amaotonovel Chapter 4712 X Royal Clash (8)
Chapter 4712 X Royal Clash (8)
Chapter 4712 X Royal Family: Fierce Battle (18)
"What?!" The main universe's Iron Man was shocked. He stared at Strange in disbelief and said, "Didn't you see I'm injured?"
"Do you think that as long as you act pitiful and play the victim, all the things you did before can be ignored? I have to forgive you again and again, follow you around like a lapdog, and then be replaced by someone else at any time?"
The Iron Man from the main universe moved his lips and said in a low voice, "I didn't mean that. Stephen, how could you think of me like that?"
The main universe's Iron Man still couldn't believe it, and said in a slightly shocked tone, "I thought you would know that I was just too anxious and spoke without thinking. I went to you only because I felt that I shouldn't have pressured you, I just wanted to make amends."
"How many times have I forgiven you like this? What about everyone else?" Strange asked pointedly.
The main universe's Iron Man seemed unable to say anything. His lips grew even paler, but not from blood loss; he almost collapsed back into the sofa, sitting there silently.
“Hey,” Captain America stepped forward. “Stephen, don’t talk about him like that. He was just worried about you, and so were we.”
Strange looked at him with the sharp eyes of a hawk and said, "You know in your heart how much of this mess is caused by your neglect of him."
Captain America gripped the doorframe tightly, saying angrily, "The way things have turned out isn't just anyone's fault."
"It's a good thing you know you're all idiots."
Everyone was stunned, including Spider-Man, who was hanging from the rafters and was speechless with shock. Hawkeye said incredulously, "Aren't you included among us?"
“Stupidity can be time-limited or permanent.” Strange said without fear. “Ever since the multiverse war, we have all been so lost in the struggle for power in the multiverse that we have done stupid things like trying to shoot down a fighter jet with a plastic fork.”
The main universe's Iron Man glared, and Strange immediately noticed and glared back, then said, "Oh, how could I forget? You're the hardest handle on that plastic fork; we rely on you to roll the noodles!"
"Strange!!!" Dr. Banner said, clearly displeased. "What are you doing? Do you have to fight amongst yourselves at this crucial moment? Do you even remember the Avengers' creed?!"
"If the Earth is going to be destroyed, then we will avenge it. Now, tell me, what will destroy the Earth?"
Before anyone else could answer, Strange answered his own question: "Because of you. Because of your ignorance and arrogance, you forced the mutants to perish together with the Redgate Factory, giving outsiders an opportunity. You sought revenge for those you killed, but why don't you slap yourselves a few more times?"
“Stephen, you agreed to come here,” Captain America pointed out. “In fact, you were one of the most proactive ones; you and Tony devised the whole plan. I’m not trying to shirk responsibility, but just reminding you that you have no right to accuse us like this.”
“I have the right to condemn any human traitor.” Strange’s gaze turned completely cold. The expressions of the others also became very unfriendly, and Spider-Man stepped forward to try and mediate.
"No, Dr. Strange. Now that things have come to this, what we should do is come together and find a solution, not blame each other and pass the buck. We're all injured, let's rest for a while, okay?"
"See? This is the main reason why things have turned out this way." Strange said mercilessly, looking at Spider-Man, "Always talking about feelings when you should be talking about gains and losses, using so-called team spirit to cover up mistakes, turning the Avengers into a family movie for eight-year-olds, like a pack of wounded stray dogs licking each other's wounds, and never finding the bad apples, that's the root cause of why superheroes have fallen to this state."
“Enough!” The main universe’s Iron Man stood up, ignoring his wounds; perhaps the pain and sorrow combined to bring tears to his eyes. He looked at Strange with reddened eyes and said, “I know who you’re talking about, Stephen. I never expected you to think of me as a coward who doesn’t take responsibility. What did I do to make you think that way?!”
"Tony!" Hawkeye shouted, striding forward to block Iron Man's path. "No matter what, you shouldn't have pressured him like this. Stephen, I understand you're resentful. You say we always solve problems with emotions, but aren't you also emotionally criticizing us?"
“Me, emotional?” Strange sneered. “It seems you’ve never seen an emotional Sorcerer Supreme.”
In an instant, a storm of magical energy swept across the entire island of Krakia. The island's suppression of all abilities had no effect whatsoever, and everyone clearly felt the undisguised, violent threat within this powerful energy.
"Stop!" Professor X arrived almost instantly, donning his fourth-generation brainwave amplifier. His attitude was anything but friendly; he couldn't even maintain basic politeness and was practically bursting with rage. "Stephen Strange, this is not a place for you to run wild!"
