Marvel: Familia System

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Nigel Montgomery stood amidst two dozen Kronans, his posture as unhurried as if he were appraising fine china rather than confronting a wave of living boulders. Their glowing eyes locked onto him, and one growled a challenge in its guttural language before the group began to close in. The weight of their combined presence cracked the stone beneath their feet.

"Two dozen against one." Nigel's voice carried a calm lilt as he adjusted the cuffs of his suit. "Hardly a fair fight. Shall I even the odds?"

The Cloud Ring on his hand gleamed faintly, and the space around him seemed to ripple. With a slow exhale, Nigel extended his fingers, purple-hued Cloud Flames flickering to life in his palms. The energy spread outward like ink in water, coalescing into five shadowy figures, each bearing an uncanny resemblance to their creator.

The Kronans hesitated, their hulking forms pausing as they recalculated the odds. One of the braver warriors charged, its obsidian axe raised high, molten veins glowing along its blade. It swung with enough force to cleave through a mountain, but the Nigel clone it targeted sidestepped gracefully, delivering a precise strike to the creature's side. The blow landed with a resonating crack, the energy from the clone's Cloud Flames amplifying the damage and forcing the Kronan to stumble.

Nigel smiled faintly as the remaining Kronans roared and rushed forward. His clones met them head-on. One leaped over a hammer swing and landed a punch that sent the attacker sprawling, while another darted around an axe-wielder, striking its knees to force it down.

All of Nigel's clones drew pistols and knives, holding one in each hand as they faced the Kronans surrounding them.

"Been a while since I used these," Nigel mused, his tone devoid of nostalgia, as if recounting an old habit rather than a deadly skill.

The first Kronan charged—a hulking brute wielding dual obsidian maces. Its molten veins pulsing. Nigel didn't move. Instead, one of his clones darted forward, closing the distance in a blur. The Kronan roared and swung both maces downward with the force of a collapsing building.

The clone sidestepped the first swing and deflected the second with its knife, the Cloud Flame pulsing along the blade and dispersing the energy into a harmless shimmer. In a fluid motion, the clone flipped the knife in its hand and slashed across the Kronan's exposed forearm. Purple flames licked at the wound, spreading cracks along its molten surface.

Nigel moved simultaneously, raising his pistol and firing a single, precise shot. The bullet struck the Kronan in its shoulder joint, the Cloud Flame embedded in the round amplifying the impact. The creature staggered, its arm dropping limply as cracks widened across its chest. The real Nigel stepped in, spinning gracefully as he drove his knife into the creature's exposed torso. A burst of Cloud Flame erupted, magnifying the strike and sending the Kronan crashing into the ground.

Another Kronan lunged at him, this one wielded a long, jagged spear of volcanic glass, its reach far exceeding the others. The Kronan stabbed forward, its molten tip glowing dangerously bright. Nigel's Observation Haki flared, warning him of the attack's trajectory. He pivoted, letting the spear graze past his side, then twisted sharply to trap it under his arm. Before the Kronan could react, one of Nigel's clones appeared at its flank, slashing at its legs.

The creature roared, releasing its grip on the spear to swing a massive fist. Nigel ducked under the punch and retaliated with a pistol shot to its midsection. The bullet didn't just pierce—it detonated on impact, the Cloud Flame multiplying the kinetic force into a localized shockwave. The Kronan stumbled, giving Nigel the opening to slide forward and slice through its knee joint. The beast toppled, its molten energy dimming as it hit the ground.

"Do try to keep up," Nigel said, his clones already engaging the next wave of Kronans.

One of Nigel's clones aimed at a Kronan in the backline, its pistols releasing a soft crack. The bullets didn't stop at just one; each one multiplied mid-flight, splitting into twenty glowing rounds. The projectiles rained down on the distant Kronan in a storm of precision, piercing its molten armor and sending cracks spiraling across its body. The creature roared in frustration, its volcanic mace crashing into the ground as it attempted to shield itself from the onslaught.

Nigel's clones moved like synchronized shadows. One darted left, drawing the attention of two axe-wielding Kronans, while another stepped into the fray against a dual-sword wielder, its Cloud Flame-coated blade clashing in a blur of sparks. The real Nigel stood at the center of the chaos, his movements calculated as he fired shot after shot, every round amplified by the Cloud Flame's multiplying effect.

