Ch: 251-258
Chapter 251
The Skrulls didn't even have time to scream before their bodies disintegrated into the most primal energy fluctuations.
The entire Planet began to collapse, the tectonic plates shattering like fragile biscuits, and the magma was annihilated by antimatter before it could erupt.
A massive hole was torn in the atmosphere, revealing the pitch-black space of the Universe behind it.
Finally, the entire Planet disintegrated in silence, like a ball of mud crushed by an invisible giant hand.
Below, the Illuminati members still gazed silently up at the sky.
That expanse of red space began to slowly close, like a healing wound.
Through the final gap, they could see the starlight of the opposing Universe.
Where a Planet once was, only a spreading cloud of dust remained.
"It's over."
Mister Fantastic Reed's voice was so dry it didn't sound like his own.
But everyone knew one thing: this was far from the end.
The Universe collision crisis continued, and next time, or the time after, they might have to face the same terrible choice.
And by then, perhaps there would be no Skrulls to sacrifice in place of humanity to offer psychological comfort.
Tony suddenly retracted his face mask, his eyes red, yet he forced a twisted smile.
"At least this time, we won't have nightmares, right?"
This time, still no one answered Tony's question.
The night wind swept across the empty rooftop, carrying the coolness of early autumn.
Deep Space
Bai Ye retracted his gaze from Earth, looked at Knull beside him, and spoke plainly:
"What's wrong? Haven't you had enough of watching the ants console themselves?"
Knull squinted at him, his tone slightly teasing.
"A bunch of guys who call themselves heroes have now become skilled executioners of destruction."
Bai Ye chuckled: "At least this time they won't have nightmares, right?"
"If you say so." Knull threw his hands up dramatically.
"How touching! Slaughtering the lives of another World to save their own Universe, and then pretending to have a clear conscience."
"You talk as if you care so much."
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow, smiling as he exposed Knull's past: "Don't forget, when you devoured entire civilizations in the abyss back then, you couldn't even be bothered to find an excuse."
Knull's expression froze, then he gave a sinister laugh.
He didn't know how Bai Ye knew, but he admitted it openly and generously.
"At least I never claimed to be a savior."
"I never said I was one either." Bai Ye shrugged: "It's just that rather than watching the show, I prefer to make sure the stage doesn't collapse too soon."
Knull suddenly leaned closer, his pupils slightly constricted.
"Then why don't you intervene? With your power, you clearly could."147
"Could do what?"
Bai Ye interrupted him, a dangerous golden light flashing in his eyes.
"Make every decision for them? Bear the consequences of every choice?"
He pointed toward the spatial rift closing on Earth.
"Some paths must be walked personally to know the cost."
Knull was silent for a moment, then suddenly showed a mocking smile.
"Such high-sounding rhetoric. In the end, aren't you just afraid?"
"Afraid the Beyonders will notice me?"
Bai Ye immediately finished the sentence, not getting angry at Knull's words, and continued to smile:
"I am indeed a little worried right now, but I wouldn't say afraid, because I'm waiting for the right moment. However..."
His gaze swept over Knull, and he rolled his eyes mockingly:
"A certain someone who claims not to fear death was so nervous his fingers were shaking when he saw the energy fluctuation just now."
"Nonsense!"
Knull quickly retreated as if he were a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and swiftly explained:
"I was calculating the energy trajectory!"
"Oh?" Bai Ye winked mischievously, teasing him: "So the God of Darkness has switched careers to become a mathematician?"
Knull ground his teeth furiously and said fiercely:
"One day I'm going to take apart your bones and use them as specimens!"
"You're welcome to try anytime."
Bai Ye made an inviting gesture, not forgetting to release his energy.
Seeing this, Knull's expression suddenly became subtle. He cleared his throat, hiding his inner embarrassment.
"We won't fight," he said stiffly. "After all, there is no hatred between us."
Bai Ye couldn't help but laugh out loud. After spending this time together, he understood Knull too well—the guy talked tough but was actually quite cowardly.
After all, Bai Ye was not only stronger than him, but his abilities also countered Knull's.
That's why Knull always acted defiant but was actually very cautious.
"Fine, if you say there isn't, there isn't."
Bai Ye shrugged, deliberately agreeing with him.
Knull coughed, clearly seeing through Bai Ye's teasing, but he didn't argue further, just stood aside with a gloomy face.
Seeing this, Bai Ye smiled and patted his shoulder: "Let's go, we're heading to Earth to stir up some trouble."
Knull frowned slightly, looking at Bai Ye as if he were an idiot.
"What kind of trouble can we stir up on Earth? Go look for those so-called superheroes? Few of them can talk to us as equals."
"Then you are mistaken." Bai Ye smiled mysteriously.
"I said before that the 616 Universe is the anchor point of the Multiverse, and Earth is the anchor point of the 616 Universe."
He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, just looking meaningfully at Knull.
Knull's expression gradually grew strange. What was this guy Bai Ye implying?
He was silent for a moment, frowning in thought, and then a possibility occurred to him.
After that, he hesitated before slowly speaking:
"So you mean those superheroes are the Cosmic Anchors?"
"Exactly!" Bai Ye snapped his fingers and pointed at Knull.
Knull froze, his expression instantly becoming incredulous.
"What kind of logic is that? How can a bunch of ants who can't even control stellar energy influence the survival of the Universe?"
Watching Knull's utterly dumbfounded expression, Bai Ye smiled without speaking.
Of course, because this is a comic book World. If the protagonists die, wouldn't the Universe just reboot?
But of course, he wouldn't say that. Instead, he explained with a pretense of profound insight:
"This is a cosmic-level secret. Simply put, you can treat them as the core of a machine."
"As long as they don't die, the Universe won't be destroyed. If they die..."
He paused deliberately, then slowly said: "The entire Omniverse will collapse."
Knull's expression instantly froze, his pupils slightly constricted, as if he had heard the most preposterous joke.
"Are you serious?" His voice was rarely laced with a tremor: "Those guys can influence the Omniverse?!"
Bai Ye spread his hands, stating matter-of-factly:
"Of course. Otherwise, why do you think every cosmic crisis happens on Earth? Why did the Beyondersspecifically choose this place as their testing ground?"
Knull's brows furrowed tighter, and his pale fingers clenched the hilt of his sword. He felt an urge to just cut Bai Ye down.
"So this is why you've been paying attention to Earth?"
"Not entirely." Bai Ye smiled mysteriously and wiggled his fingers: "I mainly want to see what new tricks these anchors can pull off."
Knull fell silent, his brows tightly locked, seemingly trying to digest this ridiculous premise.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, his tone complex.
"So what are we going to do on Earth now? Do you want me to be an audience member?"
What are we going to do? Obviously, we're going to cause trouble!
Bai Ye's lips curled into a playful smile: "Naturally, we are going to increase the panic level for these Cosmic Anchors."
Hearing this, Knull's expression instantly became strange.
This guy is actively going to create chaos? Who exactly is the God of Darkness here?!
Thinking this, Knull looked at Bai Ye with a speechless expression.
"What are you planning to do?"
Knull crossed his arms, his white hair moving without wind in the vacuum of space.
"Even if these people are the so-called protagonists, what kind of tricks can they pull?~"
As he spoke, Knull thought of something and sneered:
"Surely no one is going to suddenly level up on the spot and become Omniverse-level, right?"
Bai Ye immediately burst out laughing. Knull had actually guessed correctly; the comic Marvel Universewas indeed that miraculous.
Bai Ye decided to tease Knull properly and immediately affirmed his conjecture.
So he spoke in a teasing tone:
"Huh? How did you know that? Did you secretly read the script?"
