The battle in New York, dubbed "New York War 2.0," erupted with a ferocity far exceeding that of the previous Chitauri invasion.
Unlike the Wakandan War from the original timeline—where only the Avengers and Wakandan soldiers participated—this confrontation included reinforcements from across the galaxy. The Wakandans, Kamar-Taj sorcerers, and Thor's Asgardian forces united to form a formidable defense. These weren't ordinary warriors; the Asgardians, with their strength rivaling Captain America's, tore through Thanos' Vanguard like a hurricane through dry grass.
Thor remained steadfast within the New York Sanctum, his presence ensuring no foe could breach its defenses. From his vantage point, he was the unyielding anchor in a sea of chaos.
A small spaceship descended onto Airfield atop the Stark Tower, its landing gear hissing as it touched down. For the first time, the Guardians of the Galaxy set foot on Earth.
"Is this your hometown, Quill?" Gamora asked, scanning the towering skyline.
Quill inhaled deeply, his expression a mixture of nostalgia and unease. "Yeah. I'm back," he murmured.
Rocket squinted at the distant battlefield, his tone incredulous. "Quill, didn't you say your hometown was some backwater planet? Doesn't look like it. This place has top-tier warriors, tech, and enough firepower to go toe-to-toe with Thanos' army."
He gestured toward the Wakandan and Kamar-Taj troops, both clearly of Earth origin. Combined with Thor's Asgardian reinforcements, their strength rivaled that of the universe's most powerful factions.
Quill had no response, his thoughts tangled with memories of the simpler Earth he had left behind.
The New York Sanctum, located on Brick Street in southern Manhattan, became the focal point of Thanos' assault. Leveraging the inherent advantage of an attacker, Thanos' forces initiated a three-pronged assault, choosing their targets with precision. The defenders, on the other hand, were forced to react, dividing their strength to cover multiple fronts.
The First Line: The Bronx
The northern attack came through the Bronx, cutting a direct path through Manhattan toward the Sanctum. This was the most aggressive assault, spearheaded by Thanos' Vanguard—an unrelenting swarm of cannon fodder supported by Chitauri infantry.
From his perch on the Sanctum's highest balcony, Thor surveyed the battlefield. His Stormbreaker gleamed as he declared, "No battleship will touch New York under my watch!"
A Chitahuri fighter darted into view, only to be obliterated by a bolt of lightning. Moments later, Stormbreaker streaked through the air like a comet, cleaving through a Leviathan before ricocheting toward another target.
The Wakandan forces, led by Black Panther T'Challa, stood firm alongside the Asgardians. Overhead, Tony Stark and James Rhodes rained down precision missile strikes, maintaining air superiority and supporting the ground troops.
A massive black dragon hovered above the fray, unleashing torrents of fire that cleared vast swaths of enemy forces. Its deafening roar was punctuated by the bone-crushing advance of Hulk, who dove headfirst into the Vanguard army. With his boundless strength and near-invincibility, Hulk created chaos in their ranks, scattering the enemy like leaves in a storm.
But the Vanguard were merely the first wave. Though weak individually, their numbers and persistence tested even the strongest defenders.
The Second Line: Brooklyn
The second assault targeted Brooklyn, a route strategically beyond Thor's immediate reach. Here, Chitauri spacecraft and Leviathan beasts descended in droves, their overwhelming firepower tearing through Earth's mortal defenses.
Commanding this force was Ebony Maw, Thanos' cunning lieutenant. From his levitating platform, Maw directed the assault with surgical precision. His goal wasn't the Sanctum itself but the chaos necessary to release Dormammu.
Despite their technological prowess, Earth's conventional forces crumbled before the Chitauri onslaught. Each wave of defenders was pushed back, the narrow strait separating Brooklyn and Manhattan becoming the final barrier between the invaders and the Sanctum.
Ebony Maw's eyes gleamed with malice. "Make the Asgardian suffer for his defiance. Let him witness the ruin of everything he seeks to protect."