Mention this, and Adam was suddenly wide awake.
He had come for this serum.
The super-soldier who had been sent to contact him, however, completely misread the situation. He assumed Adam, as a scientist, was interested in studying the formula.
"Mr. Adam, Colonel Stryker said that as long as you agree and hand over some Xenomorphs, he's willing to restart the super-soldier serum research program," the soldier said.
"You mean it hasn't been restarted yet?"
"Correct. The effects of this serum are far too strong. After repeated failed experiments last century, it was placed in storage until today."
Adam lowered his head and quickly read through the file again. With his enhanced brain, he could commit every word to perfect memory.
"Then I have serious doubts about Stryker's sincerity. He wants me to hand over Xenomorphs, but all he offers is this vague nonsense? Is he provoking me?" Adam tore the document in half and slapped the pieces across the super-soldier's face.
The serum that claimed a hundred-thousand-times the effectiveness of the Captain America formula was, in reality, capable of far greater results... potentially millions or even tens of millions of times... when used on the right person.
Its true name was the Sentry Serum.
Not the Sentinel robots that had wiped out mutants in various universes.
This referred to the Sentry... one of Marvel's Supermen, said to possess the power of a million exploding stars.
Adam was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected this universe to have a Sentry. Across the countless realities of the multiverse, Sentries were rare, with only a limited number ever appearing.
There were two main origins for the Sentry, and his track record was wildly inconsistent... sometimes godlike, sometimes disastrous.
The most powerful version was from Earth-616: he defeated Molecule Man's counterpart, was later resurrected by Apocalypse as one of the Four Horsemen (the Horseman of Death), and was ultimately killed by the symbiote god Knull. His soul was imprisoned by the Celestials, his body turned into a zombie, and he was finally defeated by Doctor Strange as the Reaper. This Sentry represented the absolute ceiling... three personalities united, possibly possessing "single-universe omnipotence," or top-tier power within a single universe, far beyond ordinary universal levels.
The second strongest was from the Green Scar universe, where he fought the Green Scar Hulk and came up slightly short.
Those were the stronger examples.
There were far weaker ones too... like the zombie-universe Sentry who confidently challenged zombie Banner and immediately became one, or the What If? version who was instantly killed by Black Bolt.
Even the more famous Sentries had uncertain upper limits, but their lower limits were never truly low.
Even if this universe's Sentry turned out to be one of the weaker variants, he was still more than enough to catch Adam's attention.
Adam wasn't worried if this Sentry was underwhelming. As long as a Xenomorph could successfully implant and take a host, it would grow alongside him, absorbing the highest-quality genes and the immense energy from the serum and its connection to a pocket universe.
Xenomorphs weren't strong on their own, but a Sentry-Plus version born from implanting an ordinary human and then accepting the serum's changes would be something else entirely.
If an ordinary man could drink the serum and transform into one of Marvel's mightiest beings, a Xenomorph implanted during the Sentry's human phase could at least be put to good use.
Most importantly, during his human stage, the Sentry was a full-blown addict with serious mental issues. Theft and other crimes were routine for him.
Under normal circumstances, he would break into a secret lab while high, drink the serum in a delirious frenzy, and transform into the Sentry.
Adam felt zero moral hesitation about dealing with someone like that.
He suddenly wondered: if he hadn't appeared in this universe, would the Sentry have ever emerged at all?
It was entirely possible.
"William Stryker, I know you're listening. I want to know... when did development on this super-soldier serum begin?" Adam asked, staring at the super-soldier.
The soldier was silent for a moment. A grim voice came through the comm device on his collar. "1947."
Adam's expression cleared with understanding. "The K Department and the Rebirth Program. You started developing this super-soldier serum in 1947 to recreate Steve's miracle?"
"You actually know about it? Who told you... Nick Fury? Or Zheng Xian?"
Stryker paused, then continued, "The program was terminated decades ago. Even this so-called hundred-thousand-times formula is just speculation. The scientists only claimed that to avoid being shut down and discarded by the government. They could never prove it, because everyone who tried to activate the serum died."
