Standing Still
"Thud..."
Kaecilius stumbled out of the portal, slipping and crashing onto the floor of Kamar-Taj.
Compared to the bold ambitions he had when he left with his apprentices, he now appeared utterly defeated. As the portal behind him closed, he finally exhaled in relief.
"Huff… huff..." He panted heavily for a few moments, then picked himself up off the ground.
"I need to become stronger," he muttered to himself, determination lighting up his eyes as he headed toward the library.
.......
Meanwhile, in U.K~
Cassandra watched indifferently as one of the sorcerers fled. She felt no need to pursue him.
After all, she wasn't sure if that other bald woman—her counterpart—was truly dead.
Gazing around at the now-empty streets, she raised her right hand.
"Snap."
With a soft sound, she disappeared. When she reappeared, she was seated in a bar.
"One plate of spaghetti."
The waiter, momentarily dazed by the sudden appearance of a customer, quickly regained his senses and nodded before heading to inform the chef.
Cassandra smiled faintly.
"This world is worth cherishing. No more reckless use of nukes this time.
Can't survive on a diet of sand forever," she mused.
In the previous world, though she had become the ruler of the globe, her widespread use of nuclear weapons had turned the planet into a desolate wasteland. Her material luxuries were fewer than those of ordinary citizens in this world.
Regret lingered in her heart. But now, she had a chance to start over—a fresh opportunity she wouldn't squander.
After finishing her meal, Cassandra roamed the streets of London, absorbing information and enjoying the sights. It wasn't until nightfall that she encountered two mutants—Logan and Victor.
She observed them from the shadows as they walked down a street, scanning their surroundings.
"What exactly are we supposed to find?" Logan muttered.
"No idea," Victor replied. "They just said to look around."
Cassandra, recognizing the two figures from her own world, felt a flicker of old hatred. Her first instinct was to kill them on the spot.
But then she remembered—these weren't the Logan and Victor she knew. These were different versions from a different world. Perhaps they could even be useful.
Her lips curled into a sinister smile as she stepped forward.
Without hesitation, she reached out and plunged her hand into their heads—literally. Her hands seemed to merge into their skulls as though dipping into water, stirring their thoughts and memories.
"Who are you?" Logan growled, panic flashing in his eyes.
"What are you doing to us?" Victor snapped.
Cassandra ignored their protests, rummaging through their minds. Her expression darkened as she encountered a strange mental force within their brains—a presence seemingly trying to communicate with her.
"Who's there?" she demanded aloud.
A calm male voice echoed in her mind, "Why the hostility? It's unnecessary."
Cassandra's sharp eyes darted around, but she saw no one, "Who are you? Show yourself!"
"I'm not physically present," the voice replied.
"Then where are you?"
"New York."
"Impossible. No one can communicate across such a distance like this!"
"I didn't contact you to argue over unnecessary things," the voice interrupted. "I'm simply here to suggest you proceed with caution. This world is far more complex than you realize."
"Are you threatening me?" Cassandra snarled, her frustration mounting.
But the voice didn't answer. She could feel its presence retreating, leaving her alone once more.
Turning her gaze back to Logan and Victor, she studied them thoughtfully before releasing them from her mental grip.
"You're from New York, aren't you?" she asked coldly.
Their stunned silence was all the confirmation she needed. Smirking, she extended her mental reach into their minds once more.
Moments later, her expression shifted. She let go of them and said, "Follow me."
The psychic connection had revealed information about this world's mutant politics and the emergence of a mutant nation in Baghdad. Intrigued, Cassandra decided to investigate it personally.
Logan and Victor hesitated, reluctant to follow this terrifying woman. But fear of her power kept them compliant, and they silently trailed behind her.
Both regretted accepting this mission; dealing with Cassandra was far more harrowing than they'd anticipated.
......
In New York, where dawn was just breaking~
Inside a luxurious Manhattan penthouse, Adam stood by a floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the dim morning light as he opened the curtains.
"So it wasn't an interdimensional powerhouse," he mused. "Just a traveler from another corner of the multiverse. And, fortunately, not one with an inherently evil nature."
In his previous life, he had encountered true interdimensional powerhouses—beings who slaughtered entire planets or even destroyed worlds on a whim.
Especially a certain warrior race, infamous for their habit of transforming mid-fight.
The thought made him sigh. Raising his hand, Adam summoned a golden energy that quickly shifted into the violet hue of destructive power.
He dismissed the energy with a flick of his wrist, sensing a pulse from the Umbrella Tower that slightly amplified his strength.
"Oh? Another technological breakthrough?"
Intrigued, Adam donned his coat and prepared to head to the Umbrella Corporation headquarters.
.......
Elsewhere, at a coastal mansion in New York~
The doorbell rang urgently, disrupting the quiet dawn.
"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"
Tony Stark, clad in pajamas and looking half-asleep, shuffled to the door. His arc reactor glowed faintly beneath his rumpled shirt.
"This better be important," he grumbled, opening the door to reveal Maria Hill and Nick Fury.
The sight of the two agents startled him awake.
"We're being hunted," Maria said bluntly.
Tony's expression turned serious.
"JARVIS, initiate Level One security protocols. Alert me to any intruders."
"Understood, Mr. Stark."
"You two, come in," Tony said, stepping aside.
He couldn't ignore their plea for help—no matter how much they had irritated him lately.
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