Chapter 196: The Multiverse Opens
The spatial rift closed.
Chu Hang opened his eyes; his surroundings were utterly dark.
There were no Planets, no stars, and even cosmic dust was incredibly scarce. The nearest star system was three thousand light-years away, and the light from it was almost imperceptible here.
It took him two days to choose this location. The Space Law swept through the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, finally locking onto this void. Far from any shipping lanes, with no traces of civilization, the Kree Empire's exploration fleet would never fly this way.
Wanda floated in the void, Chaos Magic forming a thin film around her.
Chu Hang raised his hand.
The nine laws surged from his palm.
The Space Law delineated a spherical area, a hundred meters in diameter. The Law of Strength followed, compressing and reorganizing the quantum foam within the area to build a material foundation. The Law of Realitywas injected, redefining the compressed foam into solid matter.
Black rocks emerged from nothingness.
Layer upon layer, they stacked up, forming a floating meteorite.
The Law of Life brought temperature and circulation to the rocks. The Law of Time carved protective patterns on the surface. The Law of Spirit wove into a net, covering the exterior. The Law of Death buried a seed in the core—if anyone forcefully intruded, the entire meteorite, along with the invaders, would be obliterated.
Three minutes.
The meteorite Base was complete.
Chu Hang landed on the surface, and the rocks automatically parted, extending a passage downwards. He turned: "Come in."
Wanda followed him down. The inner walls were smooth, glowing with a faint blue luminescence. After passing through three layers of protective structure, they reached the core area.
This area was divided into two spaces. The left side was a circular hall, twenty meters in diameter, with black rock for the floor, walls, and ceiling. The right side was smaller, furnished with simple resting facilities... Chu Hang had been in seclusion here, yet he still couldn't break through the barrier to the Cosmic Overlord level. Half a month passed.
"Buzz," the Base resonated, sensing a disturbance in the Law of Time.
Chu Hang stood up, and with a wave of his hand, an orange time portal opened in the center of the hall.
Three people walked out of the portal. He had seen the woman leading them before—B-15, whom he had repelled at the Avengers Base last time. Behind her were two unfamiliar Agents, one of whom wore a The Judge's robe.
Wanda entered combat stance, Chaos Magic condensing in her hands.
B-15 raised her hand: "We're not here to fight."
Chu Hang was very relaxed. Although the Law of Timefluctuations from these three were much stronger than last time, especially the one in the The Judge's robe, whose strength was at least Skyfather level initial stage, they were completely insignificant before him.
"How did you find this place?"
"The Time Variance Authority can track significant variances across all timelines," the one in the The Judge's robe said, their voice old and calm, "And you, Chu Hang, are the biggest variance we've ever seen."
Chu Hang stared at the The Judge: "If you're here to say such boring things, then you don't need to go back."
Chu Hang's eyes turned cold.
"But I advise you not to do that," the The Judge continued, "because we are here not to prune your timeline, but to ask for your help."
Chu Hang was momentarily stunned.
Wanda, beside him, was also bewildered.
"You ask for help?" Chu Hang's tone was laced with sarcasm, "Your attitude wasn't like this last time."
B-15's face was grim, but she didn't refute.
The The Judge sighed: "Things have changed. Five days ago, the moment you reversed Thanos's Snap, the timelines of the entire multiverse began to diverge violently. We originally planned to immediately prune your timeline, but Kang the Conqueror issued a new directive—to postpone action."
"Why?"
"Because your power is already close to Cosmic Overlord level," the The Judge looked directly at Chu Hang, "Forcibly pruning your timeline would cause a greater spatiotemporal shock. Kang the Conqueror judged that instead of risking pruning, it's better to observe for now."
Chu Hang caught the key information: "Observe for now? So you still plan to prune, just waiting for the right moment?"
"That was the original plan," the The Judge said, "But three days ago, things got out of control."
He raised his hand, conjuring a massive timeline network diagram in mid-air. Countless golden lines intertwined, like a giant tree. But the branches of this tree were growing wildly, with new branches sprouting every second.
"This is the timeline structure of the multiverse," the The Judge pointed at the image, "Previously, Kang the Conqueror would prune all branches that deviated from the sacred timeline, maintaining a single timeline. But now, because of your existence, one branch that we didn't have time to prune before miraculously returned to its original track."
Chu Hang frowned, looking at the wildly growing tree.
The The Judge's voice deepened: "In that timeline, when the Avengers went back in time to collect the Infinity Stones, Loki took the Tesseract and escaped, becoming a time criminal. We caught him, judged him, and finally—he killed Kang the Conqueror, took Kang's place, became the new Time Guardian, and single-handedly bore the Time Loom."
"Loki?" Wanda couldn't help but interrupt, "Thor's brother?"
"Yes," B-15 said, "And this Loki's philosophy is completely opposite to Kang the Conqueror's. He believes that every timeline is sacred and has the right to exist. So he lifted the Time Variance Authority's pruning of all branched timelines."
The The Judge's projection magnified, showing the scene of countless timelines branching wildly: "The result is this. The multiverse is completely out of control."
He paused.
"Even worse, before Kang the Conqueror was killed by Loki, he sealed countless Kang the Conquerors from other timelines. Now all these seals have failed, and those Kang the Conquerors are starting to wreak havoc in their respective timelines."
Chu Hang looked at the projection, understanding.
This was the aftermath of the Loki series, the beginning of the multiverse legend.
"So you came to me," Chu Hang said, "to help you prune timelines?"
"No." The The Judge shook his head, "We came to ask you to become a consultant for the Time Variance Authority."
Chu Hang raised an eyebrow.
The The Judge continued: "You have fused with the nine laws, including the Law of Time. Your understanding of time already surpasses most of our Agents, and you seem to have the ability to replicate."
Chu Hang's face darkened.
The The Judge noticed: "Don't be nervous, we don't have the ability to peek into your memories. It was Kang the Conqueror who, before being killed by Loki, left a file about you. The file recorded Kang's suspicions."
"What did Kang know?"
"He knew everything." The The Judge said, "Kang the Conqueror controlled the sacred timeline for countless years; he witnessed your entire process from waking up on the World War II battlefield to snapping your fingers now."
Chu Hang was silent.
He should have thought of this answer earlier. How could an entity that controlled the timeline not know his secret?
"Why didn't Kang prune me?"
"Because he saw the future," the The Judge said, "In the future of some timelines, there exists a terrifying entity that even Kang cannot match. You are the only variable that might be able to confront that threat, because your existence is unique; you only exist in your own timeline. Kang's notes only went this far, so we don't know what impact this special nature has."
"What threat?"
The The Judge shook his head: "Kang did not leave specific information in the file. He only said that the threat would appear after the multiverse completely lost control."
Chu Hang looked at the projection. The wildly growing tree of timelines was splitting into new branches every second. He could feel that the spatiotemporal structure of the entire multiverse was becoming fragile.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Assist us in stabilizing the timelines," the The Judge said, "Not pruning, but guiding. Loki now manages the Time Variance Authority, and his philosophy is to let all timelines develop freely. But this will lead to the rise of countless Kang the Conquerors, triggering a multiverse war."
Chu Hang understood.
The Time Variance Authority was now in a dilemma. Pruning timelines would go against Loki's philosophy, but not pruning would allow Kang variants to run rampant. They needed an external force, someone not bound by the Time Variance Authority's rules.
"Why should I trust you?" Chu Hang asked.
