The Fantastic Four Villains

Kingpin silently rolled the name Robert Reynolds around in his mouth, making sure every syllable was etched into his memory.

He looked up, a sharp glint flashing in his gray eyes.

Years of running the underworld told him that the man Russell wanted was far more than "just a junkie."

With Russell's permission, he bent down and picked up the silver briefcase. Its weight surprised him the moment it settled in his hand. Whatever was inside was heavier than he had expected.

"Three days." After letting go of the case, Kingpin spoke in a low, steady voice. "As long as he's still on American soil, I'll bring him to you."

He gave Russell a slight nod, then strode toward the White House, determined to do everything he could to get the job done.

Russell waved to the others and headed for the hotel with the silver briefcase. Finding Reynolds was necessary, but so was using his abilities to analyze the Hundred-Thousand-Fold Serum.

For all he knew, he might have replicated tens of thousands of doses by the time they found Reynolds.

And he still had his own magic to work on.

Behind him, the blue Wormhole slowly contracted. Arcs of electricity crackled along its edges as it shut the last glimpse of the Rocky Mountains away in another Dimension.

When the Wormhole closed completely, only the burning golden orb atop the Empire State Building remained in Manhattan's night sky.

Its light poured down from above like a golden waterfall, bathing the entire city in the gold of the Path of Evolution.

The reinforced iron doors of the White House slid open automatically. The Oval Office had long since been converted into a command center that ran around the clock.

Giant displays covered all four walls. Satellite maps of the entire