Sure enough, upon hearing Bai Ye's words, Knull's expression instantly froze.
"Just kidding."
Before Knull could speak, Bai Ye waved his hand in denial, but the smile on his lips deepened as he continued to provoke him.
"However, what if that possibility really exists?"
Bai Ye deliberately lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously:
"What if someone really achieved it? Like a certain charismatic villain? He likes to wear armor and always wears a green robe."
Knull's expression was utterly bewildered by Bai Ye's teasing.
"I just said that offhand," he gritted his teeth. "And you're telling me it's true?!"
But soon, Knull realized that Bai Ye might not just be joking.
He frowned, attempting to understand Bai Ye's words.
Chapter 252
In all these countless years, he had never heard such a claim.
He looked at Bai Ye, trying to read something from his expression.
But Bai Ye merely smiled, waiting quietly for his answer.
"Wait! If that's true, what's the point of us scouring everywhere for a way to fight the Beyonders?"
Bai Ye gave a meaningful smile.
"Think about it—if they're the protagonists and the Beyonders are the villains, then by story logic…"
"…the heroes will definitely win in the end," Knull continued, his face twisting.
"So you're saying we just sit back and watch the show?"
Bai Ye smiled without replying, maintaining a silent stance.
Seeing he could get nothing more from Bai Ye, Knull sank into deep thought.
This dark god, who had lived for eons, was now applying his cosmic intellect to a philosophical question.
If the World were merely a scripted drama, what meaning did his own existence hold?
Bai Ye watched his struggle with interest.
If this guy fully realized that this Universe was actually a comic-book World…
…would he instantly lose his mind and join the ranks of the lunatics?
For a moment, silence spread between them.
After a while, Knull's crimson eyes narrowed, revealing a sardonic smile.
"According to your theory, if they really are the protagonists and will ultimately reboot the Universe…"
"…then why should we fight the Beyonders at all? Let's just lie flat and wait for them to resurrect us."
Bai Ye didn't answer immediately; in his golden pupils reflected the radiance of a distant star, yet his thoughts reached much farther.
Toward his own Earth, where the people he truly cared about lived.
"You're right."
Bai Ye finally spoke, his voice soft yet resolute.
"If we were mere NPCs, that would indeed be an option."
Knull raised an eyebrow, saying nothing, waiting for what came next.
"But I'm different."
Bai Ye turned, meeting Knull's eyes.
"I truly exist. I have my own thoughts, and I have family and friends who matter."
As emotions surged, Bai Ye's voice grew stronger:
"And with your pride, would you really accept being killed by the Beyonders and then waiting like a stray dog for someone else to resurrect you?"
Seeking flowers—
Knull's expression darkened instantly, his features shifting.
As a proud god, he would never allow such a thing.
"I won't do that."
Bai Ye continued, every word ringing like struck iron.
"I will seize destiny with my own hands. Who says we can't be the protagonists?"
He opened his palm; a brilliant ball of golden energy leapt within.
"I fight for myself—that's why I stand against the Beyonders."
Bai Ye voiced his inner belief; that was exactly how he acted.
At least since transmigrating, almost everything he had done had been for himself.
Going to the cinematic Universe to deal with Thanos had been for the Infinity Stones.
Traveling to other Universes was for exploration, to absorb more knowledge and strengthen his Divine Talent.
Likewise, when Sorcerer Ancient One asked him to resolve the Parallel Universe crisis, he agreed—for his own sake.
Because chaos in the Multiverse would destabilize the Universe and thus threaten his own World.
This time, seeking a solution was also to protect his Universe.
Hearing his declaration, Knull was stunned; he stared at Bai Ye as though watching a light—an eye-blinding violet light!
Knull, the dark god who had lived for countless epochs, actually felt a rare tremor of awe.
His pupils contracted slightly as memories of cosmic rises and falls spanning billions of years flashed through his mind.
Knull remained silent for a long while; dark energy slowly flowed around him, mirroring his turbulent thoughts.
"Fight for yourself?"
Knull suddenly gave a cold laugh, his voice tinged with self-mockery.
"Do you know how many universal epochs I've lived through? How many fools who thought they could challenge fate I've seen?"
Bai Ye didn't interrupt; he simply gazed at the still-burning Stargate.
"As you said—Eternity, Infinity, Death—those conceptual gods are mighty, right?"
Recalling what he had seen and heard, Knull felt a surge of emotion.
"Yet before certain beings, they're still just pieces on a chessboard."
He jerked his head up, crimson pupils boring straight into Bai Ye.
"You think the Beyonders are the final boss? Naïve! Above them are more ancient beings, and above those… there are still others."
"So what?"
Bai Ye cut him off, eyes locking onto his.
"Just because the enemy's too strong, we should kneel and wait for Death?"
Knull was choked silent by the sudden retort.
"You're right—we probably can't beat those top-tier existences."
Bai Ye's voice stayed calm, yet carried absolute certainty. "Zero-Five-Zero."
"But at the very least, I want them to know."
Bai Ye snapped his fingers; far away a barren planet erupted in blinding golden light.
The light drew a colossal middle finger across the cosmos.
"Screw destiny."
Knull stared, utterly dumbstruck by Bai Ye's stunt.
He'd seen the gesture countless times—never imagined someone daring to flip off the laws of the Universe.
Even wilder: he actually found it kind of awesome?!
"Hah."
The dark god chuckled, the laugh swelling into wild cackles.
"Hahaha! Interesting—so damn interesting!"
His white hair whipped in the vacuum, dark energy surging till space nearly tore.
"For eons you're the first to make this boring game fun!"
Bai Ye grinned at him. "So?"
"So… to hell with the Beyonders!"
Knull yanked out the black death sword; wherever its tip pointed, space began to rot.
"I'll show those bastards—even a side character can shred their script!"
Bai Ye said nothing, just cocked an eyebrow.
This guy—Knull—actually got fired up by my pep talk?!
The next instant Knull lifted his head, doubt flickering in his eyes.
"Hold on—one more question."
"If we're also part of the story, then our actions, our choices—"
"—are exactly what make the story." Bai Ye finished, smile turning profound.
"Perhaps our purpose is simply to make the tale more spectacular."
Knull's expression twisted until a savage grin split his face.
"Interesting." Darkness around him began to boil.
"Then how about we turn the whole plot upside-down?"
Bai Ye laughed; Knull suddenly seemed far less annoying.
"Exactly what I had in mind! But first…"
Bai Ye turned toward Earth, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Let's gift our dear protagonists a very special growth package."
Knull flashed the villainous smirk that was his trademark.
"Like… we become their saviors?"
"Too cliché." Bai Ye shook his head.
"Let's try something fresh—let the superheroes learn the whole truth ahead of schedule."
They exchanged grins; space twisted as they shot toward Earth—New York.
Space rippled like water; Bai Ye and Knull appeared a kilometer above the city.
Afternoon sunlight passed through them, casting no shadows on the ground.
As long as they wished, mortals would never perceive them.
Knull gazed down at the ant-like crowds, a surreal smile on his pale face.
"I still have to say—"
his pupils reflected the entire cityscape—
"If they really are the protagonists, then…"
He shook his head, white hair drifting in the breeze.
"A backward place that can't even manage interstellar travel—yet it's the center of the Universe?"
Bai Ye didn't reply; his eyes pierced the clouds, taking in all of New York.
He spotted apprentices practicing magic on the Sanctum Sanctorum's roof, even Spider-Man changing in an alley.
Everything looked normal—yet nothing was the same.
Thanks to his interference, Thanos had long since turned to dust.
Without Corvus Glaive leading troops to threaten the Inhumans, Black Bolt wouldn't rashly obliterate Attilan.