The The Judge was silent for a moment, then took out a small device from his 懷. The device's surface was carved with complex time runes.
"This is a fragment of the Time Loom," the The Judge said, "Kang the Conqueror left it for you. Holding it, you can freely enter and exit the Time Variance Authority, unbound by any rules. At the same time, it can show you fragments of other timelines."
Chu Hang took the device. It was cold to the touch, and the runes lit up the moment he touched them.
A flood of information rushed into his mind.
He saw scenes from countless timelines.
In some timelines, Tony Stark didn't sacrifice himself, but Earth was destroyed by Thanos. In some timelines, SteveRogers was never frozen, but HYDRA ruled the World. In other timelines, Carter became Captain America, and Doctor Strange single-handedly defeated Thanos.
These timelines all had one characteristic.
His existence was absent.
The images faded.
Chu Hang gripped the device, looking at the The Judge: "What do you mean by showing me this?"
"To remind you," the The Judge said, "With great power comes great responsibility. This applies not only to Peter Parker but also to you. If you are unwilling to assist us, the multiverse will head towards destruction. By then, fusing with more laws will be useless."
Chu Hang was silent.
Wanda walked up to him, whispering: "I trust your judgment."
Chu Hang looked at her, then back at the The Judge.
"I need to consider it."
"Of course." The The Judge nodded, "But please do so quickly. Every day, hundreds more branches split off from the timeline. By the time the Kang the Conquerors fully rise, it will be too late."
B-15 and the two Agents turned, preparing to leave.
Chu Hang suddenly spoke: "Wait."
The three stopped.
"Did Kang's file mention the Anti-Monitor?"
The The Judge was stunned for a moment, his face changing.
"You've seen him?"
"Yes," Chu Hang said, "In another Universe, I felt his Void Power."
The The Judge took a deep breath.
"The file records that Kang the Conqueror said the Anti-Monitor is one of the greatest threats to the multiverse. He exists outside all timelines, taking pleasure in destroying Universes. If he has set his sights on you, it means you already possess the potential to threaten him."
Chu Hang looked down at his right hand. Black mist surged beneath his skin, completely suppressed by the Law of Life.
"Is there a way to completely remove it?"
"Yes," the The Judge said, "In the core area of the Time Variance Authority, there is a Purification Pool. That is a device Kang the Conqueror used to clear temporal anomalies. Void Power is essentially also an anomaly; the Purification Pool should be able to clear it."
Chu Hang's eyes lit up.
"But there's a condition," the The Judge continued, "Only official members of the Time Variance Authority can use the Purification Pool. If you are willing to become a consultant, we can take you there immediately."
Chu Hang understood.
This was a trade.
They were using the Purification Pool as leverage to gain his assistance.
"I'll go," Chu Hang said, "But I have three conditions."
The The Judge gestured for him to continue.
"First, I am not bound by any rules of the Time Variance Authority. I am just a consultant, not your subordinate."
"Agreed."
"Second, I want free access to the Time Variance Authorityand to review all files concerning Kang and the multiverse."
The The Judge hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Agreed, but files involving core secrets will require Loki's approval."
"Third," Chu Hang looked at Wanda, "She comes with me."
B-15 frowned: "The Time Variance Authority does not allow outsiders to enter freely."
Chapter 197: Eradicating the Void Power
The orange Time Door stabilized in the center of the Meteorite Base hall.
Chu Hang took one last look at this Secluded Cultivation Spot, which he had created in three minutes, then turned to Wanda and said, "Let's go."
Wanda followed. A wisp of red magic coiled around her right fingertip, ready to strike at any moment.
B-15 looked back at the The Judge. The The Judge glanced at Chu Hang, said nothing, and also stepped inside.
The sensation of passing through the Time Door was strange. It wasn't the instantaneous movement of Spatial Teleportation, nor the compression of a Quantum Channel. It felt more like being stripped from the timeline and suspended outside of all time.
The sight before him caused Chu Hang to pause for half a second.
This was a massive circular hall, at least five hundred meters in diameter. The walls, floor, and ceiling were dark gold metal, covered in flowing orange time runes. A gigantic spherical device hovered in the center of the hall, with countless golden lines extending from it, connecting to the densely packed Time Doors on the walls.
Each Time Door led to a different timeline.
Chu Hang could see the scenes behind the doors. Some showed the streets of New York, some the royal palace of Asgard, and others completely unfamiliar Planets. The scenes switched constantly, as if someone were fast-forwarding a video.
The hall was filled with Agents in uniform. They moved hurriedly, carrying files or escorting time criminals in handcuffs. No one paid attention to Chu Hang and his party; everyone was focused on their own tasks.
"This is the Time Variance Authority Headquarters," the The Judge said, walking ahead, his voice calm. "We exist outside all timelines. There is no past here, no future, only the Eternal Present."
Chu Hang scanned his surroundings. He could sense the unique nature of this space. The flow of time here was static, yet not completely static. More accurately, time here was independent, unaffected by any timeline.
"Follow me," the The Judge said. "The Purification Pool is in the Core Area."
They crossed the hall and entered a long corridor. The corridor walls were transparent, behind which were rows of archive rooms. Chu Hang saw countless scrolls neatly arranged, each labeled with a timeline number and event code.
Wanda asked quietly, "Are these the files of time criminals?"
"Yes," B-15 replied, looking back. "Every time anomaly we have handled since the Time Variance Authority was founded is recorded here."
Chu Hang noticed that one archive room door was labeled "Kang Variant Files." He memorized the location.
At the end of the corridor was a heavy metal door. The The Judge stopped in front of it, pulled a hexagonal badge from his pocket, and pressed it into a groove on the door.
The door slowly opened.
Inside was a circular room, about thirty meters in diameter. In the center of the room was a sunken pool, and the water glowed with a faint blue fluorescence. Countless tiny runes floated on the surface of the water, swimming around as if alive.
"This is the Purification Pool," the The Judge said. "It can cleanse all time anomalies and external corruption. That includes the Void Power in your body."
Chu Hang walked to the edge of the pool, squatted down, and reached out to touch the water.
It was cold.
But it wasn't physically cold; it was conceptually cold. It felt as if something was trying to erase the existence of his finger.
He withdrew his hand, and the black mist on his right arm churned violently. The Void Power sensed a threat.
"How long will it take once I'm inside?" Chu Hang asked.
"It depends on the degree of corruption," the The Judgesaid. "A typical time anomaly can be cleared in ten minutes. But the Void Power is the power of the Anti-Monitor; it may take much longer."
Chu Hang stood up and began taking off his jacket.
Wanda walked over: "I'll wait for you outside."
"No need to wait," Chu Hang said. "I don't know how long this will take. You return to Earth first, and I will find you when I'm done."
Wanda shook her head: "I'm staying."
Chu Hang looked at her and did not try to persuade her further. He handed his jacket to Wanda, then walked down the steps into the pool.
The water covered his ankles, then his calves, then his waist.
When the water reached his chest, Chu Hang felt intense pain.
The Void Power was resisting. It spread from his right arm to his entire body, trying to resist the pool's cleansing. Black mist surged beneath his skin, as if attempting to burst forth.
Chu Hang gritted his teeth and continued to descend.
The water covered his head.
The pool water filled his mouth and nose.
Chu Hang had no need to breathe; his Kryptonian Physiology allowed him to survive in a vacuum. But the sensation the pool water brought was not suffocation—it was the stripping away of his existence.
