Reed stared at Kang, who sat calmly on the sofa.
How dare he say something so insane with such ease?
A dangerous and selfish man... Reed turned the thought over in his mind, growing more wary with each pass.
He realized Kang's plan wasn't just madness—it was a direct provocation against the very order of the universe. It ignored the safety of countless lives, all to satisfy some hidden ambition.
Reed's mind raced. He began analyzing every detail Kang had revealed, searching for any logical flaws or exploitable weaknesses.
As much as Reed's thirst for power burned like a furnace, he knew partnering with someone like Kang was like dancing with death.
One wrong move, and not only would he lose everything—he'd lose his life.
He needed to be careful. Greed could not blind him.
His instincts screamed that Kang hadn't revealed the full plan. There were secrets buried under layers of calculation.
So Reed decided to test the boundaries—press harder, cut deeper.
"Your plan may sound clever," he said, voice laced with skepticism, "but it's full of holes. How exactly do you expect the Kang Dynasty and the Reed Council to go to war just because you want them to? There are too many variables. You could lose everything."
He didn't stop there.
"And even if they do start fighting, how do you expect to steal the power of a Cosmic God while they're at each other's throats? Do you even understand what you're talking about? That's pure fantasy."
He stared at Kang, his voice sharpening. "Do you even know how powerful a Celestial is? How do we ensure we won't be annihilated the moment we get close?"
There was a fire in Reed's eyes now. He knew this was a gamble—a bet with the fate of the universe on the table.
Kang, however, didn't flinch. Calm and composed, he slid his glasses onto his face, cleaned the lenses, and stood. His eyes glinted with a sharp, unreadable edge.
"As for how to make them fight," he said smoothly, "that part depends on your genius. I trust your gift for manipulating others."
He let the words hang, then continued.
"As for how we benefit from that war... I already have a preliminary solution."
"The second issue—why they can't just come here themselves—I mentioned before. The Kang Dynasty and the Reed Council both struggle to breach this universe. The mere existence of godlike power isn't enough to lure them. That's why we need a third party."
He lifted a small disc, its surface glowing faintly in the sunlight.
"This device will summon members of the Kang Dynasty to this world. But it requires energy—either immense power or something on par with the Infinity Stones."
He paused, then smiled slightly.
"After thinking it through, only one group has the resources to provide that: the Illuminati."
He watched Reed's expression carefully as he spoke.
"So there's no need to worry. The reason I've involved you is because this plan can't succeed without you."
"And as for the risks... you're right. This is god-level power we're talking about. It would be absurd if anyone could just pick it up."
"But I have the golden serum. With it, I can absorb universal laws—so long as they aren't too violent."
Kang's tone turned speculative as he glanced sideways at Reed.
"As for you... well, your body is far from ordinary. With the aid of the Infinity Stones, you could absorb it too. Unfortunately, most of the Stones in this universe are in the hands of Alex Ray."
Reed's mouth twitched at the name.
"But don't worry," Kang said coolly. "I remember that several of your variants in the Reed Council have gauntlets with all six Stones. You can borrow one."
He paused, then added, "And to prove I'm serious about our partnership—here's some data on golden blood. I believe it should be enough for you to barter for a Stone."
He handed over a folder.
Kang had been watching Reed closely. And sure enough, the moment he mentioned the Stones, he caught the flash of excitement in Reed's eyes.
Reed flipped through the document, then closed it. His brow was still furrowed.
"When do the gods awaken? How much time do we have?" he asked. "Even if I wanted this, I wouldn't risk Earth for it."
Kang saw the flicker of concern—and the absence of denial about the Stones.
"I can't say exactly. But soon. Haven't you noticed? The Eternals are already here."
He leaned in slightly. "And don't tell them anything about this plan—especially the Eternals. They exist to protect the Celestials. Technically, that makes them enemies of Earth."
Reed's eyes narrowed. He was still calculating, still weighing the odds.
But Kang could sense the internal barrier was starting to crack.
"If you want to truly control the Illuminati," Kang said softly, "if you want to finally emerge from the shadow of Hell's Kitchen... don't you want to defeat Alex Ray?"
"This is your chance."
"With enough power, you can protect the Earth. You can become its guardian."
Kang's voice hardened. "Or... are you content with the way things are now? If so, I'll kill you and leave."
Reed's thoughts swirled in turmoil. His mind flickered with visions of Earth's destruction… and of Alex Ray, rising again and again—powerful, untouchable.
The voice in his head was no longer just Kang's.
This is your moment, Reed. For the Earth. For innocent lives. For your future. Don't let it slip away.
The dream of protecting Earth melted into something darker: the hunger for power.
And in that moment, Reed made his choice.
He still believed himself to be as smart as Kang. Smarter, even.
So the two began a long, heated discussion.
Their words sometimes clashed like swords, sometimes whispered like conspirators—but every syllable burned with ambition.
As the stars scattered across the sky and night settled in, their plan finally began to solidify.
"To our partnership," Reed said.
He and Kang locked eyes, thin smiles curling on their lips. They extended hands—fingertips brushing, strength subtly clashing in the handshake.
Outwardly, it was a cordial agreement.
Inwardly, neither trusted the other for a second.
When the conference room door clicked shut behind them, both men's expressions darkened.
They knew this alliance was built on glass.
And they both knew: only one of them would walk away with godhood.
They didn't speak about who would claim the Celestial power.
They didn't need to.
Each believed the same thing: That power will belong to me. And me alone.
"This is just temporary," Reed thought, clutching the Reality Stone in his pocket. The faint glow pulsed against his palm—almost like it was alive.
"I'll be the one who wins. I'll be the one who rules."
The gem shimmered with promise—his weapon, his future.
Kang, a few steps ahead, adjusted his glasses and exhaled softly.
"You're blinded by power," he murmured. "Everything you see… is just an illusion."
He turned and walked away.
As he exited the S.H.I.E.L.D. compound, something remarkable happened.
Not a single guard saw him.
No surveillance camera registered his presence.
Kang didn't vanish in a flash of light or with a dramatic portal.
He simply faded into the atmosphere, melting into the fabric of space—silent, unseen, as if he had never existed at all.
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