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The war room beneath Avengers Tower had been transformed into something unprecedented a joint command center housing representatives from every major superhero organization and world government. Holographic displays covered three walls, showing real-time data from across the globe. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents worked alongside X-Men, Avengers coordinated with Fantastic Four scientists, and even representatives from Wakanda and Atlantis contributed their unique perspectives.
At the center of it all stood Yasuo, his Eternal MangekyĹŤ spinning slowly as he processed information faster than any computer, seeing not just data but possibilities, transitions, the web of cause and effect spreading from each decision.
"The primary defensive perimeter should be established at lunar orbit," he said, his finger tracing patterns on the holographic display. "Thor and Captain Marvel lead the initial engagement, forcing any approach to commit to a specific vector. That gives our ground forces time to evacuate civilians and prepare secondary defenses."
"Evacuation protocols for eight billion people?" A UN representative shook his head. "It's logistically impossible. Even with six months, we can't "
"Not full evacuation. Strategic relocation." Yasuo's eyes showed him timelines, probabilities. "We identify population centers most likely to be targeted based on energy signatures and cosmic phenomenon patterns. Relocate those populations to prepared shelters in geologically stable regions. It's not perfect, but it increases survival probability by thirty-seven percent."
Tony Stark whistled low. "Kid's been cosmically upgraded for a week and he's already out-strategizing people who've been doing this for decades. Should I be impressed or terrified?"
"Both," Fury said from his position overseeing the operation. "But mostly impressed. Yasuo, what about the offensive capabilities? Can we actually hurt this thing, or are we just buying time for people to say goodbye?"
Yasuo's MangekyĹŤ focused on that question, processing thousands of scenarios. "Direct confrontation is inadvisable. The Devourer Galactus operates on a cosmic scale that makes conventional force meaningless. But he relies on energy absorption, which means his power fluctuates based on feeding patterns." He pulled up data on previous Galactus encounters documented by the Fantastic Four. "Reed's records show he weakened significantly when denied access to planetary energy. If we can disrupt his feeding mechanism while simultaneously presenting enough threat to make Earth more trouble than it's worth "
"We might convince him to move on to an easier target," Reed finished, his scientific mind following Yasuo's logic. "It's not victory, but it's survival. Which is all we can realistically hope for."
Sue Storm stood beside her husband, her expression troubled. Over the past week, she'd spent significant time helping Yasuo coordinate defensive strategies, and the closeness had created complications neither fully acknowledged. "What about the other Catalysts you mentioned? Have you located them yet?"
"One is definitely in this solar system. Probably Mars or one of Jupiter's moons my sense of the dimensional signature isn't precise enough for exact location." Yasuo pulled up a star chart. "The second is in the Andromeda galaxy. The third even farther. Without faster-than-light travel, reaching them in six months is impossible."
"Good thing we have friends with spaceships," Carol Danvers said, her arms crossed as she studied the data. Captain Marvel had returned from deep space specifically for this crisis, bringing intelligence about Galactus's movements through the cosmos. "I can reach Andromeda in maybe two months if I push. Bring back whoever you're sensing. But that leaves you down one cosmic backup for four months."
"Acceptable risk," Yasuo said, though his MangekyĹŤ showed him timelines where Captain Marvel's absence proved catastrophic. "We need all four Catalysts united to have any chance of succeeding. Whatever short-term vulnerability her absence creates is worth the long-term gain."
Storm entered the war room, her white eyes immediately finding Yasuo. Over the past week, their training sessions had continued, though the dynamic had shifted. Yasuo's cosmic awareness made teaching unnecessary he understood atmospheric manipulation at a fundamental level now. But Storm had insisted on maintaining the sessions anyway, claiming he needed human connection to ground his evolved perspective.
"The weather networks are experiencing unusual activity," she reported. "Electromagnetic disturbances that don't match any natural pattern. It could be early effects of Galactus's approach, or "
Yasuo's Eternal MangekyĹŤ suddenly flared, its pattern spinning violently as cosmic awareness screamed warnings. Reality around him fractured into thousands of possible futures, all converging on a single point of crisis. His perception expanded beyond the room, beyond the city, tracking dimensional signatures across the globe until
"No." The word came out with enough force to silence the entire room. "He sent a herald. Already. Three months ahead of calculated schedule."
"What?" Fury was on his feet. "Where? How do you know?"
"My cosmic awareness. I can feel the dimensional signature it's similar to Galactus but smaller, concentrated. A scout sent to evaluate whether Earth is worth the main entity's attention." Yasuo's eyes tracked the signature's movement with horrible clarity. "And it's heading directly toward " His blood ran cold. " the S.H.I.E.L.D. safe house in Prague. Where Natasha is."
The statement sent the room into controlled chaos. Natasha had been sent on a solo intelligence-gathering mission three days ago, investigating reports of dimensional anomalies in Eastern Europe. It was supposed to be routine reconnaissance, low-risk, handled easily by someone of her caliber.
No one had anticipated a herald arriving months early.
"Get her out," Yasuo said, his voice tight with controlled panic. "Evacuate the safe house, pull her back immediately "
"Communications are down in that region," Agent Hill reported, her fingers flying across holographic interfaces. "Whatever this herald is, it's causing massive electromagnetic interference. We can't reach her."
Yasuo's MangekyĹŤ showed him futures. In most of them, Natasha died. The herald arrived, perceived her as a threat or curiosity, and ended her life with casual indifference before she could even understand what killed her. In the few timelines where she survived, it was because
"I'm going," Yasuo said, already moving toward the exit.