It was less a super-soldier serum and more a super-poison. Even today, no one truly understood how to use it.
"So it was sealed away? Never reactivated until now?"
"Correct. Give me the Xenomorphs and I can request reactivation. I'll get you the serum. Don't you need powerful hosts? Don't you need more warriors for the war on Asgard? Imagine it... I'll break the serum down into countless doses and use them to create super-soldiers. Soldiers even stronger than the one standing in front of you. They can all be your hosts."
"Very good. Now I believe you came with at least some sincerity."
"Because you said before entering the hall that you like people with clear logic. Nothing is clearer than facts." Stryker's low laugh carried a palpable sickness even through the signal.
Adam pondered this. Stryker didn't seem entirely stable either. He had probably realized he couldn't actually kill all mutants or avenge his dead wife and destroyed family, and that realization had driven him somewhat mad.
A single Magneto was already an insurmountable gap for him. Even without remotely controlling metal, Magneto could create an energy field strong enough to withstand a nuclear blast.
That kind of power was beyond Stryker's reach.
Stryker had turned his obsessive gaze toward Adam, whom he saw as similarly "extreme," and toward the Xenomorphs under his command.
Anyone bold enough to involve themselves in a war between gods had clearly demonstrated the potential of these creatures.
Stryker wanted his own powerful, high-potential, terrifyingly numerous, and nearly impossible-to-exterminate army.
"In the ratings of various nations and organizations, you are indisputably a T0-level threat. You know that, right? No one knows exactly how many Xenomorphs you've spread across the world, or how many have become queens, covering the skies, the earth, and the oceans…"
Stryker laughed coldly. "The footage of S.H.I.E.L.D. sending their own Xenomorphs to attack you has already spread worldwide. It successfully made certain parties interested in genetic cloning pause their plans for now."
This was why everyone had to grit their teeth and listen to Adam. It was why he had received an invitation and could stand here giving a presentation.
Adam's raw power might not match Magneto and the others, but the potential risks if he died or decided to go rogue were far more disgusting than anything Magneto could do. It was pure Xenomorph-based mutually assured destruction... openly threatening the entire world without any pretense.
This was the real reason Adam could participate in a divine war without facing fierce suppression. No one could read his intentions or know exactly what he had done in secret.
Adam ignored Stryker's words. He was thinking about something else.
The super-soldier serum had been sealed away? As expected. In every universe where a Sentry had appeared... regardless of origin or power level... the Sentry had always broken into a lab and drunk the serum to complete the transformation.
And in every case, those serums had been under continuous study from the moment of their creation. There had never been any real termination or long-term storage.
That meant that without Adam's interference in this universe, Stryker would never have targeted the Xenomorphs, nor would he have remembered this "super-poison" from among the chaotic inventory of sealed strange artifacts... something completely unrelated to the Captain America formula.
Adam had the distinct feeling of having stumbled upon a lucky find... like casually walking down the street and accidentally picking up a freshly deceased Planet Eater.
Of course, aside from the Earth-616 Sentry and the Green Scar version, all the other Sentries combined probably couldn't beat a single universe's Galactus. Adam wasn't placing overly high expectations on this universe's stillborn Sentry.
Even so, the unexpected discovery had piqued his interest.
"Handing over Xenomorphs is impossible. If you were standing in front of me and made that demand, I would gently pluck your head off and throw it from the thirteenth floor of this building, watching it burst open like a watermelon." Adam said.
Stryker's laugh was ice-cold. He wasn't afraid of demands... he was only afraid of no negotiation at all. "It seems we've reached an understanding. For you, this poisonous serum is actually the perfect weapon…"
"Let's talk after I receive the goods. It's called a serum, but it's been abandoned for decades. If it truly had strengthening effects, would it have been left sitting? Stryker, I suspect even you don't know for sure whether this thing is actually a serum."
Adam reached out and removed the comm device from the soldier's collar. He glanced around the room, noting the obvious careful preparation... countless mental shielding devices and other high-tech equipment installed throughout.
