"Ding! Successfully reached an intent for the 'Quantum Traverse Accident Protection Protocol' with potential client 'Ava Starr'."
"Currently extracting core abilities based on client's risk characteristics..."
"Congratulations, Host, you have acquired the ability—'Phase Shift (Beginner)'!"
"Phase Shift (Beginner): By altering the vibration frequency of one's molecular structure, the body enters a temporary quantum phase state, shifting out of sync with physical matter. Can penetrate conventional solid matter (such as wooden doors, brick walls, ordinary metal plates) with a thickness not exceeding 50 centimeters. Cannot penetrate high-density energy barriers, special alloys (such as Vibranium), or enchanted substances. Warning: Being interrupted during the Phase Shift or ending the phase state inside solid matter may lead to severe physical injury, or even molecular fusion and death."
William subtly withdrew his hand and took out a bracelet-like silver metal device from his briefcase.
It had a simple design, with complex energy circuits engraved on its surface, and a crystal radiating a soft blue light in the center.
"This is a 'Quantum Resonance Stabilizer,' a company benefit, provided free of charge."
He knelt down and personally fastened the stabilizer onto Ava's wrist.
The moment the cold metal touched her skin, a gentle energy flow instantly infused Ava's body.
The soul-tearing pain, the violent force that felt as if it would disintegrate her into a billion dust particles, was tamed like a Beast and quickly subsided.
The fading of pain brought a long-lost tranquility that almost brought tears to her eyes.
Ava looked down at the cold metal object on her wrist, feeling the clear current soothe the turmoil of the atoms within her body.
But what followed was an even deeper wariness.
William didn't pay attention to her expression.
"Now, what you need to understand is that you have a new job."
He took out a well-made employee card from his briefcase, with Ava's photo on it, and "Senior Risk Penetration Consultant" written in the position field.
The photo was clearly scraped from some database by the system just now.
"Consultant?"
Ava took the card, the real touch on her fingertips making her feel a little dazed.
"Yes."
William nodded.
"Your first task is to move. This place is not safe, nor is it presentable."
He glanced around the simple laboratory.
"The company will provide you with a safe house, equipped with a full set of living facilities and basic research equipment. And of course, a stable energy supply."
This sounded like a contract too good to be true.
But Ava knew.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
"What's my price?"
"To provide your professional services to the company."
William put away his briefcase, his posture relaxed.
"But there's nothing for you to do right now."
He didn't give Ava a chance to ask further, turning and walking out of the warehouse.
"The car is outside, and your 'new employee dormitory' is in Manhattan. Pack your essentials, we leave in five minutes."
Watching William's retreating figure, Ava clutched the employee card in her hand.
She had no choice.
This man and his mysterious company were her only lifeline, even if that lifeline was covered in poison... After settling Ava in the temporary apartment found by contract, William quickly excused himself, citing other matters.
During this time, he also loaded the contract onto Ava's phone.
Tandy was naturally in charge of onboarding the new employee.
After parking his car, William didn't immediately return to his residence.
contract told him Jessica was inside.
The underground parking lot was spacious and quiet, with only the low hum of the ventilation system audible.
Rows of expensive luxury cars lay dormant under the lights, with cold concrete floors and thick support pillars forming the main structure.
After contract blacked out the surveillance, this became a perfect testing ground.
He immersed his mind to sense the ability he had just acquired.
Phase Shift.
A strange sensation emerged in his consciousness.
He felt as if he had a new pair of eyes that could see the deepest cracks in the material World.
Air was no longer empty.
Instead, it was composed of countless vibrating particles.
The massive square support pillar in front of him was no longer a solid entity, but a highly dense "cloud" composed of concrete and rebar molecules.
He raised his right hand, mimicking Ava's previous actions, and focused his mind intensely on his palm.
Change the molecular vibration frequency!
His palm began to blur, its edges emitting a faint, ripple-like distortion, as if from a bad signal.
There was no light, nor any sound.
Only a silent "sense of error" originating from the twisting of physical rules.
He slowly extended his hand towards the support pillar in front of him.
There was no collision as expected.
His fingertips, like probing into a cold, viscous gel, sank into the pillar without obstruction.
The rough granularity of the concrete, the texture of the internal sand and stone, all became translucent, flowing light and Shadow.
He could even "feel" the crisscrossing rebar network inside the pillar, and the even denser, colder touch of their metal molecules.
This sensation was bizarre, novel, and carried a deadly allure.
He submerged his entire arm into the support pillar, then slowly withdrew it.
His arm returned to solid form.
The touch was cold, but perfectly intact.
It worked!
William's heart pounded violently.
He forced himself to calm down, the cold warning echoing in his mind.
"Ending the phase state inside solid matter may lead to severe physical injury, or even molecular fusion and death."
This meant that every wall penetration was a dance on a knife's edge.
He had to maintain absolute focus.
He stepped back a few paces, giving himself enough space in the aisle between two rows of cars.
This time, he would attempt a full-body penetration.
The target was the thick concrete partition wall between the adjacent parking spaces.
He closed his eyes and once again activated his ability.
All the cells in his body began to resonate at a new frequency.
He felt lighter, as if his soul was about to leave his body.
He took a step forward.
One step, into the wall.
The World instantly changed.
Darkness, silence, surrounded by an endless, viscous stream of particles.
He felt enveloped in a chaotic space with no up, down, left, or right, and a sharp stabbing pain in his brain—a signal of intense mental energy depletion.
He could feel his molecules dangerously rubbing against the wall's molecules; a slight misstep and the two would fuse into one.
His sense of time and space became blurred.
He dared not be distracted for a moment, maintaining a stable frequency, and took a second step.
Light reappeared.
He found himself standing in the adjacent parking space, with the intact wall behind him.
He succeeded.
A strong sense of fatigue and dizziness washed over him.
It felt like working seventy-two hours straight.
The beginner-level ability consumed far more mental energy than he had imagined.
He swayed, leaning against the cold body of a nearby Bentley, gasping for breath.
Despite his exhaustion, his heart was ablaze.
The impregnable Fisk Tower?
In his eyes, it was merely a building full of "doors" made of building blocks.
He pulled out the gilded dinner invitation from his pocket, his fingers tracing its surface.
Wilson Fisk.
The Kingpin of New York's underworld.
A behemoth that even Daredevil found troublesome.
William put the invitation back in his pocket, a cold smile playing on his lips.
He looked up at the thick ceiling above the parking lot.
His gaze penetrated layer after layer of obstruction, seeing the Fisk Tower, looming like a giant Beast in the heart of the city.
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