He could feel his body being "erased" little by little.
This was not disappearance on the physical layer; it was on the concept layer. The pool water was questioning him: Why do you exist? What is the meaning of your existence? If there is no answer, then you should not exist.
The Void Power counterattacked wildly.
The black mist erupted from his right arm and spread through the pool water, attempting to pollute the entire Purification Pool. But the runes in the pool water immediately became active, like countless tiny fish, frantically devouring the black mist.
Chu Hang sat cross-legged on the bottom of the pool.
He mobilized the nine laws within his body.
The Space Law formed the first layer of defense around his body, isolating him from the pool water's direct corrosion. The Law of Strength reinforced the defense, preventing it from collapsing easily. The Law of Time circulated within his body, slowing the spread of the Void Power.
But these were merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause.
The essence of the Void Power is "nonexistence." It can erase matter, energy, concepts, and even the laws themselves. Although the nine laws within Chu Hang were powerful, they still seemed powerless against this pure "nothingness."
He needed to find the core of the Void Power.
Chu Hang closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank inward.
He saw the mass of black mist. It was entrenched deep within his right arm, like a miniature black hole, constantly devouring the surrounding life energy. The Law of Lifedesperately tried to repair the damage, but the speed of repair could not keep up with the speed of consumption.
Chu Hang's consciousness approached the black mist.
The black mist reacted immediately, extending countless tentacles, attempting to seize his consciousness. Chu Hangdid not dodge. He allowed the tentacles to wrap around him, then carefully sensed them.
The Void Power had left an imprint in his consciousness.
It was a fragment of the Anti-Monitor's will.
Chu Hang understood. The Void Power was not merely energy corruption; it was an "anchor point" left by the Anti-Monitor. As long as this anchor point remained, the Anti-Monitor could use it to track Chu Hang, or even descend at a critical moment.
It had to be completely eradicated.
Chu Hang mobilized the Law of Spirit, condensing it into an invisible blade, and slashed toward the core of the black mist.
The blade sliced into the black mist, and the mist instantly exploded.
Countless images flooded Chu Hang's mind.
He saw fragments of the Anti-Monitor's memories.
It was an existence older than the Universe itself. It had witnessed the birth and destruction of countless Universes, and the rise and fall of countless civilizations. It did not belong to any timeline, nor any dimension; it was "Void" itself.
And the reason it targeted Chu Hang was simple.
Because Chu Hang was the only variable who existed only once across all timelines.
Everyone else, even Thanos, Odin, and the Ancient One, had countless versions across countless timelines. But there was only one Chu Hang. His existence itself was a violation of the rules of the Multiverse.
The Anti-Monitor wanted to devour him, study him, and figure out why he could break the rules.
The images faded.
Chu Hang opened his eyes, and his consciousness returned to Reality.
The pool water had turned dark blue. Countless runes spun around him, forming a massive magic array. The power of the array was suppressing the Void Power, stripping it from Chu Hang's body little by little.
But the process of stripping was extremely painful.
Chu Hang could feel every cell in his right arm being torn apart. The Void Power had integrated with his body; forcibly separating it was like being skinned alive.
He clenched his jaw, not making a sound.
The nine laws within his body began to resonate.
They sensed the threat and spontaneously united to fight the Void Power. The Space Law cut the black mist, the Law of Strength crushed it, the Law of Time froze it, the Law of Reality redefined it, the Law of Life repaired the corrupted parts, the Law of Death erased its existence, the Law of Spirit attacked the core of its will, and the Soul Lawprotected Chu Hang's essence from being swallowed.
This was the first time the nine laws had truly fought in coordination.
During this process, Chu Hang suddenly gained a new understanding.
He had always pursued the fusion of the laws, wanting to completely merge the nine laws into one. But now he understood that fusion was not the goal; synergy was.
The nine laws did not need to become one; they could remain independent, yet cooperate perfectly when needed.
Just like now.
Chu Hang raised his right hand.
The power of the nine laws surged from his palm, weaving a complex network in the pool water. Each node of the network was a law, and the nodes were connected by fine lines, forming a complete system.
This was the evolved version of his "Law Domain."
It was no longer just simple power suppression, but systematic, synergistic combat.
The network contracted, completely enveloping the Void Power. Then, the nine laws exerted their force simultaneously.
The Space Law isolated it, the Law of Strength crushed it, the Law of Time froze it, the Law of Reality redefined it, the Law of Life repaired it, the Law of Death erased it, the Law of Spirit attacked it, the Soul Law protected him—all combined with the power of the Purification Pool.
The Void Power finally collapsed.
The black mist peeled away from Chu Hang's right arm, struggled in the pool water for a few seconds, and was then completely consumed by the countless runes.
Chu Hang looked down at his right arm.
His skin had returned to its normal color, and the black markings were gone. He clenched his fist, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease.
But he did not get up immediately.
Because he discovered that after the Void Power was cleared, the nine laws within his body were changing.
They were no longer fighting independently, but had formed a stable cycle. The Space Law provided the field for the other laws to operate, the Law of Strength provided energy support, the Law of Time regulated the speed of operation, the Law of Reality corrected deviations, the Law of Life maintained stability, the Law of Death cleared impurities, the Law of Spirit coordinated the overall situation, and the Soul Law protected the core.
This was a complete system.
Chu Hang stood up and walked out of the pool.
Wanda immediately handed him his jacket. She looked at Chu Hang, her eyes filled with concern, but she did not ask any questions.
The The Judge walked over and carefully examined Chu Hang's right arm: "The Void Power is cleared. But your law fluctuation has become stronger."
Chu Hang put on his jacket: "A side effect of the Purification Pool?"
"Not a side effect," the The Judge shook his head. "It is a new insight you gained during the cleansing process. This is rare, but not without precedent. The One Above AllKang also spent time in the Purification Pool and emerged with greatly increased strength."
Chu Hang did not respond. All he wanted now was to see Loki and understand what exactly was happening in the Multiverse.
"Take me to Loki," Chu Hang said.
The The Judge nodded: "Follow me."
Chapter 198: God of Stories - Loki
They left the Purification Pool and re-entered the corridor.
The route they took this time was different from before. The Judge led them through several forks, finally stopping before a massive bronze door. The pattern of the Time Treewas carved on the door, with countless branches extending outwards, each representing a timeline.
The Judge didn't knock, but pushed it open directly.
Behind the door was a circular room, not large, only about ten meters in diameter. A massive golden orb of light floated in the center of the room, its surface covered in complex temporal runes. A figure stood in front of the orb, their back facing the entrance.
That was Loki.
He wore deep green robes, his black hair cascading over his shoulders. Unlike the cunning God of Mischief Chu Hang remembered, this Loki's posture conveyed exhaustion and solemnity.
"Chu Hang." Loki didn't turn around, his voice unnaturally calm for him. "I knew you would come."
Chu Hang walked into the room. Wanda remained outside the door, and B-15 and The Judge also withdrew.
The door closed.
Only Chu Hang and Loki remained in the room.
"How did you know?" Chu Hang asked.
Loki turned around. There were more traces of age on his face, and his eyes held an indescribable weariness. It wasn't physical exhaustion, but mental.
"Because I have seen all the timelines," Loki said. "I knew you would reverse the Snap, knew you would attract the attention of the Time Variance Authority, and knew you would eventually stand here."
