The sun rose, painting the horizon in golden and pink hues over the metropolis. Li Wei, standing next to Momo in the now chaotic Lin mansion's grand hall, observed the despair of his parents and the silent pain of Chen Mingxia. Revenge had been a powerful motivator, but something within him, a new facet forged by Momo and the responsibility of Super Earth, demanded more than a silent victory.
"Aegis," Li Wei's voice resonated with unwavering authority, surprising everyone present, including the stunned Justice Police detectives. "Activate mass extraction protocol. Bring everyone in this room to the Fortress of Justice. Now."
"Warning, Commander. This action is not within Covert Operation protocols. Mass exposure to dimensional technology could generate uncontrollable panic and violate the Non-Interference Directive." Aegis's voice was more vehement than usual.
"I'm not asking for permission, Aegis. I'm giving an order," Li Wei replied, his gaze steely. "They need to see what I've done. They need to see the true face of Super Earth. And you need to protect Momo."
"Confirmed, Commander. Proceeding with forced extraction. Ensuring subject stability."
A pulse of blue energy enveloped everyone in the hall: Li Wei's parents, Gao Lin and Mrs. Lin; Chen Mingxia; the Justice Police detectives, who let out stifled gasps; and of course, Li Wei and Momo. An instant later, the hall was empty, the morning breeze entering through the open windows.
The Commander's Judgment: A Visit to the Snap's Earth
The next instant, everyone materialized on the command bridge of the Fortress of Justice. The vast space, with its holographic control panels and the stellar view through the enormous armored windows, left the newcomers breathless. The detectives drew their weapons, their faces a mix of panic and confusion. Li Wei's parents fell to their knees, overwhelmed by the scale of the technology. Chen Mingxia, though pale, stood firm, her eyes searching for Li Wei.
"Attention, civilian subjects. Your safety is paramount. You have been brought here for a visual demonstration. Please remain calm," Aegis announced, its voice echoing on the bridge.
"Silence," Li Wei ordered, his voice deep. He walked towards the main window, and the stellar view changed. Everyone's eyes widened in horror.
Before them, floating in the vacuum of space, was Earth-199999. Not the vibrant metropolis they knew, but a desolate, scarred orb, with ruined cities and vast dead expanses. The asteroid fields surrounding it, filled with the remains of Kree and Chitauri ships, bore witness to a brutal war.
"This is Earth," Li Wei began, his voice devoid of emotion. "But not yours. It's an Earth where 50% of life vanished in an instant. Where governments collapsed, hope died, and chaos took over."
Holographic images projected around them, showing the brutality of the post-Thanos world: hordes of Desolators, families immolating themselves, desperation etched on every face. Then, the Kree invasions, battles against Thanos's forces, the reconstruction with "Democratic Protection Zones," the Military Academy, the bases on Mars and Kepler-186f.
Li Wei showed them Tony Stark's death, the genius's last words echoing on the bridge: "You were late, kid." He showed them the sacrifice of Helldiver-74, the soldier who had given his life to save strangers.
"This," Li Wei said, his voice rising, "is what I've been doing. While you worried about your investments and your reputations, I fought in the shadows of existence. Forging an army. Building hope. So that no one, in any world, feels the powerlessness and despair I felt in that mansion."
Li Wei's parents were broken. The truth was too much for them. Lin Jian had been a monster, yes, but they had created him. And the son they had discarded, the one they believed useless, had become a Warlord operating on a cosmic scale, saving civilizations. Shame and regret overwhelmed them.
The detectives, astonished, lowered their weapons. The scale of what they were seeing was incomprehensible, but the seriousness and determination in Li Wei's eyes were irrefutable. The deaths they pursued Lin Jian for now seemed insignificant compared to the interdimensional battles this man had fought.
The Intertwining of Hearts: Momo and Chen Mingxia
As Li Wei finished his devastating revelation, Momo approached Chen Mingxia. The young businesswoman, though pale, had a determination Li Wei hadn't seen in his parents. Her eyes, filled with a mix of admiration and pain, were fixed on Li Wei, then on Momo.
"Mingxia," Momo began, her voice soft but firm. "He... he told me everything. About what happened."
Chen Mingxia looked away, a blush rising to her cheeks. "It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is," Momo replied, her hand gently resting on Mingxia's arm. "Because Li Wei is now part of my life. And because I know you suffered for him too."
Mingxia looked at her, her eyes filled with surprise. "How... how do you know?"
"I saw the way you looked at him in the mansion," Momo said with a small, sad smile. "The way your pain was reflected in your eyes. And I know you also wanted him to be free. I know you did it for him."
A solitary tear slid down Chen Mingxia's cheek. "I... I always loved him," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "Since we were children. But my family... his family... pride... I hid it. I wanted to save him from Lin Jian. I did what I could, in the shadows." She looked at Li Wei, who was still standing, his gaze on the planets. "But I was too late. He... he's no longer the Li Wei I knew. And his heart is no longer here." Her eyes returned to Momo. "It's with you. I see it."
Momo squeezed Mingxia's hand. "Yes," Momo said, her voice filled with a warmth that surprised them both. "And he's an incredible man. A man who refuses to let the past define him. A man who fights for everyone's freedom. A man who... who I've come to love." The last word was a whisper, but full of conviction.
Chen Mingxia felt a pang of pain, but also a strange peace. She hadn't lost Li Wei to a stranger, but to a woman who, in her own right, was as strong and noble as the man they both had come to admire. Their paths had crossed, but now, their feelings, though different, intertwined.
"Then, take care of him," Chen Mingxia said, a sad but sincere smile on her face. "He has suffered enough. And if you ever need help... in this world... my family and I can be of use. I'm no longer bound to the Lins."
Li Wei, sensing the new dynamic, turned. He saw Momo and Chen Mingxia, not as rivals, but as allies. The complexity of emotions enveloped him, but no longer overwhelmed him. There was a new kind of order in his life.
"Aegis," Li Wei said, his voice firm. "Return my parents and the detectives. The demonstration is over."
"Confirmed, Commander. Proceeding with subject transport. Preparing jump to the next universe."
A pulse of blue energy enveloped everyone except Li Wei and Momo. Li Wei's parents, still in shock, the detectives, and Chen Mingxia, vanished, returned to the Lin mansion, their lives forever altered by the truth they had witnessed.
Li Wei took Momo's hand, looking into her eyes. "Thank you," he whispered. It wasn't just for the acceptance, but for the understanding she had brought to his world.
"Always, Li Wei," Momo replied, her eyes shining with a promise of the future. "Now, where do we go?"
Li Wei smiled, the first genuine smile he had shown in a long time, one that reached his eyes. "To a new world, Momo. With new shadows. And new hopes."