A hammer-wielding Kronan charged directly at Nigel, the sheer force of its advance shaking the ground. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, and molten cracks along its arms flared brighter as it swung its weapon in a deadly arc. Nigel didn't flinch. Instead, he adjusted his footing, his Observation Haki flaring as he stepped into the hammer's path.

The hammer descended, its molten edge screaming toward him, but Nigel's arm snapped upward, his blade intercepting the strike. Purple flames rippled along the knife's edge, absorbing the impact and dispersing the energy outward in a controlled wave. The Kronan's hammer wavered, its momentum thrown off just long enough for Nigel to sidestep and counter.

In one fluid motion, he slid beneath the Kronan's reach, slicing at its exposed knee with precision. The molten glow of the creature's armor dimmed as cracks spidered outward. Before the Kronan could retaliate, one of Nigel's clones appeared at its flank, delivering a perfectly timed kick to its side. The blow, amplified by the Cloud Flame, sent the massive creature stumbling.

Nigel capitalized on the opening, driving his knife into the weakened joint. The blade sank deep, and another burst of Cloud Flame erupted, spreading like wildfire through the Kronan's body. The creature let out a guttural roar, collapsing onto one knee.

"Next," Nigel said under his breath, his tone unbothered.

Suddenly Nigel felt a ripple of danger behind him. His Observation Haki flared, giving him a split-second warning. He turned sharply to see Donald charging a trio of Kronans, his hammer crackling with arcs of blue and green lightning. The spear-wielding Kronan at the forefront lunged forward, but Donald's hammer came down in a devastating arc. The resulting impact sent the Kronan hurtling through the air like a meteor.

Nigel barely had time to react as the massive creature sailed toward him, its jagged spear still clutched in its stony hand. With fluid precision, he leaped into the air, narrowly dodging the incoming projectile. Hovering momentarily, his Cloud Flames kept him aloft as the Kronan roared past, missing him by inches. Without missing a beat, Nigel twisted mid-air and lashed out with a powerful kick. The force of the blow redirected the flying Kronan toward a cluster of its comrades.

The creature crashed into them, and its spear impaled two of its brethren, their glowing cores dimming as they collapsed in a heap. Donald skidded to a stop, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

"The heck?" he blurted, blinking at the sight of the downed Kronans.

Nigel descended gracefully, his feet barely making a sound as he landed. He chuckled lightly, his tone almost playful. "You might be a god now, Donald, but I have years of experience."

Donald grumbled under his breath, gripping Mjolnir tighter. "I have centuries of it too, old man."

Nigel offered a small, knowing smile but turned his attention back to the battlefield. Around him, the remaining Kronans adjusted their stances, their glowing cores pulsating with renewed intensity.

Three Kronans charged simultaneously, their sheer mass causing tremors with every step. The leader of this group was noticeably larger than the others, its volcanic axe glowing bright orange as it swung with devastating arcs. Beside it, a shield-bearer raised a molten barrier.

Flanking them was a spear-wielder, its jagged weapon radiating an ominous heat as it sought an opening to strike.

Nigel moved first, stepping into the charge with fluid grace. One of his clones darted to the left, drawing the axe-wielder's attention. The massive weapon swung in a fiery arc, splitting the air with a roar, but the clone ducked beneath it effortlessly. Before the Kronan could recover, the clone leaped upward, delivering a sharp strike to the creature's arm. Purple flames erupted on impact, forcing the axe-wielder to stagger.

The shield-bearer closed in on Nigel directly, its molten barrier raised like a fortress wall. It thrust forward, attempting to crush Nigel with its overwhelming mass. Instead of retreating, Nigel extended his hand, and the air around him rippled as space itself seemed to bend. The Kronan's momentum slowed as the Cloud Flame expanded, creating a pocket of distorted space that trapped the creature mid-charge.