Chu Hang stared at him: "So, you arranged all of this?"
"No." Loki shook his head. "I merely saw the possibilities. I didn't interfere, because interference itself creates new branches."
He walked over to the orb and reached out to touch it. The surface of the orb immediately projected countless images, fragments from different timelines.
"Do you know what it feels like to bear the Time Loom?" Loki's voice was soft. "Every second, I can see countless timelines splitting, countless Universes being born and destroyed. I see countless Thors fighting in different timelines, and countless individuals reaching different outcomes through different choices."
Chu Hang didn't interrupt him.
"I killed He Who Remains and took over the Time Variance Authority," Loki continued. "I thought I did the right thing, believing that liberating all timelines was justice. But I was wrong."
His finger slid across the orb, and the scene switched.
Chu Hang saw countless figures of Kang the Conqueror. They rose up in different timelines, using technology to conquer Universes, destroy civilizations, and even attempt to cross timelines to invade other Universes.
"The Multiversal War has already begun," Loki said. "Now, hundreds of timelines fall into war every day, and dozens of civilizations are destroyed by Kang the Conqueror every day. And I can only watch."
"Why don't you intervene?" Chu Hang asked.
"Because I cannot." There was pain in Loki's voice. "I bear the Time Loom; I must constantly maintain the stability of all timelines. If I leave this place, the entire Multiverse will collapse instantly."
He turned and looked at Chu Hang.
"That is why I need you," Loki said. "You are the only person who can move freely across all timelines without being considered a threat by the Time Variance Authority. More importantly, you only exist in one timeline."
Chu Hang frowned: "What is so special about that?"
"Extremely special," Loki said. "In the Multiverse, every existence has countless versions. There are countless Thors, countless Tonys, and countless versions of me. But you only have one."
He paused.
"This means you are immune to the effects of temporal paradoxes. You can enter any timeline and do anything without creating a branch. Because your existence itself is unique and irreplaceable."
Chu Hang recalled the memory fragments of the Anti-Monitor. That ancient being targeted him for the same reason.
"He Who Remains knew this," Loki said. "He left records about you in the archives. He said you are the greatest variable in the Multiverse, and the only hope against future threats."
"What threat?" Chu Hang asked.
Loki didn't answer directly. He slid his finger across the orb, and the screen focused on a pitch-black space. There was nothing in that space but endless nothingness.
"At the end of the Multiverse, there is a place called the Land of Nihility," Loki said. "That is the final destination for pruned timelines and eliminated existences. He Who Remains threw all threats there, thinking he could solve the problem once and for all."
The picture zoomed in, and Chu Hang saw a massive Shadow deep within the Land of Nihility.
The Shadow was slowly writhing.
"But Kang was wrong." Loki's voice deepened. "The eliminated existences didn't vanish; they merged in the Land of Nihility and gave birth to a new consciousness. That consciousness feeds on destruction and draws power from nihility. It is still weak now, but every time a timeline is pruned, it grows stronger."
Chu Hang stared at the Shadow. He could feel a familiar fluctuation.
Void Power.
"Anti-Monitor," Chu Hang said.
"Correct." Loki nodded. "He is not a singular being, but an amalgamation of countless destroyed Universes and erased existences. He Who Remains created his greatest enemy."
The image vanished.
Loki turned and looked at Chu Hang: "Do you understand now? Why I sought you out. Because fighting the Anti-Monitor requires someone who cannot be consumed by him, cannot be tracked by him, and can even harm him. And you are that person."
Chu Hang was silent for a few seconds.
"You want me to go to the Land of Nihility?"
"Not yet," Loki said. "You are not strong enough right now. Although the Anti-Monitor is still sleeping, his projections have begun operating across various timelines. What you encountered in the DC Universe was only the weakest wisp of his consciousness."
"I need you to help me stabilize the Multiverse first. Eliminate the most dangerous Kang the Conquerors and prevent them from starting larger wars. At the same time, you can utilize the resources of the Time Variance Authority to enhance your own strength."
Loki extended a hand.
"Once you break through to the Cosmic Overlord level, we will go to the Land of Nihility together and permanently deal with the Anti-Monitor."
Chu Hang looked at Loki's hand but didn't immediately shake it.
"I have a question."
"Ask."
"If I help you eliminate Kang the Conqueror, what will happen to those timelines?"
Loki withdrew his hand: "They will continue to exist. I will not prune any timeline unless it threatens the stability of the entire Multiverse."
"Then what about my timeline?" Chu Hang asked. "I reversed the Snap and changed the sacred timeline. According to Kang's rules, I should have been pruned long ago."
Loki smiled, but there was bitterness in the smile.
"Your timeline is special," he said. "Because of your existence, it has become the new sacred timeline. All other timelines branch out from yours."
Chu Hang was stunned.
"You are the anchor point," Loki said. "The anchor point of the Multiverse. As long as you exist, the entire Multiverse will not completely collapse. That is why He Who Remainsdidn't kill you."
The room was silent for a few seconds.
Chu Hang digested this information. He now understood his uniqueness and the responsibility resting on his shoulders.
"I agree," Chu Hang said. "But I have my own conditions."
"State them."
"First, I demand complete freedom. You cannot interfere with any of my decisions."
"Agreed."
"Second, I want all the resources of the Time Variance Authority. Archives, weapons, technology—you must provide whatever I need."
Loki nodded: "Agreed. But anything involving core secrets requires my approval."
"Third," Chu Hang said. "Once I break through to the Cosmic Overlord level, you must tell me the truth about my transmigration."
Loki's expression changed.
"What do you know?"
"I know my transmigration wasn't accidental," Chu Hangsaid. "He Who Remains' archives definitely contain records."
Loki was silent for a long time.
"Fine," he finally said. "Once you break through, I will tell you everything."
The two shook hands.
The deal was struck.
Chu Hang released his hand and turned to leave.
"Wait." Loki called out to him.
Chu Hang stopped.
"There is something I must warn you about," Loki said. He walked to the orb, slid his finger across the surface, and the image switched to an unfamiliar timeline. "Three days ago, a Kang the Conqueror broke through the limitations of his timeline and began invading adjacent timelines. His technological level far surpasses other Kang variants, and he has already destroyed seven Universes."
In the image, a man wearing a purple armor stood on the ruins. His face was identical to He Who Remains, but his eyes held only indifference and madness.
"This is Kang the Conqueror-31," Loki said. "He has mastered Cross-Timeline Teleportation Technology and can enter any Universe at will. The Time Variance Authority sent three teams to capture him, and all were wiped out."
Chu Hang stared at the image. The Kang variant held a peculiar weapon in his hand, and the beam it fired could directly tear space.
"You want me to deal with him?"
"Yes," Loki said. "This is your first mission. Stop Kang-31 and retrieve his Cross-Timeline Teleportation Device. That device will help you break through to the Cosmic Overlord level."
Chu Hang didn't immediately agree. He was assessing the risk. A Kang the Conqueror capable of destroying seven Universes was definitely not weak.
"Where is he now?"
"Timeline designation TVA-8264," Loki said. "That is a Universe with a highly developed technological civilization. Kang-31 is building a Multiversal Portal there, preparing to launch a larger invasion."
Chu Hang nodded: "I'll go. But I need detailed information on that Universe."
"B-15 will give it to you." Loki waved his hand, and the image on the orb vanished. "Also, be careful of Kang-31's weapon. That is not ordinary technology; it is an ancient relic he excavated from a destroyed Universe."
