Marvel: Rise of the Cosmic Beast

Garou stood at the edge of the X-Mansion courtyard, his tattered cloak fluttering in the breeze. The battle was over, but the weight of its consequences lingered like the stench of sulfur left behind by the creature Dormammu had sent. Beside him, Rogue adjusted her gloves, stealing glances at him—not out of fear, but something more complicated.

They'd barely escaped the ambush—burnt trees and scorched soil bore the scars of their struggle. The memory of the creature's flame-infused claws still burned fresh on Garou's mind. It hadn't been powerful, not by his standards. But it had come with intent. It had spoken Dormammu's name.

And it had almost killed Rogue.

"We need to talk to them," she said softly. "Now."

---

Inside the war room, the Avengers and X-Men had gathered. Tony Stark leaned against a table, armor half-assembled on his torso. Storm and Cyclops stood on either side of Xavier, whose expression was grim. Doctor Strange hovered near the window, eyes narrowed.

Garou and Rogue entered. The air tensed immediately.

"You're back," Stark said, eyeing Garou. "And you brought the walking singularity."

"Tony," said Cap, calm but firm.

Rogue stepped forward. "We were ambushed."

Xavier's eyes flashed. "By who?"

"Not who. What," Garou replied. "Dormammu's influence. He's not just probing anymore. He's moving."

Garou tossed a scorched shard onto the table. It writhed faintly with unnatural energy—still dripping with traces of chaotic magic. Strange stepped forward and examined it, his expression hardening.

"This is a summoning catalyst," Strange muttered. "Dormammu used it to send a construct through the Veil. This wasn't just a scouting party. This was a warning."

"So he's getting bold," Logan growled. "What else is new?"

"No," said Strange. "He's planting agents on Earth. I've sensed disturbances across New York, Madripoor, even Sokovia. And if he's targeting Garou directly…"

"He sees me as a threat," Garou finished. "Or worse—an asset."

Silence.

"Then we need a plan," Captain America said at last.

"A plan that includes him?" Scott Summers asked, tilting his head at Garou. "He nearly leveled half the field last week just trying to 'train.' We don't even know what side he's on."

"Ah think he's earned some trust," Rogue shot back, her tone sharp. "He took that thing down when we couldn't even scratch it."

Garou stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly. "I didn't come here to fight your war. But if Dormammu thinks he can use me, then I'll make sure he regrets it."

Cap nodded. "Then we start a counteroffensive. Garou, you'll work with Rogue and Strange. We need to find the source of these catalysts and stop the corruption before it spreads."

"Fine," Garou said. "But if your people get in my way—"

"They won't," Cap said. "As long as you're fighting with us."

---

Later that evening, Rogue and Garou sat beneath the mansion's broken trellis, the stars above faintly glowing behind thin clouds.

"You alright?" she asked.

He grunted. "I'm used to people not trusting me. It's easier that way."

"But that's not what you want anymore, is it?"

Garou didn't answer right away. The night air was quiet—almost peaceful. He turned to her slowly, his voice rough with something rare: uncertainty.

"I don't know what I want. I've spent most of my life fighting gods, monsters, heroes—proving I was the strongest. But this… this isn't my world."

"It could be," she said, scooting a little closer. "You got a good heart buried under all that cosmic rage."

Garou chuckled, low and dry. "You always say things like that. Like you see something I don't."

"Ah do," Rogue said gently. "You saved me. Not because you had to. Because you wanted to."

He looked at her, searching her eyes for some trace of doubt—but there was none. Just quiet conviction. Trust. Maybe even something more.

Before he could speak, Rogue leaned forward, her gloved fingers brushing against his.

"I can't touch most people," she whispered. "You know that. But you? You've been infused with so much energy, so much chaos—I can touch you. And you don't flinch."

"I don't break," Garou said.

"No," Rogue said with a small smile. "You don't."

She leaned her head against his shoulder. And for once, Garou didn't feel like a weapon.

He felt… human.

---

Back inside the mansion, Strange traced sigils in the air above the catalyst shard.

The spell revealed a web of magical connections—dormant channels running across Earth like a fungal root system. And at its core, a pulsing beacon—just off the coast of the Bermuda Triangle.

"Dormammu's agent is already here," Strange muttered.

Then he froze.

The image shifted, revealing a cloaked figure standing in a crowd of oblivious humans. The cloak shifted, revealing a familiar face—one that had once fought beside the Avengers.

"Impossible…"

Strange turned to the others.

"We've got a bigger problem. Dormammu's corrupted one of our own."

---

Miles away, beneath the ocean, a dark spire pulsed with life. From its apex, the corrupted figure raised their hand, summoning dozens of blackened catalysts to the surface.

The Earth was ready. The invasion had begun.