"Patience is a virtue," Nigel said coolly, stepping to the side. His clones followed suit, encircling the trapped Kronan and striking with coordinated precision. Knives slashed at its exposed joints, Cloud Flames magnifying each cut as cracks began to spread across the molten armor. The shield-bearer roared, struggling against the spatial distortion, but its movements only hastened its demise.

As the shield-bearer fell to its knees, Nigel pivoted toward the spear-wielder, who had taken advantage of the skirmish to close the distance. Its weapon stabbed forward, the molten tip glowing like a falling star. Nigel's Observation Haki flared, guiding his body just enough to twist away from the strike. The spear grazed his side, the heat singing the fabric of his suit but leaving him otherwise unharmed.

"Impressive reach," Nigel remarked, grabbing the spear's shaft with one hand. His Cloud Flame surged through the weapon, neutralizing its molten energy. With a sharp motion, he twisted the spear out of the Kronan's grip and drove it into the ground, using the leverage to unbalance his opponent. One of his clones leaped in, delivering a spinning kick to the Kronan's chest. The force of the strike sent the creature sprawling.

The axe-wielder roared in frustration, charging at Nigel with renewed ferocity. Its weapon cleaved through one of Nigel's clones, the construct dissipating into purple embers. But the sacrifice wasn't in vain—the opening allowed another clone to dart in, slashing at the Kronan's legs with precision. The creature bellowed, its movements faltering as cracks spread across its molten frame.

Nigel raised his pistol, the Cloud Flame-infused barrel glowing faintly. He fired a single shot, the bullet splitting into dozens of projectiles mid-flight. The glowing rounds struck the axe-wielder in a barrage, each one detonating with amplified force. The creature collapsed, its molten core dimming as its massive frame hit the ground.

The spear-wielder, recovering from its earlier fall, lunged once more. Nigel sidestepped smoothly, his knife flashing as he severed the molten tendrils connecting its spear to its core. The weapon disintegrated, leaving the Kronan disarmed. A clone capitalized on the moment, delivering a final strike that sent the creature crumbling.

Nigel turned to assess the battlefield, his clones dissipating as he absorbed their remaining energy. Only a handful of Kronans remained, their towering forms scattered across the field. At the center of the chaos, Diego faced off against the hammer-wielding leader, his Storm Ring radiating with raw energy as he conjured a massive vortex.

The swirling storm engulfed the battlefield, lightning crackling within its depths as it tore through the air. Nigel's Observation Haki flared, sensing the storm's overwhelming force and the Kronans still closing in on him.

Nigel extended his hand toward the storm, his Cloud Flames surging as he manipulated the expanding energy. The storm shifted, tendrils of wind and lightning spiraling toward him as he "borrowed" Diego's creation. The Kronan leader stumbled, momentarily destabilized as the storm's intensity lessened.

"Hey!" Diego's voice cut through the chaos. "What's the big idea, old man?"

Diego's head snapped toward the source, watching as his controlled storm was drawn from his grasp and funneled into Nigel's outstretched palm. The older man didn't even glance back, his voice calm but carrying an unyielding command. "I'm borrowing this."

Diego staggered slightly as the power drained away, the Kronan before him stumbling as well, caught off guard by the sudden dissipation of the storm energy. Diego's eyes narrowed, bewilderment and irritation flickering across his face. "You're what?" he called out, incredulous.

Nigel didn't respond, fully focused on the three towering Kronans encircling him. His posture was relaxed, his immaculate suit somehow unmarred by the dust and molten debris around him, but the subtle flexing of his fingers betrayed his readiness to strike. The borrowed storm energy gathered at his fingertips, coiling like a living entity, as the Kronans lunged toward him in unison.

Groaning, Diego turned back to his opponent. "I can finish you without that anyway."

Nigel stepped forward, the storm swirling at his command. With a flick of his wrist, he directed the wind and lightning toward the approaching Kronans. The first creature was lifted off its feet, its molten body battered by the relentless gale before a bolt of lightning struck its core, shattering it into molten fragments.

The second Kronan attempted to shield itself, raising a massive stone barrier. Nigel manipulated the storm to bypass the obstacle, the winds tearing through its defenses while the Cloud Flames expanded the attack's reach. The creature roared as its molten energy dimmed, unable to withstand the combined assault.

