Elsewhere, chaos erupted.
Scott Lang towered in giant form, swatting away SHIELD drones. "Sorry! Sorry! Okay, maybe don't fire missiles!"
Iron Man zipped around him like an angry hornet, repulsors blazing, while Rhodey attacked from the other side. Each blast scorched Scott's oversized armor, chipping away at its paint.
"You're making a mistake siding with them!" Rhodey yelled, locking onto his target.
"Yeah, well, I've made worse ones!" Scott shot back, swiping at him like a fly.
Tony unleashed a concentrated chest beam, striking Scott's shoulder. The giant staggered, nearly collapsing onto a nearby transport truck.
"Scott, shrink down!" Cap's strained voice echoed across the comms. "You're too exposed out here!"
"Uh, kind of busy, Cap!" Scott yelped, dodging as War Machine zoomed past his ear like a wasp.
Then, grinning, Scott yanked a light pole out of the ground. "But hey, at least I finally get to play baseball."
He swung the pole like a bat, narrowly missing Tony mid-flight. Stark swerved just in time, muttering curses under his breath.
"Okay," Tony grumbled. "New rule. No more comedy giants."
On the ground, Natasha fought her former allies with swift, electrified strikes and precise baton moves. Every action was calculated but tinged with hesitation. She swept one agent off their feet and electrocuted another with a jab to the ribs, though her gaze lingered on each fallen opponent.
Clint guarded her flank, firing arrows in rapid succession. "Nat, you're pulling your punches."
"I don't want to hurt them," she murmured, deflecting a stun-baton attack.
"Then they'll hurt you."
Clint launched a flash-bang arrow, exploding in a dazzling white flare. Natasha seized the moment, flipping her attacker to the ground.
She cast a sharp glance at Clint, her eyes unyielding. "I'll survive. They won't if I let go."
Meanwhile, Wanda confronted her own turmoil. Crimson energy coiled from her fingers like living flames, suspending War Machine's drones mid-air. The machines quivered, their targeting systems faltering under her power. With a decisive twist of her hand, she crumpled them effortlessly and flung the wreckage across the battlefield.
Vision, however, was upon her again, having driven Cap back with a devastating strike. He advanced with unwavering purpose, striding through the gunfire and chaos as though it were inconsequential.
"Wanda," he said, his voice calm despite the destruction surrounding them. "You must cease this."
Her breath caught, a storm of anger and fear roiling within her. "You don't get to tell me what I must do."
Her power surged outward in a seismic wave, fracturing the ground beneath her. Vision solidified his density, standing firm like an immovable mountain against the force. Slowly, deliberately, he extended his hand.
Then—
BOOM!
Bucky Barnes crashed into Vision from the side, his metal arm colliding with the android's ribs in a resounding impact. Vision staggered, forced back a step.
Bucky glared fiercely, his voice a growl. "Stay. Away."
Vision tilted his head, scrutinizing the soldier with clinical curiosity. Then he struck, his hand darting forward with blinding speed. Bucky barely raised his arm in time, metal clashing against synthetic alloy as sparks erupted.
Cap rejoined the battle, interposing his shield once more. The three clashed furiously, man, machine, and soldier locked in a relentless and ferocious struggle.
Above, Tony paused, systems recalibrating with a hum. "Alright," he muttered under his breath, his HUD flickering faintly. "New plan: divide and conquer."
"Tony," Rhodey's voice crackled over the comms, "they're not letting up."
"They don't have to," Tony replied sharply. "We just need them exhausted."
His eyes scanned the battlefield: Barton and Natasha maintaining the perimeter, Wanda disassembling machines with brutal efficiency, Scott wreaking havoc on the runway, Rogers and Barnes forcing Vision back with sheer determination.
Too many moving parts. Too much chaos to contain.
"Jarvis—" he began instinctively, but the name stuck in his throat. Jarvis wasn't there anymore. The silence that followed was deafening.
Grinding his teeth, Tony barked out, "Friday. Prioritize Maximoff. If she keeps this up, no one's walking away from this."
Friday's voice pierced through Tony's HUD.
"Target lock acquired. Maximoff in range."
