Open-Air Restaurant.
"..."
Finn looked at the dark-clad girl entangled by the monstrous, tentacled creature in the distance, his expression suddenly turning serious.
That girl was Arica Chavez!
Seeing this, he couldn't help but think of Wanda after she turned dark in the main universe. It reminded him of how she perceived the existence of Arica Chavez.
That was why the idea of using the girl to travel through the multiverse had co to mind.
"Then what is her goal?"
Finn fell into deep thought. He really couldn't figure out what the Dark Witch was thinking.
But one thing was clear—the enemy was coming straight for him.
"Finn, you don't look so good. What's wrong?"
Wanda spoke up, her voice tinged with concern.
"I'm fine," Finn shook his head before saying, "I have to help Stephen. He's in a bad spot."
Without further ado, he pushed off the ground and launched himself toward Stephen.
Seeing this, the Scarlet Witch followed closely behind.
On the other side.
Doctor Strange was locked in battle with the monstrous creature—Shuma-Gorath.
The city was in ruins, buildings reduced to rubble, fires raging uncontrollably. Chaos was everywhere.
"Hey, big octopus, over here!"
Stephen conjured a spell and hurled a car at Shuma-Gorath, trying to draw its attention.
But the eldritch entity was unnervingly fast. It seed uninterested in prolonging this battle.
Instead, the wounded beast clutched Arica Chavez with its tentacles and dashed toward the sewer system.
In re monts, it was halfway into a gaping underground tunnel.
"Running away? Not happening!"
Just as Shuma-Gorath was about to disappear, Stephen sprang into action. With both hands, he conjured the Chains of Krakkan, instantly wrapping them around the entity's massive form.
Sensing danger, the eldritch horror retaliated imdiately. Its enormous, bloodshot eye glowed with sinister energy before unleashing a crimson beam of devastating power. The sheer force of the attack warped the air and cracked the very fabric of space.
Boom!
"This is going to take a while."
Stephen's reflexes were sharp. He quickly rotated his hands, conjuring a dinsional gateway to redirect the incoming blast.
"Chi chi chi!!"
Enraged, Shuma-Gorath launched a relentless assault, its massive tentacles flailing wildly, shattering the street, flipping cars, and turning trees into splinters.
Boom!!
The ground split apart instantly, debris flying in all directions.
Stephen was already breathing heavily, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He swiftly circled his hands and materialized the Shield of the Seraphim in front of him.
A thick, radiant golden disc erged, forming a defensive barrier.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
Several of Shuma-Gorath's monstrous limbs smashed down like wrecking balls, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. The sheer impact made Stephen's arms tremble under the strain.
"Damn, this thing's strong."
Stephen scowled, startled by the beast's sheer power.
If he wanted to take it down quickly, he'd need backup.
Just as he was preparing his next move, a golden longsword streaked through the air, slicing through one of Shuma-Gorath's tentacles in an instant.
"Chi chi chi!"
The eldritch monster shrieked in pain, its massive eye narrowing in rage.
Stephen turned his head—Finn was approaching, wielding the Sword of Vishanti!
"Finn, you actually mastered that technique?!"
Stephen was visibly shocked.
The Sword of Vishanti was one of Kamar-Taj's core mystic weapons. While technically accessible to all sorcerers, mastering it required exceptional skill.
And yet, here was Finn, an outsider, wielding it with ease.
It was almost unbelievable.
"Stephen, you talk too much."
Finn dismissed him, gripping the Sword of Vishanti tightly. The blade glead with a golden radiance, exuding an aura of overwhelming power.
"Let's finish this."
Without hesitation, he slashed again. A devastating arc of energy shot through the air, severing another one of Shuma-Gorath's tentacles.
At the sa ti, Finn raised his left hand and unleashed a bolt of lightning—Bolts of Balthakk!
Ho Ho Ho!
Shuma-Gorath howled in agony, its severed appendages spilling thick, dark blood onto the ruined pavent.
Now, it was truly vulnerable.
It could no longer fight.
"This is... Finn ability?"
Wanda, who had been approaching from behind, ca to an abrupt stop, eyes widening in shock.
Bolts of Balthakk was another advanced Kamar-Taj spell.
Even among highly trained sorcerers, few could master it easily.
But Finn had learned it in an absurdly short period of ti.
Her man was terrifyingly strong.
"This guy..."
Stephen's pupils contracted as he observed Finn, stunned by his power.
The combination of the Sword of Vishanti and Bolts of Balthakk was not sothing just anyone could pull off.
At that mont.
Shuma-Gorath, now gravely injured, was struggling to hold onto Arica Chavez.
Its massive eye darted around in desperation, realizing it could no longer escape with its hostage.
In a last-ditch effort, it flung Arica away and attempted to flee into the shadows.
"You think you can escape?"
Finn smirked, gripping his sword tighter before slashing with full force.
Swish!
A dazzling arc of golden energy cut through the air, slicing Shuma-Gorath cleanly in half.
The eldritch horror let out a final, guttural wail before collapsing with a resounding thud. Its corpse twitched once before going still, yellow ichor pooling beneath it, staining the streets red.
Arica Chavez, previously bound by its tentacles, tumbled to the ground.
"That thing was disgusting."
The foul stench of the creature's remains lingered in the air, making Finn instinctively grimace.
Monts later, two Spider-n arrived at the scene. Their masked faces twisted in disgust as they took in the grotesque sight before them.
"Uh... isn't this a little too realistic?"
Both Spider-n simultaneously covered their mouths and noses, cringing.
"Finn, the power you just displayed was insane!"
They glanced at each other before speaking in unison.
