Lucas asked, "Even if my power comes from the Other Side, what does that have to do with defeating the First Firmament?"
The Creator explained, "The power of the Other Side fundamentally surpasses all powers in this void. Naturally, Sorcerer Lucas, your power also fundamentally surpasses the power of the First Firmament."
Lucas mused, "So, your backup plan is me?"
The Creator nodded.
"How come I didn't know I could easily control the First Firmament?" Lucas posed a question.
Iron is harder than cotton, but it is by no means easy to destroy a cotton ball with memory rebound function using a small iron needle.
The relationship between Lucas and these Multiverse incarnations like Eternity and the First Firmament is similar to this. More often than not, both sides find it difficult to do anything to the other.
"Sorcerer Lucas, a single Universe is different from a Multiverse."
"A Multiverse is relatively more fragile, but its parts are not as tightly connected. Losing a part does little harm to the Multiverse itself."
"A single Universe is different. All its parts are tightly connected, and touching one affects the whole. Losing a small part will greatly impact the whole."
Pausing, the Creator said, "Sorcerer Lucas, you are within Eternity. If the First Firmament devours Eternity, it's equivalent to you entering the First Firmament. And as long as you enter the First Firmament, he is bound to lose."
"Guaranteed?" Lucas's eyes lit up.
"Guaranteed." The Creator nodded affirmingly.
As a Multiverse born directly from the fragments of the First Firmament, the Creator had a deep understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of a single Universe versus a Multiverse.
Beyond all things, at this very moment, the shackles on Eternity were rapidly collapsing as the Superflow collapsed. As the incarnation of the Multiverse, he grew stronger as 1610 Mister Fantastic transformed the Multiverse into a unified world.
After an unknown period, the Superflow between the Universes completely disappeared, and the Multiverse officially transformed into a single Universe. Eternity also became more powerful than ever before.
He broke free from the shackles that the First Firmament had taken advantage of his weakness to impose, and began to calm the chaos caused by the sudden connection of various Universes after the Superflow disappeared.
Just then, the First Firmament quietly came behind Eternity. His mouth split open like an abyss, biting at Eternity.
Eternity wanted to resist, but was powerless to struggle, and was swallowed whole by the First Firmament.
As a more powerful and mature single Universe, the First Firmament devouring Eternity was as simple as an adult defeating a child. Now, he only needed to wait for time to pass to completely assimilate Eternity.
...
Earth-404, New York, Lucas Bookstore lounge.
"Here, Ancient One, your tea. Gwen, your hot chocolate."
The male Ancient One took it, nodded, and thanked her, "Thank you, Wanda."
"You're welcome. Please try it and tell me how it tastes."
The male Ancient One took a small sip, closed his eyes, and savored the taste.
Hmm... it's a bit too sweet and cloying, losing the bitterness that tea should have.
"Excellent, with an endless aftertaste."
"Hehe."
Wanda chuckled and poured the male Ancient One another cup.
The male Ancient One lightly tapped the table and asked, "Wanda, Gwen, do you know when Lucas will be back?"
Wanda and Gwen shook their heads in unison. "He just came back a while ago, left a message, and then left again."
"Is that so?" The male Ancient One frowned slightly.
"Is there a conventional way to contact him?"
The male Ancient One also had a button for emergency contact with Lucas, but he didn't know Lucas's situation and didn't want to use it rashly.
"Yes."
Wanda and Gwen exchanged glances, then held out their wrists, indicating their wristbands, and lightly tapped them. The wristbands glowed faintly, and a moment later, a silver ball of light rose, instantly transforming into a streak of light that shot through the air.
After a while, sparks of starlight appeared out of nowhere in the bookstore lounge, and Lucas emerged from them.
"Wanda, I'm back... Master, it's you looking for me?"
Looking around, Lucas suddenly understood.
"Yes." The male Ancient One nodded.
"You should know about the disappearance of the Superflow, right?"
"I know. I also know it's the work of Reed Richards from 1610 Universe." Lucas casually picked up a teacup, gesturing to Wanda.
"Oh?" Ancient One raised an eyebrow.
"Then do you know that a big problem is about to come knocking?"
Lucas's expression became slightly serious as he asked, "What kind of trouble?"
"Earth-404 and Earth-65 are about to collide."
"Earth-404 and Earth-65 are about to collide?! Why would this happen?" Gwen, who had been quietly sipping her hot chocolate, couldn't help but exclaim upon hearing this.
"Don't panic, Gwen, I'm here."
Lucas drained the teacup, his eyes lighting up. Instantly, the world in his eyes transformed from a three-dimensional structure to an indescribable ten-dimensional structure.
As the Superflow disappeared, on a certain dimension of the ten-dimensional structure, the distance between the 404 Universe and the 65 Universe was rapidly closing.
And when this distance becomes zero, the 404 Universe and the 65 Universe will have an intersection point. This intersection point will be Earth-404 and Earth-65.
More precisely, it would be Gwen.
Gwen, from Earth-65, had been staying on Earth-404 for a long time, introducing a tiny variable to these two Universes. This variable had no actual impact on the two Universes when the Superflow existed, but with its sudden disappearance, it was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, disrupting a certain balance between the two Universes.
