Ch: 286-293
Chapter 286
"The loser has no right to continue speaking."
But he found it a little funny. Tony and Doctor Doom switched places?
He remembered that before he transmigrated, Robert Downey Jr. had left Marvel, hadn't he? Were they inviting him back again?
Although Bai Ye was complaining like crazy inside, he remained calm on the surface.
Then, Bai Ye turned to look at the local heroes who were confused and explained simply:
"As you can see, your enemy has exchanged souls using forbidden magic, but it is not the Tony Starkyou know."
Bai Ye's words stunned everyone in the Avengers again.
"What do you mean?"
Thunder God Thor clenched his fists and asked in confusion.
Doctor Doom in the pit suddenly laughed maniacally:
"Hahaha! You even know this? That's right! That's right, you stupid heroes!"
As he spoke, Doom raised Tony's half-burned face, his eyes full of vicious pleasure:
"In another Universe, who did you think you were fighting? Did you think you were defeating me, Victor Von Doom?"
"No!"
Doctor Doom roared, wanting to vent his emotions.
"The guy who was wearing my armor and was killed by you not long ago, the one you thought was me, was Tony Stark from another Universe!"
"It was I who used magic to drag him out of his body, let him bear your anger for me, and let him die for me!"
"And I..."
Doctor Doom pointed to his chest and shouted triumphantly:
"I am the real Victor Von Doom! I survived, I won!"
The entire castle ruins fell into a deathly silence.
The local heroes were struck by lightning, and they looked at Tony in disbelief.
Through Doctor Doom's explanation, they could imagine the tragic battle not long ago.
The Doctor Doom who was eventually reduced to ashes under their siege in the Parallel Universe.
So, they from the Parallel Universe personally killed Tony Stark from another Universe? An innocent hero?
"You, you demon!"
Steve's voice trembled with anger, and he raised his shield, almost rushing forward recklessly.
"The game is over."
Bai Ye said lightly, no longer giving Doom any chance to speak.
He slowly raised his hand, and a pure golden energy gathered in his palm.
"No!"
Doom discovered in horror that his soul was being forcibly stripped, purified, and ultimately completely erased by this force.
With a flash of golden light, the body in the pit instantly lost all vitality.
The last remaining expression on that face belonging to Tony Stark was eternal horror.
Bai Ye shook his hand, as if he had just brushed off a little dust.
He turned to look at the local Avengers, and then at Franklin, who was standing aside, just waking up, with innocence in his eyes.
"Now, you should talk about what to do with this child."
Everyone came back to their senses from the shock and grief, and their gazes gathered on Franklin with complicated emotions.
This child possessed the power to rewrite reality, but because of this, he had become the core of all conspiracies.
"We can't let him stay here, it's too dangerous for everyone!" Steve said in a deep voice.
"Then where can we send him?" Thor frowned.
Bai Ye then said to everyone, "He has his own home, his own parents."
He walked up to Franklin and gently squatted down: "Child, do you want to go home?"
Franklin looked at him, nodded, and asked in a low voice:
"Uncle, do you know where my mom and dad are?"
"Of course." Bai Ye smiled and rubbed his golden hair.
Franklin's eyes lit up instantly when he heard this.
Regardless of whether what Bai Ye said was true or not, he believed it directly.
Franklin happily grabbed Bai Ye's hand and muttered:
"Uncle, do you really know my mom and dad? Do they miss me too?"
"They miss you like crazy."
Bai Ye stood up, holding Franklin's hand.
"So, I'll send you back now."
Franklin nodded heavily, his face full of happiness.
Just when everyone thought things were about to come to an end and was preparing to say goodbye to the child... Boom!!!
The sky above the castle suddenly tore open a huge spatial rift without warning!
Violent energy poured out from it, accompanied by countless exclamations and screams.
More than a dozen figures fell out of the Portal like dumplings, smashing onto the ruins of the castle in a mess.
"Cough cough. Where is this?"
A man in a blue and black uniform struggled to get up.
"Johnny! Don't use Fire! This looks like someone else's territory!"
A blonde woman hurriedly shouted, while using an invisible Force Field to protect a burly man made of rock beside her.
"Hey! Charles! Has your telepathy failed? We've fallen into a villain's lair!"
A man wearing red quartz glasses shouted nervously.
"No, the spatial structure here is very chaotic."
A bald man sitting in an anti-gravity wheelchair said helplessly.
A woman wrapped in blue energy floated up vigilantly, looking at Bai Ye and his group.
Bai Ye couldn't help but smile as he looked at these uninvited guests in a disheveled state.
Isn't this the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and Spectrum Monica Rambeau?
Above the ruins, the two groups of people looked at each other.
Franklin looked at the man and the blonde woman, suddenly broke free from Bai Ye's hand, and ran over with his short legs.
"Dad! Mom!"
Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman froze at the same time, they looked at their son running towards them in disbelief, and tears welled up in their eyes instantly.
"Franklin!"
Invisible Woman hugged the child tightly in her arms.
Professor Charles controlled the wheelchair to come forward and said gently to Bai Ye and his group:
"It seems we have a lot to explain, I'm sorry to break in in this way."
Bai Ye waved his hand and looked at this dramatic scene with interest: "It seems you have also encountered trouble."
He pointed to the Avengers from the main movie Universe, and then pointed to the newly arrived X-Men and Fantastic Four.
"Let me introduce you, the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, look, all the family members are here."
Cyclops frowned and looked at Bai Ye: "How do you know us?"
Others were also puzzled and turned to look at Bai Ye.
"Because I have seen many versions of you in many Parallel Universes."
Bai Ye's answer shocked everyone again.
He turned to look at Reed and joked, "So, how did you guys get so embarrassed and all get together?"
Reed hugged his son, his face with the exhaustion and bitterness of surviving a disaster, he sighed and began to tell their experience.
"We initially just wanted to find Franklin and started the inter-Universe teleporter, but the equipment malfunctioned, and we accidentally teleported to Professor Charles's Universe."
Professor Charles nodded in agreement and took over the conversation:
"We discovered their plight, decided to join forces to repair the equipment, and help them find the child."
"But just as we were about to succeed, the crisis came."
Cyclops's face became extremely solemn, and he explained to everyone:
"A tyrant who called himself 883 Thanos suddenly appeared in our Universe, but he was completely different from the Thanos I knew. He said he was here to save the Multiverse."
Hearing the name Thanos, the faces of the Avengers, especially Tony, Thor, and Steve, changed instantly.
"That purple sweet potato?" Tony asked subconsciously.
Cyclops was stunned by this nickname, then nodded and continued:
"We initially thought it was a lie, so we had a big battle with him."
"But we ultimately lost. He collected all six Infinity Stones. With a snap of his fingers, our Earthcompletely disappeared, turning into nothingness along with the stones."
"In the last moment before Earth was destroyed, we activated the teleporter, jumped randomly, and finally came here."
After hearing all this, Bai Ye's expression became strange.
He looked at this group of top hero teams from other movie Universes in front of him.
He looked at the Avengers from the main movie Universe beside him.
Bai Ye couldn't help but have an absurd thought in his mind.
So, the Avengers 5 plot after I transmigrated, wouldn't it be like this that the Fantastic Four and the X-Men joined the movie Universe?
Above the ruins of the destroyed castle, two groups of superhero teams from different dimensions looked at each other.
The air was filled with the exhaustion of surviving a disaster and the suffocating weight.
After Bai Ye complained about the plot in his heart, he looked at this group of heroes from another Universe.
The pain, confusion, and suppressed unyieldingness in their eyes were all very real.
"Your future is not over yet," Bai Ye said suddenly.
Everyone's eyes instantly focused on him.
Bai Ye turned his gaze to Mister Fantastic and asked slowly:
"What exactly did the Thanos you encountered look like?"
