Judgment of the Endless (MarvelxDC)

The morning sky over Washington, D.C., was eerily calm. The rising sun cast a soft golden glow over the city, highlighting the marble monuments and bustling streets filled with tourists and residents.

Sophia Perez, a history teacher, sat on a bench in the National Mall, sipping coffee and preparing for her first visit to the Smithsonian in weeks.

Her students loved hearing stories about the city's history, and she always found new inspiration in its archives.

But today, something was wrong. The air felt heavier, and a strange tension seemed to buzz through the streets. People paused mid-step, their eyes drawn upward. Sophia followed their gazes and gasped.

The sky was filled with ships—masses of dark, alien vessels blotting out the sunlight. The Chitauri had arrived.

Panic rippled through the crowd as the first ships descended. Their sleek, jagged hulls bristled with weapons, and smaller crafts swarmed like predatory insects. The deafening roar of engines was followed by the crackle of energy blasts raining down on the city. Buildings exploded in fiery bursts, sending debris and smoke into the air. Screams erupted as civilians scrambled for cover.

Sophia clutched her bag, frozen in fear as Chitauri soldiers leapt from their ships. The reptilian aliens moved with deadly precision, their guttural growls filling the air as they began rounding up survivors.

As chaos engulfed the National Mall, a massive boom echoed across the city. A glowing Boom Tube opened in front of the Lincoln Memorial, spilling forth monstrous warriors clad in dark, angular armor. Granny Goodness stepped through, her broad, imposing figure exuding authority and cruelty.

Her face twisted into a wicked smile as she surveyed the destruction. Clad in gleaming silver and black armor, Granny carried a large, ornate staff adorned with alien glyphs. Her voice, both grandmotherly and terrifying, boomed over the battlefield.

"Children of Earth, rejoice! You are about to be saved by the glorious hand of Darkseid!"

Behind her marched the Female Furies, her elite warriors. Big Barda, with her towering frame and massive Mega-Rod, walked alongside Lashina, who cracked her electrified whips with deadly precision. Mad Harriet cackled madly, her claws twitching with anticipation, while Bernadeth, her face cold and cruel, carried her deadly Fahren-Knife.

The sight was too much for Sophia. She stumbled backward, her heart pounding as Granny approached a group of terrified civilians.

"Come now, my sweet little lambs," Granny cooed, her voice dripping with mock kindness. "Join Darkseid's cause, or face his wrath."

Before Granny could finish her twisted proclamation, a loud whoosh cut through the air. A streak of red, white, and blue slammed into the ground, sending Chitauri soldiers flying.

Captain America stood tall, his shield gleaming in the sunlight.

"Not on our watch," he said, his voice firm.

Sophia's heart lifted as more heroes arrived. Iron Man soared above, blasting Chitauri crafts from the sky. Black Widow and Hawkeye emerged from the shadows, their weapons at the ready. The Hulk thundered into the fray, smashing through Chitauri lines with terrifying ease. Thor descended from the heavens, lightning crackling around him as he landed near Granny Goodness.

"Granny," Thor growled, pointing Mjolnir at her. "Return to the shadows where you belong, or face the wrath of Asgard."

Granny laughed, her voice full of mockery. "Oh, the little thunder god thinks he can frighten me! Children, let's show these heroes the might of Apokolips!"

Sophia ducked behind a crumbling wall as the battle erupted. The ground shook as the Hulk charged into a group of Chitauri, his massive fists reducing them to pulp.

Iron Man unleashed a barrage of missiles, targeting the larger Chitauri ships. The explosions lit up the sky, raining debris onto the city below.

Captain America led a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in evacuating civilians, his shield deflecting energy blasts as he barked orders.

"Get to cover! Move, move!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Sophia watched in awe as Black Widow flipped over a Chitauri soldier, snapping its neck with brutal efficiency. Nearby, Hawkeye fired arrow after arrow, each one finding its mark with deadly precision.

But the Female Furies were a different story.

Big Barda charged at Thor, her Mega-Rod glowing with destructive energy. The two titans clashed with a thunderous boom, their weapons sparking as they struck each other.

"Is this all the son of Odin can muster?" Barda taunted, swinging her weapon with incredible force.

Thor grinned, spinning Mjolnir. "You'll find me more than a match, warrior!"

Meanwhile, Lashina targeted Black Widow, her electrified whips lashing out with blinding speed. Natasha dodged and weaved, but the whips struck with precision, leaving scorch marks on the ground.

"Care to dance, little spy?" Lashina sneered.

Natasha responded with a roundhouse kick, catching Lashina off guard. "I don't dance," she said, firing her Widow's Bite at point-blank range.

Mad Harriet, shrieking with glee, lunged at Hawkeye. Her razor-sharp claws tore through his quiver, scattering arrows across the ground. Clint rolled to the side, grabbing a stray arrow and jamming it into Harriet's shoulder.

She howled in pain, but her manic laughter didn't stop.

Sophia clutched her chest, struggling to breathe as she watched the carnage. Blood stained the streets, and the cries of the wounded echoed all around.

As the battle raged on, S.H.I.E.L.D. deployed reinforcements, their jets strafing Chitauri forces and providing cover for the Avengers.

Civilians continued to flee, guided by agents and the few remaining police officers.

Sophia found herself pulled to safety by a young S.H.I.E.L.D. operative. "Ma'am, we need to get you out of here!" he shouted, his face smeared with dirt and sweat.

But before they could move, the ground erupted beneath them. A massive Chitauri war machine burst through the pavement, its cannon swiveling toward a cluster of fleeing civilians.

Sophia screamed as the cannon charged, its glowing barrel promising death. But before it could fire, Iron Man swooped in, blasting the machine's core with a concentrated beam of energy.

"Got your back, Cap!" Tony quipped over the comms.

"About time, Stark!" Steve replied, throwing his shield at a group of advancing Chitauri.

Amidst the chaos, Granny Goodness strode through the battlefield, her staff crackling with dark energy. She targeted Captain America, unleashing a blast that sent him flying into a pile of rubble.

"You cannot win, little man," Granny sneered, raising her staff for another strike.

But before she could attack, Thor intervened, slamming Mjolnir into her side. Granny staggered but quickly recovered, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You dare challenge me, boy?" she snarled, swinging her staff with enough force to shatter concrete.

The two clashed in a brutal melee, their strikes sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

Sophia and the other civilians huddled in a makeshift shelter, their faces pale with fear. The sounds of battle raged outside, a constant reminder of the danger they faced.

"Will we make it?" a young girl whispered, clutching her mother's hand.

Sophia didn't have an answer. She could only hope that the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. could turn the tide before it was too late.

=========================================================