Marvel: My Wife is the Scarlet Witch
Chapter 1: Accident
A headache.
Arthur clutched his head, feeling as if a rod were stirring inside his brain.
"What's going on..."
He opened his eyes and found himself standing on an unfamiliar street. Around him were buildings in an Eastern European style, and pedestrians were speaking a language he didn't understand.
Fragments of memory suddenly flooded in. Marvel Universe. Sokovia. Wanda Maximoff. Iron Man's missile. Parents dead. Quicksilver. Chaos Magic.
"Did I transmigrate?" Arthur froze for two seconds, then suddenly realized, "Wait, what time is it now?"
He looked around and saw a television playing the news in the window of a bakery on the street corner. The logo of Stark Industries flashed on the screen, along with the punchable face of Tony Stark.
"Stark Industries' latest weapons have been delivered to the the military..."
Arthur's brain buzzed.
"Missile bombardment! It's today!"
He took off running.
The physical fitness brought by the Superman template made his speed ridiculously fast. Pedestrians on the street only felt a gust of wind blow by; they couldn't see a figure at all.
Where was Wanda's home?
The face of that little red-haired girl in his memory became clear. Wanda, around ten years old, her brother Pietro, and their parents...
"The third street on the left, the one with the red roof!"
Arthur turned into the alley, almost flying.
When he kicked open the door of that house, a family of four was sitting at the dining table eating lunch.
A middle-aged couple and two children—a red-haired girl and a silver-haired boy.
Everyone stared blankly at the stranger who had suddenly burst in.
"Who are you?" Wanda's father stood up, still holding a dinner knife in his hand.
"No time to explain!" Arthur gasped. "A missile is about to fall! Now! Immediately! Come with me!"
Wanda's mother shielded the two children behind her: "What missile? What are you talking about?"
"A Stark Industries missile! A test error! It will hit this neighborhood directly!" Arthur stamped his feet in anxiety. "Trust me once! Just once! Go outside and look at the sky if you have to!"
Wanda's father frowned and walked to the window to look up.
There was indeed a black dot in the sky, and it was getting larger.
"Good God..." His face turned pale instantly.
"Run!" Arthur roared.
He picked up Wanda with one arm and Pietro with the other, then turned and dashed outside. Wanda's parents finally reacted and ran out after them.
They had just run less than twenty meters from the house.
A sharp whistling sound came from behind.
Arthur looked back. The missile, trailing flames, was crashing straight down onto the house where they had just been eating.
"Get down!"
He pressed the two children beneath him, using his back to block the Shockwave.
The explosion was deafening.
Heat waves wrapped in debris whistled over their heads. Wanda's house instantly turned into a pile of burning ruins.
Wanda was trembling in Arthur's arms.
"It's okay now." Arthur loosened his grip and checked on the two children. "Are you both unhurt?"
Pietro stared blankly in the direction of their home. Wanda, however, lifted her head and stared at Arthur's face.
"You..." she whispered, "How did you know?"
"I..." Arthur was momentarily speechless.
He couldn't exactly say "I've read the script," right?
Just as he was thinking about what to make up, he suddenly felt something falling from the sky.
Missile debris.
A piece of burning metal was crashing down toward the heads of Wanda's parents.
"Watch out!"
Arthur moved.
His speed was so fast that it left an afterimage in place. Wanda only felt a blur before her eyes, and Arthur had already appeared before her parents, raising his hand to punch the fragment.
"Bang!"
The metal fragment was knocked flying, crashing into the ruins in the distance.
The scene was quiet for a few seconds.
Wanda's parents looked at Arthur, then at the fragment that had been knocked away, their mouths agape and unable to speak.
"You..." Wanda's father finally squeezed out a voice, "Are you a Mutant?"
"Sort of." Arthur gave a vague answer, then looked at Wanda. "Are you okay?"
Wanda shook her head, her eyes never leaving Arthur.
In that gaze, there was curiosity, fear, and a little bit of... reliance?
Arthur's heart stirred.
This was the Scarlet Witch as a child. The Wanda who had such a tragic fate in the movies and eventually broke down and turned evil.
Screw that tragedy.
Since I'm here, this script has to change.
"Let's leave here first." Arthur said. "Find a safe place."
He led Wanda's family toward the outside of the district. The road was filled with cries and ruins. Stark Industries' missile test error had blown up half the block.
Wanda gripped the corner of Arthur's clothes tightly, not leaving his side for a step.
"What's your name?" she asked softly.
"Arthur."
"Zhang... Ye?" Wanda tried to pronounce it. "Are you Chinese?"
"Yes." Arthur smiled. "I live on the next street. I've seen you a few times before, but you probably didn't notice."
This was the truth. In his memory, the original owner of this body did indeed live nearby and was an ordinary Asian youth.
But now, it wasn't ordinary.
The Superman template plus the memories of a transmigrator, this starting point was simply luxurious.
"Thank you for saving us." Wanda's mother said with red eyes. "If it weren't for you, our whole family would have..."
"It's nothing." Arthur waved his hand. "It was the right thing to do."
He was actually thinking about something else.
When would the Ancient One come?
According to the settings, since he had caused such an off-the-charts energy fluctuation, that Sorcerer Supremeshould have already noticed, right?
Just as he was thinking this, the surrounding air suddenly rippled.
A bald woman in yellow robes walked out of a golden Portal, holding a cup of tea in her hand.
Wanda's family shrank back in fear.
Arthur's heart skipped a beat.
She's here.
The Ancient One looked at the surrounding ruins, then at Arthur, and then took a sip of tea.
"Interesting." She said. "A variable this large has suddenly appeared in the timeline."
"Who are you?" Wanda's father asked, summoning his courage.
"A mage of Kamar-Taj, responsible for protecting Earthfrom dimensional threats." The Ancient One's gaze fell on Arthur. "Young man, the kind of power you used just now does not belong to this world, does it?"
Arthur scratched his head: "This... is a long story."
"Then make it short." The Ancient One put down the teacup. "You are a transmigrator, aren't you?"
Holy crap, so direct?
Arthur nodded: "Yes."
"And you also carry some kind of... template?" Green light flashed in the Ancient One's eyes, the power of the Time Stone flowing. "Superman? Krypton bloodline? Interesting."
She circled around Arthur.
"What's more interesting is that your existence has not triggered the timeline's self-correction. It's as if... you were supposed to be here all along."
Arthur breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed the "Narrative Variable" identity given by the system had worked.
"So, are you going to eliminate me?" He asked.
The Ancient One smiled: "Eliminate? No. The timeline has accepted your existence, which means you have your role. I'm just curious, what did you come here to do?"
Arthur looked at Wanda beside him.
"Protect her." He said. "And change some... things that were originally supposed to happen."
Wanda looked up, watching Arthur.
"Protect me?" She asked.
"Yes." Arthur squatted down, looking Wanda in the eyes. "You are very important. Even more important than you imagine. So I must ensure you grow up safely, and are not harmed by anyone."
