Chapter 10: Unleashing the Storm

The sky above Manhattan was a swirling chaos of dust, debris, and electricity. Ethan's portals crackled with energy as the battle raged on. Iron Man, War Machine, and Spider-Man were holding their own, but the toll was mounting on them, on the city, and on the people caught in the crossfire. Explosions rattled the streets, and crumbled buildings became obstacles as the fight spiraled out of control.

"Keep the pressure on him!" Tony shouted through the comms as he fired another barrage of repulsor blasts, only for them to be sucked into Ethan's portals and spat back out with deadly precision. The Mark 45's systems strained as Tony dodged his own attacks, his thrusters roaring in protest. "JARVIS, I need suggestions!"

"Sir, his energy levels are increasing exponentially. I believe he has not yet unleashed his full potential. The longer this continues, the more dangerous he becomes," JARVIS responded, his tone grim.

"No kidding," Tony muttered.

As the battle raged on, a sudden ripple of energy filled the air. A bright blue streak of light shot across the sky, and before anyone could react, Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, slammed into Electro with the force of a speeding comet. The villain crumpled under the impact, his electrical field sputtering out as he crashed into a nearby building.

"Looks like you boys needed some help," Captain Marvel quipped, hovering effortlessly above the battlefield, her fists glowing with cosmic energy.

"Danvers, you're a sight for sore eyes," Tony called out, a smirk tugging at his lips.

War Machine nodded in her direction. "Just in time."

But Carol wasn't alone. As the dust settled, another figure stepped into the fray, Black Panther. T'Challa moved with the grace of a predator, his vibranium suit absorbing the shockwaves of the battle as he approached Ethan with measured steps.

"Tony, we received a distress signal. Wakanda is monitoring this... anomaly," Black Panther said, his voice calm but stern as he sized up Ethan. "This ends now."

Ethan's eyes, or rather, the single black circle on his face, narrowed as he took in the new arrivals. "More toys for me to break," he muttered under his breath, his body bristling with untapped energy. He could feel the pressure building inside him, the chaotic energy of the spotted dimension swirling violently.

Spider-Man, still catching his breath, shot a web at a nearby car before swinging it at Ethan. "You sure about this, Spot? They brought the big guns!"

Captain Marvel darted toward Ethan, fists glowing with power, but just as she was about to land a punch, he opened a portal in front of her, redirecting her straight into War Machine. The two heroes collided with a loud crash, sending both of them skidding across the ground.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with," Ethan said, his voice calm, but underneath it all, his mind raced. He was learning, adapting, but even he could feel the strain of handling so many powerful opponents at once. Yet, there was a dark thrill in it, a part of him relished the challenge.

Carol, however, was not one to be easily subdued. In an instant, she shot back up into the air, unleashing a blast of photon energy aimed directly at Ethan. The ground beneath him exploded, sending chunks of rubble flying. Spider-Man dodged to avoid the falling debris, firing webs to contain the damage.

"Focus!" Peter shouted, trying to divert attention.

Captain Marvel's photon blast had staggered Ethan, but only for a second. His mind sharpened, and he began moving faster, opening portals not just to evade, but to redirect every attack that came his way. A repulsor beam from Iron Man was swallowed into one portal and launched at Black Panther, who leaped into the air, narrowly dodging it.

Meanwhile, Electro groaned, trying to pick himself up from the crater where Captain Marvel had slammed him. His body sparked weakly, the fight clearly taking its toll on him. "I need... more power," he muttered, struggling to generate enough electricity to mount a counterattack.

Before Electro could recover, a net of vibranium wove through the air, ensnaring him completely. T'Challa had moved in with precision, trapping Electro with one swift motion. "You're done," Black Panther growled, his claws gleaming as Electro's electricity sputtered uselessly against the vibranium mesh.

Ethan barely glanced at Electro, already deciding he was of no further use. The man had served his purpose, and now he was just another liability. Ethan's focus shifted entirely toward survival, as the heroes regrouped, pressing their advantage.

"JARVIS, we need to shut him down!" Tony's voice cut through the comms.

"Sir, his energy output is nearing critical levels. If we can force him to unleash it all at once, we may be able to subdue him," JARVIS replied.

Tony narrowed his eyes, watching as Ethan's power surged around him. "All right. Let's see if we can make this guy crack."

But Ethan wasn't about to be taken down so easily. His hands flicked open another set of portals, sending debris flying toward the heroes. Yet, despite the barrage, something in Ethan's expression shifted. His control over the swirling chaos of the spotted dimension was slipping, and he knew it. His body was on the verge of tearing itself apart from the raw energy he was channeling.

A decision snapped into place in his mind. If he was going to escape, he had to go all out.

Without a word, Ethan planted his feet firmly on the ground, his body pulsing with dark energy. The portals around him multiplied, swirling faster and faster, until they became a blur of black and white chaos. The ground beneath him trembled, and the air itself seemed to warp under the strain. His body now completely white after using all of the portals.

Captain Marvel flew toward him, but Ethan raised both arms, releasing a massive shockwave of energy. The entire neighborhood around them erupted in a cacophony of destruction as buildings crumbled and debris shot outward like shrapnel. The force was overwhelming, sending cars, rubble, and even the heroes themselves flying back.

Spider-Man barely managed to web-swing out of the blast radius, his heart pounding as he watched half the block collapse under the sheer force of Ethan's unleashed power.

"Tony, we've got to stop him!" Peter called out, panic edging into his voice.

But it was too late. As the dust settled, Ethan was gone, the remnants of his portals fading into the void. He had escaped, leaving behind a swath of destruction and chaos.

The streets were in ruins. Fires burned in the distance, and civilians screamed for help as the heroes struggled to recover from the devastation. Electro was down, captured in Black Panther's vibranium net, but the true threat, the one they hadn't been able to contain, was already gone.