The signs of disaster were insignificant at first.
S.H.I.E.L.D. detected that the abnormal photosynthetic efficiency of global plants dropped slightly by 0.3%.
A week later, that number was 5%.
Plankton in the ocean began to die in large numbers, migrating birds became inexplicably disoriented, and pets in the city became restless.
"It's not pollution, it's not climate change." Bruce·Banner looked at the global ecological model and turned pale.
"It's some kind of... basic level failure. There's a slow but steady loss of life energy."
Nick Fury's one eye scanned the report, "Range?"
"Globally. Without exception." Maria Hill's voice was heavy
"Animals and plants, including microorganisms, are still accelerating. According to this trend, within three months, the global ecosystem will collapse."
Avengers dispatched to investigate. Tony and Banner analyzed air and soil samples;
Natasha and Clint visit scientific research stations around the world; Steve coordinates international rescue;
Thor went to Asgard to check the ancient books; Strange and the king monitored the fluctuations in the magic level.
However, nothing was found. No murderer, no weapons, no power source.
Life is dying silently, as if the earth itself is suffering from a terminal disease.
Until Princess Shuri of Wakanda discovered a strange phenomenon.
"It's not churn," she eagerly explained during the holoconference
"It's been 'extracted'! There is a very high-frequency resonance wave that spreads throughout the earth's biosphere, like an invisible network
It is simultaneously sucking away the 'vitality' of all life! This technology... this principle..."
She called up a top-secret design drawing - Tony·Stark, the "Harmony Resonance Network" blueprint that was designed for global clean energy but never implemented.
"This is impossible!" Tony categorically denied, "That is just a theoretical model! I have never built it! And its purpose is to integrate energy, not to extract life!"
"But the principle is exactly the same!" Shuri emphasized, "It's just been applied in reverse! Someone based on your design, made this... this 'Everything Harvester'!"
Clues point to the ruins of Hydra Base, which are believed to have been completely destroyed.
When Avengers arrived, he only found a cold, huge machine running automatically.
Its core is a constantly rotating Vibranium gyroscope, which is emitting that fatal resonance wave.
There are no guards around the machine, only a holographic message.
An image of a strange scientist wearing glasses, with a gentle face but wild eyes appeared.
"Salute, Avengers. When you see this message, the 'All Things Unify' plan is irreversible.
Don't bother looking for me, I am all living beings, and all living beings are not me."
"I have witnessed too much strife, too much waste. Life consumes itself in meaningless competition.
Sun's Son... His appearance is the last revelation. Such a powerful individual only focuses on his own existence.
This proves that the essence of life is selfishness and meaninglessness."
"My solution? End this meaningless cycle.
Drain all the vitality of life and gather it into the purest energy source, a 'Eternal Battery' that cannot think, suffer, or fight.
This will be the ultimate and most peaceful contribution of mankind... no, all life on earth... to the universe."
"The machine cannot be shut down and its defense mechanisms will fight back any energy that attempts to destroy it.
The resonance wave has penetrated deeply into the global ecosystem, and forced destruction will only accelerate the collapse. Enjoy your last moments."
The image disappears.
Avengers tried to attack the machine. Sure enough, any energy attack was absorbed and transformed, which in turn strengthened the intensity of the resonance wave.
Physical attacks are blocked by a powerful force field.
"He is a madman!" Steve roared.
"A genius madman," Tony said with a pale face, "He used my design... to do something I didn't expect."
The rate of life failure is significantly accelerating around the world.
The trees in the city began to wither and turn yellow, and animals fell in droves. Although humans could still hold on, they generally felt inexplicably tired and weak.
Panic began to spread.
Avengers tried his best to crack the machine, but every attempt was in vain and even made the situation worse.
Malibu Villa.
Xiao Han discovered that the leaves of his favorite old tree that provided shade were falling abnormally.
The seabirds on the beach also became listless. What made him even more unhappy was that the feeling of the sun shining on his body... seemed to be dimmed.
It is not the change of the sun itself, but the earth's atmosphere, and even the planet beneath it, are losing a certain "vitality". The dissipation of this vitality subtly affects its efficiency in absorbing sunlight.
It's like a fine meal mixed with tiny bits of sand.
He frowned, Super-Senses fully unfolded, and instantly locked onto the machine located in the ruins of Hydra
And the invisible web that envelops the globe and drains life.
"Pest." He whispered with obvious impatience.
The next moment, he appeared in front of the machine.
Avengers was discussing anxiously not far away. When they saw him appear, everyone was stunned.
"Xiao Han! Don't attack it with energy!" Tony warned hurriedly.
Xiao Han didn't seem to hear it. He didn't even look at the machine, he just raised his feet and stepped lightly on the ground.
There was no loud noise, no explosion.
But with his feet as the center, an extremely precise Quake was instantly transmitted to the depths of the ground in a way that transcended the laws of physics.
Penetrates all obstacles and acts directly on the Vibranium gyroscope, the core of the machine.
The gyroscope was not destroyed, but the vibration frequency of its atomic structure was forcibly twisted, covered, and returned to zero.
Spin, stop.
The outside of the machine was intact, but the hum at the core stopped abruptly. The invisible resonance network covering the world dissipated instantly.
All over the world, withering plants stopped deteriorating, weak animals raised their heads blankly, and people felt that the inexplicable fatigue began to slowly subside.
Avengers stared at all this in stunned silence.
"You... how did you do it?" Banner asked in disbelief, "Then Vibranium's core is immune to all energy..."
"It's too noisy," Xiao Han interrupted him, his tone flat, "The vibration frequency is hard to hear."
He glanced at the completely misfired machine, as if he had just swatted a buzzing fly to death, then turned around and disappeared into golden light.
Tony walked to the machine and reached out to touch the cold metal shell. The core inside had completely stopped.
"He... he didn't even touch it..." Rhodes murmured.
"He doesn't need it," Strange didn't know when he would arrive, looking at the direction where Xiao Han disappeared with a complicated expression.
"He 'heard' the discordant 'sound' and then... 'mute' it."
The crisis was over, but there was no joy in Avengers's heart, only a deeper chill.
A mad scientist, using the technology of Stark, almost quietly wiped out life on the planet.
And the people who solved all this just did it because they thought the frequency of the extermination machine was "unpleasant".
Fury's voice came through the communicator, breaking the silence. "Find the scientist.
Even if he hides at the end of the universe, we must find him."
And somewhere in the corner of the universe, the scientist wearing glasses looked at the "Connection Interrupted" prompt on the screen.
There were not many surprises. I just pushed up my glasses and recorded in my notes:
"Experimental object 'Earth': Observation terminated. The 'noise' factor interferes too much and cannot be eliminated. It is recommended to find a new, quieter experimental site."