As it turned out, Magneto had indeed planned something big during the previous period: developing a machine that would forcibly turn all ordinary humans into mutants.
Humans treated mutants as freaks? Fine. Make all the human leaders mutants and the problem would solve itself.
But Magneto had clearly changed his mind.
Adam could guess at his motivations. On one hand, directly opposing the entire world was unrealistic. Even if Magneto could tank nuclear strikes, he wasn't invincible.
On the other hand, it probably had something to do with Professor X.
Adam had engaged in telepathic conversation with Charles Xavier and knew the man kept gently lecturing him, hoping he would adopt a steadier approach and avoid becoming the kind of villainous figure the world saw in Magneto.
Adam found it amusing. He was focused on building something real and had no interest in wasting time playing the villain... unless being a villain proved the more efficient path to his goals, in which case he would seriously consider it.
Still, he suspected there were other factors at play that had pushed these two longtime rivals toward reconciliation, leading them to use the global summit as a platform to deliver some major announcement.
"Was it because of the Deviants? You two decided to stop pretending to be human?" Adam had asked Magneto.
Magneto hadn't answered, but through Mystique, Adam learned about a peculiar mutant known as Destiny.
"Destiny…"
The name immediately caught Adam's interest. A mutant who could glimpse fate had clearly foreseen a grim future for mutantkind.
With a subordinate who had seen fragments of the script, it was no wonder Magneto's actions had veered off the usual path. Not deviating would have been the strange thing.
Add in the fact that, thanks to Adam, Magneto had gained extensive intelligence on the Deviants and spent days in seclusion working on some new scheme.
"So, where do I fit in Destiny's prophecies?" Adam was genuinely curious.
"I don't know. Even with Erik, Destiny is tight-lipped. She rarely gives clear or direct guidance. When Erik presses her, she sometimes ignores him completely."
"I see. Either she's seen something so terrifying she can't speak of it, or she can only catch fragmented glimpses that don't make sense."
Compared to the Ancient One who wielded the Time Stone, Destiny's abilities weren't particularly outstanding, but as an external prompt system, she could still provide useful direction.
…
The sky was overcast, a light drizzle falling steadily.
Inside the conference hall, countless people in sharp suits wore serious expressions. Their tense faces occasionally flashed forced smiles as they chatted with familiar acquaintances.
The Global Unity Summit was the largest gathering on the planet.
This session's scale far exceeded anything before it.
Everyone's nerves were stretched tight. Too many dangerous individuals had shown up, and no one could be sure what hidden agendas lurked behind the grandeur and solemnity.
"Even the mutants are here. I don't understand what we're doing."
"Save it. At least they only invited humans. They didn't bring in the Atlanteans or the Inhumans."
"Funny. Why don't you ask some representative mutants whether they consider themselves human? Magneto would punch your lights out."
Similar conversations rippled through the crowd. People moved about with grave faces, constantly glancing around warily, half-expecting terrorists to jump out at any moment.
Then a streak of light descended from the sky like a meteor, landing on the plaza outside the conference building. The figure touched down on both feet, arms raised high behind him. Heads turned, but there was no applause.
"Mr. Tony Stark, we have a dedicated landing area for aerial vehicles prepared fifty kilometers away."
Dedicated security personnel immediately closed in.
Tony impatiently pushed them aside. Even with only a fraction of the Mark V armor's power, he could easily handle ordinary people. But when he pushed, he paused... because they didn't budge.
That told him these seemingly normal agents had undergone genetic enhancement, even if they weren't true superhumans.
"Looks like the Super Soldier Program has finally made progress. Is this how your superiors instruct you? Threatening a wise and charming citizen?"
Tony raised an eyebrow. "As for your 'aerial vehicle,' I don't have one. This is my high-tech prosthetic. Everyone knows I'm busy dating many beautiful women. Saving time is perfectly reasonable, right?"
But the security agents remained unmoved, surrounding him tightly. Tony's expression darkened. He cared deeply about his image, especially on a global stage like this.
Click-click-click!
A swarm of reporters rushed forward, cameras flashing. Someone shouted from a distance, "Mr. Stark, will you comply? Or will you send your prosthetic to the landing area?"
Tony's face was stony. He hadn't wanted to come to this damn event in the first place, but the presence of so many heavy hitters had changed his mind. He figured he could gather valuable data and inspiration for future armor upgrades.
But these people wanted to strip him of his armor? His sense of security came entirely from this high-tech suit.
Just as the standoff grew tense...