Lucas's vision dimmed, and he comforted Gwen, "It's just a minor issue caused by the sudden disappearance of the Superflow. It can be easily resolved."
Wanda asked, "The Superflow suddenly disappeared? Lucas, are you saying that the anomaly from a while ago was caused by the disappearance of the Superflow?"
As a sorcerer and user of Chaos Magic, she had also felt the commotion of the Superflow's disappearance, but hadn't known why until now.
Lucas nodded.
"Has some big event happened?" Wanda asked again.
"Indeed. Do you remember the Cosmic War I told you about before? The disappearance of the Superflow is part of this war between Eternity and the First Firmament."
Sorting his thoughts, Lucas slowly recounted most of the known information.
"I didn't expect this war to reach this stage so quickly." Tony said.
When the Superflow disappeared, the instruments in Avengers Tower had detected an anomaly.
Tony had instructed Ultron to monitor Lucas's phone signal and send him the coordinates as soon as the signal appeared.
Thus, he also arrived at the bookstore shortly after Lucas returned.
Tony looked at the wine glass in his hand, then thought for a moment, poured it out, and replaced it with a cup of coffee.
Taking a sip to refresh himself, his expression was solemn, tinged with unwillingness. "Damn it, the planetary drive system based on the spaceship technology hasn't been fully modified yet. If an accident occurs and we need to escape, the seven billion humans on Earth will have to rely on you."
"You can't go out of contact during this time, keep communications open."
Upon hearing this, Lucas's eyes widened.
Planetary drive system?
"Tony, you're not planning to move Earth to wander around?"
"This is just a backup plan. The best outcome, of course, is for Eternity to win this war, and for everything to return to normal after the war." Tony said meaningfully.
"Lucas, if the worst happens, I'm counting on you for Earth-65 too." Gwen regained her composure and said solemnly.
"Earth-616 too." Ancient One added.
"Uh... alright. But don't worry, the situation isn't that serious." Lucas shook his head with a wry smile.
If the Creator hadn't lied to him, then with Eternity's transformation into a single Universe, he was already invincible in the world.
Given the gravity of the matter, to be safe, Lucas decided to use his cheat again.
Lucas: Is the Creator's information about the difference between a single Universe and a Multiverse true or false?
Transcendent Perception: True.
— — —
"Galactus has descended again."
In a retro-futuristic operations room, Susan looked at Lifebringer standing on the shoulder of the Statue of Liberty in the projected image, her expression heavy.
"Reed, we must find a way to inform Sorcerer Lucas. Only he can save our world."
"I know."
Reed scratched his head anxiously. "But many background parameters related to inter-Universe travel changed recently and need to be re-measured and calibrated. Before that, our spacecraft..."
"We can't worry about that much, even if it means taking some risks, it's better than sitting idly by." Johnny interrupted Reed.
"This is a death wish!"
"I'd rather die than watch the world be destroyed in front of me again, powerless!"
Reed and Johnny were at odds, and the atmosphere in the operations room instantly became tense.
"Calm down, Reed. Calm down, Johnny. Don't panic before the enemy even makes a move." Susan advised.
"I apologize for last time, but I am not your enemy. I am here to help you this time."
In the operations room, a brilliant golden light suddenly lit up. When the light faded, Lifebringer, who was on the shoulder of the Statue of Liberty in the projected image, had already arrived in the operations room.
"Galactus!!!" The Fantastic Four were terrified.
The next moment, Johnny punched out, and flames surged forth, engulfing Lifebringer. The flame shockwave carried scorching high temperatures and immense shockwave force, with heat waves churning and air twisting along the way.
This was Johnny's strongest attack since he awakened his superpowers, carrying his pain, regret, self-blame, and hatred.
Bang!
The flames struck Lifebringer's armor, causing roars and dazzling light. Lifebringer flew backward, crashing through the operations room wall and falling from a high altitude, landing on the ground.
"I... I defeated Galactus?" Johnny looked down at his fist in disbelief.
Seriously, did this cathartic blow trigger a super-high critical damage burst?
He actually sent Galactus, who had been completely unaffected by his previous attacks, flying with one punch.
"The scorching high temperature and immense shockwave force of the flame shockwave cannot shake Lifebringer, but your strong emotions can infect him."
Golden sparks flickered, a portal opened, and a voice came from within.
"Sorcerer Lucas." X4
"Sorcerer Lucas, you've come at just the right time. Galactus has descended upon this world again, please help us." As if seeing a lifeline, the Fantastic Four said in unison.
As for what Lucas had just said and Johnny sending Lifebringer flying, they temporarily ignored it.
"This world is indeed in danger, but not from Galan." Lucas shook his head and chuckled, floating up and flying through the hole Lifebringer had just created. "You all calm down first."
Thump!
Standing in front of the crater Lifebringer had made, Lucas looked at Lifebringer lying still in the pit, and smiled helplessly. "It seems you also want some peace."
Then, Lucas turned and flew towards the building where the Fantastic Four were, found the lounge, and helped himself to a bottle of Coca-Cola, chugging it down.