"So it seems we have a deal. After the conference ends, we can begin the transaction. I'll have someone deliver the detailed data on the super-soldier serum. In return, you will give me a Xenomorph... preferably a fertile queen."
"I need to receive and test the serum first. How else can I verify whether what you give me is real?"
"That puts me at a disadvantage. If you try to seize it by force, I have no recourse. I want a complete Xenomorph first."
They talked a little longer. Stryker ended the communication. From beginning to end, he remained extremely cautious, even planning to avoid appearing in person for any future cooperation with Adam, staying hidden the entire time.
Adam looked calmly at the super-soldier in front of him as the man silently pulled out a detonator and triggered the miniature explosive in his own brain, turning it into mush.
This didn't surprise Adam. Stryker would never let a subordinate who knew so much live.
"Stryker has no idea where my real interests lie… He's making preparations, so I should start moving too. First, locate the Sentry... Robert Reynolds."
Finding an addict like that without a starting point would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Adam thought it over, formed a plan, and secretly issued orders to all the Xenomorphs in New York. He then left the secret room with a calm expression and returned to the conference hall.
As soon as he left, soldiers entered to clean up the scene. Everything was made to look as if nothing had happened.
In the main hall, Jean Grey had just finished her speech. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the mutant portion was over, Jean dropped a bombshell with a complicated expression.
"After consultation, the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants have formally reconciled. We will work together to find a new path for mutant survival. When necessary, we will establish a nation of our own."
The entire hall erupted.
Countless arguments turned the venue into complete chaos. To Jean's ears, it sounded like millions of bees buzzing.
But when Professor X and Magneto sat below the stage, staring expressionlessly at everyone, the noise gradually died down.
"Dr. Grey, where exactly do you plan to build this nation? Do you intend to invade other countries and kill countless humans to carve out your own land?"
"Mutants are citizens of this planet too! You can't just do whatever you want!"
"Professor Xavier, have you truly made this decision? What drove you to this madness... to compromise with the leader of the world's number one terr… the Brotherhood?"
This was bound to be a difficult, drawn-out argument. Just this one speech was enough to trigger a global earthquake.
Jean Grey simply shook her head, offering no further answers, and walked off the stage with heavy steps.
Honestly, she hadn't expected things to move this quickly. The longtime rivals Professor X and Magneto had joined forces.
Once those two reached an agreement, other mutants would naturally follow. Even if they had reservations, they would go along, because they believed they lacked the power and wisdom to surpass the two leaders.
"Truly spectacular. Gets the blood pumping."
Adam rudely pushed through the crowd. With Mjolnir in hand, no one dared protest no matter where he went.
Magneto looked at him coldly. "You didn't listen at all. You went off with someone who clearly had ulterior motives."
"I caught the beginning and the end. I have a general idea of what happened. Looks like Destiny's influence is fermenting at an astonishing speed. I indirectly helped push things along too."
Adam wasn't surprised by the outcome at all. Once he learned of Destiny's existence and combined it with his previous knowledge, he had already anticipated this reconciliation between the two poles. It was inevitable.
Professor X's usually expressionless face showed a faint trace of warmth. "It looks like your talk went well."
"It did. William Stryker wanted to make a deal with me, but I have a better idea. You help me find someone, and I'll help you kill Stryker. That seems fair."
At the name, every mutant present frowned.
"Who are you looking for? He must be very important to you," Professor X asked, eyes inquiring.
"Robert Reynolds. A New Yorker. Possibly an addict, skilled at theft, seems somewhat cowardly, and may have mental issues. Help me find him."
"He's already been located. Third alleyway from the north on Center Avenue."
Adam looked up. The vampire representative was stepping onto the stage. Without hesitation, he flew straight up and forcibly began his own academic presentation by cutting in line.
But his mind was clearly elsewhere. Several Xenomorphs had already slipped out in secret, moving swiftly through the sinful city.
Robert Reynolds, who had just woken up, stared in terror at the Xenomorph that appeared before him. "What the hell is that monster?! What do you want with me?!"
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