Reed was stunned for a moment, although puzzled, he still recalled and described:
"A tall purple giant, wearing golden armor, with five powerful subordinates around him."
"Is it an older version?" Bai Ye asked.
"No."
Cyclops shook his head immediately, his tone full of hatred.
Chapter 287
"He looks very young—and extremely arrogant."
"Got it." Mr. Bai Ye nodded and looked away.
Inwardly, he couldn't help chuckling again as he mentally roasted the situation.
Thanos again—always Thanos, old version or young version—truly the Multiverse's biggest troublemaker.
After confirming the key information, the room once again plunged into discussion about the future.
The Avengers felt deep sympathy as they watched these homeless heroes.
Steve stepped forward first, his voice steady:
"Everyone, though we come from different Universes, we're all heroes who fight to protect life."
"If you don't mind, Avengers Base will always welcome you."
Tony, too, set aside his usual flippancy and spoke earnestly:
"That's right—Earth is big; supporting a few more super-hero teams is no problem."
"Stark Industries can supply every bit of tech and resources you need."
At this kindness, members of both the Fantastic Four and the X-Men showed grateful expressions.
Yet Professor X hesitated; then, guiding his wheelchair forward, he said bluntly:
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Stark, Captain Rogers."
"But I can't think only of myself—my students, my people, have lost their home."
"They need a place where they can live in peace, not merely be guests in another World."
Storm, Ororo, nodded as well. "The Professor is right; we Mutants were already outcasts in our own World—here..."
She left the sentence unfinished, but everyone understood.
Just then, Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange, suddenly spoke up:
"What if I could give you a new homeland?"
Professor X's head snapped up, waiting silently for what would follow.
Strange's calm gaze swept over every X-Man present:
"Earth is vast; we can find you a World that suits you—or even reshape one for you!"
"This..." Cyclops and Colossus exchanged a look, stunned.
"And that's not all..." Tony stepped in to elaborate.
"I can also provide the tech for you to build your own utopia—a place with no discrimination, no prejudice, only your own future."
Professor X's lips trembled slightly as he stared at Strange, trying to read the truth in his eyes.
"Why would you help us?"
"Because you are a crucial variable in this Universe's future," Strange replied meaningfully.
"With your aid, things will go much better for us."
The unfamiliar X-Men were left dumbfounded by his words.
Finally, Professor X gave Strange a long, solemn look and nodded firmly.
"We'll stay."
The Fantastic Four hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement as well.
With the Fantastic Four and the X-Men officially deciding to stay, the mood shifted from sorrow to resolute unity.
Heroes from three Universes began exchanging intel, trying to make sense of the sudden upheaval.
At that point, the X-Men's leader—Cyclops—walked up to Steve and Tony.
His expression was grave, his eyes full of bewilderment.
"Captain Rogers, Mr. Stark," he began in a low voice.
"We all know the crisis your Universe is facing, but there's one thing we must clarify."
Hearing Cyclops' statement, the Avengers fell silent and turned to him.
Scott drew a deep breath, seeming to gather his words.
"That Thanos—the madman who destroyed our World—said at the end that he was doing it to save the Multiverse."
"Do you know what that means? Why did any of this happen?"
The question left the Avengers exchanging bewildered glances.
They knew about the incursions, but the deeper reasons remained a mystery to them as well.
Tony and Banner traded a helpless look; Steve could only stay silent—they truly had no answer.
It was Doctor Strange who finally stepped forward.
Facing everyone, he began to explain with a complicated, somber expression:
"Perhaps I should be the one to answer that."
All eyes converged on the Sorcerer Supreme.
Strange sighed, his voice low as he started:
"The root of our Multiverse crisis is a chain of unforeseen accidents."
"It all began with a boy named Peter Parker," Strange said with a hint of resignation.
"To help him with his exposed identity, I cast a powerful Obliviate spell, but he interfered mid-casting, causing the spell to go haywire and accidentally fling open doors to other Parallel Universes."
"That incident dragged three different Spider-Men—and their enemies—into our World."
Professor X's brows knitted in confusion. "That alone could trigger a disaster of this scale?"
"No, that was only the beginning." Doctor Strange shook his head.
"We ultimately resolved the crisis and sent everyone back to their respective Universes."
"But that incident had already fractured the walls of our Universe."
"And what truly made things worse…"
Strange paused, his voice heavier, his gaze toward Spectrum filled with complicated emotions.
"was Ms. Monica Rambeau."
Hearing her name, Spectrum froze, pointed at herself, utterly stunned.
Doctor Strange nodded. "You forced your way through the dimensional barrier."
"It was like swinging a hammer at glass already laced with cracks. In the end, our Universe's walls were left riddled with holes, unable to maintain balance."
After the explanation, the room sank into deathly silence.
The Fantastic Four and the X-Men stood dumbstruck, struggling to accept the truth.
"Wait!"
Johnny Storm's voice trembled with rage.
"You're telling me our World—billions of our people—was destroyed just because some kid and one woman from your Universe acted recklessly?"
"That's absurd!" Ororo Munroe's tone was icy.
Doctor Strange closed his eyes in pain, unable to refute it.
Professor X slowly turned his wheelchair, his gaze sweeping past everyone present.
Finally, it settled on Bai Ye, who had remained calm throughout.
"Mr. Bai Ye."
Professor X spoke, his voice carrying a last glimmer of hope.
"With the tremendous power you and your companions have shown, could you not have prevented any of this?"
The question drew every eye toward Bai Ye.
Right—how could things have spiraled so far when they had teammates powerful enough to kill Doctor Doom and rewrite reality?
Meeting their stares, Bai Ye shook his head calmly.
"I am not from your Multiverse."
The group froze again; after a brief shock, an odd sense of relief followed.
"So that's it!"
Professor X murmured, finally understanding.
"No wonder your very existence lies beyond our Universe's comprehension."
Logan and the others lowered their guard. Looking at the cinematic-Universe Avengers, then at Bai Ye, a deeper doubt surfaced.
"Hold on…"
Logan frowned, questioning sharply:
"If we all belong to different Multiverses, why did something that happened in yours wipe us out?"
"And why did Thanos claim he annihilated our Earth to save the entire Multiverse?"
The question left X-Men, Fantastic Four, and even the cinematic Avengers exchanging bewildered glances.
None of them could grasp how a magical mishap in their own Universe had triggered another Multiverse's destruction.
Every gaze converged on Bai Ye; they all knew he alone could unravel the mystery.
Bai Ye smiled faintly. Those who knew him understood: he was about to show off.
"Looks like it's time for a real lesson in cosmic common sense."
He snapped his fingers; the surrounding ruins vanished, replaced by a resplendent starry sea.
Countless luminous cosmic bubbles floated and burst around them, weaving a majestic panorama of the Multiverse…
"You've always believed your Universe is singular, all Multiverses equal—like books side-by-side on a shelf, never touching."
Bai Ye's voice echoed through the silent starry ocean.
"But the truth is different."
He reached out and tapped the brightest, central sphere of light.
It was the cinematic prime Universe they currently occupied.
"This Universe is the heart of all multiverses—the true Prime Universe."
"And you…"
He deliberately paused, turning to the Fantastic Four and X-Men before continuing:
"Your Universe, along with countless parallel ones, are merely derivative realities modeled upon this Prime Universe—'two-zero-zero'."
"What?!"
Reed was first to cry out; the theory shattered his lifelong scientific convictions.
"Impossible!" Johnny shouted, agitated.
"Our World is real—not some spin-off!"
Bai Ye offered no rebuttal, merely continued his calm explanation:
Chapter 288
"The stability of the Prime Universe determines the survival of all derivative Universes. When the reality structure of the Prime Universe becomes fragile due to some reason..."
"For example, a child's magical accident, or someone forcibly traveling through it, this instability will spread like ripples, affecting all derivative Universes."