And without that deed, no Terrigen Mist Bomb would detonate.
Thus, the Terrigen Mist never spread across Earth.
Chapter 253
Without the Terrigen Mist, Thanos's son Thane would never have awakened and betrayed him; Thanoswould never have been locked inside that energy shield.
(Thane—offspring of Thanos and an Inhuman—awakened through the Terrigen Mist. His power was so immense he instantly killed Thanos the moment he emerged.)
And Ebony Maw would never have taken Thane into hiding, biding his time to make his move.
The destiny of this Universe has quietly veered away from its original track.
"What are you thinking about?"
Knull saw Bai Ye stay silent and asked out of curiosity.
Bai Ye withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly. "Wondering what explosive news we should prepare for these protagonists."
...Inside the Illuminati's round-table chamber, the atmosphere was heavy.
Tony Stark tapped the holo-console irritably; the blue data board flashed an anomaly.
"Jarvis, results of scan number ten?"
"Still no sign of Thanos's Legion, sir," Jarvis's calm voice echoed through the room.
"The last energy signature simply evaporated above Attilan."
Reed Richards's fingers swept across the panel, his brows knitting.
"That's impossible. A 5.9-grade starfleet can't vanish into thin air unless..."
"Unless someone took care of the problem for us."
Black Bolt, unable to speak, typed on his screen.
His gaze swept over everyone present and finally settled on Doctor Strange.
Strange's hands wove seals, the eye of agamotto on his chest glowing an eerie green.
"I have examined hundreds of timelines."
"In every one, Thanos should have attacked today," Strange said grimly.
"So what on earth is going on?" Black Panther asked, bewildered.
The group exchanged glances, brows tightly furrowed.
They couldn't tell whether Thanos had withdrawn or was planning something even more dangerous.
"But hey, isn't this good news?" Tony quipped suddenly.
The chamber fell deathly silent; no one found it funny.
Mister Fantastic looked around the table, fingers drumming lightly.
"Thanos's disappearance is abnormal, but the incursion crisis is what truly demands our attention."
"And whatever Thanos is scheming, we can't slacken our watch on the Parallel Universes."
Black Panther TChalla gave a slight nod. "Wakanda has deployed detectors at every critical node. The instant a new Universe touches ours, we'll be alerted."
Tony leaned back, rubbing his temples.
"Speaking of which, I've invited Bruce Banner to join the Illuminati."
He scanned the circle and went on, "His brain plus the Hulk's brawn might give us a fresh solution."
The fourteen exchanged quick looks, then nodded in agreement.
"Banner is indeed a solid choice."
Namo folded his arms, reluctantly concurring. "So long as he keeps the green goliath in check."
"Then it's settled." Tony snapped his fingers.
"I'll arrange for him to sit in at our next session."
Silence returned as each member weighed private fears.
Thanos's abrupt vanishing, the Universe-collision threat, unknown variables...
All of it felt like a tangled chessboard whose opponent they couldn't even see.
Black Panther lifted his head sharply. "Perhaps we should ask Black Swan."
"Black Swan?"
Doctor Strange frowned, recalling the woman they held captive.
"Her word may not be trustworthy."
"Yet she comes from another Universe and knows more than we do." T'Challa rose, looking round. "If Thanos's disappearance ties into a larger crisis, she might supply a lead."
Tony stood as well, resolute. "Worth a shot."
Consensus reached, they rose and headed for the sub-level detention block.
Black Swan's cell lay at the deepest level, ringed by anti-magic Force Fields and energy barriers.
When the Illuminati stepped inside, the woman from another Universe sat quietly at the center of the transparent cage, silver hair cascading like a waterfall.
"Visiting me again?"
Black Swan raised her head, a mysterious smile curving her lips.
"What do you wish to ask this time?"
Mister Fantastic Reed stepped forward, expression grave.
"Thanos and his fleet vanished without a trace—what do you know?"
Black Swan's pupils shrank a fraction, then steadied.
"Oh? So someone finally dealt with that purple madman?"
Tony caught the flicker in her eyes. "You don't seem surprised."
"In this Universe, nothing can surprise me anymore."
Black Swan rose slowly, silver-white hair cascading like water. She stepped up to the Illuminati, lips curled in faint contempt.
"The Constructors' invasion? Thanos' disappearance?"
She gave a dismissive shake of her head. "Mere skirmishes."
Her gaze swept across every face, savoring their bewilderment.
"When the great Great Annihilator arrives—when the Dark Priests and the cartographer truly set foot in this cosmos…"
her voice dropped, deadly quiet, "…that will be the real end of all things."
The Illuminati exchanged glances, brows knit tight.
Tony couldn't help himself: "Hold on—three new names in one breath?"
"Who exactly are they?"
Black Panther TChalla demanded, eyes sharp with vigilance.
Black Swan chuckled, turned her back on them and walked to the far end of the cell, as though admiring a sight only she could see.
"You already know The Great Annihilator; the Dark Priests and the cartographer are variables in this crisis."
Her voice grew softer, yet carried an unnerving certainty.
"And right now they're on their way."
Doctor Strange's frown deepened. "You're saying someone sent them?"
Black Swan tilted her head, revealing a knowing smile.
"No one dispatched them, yet their purpose is much the same."
A brief silence fell as the Illuminati digested the words.
Tony rubbed his temples. "Great. So on top of an incursion we've got what sounds like ultimate-villain cultists?"
Black Swan turned, eyes cold. "You still don't understand."
"You think you're saving the Universe? You're merely buying time."
"And when they truly arrive—"
her voice cut off abruptly, as if throttled by an unseen hand.
Black Swan's pupils contracted; her body trembled, overwhelmed by indescribable dread.
The next instant the room's space began to warp.
The Illuminati snapped to alertness—Tony's armor weapons armed, Strange's spell circles flaring in his palms.
"Now what?" Black Panther TChalla growled under his breath.
Black Swan's face went paper-white, her voice barely a whisper.
"I—I don't know, but they're powerful!"
The distortion intensified; light itself seemed crumpled by unseen force.
Before their stunned eyes two figures materialized without warning.
Bai Ye stood with hands in pockets, black battle-garb and enchanted cloak billowing though no wind stirred. His dark eyes swept the room in amusement.
Beside him, Knull's face was ice-cold, a great blood-red sword in his grip.
Tony's armored arm snapped up, palm-cannon humming to full charge.
"Who are you?! How did you get in here?!"
The rest of the Illuminati shifted into combat stance.
Knull frowned and simply clenched his hand—
Crack!
Every weapon dissolved into streams of black particles.
Tony's arm-plate, Strange's spell-energy—even Black Panther's Vibranium claws—were sheathed in decaying darkness.
The living darkness flowed, finally absorbed into Knull's palm.
"What?!"
Tony stared at his ruined gauntlet in disbelief.
"Impossible!"
Strange gaped at his empty hands—his conjured magic had been devoured outright.
Bai Ye smiled. "Relax. If we'd wanted you dead, you wouldn't be talking."
His gaze slid past the others and locked on Black Swan.
The woman stared back, eyes glittering with unreadable light.
Bai Ye studied her, curious.
Chapter 254
Why would this woman, who on the surface pledged loyalty to Thanos but had actually worked under Doctor Doom, suddenly lose her mind and defect?
Yes, the terrifying Great Annihilator spoken of by Black Swan—
the major villain the Illuminati feared—was none other than Doctor Doom.
Victor Von Doom.
Yet no one knew; they all assumed The Great Annihilator Black Swan mentioned was some other mighty villain.
After all, "Great Annihilator" sounded like a cosmic-level powerhouse—nothing like the Doctor Doomthey knew.