As the last Kronan charged, Nigel released the storm in its entirety, the swirling vortex collapsing into a concentrated burst of force. The energy engulfed the Kronan, its molten armor disintegrating as the lightning surged through its core. When the storm dissipated, only fragments of molten rock remained.

Donald Blake, or Thor, stood against three towering Kronans, their imposing forms radiating heat and malice. Each creature bore a unique weapon: the first gripped a massive spear crackling with molten energy, its jagged edges glowing red; the second carried a shield as broad as a fortress wall, molten veins pulsing across its surface; and the third wielded a flail with an iron core, the spiked ball trailing fiery embers with every swing.

Donald rolled his shoulders, the electric arcs in his eyes flaring brighter as he spun Mjolnir in a tight circle, the hum of thunder filling the air. "Three against one?" he muttered, his tone carrying more amusement than concern. "Hardly seems fair—for you."

The spear-wielder moved first, thrusting its weapon forward with incredible speed. Donald's Observation Haki flared, and he stepped to the side, the spear whistling past his ribs. Before the Kronan could recover, Donald spun Mjolnir in his hand, bringing it down in a crushing arc toward the creature's midsection. The impact sent the Kronan staggering back, cracks spidering across its molten armor.

The flail-wielder charged next, the spiked ball arcing through the air with devastating momentum. Donald raised Mjolnir just in time, the collision creating a resounding clang that echoed across the battlefield. Sparks flew as the two weapons clashed, the ground beneath Donald's feet splintering from the force.

"Nice swing," Donald grunted, holding his ground as the Kronan pressed its advantage, the flail crashing down repeatedly. Each blow was met with a parry from Mjolnir, the uru hammer absorbing the brunt of the attacks. Donald's muscles coiled as he pushed back against the flail, forcing the Kronan to falter. He retaliated with a swift upward strike, the head of Mjolnir colliding with the creature's jaw and sending it hurtling into its shield-bearing companion.

The shield-bearer caught the flail-wielding Kronan with ease, the massive molten shield absorbing the impact. Both creatures roared in unison, charging at Donald as the spear-wielder flanked to his left, its weapon crackling with molten energy. Donald twirled Mjolnir, arcs of blue and green lightning merging at its head, casting sharp flashes across the battlefield.

"Three stubborn brutes," Donald muttered. "Let's make this quick."

The shield-bearer surged forward, swinging its barrier like a battering ram. Donald sidestepped at the last moment, the ground shattering where the shield landed. The spear-wielder lunged simultaneously, its molten tip searing through the air. Observation Haki flared in Donald's mind—he twisted, catching the spear between Mjolnir's haft and his forearm. The weapon sparked violently, but Donald clenched his teeth and pulled, yanking the spear-wielder off balance.

With a pivot, he swung Mjolnir upward, slamming into the Kronan's midsection. The sheer force sent the spear-wielder soaring into the sky, its molten form trailing smoke as it crashed back to earth with an explosive thud.

The flail-wielder seized the opening, its spiked weapon crashing down with terrifying speed. Donald raised Mjolnir just in time, the impact creating a deafening boom. Sparks flew, molten embers raining down as the two clashed. Donald's boots dug into the fractured ground, the weight of the attack forcing him back a step.

He pushed forward, his Asgardian strength overpowering the Kronan's momentum. With a sharp twist, he disarmed the flail-wielder, the spiked weapon clattering away. The Kronan snarled, swinging its massive fist, but Donald ducked under the blow, driving his shoulder into the creature's midsection. Lightning surged from his body at the point of impact, sending the Kronan skidding back, molten armor crackling with fractures.

The shield-bearer charged again, using its enormous frame to cover its ally's retreat. Donald didn't hesitate. He hurled Mjolnir, the hammer spinning through the air in a blur of lightning and uru. It struck the shield with a resounding crash, the barrier cracking under the pressure. The shield-bearer stumbled, its molten energy dimming, as Mjolnir arced back to Donald's hand.

The spear-wielder returned, its glowing weapon aimed straight for Donald's head. He parried with Mjolnir, sparks erupting as metal clashed with stone. The Kronan pressed harder, driving Donald back with a flurry of precise strikes. Each thrust was faster than the last, forcing him to pivot and block with increasing urgency.

