Artificial Sun

Riot, who was fleeing, had no idea that two tiny Ant-Men were following behind it. In fact, Tony and the others had deliberately let it go so they could use it to find Kingpin.

"Have to say, this guy is really ugly."

Future Ant-Man, riding atop Ant-Ant, remarked before turning to Ant-Man beside him and asking, "Why do you have wings?"

Unlike Future Ant-Man, Ant-Man simply flapped his wings and flew through the air. It was obvious which method was better.

"Because my suit has been upgraded. Yours came from Dr. Pym, and Dr. Pym doesn’t like you, so he’d never help upgrade your suit."

Ant-Man laughed. "Mine came from S.W.O.R.D. They added every feature they possibly could."

"You’re so lucky."

Future Ant-Man looked green with envy. Then he thought of something and asked, "Still no clue about Dr. Pym?"

"Not a single clue. All we can do now is wait for the Quantum Tunnel to be established."

Ant-Man sighed. "Even though my future father-in-law isn’t exactly great, I really don’t want anything to happen to him. Hope would be devastated."

"Nothing should happen to him. Wasp is still in the Quantum Realm."

A short while later, Riot took the elevator down to the underground base. When Kingpin’s subordinate, Prowler, saw it, he immediately raised his Energy Gun.

"What are you trying to do?"

Riot flew into a rage. Prowler said nothing and directly fired at Ant-Man behind it—Prowler’s mask had scanning and analysis functions.

"Damn it."

Ant-Man cursed and hurriedly dodged. Then he tossed five miniature Drone Armors ahead. The miniature Drone Armors rapidly expanded in midair, returning to normal size by the time they landed.

As soon as the Drone Armors recovered their full size, they raised their Energy Guns and fired at Riot and Prowler. The two cursed, dodging while fleeing toward the entrance.

Future Ant-Man’s eyes lit up. "Whoa, you actually carry Drone Armors with you?"

Ant-Man smiled smugly. "Standard issue. No need to be shocked."

"Not shocked, just jealous."

Future Ant-Man said sourly. His equipment was nowhere near Ant-Man’s. In fact, he even had trouble dealing with gang members, unlike Ant-Man, who could summon five Drone Armors with a wave of his hand.

Putting everything else aside, a single Drone Armor was worth at least a hundred million dollars! Future Ant-Man could not help sighing. "If only I were this world’s Ant-Man."

"We’ve found the underground base. Get down here now."

Ant-Man reported as he controlled the elevator through the intelligent system. Tony and the others nodded, leaving some people behind to deal with the Life Foundation while everyone else headed for the underground base—following the route Riot had taken earlier.

Eddie had not wanted to go along, but Venom kept urging him on, so he could only move with the Avengers.

"You loser. You don’t even know how to seize the chance to fight alongside the Avengers."

Venom sneered. "Fight with them, and you’re comrades-in-arms. Once that happens, are you afraid you won’t become a Super Hero?"

"You’re smart. I’m just a little cowardly."

Eddie smiled awkwardly. Screw being a Super Hero. He just wanted to stay alive.

The problem was, he could not say that. If he did, Venom would definitely kill him on the spot.

With so many powerhouses here, it should be fine. I’ll just play a supporting role later.

Very soon, everyone, including the four Spider-Men, gathered in the underground base. Ant-Man returned to normal size and said while transmitting footage, "According to Mechanical Ant-Man’s reconnaissance, Kingpin and the others are waiting for us by the Super Collider."

"They certainly know how to put on a show. Let’s go meet them."

Tony snorted. Then he said to Strange, "If this underground base collapses, remember to open a portal immediately. Don’t slack off like you did in Avengers: Endgame."

Strange said helplessly, "In the past three days, you’ve verbally attacked me seven times. Just how much resentment do you have toward me?"

"There was no need to snap your fingers in that situation."

Tony said unhappily, "We had a conflict before, and you didn’t like me, so you abused your authority for personal revenge and tricked me into snapping my fingers, right?"

Future Tony nodded repeatedly. "That’s what I think too."

"I’m the Sorcerer Supreme, not a supervillain."

Strange said irritably. "Besides, it’s perfectly normal not to like you. Who here actually likes you?"

Led by Human Torch, everyone nodded in agreement. Tony gave them the middle finger, said no more, and led everyone into the underground base.

The Super Collider was an enormous circular space, over several hundred meters in diameter. There was a launcher on each side. Once activated, the two launchers would fire strange beams of light at one another, opening the Quantum Realm and allowing travel to parallel worlds.