Wanda blushed.
The Ancient One raised an eyebrow: "A very pure motivation. However, your current power is still very crude. You know nothing about the magical aspect, relying purely on brute force."
"So you're going to teach me?" Arthur seized the opportunity.
The Ancient One took another sip of tea.
"I am indeed missing a disciple." She said slowly. "That kid Strange still has to wait many years. As for you... although your path is a bit wild, your foundation is good. The key is, your character is decent."
She looked at Wanda's family: "You all should find a place to settle down first. I'm taking this kid with me to learn some skills, so he can better protect you in the future."
Wanda's father hesitated for a moment, but seeing the power Arthur had displayed earlier, he nodded.
"Arthur..." Wanda grabbed Arthur's hand. "Will you come back?"
"Of course." Arthur rubbed her hair. "I promise. Once I learn how to control my power, I'll come back to find you."
"Pinky promise." Wanda extended her little finger.
Arthur smiled and pinky promised with her.
The Ancient One watched from the side, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.
"Alright, now that the farewell is over, let's go." She drew a Portal. "The lessons at Kamar-Taj don't wait for anyone."
Arthur followed the Ancient One into the Portal.
Before leaving, he looked back once.
Wanda stood in front of the ruins, her red hair blowing in the wind, her eyes fixed on him.
That gaze, he noted it down.
The Portal closed.
On the snowy peaks of Kamar-Taj, the cold wind was biting.
The Ancient One handed Arthur a thick robe.
"First lesson." She said. "magic is not a parlor trick. It is borrowing the power of dimensions; it requires focus, willpower, and a little bit of talent."
Arthur took the robe and put it on: "Then what about this Superman template of mine..."
"That is your foundation." The Ancient One said. "magic is a tool. With such a good physical foundation, you should learn faster than others. But don't get cocky; that kid Strange caught up and surpassed my decades of cultivation in just a few months."
"Then I'll have to hurry up." Arthur said.
In the following days, Arthur began his routine of practicing magic during the day and using Super Vision to peek at Sokovia at night.
Don't misunderstand; he wasn't a pervert. He was just worried about Wanda.
Wanda's family moved into temporary housing. Life was tight, but at least it was safe. Arthur would teleport back every few days, bringing some food and supplies. Sometimes it was bread, sometimes clothes, and sometimes he just kept Wanda company and talked.
The little girl, from her initial reserve, slowly became lively.
"Arthur, what magic did you learn today?"
"Sling Ring Portal, it's quite useful."
"Can you teach me?"
"When you're a bit older."
"That phrase again..." Wanda pouted, but her eyes were smiling.
That kid Pietro accepted reality quite quickly, pestering Arthur all day asking this and that.
"Big Brother Arthur, can you fly?"
"Yes."
"How fast?"
"Faster than a missile."
"Wow!"
A child's admiration is always so simple.
Three months later, Arthur could proficiently use the Shield of Seraphim and the Sword of Vishanti. The Ancient One expressed surprise at this.
"Your learning speed is indeed ridiculous." She said. "But it's also a good thing. Graduate early, and go back early to find your little girlfriend."
Arthur blushed: "Not my girlfriend yet..."
"It's only a matter of time." The Ancient One smiled. "I can tell, the child relies on you very much. And you can't let her go either. It's good; pure emotion is an aid in magical cultivation, not an obstacle."
Another month passed.
Arthur mastered the Mirror Dimension and the energy whip. The Ancient One finally nodded.
"That's enough." She said. "You've learned the basics. The rest is practical combat and accumulation. Go back; Sokovia needs you, and that little girl needs you too."
Arthur drew a Portal.
This time he opened it directly at the door of Wanda's family's temporary residence.
Knocking on the door, Wanda's eyes lit up immediately when she saw it was him.
"Arthur!"
She rushed over and hugged Arthur's waist.
Arthur rubbed her hair: "I'm back. I'm not leaving this time."
Wanda's parents came out of the room, and when they saw Arthur, they all smiled.
"Did you finish your training?" Wanda's father asked.
"I've entered the door, so to speak." Arthur said. "I can protect you better from now on."
During dinner, Arthur made a decision.
He put down his fork and looked at Wanda's parents.
"Uncle, Auntie." He said. "There is something I would like to get your consent for."
"What is it?" Wanda's mother asked.
Arthur took a deep breath.
"I want to marry Wanda."
"Pfft—" Pietro spat out his soup.
Wanda's father froze. The spoon in Wanda's mother's hand dropped onto the table.
Wanda herself widened her eyes, her face turning red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"I know she is still young." Arthur quickly added. "I don't mean immediately. I mean... get engaged first. When she grows up, we will get married. During this time, I will always protect her, take care of her, and not let her suffer any harm."
He looked at Wanda: "Are you willing?"
Wanda lowered her head, the tips of her ears red.
After a long time, she said in a voice like a mosquito: "...I am."
Wanda's father and mother looked at each other.
Finally, the father sighed.
"You kid, you saved our whole family and have been taking care of us these past few months." He said. "To be honest, I am at ease handing Wanda over to you. It's just..."
"Just what?" Arthur asked.
"It's just that Wanda is still young, you have to wait for her to grow up." The mother took over. "You can't bully her."
"Absolutely not." Arthur raised his hand to swear.
Wanda's father nodded: "Then it's settled. When Wandacomes of age, you two will get married."
Arthur smiled.
He looked at Wanda, and Wanda happened to be looking up at him.
Their eyes met.
The little girl's face was as red as an apple, but her eyes were shining.
Arthur extended his hand and held her small hand.
"From now on, I am your fiancé." He said. "I will always stay by your side, protect you, until forever."
Wanda nodded and gripped his hand tighter.
Outside the window, the night sky of Sokovia began to snow.
But inside the room, it was very warm.
Arthur knew, this was just the beginning.
Iron Man hadn't been born yet, the Avengers hadn't been formed, and Thanos was still in some corner of the Universe snapping his fingers.
But it didn't matter.
He had the Superman template, Supreme Magic, the Ancient One as his teacher, and Wanda by his side.
He had determined to change the script of this Marvel Universe.
Chapter 2: Resonance
At the snowy peak of Kamar-Taj, the wind was still howling.
Arthur wrapped his thick robe tighter around himself and couldn't help but laugh as he looked at Wanda beside him, who was bundled up like a dumpling.
"What are you laughing at?" Wanda asked, poking her face out from her fur collar, her nose slightly red from the cold.
"Nothing, just feels quite magical," Arthur said, reaching out to adjust her scarf. "A few months ago, I was still a street rat in Sokovia, and now I'm a disciple of the Sorcerer Supreme, and I've married you."
Wanda blushed. "Who married you... we're just engaged."
"It's only a matter of time," Arthur said confidently.
The Ancient One walked out from the stone house nearby, holding two steaming cups of tea.
"Are you adjusting to married life?" She handed over the tea.