"That Thanos, he may be the first madman to notice this chain collapse."
"So he chose the most extreme method, by destroying derivative Universes, to cut off their connection with the Prime Universe, thereby saving the entire Multiverse from being dragged into the abyss of destruction together."
After Bai Ye finished speaking, the whole place fell into dead silence.
The heroes from other Universes found it hard to accept this fact.
Everything they fought for and sacrificed for was just a derivative?
And their destruction was merely the aftermath of an accident in the Prime Universe?
The Avengers from the movie Universe were equally shocked. They had never imagined that their World would bear such a heavy central position.
Finally, Steve broke the silence. He looked at his dispirited companions and said in a firm voice:
"No matter the origin, your sacrifices and struggles are real. Now, this is your new home."
Tony also stepped forward and echoed, "That's right, don't think too much about it."
"The most important thing now is to leave this damn place and return to Avengers Base. I'll treat everyone to a drink."
Everyone nodded upon hearing this, and the heaviness in their hearts was slightly relieved.
However, just as Tony was about to have Doctor Strange open a Portal, Bai Ye and Wanda and others beside him shook their heads.
"We still have our own matters, so we won't be with you."
Everyone was stunned.
Steve hurriedly asked, "Aren't you coming back with us?"
"No." Wanda explained with a smile.
"We have our own Universe, and besides, there are some things that need to be handled separately."
Although they were confused, seeing Bai Ye's firm attitude, the Avengers had no choice but to express their understanding.
At this moment, Doctor Strange suddenly walked up to Bai Ye.
In everyone's surprised eyes, he stretched out his hand, and four gems emitting a dazzling light appeared in his palm.
The green Time Stone, the purple Power Stone, the red Reality Stone, and the orange Soul Stone.
"These are the remaining gems I collected in advance, as agreed." Strange's voice was solemn.
"Thank you for helping us resolve Doctor Doom's crisis. These are your rewards."
"Infinity Stones?!" Tony and Thor exclaimed at the same time.
The other heroes who didn't recognize the gems could also feel the terrifying energy contained within, enough to make their souls tremble.
Bai Ye didn't stand on ceremony. He waved his hand, and the four gems flew to his side, then disappeared.
He nodded to Doctor Strange: "Happy cooperation."
Then, he looked at all the heroes present, and finally exchanged glances with the four women of Wanda.
"We'll meet again!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Ye waved his hand gently, and the figures of the five people slowly dissipated in the golden light, leaving no trace.
After they left, the heroes of the two Universes came back to their senses from the shock.
Tony rubbed his eyebrows and looked at Doctor Strange:
"So, when did you guys reach a deal with the gods to use Infinity Stones as a reward?"
Strange just shook his head with a wry smile... "Let's go." Steve patted him on the shoulder.
"We're going home."
At this point, the hero teams of the two Universes finally reached a consensus in this brand new World.
They will no longer be guests, no longer refugees, but the new Guardians of this Earth.
However, they didn't know that the peace of the movie Multiverse was easy to resolve.
But the crisis of the comic Universe, behind all this, the experiment directed by the Beyonders that swept the entire Multiverse had just begun.
Above the ruins of Doom's Castle
When the last hero figure of the movie Universe disappeared.
This ruin, which had just experienced several major battles, finally ushered in a moment of tranquility.
Bai Ye and the four women of Wanda quietly floated in the high sky, overlooking the castle under their feet.
"So, is this the end?"
Martina withdrew her gaze and looked at Bai Ye with some unfinished business.
"What should we do now?"
This question made everyone look at Bai Ye, waiting for his decision.
Susan withdrew her gaze from watching Invisible Woman, crossed her arms, and suggested with a smile:
"I think we should go see what that Thanos guy is up to again. After all, he destroyed an Earth, maybe more."
"That's right!" Wanda immediately agreed.
"These Parallel Universe Thanos are always like cockroaches, running around causing trouble."
Ju Ziyun tilted her head, raised a dangerous arc, and said jokingly:
"So, is our new mission to confiscate all the Infinity Stones he has collected?"
Bai Ye couldn't help laughing at their eager appearance: "That's a good idea, we can go and see what's going on."
"Let's go." Wanda smiled.
"We find him, solve him, and then, by the way, help this Multiverse solve the crisis of Universecollision?"
However, Bai Ye shook his head unexpectedly.
"No need."
The three women were stunned, and even the somewhat silly Martina showed a puzzled look.
Bai Ye's gaze swept across the castle under his feet, and his voice was calm:
"This Multiverse is different from ours. They have their own heroes and their own path to take."
"We can't solve all the problems for them. They will find their own way. We just need to wait and see."
The four women nodded thoughtfully.
They understood Bai Ye's meaning. Excessive intervention would only deprive a World of the opportunity to grow on its own.
Every Universe should have the right to decide its own destiny.
"However..."
Bai Ye suddenly changed the subject and looked at Wanda with a smile.
"Although we don't directly interfere, it's still necessary to scout out the enemy's situation. Now, it's time for you to show your true strength."
"Come on!"
Bai Ye looked at Wanda, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Let's see which corner that Thanos who is causing trouble is hiding in."
Susan also flew to Wanda's side with a smile and teased:
"That's right, Wanda, you are now the strongest Chaos Magic user among us. Finding someone should be easy."
"Then we'll see." Wanda smiled confidently and no longer hesitated.
She slowly raised her hands, no longer needing to draw complicated circles like in the past.
She saw her slender fingers gently pluck in the void, and the red Chaos energy blended together like docile silk threads.
The laws of reality became soft and malleable in front of her, and a huge observation window composed of pure magical energy slowly unfolded in front of everyone.
The scene inside the window began to change rapidly, and countless silhouettes of Universes flashed by like a revolving lantern.
Soon, under Wanda's observation, the picture in the window froze.
It was a burning World.
Under the scarlet sky, a purple giant was sitting on a throne made of corpses.
His five subordinates, the Black Order, were leading an endless army of Outriders, carrying out a cruel massacre of the survivors of this Universe.
The superheroes of that Universe were fighting bloody battles.
But their resistance seemed pale and weak in the face of Thanos's absolute power.
What was even more frightening was that at the highest point of the scarlet sky, a huge and distorted red Earth was slowly pressing down, exuding an aura of doomsday.
"Another Universe collision." Martina frowned.
She looked at the scene in the picture, her expression was very bad, and she said bluntly:
"This guy is really crazy. He likes to cause massacres in every Universe he goes to."
Susan curled her lips, her expression equally disapproving, and commented: "An extreme god."
Ju Ziyun stared at Corvus Glaive in the picture and commented expressionlessly:
"His weapon looks good. We can snatch it and study it."
Wanda put away her magic and looked at Bai Ye: "It seems that the heroes of this Universe won't last long."
"Then let's go and see."
Bai Ye snapped his fingers, and spatial fluctuations began to surround them.
As the golden light dissipated, they completely disappeared from this Universe that had just experienced a crisis... Unknown Universe, Earth Battlefield
Spatial fluctuations slowly dissipated in the sky above the burning city.
The figures of Bai Ye and the four women appeared in this World shrouded in war.
Under their feet, the once prosperous streets had turned into huge meteorite craters.
The remains of skyscrapers were burning with raging fire, and black smoke soared into the sky, making the already scarlet sky even darker.
And at the highest point of the sky, a huge and distorted red Earth was slowly pressing down.
The red Earth exuded an ominous light, like a huge eyeball staring at the end of the World.
"It seems we've arrived just in time."
Martina clenched the metal greatsword around her waist, and the warrior's instinct immediately put her into battle mode.
On the battlefield below, the superheroes of this Universe were retreating steadily.
The Thing, wearing a blue uniform with a number 4 logo on his chest, was chopped away by Black Dwarf's giant axe and crashed into a building.