BOOM!
A deafening crack of thunder split the gloomy sky.
People instinctively flinched and looked up. Their pupils dilated as an absurdly thick bolt of lightning tore through the heavy clouds, ripping across the heavens before slamming straight down.
In a flash of lightning and thunder, a figure descended amid the storm, carrying momentum fiercer than a cannon shell. It crashed into the ground with a deafening impact, shattering countless floor tiles.
"Looks like I found the right place."
Facing the crowd's stunned and excited stares, Adam remained completely composed, as if his dramatic entrance was perfectly ordinary.
He paid no attention to the security personnel whose hearts were nearly exploding from the stress.
A perfectly dignified global summit had already been disrupted by Iron Man's flashy arrival, forcing them to maintain order. Now this even more violent and spectacular entrance?
"You're about to get hit with an astronomical bill for damages," Tony remarked to the even more attention-grabbing nuisance.
"No problem. I won't pay it anyway. I have a huge family to support... where would I find spare cash for compensation?" Adam replied.
Tony had to admit the logic was hard to argue with. That "family" was large enough to send entire legions to fight on a divine battlefield. The vampires could attest to that better than anyone.
Adam glanced at the agents still surrounding Tony, then walked over swinging Mjolnir. "You fellows have perfectly good bodies. If you're really that bored, feel free to visit my place. I've got good opportunities waiting."
"If they had the guts for that, they wouldn't be standing here blocking me," Tony said with heavy sarcasm.
Tony at least tried to follow some rules. Adam was different... if he said it, he might actually do it.
"Times have changed, and they've changed fast. The people behind you just can't keep up. They should be phased out." Adam swung Mjolnir, generating a wave of lightning that sent the agents flying.
He had far fewer reservations.
"But Lord Adam, are you declaring war on the entire world?" one security operative asked quietly.
"I can declare war on the world on my own behalf. Can you declare war on me on the world's behalf? I don't know how you were born, but did you drink some serum that fried your brain? That World War II hero over there is far better than you."
Adam pointed in a certain direction.
A man carrying a shield approached... posture straight, expression righteous... drawing gasps and excited cheers from the crowd.
Captain America. S.H.I.E.L.D. had finally dug him out of the Arctic ice.
"Let's enter the hall. Lingering out here will only cause more chaos and defeat the purpose of this summit," Steve Rogers said, radiating sincerity.
Tony scanned the man repeatedly in disbelief, his mouth forming a perfect "O" beneath the helmet.
Adam asked directly, "Is that an order, soldier?"
"No. These are the rules of the conference. Whether you're human, god, or Xenomorph, you follow them."
"Good. I like people with clear logic. You'd better keep these big-headed grunts in line. Some researchers didn't do a very good job replicating your miracle... they produced a bunch of inferior copies."
Adam gave a thumbs-up in approval and walked through the scattered, groaning security agents, lightning crackling faintly around him. He dragged the thousand-plus-pound Tony... armor and all... up the steps and straight toward the conference building.
Of course, the dignified symbolic steps were shattered along the way. Adam didn't care about such minor details, but the sight made many others' eyelids twitch violently.
"Captain…"
"Don't say it. I know you're unhappy, but your job isn't to fight these people. Even if you have other motives, now is not the right time."
Steve had only recently been revived, but he was adapting quickly to this strange new era. The open, unrestrained display of superhuman power would have been unthinkable in his time.
As far as he knew, this phenomenon had only exploded in the last month or two. A series of events was rapidly reshaping the world, pushing the planet in a new direction.
The key figure behind it all was the man who had left him only a view of his back... Adam.
Steve didn't know whether that was good or bad. He was just an old soldier who followed orders. His job was to manage these super-soldiers who seemed to be acting on some bizarre secret directives.
Who knew what the people making super-soldiers actually wanted from Adam?
What gave Steve an even bigger headache was wondering how many Xenomorphs were scattered around. He refused to believe Adam had truly come alone and left his swarm behind.
Adam's arrival was only the beginning.
Magneto simply flew across the sea and landed in full view of everyone, his face cold and forbidding.
The superhumans hidden in the shadows for security could only watch in silence.
"Maybe Adam was right. The times really have changed. People with special powers can openly display their abilities."
"Sure, but don't forget... we're superhumans too. Or do you not count yourself as human anymore just because you're a ghost?"
"Shut up, Mummy. You have no right to lecture me."
The Howling Commandos had assembled as well to prevent emergencies, but faced with one powerhouse after another, there wasn't much they could do.
