On a massive interstellar warship, Loki and the Chitauri Leader faced each other in a solemn hall. The atmosphere was tense and oppressive, as if the entire room had frozen solid. Behind them stretched a vast sea of stars. Tension and hostility filled the space between them, as though the air itself were charged with electricity.
Loki's gaze was sharp, his posture straight, displaying the dignity and confidence of a god. He stared at the Chitauri Leader and smiled faintly.
"Chitauri Leader, we both know that Earth is a valuable resource with limitless potential. I think it is time to leave command of the invasion to me. As a god, I have the ability to command a vast and powerful army, lead them to conquer Earth, and turn it into our colony."
The Chitauri Leader's eyes were cold and sharp as he sneered in reply, "Loki, you are nothing more than an arrogant little man. We are the guardians of the universe. Earth needs our protection."
Loki smiled slightly, his tone carrying a trace of mockery.
"Chitauri Leader, your forces may be powerful, but I must remind you that I am a god, while you are merely an alien. My power and wisdom are far beyond anything you can imagine. If you refuse to obey my command, I can easily defeat you and reclaim your empire."
The Chitauri Leader raised an eyebrow slightly, a flash of pride and resolve passing through his eyes.
"Loki, you are arrogant and foolish. Do you think you can conquer Earth alone? Do not forget that we Chitauri are far stronger than your race of gods. If you dare cross our bottom line, we will destroy you and your army without mercy."
"Ha?" Loki wore a mocking expression. He had just heard the best joke in history.
The two continued trying to seize command of the invasion of Earth through their words, their positions completely opposed. Loki wanted to use Earth's power to satisfy his ambitions, while the Chitauri Leader believed Earth was an important strategic stronghold that needed to be enslaved and controlled.
Just then, a powerful wave of energy swept through the hall, shaking the entire chamber. Thanos, the mighty conqueror of the universe, made his entrance. His presence placed invisible pressure on both Loki and the Chitauri Leader. They both lowered their heads instinctively.
Thanos looked coldly at Loki and the Chitauri Leader, his voice deep and imposing. "What are you two fighting over? Earth is merely an insignificant planet in the endless universe. I brought you together to search for the Infinity Stones, not to put on a farce for me."
Loki and the Chitauri Leader both felt Thanos's overwhelming presence. They knew that fighting the demonic being before them was practically impossible.
Loki clenched his teeth, then determination flashed in his eyes. "Yes, Great Conqueror."
The Chitauri Leader remained silent. He knew Thanos's power and cruelty all too well. At this moment, only caution and obedience could preserve his life and the future of his race.
After hearing them, Thanos let out a contemptuous sneer. "Do what you are supposed to do."
Loki suddenly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Lord Thanos, if possible, I request that you allow your guard, the Black Order, to accompany us."
"They each have matters they need to handle." Thanos glanced at Loki.
Loki continued, "My lord, Earth now has a group known as 'superheroes.' Their appearance may disrupt your great plan."
"Oh?" Thanos became interested and wanted to hear what Loki had to say.
Understanding his meaning, Loki said, "My lord, the superheroes currently on Earth include ones who use telekinesis, lightning, and invisibility."
"Loki, do not tell me you are afraid?" the Chitauri Leader mocked from the side.
Loki ignored him and continued facing Thanos respectfully.
"Then let Supergiant assist you in this operation," Thanos said.
After Thanos spoke, Loki and the Chitauri Leader stepped back to the side. They were not overly surprised by his decision. After all, Thanos was one of the most powerful beings in the universe, and his guard, the Black Order, was undoubtedly an extremely dependable force.
Mysterio Recruitment Set.
"Ned, why are we here?" Spider-Man, Peter Parker, looked at the crowd pouring in like a flood, feeling a little timid.
Ned's eyes gleamed as he said, "Hey, of course we are here to see whether we might run into a future superhero! This is a superhero recruitment event hosted by Hawke Group!"
Peter Parker looked at Ned, who was decked out from head to toe in Hawke Group superhero merchandise, and could only nod.
After the two arrived, they discovered that there were two entrance lanes.
Only after asking did they learn that one was for audience members, while the other was for applicants.
The two hurried into the audience entrance. After entering the set, they bought two buckets of popcorn and some Junk Food Drink.
"Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah!" Ned waited eagerly in excitement.
Animal trainers, boxers, singers, dancers...
One hour later...
Peter Parker stared speechlessly at Ned, who was slumped against his shoulder, sleeping like a dead pig.
