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On Earth, Thanos's invasion force had landed, forming a deadly perimeter around Wakanda's energy shield. The nation's warriors were mobilizing rapidly, flying toward the edge of the barrier in sleek airships, preparing to meet the alien army on the outer defensive line.
Natasha Romanoff pressed down on her earpiece, her voice cutting through the comms chatter as she turned to look behind her transport. "How we looking, Bruce?"
Bruce Banner's voice came back, surprisingly upbeat despite the circumstances. "Yeah, yeah, I think I'm getting the hang of it!"
A massive suit of armor—easily twice the height of a man—thundered past the airship carrying Captain America and his team. It was the Hulkbuster Mark II, the updated version Tony Stark had designed and built after the Sokovia incident. The hulking red and gold armor gleamed in the African sunlight as it ran across the plains, and inside its reinforced cockpit sat Bruce Banner.
"This is so cool!" Banner's voice was filled with genuine excitement as he piloted the massive war machine for the first time. "It's like being the Hulk without actually—" His enthusiasm was cut short as the massive armor suddenly lurched forward. "Whoa!"
The Hulkbuster's foot caught on a large stone hidden in the tall grass. The fifty-thousand-pound suit of armor went down hard, crashing face-first into the ground. Banner plowed a deep furrow through the earth, dirt and grass spraying in all directions as the armor skidded several meters before finally coming to a stop.
Okoye, passing overhead in her airship with a contingent of the Dora Milaje, witnessed the spectacular faceplant. Her lip curled in barely concealed disgust at the display. She said nothing, but her expression spoke volumes.
"I'm good! I'm okay!" Banner's voice was embarrassed as the Hulkbuster pushed itself back to its feet. He brushed dirt and grass off the armor's chest plate and stumbled forward, trying to regain some dignity. "I got it!"
War Machine soared through the air above the advancing ground forces, his armor's HUD displaying thermal readouts of the battlefield. Rhodes's voice came over the comms, professional and alert. "I have two heat signatures breaking through the tree line."
He and Falcon Sam Wilson banked hard, flying over the airships below and accelerating toward the edge of the forest where the alien army waited.
In the shadows of the dense woods, two figures emerged into the sunlight. Cull Obsidian—the Black Dwarf—lumbered forward, his massive frame casting a long shadow across the grass. His severed left hand had been replaced with a brutal-looking prosthetic weapon, all sharp edges and alien metal. Beside him strode Proxima Midnight, her blue skin marked with ritual scars, her three-pronged spear gleaming with deadly promise.
The Wakandan airships descended rapidly, hovering just above the ground as their rear hatches opened. Soldiers disembarked in perfect formation, spreading out across the grassland in defensive positions. Their vibranium spears were held at the ready, energy shields deployed.
"Wakanda forever!" The cry went up from a dozen throats as warriors took their positions.
T'Challa, still in his royal robes but with the Black Panther necklace ready at his throat, strode forward. He clasped arms with M'Baku, the leader of the Jabari tribe who had brought his warriors down from the mountains to join the fight. "Thank you for standing with us."
M'Baku gripped T'Challa's forearm firmly, respect in his eyes despite their past differences. "Of course, brother."
At the barrier's edge, Proxima Midnight approached the shimmering energy field. She dragged the blade of her spear across its surface, testing its strength. Sparks flew where the alien weapon met Wakandan technology. The barrier held firm, rippling but unbroken.
Captain America walked forward with Natasha at his left and T'Challa at his right, forming a line of leadership before their assembled forces. Steve's eyes scanned the enemy, taking tactical notes. His enhanced vision picked out details—troop movements, weapon placements, weak points.
Natasha's sharp gaze swept the tree line behind the two aliens. Something was missing. Her voice was calm but suspicious as she called out across the barrier. "Where's your other friend?"
Proxima Midnight's expression was cold as death, her voice dripping with venom and promised violence. "You will pay for his life with yours. Thanos will have that stone."
Captain America's jaw set, his voice ringing with absolute conviction. "That's not gonna happen."
T'Challa stepped forward, his voice carrying the authority of kingship and the fury of a protector. "You are in Wakanda now. Thanos will have nothing but dust and blood."
Proxima Midnight's lips curled into a cruel smile. She raised both arms high, her spear pointed toward the sky. "Then he will have both!" She brought her weapon down in a sharp gesture. "Now!"
Behind her, the massive transport ships that had crashed into the forest began to transform. Their upper sections—which had appeared to be armor plating—started to rise like opening flowers. Mechanical locks disengaged with thunderous clangs that echoed across the plain.
The Wakandan forces tensed, weapons raised. Captain America took a step back toward his team, settling into a defensive stance beside Bucky Barnes.
Bucky kept his eyes forward, but muttered quietly, "Did they surrender?"
Steve's voice was grim. "I don't think so."
The transport ships opened fully, their interiors revealed. And then the screaming started.
Thousands upon thousands of creatures poured from the alien vessels like a breaking dam. They were Outriders—Thanos's shock troops, biological weapons bred for one purpose: mindless, relentless assault. Four-limbed and bestial, with rows of razor-sharp teeth and claws capable of tearing through steel, they were nightmares made flesh.
T'Challa watched the horde emerge from the forest, an endless tide of alien flesh and fury. He raised his voice, projecting across the Wakandan lines. "What the hell?"
Behind him, his warriors echoed the battle cry, their voices united. "Wakanda forever!"
Proxima Midnight pointed her spear directly at the barrier, at the defenders beyond. Her voice cut through the air like her weapon. "Now!"