Bai Ye stepped slowly toward Black Swan while Knull stood in place, crimson eyes coldly sweeping across the Illuminati to warn them not to act rashly.
"The Great Annihilator you speak of—"
Bai Ye halted one pace from Black Swan, voice dropping to a whisper only she could hear.
"—is that the Latverian king who wears the iron mask?"
Black Swan's pupils shrank sharply at Bai Ye's words!
Her fingers trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Bai Ye smiled; that reaction had already said it all.
He withdrew his gaze from Black Swan and instead studied the Illuminati before him—all familiar faces.
Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Namor, Iron Man, Black Bolt, Beast, Mister Fantastic.
Bai Ye found it curious: these top-tier intellects in their respective fields, each bearing the duty of protecting the World, insisted on forming a secret society.
They saved the World, yet acted as furtively as if they were doing something wrong.
What Bai Ye found even funnier was that, in the days that followed,
the Illuminati clung to their dignity like a trope out of a female-centric webnovel—
absolutely refusing to tell Steve Rogers or the Avengers
what they were up to, rejecting Captain America's proposal that all the Avengers brainstorm together.
They even erased Steve Rogers' memories of the Illuminati.
That, in turn, led to Steve Rogers' dark turn—he became extreme and began openly hunting Illuminatimembers.
Thus the classic comic event, Superhero Civil War 1.0, unfolded.
The whole thing played out like the overbearing CEO chasing the heroine in a romance webnovel.
By the time Steve Rogers and company moved to arrest the Illuminati, Tony and the rest finally planned to tell the truth.
But in classic melodramatic fashion, Steve declared: "I won't listen, I won't listen! I'm going to catch you no matter what! Hah, I'm just playing!"
Bai Ye suspected Captain America was using public office for private revenge—he simply wanted to beat Tony up, maybe even kill him, pushing Tony to the brink of suicidal sacrifice.
The farce even boiled over, eventually ending in tragedy.
Recalling this gutter-level plot, Bai Ye couldn't help shaking his head.
His eyes lingered on Tony's battered armor, then swept over the others' guarded stances, and he found it rather amusing.
These heroes looked as nervous as children caught red-handed at mischief.
Bai Ye withdrew his gaze, the corner of his mouth carrying a faint, almost playful smile.
"You people…" he said in a deliberately low, teasing tone.
"You're the Guardians of this World, yet you insist on hiding in the shadows to run a secret club?"
Tony frowned, not understanding how this man knew so much.
"We're only doing what must be done! Some things have to stay secret—not every decision can be debated in daylight!"
"Must be done?" Bai Ye arched an eyebrow.
"Like covertly blowing up an Earth in a Parallel Universe?"
The Illuminati's faces changed drastically; the words struck like a heavy hammer.
Black Panther clenched his fists; Mister Fantastic's expression turned grave.
Black Panther asked grimly, "How do you know about that?"
Knull let out a shrill, mocking laugh beside them:
"You really thought your little secrets could stay hidden from everyone? Hypocritical heroes are more nauseating than real demons."
Doctor Strange frowned, trying to see through the two intruders, but found nothing.
"No matter who you are, interfering with the balance of the Multiverse is extremely dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Bai Ye suddenly laughed, addressing them:
"Compared with what you're provoking, blowing up a few parallel Earths is like kids playing house."
He stepped forward, black pupils swirling as if stars moved within them.
"Let me guess: you formed the Illuminati because you don't trust anyone else—only you 'wise ones' can make the right decisions?"
Mister Fantastic's face darkened at Bai Ye's direct jab at their hidden thoughts, and he argued,
"We shoulder responsibilities ordinary people can't imagine."
"Oh? (Ma de Zhao)"
Bai Ye's voice abruptly chilled as he countered,
"So you take it upon yourselves to decide for all humanity—even for life in other Universes?"
The air in the room seemed to freeze at those words.
Black Bolt's fingers flicked across an electronic tablet, but Bai Ye merely glanced at it and the screen crumbled to ash.
"Don't bother with pointless little tricks."
He warned Black Bolt, then continued,
"I'm not here to judge you; in fact, your self-righteous attitude is what saved this World."
Before the Illuminati could answer, Bai Ye's face wore an enigmatic smile.
"Want to know why your covert operations might actually be the right move?"
"Because in this Universe, sometimes ignorance is the greatest protection."
The Illuminati froze in unison; every brow creased as shocked eyes snapped toward Bai Ye.
The same question surged in every heart.
This stranger who had appeared from nowhere was unfathomably powerful—worse, he seemed to know every secret the Illuminati kept.
What truth lay behind those cryptic words?
Tony Stark was first to break the silence, frowning straight at Bai Ye.
"We've never met, but if you're saying this you must know something—right?"
Urgency throttled his voice; he had to know.
He needed to see who had kept them worried for so long.
"Such as the truth of the Incursion Crisis—and more importantly, what exactly we should do to stop it?"
The others turned toward Bai Ye and Knull, waiting for an answer.
Knull gave a disdainful snort. "With your puny strength? If we're helpless, what can you possibly do?"
The words drenched the room like ice water; despair spread in silence.
Was the crisis truly unsolvable?
Bai Ye smiled meaningfully. "The truth is actually simple."
He swept his gaze across them, speaking each word slowly.
"The so-called universal incursion is nothing more than a carefully designed experiment—call it a game—by a higher civilization, and every one of you is merely a pawn on their board."
The revelation drew a collective gasp.
They stared at one another, faces etched with disbelief.
Mister Fantastic fought down the shock and asked carefully,
"Forgive my bluntness, but if this is an experiment, who's running it—and why?"
Beast couldn't help pressing further: "How powerful must a civilization be to treat the whole Multiverseas its lab?"
The Illuminati fell into stunned silence, every expression frozen between awe and confusion.
Tony's armor hummed softly as he tried to raise a hand to the hologram,
only to find the limb corroded away by Knull's power.
"An experiment? A game?" Tony's voice trembled with anger.
"You're telling me the fate of the Multiverse is some higher race's entertainment?"
Bai Ye nodded calmly, delivering the truth.
"Precisely: it's a Beyonders' experiment. They want to observe what interesting chain reactions occur when countless Parallel Universes are forced to collide."
Black Panther stepped forward sharply. "That's insane! What beings treat infinite lives as test subjects?"
Knull let out another mocking laugh. "Ants like you can't even grasp the true laws of the cosmos—how could you comprehend their minds?"
Doctor Strange's hands shook; the eye of agamotto flickered an unstable green at his chest.
"Are all the futures I saw through the Time Stone merely preset parameters?"
"Not entirely." Bai Ye shook his head, dismissing Strange's guess.
"Your choices remain free—however…" He paused deliberately, eyes sweeping the room.
"All your efforts, all your sacrifices, are under their observation."
Beast's blue fur bristled; he adjusted his glasses, voice hoarse.
"This surpasses every known civilization's tech. Even the Kree Empire's Supreme Intelligence or the Skrulls' collective mind couldn't—"
"Because to the Beyonders, the 'advanced' civilizations you know aren't even bacteria."
Knull kept playing the villain, sneering at them.
"The Beyonders dwell in the Lightless Realm—a dimension beyond the reach of concepts like Eternityand Infinity themselves."
With those words an eerie hush fell over the room.
No one spoke; the revelation was too staggering to digest.
Everything they had striven for had just been labeled false.
It was like being told you were adopted—unthinkable.
Bai Ye watched them, saying nothing more.
Had he lacked this knowledge, he too would have fought to stop the incursions—until the final truth emerged.
Their only difference from him was lesser power.
To another Universe, they were killers, butchers, devils.
