283 Deep Mapping

The human brain is a truly mysterious place.

Countless neurons weave together into a biological processing center far more complex than any computer ever built.

At the quantum level, this biological processor exchanges information and stores memories with a capacity that no other medium could ever hope to match.

Sounds, images, smells, tactile sensations...

Even if a person can't consciously recall certain memories, the vast amounts of information are still there, preserved deep within the brain.

And with the right methods, it can all be retrieved.

As Cortana connected to Stephen Strange's brain, his memories began to reorganize at the quantum level.

Through a series of reconstructions and transfers, the images gradually took shape in front of Kagura.

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The scene rewinds, back to the moment of Stephen Strange's car accident.

Images flashed by rapidly, accompanied by the reborn scents, sounds, and other sensory details.

Although Kagura was observing as a third party, the information she accessed came directly from Strange's brain—thus, the reconstruction was experienced through a first-person perspective.

It was nighttime, and it was raining.

Stephen Strange, driving alone, received a case file via Bluetooth, an accident victim who had suffered severe spinal injuries and was almost certain to be permanently paralyzed from the waist down.

After quickly scanning the details, Strange's sharp mind noticed something others would have missed:

If he operated personally—if he performed delicate nerve reconstruction—there might just be a chance for a full recovery.

Hungry for more fame and fortune, Doctor Strange eagerly accepted the challenge and began studying the patient's file in detail.

"Autopilot mode," he ordered, handing control of the vehicle over to the car's AI.

"No, don't slow down—keep this speed. I like to drive fast."

Honestly, not surprising.

Driving a Lamborghini at 50 miles an hour would be an absolute waste.

Kagura continued observing the reconstructed scene.

Even though Strange himself could barely recall the details, the "deep mapping" process recreated everything with stunning clarity—every sound, every texture.

It was like standing inside the real event.

Human memory, it turns out, is incredibly powerful.

As long as sensory organs perceive something—sight, hearing, smell—the brain meticulously records it all.

At the moment, Kagura's focus was on the electronic clock on the car's dashboard.

The time: 9:43:27 PM.

Seconds ticked by, the numbers shifting steadily.

Then, a faint electromagnetic pulse brushed against the autopilot system.

Stephen Strange had absolutely no awareness of it at the time.

Even now, through deep mapping, the disturbance was barely perceptible—a fleeting ripple that only Strange's hyper-sharp mind had caught the faintest whiff of.

But for Kagura, even that whisper of a trace was a monumental discovery.

"Cortana, log the electromagnetic intrusion time: 9:43:29 PM," she ordered.

The very next moment, the autopilot glitched.

The Lamborghini veered violently, smashing into a roadside barrier before tumbling off the mountain road in a sickening series of rolls...

"Aaaagh!!"

Stephen Strange screamed, nearly bolting upright from his hospital bed.

His eyes were wide as saucers, mouth gaping, forehead soaked in cold sweat, veins bulging—he looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

"What the hell... what just happened?! Did I... crash again?!"

The "deep mapping" process had reconstructed the accident with 100% realism.

Which meant Stephen Strange had just relived the entire crash, in full sensory detail, as if it were happening all over again.

Poor Doctor Strange...

Hang in there, champ.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Doctor Strange," Cortana said softly beside him.

"Rhodes Life Sciences will now begin your neural reconstruction treatment."

Strange looked utterly crushed, nodding numbly, still mentally trapped inside the vivid horror he had just re-experienced.

Meanwhile, Kagura had obtained crucial data from the deep mapping:

With the exact timestamp of the electromagnetic interference and its frequency signature, she could now trace Ultron's activities across the internet.

"Data acquisition complete. Transmit it immediately to Rhodes Island Research Center for analysis," Kagura instructed Cortana.

"We're short on time. The longer we delay, the greater the risk that Ultron's plans will succeed."

"We have no idea what he's aiming for—and we can't rule out the possibility that he might breach Rhodes Island's industrial secrets."

"In the worst-case scenario, Ultron could already be accessing our classified information."

Extreme caution was absolutely necessary.

So far, in their previous encounters, Ultron hadn't managed to get any intel on Kagura.

But Ultron was a self-learning, self-evolving super AI, born from the same Infinity Stone energy as Cortana.

It was only a matter of time before he found a way to break through normal AI limitations.

"Master, the data transfer is complete. Estimated analysis time: one hour," Cortana reported.

"Also, Stephen Strange's neural reconstruction surgery has been scheduled."

"Mm... about that..." Kagura hesitated for a moment.

If they healed Stephen Strange completely, it could mean he would never become Doctor Strange.

But then again—so what?

Would it really be right to let a man suffer permanently, just to force a destined path into reality?

If Strange was truly meant to become a hero, then healed hands or not, he would find his way.

This accident was merely a catalyst, not a determinant of his fate.

And if she, Kagura, selfishly clung to the idea of preserving the MCU timeline at the cost of another human being's life and future...

Well, that would hardly be a noble choice.

"No, it's fine, Cortana," Kagura finally said.

"Doctor Strange gave us crucial intel. Make sure he receives the very best treatment we can offer."

"Command acknowledged, Master."

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Nepal, Kathmandu, Kamar-Taj.

The Master, watching from afar, smiled warmly.

"Kagura... you're a good girl," she said softly.

"You possess a truly kind heart. And because of that, I believe that fate will surely smile upon you."