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[Superman] Chapter 166: The Extinction Methods of the Multiverse
🕑 Added 2024-07-21 16:11:55 +0000 UTCTraversing the endless mysterious starry sky, the scene before their eyes changed drastically in the blink of an eye.
They left their original room and found themselves in an unfamiliar conference room.
Looking around, they saw others who had appeared simultaneously, with similar expressions of confusion, and even bearing a striking resemblance to themselves.
The group couldn't help but be filled with surprise and curiosity.
Then, as if by mutual understanding, they averted their gaze from each other and looked toward two individuals not far away, who were smiling at them.
"Are you the ones who invited us here?"
Reed, from the post-apocalyptic zombie universe, faced Peter and the other individual with a serious expression and asked.
"That's right. We invited you to join us in establishing the first Multiverse Council..."
"Here, on behalf of the Multiverse Council, I welcome you to join us!"
"I believe that in the near future, you will feel honored by your choice today..."
Peter didn't respond but gestured to the Reed beside him to explain everything to the group.
"The Multiverse Council?"
"What kind of organization is this exactly?"
"Is it similar to the Illuminati in our universe, dedicated to addressing potential cosmic crises?"
"Why did you choose me?"
After hearing Reed's brief explanation, some of the newcomers remained silent, lost in thought.
Others slowly spoke up, voicing more of their inner questions.
"Everyone, I'm sure you've all noticed that there seem to be many similarities among us..."
Reed smiled, his gaze slowly sweeping over the group's various reactions before he continued.
"Indeed, he looks exactly like me twenty years ago!"
"What is going on here?"
Reed from the future universe stared in disbelief at the younger Reed, who had just married Susan.
If he ignored their clothing styles and personalities, this guy looked exactly like him in his youth.
It was as if a mirror constructed by time reflected their past and future.
"That's right. I also feel a strong sense of familiarity with you all, as if you are different versions of me from various future timelines..."
The young Reed was equally shocked as he looked at the group. Apart from the person who had invited them, who looked just as young as himself, the others appeared to be him at different future points.
"Could it be... we..."
Suddenly, it seemed as if they all thought of something simultaneously. They turned their gaze swiftly, filled with astonishment, toward Reed!
"You've guessed correctly, everyone. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"I am Reed Richards, from the year 2010..."
Reed seemed to have anticipated this scene and introduced himself slowly.
"What?"
"No way, how is this possible!"
Among them, only the apocalyptic Reed, whose inner passion had been extinguished by endless zombies, remained relatively calm.
The others scanned the group with disbelief, their eyes filled with doubt.
...
"I am also Reed Richards, from 2008..."
"And me, from 2040."
"I'm from 2023."
"2015..."
One by one, they introduced themselves. Naturally, their names were all Reed Richards, though they came from different timelines.
As four of them finished their introductions, the shock and curiosity in their eyes grew even more intense.
They couldn't help but turn their gazes toward the last Reed, the one from the zombie universe, who had yet to introduce himself.
"2025..."
The Reed from the zombie universe remained exceptionally calm—or perhaps he was numb from the apocalyptic torment he had endured. Even now, seeing versions of himself from different timelines, he only managed a few quiet words in response.
"What? 2025? That's impossible, you look like you've... Oh, I'm sorry..."
The Illuminati Reed couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at the older-looking Reed, even older than the one from 2040.
"What has he been through?"
At this moment, everyone felt the distinct difference in the zombie universe Reed, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity.
"Gentlemen, although we come from different universes and timelines, and each of our experiences is unique!"
"But we share a common goal: to protect our world and maintain peace in our respective universes."
"And we all have an unwavering passion for advanced technology, endless knowledge, and the mysteries of the universe."
"Now, we will unite to form a unique council of the multiverse."
"Sharing our knowledge, technology, information, and more with each other..."
As Reed spoke passionately, his face lit up with excitement. He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"Wait a minute, is the primary goal of this Multiverse Council just to share our knowledge and technology?"
However, the Reed from the future universe spoke up slowly, skeptical about the true purpose of establishing the multiverse.
"Of course, sharing our known technology and knowledge is just the basic condition for forming the council."
"Our real purpose is to maintain harmony among the infinite multiverses and to fend off multiverse-level threats!"
Reed's expression grew serious as he revealed the true purpose of establishing the council.
"What? Multiverse-level threats? Is there really something powerful enough to destroy countless multiverses?"
The Reeds had studied the multiverse in detail before, but they hadn't broken the barriers of their own universe to explore others.
But now, standing before different versions of themselves from other universes, they couldn't help but believe in the existence of the multiverse.
However, they found it hard to imagine what could possess such unimaginable power to destroy infinite multiverses.
...
"Just a single universe might already be vast beyond your imagination."
"And the near-infinite multiverse is an existence you absolutely cannot fathom."
"Yet, within the infinite universes, there are countless unknown threats whose power is sufficient to casually erase the universe you inhabit."
"Even leading the infinite multiverse towards destruction and extinction..."
Finally, Peter, who had been silent next to Reed, could no longer hold back.
As he began to speak, the lights in the entire laboratory suddenly dimmed.
At the same time, brilliant starlight began to rise, representing the light of the infinite multiverse, illuminating the faces of everyone present.
Suddenly, two different universes seemed to be drawn together by some force, rapidly rushing toward each other. At the moment of contact, an incredibly intense cosmic-level collision occurred.
The two universes were violently colliding, continuously collapsing.
Everyone's gaze seemed to penetrate the shattered cosmic barriers, witnessing countless beings within the universe vanish in the chaos.
