"I want you all to be buried in the eternal wind and snow," Laufey declared coldly.
Despite his weakened state, Laufey paid no heed to his condition. With a surge of determination, he activated the terrifying power contained within the Casket of Ancient Winters, unleashing a devastating wave of energy.
The once-dormant ruler of Jotunheim, who had once stood toe-to-toe with Odin himself, now bared his fangs on Earth. The immense power of the Casket swept across the battlefield, shaking the very foundations of the world.
Storm, whose abilities centered on controlling the sky, suddenly felt a massive disturbance. The overwhelming force disrupted her powers, and she faltered mid-air, spiraling downward. She landed ungracefully, her face pale and her breath labored.
Jean, who had been maintaining a barrier to protect Cyclops, hurried to Storm's side. Supporting her friend with one hand, Jean asked urgently, "Are you alright, Storm?"
Storm shook her head, her voice shaky. "Jean, my powers... they've been completely overridden by that energy."
Jean's eyes widened. "It's him, isn't it?"
Storm nodded grimly. "Yes. The power Laufey just released—it's beyond anything I can handle."
Both women turned their gazes toward the battlefield, then to the darkening sky.
The temperature dropped rapidly, plummeting below freezing within moments. The air became bitterly cold, and heavy snow began to fall relentlessly. For Laufey's frost giant army, the environment was invigorating, enhancing their combat abilities exponentially.
However, the freezing conditions severely hindered others. Wolverine and Colossus, reliant on physical resilience, began to struggle. Logan's healing factor slowed as his body battled the frost, while Colossus's metal form grew brittle.
Sergei and Pietro, however, remained largely unaffected. Their immense vitality allowed them to resist the cold, their blood burning hot enough to endure. Thor, Sif, and the other Asgardians also fared better, their natural resistance to extreme temperatures evident in their unyielding resolve.
Tony Stark's MK armor, outfitted with anti-freeze materials and heating mechanisms, remained operational, though even its systems strained against the escalating cold.
The situation grew dire as the temperature plunged to unimaginable depths. Within seconds, it had fallen below minus 40 degrees, then minus 70. The battlefield turned into a frozen wasteland.
Jean, Cyclops, and Storm began to shiver uncontrollably. Their cheeks grew pale, frost clinging to their hair and eyelashes. The environment wasn't just affecting the immediate area—it was spreading outward, threatening to engulf the entire planet.
Wanda, sensing the impending doom, tapped into her Chaos Magic. Through her clairvoyant abilities, she glimpsed a horrifying vision: in just one minute, the Earth's surface would be consumed by ice, leaving only a handful of lifeforms able to survive.
Her expression darkened, her voice laced with cold fury. "You deserve to die, Laufey!"
Wanda's kindness and restraint evaporated. The potential destruction of Earth's civilization and the loss of countless lives had crossed a line she could not tolerate.
Her eyes glowed crimson, Chaos Magic surging around her like a blazing inferno. Without hesitation, Wanda launched herself at Laufey, her speed tearing through the air with an explosive force. A shockwave erupted as she moved, leaving a deep trench in her wake.
As she closed the gap, a scarlet light shimmered in her hand, manifesting into a beautifully crafted cross-shaped sword. She struck with all her might, the ground trembling beneath her. The explosion of energy sent debris and frost scattering, temporarily halting the snowstorm.
In the sky, Tony Stark hovered in his armor, his heads-up display glowing red with warning signals.
"Sir," Jarvis's voice intoned, "the temperature has dropped below minus 100 degrees and continues to fall. The cold is spreading at an exponential rate and will envelop the entire Earth within one to two minutes."
Tony clenched his fists. "Damn it! That lunatic is trying to kill everything on the planet!"
Just as he finished cursing, Fury's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Stark, do something!"
Tony growled in frustration. "I know! But I can't stop this—it's out of my league. All we can do now is hope the others can handle it."
Below, chaos reigned. Logan and Colossus had been frozen solid, their forms encased in ice. Thor and Sif fought valiantly, but their movements had slowed, the cold finally taking its toll. Jean, Cyclops, and Storm were nearly immobilized, vulnerable to the oncoming frost giants eager to tear them apart.
In the distance, several Quinjets froze mid-air, their engines failing. They plummeted toward the ground, their pilots powerless to stop the inevitable crash.
Tony faced a grim choice: save the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents aboard the jets or protect his allies on the ground.
"Damn it!" he muttered, indecision tearing at him.
Meanwhile, Wanda pressed forward, but she soon realized she had underestimated Laufey's power. As she neared, the biting cold intensified. Her momentum slowed, her Chaos Magic struggling against the frigid air.
Just ten meters from Laufey, she found herself unable to advance further. The Frost King stood, surrounded by a swirling vortex of azure energy. His scarlet eyes glared at her with malevolent triumph as he held the Casket aloft.
"Arrogant Midgardian," Laufey hissed. "You and your kind will perish in your hubris. Let this ice be your tomb."