180

Chapter 180: Three-Line Attack

A New York War 2.0 erupted on a scale far greater than the Chitauri's invasion.

Unlike the Wakanda War in the original timeline, where only the Avengers and Wakandan soldiers participated, this time the battlefield was much more extensive.

Wakanda, a small African nation, had a limited population, and despite their advanced technology, it was nearly impossible to make a significant impact against the overwhelming forces of the Vanguard.

Now, however, in addition to the Wakandan soldiers, there was a massive contingent of Kamar-Taj sorcerers and the Asgardian army, which Thor himself had summoned after their previous defeat by Hela.

Every Asgardian soldier possessed physical capabilities comparable to Captain America, which was more than enough to handle the Vanguard.

Thor stood resolutely on the observation platform inside the Sanctum, ensuring no one could breach it.

"Is this your hometown, Quill?" Gamora asked as a small spaceship landed on Airfield 07 atop the Stark Building, marking the Guardians of the Galaxy's first visit to Earth.

Quill, also known as Star-Lord, looked around with a mix of nostalgia and complexity, taking a deep breath. "Yes, I'm back."

Rocket, peering at the massive battle unfolding nearby, asked in confusion, "Quill, didn't you say your hometown was a remote and backward planet? It doesn't look like it. Even without the top experts, just the ordinary legions are more than a match for Thanos's armies."

The Asgardian soldiers were clearly foreign reinforcements, but the Kamar-Taj and Wakandan troops were evidently indigenous and had a long-standing heritage.

Their combined strength alone was a top-tier power in the universe.

The New York Sanctum is situated on Brick Street in Manhattan, at the southern tip of the Manhattan peninsula.

In warfare, the attacker has a significant advantage—they can choose the time and direction of their attack, while the defender can only react. Thanos' forces devised three separate attack routes to overwhelm the defenders.

The first attack route landed in the Bronx, moving through most of the Manhattan peninsula, and charged directly towards the Sanctum.

This offensive was expected to be the most intense. The attackers faced the Vanguard, a swarm-like force, and numerous Chitauri soldiers following them.

Thor, stationed on the highest balcony of the New York Sanctum, had a commanding view of Manhattan. Any Chitauri fighter or Leviathan that entered his line of sight would be immediately struck by lightning and torn apart by Stormbreaker.

The Wakandan army, led by Black Panther T'Challa, along with Asgardian soldiers, was tasked with defending this sector. Stark and Rhodes, along with numerous Wakandan warriors and S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft carriers, controlled the airspace and supported the ground troops.

Meanwhile, a massive black dragon, tens of meters in length, hovered in the air. Its fiery breath cleared large areas with each exhale.

"Roar…"

Hulk led the charge into the Vanguard forces.

Hulk was undeterred by crowd tactics. His remarkable recovery and defense made him resistant to most Vanguard attacks.

With his jumping ability, even if surrounded, he could leap to another location and continue the battle.

As the enemy commander considered how to deal with Hulk, the Avengers surged from behind.

Thanos' legion was more than just a swarm of mindless Vanguards. The Dark Legion was a well-organized force, with the Vanguards serving as mere cannon fodder.

Despite the vast number of troops, they were the weakest part of the assault. Their primary role was to draw the Avengers' attention and deplete their resources.

The second landing point was in Brooklyn, where the soldiers were of a higher caliber.

Because Thor's long-range attacks couldn't fully cover this area, many Chitauri spaceships and Leviathans were deployed here.

Ebony Maw, the tactical mastermind, was in charge of this section.

The forces quickly advanced westward. Most of the defenses here consisted of mortal troops, who were vulnerable to the Chitauri's assault and unable to withstand their attack.

The narrow strait separating them from Brick Street put significant pressure on the Sanctum.

However, their target wasn't Thor. By this point, Thanos had abandoned any hope of directly seizing the four Infinity Stones from his adversary.

The only option was to summon Dormammu, a formidable entity from the Dark Dimension capable of defeating Thor.

Thor was indeed powerful, but protecting the New York Sanctum while fighting off such a vast army was challenging.

Even with the giant Leviathans alone, their presence could easily reduce the New York Sanctum to ruins.

"Make sure that arrogant Asgardian pays dearly for crossing Lord Thanos!" Ebony Maw thought as he stood on the platform, envisioning Thor's despair as Asgard fell to darkness...