Facing Dark Stephen's concealment and evasion, he foolishly believed that by discarding his remains, no one would ever be able to locate his true body.
But was that really the case?
The Darkhold contained countless abilities capable of affecting the entire Multiverse. Dark Stephen feared that Wanda could trace his severed limbs back to his true form.
After their clash—no, after that one-sided crushing defeat—Dark Stephen immediately understood that Wanda's power far exceeded his own. And perhaps the one even more dangerous than Wanda… was the man who had arrived with her, the one Stephen and Wong had bowed to and addressed with respect.
Lorien.
Dark Stephen knew this body's destruction meant nothing. What truly mattered was ensuring his core self was never found. If it was, then it really would be game over.
Now, with the severed hand and America vanishing together, who could possibly track him down?
...
Inside Kamar-Taj, Lorien lifted his hand, raised his index finger, and sliced the air ahead of him.
"Zzzla~!"
The sound of space tearing open rang out, like fabric being ripped, like glass shattering.
A chaotic rift opened in the sky. Beyond it seemed to churn an endless vortex. But when one looked closer, it was filled with countless bubbles.
Within each bubble shimmered stardust, and on their surfaces, images played out like fragments of endless films.
"Let's see where his true body is."
Lorien closed his eyes, occasionally nodding as he followed the lingering aura.
Moments later, he opened his eyes and pointed.
"Here."
Within the multiversal rift, bubbles continued to rush past.
In Wanda's eyes, the reflection looked like countless stars streaming before her.
Finally, one dim "star" drifted out, presenting itself at the rift's edge.
Stephen arrived just then.
Wanda gazed at the dim star, confused.
"All the others are shining bright. Why is this one so dim?"
Lorien curled a finger, pulling the star into his palm. Up close, the universe inside was visibly decayed and collapsing.
"Because his universe is on the brink of destruction."
"?"
"!"
Wanda and Stephen exchanged puzzled looks.
"Why would his universe be destroyed? What caused it?"
"Simple." Lorien plucked another bubble from the rift, holding it up as an example.
"Originally, these two universes had no relation at all. But if someone interferes with the timeline and its natural progression, it can cause that universe to collapse and unravel."
Stephen frowned.
"So just by going to another universe, we could cause it to collapse?"
Lorien chuckled.
"You're giving yourself too much credit."
"....."
Stephen was left speechless. That stung.
"To destroy another universe, you'd have to create severe disruptions—like killing a key figure in the timeline, drastically altering major events, or introducing critical errors."
"The multiversal timelines have self-repair mechanisms. As long as you don't wipe out everyone, it usually balances itself."
Strictly speaking, why had the universe with the Fantastic Four collapsed?
Because Dark Wanda had slaughtered every single protagonist in that world.
Without its main characters, forget about repairing the timeline. It collapsed instantly, right before their eyes.
That universe fell apart so quickly only because Dark Wanda had been too ruthless.
And if you wanted to destroy another universe, it wouldn't be hard.
Go to a world and kill every member of the Avengers. Watch that timeline implode on the spot.
Hearing this, Stephen nodded in grim understanding.
Lorien tossed the two "beads" back into the rift, then dusted his hands.
"Done."
"Let's go. Let's see what a universe on the brink of collapse looks like."
To be honest, Lorien was curious too—he had never seen one before.
Wanda followed at his side. Before leaving, Stephen turned to Wong.
"I'm counting on you."
Wong nodded, reassuring him. With that, Stephen followed Lorien inside without hesitation.
The three stepped into the multiversal rift and entered the universe that had just been controlling Dark Stephen's body.
But in the instant they crossed over, Lorien glanced back at the rift—the barrier between countless cosmic bubbles.
There, he saw a tall, bald figure staring directly at him.
"The Watcher."
Lorien recognized him immediately. At the very last moment before stepping into the new universe, he gave the Watcher a meaningful look, then led Wanda and Stephen forward.
...
Multiverse.
Inside an abandoned castle, an elderly Stephen opened his eyes at the topmost floor. Candles and magical artifacts surrounded him, while the Darkhold floated in front of his legs.
As the possession ended, old Stephen slowly drifted down onto the wooden boards and let out a long breath. His clouded eyes scanned his surroundings.
To his left stood the castle.
To his right lay a universe on the verge of being devoured by multiversal collapse.
Amidst the dazzling sea of starlight, his castle would be gone in just a few years. He knew this was nothing more than a last, reckless indulgence.
Better to burn out in madness than fade away in despair.
His early experiences had scarred him, bringing only pain whenever he recalled them. After taking up the Darkhold, those negative emotions only grew stronger, driving him further down this path of insanity.
He was old now. What difference would another universe make? What had been lived was lived.
Did heartbreak vanish just because you moved to another city? Could you act as if you'd never met her? As if nothing had ever happened?
Impossible.
So for him, shifting universes meant nothing. All he could do was send out his avatars for fleeting moments of release.