Another version of Captain America was struggling to resist Corvus Glaive's attack, and cracks had already appeared on his Vibranium shield.
Thanos was sitting on a throne made of corpses, and on the Infinity Gauntlet on his left hand, five gems were shining.
He watched all this indifferently, as if he was enjoying a drama with a predetermined ending.
"The heroes of this Universe are too weak." Ju Ziyun's tone was calm.
"It's not that they are weak..."
Susan shook her head, her blue pupils locked on the gems in Thanos's hand.
Chapter 289
This Thanos understands how to wield the power of the Infinity Stones better than any version we've met before.
Right then, Thanos seemed to sense their presence.
He slowly lifted his head; his gaze pierced the distance and locked with Bai Ye's in mid-air.
Proxima Midnight caught the cue at once. She raised her Trident at Bai Ye's group, and a devastating energy beam shot out instantly!
"Watch out!"
Iron Man of this Universe shouted over the comms and tried to intercept, but he was too far away.
Bai Ye couldn't be bothered to dodge; he didn't even move.
Martina stepped forward 643 paces and slowly pressed her palms together.
BOOM!!!
The instant her hands met, Martina erupted in blinding golden light.
The light became a shield that effortlessly and perfectly deflected Proxima Midnight's attack.
"What?!"
Seeing this, shock flashed across Proxima Midnight's face.
"Game over."
Susan, already fed up with their antics, spoke in an icy voice; her figure vanished from where she stood.
The next second she was in front of Proxima Midnight.
Under the woman's horrified gaze, Susan cleanly beheaded her with a knife-hand strike.
Without pause Susan flickered again, appearing behind Corvus Glaive, who was tangling with Captain America.
Battle instinct screamed danger; Corvus spun and swung his glaive to block.
Crack!
The weapon he prided himself on shattered like glass beneath Susan's fist, and her hand punched straight through his chest.
Watching his comrades insta-killed, Black Dwarf roared and raised his huge axe at Susan.
Ju Ziyun moved faster—a silver-white energy blade flashed.
Black Dwarf's massive body was sliced clean in half.
Ebony Maw and Supergiant, seeing their teammates insta-killed, hastily tried to seize control with magic and psychic power.
Facing their petty tricks, Wanda simply lifted a hand.
"Playing with mind and magic in front of me?"
Chaos energy erupted; their spells and mental assaults vanished like mud cows into the sea.
Invisible Chaos force then clenched them, crushing the pair into two clouds of blood mist amid their screams.
From the Black Order's first strike to their total wipe-out, the whole process took less than five seconds.
The battle below froze in its tracks because of the sudden turn of events.
The surviving heroes of this Universe stared skyward, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Thanos slowly rose from his Bone Throne. Watching his right-hand men annihilated in an instant, he showed no anger—only an appreciative smile.
"Impressive."
Thanos's voice, amplified by energy, rolled across the sky.
"You are far more interesting than these others."
Bai Ye drifted forward a few paces and said bluntly, "You talk more than I expected."
"So you are their leader." Thanos's gaze locked on Bai Ye.
"I can sense the power inside you doesn't belong to any known universal law."
"As a reward, I shall personally grant you destruction."
Thanos raised his left hand; the five Infinity Stones blazed to life in sequence.
Reality, Power, Space, Time, Mind—the five fundamental forces formed a torrent capable of obliterating galaxies.
"Futile," Bai Ye murmured, shaking his head.
He lifted his own right hand and casually pushed forward.
No light, no sound.
The energy torrent froze a hundred metres away from Bai Ye.
Then, as though erased by an invisible rubber, it began to vanish.
From front to back, Thanos's galaxy-shaking blast disappeared bit by bit, silently.
Thanos's smile froze on his face.
"Impossible—"
"Told you, you talk too much."
Bai Ye's figure flashed in front of Thanos; under the Titan's horrified stare he punched.
BOOM!!!
Thanos's golden armour shattered inch by inch; the five gems on the Infinity Gauntlet were flung into the void.
His purple titanic body was hurled away, crashing into the red Earth that was drifting closer.
Once again the battlefield sank into deathly silence.
Bai Ye raised his hand, and the five Infinity Stones obediently flew into his palm.
He casually juggled them, then tucked them away.
"All set!"
Bai Ye clapped his hands and turned to look at the heroes below, now completely petrified.
"The crisis is over."
He ignored the heroes and looked toward Wanda and the other three women.
Wanda gazed at the red Earth with its huge crater punched out by Thanos and frowned slightly.
"Though we stopped Thanos, the multiversal collision is still a threat."
"There's no need for us to intervene."
Bai Ye shook his head, his voice calm.
"This Multiverse is different from ours; they'll find their own path. We only need to watch."
The four women nodded thoughtfully, used to Bai Ye's habit of seeming hands-off while already seeing through everything.
Bai Ye's gaze swept over the heroes who'd survived the calamity.
Finally, he waved, and golden energy rained down.
The heroes' wounds healed at a visible speed, their exhausted strength returning rapidly.
"Let's go."
He said nothing more as spatial ripples enveloped them… the Interdimensional Rift, the torrent of time and space.
Warped space sealed off the newly saved Universe.
Bai Ye and the four women hovered within the kaleidoscopic temporal turbulence.
Countless shattered Universe fragments drifted past like shards of glass.
Each shard carried the joys and sorrows of a World.
Bai Ye made no move to open the next passage; he simply watched in silence.
His heart was unruffled, even touched by a rare sense of loneliness.
Another Thanos had been easily erased by him.
As a Transmigrator, his greatest edge was Omniscience.
He knew the origins of these comic characters, knew their endings.
He knew the hidden trajectories behind every choice they made.
Once, that prophetic feeling had thrilled him, letting him navigate the perilous Multiverse with ease.
But now, with power grown, that Omniscience sometimes felt like a rerun.
He watched cosmic overlords who should have shaken the heavens act like actors reading scripted lines—every reaction within his expectations.
It made him feel less like a participant.
And more like a front-row spectator who had grown tired of the same old play.
Perhaps this was the solitude of the mighty?
Soon Bai Ye gave a self-mocking shake of his head and cast the thought aside.
"No, I'm not truly strong yet; the real powerhouses are still waiting for me."
That notion was wrong—he still had much to do.
Lonely? Maybe he'd misused the word… He glanced at the women who had followed him all this way.
Wanda was curiously using Chaos Magic to snare a drifting temporal fragment, trying to read its information.
Susan and Martina whispered about the tactical mistakes the heroes of that Universe had just made.
Ju Ziyun stayed quiet, but her eyes jumped between cosmic light-points.
Clearly analyzing the chaotic space in her own unique way.
Watching them, the loneliness in Bai Ye's heart quietly melted, replaced by gentle warmth.
Yes, he still had many things—many people—to deal with.
His very existence had already altered their fates.
Wanda was no longer the lonely Witch consumed by grief.
Susan was no longer the reporter chasing danger for headlines.
They were all growing, writing brand-new stories of their own.
His role wasn't to follow some so-called plotline.
It was to create a fresh script—one that included them, one with a shared future.
Exactly. That's what he'd always done.
At that thought, Bai Ye's gaze softened a little.
"Everyone."
Bai Ye spoke, his voice breaking the silence of the Spacetime Turbulence.
"Maybe it's time we went home and rested."
Martina turned from her chat with Susan, gripped the greatsword at her waist, eyes flashing with excitement:
Chapter 290
"Are we finally going back? To be honest, I miss the sunshine at home a little."
"That's right!" Susan stretched.
"Fighting in other people's Universes always feels restrictive. It's more comfortable at home."
Wanda also smiled and looked at Bai Ye: "Then what are we waiting for? I miss Di Jiang a little."
Bai Ye smiled: "Then let's go home."
As soon as these words were spoken, spatial fluctuations enveloped the group again, and they disappeared from the spot... white night universe, Long Island Villa
The golden Portal slowly dissipated in the center of the living room, and the familiar salty sea breeze and warm sunshine rushed towards them.
