Marvel: Familia System

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The group gathered in the open courtyard outside the base, the cool night air humming faintly with anticipation. Donald stood in the center, rolling his shoulders as he spun Mjolnir lazily in one hand. Diego stretched dramatically nearby, throwing in a few unnecessary lunges for show.

"Any rules?" Diego asked, grinning as he shook out his arms. "Or is this a free-for-all?"

Donald glanced at Nero, who had taken a seat on a low wall to watch the proceedings. "That's up to your fearless leader."

Nero shrugged, resting his chin on one hand. "No killing. No permanent damage. Everything else is fair game."

Diego's grin widened. "Perfect."

Anthony, standing off to the side with Sofia, exchanged a look with her. "Five bucks says Diego doesn't last a minute."

Sofia snorted. "You're being generous. Thirty seconds, tops."

Maria, standing behind them, chimed in. "Don't be too harsh. He might surprise us."

Anthony raised an eyebrow. "You really think that?"

Maria sipped her drink. "No, but I like to keep the suspense alive."

Diego stepped into the center of the courtyard, rolling his neck as he squared up with Donald. "Alright, Thor. Show me what you've got."

Donald's smile didn't falter as he twirled the hammer once more before letting it fall to his side. "You asked for it."

The fight began almost instantly. Diego darted forward, quick and agile, his movements a blur as he aimed a series of rapid strikes toward Donald's torso. Donald sidestepped effortlessly, letting Diego's punches graze harmlessly past him before swinging Mjolnir upward. He stopped the motion just short of Diego's chin, the hammer hovering inches from its target.

Diego froze, his grin faltering. "Okay, that's cheating."

"You said no rules," Donald replied, his tone light.

"Fair," Diego admitted, stepping back to reset. "But don't think I'm done yet."

The next exchange was faster, Diego weaving in and out with a flurry of kicks and punches, his speed forcing Donald to shift and block more deliberately. But despite Diego's best efforts, it was clear he was outmatched. Donald barely moved, deflecting every strike with ease, his movements precise and controlled.

"Come on, Diego," Sofia called out, her tone dripping with mock encouragement. "You're embarrassing yourself."

"Shut up, Sofia!" Diego barked, narrowly dodging a swipe from Mjolnir. "I've got this!"

Donald stepped forward, closing the distance with a single stride. He swung the hammer in a wide arc, forcing Diego to drop into a roll to avoid it. When Diego sprang back to his feet, Donald was already there, the hammer poised above him.

"Yield?" Donald asked, his voice calm.

"Yield?" Donald asked, the tip of Mjolnir's handle aimed squarely at Diego's chest.

Diego raised a finger, panting but grinning through the sweat dripping down his face. "Not just yet, Golden Boy. Seems like I, a mere mortal, can't fight a god without my powers."

Suddenly, the Storm Ring on Diego's finger flared to life, a deep crimson glow illuminating the courtyard. Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance as streaks of red lightning crackled around his hand, matching the surge of energy now coursing through him. He straightened, rolling his shoulders as the tension in his limbs seemed to melt away.

Thor tilted his head, smirking slightly. "Now that's interesting."

Diego took a step back, his stance shifting to something looser, more confident. He raised his glowing hand, letting the electricity dance across his fingertips. "I've got tricks too, Goldilocks."

Anthony let out a low whistle from the sidelines, leaning on a nearby railing. "So he's finally using the ring. Took him long enough."

Sofia folded her arms, watching Diego with a raised eyebrow. "And here I thought all he ever did with that thing was recharge his phone."

"Don't underestimate Diego," Maria said, sipping from a water bottle. "He's great at making it look like he's useless. That's half his strategy."

"Gee, thanks for the endorsement!" Diego called over his shoulder, the lightning in his ring pulsing brighter.

Diego rolled his shoulders, his grin sharpening into something less playful and more focused. "Be careful," he warned, his tone edged with confidence as the crimson glow around his ring pulsed brighter. "My storm flames corrode."

Thor tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his blue eyes. "Then let's see if they can erode lightning."

Without further words, Diego moved first, his hand snapping forward to release a crackling arc of red lightning. It streaked through the air, jagged and chaotic, heading straight for Thor. Thor raised Mjolnir in a smooth, practiced motion, the hammer absorbing the strike with a sharp clap of energy that reverberated through the courtyard.

"You'll have to do better," Thor said, stepping forward. His own lightning flared to life, streaks of bright blue energy licking across the surface of Mjolnir.

Diego didn't wait for Thor to retaliate. He twisted his wrist, summoning a swirling vortex of wind around himself. The gusts carried faint streaks of crimson energy, the storm flames crackling as they eroded small fragments of the stone courtyard beneath him. With a sharp motion, he directed the storm toward Thor, a howling cyclone of destructive force.

Thor planted his feet firmly, his grip on Mjolnir steady as he swung the hammer in a wide arc. The motion sent a blast of wind surging outward, colliding with Diego's cyclone and scattering the crimson flames in a bright, chaotic burst.

"Impressive," Thor said, stepping forward again. "But storms can't erode storms."

