MARVEL: TOAA

As Ravion reached out, the pistol in Black Widow's hand disassembled in midair, its parts floating weightlessly. At the same time, John Lang was pulled back into Ravion's grasp.

"John Lang, this is Thor's hair," Ravion said, handing over a few strands of golden locks to John Lang's small, chubby hand. He then turned to Natasha. "You can't protect everyone. Alioth is their best chance."

The disassembled gun reassembled itself and floated back into Black Widow's grip, but before she could react, Ravion and John Lang vanished with a sharp "bang."

"Roar!"

Dark storm clouds gathered ominously over the Avengers' position, streaks of thunder crackling within the oppressive sky. From the black clouds emerged the massive head of Alioth, its gaping maw descending toward the cruise ship like a nightmare made flesh.

Natasha instinctively aimed her weapon at the red-eyed, emotionless entity, even though she knew it was hopeless. "I'm guessing that's the Alioth the mechanical freak was talking about," she muttered. "Hey, big guy, don't eat my toys."

Iron Man launched his remaining rockets toward the approaching beast, but the projectiles disappeared into the swirling black fog of Alioth, absorbed like drops of rain.

Hawkeye wasn't one to let an opportunity slip. "What's the point of fancy armor if you're firing duds?" he quipped, nocking an arrow and letting it fly. As his first arrow struck its target, the second arrow collided mid-flight, releasing a surge of Pym particles. The projectile expanded to an enormous size.

Alioth, however, remained undeterred. A second head sprouted from its massive form, swallowing the enlarged arrow whole. The Avengers froze at the sight.

"Is it just me, or does this thing literally eat everything?" Hawkeye asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

"It's a formidable enemy," Captain America observed grimly. "Thor, are you ready?"

Thor, instead of replying with caution, grinned. "Finally, a worthy opponent! This battle will be glorious!"

But before Thor could act, the Hulk charged, fists raised and roaring with fury. His green form collided with Alioth—but it was like punching smoke. The Hulk plunged into the shadowy mass, unable to find any solid resistance.

Inside the swirling black fog, the Hulk began to feel something he had never experienced before: weakness. The black mist, crackling with lightning, clung to him, draining his vitality. He thrashed and roared, attempting to break free, but the fog tightened its grip.

"Roar... Help..." The Hulk's desperate cry reached the Avengers.

Thor, who had been preparing to join the fray, froze in place. For the first time, the mighty god of thunder hesitated. The fear and anguish in the Hulk's eyes paralyzed him. He watched, helpless, as the strongest Avenger was consumed piece by piece.

The Hulk's once-mighty form shriveled as his flesh decayed and bones melted away, leaving only a skeletal remnant. In moments, even that was gone. The Hulk was no more.

Thor's best sparring partner and the team's unstoppable powerhouse had fallen.

"No, no, no! Everyone fall back!" Captain America's commanding voice cut through the shock. "Avengers, retreat!"

The Avengers obeyed instinctively. Even Tony Stark, rarely one to admit defeat, withdrew from the battlefield, knowing they were outmatched.

Alioth paid little attention to the scattering Avengers. Its sights were set on the more enticing target: the cruise ship. The beast engulfed the massive vessel like a pRaviontor devouring prey, emitting a sickening crunching sound as it obliterated the ship's structure.

In less than a minute, the cruise ship—once a luxurious haven for thousands—was reduced to crumpled metal fragments, weathered and rusted as if they had aged centuries.

"That thing… it doesn't stop," Natasha muttered, watching from a distance.

The Avengers' hopes of escape were quickly dashed. Alioth turned its focus on the fleeing convoy, streams of vehicles racing away on the ground like a panicked river. For the insatiable monster, they were irresistible.

Meanwhile, John Lang clutched Thor's hair tightly in his tiny hand. He could sense the immense power within the Aesir's golden strands, a power both tempting and intimidating. But John Lang knew he couldn't harness it—not yet. His mutant ability required energy, and his current state, bound to the form of a baby, limited him.

Ravion had returned John Lang to the group of children who had survived the shipwreck. Releasing his control over them, he observed as the small group, no older than ten, descended into panic.

"Monster! Help!" a boy screamed, pointing at Ravion's towering metallic form.

Ravion hesitated. He had grown accustomed to John Lang's calm demeanor and assumed all children were equally easy to manage. But his imposing figure only incited terror.

"Hide behind me!" A brave girl, trembling with fear, stepped forward. She shielded the other children, her voice shaking. "I've always been lucky. Nothing bad will happen to me."

"I'm not a bad person," Ravion tried to explain, but his efforts were futile. Every move he made elicited more screams.

"Hahaha, you've really botched this," John Lang commented telepathically, amused by the chaos.

"What does that mean?" Ravion replied, bewildered.

"It means you're terrible at this. Let me handle it."

Reluctantly, Ravion surrendered control of his body to John Lang, who immediately seized the opportunity to address the frightened children.

"Quiet, you little brats!" John Lang boomed, his voice amplified through Ravion's form. His face twisted into a demonic visage, complete with glowing eyes and thunder crackling behind him for effect.

The children fell silent, their fear intensifying.

Satisfied, John Lang shifted tactics. His features softened, transforming into a serene, angelic expression. "Good. Now listen carefully. You were all on a cruise ship, right?"

"Y-yeah," one child stammered. "I... I saw the shelves collapse, and... my favorite ceramic doll got smashed... Are we... dead?" Tears welled up in the child's eyes.

It didn't take long for the other children to join in, their emotions spiraling into collective sobs. They didn't even need to understand why they were crying; the mood was contagious.

"Great, now they're all crying," Ravion groaned internally.

"Relax," John Lang replied. "Kids cry. It's how they process things. Let me work my magic."

And so, John Lang began to console the group, promising them safety in his own unorthodox way, even as the distant rumble of Alioth's approach reminded them all that the true nightmare was far from over.