"Finally back!"
Wanda was the first to rush out of the Portal, stretching happily.
"Di Jiang! I'm back!"
Before she finished speaking, a golden furball rolled down from the second floor, excitedly pounced into her arms, its six little paws tightly hugging her, making a gurgling sound.
Susan walked out with a smile, and Fire Phoenix immediately flew in from the terrace, intimately landing on her shoulder, grooming her golden hair.
Ju Ziyun quietly walked to the window, and Ink Qilin paced over gracefully, gently rubbing her palm with the jade horn on its head.
Martina looked at this scene and showed a comforting smile.
Bai Ye was the last to walk out of the Portal. He looked at this heartwarming scene and felt an unprecedented peace in his heart.
No matter how many battles and destructions he experienced in the outside World, as long as he returned here, all the noise would return to silence.
He snapped his fingers casually, and several glasses of iced juice and delicate refreshments appeared out of thin air on the coffee table.
"Let's take a break first."
Bai Ye leaned on the sofa, his voice with a hint of laziness.
"It seems that nothing major happened on Earth during the time we were away."
Just then, the holographic projection in the living room suddenly turned on automatically.
Tony Stark's face with his signature rascal smile appeared on the screen.
They seemed to be at Avengers Base, and Pepper was also there.
"Hey! Ladies! And that guy who pays the electricity bill!"
Tony waved at the camera in an exaggerated tone, and his voice spread throughout the living room through the speakers.
"Welcome home! If you guys didn't come back, I was going to take Pepper to your house for vacation, since you weren't there anyway."
Bai Ye smiled, not surprised that Tony knew they were back.
The moment Bai Ye and the others appeared, Huan Meng notified Jarvis.
Susan raised her eyebrows, picked up a glass of juice, and complained:
"Tony, is the honeymoon life of a billionaire so boring that you need to harass us?"
"Boring? Of course not!"
Tony sat up, and Pepper in the background smiled helplessly at the camera.
"I just have a groundbreaking new discovery that I'm eager to share with you."
"By the way, what strange cosmic specialties did you bring back this time? A talking raccoon? Or a horse with wings?"
Martina smiled and said bluntly:
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, Tony. This trip wasn't easy."
"Oh?" Tony became interested as soon as he heard about trouble.
"Tell me, which Universe did you save this time? Did you meet another short-sighted guy who wanted to rule Earth?"
"More or less," Wanda said with a smile.
"A guy who called himself the great Doctor Doom was easily dealt with by us."
"Doctor Doom? Sounds like a villain from some chuuni manga."
Tony curled his lips, then became excited again and shared what he wanted to say earlier.
"Seriously, come to Avengers Base. I have some new things to show you. Rogers and Banner are also there."
"We've been monitoring a very strange energy fluctuation recently, and we need you, the Universeexpert, to identify it."
Bai Ye looked at him, a smile flashing in his eyes: "What new toys are there again?"
"No, not toys. You'll know when you come!"
Tony winked mysteriously: "That's it. I'll be back now. Hanging up."
The communication was cut off, and Wanda looked at Bai Ye: "Are we going?"
"Of course!"
Bai Ye finished the drink in the glass and stood up.
"It's a good opportunity to see what new changes have taken place on Earth during our absence. Moreover, the energy fluctuation Tony mentioned may be related to the collision of Universes."
He raised his hand and swiped open a golden Portal. The other end of the door was the brand-new Avengers Base hall.
Soon, Bai Ye and his group of five passed through the Portal and arrived at Avengers Base. The scene before them surprised them a little.
The Base hall was more spacious than before and full of futuristic technology.
Hundreds of Agents wearing S.H.I.E.L.D. uniforms were conducting training in an orderly manner.
But the content of their training was not combat or shooting.
Instead, they were clumsily drawing sparks circles for Portals under the guidance of Kamar-Taj mages.
On the other side of the training ground, Thor was engaged in a real combat drill with Power PrincessZola.
The power of thunder and divine power collided, stirring up bursts of energy ripples.
"Wow!" Susan raised her eyebrows when she saw this.
"It seems that this place hasn't been idle while we were away."
"Bai! You're finally here!"
Tony Stark walked out of the control room with a big laugh. Black Panther and Dr. Banner were also with him.
Wolverine Logan and Colossus also walked over from the training area and nodded to Bai Ye.
They were holding a tablet with information about the new Avengers member Storm.
Bai Ye smiled slightly. It seemed that someone from the Mutant side had joined the Avengers again.
"It seems that when I'm not around, the Avengers lineup is getting stronger and stronger." Bai Yelooked at them and said with a smile.
As the behind-the-scenes controller of the Avengers, he was quite satisfied with the development of his organization.
"Of course, I'm Tony Stark!"
Tony showed off first, then stepped forward and gave Bai Ye a hug: "Welcome back, Boss!".
After a brief exchange of greetings with Bai Ye, Tony led Bai Ye and his group towards the command center.
At this time, a huge holographic screen in the command center was displaying a set of constantly jumping, extremely complex energy waveforms.
"This is the signal we've been continuously monitoring for the past half month."
Dr. Banner pushed his glasses up, his expression serious.
"It comes from the edge of space, is very regular, and doesn't seem like a natural phenomenon."
Beast Hank also walked over and added:
"We've tried to analyze it, but its energy structure is beyond our cognitive scope, and it even contains some kind of rule-level power."
After a pause, Hank looked at everyone and said seriously:
"So, we suspect that the collision of Universes is about to begin-!"
Bai Ye's gaze fell on the screen, and the purple light in his pupils flickered slightly.
Those complex data streams were instantly decomposed and reconstructed by Divine Talent.
Soon, Divine Talent completed the analysis. Bai Ye knew that this was not a signal, but the lament of the Universe.
Hank was right, the collision of Universes was about to occur.
Just then, the Base's alarm suddenly rang sharply.
"Alarm! Large-scale space anomaly detected!"
Jarvis's voice echoed throughout the Avengers Base.
"Location, above New York!"
Everyone's expression changed drastically, and they quickly rushed to the observation window of the command center.
Outside the window, the sky above New York City was shrouded in an eerie scarlet color.
In the center of that scarlet, a huge and distorted Planet, also Earth.
Was slowly emerging, like a reflection of another World, with a devastating sense of oppression, slowly approaching their Earth.
"The Universe is starting to collide again!" Dr. Banner frowned.
Tony's face instantly became extremely solemn, and he said bluntly:
"It's exactly the same as the worst-case scenario we deduced before!"
The Avengers instantly entered the highest alert state.
But Bai Ye and Wanda seemed unusually calm, because they had solved such scenarios several times.
Bai Ye ignored everyone's panic. He just quietly looked up at the scarlet sky.
The purple light flickered in his pupils, and Bai Ye's eyes penetrated the layers of dimensional barriers.
Traversing the distorted space, he directly saw the scene on that red Earth.
That was also New York City, and there was also an Avengers Base.
But at the top of that Base, standing was not the hero they were familiar with.
That was an old man with white hair and beard, wearing an ancient yellow robe, with his hands behind his back, his expression compassionate and firm.
His eyes seemed to contain endless wisdom and vicissitudes, and he was calmly watching in this direction.
Looking at this familiar old man, a trace of surprise appeared on Bai Ye's face.
"It's him!"
"dear? What did you see?"
Wanda keenly noticed his strangeness and asked.
Bai Ye withdrew his gaze, turned his head to look at Tony and the others with serious expressions.
And the other Avengers, his expression became strange.
"Tony, guess what I saw on the other side?" Bai Ye said slowly.
Tony was stunned: "What?"
The corner of Bai Ye's mouth raised a smile, and he said bluntly:
"The Guardian of the opposite World is Sorcerer Ancient One, male, and very strong."
