Peter paused for a moment, knowing full well that Robert wasn't referring to "not in New York " in a geographical sense.
A deli where I'd been eating hot dogs for years vanished into thin air; the Sun's position shifted subtly but undeniably; and the air smelled completely different... all of this pointed to the worst-case scenario.
"This is a big problem." Peter's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly abandoned all playful thoughts.
The ability to silently transfer the three of them from one universe to another right under Sentry Robert Reynolds's nose is something no ordinary enemy could accomplish.
The opponent's strength has probably exceeded his expectations.
He immediately whispered into the air, " Karen, contact the Avengers! Emergency channel!"
[Attempting to connect... Connection failed.] Karen, the AI built into the suit, responded in her usual calm electronic voice.
[No authorized channel for Avengers - Universe 199999 was detected on the current communication network.]
"As expected." Peter's heart sank.
However, Karen abruptly changed the subject, "[A communication channel for an organization called ' The Avengers ' has been detected in the current universe. Would you like to attempt to connect?]"
Peter overjoyed, "Next..."
[According to publicly available online information, this organization is currently involved in two separate lawsuits, and its communication channels may be being monitored.]
Peter swallowed back the words he was about to say.
What the heck? The Avengers are in court? Or are there two lawsuits?
What is all this nonsense?!
"Never mind, don't answer it yet." Peter rubbed his temples, feeling a bit confused.
He needs more information now. " Karen, examine the current universe and compare it with our cosmological database to confirm the universe's identifier."
[Detecting... Environmental sample analysis in progress... Spatial dimension parameter comparison in progress...]
After a few seconds of silence, Karen gave her answer.
[Comparison complete. The current universe is a branch of Universe 199999, temporary ID: 199999-B. Similarity 98.7%.]
"Branch universes..." Peter murmured to himself.
No wonder, everything looks so similar, yet there's something eerie about the details.
"Can you open a portal to our Prime Universe?" That was his biggest concern.
As long as we can go back, everything is negotiable.
[No.] Karen's answer was cold and direct. [An abnormal dimensional barrier has been detected. The passage between the two universes has been reinforced and locked by external force, using a combination of high-dimensional technology and unknown magical protocols. It cannot be opened.]
Technology and magic reinforced simultaneously?
Peter and Robert, who was standing next to him, exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.
This was no accident; it was a premeditated trap.
The target of the other side is likely the Avengers, and the three of them just happened to be unlucky enough to be dragged into it.
"Is it the villain you encountered before?" Robert asked, his voice still gentle, but the aloofness was gone, replaced by a calm that seemed to foreshadow an impending storm.
"Not sure," Peter shook his head. "There aren't many villains with that kind of power, and besides..."
He paused, his doubts deepening. "My Spider-Sense didn't trigger at all. Logically, if the other party had even the slightest bit of malice, even if it was just to trap us here, my senses should have reacted."
But it didn't.
This shows that, at least at this stage, the person who set up this trap did not have any direct malicious intent towards the three of them.
But this only makes people more uneasy.
Robert didn't say anything more; he knew better than anyone what that meant.
Even his senses, which are capable of perceiving changes at the molecular level, only noticed the abnormality afterward.
The opponent's methods can no longer be measured by mere brute force.
He no longer hesitated; his ordinary gray hoodie and work pants now shimmered with a faint golden light, as if they were being reassembled like quicksand.
The next second, Bob, who seemed a bit introverted, disappeared.
Instead, there was a golden war god dressed in a matte gold battle suit and draped in a dark blue cloak.
His short, light-gold hair stood up neatly, his blue eyes held pure vigilance, and he was surrounded by a barely perceptible halo of Sun.
Sentry, ready for battle.
" Peter," Morgan looked up, shaking the nano bracelet on her wrist, "My Allen also said she can't contact Daddy. She said the network structure of this world is very strange."
Although the little guy didn't quite understand what was happening, he sensed that something was wrong, and obediently hugged the Spider Tuotuo, no longer making a fuss.
Just then--
"Boom--!!!"
A loud roar came from not far away, accompanied by the crashing sound of shattering glass.
The sound was dull and powerful, like something heavy slamming into the building.
The three of them looked in the direction from which the sound came.
A few blocks away, on a campus-style building, two figures were engaged in fierce combat.
One of them was all too familiar to them—a huge green figure, its body covered in bulging muscles, emitting angry roars.
It's the Hulk.
Meanwhile, his opponent, another figure, wore the same classic red and blue suit, nimbly maneuvering across the building's exterior walls to evade the Hulk's powerful attacks.
That's... Spider-Man?
Peter was completely dumbfounded.
Is Spider-Man in this universe fighting Hulk?
Judging from the scene, it didn't look like a friendly spar; it looked more like a life-or-death struggle.
Every punch Hulk was aimed at killing his opponent, and although Spider-Man tried his best to dodge, he narrowly escaped death several times.
"What... what are they doing?" Peter stared at the battle in the distance, his face filled with disbelief.
In his universe, Bruce. Dr. Banner has always been an ally and partner of the Avengers.
And why is the other version of myself fighting with the Hulk?
Robert didn't answer; his gaze locked onto the two figures, his eyes sharpening. "That Hulk... something's not right."
"Um?"
"His anger... is too pure, showing no sign of reason," the Sentry said in a low voice. "Moreover, his power is still increasing, and there are signs that his consciousness has been mentally controlled."
Before the words were even finished, the battle situation in the distance changed once again.
In that world, Spider-Man seemed to have been caught off guard and was grazed by Hulk's sweeping attack. He was smashed into the wall of the school building like a cannonball, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Hulk let out a triumphant roar, took long strides, and prepared to charge forward for the final blow.
"No way!" Peter shouted without even thinking.
He couldn't just stand by and watch another "self" get beaten to death.
No matter what happens in this universe, no matter who that Spider-Man is, he cannot stand idly by.
" Bob, Morgan, you stay here!"
Before he could finish speaking, Peter had already leaped off the edge of the tall building.
As he fell, he flicked his wrist, and a Silk precisely stuck to a building in the distance. His body drew a graceful arc in the air as he swung towards the battlefield.
" Karen! Analyze the opponent's suit model! Activate the Symbiote Suit! Synchronize with the opponent's communication channel!"
I have to go help him!