Chu Hang turned and left. The door opened, and Wandawas waiting outside for him.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"Got work to do," Chu Hang said.
The two walked out of the room. B-15 was already waiting in the corridor, holding a tablet device.
"This is the file for TVA-8264." She handed the tablet to Chu Hang. "Kang-31's Base coordinates, troop deployment, and weapon configuration are all inside."
Chu Hang took the tablet and quickly browsed it. The technological level of that Universe was indeed very high. Kang-31 commanded tens of thousands of combat robots and three interstellar warships.
"When do we depart?" B-15 asked.
"Now," Chu Hang said. "But I need to send her back to Earth first."
He looked at Wanda.
Wanda shook her head: "I'm coming with you."
"It's too dangerous."
"I'm not afraid." Wanda's tone was firm. "Besides, you need help. Chaos Magic is very effective against technological weapons."
Chu Hang was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding. He knew he couldn't persuade her.
"Then we go together," he said. "But you must follow my command."
"Understood."
B-15 opened a Time Door: "This is the portal to TVA-8264. Kang-31's Base is in the third galaxy of that Universe; the coordinates have been entered into your time-space gps."
Chu Hang looked at the scene behind the door. It was a starry sky, with a massive metal fortress suspended in planetary orbit in the distance.
"One more thing," B-15 said. "Kang-31 possesses a Time Cage. If you get trapped, not even the Time Variance Authority can save you."
Chu Hang didn't reply. He gripped the dark trident tightly, and the nine laws began to circulate within his body.
"Let's go."
He and Wanda stepped into the Time Door together.
The door closed behind them.
B-15 stood still, watching the closed Time Door, and whispered: "I hope he comes back alive."
The Judge walked over and stood beside her: "Loki thinks highly of him."
"I know," B-15 said. "But Kang-31 is no ordinary Conqueror. He has killed Skyfather level powerhouses."
"That's why Loki sent Chu Hang," The Judge said. "Because Chu Hang is no ordinary Skyfather level."
The two were silent for a few seconds.
"Do you think he can win?" B-15 asked.
The Judge did not answer. He simply looked at where the Time Door had vanished, his eyes filled with worry and anticipation.
Chapter 199: Quantum Realm
Chu Hang and Wanda stepped out of the Time Door, onto a metal platform.
The platform floated in space, surrounded by countless Planets. The nearest Planet glowed blue on its surface, and numerous spacecraft could be seen traversing its atmosphere.
This was the TVA-8264 Universe.
Chu Hang opened his time-space gps, and the screen displayed the coordinates of Kang-31's Base. He looked up in the direction of the third galaxy, where a massive metal fortress should have been.
But there was nothing.
"Something's wrong," Chu Hang said.
Wanda also sensed the anomaly. Her Chaos Magicflickered at her fingertips, as if sensing something. "The Base isn't here."
Chu Hang pulled out his tablet and checked the files provided by B-15. The files indicated that Kang-31's Basewas in this galaxy, with coordinates precise to six decimal places. But now there was nothing at that location, not even energy fluctuations could be detected.
He pressed his communicator.
"B-15, we've arrived. But the target isn't here."
B-15's voice came through the communicator, with clear confusion: "Impossible. Three hours ago, we could still track Kang-31's time signal."
"And now?"
"It's gone," B-15 said. "His time signal has completely vanished, as if he was erased from all timelines."
Chu Hang frowned. Being erased was impossible; Kang-31 wasn't that easy to kill. That left only one explanation—the opponent had hidden in a place the Time Variance Authority couldn't detect.
"He's outside the time stream," Chu Hang said. "Just like the Time Variance Authority headquarters, existing outside all timelines."
There was a few seconds of silence in the communicator.
"Is there such a place?" B-15 asked.
A thought flashed through Chu Hang's mind.
The Quantum Realm.
It was a microscopic World smaller than an atom, where the rules of time and space were completely different.
In the Quantum Realm, time was chaotic; past, present, and future could coexist simultaneously. More importantly, the Quantum Realm didn't belong to any timeline; it existed independently outside the entire multiverse.
"I know where he is," Chu Hang said. "The Quantum Realm."
"What?" B-15's voice rose slightly. "How could Kang-31 enter the Quantum Realm?"
"He is Kang the Conqueror," Chu Hang said. "He can destroy seven Universes, so it's not surprising that his technology can take him to the Quantum Realm."
There was another silence in the communicator.
"You're going in?" B-15 asked.
"Yes."
"That's very dangerous. Time in the Quantum Realm is chaotic; you might get lost in there. And the Time Variance Authority can't track coordinates in the Quantum Realm, so if something happens to you, we won't even know where you are."
Chu Hang glanced at Wanda. Wanda nodded, indicating she was willing to follow.
"We're going in," Chu Hang said into the communicator. "The Quantum Realm is not a dangerous place for me."
"Understood."
The call ended.
A minute later, the metal platform beneath Chu Hang and Wanda's feet began to glow. Countless runes converged from the platform's edge to its center, forming a circular magic circle around them.
The magic circle activated.
Chu Hang felt space twisting. It wasn't ordinary spatial teleportation, but a dimensional shrinking. His body was shrinking, his cells were shrinking, his atoms were shrinking. The surrounding starlight began to blur, Planets turned into giant mountains, and mountains became endless high walls.
They were traversing scales.
From the macroscopic World into the microscopic World.
Wanda reached out and grabbed Chu Hang's arm. She could feel her Chaos Magic fluctuating violently; the chaotic time flow of the Quantum Realm was interfering with her power.
"Hold on to me," Chu Hang said.
He unfurled his Law Domain, using the Space Law to stabilize the area around them. But the rules of the Quantum Realm were too special; his domain trembled constantly, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
Suddenly, a huge force slammed into them from the side.
That was quantum turbulence. Fragments of countless timelines crashed chaotically in the Quantum Realm, each fragment containing energy from different points in time.
Chu Hang gripped Wanda's hand tightly, but the turbulence was too strong.
He felt Wanda's hand slipping away.
"Chu Hang!" Wanda cried.
Chu Hang mobilized all his Space Law, trying to stabilize them both. But the chaotic time in the Quantum Realmwas interfering with his perception; he couldn't tell which direction was front and which was back.
Another surge of turbulence rushed over.
This time, it was even stronger.
Chu Hang and Wanda's hands completely separated.
Wanda's figure was pulled and stretched in the turbulence, as if grabbed by an invisible hand and yanked in another direction.
Chu Hang instantly unleashed the Law of Strength, his right arm muscles bulging as he reached towards the direction where Wanda had vanished. But his hand only grasped empty space. The space in the Quantum Realmwas not continuous; it was fragmented. One second Wanda was three meters away, the next she could be three light-years away, or three nanometers away.
"Damn it," Chu Hang gritted his teeth.
He mobilized the Law of Time, trying to rewind to that moment. Golden timelines unfolded around him, flowing backward. But time in the Quantum Realm was not linear; it was a network. He saw countless instances of that moment, each leading to a different past.
He didn't know which past Wanda was in.
Chu Hang stopped rewinding. Continuing would only consume more energy and might even cause him to get lost in the time turbulence.
He had to try another way.
Chu Hang closed his eyes, activating the Law of Spirit. He and Wanda had a mental connection, established after the Battle of Sokovia. That connection was weak, normally imperceptible, but it could be useful in critical moments.
