Captain America still could not decide what action he should take. And at that moment—
a familiar figure stepped quietly beside him.
Marcus.
He had been hidden among the mutant students this entire time, and Steve had not even noticed.
"Marcus… why are you here?"
Ever since Marcus had pushed him toward becoming President, Steve had heard nothing from him.
He never imagined their next meeting would be on a battlefield soaked in blood.
"I'm choosing my side," Marcus answered simply.
Then, without warning, his arm morphed into a gleaming silver blade.
He swung.
Sparks exploded as metal struck vibranium.
Captain America staggered back in shock, though he immediately sensed Marcus had deliberately aimed only for his shield—never his body.
He raised a hand to stop the soldiers rushing to his defense.
"Marcus… what are you doing?!"
"You forgot, Captain," Marcus said, stepping forward again.
The blade came down hard—once more on the shield.
"I'm a mutant too."
"But we're friends! We fought side by side—don't you remember?"
Steve's voice carried real pain.
He hated the thought of raising a weapon against someone he had once trusted.
But Marcus pressed the attack relentlessly—forcing Steve to defend himself by instinct alone.
"Sometimes," Marcus said softly, "identity determines our stance. And stance… is often more important than friendship—
or even justice."
His words hit harder than his strikes.
Finally, under pressure, Steve reacted.
His shield whipped out and struck Marcus's shoulder, halting the assault.
Marcus smiled faintly. His arm returned to its human form.
"That's right, Captain. You finally understand your role."
He stepped aside.
"Now look. Look at what the side fighting for you is facing."
Steve turned—
And saw the battle properly for the first time.
---
Red Hulk vs. Magneto
What had once been Red Hulk's unstoppable rampage was now a losing struggle.
Steel restraints—twisted into brutal chains—wrapped around his enormous frame.
Magneto's power forced them tighter and tighter, crushing even Red Hulk's hardened flesh.
No matter how he strained, the metal bindings did not so much as tremble.
The American military fared no better.
Storm soared into the sky, lightning spiraling around her.
Bolts as thick as serpents crashed down, vaporizing tanks like brittle toys.
Bullets fired at her simply froze midair—suspended inches away.
Jean Grey had awakened.
Her telekinesis—pushed beyond its previous limits—held back storms of bullets effortlessly.
With a mere thought, she could crumple tanks like paper.
Her power was growing dangerously close to that of the Black Phoenix.
Kitty Pryde moved through the battlefield like a phantom.
Bullets passed harmlessly through her as she walked through walls, soldiers, and armor plating.
The troops watched in horror as she phased her hand into their chests—
solidifying only long enough to tear into nerves and organs before they collapsed unconscious.
---
New Avengers recruits—Nova, Iron Fist, Wasp, and others—remained aboard the Helicarrier awaiting orders.
Many had fought alongside the X-Men in the past.
Now, like Steve, they hesitated.
Were they about to raise their hands against former allies?
A dazed officer stumbled up to Captain America.
"Mr. President! It's too dangerous—you must withdraw immediately!"
"I'm not going anywhere."
Steve didn't think—he simply refused, as he always had when someone told him to run.
Marcus nodded approvingly.
"That's the right choice, Captain. You know what will happen if the mutants win. America will descend into chaos, and everything you've worked for as President… will crumble."
"Marcus… I—"
"No excuses."
Marcus suddenly kicked him backward with brutal precision—sending Steve tumbling across the ground.
When Steve rose again, Marcus had already vanished.
Steve stared down at his fallen shield.
The star-spangled emblem stared back at him.
a symbol of the country he now carried on his shoulders.
He lifted it slowly.
Then inhaled once.
And shouted the words Marcus had been waiting for:
"Avengers—assemble!"
---
The Helicarrier shook as every waiting hero launched into action.
Bruce Banner was the first to leap.
He didn't even wait to transform.
He simply hurled himself from the sky—
no parachute, no hesitation—
plummeting toward the academy grounds like a meteor.
He hit the ground with an earth-shattering boom, carving a crater into the courtyard.
Dust erupted everywhere.
And then—
A colossal green figure rose from the pit.
To the mutants, it felt like the arrival of a demon.
"HULK… SMASH!!!"
The roar shattered the surrounding windows.
Even the bravest mutants froze with instinctive dread.
Because they all knew:
The Avengers' strongest weapon—
their ultimate force of destruction—
had entered the battlefield.
And once the Hulk was fully enraged—
no one on Earth could stop him.
___
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