The battle had spilled into streets the Avengers had never fought in before. Debris littered the pavement, car alarms wailed in the distance, and the air was thick with smoke and dust.

“Banner, status?” Natasha called, ducking low as an energy blast scorched the wall inches above her head.

“Busy!” Bruce shouted back, his voice almost swallowed by the Hulk’s roar as he tore through a chunk of concrete to shield civilians scrambling for cover.

The team pressed forward, but even together, the villain’s strength was holding them at a stalemate. Every counterstrike was met with another brutal surge of power, and the fight was dragging into dangerous territory.

Then, just as another blast rippled down the street, scattering them back, a new figure emerged through the haze. At first, none of them could make out who it was—only a silhouette cutting clean through the smoke.

Clint adjusted his aim, narrowing his eyes. “Uh… anyone order backup?”

Steve raised his shield, instinctively stepping forward to intercept, but the figure wasn’t heading for them—they were charging straight toward the villain. And when they struck, it was with the kind of precision and force that made even Thor pause mid-swing.

The clash rattled the street, the villain knocked clean off balance for the first time since the fight began. Dust settled just enough for the Avengers to exchange quick, stunned glances.

“Who the hell is that?” Tony muttered, his helmet adjusting to scan the new arrival.

No one had an answer yet. But whoever this was, they weren’t just another face in the crowd.