Chapter 255
But to the people of the 616 Main Universe, they were heroes.
No one could refute that fact—except Steve Rogers.
Mister Fantastic Reed's brows knit tight; the silver at his temples screamed how hard these days had been.
"So all those parallel Earths we destroyed—those lives—were just part of an experiment."
Bai Ye nodded, praising Reed's quick uptake.
"It's not your fault; under limited knowledge, you made what you believed was the best choice at the time."
Tony sighed, glanced at Bai Ye, hesitated, then asked anyway.
"Then now? Since you know the truth, there has to be a solution, right?"
Bai Ye exchanged a look with Naer.
Naer snorted coldly and turned away, while Bai Ye faced the Illuminati.
"A way does exist—but you'll have to choose."
Black Bolt rapidly typed a line on the electronic screen.
"What choice?"
"First."
Bai Ye raised one finger, offering the group two options.
"Keep following the old path, remain unknowing test subjects until the Beyonders finish their experiment and reboot the Universe."
"Second." His gaze suddenly sharpened.
"Join us and challenge the rule-makers of the experiment."
The Illuminati fell collectively silent; Bai Ye's words slammed into every heart like a hammer-blow.
"Challenge the rule-makers…"
Mister Fantastic murmured, a swirl of emotions flickering in his eyes.
Hadn't they, in another way, been doing exactly that all this time?
Tony rubbed his temples and spoke in self-mockery.
"We blew up parallel Earths—wasn't that also an attempt to rewrite a set fate?"
Beast stayed silent, recalling those grim choices made in the dark and everything Professor X had done for Mutants.
Doctor Strange sat to one side; he wanted to speak but held his tongue.
"Only the method differs," Black Panther suddenly interjected.
"We use anti-matter bombs—while you…"
Black Panther stepped forward, looked around, and continued resolutely.
"Whatever the method, it's still defiance of a set destiny."
Tony shot back, "But is our method really right?"
Silence reclaimed the room.
"No time for hesitation."
Bai Ye cut short their remorse, voice turning stern.
"The Beyonders are rewriting this Universe's rules—choose now or live forever in someone else's script."
Namor drew a deep breath. "I choose to fight."
"Count me in." Tony raised his right hand.
One by one, the Illuminati straightened, weapons ready, eyes resolute.
Even the ever-cautious Mister Fantastic nodded.
Bai Ye smiled faintly at the sight.
"Good. From now on, you'll not only stop the incursions—you'll also search for a way to end this crisis permanently."
He stressed each word, gaze sweeping across every face.
A plan slowly took shape in his mind.
He meant to let these comic-book leads figure out how to deal with the Beyonders.
After all, they were protagonists—maybe they really could find a breakthrough.
More than that, if necessary he'd broadcast the Beyonders' plan across the Multiverse.
Who knew—someone out there might come up with an answer?
"The chain reaction from this experiment goes far beyond what you imagine."
Bai Ye went on, voice suddenly heavy with meaning.
"You must have realized: in this Universe, you're not the only ones trying to destroy or save Earth."
The Illuminati exchanged baffled glances.
Tony was first to catch on, recalling Black Swan's earlier words. "What do you mean, 'not only us'?"
He eyed Black Swan warily, probing.
"Do you mean what she called The Great Annihilator, the Dark Priest, and the cartographer?"
Every head swiveled toward Black Swan.
Across from them, the woman from a Parallel Universe frowned tightly.
She sensed keenly that this mysterious man knew far too much.
Including secrets even she didn't fully grasp.
For instance—he seemed to know exactly who her Master was!
Naer stood nearby, pale face still cold, inwardly cursing a storm.
Here we go again—Bai Ye's started conning people once more!
Still, he had to admit he was dying to know which "other factions" Bai Ye was talking about.
"That's right—those three factions."
Bai Ye smiled in confirmation, then suddenly turned to Doctor Strange, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Time is a marvelous thing, isn't it, Dr. Strange?"
He deliberately let the words hang in the air, letting the suspense build.
"The so-called Dark Priest."
Bai Ye's voice dropped to a low murmur as he dropped the bombshell:
"Is actually you, Stephen Strange!"
The statement detonated like a bomb inside the room.
Everyone stared in shock, incredulous eyes snapping to their magical consultant.
Tony nearly transformed into Iron Man on the spot and blasted Strange.
Even the usually unflappable Mister Fantastic instinctively took half a step back.
Doctor Strange himself looked as if lightning had struck him.
But soon his expression shifted from stunned to a complex, brooding calm.
How could he know? Strange was shaken.
Could it be that in the darkest future I still fall into darkness?
Bai Ye drank in every reaction, especially the fleeting flicker of doubt in Strange's eyes.
Yes—Doctor Strange is the Dark Priest; the order was founded by Strange himself.
In the original comics, after learning the Multiverse-shaking news of the Living Tribunal's Death,
and witnessing the war between the Illuminati and the Great Society—a knock-off Justice League from a Parallel Universe,
Strange saw the World as beyond saving, order collapsed.
So he traded his soul to the dark god of forgotten black magic in exchange for power.
He gained overwhelming might and founded the Dark Priesthood, dedicated to ending the lives of Earths about to collide.
Better to finish them early, he reasoned, than let them perish in agony.
In short: kill them before they're doomed to die anyway.
You have to hand it to Marvel—its major events are always stirred up by the same few troublemakers.
Oh, right—the other guy who loves sparking big events is standing right here: the famously meddlesome Mister Fantastic.
Which is why Bai Ye had said that villain archetypes like Stelius are a dime a dozen in Marvel.
Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.
Otherwise, when you meet someone as extreme as Strange, you're in for a World of trouble.
That's also why Bai Ye hadn't batted an eye when Deadpool mentioned the gang of lunatics.
Bai Ye shook his head, pushing Marvel editors' convoluted nonsense out of his mind, and continued:
"When every hope is extinguished, you embrace darkness to save every Earth—that's when you become the Dark Priest."
Black Swan's pupils shrank; she finally understood why this mysterious man knew so much.
He had seen through every possible timeline.
Naer rolled his eyes—this guy even knows futures like that?
Tony was first to break the silence, voice incredulous:
"Hold on—are you saying Strange will betray us?"
"Not betrayal."
Bai Ye shook his head. "It's… hmm, call it evolution. When righteous means can't save the World, what will you choose?"
Bai Ye's gaze swept across everyone, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"That's the ultimate question all of you must face."
Without another word, Bai Ye's black pupils contracted, his sight piercing straight through Strange's body,
locking onto the writhing black beetle fused to his spine.
The creature pulsed like a living thing, tiny tendrils burrowed deep into the nervous system.
Bai Ye recognized it: one of Thanos's minions, Ebony Maw, had implanted it in Strange to spy on the Illuminati and learn Thanos's true goal.
Precisely to monitor the Illuminati and uncover Thanos's real agenda.
Facing Ebony Maw's petty trick, Bai Ye merely smiled.
Meanwhile, in a gloomy corner of the cosmos, Ebony Maw's murky eyes snapped open.
His withered fingers trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat beading on ashen skin.
"He's found it—that being discovered the spy-bug!"
Ebony Maw's hoarse voice quavered with terror.
Through the parasite's shared senses he clearly saw Bai Ye's all-piercing black eyes.
Chapter 256
What terrified him even more was that he'd overheard that Earth-shattering secret.
The Beyonders' experiment—and the prophecy that Strange would one day become a Dark Priest.
Ebony Maw's withered mouth twitched; suddenly Thanos's plan to woo the Goddess of Death seemed laughable.
When higher beings can wipe out the entire Multiverse on a whim, what's the point of slaughtering half a Universe?