Mental fluctuations spread from Chu Hang's mind, probing outwards like sonar.
He felt it.
Very faint, but definitely there. Approximately to his front-left... no, direction had no meaning in the Quantum Realm. But that mental fluctuation truly existed, like a thin thread connecting him and Wanda.
Chu Hang opened his eyes and flew in that direction.
The surrounding scenery changed constantly. He saw giant atomic nuclei floating beside him, electron clouds rotating like galaxies, and countless tiny fissures.
Chu Hang didn't stop. He flew along the direction of the mental connection, his speed increasing. His Kryptonian Physiology was absorbing surrounding energy particles, replenishing his expended Law power.
Suddenly, a massive barrier appeared ahead.
It was an energy wall, its height and width boundless. Purple light flowed across the wall's surface, every inch emanating powerful technological fluctuations.
Chu Hang recognized this fluctuation.
This was Kang's technology.
He had found Kang-31's Base.
But Wanda's mental fluctuation wasn't here; she had been swept in another direction by the turbulence.
In the Quantum Realm, time was chaotic. An hour for him to search for Wanda might be just a second for Wanda, or it might be a year.
Rather than blindly searching in the chaotic time flow, it would be better to first obtain the teleportation device and use technological means to locate her.
Moreover, Wanda was not weak; her Chaos Magic could distort Reality, and in a place like the Quantum Realm, where rules were chaotic, it would be easier for her to exert her power.
Chu Hang mobilized the Space Law, cutting a crack in the energy wall.
But as soon as the crack appeared, it immediately healed, and the purple light on the wall's surface grew brighter.
Adaptive Defense System.
He used the Law of Reality to erase the barrier, but it only lasted for three seconds.
The wall solidified again, and a new layer of protection appeared on its surface, specifically targeting Reality Warping.
"Interesting," Chu Hang said.
Kang-31's technology was stronger than he had imagined. This defense system could analyze attack methods in real-time and generate corresponding protective layers.
He took a deep breath, and all Nine Laws within him operated simultaneously. Space, Strength, Time, Reality, Life, Death, Spirit, Soul, plus the Kryptonian Physiologybrought back from the DC Universe, all powers converged at the tip of the dark trident.
The black flames at the trident's tip surged, expanding from ten centimeters to three meters high. The flames contained the power of the Nine Laws, each wisp capable of tearing space.
Chu Hang raised the trident, aiming it at the energy wall.
"Break."
He thrust the trident forward.
The moment the trident's tip touched the wall, the purple light fluctuated violently. The defense system frantically analyzed the attack, attempting to generate corresponding protection. But with the Nine Laws acting simultaneously, the system had no time to react.
The wall began to collapse from the point of contact. cracks spread outwards, and the purple light extinguished inch by inch.
Three seconds later, the entire wall exploded.
The fragments scattered in the turbulence of the Quantum Realm, quickly disappearing.
Behind the wall was a massive metal fortress. The fortress floated in a distorted space, surrounded by hundreds of defensive turrets, and dense flying robots patrolled.
An alarm sounded.
All turrets simultaneously turned towards Chu Hang, energy converging at their muzzles. The robots also stopped patrolling and flew towards his direction.
Chu Hang did not dodge.
He unfurled his Law Domain, forming a hundred-meter-diameter golden sphere of light around himself. All attacks entering the domain were deflected by the Space Law, shooting in other directions.
Robots rushing into the domain were immediately crushed into fragments by the Law of Strength.
Protected by his domain, Chu Hang flew directly towards the center of the fortress. He could feel a powerful energy source there, which should be Kang-31's location.
But when he was still one kilometer from the fortress, the space in front of him suddenly twisted.
A figure emerged from the twisted space.
It was a man in purple armor, wearing a half-face helmet that only exposed the lower part of his face. His eyes were pure black, without whites, like two black holes.
It was Kang the Conqueror.
Chapter 200: Battle Against Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror hovered in mid-air.
His purple armor gleamed with a metallic luster, and the flowing energy circuits on its surface seemed alive, constantly adjusting their form. His pure black eyes stared at Chu Hang, devoid of any emotion.
"A member of the Time Variance Authority."
Kang's voice, processed by his armor, had a metallic quality.
"I thought they'd send more people."
Chu Hang didn't respond.
He was observing the opponent's armor. That thing was not simple; its energy circuits were adjusting in real-time, and even more critically, the armor resonated with the Quantum Realm. Kang's presence seemed to merge with this space, every breath he took stirring the surrounding energy fluctuations.
"How long have you been in the Quantum Realm?" Chu Hang asked.
"Three years."
Kang raised his right hand, and a device popped out from his wrist. The device's surface displayed countless projections of timelines, like a complex spiderweb, each strand representing an independent timeline.
"Three years is enough time for me to thoroughly research the rules here, enough for me to build this fortress."
He paused.
"And enough for me to find a way to conquer the Multiverse."
Chu Hang gripped his dark trident.
He understood. The Quantum Realm existed independently of all timelines, yet was connected to all of them. If Kang truly mastered the technology to invade other timelines from here, then he could indeed launch a Multiverse-level war simultaneously.
"Do you know what the greatest value of the Quantum Realm is?" Kang said, "It's not time dilation, not energy enrichment, but its ability to connect all timelines."
There was a certain fanaticism in his voice.
"Here, I can observe ten thousand Universes simultaneously, and invade ten thousand timelines simultaneously. The Time Variance Authority thinks they can maintain the sacred timeline? Ridiculous. They are merely hiding behind a false order, restricting the development of the Multiverse."
Kang took a step forward, and his armor emitted a low hum.
"But I am different. I will make all timelines submit to me and establish true order."
"So the Time Variance Authority sent you to kill me," Kang said, "but you're too late. My multi-dimensional portal is already built, and in twelve more hours, I'll be able to invade a thousand timelines simultaneously."
Chu Hang's face was expressionless.
"Then you won't get to see that moment."
As soon as his voice fell, Chu Hang instantly vanished.
The Space Law activated, and he appeared directly three meters behind Kang. The dark trident thrust out, its black flame-tipped spearhead aimed directly at Kang's back.
Kang didn't turn his head.
The back of his armor unfolded, and six metallic winglets popped out. Each winglet was connected to an energy beam, and the energy beams intertwined in the air, forming a purple defensive net.
The trident struck the net.
Black flames and purple energy collided violently, shaking the quantum space. A tear appeared in the defensive net, but Kang had already used the force to disengage.
He turned and waved his right hand.
Six energy beams simultaneously detached from the winglets, lashing out at Chu Hang like whips. Each beam contained the chaotic temporal power of the Quantum Realm; if struck, the flow of time would be directly disrupted.
Chu Hang unleashed his Law Domain.
A golden sphere instantly expanded, blocking five energy beams. They crashed against the edge of the domain, erupting in dazzling light, but could not break through.
However, the sixth one bypassed the edge of the domain and struck his left shoulder.
Temporal chaos erupted instantly.
Chu Hang felt the flow of time in his left shoulder reversing. His skin was getting younger, muscles degenerating, and bones becoming brittle. In just one second, his left shoulder had regressed to its state from ten years ago, and his strength was draining away.
Damn it.
He immediately activated the Law of Time, forcibly stabilizing the temporal flow in his left shoulder. A golden timeline solidified on his shoulder, like a shackle, preventing further regression.
But this delay allowed Kang to create distance.
