"Regarding searching for Loki again… our people have already captured most of the Lokis on Battleworld," Strange said, lowering his head. "I used magic to investigate them, but unfortunately, the Loki we are looking for is not among them."
Dr. Doom remained unmoved on his throne. "Then continue searching for the other Lokis," he commanded.
"Strange, you know how important he is. Only by finding him can this world return to its original state and embrace a better future," Doom's voice echoed through the vast hall. In this moment, he was both monarch and god, a High God-Monarch.
Strange bowed slightly, his right hand on his chest. "Understood, Doom. I will continue searching for the remaining Lokis. However, those Superheroes have noticed our actions. They always believe that opposing us is upholding justice, so the next steps may not go smoothly."
Doom snorted, a faint disdain in his tone. "Superheroes, those self-righteous fools. They claim to protect the world, yet the chaos often stems from them. A bunch of nonsensical rats. Of course, I do not speak of you, Strange. You once went astray, but now you see the truth and stand by my side. You no longer need to repent. Go, continue your search for Loki. We need his remaining power."
He gazed toward the front of the hall, his eyes seeming to pierce through walls and time, as if glimpsing the future. As God-Monarch, he looked down on all beings, ready to bring true order and peace.
"I will… then I'll take my leave, Doom," Strange said, bowing once more before dragging the long hem of his robe and preparing to depart.
At that moment, a voice rang out above everyone.
"Doom, I didn't expect you to quietly build a kingdom on your own without informing me."
All heads in the hall turned upward. Malrick appeared, floating silently through the dome into the hall, ghostlike. Both Doom and Strange's pupils constricted sharply.
Doom instinctively rose, his left hand reaching into his right sleeve, pressing the time device hidden there. The reflex lasted only a second before he relaxed, a faint tension lingering. He knew how formidable Malrick was.
Before Doom began his assault on the TVA, he had ensured all contact between it and Malrick's allies was severed. Even with mastery of all Kang Council technology, he was not confident he could escape Malrick unscathed. This Superman had casually created Universes—no one could casually oppose him.
But now, things had changed. With the time device and the power of Shen Loki, Doom wielded true divine authority. The balance of power had shifted. No matter how strong Malrick was, he could not surpass someone controlling Shen Loki and the flow of time itself. Shen Loki's time control exceeded that of the Infinity Stones; the Stones create new timelines, but Shen Loki alters the Multiverse itself.
After a tense moment, Doom regained composure and regarded Malrick with calm serenity. "Long time no see, Malrick. I didn't expect you to discover the TVA's anomaly so quickly."
"Quickly? When I arrived, I realized you had started this rebellion decades ago," Malrick said, descending slowly to the floor. "Doom, do you even know what you're doing?"
Doom's face, beneath the mask eerily reminiscent of Tony Stark, stiffened slightly. "If you are concerned about TVA employees, rest assured—they are alive and have been returned to their homelands. If you worry for the Multiverse…" His voice was harsh, like grinding metal.
"Malrick, I invite you to join my plan," Doom said.
Malrick blinked. Join him?
"Yes. You are here to resolve the Multiverse crisis, and I am doing the same." Doom spoke with unusual candor, every word sincere.
Malrick's curiosity grew. From Jarvis' surveillance, he knew Doom had rebelled against the TVA under the pretense of restoring peace, but details remained unclear.
"How do you intend to solve it? Isn't this crisis your doing?" Malrick asked, studying Doom intently. "Your plan is meticulous. You seized the Kang Council's technology, won hearts, and rebelled against the TVA. Then you found Shen Loki, used his power to manipulate time, and caused the Multiverse to collapse through collisions."
With each word, Doom's eyes beneath the steel mask widened slightly. He had not expected Malrick to grasp the plan so clearly.
"You know a lot, more than I thought… as expected of an Abstract Entity," Doom said in a deep voice. He waved his hand, and the others in the hall immediately bowed and left.
"Yes, I know enough not to be deceived by you, unlike Strange and the others," Malrick said. "You claim to protect the world and bring peace, yet all you've done is destroy the Multiverse."
Strange paused mid-step but continued outward, unaffected. Doom fell silent, waiting until everyone else had departed before speaking again.
"That's right. I am destroying the entire Multiverse," Doom admitted in a low voice, carrying the weight of mountains. His gaze remained unyielding, devoid of guilt.
"But I destroy it because it must be destroyed. This world is flawed, and the so-called Superheroes—Mister Fantastic, Fire, Iron Man—only invite disaster. Under their protection, the world will only worsen. And I, and I alone, can bring true peace to the world!"