A warning klaxon blared in Wanda's mind. She spun around, crimson energy swirling protectively around her, just as Iron Man came streaking in low, repulsors blazing.
"Wanda, move!" Natasha's voice cut through the chaos, but it was already too late.
BOOM!
The first shot smashed into Wanda's barrier, sparks flying as her scarlet hex crackled under the strain. She staggered but held her ground, veins glowing faintly red as her power surged in defiance of Tony's relentless assault.
Clint fired an arrow that burst midair, a flash of light temporarily blinding Tony. "Back off, Stark!"
"Funny," Tony replied, shaking off the flare as his HUD recalibrated. "I was just about to say the same thing."
The battle erupted into chaos, each clash resounding across the airstrip.
But above the fray, two figures hovered in an eerie stillness.
Blue Marvel floated like an unyielding sentinel, his form outlined by a faint blue glow, his expression marked by grim determination. Across from him, Hyperion stood suspended, his golden cape billowing in the charged air, eyes blazing like miniature suns. Their presence alone seemed to distort the battlefield below, the weight of their power felt by every combatant.
"You're really going through with this," Hyperion's voice broke through, calm but laden with the weight of thunder. "Choosing SHIELD. Choosing Stark."
Adam Brashear's gaze remained steady. "I stand for the law, for accountability, for protecting humanity from the consequences of unchecked power. And so should you, Milton."
Hyperion's jaw tightened, his fists flexing at his sides. "Accountability? You mean shackles. You want us bound to bureaucrats who can't see beyond their next election. I won't submit to that. Not after everything we've endured."
Their voices were drowned out by the chaos of the escalating battle below.
Scott Lang, still towering, swung wildly again, his massive arm clipping a jet wing and setting off alarms across the airstrip. "Sorry! I'm really sorry!"
"Lang, you're going to bring down the whole terminal!" Rhodey barked, launching micro-missiles that detonated against Scott's colossal chest.
On the tarmac, Cap's shield clashed with Vision's density-shifted strike, sending sparks cascading in brilliant arcs. Bucky was immediately at his side, his metal arm slamming into Vision's torso. Vision absorbed the impacts without flinching, but each blow slowed him incrementally.
Natasha and Clint stood back-to-back, surrounded by SHIELD operatives. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, years of partnership keeping them alive amid the chaos.
And Wanda screamed.
Her scarlet energy erupted outward, deflecting Stark's next barrage. She seized one of Rhodey's drones from the air and slammed it into the ground with enough force to leave a crater.
"FRIDAY, redirect all power to containment protocols," Tony ordered sharply. "If she keeps escalating, someone's not walking away from this."
And then—
BOOOOOM.
The shockwave silenced everything.
All eyes turned skyward.
Blue Marvel and Hyperion collided.
Their first strike echoed like a meteor impact, rippling shockwaves that knocked operatives, drones, and even Cap himself off balance. The sky itself seemed to shudder as the two titans clashed above the airport.
Hyperion threw the first blow, a solar-charged punch that tore through the sound barrier. Adam blocked it, energy cascading around his arm, the air warping from the sheer force. They spun apart, then met again, fists colliding with the power to level mountains.
"Stay down, Adam!" Hyperion thundered. His eyes flared, beams of nuclear heat streaking toward Blue Marvel.
Brashear raised a hand, his anti-matter energy flaring like a miniature star. The beams bent, dispersed, shattering harmlessly into the upper atmosphere. He answered with a counterblast, pure energy lancing across the sky and slamming Hyperion backward.
On the ground, both sides froze briefly, watching gods at war.
"Uh…" Scott Lang muttered, lowering his makeshift light pole bat. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to feel a little… underdressed."
"Focus!" Steve barked, regaining his footing, but even his eyes tracked upward.
Tony grimaced inside his suit. "This just went from a fistfight to Armageddon. Friday, keep readings on them both. If Hyperion or Brashear unleash at full output, this whole damn city's dust."
As the battle below surged forward, every combatant threw themselves into the chaos with growing ferocity, as if trying to drown out the cataclysmic clash erupting above.
Bucky and Captain America pressed Vision relentlessly, forcing him back one step at a time. Natasha efficiently disarmed two SHIELD agents, swiftly turning her stun-baton against Rhodey's flight pack as he swooped low. Sparks burst as he veered off course, swearing loudly.
