---
Most of the Avengers present matched what Lin Fan remembered from the movies.
But thanks to his appearance in this universe, things had changed. Odin had evacuated Asgard, taking the entire Aesir clan with him. That's why Thor wasn't here.
Vision and Scarlet Witch were also missing.
Instead, someone new had joined—a silver-armored figure, reminiscent of Ultron in shape.
The butterfly effect of Lin Fan's arrival had clearly twisted the timeline, but things were still understandable… for now.
---
While Lin Fan quietly studied the Avengers, they were watching him too.
He looked human. A bit odd, maybe—almost too perfect in appearance—but nothing suggested he could destroy a solar system.
Still, their instincts screamed caution.
They wanted to strike, but hesitated when they noticed Jean Grey, unconscious in Lin Fan's arms.
That hesitation gave Lin Fan all the insight he needed.
They weren't scared of him.
They were scared of hurting her.
He looked down at Jean, then gave a faint smile.
"So that's what's holding you back… In that case, no need to worry."
Gently, he released her. But instead of falling, she remained suspended in mid-air—wrapped in a glowing red aura of Phoenix energy.
Then Lin Fan looked back at the heroes and gave a small beckon with his finger.
"Come on. I'm in a hurry. Let's get this over with."
---
The Avengers didn't take that lightly.
They weren't used to being dismissed—especially not like this.
With a furious shout, Captain America launched himself forward. He soared five meters through the air, muscles flexing, and hurled his vibranium shield with full force.
BOOM!
The shield stopped dead in midair.
Cap's eyes widened.
Lin Fan hadn't moved a muscle.
Behind him, a pair of crimson, glowing wings had formed—light constructs made of Phoenix energy. They had caught the shield effortlessly.
From afar, Professor X gasped. He knew what that meant.
Jean's power was gone. All of it—transferred.
Lin Fan looked at Cap, amusement in his eyes.
"So much for that undefeated reputation."
Suddenly, the red wings shifted. Two glowing energy arms shot forward from them—
SHRRRIP!
They sliced the vibranium shield clean in half.
The two pieces flew backward, slamming into Cap and launching him like a missile across the field.
He hit the ground hard, stunned.
---
"J.A.R.V.I.S.!" Tony shouted.
Immediately, Iron Man and the silver-bodied J.A.R.V.I.S. shot into the air.
Behind them, the Quinjet's cargo bay opened, and fifty Iron Legion drones launched out, forming a metal swarm in the sky.
This was Jarvis at his peak.
As an advanced AI, controlling dozens of suits at once was no problem.
A one-man army.
The skies filled with armored shapes—mini-missiles armed and locking onto Lin Fan from every angle.
Still, he didn't move.
He was focused, quietly practicing his new power.
The Phoenix wings stretched once again, and countless fiery feathers shot out.
One by one, they hit the missiles midair.
Then—
Every missile flipped direction.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions filled the air like fireworks.
The Iron Legion was wiped out in seconds.
The feedback surged through J.A.R.V.I.S.—sparks burst from his eyes, and systems glitched.
Then a single javelin-shaped energy spike punched through his chest.
J.A.R.V.I.S. went down.
Every drone was gone.
Only Tony remained—his suit battered, most of it shattered.
He hit the ground hard.
---
"RAAAGGHH!! HULK… SMASH!!!"
From the side, the Hulk charged like an earthquake in motion.
Muscles bulging, eyes glowing with rage.
Lin Fan's expression changed slightly.
"Let's see how strong you really get… when you're pushed."
For the first time in this fight, Lin Fan made a move.
He raised his fingers and casually waved them through the air.
A fiery red fist—pure Phoenix energy—formed above Hulk and slammed him into the ground.
BOOM!
Before the dust could settle, the fist extended, lifted Hulk back up—and slammed him again.
And again.
And again.
Punch after punch, each stronger than the last.
Hulk's roars grew weaker.
Eventually, the transformation faded.
The rage disappeared.
What remained was Bruce Banner, unconscious and bruised, slumped in tattered clothes in the crater.
---