"Who says I'm stopping at storms?" Diego shot back, darting to the side with a burst of speed. He flicked his hand toward Thor, sending a series of crimson arcs zigzagging through the air. The lightning curved unnaturally, bending mid-flight to angle toward Thor from multiple directions.

Thor spun Mjolnir with practiced ease, the hammer deflecting each strike with resounding clangs. Sparks danced around him, illuminating the courtyard as the battle intensified. Thor didn't remain passive; as Diego's last arc fizzled against Mjolnir, he slammed the hammer to the ground. A shockwave of blue lightning radiated outward, the force shaking the ground beneath their feet.

Diego leapt back, narrowly avoiding the blast, but the residual energy clipped him, singeing the edges of his shirt. He landed in a crouch, his expression shifting into something more serious.

"Not bad, Goldilocks," he admitted. "But you're not the only one who can make the ground shake."

Diego slammed his fist into the ground, crimson storm flames erupting outward in jagged cracks that tore through the courtyard. The force raced toward Thor, splitting the earth beneath him and sending chunks of stone flying into the air. Thor vaulted upward with a burst of energy from Mjolnir, the hammer propelling him high above the chaos.

From his elevated position, Thor hurled Mjolnir with precision, the hammer streaking through the air like a missile. Diego dodged to the side, but Mjolnir wasn't done. The hammer curved mid-flight, doubling back toward Diego with unrelenting speed.

"Seriously?" Diego muttered, skidding to avoid the second pass. "A boomerang hammer?"

Mjolnir returned to Thor's outstretched hand as he landed, his movements seamless. "It's more of a loyal companion than a boomerang."

Diego grinned despite himself, the Storm Ring's glow intensifying as he raised his hand. The air around him crackled with energy as he summoned a towering column of crimson lightning. It surged upward, splitting the night sky with its ferocity.

Thor responded in kind, lifting Mjolnir to the heavens. The skies answered his call, a deafening roar of thunder heralding a bolt of blinding blue lightning. The two forces collided mid-air with a sound like an explosion, the resulting shockwave rattling windows and sending debris skittering across the courtyard.

From the sidelines, Anthony shielded his eyes against the glare. "They're going to level this place."

Sofia leaned against the wall, arms crossed as she watched the chaos unfold. "Better here than in my lab."

Maria sipped from her water bottle, her gaze sharp as she observed the fight. "Donald's holding back."

Nero nodded as his gaze followed the clash of crimson and blue lightning above the courtyard. "Donald has the Lightning Ring, and it's no less advanced than Diego's Storm Ring. With Mjolnir and his powers as the God of Thunder, he could overpower Diego easily if he used everything at once." He glanced at Maria. "This is just a demonstration. He's not showing everything, just using new or old powers."

Maria nodded slightly. "Makes sense. No point in crushing Diego outright."

Anthony, standing with his arms crossed, scoffed. "I doubt Diego would even notice if he was crushed. He'd just keep talking."

"Damn right I would!" Diego shouted over the crackling energy, a grin on his face. "I'm not going down that easy."

Thor's response was a faint smirk as he hefted Mjolnir and stepped forward, lightning coiling around the hammer. "Then try harder, Diego. You're barely keeping up."

Diego extended his arm, his Storm Ring pulsing with crimson light as the air around him thickened with swirling wind. "Alright, Thor! Let's see if your lightning can melt through this!" With a sharp motion, he unleashed a concentrated vortex of crimson energy, the destructive flames spiraling toward Thor like a living serpent.

Thor met the attack head-on, swinging Mjolnir upward in a wide arc. The blue lightning around the hammer clashed with the crimson flames, creating a deafening crack and sending shockwaves through the courtyard. Chunks of stone lifted into the air, disintegrating as the storm flames touched them, while Thor's lightning burned away the rest.

"You're pushing it," Thor called, the amusement in his voice clear. "But you're still holding back."

Diego braced against the backlash, his grin never faltering. "Holding back? This is me going easy on you, pretty boy!"

Thor suddenly shot forward, his speed almost blinding. Mjolnir struck the ground in front of Diego with a thunderous impact, sending a wave of electricity coursing through the stone. Diego jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the force still pushed him off balance.

"Nice try!" Diego shouted, twisting mid-air. His Storm Ring flared brighter, sending a sharp gust of wind downward to propel him back into position. He landed on one knee, his hand slamming into the ground as crimson flames erupted around him. "But I've got a few more tricks!"

Thor didn't hesitate, hurling Mjolnir directly at Diego. The hammer spun with terrifying speed, a streak of lightning trailing behind it. Diego reacted fast, raising both hands and unleashing a burst of storm flames to intercept the attack. The collision created a blinding flash of light, and when the dust cleared, Diego was still standing, Mjolnir embedded in the ground just inches from his feet.

"Was that supposed to scare me?" Diego taunted, his breathing heavier now but his grin still intact.

Thor extended his hand, and Mjolnir shot back to him like a magnet. He caught it effortlessly, resting the hammer on his shoulder as he took a step forward. "Not scare you," he said calmly. "Just remind you who you're fighting."

