In battle, it's common sense to strike the weakest points first, and Thanos was no exception.
When he launched his full-scale assault, the Holy Places in Hong Kong and London fell within half an hour. The Avengers hadn't even had time to mobilize. Thor, despite his might, chose not to intervene immediately. Guarding all three Sanctums simultaneously would spread their forces too thin, leaving them vulnerable to Thanos' overwhelming numbers.
The destruction of the two Sanctums sent shockwaves through Kamar-Taj. The sorcerers recognized the grim truth—this was the prelude to Dormammu's arrival. The New York Sanctum would now serve as the final line of defense.
Thanos was no fool. He knew the last four Infinity Stones were in Thor's possession and that the God of Thunder was entrenched in the New York Sanctum. As a result, the city, already a magnet for disasters, became the center of yet another storm.
New York, battered by countless battles, was bracing for the worst once again. The city's history of rebuilding after every war seemed destined to repeat. But this time, the scale of destruction threatened to surpass all that had come before.
In preparation, Steve Rogers, now the President of the United States, pushed through an emergency evacuation order, overriding international protests. The Mayor of New York, Wilson Fisk—better known to some as Kingpin—used his considerable influence to enforce the evacuation, employing both legal and clandestine methods to ensure compliance.
The skies above New York were deceptively clear when the first sign of Thanos' invasion appeared. A massive meteor-like object broke through the atmosphere, turning into a blazing fireball as it descended directly toward the Sanctum.
It wasn't a meteor—it was one of Thanos' landing ships.
New York lacked the protective shields of Wakanda. Expecting Thanos to land outside the city's perimeter was a fantasy. He intended to bring the fight directly to their doorstep.
A thunderous roar echoed through the sky as the Black Dragon Princess, transformed into her draconic form, soared upward to meet the incoming threat. She unleashed a torrent of scorching dragon's breath, the intense heat melting the landing ship into a collapsing heap of molten metal.
Her moment of triumph was short-lived. More fireballs descended from the heavens, too many for even her formidable power to handle alone. She had barely finished with one when another three appeared.
Inside the Sanctum, Thor stood by the skylight, watching the chaos unfold. He sneered at the sight of the invading Chitahuri ships and announced loudly, "No battleship enters my domain."
He extended his hand, and Stormbreaker materialized in his grip.
Outside, the Avengers prepared for the onslaught. A sudden streak of lightning erupted from the Sanctum, Stormbreaker spinning through the air like a bolt of divine wrath. It tore through the nearest battleship, exploding it in a fiery cascade before arcing toward another target.
"Boom... Boom... BOOM!"
The mighty battle-ax sliced through the invading fleet with terrifying precision. Ships that had seemed indestructible moments ago crumbled like paper before its power.
Meanwhile, a squadron of fighter-bombers emerged from Thanos' donut-shaped warship, diving toward the city to provide cover for the landing ships.
Thor raised Stormbreaker, summoning an enormous bolt of lightning. The sky turned purple as the massive discharge split into countless smaller bolts, each striking with deadly accuracy. The entire squadron disintegrated before they could release a single payload.
Thor's voice boomed across the battlefield, "I said, no flying in New York today!"
High above, Thanos watched the spectacle from his flagship. His jaw tightened as he observed the devastating power of Stormbreaker. The plan to storm New York from above was clearly a failure. Reluctantly, he gave the order to land his forces outside the city and engage the Avengers directly.
Under normal circumstances, Thanos would have unleashed a barrage of firepower from his fleet to soften the opposition. But Sanctuary II, still undergoing repairs, lacked functional weaponry. For now, it served only as a troop carrier.
With a thunderous crash, a landing ship finally made contact with the ground outside the city. Its massive hatch opened, and waves of snarling Vanguard troops poured out, their numbers forming an unstoppable tide. These creatures, one of Thanos' most fearsome assets, weren't known for their individual strength. But their sheer numbers, coupled with their fearless charge, made them a formidable force.
The Avengers sprang into action. Tony Stark and James Rhodes, both in their Iron Man suits, launched into the sky, unleashing volleys of missiles that decimated the Vanguard ranks. But for every creature that fell, two more seemed to take its place.
The battle escalated further as portals began to open behind the Avengers. Fully armed Wakandan warriors emerged, their vibranium spears gleaming in the sunlight. Their war cries filled the air as they charged into the fray, joining the fight to repel Thanos' forces.
"Must win! Must win!" the warriors chanted, their determination echoing across the battlefield.