"This... how is this possible!"
As they watched the instantaneous collapse of the cosmos, terror flashed in their eyes.
They found it hard to imagine how they could survive such a catastrophic cosmic collision.
However, the scene before them kept changing, bringing even greater fear.
A massive humanoid figure slowly emerged from the endless void of the universe.
In the next moment, it suddenly opened its enormous maw and devoured a cosmic sphere representing an entire universe in one gulp.
"This is... the Planet Devourer? Impossible! We defeated him in my universe!"
Watching the horrifying scene unfold, one of the Reeds exclaimed in disbelief.
Yet, no one answered his question.
The scene continued to change.
Countless methods of cosmic extinction were displayed before them.
A giant, god-like figure shattered a single universe with a single punch.
A figure used energy to string together countless single universes like a skewered fruit, swinging their hand continuously.
Everywhere they passed, they could annihilate countless single universes with a mere thought.
In the cosmic void, a robot battling a large-headed entity lit up various colors on its chest, and the shockwaves from their conflict instantly destroyed all surrounding universes.
There were also crimson flames burning fiercely in the void, resembling a phoenix; wherever it passed, countless universes were reduced to ashes.
At that moment, countless universes seemed to be squished and crushed like clay balls in the presence of these powerful and unknown entities.
The entire multiverse felt filled with threats capable of instantaneously destroying the cosmos.
Finally, a nameless eternal figure composed of countless multiverses exploded, plunging the entire multiverse into endless darkness and void.
The virtual image before them came to an end.
The lights returned, but the terror in the eyes of those who had witnessed the complete annihilation of infinite universes did not dissipate.
"Will these crises really happen?"
At that moment, the Reed from the peaceful future universe couldn’t help but ask, filled with doubt.
He found it hard to imagine the horrifying consequences of these significant crises occurring in their universe.
"Some have not yet occurred, or may never occur..."
"But some may be unfolding right now, in the infinite universes..."
Peter slowly replied, offering a response that left the others speechless.
"For example, the universe he belongs to, if left unchecked, will ultimately infect the entire multiverse..."
Suddenly, Peter raised his head to look at the silent Reed from the zombie universe, whose face bore an expression of numbness even in the face of infinite cosmic annihilation.
In the next moment, the lights went out abruptly, revealing a universe tainted with a sickly green hue, where countless grotesque zombies howled at the sky.
It was as if they wanted to consume all life within the infinite universe.
Suddenly, green light began to spread rapidly across the void of space, drifting through the entire multiverse and infecting the nearest countless universes.
Until that streak of green light spread throughout the entire infinite multiverse.
The multiverse was once again destroyed in a way that the group had never understood.
Their eyes instantly turned toward the somewhat silent Reed.
"Is his universe really experiencing such a cruel and terrifying crisis as we just witnessed?"
At this moment, they seemed to finally understand why their other selves from a different universe, despite being further back in time, looked even older than their future selves.
It was as if they had lost their souls, becoming so numb.
"So, can the council we establish really resolve the terrifying crisis facing my universe?"
At this moment, the Reed from the zombie universe finally showed signs of breaking through his numbness, replaced by an uncontrollable excitement.
For the first time, he spoke so much, seemingly afraid that the hard-earned hope might suddenly vanish from his grasp.
"An unknown special virus can infect an entire universe? That's unbelievable!"
At this moment, they all marveled at the power of this unknown virus.
"Not only that, but it seems not just humans are affected by this virus; otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to infect the infinite multiverse..."
The Reed from the future seemed to have realized the powerful infectivity of this unknown virus.
"So, after the formation of our council, is the first crisis we are about to face this unknown virus crisis?"
The Illuminati Reed's expression turned serious. He had fully accepted joining this special multiverse council and was prepared to confront and resolve this cosmic-level threat.
"No! What we need to address now is not the crisis in his universe..."
However, Reed slowly spoke, denying their assumptions.
"What? It's not a virus crisis?"
"Is there an even greater crisis looming, waiting for us to solve it?"
The virus crisis that could sweep across the entire multiverse was already a significant concern for them.
Otherwise, with their intelligence, it would be impossible to fail to resolve a typical virus crisis, leading to Earth becoming a zombie paradise.
Even their other selves who survived had become so numb and aged as a result.
"If that's the case, it’s not entirely wrong..."
"A crisis capable of destroying the entire multiverse may be imminent."
"What we need to do is understand or even eliminate this massive threat before it strikes."
"And who says the virus crisis and that unknown crisis cannot be addressed simultaneously?"
A smile appeared on Reed's face, and he began tapping on the table in front of him.
In the next moment, a virtual projection instantly emerged on the tabletop before them.
At the same time, a passage leading underground suddenly appeared in the center of the hollow conference table.
Soon, a faint light began to illuminate the dark passage, growing brighter as it progressed.
Until a lightning bolt, contained in a special vessel, slowly floated before them, constantly pulsating.
"Speed Force? Is this the faint lightning?"
"To open a passage connecting the universes, even traversing the past and future, altering and reshaping reality... how is that possible!"
"This tiny bolt of lightning can resolve a crisis threatening the entire multiverse? Don't fool us!"
At that moment, the information about the Speed Force depicted in the virtual projection instantly drew everyone's attention to the pulsating lightning.
At the same time, their eyes were filled with disbelief and incredulity!
"Travel through time, altering the past and the future..."
As if realizing something, the Reed from the zombie universe displayed a strong sense of surprise.
---
(End of Chapter)
