust stirred by collapsing buildings and burning vehicles. Even with his enhanced senses, the scene was overwhelming. Yet, the deep rumbling sound from the portal above caught his attention. Emerging from the cosmic rift was a massive Leviathan-like creature, hundreds of feet long. Its enormous maw opened and its metallic tail lashed about. Covered in metallic fins and jagged spines, it looked like a colossal airborne skeleton of a deep-sea predator, flanked by hordes of Chitauri soldiers on their hovercrafts.
The Leviathan drifted through Manhattan's skyscrapers, its metallic fins and spines slicing through concrete and steel as easily as paper. Buildings crumbled under its immense weight and power. When it let out a thunderous roar, hatches along its sides opened, unleashing waves of Chitauri soldiers who clung to walls with their sharp claws, breaking windows and infiltrating the buildings.
But before the Leviathan could release more troops, a streak of bright white light raced beneath it. A deafening metallic screech followed as the creature's massive body was sliced cleanly in two, like a knife through butter.
Then came the crash and explosion. Dust and ash filled the air, and the dying shrieks of Chitauri soldiers trapped inside echoed from the Leviathan's ruptured belly. For the first time, Captain Rogers found the enemy's screams almost pleasant.
"Isn't he a mage?" Rogers asked. "Why's he using a sword?"
"Maybe he thinks it's less exhausting," Clint replied, shaking his head.
"Stark, did you see that?" Rogers asked over the comms.
"Yeah, unbelievable," Stark replied. "Was that the kid? Magic boy's got some moves. By the way, anyone seen Banner?"
"Banner's here," Fury cut in. "That little punk released him without telling me. Agents found Banner in the engine room. He's on his way to New York."
"Good. Looks like the Hulk has competition." Stark adjusted his thrusters, heading off to take down more Chitauri soldiers. "But magic boy's not enough. We need to get him a comms unit. And there are still plenty of civilians trapped…"
The Chitauri seemed to receive new orders, focusing their laser weapons on the streets below. Explosions ripped through the city, screams and cries of pain echoing down the blocks.
"These people need help," Rogers said. Just as he spoke, a group of Chitauri soldiers leapt down near them. Romanoff and Clint quickly took on the task of holding them off, giving Rogers the chance to assist the civilians.
More Leviathans began pouring through the portal, but after taking down several Chitauri soldiers, Solomon directed Pegasus to land on the rooftop of Stark Tower.
"Where's Loki?" Solomon asked Thor. "You've seen his choices. What are you planning to do? He's claiming another king's throne."
"He is my brother," Thor said, spinning his hammer. "He will be judged by Asgard."
"Let's hope Asgard can afford the price. Otherwise, you'd better start protecting him now." The voice from Solomon's helmet was muffled. Pegasus snorted, sensing something.
Suddenly, a burst of flame erupted beside Solomon. A phoenix appeared, holding a shield and a lance. Solomon sheathed his sword, accepting the Aegis Shield and the ornate white lance. The shield, with its tortured visage of Medusa, made even Thor step back slightly.
For larger foes like the Leviathans, Solomon knew the sword alone wouldn't suffice without unlocking its full power. The lance was more appropriate. Before the decisive moment arrived, Solomon intended to hunt down as many beasts as possible. The petrifying Aegis Shield was a calculated choice; he wasn't sure if the half-mechanical Leviathans had eyes, but it was worth a try. Of course, he ensured no civilians saw the shield's cursed design, rendering it an ordinary defensive tool for now.
"You still have a chance, Thor. I hope you capture Loki before I've killed all the Chitauri." With that, Solomon signaled Pegasus to leap off the building. The phoenix followed as they charged toward another Leviathan emerging from the portal.
Instead of a direct collision, Solomon angled his lance at the Leviathan's head, skewering it cleanly. With Pegasus's help, he dragged the lifeless beast down to an empty lot.
The impact was brutal. Despite his armor and the strength granted by his stigmata, Solomon's shoulders and ribs throbbed with pain. His skin, likely bruised beneath the metal, ached as he held onto the lance. Grimacing, he raised the shield to deflect Chitauri fire, then urged Pegasus forward to trample the nearest enemy.
The phoenix let out a piercing cry, leaving the remaining Chitauri soldiers momentarily dazed. Solomon didn't waste the opportunity. Ignoring his pain, he impaled them with the lance, their cold blue blood pooling beneath the weapon.
"I'm not… supposed to be here."
Four figures in specialized suits suddenly appeared on the street. The largest among them hesitated. "Did we get the timing wrong? I should be here smashing things right now."
"The multiverse has its quirks; otherwise, there'd be no need for a multiverse," Solomon said as his helmet retracted, releasing a cloud of heat from his head and neck. His sweat-drenched black hair stuck to his flushed face. Grimacing, he rummaged through his dimensional bag for a potion.
"Have we met before? I don't remember you being at the Battle of New York. Were you there, just unnoticed?"
"You haven't met me, but I've seen you… the versions of you from this timeline." Solomon drank the potion, easing his injuries. "This is the multiverse," he continued, finally looking up at the future versions of Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, and Ant-Man.
"My teacher is the Sorcerer Supreme—not Strange; that guy's a rookie. The previous one."
"You know where we're from?" Rogers asked in surprise.
"Of course. I also know where you're going." Solomon urged Pegasus forward, stopping before Stark. From the saddle, he retrieved a parchment scroll from a case hanging off Pegasus. "But I don't care about your universe's survival. Not one bit." His expression was cold. "However, I'm intrigued by the possibilities of fate. So, Tony Stark, deliver this scroll to Strange. He'll know what to do."
"He's dead," future Stark replied. "He turned to dust right in front of me. No sound, no warning—just dust."
"I know. But he'll return." The mage leaned down and slapped the scroll against Stark's chest. "Let's make a deal. One you won't regret."
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