Wanda, shaking but resolute, unleashed another wave of scarlet energy, slamming Stark into the belly of a parked jet. The metal screamed under the impact as Tony crashed through it, alarms blaring in response.
"Okay," Tony groaned, hauling himself out of the wreckage, "note to self: definitely need stronger language filters on Maximoff."
The ground skirmish was pure chaos, yet it paled in comparison to the battle raging in the sky.
Hyperion drove Adam toward the tarmac like a fiery comet, only for Brashear to break free at the last moment. Their collision shattered the runway, sending SHIELD vehicles flying like toys and scattering agents in every direction.
Steve Rogers braced himself, raising his shield against the shockwave. He turned to Sam Wilson, who darted through the battlefield on his falcon wings. "Sam, keep the civilians back! If those two keep going…"
Sam glanced skyward, his expression grim. "We're looking at a nuclear meltdown, with fists."
The fight above pressed on.
Hyperion's punches blurred with explosive force, while Adam countered with precision energy strikes, his anti-matter manipulation chipping away at Hyperion's solar aura inch by inch.
Neither would give ground. Neither could.
And in that moment, both sides of the Civil War understood, this was no longer just about accords. As Hyperion and Blue Marvel traded devastating blows, the line between civil conflict and total annihilation grew razor thin.
The sound of rending metal and falling debris reverberated across the airstrip as Hyperion delivered another devastating solar-powered uppercut to Blue Marvel's chest. Adam's anti-matter aura surged violently, absorbing and redirecting some of the energy into the atmosphere. The resulting shockwave hurled cars and crates skyward, scattering SHIELD agents and SWORD operatives as they were thrown to the tarmac.
On the ground, Tony Stark groaned, wiping blood from a gash above his brow. "Friday, give me a read, how fast are they moving? What's the energy output?"
"Calculating," Friday's calm voice replied. "Energy discharge exceeds a level 7 containment threshold. Their combined output could level a metropolitan area within seconds if sustained."
"Well, that's reassuring," Tony muttered, activating his repulsors to form a makeshift barrier around himself.
Scott Lang, still towering in his giant form, ducked under the shockwave from Hyperion's next swing and retaliated with a light pole, only to inadvertently strike Rhodey across the chest, sending him tumbling. "Sorry! My bad!" Scott shouted, quickly shrinking mid-motion to evade Tony's counter-blast.
"Lang!" Cap barked. "Stay on target! Focus!"
"I'm trying!" Scott yelped, returning to normal size and grabbing a nearby fuel container. He hurled it at a cluster of approaching SHIELD drones, the subsequent explosion shaking the airstrip and forcing both sides into retreat.
Natasha moved with lethal precision, neutralizing operatives one by one with fluid, calculated strikes. Clint's arrows flew rapidly, each tipped for incapacitation rather than lethality, but the unrelenting wave of combatants pressed on. Every move Natasha made carried an almost imperceptible tension, the delicate balance between survival and restraint shaping her every action.
Wanda's eyes burned with fury as Vision materialized once again, steadfast and unyielding, moving toward her with unwavering determination. Crimson energy surged around her hands, crackling as it tore through the air, sending debris and drones flying in all directions. "I said leave me alone!" she screamed, her voice a thunderous roar of rage and anguish.
Vision, his tone calm but resolute amidst the turmoil, replied, "I cannot allow further harm, Maximoff."
Bucky charged forward, his metal arm crashing into Vision's chest, producing an eruption of sparks. The android shifted deftly, countering the assault, though his movements showed strain, evidence that the prolonged skirmish was taking its toll on even his formidable body. Cap joined the fray, his shield raised defensively as he attempted to block and deflect Vision's relentless strikes.
High above, Hyperion bellowed, his solar-infused fist slamming into the runway and leaving a gaping crater in its wake. Blue Marvel dodged the impact, electricity crackling from his hands as he retaliated with a focused energy blast. The two attacks collided midair in a dazzling explosion of light, sending a shockwave rippling across the battlefield, shaking the airport, and throwing combatants off balance.