White Night ignored the clown hanging from the rafters, Ebony Maw, and turned back to the others.
"Before I reveal the last two identities—"
As he spoke, he walked slowly toward Doctor Strange.
"—we need to deal with the little gift inside Strange."
"What gift?" Tony asked warily.
White Night didn't answer; instead he suddenly pressed his palm to the back of Strange's neck.
Golden light burst from his hand. Strange arched in agony, his purple robes shaking violently.
As White Night slowly lifted his hand, a palm-sized black beetle was dragged bodily out of Strange.
The insect thrashed wildly, its shrill screech stabbing everyone's eardrums.
"What is that?" Mister Fantastic's eyes widened.
Strange staggered upright, his face as white as paper.
"Ebony Maw's handiwork? When did he plant it?"
Recalling Maw's words during their earlier fight, Strange realized instantly.
"Thanos sent him to spy on me?"
"What?"
Tony looked at Strange, stunned. "The squid-face sorcerer?"
White Night pinched the writhing bug; golden light cocooned it.
"Exactly—Thanos's most trusted tactician."
He glanced at Strange and shook his head.
"Your magic is superb, but Maw's had over a thousand years on you."
As he spoke, the insect let out a piercing shriek and began to swell rapidly.
"Watch out!" Beast yelled.
White Night pinched the struggling beetle; a flicker of crimson crossed his black pupils.
Invisible sorcerous force shot back along the insect's mental link, racing through the void.
In White Night's mind a shadowy space appeared.
Ebony Maw was there; his octopus-like head swiveled in sudden alarm.
Clouded eyes darted about uneasily, sensing something.
"Found you," White Night smiled.
Under the stunned stares of the Illuminati, White Night flicked his wrist.
A golden spatial rift tore open in the air, forming a Portal.
Through the Portal, Ebony Maw's terrified face appeared.
"I-impossible!"
Maw shrieked, bony finger trembling at the Portal. "How could you find my hiding place?!"
The Illuminati froze, staring in disbelief at Thanos's deadliest strategist on the other side.
Tony's armor locked on; Strange's hands flew into spell-casting mudras.
White Night moved faster—his eyes blazed crimson, twin searing Heat Vision beams lancing through the Portal.
Maw didn't even scream; his twisted body vaporized to ash in the furnace heat.
The entire cave melted into a vast hollow.
The Portal closed, and the chamber fell deathly silent.
"Problem solved."
White Night said it as casually as swatting a mosquito.
Strange's lips twitched. "You… you just used—"
"Heat Vision?"
Tony cut in, his faceplate hiding his shock.
"Isn't that Superman's power?"
White Night only smiled, offering no explanation.
He closed his fist; the insect turned to ash.
The Illuminati hall sank into silence.
Everyone stood frozen, staring at White Night in a daze.
Tony's armored arms still hovered in a defensive stance, his expression petrified.
The rest were more or less stunned; White Night's display had been too overwhelming.
Pinpointing someone out of thin air—was he a god?!
"What manner of being is this…" Mister Fantastic's voice was hoarse.
Strange frowned, recalling White Night's meaningful glance—and thought of his own Master, the Ancient One.
Black Swan leaned against the wall, silver-white hair falling in disarray.
Her fingers clenched unconsciously, nails digging into her palms.
Having witnessed the rise and fall of countless Universes, she felt true fear for the first time.
This man was stronger than her Master!
The thought coiled around her heart the instant it surfaced.
She tried to convince herself it was only an illusion, yet the more she recalled the power Bai Ye had displayed, the deeper the idea took root.
Black Panther drew a long breath. "He killed Ebony Maw like crushing an ant."
"And with Heat Vision."
Tony added, glancing toward Bai Ye as he spoke.
"That's Superman's signature move."
Bai Ye watched their stunned faces, gave a casual wave, a faint smile hovering at the corner of his mouth.
"No need to be too surprised; that's not the point."
Knull, standing to one side, couldn't help rolling his eyes, ranting silently.
Here we go again—when will this guy drop his show-off habit!
Yet, on second thought, Knull felt playful too and began to act cool alongside Bai Ye.
"Indeed, it's nothing much."
Keeping a straight face, Knull spoke the most outrageous words in the flattest tone.
"It's merely Multiverse-level; a casual wave of the hand can stop two Earths from colliding."
The Illuminati collectively gasped in shock.
Bai Ye glanced at Knull and continued,
"More than that, what you should really care about is the true identity of The Great Annihilator."
Mister Fantastic caught on at once, pressing, "It really is Doctor Doom?"
Reed's voice quavered slightly with disbelief.
Every gaze locked onto Bai Ye, waiting for his answer.
Bai Ye nodded, certain: "That's right—The Great Annihilator is Victor Von Doom, the Doctor Doom you all know."
He paused a moment to let it sink in, then went on,
"And the cartographer is a recorder engineered by the Beyonders, tasked with tallying destroyed Universes and mopping up any stragglers who escaped annihilation."
Black Swan's body jolted violently.
She stared at Bai Ye, eyes blazing with incredulity.
This mysterious man not only knew her Master's real identity but was crystal-clear on the cartographer's function!
Doctor Strange realized something and pressed further,
"So it will come—and it will be…"
"To erase you variables."
Bai Ye cut in, grinning wickedly, "After all, you now know secrets you shouldn't."
An eerie hush fell over the Illuminati hall; only soft breathing could be heard.
Tony Stark knit his brow tight; in these few minutes he'd absorbed too much to digest.
His gaze flicked between Bai Ye and Knull, as if hunting for a flaw in the two enigmas.
"So…"
Tony spoke suddenly, his voice stark in the quiet room.
"Let me sort this out."
He stood, snapped his fingers, and a hologram bloomed as he began manipulating it.
Quickly he pulled up a complex mind-map.
"One: the Incursion Crisis is an experiment by some higher civilization called the Beyonders, apparently for sheer entertainment."
"Two: by blowing up parallel Earths to save ourselves, we've also been unwittingly helping them complete the destruction of the Multiverse."
"Three: besides us, Doctor Doom, a future dark version of Doctor Strange, and this so-called cartographer are all mixed up in it."
Tony's finger hung mid-air as he turned to Bai Ye.
"Did I miss anything?"
Bai Ye tilted his head, pretended to ponder, then said bluntly, "Pretty much."
"So…"
Tony's voice came out dry and helpless.
"All this time we thought we were saving the Universe, when actually we were just struggling inside a carefully designed experiment."
"And frantically pushing that experiment forward!" Black Panther added, his tone low.
Beast Hank suddenly yanked off his glasses and rubbed his reddened eyes.
"This is… even more mind-blowing than Darwin discovering evolution."
Knull stood nearby, pale face still icy, yet his mind was a storm of shock.
How on Earth does Bai Ye know so much?
He even knows about the Beyonders—now he's like an all-knowing deity!
Could a new omniscient being have emerged in the cosmos while I was imprisoned?
Chapter 257
Or is he not even from this Universe?
Bai Ye folded his arms, calmly watching the Illuminati sink into thought—only Doctor Strange was using the Time Stone to probe for something.
Their reaction was calmer than expected; it seemed this group had weathered plenty of storms.
But the crucial question now was: would they choose to believe Doom?
That arrogant genius was notoriously difficult.
If they could set aside their prejudices and join forces, they might actually find a way to fight the Beyonders.
After all, in this main comic Universe, the most impossible things often turn out to be the turning point.
Though Doom would ultimately succeed, it definitely wouldn't be in a way they—or Bai Ye—wanted.
Because he wouldn't allow anyone to make rules that bound him.
Strange suddenly staggered, coughing lightly.
