.ೃ࿔*:･𝐱𝐥𝐯𝐢. i know the end

𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐋, a streak of gold and blue tearing through the sky like a comet.

"Danvers, we need an assist here," Steve called out, his voice strained but steady.

Carol landed beside Peter, who lay sprawled on the ground. His arms were locked around the Gauntlet. He looked up at Carol, his face streaked with dirt and sweat, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Hi," Peter croaked, his voice barely more than a whisper. His chest heaved with the effort of speaking. "I’m Peter Parker."

A small, almost tender smile tugged at the corner of Carol's lips. "Hey, Peter Parker," she said, her voice steady and reassuring. "You got something for me?"

Peter nodded, his hand trembling slightly as he passed the Gauntlet to her. His eyes flickered to the horizon, where the enemy forces were gathering like a dark storm. "I don’t know how you’re gonna get it through all that," he murmured.

Carol followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. But before she could respond, a powerful gust of wind swept across the battlefield, carrying with it the unmistakable sound of reinforcements.

Wanda descended, her crimson energy crackling in the air around her. Valkyrie touched down beside her, the wings of her Pegasus flaring out behind her. And then there was Ingrid, fire still licking at her fingertips, her eyes blazing with determination.

"Don’t worry," Wanda said, her voice infused with quiet confidence as she stepped forward.

"She's got help," a new voice interjected, firm and resolute. Okoye emerged from the haze, her spear held at the ready. Pepper was right behind her, in her suit, its sleek design glinting under the dim, war-torn sky.

One by one, they appeared—Mantis, her antennae twitching as she absorbed the fear and hope surrounding them; Shuri, armed with her powerful gauntlets, her expression fierce; Gamora, the deadliest woman in the galaxy, blades in hand; and Nebula, her cybernetic enhancements gleaming coldly.

The battlefield erupted into chaos as Thanos' army charged forward, a relentless tide of alien warriors, Leviathans, and Outriders bearing down on the heroes.

Carol took to the skies with Wanda and Ingrid flanking her, their combined powers igniting. Red energy crackled around Wanda's hands, fire danced along Ingrid's fingertips, and Carol blazed with golden light, the trio forming a deadly formation as they rained destruction from above. Below, Gamora sprinted into the fight, her blades slicing through anything in her path with ruthless precision.

Okoye let out a feral growl, her movements a blur of deadly grace as she spun on her feet and impaled an alien soldier with her spear. Her eyes flicked across the battlefield, ever watchful, ever ready. Nearby, Valkyrie urged her Pegasus higher, the creature’s wings beating furiously as they ascended into the sky. She barely had time to register the two massive Leviathans looming before her, their jaws wide and ready to crush. A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly extinguished when Wanda’s energy blasts slammed into the beasts.

Meanwhile, Carol focused on her mission. With the Gauntlet in hand, she streaked through the enemy lines, cutting through blockades with ease. Her gaze was locked on the van in the distance, the one chance they had to send the Infinity Stones back where they belonged.

But Thanos was not about to let that happen. His eyes narrowed as he saw her progress, and with a snarl, he broke into a sprint, charging towards her.

Before he could reach her, a barrage of energy blasts slammed into him from three directions. Pepper, Shuri and the Wasp formed a formidable wall of defense. The force of their combined attacks sent Thanos sprawling backward, the ground shaking as he hit it and rolled.

With a roar of fury, Thanos dug his hand into the dirt, pulling himself to his feet. His eyes locked onto Carol, who was now within striking distance of the van. Desperation flickered in his gaze as he quickly assessed his options. With a bellow of rage, he reeled back his arm and hurled his double-bladed sword with all his might. The weapon spun through the air, aimed directly at the van.

Carol saw the blade coming, and time seemed to slow as she dove towards the van, her heart pounding in her chest. But she was too late. The sword struck the vehicle with a deafening crash, and the world erupted in a massive explosion. The shockwave hurled Carol back through the air, her grip on the Gauntlet slipping as she was thrown into the side of Thanos' ship.

