Chapter 216:


    ?


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    "Hmm?"


    Just as he stepped out, Malekith, with his white hair, pale skin, and blue eyes, nced at the flying armor in the sky with a hint of surprise.


    "Midgardians have such technology?"


    Though he was a bit taken aback, he didn''t dwell on it. With a casual wave of his hand, the Dark Elves in ck and gray armor raised their energy guns and began shooting at Tony''s flying figure.


    Swish swish swish! Red energy sts streaked across the sky.


    Despite being prepared, Tony Stark dodged several shots, but even he couldn''t escape every attack. Finally, a red energy st struck him, sending him flying backward.


    The power of these red sts was substantial. asionally, when they hit a building, they left massive craters, far more destructive than the Chitauri''s energy weapons.


    Watching Iron Man get blown back, the Dark Elves sneered.


    "Humans... they think they can stop us..."


    At the same time, Pepper Potts, witnessing this from a screen, felt her heart tighten, praying desperately. Nick Fury from S.H.I.E.L.D. also saw the scene and immediately turned to interrogate the newly captured Chitaurimander.


    "Are those your people?"


    "You Chitauri haven''t given up, and now you''re trying to invade Earth again?"


    The Chitaurimander froze under Fury''s questioning and denied, "Those aren''t Chitauri. You can tell just by looking at them."


    "Then who are they?" Fury asked, feigning anger as his eyes flickered with suspicion.


    The Chitaurimander, not noticing Fury''s subtle tactics, stared at the screen before hesitating, "They should be Dark Elves..."


    "Dark Elves?"


    After a brief exnation from the Chitaurimander, he said, "It looks like these Dark Elves are searching for something..."


    Their objective?


    Fury''s eyes shed as he scrutinized the satellite images, noticing that the Dark Elves were indeed searching for something while sting anyone who didn''t cooperate.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    asionally, they threw bizarre bombs that engulfed anything nearby upon detonation.


    The mere sight of these weapons sent a chill down Fury''s spine.


    Thankfully, Tony Stark was still fighting the Dark Elves, though his armor was taking damage from the continuous assaults.


    Seeing Tony slowly losing ground, Fury''s expression darkened.


    Tony couldn''t hold out forever...


    But just as things seemed dire, a green figure appeared, instantly relieving Tony''s burden and giving Fury some relief.


    On the battlefield.


    "Hulk!"


    Seeing the rampaging green giant, Tony felt a wave of joy.


    Malekith, noticing the green giant from afar, was visibly surprised.


    "Midgard has such monsters?"


    He was astonished. In his mind, Earth was supposed to be a weak, yet here was such a formidable being.


    Then, the red figure buzzing around like a fly asked Malekith who he was and what he wanted. Malekith waved his hand, signaling his Dark Elves to cease fire.


    Though he could deal with these two, he preferred to dy. He hadn''t anticipated facing this scenario and didn''t bring arge army. Now, he was secretly calling for reinforcements. Soon, more Dark Elves would arrive with additional ships.


    Then, he''d see how these humans could stop him from finding the Aether.


    Malekith sneered.


    "I am the king of Svartalfheim," he said slowly, "I''vee to your world seeking the Aether. Surrender it, and we will leave at once!"


    "The Aether?"


    "What Aether?"


    Neither Tony nor Fury had any idea what Malekith was talking about.


    However, the Chitaurimander''s eyes shed with realization.


    "It seems the Reality Stone has surfaced..."


    A grin spread across his face as he envisioned Thanos obtaining the Reality Stone. He began scheming on how to sneak away and deliver the news to his master.


    As their thoughts diverged, Malekith, seeing the humans'' confusion, projected an image of the Aether in the sky.


    A swirling dark liquid with a crimson hue flowed through the projection, exuding an eerie


    presence.


    "That''s the Aether?"


    Tony frowned, pondering what it was and why the aliens were after it.


    "The Aether once belonged to us Dark Elves. It was lost in Midgard," Malekith exined. "I can sense it nearby. Human, it''s in your best interest not to hinder us. Once we find it, we will


    leave."


    Tony hesitated for a moment.


    Just then, Captain America arrived, asking, "What''s going on?"


    Tony briefly summarized the situation while keeping a wary eye on the Dark Elves. Malekith didn''t rush them. He watched quietly, indifferent to the gathering humans. What could a swarm of ants do? If he wanted, he could destroy them all with ease.


    Moreover, he was content to wait. Whether these weaklings surrendered the Aether or whether his army arrived, he would obtain it either way.


    Malekith believed that once his ships descended, no amount of human resistance could stop


    him.


    As time passed, more Avengers arrived-Hawkeye, ck Widow, and even some lesser- known heroes from the civilian ranks.


    When they had all gathered, Malekith''s reinforcements finally arrived.


    Tony Stark and the others looked up, their expressions grim.


    Several small warships decloaked, revealing themselves in the sky.


    "Humans, you cannot stop this," Malekith said calmly, staring at Tony Stark.


    Tony and the others'' faces darkened further.


    Suddenly-


    Boom!


    A rainbow-colored beam shot down from the sky!


    "What?!"


    "That''s-"


    The Avengers lit up with hope while Malekith and the Dark Elves scowled.


    "The Bifrost?" Malekith muttered.