Chapter 380: Sudden Change

"Tony, hold on for a bit; I'm going to check on Steve first. Everyone else, once you complete your tasks, provide backup immediately."

"Lois, you and Doctor Hulk, you're in charge of reinforcing Tony!"

"Carol, once you've completed your tasks, reinforce Steve immediately."

"Daisy, after you finish, be on standby to assist wherever the danger is greatest."

Clark quickly issued a string of commands, then in a flash, he appeared at the location of the ancient Kamar-Taj temple in the Himalayas.

This was why Clark, despite knowing the last two locations were the most dangerous, still chose to distribute strong forces across different areas. Lois, Carol, and Daisy all possessed high mobility, especially the former two, who could quickly move their teams to any battlefield. As for Daisy, as long as she could reach the battlefield on time, the presence of the others was inconsequential...

Receiving impression points from Rocket Raccoon...

Receiving...

...

The members of Daisy's team and those in the neglected Black Widow's team felt a sense of abandonment, their spirits dampened.

Was this a game they weren't meant to play?

Was it our fault for not being strong enough?

It seemed that being weak was a sin indeed!

...

Unlike the grand Kamar-Taj magical temple standing in the Movie Universe, the Himalayas in the X-Men Universe were starkly bare, offering only black rock and white snow as far as the eye could see.

Compared to other teams executing tasks on different planets, Captain America's team was perhaps the most successful. Clark had given other teams a whole planet to choose from, but he limited the Earth-based team to just the Himalayas.

Choosing a target location on a whole planet is not the same as finding one in a mountain range.

In fact, on any given planet, there are multiple suitable locations for placing a "foundation stone." For example, on Earth, aside from the Himalayas, three other places are no less significant: London, New York, and Hong Kong, where the Marvel Universe's four Sanctums are located.

On other planets, the situation is similar. But specific choices still needed to be made based on the actual conditions, so Clark provided an algorithm. The exact placement of the "foundation stone" and the divine swords was left to each team to determine based on their circumstances.

Only Earth was an exception.

Aside from the Himalayas, the other three locations are famously bustling urban areas. Suddenly erecting a monument the size of the Statue of Liberty there would only invite trouble.

With a clear target, Captain America's team was the first to pinpoint the location for the "foundation stone" and completed their task ahead of everyone else.

The placement of the foundation stone was straightforward.

The equipment was ready, and after some improvements made by the Avengers' scientists based on the framework designed by Clark, it became even more convenient and efficient.

Using a remote control, Captain America enlarged the Pym Particle-reduced "foundation stone" into a high-tech metallic tower, which then hovered under its own power. Doctor Strange then directed the operations on site, while the young genius Shuri remotely controlled the stable placement of the tower onto a pre-cleared rock bed.

Following that, Mindy, fully geared, activated her suit's engines and soared to the top of the tower. She effortlessly drew the Zhantian divine sword from behind her back and tossed it towards the tower. The sword, as if attracted by a magnetic pull, floated directly above the center of the eight columns at the top of the tower and hovered motionlessly.

As the sword merged with the "foundation stone," a stream of nimble energy burst forth from the tip of the blade, piercing the sky. Even the clouds above were split in two by this sword energy, forcefully repelling the dark energies Dormammu used to consume this parallel universe, preventing them from advancing any further!

Simultaneously, a special energy barrier formed around the entire tower, safeguarding it. Even Mindy, who was nearby, was propelled backwards by the force, managing to stabilize herself only with the aid of her suit's propulsion system.

Seeing the task completed without incident, the Avengers were overcome with a rush of excited cheers.

However, Mindy, still in mid-air, suddenly sensed something amiss and urgently warned the others, "Everyone, be careful—there's a killing intent!"

Almost as soon as Mindy spoke, the Avengers saw a purple space portal materialize out of nowhere. Unlike Doctor Strange's neatly circular portals, this purple gateway was irregular, resembling an ink drop on paper that naturally formed an irregular shape.