On the ground, Tony lay nearby, the world a blur of sound and movement as he struggled to regain his senses. His eyes fell on the Gauntlet, now lying amid the wreckage, and a surge of adrenaline jolted him to his feet. He began to sprint towards it, every muscle in his body screaming in protest, knowing that every second counted.

But Thanos had the same idea. The Titan recovered swiftly from his fall, his eyes narrowing as he saw Tony. With a burst of speed, he charged forward. Tony barely had time to adjust before he was tackled and thrown to the ground.

Before the punch could land, Thor thundered into the scene, both Stormbreaker and Mjolnir clutched in his hands. His rage was palpable as he hurled Mjolnir aside and swung Stormbreaker with all his might. The axe was aimed directly at Thanos’ head, but the Titan’s reflexes were quick. He caught the axe’s hilt just inches from his face, his teeth bared in a snarl.

Thor’s eyes flashed with determination as he stretched out his hand, summoning Mjolnir back to him. The hammer flew through the air, hooking over Stormbreaker’s handle, and Thor twisted his weapons together, trying to choke the life out of Thanos. Thanos roared in defiance, his muscles straining as he resisted the hold.

Steve saw the struggle and knew he had to act. With every ounce of strength he had left, he sprinted forward, leaping onto Thanos’ back and grabbing hold of Stormbreaker’s haft. He pulled with all his might, tightening the hold around Thanos’ throat. The Titan staggered under the combined weight, but his resolve was unshakable.

With a brutal motion, Thanos threw his head back, headbutting Thor and sending him sprawling to the ground. The god of thunder hit the dirt hard, the wind knocked from his lungs. Thanos wasted no time. He grabbed Steve’s arm and, with a ferocious roar, hurled him over his shoulder.

Thanos seized the Gauntlet with a triumphant growl. But before he could relish the moment, a sudden force struck the back of his knee, driving him to the ground. It was Carol, fierce and relentless, who delivered the blow. She followed up with a brutal punch to his jaw, each strike fueled by fury.

With a snarl, Thanos caught Carol by the arm. He swung her away with terrifying strength, sending her crashing into the debris-strewn ground. The impact was bone-rattling, but Carol was already pushing herself up, eyes blazing with determination.

In a desperate bid, Thanos jammed the Gauntlet onto his hand, a guttural groan escaping him as the raw power of the Infinity Stones surged through his veins. The energy pulsed, wild and uncontrollable, threatening to tear him apart even as it granted him unimaginable strength.

His gaze turned cold as he lifted his arm, fingers poised to snap, ready to end the battle with a single gesture. But before he could complete the motion, Carol was on him again, her fingers latching onto his thumb and middle finger, prying them apart with unyielding force.

Thanos' expression twisted into a grimace, his teeth grinding together as he fought to overpower her. He leaned in, trying to deliver a crushing headbutt, but Carol didn’t flinch. Carol’s lips curled into a fierce frown as she began to rise, lifting Thanos with her, forcing the Mad Titan to his knees.

She was winning. For a fleeting moment, it seemed the tide had turned. With one hand holding Thanos at bay, Carol raised her other fist, energy coiling around it.

Thanos' eyes flicked to the Gauntlet, where the Power Stone glimmered beneath his index finger. His massive hand shifted, curling around the Stone, ripping it from the Gauntlet with a snarl. Carol’s eyes widened for a split second, the only hint of the sudden dread that seized her.

With a roar, Thanos swung his fist, the Power Stone blazing in his grip. The punch connected with Carol, and the world seemed to explode around them. Carol was flung backward, the sheer force of the blow overwhelming her. She crashed into the wing of Thanos’ ship with a sickening crunch, her body crumpling under the impact.

Ingrid saw Carol fall and felt a cold dread grip her heart, but there was no time to hesitate. She was already moving, her body reacting on instinct. Her broken wrist throbbed with every movement, a burning pain that radiated up her arm, but she forced herself to push it aside. She couldn’t afford to be weak, not now— not when everything was at stake.