At that moment, Kingpin stood at the left entrance with Dr. Octopus, Prowler, and Riot, while Tony and the others stood at the right entrance. The two sides faced each other across several hundred meters.

Tony looked at the massive Kingpin and said exaggeratedly, "Wow, aren’t you a little too fat? Can you even get out the door normally?"

"I’m not fat. I’m muscular. If I can’t get through a door, I’ll tear the door down."

Kingpin said, "Tony Stark, let’s not waste time. I don’t want to cause trouble in this world. Let me leave."

"Sorry, S.W.O.R.D. doesn’t negotiate."

Steve said, "Kingpin, surrender now."

"No negotiations? Everyone negotiates with me."

Kingpin snorted. "Actually, I knew this day would come, so I specially prepared a gift for you."

As Kingpin spoke, nine light screens appeared ahead at once. The scenes in every screen were identical—an empty white room containing a special device, with a blazing white fireball burning at its center.

The instant Peter saw those special devices, he cried out in alarm, "Artificial Suns!"

That was right. Each screen contained an Artificial Sun.

Dr. Octopus had created the Artificial Sun, originally intending to produce an unlimited energy source. Unfortunately, the technology was not mature enough. Once activated, an Artificial Sun would become highly magnetic before exploding with a thunderous boom, powerful enough to destroy an entire city.

Half a year ago, Spider-Man had used his body full of divine equipment to push an Artificial Sun into a river. He had thought he would never see another Artificial Sun in his life. Who would have thought that not only would he see them again now, he would see nine at once?

"Artificial Suns?"

Tony and Steve’s expressions changed at the same time. Tony gritted his teeth and asked, "You’re using nine cities to threaten us?"

"That’s right. We’re using nine cities to threaten you."

Dr. Octopus said proudly, "The Dr. Octopus of this world may not be very capable, but her ideas were quite good. By the way, I’ve already activated all nine Artificial Suns. The moment I give the command, they’ll explode within ten seconds and level a city."

Thinking of something, Dr. Octopus added with a grin, "Speaking of which, we have your alien resources to thank. Otherwise, assembling nine Artificial Suns would have been almost impossible, since one of the materials is extremely rare on Earth."

"Ten seconds?"

Everyone sucked in a breath. In ten seconds, they could not even deal with one Artificial Sun, much less nine.

"Strange, can you do it?"

Tony asked Strange through their internal comm channel. Strange glanced at the screens and sighed. "There are no nearby reference points. I can’t teleport there."

Tony’s expression darkened. He quietly asked Jarvis, "Can you take control of the system here?"

"No."

Jarvis replied, "They used quantum technology. I cannot take control of the system without alerting them."

"These bastards came prepared."

Tony said through gritted teeth.

"Avengers, let us return to our world. It’s that simple. Do you agree or not?"

Kingpin asked domineeringly. Riot glanced at him but said nothing. These people really could not be trusted. Fortunately, it still had its god. For now, it needed to stall for time.

"The Quantum Realm hasn’t stabilized. Even if you want to leave now, you can’t, can you?"

Tony asked.

"Then we’ll wait. During that time, all of you stay here. No one leaves."

Kingpin said, "And don’t even think about finding those Artificial Suns. I set up special measures. If your people get close, the Artificial Suns will explode."

"Damn it."

Everyone cursed. Future Tony exchanged a glance with Tony, then stepped forward and said, "You can leave, but give us the complete Super Collider technology."

Blonde Spider-Man hesitated for a moment but did not object. At worst, they could deal with Kingpin after returning to their original world. They could not sacrifice the people of nine cities.

"You want the Super Collider?"

Kingpin was a little surprised. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. "No. You can’t have that."

Dr. Octopus nodded. "That’s right, you can’t. If we give it to you, you’ll definitely chase us to our world."

In fact, Dr. Octopus had installed a self-destruct device in the Super Collider. The instant they crossed over, the Super Collider would immediately explode.

"We’re determined to get the Super Collider. You have to give it to us."

Future Thor shouted. Kingpin sneered. "Sorry, you aren’t qualified to negotiate with us now. If you dare try to take it by force, we’ll activate the Artificial Suns."

Stormbreaker appeared out of thin air in Future Thor’s hand as he roared angrily, "Do you think I care?"

"Hey, hey, don’t be impulsive. That’s nine cities."

Tony hurriedly shouted. Saving half the life in the universe was indeed important, but they would never sacrifice nine cities for it.