"Enough with the theatrics!" Diego shouted. His Storm Ring pulsed violently, the energy around him intensifying. The crimson storm flames formed a swirling barrier, tearing through the stone and leaving scorch marks in their wake. "Let's see if you can handle this!"

Diego thrust his hand forward, and the barrier expanded outward in a massive wave of destructive energy. The force raced toward Thor, obliterating everything in its path. Thor planted his feet firmly, raising Mjolnir high as the storm closed in. The hammer glowed brighter, the lightning coiling around it almost blinding.

Thor slammed Mjolnir into the ground with a roar, unleashing a surge of blue lightning that met Diego's attack head-on. The two forces collided, the resulting explosion shaking the entire courtyard. The shockwave sent debris flying, forcing everyone on the sidelines to shield their eyes.

Sofia coughed, brushing dust off her shirt as she glared at Nero. "You're going to let them destroy the base?"

Nero didn't look away from the fight. "If the base can't handle this, it's not worth keeping."

Maria smirked. "That's one way to justify the collateral damage."

As the dust settled, Diego was still standing, though the strain was visible in the way he held himself. Thor, by contrast, seemed completely unaffected, his stance relaxed as he lowered Mjolnir.

"You're tough," Thor admitted, his tone almost approving. "But you're burning yourself out."

Diego wiped sweat from his forehead, his grin turning defiant. "Still standing, aren't I?"

Anthony appeared behind Diego, moving with swift precision. Without hesitation, he kicked Diego's legs out from under him, sending him sprawling to the ground. "Not anymore," he said flatly, stepping over him.

Diego groaned, twisting his head to glare up at Anthony. "Seriously, man? I had him right where I wanted him!"

Sofia, meanwhile, darted behind Thor, grabbing his muscular arm and sinking her teeth into it—not hard enough to wound, but certainly enough to make a point. "Knock it off, you two!" she demanded through clenched teeth, her voice muffled by his sleeve.

Thor glanced down at her, raising an eyebrow. "Biting? Really?"

Nero chuckled as he stepped closer, Maria's arm looped loosely around his, her gaze flicking between Donald and Diego. "Well, they're right about one thing," he said, his tone light but carrying just enough weight to draw attention. "I've seen enough. Donald, that was impressive. Was that... five percent of your god powers?"

Donald blinked, caught off guard for a moment before catching the teasing glint in Nero's eyes. He straightened, letting Mjolnir rest casually on his shoulder as he grinned. "Five? Please. That was more like one percent."

Diego, still sprawled on the ground, propped himself up on one elbow. His jaw dropped as he pointed an accusing finger at Donald. "One percent? I got my ass handed to me by one percent of his power?"

Maria, unable to resist, chimed in with a smirk. "Didn't you just say you were still standing?"

"Technically, I was!" Diego shot back, waving his other arm dramatically. "Right up until Anthony decided to play chiropractor!"

Anthony didn't even look at him, dusting off his hands as he walked past. "You were wide open. I did you a favor."

Diego groaned, flopping back onto the ground and covering his face with one hand. "Unbelievable. I get tag-teamed and you're all just fine with it."

Sofia nodded exaggeratedly, grabbing Diego's hand and pulling him up with a theatrical huff. "They're just a bunch of homophobes, Diego. Let's go, sister."

Diego groaned dramatically as he let her help him to his feet, brushing himself off while throwing a glare at the others. "Finally, someone who gets it. Did you see her bite Donald? That's allyship right there."

"You're damn right I bit him," Sofia shot back, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I was helping you. You owe me."

Maria chuckled, handing Sofia her water bottle. "She definitely needs financial compensation for that. Or therapy."

Sofia tossed the bottle back and pointed at Maria. "Therapy first, compensation second. Let's start a tab."

Donald raised an eyebrow at Sofia. "You know, biting doesn't usually count as combat assistance."

Sofia crossed her arms. "That's rich coming from a guy who literally threw a hammer at Diego like we're in a medieval joust."

Diego stretched, rolling his shoulders as he groaned again. "Yeah, seriously, Donald. You can't go around chucking ancient weapons at delicate mortals like me."

Donald smirked. "Delicate? Didn't you just say you had 'tricks'?"

Diego waved a hand dismissively, turning to Sofia. "Forget him. Let's make our dramatic exit."

"You're right." Sofia hooked her arm through his, dragging him toward the base doors. She glanced over her shoulder at the others, her tone dripping with mock superiority. "We're leaving you peasants to bask in your mediocrity."

As they walked away, Diego added loudly, "And when the Wi-Fi stops working, don't come crying to us."

Anthony glanced at Maria, shaking his head. "Why does everything with them turn into a production?"

Maria smirked faintly, watching the pair disappear through the doors. "It's their dynamic. Without the theatrics, they'd be boring."

Donald turned toward Nero. "So, was this little demonstration enlightening enough?"

Nero shrugged, his hands in his pockets. "It was entertaining, which is almost the same thing."

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