Doom's words, "You know nothing about this," were like a boulder sinking into the deep sea, without causing a ripple... only suffocating pressure, layer upon layer, pressing down on everyone in the conference room.
Reed Richards was the first to break free from this pressure.
Ignoring Doom's previous disregard and mockery, he stepped forward, his voice urgent. " Doom, what do you know? The root of the universe's collapse, the great battle at the end of time, that ultimate truth... tell me everything!"
This is a scientist's instinct: an extreme thirst for information when faced with the unknown.
However, Doom didn't even spare a glance for Reed.
His metal mask shifted in another direction, his icy gaze locking precisely onto Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange.
"Mage," Doom's deep voice rang out, carrying an air of certainty as if confirming a fact.
"Do you remember that just a few months ago, the multiverse experienced a very brief, global collapse? The very foundations of all reality cracked in that instant, only to heal themselves the next second, as if nothing had ever happened."
Doctor Strange's brow furrowed instantly.
Of course he remembers.
That strange phenomenon was too bizarre, without any apparent source, and vanished in an instant, like a blue screen reboot of the entire system.
He spent a great deal of effort investigating, but found no enemy, no residual energy, and could only classify it as an inexplicable cosmic "accident."
He didn't make a fuss at the time because an unproven and unsolvable problem would only increase panic.
"I remember," Stephen replied in a low voice, "But I can't find the reason."
"The reason?" Doom scoffed, as if mocking the word's naiveté. "It wasn't a collapse, Strange, it was... a coronation."
Doom's gaze swept across the entire arena, seemingly reveling in the power to unveil the final mystery.
"At the end of time, the ' He Who Remains ' of TVA has fallen. The ' Sacred Timeline ' he maintained has completely collapsed, causing the timelines of the entire multiverse to begin to proliferate and branch wildly, ultimately leading to chaotic and total Oblivion."
"Just moments before all universes were about to vanish into Void, one being made a choice, and that choice saved the multiverse."
" Loki Laufeyson, from the 199999th branch universe, sacrificed himself. He ascended the throne, using his own godhood and body to bear, organize, and stabilize all the out-of-control timelines. He relinquished his freedom, transforming into a tree, a concept, a completely new... God of Time."
Doom's voice echoed throughout the conference room, every word crystal clear.
His purpose in doing this was simply to ensure that every life in every timeline retains 'free will'.
The moment the words fell, almost every hero in the hall who recognized the Asgard brothers instinctively turned to look at the tall figure standing silently in the corner.
Thor Odinson.
He kept his head down, his golden hair falling down and obscuring his expression.
But the knuckles of his hand gripping the battle axe had turned white from excessive force.
Another Loki...
His brother from another world...
Choosing to bear everything?
Shock, absurdity, guilt... countless emotions churned within him, but ultimately only turned into a deathly silence.
He said nothing, asked nothing, and simply stood there quietly, like a lonely mountain after a storm.
"So," Sam Wilson broke the silence surrounding Thor, looking directly at Doom and asking the most crucial question, "What direct connection is there between the crisis we are facing now and this... God of Time?"
"Of course it's related," Doom nodded, "But not all of it."
He extended his fingers, which were covered by metal gloves, as if to distinguish layers.
"The first layer is the cosmic collision, which is what your Illuminati been dealing with. This is an ancient crisis that existed long before Loki became a god, and it is being driven by deeper extraterrestrial forces. It is a chronic problem."
"The second layer, which is the current full-blown catastrophe. Loki has become the new Authority of Time itself, much like the fattest piece of meat thrown into a pack of hungry wolves. In the multiverse, all the ambitious, plundering, and gods who covet this ultimate power... have turned their attention to him."
"Your previously overwhelmed ' Council of Kangs,'" Doom said dismissively, "Were nothing more than the first and loudest of these hungry wolves to jump out."
Reed pressed, "Who exactly are those extraterrestrial forces, those top-level plunderers? What are their goals?"
Doom's helmet turned toward him, and two clear words came from behind the mask.
"I don't know."
He frankly admitted, " Doom's vision hasn't yet reached that level; all Doom knows is that we have to make a choice."
" Doom's plan is simple." He surveyed the room. "First, we must send a top-tier, elite expeditionary force to the End of Time to support that New Gods, whoever he is, he is now the one who sustains our existence."
"Secondly, we must retain the vast majority of our combat forces to defend Earth-616 and deal with the cosmic collision and all other foreseeable invasions. Don't even think about deploying all our forces."
Doom's gaze swept over the many young heroes present, and he bluntly stated the harsh reality. "In the war at the end of time, ninety percent of you here, if you go, you won't even qualify as cannon fodder."
The entire arena fell silent once again. Doom's words, though harsh, were undeniably true.
Just then, a slightly immature but exceptionally firm voice rang out.
"We can't just give up on them like this." Spider-Man stepped out from the crowd, looking in the direction of Steve and Sam.
"We cannot stand by and watch countless parallel universes be sacrificed out of fear. There, too, are... people just like us."
His words ignited a fire in the hearts of Steve and Sam's faction.
I will go.
Thor, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke.
His voice was hoarse and heavy, and he only uttered a short sentence.
"I'll go see that Loki."
This statement was not made to save the world, nor for honor, but for a purely personal reason.
But this reason is more resolute than any grand slogan.
One spot is now locked in.
At this point, the entire arena was completely divided.
Led by Steve, Sam, Spider-Man, Thor, the "pro-war faction" insisted on an expedition to rescue the enemy.
Represented by figures like Tony Stark and Captain Marvel, the "skeptics" do not fully trust Doom and advocate for cautious evaluation and contingency planning.
With Cyclops at the core, and Magneto and other high-ranking X-Men behind him, they are the "defenders" who resolutely prioritize the protection of Mutants and Earth.
And then there's the "third party," represented by Doom and some swing members of the Illuminati, who appear neutral but actually have their own agendas.
The positions of the four parties are clearly distinct.
The argument resumed, more intense than ever before, and the entire conference hall felt like a powder keg about to explode.
Just as the situation was about to spiral completely out of control—
"Ugh!"
A suppressed groan of pain brought all the arguing to an abrupt halt.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange, covering his forehead with one hand, his face turning ashen white in an instant, his body trembling slightly.
His Cloak of Levitation billowed uneasily, as if resisting some unseen attack.
" Stephen, what's wrong?" Reed immediately sensed something was amiss.
Doctor Strange lowered his hand, his eyes bloodshot. He looked at the crowd, his voice distorted as he suppressed his pain:
Something's happened.
" Mephisto... Mephisto, the Lord of Hell, has broken through the dimensional barrier, and his power is invading the mortal realm on a massive scale."
"Globally... indiscriminately... he is harvesting human Soul Stone!"
"I must go there immediately to suppress him, otherwise the entire structure of Earth's reality will be eroded and rewritten by his power!"
The ultimate catastrophe at the end of time has not yet begun, but the homeland beneath our feet has already been engulfed in Hellfire.
Just when everyone was stunned and at a loss by this sudden, top-level crisis.
A figure silently emerged from the edge of the crowd.
Wanda Maximoff.
She walked up to Doctor Strange, her face, though delicate, bore a lingering weariness beneath her long, dark brown hair.
She looked at all her "companions" present, who were looking at her with either wariness, fear, or pity, and then spoke calmly.
Her voice carried a hint of self-mockery and a sense of resigned acceptance.
"I'll go help."
Anyway... you've always been afraid of me.
"If I die, you won't have to be afraid or worried anymore, will you?"