Mission Assignments

No one spoke in the Avengers Compound conference room.

Tony leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table.

He glanced at the alien in the blue-and-red suit across from him, then at the fire in the red-haired woman's eyes beside him, before settling his gaze on Chu Hang.

"So, is this a family meeting, or are we discussing how not to get eaten by Black-Hole Face?"

No one answered.

Thor gripped Stormbreaker and stared at Clark.

Clark smiled politely, though his fingers left five dents in the armrest.

Jean sat in the corner, the Phoenix Force flickering into view behind her.

Wanda sat to Chu Hang's right, her expression calm, nearly invisible scarlet threads winding around her fingertips.

Starlight stood in the doorway holding Adam, too nervous to come in.

The little boy studied everyone in the room with curiosity, golden runes turning deep in his pupils.

"Enough."

Chu Hang spoke.

Everyone fell silent.

He stood and planted both hands on the table.

"Personal matters can wait until after the war."

"Right now, we're discussing one thing—how to win this fight."

Tony shrugged.

"Sure. You're the boss."

Chu Hang ignored him.

"The Anti-Monitor's attack just now was only a probe."

"He was testing our reaction speed and the limits of our strength."

"Next time, he'll come in person. And his true body is..." Chu Hang paused, then said gravely:

"Multiversal-level."

The Third Eye opened on Strange's forehead.

"I've looked into the future and seen fourteen million possibilities."

"Our chance of winning is—"

"Don't say it."

Chu Hang cut him off.

"We win or we die."

He raised his right hand, and a miniature galaxy appeared above his palm.

"My Inner Universe has only just formed. It's still unstable, and my strength is at Peak Universal-level. I can't