The lab was silent, save for the rhythmic beeping of monitors and the low hum of vibranium stabilizers embedded into the floor. The Nano Gauntlet, now complete, pulsed with the energy of the six Infinity Stones. Each gem shimmered with volatile power—Time, Space, Reality, Power, Mind, and Soul—held together by Tony's most advanced nanotechnology and Rocket's alien enhancements. The combined energy distorted the air around it, warping light like a mirage.
The team surrounded Bruce as he approached the pedestal where the gauntlet rested. Tension gripped the room like a vice. Every Avenger stood on edge, hearts pounding, knowing the moment they had worked for had arrived—and yet dreading what it would cost.
"Once I put this on," Bruce said, his voice quiet but resolute, "there's no going back."
Tony stood beside him, tightening a clamp on the frame. He glanced at Bruce, his voice softer now. "We're not asking you to go back. Just bring them home."
Steve watched from across the lab, arms crossed. His eyes carried the weight of decades of battles, but in this moment, hope flickered. He nodded once at Bruce, offering silent support. Carol hovered near the doorway, arms folded across her chest, expression unreadable. Even Thor had sobered, gripping Mjolnir tightly with both hands.
Carol stood slightly apart, posture rigid, arms crossed. Her gaze lingered on the gauntlet with a mixture of anticipation and concern. "Do it. Quickly."
Bruce exhaled deeply. He stepped forward, each footstep heavy, and with a grunt, slid his massive arm into the gauntlet. Immediately, his body jerked as if struck by lightning.
The power of the Stones surged through him, lightning bolts of energy racing up his arm. His skin sizzled, burning and healing in waves. He gritted his teeth and cried out but held steady.
"It's like I was made for this," Bruce gritted, jaw clenched, body quaking under the pressure.
The gauntlet locked onto his arm with a final mechanical hiss. Energy sparked uncontrollably, bouncing off the walls. Rocket shouted, "Readings are off the charts! Pull back if—"
Bruce roared and raised his hand, fingers shaking violently.
And snapped.
The sound was muted.
No explosion. No flash of light. Just silence.
Everyone in the room looked around, holding their breath. The gauntlet's glow dimmed, and the wild energy settled into an eerie calm. Bruce collapsed to his knees, groaning from the effort, his right arm scorched and limp.
Tony blinked, adrenaline still coursing through him. "Did it work?"
Scott walked to the window, cautiously peering through the shattered glass. He squinted, then blinked again. Birds chirped in the trees. The sunlight warmed his face. A breeze rolled through the broken wall.
"Guys... I think it worked," he said slowly, awe creeping into his voice.
Clint's phone buzzed. He pulled it out with shaking hands. The screen lit up with a name—Laura Barton.
His breath caught. Time stopped.
He stared at the screen, disbelief flooding him, followed by joy that punched the air out of his lungs.
"Laura..." he whispered, voice cracking. "Laura!"
He collapsed to his knees, clutching the phone to his chest, overcome. The sound of children laughing echoed faintly from the phone speaker.
Steve walked to the edge of the room, eyes scanning the horizon. The gray, ashen skies that had haunted them were gone. Replaced by a clear, blue calm. He turned to the others.
"They're back," he said, voice full of quiet awe.
Carol exhaled slowly, a soft smile playing on her lips. Thor gripped Mjolnir tighter, a single tear slipping down his cheek.
Bruce let out a weak chuckle through his pain. "We did it."
Far below Wakanda, Alexander opened his eyes. The shadows around him had changed—no longer restless and cold. Instead, they hummed with warmth, pulsing softly with the presence of billions of restored souls. The chamber's gloom lightened, and even the stone walls seemed to exhale.
[SYSTEM ALERT: SOUL MATRIX STABILIZED — UNIVERSAL BALANCE TEMPORARILY RESTORED]
Nortis stepped forward, a faint glow in his palm, his voice low. "The dead walk again."
Alexander stood slowly, his cloak trailing behind him. The chamber felt lighter, but tension still gripped the edges of reality.
"No. They live again. But balance is fragile," he said, eyes distant. "And danger draws near."
He looked upward, beyond the sanctum walls, sensing the shift in cosmic equilibrium.
"It's not over."
Outside the Avengers Facility, Evil Nebula crouched near the Quantum Time GPS console, her fingers dancing across the control panel with surgical precision. Behind her, a faint vortex shimmered in mid-air, revealing the connected point between timelines. She didn't flinch.
She pressed the command.
The space above the compound darkened. The air crackled with distortion. Shadows lengthened unnaturally. A low rumble spread across the sky, like thunder echoing through dimensions.
The Sanctuary II appeared.
Massive. Silent. Ominous.
It drifted into the atmosphere like a leviathan, blotting out the sun. From its underbelly, weapons emerged—rows of gleaming cannons and missile ports. A single warhead detached, guided by silent programming.
Scott turned at the sound of the whistle through the air. His eyes widened.
"Incoming!"
The missile struck the compound dead center.
A blinding flash erupted. The explosion tore through steel, glass, and concrete with ruthless force.
The ground heaved. Fire erupted from every corner. The Avengers were thrown off their feet as the facility crumbled around them. The control room collapsed. Hallways buckled. Ceilings caved in.
Debris fell like rain. Alarms blared in vain. Power flickered and died. The world shook with fury.
Beneath the rubble, Clint awoke coughing, lungs burning from smoke and dust. Blood ran down the side of his face. The air was thick, his ears ringing like a siren.
He reached out and felt something solid.
The Nano Gauntlet.
Still intact. Still glowing faintly.
He pulled it close, crawling through the wreckage, heart pounding. His breath was ragged. Then he heard it—an echoing screech that chilled his blood.
He turned.
Outriders. Dozens of them, crawling through the narrow tunnel behind him. Eyes glowing. Jaws snapping. Claws scraping.
He staggered to his feet, drawing his bow despite the pain. He glanced around—no allies. Just shadows.
But from the blackness behind him, something flickered.
Nortis. Silent. Watching from the veil.
Clint blinked. "Am I seeing things?"
Nortis gave a subtle nod, then vanished again, slipping into the void.
Clint turned back to the swarm.
"And now... we run."
He darted into the crumbling hallway, the gauntlet clutched tightly under one arm, arrows nocked as he moved with practiced desperation. The screeches grew louder.
Behind him, the tunnel collapsed in a cloud of smoke.
To be continued.
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