The small platform at the very top of Stark Tower had been completely transformed.
A complex-looking device occupied most of the platform's center. Its base was pressed tightly against the ground, while several thick metal arms extended upward from it and converged at the top into a semicircular frame.
The Tesseract had been placed at the very center of that frame. A deep blue glow seeped from within the cube, bathing the entire platform in a pale blue light.
Energy was continuously drawn from the Tesseract, flowing through the energy conduits on those metal arms before finally converging in a rapidly spinning circular energy converter at the top of the device.
Professor Selvig stood beside the device, both hands pressed against the control panel, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the flashing data. His face bore an odd expression of fanaticism.
Tony was the first to arrive, having flown directly out from inside the tower. His gaze swept over the entire device before finally settling on Professor Selvig.
"Shut it down! Dr. Selvig!"
Professor Selvig, who had been absorbed in operating the device, jolted at the shout. He turned to look at Tony in midair, then at Thor coming up from the other side. His expression did not change at all, even though he and Thor were on rather good terms now.
"Too late."
Dr. Selvig's voice was calm, yet tinged with both regret and fanaticism. "It can't be stopped anymore! It's going to show us a brand-new universe!"
Tony pursed his lips. "All right, then."
He raised both hands, and two blazing white lights swiftly gathered in his palms, aimed at the operating device behind Selvig.
"Bang!"
Two repulsor blasts shot from Tony's palms at the same time, flying toward the device's core.
But to his surprise, just