"I saw countless timelines, each one collapsing."
He lifted his head, eyes glinting with a hint of madness.
"But there was one line—one we'd never seen—where Doom stands upon the Universe's ruins, holding…"
"Holding what?" Tony pressed urgently.
Strange's expression turned even more bewildered.
"Wait, it was crystal-clear a moment ago—now I see nothing!"
The answer plunged the room back into silence.
Black Swan's silver hair drifted as a flicker of complexity crossed her eyes.
"Master, what exactly are you doing?"
The Illuminati hall sank into deathly stillness; the air seemed frozen.
Tony Stark wore a face so shocked it looked vacant; from those fragments he seemed to guess something.
Doctor Doom ruling the World? That's the final outcome?
He looked at Bai Ye, drew a deep breath, voice trembling:
"I know this is presumptuous, but I have to ask—why does Doctor Doom become The Great Annihilator?"
"Just as Strange saw, why does he appear on the only surviving timeline?"
Every gaze focused on Bai Ye; even Strange turned in puzzlement.
Listening to Tony, Bai Ye gave a slight shake of his head and said calmly,
"In a way, Doctor Doom did better than all of you—he found Owen Reece, the Molecule Man."
(Owen Reece, formerly a nuclear-plant technician, mutated when a particle generator exploded in front of him.
That unknown ray was an experiment of the Beyonders.
They created the Molecule Man as a singularity—identical in every Universe—functioning as a 'bomb' that would destroy a Universe if he died.
Their goal was to kill every Molecule Man at once and see what happened.)
"Owen?"
As one of the Fantastic Four's main foes, Reed obviously knew the name and reacted instantly.
"That harmless-looking guy?"
"Exactly." Bai Ye nodded. "They devised a grand plan; Doom intends to be more than the Universe's savior."
He paused, sweeping his gaze over every stunned face.
"He wants to be the Universe's creator!"
The words detonated like a bomb in the room.
The Illuminati collectively gasped, disbelief written across their faces.
"What?!"
Tony nearly jumped at Bai Ye's statement.
"Has he lost his mind?"
Doctor Strange frowned but said nothing; of them all, he best understood the burden of saving the World—it was daily life for the Sorcerer Supreme.
"Madder than madness," Black Panther murmured, expression grave.
Beast Hank looked as if to say, "You've got to be kidding me."
"I must've misheard—Doom wants to be the Creator?"
Namo watched Tony's group with schadenfreude; it seemed these great minds had finally met someone more ambitious.
Bai Ye regarded them and continued, "While you were still using antimatter bombs to wipe out parallel Earths, Doom had already located the root of the problem."
"Within Owen the Molecule Man lies power enough to reshape reality."
"So he wants to seize that power?"
Strange lifted his head, eyes lighting up—he sensed a workable plan.
"Not just seize." Bai Ye's voice dropped.
"He intends to redefine the rules of reality. In the new Universe Doom wants to build, calling himself God Emperor Doom, there'll be no random annihilations, no cruel experiments."
God Emperor Doom is a title Doom bestowed upon himself.
After the Universes collided and the Multiverse collapsed into nothingness,
Doctor Doom absorbed the Beyonders' power that even Molecule Man couldn't stomach and, with Owen's help, founded Battleworld.
His actual strength wasn't all that high; Battleworld was merely a slightly larger Planet.
If you insist on a precise reckoning, God Emperor Doom's true power is roughly on par with Namo after absorbing all darkness—peak Multiverse level.
There's no helping it; the Beyonders' might was mostly devoured by Molecule Man, and Doom merely scavenged a few scraps.
You can tell from the comics, where many call him a false god.
Because anyone in the know understands Doom is only the figurehead ruler.
The one actually keeping Battleworld stable and reshaping the Multiverse is Owen the Molecule Man.
The comics keep hinting that God Emperor Doom is supremely powerful, his divine authority absolute.
But in practice he underperforms spectacularly, less impressive even than Sorcerer Ancient One's effortless flair.
He looks more like a kid who stumbled into godhood and now forces everyone to acknowledge his divinity.
The funniest part: even as a god, he never forgets his original goal—cuckolding Mister Fantastic Reed.
Yep, he resurrected Reed's wife and kids, then rewrote their memories so he could claim them as his own.
Doom, seriously, couldn't you aim a little higher?!
You can only say Marvel's editors are like this: every time they give a mega-villain some gravitas, they have to trash it completely.
Thanos was built up nicely at first—cosmic overlord—only to end up as Death's lovesick lapdog.
You have to admit those Marvel savants know exactly how to ruin a character.
Of course, trashy characterization aside, a Doom who's absorbed a sliver of Beyonder power is still a notch above the current Bai Ye.
Inside the chamber, Mister Fantastic slammed the conference table and thundered, "This is outright dictatorship!"
"More dictatorial than what you're doing now?" Bai Ye cut in with a smile.
"At least Doom's goal is to create, while you people only destroy."
However lame his later motives, right now his starting point is good: he wants to forge a brand-new Multiverse.
Black Swan listened quietly; she felt she might have misjudged her Master.
Could Master have foreseen all of this long ago?
"Among everyone who tried to stop this experiment, only he succeeded," Bai Ye said calmly.
"The price was the annihilation and rebirth of the entire existing Multiverse."
The Illuminati fell silent once more.
Tony's voice turned hoarse. "Then what are we—just pawns in his plan?"
Bai Ye looked at the group and suddenly gave a cryptic smile.
"That's why I said you should go to him. In Doom's blueprint for a new Universe, superheroes will have an entirely new role."
Black Panther narrowed his eyes. "Doom never shares power."
"So what do we do? Will you help us?" Namor asked the crucial question.
Bai Ye regarded the pensive gathering and shook his head slightly.
"That's a question for you to answer; my job description doesn't include helping you win."
The Illuminati stood rooted; Tony opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Black Panther remained silent; Doctor Strange contemplated his own path—he was already preparing to seek that trickster god in the Forgotten Realm.
The others, knowing too much, couldn't digest it all at once.
The others, knowing too much, couldn't digest it all at once.
Bai Ye watched their bewildered faces, interest flickering in his eyes; he looked forward to their choices.
Would they overturn everything, or follow the scripted path? He was eager to find out.
"You'll need time to collect yourselves."
Bai Ye withdrew his gaze and walked over to Namo.
"What happens next is up to you; the cosmos will develop according to how you maneuver."
"Wait!"
Hearing Bai Ye's words, Tony suddenly snapped back to his senses.
"You're leaving just like that?"
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow, tone teasing. "What, you want me to stay and save the World for you?"
Everyone was struck speechless, choking on the retort.
Namo let out a mocking laugh, as if ridiculing their weakness.
Bai Ye smiled faintly and shot Namo a look.
The two stood side by side as ripples of warped space shimmered around them.
"Good luck."
Bai Ye's final words drifted as space twisted, his voice turning ethereal.
"Remember, true victory isn't about destroying something—it's about creating something."
With a pulse of spatial distortion, their figures vanished like erased sketches.
The Illuminati stood frozen, staring at the spot where they'd disappeared, faint energy still trembling in the air.
"He just left like that?"
Chapter 258
Beast Hank pushed up his glasses, looking somewhat helpless.
Tony slowly lowered his head, his voice filled with complex emotions.
"He's right, this is our own battle."
Doctor Strange gazed into the void.
"Creation, not destruction, is that the answer?"
Black Panther and Mister Fantastic exchanged glances and nodded at each other. 123
"It seems we need to rethink our strategy."
Black Swan stood by, pondering for a moment.
"I will help you too!!!"
