Chapter 39: Steve, I've Brought You the War You Wanted
CRASH!
Ryan burst through the roof of the New York Sanctum Sanctorum, landing on the street below with Sam Wilson clutched in his grip.
Seconds later, the remaining heroes emerged from the damaged Sanctum and positioned themselves strategically around Ryan. Steve called out, "Ryan, release Sam. We can negotiate whatever you want."
Ryan grinned malevolently. "Steve, you and a snake oil salesman have a lot in common—you say whatever people want to hear, then change your tune when it suits you."
Strange opened a portal, and moments later James Rhodes returned in full War Machine armor.
The heroes surrounded Ryan from multiple angles.
With Sam Wilson as his hostage, they hesitated to attack directly.
"Ryan, there's no escape. Release Sam and let's discuss this rationally," Steve, the only one who truly understood Ryan's psychology, attempted diplomatic resolution.
Ryan shook his head and sighed. "You're always so generous with empty promises, but you never deliver on anything meaningful."
Steve remained silent.
Ryan looked down at Sam Wilson. "Captain America's chosen successor? Pathetic."
CRACK!
"NOOO!"
Before Sam could comprehend what was happening, Ryan twisted his neck with brutal efficiency, killing him instantly.
"You bastard! DAMN YOU!"
The assembled heroes charged at Ryan simultaneously.
Unfazed, Ryan absorbed attacks from both Winter Soldier and Steve while targeting Strange—the most dangerous opponent—first.
BOOM!
Ryan shattered Strange's conjured shield, then continued his assault, driving his fist into the Sorcerer Supreme's chest.
Despite Strange's magical defenses, Ryan's blow launched him backward, demolishing a wall as he crashed back into the Sanctum.
A portal opened inside the building, and Wong—who had just returned from grocery shopping—stared at the half-demolished Sanctum, his mind struggling to process the destruction.
CRASH!
Strange threw off the debris pinning him down and shouted to Wong, "Stop gawking! Call for backup!"
"Call who?"
"Every available Avenger! Hurry!" Strange flew back outside.
Ryan was now pinning Steve down and systematically beating him.
WHOOSH! BANG!
War Machine, afraid of injuring Steve with heavy weaponry, relied on his suit's propulsion to ram Ryan away from the fallen captain.
Ryan seized War Machine's ankle and was carried into the air.
CRUNCH!
Ryan's grip crushed the armor plating around the ankle joint, instantly disabling the propulsion system.
BOOM! BOOM!
Rhodes fired three consecutive micro-missiles, but none penetrated Ryan's enhanced skin. His shoulder-mounted weapons unleashed a barrage of ammunition that proved equally ineffective.
"Get down here!"
Using tremendous core strength, Ryan violently redirected Rhodes' trajectory, sending him crashing through an entire apartment building.
The armored hero plummeted from the fifth floor to street level, raising a massive dust cloud.
Ryan clasped his hands overhead, preparing to crush Rhodes' helmet like an aluminum can.
THWIP!
Suddenly a web-line wrapped around Ryan's arm and yanked him backward with such force that the distracted villain staggered.
"Hey there! You really shouldn't do that, sir. I don't think we've been introduced—oh wait, you're that escaped guy! Listen, I'd strongly recommend surrendering immediately because the Avengers are—"
"Spider-Man, you talk too much."
Ryan attempted his previous tactic of pulling Spider-Man toward him via the web-line.
Peter reacted instantly, triggering his web-shooter's release mechanism.
Ryan had no interest in wasting time with such an elusive opponent and abandoned pursuing Spider-Man.
He turned and stomped down on War Machine's chest plate.
CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!
"AAAAHHHHHHH!"
Rhodes screamed and coughed blood as his chest cavity was crushed by the collapsing armor.
"Ryan! STOP!" Steve tackled Ryan away from the fallen hero.
Looking back at Rhodes, Steve saw the War Machine was barely breathing and required immediate medical attention.
"Bucky! Get Rhodes to a hospital—I'll handle this!" Before Steve finished speaking, Ryan's kick launched him through a building across the street.
When Ryan turned back to finish Rhodes, he found Spider-Man had already web-swung the critically injured hero to safety.
"GRAAAAAHHH!"
Suddenly, with an earth-shaking roar, a massive green figure dropped from the sky, driving a boulder-sized fist into Ryan's chest.
BOOM! Ryan was sent flying through multiple walls in succession.
"Great, another problem!"
With Falcon dead and War Machine evacuated, two even more formidable opponents had arrived—the Hulk and Spider-Man.
Dr. Banner was absolutely furious. He hadn't imagined that providing Ryan with a few vibranium samples for research would lead to this catastrophe.
Sam Wilson was dead, and James Rhodes was dying—which enraged Banner beyond measure.
With a thunderous grunt, Banner charged at Ryan like a living bulldozer, smashing through several walls.
CRASH!
Ryan crossed his arms defensively, somehow managing to block Banner's massive fist.
The next moment, an enormous foot pressed down on Ryan's torso.
"Damn, size really is an unfair advantage."
Ryan felt the impact but sustained no significant damage.
You can knock me down, but you can't destroy me—that was the power of Thanos-derived genetics.
Banner treated Ryan like a basketball, but couldn't penetrate his enhanced defenses. Ryan occasionally counterattacked, but couldn't break through Banner's incredible durability either.
The other heroes were largely unable to intervene in their titanic battle, except for Spider-Man and Doctor Strange providing occasional support.
"Doctor Strange! We can't continue fighting like this—this entire block is destroyed! If this keeps up, all of Manhattan will be rubble!"
Strange recognized the escalating danger. Besides, Ryan wasn't some mindless beast he could simply contain.
Meanwhile, Ryan had completely abandoned fighting Banner and began pursuing the other heroes.
Winter Soldier had escorted War Machine to the hospital. Among the remaining combatants, Steve was the most vulnerable target.
But with Steve and Strange working together, Ryan couldn't isolate the super-soldier, so he set his sights on Spider-Man instead.
Peter Parker swung ahead through the city, Ryan pursued on foot, with Banner thundering behind them both.
Everything in their path was reduced to rubble.
The chase continued from Greenwich Village all the way to Midtown Manhattan, with countless civilians fleeing in terror.
"Oh God, why aren't you chasing someone else? I really don't want to fight you! Dr. Banner seems like a better match for your skill set!"
"Maybe you're tired? Want to sit down and grab a donut? Or some lemonade? We could talk this through!"
"I really wish you'd consider pursuing literally anyone else! Oh no!"
The eternally chattering Peter Parker never stopped his nervous commentary while web-swinging through the urban canyon.
End of Chapter 39
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