The vast, surging beam of energy swallowed the Dark Elves' massive warship. Although the commander activated the Energy Field at the first instant, it still swayed precariously in the air like a kite with its string cut.
The dazzling pillar of light illuminated the night sky. Under the fierce and relentless barrage, the Dark Elves were stretched thin on all sides. Their hemispherical defensive field endured repeated high-intensity bombardment as waves of new fighter jets poured in from every direction, unleashing round after round of devastating strikes. Blinding flashes tore through the heavens with thunderstorm-like booms.
If not for the fact that the battlefield was Manhattan, New York's busiest district, S.H.I.E.L.D. would have long considered harsher measures, such as orbital beam weapons, high-energy particle-ray weapons, electromagnetic cannons, and more. Violent energy fluctuations ripped apart the thick clouds, while beams of light, like man-eating piranhas seeking prey, slowly yet efficiently tore chunks of flesh from the black warship.
The Dark Elves could only raise their energy shield to maximum power. A huge shadow was cast over the city as another Sky Carrier descended, its invisible force field enveloping the area and creating a chaotic, massive gravitational field.
The black warship's fearsome cannon barrels opened, but before their beams could fire, they were twisted and dragged off course, streaking crookedly through the skyscrapers below. Bricks and rubble poured down like torrential rain. Fortunately, the New York Police Department had already evacuated the crowds, while the White House activated a level-one citywide alert. The president sat tensely inside an underground nuclear-defense bunker, watching everything unfold.
Malekith's understanding of Earth remained stuck in the remote, backward wilderness it had been more than ten thousand years ago. He believed the people of Midgard were still living in ignorance and posed no threat whatsoever.
That was