Arthur took the cup. "It's alright, though this place is too cold. Master, can't we mages set up a constant temperature barrier or something?"
"We can," the Ancient One said, taking a sip of tea, "but I won't."
"...Why?"
"Cultivation requires hardship," the Ancient One said. "It's easy to become complacent when things are too comfortable. Look at that kid Strange; it's precisely because he lived too comfortably that he needed to come to Kamar-Taj to suffer for a few years."
Arthur curled his lip.
Wanda sipped her tea, her eyes fixed on the Ancient One. "Master Ancient One, can I... can I really control my magic?"
The Ancient One glanced at her.
"Your Chaos Magic is very special," she said. "It is not ordinary dimensional energy, but more like... a certain primordial power. Controlling it requires not just technique, but also state of mind."
"State of mind?"
"Calmness, determination, knowing what you want." The Ancient One pointed at Arthur. "Like him; although his methods are unconventional, his goal is clear. You want to protect him, and he wants to protect you. This pure intention is actually the best anchor."
Arthur blinked. "Master, you're making me blush."
"I'm stating facts." The Ancient One set down her teacup. "Your energy fields are resonating. Haven't you noticed?"
Arthur was stunned.
He carefully sensed it.
Indeed.
Ever since he got engaged to Wanda, the Krypton cells in his body seemed much more active. Moreover, every time Wanda used magic, he could feel a Strange resonance.
"It's like two tuned musical instruments," the Ancient Onesaid. "When they are close, if one sounds, the other will also vibrate. Your energies are influencing and strengthening each other."
Wanda looked down at her hands. "So... I won't lose control?"
"Not for now," the Ancient One said. "With him acting as a stabilizer by your side, your Chaos Magic is actually much more docile than before. However..."
"However what?" Arthur asked.
The Ancient One stared at Arthur. "Your very existence is an anomaly."
Arthur's heart skipped a beat.
"I have seen many transmigrators," the Ancient One said slowly. "The timeline self-corrects, either erasing them or forcing them to integrate. But you are different."
She reached out, the green light of the Time Stone swirling at her fingertips.
"Your arrival did not trigger any correction mechanism. It's as if... the system defaults to you being 'legitimate.' It even gave you initial abilities far beyond standard specifications and allowed you to marry one of the most important variables in this Universe."
Arthur swallowed. "So?"
"So either the system has a bug," the Ancient One said, "or... there is a higher-level existence pulling the strings."
Wanda gripped Arthur's hand tightly.
"But don't worry," the Ancient One smiled. "At least for now, this is a good thing for us. The stronger you are, the safer Wanda is, and the safer Earth is."
She turned and walked into the stone house, and when she came out, she had a necklace in her hand.
The Eye of Agamotto.
Arthur's eyes widened.
"I'll lend it to you to study for a few days," the Ancient Onetossed the necklace over. "The power of the Time Stone is very complex; your current magic level cannot control it. But you can feel its energy structure; it will help you understand dimensions."
Arthur took the necklace, his hands trembling slightly.
This was the Time Stone!
"Don't break it," the Ancient One said. "If you break it, you won't be able to fix it."
"Rest assured, Master," Arthur carefully put the necklace away. "I'll just take a look, I definitely won't mess with it."
Wanda leaned in curiously. "Is this very powerful?"
"It can control time, what do you think?" Arthur lowered his voice. "But we can't use it yet. I'll teach you once I've studied it thoroughly."
The Ancient One watched the two of them, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.
"Alright, let's talk business." She clapped her hands. "You have both learned enough basic magic. Arthur's Superman ability combines well with magic, and Wanda's Chaos Magic is basically stable. Next..."
She drew a Portal.
On the other side of the door was the streets of New York, bustling with traffic.
"The New York Sanctum is short-handed," the Ancient One said. "Wong can't manage it alone. Go there for a few months of internship and get familiar with the daily work of protecting Earth."
Arthur's eyes lit up. "New York? That works!"
Wanda was a bit hesitant. "I... can I do it?"
"You have to do it whether you can or not," the Ancient One said. "You can't hide in Kamar-Taj forever. Practical combat is the best teacher."
She paused and looked at Arthur. "Especially you. Having power alone is not enough; you must know how to use it. There are many miscellaneous tasks at the New York Sanctum, from exorcism to repairing barriers, you'll do it all. It's perfect for practice."
Arthur nodded. "Understood."
"Also," the Ancient One added, "remember to hide your strength. The Superman template is too conspicuous; just use magic normally. Only use your real power if you encounter trouble you can't solve."
"Playing the pig to eat the tiger, I get it." Arthur grinned.
Wanda poked him. "You're misusing idioms again."
"That's not an idiom, it's internet slang," Arthurcorrected. "It means pretending to be a weakling, then unleashing a big move at the critical moment."
The Ancient One shook her head. "Play however you like, just don't tear down the Sanctum."
The Portal stabilized.
Arthur took Wanda's hand. "Let's go, I'll take you to explore New York."
Wanda took a deep breath and nodded.
The two walked into the Portal.
In the library of the New York Sanctum, Wong was organizing ancient books. Seeing the Portal light up, he looked up.
"New arrivals?" Wong pushed up his glasses.
"Arthur, and this is Wanda," Arthur introduced himself. "Master Ancient One sent us here for an internship."
Wong sized the two of them up, taking a particularly long look at Wanda.
"The aura of Chaos Magic," he said. "Interesting. Alright, the third room on the left on the first floor is empty, you can stay there for now. Start working tomorrow."
"What kind of work?" Arthur asked.
"Everything," Wong pointed to the bookshelves. "Organizing books, cleaning, checking barriers, handling requests for help. New York hasn't been peaceful lately; dimensional fluctuations are a bit frequent."
Wanda asked softly. "Will there be danger?"
Wong glanced at her. "With him around, probably not."
Arthur chuckled. "Senior Brother Wong has a good eye."
"Don't be happy too soon," Wong said. "Last month, an intern came to the London Sanctum and opened the Mirror Dimension backwards on the first day, trapping himself inside for three days before he was rescued."
Arthur's smile froze.
Wanda couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Alright, go settle in," Wong waved his hand. "I'll call you for dinner tonight."
The room was not big, but it was clean.
Arthur put down their luggage, while Wanda curiously looked around.
"Can people... really live here?" She touched the magicrunes on the wall.
"If we can live in Kamar-Taj, this is nothing," Arthur lay down on the bed. "Besides, New York is great; there's pizza, hot dogs, and movie theaters."
Wanda sat down next to him. "Arthur."
"Hmm?"
"Do you think... we can really stay like this forever?" Wandalowered her head. "I won't suddenly lose control and hurt you or others?"
Arthur sat up and held her hand.
"You won't," he said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because I'm here," Arthur smiled. "If you lose control, I'll hold you until you don't. If once isn't enough, then twice; if twice isn't enough, then a hundred times."
Wanda blushed. "You... what kind of twisted logic is that."