Everyone looked at each other, falling into a brief silence.Mio Qiba abandoned?〤（]Four）V Flowing-
Outside the window, New York's night sky was still dotted with stars, as if nothing had happened.
But everyone present knew that from this moment on, everything would be different... At this moment, above New York.
Bai Ye and Knull's figures suddenly appeared, with the brightly lit city nightscape beneath their feet.
Knull looked sideways at Bai Ye, his pale face appearing particularly gloomy in the moonlight.
A hint of doubt flashed in his scarlet eyes.
What exactly is this guy planning?
Didn't he say he wanted to find a way to fight the Beyonders? Why is he spreading the Beyonders' secrets everywhere instead?
Bai Ye silently looked down at the familiar yet strange city below.
He felt the biting airflow at high altitude, his thoughts swirling in his mind.
Doom should be carrying out that crazy plan with Owen right now, but it still needs a lot of preparation time, so it's not the time to intervene.
"Bai." Knull suddenly spoke, his tone puzzled.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Bai Ye gently curved his lips: "You wouldn't understand this. Some chess moves need to be planned in advance to achieve miraculous results."
Knull narrowed his eyes, speechless internally.
Bai Ye, this annoying guy, is playing riddles with me again.
"So this is your plan? Just being a messenger everywhere?"
Bai Ye didn't respond directly, but looked towards the distant skyline that was gradually brightening.
The reason he let the Illuminati know the truth was to buy time for Doom, allowing him to do bigger things.
Only when the Beyonders are busy dealing with these variables can he find the real breakthrough.
Bai Ye didn't tell Knull that his plan was to spread the Beyonders' plan everywhere.
He wanted to let those who were powerful, or who could change the situation, know the truth and let them stir up the situation.
That way, he would have more time to become stronger and grow.
But there's no need to rush, this cosmic collision experiment spans a long time, so rushing won't help.
He has ample time to deal with all of this.
Knull looked at Bai Ye's profile, suddenly realizing something.
"Wait, he's not using them as bait, is he?"
Bai Ye finally turned his head, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"Everyone is fighting for their own beliefs, I'm just helping them see the situation clearly."
Indeed!
Knull was secretly startled. Bai Ye deliberately released information to distract the Beyonders.
This kid, he's so cunning!
Bai Ye smiled, said no more, and began to look down.
His pupils suddenly contracted, and his eyes, like invisible ripples, penetrated clouds, buildings, and strata, instantly covering the entire Earth.
He was looking for someone, someone who had hidden their presence during this major event.
In Bai Ye's vision, countless scenes flashed by like a revolving lantern.
War-torn ruins in Eastern Europe, bonfires of primitive tribes in Africa, secret Bases under the Antarctic ice.
Finally, his gaze settled on an ancient monastery in the Scottish Highlands.
There, the Scarlet Witch of the main comic Universe stood alone before a stained-glass window.
The red energy of Chaos Magic flowed around her like a living thing, illuminating the surrounding glass like a burning sunset.
That's right, his goal was to find Wanda of the 616 Main Universe.
Bai Ye continued to observe this chosen Chaos Witch of the main Universe.
In his eyes, the Chaos Magic energy around this Scarlet Witch was like a surging red ocean.
Its intensity far surpassed all other Wandas in other Parallel Universes, making her absolutely the strongest Wanda in all Universes.
The phrase "No More Mutants" directly led to only a handful of Mutants remaining globally.
Of course, except for the one in his Universe.
"Found you." Bai Ye muttered to himself.
Knull followed his gaze but found nothing.
"Found something fun again?"
"A key chess piece."
Bai Ye continued to observe, watching Wanda's every move.
Bai Ye felt that her Chaos Magic might become a powerful weapon against the Beyonders.
In the monastery, Wanda suddenly looked up alertly, red energy instantly forming a shield around her body.
Her scarlet eyes stared directly into the void, as if she could feel a gaze from a thousand miles away.
"Who's there?"
Her voice, amplified by magic, directly entered Bai Ye's perception.
As expected of the embodiment of Chaos Magic, Bai Ye secretly praised, this perception ability has already reached the Multiverse level.
Although not as strong as him, being able to perceive someone observing her already said a lot.
He didn't respond to Wanda immediately, but slowly withdrew his gaze, his eyes refocusing above the clouds.
The night wind suddenly picked up, ruffling the robes of Bai Ye and Knull.
Bai Ye raised his hand and looked at the sky. It was about time to meet Wanda of this Universe.
"Let's go." Bai Ye suddenly said, "There are still many places to visit."
Knull clenched his fist, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"Let's go, I want to see what other tricks you can pull."
As space twisted, their figures gradually vanished into the faint light of dawn..
Space rippled with waves, and the figures of Bai Ye and Knull gradually solidified in the ancient stone courtyard of the Scottish monastery.
The damp, cold wind swirled withered yellow leaves between them.
The Scarlet Witch of the 616 Main Universe stood quietly inside the monastery; she looked a bit more haggard than the normal versions of Wanda in other Universes.
She wrapped her headscarf tighter, her scarlet eyes calmly observing the two suddenly appearing guests, but her heart had already surged with tumultuous waves.
The energy emanating from these two people was simply unfathomable!
Her Chaos Magic instinctively formed an invisible barrier around her.
Those crimson energy threads trembled slightly as if alive.
Especially the black-haired, black-eyed man on the left.
In her magical perception, he was like a purple Universe, emitting energy fluctuations that suffocated her.
This feeling was somewhat similar to the incomplete Phoenix Force she had encountered before, but the intensity was not on the same level at all.
Bai Ye nodded slightly, silently watching this Wanda.
He could see the Chaos Magic energy entwined around her restlessly stirring, like a startled swarm of snakes.
Indeed, Wanda of this Universe has grown to such an extent.
After the 'House of M' event, this Wanda had reached an unprecedented level.
Of course, only in abnormal modes, such as sacrificing family members.
Knull stood by, observing with interest the woman before him, who exuded the magical aura of the Underworld God Chthon.
The energy fluctuations on this woman also carried a hint of the Universe's primordial essence.
He secretly glanced at Bai Ye, his expression strange. If he remembered correctly, Bai Ye had a Wandain his own Universe.
Now... tsk tsk!
The air between the three seemed to freeze, with only the wind whimpering through the ancient stone walls.
"Who are you?"
Wanda was the first to break the silence, her voice carrying dangerous fluctuations, just like the magical energy around her.
"Why are you spying on me?"
Bai Ye took a step forward, a faint smile on his lips.
"First time meeting, Wanda, we're just passing through."
Wanda's brows furrowed slightly, clearly not believing Bai Ye's words.
"Passing through? The last person who said that almost destroyed the entire West Coast."
Knull let out a scoff, disdainfully saying, "Relax, little girl, if we wanted to make a move, this dilapidated monastery would have already turned to ashes."
Bai Ye raised his hand to stop Knull, signaling him to calm down.
"We mean you no harm; on the contrary, we might be able to help you better understand your power."
Wanda's pupils contracted slightly. How could he know about her situation?
Before Wanda could ask more, Bai Ye snapped his fingers.
Countless images appeared before them, constantly reassembling.
Eventually, the images pieced together a chilling scene.
Countless shattered Earths, and a figure wearing an iron mask.
Wanda gasped, quickly asking: "This is?"
"The future." Bai Ye said softly, "Or rather, a possible future."
Knull gave Bai Ye a deadpan look. He felt that Bai Ye seemed to be about to show off again.
Wanda frowned tightly, scrutinizing Bai Ye and Knull, seemingly deep in thought. Finally, she spoke softly:
"What exactly do you want?"
Bai Ye smiled slightly, his eyes gently fixed on Wanda.