Destiny Unbound [Marvel X DCU]

Thanos, Darkseid, and Ivan stood armed for a deadly confrontation. A tense exchange of glances between Thanos and Darkseid preceded Thanos's aggressive charge, with Darkseid following closely.

Witnessing the duo's synchronized advance, Ivan was further perplexed by Thanos's subsequent actions. His fists clenched, releasing destructive energy, while Darkseid's eyes emitted crimson omega rays. Surprisingly, these rays encircled Thanos's fists, merging with the destructive force.

The once black gloves transformed into a striking black and red. With the amplified Fist of Destruction, Thanos posed an imminent threat. Confident in his enhanced strength, derived from his Destroyer-forged armor, Drax's power runes, and the absorbed Power Gem, Ivan met the attack head-on.

His armor morphed into a colossal, rune-etched fist colliding with Thanos's dual assault.

The impact was cataclysmic. Despite the vacuum of space, a deafening roar echoed through the void as a violent shockwave erupted. The clash of these cosmic titans unleashed a cosmic storm engulfing the battlefield.

Larger vessels deployed energy shields, while smaller ones disintegrated. The battle reached a stalemate. All three combatants were forced back but quickly resumed the attack. Ivan countered Thanos, then turned his focus to Darkseid.

Darkseid retaliated with omega rays aimed at Ivan's chest. Anticipating Ivan's defensive stance, Darkseid planned a combined attack with Thanos. However, Ivan evaded the rays and countered with a blade-like arm, targeting Darkseid's chest.

Startled, Darkseid activated his black and red armor, forming a protective shield. Sensing the approaching Thanos, Ivan retreated. He then manipulated Darkseid's omega rays, transforming them into chains to deflect Thanos's punch.

Thanos's relentless, destructive onslaught was formidable but manageable. Darkseid, on the other hand, proved a more challenging adversary. His ability to attack from a distance with deadly omega rays, combined with Thanos's brute force, made them a formidable team. Ivan struggled to find an opening against their coordinated assault.

Ivan was both impressed and envious of Darkseid's omega-ray power. While he had previously dispersed similar rays using his rule-infused fist, the intense energy required to do so was substantial. He dared not risk a confrontation this time.

Ivan halted his attack, and the expanding crimson aura around Darkseid ceased. Its defensive function needed to be expanded in range. Sensing Thanos's counterattack, Ivan braced himself.

Enraged by Ivan's earlier near-miss, Darkseid unleashed twin omega rays, twisting them into a circular trap above Ivan. Ivan countered by using his rule power to solidify the intangible light, attempting to control the rays.

Simultaneously, Thanos launched his fist. Ivan, preoccupied with the omega rays, used his leg to deflect Thanos's attack, gaining momentum to evade the descending energy trap.

Thanos's relentless barrage of destructive punches continued. While powerful, Ivan could manage Thanos's attacks. However, Darkseid's varied omega-ray techniques posed a greater challenge.

His ability to maintain distance and employ diverse attack patterns made him a formidable opponent. Thanos's role as a shield further complicated Ivan's strategy.

The battle raged on for hours, a stalemate between three mighty beings. Their extraordinary strength, endurance, and rapid regeneration made it difficult to gain a decisive advantage. The collateral damage from the battle was catastrophic.

Countless spaceships were destroyed, and their crews were either killed or forced to flee in terror. While Ivan's team, protected by Apocalypse and others, escaped unscathed, the losses suffered by Thanos and Darkseid were significant. Despite their vast armies, such meaningless casualties were unacceptable.

Undeterred, Thanos and Darkseid resorted to their previous tactic: Darkseid's omega rays amplified Thanos's destructive fists. Ivan met their attack with a defiant sneer. His fist transformed into a rotating drill powered by concentrated rule energy.

With a Herculean effort, he broke through the omega rays and Thanos's defenses, only to be stopped by the impenetrable material of Thanos' glove. Refusing to yield, Ivan unleashed an even more powerful attack, finally sending Thanos flying into Darkseid. Seizing the opportunity, Ivan transformed his hands into sharp claws, aiming for their hearts.

Panic surged through Thanos and Darkseid as they sensed a chilling, murderous intent. Their instincts screamed of impending death.

Thanos retaliated with a fist imbued with his destructive power and contrasting energy, causing a violent reaction like pouring water onto sulfuric acid.

Darkseid's omega rays combined, not becoming thicker but denser, forming a single red thread thinner than silk with a black light aura.

This was a moment of intense crisis for Ivan. Death loomed closer than ever. Though determined to fulfill his attack, he intuitively understood that Darkseid's omega ray would sever his head simultaneously while Thanos's fist crushed him.

Desperate to avoid dying here, Ivan unleashed his trump card. A hidden mirror embedded under his armor burst forth, its duplicate phantom merging back into him. His expression turned utterly blank, devoid of emotion.

His mind raced, calculating his best action in a split second.

Ivan retracted his claws mid-attack. With his left hand, he formed a crystal-like orb of rule energy at his fingertips, then touched the omega ray.

It instantly collapsed, dissipating into nothingness. He raised his right palm to meet Thanos's fist. Two opposing forces collided, propelling Ivan backward with an almost weightless sensation. Thus, Ivan narrowly escaped the life-or-death situation.

Thanos and Darkseid stared at each other, bewildered. Ivan's final burst of power was unimaginable. Had he unleashed it earlier, they wouldn't have stood a chance.

Was he holding back all this time? Why?