It started small, allowing only one person to pass, but it kept expanding outward like burning paper with a cigarette, spreading erratically and accelerating until the portal expanded to a ten-meter diameter and then stopped.

Through the portal, a completely enclosed cave was visible, lit by flickering lights that revealed hundreds of silhouetted figures.

Their bizarre appearances alone gave off

 a menacing vibe.

Leading the group was a young woman in a beige cloak with fiery red hair and striking features. However, her face bore faint, vein-like crimson lines, giving off an intense aura of hostility as if she bore a deep grudge against everyone.

Indeed, her every glance and gesture exuded lethal intent, and her presence commanded awe and fear!

Flanking her were two middle-aged men in their forties, one in a red cloak with a matching helmet, his eyes filled with belligerence. The other, a bald man in a wheelchair, despite his disability, possessed a commanding presence that demanded attention.

Behind these two, the group was clearly divided into two columns.

Some looked merely eccentric, while others differed significantly from ordinary humans. All had fierce expressions when they looked at the Avengers.

This formidable procession stepped through the portal, immediately tensing the Avengers. As Captain America quickly thought of a strategy, Clark's voice suddenly rang in his ear, "The situation is grim; Dormammu is probably prepared. Everyone, be extra careful. What's your status?"

Hearing Clark's inquiry, other team leaders responded promptly, but Captain America, seeing the dense army of mutants before him, replied with a bitter, "Clark, we seem to have run into some trouble here."

...

Meanwhile, Tony's team was slightly slower than Captain America's, but not by much.

It was Tony's first time in the Dark Quadrant, but his team included several seasoned guides.

Both Gamora and Mantis had grown up here. Unlike those city dwellers who could still get lost in their hometown, these sisters had been subjected to harsh survival tests from a young age, making them extremely familiar with this planet.

With their guidance, plus the ultra-advanced artificial intelligence Eros calculating in real-time, they quickly found the best location for the "foundation stone" upon arriving in the Dark Quadrant and began clearing the area.

As Captain America's team completed their task, Tony's team had also cleared a solid patch of ground to the rhythm of Star-Lord's personal BGM. Just as Tony was about to retrieve the "foundation stone" to begin the foundation-laying process, Clark's voice suddenly came through the communicator. While Tony was anxious about Captain America's troubles, he couldn't help but mock him, simultaneously scanning his teammates as he began to consider tactics for the imminent reinforcement mission.

Pepper, who must be kept close, now wore a suit Tony had custom-designed for her. Though still a formidable fighter, Tony felt at ease only with her by his side.

Eros, the least of his worries. As an AI, she had regained her unique ability to infinitely replicate herself after losing the Mind Stone. If the hardware was powerful enough, her computational capabilities were virtually limitless.

Externally, Eros appeared as a young girl with twin ponytails, but her body was made entirely of Adamantium, Uru, and Vibranium. And hidden within her were at least twenty different "Queen's Knight" suits, ready to form a formidable iron legion at a moment's notice.

And, Eros had backed up her data before arriving in this parallel universe. Even if something went wrong, only a bunch of materials would be lost.

Tony Stark lacked many things, but money was not one of them.

Further down the list, Ava was one of Clark's darlings and better off staying on the ship, allowing Spider-Man to stay and protect her.

Gamora and Mantis, cosmic rogues with extensive combat experience but average fighting skills, would be taken along.

As for Star-Lord, it didn't matter much if he was there or not...

And Mantis...

Wait!

Tony suddenly turned to look at Mantis standing beside Gamora, then at another Mantis quietly approaching Ava, and a bad feeling washed over him.

Why were there two Mantises!?

Wasn't Mantis supposed to be with Daisy's team?

Before Tony could react, the other Mantis had already silently reached Ava and, taking advantage of her unguarded moment, suddenly grasped Ava's throat!

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