Ebony Maw thrived in obscurity under Thanos, overshadowed by Corvus Glaive, the Black Order’s near-immortal leader. Yet, in raw power, Ebony Maw surpassed them all—perhaps even the other four Black Order combined couldn’t best him.

Unlike the others, trained or recruited by Thanos, Ebony Maw had sought out the Mad Titan, pledging unwavering loyalty. His motives remained enigmatic, his thoughts impenetrable. He executed Thanos’ orders without question, a silent force in the shadows. While never idle, he concealed his true strength, content to linger behind the others.

But Ebony Maw knew Thanos saw through his facade. Proxima Midnight’s death, under his watch, was a grievous error. Sebastian Shaw’s unexpected prowess had caught him off-guard, and Thanos was not forgiving—not to them. Ebony Maw had witnessed Thanos’ kindness only once, reserved for Gamora, his adopted daughter. To her, Thanos offered warmth; to others, only cold expectation.

Proxima’s death would enrage Thanos, and Corvus Glaive, her husband, would not forgive Ebony Maw’s lapse. The days of hiding in Corvus’ shadow were over. Facing blame from both, Ebony Maw unleashed his full might. Defeating—or killing—Sebastian could redeem his mistake, mitigating Thanos’ wrath and Corvus’ vengeance.

His telekinesis, nearly tangible, morphed into countless black tendrils, a dark tide surging toward Sebastian.

Seraphim Shield Armor! A translucent Protego variant, etched with glowing runes, materialized before Sebastian. The black tendrils battered the shield, forcing it—and Sebastian—backward, pressing him into the rooftop’s surface.

For the first time, Seraphim Shield Armor faltered under such force.

Crack! The rooftop, ravaged by battle, collapsed. Sebastian plummeted to the floor below, buried under concrete debris.

The Ring of Harnessing Power flared, levitating the rubble away. Sebastian rose, shaking dust from his battle suit. He prepared to counter Ebony Maw, but his gaze caught Tony outside, rocketing toward the wormhole above Stark Tower, clutching a missile-like device.

Sebastian’s past-life memories confirmed it: a nuclear bomb. Despite his influence, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Security Council had authorized this desperate strike on New York.

Bang! Sebastian dissolved into black smoke, streaking toward the wormhole. Through his comms, he asked, “Did you secure Loki’s Scepter?”

“Just got it!” Natasha panted, her voice strained from effort.

“Ready the Scepter—I’ll disable the device soon. Two aliens remain, Black Order leaders. They’re formidable—be cautious, don’t overreach!”

Steve’s voice cut in. “Shaw, what’s your plan?”

“I’m fetching Tony. Back in a minute!”

This invasion diverged from Sebastian’s memories. He couldn’t risk Tony’s survival hinging on a last-second escape through the wormhole. As a friend, he wouldn’t stand by. With his abilities, he could ensure Tony’s safe return.

Black smoke soared, Reducto spells obliterating Chitauri in his path. Sebastian thanked Tony’s foresight—the battle suit shielded him for wormhole transit.

Nearing the wormhole, Ebony Maw intercepted, his body wreathed in black telekinetic threads. Before Sebastian could react, Thor arrived, lightning crackling. Mjolnir’s thunderous strike slammed into Ebony Maw’s telekinetic barrier, halting him.

“Shaw, go!” Thor roared.

Sebastian nodded, surging through the wormhole. Beyond, a Chitauri fortress exploded under the nuclear bomb’s force. Tony, armor sparking and damaged, tumbled away from the wormhole, struck by debris.

Without hesitation, Sebastian’s wand flicked, a Wingardium Leviosa pulling Tony to his side. Gripping Tony’s arm, he grinned. “Tony, you owe me another life.”

“Enough talk—I’d owe you ten! Just get me out of this hellhole!” Tony’s voice betrayed suppressed fear.

Sebastian frowned, noting Tony’s distress. After this, he’d urge Tony to consult Kaecilius, whose magical psychology expertise could help. For now, action took precedence.

He transformed into black smoke, enveloping Tony, racing the nuclear blast’s shockwave toward the wormhole. Sebastian attempted Apparition, but the cosmic distance—spanning galaxies—exceeded his current limits. Teleportation couldn’t bridge the gap from this alien space to Earth.