But to run into such overwhelming opponents… that was just bad luck.
"Sigh..."
Old Stephen let out a weary breath and leaned on the railing as he made his way down the stairs.
Clack... clack...
His steps landed slowly on the planks, his eyes downcast, every motion heavy with age.
Halfway down, his pace stopped. He raised his head.
There, at the crumbling edge of the universe, stood Lorien, gazing into the void. Beside him, Wanda and Stephen watched in silence.
"....."
Old Stephen pressed his lips together, then resumed his descent.
Clack...
With the final step, he reached the bottom.
Ignoring Wanda and Stephen entirely, he moved toward a nearby bookshelf, rummaging through its contents.
Stephen looked at the aged version of himself and said,
"Anything else you want to say?"
Old Stephen shook his head. His clouded eyes scanned the shelves as his hand fumbled along the wood.
"Regrets from youth can never be made up for in old age," he said softly.
"Experience is experience. Even if you change universes, you can't forget it."
Stephen watched him searching.
"Seems you really regret it."
The older Stephen nodded. He groped around for a long while until finally, his hand landed on a book with a raised spine.
He pulled at the corner.
Click~
With the sound of a mechanism unlocking, the seemingly solid bookshelf opened into a hidden compartment.
Stephen kept a close watch, wary of any tricks. But soon he realized something was different.
What the older Stephen pulled out wasn't a weapon or a relic, but bundles of letters, photographs, and notebooks.
His hands trembled as he carried them out. With another click, he shut the secret panel.
Stephen began to understand.
"Looks like you don't plan on putting them back."
The older Stephen sighed.
"Bad memories should be forgotten. When I go, they go with me."
In other words—today his life would end. He had no intention of continuing on.
Stephen understood.
The old man then walked toward a wooden table behind Lorien. At that moment, Lorien turned around, gazing out at the collapsing cosmos.
"A dazzling and beautiful threat," he remarked.
The older Stephen chuckled bitterly.
"I've looked at it for so many years. I've long since grown tired of it."
It was natural. The starry sky was beautiful—but stare at it for a day, a week, years without end? You'd feel only emptiness, loneliness, cold silence.
Old Stephen set the letters and photos down on the table. His gaze lingered on them, memories welling up in his eyes.
"...Regret. Endless regret."
"Why couldn't I have been braver back then?"
Stephen stepped closer and looked.
The photos were all of Christine—Christine in her doctor's coat, Christine in casual wear, in dresses, in gowns... and even in a wedding dress.
But clearly, that wedding dress hadn't been for this Stephen.
Stephen pressed his lips together.
"Christine in this universe got married?"
The older Stephen froze. He snapped his head up and stared.
"At this point in the timeline… your Christine hasn't married yet?"
"No." Stephen shook his head. "She's still working at the hospital. Then you—well, I—dragged her here. She should be awake by now, recovering at Kamar-Taj."
At that, the older Stephen's fists clenched tight. His voice came out sharp, almost one word at a time.
"Remember this. Don't let her down."
Stephen blinked, startled.
"But nothing ever happened between us. I was the one who said we were too busy, that it wasn't right."
"???"
The old man stared at him in disbelief.
You damned fool!
I lost her and never got her back—and you rejected her yourself? What were you thinking?!
And she hasn't even married in your world! And you just stand there doing nothing?
Are you an idiot?
Thud—
In a burst of fury, the older Stephen grabbed him by the collar, dragging him close until their faces were barely ten centimeters apart.
"Now. Immediately. The moment you get back—you go to Christine and propose!"
"???"
Stephen was completely thrown.
"But… why?"
"Because the choice you make now will haunt you forever!"
The old man shoved him back and swept open the envelopes on the table, revealing their contents.
"Do you think every universe of Stephen has a chance like yours?"
"I've seen countless other versions of us."
"Out of a hundred Stephens, at least ninety-nine live with regret."
"And the one who doesn't—"
"Is you. Right now!"
The older Stephen's voice broke into silence.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then, with a voice tinged with resignation and the faintest plea, the old man said,
"Don't let every Stephen across the Multiverse end up without a happy ending, okay?"
The weight in his words hit Stephen hard.
Maybe he really was one of the few lucky ones. And if he didn't cherish this chance, then every Stephen across the Multiverse would live and die with regret.
After a long silence, Stephen gave a small nod.
"I'll try my best to be that one happy ending."
"That's enough."
The older Stephen let out a long sigh.
Lorien and Wanda, who had been silent the whole time, hadn't interrupted. Only now, when the conversation ended, did Lorien shake his head and say,
"Love has always been a game for the brave. What you fear to try, someone else will try. What you fear to do, someone else will do. What you fear to fail at, someone else will face without fear."
"Those who only think but never act—are the most pitiful."
Lorien's words made the older Stephen shut his eyes, his body trembling.
Every regret he carried had been stripped bare, laid open.
It was as if he had taken a true strike, a critical blow—one that cut straight through to his very soul.