"As long as it works," Arthur reached out and hugged her. "And haven't you noticed? Our energy fields are like conjoined twins now."
He closed his eyes and mobilized his bio-field.
A pale golden halo radiated from him.
Almost simultaneously, red Chaos Magic energy welled up on Wanda. The two energies did not conflict; instead, they blended together like flowing water, forming a red and gold light shield that enveloped them both.
Wanda looked at the light shield in surprise.
"This is..."
"A protective barrier," Arthur opened his eyes. "Exclusive to us. From now on, anyone who wants to mess with you has to get past me first, and break this barrier."
Wanda reached out and touched the light shield, feeling a warm sensation on her fingertips.
"It's... so warm."
"Of course," Arthur said proudly. "My bio-field comes with a built-in constant temperature function, warm in winter and cool in summer. No need for heating in winter or air conditioning in summer; it saves electricity."
Wanda giggled.
She leaned on Arthur's shoulder, watching the blended red and gold light around them.
"Arthur."
"What is it now?"
"Thank you," Wanda said softly. "Thank you for finding me, thank you for protecting me, thank you for... being willing to marry me."
Arthur paused, then held her tighter.
"Silly," he said. "I should be the one thanking you. Without you, staying in this crappy Universe would be so boring."
Wanda looked up, her eyes sparkling.
"Then it's a promise," she said. "From now on, wherever you go, I go. You can't leave me behind."
"Absolutely," Arthur kissed her forehead. "With our hearts united, we can break through anything. From now on, we'll be the strongest couple in the Marvel Universe; if a god blocks us, we kill the god; if a Buddha blocks us, we kill the Buddha."
"Talking nonsense again."
"It's the truth."
Outside the window, the night in New York deepened.
The Sanctum's magic barrier glowed faintly under the night sky, like a transparent protective cover.
Arthur looked at the runes, his mind starting to ponder the Eye of Agamotto the Ancient One had given him.
Time Stone, dimensional theory, cross-Universe travel...
If he could really figure it out, it wouldn't be impossible to take Wanda to other Universes for their honeymoon later.
Visit Superman in the DC Universe, fight some zombies in the Zombie Universe, and while he's at it, teach Batmannot to be so stern all the time.
Just thinking about it felt pretty exciting.
"What are you thinking about?" Wanda asked.
"Thinking about taking you on a trip later," Arthur said. "To other Universes, to see different scenery."
Wanda blinked. "Other Universes?"
"Yeah," Arthur smiled. "Anyway, with me here, it's safe wherever we go. When the time comes, we'll go wherever you want."
Wanda buried her head in his chest.
"Anywhere is fine," she said softly. "As long as I'm with you."
Arthur held her tighter, looking at the night view of New York outside the window.
The bells of the Sanctum rang out, distant and lingering.
Wong shouted from downstairs: "Time to eat! If you don't come, the food will get cold!"
"Coming, coming!" Arthur replied, pulling Wanda up.
The red and gold protective barrier slowly dissipated, but the sense of blended energy still flowed between the two.
Wanda gripped his hand tightly.
Arthur squeezed back and pushed open the door.
The nightlife of New York had just begun.
Chapter 3: Clearing Doubts
The morning in Kamar-Taj was filled with the chill of the snow-capped mountains in the wind.
Arthur and Wanda were walking in the courtyard. Wanda walked slowly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
"What are you thinking about?" Arthur asked.
Wanda stopped walking and looked towards the distant snow-capped mountains.
"Stark Industries," she said. "That logo... I can't forget it."
Arthur also stopped.
He knew what Wanda was talking about. The missile that had almost killed her entire family had the Stark Industrieslogo printed on it.
"Do you hate him?" Arthur asked.
Wanda was silent for a moment.
"I don't know," she said. "He made the missile. But... the one who saved us was you."
Arthur pulled her hand over.
"Then do you remember what the missile looked like?" he asked. "Be specific."
Wanda frowned.
"It was gray, very long, with flames at the tail... and a serial number," she said, trying hard to recall. "The number was... ST-117?"
"Correct," Arthur nodded. "ST-117, a 'Jericho' missile prototype produced by Stark Industries. But do you know what was in the wreckage that fell that day?"
Wanda shook her head.
"There was another set of numbers," Arthur said. "Engraved on the internal parts, very small. S-I, followed by a string of digits."
"S-I?"
"It's not an abbreviation for Stark Industries," Arthursaid, looking at her. "It stands for'Strategic Intervention.' A department hidden in the shadows of the Pentagon, specializing in dirty work."
Wanda's eyes widened.
"You mean..."
"That missile wasn't a test failure," Arthur said calmly. "Someone stole Stark's prototype, changed the internal coding, and then deliberately dropped it on Sokovia. To test its power, and to eliminate some 'unwanted witnesses'."
Wanda's hand trembled slightly.
"What was Tony Stark doing at the time?" Arthurcontinued. "He was partying in Las Vegas, dead drunk, not even knowing his weapons had been stolen. By the time he found out, it had already happened."
"How do you know all this?" Wanda asked.
"I've seen... some files," Arthur said vaguely. "In short, the real culprit is not Tony Stark. It's those who hide in the shadows, using other people's weapons to do their dirty work."
Wanda took a deep breath.
A faint red light emanated from her body, flickering like a heartbeat.
The surrounding air began to distort.
Arthur immediately grabbed her wrist.
"Steady," he said.
A pale golden bio-field spread from his palm, wrapping around Wanda's wrist like Water. The red light met the gold, slowly calmed down, and finally turned into a gentle halo, entwining around their clasped hands.
Wanda watched the red and gold light blending together, her breathing gradually stabilizing.
"So... I shouldn't hate him?" she asked softly.
"You should hate the real culprits," Arthur said. "As for Tony Stark... that guy is an asshole, a megalomaniac, and can talk someone to death. But he's not a murderer. And..."
He paused.
"He will be my friend in the future."
Wanda looked up: "A friend?"
"Yes," Arthur smiled. "Although he might still be in some woman's bed right now, we'll meet sooner or later. When the time comes, I'll take you to see him, and you'll know—that guy has a sharp tongue, but his heart isn't bad."
Wanda thought for a moment.
"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I was afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it," Arthursaid honestly. "Hatred is sometimes easier to digest than the truth. If I had just told you 'don't hate him, the real killer is someone else,' you would have felt even worse."
Wanda didn't speak.
She looked at the light entwining their hands for a long time.
"Arthur."
"Hmm?"
"If... if I hadn't controlled my magic just now, what would have happened?"
"Nothing would have happened," Arthur said. "If you lost control, I would hold you. I'd hold you until you didn't lose control anymore. If once isn't enough, I'll do it twice; if twice isn't enough, a hundred times. I'm strong enough to hold you anyway."
Wanda giggled.
"What kind of twisted logic is that?"
"As long as it works," Arthur also laughed.
Footsteps came from behind.
The Ancient One walked over holding tea, glancing at the light on their hands.