The energy circuits of the purple armor accelerated, and Kang spread his hands, causing the surrounding quantum energy to converge. He was mobilizing the power of the entire Quantum Realm.
"You are strong," Kang said, "but in the Quantum Realm, I am a god."
As his voice faded, Kang clasped his hands together.
The entire quantum space vibrated violently.
Chu Hang felt the surrounding space distorting, countless quantum particles rioting. The floating island beneath his feet began to disintegrate, turning into fundamental energy particles.
Kang was dismantling this space.
Chu Hang instantly soared into the air, holding his dark trident horizontally in front of him. He activated the Space Law, attempting to stabilize the surrounding spatial structure.
But the rules of the Quantum Realm were different from a normal Universe.
The space here was more fragile, more easily interfered with. Kang had obviously mastered this characteristic long ago; he was using the rules of the Quantum Realm to turn it into his home turf.
"It's useless," Kang said, "In the Quantum Realm, time and space are relative. The Laws you wield are discounted here."
He waved his right hand.
The disintegrating quantum particles suddenly condensed, forming thousands of purple spikes that stabbed at Chu Hang from all directions.
Chu Hang unleashed his Law Domain, blocking most of the spikes. But more than a dozen still broke through the domain and pierced his body.
His armor erupted in golden light, and the Adaptive Armoractivated, instantly analyzing the attack pattern of the spikes. But the chaotic temporal flow contained within the quantum spikes continued to erode his body.
Chu Hang felt time accelerating in his right leg.
His skin was aging, muscles atrophying, and bones calcifying. Contrary to his left shoulder, his right leg was rapidly aging, deteriorating by ten years in a few seconds.
He activated the Law of Time, stabilizing the temporal flow in his right leg.
But Kang's attack didn't stop.
The six winglets on the back of his armor unfolded again, this time not firing energy beams, but directly launching six purple orbs of light. The orbs spun in the air, each one affecting the surrounding timelines.
Chu Hang recognized what they were.
time bombs.
Once they exploded, the flow of time within a hundred-meter radius would become completely chaotic. In some places, time would reverse, in others, it would accelerate, and in still others, it would stagnate. In such an environment, any life would be torn apart.
"You can't escape," Kang said, "The time bombs have locked onto your timeline. Unless you can jump out of time, they will chase you to the ends of the earth."
Chu Hang took a deep breath.
Alright, if he couldn't dodge, then he wouldn't.
He put away his dark trident and spread his hands. His Law Domain expanded wildly, from a hundred-meter diameter to five hundred meters. The golden sphere enveloped the six time bombs.
Kang frowned.
"You want to assimilate them?"
"No."
Chu Hang clasped his hands together.
"I'm going to detonate them."
As his voice fell, all the Laws within the Law Domainactivated simultaneously. Time, Space, Force, Death, Reality, Spirit—six Laws intertwined, forming a chaotic vortex.
The six time bombs exploded within the vortex.
Temporal chaos erupted instantly.
But Chu Hang was prepared. He used his Law Domain to restrict the explosion within its boundaries, allowing the temporal chaos to rage only inside the domain. The space outside the domain remained unharmed.
Kang's expression changed.
"You're crazy? Detonating time bombs within the domain will affect you too!"
"I know."
Chu Hang's voice was calm.
The temporal chaos within the domain had already begun to erode his body. Some parts were regressing, others accelerating, and some stagnating. His body was twisting in the temporal chaos, the pain unimaginable.
But he persisted.
His Healing Factor frantically operated, repairing the tissues torn by the temporal chaos. The Law of Time fully activated, attempting to stabilize the temporal flow of his body. His Kryptonian physique released stored solar energy to resist the temporal erosion.
Three abilities working simultaneously barely maintained his existence.
But this wasn't enough.
Chu Hang needed to stabilize time within the domain, otherwise, he would eventually be torn apart.
He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the core of his Law Domain.
There, all the Laws he had integrated resided. Time, Space, Force, Death, Reality, Spirit—they were like six rivers, converging at the domain's core.
Now, he needed the Law of Time to become dominant.
The timeline extended from the core, penetrating every corner of the domain. It was soothing the chaos, repairing the temporal flow, and rebuilding order.
The chaos within the domain began to subside.
The regressing temporal flow was pulled back on track, the accelerating temporal flow was slowed, and the stagnant temporal flow was activated. Everything was returning to normal.
Kang's eyes widened.
"Impossible. The chaos of time bombs is irreversible, how could you—"
"Because I understand time better than you."
Chu Hang opened his eyes.
The Law Domain was completely stable, and the temporal chaos was entirely erased. His body returned to normal, and his wounds rapidly healed under the effect of his Healing Factor.
He gripped his dark trident once more.
"It's my turn."
Chu Hang took a step forward.
The Space Law activated, and he instantly appeared before Kang. The trident thrust out, its spearhead aimed directly at Kang's heart.
Kang reacted incredibly fast.
The energy circuits on the surface of his armor erupted, and purple energy condensed into a shield in front of him. The trident struck the shield, and black flames and purple energy collided again.
But this time it was different.
Chu Hang activated the Law of Strength.
The power at the spearhead erupted, directly piercing the shield. Purple energy scattered, and Kang was forced back ten meters.
Chu Hang didn't give him a chance to breathe.
The Speed Force activated, and he transformed into a golden lightning bolt, instantly catching up to Kang. The trident stabbed three times in quick succession, each strike imbued with the Law of Death.
Kang barely blocked two strikes, but the third pierced his left arm.
His armor cracked, and blood gushed out.
Kang grunted, immediately creating distance. He looked at the wound on his left arm, surprise flashing in his eyes.
"The Law of Death?"
"You actually mastered the Law of Death?"
Chu Hang didn't answer.
Chapter 201: The Death of Kang the Conqueror
Kang clutched his left arm, the armor's repair system futilely gathering purple energy. But the Law of Death had already invaded, and the moment the energy condensed, it was swallowed by black flames.
The wound was not healing; instead, it was expanding.
"It's useless," Chu Hang said. "The Law of Death kills everything, including your armor, your energy, and your life."
Kang raised his head, his pure black eyes fixed on Chu Hang.
"You think this is enough to kill me?"
He swiped his right hand across the control panel, and the surrounding space suddenly twisted. The rules of the Quantum Realm were forcibly rewritten, and the flow of time began to reverse.
Kang was reversing his own timeline, attempting to return to the moment before he was injured.
But the reversal was instantly locked down by an even stronger force. Chu Hang's Law of Time was like an invisible net, pinning Kang's timeline firmly in place.
"I told you, I understand time better than you."
Kang's time reversal failed. The Law of Death on his left arm continued to spread, black patterns already crawling up his shoulder.
"Damn it."
Kang sharply retreated. The six winglets on the back of his armor fully deployed, detached from the main body, and transformed into six independent flying units.
They hovered in the air, forming a massive Hexagram Array.
The array activated.
Six beams of purple light converged in the air, forming a massive energy sphere whose diameter quickly exceeded a kilometer.
Quantum Annihilation Bomb.
This thing could create a miniature black hole, devouring everything around it.
Kang intended a mutual destruction.
"You can't escape," Kang's voice was laced with madness. "It has locked onto this space. Your Space Law is useless against a black hole."
Chu Hang looked at the rapidly growing energy sphere.
"Who said I was going to run?"
He raised the dark trident, and the power of the Nine Lawsconverged at the tip.