"Heh." When Strange's eyes, their color completely obscured by pale magical power, fixed on Professor X, Strange felt a sudden, inexplicable unease. But he dared not rashly read the other's brainwaves; that would be tantamount to declaring war.
“I’d almost forgotten about you guys,” Strange said, staring at him. “‘Never abandon any mutant’? Doesn’t that sound like you have a guilty conscience?”
Professor X's expression changed, and he no longer held back. But the instant his brainwaves spread, his hand clenched tightly.
Professor X took a few steps back, staring coldly at the person in front of him, his eyes filled with vigilance and apprehension, but ultimately said nothing more, only warning, "You'd better not go crazy here."
“This is an Avengers family matter,” Strange said. “Mutants have no right to interfere. Get out of here!”
"This is a country of mutants!" Professor X said through gritted teeth. "You have no right to demand that I leave!"
“This is Earth.” Strange’s tone grew colder. “I am the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. If you were not a part of Earth, I would not just use words to make you leave.”
Professor X was about to say something when Strange glanced around and said, "You know better than I what dangers Earth faces right now. Is there any one of you who can stand up and say you bear no responsibility for this?"
"Can you do it?!" Captain America's tone was now quite stern.
Professor X's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but Strange didn't give him a chance. He looked directly at Captain America and said firmly, "Not only can I not, but I must say that I bear the greatest responsibility. Because you all have your own positions, while I have always been the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. The life and death of humanity are in my hands, and I have never shirked my duty. Now that the alien army is besieging Earth, I am the most derelict in my duty."
"The reason I can stand here and criticize you is because I am willing to step forward, take responsibility, and leave immediately—what about you?"
After saying that, Strange didn't linger. He waved his hand to open the portal to the sling ring, flicked his cloak, and disappeared from the room.
Everyone felt utterly drained, some even unable to stand. During the time Strange was speaking, the magical energy in the room was so dense it seemed to overflow. Even those with no connection to magic could feel the intense energy, let alone those present whose senses were extremely sharp. They felt as if they were sinking into an ocean of magic, about to drown.
"What's going on?" Black Widow yelled, leaning against the doorframe. "What's wrong with Stephen? Why has he suddenly become like this..."
Everyone was speechless because they couldn't find a single word to describe Doctor Strange's change: ruthless? extreme? malicious?
These words may describe some aspects, but not all. Because everyone here understands that Doctor Strange may be too blunt, but he is right.
From the moment they arrived in this universe, the whole thing was like a disaster. The reins were never in their hands from the start, so it was probably expected that this out-of-control horse would drag everyone into the mire.
Overly indulging in ambitions for power struggles across the multiverse, coupled with an arrogant lack of proper self-awareness and a tendency to suffer the full consequences of their interventionist tendencies, they have come to this point in a situation that can only be described as thankless and exhausting.
The battle just now was fierce; everyone was wounded, but it didn't slow down the army's advance. Even if they won, it would be a humiliating defeat, offering no benefit to their reputation. In other words, they lost both manpower and time, and might only earn infamy in the end—a complete loss.
After a long silence, the main universe's Iron Man suddenly stood up. Hawkeye quickly reached out and grabbed him, saying, "Stephen should already be gone, gone from Earth. You probably won't be able to find him. You're not in the right condition to go to the front lines anymore. Don't be impulsive, Tony."
Spider-Man quickly chimed in, jumping down to block Iron Man's path and saying, "Now is not the time to play the hero, sir. Let's resupply first, and then..."
"Resupply? Repair the shields, reload the bullets, and you think you can defeat the Shi'ar army?" The main universe Iron Man turned to look at them and asked.
Everyone fell silent, for they knew the answer was no. The alien invaders were strange; though they had been outmatched before due to the hasty engagement, now that everyone was wounded, even with complete supplies, it would still be a drop in the ocean.
It wasn't that they were unwilling to speak out, but they were worried about further provoking Iron Man in the main universe. After all, he had just almost broken ties with Doctor Strange, and they all knew how close their relationship was. Now, facing such immense pressure, everyone was worried that Stark wouldn't be able to handle it.
“There will always be a way,” Banner said. “I will try to unleash the full power of the Hulk. If I can get into the core of the sun, I can destroy the portal in one blow.”
Everyone's expression changed. This didn't sound like a good solution, because even if they could get in, they might not be able to get out. Dr. Banner seemed prepared to sacrifice himself; this wasn't the Battle Realm, where there was no way to be resurrected once you died.
“I will prove to Stephen that I am not the irresponsible coward he imagines me to be,” the main universe Iron Man suddenly said.
He pursed his lips, paused for a moment, and then continued, "Now, there is only one way to save the earth."
"what?"
"Request assistance from the central universe."