"Control is good," she said. "Much more stable than yesterday."
"Master," Arthur greeted.
The Ancient One nodded and took a sip of tea.
"What you just said is basically correct," she said, looking at Wanda. "There was indeed another force manipulating things behind that incident. Stark Industries was a tool, not the mastermind."
Wanda bit her lip.
"Then the mastermind..."
"Has already been dealt with," the Ancient One said lightly. "Kamar-Taj has its own ways. But that's not important. The important thing is that now that you know the truth, you can let go of some things."
She put down her teacup.
"The New York Sanctum is ready. Wong said the room is tidied up, the barrier has been checked, and they are just waiting for you to go over."
Arthur's eyes lit up: "Leave now?"
"Leave now." The Ancient One drew a circle.
Golden sparks rotated in the air, expanding into a Portal. On the other side of the door was the library of the New York Sanctum, where Wong was holding a stack of books, putting them on the shelves.
"By the way," the Ancient One said, as if remembering something, looking at Arthur. "Are you wearing the Eye of Agamotto?"
Arthur took the necklace out of his pocket and hung it around his neck.
"I'm wearing it. But Master, can you really just lend this to me?"
"It's not lending," the Ancient One corrected. "It's for you to study. The power of the Time Stone is very complex; you can't even touch the surface of it right now. But in New York, you will encounter many... 'variables'. Carrying it might help you see something."
Arthur touched the necklace.
"Variables?"
"Like you," the Ancient One gave him a meaningful look. "Like Wanda. Like the soon-to-be-born Iron Man. The storyline of this Universe is shifting, and you two as a couple are the biggest unstable factors."
Wanda tightened her grip on Arthur's hand.
"But this isn't a bad thing," the Ancient One smiled. "Rigid narratives need fresh blood. Go on, New York has many things waiting for you."
Arthur nodded and pulled Wanda towards the Portal.
Before stepping in, he turned back to ask.
"Master, the 'Council of Watchers' you mentioned... are they still watching?"
The Ancient One's tea-drinking action paused.
"Always watching," she said. "But don't worry. They only observe, they don't intervene. As long as you don't tear the Multiverse apart, they won't make a move."
"And what if we do tear it apart?"
"Then tear it apart and put it back together," the Ancient One waved her hand. "Go, don't delay my tea time."
Arthur grinned and pulled Wanda into the Portal.
The golden ring closed behind them.
The Ancient One stood in place, watching the spot where the two had disappeared, and took another sip of tea.
"Narrative variables..." she whispered to herself. "What a troublesome little couple."
The teacup was empty.
She turned and walked back to her meditation room, her robes dragging shallow marks in the snow.
Only the sound of the wind remained in the courtyard.
New York Sanctum, library.
Wong stuffed the last book into the shelf and patted the dust off his hands.
"You're here?" he said without turning his head.
"We're here," Arthur looked around. "Senior BrotherWong, what exactly does our apprenticeship... involve?"
"Everything," Wong turned around and pushed up his glasses. "Cleaning, organizing the library, checking the barriers, handling requests for help. New York hasn't been peaceful lately, and dimensional fluctuations are a bit frequent, so you've come at just the right time."
Wanda looked curiously at the ancient books on the shelves.
"Can we... read these books?"
"Yes, but don't mess them up," Wong said. "Especially that row on the right, they are all forbidden books. Reading them makes it easy to have nightmares."
Arthur leaned over to take a look.
The book title was "Whispers of the Abyss," the cover was some kind of black leather, cool to the touch.
"This thing..."
"Don't look," Wong slapped his hand away. "Last time an apprentice secretly read one page and suffered from insomnia for three months. It was only cured after the Ancient One personally intervened."
Arthur retracted his hand.
"Understood, don't court death and you won't die."
Wong nodded and picked up two sheets of paper from the table.
"Your schedules. Wake up at 6:00 AM, meditate for an hour. Breakfast at 7:00, start work at 8:00. Free time from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and there's a magic theory class at 7:00 PM, which I will lead."
Wanda took the paper and looked at it carefully.
"Then... where do we stay?"
"The third room on the left on the first floor," Wong pointed to the corridor. "It's already tidied up. Put your luggage away and come out, I'll take you to familiarize yourselves with the Sanctum's barrier nodes."
Arthur pulled Wanda towards the room.
Pushing open the door, the room was bigger than the one in Kamar-Taj, with a private bathroom and a window that looked out onto the street view.
"Not bad," Arthur threw his bag on the bed. "At least we won't have to freeze."
Wanda walked to the window, looking at the New Yorkstreets outside.
Traffic, pedestrians, skyscrapers.
Completely different from the Sokovia in her memories.
"Arthur," she said suddenly.
"What's wrong?"
"If... if we encounter the real culprit who made that missile in the future, what will you do?"
Arthur was organizing his clothes, but stopped when he heard this.
He walked to Wanda's side and watched out the window with her.
"Find them," he said calmly. "And make them pay the price."
"How to make them pay the price?"
"Depends on the situation," Arthur said. "If the law can handle it, we'll send them to prison. If it can't..."
He didn't finish.
But Wanda understood.
She leaned on his shoulder.
"You will always be by my side, right?"
"Of course," Arthur hugged her. "When a couple is united, they can break metal. From now on, we are the strongest couple in New York; if gods block us, we kill gods; if Buddhas block us, we kill Buddhas."
"Talking nonsense again."
"It's the truth."
Outside the window, the New York sun was slowly rising.
The Sanctum's barrier shimmered with a faint halo in the sunlight, like an invisible protective shield.
Wong shouted in the corridor: "Are you done packing? Hurry up and come out, there's plenty of work to do!"
"Coming, coming!" Arthur replied.
He took one last look at the Eye of Agamotto around his neck.
The green gem glowed faintly under his collar.
The story of New York had just begun.
And he and Wanda were ready.
Chapter 4: First Arrival at the Sanctum
The golden light of the Portal dissipated, and Arthurand Wanda stood in the library of the New York Sanctum.
Wong stuffed a stack of books back onto the shelf, turned to see the two, and pushed up his glasses: "You're here? Faster than expected."
"The Ancient One opened the Portal directly." Arthur let go of Wanda's hand and looked around.
This place was much larger than the library at Kamar-Taj, with three-story high ceilings and bookshelves reaching from the floor to the ceiling. The air smelled of old paper and dust.
The windows were stained glass, and the sunlight filtering through cast dappled shadows on the floor.
"Senior Brother Wong, this is Master Daniel." Wong pointed to a middle-aged man nearby who was organizing scrolls. "He is the daily guardian of the New York Sanctum. In the future, if you need anything, ask him."
Daniel looked up; he was a bald man who looked very gentle, wearing mage robes and holding a quill in his hand.
"Arthur, Wanda." He nodded. "The Ancient Onementioned you. Welcome."
Arthur grinned: "Hello, Senior Brother Daniel. What do we usually do here in this Sanctum…?"