"You want to stop me?"

Future Thor roared.

"Thor, that’s nine cities!"

Tony shouted. Steve, Strange, and the others directly surrounded the future five-person team. The Spider-Men exchanged glances and chose to stand with Steve and the others.

Seeing the Super Heroes fighting among themselves, Kingpin and the others were somewhat surprised. Then they watched coldly, treating it like a show.

"Calm down, Thor, calm down. You all calm down too. Don’t fall for Kingpin’s trap."

Future Tony tried to smooth things over. "There has to be a way to solve this. We won’t sacrifice the people of nine cities. Never."

"That’s right, Thor. Put down the axe. This isn’t how we do things."

Future Steve said as well. Seeing that no one supported him, Future Thor helplessly lowered his axe, but he stressed, "No matter what, we have to get the Super Collider."

"Don’t worry. We’ll definitely get the Super Collider."

Tony said with complete certainty. Future Tony’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "Tony, do you have a way to deal with these nine Artificial Suns?"

"I do. I just need to make a call."

Tony sighed and said through the internal channel, "It’s just a little embarrassing."

Unless it was a God-Devil Level incident, Tony usually would not ask Wang Bert to act, because it would make him seem useless.

"Have Bert take action? Tony, if you won’t make the call, I will."

Steve asked through the internal channel.

"Blood God is going to act? Can he do it?"

Future Tony asked. "Solving nine Artificial Suns in ten seconds is not an ordinary challenge."

"There’s nothing he can’t do. I’ll make the call. Pretend to argue and stall for time."

Tony said helplessly. He truly did not want to make the call, but other than Wang Bert, no one could solve this problem. Kingpin’s setup was genuinely formidable.

What was Wang Bert doing right now? Getting hit on.

That was right, getting hit on. Lately, too many actresses and models had been pursuing him, so Wang Bert had come to the beach alone, intending to catch some wild food. Yet a group of female office workers had actually made a bet over who could pick him up.

The beauties had made a bet over Wang Bert because he was handsome enough, had a great body, and possessed a uniquely wicked charm.

In fact, when Wang Bert walked down the street alone, women often came over to flirt with him. America was quite open-minded—so he often went out to hunt for wild food.

"When a boy goes out, he has to protect himself. Otherwise, he might get eaten by female demons. And a whole group of them at that."

Wang Bert was joking with the beauties when his wristband vibrated. He gestured to the women, took out a tiny earpiece from his wristband, and put it in his ear.

"What is it?"

Wang Bert asked.

"Not turning on the video call? You’re obviously flirting with girls again."

Tony complained. "Bro, didn’t you say you were dealing with the symbiote god?"

"You think I’m as unreliable as you?"

Wang Bert said irritably. "My clone has already gone outside the Solar System to intercept the spacecraft. Get to the point."

It was worth mentioning that he had lowered his voice for the latter half, so the beauties could not hear him.

"That’s good."

Tony did not waste any more words and explained the matter of the Artificial Suns. Wang Bert said, "Wow, that fat bastard Kingpin is pretty creative."

"This is a little troublesome. Not only do we need to find the Artificial Suns, we need to deal with all nine at the same time."

Tony asked, "How much time do you need? We’ll do our best to stall for you."

"Stall for time? Tony, you’re getting better and better at telling jokes."

Wang Bert could not help laughing. He did not bother saying more and directly hung up.

One of the beauties looked at Wang Bert’s wristband and asked curiously, "Is that wristband Osborn Corporation’s latest holographic projection wristband?"

"Seriously? I heard those wristbands use alien technology."

The beauties crowded around. A holographic projection wristband was not only a phone, but also a personal computer. Each one cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because they were so expensive, they could not become widespread; only high-end users used them.

"Of course it’s real."

Wang Bert smiled. "I’ll give each of you one later. By the way, Iron Man just called to ask me for help."

"You?"

The beauties booed in unison, not believing him at all. Wang Bert did not mind. He waved his hand before the women beside him, and when he opened it again, there were nine tiny crystals in his palm. Inside every crystal was a glowing Artificial Sun.

The beauties were astonished. "You can do magic too?"

"Of course."

Wang Bert smiled. "If you’re interested, we can study it slowly later. One-on-one or many-on-one, both work."

Only children made choices. Adults, of course, wanted them all.

"Many-on-one? You’ve got quite an appetite."

The beauties exchanged glances and decided to teach this handsome guy a lesson, making him understand that only cows could be exhausted, while fields could never be overplowed.