Steve caught his arm. "You can't face a herald of Galactus alone. We need to mobilize a full team "
"Which takes time we don't have. By the time a team reaches Prague, Natasha is dead in ninety-seven percent of probable timelines." Yasuo's eyes met Steve's, and the cosmic awareness behind them made the super-soldier release his grip. "I can transition there instantly using dimensional manipulation. I'm the only one fast enough to reach her before the herald does."
"Then I'm coming with you," Sue said, stepping forward. "My force fields might be able to shield against cosmic-level attacks long enough to evacuate. Two of us have better odds than one."
"Sue, no," Reed protested. "If this herald is as dangerous as Yasuo suggests "
"Then he needs backup." Sue's expression brooked no argument. "I've faced cosmic threats before, Reed. And Yasuo saved my life. I'm returning the favor."
Yasuo wanted to argue, to insist she stay where it was safe. But his MangekyĹŤ showed him that Sue's presence increased survival probability both Natasha's and his own by twelve percent. Not great odds, but better than going alone.
"Fine. We go now." Yasuo raised his hand, dimensional manipulation already forming a portal. "Everyone else, continue defense preparations. If this herald reports back to Galactus that Earth is defended by evolved Catalysts and united heroes, it might buy us time."
"Or it might make Galactus come faster, viewing us as a threat," Tony pointed out.
"Then we prepare for both possibilities." Yasuo's portal stabilized, showing the outskirts of Prague through its shimmering surface. "Storm, coordinate atmospheric defenses. Reed, work with Tony on technological countermeasures. Steve, organize ground forces for rapid deployment. Whatever happens in Prague, Earth needs to be ready."
He stepped through the portal without waiting for responses, Sue following immediately behind. The transition was instantaneous one moment in Avengers Tower, the next standing on a cobblestone street in Prague's old district.
The safe house was three blocks away. Yasuo's cosmic awareness tracked Natasha's dimensional signature still alive, still moving, unaware of the threat descending toward her. And approaching from above, burning through the atmosphere with energy that made Yasuo's enhanced senses scream warnings, came the herald.
"There," Sue said, her force fields already forming around them both. "I can see the energy trail. Whatever it is, it's not trying to hide."
Yasuo's Eternal MangekyĹŤ analyzed the herald's approach vector, calculating arrival time and optimal interception point. They had maybe ninety seconds before it reached the safe house. Ninety seconds to position themselves between a cosmic-level entity and someone he cared about.
"Remember," Yasuo said as they ran, "heralds are extensions of Galactus's will. They're not independent beings they're avatars powered by the same cosmic force. Meaning anything we do to it, Galactus will perceive."
"So we're making a statement." Sue's voice was grim but determined. "Showing Galactus that Earth isn't easy prey."
"Exactly. We can't win this fight. But we can make him reconsider whether we're worth the effort." Yasuo's dimensional manipulation accelerated their movement, compressing the space between them and the safe house. "Stay defensive. Your force fields are our only protection against cosmic-level attacks. I'll handle offense."
They reached the safe house just as the herald descended.
It emerged from clouds of its own creation a figure wreathed in silver, humanoid but wrong, its eyes burning with cosmic fire that had consumed whatever person it once was. The Silver Surfer, Yasuo realized with shock. Reed's records had mentioned him, but they'd hoped he was free from Galactus's service.
Apparently not.
The Surfer's burning gaze swept the area, pausing on the safe house, then shifting to Yasuo and Sue with recognition that suggested intelligence behind the cosmic power.
"Catalysts," the herald said, its voice carrying harmonics that existed across dimensions. "The Master felt your emergence. Sent me to evaluate whether you represent opportunity or obstacle."
"We represent humanity's refusal to be consumed without a fight," Yasuo said, his Eternal MangekyĹŤ showing him possible responses and their outcomes. "Tell Galactus that Earth is defended by evolved cosmic forces and united heroes. That feeding here will cost him more than the energy gained."
"Bold words from one who stands at the threshold of transcendence but has not yet crossed it." The Surfer raised his hand, cosmic power building around it. "But words are insufficient. The Master requires demonstration. Show me whether you are truly Catalysts, or merely anomalies to be eliminated before they complicate the feeding."
Inside the safe house, Yasuo felt Natasha moving, finally aware that something was wrong, her combat instincts triggered by the cosmic energy saturating the area. She was trapped, couldn't escape without running directly into the Surfer's line of sight.
Which meant Yasuo and Sue had to keep the herald's attention focused on them.
"Sue," Yasuo said quietly. "Whatever happens, keep Natasha shielded. That's the priority."
"What about you?"
"I'm a Catalyst. Transition incarnate. I'll adapt." His dimensional manipulation flared to life, wind rising not from air currents but from reality itself shifting. "Let's show Galactus's herald what change incarnate looks like."
The Silver Surfer attacked, and the battle for Earth's survival began three months ahead of schedule.
In a Prague side street, while millions remained ignorant, two evolved beings faced a herald of the Devourer.
And somewhere in the safe house, Natasha Romanoff prepared to discover exactly what Yasuo had become when cosmic awareness met human determination.
The war had begun.
And this time, there would be no easy victories.
Only transitions between one state and another.
Only change incarnate facing consumption's herald.
Only Yasuo, refusing to let another person he cared about die while he still had the power to intervene.
Even if that intervention cost him everything.
Even if facing the Surfer accelerated Galactus's arrival rather than delaying it.
Some things, Yasuo had learned, were worth risking cosmic catastrophe to protect.
And Natasha Romanoff was definitely one of them.
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🌟 If you'd like to support me or read EARLY ACCESS Chapters, you can find me on Patreon 🌟
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