Chapter 159: A Visitor from the Future?

"If you know the origins and purpose of those extraterrestrial beings, I hope you can tell me. I have to formulate a response plan."

Nick Fury looked at Orion Cross with a serious expression and spoke earnestly.

"I believe I told you what the Tesseract really is, right?"

Orion Cross glanced at Nick Fury.

"Yes, you did."

Nick Fury looked at the surrounding agents and nodded.

During their first meeting, Nick Fury had already learned from Orion Cross that the Tesseract was actually one of the six singularities in the universe, the Space Stone.

"Then take a guess. What do you think they intend to use it for?"

Orion Cross had made it so obvious that if Nick Fury still could not figure it out, he might as well resign as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Space... They want to use the Tesseract to teleport an army onto Earth?!"

Nick Fury’s pupils contracted. When he had told Orion Cross over the phone about an "alien invasion" and a "major crisis for Earth," he had deliberately exaggerated his words. He had never expected that it would actually be true.

"Exactly."

Orion Cross stood up and swept his gaze over the people who were being treated for their injuries before turning to Nick Fury. "If I didn’t miss anything, your entire research team was captured?"

The final scene in the recording showed Nick Fury and the others boarding the aircraft and escaping.

As for Dr. Selvig, Jane Foster, and the others, they had completely disappeared from the footage.

"They were taken under control in an instant! Agent Barton was captured too."

Nick Fury gritted his teeth as he spoke.

This was the first time he had encountered such a terrifying ability, one that could control people in an instant. It was so frightening that he did not even dare to engage the enemy in close combat.

If he were controlled as well, S.H.I.E.L.D. would inevitably become a stepping stone for the alien invasion.

"If they were all captured, then the enemy’s progress should be very fast. You don’t have much time to prepare."

Orion Cross stroked his chin.

Dr. Selvig was already an expert in this field. As long as Loki gave him the knowledge needed to activate the Tesseract, combined with the cooperation of a complete research team, their efficiency would be several times greater than normal.

In other words, Loki might appear to have arrived late, but in reality, he had merely sacrificed a little time and persuasion in exchange for greater efficiency and a higher chance of success.

"You’re right. I’ve already contacted Captain Rogers and Stark. We have to take action immediately."

Nick Fury placed his hand on the table and sighed.

"When did you contact them?"

"Just now."

Nick Fury turned his hand over. A communication device was hidden in the center of his palm.

No one knew when the device had been activated.

In any case, most of the conversation between Orion Cross and Nick Fury had already been transmitted to Tony and Steve.

"The first thing we need to figure out is where they are."

Orion Cross glanced at the virtual screen on the table.

Quite a few things had changed from the original situation. Loki’s altered experiences were one factor, while the other was the presence of two additional individuals who were highly likely to be Thanos’s adopted daughters.

Therefore, it was still unknown whether Loki would ultimately choose Stark Tower as the location to open the portal.

"You’re right."

Nick Fury nodded heavily. Then, as though he had suddenly thought of something, he looked up at Orion Cross. "Now that an alien civilization has invaded Earth, isn’t that mage friend of yours going to do something?"

He had suddenly remembered that Orion Cross had another friend who was the Sorcerer Supreme, whose duty seemed to be protecting Earth’s dimension from outside threats.

"This doesn’t qualify as a dimensional invasion. Unless things reach the final stage, she definitely won’t intervene."

Orion Cross shook his head.

Like Carol, Ancient One was, in a certain sense, one of Earth’s final lines of defense. Neither of them would appear unless the situation reached its most critical point.

Hearing Orion Cross’s words, Nick Fury looked disappointed.

But in the next second, his expression became somewhat strange.

"Uh..."

Nick Fury pointed behind Orion Cross. "Didn’t you just say she definitely wouldn’t intervene?"

"Hmm?"

Orion Cross frowned and turned around.

A sparkling portal stood less than a meter behind him. On the other side of the portal, Ancient One stood with her hands behind her back. When she noticed Orion Cross looking over, she immediately smiled at him.

The scenery on the other side of the portal was none other than Kamar-Taj, which Orion Cross had visited before.

"Orion, something rather strange has happened. I believe you’ll be very interested."

Ancient One took a step back and gestured for Orion Cross to enter the portal.

"Your Holiness, we are currently facing an invasion from an extraterrestrial civilization. Orion is one of our most important combat forces."

Nick Fury hurriedly spoke up. He was afraid that Ancient One would not only refuse to help, but take Orion Cross away as well.

If that happened, they would be left with nothing but Iron Man and an old frozen soldier.

Whether those two could defeat the three extraterrestrial beings was already questionable, let alone resist the alien army that might appear afterward.

"Rest assured. This matter is related to the current invasion, and I won’t take up too much of his time."

Ancient One turned her gaze toward Nick Fury and spoke calmly.

"It’s related to this invasion?"

Nick Fury frowned slightly, sensing that something was wrong.

Orion Cross had just said that unless it was a dimensional invasion, the Sorcerer Supreme would not intervene.

Yet now the Sorcerer Supreme had appeared, and she had directly mentioned something related to this invasion.

Could this mean that the current invasion was not simply an invasion by an extraterrestrial civilization?

Nick Fury thought for a moment and decided to ask whether he could go with them.

"I wonder if I could accompany..."

Nick Fury looked up, only to discover that Orion Cross had already disappeared, and the portal had vanished as well.

"They’re gone?"

Nick Fury frowned and asked an agent nearby.

"Yes."

The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent nodded. "Boss, could you ask them not to open portals on the plane next time? It’s pretty frightening."

"I’ll try."

After replying, Nick Fury picked up the communication device and sent Captain America and Iron Man a set of coordinates.

Meanwhile, Orion Cross had arrived at Kamar-Taj and was just about to ask Ancient One what exactly she had been referring to.

"Hello. Nice to meet you."

A man wearing a red cloak was leaning against the wall. When he saw Orion Cross appear, he greeted him.

"Stephen Strange?"

Orion Cross looked at the familiar face, somewhat surprised.

Why was he here?

Could it be that not only had the timing of Loki’s invasion been pushed back, but Ancient One’s search for her successor had also been brought forward?

"You know me?"

Strange looked puzzled. Then he smiled and walked forward, extending a hand.

"To be precise, I’m Stephen Strange from the year 2023."