"Male Sorcerer Ancient One?"
Tony was stunned for a moment, then showed a clear look.
Chapter 291
After all, it's a Parallel Universe—whatever variant shows up, he wouldn't find it strange.
"Bai, since you put it that way, we're in trouble."
Dr. Banner adjusted his glasses, his expression grave.
"If this Sorcerer Ancient One is as powerful as you say and is determined to protect his Earth, I'm afraid…"
"I'm afraid we don't stand a chance."
Beast Hank, ever self-aware, picked up the thread. Arms folded, the usually calm man now looked serious.
The conference room sank into heavy silence.
Then Tony rolled his eyes, almost laughing.
"Dudes, are you two trying to be awkward?"
"Bai's right here—did he ever say he wouldn't help? Why are you assuming it's just us?"
Banner and Hank gave embarrassed chuckles and faked a cough.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Susan was first to break the silence.
"Whoever it is, we'll find out once we fight."
"Susan's right—let's just fight." Wanda stepped forward as well.
Martina and Ju Ziyun said nothing, but their determined eyes said it all.
Bai Ye looked at them, then at the Avengers, and smiled.
"Looks like we'll have to pay the Sorcerer Supreme of that other Universe a personal visit."
"Tony, you hold the fort here and stand ready for anything."
Bai Ye turned back to instruct Tony and the others.
"We'll be right back."
With that, Bai Ye vanished on the spot with the four women… At the cosmic junction, a red expanse.
Space twisted, and the five reappeared within that warped dimensional border.
They didn't linger; in a single instant they crossed the Universe's boundary and descended above New York City of the other Earth.
The scene matched what Bai Ye had seen in his vision.
This New York was equally bustling, yet its architecture looked retro, carrying the unique flavor of the 1990s.
"Seems this Universe's timeline is different from ours."
Martina glanced around and remarked.
Right then, on the Sanctum Sanctorum roof beneath them, a golden-spark ring opened in mid-air.
An old man with white hair and beard, clad in an ancient yellow robe, stepped out unhurriedly.
No sling-ring in hand; with a casual wave he stabilized the surrounding space.
His eyes, deep as ancient wells, seemed to hold millennia of wisdom as they calmly regarded the five uninvited guests in the sky.
He was a certain comic-Universe version of the Sorcerer Supreme—Ancient One Five.
"Guests from afar."
Ancient One's voice was old, gentle, yet it reached everyone clearly.
"Welcome to my World—though your timing is less than ideal."
Bai Ye led the four women to land gently on the rooftop before him.
"Sorcerer Ancient One."
Bai Ye gave a slight nod in greeting.
He could feel the energy within the old man was as vast and unfathomable as the cosmos.
Though not stronger than himself, it far surpassed the Ancient One of the cinematic Universe.
"It seems you knew we would come."
"The river of time has shown me countless possibilities."
Ancient One stroked his long white beard, his calm gaze sweeping over the four women behind Bai Ye.
"Yet never have I seen a group as mighty as you—especially you."
After his survey, Ancient One's eyes finally settled on Bai Ye.
"Your very existence is a paradox, a variable even I cannot fathom."
Wanda stepped forward and spoke gently,
"Master, we come not as foes; we only wish to know: would you destroy our Earth to save your own World?"
Ancient One let out a soft sigh, a trace of compassion in his eyes.
"Child, this is not a choice—it is destiny."
He lifted his gaze to the Earth slowly drawing closer in the sky.
"When the fates of two Universes intertwine, destruction is the only outcome. All I can do amid this destined tragedy is protect what I hold dear."
"So you admit it?" Susan said flatly.
Ancient One shook his head.
"This is not admission; it is statement of fact. I have guarded this Earth for over five centuries—I will not watch it perish."
His tone remained gentle, yet unshakable resolve lay within.
Bai Ye listened quietly, then suddenly smiled.
"Well said. Protecting what one cherishes is indeed every hero's duty."
He stepped forward, looking straight into Ancient One's eyes.
"But have you ever considered that our Universe also holds countless lives, and people who protect them?"
A ripple finally flickered across Ancient One's gaze; she stared at Bai Ye as though searching him for an answer.
"So, do you have a better way? Young man, under the manipulation of higher-dimensional forces, we are all nothing but pawns."
"Of course I do." Bai Ye's reply was crisp and decisive.
He slowly raised his right hand, golden energy beginning to gather in his palm.
That power was pure and sacred, making the very air around him resonate.
"And that is…"
The corner of Bai Ye's mouth curved in a confident smile.
"Knock down the one who moves the pieces—let him learn that some pawns can flip the whole board."
Ancient One froze, staring at Bai Ye with genuine shock in her eyes.
She had never imagined anyone would propose a solution so audacious, yet so direct.
"You…"
She opened her mouth, only to find herself lost for words.
In the end she shook her head—how could a supreme being be so easily toppled?
"It seems we cannot reach an understanding."
Martina's great-sword was already unsheathed, battle-fire blazing in her eyes.
"Then let battle decide."
Ju Ziyun's voice was ice-cold as the nano armor silently enveloped her body.
Ancient One looked at the four extraordinary women before her.
Then she glanced at the unfathomable Bai Ye and finally gave a wry shake of her head.
"It seems today is destined to end in violence."
With a gentle wave of her hand, the whole of New York City was dragged into a kaleidoscopic Mirror Dimension.
Sky and Earth inverted, countless buildings folded and re-formed, creating an infinitely extending battlefield.
"Here, at least, no innocents will be harmed," Ancient One's voice echoed through the mirrored space.
"Come, let me see what strength the heroes from another Universe truly possess."
Battle erupted instantly!
Sorcerer Ancient One merely lifted a hand, and the Mirror Dimension's structures sprang to life, turning into countless stone titans and steel dragons that roared toward the five heroes.
"Leave them to me!"
Ju Ziyun shouted, the energy in her hands erupting to clash head-on with those dragons… while Martinastreaked forward as a beam of light, charging straight at Ancient One herself.
Yet Ancient One only smiled, her figure rippling like water as she effortlessly evaded the strike.
Immediately she formed a seal with both hands, sending countless golden magical chains shooting from the void to entangle the two warriors.
Ju Ziyun flickered across the battlefield at high speed; with every flash a silver-white blade slashed toward Ancient One's energy nodes, trying to dispel her spells.
Admittedly, this Ancient One's mastery of magic was formidable—every attack was blocked.
But that was only because Martina and Ju Ziyun were not yet fighting in earnest.
They all knew Sorcerer Ancient One was not evil.
They had no intention of harming her, yet they had to show enough strength to make their stance clear.
"You are strong," Ancient One's voice sounded from every direction.
"But you fail to understand: the essence of magic lies in rules."
Right then, Bai Ye—who had remained motionless—finally moved.
He used no dazzling technique; he simply took one quiet step forward.
With that single step the entire Mirror Dimension shuddered violently, as though unable to bear his presence.
Ancient One's face changed drastically; to her horror she realized her control over the Mirror Dimensionwas being forcibly stripped away by a greater power!
"Who… are you?!"
Bai Ye's figure appeared instantly before her, looking down with eyes as calm as a deep pond.
"Simple: I'm just a passing deity."
He slowly raised his hand, gathering no energy, and punched with pure physical force.
Bang!!!
The dozens of magical barriers Ancient One hastily conjured were pierced like paper beneath that fist.
Her body flew like a broken kite, crashing violently into the inverted Empire State Building.
Under the aftershock of that punch the Mirror Dimension began to crack inch by inch.
Bai Ye did not pursue; he simply hovered in the air, quietly watching Ancient One float out of the rubble…
Ancient One stared at Bai Ye nearby, disbelief written across her face, and said in a trembling voice:
Chapter 292
"You broke the rules!"
