Nick Fury's meaning was obvious.
What they needed now was Wakanda's technology and military strength to help repel the alien invasion.
T'Challa wasn't the kind of person who stubbornly clung to old ways, so he agreed immediately.
"Our army has already mobilized. At the same time, we're willing to share our technology with the Avengers."
Erik spoke up as well. As an aggressive military-minded leader, passive defense was never his style.
"The moment you establish communication with Stark and the others, let us know. Since those damned aliens have already come knocking on our door, it's only right that we strike back."
That was exactly what Fury wanted to hear.
He had never intended to let the battlefield remain on Earth. His plan was to take the war beyond the planet and fight it elsewhere before the flames of conflict could engulf Earth itself.
"I agree. I intend to launch a counterattack as well. Everything depends on making contact with Tony first."
Fury estimated that the ship carrying Tony and the others would eventually lead them straight to Thanos's base. If so, it would make the perfect battlefield.
"Wong, how's it going? Can you open a portal?"
Nearby, Steve turned toward Wong.
Wong was seated on the floor in meditation.
He was currently trying to construct a connection through the network of portals left behind by generations of Sorcerers Supreme, searching for Strange's location. If he could determine the coordinates, he could open a portal directly to him.
Wong opened his eyes, looked at Steve, and shook his head.
"No. I can't sense Stephen's location. I should return to Kamar-Taj. With the aid of certain relics, I might be able to find him."
Rising to his feet, Wong immediately opened a portal to Kamar-Taj.
Just as he was about to step through, Karl stopped him.
"Wait."
Karl turned toward Wanda.
"Wanda, go with Wong. Continue learning the remaining spells from the Darkhold."
Wanda was confused.
Previously, whenever the Ancient One had taught her, she had been extremely cautious, only allowing her to learn relatively harmless magic.
Now Karl was telling her to study the Darkhold in its entirety.
Wong lowered his head in thought before speaking as well.
"That's acceptable. I approve it. Wanda, you may learn all of the Darkhold."
Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures.
This was no time to worry about whether the Darkhold was dangerous. Increasing their strength as quickly as possible was what mattered most.
Wanda nodded and followed Wong through the portal.
---
Inside the spaceship, Strange hung upside down.
Sharp spikes surrounded him from every direction.
Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian—now missing one arm—stood before him.
"I have served Lord Thanos for a very long time," Ebony Maw said calmly. "I have never disappointed him. He ordered me to retrieve the Time Stone, and therefore I must deliver it."
His gaze settled on Strange.
"If I bring him the stone and an extra prisoner besides, that would be a failure on my part."
Ebony Maw curled a finger.
The countless spikes around Strange immediately began moving toward him.
The tips slowly pierced his face.
His skin became nearly transparent, veins standing out clearly beneath the surface.
Just as the spikes approached the Eye of Agamotto hanging on his chest, a complex magical formation suddenly erupted.
Golden light flared.
Every spike near the Eye was instantly burned away.
---
Hidden in an inconspicuous corner near the ceiling of the ship, Tony and Peter crouched while observing the scene below.
A blue cloak quietly floated over toward them.
The cloak tapped Tony on the shoulder.
Tony nearly jumped out of his skin and spun around, his repulsor lighting up instantly.
Only after seeing it was merely a cloak did he and Peter relax.
"Oh, it's you. You're ridiculously loyal."
Tony couldn't help but complain.
"Karl has one just like it too. It behaves exactly the same way. I even saw Karl fight with his once."
Peter's mouth immediately started running again.
The blue cloak swung part of itself over and stuffed it against Peter's mouth.
Instant silence.
The three of them—two humans and one cloak—looked down again.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Peter vibrated like a cell phone on silent mode.
Clearly he had something to say.
The cloak, however, refused to let him speak.
"Fine. Let him go."
Tony sighed in defeat.
The cloak reluctantly released him.
"Hey! I have an idea! Mr. Stark, have you ever seen Alien?"
Peter pointed toward the ship's wall.
Tony's eyes immediately lit up.
He hadn't expected the kid to come up with something like that.
---
Below them, Strange continued enduring what felt like a thousand spikes piercing his soul.
Countless spikes drove toward him.
He screamed in agony but couldn't move.
Ebony Maw's telekinetic restraints held him firmly in place.
"Painful, isn't it?"
Maw watched with obvious enjoyment.
"These spikes won't damage your body, but they cause tremendous suffering to the soul."
Strange gritted his teeth.
"Now hand over the Time Stone, and perhaps I'll allow you to—"
Before he could finish speaking, Tony crashed down from above.
Both palms were already aimed at Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian.
Ebony Maw raised a hand.
Mechanical debris all around them floated into the air before reshaping into countless deadly spikes.
Cull Obsidian lifted his massive chain hammer.
Even with one arm gone, his combat ability remained largely unaffected.
"You cannot save him," Maw said coldly.
"You are far too weak. So weak that you're beneath notice."
He extended his hand.
One gesture was all it would take for the countless spikes to tear Tony apart.
"You're right."
Tony shrugged.
"But we've watched more movies than you."
The next moment, he abruptly redirected his repulsors.
BOOM!
A blast tore straight through the side of the ship.
A massive hole opened in the hull.
Everyone knew what happened next.
With the sudden loss of pressure, everything inside the vessel was violently sucked toward the breach.
Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian were no exception.
Neither of them even had time to react before they were hurled into space.
Very few species could survive exposure to the vacuum of space without protection.
Unfortunately for them, Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian weren't among those few.
The moment they were expelled into space, frost rapidly spread across their bodies.
Death claimed them almost instantly.
Cull Obsidian was struck by a large cargo container that had also been sucked out through the breach.
His frozen body shattered like glass.
Ebony Maw fared slightly better, but cracks spread across his body as well.
Neither of them would survive.
Having failed Thanos's mission, death might have been the best outcome available to them.
---
Inside the ship, Strange was being dragged toward space as well.
Fortunately, the blue cloak reacted immediately and grabbed him.
Unfortunately, the force of the decompression was too great.
The cloak lost its grip almost instantly.
Luckily, Peter fired a web and attached it to Strange.
Mechanical spider legs unfolded from his back and anchored themselves into the edge of the breach.
"Hang on, Peter!"
Tony flew over immediately and grabbed him around the waist.
His thrusters roared to maximum output.
Peter rapidly reeled in the web line.
Little by little, Strange was pulled back into the ship.
After tossing Peter safely aside, Tony launched a freezing bomb.
The device sealed the massive breach with a layer of ice.
The pressure inside the vessel gradually stabilized.
The three of them collapsed onto the floor.
Strange, in particular, gasped desperately for air.
Although his Cloak of Levitation could carry him through space, he hadn't been wearing it just now.
His lungs had nearly burst from the sudden exposure.
Only after oxygen began filling them again did he finally recover enough to breathe normally.
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