Tony Stark barely managed to stabilize himself, his repulsors firing in quick succession to counter the force of the blast. "Alright, that's enough!" he shouted, his voice sharp through his helmet's comm. "If they want a light show, I'll give them one, and they're not gonna like it!"
Scott Lang, back to his normal size, ducked under the edge of another shockwave, muttering under his breath, "Seriously, who's cleaning this up? Do airports even have insurance for this kind of thing?"
Steve Rogers, battered and bloodied, narrowly evaded another of Vision's strikes. "We have to contain her!" he called out over the comms to Clint and Natasha. "If Wanda loses control—"
"Don't even go there," Natasha interjected sharply, her movements graceful yet lethal as she dispatched a SHIELD operative with seamless precision. Her voice carried a steely resolve, cutting through the chaos of the battle.
High above, Blue Marvel and Hyperion clashed fiercely, each strike shaking the clouds with immense power. Hyperion's blows radiated nuclear heat, while Adam's anti-matter energy distorted reality itself. With a thunderous charge, Hyperion drove Adam downward, smashing through a line of transport vehicles and scattering soldiers like leaves in a storm. Adam quickly recovered midair, unleashing a concentrated energy beam that forced Hyperion back, his golden aura flickering under the immense pressure.
The two were evenly matched, their relentless battle ripping apart the airstrip with every encounter. Even minor ripples from their energy blasts sent drones spiraling uncontrollably, further destabilizing the already chaotic ground combat.
Bucky and Cap worked in tandem, forcing Vision into retreat as Natasha and Clint secured the perimeter. Wanda, surrounded by her crimson energy like a living shield, unleashed another wave of destruction, hurling debris toward Tony. He countered with repulsor blasts scorching the ground, but every attack was met by Wanda's defenses or residual energy from Blue Marvel's distant strikes.
"Friday, status on civilian areas!" Tony shouted, narrowly dodging a flying chunk of debris.
"Civilian zones below Hyperion and Blue Marvel's trajectory are critically endangered, sir," Friday responded. "Evacuation remains highly uncertain under current conditions."
"Great," Tony muttered through gritted teeth. "Sam, clear the perimeter if you haven't already!"
Sam weaved between vehicles, guiding terrified civilians to safety, but even he faltered momentarily, stunned as Hyperion's devastating punch created a massive crater in the runway, sending a shockwave through the tarmac and throwing him off course.
On the ground, Scott Lang steadied himself, shifting to a tactical mindset. "Alright, okay… maybe we don't swing at drones… maybe we swing with purpose." He propelled himself skyward, intercepting one of Hyperion's missile barrages with a calculated swipe, deflecting it effortlessly and proving his adaptability amid the chaos.
Meanwhile, Natasha advanced, seizing the opportunity created by Vision's brief distraction to push him back, allowing Steve to step in and counter an incoming attack. Wanda, observing the confrontation, channeled her energy inward, unleashing a focused blast that sent both Bucky and Steve reeling, demonstrating her raw power.
Above, the aerial battle between Blue Marvel and Hyperion raged on. Hyperion's solar aura burned with blinding intensity, illuminating the battlefield, while Adam's anti-matter energy carved through the clouds, raining destruction toward the runway. The airport, dwarfed by their might, quaked under the strain, its structures trembling like fragile toys.
Steve Rogers' voice resonated across the chaos, sharp and authoritative. "Contain her, but don't destroy her! Remember what we're fighting for!"
Dodging a fiery blast from Wanda that scattered sparks across his suit, Tony gritted his teeth. "Yeah, containment is great until the containment smashes my face in!"
Scott Lang landed beside Natasha, crouching low. "You know, at this size, I thought this would be more fun. But honestly? Not so much."
Natasha, her gaze fixed on the mayhem, replied curtly, "Focus, Scott. Fun comes later, if we make it."
The conflict escalated, ideals and alliances blurring under the weight of survival and overwhelming power, transforming the Civil War into an apocalyptic struggle. On the ground and in the sky, the line between friend and foe disappeared, consumed by desperation.
Above all, the duel between Hyperion and Blue Marvel continued with unrelenting ferocity, their combined strength threatening to obliterate the airstrip itself, making it painfully evident that this was no longer a mere civil clash.