Thankfully, none of these troublesome figures had started massacring anyone. They really did seem to be here for the conference.
The entire summit would last seven days, with all kinds of representatives scheduled to speak... some for nations, some for organizations, some for entire species.
Right now, on stage, a mutant doctor named Jean Grey was speaking. She presented extensive research on the X-gene within mutants, calling for the world to view them with the right attitude and embrace peace.
The more powerful attendees could sense the terrifying pressure radiating from Dr. Grey. Their expressions grew solemn, and their gazes toward her changed.
Beside the speaking platform, a shifty-eyed man was preparing to take the stage. Even from a distance, he didn't dare look at Adam.
Adam noticed him, glanced over once, then looked away.
"Aren't you worried at all? He represents the vampires and will speak right after Jean Grey," a middle-aged man said, walking up beside Adam.
This was normal. At an event of this scale, failing to expand one's network would be abnormal.
"What should I worry about?" Adam replied. "That he'll complain the world has been too harsh on vampires? Haven't you noticed Charles and Erik over there listening intently to Jean Grey's speech without saying a word?"
Vampires? Those things were universally despised... pure parasites clinging to humanity.
They were numerous and capable of turning ordinary people into more of their kind en masse. Anyone would find them irritating.
Adam's Xenomorphs specifically targeted vampires and seized their resources, effectively solving a persistent problem.
"As far as I know, there are no vampires left where you come from. As the other half of the Brotherhood of the Shield, the Sword Bureau is on the right path."
Adam turned to the middle-aged man. "Zheng Xian, right? Director of the Sword Bureau. If you have any troublesome criminals on your hands that are hard to deal with, feel free to hand them over. I don't mind the hassle."
"You're more straightforward than I expected. Still, I thought you might at least pretend to negotiate instead of asking for benefits so directly."
"If you were Fury, I'd be even more direct." Adam looked at him. "Let's change the subject. I assume you're very interested in the war happening on the World Tree. Otherwise you wouldn't have come to me."
"Correct. Although no one says it openly, a very small number of people have channels to cosmic information. S.H.I.E.L.D. once tried to approach Thor and establish ties with Asgard, but failed because of you. We won't sit idle either... we have our own connections with another divine race."
Adam remained calm. He had known about this for a long time.
A thousand years ago, when Odin led the various divine races of the World Tree against the Celestials, the Destroyer armor he wore had received blessings from nearly all the god-kings.
If S.H.I.E.L.D. could contact Asgard and recruit Thor into the Avengers in the original timeline, it made sense that the Sword Bureau maintained intermittent contact with another major divine force.
"The war will not stop. It will continue. I will keep sending troops until Asgard achieves victory," Adam gave a clear answer.
"But Odin is dead."
"Who said that?"
"Everyone's saying it. Loki has already taken the throne."
"Fake news."
"Why are you so certain? Have you or the Xenomorph generals you sent seen Odin?"
"If Odin were dead, why hasn't Hela appeared? I refuse to believe Odin's most outstanding offspring would be so weak that she couldn't break her own seal."
"Very well. We will tacitly accept your actions. Where possible, we can provide every form of convenience. But regarding the prophecy of Ragnarok... its core concerns Asgard. If you, the new God of Thunder, make any major discoveries, I hope to obtain first-hand information from you."
After a few brief exchanges, the two completed their deal and went their separate ways.
The timeline for Ragnarok was approaching. According to the prophecies, if Asgard were destroyed by overwhelming force, the other divine races would have to take notice.
As one of the central realms of the World Tree, Midgard served as a crucial hub. In this unprecedented crisis, determining its position, assessing whether it would be affected by the coming chaos, and evaluating whether its own strength could withstand the storm were critical issues. At the very least, contingency plans needed to be prepared.
Once Zheng Xian left, the person who truly needed Adam's help to achieve hidden goals soon arrived.
Colonel Stryker had been watching Adam for a while. The villain obsessed with mutants didn't even dare show himself in front of Professor X or Magneto. Instead, he sent a soldier to approach Adam.
"Colonel Stryker? I have no relationship with him, nor any interest. He doesn't seriously think he has any favors to call in, does he?"
Adam simply shook his head, completely dismissing the invitation.
But when the soldier made a gesture, led Adam into a room filled with advanced equipment, and showed him an encrypted file, Adam's expression shifted. He immediately changed his mind.
"A super soldier serum with a hundred-thousand-times the effect of the Captain America formula… So this is it…"
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