Summoning the last of her strength, Ingrid ignited the flames within her. They burst forth from her hands, a searing inferno that burned with the intensity of her desperation. She charged at Thanos, the fire surrounding her like a blazing shield.

The flames collided with Thanos, enveloping him in a vortex of fire. For a moment, she thought she saw him falter, saw his expression twist with pain—but then the fire began to dissipate, and Ingrid’s heart sank. Thanos emerged from the flames, his expression unchanged, untouched by the heat of her attack.

He raised the Power Stone, its malevolent energy pulsing in his grip. Ingrid’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what was coming, but her tired body couldn’t react in time. The shockwave hit her like a hammer, knocking the breath from her lungs and sending her careening across the battlefield. She hit the ground hard, the impact jarring her already battered body.

Ingrid struggled to get up, her limbs trembling, her vision blurred by pain and exhaustion. Every breath was a battle, each gasp a reminder of her limitations. She could barely move, her strength drained, but her eyes remained fixed on Thanos, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination.

She watched helplessly as Thanos calmly replaced the Power Stone in the Gauntlet, the energy flowing through him once more. His eyes gleamed with dark triumph as he lifted his head, the Gauntlet glowing ominously, ready to unleash its full power.

Ingrid's heart pounded in her chest as she watched Tony stagger to his feet, determination etched into every line of his face. The battlefield was chaos, the sounds of clashing steel and desperate cries filling the air, but all she could focus on was Tony, his gaze locked onto the Gauntlet that Thanos now wielded.

With a fierce resolve, Tony lunged forward, his fingers grasping the Gauntlet's edge. Thanos turned his attention to the stubborn human, his lips curling into a menacing grin.

Tony managed to block a powerful blow, his armored hands latching onto the back of the Gauntlet, desperately trying to keep it away from Thanos. But Thanos, with his overwhelming strength, delivered a brutal backhanded strike that sent Tony crashing to the ground, the force of the blow rattling through his entire body.

Ingrid's breath caught in her throat as she watched Tony hit the ground, her own body trembling with exhaustion and fear. She could do nothing but watch, her vision blurred by sweat and tears, as Thanos loomed over him.

Thanos' grin widened as he raised his right hand, the weight of inevitability hanging in the air like a death sentence. His voice was low, filled with finality as he declared, "I am... inevitable."

Ingrid squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the end. Her mind raced with thoughts of all they had lost, all they had fought for, and all the people they had failed to save. The fear was suffocating, a cold hand squeezing her heart as she waited for the final snap, the one that would bring about their doom.

And then, she heard it— a dull, hollow clink. The sound echoed in her ears, yet nothing happened. No surge of energy, no cataclysmic explosion, no fading into dust. Confusion prickled at the edge of her awareness, and slowly, cautiously, she pried her eyes open.

Thanos stood there, his massive form rigid with confusion. He looked down at his hand, turning it over, his brow furrowing in disbelief. The Gauntlet was missing something. The Infinity Stones were gone, every last one of them.

Ingrid's eyes darted to Tony, and her breath hitched. Thanos’ shock was mirrored on Tony’s face, but there was something else— something fierce, something unbreakable. The Stones were now embedded in the back of Tony's armored hand, a makeshift gauntlet glowing with unimaginable power. The realization struck Ingrid like a bolt of lightning.

But the victory was bittersweet. Ingrid could see the toll it was taking on him, the way his body trembled under the weight of the Stones’ immense power. The gamma radiation surged through him, visible arcs of energy crackling across his armor, scorching everything it touched. Tony’s face was a mask of agony as he fought to stay upright, his knees threatening to buckle beneath him.

But Tony lifted his head. His eyes blazed with the resolve that had carried him through countless battles, that had driven him to protect the world time and time again. Despite the searing pain coursing through his veins, he found the strength to look Thanos in the eye.

"And I..." Tony's voice was strained, each word a battle to speak. He paused, drawing in a shuddering breath as he steadied himself, gathering the last of his strength. "Am... Iron Man."

And with that, he snapped his fingers.