The black flames at the tip of the trident surged to fifty meters, and the surrounding space spontaneously twisted.
"Realm Break."
Chu Hang thrust the trident forward.
The black flames turned into a beam of light, shooting straight toward the energy sphere. Wherever the beam passed, quantum particles were ripped apart, space was cut open, and time was frozen.
The beam collided with the energy sphere.
The entire Quantum Realm trembled.
The energy sphere began to disintegrate, the purple light extinguishing inch by inch. The black flames invaded the interior of the sphere, consuming the quantum energy.
Three seconds later, the energy sphere completely collapsed.
The Impact of the explosion was blocked by Chu Hang's Law Domain, like a golden eggshell, confining all destructive power inside.
Kang was blasted away by the Impact, slamming heavily into the fortress outer wall. The armor cracked with countless fissures, and the energy circuits flickered erratically.
He struggled to stand up, his left arm now completely charred black, like dead wood.
"Impossible... I studied for three years, mastering all the rules of the Quantum Realm..."
For the first time, panic appeared in Kang's voice.
"How could you be stronger than me?"
Chu Hang did not answer.
He instantly moved in front of Kang and swept the tridentout. Kang barely managed to raise his right arm, but the shield was shattered after only 0.3 seconds.
The trident struck his waist, the armor exploded, and blood gushed out.
Kang was swept away, crashing through the fortress outer wall and falling into the Quantum Turbulence.
Chu Hang followed.
The Law Domain automatically filtered out the interference of the turbulence, locking firmly onto Kang's location.
Kang tumbled through the turbulence, his armor largely destroyed. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his right hand frantically operating the control panel.
"Since I can't kill you... I'll trap you here!"
He pressed the final button.
The entire fortress erupted in blinding purple light, and countless energy nodes detonated simultaneously. The explosion disrupted the spatial structure, tearing open countless fissures in the air.
Kang was using the fortress's self-destruct mechanism to create a massive spatial trap.
"This is the culmination of three years of my work," Kang roared. "It's enough to trap you for a hundred years! By the time I return, the Multiverse will already be mine!"
His figure began to blur as the armor initiated emergency teleportation.
But the moment the teleportation started, it was severed.
Chu Hang's Space Law swept over, and Kang's figure solidified again, fear appearing on his face for the first time.
"You..."
"I told you, you won't get the chance to see that moment."
Chu Hang clenched his right hand, and the space around Kang instantly contracted, forming an invisible cage.
Kang's struggles were meaningless.
"Your biggest mistake was thinking that mastering the rules would allow you to fight the Laws."
Chu Hang raised the dark trident.
"Rules can be rewritten, but Laws are the foundation of the Universe."
The trident stabbed out.
A simple thrust, yet it condensed the entire power of the Nine Laws.
Space collapsed before the trident tip, time stagnated, and matter annihilated.
Kang's armor turned to dust the instant it touched the trident tip. His body was pierced, and the Law of Deathsurged in from the wound, consuming his life.
"No... I haven't... conquered yet..."
Kang's voice grew fainter.
His body rapidly withered and turned into ashes. Three seconds later, Kang the Conqueror-31 was completely dead, leaving only a charred skeleton drifting in the Quantum Turbulence.
Chu Hang retrieved the trident.
He deployed his Law Domain, stabilized the surrounding space, and flew toward the core of the fortress.
Kang's research data should still be there.
He needed that data, not for conquest, but to find Wanda.
The fortress core was a massive spherical room, its walls covered in holographic projections displaying countless timelines.
Chu Hang walked up to the central control panel and accessed all of Kang's research data.
The data volume was enormous.
He used the Law of Spirit to deconstruct, analyze, and absorb all the data. Kang's understanding of the Quantum Realm was reconstructed in his mind.
He saw the essence of the Quantum Realm.
This was the convergence point of all timelines. Kang utilized this characteristic to establish a teleportation network, but his technology was limited; he could only locate timelines marked by beacons.
Chu Hang needed a more fundamental positioning method.
He quickly found a clue in a document titled Theoretical Deduction.
Quantum Resonance.
When two individuals with a strong emotional connection entered the Quantum Realm, their quantum signatures would resonate, forming an invisible bond.
Kang considered emotion too unstable and did not research it further.
But Chu Hang knew that he and Wanda shared a mental connection.
Chu Hang closed his eyes and mobilized the Law of Spirit.
His consciousness spread outward, probing the chaotic quantum space like sonar.
One minute, two minutes... He increased the output of the Law of Spirit, his consciousness spreading millions of meters away.
Countless time fragments flashed through his consciousness, but he didn't stop, searching through all the interference for that familiar ripple.
Suddenly, he felt it.
It was very faint, but definitely present. On the edge of his spreading consciousness, there was a fluctuation bearing the characteristics of Chaos Magic.
It was Wanda.
Chu Hang suddenly opened his eyes, locking onto the direction.
Just as he prepared to move, the Laws within his body began to vibrate. The Nine Laws resonated simultaneously, and the Skyfather level barrier was loosening.
With just one more push, he could break through.
But he suppressed the impulse.
Wanda was still waiting for him.
Chu Hang turned and left the control room, flying toward Wanda's location.
Speed Force and the Space Law activated simultaneously as he traversed the Quantum Realm.
The distance of five million kilometers rapidly decreased.
One million, five hundred thousand, one hundred thousand... Chu Hang stopped.
Ahead was a massive scarlet energy field, its diameter exceeding a kilometer.
It was Chaos Magic. Wanda was inside.
The energy field was highly unstable, looking as if it could go out of control at any moment.
Chu Hang carefully infiltrated his mental power, reaching Wanda's chaotic consciousness. Memories from countless timelines were interwoven in her mind.
He immediately used the Law of Spirit to stabilize Wanda's consciousness, leaving an anchor point deep within her mind.
Wanda's mental fluctuations gradually stabilized.
The energy field began to contract and finally disappeared. Wanda floated in the quantum space, her eyes tightly closed.
Chu Hang flew to her side and took her hand.
"I'm here."
Wanda opened her eyes. Confusion still lingered in her green pupils, but upon seeing Chu Hang, they quickly regained clarity.
"You..." her voice was hoarse. "I thought I couldn't go back."
"You won't," Chu Hang said. "I'm here."
Wanda stared at him for a few seconds, nodded, and squeezed his hand tightly.
The warmth radiating from her palm caused the Laws within him to vibrate once more.
The opportunity for breakthrough was right before him.
But he didn't let go.
"Let's go back first," Chu Hang said.
He mobilized the Space Law, tearing open a golden fissure.
The two passed through the fissure, returning to the starscape of the normal Universe. This was the peripheral area monitored by the Time Variance Authority, and they were temporarily safe.
Wanda sighed in relief and leaned on Chu Hang's shoulder.
"In the Quantum Realm... I saw many things," she said. "Countless futures, countless possibilities."
"Don't think about them," Chu Hang said. "None of those are real."
"But they felt so real. I saw you die, saw Earth destroyed, saw... us never meeting."
She paused.
"I also saw us together, where everything was beautiful."
Chu Hang didn't respond.
The Laws inside him were still vibrating; the opportunity for breakthrough remained. But he needed a quiet place.
Chu Hang pressed his communicator.
"B-15, Kang-31 is dead. I need a safe location."
B-15's voice came through the communicator.
"Received. Coordinates sent. Loki is waiting for you."