"Misunderstanding! This is all a misunderstanding!"
"I know a certain big bad is ruling this place and you're all on edge—but he is definitely not one of his people, OK?"
"He's Alex. Like me, he's an outsider."
Scott Lang spoke earnestly, desperately trying to explain things to Jentorra.
Jentorra stepped forward, scrutinizing Alex from head to toe.
After a long, stern examination, she did notice—
he didn't look like someone under Kang's command.
Yes—
the "big demon king" Scott referred to, the ruler of the Quantum Realm, was none other than Kang the Conqueror.
Not the TVA Kang.
Another Kang.
This Kang had been exiled to the Quantum Realm by the other Kangs twenty years ago.
No one expected him to not only survive—but conquer the Quantum Realm within two decades.
To the native inhabitants?
Some submitted to Kang's rule.
Others resisted.
Jentorra and Quaz were the leaders of one such resistance faction.
And this settlement was one of their bases.
Because Kang himself came from the outside world, the resistance understood the danger of any newly arrived outsiders.
Which explained their hostility.
---
"You're from outside, like Lang?"
Jentorra asked sternly, her eyes locked onto Alex.
Scott stood aside, hurriedly translating.
"That's right," Alex replied.
"What brings you here?"
"My friends were accidentally pulled in. I'm here to bring them home."
"Then why did you come here first?"
"I detected a few 'people from home.' I came to understand the situation."
When the brief interrogation ended, Jentorra turned to Quaz.
Quaz closed his eyes.
"He's telling the truth."
Jentorra exhaled deeply in relief.
If this terrifying man were one of Kang's…
their entire base would've been wiped out already.
Someone who could defeat dozens of elite warriors in the blink of an eye—
that kind of strength was nightmarish.
---
"You may rest here for a short while. After that—you must leave."
"You have half an hour."
"And Lang—this applies to you two as well!"
After confirming the facts, Jentorra issued her order.
The entire Quantum Realm was under Kang's surveillance.
Any outsider entering the realm would inevitably draw his attention.
And Kang, desperately searching for a way out of this dimension, would absolutely send forces to capture any newcomers.
Scott and Cassie posed risk.
Alex posed great risk.
Jentorra wouldn't gamble her people's lives.
Scott sighed helplessly.
He had hoped to use native resources to find Hope and the others.
Now? No chance.
He could only accept reality.
---
"Alex, listen… if you're looking for your companions, there's a good chance Kang already captured them."
After Jentorra left, Scott hurried to explain the situation.
Alex finally understood the Quantum Realm's political landscape—
and he was genuinely surprised.
Another Kang existed here.
As for Scott's situation—
He had been dragged here by accident too.
Cassie had built a "Quantum Beacon" device to map quantum space.
The moment they powered it on—
the entire family of five was sucked in.
---
"Kang the Conqueror, huh?"
Alex nodded slightly.
"Thanks for telling me, Lang. But I think I should get moving."
He had what he needed.
Whether Raven, Emma, and the others had been captured by Kang or not, this was now the most solid lead.
He couldn't afford to waste time.
---
"Wait!"
Scott rushed in front of Alex.
"You're going to find Kang? I'm coming with you. Hope might also be in his hands."
Alex thought for a moment—then nodded.
In some sense, he had dragged Scott into trouble.
The tribe had barely tolerated Scott—
but Alex showing up and knocking everyone flying?
Yeah… that didn't help.
Since their goals aligned, letting Scott tag along was fine.
---
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Just as Alex was about to say goodbye to Jentorra—
A chorus of shrieking engines filled the sky.
Everyone looked up—
A fleet of futuristic aircraft emerged over the settlement, blotting out the light.
Then—
SHHHHH-BRRRT!
SHHHHH-BRRRT!
A rain of energy fire poured down.
---
"We've been discovered!"
"It's Kang's fleet! KANG'S FLEET!"
"Those outsiders brought Kang here!"
Panic exploded across the camp.
Resistance fighters scrambled in all directions—some dodging fire, others gathering weapons and rallying forces.
---
"Lang! We meet again!"
A grotesque figure flew out from one of the ships—a massive head with tiny limbs.
He hovered before them with mocking amusement.
It was none other than MODOK.
Why would MODOK recognize Scott?
Because this MODOK was actually—
Darren Cross, the villain from Ant-Man 1.
Scott had destroyed Darren's Yellowjacket suit, causing him to be sucked into the Quantum Realm.
He survived.
Barely.
Kang found him, rebuilt him, and turned him into a weapon.
MODOK.
---
"Darren? What the hell happened to you!?"
"Why is your head so BIG!?"
Scott's voice cracked as he stared in disbelief at his old foe's… transformation.
Mentioning it was clearly a mistake.
MODOK's expression twisted with raw fury.
If not for YOU, would I look like THIS?!
---
"Darren? I am MODOK now!
The Ultimate Killing Machine!"
ZAP!
MODOK fired a massive energy blast straight at Scott.
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