[Yes, Sir. Analysis in progress...]
[Analysis complete. These objects contain an unknown temporal substance, while the devices function as control keys. Once activated, they can open passages through time and space and briefly manipulate localized time, either on individuals or groups. However, they cannot affect areas as large as an entire planet or galaxy.]
Karl narrowed his eyes slightly after hearing Vastness's explanation.
Perhaps these TVA Hunters were simply too low-ranking to possess more advanced equipment.
Or perhaps whoever controlled the TVA deliberately restricted their technology. After all, if ordinary agents defected while carrying weapons capable of freely manipulating entire timelines, even the TVA itself would face serious trouble.
Karl remembered that the situation differed depending on the continuity.
In the comics, the TVA's Minutemen were mass-produced through cloning and cybernetic technology.
In the MCU timeline, however, Mobius, B-15, Renslayer, and the other TVA personnel were actually Variants taken from their original lives, their memories erased so they would believe they had always belonged to the TVA.
Either possibility carried the risk of rebellion once the truth was discovered.
After all, very few people could calmly accept that their entire identity had been fabricated.
Karl immediately thought of Deadpool.
In certain alternate stories, once Wade Wilson became aware of the fictional nature of his reality, his already unstable mind deteriorated further, eventually leading him to slaughter heroes and cross realities.
Karl had never told Tony or Howard that, from his perspective, they had once been characters in films and comics.
He hadn't told May, Black Phoenix, Hela, or Helen Cho either.
Yan probably suspected something.
But Karl wasn't particularly worried about her.
Yan's worldview had long since expanded beyond individual planets and galaxies. She had traveled across the universe for thousands of years and fought countless wars.
Even learning that another reality regarded her life as fiction probably wouldn't destroy her sense of self.
After all, she was standing here now.
Alive.
Real.
The collapse of her beliefs in justice and order would affect her far more deeply.
And now she had Karl beside her.
"Vastness."
Karl looked at the TVA equipment.
"Can this technology be incorporated into the new warship?"
"I want the ship to be capable of traveling through timelines and, if possible, using temporal attacks."
Yan turned toward Karl in surprise.
That idea was far more outrageous than simply reverse-engineering a weapon.
A warship capable of attacking through time?
Even now, Yan still regarded time as something fundamentally different from conventional space and energy.
[Yes, Sir.]
[The internal principles of these devices are not excessively complex.]
[With my current computing power, I can completely analyze their operating mechanisms and use them as the basis for developing temporal weapons and a timeline-navigation engine.]
Karl nodded.
"Good."
"Begin the analysis and incorporate the results into the new warship."
Yan stared at him.
"That's it?"
Karl glanced at her.
"What else?"
"You don't need to test it personally? Research the theory first?"
Yan still looked slightly incredulous.
Karl couldn't help smiling.
"Yan, don't treat time travel in this universe as something completely impossible."
"Even Earth's technology managed it."
Yan's eyebrows rose.
"Earth?"
Karl nodded.
"Remember Pym Particles?"
"Using Pym Particles, Scott Lang entered the Quantum Realm."
"After surviving there while years passed outside, Scott realized the Quantum Realm could potentially be used to move through time."
Bruce Banner later attempted to construct a time-travel system, but his first version couldn't properly control the traveler through time.
Instead, it accidentally pushed Scott through different physical ages.
Tony eventually solved the crucial navigation problem by developing a method to guide travelers through the Quantum Realm to specific points in time.
That was what made the Avengers' Time Heist possible.
"So technically, our genius Tony completed the essential navigation system."
Karl smiled slightly.
"But don't tell him I praised him."
"He'll become unbearable."
Yan couldn't help looking toward the direction Tony had disappeared earlier.
She genuinely hadn't expected Earth's civilization to produce workable time-travel technology.
Karl continued.
"Vastness already possesses data on Pym Particles and the Quantum Realm."
"If you want to study them, just have Vastness synthesize some particles and construct a Quantum Tunnel."
Karl himself had never been particularly interested in Pym Particles.
With Vastness's current capabilities, reproducing them was no longer especially difficult.
Otherwise, he would have needed to approach Hank Pym.
Considering how fiercely Hank protected his research, that conversation probably wouldn't have been pleasant.
Yan nodded thoughtfully.
"All right."
"I'll try it."
Then she looked down at the captured TVA device.
"I'm also planning to convert these temporal modules into an integrated engine rather than leaving them as handheld equipment."
"That way, the warship could calculate and regulate temporal movement automatically instead of relying on someone to manually activate it."
Karl nodded.
"You can handle the design."
Then he stood.
"I'm leaving for a few days."
"Until I return, completely conceal both warships from external detection and activate every defensive system."
"We'll discuss everything else afterward."
Before anyone could reply, Karl disappeared.
Great Wanda watched the place where he had been standing.
A trace of loneliness flashed through her eyes.
Karl had been extremely busy recently.
Whenever he returned, he left again almost immediately.
Sometimes she couldn't find him at all.
She barely had an opportunity to speak with him.
Little Wanda noticed her expression.
Without saying anything, she reached over and took Great Wanda's hand.
The two then walked toward their room, preparing to continue cultivating Chaos Magic together.
Great Wanda had already noticed something.
The people who most often accompanied Karl were also among the strongest members of the group.
Yan.
Hela.
Black Phoenix.
Ganata.
If she wanted to remain beside Karl no matter what dangers he encountered, then she needed to become stronger as well.
She would continue cultivating Chaos Magic until she was powerful enough to stand beside him anywhere.
After Karl disappeared, Vastness activated the warship's defense system.
...
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL for more chapters.