The Outrider horde surged forward, a tsunami of alien bodies crashing through the underbrush. Trees shook with their passage. The ground trembled beneath thousands of clawed feet.
Bucky's enhanced hearing picked up the full scale of the approaching swarm. His eyes widened. "Oh, God."
Natasha stared at Proxima Midnight through the barrier, watching the alien commander's satisfied expression. She said dryly, "Looks like we pissed her off."
The first wave of Outriders hit the energy barrier at full speed. The impact was tremendous—bodies slamming into invisible force with bone-breaking force. But the creatures didn't stop. They clawed at the barrier, teeth gnashing, trying to force their way through by sheer weight of numbers.
The barrier's defense protocols engaged immediately. Energy discharges cut through alien flesh, severing limbs that pushed too far into the field. Blue blood sprayed across the grass as the shield sliced through Outrider bodies like a laser through tissue.
But the creatures had no fear, no sense of self-preservation. They threw themselves at the barrier with suicidal fury, even as their bodies were cut in half. Those behind climbed over the corpses of their fallen, using the dead as stepping stones to push deeper into the energy field.
Okoye watched the horrific display, her face showing disgust and dawning horror. "They're killing themselves."
Captain America's expression was stone as he stared at Proxima Midnight through the barrier. This was a war of attrition, and Thanos had brought an army that didn't care about casualties.
Proxima Midnight watched her biological weapons hurl themselves at the barrier, and a smile curved her lips. She knew what would happen. It was only a matter of time.
The sheer volume of bodies began to take its toll. The barrier flickered where too many Outriders pressed at once. And then—a gap opened. Just for a moment, but long enough.
An Outrider forced its way through, its body smoking and burned from the energy discharge. Half its skin was charred black, but it was alive. It hit the ground inside the perimeter and immediately charged toward the Wakandan lines, roaring with alien fury.
Then came a second. Then a third. More Outriders found the weak point, forcing themselves through the gap despite the horrible damage it caused them. They emerged smoking and wounded, but they emerged.
The trickle became a stream. Dozens of creatures poured through, their roars echoing across the battlefield.
"They're breaking through!" someone shouted.
T'Challa's voice rang out with absolute authority. "We need to lock our formation!"
The Wakandan soldiers responded with perfect discipline. They flung their cloaks forward in synchronized motion, and energy shields materialized from the advanced fabric—hard light constructs powered by vibranium technology. They planted their spears on top of the shields, creating a second defensive line bristling with weapons.
"Fire!" T'Challa's command was immediate.
Energy bolts erupted from hundreds of vibranium spears, creating a wall of destructive force. The first Outriders to emerge from the barrier were cut down instantly, their bodies torn apart by concentrated fire.
Bucky opened up with his rifle, the familiar weapon bucking against his vibranium shoulder. Beside him, Banner finally got the Hulkbuster steady and fired its repulsor cannons, each blast vaporizing an Outrider.
Above the battlefield, Falcon swooped low, dual submachine guns blazing. He used his altitude advantage to rain fire down on the enemy, his wings making him nearly impossible to hit. "Guys, you see the teeth on those things?"
An Outrider leaped fifteen feet straight up, its claws extended toward Sam's exposed back. He saw it at the last second and barrel-rolled, the creature missing by inches. Sam deployed mini-rockets from his wing assembly, and the small projectiles streaked downward, exploding among a cluster of Outriders.
"Back up, Sam!" War Machine's voice was urgent as he swooped in low, nearly skimming the barrier. "You're gonna get your wings singed!"
Rhodes released a spread of thermite grenades from his back-mounted launchers. The projectiles arced gracefully through the air before detonating on the ground right where Outriders were emerging through the barrier. Walls of white-hot flame erupted, incinerating everything in a fifty-foot radius. Alien screams filled the air as the thermite burned at thousands of degrees.
But even as the flames consumed the Outriders at the breach point, more of the creatures were adapting. They stopped trying to force through the reinforced section of barrier and began moving laterally, spreading out along the perimeter. They searched for other weak points, other ways through.
Okoye saw the tactical shift immediately, her warrior's instincts recognizing the danger. "They're flanking us!"
Banner's voice crackled over the comms, the Hulkbuster's sensors tracking Outrider movement patterns. "Cap, if these things circle the perimeter and get in behind us, they're gonna slaughter everyone in that hospital trying to evacuate."
Steve's mind calculated the battlefield in an instant. If the Outriders got behind them, Vision would be vulnerable. Shuri would be vulnerable. Wanda would have to choose between protecting Vision and protecting civilians. It was unacceptable.
His voice was quiet but absolute. "Then we better keep 'em in front of us."
Okoye turned sharply to T'Challa, her expression urgent. "How are we going to do that?"
T'Challa looked at the barrier, at his people, at the alien horde that outnumbered them hundreds to one. He closed his eyes for just a moment, making an impossible choice. When he opened them again, his decision was made.
"We open the barrier." His voice was steady despite the enormity of what he was ordering.
He pressed his earpiece, connecting to the command center. "On my signal, open Northwest Section Seventeen."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then a technician's voice came back, filled with disbelief and horror. "My King, are you requesting that we open the barrier?"
"On my signal," T'Challa repeated, his tone brooking no argument.
M'Baku, standing nearby with his warriors, muttered under his breath as he gripped his war club tighter. "This will be the end of Wakanda."
Okoye's voice was calm, accepting of their fate. "Then it will be the noblest ending in history."