Earth in Crisis

616 Main Universe

Illuminati secret conference room.

Under the dim lights, the heroes seated around the long table remained silent.

Black Panther T'Challa leaned back in his chair, his fingers brushing his bracer as his thoughts drifted back to the Wakandan palace years ago.

"T'Challa."

His father's face appeared before his eyes.

"A king's duty is not power, but protection."

As a child, he had looked up and promised resolutely, "I will protect every person in Wakanda."

And now...

He slowly closed his eyes.

Just a few hours ago, they had pressed that button once again, turning the Earth of another Parallel Universe into nothingness through Oblivion.

To save their own world, they had brought Carnage to billions of lives in another.

"We destroyed another universe."

Tony Stark's voice shattered the silence.

His armored helmet rested on the table. His eyes were bloodshot, and he held a cup of coffee that had long gone cold.

No one answered.

Doctor Strange remained silent, seemingly pondering something.

"But we saved our own universe."

"This wasn't a choice."

Mr. Fantastic Reed Richards spoke hoarsely, agitation churning within him.

He glanced at the others and sighed inwardly.

"If we hadn't done it, both universes would have been destroyed." Namor was far more resolute.

"What good is saying this? We crossed that line long ago."

Black Bolt sat in silence, with only his faintly trembling eyelashes revealing his emotions.

Beast Hank McCoy adjusted his glasses. "We need a more effective method, rather than resorting to the most extreme measures every time."

"What method do you have?" Tony suddenly looked up, his voice hoarse.

"Reed, how many times have you calculated this? Is there any other solution?"

Mr. Fantastic's body stiffened for a moment. "No. At least, not for now."

The conference room fell into dead