Everyone knows that while the mage who unfolds the Mirror Dimension may not be very powerful, the Mirror Dimension itself is extremely solid.
To shatter this space requires far more than a single-Universe level of power.
"No."
Bai Ye shook his head and corrected, "I'm only telling you who makes the rules."
He looked at Ancient One, then at the Earth still approaching in the sky, and finally spoke slowly:
"Now we can talk properly—I can solve all this."
In the shattered Mirror Dimension, Sorcerer Ancient One slowly floated out from the inverted ruins of the Empire State Building.
His gaze was no longer the former pity and resolve, but filled with unprecedented shock.
He stared at the black-clad man quietly hovering in the void.
That simple punch had not only crushed his magic, but also shaken the very foundations of his centuries-old understanding of power.
He could sense that within that single fist lay pure, unreasonable, law-transcending absolute force.
Wanda, Susan, Martina and Ju Ziyun likewise flew to Bai Ye's side.
Four women of differing temperaments yet equal might encircled him like Guardian spirits.
Their calm eyes rested on the defeated Sorcerer Supreme.
Ancient One was silent for a long time, then finally smiled bitterly and dispersed the magical energy around him.
He knew that before such an existence, any resistance was meaningless.
He gave Bai Ye a respectful bow.
"Please instruct me."
Bai Ye nodded slightly; with a snap of his fingers the broken Mirror Dimension instantly restored itself.
The five of them reappeared on the roof of the New York Sanctum.
But this time there was no longer any tension in the air—only calm.
"First, I'll tell you a truth," Bai Ye began directly.
"The Incursion Crisis you're facing and all the hard choices you've made to protect this World are merely an experiment by a higher-dimensional being."
"An experiment?"
Ancient One's brows knit; in his centuries of life he had never heard such an absurd claim.
"Exactly."
Bai Ye raised a hand, projecting a grand vision of the Multiverse into the air.
Countless Universes blossomed and burst like bubbles, while even deeper in the void beyond them, several indescribable colossal silhouettes loomed.
"They call themselves the Beyonders—beings independent of the Omniverse we know."
Whenever he spoke of the Beyonders, Bai Ye's voice grew low.
"To them, every Universe and every life is merely a petri dish in their lab."
"And this Incursion is an experiment designed to watch what choices life makes when faced with absolute annihilation."
Ancient One's face turned pale; for the first time, his time-seeing eyes showed genuine horror.
He thought of the countless futures he had witnessed with the Time Stone—those tragic ends where heroes fell and Worlds perished.
So all of them had merely been scripted plots?
"This… this is too…"
Ancient One opened his mouth, at a loss for words.
"Cruel, isn't it?"
Wanda's voice rang out, sympathy in her eyes.
"Destroying another World to save your own home—making that choice itself is part of the experiment."
Ancient One slowly closed his eyes, recalling the resolve he had felt moments ago and the sacrifices he had been ready to make to protect this Earth.
So it had all been for the entertainment of higher-dimensional spectators.
The truth and order he had spent his life safeguarding were nothing but a joke before absolute power.
"Then…"
Ancient One opened his eyes again, his gaze now firm.
"What should we do? If it's an experiment, there must be a way to break it."
"That's why I came to you."
A confident smile curved Bai Ye's lips.
"Your Universe alone can't resist, but what if we unite?"
Ancient One's pupils shrank slightly as he looked at Bai Ye and the four women behind him.
"The Beyonders are mighty, but not invincible. Their greatest weakness is their arrogance," Bai Yedeclared forcefully.
"They think they're the players, unaware that some pieces can flip the board."
Hope rekindled in Ancient One's eyes, yet he turned toward the two Earths drawing ever closer in the sky, his expression grave:
"But the immediate crisis is separating the two universes—that requires power on the level of a Creator God, and we're out of time."
Before his words faded, Wanda chuckled softly.
"Sorcerer…"
Wanda stepped forward, scarlet Chaos Magic leaping like tame flames in her hands.
"Perhaps it's time you updated your understanding of power."
Ancient One froze, staring at the Scarlet Witch before her.
Wanda offered no further explanation; she simply lifted her gaze to the two Planets about to collide in the sky.
Then, with elegant poise, she raised her own hands.
No complex incantations, no intricate arrays.
She merely pushed forward—gently, like a conductor flicking a baton.
Hum!
An invisible will, transcending the laws of reality, descended in an instant.
Under Sorcerer Ancient One's disbelieving eyes, the scarlet-hued Earth—home to Bai Ye and the others—began, smoothly and gently, to retreat as though nudged by an unseen titan hand.
The boundary between the two Universes was redefined, rewritten by Chaos Magic.
Once-rampant spatial turbulence turned docile; warped structures of reality were forcibly smoothed.
The entire separation flowed without a single spark of leaked energy.
Barely ten seconds later, the ominous crimson expanse had vanished entirely, and New York's sky regained its crystalline blue.
Sorcerer Ancient One stood rooted, mouth agape, long white beard trembling in the wind, mind blank.
She had envisioned countless brutal battles, a campaign that might require every hero and every last drop of magic.
Yet never had she imagined that a crisis capable of annihilating two Universes would be resolved so effortlessly by the red-haired Witch before her.
"This… this is…"
Ancient One struggled to form a complete sentence as she watched Wanda's feat.
"Standard procedure."
Susan folded her arms, smiling as she stepped to the sorcerer's side.
"Wanda's power now exceeds what your Universe can comprehend."
Ju Ziyun nodded in agreement. "And Bai is even stronger."
Martina cheerfully added, "Wanda's Chaos Magic has touched the very source of the Multiverse."
Ancient One drew a deep breath, forcing herself to calm.
She looked toward Bai Ye, her gaze a turmoil of awe, reverence, and, above all, the relief of finally finding an answer.
"I understand." She bowed solemnly to Bai Ye.
"It seems the fate of this Universe truly requires new Guardians."
Bai Ye smiled faintly and stepped forward. "Now, do you still believe we stand no chance?"
Ancient One shook her head, eyes blazing with unprecedented light.
"From this moment on, Kamar-Taj and every hero of this Universe stand ready to follow your command."
"Excellent." Bai Ye nodded in satisfaction.
He lifted his gaze toward the void, as though meeting the hidden eyes watching from beyond the dimensions.
"Then…"
Sorcerer Ancient One turned to Bai Ye. "What do we do next?"
Bai Ye regarded her, approval flickering in his eyes.
In a calm voice he told her,
"I need you to become the true Guardian of this Universe."
Ancient One stiffened, not quite grasping his meaning.
"Your battlefield is here." Bai Ye's gaze was profound.
"The Beyonders threaten every Universe; each World must wield its own strength to resist. You are this World's pillar."
"Rally your heroes, study your magic, fortify your dimensional barriers."
"Tell them the truth and prepare them. When the real war arrives, I need you to hold this line."
His words struck Ancient One's heart like a hammer.
She was no longer the desperate strategist forced into bitter sacrifice, but a Commander entrusted with a heavier—and nobler—duty.
Ancient One inhaled; bewilderment and shock faded, replaced by unwavering resolve.
"I understand." She bowed once more to Bai Ye.
"I will guard this Universe to the very end."
"Good."
With his goal achieved, Bai Ye nodded in satisfaction.
He raised a hand, carving open a golden Portal; beyond it lay their own Universe's Avengers Base.
"Then farewell, Sorcerer Ancient One."
Bai Ye bade goodbye with the four women beside him and stepped through the Portal.
Alone on the Sanctum Sanctorum's rooftop, Ancient One watched the golden gateway slowly seal.
She lifted her gaze to the now-serene sky, eyes sharpening.
"Wong!" Her voice rang throughout Kamar-Taj.
"Assemble every sorcerer and notify the Avengers! We have a new mission!"
Chapter 293
white night universe, Avengers Base
Inside the command center, Tony Stark paced back and forth anxiously, while Dr. Banner and the other heroes waited with grave expressions.