Finn rely gave them a sidelong look. As expected of Spider-n, their synchronization was uncanny.
He then pointed toward Arica Chavez, who was sprawled nearby. "Check on her."
At that mont.
Arica groaned, placing one hand on the ground as she held her head.
"Where... am I?"
The world around her felt unfamiliar.
Hissing in pain, she winced. The brutal treatnt she'd endured had left her body aching.
Through blurred vision, she saw a strikingly beautiful woman approaching her, accompanied by several unfamiliar figures.
Her heart pounded.
Just what kind of world had she fallen into?
Finn took a glance from the corner of his eye and noticed a woman with a striking figure approaching, several others following behind her.
It was Wanda.
"How bad are your injuries?" Wanda crouched slightly, reaching out to check on Arica.
But Arica raised a shaky hand to stop her, eyes narrowing in distrust. "Don't co any closer. Who are you?"
Despite her exhaustion, she remained wary of these strangers.
"We're superheroes. You don't have to be afraid," Wanda assured her in a calm, soft tone.
She understood Arica's apprehension. If their roles were reversed, she would be just as cautious. That's why she kept her voice steady, attempting to soothe her.
Before Arica could reply, her gaze landed on Stephen.
Her entire body trembled, eyes widening with unmistakable terror. "Stay away from !" Her voice was sharp, filled with fear.
Stephen took a step forward, confused. "You... seem afraid of ?"
Arica recoiled, panic lacing her words. "You tried to kill before!"
To her, Stephen was no different from a murderer.
The air grew heavy with silence.
Then, realization dawned on the group.
If their suspicions were correct, this Arica must have encountered a different version of Stephen from another universe.
No wonder she was terrified at the sight of him.
"You're mistaken," Finn's voice cut through the tension, steady and clear. "The Stephen who tried to kill you wasn't from this universe."
"Another universe?" Arica echoed hesitantly.
"Yes," Finn confird. "The multiverse is unstable. You must have confused our Stephen with the one who attacked you."
Arica hesitated, processing his words, then exhaled slowly. "So that's what happened."
"It's not safe to talk here. We should head back," Finn said, glancing at Stephen.
Understanding imdiately, Stephen raised his hands, conjuring a glowing portal. The golden rings of Kamar-Taj's magic shimred in the air, forming a swirling gateway of energy.
"Let's go," Finn gestured.
One by one, they stepped through the portal, returning to the New York Sanctum.
New York Sanctum
Sunlight filtered through the windows, illuminating the room where the group sat together.
Arica took a deep breath, finally explaining her situation in detail.
"You an to say you've been running from universe to universe to escape?" Stephen asked, surprised.
He struggled to grasp why soone would be hunting her down so relentlessly. Was she in possession of so forbidden knowledge or power?
"But... I don't sense any magical energy from you," Wanda observed, her expression skeptical.
Arica sighed, shrugging. "That's because I don't use magic. The reason I'm being hunted is simple— I have the ability to travel through the multiverse. But I can't control it yet."
Her voice carried frustration, and she clenched her fists. If she could control her power, she wouldn't be so easily pursued.
Everyone, except Finn, was stunned into silence.
Though Arica looked like just a teenage girl, the revelation that she could traverse dinsions at will was astonishing.
Compared to portals conjured through sorcery, her ability was infinitely more versatile.
Stephen blinked, still processing what he had just heard. His mind raced, struggling to comprehend the implications.
"Say that again," he said, his voice slow, almost hesitant. "What exactly is your ability?"
Arica eyed him warily, her lingering fear making her uneasy.
Even though she understood this Stephen was not the sa as the one who betrayed her, she couldn't shake her instincts.
Sensing her unease, Wanda moved closer, gently placing a reassuring hand on Arica's shoulder. "This Stephen is a good person. You don't have to be afraid."
Arica hesitated but eventually repeated herself. "I have the ability to travel through the multiverse."
Then, as if on instinct, she took a step back.
Stephen's presence unsettled her, regardless of what Wanda said.
Stephen's expression darkened in thought.
This was a dangerous developnt.
If she truly had this power, then—
"You're thinking the sa thing, aren't you?" Finn interrupted, his voice cutting through Stephen's thoughts.
"Yes," Stephen admitted. "If she can travel between universes, it makes sense why she's being targeted."
The others exchanged glances, feeling lost in the conversation.
Wanda frowned, sensing sothing was off. "Finn, what are you thinking?"
Finn exhaled, his gaze intense. "We suspect that the real goal of the corrupted Wanda was never Kamar-Taj. She was after Arica from the very beginning."
Wanda's brows furrowed. "But at the ti, she only seed interested in you."
"That's exactly it," Finn explained. "She misled us into thinking she wanted Kamar-Taj. In reality, she was waiting for Arica to reveal herself."
As Finn finished speaking, an ominous voice echoed through the Sanctum.
"Clever, Finn. Very clever."
A chilling hum filled the air, and the room was suddenly bathed in a sinister red glow.
A suffocating force pressed down on them, the sheer weight of its presence making their magic flicker and waver.
Their breathing grew labored, chests tightening under the pressure. The oppressive energy made even standing difficult.
"It's you!" Finn's eyes sharpened, his stance unwavering as he faced the entrance.
He recognized the voice instantly.
The corrupted version of Wanda Maximoff had arrived.
-
1st Bonus Chapter - 500 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter -1000 Power Stones
Dear Readers
Join Patreon for 40 Advance Chapters
/UK21
Check out other novels
Haikyuu:The Unstoppable Force
Naruto: I'm Nine-tails And My host is Kushina
-------
Reviews
All reviews (0)