"Are you sure those two can stop Superman?"
"Or..."
Dr. Banner raised his glasses, looking at Tony with clear suspicion.
He signaled, do you want me to turn into Hulk and jump into the fight?
"No need."
Tony immediately refused. In his analysis, as long as this wasn't the Superman from the old comics, they had a chance.
Hercules and Ares, sons of the Greek divine kings, might not be able to defeat Superman directly, but they could hold him off long enough.
"Superman draws power from solar energy."
"All we need to do is separate him from the sun. And the good news is... we have mages."
"Using teleportation magic, we can transfer him to a spiritual prison where there's no sunlight."
"Even better, his resistance to demonic energy is low."
"Of course, if the comic I read was accurate."
"And besides... Superman isn't invincible."
Tony tapped on the table.
"A nuclear explosion produces lethal acute radiation, and you know that better than I do, doctor."
"Neutrons, fast neutrons, hot neutrons..."
"X-rays, gamma rays, fission fragments, alpha and beta particles."
"The most dangerous are fast neutrons and gamma rays."
"Get close enough, and 'invincibility' is a joke."
"Superman's body, the cells powered by solar energy, will disintegrate into plasma. That steel skin? It'll evaporate in the mushroom cloud."
Tony had a plan that bordered on ruthless.
He had already placed nuclear warheads in Limbo.
Because of the Ultron crisis, most of the nuclear stockpile had been destroyed. But Tony had still found some. He'd scoured the entire planet.
"The plan sounds solid, but..."
Dr. Banner wasn't convinced.
"Superman has X-ray vision and super speed."
"If he sees the warhead underground, he'll use his speed to dodge the explosion."
Superman was, after all, the most balanced superhero, versatile, almost without weaknesses.
"I already said, lead blocks his X-ray vision."
"And as for his speed... let's just hope he's not the version from the old comics."
Tony shrugged.
"And honestly, it doesn't even matter if we kill him. Don't forget, our real goal is the Power Gem."
---
At that moment...
Earth – Avengers Headquarters
The walls of the base were lined with lead to block Superman's gaze.
Captain America, Black Widow, Black Panther, Quicksilver, and the other Avengers stood gathered before a large ring-shaped portal.
Ant-Man and Wasp were preparing the device.
"The coordinates of the Power Gem are locked," said Wasp.
"These gates will teleport you close to the target location."
"But be ready, you could be attacked the moment you arrive."
"Sounds like a parachute drop..."
Captain America shrugged.
"I'm used to it."
He wore the steel armor named Patriot.
The name was inherited from James Rhodes, known as War Machine.
Rhodes now used the classic title again, War Machine. Out of respect for his old comrade, he had gifted the name to Captain America.
"Tony reported that Superman has arrived in our world."
"That means they might try to rescue Flash and Aquaman."
"Good news for us, no more Superman on that end."
"Which means retrieving the Power Gem will be much easier."
Two missions stood before them.
Main: recover the Power Gem.
Secondary: locate Kryptonite in the DC universe and bring it back.
"I've already explained everything. No need to repeat it."
Captain America paused briefly.
He looked at everyone present.
"Avengers... assemble!"
His voice echoed through the room.
But the response was silence.
...
"Hahahaha..."
Black Widow burst out laughing.
"Sorry, Steve, but you're seriously from another century!"
"'Avengers, assemble'? Who even says that anymore?"
"..."
Captain America stayed silent, a dark line forming on his forehead.
"Forget it... Let's move."
Without another word, he stepped toward the portal.
One by one, the Avengers entered.
And the operation began.
Meanwhile...
On the opposite side of the Moon, in the kingdom of Attilan, three uninvited guests appeared.
"Listen to me carefully!"
"Citizens of the Moon from the Marvel universe!"
"If you don't want this to escalate..."
"I advise you to immediately release Barry Allen and Arthur Curry, whom you're holding captive!"
Superman floated above Attilan's energy shield.
His voice thundered like a storm, cutting through the barrier and echoing in the ears of every Inhuman in the kingdom.
"What a fierce entrance..."
The God of War, Ares, stepped forward, joining Superman, Wonder Woman, and Doctor Fate.
"You're Superman from those comics?"
"You don't look that powerful."
In his perception, Superman was at the level of the Heavenly Father.
"Comics?"
Wonder Woman and Doctor Fate exchanged confused looks.
The Marvel universe, wasn't that the one that was supposed to exist only in comic books?
We, from the DC world, are real. This isn't fiction. This is reality.
"Who are you?"
Superman wasn't in the mood for discussion. He looked directly at Ares.
"I am the God of War from Olympus. Son of Zeus - Ares!"
He answered confidently, leaning on his axe and warrior's instinct.
At that moment, Superman and Doctor Fate turned their heads toward Wonder Woman.
"..."
Diana sighed and reluctantly stepped forward.
"God of War Ares... I've already killed one."
She raised her legendary sword, forged by Vulcan himself, and pointed it straight at Ares.
"???"
This time, Ares was the one left speechless.
"Who are you?"
Although the Marvel universe contained DC comics, Ares obviously wasn't the type to read them.
"Her name is Diana. Warrior of the Amazons. Our sister from a parallel world."
Hercules, who already knew about DC's reality, jumped in to explain on her behalf.
"Sister?"
"So, you're Zeus's daughter too?"
Ares raised an eyebrow and stared at Wonder Woman.
Without waiting for her answer, he confirmed it himself:
"Yes, that makes sense."
As Zeus's son, Ares was well aware of his father's... reputation.
Illegitimate children? From other worlds? Nothing new.
Regardless of the universe, Zeus remains Zeus.
"I'm used to it by now."
"Stop."
"Who are you calling sister?"
Diana rejected the idea without hesitation.
She refused to be treated as someone of lower rank or worse, as part of a brotherhood she never chose.
"Hercules, looks like our sister doesn't want to admit we're her brothers."
Ares smiled at his demigod ally.
But Superman saw through their act.
"Enough!"
"Stop wasting time!"
His eyes glowed red.
"If you don't plan to release Flash and Aquaman immediately, don't blame me for what happens next!"