"Persistent," Donald growled.

Donald turned sharply, Mjolnir spinning in his hand, arcs of blue-green lightning rippling across its uru surface. His Observation Haki flared, sensing a disturbance behind him. A fourth Kronan, its hulking frame crackling with molten energy, was charging at his back. Donald raised Mjolnir instinctively, ready to meet the attack, when another Kronan barreled in from the side, slamming into the attacker with enough force to stagger them both.

Donald hesitated, his grip on Mjolnir tightening as he watched the two creatures brawl. The sight made no sense—Kronans weren't known for infighting. Then his gaze flicked past the chaos to Maria, perched on a jagged outcrop of shattered stone. She waved lazily, her lips curving into a mischievous smile.

"Cutie patootie, do you need big sis to help you?" Maria called, her tone light and teasing. The air around her shimmered faintly, a telltale sign of her illusions at work.

Donald grimaced, the nickname grating. "Thanks," he muttered, his voice dry.

Maria gave a dramatic little bow. "Of course."

Donald's eyes darted back to the battlefield, now teeming with Kronans locked in illusory combat. Massive stone bodies collided, molten sparks flying as illusions and reality blended seamlessly. He exhaled sharply, turning back to his own fight. "Seems easy when she does it."

His momentary distraction cost him. The flail-wielder recovered and charged again, its massive fist swinging toward Donald's head. He ducked, rolling away just as the ground exploded from the impact. Rising to his feet, he twirled Mjolnir, electricity crackling around him as he summoned the full force of the Fulmine Ring.

The air around him shifted, heavy with the promise of a storm. Thunder rolled, and a bolt of lightning arced from the sky, striking Mjolnir as Donald swung it downward. The flail-wielder didn't stand a chance. The hammer connected with its chest, the lightning coursing through its molten core. The Kronan let out a guttural roar before collapsing, its body crumbling into smoldering fragments.

The shield-bearer roared, raising a molten blade it had conjured from the remains of its shattered shield. It charged with reckless abandon, its weapon aimed for Donald's heart. He raised Mjolnir, meeting the attack head-on. The two weapons clashed, the force of the collision sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Sparks and molten shards flew as Donald pushed forward, his godly strength overwhelming the Kronan's ferocity.

With only the spear-holding Kronan remaining, Donald swung Mjolnir in a tight, controlled arc, the hammer's weightless momentum as precise as it was devastating.

The Kronan lunged, its massive, jagged spear trailing molten energy as it jabbed toward Donald's midsection. Observation Haki flared, and Donald shifted his stance, twisting his body just enough for the weapon to whistle past him. Without missing a beat, he stepped in close, bringing Mjolnir upward in a brutal uppercut. The impact struck the Kronan square in the chest, sending it hurtling through the air.

Suddenly Nigel felt a ripple of danger behind him. His Observation Haki flared, giving him a split-second warning. He turned sharply to see Donald charging a trio of Kronans, his hammer crackling with arcs of blue and green lightning. The spear-wielding Kronan at the forefront lunged forward, but Donald's hammer came down in a devastating arc. The resulting impact sent the Kronan hurtling through the air like a meteor.

Nigel barely had time to react as the massive creature sailed toward him, its jagged spear still clutched in its stony hand. With fluid precision, he leaped into the air, narrowly dodging the incoming projectile. Hovering momentarily, his Cloud Flames kept him aloft as the Kronan roared past, missing him by inches. Without missing a beat, Nigel twisted mid-air and lashed out with a powerful kick. The force of the blow redirected the flying Kronan toward a cluster of its comrades.

The creature crashed into them, and its spear impaled two of its brethren, their glowing cores dimming as they collapsed in a heap. Donald skidded to a stop, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

"The heck?" he blurted, blinking at the sight of the downed Kronans.

Nigel descended gracefully, his feet barely making a sound as he landed. He chuckled lightly, his tone almost playful. "You might be a god now, Donald, but I have years of experience."

Donald grumbled under his breath, gripping Mjolnir tighter. "I have centuries of it too, old man."

