As Alex gave Susan a brief about the planet's current situation, Loki acted with very high efficiency and summoned Steve Rogers, the head of the Illuminati, to the White House, ensuring that the man showed up for the meeting within the hour.
It was only Alex in the Oval Office as Steve entered. Susan was off to meet Hela in Wakanda.
"Mr. Rogers," Alex said politely. "How are you this fine evening?"
"What happened to Loki?"
"What makes you think I'm not Loki?" Alex asked. "For all you know, I could be using an illusion to fool you."
"For what purpose? To tease me?" Steve said.
"Maybe," Alex said. "Loki was planning to launch nuclear warheads today. Are you aware of that?"
"Yes." Steve's expression darkened a little. "He won't be able to."
"Your people did a good job in securing the football in advance," Alex said, nodding. "But that's just delaying the inevitable, isn't it? The conflict will escalate no matter what."
"Your point?"
"Do you know why Loki and Hela are hell-bent on this pointless proxy war that only results in more and more casualties?"
"Because they think of themselves as gods and consider their interpersonal grudge to be above all else," Steve said. "To them, even this bizarre situation with multiple converging Earths means nothing."
"Aren't you looking down on the two of them, then?" Alex said. "They are gods who have been alive for thousands of years. Do you really think their only goal is to settle a petty interpersonal grudge?"
"What else?"
"What powers does Hela possess? Do you know that?" Alex asked.
"She can summon undead from the underworld to fight for her," Steve said with a frown. "And conjure weapons. What are you implying here?"
"I think you should have a clue now, no?"
"No, she has only ever summoned her armies with Asgardian magic," Steve denied. "She cannot control so many at the same time."
"Did she tell you that? Or did Loki inadvertently tell the World Council the limits of Hela's powers? Or was it Thor?"
"Thor…"
"Loki and Hela do not care about the lives of the people on this planet," Alex said. "And they care even less about their deaths. Do not try to imagine the scope of strength of an Asgardian, Steve, or you will regret it."
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"Because I want to give your planet a way out," Alex said. "Submit to me, and I will take care of Loki and Hela."
"Are you from that collective?" Steve asked.
"Collective?" Alex asked.
"That large shielding formation that consumes every Earth that comes closest to it," Steve said.
"They are the Gaia Federation," Alex said. "And yes, I am the Supreme Chancellor of the Federation, the highest authority. I want your planet to submit to the Federation."
"Not an Empire?" Steve asked. "If it is a federation, there must be other voices present there, no?"
"Correct," Alex nodded. "Each planet that joins Gaia gets a Chancellor seat on the council. For example, I brought a companion with me this time, Susan. She is the Chancellor for her planet and represents their interests."
"Susan Storm?" Steve said.
"Yes," Alex nodded.
"And how would this Chancellor be decided?" Steve asked.
"Simple, someone whom I can completely control," Alex said. "You cannot take that role for this planet."
"…" Steve frowned. "So this is a shakedown."
"You can put it that way," Alex said. "Though I would put it as saving this planet's humanity from extinction. Because that's what's in store for you after letting half of your population die. Unless Thor returns and kills Hela, the billions of undead under her control will raze this planet to the ground long before you can mount any resistance."
"Can I have some time?"
"Of course," Alex nodded. "Take all the time you need to accept the situation. Susan's already on her way to subdue Hela. Once the cluster is close enough, I will pull this planet into the Gaia Federation. It's happening, whether you like it or not."
"Is that so…" Steve sighed. "What a pity."
Alex raised a brow as a massive energy signature flared up all around him.
I didn't sense that…
In an instant, a massive golden magic circle appeared all around the White House, enveloping the entire compound in a blinding glow.
"We were originally going to use this for Loki, but you are clearly the greater threat here," Steve said.
"Do you really wish to use this on me?" Alex asked even as he felt a massive amount of weight on his shoulders, as if the world itself was trying to compress his body and suppress him. "Wouldn't Hela or Loki be a better bet? At least I don't want to kill you all."
"We have contingencies," Steve said flatly. "You still have a chance to leave. I do not wish for unnecessary conflict."
"Are you just saying that because you aren't sure this is enough to keep me down?"
"A person at their wits' end is the most dangerous. I do not like uncertainties."
"I'm curious," Alex said. "How'd you evade my sixth sense? Did Peter help you?"
"Who?"
"Spider-Man," Alex said. "He's the only one with experience with an actual sixth-sense ability."
"Again, this was all prepared for Loki, Mister..."
"Apex," he said.
"Apex…" Steve nodded. "It is simply unfortunate that we had to use this on you."
Alex could feel it. At the moment, not only was his physical body under enough pressure that he could barely take a few steps forward without toppling over. He was barely even maintaining his human form right now. Not only that, but his ability to access mystic arts energies seemed to have also been severed. In fact, any external sources of energy that he could rely on had been severed, and with the pressure that he was under, mobilizing any energy within him was a pipe dream.
Unfortunately, for his enemies, the Klyntar Soul Dimension was simply a cheat. It wasn't that the suppression didn't extend to his soul. It did. But it was far from enough. At best, Alex could feel a force trying to interfere with the connection between his body and soul, but it was completely useless since his soul wasn't actually here but was in the Klyntar Soul Dimension. And the spell couldn't breach into that dimension.
That meant, despite having his physical body suppressed completely, he could access most of his other means, including Chaos energy and the Infinity Stones.
"This is quite impressive," Alex said with a slightly strained voice. "Do you know, with this body of mine, I can literally punch a planet into collapse? To be able to suppress me to such an extent. This spell must be mobilizing the full capacity of every single magical leyline on this planet, no? He's probably also calling upon external energies to support the spell."
Apex's calm disregard put Steve on edge, but after the spell was activated, there was no longer any room to back down, and he stomped his foot on the ground as the entire floor seemed to detach from the walls and started falling.
Alex raised his brow, taking a moment to steady himself as the floor collapsed beneath him, and he found himself surrounded by familiar heroes. Some he had seen during the meeting of the World Council with Jane, where the Illuminati had been established. Some simply didn't have enough status or experience to be allowed in that meeting.
The first person who came to strike Alex was, ironically enough, Spider-Man. The hero shot a web past him that stuck itself to a pillar before lunging toward him with a kick. Alex's physical abilities had been significantly suppressed, but even then, he was able to react quickly, stepping aside to grab Spider-Man's ankle and slamming him into the ground.
"One of the few variants of Spider-Man I decided to spare, and you decide to set up an ambush for me," Alex said. "Even thinking of holding back against me… You hurt my feelings, Pete."
Spider-Man quickly escaped Alex's grip by pulling himself away as a barrage of plasma blasts struck Alex from all directions. Lightning crackled all over Alex's body as multiple bolts were released in all directions, accurately intercepting every single blast. The lightning continued unimpeded and struck the repulsors that were embedded in the walls all around him, shorting them out.
Not giving Alex a moment to catch his breath, an excited shout was followed by a large fist moving to strike him.
"Embiggen!"
Alex casually morphed his arm to match the size of the fist and grabbed it before tossing Ms. Marvel away, slamming her into the wall, only for Spider-Man to once again try to strike him. Alex casually released a bolt of lightning to block the attack, but Steve's shout caught his attention.
"Photon!"
Suddenly, the lightning that had been released was neutralized as Spider-Man's attack connected with Alex's back, making him stagger forward.
Alex didn't even bother looking at him and instead focused on the one who neutralized his lightning.
Monica Rambeau. Alex suddenly decided that he wasn't going to kill everyone in the Illuminati. The power to commandeer almost any type of energy in the universe was far too useful.
I can't believe I never thought of her powers…
***
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