"Maintain the barrier, monitor dimensional fluctuations, handle requests for help, and occasionally exorcise demons." Daniel put down his pen. "But it's been quite peaceful lately, except for…"
He didn't finish his sentence before his brow suddenly furrowed.
Arthur felt it almost at the same time.
An extremely faint vibration came from the floor beneath their feet, as if something had turned over in the depths.
It was very slight, something an ordinary person wouldn't notice, but his Super Hearing caught it.
"Except for this." Daniel sighed and pointed at his feet. "Directly below the Sanctum, about three hundred meters deep, there is an old dimensional rift."
"It was there when Kamar-Taj built the New York Sanctum. It's usually quite stable, but recently… the fluctuations have been a bit frequent."
Wanda suddenly grabbed Arthur's arm tightly.
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked.
"It… seems to be breathing." Wanda said in a low voice, eyes fixed on the floor. "My magic, it feels a bit… itchy."
Arthur immediately mobilized his bio-field, and a pale golden halo spread from him, enveloping Wanda.
That "itchy" feeling immediately eased.
"Chaos Magic is very sensitive to dimensional energy." Daniel walked over. "Especially to such unstable rifts. Your energy fields are resonating; what she can feel, you might not necessarily be able to."
Arthur squatted down and pressed his hand to the floor.
His Super Hearing penetrated the concrete and rock layers, extending downward.
One hundred meters, two hundred meters, three hundred meters.
He reached it.
It was a… rift. Not in a physical sense, but more like a fracture in space itself.
The edges were very irregular, like torn paper, with chaotic energy currents swirling around it.
The most eerie part was that a sound was coming from deep within the rift.
It wasn't a sound, but a feeling. It was like many people speaking at the same time, or like a book being flipped through quickly—messy, disordered, but he could vaguely catch a few broken words.
"...story… collapse… anchor point…"
Arthur opened his eyes abruptly.
"What did you hear?" Daniel asked.
"Someone is talking." Arthur stood up. "No, not people. It's… a stream of information. Something about stories, collapses, anchor points, and so on."
Wanda's face turned pale: "I felt it too. It's very messy and very loud."
Wong put down his book, his expression turning serious: "How long has this been going on?"
"Half a month." Daniel said. "The fluctuations are getting stronger. The Ancient One came to check once and said it wouldn't expand for the time being, but it needs to be monitored."
Arthur rubbed his chin: "Can we go down and take a look?"
"No." Daniel shook his head. "That place isn't on a physical level. You'd need to use astral projection or the Mirror Dimension to get close. But I don't suggest you go now—the energy is too chaotic, and beginners can easily get lost."
"We can't just watch, though." Arthur said. "Senior Brother Wong, can the Sanctum's defense system cover this thing?"
Wong walked to the wall and pressed a certain rune.
The entire wall lit up, revealing a three-dimensional light grid. Countless lines intertwined, covering the entire Sanctum like neural pathways, then extended downward to form an inverted bowl-shaped structure, enclosing the rift inside.
"The Sanctum barrier, personally blessed by the Vishanti." Wong said. "Under normal circumstances, let alone a rift, even if a dimensional lord came, they would hit a brick wall."
"But the rift is inside the barrier." Arthur pointed at the light grid. "It was under the Sanctum from the beginning; the barrier was built later. So the barrier isn't to guard against it, but to guard against things from the outside coming in through it—right?"
Daniel glanced at Arthur: "The Ancient One said your mind turns fast, and indeed it does."
"Then the question is." Arthur said. "If the rift expands on its own, can the barrier hold?"
Wong and Daniel exchanged glances.
"It can't." Wong said truthfully. "So we have to find a way to stabilize it."
Wanda suddenly spoke: "It… likes my magic."
The three of them looked at her.
Wanda was a bit nervous, but continued: "Just now, when Arthur covered me with his bio-field, that 'itchy' feeling turned into… comfort. Like basking in the sun."
Arthur's eyes lit up.
He took Wanda's hand and mobilized his bio-field again. Red and golden light surged from them, blending together to form a warm shroud of light.
Almost immediately, the vibration beneath the floor noticeably weakened.
"Holy crap." Arthur laughed. "So we're walking stabilizers?"
Daniel walked quickly to the wall and stared at the data stream on the light grid.
"Energy fluctuations have dropped by thirty percent." He turned to look at Arthur. "Your energy fields can suppress the rift?"
"Not suppress." Arthur felt the changes under his feet. "It's… soothing. Wanda's Chaos Magic seems to be able to resonate with the energy in the rift, and once my bio-field gets involved, it lulls it to sleep."
Wong pushed up his glasses: "We must tell the Ancient One."
"No need to tell, I'm listening."
Ripples appeared in the air, and the Ancient One's bust projected out from the Mirror Dimension, still holding that cup of tea.
"Master!" Arthur greeted.
The Ancient One nodded and took a sip of tea: "I've seen the situation. Arthur, your inference is basically correct—that rift doesn't connect to an ordinary dimension; it's a story world on the verge of collapse."
"A story world?" Wanda asked.
"You can understand it as… the prototype of a Universe." The Ancient One said. "It hasn't fully formed yet, and the narrative energy is insufficient; it's falling apart. Such rifts usually close automatically, but this one is special—it's stuck."
"Stuck?"
"Just like a door stuck by a stone, it can't close and it can't open fully." The Ancient One put down her teacup. "Normally it wouldn't be a big problem, but after you two arrived, it started becoming active."
Arthur's heart skipped a beat: "Because of us?"
"Because of your status as 'Narrative Variables'." The Ancient One looked at him. "The Council of Watchers has already noticed you. Two people who shouldn't have appeared in this Universe, one with a Superman template, one with the source of Chaos Magic, and you're married—in the multiverse narrative system, this is a major anomaly."
Wanda grabbed Arthur's hand tightly.
"Don't be nervous." The Ancient One said. "The Watchers only observe, they don't intervene. Unless you take apart the multiverse, they won't make a move."
"Then this rift…" Arthur pointed at his feet.
"It was attracted by your energy fields." The Ancient Onesaid. "To be precise, it was attracted by Wanda's Chaos Magic. Chaos Magic is a source power; to a world on the verge of collapse, it's like a lighthouse to a ship lost at sea."
Arthur understood: "So it wants to lean in?"
"It wants to, but it can't get through." The Ancient Onesaid. "The dimensional barrier is too thick, and it is too weak. It can only transmit some fluctuations through the rift, like a distress signal."
Wong frowned: "Then what do we do? Ignore it?"
"Deal with it, but be careful." The Ancient One looked at Arthur. "The thing around your neck, do you know how to use it yet?"
Arthur took out the Eye of Agamotto.
"I've read the manual, but haven't practiced with it."
"Practice now." The Ancient One said. "Use the power of the Time Stone to stabilize the energy structure of the rift. Wanda, cooperate, use your Chaos Magic as a guide—your energy fields can resonate, making the operation twice as effective with half the effort."
