In the sky, the terrifying giant battleship hovered like a silent monster above the battlefield.
Following Thanos' command, the ship suddenly surged with energy, exuding a terrifying, oppressive force.
Along the hull, rows of gun turrets rapidly emerged like mushrooms after rain, their barrels turning without hesitation toward the chaos below.
A deafening barrage of artillery followed. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Countless blue laser cannons fired simultaneously, streaking through the sky like bolts of lightning and devastating everything in their path.
The battlefield was engulfed by this overwhelming force. Both the alien army and the Avengers were like fragile leaves in a storm.
The blue laser cannons tore across the ground, bringing death and destruction wherever they struck.
Countless lives were lost in the onslaught, the scent of gunpowder and blood thick in the air.
The Avengers, already pressed to the limit, now found themselves completely exposed.
There was no shelter, nowhere to hide from the relentless cannon fire.
Screams and wails filled the air. Avengers and aliens alike were blasted off their feet, scrambling in all directions.
But amid the chaos, Wanda Maximoff was the exception.
She had a clear shot to use her powers, a chance to kill Thanos and end the war. But just as she moved to strike, a blast from a laser cannon slammed into her.
The force sent her flying several meters before she crashed heavily to the ground.
And then, something worse happened.
The laser barrage had destroyed a dam upstream.
Its collapse triggered a massive flood that surged toward the battlefield like a beast let loose.
What was already a hellish war zone turned into a nightmare as the floodwaters roared in.
"Hey! Has anyone noticed what's happening?!" Mantis shouted, panic in her voice.
Doctor Strange turned and saw the incoming deluge. He immediately stepped forward, raising his hands to manipulate the waters with his magic.
But whether the current was too strong or his skills had dulled, he couldn't hold back the flood.
At that moment, Strange—his counterpart from a parallel universe—appeared and joined in, adding his own magical power to help stem the tide.
"Wow, looks like you haven't kept up with your training over the years," Strange quipped.
Doctor Strange looked at the man beside him—a version of himself, younger, more vibrant, and annoyingly smug.
He said nothing. After everything—negotiations with Dormammu, endless wars—his pride had long eroded.
He was no longer that arrogant Stephen Strange.
But he could tell: this other version wasn't weaker than him in any way. In fact, the opposite might be true. And he was grateful for his help.
"You should call me senior," Doctor Strange muttered. "I'm long past comparing magic tricks with little brats. But… thank you. For saving our world."
With that, he turned his full attention back to holding the flood at bay.
"Let's talk after the battle?" Strange said with a shrug. His casual tone didn't hide his curiosity—he had many questions about his counterpart. What had happened in this universe? What changed after he became the Sorcerer Supreme?
Doctor Strange didn't respond right away. But something about Strange's relaxed attitude irritated him.
How could he be so calm?
"How are you so sure we'll win this battle?" Doctor Strange asked, his voice strained with frustration. "How can you be certain we'll survive after it's over?"
He glanced at Strange with narrowed eyes.
"Do you know that among the 14,000,605 futures I saw, only one led to victory? This timeline is the closest to that outcome. But then you and your friends arrived. And that future… it vanished."
His voice grew sharper.
"So tell me—why are you so confident we'll win? Why?"
Doctor Strange was furious. Strange acted like this was a game—like it didn't matter. Maybe because it wasn't his universe. If they lost, he could just leave.
But Doctor Strange couldn't walk away.
He had sacrificed the Time Stone. Bet everything on the chance they'd succeed. If they failed, that was it—he'd die, truly die.
So watching this alternate version of himself treat the war so casually made his blood boil.
Strange, however, didn't flinch. He responded calmly:
"Why? Because I believe in my friend. My partner—Alex Ray."
Doctor Strange blinked, stunned. His concentration wavered, and the flood nearly broke through.
"You do, too," Strange added. "You believed in your partner—that's why you chose to sacrifice yourself. Don't worry. Alex never fights battles he's not sure he can win."
He continued without pause, eyes fixed on the battlefield.
"You've taken all the weight of this world onto your own shoulders. No wonder you're exhausted. You need to learn to trust your team—even if your Avengers aren't exactly top-tier."
Strange glanced at the older version of himself—his hair streaked with white, his face marked with weariness.
He sighed quietly.
He knew this burden couldn't just be handed off. In this universe, few were stronger than Doctor Strange. If he didn't take responsibility, who would?
Captain America? Fat Thor?
The all-female Avengers?
Wanda, chasing a vision of her lost husband?
Strange felt pity for Doctor Strange. In his own world, he had reliable allies—stronger ones. Most of all, he had Alex Ray.
He never had to bear the weight alone.
Strange didn't want this life—not the fatigue, not the loneliness.
"You trust in the future you saw. I trust in Alex Ray."
Doctor Strange followed Strange's gaze to the man carving through Thanos' foot soldiers with precision and overwhelming power.
Silver-white energy surged around Alex as he fought, his movements graceful yet brutal. He cut down enemies like a whirlwind, unstoppable and cold.
Doctor Strange silently watched him.
He wondered—what kind of magic did this man possess, to make even another version of him feel so at ease?
"Do you really trust your partner, Stephen?" he whispered. "Is he truly worthy of that trust?"
---------
🎇🎇 Check out new Fanfiction 🎇🎇
🎊 Naruto : Tsunade You're Really Drunk 🎊
---------
Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
---------------
📚 Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chapters—read ahead of everyone else! 🔥
👉 https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your support means the world to me—thank you so much! 💖
-------------