Chapter 464: Encounters Across Time and Space
Before Scott could even finish his sentence, he accidentally brushed the button on his belt and was sent on a quick tour of the Quantum Realm.
Zip!
A moment later, Scott reappeared where he had started, looking utterly helpless. "Alright, so there's only one test run left. I might not be ready."
"I am." At that moment, Clint appeared at the lab entrance, though no one knew exactly when he had arrived.
Professor Hulk and Scott exchanged a glance, preparing to agree to Clint's request when Peter spoke up.
"Let me do it instead," Peter said, entering the lab.
Clint turned to him. "You? I don't think you're in the right headspace for this."
"I feel perfectly fine." Peter wanted to be the one to test this window of time travel.
Since there was only one testing opportunity left, both Clint and Peter wanted it.
"Actually, I have a question," Rhodey interjected, making a hanging-noose gesture at his neck. "Why don't we just go back to when Thanos was a baby and... you know?"
"No, no, no! That won't work. That's too cruel," Professor Hulk said, waving his hands frantically.
"Why? He's Thanos," Rhodey said, surprised. For a guy like that, isn't the more cruel the better?
Hulk shook his head. "No. First off, it's a time paradox. Even if you make changes in the past, it won't change our present future. Because what has happened to us has already happened. If we kill Thanos in the past, then the future where we traveled back in time to kill him is overwritten, meaning we never would have traveled back, and thus Thanos wouldn't die. Do you see?"
Hulk explained with great animation, hoping Rhodey would grasp the mechanics of time.
"Why not? Star Trek, Terminator, Timecop... almost every time-travel movie works that way," Rhodey argued logically.
"And Die Hard—wait, no, that's not one," Scott chimed in from the side.
"Those are just movies, man. In reality, this future won't be changed by a new past," Hulk sighed. Their theoretical knowledge was severely lacking.
"So, we've all been lied to? Dammit," Scott said, seemingly missing the point Hulk was trying to make entirely.
While they were debating, Peter had already suited up in the new temporal suit. "I'm ready. Sorry, Clint, but I need this chance."
"..." Clint remained silent, though he desperately wanted the opportunity as well.
"Let's go. Start the test." Peter took his position beneath the massive time machine, prepared to cross the threshold of time.
Hulk patted Clint on the shoulder as he passed, then walked over to the console.
"Peter, the transition might make your brain feel scrambled, but don't worry—it's just a temporary side effect. It'll vanish quickly. Are you ready?" Hulk looked up at Peter.
Peter nodded. "Always ready."
"Initiate!" Hulk flipped the switch.
Bang!
The time machine above whirled into motion, whisking Peter away as he vanished into the Quantum Realm, hurtling through its glowing tunnels. As he stared through the deep tunnel, the light ahead grew brighter. He knew he was nearing his destination.
Thump!
Peter landed on a deserted street. Feeling the stinging sunlight, he didn't hesitate to leap onto a rooftop, looking down at the traffic flowing through the streets. Unlike the deathly silence after Thanos's snap, this world was teeming with life and vitality.
"I'm back?" Peter's stoic expression broke into a smile. He checked the time on his wrist—one minute left.
He lept from the building and fired a web, swinging toward his home. It took him only thirty seconds to reach the house. By now, Peter had implanted nano-web shooters into his wrists to ensure he was always prepared for emergencies.
Thud—
Peter vaulted through the window into Silas's room, landing firmly on the floor.
"I understand, Aunt May." A familiar voice came from outside. Along with the sound of a wooden door opening, a face etched into Peter's heart appeared before his eyes.
"Silas!" Peter reflexively grabbed a drawing Silas had been working on nearby. He was just about to reveal himself to Silas when his time ran out—he was forcibly pulled back.
"Huh? Peter?" Silas frowned and looked around. He could have sworn he heard Peter calling him, but no one was there. Silas sat down, feeling a bit bewildered. He reached out to throw away the drawing of a dog he had just finished, only to find the drawing was gone.
"Strange. Where's the drawing? Did a Shadow Ninja throw it away for me?" Silas crossed his arms, feeling confused. Without his direct command, a Shadow Ninja wouldn't act on its own.
[Congratulations Host: Dog Talisman clue unlocked...]
Back at the base, Peter reappeared before the group. Clint was the first to rush forward. "Did it work?"
"It worked." Peter opened his helmet and produced the drawing he had been clutching tightly.
When they saw the drawing, everyone broke into a smile. This was perfect! It proved their plan was completely viable.
"Now our top priority is to figure out the locations of the Infinity Stones," Peter said, quickly formulating a plan. They needed to travel to specific points in history, retrieve the stones, use them to bring everyone back, and then return the stones to their original timelines.
"Alright, let's analyze the locations," Steve said, stepping to the front to address the Avengers. "First, based on what we know, the Tesseract—the Space Stone—and the Mind Stone both appeared during the Battle of New York."
Peter nodded and added, "The Time Stone should be available at that point too, since it was always in Strange's possession."
"No. Based on the situation then, it would have been with the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme." An orange portal opened, and Misty appeared before the group wearing yellow sorcerer robes.
The Avengers looked at her in confusion. Only Peter knew that Misty had become the Sorcerer Supreme; the others were in the dark.
"I am currently the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj. I know for a fact that the Time Stone wasn't with Strange then. You can find Master Ancient One," Misty explained.
Realization dawned on the group. Natasha frowned. "What if this Ancient One won't give it to us?"
"Then you fight her. If you win, you take it. Don't worry, she's very weak," Misty said, a hint of a hidden smile crossing her lips.
"Is that a good idea? Maybe you should come with us?" Natasha felt that approach was a bit crude—and what if they couldn't win?
"Sorry, I'm extremely busy. I can't leave for a moment. Furthermore, two Sorcerers Supreme cannot exist in the same space-time. I have to leave it to you. But I can give you a tip: the New York Sanctum is one of the places the Sorcerer Supreme must protect. During the Battle of New York, you can find the Ancient One there. Trust me, she'll be there." Misty fabricated a reason for her absence while giving them the location.
"Thank you for the lead, Misty," Steve smiled. Her information was vital.
Misty nodded with a smile, then turned and left, returning to her Sanctum to continue her studies.
"In and out like a ghost," Natasha remarked, watching her leave. She had hoped for an extra teammate for this trip.
"Misty is very busy," Peter explained. Having heard about the responsibilities from her, he felt great respect for the position. While superheroes protected individuals, the Sorcerer Supreme protected the entire planet from extra-dimensional threats.
"Alright, so the locations of three stones are known. That leaves the Power Stone, the Reality Stone, and the Soul Stone," Steve said, steering the conversation back.
Thor, who had been acting like a zombie on the sidelines, said listlessly, "I know where the Reality Stone is. Leave that one to me."
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