Arthur and Wanda looked at each other.
"How do we do it?" Arthur asked.
"Hold hands and stand directly above the rift." The Ancient One directed. "Arthur, focus your mind to feel the energy of the Time Stone. Don't think about manipulating time; just think about 'fixing'—fix the current state of the rift. Wanda, relax and let the Chaos Magic flow naturally; it will automatically find the resonance point."
The two did as instructed.
Arthur held Wanda's hand, his other hand pressing on the Eye of Agamotto. Green light surged from the necklace, flowed down his arm, and then blended with the red light on Wanda.
The vibration under the floor stopped completely.
It didn't disappear; it solidified. It was like pressing the pause button.
Arthur could feel the energy flow in the rift being forcibly "pinned" in a certain state. It didn't expand, it didn't contract, it just stayed stuck like that.
"Maintain it." The Ancient One's voice was very calm. "Thirty seconds is enough."
Arthur's forehead broke out in sweat.
This was more tiring than imagined. The energy of the Time Stone was like a flood, and he had to use all his strength to control a small stream. Wanda wasn't having an easy time either; she bit her lip, eyes fixed on the floor, red light undulating around her.
Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty.
"Withdraw!"
The two let go at the same time.
The green and red light dissipated, and Arthur sat down on the floor, gasping for breath. Wanda's legs were also weak, and she leaned on his shoulder to keep from falling.
Daniel rushed to the wall to look at the data.
"The fluctuations have stabilized!" He shouted, turning back. "Energy readings dropped by eighty percent! The rift has entered a dormant state!"
Wong breathed a sigh of relief.
The Ancient One's projection nodded: "Well done. To be able to achieve this level on your first cooperation is better than I expected."
"Master, how long will this last?" Arthur asked, panting.
"Depends on the situation." The Ancient One said. "Shortest a few months, longest a few years. But this isn't a long-term solution—the rift is still there, just asleep. If one day your energy fields fluctuate too much, or there's some other stimulus nearby, it will wake up again."
"Then what is the permanent solution?"
"Two." The Ancient One held up two fingers. "One, wait for that story world to collapse completely on its own, and the rift will naturally disappear. Two, you go in and help it continue the story."
Arthur was stunned: "Go in?"
"Cross-dimensional intervention." The Ancient One said. "But that's a conversation for later. You're struggling to even stabilize the rift right now, let alone enter another world. Build your foundation first."
She took a sip of tea, and her projection began to fade.
"The New York Sanctum's library has materials related to cross-dimensional theory; find them and read them yourselves. Wong and Daniel will teach you the daily routines. Remember, keep a low profile, don't cause trouble—although even if you do cause trouble, I can cover for you, but it's a hassle."
As her voice fell, the projection disappeared.
The library was quiet for a few seconds.
Wong spoke first: "So… you two are now the Sanctum's full-time rift soothers?"
"Sounds like pet groomers." Arthur climbed up from the floor. "But it's fine, better than cleaning."
Wanda was still staring at the floor: "It… is asleep?"
"Yeah." Arthur patted her shoulder. "It's fine for now."
Daniel walked over, looking at the two with a complex expression: "The Ancient One said you are 'Narrative Variables', I didn't quite understand it. Now I do—you two standing here is an event in itself."
Arthur grinned: "That's right, walking plot triggers."
"Stop joking around." Wong interrupted him. "Since the rift is stabilized, it's time to do real work. The third bookshelf in the east section of the library is full of materials on dimensional theory and cross-world travel; finish the first ten books today."
"Ten books?" Arthur widened his eyes. "Senior BrotherWong, this is exploiting labor."
"What else?" Wong pushed up his glasses. "You caused the trouble, you clean it up. Hurry up, I want to check before dinner."
Arthur sighed and pulled Wanda toward the bookshelf.
Wanda asked in a low voice: "Can we learn it?"
"We must." Arthur said. "Otherwise, the next time the rift wakes up, we'll be exhausted like dogs."
He pulled out a thick ancient book, with "Overview of Multiverse Basic Structure" written on the cover.
Opening the first page, his eyes were filled with symbols and charts he couldn't understand.
Arthur's head started to ache.
But looking at Wanda beside him, he held the book steady again.
Must learn.
To be able to take her to other worlds for a honeymoon in the future, to keep those messes from coming to the door, to… be able to live like this peacefully.
He opened the book, and Wanda leaned in to look as well.
Red and golden light flowed slightly on the two, very faint, but never dissipated.
Daniel watched from afar, shook his head, and whispered to Wong: "These two will be busy in the future."
Wong gave a grunt, and continued organizing the bookshelf.
Outside the window, the New York sun was slanting to the west.
The Sanctum's barrier shimmered with a soft light under the setting sun, enclosing the sleeping rift and the couple reading beside it.
Quiet and peaceful.
At least for now.
Chapter 5: Watching the Drama Unfold
The lights in the New York Sanctum library had been on all night.
Arthur closed the book in his hand, "72 Methods for Stabilizing Dimensional Rifts," and rubbed his eyes. Wandawas slumped over the desk next to him, asleep, with three open ancient books spread out before her.
It was just beginning to get light outside the window.
Arthur reached out and poked Wanda's cheek.
"Wake up, it's morning."
Wanda opened her eyes groggily, glanced out the window, and buried her head back into her arms. "Five more minutes..."
"No more sleeping, time to watch the drama unfold." Arthur pushed the tablet on the table toward her.
Wanda reluctantly raised her head and glanced at the screen.
There was a news notification with a striking headline.
[Stark Industries CEO Tony Stark attacked and missing in Afghanistan; the military has launched a search and rescue operation]
The accompanying image showed the desert and the burning wreckage of a vehicle.
Wanda blinked, fully awake now.
"Tony Stark?" She sat up straight. "The one... who builds missiles?"
"He's not Iron Man yet." Arthur scrolled through the screen, pulling up more reports. "Looking at the timeline, the attack was yesterday afternoon. He should be locked in a cave by now."
Wanda stared at the screen for a few seconds and suddenly smiled.
"What are you laughing at?" Arthur asked.
"We were just talking about meeting him yesterday." Wanda pointed at the news. "And now this happens today. Is this what you call... fate?"
Arthur chuckled too. "That depends on whether he knows we're thinking about him."
He stood up and stretched.
"Let's go."
"Where?" Wanda asked.
"To watch the drama unfold in person." Arthur drew a circle, and golden sparks swirled in the air. "This is a historical moment, the turning point in Tony Stark's life. If we don't go watch, we're wasting our positions."
Wanda's eyes lit up. "We can really go?"
"The Portal is already open, what do you think?" Arthurtook her hand. "But we have an agreement: watch only, don't interfere. He has to suffer what he needs to suffer and realize what he needs to realize. We can't ruin the plot."
"Then what are we going to see?"
"See how he transforms from a playboy into Iron Man." Arthur grinned. "Also... I just feel like something is off about this."
Wanda tilted her head. "Off?"
