The atmosphere in the Avengers base conference room had dropped to freezing point.
Strange had just shared fragments of the future he had glimpsed through magic—a colossal construct bearing the Crystal Cross insignia, and horrifying scenes of it devouring life.
"So... disasters are getting serialized now?" Tony Stark rubbed his brow, anger suppressed in his voice. "One rift was already enough of a headache, and now there's some giant man-eating machine?"
"Maybe that thing is behind the rift," Natasha sharply added. "Or perhaps whatever is inside the rift is hostile to the force behind this insignia? We just happened to get caught in the middle—the timing is too much of a coincidence."
Neither possibility eased the tension in the slightest.
"No matter what, this insignia is our only clue for now." Steve Rogers steered the conversation back on track, his voice steady. "Strange, can you describe the insignia more clearly?"
Strange nodded and raised a hand, using magic to construct a glowing three-dimensional image of a Crystal Cross.
Just then, the artificial intelligence Friday cut in. "Gentlemen, based on the characteristics provided by Doctor Strange, I located several similar targets online. After screening them, I have identified three highly likely individuals—currently in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York. All are female, wearing the insignia in the form of a necklace, bracelet, and hair accessory respectively. Retrieving live footage."
The main screen in the conference room immediately changed.
Footage from aerial surveillance and street-corner cameras clearly showed three women shopping.
The girl at the front had long pink hair, a sweet smile, and a floral sundress.
The silver pendant around her neck was an exquisite Crystal Cross, gleaming softly in the sunlight.
She pointed at a shop window and said something to her companions, her smile exceptionally infectious.
To