Chapter Twenty-Five: 2012 Has Arrived!

For the next year or so, nothing of significance occurred.

Tony founded a new energy company and secluded himself at home to study Hao Yun’s nanorobots, foregoing any crusades in Africa to punish the wicked; he only donned his armor occasionally to maintain his public presence. Hao Yun dutifully stayed at school, focusing all his efforts on developing his existing abilities. Rhodes and Banner joined the Illuminati, overseeing the construction of the new base.

In short, Earth was safe, New York was safe, and nothing major happened—just a few minor scuffles in Hell’s Kitchen at most.

Meanwhile, Jane’s mentor, Dr. Erik Selvig, was taken by S.H.I.E.L.D. to a base to study the cosmic cube.

It was once again the day of the Illuminati’s gathering. Tony, whose brand-new Stark Tower had just been completed in New York, naturally changed the meeting venue to his new skyscraper.

That night, the tower’s reception hall was bustling with guests. The Illuminati members gathered around a coffee table, each engrossed in conversation.

“Dr. Banner, how is your progress with integrating Hulk’s persona? How much longer until full integration?”

As soon as Banner joined the Illuminati, Tony dragged him into the lab to study personality fusion. According to the latest research, Hulk was becoming increasingly accustomed to Banner’s personality, and full integration was within reach.

Tony cared deeply about this. Compared to the ever-strengthening green giant, he preferred a slightly weaker but intelligent Green Doctor.

Banner cheerfully raised his glass to clink with Tony’s and replied, “At most, one more month, and the integration issue will be entirely resolved. Tony, thank you.”

“No need for thanks. We’re colleagues—it’s only right to help each other,” Tony responded, raising his glass. The Illuminati now counted Iron Man, War Machine, Thunder Knight (Hao Yun Potts), White Nightmare (Angel Potts), Thor, and one loyal dog among their ranks. Adding a wise Green Doctor, the future seemed boundless.

As for joining S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury hadn’t even shown up. Did Coulson and the undercover agent Natasha think they could infiltrate the group? Dream on. Did they really think Iron Man lacked prestige?

“Uncle, Shockwave detected an anomaly!”

A warning blared from Hao Yun’s watch, his expression turning grim as he reported to Tony.

With the arrival of 2012, Tony Stark had launched a satellite as a precaution against Loki’s sudden appearance. Hao Yun had also uploaded Shockwave-controlled nanorobots to aid in surveillance, specifically monitoring sparsely populated areas. And now, sure enough, something had happened.

“Pepper, stop the party! Everyone, let’s head to the conference room,” Tony ordered, his face grave as he ushered the Illuminati members into the meeting room.

Hao Yun patted his chest, summoning a stream of black nanorobots that projected surveillance footage onto the desk.

On a desolate plain, a sudden, violent explosion echoed. The ground collapsed into a deep crater, and helicopters and other vehicles appeared abruptly in the sky. Gunfire and explosions raged across the terrain, the scene reminiscent of a war film.

A vehicle broke through the chaos and disappeared, helicopters resumed flight, and the surveillance feed ended.

“Allow me to explain,”

Apart from Tony, Angel, and Pepper, the others were unaware of the future events. Naturally, the youngest present took on the task of explanation.

“First, the location you just saw is one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secret research bases,”

Hao Yun manipulated the projection to show the barren plain at the beginning. “According to my knowledge, this base utilizes S.H.I.E.L.D.’s latest optical cloaking technology, making it invisible under normal circumstances. We discovered it only after monitoring passing vehicles and pedestrians.”

The room fell silent. No one interrupted; all waited for Hao Yun’s further explanation.

“Based on Tony’s and my investigation, this base was researching a highly dangerous weapon, derived from the arsenal of Hydra’s Red Skull during World War II.”

Hao Yun swiped his finger, bringing up an image of the cosmic cube and battle scenes from the past.

The blue beams shattering tanks and armored vehicles left everyone speechless.

“These powerful weapons all originate from the cosmic cube. Now that the base studying it has been destroyed, we have ample reason to believe the cube has fallen into the wrong hands!”

“What exactly is the cube?” Banner asked, frowning at the battle footage. The weaponry created by the cube far exceeded anything Earth could produce now—let alone during WWII.

“Allow me to explain the cube,”

Just as Hao Yun was about to speak, a mature female voice echoed through the room.

Everyone turned toward the source. Golden sparks danced in the air as a portal opened, and a hooded, bald woman stepped through. Her aura, forged by time, was so overwhelming that everyone instantly recognized her as a formidable figure.

And that portal—Tony Stark’s eyes were wide with awe.

“Master Ancient One, what brings you here?”

Hao Yun hurried forward. What was happening? The 2012 Chitauri invasion was enough to draw the Ancient One? He wasn’t underestimating the Chitauri, but with the Ancient One’s celestial power, even Thanos would have to think twice. The Chitauri were nothing in comparison.

The Ancient One ruffled Hao Yun’s hair. “The future has changed. This invasion won’t be limited to the Chitauri.”

“Gulp…” Hao Yun shuddered. “Master, please don’t scare me—don’t tell me the Black Order is coming too?”

The Ancient One’s silence confirmed Hao Yun’s suspicion. Now he wanted to flee. Was this a joke? The Black Order! Ebony Maw alone could decimate the entire Avengers!

“Hao Yun, is she the Supreme Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj you mentioned?”

Tony, for once, refrained from his usual sarcasm and asked respectfully.

“You’re the one cursed with knowledge, aren’t you, Tony? You’ve done well,”

The Ancient One nodded to Tony, then looked around the room. She spread her hands, and a projection of the cosmos’s birth appeared in the air.

“At the dawn of the universe, all was chaos. Then, with a bang,”

The scene shifted to an image of the Big Bang, “the explosion created six elemental crystals. They drifted across the universe, each stone governing a unique power.

Space, Mind, Reality, Soul, Power, and…” The Ancient One placed her hands at her chest, and a green gem appeared with a mechanical sound, “Time.”

“The so-called cosmic cube you’ve been discussing is actually the Space Stone, one of the universe’s supreme treasures. Its greatest function is to open portals anywhere, transporting goods—or,”

“Armies!” Tony uttered, pale-faced. The room was plunged into silence.