"The Ten Rings," Arthur said. "The organization that kidnapped him. In the original story, they were just a regular terrorists group, but when I was studying the dimensional rift yesterday, I kept feeling like that energy fluctuation looked familiar."
He paused. "It's a bit like the rift beneath the New York Sanctum."
Wanda's expression turned serious.
The two stepped into the Portal.
With a flash of golden light, the scene before them shifted from the library to a vast expanse of yellow sand.
A wave of heat hit them.
Arthur raised his hand and cast a simple concealment barrier. A pale golden light shield covered them; from the outside, it looked like nothing more than distorted air.
"Is the location right?" Wanda whispered.
"The coordinates from the news, plus my Super Vision." Arthur pointed to the buildings at the foot of the mountain in the distance. "Over there, there are guards at the cave entrance. Tony is inside."
The two approached slowly.
Arthur's Superman senses were fully engaged, capturing every movement within a radius of several kilometers.
Someone was talking inside the cave.
"...My name is Yinsen, Doctor Yinsen. You were shot, but the shrapnel wasn't removed. I installed an electromagnet in your chest to prevent the fragments from entering your heart."
Then came Tony's voice, a bit weak, but still carrying that annoying tone.
"An electromagnet? You used a car battery to put a magnet in my chest?"
"Something that saved your life, Mr. Stark."
"Fine, better than being dead."
Wanda couldn't help but laugh, then quickly covered her mouth.
Arthur pulled her around to the side of the cave and found a spot with a good view. His X-ray vision penetrated the rock wall, allowing him to see the situation inside clearly.
Tony was lying on a bed, with a glowing disc actually installed in his chest, connected by wires. A middle-aged man wearing glasses stood next to him, fiddling with some crude medical equipment.
The cave was piled high with Stark Industries weapon crates.
"That's miserable," Arthur commented.
"Should we help him?" Wanda asked.
"Not now." Arthur shook his head. "He needs to figure it out himself. However..."
He suddenly frowned.
Wanda felt it too.
Inside the cave, besides Tony and Yinsen, there were several armed guards. A very faint energy fluctuation radiated from them.
It wasn't magic, nor was it technology.
It was a kind of... twisted, chaotic fluctuation, very similar to the one beneath the New York Sanctum.
"Arthur." Wanda gripped his arm. "There is... something inside them."
Arthur saw it too.
With his Superman vision, he could see a dark red Marknear the hearts of those guards. It was very small, like a tattoo, but it radiated that chaotic energy.
The similarity to the rift fluctuation he sensed yesterday was over seventy percent.
"The Ten Rings..." Arthur said in a low voice. "They are not ordinary terrorists."
He raised his hand, and a faint golden light appeared at his fingertips.
It was a small trick he had figured out from the Eye of Agamotto that could Mark spatial coordinates. The golden light drifted out silently and landed on the rock wall at the cave entrance, merging into it.
"Marked." Arthur said. "We can come back anytime."
Wanda also raised her hand, red Chaos Magic energy swirling in her palm. She closed her eyes, sensing the Marks inside the guards.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes.
"I've memorized it." She said. "The energy structure is very special, it's like... it was forcibly implanted. It's not natural."
Inside the cave, the conversation between Tony and Yinsencontinued.
"...They want you to build a missile, the Jericho missile."
"I can't build it."
"Then you and I will both die."
"Let me think."
Arthur pulled Wanda back, retreating to a further distance.
"What did you see?" Wanda asked.
"Those Marks." Arthur said. "They are not from this Universe. The nature of the energy is very similar to what's in the New York Sanctum rift, but it's more... crude. Like a cheap knock-off."
Wanda thought for a moment. "Is someone sending things over here from the other side of the rift?"
"Or people." Arthur said. "The Ten Rings might just be a shell; the real culprit is whoever is behind them. They are using cross-dimensional energy to modify their subordinates, enhancing their combat power, and then kidnapping Tony to force him to build weapons."
"For what?"
"I don't know." Arthur shook his head. "But it's definitely not good."
He glanced in the direction of the cave.
Tony was already sitting up, discussing an escape plan with Yinsen.
"Let's go back first." Arthur said. "We need to plan this out carefully."
The two took one last look at the cave, then turned and stepped into the Portal.
The golden light dissipated, leaving only the wind and sand in the desert.
Returning to the New York Sanctum library, it was already broad daylight.
Wong pushed the door open and saw the two sitting at the table, stunned for a moment.
"You two haven't slept all night?"
"We slept, then woke up." Arthur yawned. "Senior Brother Wong, let me ask you something. Is it possible for the rift beneath the New York Sanctum... to leak things out?"
Wong adjusted his glasses. "Theoretically, it's impossible. The barrier is covering it."
"Then what if it leaked before the barrier was put up?" Arthur asked. "How long has the rift existed?"
Wong thought for a moment. "It was there when Kamar-Taj built the New York Sanctum, at least a few hundred years. The barrier was reinforced later, but the rift was considered during the initial construction, so the basic protection has always been there."
Arthur and Wanda exchanged glances.
"In other words, things could have already leaked through hundreds of years ago." Wanda whispered.
"Possibly." Wong nodded. "But the Ancient One checks it regularly and hasn't found any abnormalities. Why are you asking about this?"
"Curiosity." Arthur said casually. "When I was stabilizing the rift yesterday, I felt like it... had a memory."
Wong looked at him for a few seconds and didn't press further.
"Breakfast is in the kitchen, go get it yourselves. Today we need to organize the West Wing bookshelves, don't slack off."
He left.
Arthur waited until the footsteps faded before lowering his voice to tell Wanda: "We can't tell the Ancient One."
Wanda widened her eyes. "Why?"
"Because if we tell her, she'll definitely intervene." Arthur said. "Once she intervenes, it'll alert the enemy. We don't have any evidence right now; just the Marks inside a few terrorists isn't convincing enough."
"Then what do we do?"
"Investigate it ourselves." Arthur grinned. "Anyway, we're apprentices at the New York Sanctum now; going out on patrol or handling requests is reasonable. We'll find a chance to contact The Ten Rings and figure out their background."
Wanda thought about it and nodded.
"And what about Tony..."
"Let him suffer for a few days." Arthur said. "When he builds the Mark I, we'll go help him when he escapes. And by the way... see if we can catch a big fish."
He glanced out the window.
In the morning in New York, the traffic was already starting to clog up.
The New York Sanctum's barrier shimmered in the sunlight.
Arthur touched the Eye of Agamotto around his neck.
"Interesting." He said. "I thought it was just a regular kidnapping case, didn't expect to drag out a cross-dimensional force. This drama was worth watching."
Wanda leaned on his shoulder.
"So what do we do next?"
"Wait." Arthur said. "Wait for Tony to start building the armor, wait for The Ten Rings to show more flaws. Before that..."
He picked up the book "72 Methods for Stabilizing Dimensional Rifts" from the table.
"First, learn how to dismantle those broken Marks."