Audience members of all ages were growing sleepy. This was supposed to be a superhero recruitment event, and they had been promised experts, yet every performer had been some uninspired nobody.
The host looked sleepy as well. He walked to the front of the stage and said, "Next, please welcome the performer whose superhero name is Master Illusion, Quentin Beck, to the stage."
Upon hearing the hero name Master Illusion, Peter Parker's heart suddenly trembled when he saw the figure.
He seemed to wake up completely, and began listening carefully to the performance of this man who called himself Master Illusion.
Music began playing as Quentin Beck emerged from backstage. He wore a black suit, looking mysterious and charming. He walked to the center of the stage and smiled as he greeted the audience. Applause and cheers rose one after another. At the very least, the man looked the part.
There was a hint of provocation in Quentin Beck's eyes. He knew the audience was expecting an exciting performance. With a light wave of his hand, the props onstage began to transform. A vast starry sky appeared before the audience, making them feel as if they had been transported into the universe.
Next, Quentin Beck raised the wand in his hand, and fantastical light spilled from it. With a slight movement of his fingers, the scene rapidly changed. The audience saw an ancient castle. Outside it, fierce winds howled and lightning flashed, as if the end of the world had arrived.
Quentin Beck walked to the edge of the stage and extended his palm. An illusion covered the entire stage. The audience stared in shock as they saw their reflections twist and distort within the illusion, as if they were being devoured.
Next, Quentin Beck demonstrated his stunt skills. He leaped into the air, his body flipping freely through the air with flexibility and elegance. The audience was amazed. They could not understand how these seemingly supernatural performances were possible.
Quentin Beck landed on the stage, and a small bottle appeared in his hand. He opened its cap, and a strange fragrance spread through the air. The audience felt dizzy and disoriented, falling into hallucinations and becoming utterly lost.
Next, Quentin Beck raised his hand, and a colorful bird flew from his palm, fluttering gracefully through the air. The audience held their breath, captivated by the beautiful sight and completely immersed in it.
But then the music changed, and Quentin Beck suddenly became cold and cruel. His eyes darkened, and an evil smile appeared on his face. The audience began to feel afraid. They realized that Quentin Beck seemed to have become two people—one evil, the other righteous.
The righteous Quentin Beck began displaying his Hand-to-hand combat. His figure flashed rapidly like a ghost. The audience could not understand how he performed those movements. All they could see was the evil Quentin Beck being knocked to the ground, his agonized groans echoing across the stage.
Quentin Beck's performance ended. He gave a slight bow, and the audience immediately erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What happened? What happened?" Ned suddenly sprang up, looking thoroughly startled.
"You missed a performance," Peter Parker said.
"Really?" Hearing Peter Parker's words, Ned looked around at the people enthusiastically applauding nearby and felt as though he had missed out on a hundred million dollars.
"Oh, damn it. The time I agreed on with my aunt is almost here." Peter Parker suddenly looked at the time on his watch.
"Then what are we waiting for? My mood right now is no longer suitable for staying here." Ned wore an expression that made him look like he wanted to kill someone.
The stage lights gradually dimmed. After acknowledging the audience, Quentin Beck left the stage.
The moment Quentin Beck returned backstage, he became anxious.
Compared to being an unnoticed worker behind the scenes, he wanted to stand in front of the camera and fulfill his dream of becoming a star. But in fiercely competitive Hollywood, that dream seemed impossible to achieve. Baker's desire for fame had nearly reached the point of madness.
But this time, it was "superhero." A "star" even more dazzling than a "star."
Remembering the enthusiastic response just now, Quentin Beck's mood calmed somewhat.
Suddenly, a staff member walked over to Quentin Beck and said, "Quentin Beck?"
Quentin Beck immediately snapped back to his senses. "Oh. Yes, hello. What can I do for you?"
"Mr. Quentin Beck, Mr. Baker wants to see you," the staff member said, looking at the bewildered yet slightly excited man.
"Really?" The confusion on Quentin Beck's face vanished, replaced by endless excitement.
"Yes, Mr. Baker wants to see you. I will take you there." After speaking, the staff member motioned for Quentin Beck to follow.
"Hehe, hehe." Quentin Beck suddenly began grinning foolishly.
When he arrived at the location, Quentin Beck was dumbfounded. It turned out that there were actually quite a lot of people Mr. Baker wanted to see.
"I thought I was the only one." Quentin Beck wore a smile that looked more like a cry.