Earth, once an unremarkable blue planet in the vast universe, had now become the focus of countless greedy yet wary gazes from the depths of space.
On a dimensional level beyond ordinary human perception, Earth seemed to be shrouded in an invisible "web."
Powerful, ancient divine senses lurked in the void around Earth and within the gaps between dimensions.
They were gods, demon gods, and ancient beings from various pantheons and dimensions, including many figures renowned throughout the universe.
They coveted the few Infinity Stones on Earth that emitted such alluring fluctuations, yet none dared descend first.
The news that the Kree Empire and its homeworld had been erased made these normally arrogant beings feel a sense of crisis.
The mysterious force known as the Hilling Empire had displayed a level of power sufficient to make them wary.
No one wished to be the first to stick their neck out and draw the Hilling Empire's attention.
At the same time, they were filled with suspicion and vigilance toward one another.
Relations among gods had always been terrible, and before the temptation of the Infinity Stones, those already fragile ties were even more easily shattered.
No one wanted to painstakingly open the way only to make a wedding dress for someone else.
Thus, a strange balance formed.
The gods hid behind the scenes, but they were far from idle.
One after another, they turned their attention toward Earth's vast human population.
For a time, Earth's dark side churned with unrest.
The wounds from the Battle of New York had yet to heal when the arrival of the Hilling Fleet brought another tremendous shock.
Theories of doomsday and alien invasion spread wildly, and panic began to spread among parts of the population.
It was in such fertile ground that all manner of