Maria stood at the center of the battlefield, her blue eyes scanning the hulking Kronans encircling her. The towering warriors, with their molten veins and jagged weapons, exuded an air of invincibility. To them, the slim, wavy-haired woman before them was no more than a fragile inconvenience. One particularly massive Kronan stepped forward, slamming its stone hammer into the ground, sending molten cracks spiraling outward as if to underline their disdain.

The Mist Ring on her finger shimmered faintly, and an ethereal fog began to roll out across the battlefield, tendrils of mist weaving between the stone giants like ghostly fingers.

The hammer-wielder barked a guttural order, and the Kronans charged. Their thunderous steps fractured the ground as they advanced, weapons glowing with molten energy. Maria's Mist Ring flared brighter, and the fog thickened into an impenetrable haze. The first Kronan swung its hammer with terrifying force, the weapon cleaving through the mist. But it struck nothing.

"Such brutes," Maria said, her voice echoing from all directions. "So predictable."

A sudden roar erupted as two Kronans collided with one another, their weapons crashing together in a shower of sparks. The fog swirled, distorting their perceptions further. Through the haze, the warriors caught glimpses of Maria darting gracefully between them, her figure elusive and shimmering like a mirage. They lunged at her image, but every strike met empty air, their attacks passing harmlessly through her illusions.

One Kronan growled in frustration and swung its obsidian blade in a sweeping arc, only for the blade to embed itself in the ground. The mist shifted, and another illusion of Maria appeared behind the Kronan, this time standing defiantly. The creature turned with a roar, swinging wildly, but the illusion shattered like glass. The distraction was enough for another Kronan, maddened by confusion, to charge in and strike its comrade with a molten axe. The hammer-wielder barked again, but the fog warped its voice, twisting it into an unintelligible growl. The Kronans turned on each other, their massive forms colliding in a chaotic melee.

Maria sighed helplessly, twirling a lock of her brown, wavy hair as she perched herself on a jagged rock. With a flick of her hand, she pulled a small bag of popcorn, popping a kernel into her mouth as she watched the Kronans blunder about in the mist. Their roars of frustration and the thunderous clashes of their accidental strikes filled the battlefield.

"Well," she muttered to herself, a playful smirk tugging at her lips, "it's at least interesting."

A particularly large Kronan wielding a molten spear stumbled through the haze, its glowing eyes darting about in search of her. It swung wildly at another illusion, its spear slashing through the mist. The effort disoriented it further, causing it to crash into a fellow Kronan, who retaliated with a guttural roar and a hefty punch to the spear-wielder's chest.

Maria leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "This is better than reality TV."

She saw one of the Kronans sent flying outside of the fog, landed near Sofia. The dazed Kronan barreled forward, slamming into Sofia's barrier with enough force to shatter part of its icy structure. The impact sent shards flying, leaving Sofia exposed for a brief moment.

"Seriously, Maria?" Sofia called out, her green eyes darting toward her friend in the distance.

Maria's voice floated back, unapologetic and tinged with mischief. "Blame the Kronans for bad spatial awareness!"

The molten Kronan saw the opening and charged again, but Sofia was already moving, rebuilding her barrier with a quick sweep of her hand. "Remind me to file a complaint later," she muttered under her breath, her focus returning to the battle at hand.

Shaking her head, Maria turned back to battlefield, only to see a Kronan was charging at Donald. Kronan, its hulking frame crackling with molten energy, was charging at his back. Donald raised Mjolnir instinctively, ready to meet the attack, when another Kronan barreled in from the side, slamming into the attacker with enough force to stagger them both.

Donald hesitated, his grip on Mjolnir tightening as he watched the two creatures brawl. The sight made no sense—Kronans weren't known for infighting. Then his gaze flicked past the chaos to Maria, perched on a jagged outcrop of shattered stone. She waved lazily, her lips curving into a mischievous smile.

"Cutie patootie, do you need big sis to help you?" Maria called, her tone light and teasing. The air around her shimmered faintly, a telltale sign of her illusions at work.

Donald grimaced, the nickname grating. "Thanks," he muttered, his voice dry.

Maria gave a dramatic little bow. "Of course."

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