MARVEL: TOAA

"Hahaha, I can finally have a full meal!"

The ape-version of Black Panther, clad in a black bodysuit, leapt into the crowd. With horrifying ease, he twisted a man's head off and tore off his distinctive leopard-print mask before devouring him. The scene was grotesquely savage.

"T'Challa, you have violated the leader's will."

Thor-Ape, holding a simian version of Mjolnir, looked down coldly at the feasting Black Panther Ape. His expression was devoid of emotion, as though the act of delivering judgment was just another task.

"Oh no, forgive me! I'm starving—I swear it won't happen again!"

Realizing his transgression, the Black Panther Ape collapsed to his knees, pleading for mercy. Eating without the leader's permission was a direct violation of their code.

"Yes, it won't happen again."

Thor-Ape swung his hammer, reducing the Black Panther Ape's skull to pulp with a single blow.

"Your armor will be inherited by your kin." He ripped the necklace from the corpse, a token meant for the next in line.

"Capture all of them," Thor-Ape commanded, his voice resonating with authority. "Don't harm them; bruises affect the taste."

The ape-men dispersed, pulling out gadgets designed by Iron Mandrill, their equivalent of Iron Man. These were spherical devices that, when thrown, expanded into nets to trap their prey.

"God, save us! I am your faithful believer!"

"I was wrong! Forgive me!"

"Help! Where are the Avengers? I've paid my taxes—don't let this happen to me!"

The refugees' cries echoed as chaos consumed them. Once saved by the Avengers from the terrors of the void, they now found themselves at the mercy of these monstrous ape-men.

Their faith, shaken time and again, left them to wonder if this was divine punishment for their past sins.

"Reina, don't look," Ravion whispered, shielding her eyes. "We're leaving now."

"Oh, really? Do you think it's that easy?"

Iron Mandrill emerged, launching several metallic rings that formed a shimmering force field around them.

Ravion ignored the apparent barrier and teleported away with Reina and John.

"Huh. So my calculations were wrong." Iron Mandrill smirked, watching them vanish. "It seems his abilities aren't as constrained by force fields as I thought. No matter, we have other priorities."

Before leaving, Iron Mandrill glanced at Captain America. "That outfit of yours is as laughable as his," he sneered, then departed.

On a quiet, grassy plain a hundred miles away, Ravion reappeared with Reina and John.

"Ravion, what just happened?" Reina asked, her voice trembling.

"That was an ape civilization," Ravion explained. "Their universe is dominated by simian lifeforms. What we just faced were the Avengers of their world."

"Their Avengers?" Reina's voice faltered as her imagination conjured bizarre images. "Does that mean they have an ape Black Widow too?"

An image of a curvaceous but grotesque ape with fangs and a flattened nose flashed through her mind, and she shuddered.

"Unfortunately, yes," Ravion replied grimly. "But in their society, female apes have been reduced to tools for reproduction and abuse."

Ravion's telepathy had revealed the grim reality inside the mechanical giant ape, which functioned as both fortress and transport. Female apes were confined in grim quarters, their lives reduced to servitude.

John interjected, his tone serious. "Ravion, I sensed mutants among them. How many are there?"

"Seven," Ravion confirmed.

"Can you determine their abilities?"

"Not without closer contact. I can only detect the presence of active mutant genes."

John pondered their next move. Could Ravion risk returning to copy their mutant abilities? It could provide an edge against future threats, but the risks were high.

"They don't seem capable of trapping me," Ravion remarked, sensing John's hesitation. "I can catch them off guard."

Ravion explained that the apes had only partial information about him, gleaned from Iron Man before his untimely demise. While they knew of Ravion's teleportation, energy projection, and matter manipulation, they were unaware of his telepathy.

Still, John hesitated. The void was filled with unpredictable dangers, and while Ravion was strong, he was not invincible.

Suddenly, Ravion sensed danger. A projectile hurtled toward them, striking him and sending him tumbling across the grass.

"Ravion!" Reina cried, clutching John tightly.

"Bang!"

Ravion teleported back to shield them. His gaze locked onto their attackers—Thor-Ape, Iron Mandrill, Falcon-Ape, War Machine-Ape, and a pale, hairless simian in a steel exoskeleton.

The pale ape's presence stood out. John recognized him immediately. "Caliban-Ape," he whispered.

Caliban-Ape, the mutant tracker, was the key to their pursuers' ability to locate them.

"Reina, stay close," Ravion instructed, bracing himself for the battle.

His arm, twisted from the impact of Mjolnir, began to heal.

"Fascinating," Iron Mandrill mused, studying Ravion. "That regenerative ability could revolutionize my armor designs."

The apes encircled Ravion, their eyes filled with predatory intent.