The moment Spider-Man uttered his question, the entire Sanctum Sanctorum Hall fell into a deathly silence.
This is a very heavy and very real issue.
How can we fight against that endless army of zombies, which even includes former comrades?
How then can they confront the presence lurking behind all the terror, a presence that even Strange finds troublesome?
In the silence, the Female Iron Fist, wearing a high-slit green combat suit and a yellow mask, broke the deadlock first.
She looked around and said in a deep voice, "Perhaps we can start with the technological aspects and find a way to deal with the ordinary zombies. There are too many of them; killing them one by one is simply unrealistic."
"I agree." Black Panther T'Challa nodded. Wakanda's technological level is the best in the world. If they can use weapons of mass destruction, mass elimination is not impossible.
Even Wolverine Logan who usually prefers to solve problems with his claws, unusually hummed in agreement.
Asking him to chop down thousands upon thousands of zombies would drive him insane first.
In the corner, the Magik Illyana and Jessica Jones, standing next to Peter, remained silent, simply listening.
Having struggled for so long in the apocalypse, they knew all too well that any plan could crumble in the face of reality.
"What we really need to deal with isn't those walking corpses," Strange's voice rang out at the opportune moment, drawing everyone's attention, "But rather Knull, the God of Void and Shadows, the first life born from the primordial dark abyss."
He paused, his tone growing increasingly grave. "His goal is to return the entire universe to Eternity Void and darkness. The zombie virus we're seeing now is merely one of the means by which he spreads chaos and fear."
"Then... then how do we deal with this kind of guy?" Spider-Man's voice trembled slightly.
He was just a neighborhood hero who wanted to protect his own neighborhood; these ancient gods who could destroy the universe at any moment were completely beyond his comprehension.
Strange shook his head wearily. "I don't know. Under normal circumstances, gathering all the heroes on Earth might have given us a sliver of hope, but now... look at who we have left!"
These words plunged the hearts of those who had just begun to feel a glimmer of hope back into despair.
"Really... there's absolutely no way?" Jessica Jones asked through gritted teeth, unwilling to give up.
Strange shook his head at first, then nodded as if he remembered something. "There is... not entirely no way."
He looked at everyone and said, word by word:
"Where there is light, there is darkness. Knull was born from darkness, and naturally, there exists something completely opposite to him. Legend has it that there is a source of cosmic light called the ' Enigma Force,' which is Knull's nemesis. Whenever Knull's power begins to sweep across the universe, the Enigma Force will also descend upon the world, seeking its host."
"But," Strange changed the subject, "As for how to gain its approval and become its host... nobody knows."
While everyone was pondering the news, Thor was quietly doing his own thing.
Damn it, if I can't beat them, can't I at least run away?
While mentally complaining, he secretly manipulated the Law of Space, attempting to open a portal behind him to another universe.
He didn't want to be trapped in this mess and become collateral damage.
However, when he activated the power of the laws, he found that the surrounding space was as solid as billions of tons of concrete, so solid that it did not budge.
The portal's light flickered twice before going out completely.
Thor's heart skipped a beat.
It's blocked!
The entire universe has been completely sealed off by an unparalleled dark force!
Damn it! Now we have no choice but to fight!
Thor's face darkened instantly. He whirled around to look at the woman beside him who had seemed to be watching a show the whole time. "Hey! Tetiyu, can you take us away?"
Death Tetiyu blinked his eyes, which seemed to hold the very essence of starlight and death, a helpless smile curving his lips, his voice as gentle as a breeze:
"No, I advised you before not to interfere with the cause and effect of this universe so easily."
She shrugged and added, "Besides, I can't get out either; this force has trapped me as well."
Thor looked her up and down with extreme suspicion.
You can't get out? Nobody believes that!
You, the lord of the Endless, are trapped by a mere God of Symbiotes?
Bullshit! You wicked woman, you just don't want to do it yourself! You're just here for the fun of watching!
Thor cursed the woman who loved to watch the drama unfold in his mind, but he kept a straight face.
Since there's no way to escape, we'll just have to bite the bullet and think of a solution.
Enigma Force...
He began to think rapidly. This thing was Knull's mortal enemy. Knull had wreaked havoc on the universe like this, so the Enigma Force should have jumped out and started fighting its host long ago.
Why is it still nowhere to be found?
Are there any hidden trigger conditions?
Thor stroked his chin, countless possibilities flashing through his mind.
Does it require a specific person? Or some kind of ritual? Or... some kind of "qualification"?
He couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.
Since I'm just idling around anyway, I might as well give it a try.
With a thought, Suo Guo quietly activated the power of the Law of Emotion within his body.
He amplified his inner desire to protect all living beings, his yearning for light, and all his positive emotions Infinity through the power of the laws, broadcasting them like an invisible signal tower to the entire silent universe.
He wanted to take a gamble.
If the Enigma Force truly exists and possesses its own consciousness, then the host it seeks must be someone who harbors light and hope.
What I'm doing now is like lighting a giant torch in the dark and waving it frantically.
Hey! Look here! The coolest guy in the universe is right here! Pick me!
After doing all this, Thor stroked his chin, still feeling uncertain.
I don't know if this trick will even work...
Meanwhile, the survivors' discussion continued, the atmosphere tense and anxious.
Everyone was racking their brains, trying to find a way out of the fog of despair.
Just then, Wolverine Logan had been leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, suddenly twitched his nose twice.
The next second, his expression changed drastically, and his weathered eyes snapped open, flashing with a Beast- like light.
"Whoosh!"
Three sharp Adamantium claws instantly sprang out from between his fingers, making a teeth-grinding soft sound.
He stared intently at the direction of the Sanctum gates, and growled at the still-arguing crowd, "Guys, stop talking!"
"Those filthy rotten meat... are back!"