Dense rain of light shaved a thick layer off the ground. The earth cracked apart. Mist-like dust surged into the sky.
By the time the Orbital Turrets surrounding Stark cooled down and fell silent, the surrounding terrain had been utterly reshaped by the previous barrage.
Was it over?
The thought had barely crossed everyone's minds when a tall figure burst from the dust. He looked somewhat battered. Parts of his exposed armor were covered in cracked fissures, while large swathes of his exposed skin bore burn-like scars. The skin layer had been stripped away, revealing the flesh beneath.
He sent Dr. Banner staggering with a punch, then drove his heavy foot straight into Dr. Banner's chest as he bent over from the blow.
Dr. Banner's mechanically encased body rolled backward through the air.
"Goodbye? Did you think an attack like that could kill me?" Thanos stood where he was and raised his head toward Stark, who was surrounded by numerous mechanical constructs in the distance. "Perhaps you will never hand over the Infinity Stones until you see true despair. Let us begin the next battle."
Thick clouds rapidly gathered overhead. Thunder rumbled within them, clear enough for everyone to hear. Twisting lightning pierced through the clouds and reached toward the ground with a speed that seemed slow but was actually swift. Violent winds rose, and swirling gusts formed in an instant, whipping the flying dust into shapes like torn cloth.
The sky darkened sharply, as though daytime had suddenly shifted into evening after the sun had set.
The air became damp. Sparse raindrops quickly thickened into a torrential downpour. The entire city was shrouded beneath dark clouds and heavy rain. The curtain of rain was as dense as fog; ordinary people could not even see pedestrians ten meters away.
A