Terra Sector · Imperium Teleportation Platform
Neos stood on the platform, his gaze sweeping over the fully equipped team.
All equipment had been calibrated, and all personnel were in position, awaiting only the final command.
Before activating the teleportation, he connected to Guilliman.
"How are things on your end?"
Guilliman's voice came through, steady and composed. "The fleet is advancing smoothly, and the situation is under control. But faced with such a vast universe, the legion's strength alone is still insufficient. A complete cleanup will take time."
"We can mobilize the local forces," Neos said decisively. "Let them prove their worth. They cannot accept the Imperium's benefits for nothing."
"Understood," Guilliman replied. "I'll make the arrangements."
After giving him the rendezvous coordinates for when the expedition ended, Neos terminated the communication without further delay.
He brought up the mission coordinates. Once authorization was verified, the Imperium's massive cross-universe teleportation network immediately responded.
A beam of light unfolded above the platform, turning from illusion into reality and forming a stable portal.
Earth · Avengers Secret Base
The atmosphere inside the base was incredibly oppressive.
Tony Stark and Bruce Banner had been working nonstop for dozens of hours. Their eyes were bloodshot, while despair-inducing data continuously scrolled across the screens before them.
The substance temporarily designated the "Abyssal Black Fog" was overturning everything they knew.
It possessed numerous terrifying properties at once: energy corrosion, information contamination, reality distortion, and mental inducement. Worse still, it showed no signs of weakening.
"Our current technology can't analyze it at all." Tony's voice was hoarse. His fingers unconsciously tapped against the edge of the console, betraying his suppressed agitation.
After all conventional scientific methods had failed, Tony had no choice but to bring in two outside experts—Mr. Fantastic Reed Richards and Dr. Pym.
Reed had