Suddenly, a golden Portal opened in the middle of the conference room, and the five members of White Night stepped out.
Thank heavens! You're finally back!
Tony was the first to rush forward. He looked the group up and down, and only after confirming they were safe did he ask urgently,
"How is it? What's on the other side? Is it settled?"
White Night looked at him, then at the tense faces around them, and smiled.
"The situation is resolved."
The off-hand answer stunned everyone for a moment, then loud cheers erupted.
"Resolved? Just like that?" Hank sounded incredulous.
"Awesome!" Peter Parker jumped up in excitement.
Tony exhaled deeply, his whole body relaxing. He slumped into a chair, a relieved smile on his face.
"Good, good. Honestly, you scared me half to death. Come on, tell us—what exactly was the situation over there?"
White Night briefly explained the state of the other Universe, the existence of the Sorcerer Ancient One, and their agreement.
"So not only did you solve the crisis, you also gained an ally from a Parallel Universe?" Tony raised an eyebrow teasingly.
"With efficiency like that, every S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent might as well quit."
White Night shrugged. "All right, since the crisis is temporarily over, we should head back."
"Guard Earth's daily peace. Leave it to you guys—and stay vigilant."
Dr. Banner nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, we'll protect this place."
Tony stood as well, grinning. "Go get some rest. Next time something like this happens, give us a heads-up so I can stock the popcorn."
White Night smiled without replying. After saying goodbye, he opened another Portal to the Villa.
Wanda, Susan, Martina, and Ju Ziyun also waved to the Avengers and stepped through the Portal one by one.
As the golden light faded, the command center returned to quiet.
Tony Stark stared at the spot where they'd vanished, silent for a moment, then finally shook his head with a helpless smile.
"All right, guys…"
Tony turned and shouted to the rest of the Avengers,
"Looks like our backyard is safer than we thought."
"Now let's go calm down those terrified government officials."
…Long Island Villa
The familiar salty sea breeze and warm sunlight washed over them, and everyone breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief.
"We can finally get some proper rest."
Wanda was first to head for the sofa, curling up like a cat.
Dijiang, Fire Phoenix, and Ink Qilin immediately gathered around, nuzzling their respective Masters affectionately.
Martina looked around the modern Villa and relaxed. "Looks like we're in for some quiet days."
"Let's hope so."
Susan stretched and also flopped onto the sofa.
White Night walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the distant blue ocean, yet inwardly he was anything but calm.
He knew better than anyone that peace in this World is often just the lull before the storm.
The Beyonders' experiments continue; the real crisis could descend at any moment.
But he said nothing, only turned to watch the cozy scene in the living room, a soft glint in his eyes.
In the days that followed, White Night made no more cross-Universe trips.
He kept his promise and enjoyed a rare slice of daily life.
At dawn he would accompany Wanda to meditate on the seaside rocks.
After absorbing Chthon's essence, Wanda's Chaos Magic had grown deeper and more powerful.
She no longer needed conscious control; the laws of reality flowed before her like a clear stream.
In the mornings, White Night joined Martina, Susan, and Ju Ziyun for sparring in the underground training room.
Martina's apocalypse-honed killing techniques, merged with allspark energy, lent every sword strike lethal intent.
Under White Night's guidance, Susan learned to fine-tune her Force Field, no longer relying solely on brute strength and energy bursts.
Ju Ziyun's progress was equally swift; her fighting style became colder and deadlier.
The Vitruvian genes let her adapt to any combat environment with ease.
Afternoons were leisure time for the five of them.
Sometimes they'd lie on the beach sunbathing while Susan recounted amusing stories from her reporter days.
Martina would share memories of surviving under Skynet's apocalypse.
Wanda laughed as she told childhood tales of herself and Quicksilver in Sokovia.
White Night mostly listened quietly, occasionally chiming in, savoring the warmth.
He'd take them shopping along New York's busiest commercial streets, watching them happily pick out clothes and accessories.
Bai Ye would also sit with them on the Villa's roof deep into the night, gazing up at the star-filled sky.
He told them the strange tales of different universes—stories only he knew.
Time slipped quietly by in peace and warmth.
Right now, he only wanted to protect the ordinary life before his eyes.
Because he understood better than anyone that these seemingly mundane moments were the true meaning they fought for.
He was no longer the lonely transmigrator overlooking a chessboard; he had a family, ties, and everything he would guard with his life… Several months later, one quiet afternoon enveloped Bai Ye's seaside Villa.
Since his last return, Earth—and the entire Universe—had entered a rare stretch of peace.
No dimensional invasions, no cosmic collisions; it was as if every crisis had silently receded.
The Sun was perfect, the breeze gentle.
Beside the Villa's infinity pool, Bai Ye lay languidly on a lounge chair.
He wore only loose beach shorts, letting the warm sunlight pour over his near-perfect frame.
Eyes closed, breathing steady, he seemed to have fallen asleep.
But around him a myriad of incredible changes were taking place.
Every ray of sunlight, the instant it touched his skin, seemed to be granted life.
They were no longer mere light and heat; they became almost invisible motes of pure golden energy, slowly and ceaselessly seeping into his body.
A faint golden halo shimmered over his skin, his muscles looking even more sharply defined beneath the Sun.
Not bulkier, but giving an indescribable, forged density.
The grass along the beach even grew greener, nourished by the escaping energy.
Under a nearby parasol, Wanda, Susan, Martina, and Ju Ziyun were enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea.
"Seriously, Martina…"
Susan bit into a strawberry cake Wanda had conjured from thin air with Chaos Magic and mumbled through a full mouth.
"Your post-apocalypse training routine is way retro. Next sparring session, how about we do it on the surface of the Sun? I guarantee plenty of sunlight there."
Martina lifted her teacup elegantly and gave an annoyed sniff.
"Hmph—if you can promise not to melt my weapons, I'd be delighted to oblige."
"But first, I need to beat you."
Ju Ziyun, reclining with a monograph on quantum physics, didn't even look up.
"According to the conservation of energy, physical collisions on a stellar surface could trigger small-scale spacetime distortions."
"But unfortunately, we're not worried about that."
Martina rolled her eyes. What nonsense—sorry, she didn't understand a word.
Wanda rested her chin in her hand, watching Dijiang and Fire Phoenix chase an energy butterfly in the distance, a gentle smile on her lips.
Her Chaos Magic was now perfectly controlled, no longer the wild force it once was.
It flowed like a gentle stream; she could even use it to bloom flowers never before seen in the garden.
Ding-ling-ling—
An urgent call tone broke the calm.
A hologram activated automatically, showing Tony Stark's trademark roguish grin.
"Ladies! And the guy busy doing photosynthesis!"
Tony's voice was as teasing as ever.
"Guess what good news I've brought? No—bad news! Monumentally bad news!"
Bai Ye slowly opened his eyes; a flicker of violet-gold light vanished from his pupils.
He sat up, grabbed a glass of juice, and asked lazily,
"What, your honeymoon finally over? Or did you invent another exploding toy and get Pepper mad?"
"Way more exciting than that!"
Tony's expression turned deadly serious.
"The big oaf Thor went back to Asgard half a day ago—and just crash-landed on Earth again."
But that's not the point. The point is: someone literally kicked him off the Bifrost Bridge."
The news left Wanda and the other women puzzled.
Kicked off!?
Bai Ye raised an eyebrow, tone playful:
"Oh? Who beat up Thor—his dad Odin, or Loki?"
Tony on the screen rolled his eyes. "Buddy, could you at least pretend to be surprised?"
"Anyway, he's sitting in my lab right now, pinning Eddie down with Mjolnir and cracking my floor in half."
"Is that so?"
Listening to Tony's complaints, Bai Ye sipped his juice and asked nonchalantly.