The wormhole shrank, its edges flickering. Steve gripped the Mind Scepter, staring skyward, worry gnawing at him. He couldn’t be sure Sebastian Shaw and Tony could return before the portal closed, and time was running out.

If the nuclear blast’s shockwave and radiation spilled through, New York would face catastrophic damage. Steve had no choice—he had to shut the wormhole before the fallout reached Earth.

As the portal neared collapse, black smoke erupted from it, spiraling into a vortex mid-air. It vanished, reappearing beside the Three Warriors of Asgard and Sif on the ground, where they restrained Loki, his hands and mouth bound to block his magic.

Sebastian materialized, Tony stumbling beside him. Tony raised his Mark VII’s faceplate, exhaling heavily. “Feels good to have solid ground under me.”

Sebastian eyed the battered Mark VII. “Your second suit’s nearly done for, isn’t it?”

Tony shrugged. “What can I say? The fight was brutal. You know if I’m not in it, we don’t win. Armor damage is just the cost.”

A thunderclap interrupted them, lightning flashing. Thor crashed into a crater nearby, rising with a grimace. He glanced at Sebastian and Tony, exasperated. “If you two love chatting, shouldn’t you deal with that guy in the sky first?”

Following Thor’s gesture, Sebastian spotted Ebony Maw, hovering with a grim scowl. Without a word, he dissolved into black smoke, soaring to confront Ebony Maw mid-air.

Tony, watching Ebony Maw—unfazed by the Chitauri’s collapse after their fortress’ destruction—muttered, “This fight’s far from over.”

He remotely summoned the Mark Ω II. A portal opened, and the rune-etched armor stepped out, unfolding. Tony exited the ruined Mark VII, entering the Mark Ω II. Runes glowed as he levitated, locking eyes with Ebony Maw.

Ebony Maw surveyed Sebastian and Tony in the air, Thor and Hulk below. His eyelids drooped, decision made. Killing them was impossible now. His only path to redeem Proxima Midnight’s death was to reclaim the Mind Scepter and Tesseract.

His telekinesis, black and thread-like, erupted into a storm, forcing Sebastian and Tony back. Under its cover, Ebony Maw surged toward Stark Tower’s roof, aiming for the Scepter and Tesseract.

Only Steve, Natasha, and a newly freed Barton stood there. To Ebony Maw, their enhanced physiques and skills were trivial—mere ants, albeit stronger ones.

Sebastian sensed the ploy. His wand slashed, a Protego dispersing the telekinetic storm. He vanished in a twisted vortex, Apparition placing him before Steve, Natasha, and Barton. Ebony Maw charged, intent on seizing the Scepter and Tesseract.

The Ring of Harnessing Power on Sebastian’s left hand flared, his wrist twisting. A spell conjured a fiery thread, spinning before his palm. Portals opened beneath Steve, Natasha, and Barton, whisking them to the ground beside the Asgardians.

Ebony Maw’s eyes blazed as Steve and the Scepter vanished. Sebastian’s repeated interference snapped his patience. “Sebastian Shaw! You’ll pay!”

Roaring, Ebony Maw thrust his hands forward. His telekinesis coalesced into a black energy spear, spiraling toward Sebastian.

Sebastian’s wand flashed, Annihilation Ray erupting in black-and-red beams.

Boom! The energies clashed, a deafening roar shaking Stark Tower. The shockwave ravaged the rooftop, destabilizing the wormhole device.

Tony and Thor launched toward Ebony Maw, aiming to aid Sebastian. But a window on the tower’s top floor shattered, and Black Dwarf—previously hurled away—returned. He slammed into Thor, his weapon morphing into massive pincers that ensnared Tony, halting their advance.

“RAAH!” Hulk, provoked by Black Dwarf’s size, roared and leaped, shoving Thor aside. Ignoring Tony’s predicament, he tackled Black Dwarf, fists flying. They plummeted along the tower’s edge, crashing downward.

Hulk and Tony’s struggle delayed Black Dwarf, freeing Thor. He swung Mjolnir, soaring toward Ebony Maw, lightning crackling. The hammer’s thunder seemed unstoppable.

But Sebastian’s voice cut through. “Thor, stop! Don’t strike now!”

Thor hesitated, but momentum carried him. Mjolnir struck Ebony Maw’s back, thunder colliding with his telekinesis. The clash disrupted the balance between Sebastian’s Annihilation Ray and Ebony Maw’s spear. The three forces detonated.

BOOM!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep